Bits and bobs

Because you can't have too much of Max the Magnificent ... 

... he does love being outdoors. Nothing like a good roll on warm ground and an explore through the garden. If I leave him out it's not long before he's at the door demanding to be let back in. I would NEVER allow him out unsupervised, just so you know, but if I go out and come back in he's not far behind me. Of course that could change ... he is a cat after all ... and if it happens that he even thinks about expanding his domain then he will be firmly advised of the error of his ways.

I finished the top I was knitting for the Mermaid. I hope she likes it.

Yesterday it bucketed down. Our wonderful landscaper made a trip out in the rain to see how the drainage was holding up. I think we got the tick of approval. He is also happy with the way the grass has taken off so Himself gets a tick of approval there because he put a lot of work into it. 

We received an email from the property manager of the rental saying she is waiting on a copy of the report from the local carpet company. Himself went down to said company seeking a copy and ... surprise, surprise ... they don't do reports, just quotes. And not room by room as we were told but for the whole house. I was at the supermarket this morning and bumped into our old neighbour who gave me the email address for the landlord's ex husband who might be able to shed some light onto the state of the carpet when he moved out. I just need to compose an email to him and hopefully he will be happy to help us (she apparantly did the dirty on him financially so there is no love lost there).

This morning I had coffee with a very dapper looking gentleman who has driven down from Melbourne for a wee break at the seaside. It is always lovely meeting internet friends in the flesh.

The year is racing to a close. Even though we don't do anything at Christmas I am still arranging a few presents to get to family and couple of friends and hopefully Three will be able to come down for a few days after Christmas. I have no idea when I will see One and his lot. The Mermaid will come down I am sure - I just hope it's not at the same time as Three! I had said I would try to get up to see Two but it's hot and humid on the Central Coast at the moment so I think I will wait until Autumn for that visit. 

At the beginning of October I decided to take myself in hand and do something about the ever increasing waist line and restarted the Fast 800 program with which I had some success a few years ago. The weight loss must be showing because a few people have commented on my new hair cut - which isn't! Obviously I must look different and they can't quite work out why. I am feeling better in myself so will keep going. And the withdrawals from the anti-depressants are just about gone, thank goodness. That was a bit of a torrid time.

Time to start prepping dinner and then it will be gin o'clock.

A story

When I was a kidlet I remember being given a series of pictures and being tasked with making a story about them.

For your edification I give you the following ...*

 *No animals were harmed in the taking of these pictures but sensibilities might have been offended!

Max and Murphy really are very good mates.

More random photos and an update.

Where does the time go? I didn't realise how long it has been (again). Thank you Angela for the message.

In no particular order ....

 First up my gin collection. The numbers vary as bottles get drunk and others arrive.

The local authorities have built an amazing playground on the foreshore. It includes a wonderful water play area. I think it's meant for human kids but someone's four legged kid had a ball ...

I can't wait until Sally and Alice come down over summer.  They will love this ... especially Alice.

Part of my walk in pantry (the builder called it a butler's pantry but I don't have a butler and it doesn't have a sink so as far as I am concerned it's a walk in pantry - technically a walk through, I suppose, as we can access it from the garage). To the left is a cupboard with shelves that slide out when you open the door and holds all sorts of things that I really need to sort through like spices and tins of stuff and pasta and rice and all that paraphernalia! To the right is the kettle and toaster and teas and coffee and sugar. And biscuits although as fast as I bake them Himself eats them. I'll take a photo one day.

I had this bright idea of weaving with fabric. It involved cutting a jelly roll (precut strips meant for quilting) in half, stitching the pieces together into one long strip, folding the ends in and stitching thus making one long piece. 

I won't give up but it is not bringing me joy and is taking a lot longer than I thought. 

Someone posted on the local facebook page that she had tomato plants. She grows an incredible amount of heirloom and other varieties from seed and brought them up from her home. People who had said they would buy didn't turn up so I got a dozen seedlings for $30. She also gave me some great advice on how to grow them (it's all about the soil) and said I could contact her at any time if I had any issues. Love living in the country!!

The dogs love living here, too.

This popped up on Facebook. As I have weaned myself off my antidepressants it was very timely. I hope it helps others who live with the awful twins.

In one of the nature journalling workshops the facilitator brought plants along for us to look at and really examine and see. 

This is a Thomasia Pygmaea. It is just delightful. It is an Australian native and to my delight I found one in the local Bunnings so now have it in my front garden. The flowering season is over but I can't wait until next winter when the pretty little purple spotted bells appear. The leaves are also spotted - dark green on one side and gold on the other. Just delightful.

 

The landlord of the rental refused to back down so we now have a VCAT claim against us. Interestingly, we have been waiting on the report from the carpet company and so far, it is not forthcoming. I wonder if it is the same as the roof repairs and the heater maintenance ... the landlord lied about work being done and was called out thus costing her money to repair the issues. I wonder if she has even had a carpet company out to quote. Anyway, the fact that the carpet is more than 10 years old (probably closer to 30) means it is worthless as far as claims go. I will pay 50% of the depreciated value because 50% of fuck all is still fuck all. Of course, it all depends on who we appear in front of when our day in court arrives. 

So life goes on. I had to make an emergency dash to Melbourne last week as Sally had Covid and Amy's company insisted she had to work from the office for Thursday and Friday. Not five minutes after I arrived (after a 4 and a half hour drive) they decided that they didn't, in fact, want her in in case she had Covid. It wasn't a completely wasted trip as I was able to amuse Sally so her mum could work from home. And I got to come home a day earlier than anticipated.

As I finish writing this (it's been a few days since I started) it has just gone 4pm Wednesday which means it has just ticked over to Wednesday in the States and the news coming out is very depressing. My heart goes out to my American blogging friends. This is not what anyone wanted to see. Apart from the lunatic right.