Day 27 (Friday)

The end of another working week and news that a decision about the Project has been delayed again. At this stage, we are not expecting to know until the end of September - which is a few weeks away yet. All staff who can be redeployed have been - including me who will work one day a week on the project for the next couple of weeks - then at the Hospital site for the other days. Then they're trying to find me some work in Brisbane that I can do from down here to keep me busy until the client makes their decision. Not the way we prefer to do it but it means I'll get to try out some coffee shops over that way for a bit. GJs here are going to miss us all - but maybe the team will be back together for their grand opening - usually held 40 days after an outlet opens.

No J today - so it's just as well that S had tidied up before she was meant to be here. And we may need to do a little more before S and A arrive on Sunday. Not sure if we should tell Maggie now that she's going to be in the traveller's room while they're here - or the others that they're not.

No Friday night dinner so S and I had to be content with the company of each other, Pearl and the four cats - oh, and Frasier. It was a particularly good episode last night - although not quite as good entertainment as F & M - can't wait for the markets.

It's time to call it a night and we are already in "lock down" with everyone in and had their supper cookies - so why is it that Pearl is following me through the house, dropping the ball every few steps. Doesn't she realise it's nearly 11 and we're off to T to see the family tomorrow - and planning an early start? Or that it's dark outside, with no moon, and it will be very hard for her to find even a "short throw" ball? And that we're not allowed to play ball in the house?

Well, some people say that June 20 is the shortest day of the year - I think it might be today - or tomorrow.

Day 26 (Thursday)

Trivia anyone? One night we will go to the pub to play trivia rather than to just have dinner. Mind you, we might actually go to play the new machine they've installed up there ... "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". You have to pay to use it but there are "cash prizes" although I dare say if you actually win the million, they'd draw you a cheque - that's if the name is to be taken literally. Hmmm ... perhaps not. And how would you stop people Googling the answers?

The wind today reminded me of South Africa where it gets so blowy that they've installed handrails on some corners so you can hang on for dear life while you're waiting for the lights to change. Sometimes even that is not enough. We did a check of Latimers to make sure there was nothing that could turn into an airborne object - not for a moment ever thinking it could be as bad as it was at Mt Hutt in New Zealand over night where car windows were smashed in by the wind - and hundreds of people were stranded on top when they closed the mountain because of the bad conditions.

J didn't come today - she rang mid-afternoon to let S known she was not well. She was thinking about coming tomorrow but S said she should wait and see how she felt - so we shall see.

L and D are going to come tomorrow or early next week to tend to the back paddock where the grass is almost as high as an elephant's eye. He has been flat-out lately and seemed very apologetic that it has taken this long to get to. We were able to tell him that we are doing a Sprengers run on Saturday and will pick up some carrots for all the horses.

Did I mention that we are in the middle of an election campaign? Cannot credit how much personal criticism of the candidates there is ... even to the point that they are repeating their answers - not surprising given people are asking them the same questions. Western Sydney seems to be full of marginal seat opportunities because both the major parties have been playing out that way. But only just over a week to go now and we will know what fate awaits the nation.

I'm a bit disappointed that we are going to miss both the Emmanual College fête and the Mudgeeraba Farmers markets on Saturday. J's brother has a stall there (Mudgeeraba) and I was hoping to get some of his potatoes - but we'll have to make do with some from the Big Windmill, the Big Elephant or the Big Orange. It wasn't until I wrote that that I realised that each of them has something "Big" to go with their fruit and vegetables.

But we are going to the "Big Top" as in ... the Circus. S has agreed, saying that it would be good to do more "fun" stuff and she's not going to get any argument from me on this one. Then I'll see if we can actually make it to Dreamworld so I can get some Tiger shots. I was poking around on the benefits section of the company website and it appears that there are some discounts available for staff so I'll check those out for the theme parks - and whale watching (we are definitely doing that up close this year ... it was thrilling from the Southern Cross balcony that year - so I can't image what it would be like to see them with the naked eye!).

Chico has been visiting Pearl a bit of late and S thinks it may have something to do with secret avocado business - even though we are still gathering the fruit and Pearl is not. But S did notice Chico and Pearl coming out from the undergrowth the other day and she thought they looked as though they had been partaking of some pleasure they perhaps ought not to ... and she's thinking avocados. She was specifically wondering if they might have something to do with Pearl's bouts of itching - which are not as bad as they were - but still enough to have her hissed at from time to time. We will also get S (on her way through to Palmers) on Sunday to have a look and see what she thinks.

L and L are continuing to look more "with foal" with each passing day. They were nuzzling each other's necks yesterday evening - not sure if that was part of a grooming ritual - or trying to stay warm in a coldish breeze. They don't seem to be bothered by the growing numbers of ducks in the area; and we're hoping the ducks stay where they are because Pearl will have her work cut out for her if they decide to come down the hill into Latimers!

Swallows have been visiting the nest and one was sitting in there the other day. We're not sure what this means but we are keeping an eye on it to see if any little beaks pop into view. That would be very exciting ... in a good way - as opposed to news coming out of Russia about fire encroaching on the country's biggest nuclear research facility and firefighters battling to keep it in check. If people in some European countries blame Chernobyl for all their woes now, imagine what they could do with this! We'll be watching the net for an update tomorrow.

Day 25 (Wednesday)

The election has made it to the "pages" of the US press - well, at least the tech pages. Engadget did manage to get it just a little wrong though: "When Australia goes to the polls on August 21st, citizens will vote for more than men and the traditional issues they represent -- the ballots cast will directly impact the country's national broadband plan." Hmmm, "men", hey? They might not have heard about our female Prime Minister ... but then, they probably think that we're the country that's next to Germany ... oh wait ... that's Austria!

Dr Karl was at Robina today, at the Library. I didn't go but it would have been a chance to ask him whether there was any scientific credence to the new treatment that was in the paper this morning. For the small sum of $85 an hour, people can have a session in the coast's first private hyperbaric chamber. It's supposed to help with skin problems - acne, recovering from cosmetic surgery and, the one featured in the report, pregnancy stretch marks.

The rain has stopped, and it has been replaced by wind - and lots of it. It whipped up the sea a bit and helped one of the desalination barges to end it all and beach itself at Tugun. But it's not going to get out of that project that easily - they finally refloated it at 7pm tonight and are towing it to Brisbane to check it out.

Chances are they won't pass any crocodiles on the way, but there was talk of them in the office today. I'm not sure if it was to do with the alligator gar fish on "Monster Fish" (have to love Austar at lunchtime) or people's own experiences, but the guys were recounting (and regaling others) of crocs (and we're not talking the plastic shoe) sightings in both the Nerang and Logan rivers.

The rain hasn't seemed to have made much of an impression on the dams. The Hinze was 94.2% and has, since yesterday, creeped up to 94.6%. At the Little Nerang Dam (and where is that exactly?), there was no change from 90.4%. It's amazing how much you find out from the local paper - like that the Great Franquin - acclaimed hypnotist - is no longer with us - but Jessica Watson will be here on the Coast next week.

Here today - actually next door - though are thick red worms which have taken up residence in the horse troughs. M isn't quite sure where they came from - or how long they have been there - since C usually tends to the horse water. We talked about the possibility they had fallen from the skies, with the rains, as has happened with frogs in foreign countries in the past - but not seriously. We did check to make sure that there was no sign of them in H's troughs - no problems but, not surprisingly, I did have nightmares about it, although it could have been linked to the movie trailer with the human centipede ... definitely do not ask.

Not sure if "worms" is the type of miracle that Pastor Daniel from the Catch the Fire Ministries is encouraging or welcoming. I knew I should have written down where he was going to be on Sunday ... so we could be one of the many who will be "all welcome, come and expect your miracle".

And speaking of miracles, Mary MacKillop the musical, simply titled MACKILLOP, has been cast and rehearsals are underway. Joanna Cole, who played Lindy Chamberlain in "Lindy - The Opera" has the lead role. It will play in Melbourne and Sydney during the canonisation celebrations in October.

R is going to come and blue bag the bananas - and there are a few of them - about a hundred. This will protect them from the bats he told S. Hopefully she will ask him to have a look at some of the eaten lemons when he comes. Not sure what's been at them but something definitely is. I have sought advice on FaceBook and so far the suggestions of what's been eating them have been (in no particular order) - Mihriban, white cockatoos, bats and possums. Funny how it has only started recently - I'm sure we would have noticed it. Of course, it is true that I do like lemons but I'm positive (I think) that I haven't been sleepwalking and/or sneaking out with a salt shaker to raid the lemon tree in the dead of night. Not that I wouldn't like to but there is the question of the wildlife in the area (the ones that get the dogs barking) and whatever it was that scared Beasley the other day.

Sooz is on the couch with them (all) and there is a certain amount of posturing for attention, affection and space. Nice to know they all feel confident enough to do it - and nice that they are all inside - rather than being outside and risking being blown away. It's supposed to be windy again tomorrow.

Day 24 (Tuesday)

Ms JG topped the world-wide Twitter topics for an hour yesterday when she appeared on the ABC's Q&A program. She performed well - especially when asked how she would feel about leading Australia as she was not a "mother". She responded that John Howard hadn't been a mother either. Also, when asked to rate - on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the least annoying and 10 being the most annoying - Mark Latham's outing as a political journalist for Channel 9 - she said, simply, that some things just could not be measured.

Where is our odds expert when we need them - and why are headlines so confusing. "Huge betting plunge for Labor" ... does that mean more people are taking the plunge and betting for them, or people are betting against them? If odds are shortening is that a good thing? (You would think that with a grandfather who was a regular track attender and a father who liked a flutter, some of this knowledge should have been transferred through to me genetically!) And surely it's a big enough gamble just to have these people vying to run the country? Is this why they call Australia "the lucky country"?

Pearl continues to be incredibly helpful - especially as she has been trapped inside all day as the rain continues to fall, and fall and fall. It has turned into a bit of a rally course at the front gate/letter box and for a brief moment there this evening I wasn't sure Lars was going to make it up the first mud hill home. If the rain keeps up I may have to think about taking the four-wheel drive for a run. And where is that rooster noise coming from? It's the first one I've heard since we've been at Latimers ... "it's swimming across the paddock" offered S, before pointing out that it was on the television (more lifestyle programs). But back to Pearl ... she has been helpful, vacuuming up - or trying to - the cats' special cookies. She has been behaving herself - mostly - and I think she would have been better if she had been able to play ball this evening. I gave her a couple of tosses - just so she could catch the ball in her mouth - but that doesn't give her the exercise she's become used to.

M called this evening to remind us that R is starting on Thursday and that we would need to slightly amend Friday night dinner times. She's not sure how it's going to work with her feline charge but we'll call her tomorrow or Thursday to work out the finer details. In the meantime, she's planning to have all the family around for Thursday. And, as she reminded us, she only has two Friday nights before she goes - and she still has lots and lots to do - so much so that she isn't sure that she's going to get through it before she has to catch the big plane.

We're trying to decide what to send over with her ... which of the cats - and whether Pearl should be given the opportunity. We know that they're things that you definitely can't get over there!

S was up before me this morning, showered and ready to leave Latimers for the day. Then she looked outside, saw it was still bucketing down, and thought better of it - but she was kind enough to do the gate - for which I am always grateful.

After overdosing on "The Dresden Files" - about a wizard turned detective - actually very good - I am concentrating on music listening for a while ... especially since it's difficult to get near the television in the evenings. We have created a ... very distinct change in viewing habits. I can't believe that I didn't appreciate full control of the television for the 20 years I had it ... it's often the case isn't it ... we don't fully appreciate what we have until it's gone. It's a nice change though, and it would be even better if I hadn't put together a compilation which seems to tap into a "poignant" streak. Ah well, should it get too bad I'll just pop "Heart and Souls" onto the DVD. That should fix it.

The cats are all in - a record - 8.20pm - but it's too early to do lock-down. Chances are they won't go far though - and if they do, they'll soon realise how wet it is and come back in.

It's a pity they can't see in colour though otherwise we'd be able to show them the new logo for the Gold Coast's bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. It has 72 dots in the shape of the Gold Coast sun. There are all the colours of the rainbow - or more precisely ''Colours in the logo represent the golden sand, blue water, green hinterland and red sunsets of the Gold Coast as well as the colours of competing nation's flags.'' Well, that's what Anna Bligh said when she launched it this morning.

No-one came out to launch the huge pothole on the M1 at Merrimac this morning. It was a metre in diameter and up to 20cm deep. Motorists who went through/over it were not happy. Nor was the person whose car caught on fire near the Q Centre. Can't help but wonder if the continuing rain overnight will add to the general road difficulties tomorrow.

Day 23 (Monday)

''Why should [the public] give the Labor Party a second chance … when it wouldn't give its own leader one,'' Abbott asked at yesterday's launch of the Liberal Party's campaign to wrest power from the current "soap opera" and give Australia back a "grown-up" Government. Sadly, for us and Abbott, the biggest cheer of the launch was reserved for when John Howard came on stage - no doubt the "grown-up" '50's image Liberal wants to promote ... but wait ... didn't Australians choose not to choose that at the last Federal election. Meanwhile, Labor is inching ahead in the polls and has a 52-48 lead. But can they afford to wait until next Monday (Day 30) to launch their official campaign? I read somewhere (but have been unable to find confirmation) that this is the intended launch date - seems a bit late but then I don't see any future in politics really.

Maria rang today to see if her son, the psychologist-in-training, could leave his car here when he returns to Sydney on election day or should that be ... drumroll please ... Election Day. We're waiting to hear from him and, if it's lunchtime and/or conducive to a visit to Elephant Rock or another venue down that way, we'll give him a lift to the airport as well.

The felines have all Revolted (kind of apt given the whereabouts of their mother - and aunt) - although most of them didn't know about it as S crept up and did it while they slept. We thought it would be easier that way.

Rubbish day today and I managed to get there and back in daylight - even fitting in some throws with Pearl before the drive up to the road. S had told her I would have a go with her - and she had left the ball in the carport ... so neither she nor I could miss it when I arrived home. She is a very clever girl - much cleverer than those velociraptors in "Jurassic Park". Hmmm ... wonder if Mr Theme Park is planning to have raptors.

It's music to our ears - the police are set to fine slow drivers who insist on using the right hand lanes of the M1 - $60. But will we ever have a situation where all the slow drivers stay left, and all the fast drivers stay right?

"Younger Blonde" and "70" are in the news for having a catfight at a recent Elton John concert. A witness, reported in the New York Post, described them thusly: "each wearing what looked like 70 carats of diamonds and ball gowns that looked equally expensive". Alas, as some would say cash does not equate with style and there was hair-pulling, kicking and slapping - apparently all caused because Younger Blonde was blocking 70's view.

Late evening brought a light, then heavier, rain - and it was only with the latter that Maggie decided to come in - and Pearl decided she needed to go out. She was good though, only stopping for a moment to play with the frogs (toads?) on the back deck before going out proper. Then in, for a brisk rub down, before settling in for the night.

We have been following O (and others) down the Volga thanks to finding details of the cruise on the web. S was reading some of it, in a Russian accent, to me because she couldn't believe it - "It's like the religious tour of Russia" she proclaimed, and it was no surprise that they talked about Boris Godunov. I immediately thought of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Boris Badenov ... and wondered whether they play the work of Russian composers on the boat.

The Ekka is in full swing and Mr Abbott visited there today - following Ms JG's example, who was there on Saturday. Mr A had an ice cream but none of the reports of his visit were detailed enough to say if it was one of those special Ekka ice creams. Or how much he and/or his handlers paid for it. Young A in Scotland did mention in a FB post this week that they had been in PipeFest 2010 in Edinburgh (she's a drummer) and at the end of the "march" they were stunned at the prices vendors were charging - £7 for 2 bottles of water and 2 ice creams.

The Gold Coast film industry is set for a win with news that Steven Spielberg will film a mini-series here. Terra Nova is set in the future and tells the story of an almost-apocalyptic era where people are preparing to go back to the age of the dinosaurs to try to undo the damage to the planet before it happens. Queensland is supposedly the ideal location.

"Is that a gun in your pocket?" How unlucky can you be ... after an armed hold-up in the Tweed today, police noticed a Mercedes driving at speed, but erratically, on the M1 and pulled it over. Inside (as a passenger) was a drunk Brisbane airport chef ... and when they patted him down, they found a pistol in his underpants. Not quite sure how this happens so quickly but he has already pleaded "guilty", and given a two-year jail sentence, wholly suspended for two years.

Having never seen a "Contortionious" or "Double wheel of Death" and not having been to a circus for many, many, many years, I am almost tempted to try to convince S to take me to the Lennon Bros Circus which is currently playing at Robina. Will the "Teeta Board" be enough to tip the balance ... haven't seen or heard of one of those either - or I didn't think so until looking it up on the web. It's like a big seesaw and people jump on it from a height to catapult the person on the other end into the air. Could be fun. Only thing holding me back is the animals - they have three lions, monkeys and clowns. More thought needed, and perhaps I can do some research on them and their track record with animal care tomorrow.

Day 22 (Sunday)

Another Sunday and another day at the markets - although we started this one with a visit to Carrara and the cut-price pharmacy, and then on to the Italian bakery and the $2.80 coffee and cake special. Pretty wonderful really.

Today, for the first time, I actually marketed, taking full responsibility for apples (three varieties including the last of this season's Pink Ladies), oranges, mandarins, bananas and strawberries. S continues to do the serious vegetable shopping to make sure we have what we need for the menu plan for the week. (I almost believed that myself!)

It was a decent crowd again, as the markets get busier and busier. F & M were there, a little late again - which is going to make train travel in Europe interesting! We have been trying to instil in M that if the timetable says the train leaves at 9:03, that's when it leaves and if you're there at 9:04 you will have to wait for the next one.

Debra was at one of the banana stalls but just rushing in and out as they were running late for a kid's party so she didn't come for coffee. But A (fresh from travels) and N did come before N went off to catch up with friends. A stayed to chat and fill us in about their Middle Eastern adventures - including date-picking at the side of the highway - and about the spinach which M planted before they left which now had leaves longer than her arm and wider than Prince. We went over to have a look - and it was both these things - truly the biggest spinach we have ever seen. We took photos which we'll post on FaceBook. Prince, home again, did not give me the welcome I expected - for which I am very grateful! His last week was reportedly not one of the best of his vacation - no O, no Sox, kids, confined to the garage and laundry - and a very upset tummy. Poor P but he seemed glad to be home although he had already been walkabout a number of times that morning!

Others at the Markets - N and daughter C. Not much French talk today but a few more laughs. They went for a walk at Binnaburra yesterday - 12km - something to do with M's chocolate cheesecake at Friday night dinner.

On the way home from the Markets we bought the kids their weight in dog and cat food from Bernie's. "Where is Bernie's?" I asked as we made our way down Upton Street. "It's the big yellow building down further." I hoped she meant JB Hi-Fi further down the road and not the competition pet people across the road - but she didn't. But we did make it to Bernie's - and wow, there is some wonderful stuff in there. I wasn't so keen on the "meaty treats" at the front counter but the real cat sitting near the door and being friendly did get me in - and the automatic pet feeders and the cat watering fountain. I can see the latter would have applications but not in our present set-up - the last thing I need to hear is watering running through the night!

When you wish upon a star - makes no difference who you are: so says the song - but does it matter what it is - as in, if you wish upon the evening star and it is indeed Venus (as S says and not Mars as I tried to say it was, as I would) are you wishing upon a star? And, if not, does your wish count? The stars and planets at Latimers continue to be amazing. City folk really have no idea what they are missing.

We took a rest from the news and politicians and such today. There will be an opportunity tomorrow though to meet the Wright and Moncrieff candidates at the local Bicentennial Hall. Could be fun - but we would have to watch out not to encourage them too much. Might be interesting to find out what local constituents want to ask of/them.

M gave S some plants from his garden when we visited - chilli and something else. She is fairly excited and it's good that she will be able to plant them now that I have rescued them from the rubbish bin. It was an honest mistake - I thought the bag with the mandarin skins was rubbish - and because the bag was green too, I didn't realise until much later, when S came looking for them, what I'd done.

The vegetable garden continues to thrive and S is looking to expand the crops to include cucumber. She is about to make way for it by moving some "purple stuff" - she didn't even bother trying to tell me its proper name but I know what she means.

The letterbox was full again today when we cleaned it out. The post office people aren't trying as hard as they could though because it was packed a bit sloppily and twice as much could have been stuffed in there if they'd really tried. At least there weren't any "more inside" slips there so S knows how much is there to process and attend to.

We keep meaning to get in touch with S to see how she's going with that hubby and the animals. The last time we talked was the day of the MC final when she rang to see who we were barracking for. But at least we are remembering to check the phone for messages now and have passed on our mobile numbers in case she needs/wants to get in contact.

So ... all the kids have had their supper cookies and are tucked in, S and I are having an early one, and it's time for all at Latimers to call it a night so we can do it all again tomorrow.

Day 21 (Saturday)

Sentinel day for Pearl. "She's had it" exclaimed S. "Oh wait, no she hasn't." Pearl had found it hidden in her dinner cookies and left it in the bowl. But S is smarter than P, and wrapping it in a tiny morsel of bread did the trick. All gone. It's the cats' turns tomorrow.

Fine enough for lawn-mowing today. I'm not saying that the paddock next to the house is rough, but as I mowed it this afternoon I was expecting to look up and see the fence rails lined with spectators seeing if I could stay on for 8 seconds (that's how long you're supposed to stay on the bucking bronco at the rodeo isn't it?). The fillimg of holes got us thinking of the big piece of road equipment that was parked up near the gate the day before yesterday. It's still there and, with no knowledge of these things at all, we've decided it's a macadamizer although we know the chances of that are fairly unlikely.

We made it to the Q Centre today to visit the Asian butcher and grocery store – more spicy noodles coming up (and very nice they are too!). Not sure what happened but I forgot to go to Aldi so may never know what this week's specials are. Some Hai-Nan chicken followed us home then, but no Laksa.

M and A should return from their travels today and we are wondering if they will make it to the markets tomorrow. No doubt Prince will be very happy to have them back.

M from next door visited for a shower again this evening. Not sure what L and C - or D - are doing for theirs. We haven't seen them out in their yard, in their swimmers, running under/through the sprinklers - although that doesn't mean they aren't doing it at times when we're not around ... or taking a dip in their tank - well, if they are, hopefully it's their tank!

We love Skype! It was so good to hear from the Cafe Pushkin - which looks fairly amazing in the pictures on the web. Looks like they might do some nice food there too! The smoke, smoke and more smoke situation in Moscow seems to be fairly bad. Word is that the authorities are suggesting that older people and children make their way out of the city. Wonder how much room there is on that boat! Not sure what good face masks to help with non-smoke inhalation are if they are tucked away safely in people's bags though. Hard to believe that people would do that.

Although she is a self-proclaimed atheist, Ms JG has pledged $1.5 million to the fund for the second canonisation of Sister Mary MacKillop. The pledge was quickly matched by the Liberal Party. Seems like a lot of money to pony up for the Church - especially since Catholics throughout the country will be asked to contribute to the cause when they attend church tomorrow.