Drool...

More yummy glass
Originally uploaded by Chelle's Art Glass

drool...drool...drool...drool...drool...drool...drool...drool

Too much of a good thing...

My package from Frantz arrived last Friday with some great new Moretti "Cool" colours to play with. I've only just had a chance try it out as my studio was an absolute mess and I was busy transferring files from one computer to another.

I'm in love with a colour called Kiwi. From the moment I saw it, I fell in love with it's gorgeous variegated greens. Just divine!

Anyhow, talking of Kiwi's, I better get my hubby's dinner ready. A leg of lamb all to himself!

BBQ Blizzard...

We're off to a BBQ today at Irene & John's place. These are friends of ours that we've reconnected with after 12 years or so.

Although the sun is out, it's pretty cold here in Sydney and it's predicted that we're gonna get some squally, cold winds and rain later on in the day. Yuk!!!

The company though, will be worth it and I KNOW their food will be scrumptious :)

Had my hair and nails done for Mother's Day. My nails are divine but my hair is disgusting. My long locks were cut to my shoulders. A good 7-8 inches taken off :( AND the base of my hair colour is orange/brown with an ash grey patch of streaks on the top of my head. I look like a clown that John West rejected LOL

Really though, I was almost in tears but have spoken with another hairdresser who is going to fix it for me. My original hairdresser said he would but I won't let him near my head!!! From now on, after I get it fixed, I'm going to stick to colouring and cutting myself because if it stuffs up, at least the only one I can blame is myself and I pretty much am successful at it anyways.

Anyhow, I hope you have a magnificent Sunday where ever you are.

Rental Rant

OMG...this was one of the most stressful experiences I've ever had.
Where to start? From the beginning I guess?

We received a notice of eviction from our agent based on "no grounds" back in March.
We called our agent to ask why and what "no grounds" meant. We were told that the owner was moving back to Sydney and that we had to be out of the house by the 21st April.

It couldn't have come at a worse time for us in the sense that we were actually starting to save some money and that the whole process of moving would an expensive ordeal.

Anyhow, we finally accepted this and proceeded to browse the internet for new properties to lease.

All in all we probably had 8 weeks or so to find something (which didn't seem too bad) and within the second week, I had a list of properties to view based on our own requirements such as floorboards and not too much lawn (I'm allergic to dust mites and certain grasses), as well as pets being allowed.

So the phone calls began...

Looking within our existing area, most properties wouldn't allow pets so slowly my list was shrinking. By the time I called back (within a day or two), these properties were literally gone or applications already taken. Whoa! That was fast!!!

Ok...into the next week and the same thing happening. Large list down to next to nothing. Call for an appointment and either gone, applications taken, agent not in the office and will call back or an inconvenient appointment time.

About the 4th week I started to look at properties outside our municipality which meant my son Damien would either have to change schools or find a way to get there (as I don't have a vehicle and my husband leaves for work about 6.30am...way too early for Damo). As you can imagine, this is not something to take lightly. Firstly Damien is in high school and his elective studies already chosen for his future career, not to mention the friendships he's made too. Also without a car, I'm pretty much stuck in an area without anyone I know. Already suffering from agoraphobia, no social contact from family and friends would drive me even further into depression. Plenty of tears, frustration and anger reared at this time.

Decision made and not frivolously, with my list of properties in hand I made the phone calls, this time not even bothering to ask if pets were allowed (I thought I'd deal with that later so at least we could get a viewing of SOMETHING SOMEWHERE).
Same thing different area. Properties already gone, applications taken, agent will call back or an inconvenient appointment time.

Into the 5th week.
We had to try a different approach. Possibly drive around the different real estates, pop in and see what's available and organise an appointment there and then. With great difficulty leaving the house, my husband took a day off work and we visited our first agent.

Just a pause here....
5 weeks had passed and only then did I discover that unless you see the inside of the property by making the appointment time set out by the real estate agent, whether it be 10.30am on a Tuesday morning or 4.45pm on a Friday evening or whatever other time and day they choose, you cannot fill out an application for tenancy.

We found this out that day. We saw a property that interested us and we asked about it only to be told that viewing was on the 20th April. Huh? So long away? Can't we look at it now, fill out an application and be ready to move in by the 21st? No?

Ok...I'm catching on here!!! These agents are getting as many people interested in the same property as they can, knowing of the shortage of rental properties available and waiting to see who is willing to pay the highest.
Absolutely rotten!!!

6th week, we managed to make another couple of appointments in our existing area. Great but I have to remind you that my husband had to take the time off work to do so. He is self employed so if he doesn't work, he doesn't get paid.

One viewing stuck...
No word of a lie,12 applicants wanting to view this one property. Each applicant had at least another person with them so there were at least 24 people outside this property looking like sheep waiting to be slaughtered. And yes...we had to wait.

One by one we filed in only to find what was supposed to be an immaculate house, disgusting. Carpet absolutely filthy (and remember, I was looking for properties with floorboards because of my allergies but had to go for what was going). At $550 per week...are you kidding me?

Oh...also notice how the price is slowing bumping up. That's the way it goes. To pay what we were previously paying, we'd get absolute shit now!

Inside and loud enough for all these people to hear, I questioned the agent about how the house was supposed to be immaculate. Asked him if he was kidding. Asked him if his intentions were to get us all in the house and have a bidding war. He was by now, out of his comfort zone and feeling very uncomfortable with my questions.

Then the conversations between applicants started. You could here how these poor people were experiencing the same thing. Some had a day to go before they were being "kicked out". Some had already leased a property only to have the landlord reneg as they couldn't afford their investment repayments and had to move back in or sell.

One guy had already been accepted for this property and paid a deposit therefore putting the house on a hold so no further viewings could be made. A BIG boo boo on the real estate's part and unfortunate for this guy.

I'd had enough!!!

7th week...managed to get a couple of private viewings at last. Properties still not that nice but seriously considered taking them because time was running out.

One very promising property at Iliffe Street, filled out our application, was accepted, paid a two week deposit and dropped in to sign the lease agreement only to have the owner turn around and say that he was undecided whether to sell or lease out his property! F*** this!!! Are you joking? The agent promptly told the owner to go jump throwing all our chances of negotiating with him out the window.

8th week and the property we were accepted for was being released by another real estate agent. Great we thought so we had that initial agent by our consent, send over our details to the new agent who had to confirm our details with the owner. Everything was aok. The owner from Iliffe Street remembered us but had to get back to the agent on what date he could allow us to move in...we had to play the waiting game! What if this happened again?

To be safe, we kept on looking.

4 days to go and still nothing from Iliffe Street. Made an appointment to view a property just down the road from Damien's school. Was ok but didn't have a garage for Lee to store carpets but luckily this real estate had another property available at $600 p/w. It hadn't been listed on the market yet but she said she could show us and of course we said yes. Nice...when can we sign?

3 days to go, signed the lease and now we're here!!!

Three days later. Call from Iliffe street. We were accepted (second time). Call from Paul street accepted. Now they call!!!

The saga continues...more about our agent that gave us a "no grounds" eviction to come...

Arrggghhhh....

I'm feeling so overwhelmed at the moment. We have to move house as the owners are moving back down to Sydney to live and I can't find anything around that I'm happy with.

Rent has increased substantially too and we're looking at spending over $500 for a place similar to what we have now. Sydney is way overpriced! It's crazy!!!

On a good note, I have been making beads which is very therapeutic for me except for when my muse goes awol and then it just becomes frustrating.

Anyhow, here's a picture of my cousin Nick in Sunday's paper. Thought I'd share.

A new addition...

Eddy Blackmore
Originally uploaded by Chelle's Art Glass

Meet Eddy "Elvis" Blackmore, our new addition to the Blackmore family.

Eddy is 8 months old and is Maltese x Shih-Tzu. His old family couldn't keep him as they had to move home and didn't have the room for him to play. They used to call him Elvis but we decided to change his name to Eddy.

We love our Eddy and he's settled in very well. Max is enjoying every minute with his new mate as they tear through the house playing chasing.

He's a real smoochy too and loves lots of cuddles.

"The Dreaming" inspired by...

The Dreaming II
Originally uploaded by Chelle's Art Glass

A customer of mine asked if I'd make some beads in red, black and yellow. She was interested in purchasing these for and on behalf of a group of Aboriginal women that will be learning how to make their own jewellery.

Red, black and yellow, colours of the Aboriginal flag. Red representing the earth, black for the people and yellow, representing the sun.

With the use of enamel, I also was able to mimic ochre often used in ceremonial gatherings.

I think I've done ok!

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