Luke's nearly home!

Recycling bin face

Luke has landed back in Melbourne from his trip to England and Ireland! He'll be home soon! I can't wait! 

I bought a mini trampoline (aka rebounder) a few months ago, but the first time I tried it, I felt sick within 10 seconds, which was disappointing, but not surprising because I've had mild balance/vertigo issues over the past five years. The rebounder sat unused until last week when I got back on it and took it easier than last time. My feet barely left the mat. And yay! I was fine! I bounced on it - gently - for 10 minutes. And I was fine! (If you're wondering why I bought a rebounder, it's because bouncing is good for you and it's fun.)

Rebounding is part of my new exercise program - 10-20 minutes bouncing a day, 10,000+ steps a day, one pilates class and one yoga class each week and a bunch of stretching and resistance stuff (at home - I'm ditching the gym altogether).   

I'm too tired to write about day 3 of my holiday tonight (partly because  of all the exercise I've done this week) and I can't concentrate because LUKE IS GONNA BE HOME SOON!

I'm back

The golden hour from Mt Coot-tha

I'm back from my trip to Brisbane. I had a wonderful time. It's a beautiful part of the world, the sun shone (I had to wear sunscreen! In winter!) and I loved meeting my online friends, Gillian and Victoria, and spending time with them. Gillian and I saw whales! Victoria and I saw many pademelons!

I got back late Thursday night and I'm still recovering. Holidays are exhausting! I'll write more about my trip and post more photos in the next few days because I'm too tired to do it now. 

Luke left for his trip to England and Ireland about 10 days ago and is away for another week. I really enjoy having the place to myself, but I miss him, more than I have other times we've been apart. I hope he's having a ball, but I'm looking forward to him returning.  

I've made it to two months without buying any shoes or clothes. Two months! Yeah, OK that's not very long, but I'm pleased with myself, particularly as it's been easy.  

The Dressmaker, dinner, laughing

A two-in-one ghost sign on La Trobe Street

I enjoyed The Dressmaker last night. It was funny and sad, and the scenery and cinematography were stunning. And the costumes! Gorgeous. 

We had another tasty dinner tonight, partly because I made potato salad and cucumber salad again. I reckon I could eat both every night. I have a very high boredom threshold for food I enjoy. We also had corned beef and curried cabbage. 

Dylan Moran is doing stand-up on the telly as I write this. I love listening to Luke chortling and guffawing. It's my favourite sound. 

Current culinary fixations and thwarted creativity

Yarn bombing, Swanston St 

I have developed a mustard fixation. I can't get enough of it. Wholegrain and dijon, in particular.  I love it on steak. I love it on lamb and on pork. I like to dip dill pickles in it. I make salad dressings with it. I would have scoffed at the concept of a mustard sommelier not too long ago, but now I want be one. 

My other culinary fixation right now is the combination of avocado, cumin, lime juice and coriander. It's delicious and fresh and zesty. Mmmm, smashed avocado...and salad dressing...and guacamole, of course.  

Luke snoozes on the couch quite often and he looks so cute I can't resist taking photos of him. I have so many pics I could start lukenappingonthecouch.tumblr.com but for some reason he isn't as amused by this idea as I am. Don't stifle my creativity, man!

I bought the new Kitty, Daisy and Lewis album, The Third. I like it.  

Return of Luke, you never know unless you ask, more crunch

Footpath rainbow (from refracted sunlight)

Luke is home! He got back last Tuesday night.  He had lots of photos, some presents for me (including a glass octopus) and a beard.  I quite like him with face fuzz, but it prickles me when we kiss. He shaved it off before going back to work anyway. 


Later starts

You might have got the impression that I'm not a morning person because I stay in bed as late as possible on work days and I'm always in a rush to get to work. You would be right, but that might be about to change. No, I'm not becoming a morning person - I'm starting work an hour later!  My working hours are now 10.00 am to 6.15 pm. THIS MEANS I DON'T NEED TO GET UP UNTIL AT LEAST 8.20. EIGHT-TWENTY!

I'm hoping the later start will have me getting up early enough to eat my breakfast at home, getting ready at a leisurely pace and resuming my habit of walking to work...but we shall see.  

I didn't even have to ask for the later start. I had thought about it earlier this year, but discounted it because I didn't think it would win support, but last week my boss suggested it to the other secretary and me. (She's starting earlier and finishing earlier so there will be a secretary on deck from 8.00 am to 6.15 pm.) I guess it just goes to show you never know unless you ask, eh? 


Added crunch

There's a new variety of gluten-free Weetbix on the supermarket shelves and it's tasty. I only found out when I opened the box I bought yesterday and it looked different. I thought I'd bought a gluteny variety by mistake, but not, it's just got rice puffs and sunflower seeds added for a pleasing bit of crunch. 

Spring, birthday, reunion

Yay! Spring has arrived! Officially, at least. The last two days of winter were warm and sunny, but today the grey skies and drizzle were back. 

September 1 is also the birthday of this blog. I thought it was five years since I started Gleeful, but it's actually six. 

Luke is due to arrive home tomorrow around dinner time. I'm excited to see him and hear all about his holiday. 

Button tin, making room

I made a start on a big clean up this afternoon. I do love a declutter, as many of you will know.  I cleared out a fair bit of junk, and I haven't even started on my wardrobe yet. I found about 300 of those tiny snaplock plastic bags with a spare button that you seem to get with every new item of buttonable clothing.

I put all the spare buttons into a biscuit tin, so I'm the way to having a button tin like my mum had when I was a kid. Mum's button tin was an old-fashioned oval chocolate tin with a posh lady on the lid, and it had a lot of fancy buttons in it. I used to love sifting through them and sorting all the matching buttons into piles. Unfortunately, the majority of my buttons are black, which is a bit dull for sifting and sorting, but very handy if I do ever need a button.

I have been decluttering to make some room because I have a new flatmate. A special flatmate. Luke has moved in with me. Yay.