A Time To...

Well, it really isn't a good time just right now. I really do feel really cheesed off and of course there isn't a punching bag nearby, I can't go and yell in the back yard (the neighbours would think I was a crazy old bat) and I'm too old to flounce and lose my temper so I'll just have to take it out on here.

Warning
This is a rant so if you don't wanna read and hear me whinge then I suggest you skip this post and go make yourself a nice, hot cup of tea.

Well now, don't say you haven't been warned. It all started off the other day, I was on a forum, someone asked about presents and mentioned Christmas, asked for suggestions. People offered suggestions, I gave this, we gave that, you know the kind of thing, then one suggested several things, a number of which were really OTT expensive - think plasma tv, chopper rides, kitchen items costing hundreds of dollars each, expensive courses. (These weren't the actual items but are in a similar price bracket).

I was flabbergasted and I'm thinking how commercialised Christmas has become, and quoted the three (OTT expensive) things and asked what happened to the meaning of Christmas and has it now become about buying expensive presents and spending hundreds of dollars?

Then a few hours later that one tells me to get off my high horse and then goes on about how she said presents and didn't say the pagan solstice festival I call christmas, (note - not even a capital letter for the word Christmas) then has the gall to say I'm comparing a single income with kids and grandkid(s) with 'dinkys' who only had each other to buy for. Blah, blah, blah how much he likes his ring/watch/whatever more of the same etc.

Sheesh, where do some people get off with having tickets on themselves? So alright, I have mentioned I have children and yes, I've said I have grandchildren, it's not a great big secret. But gee whiz, there's no need to carry on like a two bob watch. Much as I wanted to type off something in a flurry of fingers on the keyboard and tell her what she could do with a pineapple, I knew getting angry and saying nasty things achieves nothing and anyway, that's not my style.

After giving it some thought I did respond in what I thought was a dignified manner, without getting rude or nasty. I qouted the bit about getting on one's high horse and the bit about finances, incomes 'dinkys' etc. Then wrote that I wasn't on my high horse and I didn't think that I was better than anyone else - that's what the meaning of the phrase is - and if somebody said something I didn't agree with, I hoped I'd have enough courtesy and  good manners not to make pointed or personal remarks about what I thought somebody's financial or family situation was.

I wasn't prepared for the avalanche which followed - Oh please, if you chose to bring money into it and make a comment implying that I'm only buying presents because they are are, to you, expensive - of course I'm going to comment on it because it's not comparing like with like, and you do this on a board where you post a lot about yourself...well suck it up princess

In the words of Hermione Granger.."What. an. idiot."

Then of course we have those in the "select" little clique who always seem to come out and have their own bit of loveliness to add. Like Yes, and frankly it doesn't matter what so-and-so (me) thinks since she's not invited to my family home for Christmas.

Well Doh! Even Homer Simpson could have worked that one out. Not to mention there is an ocean or two in between. Anyway, that little remark (about not being invited) prompted someone to say, Ahh the smell of Christmas spirit is in the air... nothing like Christmas to bring out the best in people!

I tell ya, it's better than watching boring soapies on the telly.


You know something? It never ceases to amaze me how the people who are the favoured few can say things and and that's alright, but if somebody else were to say the same thing, the pack of the elite all band together and jump down your throat. I've witnessed this a few times. One person I quite like posted about something that happened at her work and oh boy oy vey... you shoulda heard the catty remarks that came forth - she had committed the unpardonabloe sin of not being one of the "clique" you see. Same thing has happened to some others as well. Another time the nastiness that was directed at someone was horrifying and a few people remarked on it - the amount of venom that spewed forth combined with a complete disregard and utter lack of emotion. It made my head spin.

I came upon this phrase - Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level and I thought how appropriate. It was Quentin Crisp who coined that little pearl of wisdom and it made me laugh.

Well I think I've worked it out of my system now, I actually started writing this before today and wasn't going to click "publish post", but then I added some more and thought why not? It's probably good for one's equalibrium to get it off one's chest rather than bottle it all up inside where it festers. So, I'll finish this and have my tea.

Turning Sad into Happy

Ever had one of those days when you feel sort of miserable? When you feel disappointed? Well. today I turned disappointment into un-disappointment. I'd planned on going to the farmers market, primarily to buy free range eggs then go up to Kinglake to get a lambskin steering wheel cover from a little country shop, and over to a place where you can bottle your own spring water. Today came I didn't really feel like going anywhere - weather was cool and miserable. Anyway, son asked for a lift to the station so I thought if I'm going to be driving, I might as well go out as I'd planned.

So, driving along I felt sort of sad and depressed, arrived at Yering and all the free range eggs had gone. Disappoiuntment No 1. Thought I'd buy one of the delicious shepherds pies. Disappointment No 2 - none left. Drove up to Kinglake, the shop is closed until next month - Disappointment No 3. Took out my Thermos and made a cuppa tea - it started raining, the weather had turned nasty. Thought I'll buy a nice hot pie. Disappointment No 4 - no ordinary meat pies left. Had sausage rolls instead. Decided to forget about bottling spring water - driving an extra 50 odd kms on a cold and rainy day wasn't worth it.

Started on my way back and stopped a few times to photograph the Ranges. Stopped at a country general store where I'd bought a cup of tea last year, just to say hello - she didn't remember me of course as I would have been just one of many customers. To my surprise, I started feeling better. Driving along I saw a sign "Lovegrove Winery" and thought why not? So in I went.

Lovegrove Winery Estate

The sun had come out and the scenery was just lovely. I enjoyed a spot of wine tasting. Knowing I had to drive, I sat outside and had a smoke while taking pleasure in the scene before my eyes. And do you know something? I realised I felt better and I was glad I'd gone out today. I was really pleased that I'd stopped at Lovegrove and wondered how I hadn't seen it when I was up this way last year. I found out why at my next stop.


Winery Gardens

This was the view I had. I bought a bottle of wine (a 2005 Merlot) and asked the owner Stephen would he mind if I set a while outside with my coffee. So I drank some coffee and thought I'd better eat something. All I had was a box of cakes I'd bought at the farmers market.

Yummy Cakes

There were six - I had one of the friands. Later I saw the road sign saying "Hurstbridge" and thought to myself, hang on, where's Panton Hill? Saw a sign pointing backwards saying "Panton Hill 3)and noticed another road with "Free Range Eggs" written on the road side sign, so up this unfamiliar road I went - alas they didn't any eggs but the lady said if I cared to stop at the studio just "up there" they might have some.

Country Hens

I did and they did. The chap said they were only pullets but I didn't mind. I had my free range eggs and was happy.

Coffee Stop

Stopped here for a cappuccino - my thermos flask is small and the water long gone - and that's when I found out the reason for not seeing the winerey before. Turns out the road I drove on today is the low road and when I'd come this way before, I'd turned left and gone on the high road. Isn't it strange how the simple act of not turning left showed me different things and made my day happy? Not only did my day turn into a "good" day, I found a place where you can buy fresh eggs, and a nice winery.

Singing Syrup

The bottle of wine I bought.