All in all, a pretty BLOODY week for The Ashers…

1.  I’ve already spoken about Coco’s transfusion here. She was also in a magazine.  Here’s the link if you want to read the story of her blood stuff in “Life” (Page 8)

http://www.donateblood.com.au/files/J002%20-%20LIFE%20Autumn%202014%20LR.pdf

The hit: Coco is now all pepped up, and this time she says she received “playful” blood.  So thanks anonymous playful donor.  Love your work.

2.  I gave blood.  It all went perfectly, as it usually does.  Since contracting The Menopause my blood pressure has been kinda low, so on blood donation days I have to get all stressed up.  They take my bp, say it’s too low to donate, and then give me one more chance.  I think of stressful things (like having a Neuroanatomy exam I haven’t studied for, or not having the right shoes to match the rest of my outfit.) for a bit and then viola: 91/58 mmHg.  Amazing what a little good stress can do for ya.

The hit: I got to make a little deposit into the blood bank.  It’s good to know The Ashers aren’t always just makin’ withdrawals.

PS Did you know, 1 in 3 of us will need blood at some stage in our lives, but only 1 in 30 donate?

3.  The cat got a bloody eye, which of course I wrote all about here… She had surgery and so now we wait.  If the eye ‘deflates’ she will need a “very expensive second operation” or, as I have told the kids, we will have a very cute pirate cat.  Henceforth she will be called: Woofarrr.  All Dad jokes aside though, I have to say the vets at Noosa Animal Hospital were unreal.  I spoke to the after-hours vet at about 10pm, and I have to say, I wasn’t making much sense (as I was convinced the cat had no eye) and he was soothing and understanding and didn’t tell me to stop being an idiot once (at least not out loud).  If only we could all be so kind to one another in times of stress.

4.  We can’t go bloody camping (due to cat eye ointment applications), and seeing as there is now a category five cyclone Up North that will probably send some weather this way, it is probably a blessing in disguise.   The hit: we are dragging out the fire pit and going camping at home.  With showers.  And toilets.  And a fridge.  So, ummm, why were we going camping again?

PS Stay safe FNQlders.

5.  My Mum came to stay and look after the brats and she got sucked into cooking both nights.  Yippee for me.  The first night was a bloody beautiful (bloody) Thai Beef Salad.  How good is dinner when you don’t have to cook it?  Bloody good, that’s how good.  Thanks Mum.  You rock (AND you bring fancy wine).

Do you have any bloody hits?  Share.

…From The Ashers xx

Hi everyone… Well you know what time of the week it is: time for the Hits…

1.  The last day of school!  Hooray.  I’m saying that now, because I think we all know that by this time next week this very first Hit might be the reason why the Friday blog will be re-named Shitwave Alison.  But for now, I’m excited… Today is the Easter Festival of Fun at school, which will be followed closely by the Noosa Carnival of Crying, as Coco gets her blood taken ready for cross-matching and a transfusion next week.  (Happy holidays Kid: here you go, have some needles and a stay in hospital.)

2. On the back of that whinge, of course a massive hit for us is BLOOD DONORS.  You guys rock.  You do it even though you don’t have to.  You do it even though you’d probably rather not.  And in your doing it, you keep my kid alive.  So thank you.  More than I can ever say or repay.

If you don’t already donate, or if you haven’t done so in a while, you can check out your eligibility online here, or call 13 95 96

3.  The best chocolate shop going around…Chocl’arte.  It’s at the Harbour at Tewantin and the ladies there are unreal.  They made me up packs for the teachers with an Easter Theme.  (I’m such a doofus I forgot to take pics of them all before we gave them out, but here’s the one for Liam’s drum teacher.)

YUM

If you are a Noosonian, pop in and have a squiz.  That Harbour is a great spot to have a cuppa and a little gifty-style shop.  Just beautiful in the morning, with the added bonus of an ALL WHITE shop.  If only we didn’t have two little dirtbags living here…(and then we have the kids too..)

4.  This sign:

This week has been a bit full on, with the impending sense of doom transfusion, so sometimes it’s good to have things in your inbox or your camera roll, that make you smile.  I took this pic on holiday at Evans Head, where I said Bon Voyage to my buddy who is off on a “trip around”.  I don’t know when she’ll be back, (hopefully only a year), and bittersweet as it was, we had a ripper of a time, and even managed a bit of Veuve to split up in style.  Anyway, seeing all of those high pedestrians makes me laugh.  Good times.

5.  One of my Interweb mates, Eden.  I love her and I love her beautiful, honest writing.  She has had some bumps lately, but it sounds like she is getting some of her mojo back.  Anyway, I’m advertising on her blog this month, so hopefully some of you are reading this due to that.  If you are, welcome!  Kick off your shoes and stay a while….

And to my RRs, if you aren’t already an Edenophile, pop over to Edenland and have yourself an experience of beautiful writing.  Take tissues.

So that’s it… Happy Weekend everyone… 

What are YOUR hits?  Don’t be shy…

…From The Ashers xx

***As usual, a boring disclaimer… This is not a sponsored post… No chocolate was harmed or given as a freebie in the making of this post.  WHEN? WHEN WILL I GET FREE SHIT?

Okay everyone, have at the hits:

1.  This book:

SO good

I don’t really want to even tell you about it, because I am insanely jealous that I didn’t write it, but I must. I underlined so many passages, I don’t even know what bits to tell you about.  Just get it.  And read it.  It is a thing of beauty.

PS I don’t usually do book reviews because it reveals too much about my heart, but this time I’m compelled.  So I’m making it compulsory reading as your blog assignment. GO.

2.  These Espresso Martinis.  I made them myself, thanks to the explicit instructions from the QT Sydney, and they were goooood.

Made by me. And god knows I don’t make many things..

3.  This view:

Check out that … beer

I know everyone talks about the view from the other direction, but you can have that, with the shitty bridge in the way- this side is the business.  With the added bonus you get of walking through The Rocks and sitting with an excellent beer on the roof of this bar:

4.  This dude:

I guess I’ll wanna name drop, and write you a post about what he was like, sometime.  But for the moment, let me say that the dude was grouse, and exactly like he is on telly.  And he got this  motley lot together again, and THAT is a good thing.  Warms my heart.

I hope my husband wasn’t giving J.O. the bunny ears*..

5.  My Mum.  She looked after the kids and the cat all weekend, whilst we explored Sydders and wined and dined to our hearts’ content.  Shame one kid had a cough and the cat had a urinary tract infection and was pissing all over the floors.  Who’d be a parent, eh?

* He was

…From The Ashers xx

Here’s the hits of the week, kids:

1.  UNREAL not weather here all week. Low 30s.  So good.  Beat it Autumn.

2.  Candles.  Don’t you just love ’em?  I try to light them every night with dinner.  I know, fancy.

3.  Crownies (Now called Janet King)  is back on tv.  Ripper.  I’ve been wondering where it had gone.  Perfect for my Thursday night kick-back, after a big work day.  And whilst I’m on about good things on the ABC, don’t forget The Moonies on Wednesday nights: Pisser.  Plus: another ‘Agony’ show is coming up: The Agony of Modern Manners, starting next Wednesday… Dunno if it will be any good, but it’s worth watching just to hear Adam Zwar’s dulcet voice-overs.

Just call me TV Week.

4.  Dan Sultan’s letter about March in March.  Could I love that guy any MORE? (I swear he is singing Sorrowbound to me… Even though Nath says it is to him…)  Plus: he has a new album AND did Live at the Wireless last Friday.

5.  This. In here.  It’s 9pm and I’ve just finished work, and I think I earned this today… A delish coldie whilst I write you this blog…

Beer + Blog = Ace

Happy Weekend to you all…  The Adult Ashers are off to the big smoke this weekend for dinner with a famous person… See you on the other side, and I’ll tell you all about it…

….From The Ashers xx

Buckle up people, here’s some hits here for you…

1.  This coffee:Most every day I thank my intelligence and good sense (Or maybe it was just the pic of George Clooney with his ‘come hither’ eyes) for buying a Nespresso machine.  To all you coffee aficionados with your Gaggias and your, um, some other fancy coffee machines, I say: piffle.  In under a minute I can have a smooth and tasty coffee delivered to my mouth, with no cleaning up. I love you little pods.

2.  This meme:

The internet cracks me up sometimes.  I don’t know why, but this one just makes me giggle.  Not only the stupid face Leonardo is pulling, but the fact that someone has taken some stills and gone to the trouble of making this.  What a strange and wondrous world we inhabit.

3.  All of you readers.  I love that you take the time to read, and sometimes to comment on my jottings.  I love doing this blog thing, and even though I know it’s self-indulgent and meandering, I love how you guys are taking the time to come along for the ride…

4.  The Little Fiddlers concert at school this week.  Yes, that is their name.  And yes, they all play violins (with a couple of cellos and double bases) and yes, they are all “very talented”.  Read that bit however you see fit.  My ears may have been assaulted, but the cute factor made it all worthwhile.  Doncha just love how kids of a certain age have no real self awareness, so that have no self consciousness either?  They played, we clapped, so they must have been awesome.

5.  The weather.  Shhh, don’t tell The Sunshine Coast it’s Autumn.  We are going to hit the low 30s again here on Sunday and Monday, and I for one, could not be happier.  Warm sun and not much humidity.  That’s what I’m talking about.

So how about you, got some hits?

What’s the weather like at your joint?

…..FROM THE ASHERS… XXX

It’s that time of the week, so here are the hits people:

1. I never thought I’d say it- usually I’m all Heckle and Jeckle about it, but finally, we got some rain up here.  I can see some tiny shoots of light green peeping around the brown of the lawns.  The Lily Pillys have lifted their heads.  Some of the tacky humid salt air has been washed away.

2.  I got a ticket to the Problogger Seminar all the way over there in August.  Seems like a strange thing to do, especially so far away, but I did it, and I’m weirdly excited, without even knowing why.  That’s a lot of posts that need to write themselves to justify the weekend.  Shhh, don’t disturb me: Typing.

3.  Little Cove.  I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: you, my friend, are the best beach in the known world.  Except on high-tide.  Then you suck.  But otherwise: the CEO of Awesome.

No filter: this is the actual water colour…

4.  My new runners.  Hahaha just joking.  They also suck, because they represent almost two hundred bucks of potential pain.  You can stop looking at me right now shoes.  Back in your box.

5.  Thai fish cakes from The Seafood Market at Noosa Junction.  A delicious dinner for an inspired* chef, such as myself.  Heat ’em up, chuck with salad and a dipping sauce, and you are the Home Maker of the Week (voted by me).

*And by inspired, I mean shithouse.

So, tell me your hits…