Tuesday

It's always nice to start the day with a Zarraffas' coffee and a read of the papers and while I do that most days,  it is especially sweet on a day when I don't have to rush off to work afterwards.  This morning rather than reading the papers,  I was working on the puzzles which need to get away today if they are going to make the competition entry deadline.   It's quite different doing more puzzles in the books - and having the chance to do lots of neat writing (almost as invigorating as solving the puzzles for some people!).

M had already left by the time I arrived home - she was going in early to help Mouse prepare for lunch today.  D, J and daughter A who moved to Melbourne last year were back for a visit so Mouse was hosting lunch for them, J's mother and sister, Mi and F,  and us - and A came along too!   It was great to catch-up and to find out that they are settling into life in Melbourne.   They are lucky enough to a tram stop a few doors away from them - convenient but not noisy.   J has recently changed jobs - and has gone from working in a private practice to taking on a role in a single company.  He finds it quite strange not to have to track time (the charging unit in private firms) and to have moved from a walled office environment into open plan.   S was trying to remember what the theory behind open plan offices was but neither she nor the rest of us could. Was it supposed to foster better communication and teamwork? It's certainly more economical - you don't need to put up as many walls,  and wiring communications is probably cheaper as well.  

We had taken our togs/cossies/swimmers with us and after lunch S was the only one to take the opportunity to jump into M's pool for a dip. It did look wonderful and she seemed to enjoy it very much.  At this stage,  we'll get to have a swim tomorrow as well (we're going up to J's for a BBQ in the afternoon) - and maybe on Thursday as well when D and C come down from Brisbane to play in the ocean - which they've been doing a bit over the Christmas break.  

Post-lunch,  it was back to Latimers to feed the animals and settle in for a quiet evening at home.   I am working my way through Primeval (just starting Season 2) and S is catching up with her lifestyle programs - and an episode of Modern Family.   

I don't think I mentioned that L from next door is in training to do the Kokoda Challenge in a couple of months.   We spotted him out on one of his training walks on the way back from Mouse's today - he was making good progress along the main road and having a chat on his mobile phone as he powered along.  

We couldn't have been more pleased with the furries tonight.   S had taken herself off to bed to listen to a podcast, and as I was wandering through the house,  between little jobs,  I realized that the cats were waiting to come in - all within 10 minutes of each other - so lockdown was achieved by 9:15!  I didn't wander off to bed for a while after that, but it was good to know that the cats and Pearl were all tucked up safe and sound - and that the local wildlife is safe for another evening!