A Day Without Running Water - It Had Me Clogged.

Yesterday I had quite a few things happen. 
1) My Brother went on retreat for school. 
2) My Mum went into hospital for surgery. 
3) I was left home alone as Dad assisted Mum in the hospital and I was left with the dogs and cats. 

Around 12 I decided to have a shower. I turned the tap on, realised I forgot something so I turned the tap off. But the water kept flowing! 
My shower tap was broken, and with no way of fixing it (even if I could) the water had to be turned off. 
I ran around my house in a panic before I got my stuff together, went out the front and turned the water off at the main. 
The shower stopped shooting water everywhere and I was able to take a closer look. 

I had no idea what I was looking for or what I was doing. Finally Dad came home. 
He tried to fix it but he only had a certain amount of time before he had to go back to the hospital again. 

With the shower still broken, the water main had to stay off. If it got turned back on, the water would come gushing out of the shower again - not good. 

While Dad was home, we turned the water main on, filled up some jugs, pots and had some water in a 'rationed supply' which I had to look after. 

At first not having water didn't affect me. 
But throughout the day it started to take its toil. 

You would go to wash your hands and the water would be unavailable,
no rinsing dishes, 
the dishwasher couldn't work, so dishes and cups were rationed,
can't flush the toilet,
water for the cats and dogs were now a priority, 
I didn't drink any water yesterday due to running out,
brushing your teeth at night time was a struggle,
no shower. 

I could turn the water main on when we ran out and filled the jugs and pots again - but it was a pain and every second that main was on - water was gushing out (waste) through the shower. 

All of a sudden, I started to realise how much I take easy water access for granted. Little day to day things that aren't thought about were now in the spotlight because water was rationed.  

I know this sounds like a First World Problem - and yeah, I guess it is. 
But this isn't what the post was supposed to be about. 

Having no running water (only for a day) made me realise how much I take it for granted. 
It's now fixed and the first thing I did was make myself a big glass of water - healthy! And my needed headache really needed it. 
Though I should of taken a shower instead. 

Another Easter Post. The Downside of Easter as an Adult

I realised something today. 
Easter is only fun if you're a kid, a parent and/or have kids around you during Easter. 

Back in the days when I used to wake up, wake my brother up, and go for a egg hunt. In the morning it was at our house. Mum and Dad would hide the eggs when we went to bed the night before (well, you know the story). Once we'd collected all the eggs (once Mum and Dad remembered where they hid them all) we'd get a chocolate bunny and have chocolate for breakfast. And some toast. 
Then at lunch we would go to my Grandparent's house. There (with our cousins) we'd have another egg hunt. This hunt happened outside (a much bigger area) and used much smaller eggs. This hunt was a lot more challenging and with extra people made it a lot more fun. 
I'm also pretty sure we never found them all and thanks to my Nunnu's bad memory; we were finding eggs days afterwards as well.
It wasn't all about the chocolate though. The family getting together, the great biscuits my Nunna used to make, and well...just the tradition of it really, brings a warmth and comforting feel every Easter. 

Then we grew up.

This morning when I got up, there were no strategically placed eggs on the TV, in a vase or behind a frame - not that I looked, or anything. 
To make it worse, Dad had to work. So by 10:30, he was outta here. 
When my brother got up (12 o'clock) Mum pulled out a carton of chocolate eggs. Except - even though they were the same ones we used to go looking for - she divided them up between the four of us (Dad had his own little pile) and we received our chocolate eggs that way. 
I do have to admit, if she'd made us going looking for them, I would have told her I'm not a kid and complained that it was lame. But still....
Then we got our bunnies - except this year, they weren't bunnies. They were a variety of different chocolates; I love the more sophisticated chocolate; but there goes an old tradition. 

But what about Grandma's house? Nope, that was lost this year too. My cousin's have gone down the Coast (those still living in Canberra anyway) and with Dad working, we spent Easter with my Grandparent's last night instead. 

*I'd just like to say I'm not complaining about the chocolates (not that Easter is about that anyway, at all) I just miss the traditions we used to have, and now as my brother and I are no longer kids - in age anyway - Easter isn't as exiting and the traditions we had seem to be lost. Because as adults, I guess there's no need to keep up a pretence. 

I suppose the Blog Title shouldn't really be 'the downsides to Easter as an Adult' but rather, 'the downsides to Easter if there's no kids around'. Though that makes it sound kinda creepy. 

So if you are spending this Easter with kids - be they your own, nephews or nieces, family friends kids, etc - treasure it!
Go looking for those chocolate eggs with them, hide them in the most ridiculous places where no kid will find them, eat as much chocolate as you can, and have chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
Remember this time to be with family, if you're religious ( I am, but I don't want to shove it down people's throats) remember Jesus at this time; it is one of the most important times in the Christian calendar after all. 
Also, grab one of those round eggs, place it in your palm, and smash it against your forehead; just like my cousins and I used to do....Ah, the memories...

A Busy Easter Weekend

Today is Good Friday. And as you would all be aware today signifies the start of a four day weekend.
Whether that's all it is for you or something more these four days signify the time to be with family.
At least it does for mine.

For me this long weekend I would like to (or should) be doing an assignment due very soon. Instead my days are full of family activities. - And seeing as procrastinating is one of my favourite things I thought I'd break it down in this blog- instead of assignment doing.

So today (and no doubt very soon) Mum will drag me to the shops to pick up prawns.
No big drama there, but it won't end there I am sure.
Mum and I have the habit of going crazy when we shop. One thing turns into another and before we know it, the boot is full with stuff and we have a coffee in our hands (a reward for that days shop.)
 
And once I get back I'll be too exhusted to even think about turning on my computer (well for work at least.) Not to mention the footy is on this afternoon in which Mum, my brother and I will sit round the telly to watch. Then there's the footy tonight (we're kinda footy fans if you haven't guessed yet) in which the three of us will now be joined with my Dad (who unfortunately has to spend Good Friday at work.)

Now that was only Today.

A few days ago I recieved a call from my Grandma or Nanna as she's more fondly known.
She wanted to know if my brother and I wanted to to go over to her house on Saturday and bake easter treats for the following day.
My cousin studies at a Townsville uni and was able to come down to Canberra for the week.

*sidenote: So my family is of Maltese background and "family" to my Nanna is EVERYTHING. And to have four of her grandchildren (she has 7) available to spend extra time with her is a big deal.

How could I say no?
But I didn't want to say no anyway. The idea of the delicious cookies baking in the oven, the frosting we'll get to try, the chocolate that will surely be given to us as a special reward.
I loved the idea of being a kid again and taking time to have some serious family fun (c'mon when do we ever get the time to do that?)

So Saturday I will be at Nanna's house all day baking; not that I mind. So Saturday's gone.

Wake up Sunday. Easter Sunday.
This is where I am stumped about what will accour that morning. When we were kids we did the traditional Easter hunt; where Mum and Dad had hidden chocolate eggs around the house and we got  to find them. Now that my brother and I weren't kids anymore I wasn't sure if this would still be happening.
But I wasn't bothered if it wasn't. I'd be gettig tons of chocolate from Aunties and Uncles to last all year (they almost did) and the idea of too much chocolate made me sick- I'm not a big chocolate fan.

By the end of the four days (and yes I know I only mentioned three) I'll be stuffed to the eyeballs with chocolate. With an assignment untouched.

I guess now we wait and see if my predictions come true or not...hmmm, I think I hear Mum calling.