Month: June 2019

I’m hoping not but I’m wondering if a recent purchase may not turn out to be the bargain I thought it would.

The change to really cold nights had us feeling a bit jaded in bed, it’s been comfortably warm but not cosy …..something needed to be done about it.  I suppose as we get older and things don’t work so well we must accept a helping hand to get the desired effect.  So after seeing a product on special last week I popped into the shop hoping it would solve our problem..

Eager to please I set to straight away and sorted things out ready for the first trial run – trouble was it fell short of our expectations and left us feeling rather uncomfortable.

Now I knew there was a difference (as described) between brushed cotton and flannelette ……one side being treated as opposed to two…….but didn’t realise how different it would feel.  What I bought didn’t have that soft cosy feel I remembered from years ago – of course manufacturers have changed, even though the raw product is the same the end result often isn’t.

So I must say our first foray into brushed cotton sheets…….as opposed to flannelette ………has not been as warming as I hoped it would.

Yes, they were washed before use but felt very firm and almost ‘cool’ to touch.  I know I’m being picky when I say there was no give in them  I like my sheets to mould themselves round my body, these didn’t.  They just sort of laid flat over us, the more I tried to gather them round me the more they resisted And it was a riot trying to turn over…..the brushed fabric didn’t allow you to move, our nightclothes kept ‘sticking’ to the sheets so we had to sit up and make a physical effort to turn to the other side.

All I can say about the pillow cases is that they crackled……sounds silly but that’s the only way I could describe the noise I heard as I lay there trying to get to sleep. I’ve never ever noticed any rustling noises in or around my pillows …….’cept for this past week , each time I moved my head there it was again……of course it didn’t bother The Golfer (he’d sleep….and snore through anything) so in the end one night I got up and changed the slips to some of my nice soft well worn (quiet) cotton ones.

We gave them a good trial run, it’s back to our usual ones this evening- here’s hoping for a good nights sleep.  They might go back on again next week but if not I’m sure my soft and cuddly need will be met by my bedmate- if not I’ll nip down to Spotlight for some ‘proper’  flannelette sheets 😊😊

Treats:- Items that give great pleasure.

The trouble with letting some people loose in warehouse type shopping venues is that they take leave of their senses.

I’m not talking about anyone in particular…..ahem….. but a certain person feels that because he is presented with and then eats proper meals most of the time he is also entitled to let his hair down some of the time.  That’s great in theory but can be hard in practice because his some of the time often morphs into a lot of the time.  He’d happily live on sausage, bacon, eggs, & beans with fried bread on the side or sausage mash and beans or even beans on toast if someone ( that’d be me) wasn’t around to remind him of ‘Dr’s orders’  Losing weight plus lowering cholesterol levels don’t come that easily.

I’m not always a miserable grouch providing him with ‘healthy’ food – I also like the occasional comfort food meal as well as sweet (or even savoury) treats myself.  However I draw the line over some things because I’m not known for my self control – if it’s there and I can see and easily reach it there’s a good chance it’ll end up…..well we all know where it’ll end up 😊

Now as a little aside, it may be because we’re getting older and as oldies are known  to do, we occasionally talk about past treats……..things that reminds us both of our childhood……like toffee.  Not the hard, crack your teeth block type, that you break up with a tiny hammer but the soft chewy, cling to your teeth, individually wrapped in shiny paper ones.

Fast forward to a recent shopping expedition to Costco.   Not for our weekly shop items, more for goods of equal taste and quality to what we would buy elsewhere yet slightly better priced because of the size/quantity available.

It’s not exactly a treat making my way round various aisles, list clutched firmly in hand,  because without it I’m inclined to think …..oh that looks interesting, maybe we’ll try that…and then feel rather uncomfortable trying to deal with sticker shock and till roll panic when the grand total pops up.

It’s certainly not a treat when I’m desperately trying to control a trolley that always seems to be twice my height and girth while The Golfer wanders about ‘just looking’ sort of like a hunter gatherer,  returning with bits of this that and the other, things that are definitely not on my trusty list.  Some people might like them but seaweed chips are not exactly what I had in mind for a weekend snack while watching the footy 😊

Lots of his ‘gatherings’ are returned to the shelves – which is good in a way, because then I don’t need to go to the gym……as twice round the enormous barn like place is plenty of exercise for one day – however I did smile when he suggested we walk to the tills down a certain aisle.  Look what he wanted to buy….. a big 1.25kg container of sugar toffees. That’s over 2.5lbs for those in other lands!

Walkers nonsuch is not a brand I’m familiar with –  but how could I say no to his treat when he pointed out the little label on the side.  Gotta love a man who loves to share    😊😊

On Sunday of course ☀️😎

Gloriously sunny…see there are shadows – and dry also.  After all the rain we had it was enough to tempt us to get out and head for the hills; so along with a few other Sunday drivers (not as many as we thought considering how dry and sunny it was) up the Maroondah Highway we went. 

Making our way along the valley, the Yarra Valley, past paddocks with a few cattle, then on to stretches where more and more of the the roadside is lined with wineries. So many rises in the land are covered in vines….

….picking is finished and some of the vines appeared to be about to shed their leaves

……while they’re still hanging on for grim death on some other varieties 

Here we are….about 20 minutes from home …at a small town called Healesville.

Located just under an hour from Melbourne and right in the centre of the Yarra Valley food and wine district, Healesville is also home to some of the region’s most talented artists. Visit some of the town’s galleries and studios, or partake in a leisurely lunch at one of the al fresco cafes and popular pubs. 

https://visityarravalley.com.au/healesville

We weren’t here to eat or drink today – there was an exhibition on that I wanted to see at The Memo.  A free one at that 😊

It was an exhibition by the cartoonist ( satirist, social/political commentator) Michael Leunig   Born and raised in Melbourne – usually just known as Leunig – declared ( believe it or not) a national treasure in 1999!

The exhibits…..many more than I photographed…..were named…(on a flyer which I’ve misplaced) …..which made sense when looking at some trying to work out ‘the meaning of it all’…..all bar one for sale…..pricey…..yet I did see a few red stickers.

Click on the small gallery to see the weird and wonderful world of Leunig.

My little coffee group of friends is minus one at the moment.  One of us is feeling the effects of a winter cold……she’s a bit poorly as they say and quite down in spirits (I did suggest getting her a bottle of one of her choice but was shouted down!)

We all listened to her coughing and spluttering on the phone…….actually you’ll have to imagine a group of us in the cafe, heads down to a phone on speaker trying to listen…….’oh I definitely feel my age’ she said ‘I feel like an old lady, just need a rocking chair and a warm blanket over my knees to complete the picture’  All of 82yrs old and more sprightly than many of us, this didn’t sound like B.

So what do we do, was the question.  Her daughter had put her in quarantine…..don’t want any of you ladies picking it up.  Don’t waste your money on flowers, was also mentioned….yes they are lovely but with the heating on they won’t last two secs.

Crafty people, most of us knitters, homemade knitted blanket for over he knees….the answer was there before us.  Of course, someone mentioned, it had to be perfect – B isn’t a sweet old lady, she is one of those get up and go old(er) ladies……so pastels were out of the question.  A mix of brights and also bright dark colours was agreed on.  Squares to be ready Monday – but which Monday?  Next Monday I got told!

Anyway after working flat out for countless hours thinking get well thoughts and humming some of the songs we know B likes BUT also muttering a few choice words about deadlines, about me being silly enough to choose a brightish but darkish blue from the stash (great to knit in daylight but deadly under artificial lights)….deciding not just to knit plain garter stitch but to put a pattern on them…….yes simple box designs but ones that involved counting…..AND needing them to be perfect in every way….. I finally handed over my contribution yesterday……Monday 😊

As I usually do I took a quick photo before I left home – looking at it later, guess what I saw.  A mistake!  Left front square – sixth pattern up.  I’ve miscounted!!

Oh B….I’m so sorry.

I’m just not perfect enough to make anything Perfect…..your blanket however, will have been made with lots of love and get well thoughts from all of us.

Yesterday was the First day of the month

Saturday June 1…..day 152 of this year 2019.

Yesterday was the First day of Winter here in Australia

It’s been so cold ski resorts have opened lifts early due to ‘dumps’……not for the First time though.  Earliest at Mt Buller (2 hrs up the road) was May 2009

Yesterday was also the First day it didn’t rain all week 

For the First time in a little while it was comfortable enough to work out in the garden – as you can see the little Japanese Maple had developed die back in the middle.  The nursery said, First you must identify the reason before doing anything.  

Could be this, could be that, prune at your own risk!  No idea of the cause – so I pruned – pruned hard – for the First time in a long time!

Yesterday was the First time I used a hot water bottle this year

We’re not fans of electric blankets, my toes were cold at bedtime – I couldn’t remember where I’d ‘hid’ it so had to go hunting. Found lurking beneath summer clothes in one of the wardrobes

Yesterday was the First time I’d been to a Tupperware party this century

It’ll probably be the last time as well

I’ll tell you what, the prices have gone up…… You’d need a bank loan to buy.

I didn’t buy!  Enuff said 😎