Watch this space..

Oh dear web log, how I have neglected you!

It has been so long since I've darkened my blog's doorstep that I'm sure there must be virtual cobwebs growing in it's pages and I had to think long and hard about my log in password.

But this does happen when I am inundated with 'other' writing, namely paid work for glossy magazine. That has taken precedence lately over blog and diary writing. BUT, the creative tap-tap-tapping will resume today, so am corralling thoughts in an attempt to channel more thoughtful entries for this writing precinct.

The magazine officially went to print today (I think) so it is all done and dusted.

Other exciting news includes a shortlisting for the NT Literary Awards (yes, OMG! sounds big, doesn't it?)for a travel story I wrote on a day trip M and I embarked upon to a ranch outside of Buenos Aires last year. It was such a lovely day, and I wanted to write the story and find it a home, but I did wonder if it would translate to those who didn't experience it. So anyway, it is incredibly cool that I have been shortlisted.
The awards on are 13 May.

This weekend, last weekend, today

After a busy week and late nights, I am longing for days at home, soaking up our little kingdom. Time to fooster around the house and yard, time to read and sleep and be.

This weekend holds a Valentine's Day retreat for me and my beloved. A trip to Kakadu for a sunset picnic at Ubirr (weather permitting), overnight at Jabiru then an early morning walk at Gubara near Nourlangie.

Last Saturday we visited a garage sale, spent $15 on a tent, a camping mattress, book and yoga bolster. M set up the tent on his freshly cut lawn in the afternoon while I wrote and watched him from the window. A big storm last night tested the tent's resilience, but it came out on top.

Today brought news of a trip to Alice Springs at the end of March. Will try and add a few days either side to see some more of this part of the world.

January 2010

My beloved favourite writer every, JD Salinger, passed away last week. I re-read 'For Esme - with Love and Squalor' in commemoration. The papers were full of feature articles musing on whether his unpublished canon will soon appear. Part of me would love to read every single word that the man has written, but I also feel like it would be a slight betrayal considering his refusal to publish for so many years, despite admitting that he still writes prolifically.

Spent last week on hols in Queensland to visit new flaxen-haired nephew Sam. The week was a wonderful blur of restaurants, wine, family, drinking coffee and bobbing in the ocean. We were in Brisbane for four days, then Coolum for three. Arthur joined us on the trip, and flew down in a cargo box - quite comfortably it seemed. He emerged unscathed and mostly unphased by the experience, scooting out of his box, sniffing around and lifting his leg. I was definitely more stressed for him than he was. I think I projected my own claustrophic inclinations on Arthur, afraid of being cooped up in a box in the cargo hold of a plane for four hours. But he shrugged these fears off and managed the journey with aplomb. Well, as much aplomb as a small, odd looking terrier cross can have.

Now back in the Top End. Back at work. Ready to start the year with gusto and energy. Lots of plans afoot.

We should be millionaires...

I'm not sure whether to blame it on the damp air from the wet season or the storm-related power surges, but both our washing machine and television blew up within two day of each other. Both had had a good run; we bought the machine from a friend who left town months ago, and the television was given to me by a presenter from work when I moved into my lady shack and I've watched it for nearly a year now perfectly.

Concerned by the mounting pile of wet, dirty washing and the thought of not being able to watch the daggy Christmas specials on television over the silly season, we priced new models. To our horror, both were around $600 each.

M happened to mention our plight to a mate, Smithy, who has been in Darwin for a long time, and possesses infinite wisdom in the field of new and secondhand. He suggested a bloke from Palmerston who refurbishes washing machines and dryers for a fraction of the cost, so we looked him up. The next day, they delivered a secondhand Simpson 5.5kg machine, in perfect working order for only $175! I felt very impressed and smug with our cleverness as I proceeded to wash seven loads of laundry.

Coming home from yoga on Saturday morning, M met me at the door saying he had a surprise. I walked in and saw a television, bought by M from a lawn sale around the corner for $50!

Hooray! We wash and watch again.

This time next week..

Looking down the barrel of Christmas (or 'the festive season' to be politically correct); it rolls towards me like a giant snowball (in Darwin?) picking up everything in its path, including me. I feel like my life has suddenly increased in pace significantly since December arrived, and my days are a frantic procession of jobs being ticked off, presents being bought, trips to the post office and dishes being washed. And now, suddenly, it arrives next week!

Just signed up to the library and checked out four books for four weeks. My summer reading list includes: 'Experience' by Martin Amis, 'Boy' Roald Dahl and 'On Writing' by Stephen King. Currently devouring 'Wuthering Heights', a birthday gift from M last year and a large heavy tome which I must rest on my knees in bed, such is its weight.

Treating myself to an early mark this afternoon and heading to a media screening for the new film, Bran Nue Dae with M and RM and AMMM from work.

Will miss the family on Christmas Day. But M and I have loads of fun planned including the tradition of champagne breakfast on the foreshore with mates and a big slap dash lunch, then siesta and walk on the beach. Arthur will get a fat ham bone to gnaw on, tied with a red bow.

Back

Back to work.

Back to the heat. And now the rain!

Back to my dog who has regrown his blonde mop and has put on kilos in our absence.

Back to see my articles in Resident, which was lovely, plus my feature in R4YL.

Three days in Sydney for marketing conference turned into 1.5 days at marketing conference and 1.5 days in Sheraton Darling Harbour spending time bent over toilet or lying in bed groaning. Darling Sarah traipsed over the bridge in her high heels armed with Buscopan. Ended up getting a big needle in my bottom from the hotel doctor.

All is better now though, thanks to returning to M in Darwin and chocolate ice cream under the fan.

And now its raining!

Acclimatising

Back to the steamy Top End with a case of jet lag and a sense of new beginnings. Have spent the last few days resting, reading, washing, and cleaning the house and yard from top to bottom. We've felt a tad lethargic; something to do with the jet lag and the heat. I've been going to yoga every day and we're detoxing from the carbo overload in Argentina. Miso soups and vegetables along with twice daily walks with Arthur.

I've been thinking a lot about next year and the things I'd like to achieve. The trip to Argentina has inspired me to learn Spanish properly and so enrolling in a course and getting together to practice regularly with a group is high on my list of priorities.

The magazine came out the day after we arrived home and I bought three copies, poring over them as I waited at the post office. It was so great to see my name and photo in print in the contributors section and the stories have turned out fabulously.

So good to see Arthur. He has been chewing his foam mattress to bits while we've been away so I went to Spotlight and bought some grey fabric with paw prints to make a pillow case for him. We went to the Salvos on our street and found a cool red sheet which I used for the other side of the pillow case. It looks so great and A-man loves it. M and I are talking about going into business with them; one of our many schemes.