Monday

The Prius!

Well ... the day is finally here ... time to pick up the new car. I wonder how long it will take before it has a name. It is a thing of beauty and I have not a jot of buyer's remorse. I was worried that I would have because it isn't often that I make a decision so quickly! Anyway, there she was, waiting for me when I arrived at the dealership this afternoon ... replete with big red bow. And the bow was big ... massive ... which is just another way of me trying to say that it is a "big" car ... although we all know that the Prius isn't really. But it is roomy and as soon as I sat in it (again) I felt as though I have been driving it forever. It's not often I feel like that when I first get into a vehicle ... there's always the tension of thinking it is a "different" vehicle and the worry associated with it. Mind you, I think there may have been a bit of that had I not made sure it was fully insured before it left the showroom!

Trivia tonight and Fl rang later in the afternoon to say that he wouldn't be able to make it. That left we three - Sooz, An and me. Thank goodness we picked up our game in the second half otherwise it could have been rather embarrassing to show our faces there again next week - and we would have had to think of something to tell the other team members!

We arrived home just as MasterChef was finishing - literally - because when Sooz turned on the television,, the final score was being shown - and the winner was known! I didn't see it - and at that stage, knowing we are having a late night tomorrow, I decided I would ask Sooz. Come to think of it, I went to bed last night before we knew who had made it through to the Final!

Night night car with no name (yet).

 

Sunday

We met the others (sans boys) at the Isle of Capri markets today fir a catch-up this morning. It is the first time Sooz and I have seen Mouse since she returned from overseas - and the first time we have seen Mi and Em for a few weeks. Everyone was looking good but, based on the price of the coffee (thanks Mouse for shouting) everyone agreed that our usual Markets are much better value for money. We couldn't stay chatting though as Sooz, Syl, An and I - and M as well as it turned out - were off to the property inspection. As it turned out An and Syl were as concerned about the stairs as I, and they had another couple of issues, so it was a thumbs-down from them. Sooz, who had fallen in love with the setting and that it was a Harry Seidler-designed complex, was disappointed (palpably so) but on speaking with the agent it appears that there may be ground floor units becoming available in the complex soon. In the meantime, the agent knew of another property near Bundall Road so Sooz and I did a drive past this afternoon and Sooz is going to go for a look with M on Wednesday morning on the way to Aqua.

It was a shame Az wasn't able to make it to coffee this morning because by this time next week, she and Mi will be well on their way to the other side of the world. I cannot believe home quickly time passes. It sometimes seems that no sooner has one lot of travellers has returned than another lot is on the way. Did I mention that Nu and Va are overseas already - and have been for a few weeks now.

It was the MasterChef Semi-Final this evening and we crowded round the television set to cheer on our favourites ... which they almost all are at the moment. It's sad that tomorrow night is Trivia because that means we won't be able to watch the final in real time ... but Sooz will tape it so we'll be able to watch it later. And it won't matter if we know who wins ... it's the journey that will be important.

Saturday

Syl was saying she felt underdressed today at the Pistol Club. She had stumbled in on a scene where everyone (except her) was dressed in gear from the American old west - bodices, chaps, holsters. Welcome to the Wild West shooting competition - the same competition that had closed the Pistol Club for the weekend. I had already decided not to go to shooting today - I had thought tomorrow might be a possibility - but not to be. Which is probably good because we're meeting Mouse and others at the Isle of Capri as the Markets are not happening at the Turf Club tomorrow as the Camping and Caravan Show is on.

M came home with news last night that The Big House was having a breakfast special today - half price - so we met there after she'd been to Deep Water Running. It was a good breakfast - their toast is definitely the best - before Sooz and I went off to have a look at a property in Broadbeach (not for us) and then at a Harry Seidler-designed property in Broadbeach Waters. That wasn't too bad - M came to have a look as well - and we're going back tomorrow to have another look - taking Syl and An with us this time.

This afternoon was fairly quiet. We spent it at home with the furries. S hadn't slept well last night so she had a nap while I pretended to myself that I was being productive. I did catch up with some reading though so I was fairly pleased with that.

No surprise that we didn't go out this evening ... it is Saturday night afterall.

Friday

There was more car stuff today, this time organising payment. Quite naively, I had thought it would just be a matter of transferring money from our account to the car folk - but the computer said no. Well the bank's website said no. So, a quick call later and I was off to Robina in search of a bank cheque. It took a little longer than expected - and it would have been longer had I stayed on the Motorway taking my chances with the roadworks traffic ... but I know better than that.

Cockatoos!

This afternoon after work, I dropped back into the Car Folk and handed over the cheque - so I wouldn't have to mind it over the weekend. So, it's all done - paid for, insurance organised - and we just have to wait to pick it up on Monday after the windows have been tinted, the fabric treated, the paintwork protected ... and the gift from M added.

Thank goodness work isn't going to get ultra busy again until, next week - it's been good to have the chance and space to be distracted by the car this week without doing it at EOM.

The house was quiet again this morning as I left except for Pearl who was hoping there would be more breakfast cookies for her. That wasn't going to happen of course, but that doesn't stop her from asking - and she wpuldn't be Pearl if she didn't ask. That Tinka was a bit naughty this. morning. She ate all the broth out of Maggie's breakfast before Maggie even saw it. This is the second time she has done that this week ... and still she hasn't found her way back into the bedroom!

Sooz had a quiet day at home - doing washing and other house stuff and letting thr furries keep her company. Meanwhile, M was back at JPs - her first time since she and Mouse arrived back. Afterwards, she met Mouse and Az for lunch ... and at some point the car was mentioned because I had a text from Az saying she was driving behind a Prius "Nice. Congrats".

Nothing like a good square meal!

It was a bit disappointing MasterChef wasn't on tonight but at least Sooz was able to watch The Living Room while I caught up with some of my series. It's nice to have a quiet Friday evening in.

I still haven't decided whether I will go off shooting in the morning ... but that is a decision I can make in the morning.

Did I mention the cockatoos have been back? They've been having a feed of lemons straight off the tree - I say that because the last year when I saw them at the tree, a couple would fly into the tree a d snip the stem so the lemon would fall to the ground and then others would take a bite ... but this time the lemon, with a bite taken out of it is still on the tree. And something, hopefully besides Pearl, has been taking bites off the avocados. That might be the cockatoos as well.

 

Thursday

Some of the best things Sooz and I do happen on an 11 day. One of us is a 4 (numerically) and the other is a 7 so together we make 11. Today was an 11 day and it's no surprise then that we bought a car! Yes, I went from stalking parking lots over the last couple of days, peering into the windows of vehicles to see what their interior/consoles were like, to deciding last night that I wanted a Prius. I rang the Toyota Dealership today - to find out that yes, they did have a Prius in stock - and, even better, they were in the middle of a four-day sale. Excellent!

I went for a test drive at lunchtime - was very pleased, and put a deposit down before I left the showroom ... purchase conditional on Sooz and the passenger seat - she has to feel comfortable in it and to be able to get in and out of the vehicle easily. She was off at work with Jen today, with M picking her up around 4, so we arranged for Sooz to meet me at Maccas - just across the lane from the Toyota dealership.

I was already there, getting insurance quotes, when they arrived, and all three of us went over to see the Prius C ... which had a "sold" sign on it by that stage. I hadn't mentioned to Sooz that I'd put a deposit on but she couldn't have been happier! She and M had a test seat in it (and was that a breathing in of new car smell I saw happening in there as well?) and once Sooz agreed that it was "good", I sent them over to Maccas to have a celebratory coffee while I did the doings. Purchase car ... tick.

It was the last night of MasterChef for the night and Sooz and I sat down to watch it ... and M joined us later when she took a break from cleaning out her wardrobe. She says she still has a way to go ... but she seems to have made a good start.

I had to coax Pearl out of M's room this morning. Cookies did the trick ... just holding them outside the room and letting them fall back into the bowl. Pearl was out like a flash. I hate having to do that to her ... but she does know she will get a treat when we get back from our walk ... and she wasn't disappointed.

Blaze and his paddock mate were horsing around again this morning - but not landing any bites this time. They seem to hang around down near the fence a lot ... they must like the company.

Wednesday

The whole house was asleep when I crept out this morning. I think I managed to do that quietly ... although nothing much else could have been described as that. Why is it that the more you try to do things quietly, the more noise you make. Throw the deodorant can on the floor ... don't mind if I do. Slam the bathroom door ... okay! I felt much better once I was out of the house and making my noise somewhere else. I shouldn't have worried though because no-one seemed to have been roused.

I was glad the morning routine was in tact this morning ... let Maggie out, let Pearl out, feed Tinka and give her her shot, let Pearl in to eat the leftovers (if there are any), put Maggie's little broth breakfast down the back for when she comes in, watch Tinka lick the broth off Maggie's breakfast, let Maggie in.

It was business as usual for Sooz and M today - Ferry Road, Aqua, lunch with Mouse ... or it would have been if Mouse hadn't slept in ... she didn't have a good nap yesterday afternoon - so they had lunch with Mi - at a cafe across the road from Fl's new office. Fl didn't join them - and when Mi had phoned to check the girls were still coming, I could hear him in the background saying he knew what it was like - to miss out on lunch too.

Still (and don't tell them this) I didn't mind because I was comparison shopping for cars ... ie walking around the Worongary Town Centre car park looking at the different cars I have been researching on the net. I have it down to a possible five so far ... and once I have knocked a couple off the list I will be ready to start organising test drives for me ... and test passengering for Sooz. Both very important!

It was MasterChef again tonight - this time to see who would progress straight into the semi-finals ... and who would be in the elimination tomorrow night - with the other two going straight into the semi-finals. That leaves three for the semi-finals ... so it doesn't seem as though it will be the traditional play-offs with winners battling it out. It will be interesting to see if the one we love to "hate" will make it through to the semis.

Day 2 of M's return and Maggie has moved into her bedroom. We may never see her again in the evenings ... once she's holed up in there, she doesn't seem to want to move. She had the bed to herself a bit longer tonight though ... Sooz and M were watching one of the final episodes of Offspring for this season ... ever, actually, because word is that it hasn't been renewed. Sad days ... because it will be a while until the next season of Last Tango in Halifax comes back on Australian screens.

Tuesday

The travellers are back! They touched down just before 7:30 this morning and FI went up to collect them and drop them off at Mouse's. From there, Mi collected M and brought her back to Latimer's where Pearl, Sooz, Maggie (and Tinka) welcomed her home with a nice cup of tea.

Blaze and Pearl

M must have been tired from the trip because she went for a nap and woke some hours later - when it was dark - thinking she had slept round the clock (can you still say that and have it make sense in this digital age?). Sooz was cooking dinner when M came out and for just a moment, M thought Sooz was cooking breakfast for me before I went off to work. Hmmm ... we all know there's no time for that in the morning ... especially now that I have trained the folk at Zarraffas to put two butters in with my toast. And they manage to get it in there with the hot toast without it melting. Now I just have to train myself to have only half of the second butter and put the rest in the fridge for the next day. It's just about getting the ratios right.

But poor M was a bit concerned that she had slept through ... but she hadn't so she was able to have dinner with us (Sooz had made a yummy spaghetti) and watch MasterChef - and see just how much one of this year's contestants is not liked by Sooz!

The furries seem very happy to have their mother back and there was no question of Maggie coming into our room tonight - even though we have the Electric Blanket to offer ... seems the heater in M's room beats that hands-down.

It was music to my ears too when M officially released me from cat tray duty ... in the time that I've been doing it, there have only been three times when the cats hadn't used the tray by when it was time to clean it out ... and yes, I had worked out a scoring system for them to keep myself seeing it as "a game". But I was happy to do it ... and it's only one of the reasons we're pleased to have M back.