Tag: Day to Day

Posted on

Spring 2023 Week 8

Our week has been like this
Cool Cloudy Cold even
Warmish at times Wet to very wet at other times.
If the sun shone it was a welcome change to the dull days

Tuesday was forecast to be dry and sunny so an executive decision made it sheet change day – yes, that’s the day I wrote about on Wednesday, the day when we went out and about and then I was faced with making bed late in the evening.

Anyway as we’re over half way through spring, each time a warmish day/night has turned up I’ve contemplated changing back to summer cotton sheets, then looked at the upcoming overnight forecasts and decided ‘No, we’ll stick with the warm and cosy ones I told you all about a couple of years ago.

Here in my outer east foothills suburb Tuesday’s o/night was 3c/37f – Wednesday was the same – Thursday 5c/41f…..whatever way you look at it it was cool chilly or if you think like me ‘down right cold’.
Good thinking Catherine!
Tonight’s forecast is for similar so Warm and Cosy is the way to go for a little while longer I think😊

Highlight of the week was lunch at Healesville – a belated birthday lunch for us both – not on sunny Tuesday but a cloudy wet Monday
No food photos but one from the upstairs lounge

View from lounge at The Golfer’s 2nd home in Healesville
Mt Riddell in the centre

Mount Riddell (829m/2 720ft a.s.l.) is a mountain in the Great Dividing Range in Australia. The prominence is 162m/531ft.
source


Last September the BOM declared that our three wet years of La Niña were over and we were now in El Niño phase – very dry hot days ahead. Even though we whinge a bit because we’re a little chilly at the moment and it would be nice if it was warmer, there were some very hot days (almost heatwave conditions) last month, and four states have experienced bush fires already so it’s definitely not looking too good for our summer

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/.

https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/news/2023/september/expert-commentary-el-nino

https://www.9news.com.au/national/weather-forecast-australia-2023-la-nina-el-nino-explainer/40c4efbd-42cc-4426-8d75-bb6757aa455c

He’s back: What the return of El Niño means

Posted on

New day – new way

Today I start a new job!
On a new day as well!

Another rearranging of volunteers – positions – days – has me agreeing to coming in on a Monday and trying something new
Actually I’ll be doing two jobs….. .

One week I’ll be assisting the hairdresser

On the alternate week I’ll be assisting the ‘tour leader’ on outings to local cafes


I’ll still be listening, talking, laughing, comforting, encouraging, entertaining, guiding, reassuring (and many more things) – just in a different setting.
Sounds good to me!

Posted on

All gone…

The international exercise that used Bowen as one of its bases (the one I wrote about last month ) has finally come to an end
And if you’re a little bit strange like me some of you might be interested in this detailed ‘wrap up’ article released by the Defence dept.
It includes many Facts, Figures, Places Where, Reasons Why …plus mention of the four servicemen who lost their lives down the coast near Lindeman Island.

The exclusion zone ‘warning’ notice boards found near various beaches and other spots in town have now been removed – see how the little arrow I added shows how close that area was to Rose Bay and why we saw all the ships moored there, prepared and ready…we weren’t quite sure what for though
(It turned out that US military and the ADF built a 540m floating pier at Bowen, Queensland.) source

At the end of the allocated time they moved off slowly, one by one, over several days – turning east and sailing away. Past Gloucester Island and off into the Coral Sea.

So by August 19th they had all gone and the seas were ‘empty’ again.

And it was almost like magic (or perhaps coincidence) lots of families began to arrive for an early Saturday morning dip. There were balls to kick and buckets and spades for the littlies, as well as sea kayaks and boards (of all shapes and sizes) – children here are so confident around water.

Now our mornings are back to watching gentle peaceful views like this – a single yacht sailing by in a northerly direction.

Winter is coming to an end and I’m going to miss this when we leave for home in a couple of weeks time 🙁

Click/ tap or finger slide to enlarge

Posted on

Snippets of life….

One thing I do like about the ‘new’ pool I’m going to is the warm hydrotherapy section.
Trouble is it gets busy, full of people trying to encourage their body to work. I’m sure every senior and injured person in the area uses it. Many just hang/stand around the edges in little groups ‘relaxing’ and I’ve unintentionally ‘listened in’ to some strange conversations

Warm water hydrotherapy pool
Lane swimming limited by classes, baby play and toddler teaching pools at far end

Last week’s overheard gem – between a couple of ladies (who had previously told me they both have ‘bad backs’)
Are you a scruncher or folder?? “
“Need a few stretches before I can reach round there”
“I have to scrunch because I can’t reach under”.
🥺🤔😊.

The other Sunday there were trams and trains to ride on as well as coffee and cake at The Bourke Street Club (yes, that one Andrew) then it was up the road to the Comedy Theatre.
Once (the musical) was interesting, basic stage with minimal props, at that lovely theatre with its bar right there in the stalls. Some of the actor/musicians ‘performing’ before curtain up was a novelty- definitely stopped the audience from getting restless pre-show. We enjoyed the music, unfortunately we ‘missed’ a lot of the dialogue, sound from some of the actor’s mics wasn’t the best.

Theatre time again meant confronting someone about infection.
Last time we went he felt there was no need – something I disagreed on…..which we both paid the price for. This time – not by ‘hen pecking’ just ‘suggesting’ – I made sure he got the message. . 
Gotta love a man who does as he’s told
😊😊😋

This is something I do not want to experience again

Known as the WordPress White Screen of Death it came to visit last week.
I was not happy when I saw it – I’d never seen it before and definitely don’t want to see it again!.

Still Waters (the blog) was readable on line but there was nothing to work with on the site. Just an empty white page with a trademark in the middle.
Lots of ‘searching’ – lots of reading, wondering how and why – lots of head scratching.
In the end I logged out altogether, turned the iPad off completely and went to bed.
And mystery of mysteries, when I logged back into w/press again in the morning- everything was the way it was before!

I never know what’s going to happen from one day to the next in my life
What little bits of your life have had you scratching your head recently?

Posted on

Some days..

Some days I don’t need to be encouraged to say yes
Lunch by a open fire on a cold day is never going to be refused

Soup + sourdough + my special man
will always please sentimental me
Ranges at Olinda

#enjoyeverymoment

Posted on

Leftovers again!!

You know how some shelves in your freezer seem to be dedicated to ‘left overs’ ( things too ‘good’ to throw away, that can maybe be added to other ingredients to make a meal) well I seem to have accumulated an awful lot of left over yarn. Bags and bags of it shoved into stored in other larger bags.

Just one – there are more 😊

So here we are following on from my attempt a few weeks ago and working with the principle that ‘from little things big things grow’ (combine lots of little things….) plus ‘make hay while the sun shines’ (because sunny autumnal days are never to be sneezed at) – I’ve an idea in mind and look I even found some cute buttons (in my large collection of left overs of course) that hopefully will work. So as they say – watch this space!

Sadly the plain orange ones are a tad too small


And for once I have actually begun to enjoy my reading
the world without us – Mireille Juchau. (book club)
Two chapters in and eager for more

It has been six months since Tess Müller stopped speaking. Her silence is baffling to her parents, her teachers and her younger sister, Meg. But the more urgent mystery for both girls is where their mother, Evangeline, goes each day, pushing an empty pram. When their father Stefan discovers a car wreck and human remains on their farm, old secrets emerge to threaten the fragile family. A storm is coming and the Müllers are in its path

~ ~ ~ ~
And look at this , just by magic- because I didn’t publish this post earlier in the month – here’s the finished cardigan (now tucked away in the charity box) plus a ‘lovely little book’ spotted on a library shelf, sitting there waiting for me to find it. Lots of short ‘stories/essays’ by knitters about- what else but – their stash of yarn. It’s been a great book to dip into, with each chapter just the right length to enjoy while resting my hands. Have any of you read it?

Not sure about those buttons but they’re all I had and little boys or girls will love them

Its time for Unraveled Wednesday  hosted by Kat…….As Kat Knits……
Time to pop over and see what’s going on

Posted on

Why, Why, Delilah…

Delilah – who will always be associated with hair and beauty might possibly know the answer to my question

Why does the conditioner last longer than the shampoo?

Why do I always end up with half empty bottles of conditioner
but no shampoo left to go with them?

Posted on

Autumn Day14…..Time for Tea

And lunch too😎

Tuesday last week was one of those ‘you beaut’ gentle warm sunny Autumn days
we do so well in Melbourne. I got to enjoy it by being taken on a drive

It was time to Top up The Golfer’s Tea Tin.
which means a drive up the hills to the little shop In Sassafras

He bought double quantity this time

And while we were there I got treated to lunch down at our special place in Olinda

During the winter we sit near the fire down at the front end
Summer time means the outside deck is the place to be
Unless it’s too hot – then it’s inside to eat and outside for drinks and chat

There’s free off street parking right there at the back door
and if there’s ever a time I can’t manage the steps….well,
The Golfer can drive round the corner and drop me at the main front door

I had a ‘lovely light lunch’ of quiche plus salad and a small serve of some perfectly cooked hot chips …….but Bad Blogger that I am…..I forgot to take a photo. I did take one of my coffee though😊.
Someone had been practicing their latte art – an autumn leaf.

#enjoyeverymoment

Linking to  Wednesday’s Words & Pics hosted by Denyse. 

Don’t Forget – if you want to see it best……Click/ tap or finger slide to enlarge

Posted on

Almost like new again…..

From the amount of photos I post from there
You must think I spend all of my a lot of time at the library.
That’s not quite true…. it’s just that things ‘catch my eye’ when I am there

Last November I was thinking how tired and weathered the outside seating looked
It’s no wonder when you think of all the rain we’ve had over the past couple of years

12 November 2022
6 March 2023

See what a fresh coat of stain can do…..looking almost like new again.
I wouldn’t mind a fresh coat of something if it’d make me new again!

My ‘dry eyes’ problem has re-emerged …..red & prickly – wet & watery – you name it It’s there plus running out of the optometrist recommend drops hasn’t helped either. It means a trip to a discount chemist or pay the earth at our local pharmacy so in the meantime I’ve been limiting book reading as well as screen time. Thank goodness for posts already scheduled then published over the past week

Posted on

Would you do it….

The Leisure Seeker ~ Michael Zadoorian. (2009)

Book Blurb.
The unforgettable cross country journey of a runaway couple in their twilight years determined to meet the end of all roads on their own terms

The Leisure Seeker” is the story of John and Ella Robina, a couple married 50+ years – she has stopped her cancer treatments, he has Alzheimer’s – who kidnap themselves from the adult children and the doctors who seem to run their lives, and steal off on a forbidden vacation…..”

A ‘small short’ easy to read book containing a lot to think about and digest.
It Is as described, about 2 seniors who, without telling their children, go off on a trip – making their way down Route 66 (or what’s left of it) to Disneyland – in their very old motor home.

Much of it is about how they relate to each other, how Ella copes with John’s dementia- the strains of illnesses progressing with no cure in sight for either of them.

There is lots of love shown by John when he’s lucid, bickering by both of them when things don’t go quite right. Accepting their children are worried yet determined to do this trip – to the end of the road.

And it’s at the end of the road that the touchy subject is raised. John didn’t know it but neither of them were going home.

Seemingly promoted as a romantic comedy….yes at times it’s a ‘fun humorous’ read – but it’s much more than that.

It makes you wonder about ageing, terminal illnesses, then (spoiler)‘…..’mercy killing aka murder/suicides’ – are they ‘loving or selfish’ acts.
As much as you loved someone- would you do it?
… … … …

Read February 2023.
I saw this recommended on another blog – true to form I’ve forgotten where!.
I’m wondering if anyone else has read this book – if so, how did you feel about it?

A professional review
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-feb-17-et-book17-story.html

Linking to  Wednesday’s Words & Pics hosted by Denyse. 

Posted on

I feel pretty…..I’m not sure what?

Some days I feel pretty good

Some days I don’t feel so good 

Then there are others when I feel just down right ‘orrible

Cold and bad tempered rude emotional touchy

I’ve been eating right

I’ve been exercising

(well, sort of )

I’ve been going to bed on time

(apart from recent tennis/cricket stay up late nights)

so why do I feel up and down all the time

Had blood taken the other day

maybe the results will tell a tale

Was also given the usual’ Diet – Exercise – Drink more water’ spiel

that Drs worldwide seem to think will cure all ills

Thyroid gland not working properly is a bugger

Hopefully a little bit more thyroxine will help
*******

Hopefully it will also help me become more observant

I spent well over 20 mins looking for this phone the other day
only to find it waiting there along with everything else ready to go in my bag
Time for a multi colour phone case I think!

Posted on

Doesn’t it make you cross

When a business is trying to make a difference in trying circumstances.
and the local ??????? can’t leave a ‘clean’ wall alone


The empty block is about to be developed – it might not be visible much longer

Posted on

Busy doing nothing



It was going to be one of those sort of days HOT HOT HOT.
So there were no plans made.
👈 👈 👈


Breakfast finished…
I sat there enjoying the early morning quiet and wondered if maybe some knitting was a good way to start the day or possibly begin the library book that was picked up before Christmas

Or even put things back to where they were before the company came over a few days previously

I had thought about maybe going to the pool again but knew with the heat the pool would be overrun with youngsters from opening hours to closing. No matter how hard the lifeguards try Grannies doing their thing definitely don’t get right of way😎

Picking the wrong trolley at the supermarket last week wasn’t a bright idea. One of those I describe as ‘independent’ – you know the ones I mean – those with a mind of their own….I struggled to guide….which meant I ‘knew all about it’ from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day when the pool reopened. The queue at the door on BD surprised me – they’d only been closed one day and here was half the neighbourhood waiting to get in. All adults not a child amongst them. The exercise did me good and the twinges have left for a while

But first, Mr Snowman who had stood so patiently on the table beside the Christmas Posy for the past few days needed to go back into his storage unit – his time in the sun had come to an end. I think he’d prefer a cooler spot next year.
He’s been with us for quite a few years now….even had his own blog post back in 2009
https://cranethie.com/2009/12/13/festive-december-snowmen/

Plus the Christmas Day posy really needed to go – poor thing hadn’t done too well in the heat either…..

Tiny Tears is still sitting on the bench waiting to be clothed. Luckily I hadn’t started making any because the friend I mentioned in October changed her mind in the end. She (the doll) might still get some as a nephew plus family have moved close by, a little ‘dolly mad’ girl is coming to visit when they get settled and it wouldn’t do to offer her a naked doll with no clothes so she (the doll) can be dressed/undressed. They’re on my to do list.

The wood lurking under the benches will probably stay there for a while – that’s The Golfer’s responsibility – one bright idea to replace the slats….a few months ago now….mustn’t grumble – it’s bit like my UFOs or WIPs – it’ll get finished sometime
And there’s the old comfy armchair which has been on my mind recently. There might be a post coming up about it soon. One of those ‘Will I – Won’t I’ ones.

So in the end we ended up doing
Basically nothing!

The ‘outdoor aircon’ aka trusty old fan, was moved out of the way and we went inside to use the whole of house one. And watch the cricket.
Most summers we just use the overhead fans but there are rare days when it becomes much more than hot and cool comfort is called for.

And what a crazy day at the cricket it was. Played all day in that heat.
Runs galore – two players retired hurt
Then the Flying Spidercam hit one of the opposition from behind


Described elsewhere as the Witching Week, Twixmas or even The Void
A week of leftovers and wondering what day it is

How do you fill it?
That ‘in between’ week of quiet peaceful laid back days

Posted on

I know I said in the new year…

But you know me 😊
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Christmas comes and Christmas goes

Family came – Family went – it started to warm up a bit

When the temperature hit 26c/78f really early on and was moving upwards coupled with a VicEmergency extreme heat warning we had a change of plan

No picnic in the bush this year -we’ll lunch al fresco at home

Cold meats and salads plus jelly with chopped soft fruits and cold custard

On to the last course – we decided against the cheeses – just had the fruit and nuts

Those will go well with the Christmas Pud on another day

One of my Christmas presents was a proper summer’s day of 28c/83f
Tomorrow and Tuesday will be another kettle of fish though
The forecast is for 35c & 37c – nearly 100f each day

I have to say the best present of all was a RAT test with only one pink line
~ negative at last😊 ~

I hope your day was filled with love

Posted on

What you see….

Isn’t always what is there 😊

July 7, 2013

What’s a little crop crop here and a crop crop there between friends?
*****

Is that deception or not letting the world in on my life?

This is just a little ‘fun event’ but I wonder how much of it goes on in the real world.
~ ~ ~

Linking to  Wednesday’s Words & Pics hosted by Denyse. 
Where you’ll find lots of life to read about

Posted on

Summer is…..

Well..believe it or not…Summer is supposed to be here
Not sure where it is though


But when it does decide to make itself known
many of us will be thinking about the S’s
~ ~ ~

Ask most Aussies what S stands for and they will possibly say

Slip Slop Slap

The 1980 skin cancer prevention campaign suggested we
Slip on a shirt – Slop on some sunscreen – Slap on a hat

Still relevant today with recent additions
Seek some shade – Slide on some sunnies

Updated version

https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/campaigns-and-events/slip-slop-slap-seek-slide

http://www.cancervic.org.au/about/publications/sunsmart-videos/sunsmart_1980_sid1.html

Slip – Slop – Slap – Seek – Slide


Good advice no matter which country you live in

Do you have any campaigns like this in your country?

#enjoyeverymoment

Posted on

It’s only words….

Words that jumped out at me from a recent read

~ ~ ~ ~

Tourmaline by Randolph Stow

“…the carpet, originally green, but worn bare in many places, resembled a drought stricken lawn…”

Memories of the crisp brown ground we had in the back garden during those 10 long years of drought with no outside watering of any sort allowed

December 2006

Backyard cricket at Grandma’s in the early 2000s meant keeping something on your feet because the ‘lawn’ was hard and you never knew what you might tread on!

And yes, over the back fence was out….because nobody was game enough to go and ask for the ball back….because our ‘delightful neighbour’ would just tell them to get lost!

~ ~ ~ ~ .
Green now after a recent ‘southern wet’….but who knows what this summer will bring

#enjoyeverymoment

Posted on

Fill ‘er up….

One empty tin – nothing in stock at our usual haunts
So up the hill to Sassafras we went!

Cold grey skies, Coats and Hats on ……definitely C&A weather.
Just right for soup and sandwiches when we’d finished

And this was a nice surprise – a Mad Hatters Tea Party on the wall of the Tea Shop.
(painted by Master Murals, who only do FB & IG so sorry no link)

All dressed up ready for ‘the season’.
With lots of difficult to photograph, rather expensive seasonal teapots and other ‘stuff’

And this is what we went for – loose leaf Oolong tea
The Golfer’s choice of morning tea.
As I said, our usual Asian grocers have been unable to get some for a while
After a little investigating – he’s a strange fella who won’t shop online –
we drove 20mins up the road to buy a refill

Then went back down the hill to Olinda to enjoy lunch at Ranges

#keeplifesimple

Don’t Forget – if you want to see it best……Click/ tap or finger slide to enlarge

Linking to  Monday Murals – it’s a colourful world over there with lots to see.

Posted on

What is….

In the previous post ‘Thursday Thoughts’ someone asked about ‘sheep graziers warnings’….so with my limited suburban knowledge I said basically they are issued when it’s going to be cold, wet and windy…..or even very hot!   

Pregnant ewes, lambs and shorn sheep don’t do too well in the cold so the farmers (graziers – owners of stations….large properties on which sheep graze) get warnings issued so – if possible – they can get them into protected areas.  

This is a copy of the one from the Tuesday’s forecast photo on that post:-

 Sheep graziers are warned that cold temperatures, showers and southerly winds are expected during Thursday. Areas likely to be affected include parts of the North East, Central and East Gippsland forecast districts. There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.

I also explained that farmers/graziers can be prosecuted under ‘cruelty to animals’ if they don’t care for their stock.  It covers big properties running thousands of heads as well as small hobby farms

https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/sheep/health-and-welfare/sheep-shelter-guidelines

And mentioned an article they might be interested in – it talks about winter months but these warnings can be given at any time of the year

https://www.westernag.com.au/warning-sheep-grazier-alert

Maybe some of my rural readers could add to that…..
Also are warnings of this sort given in other countries

Website Built with WordPress.com.