There's nothing like a few days away and we are currently enjoying some time away from Latimers ... at the beach. We are celebrating S's birthday - a little late, but that's okay. There is something about being at the beach though - and staying in a 16th floor apartment across the road from the beach with sweeping views up the coast to Surfers Paradise, and down the beach to the Currumbin headland (where you can see the planes turning on their way to Coolangatta Airport).
S's family is staying in the same unit block and we had a celebratory dinner with them (and M) last night. It was wonderful! We didn't get back upstairs and to bed until close to midnight and we had to have the children back downstairs by 7.30 this morning so they could have their showers and do what children do when they are on holidays.
We are hoping to get into the spa and the sauna this evening ... before checking out and making our way back to Latimers in the morning.
In the meantime, of course, there are plenty of beach activities - sitting watching the beach, standing watching the beach, leaning watching the beach ... the list goes on. You really feel it when you're a water sign because the ocean seems to have a pull on you. I could sit and watch the ebb and flow of the sea forever. And there's the Burleigh Markets too ...
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
New addition
M announced this afternoon that there was a new addition to the family! And that Pearl loves it. I didn't ask too many questions fear it be a new dog, specifically Prince or Ebony, both of whom could do worse than move in to Latimers (Prince for a week while his folks are on holiday and before Mouse rives back to babysit [dog-sit] him and Ebony because we feel sorry for her - she doesn't seem to get much love or affection. And even though she now has the swings and a trampoline out there with her, so at least she has some decent shade, I'm sure they're wondering what they've done wrong to be put out there too!). But it wasn't Prince or Ebony! S was home when M brought the new addition in and I'm not sure if she thought it was real, with its little head peeking over the top of the bag as M carried it over from the car! It is a duck - and a very cute one! Does it have a name I wonder. It's taken up residence near the front door and seems to be very happy there!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Sunday
M is back and we are all settling in again, especially the furries (no auto-correct ... not fairies!) who have wasted no time moving back into M's room. They (okay, and we) really did miss her as she played on the other side of the world. She left Mouse over there with M and H, while she came back, via South Korea. It looks like M had a great time - we know this because we started going through the photographs with her last night. She made us stop before we were all the way through them though - and because they were her photos, we couldn't really argue, even though we wanted to. But at least now we have more to look forward to, and at least we saw the ballooning shots!
It only seems like M has just arrived back and now Mi has taken herself off to Pristina to visit family, friends and her old stamping grounds (why do they call them that?). F is already missing her and kept M for company for a good chunk of yesterday after they had taken Mi to the airport to see her off.
The Markets was good today and we were more than I thought we would be. N's M and C came along and sat with us; E was there, and Sy dropped by on her way to pick up her dogsled. We went out to lunch at Ferry Road Markets with Sy afterwards and it was good she could catch up with M (since we had only seen her last weekend). Next time, though, we will know to check the size of the fries sides, because we were all a bit stunned when the "large" came in a bowl the size of a small bucket!
Master Chef continues onto the Finals week which starts tonight. I'm not sure if I want to watch it - only because I fear some of the contestants will become more cut-throat than they need to. And that wouldn't be a good look!
It was worth watching though because the restaurant where the contestants were fighting to stay in the competition was one where S and I had enjoyed my farewell dinner when I was left Chevron way back when. (That's like a whole 'nother life now.)
M is out tonight but the furries are in - one with me, one with S, Pearl on her bed and Maggie not quite sure of where she wants to be, but she did settle for a moment on S's lap to shred her thighs with razor-like claws before taking up a position on the couch top behind her.
They really do like being inside on cold evenings - and we're pleased they do - especially when there were strange noises outside before - it sounded a bit like an animal in pain. I was a bit concerned about Maggie until she finally came in (the others were in when the commotion happened).
It only seems like M has just arrived back and now Mi has taken herself off to Pristina to visit family, friends and her old stamping grounds (why do they call them that?). F is already missing her and kept M for company for a good chunk of yesterday after they had taken Mi to the airport to see her off.
The Markets was good today and we were more than I thought we would be. N's M and C came along and sat with us; E was there, and Sy dropped by on her way to pick up her dogsled. We went out to lunch at Ferry Road Markets with Sy afterwards and it was good she could catch up with M (since we had only seen her last weekend). Next time, though, we will know to check the size of the fries sides, because we were all a bit stunned when the "large" came in a bowl the size of a small bucket!
Master Chef continues onto the Finals week which starts tonight. I'm not sure if I want to watch it - only because I fear some of the contestants will become more cut-throat than they need to. And that wouldn't be a good look!
It was worth watching though because the restaurant where the contestants were fighting to stay in the competition was one where S and I had enjoyed my farewell dinner when I was left Chevron way back when. (That's like a whole 'nother life now.)
M is out tonight but the furries are in - one with me, one with S, Pearl on her bed and Maggie not quite sure of where she wants to be, but she did settle for a moment on S's lap to shred her thighs with razor-like claws before taking up a position on the couch top behind her.
They really do like being inside on cold evenings - and we're pleased they do - especially when there were strange noises outside before - it sounded a bit like an animal in pain. I was a bit concerned about Maggie until she finally came in (the others were in when the commotion happened).
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Monday
The moon is back! It's been a while since it's been visible through the cloud cover but it, Jupiter and ... what is the name of that other planet?... were bright and marvellous in the pre-dawn sky. It must be amazing to be an astronomer and have access to massive telescopes with which to scan the skies! But it wasn't just that they were there - it was that they were light and big just above the tree-line!
The weather stayed clear again today and I was harbouring hopes that the ground would dry out enough for a quick mow - but when it squelched underfoot, I knew it wasn't to be. But at least S was able to do a bunch of Washing because the sock drawer was looking a little empty.
J was just leaving as I arrived home - an early clean this week as M is due back tomorrow (everyone cheers!!). l called out to S when I couldn't locate her - and found she had been mopped into the office area when J did the floors. So, while she waited for them to dry, Pearl and I took the rubbish up to the road. Then, it was time for Pearl’s walk - where she proceeded to be less than the well-behaved dog to which we have become accustomed. I had her on the lead for going out the gate and away from Ebony's immediate vicinity and while that's usually trouble-free, today Pearl jumped and twisted around - and threw her collar! Luckily she didn't go racing into Ebony's paddock because I'm not sure how I would have separated them. Then as we walked down the lane, she ducked under a fence and into one of the horse's paddocks - looking for a tasty bit of processed grass? - when the horse politely asked her to leave and she didn't immediately. S, back at Latimers folding washing, said she noticed a horse start pig-rooting and galloping up and down its paddock, setting off the horses in the neighbouring and nearby paddocks. What she didn't see was it go for Pearl - who made it out of the paddock unscathed - and then went to nip the nose of the horse two paddocks down when it came over to the fence to suggest Pearl just keep walking past. On the way back, Pearl went under that horse's fence, through the paddocks and back to the tasty morsel. I didn't see what it was - and part of me doesn't really want to know what it was! The rest of the walk was uneventful!
S thinks Tinker is still harbouring some distrust towards her following her interventions to help me corral her for her recent Vet visits. Tink is incredibly avoidant when S tries to call her in for her dinner and shot - and last night as soon as S went anywhere near her, she scooted off the other way. She is not as wary of me it seems (even though I am the one who keeps talking roundabout with her) and she came straight in when I called her.
Monday is Trivia night and luckily N and S are back. And it showed because we came out as tied for first and after the tie-break question (at what percent is silver considered "Sterling"?) we emerged victorious. As we kept telling N and S, it has been a while between wins (or even places), so we hope now they can see they do make a solid and valuable contribution to the team - and understand why they will never be allowed to go on holidays again!
MasterChef featured an elimination challenge and we watched it when we got back from Trivia. It had gone over again and even though S had done her trick of recording the next program as well, it didn't work. When she checked it, it wasn't there. It stopped at Ben being safe, and the announcement of whether it would be Alice or Wade who would be eliminated was left hanging on the judge's lips. Thank goodness for the interweb - where we were able to see the final minutes of the program and watch Wade go on his way.
Then, since we have an early start in the morning - F is picking S up from Crestwood Zarraffas at 5:45 for their drive to Brisbane Airport to collect M - we called it a night.
The weather stayed clear again today and I was harbouring hopes that the ground would dry out enough for a quick mow - but when it squelched underfoot, I knew it wasn't to be. But at least S was able to do a bunch of Washing because the sock drawer was looking a little empty.
S thinks Tinker is still harbouring some distrust towards her following her interventions to help me corral her for her recent Vet visits. Tink is incredibly avoidant when S tries to call her in for her dinner and shot - and last night as soon as S went anywhere near her, she scooted off the other way. She is not as wary of me it seems (even though I am the one who keeps talking roundabout with her) and she came straight in when I called her.
Monday is Trivia night and luckily N and S are back. And it showed because we came out as tied for first and after the tie-break question (at what percent is silver considered "Sterling"?) we emerged victorious. As we kept telling N and S, it has been a while between wins (or even places), so we hope now they can see they do make a solid and valuable contribution to the team - and understand why they will never be allowed to go on holidays again!
Then, since we have an early start in the morning - F is picking S up from Crestwood Zarraffas at 5:45 for their drive to Brisbane Airport to collect M - we called it a night.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Sunday
Well, the rain appears to have stopped, but for how long? At least the Kokoda Challengers wouldn't have been trudging through mud and slush all weekend! We did have a text from Sy during the evening last night to say they were sitting in a paddock full of cow droppings waiting for their Challengers. She gave no other details so we don't know if there were cows in the paddock as well. She texted this afternoon to let us know that their group had finished at around 4 this afternoon. Mammoth effort! Sy and M-A are talking about doing the walk next year if they can get a team together. Wouldn't that be an interesting exercise!?
The Markets were good - with a bigger crowd at our table than we are used to with M and the boys, and R, joining us. E is away in NZ at the moment, enjoyng less than clement Weather. A heavy cloud seems to have settled over Auckland and shows no sign of lifting. We don't have (much) cloud here today but there was enough, plus a cool gale, that kept us from going outside into the open air. It would have been difficult to make the move, too, because the table was groaning with food! A had done some special baking (including snow for “Christmas in July”) as it’s Mi's last markets for a while. Come Saturday she'll be boarding that big plane and setting off for Pristina. F won't be going with her but it won't be long until he'll be setting off for Jordan. There's been no further word on Lu's trip to the U.S. for his scholarship interview and if F is going to go with him but they’ll have to make a decision on that soon. I think they were leaning to Lu going by himself especially as he’s such a sensible young man and it’s only a few months before he’s off to do attend college there!
There are moves afoot to secure a new U.S. Sister City for the Gold Coast. It may actually be two but some of us are only excited by one of them! And that is ... Las Vegas. The other one is Honolulu. But given that the Gold Coast is due for those four new casinos, Las Vegas as a Sister City seems quite ... appropriate.
We were hoping to find a nice spot in the sun today to have a sit but it wasn't that kind of day, so we settled for an Asian lunch over at the Q Centre and I secured a table for us while S (thank you) did a "hunt and gather" at the shops.
Back at Latimers, rain stopped, S and I have been able to get out into the yard for a round of "pick-up" and, quite by accident I worked out how to do the very best job ... make sure you do it in the pair of snowy white runners that you have on for the first time. While S may have almost stepped in it, I didn't even come close! It's just a shame that the ground hasn't dried out yet so there was no way I could mow today. I'm hoping it will though and that I’ll able to do it tomorrow (especially since M arrives home on Tuesday).
Can you believe that this is the second-last week of MasterChef? They will lose three contestants this week and then one each night next week. I suppose the timing makes sense because the Olympics will soon be upon us and coverage of them will be filling the air waves.
Tink came in to watch MasterChef this evening, or we thought that was why she came in - actually it was so she could have a big nap on the couch - and impress us with her snoring! It's hard to know who's louder - Tink or Pearl ... they are both quite impressive. It's good to have Tink back inside though, especially as the temperature is supposed to drop down to 8 degrees tonight. It's definitely a night for Pearl to have her nightie on - it's been warm enough for most of the last week that she hasn't needed it - and the one night we did put it on her, she tried to take it off.
She must have been tired tonight because as well as sleeping through MasterChef, Pearl came to bed with me rather than sitting up with S as she usually does. For a moment there I thought Beazley would come as well, but that was not to be.
There are moves afoot to secure a new U.S. Sister City for the Gold Coast. It may actually be two but some of us are only excited by one of them! And that is ... Las Vegas. The other one is Honolulu. But given that the Gold Coast is due for those four new casinos, Las Vegas as a Sister City seems quite ... appropriate.
Back at Latimers, rain stopped, S and I have been able to get out into the yard for a round of "pick-up" and, quite by accident I worked out how to do the very best job ... make sure you do it in the pair of snowy white runners that you have on for the first time. While S may have almost stepped in it, I didn't even come close! It's just a shame that the ground hasn't dried out yet so there was no way I could mow today. I'm hoping it will though and that I’ll able to do it tomorrow (especially since M arrives home on Tuesday).
Tink came in to watch MasterChef this evening, or we thought that was why she came in - actually it was so she could have a big nap on the couch - and impress us with her snoring! It's hard to know who's louder - Tink or Pearl ... they are both quite impressive. It's good to have Tink back inside though, especially as the temperature is supposed to drop down to 8 degrees tonight. It's definitely a night for Pearl to have her nightie on - it's been warm enough for most of the last week that she hasn't needed it - and the one night we did put it on her, she tried to take it off.
She must have been tired tonight because as well as sleeping through MasterChef, Pearl came to bed with me rather than sitting up with S as she usually does. For a moment there I thought Beazley would come as well, but that was not to be.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Saturday
Tinker wasn't - in a more cooperative frame of mind. At 4:30 she was scratching on the bedroom door to come in, so I let her and then she went straight over to the screen door and started scratching on that. She’s clever, you have to give her that, but she wasn't going out without having her shot. So I took her out of the bedroom (surprised that S was sleeping through this) and went to get her shot ready while she took up her position under a kitchen chair. It didn't take her that long to work out that we both wanted the same thing - she wanted to go out and I wanted her to go out but still as I pulled the chair out she started fast-walking up the hall. I followed her and as she stood by the back door, I gave her the shot, and then sent her on her way - and left a note for S so she would know not to give Tink another shot - since she had kindly offered to do them this morning.
It would be fair to say we weren't expecting Sy to arrive just after 8 this morning, but she did give us ten minutes warning - so we were glad of that! She had brought a friend, M-A, who was also being back-up for their Kokoda Challengers - M-A even had a branded t-shirt for the event.
After they'd gone - several laughs and stories later, S took Pearl for a walk (the rain has stopped and sunshine has been sighted!) down to B's. Dolly was glad to see them - coming over to the fence to say hello. Last night when Pearl and I were down that way, Dolly wasn't budging from their shelter - and that was probably a good call on her part!
Then it was off to Pacific Fair, for me anyway, while S showed Pearl that she shouldn't be sad because she was stuck at home on a Saturday because not everyone gets to go out on a Saturday! Pearl wasn't buying any of it!
Much later, I was standing waiting for the kettle to boil after I arrived back at Latimers and was amazed to see one of S's birds there. I tried to take a photograph of it through the window but that didn't work. Sneaking up on it outside wasn't really an option - I had tried for a photograph of the bird I call "the Crane" this morning but missed that (could it have had anything to do with my squeaky shoe?) so I wasn't particularly hopeful. I did get a photo, but not the one I was after. And since Nik was out we also took him down to B's on our walk with Pearl. Dolly came over - thereby answering the riddle of the brown patch on her side which I noticed a couple of days ago: she's been branded ... but on the other side, she's only been shaved on this side. Not quite sure why that is - I’ll have to check with a horse person or maybe the interweb.
Tink came in for dinner but not with the others. I'm not sure why - perhaps she's had a fright - or maybe she's a bit off-colour but she really hasn't been herself today. She spent most of it on one of the chairs out the back. Or is she just side of the rain and missing the sunshine? The patch of bright we had this morning didn't last that long and anyone who knows Tink knows she loves basking in the sunlight. Do cats get SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)?
S cooked a chicken stirfry for dinner and we had it with Mrs Browns Boys - a television program, a comedy, about an interfering but caring Irish mother with some of her children (all grown-up) still living at home. The humour is a bit crass but they do make some interesting insights into life, the universe and other things. I like it because it's filmed in front of a live audience and it's not pretending to be anything other than what it is - so we get to see the production, sets and all. S seemed to enjoy it as well but didn't want to watch the second episode straight away - those lifestyle programs were calling!
After they'd gone - several laughs and stories later, S took Pearl for a walk (the rain has stopped and sunshine has been sighted!) down to B's. Dolly was glad to see them - coming over to the fence to say hello. Last night when Pearl and I were down that way, Dolly wasn't budging from their shelter - and that was probably a good call on her part!
Then it was off to Pacific Fair, for me anyway, while S showed Pearl that she shouldn't be sad because she was stuck at home on a Saturday because not everyone gets to go out on a Saturday! Pearl wasn't buying any of it!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Friday
The rain continues. It's almost too wet to take Pearl for a walk! But because we love her so much, we're going to brave the elements and take her! We know she will appreciate it. The cats? Well they will stay where they are ... on the bed, in the corner in the bedroom, and on the chair out the back - all present and accounted for. They certainly have a routine for wet weather - I'd like to have one too, although I suppose going to work is a routine of sorts. I wasn't the only one there today who would have preferred to have been at home instead, curled up on the couch with a significant other and watching horror or science fiction movies or maybe even a rom-com (if it had to be) and a bucket of popcorn and a nice long drink of something yummy. Maybe that could be the plan if it's still raining tomorrow ... after we've taken Pearl out for breakfast and after we're been in to Pacific Fair - I can't believe it's been a month since my last haircut!
S saw some wonderful birdlife hanging out on the fence near the kitchen this afternoon. At first she saw one that was like a budgie but a bit bigger, yellow and blue. It was joined by another which had red around its head. Before she could take a photograph, they flew off. She was telling me about them as we watched a magnificent Kookaburra sitting at almost the same spot - which also flew away before we could get the camera out.
It was an afternoon for photography opportunities - as I was driving in to the Valley with the fog shrouding the surrounding hills, it looked so open and clear (surprisingly as it was raining) and looked so different I really did want to take a shot, but didn't want to pull over onto the shoulder fear that with everything so wet, Lars might bog. And sometimes the shot will only work from the one spot - so not to be ... this time.
The big Gold Coast news is that mayor-elect Tom Tate wants four more casinos in the area, and it looks like Jamie Packer will be offered first refusal. You wouldn't have thought the area could support that many gambling establishments but maybe they're planning on a fillip from the G20 Conference mooted for Brisbane in 2014 or the 2018 Commonwealth Games. You'd have to be concerned about ongoing viability after those events. And it would be interesting to know what non-competition period the Jupiters folk signed up for way back when!
The rain certainly isn't welcome news for the folks doing the Kokoda Challenge this weekend. As Sy said when she called this evening, saying she is doing support crew but she will have some spare time tomorrow for a cup of tea with us, the rain is worse than last year and will have the creeks full and difficult to ford and have turned everything to a muddy slush to make things especially slippery. S suggested that in the name of safety, they could call it off and reschedule - but we have a feeling that's not going to happen. But we'll certainly be thinking of those folks trudging through the bush throughout the weekend.
Well, I did call into the Post Office again today, thinking it would be lovely if my new stylus had arrived (ordered late Wednesday night so it was a fairly big ask!) and I was stunned to open the post box ... and there it was! Sooz thinks it's weird - it has a pivoting disk at the nib - but it is accurate and lets you write with a point rather than the usual conductive stylus "sponge"! For me, it's as big a leap forward with the iPad as was the introduction of "cut and paste” on the iPhone.
My work day was spent going through documentation provided by subcontractors in support of their claims, and what is usually a painstaking and slightly repetitive job was lightened when I found someone had labelled their Greenhouse and Energy Reporting - Subcontractor Monthly Report as “Vital, planet saving document”. That’s the spirit!
Tink was odd this evening. She wouldn't come in for her dinner at first, and then, when she did, she was spooked by Maggie and took herself back outside again. Hopefully she'll be hungry enough to come in and eat, but she'll be missing out on her insulin shot tonight - it's too late now so we'll have to pick her up again in the morning. Maybe she'll be in a more cooperative frame of mind then.
S saw some wonderful birdlife hanging out on the fence near the kitchen this afternoon. At first she saw one that was like a budgie but a bit bigger, yellow and blue. It was joined by another which had red around its head. Before she could take a photograph, they flew off. She was telling me about them as we watched a magnificent Kookaburra sitting at almost the same spot - which also flew away before we could get the camera out.
It was an afternoon for photography opportunities - as I was driving in to the Valley with the fog shrouding the surrounding hills, it looked so open and clear (surprisingly as it was raining) and looked so different I really did want to take a shot, but didn't want to pull over onto the shoulder fear that with everything so wet, Lars might bog. And sometimes the shot will only work from the one spot - so not to be ... this time.
The big Gold Coast news is that mayor-elect Tom Tate wants four more casinos in the area, and it looks like Jamie Packer will be offered first refusal. You wouldn't have thought the area could support that many gambling establishments but maybe they're planning on a fillip from the G20 Conference mooted for Brisbane in 2014 or the 2018 Commonwealth Games. You'd have to be concerned about ongoing viability after those events. And it would be interesting to know what non-competition period the Jupiters folk signed up for way back when!
The rain certainly isn't welcome news for the folks doing the Kokoda Challenge this weekend. As Sy said when she called this evening, saying she is doing support crew but she will have some spare time tomorrow for a cup of tea with us, the rain is worse than last year and will have the creeks full and difficult to ford and have turned everything to a muddy slush to make things especially slippery. S suggested that in the name of safety, they could call it off and reschedule - but we have a feeling that's not going to happen. But we'll certainly be thinking of those folks trudging through the bush throughout the weekend.
Well, I did call into the Post Office again today, thinking it would be lovely if my new stylus had arrived (ordered late Wednesday night so it was a fairly big ask!) and I was stunned to open the post box ... and there it was! Sooz thinks it's weird - it has a pivoting disk at the nib - but it is accurate and lets you write with a point rather than the usual conductive stylus "sponge"! For me, it's as big a leap forward with the iPad as was the introduction of "cut and paste” on the iPhone.
My work day was spent going through documentation provided by subcontractors in support of their claims, and what is usually a painstaking and slightly repetitive job was lightened when I found someone had labelled their Greenhouse and Energy Reporting - Subcontractor Monthly Report as “Vital, planet saving document”. That’s the spirit!
Tink was odd this evening. She wouldn't come in for her dinner at first, and then, when she did, she was spooked by Maggie and took herself back outside again. Hopefully she'll be hungry enough to come in and eat, but she'll be missing out on her insulin shot tonight - it's too late now so we'll have to pick her up again in the morning. Maybe she'll be in a more cooperative frame of mind then.
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