Fuzzy head

J and I caught up for brunch and a good natter and knit at L'arte today. It was lovely to spend time just catching up with our news. Her daughter is in labour with her second child so there was a lot of pinging from her phone. Very exciting.

I then had time to kill before I picked Sally up from school so I drove past Angela's place and admired her new driveway. I messaged her to see if she was up for a visit and we had a lovely chat for around an hour about everything and nothing.

Picked up the kid and brought her home. Fed her two bowls of icecream with tiny teddies and unicorn sprinkles. Hush.

We have her again on Monday as it's a pupil free day at school so it makes sense to have her overnight on Sunday. She will be knackered after a family wedding on Saturday. It's a formal wedding but everyone is camping. I don't get it either.

Still no sign of flowers on the pumpkin. 

I felt very ordinary last night and this morning and then realised I hadn't taken my meds for the past two days. I hope they kick in soon and I lose this spaced out feeling. 

Frozen pies for dinner. I just can't be bothered cooking - probably meds related. 

Himself has been busy tidying the garden. Whether we move or not this place is getting a spruce up. I should have mentioned moving sooner.

Monday

First it was the zucchini and now the pumpkin is taking over. As yet there is not a single flower. Can one do anything with an overabundance of pumpkin leaves? I hope I get some fruit. I can't remember what variety it is. I know it's not a butternut; I think it might be Kent or Jap. Either way I see pumpkin soup, roasted pumpkin salads, roast dinners with pumpkin, pumpkin gnocchi and any other pumpkin based recipe - assuming, of course, the bloody thing produces some flowers.

It doesn't seem that long ago that I was wondering if all my birches were going to produce leaves. Now they are turning. A sure sign that autumn is around the corner. We are still in for some hot weather but in a few weeks we should at least lose the hot nights. (And my Melbourne friends can stop laughing - we have had some). Autumn is my absolute favourite season. Stable weather, warm days and cool nights with brisk, foggy mornings.

I went and had another massage today. The bloke I saw last time wasn't there and I had a delightful tiny slip of a thing. I think she is not long off the plane from China. She was lamenting that it is summer and so cold. I told her I'd driven to Sydney. She asked if that was in Queensland. She then had a brave go at saying "New South Wales". I hope I have her next fortnight. She might be small but by jiminy she found some sore spots and really worked on my hips and glutes.

I won tonight's scrabble game after trailing miserably until the second last move. I really enjoy a win like that.

Tomorrow I should probably tidy my craft area up in anticipation of the real estate agent on Thursday. After looking at properties on line we have decided we really need a good price for this place as we don't want to just make do. The whole idea is becoming less likely as we consider things but we haven't given up hope yet.

And I remembered to wear decent undies to the massage!

Blah

Rockin' it, kiddo.

Another Sunday done and dusted.

Himself washed windows.

I did sweet FA.

I have joined some facebook groups in Lakes hoping to get a feel for the place as a resident not a tourist.

I fluctuate between wanting to move and hating to leave. The big thing is that if we sell and move and hate it we will never be able to afford to move back here. 

In the past we have made the huge mistake of buying before selling but it has always worked out for us. My fear is that if we do sell here we might not find a place we like down there. 

So much to think about. 

I will be more cheerful tomorrow, I promise.

I did it!

I faced my fears and didn't post an entry yesterday! I do plan to post daily but if something crops up I don't need to feel guilty about not posting. Welcome to the crazy that is my brain.

It was disgustingly hot and I stayed indoors. I baked a loaf of bread and made a beef rendang for dinner.

Three and Sally dropped by to pick up my car so they could go to the airport and collect StepSon who flew down from Brisbane to pick up a car he bought. The model he wanted is very hard to get and the only dealership that had one was the one I bought mine from. Three took him there at 8.30 this morning and at 8.45 he was driving out of the dealer's yard on his way back north. A 12 hour drive today and then another 8 hours (at least) tomorrow.

It's much cooler today. I have made a batch of baked beans and watered the very thirsty garden which consists of a pumpkin and some herbs. I need to get out there and do a replant. 

Himself got some mulch delivered and is currently laying it on a couple of beds. It keeps the moisture in and the dogs out! 

This is one of our new eucalypts - I forget its name but the leaves have a lovely blue tinge.

Preparing the beds for mulch. The bricks are to stop the dogs from digging the plants up as they can smell the fertiliser.

Our jacaranda is doing well. Again - dog proofed.

And the mulch is in. 

Three and his lot popped in for a visit. Alice thought it was great fun to play with Mum's hair.

Turkey burgers for dinner tonight. Himself has gone to put lotto on and get the turkey mince as I bought pork by mistake and gave it to Three as they will use it.

Returning to normal

These two were very confused. No mum then mum and no dad.

I stayed up later than I should last night googling properties in Lakes Entrance! Consequently I am very tired today. I think I am also tired from all the driving I did.

I collected Himself from the hospital and we took the dogs to the park. I then drove him to see his psychologist. Supermarket shop and now I am home.

When we were in Batemans Bay trying to find our motel I managed to illegally park AND drive the wrong way down a one way street. Fortunately a much amused gentleman waved me back the way I had come. It would have helped if this was actually signed! I drove into a car park and only later realised it was reverse angle parking. At least I had my Victorian number plates to identify me as an out of towner. I apologise to all my Victorian friends for reinforcing the NSW opinion that we can't drive.

Now that I am getting all excited about the possible move Himself is throwing up reasons to not move. Like the salty sea air that damages cars and other metal things. Just wash them more frequently! The big thing will be finding somewhere we really like.

I was going to book time away in April but I think I might do it in March. His TURP is booked for the 9th March (assuming it can still go ahead after the stent insertion) and, while he can't do any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for 4 weeks post op, I don't see why a gentle mosey down to Lakes can't be done. We can then decide if the move is viable and get stuck into making the house presentable for sale.

A lot to think about. 

Right now I am going to see if I can convince him to play a game of scrabble.

Day 8 and home

This is where we sat and had breakfast this morning. Coffee and a doughnut. Look at that glorious sky

The Mermaid fell in love with Lakes Entrance and is talking about moving there. I told Himself that I could live there and he said he always wanted to live there. In the past it was hard as we had aging parents but they have all gone to god now. The new beaut roads mean it's only about 3 and a half hours from Melbourne (ongoing roadworks notwithstanding) so the kids and grandkids could come and stay for a weekend or longer in the school holidays. It is a beautiful place. If all my ducks lined up and the Mermaid sold and moved and we sold and moved it would be brilliant. I am going to book a few days there in April so we can properly look at houses. There is a broad range of prices and quality from the 'oh my giddy aunt' to 'oh hell no'. I think we can find somewhere in the 'oh I can live here' pocket. Until we can see what our budget will actually buy I am not committing to anything. In the meantime we can dream.

We had a drive around and then headed for home. 

We stopped at Yarragon which is a pretty little town on the highway. It has some lovely little knick knack shops and a food shop to tempt the most jaded palates. We had lunch there in the delightful tea rooms.

We completed the trip home discussing the options of moving and the ramifications on family relationships. So far the reactions have been positive.

On the way I got a call from Three to say that Himself had been admitted overnight as he had a stent inserted. This is a good thing as it means whatever was there was relatively new and has been fixed. He feel vindicated over his angst about his chest discomfort. I still think it is more anxiety but then I am a callous bitch when it comes to nursing my family!

Three was here when I got home and we had a good chat. I have spoken to Himself a couple of times and will pick him up tomorrow morning.

We have lots to discuss.

It is now past 10pm and I am, unsurprisingly, rather knackered. It has been a wonderful trip away and I have driven an incredible number of kilometres. The Mermaid and I have laughed and strengthened our already firm friendship. We had many late nights and many glasses of wine. We have shared secrets and solved the problems of the world.

I will do it again in a heartbeat.

But now I am going to bed.

Day 7

Bodalla. Pretty place. Amazing cheese and icecream but it was too early for either.

Eden. Stopped for lunch

Our final night in Lakes Entrance. Do you get the feeling this motel might have had an issue with people and crabs? Lakes is known for its seafood but still!

A black swan family 

Dinner. Local fish and chips. The best I've had in a very long time.

 Home tomorrow and a proper post. When depends on Himself and his angiogram.