I don't know why it keeps threatening to rain but rather than risking getting ROM wet, I decided to go to Zarraffas for a coffee instead of doing the mowing this afternoon. I'm sure they appreciated the business.
By the time I got back to Latimerd I could see that it had been raining but not enough to actually prevent the mowing ... but by then it was too late. It was just going to be me, the computer, the iPad, the iPhone, the television and the furries. Actually two computers and two Ipads, because I had told M I would transfer her pictures off the iPad so she could load some for M - who issuing the iPad while she is in hospital. Our M thought it would be a good idea to load some pics of Latimers and environs for her. She started taking some today and managed a very nice pic of L and Jeannie - and she will try to get a nice photo of Sweetie (aka "The Bitch" tomorrow).
There is still no firm diagnosis for M although it continues to not look good. She is due to go off for more tests at John Flynn Hospital tomorrow. Unfortunately, as they keep looking they don't seem yet to have her pain control in hand - and it makes it difficult to lie still for tests if you are in excruciating pain - and it is. But they have a pain specialist on the case now and hopefully they will be able to better manage it.
S is enjoying her visit with her family in Kyogle and we have been able to be in contact using Skype technology. It really is amazing - and while I know that I do use it regularly, S doesn't. We've come a long way since tin cans on a string - and wasn't it incredible that that worked at all!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday
S eschewed Bingo today, preferring instead to stay at Latimers and do ironing in the room as she waited for M and the kids to come and collect her. She will be returning with them to Kyogle for a couple of days of R and R since the kids are on school holidays.
I had been talking to her by phone as I neared Latimers on the drive home from work - but by the time I arrived home, they had already gone - leaving instead a pair of boots in a plastic bag on the floor near the pet water bowl in the kitchen, and some tins of cat food and a box of cat cookies on the kitchen island.
So, with the house to myself - except for the furies (a rare occurrence) I settled in to watch some afternoon television with Beasley. I've missed my special time with him - for the last while, for some reason, we haven't been doing our Friday night television watching. He and I have seen some good horror movies together.
M arrived home in time to wash out some nighties for M, freshen up, and then we were off to The Big House where she had a "fastest finger" draw at 7:20. "Fastest finger" (not it's real name) is where patrons sit at a line of 12 poker machines, all the same, and, starting with 10,000 credits, see who has the most credits at the end of 3 minutes play. All the machines are enabled as is the feature - and its hard to tell whether the feature helps or hinders, because it does seem to take a little time to engage - and that's even if you do know how it works. M won her heat. Unfortunately she also had to place well in the sem-final to make it into the grand final (they don't believe in stringing it out - and keeping people in the vicinity of The Big House!!) but the same machine didn't perform as well that time.
The CSP jackpot is up again - even though someone had won 10% in the last few days. He apparently then stayed to play, and play, and play but couldn't replicate the win - and the big one hasn't gone off. And neither did it go home with M (I didn't play tonight).
I had been talking to her by phone as I neared Latimers on the drive home from work - but by the time I arrived home, they had already gone - leaving instead a pair of boots in a plastic bag on the floor near the pet water bowl in the kitchen, and some tins of cat food and a box of cat cookies on the kitchen island.
So, with the house to myself - except for the furies (a rare occurrence) I settled in to watch some afternoon television with Beasley. I've missed my special time with him - for the last while, for some reason, we haven't been doing our Friday night television watching. He and I have seen some good horror movies together.
M arrived home in time to wash out some nighties for M, freshen up, and then we were off to The Big House where she had a "fastest finger" draw at 7:20. "Fastest finger" (not it's real name) is where patrons sit at a line of 12 poker machines, all the same, and, starting with 10,000 credits, see who has the most credits at the end of 3 minutes play. All the machines are enabled as is the feature - and its hard to tell whether the feature helps or hinders, because it does seem to take a little time to engage - and that's even if you do know how it works. M won her heat. Unfortunately she also had to place well in the sem-final to make it into the grand final (they don't believe in stringing it out - and keeping people in the vicinity of The Big House!!) but the same machine didn't perform as well that time.
The CSP jackpot is up again - even though someone had won 10% in the last few days. He apparently then stayed to play, and play, and play but couldn't replicate the win - and the big one hasn't gone off. And neither did it go home with M (I didn't play tonight).
Tuesday
With M away overnight at The Big House, and to save S from having to get up early (6am) since I was already up, I took over giving Beasley his insulin shot. S and M are absolutely right - for a big cat, there's not a spare inch of skin on him. With Emma, when we're giving her her shot, you can lift up the skin and fur at the back of her neck and make a little tent, and then inject her there ... and while it's possible to get a tiny little bit of a tent with Beasley, it isn't much to work with. At this point, being sure about what you're doing certainly helps - and I think gives him a certain amount of confidence in what you're doing. As they say in the classics: approach the beast with a masterful gaze or was that fake it till you make it. (I miss those auditors some times.) I've suggested to S that perhaps I should do Beasley's morning shot from now on - that way M wouldn't have to get up especially to do it. It will be interesting to see how the insulin goes in helping with his weeing in the house problem - I think it may be too early to tell yet.
Candice was walking their rubbish and recycling bins back from the road as I drove up to collect ours this evening. I had passed her on the way in with the dogs and I had been hoping that would be off the lane way by the time I took the four-wheel-drive out. The last thing I wanted to do was wrangle with Spot - he seems to be the type of dog (inquisitive/playful) that would want to have a go at the wheels of the wheelie bin as it went past (Pearl does - she's very ... helpful?) - and if you're walking it that's one thing ... if you're towing it, that's slightly more perilous. In the end I decided I didn't want to make two trips so a-la-B who usually brings the bin back on his ute (when he's not cruising around the Mediterranean with mates) I lifted the recycling bin into the back of the vehicle. It isn't as heavy as it looks (and it helps that it was empty). Great minds think alike because S had already had the same idea - and it was a good one. Mind you, if I had been more game and adventurous - and up for the practice - I would have hitched the trailer on and used that. It would have been fun doing the u-turn in the driveway to come back!
Candice was walking their rubbish and recycling bins back from the road as I drove up to collect ours this evening. I had passed her on the way in with the dogs and I had been hoping that would be off the lane way by the time I took the four-wheel-drive out. The last thing I wanted to do was wrangle with Spot - he seems to be the type of dog (inquisitive/playful) that would want to have a go at the wheels of the wheelie bin as it went past (Pearl does - she's very ... helpful?) - and if you're walking it that's one thing ... if you're towing it, that's slightly more perilous. In the end I decided I didn't want to make two trips so a-la-B who usually brings the bin back on his ute (when he's not cruising around the Mediterranean with mates) I lifted the recycling bin into the back of the vehicle. It isn't as heavy as it looks (and it helps that it was empty). Great minds think alike because S had already had the same idea - and it was a good one. Mind you, if I had been more game and adventurous - and up for the practice - I would have hitched the trailer on and used that. It would have been fun doing the u-turn in the driveway to come back!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday
Welcome to Monday - the first day of the working week (for some) and M's second night at The Big House. We were lucky enough to be able to share it - which meant I was able to have another bath - and I do miss a good bath. The only down side is having to get dressed and come home afterwards - especially if you do what S & I did and have a meal (two for one) at Food Fantasy. Even though it wasn't one of the "seafood nights", there were prawns and a selection of other seafood but alas, for me it was not to be because I have to be in the mood to eat seafood, and I wasn't. S enjoyed it though. Mind you, there were enough other things to choose from - all very nice - and in memory of young Hamdi of the short hair now that he has returned to school, I had a Spider, and thought about having a vanilla slice as well. He would have liked that.
M sat this one out - she was off at the Big House movies - Crazy Stupid Love - with Mouse.
She also missed the second installment of Junior MasterChef where the kids did another amazing job. I cannot believe that children as young as 8 are able to cook that well under pressure - and not just cooking dishes - actually coming up with the ideas for them as well. I'm hard pressed to think about what I want for dinner even if I don't have to cook it - and S has certainly been heard to say, on more than one occasion, that it would be better if I was able to choose more quickly what I wanted from the menu when we are eating out. The problem is that most of the time I don't know what I feel like - so I have to go through the menu, item by item, to work out what I don't want. It's a tricky business sometimes.
They have picked nearly half the finalists for the show now - and we will have to wait until the weekend for the next show. In the meantime, I think they are just finishing auditions for the next season of (adult) MasterChef. None of us applied (that I know of) although wouldn't it be amazing if one of us had.
But we like quiet nights in - which was what tonight was. After our big weekend - and a bath and dinner - I was pretty tuckered out - especially on the drive home. Luckily S was there to make sure I kept my mind on the road ... and I'm always on the look-out near the Carrara Sports Club for the telltale blue van (aka the police speed van).
M visited M at the hospital this afternoon. They don't have the test results back yet but it shouldn't be long now.
M sat this one out - she was off at the Big House movies - Crazy Stupid Love - with Mouse.
She also missed the second installment of Junior MasterChef where the kids did another amazing job. I cannot believe that children as young as 8 are able to cook that well under pressure - and not just cooking dishes - actually coming up with the ideas for them as well. I'm hard pressed to think about what I want for dinner even if I don't have to cook it - and S has certainly been heard to say, on more than one occasion, that it would be better if I was able to choose more quickly what I wanted from the menu when we are eating out. The problem is that most of the time I don't know what I feel like - so I have to go through the menu, item by item, to work out what I don't want. It's a tricky business sometimes.
They have picked nearly half the finalists for the show now - and we will have to wait until the weekend for the next show. In the meantime, I think they are just finishing auditions for the next season of (adult) MasterChef. None of us applied (that I know of) although wouldn't it be amazing if one of us had.
But we like quiet nights in - which was what tonight was. After our big weekend - and a bath and dinner - I was pretty tuckered out - especially on the drive home. Luckily S was there to make sure I kept my mind on the road ... and I'm always on the look-out near the Carrara Sports Club for the telltale blue van (aka the police speed van).
M visited M at the hospital this afternoon. They don't have the test results back yet but it shouldn't be long now.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday
There's nothing like a great coffee in the morning - and Alto at Broadbeach certainly provides that. This has come to be my venue of choice for making my weekly Skype call to TK in Sydney. It's not without its sacrifices of course, because after having two mugs of coffees there, I just can't have coffee at the markets ... so my order has changed to tea - but as F told me this morning, from now on I have to bring a tea bag because he doesn't want to pay for my tea when they will give him a cup of hot water for free!!!
But back to Broadbeach. Usually there's no trouble getting a car park but there was obviously something on because every available spot on the street was full. Welcome to the running (surfing, boarding, swimming etc) of the Coolangatta Gold. And the children's entertainment - for them and by them - in Currawa Park.
Meanwhile, back at Latimers, M and S were having a much more leisurely start to the day with M's trademark fruit salad - and a recap of last night's outing.
We all arrived at the Markets at roughly the same time - with Mouse there first - as always. She has had a bit of a sore back of late but will be seeing her doctor tomorrow so he can check it out.
The not-so-good Market news is even after Mi hard-fought battle to have them open and shut an hour later - which has been working for a while - now that Daylight Savings Time starts next week in the southern states, our Markets will be opening and closing an hour earlier. This means that our 10am start will mean an 11am finish - and an hour is not nearly enough time for a good chin wag and some shopping - so it looks as though our new Market time will be 9am. Aaaarrgggh. Hopefully the 3G Telstra reception is okay at the Markets, because that's where I'll be making the TK Skype call from until further notice.
We had been thinking about going to a movie this afternoon (Johnny English Reborn) but in the end, being out in the sunshine won - and having a nice lunch with it was a bonus - thanks Bumbles for the Greek Tasting Plate and the Vietnamese Lime Chicken with Asian Slaw and Crispy Noodles. Yummmmm.
Even with stopping in at The Big House to have a bath and pre-dinner drinks (thanks M!!), S and I were still back at Latimers in time for the first episode of 2011 Junior MasterChef. It's just a shame that we couldn't tape the Donnie and Marie Osmond special that S had lined up as Junior MasterChef ran over and since the chances of me ever watching my beloved Osmonds was slim, I insisted that S tape her Hitler program. Perhaps if the promo for Donnie and Marie hadn't focussed so much on teeth-whitening ...
But back to Broadbeach. Usually there's no trouble getting a car park but there was obviously something on because every available spot on the street was full. Welcome to the running (surfing, boarding, swimming etc) of the Coolangatta Gold. And the children's entertainment - for them and by them - in Currawa Park.
Meanwhile, back at Latimers, M and S were having a much more leisurely start to the day with M's trademark fruit salad - and a recap of last night's outing.
We all arrived at the Markets at roughly the same time - with Mouse there first - as always. She has had a bit of a sore back of late but will be seeing her doctor tomorrow so he can check it out.
The not-so-good Market news is even after Mi hard-fought battle to have them open and shut an hour later - which has been working for a while - now that Daylight Savings Time starts next week in the southern states, our Markets will be opening and closing an hour earlier. This means that our 10am start will mean an 11am finish - and an hour is not nearly enough time for a good chin wag and some shopping - so it looks as though our new Market time will be 9am. Aaaarrgggh. Hopefully the 3G Telstra reception is okay at the Markets, because that's where I'll be making the TK Skype call from until further notice.
We had been thinking about going to a movie this afternoon (Johnny English Reborn) but in the end, being out in the sunshine won - and having a nice lunch with it was a bonus - thanks Bumbles for the Greek Tasting Plate and the Vietnamese Lime Chicken with Asian Slaw and Crispy Noodles. Yummmmm.
Even with stopping in at The Big House to have a bath and pre-dinner drinks (thanks M!!), S and I were still back at Latimers in time for the first episode of 2011 Junior MasterChef. It's just a shame that we couldn't tape the Donnie and Marie Osmond special that S had lined up as Junior MasterChef ran over and since the chances of me ever watching my beloved Osmonds was slim, I insisted that S tape her Hitler program. Perhaps if the promo for Donnie and Marie hadn't focussed so much on teeth-whitening ...
Saturday
Today has seemed like a very long day since I opened my eyes just before 6 am until now - it's after midnight. And since I managed to clock up over 15,000 steps later ... I can honestly claim that it was a very long day indeed but it was a great day.
Because there was no rushing off to work today, I managed to do almost double my quota on the walking machine this morning - made easier because I fired up the DVD player and watched an old science-fiction series Earth 2. I can't really remember much about it except that an advance party land on a far-away planet to ready it for the colonists who will follow. But the best-laid-plans often go awry ... giving way to a television series where an alien species makes it appearance by popping out of the earth too.
Next up was Coffee Sisters with Pearl (she came with us), M (she came from the gym) and Mouse (she was on her way to pick up E from Mi and F's). F reports that he was intending to drive past to see if we were there but changed his mind - so he wasn't with us. And neither did he come for a walk in the dog park with us - although he usually just comes for the breakfast or coffee anyway.
The afternoon saw M and I finally getting to the waste transfer station - although not the one at Molendinar - which we missed by a couple of minutes - but at the Mudgeeraba one, a very nice attendant talked M through reversing the trailer and helped us lift the walking machine out of the back of the trailer and over the higher-than-a-metre guard rail. (Possibly he was in a hurry to get home and had a feeling we were going to be a while without help.) It was good to finally get rid of the old treadmill and the box that the new one came in - although now, I can't help but wonder if it may not have been a good idea to check the box before it was thrown out to see if the missing instruction manual was in there. (Surely there will be one somewhere on the interweb.)
On the way to the tip, I was checking something on the interweb (not the manual) on my iPhone when all of a sudden the LandRover swerved almost out of our lane - luckily not throwing the trailer off - and by the time I looked up, M had already successfully missed the slitherin' carpet snake that was slowly making its way across the road. Hopefully the cars following us and the ones coming in the other direction also managed to miss it.
The evening saw us take ourselves out ... yes, on a Saturday evening. We went to a dance in Nerang - and it was much better than any of us dared think. It was interesting too, because dances don't usually have Treasure Hunts ... and some of the items to be found were odd - a plastic cup, a belt, a phone number (not yours), something or someone starting with L, a plastic cup - which you only found out about after you tipped the barman with a gold (chocolate) coin ... and the list went on! It was definitely an ice-breaker though! The only thing that wasn't impressive - and this was pretty sad because it was a dance afterall - was the choice of music.
Because there was no rushing off to work today, I managed to do almost double my quota on the walking machine this morning - made easier because I fired up the DVD player and watched an old science-fiction series Earth 2. I can't really remember much about it except that an advance party land on a far-away planet to ready it for the colonists who will follow. But the best-laid-plans often go awry ... giving way to a television series where an alien species makes it appearance by popping out of the earth too.
Next up was Coffee Sisters with Pearl (she came with us), M (she came from the gym) and Mouse (she was on her way to pick up E from Mi and F's). F reports that he was intending to drive past to see if we were there but changed his mind - so he wasn't with us. And neither did he come for a walk in the dog park with us - although he usually just comes for the breakfast or coffee anyway.
The afternoon saw M and I finally getting to the waste transfer station - although not the one at Molendinar - which we missed by a couple of minutes - but at the Mudgeeraba one, a very nice attendant talked M through reversing the trailer and helped us lift the walking machine out of the back of the trailer and over the higher-than-a-metre guard rail. (Possibly he was in a hurry to get home and had a feeling we were going to be a while without help.) It was good to finally get rid of the old treadmill and the box that the new one came in - although now, I can't help but wonder if it may not have been a good idea to check the box before it was thrown out to see if the missing instruction manual was in there. (Surely there will be one somewhere on the interweb.)
On the way to the tip, I was checking something on the interweb (not the manual) on my iPhone when all of a sudden the LandRover swerved almost out of our lane - luckily not throwing the trailer off - and by the time I looked up, M had already successfully missed the slitherin' carpet snake that was slowly making its way across the road. Hopefully the cars following us and the ones coming in the other direction also managed to miss it.
The evening saw us take ourselves out ... yes, on a Saturday evening. We went to a dance in Nerang - and it was much better than any of us dared think. It was interesting too, because dances don't usually have Treasure Hunts ... and some of the items to be found were odd - a plastic cup, a belt, a phone number (not yours), something or someone starting with L, a plastic cup - which you only found out about after you tipped the barman with a gold (chocolate) coin ... and the list went on! It was definitely an ice-breaker though! The only thing that wasn't impressive - and this was pretty sad because it was a dance afterall - was the choice of music.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday
There was a very light mist but no balloons floating over the valley as I drive off this morning. The calves that were playing in one of L's horse paddocks last night were nowhere to be seen - well, not in his paddocks anyway, but I did pass them in one of the paddocks next to the main road.
M was saying last night that Holly is only a month or so from foaling now. I didn't think she had been pregnant that long but M says horses are pregnant long before they start to "show". This is why I will never be an equine expert - it's hard for me to tell she's pregnant even now!
It's time for my check-up with the dentist today which I think may be slightly less ________ (insert appropriate word here) than M's initial return visit to the gym. (Thanks B for the complimentary week memberships.). There's only one thing worse than going to the dentist, I think, and that's to have them ring to say they have had some emergency cases and can they push you to later. Of course, I didn't really mind but sometimes you think it would be good to just get it over and done with rather than having an hour to spend at a coffee shop working on a newly-found puzzle. Oh wait, that wasn't so bad!
Friday Night Dinner was great tonight. M and Fi were already there by the time I arrived and M and S followed not long after. We started with soup, laced with home-grown spinach from M and A's garden, then roast capsicum stuffed with a variety of other vegetables which went very well with the racks of lamb and mushroom sauce (and Mouse's pickled cucumbers as a side). For dessert, Mouse had done F's favourite rhubarb crumble ... although, thanks to Mi who had phoned me earlier in the day, there was another option - chocolate (is there any other kind) mud cake. All very yummy! Everyone was in fine form as well - and I'm not sure if that related to the football being on. Who knew Mi knew so much about sport. S and M also quizzed them with questions from the Trivia Night - and Mi and the others did fairly well on those as well. It's a pity that M was only able to take one guest to the night with her - it's amazing what different trivial knowledge people have!
M gave Mouse a quick lesson on the iPad this evening and we were also - thanks to M finding the camera cradle - able to transfer photographs from Mouse's Sony Memory Stick to the iPad. This will make it easier for Mouse to view them and also means she has a copy of the photographs for when she fills the card (the card which M has been unable tom find replacements for - so it's the only one) and needs to empty it so she can start again. Looking through her photos last night, she has some good ones of the animals (she is still minding Prince while M and A are away), and the flowers in her garden - in full bloom since it's Spring!
M was saying last night that Holly is only a month or so from foaling now. I didn't think she had been pregnant that long but M says horses are pregnant long before they start to "show". This is why I will never be an equine expert - it's hard for me to tell she's pregnant even now!
It's time for my check-up with the dentist today which I think may be slightly less ________ (insert appropriate word here) than M's initial return visit to the gym. (Thanks B for the complimentary week memberships.). There's only one thing worse than going to the dentist, I think, and that's to have them ring to say they have had some emergency cases and can they push you to later. Of course, I didn't really mind but sometimes you think it would be good to just get it over and done with rather than having an hour to spend at a coffee shop working on a newly-found puzzle. Oh wait, that wasn't so bad!
Friday Night Dinner was great tonight. M and Fi were already there by the time I arrived and M and S followed not long after. We started with soup, laced with home-grown spinach from M and A's garden, then roast capsicum stuffed with a variety of other vegetables which went very well with the racks of lamb and mushroom sauce (and Mouse's pickled cucumbers as a side). For dessert, Mouse had done F's favourite rhubarb crumble ... although, thanks to Mi who had phoned me earlier in the day, there was another option - chocolate (is there any other kind) mud cake. All very yummy! Everyone was in fine form as well - and I'm not sure if that related to the football being on. Who knew Mi knew so much about sport. S and M also quizzed them with questions from the Trivia Night - and Mi and the others did fairly well on those as well. It's a pity that M was only able to take one guest to the night with her - it's amazing what different trivial knowledge people have!
M gave Mouse a quick lesson on the iPad this evening and we were also - thanks to M finding the camera cradle - able to transfer photographs from Mouse's Sony Memory Stick to the iPad. This will make it easier for Mouse to view them and also means she has a copy of the photographs for when she fills the card (the card which M has been unable tom find replacements for - so it's the only one) and needs to empty it so she can start again. Looking through her photos last night, she has some good ones of the animals (she is still minding Prince while M and A are away), and the flowers in her garden - in full bloom since it's Spring!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday
We got slightly more than we bargained for when I sent Pearl out to "get the ducks" out of the yard. She raced up the back (eventually - she did have a couple of false starts - she was expecting to do Fetch not Ducks) and managed to send the two ducks on their way - and it is at moments like these when a camera comes inn handy - because in the setting sun - they cast some glorious shadows against the backdrop of the stables - so it looked like there were four ducks in flight rather than two. Ah well. But as soon as she had despatched the ducks, and before she could come back to the house, she was dive-bombed by one of the plovers (nesting in Hermes' paddock) - and then the other. They didn't get her but it did seem very close and they each had a couple of goes before she was out of their "territory". Does this more protective behaviour mean there is something happening in the nest? I don't think I am going over to investigate - although if I were going to I could use the innovation as included on the bicycle helmet J at work was given recently by a mate when she started cycling - it had cable ties on it to scare away birds - although from the way J described it was more aptly described as cable ties held in formation by a helmet.
Meanwhile, out the front in swallow land, the hatchlings have grown and have literally flown the nest - but not very far. M noticed them sitting on the light out there the other morning and doing test flights. It doesn't take long for nature to do its stuff when you think about it.
M and I did make it to CSP this evening. For a moment there it looked as though F and Mi would join us, but in the end it was only F. Mi had spent the day helping a friend move and elected to stay in and have a rest rather than come in to The Big House. Which is just as well, because the tables were pretty disappointing this evening. But M and I had a good meal at Spinners - even having the "2 for 1" special thanks to our server - and I managed to get in a couple of laps of the Casino floor between games to boost my steps for the day. But will tomorrow be the day that my pedometer is subjected to a "spot check" or audit? Those taking part in the Foundation Pedometer Challenge received an email the other day saying that in the interest of fairness, they would be instituting spot checks and audits. Mind you I had wondered how some people were logging so many steps but we know (thanks V) that at least one of them is doing the steps - upwards of 50,000 a day (seems he is always walking) - so much so that he feels he is carrying his team - which is now in 1st place. We are in a respectable 6th.
M was in at the hospital again this afternoon and reports that M had a full body scan today. They are now just waiting on the results.
Meanwhile, out the front in swallow land, the hatchlings have grown and have literally flown the nest - but not very far. M noticed them sitting on the light out there the other morning and doing test flights. It doesn't take long for nature to do its stuff when you think about it.
M and I did make it to CSP this evening. For a moment there it looked as though F and Mi would join us, but in the end it was only F. Mi had spent the day helping a friend move and elected to stay in and have a rest rather than come in to The Big House. Which is just as well, because the tables were pretty disappointing this evening. But M and I had a good meal at Spinners - even having the "2 for 1" special thanks to our server - and I managed to get in a couple of laps of the Casino floor between games to boost my steps for the day. But will tomorrow be the day that my pedometer is subjected to a "spot check" or audit? Those taking part in the Foundation Pedometer Challenge received an email the other day saying that in the interest of fairness, they would be instituting spot checks and audits. Mind you I had wondered how some people were logging so many steps but we know (thanks V) that at least one of them is doing the steps - upwards of 50,000 a day (seems he is always walking) - so much so that he feels he is carrying his team - which is now in 1st place. We are in a respectable 6th.
M was in at the hospital again this afternoon and reports that M had a full body scan today. They are now just waiting on the results.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Wednesday
Poor Beasley. He truly is in need of help - as the huge puddle of moisture spreading over the living room floor this morning can attest. We're still not sure if there is anything besides stress (possibly complicated by diabetes) that causes the behaviour - and it's hard to know what stress is involved. What could possibly have happened overnight to upset him? Pearl was in with M, and the other cats were in at lockdown but I wouldn't have thought they would bother Beasley. I guess it may just be one of those things we will never know... but what I do know is that we have to get paper towels which are more absorbent - because the ones I was using this morning really weren't (or is that aren't) - and the other thing I know is that I was very happy to have found the disposable rubber gloves! After I was done with the mop-up and disinfect, I didn't want to leave a note telling people to watch out for where Beasley and I had been - I'm not sure how long it takes other people to wake up enough to read (it takes me a while) so in the end I swung the couch around so it effected a physical barrier ... and so I wouldn't have to worry about where to put a note.
M and S went off to Bingo today although by S's account, they were only just there in time because they had stopped off to have a coffee and also to visit M at the hospital on the way in - with a clean and newly pressed nightie. M was going back in this afternoon/evening to be with M for support when the doctor visits as L may not be able to get there in time.
E went to Bingo as well, so with Mouse there were four of them - although M was the only winner this week. I'm not sure if she was using the bingo machine again (they do have a name but it escapes me at the moment - could be Pet?) or using the more conventional "mark the cards" method. They are getting to recognise more people there and I would be interested to tag along at some point to see the couple who share their table - with their snacks, their cups, place mats and name tags.
Because M was going to the hospital this evening, we moved CSP to tomorrow night, and S and I went off to our dinner at the hotel tonight instead. Of course, that meant Trivia wasn't on so we had to make do with the raffle - and one of our four tickets won a "Mystery Box" prize. As I walked through to the draw area someone said "choose the light one" - which would have been slightly easier if they had been single colours rather than striped in various colours. In the end, it had to be either the rainbow stripes (the same as my phone cover and pen) or the yellow and purple stripes - so it was good that the young girl who chose before me for her father didn't choose either of those. When their box was opened it revealed ... a stubby holder. Which they could have used with our prize - a 6-pack of standard beer - which will go in the fridge with the one we won a while ago in the trivia quiz. Funny that - how the prizes from the hotel all seem to be alcohol-related.
M and S went off to Bingo today although by S's account, they were only just there in time because they had stopped off to have a coffee and also to visit M at the hospital on the way in - with a clean and newly pressed nightie. M was going back in this afternoon/evening to be with M for support when the doctor visits as L may not be able to get there in time.
E went to Bingo as well, so with Mouse there were four of them - although M was the only winner this week. I'm not sure if she was using the bingo machine again (they do have a name but it escapes me at the moment - could be Pet?) or using the more conventional "mark the cards" method. They are getting to recognise more people there and I would be interested to tag along at some point to see the couple who share their table - with their snacks, their cups, place mats and name tags.
Because M was going to the hospital this evening, we moved CSP to tomorrow night, and S and I went off to our dinner at the hotel tonight instead. Of course, that meant Trivia wasn't on so we had to make do with the raffle - and one of our four tickets won a "Mystery Box" prize. As I walked through to the draw area someone said "choose the light one" - which would have been slightly easier if they had been single colours rather than striped in various colours. In the end, it had to be either the rainbow stripes (the same as my phone cover and pen) or the yellow and purple stripes - so it was good that the young girl who chose before me for her father didn't choose either of those. When their box was opened it revealed ... a stubby holder. Which they could have used with our prize - a 6-pack of standard beer - which will go in the fridge with the one we won a while ago in the trivia quiz. Funny that - how the prizes from the hotel all seem to be alcohol-related.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tuesday
Bad news in the valley. L came over this morning to say that M, still in hospital, has finally had the results of the scan and it's not looking good. They have scheduled her in for further tests - including a full body scan I think - to check it out. L is, understandably, very upset and we can just hope that they get the new test results back quickly so they know what they are dealing with and what their options are.
And to think it had started out as such a lovely morning in the valley - with quite a heavy mist hanging low to the ground. It makes the valley very photogenic - not that it isn't usually - and makes it very hard to leave. I might have to have a day - or maybe a morning - at home this weekend just to soak up the Latimer's atmosphere. Although there is a tip run to fit in there somewhere as well - we still have to dispose of that massive box the walking machine came in and the last thing we want is for it to become a home for "slitherin's" - as S has started to call snakes (in that that's the name she is using for them as opposed to that she has actively started to "call" snakes as they do with crocodiles in the Northern Territory - we saw it on a documentary once.) We haven't seen any slitherin's out and about yet .but I was fairly sure I saw one that hadn't made it all the way across the road at the bottom of the range on the way back from Toowoomba on the weekend.
M went to the hospital to visit M today but she was asleep each time. She has been having quite a bit of pain which is different because before it used to be just when she moved and her back would go into spasm. M finally did catch up with her but before the test results were back. L rang this evening to say the problem appears to be localised in the spine - which they are taking as good news. The doctors are now doing blood tests to work out exactly what is going on - and hopefully they will know soon.
C has been walking the dogs up to the street and they all seem happy enough - Spot still tries to catch the cars that go past and Heaven only knows what he would do if he caught one. But he does seem to have invigorated the other two - even if that wasn't the original object.
Because B is away cruising the Mediterranean with his mates, the rubbish bin was still up at the road when I arrived home. Lars doesn't have a tow bar so that meant I would have to drive back up to collect it with the four-wheel drive or walk up to get it. Since it meant a chance for a few more steps for the Pedometer Challenge, I did the walk in the gathering gloom of the late afternoon with the horses up and down the lane way coming over to their fences to see what I was up to. It was a lovely thing to do and yet another reminder of how wonderful is Life at Latimers.
And to think it had started out as such a lovely morning in the valley - with quite a heavy mist hanging low to the ground. It makes the valley very photogenic - not that it isn't usually - and makes it very hard to leave. I might have to have a day - or maybe a morning - at home this weekend just to soak up the Latimer's atmosphere. Although there is a tip run to fit in there somewhere as well - we still have to dispose of that massive box the walking machine came in and the last thing we want is for it to become a home for "slitherin's" - as S has started to call snakes (in that that's the name she is using for them as opposed to that she has actively started to "call" snakes as they do with crocodiles in the Northern Territory - we saw it on a documentary once.) We haven't seen any slitherin's out and about yet .but I was fairly sure I saw one that hadn't made it all the way across the road at the bottom of the range on the way back from Toowoomba on the weekend.
M went to the hospital to visit M today but she was asleep each time. She has been having quite a bit of pain which is different because before it used to be just when she moved and her back would go into spasm. M finally did catch up with her but before the test results were back. L rang this evening to say the problem appears to be localised in the spine - which they are taking as good news. The doctors are now doing blood tests to work out exactly what is going on - and hopefully they will know soon.
C has been walking the dogs up to the street and they all seem happy enough - Spot still tries to catch the cars that go past and Heaven only knows what he would do if he caught one. But he does seem to have invigorated the other two - even if that wasn't the original object.
Because B is away cruising the Mediterranean with his mates, the rubbish bin was still up at the road when I arrived home. Lars doesn't have a tow bar so that meant I would have to drive back up to collect it with the four-wheel drive or walk up to get it. Since it meant a chance for a few more steps for the Pedometer Challenge, I did the walk in the gathering gloom of the late afternoon with the horses up and down the lane way coming over to their fences to see what I was up to. It was a lovely thing to do and yet another reminder of how wonderful is Life at Latimers.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday
What is the only US State (that does seem a bit tautological) that starts with "P"? This was just one of the questions that M and S faced at The Big House Trivia Challenge this evening and while a gentleman at their table offered "Pittsburgh" the answer is, in fact, "Pennsylvania" - which just now makes me wonder where names for places come from. Georgia, for instance, was named after England's King George, while Louisiana was named after France's King Louis. It may be time to do some research to find out who Latimers was named after. [Brief interweb pause.] Who knew?James Latimers was apparently an American Civil War Veteran who is not credited with having shot General Robert E. Lee's brother - although it has been suggested that he was responsible. The question is, how/why did James Latimer makes his way to South-East Queensland and is he really buried here? More research needed.
M took Beasley to the vet today to find out if there is anything wrong with him. He has been a bit of a bother of late because he has been spraying in the house and while he is an anxious cat, his recent activity is more than usual. While the vet wasn't able to suggest anything other than stress, they did suggest that it might be being made worse because he now has diabetes. M has to go back on Friday to discuss treatment plans and ramifications - and it would be true to say that she is not looking forward to the possibility of having to inject Beasley with insulin twice a day. But I feel she will if she needs to, because that is, after all, what we do for our pets.
And speaking of pets with diabetes - Emma had a hypo last night (where her blood sugar goes too low) but she came good very quickly when we gave her some water with sugar dissolved in it. Honey would also have worked (I was surprised when S told me this but it makes sense that but is just like giving her a jelly bean). Not quite sure what caused this one, but we'll monitor her and see how she goes. But at least it wasn't a tick - and I did I check her in case there was one (Sandy's dog has just had a tick, and M, and you can see where one had attached itself to Beasley but has now moved on - or should that be "moved off". (English can be a very confusing language.))
While M and S were off doing Trivia, I went up the Motorway to visit J. Her oldest has just set off for a two-year odyssey with the first stop being Germany. She and her boyfriend have posted a pic of them at Oktoberfest - which seemed strange since this is September but a quick look on the interweb shows that the Festival has traditionally started in September and ends in October - with the ending date changed over the years to allow for German public holidays and ... reunification.
M took Beasley to the vet today to find out if there is anything wrong with him. He has been a bit of a bother of late because he has been spraying in the house and while he is an anxious cat, his recent activity is more than usual. While the vet wasn't able to suggest anything other than stress, they did suggest that it might be being made worse because he now has diabetes. M has to go back on Friday to discuss treatment plans and ramifications - and it would be true to say that she is not looking forward to the possibility of having to inject Beasley with insulin twice a day. But I feel she will if she needs to, because that is, after all, what we do for our pets.
And speaking of pets with diabetes - Emma had a hypo last night (where her blood sugar goes too low) but she came good very quickly when we gave her some water with sugar dissolved in it. Honey would also have worked (I was surprised when S told me this but it makes sense that but is just like giving her a jelly bean). Not quite sure what caused this one, but we'll monitor her and see how she goes. But at least it wasn't a tick - and I did I check her in case there was one (Sandy's dog has just had a tick, and M, and you can see where one had attached itself to Beasley but has now moved on - or should that be "moved off". (English can be a very confusing language.))
While M and S were off doing Trivia, I went up the Motorway to visit J. Her oldest has just set off for a two-year odyssey with the first stop being Germany. She and her boyfriend have posted a pic of them at Oktoberfest - which seemed strange since this is September but a quick look on the interweb shows that the Festival has traditionally started in September and ends in October - with the ending date changed over the years to allow for German public holidays and ... reunification.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday
It's good when you wake up - refreshed - before the alarm sounds because it's like getting time for nothing. By the time I would have woken this morning I had already fed Emma, cleaned out her cat tray, lifted Beasley up to his cookies, had my shower, decided what to wear for the day, put it on, and was ready to leave the house. Now, if I could only do that on a day other than the weekend, I would be truly happy! Especially if Zarraffas doors were open and the coffee machine warmed up by the time I got there.
The Broadbeach Markets were on today and I had a wander around them before breakfasting at Alto and making the weekly call to Trish. It certainly is a much more satisfactory and satisfying experience using the Telstra 3G network to make the Skype call. T gives it 95% which isn't bad compared to the other networks which wasn't reliable at all. You wouldn't think there could be such a big difference between two of Australia's larger cellular digital networks - but it is marked.
Back at the Bundall Markets - it was time to start celebrating F's 50th birthday. It is, he keeps telling us, just like any other day - and while that may be so for him, others who have turned or are about to turn 50 sometimes have quite a different story. But, if that's what he wants to believe ... that's okay, as long as there is still an option to have cake to celebrate - even if he doesn't wish to. But we did get some photographs of him (and the rest of us) with his cake with the big 5 and 0 on top of it. It's a pity we neglected to mention to the Market's Coffee people that it was F's birthday - they're quite fond of him and are in awe of his ability to remember the table's coffee order - especially when it changes because there are different people there or the same people having different things.
He was off to see the Shaolin Monks this afternoon - which he was looking forward to - probably even more than he had been looking forward to his game of golf yesterday afternoon. That tuckered him out and he was asleep when M and A rang from Bosnia last night hoping to catch him mid-party rather than mid-nap. But it was good they were able to pass on their birthday wishes via Mi.
I think S is right and the trips to Toowoomba are more tiring than I realize so we had a fairly laid-back afternoon - but not before I'd had a Laksa fix over at The Q Centre.
M is still in hospital with her back troubles and it doesn't seem as though they are any closer to a diagnosis. They have suggested it might be a kidney infection but have not confirmed that - or anything else. L came over last night to pick up the LandRover and while he was here he had a complain about the hospital system - especially as M is in a private hospital and because they are paying for M's care, L is actually expecting that she will get some! She's been in nearly a week now so hopefully they will start to get on top of it soon.
The Broadbeach Markets were on today and I had a wander around them before breakfasting at Alto and making the weekly call to Trish. It certainly is a much more satisfactory and satisfying experience using the Telstra 3G network to make the Skype call. T gives it 95% which isn't bad compared to the other networks which wasn't reliable at all. You wouldn't think there could be such a big difference between two of Australia's larger cellular digital networks - but it is marked.
Back at the Bundall Markets - it was time to start celebrating F's 50th birthday. It is, he keeps telling us, just like any other day - and while that may be so for him, others who have turned or are about to turn 50 sometimes have quite a different story. But, if that's what he wants to believe ... that's okay, as long as there is still an option to have cake to celebrate - even if he doesn't wish to. But we did get some photographs of him (and the rest of us) with his cake with the big 5 and 0 on top of it. It's a pity we neglected to mention to the Market's Coffee people that it was F's birthday - they're quite fond of him and are in awe of his ability to remember the table's coffee order - especially when it changes because there are different people there or the same people having different things.
He was off to see the Shaolin Monks this afternoon - which he was looking forward to - probably even more than he had been looking forward to his game of golf yesterday afternoon. That tuckered him out and he was asleep when M and A rang from Bosnia last night hoping to catch him mid-party rather than mid-nap. But it was good they were able to pass on their birthday wishes via Mi.
I think S is right and the trips to Toowoomba are more tiring than I realize so we had a fairly laid-back afternoon - but not before I'd had a Laksa fix over at The Q Centre.
M is still in hospital with her back troubles and it doesn't seem as though they are any closer to a diagnosis. They have suggested it might be a kidney infection but have not confirmed that - or anything else. L came over last night to pick up the LandRover and while he was here he had a complain about the hospital system - especially as M is in a private hospital and because they are paying for M's care, L is actually expecting that she will get some! She's been in nearly a week now so hopefully they will start to get on top of it soon.
Saturday
It was fun but next time we decide to go to the Carnival of Flowers Floral Parade, I think we'll do it over a couple of day. The drive up and back from Latimers in the one day was manageable but I was pretty much knackered by the time we arrived home and I ended up gratefully climbing into bed at 8:30. On a Saturday night!
But it was a good day and we did manage to get away as planned* (well within half an hour) so we could pick up my mother and still have time to visit my niece and nephew before we had to make our way down into the heart of the Toowoomba CBD to secure a position form the parade. And I don't think we did too badly. We found a nice shady spot which was under a tree which effected enough shade to keep us out of the sun until well after the parade had passed by. We were across the road from a cafe, the place where we bought some chairs - who were also barbecuing, and not far from an "acceptable" public convenience.
There were loads of children out and about for the parade - and to keep them entertained there were jumbo chalks they could - and did - use to draw on the road which had been blocked off in preparation for the parade. It was funny to see the influence television has had on them - with wee small things doing chalk outlines of their mates on the pavement. Some of them looked way too young to be allowed to watch crime shows - but who knows what parents allow these days ... or maybe it's something they teach them in school - which would also be somewhat of a worry!
The parade itself was amazing - much different from the last one we came to nearly 20 years ago. At that one there were no Anglo-Saxon faces to be seen - in this one, one of the biggest "floats" was for a type of Chinese exercise and had lion dancers, bands, and walkers - truly wonderful. It was good to see a lot of local (and some far-fling) businesses taking part - and to see that the Parade marshals were Smurfs. I think they must have had a late substitution because the WIN television person who was "announcing" the parade (another plus for our location otherwise we may not have known who some of the floats were) said there was Papa Smurf and Clumsy Smurf - and while I'd agree it could have been Clumsy (why do Smurfs look so similar?) I would have to insist (and bet on it if it were required) that one of the two Smurfs on the float was ... Smurfette!!
M had just finished giving Em some crunchies (and cleaning out her tray - thank you M!) when we arrived home And before she went out for the evening we were able to sit down for a cuppa and a debrief. She had spent the day with Mouse - which included taking Pearl out to Coffee Sisters and for a walk - and we all know how much Pearl loves an outing.
*The only down side was that S had a bad night - waking on the hour every hour worried that she might sleep through the alarm - she didn't!
But it was a good day and we did manage to get away as planned* (well within half an hour) so we could pick up my mother and still have time to visit my niece and nephew before we had to make our way down into the heart of the Toowoomba CBD to secure a position form the parade. And I don't think we did too badly. We found a nice shady spot which was under a tree which effected enough shade to keep us out of the sun until well after the parade had passed by. We were across the road from a cafe, the place where we bought some chairs - who were also barbecuing, and not far from an "acceptable" public convenience.
There were loads of children out and about for the parade - and to keep them entertained there were jumbo chalks they could - and did - use to draw on the road which had been blocked off in preparation for the parade. It was funny to see the influence television has had on them - with wee small things doing chalk outlines of their mates on the pavement. Some of them looked way too young to be allowed to watch crime shows - but who knows what parents allow these days ... or maybe it's something they teach them in school - which would also be somewhat of a worry!
The parade itself was amazing - much different from the last one we came to nearly 20 years ago. At that one there were no Anglo-Saxon faces to be seen - in this one, one of the biggest "floats" was for a type of Chinese exercise and had lion dancers, bands, and walkers - truly wonderful. It was good to see a lot of local (and some far-fling) businesses taking part - and to see that the Parade marshals were Smurfs. I think they must have had a late substitution because the WIN television person who was "announcing" the parade (another plus for our location otherwise we may not have known who some of the floats were) said there was Papa Smurf and Clumsy Smurf - and while I'd agree it could have been Clumsy (why do Smurfs look so similar?) I would have to insist (and bet on it if it were required) that one of the two Smurfs on the float was ... Smurfette!!
M had just finished giving Em some crunchies (and cleaning out her tray - thank you M!) when we arrived home And before she went out for the evening we were able to sit down for a cuppa and a debrief. She had spent the day with Mouse - which included taking Pearl out to Coffee Sisters and for a walk - and we all know how much Pearl loves an outing.
*The only down side was that S had a bad night - waking on the hour every hour worried that she might sleep through the alarm - she didn't!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Friday
What are the odds? Not one circus, but two circuses/circi/one circus and another one - in town at the same time. I saw the sign for one of them yesterday - and almost received a text from a pal who had seen the sign as well - and the actual Big Top ... which I saw this morning as I turned off the Smith Street Motorway towards work. Look!!! There it was!!!! Larger than life!!!! (Well, you know what I mean.) The Stardust Circus - right next door to work at Parklands! And the Moscow Circus is apparently down the road at bit at the Southport Broadwater. Gee, it would be nice to go ... as long as I can be assured the animals are well-treated and things are above board. (No, we are not going into the story of my family's rich heritage in show business - and especially not my paternal grandfather's dancing chicken concession!)
We are having Family and Friends dinner tonight and we are off to the Sheraton for their buffet. S and I are planning to make the effort to keep Mouse and Mi company in dressing up this evening - and to go one step further and even colour co-ordinate our outfits! (Later) Well, it almost happened like that - we were co-ordinated but only if you call black a colour. But that's not taking into account the Turkish trousers S was wearing, as given to her by Ma (while she was out here), which were very colourful indeed - but which still had the black to tie in with what I was wearing. In retrospect, I would have to say that everyone took extra care when they were coiffe-ing this evening - and yes, it's fair to say that it was also impressive when M went that extra step and did a touch-up iron of her outfit as we were getting ready to leave.
The food was great too - not as big as a selection at The Big House but everyone (at our table at least) thought it was better. Unfortunately the Internet connection there wasn't good enough to allow a Skype call with the folks in Turkey but it was good enough to allow a FaceBook check-in so they would know where we were!
It is F's birthday on Sunday and he has kept protesting that he doesn't want anything ... except perhaps a right-handed Odyssey chipper - and who knew that golfers are restricted to 13 clubs in their bags. I think there are plans to do a cake for him on Sunday morning at the Markets. But he will probably still need to do the coffee order - because he likes doing it so much - and is so good at it.
We are having Family and Friends dinner tonight and we are off to the Sheraton for their buffet. S and I are planning to make the effort to keep Mouse and Mi company in dressing up this evening - and to go one step further and even colour co-ordinate our outfits! (Later) Well, it almost happened like that - we were co-ordinated but only if you call black a colour. But that's not taking into account the Turkish trousers S was wearing, as given to her by Ma (while she was out here), which were very colourful indeed - but which still had the black to tie in with what I was wearing. In retrospect, I would have to say that everyone took extra care when they were coiffe-ing this evening - and yes, it's fair to say that it was also impressive when M went that extra step and did a touch-up iron of her outfit as we were getting ready to leave.
The food was great too - not as big as a selection at The Big House but everyone (at our table at least) thought it was better. Unfortunately the Internet connection there wasn't good enough to allow a Skype call with the folks in Turkey but it was good enough to allow a FaceBook check-in so they would know where we were!
It is F's birthday on Sunday and he has kept protesting that he doesn't want anything ... except perhaps a right-handed Odyssey chipper - and who knew that golfers are restricted to 13 clubs in their bags. I think there are plans to do a cake for him on Sunday morning at the Markets. But he will probably still need to do the coffee order - because he likes doing it so much - and is so good at it.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday
M and S and Mouse went off to the movies at the Gold Coast Arts Centre today. It was surprising because even one movie there can be quite torrid - and they fronted up for two! (I remember earlier this year they went to one that had been interrupted by a fire alarm and building evacuation and they all seemed quite happy to have had a "break" because of the forced intermission.) It seems like The Eye of the Storm was a bit similar - quite emotional and with very well drawn characters. It was interesting to hear M and S talking about Patrick White this afternoon/evening and how he had always wanted to be a screenwriter. I didn't know that but I had heard that he would write/type his manuscripts on onion paper - both sides and every available space - before sending them off overseas to publishers - in the times before there were word processors, computers or email!
After the movies their next stop was Ferry Road Markets - which is where F and his brother E found them when they dropped in for a coffee there. It is amazing how people "find" each other, isn't it? And that's where I found them too - although, to be fair, we had agreed to meet there - because we had plans to drive down to Currumbin Beach to visit the annual Swell festival - which was, simply, fantastic. This is its ninth year and as well as the sculptures by the sea, there are also workshops and other activities linked to Swell these days. We did the walk up and down beside the beach visiting each of the sculptures and M read out their blurbs as we got to each. There are 45 pieces in this year's Swell. We didn't leave until dusk - we stopped for refreshments including a piece of very caramel/banana cake (with four forks!) at The Elephant Rock Cafe! It was yummy - and just enough to not take the goodness out of our afternoon amble amongst the art.
Dinner was Thai and we had it in rather than going out for Date Night especially because it was after 7 by the time we arrived home and there were still furries to feed and assure them we still loved them even though they had been on their own all day (M and S had also had an early start today as M had to drop her car off for servicing).
It was one of those evenings where everyone seemed to be tired but happy and it really wasn't that much of a surprise when M took herself (and Pearl) off to bed soon after lock-down was effected at 8:30! S went not too long after that, leaving me to download my Swell photos.
Good news of the day is that Mi and F's son Lu was accepted into the Berkley music course in Boston in the US. He did the audition a while ago and has been waiting to hear for almost a couple of months. The news of his acceptance came through this evening. Well done Lu.
After the movies their next stop was Ferry Road Markets - which is where F and his brother E found them when they dropped in for a coffee there. It is amazing how people "find" each other, isn't it? And that's where I found them too - although, to be fair, we had agreed to meet there - because we had plans to drive down to Currumbin Beach to visit the annual Swell festival - which was, simply, fantastic. This is its ninth year and as well as the sculptures by the sea, there are also workshops and other activities linked to Swell these days. We did the walk up and down beside the beach visiting each of the sculptures and M read out their blurbs as we got to each. There are 45 pieces in this year's Swell. We didn't leave until dusk - we stopped for refreshments including a piece of very caramel/banana cake (with four forks!) at The Elephant Rock Cafe! It was yummy - and just enough to not take the goodness out of our afternoon amble amongst the art.
Dinner was Thai and we had it in rather than going out for Date Night especially because it was after 7 by the time we arrived home and there were still furries to feed and assure them we still loved them even though they had been on their own all day (M and S had also had an early start today as M had to drop her car off for servicing).
It was one of those evenings where everyone seemed to be tired but happy and it really wasn't that much of a surprise when M took herself (and Pearl) off to bed soon after lock-down was effected at 8:30! S went not too long after that, leaving me to download my Swell photos.
Good news of the day is that Mi and F's son Lu was accepted into the Berkley music course in Boston in the US. He did the audition a while ago and has been waiting to hear for almost a couple of months. The news of his acceptance came through this evening. Well done Lu.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday
Mouse, M and S went off to Southport RSL Bingo this morning and they had a good time. As S texted me at one point - Winners Are Grinners! I didn't hear whether they had invested in the (is it) Pet machines - the machine-assisted way of playing Bingo. The machine apparently let's you know when you are one away from winning - although it won't tell you when you have the winning number/s.
Too bad - so sad: seems to have crept into one of our work people's vocabulary - and it's not me although I cannot guarantee that I won't start parroting it if I keep hearing it!
On the way in to Wednesday night CSP we called in to the hospital to see M from next door who has been there since the day before yesterday with back problems - it's not so much sore as that it goes into spasms whenever she moves. Not a good way to be. She is doing the exercises prescribed by the physiotherapist but at this stage the actual problem hasn't been diagnosed.
Also in hospital, but M and I didn't get around to seeing him, was D. He apparently has some heart problem - not new - and we don't know how serious. M is planning to go back into the Hospital tomorrow to take some washing back in for M.
I managed to get some mowing in this afternoon but I could have done better - and thanks to M's instructions for the next time I mow, hopefully the lawn will soon be back to its former glory. It was good to get back on the ROM again and I have missed it. I find it incredibly relaxing especially with some good background music on - or not because both ways works. And the front section really did need a mow.
Too bad - so sad: seems to have crept into one of our work people's vocabulary - and it's not me although I cannot guarantee that I won't start parroting it if I keep hearing it!
On the way in to Wednesday night CSP we called in to the hospital to see M from next door who has been there since the day before yesterday with back problems - it's not so much sore as that it goes into spasms whenever she moves. Not a good way to be. She is doing the exercises prescribed by the physiotherapist but at this stage the actual problem hasn't been diagnosed.
Also in hospital, but M and I didn't get around to seeing him, was D. He apparently has some heart problem - not new - and we don't know how serious. M is planning to go back into the Hospital tomorrow to take some washing back in for M.
I managed to get some mowing in this afternoon but I could have done better - and thanks to M's instructions for the next time I mow, hopefully the lawn will soon be back to its former glory. It was good to get back on the ROM again and I have missed it. I find it incredibly relaxing especially with some good background music on - or not because both ways works. And the front section really did need a mow.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Tuesday
I don't know what was different this morning but it seemed as though I was on cat patrol from the moment my eyes opened. First there was Beasley knocking at the back door - he's clever the way he does it - just tapping the cat door so it hits against the back door until someone comes to open it for him - so he can reach his cookies. Then Tink was knocking on M's door wanting to get out - and eat Beasley's cookies. I always give Emma some cookies before I get on the walking machine - there's no reason she should have to wait for a snack until I get back. And this morning as I was on the walking machine, Maggie was acting a bit odd - she kept disappearing down the back and then coming back. Finally I realised that she was coming down to try to get me to open the back door for her - and I did - and it was somehow like completion when she had me let her in the front door just before I left for work. Beasley had put himself back to bed in the alcove by that point - and, really, I wouldn't have minded joining him! Tonight he was back out the front in Swallow-land - where M and S have confirmed that there are at least two hatchlings in the nest because they have seen their little heads. It does sometimes sound as though there are more up there.
The plovers are safe for another day. M did mowing in Hermes yard today but she steered clear of the nest - and now that she has pointed out exactly where the nest is (where I thought it was so it was good I wasn't that far off the mark) - if I find myself in there, I can avoid it as well. I wonder if there are other nests in there - the paddock seems too large to support only a couple of plovers.
The colony of kookaburras is still definitely around and there were a couple of young ones sitting on Larry's fence as I drove past there this morning. And lots of ducks. They really seem to like it up there on the bend of the road.
But back to the mowing ... M has saved me some to do around the house - and there might just be a Colorbond moment in it to make up for the lack of them last time I did it. The raised deck seems to be doing a bit better job but I don't think it's "right" yet but it is a lot better than it was.
S dropped in to visit this morning and was reportedly in fine form - and, said S, the same as she always is - even though there has been lots happening in her life of late. She and A are off to the Big Apple in a couple of weeks and we won't have the opportunity to see them again before they go.
The plovers are safe for another day. M did mowing in Hermes yard today but she steered clear of the nest - and now that she has pointed out exactly where the nest is (where I thought it was so it was good I wasn't that far off the mark) - if I find myself in there, I can avoid it as well. I wonder if there are other nests in there - the paddock seems too large to support only a couple of plovers.
The colony of kookaburras is still definitely around and there were a couple of young ones sitting on Larry's fence as I drove past there this morning. And lots of ducks. They really seem to like it up there on the bend of the road.
But back to the mowing ... M has saved me some to do around the house - and there might just be a Colorbond moment in it to make up for the lack of them last time I did it. The raised deck seems to be doing a bit better job but I don't think it's "right" yet but it is a lot better than it was.
S dropped in to visit this morning and was reportedly in fine form - and, said S, the same as she always is - even though there has been lots happening in her life of late. She and A are off to the Big Apple in a couple of weeks and we won't have the opportunity to see them again before they go.
Monday
It was a lovely morning this morning - and it continues to get lighter earlier - so much so that the sun is well up now when I leave the house. Mind you, I am leaving the house just a little later as I am using the walking machine first thing in the morning.
The birdlife around Latimers is amazing at the moment. We have heard noises coming from the swallow nest and M has even seen a little head popping up. We don't know how many are in there - and hopefully there aren't too many because they are going to be awfully cramped in there. Beasley continues to sit out there just waiting ... waiting ... waiting.
There's also a nest of plovers in Hermes' paddock - and M says we will need to be careful when mowing in there. I thought it would be fairly easily to pick the nest - wouldn't it be where they are, I asked - but apparently not. They don't hang around just near the nest so you have to watch out for a hole in the ground, with eggs in it.
M and Pearl took the rubbish and recycling up to the road this afternoon. It was a bit of a jump for Pearl into the back of the 4-wheel-drive but she managed to do it, and she looked very excited to be going off for a drive.
When she came back, M told us that the moon was amazing. It is full moon (now or tomorrow) and it is the September moon - of the Moon Festival. You could see it from the top of the drive, but not from Latimers. By the time you could see it from Latimers - the clouds had moved across. They had predicted rain for this evening so it looks like there is a good chance they are right about that.
It's not as cold this evening so the cats may not come in as early as they have been. Certainly Maggie will come in though because she will have heard that M is cooking dinner tonight - and that means that there will be green vegetables in everyone's future - specifically zucchinis, of the stuffed variety. And they were very yummy indeed - even though you just know they were loaded with hidden vegetable goodness - and accompanied by mixed linguini! It's nice for S to have a break from cooking - and she really enjoyed it. And I especially enjoyed it because M didn't follow the usual rule - the person who cooks doesn't clean up - and she cleaned up as she went - and then finished cleaning up afterwards.
It was nice watching Pearl watch M cook too - just lying on the floor, perhaps waiting for something tasty to fall in her direction. But she is a faithful companion - staying all through the cooking, and all through the eating as well. She was rewarded with a little bit of the leftovers - just a bit because she didn't need any more (said M).
The birdlife around Latimers is amazing at the moment. We have heard noises coming from the swallow nest and M has even seen a little head popping up. We don't know how many are in there - and hopefully there aren't too many because they are going to be awfully cramped in there. Beasley continues to sit out there just waiting ... waiting ... waiting.
There's also a nest of plovers in Hermes' paddock - and M says we will need to be careful when mowing in there. I thought it would be fairly easily to pick the nest - wouldn't it be where they are, I asked - but apparently not. They don't hang around just near the nest so you have to watch out for a hole in the ground, with eggs in it.
M and Pearl took the rubbish and recycling up to the road this afternoon. It was a bit of a jump for Pearl into the back of the 4-wheel-drive but she managed to do it, and she looked very excited to be going off for a drive.
When she came back, M told us that the moon was amazing. It is full moon (now or tomorrow) and it is the September moon - of the Moon Festival. You could see it from the top of the drive, but not from Latimers. By the time you could see it from Latimers - the clouds had moved across. They had predicted rain for this evening so it looks like there is a good chance they are right about that.
It's not as cold this evening so the cats may not come in as early as they have been. Certainly Maggie will come in though because she will have heard that M is cooking dinner tonight - and that means that there will be green vegetables in everyone's future - specifically zucchinis, of the stuffed variety. And they were very yummy indeed - even though you just know they were loaded with hidden vegetable goodness - and accompanied by mixed linguini! It's nice for S to have a break from cooking - and she really enjoyed it. And I especially enjoyed it because M didn't follow the usual rule - the person who cooks doesn't clean up - and she cleaned up as she went - and then finished cleaning up afterwards.
It was nice watching Pearl watch M cook too - just lying on the floor, perhaps waiting for something tasty to fall in her direction. But she is a faithful companion - staying all through the cooking, and all through the eating as well. She was rewarded with a little bit of the leftovers - just a bit because she didn't need any more (said M).
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sunday
It was a relatively early start to the day - even though I had a late night making sure the new iPad was configured correctly so I could hand the other one over to S. I wanted the new one to be ready so I could do my weekly Skype call with T from Broadbeach - the Optus network I use with the iPhone is not that good sometimes and I was hoping the Telstra network (my data plan with the iPad is with them) would be better ... and it was!
We didn't have a chance to use it at the Markets though because M and A (and N who is now with them in Bosnia) didn't call. It may have had something to do with the 8 hour time difference which means it was only 2 in the morning for them. F was late getting to the Markets - he was off playing with his brother - so we had to get the coffee order in ourselves. Thankfully we do have a provision list which we can just amend depending on who's there ... but F doesn't even have to have it written down and he always gets the right order!
He did join us at the end though - and yes, we did close the Markets again - and it was good to see him - since we didn't see him on Friday night.
After the Markets, S and I took ourselves off to The Big House for the lunch special - pork tenderloin, potato gallette, broccoli and pumpkin. S enjoyed it very much - and I liked my seafood wonton noodle soup. After they had taken away our mains plate, the server came over with S's desert - a black forest trifle - and one for me as well - because he didn't want me to feel left out. It was a lovely gesture - and it was a very wonderful trifle!! S was very pleased that she didn't have to share it.
And we needed sustenance because the next stop was the cinema so we could see The Smurfs. I had read a review earlier in the week and it seemed the critic had not enjoyed it ... something about being up Smurf creek without a paddle. I think all four of us who went - Mouse, M, S and I - did enjoy it ... but how could anyone not enjoy seeing Smurfs and Gargamel's (cat) Azrael.
We didn't have a chance to use it at the Markets though because M and A (and N who is now with them in Bosnia) didn't call. It may have had something to do with the 8 hour time difference which means it was only 2 in the morning for them. F was late getting to the Markets - he was off playing with his brother - so we had to get the coffee order in ourselves. Thankfully we do have a provision list which we can just amend depending on who's there ... but F doesn't even have to have it written down and he always gets the right order!
He did join us at the end though - and yes, we did close the Markets again - and it was good to see him - since we didn't see him on Friday night.
After the Markets, S and I took ourselves off to The Big House for the lunch special - pork tenderloin, potato gallette, broccoli and pumpkin. S enjoyed it very much - and I liked my seafood wonton noodle soup. After they had taken away our mains plate, the server came over with S's desert - a black forest trifle - and one for me as well - because he didn't want me to feel left out. It was a lovely gesture - and it was a very wonderful trifle!! S was very pleased that she didn't have to share it.
And we needed sustenance because the next stop was the cinema so we could see The Smurfs. I had read a review earlier in the week and it seemed the critic had not enjoyed it ... something about being up Smurf creek without a paddle. I think all four of us who went - Mouse, M, S and I - did enjoy it ... but how could anyone not enjoy seeing Smurfs and Gargamel's (cat) Azrael.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Saturday
I was up early, on the walking machine for half an hour, showered and ready to leave the house by 8am. Pretty impressive for a Saturday. I was planning to fill up the car, pick up the Sydney Morning Herald and hurry home in case we were off to Brisbane for the day to see the Bresson exhibition and catch up with Sylvia and Anita. On the way, S called to ask me to pick up some croissants from the French patisserie and coffee all round. And it was just as well too because by the time I got home, the power was out at Latimers. It lasted through our breakfast and came on in time for S to have a shower.
Then in to the car for a trip up to Mt Tambourine - or at least that's what the plan was ... but how to get there since the GPS has stopped working? And how to get back? Just bas well they still have those directional signs dotted around the country which actually made it fairly easy - and there is only one top of the Mountain so that was going to make it easier to know if we had gone too far! It was lovely - but brisk, a little windy (not quite those gales that had been expected yesterday but not bad) - which meant lunch at St Bernard's hotel was on but it was had inside not outside on the terrace! And who knew one of the specials would be Lamb Shanks (which, coincidentally, is what Pearl had for dinner as well!)
Then, back down the mountain, and I dropped S off at Latimers before going on to Robina, the Apple Store and JB Hi-Fi - because without this trip I wouldn't have been able to spend several (too many) hours configuring the new iPad 2. (I resisted getting the iPad 2 for quite a while but I have to admit it does seem to have been worth the investment.)
Robina was not that busy and I missed Mouse and M who were having Yum Cha there but I did see Peter from work who was leaving JB's just as I was arriving.
Everyone was in tonight. M had talked about going out but it continued to be cold (read: freezing) and she took herself off to bed early. S wasn't that far behind her so I had to make do with the company of the furries until I finally dragged myself off to bed!
Then in to the car for a trip up to Mt Tambourine - or at least that's what the plan was ... but how to get there since the GPS has stopped working? And how to get back? Just bas well they still have those directional signs dotted around the country which actually made it fairly easy - and there is only one top of the Mountain so that was going to make it easier to know if we had gone too far! It was lovely - but brisk, a little windy (not quite those gales that had been expected yesterday but not bad) - which meant lunch at St Bernard's hotel was on but it was had inside not outside on the terrace! And who knew one of the specials would be Lamb Shanks (which, coincidentally, is what Pearl had for dinner as well!)
Then, back down the mountain, and I dropped S off at Latimers before going on to Robina, the Apple Store and JB Hi-Fi - because without this trip I wouldn't have been able to spend several (too many) hours configuring the new iPad 2. (I resisted getting the iPad 2 for quite a while but I have to admit it does seem to have been worth the investment.)
Robina was not that busy and I missed Mouse and M who were having Yum Cha there but I did see Peter from work who was leaving JB's just as I was arriving.
Everyone was in tonight. M had talked about going out but it continued to be cold (read: freezing) and she took herself off to bed early. S wasn't that far behind her so I had to make do with the company of the furries until I finally dragged myself off to bed!
Friday
On the way out of the valley this morning, there were two small calves pretending to be "big" bovines or just not doing a good job of playlng leapfrog. Spring is definitely in the air. As is the hubcap that's still hanging from the tree down near the bridge. It's been there a few days now. The first time I saw it, I thought it was a fan - it's not one of those solid hubcaps - but then I realised it made absolutely no sense for anyone to have found (or left) a fan there!
We had a sizeable storm around lunchtime (which is just near Latimers) and although there was a severe wind warning in place for the Coast, it didn't seem that bad. Luckily we missed the worst of the rain as we moved from Parklands back to the site office after our meeting there this morning. We were lucky in our timing - and because some of the others actually thought to bring umbrellas with them! But if ever there was a day to be at home, curled up in front of the television with a couple of good DVDs, this was it. Has someone forgotten it's turned Spring and sent the Winter weather back to us?
There was no Friday night Family & Friends Dinner tonight! I found out last night - M had been encouraged to tell me (by S) and Mi had drawn the much harder challenge of telling F - but she was sure that he would be happy to spend that time with his brother. I had to make do with more computer stuff - but only after S and I shared the wonderful roast chicken dinner she has prepared. I have another couple of projects in the pipeline - including my tax - which I do need to get to but sometimes Friday night is not the time to start them. I am on the verge of a massive declutter particularly to try to find my watch which is hiding somewhere - I am sure in a safe place but not anywhere that I can find in the number of quick looks I have had since I realised it is AWOL. Good fun!
We had a sizeable storm around lunchtime (which is just near Latimers) and although there was a severe wind warning in place for the Coast, it didn't seem that bad. Luckily we missed the worst of the rain as we moved from Parklands back to the site office after our meeting there this morning. We were lucky in our timing - and because some of the others actually thought to bring umbrellas with them! But if ever there was a day to be at home, curled up in front of the television with a couple of good DVDs, this was it. Has someone forgotten it's turned Spring and sent the Winter weather back to us?
There was no Friday night Family & Friends Dinner tonight! I found out last night - M had been encouraged to tell me (by S) and Mi had drawn the much harder challenge of telling F - but she was sure that he would be happy to spend that time with his brother. I had to make do with more computer stuff - but only after S and I shared the wonderful roast chicken dinner she has prepared. I have another couple of projects in the pipeline - including my tax - which I do need to get to but sometimes Friday night is not the time to start them. I am on the verge of a massive declutter particularly to try to find my watch which is hiding somewhere - I am sure in a safe place but not anywhere that I can find in the number of quick looks I have had since I realised it is AWOL. Good fun!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday
Who knew Sean Connery had been a Mr Universe contestant - or that there are 4 US States which end in "O"? S and I went to the local hotel tonight for dinner and incidental trivia. It was a good evening and we were still home in time for S to watch her program while I did some mucking around on the computer - trying to see if there was any way I could read a PDF file with embedded comments on the iPad. I didn't solve it but I did at least manage to read the file - a response from C who never seems to write a letter - rather, he comments on what you've written on what you've written - which is a huge improvement to when he'd comment on a different something and you'd have to read them at the same time to marry the comment to the bit in yours that he was commenting on. C has always been a bit unique - probably why we like him so much - that, and that he introduced us to QI and Chuck Palahniuk's book Lullaby. Brilliant.
M and Mouse were at The Big House for dinner - and as I was still working on the computer when she arrived home, I heard l they had a good time. It wasn't too big a table (12 I think she said - and one of the other guests was K who'd only been at Latimers this morning (and had made me a very happy person by cleaning one more room than she normally does - the one we share with Emma. Thanks K!)) The food was good too - and M even tried a different dessert this time!
The treadmill is still behaving itself - now that we have it working - and now that it is operational, it seems to be much less of a cat magnet! Although they don't appear to be scared of or by it! I'm using it in the morning before I head off for work and the cats don't run from the room when it starts up. M and S say they don't hear it - or the television since I watch that as I walk - which is amazing since it makes a lot of beeping noises when it starts up, if you make any change en route, and when you're turning it off.
M and Mouse were at The Big House for dinner - and as I was still working on the computer when she arrived home, I heard l they had a good time. It wasn't too big a table (12 I think she said - and one of the other guests was K who'd only been at Latimers this morning (and had made me a very happy person by cleaning one more room than she normally does - the one we share with Emma. Thanks K!)) The food was good too - and M even tried a different dessert this time!
The treadmill is still behaving itself - now that we have it working - and now that it is operational, it seems to be much less of a cat magnet! Although they don't appear to be scared of or by it! I'm using it in the morning before I head off for work and the cats don't run from the room when it starts up. M and S say they don't hear it - or the television since I watch that as I walk - which is amazing since it makes a lot of beeping noises when it starts up, if you make any change en route, and when you're turning it off.
Wednesday
There are some days where nothing much happens - and this wasn't really one of those. The problem is that since I've been a little busy of late I haven't been taking accurate enough notes on some days to be able to come back and write them up.
So, what do I know? It was CSP night and the jackpot has climbed to over $280,000. Despite our best efforts, neither M nor I managed to bring it home with us but I'm pleased to report that M keeps trying. We did have dinner at Zen (so chosen by me because when M asked - from the other end of the CSP table - she indicated it with a "Z" in the air which reminded me of Zorro and, for no overtly perceivable reason, at that moment I felt like noodles. We took the leftovers home to S who has recovered from her extraction and is generally feeling much better now that the tooth (and the infection) is gone.
I did stop in at Zarraffas on the way home this afternoon and I admit to being a bit surprised when the person serving me asked where my thermos cup was. I know I have been a regular customer there for a while - since they opened actually - but it surprised me nonetheless. What also surprised me is that I saw someone there that I thought I recognised - "thought" being the operative word. It was sending me crazy trying to work out who she reminded me of (I at least knew that I didn't actually know her). It's no fun having such poor facial recognition skills. Just as well The Great K didn't have me as one of his test subjects last year. It would have been a shame if he'd missed his spot in the Graduate course.
So, what do I know? It was CSP night and the jackpot has climbed to over $280,000. Despite our best efforts, neither M nor I managed to bring it home with us but I'm pleased to report that M keeps trying. We did have dinner at Zen (so chosen by me because when M asked - from the other end of the CSP table - she indicated it with a "Z" in the air which reminded me of Zorro and, for no overtly perceivable reason, at that moment I felt like noodles. We took the leftovers home to S who has recovered from her extraction and is generally feeling much better now that the tooth (and the infection) is gone.
I did stop in at Zarraffas on the way home this afternoon and I admit to being a bit surprised when the person serving me asked where my thermos cup was. I know I have been a regular customer there for a while - since they opened actually - but it surprised me nonetheless. What also surprised me is that I saw someone there that I thought I recognised - "thought" being the operative word. It was sending me crazy trying to work out who she reminded me of (I at least knew that I didn't actually know her). It's no fun having such poor facial recognition skills. Just as well The Great K didn't have me as one of his test subjects last year. It would have been a shame if he'd missed his spot in the Graduate course.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Tuesday
I saw J today. It has been a while and it was good to catch up. The lodgers are still with her although from the list of properties near the computer and talk of an impending settlement following the dissolution of I's marriage, a move may be on the cards for one or both of them.
S finally got to the dentist with her tooth abscess and it won't be bothering her any more - the tooth was taken out. It can be quite an emotional experience to have a tooth removed. But, as J said, Imagine if it was another body part! She said uterus or breast while I was thinking arm or leg or perhaps even a nose.
It's only a few days until the 10th Annivesary of 9/11 and when I arrived home S and M were watching a documentary on the attacks. Everyone was in except Beasley - who was apparently "out" because he almost had an accident on S. Poor Beasley!
Luckily the program was in two parts - divided by the news - because I needed to power up the walking machine to get a few more steps in - so I could finish the Global Corporate Challenge with a 10,000+ step day. Yes, 111 days later the GCC is over. But it's okay because work's Foundation Pedometer Challenge started yesterday and runs for the next month. I'm on a new team now - one with seven in it - and hopefully we can do as well as we did in the GCC - we placed third of the 16 teams from our company, and came in at position 7,406 of all 18,153 teams taking part around the world.
Monday
There are certainly no Colorbond moments with the lawn this time around. I just look at it and feel very sad that it has had to endure such a bad cut - I can only hope that it will grow back quickly - and it needs to rain and sun a bit more for that to happen - so I can do it again - but properly this time now that the deck is back on straight!
"Australian Story" tonight was on the champion racehorse Black Caviar - but we were still surprised with M rushed in to watch it. That could have been because she was two hours early - having thought it was on "Talking Heads". But it was good to have her home - even though S wasn't in much of a mood to play with her. She didn't get to the dentist today so she is still trying to cope with the pain. She does have an appointment for late tomorrow morning though (Mouse has one too, but it's a different dentist and earlier I think).
I was trying to do my tax return this evening (no, really!!!) so I had banned myself from watching television - but I was able to hear M's remarks to the cats as she watched it - including making sure they knew that she (and S and I) were in the massive crowd that watched Black Caviar racing in Brisbane earlier this year. It truly was an amazing day - not one that any of us will easily forget.
Sunday
As I'm posting this on the following Thursday - we're down to dot points. (It's been busy.)
We went to the Markets.
We spoke with M and A who called in by Skype from Malaysia.
S and I went to the Groper and His Missus at Carrara for lunch. (I'm still wondering about the Groper - I think it may be a chain? Franchise?When I was looking for their number on the internet the other day I saw there were a couple of other stores with the same name in other Australian states.)
I finally got round to having a go on ROM this afternoon - and was incredibly disappointed with the result. One side of the deck is down and rather than a neatly manicured lawn, I produced a bad '70's hair cut with furrows/terraces. Hmmmm. Luckily when I looked under the mower as I was air-blowing it down (an absolute "must" after every mowing intervention) I saw that the lever holding that side of the deck up had come away. So off I went to Bunnings to buy what I thought was a kotter pin but which the helpful gentleman at the store's entrance advised me was actually an "R" clip - a kotter pin only holds pedals on a bicycle. But it did the trick - as I realised when I looked at the photograph I had taken to show a professional in case I needed to - it did look like an R.
We went to the Markets.
We spoke with M and A who called in by Skype from Malaysia.
S and I went to the Groper and His Missus at Carrara for lunch. (I'm still wondering about the Groper - I think it may be a chain? Franchise?When I was looking for their number on the internet the other day I saw there were a couple of other stores with the same name in other Australian states.)
I finally got round to having a go on ROM this afternoon - and was incredibly disappointed with the result. One side of the deck is down and rather than a neatly manicured lawn, I produced a bad '70's hair cut with furrows/terraces. Hmmmm. Luckily when I looked under the mower as I was air-blowing it down (an absolute "must" after every mowing intervention) I saw that the lever holding that side of the deck up had come away. So off I went to Bunnings to buy what I thought was a kotter pin but which the helpful gentleman at the store's entrance advised me was actually an "R" clip - a kotter pin only holds pedals on a bicycle. But it did the trick - as I realised when I looked at the photograph I had taken to show a professional in case I needed to - it did look like an R.
S had a quiet afternoon - well, as quiet as one can when the ride-on mower is doing its thing. Unfortunately her tooth abscess has returned and she is doping herself up with painkillers (left over from the last time a couple of months ago). It's not yet bad enough for her to see a doctor to get some antibiotics and hopefully she will be able to get in early tomorrow to see the dentist to have it seen to. Pain is no fun.
M picked up the Great K from the airport this afternoon. He has been home for two weeks during his semester break - and has come back a week early (as planned) to get ready for his practical clinical sessions. He toted a whole heap of books back with him - but I don't think that's the reason he misplaced his phone either at the airport or on the plane. It made it interesting since M was waiting for him to call to complete the pick-up - but in the end he rang his mother in Sydney to ring M to let her know that this particular eagle had landed!!
And speaking of eagles, which they aren't, the swallow is still sitting on the nest - and Beasley is still sitting under it.
Saturday
Even though it's Saturday, because it was a holiday yesterday, it doesn't feel like Saturday. But we did one of the normal Saturday things - Breakfast at Sisters with Pearl. And with Mouse - although she didn't bring Prince (who she is looking after while M and A are away overseas). It was a good breakfast even though Coffee Sisters was busier than it usually it. It was filler with bikers - actually cyclists. It looks as though they spend a fortune on their kit - Lycra, special shoes, Lycra, helmets - and then there's their bikes!
Then S and I were off to SeaWorld. We had missed the dolphin Show when we went with Little H - we were too late for the first show that day (it was a Markets Day) and we missed the second show because H was on the high playground (winning my award for his determination and "not-backing-downness" for the day) but it wasn't an issue as we had purchased yearly passes which meant we could go back anytime. And today was the day.
We were lucky enough to catch the first show at Dolphin Cove, and then sauntered in to have a look at Shark Bay, and then back to Polar Shores to watch one of the polar bears have fish for lunch. Who would have guessed that the bears don't eat the heads!!!!
Then it was on to Carrara to pick up the Sydney Morning Herald which S is still reading on a Saturday (she and M read "The Two of Us") - and which I was able to leave her at home with while I finally took myself off to the cinema to see "Rise of the Planet of the Apes". I think it may say something about my current state of mind (thankfully not enduring) that I was extra pleased to see the human race decimated / all but wiped out. I can't wait for "Contagion" to hit the screens!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Friday
It's 7:20 and all the cats are in! Lock-down could be achieved incredibly early today - especially since it's 7:20 am so that's not going to happen right away. So what else to do today?
Clean out Lars' boot. Check.
Prepare DVD files for the Great K. Check.
Breakfast at Broadbeach. Check.
Grocery shopping. Check.
Unsuccessfully try to decide what to do for the rest of the day. Check.
It's Show Day on the Coast and while it hasn't started to rain yet (as predicted/suggested) it may at any time. I am of two minds about whether to go to the Show or not - I have been a little put off by the thought of spending $20 for admission (which is okay) plus $10 for parking. Why it might be okay to park in the Show's VIP parking area - our work parking lot - there is no guarantee they would let us - even though our Site Manager has had a word with them. I don't have to make a decision about it just yet - the Show is still on tomorrow and the next day - and we don't have any plans for the rest of the weekend yet.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Thursday
After what turned out to be a very long day at work (I arrived and left at the usual times but it did seem to drag on and on and on), I met S and M at Zarraffas at Nerang for a coffee. Of course, going there is nothing new because I often go there after work and on my way home, but I usually don't have company - except for the other customers. It's nice to have S and M along for a change.
They had been to the post office and picked up the cable for the treadmill. We will see about putting that together tomorrow.
There were three new speed bumps on the way down the lane this afternoon - well, that's what M called them as we drove past her three dogs guarding the road ... I had just called them the Bovva Boys - because they looked as though they were in the mood to pass on some grief.
After a quick visit home to do the animals, S and I made our way to Robina for shopping and some dinner at a little Malaysian restaurant we have found there. I didn't actually feel like Malaysian food for dinner but I had told S it was her choice tonight - so I chose to honor that even though she suggested we could go somewhere else. Despite that, it was very nice and although S wouldn't have the curry chicken again, I would.
Tomorrow is Show Day so it's a public holiday here on the Gold Coast and it's more than likely to be wet - "we haven't had a dry Show Day in years" the woman serving me at the Bakery told me this morning - and S confirmed the very good likelihood of rain tomorrow from the Weather app on her iPhone. If this is so, this means I may be able to have a "today I'm doing nothing at all" day - just like the song currently doing the rounds suggests - except I want to go to the tip, get the new treadmill up and running, clean some files off my computer, do some physical sorting and filing and general tidying of my desk area, maybe get around to doing my tax (only two years' worth) and maybe even squeeze in breakfast and a visit to the ocean and perhaps a trip to the Show to see the Woodchop. Yep, nothing at all!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday
Can you believe it is the last day of Winter? Even though it turned a little overcast this afternoon (not the reason there was no mowing here again) we had temperatures of at least 22 degrees Celsius throughout the day - and some great sunshine. Of course, sunshine is no good if you're stuck in an office all day but at least the others were in a position to enjoy it - in between their various engagements which included, but were not limited to: coffee at Zarraffas, shopping at K-Mart (thank you for my new pants S!), coffee at the Southport Bingo Club (not it's real name but it might as well be), Bingo (where S won $20), and a Happy Bayram lunch at Mi and F's.
I joined them at Mi and F's after I finished work. I wanted to get there much earlier (and do my doctor's appointment after lunch there) but there was no chance of escaping work because we were trying to work out some problems we were having with "retention" (a common part of the construction billing and payment process ). I think I know what's going on - but for it to be accepted I have to "know" and be able to show it to my contracts manager - but it's proving quite difficult. The sum total of the variance is $170 approx and I reckon between the four of us who have now had anything to do with trying to sort it out - we have spent much more than that looking for it. Ah well, maybe we will have better luck tomorrow. (Hope so because we need to have it sorted in time to do some paperwork and have it away in the courier at lunchtime.)
If I had been there as planned, I would have seen M and A when they Skyped in from Malaysia where they too are celebrating Bayram - "with 9,000 of their closest friends" as M said - and then hurriedly adding that it was others at the same mosque as them.
Afterwards M took S home for animal feeding and so Emma could have her shot on time. I stayed on to finish my cup of tea and had just stood up to leave (over an hour later - it was a good cup of tea) when the doorbell rang and it was M returning to drop off some balm for F's back. Not sure what he's done to it but it's sore and he's sure it's muscular.
Then it was on to the Big House for a spot of CSP - where the jackpot is now over $270,000 and still worth playing for. I'm not sure if our dealer (hello Michelle) had had a bad day or was just "over" the Big House but despite M's best efforts (and she did try really hard) she would not be ... personable. It's a shame too because the mood of the dealer really affects the mood of the table - and even if you walk away without your money, if you've had a "good" game, you're happy (well, happier).
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