Come live love and laugh with me
The weather many of us have been pining for finally arrived
The big blue heads of the agapanthus just oozed Summer
Then we had to pull the blinds down to keep the room cool
Warm days and warm nights.
My bones are finally warming up 😎
It was a beautiful sunny day last Friday so B and I had coffee outside a local cafe and ‘caught up’ with things we hadn’t spoken about on the phone. It always amazes me that we can talk on the phone quite frequently and still find things to discuss in person 😊
‘So what am I going to do’ I asked her.
‘It’s been a b*gger of a week’ I said!
Just one of those weeks when it seemed as though the whole world was out to get me……one tiny piece at a time.
The internet has been playing up – it’s been so slow it’s obviously playing somewhere but definitely not in our house. The ISP says they don’t know what the problem is, maybe changing to the NBN might help except The Golfer is still holding out on that one.
The ironing board wouldn’t stay up so I had to resort to doing a few necessary bits Mother in Law style on the kitchen bench.
The Golfers mother always ironed on the table – using a thick blanket, the sheets she’d laundered that week with a very large piece of towelling on the top. Back then she ironed everything – including my F in Laws white cotton Y fronts!
We couldn’t remember the last time we’d had so much summer rain – the promised La Niña has been making itself known with flooding in states north of Victoria….the rivers are certainly running up there. In Melbourne we’ve had lots of wet days – some very humid – along with some rather nice ones (hot even) but not enough to say it’s the way summer usually is. The BOM is suggesting it’s reached its peak but it’s still going to be wet for the rest of the season over here in the east of Australia. With nearly 6 weeks of summer gone I suppose all we can hope for is a lovely sunny dry Autumn come March.
And that’s the reason for the white fly I discovered on one of the Fuchsias ☹️
As I’m not a pesticide user it means treating with diluted dishwashing liquid.
Which meant another trip to the big green barn for a new spray bottle.
And then there was the embarrassment (annoyance more like) of discovering after sewing two ‘side seams’ I’d actually sewn a sleeve to the back of a little cardigan…..something I don’t ever remember doing before. I did wonder why there were more rows of green above the last white stripe but thought …..maybe I’d miscounted the rows and knit a couple more than needed. Rustle around in the bag for the next piece and out popped the front and not the expected sleeve. Grrr!
‘Come on B help me out here’ was my plea.
‘My usual relaxation isn’t working……the lie down, tense and release each part of the body, quieten the mind and then breathe one. The one from old yoga days. I need something else.’
I’ll have to admit I have never practiced meditation but B has suggested something called ‘loving kindness meditation’. She ‘thinks’ a lot of my irritability/stress is to do with my sister’s illness and basically by quietly sending/reinforcing loving thoughts to her and myself things should in time get better.
And now here…as I’m enjoying an early cup of tea…..is where I have a question for you.
Have any of you had experience with this practice?
is it as simple a process as she suggested or is it difficult to accomplish?
I can see lots of reading and y/tube watching coming up as I consider it but look, any recommendations from you are welcome. Help me out readers please
Joining Corinne for this weeks Monday Musings – sharing thoughts with others.
Joining Denyse for the latest edition of Life this Week.
Joining Esme at her Senior Salon
What with one thing or another I’ve been feeling moody all week
It’s been continually raining and we still can’t go far….5km ruling
to do or even look at anything different
So what better thing Is there to do when you’re moody and can’t go anywhere.
What else but look at …..
Clouds
A collection of tiny drops of water or ice crystals so light they can float in the air!
These clouds were seen in Far North Queensland – in Glacier Bay Alaska –
and close to home in Victoria
Fascinating to look at – hard to capture – do you look at the land or the sky?
~ ~ ~ ~
Clouds reflected on the wet low tide sands of Queens Beach Bowen 2011
This was what we saw two years earlier (2009) on a trip further north to
Charters Towers Qld
The whole of the town spread out below us….under a cloudy sky
2010 saw us cruising Glacier Bay Alaska under a heavy grey sky.
Very quiet & eerie!
Close to home later the same year (2010) I was driving past and saw this big build up of fluffy clouds over the The Dandenongs
If you are interested there are several basic sites online
with easy understandable information
http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloud3.html.
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-clouds.htm
As well as :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud.
http://www.australiasevereweather.com/techniques/moreadv/class.htm
The sky and the sun are always there. It’s the clouds that come and go.
Rachel Joyce
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Photos will enlarge with a click
Linking to My Corner of the World
Linking to Skywatch Friday – where the sky’s the limit!
This is ‘our big girl’ – born in Norwich (Norfolk England) early February 1963
a bitter day in the middle of what has been called The Big Freeze of 1963.
And this is ‘our little girl’ who came along later the next year whilst we were living in Singapore. The hot humid climate suited us all much better lol
Anyway Our Big Girl won’t be happy if she found out I told you how old she was – but what her birthdate also means is that that like most babies born at that time (and previously) in England she was born at home.
Yes, after The Golfer rang her from the phone box at the corner of the street a midwife (very precariously because of the icy roads) came round on her bicycle and delivered our big girl right there in the comfort of our bedroom..
We laugh about it now, but because the bedroom wasn’t exactly the warmest room in the house (slight understatement) she slept in a huge drawer taken from the bottom of a big wardrobe similar to this one.
It was laid on a couple of chairs beside our bed, with the high sides protecting her, she was cosy and warm and out of any draughts – and there certainly were plenty of those in that old house.
How we survived that winter is still a mystery to me. Snow on the ground…two little ones……tiny coal fires (definitely no central heating). The house In Clarence Road was up behind the station, The Golfer was stationed at Coltishall so needed the car, which meant for me it was a walk into town for groceries and back up the hill with a pram loaded with babes and food. Certainly no taxis for us in those days!
Recently I’ve been rewatching the BBC series Call the Midwife – and even though the series was set in a place very different (both in location as well as the mix of people) to where we lived, it certainly brought back some memories of the system used ….like weighing newborns this way ….in a nappy on a hanging scale
I know it was a huge hit in UK as well as here (shown on ABC) and I believe it’s shown on PBS in the USA. Does anyone else keep watching it?
I thought I still had a copy of Jennifer Worth’s book Call the Midwife (first book in her memoir trilogy) on the shelf but it’s nowhere to be found. Shame as I was going to reread it, probably moved it on in one of my ‘clearing out frenzies’.
I’m not sure about you but I find it hard to know whether to read a book first and then see what is offered as an adaptation on the screen (tv or cinema) or do it the other way round. See the adaptation and then read to find out what the original ‘idea’ was all about. Often description in books never seems to get onto the screen and yet sometimes the visuals can turn out much better than the written word.
There are good points whichever way – how do others feel, which way do you prefer?
Winter has little ways of telling us it’s not moving on just yet.
After some great days of sunshine and warmth when shorts and T-shirts put in an appearance yesterday was a bit on the chilly side and this was the forecast last night as I was tootling off to bed…..extra blanket in hand. A low of 5C/41f!
Oh looky looky they exceeded their expectations lol. Don’t you love the ‘feels like’ note.
An hour ago when I got up at 6.30 it was 4.2c/39f……..feels like 2.2c!
Whatever way you look at it that’s b………cold!
And looking at what’s ‘promised’ for the next few days – I don’t think I’ll be going far
Thank goodness the gas heater was (finally) repaired because It’s back to tracky dacks and fleecy windcheaters weather!
Is what I said to myself when I spied this lot down near the washing line.
Seems I didn’t get round to clearing them all up
Well would you look at that, I said to myself when I noticed the orange blooms on the Clivia – they were moved last year and have settled In well.
Oh bugger, would you look at that, I said to myself.
when I noticed the green tips on what last week were bare branches.
That rotten Oak tree of next door’s is having the last laugh!
Linking to various sites:- Bethere2day – My Corner of the World – Natasha Musing –
Let’s just say it’s been an interesting time since Thursday afternoon…..
It was a lovely day on Thursday, fine dry and sunny. Yes, the ones I like. The wind was blowing so washing was out on the line early…..only it didn’t stop ‘just blowing’ but turned nasty late in the afternoon.
An early dinner was made, lights started flickering, I could see stuff flying down the street, I’d just turned on the gas heater to warm up the lounge room and then there’s this huge bang. Lights out and the spot where the motor is sort of exploded.
Problem was power is above ground here in my area; a tree (well more than one) had dropped and felled our main line on the road I featured in Sunday’s post.
Nature has a way of showing us who’s the boss and we weren’t the only ones in this predicament. There are only so many linesmen so many SES crews and so many people affected.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/driver-killed-by-tree-child-fighting-for-life-as-wild-storm-batters-melbourne/news-story/52efedf6460589e5a804245ab3835b07
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/wild-weather-more-than-130-000-homes-without-power-child-hit-by-tree-20200827-p55q1f.html
Had to negotiate road blocks to get to a son’s home….thankfully stage4 ‘stay away from other houses’ was lifted for those affected and their families. Keeping the freezer door closed meant everything was okay…except for The Golfer’s box of ice creams. There was no way he was going to forfeit a brand new supply of 24 Magnums so he deposited them into son’s freezer and left our mobiles and iPads there being recharged.
Fast forward Saturday evening and the crews are gradually making their way down the street.
This is now going to be a very non technical description…….each house has a power line from the cable running along the street, each line has a ‘safety fuse box’ before the live electricity is actually delivered, each ‘fuse’ had blown (not little bits of wire they used years ago but little gadget type things) so they all had to be renewed. The linesman was connecting ours and the meter box sort of went bang, very loudly, with a big bright fizz, enough for the little fella to come out with a few choice words swear very loudly 😊.
After a long wait the main switchboard, main switch, surge diverter and circuit protection were replaced so it was well after 11pm before our electricity supply was connected and the lights are back on again!
Here it is Monday morning and it’s surprising how much better you feel after a long hot bath and a couple of good nights sleep free from worry. All we have to hope now is the weather holds……living in an old house means lots of unexplained cool breezes…..and having no living room heating means I’ll be feeing it ……hopefully when the heater serviceman arrives on Friday (yes we had to wait that long) he’ll have the correct part and we start a claim with Ausnet’s insurance company.
Oh dear I really didn’t mean to write this much to basically tell you …..a huge storm went through…we had no electricity for a couple of days and more….and now it’s back on!
So did anything interesting happen to you last week? 😊
One week of August gone and nothing on the calendar except for a hair appointment made weeks ago (not valid now due to stricter restrictions) and a GP appointment also made weeks ago (still valid – practice open following very strict guidelines)
It’s been one week of bitter cold weather that made its way up from the Antartica – I realise the weather gods will never please everyone but I’d much prefer the hot blast making its way to Europe from the Sahara (the one I’ve been reading about on some blogs). The snow came the other day….not actually in my garden but I could feel It in the air (and my bones)…… and now we have rain and high winds to look forward to….going to be interesting….I see there’s a severe weather warning plus a sheep graziers warning flagged……..let’s just say it’s a good job we don’t have anywhere to go to
We’re busy doing nothin’
Workin’ the whole day through
Tryin’ to find lots of things not to do
(Bing Crosby, Cedric Hardwicke, and William Bendix)
Looks like I’ll be taking my lead from the cat!
You know
Having nothing to do would be good if it wasn’t because of such a serious matter.
Yesterday was almost perfect, one of those ‘just out of the bandbox’ days. A fraction chilly overnight (3°c) then bright sunny dry and for just a little while nearly warm enough for short sleeves. If all winter days were like that I wouldn’t mind being trapped in Victoria and not sunning myself in Qld. Looked outside first thing and thought It’ll be a perfect washing day then sort out the freezer day. I know I know, very humdrum but it has to be done now and again 😊.
Costco had trays of Osso Bucco cut of veal, good sized pieces, each with plenty of meat as well as the ring of bone filled with the lovely marrow, decided to slow cook that for today’s main meal. So looking in the freezer I’m thinking , I’ll just add some extra stewing beef that’ll stretch it to more than one meal, and also I can add the remains of the beef joint I sliced and froze thinking It could be minced and used for shepherds pie….which hasn’t happened and with a little extra liquid maybe I could squeeze 3 days from it.
Onions – tick. Tinned tomatoes- tick. Garlic – oops no fresh not even a jar of minced. Change of plan……plain tinned toms out – ones with added basil & garlic in. Oregano – tick. Thyme – no. Well there’s some mixed herbs in the cupboard which are Thyme Sage & Marjoram…..that’ll do A couple of Oxo cubes for the stock. The kitchen smelt good all day, It might taste a little different but I’m sure it’ll do 😊
Pumpkin soup making turned into an ‘it’ll have to do’ exercise as well. Had the pumpkin and onion chopped then realised no carrots left. Last time I shopped the supermarket was out of them; none loose or bagged not even the cheaper Odd weird shaped Ones. Looks like I forgot to get some from elsewhere. No sweet potato either in the fridge so I ended up cooking pumpkin and white potato soup. With the weather coming up next week it’ll do nicely for lunch.
What weather I hear you ask.
Well this was the forecast when I looked last night and if they’ve got it right today will be like yesterday, then it’s downhill as we’re in for a cool/cold wet week. Just a slight additional word on Tuesday and Wednesday that’s a little off putting. One of those four lettered words I’m not keen on – like wash, cook, iron, mend…….SNOW.
It mentions Mt Dandenong – that’s a bit close for comfort. Right on our doorstep, just a little drive up the road. Hopefully we won’t see it down here in the foothills but I think the soup’s going to come in handy!
It’ll be a day in the garden today – not sitting sunning my self in my sunnies with my knitting by my side but digging, weeding, raking. I’ve looked at it all winter and kept saying to my self – it’ll get done one day. That’ll be today I think. Hope your Sunday is a good one.
I’m sure we all have them.
A week of highs and lows.
In no particular order here are some of mine from last week
The dreaded C virus is still wreaking havoc with life for us Victorians.
High case numbers each day, sadly high death numbers as well. Well meaning ‘lectures’ on not taking this second lockdown seriously haven’t gone down well with some of the community. Wearing a mask is now mandatory…..with no finish date supplied that also hasn’t gone down well with some.
I got to go to the hairdressers again!
Unlike other countries, here in Australia they are classed as ‘essential services’ so after last week’s approved ‘mask less’ appointment I made another another one…….it’s going to be interesting having a trim with a mask on.
Some of Mr Morrison’s money or to give it it’s ‘proper’ name – The Economic Support Payment’ was spent. My very old iPad mini was replaced by a new one delivered to my door. Well, placed on the ground in front of the door after I’d identified myself.
For my needs there’s not a lot of difference, the main plus is it’s much faster and I can now load apps I couldn’t on the old one. I think I’ve got enough jigsaw apps to keep me entertained for a lifetime – here’s hoping this lockdown doesn’t last that long!
There are a couple of things I have to look into though – I can’t comment on blogger blogs, so have to use the old one. Can be frustrating! And the camera takes some strange coloured photos. All I did on the camellia up above was not move position (where I was standing) but zoom in and the flower colour changed from wish washy to closer to true. This bloom is very early, the amount of buds is a promise of things to come later.
This is going to sound like a broken record……we had wet days, dry days, dull days, bright sunny days, beautiful sunrises followed by freezing cold days where the temp. did not reach the forecast. The good thing is those sunrises are coming earlier than they were a month ago. Yes, the season’s changes are becoming noticeable. ‘Close the curtains’ time is getting later as well – for geeky readers, Sunrise, Sunset and Daylength (worldwide) can be found HERE
We have lived in this house for over 40yrs so why am I just noticing a draught round my knees.
If the furniture hasn’t been rearranged for several years and they weren’t apparent before where are they coming from? lol we haven’t spent a winter at home for years so maybe they’ve been there all the time 😊 It’s an older house so windows have been checked, doors closed, I’m beginning to sound like my father when The Golfer goes outside……I have memories of him yelling ‘shut that b*******door, I’m heating a house not the whole b****** neighbourhood’! Roll on Summer!
Kathy ( kathy’s kampground kapers) lost her ‘wife’. Kevin had been a long time permanent at her van park for many years, Friday was the day we knew was coming but didn’t want to read about. This post is a beautiful tribute to her friend.
And to finish, this lovely little posy arrived the other day. From our big girl, she knows her mother well…..the card read – just something to brighten your day’
I’m looking forward to my breakfast and a ‘nice cup of tea’……coffee later. The Golfer has been experimenting with our oldish machine and different pods – a high and a low I’ll tell you about another day. Oh and how was your week just gone? Any highs or lows – you would like to share ?
How could Mother Nature give us this on Wednesday morning?
Blue skies, little bit of cloud and brilliant sunshine – WARMTH
Then give us something entirely different on Friday (today)
Nothing at all – foggy misty – COLD
Because she can I suppose 😊
Linking to Skywatch Friday where people look up and notice.
It was a fraction cool this morning so because there’s a chance of rain….
I’ll more than likely be doing a bit of this….
And possibly soothing my soul with this…
Me missing the warmer days? Never!
Oh if only that were true 😊😎
Still Waters 