Procrastinators Unite
It took a month of hard work but it was worth it.
THE AUDIT – National compliance for a national service, no getting around it.
How I stopped worrying and learned to love the audit…
- The house was cleaned within an inch of its life;
- Those damnable blackberries, once the bane of my life, were lifted, carted, destroyed and the garden pristine;
- The paper stack, once a large unruly tower in the shed threatening to topple, was tamed;
- The eyebrows neatly tucked, plucked and tidied, frame my face as they always should;
- The once onerous task of wardrobe declutter, seemed a joy;
And they were just maintenance issues… I also managed to deal with:
- Fixing the kitchen cupboards,
- New, better, spot for bins,
- Arranged carpet cleaners,
- and window cleaners,
- Got guys in to fix the door handles and locks,
- Conducted an annual planning process,
- Set out on new website revamp…
Though I knew I was in trouble when I found myself with a paint brush in my hand – time to wise up, when was that bloody audit?
Avoidance, procrastination, delay, distraction, re-sheduling, carelessness, re-prioritising, idleness – whatever you call it, it works out the same. Why do it today when you have until the last minute – even then you can usually squeeze a bit more – get an extension, take a sickie, forget to include an important bit (they’ll chase you up later), it goes on for those experienced in the art. And it always works out doesn’t it? Always gets done?
My lesson was learnt alright – the only thing that gets my life on track is a good deadline! As Anon said perfectly “The sooner I fall behind, the more time I have to catch up.”
I challenge the non-procrastinators to stop swanning about in their “look at me I got it done early” fashion, and bow to the power of the procrastinators – who not only get it done everytime, but get everything else done as well!
Bali, Bali, Bali
This time next week I will be sitting by (or in) the pool, gasping at the heat and excitedly awaiting the arrival of my four sisters, sister in law and three nieces (and the arrival of my Bin Tang and spring rolls, yum)!
I’ve been planning this trip since the middle of last year, reason? I turned 50 in January and we always do a bit of a girls ‘thing’ for our 50th’s. Going to Bali is pushing the benchmark quite far out, but somehow it has come together!
That is of course if you don’t include the fact that none of my ‘party’ is actually traveling with me, it seems we are like the ‘royals’ never traveling on the same aircraft!
Oh and, managing a bit of drama from partners who can’t believe they are not coming too! So; flights booked, passport out, run vacuum over the dusty suitcase, dig out musty summer clothing for washing/ burning (oh dear shopping?), waxing & spray tan appointments (must be rid of blue tinge to skin before I go, so I can try to trick the canny traders into believing I’ve been there for weeks).
Hmmm, now I’m thinking about my last trip to Bali, about 10 years ago. I went with my beautiful friend, Dora. We had both just met the men we would both marry within the next couple of years…aaahhhh!
Reaaaaaaadddddyyyyy lets goooo
Aunty Beads xxx
Weeds Still by Aunty Verve
There is so much beauty…
cloud data
These works are from an exhbition with images reflective of data used to create weather maps.
It was held at Space 22 and featured video projections through banners with weather maps,
throwing shadows across the walls, people stepping between, becoming the image shadow.
Please specify a Flickr ID for this gallery
Weeds by Aunty Verve
I honestly don’t know the difference sometimes,
but these were gorgeous, reds, yellows and
fabulous greens…
and as I was moving out I simply
had to take them with me somehow….
Love Aunty Verve xx
‘this is not a holiday camp you know!’
this was Dad’s favourite saying when we were growing up was
which he would say every time he found us not ‘working’… so every few minutes… however his concept of ‘holiday camp’ has changed a lot over the years, especially since he retired.
Okay mum and dad were heading interstate for a holiday…
Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2011 20:35:16 +1000
Subject: airport antics
- mum and dad go to maccas for breakfast so they didn’t dirty the kitchen
- they arrive at the home of Aunty Mod beeping the horn, they are half an hour early (and it is bloody early)
- ‘did we get you out of bed?’ the standard greeting no matter what time they arrive
- ready to go; then text from Aunty Verve saying ‘make sure you go in with them’ (aka doing an Aunty Lush)
- half an hour into the drive mum exclaims she has left her photo id at home
- when asked where ID was at home so I could get a scan to airport she says “I’m not telling you THAT” (reader reminder: she is my mother!)
- when parking the attendant tells me through window where to park, mum and dad BOTH enter conversation with attendant (reader note: they both still have strong Irish accent after 60 years in oz)
- mum and dad do cute ‘we don’t know what you are talking about’ to airport staff who allow them through without ID
- dad’s bag gets ‘pulled’ at security – turns out he has a pair of scissors in his bag!!
- dad orders beer at bar then explains he has been carrying those scissors for 50 years since he cut John Hughes hair – “do you remember Mary?”
- at various stages they both offer me money (for parking; for a muffin; for son or daughter; for return…) of course I don’t take it Aunty Darling!
- find gorgeous pictures of other Aunty’s children in Dads wallet… other Aunties – Aunties that aren’t right here…
- mum says I’m her favourite, she then waves me away as I try to get it on video
- waiting to board mum says “we can wait til last, then they will call us… “Will that beautiful woman in black coat and the old fucker with her please now board” (her words not mine)….
One of the Uncle’s was anointed to pick them up!!! I was exhausted…
What’s in a bag? Everything…
A woman’s relationship with her bag is complicated, literally full of personal baggage. When we plaintively proclaim, “what will I wear” (for it’s a statement, not a question)… we include ‘the bag’ in that, not specifically mentioned mind you, but implicit.
Some women can play the bag field with ease, switching, proudly, between bags. I’m old school, use one until you are done, and then, and only then, move on.
I have been using a very faithful brown leather satchel style bag for three years. It was a long relationship, love at first sight. Stylish, functional, enough space, lovely long across the body strap… We were made for each other. The end came eventually, not one particular moment, no arguments, just a general falling out of love, I had changed and grown, my bag had not… such a shame, we were really great together.
I felt the need to update… But how? I was so out of practice… And I had so been in love… it felt wrong…
I had to go to the font of all bag knowledge… Mum. She told me in no uncertain terms: “Bag attachment is dangerous darling, it will limit freedom and fashionable women simply cannot contain themselves or their ‘look’ to one bag… REGARDLESS!”
She went on… “There are different kinds of bags; handbags, and evening bags, bag-bags, work-bags, purse bags, meeting bags, lunch bags, not to mention the summer and winter bag. How many bags do you keep?”
I didn’t understand the question; I was still thinking about the seasonal bag phenomenon… “Where have you been girl? I brought you up better than that.”
She continued… “Consider what you carry! If it’s just lipstick, cash and keys go for a purse bag. If you carry a purse and phone as well, then it’s a bag-bag you are after no doubt. If it’s hands-free shopping, and it should be darling, then you certainly need a small front pocket and across body strap. Let’s go.”
She took me to her favourite bag shop, and introduced me to the owner, who welcomed her by name. I tried on a couple to no avail “Too boring, too brown, too square, too small” Mum said, “but what about this one?”
She held up a lovely black bag with a beautiful embroidered 70s style scene on the front. “Too big” I said to her. “Just try it on” she said. I did and it was love at first sight. I have now accepted I am our mothers daughter, and I am a bag-girl, but how soon is too soon to start looking for another bag?
love Aunty Mod
