Counting the Days

It has now been nine days since my piglets left me. It seems like a lifetime. Only nine little days, yet they have stretched out forever. During those nine days, they have experienced so many new things - a new culture and it's food, new people, new places, new sights and smells. During the same nine days, I have pined pathetically and missed them more that I ever imagined I would. Sure, it has been nice being 'kid-free'. DH and I have had available to us a degree of impulsiveness and spontaneity that we haven't experienced since the halcyon days of University. Have we taken advantage of this newly discovered freedom?? Aside from our jaunt to Glencoe (see post below) sadly, no. I have allowed myself the luxury of the odd sleep-in, but aside from that, it has pretty much been business as usual, except for the clamouring silence which seems to envelop the house once DH goes to work.... So, as of today, it is only two more sleeps until I get to hold my piglets again, and shower them with hugs and kisses. I am sure that, even in the space of just nine days, they will have changed. Maybe they will be a little taller, a lot more suntanned, and I am sure that this wonderful experience of travelling overseas will have widened their horizons and opened their eyes to the amazing world around us. But, changes aside, they are still my little piglets, and I can't wait to hold them once again.

Sick...

I know I have been very slack in posting for the past few days, but I have a good excuse - I am feeling INCREDIBLY lousy with a vile head cold. I think my evening of decadence (see post below) was too much for my delicate system, and I have got the worst cold I have had in a long time. As a consequence, all my plans for my 'kid free time' seem to have flown right out the window. Big spring cleaning session around the house, catching up on my Mandarin homework, exercising every day (snort, guffaw), mucking out the chook shed.... I have accomplished none of these. In fact, all I seem to have managed to achieve is a few more hours sleep during the daytime, and a couple of extra kilos (comfort eating whilst sick - I highly recommend it). So, all in all, I look like death, my head feels as if it is stuffed with green cotton wool, and everything aches. And you know the worst thing about it all?? Every time DH gets a cold (the incredibly virulent strain known as The Man Cold) I hassle him so much about being a complete sissy, that I can't let on how crappy I really feel. If I do, I will be accused of being a wuss. I really have done myself a disservice. Mental note - next time DH is sick, be a bit more inclined to dish out sympathy instead of cynicism.

An evening of decadence

Last night my DH treated me to a spectacularly lavish and opulent night away. What a treat!! Seriously, we NEVER do stuff like this, which made it all the sweeter. Since the DS and DD are safely occupied in Hong Kong with my parents, DH thought it would be the perfect opportunity for us to escape reality for a brief period and indulge ourselves in some mindless luxury. We motored up the road (in DH's sporty new boy-toy vehicle) to Glencoe B&B, about 20 minutes from our home, in the shadow of spectacular Mt Roland. Glencoe is operated by two French ex-pats, Ginette and Remi. Remi used to be a chef at the Ritz in Paris, and specialises in slow-cooking. YUM!! We arrived at about five pm, lazed about in the cosy guest lounge until we were called to dinner at seven. The menu is unique in that you don't choose what you are eating - Remi surprises you with a three course French feast extraordinaire. We started out with an entree of turkey terrine, served with ginger and pear chutney, and a fresh Waldorf salad on the side. Main course was slow-cooked beef shanks in a red wine gravy, mashed spuds and a gorgeous spinach and mushroom compote. Finally, we were treated to a luscious dessert of baked apples with lavender and fresh honeycomb. Have I made you all ravenously hungry yet??? We met up with another couple, Joy and Andrew, who were over from Melbourne for the weekend, and we whiled away the evening in the guest lounge, chatting and sipping a very tasty 2002 Stoney Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. We toddled off to bed at about 10.30, and woke up very well-rested in our gorgeous French-inspired room. So if you are ever in Tassie, and are looking for a truly special place to spoil yourself for a night or two, give Ginette and Remi a call - you won't be disappointed!

Confirmation.

The CCAA (China Centre for Adoption Affairs) updated their website yesterday to reflect the latest round of referrals. As expected (and feared) they only made it through to November 7th. SIX LOUSY DAYS (one of which was a Sunday, with no files logged in). ARGHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Now is the time to drag out that hoary old chestnut about being on a slow boat to China. By my reckoning, we may be looking at (gulp) September now for our referral. Mind you, Rumour Queen (all hail Your Majesty!) posted a table this morning with good, bad and horrid scenarios, and our 'horrid' scenario puts us at a NOVEMBER referral. Two years from when our file went to China. When you consider that, at the time our file left in November 2005, referrals were taking a bit less than six months, you can see where my frustration is coming from. I know that it is all in God's hands, and that His timing is perfect, but man I am sick of this emotional roller coaster.

For anyone who would like to email me, I have updated my profile and my email link is in there. I would love to hear from you all (or, as my Yankie friends would say, 'y'all')

I'm so excited!!!

THE REFERRALS ARE HERE!!!!!! And they didn't only cover a two day period!!! By the looks of it, people with referrals up to and including the 7th November are IN - but the 11th is OUT. So where does that put us??? With an LID of the 22nd November, we are 14 little days away. The $64,000 question, however, is how long will it take the CCAA to get through those 14 days???? I am thinking we will probably hear our super-fantastic news in August, with September being the worst-case scenario. But it is entirely possible that it may take less or more time. Aah, the vagaries and frustrations of international adoption...
Anyway, a big

to all my early November buddies who have made it this time: km98,caleeo,lilymakes5,pchelnyk,joei,boonewong,michelleoetjen, Bonybankhart,lucky#7, woopig, pinkpunch, Misterbean, frustrated, waiting2bmommy, revdaddy, Mom42B, Frankie, cutiepatootie, and Elisa P. I can hardly wait to see the pictures of your bonny babes, and experience vicarious pleasure in knowing that my time will come!

Some random meanderings.

Hidey ho all. It has been a couple of days since I last posted, due to

a) being heinously sad over the fact that my piglets are overseas and
b) because I had nothing particularly interesting to say.

However, I was just surfing through a few of the Blogs I have favourited on my computer, and found this questionnaire (thanks Trace7!) so I thought I would waste a few of my numerous spare minutes and fill it in. Enjoy!

FOODOLOGY

What is your salad dressing of choice? Paul Newman's balsamic Vinegar - yummy! Plus all profit goes to children's charities.

What is your favorite fast food restaurant? None (I have a pathological hatred of fast food outlets)

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? The Deck. Gorgeous views (right on the river) and a steak that you would kill for. Going there for lunch today with DH for some super sushi.

On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant? not applicable here in Tassie - tipping is pretty much an exclusively Yankie thing to do.

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? Cadbury's dairy milk chocolate, anything from the Deck (see above).

What is your favorite type of gum? Juicy fruit.

TECHNOLOGY

What is your wallpaper on your computer? It changes every three minutes as I don't like to be bored! Currently it is a vase of gerberas.

How many televisions are in your house? Two (but only one works!)

How do you listen to music? CD's, radio stations (ABC Classic FM is my choice station at the moment)

BIOLOGY

What’s your best feature? Mmmm, that's a hard one. My teeth maybe???

Have you ever had anything removed from your body? An IUD, about three minutes after it was inserted (apologies to anyone who has been grossed out by this gratuitous information).

Which of your five senses do you think is keenest? Smell

When was the last time you had a cavity? About five years ago . Amazing really, given my massive daily chocolate intake.

What is the heaviest item you lifted last? A bag of chook pellets for the mangy and non-egg-laying chickens.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious? yep - hit in the head with a softball in grade 8 when I was playing short-stop.

BULLSHITOLOGY

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? Nope.

Is love for real? Of course! I live it every day with my fantastic husband and gorgeous kids.

If you could change your first name, what would you change it to? When I was a kid I always wanted to be called Sandy, like the blond boy out of Flipper. These days, I think I am pretty happy with what I have.

What color do you think looks best on you? Pink.

Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake? When I was a kid I swallowed a fifty cent piece, which caused my parents some alarm.

Have you ever saved someone’s life? Not that I am aware of.

Has someone ever saved yours? yes, my friend Faith who showed me the way to God.

DAREOLOGY

Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000? Tax free? NO WAY!!!!


Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100? Maybe for a bit more money than that.

Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000? I don't think so!

Would you never blog again for $50,000? Oooh, it would be hard but maybe yes.

Would you pose nude in a magazine for $250,000? Once again, NO!! I really don't think the world needs to be inflicted with pictures of my naked self.

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000? I would give it a go.

Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000? Easy. Giving up the computer, however, would be a very different story....

DUMBOLOGY:

What is in your left pocket? A bit of fluff and an unidentifiable piece of silver paper (probably chocolate wrapper)

Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie? Never heard of it (does that mean I fail or pass the dumbology section???)

Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house? carpet and cork tiles in the wet areas. But bloody carpet in the bathrooms - this is what happens when you buy your house from two gay guys!! Carpet in bathrooms and kids just DOES NOT work.

Do you sit or stand in the shower? Stand. I must admit I have never even thought of sitting in the shower.

Could you live with roommates? I have done in the past, but gave it up as a bad job when my roommate during second year Uni had sex with my dog (not joking about this one...)

How many pairs of flip-flops do you own? None.

Last time you had a run-in with the cops? Does a fight with my sister when she was a copper count??

What do you want to be when you grow up? Grow up - NEVER!!!

Last friend you talked to? Alison.

Last person you called? My mum's best friend, Petah, to help her with some computer hassles she is having.

RANDOMOLOGY

First place you went this morning? The computer room, of course!

What can you not wait to do? Hear news of our new baby from China.

What's the last movie you saw? In the theatre - Becoming Jane. At home - The Devil Wears Prada.

Leaving on a jet plane....

At 5am today, the alarm went off and I awoke with a feeling of dread and nervous anticipation. Today was the day that I had to put my two darling kids onto a plane and say goodbye for 12 days. TWELVE DAYS!!!! This is the longest I have ever been away from them, and already my heart is breaking. As any of you who know me personally will realise, I have a morbid fear of flying, to the point of needing to be drugged out whilst on an aeroplane. So to put the two things that mean more to me than life itself onto a flying tube of death was very, very difficult. I have cried bucketloads of tears, and feel very bereft without them. The house is just so quiet......
I must be going, as today we have another very sad farewell. Our dear Pastor David is delivering his final sermon at our church today, before he and his family move to Newcastle, New South Wales. He has been a real inspiration to us all, and we will miss him terribly. Well, I am off to have a bit more of a cry - for all of you out there with kids, give them an extra hug today, and let them know how much you love them.

All hail somewhereoverchina!!!

Very early this morning (3 am, to be precise) I was lying in bed, battling the insomnia demon, when I decided to go to the computer and check to see if referrals had, by some miracle, been posted (they hadn't, by the way). Anyhoo, I noticed a message in my in-box from a VERY lovely person from the Rumour Queen site, screen-named 'somewhereoverchina'. This fabulous and very kind person was just emailing to let me know that there are (free) software programmes that can be downloaded from the Web which enable you to recover deleted images on digital cameras. Hurrah!!! I searched the Web, found a programme, and now all my kids' action shots from the kung fu competition last week are safe and sound on my hard drive. Thank you so much somehwereoverchina - you really are a legend.

TWO DAYS????????!!!!!!!

I have just dragged myself out of bed far too early, in the hope (once again) that referrals would have been posted to the US or Europe overnight. All I see on Rumour Queen is the thoroughly nauseating news that a European agency is reporting two days worth of referrals. Yup, that's right folks - TWO LOUSY, STINKING, ROTTEN, GOOD-FOR-NOTHING DAYS!!!! It is still only an R1 rumour at the moment (ie: doesn't hold too much weight) but I am just gutted. If it is true, with an LID of November 22nd, we still may be months away from our little Alice. OK - off to cry me a river now, and probably have a bit of a barf....