Tucking myself in, making soup, pots of tea & plenty of biscuits

Friday 26 April

I picked up a few supplies from the shops – we’re having The Other Elvis Sandwiches for Friday night dinner – and then settled into a super quiet rest of the day. 

I decided a Midday Movie was a good idea, mostly because I was fishing about on Beama and found quite a few I wanted to watch. Today’s was very reminiscent of the movies that used to be on telly at midday of each day. Six Minutes to Midnight with Judy Davis Dench and Eddie Izzard. It was partly based on the strangest true story of a girl’s school in Sussex which served as a finishing school for the daughters of high ranking Nazis. Gosh. Who even knew? Not many people because apparently it was kept very hush hush. * Shudder. *

Getting dressed: the exact same jeans and shirt as yesterday. 

image above: The other Elvis Sandwich

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Good Things

This lentil soup looks delicious and super thrifty (found via Hippy Highland Living)
The Art Book for Children looks like a brilliant buy for the new baby in your life.
Run Lola Run turns 25 this year. 
I’m not a luxury girl but these Cartier animals are amazing. 
How to make a good Lo Mein.
This exhibition looks amazing!
Wouldn’t be surprised to find these gorgeous pieces on Ms Taylor Swift herself. I particularly love this necklace … but really it’s all very beautiful.
Everything Barbra Streisand eats in her very, very expansive memoir. (Found via FoodieCrush)
Non-vegetarians? You might like to try this recipe on your next taco night? It looks so good, right?!
This house’s interior is pretty delightful, isn’t it?
How to grow hollyhocks.
Have you ever tried asemic writing? I haven’t but it looks super interesting.
Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls sound extra delicious.
This chicken recipe is a good one for weeknight dinners with a pile of mash.
New period dramas to watch out for.
Love this colourful decorating.
Actually so cute – wear your heart on your sleeve with this adorable DIY.

image above: Macaroni Cheese with Tomatoes

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Still feeling pretty poorly, so spending the afternoon in bed which is NOT very interesting for you to read about. I’ve updated my About Me page with some brief details about my health, because a lot of people have been searching for info about it on this blog. There’s not much to tell except I’ve been sick for four years and I seem to be very slowly getting better. I’m lucky in that respect.

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Saturday 27 April

We are going to Nick Cave tonight! Max and Ari bought tickets for my birthday, so I am excited to do that. That said, I know I need to keep the pace of a snail today so that I have the energy to go.

Breakfast was the last three Weetbix in the packet with some roasted rhubarb and warm milk. Also working my way through a pot of tea. It looks lovely outside so I think a bit of garden pottering is in order and then a movie, perhaps? It’s pretty crucial to go at snail speed on a day when there’s an evening event, I find. That way I can keep my energy for that event and hopefully not be bedridden the next day.  That said, I’ve been to maybe 6 evening events in the last 3 years – and two of them were related to Cam’s death and I had to be out – so it’s possibly a hypothesis rather than a rule.

I have to admit that in my last post/newsletter I deleted a few hundred words about Baby Reindeer. I didn’t know what it was about when I clicked play and for some reason I watched the whole thing. I regret it. Now it turns out there’s a lot of controversy around this series. If you have trauma in your past, I would think carefully before you watch it. I fully expect this show to be an ethics study at universities across the globe in coming years. 

I planted out some corms and bulbs mid morning. They were ranunculus, freesias and anemones – all just cheapies from Bunnings so fingers crossed they sprout. I used my old lady kneeling pad for the first time and it was a delight not to get soggy knees. Best $4 I have spent in a while, friends!

Next I came inside, made a pot of tea and plugged into some reality TV while I did my online reading. This time it’s Love Triangle UK. There are only three eps up at the moment, but that suited me fine because I do not want to get into a mindless binge watch today. Just want to dip in and out between other things, you know? I’m going to watch a little bit and then choose today’s Midday Movie. 

Reader, I chose The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I cried. It was thoroughly enjoyable. I read the book years ago and liked that too. I worked on the border of the blanket I’m trying to finish. It’s nearly there. Maybe three more turns around the perimeter and it’ll be done.

Getting dressed: Jeans, plaid shirt, socks with flowers, old Chelsea boots.

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Images above: We took the train to Nick Cave at The Plenary

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Sunday 28th April

Nick Cave was last night and I am absolutely wrecked today. It was worth it though. He played with Colin Greenwood (from Radiohead) and they were brilliant together. Max and I went together (Ari was meant to come but he was sick) and both agreed that the venue – The Plenary – is way too cramped. The seats are so close together you can hardly wriggle along the row to your seat without sitting in the lap of the person you are passing. Our seats were in the very back row and we could not see Nick at all, but we could hear him and that was enough. (More in my Instagram Story Highlights, if you are keen.)

He played a bunch of his old stuff and some of his new stuff too, talking a little bit about his kids and stopping between most songs to thank Melbourne for being Melbourne and tease the audience and deal with superfans yelling out requests. Most of the audience were singing along at some point and his voice was in fine form. It’s been almost five years since I went to a concert and the last one I went to seems eons ago in terms of things that have happened in the world and in my life. Last time Nick played at Hamer Hall with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Warren Ellis. It was so good.

image above: Op shop tea towel

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We had aimed to have dinner before the show, but all the places we went to had long queues or long waits for food (40 minute wait for a bowl of calamari and a bowl of chips seems … a lot). In the end we gave up and just had a drink at the venue and took our seats super early, just to be out of the horror that is the city on a Saturday night. We got the train home, happy and hungry and tired at about 11.30pm.

Today I slept until 9 and made some baked beans on toast and a cup of tea. I spent most of the day resting and watching Love Triangle Australia which is UTTER nonsense and I enjoyed it immensely (when I wasn’t dozing). It tidied my room up a tiny bit too. And I wrote a bit in my Woolfy journal, just to be sure I memorialised our Nick experience. (I posted a couple of short stories on my Instagram, if you want to see!)

I’m hoping to feel MUCH better tomorrow for Max’s birthday. And I’m excited to watch Masterchef in bed with a giant cup of tea very soon.

Getting dressed: Just pyjamas, pals.

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Monday 29th April

Max’s birthday! Still unwell from going out on Saturday night, so taking it super easy so that I can attend Max’s birthday dinner at the pub tonight. I bought Max an electric drip coffee machine for his birthday and he was chuffed. I spent half the day resting, did a couple of hours study and then went for a quick and early birthday dinner followed by Masterchef in bed.

It’s taking so long to recover from a night out!

Getting dressed: Jeans, plaid shirt, plaid hooded jacket, Chelsea boots, socks with dogs on. Then … pyjamas.

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images above: My Picture Dictionary vintage book page spreads

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Tuesday 30th April

Okay! Feeling a titch better so I am going to try and have a regular day and slot in a Midday Movie. Breakfast was Vegemite toast and tea with this video WHICH I ADORED.

Getting dressed: Jeans, striped shirt, cricket jumper, Fairisle socks, Blundstones.

I went down to Coburg and picked up a few books and a nice old tea towel, put petrol in the car and picked up a cute package from Pam Power and Poppy King. 

The books are:

To See Every Bird on Earth by Dan Koeppel

Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume

My Picture Dictionary by Brenda Apsley, Illustrated by Jane Cunningham.

I also got a loaf of our favourite bread and the ingredients for two cosy dinners – Macaroni Cheese with Tomatoes and Corn, Bacon and Potato Chowder. And some pet food for Bean, Peach, Chippy and Bruno. Now I’m back at home, about to change into pyjamas and attempt some study.

I’ve got a cup of coffee beside me and the heater is on, pals. I am officially ready to Cosy Down.

images above: Corn, Potato and Bacon Chowder

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I did a couple of hours of study and then made the Mac and Cheese, did the bins, washed the dishes and straightened up a bit. Now I’m going to watch my movie and – soon – have the M&C for a late lunch.  I decided on Goodbye Christopher Robin because it looks charming and wholesome. The opening scenes are set in Sussex, but I’m thinking they’ll be ellynge-free. Also? It stars Margo Robbie AND Phoebe Waller Bridge AND Kelly Macdonald. Plus? So many lovely setting and costume details. I’m thinking it’ll be quite the weepy, which I love. 

You know, I used to spend most of my time in bed because of this illness. That lasted for a couple of years. Now I spend much less time in bed, and more time at my desk. I am still in my room though (the desk is in there). Granted, sometimes I am in the kitchen or garden, but mostly I am in my room. Sitting up, at last, but in there all the same. I guess all this is to say that living rooms really are for a certain sort of living. I’m not sure WHICH sort, but I do know that I am not quite up to that level of being well yet. I just need a quiet and small space much of the time. That might sound a bit sad, but believe me, I love my little room and sitting up much of the day is such a huge improvement. Also? It’s very easy to stay warm in a small room, isn’t it? Anyway … just some thoughts.

I’m hoping to have a ‘do not leave the house’ day tomorrow, in an effort to catch up on some study and regain some health. Here’s hoping!

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Wednesday 1 May

Breakfast was two eggs scrambled in chilli oil with a sprinkling of fresh parsley, all piled on a slice of toast. So good. Add two cups of tea and you have a near perfect start to the day.

I’m still so very creaky, it’s a bit hard to deal with, if I’m honest. Feeling a bit teary about my very low energy days returning. I guess I will need to just wait it out and be patient. Getting emotional only makes this illness worse, so I will drill back down to the small world of my bedroom, kitchen and garden for the next few days. 

I watched a couple of cheerful and gentle YouTubes over breakfast. Then I got dressed …

Getting dressed: Jeans, my new/old cardigan, socks with stripes, that plaid shirt.

Feeling very tired and emotional, but managed to write 500 words for my Honours manuscript so all is not lost today!

I’m going to listen to a podcast for research – It’s this one – and take a bunch of notes, then start my Midday Movie. 

I decided on Capturing Mary (with Maggie Smith and Ruth Wilson). I can’t say I liked the narrative too much, but the settings and costumes were lovely to look at. Also I would watch Ruth Wilson in anything. So there’s that.

image above: L/ teapot, coffee machine, toast and pot holder and R/ Capturing Mary movie promo

After that I made Corn, Bacon and Potato Chowder and a batch of ANZAC biscuits. And I bathed the dogs which they semi-enjoyed and I mostly didn’t enjoy. Peach loves a bath but Bean is not really into it. He puts up with it. He endures. The both like the after bath ritual of tearing through the grass and rolling about as much as doggily possible though. They were laughing in a dog sort of way, I swear.

You know, I was just thinking about the other day when I visited a particular shop. The lady who owns the place used to have very long hair, but on the day I popped in she was sporting new and very short hair. It looked so good. She looked like a different her. I complimented her and she told me that she was sick of colouring her hair. “It’s liberating,” she said, running her hand through her new crop, looking at me in a different her kind of way. I think about doing this a lot. I likely won’t, yet, but I see so many stylish older women with short hair getting about the place. I like seeing them.

Last night, I watched Masterchef and the contestants were doing a sort of ‘Copy Jamie Oliver Cook’. Honestly, it was so stressful. I had to turn it off for a while. People were struggling and I could not stand to see them getting so anxious. There are so few things to watch without these kinds of structures. Won’t they think of the weaklings when they edit these things? Must everything involve jeopardy? No wonder all those gentle YouTube channels are experiencing such popularity.

Did not leave the house! Win!

images above: stills from Goodbye Christopher Robin

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Thursday 2 May

The mornings are getting so much frostier in Melbourne. A very hot shower was called for and dressing quickly in front of the heater. I have a hospital appointment today (just to see the public rheumatology people about inflammatory arthritis, spinal things, hives) so I need to shake a leg and try and gather some energy. It’s definitely been a low energy week, thanks to me trying to do some ‘normal’ things like going to a concert and the pub in the same three days. That’ll teach me! Seriously though, it’s ok. I just need to not take any improvements so much to heart. I need to plod along no matter what my brain is telling me because my body is not going to be happy if I do a few out-of-the-ordinary things.

Last night I had two bowls of chowder for dinner (such a gross word … chowder … ugh!) and watched Masterchef in bed and listened to the BBC for a while and fell asleep.

Still, I woke up hungry. I think it’s the cold weather. It makes you want to tuck into all the things and tuck yourself in and just all things to do with tucking. Still super knackered so it was just peanut butter on toast and tea for breakfast. A perfectly delicious breakfast, I might add.  I watched this while I was crunching my way through my toast.

Getting dressed: Jeans, cricket jumper, grey long-sleeved t-shirt, Fairisle socks, Blundstones

I’m going to try to do a little bit of study before I go to my appointment, Just so I don’t get the anxieties about not doing enough (which I often do … get the anxieties, I mean.)

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My hospital outpatients appointment was so good. The rheumatologist was so kind and spent a long time taking my history and understanding what has been going on. I got a couple of shots in the shoulders and a treatment plan – more tests, another appointment with Kind Doctor Man and some physio down the track – so that’s super positive.

After that, I drove home, put some dinner on to simmer slowly and participated in my Honours tutorial with my classmates. No Midday Movie for me today, pals.

images above: hospital waiting room and page spread from I Leap Over the Wall

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Now I’ve just eaten my dinner – sausages and mash – and am very ouchy and need to lie down.

Also … I know these posts are a bit shorter and further-between this week, but it’s not due to lack of motivation. I’ve just been feeling crappy and not well enough to write a lot/do as much as I want to.

x Pip

Top image: Nahema Climbing Rose