Would You Ever Use Origin Energy?

Image Courtesy plumenshopus.com

My power went out yesterday. With a big bang.

Everyone else in the complex had power. I checked the switch board for the safety switch. No, all good there. I phoned 'Origin', my electricity provider. No all good there....account is actually in credit.

Wandered around to see if any workmen might have accidentally cut something important while doing their stuff. Nope. Collected my mail.

"Your electricity has been disconnected today... right now, actually... go directly to jail.... and thanks for coming". What?

I phoned Energex....the people who cut my power off. They informed me that they received written advice from Origin, my provider, to do so. It was 3.30pm by now and they informed me that, no matter what, there would be no way that I would have power again by nightfall. Tears. I had just been grocery shopping and I had a fridge full of food for my hungry boys, frozen meals in the freezer made by caring friends and to break my heart further, my boys lizards have 15 eggs hatching under a electricity run heat lamp. Boys + lizards + no electricity = more crying.

I rang Origin back. "What, you're at number 45 street? Your account says number 36 street. Your account is for number 36. We have no account for number 45". Ok, so Origin, what meter have you been reading to calculate the bills I have been paying? There is no 36 in this street. Umm, errr.

On hold. On my mobile. For 1 hour by now.

I cried. As you do. When you're female. And sitting in a corridor with your mobile plugged into the power point that the cleaners use. And this is just the last thing you need. And you have baby lizards needing heat. And a fridge full of fresh (but soon not to be) food.

Went and retrieved 'cranky site manager who hates my boys' and he opened up the meter box... yep, there were all the meters... and mine?... fuses removed, padlocked and taped. He had opened it earlier for the Energex guy and happily stood there letting him cut off my power!!!!! I retrieved the meter number and informed Origin. "Yep, that's the meter number we have been reading".... well that's at number 45.... the place you say you have no account for. The physical place that your meter reader has been attending to read the meter in order for you to bill me.

On hold. Again.

Meanwhile back in my memory banks. Hang on, the notices I have been receiving from Origin since August.... "You are an unauthorized user of power and hot water at number 45. Please contact us"... my replies were unanswered. My faxes and emails, with copies of my paid bills - unanswered. Even the one I sent 2 days ago that unfortunately included the word 'moron' in it. What about those?

On hold. Again.

2 hours later. "Umm, errr, we don't know what has happened. We're sorry for the mix up. We will get Energex to reconnect your electricity TOMORROW somewhere between the hours of 1pm and 6pm. Sorry about your food. Sorry about your boy's pets. We will be starting your account again and back billing you from the date in February in which you moved in". What? I have been paying my bills. "Yes, but that was on number 36. This is 45. You have been using power at 45 and it has to be paid for".

So my mobile phone bill for 2 hours on hold? The entire rotten contents of my fridge? And the impending one year bill for electricity that I have used at number 45 for the past year? I have to pay for it all ??????? So where is my money for the bills I have been paying at your ficticious number 36? Where are the replies to all my correspondence that said, "there is someone living here... this is me.... here are my paid bills".

??????????

What an expensive mistake. All at my cost. I will be getting my electricity connected and then closing my account with them. Today. I am looking for another electricity provider.

As my boys would say, "Origin???..... EPIC FAIL".

I am typing from a bed, not in my apartment. My boys and I were kindly taken in....like waifs.
I am heading back this morning to clear out all my rotten food and check on the lizard babies.

There, I feel better now. I am sending a link to this post ... to Origin.

Daily Walks

One of the things I missed about my day while making Autumn's Deb dress was the opportunity we had been taking to have a scheduled daily exercise walk.

I mostly was doing this with our older girls with the younger children joining in and Saxon and Rogan joining in when they felt like it.

One of these days we had already bathed our younger children and had them in their PJ's and they still wanted to come for a walk. Now for Trahaearn I often would take him in the Hug A Bub but this particular day he was a sleep in side when I started. Eden was reading keeping an eye on him and when he woke up brought him out in her jacket all snuggled up like a little possum. He had a wonderful time walking and seeing what was happening but so warm and cozy in the jacket.
Doesn't he look so adorable??

One of Arwen's favourite ways to go for a walk is to be carried by someone. We often take turns carrying her and she will even go to sleep as we have this walk.
Arwen along with the younger children do spend time running ahead and then back to keep up with us.

One of the major benefits has been he interesting talks we have had while walking. Sometimes this is just fun conversation: quoting movies, books and discussing everyday events.Other times we brake off as one of the children has something they want to discuss with me and this provides a perfect opportunity for some one on one attention but in a non organised way.

I also think that  having this time together without distractions of inside, even those necessary actions like cooking, folding up and other useful things is a benefit as it gets us away from the everyday routine to the 'outside world'.

Here we enjoy not only each others company but the beauty of the natural world around us that we are blessed to have.

I really am hoping that we can soon get back into this delightful routine again soon.

What do you think girls?

Blessings to you and your homes,

~♥ Words To Live By ♥~

INTERACTIVE AQUARIUM

Aquarium from fashionbuddha on Vimeo.

Our Fall Tablescape {repost}

Good morning everyone!  Today, I am back with my fall tablescape!  I really liked how it turned out and I used it as my inspiration for my new fall header.

I LOVE decorating my tables.  So does my daughter!  I just say, “Grace, do you want to help me decorate?” and she comes yelling, “YEEESSSS!”  She is totally a little me, lol!  LOVE IT!

We decided to do a very simple and nature looking tablescape today.

She helped my with the pinecones.

I just love the simplicity of it!

I also love these dishes.  I bought this set at a garage sale for only $15.

The kids loved smelling the cinnamon sticks with me.

My baby wanted to throw the pinecones, lol!

That’s ok with me as long as it is not a plate.

I am really enjoying the straight lines of the plates and bowls.

The centerpiece is also nature inspired.

I used more cinnamon sticks, pinecones and acorns.

I just placed everything into a rectangle platter along with this arrangement.

I think they go well together.

Here’s another view.

And another.

OK, last one!  I promise.

So, there is my simple, nature-looking talblescape.

This is not too fancy.  Just simple and fun!

What do you use on your tables?

Have a great day!

Dark And Stormy

Image Courtesy House and Home

Great first impression. Maximal impact. I mean really... it's not that much black... it just looks like it. It's all the stainless steel that creates the illusion of a 'dark and stormy' kitchen. They're actually grey walls and cabinets. I love how the white ceiling, lighting choices and rustic table and chairs soften the whole look.... and I love those bluestone pavers...super rustic.

I think I would have to lighten the walls... especially the one surrounding the window.....but that's just me and my fear of 'dark and stormy'. The stone benchtops are a great colour and would still look good with lighter walls. I'd still keep the grey cabinets. I'd just need that window wall lighter at least. What do you think? 'Dark and stormy' or 'lighter and brighter'?

Happy Thursday!

Guest Post: Ring Around the Rosies

Good morning!  I am here today with another guest blogger just in time for fall!

Say hello to Jaima!

Hey, y'all! I'm Jaima, and I blog over at Ring Around the Rosies!

Today, I am going to share with you an old post of mine to inspire a little Fall creativity!

Believe it or not, the leaves are turning colors and the weather is already getting crisp here in Middle Tennessee! You can find the original post here. I hope you all enjoy.

But first, I have to give Bonnie a huge "thank you" for letting me guest post today! It is kind of unbelievable, actually. I don't remember where I first saw the idea, but in prepping for the cooler Fall weather, I decided to do a little decorating today!

I took this...

 

(sorry it’s blurry, I forgot to take an actual “before” picture, so I had to take this one I took a few months ago when we had our condo for sale)

…and turned it into this…

 

How’d I do it?

I simply spray painted the flower pot with Rustoleum’s flat black paint. 

For the pumpkin, I decided what font I wanted using plain ol' Microsoft Word and printed it out.

Then I traced it on to wax paper and cut out the “S” with an exacto knife. I taped the paper to the pumpkin and simply spray painted it.

Next time, I will definitely hand paint the letter on, because as you can see, the spray paint ran a little. There's many ways you could do this though. I bought the pumpkin with a 40% off Michael's coupon. This way, I can pull it out year after year, but you could definitely use a real pumpkin too.

But, I must admit that overall, I really love the new look!

What do you think???

Thanks again to Bonnie!

Please stop by my blog and say hello sometime! 

Thanks so much Jaima!!  What a cute and simple idea!!

Thanks so much for sharing!

Please stop by her blog today and let her know that I sent you!

Have a great day!