The day dawned gray and overcast at Latimers and, in retrospect, shorts and polo shirt may not have been the very best wardrobe choice. At least there wasn't a cool Antarctic breeze blowing through the "food hall" at the Markets. And there were enough bodies stuffed under cover to keep it almost warm.
We were joined by the usual crowd - and it was good to catch up after missing out last week. F was the first there, followed soon after by M and A ... no N and still no word on the Canberra job but if she's not heard by the end if this week she's going to chase them ... A was telling us that for her current job, when she contacted them for a progress check, a person on the other end of the line asked her if nobody had told he she'd gotten the job. M and R and little L were there too (but no E) - L is out of sorts because his molars are coming in - hopefully that will happen soon and be the last of his teething for a while. He seems to be in such distress, the poor poppet.
Keeping with the B theme (as in Bundall) we were off to Bernie's for more oral care cookies for the cats, and then to Bunnings for seedlings for S. We may have even made it to JB Hi-Fi except I haven't yet received the gift voucher for correct identification of the mystery photograph which was indeed the Len Lye Wind Wand at New Plymouth, New Zealand. Rob was surprised that they finally had a winner after seven months.
The cats and Pearl were being very helpful today. All of them (except Tinker) have been out on the lawn eating grass. Not quite sure what that was all about - but if we can get them to eat more ... especially on that patch near the front ... it could revolutionize the mowing. (Hopefully it doesn't mean that they've been feeling under the weather.)
Junior MasterChef is on again tonight - or Mini MasterChef as I've now dubbed it following a comment by tonight's guest judge - Matt Preston. After eliminating six of the youngsters in tonight's first heat, he encouraged them to come up and kick him on the shins the next time they saw him ... but, why wait? One of them walked up then and there and kicked him on the foot ... or boot actually. There was (and I don't understand why) applause. But these kids can cook! These cheflings (thanks Matt) could wipe the floor with me any day!
Well, the weather folk were right and it looks as though the rain has now set in. It has been falling steadily since mid-afternoon and shows no sign of abating. But at least the kids are all in and tucked up early for a change but we suspect it may take a little coaxing to get Pearl out there before she goes to bed ... which shouldn't be long now as S is just watching the end of Compass before she calls it a day.
We have heard from the cruise ship - it was off Tweed at around 10 and we have fine-tuned the rendezvous time to take into account that there are about 300 Brisbanians to disembark before W and K do. We are grateful for the extra hour or so of sleep this will allow - and that the peak hour traffic may have calmed by the time we are on the road. We still haven't worked out exactly what we are going to do with them - but think that the weather might be a factor. It's not going to be riverside lunch if it's a deluge out there.
There was a report in the paper that they are expecting the Coast to be hit by a number of cyclones this year - they are "past due". That, together with the unseasonably warm spring and summer also forecast, might not be exactly what we ordered.
There is nothing quite the sound of rain on the roof though, or of frogs ribbettig somewhere in the middle distance. It is truly lovely and just another of the many things we love about Latimers!!!
