Gremlins

The internet is playing up. I hate writing on the phone so I leave you with these words of wisdom and a sincere hope the internet wizards weave their magic by tomorrow!

Photos and a nutty neighbour.

The installation of the retaining wall. The first two show the process and the third, the finished product. It is bigger than it looks.

Walkies and swim. Even though the place is inundated with tourists we can still find somewhere for the dogs to have a bit of water play.

This is what happens when Mummy takes away your weetbix because you were playing with it and not eating it!

I really need to work out how to get the photos from my phone onto my PC. Part of the problem is the USB ports are at the back and hard to reach. I emailed these to myself but still awkward and clumsy as I then had to save them from my email. 

When we first moved here we met a new neighbour who is also building in our estate. Her house is further along than ours and we would meet up at our respective blocks and have a chat. We invited her over for a drink on the Saturday before Christmas. Himself picked her up and dropped her home. She lives with her elderly mother and is her carer. She bought her land sight unseen during Covid and moved down here around 18 months ago. As far as I am aware she hasn't made many friends here and doesn't seem to have visitors from Melbourne apart from a nephew. I thought it would be nice to have her as a friend and enjoy a coffee or glass of wine here and there. 

Until we got an email from our builder on Tuesday saying someone had reported us for going onto other building sites. Not true. On Thursday Himself was up at the block and this woman drove up to him, wound down her window and screamed at him to stay away from her house.

We are gobsmacked. I have no idea what is going on with her other than to think she might have a screw loose. Regardless, it has left a very unpleasant taste and has really rattled me. If we weren't going to be neighbours I wouldn't worry but we will be living a few doors from each other. For now, we will keep our distance and ignore her. I don't want to do anything to set her off again. 

I have been quiet lately and this is one of the reasons. Hopefully things will settle and I will feel less stressed about it all.

People, eh? No wonder I like the hermit life.

No photos

I am back.

I had a lovely time with the girls.

My phone has done an update and now I can't upload photos to blogger. I know I could download them onto the computer and upload from there but ...

They started installing the retainng wall on Tuesday afternoon and should be finished today or tomorrow.

Imagine photos of Alice, the retaining wall, the dogs splashing in the water.

I think I need to consult the all seeing all powerful Dr Google and try to work out how to fix this.

Either that, or convince Himself I really need a new phone.

Grommets

Yesterday was a bit of a nothing day.

I got my hair cut and coloured. First colour since BC. I am now pretty much all over grey/ash and am very happy with it. It wasn't cheap but hopefully now it is just a question of touching up the roots every 3 months or so. My hairdresser is now on maternity leave. I hope her replacement can do as good a job.

Today our wee poppet had her surgery. 

I think the highlight was the jam sandwich they gave her afterwards and she was not letting go!

Three is working from home on Monday but I think they realised looking after two kids and trying to work was not the brightest idea so they asked if I could go up. 

What could a granny say?

I will head off after lunch tomorrow and stay until Tuesday. I could come home on Monday but I don't fancy driving late in the day and this way I can catch up with J on Tuesday morning before heading home. We used to catch up at least once a week - it will be lovely seeing her again.

The zucchini gave me one large beast so today I made a favourite creamy zucchini soup. I will freeze it as it isn't really soup weather.

More like salad which is what we are having for dinner.

I'll try and check in when in Melbourne, otherwise I will see you all when I get back.

 This is our next door neighbour! I wonder if anyone would actually ring the agent.

Whoops

I didn't realise just how long my last post was. Sorry. I should take a page out of Andrew's book and break things up into shorter entries.

I found this photo of Alice having a great time on one of the rides from the other night. The look of determination on her face cracks me up. She was driving that car and making sure it stayed on the track!

It is amazing how quiet the town is. It is still busy but has lost the frenetic atmosphere of the actual holiday period. Shops and cafes are full but you can get a car park at the supermarket and that is always a good indicator.

We went to the fish shop and bought a new variety for dinner. I can't remember the name but according to the lad in the shop it is a deep sea fish and quite mild. We will have it with coleslaw, green salad and potato salad. 

The beans I planted when we first came here have gone crazy. If I had thought about it I should have staggered the planting as we will be eating a lot of beans in the immediate future. 

The rest of the veges haven't done well. I did find one large zucchini hiding under the leaves but the rest are rotting on the plant and nothing else is really doing well. I think the soil is just so old and overused it needs to be completely replaced and enriched and I am not prepared to spend the time and money doing that when we will be out of here in a few months.

There is a boat in one of the harbours here that advertises fresh fish and prawns. We went to have a look but there were no prawns. I think the season is still young so most of the catch goes first thing in the morning. 

This is the jetty where the boat is moored ...

... and the view from it.

 Victoria has been inundated with storms and rain but Lakes has been spared. It is just hot and muggy.

When we went up to check the block today we found a family camping on the vacant block next door to us. They said the owner gave them permission which is all well and good but I think the council might have something to say! I know it is hard to find places to camp but this takes the cake. I assume they have some sort of portable toilet and plenty of water. Well, I hope they do!

I sat outside on the balcony this afternoon IN THE SHADE and read some of my book. It was very pleasant.

My face is still very sore. My nose is peeling and has bled a bit and my lips are also peeling and sting when I eat. 

It will be a cold day in hell before I make that mistake again.

Back again.

I have had a lovely break from everything with the Mermaid staying for a few days. I have avoided the internet (didn't want to be rude) and it has been quite refreshing.

Remember the sparkling wine with the gold leaf?

I have mentioned that there is a carnival in town. This is a bit blurry but you get the idea.

On Thursday night when the Mermaid arrived we had fresh fish from the co-op that I cooked at home. We then wandered down to the carnival, paid our $2 entry fee and mosied around the place. The ferris wheel looks even better up close. 

We weren't tempted to go on any rides but had a great time watching the children trying to look brave and listening to the screams of the older kids as they went on this (photo pinched from the interweb).

Every morning the Mermaid would get up and go for a long (in my book) walk and a wander around the shops. I would meet her at 10ish and we would have a coffee and a bit more of a look in the shops. Something I don't do with Himself.

On Friday we went to Orbost and then on to Marlo and Cape Conran. The drive took us beside the Snowy River which, due to the Snowy Mountain Hydro scheme, is no longer the mighty river is used to be way back in the day. This time, however, due to the amount of rain and flooding we have had, it was very full albeit very brown.

Cape Conran was wild and beautiful. I plan to take Sally back when she comes down in late January. She will love exploring the rock pools.

On Friday evening we went to the Bowls Club for dinner which, as always, was lovely.

When I was down with the Mermaid in June we had lunch at the Metung pub and I took Other Brother and Fave sis in law there when they were down before Christmas.

I managed to get a booking for 1.30 on Saturday which was pretty lucky at this time of year.

As we were getting ready to leave Three rang to thank us for helping out with the costs of Alice's upcoming operation. We chatted about what we had been doing with the Mermaid and then headed off to Metung with visions of seafood platters dancing in our heads.

When we got to Metung we turned the corner to the pub and there were Three and his family. The cheeky buggers and driven down for the day to surprise us as they hadn't seen us over Christmas and they wanted us to see Alice before her surgery so we can compare the difference.

We convinced them to stay the night and gave them our house keys. They needed to get pjs and undies and other essentials so went to Bairnsdale and met us back at home after we had the most amazing seafood lunch. 

They had fish and chips for dinner (we were full as googs so declined to join them) and then we went down to the carnival with two small children in tow - which is what a carnival should be about.

I didn't take many photos as I was too busy laughing at Sally's look of sheer terror on this ...

... and Alice's look of pure joy as she went on the small rides that go round and round.

Sally was very keen to go on that ride but as she had never been on one before found the sensations of going up and down quickly rather disconcerting. She was seated between himself and a lovely man who both put their hand on her knee when she was screaming! The family next to us also found the spectacle quite amusing. 

Of course, once she was off the ride and calmed down she declared she wanted to do it again.

Instead we went on the ferris wheel and even then you can see her look of trepidation as it began ...

Once she realised it wasn't going to drop and spin she relaxed and enjoyed the spectacular views.

The Lakes Entrance Aqua Park - a sort of bouncy castle on water that will require Dad if she wants to go on it!

Another stunning sunset from a different perspective.

She had a go on a bungee trampoline and the bloke in charge was so good with her. She mastered the back flip in no time but was determined to do the front flip which is very difficult - especially when you are small and light. He gave her so much help and way longer than the time we paid for but she did it and was so proud of herself. Blokes like that make carnivals such good value for families and create such lovely memories.

After getting home and putting two exhausted girls to bed we sat up chatting til quite late.

It was a wonderful surprise.

They left the next morning and I met the Mermaid for our usual morning coffee and walk.

After a bit of a drive in search of somewhere to have a cold beer (on New Year's Eve on a warm day in a seaside resort) we decided a gin and tonic on the balcony was the wiser option! It was perfect weather. Clear blue skies, warm sunshine and a cool breeze. I commented to the Mermaid that morning as we sat by the water with our coffee that there would be many a burnt body by the end of the day.

After enjoying the afternoon, chatting with the neighbours (who gave me a bit of history about this house - fodder for another blog entry when I have nothing) and a cuppa on the balcony we headed into town for the NYE festival.

The police presence was amazing.

I counted at least 6 public order response vehicles, that many and more marked and unmarked police cars, a mobile lock up and later on there were four police horses patrolling as well. I can only guess there have been incidents in the past.

We had a look at the twilight market, bought some Turkish street food and sat on a wall near the water listening to a band and people watching. 

There were groups of teenage boys posturing and preening like peacocks in front of groups of teenage girls. I wonder if they really thought nobody would guess their heavy duffle bags didn't contain bathers and towels but rather cans of alcohol cunningly and illegally obtained. 

I guess there might be a reason for the police presence after all.

The place got busier as families arrived and set up all over the foreshore to wait for the 9.30 family firework display.

Nature gave us a stunning display of her own.

As the crowds got bigger and my anxiety ramped up we decided to return to the comfort of our own balcony to watch the fireworks.

Himself returned to the hoards as he is a glutton for punishment.

The Mermaid and I watched the display with a glass of wine in our hands and an uninhibited view.

There was a mass exodus after the fireworks as families returned from whence they came - not, obviously, all staying in Lakes. 

It took Himself a ridiculous amount of time to get home.

We watched the midnight fireworks, saw in 2024 and sat up til 2 just chatting. Not our usual NYE but just lovely to spend it with a friend.

The next morning the Mermaid forwent her usual walk and we went into town for a juice instead of coffee. The place was so quiet! Apparently there had been a few incidents but nothing major that we were aware of. There were groups of volunteers cleaning up the inevitable detritus. It always saddens me that people can't/won't use bins and think it funny to smash bottles and leave cigarette butts everywhere. The Shire had supplied dozens of extra rubbish bins (and portable loos as well) but there is always those who are too lazy/entitled to use them (the bins, not the loos - I hope).

The community spirit in this small town never ceases to surprise me and makes me so glad we chose to live here. It far outweighs the careless locals and the ignorant tourists.

We bade farewell to the Mermaid and she drove back to Melbourne. 

Remember those people who were destined to get badly burnt?

I am one of them. No hat, no sunscreen, enjoying a perfect sunny day with a cool breeze.

This isn't all of it but it is a burnt, blistered and about to peel nose and burnt and blistered lips. My forehead, neck and ears are also very red and painful. Lesson learned - the hard way!

HAPPY 2O24 EVERYONE!