Steve has continued working on the caravan, albeit slowly. As of today, every cupboard now has a door. WHOOPEE!!!!!
~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Federal Election 2010
Voting day. We voted yesterday at a pre-poll place. Pardon my ignorance but I had never heard of these before this week. When did they come in? If everyone could vote over a week, the counting would be easy and we could have one less week of campaigning. NO! They would add on a week!! The polling booth even had proper, printed ballots for our electorate, Mallee. They said that there had been a big run on them! What, everyone's leaving Northern Victoria??
Steve has continued working on the caravan, albeit slowly. As of today, every cupboard now has a door. WHOOPEE!!!!!
Steve has continued working on the caravan, albeit slowly. As of today, every cupboard now has a door. WHOOPEE!!!!!
Monday, August 16, 2010
In the dead of night
Plastic supermarket bags are still the go in Coles and Woolworths up here in Moree. We re-use 2 or 3 a day, for the rubbish bin and the waste paper baskets.
When the rubbish bag was full last night, I tied it off and decided to put it outside in the annexe, as it was a bit smelly. Later, I put another bag of paper with it, ready for Steve to take this morning.
This caravan park has a huge skip near the front entrance and there are no small rubbish bins around the park. Newcomers are confused by this and many complain. In fact, it's quite useful because it helps to keep the flies away. Many people use the walk to drop off the rubbish as their daily constitutional. The truth of the matter is, that as it's such a huge caravan park, there would have to be hundreds of bins and a full time employee to empty them.
Well, this morning, Steve went out to the annexe for the bags and they were gone. He hunted under and around the van, in the unlikely case that a strong wind had blown them away. We tried to devise some scenarios but nothing good came up. It was rather unlikely that thieves had come in the night.
Later in the day, Steve told Neville that our rubbish had been stolen. Neville believes that he has the answer. A blue heeler dog has been snooping around for years, scrounging for food scraps. We have never seen it but it's the only answer that makes any sense. But why didn't the dog tear open our bags looking for food? There was no litter anywhere.
~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~
When the rubbish bag was full last night, I tied it off and decided to put it outside in the annexe, as it was a bit smelly. Later, I put another bag of paper with it, ready for Steve to take this morning.
This caravan park has a huge skip near the front entrance and there are no small rubbish bins around the park. Newcomers are confused by this and many complain. In fact, it's quite useful because it helps to keep the flies away. Many people use the walk to drop off the rubbish as their daily constitutional. The truth of the matter is, that as it's such a huge caravan park, there would have to be hundreds of bins and a full time employee to empty them.
Well, this morning, Steve went out to the annexe for the bags and they were gone. He hunted under and around the van, in the unlikely case that a strong wind had blown them away. We tried to devise some scenarios but nothing good came up. It was rather unlikely that thieves had come in the night.
Later in the day, Steve told Neville that our rubbish had been stolen. Neville believes that he has the answer. A blue heeler dog has been snooping around for years, scrounging for food scraps. We have never seen it but it's the only answer that makes any sense. But why didn't the dog tear open our bags looking for food? There was no litter anywhere.
~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Adeline Mavis Garoni Hill 1920 ---1965
The anniversary of my Mother's death was on August 13. She has been gone for 45 years, which seems a very long time. She was aged 45 when she died, which seems a very short time to live.
I made up a short memorial email and sent it to all of my kids and grandkids and to my surprise, Patrick and Madeleine answered it. That was very sweet.
When I was 13 or 14, my brother Terry and I went shopping in Clarendon St, South Melbourne and bought some crockery for Mum's birthday. We had saved for a long time and knew what we wanted to get her --- Four sets of dinner plates, bread and butter plates and dessert bowls. Everything was sold separately and it took us ages to decide on the colour. Eventually, we chose 4 different colours ---- one set each of black, turquoise, maroon and grey. It was all so exciting; we had never given her such a large gift before. Mum reacted with great surprise and enjoyment. Naturally, Terry and I had chosen colours that we liked, so we announced which ones we wanted for ourselves, black for me, turquoise for Terry. Dad joined in the celebration and claimed the maroon set. He was just as thoughtless as we were. Still with great happiness on her face and in her voice, Mum said, "I think I would like the grey ones."
As I write what she said, I can still feel the shudder of pain that went through me when she spoke. It hit me like a brick that we had left her no choice. I immediately noticed the sweet look on her face and the gentleness in her voice, as if she had really made a choice. I then offered her my black and Dad and Terry followed suit but she insisted that she preferred the grey. Selflessness was a major characteristic of Mum's.
The jet beads have been restrung, using nylon instead of cotton. I know this isn't authentic but they're not a collectible for me and I prefer durability. Besides, I have another jet necklace, a little shorter and it is strung with the original cotton. Steve gave me these necklaces for my 50th birthday ---- that was, let's see ----- 5 years ago, wasn't it????? :-))
We've had a number of cold, windy days and a little rain. There was a small leak in the centre part of the van. That's going to drive Steve crazy until he locates the source!
Two parcels arrived yesterday ----- a boxed set of The Best of Andre Rieu Live, from Carla, and Scott sent a DVD of Carole's Memorial Service. It's hard to describe to people exactly how much I appreciate these surprise gifts.
I made up a short memorial email and sent it to all of my kids and grandkids and to my surprise, Patrick and Madeleine answered it. That was very sweet.
When I was 13 or 14, my brother Terry and I went shopping in Clarendon St, South Melbourne and bought some crockery for Mum's birthday. We had saved for a long time and knew what we wanted to get her --- Four sets of dinner plates, bread and butter plates and dessert bowls. Everything was sold separately and it took us ages to decide on the colour. Eventually, we chose 4 different colours ---- one set each of black, turquoise, maroon and grey. It was all so exciting; we had never given her such a large gift before. Mum reacted with great surprise and enjoyment. Naturally, Terry and I had chosen colours that we liked, so we announced which ones we wanted for ourselves, black for me, turquoise for Terry. Dad joined in the celebration and claimed the maroon set. He was just as thoughtless as we were. Still with great happiness on her face and in her voice, Mum said, "I think I would like the grey ones."
As I write what she said, I can still feel the shudder of pain that went through me when she spoke. It hit me like a brick that we had left her no choice. I immediately noticed the sweet look on her face and the gentleness in her voice, as if she had really made a choice. I then offered her my black and Dad and Terry followed suit but she insisted that she preferred the grey. Selflessness was a major characteristic of Mum's.
~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~
My engagement ring has been returned, with a new little diamond. Both rings now look shiny and new.The jet beads have been restrung, using nylon instead of cotton. I know this isn't authentic but they're not a collectible for me and I prefer durability. Besides, I have another jet necklace, a little shorter and it is strung with the original cotton. Steve gave me these necklaces for my 50th birthday ---- that was, let's see ----- 5 years ago, wasn't it????? :-))
We've had a number of cold, windy days and a little rain. There was a small leak in the centre part of the van. That's going to drive Steve crazy until he locates the source!
Two parcels arrived yesterday ----- a boxed set of The Best of Andre Rieu Live, from Carla, and Scott sent a DVD of Carole's Memorial Service. It's hard to describe to people exactly how much I appreciate these surprise gifts.
~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Nothing world shattering
Although many people have contacted me about the lack of updates to this blog, there is not a lot to report, at present.
The most exciting event has been a visit from Betty and Jeff Thompson, from Cohuna. On their way north to warmer weather, they called in for a cuppa. It's amazing how we meet more of our friends up here than we do at home!
My Uncle Denis is in hospital in Melbourne, having an op on his legs, to improve the circulation. The chain of information is not working very swiftly but the last I heard, he was doing well. I rang him a day or so after the op and spoke to him on his mobile phone. That was a surprise. Since when have mobiles been permitted in hospitals?
I was so disappointed not to be able to attend his 80th birthday in mid July. Bloody money! We spent a fortnight's pension going to Jim's funeral in June so we couldn't afford the trip to Myrtleford. I was sent some photos. This one shows Denis with his daughter, my cousin Shelley.
A pretty invitation was delivered, inviting us to a Naming ceremony for Lilly and Kody, on September 4th. I've never been to a Naming ceremony before. I know the derivation of the words for a Christening but I've never given any thought to how a Naming ceremony is conducted. A name becomes legal when it is registered at a baby's birth, so the ceremony is not for legal or religious reasons. I'll be very interested to see what is its purpose.
The most exciting event has been a visit from Betty and Jeff Thompson, from Cohuna. On their way north to warmer weather, they called in for a cuppa. It's amazing how we meet more of our friends up here than we do at home!
My Uncle Denis is in hospital in Melbourne, having an op on his legs, to improve the circulation. The chain of information is not working very swiftly but the last I heard, he was doing well. I rang him a day or so after the op and spoke to him on his mobile phone. That was a surprise. Since when have mobiles been permitted in hospitals?
I was so disappointed not to be able to attend his 80th birthday in mid July. Bloody money! We spent a fortnight's pension going to Jim's funeral in June so we couldn't afford the trip to Myrtleford. I was sent some photos. This one shows Denis with his daughter, my cousin Shelley.
A pretty invitation was delivered, inviting us to a Naming ceremony for Lilly and Kody, on September 4th. I've never been to a Naming ceremony before. I know the derivation of the words for a Christening but I've never given any thought to how a Naming ceremony is conducted. A name becomes legal when it is registered at a baby's birth, so the ceremony is not for legal or religious reasons. I'll be very interested to see what is its purpose.
I finally took my rings to a jeweller, for repair. The eternity ring (for Trent) was returned in 5 days, with shiny new claws. They still have the engagement ring (for Tatey) which needs a tiny diamond replaced. I also gave them my jet necklace to be re-strung. The old stringing was 6 strands of cotton. It might have lasted forever if I hadn't tried tying it in a knot.
Sue and Richard Barrows have just become Grandparents again, for the 5th time. Their only daughter Amy, gave birth to Abby, a little sister to Archy. I wish I had had more children! Then I might still be having new grandchildren now! I need another baby to cuddle. Here are the parents, Amy and Aiden, with Abby.
~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
