Visitors

Now that the lockdown is more or less over, the ring of steel around Melbourne has been lifted, Checkpoint Charlie has gone and Manky Melbournites are able to travel into the regions, now that all that has happened, we can have Metropolitan Visitors.

This meant that Freyja and Simon could come to visit on Saturday. Which meant that I could finally, finally give Freyja her birthday present which I have been waiting to give her since August. Actually, I have been waiting to give it to her ever since I discovered its existence earlier in the year. It's a vegan edition of a Japanese cookbook which I have and enjoy cooking from. I have had to have much great patience!

While they were here they also assembled the new garden benches which have been waiting for someone to have time to give them some attention.

They met Brandy and Whiskey.

Then we all went to Pipers by the Lake, where we met Lindsey and Ian and had a spot of lunch.

Saturday was the one day during the week when no one was available either to visit Stella, still loitering in the hospital after her (successful!) angiogram, or to liberate her.  So, of course, the morning nurse went in and told her that she could go home on Saturday.  Alas, she had to wait until Sunday when Lindsey and I went down to spring her from the hospital.  We went in Lindsey's car, which is big enough to fit three adults and all of Stella' paraphernalia.

Lindsey went in to effect the discharge.  I drove on to Mount Martha to collect clothes and a few bits and pieces from Stella's house. Lindsey went in to find that Stella was not dressed, still had her picc line in, did not have her medication ready and had not been discharged by a doctor.

I waited in Mount Martha while all these things eventually happened. Almost three hours after Lindsey had arrived at the hospital we were finally able to put her in the car and to take her away.

And now she is at Rupert and Hugo's house, who were delighted if a little surprised when she turned up. They do love Stella.

Jim and I took advantage of a pleasant late afternoon on Saturday to launch our new patio furniture. Now we are waiting for the patio layer to come next week to relay it and to finish it, then I will put an edging garden bed in - and perhaps even buy another garden bench, always assuming I can persuade Freyja and Simon to come back and assemble it!

Sunny Saturday afternoon in our backyard

Jim enjoying the new outside furniture

Patio, newly furnished but waiting to be finished