Monday

How did Maggie know to come in to the bedroom last night? Was she watching to see when the electric blanket was finally going to make it from the box in the breezeway onto the bed? She wasn’t there to help make the bed with it so we’ee figuring Pearl must have told her! However she found out doesn’t really matter - just that she slept in on the bed last time - the first time in a very long time. She even went back in there after breakfast this morning - and given how cold it was - who could blame her. I think the weather app was definitely wrong this morning - there was no way it was 11 degrees at Latimers when I extricated myself from bed … this is definitely going to be the season of flanny PJs and Ugg boots! One of the good things about cold mornings is that Pearl stays in bed so I don’t have to watch her to make sure she isn’t helping the cats eat their breakfasts.

Sooz made it to Aqua again - and it was good she and An did because where has been some concern about the diminishing numbers in the class. The extra two should help with that though.

While Sooz and An were at Aqua, Syl was out at Latimers doing what she does. I think I noticed the grape vine had been cut back today - or at some point anyway.

Did I mention that there are horses back in Hermes’ paddock and the girls are refilling the water regularly again. Sooz had done a good job of keeping an eye on it though while they weren’t to lessen the chance of birds running into strife with it.

Syl and An had lunch with Sooz after Aqua - Ferry Road chicken and fresh bread. It really doesn’t get much better! Well, it would have been for me if I had been there too.

Pot plant

We were three at Trivia tonight - An, Sooz and I. When we rang Fl to see how far away he was, he said he had meant to ring to let us know he wasn't coming, but he hadn't. On the strength of that, we didn't take "Tools" (the picture round) as a bonus round. We didn't do too badly either - I think we were one point off third place. Of course, there was a little bit of a recap later and we agreed that we could have done just a little better had Fl been able to make it - especially since the first picture round was "Who Am I?".

Syl's jobs yesterday did include "pot" or, more precisely, "pot plant". I don't think this plant was out the back before, but it is now. It looks good too!

 

Sunday

Tinka

I felt a little like Clark Kent this morning - taking off my glasses to perform a super-human feat - getting into the shower. It was cold again this morning, and even though it's not Tasmanian-cold (where they get dressed in bed before they get up!) you could tell that waiting for the shower water to heat up was going to feel like an absolute age.

Well, so much for trying something new! Breakfast at Tallai Golf Club wasn't on - they had been trialling it for four months but not getting enough response for them to keep offering it - so they're not any more. D'oh.

Trailer

We considered the options and decided that we'd stay close and while the woman at Tallai suggested the Mudgeeraba Show might have some eats, we decided to go with something we knew ... where the parking might be just a little easier. We could not believe how many cars were already parked around the showgrounds as we drove past ... and there were plenty of folk inside - and it wasn't even 9:30 yet.

So why weren't we at the Markets? Well, the Soccer is still on, and it is the start of Ramadan. Someone was saying that we'll pick up the Markets when Mouse returns.

I wanted to be outside today - doing something in the sunshine - and while I considered using my SeaWorld pass to do some black and white photography, I ended up staying at home and wandering around Latimers with Nik. I managed to take one or two shots that I was happy with: those furries are totally photogenic.

Syl came over this afternoon and I was able to repay the $25 she had loaned me for bullets yesterday when the Club's EFTPOS machine was out of action - and she was able to give me back the 50 cents I had given her for a cup of coffee as we waited for the orientation to start. She wasn't quite sure what she was planning to do this afternoon but pots, spraying and a door were mentioned. Or was that last mentioned by Sooz as a job that she had for Syl to do?

Maggie

It was cold enough at 3 o'clock this afternoon for me to put on a flannelette shirt - so it's definitely getting cooler. When Syl stopped to have a cup of tea, we sat outside in the sun, hoping to catch some warm rays but there weren't that many. It was warmer than inside though.

We were all set to have Hungarian Goulash soup this evening - but the capsicum - a vital ingredient - has taken it upon itself to go missing. We know Sooz bought it the other day - we can tell you where, we can tell you when - what we can't tell you is where it is now. Hopefully it never made it home from the store ... because if it did, that means it is in the house somewhere.

 

Saturday

Saturday. Shooting day. I was up and out of the house just after 7 and on my way to grab a quick coffee and toast before going to the Pistol Club. I met Syl there and we had the choice of two Kindys - Blackpowder or NRA. I really wasn't sure which I wanted to do so when Syl said NRA, that was good enough for me. We did go along to look at Blackpowder though and I was impressed by the very large Non-Smoking sign at the entrance to their range. The description they gave reminded me of loading and firing an old-fashioned musket. From the NRA range next door, we could hear the Blackpowder weapons being fired, and see the huge puffs of smoke: given the guns they were using seemed a foot long, easy.

We did our club orientation today and that was interesting - especially as we learned about the different disciplines the Club has to offer, and the power of the different ammunitions and guns.

NRA was great. One of the aims is to show the difference distance makes to aim. We were shooting at metal plates today which were white-washed between rounds so bullet hits would make a plainly visible black spot on each target. If you hit the target, it fell down - which was a good way of knowing if you'd hit it. In some of the other disciplines you can't ever see the target clearly, let alone where (if) you've hit.

I was happy with how I shot today - but I would have been even happier had I managed to take out all six targets in the last round - instead of leaving just the one plate standing.

Sooz was ready and waiting at home when I made it back to Latimers. She had to wait for me to fill out my police application (... I had to find it first of course .. I have to start putting things in non-safe places - I might be able to locate them) before we could go. There was no need to say goodbye to the furries when we left, they were asleep.

We decided to do lunch at Ferry Road where we had fresh bread, some meat and mustard. I couldn't believe that there was no hot English mustard to be had at all at Ferry Road today - so we had to settle for Dijon instead. It was a great lunch and once we had coffee to go with it, it was perfect.

We ended up at a wedding this afternoon. We weren't invited of course but the church was across the road from the police station . As we parked, the bridal car went past and onto the church forecourt. We watched and waited for them to go in before we went in to see the police. Sooz needed to get a permit so she can work with older people, and I needed to (finally)lodge my application to join a pistol club.

You can look straight down the church aisle from outside and when we were leaving, the about-to-be-couple were exchanging rings. We wished them well and went on our way.

The watchdog wasn't at her best this afternoon. Syl managed to drive in , do stuff down the back, and drive out without her barking to let us know there Was someone here. To be fair, Sooz did hear her bark once but she didn't make a song or dance about it.

Rain was predicted for this afternoon and just before dark the clouds massed over the hill. It wasn't until almost an hour later though that the rain started, gently at first and then more insistent. It's good - the valley really needs it.

Friday

My alarm went off at just after 5 this morning and I would have gone straight out to start doing the furries except a voice next to me said "It's minus 3 in Toowoomba and 5 here." I put my Ugg boots on and was glad of it. Sooz, her job done, then went straight back to sleep, certainly not stirring before I left.

They say that it's warmer near the coast and that was certainly true this morning. As I left home, Lars' thermometer said 4 ... and by the time I had driven into Zarraffas at Nerang, it was up to 6. Not even a coffee could take the chill off however - especially when I made it to the office - where, quite seriously, the space under my desk just traps cold air there and leaves it until 11 o'clock or so. Today I wore a hoodie - and then I had my work vest over my knees to try to keep my legs warm. I think this is what the rest of Winter is going to be like - only worse.

Syl came out to Latimers today - and she called Sooz on the way out asking if she needed her to pick up anything for her. Max came with her and found some of Pearl's toys while she was visiting. The turkey/chicken made a re-appearance and was in the carport sans squeaker - I'm not sure if it was like that before I ran over it - but it certainly was afterwards.

While Syl was here she suggested that as Sooz and I check out real estate options, we include retirement villages in our search. Hmmmm. I won't lie, that rocked me a bit. I've never thought of myself as old enough to live in a retirement village but, alas, on reflection, I actually am. More hmmmm.

We had dinner tonight at Syl and An's - and that included a game of Scrabble. The food was wonderful - An, not sure how Syl would be after her dentist visit, had made a "mushy menu" - Spicy Pumpkin Soup, Salt Mashed Potato, beans and stew, and Stephanie Alexander's Lemon Pudding to finish. Yum, Yum. And yum again. An wasn't absolutely happy with how some of it turned out but I think she was being overly critical!

Their furries are all in good form except for the cough that one of the cats has picked up - the vet has suggested it's allergy-related but the jury is still out on that.

Ricky and Micky

Well, we now know when it's time to put Pearl's nightie on. She was a little unsettled after we arrived home tonight and in the end I followed her up the back and as she stood there I decided to try to put her nightie on - she had refused last night - and this time she let me - and then she settled. They really do have a way of letting you know what they want!

 

Thursday

I think it is getting ever cooler in the mornings but there has still been no frost sightings ... yet ... but there is a nice steam that floats off the top of the grey water hose when it's running.

They're always full days at work these days and as we near End of Month yet again, it still feels as though we are working at full pace ... and there's a reason for that!

Lemon tree ... very pretty

But it's good that there's no time to be bored ... leastways that's what I keep telling myself.

Pearl was much better today but nevertheless Sooz kept a close eye on her to make sure she was okay and not showing any signs of discomfort. She was definitely symptom free by the end of the day - so much so that we asked her to come up on the couch with me this evening as we watched MasterChef. She tried a couple of times but couldn't get the right angle, but in the end, as soon as I stood up, she jumped up and went to settle in ... until she realised that I was on the way to the kitchen ... and then she had to go too, just in case something fell off one of the plates. It didn't.

Jane came today and she was suitably impressed by how Mac's man has been transforming parts of the yard. I'm not sure what she did (I am not always the observant one) - but I do know that she did prune the lemon tree. It certainly needed it.

M Skyped this evening and it was good to be able to tell her that Pearl seems okay. It is hot in Turkey - over 30 degrees, M was planning to go swimming after the call - and the pool certainly looked inviting enough. Mouse is feeling better and they have now set a travel date for their return.

 

Wednesday

Sunrise

Sooz wasn't in the car with me to appreciate the sunrise this morning ... in fact, I would be very surprised if she had seen it at all - she was still asleep when I left ... but I looked enough for both of us ... and took a photo because, as they say, it lasts longer.

Just claim it! So said the co-worker of the woman I told had done a really fast job in preparing my flat white this morning. My barista had started to say "flat whites are easy" - and that was when her colleague jumped in with the "just claim it". I think that could mark one of the differences between generations - their level of confidence ... I remember one of the auditors at Streamline giving me a different version of this - his advice was "fake it till you make it". Just slightly different nuances of the same theme.

We were pleased that Pearl was feeling better this morning. We were worried she had picked up a urinary tract infection - or something - when she needed to go out twice within a couple of minutes last night, and then had an accident on the tiles in the living room because she was sound asleep. We left the back door open in case she wanted to go out during the night - and that's how Tinka was outside in the wee smalls of the hour - crying. Sooz heard it and let her in - and then closed the door. This morning, Pearl rose with me, went outside and then, even though I was prepared to give her (not me!) the morning off, she still wanted to go for a walk - so off we went. It was a little lighter this morning - but only because we were a little later.

Syl and An arrived back from their caravaning trip today. They both seem well except for Syl who has a date with the dentist tomorrow ... implants were mentioned. But, they seem to have had a great time on their trip and the caravan looks none the worse for wear for its sojourn either. I didn't see Micky and Ricky - there were in the back of the car - somewhere between their cage and their home - maybe in the PVC "breezeway" Syl built to connect them because the cats were feeling the cold.

Trivia cat

Coco and Max were good - although Syl was making sure Coco didn't stay very far from her side. She had while they were in Canberra walking with Su and Rh - and Coco had rolled in something really dreadful - and they had to find a Dog Wash so they could give her a wash and allow her back into the car. There's nothing like an adventure while you're on holiday!

Ka came today and she is in good form. Sooz gave up trying to mark while she was here because it just isn't possible! But she and Ka had a good chat ... which was good. Ka is just about to go on a retreat in Thailand and, as Sooz says, she will miss a week and she has popped the details into the diary (am I the only one who doesn't use the diary?).

Maggie took off for the hills when Syl, An and the entourage arrived. She didn't show up until well after they had gone and she was being called for dinner - then she materialized from down the back. Obviously the hills are in a different direction this month!

Trivia tonight

The furries welcomed us home with open paws when we returned from Trivia this evening. They didn't hold it against us that we had managed a 5th rather than climbing to the top of the podium. But we didn't do too badly given we were just four. The bad news is that we didn't win the cash jackpot. The good news is that there are leftovers for Pearl for tomorrow (which I have just reminded Sooz to take out of her bag).

There was another happy furry tonight - the one up at the Trivia who was warming itself in front of an open fireplace. It didn't appear to be bothered by the heat at all - but then often animals are not .... they can be almost on top of it and the thickness of their fur keeps them from overheating.

 

Tuesday

It was dark again this morning when Pearl and I sat off down the lane - Am hadn't been down the lane yet so the gate was still closed What a beautiful sunrise - and Sooz was awake to see it too. We both were because we were on our way to Varsity Lakes for Sooz's work - or more correctly for her 2-hour break in the coffee shop before she went to work. Again, she had marking to do so she was able to while away the time quite well. I wonder, as she does this, whether Sooz can see the attraction coffee shops in the morning have held for me over the years.

I had a text from Sooz during the day saying she would be finishing late - but that meant she wouldn't need to go back on Thursday to finish up ... but, later still, she again texted to say she was back to finishing at the usual time. Either way it wasn't an issue - as she knows, I get there as quickly after 4 as I can. And, truthfully speaking, the later we were the less time there would be to wait at the Fast Wok for dinner. I was fairly sure Sooz would want Hainan Chicken - but I was wrong. I was torn between Laksa and ... everything else and in the end Sooz made the decision for me ... she's good like that ... especially as she sometimes (make that often) knows my tastes better than I do,

MasterChef seems to be the program of choice these days - it is a much better this time - more like the original series. Of course, House Rules is running a very close second ... and Sooz is enjoying it very much. Tonight, I chose to watch Ice Age: Continental Drift instead - I had forgotten how good it is ... Precious! And who knew Rebel Wilson was in it?

Sooz is dividing her time between the two couches so she gets to spend quality time with both Tinka and Maggie. They are both spending the night on their respective couches and it is only Pearl who is in with us.

The big news on the Gold Coast today, besides the starting work on a Mosque in Worongary - is that tourists are getting confused by the Light Rail - they are trying to catch it. That's a no-no though ... the Q is still in the testing phase and passengers are not allowed. Day One Go Live has not yet been announced and, in the meantime, the powers that be are suggesting people read the signs at the stations more carefully so they know what's happening.

The big new on the Gold Coast tomorrow will that be the Syl and An are back from their caravan trip to Victoria.. Sooz should see them when they bring the van back - either tomorrow or the next day. Other visitors expected on the morrow include Ka - which means Sooz may have a busy start to the day getting the house ready for her arrival.

I don't think we've had any frosts here yet but it may not be long because the temperatures are taking a steady dive. Hopefully when it happens it won't be so bad that the grass crunches under foot!

Monday

There was mail today - and amongst it, a postcard from Spain (thanks M). It is amazing that a card posted from the other side of the world can land in a post box here in Nerang. It's almost as amazing as the fax machine!

The fog over the valley was quite different again this morning, not just a light veil but a huge fog bank (well, maybe not huge and definitely not in the style of Stephen King) over L's and Latimers. It wasn't so dense that Pearl and I lost sight of each other and it wasn't so dark that we did either although it would have been had we left 10 minutes earlier. I really thought the days were supposed to be getting longer but I suppose it has to be more than two days after the Solstice.

The mornings are definitely getting cooler though and it won't be long until Pearl will be wearing her nightie. It's hard to pick when to put it on - given that she's obviously hot during the night when she moves off her bed on to the tiles - a bit like Sooz used to do in the Summer.

There was no Trivia tonight. Radio 94.1 or is that 92.5 GOld FM is holding a fundraiser at Southport RSL tonight - Bingo. It means that there will be no parking in the area again - very similar to last week where we circled the block and the parking lot but couldn't find anything. So, on a rare Monday night at home, Sooz cooked a roast. I don't know what it is about the smell of a roast, but it certainly makes a person hungry. And not just a person ... the furries were fairly interested too!

Everyone was on the couches this evening watching MasterChef. Tinka has really taken to watching television with us - snuggling on the couch next to me. She has taken to it - and is able to withstands the not-so-nice stares Maggie shoots in her direction.

I took the rubbish up to the road tonight and I wanted to take Pearl so she could at least have an outing - Sooz suggested she would like it - but it has been a while since Pearl's been in one of the vehicles - I was prepared to take whichever one suited her - but she wasn't keen to try either. So she stayed at home and watched (and waited) while Sooz fed the felines.

Otherwise, not much has been happening in the valley. The Mothers are getting bigger as they get more pregnant - and they're getting a little more friendly - or is it just curious? - because all three of them will often trot over to the fence while Pearl and I are walking by in the mornings.

I'm still not sure why but the gate to the stables is now closed overnight and Amanda opens it when she goes down at 6. And the stable lights continue to be on from early in the morning. Sometimes, you can see the silhouette of the horses looking out their half gates/windows.

Sunday

Don't you hate it when you set the alarm an hour earlier than you should? I must have had a brain freeze is all I can think. At least I was able to go back to sleep before it was time to get up and do the furries. I was still up earlier than usual on a Sunday so I was able to take Pearl for a walk before the Tr call.

The Markets were cancelled today - the Turf Club was hosting a race meeting instead. Of course, since Bosnia was playing in the World Cup at 8am, some folk wouldn't have been able to make it anyway. Unfortunately their support did not help enough and Bosnia may not make it through the round.

Sooz and I took the opportunity to go to breakfast at Ferry Road - Sooz has been missing it with both M and An away. Rather than doing the usual coffee and rolls, we went to Spendelove. It was good - and certainly much faster than going to the Markets ... but, except for Sooz, the company was nowhere near what we're used to. While we didn't have bread for breakfast (toast doesn't count) Sooz did buy some epi for later.

We thought about Sooz doing a movie this afternoon but there was nothing on at the time that suited ... so after breakfast - and a little shopping at Greenhouse's 40% off sale - we went home: Sooz did some washing while I intended to write a couple of letters but actually fell asleep in the sunshine. It was fabulous even though it wasn't for terribly long (that's my story anyway).

I kept the camera out hoping the lorikeets would return today but I don't think they did. But while Sooz and I were sitting out the back waiting, we did watch to check the grey-water hose is working properly (the machine was on) and that I did fix it properly. It was and I did.

Numbers

Az phoned this evening to see how things are going and if we'd heard any more from the travellers. We told her we hadn't but expect we will once the new travel plans are locked in. It's amazing that the planes are so full coming back this way. Mind you they will start to get full going the other way soon ... it's only five weeks now until Az and Mi head off overseas themselves.

I don't think I mentioned that as Sooz and I were having lunch at The Big House yesterday, we noted that, oddly and for what reason we do not yet know, that the sugar sachets have numbers on them. A superstitious person who believes in things like "air conditioning" might have been tempted to use several of those numbers, randomly drawn from their container, to select Numbers to play on a table. Hmmmm ... 26 and 14 were well-represented.

 

Saturday

Well, I thought I was going to ISSF shooting this morning - but I was wrong. It wasn't on. Rather than turning around and going home I decided to try out another discipline - IPSC. Now while that actually does stand for something, the other guys were razzing the IPSC folk saying it stood for "I Prefer to Shoot Closely".

Rainbow lorikeet

I came 5th (out of 9) in this morning's shoot - not bad for my first time I thought. It was very different from ISSF. The ISPCs are the ones who do the shooting from behind barriers and running and dropping empty magazines as they go, and reloading at pace. While the IPSC actually stands for (something) Practical Shooting Confederation, I'm not sure how "practical shooting" equates with what they were doing but I'm sure it somehow makes sense.

Embankment 1

While ISSF usually goes until well after 12.30, it was just after 11 when we finished on the range. It was straight home then to pick up Sooz so we could go into lunch at The Big House. She'd had a slower start to the morning but still managed to get some washing in ... there was a workshirt hanging near the grape vine when I came back round the side of the house when I arrived home.

Rainbow

There were loads of folk at The Big House so it was just as well Sooz had gone in a bit earlier to wait in line for a table.

Sooz had the Salmon and Prawns Special again - but it wasn't as good as it was last week ... she said she thought it had been sitting on The Pass for too long ... and thanks to MasterChef I knew what she was talking about.

Embankment 2

While we were at The Big House, we had a little play - Sooz on the machines and me on the Rapid Reel. We'd agreed on a two-hour limit but at the 1.5 hour mark, I was happy with how I'd gone (and feeling a bit tired from concentrating) and decided to call it. Sooz didn't object and when we arrived home, with a storm gathering over the hills, she started bringing in the washing - and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of some white galahs in one of the trees ... and then we noticed the double rainbows - and then the rainbow lorikeets. It doesn't get much better than this.

 

Friday

L's sans trees

Well, it was L's trees - and it looks virtually naked in his front yard without them - and that's in the pre-dawn light ... it looks stark otherwise!

Even though I left work on time today, I didn't get home until after dark - but that wasn't too bad as I saw the bats milling over the Gilston Road roundabout as I drove through. There were lots of them - and they didn't seem to be going anywhere fast.

I had stopped in at Coles to get some mince for Pearl ... and I'd also called in at the Post Office to see if the Friends have sent any more mail to M. They hadn't - but that didn't mean there was no mail there. There were a few letters - more than S and I received.

I think Sooz was glad not to be working today - although it wasn't that she wasn't doing things - she was - including baking an orange cake! And seeing people ... it was a bit like Central Station at Latimers today .... first Mac's man Richard turned up and he spent some time working on the embankment. He was good - he let Sooz know when he arrived - and then when Pearl went over to spend some time with him, he was nice to her. Some folk say you can tell the measure of a man by how they treat animals.

Next Mu dropped in to go fishing down the back today and asked Sooz is she ate fish - if he caught "too many" he was going to drop some off on his way out. Alas, or at least, he caught one mullet - and that not big enough to leave part of. Just as well Sooz and I had already planned to have chicken and corn soup for dinner tonight.

I learned something today ... while I was listening to the equivalent of factual "muzak" as I waited to pay a work paint bill. Did you know that if an asteroid was hurtling on a collision course with earth, you would do better to paint it white than to send up rockets to blast it to pieces. That's what they said anyway. They didn't say, though, if it should be a particular shade of white or if there was already one called "asteroid deflector white".

 

Thursday

Again, it was dark as Pearl and I walked down the lane this morning - and because of that we don't know when Walker #3 joined us. We only saw them as we were walking back - I noticed a dark shadow and couldn't work out what it was. Out came the iPhone (for the torch) and as we approached, we saw that it was Maggie - half way up the lane by the time we found her. It had just started to sprinkle and I asked her if she wanted to come back (because she really should!) but she went to head off in the other direction ... so I scooped her up and carried her back to the house ... and popped her back on her couch. That's definitely something you don't see every day ... Maggie down the lane - although Sooz says that their territories are a lot bigger than we realise but at this rate Maggie is going to be sleeping with the horses - just as well we make sure she's in at lockdown.

It looked different on the way down the lane this afternoon day - and we saw piles of wood in the Mothers' paddock - so the challenge was to work out where the wood had come from. It didn't take long once we noticed the tree was missing from the corner of L's yard closest to Latimers. It will be interesting to see if the wood ends up as a bonfire. There would be absolutely no question of it if it were B's.

It's amazing how quickly they can take a big tree down. I'm sure it was still there this morning as we drove out. Sooz was with me, I was giving her a lift to work - a bit early I grant you, but we were able to find her a coffee shop where she could while away the two hours between when I dropped her off and when she was due at work! She had marking to do so that kept her busy, and, of course, there was breakfast to be had. I was just sorry that I couldn't stop to have it with her but work was calling and I was amazed that I was only 15 minutes late. Yes, I could have been there a few minutes earlier had I not stopped at Zarraffa's for my morning coffee - but that wasn't going to happen. They have one of the longest drive thru queues at the Worongary store; it's not the best organised and you can't even park and run in-store to grab your coffee because the drive-thru queue blocks the car spaces - so you have to sit in the drive-thru queue but luckily, it does move along. And, you know, their coffee is good ... and I'm looking forward to it on the other days I drop Sooz off to work.

We are slowly getting through the pile of invoices at the office - and the challenge is to not get overwhelmed as they keep coming and coming and coming. Today I handed Ch one of the most-boring-tasks-in-the-world but also one of the most rewarding ... and at the end of it she was so excited about the result that she declared that she really had to get a life ... it's okay to get excited about a spreadsheet ... but if that's the highlight of your day ... well ... some would say that's not necessarily a bad thing - but apparently Ch is not one of them.

It was MasterChef with the furries again this evening - Sooz had Maggie (the wanderer) and I had Tinka. Pearl chose not to watch this and was asleep half on-half off her rug.

Sooz had a good chat with M tonight. Mouse is not terribly well (but is improving) and it looks as though they may be delaying their return. We'll find out more after M has been in touch with their travel agent and they're able to start locking in some plans.

Wednesday

It was another beautiful morning at Latimers with a shallow fog hanging on the Valley, Just wonderful! I'd really wanted it to be even lower so it covered the cows in the paddocks - with just their heads visible above the mist. Maybe tomorrow!

When I left home this morning everyone was asleep including Tinka who had moved from her beds to the couch where she had snuggled into the shirt Sooz had left out for her. It's funny how the furries go from place to place and can manage to snuggle in wherever they want to be and be comfortable enough to go to sleep!

I wonder if Sooz is missing Bingo ... it has been a while since she went! She's doing the walking machine every night now ... to help make up for the lack of Aqua ... but hopefully An will be back next week and she will be able to get a lift in.

We haven't heard from the caravan since it left (not even a postcard) which hopefully means all is going to plan and they're having a good time on Syl's birthday tour!

We were probably the only household in the Eastern States who weren't tuned in to either the State of Origin or the World Cup! But at least we knew what they are were and that they were on. MasterChef and Offspring are more the speed here!

 

Tuesday

Bedtime at Latimers

It was dark when Pearl and I went walking this morning - except for the moonshine - which meant that both Pearl and I had moon shadows. Sooz and I had been singing about them only last night on the way home.

I had woken up at one stage during the night - after I heard an annoying ticking noise - which I never did find out what it was - and while I was up I was extremely grateful that the stable lights over at B's were still off - otherwise it means that there isn't much sleeping time left!

I dropped Sooz off at Maccas this morning, early, before I went on to work. She had a bit of a wait for Je but she had marking to do, and breakfast to eat, so she didn't mind. They were off to Brisbane today - and it turned out to be quite a long day - so Sooz was pleased, and a little surprised, when I turned up at Ashmore (where they ended up) just as she walked out. I was pretty stunned by the timing as well, especially since I had inadvertently taken a wrong turn along the way and, as it turned out, arrived sooner than I thought. Meant to be I suppose.

We went straight from Ashmore to the Police Station in Nerang - to see about getting Sooz a new "permit". She has her Blue Card, but there are apparently new rules in place and she needs to get one to allow her to work, alone, with older folk.

There was a message from Je on the ansaphone when we arrived home, wanting to know if we wanted her to come tomorrow or Thursday. Sooz rang to let her know.

Tinker was on the couch with us again tonight and while it would nice to think it was us she wanted to spend time with - it's more to do with MasterChef - or possibly the roast chicken we had for dinner. She came around while we were having pizza last night as well. Even though that wouldn't suggest so, Sooz has been doing a bit of cooking of late - and some nice dishes. The big bonus is that there have been leftovers for me to take to work. Yum.

She's also taken to baking apples and they are marvellous as well, especially now she has an apple corer to work with, I still don't know what that kitchen utensil she used that first time was -but it really wasn't an apple corer!

Maggie is very much enjoying having Sooz's flannelette shirt on the back of her couch. It's hard to tell if she actually spends time anywhere else while we're not here. Sooz is moving Pearl's bed between the bedroom and the living room each day and Pearl is using it in both areas. She (that would be Pearl) seems to be enjoying House Rules (currently nearing the end of this series) more than I am. She is a good guard dog - Sooz went outside this evening and Pearl heard the door close. She was up like a shot, barking and rushing to the front door! She even insisted I open the door so she could make sure we were safe!

I'm surprised that the cat litter has lasted this long. I only had to get the new bag yesterday - and no-one offered to help - not even the cats and they're the ones who use it! That being said, though, they've been pretty good about making sure they attend to business outside, I really appreciate their efforts.

 

Monday

Lars does not have a tow bar! I remembered that just in time before I lowered the garbage bin on to it. I had tied the bin lid shut of course, so I wouldn't have lost all the rubbish - but there was always a chance something would fall out - and we couldn't have that since we were on our way to Trivia. That was the plan anyway - but you know what they say about plans! When we arrived the streets surrounding the Southport RSL was absolutely full - even the carpark was full - which didn't stop people (including us) trying - since we kept seeing cars coming out ... not realising that they were the cars that had just gone in, circled and then come back out. So, we decided that we'd give Trivia a miss - and told Fl as we were driving out and he was going down to circle the carpark before he went home to his empty house - well, empty in terms of Mi, because she is currently in New Zealand. The last time the Club environs was this busy was when they were having the Kokoda Challenge orientation session a few years back. I think that was the year Syl went in it.

Ni & St's room - with fire

When we called Ni to let her know Trivia was not on - she invited us to hers so we could say goodbye - and hello to Cl who is looking after Chez St & Ni while they are away. Ni flies out tomorrow for France with the immersion students. St is already here - he left on Saturday. While we were there, we met her cats - who are not allowed in the room with the new couches by themselves because one of them has taken to marking its territory on them. We had met them before - but they were more relaxed this time.

I will never ever work out the moon. I know that sounds defeatist and like I have already given up - but I think I have it and them I realise that I don't - and that I'm not even close. The moon is no longer full - it has a "reverse crescent" and as we drove home tonight, I tried to work out why it was so. I'm still trying to work it out. That and Manchester. Where does the word come from? I was thinking about it today because where we were out at Robina yesterday. Sooz bought some new Manchester - flannelette sheets. I was thinking about it this morning ... does it refer to the days when women took dowries with them into a marriage, and they would keep the items for their dowry in a special place, in a chest, for when they found their man ... so they had items went into their "man chest" and each one of those was a "man-chest-er". Well, I was intrigued enough to look it up ... and found there wasn't an entry for Manchester - as in linen - but there was for Manchester - the place. Hmmm.

Anyway, the sheets are absolutely wonderful - and more wonderful because Sooz found them on special. Tinka would be in the bed rather than on the bed if she knew how fantastic they are. Are not just because they are blue and striped.

The furries are all well - although Maggie is getting bossier by the day - and night. She has been muscling Tinka out of the way at meal times - and even tried to spag her the other day.

 

Sunday

It was so strange not going to the Markets this morning - not because we didn't want to but because they were called off - not totally - but all the others were watching the World Cup Soccer instead. So, we took the opportunity to go to Robina shops instead so we could pick up Sooz's glasses (they look really great!) and take a wander around the shops and see about doing our bit for the economy.

Before then, though, it was the call with Tr. All is well in their part of the world - I think - I must admit I was doing more than my usual share of talking this morning ... and asking her for some technical advice regarding file sharing for Android . It was good catching up though - we hadn't last week because they were on the Central Coast visiting mates.

We took M's car out for a run today - and I remembered to take a photograph of the number plate in case I forgot what it was when we went looking for it in the car park after we'd finished our shopping. We almost made it to The Coffee Club to use my VIP Club card - but that will have to wait until next time.

Newly ROM'd lawn

The good news is that I finally made it back onto ROM this afternoon. It has been months and months (September last year) since I have been on it - and I didn't realize until I was on it and zipping around the yard, using my headphones rather than Sylvia's orange ear muffs, that I had truly missed this. It wasn't the world's best mow, but I think it was okay ... and if there are snakes around (please let it still be too cold for that) we would definitely be able to see them without having to put those oft-talked-about flags on their tails.

We saw some kangaroos on our way back from Robina this afternoon - off the Motorway - a couple of them just there in a paddock. This was the first time I had seen them there - and I don't know we would have noticed except for Suzanne looking out the window, in their direction, at that point. It was a thrill though.

MasterChef was on again this evening and the furries took up their stations - Maggie next to Sooz, Tinka next to me, Pearl on the floor - to watch ... and learn. The guest chef tonight was Marco (Polo) Pierre White and he will be with the contestants for the rest of the week. Hopefully we will tape those and won't have to watch them in real time with all the ads that that brings with it.

We almost had a Skype call with M this afternoon. The iPad rang but by the time I picked it up and unlocked it, the ringing had stopped. I took the iPad into Sooz - for when it rang again - but it didn't ... and the call we made to M was declined. It would have been great to catch up but, as we know, bad news travels fast ... and there isn't any.

 

Saturday

There are two types of people in the world - those who file in front of the tabs and those that file behind. We only get two choices in some things ... and filing is one of them. I finally made it down to clear off my desk this morning and I found a few papers that needed filing - the first ones in the expanding file ... but how to file them? Ah if all of life's problems were so insubstantial but, alas, that's not the way it is.

The horses were a bit spooked this morning - running, rooting, neighing. I couldn't see what it was but Sooz suggested it might have been because the wind has come up and, like Pearl, it is not their favourite thing. I didn't mention that the other day, when Pearl and I were doing our walk, we realised that with just a little more attention to colour arrangement, and a couple more colours, B and his lot could have made a very proactive statement!

Horse of a different colour

Pearl was on alert this morning ... which is to say she wasn't and she slept through Keith driving into the yard, getting out if the car and getting halfway to the front door before Pearl realised! He had come in search of a fitting: we have thousands of them up there - he said, pointing to B's - but not the right one. Finding it, he added, would save him a trip into Nerang. He also commented that the avos are almost ready. It will be interesting to see who gets them first - the bats or Pearl.

Blueberry season is just around the corner but is late this year. The price has gone up too … Now $15 a kilo - but not just from our guy - it's going to be an across the board increase. I would think this drink in the middle (as long as it isn't "Smurf") will be in shorter supply going forward).

I decided not to go shooting this morning - it was raining when I woke and knowing that the range, while "indoor" is actually not, I decided not to risk going and not getting to shoot. So I stayed home and pottered instead, hence the filing ... and, yet, I still didn't find my shooting licence application form on my desk ... nowhere. But I did realise I was missing a folder - no surprises here that it was a yellow one - and finally, as we were getting ready to go into Broadbeach, I checked the car boot one more time - and there it was!

Then we were off to Broadbeach and The Big House for lunch. It was good - and not just because - with M's vouchers (thanks M) and my 10% discount - we ended up paying $1.05 ... yes, that was $1.05. Bonus. Sooz really liked the Salmon and Garlic Prawns (mashed potato, asparagus and hollandaise sauce) special - and her Treacle Tart (piled high with fruit and cream) for dessert.

Then, it was on to the Gaming Floor. Sooz wandered off to play on a machine while I headed for roulette on the Rapid Reel - and then wandered back at one stage because a machine had eaten her money. So engrossed was I with the numbers that when she came up, I jumped - and absolutely lost my concentration. I'd like to say I got it back, but I didn't really.

Did I mention that Sooz has made some wonderful meals over the last few days - there was the steak (yum) and then she made casserole - which smelled - and was - absolutely divine. The furries were paying extra attention both nights!

We had planned to have a game of Scrabble tonight but we didn't get there - Sooz was watching "Last Tango in Halifax" and I was watching some invoices and dockets for work.

 

Friday

It was the usual morning breakfast routine for the furries this morning ... Pearl went out (and I closed the door after her), Maggie went out, and Tinka stayed in to have her breakfast and her shot. I also had my breakfast this morning - and did so under the scrutiny of Tinka and Pearl - both of whom obviously thought they should be the one to have my left-over milk ... not something they have any chance of most other days of the week where breakfast for me is Raisin Toast at Maccas!

After I was finished, it was time for Pearl and I to go walking and I said to her "come with me and then you can have some cookies" - but obviously all she head was "cookies". I had to go outside and get her lead and show it to her before she would even deign to think about coming outside.

Tinka - ready for dinner

I would have sworn that there is a new fence around the Mothers' paddock of Larry's. I took a photo - and then compared it with other photos I have of horses in that paddock - and it (the fence) isn't new at all. Hmmm. I would have stayed for a closer look all the way along if we weren't getting sprinkled on ... and as it was, we did make it to B's and back without getting wet. But it did go a long way to explaining why it was so dark this morning! I know we still have a few more days before it starts getting lighter again, but today seemed to have gotten much darker than the same time yesterday. It is amazing what a bit of cloud cover will do.

I'm thinking cloud cover is not the reason the kookaburra was doing a B's cats and playing chicken ... with a death wish. I am usually too busy watching the road along that stretch - not thinking that something will come into my line of sight at windscreen height - but there it was, flying right across the road in front of the car. I slammed on the brakes and managed to miss it but truly I think there was only a tail feather in it!

It stayed cloudly, overcast, and even a little wet for the rest of the day. We had the discussion (you can't go out and look until people have cast their vote) about whether the noise we were hearing was rain or a truck out in the carpark on the gravel. I was right ... it was rain.

Ma offered me the chance to do some overtime tomorrow, but I declined ... in that I won't go into the office but I have carried some things home with me (what I call the "problem children") to give me a jump on next week - without me having to give up my Saturday (or ISSF Kindy at the Pistol Club).

Sooz had a text today ... her new glasses are ready to collect, so we'll need to drop in there at some point during the weekend.

The rain means we won't see the full moon tonight ... so it was just as well we saw it yesterday. Co, having seen the photo on FaceBook, sent a note saying that we won't have another full moon on Friday 13th until 2039. And, as I said to Sooz tonight when we were talking about it, if we both do make it, I'm willing to bet that it will be overcast then too.

I'm not sure what Tinka was doing beforehand but when she came in for dinner she had the dirtiest paws I have ever seen on her.

Thursday

There was new cat food tonight. Sooz almost put it back in the cupboard because she thought they were morning broth pouches but no, they weren't. Maggie and Tinka seemed to enjoy it very much. Maggie had lots of it - more than I've seen her have at the one sitting for a while. She has taken to going out in the morning before breakfast which is fine because I put her broth up the back for when she comes in … or it used to be fine until this morning when I found Tinka busily licking all the ''broth" off. She was having a wonderful time. We'll have to keep an eye on that. But for tonight Tinka's bowl hopping wasn't a problem. It was Maggie who was eating all the jelly from hers - and then Tinka's.

Sooz had lunch (Hainan Chicken) at the Q Centre today with Je. They were between centres - in Merrimac and Varsity Lakes - and the Q Centre was on their way - although that's not the way I would have gone (unless lunch was involved). It was good she did-it was a high point, I hope, after I dropped her off at 6:45am and then collected her this afternoon over an hour after she'd finished. (I bet she's looking forward to her other drivers returning.)

Moon over Latimers

Have I said how busy it is at work? It continues - and, as someone said yesterday, there's only 19 days until it's End of Month again! How does that happen?

The moon was magnificent over Latimers this evening. Sooz and I noticed it as we were driving down the lane towards home. The big question for me was whether Pearl had found the cookie I had left for her - and how long it took her to find it. I guess we'll never actually know that … but when we walked in, the cookie was gone.

It was another night of not going to The Big House but only because I'm a bit tired of numbers after a day on the accounts again. Hopefully it will ease off soon now that Ch is settling in.

When I mentioned to the guys that I was thinking about going to TBH tonight - one of them, Pa, asked if I had played "Casino Wars". He played it in Adelaide - and he says it has just about the best odds of any game in the Casino. It apparently plays like this - the dealer deals one card to you, one to him. The person with the highest card wins. Game over. If you tie on the first card, you go again - if it's a tie the second hand, the House wins. Hmmmm … we'll see.

Tinka came in and on to the couch this evening to watch the end of MasterChef with us. It was the first time this has happened for quite a while - and she seemed very comfortable … so comfortable she decided she would make it rain - doing the old cleaning behind her ears trick. And then she went off … into M's bed … and then came back again!

 

Wednesday

I wouldn't be surprised if Tinka is no longer talking to me. It was Vet Day today and even though I assured her she was doing it almost a week later than originally planned, that didn't cut any ice with her at all. She hardly cried at all in the way in - and even though she was looking out of the half-covered cage, I don't think she could see the Allstate Linemarking folk colouring in (with white paint) the road signage near the Gilston Hall, nor people roadside waiting for buses ... or anything really. I did tell her it was a shame she can't see in colour though - she would have loved the rainbow just forming over the hill behind the valley as we drove out the lane onto the main road.

Sooz and marking

Council have been busy along the road - potholes have been filled - but only on the other side of the bridge - which is a shame because there are a few on this side of it. One of them is starting to be a real worry - it's almost in the middle of the lane and getting bigger - and the decision will soon need to be made about whether to cross to the other side of the road to miss it or drive on the shoulder that isn't there. Let's hope it rains soon because that often prompts hole repair crews to come out this way.

The vet called this afternoon to say Tinka has maintained her weight and that since her blood glucose reading is erratic at best as she is so stressed out by the vet visit, she thought it would be better to give her a fructosamine test in a few weeks so they could get a "real" reading.

When I arrived home this afternoon, Sooz was busy with marking. The only surprise is that she didn't have a couple of cats and a dog helping her.

We decided not to go to Trivia tonight and Sooz cooked steak for dinner for us instead - we have to keep our iron levels up. Afterwards Sooz watched "Offspring" and then some other programs she has taped, while Maggie sat with her on the couch. I did some television viewing myself, trying to work up the energy to dump some files to disc for some folk - or to tidy my desk (how does it get in such a state?) ... but those jobs will need to wait another day.

 

Tuesday

Sooz is missing Aqua. She said this yesterday just before she put herself on the walking machine. She said the same again this evening before getting on the walking machine. It's very impressive. Maggie will have to be careful about taking naps on the walking machine from now on - she'll never know when she has to move!

It was another busy day at work … even with the new person starting today. Believe it or not, EOM hasn't finished yet. That's a bit of a shame too because investigations into various parts of the accounts are keeping me away from site diary and invoice processing.

I gave Sooz a lift across to Merrimac this morning so she could meet Je for another day of research assisting. She was fairly exhausted when I picked her up after work - she'd had a big day at a new facility. She met some interesting folk though - with some amazing stories - and one of them told her a joke about a cat that goes to heaven - and some mice. I'm not going to give the punchline away, And you'll have to take my word for it - but it is funny.

We had a quiet night in - we were both a little whacked - so what better thing to do than tune into MasterChef so we could try to forget about our Prime Minister referring to a host country as "Canadia". We are waiting, but not too keenly, on finding out what he does next on the international stage.

The furries didn't mind the company and Maggie was back on the couch with Sooz - her normal position these days. When Tink wasn't out asking for cookies (does she know about the Nil By Mouth planned for the morning?) she was on one of the beds. Pearl was her usual attentive self, especially when we were eating our dinners.

Before lockdown tonight I remembered to remove any cookies and other cat food that was around and about since Tinka is off to the vet in the morning to see how her blood sugars are going - and her weight. It wouldn't do to have her snacking before we got there.

Monday

It was another morning for sleeping in at Latimers - for Sooz anyway as I am still on morning pet duties. It was good though because I was able to get a couple of small jobs out of the way before she woke and we moved on with the day.

Pearl was a bit upset this morning because the wind has come up - and she doesn't appear to be a big fan of wind! It was an interesting furries morning though. Maggie, on being offered her breakfast the first two times assured me she wasn't in the slighest bit hungry and then settled into devouring hers before going over to Tinka and insisting she move out of the way - which she did - and then Maggie wolfed into Tinka's breakfast as well. Tinka wasn't put out ... just marched straight over to Maggie's dish to forage what she could there until Maggie came back over and nudged her out if the way! It was a wonder Pearl didn't muscle in on the act but she didn't - she stood aside until the cats had finished, been let outside, and only then did she swoop in to eat any morsels that had fallen onto the floor. Luckily there were some.

Hose fix

We did make it to Bunnings today - managed to avoid the sausage sizzle and came out with Sooz's plants and a hose joiner. Who knew there were such things? I had asked for some waterproof tape to fix a leak but apparently that hasn't been invented yet. The hose turned out to be easier to fix than I'd thought - and tomorrow when the gray water starts running again, we'll see what kind of a job I did.

It turned quite cool this afternoon and it threatened to rain as well. It didn't though. And it's just as well because if it had been raining I think it would have been much harder to get ourselves to go to Trivia. It's not that we didn't want to go, just that it would have been very easy to stay at home.

Even without An (who is still away in the Caravan with Syl) we were six tonight as Ca has not yet returned to Melbourne ... she's been sick so she rescheduled her flight. So, because of Ca, we correctly answered the question - in which Winter sport do competitors lie on their stomachs. St said if she was right with "Skeleton", he would put a $1000 on the table next week. Well, Ca was right but since St will be well on his way to France this time next week, we've suggested that perhaps Ni can bring it.

St and the grid

St was good tonight: he showed us his "memory" game - where he gets you to put the names of things into a twenty-cell grid, you read it out to him in whatever order you want, and he'll tell you what is where. It's a pretty good trick - because there is a "trick" to it - or actually a system - but it is good. He's shared it with us so we can practice at home before we take it out into the world.

Did I mention that we managed a first in trivia tonight? We scraped in by one point on 74; but not before we'd realised that one team (the declared winners at that point) couldn't possibly have scored 75. They were at the scorer's table at the same time as me to say the same thing, so we didn't have to argue the point (quite literally).

Just before we set out for Trivia, we received a call from M, currently in Lisbon. It was a short call as M was in transit, off the boat, and moving on to the next port of call (not literally of course).

 

Sunday

Happy Birthday Sooz! She was so excited about her birthday today that she hardly slept at all last night ... poor her. But despite the lack of sleep, there was a plus ... she was listening to ABC Radio and she heard one of her old colleagues being interviewed. She said she really enjoyed listening to her - and she had done a wonderful job. It think she's going to contact her and let her know.

Earlier in the evening, Sooz and Maggie had been watching television together ... and having a wonderful time.

Maggie and Sooz

I didn't have my call this morning with Tr so I was able to sleep in - for the second day in a row. Pearl enjoyed it as well - and the daylight walk. We have one more of those - and then it will be Tuesday and the end of the long weekend.

I think Sooz had a good birthday today. She thought she was going to sleep in but she didn't ... I was too excited about giving her her present and managed to interrupt her going back to sleep. I didn't know she didn't get to sleep until 4.30 at that stage. She was very happy to receive her card and present from M who had left it for her before she set off for Turkey and other parts.

There was a good turnout at the Markets today - and quite amazingly, we were on time even though the parking lot was full to bursting (there were cars parked across the road in the Magic Millions yard). Even though it would have been nice to sit in the sun for a change, we were up the back again; but thankfully there wasn't a ferocious breeze blowing through the area, so that was a plus. Especially when Az lit the candle on Sooz's birthday cake and Mi carried it over. And a big thanks to Az for offering to cook and making such a fantastic birthday cake!

After the Markets, Sooz and I went off to lunch at Champagne Brasserie. It was very nice and even though Snails were on, we didn't have them. We had shared platters instead - one Cheese and one Chacuteries. They were both very nice - and we are going to enjoy the leftovers for lunch tomorrow ... because neither of us could fathom eating more today.

While Sooz had a nap after lunch, I managed to get to the television for a while and watch some of my shows ... and Maggie snuggled up on the couch next to me. I think she enjoyed Haven too.

Pearl was sleeping in with Sooz ... on her bed which Sooz took in for her last night. She was thinking it is getting a bit cooler - not cool enough for her nightie yet - but cool enough for her to need something to sleep on besides the mat - or the tiles (although she did end up back on the tiles at one point during the night - she must have been feeling hot).

Sooz received lots of birthday wishes today - on the phone, by text, on FaceBook - and she almost had some by Skype last night - but we missed the call from M. Mi was online though and she had a good chat with M - and a view of some of the streets of Casablanca. How exotic is that? Hopefully M will be able to find WiFi again in the next couple of days so she can catch up with Sooz - but the good news is that nothing that exciting has been happening around here - and when I say that, obviously we mean that nothing has stopped working or broken (touch wood). I'm intending to take the car out to Trivia tomorrow night to give it a run ... and, of course, Bertha (the 4-wheel drive) will get to come up the road tomorrow when I take the rubbish up ... and if she's lucky, Bertha might just get to come to Bunnings as well.

Happy Birthday Sooz!

Saturday

It's their special way of seeing if you're awake and paying attention. That's what Sooz said after Maggie had walked up the length of Sooz's body in bed this morning - using the same brand of stilettos that Em used to have!

The Yard

Richard, Mac's man, came yesterday to do down the back. On the way down the lane, Na stopped him - but he wasn't speeding he says; he just sounded faster because his empty trailer was bouncing along behind him. He did a great job - as the photo shows - and Syl did a fantastic job on Herme's paddock ... I hadn't even realised she'd done it until I saw it this afternoon.

We had been planning to have breakfast in Robina but we were a bit later getting started than we planned. The good news is that Pearl and I managed to get a walk in in sunlight for a change - and, as well, I managed to have a bit of a sleep-in as well - very nice. It's just a pity that breakfast at Macca's wasn't - if I'd thought of it ... actually remembered it, we could have gone somewhere else.

Sooz and I had a busy day at Robina - we'd popped over to have eye checks and spent most of the rest of the day there - and we would have been there even longer if I'd had the test where they dilate you eyes and check for any issues on the back of your retina. Sooz had that one done and her vision was blurry, and reminiscent of Mr Magoo for hours and hours afterwards. I still need to have mine done but that will need to wait until I have someone to drive me there and back. It was just as well they were able to fix Sooz's sunglasses while we were there - she needed them to cope with the glare after the dilation drops. She was good though and we pottered round Robina doing a bit of shopping but mostly looking. We looked in separate directions - as usual me at Technology and Sooz at other stuff. We didn't stop in at The Shingle Inn to see if their waffle machine was working - because we know it so often isn't. There were lots of people out and about at Robina today - there seemed to be lots of sales on too - and some seemed to be very popular indeed - including the Typo store which ordinarily would have warranted a visit - except it was so busy, I walked right on in and right on out again.

Pearl was asleep when we arrived home this afternoon - and even though I offered, she decided that she didn't want to go for a walk. She was too busy looking after Sooz.

Tinka and Maggie came into dinner tonight when called and when Maggie walked away, Tinka wasted no time in going over to her bowl and licking all the gravy off. She's taken to doing that a bit lately.

We're off to Bunnings tomorrow or Monday, looking for some more plants for Sooz's garden. We're also planning to move some mulch down to the now-cleared-out garden beds - that should stop the weeds from taking over again before M gets back.

 

Friday

Do you know those mornings when you wake up and realise - with a great deal of joy and relief - that it's actually the weekend? Well, it definitely wasn't one of those today. I think I even dreamed that it was "still only Friday" - and that realisation was still with me when I woke. D'oh. I think part of it was that it actually felt like it should have been Friday yesterday ... but it wasn't! More d'oh.

It is definitely getting chillier in the mornings - and Sooz and I are going to have to give some serious thought about whether it's time to start putting Pearl's nightie on yet. We know it's getting colder because the other day as we stood in line at Target Southport Park, I pointed to the hot water bottles complete with covers and Sooz nodded that, yes, that would be a good thing to buy - until I reminded her that we had already gone bigger than that - with the electric blanket from Harvey Norman the week before last! It hasn't yet made it onto the bed - but it will!

Morning walkies

It was dark this morning as Pearl and I walked down the lane. Can dogs see in the dark? I don't think Pearl is bad at it ... well, certainly not as bad as I am - she had lingered behind to take care of business and when I looked back, I couldn't see her. For a moment I thought she had turned around and gone home! But no, she was there, and she came ... not running but not dawdling either ... when I called her when I noticed Am's car on the way down.

It's a bit of a dilemma ... Maggie has started going out first thing of a morning - and I don't mind that, as long as Tinka doesn't go out - and I pop her breakfast up the back so she can have it when she's ready. But what to do when Tinka finds Maggie's broth first - and then proceeds to lick all the "broth" off, leaving just the meat? I know we are supposed to not have Tinka lose any weight but I don't think it should be at Maggie's expense.

There was a new horse in one of La's paddocks this morning. Maybe it was just that it was (still) dark but it appears to be mottled - or is "dappled" a better descriptive word for horses?

I have learned something today - the SMOG* index - which has nothing to do with pollution but more to do with ease of reading. I stumbled across it when I did a "Select All" in a writing app I've had for some time but only just gone back to. This blog piece has a SMOG of 8.4 - and I could tell you how many different parts of speech were used ... and that there are 40 "determiners" - whatever they are - if it was in the least bit interesting!

Sooz had a quiet potter around home today, did some washing, and she felt much better after a decent night's sleep. I think the kids enjoyed having her home too - and Sooz was very pleased that Je had come yesterday (she was due on Wednesday but had rescheduled).

We had a BBQ at work today - organised by one of the subcontractors. Luckily AC was there - she checked they had catered for the numbers expected and have something besides sausage, onions and bread. She suggested some drinks, green stuff, tomatoes; they thought of the chocolates all by themselves. After the BBQ, we returned to work - until Ma came out and sent AC and I home - since most of the others had already gone - except Be who had thought he was leaving, but as it turned out, he wasn't.

You have to love an early start to a long weekend!

*The SMOG grade is a measure of readability that estimates the years of education needed to understand a piece of writing. SMOG is the acronym derived from Simple Measure of Gobbledygook.

Thursday

Sooz came in to Nerang with me this morning so Je could pick her up from Marcas. I had to leave her there otherwise I would have been late for work... and, as we all know, it's still End of Month.

Maggie

Meanwhile, back at Latimers, we had a late night visitor - or Sooz did because she was awake until nearly 4.30 this morning. It's just as well she had a great sleep the right before otherwise she would have been more wrecked than she was. Still she made it through the day mostly awake. But back to that visitor: at sometime very early this morning, Maggie came in the bedroom, jumped on the bed, tracked across Sooz's pillow over to me, then saw Tinka, and went back the way she'd come and then back out to the lounge room. I reckon she'd love to stay ... but she won't if Tinka is there. It works with M I think because she can have one of them on either side of her.

It was another day of not getting home in daylight. I'm going to have to work out what to do about getting Pearl some more exercise. I could take her up and down the lane a couple of times in the morning - and I think I'm going to have to start doing that - at least it's light still at the moment. And it's certainly very pretty with the mist hanging over the valley - I keep thinking that one day there might be gorillas but at the moment it's just horses!

... In the mist!

And speaking of light, thank goodness Sooz was with me this morning. She gently reminded me that I would be able to see through the glare of the sun (and therefore not risk running us off the road or running into something) if I put on my sunglasses ... and she was so right. Yes, I know someone else told me that once - but, truly, I had forgotten!

Sooz was in bed by 9 tonight - and I was surprised that she had made it that long. When I picked her up from Zarraffas this afternoon, I was sure she was going to be asleep before we arrived home.

It seems like there has been a change with the bee hives down near the (don't do it) snake drop-off point. There are now very few double storey ones - and they look a bit sparser than they did.

It was funny driving along the road with Kezza the other afternoon. Sooz had been telling her that we sometimes see kangaroos in the paddock off to the right - and they looked and didn't see anything in the first paddock - but then Kezza saw them! It was pretty amazing.

Sh from work surprised AC and I by bringing in a treat for us yesterday. He had been to Brumbys and picked up his "favourite" (a scone "infused" with white chocolate and berries) and picked up one for each of us as well. It was absolutely yum ... just as he had said it would be. He's a nice bloke ... especially when he does his "Superman" stance - you can just imagine a cape flying out behind him. When he was younger, his grandmother made him a Superman suit - and then made him another one for wearing in Summer - because the other one - akin to a track suit - was just too hot - but that wouldn't have stopped Sh from wearing it!

A system errror ...

Well, the caravan has gone - and even though Syl said they were going to come out early - they still hadn't arrived by the time Sooz and I left home. Sooz sent them a "good caravaning" text but by the time she called it a night, she hadn't heard back from them.

At breakfast this morning, as we thought about our travelling friends, we went to a site to see if we could tell which cruise Mouse and M and the others are on - and we found what we think was it. However, when we went to follow the link to find out more on this Costa ship - we were greeted with this message (see picture) which we thought apt (given the Costa line's boat-related issues/mishaps over the last couple of years) although unfortunate - and a tad inconvenient!