It was a beautiful day here today - not too hot or humid. You know the type: where you walk out into the sun and your body says thank you! Of course, if it is Vitamin D you're after you could just have some prawns. As Mi told us at dinner tonight (we did make it to two-for-one Food Fantasy buffet dinner at The Big House) prawns are a great source of Vitamin D - but still she resisted when F tried to get her to peel some for him!
As the crew had reported after their dinner there last week the quality of the seafood on offer seems to have improved a couple of notches and everyone appeared to be enjoying it - including the bridal party - complete with photographer -who arrived about an hour after us. You don't realise how white and filling-field-of-vision a wedding dress is until it's right behind you.
S was not feeling totally well this evening so it was a valiant effort that she ventured out for dinner at all so we didn't stay until the end and we definitely didn't go on to CSP with F, Mouse and the others. F did well though - although not well enough to have taken out the Jackpot - although he did dip into the pot on his first hand with a Full House. Alas, if it hadn't been his first first hand he may have chipped up - but not to be.
Maybe it was because they're not used to seeing us home so early on a Friday night but the furries all came in and lockdown was in place before 9:30pm. Mind you, we weren't up much later than that either!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday
Well, this is the second week of "it doesn't happen to me but ... " - and at this rate I am really not looking forward to what next week has in store.
Last week, of course, was when I found out that my main public email accounts had been hacked, and spam sent to those unlucky enough to be in their address books saying I was in Bolton UK with the family, had been robbed - but not mugged as I had not resisted - and please send money so I could pay the hotel bill and come home. Luckily folk realised that even had that happened I probably would not have sent a request littered with gramattical and spelling mistakes and they notified me via other methods (thank you FaceBook and phone) to let me know my account had been compromised. Luckily, my credit card hadn't been but I still took the precaution of cancelling it and having it reissued. And spent a couple of hours regaining control of my email accounts and clearing out all the "new" information and forwarding instructions added by the miscreants!
This week I appear to have picked up a repetitive strain injury leading to much back pain and discomfort. It is really embarrassing because I am usually very careful about posture and ergonomics while I'm working but this one seems to have slipped through. As Doc Holliday (truly!!!) said yesterday "have you stopped doing it? " ie turning your head when you are doing data entry - and I have but will need to work out a new way of doing the "Cost Cards" - the cause of the RSI.
On the home front, Beazley had another trip to the vet today and it seems that his diabetes is well under control - so much so that his insulin dosage has been dropped another unit. There has even been some talk of the possibility of his going into remission.
Well, it's a fortnight since Family and Friends dinner and I'm looking forward to it this week. We're off to Food Fantasy tomorrow night at The Big House where they are having a two-for-one special ... odd for a Friday night but we'll take it thanks very much.
S doesn't have to go to Court tomorrow - meaning her "come and be a juror" call-up period has ended. Funny, but since she has been on the jury, I am taking more of an interest in the Court reporting in the local paper. This legal thing is a huge industry!
Last week, of course, was when I found out that my main public email accounts had been hacked, and spam sent to those unlucky enough to be in their address books saying I was in Bolton UK with the family, had been robbed - but not mugged as I had not resisted - and please send money so I could pay the hotel bill and come home. Luckily folk realised that even had that happened I probably would not have sent a request littered with gramattical and spelling mistakes and they notified me via other methods (thank you FaceBook and phone) to let me know my account had been compromised. Luckily, my credit card hadn't been but I still took the precaution of cancelling it and having it reissued. And spent a couple of hours regaining control of my email accounts and clearing out all the "new" information and forwarding instructions added by the miscreants!
This week I appear to have picked up a repetitive strain injury leading to much back pain and discomfort. It is really embarrassing because I am usually very careful about posture and ergonomics while I'm working but this one seems to have slipped through. As Doc Holliday (truly!!!) said yesterday "have you stopped doing it? " ie turning your head when you are doing data entry - and I have but will need to work out a new way of doing the "Cost Cards" - the cause of the RSI.
On the home front, Beazley had another trip to the vet today and it seems that his diabetes is well under control - so much so that his insulin dosage has been dropped another unit. There has even been some talk of the possibility of his going into remission.
Well, it's a fortnight since Family and Friends dinner and I'm looking forward to it this week. We're off to Food Fantasy tomorrow night at The Big House where they are having a two-for-one special ... odd for a Friday night but we'll take it thanks very much.
S doesn't have to go to Court tomorrow - meaning her "come and be a juror" call-up period has ended. Funny, but since she has been on the jury, I am taking more of an interest in the Court reporting in the local paper. This legal thing is a huge industry!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday
Well, as it's Wednesday, S and M took Mouse and E to Bingo - and a good thing it was too - otherwise there would have been no chance of them winning. And win they did - well M did anyway - taking out the main Jackpot. Then they took themselves off to a nice lunch to celebrate.
S and M arrived home in time for M to turnaround and come back in to Broadbeach for Wednesday night CSP ($345,000) - which had to be earlier today because M had been booked to collect the Geat K from the airport. She dropped him there on the weekend as he was off to Sydney to see the family, in his Semester or is it mid-Semester break. M was saying the Great K seems much happier and much more confident - and he is really enjoying his course.
We bumped K at the Casino - and while S and M see her often at The Big House or at home, I don't often get to have a sit-down chat with her. (It was lucky that M saw her first - she's grown her hair and I may not have recognised her!)
It was great to catch up and hear her news - including that she is off to trek Nepal early next year - and to Kings of Leon this evening.
While M and I were out and about, S had set up at home with the furries and her lifestyle programs - and having Mouse dinner - as sent home with M last night.
S and M arrived home in time for M to turnaround and come back in to Broadbeach for Wednesday night CSP ($345,000) - which had to be earlier today because M had been booked to collect the Geat K from the airport. She dropped him there on the weekend as he was off to Sydney to see the family, in his Semester or is it mid-Semester break. M was saying the Great K seems much happier and much more confident - and he is really enjoying his course.
We bumped K at the Casino - and while S and M see her often at The Big House or at home, I don't often get to have a sit-down chat with her. (It was lucky that M saw her first - she's grown her hair and I may not have recognised her!)
It was great to catch up and hear her news - including that she is off to trek Nepal early next year - and to Kings of Leon this evening.
While M and I were out and about, S had set up at home with the furries and her lifestyle programs - and having Mouse dinner - as sent home with M last night.
Tuesday
Did I mention that we managed to catch up with the newly-returned travellers, S and A, while we were in Brisbane yesterday? They joined us for an early dinner at the Viet Hoa in West End and it was really good to see them and to hear about the fall colors, the New York snow falls, and their visit to Niagara Falls (which they could see without leaving their hotel room). They were gone five weeks and managed to pack a fair bit in, including a horror ride through snow and black-ice roads in a NY taxi with the cabbie simultaneously speeding and trying to look up directions to the airport. Luckily they made it back in one piece - none the worse for wear - and with suitcases fall of moderately-priced U.S. clothing and footwear.
D (who has a road equipment business - or something like that anyway) must have noticed the growing potholes on his way down the laneway to collect B yesterday - because by the time I drove back into Latimers this afternoon, the potholes were filled. It Is a good job too.
S had to front up at Court again today but was not empanelled for either of the two new cases. She doesn't have to go tomorrow but it will be interesting to see how many days she needs to go back - until her "request to attend" runs out on Friday.
D (who has a road equipment business - or something like that anyway) must have noticed the growing potholes on his way down the laneway to collect B yesterday - because by the time I drove back into Latimers this afternoon, the potholes were filled. It Is a good job too.
S had to front up at Court again today but was not empanelled for either of the two new cases. She doesn't have to go tomorrow but it will be interesting to see how many days she needs to go back - until her "request to attend" runs out on Friday.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Monday
It was a sad day in the valley as we farewelled M. Her funeral service was in the same church she and L were married in, in Hendra in Brisbane. (It was pretty amazing that a car started following us along the Motorway at stayed with us as we changed lanes in traffic and turned onto the Gateway and continued to follow us past Eagle Farm and all the way to the Church. M picked quite early that they were also coming to see M off.)
It was a good turnout and 6 of us (that we know of) from the Valley went - but we were only a few of many. The Church was Catholic and we weren't sure how formal the Service would be - and, as it turned out, it wasn't really. That, I think, is how M would have wanted it. There was a mix of the religious and personal - with her sister-in-law giving a brief overview of her life - and as S commented, it was fitting that M was portrayed as her own person rather than only through her relationships eg as a wife, mother etc. Her children spoke, as well as N's wife, and L. L is an amazing speaker - he makes it seem as though he's doing it off the cuff and he gets a little sidetracked but always gets himself back on to where he meant to be. And the things he said and the points he made were incredible - coming together in a fitting tribute to a wonderful woman taken too quickly.
The whole service was that - and the wake which was held at Eagle Farm - a place of many happy memories and associations for the family - and not just because of the racing connection. One story L told was of a fairly recent visit to Brisbane when he and M stayed overnight and decided on the spur of the moment to go to the Eagle Farm Markets - where among the stalls and the Moreton Bay Figs, M reached for L's hand and they walked hand in hand (something we didn't normally do - said L) around the Markets. This is the stuff of memories. I can't remember who the quote is attributed to but I do tend to agree with it: we remember moments not days.
As we remember M - it's time to go and make some more moments - or at least recognize we have had them!
It was a good turnout and 6 of us (that we know of) from the Valley went - but we were only a few of many. The Church was Catholic and we weren't sure how formal the Service would be - and, as it turned out, it wasn't really. That, I think, is how M would have wanted it. There was a mix of the religious and personal - with her sister-in-law giving a brief overview of her life - and as S commented, it was fitting that M was portrayed as her own person rather than only through her relationships eg as a wife, mother etc. Her children spoke, as well as N's wife, and L. L is an amazing speaker - he makes it seem as though he's doing it off the cuff and he gets a little sidetracked but always gets himself back on to where he meant to be. And the things he said and the points he made were incredible - coming together in a fitting tribute to a wonderful woman taken too quickly.
The whole service was that - and the wake which was held at Eagle Farm - a place of many happy memories and associations for the family - and not just because of the racing connection. One story L told was of a fairly recent visit to Brisbane when he and M stayed overnight and decided on the spur of the moment to go to the Eagle Farm Markets - where among the stalls and the Moreton Bay Figs, M reached for L's hand and they walked hand in hand (something we didn't normally do - said L) around the Markets. This is the stuff of memories. I can't remember who the quote is attributed to but I do tend to agree with it: we remember moments not days.
As we remember M - it's time to go and make some more moments - or at least recognize we have had them!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday
Just as well we had an early night last night because I had us up bright and early this morning so we could make the 2-hour drive back to the Coast in time for morning tea at the markets. We didn't want to miss it because M and A are back from their overseas trip.
We arrived at the Markets right on 10 o'clock -after some but before others. The travellers had brought some sweeties called Negros which were from Monte Negro and some chocolate/nougat/wafers that reminded me of cigars -and how long it has been since I've had one - and how long I have been a nonsmoker - if you don't count the secondhand smoke from The Big House. (F added that if it's dark when he gets home from there, he'll take off his clothes and, naked, take them outside to hang up to air. )
M had also made a banana (and some mysterious nut) cake - using Latimers bananas. It was very nice - and still warm from the oven. Unfortunately the spicy pides were not on (or all gone by the time we arrived) - and because Mi was only there for a few brief moments, there were no croissants either - but we managed.
M and A had taken loads of photographs and videos and we were able to look at them on their iPad. They had some great shots and we all especially liked their food shots - and there were lots of them. It's good to have them back on this side of the world and I think they're glad to be back as well.
We didn't see N today so I must have misheard that we were expecting to see her at the Markets this weekend. I suppose two weekends in a row would be too much to ask for - and I didn't think to ask A at the Markets.
We arrived at the Markets right on 10 o'clock -after some but before others. The travellers had brought some sweeties called Negros which were from Monte Negro and some chocolate/nougat/wafers that reminded me of cigars -and how long it has been since I've had one - and how long I have been a nonsmoker - if you don't count the secondhand smoke from The Big House. (F added that if it's dark when he gets home from there, he'll take off his clothes and, naked, take them outside to hang up to air. )
M had also made a banana (and some mysterious nut) cake - using Latimers bananas. It was very nice - and still warm from the oven. Unfortunately the spicy pides were not on (or all gone by the time we arrived) - and because Mi was only there for a few brief moments, there were no croissants either - but we managed.
M and A had taken loads of photographs and videos and we were able to look at them on their iPad. They had some great shots and we all especially liked their food shots - and there were lots of them. It's good to have them back on this side of the world and I think they're glad to be back as well.
We didn't see N today so I must have misheard that we were expecting to see her at the Markets this weekend. I suppose two weekends in a row would be too much to ask for - and I didn't think to ask A at the Markets.
Saturday
It is great fun doing shopping for young folk and we were able to get some cool toys for M for her birthday (party today). We bought a pink hula-hoop, a red dress, a giraffe hop-a-long toy and, to round it out, a tool kit because a girl is never too young (and two isn't that young anymore) to start learning how to be a bit handy around the house.
The birthday party was held in Lions Park - on the way to Picnic Point - and they had taken the time to decorate with streamers and balloons. It looked very party-like and by the time we arrived the BBQ was well on, tables and chairs had been claimed and/or set-up and the table was starting to groan with food.
This is the first time we have met M's family on D's side - this was the first joint activity we were in town for - but they seemed like a very genuine, caring and fun bunch - everything you want in an extended family.
T, M's Mum, had made the birthday cake - and it was a good effort - although for a moment there it did look as though an extra candle (No. 3) would make it on to the cake!
Post-party we went off to Highfields to see J's new house - and marvel at the progress she had made in cleaning it up since the tenants had done a runner - leaving their furniture and other belongings - and a big mess. She's about to have the house re-carpetted (I don't know why she doesn't like the rose pink) and re-painted; and while the professionals are doing that, she will be working on the garden.
Next stop was a computer intervention for D and E - and that was a bit sad because this is the first time that we have noticed that D is starting to wear the effects of ageing. He has always been a young older person but some health issues have worn him down a little to the point where it is showing. Age is not a kind thing.
Meanwhile, back at Latimers, M had sent us a text to assure us - "All well. Emma watered, fed, needled and hugged." Thanks M!!
The birthday party was held in Lions Park - on the way to Picnic Point - and they had taken the time to decorate with streamers and balloons. It looked very party-like and by the time we arrived the BBQ was well on, tables and chairs had been claimed and/or set-up and the table was starting to groan with food.
This is the first time we have met M's family on D's side - this was the first joint activity we were in town for - but they seemed like a very genuine, caring and fun bunch - everything you want in an extended family.
T, M's Mum, had made the birthday cake - and it was a good effort - although for a moment there it did look as though an extra candle (No. 3) would make it on to the cake!
Post-party we went off to Highfields to see J's new house - and marvel at the progress she had made in cleaning it up since the tenants had done a runner - leaving their furniture and other belongings - and a big mess. She's about to have the house re-carpetted (I don't know why she doesn't like the rose pink) and re-painted; and while the professionals are doing that, she will be working on the garden.
Next stop was a computer intervention for D and E - and that was a bit sad because this is the first time that we have noticed that D is starting to wear the effects of ageing. He has always been a young older person but some health issues have worn him down a little to the point where it is showing. Age is not a kind thing.
Meanwhile, back at Latimers, M had sent us a text to assure us - "All well. Emma watered, fed, needled and hugged." Thanks M!!
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