This one is for Erin :o)

Erin's Lucy "before" and "after":

Mum found her original sailor dress; we found her shoes; I added a ribbon, baby socks, nappy, and name bracelet. (Click to zoom in).

"Waif C":

This one was a challenge! I kept her for about a week deciding whether I'd bother with the make-over, as she was a helluva lot worse than described. The main problems, which I don't think I can fix, are a large hole in her hand and a wobbly head. Her hair has also been cut, she was filthy (including a large stain covering one whole ear), and there was a snip on her bottom.

I was worried she didn't have the trademark sticker on her butt, then I realised she's an Aussie (they don't have the sticker)! Her dreadlocked hair was actually a crimp, which only some of the Aussie dolls and no others have. I washed it and found that she has beautiful two-tone hair (I couldn't even see that before I washed her!), and a side part. She has the Aussie doll peach skin (the other dolls I have shown are US pale skin dolls). So far, she's coming up surprisingly well:I was going to put her in a Christening gown and call her Christianna but I don't think I will, the dress possibly being worth more than the doll. Mum thought Charlotte (the Harlot), and I thought (Feral) Cheryl, but she's not even looking that bad any more! So feel free to make a suggestion as I haven't really decided on a C-name yet. I might even keep her as a kind of trophy, having saved her from a trip to the dump or being used as spare parts for other dolls. I don't know that she's really worth selling if I describe her more honestly than her last seller did. But I'm still kinda proud of her.

This is Lucy

This one wasn't a waif! (In fact, she's in good condition apart from her hair). She's my niece, Lucy (Erin's doll). She was wearing a dress knitted by Grandma W.

She had very difficult hair to sort out! It felt like she'd been swimming in the sea and not showered after. Many hairs were double-rooted - like ingrown hairs, plugged into her head at both ends! I couldn't find any definite parts to work out what her original style was but I think I eventually got it almost right! It's much smoother and shinier anyway. I also re-did her make up because it was faded.



She's generally in good condition - I didn't find any of the common mould, just some surface dirt which is gone now; her joints are only slightly loose; she has the heart sticker and serial number. She originally had a yellow sailor dress so I haven't dressed her yet in the hope of finding it or something similar (or having mum make one!). When she is dressed she will also have a matching ribbon and name bracelet.

OK so far Erin? :o)

Introducing Waif B: "Bowie"

There's no naming competition for this one! She's "Waif B", which is convenient because she has ... look closely! ... different coloured eyes! So I've called her Bowie, after David Bowie, because he does too.

Her hair was so short and difficult to style that I wonder if she was a boy. But I got some perfect butterfly hairclips to compliment her eyes, so now she has to be a girl! Here's how much progress she's made so far:

My First Waif

This is "Waif A". I want to give her a name beginning with A because she is my first restoration project. I have some ideas but please suggest more names, bearing in mind that she will be put up for adoption.


I received A today, which was good timing because, being Friday night, I've had the time to get started on her. Her condition wasn't too bad. Her face was grubby, she had a spotty (mildew?) stain on one leg, and another stain that might be blood on one hand. Her head is a bit wobbly. But most of the things collectors look for, like the sticker on her bum, a serial number, and no haircuts, are accounted for.

She had a wash, a mould treatment (mould is very common on these dolls, even if you can't see it, it's under the skin and shows up if they get wet), and a hair condition. She came up nice and clean although a lot of the stain on her hand is still there; I will work more on that later.


When her hair was wet I found it was very soft and easily combed, and that she has a centre part and a fringe. Separating the fringe is a pain because it starts with the front row of short hair, second row of short and some long, and third row of long with some short. I had to weave the long hairs back and the short hairs forwards in each row. Then I rewove the centre part in the correct My Child criss-cross pattern, and put her hair up and curled it. Here she is drying under the bathroom heater:


I took her curlers out and reapplied her make-up. It's best to do this while she's still damp because I use watercolour pencils. She is looking much more awake now! She still needs to dry properly and find some clothes and ribbons. While depilling her skin I noticed a small hole in her non-stained hand; I don't know whether to fix it or not.


I won't describe all my MC doll rescues in this much detail, just the first one! I will try to sell her when I've finished but she has my favourite eye colour of all the MC dolls!

Don't forget to suggest girls' names starting with A!

My Child

I am waiting on some neglected old My Child dolls to restore, but I got tired of waiting (hmm, that's not like me!), so I gave mine a little make-over. Me being the kid I was, she wasn't really neglected, so I haven't washed her. All I did was restyle her hair (which was painstaking - I had to redirect and untangle each little hair plug on her scalp) and touch up her make up. I used a white ribbon because it's the most suitable one I have right now, but I think she could use a pink one. This make-over took almost two hours, and this isn't even a neglectarino like the ones I am waiting for!

Mary-Lou before her make over - just a bit tired and boofy:

Mary-Lou now - a bit more composed:

Nothing new but I'm sleepy

On Wednesdays I usually stay in Liam's class to help with reading for a while but this morning I went shopping to restock the now-working-fridge instead. I did stay at kindy in the afternoon as I always do on Wednesdays though, to prepare teaching resources and file children's work for assessment; then I rush off at 2.30 to get Liam and rush back to kindy just in time to get EJ. Today we also went to see Liam's friend Oliver from the old school.

That stuff reminds me of a certain ex-husband who announced during the useless mediation we had to have, "It was your choice not to go to work". I nearly decked him but since the mediator was there, and the mediator is also a lawyer and a social worker, I thought it might make me look bad. So I just said "Should I have left the boys home alone then?". The boys have been on waiting lists for child care for three years; I have only recently removed them from those lists.

EJ has four kindy sessions per week, during which I do the following teachery stuff:
Sessions 1 and 2 I spend teaching kids who need extra literacy help at Liam's school.
Session 3 I spend making teaching resources in EJ's kindy as I did today.
Session 4 I have been spending tutoring for Childhood Cancer, although that has now been deferred until next term.
And as I said, Wednesday morning reading with Liam's classmates, even though I have EJ with me at that time.

Teachery stuff! And I don't want to go to work??

Anyhoo, that's my whinge.

I need a cuppa

Got up to find the fridge is dead and everything in it is room temperature. Made breakfast with long-life milk.

8.30 Dropped Liam off at school
8.45 Dropped EJ off at kindy in the next suburb
Got coffee and petrol (while it's "cheap" - 120cpl) on the way back to school for
9.20-10.30 Learning Assistance program
Came home for about an hour, then
12.00 Picked up EJ from kindy, then straight back to school for early dismissal, which was
12.40. But we were early (too early to get Liam but not enough time to go home) so I went and reshelved books in the library then collected Liam.
1.00 Uniform shop - $295. But at least it's all done for the year and hopefully will last for next year too; the only item I haven't got yet is the summer shirt for EJ.
McDonalds for lunch on the way home because I couldn't be bothered thinking of a lunch with no refridgerated ingredients. Got some US$ while the exchange rate is the best ever (but why did it have to be today when I didn't want to spend any more money?!). Witnessed a man going psycho and consequently getting arrested, after he was caught stealing from the Salvos store. Came home and waited for the fridge repairman. Liam did his homework and I cleaned out the fridge while we waited.
3.45 Repairman arrives and *phew* - no new fridge required! It was just the thermostat; which means the fuel economy was poor and the heater didn't work ... oh wait, that's something else... it means the motor didn't come on to cool the fridge. $209, fridge works, better than buying a new one. But I still haven't restocked it because it isn't cold yet, so breakfast should be interesting!
4.10 Called Sophie to say Happy Birthday! Then went to Open Night at the school, which is why school was dismissed early today. There was a free sausage sizzle so that took care of the boys' tea (*phew again*) and the boys had a great time, I think they would be happy to live at that school!
6.00ish: Came home, bathed boys, washed dishes and fridge compartments and put it all back together, put a few things in it. Now I'm about to put the boys to bed and I really could do with a cuppa tea ... but we don't have any milk. :o( But that was today, most problems solved and I mostly survived.

Just stuff

Ooops

I was reading Liam's library book to the boys tonight. I was supposed to say "Mr Sullivan winked at his cat". WINKED!! NOT what I said!! I should have let Liam read it! Liam laughed because I laughed, but I like to think he doesn't know what we were laughing at.


Getting ready to go - school uniforms

I still have lots to do and most of it can't be done until the last minute. I know I will forget things!

But I do have to get the boys' winter uniforms before we go so they can wear them the day after we get back. Sounds easy, eh?

Well two different Big W stores (I kept an eye on them for a few weeks) have the right trousers (well, a cheaper but acceptable version) but not in the right size. Eventually I got a pair for Liam, although they need some altering (thanks mum!). The smallest size they are made in is a 4 and today I found a uniform shop that has them... and the 4 is HUGE!! So EJ can't have cheap imitation uniform, he needs the real trousers that start at size 2 and about $70. The lady at that uniform shop also runs the uniform shop at the school, and tells me the cheaper trousers will not be acceptable next year. Too bad that, since I just bought some for Liam. And she agreed! She runs two uniform shops and said her kids will be wearing the cheaper trousers until someone notices.

Next, we went to the second-hand uniform shop at the school. We got trousers for EJ, bigger sports shorts for Liam so he can give the smaller ones to EJ, one tie (they didn't have two), winter sports uniform top for Liam, a winter shirt each, and a jumper for EJ (Liam already has one). Seven second-hand items = $288! S'pose I can't complain. And I actually feel guilty, even at that price, that they will be wearing second-hand stuff. Even though it's in good condition and I soaked and washed it and noone will know except me.

I still need sports uniform pants for Liam, sports top and bottom for EJ, and one more tie. And maybe sports socks for EJ, but maybe noone will notice his socks under winter uniform and I can wait till summer. So it's off to the real uniform shop tomorrow. Eeek.


What I can complain about though....

Is that my ice cream was soft last night. Fine.

But...

...when I opened the freezer this morning a sheet of ice had defrosted itself from the top and fell out on me. Liam thought it was hilarious - "Whoaa!! The freezer attacked mum!!". Hmm, yes, wonderful; and the milk in the fridge didn't feel that cold either. Just what I wanted, to buy a new fridge/freezer right now. I moved all the freezer stuff into the deep freeze (I am so glad I bought that thing now!), except the icepacks which I put in the fridge to help it along until tomorrow when the repairman comes for a look.

After I washed the dishes tonight I thought I'd check whether I could freeze Liam's drink bottle for tomorrow, but there was water in the freezer now and the ice that was still there came out really easily, so I think that's a no. So I finished defrosting it before it flooded. I just hope the fridge survives long enough...

My famous boys

Tonight we read some of the boys' library books and I was surprised to find they were actually in one of Liam's. I'm sure it's them - it looks like them and behaves like them....


The book is about a dog called Digby and his identical twin sister Dixie. I'm sure they're perfectly identical apart from the whole different gender issue. But apart from that it is a fun book and we loved it.

"You should see my dog" by Martin Oliver and Sami Sweeten.

Liam's Assembly

The two year two classes hosted the school assembly today. They have been studying Australia and sang Tie me kangaroo down, sport. They also shared their artwork of Australian environments. I took the photo of Mr Snod holding his picture after the assembly.


A bear came out from the building to the right, danced around energetically to "The Bare Essentials" for a while, which all the kids thought was hilarious (see above close up of Liam!). The bear started explaining that she was inviting the students to take part in the school musical so they too can dress up and dance around. Unfortunately her advertisement wasn't very persuasive when she suddenly left the assembly and collapsed in a heap in the building from whence she came! I think she fainted and then had an asthma attack; staff ran up from the office with the asthma first aid kit. But the show went on and Liam's teacher professionally finished the bear's speech, and I think most kids weren't aware of the bear suddenly going into hibernation.


Some Japanese exchange students sang Waltzing Matilda in Japanese and then English. I'm not sure how most of it translates into Japanese, but they have beautiful voices - it gave me goosebumps! They also did a Japanese dance about fishing and finished with a pyramid, which amazed the kids.

I probably shouldn't finish on Engrish after that, but we went into town this afternoon and saw this store. Apart from the store name, the signs all over the windows (I have enlarged the pink sign for you to read), and the slogans on all the clothing they were selling inside, everything was in perfect English! Most of the clothing was designed to look like souvenirs from the USA but it wasn't very convincing.

....keynob???

Is there a Smart-Ass in the house?

SA #1:
EJ's kindy teacher said "He drew me a Transformer - see, I put it up over there. He wrote my name on it". She was amazed. Because she doesn't have a name tag and he spelled Christiana right.


SA #2:
EJ: What's that white sauce on your plate?
Me: Mayonnaise.
Liam: Which contains egg. (Liam is being helpful pointing this out because EJ is allergic to egg)
Me: How do you know?
Liam: Because I'm a...............
EJ: Skunk.
Me (NOT laughing!): I don't think that's what he was going to say.
EJ: Well he stinks!

Getting there

Stuff I have done to get ready to travel (say "Ding" whenever you see a dot point):

• got passports for kids
• got travel insurance
• booked flights (I'm better than a real travel agent)
  
• printed itinerary (thanks to dad for printing the one that wouldn't print here)
• booked a boarding kennel for Buster
• packed a few things but not much, because we need most things before then
• notified kindy and they have changed EJ's graduation to the previous week
• notified school because Liam will miss the last few days of term
  
• made a big envelope (thanks to Sean for the idea): itinerary, accommodation addresses and list of contents on the outside; important documents I might need inside.

I hope you remembered to say ding!

I had to write the list of things I have done, because the list of things still to do is overwhelming. Any arrangements for school for next term also have to be done now because we won't have the school holidays to do it - eg: cover EJ's school books and buy winter uniforms for both boys... I'm not looking forward to either of those things.

Ethanism of the day:

Me: Would anyone like to try a champignon?
EJ: No, they're poisonous.
Me: No, they're mushrooms, not toadstools.
EJ: Do some silly people eat toadle stools?
Liam: Hee hee! Toadle stools!
EJ: Hee hee! Turtle schools!

And now for today's news

EJ's news article for today. He started the computer and typed it by himself; he just needed some help to save it. (You can click pics to see them enlarged, then the back arrow to get back here).



More today below.....

They don't make spider webs like they used to

I know I post too many spiders but I just noticed this one (above me when I was in the shower!!) and thought he was a rather modern spider, finding a newfangled plastic web.
He was polite enough not to land on me, but abseiled down as soon as I was out of the shower and had taken the photo. Polite or not, he still got a free swimming lesson, because he's a wolf in spider's clothing.