Grumpy.

And at the risk of opening another can of worms let me talk about Bridgerton. For those who don't know (or care - and I fully understand that sentiment) it is an "historical" romance based on some book or other. I don't have a problem with this. I loved historical romances as a kid. Georgette Heyer and her ilk who actually researched their subjects.

The issue I have with Bridgerton is that I can see history being inadvertently rewritten. Yes, those of us with a brain cell or two and some knowledge of British history will realise this is just a story. But there is a generation who don't know about literary licence. Who believe what they see and don't think to question. I am waiting for someone studying this period in history (and it is a significant one) to describe Queen Charlotte as black and to argue that the landed gentry of the time included people of all ethnic backgrounds. How lovely it would have been if that were indeed the case, but it wasn't. I think my issue is using actual historical figures in fiction that is far from the truth. This is when lines get blurred.

Anyway, if that is all I have to get my knickers in a knot over I can count myself lucky!

The council saga is still ongoing as they are asking for more documentation. We think we have provided it but the next couple of days will tell. 

It appears the house behind us is illegally discharging storm water which runs down onto our block. We are getting Agi pipes installed at the back of our property to mitigate this and the builder will put them along the cut line but it would be really helpful if this discharge outlet was removed. How to approach this? Veeeeerrrrrry carefully. The lady of said house is very prickly!

I went to coffee group this afternoon. There were two of us! I guess the miserable weather kept most away but I hope it doesn't fizzle out. They are a lovely bunch and my only source of social outlet at the moment.

I rang the doctors' this morning to make an appointment for Himself to have a follow up after the ultrasound on his shoulder last week and for me to get a new script for my anti-depressants. I got an appointment straight away and was very happy with the doctor I saw so I hope I can continue to see him. 

When I arrived there was a young father holding his wee daughter on his lap. They were both asleep. I wish I could have taken a photo. It spoke volumes. Sick child and exhausted parent.

Today was wet and cold as I expected it to be after packing my winter gear away! I am not fazed as next Monday will be sunny with a top of 23*C. 

And even when it's cold and wet it is still bloody magic!

Bloody magic!

This was my "bloody magic" photo for Three this morning. He said it looked like a painting.

 I can't remember if I have explained "bloody magic". On a glorious day as we walk the dogs Himself raises his hands and says "this is bloody magic". I told Three and it has become a daily thing between us.

The council emailed Himself and we should get our permit by the end of the week. The next issue will be the driveway and crossover as they want us to apply for a permit for that but need information we don't have like who will be doing the work. Considering that is one of the last things to be done we can't really employ a concreter for a job that may be 12 months down the track.

Jinx went back to the vet this morning. He nether region is still ulcerated so she is back on a long course of antibiotics and we will go back in three weeks to see if there is a change. If not I guess we will have to look at plan B, whatever that is. Even if surgery is necessary I can't see anyone wanting to operate on an area that is sore and weeping.

Today I unboxed most of my summer clothes and boxed up my heaviest winter clothes. Spring officially starts on Friday after all. 

And I will leave you with this because there is nothing more joyous than a happy dog running towards you ...

Trigger warning - not sure what but just in case

Yesterday was another same old sort of a day. 

I really want to learn how to remember to use my Canon camera so I can take better photos. Still, these aren't too bad. Biggerise for better images.

Getting ready to fly ...

I love how the water is so clear you can see their paws feet.

These next three are taken through the wires of the barrier fencing but give you an idea of the landscaping and structures in the new area we have watched being created. The plants are all indigenous and the artist has designed the landscaping to represent the 5 clans and incorporates the mountains, the plains, the lakes and the sea.

I just love the ripples in the water. Every day is different.

Yesterday Himself sent an email to the council asking when we could expect to receive the invoice for the planning permit. Strike me pink, the person replied ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON and said she would get it arranged this morning. And said that their engineers had "responded with consent based on conditions to be placed on the permit".

We duly received and paid the required fee and are now on tenterhooks waiting to find out what the conditions are but hopeful they are standard stuff and won't require any major changes to our build. If this is the case and we can get to contract signing asap, as we seem to have addressed all those issues, we should - if the planets align, the gods are kind and the winds don't change - be able to expect a build to start within a couple of months. Seeing as we are then going into the heaviest period for public holidays I really hope we will be able to move without having to take on another lease.

Today was the ubiquitous visit to the block (twice) and walk with the dogs. We also went to the 3 o'clock club (the group of doggy people who meet every day at 3pm). 

I went to the chemist to get scripts filled and somehow I am missing my anti-depressant repeat. The pharmacist was able to fill it from an e-script but I need to get another script within the month. This is the one script I CANNOT miss. Two days without taking it and life gets very weird and unpretty. Somewhere there has been a mix-up and I am not even going to attempt to contact our previous chemist. Lovely people but couldn't arrange a piss up in a brewery and lost so many scripts. 

Speaking of "unpretty", how crazy are certain parts of society getting? People aren't dying or dead - they are unalive. Words like drugs and sex and lord knows how many others that might cause offence to someone have letters ****'d out. I know what you are saying, you know what you are saying, pretending you aren't saying it doesn't make it unsaid. Trigger warnings everywhere. 

And at the risk of causing further offence my current pet hate which I see in our mainstream media is the term "Australians (or people) with a uterus" as opposed to "females". I don't have a uterus anymore. What does that make me?

Getting a little closer.

I didn't write anything yesterday because it was just another day in paradise. Beautiful sunny skies, long walk, chatting with new neighbours, a donut for a very late breakfast, good coffee, pizza for dinner ... you get the drift!

This, though, has made my blood boil. If you can't follow the link google "Tyler Sullivan, baby faced rapist". In short he, when he was 20, groomed an 11 year old girl on line, travelled across Melbourne and raped her in her own bedroom when she had not long turned 12. The judge gave him a joke of a sentence because he was concerned that his baby face would set him up as a target in an adult prison. Oh, and he pulled every mental health card he could. And before anyone asks why the child was on line, the mother thought she was communicating on a safe site with friends. These bastards can sneak in anywhere.

On a brighter note, we went to see our original sales consultant today as a result of a series of questions Himself had asked our pre-site manager. She (the PSM) basically co-ordinates everything as the contracts get drawn up but Himself's questions were getting a bit confusing so she handballed us back to the sales guy who has an engineering background and was able to explain everything. People need to realise that just because they understand their industry jargon and policies the majority of us don't speak the same language!

There was only one thing that was an actual variance - we found out that the gas supplier to our area is charging new customers nigh on $3,000 to connect the gas that is already on the estate to the building so we said "no thankyou" to the gas hot water and will go all electric. 

We also found out that for some reason best known to the council or the estate developer or whoever our boundary doesn't actually start at the footpath but quite a few centimetres (up to a metre - it's on an angle) which means that isn't our land and any driveway would need council approval. Looking at other houses in the street we realise this seems to be the case as their driveways start from quite a way up from the footpath. The crossover extends to the beginning of the driveway which isn't going to work for us as we wanted other than plain grey concrete. Himself will go to the council offices on Monday and see if he can get approval to do the exposed aggregate on "their" land and if we can't we will just go plain grey for the whole driveway. It seems that whoever built the footpath didn't take into account the boundary pegs and made it further away. We are the last house to have this as the rest of them all have boundary pegs on the footpath boundary.

Confused, yet? Hopefully the contract signing is only a couple of weeks away and the council permit will be forthcoming as well.

It has turned chilly and damp today. Time to pour a scotch and warm up.

Getting there.

See all the fresh flowers and foliage scattered across the pavement? That, folks, is what a few bloody cockatoos can do in the blink of an eye. Imagine what damage a large flock can do over half an hour or so.

Jinx in her new collar. She doesn't seem to mind it but we still need to see if it stops her licking.

 Another lovely sunny day. T-shirt weather. I am so screwed when it gets really hot!

We did the usual run up the block and walk along the foreshore. I bought Himself an early father's day present from the dogs. It is a small (about 170cm) replica of a rusty windmill one sees on properties for pumping water. This isn't it but near enough ...

We had both been eyeing it off with the idea of putting in the front garden in the new place. We get a lot of wind!

We then had sushi for a late lunch sitting overlooking the water. 

The new installation is coming along really well. We will miss seeing Alfie when it's finished. He is quite the character and so proud of his work - as he should be. I can't wait to show you the end result. He has planned the plantings to represent the 5 clans and the land they inhabit from the mountains, through the lakes to the sea.

We are getting closer to contract signing with little issues being addressed and resolved.

Last night I spat the dummy and ripped out the sock I was knitting and started again. I had forgotten how to do a long-tail cast on. Google to the rescue and I think I found my rhythm. Now I need to do the first couple of rows of rib before joining in the round. If this attempt doesn't work I shall donate the existing sock to someone with one leg.

I have found my swift and winder. I think my needles are tucked away in a pouch somewhere. I found a candlewicking project I started many years ago (prompted by Boud's post on Hardanger which triggered the memory but not the name and sent me in search of the boxes containing the stuff I have done so far).

The bike is still unridden.

Paradise

I went to coffee group and had a wonderful time. I am feeling like I fit in.

Afterwards I was on the phone to the Mermaid and pulled into a car park at the bottom of the hill as I lose reception as I drive up the hill. This was my view as I sat and chatted to her. Swans and Pelicans glided past. A small boat putt-putted past. It was just so lovely and peaceful.

I told her our house was going to be sold and suggested she buy it! She would have enough left to buy a small one bedroom apartment somewhere in Melbourne as a place to stay and she could even rent it out as an air BnB. She won't, though.

I got the paperwork from the agent today saying the house is going on the market. I am not sure what the marketing strategy will be but we can be compensated for opens for inspection. I am a bit edgy about the timing of this but worrying won't fix it so I shall just wait until we get more information before deciding whether to look for another lease. I really don't want to as this house is perfect and moving twice will be a pain and breaking a lease could be costly if our house gets finished before a new lease expires. Oh, the joys of renting. I don't know how Three does it.

I need to unpick some knitting but the evening light is poor and my close vision isn't good and once again, I have left it too late in the day and the sun has set. I went to start another project but realised I needed to wind the wool and I am not sure where my ball winder and swift are. So I thought I would work on a jumper that I started for Himself (last year, hush) but I don't know where the needles are. 

I can see some time spent in the garage tomorrow trying to find things.

I might even get out on the bike.

Wet

I wrote a big whinge about living with a deaf/hard of hearing person yesterday and then deleted it.

I will say, though, that it is becoming more isolating as I know that I will have to repeat what I say so often don't bother saying anything and casual conversation is becoming less and less frequent. He won't wear his hearing aids and I think his standard response to me saying anything is "sorry what?" even before he has processed what I have actually said.

Does anyone else living with a deaf partner find these things happening?

We have started taking the dogs up to the block for a good run before we walk them. The idea is to make them less pully on the leads. The jury is out on how successful this actually is! Yesterday we met Joanne who's build has already started. She is a lovely woman who is also renting in Lakes. Her process has been going on for two years so we really can't complain about 6 months. She is also a mine of information and has given us some great tips.

Last night around 9.00pm Himself got an email from the council regarding our permit application and this morning he woke to another one from another person in the same council requesting more information. Information that we are pretty certain they already have. Of course, this person only works Mon, Wed and Fri so he will wait until tomorrow to endeavour to speak with him/her (the name doesn't give us a clue to gender). On the plus side, though, things are happening!!

** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

Well, our council person must be working from home because they responded to Himself's email saying he thought he had submitted the report they were looking for and we have been moved to the next person in the line of box tickers.

It was a glorious sunny day and we took the dogs up to the block for their run. Himself got to talking to the chap doing Jo's slab and he said he will be doing ours as well. He also gave Himself some tips on the crossover which we have to arrange ourselves. This is a crossover for those who use another terminology:

It connects the road with the driveway.

After we had been to the block we went to the foreshore and walked across the bridge to see the installation I talked about the other day. The five poles representing the five clans of the Gunaikurnai tribe are up and they were doing the planting. We got to chatting to one of the blokes who turned out to be the artist who designed the pelican, canoe and duck chair and is involved in the whole project. I said I would like to learn more and he gave me a booklet which contains so much information about the five clans and the meaning Country has for the people. It is the plan they have to adhere to as they go about implementing all the works they are doing.

If you go to glawac.com.au you can find out a lot more. The link to the booklet came from that site and the bloke on the cover of the booklet doing the smoking ceremony is Alfie Hudson, the chap we met today. The Bush Cafe is just up the road from us and I can't wait to take Three there when he comes down to collect Sally after her holiday with us in September I might see if I can persuade Himself to check it out sooner!

After a glorious sunny morning it is now bucketing down and we have had thunderbolts and lightning (very, very frightening, me).

And because I now have that stuck in my head I shall share the magic with you!

Sharing

Last night was interesting! We joined the club - $10 each per year, half of which goes to the sporting club of your choice; we chose the surf life saving club and you get discounted prices on food and drink so if you go there often enough you will certainly get your membership back.

I had the roast of the day which was pork and it was lovely. Huge serving with veges, gravy and crispy crackling. Himself had duck hoisin noodles. Again a large serving.

Now, I am used to going to Chinese restaurants and sharing dishes with everyone else at the table and eating out of bowls. I was interested to see what the serving preference was like here. The table next to us ordered two sizzling platters (the food was brought to the table in a bowl with the sizzling platter and then put on the platter before placing on the table. Not seen that before). The rice was served in a mound on a plate - think unmoulded from a bowl. One of the diners fetched 3 plates from somewhere and 3 shared the two platters and the mound of fried rice. Another member of the same group had lemon chicken but ate hers from her own plate and didn't share and the final member had good old fish and chips! The food looked good but I think we will get it to take away so we can share it out and eat out of bowls. I felt I had gone back 50 years when Chinese restaurants were new and people were used to the western way of eating out, ie each orders their own meal and consumes only that meal. 

After dinner we threw some money at the pokies and came away a little bit poorer but had a great time.

We will go back.

I stayed up way too late reading posts in a variety of facebook groups I have joined relating to our builder. Not many were positive but that's not what facebook is about, is it? Once I read between the lines (and stopped yelling at the screen that they should have read their bloody contract) the issues were not unique to our builder.

As a result I slept in this morning. Really slept in. I just couldn't see the point of getting up, to be honest.

We took the dogs to the block for a really good run then for a walk along the waterfront with a coffee in the middle. Back home and I spent a good amount of time looking for a more comfortable collar to stop Jinx glooping (as we call her constant licking). I have ordered something similar to this

which will be more comfortable for her and let her drink. The current cone is too hard and she can't get her head near her water bowl. If this works then I am happy to have her in it as often as necessary.

Tomorrow we shall go to the block, walk the dogs and then, who knows. Himself wants to rig up a better restraining system for the dogs in the back of his car which will require a visit to a hardware shop. I might look at buying some pots and potting mix to get ready to plant veges when it warms up a bit more. Maybe a trip to Bairnsdale so we can go to Bunnings.

Random bits

It was so windy today I reckon you could have almost surfed on the lake today!!

If you know, you know ...

I am sure it would be lovely, but why? Just why?

 

Himself has gone to join us up. You get discounted food and drinks, the menu looks pretty good and it seems to be the only place you can get Chinese food in Lakes at the moment. Plus they have pokies and I might need to adopt Andrew's get rich quick strategy and invest some money. I think we will be having dinner there tonight.

FFFFFFFreezing

It is bitterly cold today. It is also wet and windy. I am not complaining about the rain as we desperately need it and I like the sound of the wind but the cold gets into your bones.

We didn't walk today but took the dogs up to the block between showers for a good run.

I was going to bake a loaf of bread but we have half a loaf of Aldi bread that I don't want to waste so maybe tomorrow. Himself has made a spag bol for dinner. It is certainly comfort food weather. I should break out the slow cooker and make a casserole. 

I had also planned to dig out the large loom but it's in the garage behind a whole lot of stuff and just ... meh.

The knitting is sitting on the coffee table which is better than in my tub of projects. I might even open the bag and take it out and look at it later!

Jinx's nether regions seem to be improving after two nights of the cone of shame. She still yelps when I clean her but I am keeping everything crossed we can avoid the surgery.

And that, folks is the thrilling day we have had. Don't know why I bothered to write anything, really!!      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Love where I live

Andrew asked what the postie was delivering yesterday morning that wasn't a pair of white runners (they belonged to someone else!). It was this ...

Our house gets very cold. I think it's the combination of a concrete slab and lots of tiles and no sun getting into the living area. This is a happy hoodie (a knock off of Oodies and much cheaper). I bought one with cats on as a bit of a joke and Himself loved it. I then decided that I was getting bloody cold, too, so I bought him this one in a tradie fluro colour and I have taken the cat one. They are very warm and light to wear. I thought I would hate it but, no. This is from their website, sadly, not Himself modelling it.

This morning we did another really long walk along the waterfront and here are some photos for your viewing pleasure. Biggerise the photos for the best affect.

It gets quite warm when the sun is out.

I am not sure what this bird is but it was pretty cool.

Our ubiquitous black swans. I believe swans mate for life and the dappled ones would be from last year's hatchings. Teenagers if you like. Not sure if this is mum or dad but whichever the partner wasn't far away catching things to eat.

The constant changing shore line is always a delight. I love the patterns the water has made in the sand.

A honeyeater having a whale of a time in a native bush

And the noisy, destructive sulphur crested cockatoos. This is only a small part of the flock as they flew away from us. You can see the yellow tinge to their feathers. They look amazing in flight but I still loathe them. The damage they cause is devastating.

We stopped to chat to a bloke who was working on this installation. The seat mentioned is at the other end of the bridge in the above photo but still has fencing around it while they finish it. It will be amazing and I can't wait to see the shields when they go up. They are currently installing the totem posts they will be place on. This gives a more detailed explanation including the artists impression of the area they are currently working on. Sadly funding is still needed for stages 2 - 4.

It was a very long walk and by the end my hips, knees and back were not happy but my brain was so all good.

Last night we put Jinx in the cone of shame as it seems she licks at herself during the night. We will do it again tonight. I hope she breaks the habit soon.

It is getting cooler so time to don my happy hoodie and burrow in for the night.
 

Better

This morning I woke to Jinx barking (she growls and barks through the night which is bloody annoying but this was a different bark). I went to see why and there at the front door was the postie. Great. It was a parcel that needed signing for so there I was in my nightie trying not to show him more than he really needed or wanted to see, signed and retreated back to bed. I was expecting a delivery but this didn't seem to be it. I opened it anyway and there was a pair of shoes. Oh well, I thought, I must have bought these for Himself and forgotten about it. Knock knock knock on the front door. Postie again. Turned out the parcel I WAS expecting was still in his truck and the one I had opened was for same number different street. Whoops. In my defence the print on the label was really small. I hope the recipient enjoys their shoes and postie didn't get into trouble.

I was still feeling a bit flat and glum when I got up but agreed to go for a walk with Himself and the hoonds. Best decision ever. Having a day off yesterday seemed to make my hips much happier and we did a long walk in the glorious but chilly sunshine. Lots of people commented on the dogs and they got lots of pats and we had some pleasant conversations. Three rang and we have worked out when Sally will come to visit and I might get some extra Three time if he comes to pick her up as well as drop her off. 

After the walk we went to the block and I got Himself to drop me off at the coffee group. I am so glad I went. I had a great time and the women were just lovely. Because I didn't have my car he had to come and pick me up and we did another drive by of the block! It will be a while before we see any action but lots is happening on other blocks and it gives us hope - and I do love the view.

It was probably a combination of the support from you lot (reading blogs and the comments on this are part of my morning ritual), the long sunny walk and catching up with the coffee group but I came home feeling much brighter.

Dinner tonight is a mix of Indian treats from Aldi. Onion and spinach are in there somewhere so that will be my nod to veges!

Here's to another good day tomorrow. 

SAD

Well it looks as if the past 6 months have well and truly caught up with me.

I am feeling rudderless. I keep crying for no reason which really upsets Himself as he doesn't like to see me sad but there is nothing he nor I can do to fix something with no obvious cause.

I saw the new GP yesterday. I forgot to take important paperwork with me, couldn't remember the names of my medications or dates of procedures and must have come across as a total nuff nuff. Oh well. I will be better next time! Assuming he is there, of course. He is a locum and spends his time filling in for country practices all over Australia. We had a chat about why it is so hard to find doctors for rural populations and it all comes down to our new doctors not being properly trained to be able to practice in a small town so they lack confidence. In the old days family doctors did a bit of everything. These days everything is a speciality and a GP is basically a referral service. It does explain why we can't get doctors in the country but it doesn't bode well for the future as the old family type doctors who can do a bit of everything continue to retire.

While I was writing this Himself got a call from the builders with a final quote. It is better than we dreaded and means we are nearly at contract signing. We will go through the figures line by line just to make sure nothing has been missed but it looks as if we won't have to change anything to save a buck or two.

Next hurdle will be the council permit. I am hoping they won't take too long.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I wrote that this morning.

We have gone through the contract draft and apart from a couple of things that need minor clarification it all seems good to go. There will probably been some extra costs that can't be included at the moment that will depend on third parties like connection to the NBN and the like. 

Himself walked the dogs but I stayed home. I just wasn't up to it.

Tomorrow is coffee group. I will probably go as it is someone to talk to but I really need to make some friends. It reminds me of when we first moved to Langwarrin and how desperately lonely I was. The craft group changed that. I have had a look at the local U3A and there are certainly some groups I would be interested in and I will suss them out a bit more.

Don't get me wrong. This is such a friendly place and I am not sorry we moved - I just need to find my feet and my people. And I do miss Three and his lot and knowing that a couple of good friends were only a call away for a coffee. 

I think I may be affected by SAD which is crazy as autumn and winter are my favourite times of the year! August always seems to see me down and discombobulated.

I did pull out my knitting bag. I might even work on a sock tonight!

I apologise for the constant whingeing but it helps to put thoughts and feelings into words and brings things into perspective.

Better

Today was a better day.

We took the dogs for a walk up to the lookout. On the way back we met a woman pruning a vicious bougainvillea in her front garden. Himself offered to lend her his large shears so he took the dogs home and I was shown around her back garden. He returned, still with the dogs, gave her the shears and we took the dogs down for a walk along the waterfront. Then up to the block where they had a really good run on the vacant blocks and said hello to the dogs behind us.

The Mermaid rang for a chat - she's bored and lonely but still won't consider moving down here!

A trip to Aldi to buy some books for my collection for the grandkids, Woolies for hamburger makings and back home to waste time on the computer.

It is now cold and dark and I am having a scotch (and raising my glass to Andrew in memory of his mum who died very recently). It doesn't matter how old we get or how old and difficult our parents become, they are still our parents and we grieve when they go. Sometimes, the more complicated the relationship was the harder the grieving process becomes.

Tomorrow we both have our first appointment at the medical clinic here. We will be seeing a locum but the main thing is to get on their system so we can see a doctor when we need to (or at least within 3 or 4 weeks of needing to!).

My plans to bake, weave, knit, crochet and ride my bike are still gurgling away in the recesses of my brain. They will happen.

Flat

I think the past six months have finally caught up with  me. 

I am feeling extremely flat. 

I am also feeling the cold which is most unlike me and usually an indication I am unwell. I thought I might have caught Henry's bug - nothing like an 8 month old for sharing germs - but I think it is more of an existential malaise. 

I am certainly struggling to find joy at the moment, in spite of living in paradise. 

I will be fine. This happens to me more than I wish it did and it usually occurs after episodes of considerable upheaval - and I think that is a reasonable description of my life of late!

Himself has managed to assemble my bike. This just adds to the pressure as the expectation is that I will ride it tomorrow when I would prefer to just wait until the mood strikes. When I am like this I need to be left alone but in this household that is not going to happen.

I shouldn't whinge.

I am blessed.

Jinx

You may remember a while ago we had Jinx at the vet with problems with her nether regions. She was put on antibiotics and steroids and the issue cleared up. 

When I got home on Wednesday night I checked and all looked good. The Mermaid commented that someone had been licking a lot overnight when she stayed on Wednesday (the dogs chose her company over ours!) and when I had a look yesterday she was red again.

We took her back to the vet this morning and it appears that she actually has a physical malformation which means when she wees moisture stays in the area and causes problems. We knew this was a possibility from our old vet when this first started early this year. The solution is very expensive surgery which, of course, we will do if we have to but we are going to try some basic interventions like regular cleaning the area, washing it with a betadine solution and applying the numbing cream. And the cone of shame overnight to stop her licking. She doesn't lick during the day and if she looks like she might we stop her.

We go back to see the vet in three weeks and hopefully we will be able to break the licking cycle.

After the vet we took the dogs for a good long walk along the beach and a bit of a swim in the lake (them not us!). I wasn't sure how they would take to the water but they seem to be working out what they are meant to do in it.

While we were walking a chap on a bike stopped for a pat and a chat. Turns out he is a local bus driver who carries his bike in his bus and whenever he has a break he uses the bike to ride for exercise. We had a good chat about bikes and Himself tackled assembling the ebike I bought before we left Langwarrin. Instructions are never easy and he almost had it done but now he can't fit the mud guard so he will have to see where he went wrong tomorrow! Then I will have to see if I can remember how to ride a bike as well as learn how to manage the heavy frame and use the power assistance. That will be mainly for getting up hills.

Now I am off to google German Shepherd vulvas.

I'm BAAAACK!

What a week and a bit it has been.

The Mermaid arrived on Tuesday afternoon. We took her to see the block (obligatory), took her to the 3 o'clock dog group, had fish and chips for dinner (another obligatory activity) and we set off on Wednesday morning after (you guessed it) doughnuts and coffee.

The drive on the first day was brilliant. We drove East up the coast to Cann River where we turned left onto the Monaro highway and over the mountains to Cooma where we stopped for lunch and a bit of a walk to stretch our legs. The countryside was glorious and the weather was perfect. We kept going, bypassing Canberra's southern suburbs, onto the Federal Highway and thus to Goulburn where I had booked an inexpensive but quite adequate room for the night. The chap that booked us in was the spitting image of One, right down to the way he spoke. I asked for a recommendation for dinner ... "Well, I'm Australian and you can't go past a fucking pub and a bloody good steak!" The pub was, indeed, very good. Busy with an open fire and great food.

The next morning we had planned to mosey around Goulburn, have a coffee and fill the car. It was bloody freezing - we had to wait for the ice to melt off the windscreen - so we skipped the coffee and hit the road. 

An hour or so down the freeway my car kindly informed me that I had insufficient fuel! I had about 48kms left in my tank. Fortunately we had hit the outskirts of Sydney and my GPS found me a petrol station and we rectified our lapse of memory on leaving Goulburn (I blame the freezing temps). Thank god it didn't happen earlier or I would have learned how my Hyundai roadside assist works.

I dropped The Mermaid off at her mother's place without further incident and made my way to Two's place. 

It was lovely seeing them all and we did some fun things. In no particular order: Two reminded me how to use a camera (we couldn't use mine because I hadn't been able to find the battery charger - I have since bought one). I went to Audrey's 100 days of school celebrations, her gymnastics and her footy game (I use that term very loosely - one kid seemed more intent on finding out how many spinny whizzies he could do before falling over with no idea of where the ball was or interest in it if it came anywhere near him and the rest of the team were just as hilarious to watch!) We had lunch out a couple of times. We went to the beach and the girls played in the sand. We went to a water park and Granny was in charge of paddling only and failed miserably at that task - thank goodness there was an old towel in the back of the car. The girls and I did lots of craft activities. I got lots of baby cuddles from 8 month old Henry. 

The downside was how appalling behaved the girls are. "NO" and "I don't want to" seemed the default response to any question or request. Throwing things, kicking, biting, screaming tantrums, etc happened every day several times a day. Mads did warn me that they were trying to bring this behaviour under control by not reacting to it. I do think they are trying but I did see some examples of how and why the whole thing has got so bad. It was very hard to stay out of it all and a couple of times I was able to get the girls to calm down by distracting them. Henry was unwell while I was there with a fever and a runny nose so he also contributed to the general level of chaos.

I have been invited to go up in November for a couple of birthdays and if I can manage it I will. Partly to see the kids for the birthdays and also to see if they have managed to bring some order back into their lives.

I think they could do with some family counselling as it is more than just children misbehaving and a lot is down to their parenting style but not my kids, not my business. It was very sad to see, though. Nobody was really happy.

I picked The Mermaid up on Tuesday morning and we left Sydney via the harbour tunnel and I was very proud of myself for braving the traffic and negotiating the roads. I did get slightly lost at one point even with my trusty GPS but we got back on track and had a lovely drive down the south coast stopping for lunch at Bulli.

We stayed the night at Narooma in another inexpensive but comfortable motel. We mosied down to the pub, had a couple of drinks in the bar and then had dinner in the bistro. Another excellent country pub with another open fire and the best pork knuckle I have ever had. The Mermaid had a fish pie which she declared the best she had ever had.

Yesterday morning we filled the car up (not making the same mistake twice in one trip!), had breakfast and hit the road. It was a long drive through some beautiful country. My mistake was having breakfast before leaving. If we had waited for an hour or so we could have had brunch in a country town and a proper break. As it was I drove for nearly 6 hours which was bloody stupid. By the time I realised I needed a break we were in an area with no towns in which to stop so we pushed on until we got home.

Last night we went to our local pub to celebrate the Mermaid's birthday (Monday). We had a lovely meal and came home for a bit more of a chat before I couldn't stay awake any longer.

This morning the Mermaid left for home after a cuppa. Himself and I attempted to walk the dogs but the rain and the wind beat us.

We went into Bairnsdale to have a look at window coverings as we have decided we don't like what we have chosen. We bought some artificial plants to replace the live ones the cats keep eating, a new printer and signed up for solar panels on the new build (whenever that happens!).

A late lunch and a proper walk with the dogs (still bloody cold but I'd rather be here than anywhere else) and I am now chatting to you with a scotch and soda. 

Lamb backstraps for dinner (I missed Himself's cooking) and life is slowly returning to normal.

We have been here nearly seven weeks and it feels a lot longer. I am over the moon that I have no trips planned for another seven weeks when, at the end of September, I will be returning Sally home after a holiday with us and then attending the Mermaid's daughter's wedding. 

I want to feel that Lake's is well and truly home.