Bye man.

Vale Beazley. The man cat didn't make it despite M's best efforts to get him good medical attention. We were all there to say goodbye to him yesterday and see him on his way. He will be missed.

 

Mynah problems

It's a bird eat bird world here today... but hopefully not in the literal sense. I'm sitting out with Beazley who is on ''bed rest'' as he has done some damage to one of the ligaments in his back leg. It sounds like the "excruciating" ligament - and while the pain he's suffering does seem severe, the proper name escapes me. He's been pretty good at not moving around - if he was a dog they would need to operate, but the treatment for cats is rest. How he can do that with all the racket the birds are making is beyond me. Some wagtails have built another of those incredible nests in the front tree and they were defending it this morning from five or six mynah birds, each at least twice as big as a wagtail. They were at the nest - one even appearing to be pecking at something in there, and despite the noise the wagtails were making and their attempts to shoo them away, they were not winning. In the end, I deciced I couldn't just watch it unfold and as I walked over, the mynahs flew away to the next tree to continue to watch, and the wagtails settled. Five minutes or so later, the mynahs took off in the direction of Nerang. M was saying that she thinks it may be too late for the wagtails. We'll have to wait to see if the mynahs do come back to claim the nest as their own - although how they could hope to fit into the nest - it's so tiny - is beyond me.

Pearl is still visiting Nana - and that's probably for the best while Beazley is on his "bed rest". It would be much more difficult leaving food out for Beazley if Pearl was in the area - although, it might be that Pearl would be good company for him. The other cats, while they appear interested, don't seem to be spending a lot of time with him - which could be a good sign!

Saturday

We had another breakfast out this morning thanks to M's purchase of vouchers from Living Social. This was for a Mediterranean-themed restaurant/cafe in Southport near where E and B live. S and A joined us as well. It doesn't seem like just a week since we last saw them at the markets. Breakfast was good but we didn't linger for the usual two or more hours that is the norm. We must have all had a busy day planned. Certainly S and A did because A had decided it was time they did their Christmas shopping. Little did we realise but what we had planned was a trip to the Post Office to collect our newly printed Festive Season cards - and then to have a coffee (milkshake for S) and then a visit to the cinema - in the same complex. I suggested a movie and to my surprise S said yes - to “Breaking Dawn Part 2” - the final chapter in the Twilight Saga. S has shown little to no interest in Twilight previously - so it was a big thing to come to the ending without really having any knowledge of the beginning and middle. As it turns out, there really wasn't that much to tell her to bring her up to speed: Girly girl who missed out on the feminism movement falls in love with a vampire (and possibly with a werewolf), wants to become a vampire, marries the vampire, becomes pregnant, and while giving birth to a half-vampire child nearly dies but is saved when the vampire turns her into a vampire. Move on to “Breaking Dawn Part 2”. The special effects were amazing - which is why I wanted to go (not necessarily for closure but there certainly was a fair amount of that!).

Then we went home, and after a short interlude, we were off again to the Mayor's Carols by Candlelight. But that's a story for another day.

Starry starry night

I sometimes forget to just come out and look at the stars. This is one of the benefits of not living in the city. There is no extraneous light to dim them. As I called for Tinka to come in this evening - she was the last to come in but that is not unusual - and as I waited and whistled, I chanced to look up. The first thing I saw was the Big Dipper. Off to the left and down a little was a constellation I didn't recognise, and more than a few others as well, and I knew that if I moved out into the yard and looked in the other direction, I would have seen the Southern Cross - visible in the southern hemisphere, maybe only from Australia. I didn't see any shooting stars but I know that soon, in the UK, and northern hemisphere, they will be witness to a very impressive meteorite shower. This is an annual event and I have seen it once - although that was a fair while ago now!

Tink didn't come in in the end and M went out looking for her - and found her quite easily, sitting on the single bale of hay in the carport. I had looked on the other one (I know Tink is a bit partial to the hay) but didn't think to check the one where she actually was. But in no way was it wasted time!

Friday

I admit it. I find it more than a little disconcerting when Maggie sleeps with her eyes open. but she usually is fast asleep and even waving a hand in front of her doesn't stir her. My niece does the same thing - or used to when she was a wee thing ... I don't know if she still does - she's 18 now and I haven't seen her asleep for a while. Come to think of it, we don't often see people asleep as we go through our normal routines (I'm not counting people you live with in that statement). Of course, no-one would find it easy to sleep through the racket those birds are making outside again this evening. They have been for a few nights now and while I am fairly sure they are over near the avocado tree, sound has a way of playing tricks on you. Like the single gunshot last night ... I couldn't tell where it came from but as M explained, you only had to look at the horses to know - and she was right.

S is away visiting the family at the moment and I took the opportunity during a Skype call yesterday to show her around work - including the site, and then up and into the office. I hope it was as exciting for her as it was for me!

The gardens are still flourishing, helped along by the little bit of rain we've had this week. M harvested some tomatoes and took them with us into Mouse's for dinner - yummm, soup, cabbage rolls and vegetable patties. And, luckily for me, there were leftovers so there's lunch tomorrow - and some blueberry cake for morning tea.

The CSP jackpot (it was a busy night - fitting in The Big House as well) is sitting at just over $70k, but none of it came home with us! Ah well, there's always another time. And the place didn't seem to be besieged with Schoolies - they had apparently been sighted earlier in the day, in great numbers! Still, it was busy enough - and not everyone was there to look at the Christmas decorations which have finally been put up! They're pretty too, although I did seem to recognise some of the reindeer from last year! So, I don't think it will be long now before we start digging out the rest of the Christmas decorations for Latimers ... since M has already kicked it off with a reindeer!

A new world

Friday afternoon I finally managed to take myself off to SeaWorld's (now not so) new attraction ... Dinosaur Island. I have wanted to go for a while but other things kept coming up ... but with a day off on Friday - and the season passes reduced by 25% on Thursday ... I was "good to go". And go I did. While the animatronics were not fantastic with the dinosaurs - perhaps we have been spoiled into believing they can do so much more with inanimate objects - they were certainly good enough to scare some of the children who were there! Mind you, I was caught unawares once or twice with the movements they did make. I thought it was great to have a "make them move" feature - where you could press buttons to make various bits of some of the dinosaurs move - and while it didn't appear to work when I did it, at least it gave children the idea that they could have some mastery over these goliaths ... because some of them were huge! I had great fun photographing them and wandering around the world seeing the Polar Bears, the extreme stunt jetski show, and the dolphin show - made even better knowing that I have a season pass and can just keep going back and back and back to see those bits I missed this time.

 

Fireworks

We had dinner at Mouse's tonight and it was fantastic. It has been a while since she had us all over and she did it tonight because there were fireworks planned at the park across the river. At the appointed time, we were there, some of us in chairs, some of us with cameras, waiting ... waiting ... waiting. I don't know why we ever doubt Mouse (we don't really) but when there seemed to be absolutely no activity in the park, we did think there might have been a slight error with the day/date/time. But there wasn't - the 7 o'clock starting time in Mouse's notification letter had been an approximate only and twenty minutes later the sky was ablaze with colour/s! Then we say down to a feast of Borscht, Vereniki (with special curled edges) and Fl's favourite rhubarb crumble with ice cream and custard for dessert. Yum!

Then we drove through the packs of schoolies who have descended on the coast this week and made our way to The Big House where we were overnighting. M had been lucky enough to secure the Executive Level - so that meant "Cheeseland" - or, since we wouldn't be there in the afternoon for that - breakfast! And it was wonderful - and definitely worth getting up for - even though after a very late night (following my usual hotel ritual of ice drinks and a steaming hot bath) it would have been very easy (and almost essential) to have a bit of a lie-in. That would have been easier, too, had I thought to check the bedside alarm before going to sleep (there's a lesson for next time) so it didn't do shrill ringing at 6:08 am! There was no going back to sleep after that, so I left S sleeping as I went off to the Executive Club to do some coffee-drinking and watch the morning unfurl. She joined me later for breakfast and a very relaxing start to the day. It's nice to have days like this!

 

Out and about

M and S went off to see Emmy Lou Harris on Friday night and had a fantastic time. They both seemed to enjoy it a lot and were talking about it heaps when they arrived home, even checking the internet for her life story. She has been on the music scene for a while and brings a broad brush to it and its intersect with recent American history.

And, if that wasn't enough, M had managed to score some more tickets to Tap Dogs so both Fl and S went to the Saturday afternoon show. It would have been no use being at home doing gardening then because it was raining - but the huge storm that was forecast didn't eventuate here. Brisbane wasn't quite so lucky because they did get a storm - but not one that had been forecast. There was widespread damage and flooding. Mi (working in Brisbane then) sent Fl some photos of cars bobbing around in the water and floating away. Pretty scary, too, since she had been out there with her car less than 15 minutes beforehand.

Just thinking about it, Saturday was fairly busy. Mo was out at Latimers bright and early so he could repaint the bathroom ceiling - and M was up doing yard work and ready to go into Bunnings to pick up a replacement ceiling fan for the bathroom as soon as M had it removed. Mind you, the ceiling has been looking a great deal better since M did as Mo suggested and used Exit Mould to get the mould/mildew off.

M stayed to keep Mo company, and to make biscuits, while S and I went off to Robina in search of Mouse's birthday present (a little something from The Apple Store). And we weren't the only ones out and about - there were crowds of folk, as well the Batman Car aka the BatMobile - as last seen - or was that a different version of it - last year at MovieWorld with H and the others. There was nothing for it but to do Yum Cha and watch the crowds (and the bowling skittle) pass us by.

There wasn't even time for a proper nap after we arrived home (via The Big House and Tap Dogs) before we were on the road again on the way to Mouse's birthday dinner at the Turkish Restaurant, Pasha's - very nice - and we had just finished out dinner by the time the belly dancer arrived for her half-hour set. Mi apparently knows her and even before she arrived said that she usually asks her to get up and dance ... and she certainly did get people up to dance with her. Luckily ... or was it? ... no-one from our table was one of them - either getting individual coaching - or joining the belly dancing Congo line through the restaurant. It was a great evening and Mouse seemed to enjoy that - and the Markets on Sunday morning where there was more cake and celebrating - very much. And then the birthday celebrations continued with dinner at Zen on Sunday night. Happy Birthday Mouse!!

In the dark?

In the dark ... well, we weren't here at Latimers but they were in far North Queensland when they were in the right place at the right time to see the total solar eclipse. And the right time was right ... according to reports, the sky was overcast until just before the "totality" and then the clouds parted to reveal the Moon's shadow obscuring all but the Sun's corona. It would have been amazing to see - especially if you managed to get out of it with your eyesight intact - which you would have if you had followed the instructions about not looking at the eclipse with your naked eye(s). We have come a long way since you were instructed to look at it only "by suggestion" - by poking a pin hole in a piece of cardboard - and then looking at the shadow that cast. People for this one were wearing special eclipse glasses that let them look directly at the sun for a length of time and not be blinded! And it was certainly mesmerising. Even here, where we only saw a partial eclipse, it was very tempting not to look - although, according to Joan, and she was right, the eclipse was visible through sunglasses and the shaded strip at the top of the car windscreen.

Other excitement around Latimers this week, not counting the rain that fell last weekend, was the appearance of the Will Wagtails. At first, I thought that one of them was injured - and that was why the others were making a ruckus to draw us away from it. As it turns out, there is apparently a nest with a chick in it. I haven't seen it yet ... I had a look this morning and couldn't work out where it was so I'll get S to show me on the weekend - and hopefully take a photograph!

The garden continues to grow - with the help of last weekend's rain. I had a fresh cucumber the other night with my dinner and that was absolutely yummy. There's nothing like homegrown produce, picked and eaten. But there's still dirt to move and I keep asking about it and waiting for instruction - and for the new beds to be ready/to be/built. But at least the lawn is long enough to mow again - and M did half the yard the other day - but only on 2.5 because the grass is still a bit dry and brittle, despite the soaking. It might have stayed around longer if we hadn't had strong winds straight after the rain days.

There is now some doubt about whether L will be on his way to Boston at the end of the year to take up his spot at the Berkeley Music institute. It looks as though he may "defer" (although he will need to drop out and re-apply) for the May intake. I don't know the full story - M was filling me in a little on it last night as we dined at The Big House (CSP jackpot total now under $60,000) before she went off to see L's end of year show at The Basement (part of the Gold Coast Arts Centre).

Monday

There is a new foal in the valley! A day old - and very, very cute it is too. Pearl and I saw it when we took a walk down the lane to B's yesterday. As we neared his shed, Pearl must have heard him in there and went over to say hello, and when she did, he told us about the new foal, born a couple of days early, and now moved into the paddock down near the floats. We went over to have a look and even though it is chestnut, it will get darker with age. It has a small blaze on its face, and three white feet. There's something very special about seeing a foal, not yet 24 hours old, standing and walking with its mother. There will be some more new little ones as well - so that's all very exciting!

Finally WAG (Winners are Grinners) back at Trivia again; we managed the top spot on the podium - the first time in ages. I think we played well though. I'm just glad that it wasn't so close that the point I made them take off (they had given us one too many in Round 1) didn't spell the difference between placing and not. I don't think I would have ever heard the end of it - and I was only able to do it at all because F was away from the table at the time. But, honesty is its own reward, because they gave us some drinks vouchers for pointing out the error ... which will go nicely with the $50 voucher from the win, and the $15 voucher for third place last week ... and also with the meat tray that Sooz won tonight!

We still haven't had any rain to speak of ... even though it was almost like a Winter's day here yesterday. It was a day for curling up on the couch with a good book or DVD - not going through reams and reams of Order Amendments at the office!

All the furries are well and are mostly spending the nights in with M now. The other day when I went in to give Beazley his shot, he and Pearl were both very comfortable on M's bed. This morning it was just Beazley and Maggie - Pearl may have been on the bed beforehand, but as soon as I opened the door she was there and definitely on the lookout for a cookie (already elevated out of her reach before the door opened!).

And speaking of "elevated", Tink's blood sugars were right up last Friday when M took her to the vet and her insulin has been increased to 3 units morning and night. I think it's not agreeing with her - only in that she seems to be ravenous most of the time now. She asked for (and was given) special cookies three times this morning! Hopefully the vets will be able to bring her diabetes under control soon - it has been a while since she was diagnosed and she just seems to seesaw between too high and too low. But at least she is maintaining her weight and hopefully the new insulin regime will help.

Wildlife worriers

I sometimes forget - even though I am thankful for it every day - that we do not live in an urban environment. I was reminded of this again yesterday on the drive in when I saw a kangaroo standing by the side of the road. It was alone as far as I could tell although it would have been wonderful had it been part of a larger mob. This is the first one I've seen for a long while. It may be the wrong season for them but I fear it has more to do with the increasing level of development in the area. It's sad to see so few of them around though.

The other reminder was a fox sighting this morning. This is only my second one - the first being the night one was after the plover chicks a few months ago. Pearl started barking down the back this morning and when I went to investigate I found her and the fox circling each other ready for a stoush. I wasn't sure what it was at first because it looked too tall and skinny to be a fox. (In a fanciful moment afterwards I was thinking it might be a cross-species individual like a dox or a fingo.). But the important thing was getting Pearl away and , to her credit, because she does take her role of guarding the property very seriously, she finally did come to my calling although it took a couple of times. I'm not sure how M managed to sleep through the commotion because I managed to wake S, and probably the neighbours as well! I confined Pearl to the house - luckily the cats who had already been out had already come back in - while I went to get the camera to take a shot of the fox who had positioned itself under the fence between L's and Latimers. It was fairly grainy but luckily enough in focus for S to be able to tell that, yes, it was a fox. I'm not sure where it was injured or if it was just how it and Pearl were circling each other, but it did appear to be limping on its left hind leg. It must be difficult out in the wild for the critters because when you think about it, it's just them and whatever "family" they have - and their environment does continue to get built out with seemingly little regard for them and what will happen to them.

Week's end

What a busy week at Latimers but, alas, one without any (substantial) rain. We could have done with it too rather than M and S having to water their gardens but at least when they do that it also gives them the chance to speak with/talk to the plants.

Tink was off to the vet again yesterday (lucky her - she must have been ecstatic to find out there was a road crew working on the big roundabout - the first in quite a while - installing the decals, paintwork, and ''stuff" for the bicycle lanes.). The news from the vet wasn't brilliant - her Insulin dosage has been increased to 2 - and even though it's an increase, we are grateful that there are no halves involved for the coming week - which means that she will be back there next Thursday - unless we bite the bullet and see about doing the glucose test at home ourselves. S and I had a few goes - with only very moderate success - in the early days of Em's Diabetes diagnosis but in the end we decided it was for stressful for all of us so it didn't last. We'll need to think about this some more.

Huzzar; Huzzar - which is a little like it sounded when Mr Burns from The Simpsons was being wildly enthusiastic - for the cucumber now in bloom in the garden; and for the lettuce and Bok Choy S planted today. Let's see if I have this right: New Moon means you plant above ground vegetables ... it may finally be starting to sink in! And, speaking of the moon, it is fairly stunning tonight - just a crescent but very clear. I had been out taking a photograph of a kookaburra/kingfisher as night was falling when I noticed it. And, of course, I did try to get a photo but it is just too far away. But at least the kookaburras started laughing so that may mean we are in for some rain.

Wildlife wonderings

If only we had an elephant! That way we could tell how well the corn is doing! Is it as high as an elephant's eye? There's no denying that all of the garden is doing well! Thriving even! It must almost be time for M to put another bed in up the back - although she may already done so - 1 haven't been up there for a couple of days! It's good to come in these days and find some fresh produce on the kitchen bench - squash, zucchini (yellow ones!) and radishes over the last couple of days! Pretty fantastic.

Late afternoons/early evenings now find S and M out tending their patches - I'm not sure whether they're talking with them while they're there or just watering and weeding - but whatever they're doing, it is working.

Pearl went for a visit to Nana's last night. It's good because she was looking for an outing. When I took her out with me yesterday afternoon to collect the rubbish Otto (she likes to help) she raced straight past the bin and started off down the lane instead ... so off we went for a quick walk. It certainly is a different experience since Ebony moved out - without Pearl and Ebony (and sometimes Spot) posturing at each other as we came out of the Latimers' gate it's actually become a more pleasurable experience again. It was starting to become very stressful there - and I was very concerned that if they ever did connect with each other, there would be no way of separating them before either one or both of them were injured. Hmmm ... not so much a relaxing walk at that point - but it's back to being that now ... although I do miss Ebony racing out as you drive down the lane.

The swallows are back nesting out the front - have been for a while - and there are apparently two quite large chicks in the nest. I haven't seen them but both S and M have - and I think the cats have been checking it out as well! Tink has also been paying some attention to the little Willy WagTail that comes to sit just near her (but not too close) when she's sunning herself in the yard. And S's parrots (they may not be parrots - but it's easier/faster to say "parrots" than multi-coloured birds) have been around the front a few times over the last week as I drive in on the way home. I haven't yet been fast/quiet enough to get the camera out of the back of the car and take some decent shots of them ... but I am hopeful!

All is well ...

Thursday ... and joy of joys, the rain is here. It's not the big storm that had been predicted for this afternoon but it's much better in that it's a nice gentle rain with heavier bursts in between. There has been no hail and no destructive winds - so that makes it a win-win all-around. You can almost see the plants in the garden growing - and this means that they definitely won't need watering (by anyone here) today. And some of the produce is well and truly ready for eating (although some prefer playing with their food!).

The furries were close when I came home - Maggie and Beazley were still in bed - and, when finally I did find here as I had been expecting her to be in her usual wet-weather spot on the back of the couch - Tink was fast asleep on one of the chairs out the back. That made it very easy to give her her shot and she finally deigned to come in for her dinner almost half an hour later.

Pearl came with me to the car and sat in the back (far far away from the cats' dinners) as I changed the registration sticker on the car. This could very well be one of the first times when she hasn't been sick in a vehicle! She was a help too, keeping me focussed on the job and encouraging me to peel away all the sticky stuff from the old label and put the new one back in the same place, rather than taking the easy way out and putting the sticker on the back passenger-side quarter-glass.

S is still away, coaching her nephew in English for when he sits the HSC next week. I think one of the hardest bits for her has been that she hasn't been feeling 100% but she has still managed to give it her all! That "all" includes scribing for P - long hand - so that is a mammoth effort. Luckily, P is quite good at ... what is the word she used ... I don't think it was "dictation" but it was something like that. So they have been doing well. He has a study plan in place and part of the afternoon is devoted to English. Two of the set texts this year are Blade Runner and Frankenstein... not a bad double!

 

Cultural pursuits

Trouble at farm. But this doesn't mean that someone is in hot water ... because it means that no-one is in hot water because it's the hot water system that's in trouble - it's sprung a leak in three places! M discovered the problem yesterday - thanks to Beazley who was around the side, hiding (no doubt because he'd seen the cat box and Tink being taken to the vet!) when it was time for his shot. That's when M saw the wet ground - and the geyser shooting up to the laundry window! A quick investigation revealed that a call to the plumber was needed. Ah well, it was a good excuse to be one of the great unwashed at work (even though we do hae showers there and I did have my "kit" in the car ... once I was there it all just seemed too hard ... and I knew that as long as I could have a shower before we went out that night, all would be good! We were having another women in arts night. M had arranged tickets for us to see the Bangara Dance company and their new show Terrain. Timing for getting there, though, promised it could be a little bit of an issue as it was Friday evening but we managed to work around that. I picked up Mouse after work. There was still time thing to drive home, have that shower (yes! and thank heavens for the others in the car for the drive) and still be out at the appointed time. The traffic up to Brisbane was not bad and the traffic in the city itself was okay.We pulled into the parking lot at QPAC on time ... and luckily we did because there was a treat on offer inside. They were giving away samples of Connessiur ice cream. It was so nice that we have no problem having a second one when we came out of the show. I hear the show itself was excellent. Even though I was there I didn't actually get to see much. I'm not sure if it was the comfortable seat, the darkened room, the hypnotic music or the fact that the dancers onstage made no noise, but I just could not keep my eyes open. The show went for about 65 minutes but I think I probably saw a total of eight of those. I was only woken by the thunderous applause as the show ended and the curtain came down.

I felt I had no option but to own up when asked if I had managed to stay awake through the performance - so I said "no", and Mouse offered that she could easily have gone to sleep herself, and would have if she hadn't thought we'd see - hmmm, no chance of that unless I was to do sleep-seeing.

And then we were off to West End for dinner at the Viet Hoa (mmmm ... rice paper rolls) - and where we were joined by Mi who was just finishing work for the day (after a very late start). She ended up giving Mouse a lift home so it all worked out quite well.

A cut above?

l had been looking forward to a good mow and was more than a little disappointed when the belt almost jumped off as the mower tried to glide over the lush green of the slightly over-grey-watered lawn. So, rather than doing a "2 cut with mulcher" it ended up as a 3 cut and that just isn't low enough to provide even a chance of a "Colorbond moment". M tried to assure me it was fine (very kind of her - even rewarding me with a freshly-picked radish out of the garden) but S hit the nail on the head when she came out a bit later and asked ''Didn't you mow the lawn?". So what is generally a "cheer me up" exercise suddenly wasn't. That put me right off the idea of doing barrows of dirt into one of the new garden beds - that may have to wait until I can do the mow again - in a couple of days, after the grass has had a chance to recover.

The rain continues to stay away - a real shame because we could really do with some. Luckily M has the non-tank water because if we had to rely on just what was in the tank, it would be time to start buying water (possibly even the second or third batch by now).

But the gardens continue to flourish and it's time to start eating (and sharing) the produce. That's not the only plant-life thriving. While taking photographs of a couple of cockatoos intent on dive-bombing Tink, I saw that a plant or two (okay, three) have taken root and seemed quite content in the gutters of the stables roof.

Well, it won't be long now until the last of the current batch of travellers (M and A) are home. They'll be very excited to see their boy Prince - who can't come back here at the moment as M has taken down his enclosure - part of it anyway, and is using it to train the snow peas - or was it another climbing vegetable? Not that Mouse would give him up without a fight!

Nights out

Two years, five months and 11 days after arriving here, I have finally joined the local library! It's amazing though that even with the obvious delay, once I had made up my mind to join (yesterday) it only took one day to actually get there. And Chris, my assistant in signing up, showed me how to reserve a book (Jincy Willett's The Writers' Club) from another branch and have it delivered to the local. They will SMS me when it arrives - probably within the next 48 hours. I was pleasantly surprised to see that as well as books they have a large selection of CDS and DVDs and Chris was even saying that ebooks are available online! Libraries have come a long way! l'd say "swings and roundabouts" but some people might say that was making horse racing too attractive to youngsters (I realise I'm noting that because both of the folk who "liked" my status/photo on Facebook are teenagers - one only just!!!)

Closer to home, there has been some gardening - with M putting soil and mulch around the citrus trees ... and some citrus food as well. I was able to help by pushing the barrow for a couple of the loads - and Pearl helped too! That happened on Monday afternoon and M had wanted to do it then because it looked as though there was going to be rain ... which would have been great for the garden. That didn't eventuate then but I did notice there was some moisture around this morning so it looks as though it rained overnight. I haven't been back in the garden since but I think M has done a little out there, including watering S's plants to make sure they survive her absence.

On the way back from Spiderman 3D at The Big House on Monday night (the gardening reward?) M had slowed down in time to not hit the possum which was ambling across the bridge over the creek. It did look a bit like Bill - the fluffy toy possum belonging to one of the engineers at work who we've been taking turns to take out - the possum, not the engineer.

M and I had dinner with Sy last night. She's staying down in Southport at the moment, and commuting up to Brisbane each day. She has both dogs and both cats with her - because none of them are allowed in the Brisbane house - which is currently on the market and very open for inspection! They have had some interest but not the right offer yet. We ate at Saffron, an Indian restaurant at Broadbeach (M's procured takeaway from there before) and while it was good, it would have been better if the waiter had understood that yes we did want a doggie bag. If we'd got it, Sy and I would have been able to arm wrestle to see who would get what!

Trying to walk Pearl has been a little problematic. Ebony is no longer behind that little electric fence and will come running out to "play" with Pearl - and I'm sure it is "play" even though she rushes out with her teeth bared! Spot joined in yesterday and because M had Pearl on the lead, both the other dogs were nipping at her. I haven't wanted to take her because I don't have enough authority over Pearl to be able to get her to come away but I am thinking that I could just drive her up the lane a bit - away from the others - and walk her from there. People laugh when I tell them that but I still think it's worth a go - especially if it means I get to walk Pearl. And it worked fairly well on the way out ... not a peep from Ebony or Spot ... but it wasn't so good on the way back - Ebony came all the way out of the yard up past where the car was! I managed to keep Pearl on the lead and they didn't connect but no amount of telling Ebony to go home worked; finally someone from L's place called her in - and she did go, but not until they had called a good few times. How far up the lane am I going to have to park to make it work? Or was this the first and last time? I wondered about getting a squirter bottle to use on her - so I could hit Ebony with a jet of water when she came out. Might work. Where's Dr Harry (the vet) when you need him?

Sunday ... and Swell

It was Swell. And actually, that's just what it was. The annual Sculpture festival is on at Currumbin again and Mouse, S, M and I went down to see it on Thursday afternoon. It was as wonderful as ever; this is our third time there even though it has been running a good while longer than that. Mouse and M's friend Judy's daughter Natasha organises it and it's a bit of a buzz to see her photograph in the paper each year as Swell gears up. There were over fifty pieces in this year's show - some big, some small, some very small! But most at least a little thought-provoking. It was great that M read out the description from the program as we walked up and down the front looking (and me taking photographs) at the various works.

I went back again yesterday, after I dropped S off at the airport (she's off to Sydney for a week). There were heaps of people there and not a park to be found, so I ended up going back around to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and paying to park there ... and I'm glad I did because if I hadn't, I don't think I would have been aware of the whales that were swimming past. You know how you notice when people all seem to be looking at something? Well, that was folk near Elephant Rock yesterday morning and when you followed their gaze about 200 metres off shore, there was a pod of at least six whales! It was absolutely magic and it wasn't as though they were just passing through - they were stopping to play - with their fins up in the air (very much like "The Last Wave", one of the Swell pieces). There were a whole lot of board riders out there with them and I can't imagine what a buzz it must have been for them to be so close to them!

Then, it was off to the Markets - where I only just made it before the coffee people closed their stall. We were a reduced crowd today - although it was bigger when N, C and M were there ... they had gone by the time I arrived.

It really is starting to feel more like Spring, perhaps even Summer. That's strange to credit this morning as a fog has settled over the Gold Coast ... although, surprisingly, not over Latimers where the sun was shining brightly as a balloon bobbled off in the distance.

I managed to get around to ROM yesterday afternoon - and it was good to see the lawn starting to look "tamed" again. It doesn't take long to get the scruffy look - especially when it's brownish but thanks to that little bit of rain last week, it is starting to revive a bit. Going great guns though is (are?) the gardens. There is more rain forecast for this week so that will help even more . And S will be pleased to know that, as part of dinner last night, we had produce from her garden - leafy greens and a tomato! Yummmm! We had worked up a bit of an appetite too - M decided it was time to prune the grapefruit tree and as she pruned, I started cutting up the branches and binning them. Shouldn't be long now until those new garden beds get in!

Some time in the garden

There's nothing like a little gardening! It always seems like a lot ... no, just kidding! There's something about being out in the sun with soil and sweat and knowing that there are a couple of plants out there that will ultimately thank you - kind of almost making up for the grass we mow so we can see the backyard and if there are any snakes making their way across it - although, hopefully, it is still too early for snake season.

Pearl just missed out on an opportunity for water play when I washed out the wheelbarrow but now that they have come to fill up Hermes' water, she has another chance and she is taking full advantage of it. I suspect she will come up the back soon, near the piles of compost and dirt where I am sitting enjoying the mid-afternoon sun to add credence to that saying that there is nothing quite as friendly as a wet dog ... gotta love her! Of course, she could go the other way and position herself out the back, roughly half-way between here and where S is having a nap. It was a late night last night when we went up to Brisbane for the Festival of Brisbane Lanterns, Circa's S and the Festival's Laser Light Show. All absolutely amazing and wonderful and we are still reeling with how incredible were the feats of flexibility and core strength, timing and trust carried out by the Circa troupe. It was good that there were kids in the audience as well although it would have been nice had there been at least one warning that folk shouldn't try this at home!

We were at the Markets this morning - a little late but in good time before the Markets closed (we have to be there to close the Markets of course - that's like a job for us now!). Mi is back from overseas but now F has gone; he left yesterday for the Middle East and before he went M took special care to warn him to be safe given all the troubles they are having over that way these days. He's not going to any trouble spots per se but these things do have a way of flaring up in different areas without much warning. It seems that people will use any perceived slight as provocation to further their own beliefs and it seems they don't care who gets hurt in the process. But he's only gone for two weeks so that shouldn't be too long for him to stay out of trouble.

We are going to miss him at Trivia though - especially given our showing at Trivia the other night at the Golf Club where we were the defending champions and the best we could manage was second last! And that was with both C and M there! It does not bode well for the RSL on Monday ... ah well, we just have to hold on to the thought that's it not all about winning - although that said we're not going to lie - as F says we don't go there to come second - and certainly not second-last!

We didn't get to the Multicultural Festival at Evandale Parklands today - we meant to but it just didn't eventuate. Maybe next year. We also didn't get to see N today - there was some talk she might come to the Markets and then to lunch, but she ended up having other plans ... which turned out to be gardening! A good day!

Wednesday

The weather remains fine here which means we've still had no rain - and it's high time that we did. The grass is so brown, not helped at all by the frosts that we've had.

M was up early this morning as she was due at F's before six so they could drive up to Brisbane Airport to pick up Mi who returned today from her 8 weeks away. She has been missed by us all but especially by F and the boys. It's funny though because there will be another trip to the Airport on Saturday because F will be off this time! He's off to Jordan for a bit; meaning we will all have a chance to miss him for a change - and I don't know about the others but we will definitely miss him for Monday night Trivia. But before Monday we have another Trivia challenge - a rematch at the Golf Club on Friday night.

It was Bingo today and S was saying there were lots of folk there - so many that the pays for single lines and full houses were increased. Alas, none of the winnings made their way to M and S and Mouse's table so no Winners Are Grinners today but there's always next week!

I managed to get Mouse's puzzles away on time this week (which is not to suggest that we don't every week) although it was a bit of a rush to get some of them done. I don't know how I managed to do all of them while Mouse was away - it's hard enough just getting the ones she leaves for me done!

Sunday

It's another glorious day at Latimers - much too nice to be inside so that's why I'm sitting outside, sipping a piping hot coffee and enjoying the sunshine. I've already been for a walk up to the road, and down to B's shed, taking some photographs along the way. I didn't have Pearl with me though - she was still asleep, so she missed out.

Dolly came over to the gate for a pat as I walked past her enclosure. Neither she nor Sweetie (in the paddock next door) seemed at all concerned about the balloon over near the trees which looked as though it was going to land before it went much further. It did manage to gain altitude though and as I wandered up to the road, I watched it make its way over the sleeping valley in gentle pursuit of another balloon making its way through the sky some way ahead.

Most people know about "hat hair" but now that I've seen it, "helmet hair" seems to be so much worse! A motorbike (one of many today) pulled into the car park under the big yellow Runes ... and the grey-ish nomads on it seemed very comfortable - especially as the woman riding pillion was sitting in almost an armchair, flanked, as she was, by metal satchels made of that gridded tool-box material. It looked very comfortable - and it was up for sale - and drawing lots of attention from the other motorbike folk - and only for $14,000. Who's up for trying something new? I would be except giving my hair, I would need to keep the helmet on ALL the time.

Week's end

$175,000 - that's what CSP is currently sitting at - or was when I left The Big House last night. This means that no major prizes have gone off in the last week - which is a shame for all of those who have been playing ... but it does make that pot bigger for the person who does manage the Royal Flush. It's still quite exciting to get most of the cards for a Royal Flush - actually, any kind of flush, in a hand; I can't imagine how you would hold a poker face if you actually managed the big one! I'm not sure practising would help much!

The Big House has a new special at Spinners - Salmon and Prawns - which M had for dinner tonight. She thinks S will enjoy it very much!

The gardening continues at Latimers. M has now planted potatoes in a patch near the front gate and covered it in sugar cane mulch to help them grow. S's parsley is coming along in leaps and bounds and is starting to look very lush - and that it might be time to start harvesting some and giving it away to the markets crowd. There's no way we can use that much - even if we had tabouli every day. S showed me some of the tomatoes she had harvested yesterday too - so they're coming along nicely. This is a bonus given the price of tomatoes at the moment ($11.99 kg in some stores); at this rate, until the crop comes in, my tomato and onion sandwiches might just have to be onion sandwiches.

I don't think those furries are missing Prince; although word is that Mouse is enjoying having him very much. We do miss him, especially when it comes time for "walks". Even though Pearl tries her best, she just isn't all that interested in walking up and down the lane multiple times - once is enough, and you can almost hear her asking why anyone would want to do it more! Of course, Pearl isn't trying to get to 10,000 steps a day so she wouldn't understand that ... although it would be interesting to see how many steps she does do in a day.

We are having gorgeous weather at the moment - although the ground would be ever so grateful if it actually rained for a bit. When I walked up to the road with the bin on Monday afternoon, I could see that even the bitumen has cracked because the earth under it is so dry! Thank goodness M has bore water on the property, otherwise there would be tankers delivering water about now.

Tink is not due to the vet for another week. At the moment she's on 1.5 units morning and night - regardless of how much we tell the vet how difficult it is to accurately give the half shots. She isn't doing too badly but there is still no resolution on an insulin dosage - here the fortnightly and, in some cases, weekly visits to the vet. The biggest mystery about it, though, is why the charge for the blood test varies so much from visit to visit; it would be reasonable to think it was a standard charge, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Beaz is allowed on to the bed in the mornings after I go to work and he seems to like that routine very much. S doesn't seem to mind it either, because Beaz cuddles in to her back and is an effective heater (she seems to be feeling the heat much less that she used to).

Maggie is Maggie and comes and goes much as she pleases - although, that said, she is always the first one lined up to go out in the mornings!

Otherwise, things go on as usual here. It's still good to have Mouse back, and Mi is back next week! And it's the end of the working week ... so that's a bonus!!

Monday ...

It was a great weekend - a long one thanks to a public holiday courtesy of the Gold Coast Show. Despite my best intentions, I didn't manage to get out and about with the cameras, but I did manage to do some shots around Latimers yesterday afternoon. I never cease to be amazed at how photogenic M's furries are: truly fantastic subjects - and incredibly patient with me to boot! And now that the gardens are in, I'm doing some of the plants as well; luckily they are still with us after that very bad frost we had the other morning. It is still quite cool here in the mornings - and some are definitely cooler than others. S was saying just tonight that she thinks this has been a cooler winter than last year. Alas, it appears that the temperature extremes may continue - the long-range weather forecaster I heard the other morning was suggesting temperatures would be 5 degrees higher this Summer. (S - don't listen to that!)

Monday night is Trivia Night and while I would love to say we finished on the podium, we weren't ever close - despite tying for equal first before the break. After we'd placed badly, F did the usual post-mortem and had to admit that even had we chosen different bonus rounds (like Phonetic Alphabet) it still wouldn't have been enough to put us over the line.

S and N are still coming to Trivia with us so that's a bonus. N had business cards there tonight for the holiday villa she owns and rents out in France. We've seen the website she and her sister worked on earlier this year. They have lettings already - folk from Scotland at the moment, then Brisbane folk are due in in a minute and then someone else is lined up. We'll have to keep it in mind should we ever get over that way - in France, near the Swiss Alps and the Black Forest.

It looks as though Prince is off tomorrow to stay with Mouse. I'm sure I'm not going to be the only one to miss this furry little one, taking him for walks down the lane, around the yard, watching him not play with the cats (he's much better than he was when he first arrived though) and wondering about his health and when he will get his Spring shave ... although it may be that M won't miss the very early morning walks down the lane.

 

Making the bed ...

Prince is still staying with us and appears to have adjusted well to the Latimer routines. I'm lucky enough to take him for a couple of laps down the lane when I get home from work - which is great because it's helping me get my steps.

There have been no Free Passes awarded yet-but there may be tomorrow unless I can manage to get 6000 steps in this evening; with the very late night yesterday and the dentist after work today, my routine has suffered. But there is still time ... and the treadmill and television at home.

H's Show Day here tomorrow and I am Very much looking forward to the long weekend this affords us. I'm not sure what's on the cards yet, but it will be good to have a little lie-in and be able to take Prince and Pearl for a morning walk as well.

I don't think S is as keen to go to SeaWorld and Dinosaur Island as I am but I'll mention it just in case she has been harbouring a secret desire to play with the reptiles. Of course, if Clive Palmer had his way, it might be possible to play with the real thing and not animatronics.

The cats seem to be mostly used to Prince but they still give him a wide berth. M has been trying to convince them that he is more scared of them but they aren't convinced. If he wasn't so excited sometimes (read: yappy) it might be different.

The big news of the week is that M has made a great start on the vegetable garden down the back, and sprucing up the ones at the front. It's good too because as well as providing some homegrown produce, it's something the whole household can be involved in; I'm getting a bit better at pushing the wheelbarrow with the dirt!

Mouse seems to have settled back in after her time in Turkey, We still have to watch the Russian television show with her so she can translate for us. (And we still have to see the rest of M's holiday snaps!)

Night out ...

Thank you M for getting tickets to Barry Humphries' farewell show - Eat Pray Laugh- for S's birthday. It would be fair (and a bit of an understatement) to say we enjoyed it - although it would have been better if S didn't still have the lurgy hanging around - she did very well to be able to laugh and breathe! And she managed to get through without having a coughing fit - so that was good for her; given how acerbic and inclusive Dame Edna and the other personas can be, you can understand why you wouldn't want to do anything that might draw Barry's attention. It was the first time I have seen him perform - and the difference between his stage presence and the man we saw at breakfast the other morning is incredible. Mouse and F came as well, and afterwards we adjourned to Spinners for a cup of coffee before heading home - tired but happy! It's sad to think this is his farewell tour, he has brought a lot of joy, wit and laughter to this corner of the world.

Weekend at Jupiters

What a fabulous weekend we've had ... (thanks to M) S and I had a night in at Jupiters, which has now stretched to two as she is at home doing furries patrol. It's funny but even though we have only been here for just under 30 hours now, it seems like a very, very long time indeed. I guess because we actually started before yesterday afternoon, with breakfast in at Koi (at Broadbeach) with F and M. As we sat there, M said "look, there's a chicken" and we all looked - and yes, it was, a very large chicken, which turned out to be a "Bride to Be" (according to her sash) out on her Hen's Party (don't mind me, it only took me until today to put that together) ... so it was someone else - that would be S - who commented that it looked as though F was "picking up chicks". Of course, that photo had to go on FaceBook, together with that comment, so Mi would see how much F is really and truly missing her.

Dinner last night was in the room, because that's where they serve the Nasi Goreng - and it is a truly amazing dish. Yes, they do do it downstairs in Spinners, but it doesn't look anything like it when they serve it down there. S had that while I had the Soup of the Day (Chinese Chicken and Corn) - and M, who had arrived to visit just after we'd ordered - had naught save for a cup of tea before she and I went off to the gaming floor to have a game of CSP (now up to $163k) and Roulette. Great fun! S is still not well and elected to stay in-room and rest ... and it worked because she was feeling a bit better today - and to come to the Markets.

There's no doubt that M was up much earlier than us today; I had the call with Tr on Skype but didn't get up until well after 7, by which time M had already picked up F for their trip to Brisbane Airport to collect Mouse on her return from Turkey! They brought her straight to the Markets. It's great to have her back - and she seems happy to be back as well. N and one of her friends came to the Markets as well, so even though M and A are away, and Mi, we were still a respectable number - and as homage to the Indian Spring we're having today, we sat outside, some of us in shade, the others basking in the sunshine! It doesn't get much better than this!

Then, after M dropped Mouse home and settled her in for the afternoon, it was off to Bumbles for lunch (and a walk along the river for me - as I strive to get those 10,000 steps a day).

Yes, it has been a fantastic weekend (starting with the Mahler on Friday night) and I feel as though I'll have to go back to work for a bit of a rest now - and get back out to Latimers so I can take Prince and Pearl for a walk with me (it's much more fun with company!).

Busy ... busy ... busy

Yesterday was a busy day at Latimers: Jungle John and his significant other came and helped M put in some garden beds. When I was looking at the photographs this morning, it occurred to me that there are three of them - room for lots of produce. Of course, that isn't the first thought I had just then but that will have to do for public consumption.

We have started "Free Pass" - which is a way to help me reach my required 10,000 steps a day and is based on helpful competition. M is modifying a behaviour as well which is good because you can't really play by yourself ... and S will play once she is over her current lurgy - which, thankfully, she finally went to see the doctor about - and this morning she said she was feeling considerably better - it's amazing what increased puffer usage and a dose of steroids will do! But it's good she's feeling better - she's been under the weather for over a week now and it's time she was up and about because there are things to be done/places to go on the weekend ... which is to say that she's missed out on taking Prince for walks long enough! But back to Free Pass. Players nominate what they are going to do and if they don't reach that goal - they award a Free Pass to another player - which they can choose to use the next day - or bank for up to a week. The Free Pass means they get to do/not do the behaviour they are trying to change ... if I got a Free Pass it would mean I wouldn't have to do the 10,000 steps in a day - which I know I need to but we all know I would rather not. Of course, the beauty of the system is that because you have elected to help the other person/s on the road to their own behaviour modification, you are going to try not to give Free Passes. It will be interesting to see how effective it is.

This means, of course, that I am taking every opportunity to take Pearl and Prince for a walk and yesterday, while M went in to feed Soxie, I took them for two laps down to B's. We would have done more but Prince seemed to be quite tired on the second lap (no, that is not a projection!) and it was starting to get dark by then. After the doctor's visit, S and M joined me for a coffee at Zarraffas (very nice) so we were home a bit later than usual ... so as the darkness gathered outside, and after feeding the furries, I jumped on to the walking machine to make up my remaining steps for the day - watching an episode of "Eureka". I think I'm going to get to watch a bit more television over the coming months!

Enter Prince ...

Prince (of Persia) has come to stay at Latimers and it has heralded a period of adjustment for all of us. Prince is a Silky Terrier - very cute, but not quite socialised when it comes to furries - but he's getting the hang of it. It has to be hard for him being away from his humans, and in a strange place but M is doing her best to help him feel as comfortable as he can ... she has a way of doing that for pets and people.

Poor S is not terribly well - she has managed to catch the lurgy that's going around (possibly from N and S at Trivia last week) and while I was down for a day with something, I have been lucky enough to be back on deck after only a day in bed. But it's not good for S and I'm concerned that it may go to her chest (she's never been good with respiratory "stuff"). I'd like her to go to the doctor with it, just in case there is something else happening, but she's fairly confident that it is under control. It's just difficult to hear her in distress.

It's still a bit chilly here in the mornings and there was an incredible mist in the valley today (partly smoke haze, partly fog) and against the backdrop of the pink of the dawn sky it was pretty amazing. As I drove in, I just hoped M who was setting out for a walk with Prince and Pearl as I was driving out the front gate, was awake enough to appreciate it. I know that Tink wasn't - she spent the morning standing in front of cupboards and when I opened them she would have a look inside, a bit of a sniff around, and then move on. In the end I found her one with some space and let her get in there ... and although she didn't stay too long, she did seem to be less restless when she emerged.

Sleepless in Latimers

There was a lovely mist in the valley this morning which also means it Is,,, COLD. But it's also getting to be quite light by the time I leave. As 1 drove along the Southport-Nerang road this morning I was treated to the most magnificent sunrise! It was blood red and set against the backdrop (or would that be foreground?) of the Southport Skyscrapers which sounds slightly more poetic than the "Southport high buildings".

It would be fair to say that none of us had the world's greatest sleep last night. S is not well and banished everyone from the bedroom so she could try to sleep - and not risk sharing her lurgy. M had three of the four furries in with her and they were up and down all night. Even though I was sleeping down the back, I didn't hear any of it - except for the 4 o'clock session. I did manage to get back to sleep but wish I hadn't because I was plagued with nightmares after that and when I was finally rescued by the alarm, I was exhausted!

The outlook was quite different this afternoon. There are fires in the area and a thick pall of smoke is hanging just behind the Motorway, and the rest of this part of the Coast is under a thick veil of smoke. It would not be good to have respiratory issues today.They must be planned burn-offs because even though it was as thick at lunchtime as when I left work, there has been nothing on the news about it.

I don't think mentioned but Big Brother (based at DreamWorld) started broadcasting again this week. I tuned in last night but tuned out again within a minute as we were treated to a close-up of one of the contestant's dreadlocks and voiceover saying how nice people thought it/they smelt. The word "lemon" may have been mentioned. No, better I spend my (rare) time in control of the television watching something else!

The furries were difficult to settle last night. I must have opened the door for Maggie to come in and go out about a dozen times. The others* also went in and out a number of times but at least they can let themselves in and out ... and this was before M came home - and we know they continued to be "restless".

*It's amazing how much more sinister the furries sound if you refer to them as "The Others". What a difference a capital letter makes!

Tommy Emmanuel

We had an amazing time on Friday night! M had scored tickets to the Tommy Emmanuel concert at The Big House - and it was fantastic! It was the first time I had seen Tommy but before I went in I made sure I looked him up on the internet so I could at least try to appreciate the show. Which I think I did, but not nearly as much as others - especially those with guitar skills like L who would have loved it had he been there rather than over in the States auditioning for a scholarship with the Berkeley School of Music! He won't find out until November whether he was successful but F thinks L is so determined he will go anyway, even if he doesn't get the scholarship, and work so hard in his first year there that they will give him one. I think F was saying that they are quite generous with their scholarships - something like 40% of students get one although the amount varies. We're keeping our fingers crossed for him ... which is something I don't think even Tommy Emmanuel can do when he's playing! I was absolutely stunned when he trotted out a song he has just recorded - Secret Love - which some of us remember Doris Day singing in Calamity Jane! Even though the concert was supposed to be finished at 9:30 Tommy Emmanuel was still going strong at 10:30 and we would probably still be there if the house lights hadn't gone up at the end of the encore. I'm not the only one who thought that they might have just kept on playing if they hadn't. I was thinking throughout the concert that there isn't much you couldn't learn from him - passion for what you do, enjoy who you play with, don't be afraid to share your knowledge, and give people more than they expect ... and that's just for a start!

Winners are Grinners

There was a frost at Latimers this morning - and this isn't the first one we've had. I know that now because it has just "clicked" that that's why the grass is brown. I'd wondered if it was because it hasn't been raining - but no, it's because of the frost. I wonder how the horses cope with it - and the general coldness. Lars' thermometer said it was 4 as I was driving out of the Valley this morning. About the only place it isn't cold is in the sauna masquerading as M's bedroom. I had to sneak in there this morning to give Tinker her shot - and once I was in there I could see why Tink was in no hurry to come out!

It's supposed to get warmer towards the end of the week, I am still stunned by how much lighter it is in the mornings though. I was a few minutes later leaving today but still it wasn't as dark as I picked some lemons for one of the work folk. She was saying how tasty they are - she's been squeezing juice onto their salads - and then licking her fingers because it's so yummy!

I meant to say that I saw a kangaroo the other day (Sunday, as I drove back in to Zarraffa's after doing the lawn). It Was wonderful but definitely too long between sightings. On the same day, M saw the rabbit along the same stretch of road.

We had Trivia again last night and managed to tie for second and then win the tiebreaker to give us the $30 Voucher (our coffee and dessert next week). C and M joined us tonight as S had something else on. N, loaded to the gunnels with Tiger Balm was also there even though she had a massive headache; but the salve, the painkillers she popped and the company must have worked because at half time she was feeling much better.

On the way home we managed to break with tradition and buy petrol for cheaper than if we'd bought it on the way in to Trivia, so we're counting that as a win too!

Market Day

The day was fine and after inflating ROM's tyre on Saturday - and it still being up yesterday - I did the mowing. It was good, too, because we had come straight home from the Markets so I was on the mower just after 12 and finished by just after 2, leaving me with a couple of hours to zip back into Nerang and go to Zarraffa's for a well-earned coffee and some work on Samagrams - which turned into reading episodes of QI (as hosted by Stephen Fry) after stumbling on them as I tried to find verification of Houdini's 91 minutes underwater performing an escape way back in 1926. I never did ... but QI was great .. giving a fact by fact breakdown of what had been in each show!

S's parrots were around again this morning - but as non-cooperative as always: each time I saw them (twice) and went to get the camera, they had flown away by the time I got back! But they are amazing to look at. I was telling S that I thought I had seen a notice about lost parrots somewhere recently (it takes a while for me to put things together in my head) - so I'll see if I can find it again - it was at one of the shopping centres I think - and see if they are their birds. Also, on the bird front, M was saying that the white galahs (not to be confused with the more common white cockatoo) were back.

Hermes was over at the fence as we were leaving this morning and he is, as M said, "looking good". She gave him some carrot, before picking some lemons for distribution at the markets this morning.

We were a reduced crowd - F was off golfing, Mouse and Mi are still overseas - but we could have been even smaller; F had told M and A that the markets were off and they had been not going to come until M rang them and assured them we were still going, even if F was unable to make it!

It's still cool in the evenings and I think the heater even made an appearance last night - which should have been enough to guarantee a gathering of the furries - but they were nowhere to be seen (except for Pearl and Beazley) when MasterChef All Stars was on. And no-one was hanging around - the main lights were off and everyone was in bed by 9:30 (all the better to get ready and recharged for the new week!).

Cupboards ... and cold!

M did an amazing job while we were away for the weekend: she tackled the kitchen cupboards - throwing out a whole lot of stuff that was out of date, and making sure you could clearly see everything else. It has, according to S, made cooking very much easier, and given the cupboard doors are glass, it's also vastly improved the look and feel of the kitchen.

Someone has neglected to tell the folk who are in charge of the weather that it's supposed to be getting warmer... not colder! And there is no doubt it is getting cooler. I even had to have the heater in the car on this morning, and for the first time in a very long while, l found myself wondering how I could not have followed up on just how to turn the in-seat heating on. It was something I'd not had to think about using until now but it is an idea whose time has come. And it was definitely a three-cat-night at home - and S sent both M and I a picture to prove it - of Maggie, Tinker and Beazley all on the bed! The good news is that Tinker's paw seems to be better - she was putting weight on it tonight and didn't seem to be saving it, so that's good. Not so good is that the sore paw now seems to have transferred to M who is fairly sure it isn't broken but that doesn't mean it's not sore, painful and "catching".

S had the house to herself last night as M and I went back to CSP at The Big House. It has been a while - but the same players are still there and while the 10% (straight flush) has been won a few times, the pool is still in the $150,000 range so well worth winning! Alas, last night was not our night but we came out of it with our stakes intact, and a few small chips to pass on to S! And we'll all be back at The Big House in a minute because we're back there on Saturday for lunch to celebrate A's birthday.

Holly and Dolly have been moved (as suspected since they weren't in their paddock earlier in the week). It was too dark for me to see on the way out yesterday morning (and too dark when I got home last night) but S says they have been moved up to where Sweetie was but they are in separate paddocks.

The full moon is brilliant at the moment! And thinking about it, this goes a little way to explain the King Tide which has left more erosion on the Coast - to the point where they have been bringing in sand and "sculpting" at least one of the beaches.

A quick visit

Gold Coast radio is as good as ever. I am still getting used to the fact that Mayor-elect had a deeper voice on the ads before the election than afterwards (maybe it was something they did in the editing studio?) - and now to find out that one company here has overseen the installation of "over 18,000 solar systems" is enough to blow me away!

Today is 1 August - the horses' birthday - which means Dolly is now a yearling and she and Holly will soon be separated. That's what S was saying yesterday (as told to her by M). I was wondering which of them would be moved from the paddock. But when I took Pearl for a walk down to B's yesterday, neither of them was there. I wonder where L has put them. It's not the same going down there and not seeing them!

It was freezing on the way out of Latimers this morning - Lars said it was 6 degrees - and I believe it! But the most amazing thing is that it's almost light in the mornings when I leave home - not "light" light but not totally dark! It's a nice change and means Winter must be almost over ... Spring is only a month away now. Not that it's been a particularly harsh winter but it has had its moments and even I'm grateful when I slip into those warm furry ugg boots in the morning!

Tink appears to have done herself some injury to her left front paw and has been hobbling around. M's had a look at it and can't see anything obvious so we'll continue to monitor it. It did seem a little less painful to her last night.

Otherwise all the furries are well and doing their best to enjoy the MasterChef All-Stars. They haven't had much of a chance to watch the Olympics yet but hopefully they will in the next few days. Duck at the Door is still there and seems to be enjoying its life on the farm!

A breath of fresh air

There's nothing like a few days away and we are currently enjoying some time away from Latimers ... at the beach. We are celebrating S's birthday - a little late, but that's okay. There is something about being at the beach though - and staying in a 16th floor apartment across the road from the beach with sweeping views up the coast to Surfers Paradise, and down the beach to the Currumbin headland (where you can see the planes turning on their way to Coolangatta Airport).

S's family is staying in the same unit block and we had a celebratory dinner with them (and M) last night. It was wonderful! We didn't get back upstairs and to bed until close to midnight and we had to have the children back downstairs by 7.30 this morning so they could have their showers and do what children do when they are on holidays.

We are hoping to get into the spa and the sauna this evening ... before checking out and making our way back to Latimers in the morning.

In the meantime, of course, there are plenty of beach activities - sitting watching the beach, standing watching the beach, leaning watching the beach ... the list goes on. You really feel it when you're a water sign because the ocean seems to have a pull on you. I could sit and watch the ebb and flow of the sea forever. And there's the Burleigh Markets too ...

New addition

M announced this afternoon that there was a new addition to the family! And that Pearl loves it. I didn't ask too many questions fear it be a new dog, specifically Prince or Ebony, both of whom could do worse than move in to Latimers (Prince for a week while his folks are on holiday and before Mouse rives back to babysit [dog-sit] him and Ebony because we feel sorry for her - she doesn't seem to get much love or affection. And even though she now has the swings and a trampoline out there with her, so at least she has some decent shade, I'm sure they're wondering what they've done wrong to be put out there too!). But it wasn't Prince or Ebony! S was home when M brought the new addition in and I'm not sure if she thought it was real, with its little head peeking over the top of the bag as M carried it over from the car! It is a duck - and a very cute one! Does it have a name I wonder. It's taken up residence near the front door and seems to be very happy there!

Sunday

M is back and we are all settling in again, especially the furries (no auto-correct ... not fairies!) who have wasted no time moving back into M's room. They (okay, and we) really did miss her as she played on the other side of the world. She left Mouse over there with M and H, while she came back, via South Korea. It looks like M had a great time - we know this because we started going through the photographs with her last night. She made us stop before we were all the way through them though - and because they were her photos, we couldn't really argue, even though we wanted to. But at least now we have more to look forward to, and at least we saw the ballooning shots!

It only seems like M has just arrived back and now Mi has taken herself off to Pristina to visit family, friends and her old stamping grounds (why do they call them that?). F is already missing her and kept M for company for a good chunk of yesterday after they had taken Mi to the airport to see her off.

The Markets was good today and we were more than I thought we would be. N's M and C came along and sat with us; E was there, and Sy dropped by on her way to pick up her dogsled. We went out to lunch at Ferry Road Markets with Sy afterwards and it was good she could catch up with M (since we had only seen her last weekend). Next time, though, we will know to check the size of the fries sides, because we were all a bit stunned when the "large" came in a bowl the size of a small bucket!

Master Chef continues onto the Finals week which starts tonight. I'm not sure if I want to watch it - only because I fear some of the contestants will become more cut-throat than they need to. And that wouldn't be a good look!

It was worth watching though because the restaurant where the contestants were fighting to stay in the competition was one where S and I had enjoyed my farewell dinner when I was left Chevron way back when. (That's like a whole 'nother life now.)

M is out tonight but the furries are in - one with me, one with S, Pearl on her bed and Maggie not quite sure of where she wants to be, but she did settle for a moment on S's lap to shred her thighs with razor-like claws before taking up a position on the couch top behind her.

They really do like being inside on cold evenings - and we're pleased they do - especially when there were strange noises outside before - it sounded a bit like an animal in pain. I was a bit concerned about Maggie until she finally came in (the others were in when the commotion happened).

Monday

The moon is back! It's been a while since it's been visible through the cloud cover but it, Jupiter and ... what is the name of that other planet?... were bright and marvellous in the pre-dawn sky. It must be amazing to be an astronomer and have access to massive telescopes with which to scan the skies! But it wasn't just that they were there - it was that they were light and big just above the tree-line!

The weather stayed clear again today and I was harbouring hopes that the ground would dry out enough for a quick mow - but when it squelched underfoot, I knew it wasn't to be. But at least S was able to do a bunch of Washing because the sock drawer was looking a little empty.

J was just leaving as I arrived home - an early clean this week as M is due back tomorrow (everyone cheers!!). l called out to S when I couldn't locate her - and found she had been mopped into the office area when J did the floors. So, while she waited for them to dry, Pearl and I took the rubbish up to the road. Then, it was time for Pearl’s walk - where she proceeded to be less than the well-behaved dog to which we have become accustomed. I had her on the lead for going out the gate and away from Ebony's immediate vicinity and while that's usually trouble-free, today Pearl jumped and twisted around - and threw her collar! Luckily she didn't go racing into Ebony's paddock because I'm not sure how I would have separated them. Then as we walked down the lane, she ducked under a fence and into one of the horse's paddocks - looking for a tasty bit of processed grass? - when the horse politely asked her to leave and she didn't immediately. S, back at Latimers folding washing, said she noticed a horse start pig-rooting and galloping up and down its paddock, setting off the horses in the neighbouring and nearby paddocks. What she didn't see was it go for Pearl - who made it out of the paddock unscathed - and then went to nip the nose of the horse two paddocks down when it came over to the fence to suggest Pearl just keep walking past. On the way back, Pearl went under that horse's fence, through the paddocks and back to the tasty morsel. I didn't see what it was - and part of me doesn't really want to know what it was! The rest of the walk was uneventful!

S thinks Tinker is still harbouring some distrust towards her following her interventions to help me corral her for her recent Vet visits. Tink is incredibly avoidant when S tries to call her in for her dinner and shot - and last night as soon as S went anywhere near her, she scooted off the other way. She is not as wary of me it seems (even though I am the one who keeps talking roundabout with her) and she came straight in when I called her.

Monday is Trivia night and luckily N and S are back. And it showed because we came out as tied for first and after the tie-break question (at what percent is silver considered "Sterling"?) we emerged victorious. As we kept telling N and S, it has been a while between wins (or even places), so we hope now they can see they do make a solid and valuable contribution to the team - and understand why they will never be allowed to go on holidays again!

MasterChef featured an elimination challenge and we watched it when we got back from Trivia. It had gone over again and even though S had done her trick of recording the next program as well, it didn't work. When she checked it, it wasn't there. It stopped at Ben being safe, and the announcement of whether it would be Alice or Wade who would be eliminated was left hanging on the judge's lips. Thank goodness for the interweb - where we were able to see the final minutes of the program and watch Wade go on his way.

Then, since we have an early start in the morning - F is picking S up from Crestwood Zarraffas at 5:45 for their drive to Brisbane Airport to collect M - we called it a night.

Sunday

Well, the rain appears to have stopped, but for how long? At least the Kokoda Challengers wouldn't have been trudging through mud and slush all weekend! We did have a text from Sy during the evening last night to say they were sitting in a paddock full of cow droppings waiting for their Challengers. She gave no other details so we don't know if there were cows in the paddock as well. She texted this afternoon to let us know that their group had finished at around 4 this afternoon. Mammoth effort! Sy and M-A are talking about doing the walk next year if they can get a team together. Wouldn't that be an interesting exercise!?

The Markets were good - with a bigger crowd at our table than we are used to with M and the boys, and R, joining us. E is away in NZ at the moment, enjoyng less than clement Weather. A heavy cloud seems to have settled over Auckland and shows no sign of lifting. We don't have (much) cloud here today but there was enough, plus a cool gale, that kept us from going outside into the open air. It would have been difficult to make the move, too, because the table was groaning with food! A had done some special baking (including snow for “Christmas in July”) as it’s Mi's last markets for a while. Come Saturday she'll be boarding that big plane and setting off for Pristina. F won't be going with her but it won't be long until he'll be setting off for Jordan. There's been no further word on Lu's trip to the U.S. for his scholarship interview and if F is going to go with him but they’ll have to make a decision on that soon. I think they were leaning to Lu going by himself especially as he’s such a sensible young man and it’s only a few months before he’s off to do attend college there!

There are moves afoot to secure a new U.S. Sister City for the Gold Coast. It may actually be two but some of us are only excited by one of them! And that is ... Las Vegas. The other one is Honolulu. But given that the Gold Coast is due for those four new casinos, Las Vegas as a Sister City seems quite ... appropriate.

We were hoping to find a nice spot in the sun today to have a sit but it wasn't that kind of day, so we settled for an Asian lunch over at the Q Centre and I secured a table for us while S (thank you) did a "hunt and gather" at the shops.

Back at Latimers, rain stopped, S and I have been able to get out into the yard for a round of "pick-up" and, quite by accident I worked out how to do the very best job ... make sure you do it in the pair of snowy white runners that you have on for the first time. While S may have almost stepped in it, I didn't even come close! It's just a shame that the ground hasn't dried out yet so there was no way I could mow today. I'm hoping it will though and that I’ll able to do it tomorrow (especially since M arrives home on Tuesday).

Can you believe that this is the second-last week of MasterChef? They will lose three contestants this week and then one each night next week. I suppose the timing makes sense because the Olympics will soon be upon us and coverage of them will be filling the air waves.

Tink came in to watch MasterChef this evening, or we thought that was why she came in - actually it was so she could have a big nap on the couch - and impress us with her snoring! It's hard to know who's louder - Tink or Pearl ... they are both quite impressive. It's good to have Tink back inside though, especially as the temperature is supposed to drop down to 8 degrees tonight. It's definitely a night for Pearl to have her nightie on - it's been warm enough for most of the last week that she hasn't needed it - and the one night we did put it on her, she tried to take it off.

She must have been tired tonight because as well as sleeping through MasterChef, Pearl came to bed with me rather than sitting up with S as she usually does. For a moment there I thought Beazley would come as well, but that was not to be.

Saturday

Tinker wasn't - in a more cooperative frame of mind. At 4:30 she was scratching on the bedroom door to come in, so I let her and then she went straight over to the screen door and started scratching on that. She’s clever, you have to give her that, but she wasn't going out without having her shot. So I took her out of the bedroom (surprised that S was sleeping through this) and went to get her shot ready while she took up her position under a kitchen chair. It didn't take her that long to work out that we both wanted the same thing - she wanted to go out and I wanted her to go out but still as I pulled the chair out she started fast-walking up the hall. I followed her and as she stood by the back door, I gave her the shot, and then sent her on her way - and left a note for S so she would know not to give Tink another shot - since she had kindly offered to do them this morning.

It would be fair to say we weren't expecting Sy to arrive just after 8 this morning, but she did give us ten minutes warning - so we were glad of that! She had brought a friend, M-A, who was also being back-up for their Kokoda Challengers - M-A even had a branded t-shirt for the event.

After they'd gone - several laughs and stories later, S took Pearl for a walk (the rain has stopped and sunshine has been sighted!) down to B's. Dolly was glad to see them - coming over to the fence to say hello. Last night when Pearl and I were down that way, Dolly wasn't budging from their shelter - and that was probably a good call on her part!

Then it was off to Pacific Fair, for me anyway, while S showed Pearl that she shouldn't be sad because she was stuck at home on a Saturday because not everyone gets to go out on a Saturday! Pearl wasn't buying any of it!

Much later, I was standing waiting for the kettle to boil after I arrived back at Latimers and was amazed to see one of S's birds there. I tried to take a photograph of it through the window but that didn't work. Sneaking up on it outside wasn't really an option - I had tried for a photograph of the bird I call "the Crane" this morning but missed that (could it have had anything to do with my squeaky shoe?) so I wasn't particularly hopeful. I did get a photo, but not the one I was after. And since Nik was out we also took him down to B's on our walk with Pearl. Dolly came over - thereby answering the riddle of the brown patch on her side which I noticed a couple of days ago: she's been branded ... but on the other side, she's only been shaved on this side. Not quite sure why that is - I’ll have to check with a horse person or maybe the interweb.

Tink came in for dinner but not with the others. I'm not sure why - perhaps she's had a fright - or maybe she's a bit off-colour but she really hasn't been herself today. She spent most of it on one of the chairs out the back. Or is she just side of the rain and missing the sunshine? The patch of bright we had this morning didn't last that long and anyone who knows Tink knows she loves basking in the sunlight. Do cats get SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)?

S cooked a chicken stirfry for dinner and we had it with Mrs Browns Boys - a television program, a comedy, about an interfering but caring Irish mother with some of her children (all grown-up) still living at home. The humour is a bit crass but they do make some interesting insights into life, the universe and other things. I like it because it's filmed in front of a live audience and it's not pretending to be anything other than what it is - so we get to see the production, sets and all. S seemed to enjoy it as well but didn't want to watch the second episode straight away - those lifestyle programs were calling!