A Long Weekend

 

12 Viewway, Nedlands, WA

(It’s been a while since my last post so I'm going to cover last weekend in this post, and then the current weekend in a separate post next)

Last weekend was the long weekend. As per usual in such situations, my ambitions for the amount of organising and cleaning I would achieve were unrealistic (and unrealised), although I did do a bit of work in the back garden to better display my various glass garden things (below).  I also spent a fair bit of time watching Bridgerton in my studio whilst making glass. I never did do the giant sorting of my clothes that I was intending. Oops.

My big birds

Yellow flowers

Cactus

We had a dinner for Suzy a few days before she departed back to Melbourne. She is there now and seems to be settling down well. She loves her room - sent us a video, from which I have extracted a few photos, below. The room is huge, with its own bathroom, and she's enjoyed getting it all set up. She also seems to be doing well socially, yay. A few hiccups with her course, but I believe she's getting things sorted. Its her birthday next weekend - our "baby" will be 20!!

Dinner out with Didi and kids to say bye to Suzy

Suzy filming her bedroom

Large bed

Study desk

Little cupboard

The long weekend began with Friday night (27th) drinks, which was a great start. About 15 of us went to Garum to say goodbye to two of our many work visitors.

Then on Saturday, after swimming, pilates, gardening and glass-making, the main event was Sue's 60th birthday. Sue and Jonathon paid for us all in bookclub to have dinner in a fancy Japanese restaurant in Mosman Park. It was quite an experience - we all sat and watched the Chef as he did tricks, made jokes, and even did a round of "Japanese basketball" (throwing pieces of chicken at us to catch in our mouth - only Sue and Jonathan successfully caught theirs!). I read my poem "Inner Sue" to everyone - which is about how I marshall my inner sue to get myself motivated to do chores (I'll paste it at the bottom). After dinner we had drinks at Rodney's. A fun evening!

Sue and Jonathon

At Rodneys

Sue catching her chicken!

Liz attempting to catch the "basketball"

The Chef cooking up a storm

Sunday was a gentle day, with a bit of a sleep in. In the evening it was Gillian's 50th at the Subiaco Hotel. Her son Ed, who is Suzy's age, gave a lovely heart-felt speech. Chatted to Gill's parents, lots of UWA colleagues, and also her new in-laws (artists from Denmark).  

Gill saying a few words

Pretty in pink - me, Pat, Daniela, and Tracy (I think)

And then Monday was a day off.... Jane popped around and we chatted whilst I worked on Nas's glass present (a 'thank you' for organising mother-daughter walk for the past ten years!). I kept intending to do some work but couldnt bring myself to do so.. 

Monday evening, Mark and I went to the movies to see Fackam Hall, which was silly but enjoyable to watch a movie without working on my computer :-)

Even more than weekends, I love long weekends!

Glass piece that I worked on. Not sure if I should do more with it or leave as is...

Inner Sue 

(for Sue’s 60^th Birthday)

 

Its Saturday and I’m feeling merry.

Tucked up in our cozy sanctuary.

Floating in dream world, half asleep

I want to drift in bed forever, counting sheep….

 

But I’m surrounded by piles of mess ten feet high!

Insurmountable loads of washing to get dry.

A hundred weekend tasks and errands to run

An overwhelming list of things to be done!

 

It’s time to call on my Inner Sue.

My imaginary friend who coaches me on what to do

Inner Sue shouts “Sharon - get up, be strong!”

Chop chop, this wont take long!”

Inner Sue puts an end to my passivity

I’m transformed; a whirlwind of efficient activity!

 

Now we’re in Dunedin, at The Shed

And once again I can’t get out of bed

Real Sue has long gone off to explore,

We’re sleeping off wine from the night before…

 

But we’re in a new country, so much to see and do!

There’s places to go and views to view!

Mean time we’re sleeping through and missing lots

of seals and hills and hikes and albatross.

 

It’s time to call on Inner Sue

My imaginary friend who coaches me on what to do

Inner Sue says “Sharon! The time for sleep has passed”

The sun is shining but it will not last!”

Inner Sue gets me up and away

Enjoying this beautiful New Zealand day!

 

Back at work now, and chaos reigns,

There’s broken pipes and blocked drains,

Tax to pay, weeds to pull, overflowing bins

Bookclub book not read, the tip of the iceberg of my sins

 

But I just cant get anything proper done!

I’m watching season 2 of Bridgerton.

Lady Whistledown’s identity is still concealed,

Just one more episode and all might be revealed!

 

I do my thing and call on Inner Sue

My imaginary friend who coaches me on what to do

But Inner Sue says “Go away Sharon, I’m now retired -

I’m sick of trying to get you inspired.

I’ve got gardening, trees to save,  and Jonathon to keep in line,

No time to make things happen in your mind!

 

Weeks of sloth ensue, there’s roaches and slime

Despair has set in, and dust and grime.

But then I have an inspiration…

In the form of digital transformation.

 

Generative AI comes to the rescue.

I make myself a Pseudo Inner Sue!

A digital twin programmed to keep me on track.

Perpetually prompting me to clean up my act.

 

It’s so easy that I make a whole suite

of Pseudo Inner Sues to keep up the heat.

I’ve got Inner Sue bots that won’t let me divert,

from washing, diet, exercise -even making dessert.

In fact, I can spare one if you are struggling too….

Would you like a Pseudo Inner Sue to motivate you?