Day 134 (Tuesday)

It was threatening to rain this morning but managed to come to its senses before I left Latimers. Word from the Department of Meteorology is that we are in for a few wet days. M is looking forward to it so she can see if the roof fixings to date have caused any new leaks to develop. That's one thing about Latimers, and probably every other property that is bigger than your average suburban block - there's always some kind of maintenance required - and that's even before the mowing gets a look in!

We've off to see Harry Potter 7 tonight with F and M; we will be sans M though because she has business elsewhere and no amount of pleading, crying or begging would convince her to come with us instead - if we had tried; she seemed so resolute that we knew we would be wasting our time to try to change her mind.

The new Zarraffas has finally opened in Nerang and I am sitting t/here as I write this. Of course it is like every other Zaraffas, but that is part of the charm - it is the same yet different. The only problem with it, I think, is going to be a lack of parking spaces. When I drove in this afternoon, the car park was packed solid except for a single disabled parking space. Luckily someone was coming out as I was coming in or I would have had to resort to takeaway - or going across the way to Maccas. I did find myself wondering if Maccas had sent all their employees with cars over to park in the Zarraffas car park - as a way of protecting their McCafe turf. It does surprise me that in times of the not-yet-fully-recovered-fully from the Global Financial Crisis, a new coffee shop can compete so successfully across the road from an existing coffee establishment - and it's not like the McCafe fare is terrible!. There are currently a number of franchises for Zarraffas currently on offer throughout south-east Queensland so they obviously think the economy can sustain the business.

The mobile car detailing people were at work today and I decided it was time for Lars to leave the ranks of the great unwashed. They did an amazing job and suggested a wax and cut back next time which could do wonders with removing some of the scuff marks on Lars. I think it's definitely worth a go - even if I take myself off to the auto store and buy some - or find the can that I know is somewhere ... in the shed I think. Hmmm - maybe I need to give that more thought before I commit to it - I know I am still trying to find a couple of things in the shed some weeks later - but it is much more organised in there now.

We are almost to the end of the home-grown bananas. The bunch that has been hanging in the garage has been eaten or given away to the point where there are now only a few bananas left. They were yummy though.

Day 134 (Monday)

I missed it when I drove in the gate at Latimers this afternoon - although I did notice the wonderful cleaning job M had done on the stonework out the front. Mind you, I'm not quite sure how I missed it because it is an amazing feat of construction. In an effort to help the mother bird - who is still alive but nursing a damaged wing - M put up a walkway so she could hop up to fence level - and one from the fence to the tree - a distance of some metres - so she could hop across it to where their nest is without fear of running in to the cats. M did a great job - the bridge, made of several long poles taped together, is sturdy enough for the willy wagtail but not strong enough to support any of the cats. Hopefully if there are any possums in the area, they will give it a miss as well.

Speaking of cats, it's only a few days ago - and I'm still trying to remember how it came up in conversation - that we were talking about that coffee which is harvested after it has been digested by the lawak, a cat-like member of the civet family in Indonesia. It (the coffee not the cat) is a delicacy and for December only it is available right here on the Gold Coast. Called Kopi Luwak but commonly referred to as cat poo coffee, it is supposedly a delicacy and gives the flavour of coffee without the bitterness. I would like to know what the circumstances were surrounding that discovery. I'm not sure if we will avail ourselves of this one but we have a few days to decide yet - we just have to be able to find where Merlo Coffee Southport is - and have our $10 ready to buy a cup of it!

We had a quiet night in tonight - watching some television, catching up on correspondence and M booked some accommodation for her forthcoming trip to Sydney. Unfortunately it's in the same week as Oprah is doing her broadcast from the Sydney Opera House so accommodation is a little scarce and what there is is a tad more expensive than usual.

There's a new fence going in on the Latimers lane-way up near Bernies' - well, the poles are there and laterals are on the ground waiting to be fitted. Oh, and the mailbox is off being fixed. It had started to rust up the top and was about to become a bit less useful as a mailbox - either because it would be swinging from one chain only and the mail would fall out - or because it would have been rusted through completely and the mail would have not stayed dry.

Even though the yellow breadbox may have been up to the task if it had a tow bar, it doesn't so M towed the rubbish up the front with the 4-wheel-drive this evening. Pearl couldn't go with her because it is too high for her to jump in, so she stayed with us. I'd already given her a game of "Fetch" and "Throw" so she was content to just "be".

We've changed Kathy from Friday to Wednesday for cleaning this week, and I'm wondering where to write the note to remind M about the shower ... because she's usually the first one to use it after Kathy's been in there and gets hit with the stream of cold water because the shower head is pointed outwards rather than into the shower.

Maggie was doing her best to look cute this evening and she did a very good job. I couldn't resist taking a photo of her and posting it to FaceBook so everyone can see just how cute she is. I think she is the most photogenic of the animals - or certainly the one that stays still longer so you can take a decent photo of her - and, yes, she does seem to pose!

Day 133 (Sunday)

What a fantastic day! True, I didn't get as much achieved as planned but we did lots of other stuff instead.

First up - a computer call with T in Sydney. She has just started three weeks holiday during which she and her partner will be spending 7 nights in Cairns in far north Queensland. Unfortunately they won't be changing planes at Brisbane so we won't have the opportunity to have a coffee with them at the airport but we will catch up with them one day. In the interim, the computer chats work just fine.

Then ... Markets! They really have become part of our weekend ritual and it was a happy bunch that congregated there this morning (except for M who seems to be missing "home" and seems to be wishing that she was back overseas). M and A were there - which was a little surprising as they had spent the night at a hotel in Surfers Paradise and it seemed they might opt for the buffet breakfast there rather than for coffee and croissant at the markets. Perhaps it's the company they prefer - or that they had checked out the food and they didn't think it was as good as it could be. F's brother and his family were there as well with their eldest son still in the recovery stages from the stomach bug that's doing the rounds of the Coast - we know because it had stopped with us here at Latimers already.

Next stop - Southport Cemetery to visit M's dad and for Mouse and M to tend the gravesite, water the plants, and place fresh flowers. Mouse asked which side she would be on (hopefully for not a very long time) and S borrowed a line from "Avanti" to indicate whichever was K's good ear - so they could "talk".

F and M went home after that and we continued on to The BrickWorks aka Ferry Road Markets for lunch where M, Mouse and I all had the calamari - and M counted the number of pieces on each plate - to confirm they were very generous serves. S had the fish.

Some small shopping - sausages and lamb chops followed - for the BBQ this evening - before S, M and I all piled into the yellow breadbox and headed out to HarbourTown to meet up with friend J who was camped there waiting for her daughter and friends to finish watching Harry Potter 7. Jo had her housemate there for company and we resisted the temptation, and slight pressure, to finish her homework assignment for her. I, for one, am happy to help but the days of actually doing someone else's homework - especially when they slip away to do some shopping - are over.

But it was good to catch up with J and find out that her older daughter will be graduating next month. It seems like only heartbeat since she was a baby! She's recently returned from a trip to Bali with her boyfriend - her 21st birthday present from J - during which she tracked down and met Ketut - as "featured" in "Eat Pray Love". He was apparently very easy to find which led to some cynical remarks about whether it was the real Ketut or one of many impersonators trying to cash in on Ketut's "fame". We weren't being totally serious.

Then it was off to F and M's which M was visiting in an official capacity. While she and F did what they had to do, we talked with M and watched as she prepared a very yummy Turkish/Albanian coffee. Who knew that M and M could "read" coffee. S's wouldn't settle although she thought she could see the Eiffel Tower; I'm sure I saw a buxom woman and a snake.

Finally home - after a drive through the parking lot of the new Zarraffas at Nerang - which is due to open tomorrow but which certainly seemed to be open and serving customers this afternoon - I settled in to BbQ mode - possible because M showed me how to determine how much is left in a gas canister by pouring boiling water down its side. The chops could have been cooked a little more for those who like "medium-well" but I didn't think I'd done too badly with my first ever BBQ where I was in sole control of the grill. It did make me realise that I certainly could have taken more notice all this times I've stood next to people who have been BBQing.

Phew ... It was good to finally stop and settle in for the evening - which included S falling asleep in front of a lifestyle program on the television. She must have been tired. I have plans for the television tomorrow - it's time to install the Blue-Ray player!

Day 132 (Saturday)

Pearl has a new collar! I'm not sure how long she's had it but I've just noticed it - thanks to the clinking tinkling noise she now makes as she walks. It reminds me of a film we once saw where a woman clinked as she walked - and that turned out to be the chains she was wearing under her clothes. It was a different type of movie. And I'm glad that's not what's causing Pearl's clinking. Her collar, as well as having a big loop for her lead also has little coloured beads decorating it - and these also add to the tinkling. Being a cattle dog, she likes to have a collar on so she feels like she's part of the pack (I think that's how M explained it).

I was out of Latimers early this morning - I had to visit OfficeWorks as my last favourite pen ran out at work yesterday. Added bonus was that the woman behind the counter knew exactly where "my" pen was in store - and that it now had "Friends" in that it now came in red, blue and black as well as the original purple. She either really did love stationery or she was on excellent example of "do you want fries with that?" as she was able to identify the erasable pens in my purchases and suggest I could be interested in the same manufacturers new line of erasable highlighters. I limited myself to just the one!

Stationery in hand, it was then time to meet S and M at Crave for breakfast. It's always good there and we hadn't been for a while. As we found out later, we weren't the only ones who had given Crave the "once-over" - F had been wondering if we were in the area ("pheromones" said S) and have even driven past, and then wondered again as he did some Bunnings shopping in the retail complex next door. It's surprising that he didn't bump into M there - because that's where she had spent over an hour - putting most everything back on the shelves as she approached the checkout except the glue that she had actually gone there to get. As she said, she had just wanted to bring the rest of it home because it looked ...and I can't remember which word she actually used there - but it could have been "pretty". It's the whole thing of manufacturers putting things in bright and shiny packages to make it look as though you want their product - or need it. She was able to resist - although hearing of F's purchases there, he may not have been quite as successful at resisting temptation.

While M was off doing Bunnings, S and I stayed on at Crave for a second round of coffees and a good catch-up - including talking about her mother who is of the age where she is soon going to need more care and help around the home. She called her after we arrived home, and it seemed that the call had gone well. It's sometimes difficult dealing with parents who are in remote locations!

S arrived home some time after us, and we all had a cuppa and a catch-up and tried out one of the devices she had purchased at Bunnings - a flying insect deterrent - which comes in a battery-powered pack and puffs out insect repellant every few seconds. And it seemed to work very well - usually when we are sitting out the front at that time of day, we are constantly chasing off flies and mosquitoes, but not this evening. Good buy M!

M went out this evening and S experimented with a vegetable pasta bake which was very nice. I can see it becoming quite a good quick dish especially in winter because it is both warming and hearty.

Tink was in trouble this afternoon. Her cat genes had her chasing, and almost catching, one of the willy wagtails at Latimers. We're not sure how much damage she did it but she does appear to have grazed the wing of what we think was the mother bird. She hopped (not flew) over to a glade of trees where she was joined by the young ones. This nature thing can be hard to watch - and if Tink doesn't watch out, she may soon find herself wearing a collar and bell to give the birds a fighting chance - it may be that their mistake is when they look at Tink, they see her as a cat that can't move very fast. Not so - and it's not a lesson we want them to learn the hard way.

Day 131 (Friday)

Last day of the working week and I'm looking forward to a Latimers weekend. But before the weekend there's dinner at the Latin Quarter - a restaurant in Broadbeach which M had read about. Even though I can't remember what type of food it is - although I know it does start with an "A" - I am looking forward to it.

S confirmed when I asked when I arrived home that it is ... Algerian. I would never have guessed that - and hadn't on the numerous occasions during the day when I had tried to remember.

It was in the heart of Broadbeach - next to the cafe where we didn't have breakfast a couple of weeks ago. I drove the yellow breadbox in - which was good because on a Friday night, parking is at a premium in that part of town. We sat at a table nearest the footpath - giving it a wonderful cosmopolitan feel - until it started raining - just a little - but we just moved everyone a couple of feet into the restaurant, and then when it stopped, a couple of feet back out to where we had been.

Everyone was in good form - Mouse, M, F and M, S and I, and N's parents M and A. N has just finished her first week in the Nation's Capital and by all reports, she seems to be enjoying her relocation and new role. I predict she will go far - figuratively as well as literally since one of her aims is an overseas posting.

The food was good - but I'm still not sure what "Algerian" food is. The fare seemed to be a mix of different foods - Cajun Fish, Crepe Suzette (oops, should have taken more notice of the spelling on the menu) and Moroccan Cigars (which weren't really cigars at all but more like Lebanese Ladies Fingers - mince wrapped in pastry). Or perhaps that's what Algerian is - a melting pot of different cuisines - a melting pot of very delicious cuisines. It wasn't a late night but it was a good night. Thanks M for taking us - much appreciated.

Once home, Beazley and I settled in for our Friday post-dinner ritual and watched the end of the movie - tonight was the latest Indiana Jones film. I was almost tempted to stay up to watch the next one but given I am planning to be at OfficeWorks when the doors open in the morning, I called it quits "early". Beazley didn't seem to mind. And the others were all in and tucked up in their various sleeping positions as well - so they didn't mind either.

Day 130 (Thursday)

There is always something happening at Latimers! Tink has taken to sitting on the yellow bread box and it is amazing that she has worked out how given it has no flat surfaces for the hood. She seemed to be a little uncomfortable, yet determined, when I spotted her there. She always has been a fan of pre-heated hoods - well, at least for as long as we have known her.

M took Pearl to the vet last week and that, a bath and some drugs have resulted in a much less itchy dog. It's good, too, because its quite distressing seeing her so uncomfortable all the time.

I think I understand now why they call them ''slashers". When Uncle R came earlier this week, he mowed the bottom paddock and took it right back to a No. 1 (in hair-cutting parlance) which has left the grass looking distressed and unloved. No Colorbond moments there. Time for me to have a go! After I've done Hermes paddock - which I did this afternoon when I arrived home from work. There is something incredibly relaxing about being on the mower, out in the paddock, just you and the grass and the sun starting to set in the distance - but not so quickly that you'll be forced to decide about whether you try to find the switch for the headlights so you can keep mowing in the dark - or call it on account of poor light.

Thursday is usually "date night" but as I had been sick earlier this week and because we had leftovers (sent home by Mouse) in the fridge and because I wanted to start looking at an application for a job with Apple, we stayed in. And did someone mention there was also a new iPhone 4 to set up? And get ready for handing the iPhone 3G S to S?

Laddette, aka Emma the cat, is still taking every opportunity she can to streak out the bedroom door whenever it is opened to drink from the outside water. She can move like greased lightning when she wants to and I only realised she had made it out this evening when I'd had the door open an instant to put some rubbish out for later conveyance to the rubbish tin and when I turned back around, the shoe rack which normally sits right way up at the end of the bed was now on its side. "That's odd" I thought and then looked around to see where Em was - and she wasn't. S has the same problem with her just streaking out the door when it's even the tiniest bit open. But it's good that she's still active and agile!

Day 129 (Wednesday)

There's nothing quite like feeling unwell to help you realise when you're okay again. Although, truth be told, I could have done without the nightmares last night. It was my own fault of course! What was I thinking when I chose to watch the pilot episode of a new U.S. series "The Walking Dead"? I know what I was thinking as I watched it - none of it good! Where do they find the cash to produce this type of ... but wait ... I don't want to colour anyone's opinion of a program that could be the next big thing in television land.

Not surprisingly, life at Latimers continues. Thankfully there have only been good surprises like an invitation to the Dam's residents' barbeque and Pearl not hurting herself much when she made an awkward dismount from the yellow breadbox - aka the courtesy car M has while hers is repaired from past hurts.

The grapevine outside M's room continues to flourish and I understood why she had trimmed the longest tendril while I was out sick. Why do they say "out sick" when most people stay ''in" when they are sick? And why do they call it "under the weather" when people who are sick often don't go out in the weather, unless they are practicing the "soldier on" approach to illness. I will never understand the intricacies of the English language!

The kids have all been excellent with their lock-downs except for Tinker who was out fairly late last night but then, no shock here, made sure she was the first one tucked up on the couch this evening. She is exceedingly cute and in fact Kathy the cleaner asserts that Tink is the cutest of the Latimers animals. Some dispute this - as I'm sure the other animals would if they'd actually heard that remark.

Even though it's only been a few days everything is about ready for a good mow again. In Winter, M would caution me about being too enthusiastic with the mowing lest there not be enough left for Hermes to eat. Now, the same could be said but because the cutting leaves too much easily accessible grass. I hope Hermes understands the concept of moderation or of having some friends over.

We're inching ever closer to being able to play iPad scrabble new that S also has an iPhone. I'll miss the clicking of those scrabble tiles but we can recapture that with either a good game of mahjong (it has been an absolute age) or of the not-yet-played Banagrams where the game is played without a board but with tiles pulled from a yellow cloth banana bag.

Day 128 (Tuesday)

Off sick.

Day 127 (Monday)

... all seems like a bit of a blur now thanks to Tuesday which I spent nursing a virus - or more correctly, the rest of Latimers spent looking after me.

Day 126 (Sunday)

We managed to get to two lots of markets today - the usual at Bundall and ones at Broadbeach as well. They were quite different and good fun - not least of all because they had a range of arts and crafts goodies. I was quite taken with a couple of "drink holders" which were made of neoprene or similar material and would keep your drinks cold with the added feature of allowing you to wear your wine glass around your neck or keep bugs out of your can or bottle. I was also intrigued with the wall clocks fashioned out of squashed-flat alcohol bottles. I had little problem picturing one of these on the wall of my brother's bar. The other thing that caught my eye was something I haven't seen for absolute ages - a chocolate-coated banana. The last time I had one of these was so long ago I can't actually remember but I know it must have been somewhere up here. We managed to resist the temptation this time but there are no guarantees should our paths cross again.

Their it was home again - bringing with us, all the way back to Latimers, the competition entries I had meant to post for Mouse. Tomorrow.

The rain held off long enough this afternoon for me to mow Hermes' bottom two paddocks and the round yard. I sometimes think it would be good to listen to music as I whiz up and down the paddocks but that isn't what it's about for me. I just love being out there, concentrating on mowing in almost-straight lines but letting my mind wander free (and watching out for snakes of course). Must talk with M about starting to do the bottom paddock with the tractor and the slasher (must check if R fixed the nut - if not, the ones M brought back from the Labera show might work).

Another job on the list which I'm planning to get to tomorrow is bringing the grape vine that is threatening to overgrow the trellis outside M's room into some type of check. I have a little experience with grapevines, having helped our friends Ben and Meredith with their vineyard in Orange. When I say "little", I do mean that - when we've visited for weekends at different times of the year, we've been able to help with various tasks including pruning the vines. Pruning for best fruit should bear some similarities to pruning so the plant doesn't take over the back of the house - like that old story about the geraniums!

It was lovely this afternoon sitting out the front with M and S listening to the radio - the ABC program called "The Spirit of Things". It took a while for us all to stop interrupting Rachel and her radio guest because she definitely had the talking stick. It was an interesting program about Sacred Activism.

Then, it was time to knuckle down and finish my Forecast for tomorrow's meeting. It took a couple of starts - okay, so I didn't really want to do it - but I put on my cap with "42" on the front and an autograph of a racing car driver on the bill - and sat down to get it done. Amazingly, by the time I was in to it, I quite enjoyed it but I did miss my 17" screen from work. (Why are screen sizes for computers still measured in inches when we've been metric since before computers were really popular in the consumer market?)

Then, tired but happy, Forecast emailed off, it was time for bed. All the cats were coaxed or carried in and lockdown was achieved on schedule. Night night Latimers.

Day 125 (Saturday)

What does Pearl do all the time when she is here by herself? Does she guard the property so no-one can enter? Does she pine and wonder where everyone is? We know she doesn't gather up the avocadoes and bury them for later - but only because avocado season is over for this year. Does she do the same as she does all the rest of the time - just adding playing with people into her repertoire? We know she plays with the cats - although we're not quite sure what is is that she plays with the cats ... except that she has a special bond with Beazley who was the one that "raised" her.

She didn't come with us this morning when we went off to Caffe Republic - a new eatery we were trying out at Mermaid Beach which is "on the beach" - by which what people obviously mean to say is that it's a stone's throw from the beach (if you have a really good arm) but you can't see the beach from it. You can see "Millionaire's Row" though where the property costs upwards of ... a million dollars - and then some. Problem is there's no parking in the area when your friends come to visit.

Breakfast was good. We were impressed with the food and with the portion sizes - which were manageable but not skimpy. The staff were also very respectful - and the coffee good - and hot. But there was no denying that it has a very different feel from our usual haunts - hip and happening - and it is good to try new and exciting things. This is our third change in as many weeks and it's refreshing to know what's out there.

After breakfast we returned, replete, to Latimers and finally giving in to the nagging of my "to do" list, I took myself into the garage to find the objects I was missing: an extra thermos cup and my favourite tea cup/s (I have three of the same type to allow for breakages - but once these three are gone, I'll have to find another "favourite" ... haven't been back to the Ferry Road Markets Tea Shop yet). Also on the list - the filing cabinet, my Astro Boy shoulder bag and maybe an old pair of Apple mic-remote-headsets. Well, that I managed to extract some of them is good news - the tea cups and the filing cabinet are now inside - and I have made a good fist of tidying up one half of the garage - putting like things with like (why didn't we label them more clearly with tags that meant something? Of course, we thought at the time we were packing the boxes, we thought they did mean something but in retrospect S was much better at labeling than I was because, really, "General Electric" tells me little.)

An hour in the shed was more than enough and then S and I went off in search of hair cuts. The only thing that grows faster up here is the grass - and it really is doing it at the moment ... light rains, sultry days = take off the mulcher and set the mower blades lower.

We had Saturday night in - which we didn't need to because S woke up this morning completely recovered - and hungry. M had bought some leftovers home from Friday night dinner so we were happy not to have to cook (well, I was happy for S that she didn't have to).

M and Mouse were off tonight to the Casino to see "Genesis" - Joe Labero's new show. He's the one where the poster advertising the show has him pulling his head off and rabbits sitting in his collar (I may have mentioned that before ... I AM truly impressed by it). I even asked M and Mouse if they could do me a favor and scream when he did it - or when he put his head back on. But - horror of horrors - he didn't do it! False advertising! Harry Houdini would never have pictured a trick he wasn't going to perform in the show. But despite the omission, they seemed to enjoy it very much and came home with a photograph of the three of them (A went too) with Joe, and a program signed by him.

Meanwhile, back at Latimers, while they were off seeing illusions and maybe even true magic, S was catching up with her lifestyle programs and I was catching up with some work which I should have done yesterday but had been just a little slack. But given the financial forecast I'm preparing is going to be used at a meeting on Monday, I'd better make sure I finish the rest of it off tomorrow.

Just hope it doesn't take me away from the mowing too much, or the markets, or the plans to go and sit and watch some water somewhere for a while.

Day 124 (Friday)

Poor S. Let me say that again ... Poor S. I neglected to mention that while we were at dinner last night, S complained of having wiggly lines in front of her eyes. This is usually the precursor of a migraine - something she has about twice a year but usually she jumps on it and she doesn't get the headache part of the migraine. She didn't this time either but she did get the nausea and the feeling of motion sickness. She started being unwell during the night and was up multiple times being physically sick - to a point where she had nothing left except ... and about here I'll stop before going into the details. If we'd been at home rather than staying over at the Casino Hotel, she probably would have had a (anti-nausea medication) and managed to control it. But we weren't and in the end we decided I'd pack the room and then drive her home. Except she was getting worse. To the point where she said she couldn't come with me so I went home to get the Maxolon so she could have it and I could then drive her home. I'm not sure why I didn't ring M at the time, just after 6 in the morning, to bring the Maxolon in. I will next time - if there is one but hopefully there will not be.

So, one round trip later, S had the Maxolon and I managed to get her home without her being violently ill - for which I will be eternally grateful. I remember the time S was helping look after a sick friend and she started vomiting while we were helping change her bed linen. I managed - just - not to do my usual sympathetic response then but I wasn't sure that was going to be possible today in the confines of the car.

Once tucked up safely in her bed, with the Maxolon starting to take hold proper and nurse Emma (the cat) at her side, S settled in to get some rest. I rang the doctor and booked her in for an appointment at midday - wanting to be on the safe side and make sure she was in no discomfort if she didn't need to be.

She got the all-clear from the doctor and prescriptions for nausea control and for migraines should they return. And settled back in to bed to recuperate and wait for the last residues of the migraine (if that's what it was) to subside.

Also on the sick list for part of the day was N who developed a gastric bug this afternoon - fantastic timing given she jets off to Canberra tomorrow to take up her new role with the Treasury Department.

So, no Friday night dinner for us this week! I could have gone without S but I wanted to be on hand in case she wanted/needed anything. So S and Em stayed in the bedroom while Beazley and I took over television land to watch Indiana Jones. He didn't seem to mind that there weren't any crocodiles in it.

M was still out at dinner when LockDown arrived so I encouraged all the cats to come in (read "carried Tink") so we could close the doors and start settling in for the evening.

Day 123 (Thursday)

We were at the Casino again tonight (thanks M) so it was good that I'd let the GPS find the way this morning from the Casino to work. Seems that the way l went yesterday was only slightly shorter than having gone via Coolangatta (I am still learning my way around the Gold Coast).

I arrived in time to accompany S to the Executive Level for pre-dinner drinks - overlooking Broadbeach and the park where they used to have the snake show every Christmas holidays and where they currently have - five weeks before Christmas - illuminated Christmas trees but then, that's not particularly surprising given all the retail outlets have switched over to Festive mode already - weeks ago in some instances. In fact the Santa Parade was supposed to be on at The Pacific Fair shopping centre this evening - and on the other side of Jupiter's - the AFL Draft was being held at the Convention Centre. At Jupiter's it was the first night of the new magic show which is being advertised with posters showing the magician/illusionist pulling his head off and rabbits sitting in his shirt collar. That's what it looks like but it itself may be an illusion. M and Mouse are going sometime in the next few days so they'll be able to tell us what they see (or what they think they are seeing).

Other activities at the Big House (aka the Casino) included something called The Playboy Scramble - but heavens knows what that was all about. There appeared to be an event for the boys and for the girls. And there seemed to be plenty of people there for it because it was very very difficult to get a car park. I finally managed to shoe-horn Lars into a spot and all I could do was hope that the people around him had moved so I stood at least a small chance of driving him out in the morning.

We joined M for dinner at Spinners where we all had steaks - quite a change from our usual fare. Then, it was an early night for us - including a long-awaited bath for me. By the time I'd finished, and I didn't think I had been that long, I found S was fast asleep.

Day 122 (Wednesday)

What a great day! Movie night with the Casino - just like a school excursion only better because as well as the movie, including a bus ride to and from the cinema, you get to have a choc-top ice cream, a drink and popcorn. Thanks M for getting the extra ticket so all three of us could go.

I managed to score an early mark from work so I was able to beat the peak hour traffic and have time for a leisurely coffee and a rest before we joined the line for the ticket, the line to get on the bus,the line to collect the movie refreshments ... and it's good because there was such a feeling of excitement in the line that it wasn't really like lining up at all - not like when you're waiting in a queue in the bank or the motor registry department and it takes forever. Here you know that when the line starts moving, it's going to keep moving - such was the high degree of organization involved.

The movie was "Due Date" starring Robert Downey Jr and while I'm still trying to understand why some scenes were included I managed to get a couple of good laughs out of this rotricomdra (I just made that up and it's short for "road trip comedy drama"). I scored it at 7 which may seem generous but I was just incredibly pleased that they didn't include more boy-body "humour".

After the movie, we lined up to get back on the ... last bus back to the Casino (okay, okay, I dragged my feet on the way across the parking lot from the cinema - and insisted on a pit stop on the way). We considered walking - as we had to wait for the bus along with the other stragglers - because the next item on the agenda was celebrating Mouse's 85th birthday with the others at the Food Fantasy restaurant at the Casino.

They had been there since early and were all finished their main courses by the time we arrived and they were able to confirm the fare was up to its usual high standard. The prawns came highly recommended and Cousin M even offered to peel/clean mine for me. Double yum.

S had had a good day even before I met up with her this afternoon. It's bingo day and she had won the first jackpot game and three other rounds after that - even though some (rude, rude, rude) people behind her had suggested that she was a slow player. It would be different if it was based on speed but this bingo is based on getting all the numbers first and even if someone else has called bingo, here, house or whatever terminology they choose, if that last number also gives you all the numbers for that game, you can still claim part of the prize as long as they haven't finished paying out. Of course, it means the prize is then split, and that could have been their concern, but they seem to have forgotten that it's meant to be a friendly game.

Her luck continued after she and the others had lunch at the Casino when she won a Mini Jackpot - I'm not sure which machine it was on but I know she has of late been playing the machine that reminds her of Beazley.

Again thanks to M's generosity, we were able to stay overnight at the Casino while she went back to Latimers and did animal duties. I hope they behaved themselves for her because it would have been terrible if she'd had to be out there chasing Tink or any of the others all night!

Day 121 (Tuesday)

The swallows have not started to rebuild the nest. Part of me is a bit sad that they have moved on although S did say there were some "looking around" yesterday. We'll just have to keep watching the skies. I saw a motorized hang-glider go over a couple of weeks ago but no balloons have been sighted for a while.

Uncle R came today and he and M spent some time down the back weeding and clearing. He also cut down the bananas and then hung them up in the garage - where the rope holding them up broke and S and M managed to tie them back up again but M thinks they need to be higher. Being high on the tree didn't help save them from whatever it is that eats them in the wild (no monkeys here though) because the riper ones seemed to have had a little chew on them.

For morning tea, M made a banana cake - making a bit of a change from S's banana bread which we have been enjoying of late at Latimers. It may or may not be true that it was the banana cake that "knocked" S out, sending her to bed for a very long nap afterwards. By all reports it was a great cake and even though I am not incredibly fond of walnuts (the cake was made to Cousin M's recipe and included them) I will try some. I had meant to after I finished mowing Hermes' paddock this afternoon but by that time it was getting a bit too close to dinner - and S had excelled herself with making another chicken curry. Yum.

But there must have been something in there because we had all retired by 9pm - M had even gone out and collected Tinker so they were all in and locked down by a quarter to nine.

Day 120 Monday

Another glorious, wonderful day here at Latimers.

Day 119 (Sunday)

What a fantastic weekend! We finished it at the Casino last night, having dinner at Zen (thanks M) and slipping in to listen to the $5,000 draw on the hour (we were there for three - 6, 7 and 8) and then joining the exodus of other non-winners after each winner was announced. I also took the opportunity to note down the numbers at four of the roulette tables to see if there was any evident pattern and continue my small foray into "numbers". One day I may actually feel confident enough to have a bet - and not just on Roulette HD - an app for the iPad - even though it is pretty amazing.

As is the fact that M mentioned this evening that she thought (but would need to check in the morning) that another swallow nest may be under construction. Wouldn't that be amazing! Nature will prevail - that's what I think anyway every time I see a plant growing where you wouldn't think there was enough soil or water to keep it sustained - or even enough for a seed to have got purchase.

S did a great job with the washing today and was fairly lucky with the weather. It had started raining - just - as we arrived home from the markets and we were able to bring it under cover so it could finish drying.

The markets were good ... and we were celebrating Mouse's 85th birthday - with a cake M had picked up early (and I do mean early!) this morning. It looked fantastic and tasted pretty good as well. Especially as she had also brought along a fantastic Turkish table cloth for the table, plates (plastic) and cutlery (plastic and real), candles, blueberries and double cream. Excellent. And, because the markets are what they are and some people come late and some people come on time and the others are early, there were actually two candle-lightings - with Mouse not allowed to cut the cake with the first one. I had taken the camera - M and F did as well - so we took some decent shots to share with friends and family who couldn't be there. Continuing on the birthday theme, there is talk of a a dinner on Wednesday night - although this could be lunch. This will coincide with this year's celebration of Eid-Ul-Adha.

The cats were all in tonight when we arrived home from the Casino as it had been raining - although you wouldn't have thought so because there were very few toads on the road. Or perhaps they were all waiting for Junior MasterChef - the semi-final was on tonight and now Jack and Isabella will fight it out for the title of "Australia's first Junior MasterChef". They all made some incredible food last night, including Jack's snail porridge with rocket butter and beetroot twill. I cannot imagine what dishes these young people will be able to prepare when they are older because they are already blowing the judges' socks off. It's hard to believe they aren't even in their teens yet - and that the Chefs will have to wait a good few years before they can apprentice these talented folk. And what a joy it is to be able to watch them doing something they are obviously passionate about.

Day 118 (Saturday)

The swallow nest is no more.  First thing this morning, even before breakfast (but after we were up and showered and dressed) the ladder came out of the shed – both ladders but we used M's because hers is actually taller and was tall enough to allow her to reach the nest – and up she went to first check that there were no eggs in there (there were definitely no birds – and if there had been we would have been able to see them from the ground) and then scraped it off the wall.  It fell in one large bit and a couple of smaller pieces.  It's amazing to think there could have been two parent birds and five babies in there at any stage let alone just a few weeks ago.

 

As part of the exercise – clean up that area – we also moved the walking machine from there around the back. Hopefully now that it is out of the traffic flow and we can have it connected to the power most of the time, it will actually get some use.  It has been a while since it has been tread on.

 

Then it was time for breakfast.  M had had a recommendation of The Coast Café but when we arrived (okay, after we'd say down) I pointed out that it was under new management, they were advertising for chefs, and when they gave we three our menus, there were only two.  So we moved across the road to Koi which was good (as we knew it would be because we have been there before).

 

Then, I decided I wanted to do some writing – overlooking the water.  Funnily enough, even though it is the Gold Coast, we could only think of one café overlooking the water – and that's at Currumbin – The Elephant Rock Café.  I had wanted something a little closer if possible. So, moving to still water – there is a café called Bumbles, which is at the back of Surfers Paradise at a place called Budds Beach.  We went there and it was totally wonderful.  We found a table and seat across the road from the café – in shade and overlooking the sand of the river bank. People were swimming, there were some seagulls and a lone ibis (to remind us of Sydney) and we relaxed with a juice and takeaway coffee from the café.  Bliss and heaven on a stick.

 

On the way home we went in search of the site of the new Zarraffas at Nerang.  M had told us about it at dinner last night and as we drove home we looked for it but couldn't find it. But this time, we had the address, and found signage on the side of the building!  The opening is still at least a fortnight until it opens but we will be ready for it.

 

The mower was returned in a wonderful pristine condition – and it was almost still in that condition when I'd finished mowing the yard.  I didn't give it the shortest cut it's ever had but I did want to. 

 

But you should always be careful what you wish for.  When we saw "Red" the other night, we saw the trailer for "Skyline" and it looked like a disaster movie I wanted to see.  Surprisingly, S and M said they would come along as well. Who knew it was going to be as bad as it was.  "Disaster" was exactly the right word to describe it – although, thinking about it more, may be "Disaster" is even too kind. – but a rating of -27 is right on the money as far as I'm concerned.

Day 117 (Friday)

Why do they call them March Flies when they bite in November? M nobly jumped between Hermes and a March Fly and was bitten for her trouble. It (the bite site) has turned into a large red welt and she finally succumbed and took an anti-histamine tonight to help relieve the itch and pain. Unfortunately, the only anti-histamine that S had was one that caused drowsiness - and, as it turned out, a general feeling of unwellness. Realising the first half, M took it before we went to Friday night dinner - being held tonight at M and F's - so I drove because one should always take notice of the contra-indications, warnings and instructions noted on pharmaceutical product packets. Unfortunately the second half only became known once we were there and M valiantly tried to fight it off but came across as fairly low-key for the evening. The other M was not totally 100% and F had spent the day tiling as was pretty worn out - so much so that he joined M lying on the couch - he assured us he had "assumed the position" and then promptly fell asleep. He woke up a short time later saying that was his "power nap" and we noted that it couldn't have been the only one he needed because he was asleep again within minutes. Such is the end of week sometimes - so we called it an early night - especially as we had feasted on M's special lasagne, rice pudding and, for others, freshly-baked brownies and ice cream. Yum.

Once home, the others had early nights and I sat up late with Beazley as we did a spot of television watching. I should have gone to bed too because I later had to pretend I hadn't been woken up when S came out of the bedroom. But it would have been a shame if I had had to move because Beazley was resting his head on my lap!

For no real reason save it was Friday, Joan and I decided to leave the site and have lunch today at The Fish Bone. They absolutely do the best chips there. And I liked it because the fish bites didn't taste like fish at all - possibly they would to the more discerning palette but because I'm not that in to fish, I didn't mind at all (read "was ecstatic").

We sat out with the swallow's nest for a while this evening and there appears to be no activity there at all - but before the nest comes down (with some human intervention) someone is going to have to check it. I nominate M.

Day 116 (Thursday)

Pearl and I took a walk up the lane this afternoon and I would like to say we made it all the way to the road but just past B's, she turned around and wanted to come home. Since it was her walk too, we turned around and she seemed pleased with that. There is something very refreshing about walking in the "country" with nature all around and white wood fences, and a dentist working on a horse with what looked like a power drill. Apparently, according to M, when they are working on a horse's teeth, they brace its mouth open so they can do what they need to do. I was so stunned seeing it - I haven't seen a mouth and a drill together like that since "Marathon Man" (Is it safe?) - that I didn't think to ask if there was some kind of anesthetic involved or whether horses have a different sensitivity to pain in their mouths especially since horse dentists do have to take out teeth. I'm learning more about country living all the time.

S is too! When the mower was delivered back to Latimers this afternoon (cheers all around) she drove it back to the shed without Miss Adventure.  If we're not careful, she'll want to share the mowing duties as well - not that there isn't enough grass to go around, because there is, especially with the recent combination of heat and water.

Water ... did someone say water? It looks as though the Latimers roof needs replacing. M is currently getting a quote for the work. She said she wasn't surprised when the plumber said it would need it - it has leaked during some of the heavier rains over the last few months and it has been patched (and patched) before. It was, as she said, only a matter of time before it actually had to be done. And given that the Gold Coast is supposed to be facing a very heavy Summer storm season (the word "cyclone" has actually been used - and some say that Queensland is due for around five or six this year), getting the roof fixed may be a great idea. The other thing M was saying was that you can take some really nice photos from up there - and it's not that bad to be up there - as long as you walk where the nails are - because it's a flat roof. That may be an excursion for the weekend.

Also coming up - making sure the swallow nest is completely empty before it is pulled down. There appeared to be no activity in there this evening but as we know from last time, turnaround with the nest can only take a day and M wants to get it before the next lot of parents move in.

S and I took ourselves off for dinner tonight at the Chinese restaurant at Worongary (it's easier to find now we know where it is) and the food was good, except we made a poor choice with one of the dishes. I am always amazed at how many people are out and about on a Thursday evening - as the restaurant people may have been because they had such a full house (and no chance of the owner getting more staff the man behind the counter told me as I paid our bill) they were run off their feet - and there was a surprisingly long wait - understandable given the circumstances!

We arrived home before M and took the opportunity to go into early lock-down, even managing to scoop up Tink who was sitting in one of the chairs out the front - watching a gentle rain fall over Latimers. If only we knew someone who was an expert in toad behavior maybe we could find out what happens to them: as we drove in tonight there were lots of them over the driveway (being careful not to squash any of them) but by the time I had parked the car and come around the back to get my bag out of the boot, the toads had completely disappeared. Odd.

Day 115 (Wednesday)

We are truly being blessed with a wonderful Spring and I'm not sure whether it's a function of this or something else that more and more people seem to be around in the mornings. There was a line at the coffee shop already by the time I arrived there just after 6.30! They make excellent coffee at this Zarraffa's and it opens at 6am but that can't be the only reason people beat a path to its door.

I am still enjoying thinking about "Red" and I'm not sure that I won't want to see it again when it comes out on DVD.

Pearl was very low-key when I arrived home this afternoon and didn't do her usual racing out with the ball to play "Fetch" or even "Throw". But she seemed okay besides that - although still doing some of that scratching.

S made wonderful "tired vege parcels" for dinner tonight and M joked that she could give some of the yoghurt and garlic accompaniment to Pearl - to help get some extra garlic into her and because she thought Pearl might enjoy it since she's having a fair bit of it now - both as freshly crushed garlic and as minced garlic out of a jar.

On the way home tonight I did manage to stop by Status Computers and have Malcolm (thanks M for the recommendation) take a look at my external hard drive which had stopped working. There was no magic smoke (when that leaves the device you can be sure it is dead) but there was a faint burning smell and the power adaptor kept getting quite hot - but, since the power light was coming on on the drive box, I figured there was still hope. Nada. No. Not a chance. Malcolm's testing showed the drive had been burnt out so that was that. Kindly, he didn't charge me for the investigation and I know that if I have a problem with any of my other computer stuff, I'm going there first! And recommending him to anyone who will listen.

Next stop was JB HiFi where I picked up a new replacement headset for the phone. Not sure where the other one is hiding but it is doing it quite convincingly. I was there in time to find out JB's were having a sale from 6-10pm, one night only, so I spread the news a little but chose not to wait (they were closing the store at 5.30 and re-opening at 6) because I knew a 20% discount on DVDs would be just a little too enticing and, dare I say, dangerous.

The swallow nest seemed quiet this afternoon - I think I was too late for the last feeding frenzy of the day. And I'm not sure if any of the other babies have been taking test flights out of the nest - especially after one of them was stranded outside from the nest for a while on Sunday morning when the interlopers came around.

And speaking of visitors, a large green frog seemed to be having a very nice time sitting on the path outside M's bedroom this evening. She saw it when she was out trying to get Tinker (that naughty Tinky Two-Shoes) in for the evening. I didn't tell her, when she showed me, that one of my recurring nightmares from childhood was when we lived on the farm and the back room and kitchen were covered in tiny green frogs - when I say nightmare I mean in the sense of "happened while I was awake" and terrified me ... as opposed to the time I slept-walk and fell into the sunken bathtub which, probably luckily, was full at the time. Hmmm ... stories for another day.

Day 114 (Tuesday)

Pearl taught me a new game this afternoon - Throw. It's where she says she wants to play and eagerly jumps around waiting for you to throw the ball and then when you do she doesn't go after it. The first time I thought maybe she didn't see where it went so I threw another one - and she watched it sail up the yard then turned and walked back inside.

Emma, on the other hand, sprinted outside for a drink after we arrived home from the movies tonight and proceeded to drink from both the bucket and the bowl set in the iron dog's tummy before rubbing her head over and along the pavers as if marking them with her scent. It took a while to convince her to come inside but considerably longer for young Tinker who, even now, is outside and refusing to come in. M thinks it's time to restrict what has been all-day access to cookies so that Tink and the others will have to come in in the evening (when called) to get some. It's so cunning, devious and down-right clever, it may just work! Either that or locking them out for the night a few times - mind you, that's not the best option for the local wildlife - may help the situation.

The National IQ test was on television at Latimers for a short while only this evening because we had been out at the movies seeing "Red" - which is a simply marvelous film - helped by a good script and a great ensemble cast. However, what we did see of the IQ test proved that, between all of us at Latimers, we can solve just about anything!!

Also at Latimers today - Uncle R who had morning tea - I think Lamingtons were involved - with S and M because it was raining when he arrived (funny how it rains on some parts of the coast and not others). I'm not sure whether he made it down the back to check on those bananas.

The mower didn't come home again today but M reports that they have at least started work on it now so I'm hoping there's a chance that they will bring it back, all serviced up and ready to go, in time for the weekend. I can feel a mow coming on - and a trip to the cinema to see the movie we saw advertised tonight "Skyline" which I won't read up on beforehand but from the trailer it looks to be another "aliens taking over the earth" story. When it started, I had thought it would have been based on the Dean Koontz novel "Taken" which also sees alien ships arriving on earth and harvesting people. It won't be everyone's cup of tea and already S has said that she isn't interested, not for the reason I thought (that it's science fiction - hopefully) but because she thought it would be too scary. Something to sleep on.

Day 113 (Monday)

It could be one of the greater small mysteries of life: when Kathy started cleaning at Latimers, why is it that I never got caught with the shower attachment facing the wrong way - pointing at the showerer - and turned on - resulting in a small flood of cold water over them and the bathroom floor. M asked last night after she was caught yet again - and while I knew it had never happened to me, I had thought that we, S and I, had made it through - then it occurred to me ... While M was away, Kathy always came on a Friday and on Saturdays, S has first shower - she indulges me because I have first shower during the week and sometimes it's nice just to have the opportunity to have a little bit of a lie-in. I checked with S and yes! - she had been caught by the shower, but she had never mentioned it!

Just for a change, I decided to walk the rubbish up to the road this evening. I have been trying to up my steps (I even bought a new battery for the pedometer so I could count them efficiently) now that I am working at the new job and realized that if I'm busy, it's fairly easy to just sit at my desk. So rather than popping in to a coffee shop on the way home, I made a bee-line for Latimers, caught up with S, and then hand-towed the rubbish up to the road. I admit it, I was sensible about it - not being the fittest person in the world (or even at Latimers) - I didn't want to overdo it on my first time out. It was good - nothing like walking in the city - mind you I didn't usually take the Otto bin with me when I walked around Marrickville in Sydney. It was glorious though and I realized that despite M's numerous efforts to get us up to the road on foot, this was the first time I had done it. Well worth the outing. I was glad M arrived home while I was doing it though, otherwise I might foolishly have attempted to tow the recycling up as well! M did that - and then dropped Pearl off on the way back so both she and I could enjoy the walk back down the hill. Pearl really did - even when Amanda came out and told her not to wee on her garden. I'm not sure if it was better or worse that Pearl wasn't actually weeing on the garden, but dropping fresh fertilizer instead. Amanda appeared to appreciate the effort. I hope L and M did as well when Pearl did it again outside their place.

S made dinner tonight and we ate a very scrumptious spaghetti bolognese (with various pasta types in the mix) as we watched Junior MasterChef. The cheflings were competing for the last two places in the final and they all did such a great job it was a shame to see any of them go.

It's raining again tonight (it did overnight last night as well) and still the mower isn't home. Sigh.

Day 112 (Sunday)

There are several leaf guards over/in downpipes at Latimers and this morning it was time to give them a clean. M did it - she's more experienced - but I helped by carrying the ladder. It's amazing all these jobs that need to be done around Latimers - and how you can be reminded to do them. One of the swallows was out of the nest this morning when the interloper swallows returned. It was sitting in a tree nearby and one of the "naughty ones" came too close and, startled, the little nestling flew up towards the roof. When M got the ladder out to look for it - she noticed the leaf guards and so the cleaning duties began. She was using a special cloth with some type of blue beads with special cleaning properties (the same ones she takes, with water, to the letter box for its ablutions).

Listening is an important skill to have - that's why they say we have two ears and only one mouth - and while I really did try to make sure I had all the details, when it came to today, I simply didn't. I had heard on the radio that Jupiters Casino, to mark its 25th anniversary, was having the equivalent of a cash giveaway to members ... swipe your card, be there for the draw and if your name is called - and you're there, you win $5,000 - which turns out to be real money not Casino Dollars. The promotion runs every Sunday in November and $5,000 is given away ... not starting at 2pm but starting at 5pm - you can, however, swipe your card from 2. And that's how we came to have 3 hours to spare at the Casino today. It was better than it may have been because we still had to have lunch - the $15 special seafood plate for S, club sandwich for me - and I was able to indulge in a long leisurely coffee while S went off to win $88 on the machines. (It's nice when the Casino pays for lunch.) But it was even better because M was in the vicinity and was able to take us "upstairs" where we chatted with some folk of her acquaintance and watched the roulette wheel from not too far away to while away the hour and an half remaining until the draw. We didn't win - but I really wasn't expecting to because all along I had been thinking "6 o'clock" - but not enough to make me stay for the additional hour to be there for that draw. (Part of me really wants to know if my name was called though the rest of me doesn't!)

It was the end of a good day. We started at the markets - all the usual suspects except for M who was suffering from a tooth abscess which, despite being on antibiotics, had not calmed down enough to no longer be painful. Then off to Pacific Fair and more sock shopping - and some night attire aka bedwear - before moving on to the Casino.

This evening was also good - Junior MasterChef is now moving towards the pointy end and they have selected two of the four finalists. The others will be known tomorrow night after the remaining cheflings do an on-site challenge - running a kitchen. You have to admire the kids - they are truly amazing in the kitchen - and can string two words together as well. I've never eaten some of the things they can cook - let alone ever having the wherewithal to be able to make them!

Maggie decided she would be the one to stay out tonight - not really surprising given she's been spending so much time on the table. We called and called this evening and she steadfastly refused to come in - and when M went out to look for her, she returned empty-handed. (Tink had been busy grooming when I snuck up on her and carried her in.)

Day 111 (Saturday)

Saturday is leisurely breakfast day and today we went in to Broadbeach for a change. M took the short way in and beat us by a good few minutes - which meant she was able to check out some venues. She made a good choice - Alto - and there was something there for each of us - including tepid coffee which is a shame because we'd ordered ''very hot". It's amazing how many places can't or won't do hot coffee - although, luckily lots of places do. And they do wonderfully hot long and short soup as well - which was lunch a few hours later. Of course we did some things in-between including shoe shopping - a little more than planned - I'd already purchased a pair when S sent me off in search of some anklet socks she'd seen. On the way, I fell into another shoe store - and while the attendant was very good she wasn't able to send me out with another pair of shoes - even though I really wanted her to. But I did continue on my way and did find the socks.

Bach of home, there was other stuff to attend to - like a power nap for S, viewing of that classic "Moby Dick" for me. I wonder if I would have been as keen to see it if we hadn't gone whale-watching the other week? I had remembered it quite differently. And wrongly! There was a big white whale and a whaling boat but there were considerable differences - probably too numerous to mention.

There was also, as the evening drew in, cleaning out Hermes' water barrel - it had accumulated a bit of gunk in it, even though it was full - so we had to tip all the water out, scrub the barrel and then refill it. Both Beazley and Tink came out to watch - and Pearl came out to help - because she likes to help wherever the hose and water is involved. And she did a good job, managing to not get totally wet as she helped so we didn't need to towel her down before we let her back inside. M said that had Hermes been out while we were doing it, he would have been very interested to see what was happening. As we could have told M, if Hermes had been out while we were doing it, we probably wouldn't have been doing it!

The swallows are obviously growing - as is the amount of material they are depositing over the side of the nest. We have newspaper spread out below to catch what drops; even though I did read somewhere that some people put tree branches there and then just throw them out. That seems like a very eco-friendly solution except I'd be worried about what else might be getting caught (snakes anyone?) in the dense foliage - and you would need dense foliage otherwise the droppings would fall straight through to the ground.

Maggie is still living above-ground and is spending most of her time on the kitchen table - using one of the Turkish tablecloths M brought back from her travels in faraway places as a bed and pillow combined. The amount of fur she's shed onto it reminds me of David's shirt when she was sleeping on it - but rather than stark white, the cloth has a lovely combination of purple flowers and green edgings.

They talk about the bird kingdom having a pecking order but I never realized I would see it in action - or not understand what it was all about. There are a few juvenile kookaburras around Latimers at the moment and this morning I watched as a willy wagtail started pecking on the back of one of them ... until the kookaburra finally flew away from the fence where it had been perched. There has been more trying-to-peck activity at the swallow nest where it appears there is still a "turf" war.

Day 110 (Friday)

It must have been the whale watching last week but when there was a Jaws movie on again last night I had to watch it. It was a pity it was not the original Jaws because it would have been better. Instead it was the sequel to the sequel - Jaws: The Revenge. In it, the great white shark goes in search of Police Chief Brody's family to seek its revenge. And who said sharks had no sense of purpose? The only good thing about it was that by the time it eventually ended, Tinker was finally ready to come in for the night. Everybody else had already been tucked in for hours.

Friday night and as well as being the end of the work week (which was good too) it was dinner with Mouse. M is back too and this is the first time we have seen her since her return on Wednesday. She seems to have had a really good time and is pleased to be back. F is happy to have her back as well. Mouse did a fantastic job with dinner: lentil soup, then fish, prawns, potato salad, vegetables, rice and cheesecake to follow. M made the cups of tea afterwards and it wasn't until I was drinking mine that I realized how much I have missed it.

Pearl seems to be mostly over her fleas which must be a great relief for her because the scratching was driving the rest of us crazy with worry about her. It is tick season again and even though she's wearing a tick collar, you can never be too careful or sure that one isn't going to jump on to her. After she last had a tick 6 months ago we really don't want to see her with another one. The garlic regime M has her on seems to have worked (or to be working).

The Wheel of Surfers Paradise still seems to be operating but every time we go past there appear to be no customers. The wheel is spinning, the lights are flashing but we can't see any people in the cabins. I'm not sure if the snake show has opened up there yet or if any of their other plans for building it up as a tourist precinct have come to fruition.

Talking about odd things, listening to the radio today they were talking about something strange in Ferry Road. It was a late model European car which had totally encased in caterer's cling wrap - they estimated about three large rolls. It wasn't going any where soon and it looked as though the wrap was so tight it would need to be cut off - carefully so as not to damage the car's finish. Hmmm ... what were the chances of it being a Finnish car?

One of the great things about coming home when it's still light is that there's plenty of time to see what's happening in and around Latimers, and to enjoy nature close up. Like seeing how quickly the grass grows - it's really obvious when only half the lawn has been mown - and you see how quickly it catches up with the rest of it.

Another great thing about coming home early is that there's time to have a nap before dinner - which I did while S cooked a banana cake (very, very yummy), M took Pearl for a walk up to the road and back (I think I heard that happening) and next door L was taking hs ride-on for a spin (I don't think I dreamt that).

Day 109 (Thursday)

It's been a while since we've been up to the local for dinner on trivia night but we made it tonight. It hasn't been that long but still I didn't recognise the emcee as she has changed her hair colour since last we were there. It's funny what visual cues we use to recognise folk and how even a hair cut or seeing someone out of their usual context can be confusing to some.

The trivia was hard tonight, possibly because we are out of practice. But it got better once we pulled out the iPad to look up the answers ... and yes we did let the surrounding tables know that we weren't playing so we weren't cheating. We stayed until the end of the quiz but didn't stay for the results but from the noises as each answer was announced it was obvious there was some competition tonight. One of the prizes given is for second-last which means you can't just throw the competition - you have to get just the right number right - or wrong.

What trivia did make us think about, though, was song lyrics especially those to the duet which include the words "and then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like I love you". Or maybe it's just those three little words.

The kids were all tucked up by the time we arrived home so we called it a very early lock down - so much so they had to wait at least an hour until supper cookie time. And why were they inside so early? We think it has something to do with that it is raining at Latimers again. And it has taken less than 24 hours of rain for the recently-filled potholes to be potholes again.

The mower went off to the mower place today and it will probably be away for the best part of a week now - and it may be easier to cope with the absence if the rain continues. But it was good that M got to do as much as she did before I took over - at least around the house is done and we'll be able to see any small snake friends if they choose to come around. We think M was joking when she pointed out the snake repellant device in the farmers' magazine yesterday - especially if it's anything like the early electronic cockroach repellers which reportedly had varying degrees of success.

The good news is that there have been no snake sightings for a while and believe me, we are looking out for them. There is no shortage of toads though and there were almost enough of them in the lane on the way home to form a guard of honour. It was very difficult to not hit any of them but we did our best. We could have done with a torch to get from the car to the house (to make sure we avoided the toads) but we didn't have one so we had to make do with the light from the screens of our mobile phones. This is where you regret the decision to take the tiny torch off your key ring the night before and then forget to put it back on.

Gold Coast girl turned tennis pro Sam Stosur is due back here in a minute and will be making an appearance at Queens Park on the weekend (all invited) when a tennis court is named after her. Also on the weekend, Peppers on (or is that "at") Broadbeach is gearing up for its opening - making it the Coast's latest 5-star hotel. And other stuff is sure to be happening .... If only road crews doing pothole patrol.

Day 108 (Wednesday)

Another glorious day on the Gold Coast. It's what some people refer to as "hump day" - so called because it is the middle of the week and down hill (in a good way) after that. If they ever introduce a four-day work week, they'd have to come up with another name for it - like Fred or Harry ... preferably something catchy.

Following on from road safety yesterday, there was an incident on the Gold Coast Motorway where a doona was spotted south-bound on the M1. It turned out to be a doona discarded or perhaps just lost on the motorway rather than one travelling under its own power ... although if it had been, finally there may have been Manchester to rival the flying carpet.

L and M returned from the great South where they attended this year's Melbourne Cup and it appears they did enjoy themselves. It was good they had phoned to let M know their flight arrival time otherwise they may have had to make their way home under their own steam. No word yet on whether Lacey has had her foal.

How disappointing is it when you think you are going to get in a bit of mowing and it doesn't happen because the fan belt you thought had been fixed really hadn't been totally fixed. At least it was the fan belt that ran the blades rather than the motor otherwise we would have had to push it back to the garage ready for it to be collected by the mower servicing people.

M went with F this evening up to the Brisbane Airport to collect the returning traveller. M has been away for weeks and weeks and it will be good to have her back - and if we feel that way I can't imagine what her immediates are feeling!

S and I had a very quiet evening in - it was QI, Glee (which we watched briefly but have recorded) and then off to bed not long after for her although I did get trapped by "The Librarians" and "The IT Crowd". And as I write that I realize what I should have been watching instead was "The Apprentice" - d'oh ... memory like a sieve!

Day 107 (Tuesday)

The Melbourne Cup is over for another year - moving a heap of money around the economy - on the same day that the Reserve Bank announced yet another increase in interest rates - which was then almost doubled by The Commonwealth Bank ... "which bank?".

Most people find a way to celebrate the Melbourne Cup. At work we had a Melbourne Cup lunch and then watched the race on the televisions in the kitchens - with us split very much into "upstairs" and "downstairs" which had nothing to do with the English class system but was based on where you happened to be when the race started - and where you thought you would get the best view of a television.

I was able to make a small contribution to the economy myself, but S did better having a bet on the winner - her choice based on the fact that it was a French jockey, a French name and the horse was number 8. There may have been other reasons for her choice but just good that she made it.

She and M and Mouse went to the Melbourne Cup Day Lunch at Jupiters Casino and even though there was some lovely food, some great prizes (they didn't win any) and a Calcutta Sweep (they didn't get a horse), and they had a good time, it was fairly noisy - and they weren't able to get the iPhone photos they took while they were there out on the mobile network. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Road safety is always an issue, especially when trucks were involved. I saw one today which didn't have the usual "do not overtake turning truck" sign on its rear. Instead it had two signs - one on either side: on the right - PASSING SIDE; on the left - SUICIDE. I thought it was pretty effective and it would have been even more so if I hadn't been driving at my "most careful" setting based on Tinker having seemingly barred my exit from Latimers not once but twice this morning. The first time was when she barricaded me into the bathroom, the second when she took up her "afternoon" position in the driveway meaning she is just where you would normally drive - which is all right when you have parked the car - not so much when you want to take it out.

I was home again early this afternoon but Uncle R had been earlier and beat me to the mowing. But it does look as though he fixed the slasher on the tractor and I am looking forward to having more than a practice run on that.

It was all calm in the swallow's nest this afternoon - I sat out there for a while as Tink and Beazley kept me (and them) company. So hopefully the territorial dispute is over and the resident swallows have won - I hope so because the chicks are still in the nest. It always amazing me how interested the cats are in the droppings from the nest - and I can't help wonder if their investigation of it means they are actually searching for someone who might have accidentally tumbled - or been pushed (it is fairly crowded in there) - out. I've still only been able to count four of them but the nest is so small and they're getting so big that it's possible they're all taking turns on the bottom. Can't imagine what it will be like in there as they continue to grow. Squash anyone?

Day 106 (Monday)

How do you tell if someone is an "axe murderer"? Especially if they're not carrying an axe? This was the problem S and M had yesterday when they drove C to Broadbeach where she was having lunch for the first time with a man she had met on the Internet. S decided he looked "goofy" and M said he had a "weak chin" but there was not enough concern for them to tail C and "friend" for the duration of the "date". In fact, when they found themselves at the same food venue as them, they quickly left so it would not seem as though they were "spying".

It was the first day today of my two-year stint with the Hospital project and I have started the way I mean to continue - no, no, not happy and smiling although there is that too ... I meant get in early and leave early. There's nothing quite like driving home while the School Zones are still in effect (have to remember that for tomorrow) and while there is still plenty of daylight for playing with Pearl and even contemplating getting on to the mower. Instead, I contented myself with doing a round of the yard looking for, and collecting, little nuggets that Pearl and/or that visiting dog Chico may have left around the yard. That way I won't have to worry about them when it comes time to mow.

I was so early home that I even beat S and M - although, to be fair, they had been delayed by C who was running behind schedule and they'd had to come back out to Nerang to keep an appointment for M before going back in to Broadbeach to collect C. Did she have a good time? Not sure, but when they asked her what he was like, I believe the word she used was "goofy".

There is much excitement because tomorrow is the race that stops a nation ie The Melbourne Cup. M is somewhat of a horse person and had "booked" the television so she could watch some racing programs this evening. That didn't quite work out as well as planned so she will listen to the radio in the morning - but as luck would have it, a friend was up from Sydney and dropped in on her way through to Brisbane. Mouse had sent some spinach rolls (like cabbage rolls - and just as yummy - but made from spinach) so we were able to share a meal of those and some little pastry doovers (hmmm ... I wonder what they are called) which M had lightly fried to re-heat them. Very, very yummy. And, of course, it was Junior MasterChef again - which S watched as I was busy doing computer things, M and D were talking, and the various cats and Pearl were lounging around, as is a wonderful thing to do on a Monday evening.

In the end, we decided to have an early night - mainly because no-one seemed to be able to not be yawning. The cats had all brought themselves in (except for one who needed to be coaxed in - but she was on her way in anyway) and we went to an early lockdown. Gotta love it!

Day 105 (Sunday)

Markets again but just for something different, but primarily because it's Race time and the Markets are in the car park rather than in the grounds of the Gold Coast Turf Club, we went to the Nerang Markets instead. We were the usual suspects until N joined us - her husband was cycling out this way but forgot a key piece of equipment - his camera - so since she was out this way delivering it, she decided to change markets as well. Then a little while later E and her daughter, visiting from Canada and returning Wednesday, wandered along as well but declined to sit, drink coffee and chat a while. We are becoming masters at it.

The cafe we frequented is now run by a French couple so there was some Franco-conversing happening as N is also French and S is fluent as well. And I still can't remember the name of the teacher we had at high school for French who was so dissatisfied with our (collectively as a class) language ability that in her frustration she would throw chalk in our general direction and call us "cabbages" - in English.

The fruit and vegetables start dropping in price just after 11 so S waited until then (and after she'd finished her coffee) before foraging for fresh produce. She and M, between them, cornered the Nerang banana market - but they look absolutely wonderful!

Back at Latimers, I had some computer work to do while S had a nap getting ready for this evening's activity - tax return preparation. It's the final day for lodgment today and I have managed to get together the information she needs from me. It reminds me that I need to get one more group certificate and then I can start preparing my paperwork for the accountant to complete my return. Alas, I won't be the sixth person this year to get my paperwork to him - but it certainly beats previous efforts where he has had to cope with 7 years' worth and 4 years' worth. This will be the second year running where he's only having to deal with a single annum from me.

I was incredibly happy this afternoon when M arrived home and said the magic word ... tractor. Unfortunately though, the slasher is not well (in need of a bolt) so the tractor just got a run in the yard and then straight back into its shed - but that was good. Who knew about jack-knifing and how much room you need to turn a slasher in... well, M does and luckily she was keeping an eye on me on my test run so the wall of the shed remained intact when I brought the tractor in to park! The one I was most concerned about was Pearl who seems to think that her job is to bite the back wheel of the slasher. At one point I thought she was going to get her snout caught but she's obviously done it before and despite a somewhat startled look she was fine.

So .. back on to the ride-on to give Hermes' top paddock a run over. It was late-ish so we decided I'd do around the outside where he mostly walks (and drops) to make it easier. I'm not sure why, although from my talk with M afterwards it seems to have to do with the wet and Hermes running around the paddock - but there are huge divots in the paddock - making it slightly less than smooth sailing on the mower. At one point there I had hoped someone would look out the window to see me hanging on with one hand, the other in the air, as I tried to maintain my balance on the bucking John Deere. Of course, I could have slowed down, but it just seems to be worse at snail pace.

C, with her parents away, came over for pizza dinner and a round of Junior MasterChef last night. It was very pleasant and a lovely way to finish off my week-long holiday. M walked her home and sighted Beazley while she was out but he refused to come in, pulling Tink's trick from the night before. I don't know how these cats decided they could choose to stay out or not. We may need to reintroduce earlier lock-downs to get them back in routine!