I is away

Where do the days go?

I have great plans to post frequently but we all know how that is working out!

In my defence I have several draft posts with pics awaiting wise words but then stuff happens and I get sidetracked.

Anyway.

Remember how I told you I visited the Central Coast in early October to see Two et al? (To be fair, I doubt if you do and I don't blame you.)

The reason for that visit was to take middle grandchild shopping for her birthday, so in the interest of being fair I am up to spend this weekend with the remaining birthday girl and boy (out of all the days in the year how do the fates align to have two out of three kids born on the same day five years apart?) 

I love the drive. It takes me through some beautiful countryside. I was not long out of Lakes when a kangaroo hopped across the road in front of me. I have lived in Australia for well over 50 years but I still get a thrill when I see a native animal in the wild.

The mist rising as I climb into the mountains always makes me happy ...

I stopped for a lunch break on the road out of Canberra overlooking Lake George. If you embiggen the picture you can see part of the massive windfarm.

When I got to the motel I was delighted to find they had given me the same room I had last time. The girls call it "Granny's apartment". I shall request it every time I book! It is pretty basic but suits me just fine is right around the corner from their house.

The view from the door. The layout gives a lovely through breeze and it is sort of tucked away from other guests.

It has been lovely seeing the fambly.


 

Garden bits

As promised some snaps from around the garden. I have to keep reminding myself that the garden is barely 12 months old and still has a lot of growing to do.

Pigface. A common colour is this glorious pink/red. It is a succulent and spreads easily.

This is a butterfly bush and is obviously very happy in its spot.

Strelitzia or bird of paradise. We planted these down the side of the house and it was touch and go if they were going to take but one has decided to flower so I have high hopes for the rest.

This is a kangaroo paw. More specifically it is an ornamental kangaroo paw with very distinct flowers and not too many leaves and quite dwarfish in its habit. We have three and they are also very happy.

Another variety of pigface - this is white with a delicate pink tinge.

I love this corner of the garden. The shrub at the back is a teddy-bear magnolia. It was the first plant we put in (a gift from the Mermaid) and it has already flowered and has lots of new leaves. Max is often to be found lying on a rock in the sunshine. 

This is a more traditional kangaroo paw. Lots of foliage and smaller flowers on very tall stems.

These are just some of the plants in the back garden. I still need to take you through the front. 

The kids came down and it was lovely to see them. I'll talk about that another day.

Himself is about to head off for his formal interview to join the CFA and I am going to have a bacon sanga for dinner. 

Headache

Hmmm. It probably wasn't the brightest idea to go to the gym on Wednesday, the day after a rather unpleasant migraine! I felt rather off for the rest of the day and then on Thursday I came down with another one! It is now Saturday and I am still not feeling 100% so haven't been back this week. Tomorrow Three et al come down so it will be Tuesday before I go back which should give me plenty of time to get over whatever it is that is ailing me.

I am looking forward to seeing Three and his kids - it's a bonus visit because they both have Monday off (the day before the public holiday for Melbourne Cup and a lot of people make it a long weekend). I will still have to go and run the history group on Monday morning but I am sure between donuts and mini golf they will find something to occupy themselves.

On Thursday evening we went to the Bowls Club as they have a draw for anyone who's birthday was in the month (in this case, Himself) and you have to be there. We were going to grab a meal but they were packed. Even though most left once the draw was over (his name didn't come up!) we weren't really feeling like taking our chances so we went to the pub and had a very pleasant meal. There was a young couple at the table next to us who spent the entire time on their phones. From what I could see it looked like they were texting other people - or maybe each other! 

This morning we went to the annual plant market run by the local gardening club and came home with some plants and some advice. Hopefully Himself will remember what he was told to help fix the clay soil and the plants will survive. I have to keep reminding myself that this time a year ago the garden had barely been started so it's not doing too badly. I'll grab some photos and show you.

In the mean time I tried to be artsy fartsy and take a shot through the spinning blades of my windmill but it didn't turn out as I had hoped - not really sure what I expected. Maybe I should play with my camera settings.

This is our smoke bush. I was worried it wouldn't come back after winter but it seems happy enough. We planted it in the metal tub as our previous effort in that spot ended up drowning so by lifting it up we are hoping its feet stay dry.

And because I can't resist clouds and sunset you get to see these ...

Tomorrow morning I will be back at the plant market to sell Christmas cakes and puddings for the Lionesses. We only have a few left to sell so I hope to be done and dusted and home by the time Three arrives. 

I don't expect to be back here until Tuesday evening at the earliest cos, well, family!

Just words

Twenty five years or so ago when I first discovered blogging (or on-line journalling/open diary) photos were both a treat and a pain. Often they took too long to upload and download so entries were words with the occasional picture. Fast forward to today and words seem to be taking second place to visuals. My long read, much loved blogger mates still enthral with the power of the word - your photos are inspiring, uplifting and often humorous but I will always love the way your words reach into my heart and soul.

This is a cumbersome way of saying I ain't got no pretty pictures for you today!

Monday was a busy day. U3A history in the morning. If you are interested in African history you might enjoy the documentary The History of Africa by an excellent British presenter Zeinab Badawi. I stumbled across it after a class member asked if we could look at Nelson Mandela which let me down several rabbit holes to do with colonialism and African politics. It is a long series but well worth the watch and learning about African history from an African perspective. 

I then went to the gym then into Bairnsdale for the podiatry appointment. I deliberately got there early so I could go and get fitted for the dreaded bathers. I didn't end up buying bathers - a few more kilos to shed before I will feel confident and comfortable.

The podiatrist was a very queer fish and I won't be doing back to see him - nothing creepy just didn't really gel with him and his follow up appointments are so far into the future it defeats the purpose of finding an ongoing practitioner. I did buy a pair of orthotics which need to be trimmed to fit my shoes and we will see if that helps the plantar fasciitis.

Himself saw the eye specialist who is happy to wait for another 6 months before deciding on cataract surgery. This was a relief even though the surgery is inevitable. He stayed with One and his lot and I am so glad he did. He got to spend time with the girls and One and Ebs and he needed that.

Yesterday morning was the craft group which is always a happy place. Himself arrived home whilst I was out. I had planned to go to the gym but was feeling a tad "off". Just as well I didn't go as I developed the first migraine I have had in a long time. Took my meds and went to bed for a couple of hours.

Felt better in the evening. Himself took himself off to the CFA weekly training session and had a ball. I am so thrilled he has joined them. Fingers crossed the joy continues! He does say they are a friendly lot and that is the main thing. 

Today I have been feeling a bit foggy with post migraine haze but went to cryptic crosswords (and got some tricky clues!), then gym, then coffee group. Maybe I should have ditched the gym as by the time I got home my head was dull and achy.

Himself is barbecuing steak for dinner and I am in the process of learning a new (to me) technique for knitting sock heels so, for now, all is right in my world.

Tomorrow I shall endeavour to create some visual content!

Sunday bits and bobs.

A few weeks ago the cats were obsessed with the door to my yarn cupboard (I used to have a yarn room but we downsized). I opened it up and saw this critter. Yes, I needed to vacuum but when you live with a long-haired german shepherd this is your reality. At first I only saw the head and tail and thought the worst but when I realised he/she had legs I was ok. I kept the curious cats and dogs at bay while Himself got a container and we moved old mate into the front garden and we haven't seen him since. Apparently Himself had seen him around the house but hadn't been able to catch him. He was about 25cms (10 inches) from tip to tail so not huge but big enough to need to be removed.

This fine fellow is, I believe, an Eastern Egret ...

... and this chap is a white faced heron ...

... but I stand to be corrected as my bird knowledge is still really limited to obvious ones like kookaburras, magpies, members of the parrot/cockatoo families, swans and pelicans. Anything else is really a guess. 

After Three and his lot were down last we started finding odd things around the house and garden. A tacky cat ornament, an even tackier diamond dot cat picture and gnomes!

They had gone op shopping and thought it would be amusing to buy and hide these things in plain sight. To their absolute glee it took us ages to notice some of them! And we either walked past them or sat in front of them every. single. day!!!

Today has been a tad chilly with a lot of rain which is needed so I am not complaining (actually I prefer cold and wet to hot and sunny but don't tell anyone - they'll think I'm crazy). I went to the gym for the first time without the trainer supervising me and really enjoyed it. The anxiety levels were up there but I named it and tamed it (thanks Pixie, for your post that reminded me of this technique), pulled up my big girl pants and toddled off.

Himself is off to Melbourne tomorrow for an ophthalmologist appointment to address a cataract in his good eye. He plans to go up and back in the day but I would prefer him to stay with one of the boys or the Mermaid as I am not confident the timing of the appointment will go as he expects. I am assuming the cataract will need to be repaired which will entail a couple of nights in the big smoke but that will be at a date to be decided. 

I will have my usual U3A history class, the gym and then a trip to Bairnsdale to see a podiatrist. I might even check out a shop for a pair of bathers (swimsuit for non Australians) as the gym is part of the local pool complex and my membership gives me access. The last time I was in a pool/owned bathers was for hydrotherapy after my knee replacement at the beginning of 2020 and prior to that was probably when the boys were little tackers and I'd take them to the local pool but even then I tended to sit on the edge and watch rather than get in and get wet! 

Homemade hamburgers for dinner and Himself is cooking. Might go and have a glass of red in anticipation.

Well, hello.

Yes, I know, it's been a very long time between drinks!

Initially it was because I had nothing to talk about and was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable knowing that anyone can stumble across this blog. (Maybe I should take a page out of Pixie's book and go back and delete posts that contain stuff that could cause issues).

Then I decided I was spending waaaay to much time faffing about on the internet and even reduced my blog reading and commenting.

But I miss blogland and my blogmates so, for now at least, I'm back!

I had intended to start writing again but was given a nudge when I bumped into Penguin at Aldi this afternoon so here I am.

So what has been happening over the past few months?

Well, nothing terribly exciting.

I am now the president of the local U3A after the AGM in earlier this month. I am still not really sure what this will entail but I was asked if I would stand, as the current president is in the process of selling and moving to be closer to family and noone else was interested! A bit like how I ended up being the facilitator for the U3A history group - the old one took a couple of weeks off, asked me to fill in and then decided to take the rest of the year off - I doubt she will return next year but that's ok. 

At the end of July I went up to Melbourne for a week to help Three and Amy with Alice who had her tonsils out and the lining of her nose cauterised. Poor wee kid was not happy. By the end of the week she was well on the mend but I was still very glad to come home!

Three and his lot came down in the September school holidays and left Sally with us for a few days which she really needed. She was exhausted after a busy couple of terms and lots of dance competitions. She couldn't come down for the July school holidays as she had 'flu A so was well due for some Lakes down time.

We took them to one of our favourite pubs and then for a walk along Lake Tyers Beach. It was chilly but kids seem impervious to the cold.

Sally loves the water ....

... and Alice was Miss Independent tramping through the sand dunes ...

She fossicked for shells and I snapped this just after she found the perfect purple shell. Completely unstaged and it wasn't until I went back through my photos that I saw it. I love the look of sheer ecstasy that only the perfect purple shell can instill in a four year old!

 

At the beginning of October I drove up to the NSW Central Coast to spend a few days with Two and his lot. It was lovely to see them all but the kids' behaviour really needs addressing and I was glad I chose to stay in a motel round the corner from them rather than under the same roof. I am going back up in three weeks and will stay at the same motel. I know that children with diagnoses of ASD and ADHD have emotional issues but I still believe they need firm boundaries and consequences for poor (and violent) behaviour. My daughter-in-law obviously doesn't.

I am still taking the Wegovy. The dose has gradually increased and I think I have found the sweet spot. The weight has been slowly coming off which I have found a bit frustrating as I am used to instant results (and just as instant regaining of lost weight!) but I have lost around 12kgs and am down a clothing size. I wear the same clothes as usual and bought indentical t-shirts in a smaller size so I am not expecting anyone to really notice. I can see a difference and I can feel the difference so that is really all that matters. I have also finally joined the gym as the original doctor did emphasise the need for muscle retention. My relationship with food has changed for the better and the food noise is blissfully quieter. I realise that when I start to wean off I will need to be mindful but am confident I can finally win this battle.

I convinced Himself to go to a CFA open day and he has decided to join them. I'm not sure if  he will ever get on the trucks and fight fires but he has a lot of administrative expertise that he can bring to the table that is always needed in volunteer organisations. That is a load off my mind as he really needs to get out and meet people. 

I have been trying to avoid reading too much about politics here and overseas as it is all just too depressing - and scary; so my little world is just this country town we love, family and friends. 

Last night we went to the Bowls Club for dinner. The staff are great, the atmosphere is good, the pokies returned our investment with a decent margin but the food, sadly, was terrible. We have been twice in the past couple of months as we get Bar and Bistro vouchers on our birthday but I doubt we will be back for another 12 months! (We are members because we both attend U3A courses that are held in the meeting room so we need to be members to access the place - $5 a year isn't going to break the bank!)

As we drove home this sunset greeted us ...

... and reminded me that life is pretty damn good.

Wegovy update and other stuff.

My concerns about the GP were completely unfounded. She was lovely. We talked some more about the drug and the "food noise" and she has increased my dose. I was finding that everything was hunky dory until a day or two before the next dose when I just felt things weren't quite right. I felt as if I should be having the dose every 5 days instead of every 7. This, apparently, is a classic indication to increase the dose.

I have made an appointment with Dr #1 in Bairnsdale for two weeks time as I will be in Melbourne wrangling a three year old post tonsillectomy the following week and don't want to leave it until the last minute (again). I now have two doctors I feel comfortable with so hopefully I will be able to see at least one of them every four weeks. 

One of the bonuses has been an increased desire to walk so when Himself suggests taking the dogs along the Esplanade I will, more often than not, go with him. 

I sitll have a long way to go to get any decent sort of exercise tolerance and now that the dreaded lurgy has almost abated I will check out the gym for some weight exercises to maintain my muscle mass.

The best news of the week was finding out that our crazy neighbour has put her house on the market! I assume this means her mother has died as she said she never intended to stay here forever and once mum went she would look at moving north. She is expecting a ridiculous amount so I don't expect her house to sell quickly but just knowing she will eventually be gone makes me so happy. To be fair, she ignores us and we ignore her but I can't forget the grief she caused us with her crazy accusations and threats.

I caught up with Penguin for a coffee this morning. Always lovely and it reminds me what a friendly place we live in. 

Himself joined a Men's Shed in a town about 15 minutes away as he found the one here to be less than friendly and he is really enjoying it. I am so pleased as that was a huge worry. It is very draining to be the sole source of contact and conversation for another person.

The next few weeks are looking busy. I am donating blood tomorrow in Bairnsdale and then we are back on Friday to take Jinx to the vet to check on her eyes. Three et al are coming down on Saturday and we are going the winter fesitval of lights which already has over 4000 tickets booked so the town will be buzzing. They will go home on Sunday leaving us with Sally (doughnuts and minigolf) and I will take her back on Tuesday, coming back Wednesday. Himself has to go to Melbourne on Thursday for a cardiologist review and I am making soup for the Lionesses' market on Saturday as well as helping set up the hall on Friday and manning the kitchen on Saturday. U3A goes back after the school holidays and I am now the facilitator for history as the previous one has stepped aside. I don't mind but it does mean finding appropriate videos to watch and discuss that aren't too long or too short and of decent quality. Then I am off to look after Alice for the second week of term.

The garden needs weeding but it's been too wet and cold so I have been enjoying being indoors knitting, crocheting and sewing. Keeps me busy.

I love the way these two sort of spill off their beds. The teddy bears belong to Jinx. She has had one since she was a puppy and holds them in her paws and sucks on the noses. I guess if she had a thumb she would suck that.

Black cats can be very hard to photograph so I was quite pleased with the play of shadows with Minnie.

It's coffee group this afternoon so I will go and put some washing away, defrost some soup for dinner and then head out.

Life is pretty damn good.