Show me the “free” money

I got some “free” money at Medicare yesterday. Well, that’s how it feels whenever they hand me those crisp bills. I forget about the massive outlay that lead to the minor payback. Ancient history. The Medicare office is in a shopping centre, so I did the logical thing – I spent all my free money. I got two pairs of cargo pants and three baggy T-shirts, all on sale. I justified the new clothing as being necessary rather than extravagant. After spending three weeks wedged into one-size-too-small garments on my holiday, it’s a relief to finally wear stuff that actually fits. And there’s only so long you can mooch around in black leggings before people start to wonder if you wash. When the Medicare cash ran out, I went to our private medical fund to get more, but they tricked me. They suggested I go and get a coffee while they sorted out my payment. When I got back, they’d put it all in my bank account. Where’s the fun in that? So I went home. I was supposed to tidy up the house yesterday. The task loomed over me, taunted me, tripped me over every time I went to make a cup of tea. But I was too distracted by the computer. Not just Facebook, getting constant traffic updates on my blog site (“how can it be zero, when I checked five minutes ago it said zero, it can’t still be zero …”) (I’m dramatising – who me? – wordpress is on American time and switches to a new day at noon), my daily hit of celebrity at laineygossip.com and gmail, but shopping. At the shopping centre, I’d realised it was already October 10 and I hadn’t started on my Christmas list. I felt all tight in the chest just thinking about it. I went on an exploratory search of Toys R Us, Target and Myer and they’d ALREADY sold out of all the good stuff. The really, really organised people had been there before me (Husband reckons its more likely the shops don’t have their Christmas deliveries yet, but I’m not buying it). It was imperative to get on the internet immediately, before it ran out of stuff as well. And so, another day passed without any significant housework being done. But at least the Chistmas shopping is sorted. Phew, such a relief. Fortunately, the private medical fund had deposited all that free money in my bank account to pay for it. So thoughtful of them.

ON THE MENU: While Sprog 1 was at art class yesterday, Sprog 2 and I went to the hardware store to get her a kid-sized broom (she was struggling with our adult-sized one, loves sweeping, bless her). When we came home, we pondered what to do with our manky strawberries in the fridge. I googled “muffins fresh strawberries” and this blog came up:

http://nancysrecipes.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/fresh-strawberry-muffins/

So we tried the recipe. Husband and Sprog 1 both gave it the big thumbs up (I showed amazing self-restraint and didn’t try one, not even a nibble). Much better than just chucking berries in the bin like I normally do.