M was just about to switch the water over from tank to bore but given the amount of rain that's been falling in the last little while, we may be on tank for a bit longer.
The weather bureau had predicted storms and the thunder and lightening (very very frightening) and the rain happening outside at the moment certainly fits the bill. This goes a long way to explaining the humidity and general mugginess of the day. It would have been okay if we hadn't been locked out of the Turf Club for this morning's Markets and had to congregate in the car park. It was fine up to a point - when the sun came out - and then it was unbearable and, almost as one, we got up to leave.
We needed another plan of action though, because N was due to arrive in time for lunch and we had decided that we would have a group lunch - somewhere near water - so while Mi and F went off in one direction, S and I followed Mouse home and settled in to wait with her - filling in time chatting and doing some of her puzzles (getting a jump on next week's while still leaving those due this week undone on the kitchen bench ... we had spent some time this morning trying to work out a fairly elusive one - which M finally managed to crack).
Bumbles at Budd's Beach was great - although we all noticed the service wasn't up to its usual high standard. "No tip" said Mi almost right from the start, and nothing happened during taking of orders or service, for her mantra to change. And, she told M, you're not to give them a tip on the side. But service notwithstanding, it was a great meal and the food was up to its usual high standard. I'd like to say we all spent some time looking at the water, and while the others may have before Mi drove E home, we didn't as we wanted to get back to Mouse's to drop her off and for M to get her car so she could go off to her next appointment.
It was good to come home though, to check that Tinker was still okay, and to spend some time with Pearl and the other furries. It seems that we do spend some time away from them on the weekend and I think (although it may just be projection) that they must get a bit lonely.
It was also good to have the opportunity to sit down and do some more work on my tax - and to get some figures for S who is going to lodge her return electronically tomorrow - as long as I have given her all the figures I need to from our joint dealings.
The animals must have heard the storm coming before us because when I started looking around for them once the thunder started - they were either nowhere to be found, or they could be found only if you were looking in the right places for them. Pearl had put herself down in the linen area, Beazley was hovering (not literally) near his food bowl (and no that water on the floor was not from him!!! It was from the leak above the hall cupboard), Maggie was hiding down the back between the book case and the boards leaning against them .... and Tink ... well, I know Tink is somewhere but I still haven't found her. I have a feeling she might be in the shed or in the carport (under one of the cars) but I'm not going out to check until the rain slows a little.
I hope it's not so wet that they cancel our work Community Day project tomorrow - I was quite looking forward to spending the day taking photographs of our team at work landscaping the yards of a local kindergarten - rather than driving a computer for the day.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday
There was an old Australian movie called Sunday Too Far Away and even though it was only yesterday, Saturday really seems as though it is now "too far away" to remember. This is one of the problems of fitting in quite a few things in the one day - for some of us, anyway, it does all tend to meld into one and seem to shift to different days. But no, everything we fitted in to yesterday, including several hours at The Big House when we tried to win, but failed dismally, the $40,000 on offer in the all-members draw.
Of course, some of us had bigger days than others - including M who was up half the night with Tinker - the same Tinker who had helped her cut down the surplus banana trees yesterday afternoon long after Pearl had made her way back down to the house. We think it was while she was helping that Tink picked up the tick that caused her to be very unwell last night. Just as well she was inside - and sleeping in the same room as M so that she heard it when Tink started to be sick. M spent the next few hours tending to her - finding and taking the tick out and then monitoring her until she drank water on her own again - a sign that she was starting to recover. Tink is nothing if not feisty and it is a real puzzle as to how M could have been chasing her around the house, turning on all the lights, calling the emergency vet, and then sitting up with Tink and the other animals until nearly 5 o'clock this morning without S or I having heard a thing.
Yesterday morning gave no inkling of the drama it held in store. Being Saturday, young Pearl knew that it was her day out for breakfast - but she was still excited when it was time to jump in the car and go off to Coffee Sisters - where they had entered into the spirit of the end of the month and the only-a-couple-of-days-away Halloween to dress up the cafe and themselves. The most intriguing was the Holy Cow costume - which S deciphered first.
Then off to the Dog Park for a walk with Mouse (who had also come to breakfast) - and we passed quite a large family playing there - with the female-adult looking very familiar but with my lack of recognition of facial features - we will never know who it was. M and Mouse were concentrating on their beautiful yellow labrador puppy at the time so we may never know.
Back at Latimers, M did the banana tree before setting off for The Big House to swipe our cards for the draw (a kind gesture so none of us would need to wait in line), and we followed a bit later, picking up Mouse. We met F and Mi there - so it was a bit like Friday Family n Friends dinner - but at lunchtime, and at a different location. Everyone was in good form - and we even managed to get in a few hands of CSP ($327k and climbing - but the question is whether the shemozzle that is the new parking at the Casino will deter the average punter from going and adding to The Big House coffers). We didn't manage to win the draw but the woman who did was fairly excited - it's a while since I've heard such screams of delight.
S and I came home after the draw, but M drove Mouse home and they then took Prince for a walk. Mouse is keeping up Prince's exercise program right to the end (M and A are due back on Wednesday) and while he has been looking fairly trim, taut and terrific there was a minor set-back yesterday - when young Prince climbed onto the table and proceeded to demolish some "dinners" Mouse had prepared for Pearl. Now Pearl is several times the dog Prince is - so it was a bit surprising that he managed to eat the whole container - with the equivalent of three-Pearl-suppers. It was a wonder he didn't explode on the spot - because according to Mouse and M you could see where it might happen - his girth had increased significantly in the few minutes they didn't see him as he wolfed down the "snack". Just as well Pearl won't hear about it otherwise she might be tempted to eat Prince (not really) to get her dinners back.
Of course, some of us had bigger days than others - including M who was up half the night with Tinker - the same Tinker who had helped her cut down the surplus banana trees yesterday afternoon long after Pearl had made her way back down to the house. We think it was while she was helping that Tink picked up the tick that caused her to be very unwell last night. Just as well she was inside - and sleeping in the same room as M so that she heard it when Tink started to be sick. M spent the next few hours tending to her - finding and taking the tick out and then monitoring her until she drank water on her own again - a sign that she was starting to recover. Tink is nothing if not feisty and it is a real puzzle as to how M could have been chasing her around the house, turning on all the lights, calling the emergency vet, and then sitting up with Tink and the other animals until nearly 5 o'clock this morning without S or I having heard a thing.
Yesterday morning gave no inkling of the drama it held in store. Being Saturday, young Pearl knew that it was her day out for breakfast - but she was still excited when it was time to jump in the car and go off to Coffee Sisters - where they had entered into the spirit of the end of the month and the only-a-couple-of-days-away Halloween to dress up the cafe and themselves. The most intriguing was the Holy Cow costume - which S deciphered first.
Then off to the Dog Park for a walk with Mouse (who had also come to breakfast) - and we passed quite a large family playing there - with the female-adult looking very familiar but with my lack of recognition of facial features - we will never know who it was. M and Mouse were concentrating on their beautiful yellow labrador puppy at the time so we may never know.
Back at Latimers, M did the banana tree before setting off for The Big House to swipe our cards for the draw (a kind gesture so none of us would need to wait in line), and we followed a bit later, picking up Mouse. We met F and Mi there - so it was a bit like Friday Family n Friends dinner - but at lunchtime, and at a different location. Everyone was in good form - and we even managed to get in a few hands of CSP ($327k and climbing - but the question is whether the shemozzle that is the new parking at the Casino will deter the average punter from going and adding to The Big House coffers). We didn't manage to win the draw but the woman who did was fairly excited - it's a while since I've heard such screams of delight.
S and I came home after the draw, but M drove Mouse home and they then took Prince for a walk. Mouse is keeping up Prince's exercise program right to the end (M and A are due back on Wednesday) and while he has been looking fairly trim, taut and terrific there was a minor set-back yesterday - when young Prince climbed onto the table and proceeded to demolish some "dinners" Mouse had prepared for Pearl. Now Pearl is several times the dog Prince is - so it was a bit surprising that he managed to eat the whole container - with the equivalent of three-Pearl-suppers. It was a wonder he didn't explode on the spot - because according to Mouse and M you could see where it might happen - his girth had increased significantly in the few minutes they didn't see him as he wolfed down the "snack". Just as well Pearl won't hear about it otherwise she might be tempted to eat Prince (not really) to get her dinners back.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday
Family and a Friends dinner was a Mi and F's tonight and this week it was S who missed out after valiantly offering to stay at home and keep an eye on Beazley after he may have had a mixup with his insulin. He was fine though and there was no reason for anyone to suggest that his time could be up - and yes everyone knew they were joking - in bad taste but joking nonetheless. He seems to have not minded the extra attention - except perhaps when he was up on the couch next to S and every time he drifted off to sleep, S would pat him to make sure he was okay. He was, and is.
I was late to dinner - which was countered by M being early so it all balances out. And dinner was lovely: Mi had made noodles with fresh green things from M and A's garden - very nice and extremely tasty. And S didn't miss out as Mi sent home a care package with noodles and a very yummy bread and butter pudding.
It looks like formal Family and Friends dinner might be dropping back to once a fortnight, but with the option of those who still want to being able to get together - but people are not to feel they can't do other things - on the "off" night if they want to.
By the time M and I (me via the Post Office to check the mail) arrived home, S was still up and keeping a close eye on Beazley. It was lucky he was sitting up with her - in some ways - but not for him because every time he went to sleep, she would nudge him to see if he was still okay.
The other furries - except for Tink - were in - and even though it seemed as though she was trying, she couldn't hide from M who finally found her curled up on one of the seats at the outside setting down the back. Lock-down achieved.
I was late to dinner - which was countered by M being early so it all balances out. And dinner was lovely: Mi had made noodles with fresh green things from M and A's garden - very nice and extremely tasty. And S didn't miss out as Mi sent home a care package with noodles and a very yummy bread and butter pudding.
It looks like formal Family and Friends dinner might be dropping back to once a fortnight, but with the option of those who still want to being able to get together - but people are not to feel they can't do other things - on the "off" night if they want to.
By the time M and I (me via the Post Office to check the mail) arrived home, S was still up and keeping a close eye on Beazley. It was lucky he was sitting up with her - in some ways - but not for him because every time he went to sleep, she would nudge him to see if he was still okay.
The other furries - except for Tink - were in - and even though it seemed as though she was trying, she couldn't hide from M who finally found her curled up on one of the seats at the outside setting down the back. Lock-down achieved.
Thursday
S was back at court today but won't be tomorrow as the judge has a prior commitment - and without a judge, there is no trial day.
As I waited for S outside the CourtHouse, I was entertained by a person outside the Courthouse - not someone you would want to take home it only because of the incessant stream of profanities. I'm not sure that I didn't learn a new word or two. The real question is why anyone would stay on the other end of a telephone listening to this type of tirade rather than just getting on with their life. Or why it was nigh on impossible to stop listening about Jess and the visit to the nightclub and how the person at the other end of the phone had "transgressed" - with lots of expletives.
Then it was off to The Big House for us for dinner and to watch M in the Semifinal of the Fastest Finger (not what they are calling it) promotion. Rather than doing it on who placed in the individual heats, the finalists were being chosen for top score. To stand a chance of getting into the top 15 spots by the time M's turn to play came, you needed a score of more than 40,000 points - which no-one in M's heat nor the heat before had reached. We stayed to watch the next one and only one of those went through - although the person who was still playing a feature when time was called managed to skyrocket up from 35,000 but missed out by 200 points. Bad luck for her but the person she didn't displace was probably fairly happy!
We had a nice dinner at the Big House and we all seemed to enjoy our meals -even S - who found some string in hers. She was vey understanding about it and wouldn't have complained - and didn't: M let the Manager know - just in case everyone wanted one - which is how S managed to get her dinner "on the house"!
We were home fairly early and had to be because The Slap is still on and S didn't want to miss it. I did watch some of it but I think I've missed too much of it now not to go back to the beginning!
As I waited for S outside the CourtHouse, I was entertained by a person outside the Courthouse - not someone you would want to take home it only because of the incessant stream of profanities. I'm not sure that I didn't learn a new word or two. The real question is why anyone would stay on the other end of a telephone listening to this type of tirade rather than just getting on with their life. Or why it was nigh on impossible to stop listening about Jess and the visit to the nightclub and how the person at the other end of the phone had "transgressed" - with lots of expletives.
Then it was off to The Big House for us for dinner and to watch M in the Semifinal of the Fastest Finger (not what they are calling it) promotion. Rather than doing it on who placed in the individual heats, the finalists were being chosen for top score. To stand a chance of getting into the top 15 spots by the time M's turn to play came, you needed a score of more than 40,000 points - which no-one in M's heat nor the heat before had reached. We stayed to watch the next one and only one of those went through - although the person who was still playing a feature when time was called managed to skyrocket up from 35,000 but missed out by 200 points. Bad luck for her but the person she didn't displace was probably fairly happy!
We had a nice dinner at the Big House and we all seemed to enjoy our meals -even S - who found some string in hers. She was vey understanding about it and wouldn't have complained - and didn't: M let the Manager know - just in case everyone wanted one - which is how S managed to get her dinner "on the house"!
We were home fairly early and had to be because The Slap is still on and S didn't want to miss it. I did watch some of it but I think I've missed too much of it now not to go back to the beginning!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday
S is still on jury duty and it is not proving easy for her. Poor thing. But we don't have an acceptable alternative for the current judicial/ljustice system, however imperfect, and if you were going to have anyone on your jury you would want it to be S. But it is difficult especially as she is one of those folks who process things by talking about them and she isn't able to discuss the case outside of the court. Only a few more days to go, she thinks, and then they will need to decide on the fate of the defendant-and the claimant. Unfortunately we live in a society where there is little chance of a win-win in these situations.
Beazley was back to the vet today for another glucose curve and his insulin shot has been reduced to 5. They want to see him again next week to do the 5:30 afternoon reading just before his evening insulin again and then they will decide where to go from there. Hopefully they will get this sorted soon, although we have to admit that it does seem to be doing him good. He seems a bit calmer than he used to be, and a little more affectionate.
S and I arrived home just in time for me to leap into M's car for the drive to the Big House where she had a draw this evening - and it was quite exciting to watch 15 people on "identical" poker machines, all intent on doing Frantic Finger First - to get the highest scores in the initial heats and make it through to the Semifinals. M did well - first in her heat - she will be back in tomorrow night to compete again and hopefully win that heat and get through to the Grand Final.
Dinner tonight was at Spinners and it was good, especially since there was also the equivalent of a floor show by our server whose birthday is tomorrow and he was Mainf a lot if his ageing aches and pains! The people at the table next to us gifted him a Vanilla Slice.
Beazley was back to the vet today for another glucose curve and his insulin shot has been reduced to 5. They want to see him again next week to do the 5:30 afternoon reading just before his evening insulin again and then they will decide where to go from there. Hopefully they will get this sorted soon, although we have to admit that it does seem to be doing him good. He seems a bit calmer than he used to be, and a little more affectionate.
S and I arrived home just in time for me to leap into M's car for the drive to the Big House where she had a draw this evening - and it was quite exciting to watch 15 people on "identical" poker machines, all intent on doing Frantic Finger First - to get the highest scores in the initial heats and make it through to the Semifinals. M did well - first in her heat - she will be back in tomorrow night to compete again and hopefully win that heat and get through to the Grand Final.
Dinner tonight was at Spinners and it was good, especially since there was also the equivalent of a floor show by our server whose birthday is tomorrow and he was Mainf a lot if his ageing aches and pains! The people at the table next to us gifted him a Vanilla Slice.
Tuesday
S and I had the same idea for dinner this evening - at the Main Beach Surf Club so we could look out at the water as we ate. It was a lovely tonic to the day and would certainly be something we would recommend to all and sundry for clearing out the cobwebs... and as a venue for dinner at the next full moon to watch the moon rise out of the ocean. The food was great. We treated ourselves to the seafood platter for two which was loaded with enough seafood, salad, fruit and fries to satisfy most people. We, I think, did well to finish it and were surprised when our server told us she had seen a similar platter completely devoured - down to the last lettuce leaf - by one man. He must have been hungry!
It's good when you're both right. M managed to get the belt back on ROM - and yes it was the old problem - but not the one I'd ever seen where the belt needs to be laced back on the right way. ROM fixed she then finished (properly) the mowing I'd started the other day. There's no doubt about it - the lawn does took great when it's had a good cut!
Beazley was back to the vet this afternoon and his BGL was under 5. This means he is fairly low - and is either eating too much during the day - on the days when someone is home with him - or he's gone into remission with the "jolt of insulin" which apparently has happened with other cats at the practice. M has to take him back tomorrow for another glucose curve - this time without having his morning insulin shot so they can try to better gauge what's happening.
It's good when you're both right. M managed to get the belt back on ROM - and yes it was the old problem - but not the one I'd ever seen where the belt needs to be laced back on the right way. ROM fixed she then finished (properly) the mowing I'd started the other day. There's no doubt about it - the lawn does took great when it's had a good cut!
Beazley was back to the vet this afternoon and his BGL was under 5. This means he is fairly low - and is either eating too much during the day - on the days when someone is home with him - or he's gone into remission with the "jolt of insulin" which apparently has happened with other cats at the practice. M has to take him back tomorrow for another glucose curve - this time without having his morning insulin shot so they can try to better gauge what's happening.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday
I know why the rest of me is sore but what about my buttocks?!? It had me puzzled until someone said it was more likely the muscles at the top of the backs of my legs. Just like Pearl when she helped M with the branches the other day.
I managed to get to OfficeWorks today- I had to pick S up from downtown Southport so I took the opportunity to get in there early and do a quick circuit of the store. I had fngotten how much I love stationery and associated items and surprisingly, I managed to walk out of the store after parting with less than $15; for four erasable pens and a convertible pen - according to its barrel, it used to be a toner cartridge.
S was fairly exhausted after her day out which included paying close attention to detail for a good few hours. I think she was as happy as I to reach Zarraffa's-my usual afternoon chill-out zone.
The furries seemed very happy to see us when we finally arrived home-and while away Tinker came out to meet us, there was no sign of Pearl. When S asked where's the watchdog?"I did catch a glimpse of her _sitting on the other side of the glass sliding door doing what a good watch dog does... watching. She did come out when we called her, but I am used to a bit more enthusiasm from her - hopefully this doesn't mean she's still sore.
M wasn't home in daylightso the ROM will have to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully the mowing I did yesterday will be enough to deter any slitherin's who want to come calling.
As I was taking the rubbish and recyclng up to the road this evening, I realised how grateful I was to have seen the deceased snake other than in the half light of dusk when I was unhooking the Otto bins (why are they called Otto bins?)from the Land Rover! Folks would have heard my screams from Southport.
Is more rain on the way? The Kookaburra colony down the back was in fine, and full, voice this afternoon so it's possible, although the sky was a brilliant red - Shepherd's delight - so maybe not. The Weather forecast says rain tonight, fine tomorrow. (We'll see if they're right. )
I managed to get to OfficeWorks today- I had to pick S up from downtown Southport so I took the opportunity to get in there early and do a quick circuit of the store. I had fngotten how much I love stationery and associated items and surprisingly, I managed to walk out of the store after parting with less than $15; for four erasable pens and a convertible pen - according to its barrel, it used to be a toner cartridge.
S was fairly exhausted after her day out which included paying close attention to detail for a good few hours. I think she was as happy as I to reach Zarraffa's-my usual afternoon chill-out zone.
The furries seemed very happy to see us when we finally arrived home-and while away Tinker came out to meet us, there was no sign of Pearl. When S asked where's the watchdog?"I did catch a glimpse of her _sitting on the other side of the glass sliding door doing what a good watch dog does... watching. She did come out when we called her, but I am used to a bit more enthusiasm from her - hopefully this doesn't mean she's still sore.
M wasn't home in daylightso the ROM will have to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully the mowing I did yesterday will be enough to deter any slitherin's who want to come calling.
As I was taking the rubbish and recyclng up to the road this evening, I realised how grateful I was to have seen the deceased snake other than in the half light of dusk when I was unhooking the Otto bins (why are they called Otto bins?)from the Land Rover! Folks would have heard my screams from Southport.
Is more rain on the way? The Kookaburra colony down the back was in fine, and full, voice this afternoon so it's possible, although the sky was a brilliant red - Shepherd's delight - so maybe not. The Weather forecast says rain tonight, fine tomorrow. (We'll see if they're right. )
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday
The day started as usual with an early start, a stint on the walking machine, a Milo and then the Sunday Skype call with T is Sydney. She is using Tabby (her Android tablet) and because she doesn't yet have a headset the conversation quality (just technically) is sometimes a bit patchy.
S had made a fruit salad for everyone for breakfast and that was very nice - a real treat and a good first course as I was looking forward to Pide at the Markets as well (for my carb hit). That was almost more than I had bargained for ... today's chili variety was much hotter than last week's jalapeño version. it was N and V's first time back at the Markets since their return from their overseas travels - and the chili have N the hiccups. This is the first time I have seen this reaction to spicy food - usually it's a running nose and profuse sweating. But the Pide was good - and I was determined to have a second piece - which was still quite hot even though I had scraped all the filling from it.
After seeing the snake (albeit dead) yesterday, it was definitely time to cut the grass - an exercise that was interrupted the other afternoon when the belt came off ROM while M was mowing. I really should have looked at it then rather than while she was out because I couldn't get it back on. I think it's a different problem but will need M to confirm that tomorrow. If it is, then we may need both of it to re-thread it - I tried but really needed to be a contortionist or to have a third hand. But notwithstanding that small problem, the mowing still needed to be done so I pulled out the push mower. Luckily I had listened when M told me how to start it - although until it actually did (start) I was a little dubious. And just as well it did start easily enough because I had to keep restarting it because each time the grass-catcher filled - and that was every 15 steps or so, the mower would stop. I'm sure that's a safety feature but it was fairly annoying.
We didn't go into The Big House to watch the Rugby Final with Mi and F. Or to have a swim - although I was tempted by this - and would have gone except for the mowing. But if we had we would have missed Junior MasterChef - yes, we could have taped it but it wouldn't have been the same.
S had made a fruit salad for everyone for breakfast and that was very nice - a real treat and a good first course as I was looking forward to Pide at the Markets as well (for my carb hit). That was almost more than I had bargained for ... today's chili variety was much hotter than last week's jalapeño version. it was N and V's first time back at the Markets since their return from their overseas travels - and the chili have N the hiccups. This is the first time I have seen this reaction to spicy food - usually it's a running nose and profuse sweating. But the Pide was good - and I was determined to have a second piece - which was still quite hot even though I had scraped all the filling from it.
After seeing the snake (albeit dead) yesterday, it was definitely time to cut the grass - an exercise that was interrupted the other afternoon when the belt came off ROM while M was mowing. I really should have looked at it then rather than while she was out because I couldn't get it back on. I think it's a different problem but will need M to confirm that tomorrow. If it is, then we may need both of it to re-thread it - I tried but really needed to be a contortionist or to have a third hand. But notwithstanding that small problem, the mowing still needed to be done so I pulled out the push mower. Luckily I had listened when M told me how to start it - although until it actually did (start) I was a little dubious. And just as well it did start easily enough because I had to keep restarting it because each time the grass-catcher filled - and that was every 15 steps or so, the mower would stop. I'm sure that's a safety feature but it was fairly annoying.
We didn't go into The Big House to watch the Rugby Final with Mi and F. Or to have a swim - although I was tempted by this - and would have gone except for the mowing. But if we had we would have missed Junior MasterChef - yes, we could have taped it but it wouldn't have been the same.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Saturday
Saturday - and once again we left the house without Pearl - and we know that she knows that it's Saturday. Still, because we had planned to go to Brisbane for the Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibition, we couldn't bring her along with us. Even if we had been staying on the Coast she might still have had to stay home - she wouldn't be able to jump up into the car the way her legs are at the moment.
But M did remember to bring her back a treat - some breakfast sausage From The Outpost Cafe, Canungra, because the soup from lunch would have been just a little difficult to fit in her handbag.
The iPad maps application (and M - thanks for driving) did a marvellous job of getting us to the Queensland Art Gallery. This is the first time S or I have been there and it was quite incredible - with lovely water features - which you need to watch out for because both S and independently turned a corner and almost walked into one. But the set-up was good, well thought out - and the Cartier-Bresson exhibition, partly curated by the man himself the year before he died, was magnificent. He was a master with light and shade - and knowing what the "decisive moment" was - when you know something is going to happen and. Or make sure you have the wherewithall to capture it. The other great thing about the exhibition was the technology - you could download a free app (using the free WiFi in the gallery) or use the UpCode which opened a URL with a video commentary of various pieces in the exhibition. Brilliant.
We tracked our course throughout the day on FB which just seemed to be about coffee and food - but that's only because we had to be near or at places to "check-in". We did things that didn't involve food like going to Woolworths (okay, that was milk, ice cream and breadrolls), the newsagent (Sydney Morning Herald and M's Lotto entry), and a tour of the Scenic Rim and Beaudesert.
As we drove in to the lane, M stopped the car to move a branch (a casualty of last week's storm) off the road. As she did that I noticed the snake on the other side of the road - it wasn't moving and it did turn out to be dead - some kind of puncture mark on its neck. This means it's really time to get the belt back on ROM and get the grass cut around the house.
But M did remember to bring her back a treat - some breakfast sausage From The Outpost Cafe, Canungra, because the soup from lunch would have been just a little difficult to fit in her handbag.
The iPad maps application (and M - thanks for driving) did a marvellous job of getting us to the Queensland Art Gallery. This is the first time S or I have been there and it was quite incredible - with lovely water features - which you need to watch out for because both S and independently turned a corner and almost walked into one. But the set-up was good, well thought out - and the Cartier-Bresson exhibition, partly curated by the man himself the year before he died, was magnificent. He was a master with light and shade - and knowing what the "decisive moment" was - when you know something is going to happen and. Or make sure you have the wherewithall to capture it. The other great thing about the exhibition was the technology - you could download a free app (using the free WiFi in the gallery) or use the UpCode which opened a URL with a video commentary of various pieces in the exhibition. Brilliant.
We tracked our course throughout the day on FB which just seemed to be about coffee and food - but that's only because we had to be near or at places to "check-in". We did things that didn't involve food like going to Woolworths (okay, that was milk, ice cream and breadrolls), the newsagent (Sydney Morning Herald and M's Lotto entry), and a tour of the Scenic Rim and Beaudesert.
As we drove in to the lane, M stopped the car to move a branch (a casualty of last week's storm) off the road. As she did that I noticed the snake on the other side of the road - it wasn't moving and it did turn out to be dead - some kind of puncture mark on its neck. This means it's really time to get the belt back on ROM and get the grass cut around the house.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Friday
The 600 Race this weekend will not have a fly-over, or is that fly-past?, but there was one today. I had been tempted to slip out of work to go down to the Gold Coast Seaway to watch the four jets come in and then start their track down the coast - but in the end decided not to - becauseby then it was whether it was worth going up to Noosa to watch the twenty jets fly over - because they weren't supposed to be coming this far down. Well, the Gold Coast Bulletin was wrong - and they did come all the way down - the original four plus the 16 or so new jets, just arrived from the US. Mouse saw them though and they were good. Not sure why we didn't hear the second lot come through - may be because we weren't expecting them. Although if they had been anything like the ones that used to zoom past when we lived on the Coast when I was a teenager, you would have been able to hear the bang of the sonic boom as they broke the sound barrier.
I was ready to conk out by the time I arrived home this afternoon (is it tsetse fly season?) so I made an executive decision to get a "pass"on Family and Friends dinner tonight. It was a shame too because we were going to try out the new Vegetarian restaurant in Broadbeach - in fact, the others still did and enjoyed it very much; but then, it looked more than okay when we went in to book it the other evening.
Pearl is still sore today - but not as, and I think she was glad to have the company this evening - not that I was around much ... after I kept falling asleep on the couch I finally capitulated and was in bed and asleep by 8:30pm.
I was ready to conk out by the time I arrived home this afternoon (is it tsetse fly season?) so I made an executive decision to get a "pass"on Family and Friends dinner tonight. It was a shame too because we were going to try out the new Vegetarian restaurant in Broadbeach - in fact, the others still did and enjoyed it very much; but then, it looked more than okay when we went in to book it the other evening.
Pearl is still sore today - but not as, and I think she was glad to have the company this evening - not that I was around much ... after I kept falling asleep on the couch I finally capitulated and was in bed and asleep by 8:30pm.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Thursday
Just for a change, I went to Maccas this afternoon (instead of Zarraffas) and was amazed to find it was under renovation with half of the building boarded up ... but it was still very much open for business. They say a change is as good as a holiday and it certainly did feel different - especially with what seemed to be very seemed different clientele. I didn't stay long though because there was mowing to be done. Or there would have been if the belt hadn't come off ROM while M was using it earlier.
It was a big yard day as Doug was here slashing the bottom paddock as well - and M was reportedly pulling fallen branches out of the way. I think there was also some burr pulling or was it that Pearl, while she was helping, had stood on burrs. Poor Pearl. Especially as she now appears to be limping. I've checked her for a tick (not sure if she was down in the long grass where the ticks live but it's best to check) but can't find one so we'll keep a close eye on her. Talking to M though it looks as though Pearl may have just done too much "helping" - dragging those branches and that makes sense because she would be using her back legs for traction and strength.
S received a message on FB today saying that N will be back up this way on the weekend - I think she mentioned she has a job interview - and it would certainly be good to have her back up this way rather than based on Canberra - as long as she can find the right role for the next step in her career. Anyway, we will be able to quiz her about that when she comes to the Markets on Sunday. (Well, I was close - seems it's actually next weekend.)
It was a bit odd not going out to dinner this evening and a couple of times I wondered how Trivia was going up at the local - of course, we don't play but it's always good to take the mind for a work-out!
It was a big yard day as Doug was here slashing the bottom paddock as well - and M was reportedly pulling fallen branches out of the way. I think there was also some burr pulling or was it that Pearl, while she was helping, had stood on burrs. Poor Pearl. Especially as she now appears to be limping. I've checked her for a tick (not sure if she was down in the long grass where the ticks live but it's best to check) but can't find one so we'll keep a close eye on her. Talking to M though it looks as though Pearl may have just done too much "helping" - dragging those branches and that makes sense because she would be using her back legs for traction and strength.
S received a message on FB today saying that N will be back up this way on the weekend - I think she mentioned she has a job interview - and it would certainly be good to have her back up this way rather than based on Canberra - as long as she can find the right role for the next step in her career. Anyway, we will be able to quiz her about that when she comes to the Markets on Sunday. (Well, I was close - seems it's actually next weekend.)
It was a bit odd not going out to dinner this evening and a couple of times I wondered how Trivia was going up at the local - of course, we don't play but it's always good to take the mind for a work-out!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Wednesday
No time to write proper sentences :)
J and I went out to Mr Sushi for lunch. Second lunch out this week. We had been being so organized staying in. Must try harder.
Met M at The Big House.
Walked across to Broadbeach to check out a possible venue for Friday night Family and Friends dinner - vegetarian - just opened.
Dinner at a little Thai place - Laksa - mild medium or hot - I said medium but I could have gone to hot as long as it wasn't too hot.
CSP up to $315,000 so we had to play. I was pretty excited to open one hand and find I had four of the five cards for a straight flush - but alas the other card I needed was with someone else at the table. Will have to keep trying.
J and I went out to Mr Sushi for lunch. Second lunch out this week. We had been being so organized staying in. Must try harder.
Met M at The Big House.
Walked across to Broadbeach to check out a possible venue for Friday night Family and Friends dinner - vegetarian - just opened.
Dinner at a little Thai place - Laksa - mild medium or hot - I said medium but I could have gone to hot as long as it wasn't too hot.
CSP up to $315,000 so we had to play. I was pretty excited to open one hand and find I had four of the five cards for a straight flush - but alas the other card I needed was with someone else at the table. Will have to keep trying.
Tuesday
Beazley went off to the vet again to have his glucose levels checked. He is running at 12.5 now which is a great result. He has to go back again next week - for a reading at 5:30pm not for an all-day glucose curve - and if he's the same then, he only needs to go back in a fortnight for the next check.
TRAFFIC HAZARD AHEAD says the flashy sign on the way to the river crossing - but what is it? I think I noticed it for the first time yesterday - or it might have been on Sunday (after the storm) but it is a mystery as to what the TRAFFIC HAZARD is.
Just for a change, S and I went out for dinner this evening and we stayed closer to home - at the Nerang RSL Club. We had heard they had a new chef - and a new menu - and thought it was worth trying out. It may have just been that S made the wrong choice - or that she is such an aficionado of Lamb Cutlets - but her meal didn't quite hit the mark. I, on the other hand, enjoyed my Chicken Korma Pie very much - even though it is something that I wouldn't normally have.
But before we went out for dinner, I met up with J after work for a coffee at Zarraffas at Crestwood Plaza to find out if things were looking up in her quarter. They are.
TRAFFIC HAZARD AHEAD says the flashy sign on the way to the river crossing - but what is it? I think I noticed it for the first time yesterday - or it might have been on Sunday (after the storm) but it is a mystery as to what the TRAFFIC HAZARD is.
Just for a change, S and I went out for dinner this evening and we stayed closer to home - at the Nerang RSL Club. We had heard they had a new chef - and a new menu - and thought it was worth trying out. It may have just been that S made the wrong choice - or that she is such an aficionado of Lamb Cutlets - but her meal didn't quite hit the mark. I, on the other hand, enjoyed my Chicken Korma Pie very much - even though it is something that I wouldn't normally have.
But before we went out for dinner, I met up with J after work for a coffee at Zarraffas at Crestwood Plaza to find out if things were looking up in her quarter. They are.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday
The inclement weather has not left us.
It's just as well I made that note on Monday because it's been so long I can't really remember what Monday had to offer - except rain by the looks of it - although not in the afternoon because I did some stick collection when I got back to Latimers - still cleaning up after the storm. there's still more to do though, and it will have to be done before either M or I can mow a meadow. (I have downloaded an App for the iPhone which is called Sunday Lawn - where the object is to mow lawns in the most efficient way - for those days when it's too wet or too dark to get on ROM.
Did I mention that the very pregnant Holly Horse has been taken off so she can be cared for while she has the foal. It should be any time now. She - they - will stay there for a while and even though we are sad we won't get to see the new-born foal, it is a good decision as M is still in hospital and L and C have their hands full already.
Sweetie is going to be moved into Holly's paddock - L is hoping that will give her a workout - and more strength - in getting up and down the hill. It will be strange to see her on that side of the road as we drive out of Latimers.
It's just as well I made that note on Monday because it's been so long I can't really remember what Monday had to offer - except rain by the looks of it - although not in the afternoon because I did some stick collection when I got back to Latimers - still cleaning up after the storm. there's still more to do though, and it will have to be done before either M or I can mow a meadow. (I have downloaded an App for the iPhone which is called Sunday Lawn - where the object is to mow lawns in the most efficient way - for those days when it's too wet or too dark to get on ROM.
Did I mention that the very pregnant Holly Horse has been taken off so she can be cared for while she has the foal. It should be any time now. She - they - will stay there for a while and even though we are sad we won't get to see the new-born foal, it is a good decision as M is still in hospital and L and C have their hands full already.
Sweetie is going to be moved into Holly's paddock - L is hoping that will give her a workout - and more strength - in getting up and down the hill. It will be strange to see her on that side of the road as we drive out of Latimers.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sunday
Surveying the damage from the storm - there are a couple of trees down and M said she will need to call someone in to get rid of the biggest fallen gum. But we'll be able to play "pick up sticks" around the house given the amount of shedding the tree did in the storm. We were told to keep an eye on Highland Park as we drove through there this morning - M had said how much damage there was there - almost like it had borne the full brunt of the storm. But the crews had obviously been very busy overnight because the area did not look like a disaster zone at all. It would also explain why it seemed that we could hear chainsaws throughout the night.
The Markets were good this morning - and even better because N was there too. Her presence definitely changed the calibre of the conversation - and we covered topics from the Wall Street sit-in to mining tax to economics and even the slave trade. We may have solved some of the economic woes of the world - and created others.
And, of course, we hoped that we would be able to make our own personal fortunes at The Big House this afternoon. There was $20 Casino Dollars guaranteed ... but we were hanging out for the $100,000 dollars up for grabs in this week's promotion. It was the same as last week, where you needed to be there to win if your name was drawn out of the barrel - and we were there from 2pm to 6:30pm, but alas, we didn't win the big one. In fact, as Sooz could have told us before we went there, she was fairly sure that no-one would end up with the $100,000 - but I don't think this will rollover until next week.
But we weren't as unlucky as J who was having a very difficult time with her younger daughter who turned 14 yesterday. It sounds as though R was totally out of control yesterday - and not much better today - and J can't wait for the limousine to come and collect them and take them away to Surfers Paradise for the next few hours.
We were happy enough to go home because there was still iOS 5 update work to be done and recorded television programs to watch (especially since there was no screen-based activities yesterday because of the blackout).
The Markets were good this morning - and even better because N was there too. Her presence definitely changed the calibre of the conversation - and we covered topics from the Wall Street sit-in to mining tax to economics and even the slave trade. We may have solved some of the economic woes of the world - and created others.
And, of course, we hoped that we would be able to make our own personal fortunes at The Big House this afternoon. There was $20 Casino Dollars guaranteed ... but we were hanging out for the $100,000 dollars up for grabs in this week's promotion. It was the same as last week, where you needed to be there to win if your name was drawn out of the barrel - and we were there from 2pm to 6:30pm, but alas, we didn't win the big one. In fact, as Sooz could have told us before we went there, she was fairly sure that no-one would end up with the $100,000 - but I don't think this will rollover until next week.
But we weren't as unlucky as J who was having a very difficult time with her younger daughter who turned 14 yesterday. It sounds as though R was totally out of control yesterday - and not much better today - and J can't wait for the limousine to come and collect them and take them away to Surfers Paradise for the next few hours.
We were happy enough to go home because there was still iOS 5 update work to be done and recorded television programs to watch (especially since there was no screen-based activities yesterday because of the blackout).
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Saturday
Not that there was ever any doubt about it but it looks like M is right and there is more activity in the nest - it looks as though there is a swallow sitting on eggs again - and not that long after the last ones left.
We did a late breakfast at Sisters - without Pearl again because it had been raining this morning and it wouldn't have worked for her. Alas, who knew that it would be a lovely day in at Broadbeach, so it would have been okay. But Mouse did join us for coffee - she had already been out and about and had dropped N at the station where she was met up with three of her friends. I think the plan was that they go to Brisbane for the day in hunt of suitable bridesmaid dresses for one if their number's wedding in April.
We had planned to go to Masters, the new giant homemaker and trade store in Nerang, but it was their Grand Opening (Who knew? There seemed to be nothing in the local paper!) and they were full - the car park was chockers with cars and witches hats - M rang us to let us know before we got there. So what else could we do but have coffee at Zarraffas before she headed off and S and I headed home?
It was just as well we had that second coffee too because there were no hot drinks back at Latimers once the storm hit - knocking out trees, damaging the stables down the road, and taking out the power for the next seven hours.
It is amazing how much we rely on electricity here at Latimers - for water (fresh, grey and waste) as well as lights. Luckily M has lots of artificial light on hand so that, together with my head-light and the torches meant we were my in the dark - and having the various iDevices meant we had portable media to keep us entertained for the duration of the blackout - S read and I watched "videos".
C, next door, was home alone when the storm hit and after making sure that all the windows were closed (I wish I had done that - who knew the French doors would blow open?) she spent some time watching the storm - and could report that at one point is was like a large whirlwind or small tornado.
We did a late breakfast at Sisters - without Pearl again because it had been raining this morning and it wouldn't have worked for her. Alas, who knew that it would be a lovely day in at Broadbeach, so it would have been okay. But Mouse did join us for coffee - she had already been out and about and had dropped N at the station where she was met up with three of her friends. I think the plan was that they go to Brisbane for the day in hunt of suitable bridesmaid dresses for one if their number's wedding in April.
We had planned to go to Masters, the new giant homemaker and trade store in Nerang, but it was their Grand Opening (Who knew? There seemed to be nothing in the local paper!) and they were full - the car park was chockers with cars and witches hats - M rang us to let us know before we got there. So what else could we do but have coffee at Zarraffas before she headed off and S and I headed home?
It was just as well we had that second coffee too because there were no hot drinks back at Latimers once the storm hit - knocking out trees, damaging the stables down the road, and taking out the power for the next seven hours.
It is amazing how much we rely on electricity here at Latimers - for water (fresh, grey and waste) as well as lights. Luckily M has lots of artificial light on hand so that, together with my head-light and the torches meant we were my in the dark - and having the various iDevices meant we had portable media to keep us entertained for the duration of the blackout - S read and I watched "videos".
C, next door, was home alone when the storm hit and after making sure that all the windows were closed (I wish I had done that - who knew the French doors would blow open?) she spent some time watching the storm - and could report that at one point is was like a large whirlwind or small tornado.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Friday
The track for the Gold Coast 600 is really starting to take shape and is starting to look like a real one. Mind you, this is not the first time we have seen the course under construction - we have had holidays up here a few times in October ... the time of car races and whales. One year we walked up the straight past Pit Lane and even though neither S nor I is really in to motor racing (even though S did work with the industry for a time) it was pretty incredible to know that within a short while, the race cars would soon be zooming around the area.
The grids are still marked on the road since last year's race - although the paint has faded making it a little reminiscent of the blue line which marked the marathon course for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. It's nice to know that the legacy - and the race lives on. It would probably be a good idea not to go into the area next weekend though - race day!!
Kelsey Grammer aka Frasier of the eponymous television series is rumoured to be on the Gold Coast for the weekend - to catch some sand, sea and surf and to attend a radio conference at The Big House. I think that's what I read anyway.
Dinner tonight, with N along as well, was great. She regaled us with stories of her recent European vacation (where she also met up with her parents). It was good to be able to catch up and see some of her photographs especially of the themed hotel she stayed in in London. I'm not sure I could sleep in a room with a disco ball and mirrored ceiling! But she's young and adaptable.
Everyone else was in good form including Mi who had been up to Brisbane for the day. She has applied for an interpreting job with a government agency and is now doing interviews and providing the material they request. She should know in a few weeks if she'll be a public servant.
Prince seemed to be even more excited than he usually is this evening and at one point Mouse removed him from the dining room because he was starting to be a little too friendly!
I did make it to The Spit this afternoon, actually this evening, to have a look at the beach and what I hoped would be the moon rising out of the ocean ... but I was a little too early.
The grids are still marked on the road since last year's race - although the paint has faded making it a little reminiscent of the blue line which marked the marathon course for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. It's nice to know that the legacy - and the race lives on. It would probably be a good idea not to go into the area next weekend though - race day!!
Kelsey Grammer aka Frasier of the eponymous television series is rumoured to be on the Gold Coast for the weekend - to catch some sand, sea and surf and to attend a radio conference at The Big House. I think that's what I read anyway.
Dinner tonight, with N along as well, was great. She regaled us with stories of her recent European vacation (where she also met up with her parents). It was good to be able to catch up and see some of her photographs especially of the themed hotel she stayed in in London. I'm not sure I could sleep in a room with a disco ball and mirrored ceiling! But she's young and adaptable.
Everyone else was in good form including Mi who had been up to Brisbane for the day. She has applied for an interpreting job with a government agency and is now doing interviews and providing the material they request. She should know in a few weeks if she'll be a public servant.
Prince seemed to be even more excited than he usually is this evening and at one point Mouse removed him from the dining room because he was starting to be a little too friendly!
I did make it to The Spit this afternoon, actually this evening, to have a look at the beach and what I hoped would be the moon rising out of the ocean ... but I was a little too early.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thursday
Even though it looked like there were storms brewing around the valley this afternoon, there was little rain. Rain is forecast for the next few days though - which will be good, especially if it happens on the weekend and there is an opportunity for some (guilt-free) video viewing.
IOS 5 has arrived and even my strategy of getting home early (no Zarraffa's for me this afternoon) wasn't enough to ensure a trouble-free load. It went smoothly enough - although it took a very long time - and my iPhone still hasn't restored with everything I had on it before the update. And it's amazing how much you miss a ring tone when it's no longer there. Still, I'm hoping the functionality will be worth it - although some of it just doesn't seem to work on the phone - like the split keyboard and the "unlocked" keyboard where you're supposed to be able to move it anywhere on screen - but given how small the iPhone screen is, it may be practical that this functionality has been excluded. I'm looking forward to playing with the rest of it though.
S and I tried something a little different for dinner this evening - we went to the Mexican restaurant, Fajitas, at Worongary. I'm not sure if it was because we were maybe considering having a dessert (at 9pm) but the waitress assured us that they were licensed until midnight. Midnight? I wonder if she missed our reactions which would have told her that was way past our bedtime or that one of us had to rush home to have another go at restoring her iPhone.
Because it was overcast on the way to and from the restaurant, there was no chance of even glimpsing last night's moon again - but there's always tomorrow night. I will be over near the beach (we have a work lunch out) and depending on how long it goes (at least 5pm I've been told) there may be an opportunity to sit and wait for the moon to rise out of the ocean.
IOS 5 has arrived and even my strategy of getting home early (no Zarraffa's for me this afternoon) wasn't enough to ensure a trouble-free load. It went smoothly enough - although it took a very long time - and my iPhone still hasn't restored with everything I had on it before the update. And it's amazing how much you miss a ring tone when it's no longer there. Still, I'm hoping the functionality will be worth it - although some of it just doesn't seem to work on the phone - like the split keyboard and the "unlocked" keyboard where you're supposed to be able to move it anywhere on screen - but given how small the iPhone screen is, it may be practical that this functionality has been excluded. I'm looking forward to playing with the rest of it though.
S and I tried something a little different for dinner this evening - we went to the Mexican restaurant, Fajitas, at Worongary. I'm not sure if it was because we were maybe considering having a dessert (at 9pm) but the waitress assured us that they were licensed until midnight. Midnight? I wonder if she missed our reactions which would have told her that was way past our bedtime or that one of us had to rush home to have another go at restoring her iPhone.
Because it was overcast on the way to and from the restaurant, there was no chance of even glimpsing last night's moon again - but there's always tomorrow night. I will be over near the beach (we have a work lunch out) and depending on how long it goes (at least 5pm I've been told) there may be an opportunity to sit and wait for the moon to rise out of the ocean.
Wednesday
S is still waiting to see when she will get the call to go back in to Jury Duty. She is checking their website each evening (making sure to refresh it - and she can tell that it has from the date on the site) but so far she has not had the call.
M and I gave CSP a miss this evening. I think I am still a little Casino-ed out from the weekend and because I have been on a bit of a steep learning curve at work as we are "changing projects" and needing to learn different ways of working with new contract managers - not difficult but a little painstaking. So instead we dropped off at Zarraffas to have a coffee as we waited for our pizza to be ready for pick-up from Marie's. I think S was a little surprised when I rang with our change of plans because she knows how much I look forward to my Wednesday night out.
It was interesting to see what's on television on a Wednesday evening though especially because now it seems that all the good programs are on a Tuesday ... not to worry though because we don't usually watch television in real time - except for in the mornings when I'm on the treadmill - and now that Sunrise has started doing more music clips (or does it just seem like that to me?) I have been trialling other early morning news shows - but I have yet to find a suitable alternative.
The moon was spectacular this evening - not sure if it was full but it certainly looked as though it was - hanging huge and yellow in the evening sky. It was just a pity we weren't at The Spit to see it rise out of the ocean - which sounds like a good idea for next month.
We are all looking forward to this week's Family and Friends dinner because N will be joining us. Prince will be very happy to see her too - he's still there while his parents are overseas. (Hello M and A - hope you're having a great time!)
M and I gave CSP a miss this evening. I think I am still a little Casino-ed out from the weekend and because I have been on a bit of a steep learning curve at work as we are "changing projects" and needing to learn different ways of working with new contract managers - not difficult but a little painstaking. So instead we dropped off at Zarraffas to have a coffee as we waited for our pizza to be ready for pick-up from Marie's. I think S was a little surprised when I rang with our change of plans because she knows how much I look forward to my Wednesday night out.
It was interesting to see what's on television on a Wednesday evening though especially because now it seems that all the good programs are on a Tuesday ... not to worry though because we don't usually watch television in real time - except for in the mornings when I'm on the treadmill - and now that Sunrise has started doing more music clips (or does it just seem like that to me?) I have been trialling other early morning news shows - but I have yet to find a suitable alternative.
The moon was spectacular this evening - not sure if it was full but it certainly looked as though it was - hanging huge and yellow in the evening sky. It was just a pity we weren't at The Spit to see it rise out of the ocean - which sounds like a good idea for next month.
We are all looking forward to this week's Family and Friends dinner because N will be joining us. Prince will be very happy to see her too - he's still there while his parents are overseas. (Hello M and A - hope you're having a great time!)
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Tuesday
Beasley went to the vet again today but there's good news - his BGL is down to acceptable parameters thanks to the increased dose of insulin he's been on. Hopefully now that this is under control, he will be less stressed around the house.
He's not the only one having toilet troubles at the moment though. S told me that at one point today she heard quite distressed "No's" coming from the outside toilet where, it turns out, M was busy tidying up. I'm not sure how it happened, but M's iPhone took a tumble into the toilet - hence the "No's". S hadn't heard anything like it since M inadvertently skipped ahead in her episodes of Dexter and saw that ... well, no, we won't say what it was because we don't want any "spoilers" here ... but it was pretty shocking ... the same way as dropping your phone down the toilet can be. She dried it out as best she could with the hair dryer, and then lodged it in the air conditioning vent on her drive into town - and it does seem to be working. There had been a black line across the screen but this has now disappeared and she is making and taking calls quite well (although when I did speak with her earlier today it sounded as though she was under water - but it turns out that she was just in an underground car park!).
The countdown has begun until the new version of the iPhone and iPad operating system comes out - only a couple of days to wait now.
He's not the only one having toilet troubles at the moment though. S told me that at one point today she heard quite distressed "No's" coming from the outside toilet where, it turns out, M was busy tidying up. I'm not sure how it happened, but M's iPhone took a tumble into the toilet - hence the "No's". S hadn't heard anything like it since M inadvertently skipped ahead in her episodes of Dexter and saw that ... well, no, we won't say what it was because we don't want any "spoilers" here ... but it was pretty shocking ... the same way as dropping your phone down the toilet can be. She dried it out as best she could with the hair dryer, and then lodged it in the air conditioning vent on her drive into town - and it does seem to be working. There had been a black line across the screen but this has now disappeared and she is making and taking calls quite well (although when I did speak with her earlier today it sounded as though she was under water - but it turns out that she was just in an underground car park!).
The countdown has begun until the new version of the iPhone and iPad operating system comes out - only a couple of days to wait now.
Sunday
Mi was not at the Markets this morning - she and F were off to a wedding in Brisbane this afternoon and she was at home getting ready. F didn't want to miss out on the markets and, as he said, all he had to do to get ready was go home and put his suit on ... and he seemed to be sticking with that theory because it almost took a crowbar to leverage him out of the Markets. In the end, I think it was Mouse who realised that if the rest of us didn't leave (and it was time) then there was little chance that he would. The amazing thing was that Mi didn't phone him to hurry him up at any point - but given that his iPhone was flat, there was little chance of that call coming through. Of course, had Mi wanted to, she could have called one of the rest of us - she knew we were all together. (They made it to the wedding on time and had a great time - dancing late into the night!)
It was a glorious day here today although it was a bit more difficult for us to be sure of this once we disappeared into The Big House for the afternoon. At stake - $20 Casino Dollars for all Absolute Rewards members - plus a jackpot draw -first prize $100,000 or $2,500 for each failed attempt. As they say: you have to be in it to win it - but, alas, we didn't - but if we're really keen they're having the same promotion next week (in all honesty, we may not make it again because nearly five hours is a long time to stay there if the draws are held every half hour). We had a lovely lunch and a nice afternoon tea and were able to soak up some Casino atmosphere and still be home in time (just) for Junior Masterchef and to see the furries who are used to seeing us a little more on the weekends than they have this one.
I did manage to see the Plover chicks this morning although it's possible I saw them earlier and just didn't realise what they were. I had thought they would be tiny little things - maybe just tall enough for the tops of their heads to clear the grass but they were much taller and have a splash of white rather than them being all brown- which also makes it easier to see them. I couldn't actually see where the nest is - or whether they were washed out of it by last night's rain!
It was a glorious day here today although it was a bit more difficult for us to be sure of this once we disappeared into The Big House for the afternoon. At stake - $20 Casino Dollars for all Absolute Rewards members - plus a jackpot draw -first prize $100,000 or $2,500 for each failed attempt. As they say: you have to be in it to win it - but, alas, we didn't - but if we're really keen they're having the same promotion next week (in all honesty, we may not make it again because nearly five hours is a long time to stay there if the draws are held every half hour). We had a lovely lunch and a nice afternoon tea and were able to soak up some Casino atmosphere and still be home in time (just) for Junior Masterchef and to see the furries who are used to seeing us a little more on the weekends than they have this one.
I did manage to see the Plover chicks this morning although it's possible I saw them earlier and just didn't realise what they were. I had thought they would be tiny little things - maybe just tall enough for the tops of their heads to clear the grass but they were much taller and have a splash of white rather than them being all brown- which also makes it easier to see them. I couldn't actually see where the nest is - or whether they were washed out of it by last night's rain!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Friday
Mi outdid herself for dinner this evening. She had "experimented" - using A's herb garden and her birthday mortar and pestle as her inspiration. The result - herb-encrusted chicken, vegetable cous cous, broccoli and salad. All very yummy, followed by Helga's strudel with ice cream, an excellent cup of tea, and some fruit (watermelon, rockmelon and mango). Double Yum. Unfortunately, we lost F early - not to his "assuming the position" and having his usual post-dinner nap on the lounge, but because he was off to the airport to pick up his brother, newly-in from OS. Apparently one of the boys had been lined up to collect him - tomorrow when he had originally planned to return - but that wasn't going to work this evening. But at least he had had a quiet afternoon - including watching "Real Steel" (? about tiny warrior robots) so chances were good that he was fresh enough to do the trip.
lf it had been me, I wouldn't have been able to do it regardless of how loud the music or the radio was cranked up or how much cold air was streaming through the open windows. People talk about getting out of bed on the wrong side and if that were something that was actually possible, I would have said I did it this morning. I was just totally ''out of sorts" and all over the place - and as weak as a kitten. I seriously considered not going to the office but my over-developed work ethic said "no!" (yes, loudly). In a way, that was good because it's better to crank at people you don't care about and it seems, for some strange reason, to be "easier" to not be truly mindful of what we say to friends.
Beasley saw the vet again today. His blood glucose readings are still very high and the vet wants to increase his insulin and do more tests next week. Poor Beasley ... but he is being very brave about having his shots and is settling into the routine very nicely.
The Plovers seem to be very happy in the paddock across the way. They have been sighted, although not by me even though I have been looking. I'll have another look tomorrow with the telephoto lens on Nik.
lf it had been me, I wouldn't have been able to do it regardless of how loud the music or the radio was cranked up or how much cold air was streaming through the open windows. People talk about getting out of bed on the wrong side and if that were something that was actually possible, I would have said I did it this morning. I was just totally ''out of sorts" and all over the place - and as weak as a kitten. I seriously considered not going to the office but my over-developed work ethic said "no!" (yes, loudly). In a way, that was good because it's better to crank at people you don't care about and it seems, for some strange reason, to be "easier" to not be truly mindful of what we say to friends.
Beasley saw the vet again today. His blood glucose readings are still very high and the vet wants to increase his insulin and do more tests next week. Poor Beasley ... but he is being very brave about having his shots and is settling into the routine very nicely.
The Plovers seem to be very happy in the paddock across the way. They have been sighted, although not by me even though I have been looking. I'll have another look tomorrow with the telephoto lens on Nik.
Saturday
It was raining cats and dogs this morning which meant there would be no breakfast out for Pearl this morning. She was a bit scared by the storm and after she came down to be with me, she asked to be let in with M and she seemed calmer after that. I can't imagine what she would have been like if we had caught the full brunt of the storm (like Toowoomba and Dalby) rather than just the tail end of it - or how we would have been it the power had gone out. It would have been more difficult to go out for breakfast if the power had been out. And it would have made it more difficult to do the treadmill - which I had done before the others were up as well as some computer stuff and, of course, making sure that everyone who needs it had had their insulin.
You could tell Pearl knew we were off somewhere - regardless of what people might think, she really can tell what day it is. She gave us her really long dog face as we drove off. Pearl would have enjoyed breakfast at Crave with us - but I'm not sure the rest of us would have enjoyed "wet dog" and we all know that there is nothing as friendly as a wet dog - so there is no knowing just how friendly Pearl - who always is - would have been!
After breakfast, S and I went out and about, ending up at the Gold Coast Arts Centre where S watched The Whistleblower which she described as good but hard work. While she was doing that I was having a walk and a coffee and tea at the Cafe there - and catching up on a couple of episodes of television - Terra Nova and Modern Family the latter causing me to laugh out loud a couple of times - which was fine (I like laughing) except I was sitting by myself in a cafe at the time! At least I had headphones on so I didn't look like I was just randomly laughing out loud at ... nothing.
We were going to go out to a dance this evening but another storm came over (not dropping hail on us but it did on other parts of the Coast) and the pull of music and gyrations was not enough to pull us out of the house - or away from doing my tax. There was some talk about possibly going to the dance later but ... not to be. Ah well, there's another one in a couple of weeks and the furries seemed happy to have the company on a Saturday evening!
You could tell Pearl knew we were off somewhere - regardless of what people might think, she really can tell what day it is. She gave us her really long dog face as we drove off. Pearl would have enjoyed breakfast at Crave with us - but I'm not sure the rest of us would have enjoyed "wet dog" and we all know that there is nothing as friendly as a wet dog - so there is no knowing just how friendly Pearl - who always is - would have been!
After breakfast, S and I went out and about, ending up at the Gold Coast Arts Centre where S watched The Whistleblower which she described as good but hard work. While she was doing that I was having a walk and a coffee and tea at the Cafe there - and catching up on a couple of episodes of television - Terra Nova and Modern Family the latter causing me to laugh out loud a couple of times - which was fine (I like laughing) except I was sitting by myself in a cafe at the time! At least I had headphones on so I didn't look like I was just randomly laughing out loud at ... nothing.
We were going to go out to a dance this evening but another storm came over (not dropping hail on us but it did on other parts of the Coast) and the pull of music and gyrations was not enough to pull us out of the house - or away from doing my tax. There was some talk about possibly going to the dance later but ... not to be. Ah well, there's another one in a couple of weeks and the furries seemed happy to have the company on a Saturday evening!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Thursday
It was raining this morning - a nice gentle rain whose job it is to green up the valley and to add some water to the tanks. It's just a shame that the plover chicks have now hatched - they have been sighted - and have a rainy, wet and cool day in front of them. The plover parents are working overtime to protect them - to the extent that they have now moved them one paddock away from the house which may not be a bad idea given the cats who live here - especially since they are no longer spending time around the front waiting for swallow babies to tumble from the nest.
M thinks the swallow parents may be getting ready for another clutch of young. They have been working on repairs to the nest but I'm not sure if the other little ones have left home yet. I haven't heard them for a couple of days but that doesn't mean they aren't there.
We were going in to Broadbeach and The Big House for dinner tonight but after an early start and big day at The Work House I was feeling a bit on the tired side and not really wanting to drive in to Broadbeach and back. S understood -So we gave up the prospect of Two-for-one dinner at Jupiters to have Two-for-one dinner (we had a voucher) at the AdvanceTown Hotel. And Thursday night is Trivia Night although it was a bit of a poor turnout this evening - which may have been because it was a cold and rainy evening and it would've been fairly easy for people to have chosen to stay in rather than braving the elements - although, I do wonder if a gentle Spring rain really is/are "the elements".
M thinks the swallow parents may be getting ready for another clutch of young. They have been working on repairs to the nest but I'm not sure if the other little ones have left home yet. I haven't heard them for a couple of days but that doesn't mean they aren't there.
We were going in to Broadbeach and The Big House for dinner tonight but after an early start and big day at The Work House I was feeling a bit on the tired side and not really wanting to drive in to Broadbeach and back. S understood -So we gave up the prospect of Two-for-one dinner at Jupiters to have Two-for-one dinner (we had a voucher) at the AdvanceTown Hotel. And Thursday night is Trivia Night although it was a bit of a poor turnout this evening - which may have been because it was a cold and rainy evening and it would've been fairly easy for people to have chosen to stay in rather than braving the elements - although, I do wonder if a gentle Spring rain really is/are "the elements".
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wednesday
Nothing left to say. Wouldn't that be funny. Actually, it's quite difficult to put anything after that. Is this what a self-fulfilling prophecy is?
Pearl was pleased to see me home this evening and even managed to find her way outside to greet me. It's lovely when she does that and something I really miss When she's on sleep-overs with Nana. She may not get to go on one for a little while yet though as Nana is still looking after Prince while M and A are overseas. He (Prince) is enjoying his sleep-over and has even changed his sleeping habits ... no more very early rises for him - and yes, he has been known to sleep on the bed with Mouse and Soxie (the cat). The three of them all go off on walks together - no doubt causing a surprised glance or two from those they meet along the way.
It was Bingo today and Mouse, M and S took themselves off to the Club to try their luck. And S and M didn't do too badly with S in particular winning on two full houses. It is perhaps a sign of a worsening economy that attendances and prizes have both been cut but as S tells me each week: winners are grinners! I certainly enjoyed the opportunity for my CSP fund to be increased from her winnings!
The CSP Jackpot has grown to just under $300K. It's getting harder to get a seat at the tables especially as they seem to only have two operating during the week and one of those doesn't usually open until after 8PM. It still surprises me that anyone would choose not to put $1 in for each hand to play for the progressive jackpot. There's an eclectic bunch of folk there - but mostly there are familiar faces from week to week.
Pearl was pleased to see me home this evening and even managed to find her way outside to greet me. It's lovely when she does that and something I really miss When she's on sleep-overs with Nana. She may not get to go on one for a little while yet though as Nana is still looking after Prince while M and A are overseas. He (Prince) is enjoying his sleep-over and has even changed his sleeping habits ... no more very early rises for him - and yes, he has been known to sleep on the bed with Mouse and Soxie (the cat). The three of them all go off on walks together - no doubt causing a surprised glance or two from those they meet along the way.
It was Bingo today and Mouse, M and S took themselves off to the Club to try their luck. And S and M didn't do too badly with S in particular winning on two full houses. It is perhaps a sign of a worsening economy that attendances and prizes have both been cut but as S tells me each week: winners are grinners! I certainly enjoyed the opportunity for my CSP fund to be increased from her winnings!
The CSP Jackpot has grown to just under $300K. It's getting harder to get a seat at the tables especially as they seem to only have two operating during the week and one of those doesn't usually open until after 8PM. It still surprises me that anyone would choose not to put $1 in for each hand to play for the progressive jackpot. There's an eclectic bunch of folk there - but mostly there are familiar faces from week to week.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Tuesday
M tried out the new blower-vacuum in the yard today and it works a treat! I can't wait to give it a go! Although we have to do burr patrol before we can get to the fun stuff (although, I do remember a recent occasion where a decision was made to eat dessert before the main meal and that turned out all right!).
I met S in at Carrara this evening (thanks M for dropping her off) and after visiting the pharmacy there, we decided that yes we would have dinner out as we had mooted, but that we would have Chinese rather than Big House Food Fantasy buffet (we are saving that for later in the week because S is feeling that she wouldn't do it justice this evening). Alas, our first choice, in Nerang was closed when we got there, but with a hankering for Chinese we could not go anywhere else but Chinese - so off we sent with Worongary. I can't get over how we never used to be able to find it while M was away overseas but we have no trouble finding it now - even when we're not using the GPS.
Going a bit further afield for dinner meant we weren't home early so we will need to adjust the insulin times for both Beasley and Emma for the next day or so until we bring them back to 12-hourly at 6 o'clock. Beasley seems (to S and I) to be a bit calmer since he was started on the insulin - but the jury is still out as to whether he is making it outside every time to go to the 'loo. Em also seems to be okay at the moment, except for a nightly fur-ball (?) attack which is easily fixed by picking her up and stretching her out. She usually just settles back to sleep then - which is great because it usually happens in the very wee small hours of the morning. Usually it's S who does the stretching, and, unfortunately - which is a shame, she tends not to settle again as quickly as Em.
The colder weather is still with us - which means there is mist over the valley in the mornings - and some spectacular scenery like this morning when the cows were foggy bovine silhouettes as the sun rose over the ridge behind them.
We don't know why but Tinker has started sleeping in the living room rather than in with M - not that M is complaining because it seems Tink is not the most restful bedfellow but M does worry that she will be lonely. Maggie seems to be enjoying being the only bedroom cat for the moment - although not the only bedroom pet as Pearl was firmly entrenched in there this evening even before it was time for lockdown.
I met S in at Carrara this evening (thanks M for dropping her off) and after visiting the pharmacy there, we decided that yes we would have dinner out as we had mooted, but that we would have Chinese rather than Big House Food Fantasy buffet (we are saving that for later in the week because S is feeling that she wouldn't do it justice this evening). Alas, our first choice, in Nerang was closed when we got there, but with a hankering for Chinese we could not go anywhere else but Chinese - so off we sent with Worongary. I can't get over how we never used to be able to find it while M was away overseas but we have no trouble finding it now - even when we're not using the GPS.
Going a bit further afield for dinner meant we weren't home early so we will need to adjust the insulin times for both Beasley and Emma for the next day or so until we bring them back to 12-hourly at 6 o'clock. Beasley seems (to S and I) to be a bit calmer since he was started on the insulin - but the jury is still out as to whether he is making it outside every time to go to the 'loo. Em also seems to be okay at the moment, except for a nightly fur-ball (?) attack which is easily fixed by picking her up and stretching her out. She usually just settles back to sleep then - which is great because it usually happens in the very wee small hours of the morning. Usually it's S who does the stretching, and, unfortunately - which is a shame, she tends not to settle again as quickly as Em.
The colder weather is still with us - which means there is mist over the valley in the mornings - and some spectacular scenery like this morning when the cows were foggy bovine silhouettes as the sun rose over the ridge behind them.
We don't know why but Tinker has started sleeping in the living room rather than in with M - not that M is complaining because it seems Tink is not the most restful bedfellow but M does worry that she will be lonely. Maggie seems to be enjoying being the only bedroom cat for the moment - although not the only bedroom pet as Pearl was firmly entrenched in there this evening even before it was time for lockdown.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Monday
There was a mob of kangaroos in one of the paddocks down near the road this morning; must have been about a dozen if them - just sitting (one on the lookout) and others reclining. It was a lovely sight - reminding me of how close to nature we can be out here - and quite unexpected.
Almost like the hot air balloon which seemed to fill the sky above the road as I was turning on to Gilston Road the other morning. I would have loved to take a photograph of the balloon Ptolemy effect but the only place it would have worked was in the middle of the intersection and that seemed as thought it might be a bit of a safety hazard. Still, it was a magnificent sight which I'm hoping will be repeated someday when I have a camera at the ready to capture it ... that is if it is possible to capture the Ptolemy effect with something other than the human eye.
The lawn still looks good today although I still have to get round to the front to give that a go with the push mower.
The nestlings are still there - and the plovers around the back are being even more protective of their nest area so there must be chicks by now!
Almost like the hot air balloon which seemed to fill the sky above the road as I was turning on to Gilston Road the other morning. I would have loved to take a photograph of the balloon Ptolemy effect but the only place it would have worked was in the middle of the intersection and that seemed as thought it might be a bit of a safety hazard. Still, it was a magnificent sight which I'm hoping will be repeated someday when I have a camera at the ready to capture it ... that is if it is possible to capture the Ptolemy effect with something other than the human eye.
The lawn still looks good today although I still have to get round to the front to give that a go with the push mower.
The nestlings are still there - and the plovers around the back are being even more protective of their nest area so there must be chicks by now!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Sunday
What is Telstra doing with its mobile network? Each week when I make the Skype call to T it is getting worse. Does this mean that more people are switching across to it - decreasing each person's available bandwidth - or is there something else at play here? I'm in roughly the same spots each week - so it's not my location - unless it's because there are more people moving in and out of the area - which suggests Telstra's infrastructure is in dire need of assistance.
It was the usual Markets crowd although we were there an hour earlier this week given the onset of Daylight Savings (in NSW) and the organisers' immutable decision to open and close an hour earlier because some of the stall holders come up from Northern NSW. We never have really understood this and still don't. For some reason, the cold weather persists and it was cool and windy both inside and outside at the Markets - and, quite out of character, we decided to sit outside so there was at least a chance of some warmth from the sun. And if we hadn't been outside, we wouldn't have seen the long line of chairs that a young lad had constructed along the pathway. It had at least 30 chairs and luckily for the other market-goers, he constructed it just about the time the Markets officially ends - although he was asking before he removed the chairs from their usual places around the tables. Very impressive.
M went off with Mouse after the markets, and. S and I took ourselves off to Nerang - only because we couldn't quite decide what we felt like for lunch or if there was anything special we wanted to do - except the mowing! It was great to be back on ROM and to finally able to get the lawn looking a bit like its old self after that extremely bad cut a couple of times ago. I took M's advice and mowed in a different pattern from that which I normally do and that really helped with the end result - definitely a Colorbond moment!
It was the usual Markets crowd although we were there an hour earlier this week given the onset of Daylight Savings (in NSW) and the organisers' immutable decision to open and close an hour earlier because some of the stall holders come up from Northern NSW. We never have really understood this and still don't. For some reason, the cold weather persists and it was cool and windy both inside and outside at the Markets - and, quite out of character, we decided to sit outside so there was at least a chance of some warmth from the sun. And if we hadn't been outside, we wouldn't have seen the long line of chairs that a young lad had constructed along the pathway. It had at least 30 chairs and luckily for the other market-goers, he constructed it just about the time the Markets officially ends - although he was asking before he removed the chairs from their usual places around the tables. Very impressive.
M went off with Mouse after the markets, and. S and I took ourselves off to Nerang - only because we couldn't quite decide what we felt like for lunch or if there was anything special we wanted to do - except the mowing! It was great to be back on ROM and to finally able to get the lawn looking a bit like its old self after that extremely bad cut a couple of times ago. I took M's advice and mowed in a different pattern from that which I normally do and that really helped with the end result - definitely a Colorbond moment!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Saturday
After my overnight visit, S and I made it away from Kyogle this morning at 9:30 as planned- the first time - and by 10am the second time. Unfortunately we had taken the motel room key with us and when they phoned we knew we had to go back. I was just pleased that they phoned while we were still only 10 minutes out of town - although on that road it is just a bit difficult to find a safe place to turn around. But we did - and as I told them when we pulled up - it was great to see them all again because I didn't think we would be back so soon!
It was a good drive back up the coast and we were at Bumbles in good time for lunch with S and A who were dropping off their dogs Coco and Max with friends who will mind them while they (S and A) are overseas. They are off to the US for five weeks including Boston, New York and Austin. It sounds as though they are very much looking forward to it too. It was good to see them again - it's been a while since I saw S and more of a while since any of us had seen A.
I was tidying up my desk this evening and when moving the nerd gun, turned it on unintentionally. How I miss that sound - although admittedly more so when I'm setting up an ambush rather than about to be the subject (or is that "object") of one aka the innocent victim.
Not quite sure who is responsible, but the winter weather is back first as we're farewelling the first month of Spring. The wind is blowing a gale and it's chilly enough that all the furries are in this evening without us having to call them. I think they're also glad to have S back as she's the one who most consistently has cuddle time with them in front of the television.
M rang from Turkey this evening and missed M who was out. She knew that we hadn't had Friday Night Family and Friends Dinner last night (because Mi went dancing, S and I were in Kyogle, and F was taking it easy after a few days on the tiles - literally. (The other "on the tiles" means having a good time and this didn't sound like that at all.))
It was a good drive back up the coast and we were at Bumbles in good time for lunch with S and A who were dropping off their dogs Coco and Max with friends who will mind them while they (S and A) are overseas. They are off to the US for five weeks including Boston, New York and Austin. It sounds as though they are very much looking forward to it too. It was good to see them again - it's been a while since I saw S and more of a while since any of us had seen A.
I was tidying up my desk this evening and when moving the nerd gun, turned it on unintentionally. How I miss that sound - although admittedly more so when I'm setting up an ambush rather than about to be the subject (or is that "object") of one aka the innocent victim.
Not quite sure who is responsible, but the winter weather is back first as we're farewelling the first month of Spring. The wind is blowing a gale and it's chilly enough that all the furries are in this evening without us having to call them. I think they're also glad to have S back as she's the one who most consistently has cuddle time with them in front of the television.
M rang from Turkey this evening and missed M who was out. She knew that we hadn't had Friday Night Family and Friends Dinner last night (because Mi went dancing, S and I were in Kyogle, and F was taking it easy after a few days on the tiles - literally. (The other "on the tiles" means having a good time and this didn't sound like that at all.))
Friday
It was an extremely busy day at work but it was made a little better because J was able to go out and fetch lunch for us. We're still having problems with the financial systems at work which makes it very difficult to rely on them - and even more so to try to get anything done to a pre-determined deadline because uploads fail seemingly randomly now. Ah well, it will still be there on Monday.
After work - it was off to Kyogle to meet up with S. I admit I could have planned the drive better. I had thought it would be good to drive down in the late afternoon - thinking I would be heading south. That would have been fine, except for that I was actually driving south west and the setting sun proved to be quite a problem. I stopped in Murwillumbah to dig my sunglasses out of the back of the car - which helped a little but was still not ideal. But it was worth it for a look back over Mt Warning and the surrounding hills with the red sky behind them. I imagine it must be a little bit like it is on Mars!
The Kyogles were all good and in fine form. They had been off for a day of sight-seeing in the local area - including to the Murwillumbah Art Gallery which I still haven't managed to visit, and to a picnic area out the back of somewhere in a lovely bush setting. There were a couple of groups of people there including them, but it was they that the 2-metre-long goanna approached first looking for tidbits - it can smell my lamb sandwich P said - and he may have been right. Apparently as it approached its little (?) tongue was flicking backwards and forwards - and that is, so we're told, how they smell. They didn't wait around to see what it would do - although there was some discussion that as the tallest one, it would probably chose P to run up if it was frightened and was seeking higher ground in a "tree".
L's saxophone playing has turned a corner and she managed a B+ in her recent exam - beating her brother who gained a B. I suggested she might be competitive - but, she assured me, the only one she had wanted to beat was P. It is a bit scary reading through a teenage girl's music book - she said she had been bored one day when she had written comments about the "Lean On Me" song - and, it would seem that if one was in a position where one needed to, L should probably not be the first choice.
P's trombone was silent while we visited, but he did let us watch him on his flight simulator - as he lamented that every town in the US seemed to have an airport!!!
After work - it was off to Kyogle to meet up with S. I admit I could have planned the drive better. I had thought it would be good to drive down in the late afternoon - thinking I would be heading south. That would have been fine, except for that I was actually driving south west and the setting sun proved to be quite a problem. I stopped in Murwillumbah to dig my sunglasses out of the back of the car - which helped a little but was still not ideal. But it was worth it for a look back over Mt Warning and the surrounding hills with the red sky behind them. I imagine it must be a little bit like it is on Mars!
The Kyogles were all good and in fine form. They had been off for a day of sight-seeing in the local area - including to the Murwillumbah Art Gallery which I still haven't managed to visit, and to a picnic area out the back of somewhere in a lovely bush setting. There were a couple of groups of people there including them, but it was they that the 2-metre-long goanna approached first looking for tidbits - it can smell my lamb sandwich P said - and he may have been right. Apparently as it approached its little (?) tongue was flicking backwards and forwards - and that is, so we're told, how they smell. They didn't wait around to see what it would do - although there was some discussion that as the tallest one, it would probably chose P to run up if it was frightened and was seeking higher ground in a "tree".
L's saxophone playing has turned a corner and she managed a B+ in her recent exam - beating her brother who gained a B. I suggested she might be competitive - but, she assured me, the only one she had wanted to beat was P. It is a bit scary reading through a teenage girl's music book - she said she had been bored one day when she had written comments about the "Lean On Me" song - and, it would seem that if one was in a position where one needed to, L should probably not be the first choice.
P's trombone was silent while we visited, but he did let us watch him on his flight simulator - as he lamented that every town in the US seemed to have an airport!!!
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