These photos are from last week. I left my camera at C's parents house by accident and only got to pick it up this afternoon when we went to their house for afternoon tea. C's dad is going in for the first of a few major operations tomorrow and we wanted to give him our well wishes (and cups of tea at their house taste better than at our house).

As we were leaving, we were driving down one of the little suburban streets near C's parents house and a man pulled out of a street without looking and was so close to slamming into us it was hugely frightening. C was driving (he has his learner's) and I was sitting in the passenger seat, right where the impact would have been, centimeters away. The look on the guy's face was as if he knew what he'd just done and didn't even care - he didn't even brake, he just kept driving and we thankfully were able to swerve to get around him. When C beeped the horn at him, the man held both of his hands up in front of his eyes mock crying and pulled a face and then proceded to tail gate us the rest of the way up the street.

It made me so, so angry, I can't even describe it. Of course, I think my anger is magnified by the fact that I am responsible for a tiny person and this stranger showing so little respect for the safety of me and my baby (and my husband) made me so upset.  C being a learner driver, and this guy being so reckless and obnoxious to someone who is obviously learning to drive just magnified my anger. The guy is pretty recognisable in our town and comes into my work occasionally and I kept devising ridiculous plans of revenge in my head all the way home. I think if it came to it, the most I would really do is to refuse him service at my work (which I'm unlikely to get the opportunity to do and which would have little effect - but it's something!).

Driving used to be a big source of anxiety for me because I felt like I wasn't a very good driver and I was worried I would cause accidents. As I've gotten older and more experienced, that anxiety is still there, but I feel far less likely to be the person causing an accident, and far more anxious about how I'm going to react to other people's dangerous driving (which is often). We don't drive often, and I felt like when the baby is born my intention was going to be to walk most places anyway - I guess today's incident really reinforced that feeling for me.

Anyway, I just felt like I needed to share! I'm sure just about everyone has had one of these experiences and I know it's so hard to make yourself feel better about them! End vent! Drive safe!




Info:
+ coat: nanna's
+ skirt: thrifted about ten years ago
+ dress: a cheap pop-up shop
+ sandals: saltwater
+ belt: dotti

Ilona/Missive Maven was one of my first full-time pen pals a few years ago when I first started writing to people I knew online. Her letters are beautifully written in fountain pen, are full to the brim and have a lovely flow to them. They're a real pleasure to read and I am so grateful each time she sends me one. I have owed her a proper letter for a long time. I made this envelope to send a letter to her in so long ago that I had written my old address in the corner (I moved 6 months ago!).




Letter writing used to be a big part of my life and I would like to start writing letters again. I know that I can't write like I did a few years ago (hundreds!) or I'll burn myself out in no time, but there are a couple of people I've been meaning to keep in better contact with. Next month I am going to see if I can write a couple more letters.

...now to employ some of these ideas in my day to day life!
How about you?

+ Sleepy Atticus in one of his favourite spots. He is such a lovely cat and brings me so much joy. He is so affectionate and isn't bothered by the way you hold him or if you play with his tail or touch his paws. You can pick him up and cuddle him for hours on end. Of course, on the other end of the spectrum he is a ball of energy and runs amok a lot.


+ This week I bought this set of drawers from an opshop and painted their handles. I think it will end up being our change table (with a change mat affixed to the top). In that opshopping trip, I became the quintessential forgetful pregnant woman and locked my keys in my car in a suburb well out of the city. C was at work and thankfully the lovely opshop staff drove me into his work and back to collect his spare key. I hope this is my one and only experience of doing this! Curse having no central locking!


+ I made this little embroidery for the nursery last week and put it in a frame from the opshop that I painted. The quote is from one of my favourite Paul Kelly (and Kev Carmody) songs. The song itself is really beautiful and tells a really important part of Australian history about the fight for indigenous land rights. I thought that the quote by itself is quite sweet. I always think that if I was ever out of Australia for a long period of time I'd listen to Paul Kelly songs to remind me of home - all of the place names and cultural references in his songs and his accent and melodies are so undeniably Australian.


+ C and I went to a cat show on the weekend (they're pretty much C's favourite thing ever) and saw these very cute Siamese kittens.


+ C had to massage my hands last night before bed because they were so sore from rolling felt balls. They're pretty fun to make but do give you a bit of a work out. If you're keen to make some of your own this video is very helpful (though my method is slightly different).


+ Some of my little succulent collection. I may be one of the few people on earth who has a bad time growing succulents - mine just never seem to be very happy. They don't get too much water or too much sun - any tips?


+ We found a new print for our 'wall of sad children' in our lounge room. It had no signature on it so I uploaded a photo of it into Google and discovered that it's a Picasso print based on a painting he did of his son Paul. Even cooler!


+ An extremely sweet anonymous blog reader sent 'Squid Jagoe' a little package of lovely baby items last week. If you're reading - we are so grateful! Thank you so much!


+ Some pages from the pregnancy journal I've been adding bits to over the last few months.


+ C and I had breakfast at a new cafe in town this morning called Inside. It was pretty fantastic. A good atmosphere and lovely service and most importantly, great food and coffee.


+ Last week we came home after being out for a couple of hours and found Dexter (the black and white kitty) in one of his favourite sunny spots, looking like he was peacefully sleeping, but in fact, passed away. We have no idea what happened to him and feel especially sad because he was only a year old (and we just lost Morrissey a few months ago). He was a very sweet, quiet cat. We buried him next to Morrissey's grave in our backyard (becoming a bit of a kitty cemetery). This photo is the last I'd taken of him. He and Atticus were just warming to each other. Sad times.