Wednesday

Earthquake hits Victoria! It was 5.3 magnitude and even though it's the biggest there in 106 years, no loss of life or major damage has been reported. It was, in fact, cause for great mirth on The Project but they did finally point out that had it been one point stronger, it would have matched the Christchurch earthquake.

Will the new ship Clive Palmer is planning to float be a bigger disaster? Or, more to the point, is the world ready for the Titanic II? Word is that it will be built to higher safety standards (thank goodness) but to the same basic design as the original.

Tink Experiment Day 2 ... deferred. Tink stayed in bed again this morning so she had her shot there - and she was still there when I set out for work. But then everyone usually is - even though S And Pearl were up at 4 doing a toilet run - in the freezing cold - and leaving a note (that was nice) for when I finally dragged myself out of bed an hour later.

And S needed her rest because she spent a lot of time in the garden today doing her phase planting. She was a bit sore this afternoon since she went at it with her usual gusto and was trying to find some relief with the magic Flexall which she says she applied quite liberally ... I think she used the word "slathered". But the garden looks great and she is determined to give it more attention! She's even planted some Marigolds as companion plants - I think she said that they'll help keep pests away ... and there was even some talk about putting some beer out for the snails. Mmmm ... inebriated escargot!

Given how S had seized up rather convincingly by the time I arrived home, she left me to take Pearl for her walk and that was good. There was still no sign of those other Plovers but the crows and the wagtails were out in force this afternoon ... and the ducks of course. I'm not sure if it's geese that are leaving droppings the size of Nerf bullets but you certainly have to watch out for where you put your feet at the moment - but, thankfully, their flight path seems to be confined to a 50 metre section. (Too much information?)

Sweetie has changed paddocks - she's been moved out of the one near the house and is now in the last one on the left before B's. She really is starting to look like a big girl now although I do worry that she's not going to have shelter on these cold mornings (and they are!) where she is now. It can't be long before we have our first frost!

There was a treat for Pearl when we arrived home. I had called in to the butchers near the Post Office on the way back to Latimers and picked up some meat for us ... and a bone for Pearl. It was massive - and much better value that the last one which came from Coles. It was $2 and the butcher cut it into pieces - which he obviously does based on the size of the dog. Now, that's service!

It's funny to think that it's almost the shortest day of the year (tomorrow) and as it turns out I was actually getting ready for it by going to bed incredibly early - even for me (Mouse's puzzles must be wearing me out)! S and the furries were all watching Offspring - although Beazley was a little out of sorts because now that Maggie is joining us in the evenings, she is sitting in "his spot" and even though he could curl up on the other Pearl bed, he really wants to be with S. Before that, though, Pearl was up to something. She'd slipped outside because when the four dogs at L's started barking, I looked for her to make sure she was settled. Not there. I went out the front to call her ... nothing. I called again and finally she came skulking around from the back. I must check to see if the avocados are proving a temptation to her again, although I thought they had finished for the year, or maybe she's switched to lemons! But she is looking good at the moment and it will be interesting to see how her weight's going - they're sure to weigh her at the vet when we take her for her vaccination tomorrow. It'll be nice for her to have an outing which is further than the front gate to drop off the rubbish.