Tag Archives: Rona

Where did it come from

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My mother and her sister were twins. Fraternal not identical. Two eggs producing two sisters who were so very different. One blonde – one dark. One out going, talkative, loving life to the full, an extrovert – the other quiet and retiring very much the introvert. One definitely liking the drink – the other very much the teetotaller.

Children of the 1920s when money was a bit hard to come by. I love these photos of the two of them in their homemade shifts, with my grandma standing to one side, smiling at them getting to know the parrot in the big cage. Mum (the dizzy blonde with the curly hair and her drawers hanging down) is trying to open the cage, Aunty Madge (the dark haired quiet one) is obviously not that interested.

That’s the way they were all their lives.  Aunty Madge (below L) quietly and politely waiting  her  turn.   Alice (my mum) ‘quick’ impatient, impulsive, outspoken, always wanting to lead, never wanting to be left behind.  Sometimes known to bite her tongue when she saw things she didn’t like but decided that wasn’t the time to let people know.   Not quite sure what it was the photographer was doing she didn’t like but her tongue was obviously being bitten lol

They grew up ‘motherless’……my grandma died when they were just 7 so an aunt helped raise them as well as their two brothers.  All mum ever said was ‘it was was fun when her father was around, not so the aunt’.  
So come the time of WW2 what does a very high spirited young woman do when advised by her father (a career soldier mentioned in dispatches for bravery during WW1) that women do not go to war but take the overnight boat from Belfast to Heysham and enlist in the WAAFs.  Yes she ran away from home to join the Air Force.  

Aunty Madge bided her time and was ‘allowed’ to work in a munitions factory where she found a husband and lost the tip of a finger.  Mum spent her time dodging bombs on an airforce camp, packing parachutes and dancing.  She ‘reacquainted’ herself with Dad (who she had known in Belfast) and the rest is history.  

Alice and James 1985

During this time of lockdowns and restrictions I’ve been trying to do something different for a change – I gave up on ‘teach yourself crochet’ because I just couldn’t get a grip on manipulating the wool in my left hand – so dug out some cross stitch that’s been on the go for a fair while.    
A little something for The Golfer, ( a sampler of historic buildings in Colchester which is where he was born and bred) supposed to have been a surprise birthday gift a couple of years ago it never got finished in time and has been loitering  waiting patiently for me to rediscover it.  Yes I know I should have rolled it……..I’ll have to wash it so hopefully the crease will come out when it’s ironed/blocked before framing.

I know my love of song and family was passed down from my father, the thrill of dance came from both parents, my delight in knitting was given to me by my mother who ‘was a whizz with the needles’ but I’ve often struggled wondering where did my interest in needlework come from.  
https://cranethie.com/2017/06/23/putting-it-all-together/

I certainly didn’t inherit the sewing machine gene – that delight was passed on to my next sister and I don’t ever recall mum with an embroidery needle in her hand.

But see this lovely embroidery hoop and floor stand – it was given to me years and years ago – by Aunty Madge!  Unbeknown to me my quiet patient retiring aunt shared the same interest and thought I might like it.  It’s great for large pieces, I can adjust the height and angle of the hoop or remove the hoop and use it on my lap.  Perhaps as she had no children of her own she had silently (Invisibly) gifted me with her passion for threads of all sorts.


Linking to Monday Musings 

 

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And just like that…

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Someone I spoke to up at the shops yesterday was complaining she’d been robbed. That the virus had taken her life from her. She’d started this year with high hopes of all sorts of things and they just haven’t happened. It had aged her, she had nothing to look forward to!

I think we’ve all – at least here in Victoria- been knocked for six with the news that this Stage 4 hard lockdown won’t be finishing at the end of this week. Two more weeks were added…..but some restrictions have been eased. And after that there’s a sliding scale of easements…….depending on different factors. Lowering of new cases for one.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-06/victoria-coronavirus-easing-restrictions-roadmap-daniel-andrews/12634332

Not enough for my acquaintance- what use is two hours exercise when I can hardly breathe for one wearing a mask? And taking an hour off the curfew, giving us an extra hour of ‘allowed time’ is no use, I won’t be going anywhere at night. I want to go to the other side of the city and that’s not allowed either. That 5km ruling is still there……. I wish this was all over and done with so I can do all the things I want to do

Oh yes, for some it’s going to be a hard road back to where we came from. I’m not happy about the way things have panned out but it’s not going to finish ‘just like that’. Kylie (eclectica) mentioned people ‘wishing it was over’ in her post road tripping My mother’s words on wishing came to mind…

There’s no point in wishing your life away…..get out there and live it. Warts and all!

Another of life’s little pleasures…..

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I had an old friend who used to comment about feeling old because she had checked her calendar to see when her next visit to the podiatrist was. ‘Only old people do that’ she said.

She was the dear friend who died suddenly last year ….I laugh now when I recall it because often I have the same thing on my mind – not the getting old part – but the visiting the podiatrist bit.

A few years ago I wrote a post about life’s little pleasures ….– https://cranethie.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/one-of-lifes-little-pleasures/ – ……as well as having a bath , I must confess, strange as it may seem, visiting the podiatrist is also one of my favourite pleasures.

At the moment with it being winter I shuffle around indoors in socks and knitted slippers but during the summer I go barefoot most of the time (or wear thongs/flip flops) Of course this means I do untold damage to the soles of my feet.

I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never had ‘nice’ feet; a few years ago during my time of wearing ‘mandatory closed toe shoes’ I began to get corns between my toes….. I know, TMI….changing shoes didn’t seem to help so thats when my visits to the Podiatrist (or Chiropodist as they used to be called) began. Now I have regular appointments and actually look forward to them

We begin with a little chat and the initial examination of my feet, then out comes the cleaning swabs as well as all the tools of the trade and we are away and running…..well not literally – not far off a gentle stroll 😊

Toenails are trimmed because like lots of oldies I find it hard to reach down there; little toes don’t bend these days or come apart far enough for me to manouver the clippers and my toe nails are becoming so thick I can’t even clip the ones I can get to!

After a check on the corns ……which are now under control but do tend to regrow due the shape of a bone on the opposite side …….  it’s then time to attack the dead skin on the heels and balls of my feet.

That’s when the little electric sanding tool appears – well that’s what it reminds me of – my foot man Bill starts it up after most of that skin has been shredded off with a teeny tiny scalpel and gently smoothes out all the rough edges. After creaming heels soles and toenails they all feel as smooth as a babies bum.

Then it’s massage time – ooh that feels good – and once he’s finished I leave with a smile on my face because there’s nothing like walking from his rooms with nicely creamed soft feet. Amost like walking on air.
Gosh, thinking about is putting a smile on my face – wonder when my next visit is?? 

Unfortunately not just yet – the clinic is closed. This dreaded virus has put paid to that outing for the time being. Thankfully I’m not going out that often to wear closed in shoes so the little horrors aren’t giving me grief…..as long as I remember to pop the little gel pad between the toes

Do you have any of life’s little pleasures you’re willing to share ?
I’d love to hear about them – please 🙂

Seen in Mooroolbark…..Sunday Selections

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Mooroolbark, Victoria.
Hookey Reserve Charles Street
January 2018

One of the nearby suburbs Mooroolbark has a community brochure called Living Today which highlights lots of interesting bits and pieces going on in the area. Way back in 2015 it had an article about an installation in Hookey Park….the open space/play area dedicated to a local identity John Hookey.
Large metal native/indigenous bird sculptures called The Flock were going to be placed in the park and after seeing this page and associated article I had it in mind to take a look see next time I was over there at the library……right next door 🙂
Of course you know what happens when you say that – yes it was over two years before I remembered to go (or should that be put my camera in the car when I went)

You will probably need to use the two finger pinch/spread method to enlarge the article

The birds and their lookalikes
Jonathan Leahey – Australian sculptor

It was a bright summer’s day when I finally saw them, some perched up high on poles keeping watch over the neighbourhood …

Others big and bold in amongst the greenery

Australian Magpie

Just the places you’d often see them….

Australian Raven often mistaken for a Crow

Close by….

Crested Pigeon

Once the library reopens I am planning to have another look at The Flock. I’d go sooner but it’s out of bounds at the moment because of ‘you know what’ 😊

Joining in with Sue at Elephant’s Chid for this weeks Sunday Selections


https://www.weekendnotes.com/hookey-park-in-mooroolbark/168376/

Thank goodness…

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Let’s just say it’s been an interesting time since Thursday afternoon…..

  • Thank goodness for scheduling of blog posts…..and that the last couple were pubished on the correct day and at the ‘correct’ time.

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.

  • Thank goodness I got it all in early or I’d have had a hard job getting it off the line…or blown away doing so

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.

  • Thank goodness we weren’t actually close to it. Thank goodness I knew where the candles and holder’s were and more importantly where the big torches were.
  • Thank goodness we have mains gas……meaning we could at least cook, boil water and if need be keep warm by lighting the oven
  • Thank goodness authorities keep in touch via SMS so we were sort of kept up to date regarding estimated ‘turn back on time’

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

  • Thank goodness I didn’t rehome those big jam pans, because they proved really handy for boiling larger quantities of water. I‘d been using a small milk pan for hot drinks plus a larger saucepan to cover the inconvenience of no hot water for dishes so having them when the ‘boil water advisory’ came through meaning all water had to be boiled before use I didn’t have to panic. I can’t imagine how much bottled was bought by people in all electric homes.
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-28/yarra-valley-water-users-told-to-boil-water-after-storms/12605930

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.

  • Thank goodness for having unaffected family close by, and not having to worry about being fined for breaking the restrictions. We played it the right way (he took them down/ I picked them up) no hugs or kisses, we kept our side of the bargain

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.

  • But then….Thank goodness we do have an electric heater which we can use in the back bedroom come ‘office’. It’s a small room, there’s a couch in there so I can read or watch the compact tv while The Golfer plays around on his computer……all cosy and warm!

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? 😊

What’s on the table….

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The table beside your chair that is.  The one with the books on😊

Three newish releases picked in the frantic rush at the library the day before lockdown2…….plus one that’s been on a shelf here at home for quite a few years.


Two I’ve just finished:-
Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier.
Rebecca was delightful, a real surprise. A love story with a mystery attached. Old fashioned writing when compared to modern day styles……maybe that’s why I enjoyed it. Wordy, so it had to be read slowly…..to be absorbed chapter by chapter.

Book blurb:- …….our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady’s maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their lives
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Transcription – Kate Atkinson
This was another surprise…..set during WW2, described as an espionage thriller I expected something a bit deep and maybe gruesome at times. It was light and easy to read yet if you are of a certain age filled with recognisable truths of how things were. It takes a young ‘naive’ girl, gives her a position as a typist eventually turning her a spy. Filled with humour (droll witty asides) almost farcical at times (I know the author didn’t intend it that way but I could see it set on the stage) follows the main character’s life through the ‘40s & ‘50s …..then to the twist that comes at the end. This I would definitely recommend.

Book blurb:- …….Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past forever.

————————————

There’s the one I’m reading at the moment:-
Good Girl Bad Girl – Michael Robotham
I’ve only just started this – so far so good. Easy to read, lots of dialogue, it does jump from ‘case to case’ but not annoyingly so. Which is to be expected because they are running side by side not now and in the distant past. Chapters devoted to one of the characters giving her side of the story are written in italics.

Book blurb:- ……forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven must determine if Evie is ready to go free. But she is unlike anyone he’s ever met—fascinating and dangerous in equal measure…….Cyrus is called in to investigate the shocking murder of a high school figure-skating champion, Jodie Sheehan, who dies on a lonely footpath close to her home……Cyrus is caught between the two cases—one girl who needs saving and another who needs justice. 

And the one I’ll follow up with:- Which I should just be able to finish by the end of the month.
Nine Elms – Robert Bryndza

Book blurb:- Kate Marshall was a promising young police detective when she caught the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her greatest victory suddenly turned into a nightmare. Traumatized, betrayed, and publicly vilified for the shocking circumstances surrounding the cannibal murder case, Kate could only watch as her career ended in scandal.

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So there we have my sum total of reading for August……down from the usual amount read any other August spent in the winter sunshine. Two I can tick off my yearly challenge…….one word titles – two were ‘grab & go’ picks off the shelf…..but fairly new releases, as luck would have it first books in new serIes.

What have you been reading during August
I’d be interested to hear if you’ve read any of these and what your thoughts were.

Monday morning….welcome to Sprinter…

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Because of a timing factor with medication I take on waking, breakfast comes at least an hour later so most of my days start with a cup of tea or maybe hot water with fresh lemon. However there have been some mornings recently when I’ve craved a cup of coffee, proper coffee, served in real cups just like at one of our (favoured) local coffee shops where it comes with one of their handmade chocolates.

They aren’t open at the moment (stage4 restrictions and all that) ……but if they were and we were having coffee together I’d just say….this says it all! My week in a nutshell!

Welcome to Sprinter….the time when it’s not quite Spring but still Winter.
Spring arrives officially in 8 days time (1 September) but…….

After the school bus went by early in the week we had a glorious day, the cherry plum started to blossom a couple of days later, it was warm enough for no heating during the daytime.

There was time spent outside enjoying the sunshine, warming sunshine, maybe a little cool at times but sunny and dry.

Then it was all change again- more cold air made its way up from Antartica bringing ‘polar blasts’, freezing rain, hail, you name it even snow in the hills. We’ve spent the weekend inside….no walks, no gardening, no reading knitting or even coffee on the back deck.

Remember the Dr’s appointment I had marked on the calendar, a necessary regular renewal one, also one for a little niggling problem that needed discussed. Timed for 10am I rang as they opened at 9 to make sure it was the same procedure as before……arrive at stated time (now with mandatory mask), sanitiser at the door, take a seat in well spaced waiting room, Dr will call you in.

You’d never guess what what I’d done, I’d only marked it on the wrong day. It was for the previous day……all those weeks with nothing else on the page and it was written on the wrong day. Luckily there was a spare one later that day……so I spent the morning reading……you really didn’t think I was going to do housework did you ??
Hopefully the prescribed medication will sort out the reflux, lump in throat feeling plus dry cough I’ve had because simple meals and Mylanta haven’t. If not it’s a gastroscopy for me to see what the problem is…… I suppose a camera down my throat is better than up you know what 😊

Visiting (and commenting) is still a problem – for a while even publishing was a pain. I need a quiet day to sort this problem out……or go back to my previous (very old and unupdateable) iPad which I’m loathe to do. Our desktop is The Golfers domain….I’ll just start to do something and it’s…..are you finished yet? So rather than make waves I’ll plod on as much as I can. Hopefully you’ll see me / hear from me during the week.

Contrary to how miserable I sound all is well in our house…..the day will begin soon……also the rain. Being Monday the big wheely bins get emptied today, lifted off the nature strip by a long extending arm protruding from a huge truck operated by one driver in the nice heated/cooled environment of his cab. Gone are the days of football players running along hauling bins up and emptying them into the back of the truck, training runs in all weathers.

I’m hanging out for my breakfast this morning but never mind that…..for some reason I could kill for a proper coffee, one made by someone else (not in The Golfers wizz bang machine) We do have some other coffee shops close by that were previously allowed to open for takeaway …….I wonder if The Golfer would pop down the street for me. I can always decant from the ghastly cardboard cup into a china mug at home……trouble is it just isn’t the same is it?

There’s always one…..

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I’m sure most of us who’ve had cats in our lives have had at least one who’s decided that ‘you are theirs’. They don’t just live with you and the family, they want to own you and you alone.

Kiera was one of those…..so much so she had the nickname of ‘my brown shadow….wherever I was she would be there…..as close as she could.

Meet Minnie ….she’s been providing my smiles recently
She reminds me so much of Kiera
(iizcat can be found at all the usual social media places)

Fun Friday – the day you forget the worries of the week.
I think we all deserve a smile at the moment 😊

Parcel pickup with a difference

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It was called parcel pickup for years…..you selected something, usually large bulky items,  paid for it, went off and did more shopping, then when you were ready picked it up from a holding bay at the back of the store.  You could of course have it delivered for an exorbitant cost.   Supermarkets used to deliver, you’d shop – pay – then they’d turn up later with all your groceries……online grocery shopping evolved  from that
Click and collect works in a similar way – you choose (except it’s online) you pay and then pick up in person (in some cases they bring to your vehicle)

Have you ever wished someone had shopped and filled your fridge with fresh fruit & veg plus milk and a loaf of bread so you didn’t have to face that job when you arrived home from a trip away. I know I certainly have.    And then there have been times when we’ve landed at Tullamarine and I’ve thought how great it would if someone was waiting there in arrivals with my groceries.   The Golfer laughs and says , wishful thinking never gets you anywhere, just get on and do…..meaning we’ll have fish and chips the day we get home then nip up the shops the next day.

So imagine my surprise last November (2019) when there’s an article on a web site I subscribe to about click and collect at one of the arrival halls at the airport!  Sounds like someone’s been reading my mind. Link below

Pick Up Your Coles Shopping at Melbourne Airport

Of course seeing that, that gave me permission a reason to hunt about online (aka ask Mr Google a few questions) and see if other supermarkets do the same thing.  Well it seems rival Woolworths do  and they began it quite a while ago  This article is dated 2013 – Link below

Woolworths Launches Airport Grocery Collection Service at Tullamarine

Just those two press releases – no other information on how this service works or even if it is still running.  Mind you, at the moment the airport is basically at a standstill……..very little going out….and even less coming in.  I reckon it’ll be years  (one at least) before we fly anywhere ….so it looks like I’m not going to be making that online order for my shopping to be waiting for me on arrival anytime soon!

Chooseday….A day in the life…

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It’s TUESDAY! Chooseday!
Today I Choose to Smile. Choose to be Happy. Choose to Love. 

It was a late breakfast for me after a late night spent ‘talking’ to o/seas sisters on fb. Birthday smiles for blond haired one along with thoughts about how life was on her 7th birthday in 1954. We spent it at the pool, one of our baby brother’s first outings since his birth in the July. Living on an airforce camp in Germany at that time was certainly different to life in the UK. And even though the sun was shining we were freezing – those were brave smiles in the water !


A little look at morning tv, general pottering (bed made, dishes done, tidy up) then I chose to have a lovely long daytime bath with Rebecca. Definitely a happy choice! Which took us up to the morning briefing…..I know, I know, I said no more facts & figures…..The Golfer had it on and had made coffee so I couldn’t be rude and walk away. Another 331 new cases plus 19 deaths here in Victoria! So much better (well 0 would be a far better number)than the recent 500/600/700 confirmed cases per day but worse on the death.

He made lunch as well! Gotta love a man who’s willing to feed me! Eaten out the back where it had turned ‘warmish’ enough to sit and knit, though the sun kept playing peekaboo and of course when it was behind clouds it went chilly, so now and again I left the knitting and turned to my cosy chair inside and had more time with Rebecca – which I’m thoroughly enjoying. I’ve discovered ‘the crime’ so there’s not much more to read.

All is not lost tho’ because there’s a Kate Atkinson plus the first in series by both Michael Robotham and Robert Bryndza waiting in the wings……part of the big stash I brought from the library way back in early July. Plus quite a few others I’ve been meaning to read, just sitting on the shelf waiting patiently for their turn.

In amongst the knitting and reading I managed a few weight exercises but my heart wasn’t in it….call me lazy 😊 – yesterday I had a long walk round trundling round the local park several times with some photo stops along the way so will take my allocated 1hr again tomorrow weather permitting (90% chance of rain). I also managed to get tomorrow’s main meal prepared…..plain ol’ savoury mince….now cooking away in the crockpot. Might be topped with mash as Shepherds Pie or maybe just served as is with veg.


It’s late afternoon now, nearly time for one of those quiz shows, then the early news followed by dinner which will also be courtesy of The Golfer – crumbed fish served with steamed veg.. Plain and simple….yes frozen prepared fish but something he can do if I’m not able…..or not here for one reason or another.

After the ‘proper’ ABC news at 7pm – what then? Who knows….
So how was your Tuesday? Did you make the right choices?


Monday Monday….

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A little blessing I saw online – a little something for us all

Here’s wishing you….
A great start on Monday 
No obstacles for Tuesday
No stress on Wednesday
No troubles on Thursday
Many smiles on Friday
A joyful Saturday
And a relaxing peaceful Sunday

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

So here it is Monday….how shall I start?

I’ll be the first to say that my life’s been a bit me-me-me recently so knew it was time for me to stop feeling sorry for me and think about others for a change. The latest stricter change in restrictions had me news hungry again, facts and figures hunting……pointing fingers at suburbs with high case numbers, blaming, ‘what on earth are they doing on that side of town, if we can follow the rules why can’t they’. That had to stop, so to clear my head I ‘worked’ on the family for a while last week and was ‘rewarded’ with a couple of photos posted (publicly) on other trees

Say hello to an uncle of my paternal Gt Grandfather John….brother to my GtGt Grandfather John…..or if you prefer,  my 3rd Gt uncle!
 John and Ralph’s father was called Archibald and their grandfather was Ralph – lol….if I had a penny for every descendant in the family called John, Archibald or Ralph I’d be rolling in it. Born in Co Fermanagh, he migrated to Canada as a young married man in the early 1830s where….from the amount of DNA matches I have associated with him…..he grew a large family.

I’d like to introduce you to a sister of Gt Grandfather John, a niece of Ralph (above) …..my GtGt Aunt Eliza 😊. She’s new to our family…..well she’s obviously been there for a while but I’ve not long met her.   It was DNA matches that sent me to her family and the realisation she really was ‘family’ as in really close to a direct ancestor. Eliza (born in Co Fermanagh) also moved away……as a young married woman to Australia in the 1850s. Firstly to South Australia then on to Victoria! Once this ‘Rona problem’ is fixed and we are free to roam again I’m taking a drive over to Footscray Cemetery to ‘Hello’.


And now I’m ready for my breakfast, porridge fruit and coffee today.
How are you keeping your mind busy? Our 2nd wave here in Victoria doesn’t seem to be subsiding so I’m wondering if this 6 week hard lockdown is going to be enough.

Nothing to do and all day to do it…

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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.


	

	
	

		
			



							


	

		
				

			Now for something different……
		

		
		

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Wouldn’t it be great to say I’d done something different – unfortunately here in Victoria it’s still the same ol’ same ol’…….well that’s not quite true but it’s too involved to try and explain 😒





We have to look on the bright side though and I’m sure that in a few months time we’ll be able to do something different……again.





Mind you, over the last couple of weeks I did find something to do that I hadn’t done for a while – I put the ‘big boys’ knitting to one side and had a go at these…..again























 





 





 





 





 





 





Trawling through some older parts of the blog turned up this post from 2018 which along with this one from 2012 reminded me that giving should be fun……not just knitting from one end of the row to the other.





A couple of little Teds, and what look like squares which (if you follow the instructions in the 2012 post) will turn into basic fingerless mittens, are keeping me occupied at the moment.





I’m still feeling the disappointment of my last read so decided that it was time for one of those ‘I really should read this sometime’ books ……one that after being rescued from an op shop has been lying neglected on a shelf here at home for years.





So far so good, after a ‘strange’ courtship Maxim and his new wife have just arrived at Manderley. Small (tiny) print means it’s daytime reading, I have to concentrate so it’ll be read (and savoured) in small doses. Decisions Decisions – oh what to do….. read or knit. I suppose finishing Ted’s faces would definitely be a start 🙂










Ginny from Small Things hosts a monthly meme called Yarn Along  Sort of a ‘show and tell’ featuring the knitting and reading you’ve been doing recently. Do pop over and see what others have been up to.

	

	
	

		
			



							


	

		
				

			Lower your expectations
		

		
		

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I certainly didn’t expect the flowers in the little posy gifted from my daughter














To have deteriorated so much by the end of the week. 
I had to cull the old and add some new to make what looked like brand new posy.














Honestly, lockdown 2 is doing my head in. I’m wondering what I did expect
When I had them in the lounge room with the heating on and as we all know, 
fresh flowers and heating don’t go together.














I’m wondering what else my addled brain will let me do this coming week?

	

	
	

		
			



							


	

		
				

			Sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t……
		

		
		

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Have you ever wanted something to happen but the more you keep hoping the less it seems to be happening.


I’m always looking for book recommendations, open to suggestions like ‘this is a good read or even a great read’, sometimes I react the same way as the person who gave it, sometimes I don’t.  Recently  I couldn’t get the actual novel recommended and because lockdown restrictions meant I couldn’t come and go as I wanted I plumped for another by the same author (an enjoyable read according to the blogger)…….now I wish I’d waited until the original choice became available at the library.


The Holiday – T. M. Logan


It was supposed to be the perfect holiday – a group of families enjoying a week together in the sun. Four women who have been best friends for as long as they can remember making the most of a luxurious villa in the south of France.


But Kate has a secret: her husband is having an affair. And a week away might just be the perfect opportunity to get the proof she needs – to catch him in the act once and for all. Because she suspects the other woman is one of her two best friends.


Oh dear, such a slow tedious start, too many characters each with their own back stories, too confusing, too many revelations and secrets in each and every chapter.                          Strange ending.


This was one that I didn’t enjoy – Lets just leave it at that 😊


 

	

	
	

		
			



							


	

		
				

			It only takes one…..
		

		
		

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Two constants during these strange times have been a High School bus going past at two minutes to eight 5 days of the week (some students are still having face to face lessons) and bin day for us on Monday!   If those were happening it was almost as if all was well with the world.





Out here in the east we’ve  been ‘lucky’..if that’s the right word…to have very few cases in our LGA (Yarra Ranges council/shire).   With this 2nd wave we’ve followed the guidelines, accepted restrictions (willingly or otherwise), exercised locally, donned our masks, knowing all the ‘action’ has been on the other side of the city. 

Just up the road from us (about 10 min walk) is a retirement/aged care village complex that’s been there for a very long time.  With a very long waiting list for an independent unit plus same for accomodation in the attached nursing home it’s like trying to get a membership to the MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club)…….you’re going to be waiting a long time for one to become available.  

Sadly (as has been the way with all the aged care clusters) an undiagnosed staff member has infected residents (as well as other staff) with more and more becoming casualties as the week has gone by.  The case numbers have soared resulting in all the nursing home residents  being ‘evacuated’ to local hospitals set aside for this purpose.  

You know, after all these months it’s difficult to comprehend that even with the best of hygiene practices as well all the precautions necessary it still happens.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 





With all that on my mind seeing this on fb today had me in tears.  I know this rotten virus doesn’t discriminate where age is concerned but so many of the deaths have been older people who once in hospital could have no visitors.  ‘Saying goodbye’ is an important part in life…..and death…..for everyone.





What will we do without them – Juan Lucena 










Bin day for the street across the way is Wednesday…….I heard someone dragging a wheelie bin up a drive earlier on.  The high school is still open for yr12 VCE students (at the moment)…..the bus will trundle past just before 8am tomorrow so I take it life will go on….just not quite as it was before because IT has found it’s way out east.





Stay Home – Stay Safe – Stay Well – Tell them you love ‘em 

	

	
	

		
			



							


	

		
				

			A week is a long time….
		

		
		

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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 wreeking 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 ?


	

	
	

		
			



							


	

		
				

			Little did we know….
		

		
		

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Back in early January this year we certainly didn’t know that these talented people would soon become household names and faces, appearing daily on our television screens.










Federal and State CMOs (Chief Medical Officers)…. acting, .deputy and recently retired
Thrown into the limelight with daily televised press conferences – they present facts and figures, taking and answering questions- all of them soft spoken, knowledgeable likeable lads.





They’re public servants not politicians – they serve the public in a different way 
They are medical advisors – They care! 

Victorian Health Officers
Australian Medical Advisors





Dr Nick Coatsworth. 
Professor Brendon Murphy. 
(Recently retired from position of Australia’s Chief Medical Officer)
Professor Michael Kidd  
Professor Paul Kelly 
Professor Brett Sutton – Victorian Chief Health Officer














 

	

	
	

		
			



							


	

		
				

			Some things are passing me by…
		

		
		

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Obviously I haven’t been taking much notice of fashion this year. What’s In and What’s Out has passed me by. Well, I suppose I could be forgiven because, what with all the restrictions and ’worry’ about you know what, I haven’t exactly been wandering round large shopping centres gazing in the windows of any clothing retailers. And not going out and about dining meant I didn’t get to see what anyone else was wearing either.





For some people there’s nothing worse than having someone else turn up to an event wearing the same dress – one of the perils of ‘High Street’ shopping.





So taking a break early last Saturday afternoon, catching up on the ‘daily figures’ I couldn’t help but smile and take a quick snap these two – not quite the same as turning up in the same dress but not far off😊







Miriam Corowa (abc news presenter) & Stephanie Borys (abc political reporter)







They both smiled – none of the kerfuffle of the 2017 ‘white shirt controversy’ that happened on another channel. 

Looks like polka dot time snuck in under the radar…….It appears the Zoe Report mentioned their return in an article back in February this year (Which I must have missed 😊) obviously slanted at northern hemisphere readers but there are quite a few down here who always want to….maybe even for reasons unknown have to ….have and wear the latest fashion trends.










So I’m wondering ……..if by the time we are allowed out and about again and can dine properly, sitting down, being waited on, eating with proper cutlery as well, as opposed to takeaway food in a plastic container with supplied plastic cutlery ………and I wear my vintage polka dot scarf, will it be classed as a fashionable accessory……or will it have gone out of fashion (again) by then??  


(But then again it will come in handy – our State Government has decided there is a need to wear face coverings/masks outside the home…..from tomorrow)





These days I’m not a slave to fashion….truth be told never have been….but for some reason I do like to know what’s hot and what’s not. How about you ?