Monday 9 December
It’s been a little while, right friends? Sorry about that. Study deadlines and illness combined in a rather contentious cocktail I now call ‘No Blog For You’. I didn’t like it very much. Quite bitter. I DID like finishing my Honours year and handing in my exegesis (a sort of explanatory essay about the research and the creative work, in case you were thinking ‘what the heck?’) and my long short story. That felt good. I learned a lot about myself and writing during the year and I have ended up with 10 000 words I can use to jump start my first novel. The illness part was less good, but there is not much to be done about it … It’s a lesson in acceptance and listening to my body, at best. At worst it’s a painful bore. But we do not talk about boring things here because there are so many places you can go to for that. This is (hopefully) not one of them.
Above: L/ Bea is the new cat on the block in our extended family. R/ Op Shopped books for the BABY.
Below: L/ Eggs for breakfast R/ Bee in the blooms
Apart from that? My eldest is having a baby! I’m so excited to be Granny Pip, I can’t even begin to describe it. We have had so many losses in our family, it is very bolstering to at last have a very special baby-shaped gain. The wee darling is coming next year, a couple of weeks after my birthday if Baby feels that’s the right thing. Can you even believe it, pals?! I bought this book for Rin to celebrate.
Shall we talk about today? Today I got up at 7 and let the dogs out to frolic while I watered my tomato patch and a new garden bed that’s sporting a couple of zucchini seedlings and some cucumbers too. Bruno (our elderly cat) was sitting atop the outdoor furniture looking annoyed to see the dogs, so I helped him beyond the fence where the dogs won’t chase him. They don’t chase the cats when they’re all inside together, but the dogs consider the outdoors their territory and they will leg it if they see a cat on their turf. Any cat. Even their own cat. Rude.
Above: In my garden: Poppies and sweet peas and chamomile flowers
Below: In my garden: Cornflowers and delphiniums
Next was heading to the front door to let Bruno in. He’d done a circuit down the side of the house and deposited himself on the doormat, awaiting entry like a tuxedoed gent waiting in a nightclub line. I allowed it, he entered and gave our other cat Chippy a little kiss and a head butt. Then they had their breakfasts together, tails swaying in unison, whiskers wiggling.
Next I let the pups back in (it’s a complicated morning choreography, you can see), gave them their breakfast and made a giant coffee for myself. Breakfast for me was two slices of peanut butter toast and a cup of tea. After that I got tidied up and dressed and went to do some quick errands.
Getting dressed: Black H&M wide leg draw-string pants from the op shop, a bootleg Taylor Swift t-shirt, Birkenstocks.
Above: L/ Silver beet from the garden R/ a plate of snacks things for dinner
Below:L/ Washing up R/ Flowers from my garden
I managed a couple of little jobs, then came home to lie down because that’s how it goes with me at the moment. Lunch was a bowl of minestrone from the batch I made yesterday. Dinner was a bowl of curry from a batch I made the day before yesterday. It was just an ALDI paste and some diced beef and potatoes. Nothing fancy, but still nourishing which is important, I feel.
In the late afternoon I watched the last date in The Era’s Tour via a couple of fairly abysmal but trying very hard live streams on TikTok. It was QUITE emotional, actually. All those people, all that singing and dancing, all those joyful moments. Done and dusted. Bit sad I couldn’t see an actual show, but so many of us missed our, right? I’m in good company, that’s for sure. And if you went I am SO SO SO happy you got to!
Also pals?
Tonight I found out I passed my uni course and graduated with First Class Honours. Oh my goodness.
Above: L/ Sydney Road mandevillia (is it?) R/ Ladybug in my garden
Below: Hill of Content bookshop display
Good stuff
These Richard Scarry temporary tattoos found via Kottke.
The garden-y books of Gertrude Jekyll.
Delightful and desolate photos.
If you’ve got the funds, these Book Kits are such a cute idea! (Or you could try for an op shopped version?)
Spaghetti has gone sourdough!
These paintings are so beautiful, aren’t they?
This jewellery is so adorable!!! Perfect for hungry types.
I really enjoyed reading this blog post.
Why the novel matters.
I want to bake one of these cakes SO MUCH!
These VHS tapes brought back so many memories.
I love the OG Inspector Lynley and am looking forward to seeing the new incarnation.
Why don’t we make Shawarma Spice Mix for Christmas gifts?
I think I’ll do The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge in 2025!
And I want to make Rhonda’s ginger cordial too.
Above: Op shop Puffin books
Below: The Children of the House, Come Hither Volume I and II
Above: A Ploughman-ish plate of snacks things
Below: Snacky plate … again!
Tuesday 10 December
I need to go to the post office but I’ve been feeling not quite up to that, so it’s a homey day at mine instead. Perhaps tomorrow is the PO day? A girl can dream, right?!
It was an eggs for breakfast sort of day. Two. Soft-boiled with toast soldiers spread with Promite. (Promite always wants to auto-correct to promise and it really is a salty promise of deliciousness, so it seems appropriate.) The perfect pick-me-up for when one’s weary, don’t you think? After toast and tea, I watered the garden a little bit and then got dressed and spoke to my sister on the phone for a half-hour or so. The garden was overflowing with flowers for a little while there, as you can see. It’s a bit worse for wear now that the poppies are just about done. I’ve cut most of them back, apart from a few raggedy stems that still had buds on them. I’ve got a bunch of seeds to scatter and I might snaffle some seedlings to hurry things along, next time I am somewhere near Bunnings.
Getting dressed: Op-shopped H&M khaki pants, the bootleg TS t-shirt from yesterday, Birkenstocks.
Next, I found a PR email in my inbox about the opening of The Cheshire Cat Motel on the Goldie. It looks so cool, right? Very atmospheric and nouveau Mad Men. It would be a good place to book out for a reunion or wedding party or family celebration, right?
Above three images: Scenes from The Cheshire Cat Motel
Speaking of my inbox, a few very kind people emailed me over my blog break to check in. Thank you so much for that, chums. So nice of you. I got a bit overwhelmed there for a while, so it’s a relief to a) have buddies like you and b) be back here again. I definitely owe a few people emails and texts back, so apologies for that. I truly do hope to get there. Honestly I do.
I spent a little bit of time fixing up my mini bookshop and listing some things in there. If you fancy a new and interesting book, take a peek!
As you can imagine, I have been making lots of blankets and planning plenty of craft projects for the new baby. I seem to be starting A LOT of projects and not finishing any, so for the next few weeks I will resist starting the new and get sorted by completing what has begun. I’m nearly done with the Caron cake crocheted one in block stitch. And I started a crocheted one with little hearts on it. And I’ve got the knitted mitred one to go on with. And also one with crocheted squares in lots of colours. I will share some photos asap, I promise. Just in case you fancy that. That will be in my next post. Scout’s honour.
Above: Pip’s minestrone soup. Actually it’s Stefano’s recipe.
As you can see, we’ve been eating a lot of snack-y plates … or Ploughman-ish plates, as I call them in secret. It’s such an easy way to throw dinner together and you can add new elements as you fancy. Roast up some peppers one night? Fry some spuds the next? Maybe grill some asparagus? It’s the ultimate pick ‘n’ mix, really. Highly recommend.
Apart from these things (which now seem like A LOT) the days are very quiet. I am not working at the moment or studying either. Just staying at home and trying to get better. Perhaps 2025 will be the year my health gets MUCH better? I hope so!!
How have you been, peach? Are you managing these busy days? What’s happening in your world?
Pip xx
(See you back here in a week or so! Maybe less!)
If you fancy, buy me a coffee —> https://ko-fi.com/piplincolne
Congrats on doing so well with your studies, can’t wait to preorder the first Pip novel one day!
What a lovely update Pip! So nice to hear from you at this crazy time of year. A baby!!! Best news. Look at all those books you’ve been collecting. Lucky bubba!
Congratulations on your first class honours!! Well done. (Looking forward to your novel too..no pressure!)
Yes to picky plates – have been looking at my Easy Dinners list lately.
There’s a 12 week old pup next door who is very cute and undergoing separation training with his owners. Their three cats are visiting our place more than ever.
I’m so far keeping my one tomato plant alive in the heat. Does that count as a pet?
Take good care Pip xx
Wow Pip, an epic update! Congratulations on impending grandmotherhood, and on your superb Honours results! Given everything you’ve had to manage this year, to have emerged triumphant with First Class marks is something you deserve to feel very proud of. Well done!
I was so excited to see your post in my Feedly yesterday but saved it for this morning’s breakfast reading, alongside a stack of Vegemite toast and a strong cup of tea, of which I felt sure you’d approve. I look forward to more cooking/reading/gardening/op-shopping updates when you can xx
Warmest congratulations on the coming baby and the splendid university results.
That blog post made for very interesting reading. I would have found the camping situation personally very intimidating. Some of my friends would have not been intimidated. I hope that i would have been camping with them !
Congrats on 1st class Honours! Wow!
Congrats for soon-to-be Granny duties !
I also missed out on the Era’s tour. It does suck. You are such a huge Swiftie, though, I feel like you truly deserved to be there because you’re a proper, true Swiftie! I’m only like a recent, level 3 fan. But you’re her number 1 fan, for sure.
First class honours! Congratulations!!! I am so thrilled for you. Will you extend into a PhD? I so hope 2025 is a better year for your health. You deserve all the joy.
Oh my!!!! I squealed the whole way through that! I did! And Rinn is having a BAYBEEEEEEEEE. I am so thrilled for you all!!! Yes!
And first class honours!!!!! Yayyyyyyyy. What a splendid time. I am cheering and happy even though I discovered I hate promite and everything!
I know. I’m a monster.
Soooooo much lovage and resting and hot tea to you xxxxxxxxxxx
so happy to have you back in this space
CONGRATULATIONS on the first class honours well done.
Oh thank you, Kate! It’s such a relief to have got a decent grade!! I had so many health-related extensions during the year, so I am quite chuffed that I did ok!! xx
I’m so glad you’re back! Julie