Bouquets and Brickbats

Now this doesn't happen much anymore because I have seriously curtailed my blog reading (and writing) of late; but I happened over to DJ Kirkby's site 'Chez Aspy' (heh heh heh, that cracks me up) via my friend Jill over at Twipply Skwood (btw: congrats on making 'The Guy Who Knows A Song About A Chicken' into an honest man) at the precise moment that she posted THIS. No, click over, really, you have to, it's worth it! (Especially you Unka Dick and Oscar Zed!)

Well, after picking up my jaw and trying desperately to work out what was actually going on in the picture, I realised it was a caption competition, so I threw my natty, nay witty, hat in the ring! Now, I'd love to say that I won outright but awwwwwwwww, WTH, any win is a win right? And it's nice to get a bit of blog love in a time of such miserable blog paucity on my part!

Anyhoo, if you want to read some of the captions people came up with, including the pithy and yet scythingly insightful witticism from moi.....click over to here.

Meanwhile, I am on HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!! So I am about to start working on my La Jeune Fille summative post, with bonus Kangaroo Island pictures. As per usual at Chez Arizaphale, nothing goes exactly smoothly and there are plenty of stories to tell.




WHICH reminds me!




Remember I told you I was up on the roof cleaning out gutters last week? Well, having found a number of problems, I called Gutter Man and he came a visitin' on Friday. As the two of us were sitting up on the roof, examining straps and ties and flashing and whatever, No2 Son (aka 'The Obnoxious Boarder Whom We Infrequently See and Who Never Contributes Anything to The Household in Any Way Shape or Form') wandered out into the garden and looked up at me.

"Hello," he said bemusedly.

I wondered whether this was a request for information and decided I couldn't be bothered trying to figure it out as I wasn't at work and didn't have to make allowances for any crazies on my own time. Even if he is related. I smiled and waved and he went away.

Later, as we looked at the collapsed gutter on the front of 'his' verandah (the one in front of his bedroom, that's it in the picture on the right) he emerged again.
"What's going on?"
This was more promising, a question I could answer.
"We're just looking at repairing some of the guttering."
"Ah! Well, now is a good time to mention this. I was wondering if you and Dad would mind if I did an extension to this verandah, to create an area out here to entertain my friends and to do my art projects. Don't worry, I'd pay for it myself...I'd get a few mates in to help put it up..."

The loud thud that followed was my jaw hitting my knees. For moments I was rendered speechless; and then, no......I was still speechless. The trouble was there was so many things I would like to have said.

1) Why on earth would I want a jerry built verandah extension on the FRONT of a property we are trying to fix up to sell? Or live in...if we don't sell....

2) Why would I want an art 'workshop' with it's associated cigarettes, beer bottles and unwashed youth congregating out the front of a property etc etc (see above)

3) HE would pay for it? He doesn't even pay board!

4) HE would build it?????? He doesn't even clean out the gutters or put up shelves!!!!

Sometimes I think that boy is living in la la land.

He then proceeded to tell me how paranoid I was about money, based on the fact that I am paranoid about my cooking. These two things are comparable. Apparently.

And on that note I'll leave you to go and take the BA off to the Salt Mines. And I MEAN the salt mines! When she's been doing fries she comes back with it encrusted in her eyebrows :-D

An Excellent Award!

I can't believe this award! Excellent? My blog? Oh the pressure! The expectation! The swelled head!
Thank you so much to Harlekwin over at Boho Rap for bestowing this honour upon me.

She is an intelligent, creative blogger whose writing can be emotional and insightful, technical and useful, challenging and thought provoking or just plain amusing. Her incredible page designs are an inspiration although sometimes I miss a good one when she replaces it. Currently she is celebrating having moved into her 51st year with cupcakes, frogs and a challenge to the universe to give her a 'prince'!!!!!!!! An Excellent blog indeed.

Passing this award on is tough.

I mean, you could give it to everyone at some time for posts that have moved you, made you laugh or informed you. There is a certain pressure to give it to your 'fave' reads because you've grown to know and love them, there are others who deserve it but hey...they already get heaps of awards....so.....what constitutes an Excellent blog?

One of the criteria I think is variety, another is regularity of posting and a third is the ability to make you think, question and consider. Honest, quality writing is essential and clever use of photography to illustrate points and bring intimacy and immediacy to a post is also desirable. Weekly regular features give you something to look forward to and the quality of comments add to your blog reading experience.

It's rare to find all of these features in one blog. Mine certainly does not qualify.

A couple spring to mind. One is Chris in Oxford, but he already has the award so without further ado I award an E for Excellence to two very different blogs.

The first is Susie J; an inspiring read by a gifted Mom writer with many excellent photos, recipes, regular features and tabs to constant posts (look up the top).

The second is a very different kettle of fish.

Deutschland Uber Elvis is the blog of my very dear friend from the 'old' days, Headbang8. He is the least Headbangy person I know and this moniker is a clue to his well developed sense of irony! D.U.E. fulfills all my criteria but I must warn some of my more conservative readers that Headbang is a happily partnered 'late out' gay guy and with his razor sharp wit and shining intellect (you can pay me later H8) he does examine some of the issues of the gay world so if humourous and intelligent discussions of culture and sexuality offend best not click here. Being both an ex-pat American and Australian he also has a colourful vocabulary although this is rarely ever gratuitous and to top it all off dear friends, he is an athiest.

Here's a quote from his sidebar

In his blog, he discusses matters of importance to him; the interplay of cultures in the
modern world, recovery from family dysfunction, management of his harem of fag hags, his
belief in secularism, and of course, all things gay.

So, for those of you who don't mind a bit of a challenge, love good photography and appreciate clever observation of culture, language and people, Deutschland Uber Elvis is an Excellent blog.

I stand, as ever, humbled by this award myself. Thank you so much Harlekwin.

Thank You! I am Overwhelmed!!

Look what I got from Colleen! Her post on receipt of her flowers says it all but if you don't get a chance to look, I will pinch this bit

"People who don't blog don't really understand the connections that are made through blogging. The feelings of true friendship and bonding that are found through reading, commenting, and e-mailing. Through this online world you learn so much about other people... and by learning about them you seem to make realizations about yourself." Colleen: A Madison Mom

from her post.


I am really chuffed, as they say, and I'll pass some flowers on to my dear bloggy friends at

The Hipmomma's Journal: Melody

Mommee and Her Boys: Brittany

Life, The Universe and Everything: At last glance she needed a warm fuzzy.

Cheese Party: AmyJo..also in need of a hug.

Merrily Rolling: Just Rollin' along :-)

Cancio: Kim

Against the Window Pane: a new site for Dawn.


It is wonderful to be acknowledged, even if it is virtual! I value all these ladies as well as many others (but they have already received flowers and I don't want to use up all their vases :-D) for their support and friendship. Often we know more about the lives of our bloggy friends than our real life contacts.This may be a sad indictment of our society or it may just be that people we like live in other cities and countries. Who knows? I know I find myself mentioning the opinions and experiences of my blogmates in everyday conversation with 'real' people. You all seem real enough to me :-D.

So take a bouquet and know you are appreciated.

I 'd Just Like to Thank.........

Yes, yes, I have my first award!!!!

This award is given for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world.

Thank you so much to the gorgeous Brittany over at Mommee and Her Boys who has to be the epitomy of nice it must be said.

(Actually, its a bit of a cheat because I was given this one the other week by another VERY nice blogger, the lovely Melody over at The Hipmommas's Journal and I was just too thick to work out how to put it up!!! )

But duh! I figured it out...just save the image and cut and paste. Sometimes I think this blogging thing is more complicated than it is.

Now the tricky bit is...who to pass the award on to! Not tricky because I can't think of anyone....there are scores of wonderful 'nice' bloggers out there whom I thoroughly enjoy reading! The trouble is...most of them have already been awarded!!!!! :-D Which is a good thing. So I shall check my 'delicious' thingy and see which one of you deserving, hard working and inspirational bloggers has yet to be awarded with 'Nice'. Stay tuned!