Monday - Birthday breakfast

Buddha

I was on the way to The Big House by 7 o'clock this morning and I had been thinking that that was the earliest that I had ever gone there - but then I remembered the times M has stayed in and I dropped S off there on my way to work so they could "do" breakfast. This time I was there to drop of Em's Casino card; I had been planning to give it to her at The Reluctant Fundamentalist which is the latest film in Monday's Movie Madness. I had joked with Em yesterday that I would be there unless I had a better offer ... and I hadn't at that stage realised that I already had a better offer ... breakfast at Ormeau for Jo's birthday. We were joined by Ra and Ca - they should have been at school, both of them, but they seemed to prefer to be helping Jo celebrate. I can understand that! It was an interesting conversation with them ... usually I hear about what's going on "at home" just from Jo, and the different perspective, although not that different, was enlightening. We went back to Jo's after breakfast to see her presents - and to see how Ra had decorated the living room - overnight - with balloons and banners. Very birthday!

Balloons

By the time I made it back to Latimers, M and S had already left for Aqua. They had a great class and the numbers were up on previous weeks - which is good because I was wondering about the class' viability if it continued with only 5 people.

Ferry Road lunch was next up for them before they went off; M had some errands to do and S went along to keep her company rather than having to have me come in to town to pick her up. I appreciated the consideration - and spent some of the time I saved pegging out some washing. I was thinking about jumping on ROM and doing a round of Hermes' paddock - M was saying that that is going to make it easier for them to fill in the holes in there ... if they can actually see them, which they can't if the grass is too long - but before I could S and M arrived home ... and it wasn't long before M jumped on ROM and went mowing.

Monday is Rubbish Day and for the last few weeks I've been cleaning on the fridge. I never thought I would find it funny ... but I was doubled up with laughter this afternoon while I was doing it. M, at some point, had been in the fridge and had written on top of the yoghurt containers: "I'm okay 5/8/13" and, on the other one, "Me too 5/8/13". Mind you, it was just as well, because when I shook the first one, and it sounded very watery, I thought it was definitely going out.

Monday is Trivia and while it would be great to say we were right up there on the Podium ... that wasn't our experience tonight. But Craig was back so we could hear the questions and that took a whole lot of angst out of the game play. We did manage to get 10 for each of the first three rounds - it was just a pity that one of those rounds was a bonus round and was 10/20 rather than 10/10. D'oh ... but such is Trivia. But we were stunned by our performance in the "Sport & Games round" - usually one of our least strong (when it's just called "Sport") - which gave us 8/10. It will be good when we have our full complement back - especially as we were only three tonight - An, S and I. Fl was off and about doing family things, St and Ni are still overseas, and Nu couldn't make it. But we didn't do too badly, all things considered.

Maggie went to The Tevs again today, to have that blood test that will shed some light on possible causes of her heart murmur - I think the results will tell whether her thyroid activity (or lack of?) is contributing to the problem.

I don't know what it is about Pearl but she has become less interested in chasing the birds out of Hermes' paddock. M had to coax her in there when she and S arrived back this afternoon, and later, I almost had to go and do it myself to illustrate to have any chance of getting Pearl to show any interest.

 

Sunday - Cake and (no) chips

It's not often the day at Latimers starts with ironing - but that was me this morning - up forty minutes earlier than I needed to be for my call with Tr so I could iron some shirts. It has been a while but thankfully that is one of the skills that doesn't fade over time ... a bit like riding a bike (although I'm still working on that one).

We were only a little late to the Markets this morning ... and we were there earlier than M. She had set off early to go in search of a Birthday Cake for Azra. As it turned out Az and Mi were also late but I don't know if that had anything to do with Mi's extra exercise this morning. Prince had disappeared and Mi ended up running 3km in their usual morning walk route (?) and then back home to get the bike and off again ... before they finally discovered Prince had not gone that far at all. He was immediately next door ... something to do with the female dog there being "on heat". Hopefully he won't be tempted to go in search of female companionship while he's staying with Mouse.

M managed to secure a fantastic Birthday Cake from Madisons, complete with a personalised white chocolate plaque. It was especially good because Az really likes cakes from Madisons. Double bonus. It was, I think, a good "event" especially since M pulled it together on such short notice - the present (with special thanks to Mi), the cake, and the card. We had a couple of extras today - Sy's father, visiting from Melbourne, came, and Nu brought along his granddaughter. Alas, I don't think she was happy being there; we seemed to have more fun watching her play with balloons than she did playing with them.

I dropped S back to Latimers after the Markets so I could go in to The Big House. They're having the third (or is it fourth) of their draws for the "Search for 5 Millionaires". It meant being there for four hours or so but as long as I have the iPad - and Mouse's puzzles - there's always something to do, and having lunch with M and watching some "numbers" helped pass the time as well. Alas, we weren't the lucky winner today - but there's always next week ... for M - I'm not planning to play the machines there next week so I won't earn the requisite points to go in the draw.

And speaking of gambles ... the date of the next Federal Election has been announced ... 7 September ... and the campaigning has begun!

Happy Birthday!

 

Saturday - Farewell Soxy

I had been planning to swipe our cards in at The Big House when I went in this afternoon to watch some table play; but plans change and S and I came back to Latimers instead. So, we entrusted our cards to Mi who was planning to go to see the Lumiair show there today. When her plans changed, she said she'd ask Az, who was going in for the Food Fantasy buffet - using points/vouchers they'd won in the current promotion. We should have questioned why Az and Mi were going tonight - rather than just thinking it was because they are leaving on Wednesday. If we had, we may have realised that it's Az's birthday tomorrow. Mouse realised tonight - too late for us to suggest joining them - but in time for something (cake! and a gift) to be organised for the Markets tomorrow. We still aren't sure why Az didn't say anything. Although, to be fair, she hasn't in previous years either. And we don't rely on other people to remind us when their birthday is (that's what FaceBook is for!).

Soxy

The nest building continues which may explain why Tinka and Maggie were camped out there for most of the afternoon. I know because I was there too - reading "The Cuckoo's Calling" and watching and waiting for the photo opportunity with the birds and the nest which never came.

Sadly, Mouse and M took Soxy to the vet today. It was his time as he has not been well for a while. They took him to M's vet at Nerang where, as we know from Emma and Beasley, they do a very good "seeing off"! Understandably Mouse was very upset as she and Soxy have been companions for years - since he moved in from the neighbour's place. That's the good thing about cats - they know what they want and who they want to be with. We were able to say goodbye to him at dinner last night ... he spent the time while we were there outside, near the back door, and not straying far. Soxy (or Schnitzel as little Hamdi used to call him) was a great cat, a huge presence ... and he will very much be missed. RIP Soxy.

Mouse and Soxy

Afterwards we met up with them, and Mi, at Zarraffa's at Benowa. Mouse was still very upset and even though she tried to take part in the conversation, she was ... distracted. M took her home and spent some time with her this afternoon; and she went back in to have dinner with her this evening. S and I suggested Pearl might like to go in and spend a few days with Mouse before Prince arrives - his "parents" are just about to jet off and Mouse is going to mind him in their absence.

 

Friday - Chevapkis and a new cafe

We had a slow start to the day today (well, M was up and out to her usual Friday gig) and we decided to try something different for breakfast. We had read about Le Vintage Sandwich Shop, in Highland Park, and wanted to try it out before we suggested it to anyone else. I was looking forward to their $13 Big Breakfast but when we arrived, they told us they didn't serve breakfast on a Friday. Even though they do serve food, they have a very restricted menu most of the time - it's almost takeaway food such as sandwiches and toasties but they have seats where you can eat and very decent coffee (Merlo) ... and they do a High Tea (minimum of four people) ... and there is that breakfast on a Saturday. If it's anything like the Bacon and Egg Toastie ... we're going to like the Breakfast very much.

Maggie

S decided not to come to see The Way Way Back at Australia Fair so I met An there, as planned. I'd like to say that I'm giving the movie a very high rating but that wouldn't be true. I'm still thinking about it, of course, trying to decide whether the resolution worked ... generally speaking, because it hadn't for me. But, then, we all bring our own understandings and histories into a movie, and maybe those had something to do with my interpretation of it.

After the movie, even though An suggested I go back to theirs for a cuppa, I tootled back out to Latimers to collect S so we could go in for Friday Night dinner with Mouse, M, Mi (yes, Mi is finally back!) and Fl, as well as Ne, her husband, Ji, and mother Su. It was an "interesting" conversation and evening ... and it was very odd to be a "newcomer"- I've only known Mouse and the family for just over 20 years; the others have known them for much, much longer.

Mouse excelled herself in the cooking stakes - soup and nibbles to start (the goats' cheese looked amazing), followed by stew, pasta, potatoes and salad; then dessert of rhubarb (not crumble as Mouse's oven is still not working - although ["it's a miracle"] Mouse said that it actually did turn on today), custard and ice cream! Then, as it must be, there was tea - which is my domain.

Although it seems not to have been as bad as it had been for the World Youth Day Group returning from South America the other day - 26 of the group became ill with a gastro bug (with only 10 toilets on board) - both S and Su had been feeling "unwell" earlier today. Su made herself come to dinner out of respect for Mouse. And just as well she did otherwise she would have missed out on some amazing stories and there was no shortage of them at the table.

Ji did an amazing job at keeping his chevapki story going through numerous tangents and interruptions to the point where it came almost as a total surprise to me when, a very long time later - through almost forced conscription into the Greek Military, movie-worthy train escapades, brushes with Border patrols, and being hidden in a cellar - that he told about having a meal at a train station ... "and that was where I first had chevapkis"! Next up in the conversation stakes was a look at Muslim burial rituals and Fl telling us about what would happen come "Judgment Day". I still don't understand why it is that Comparative Religion isn't a required subject in schools. Maybe if they did I would have known, before Fl explained it, that Muslims do believe in Heaven and Hell and that those are not just Christian constructs.

Dinner

 

Thursday - the swallows are busy

S's other tomato had disappeared by the time we arrived home today - which is a shame because it was just the right size, and ripeness, to make its way into a salad. Perhaps it did ... maybe just not one of ours. M thinks a crow may be the most likely culprit. And certainly having seen what those white cockatoos can do with lemons, I don't doubt that crows are capable of it.

Birds at work

The swallows have almost finished their nest. They've built up the sides of the nest; now we just have to wait and watch and see how long it is before there are eggs in there, and whether it's the same birds who built it that take up residence.

Birds at work

The Big House wasn't that busy tonight. We had no trouble getting a box on the CSP table; and the dealer was more than happy to let us sit there and take our money. Dinner was good though - we went to Zen and had "the usual" minus the noodles. Then, we went upstairs and would have watched Roulette while drinking coffee except no-one was playing.

M's cousin, Ne, was there though and on hearing there was a FNF dinner planned for tomorrow night and she is now planning to come, together with her husband and her mother, an old family friend.

 

Wednesday - Bingo and Burgers

M came in and she and S had breakfast at CheeseLand (which I suppose should be known as BreakfastLand in the morning). I was downstairs at Spinners having some of their toast (I like it very much) and a decent cup of coffee ... I never have been liked the coffee out of the machine up there.

M and S would usually go off to Ferry Road for their Wednesday morning breakfast - and that was where Mouse was this morning, thinking they would be there. She had been to see the doctor about her leg - he checked it and changed the dressing; it's healing but not quickly. She did find them at Bingo though. There were just the four of them there today - Mouse, M, An and S. Alas, there were no Winners (no Grinners) there today. They did make it over to Daniel Stuart's for lunch though ... and for the first time (in a while? Have they ever before?) they had to kick in to the kitty.

M and S came back to The Big House afterwards. M showed S a new poker machine to try, which she did, but, but it wasn't particularly kind to her. But it turned out to be all good ... when I fell into the Casino while S was having a nap, I was able to get her stake back on The Flintstones machine (which, as it turns out, was just next door to the machine S had been on!).

Back at Latimers, M spent most of the afternoon filling in holes in Hermes' paddock. Hopefully that will help with the "smoothness" of the paddock come mowing time ... and won't require topping up the holes too much in the not too immediate future.

M came back in to watch "Offspring" with S; it inches toward to the end of the season (two more episodes to go after tonight) and we are still no closer to knowing which person that Nina loves that she's going to lose ... to death ... although they're suggesting in the promos that it could be Billie, Patrick or Nina's brother (whose name I have forgotten at the moment).

Free tomato sauce

We weren't that late going downstairs afterwards - so we thought, for sure, that Spinners would still be open for dinner. We were wrong. They had black rope across the entrance and they weren't accepting any new customers, even though it was only 9:45pm. Ah well, Bite was open and we each found something to have ... even though my Burger wasn't even close to the All Day Breakfast I had been planning to have at Spinners! But at least the tomato sauce was free there (it is in Spinners again now too).

S went off to have another try at that poker machine this evening ... but, d'oh, it bested her again and all too soon she and M came back and I had to leave the Rapid Reel. But that's okay, because it was time for me to have my second bath for the week.

 

Tuesday - Christmas in July

Where has the year gone? It's only a month until Spring but at least Christmas in July is still happening at The Big House and S and I finally managed to make it there for lunch. Hmmm.-. I wonder if we were the only ones who were slightly disappointed with the offering? Yes, they had turkey and Christmas pudding with custard but there didn't seem to be a lot else in the tradition of Christmas. Oh wait, they did have the chocolate castle complete with snowdrifts ... and there might have been ham ... I'm not very good at meat recognition. But, it was enjoyable ... especially as we were dining courtesy of the food vouchers S has won in the current Big House promotion.

Missing tomato

S's garden is progressing very well (no doubt aided by her ministrations, the rain, and the lucerne Ja popped on it) and this morning when we set out to breakfast at Maccas and S's appointment, we noticed that there were three almost ripe tomatoes in there. Just as well we had seen them then, because by the time we arrived home, that number had dwindled to one. We're still trying to work out where they went to or, more correctly, who they went home with. We don't think it was Pearl ... she definitely prefers not to be vegetarian, and we don't think the furries are into tomatoes. There was some suggestion (okay it was mine) that Crash Squirrel may have been involved.

We spent the night at Jupiter (thanks again M) and after CheeseLand (and lunch at the Buffet) neither S nor I were that hungry so we had "guest" fruit for dinner. And I had a bath - long, hot, and incredibly relaxing. It doesn.t get much better! Unless you're S and you also get Annabel Crabbe's Kitchen Cabinet, followed by New Tricks, and David and Margaret's Movie Show, and Artscape and ...

CheeseLand

M had taken me upstairs for a coffee before she went home to do the furries. She had errands to run on the way home though - including popping in on Mi and Az-which took over an hour and a half. Then she had a chat with Be and his mob when she arrived home. Those furries would have been a bit peckish by then.

Meanwhile, back at The Big House, M was lucky enough to get a room floor on the Executive Level floor and S and I (and Crash) were able to go to CheeseLand. We love CheeseLand, but it just isn't the same ... The Big House cost-cutting seems to have extended to there as well.