Settling down

Yesterday was a quiet day. 

I baked a loaf of bread. It tasted OK but looked a bit weird. My old oven had a proofing setting so I am going to have to work out the best place to let my dough rise. And I'm not sure about the oven settings either. All things to figure out over time.

This morning we took the dogs into Lakes for a run at the dog park. Then we walked along the main street and had a doughnut and coffee for breakfast. Himself talks to everyone. Having the dogs always strikes up conversations. 

I then checked out a local market. It was OK but nothing really grabbed me. I would have enjoyed it more with a friend in tow. I might see if any of my Melbourne friends would be interested in sharing a table down the track as it seems to be mainly handcrafts and they have some interesting stuff. 

I have spent the afternoon searching for my weaving equipment and buying some cotton on line because I can't get to my yarn stash (and I don't think I have what I want anyway). I am thinking of weaving some cloth to make small bags and weaving the bands on the inkle. 

Himself has taken himself up to the block with the mower and whipper snipper to tidy it up. He should be home soon and then we start the "what do you want for dinner" game. We had fish and chips last night. Yummy as always.

It was a glorious day today but has now turned quite chilly. 

I am really going to have to work at this retirement living gig. I feel guilty if I am not doing something productive. I think I need to get some pots so I can pretend to garden.

Or I could just sit at the waterfront and just drink in the scenery. 

Tired and happy

When Sally was staying with us we were in Kmart buying some clothes for her (why her parents let her pack for a trip away is beyond me - she is 6 for heavens sake) she was given a picture to colour in for Naidoc week.

As we were driving up to Melbourne on Monday for Himself's angiogram I got a call from Kmart to say she had won a prize. Needless to say she was over the moon. She got a small lego kit and a $10 Kmart gift card. Heaven for a 6 year old girl. 

I did pop in and take a photo of her entry. Every bit was her own work. I don't believe in helping kids with competitions like this. It's cheating. For those who don't know the black and red flag with the yellow sun is the Aboriginal flag. 

Yesterday was a lovely day. One of our neighbours had invited me to their Wednesday coffee group. I put on my big girl pants and went to the cafe (you all know how I just love stepping outside my comfort zone!). The women were just delightful and I felt very welcome. I won't be able to go consistently but apparently that is the norm for the group. Another step closer to becoming part of a community. I have felt more welcomed and at home in 2 and a half weeks here than I did in 6 years in Langwarrin. I guess that's the country for you.

This morning we took my car to get the windscreen replaced. They did a great job and again, friendly family business.

We came home while the job was being done and took the dogs for a walk along the North Arm. I want to walk more but need to walk on flat even surfaces while my hip bursitis is still giving me grief. This ticked those boxes.

We then took the dogs up to Jemmy's lookout for a run (not strictly allowed but if no one is there it appears to be ok - that seems to happen a bit down here). I never tire of that view!

Here is a map of the area that might give you an idea of places I am talking about. 

The Esplanade is the main drag so to speak where all the shops and cafes are. If you see the arrow pointing towards number 5 and move across to the wiggly bit, that is where we are renting. The footbridge in the far right of the map is how you get across to the ocean beach and to the left of it is where Sally paddled. The Gippsland Lakes are a huge system and we are pretty much at the easterly end of it.

The past couple of weeks have caught up with me and I am weary but oh so happy.

Tomorrow I think I will do some baking. And maybe dig out a loom. I might even knit in front of the telly tonight. If I can remember how! 

I hope all is hunky-dory in your part of the world.

 

I know it's just a blue line but that blue line is approx 285 kms (177 miles for some) long and I have driven it four times in the last two days! I am so pleased I took the risk and went on the back roads. They are such a delight to drive. The mountains, the colours, the clouds, the little country towns, the farms ...  it beats the boring highway any day. I still do highway driving but it's nicely broken up. 

I left home at 7.22am. I had planned to get up at 6am and leave straight away but having to get up twice overnight for the dogs to go out I got up at 7 and I wasn't going to push it. As it was I got to Three and Amy's at 11.00 so not a bad run. We did a quick turn around, headed back, stopped at Koo Wee Rup for petrol, Yarragon for a sandwich and a coffee and got home just after 3.00pm. The dogs were thrilled to see us (read "Himself"). I had left them with treats. Murphy was all "wow thank you" Jinx was "nah ... I know this trick now". Cunning female dog.

I need to go back up to Melbourne next week for my ophthalmologists appointment. I was trying to make it stupidly big and cram as many visits in as possible. As if I wasn't ever going to be back there. The main reason for extending the trip is to see Fave Sis in Law who is on hiatus from Italy. So I shall see her, see the doctor and spend time with Three et al. I should pop into One's place with pressies for various July birthdays. 

Tomorrow I hope will be another almost normal day. Thursday my car is getting its windscreen replaced after the buchan truck flipped a rock on the way to the Buchan caves. 

Now? Himself (who is back to his old relaxed self) is cooking dinner, wine has been opened, the dogs are happy and life is pretty damn good.

I hope it is in your part of this wonderful world.

Relieved

Thank you everyone for you kind words on yesterday's post. It has been a huge day and I just haven't got the oomph reply to them all. This community means so much to me and has been a sanity saving place for me of late!

We left home at 8.00. Got to the hospital at just before 12.00 and I turfed the old man out of the car.

I then went to what used to be our local shops with the intention of getting a sandwich and a coffee for the drive home (and a quick piddle stop). The supermarket had said sandwiches but they were marked down as their use by was today so a big no from me (I like my bread fresh). I could have had one made at a cafe but they overfill them and they are too hard to eat on the road. So I bought some mixed nuts, a packet of white chocolate and macadamia cookies (yes, these are called cookies, not biscuits) and a coffee drink. 

I strongly suggest not drinking coffee drinks when driving over speed bumps.

I took some country roads on the way home and it really didn't make that much difference to time (like maybe 10 minutes) but so much more pleasant than battering down the freeway. I will repeat the trip tomorrow!

The dogs seemed fine. We had left them with bones. When I got home they didn't even register I was there until I opened the back door. It seems they were playing in the back yard. I don't have any more bones for tomorrow so I will hide some treats around the back yard and hopefully that will keep them amused. Once Himself is home they won't care, anyway!

Oh, and his results? Well it turns out there was nothing obvious on the angiogram so no need for stenting which means Amy will pick him up shortly and take him back to their place for the night. The cardiologist said the discomfort could be caused by occlusion in tiny arteries that don't show on angiogram so he will try some new meds. 

Hopefully now he can settle down and relax which I am sure will ease a lot of issues.

A nearly normal day

We really do live in a beautiful place. This is from the top of the hill that overlooks Lakes. It was a bit blowy out there today. We had been to check some measurements on the block and on the way back a mattress blew off a trailer. Himself stopped to help the woman get it back on and we followed her to the tip (just up the road) to make sure it didn't happen again.

Early on I did some washing and actually got to hang it on the line! In Langwarrin we had a washing line but it was a pain to get to and nothing really dried on it so I used the dryer or a clothes horse. Here the line gets the breeze and some sun and it was just lovely to peg stuff out. 

It's the little things, eh?

Himself mowed the lawn front and back. I vacuumed. I unpacked some more kitchen stuff. I will see what I use and pack some away if it's not regularly. It really depends on how much I get back into baking.

My anxiety has ramped up a bit. I think it was in abeyance because of the busyness of moving and the excitement of a new place and having Sally. Himself's procedure tomorrow doesn't help but it is also the putting myself out there and meeting people. And routine. I need a healthy routine that doesn't involve time wasted.

My eyes are also worrying me a bit. I am hoping it is just dry eye. I see the eye dude in just under two weeks.

So yes, all things considered, a nearly normal day!!

Toe in the water

I suffer from almost crippling social anxiety. To the point I nearly didn't go to my inkle weaving class today.

But I did.

There were only two of us plus our teacher who is a mere child (OK, she was born in 1987 but she is still a mere child).

I am so glad I did because I did learn how to weave on an inkle loom and thus my looms will not become firewood. I have much to improve but I am thrilled with my effort. What looks navy is, in fact teal, and the colours pop.

I have signed up to do another one with the same teacher and the other student (and hopefully a few more) in three weeks. This one is making a rug on a rigid heddle loom using a particular type of wool/silk/alpaca mix the name of which escapes me. Emily (the teacher) also gave us information about a yarn based group that meets on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. I will check that out, too.

It gets dark quickly in the bush! The drive home (class finished at 6.00pm) was a bit scary but I am sure I will get better at night driving in the bush. The downside of my new lenses is that they cause a significant halo effect around oncoming headlights but as I don't plan to do much night driving it's not a problem (eye doc did check that before choosing these lenses - they offer better vision). On a positive note I found out that my car manages the high beam on the headlights so it's one less thing to think about when driving in the dark.

Tomorrow I need to unpack some more kitchen stuff and check out my yarn supplies. I am enthused to get back into my craft. I have lost my creative mojo over the past few months. Can't think why!

Now I am having a glass of wine and Himself is cooking a roast beef on the bbq. It smells yum.

Home

It is a long drive to Melbourne.

There were some pretty awful roadworks so when I came back today I ignored my GPS and took a different route. Once she had recalculated the route she took me through some lovely country roads which meant I avoided some of the more tedious sections of the highway. I made the trip door to door in exactly 3 and a half hours. 

Our plans for Himself's hospital visit have changed. I am now going to drive him up on Monday, throw him out of the car at the hospital and come straight home. The dogs will have the garage and access to the back yard. They will be on their own for about 8 hours which won't kill them. I will let the immediate neighbours know just in case they decide to get their barks on.

If the angiogram is straight forward then Amy will collect him and take him back to their place on Monday evening. If he needs admitting she will pick him up on Tuesday morning.

Either way I will drive up on Tuesday, collect him and bring him home.

He is very anxious about this and I am sure it is contributing to his ongoing chest tightness and poor mental state. Tuesday cannot come fast enough.

Sally was very happy to be home but she did enjoy her holiday. I am always tired after entertaining her for several days in a row but it was easier here. More for her to do and we still have lots that she hasn't done yet so next holidays will be full of new and exciting things as well as the tried and true mini golf (we still have another 3 venues to explore!)

Tomorrow I have my weaving class. I nearly forgot about it! 5 hours of learning how to inkle weave. I will come home enthused or two inkle looms will be going on the market!

Now I am going to look at google maps and work where I actually went today then settle down and relax for a while. 

If you are ever in Lakes Entrance you must try the cherry icecream at the local ice cream shop. It is sooooo good.