Don't disturb ... I am absorbing reality.

Have I told you about my love of certain Reality TV Shows? The ones that mix reality TV with renovation?

I am soooo excited that The Block will be airing it's new 2012 season on Monday night. There will be no guessing where I'll be @ 7pm. Actually, just in case of unscheduled catastrophe, I will be setting to record so I don't miss it, and can even watch it again to get me through to the next episode.

When 2011 season of The Block ended last year, it was like saying goodbye to old friends. My friendships have continued online though, having discovered the Facebook page of Polly and Waz , Rod and Tania, Josh and Jenna, Katrina and Amie. Even more exciting was discovering part-way through 2011 that Katrina is an avid blogger, and I have been following her ever since. She is one cool chick that has many talents.

So, this season will introduce 8 more couples, whom, no doubt, I will welcome into my lounge room each week and grow to love.I will get inspired by their passion and drive, their skills and sometimes lack there of. I will get sucked into the game of reality TV, and take sides in disputes. I will have an opinion on the style and design of each couple and eagerly agree, or dispute the judges weekly pick. I will marvel in the transformation of each home before my eyes, and the growth of each personality.

Scott Cam and Shelley will greet me as each episode opens, and I will settle back in the cushions, and exhale deeply. Nobody dare speak, walk in front of the TV, knock on my door or call my phone. Committing such sins during me viewing an episode of The Block 2012 will incur harsh consequences.

I hope you enjoy it too.

To whet you appetite I will leave you with The Block 2012 promo.

I like to dream

I like to dream. About things that most likely may not happen.

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Is it silly to waste my time, thinking of something out of my reach? Not for me!

I like to dream about houses. Ones out of my budget.
This has been a part of me since childhood.
My parents still have sketchbooks of mine with picture upon picture of house plans. The house plans show furniture and the gardens are landscaped.
I love looking at house plans and pictures of the finished product. I even like changing the house plans to suit my situation. I think this has boosted my creativity and imagination skills.

I also love renovating shows. Whether it be the shows that change one room, or the shows that start with a mess and come out with a masterpiece. I love the garden reno shows too. As well as the auctions shows and shows of people looking to buy a house. I love them all. Is it silly to be so infatuated by something that may never be mine. I don't think so. To dream is to live in hope. To keep the imagination alive.

Did you know that there are many suggested benefits to daydreaming?
It is said that daydreaming can be thought of as a form of meditation. Taking the mind away from current issues and thoughts.
The more you daydream, the more you may see the possibility of making your dreams happen.
Daydreaming can also help to find solutions and brainstorm.
Daydreaming is a way to boost your mood by taking yourself to a happier, nicer place.

What do you like to dream about?

Grateful .... that things can be fixed

This week has been interesting to say the least. I felt like I was literally running from one errand to another. Bills were coming in the mail as I was paying others and putting them away. And things broke .... but thankfully, were repaired.

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When we moved into our house and did a complete renovation in 2001 (where did that time go?) we installed a new oven in our new kitchen. The old kitchen really wasn't usable, as was the case with some other areas of the house - but that's a whole other story. Our oven has been great and the ceramic cook top still looked schmicko - until I opened the cupboard above and a glass bottle leaped from the shelf in an attempt to escape, and bounced straight onto the glass. It was one of those moments when you squeeze your eyes shut and hope that when you open them it's all OK. But alas, there were several cracks sprouting out from the "crash site".  I was quite amazed,and oh so happy that we could order a replacement top which hubby cleverly installed.

Moving on...

How many times do we drive the same roads, to and from our usual pit stops? Sometimes, we arrive and wonder whether we could have paid more attention, forgetting going past the petrol station or through that roundabout. I'm not going where you think I am, SO PAY ATTENTION.
This particular afternoon I was paying attention, as I should be and practicing my defensive driving.
I saw a car creeping forward out of a lane way into the main street on which I was travelling. I kept my eye on them and even moved closer to the centre white line to allow for the front of the car. But alas the lady somehow didn't see my car (which was right in front of her at this point) and kept driving onto the main street and into the back left of my car. That sickening thud and the shake of the car caused the usual reaction from the two kids, "Mum, what was that?" The lady was most apologetic and gave me her details and told me to get a quote and she would fix up the bill, as she didn't have insurance. Ho hum!

And because these things come in three's, we'll move on ...

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We have often joked about setting Master 3 up in a padded room as he is very much a rough and tumble boy.  We try not to be too precious about the house and furniture, but have rules about what is allowed to happen in the house. Despite his hyper activity and the love of swinging things around, we have somehow managed to avoid major disaster. So when hubby called me at work, and offered me "bad news or bad news" I just put my head in my hands and waited for the inevitable. Of course, my question was "what has he done now?" In Master 3s defense he hadn't been doing much at all, and the thought that he may get in trouble sent Miss 7 into a spin to quickly fabricate a great story involving people passing by. Master 3 had managed to crack the bottom pane in the front window with his bum, as he leaned against it bumping back and forth. The crack was quite large (and reminded me oddly of the one on the cook top) but not being happy with his effort, later Master 3 curiously bumped his bum against the window again but, alas, this time the cracks increased and the middle of the window fell out onto the front lawn. Hubby and I looked at each other at this point and turned and left the room. Hubby called our trusty glazier who's number we keep handy. He arrived to pop in a new pane of glass and he and Master 3 had a chat and caught up on the gossip since his last visit.

At the end of the day the above story is really just that. A story to tell, as it didn't really cause too much of a bump in our week, and was fixed with a couple of phone calls and cash.