Sunday and the Wet Markets

Sunday ... Markets day! But before we could go there, it was time to catch up with Tr on Skype - especially since I had missed our call last week as I drove back from Kyogle (was that a week ago?). There was some talk of Wednesday's Labor Leadership Spill - petitions, secret ballots, changes of loyalty - and that she had received an email from K. Rudd- which she couldn't share with me because she had wasn't no time deleting it. She thinks they have data-mined emails they have received- like the one she sent about proposed Poker Machine legislation.

Artist at the Markets

The Markets were wet today - it's still raining - and the Marque has finally disappeared - so that meant we were back inside, under cover again. Mouse, Mi, M and the others were ensconced by the time we arrived (late ... my fault) and had put us in our usual place up the back, out of the way ... so we could stay until the very end of the Markets if the wish overtook us. I don't think the Markets were that "full" today - the car park wasn't as busy, and there were no lines both times when I went to place the coffee order. (FI isn't back yet so I'm still filling in for him!) I'm also fairly sure attendance was down (despite a Hamper being on offer again ... and, no, we didn't win) because the Markets folk packed up early: by 11:45 all the tables and chairs in the Food Hall area, except ours, had been stacked and stowed. That being the case, the six of us left decided we could have an early mark too!

Mi and Az

On the way home, S was lucky enough to see a couple of kangaroos in one of the roadside paddocks. I prefer to see them there rather than on the road - it's too dangerous for them! Even though the Police have been out and about in the area of late, most people don't stay on the 60 kph limit - or seem to notice the Kangaroo warning signs - and amazingly, the kangaroos don't always stay in their signed areas!

Rainy sunset

We scored an invite to dinner at Mouse's for this evening and it's a testimony to her cooking and company that we braved the inclement weather to go in. It was, as always, absolutely worth it with a very yummy stew, a mixed stalk salad and pickled cucumbers, fresh Turkish bread, all followed with pieces of pawpaw, and English Breakfast tea, Not bad for a Sunday evening dinner ... and it only made it better when Mouse sent us homre with leftovers!!

The furries were all in when we arrived home - which is why I was surprised when Maggie darted outside... obviously with serious cat business on her mind. We called as soon as she went out but she was nowhere to be seen and then remained elusive for the next hour. When she did come in she did a Tnka and took herself over to the Special Cookies area and waited for me to give her some. How could anyone refuse Maggie?

 

Saturday and the dog's breakfast!

Pearl at Sisters

Saturday! And today Pearl made it to breakfast with Mouse and I at Sisters. Sisters was full ... but not of the usual cyclists... we might have been too late for them since we didn't get there until 10. No point having too early a start to the day!

Pearl seemed to enjoy the outing - and she certainly did enjoy the breakfast tidbits that fell in her direction. Mouse and I were both very careful about not giving her too much because we know that M is watching Pearl's weight. The walk afterwards around the Dog Park was good for all of us. There were a few dogs in the Park including a red cattle dog named Anzac who is a year older than Pearl - and just a little more barrel-chested, and a good example of why Pearl's weight needs to be kept in check.

It's colder here again today - a good day for being inside - which is what the furries and I have been concentrating on. It's been cold in here too but I've at least been able to put on something warmer. And to have something warm for lunch. I was totally surprised when I felt something on my leg as I was nearing the end of lunch - Pearl's chin! She had managed to restrain herself for such a long time I was truly impressed!

Blue skies!

The rains have been hanging around for the last few days but it didn't really do more than sprinkle at Latimers for most of the day. And there was even some blue sky this morning.

The girls' flight was delayed in Sydney for an hour; and then they sat on the tarmac for half an hour at Coolangatta waiting for a plane park, so it was closer to 9 when I picked them up. Up until that point I had been having a lovely time having a drink and watching a movie in the car park across the road. I had been inside the coffee shop (it was just a shame it had been closed since mid-afternoon) at the service station until it closed, but that was okay because the car park was jumping!

 

Friday and a day out

It was a late start to the morning today - the second time. I had been a responsible cat guardian and been up at 6 to give Tinka her shot, and she and Maggie their little cat broths, but try as I might, I couldn't make myself stay up ... and then, each time I set the alarm and it went off, I would reset it. Finally, just before 8:30 (when the next alarm was due to sound) S texted, and that was the impetus I needed to finally crawl out of bed - being careful not to disturb Tinka who had come in with me after her breakfast and morning ablutions. The funny thing was that it wasn't really a late night last night although I was up and down a couple of times!

The movies queue

The road was open again this morning and whatever they were doing it had nothing to do with fixing the potholes and, this isn't going that far out on a limb, I think they made some of the holes worse with their heavy equipment. Maybe they were working on the overhead power lines after all.

It was busy again at the Nerang Shopping Centre - and what is it about that that turns people into parking monsters? And let's not even go near the Movies, where the line was so long it almost went right around the inside of the Centre (see pic).

The rink

After mucking around at Pacific Fair, I was within minutes of being late to meet Mouse and Az for coffee. I was at The Coffee Club on time though which was good since Mouse only popped by to collect me - we were meeting Az at the coffee shop outside Myer on the first floor of the Centre - and as we waited for her, we watched the children "ice" skating on the rink below us. They were skating on blades but it really didn't look like ice ... it wasn't wet and no-one was "gliding" on it. It looked like hard work actually - but it was good to see what a finely honed sense of balance some kids have - and how rapid arm rotations - and was that flapping? - can sometimes keep them from falling over. But not always.

Illuminated Christmas figure

The rink was a good tie-in, or was it the reason for (?), the Christmas in July theme complete with Christmas trees and illuminated animals throughout the Centre. Alas the Muzak was not Christmas carols.

Next stop ... Broadbeach ... The Coffee Club - to fill in half an hour before my dental appointment. I did manage to score a street park though, so I was extremely pleased with that ... and TCC's strawberry milkshake - it turns out I wasn't full after half a sandwich ... and since I'd already done the pre-dentist teeth clean, I wasn't about to have anything to eat.

Despite my numerous protestations of "it's safe" (a not too obscure reference to Dustin Hoffman's "Marathon. Man") the dentist visit was one of the most painful I have endured for a long time. Halfway through they suggested I come back another day and have injections before proceeding with the clean but at that point I just wanted to get it over and done with. I wasn't sure I would be able to make myself come back any time soon so it was best to "stay and play". We did talk about possible causes afterwards including anxiety (this visit was the first with a different dentist - my normal guy has left the practice and is currently in Yeppoon until August before he moves to Western Australia) which apparently can make people feel more pain than if they weren't anxious. I can attest to the fact that something was causing more pain. The funny thing was that before we started they'd gone over my teeth with a new desensitising cream … it didn't work or if it had, I can't imagine what it would have been like without it - or how they would have coaxed me back down from the ceiling!

The Rock Stars

Back at Latimers, the furries were suitably attentive ... admittedly a little less so after they had their dinners but still they were "around" rather than putting themselves straight back to bed.

On our walk up to B's this morning, Pearl and I chanced upon a couple of the Rock Stars out in a paddock. At first their behaviour seemed a bit odd - not that I'm really a horse person, so don't really know, but I'd never seen two horses standing side by side top to tail chewing on each other's legs ... but then I realised that the Rock Stars are Clydesdales - long leg hair/fur ... and they were grooming each other!

I'm need to check again in the daylight but it seems that the road repair crews were out and about during the day. The two massive potholes - the ones very close together - have definitely been filled so it looks as though it's going to be safer to drive along that stretch of road - at least until it rains again and the patch gets washed away.

It was a very low key evening for me and the furries tonight – we all watched a little bit of television, each of the cats coming out at different times, and Pearl with me most of the time. She seems to like Harry Potter, and The Simpsons almost as much as I do!

 

Thursday and more of Mouse's cabbage rolls

Hmmm ... is that the alarm ... and is that dawn? It's been a while since I've been up to see the sun rise, but I needed to because today is the day I take M to the airport. Her plane was due to leave at 7.55 so we had a 6:40 leave from Latimers. Isn't it always the way ... it was a quick trip down there, so we were there earlier than we'd thought, but that was lucky because the line into the departure lounge was much bigger than M had expected.

When I arrived home, the furries were in various states of recline - Tinker in the heated pet bed (again ... still?), Maggie on Pearl's bed and Pearl on the rug out in the living room. That was fine ... they could relax while I did the washing ... well, that was the plan, but it started raining, so ... change of plans. (What's that ... there is an undercover drying area? Noooooooo.)

Ja, the new yard person (aka horticulturalist) came - as arranged - but she didn't stay because it was (still) raining. She went home to do her housework! Which was odd because Jenny didn't come to do ours. I had planned to, and did, spend most of the rest of the day out and was surprised when I returned to Latimers to find nothing had changed - except the cats had swapped positions!

While I was out, I found that the Nerang Shopping Centre was absolutely packed, probably because of the school holidays? I drove away the first time and came back a couple of hours later - and just managed to find a park when someone was leaving, otherwise the mail would have had to wait.

It looks like the huge potholes along the road are finally about to be fixed. The road was closed for repairs today - so we had to go right round, and while I'm hoping they're fixing the potholes, because there are men and machines along the top of the big road but they seem to be futzing with electricity poles. We'll know for certain when the road re-opens - which hopefully will be tomorrow - it was still closed when I drove home.

I don't know who was more happy with their dinner - Pearl because she was having mince, or me because I was having more of Mouse's (almost) cabbage rolls!

Wednesday and Mouse's cabbage rolls

The Rock Stars are back. I noticed their truck down at Bern's this morning, but I'm not sure how long they've been in residence!

And that is about the only good news ... because, as anyone who has been near a television set or radio or any other media outlet knows, Prime Minister Julia Gillard was rolled today bringing to an end the uncertainty (not very) of whether key figures of the Labor Party would decide it was better to try to save Government rather than standing by the integrity of the Labor Party and Australia's first female Prime Minister. So what will happen now ... will new old PM Kevin Rudd lead the party to defeat in the election paving the way for Bill Shorten (one of today's main movers) to become leader of Labor in Opposition? I know ... I know, it's all a bit political for a Wednesday ... so ... a change of gear.

S is still away visiting her mother and, although there have been a few hiccups, on the whole it seems to be going well.  They went to the Doctor this afternoon (the reason for S's visit) and it was a good report ... he doesn't want to see her again ... which everyone is breathing a sigh of relief about since the lead-up to the appointments is incredibly anxiety-producing. S heads off to Sydney tomorrow.

Meanwhile, back at Latimers, no-one was there, not even Jenny because she's now coming tomorrow. It was breakfast at Ferry Road to start, and then off to RSL Southport for Bingo for Mouse, M, An and Em. I was at the Club too and despite M's assertion that she didn't know how anyone could resist Bingo when it was "that close", I was catching up on some reading instead. They had a good game though ... Mouse and Em were both winners! As I told them afterwards, if I had played, it would have skewed the results and Em (who collected her PET machine after I would have) may not have won ... or, said An, she may have won more. There is no way I could argue with that type of logic ... and it certainly confirmed for me that An is a "glass half full" person!

After lunch at Daniel Stuart's - where we all had the Lamb Kofte special - very nice - M dropped me back at The Big House so I could collect Lars (she had given me a lift home last night). Then, after a short shopping trip for some milk and mince, it was back home to spend some quality time with the furries - or it would have been if they hadn't been in the middle of taking their afternoon naps. Both Maggie and Tinka were snug in their beds in M's room and Pearl was asleep on the living room rug - looking as though the only way she could be happier was if she had been in her nightie and had had another cookie.

Mouse's (almost) cabbage rolls were absolutely wonderful for dinner ... why is it that Mouse's cooking improves with age ... and who knew we would love her leftovers! 

 I was trying to avoid the television tonight ... I didn't want to see the results of the leadership ballot or the aftermath if Julia was rolled ... but sometimes you just have to know. And some people would have preferred the politics off the screen - and the State of Origin second game broadcast as scheduled.

M was in at The Big House at a draw - the last one in this series. It's been on at 7pm every Wednesday night for the last two months - and can only be won by someone who was present for the draw. She was, again, tonight but 9 draws later she wasn't the winner. The good news is that it only took 9 draws to find the winner - it could have taken many more!

It's cold at Latimers again tonight - and after their dinners, the cats took themselves back into M's bedroom - and if I'd realised that earlier, I would have closed M's door and turned the heater on for them much sooner!

Tuesday and the coming of the soil

As organised, the soil to fill in the trench (left when the electricity line to the bore pump was replaced) was delivered this morning - 20 minutes early. That number of minutes might not seem big enough to make a difference, but given the delivery was due at 6:30, for it to come at 6:10 was a bit of a shock. M was awake and heard the truck arrive but it took Pearl just a little longer to realise there was a vehicle in the drive and then in the yard to dump the load.

Not long after, Pe arrived with the Kanga to spread the dirt and level the area. It was impressive to watch and Pe didn't flinch as I set to work taking photographs of the activity. M is right, Latimers is looking fantastic at the moment - a lovely green which is a testament to the recent rains ... but there's the rub, after Pe had finished with the trench, he would have taken the left over dirt (and there is some!) up the back to the other pile. He made it up there ... but he realised that the ground was not dried out enough to allow him to drive the Kanga up there again without tearing up the lawn! Not to worry though - he can come back another day when it's dried out to finish the job. MInd you, while he was here, he was kind enough to fill some other holes around the place though - but not the dip out the front where Tinka used to have nana naps, and which Maggie has just found!

After helping with dirt shovelling, and having done her laundry, M set upon the kitchen cupboards in a cleaning/sorting frenzy. It was strange because Mouse was doing a similar thing ... and then I couldn't help wondering if this is something the whole family does ... over in Turkey was Me busy cleaning the kitchen cupboards as well? But M's effort did look impressive - even if she's only done the bottom of the two cupboards closest the fridge!

Cupboard cleaning

M was still busy with the domestics when I took myself off to meet Jo at HarbourTown. She has the kids home at the moment (school holidays!) and I think they are starting to grate on her nerves. So Jo sent them off to a movie - Monsters University - while we had lunch ($8.90 each) at Fasta Pasta. It wasn't bad either ... and I would have loved to have a coffee with her, but by that time I was starting to worry about getting to my doctor's appointment on time. I needed have worried - thanks to Jo's instruction and the GPS, I made it into Southport proper in good time. And it wasn't hard to find a park (they have them under the building where he's situated) - which was a nice change from having driven around HarbourTown ... I would still have been circling, I think, had it not been for my chancing upon a woman who was driving out of her carpark as it turned into that "aisle". Luckily no-one else saw, because I would have hated to fight anyone for that spot!

Despite the Mouse cabbage rolls in the fridge (M had a serve of them for lunch), M and I went out to The Big House tonight - for dinner and for a game of CSP. I should have known that it wouldn't be my night for gambling when my first hand was two pair and the dealer didn't open ... I think that happened last week as well ... but them's the vagaries of CSP!

Job done!

Watching Roulette in the upstairs gaming room was good though; and for the 60 spins we saw, I was pleased to have chosen the right number (or within a couple of spots) four times. That, of course, is not good enough for me to want to outlay money. 60 spins, three numbers per spin = 180 chips, and if I was right 4 times with a return of 35 chips for each right number, I would have taken away 140 chips - only 40 chips down. Hmmm.

Tinka eschewed her second home last night and slept in with M again, along with Maggie and Pearl. I wonder if it has anything to do with the heater in there?

 

Monday (and then some Sunday)

Tinka knocked on the bedroom door last night - I let her in; she had a wander around and took herself out again. Well, that's what I thought had happened, but apparently she had knocked several times throughout the night and i hadn't heard her. It was only when I got up in the wee smalls, and was still awake when she knocked, that she came in and then, suggested M, not happy at not having been let in all the previous times, she went off. Hmmm. I'd best leave the door open tonight and not lock her out and see what happens ... because, with S away, Heavens knows there's plenty of room for both of us in there!

Tinka on M's bed

Even though there was a frost yesterday morning, and it seemed last night as though it was cold enough for one this morning, it didn't eventuate. Or, if it did, it had disappeared by the time I surfaced. There wasn't even a mist in the valley by that time (just after 7), and even now, it's warmish for a Winter's day.

Sorted!

After a brief foray into Nerang, I arrived back at Latimers to do something more constructive (job seek anyone?) and set myself up out the back, in the relative warmth, to work. M was getting ready to go out - after having finished at least one project in my absence - and I'm sure I heard her almost leave a couple of times before I heard music coming through the outdoor speakers - and there M was again, checking on the volume and showing me how to turn it up if I needed to. The album was Beccy Cole - one of the artists she had seen - and they had all really liked - at the Concert on Saturday night. She was good ... very good ... and I listened through a second time to make sure that I did like it. She is even better in the flesh, Sy and M have both said - and we now know she is touring up this way in August so we'll definitely put that into the diaries.

In the diary for today though was Tinka's next check-up at the Vet and M was back in good time to take her - but not before we had shared the very decadent afternoon tea she had procured at Ferry Road Markets. Tink's readings are still high, she has lost a little bit of weight ... yes, we're all asking how given how many special cookies she has ... but the bad news is that she has a bad tooth and it will need to come out next week. Poor Tink. But as M said, that goes some way to explaining why she has become a purring and drooling cat and may explain the weight loss,

Hay!

Trivia. Hmmm. There were just the three of us - Su, An and me. And yes, it was my idea that we have a pact that if we hadn't reached 20 points by the break at the end of Round 3, we were going home. That didn't happen ... because thanks to a brilliant bonus Lucky Dip round (18 out of a possible 20) we made it to 30 by half-time. I shouldn't have been but I was personally just a little disappointed not to be getting that early mark. By game end - with a very mediocre 2nd Bonus round of More Lucky Dip (10) and a disastrous Timeline round (4) we knew the Podium was so far away we had a full week's walk to even be able to see it. It's not all about winning ... but it would be nice to again. It seems like it's been a very, very long time! We stand a better chance next week - S will be back, and will probably have her brother Ch with her, and Ni should be dropping in (she's will be back from France for a week).

Mouse and M had more fun on their outing - Movie Night at The Big House - seeing "The Ex- Patriot"or was it''Ex-Patriate". Both could work! Whichever it was, it was, by M's report, quite violent ... starting out with guns blazing and then continuing with more of the same. It was packed too! And it was Mouse's second movie for the day - she and Em had taken themselves off to the lunchtime session of "Les Miserables" - which they had enjoyed tremendously. And between the movies, Mouse had whipped up some cabbage rolls ... which we know because she sent some home with M.

All in all, except for S not being here, it was a good day!

Sunday - noted - but that's about all

Up early and on the road. To the Markets in time to be Fl. (They have arrived safely in Kosovo.) A relatively small group - but it was good. Cake and Halva today - those women do an amazing job of providing - and Mi had some fruit from one of his trees this morning. Not sure what they were - like tiny oranges - eat them skin and all - which is good because they were very very tart! Also nuts - men were cracking the shells one against the other in the palms if their hands - Sy had a go and she found she could do it as well. A new skill!

Home - very non-committal welcome from the furries. How quickly they forget.

Went to see World War Z with An at Australia Fair Cinemas - best categorized as action, Zombies, and a couple of good scares! Good news is that An is able to drive again - short distances only - and splint comes off tomorrow. Oh ... and the wonderful Sy has returned my pants - hemmed and looking good with a small hem! Great job!

Saturday and time for something different

It was different waking up in Kyogle, in a different bed, and getting ready for a big day in front of us. Ch had procured some wonderful fruit bread, which she toasted, for breakfast, and while the children and we ate, we discussed the plans for the day which included going into Lismore to have a wander, some lunch, watch "Despicable Me 2" and then go this evening's Lantern Parade.

But we weren't starting the day yet. S had not slept well so she took herself off to bed for some "catch-up" sleep and while she did that I took myself into town (still shrouded in mist) to have a coffee. There weren't that many folk around generally, but there was a constant stream of people into the cafe. It was doing a better business than the Box and Dice Cafe up the road - probably because it was more than a little chilly, and the B&D seating is in an open courtyard ... and while it may not have influenced everyone's cafe choice, it certainly played a very large part in mine.

I was back by 11, as agreed, but we were delayed in our departure because Pa was helping his Dad out with some chores ... but that was okay because a good plan always includes some leeway for unforeseen events. So, it was just after 12 before we managed to get everyone, and Lo's props for tonight's Lantern Parade, into Lars and on the road to Lismore.

Simon at Trattoria Pagotta

It's just over half an hour's drive in and, taking Mi's advice, we parked near the Cinema and then had a wander around town and as we wandered, we kept lookout for our lunch venue. Pa was the one who finally found it ... he felt like Italian more than we felt like anything else ... so we went to Trattoria Pagotta. It was, in a word, awesome. Pagotta is the smallest restaurant I have ever been in - three or four tables only. Simon and Jasmine are the owner/operators/cooks and just about everything else by the looks of it. You can watch them doing their thing in the kitchen - including making the pasta and the sauces to order. We had the lunch special - four pastas, garlic bread all round and a salad for under $50. It was just amazing - and it filled us (even Pa who is a growing teenager) without making us tired - because none of us wanted to sleep through "Despicable Me 2". Otherwise we may have missed Agnes' stirring practice for Mother's Day: "She kisses my boo-boos; She braids my hair; We love you mothers everywhere." That was fantastic too, lots of laughs, and much Minion mayhem.

Then it was time to get Lo to the Skate Park so she could meet up with her school group and get ready for the Lantern Parade. We left her there while we went off to get our position - and thanks to Simon we knew the route - we just didn't know which side of the wide Lismore streets it would go down. But other people had the same dilemma and, in the end, we followed the lead of some folk who were following the lead of the CWA ladies - because "they always know things'. That was good enough for us - and when the time came, we were in the front row, in a prime position to see the Lanterns. And they were incredible! There was a huge variety of Lanterns - some huge - Dragons, Australian Wildlife, African Wildlife, Ships, a Helicopter ... all wonderfully made and totally enthralling. Simon estimated there would be about 15,000 in Lismore for the Lanterns and judging by the folk around, he would have been about right. We loved the sense of community surrounding the event as well, and that people dug deep into their pockets to contribute when the bucket-bearers came around.

Lo's Lantern costume

Lo looked great in her mask and with her sceptre and she had a great time taking part in the Parade.

There was only one thing I didn't like about the day ... and that was the drive home, along country roads pock-marked with potholes, in the dark, and mist ... and that it was so dark, the kids couldn't see the popcorn properly and it ended up all over the car - in the front as well since both S and I had some too.

We were glad to get them home safely and hand them back to their parents. It's a big responsibility having someone else's kids - probably as big a responsibility as having your own!

M's waffles!

Meanwhile, back at Latimers, M had survived the night - and had taken herself off to the busiest shopping centre (Robina is having stocktake sales) and rewarded herself with a visit to The Shingle Inn - where, surprise!, she was finally able to have a waffle - "but we always have them" they told her. Well, perhaps that is so in some alternate universe but generally speaking - I don't think so! S and M have been there many times, independently and together, and the waffle machine has always, always, up to now, been otherwise indisposed.

 

 

Friday - Home and away

M was a little in the wars this morning - she managed to injure herself on her bedside table ... and it hurt. Luckily S is excellent in these situations ... calm, soothing, and knowledgeable - especially since this one involved a knock to the head in the eye region ... and it is an injury S herself has sustained. Frozen things ... she said ... and after administering TLC and a good dose of kindness, she raided the freezer and made M put the pack of frozen peas on the affected area. There was some blood, which turned out to be from a small cut on M's eyelid which was not deep enough to require butterfly strips or stitches. S and I were worried about the possibility of concussion (perhaps not straight away) and M must have been concerned about possible damage because she took herself off to the doctor to have it checked out. Yes, that's right, she took herself off to the doctor, refusing our offer of a lift ... and, as she reminded me, while she appreciated the offer, it was well within her rights to refuse. (What was that yesterday about Pisces and refusals of offers of help ... although I think I used the word "stubborn" in reference to me.) Anyway, she rang S after she'd visited the doctor to say she'd be okay but I think the doctor had suggested she rest - and she was on her way home to do just that (after one stop along the way).

She wasn't home by the time we left though - so we didn't get a chance to see if her furniture encounter had resulted in a "shiner" but we suspect it would.

S and I were off to Kyogle - the start of her trip "south". She'll take the train to Gosford and her mother, and then on to Sydney ... and I return "north" to Latimers - and hopefully be back in time to do the coffee run (in Fl's absence) at the Markets on Sunday.

Lo doing the Double Windsor

It was good to see the Kyogles again - they are all in fine form. The only thing missing from there is pets - understandable since they do run the Motel there and as they provide meals for guests, pets are not allowed in the kitchen - so they don't have them. That's a great shame too because we would gladly have taken a cat off their hands to share the bed with us ... we are already missing Tinka ... and think she would absolutely love the electric blanket!

One Double Windsor

The challenge of the evening was tying a Double Windsor knot for P's Cadet tie. It is truly amazing what the internet has to offer on tie tieing ... and how diverse the presentation styles are. The first clip we watched was over 8 minutes long (for a process that in the end takes less than 20 seconds ... maybe a little longer if you want to have the thicker part of the tie sit exactly above, but not touching, the belt) and while we at first scoffed at it, when we saw the next one - just under 2 minutes long but as boring as ... we were grateful for that internet variety - and took ourselves back to the first clip - which was very instructional and gave an incredibly good result! Well done Lo who did the doings!

 

Thursday and The Big House

S and I had a different start to the morning as we spent last night at The Big House. Neither of us had slept perfectly well ... that whole "first night in a different bed" had overtaken us, and despite having scoffed down some of S's painkillers for my back, they had not resolved the problem. But this wasn't going to keep us from our breakfast. As the Executive Level Lounge was closed for renovations this morning we were redirected to the Food Fantasy for a Buffet Breakfast instead. Mmmm ... what a wonderful way to start a Thursday (thanks again M!) ... and even though we didn't eat that much, it was fantastic to have a choice of so many things. I had a freshly-cooked omelette and fruit - both wonderful. S had a more traditional hot breakfast and was kind enough to help me finish the fruit.

LumiAir (Az's pic)

Then, it was back to bed for S while I took myself to Spinners to do some "stuff" while I had a nice hot coffee (or maybe two) and wait for the call to say S was up ... and she did manage to catch up on some of last night's sleep ... although I think she would have had an even better nap if she'd had Tinka on the bed with her!

M phoned half a minute after S to say she was in Broadbeach and asking for some help to scan some documents before sending them on to Turkey. Even though it was being done on a different set of equipment (the computers on the Executive Level), thanks to some timely intervention by the Receptionist, it was a relatively pain-free procedure - except for my back which wasn't. M suggested quite sensibly that I have a massage or go to a physiotherapist but by that stage I just wanted to get home, have the drive home behind me, and pop some of my industrial-strength painkillers - which have always fixed the problem before. Well, there's always a first time for them not working terribly well - and when they didn't work. I resorted to the massage machine which did provide some relief - heat, vibration and targeted kneading - no doubt helped by the residual painkiller effect. (Why is it that Pisces can be so stubborn, resisting help when it's offered? When I get that sorted out, I think I'll be on track for an easier life!)

Tonight, M and Mouse and Az - M had managed to get an extra ticket - were off to the Opening Night of the new show at The Big House - LumiAir. We'd seen some of the performers at various time at the Casino, but this time they managed to get up close and personal ... as shown in Az's photos here.

 

Wednesday and winter woollies!

It is another glorious day here on the Gold Coast which makes it even more incredible that there was a woman at the Benowa shopping centre wearing a woolly winter coat! It was hard to miss, too, because it was bright blue!

It turned out to be quite a busy day with everything that needed to be fitted in including bingo and breakfast and a blood test. Luckily, the responsibilities were split so I was the only one off at 7.15 for a blood test. I hope the others slept in, or at least didn't rush out and just eased into the day - and even more so since M revealed that she had been up until after 1 this morning catching up with unwatched television programs. I'm not sure how she can do that and still stay awake for Bingo, but stay awake she did - so she saw Anita win a line - the only win for the group today, Em wasn't there - she was with Be as she, Be not Em, and Fl fly out this evening.

FI was fairly busy trying to get everything organised and done - and one of my jobs for the day was to help him set up email on his new iPad. I was stunned it went as well as it did, given how little time we had before we were due to meet up with the others for lunch at Daniel Stuart's. S and An had the Asian style pumpkin soup - quite amazing since An doesn't usually like pumpkin soup ... but she liked this one, because it wasn't!

l gave An a lift home as M, S, Fl and Mouse went off to do whatever they do post-Bingo lunch. Fl was hopefully off to get his travel money changed before the bank closed because he was starting to run out of time.

Sy had phoned early this morning, offering to take up my new trousers. From this I gathered that their kitchen is now finished and she is bored and looking for projects - and trust me, I am not one to look a gift seamstress in the mouth! I could tell my pants were in good hands when she asked if I preferred thin or wide hems; and with such a direct question she took me unawares and I blurted out that it was something I'd never really thought about! And probably never will again!

The painter is hard at work at their place and I meant to, but will have to next time, take a photograph of the missing scaffolding and the new whizz-bang chandelier! Very impressive.

Back at Latimers, attentions have again turned to the exterior and M had Ja the horticulturalist visit to recommend some garden action. M must have liked the proposals because Ja will be coming back next week to start the new garden regime. That includes cutting some bad bits out of the lemon tree - imagine how much fruit it would bear if it was totally well!

Tinka has the bed to herself tonight so hopefully she wont get too lonely or cold. S made a little nest on the bed for her - but hopefully if things are not to her liking, she will move in with M until we're back!

Tuesday and the sound of chainsaws

It was a rude awakening this morning for some of us. Jungle John was here bright and early using his little "chainsaw" to trim the tree out the front. He did a great job too - and while I would have sworn the noise would have been just about impossible to sleep through, S did manage it for a little while! M had already been up (she was expecting JJ) and I had a relatively early start - planning to get a jump on something - which was so important it now escapes me!

The sun was out today and, taking advantage of the weather, both M and S were In washing frenzies - and, just for a moment, it seemed like competition for the washing machine would be as fierce as it had been for the shower yesterday. We're going with "great minds think alike".

When Pearl and I wandered down the lane this afternoon, B stopped us to ask if we'd been to the bottom paddock to see the job he and Ja had done with the mowing down there. It had taken him a while to get to it - first the mower had broken down and taken five weeks to fix and then, of course, the rains had set in.

As soon as we were back at Latimers, Pearl and I did go down to check it out. And there was no doubt about it, they had turned it into lawn and yes, it does look like the best paddock in the Valley! Good job! B said they couldn't get right down near the river and the plan is to "throw three horses in" and have them work on it over the Winter.

The back paddock

And speaking of horses, they were all a bit unsettled for a while there this afternoon - except for Hermes and his agistment mate who were down in the shelter in the back paddock, oblivious to whatever it was that had the others galloping back and forth in their yards.

It really felt like Wednesday today or maybe even Thursday. The reason - well partly, M and I did CSP tonight because she and Mouse are off to a show at The Big House on our usual night. The table was kinder to us than it has been in quite a while and I definitely would have shared my winnings with S if I could have worked out how to split the dollar chip!

Dinner at Zen was as good as it always is and, no surprises, M and I had what we always have ... rice, noodles, vegetables, and Sichuan beef - accompanied of course by Chinese tea and iced water. Yumm. It will be interesting to see if we do branch out and try something else next time.

Because we were eating dinner while the game was on we didn't have to wait until the last five minutes of play to see Australia earn its way into the soccer World Cup. There were some excited people around but let me tell you they weren't at The Big House ... the fans they were so subdued, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Australia had failed to qualify.

Meanwhile, back at Latimers, S is progressing well with the scarf which will be her mother's birthday present. I'm not sure if Maggie Is being her usual helpful self but, from time to time, she has been sitting up on the couch next to S as she knits and, from this position, it is quite easy for her to hold the wool for S. There's nothing quite like a helping paw!

 

Monday

There is not often competition for the shower here at Latimers, but there was this morning. It is M's first day sitting at QCAT and, since she's on a deadline, I had asked before I slipped in to have my shower; not so S who also has an appointment this morning - and just as M was readying to go in, she heard the bathroom door close. But S doesn't take that long, and M was still ready and out of the house on schedule.

It wasn't long after she left that Pearl started barking. She is good! No, it wasn't M back, it was a man out near the front gate, who, on questioning (because you do) was looking for a survey mark. It must have been difficult to find because when I saw him next, he was standing on L's fence - shouting to someone I couldn't see.

View from the 4-wheel drive

The surveyors were still at work when we arrived back from S's appointment in Nerang and when we set off to Southport a little while later, he and his mate were nowhere to be seen although their gear (tripod and survey thingy) were on the lane near B's place. I'm not sure what they were up to but it did seem to be centered on L's place, I wonder if he's mentioned anything to M about it. Update: apparently not, but M thinks L might be thinking of selling off some of his paddock - hence the need to survey.

S enjoyed Aqua once she was there although she did put up a small resistance about going. She did, in the end, though, appreciate the small push - and the lift there - and calling in to Ferry Road to collect some Epi bread rolls for lunch post-Pool. We swung by the Post Office on the way home, and, just to make sure we had it all, we also stopped at the postbox at the road to collect the mail in there. As S said, she's always concerned that there might be "bities" in there - so it was very brave of her to put her hand in there not once, not twice, but about five times.

Monday is rubbish day, and every second Monday, recycling ... so both bins had to go up to the road this afternoon. I took the opportunity to give the 4-wheel drive a turn-over ... and it is amazing how much more you can see from up there (because it is a little higher than Lars): has Da always had solar panels?

There was no Trivia for us tonight. An is sick - and if she's not there, then Sy won't be there - and with Fl and Ni and St all away that would leave just S and I - and even though we would be able to have a good go at it, the evenings are starting to get just a tiny bit chillier and it took little convincing for S to say that we could give it a miss this evening. Hopefully we will have more of a team together for next week because I wouldn't want to miss it twice in a row ... although if we do next week, we will be without S who is heading South for a few days.

It was a long day for M, who had QCAT, and then this evening was off to the Airport to collect David who had been visiting the family in Sydney for the weekend. Pearl had been moping at the front door waiting for her to come home ... she had had her dinner hours before - so we knew she was waiting for M - and as soon as she was home, and making sure both Maggie and Tinka were also in, we went into lockdown.

And it must really be getting colder ... S made up a hot water bottle before taking herself off to bed.

 

Sunday and Sunshine

I was very happy to be sitting in the sunshine at Maccas making the Sunday Skype call with Tr. It looked a bit dismal down there - enough to match the chances (and this is not nay-saying) of Julia Gillard still being Prime Minister by the time Parliament stops sitting in a fortnight's time. Tr suggests that, in an attempt to lessen the trouncing Labor looks to get if JG is still in the Big Chair, they will ask her to step aside for the "good of the party"; Kevin Rudd will be invited back to lead the party to the election (thereby saving 18 Seats) and when they lose, Kevin will step aside in defeat and Bill Shorten will become Leader of the Opposition. It's a fairly gloomy picture of/for Australian politics but I have to put my money on Tr - she reads these things fairly well on the whole (and S and Mi agree with her).

The Markets

Thank goodness for less intense pursuits on a Sunday - the Markets. It must be something about sunshine today because I picked a table outside - near the marquee - for us this morning, There were no complaints - as long as half of the table could be in the shade for those who wanted - and that was easily arranged as it turned out, as we moved the tables several times throughout the morning as the sun shifted. M and I were in the sun for most of the time ... and, as she said to someone when they commented on it ... "Lizards!"

Fl, in his absence, had passed the Markets coffee mantle to me and it kept me fairly busy since not everyone was there at once. It was good though and someone said I had done him proud. He has the coffee folk well-trained though, and even when I ordered just two coffees (for stragglers) they insisted on bringing them over to us.

Post-Markets we made a quick call to Mouse's to finish installing her new home phone. Telstra had fixed the line this morning - and they rang Mouse to let her know and they also took the divert off her number for her. Good Telstra - especially as it had been suggested that she would need to keep checking the line to see if it had been fixed. Our installation included programming her most frequently used numbers in the telephone's phone book - and luckily we were able to work out how to have them accessible by the same keys she is using now (you have to love instructions and how to work around them) - admittedly there are a few extra steps required but the basics are the same. Just to be sure though, we wrote out some instructions for her, and went through them with her a few times, and by the time we'd left she did seem to have it.

As I said, it was only a quick call, and a cup of tea and a Tim Tam later we were on our way. S had said she wanted fish for lunch so we stopped in at the little fish shop at Carrarra and she had some fish and a handful of chips (which she shared with me) before we headed home for an afternoon in.

And it was also a night in for all of us here at Latimers: Clean House for S, Samagrams for me, and preparation for tomorrow and her QCAT engagement for M. The furries? They were just ... around, doing what they usually do. Maggie was on the couch with S (helping with her knitting), Pearl was on the mat, halfway between S and M, and Tinka was in bed - coming out from time to time to ask for special cookies. Then it was off to bed ... to be well rested and ready for the new week!

 

Saturday and S's cooking

"It's like marshmallow down in the paddock" Do assured me today - so it was good he decided not to take the slasher down, otherwise it might still be there. He did a good job of weed eradication though, and that gave my mowing yesterday a bit of a lift. It's usually hard in that gap between the mow and the whipper-snipping; it makes it all look a bit scruffy.

Sy and An came to dinner tonight to have the Tagine meal Sy had requested for her birthday. S did not disappoint. She had spoken with Ni and secured advice, a recipe (book), some authentic Tagine spices from France, and ... I'm sure there was something else - and, that, together with S's grit and determination - and slaving over a hot stove for the better part of the day - made for a truly successful first Tagine attempt! Well done S! She's taking some cous cous and tagine, and crumble, to Mouse tomorrow! We just have to remember to get it out of the fridge before we go to the Markets.

It's good to know I haven't lost my competitive streak. Finally, after two years and three months, we finally played Cranium. I know how long it is because Jo gave it to me for my birthday a couple of years ago. Yes, I know I could have been more forceful about getting people to play it at any point during that time but I don't like inveigling people to play Board Games - but given how much I enjoyed it tonight, I may have to bring them out more often.

It was a case of trying to fnd a warm spot in the sun today - I couldn't really get warm - and the closest I managed was when I was standing in the sunshine, out of the wind. I was still cold this evening and even put my ugg boots on to try to keep my feet (and the rest of me warm). And it wasn't an aberration ... I wasn't lhe only one feeling it ... and, actually, S was the only one of the five of us tonight who wasn't feeling the cold.

The furries had all put themselves to bed by 9 o'clock - even Tinka was in. Pearl was sleeping out near us and she certainly took a little bit of convincing when An and Sy were leaving that it was time for her to get up and go out for her pre-bedtime ablutions. She didn't say no to her night-time cookies when M offered them to her though, so maybe she did see it was worth getting up for.

Otherwise it was quite a quiet day for us. M, though, managed her usual Saturday Deep Water Running, then breakfast at Ferry Rd, and out to Harbourtown with Mouse. This, I think, has reminded S that she also wants to go there at some point, especially as Target has just opened an outlet shop in the complex.

Friday and the usual suspects

It was far too wet to mow this morning but it had nothing to do with the rain; it was that there been substantial dew overnight. M had been up and out the back way before anyone else; and you could see the trail her riding boots had left in the wet grass - and Pearl's paw prints besides them.

Mowing :)

Because M was up early, she heard and then went out to see the balloon over Latimers. She waved to the folk in it - they were close enough to see - and pointed them out to Pearl but she didn't seem that interested.

We made it to The Coffee Club for lunch with the girls again today. We were missing Em and of course Mi who is still overseas but we had another to make up the numbers, Az's sister who is visiting from Tusla, Bosnia.

It may not take longer to mow when the grass is wet but it certainly takes longer to clean ROM. The good thing is I was able to give myself the once over with compressed air (as well as ROM) so I was relatively clean by the time I returned to the house. And then as a reward for a job well done I sat out the back with the furries watching the sun set. It's definitely a bit cooler in the late afternoons now.

New telephone

Mouse had invited us to dinner - a rare treat - leftovers - so unfortunately there was none to bring home. And there was an added bonus: Mouse has a new telephone and that needed to be set up. It would have been easier - and able to be finished - if the line problem had been fixed - which it hasn't been yet - but at least it has been unboxed, assembled and plugged in and everything that can be done so far has been done. We'll just have to wait for the Telstra repair now.

We saw a Kangaroo on the way home - the first one for a good while. But I didn't see the police car parked along Gilston Road - was I going too fast? I hope not but I don't know for sure because I was busy talking with S about the other policeman - this one on a motorbike - who had started talking to me through the open car window on our way up Alexander Drive. It had taken me a little by surprise because S and I had been deep in conversation about the Harvest Moon, the upcoming full moon, and other moon-related moments - and yes, it is possible (and the thought horrifies me) that in the midst of all that multi-tasking I was not keeping the vehicle wholly within the lane as the Officer suggested! But at least I hadn't been talking on the phone or playing the music incredibly loudly or anything else that might have raised his suspicion like drinking or drugging! He rode off making me feel as though I had done something wrong but obviously not enough to have me on the lookout for the next police car. There do seem to be a lot of them out and about at the moment. Could it be because it's end of financial year and they're trying to reach their revenue targets?

 

Thursday - and back from Toowoomba

The furries were all at home when we arrived back from today - Pearl was in helping Je with the cleaning, Tinka was out on her seat out the back, and Maggie was looking for a place to be - she came over to have a pat with me, then went off to eat some grass, then on to the back of my seat, clambered over me and onto the table, then down to the chair at the far end where she settled in for a nap.

Je was still here when we arrived - she wasn't able to come yesterday - and she kept saying something about it being good that she hadn't because it had been so wet here. It had been cool and foggy in Toowoomba but we certainly didn't have the torrential rain of the Gold Coast nor the high winds that Warwick was hit with last night. That's not to say it didn't rain a lot last night, because it did, but it wasn't severe weather.

On the way back to the Coast we called in and had lunch with Jo at Ormeau. She had He with her - yes, the same He who had sparked Jo's interest in overseas travel and she was telling us about her recent visit to Ireland with her sister who is researching a biography she is writing on* an Australian author (*or perhaps "about" would be a better way of putting it ... otherwise how would she have the writer stay stationary [or is that stationery?] enough to pen the tome?). And, in a minute, He will be travelling again, this time to Russia. Jo's planning her own trip soon - a cruise around some Pacific Islands in September with the family.

It looked as though Jungle John had been in our absence - the front garden had been cleared out and re-hayed, and had there been more pruning of the Bohemia tree? But it was odd that the back garden (with the tomatoes) had not been touched because I was sure M had said that was on JJ's list. As it turned out, it was all M ... she had thrown herself into chores mode - including some gerneying on the back area! She's done a great job.

M, S and I went out to dinner at The Big House this evening - and we all had the Shank Special although two of us paid more for it ... thanks to Jupiter's differential pricing! Not to mind though, because it was very nice - and you couldn't get it for $15 (rounded) (red tier members) elsewhere, and definitely not for $10 (rounded) (black tier members).

Tinka and Edmund

The Casino seemed to be not very busy at all tonight, and certainly, and uncharacteristically, we didn't have to wait in line at all to get into Spinners! And it didn't get to "full" at all while we were there - either having dinner, or when we went back latter for S's Treacle Tart!

On the way home, we made a quick call in to Mouse's so M could tell her about the phone repairs booked ("that's a half-hour I'll never get back" lamented M when she was telling us about placing the service call) and what she, Mouse, needed to do - basically checking the line to see when it had tone again, so they could then arrange for the redirect currently in place to be removed. For some reason, once the line goes live, Telstra is not able to remove the redirect themselves - and they start charging. Hmmm. So much for communications and service.

Tinka has obviously missed us while we've been away. She seems to have really cosied up to Edmund in our absence!

 

Tuesday and Wednesday - some photos

St Bernard's Hotel, Mount Tambourine.

Leo

 

The kids, Toowoomba.

S, Ka and Mi

 

Toowoomba fog

Mist

Monday

I don't know why but at 3:30 this morning Tinka was scrambling around in the wardrobe. Of course I wasn't sure it was her when I went to look but I was really grateful that it was - especially as I was being very considerate and hadn't turned on the big light. I don't know how she managed to get in through all the clothes; I'm not saying that it's packed densely in there but something did come off its coathanger - and it's still hanging there.

Nap time!

Tinka came back to bed after her breakfast - but she wasn't the only one! I think it had something to do with it being on the cold and wet side here at Latimers today.

But what a busy day it turned out to be! S and I had breakfast at home while M zoomed off to do errands .... something to do with printing for her JP gig! Which reminds me, we still haven't pinned her down to get her to tell us about the sessions she sat in on at the Courthouse last week!

S and I took ourselves off to Ferry Road for a coffee (a long coffee) and then to sit by the water for a while before we picked up An to take her to the movies: Star Trek Into Darkness. As we waited we were lucky enough to see some very colourful birds - I can't remember what they're called - possibly rainbow lorikeets - the birds we didn't see when we went to Currumbin with Mu and Ze when they were out here (and doesn't that seem a while ago now!).

Rainbow Lorikeet

We had picked the 12:50 pm session of the movie -so we would have time to go home and have a quick nap (if needed) before coming back into Southport for Monday night Trivia - our first night for a month without St and Ni! There were just the four of us - Fl, An, S and I. Sy was there for dinner with us but took off before Trivia started so she could go home to do some more "jobs".

M and Mouse were off at an event at The Big House so they could not have heard the discussions about how they could both be encouraged to come along to Trivia to help make up the team in Ni and St's absence (Ni comes back for one night in July, but they are really both away until September) and in Fl's absence - he's not able to come now for a few weeks. Sy has offered to step in - gratefully accepted - but we are still in need of some popular culture help (Mouse?) and another good all-rounder (M or perhaps Ma who originally expressed an interest in filling the Trivia void?)

 

Sunday Gateau and Gatsby

Morning television is absolutely wonderful. Had it not been for it this morning, I would never have heard of spicy spreadable salami (sounds different) or cronuts - a cross between a doughnut and a croissant. I didn't get to see photographs of either but I do have a mental image and I know that I am not even remotely interested in going anywhere near the spicy spreadable salami. I'm not saying that it wouldn't be delectable, just that at this point I don't think it's for me.

Birthday Baravois

Tr had set the alarm this morning and was on time for our Skype call. I almost had to cut the call short though because, while we were talking about S's birthday, I realised I had forgotten the candles for the cake - so much for making a mental note to not forget. Hmmm ... so on the way in to the Markets I stopped along the way and got some matches and some sparklers (mmmm .... sparklers). MontMartre French Patisserie came through with the cake/gateau - Strawberry Baravois - I had ordered it on Friday and they brought it along to the Markets, together with paper plates, napkins and forks ... and S liked it very much!

There was a good turnout at the Markets ... but we couldn't sit in our usual spot up the back because by the time we arrived the Gozleme folk had already set up there. It was overcast so I think they must have come in from the cold, or perhaps the Farmers Market administration is trying out new configurations.

Ni was there today, and S took the opportunity to ask her about tagine cooking - since Sy's requested birthday present is set to happen next weekend. S will have a test run during the week based on what Ni has told her - and the spices she's given her - authentic ones from France. When we called in to collect them, and a tagine book, we saw St - who has penned a response to the Trivia apology - and, given that he'd had some problems posting it, I've done it.

Maggie

We went to an afternoon session of The Great Gatsby ... and when I say "we", that means I went along too. And I'm glad I did. Baz Luhmann did an amazing and remarkable job. I wonder if I would have watched it any differently had I read the F. Scott FitzGerald novel before seeing it. That notwithstanding, what did I think of it? I'm still considering it. Mind you, I haven't finished working my way through The Croods, which S and I saw on Friday (before meeting the others at The Coffee Club for lunch). After seeing a synopsis on IMDB, I'm now seriously considering reading the book to see how it differs from the movie - and more on the character that is Nick Caraway.

I tried to get a photograph of Maggie on Pearl's bed but she was just passing through on her way to the top of the lounge. She let me take a photo there ... and she has lost absolutely none of her cuteness!

Saturday - Birthday and Bingo!

We went out to Daniel Stuart's for breakfast this morning to celebrate S's birthday. We were six - Mouse, Em, M, An, S and I (that would be me). I really do marvel how Daniel Stuart are able to maintain such incredibly high standards for their fare and service. It is always excellent and this morning was no different. M was saying that even with the light rail work still happening just outside, they are going to continue to open on Saturday mornings because too many people know they have been doing it. With their gas heaters, and the plastic "blinds", and three doors so they can use the one which doesn't have wind blowing through it, they should be able to keep people warm enough - and even yesterday, we weren't bothered by the construction noise - although that may be that, with it being a long weekend, there wasn't actually any work happening today. As the coffee was being served, the man delivering them had us all saying "Bingo" ... and that was enough to bring up discussions of Bingo - as the Southport RSL is just across the road! An and I had been discussing the possibility of Saturday Bingo earlier in the week, when we heard that there was $100,000 up for grabs. An is still trying to stay out of the house (and out of the way) while the renos are underway ... they're getting close now ... I think the only major project is getting the kitchen cupboards installed properly - and Bingo is a good way to spend time out of the house. There were no complaints from the others ... in fact, all of them seemed to embrace the idea happily - although that may just have been because they had swapped Bingo for the Bolshoi Ballet earlier this week!

So, breakfast finished, it was off to Bingo! And it was packed. Even though we were there at least 35 minutes before "eyes down" (start of play) - we couldn't get a table where we could all sit together. Maybe if we had we might have been able to generate enough luck for one of us to have a win. The woman across from us won $250 but no-one took out the big jackpot. Are we going back next week for another try? Hmmmm ... stay tuned.

After Bingo, we went back downstairs and while some managed to escape the pull of the Pokies - some did not. But the good news is that of the three who did not, two of them walked away winners! That's not bad odds when it comes to something as random as the Pokies - or the "one armed bandits" as they used to be known in the days when you had to pull the lever to activate the spin - and that was a way back now. One of the winners was the Birthday Girl so that was fairly apt!

S grabbed a sandwich at the Club, and we both had a hot chocolate (I love that the Club has free hot drinks!) before we set off for home. We could have gone out to celebrate S's birthday tonight but our hands were tied as it was Saturday night and S and I don't often go out on a Saturday night. The surprise was that M stayed in as well; she had planned to go out but once she came home to feed the furries, she made the mistake of getting comfy - which she might have been able to overcome ... until it started to rain! So, we all watched Death in Paradise before we left S to the television so she could watch another episode of Clean House - because it's her birthday!

Pearl must have been feeling the cold tonight - she went and found her nightie and took it to M for her to put it on without being asked. That might have been why M then pulled out one of Pearl's lambskin (not heated) pet beds and put it in the lounge area - and Pearl sat on it for a bit before she moved, and then Maggie jumped on for her go. Just as well they all like sharing!

The rain kept up for a good part of the night, giving S's garden a good soaking, but it was never as heavy again as it was in that first downpour.

Thursday and Tinka's new sleeping spot!

It's overcast and a bit cooler today and while it would have been just the day to see The Croods before it disappears from the big screen altogether, when I checked the program for the Nerang Cineplex l realised it was already too late. Thank goodness there are other cinemas in the area - and at least one of them still has The Croods - so that will be a project for before next Thursday when the movies change again.

M was out early this morning and as she lift Pearl came in to lie on the rug near S's side of the bed. Pearl often does that.

S was keen to have hot cakes for breakfast this morning so we trekked off to Maccas. While we were there S read an indepth piece on the Turkish situation. This is the first time she has really had a handle on it - and she does understand it more now - the conflict for democracy and secularism.

On the way home, we called in to the Post Office to check the mail and decided not to check M's box because hers, as we soon realised, was the car next to Lars in the car park. We ended up meeting her for a coffee (tea for her) and a catch-up.

Back home, S started on the washing, even though it was overcast. Chances are it won't get dry today but at least it has been done and is out.

I took a walk down to see the self-sown tomatoes and the bananas in the bag and they're all progressing very nicely - which is a bit of a shame since Jungle John has been booked for next week and the days of the tomato plants are definitely numbered! He will be instructed to clean out the beds - I'm not sure what's planned for them but we'll find out next week.

M hasn't returned the Heated Pet Bed to Aldi yet, but she was saying that Pearl has popped into it a couple of times to humour her. No-one was expecting Tinka to find it, and that's where she is now ... and she shows no sign of coming back to her usual sleeping spot. It will be odd being able to put our legs out straight in the bed tonight without worrying about disturbing Tink.

Wednesday - Bingo and the Bolshoi Ballet

Adonit Jot Stylus

They're here ... they're here! My styli have finally arrived! I'm not sure how long they have been here though. This morning when there was still no notification in the box, I asked when someone else was swapping paper for parcel. And yes, when the AP person checked, my parcel was there! They weren't sure how the notification had been missed, and while it may be important for them from a process view, I was just ecstatic to have them ... and now I just have to wrest them from their very secure and tough packaging so I can start using them!

I was out and about early this morning ... I had an 8am appointment with a recruitment consultant in Southport. who knew there would be traffic build-ups (you can hardly call them"jams") at that time of day! I was there as scheduled though ... and waited with the staff until someone arrived with the keys to their offices!

An and I went to Bingo - to represent the table while the others were off to the Bolshoi Ballet! And a mammoth undertaking it was too. The performance went for over three hours, with two intervals. It was amazing though and they all enjoyed it. One of the things S mentioned was how quiet the dancers were (a bit like Bangara) even though there was much energetic leaping and bounding. The Bolshoi is doing two shows while they're in Australia - today was the last performance of the more traditional piece; with the other performances starting on Friday - featuring cross-dressing with traditional ballet costumes.

Pretty November Lillies

While Mouse, Em, M and S were gone, Hu called from Turkey with an update. Apparently the gas grenades are going off at the end of the street and they sit out and watch the ruckus rather than watching television although they do go inside when the gas starts burning their eyes. The are quite safe although little Ha is not content with watching and wants to go down to be with his mates in the melee.

The flowers Ne sent to thank M for helping Az with the clear out of her flat are opening and are very pretty and are certainly brightening the place up! Thank goodness S knows her botany because I just know they are flowers - not what type!

Tuesday and (not so) trivial pursuits

S is working again today so we had breakfast together before I dropped her to the 0.F.H. and then made my way back into Southport (and Ferry Rd) to have a coffee at Merlo and catch up on some reading and job applications. I admit to being more than a little surprised to find I had received an email from St this morning. It was about a particular invention!

13 hours earlier: Round 3 of Trivia and our team is having a spirited discussion about The Baffler. We have three clues now - they build by one clue per round. Round 1 - l am normally found indoors - our answer (toilet) is wrong. Round 2 - I was invented in 1842 - elevator - wrong. Round 3 - I can be found in the office or at home. Discussion continues and An and I both want to put keyboard. Down the other end of the table, St is saying Fax Machine. We are arguing - and admittedly not taking him seriously as we think he is kidding. He is a man of few words, and at that point we should have just rubbed out what we had - QWERTY keyboard - and written "Fax Machine" but it took several more minutes and finally S's intervention for us to take him seriously! We changed the answer, in part, and uncharitably, knowing we would get to put ours in the next round (unless one of the other teams got it). Imagine our reaction then when it was announced that there was a Baffler winner ... and it was our team (of doubting Thomases)! Well done St ... who had recently, he thought, read about it. So much for our arguments about the fax needing electricity and for my pigheaded stand that it couldn't be the Fax Machine because I had been to one of the first fax transmissions back in the 1980’s. Sorry (again) St - and thanks for persevering! We're going to miss you and Ni at Trivia while you're away!

I was on time to collect An to take her to Hand Therapy. She had a bad night with it last night, to the point where the splint/support was rubbing against that soft, tender spot (webbing?) between her index finger and thumb - causing it to blister! That was on her list of things to discuss with her therapy person.

Scaffolding in place

The scaffolding has gone up at their place, ready for the painters, but, without going into the full details, it may be that this part of the renos may be delayed by a few days ... which is no surprise to any of us who have been following the proceedings to date. If it could go wrong, it has gone wrong ... but I think I'm the only one who has gone so far as to suggest that now might be a good time for a priest, some holy water and ... what else do they use in spirit removal?

Back to the O.F.H. to collect S. I was early and as I sat having a $3 mug of coffee (yes, that's no mistake ... a $3 mug of coffee) the alarms started going off. First a general alarm, then the "be alert" alarm, and then the "be alarmed" one i.e. the evacuation tone ... and nothing happened except that everyone kept going about their business, even when the recorded voice alarm telling people to evacuate started. A good few minutes later another tone sounded and a real voice came over the PA system telling people to ignore the alarms ... which they had already been doing so it was finally good they had the OK to do that! Then, five minutes later, another real voice proclaiming that it had been an "unsubstantiated alarm". S, having spoken with the residents had some insight! False alarms are so common there (and at other facilities) that they are just ignored; as one O.F. told her: if there ever is a real fire they'll just find my friend and I here with a pile of melted dominoes.

Tinka and the tomatoes

The garden continues to thrive and Tinka has done her bit to show just how much!

There were Mouse leftovers for dinner - and M commented, and I had to agree because I had been thinking the same thing as I munched on a mouthful of Mouses's stew, that while it was wonderful on Sunday night, it had improved dramatically with age! It makes me wonder how much nicer it would be if it had a few more days to sit ... but we all know that's never going to happen!

 

Monday and first world problems

I don't think I could have been at the Post Office any earlier this morning ... waiting for the mail to be sorted so I could swoop in and collect my package ... new styli for the iPad. I ordered them last week and had email confirmation that they were shipped last Thursday. So ... where are they? Because they weren't there! Usually they ship so quickly I don't have time to even really anticipate their arrival (aka wait more than a day before they're here!) It looks like it will have to be an early start again tomorrow! M had kindly lent me one of her styli but I will return it because I'm not to be trusted with them at present - not since I lost one and broke the tip off another in the first few days of last week .... hmm, and I'm usually much more careful with my things!

It was dry enough for M to mow Hermes' paddock today and she went out and jumped on ROM almost as soon as she and S arrived back from Aqua and lunch. She did a great job and the birds enjoyed picking over where she had mowed!

So who was it that sucked most of the fun out of Trivia? Was it me? Because I certainly wasn't in the mood for the table dynamics this evening. S and I have always said that Trivia is not about knowledge it's about group dynamics and how the players work together, whose answers they trust and why. "Trust" was missing a bit tonight - and, alas, it may have been replaced by people wanting to be "dominant" instead. And the post-mortem was back! But at the end if each round this time rather than at the end of the game - yes, that's how badly we were faring! By game-end we weren't on the podium - and we couldn't even havebseen it with binoculars!

But this is a first world problem! More concerning are the demonstrations in Turkey. I know people talk about social media and how it can be used as a tool for spreading the word and bringing about social change but it is strange to see pictures of graffiti on shops on the FaceBook pages of folk you know. They're okay but hopefully the demonstrations don't escalate because they are spreading their reach to areas not even remotely close to Istanbul.

Sunday and Star Trek

Where do the nights go? I didn't think it was that late last night but when the alarm went off this morning, I could easily have rolled over and gone back to sleep for another couple of hours! I, apparently, wasn't the only one ... when I went online for the regular Sunday morning Skype call with Tr, she wasn't online. Of course, I checked my connection to make sure that there wasn't a problem at my end, turning the iPad on and off, resetting it, etc etc, but still no sign of Tr - although I did notice that a few other people, including Mi, were online. Finally, at just before 8:20, I received a text message from Tr who was just firing up the G6 ready for the call. She would still have been sleeping, she told me, except for that her partner jabbed her in the ribs and told her she'd slept in. Tr has been working fairly hard of late - alas, not achieving quite as much as she'd liked - and it does take its toll some weeks. As well as that, she'd arrived home after midnight on Thursday when she, Te and De and De (yes, their neighbours have the same name) went off to the Vivid display in Sydney. It was stunning, she said, even though they didn't see the Dr Who 50th Anniversary Spectacular on the facade of Customs House last night. She said she'd seen a clip of it on the news, and wondered how the crowd members they'd spoken to managed to look so dry, given it had been bucketing down there!

The Markets were good - although we don't seem to have won the Coffee folk's competition - I think the price was a night's accommodation at a retreat somewhere. Ah well, we won't be going there for S's birthday (which is looming now). We were a fair-sized crowd again today and conversation was lively and spirited as always. The table was back to being groaning with food - pancakes, fruit salad, cake, croissants - it's just as well we don't eat breakfast before we get there! We left early today - I was on a mission to boldly go ... to see Star Trek Into Darkness. I saw the 2D version and that was magnificent although I could see why Tr had said that the 3D version was good too ... and now I want to see it again in 3D to see some of those effects ... and to watch more closely for the Easter Eggs planted throughout the film. I haven't yet read the article on that but I think I know what one of them was ... but given the headline of the article said Easter Eggs, I have to look harder ... and immerse myself in the grandeur that is Star Trek once more before this particular incarnation leaves the big screen!

When I set out for the movies, I left S planting in her garden. The wire barricade M put up last week seems to be doing a great job in keeping the furries out and S's plants intact ... and they are definitely growing!

Dinner tonight was at Mouse's ... pumpkin soup, casserole, rhubarb. Yumm. I know I don't usually eat Pumpkin Soup, but as I've told An, another non-lover of this vegetable, Mouse's is different from the others I've tasted and is only one of the two pumpkin soups I enjoy (rather than saying I enjoy it to be polite). Sox, who has been less than well over the last little while, seems to be a bit stronger and he'd put himself up on the couch in the living area - and was accepting pats. He can get himself outside again, through the laundry door, but he hasn't yet figured out how to get back in - and when Mouse went looking for him the other day, she found him at the BBQ around the side.