My triumphant return!

[katiefoolery]

So, uh, I was in Beechworth for the last couple of days.  My apologies to those people who didn’t know and who tried various non-government approved voodoo methods in order to summon me to msn.  I didn’t know I was going until the day before and I had to leave at seven in the morning.  Seven!  I had to get up at six.  Six!  Although that was mostly so I’d have time to check my email (not that I’m addicted to the internet or anything).

However, it seems the whole world is conpsiring to make me feel younger than I am at the moment.  Take this conversation that occurred whilst booking my train tickets, for instance.

Me: Hi!  I’d like to book a return ticket to Wangaratta
Booking Guy: OK.  Do you have a student concession?
Me: No.  (Curses!)
Booking Guy: Are you under fifteen?
Me: O.o

I’ve long suspected (based on listening to my own voice mail message once) that I sound like a hyperactive twelve year old on the phone.  Now I have more proof to add to that suspicion.

And yesterday, as I was waiting for my train, my parents encountered someone they knew from Beechy.

The Da: Yes, we’re just seeing our daughter off.
Me: Uh, hi.
Guy from Beechy: Going back to Melbourne, then?
Me: Yep.
Guy from Beechy: Back to school?
Me: O.o
Pause.
Me: Well, I work in a school...

And then my mum takes great delight in shouting out, “Are you kidding?  She’s almost thirty!”

The bit that got me was he didn't even suggest “uni”, just “school”.  I always thought I at least looked my age, even if I didn’t sound it.  Still, I’m not complaining.

And now for the obligatory photos.  (Click on a photo for a larger version.)

I call this one “Magpie After Having Consumed a Bug”, mostly due to the fact that I just missed getting a photo of it sitting there with bug legs sticking out of its beak. The next pic looks rather rubbish shrunk down like this. *glares at it* I do love the evening light, especially the way it strikes this quite spectacular gum tree on the border of my parents’ property.  If only my camera could accurately capture the quality of the light as my eyes see it. And here is a lovely crescent moon.  It also looks better in the larger version. And finally, a picture of McNaught Comet as taken by my Da.

And finally, a plea.  My friends page is so long at the moment it makes me dizzy to look at it.  What did I miss while I was away?  Anything exciting or sad or scary?  Please let me know and point me in the right direction so I can comment on it.

Comments

[alankria.livejournal.com]

Better to be mistaken for a 17-year-old than a 47-year-old. Many women would kill to be in your situation. ;)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Very true! I'm definitely not complaining, I just don't think I look particularly young. Maybe it's the freckles?

[alankria.livejournal.com]

Don't know. I saw the pic of you on your website before you started redesigning, and while you do have a youthful look to you I don't think I'd've said younger than 20-something. But maybe you look even younger in person.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Oh gods, that photo! That was my work photo, taken on the first day back... only no-one had mentioned we got our photos taken on the first day back, so I looked rather ordinary.

*shudders to think of it*

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! Glad to see you had a nice trip ^_^. *chuckles* Interesting, though, that they under-aged you. Just think how many women'll be jealous of the fact you'll be "carded" long after they have to coerce people to do that with them ^_~

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

It was a nice trip! It's a bit scary to see how dry and waterless everything is up there, but 'tis nice to be away from the city for a little while.

It's quite a bizarre situation - I always thought I looked as old as I am, even if I sound about twelve on the 'phone...

[naelany.livejournal.com]

*chuckles*

[starlingthefool.livejournal.com]

I always looked older than I was, until recently. Maybe I finally caught up with myself?
Loved the pictures, especially the gum tree.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks. I wish the light had come out better on the gum tree, but you can still see a bit of it. It's a gorgeous tree.

Heh - I hope I catch up with myself eventually, too.

[(Anonymous)]

Agh, I understand your frustration at being thought of as younger than you are! But wow, I hope by the time I'm almost thirty people aren't still thinking I'm at school. Wow. From the photos I've seen of you, I think you look your age :-)

Well, I've been in Sydney having a blast at NIDA for two weeks, so that's my news. It was wonderful!

Glad you had good times too :-)

[dizzy-liz.livejournal.com]

Oh, and that was me, by the way :-)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Ah good - I'm glad I look the way I'm supposed to look to some people. :) It's been quite a weird couple of days, really.

Goodness - you were at NIDA? I shall have to read up on what you've been doing there.

[natally.livejournal.com]

My Mum has a similar situation. People are always convinced that my mother's my older sister... even through there's a few decades between us.
I've often heard people guessing that Mum's fresh out of school, and have asked her whether she's studying at uni. Not many seem to see that she's middle aged...
It's a gift that you both have!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

The good news is, your mum's probably passed those genes onto you, too. :)

[rilla06.livejournal.com]

People keep thinking that I'm in my twenties. Maybe we should swap voices? I sound too much like my mum :P

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'll just get you to make all my phone calls for me. I'm sure no-one takes me seriously when my voice sounds the way it does.

[saralonde24.livejournal.com]

Ooh, awesome photos, especially the one of the comet. It's great to see a photo of it, as I haven't had a chance to view it.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

My Da has a whole collection of comet photos now, but that's the best one. It's so nice to see the stars properly once in a while, too. I forget how bright and sparkly they are until I go up to Beechworth.

[eslyssa.livejournal.com]

Amusement, amusement, amusement. Poor you on the whole age thing.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Heh, yes - 'tis awful, isn't it?

[eslyssa.livejournal.com]

Well, people often assume that I'm 15 or so, but, you know... They'd only be 3 years off, so I can't make too much of a fuss.

But yes, very much so. :P

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

What kind of camera did your dad use for those comet photos? It's awesome :D

And the magpie photo is my favourite :D

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks. I wish I'd managed to get my camera out in time to catch it as it was eating the bug, though.

I think the Da took that photo with his video camera and then took a screencap. I think. If not, then it was a two second delay shot taken with a Lumix (I want that camera!).