Category: All things

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Just one of those months…..

Not the best of months as I sort of knew it would be but we survived……

Thankfully The Virus and all it entailed that had me low for a while has now moved on its merry way – a month ago The Golfer (who doesn’t deal well with sickness in any form) was driving and back at the golf club a week after his first cataract operation – then last week had his second eye surgery…

The day started with an admission time of 7.30am in a day procedure clinic about 25kms from home, take it from me I wasn’t too impressed when the heavens opened just as I reversed up the drive. Contending with early morning traffic while its bucketing down isn’t my idea of fun…..there’s always that one driver who wants to get ahead of everyone else and lane hops all the way up the road….so there was a big sigh of relief when we finally arrived

….it was a more complicated procedure than the first….A Vitrectomy which means I’m still on ‘drops duty’ ….4xdaily for one – reducing frequency for the other – and he is certainly not happy after learning the restrictions on this one could last a while. e.g. no flying, no driving, no golf, no gym, no gardening (digging) or lifting anything heavy – these are just a few- until the inserted ‘air bubble’ has disappeared.

But look, there’s been some laughs…..putting his spectacles on and wondering why one lens was all fuzzy – forgetting his sight on that side had been ‘restored’ – then trying to wrangle the very well secured lens from the frame. With luck (fingers crossed) new ones won’t be needed as there was cataract surgery on the 2nd eye as well

Another good thing to come out of all this sitting around keeping him company is I’ve used up several lots of excess wool ….Voila..…36/20x20cm knitted squares…..with (as requested) long ends left for sewing together to make a large sized cot blanket. Win/Win situation!


Our weather has been changeable revolting…..Spring has been ghastly – Summer starts in two weeks time ……hopefully some dry sunny days will turn up and I’ll not need to turn the heating on again

Last Sunday (Nov. 9) was a miserable cold wet day just right for more bingeing on outback noir…….so after introducing TG to audio books on Libby I set to and enjoyed some of Garry Disher’s ‘Peninsula Crimes’ series where Detective Inspector Hal Challis plays the lead role.

Most of the action – and there’s plenty of it – takes place south of Melbourne on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula..(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mornington_Peninsula)….
an area enjoyed by the rich and famous as well as ‘ordinary Australians’.

📘 The Dragon Man
Peninsula Crimes #1
📘 Kittyhawk Down
Peninsula Crimes #2
📘 Snapshot
Peninsula Crimes #3

November is Novella time so I’ve a couple lined up to see the month out

The Girls on the Shore – Anne Cleeves
(A very short tale featuring Matthew Venn)

The Catch – Mick Herron
(A little bit of spying going on)

Plus
Walk the Blue Fields – Claire Keegan
(Very short stories about life)

See you soon!

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Hidden benefits…..

Your know some of that time spent sitting around watching tv during the lockdowns (all those years ago) did actually have hidden benefits.

According to some paper notes found during a clear out I’ve just discovered that the old adage about never being too old to learn is true

Courtesy of Millionaire Hot Seat  one evening, in the short space of one hour I learnt that:-

  • Polar bear females are called sows, not cows
  • Young turkeys are called Jakes and Jennys
  • Mangos are in the same family as Cashews and Pistachios
  • The stumpy bits on a giffaffes head are called Ossicones
  • Dolorous means sorrowful

And….

  • If I want to go on a really really long trip, the distance from Earth to the Sun is about 150 million kilometres.  How many days drive do you think that might be??

Maybe I’d better hang on to the bit of paper I jotted it down on because how long I’ll retain all that information is anybody’s guess
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It’s Monday Morning here, I’m enjoying my early cup of tea but it won’t be long ‘till breakfast time when The Golfer will join me. We’re on day4 after his cataract surgery – eye drops are a feature of the day (5 times daily) so like when Mummas were ‘on call’ because new babies had to be fed regularly I can’t go far as I have to be around to do these…..because he found he couldn’t see where the drop was going.

Out of curiosity I’ll bring up the subject of the lockdowns (6 here in Victoria- 262 days) with him over breakfast and see what he remembers. I know what one of his answers will be…….he couldn’t go to golf for what seemed like an eternity 😊

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Victoria

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Coming in threes….

Sometimes I wonder about that old saying about things happening in threes – good things come in threes, accidents and deaths come in threes, we say third time lucky and three cheers.  I’m not saying I don’t believe those thoughts but I really sat up and took notice and began to think about them recently……

I’ll start by saying years ago I read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce.

The story about a man who hears an old friend of his is very ill and decides to walk to another town quite a way from where he is living in the hope that she will still be alive when he gets there.  Long and at times a bit ho hum it tells of how he copes with the journey, his attitude and feelings to the hardships he experiences also the people he comes across on his way and how he is a changed man at the end of it.

Later that year while we were away overseas I mentioned the book in passing to a friend and she suggested another book with a similar title.  Called What the Psychic told the Pilgrim by Jane Christmas this is not a novel but a tale (true recording) of the pilgrimage she made in Spain along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (try saying that in a hurry lol).  So very different (much easier to read) and yet quite similar to the other pilgrimage book, this deals with similar hardships and attitudes and feelings Jane has to her fellow pilgrims as Harold had to his.  They both wanted to give up their treks but continued without all the fanfare around them and by the end both had ‘found love’.

That was the year Simon Reeve’s Pilgrimage documentaries were released
Simon Reeve retraces the adventures of our ancestors, and learns about the forgotten aspects of pilgrimage – including the vice, thrills and dangers that awaited travellers.
We watched but like many things these days I can’t remember a thing about it🙁

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Fast forward to last week visiting the library what do I see on a display stand but the Harold Fry book. Curiosity got the better of me and I looked along the C shelf wondering if Jane Christmas’s book was there……that would have had me giggling if it was.

No not there but it turned up on a free internet site (https://archive.org) when I was looking for something else……and look what else I found😊

I’m now wondering how long it’ll take me to finish reading the books I brought home – then I can set to ……reread both books, then rewatch the different episodes of Simon wandering the world

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This goes with that…..

https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Our-services/Waste/What-can-I-put-in-my-bin

Two years on the council is still trying to ‘educate’ rate prayers

Remember the little stickers I mentioned here the other day
The supermarket says they need them to identify the item/fruit so the consumer is charged the correct price.

Here’s the latest letter box drop that came from the council on Wednesday- guess what they’ve singled out as a No No

Those pesky little fruit stickers!
They are plastic but they’re the the wrong sort of plastic to go in the recycling bin so they have to go in the household rubbish
It seems the consumer is saying……I’m fed up trying to work out what goes where so I’ll just leave them on and let ‘them’ sort it out

So now we have three bins with various coloured lids each with its own scheduled pick up week…….thankfully all on Monday morning .
Spare a thought for Sue in Suffolk (in the UK) plus those around her because most of them are soon going to be responsible for 5 – yes, five bins. Where on earth would you house them all
https://attheendofasuffolklane.blogspot.com/2025/10/all-change-in-village.html

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A little glimmer….

You know those things that take you out of yourself and help you realise things aren’t quite as bad as they feel…..

Glimmers are small moments that make us feel a sense of calm, connection, peace, and safety. They are the little things we notice that instantly elevate our mood, even when we are feeling down or are in the midst of a bad day.  Source

Well, visiting friends with acreage at Silvan up in the hills last week, this appeared on the horizon.

A little zoom in and those distinctive colours ‘rainbow’ colours became more apparent

Much much better when visible in real life….not a full arch but enough to put a smile on my (and my friend’s) face…..and forget all our troubles and woes😊

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet – almost but not quite

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Just one question……

Would that be 1 or 2 litre bottles?

Oh and why don’t these ‘new and improved’ shopping trolleys that are finally being rolled out nationwide hold as much as the old style metal ones? And why no hook for your shopping bags?

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Short back and sides…..

The van park was sold at the end of last season so the new owners are managing some things slightly differently. There’s a more casual feel about the place for a start…..

Grounds and garden maintenance is happening as usual , safety issues mean things like tall palm fronds are removed (can’t have them falling down on RVs or campers) but the hedges between sites that provide a bit of privacy have been let grow slight taller. It was nice to not see the square formal look……

…..because it meant that many of the hibiscus hedges were allowed to flower. There was some colour about the place – blooms of different shapes and colours not seen for the past few years were appearing again.

When we got home from Rose Bay on Wednesday The Golfer said……‘something’s different’ but couldn’t put his finger on it
I knew straight away what it was…..

The gardeners had been playing barbers……..

Realistically we know nothing stays the same and what a shock it is when it doesn’t – see THIS POST about my reaction to previous changes here – now changes are happening again.
One that has been welcomed by all the long stay winter visitors is the return to the system where actual sites can be booked ahead for the next year – no more filling in a request form then waiting till the new year to see what/where you have been allocated. Yes, those who have been coming for years become quite protective about their site and want the same one each time plus there’s always one neighbour they don’t want to be parked next to…..

Guess who knows which cabin they are going to be in when they return next year…..

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Days come

Here it is Monday again – wonder what’s in store for this week?
Strangely life has been quite unstructured while we’ve been here this past 8 weeks . We don’t seem to have found the usual rhythm of this time away ….Some years (a bit like at home) there’s been a pattern to the days……but even that has been replaced by an easy come easy go attitude.
Nothing has been planned too far in advance – not much talk about ‘we’ll go here or we’ll go there’ – lots of last minute day before – same day even decisions- if something has been marked on the calendar it’s often been removed/changed if ’a better offer turns up’ 

We’ll just continue to take things as they come – hopefully these last remaining couple of weeks will be a bit a lot warmer than it has been. It’s decidedly chilly when those strong south easterly winds blow (which they have done with a vengeance recently- there seem to have been more Marine Wind Warnings this year than I can remember before) I really would like to get more wear out of the lighter weight clothes I brought with me. Not grumbling- really….just looking at the forecast for home has me shivering 🥶

The wind might be hanging around but for the time being there is no rain forecast. The times it did rain during those cold weeks early on it wasn’t like the torrential monsoon rains that come earlier in the year during ’The Wet’ …..it was constant soft gentle rain just like The Irish Descendants sing about in this song

A gentle mist all heaven kissed
Like teardrops off an angel’s wing
Don’t you know you’ll cleanse your soul
With a walk in the Irish rain

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Anyway there is one good thing to do at Rose Bay on a windy day – as well as sitting in a sheltered spot up the back of the beach

Kite Flying!
This little family had the time of their lives recently with Dad showing the boys how it’s done….

(As I’ve mentioned before- these are taken at a distance, then had miles of sand cropped out. Enlarging shows a much better picture)


The Back has been playing silly bug*ers which is part of the reason for the quiet life …..however it does mean I’ve something rather nice to show you on Wednesday. See you then.

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A boy and his dog….

Some things never grow old…

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An old boy and his dog
(Taken from a distance so best seen enlarged)

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Rules are made to be broken….

We woke to this yesterday morning…….yes this is tropical Nth Queensland but it’s supposed to be the dry season….

No golf for the man and nothing planned for me so it was a slow start to the day.
Cuppa tea? Yes please.
Toast ok? Yes please, that’ll do fine.

Vegemite x 1 – Marmalade x 1 – followed by Fruit Loaf x 2?
Ooh, Yes please…..

And then what did he do but bring it over to the bed…..

Rule of the house- no food in the bed/room.
Which is a bit hard to abide by here as it’s just a big kitchen/living room/ bedroom all in one😊

The bed part could’ve be met……unless you’re really hungry and someone hands it to you on a plate (and we all know that …..sometimes…..rules are made to be broken 🤭)

All gone!

No worries about rain stopping play though…….I definitely had plenty to keep me busy

How was your Sunday?

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It seems….

There’s always one child who doesn’t accept it’s time to go…..

There’s always one young lad who wants to hang around with the big boys…

There’s always a load of old fellas whose hanging around days are over…

There’s always the crowd of onlookers…..

As well as the ever hopeful fishermen in their tin boats with outboard motors….

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So what do you do…..

The inevitable question from ‘new acquaintances’ before we leave home to come up here…..

So what do you do?

As little as possible!

Well last week, when I’d not been out enjoying ‘coffee and cake’

Or enjoying my morning quiet time at family friendly Rose Bay….

https://www.jackcollinsphotography.com.au

Where it’s just been school holidays so I was entertained – at a distance – by…

Little kids enjoying the waves….

Slightly bigger kids enjoying a game of beach cricket…..

And even bigger kids inspired by Qld’s win in the deciding State of Origin game….

You might have found me back at the cabin safely wrapped up in my favourite blanket enjoying coffee, biscuits and a book….

because back at the van park, away from the sheltered space at Rose Bay, those blue skies along with the sunshine might have looked very inviting but there was a definite nip in the wind. It might look cool in the shade but as there was no breeze blowing through the little patio that day I was cosy and warm

Forecast for this week coming – cool nights – pleasant days
Looking good!

(Saturday night went down to 9°c/48f… just a fraction too cool 🙁)

Also fingers crossed the ‘workers’ in the Telstra & NBN vans I’ve seen running around the place have done their jobs properly and reception will be improved

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Wednesday Words and Whimsy

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Up Up and Away….

Busy days coming up this week as we gather everything together for our winter break.

A little earlier than in the past – have to return a little earlier – The Golfer (given the all clear to drive) has a date mid September with his Ophthalmologist for eye surgery

My supplies are sorted, packed up, and waiting to be loaded
There are books to read – a copy of Rosamunde Pilcher’s 700page Winter Solstice being one.
There’s a couple of xstitch samplers to be finished
There is definitely knitting to be done- I’ve decided to make The Trio again – and maybe add a row or two to Mia’s Christmas present
All of that should keep me busy 😊

The Trio – Sirdar 3213, 4265, 4273 – Size 26 chest

Must go…..
See you next week sometime when we’ve settled in

2,500 kms / 1500 miles
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Little things….

Little things bring enjoyment…….

Like the change in season bringing these colourful parrots into the garden. Trouble is they like the Lilly Pilly – the one at the bottom of the garden (at least 20m/65’ away) – but never stay still, flitting around in amongst the leaves and branches trying to find the ‘best berries’ ……then as soon as I start move down off the deck to get closer they’re off and away.
There were several in the tree, one stayed after the others left so here’s a very lucky, very long distance shot when I happened to have my phone handy

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_king_parrot

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And just like that….

Winter arrives the weekend the snow season opens
(Remember cold is relative to where you live😉)

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/06/wintery-long-weekend-to-deliver-snowy-start-to-australias-ski-season

Yesterday, after a chilly low of 4c/39f at about 6am the temp. had risen to a dazzling 5.5c/41f by 11.30. Some of the forecast rain arrived (the garden says Thank You) there were a couple of short bursts of sunshine about 2pm but overall it was dull gloomy rather cool thank goodness I don’t have to go anywhere day all round

And next week doesn’t look crash hot either

And just like that……being a day when we’d rather like the house to be warm – even after a battery change, the remote for the gas heater wouldn’t work. A certain person fiddled around in amongst the ‘ground level workings’ (older model – nothing conveniently located) to find the ‘starter motor’ (my words not his) to do it manually. Move a little switch and it works (it’s safe to use) but something’s come adrift – the casing now has a couple of rubber bands to keep it together- new one $300 – new modern ‘updated’ heater +/- $5000. We’ll be on the road in a couple of weeks so…..it can hold till then. He’ll pop down to Dandenong and pick up a new one (part) when we get back.. Well I think that’s what he meant…..somehow I don’t think we’ll be getting a brand spanking new heater when this one works just fine

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I still miss seeing my brown shadow in her favourite winter spot

Kingswood Maura Delight known to us as Kiera

26 December 1999 – 12 April 2018

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What’s been going on….

When I think of May here in Victoria I’m reminded of rain – years ago the state school year was made up of 3 terms – (not 4 as these days) – so beginning the year in hot summery February the weeks would go by, cooling off gradually until the ‘pre winter month’ of May arrived and with it school holidays. And as sure as fate it always rained….and trying to entertain several youngsters in those conditions when cash was short was trying to say the least. 
This Melbourne related climate change – climate ready pdf (interesting reading dated 2015) mentions the wet 1970’s years and the whats/hows since then and into the future.

No matter what’s going on in the world (and there’s certainly plenty of it going on isn’t there) the weather will always be a talking point
At the moment here in Victoria it’s…..

Are we in drought?
OR
Where has the rain got to?

Proper rain…not the drizzling nuisance sort we actually had yesterday
People living in parts of NSW know full well the answer to that one!

Victoria’s water storage levels are dropping slowly
https://www.melbournewater.com.au/water-and-environment/water-management/water-storage-levels#/
So much so there are plans to open up the controversial desalination plant
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-04/wonthaggi-desal-fired-up-to-ease-dry-conditions/105089636

Anyway we do like to take advantage of our bright sunny (cool) dry winter days like this one last week when we nipped out to the sprout farm at Coldstream …..a fairly quiet morning in the packing shed with everyone else out in the paddocks. Just two smiling faces and the big machine (which does a lot of the work these days)

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A lovely quiet rural scene as we drove past – Healesville here we come
The sheep are down near the vines and the cattle on the flood plain
Not quite the same as ‘sheep in the meadow and cows in the corn’ 😊

The leaves on the vines are changing colour and dying off yet the end of row roses are still flowering – it’ll soon be time for the pruning gangs to be out there….though I think the late yield under the white (keep the birds off) cloth will be out of bounds until they’re all picked
https://www.wineselectors.com.au/selector-magazine/wine/vineyards-and-roses-a-perfect-pairing#:

Then it was off for lunch. Changes to the bistro menu meant I had the most delicious piping hot beef roast – sliced thick country style- as well as chocolate slice for dessert.
Lunchtime special ~ Two courses for $20….

And there’s been changes in our fruit bowl as well.
Australian grapes are just about finished now and their place is being taken by another favourite – Imperial mandarins. Winter sunshine!

How are things at your place – anything interesting going on?

Why don’t you visit Min (who’s about to enjoy a week on the Sunshine Coast) and find out what others have been up to…..you’ll find them HERE

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