current addictions

I've recently been 'tagged' again (same culprit! justbcoz) and have been thinking and thinking about it. I am to list my 5 big addictions.
Rules:
* Post at least five current addictions and why you’re addicted to them
* Link to the creator of the meme (Being Brazen) and to the person who tagged you
* Head your post with “Current addictions”
* Tag at least two people and pass on the above rules

The problem for me has been to determine which things are compulsions compared to addictions and the other things that are simply a necessity. For example: do I list my anti-histamine pills I take every morning as an addiction or is it just a drug that helps me function. I don't derive any pleasure from it, but I'm pretty dependant on it!

1. It's easy to list Coca-Cola as an addiction, even though I've been 'dry' (ha ha) for quite a while...I know the minute I have a sip of it that I could easily go back to consuming litres and litres of it. I just love the taste of a cold and really fizzy coke; it just hits the spot. So, that's easily my number one addiction.

What about things like squeezing pimples or peeling off flaky bits of skin with tweezers? Addiction or compulsion? Hmm.

2. I am addicted to my little boy's laughing giggle: I just love hearing it. A tickle will suffice if I haven't heard it in a while.

3. I am definitely addicted to my morning snuggles with my children. I really feel like I've missed out if it doesn't happen. I love the hands that touch my skin and the close embrace. Much better than an alarm clock.

Ok, so what about my asthma pump? I know I need it. I wouldn't cope without it.
4. Yes, ok, I list my asthma pump as another addiction.

5. A major addiction: facebook. I just can't help myself! I have to check who's online, who's been tagged in photos recently, and what's going on in other people's lives. It's the mundane stuff that keeps me connected. Somehow knowing someone's excited because they're getting a puppy, or because they're pregnant, or because they went flying in a hot air balloon, or because their child won a medal...it makes me feel a closer connection to them. And I am reconnecting with friends I would otherwise never have contact with again. Hooray for social networking! A HUGE addiction for me.

So, who to tag?
Vannessa. If you still read this, which I doubt.
Melanie. C'mon girl. Get writing again. I know your husband will pass on this good news... :)
heh heh heh

yay

In amongst all this avo craziness I received a phone call from someone who had picked up my business card (l left a lot at the printers) and who wanted some help to design a logo and her corporate ID. This is my absolute favourite kind of work and so, I gave her a quote, to which she quickly agreed. We met, we talked over a coffee, we shared ideas and I couldn't wait to get started on her job! I've been hooked to my computer trying to get it right and presented it to her within a week. She loves what I did and thinks I'm the best. I'd like to share what she wrote to me today:

"Hi Linda,

I've just emailed a client for whom I'm finishing a franchise manual, and have included the following paragraph.. I hope you don’t mind.

“I am also pleased to be able to recommend the services of a wonderful graphic designer here in Rotorua. Her name is Linda Page, the director of Page Design Ltd. I’ve encountered many designers over the years but Linda is a breath of fresh air – her work reflects the aspirations, goals and objectives of the client, attention to those little details that matter, promptness and cost efficiency, ability to understand the direction of a business, and then translate it all into superior design work. I’m not sure if you are looking for a designer for any of your materials but just in case, Linda is great and I would be happy to provide you with details if you wish.”

See you Wednesday.

Cheers
Maria"

How lovely is that!?

jingle jangle

SO, having a garage full of avocados has spurred me into action... I've taken some to Joshka's playgroups, I've even sold a couple at the printers when I checked on a job, I've sold a few at Mia's kindergarten, quite a lot at pilates classes, a few at the flower shop on the way from the car to pilates, a couple at the 'frock shop' on the way out of pilates - I've even sold some door to door as an afternoon adventure with Mia and Josh. Mia was the number one door-knocker, I was the talker, and Joshka was the hander-over of a bag of avocados. It was actually quite a helpful exercise in meeting and introducing myself to our immediate neighbours. I met Carol from next door and the Korean (?) lady from next door with her little baby (she's knocked on the fence to ask for more!). I found out that the neighbours across the road lost their lovely black Labrador - she was run over a month ago - very sad since she was a very good guard dog: only EVER barked if something was happening (like naughty kids spray-painting the fence). There's a new black puppy to replace her, but he's been driving our neighbour (who doesn't eat avos) nuts with all the digging in the garden... Furthermore, we met Mavis down the road from Zimbabwe and her two boys... and all in all it was (surprisingly) quite an enjoyable experience! I've quite enjoyed not being extremely shy. However, my final coup de grâce was to sell the remaining couple of crates at the Saturday market that happens every week at the park down the road.

I spray-painted my signs ($3, avocados), packed some colourful tubs, wore my most notice-me-dammit purple cotton top from Thailand, lined my pockets with one dollar and two dollar coins, packed the little fold-up wooden chair my grandfather made, and made my way to the market. I was a bit late, admittedly. I missed the steadfast, hardcore, early morning fresh-produce grocery shoppers at 7am and I also struggled to carry everything to where the action was. So I did what I could, and made myself comfortable under the nearest tree to my car. I'd sold 5 bags within 5 minutes before 2 official looking guys challenged my right to trade where I was. Yes, I agreed, I knew a license was required, but I'd had difficulty trying to track down the relevant person during the week, so I thought I'd do it all on the day...Gary...? Barry, they confirmed. I was very friendly and obliging, and it turned out, so were they. They offered to help me carry the load to the action and set me up next to the coffee van and opposite the entrance to the market, at the food corner of the market. It suited me fine, since I didn't want to compete directly next to the other vegetable sellers...who were selling outrageously priced avocados compared to mine (heh heh heh!). To my delight I met quite a few people I know- some parents from Joshka's play groups, one of Mia's kindergarten teachers, one of my volleyball mates, some of Mia's friend's parents...I suddenly felt like I was beginning to belong, that I was part of the community, and it felt good. Living in New Zealand, I don't tend to just bump into old school friends or acquaintances like I might if I were still in Cape Town. So imagine my surprise and delight to recognise a face that I hadn't seen in 10 years and one I'd tried to get hold of when we'd moved to NZ. I saw MIKE at the market. I met Mike in St Anton in my first season (same time I met Ben) in 1996 and at the end of the season we travelled with Lizzie and Freddo around Turkey. We shared some excellent times and great parties and the last time I saw him was when Lizzie, Ben and I did a trip around NZ in '98. I lost contact with him after that, even though I tried to get hold of him again. The BEST part of this story, is the fact that HE LIVES IN ROTORUA! It turns out I've met his wife and seen his sons at one of the play groups but not really spoken to her. Of course, now I will. I love the fact that I have one ready-made old friend living not far away and that Summer is coming and we can have BBQs and go to the lake with our kids etc. Just the knowledge that he's here has kept me smiling all week. That and all the cash in my pocket.

bundu bashing

Ok so it's been a while, but I've been quite busy for a change. With the onset of Spring, I seem to have undergone a mental shift of gear, and it's all systems go. It's not like I suddenly have too much to do, it's just that I want to clean out that cupboard, or be proactive on this job, or do an extra load of washing and sort and fold AND put away, or take the recycling to the depot... or tidy up the garage - even sweep it...

I've started going to pilates classes again (I've had a break from it pretty much all winter while my back was a bit dodgy) which has been quite a shock to the system- aching muscles! I've only been the last 2 Fridays, which has coincided with another project for the last 2 weekends: picking avocados. My father-in-law has some avocado trees planted on a bank...about a 30-40° slope - when I say "some", I estimate maybe 50 - 60 trees? It's hard to tell. So, because of the slope, it's not like one can drive in a cherry picker and stand in the bucket while being hoisted up to the top branches. No, one has to climb up the trees and scramble down, or up, the bank to offload them into crates which, once filled, one has to take to the bottom (or top) of the bank to load in the car or trailer. Some serious lifting required!( A great bicep and tricep workout.) Of course, just to throw in a further spanner, there is a thick growth of blackberry around, which is a real PAIN. Not only do you have to scramble up and down the slope, climb the trees, and climb down them with a bag full of avocados (harnessed on, like a baby carrier - in fact I felt like I was 9 months pregnant again - no make that 15 months! Ha ha) but you also have to dodge and untangle yourself from the bramble.

I loved it. I loved climbing the trees and negotiating a way to get further up - to reach that out-of-range fruit dangling there enticingly... And it's been so very, very long since I spent time in a tree. It was like being a child again - brilliant! All the while I was imagining my mother expressing concern over me being too precariously placed, or taking too big a risk, but at the same time I knew that she would love to be up here with me doing even more crazy things with her acrobatic skills. Anyhow, I really felt happy to be doing something with a purpose. It was a real workout and I was absolutely shattered after not very long! My pilates-shocked muscles have been screaming at me! Plus, I can't wear short skirts (as Ben pointed out) what with all the bruises and scratches)..."Show me a short skirt in my wardrobe" is what I should have said. Never mind, they'll go away.

So now my next mission is to sell some of them so they don't go to waste! The smaller ones, that can't be sent to the shops, have been bagged (8 in a bag) and are being sold in the local deli where the in-laws live, but there are so many that I am sure the market there is flooded, so I volunteered to bring back 3 crates to try and sell here - only $3 a bag! Organic, tree-ripened avocados...hmmmmm.

I've sold one crate so far to other mothers at a playgroup. Now, how to shift the next 2 crates!?