The man who listens to horses....

For the last week this has been my only view.....

You may remember ages ago we bought a fish and a snail, and we kept them in a bowl without a filter. We thought it would be funny to call them Sam and Ella (ie Salmonella) well, jokes on me... I had Salmonella this week - it's not fun, and the doctor confined me to the lounge where the view of my backyard was about all i could stare at all day!! (TV hurt my head!!)

(Coincidently the fish and snail died ages ago... not from Salmonella, apparently you actually have to feed them... who knew!!)

Anyway... I was thrilled to finally be feeling better today, and more importantly - to get out the house!!

Renee and I had tickets to see Monty Roberts - the real life "Horse Whisperer". We (and about 75% of the audience) were pretty skeptical about what he was going to do, and some of the things he did. He tended to stack his odds to ensure success, but there is no doubt he certainly managed to get the horses to do what he wanted them to do in the end, and although you might not always have access to all the things he had, he certainly left you with lots of things to think about, and an understanding of his methods and how to apply them. However you view it - we certainly got our monies worth - 9am till 4pm, and we even walked away with one of his special halters each, so I'll let you know if they turn our ponies into well behaved model citizens.

A couple of pics from today...

Monty going around the outside of the round pen - deciding which horses he'll work on

Trying to get "Queenie" the difficult loader to walk into the float

Queenie and Monty peering out from inside the float... this was cute!!

Meanwhile, as you can tell from the back yard pic - Autumn has truly set in!! The ponies are all rugged up in their new winter coats, they asked me to show you all how spiffy they look... I think they look like school uniforms... so cute... and so Toasty!!

The way we were....

Toobs are back...






And I love them!!! They're one of those things fom your childhood that you just never get over!! Another fave of mine is Jaffa cakes!! They're really hard to find, but every now and then i manage to score a packet... mmmmm....

Which brings me to the email I've receieved a couple of times now (which probably means most of you have already seen it) but it's just so good!! It has to go up in blog land!! (Although sadly the pics won't upload for some reason!! So if any of you are keen for the email with pics - let me know!!)

(Ironically... MTV is currently playing Flashdance!! What a feeeelin....)

And so without further delay I bring you.....

You know you grew up in the 80's if....

1. You used to buy cassette singles… and still have some stashed somewhere…

2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton

3. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.

4. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.

5. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls (or your sister did).

6. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom

7. Two words: Hammer Pants

8. You watched "Fraggle Rock".

9. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and spokey-dokies or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect

10. You watched "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)

11. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.

12. You (your sister, cousins) wore a ponytail on the side of your head.

13. You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen..and still know the turtles names.

14. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.

16. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.

17. L.A. Gear....need I say more?

18. You remember reading Tales of a fourth grade nothing and all the other Judy Blume books.

19. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"

20. You wanted to be a Goonie.

21. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)

22. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.

23. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.

24. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.

25. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.

26. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.

27. Barbie and the Rockers was your favourite band.

28. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.

29. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.

30. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"

31. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"

32. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.

33. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.

34. You have ever played with a Skip-It or Elastix

35. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.

36. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.

37. Don't worry, be happy

38. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.

39. You wore socks scrunched down

40. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.

41. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.

42. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"

43. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and & My Little Pony Tales

44. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.

45. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.

46. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"

47. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.

48. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.

49. You just sang those words to yourself.

50. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.

51. Homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)

52. You remember when mullets were cool!

53. You had a mullet!

54. You still sing "We are the World"

55. You tight rolled your jeans.

56. You owned a bannana clip.

57. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"

58. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.

59. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

Sweet Escape...

Congratulations to Mags, Jess and Marissa who all managed to escape the CA program with me!! Woo Hoo!! Well Done Chickadees!!

And a big Thanks to everyone who sent me messages on the day, especially my team from work, who found it their duty to spend the entire arvo down the pub drinking to calm their nerves!! Thanks guys!!

Ooohhh... And Congrats to little Turnip Head for coming Third in Gracefuls last night!!

The Good, the Bad....

And the downright ugly!!

I've had it with rubbish service!!

Having worked in retail and customer service for way too long, I am so sick of not even getting decent service, let alone good service....So in an act prooving me old before my time, I have decided to publicly denounce and reward the service I receive....

So.... you will now find three lists on the side of this blog....

The good... fairly self explanatory I would have thought... yet note it is empty. Also, I will allow for companies to make this list if they stuff up and satisfactorily (in my eyes!!) resolve the issue...after all, we all make mistakes!!

The Bad... ok...if they stuff up and make an attempt to fix it, they will end up on this list.

The Ugly.... Basically anyone that really p&^%d me off!!!

I will also provide the background info on each addition to the list... just to be fair!! And should any of you feel you have an experience worthy of the lists, feel free to detail the story in the comments section and I will joyfully add them to my list!!

Just call me Captain Service!!

The Bad....

Hornsby Brake Service...

So... we took the Mazda in to get the handbrake fixed.... and a week later it was stuffed again. It took us a while to get it back to them with everything that was going on, and they very nearly made it on to the "Good" list... they fitted us in and did it straight away... and for no charge...Good work guys!! What dropped them back to bad.... the guy makes the "passing/pointed" comment.... "You know it was six months ago when you brought it in", to which I replied..."I don't think so we only got it at the end of December", Smart arse response by car man .. "Yeah... you brought it in mid January".... Yeah ....it's mid April.... that's 3 months loser.... don't mess with the accountant!!

Flight Centre Cherrybrook...

I really wanted these guys to make the good list.... especially since compared to Harvey World Travel... They rocked!! (See... The Ugly Below)!! Anyways, after really helpfully finding me awesome flights to the UK in July, and providing really friendly service.... they booked the wrong flight from Sydney to Hong Kong, leaving me with a 7am departure..ugh... and a nine hour stop over in HK... double ugh!!! So I went back to see them, and was told the girl wasn't in but she'd give me a call on Monday - this particular staff member.... very disinterested in my cause!! Anyways... a week later and I suddenly realise... no phone call.... so i go back in... to be apoligised to profusely by yet another staff member... who discovered my flight had been changed.... Thanks for calling to let me know!!! They did apologise.... but sorry... lack of communication.... just not good enough!!

The Ugly...

NRMA...

As if it wasn't bad enough in the saga posted below.... they charged my credit card an extra $50 for calling the guy back... No way Hose.... It's not my fault the first guy stuffed up... They'll be getting a phone call....

Telstra...

My personal favourite.... After Rob having his phone for five weeks, it died... exactly one week after the "new phone replacement period", so they sent it off for a service, no loan phone... they didn't have any.... six weeks later.... and three attempts by Rob to see what was going on.... still no phone... in fact they couldn't even say how long till he'd get it back... not even a guesstimate!! Time for the big guns!!! I plonked myself at their service counter with full intention of not moving until Rob had a new phone... I also hads a bone to pick over my plan since they had put me on... a cap with $200 free calls.... only they didn't point out the call rates are pretty much double any other carrier....so the $200 is really an arbitrary figure (ie you can have a thousand dollars worth of free calls at 10 bucks a second!!) and they were trying to tell me i was making a ridiculous amount of calls. And I was meant to be getting 100 free texts, which I had tried to ring up about... but sorry... no service on weekends. So I stood and demanded a better plan... which i got....robs new phone, which they didn't have any more of, so we made them chack all the stores in NSW - none... so i told them that wasn't good enough... what would they do about it... eventually they said Rob could have new phone to value of old phone, the one he chose... not in stock .... so what are you gonna do about it Telstra????? That's right - get one sent in from another store....and yay... they changed it on their system so i would get my free 100 text messages....Why are they still on the Ugly list....
A.) This entire process - wasted over an hour of my life
B.) I received a letter from Telstra yesterday... they need me & Rob to sign a form before I can get my free 100 texts.....handy... since Rob won't be back for two months... Grrrrrr

Harvey World Travel Cherrybrook...

They just didn't want to help me, wrote down a few prices exclusive of taxes, completely uncomparable, on a scrap of paper and sent me on my way....oh well.... if only they knew how many overseas trips i was planning... their loss!!

Life is like a box of chocolates....

You never know what you're gonna get.... especially when it's a pass in an exam, that well... who cares - It's a pass!!! Yes that right peeps - I'm done, finished, CA is goneski, never again will you hear me utter the words "Well... I really should be studying..."

But that doesn't make for hugely interesting reading, so, while we are talking about learning, I would like to share with you all something more interesting and valuable, I like to call it....

Things that I learned on Sunday 15th April 2007....

- Never leave shopping for your picnic at the polo, until the day of the polo.

- Never take the battery out of your car (or let any one else take the battery out of your car!)

- If you do take the battery out of your car (I warned you not to!!) Do up ALL the bolts on the bracket that hold it in place really really really tightly!!

- If by some chance those bolts aren't done up really tightly - don't treat your Corolla like it's a 4WD bush basher (Ooops - that bit was my fault!!)

- If by some chance you forget that you're Corolla is not a 4WD and during your bush bashing the bolt that holds the bracket in place that holds your battery in place falls out and you subsequently drive over a speed bump in the supermarket car park after leaving your picnic shopping until the morning of the polo, and suddenly your car appears to die and smoke starts coming out of the hood..... Get Out (as apposed to sitting in the car wondering wether it would be an over reaction to get out.... car's don't really blow up, right?)

- If you didn't get out.... don't put the car in park (with the electrics blown, you won't be able to get it out of park to put it back into neutral to push it, and it will be at this point that you realise you are quite inconveniently blocking several cars in!!)

- You should join the NRMA at least 48 hours before this happens.... otherwise you will get to pay a bonus $150 for calling them out within the first 48 hours of joining.

- Random people will offer really helpful information at this point.... "That looks like a new car", "Isn't that a Toyota Corolla?.... They're normally really reliable".....Thanks!!

- Other people will abuse you for not moving the car....so at this point I'll help you - you can press the shift lock button which will actually allow you to change out of park into neutral..... now if only you could use one arm and leg to push the car, one arm to steer, and one foot to brake....technically possible i know!!

- No...... You're hazard lights do not work

- Once the NRMA man (who you will need to wait at least an hour for) explains to you that the now free moving bracket has slipped across as you went over the speed bump, connected with the terminal and sparked an electrical fire, "flattening" your battery - you should not believe him.

- Once he has jump started your car and told you everything is all right now.... DO NOT let him drive off, because as soon as he is gone you will try to drive home and your car will die in the middle of the round about on a hill, where people will beep at you to remind you to keep driving, as you have quite obviously forgotten how to drive.

- Once again...... you will need to wait an hour for an NRMA man.....

- Once again - do not put the car into park, although at least now if you do - you will know how to use the shift lock button!!

- Despite repeatedly calling and telling the NRMA that the man only just left, they will not send him back, you will get a new one (within the hour), probably just as well really, since the first one appears to have had no idea anyway.

- When the NRMA man does finally arrive, try not to look too shocked at the fact that he tells you "You're lucky.... I've seen probably six or seven cars where this has happened... totally burned out... destroyed.."

- You will not feel "Lucky"...

- When the NRMA man tells you that you need a new battery, the silence after that comment is meant to indicate to you, that despite the fact that he IS the NRMA, he doesn't do batteries....That's NRMA Battery Service - Contractors..... Don't worry, they'll be here....Within the HOUR!!!!!!!

- After three hours..... the kabana/cabanossi, that you bought for the picnic is ready for the eating - yep - right there in the car park!!

- You will eventually get home, although the polo has already started, so at this point i advise you take yourselves to a quiet location and enjoy some sanctuary, and your picninc in peace....

- Don't expect this to go right.... Nothing else has today.....

- When all else fails.... Have a drink!!! And remember - "You're Lucky!!"

Easter Bunny, Funny Fellow...

…Has a basket green and Yellow

And I hope he brought everyone something yummy in his basket – Happy Easter!!

Enjoy the lovely Easter Email sent to me at work:

Wrong Wrong Wrong!!

Well…. How’s me… sick…. Urgh blurgh!! Cuddled up on the lounge all day yesterday watching the brady bunch marathon on fox!! Feeling a stack better today thank goodness – will be right as rain for work on Monday – Gotta Love that!!

Anyways – while I was stuck on the lounge I started roaming the blog sites in my list which led me through to one of my brother’s friend’s site where I found she had one of the “Have you ever?” lists that you normally get on your emails. But what was really cool was that she had done it ages ago, and then gone back and ticked off extra things she’d done since the first time. This got me googling such lists and I was amazed to discover that the number one “Things to do before I die” on heaps of lists was “See the Northern Lights”. I was also intrigued to find “Ride a horse” at number ten on one very popular list – makes you realize some of the things you start to take for granted!! So decided to do a bit of a list below to get you all thinking!!

HAVE YOU EVER…

Appreciated a sunset? Yes
Been a guest at a surprise party? No
Been in a fist fight? No
Been on TV? Yes
Broken a bone? No
Called your boyfriend or girlfriend by the wrong name? No
Cheated on an exam? No
Cried in public and embarrassed yourself? Yes – doh!
Driven a truck? No
Eaten in a restaurant and realized you have no money with you? No
Made cheesecake? No
Dated a relative by accident? Jeepers – I hope not!!
Received a present that you really hated? No
Ridden a horse? Yes yes yes!!
Slept in a cave? No
Fallen asleep while talking on the phone? Yes
Written an article for a newspaper? No
Talked "baby-talk" to your pet? Kinda?!?!?
Shaken hands with a monkey? No
Seen a tornado? No
Shot a gun at a tree or a target? No
Eaten frog legs? No
Played an instrument in public? Yes
Walked into a lamppost? No – thought I did once turned out my fringe was in my eyes!!
Asked a woman when she was "due" and she wasn't even pregnant? No
Been in love? Yes
Shoplifted? No

Been fired? No

Snuck out of my parent's house? No

Set a part of myself on fire? Yes – my eyebrows on year ten camp!!
Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back? Yes

Been arrested? No

Gone on a blind date? No

Slept with a co-worker? No

Cheated while playing a game? No – only Rob does that!!!
Been on a plane? Yes

Slept in a tent? Yes
Eaten sushi? Yes

Been moshing/crowd surfing at a show? No

Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by? Yes

Made a snow angel? No

Flown a kite? Yes

Built a sand castle? Yes

Driven a sports car? Yes – only when Rob lets me!!
Jumped into a pile of leaves? Yes

Fallen asleep at work/school? No

Used a fake id? No

Felt an earthquake? No

Touched a snake? No

Been tickled? Yes

Been robbed? No

Ran a red light? Yes – and got the fine to prove it!!

Had braces? No

Given special nicknames to your pet that were completely different than their actual name? Oh yeah!!
Had déjà vu? Yes

Danced in the moonlight? No

Ridden a motorcycle? Yes
Witnessed a crime? Yes

Squished barefoot through the mud? No

Recently colored with crayons/colored pencils/markers? No

Sung karaoke? Yes – only singstar though!!
Made prank phone calls? Yes
Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? NO – just little Bibby’s managed that one!!

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? No
Danced in the rain? Yes

Written a letter to Santa Claus? Yes

Made a bonfire on the beach? No

Crashed a party? No

Jumped off a bridge? No

Ate dog/cat food? Yes (Ick – but who hasn’t tried dog food as a kid!!)

Have a black dress? Yes

Climbed a tree? No
Had a dream that you married someone? No

Glued your hand to something? No – surprisingly!!

Been a cheerleader? Yes

Sat on a roof top? Yes

Screamed at the top of your lungs? No

Talked on the phone for more than 6 hours? No

Stayed up all night? Yes

Pick and ate an apple right off the tree? No

Have more then 30 pairs of shoes? Maybe?!?!?!?

Gone streaking? No

Played chicken? No

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? No

Laughed so hard you cried? Yes

Cried so hard you laughed? Yes

Had a Britney Spears CD? …..ok…. yes!!

Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear....

Well, here we are again... what a funny week!!

Highlight of the week - Seeing Bon Jovi live at the Hornsby Inn!!

Ok - so it wasn't the REAL Bon Jovi!! But still extremely entertaining!! Despite the suspect exterior of the Hornsby Inn (If your driving past at night, it's one of those places that makes you flick the 'lock all doors' switch!!) the inside was surprisingly pleasant, and the night started off well with again surprisingly yummy dinner, which sadly we bolted down quite quickly as I had held the ordering up by arriving half an hour late ( I really didn't think Renee would be on time!!! not realising when she said she was going to try to get there by 7.30 everyone else was already getting there by 7.00...oops!!) and therefore rushing to make sure we didn't miss the opening chords of the lead guitar!! As it turned out - they had some technical difficulties (read smoke machine and strobe light issues!!!) and started an hour late!!

Well - the first set was a bit of a cause for panic.... I think I knew one song!!! But endless entertainment was supplied by the local white boy wannabe rapper who was tearing up the dance floor and even managed to coin his own move for the night (for those of you brave enough to attempt it.... you lift your shirt up with one hand - puff out your not so wash board belly - and using your free hand slap your belly in time to the music!! Trust me it's HOT!!)

The second set had me up on the dancefloor (and rapper boy up on the stage... don't ask!!), with a few more of the well known songs - and me actually realising that I almost know all the words to Living on a prayer and Always (Although must confess to not knowing Always was called Always until that night!! I would have called it "I'll be there" personally, but then I'm no Bon Jovi!!!)

All in all a fun night (added to that I won $60 on the pokies - so was effectively free!!)

Other achievements for the week:

- After extreme devastation early in the week (came to believe that all the dvd's I'd burned would never play in anyone's dvd player but my own), discovered that if you actually read instruction manuals panic can be avoided (yes - they work - my bad!!)

- Mastered another boy skill - fixing fences!!Discovered these super cool clips that join two pieces of wire together with no human muscle power required!! Gold!!

- Convinced two people that Blaze has lost at least half a kilo since the vet came!!

- Made lots of April Fools!! As if scrubs would be taken off the TV!!

Happiest moment off the week:

- watching the very first episode of series three of Australia's next top model!! (Yes I'm sad.... but if you hadn't worked that out after reading I went to a fake Bon Jovi concert then give up now!!)

Finally.....

Photo of the week:

Left over pic from when Ali came to stay, giving cuddles to Ciska... I love this pic!!