When the wind blows

The wind is howling around the Fibro tonight. So much so that we have moved Mr7 from his room beneath the large, overhanging branch of next door's Liquid Amber tree and he is camped out in Mr4's room. The only person who really benefits from this is me. It just means I won't be waking up with every gust of wind wondering if this is the one that finally brings that branch crashing down.

It's funny how much I worry about that branch. Forget the hunormous (Mr4's latest word) Camphor Laurel tree in the other neighbour's yard. The one that would take out the entire Fibro should it decide to give it up and keel over. Yep, forget that...

We didn't have this trouble in the Big Smoke. No large trees to speak of in the area, and the only one of any majesty was tucked up in the neighbour's yard against the sandstone cliff that ran the length of our block. That tree had support.

The Liquid Amber has no such back-up. It stands straight and very tall right next to the fence, which is right next to Mr7's room. Straight but for this one, large, overhanging branch. We didn't notice this branch so much last year. There was another even larger, even more overhanging branch that used to scrape the roof above Mr7's bed. That one kind of took our attention. But it was removed by a man with a chainsaw, a rope and devil-may-care attitude.

Drawing our attention to the current large, overhanging branch.

Sigh. I'd complain, but then all my troubles with the Liquid Amber would be over and my mind would have no alternative but to start thinking about that hunormous Camphor Laurel.

So let's forget that.

How are you faring with the winds? Is your house surrounded by trees? Does the mere hint of a spring breeze cause your garden to sway and quiver?


[image: hmmm, if that branch ever does go, perhaps I'll put one of these decals from ccnever/etsy in Mr7's room to take my mind away from the Camphor Laurel]

Baby it's cold outside - come and share my Slanket

If there's one thing I miss about working outside my home, it's central heating. Never underestimate the joy of spending a goodly portion of one's winter's days in solid, all-round warm. Particularly solid, all-round warm for which someone else is paying.

Fibro houses are not noted for their stellar insulation properties. Thin walls are thin walls and no amount of ceiling insulation will stop the cold from creeping in. Unfortunately, it's not easy to convince oneself (well, if you're me, anyway) that running a gas heater all day to heat one person is economical. And let's not even start on those long, chilly, wintry nights which, as we all know, is mostly when my work is done.

So it is with some joy that I announce my latest purchase. Joy and a crimson blush. For I have purchased one of those blankets with sleeves. The original version was called a Slanket and I used to watch the ads for them whilst breastfeeding Mr7 (who was not seven at the time) in the wee small hours of the morning. Which is to say that I saw the damn ads every single night, several times a night, for what felt like 150 years. And yet I was never tempted to purchase. The whole name thing put me off. Plus I was still manufacturing milk and eating for two and somehow the cold never touched me.

Fast-forward eight years and here I am, in my Fibro, in my Slanket knock-off (sorry Mr Slanket). It is dark brown and toasty warm. I proudly modelled it for my boys this afternoon. Misters 7 and 4 thought I looked very like Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Builder took one look and said: "Monk." I can see that I will henceforth be known as Friar Fibro.

But, you know what? I don't care. The sleeves are very long and with careful planning I can have them positioned so that they cover all the way to my knuckles and still leave my fingers free for typing. I have the whole arrangement double-wrapped around myself, all the way to the floor. And I am warm. So warm was I this afternoon that I gave serious consideration to wearing the damn thing to pick up the boys because the wind chill factor was so... chilly. The only thing that stopped me? Maxabella's voice in my ear: "You left the house in a SLANKET."

It cost me $10. I can see no environmental downsides (not taking into account the number of polyesters that may have died to make my winter coat). I think every home should have one.

So fess up - do you have a walking blanket with sleeves aka Slanket aka Snuggie aka... Or do you prefer an old-fashioned dressing gown? Or do you turn the heater up and wear singlets all winter?


[image: you can get the pattern for this mini arigurami Obi-Wan from lucyravenscar/etsy - I look very much like this in my walking blanket]