First, can you believe I can't get a Danish, architecturally-designed Christmas tree in Australia?
Christmas tree from Retrovilla Denmark.
Why is that? What's wrong with retailers in this country? I'm presently "pro's and con's"-ing whether to get one sent from the country itself. I can't think of any other way.
I'm finding the minimalist Danish tree HARD TO GET!
And I know, when I kick-the-bucket, my children will be thanking me for investing their future in 14 pieces of Danish dowel which conveniently deconstructs and gets stored in a calico bag until it's needed again.
Second, do you remember Sylvanian Families? I hope my sister's reading this post ... (she used to be my most avid and ardent Blog Reader. I think she's grown bored by my ramblings) ... Anyway, she used to have a bit of Sylvanian Families when she was a tot.
She bestowed her collection on Child One. Now, it seems, they're 'back in'. Child One loves them ... something I'm trying to encourage in an attempt to prolong Child One's innocent childhood.
But, I'm finding them HARD TO GET! When I went to a toy store yesterday to see if I could get Child One some for Christmas, the shop lady told me they are now so popular that the company can't keep-up with demand.
Again, I think I'm going to have to pay for them to be shipped into the country.
Third, I'm finding it really HARD TO GET four-tablets-a-day down the dog's throat. I used to pride myself on my ability to administer medication to pets ... Noodle is starting to wise-up.
His medication has had a remarkable impact on his health ... but for the rest of his dog-gone days, he has to have four tablets a day.
And I'm seeing the $120 per six-weeks being coughed-up in various corners of the house.
It's all too hard. To get.
You could actually get that made locally but just tweak it so that it's not a complete rip off. Use beautiful New Guinea rosewood or black bean timber. Start getting friendly on the wood workers forums. xx
ReplyDeleteOh MMM-C how you amuse me so! Firstly, I'm sure a trip to the local hardward store, a broom stick, few pieces of dowel, and a pot of lime green paint will have your Xmas tree problem solved. I'm thinking $20 max. Secondly, no I don't remember Sylvanian families, but I'm now going to acquaint myself pronto and join the new (old)trend. Our house blew away in a cyclone when I was little, and my Mother became quite disinterested in posessions, so this type of toy wouldn't have been on her radar. I know poor me! Good luck with Noodle, poor guy.
ReplyDelete1. The Christmas tree, you can easily make yourself. How hard can it be to put 12 sticks into an old tent pole or something. Don't forget the horrid paint.
ReplyDelete2. The Sylvanian Families are overpriced, and not half as cute as Fisher Price or Playmobile.
3. Judging from the photo, someone holds a steady grip around poor Noodle's mouth - and tossed a cigarette but on the floor.
It's not hard to get, at all!
"Never complain, never explain" (Australian wisdom) :)))
You Three are just too practical! "Build the tree yourself, MMMC!" That's some kind of craziness.
ReplyDeleteBM, though with good timber it could come up nicely.
R&S, what cyclone were you in? And your mother probably took the right approach - they are only possessions after all.
Lilli,
I don't hold Noodle's nose too tightly ... just enough to get him to swallow the tablets. Obviously, he spits them out and then has a smoke to get over the trauma! (Are my posts confusing?)
I don't know Sylvanian Families either - is it a bit like Sylvania Waters? Caravan is very cute, though I'm a bit concerned - what if it rains?
ReplyDeleteAnd build it yerself.
Though, I've been meaning to build meself a cot mobile for almost five months now...
I'm with all above, make your own tree. All you need is the right drill bit and a couple of clamps.
ReplyDeleteAda received a couple of Sylvania families for her birthday and she loves them to bits (how cute is the Hedgehog family). I havn't had to much trouble getting them in Victoria, maybe you could try online.
My folks are crazy dog people and should own a pharmacy for all the meds those dogs are on. My Dad swears by liverworst pate for getting tablets down the dogs throat.
Last time I was there ( a few months ago) they had the critters at Mr Toys, Mitchelton.
ReplyDeleteAs to the tree- delegate that spiky sucker. Knowing that a sewing machine is your power tool of choice, I suggest you get the husband to undertake a lovely, Yule-be making-it male bonding project with the boy chillun. You can smile beatifically from the back door where you will leave small pointy sandwiches and nourishing milky drinks for your menfolk as you retreat to the sewing room safely away from flying splinters and swear words. (You can make the calico sack.)
Sorry, I'm going with everyone else on this one - build it yourself! Then you can laud it over everyone and subtly drop into conversations how you choose to DIY to reduce your carbon footprint by reducing the carbon miles inevitably saving a small furry marsupial found only in the depths of the Amazon from extinction.
ReplyDeleteMy sister-in-law did the whole Sylvanian animal thing for her kids last Xmas. She mostly bought them in Warnambool (from Toyworld I think, but could be so very very wrong). She did buy the caravan from the UK though. (Maybe you could whip up a caravan at the same time as the tree to save even more carbon miles. Too easy!)
I'm with Annie.
ReplyDeleteNo idea about those toys - but I never had a Barbie either. Hmmm.
And having just discovered a dismembered mouse underneath the piano stool I'm totally over pets and their mess. At least the mice are free though, I guess...
OK, enough complaining. Sorry Lilli.
I was going to suggest that your hubby build your tree but I see all your wise friends think alike. I think those Sylvanian families are around here but I will check for sure. Stick the pills in a piece of cheese and Noodle will down them for sure. Tell him smoking is not good for him too. I just don't get.it.either!
ReplyDeleteJust dropped by after my Google alert led me to your post. :-) I am an avid collector of Sylvanian Families from a country somewhere near the equator. If you're looking for Sylvanian Families toys, you can use the link below as a guide. It's the site for SFs in Australia and has a directory for toy stores that carry the line.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sylvanianfamilies.com.au/index.asp
Hope Child One gets lots of presents for Christmas! :-)
Zigsma,
ReplyDeleteSylvanian Families are not like Sylvanian Waters. And when it rains, they all get wet. If they've been left outside.
Estelle, I'm going to try the liverworst pate for one-type of tablet.
AA, Bernice and Anna, the Husband can't even make the bed! I've put a call out for some possible assistance.
Deb, I tried the cheese with one-type of Noodle's tablets, and it worked a treat! I knew I started this blog for a reason!
Ok, from near the equator. You're very kind. Thank you for your help. I'm a bit scared that google notified you, though!
Next thing you know, Puggles will be back in, or have I just totally exposed my age, oops.
ReplyDeleteOh no, not confusing at all, but quite challenging at times. You would be scared if you knew how little I really understand. Just from these comments: dowel, Sylvania Waters, cot mobile, chillun... and who is Puggles? It really isn't all that easy being foreign, I now know!
ReplyDeleteLilli,
ReplyDeleteI have just emailed you frantically! Everyone has to be nice to Lilli!
We all carry on ... 'chillun' is Annie being silly and saying 'children'. I'll explain the other things to you. 'Cot mobile' - you attach to the cot for the baby to watch. You know, spins around with dangly soft-toys and keeps the baby occupied while you're busy doing something else! 'Puggles' ... I can't quite remember ... some sort of Jim Henson Muppet off-shoot?
It's a long way, in many ways, from Norway to foolish Australia!
I should stop this stupid blog.
No (!!!) you shouldn't - you should carry on; have you any idea how much we would all miss you! I'm the one being foolish, mingling with you Australian... and I quite like it. Being foolish. Just emailed you frantically back.
ReplyDeleteInstead of making Noodle smoke his capsules,open them up, pour out the contents onto whatever he likes to eat folding in the powder (eg mince steak) , give him his qid treat, and Bob's your mother's brother.
ReplyDeleteStop Press! Scandinavian Christmas Update - hot off the Harvey Norman catalogue. Okay it's not that hot, it came in Sunday's paper, which I seem to end up reading on a Monday night. Couldn't get out of bed, but put it on my agenda (I take this full time Mummy thing seriously), to share this morning. Forget that my Mum refuses to call them by their real name & only ever refers to them as Hardly Normal; they've gone all Scandi this Xmas! Have you seen?? There's a Martha Blackboard Deer, Scandi ceramic & wood cut-out decorations, a Danish Deer Wall Sticker, and a kids tree stand that is also a cut out. It's not technically Scaninavian...
ReplyDelete