Month: November 2009

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Come see the Golf Course

The golf club Dh belongs to gives memebrs a special birthday lunch each year
so as he’d been away at that particular time
we popped over there this past Saturday
Its about a 20 min drive from our place
out through Lilydale on the Maroondah Highway
to Healesville
Wasn’t looking too good a day – lots of cloud with the hint of rain
so I didn’t put on the summer dress
BUT
Did put the brolly in the car
in case he wanted to stroll around and the rain came down lol
Took this shot as we left Lilydale
some blue sky there amongst the cloud
The roadside stalls were there on the right
Stallholders all rugged up and expecting the worse
I hadn’t been along this road for a while
so was quite suprised when we arrived at the Melba Highway turn off
The road works promised for many years are well in progress
Who can forget trying to turn right onto the Maroondah Highway
impossible when its busy
If we are coming home through Yarra Glen we turn at Victoria Road
and miss this turmoil
Very soon it will be controlled by traffic lights
Bit of a shame really ‘cose once you leave Lilydale
you tend to think you are out in the country
These photos are best viewed when you click and enlarge them

These are not far from that intersection
where it turns into arable farm land
Seeing as we are here I thought you’d like to see the Course lol
This one I took from the back of the club house
Thats Mt Riddell in the foreground
And the next two are my favourite way to come home
Driving up a road close to home
I love the way the trees at the side have always grown
towering over the top of the road
giving the impression of driving in a tunnel

Oh by the way lunch was delicious
they even gave him a teeny tiny birthday cake lol
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I need a laugh

This arrived in our inbox this morning – gave me a laugh
Hope it does the same for you
Cathy
THE LOVE DRESS

A woman stopped by, unannounced, at her son’s house.

She knocked on the door then immediately walked in.
She was shocked to see her daughter-in-law lying on the couch, totally naked.

Soft music was playing, and the aroma of perfume filled the room.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked.

‘I’m waiting for Justin to come home from work.’ the daughter-in-law answered.

‘But you’re naked!’ the mother-in-law exclaimed.

‘This is my love dress,’ the daughter-in-law explained.

‘Love dress?
But you’re naked!’

‘Justin loves me to wear this dress,’ she explained.
‘Every time he sees me in this dress, he instantly becomes romantic and ravages me for hours.’

The mother-in-law left.
When she got home she undressed, showered, put on her best perfume
Dimmed the lights, put on a romantic CD,
Then lay on the couch waiting for her husband to arrive.

Finally, her husband came home.
He walked in and saw her lying there so provocatively.

‘What are you doing?’ he asked.

‘This is my love dress,’ she whispered, sensually.

Always Remember This:


You don’t stop laughing because you grow old,


You grow old because you stop laughing

‘Needs ironing,’ he said, ‘what’s for dinner?’

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Heres some more of the story

So what went wrong?
Well I don’t really know
– maybe we all expected too much –
it was obvious things weren’t the same with our friends as soon as they walked in the door.
They certainly weren’t the same couple we said goodbye to only a few weeks ago
so the week was a bit strained at times
and it was a blessing the men played golf several days
as I’m sure if they had been together all the time
there would have been a public slanging match.
The changeable weather didn’t help
one day pouring the next dry but cold
another hot and then back to cool and wet again.
When the men were at golf
we also went out and about
I drove so my mind was thinking about other things
beside the nasty comments that had been flying around the  unit
Unfortunately my dear friend didn’t open up to me
so we are none the wiser as to what the problem is

Sadly I admit some days I was glad to get back
as she was starting to annoy me with all her whining

Don’t anyone mention flies
I heard enough about flies and how bad they were
and how she felt about them
last week
to last me a lifetime lol

Thursday we all drove down to Shepparton for a visit to the SPC-Ardmona cannery place
which is now in the centre of town
and not out at Mooroopna
We wandered round the Chinese Garden and looked at the Mooving Art (painted cows)
While we were at lunch we were entertained
(looking out the windows)
thunder lightning and flash flooding – the lot
At one point the rain was coming down so heavily
we couldn’t see across the street.
They talk about a band of weather going through 
Back in Numurkah 20 mins up the road
they only had a little bit of rain hardly enough to wet the ground lol

Anyway would you like to see what I picked up for the grand sum of $10??

All from a fabulous place in Cobram called Anthony’s Place.
Last year they were calling themselves the biggest Op Shop in Victoria
but that seemed to be missing from the door the day we drove up there.

The lovely cane basket in fabulous condition
is to put near my chair
It can join all the others
that hold stuff on the go

Several books at 10c each
– some I’ve been meaning to reread for a while-
the crafty hardbacks were 20c
I nearly went wild with joy when I saw a bag with
200grams of some white Bendigo Mills 2ply pure wool.
The whole skein for only $1

I found some lovely tweedy balls of Paton’s Jet, a chunky yarn
(70% wool and 30% alpaca mix)
at just $1 a ball
I’ll use it for slippers and mittens next year
As well as several balls of green 5ply pure wool
–McMahon’s Farm a NZ brand –
they will also come in handy when I’m knitting mittens next year
$1 the lot
And for 20c the sweetest little ribbon rose hanging
that looked too good to have been given away.
Certainly much better than I could do
A brand new plunger coffee pot (Bodum brand)
a much better size for 2 than the big one I have,
a steal at $1
Small glass jug and sugar bowl to replace the ones I broke not long ago
Another glass decanter same size as the one we use
A nice large glass jar with a sealed airtight lid
There isn’t marks on the glassware
its the light in the kitchen
making it look that way
I don’t often talk about my shopping hauls
But I was pleased with these and wanted to share
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How did it go

Family were on the phone late last night after we got home
asking how we enjoyed the week away
Well says I
– we had a bit of this and a bit of that –
certainly not a repeat of  last year
by any stretch of the imagination
Driving up in 40c heat was a nightmare
the aircon in the car wasn’t too happy
After the very high winds all the way from Melbourne
we encountered this dust storm in Shepparton
Kept the visibility down for a fair way on the last 20mins to Numurkah
Next morning after storms during the night
we had rain for the best part of the day
The men endured it on the golf course
and came back to the unit miserable
we ladies went into town and did a bit of shopping
Then stayed home
Sunday we went up to Yarrawonga
Wandered round their fabulous Farmers market
In the rain lol
Then drove over to Mulwala to look at the lake
Very dark in one direction
Not too bad in the other
Had lunch at the Services Club
let the men check out the Airyplane in the carpark 
(being ex aairforce they knew what it was)
they had no idea what the tank was tho lol
Unfortunately the rainy days had no effect on the Lake at the resort
The years of drought have really taken their toll
and its nearly dry
One evening we had a fabulous sunset
Thought the sky was on fire
Dh and I had a drive to Benalla one day
It was so good to be driving
on small country roads
and not the big main highways
Sky was still cloudy
No rain that day tho.
Had to have a day away from the other couple
I’ll tell you more another day
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Camera Critters

Theres nothing like the thrill of seeing something unexpected
On the way home to Victoria
from our big trip up north to Queensland last September
Right in the middle of nowhere on the road from Charleville and Cunnamulla
Not far from the Queensland / New South Wales border
we suddenly came upon this flock of Emus
They were just sauntering along inside the fencliine
moving at what seemed a gentle trot – if thats what Emus do lol
Never having seen a wild Emu we didn’t know what to expect
We slowed the car down when they sort of came to a stop
but once I stepped out to try and get  better shot
they took off again

So these are not the best
But seeing as how I’ll most likely never see wild ones again

I’m happy with them
Hope you are too
I’ve actually cropped them to try and get a closer look
I did have the zoom on but they were quite a way a way
and also on the other side of the road 
behind a fence
But if you click the photos
you’ll get a much better look
If you are interested here are some links with information on Emus
http://www.australianfauna.com/emu.php
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/TheEmu.htm
click here
to see more Camera Critters from around the world
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On the road again

Yes, that means dh and I are about to take the car on a road trip.

Not too far from home this time.  About 2 hours from here, up the road to Numurkah.   which is a relatively small town – possible 4000 pop.  

Going to take advantage of a birthday present – we gave to each other lol – a week at the lovely resort we visited this time last year.  Called the Lakeside Country Club its just the place for a fairly quiet time just before the heoliday season starts.

Our friends from Adelaide will be joining us again this year, we had a fun time last year and I know you can never relive fun times as its all in the spontaneity of the moment but we hope it turns out the same if you follow my thinking.

Even tho Numurkah is a small place the drawcard for the men is the Golf Club next door and for the girls – trips to local towns to see what treasures we can find in their opportunity /charity /thrift shops.  We can take a short drive south to ‘the big town’ Shepparton or a short drive north to Cobram and other places on the magnificent River Murray.   Theres an indoor pool as well as an outdoor one, walking tracks along the river bank, tennis courts, mini golf and loads of other things for the times we don’t go out.  And of course there’s my knitting and some reading. 

Another hot day here in Melbourne and more to come.  Next week will hopefully be cooler – and possibly wet.  Both here at home and further up the Guolburn Valley Highway which is where we are heading today about lunchtime.

Bye for now, off to take the cats to the boarding cattery.  See you soon

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Watery Wednesday

North Rustico
PEI Canada
Talking to a cousin the other day he said ‘Do you remember’
How could we forget
We have visited them in Nova Scotia many times and
on our last trip in 2006 we spent a few days on the island
on the other side of the very long bridge
where they don’t charge coming from the mainland
but do so going back from the island lol
Believe it or not it’s in this photo – way in the distance
click and the photos will enlarge

During our time there we did the obligatory Cavendish and Anne of Green Gables thing
and then we droppped in to this little fishing village
to stretch our legs
Unfortunately camera batteries played up
so we only managed a few snaps
Not the best photo of me and the cousins wife but I love the lighthouse in the background
Its set almost in the village
and has actually been moved
from its original position closer to the shoreline
They had some wet days while we were there
but that didn’t deter the lighthouse visits
Here on a rainy day is West Point Light
Not a working light but used as a guest house
Has a lovely gift shop!!
http://www.canada-photos.com/north-rustico-lighthouse-prince-edward-island-3205-pictures.htm
http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=946
click here
to see more Watery Wednesday post from around the world
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Now you didn’t hear me say this…….

But today has been lovely.

Nice and cool – so much better than the heatwave we have endured this past week.  November is supposed to be in the 20s/ low 70s – not scorching hot.  That can come later – like in the New Year – February sounds about right lol

Right now we should be having pleasant days, great to be in ths garden days, lovely to take a walk days, sit outside and read days.  Not hide in the house days, run to the line with washing – turn around and its dry 2 seconds later days.

I must say that the extra insulation (courtesy of the Federal Government – thank you Mr Rudd) seems to have made a fabulous difference in the house temperature. 

I had the cooling on for a short time on Monday, that was the day they installed the insulation, and it hasn’t been on since.  Its been fine to just have the fans on – the small breeze they make as they move the air round has been enough to keep us comfortable.

Now we all like bargains – don’t we!!

I have a sleeping partner going cheap if anyone wants him. 

Just one drawback – he snores. 

Not all the time – just some of the time. 

He also is oblivious to kicking, shoving, pushing, being rolled over, being shouted at and many other things I might happen to do.

I had enough of it last night and decided I’d go into the other bedroom.

Big sob story coming up now lol

Bugger – I forgot to take all the stuff off the bed that was put there when I vacuumed the other day.  Made a mental reminder to self to take it all to the op shop soon.

Stood in the hallway and felt so angry at myself I had tears in my eyes. 

Too tired to even start taking it off so I moved on (in the dark) to the back bedroom – laughingly called the Computer Room. 

Thankful it was turned off and not downloading something, means there would be lights flashing on the modem and a hum in the air – too tired to unfold the sofa bed, it would make a noise and he’d come down the hall all umpety about being woken up. 

I’d go back to bed and then lie there trying to get to sleep and he’d be playing nasal steam trains in 2 seconds flat – been there done that!!

So I pulled a blanket and pillow out of the cupboard and lay there on the couch wondering why its always the other person who has to move and not the noisy one lol 

Finally slept most of the remainder of the night – he was unaware I’d gone till he woke.

‘Was I that loud, why didn’t you wake me.  Oh I need a drink of water, I’ve got such a dry nose and throat’

Hopefully there won’t be a repeat performance tonight.

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Todays Flowers – Nov 09 – 3

Clematis
which believe it or not belongs to the
Buttercup – Ranunculaceae family
The other weekend we went to visit friends in Clombinane
They have a beautiful garden
– very old –
their house is reputed to be one of the oldest in the district
It suffered a lot during the ghastly hot summer we had earlier this year
As well as nearly coming to grief when those awful bushfires in February came right up to the back fence
They didn’t think this old clematis (of unknown origin) would survive
But it did
and is slowly growing back up an archway
She tried to explain to me what were the petals
and what were the sepals
but all I could see
was that what I thought were the petals on the flowers
were spaced quite widely
And were in various shades of lavender.
I’d like to share them with you
Here are some gardening links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clematis

http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp9/clematis-aristata.html
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866499.htm
click here
To view more of Todays Flowers
from around the world
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SkyWatch Friday

Very strange looking photos taken early evening on October 28th 2009
The whole of the sky was coloured
it wasn’t just concentrated to the westerly sunset view
Pink and blue in some parts of the sky
and what looked like orange and purple in others
Hasn’t been anything like it since
For more worldwide Skywatch Friday scenes
click here
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Seeing where the fire came to

Some of you may remember after the terrible fires we had here in Victoria last February I did a post about how my Dh (an exserviceman) and his old mates kept in touch and up to date with the happenings of others in bush fire areas.

You may like to read –all about that time here

Well,  this past Sunday some of the group went to his place for a BBQ.  We drove up to Clombinane along the Hume Highway and as we got closer it was evident some of the burnt areas were not regenerating but there were so many other places that were.  Its strange to see what from a glance are creepers growing up black trees but when you get closer find it the tree sending out new leaves all the way up and along its branches.  Sorry no photos of this – Dh was driving too fast and my head was swiveling from side to side as well

Anyway we wandered round Mike’s property and he took us down to the back fenceline – which is not that far from the house – and showed us where the fires came too. 

Now that was an eye opener

The trees here are having a hard job regenerating and theres a chance some may have to be removed.  Some Australian trees have a built in mechanism for renewed growth after fire but it seems the flames and heat have gone right down int to the root area and the damage there often stops any regrowth.

for a clearer view you may need to click on the photos
All those trees on the other side of the paddock and those to the left and for quite a distance beyond were ablaze – the paddock was burning as well –  like an inferno Mike (who was a CFA volunteer for many years) said- something he’d never seen before.
I forgot to charge my camera battery so I only have myself to blame for a lack of photos.  I managed a few before the red light came on and it died  Will share over the next few days.
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Hello again

Seems like all I’ve done recently is seek out and talk to tradesmen
Well that is when they are available to speak to:(
We want to get a new roof put on over the back deck
and only one of the tradies
who were ‘definitely coming’ to give us a quote turned up
so where are the other two?
One rang and said he forgot!!
He’ll ring again when he has time was what he told Dh
Who can afford to forget the chance of work??
The other, well he just didn’t turn up
– and isn’t returning phone calls either-
So……… I’m looking forward to the quote
from the very nice chap who did come
and was the one recommended by a friend who had used him
Fair comment I think.
Then the other Monday we took advantage
of the Federal Governments scheme
of a $1600 grant towards the cost of insulation in the roof.
We did have some up there but it was put in back in 1973
and if the truth be told
there have been days when it ‘s been very hot in the house
so if theres something going for free I’m all for it lol
That also took some organising
as the quote man was going to be interstate
and not available for a few days
and we knew the scheme in its current form
was ending next week
so I was on tenterhooks wondering if we’d get the papers in on time
Of course this Monday – the day of installation
 we were going to have a stinker of a day
and I half expected them to ring and cancel
‘cose of the heat and occ. health and safety issues
Working up in the loft would have been awful
– but they came –
I felt like their Mother putting jugs of water near the ladder
and telling them to keep drinking so their fluid levels didn’t drop –
Its great as we can tell the difference already :))
No airconditioning needed the past days even tho it was well over 30c/85f
We grizzled ‘cose spring came late
and I’m beginning to think summers arrived early lol
After blooming gloriously
look what this hot weather is doing to my lovley roses
Looks like I’m going to have to go out there with the secatuers soon

Fire season has started
There are several alight in various parts of Victoria
and there have also been some in others states as well
Actually some of the other states have had stinkers as well
Adelaide and South Asutralia are not faring very well
with all their days over 35c/95f so far
and more predicted
Maybe they could do with these tradies
to provide a bit of cool relief lol
Well I must go and do some grocery shopping
There are renovations going on at the shopping centre up the road
A new Aldi is going in
– we have Safeway and Coles there as well –
but for some reason or another
they have used some of the car parking for the building
Also the underground parking
– a boon on a hot day –
has gone as well
There are going to be times when it will be hard to get a park
but its just too far to walk and carry things home
Maybe I should find a nice young bikie
who’ll take me shopping lol
I seem like a bit of a Moaning Minnie today
Hopefully I’ll be better next time
Do hope you are enjoying the photos I’ve been posting recently
You will let me know if they are getting boring won’t you
Bye
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Horseshoe Bay Bowen – Watery Wednesday

Horseshoe Bay
Bowen
Northern end of the Whitsundays
August 2009
This is a photograph I found on the Internet
before we left for our trip
And below is what it looked like the day we went there
Taken from the same spot up at the lookout
Its a very small bay
– almost deserted that day –
but because its protected from the wind
can become very congested at times

A friend and I drove down there very early in the morning
when the fellas were at golf and it was so quiet
By early afternoon we couldn’t move lol

Lovely clean sand – warm waters
Because it protected the water is warmer
than round the corner at the other beaches
It also has rocky outcrops
good for snorkelling
http://www.tourismbowen.com.au/beaches/beaches.html
http://www.sailing-whitsundays.com/WhitsundaysPlaces.php?id=25
This is my contribution to
Watery Wednesday
To see more Watery Wednesday posts from around the world
Click Here
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Todays Flowers – Nov 09 – 2

Callistemon
sometimes called Bottlebrushes
In many Melbourne suburbs
the councils have used Callistemon viminalis as street trees
In fact my neighbour has some in his nature strip
(shame he doesn’t cut his grass
as often as we do lol)
The main flowering season is about this time November
and they are really noticable
with their bright red ‘brushes’ there for all to see
They are often used as car park trees
and I snapped this as I walked back to the car
the other day
I reckon they are blooming so healthily
 ‘cose of all the rain we had recently
The past few years there has been very little winter rain
and they certainly haven’t looked as good as this for years
Lovely big red ‘brushes’ just hanging there
If you look closely the flowers really do look like bottlebrushes
Things happen in car parks
they get broken or walked on or even driven over
but these happy Australian Natives 
just seem to get on with life
(like all us Aussies lol)
and start growing again
click on the photos for a larger clearer view
http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp12/callistemon-viminalis.html
http://www.anbg.gov.au/callistemon/index.html
Click here
To see more of Todays Flowers worldwide contributors
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Camera Critters

Last August we visited a friend who has chooks (chickens)
and as I watched these two pottering around the garden
it looked like they were deep in conversation
click the photos to see them more clearly
He then  met up with another one
Hello my dear
I haven’t seen you for ages
Hows the family
How do you like my new tail feathers
Well I must be off
Oh Hello
I didn’t see you there
Should watch where you are walking
Can’t see through these bushes can we
Someone should do some pruning!!
I say if you have a good look around
theres a whole lot of good things in this ground
Oh well
I must be off
Really must go
In a tearing hurry
Got to see if theres any tea on the go

Might be some eggs in the cupboard
Don’t they look grand
Had me enthralled for ages lol
For more Camera Critters
click here
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Skywatch Friday

The weather forecast on Tuesday said cloudy
with a chance of a storm
but we decided we’d still drive out to Warburton
Not far from home on our way to the Yarra Valley
Lots of blue sky there somewhere
but the clouds had started gathering overhead
Out along the Warby Highway they turned grey
They hung around the whole time we walked along the riverbank
Luckily we made it home
before it really turned nasty later in the evening
click on the photos for a clearer view 
To see more worldwide Skywatch posts
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Watery Wednesday

It is hard to compare this quiet stretch of water
that flows beside the small Victorian town of Warburton
With this broad expanse of water
that flows through the Victorian city of Melbourne
Both are the Yarra River!!
click on the photos for a clearer view
For more Watery Wednesdays from around the world
Click here
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Look what I saw today

Today is the first Tuesday in November
Ask any Melburnian what that means
 and they will answer
Cup Day
Most Australians will know
but its only in Melbourne
that there is a public holiday
to celebrate at
Horse Race
Anyway we weren’t going to Flemington
or anywhere near a racetrack
or a pub
or friends home
to watch the race
so we decided to go for a drive
We drove out to Warburton
and walked along the river bank
Lots of others out enjoying the sunshine
but I’ll tell you all about that another day
So what I did see and am quite excited about
It was this bird
The Australian White Ibis
We saw several at Healesville
when we stopped for icecream on the way
Foraging around the tables
at the cafe
We had seen the Straw Necked Ibis in Bowen
but never managed to sight the white one
It made my day lol
There is another White Ibis called the Sacred Ibis
It also has a slightly different name
Here are some links if you are interested
Threskiornis molucca – Australian White Ibis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_White_Ibis
Threskiornis spinicollis – Straw Necked Ibis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw-necked_Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus- African Sacred Ibis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Sacred_Ibis
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What does it take to make you happy

It doesn’t take much to make me happy.
It’s often the little unexpected things that make me feel truly happy
Things like enough cash to pay the bills
and enough food to keep me from being hungry are a given
but I also need enough sunshine to keep my spirits up
and not send me down to an awful place I have known in the past
(sunshine and clear skies does help my mood).
Three times recently I was surprised by family
and in turn ended up feeling really happy
We have a granddaughter who lives interstate with her mother –
she doesn’t have much contact with her father (my son)
but thanks to the Internet is able to keep in touch with us.
An email arrived here after our birthdays
saying Happy Birthday to Dh and me
and also to Dad (sons birthday is also at the that time)
– mystified I looked at the properties and there was his email address –
so I was happy she was actually in contact with him.
Then a few days later I signed into messenger and up she pops to say hello.
We chat for a little while and then she says she has to go
‘cose she’s talking to her Dad.
You could have knocked me down with a feather
 â€“ she said he’s been chatting to her on the odd occasion they are online –
not for long but enough to be there for her.
Another happy feeling:)
Today was one of his boys’ birthdays
(the grandson turned eight)
– they also live interstate but not in the same state if you follow me –
this little lad is very quiet,
 Like his mother (son’s wife) he keeps everything close to his chest.
Normally we just get Yes and No answers
and nothing else
 so what a surprise it was when we rang
to have him chatting away
like we would never speak to each other again
– and the little brother was just as chatty –
so I said goodbye feeling happy again.
Then later today I nipped to our local ‘little’ supermarket for a few bits
and what do I see in the car park!!

A whole line of new trolleys
 â€“ yes brand new –
shiny new, put out first thing this morning
which means nobody has had their dirty hands on them
or filled them with goodness knows what
they have wheels that roll wherever you want them to
with no sticking or turning corners
when you want to go straight ahead.
Now that
really makes me
truly HAPPY!!
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