There’s one there……somewhere
Any idea anyone?
Fun Friday – the day to leave all the worries of the week behind you
Cherchez la chat…..
You do begin to wonder…..
What goes on at Costco overnight ???
🧶 Stumbleapon
The rain that we hadn’t seen for many weeks came visiting in bucketloads on Easter Monday – (in big big big bucketloads that caused oodles of problems) so all thoughts of outdoor work went on hold.
No worries , that delightful rabbit hole aka YouTube offered up some
‘very different ’ viewing options.
Looking for something else this is what I stumbled upon.
Possibly an acquired taste but you can’t help but watch/listen to them
Enjoy 🧶🧶🧶
https://m.youtube.com/@StephenWest
A man and his money
Are often parted
I say he should have kept it in his pocket
They tasted revolting different.
(No, that’s not the real date – it’s to remind someone when my birthday is😊)
Oh, please, not again…
Many – well if the truth be told, an awful lot – of the people I associate with these days are in the older age group.
So when the person I’d spent most of Thursday morning with – sitting side by side on her small couch, talking laughing discussing (heads close together) – rings Friday morning and says “now I know why I was feeling a bit off” followed by “I’ve just tested positive” I knew I’d have to make some decisions.
Having had Covid once I’d rather not experience it again and even though vaccinations are all up to date…..’had she passed it on or not’…..was the question uppermost in my mind
If she had how soon would I know?
It was over 12 months since that infection (Dec 2022) and the virus has mutated several times since then. I read that with the latest variant it could be just a couple of days or maybe up to 5 days or even more
So even though the guidelines these days for ‘close contacts’ say, carry on as usual but wear a mask I thought it best, just in case I was shedding, to err on the side of caution and cancel a few bits and pieces.
The lovely Celtic Festival was on yesterday – Sunday.
Standing side by side with other retirees, singing away, breathing out and possibly spreading the dreaded virus to all and sundry didn’t seem the right thing to do. So I gave my apologies and stayed home
Today (Monday) is my aged care ‘volunteer’ day.
Testing negative on the day is fine but if it’s during that pre positive time when you’re infectious and could shed it’s definitely a no no – no go!
Tuesday morning is pool time – we’re not packed in tooth and jowl (and silly as I might look walking laps wearing a mask in the water I could do it ) but in fairness to the others I’ll give it a miss.
Same as the knitters group planned for the afternoon – mask or no mask kitchen table gatherings are close contact gatherings and I think best avoided. There’s always next month.
I’ve decided Wednesday’s choir rehearsal is out as well as Thursday evening’s craft. I might be (as one friend put it) overreacting and nothing come of it but I’d be disappointed with myself if it did and I caused harm to someone else.
Yes it’s one of my busy weeks ‘out of the house’ but I have plenty to occupy me at home
Lots to do….apart from housework that is – all was well this morning- no symptoms, negative RAT test result – but it’s early days yet
Is Covid still doing the rounds where you live? .
Are people taking it seriously or are they like my friend and think I’m overreacting?
Live and accept she said.
Monday Musings – a time to ponder and think
Why is it so….
I have no idea why but I definitely agree
And if you cut those triangles in half you get even more !
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And somehow I think the next few days are going to be ‘Sandwiches Days’
because
This was next week’s forecast when I was preparing this post yesterday
All I can say – and many would disagree- better late than never 😎😎
(Although 37c/98f and windy is not a good combination
especially when everything is so dry)
If you’re interested this site provides bushfire and other information .
The blue area is the site of the Beaufort fire from a couple of weeks ago
https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/#
Jingle Bells – the one where we venture outside
Jingle Bells – not a carol but probably one of the most well known pieces of music worldwide…..composed by J Pierpont….it began life as “The One Horse Open Sleigh” in the 1850s….. possibly intended as a drinking song, it didn’t become a Christmas song until decades after it was first performed. source
Love it or loathe it I don’t think it’ll be going away anytime soon – – hear the introduction and I bet your head starts nodding and the words just roll out of your mouth – – or stay inside your head all day😊
Recorded by so many different artists - I’m sure you’d be surprised at who has wanted to get in on the act!.
- The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra plus Bell Ringers have a big bouncy version
- I don’t know when it was actually filmed but this version with Mr Sinatra singing along with Mr Crosby looks (and sounds) as good as new
- I think some of you will enjoy the glitz, glamour and colour of an outdoor Christmas Concert (2022) with Andre Rieu centre stage. There’s singing, mingling, dancing – there’s even a conga line weaving it way through the ‘audience’
- I just love the jazzy big band sound of Count Basie and his orchestra – this version is when they appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show (Dec 1966)
- And the biggest surprise of them all – well to me that is – was this 2009 performance by Andrea Bocelli singing with …….The Muppets!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bells
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Just before you go – Aussie Jingle Bells is just that – a version of the song tailored for Australians who celebrate Christmas when it’s summertime and hot. . The clip is possibly a bit on the Ocker side for some but all good fun. . and the kids love it
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Dashing Through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute (pickup truck)
Kicking up the dust
Esky (A food cooler) in the boot (the Trunk)
Kelpie (cattle dog) by my side
Singing Christmas songs
It’s summer time and I am in my singlet,
Shorts and thongs!
Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way
Christmas in Australia
On a Scorching summer’s day
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Christmas time is beaut
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a rusty Holden Ute!
Engine’s getting hot
Dodge the Kangaroos
Swaggie climbs aboard
He is welcome too
All the fam-I-Iy is there
Sitting by the pool
Christmas day, the Aussie way
By the barbeque!
Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way
Christmas in Australia
On a Scorching summer’s day
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Christmas time is beaut
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a rusty Holden Ute!
Come the afternoon
Grandpa has a doze
The kids and Uncle Bruce
Are swimming in their clothes
The time comes round to go
We take a family snap (photo)
Then pack the car and all shoot through (go home)
Before the washing up.
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Colin Keith Robert Buchanan/Greg Champion
Keeping the tradition alive ….
And what tradition would that be?’ I hear you ask
Taking the children into the city to look at Myer’s Christmas Windows
(Myer is a large department store in Bourke Street)
Windows dressed for the Christmas season
With a new theme each year.
This was the big unveil at Myer 2023
68 Years of magic – Myer Christmas Windows over the years
No children with us last time we went (2014) but we had fun just the same.
This was the year of The Three Bears
Fun for the young
And for the not so young
They are lit from morn to dawn (7.30am – 1am)
Lovely to look at – difficult to photograph!
The large reflected buildings are on the other side of the road
And do you see who I see 🙂
What sort of things are traditional festive outings for families in your town?
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Sharing with Wednesday Words &Whimsy hosted by Min HERE.
Click/ tap or finger slide to enlarge
🧶 And so it begins. . .
That virus (or whatever it was I had) certainly got the better of me and lots of things went by the wayside including (blog and book) reading and knitting so I ended up only making a half dozen of the fair isle beanies – a small effort compared to a couple of years ago for a different charity. I popped In (masked) for a short while the night they were ‘due’, only stopping long enough to hear what the next challenge’ was.
- “Now you all know 4 year old boys don’t want to be little kids – they strive to be big ‘uns. . . trouble is they’re too old for toddler type clothing yet sometimes older styles don’t look quite right on them. Let’s get the grey matter working and see what we can come up with”
It took me a little while dithering around before deciding that my contribution will be a jumper along the lines of The Trio – which will also be a way of using up some of the ordinary ‘run of the mill’ acrylic I favour. It may not be top of the range (remember my run in with the yarn snobs) but it knits well (wears well is what I’ve heard from others with children) and – unlike the red acrylic my ‘friend’ asked me to use – is soft..not scratchy.
A touch of Aran means there’ll be small 4st/4row cables and columns of ‘knit/purl through the backs’ that are crossed at times plus honeycomb up the middle – plain side edges, back and sleeves though….because it’s easier (and less bulky) 😊
And this is what came home from the library the other day
Perfect to keep me company between rows as I set the pattern
Kaffe Fassett in the Studio
I wish I could remember the name of those yellow roses – they and most of the others were planted about 15years ago….as per usual I never wrote it/them down and labels don’t last that long – so I just enjoy them for what they are each year.
The spring flush is coming to an end. Some very hot days, cold wet ones as well as windy ones have given us a mix of blooms with old, current and a few ‘promises of what’s to come’ on all the bushes at the same time
All will be having their summer haircuts very soon
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Wednesday Words &Whimsy can be found HERE.
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Also being Wednesday it’s time to thank Kat for hosting Unraveled Wednesday
Surprise find….
More birthday treats – we had lunch in Healesville last week at a ‘new to us’ place imaginatively called No.7 Healesville……their street number is 7 🙂
The beauty of using gift vouchers is they often take you out of your comfort zone…specialising in Mexican fare using a shared plate system this definitely wasn’t a run of the mill pub lunch affair. I enjoyed it so much I nearly forgot to catch some food photos 😊
Silver trevally ceviche, pineapple vinaigrette, cucumber, purslane – in the bowl
Eaten outside under a big brolly on a sunny but not too hot day it was surprising how filling seven small courses plus wine and coffee was – my very ladylike comment when I got in the car was “Don’t drive off yet, I need to loosen my trousers, I’m stuffed”
Just wondering if we enjoyed it enough to return as ‘paying customers’…will have to think about that. What new experiences have you had recently?
For Joanne. . just because
Marie’s Wedding
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. . .live at Carnegie Hall 1963
Enjoy…
Said many a knitter. . .
There are a lot of flying hours between Australia and North America or Europe. Across the Atlantic as well
Those hours are not happy ones if some official decides to spoils your fun.
These days I’m prepared with a spare ‘set’ in my big bag in the hold
Trying to explain to the other half why I needed a craft shop in a strange city wasn’t a good way to start a 6 week overseas trip. 🧶❤️🧶
Makes no difference
If it’s sung by Male or Female
Indoors or out
House or hall.
With or without a musical accompaniment
Have a listen of these different versions of a favourite of mine
A tale of a young man who just didn’t listen
Down By the Salley Gardens
Down by the salley gardens
my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens
with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy
as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish
with her would not agree.
In a field by the river
my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder
she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy
as the grass grows on the weirs;
But I was young and foolish
and now am full of tears.
Source
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_by_the_Salley_Gardens
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With a forecast like this for next week – I think there’s going to be a couple of stay at home and listen to the band days. . .
It’ll come good in the end…
For the first week or so after we got home I was in a right mess – mentally as well as physically. I was angry because apart from a little hiccup in Bowen I’d enjoyed many months of being symptom free, then something (who knows what) happened on the journey home and I was up shit creek in a whole lot of trouble. Driving was fine, it was getting to and from lunch stops and the last couple of motel rooms when those awful sciatica ‘electric shocks down the leg’ revealed a very different Catherine to the pleasant one known to most of you.
Arrived home on a Thursday evening- nothing available next day so first thing Saturday appt with my chiro ….who kept telling me ‘it’ll all come good in the end’. Reassuring words I’d heard her say before but very hard to believe when you’re in agony. Engrossed in my own misery and feeling very sorry for myself I ignored everyone and everything around me – I tried but The Golfer got very little ‘intelligent’ input from me where the new television was concerned.
‘Flare ups’ are the pits!!
Now here it is the 2nd of October and after two more chiro visits plus stretching and lots of warm water pool therapy I’m feeling much better, walking with ease ( upright as opposed to leaning forward ) and wondering – as often happens – what was that all about?
Anyone witnessing the pity party that went on in my house one afternoon of that first week home would have wondered if I’d turned into a 3year old.
I’ll admit sobbing took place – tears were shed by the bucketload – moaning and muttering words like “ Why me? It’s not fair! I didn’t sign up for this”
Strangely once it was all over I got up, made myself a cup of tea and settled down to knit….feeling much better.
I’m just glad The Golfer was out and didn’t witness it. Yes it would have given him a better idea of how I was feeling but I don’t think he’d have appreciated the ‘emotional side of it’. 😕
I had a chuckle when a friend I’d confided in (who suffers similar problems) sent me something she’d found online – laughing and saying “yes this helps sometimes….but I suggest having a tantrum on the bed ….because it’s a bugger trying to get up off the floor” 👇
THE 5-MINUTE PITY PARTY .
When things are going wrong and I feel overwhelmed, I set a five minute timer on my phone and allow myself to cry, scream, cuss, and release all of my emotions.
We tend to make one of two mistakes – one is not addressing our emotions and letting them haunt us, and the other is spending too much time focusing on the pain.
Give your raw emotions a full 5 minutes of your time, and then get back to swimming.
Unknown
I’m curious to know how others view pity parties – do you think they have a place in our lives – do they work- or should we just grin and bear it – not let ourselves get that upset?
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Being the beginning of October means one month of Spring has gone by already- apart from a couple of cool days it’s been unseasonably warm…….mind you after today’s forecasted ‘warm one’ (27c/80f) nature is reminding us that she is in control and it looks like it’ll be chilly and damp for the rest of the week.
Hopefully the weather will change after that and it’ll come good again.
Monday Musings – a time to think and ponder
And then there were three. . .
What was it that made me smile …
My three GtGrandsons
Big Boy Bentley – Matteo the Maverick – and now Teeny Tiny Taityn
Living Loving Laughing
while they
Enjoy Every Moment
Eat in or Takeaway…
What did The Golfer do when he noticed I wasn’t feeling the best..
He took me out to lunch at The Cove – a special spot with its green tropical garden plus sea views. Lightly booked that day but because it was very warm we decided to sit ‘inside’ under cover. But look, inside or out the food tastes just as good.
Here’s my King Prawn Salad with crispy Noodles – neither of us remember what The Golfer ate so we’ll just have to go again to refresh his memory 😊
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And what was there to do but laugh the day we tried the little coffee shop down the road and it had run out of table space but had room at the outside bar. Now that’s great for those who can clamber up onto high stools – not so for a short legged Catherine having an achy back day. I found a little stool made a great improvised table while The Golfer enjoyed his from up on high
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Then just when I thought ‘all was lost’ and I’d never see it again, what did he do but find my little gold heart and chain – down the back of the bed!
Not one for glamour and glitter this was one gift from him I wouldn’t like to lose.
What would I take…
There are other sentimental items in my life but if we had to leave home in a hurry the charm & chain along with the beautiful pearl ring that did not cost a fortune- (story recounted here) – another ring (found in an op shop) so similar in design that when worn together they look like a matching set and my mothers very thin ‘9ct utility’ wartime wedding ring which I wear in front to hold the two together would be what I’d pick up first.
[This was a fun trivia question at a recent mixed Probus gathering- men v ladies. The answers were surprising….not all ladies opted for jewellery- not all men opted for power tools. Most mentioned photographs.]
Rhonda has returned. . .
For a while there after the death of her husband Rhonda Hertzel of Down to Earth fame continued to write on her blog.
Then in February this year she decided to concentrate her writing on another area of social media.
However recently she’s had a change of heart and has reopened her blog.
Welcome back Rhonda. . .those who don’t do Insta have missed you
Pop over and see how she’s moving on and rethinking her simple life in Queensland
DOWN TO EARTH can be found HERE
I’ve arrived- and to prove it, I’m here!
Those words always remind me of Educating Archie – an old 1950s BBC radio programme ‘starring’ Peter Brough and his male ‘dummy ‘Archie Andrews.
They were one of the catch phrases used by Max Bygraves
If you want a trip down memory lane, this link – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educating_Archie -.
which includes names of many of the other actors/comedians and catch phrases is the place to spend a little while. Some of you might remember ‘jolly hockey sticks’
I’m actually just letting you know I’ve ‘arrived’ and have updated the previous post.
Will be back later in the week 👋👋
I know the feeling..
It’s a bit like this in our house some days….
Wordless Wednesday- no words needed
It’s a man’s world….so they think
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Wordless Wednesday- no words needed
Still Waters 