Tuesday

I had a haircut. 

I am very happy with the result and have booked another cut with some foils in January. Just before my stylist goes on maternity leave! Dammit. She has said she will hand me over to someone else and explain our plan. "Our" plan is her saying we shall do this and that and me saying whatever you reckon!

I had a facetime chat with J from my old craft group in Langwarrin. It was lovely to catch up and I miss her and some of the girls. Not enough to want to move back, though.

I then had a long chat with Mrs Other (aka fave sis in law). Another one I miss terribly but I will make sure we can catch up before they head back to Italy next year. I would love for them to come and stay but Himself and Other Brother have history. I'll see if I can work something out.

We are having flathead fillets for dinner. I toss them in flour, salt, pepper and grated citrus peel (from the garden - tonight's is a mix of orange and lime), I then quickly fry them in olive or avocado oil and a bit of butter for flavour. Because they cook quickly they don't absorb a lot of oil and retain the texture and flavour. We will have them with salad (our first leaves from the garden) and potato gems (tater tots for those across the ocean). 

An early start tomorrow to be up at the block for the first tradie and then off to the vet. Coffee group in the afternoon. 

Still full of snot so I won't be going to NSW.

This and that

Since I came down with this bug I have taken a couple of panadol osteo at bed time and sucked on a Fisherman's Friend and I have had a reasonable night's sleep. Last night I thought I was feeling better so did neither. Bad move. I was awake with an annoying tickling cough and nose running like a tap for most of the night. At 4.30 I took the panadol and warmed a heat pack in the microwave which I put on my throat as this seems to ease the urge to cough. While I was waiting for the pack to heat I watched the sky brighten ahead of sunrise. For a split second I considered watching the start of the day but ended up going back to bed, falling asleep without further coughing and waking just after 10.00am.

Yesterday's dummy spit notwithstanding I rang Mads today to give her the heads up I might be a no show this weekend. Mainly because if I start coughing the whole house will be woken and that isn't fair to anyone. I am glad I did. We had a good natter and no, I am not going to share. I am still a bit twitchy about Bullard and their ilk.

Himself went up to the block (because the day ends in "Y") and caught up with our site supervisor (who is supervising another build). Things are all geared to kick off on Wednesday when Dicky will come and scrape the block and prepare for excavation. The fences and toilet should be installed on Monday and the SS has put in the request to have our water connected so they can cut our concrete retaining sleepers which apparently will be going in sooner rather than later.

Tomorrow I have a hair cut. I hate my hair at the moment. I feel old and frumpy. Not the stylist's fault at all. I have had a knee jerk reaction to shaving my head during covid and have let it grow out. I know Himself likes me with longer hair but I run hot and hate having a sweaty head. 

I rang the new vet today and made an appointment for Jinx to have her nethers reviewed yet again. 

Wednesday will be a busy day. 

Early start to be at the block for the first turning of soil and then into Bairnsdale for a 10.30 vet appointment. I hope Jinx will realise that her previous vet was an exception and that most vets are gentle, caring people (like her original vet). Our dogs have always loved going to the vet because we have always had lovely vets. They have never made our animals suffer the way Jinx did the last time I took her to our now ex-vet. 

Last night's fish and chips was a bit of a disappointment. It was far better than any meal I ever had in Melbourne but I have been spoiled with super fresh fish and once you have had that you can't have anything else. I have become a fish snob! Bring on prawn season.

I fear that if I express concern for the plight of those in Gaza I will be labelled anti-Semetic. When will this all end? (and that was, to a degree, tongue in cheek but you get my drift).

Hooray

Thank you everyone. You can uncross your fingers!

Amy has been offered a job. She starts on Monday on a trial basis. It is full time but they negotiated an early start/finish on Sally's dance day. Three says she is the happiest he has seen her in a long time.

A bullard (bully/coward troll like beast who comments anonymously on blogs) asked why Alice was in day care if Amy wasn't working. Not that the bullard deserves my time but some may have entertained the same thought and it has been discussed.

1. If Alice was removed from day care there is no guarantee she would have a place when Amy found work.
2. Alice needs the structure and involvement of day care. She has been going since she was 6 months old and will go until she starts school. They love her and she loves them.
3. There are other reasons but they are nobody's business.

We went for a drive today just exploring the local area. No photos as my cold has got to the stage where if I was a kid I'd be grizzly and fractious.

Himself is watering my veges. We are having fish and chips for dinner. A cold white wine is going down well (purely medicinal to soothe the sore throat).

And I still haven't made up my mind about NSW. Today I am leaning towards going because Himself is doing my head in. 

11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

Today is Armistice Day. It is also known as Remembrance Day.

It commemorates the end of the Great War. The war to end all wars. The war after which we were never going to see such slaughter. Yeah, right.

Did you know that the actual armistice treaty was signed at 5.00am? The French decided that 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month had a better ring so fighting still continued.

2,738 men losts their lives as a result.

Our Indigenous people fought and died in both world wars.

Lest we forget.

sound up, folks and tissues at hand.

Still crook

I have a congested chest and a runny nose. It is difficult to take a deep breath. I am not a happy camper.

We did get into the garden today. Himself mowed the lawns and trimmed the edges and I weeded and planted some more seeds that may or may not grow.

Here is a passion flower - aren't they stunning?

Two zucchinis made it ...

Beans galore. I shall have to thin them out soon.

Baby apples.

Pumpkin and capiscum

Radishes at the top. I don't think the carrots will work as the soil needs to be finer. I planted some corainder and parsley in here and will do more radishes in the next day or so.

Lettuce at the back and seeds sprouting in the middle and rocket at the front.

The gifted tomato plants are doing well. I staked them today. I have no idea how tall they will grow but we have lots of stakes.

The view from my washing line ...

 Amy had a job interview today. Fingers crossed, please.

A bit crook

 

I am sure that there are many affiliations and religions not depicted here but you get the drift.

Whether it is global unrest and the slaughter of innocents, or the persecution of those who are not like us, or the nastiness and fighting in families ... I think we all need to take a step back, a deep breath and try to put ourselves in other folks' shoes for just a minute.

My darling grandchildren gifted me their germs. They were both very snotty - and very affectionate! Hopefully my immune system will shake whatever it is off. I really don't want to get sick right now. Today is a sore throat, tickly cough and general malaise. 

In the meantime I shall attempt to kill the bugs with gin.

Andrew was talking about advent calendars. I like this one. Sadly, it appears all the gin ones have sold out. Next year!! 

Busy, tired and happy.

We had a lovely time with Three and the kids.

On Sunday we had doughnuts for breakfast because ... Lakes = doughnuts for breakfast when you are seven.

We then wandered around the monthly foreshore market and so many people stopped to pat the dogs.

After lunch Amy took Sally to play mini golf and Three and I went for a drive and a long chat. He opened up a lot about his financial worries with Amy still out of work. We are able to help a bit with childcare costs for a couple of months and then we will re-assess. It was nice to spend some time with him.

We took the kids to a playground. I am not sure who had more fun ....

This one can be a right devil but I love her to bits.

On Sunday evening I pulled out a loose tooth for Sally. When it became time for the tooth fairy to do her thing we realised that nobody had anything smaller than a $20 note. Himself made a mad dash into town at 10pm and the bloke at the pub was very understanding and changed it so the tooth fairy was able to leave a $5 note. Phew.

She was a very excited little girl yesterday morning.

We decided to try the Bush Cafe but it was closed so we went to the cafe where coffee group meets - the owner knows me now and I like to support her. Three and I had the best eggs benedict I have had in a very long time. 

We checked out some op shops and Amy found some woollen blankets which were very cheap compared to Melbourne op shops - she uses them to make kids clothes (after washing them, of course).

This isn't one of hers but you get the idea. Very trendy at the moment.

At 2 o'clock we lined up to buy our ducks for the duck race. You pay your money and then pick your ducks from the bag of ducks. Your numbers are recorded and the ducks are put into another bag awaiting the start of the race.

We had a couple of hours to wait and it was a glorious day so Three and Sally went on a paddle bike. Three had to do all the work as Sally's legs aren't quite long enough.

We had a look around the market stalls (two markets in two days - bliss!) and Sally chatted to everyone and told them about her tooth coming out. I bought a hat which was a bit late in the day as my face was glowing by then - too much sun.

Four o'clock rolled around and we had good seats on the wall to watch the race.

They're off ...

Several ducks broke away and were making good progress. The crowd was cheering them on.

The front runners racing towards the finish line (see the crowd on the bridge?)

Tail runners were helped along with a leaf blower.

Sadly all of our ducks seemed to be in the middle of the pack.

We came home to a glorious sunset.

Dinner and more chats - it's amazing how well you think you knew your children until they become adults and tell you things you had no idea about. Some good, some not.

A slow start today and they headed off after breakfast. The house was very quiet and very empty. It was so lovely seeing them. I think they had a good break. 

I hope that they can arrange to do this on a regular basis. We will, of course, have Sally in the school holidays but it is nice having everyone. 

The house coped. Once Alice fell down the stairs she decided to avoid them. The new place will be so much better.

The Mermaid was meant to be coming down this week but for various reasons has changed her mind. I will be driving up to NSW at the end of next week - and the build starts whilst I am away. Poo!

Tonight's sunset was as stunning as last night.
 

A lovely weekend and a very tired Granny who will enjoy a sleep in  tomorrow!