Boxing Day and Chill?

It’s Boxing Day in Melbourne

I awoke still full, and tired

I really should relax, and chill

But instead I’m feeling wired.

Half the house is at the cricket

The other half, still asleep

I think about what chores to do

Busy, I like to keep.

I could spend the day at home

No need for the grocery store

We’ve surely enough leftovers

To last a week, or more.

Shopping centres I'll avoid

All those Boxing Day promotions...

They can keep their discounts

All the crowds, and the commotion.  🙅

The house already had a clean

Everything’s been put away

Perhaps I should put up my feet

And enjoy this sunny day.

A comfy chair outside sounds nice

And a nap would suit me fine

But, if I’m still not relaxed...

There's always the leftover wine  🍾

Tennis - My Sport

I think back to my childhood

And all the activities I tried
Calisthenics, tennis, Brownies

Till my parents said “Please decide”

“All of this is just too much

We know you think it’s fun

But, we really can’t keep this up  

So please, Kath, just choose one…”

The decision was quite easy

It took very little thought

I settled upon tennis

(My mum’s favourite sport).

I did have coaching for a while

‘Till I was ready to play

Then I began in Juniors

Early mornings, each Saturday.

Before long, I started Seniors

You’d think I would be stuffed

But I also played midweek, at night

I just couldn’t get enough!

It wasn’t just about the sport

Or matches to be won

We all enjoyed the social side

And sure had lots of fun.  🍺

A few of us played Sunday nights

An indoor comp, we had a ball

That’s where I met my husband

You could say we scored “love all”.  🎾 💑

(We do make a good doubles pair

But have different styles, you know

He has mastered slice and spin

While I slog it, flat and low).

Later, when my kids were little

And I was between jobs

I played some midweek ladies

And soon refined my lobs!

More recent attempts to have a hit

Have caused some consternation

My brain remembers, my muscles do not

The end result is much frustration.  😣

There are many cobwebs to dust off

Before I reignite the passion

But before I play, I’ll need new clothes

My old trackies are out of fashion!

We're Out Of...

My child stares into the pantry

Then turns to me, with a pout

“Hey Mum, look at the (fill in the blanks)

It has pretty much run out”.

“Now what am I going to eat?

Why haven’t you bought more?

I thought you’d have picked some up

You’re forever at the grocery store.”

Hungry child, please have a seat

And listen closely to my story

In my head, there’s no magic list

No household invent-ory.

I really can’t keep track of

Everything that’s running low

So if you don’t communicate

Then how am I to know?

Better yet, you’ve got two legs

The store’s close - you know the way

So you can go get things yourself

(And, yes, I’ll be happy to pay).

Dear child, when things next run out

I won’t be blamed any more

Pretty soon you may find
You're forever at the grocery store!   😉

How are you today?

How is everybody doing?

I have started work on my next post 😀

My Autopilot Brain

The human brain’s a lazy beast

In terms of work, it prefers the least

Given any chance, habits will form

Much less thinking - that’s the norm!

Take my drive to work each day

“How’d I get here?” I often say

I don’t remember turning right

What colour was that traffic light?

And the left turn, way back there

I hope I did that one with care

All those road signs - I paid no heed

Fingers crossed I didn’t speed.

You see, my brain takes a little break

As if the commute’s “a piece of cake”

Believing that there’s nothing to it

Means “autopilot” gets to do it.

Please brain, stay on for common tasks

It’s really not too much to ask

Driving demands more attention

So do other things I’d like to mention.

Stay switched on when I’m going out

So I’m not left to stress about

Whether I’ve locked the front door

Turned off the iron, oven, and more.

And, wherever I go, when I get there

Come on - show a bit more care

Lift your game, please, raise the bar

So I can recall if I’ve locked the car!

Dear brain, don’t worry or despair

Just work a bit harder, it’s only fair

For now though, I will call it a day
I've forgotten what else I was going to say!

My Name

Kathryn is my given name

I save it for things formal

I really don’t mind it at all, and…

I’m glad the spelling’s not “normal”.

My parents were quite the rebels

It’s not a name from the family tree

They went for something different

Thought outside the box, for me.

My name of course get shortened

I just use “Kathy” for everyday

It serves me well for writing

For work, and also for play.

Then there’s “Kath” (I don’t mind)

Used mainly by family and friends

Us Aussies make names really short

So of course that’s not the end.

A few have gone the extra mile

And referred to me as “Kat”

I smiled and did not complain

Though I’m not too sure about that.

However...

I recall a saying my Dad often used

It may be old, yet it’s a winner

"You can call me anything you like,

Just don't call me late for dinner!"

The Write Time

Getting in the “writing zone”

Can sometimes be quite tricky

Social media, texts, emails...

Distractions sure mount quickly!

I must put aside the looming chores

And pretend they don’t exist

Flick over pages on the notepad

To avoid the "To-Do" list…

I need a space that’s perfect

Not too noisy, not too quiet

I need the right amount of light

And some snacks that fit the diet 🍎

Bottomless coffee is a must

(Or wine -  yes, I’ll have some!)

If conditions are just right

Then, maybe, the words will come

But… there’s another distraction

Which stops me writing more

A certain little "helper"
Who's just too cute to ignore 🐶

Feeling the Cold

I should be used to winter

But it’s becoming clear

That, somehow, I feel the cold

More each passing year.

I rug up like an Eskimo

Have the heaters set to high

My kids sweat and peel off clothes

“It’s far too hot!” they cry.

Well, it’s alright for my young

I know they’re all naysayers

Laughing, they say “Really Mum?

You’re wearing how many layers?”

These kids, they do not get it

They just can’t understand

So I say (like my dear granny)

“Come here and feel my hands”.

Cold hands mean a warm heart

So my heart must be ablaze!  🔥

The chill in these extremities

Never ceases to amaze.

Sadly, fingers white and icy  ❄️

Are an all too common blight

My poor husband jumps a mile

When I cuddle up at night.  

And, speaking of bedtime,

Oh - how unsexy I do get!

Thick blankets, woolly socks  

And PJs of flannelette.

I hanker for the winter’s end

For I do like spring a lot

I like the sunshine and the warmth

I just hope it's not too hot...

Changing Tastes Part 2: Food

I browse around the grocery store

There’s cake, lollies, cookies and more

I look at the treats, so artfully arranged

And think of how my tastes have changed.

Chocolate’s a good place to start  🍫

(A subject quite close to my heart)

These days it’s dark choc that I favour

Milk? White? Too sweet their flavour! 

I once loved a slice of cake  🍰

Now, most times, I don’t partake

Donuts, profiteroles, eclairs

For them, I really have no care.

Fruit juice, soft drink – not for me

Nor is ice cream (how can that be?)

With all those changes it must appear

There’s nothing left to bring me cheer.

Past the dessert bar I’ll keep walking

But antipasto? Now we’re talking!

Savoury snacks? Oh, yes please!

And I’ll have some of that yummy cheese. 🧀

While I enjoy all those savoury tastes

They’re probably no better for my waist!

All those sweets - you can have
But I might be tempted by some pav...

Changing Tastes Part 1: Booze

My body has changed as I’ve aged

But that’s OK - I’m not enraged

Something that I never knew

Was that my tastebuds would change too.

I browse around the liquor store

And see wine, beer, spirits, and more

All those drinks, so artfully arranged

But, oh, how my tastes have changed!

I once thought wine sweet and fruity

Was a thing of endless beauty

But now I’d rather end my day

With a nice cab sav🍷 or chardonnay. 

I decline spirits, mixed and pure

I’d much prefer a smooth liqueur

I’ve cut back on beer, coz I can tell

All that gas makes my tummy swell…

With all those changes, you may think

There’s not much left for me to drink

Baileys? Kahlua? Make mine a double!
And I never say "no" to some (dry) bubbles 🍾

Proud Ned Stark

A Game of Thrones limerick

There was a noble Stark named Ned  

King Joffrey said “Off with his head!”  

Joffrey’s mum Cersei  

Advised some mercy   

But sadly proud Ned wound up dead  😢     

Sick Day?

(A true story!)

Called in sick – no work today 🤒

A single word I can barely say

A headache and no energy

I really hate this lethargy.

“You’ve got a virus”  the GP said.

“Go home and go back to bed

Lots of water you will need

Rest your voice – do take heed.”

Now I’m here, home alone

No errands to run, no ringing phone

I should nap for an hour or two

But…there are so many things to do.

It’ll only take a little while

To deal with all the paper piles

I really will feel much better

When I’ve dealt with every bill & letter.

A Tale of Thinning Hair

I’ve never fussed much with my hair

My style is generally “wash and wear”

I keep it short – there’s little to do

Fancy styling? I have no clue!

Curlers? Straighteners? Not for me

I’m really lazy and carefree

Until now my only whinge

Has been my pesky, curly fringe.

My Little Boy: A Pee Story

Once toilet-trained, my little boy

Made the most of being “free”

Inside, outside, far and wide

Oh, the places he did pee!

My little boy “watered” our lemon tree

In a bid to make it grow

I’ll admit that’s really not so bad

But it was just the start, you know.

My little boy peed from atop our slide

Oh, he laughed with such delight

As his “waterfall” splashed side to side

And his sisters ran screaming, in fright.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog!

And thank you for your time!

I hope that you enjoy

Each and every rhyme.