Tinkerblue

U = Uniform

Somehow I have managed to wear some sort of uniform ever since I was 6!

School - My primary school and high school had uniforms.  They were not compulsory, so most of the time I didn't wear it, I wore my own clothes.  I wore the school uniform for excursions, debates, concerts, etc.  But on an every day basis, no.

Guiding/Scouting - I have worn a version of the guide uniform pretty much once a week, sometimes more since 1977.  Even my volunteer position in Mexico had a uniform - blue shorts and a Cabana shirt with a scarf, or my own national uniform.  And as waterfront director at summer camp, we had camp t-shirts.

Work - Almost every job I've had has required a uniform:

• KFC (my first job) - really ugly brown dress, pantyhose, brown shoes and a brown hat
• Wrest Point Casino Convention Centre - black skirt, white blouse, maroon bowtie and cumberband, panty hose and black pumps
• Capitol Tokyu Hotel (Tokyo - now closed) - pink skirt and jacket (yep, pink), white blouse, brown vest, panty hose and black pumps
• Tokyo Marunouchi Hotel - grey skirt and vest, white blouse, panty hose and black pumps
• Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Plaza Hotel (London)- black houndstooth skirt, white blouse, navy jacket, pantyhouse and navy pumps
• Radisson Edwardian Heathrow Hotel (London)- same as Radisson Hampshire
• Radisson Rum Corps Resort  (Sydney)- (now owned by Sebel) no uniform.  Expected to wear business attire
• Swiss Grand Hotel (Sydney) - Navy skirt, white blouse, Red Jacket (as front desk clerk), Navy jacket (as duty manager), pantyhose and navy pumps
• Royal Bank of Canada (Vancouver) - no uniform. Expected to wear business casual
• IKEA - blue pants or medium wash blue jeans, Ikea sweater, steel toes boots

Kind of ironic that I very rarely wore a uniform in 15 years of school (Grades 1-6, Grades 7-10, Grades 11-12, and 3 years of tertiary education), but in 20 years of working I've worn a uniform for 14 years!

I need to find some photos of those uniforms.

T = Tasmania and the Tasmanian Devil

My home state.  The smallest state of Australia.  The only Island state.   

Tasmania was discovered in 1642.  The first whte settlement was recorded in 1803.  Before that the Tasmanian Aborigines are believed to have lived there for over 35,000 years.  Unfortunately disease, and persecution took their toll. The last full blooded Tasmanian Aborigine, Truganini died in 1876.

Over one third of the state is designated as National Park or World Hertiage sites.

The population is approximately 500,000.  The size is 68,332 sq kms or 26,383 sq mi.  It is approximately 200km's or 125miles from Mainland Australia.

The most well known native Tasmanian animal is the Tasmanian Devil.  It does not look like the Warner Bros cartoon. It actually looks like this.

Tasmanian devils are a protected species and additionally are listed as vulnerable for extinction. The Devil Facial Tumour Disease, (don't look if you are squeamish) is a devastating disease that is sweeping through the Tasmanian devil population.  It was first noticed in the about 10-15 years ago, I think.  Most studies indicate that the devil population has been reduced by as great as 90%!

Would you like to help save the Tassie Devil? 

You can make a donation at Save the Tassie Devil.   

Or you can buy a special edition Taz (He's the Warner Bros version of a Tassie Devil) complete with Tasmanian Passport. 

Or you can buy a copy of Alice Hansen's childrens book, A Devilish Tale. Alice has pledged a minimum of $3000.00 from sale proceeds to the Save the Devil Fund. 

You can even adopt a devil through the Healesville Sanctuary in Melbourne.  The sanctuary is working with the Save the Tassie Devil program by caring for an "insurance" population of devils that were sent to the mainland to avoid the disease. For $50.00 AUD for get a years adoption package with a photo, certificate, fact sheet and newsletter.

S =

Short = that's me.  5'4".  I am the shortest in my family.  My brother is over 6', my Mum and Dad are both around 5'7".  My maternal grandparents are both tall.  My paternal grandfather was very tall.  My maternal grandmother is tiny.  I don't think she is even 5'.  I get my lack of height from her.  Dave is 6'3" and his parents and sister are probably around 5'10".

Shaun = my "little" brother.  3 years younger than me, a foot taller and several pounds heavier.  We're friends as well as siblings.  I miss him lots.  He scuba dives, skis, works for my dad.  They are both plumbers or Mechanical and Air Conditioning Contractors.  Right now he's building a boat.

Sydney = one of my favourite places in the world.

I love the fact that some Sydneysiders actually commute to work on the harbour ferries.  I did for about two weeks. 

Here's a pretty iconic photo of Sydney - courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica

When we go home to Australia to visit my family, hubby and I always spend a few days in Sydney.  Next year we are going to do the Bridge Climb.  We have walked across the main deck, climbed the pylon, driven across in a car, rode across in a train, but we have never done the climb.  It's a litte pricey, but this time round we are doing it.

R = Roast Lamb

My favourite dinner. Made by my Mum.  In the electric fry pan.  With pumpkins, potatoes, carrots, peas, and mint jelly.  Everyone here, looks at my funny when I mention roast pumpkin.  Why?

 

Also shepards pie made with minced lamb.  I remember standing at the kitchen counter turning the handle on the mincer.  It seemed to take forever.

Lamb is more popular in Australia than it is here in Canada.  We also had lamb chops fairly frequently.

When we go home to Australia to visit and my Mum asks what I'd like for my first dinner home, I always answer "Roast Lamb with Pumpkin."

Q=Queen

I once had afternoon tea with the Queen.  Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip.  At Buckingham Palace.  I think there were a couple of other Royals there as well, but can't remember now.  It was back in 1992. 

Aussies and Kiwis get to apply for a place at the Commonwealth High Tea. Held three times a year in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.  I applied and got a spot as a member of Guides Australia.  It is a one and only time opportunity. You cannot reschedule, you cannot take someone else with you, you cannot send someone else in your place.  Or at least you couldn't back then.

I booked the day off work.  I even ironed my guide uniform, and wore the hat. It's expected that ladies wear hats.   Everyone entered through the gates that you usually stand behind to take photos of the palace. How privileged is that?

The invitation was for 3.00pm.  The afternoon was spent wandering the gardens of Buckingham Palace with a couple of thousand or so other people in their finery, sipping tea, and nibbling tiny sandwiches and lovely cakes.  Her Majesty and members of the Royal Family arrived at 4.00pm accompanied by God save the Queen.  Each Royal family member speaks to pre-selected delegates.  I was not one of the chosen few, but that's okay. I had fun people watching. And how many people can say they had afternoon tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace?  Actually about 8000 people a year. 

Cameras were not allowed.  So there are no piccys from the actual afternoon tea.   

Instead here's some trivia for you:

Buckingham Palace Garden Party Statistics
(based on attendance of 8,000 people)

Food:
20,000 various tea sandwiches
5,000 bridge rolls
9,000 butter drop scones
9,000 fruit tartlets
3,000 butter cake fingers
8,000 slices of chocolate/lemon cake
4,500 slices of Dundee cake
4,500 slices of Majorca cake
3,500 slices of chocolate/jam Swiss roll

Beverages:
27,000 cups of Maison Lyons tea*
10,000 glasses of iced coffee
20,000 glasses of fruit squash

*Maison Lyons tea is a special blend produced exclusively by Twinnings for the Buckingham Palace Garden Parties.  It is a blend of Darjeeling and Assam leaves which gives the unique flavor of peaches or Muscat grapes.

Equipment:
12,000 tea cups and saucers
10,000 teaspoons
10,000 tea plates
6,000 glasses
408-foot buffet table

Staff and Management:
400 waiting staff and 30 management

The aforementioned list courtesy of Buckingham Palace.

(Buckingham Palace Press Office)

The next year, in the summer of 1993 they started opening some of the state rooms of Buckingham Palace to the general public. Jo and I paid our 12.00 pounds for the tour.  We couldn't resist.  Again no cameras were allowed.  But I can now say I have been inside the gates of Buckingham Palace twice.  We both bought a teacup at the souvenir shop afterwards. 

P= Persistant, Perfectionist, Prepared

Persistant to the point of being annoying.  If I'm doing a task I will keep at it, until it's finished. It may take me a couple of days, weeks or in some cases months.  Sometimes this is good - it means a job or task gets done.  Other times not so good - it just irritates other people.

Perfectionist - I like things done just so.  In a performance evaluation once, I was told I set my standards way too high, and I should not expect my staff to be able to reach them.  I asked if I can, why can't they, I am not asking them to do anything exceptional just meet the basic needs of the job.  At the time I was night manager of Sydney hotel.  I expected my staff to complete the audit, balance to 0.00, check guests in to unoccupied rooms and haave the back up completed and the computers up and running by the time the morning staff came in at 7.00.  Not too much to ask.

Prepared.  Be Prepared.  The Girl Guide/Girl Scout Motto.  Prepared for the little things.  In my bag I carry lint papers, tide to go pen, lip balm, tylenol, pen, and  and immodium.  All the time.  In my "mail" box I have note cards, thank you cards, birthday cards, envelopes, stamps, pen, sticky tape etc.  In the junk draw in the kitchen there are batteries, chopsticks, candle glue, sticky tape, felt pads for the bottom of furniture.  In my car there is a flat of water bottles and a rug. There should be more, like a flash light etc.  but I am not organised (see previous post O=organised.  NOT!). In every room of our house there are candles, but not matches or lighter.  So if the power goes out, we have candles, but no way to light them!

This year I am trying to be prepared for Christmas. 

I am already prepared for our trip to Australia next year.  But that's fun to prepare for and be organised for.  Really I am prepared.  Our flights our booked (redeemed points).  The hotel in Fiji is booked.  The hotel in Bundaberg is booked.  The hire car is booked.  I have a rough itinerary for our drive from Bundaberg to Sydney.  The hotel in Sydney is booked.  A day trip to Bruny Island is booked.  A three day camping trip to Wineglass Bay is booked.  I need to book flights from Sydney to Hobart, but am waiting for a sale.  I need to book a hotel for the Hunter Valley, but am waiting for the Bride and Groom to choose a location.  The wedding present is wrapped, the shower present is wrapped.  See. Prepared.

And just so I'm not all babble and no photos.  This week I am dog sitting.  Two beautiful big black labs. (the photos are taken with my cell phone, so are not the best)

Sheba

and Shye

0=Organised

Something I like to think I am, but am not really.  I just sent the last of my 2006 of christmas parcels in June.  And you've seen my recipe binder! 

Our CDs are all in alphabetical order.  Books?  They are in no order what so ever.  I can never find the book I'm looking for.  The kitchen?  I know exactly where everything is, and everything has a particular home. The bedroom?  Clothes on the floor, earring on the windowsill.  No organisation in there.

Our trip home to Australia in February 2008, all planned, reserved, booked, paid for.  Our trip to Oliver (in BC) for next week?  Not planned, not booked, not paid for.  And it's a holiday weekend!

I did however organise all the pages I have torn out of magazines etc over the years.  They were all hanging out in an envelope and I had to sort through them all whenever I was looking for one picture.

I went to the back to school sales and bought three binders, page protectors and dividers.  Binder #1 - divided into 8 sections.  Colour, Kitchen, Living and Dining, Bedroom, Bathroom, Storage, How to, and Miscellaneous.  It has all the pages I've torn out of magazines of colour schemes, layouts, furniture etc that I like.  Binder #2 - is divided into 8 sections also (hey the dividers came in packs of 8).   Cards, Paper, Wee Wonderfuls, Totes, Fabric, Wood, MIscellaneous and a spare.  This is all the crafting ideas, instructions, tutorials that I have printed from websites and blogs, or pulled from magazines.  Binder #3 - is divided into 8 sections.  Told you - the dividers were sold 8 to a pack.  Cards and tags, Sayings and Phrases, Gifts, Hanging decorations, other decorations, traditions, books, movies and music, and other.  This is the christmas binder. 

 

And now the three binders will be filed on the floor.  Because the bookshelves are full.

On a completely unrelated topic, and just so there's a photo.  On Thursday hubby and I flew to the island to have lunch with his parents and some family friends.  We also took our 3 year old niece, Taylor, with us.  Obviously she is comfortable flying in small planes.  This is her on the flight to the island.

And this is her flying home.

When asked what her favourite part of flying was, she said, "the bumps!"

See, Smell , Touch, Taste, Hear

The lovely Jen organised a 5 senses swap.  Seems easy right?  Send your partner something representing each of the 5 senses.  No problem I can do this.  I'll share some of my favourites.  Not so fast.

I was to send to Kara.  Kara lives in the UK.  She makes beautiful jewelry.   She has a website, a blog, and an etsy store.  Check them out.   I commented on her blog, and won a drawing for a blue necklace.  I wear it all the time!  (Don't look at the suntan line). 

Kara  has finally received two of  her packages.  I sent 3 packages.  Cause it's always exciting to receive real mail right, so wouldn't it be fun to receive 3 pieces of mail.  In the first package was sight, in the second was Smell and Touch,  and in the third was Taste and Hearing.  I sent all three packages way back on June 5th - she's received 2 (#1 and #2) of the 3.  I've given up on the third parcel all together and will send a replacement package this week.  I am less than impressed with Canada Post right now.

See - easy.  I love the effect of candle light.  And these candle holders cast lovely dancing silhouettes.  And the theme is 5 senses so 5 candleholders.  Done. Unfortunately two of them were smashed in transit.

(Photo courtesy of Kara)

Smell - easy.  Lavender bath scrub made on Salt Spring Island.  From the Little Cricket Gallery.  One of my favourite stores.  They sell only handmade items, mainly by local artisans but sometimes from across Canada.

Touch - easy.  A hand knitted bath mitt to use with the bath scrub.  Also from the Little Cricket Gallery. The crafter is so local, she lives in the same suburb as I do.

Kara, there will be another package making it's way to you this week. 

N=Night Owl

I am a night owl.  I think I always have been.  I studied best late at night, and now I do all my filing, sewing, reading etc late at night.  Part of it is I don't finish work until 1030pm so by the time I get home, have a cup of tea and wind down enough to sleep it's close to 100am. 

Part of it is I spent 4 years working the graveyard shift - either 1100pm to 700am or midnight to 800am and at one job 700pm to 700am.  So daylight was for sleeping.  Since working night shift I have never really adjusted back to being a "normal" person.  I never was an early bird.

No photos today.  I am housesitting for a friend and don't have access to my computer.

M = Magic

Do you believe in Magic?  I believe in the possibility of Magic.  No, I can't prove magic exists.  Don't you dare disprove it for me. 

I like to disappear into the world of Cirque Du Soleil, Harry Potter, Enid Blyton, Faeries, Disney, the Narnia Chronicles, books, movies, the theatre etc.  I saw a David Copperfield show in Sydney along time ago.  It was unbelieveably awesome.  I don't know how he does it.  I don't want to know.  Just let me enjoy it.

(google images)

When I volunteered at Our Cabana, the staff used to sing to all the participants outside the dormitory windows on the last night of each session.  One of the songs we liked to sing, and the participants like to hear was "Magic". 

My understanding was that it was originally written for a Girl Scout Camp in 1991. 

There is more than one version around.  The words go something like this:

When I was young I thought the stars were made for wishing on
And every hole deep in a tree might hide a leprechaun
Old houses all had secret rooms, if you could find the key
I do believe in magic, I believe

Magic is the sun that makes a rainbow out of rain
Magic keeps the dream alive to try and try again
Magic is the love that stays when good friends have to leave
I do believe in magic, I believe

Growing up the grown-ups said someday I'd wake to find
That magic's just a childhood dream I'd have to leave behind
Like clothes that would no longer fit and toys that I'd ignore
I'd not believe in magic anymore

Magic is the sun that makes a rainbow out of rain
Magic keeps the dream alive to try and try again
Magic is the love that stays when good friends have to leave
I do believe in magic, I believe

Now that I am grown I found that much to my surprise
Magic did not fade away, it took a new disguise
A child, a friend, a smile, a song, the courage to stand tall
I do believe in magic, after all

Magic is the sun that makes a rainbow out of rain
Magic keeps the dream alive to try and try again
Magic is the love that stays when good friends have to leave
I do believe in magic, love's the greatest magic
I do believe in magic, I believe

(google images)