It has been a fair while coming (it's been three whole months - a quarter of a year - since M's birthday on 29 February) but finally it's "A Night At The Opera" for M and S. They left at 4:30 this afternoon to drive up to Brisbane, leaving me in charge of feeding and medicating those furries that are this evening. This is new for me because usually it is M or S who does it since I am "the morning shift". The hardest part was keeping everyone away from everyone else's dinner - and considering they all had exactly the same flavours on their plates (although in different quantities) why they would want to eat anyone else's was a bit puzzling to me. But never mind, that was the way they wanted to play it and since I'm just the temp, I let them do whatever they wanted - except muscling each other out of the way! Tink only left her plate when she had had enough, not when Beazley and/or Maggie wanted her to vacate.
It was odd, though, because I had the house to myself for the evening with them. The only other time I've been "home alone" I think is when I've not been well and I've just curled up in bed and gone to sleep. But not tonight! I bet I will have those ratings people wondering with the programs I watched this evening - The Brady Bunch, The Simpsons, Modern Family, one scene from Bikie Wars (I was channel surfing and couldn't believe what I was seeing!!!! or that I had chanced upon what they had announced at the start of the show as the "one sex scene"), some of The Big Bang Theory, a little of Everyone Loves Raymond, Get Smart, MasterChef ... and I think there was something else but I can't remember. I know that for some of it - when Beazley was sitting on my lap and I couldn't move (how is it that cats manage to drill into you with one paw with all their weight!) I couldn't reach the remote so couldn't move on ... but when I could I did do a bit of surfing up and down the channels looking for anything I wanted to watch (which wasn't a lifestyle program). And I did my surfing on the television channels - staying well away from Austar in case S had set programs to record.
Even though S declared it "wild and woolley out there" this morning, it wasn't too bad today but it did start raining very gently this afternoon and a little more heavily this evening - which could be one of the reasons the furries didn't mind coming in early for lockdown - although I did let Beazley out as I was going to bed (before M and S arrived home) because he wanted to. I sent S a text letting her know he was out - so they wouldn't trip over him in the dark - and that the others were in - so they wouldn't let them out when they let themselves in. In this interchange, I found out that they had enjoyed the evening, including dinner with Sy (whose birthday was yesterday).
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Monday
It is still cold here - which is reasonable since it's only the start of Winter. As I drove out of Latimers this morning (in the dark) it was 8 degrees and I would swear the cows were all huddled together for warmth! There was no mist over the valley though - and while it looked as though there was a light frost on the ground in some places - I think it was just dew - not mountain dew though because we aren't in the mountains.
Tink had to go to the vet again this afternoon (after her low reading last week) and we had corralled her by the time M arrived home - which is to say we had closed the doors while she was inside and when M arrived, S went over to the door to let her in, and scooped up Tink who was waiting there to go out so she couldn't escape before her evening insulin shot. M was most appreciative that S had her ready to just hand over so M could load her into the car ... and it was good - S had completely forgotten Tink had to go to the vet so she hadn't needed to pretend that she wasn't just scooping her up so she wouldn't run out - because if you do pretend you're not getting her ready for a vet visit - Tink can see right through the subterfuge and makes it very difficult for anyone to catch her. After the vet visit, M could report Tink's still reading a bit on the low side and has been dropped to 4 units morning and night - and she has to go back this Friday for another blood test.
Well you can't win them all but placing second isn't bad! Trivia night tonight and we were one mark off the winning action - although the scores weren't nearly as heady as last week. It was a good game although we suspected we were not going to do that well when we saw one of the categories was "Oz, Oz, Oz" which we have never done well in - and it was not a self-fulfilling prophecy (we don't jinx ourselves) but it was our lowest scoring round - 6 out of a possible 10. We would have been horrified if we hadn't been expecting it!
So it was another late night by the time we were done but it is well worth it - especially since I had managed a short nap between getting home from work and heading out for trivia (essential!) and still managed to get Mouse's puzzles finished and into the mail on the way home!
Tink had to go to the vet again this afternoon (after her low reading last week) and we had corralled her by the time M arrived home - which is to say we had closed the doors while she was inside and when M arrived, S went over to the door to let her in, and scooped up Tink who was waiting there to go out so she couldn't escape before her evening insulin shot. M was most appreciative that S had her ready to just hand over so M could load her into the car ... and it was good - S had completely forgotten Tink had to go to the vet so she hadn't needed to pretend that she wasn't just scooping her up so she wouldn't run out - because if you do pretend you're not getting her ready for a vet visit - Tink can see right through the subterfuge and makes it very difficult for anyone to catch her. After the vet visit, M could report Tink's still reading a bit on the low side and has been dropped to 4 units morning and night - and she has to go back this Friday for another blood test.
Well you can't win them all but placing second isn't bad! Trivia night tonight and we were one mark off the winning action - although the scores weren't nearly as heady as last week. It was a good game although we suspected we were not going to do that well when we saw one of the categories was "Oz, Oz, Oz" which we have never done well in - and it was not a self-fulfilling prophecy (we don't jinx ourselves) but it was our lowest scoring round - 6 out of a possible 10. We would have been horrified if we hadn't been expecting it!
So it was another late night by the time we were done but it is well worth it - especially since I had managed a short nap between getting home from work and heading out for trivia (essential!) and still managed to get Mouse's puzzles finished and into the mail on the way home!
Sunday
The Russians did come - well, their representatives anyway! They went around to Mouse's first and did an interview with her, and then with M ... and then they all came to the Markets to do some filming as well. Mi and F were there early "dressing" the set - Mi had made Locuma, and there were spreads, and cheese, and two types of olives - all nicely arranged/displayed on a blue and white (yes, yes, we know these are Greek or Mother Teresa colours rather than Russian - or even Australian) tablecloth that came on a roll - very clever - and useful especially when we needed another table added to the set-up. It was a good roll-up/turn-out and even M and A's neighbours (parents of two very cute little ones) joined us. N, who had been there before we arrived, couldn't stay - which was a real shame because the folk at the table were a very multicultural offering - and we could have done with a French person in the ranks!
They seemed to get some good shots Of Olga at the Markets - I was standing behind the cameraman for a little bit and could see the screen on his camera - which was a Canon, large format, and looked like a stills camera but obviously did both - as he warned the assembled throng.
Afterwards, S and I went off to spend some time near the water - and Bumbles is the perfect place to do it. We were over the road, in the park, and managed to score a table that was part in sun (for me) and part in the shade (for S). That, a cool drink for each of us, and a paper to read made for a very pleasant interlude!
We were home early afternoon - in time to see a wonderful grey bird, shaped a bit like a stork (or how I imagine one to look - sans the baby in a daiper), or a thin ibis, settle briefly on L's paddock fence closest to Latimers before flapping away over the garage before I had a chance to get a camera out (which is amazing since I had three with me).
They seemed to get some good shots Of Olga at the Markets - I was standing behind the cameraman for a little bit and could see the screen on his camera - which was a Canon, large format, and looked like a stills camera but obviously did both - as he warned the assembled throng.
Afterwards, S and I went off to spend some time near the water - and Bumbles is the perfect place to do it. We were over the road, in the park, and managed to score a table that was part in sun (for me) and part in the shade (for S). That, a cool drink for each of us, and a paper to read made for a very pleasant interlude!
We were home early afternoon - in time to see a wonderful grey bird, shaped a bit like a stork (or how I imagine one to look - sans the baby in a daiper), or a thin ibis, settle briefly on L's paddock fence closest to Latimers before flapping away over the garage before I had a chance to get a camera out (which is amazing since I had three with me).
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Saturday
There's nothing quite like waking up and being able to look out the window to see the ocean. Although just saying that reminds me of the time we were holidaying at Burleigh Heads (some years before moving to Latimers) in a high rise unit across the road from the beach and the phone rang, waking us. I think we had already been up - I took a lot of sunrise photographs that year - and gone back to bed. It was M on the phone, asking if we had heard about the tsunami heading our way. Tsunami!!?!! Yes, there had been an underwater earthquake somewhere to the north of Australia which had sparked a tsunami warning across parts of the Pacific coastline. My brother, also holidaying on the Gold Coast, in the apartment just down the hall from us (we were all en route to Mum and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary) had heard and had set up his tripod and camera, aiming it towards Surfers Paradise, and he was settling in to wait for the tsunami shot. He figured there was nowhere to go - we would be safe where we were - and if there were to be an evacuation, the authorities would organise it in good time. And besides, we had our own business with the ocean that day ... a camera, champagne flutes, hibiscus flowers, an anniversary message writ in large letters in the sand - and all the time we were doing it - even though the tsunami alert had been long cancelled - we kept checking out to sea to see if the tide was going out a long long way! I think the tsunami did happen but not in a dramatic way ... it was only a couple of centimetres high and therefore presented no hazard to life and limb.
But today there were no tsunami warnings (the day dawned fine and sunny) and S and I enjoyed a light but nourishing breakfast in the Executive Lounge (thanks M) before meeting M downstairs for a cup of coffee and some plan-making. We decided to meet she and Mouse at Robina to offer some assistance with present buying, then Yum Cha (very nice) before they went off looking for more presents.
Then S and I returned to Latimers - which seems to be a tad colder than other parts of the Coast. I know Lars isn't a thermometer but before we turned into the Crossing road it was 20 degrees, and by the time we made it to Latimers a minute or two later, it was down to 18. It's beginning to feel a lot like ... Winter! M was saying that Pearl and Maggie slept either side of her last night, right up close ... and no wonder - it had been 8 degrees overnight! They're going to miss her while she's away - and I think the two of them (who have permission to sleep in her room in her absence) may very well spend some nights snuggled up together. We'll have to check with M if the heater gets left on for them!
As we drove in this afternoon all of L's horses were standing by their paddock fences hopeful for an early dinner; Ebony the dog was over by the paddock fence as well but she was barking at a cow that had dared to come too close to the boundary - and it must have been a fairly obstinate cow - or had been joined by friends - because she was still barking when I finally succumbed to bedtime just after 11 - but not before putting on flanny PJs and bedsocks!
But today there were no tsunami warnings (the day dawned fine and sunny) and S and I enjoyed a light but nourishing breakfast in the Executive Lounge (thanks M) before meeting M downstairs for a cup of coffee and some plan-making. We decided to meet she and Mouse at Robina to offer some assistance with present buying, then Yum Cha (very nice) before they went off looking for more presents.
Then S and I returned to Latimers - which seems to be a tad colder than other parts of the Coast. I know Lars isn't a thermometer but before we turned into the Crossing road it was 20 degrees, and by the time we made it to Latimers a minute or two later, it was down to 18. It's beginning to feel a lot like ... Winter! M was saying that Pearl and Maggie slept either side of her last night, right up close ... and no wonder - it had been 8 degrees overnight! They're going to miss her while she's away - and I think the two of them (who have permission to sleep in her room in her absence) may very well spend some nights snuggled up together. We'll have to check with M if the heater gets left on for them!
As we drove in this afternoon all of L's horses were standing by their paddock fences hopeful for an early dinner; Ebony the dog was over by the paddock fence as well but she was barking at a cow that had dared to come too close to the boundary - and it must have been a fairly obstinate cow - or had been joined by friends - because she was still barking when I finally succumbed to bedtime just after 11 - but not before putting on flanny PJs and bedsocks!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Friday
I felt a bit mean waking Pearl up this morning and making her go outside in the rain but there are just some things you have to do. I think I may have felt better about it had I not known she is not an early riser (too early for double negatives!!).
S was up early helping with the packing for our overnight stay at The Big House - I took the bag with me as I'll go straight there after work (not forgetting to go to the dentist on the way!).
Of course, when I made the appointment with my dentist at Broadbeach over a month ago (it was rescheduled from then since he had been sent home sick), I had not thought to check what else might be happening in the area that day - like the Blues on Broadbeach Festival. Loud; dynamic; wet (pity about that because it meant people, gravitated on the sidewalks (footpaths even) under awnings - and amazing. I'm listening to a harmonica solo at the moment and it is simply amazing - and isn't there a song about all the groovy people - where do they all come from? Of course, there may not be because I have been known to get song lyrics wrong (that's why I'm a docious instead of being precocious in the Sound of Music, and why my name is Garfundi instead of the Lady Darbanville).
It was quite late by the time I joined S at The Big House. I was in the dentist's chair for 2.5 hours - a mammoth effort by Jamie and Marjela to fix my cracked bridge and do a clean. I was under strict instructions not to eat anything until my mouth lost the numbness ... they had really dosed me up on anaesthetic so we had time to wait for M to come in from Latimers, and have a go at CSP before even thinking about dinner - which was at Spinners ... which, although good, is not a patch on what it used to be! Staff cuts seem to have led to queues outside and uncleared empty tables inside. It does make me wonder about economics and the future of the country though. If companies keep cutting jobs doesn't that just mean there will be less available cash in the community for people to spend on their wares? Although, I think I read somewhere that this (harder fiscal times) is nature's way of weeding out poorly run companies. But then, you can't believe everything you read!
But the big news of the evening was that we couldn't get on to the front CSP table but M knows the Big House and led us down to the next CSP table which has changed back to $10 (from $15 - too rich for me!). We were able to get two seats there: but that one's saved said a woman already sitting there - sending M and I into the end positions - and me into what turned out to be the "hot" seat. I can not tell you how excited I was at one stage to pick up my hand and find 4 Kings - and then have the dealer open! Bonus! It was the best night I've had at the the tables - M reckons it's because I haven't played for a while and the Gambling G*ds are enticing me back in ... well, it could work! But in the meantime there are some nice dollars there for S's 60th birthday celebrations! My only regret is that after dinner I was exhausted - a big work day, long dentist visit, and great gambling excitement meant I just didn't have it in me to kick on even though I really wanted to!
S was up early helping with the packing for our overnight stay at The Big House - I took the bag with me as I'll go straight there after work (not forgetting to go to the dentist on the way!).
Of course, when I made the appointment with my dentist at Broadbeach over a month ago (it was rescheduled from then since he had been sent home sick), I had not thought to check what else might be happening in the area that day - like the Blues on Broadbeach Festival. Loud; dynamic; wet (pity about that because it meant people, gravitated on the sidewalks (footpaths even) under awnings - and amazing. I'm listening to a harmonica solo at the moment and it is simply amazing - and isn't there a song about all the groovy people - where do they all come from? Of course, there may not be because I have been known to get song lyrics wrong (that's why I'm a docious instead of being precocious in the Sound of Music, and why my name is Garfundi instead of the Lady Darbanville).
It was quite late by the time I joined S at The Big House. I was in the dentist's chair for 2.5 hours - a mammoth effort by Jamie and Marjela to fix my cracked bridge and do a clean. I was under strict instructions not to eat anything until my mouth lost the numbness ... they had really dosed me up on anaesthetic so we had time to wait for M to come in from Latimers, and have a go at CSP before even thinking about dinner - which was at Spinners ... which, although good, is not a patch on what it used to be! Staff cuts seem to have led to queues outside and uncleared empty tables inside. It does make me wonder about economics and the future of the country though. If companies keep cutting jobs doesn't that just mean there will be less available cash in the community for people to spend on their wares? Although, I think I read somewhere that this (harder fiscal times) is nature's way of weeding out poorly run companies. But then, you can't believe everything you read!
But the big news of the evening was that we couldn't get on to the front CSP table but M knows the Big House and led us down to the next CSP table which has changed back to $10 (from $15 - too rich for me!). We were able to get two seats there: but that one's saved said a woman already sitting there - sending M and I into the end positions - and me into what turned out to be the "hot" seat. I can not tell you how excited I was at one stage to pick up my hand and find 4 Kings - and then have the dealer open! Bonus! It was the best night I've had at the the tables - M reckons it's because I haven't played for a while and the Gambling G*ds are enticing me back in ... well, it could work! But in the meantime there are some nice dollars there for S's 60th birthday celebrations! My only regret is that after dinner I was exhausted - a big work day, long dentist visit, and great gambling excitement meant I just didn't have it in me to kick on even though I really wanted to!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thursday
I was very excited yesterday to find that the Euro-Vision Song Contest is almost upon us - tomorrow night and Sunday night I think are the semi-finals (but I could be wrong about that). I was introduced to the EVSC the first year S and I were together - she made me watch it - and if memory serves me correctly, it was on a tiny home entertainment centre which had something like a 7" screen (it was almost in the days before metric but not quite). Englebert Humperdink is performing this year - at 67 he is going to be one of the oldest contestants. We may have to tape it if we do stay over at The Big House tomorrow night.
M took her car off to the mechanics today (that makes three cars in three weeks from Latimers) and hopefully they will be able to find the leak that keeps her car giving hissing sounds when she stops. Hopefully it is a leak and not a snake - but her coolant light has been coming on, which suggests the car has lost some fluids. (On her walk near the mechanics today, M did see a live black snake!)
S is not well today (she was a little off colour yesterday but not badly so) and has been keeping a low profile (I would have liked to have said she has been "laying" low, or should that be "lying"? And that's precisely why I sought other words.)
Beazley's wounded ear seems to be healing nicely although it does look as though he's lost a bit of fur there - or it could just be that the salve M is putting it on is making it look different from the other one. The best thing is that it doesn't appear to be infected so there should be no trip to the vet for him. We're hoping he doesn't get into any scraps/scrapes while M is away overseas - it's always difficult to know whether to take them straight to the vet for treatment, or DIY first and see how it goes.
It's not yet 5pm and the daylight is beginning to fade - and we're still a month away from the shortest day of the year (is that the Winter Solstice?).
I'm not sure if I mentioned that L is back from his trek of the Kokoda Trail; and we cannot get over how much weight he has lost; he's looking on the gaunt side and that isn't a look he wears well.
M took her car off to the mechanics today (that makes three cars in three weeks from Latimers) and hopefully they will be able to find the leak that keeps her car giving hissing sounds when she stops. Hopefully it is a leak and not a snake - but her coolant light has been coming on, which suggests the car has lost some fluids. (On her walk near the mechanics today, M did see a live black snake!)
S is not well today (she was a little off colour yesterday but not badly so) and has been keeping a low profile (I would have liked to have said she has been "laying" low, or should that be "lying"? And that's precisely why I sought other words.)
Beazley's wounded ear seems to be healing nicely although it does look as though he's lost a bit of fur there - or it could just be that the salve M is putting it on is making it look different from the other one. The best thing is that it doesn't appear to be infected so there should be no trip to the vet for him. We're hoping he doesn't get into any scraps/scrapes while M is away overseas - it's always difficult to know whether to take them straight to the vet for treatment, or DIY first and see how it goes.
It's not yet 5pm and the daylight is beginning to fade - and we're still a month away from the shortest day of the year (is that the Winter Solstice?).
I'm not sure if I mentioned that L is back from his trek of the Kokoda Trail; and we cannot get over how much weight he has lost; he's looking on the gaunt side and that isn't a look he wears well.
Wednesday
There was no Bingo for our lot today. Mouse had an appointment so couldn't make it so S and M decided to see a movie instead. They both enjoyed it and S likened it to Slum Dog Millionaire - which made me wonder if it was a "feel good" film all the way through or just at the end! Then they went off to do "errands" which kept them busy until it was time for them to go down to John Flynn Hospital to visit J who is recovering from surgery. They said she was in good spirits, and pleased that her visitors were spread throughout the day. She is still on clear fluids, so when her dinner arrived they were able to see her tea, and soup, and jelly ... and ice cream - which I have never thought of as a clear fluid, but perhaps it is a special type of ice cream. I hope we never have to find out.
They were running late on their return - and M rang and asked if I could take Tink to the vet for her diabetes check ... yes, she still has it and had a reading of 6.1 which seems a little low. They have dropped her insulin to 5 (morning and night) and want to see her again on Monday afternoon - then, hopefully fortnightly - which may be a challenge because M leaves for Russia next weekend and it will be up to us to corral Tink. I didn't do too bad a job today, although it could have gone either way - I had been keeping her pretty much in sight all afternoon to keep tabs on where she was - in case she pulled the disappearing trick for M - and I'm sure I didn't spook her (or tip her off) because I wasn't even thinking about being the one to take her - until the call came.
After having S's company all day, M offered to take us all out to dinner - and, of course, we said yes. We went to the little Italian restaurant in Station Street (the one on the lower level - but they are moving this weekend to street level). This had been a favourite - and was run by two sisters - until they went to doing just pizza, and now they have expanded to a fuller menu - but it really just isn't as good a dining experience - especially when we had to wait so long for our meals - made even more difficult because folk who came in after us had their dinners before us - and they had the same types of dishes - pizza and pasta - as us. Ah well, will this be like The Groper and His Misses? We give them another chance and then make up our mind as to whether we'll go there again.
(There has been no mention of CSP because it has been rescheduled - probably to Friday as M has a couple of comp nights in at The Big House and it will be nice to be able to play/watch at the tables late, and then just fall into bed rather than having to drive home!)
They were running late on their return - and M rang and asked if I could take Tink to the vet for her diabetes check ... yes, she still has it and had a reading of 6.1 which seems a little low. They have dropped her insulin to 5 (morning and night) and want to see her again on Monday afternoon - then, hopefully fortnightly - which may be a challenge because M leaves for Russia next weekend and it will be up to us to corral Tink. I didn't do too bad a job today, although it could have gone either way - I had been keeping her pretty much in sight all afternoon to keep tabs on where she was - in case she pulled the disappearing trick for M - and I'm sure I didn't spook her (or tip her off) because I wasn't even thinking about being the one to take her - until the call came.
After having S's company all day, M offered to take us all out to dinner - and, of course, we said yes. We went to the little Italian restaurant in Station Street (the one on the lower level - but they are moving this weekend to street level). This had been a favourite - and was run by two sisters - until they went to doing just pizza, and now they have expanded to a fuller menu - but it really just isn't as good a dining experience - especially when we had to wait so long for our meals - made even more difficult because folk who came in after us had their dinners before us - and they had the same types of dishes - pizza and pasta - as us. Ah well, will this be like The Groper and His Misses? We give them another chance and then make up our mind as to whether we'll go there again.
(There has been no mention of CSP because it has been rescheduled - probably to Friday as M has a couple of comp nights in at The Big House and it will be nice to be able to play/watch at the tables late, and then just fall into bed rather than having to drive home!)
Tuesday
Tink was playing hide and seek with me at 5 this morning - obviously she had decided she did not want her insulin injection this morning. When I did find her, approaching with a masterful gaze, she put herself under the kitchen table knowing that I wouldn't be going in there after her and, if I did, she would be able to escape fairly easily. So I did the only thing I could think of - I tricked her. I went over to the front door to let her out and as soon as she arrived, I quickly gave her the shot and sent her on her way. She was back a few minutes later - overtaken by the need to eat cookies.
While she was trying to avoid her injection, I would have gladly had one for pain relief. It's good we have a nurse on hand at work. She made me a heatpack and checked my meds (from previous bouts of neck and back pain - they usually only last a couple of days and I never finish the painkillers they prescribe) to make sure they would be okay. I had to tell her I have never had as many health complaints when I was in a workplace that didn't have medical staff! Or perhaps it's just a function of aging. I was a bit concerned because I could track this back injury back to Sunday when I sneezed and heard a "snap" but since the heatpack does work, she assured me it was muscular - rather than a tear which would probably get worse ... phew!).
I thought about calling off dinner with J but decided the range of movements I'd be doing - driving, sitting, eating dinner and drinking tea - would be bearable especially if I kept up the painkillers. She is in great form, very happy and she thinks she's in love. I'm sure of it. She has known K for a while - met him through a friend - and has been getting to know him over the last few months. She now has "withdrawals" when they're apart and has to see him every few days. Yep, she's got it all right. I'm happy for her too ... she deserves some happiness, and there hasn't been a great deal, since her husband left her for R's teacher five years ago.
I don't know how, but I missed my appointment with the doctor this afternoon - and to think I had been wishing I had one today rather than tomorrow; that will teach me to write them down.
Meanwhile, back at Latimers, S was holding the fort with the furries - and sending out telepathic requests to both M and I to bring her home something tasty. Unfortunately neither of us received the message - or, if we did, we didn't recognise it!
While she was trying to avoid her injection, I would have gladly had one for pain relief. It's good we have a nurse on hand at work. She made me a heatpack and checked my meds (from previous bouts of neck and back pain - they usually only last a couple of days and I never finish the painkillers they prescribe) to make sure they would be okay. I had to tell her I have never had as many health complaints when I was in a workplace that didn't have medical staff! Or perhaps it's just a function of aging. I was a bit concerned because I could track this back injury back to Sunday when I sneezed and heard a "snap" but since the heatpack does work, she assured me it was muscular - rather than a tear which would probably get worse ... phew!).
I thought about calling off dinner with J but decided the range of movements I'd be doing - driving, sitting, eating dinner and drinking tea - would be bearable especially if I kept up the painkillers. She is in great form, very happy and she thinks she's in love. I'm sure of it. She has known K for a while - met him through a friend - and has been getting to know him over the last few months. She now has "withdrawals" when they're apart and has to see him every few days. Yep, she's got it all right. I'm happy for her too ... she deserves some happiness, and there hasn't been a great deal, since her husband left her for R's teacher five years ago.
I don't know how, but I missed my appointment with the doctor this afternoon - and to think I had been wishing I had one today rather than tomorrow; that will teach me to write them down.
Meanwhile, back at Latimers, S was holding the fort with the furries - and sending out telepathic requests to both M and I to bring her home something tasty. Unfortunately neither of us received the message - or, if we did, we didn't recognise it!
Monday
They're coming ... they're coming ... the Russians are coming - well, not all of them - just a crew from the Russian television station who will be filming Mouse in situ for the reunion show (only a couple of weeks until filming over there now!).
M has been visiting the travel agent and while I'm sure they think they are helping, their coming up with another option for the route/fare (making it three now) just adds another layer to the decision making, especially when the third option, if workable, represents a considerable saving!
Mouse had give me the puzzle books yesterday and rather than doing them then (okay, I forgot I had them but at least I'd put them somewhere obvious so I would see them and remember! ) I did them at work and this afternoon at home - knowing that since we were going in to Trivia at Southport RSL today, we could drop them off at the Bundall Mail Centre on the way home - which we did. It was funny because as we were going to pull in to the driveway there, our way was blocked by a large silver car. We went in the next driveway. I was glad I hadn't let loose a tirade on that driver because it turned out to be F - and we followed him out - who knew there was another exit?
He was still on a high after our win at Trivia. All the pieces fell into place this evening - we only missed four answers (one in a double round) - and picked the right double rounds - bringing our total to 75 out of a possible 80. I think Craig, the Trivia Master, was a bit taken aback because as he was reading out the scores, he hesitated before saying ours, and went over to confer with Dinah (the scorekeeper) to make sure it was 75! There were some collective "gasps" from the other teams as he read it out. I'm not sure why no-one came up to congratulate us on our win, but Dinah did mention that one of the other teams had questioned our score. We've been wracking our brains but can't remember if this is the highest score there's been since we started playing but it certainly is our best score.
M has been visiting the travel agent and while I'm sure they think they are helping, their coming up with another option for the route/fare (making it three now) just adds another layer to the decision making, especially when the third option, if workable, represents a considerable saving!
Mouse had give me the puzzle books yesterday and rather than doing them then (okay, I forgot I had them but at least I'd put them somewhere obvious so I would see them and remember! ) I did them at work and this afternoon at home - knowing that since we were going in to Trivia at Southport RSL today, we could drop them off at the Bundall Mail Centre on the way home - which we did. It was funny because as we were going to pull in to the driveway there, our way was blocked by a large silver car. We went in the next driveway. I was glad I hadn't let loose a tirade on that driver because it turned out to be F - and we followed him out - who knew there was another exit?
He was still on a high after our win at Trivia. All the pieces fell into place this evening - we only missed four answers (one in a double round) - and picked the right double rounds - bringing our total to 75 out of a possible 80. I think Craig, the Trivia Master, was a bit taken aback because as he was reading out the scores, he hesitated before saying ours, and went over to confer with Dinah (the scorekeeper) to make sure it was 75! There were some collective "gasps" from the other teams as he read it out. I'm not sure why no-one came up to congratulate us on our win, but Dinah did mention that one of the other teams had questioned our score. We've been wracking our brains but can't remember if this is the highest score there's been since we started playing but it certainly is our best score.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sunday
The Skype call with Tr went well this morning although it seemed to be more of a grazing conversation in that we didn't talk about anything really serious, mostly our current viewing proclivities - and there was something about luggage in there as well. The interweb truly has changed the way we shop - she had seen a suitcase she really liked and had wanted to buy it, but her partner talked her out of the on-the-spot purchase, but as soon as they arrived home, Tr went to the interweb to see if she could find it on-line, hopefully cheaper! She did but now she's looking for an even better deal!
There was much talk at the Markets this morning of the various trips folk are planning to take in the near future. Mouse and M will be the first away - they're off in a couple of weeks, then A and M, followed shortly thereafter by Mi. But, they won't all be gone at the same time . . . there will always be someone there to remind us (of who's away).
M made a nice haul with mandarins this morning and they were nice - so nice that their number had been seriously depleted by the time we packed up to leave - and yes it was a little later today because the markets are open longer and we just ... lingered and chatted. N and I were doing iPad things and time really does fly when there's technology on the table. And, of course, we werre still finishing off the cherry slice cake A had baked fresh this morning ... I don't know how she gets up so early on the weekend and is still so cheery! M is looking cheerier too - and I meant to ask him how his dental surgery is progressing. It has been a mammoth effort - and hopefully something he won't need to go through ever again.
Then we went our separate ways - and S and I ended up at The Gropers Wife in Carrara where we overheard this: "Angry Birds; are they a group?" I don't think the children the woman was sitting with knew what to make of that. However, if she had been at intelligent trivia with us on Monday night she would have known it was the most downloaded App in 2011. And knowing that, I couldn't help but wonder what was leading the field for 2012.
There was much talk at the Markets this morning of the various trips folk are planning to take in the near future. Mouse and M will be the first away - they're off in a couple of weeks, then A and M, followed shortly thereafter by Mi. But, they won't all be gone at the same time . . . there will always be someone there to remind us (of who's away).
M made a nice haul with mandarins this morning and they were nice - so nice that their number had been seriously depleted by the time we packed up to leave - and yes it was a little later today because the markets are open longer and we just ... lingered and chatted. N and I were doing iPad things and time really does fly when there's technology on the table. And, of course, we werre still finishing off the cherry slice cake A had baked fresh this morning ... I don't know how she gets up so early on the weekend and is still so cheery! M is looking cheerier too - and I meant to ask him how his dental surgery is progressing. It has been a mammoth effort - and hopefully something he won't need to go through ever again.
Then we went our separate ways - and S and I ended up at The Gropers Wife in Carrara where we overheard this: "Angry Birds; are they a group?" I don't think the children the woman was sitting with knew what to make of that. However, if she had been at intelligent trivia with us on Monday night she would have known it was the most downloaded App in 2011. And knowing that, I couldn't help but wonder what was leading the field for 2012.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Saturday
S and I had breakfast at the Coffee Club at Robina (there were no shootings today), where we were joined by M who had toast and tea with S as I went off to SpecSavers. Both S and I were booked in for eye tests including digital retinal photography - the main reason I was there because my doctor wanted me to have it done to make sure there were no problems. It is much easier than it used to be. It usually requires pupil dilation but they have new technology which means pupil dilation is only necessary sometimes. Both S and I were fine without the dilation - which is just as well because by the time we were done, we didn't really want to hang around until I was right to drive - we did have a plan though - if we needed to we were going to see a movie before going home. But it was good that we didn't need to.
Back at home, we settled in for a quiet afternoon - and it was a nice change at the end of the week. I wanted to catch up with some television viewing (The River, Glee) and with some writing - it has been too long since I had a decent writing session.
It's good to have Pearl home although it was a bit sad to see her, with big puppy dog eyes, waiting for someone - okay, let's not kid ourselves - it was M she was waiting for! - when we drove in ... and she didn't have that long to wait. And today there could be no suggestion that we weren't at the right place - there was a big sign on the front of Latimers with the street number. M had had the sign made, collected it yesterday and put it up after we left this morning.
M is still not totally well so she spent the afternoon lying low and even though she suggested she was going out tonight, I don't think she was really serious about it. Saturday night is a good television night and we settled in to watch New Tricks. Wasn't S surprised that I correctly identified an undercover police officer!?! To tell the truth, I was as well. Whitechapel looked a bit scary for me so I left them to it and went back to The River (billed as Action, Thriller, Horror - and it was because after everyone else had gone to bed, I decided I couldn't watch it at night with no-one else around).
Back at home, we settled in for a quiet afternoon - and it was a nice change at the end of the week. I wanted to catch up with some television viewing (The River, Glee) and with some writing - it has been too long since I had a decent writing session.
It's good to have Pearl home although it was a bit sad to see her, with big puppy dog eyes, waiting for someone - okay, let's not kid ourselves - it was M she was waiting for! - when we drove in ... and she didn't have that long to wait. And today there could be no suggestion that we weren't at the right place - there was a big sign on the front of Latimers with the street number. M had had the sign made, collected it yesterday and put it up after we left this morning.
M is still not totally well so she spent the afternoon lying low and even though she suggested she was going out tonight, I don't think she was really serious about it. Saturday night is a good television night and we settled in to watch New Tricks. Wasn't S surprised that I correctly identified an undercover police officer!?! To tell the truth, I was as well. Whitechapel looked a bit scary for me so I left them to it and went back to The River (billed as Action, Thriller, Horror - and it was because after everyone else had gone to bed, I decided I couldn't watch it at night with no-one else around).
Friday
Poor Mouse! It was Family N Friends dinner tonight - at her place - and she spent the last two days cooking for it. So it must have been disappointing when M and A couldn't make it; and then The Great K couldn't make it (something about not wanting to share his cold with us). So, it was just the normal crowd - except that it wasn't a high key affair. M had been up to Brisbane for another training session and had lunch with Sy afterwards - but something was not quite right - so when she arrived at Mouse's (she went straight there instead of coming home first) she was still feeling decidedly under the weather. Fl had been feeling under the weather with his flu, but he had been to a doctor who had given him two lots of medication - one of which was steroids. So Fl, who usually has dinner and what he's eaten immediately pulls his eyes down, was ultra-talkative and was a bit like the Eveready Bunny and showed no signs of stopping any time soon. I, on the other hand, after a not-brilliant night last night - had to excuse myself and "assume the (nap) position" on the lounge.
But despite us not being ourselves, Pearl seemed to enjoy dinner with us ... we had been just about to leave home when Beazley showed S his ear - which seemed to have been bitten or spagged. It didn't look pretty but it didn't look infected either, so S and I cleaned it and applied some antiseptic cream - and we'll keep an eye on that as well (as the puncture mark on his back). Unsure of what had caused the damage, and not wanting to leave any of the furries in harm's way, we checked with M and decided to lock the cats in (yes, Tink did eventually come in - she was happy to go into the house as long as no-one approached her), and because we didn't want to lock Pearl in, she came with us. It was just a shame that she had already had her dinner - because a full dog and car travel do not always make the best combination - but she did well.
But despite us not being ourselves, Pearl seemed to enjoy dinner with us ... we had been just about to leave home when Beazley showed S his ear - which seemed to have been bitten or spagged. It didn't look pretty but it didn't look infected either, so S and I cleaned it and applied some antiseptic cream - and we'll keep an eye on that as well (as the puncture mark on his back). Unsure of what had caused the damage, and not wanting to leave any of the furries in harm's way, we checked with M and decided to lock the cats in (yes, Tink did eventually come in - she was happy to go into the house as long as no-one approached her), and because we didn't want to lock Pearl in, she came with us. It was just a shame that she had already had her dinner - because a full dog and car travel do not always make the best combination - but she did well.
Thursday
Living here at Latimers, and on the Gold Coast, it is easy to forget what traffic congestion and traffic jams are like. But you remember soon enough when there is a 7-car pile-up on the Smith Street Motorway in the lead-up to the afternoon peak. The traffic seemed to stop all around the area - moving - or not moving - both ways. Luckily there were only minor injuries reported at the crash site. And it only took me twice as long to get home ... it could easily have been much longer.
I had been planning to do some work at home this evening (Performance system self-appraisal is due tomorrow) but after dinner I sat down on the recliner to watch some television and Maggie came over and sat on my knee. I know M talks about Maggie putting her to sleep - and I'll never question that (not that I ever have) because within a nano-second of Maggie climbing on my lap and starting to purr, I was fast asleep ... and slept right through Glee!
We were a little surprised, although very pleased this evening, when Pearl came through the door with M. M had been to dinner with Mouse and rather than leftovers (always welcome because Mouse is such a great cook), M had brought Pearl home. It has been over a week and a half since we dropped her at Nana's on the way to The Mummy exhibition in Brisbane (and what a long week and a half it has been).
And even though her favourite dog was home, Maggie didn't come in when called at lock-down. I thought she was going to have to spend the night out - and that would have been preferable to the sound of caterwauling from the car port about an hour later. I raced out and even though I couldn't see anything, I knew there was something there because Maggie was increasingly unsettled - and I was surprised when she finally allowed us to coax her back into the house. I wonder if it's the same creature that spagged Beazley's back.
I had been planning to do some work at home this evening (Performance system self-appraisal is due tomorrow) but after dinner I sat down on the recliner to watch some television and Maggie came over and sat on my knee. I know M talks about Maggie putting her to sleep - and I'll never question that (not that I ever have) because within a nano-second of Maggie climbing on my lap and starting to purr, I was fast asleep ... and slept right through Glee!
We were a little surprised, although very pleased this evening, when Pearl came through the door with M. M had been to dinner with Mouse and rather than leftovers (always welcome because Mouse is such a great cook), M had brought Pearl home. It has been over a week and a half since we dropped her at Nana's on the way to The Mummy exhibition in Brisbane (and what a long week and a half it has been).
And even though her favourite dog was home, Maggie didn't come in when called at lock-down. I thought she was going to have to spend the night out - and that would have been preferable to the sound of caterwauling from the car port about an hour later. I raced out and even though I couldn't see anything, I knew there was something there because Maggie was increasingly unsettled - and I was surprised when she finally allowed us to coax her back into the house. I wonder if it's the same creature that spagged Beazley's back.
Wednesday
Tink was nowhere to be seen this morning when it was time to give her her shot - so I couldn't give it to her. As it turns out, S had put her into M's room at about 3 (one of the numerous times Tink had been in and out during the night) and she was still in there at 5. I had suspected she might be in there and I quietly opened the door to see if she was waiting or wanting to come out - but no - and I should have know because she usually scratches on the door to be let out. We have discussed a plan for when it happens next - because Tink missed her shot completely this morning - which will mean no check-up for her this afternoon - so from now on, if I can't find her, I'll knock on M's door and get her to check if Tink's in there and shepherd her out.
It was a good day today. The Russian Visas finally arrived back from the Consulate in Sydney and Mouse was beside herself with excitement. This means that the trip really is on and now all M has to do is work out which route they're flying, get the tickets, finish getting presents, work out if they're taking any side trips (Mouse has mentioned that she might want to go to one of two places in Russia - both of them about a three+ hours flight from Moscow) . . . and the list goes on.
I was happy too. The photograph I took of the changing colours in Toowoomba and sent in to the iPhonography column (Radar) was published (in the Courier-Mail).
Things weren't as good at Bingo where neither Mouse, nor M, nor S won anything - although one person at their table did - but it wasn't their regular friends H and D. So they will have to wait until at least next week to be in the "Winners are Grinners" club.
Since Tink couldn't go the vet for her check-up (because of the missed shot this morning) Beazley went instead. He has lost some weight but (his diabetes) is stable; but he has been playing with someone rough as he has a small puncture wound on his back which is clean but will need to be watched.
We did manage to make it into CSP-land this evening, but the bad news is that we couldn't get a seat at the table (and that I had left my Absolute Rewards Card at home and the line up of people to get their $20 Casino Dollars after having the Bugs Special meant the line was too long to quickly get another). Ah well, we had a lovely dinner at Spinners and then went upstairs for a coffee ... and M had a little time at the table - although not too long as she is ever mindful that it is a school night for me and she usually has us home by 9:30pm. We were 21 minutes later this evening - which is more than okay as she was having some luck with the numbers!
It was a good day today. The Russian Visas finally arrived back from the Consulate in Sydney and Mouse was beside herself with excitement. This means that the trip really is on and now all M has to do is work out which route they're flying, get the tickets, finish getting presents, work out if they're taking any side trips (Mouse has mentioned that she might want to go to one of two places in Russia - both of them about a three+ hours flight from Moscow) . . . and the list goes on.
I was happy too. The photograph I took of the changing colours in Toowoomba and sent in to the iPhonography column (Radar) was published (in the Courier-Mail).
Things weren't as good at Bingo where neither Mouse, nor M, nor S won anything - although one person at their table did - but it wasn't their regular friends H and D. So they will have to wait until at least next week to be in the "Winners are Grinners" club.
Since Tink couldn't go the vet for her check-up (because of the missed shot this morning) Beazley went instead. He has lost some weight but (his diabetes) is stable; but he has been playing with someone rough as he has a small puncture wound on his back which is clean but will need to be watched.
We did manage to make it into CSP-land this evening, but the bad news is that we couldn't get a seat at the table (and that I had left my Absolute Rewards Card at home and the line up of people to get their $20 Casino Dollars after having the Bugs Special meant the line was too long to quickly get another). Ah well, we had a lovely dinner at Spinners and then went upstairs for a coffee ... and M had a little time at the table - although not too long as she is ever mindful that it is a school night for me and she usually has us home by 9:30pm. We were 21 minutes later this evening - which is more than okay as she was having some luck with the numbers!
Tuesday
It was decidedly chillier this morning at Latimers. I just managed to avoid putting on a jumper this morning but it may not be so easy tomorrow. It's starting to get darker earlier as well - it's not even 5:30pm when the sun sets now, meaning it's going to be more of a challenge to get to Zarraffas after work (like today) and still get home in daylight to take the rubbish (and recycling) up to the road on a Monday. It will be cold too but that's not necessarily a bad thing because it means all the snakes should be hibernating.
It was good to get back to Zarraffas this afternoon - it's been a while - and even though I go in the mornings, it's not relaxed as I keep watching the clock to see what time I need to leave.
M was out at Mouse's this afternoon and I received an email (I only knew because M rang to see if I had received it) with a puzzle in it - a KenKen. If I could provide the answer, she could get Mouse's puzzles into the post on the way home. They're due in Sydney on Friday and this is the last opportunity to get them in the mail if they're going to be there on time. Well, I do like a challenge, and even though I had the answer within a minute or so, I checked my workings a couple of times to make sure it was right ... haste makes waste - or a wrong answer.
S and I had a quiet evening in - I'm still trying to catch up with blogging and series viewing, not to mention any real work that may need my attention - like paying bills - and it's difficult for me to have two late nights in a row without feeling all-but-completely wrecked for the rest of the week. (And did I mention that besides needing more sleep, older bodies require more maintenance too!)
It was good to get back to Zarraffas this afternoon - it's been a while - and even though I go in the mornings, it's not relaxed as I keep watching the clock to see what time I need to leave.
M was out at Mouse's this afternoon and I received an email (I only knew because M rang to see if I had received it) with a puzzle in it - a KenKen. If I could provide the answer, she could get Mouse's puzzles into the post on the way home. They're due in Sydney on Friday and this is the last opportunity to get them in the mail if they're going to be there on time. Well, I do like a challenge, and even though I had the answer within a minute or so, I checked my workings a couple of times to make sure it was right ... haste makes waste - or a wrong answer.
S and I had a quiet evening in - I'm still trying to catch up with blogging and series viewing, not to mention any real work that may need my attention - like paying bills - and it's difficult for me to have two late nights in a row without feeling all-but-completely wrecked for the rest of the week. (And did I mention that besides needing more sleep, older bodies require more maintenance too!)
Monday
I was plagued by a mysterious ticking noise today - not quite like the Harry Potter Puppets and the mysterious ticking noise - actually it was more like music - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - but where was it coming from? It was driving me crazy for a while there. After a couple of hours, I finally found it - it was the iPad which was stuck on repeat at a very low volume. Mmmm ... iPad.
Monday night is Trivia night and we were a complement of six again tonight with J-L coming with S and N. We didn't do too well, but we didn't do too badly either because it is very stiff competition there - and we wouldn't have it any other way. We do have to learn to be more analytical about our answers though - we missed a few points this evening because we didn't question our answers closely enough - but there's always next week.
It's not the same coming home after Trivia to a room that is empty without Emma - she was amazing, being underfoot in the mornings waiting for her breakfast tinnie to be opened, jumping on you to have a cuddle whenever you lay on the bed, always darting to get out of the door whenever it was open, drinking water out of the shower cubicle even when we kept telling her she shouldn't, and a million other things that we miss.
Monday night is Trivia night and we were a complement of six again tonight with J-L coming with S and N. We didn't do too well, but we didn't do too badly either because it is very stiff competition there - and we wouldn't have it any other way. We do have to learn to be more analytical about our answers though - we missed a few points this evening because we didn't question our answers closely enough - but there's always next week.
It's not the same coming home after Trivia to a room that is empty without Emma - she was amazing, being underfoot in the mornings waiting for her breakfast tinnie to be opened, jumping on you to have a cuddle whenever you lay on the bed, always darting to get out of the door whenever it was open, drinking water out of the shower cubicle even when we kept telling her she shouldn't, and a million other things that we miss.
Sunday
Mothers Day. It was good to be in Toowoomba to be able to celebrate with Mum. We had planned to catch up with some of Dad's family at morning tea - and that was good - E, D, and two of E's children (I still think of them as children - which they are - even though they are middle-aged now). D has been having some health issues and is due back to the doctor tomorrow to have a growth removed from his scalp - and they will graft skin from his forearm to the spot. It will all be done under local anaesthetic in the doctor's rooms - which shows how far medical procedures have come over the years. E and the others were questioning his decision to drive himself to and from the appointment, but he was not being dissuaded.
Meanwhile, back on the Gold Coast the usual crowd were meeting at the markets and celebrating Mothers Day there. Mi sent us an MMS so we would know what we were missing - she's good like that. They did look like they were having a fantastic time though and the locumas had made an appearance (thanks M for saving us some!)
It was a good visit to Toowoomba - especially since it is now only a couple of days until Mum has her appointment with the surgeon as they continue to work out why she has excruciating pain in her hip - especially as the MRI and other tests show no significant bone erosion. Unfortunately, the anti-inflammatories she has been using have been playing havoc with her stomach and she has discontinued them. Hopefully the doctor will be able to prescribe something else to relieve the pain.
The only disappointment of the visit was that the August Moon was closed on Sunday so there were none of their very yummy Spring Rolls this visit ... but there's always next time.
Back at Latimers, M had taken Mouse out for dinner to continue the Mothers Day celebrations so we settled in with Tink, Mag and Beaz for the evening.
Meanwhile, back on the Gold Coast the usual crowd were meeting at the markets and celebrating Mothers Day there. Mi sent us an MMS so we would know what we were missing - she's good like that. They did look like they were having a fantastic time though and the locumas had made an appearance (thanks M for saving us some!)
It was a good visit to Toowoomba - especially since it is now only a couple of days until Mum has her appointment with the surgeon as they continue to work out why she has excruciating pain in her hip - especially as the MRI and other tests show no significant bone erosion. Unfortunately, the anti-inflammatories she has been using have been playing havoc with her stomach and she has discontinued them. Hopefully the doctor will be able to prescribe something else to relieve the pain.
The only disappointment of the visit was that the August Moon was closed on Sunday so there were none of their very yummy Spring Rolls this visit ... but there's always next time.
Back at Latimers, M had taken Mouse out for dinner to continue the Mothers Day celebrations so we settled in with Tink, Mag and Beaz for the evening.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Saturday
We're off to Toowoomba today and we had planned to have breakfast with Sa at Crave on the way but she couldn't make it so we had breakfast with M and then made our way out the Smith Street Motorway, on to the M1, and on to Toowoomba.
We had lunch with the family, then set out to do some shopping (Ugg boots and shirts) before making our way out to see J's new house at Highfields. We had seen the house just after she bought it but since then she has had it painted and re-carpetted - and it looks great. I was stunned by the pinstripe (matching thr feature walls) around the top of the architrave. The house is a good size with four full-size bedrooms - quite surprising given it looks small from the outside. The yard is amazing too - half an acre and since we last saw it, J has put in gardens and tamed the lawn! It's big enough for a ride-on but I didn't see one there!
There were a couple of bikes - one for a boys, one for a girl - and I found myself wondering if today would be the day that I found out if it is true - you never forget how to ride a bike! (It wasn't.)
Wendy cooked dinner - beef stroganoff and roast vegetables - very yummy - and followed with a dessert of ice cream, jelly and peaches ... this may be the back to basics we were talking about at Crave breakfast this morning - the actual conversation had been about how complicated drink fridges in cafes have to been now ... not just soft drink, juice and water!
We had lunch with the family, then set out to do some shopping (Ugg boots and shirts) before making our way out to see J's new house at Highfields. We had seen the house just after she bought it but since then she has had it painted and re-carpetted - and it looks great. I was stunned by the pinstripe (matching thr feature walls) around the top of the architrave. The house is a good size with four full-size bedrooms - quite surprising given it looks small from the outside. The yard is amazing too - half an acre and since we last saw it, J has put in gardens and tamed the lawn! It's big enough for a ride-on but I didn't see one there!
There were a couple of bikes - one for a boys, one for a girl - and I found myself wondering if today would be the day that I found out if it is true - you never forget how to ride a bike! (It wasn't.)
Wendy cooked dinner - beef stroganoff and roast vegetables - very yummy - and followed with a dessert of ice cream, jelly and peaches ... this may be the back to basics we were talking about at Crave breakfast this morning - the actual conversation had been about how complicated drink fridges in cafes have to been now ... not just soft drink, juice and water!
Friday
I didn't mention how wonderful M was yesterday. after taking us to the vet, she then offered to drive us somewhere - either home or out. We chose "out" - Bumbles Cafe - so we could sit by the water and remember Emma. It is a favourite place of ours and I think it will be a little bit more so from now.
We were lucky enough to still be there when the apiarist finished smoking the hives and came downstairs tomtalk with Bumbles' owner, Kate. M had a conversation with her about bees and it seems there are a couple of options for getting hives on Latimers - both of them very workable. Watch this space.
Later in the afternoon, M took the four-wheel drive to the mechanic to have the window fixed. She wasn't back by the time the mechanic rang to day that Lars was ready and as it was getting later and later I decided to go into Nerang to pick up Lars - and park him in at Zarraffas while I drove the BMW back to Latimers to wait for M to arrive home so she could give us a lift back to collect the car. That worked well.
We decided to try out the Town and Country Hotel/Motel dining room this evening. I don't like "with" said our male host as we read the Specials Boards - and, true to his word, there was not a single, solitary "with" there, just very flowery almost affectionate language describing the dishes on offer - and I'm really sorry I didn't note any of them down because anything I have remembered (not much) just wouldn't do it justice. We may just need to go back again - although if we did, we would have to choose different dishes - because the ones we did have were not completely to our liking - which is not to say they weren't good just that they weren't what we were after on the day.
Then it was Friday and time to go back to work ... and not even a Family N Friends dinner to look forward to! But there's always next week - and hopefully The Great K, who is moving into his new student residence today, may be able to join us. Rumour is that it will be cabbage rolls. He also met with his new supervisor today and from what he says, it seems that it's going tonbe a better match than last semester's - he has suggested a more collaborative approach which The Great K seems much happier with.
M went to Brisbane today for a JP seminar which was good, even if it did go a bit later than planned (Test? Test?). While she was away, S took the opportunity to put Emma's stuff away. It's still odd to think she is gone - the room seems so much bigger without her in it. She truly was a large presence for such a small cat.
We were lucky enough to still be there when the apiarist finished smoking the hives and came downstairs tomtalk with Bumbles' owner, Kate. M had a conversation with her about bees and it seems there are a couple of options for getting hives on Latimers - both of them very workable. Watch this space.
Later in the afternoon, M took the four-wheel drive to the mechanic to have the window fixed. She wasn't back by the time the mechanic rang to day that Lars was ready and as it was getting later and later I decided to go into Nerang to pick up Lars - and park him in at Zarraffas while I drove the BMW back to Latimers to wait for M to arrive home so she could give us a lift back to collect the car. That worked well.
We decided to try out the Town and Country Hotel/Motel dining room this evening. I don't like "with" said our male host as we read the Specials Boards - and, true to his word, there was not a single, solitary "with" there, just very flowery almost affectionate language describing the dishes on offer - and I'm really sorry I didn't note any of them down because anything I have remembered (not much) just wouldn't do it justice. We may just need to go back again - although if we did, we would have to choose different dishes - because the ones we did have were not completely to our liking - which is not to say they weren't good just that they weren't what we were after on the day.
Then it was Friday and time to go back to work ... and not even a Family N Friends dinner to look forward to! But there's always next week - and hopefully The Great K, who is moving into his new student residence today, may be able to join us. Rumour is that it will be cabbage rolls. He also met with his new supervisor today and from what he says, it seems that it's going tonbe a better match than last semester's - he has suggested a more collaborative approach which The Great K seems much happier with.
M went to Brisbane today for a JP seminar which was good, even if it did go a bit later than planned (Test? Test?). While she was away, S took the opportunity to put Emma's stuff away. It's still odd to think she is gone - the room seems so much bigger without her in it. She truly was a large presence for such a small cat.
Thursday
Well, the time has come. Emma was unable to walk to her food bowl this morning. She is still interested in food but she can only walk a couple of steps without having to stop and rest. This, together with all the weight she has lost and that she has stopped wanting to go outside for drinks or lay in the sunshine, help us to understand that she has had enough and that it is time.
I rang work to tell them I wouldn't be in, and rang the vets to see when they could fit Emma in. They were very good, especially since by this time, even though we knew we were doing the right thing for Emma, I couldn't stop crying. She has been an amazing presence in the twenty years we've had her and we are going to miss her enormously.
M drove us to the vet; I sat in the back seat holding Emma - I didn't want to know she was going to the vet by putting her in the cage - although we did take one with us in case there were any dogs in the waiting room.
And once we were there, it was good to know that Emma was ready - she had been telling us, getting us ready for a while now I think. We told her that we loved her - as if she didn't know that already - and she just laid down on the table, stretching out along S's arm, looked up at her, held her little paw out for S to hold (Emma loved holding paws) and just retreated into herself, calm and settled. That'll do, Em, that'll do. We held her as the vet gave her the injection, grateful that we had had the opportunity to share so many years with her - there will never be another one like her. Vale Emma.
I rang work to tell them I wouldn't be in, and rang the vets to see when they could fit Emma in. They were very good, especially since by this time, even though we knew we were doing the right thing for Emma, I couldn't stop crying. She has been an amazing presence in the twenty years we've had her and we are going to miss her enormously.
M drove us to the vet; I sat in the back seat holding Emma - I didn't want to know she was going to the vet by putting her in the cage - although we did take one with us in case there were any dogs in the waiting room.
And once we were there, it was good to know that Emma was ready - she had been telling us, getting us ready for a while now I think. We told her that we loved her - as if she didn't know that already - and she just laid down on the table, stretching out along S's arm, looked up at her, held her little paw out for S to hold (Emma loved holding paws) and just retreated into herself, calm and settled. That'll do, Em, that'll do. We held her as the vet gave her the injection, grateful that we had had the opportunity to share so many years with her - there will never be another one like her. Vale Emma.
Wednesday
Finally it's the 9th and time to take Lars the car to Frank the mechanic! Hopefully he will be able to find out what's wrong and fix Lars up so he doesn't do any more unexpected stopping in the middle of roundabouts. That was a little fraught.
Since Lars was due with Frank at 8 and I wasn't sure if he would make the trip without stopping, I decided to go in early so there would be time to call a tow-truck if necessary. The I walked back to Zarraffas at Nerang where M and S could collect me - as I am going along with them today on their usual Wednesday activities: breakfast at Ferry Road markets (fresh rolls, coffee and jams from home) before going off to Bingo at the Southport RSL Club. We weren't the only ones there - we seem to be following the Queensland Premier around or maybe he's following us because he was in the room next to Bingo, doing a press conference - something about the RSL. E and M were the only ones at our table to be "Winners Are Grinners" but I did get a couple of clips of M at Bingo for the Russians which was another reason I wanted to go with them.
F was out and about today too and he texted while we were at Bingo to see if we had plans for lunch because he would join us. I was a bit stunned at the next bit because I had suggested Yum Cha and within a couple of minutes F had texted again suggesting we go to ... Yum Cha. What's that they say about "great minds" although in this case it might just be people who don't often get to go out with a group for lunch - Yum Cha isn't very much fun if you're by yourself! Or when it's confirmed that the $74 million Lotto prize went to three winners - none of them us. It's a shame really because F had big plans for that prizemoney!
Frank thinks he has diagnosed Lars' problem. One if the most irritating things about Lars' condition is that I haven't been able to replicate it with the mechanic - and while I know he believes there is an issue, it was going to help him if he coukd see and hea it happening, Well, Frank did experience it this morning - which strengthens my theory that it is something that happens when Lars has been running for a while (the drive from Latimers to Nerang) and sits for a while and then is started. But diagnosis is not yet fixing and he's had to order in some parts - so Lars should come home tomorrow.
Emma is not too well this evening. She is becoming increasingly frail and is having trouble walking. I gave her some ice cream - she used to love it and she certainly hasn't lost the taste for it!
Since Lars was due with Frank at 8 and I wasn't sure if he would make the trip without stopping, I decided to go in early so there would be time to call a tow-truck if necessary. The I walked back to Zarraffas at Nerang where M and S could collect me - as I am going along with them today on their usual Wednesday activities: breakfast at Ferry Road markets (fresh rolls, coffee and jams from home) before going off to Bingo at the Southport RSL Club. We weren't the only ones there - we seem to be following the Queensland Premier around or maybe he's following us because he was in the room next to Bingo, doing a press conference - something about the RSL. E and M were the only ones at our table to be "Winners Are Grinners" but I did get a couple of clips of M at Bingo for the Russians which was another reason I wanted to go with them.
F was out and about today too and he texted while we were at Bingo to see if we had plans for lunch because he would join us. I was a bit stunned at the next bit because I had suggested Yum Cha and within a couple of minutes F had texted again suggesting we go to ... Yum Cha. What's that they say about "great minds" although in this case it might just be people who don't often get to go out with a group for lunch - Yum Cha isn't very much fun if you're by yourself! Or when it's confirmed that the $74 million Lotto prize went to three winners - none of them us. It's a shame really because F had big plans for that prizemoney!
Frank thinks he has diagnosed Lars' problem. One if the most irritating things about Lars' condition is that I haven't been able to replicate it with the mechanic - and while I know he believes there is an issue, it was going to help him if he coukd see and hea it happening, Well, Frank did experience it this morning - which strengthens my theory that it is something that happens when Lars has been running for a while (the drive from Latimers to Nerang) and sits for a while and then is started. But diagnosis is not yet fixing and he's had to order in some parts - so Lars should come home tomorrow.
Emma is not too well this evening. She is becoming increasingly frail and is having trouble walking. I gave her some ice cream - she used to love it and she certainly hasn't lost the taste for it!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Tuesday
The Great K came back from his sojourn in Sydney today but he had to come back without the loads of textbooks he had taken with him; these were most of his luggage on teh way down - and could be because he was flying with JetStar and could buy luggage "space"; alas he came back with Virgin Blue who don't have the same service - so his mother was sending the books back to him by mail! Hopefully he won't need them before they arrive.
Also relying on the post . . . the Russian visa applications which M sent off today. The invitations had finally arrived last Friday and we spent part of yesterday filling out the forms (they had to be completed online and then printed out) and making sure everything was in order. First thing this morning, M was off to get them copied/signed/whatever she needed to do, and then sent everything off to the Russians in Sydney. She was paying an additional fee for having the application expedited, so hopefully there will be no isssues and they will come back early next week ... done and complete. I don't think M has booked the flights yet - they're still deciding how long she and Mouse will stay in Russia - but it has to be getting close now. M (following on A's success in booking her own overseas trip) had been thinking about booking the fares herself, without a travel agent, but in the end the ease of using a professional won out.
This afternoon I finally made it onto ROM and did the house yard so no carpet-baggers can sneak up behind S when she is hanging out the washing.
With the offer of dinner at Tian Ran on the cards, we all went to the airport with M to pick up The Great K. His plane was on time and we were back at the restaurant before 8pm trying a new dish ... mind you, it's hard to get us to have anything new - we have liked just about everything we've had there and don't mind having the same dishes again and again.
We didn't have to worry about how long we stayed out - we had done all the cats before we left home, Pearl is still visiting Nana, and The Great K doesn't move into his new digs until Friday - which means he will be sharing Latimers with us until then. He will be sleeping in the back area sharing with the cats.
Of course, we were all tired and we were on our way back home by 9:30pm - and didn't stay up late enough to investigate the winning Lotto numbers. We figures if we had won, someone would have phoned us - especially since several of us joined the syndicate F organised. The prize is $74 million - well worth winning! But even so, it can wait until morning!
Also relying on the post . . . the Russian visa applications which M sent off today. The invitations had finally arrived last Friday and we spent part of yesterday filling out the forms (they had to be completed online and then printed out) and making sure everything was in order. First thing this morning, M was off to get them copied/signed/whatever she needed to do, and then sent everything off to the Russians in Sydney. She was paying an additional fee for having the application expedited, so hopefully there will be no isssues and they will come back early next week ... done and complete. I don't think M has booked the flights yet - they're still deciding how long she and Mouse will stay in Russia - but it has to be getting close now. M (following on A's success in booking her own overseas trip) had been thinking about booking the fares herself, without a travel agent, but in the end the ease of using a professional won out.
This afternoon I finally made it onto ROM and did the house yard so no carpet-baggers can sneak up behind S when she is hanging out the washing.
With the offer of dinner at Tian Ran on the cards, we all went to the airport with M to pick up The Great K. His plane was on time and we were back at the restaurant before 8pm trying a new dish ... mind you, it's hard to get us to have anything new - we have liked just about everything we've had there and don't mind having the same dishes again and again.
We didn't have to worry about how long we stayed out - we had done all the cats before we left home, Pearl is still visiting Nana, and The Great K doesn't move into his new digs until Friday - which means he will be sharing Latimers with us until then. He will be sleeping in the back area sharing with the cats.
Of course, we were all tired and we were on our way back home by 9:30pm - and didn't stay up late enough to investigate the winning Lotto numbers. We figures if we had won, someone would have phoned us - especially since several of us joined the syndicate F organised. The prize is $74 million - well worth winning! But even so, it can wait until morning!
Monday
I love public holidays - especially when I have taken off a few days after them as well - so ... Day 3 of the break. It was great that we finally managed to get a trailer load of rubbish to the tip - I'm not sure why we haven't done this before but good enough that we were finally getting to it. Although, on reflection, it may have something to do with the trailer and having to back it into position at the tip. Despite my best intentions, I have not been out in the yard practising it at all in the months since the last tip trip. And yes, it is true that rather than using the four-wheel drive to move the trailer from the shed to where it was required under the Bohemia tree, I pulled it over by hand - eternally grateful that the lawn had been mowed recently enough that the trailer could be pulled by person power. M (thank you) offered to drive to the tip and all went well until she was trying to back into position there and a kindly soul (surprisingly male) said pull the steering wheel to the left, to the left, when in fact what he meant - and was doing the actions with his arms was - to the right, to the right. Confusion ensued and finally M, after several attempts, parked where she could and we started ferrying the garden waste from the trailer to the green pile. Not very satisfactory ... so I had a go with the tail gate open so I could see the trailer - and still our kindly new friend gave instructions ... and I managed after several frustrating attempts to get a little closer and we finally agreed it was "good enough". We let the back of the trailer down and tried an innovative approach - just tugging on something - and, amazingly, the whole load came out in the one piece. It had set. We were able to push it up on its end and then onto the pile - still in the one trailer-sized piece. Bonus.
I don't think I mentioned that on the way to Brisbane on Saturday, we dropped Pearl off at Nana's - and she is still there. It's not the same at Latimers without her but it's good for her to be with Nana and be a town dog for a change. So we went in to visit her and have Mouse pancakes today - and it was a lovely thing to do. If Albert's new cafe had been open, I think we would have stopped in for a coffee - and to see if they are serving the cheapest iced coffees in town - hopefully they won't be because Mouse had a couple of suggestions for them about how to price a product - covering all the cost factors!
Pearl stayed in with Nana - although it did look as though she wouldn't have minded coming home with us or M! hopefully she'll come home soon.
I don't think I mentioned that on the way to Brisbane on Saturday, we dropped Pearl off at Nana's - and she is still there. It's not the same at Latimers without her but it's good for her to be with Nana and be a town dog for a change. So we went in to visit her and have Mouse pancakes today - and it was a lovely thing to do. If Albert's new cafe had been open, I think we would have stopped in for a coffee - and to see if they are serving the cheapest iced coffees in town - hopefully they won't be because Mouse had a couple of suggestions for them about how to price a product - covering all the cost factors!
Pearl stayed in with Nana - although it did look as though she wouldn't have minded coming home with us or M! hopefully she'll come home soon.
Sunday
It's always nice to meet new people and we had the opportunity to do just that at S and A's lunch today. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Of course, first there were the usual Sunday activities - the Skype call with Tr, and then getting to the markets. We were all in the one car today (M, S and I) because we were heading straight off to Brisbane as soon as the Markets were over - or, more correctly, once we had closed the Markets - although they had taken around a flyer today saying that the Markets hours have now changed and they run from 5am to 12noon - this means we will not be closing the Markets today - and that next week we are going to have to come later - otherwise we will be ensconsced for too many hours (if we have to stay until nearly 1pm to make sure we are the last ones out). Everyone was in great form today and the table was, once again, groaning under the weight of food including some very nice Lamingtons that Mouse had brought along.
And speaking of Mouse, I had the new camera out and taking some shots - so much easier to do this quickly without having to set Nik up on the tripod. I am still working the new camera out - it was it's first outing today - so I may have to bring it next Sunday as well (after I've had a chance to see how today's shots went).
Who ever it was suggested that we seats in the Markets carpark because we just seem to keep chatting out there - was right! It happens every week - even though we've been chatting inside for nearly two hours, once we're in the car park we find loads more to say! Every week! And that's the excuse I would use if anyone asked why we were late getting away from the Markets and on our way to Brisbane and S and A's lunch.
We were only a little late - and we could have been later - had we decided to make a quick call in to the Buddha Birthday festivities (M was very pleased with the presents she had found there and I wouldn't have said no to taking some photographs with something besides an iPhone).
Lunch was fantastic! There was a great group of people there (S and A have some great friends) - all quite different - but all good conversationalists ... and funny! I haven't laughed as much in a long time.
They had also prepared a very wonderful lunch and it was no chore sitting on the balcony enjoying good food and good company and it was late afternoon by the time we were able to pry ourselves out of there.
We had been planning to go straight home but N asked us to come around and see her new flat - and we did - and were rewarded with the sight of the SuperMoon hanging low over her suburb. Absolutely superb - and next time it happens, I should be familiar enough with the camera to be able to get a decent shot of it.
And speaking of Mouse, I had the new camera out and taking some shots - so much easier to do this quickly without having to set Nik up on the tripod. I am still working the new camera out - it was it's first outing today - so I may have to bring it next Sunday as well (after I've had a chance to see how today's shots went).
Who ever it was suggested that we seats in the Markets carpark because we just seem to keep chatting out there - was right! It happens every week - even though we've been chatting inside for nearly two hours, once we're in the car park we find loads more to say! Every week! And that's the excuse I would use if anyone asked why we were late getting away from the Markets and on our way to Brisbane and S and A's lunch.
We were only a little late - and we could have been later - had we decided to make a quick call in to the Buddha Birthday festivities (M was very pleased with the presents she had found there and I wouldn't have said no to taking some photographs with something besides an iPhone).
Lunch was fantastic! There was a great group of people there (S and A have some great friends) - all quite different - but all good conversationalists ... and funny! I haven't laughed as much in a long time.
They had also prepared a very wonderful lunch and it was no chore sitting on the balcony enjoying good food and good company and it was late afternoon by the time we were able to pry ourselves out of there.
We had been planning to go straight home but N asked us to come around and see her new flat - and we did - and were rewarded with the sight of the SuperMoon hanging low over her suburb. Absolutely superb - and next time it happens, I should be familiar enough with the camera to be able to get a decent shot of it.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Saturday
We were outside the Harvey Norman Store at 8:45am but this was just a bit early because the store wasn't due to open for another fifteen miunutes so rather than loitering out the front, M took us for a drive to show off Bond University which is just near there; I admit I had briefly forgotten that she had gone there when she was learning Chinese (or was it Mandarin?)
Then we were back at the store at 9 and saw the metal grille raised, but we didn't run right in to see Damian - we took an extra moment to ring a camera store in Brisbane that M knows so we could do a cost comparison. They were closed though and the recorded message directed us to their website - where the TZ-20 wasn't ... and then we went in to see Damian. He had put aside the two cameras, and we did play with a demonstration model, and we did decide to buy. So 45 minutes later we were done - and took ourselves off to Burleigh for breakfast (nice) and a parking fine (not so nice).
Then the busy bit of the day started - the drive to Brisbane to go to the Buddha Birthday Festival for lunch (and more present buying for M) before we walked across to the Queensland Museum to see the 3:30pm session of The Mummy. It was incredible - including the 20 minute film we watched as part of but before we went into the exhibition proper. It was almost too much to comprehend that glass was all that separated us from a real Egyptian Mummy (why did they call them Mummies?) - and, my personal favourite - the oil tablet which was over 5000 years old and on which had been engraved/etched the recipes for seven different types of anointing oils. What happened whenn someone made a mistake when scratching out the heiroglyph ... did they have to start all over again?
Then, with no Mummy merchandise or memorabilia between us (except the attractive Mummy-eyes cardboard 3D glasses with which we watched the 3D pre-tour show), we made our way back to Buddha's Birthday and found ourselves in the SunCorp Piazza - which was adorned with three very large Buddhas, and shrine accoutrements - where we took a seat and waited for the 6:30 Lion Dancers ... and watched a young man practising for his "magic act". I wonder if he knew how big an affair Buddha's Birthday celebrations are? We hadn't, otherwise we would have expected, and not been surprised, by the appearance of Qld Premier Campbell Newman and a group of other "dignitaries" or the very elaborate entertainment by school children, martial arts students and Asian dancers - who formed an honour guard of sorts for a group of chanting Buddhist Nuns who officially opened the proceedings. We snuck out at a convenient point of the opening ceremonies to trek back to the car, pick up A and take her to dinner at the Pineapple Hotel (famous for its steaks) before meeting S (who had been down to Melbourne for the day to visit her mother who is not well), having a catch-up with her, and then making our way back to the Gold Cooast . . . and home at the end of what seemed like a very long day.
Then we were back at the store at 9 and saw the metal grille raised, but we didn't run right in to see Damian - we took an extra moment to ring a camera store in Brisbane that M knows so we could do a cost comparison. They were closed though and the recorded message directed us to their website - where the TZ-20 wasn't ... and then we went in to see Damian. He had put aside the two cameras, and we did play with a demonstration model, and we did decide to buy. So 45 minutes later we were done - and took ourselves off to Burleigh for breakfast (nice) and a parking fine (not so nice).
Then the busy bit of the day started - the drive to Brisbane to go to the Buddha Birthday Festival for lunch (and more present buying for M) before we walked across to the Queensland Museum to see the 3:30pm session of The Mummy. It was incredible - including the 20 minute film we watched as part of but before we went into the exhibition proper. It was almost too much to comprehend that glass was all that separated us from a real Egyptian Mummy (why did they call them Mummies?) - and, my personal favourite - the oil tablet which was over 5000 years old and on which had been engraved/etched the recipes for seven different types of anointing oils. What happened whenn someone made a mistake when scratching out the heiroglyph ... did they have to start all over again?
Then, with no Mummy merchandise or memorabilia between us (except the attractive Mummy-eyes cardboard 3D glasses with which we watched the 3D pre-tour show), we made our way back to Buddha's Birthday and found ourselves in the SunCorp Piazza - which was adorned with three very large Buddhas, and shrine accoutrements - where we took a seat and waited for the 6:30 Lion Dancers ... and watched a young man practising for his "magic act". I wonder if he knew how big an affair Buddha's Birthday celebrations are? We hadn't, otherwise we would have expected, and not been surprised, by the appearance of Qld Premier Campbell Newman and a group of other "dignitaries" or the very elaborate entertainment by school children, martial arts students and Asian dancers - who formed an honour guard of sorts for a group of chanting Buddhist Nuns who officially opened the proceedings. We snuck out at a convenient point of the opening ceremonies to trek back to the car, pick up A and take her to dinner at the Pineapple Hotel (famous for its steaks) before meeting S (who had been down to Melbourne for the day to visit her mother who is not well), having a catch-up with her, and then making our way back to the Gold Cooast . . . and home at the end of what seemed like a very long day.
Friday
I was a person on a mission this afternoon ... Harvey Norman is having a run-out of discontinued camera models - two for one - so I went off in search of new cameras for both M (who is looking for one to take overseas with her) and me (to replace my old point-and-shoot which is a bit worse the wear after its overseas trips without me). But such was my affection for it - and happiness with it over the years I've had it - that I decided I wanted to replace it with the latest model available in the sale. Imagine, then, my disappointment on finding they had already sold out by the time I arrived! But there were enough other models that were reasonable for me to put the call out to M to have her "come look". Of course, while I waited, I started doing research on the reviews to see what had been said about them. Each of them survived the internet test - and we set about playing with them. The sale must have been incredibly successful for Harvey Norman because those cameras were literally walking out the store ... so much so that by the time we had decided on the replacement models - they had all been sold except a couple of demonstrators! So we did the next best thing - phoned another Harvey Norman store and had them put away two Panasonic TZ-20's. We'll try them tomorrow and if they're okay - they will come home with us.
Tonight is Family N Friends dinner at Mi and F's. Mi was late getting home ... she phoned to say we should take our time which was good because we were still in Bundall and needing to drive home and then back to Mi's ... and it was definitely worth it for her chicken and rice dish - and because she knows I'm not a big rice eater, Mi had made me the most amazingly wonderful mashed potatoes (and luckily there were leftovers to take home - double yum).
F and S must have been fairly tired at the end of the week because they both took themselves off to the lounge area and "assumed the position" - and started pushing out ZZZs (although, and we stand by this, F was pushing out the bigger ones).
Tonight is Family N Friends dinner at Mi and F's. Mi was late getting home ... she phoned to say we should take our time which was good because we were still in Bundall and needing to drive home and then back to Mi's ... and it was definitely worth it for her chicken and rice dish - and because she knows I'm not a big rice eater, Mi had made me the most amazingly wonderful mashed potatoes (and luckily there were leftovers to take home - double yum).
F and S must have been fairly tired at the end of the week because they both took themselves off to the lounge area and "assumed the position" - and started pushing out ZZZs (although, and we stand by this, F was pushing out the bigger ones).
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Thursday
We went in to Broadbeach this evening, to Pacific Fair. I had made an appointment for a haircut some weeks ago and finally it was time ... and not a day too soon. Ash-lee was a bit stunned that my hair had grown so much longer - and I have to agree that my hair does grow super-fast and super-thick - it always has. Some people say that beanies can lower a person's IQ, but, believe me, my hair, when it has been without cut, can have exactly the same effect.
Post-cut it was time to eat (it was getting quite late by then because my haircut had been at 7pm, and Ash-lee does a good job - but she does take a while). We decided to go to dinner on the way home - and called in at the new Thai place on Pappas Way. We have had takeaway from there once - M had picked it up on her way home ... I don't think it was that long after it opened. It was good then - and it was still good tonight. It was great to see people in there as well, because it's so easy for restaurants to fail - usually within a year of opening. That must be so heartbreaking for people.
We were lucky enough to see a kangaroo bounding across the road as we drove home. It has been a while since we saw one - too long! There haven't been many late night hare sightings either - although there was one in the last week or so.
Post-cut it was time to eat (it was getting quite late by then because my haircut had been at 7pm, and Ash-lee does a good job - but she does take a while). We decided to go to dinner on the way home - and called in at the new Thai place on Pappas Way. We have had takeaway from there once - M had picked it up on her way home ... I don't think it was that long after it opened. It was good then - and it was still good tonight. It was great to see people in there as well, because it's so easy for restaurants to fail - usually within a year of opening. That must be so heartbreaking for people.
We were lucky enough to see a kangaroo bounding across the road as we drove home. It has been a while since we saw one - too long! There haven't been many late night hare sightings either - although there was one in the last week or so.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Wednesday
I'm not quite sure how I dragged myself out of bed this morning - but drag myself out I did! I know I'm tired when I make sure I put on my glasses and both lights in the kitchen before I even think about getting the insulin shots ready for the cats! Three cats ... two different insulins, two different doses - best to keep one's wits about them. The good news is that the system works - when Tink was diagnosed, M set up some baskets, tagged with their names, and that is a great way of being able to keep things organised!
Tink did make it back to the vet this afternoon and her insulin shot has increased by .5 morning and night, bringing her to 5. She's much skinnier than she used to be - and it seems strange that she is on 5 while Beazley, who is just a little larger, is on 1 - the same as Emma who is just a shadow of her former self. She seems well within herself, though, but increasingly frail. The Pest Man's visit last week seems to have helped, because she and the others don't appear to be scratching as much (or have as many fleas) even though they are all spending a lot of time in The Flea Exchange.
No CSP for me tonight ... I was so tired when I arrived home this afternoon that I went straight in for a rest - and to spend some quality time with Emma. I put myself under headphones and must have fallen asleep because at one stage I opened my eyes and S was leaning over me, asking if I was awake, and it gave me quite a start.
I managed to crawl out a while later - but not before I had made a start on clearing up my "throw things here" shelf - something I have been meaning to do for a while. Some things are best done when you're not fully aware of what you're doing ... except giving the cats their insulin shots!
Tink did make it back to the vet this afternoon and her insulin shot has increased by .5 morning and night, bringing her to 5. She's much skinnier than she used to be - and it seems strange that she is on 5 while Beazley, who is just a little larger, is on 1 - the same as Emma who is just a shadow of her former self. She seems well within herself, though, but increasingly frail. The Pest Man's visit last week seems to have helped, because she and the others don't appear to be scratching as much (or have as many fleas) even though they are all spending a lot of time in The Flea Exchange.
No CSP for me tonight ... I was so tired when I arrived home this afternoon that I went straight in for a rest - and to spend some quality time with Emma. I put myself under headphones and must have fallen asleep because at one stage I opened my eyes and S was leaning over me, asking if I was awake, and it gave me quite a start.
I managed to crawl out a while later - but not before I had made a start on clearing up my "throw things here" shelf - something I have been meaning to do for a while. Some things are best done when you're not fully aware of what you're doing ... except giving the cats their insulin shots!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Tuesday
It was raining again tonight so it's good that D came today and managed to slash the bottom paddock. Which reminds me, I think M was saying the K is working on the fence down there (I think he may be replacing it) and then some cows are going to come in for grazing.
The weather has turned a little chilly. Summer is gone and we're having a cold snap - and people have started wearing long pants, jumpers and coats - and boots! Not Mouse though - she was telling me tonight as we sat waiting for the Burt Bacharach concert to start at The Big House that one thing she doesn't like (or would it be two things) is hot feet. Even when they were in the New Zealand snow fields a couple of years ago, she had shoes (was it actually sandals?) but no socks!
The Concert was amazing. Burt (who fate prevented us from meeting) is over 80 now, and looking frail, but he is still a show man - and, wow!, has he composed some incredible music, and loads of it! He only sang a few songs tonight with his tour singers, two girls - one boy, all very good, providing the vocals support. Just magic - and it went on and on and on - they were on stage for over 2 hours! His encore included two new songs - from a musical he's collaborating on - because he has t. (compose).
I don't think I've ever been to another concert which advocated the need for hydration -to ward off kidney stones. They apparently kept Burt in Australia for 8 days after his last visit here on the Gold Coast 14 years a go.
You really have to admire the stamina of the man! Last night's performance was the last in the three-week tour and, all going well with the hydration -he was taking no chances - he flies out for the US today where he'll be awarded the Library Congress Award by President Obama.
It was a late night but well worth it. We ended up not eating at The Big House (otherwise we would still be there) and came straight back to Latimers after dropping Mouse home.
The Beast did get serviced today but they didn't have the part to fix the back passenger window so the search has started via wreckers and maybe even the internet. Hopefully it won't be the motor because that sounds as though it could be expensive.
Tinky also made it to the vet this afternoon but she'll go tomorrow afternoon instead. It will be interesting to see if they alter her insulin dose again.
Pearl and I had a walk down to B's shed this afternoon and were treated to the sight of B burning past in his cute little red and black ute truck. Just as well he wasn't on his way to a fire (we know he likes setting them) because the ute seemed to have a bit of a hard push getting up the hill to his place.
The weather has turned a little chilly. Summer is gone and we're having a cold snap - and people have started wearing long pants, jumpers and coats - and boots! Not Mouse though - she was telling me tonight as we sat waiting for the Burt Bacharach concert to start at The Big House that one thing she doesn't like (or would it be two things) is hot feet. Even when they were in the New Zealand snow fields a couple of years ago, she had shoes (was it actually sandals?) but no socks!
The Concert was amazing. Burt (who fate prevented us from meeting) is over 80 now, and looking frail, but he is still a show man - and, wow!, has he composed some incredible music, and loads of it! He only sang a few songs tonight with his tour singers, two girls - one boy, all very good, providing the vocals support. Just magic - and it went on and on and on - they were on stage for over 2 hours! His encore included two new songs - from a musical he's collaborating on - because he has t. (compose).
I don't think I've ever been to another concert which advocated the need for hydration -to ward off kidney stones. They apparently kept Burt in Australia for 8 days after his last visit here on the Gold Coast 14 years a go.
You really have to admire the stamina of the man! Last night's performance was the last in the three-week tour and, all going well with the hydration -he was taking no chances - he flies out for the US today where he'll be awarded the Library Congress Award by President Obama.
It was a late night but well worth it. We ended up not eating at The Big House (otherwise we would still be there) and came straight back to Latimers after dropping Mouse home.
The Beast did get serviced today but they didn't have the part to fix the back passenger window so the search has started via wreckers and maybe even the internet. Hopefully it won't be the motor because that sounds as though it could be expensive.
Tinky also made it to the vet this afternoon but she'll go tomorrow afternoon instead. It will be interesting to see if they alter her insulin dose again.
Pearl and I had a walk down to B's shed this afternoon and were treated to the sight of B burning past in his cute little red and black ute truck. Just as well he wasn't on his way to a fire (we know he likes setting them) because the ute seemed to have a bit of a hard push getting up the hill to his place.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Monday
Why is it that some weekends last longer than others? All of them (unless they are "long") have two days but some just seem to fit much more in, or leave you more rested, relaxed and ready (to face the new week). Does the weekend itself have a "satisfaction quotient"? I really need more weekends to be able to figure this stuff out!
It was a fine day today and S and M both managed to get things into and out of the washing machine and on to the line - where laundry was caressed by a light breeze and managed to dry very nicely. I love the rain but we also like clean clothes - and ironically the two have to work together when you're on tank water ... no rain, no water; no water, no washing; but if there's rain there's no washing either - or rather, no drying, except in the garage or under cover.
I gave Lars another chance today and drove him to work rather than "The Beast" - which is actually a term of affection/endearment. Lars performed well, with not a hiccup or suggestion of trouble, and while that is good, the level of stress involved with waiting "it" to happen is probably something I could do without. Roll on the 9th I say. Hmmm, maybe I can take the day off and do something "nice" while the mechanic has the vehicle. (More thought needed ... but I think not that much more!)
Isn't it always the way ... the one time I actually know the answer to the Trivia TieBreaker, we aren't in it. In what year was the Great Fire of London? I had read this only in the last little while, I think in one of Mouse's puzzle books - what famous event started in Drury Lane in 1666 I think it was. We were a reduced number at Trivia tonight - 6 - and while we weren't in the placegetters, it was still fun although we all thought the questions were a bit harder and that we may have made another wrong choice in our bonus categories.
While we were at Trivia, M and Mouse went to see Spud at The Big House (which has reintroduced Movies for Members). It was, she said, a coming of age movie, set in South Africa, and they enjoyed it, along with the complimentary popcorn, ice cream and water!
The Beast is off for a service tomorrow so M will need to be up and at them early. I'll take the Beamer (thanks M) which should help confuse the car park attendant who is used to be being in one car rather than three in three days! Ah well, they do say variety is the spice of life and it certainly is fun trying to remember which side the indicators are on in each car!
It was a fine day today and S and M both managed to get things into and out of the washing machine and on to the line - where laundry was caressed by a light breeze and managed to dry very nicely. I love the rain but we also like clean clothes - and ironically the two have to work together when you're on tank water ... no rain, no water; no water, no washing; but if there's rain there's no washing either - or rather, no drying, except in the garage or under cover.
I gave Lars another chance today and drove him to work rather than "The Beast" - which is actually a term of affection/endearment. Lars performed well, with not a hiccup or suggestion of trouble, and while that is good, the level of stress involved with waiting "it" to happen is probably something I could do without. Roll on the 9th I say. Hmmm, maybe I can take the day off and do something "nice" while the mechanic has the vehicle. (More thought needed ... but I think not that much more!)
Isn't it always the way ... the one time I actually know the answer to the Trivia TieBreaker, we aren't in it. In what year was the Great Fire of London? I had read this only in the last little while, I think in one of Mouse's puzzle books - what famous event started in Drury Lane in 1666 I think it was. We were a reduced number at Trivia tonight - 6 - and while we weren't in the placegetters, it was still fun although we all thought the questions were a bit harder and that we may have made another wrong choice in our bonus categories.
While we were at Trivia, M and Mouse went to see Spud at The Big House (which has reintroduced Movies for Members). It was, she said, a coming of age movie, set in South Africa, and they enjoyed it, along with the complimentary popcorn, ice cream and water!
The Beast is off for a service tomorrow so M will need to be up and at them early. I'll take the Beamer (thanks M) which should help confuse the car park attendant who is used to be being in one car rather than three in three days! Ah well, they do say variety is the spice of life and it certainly is fun trying to remember which side the indicators are on in each car!
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