tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226443652024-03-19T12:48:36.569+11:00MeanderingsNethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.comBlogger2156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-27851528844033144432024-03-18T09:41:00.001+11:002024-03-18T10:45:42.492+11:00Mostly Food (and a bit of garden)<p>The Sunday Lunchers gathered at Macedon yesterday. We were celebrating Irene's 70th birthday and making the most of a glorious, early autumn day.</p><p>We ate magnificent food, much of it from Chris and John's very productive garden:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ-JzyJppFClD6bgMEwrZkC7tZO4hsQ-8pjgTpz32Jz76vxLh9vbMXnj4qnPMjlBmMRCUwf4lTMGqL-8DKwZd78a2yHQc3gle0ZvT1Qiq42723HBQGWCU2ZIzabXkH9Eoa54MTl-R3oAGp9NtwIneCtobky6AaW22W4Bp7Zvj1WbCLWXBYBdT/s4032/IMG_9666.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ-JzyJppFClD6bgMEwrZkC7tZO4hsQ-8pjgTpz32Jz76vxLh9vbMXnj4qnPMjlBmMRCUwf4lTMGqL-8DKwZd78a2yHQc3gle0ZvT1Qiq42723HBQGWCU2ZIzabXkH9Eoa54MTl-R3oAGp9NtwIneCtobky6AaW22W4Bp7Zvj1WbCLWXBYBdT/s320/IMG_9666.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John, Gillie and my hat admiring the vegetable garden.<br />Thanks to Irene for the photo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We had prawn cocktails, followed by Greek style lamb backstrap, enough roast potatoes to keep the navy afloat and a fabulous salad. We finished with a nectarine and sour cream cake and raspberries on the side.</p><p>It was a great lunch and a very convivial afternoon.</p><p>Next time we're meeting at my place. Not sure what to offer which will match that.</p><p>I had cheese and biscuits and a peach for supper!</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIQNX-oorveOJsjdSEYVfcrk7X8YSaWgKKiSdKhsr6lCm6R_2jntpLTiKPyqJx1vOTNCFnnkWKGWg1lAiuKQ086d8uaEfo_YStwZkgiMn_bQEFMmUfyDKngU2N4U1GcM4oon3gnorW4wOEFXJYthSs37sSlYlKVbJ312HV0ntjsFeWYRh75Ax/s3840/968C5482-C479-41BA-A197-0062E74B9D35.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIQNX-oorveOJsjdSEYVfcrk7X8YSaWgKKiSdKhsr6lCm6R_2jntpLTiKPyqJx1vOTNCFnnkWKGWg1lAiuKQ086d8uaEfo_YStwZkgiMn_bQEFMmUfyDKngU2N4U1GcM4oon3gnorW4wOEFXJYthSs37sSlYlKVbJ312HV0ntjsFeWYRh75Ax/s320/968C5482-C479-41BA-A197-0062E74B9D35.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I came home with a big bag of lemons from Gillie's garden<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgy_Hwn08li0mlLK3Mir7ocGDxx4KBhCoPXsI84atSaKQqJcIQa7i0gvNarfm7QF74-fLfvML8o7XcVxhj9zhgKtRyId1NuVsj1qj55gpKpza_mHP_QuLquKZ1zrLQe85S2int0UrBWLEdbvKbZFgQ1C4CL_TvGkAfD9eLX9Va37iFfLar3vg/s4032/IMG_9152.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgy_Hwn08li0mlLK3Mir7ocGDxx4KBhCoPXsI84atSaKQqJcIQa7i0gvNarfm7QF74-fLfvML8o7XcVxhj9zhgKtRyId1NuVsj1qj55gpKpza_mHP_QuLquKZ1zrLQe85S2int0UrBWLEdbvKbZFgQ1C4CL_TvGkAfD9eLX9Va37iFfLar3vg/s320/IMG_9152.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jigsaw dogs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I mentioned a some time ago that there is a Hairy Bikers' chicken stew recipe that I made many, many times when we lived in Tupton and which I hadn't made at all (that I can remember) in Australia. I made a batch a few weeks ago, following the recipe closely, since it was a long while since I had made it. And I really didn't like it all that much. I ate all the servings so as not to be wasteful but I was puzzled by the fact that I had to make myself eat it. What was different from the delicious stew I used to make in the UK? Then I realised. The difference is the cider, which is the main flavoured liquid. I do not much like Australian cider and in the UK I used Somerset or Norfolk ciders, both of which I do like.</p><p>I made the chicken stew again this week, using white wine instead of cider. And it's lovely. I will do that again. I <i>might</i> try it using apple juice but I would have to buy apple juice specially and I usually have some sort of white wine in the house.</p><p><br /></p><p>I am beginning to get the garden ready for autumn and winter. I have pulled the pumpkin, zucchini and cucumber plants, all of which had stopped producing. I have left the beans and tomatoes - they are still producing. And my silverbeet plants are extremely happy. I am now going to prepare the beds for autumn sowings, which I hope to get to around Easter. Oh - and to my surprise, my fairly new, miniature peach tree produced two peaches this year, both of which ripened and both of which were delicious.</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-89766728929955129212024-03-16T09:30:00.001+11:002024-03-16T09:30:53.975+11:00Patio<p>This was the patio last Saturday:</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6eSdaQZpFYerf2GSgahyYNGJ3AlnaQISMwblAsuNZ32pcF62KkOSCNDcorzREBa1Ypw5dCQyxm3JNoftlsrWni4JV_ptC3Dsws9hXbapnZMBRfWglGcmmD_maumsqUMCX9OAFZ5ycLa-Nkq6sVMjE2lpz1FEnwFaxRgiRGrg7PHh_z7Kqf6i/s4032/IMG_9117.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6eSdaQZpFYerf2GSgahyYNGJ3AlnaQISMwblAsuNZ32pcF62KkOSCNDcorzREBa1Ypw5dCQyxm3JNoftlsrWni4JV_ptC3Dsws9hXbapnZMBRfWglGcmmD_maumsqUMCX9OAFZ5ycLa-Nkq6sVMjE2lpz1FEnwFaxRgiRGrg7PHh_z7Kqf6i/s320/IMG_9117.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you remember, I said at the time<br />that it needed sweeping</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And now I have swept it:<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprZeShfVoHixDKfXlm2h1ejkBNW5D81xxe-NMweS0OwvpsXvKe60xnqX2hMpwleB_71sEGg3iQssKiWeQ4OT9Lb1lHqYSCl2Zz__eAqL4pTalmbw6enyqzH9yaluXi8qrpIT59EDBR67sNkU4s8inH6fFTP3bZqfXdk3Kuksz2pA50jmQPfv6/s4032/IMG_9121.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprZeShfVoHixDKfXlm2h1ejkBNW5D81xxe-NMweS0OwvpsXvKe60xnqX2hMpwleB_71sEGg3iQssKiWeQ4OT9Lb1lHqYSCl2Zz__eAqL4pTalmbw6enyqzH9yaluXi8qrpIT59EDBR67sNkU4s8inH6fFTP3bZqfXdk3Kuksz2pA50jmQPfv6/s320/IMG_9121.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZOy-vacSq69xyuaZFeRa84MIJkOHhGitQLWQCOEbYeuCUTgwENrYOyDVF5KlP5yL6-nrilljy43YSoKUjo62sl1Jd_ekWdJUcRVwr6QXHz2NX8bE5-7bTgsc9QkWMye_JEdl2XVTf06gQUgIEAPNqyOSMKmD_i3m6qV6anLYUTWMyzQ84skL/s4032/IMG_9122.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZOy-vacSq69xyuaZFeRa84MIJkOHhGitQLWQCOEbYeuCUTgwENrYOyDVF5KlP5yL6-nrilljy43YSoKUjo62sl1Jd_ekWdJUcRVwr6QXHz2NX8bE5-7bTgsc9QkWMye_JEdl2XVTf06gQUgIEAPNqyOSMKmD_i3m6qV6anLYUTWMyzQ84skL/s320/IMG_9122.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>I would never want to get rid of the trees in the tiny council-owned "woodland" over the back fence (although a couple of saplings may need to be sacrificed for the sake of the fence - they are growing very close to it) but they do produce a LOT of leafy rubbish in my garden! I have half filled the garden rubbish bin already, and I haven't even begun to tackle the grassy bit of garden, not to mention the back walkway, which I haven't done anything with for a very long time.<p></p><p>When Jim was here I used the small study all the time, for working from home, online Japanese lessons, anything where I needed to be undisturbed. Even when he got sick, he still knew that if I was in there then I was doing something that he shouldn't interrupt. Now that he is not here, I don't really use it much at all. I have colonised the dining table for working, studying, messing about on the internet - pretty much everything, really.</p><p>This is the view from the dining table:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_GJzSB0HCcJfqZmw8-wUoXrJ5BHBMXi74LN15UQUXSAXNs7DYadFSL48jaN0b8OrRNUw_pKay-J5dhJCZA5h3ij81VTbgjypZIlzU2FCfm1lqxZS9ANDwNDrC-AD7KlHp09ltYUGcDohYrm2CPEz_Jvcvx0O19bRXnABybA8QSdjnh7tmVeS/s4032/IMG_9127.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_GJzSB0HCcJfqZmw8-wUoXrJ5BHBMXi74LN15UQUXSAXNs7DYadFSL48jaN0b8OrRNUw_pKay-J5dhJCZA5h3ij81VTbgjypZIlzU2FCfm1lqxZS9ANDwNDrC-AD7KlHp09ltYUGcDohYrm2CPEz_Jvcvx0O19bRXnABybA8QSdjnh7tmVeS/s320/IMG_9127.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6NlXn3CgXOAmUysJ5FAY4N5iZxDAjOEltvTno1BbUDyp6Djqk9I5hlIZz3BCOIyWZPZTA75qhitob5epUydWW36Xln9JRJzSgrE8WwIvNPf9zeRgF_qcs5zuYSRPIwVG5mNDjPn7veQ_ndEYfIJB2nxQ1OaDRX61vvevmzFuUQzCeBZIj5h2/s4032/IMG_9129.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6NlXn3CgXOAmUysJ5FAY4N5iZxDAjOEltvTno1BbUDyp6Djqk9I5hlIZz3BCOIyWZPZTA75qhitob5epUydWW36Xln9JRJzSgrE8WwIvNPf9zeRgF_qcs5zuYSRPIwVG5mNDjPn7veQ_ndEYfIJB2nxQ1OaDRX61vvevmzFuUQzCeBZIj5h2/s320/IMG_9129.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And in the evening:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mb892myCYAuuM0E81DffJvYWDYrXyagkSzqWqZHXogaly12iSuhW9KKeJSkOnC3RS0n_HBLBk62sJApcS-FdlroUE2QF_F4nCPUFkDz_WLlonrddD_J13MFn89a5JFDyFgZml29rv9XzRX8WKJE3HhSom1XaVFQkZc3A8gNeqeOjKZy0WzWc/s4032/IMG_9134.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mb892myCYAuuM0E81DffJvYWDYrXyagkSzqWqZHXogaly12iSuhW9KKeJSkOnC3RS0n_HBLBk62sJApcS-FdlroUE2QF_F4nCPUFkDz_WLlonrddD_J13MFn89a5JFDyFgZml29rv9XzRX8WKJE3HhSom1XaVFQkZc3A8gNeqeOjKZy0WzWc/s320/IMG_9134.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j08XHZ3DLgGF1LorMrFbZc7ni7EIz2TegwjEk3hoyLkvewC19EFxyodh2Infioq20TyRDrbiOZSyeJ8qlRgufALGnir9ro7WPxxfomgmqgyGu8LiOPnyLWfq7vVolo2R5xWHnMjYnnNSfXsLQkhwL4efXWQv_JGWkghJwmr9954LE5Ub-5Ve/s4032/IMG_9143.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j08XHZ3DLgGF1LorMrFbZc7ni7EIz2TegwjEk3hoyLkvewC19EFxyodh2Infioq20TyRDrbiOZSyeJ8qlRgufALGnir9ro7WPxxfomgmqgyGu8LiOPnyLWfq7vVolo2R5xWHnMjYnnNSfXsLQkhwL4efXWQv_JGWkghJwmr9954LE5Ub-5Ve/s320/IMG_9143.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>You can see why I don't use the study very much. All it looks onto is the back fence. I might need to rethink its use. One day. In the fullness of time. Maybe.</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-31779687074927874532024-03-12T12:20:00.002+11:002024-03-13T13:24:27.979+11:00Sunday and Monday of the Labour Day Weekend<p>I celebrated the commemoration of the 8 hour working day legislation by doing - not very much!</p><p>It was quite hot over the two days, although not especially humid so the weather was mostly quite pleasant in Ballarat. It was hot overnight, though and, despite having a fan in the bedroom, I didn't sleep very well. So I was quite sluggish during the days.</p><p>I did weed most of the grass out of the bed with the peach, lime and apple trees. A nice and easy little garden job. I have shifted some soil around into an unused (this year, at least) garden bed out the front. I need to fix up the far end of it and let the soil settle and then I'll put some autumn sowing vegetable seeds in. I did not sweep the floors or clean the kitchen or do any of the other household and garden tasks that are usually on my Long Weekend List of Things To Do. I did do a Japanese class on Saturday morning, which was rather fun. I went and visited Stella yesterday afternoon.</p><p>But mostly, I spent two days in what might be seen as wasteful indolence. Or perhaps as a restful holiday weekend.</p><p>The weather has changed today. It's in the mid 20s and much more humid and very cloudy. It feels as though it might rain, although there is no rain in the forecast. I have now cleaned the kitchen and swept the floors. I have done some washing and ironing. I have swept the leaves from the patio and raked the leaves from the back lawn. The garden bin is ready to go out for its fortnightly collection. And shortly I need to go and take Stella to her GP appointment, and then go and play with Hugo and give him his dinner</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-33363025601190034882024-03-10T08:25:00.001+11:002024-03-10T16:59:20.054+11:00Saturday, first day of a three day weekend<p>Today is the middle day of a long weekend in Victoria. It's the Labour Day holiday weekend, which celebrates the 8 hour working day legislation in the mid-19th century. It also marks the start of autumn and there are festivals all over the state.</p><p>This year, it is also a very hot weekend. A proper <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/metadata/catalogue/19115/ANZCW0503900601#:~:text=The%20Bureau%20of%20Meteorology%20defines,for%20a%20heatwave%20in%20Australia." target="_blank">heatwave</a>, as defined by the Bureau of Meteorology. It's the first heatwave we've had in Ballarat for this summer - and it came at the beginning of autumn! I think the Weather Dogs are confused!!!</p><p>Yesterday was forecast in this area to be an Extreme fire danger day, although the weather was actually quite pleasant in Ballarat. Yes, it was hot but it wasn't humid and the winds were light and I was wearing light clothes, a hat, sunscreen, and insect block. There were no significant bushfires reported in our region.</p><p>The annual Begonia Festival in Ballarat went ahead. It's in the Botanical Gardens and Lake precinct, so there is plenty of shade and no real danger of bushfires. Lindsey and I went early, before it got too hot, but just to the market, which is an extended version of the usual bi-monthly market. We had to go hunting for our regular stalls, although they were all there. We didn't go to the activities in the Botanical Gardens.</p><p>Other festivals around the state have been cancelled or significantly reduced. They've even cancelled the Moomba Parade in Melbourne tomorrow, not because they are expecting fires in the centre of Melbourne but for the safety of the parade participants. It's forecast to be in the high 30s and the parade participants are mostly in costume and have to walk a long way. Doesn't sound fun to me!</p><p>The unexpected hot weather has got my vegetable beds excited:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYG5Tc3Z_LICwyq2My3hx1ELAqh5KnA-Nl24aQKRAWjDzDGM9tfcPKJ1Wd-aAb7fZMYbV-V70m7fTLSqpYutMvxb-8PgA4WjXQuRWmrGa-rUfHapi_c8Vx3VkqqWKBbHuv3qDp_UTfsQdiTH32SwNvB3m0tGai5FgrOkPMgcRAHNkaWaVUkcl/s4032/IMG_9103.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYG5Tc3Z_LICwyq2My3hx1ELAqh5KnA-Nl24aQKRAWjDzDGM9tfcPKJ1Wd-aAb7fZMYbV-V70m7fTLSqpYutMvxb-8PgA4WjXQuRWmrGa-rUfHapi_c8Vx3VkqqWKBbHuv3qDp_UTfsQdiTH32SwNvB3m0tGai5FgrOkPMgcRAHNkaWaVUkcl/s320/IMG_9103.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small pumpkin<br />It's supposed to be small<br />I deliberately grew mini pumpkins</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIcPqOPWIocfyVWF6FZmTZbXRylAPanYSll7HDSN-xG2z8zWX9o4oYANTucE5_AUsd61sIn8lnz5kmK29QbKlA-8UgR-nfy-4MrAgC6PuD71KQdEeflyibXOURMqhRJE_Fout7C10SJPT9bbvSERfiMst3oGtXaqqjgC77P17uY99GImyC67_/s4032/IMG_9109.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIcPqOPWIocfyVWF6FZmTZbXRylAPanYSll7HDSN-xG2z8zWX9o4oYANTucE5_AUsd61sIn8lnz5kmK29QbKlA-8UgR-nfy-4MrAgC6PuD71KQdEeflyibXOURMqhRJE_Fout7C10SJPT9bbvSERfiMst3oGtXaqqjgC77P17uY99GImyC67_/s320/IMG_9109.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runner beans, oh so nearly long enough to pick</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OLRECGEqr4hhhU8oAGArs27Bdj62mxNzSVABLnbBek0vZT8bzcbi3W81r5N_Be00kIZ8VIXKexo-wmC_qPURAbhmsFE9FteL5xnGVgum0RKAREnAEEJaMNlw59yViJCBc5gQBbK6dTV-gwMozlHHntJAXKb0V8GkM9Izngze4GK9k8A-xtWz/s4032/IMG_9110.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OLRECGEqr4hhhU8oAGArs27Bdj62mxNzSVABLnbBek0vZT8bzcbi3W81r5N_Be00kIZ8VIXKexo-wmC_qPURAbhmsFE9FteL5xnGVgum0RKAREnAEEJaMNlw59yViJCBc5gQBbK6dTV-gwMozlHHntJAXKb0V8GkM9Izngze4GK9k8A-xtWz/s320/IMG_9110.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and lots of runner bean flowers.<br />I may get even more beans if the weather<br />holds</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPlipaaLdIBKozqphQmrc87rKiIB-vaR-wqtJceh-3PGvbO6uYN_v7iFPjWBOhmEU4Re2XzexyPI0Fnu7uLidGpZSa29sB3tvAPzvcyy_hJZzG1jw5K35JY8V5aE2YNdtFzIU5Hh8HSBLbeBfmH2XEFaT_T9XNba1IeSF9vdEmR40CBhwBQyC/s4032/IMG_9111.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPlipaaLdIBKozqphQmrc87rKiIB-vaR-wqtJceh-3PGvbO6uYN_v7iFPjWBOhmEU4Re2XzexyPI0Fnu7uLidGpZSa29sB3tvAPzvcyy_hJZzG1jw5K35JY8V5aE2YNdtFzIU5Hh8HSBLbeBfmH2XEFaT_T9XNba1IeSF9vdEmR40CBhwBQyC/s320/IMG_9111.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silverbeet plants, which I have been<br />picking from.<br />And that's a miniature capsicum plant<br />at the back. It produces very<br />cute and tasty mini capsicums</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4iMKPIMPJOydXwC4WILbVNGk5LQTRE3C1Ev8YjoliahVa7C4u0y-i5MG9TmNfHXQNRlPdyQAIGU6ei1hGU3-lvjcUQnhIH-2r_cX05geikSAheg9rvj_F2EvJN3T7xBRqBo_JG8Av6k5MtQEpjRZfw5E8xLmovPyvf3Xhlooc0eEbdTWkcDI/s4032/IMG_9116.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4iMKPIMPJOydXwC4WILbVNGk5LQTRE3C1Ev8YjoliahVa7C4u0y-i5MG9TmNfHXQNRlPdyQAIGU6ei1hGU3-lvjcUQnhIH-2r_cX05geikSAheg9rvj_F2EvJN3T7xBRqBo_JG8Av6k5MtQEpjRZfw5E8xLmovPyvf3Xhlooc0eEbdTWkcDI/s320/IMG_9116.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomatoes starting to ripen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Brandy, Whiskey and I took advantage of a balmy late afternoon and early evening and sat outside on the patio. I do seem to have an unnecessary number of leaves lying about. I would go and sweep them, but it's a bit windy this morning and I think the trees would simply deliver more. I shall sweep when the wind drops a bit</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqb8pITkKU1_ncdJiV6VA6zMyWcC1gkGni6-T3q1FCPMvrpObpan94lVSj330isS9G2SvBMEilMcNYfULPZuX6m19jhZEC73EU1chWyMcaRqN_Hhn1vB0Is9U6X_nDQWGT63FmDtLsmo9mMOTM6Efa96zCT-pqbJ383_g9CffM2s48iA3mD6b/s4032/IMG_9117.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqb8pITkKU1_ncdJiV6VA6zMyWcC1gkGni6-T3q1FCPMvrpObpan94lVSj330isS9G2SvBMEilMcNYfULPZuX6m19jhZEC73EU1chWyMcaRqN_Hhn1vB0Is9U6X_nDQWGT63FmDtLsmo9mMOTM6Efa96zCT-pqbJ383_g9CffM2s48iA3mD6b/s320/IMG_9117.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a self-invited tomato plant in with the<br />parsley and thyme</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmuKCbo72DxJB4Bqy2iXsrCJZEpa6VhyphenhyphennBBWC9LhWNa2vpn6-Rrmd_iJ5aqtF8-RSPWuXNJ15dZBtrRjZuFlcn_NZLo0dBGNsDxDhiN5SAdS6hE_Ce-nuY5mCFG8_2AN8rW3qzDdOL2zmYsCNblrzLI-BPBXJRJWjSo-se9iKQ5tGo_1VZ8u1/s4032/IMG_9118.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmuKCbo72DxJB4Bqy2iXsrCJZEpa6VhyphenhyphennBBWC9LhWNa2vpn6-Rrmd_iJ5aqtF8-RSPWuXNJ15dZBtrRjZuFlcn_NZLo0dBGNsDxDhiN5SAdS6hE_Ce-nuY5mCFG8_2AN8rW3qzDdOL2zmYsCNblrzLI-BPBXJRJWjSo-se9iKQ5tGo_1VZ8u1/s320/IMG_9118.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely evening for sitting outside </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-293084002732320802024-03-04T11:36:00.002+11:002024-03-04T11:41:25.789+11:00Lunch in the Meredith pub (after a long hiatus!)<p>Many, many years ago Jim and I were on a boating holiday in the Norfolk Broads and found ourselves, at least twice, having lunch in pubs which, from the outside, looked very unprepossessing, suggesting that the food served would be less than ideal. On both occasions we were wrong. The pub buildings might not have been exciting to look at but the food was delicious, freshly cooked and beautiful.</p><p>In February 2019 Lindsey, Jim and I found ourselves in Meredith, on the road to Geelong, looking for somewhere to have lunch. There are two pubs in Meredith, one obvious on the main road and one hidden, off on a side street. We went looking for the more hidden one and once again found a pub which looked pretty ordinary but which served more than acceptable food. We went back with Stella in October that year, had a lovely lunch - and haven't been back since. In part that was because of the covid lockdowns. Then the pub was sold. Memory hints that it might have been closed for a time. It more or less fell off our radar.</p><p>We went back yesterday. Not Jim, of course, but Lindsey, Ian, Stella and me. I had seen various reviews online which suggested it did good food. We are looking to expand our range of country lunch places. So off we went to give it a try.</p><p>It was busier than we remember it being 5 years ago. It's not noticeably prettier as a building, but the menu is very tempting, the service was cheerful and friendly and the food was delicious. It was a bit slow in coming (thank goodness Tony wasn't with us!) but was obviously freshly cooked and very tasty. We are going to have to go back. There are more things on the menu that we want to try.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovOhszT4NqMnwzRtvPYJA0tXzH1fC-nc_Jg3yWJVkXFGtilkp9G4PVCZ6YeWLjNZRqsRqScwq9haEl1i1Smp4_v3b7zpjATiV5Qxk46wTnS-WvgV3sBmITRa7grbhRfDvsp-aPvpBOWFykQOD3unUY0rGnManjBY0VCiHiSeQSBIO1FfqvqaI/s4032/IMG_9096.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovOhszT4NqMnwzRtvPYJA0tXzH1fC-nc_Jg3yWJVkXFGtilkp9G4PVCZ6YeWLjNZRqsRqScwq9haEl1i1Smp4_v3b7zpjATiV5Qxk46wTnS-WvgV3sBmITRa7grbhRfDvsp-aPvpBOWFykQOD3unUY0rGnManjBY0VCiHiSeQSBIO1FfqvqaI/s320/IMG_9096.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A slightly hidden, fairly typical looking country pub.<br />Appearances can be deceptive because the<br /> food was interesting and delicious</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQeYRIqd0o6d8UZO9OXy_RiUxbHywf3g4J4ICTUNNfV6l8zQp7_ArgAwGM7tBFL8N4_GOzNA2_F6lQtBHQXfnYUUPfwa1OpMWDgxeQvIY8-UVnB1G-RoQvnY9z-fk-AE9jmewiiTkFWUB3Nvi3u9Sao6rMcahJlOpWFwIbofA56lOmgMYRAhO/s4032/IMG_9095.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQeYRIqd0o6d8UZO9OXy_RiUxbHywf3g4J4ICTUNNfV6l8zQp7_ArgAwGM7tBFL8N4_GOzNA2_F6lQtBHQXfnYUUPfwa1OpMWDgxeQvIY8-UVnB1G-RoQvnY9z-fk-AE9jmewiiTkFWUB3Nvi3u9Sao6rMcahJlOpWFwIbofA56lOmgMYRAhO/s320/IMG_9095.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My deconstructed souvlaki, <br />made with very slow cooked lamb,<br />was amazing.<br />The chips weren't bad, either</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /></p><p>We have fallen into autumn, after a very cool summer. February did give us a handful of very hot days, including two days of extreme fire danger. But we haven't had any days over 40d in Ballarat this summer and I have only put the new air conditioner on twice, perhaps three times. We are expecting a few hot days later this week, but the weather has been definitely autumnal rather than summery. Cool mornings, warm sunny afternoons, cool evenings. Even last Wednesday, which was hot, blustery and a bit of a fire worry in the afternoon, dawned almost cold. I am, though, having to water the garden. After rather wet months in December and January, February has been dry in my bit of the world and there is no real rain looming in the forecast.</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-55877447982233881252024-02-26T09:07:00.003+11:002024-02-26T09:11:20.748+11:00Wind, Fire and a little bit of Rain<p>This was the view of the sunset from Hugo's place, when I called in on Wednesday evening to feed him, ahead of Lindsey coming home later in the evening:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprcyY5EGB8OXXRJ9SoE4T59MIEOSZbSK79aY84xpDUvy9oM9j1uWbXgRUEenR4GbpfpMdn5oJMT7CwiraCmWLJsuROkATa2R7EArrLrM17jIaI1vYAeDJm3G4bID6m6Xyof9qP9ARYE9MTbzOm10Dssy1hnoLAZs_t-YP0cx3GRzQYmp5uIJK/s4032/IMG_9066.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprcyY5EGB8OXXRJ9SoE4T59MIEOSZbSK79aY84xpDUvy9oM9j1uWbXgRUEenR4GbpfpMdn5oJMT7CwiraCmWLJsuROkATa2R7EArrLrM17jIaI1vYAeDJm3G4bID6m6Xyof9qP9ARYE9MTbzOm10Dssy1hnoLAZs_t-YP0cx3GRzQYmp5uIJK/s320/IMG_9066.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WTQVfaY7xPEqchakNUXAw9BFqKoLgw0JuJ3A54jjQWDZKg-S6PDiWbDducISMvWsGkcirUnV1vU5V2a0xsYeqwKSG7zXU9gmZLzJT7ZK4wquhCJqQNQdxRFFJb-T8Nd2GiQtIaAEYr5lofhAEMZYm_71PZbZbb-_D7CYWIOIDi0BqccJxP3K/s4032/IMG_9068.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WTQVfaY7xPEqchakNUXAw9BFqKoLgw0JuJ3A54jjQWDZKg-S6PDiWbDducISMvWsGkcirUnV1vU5V2a0xsYeqwKSG7zXU9gmZLzJT7ZK4wquhCJqQNQdxRFFJb-T8Nd2GiQtIaAEYr5lofhAEMZYm_71PZbZbb-_D7CYWIOIDi0BqccJxP3K/s320/IMG_9068.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And this was the view on Thursday afternoon:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHd3NQJ2giOxaN379puWOqK5LWh76k1HfOrMl8gA23aU5oH_7UVxX9WtyifmXN01S8ZZJxOEWqWIidn_8c_pJ1Z2wnaDpwahlHMi5Woeq4MFtd_hkxeCuvw9smRoo-kLtNe_Sn2_CVZyxli80hZXaDk2gaoB0BhXKsVtoHqcuyyITQVgV0VGQ/s4032/IMG_9074.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHd3NQJ2giOxaN379puWOqK5LWh76k1HfOrMl8gA23aU5oH_7UVxX9WtyifmXN01S8ZZJxOEWqWIidn_8c_pJ1Z2wnaDpwahlHMi5Woeq4MFtd_hkxeCuvw9smRoo-kLtNe_Sn2_CVZyxli80hZXaDk2gaoB0BhXKsVtoHqcuyyITQVgV0VGQ/s320/IMG_9074.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ytMhMK2xTsYY6ZTAWuOv8-aU-rdAFjJdfwYcs0yhQs5I3XRDMscrFl6jfjBZGGdv9ts-4qmrPiKU3Kk7gHXkV5pFLPVkYHmtJ2EKcmnqh0ObSmGL74oahCmR9rcmb9yXHQM-svNWhnbIAZ3dlZ8AJZUYvf1wm-VlSI6BA1jZKH5ApiefkKrb/s4032/IMG_9076.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ytMhMK2xTsYY6ZTAWuOv8-aU-rdAFjJdfwYcs0yhQs5I3XRDMscrFl6jfjBZGGdv9ts-4qmrPiKU3Kk7gHXkV5pFLPVkYHmtJ2EKcmnqh0ObSmGL74oahCmR9rcmb9yXHQM-svNWhnbIAZ3dlZ8AJZUYvf1wm-VlSI6BA1jZKH5ApiefkKrb/s320/IMG_9076.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The fire was 40 or 50 km away, on the other side of Beaufort. To get to us, it would have had to make its way through Ballarat, so I wasn't particularly worried. But it was (and remains) a big fire which has generated a great deal of smoke. Fortunately, though, no embers, at least not around us. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXib6Cugza4tAXP-Q1EgE9h8ad_IEYz7sTXNlhTemvLPddaeGryhyoHUBfRqOB4CqUeBXBCL_nasIMLIiOwH_dRe0AMTbGBTloMkT7gb6UZaygacuPTuUievl2gDFGVR6Jt5aGZLFZn6MICegneC0L39oKhAdE32X-Q6nIpt-IyqH2-YZ5Bzy/s4032/IMG_9079.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXib6Cugza4tAXP-Q1EgE9h8ad_IEYz7sTXNlhTemvLPddaeGryhyoHUBfRqOB4CqUeBXBCL_nasIMLIiOwH_dRe0AMTbGBTloMkT7gb6UZaygacuPTuUievl2gDFGVR6Jt5aGZLFZn6MICegneC0L39oKhAdE32X-Q6nIpt-IyqH2-YZ5Bzy/s320/IMG_9079.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>It's still smoky, but it is drizzling lightly in Mount Helen, which is clearing the air. It will, though, take more than drizzle to put the Beaufort fire out, despite the best efforts of the firefighters.</p><p>Hugo was supremely uninterested in fires, embers or danger:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtvkOyhyVkhFYvcZkAeapRrqLE9YMJYrPBDQkfQ3eMwvJaXKTC51fXMbiq_x-XJtU4clqPckUYaBo96Fn4myAUUX63LTDmRflwDRSWsQCxY1oBfhNM-QjXWHcmtEQ1g6aOqHX2WCTEy4bS86saToNs6_E8rSZYn7VjdQYPxvUdyUX1w_HPuI6/s4032/IMG_9078.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtvkOyhyVkhFYvcZkAeapRrqLE9YMJYrPBDQkfQ3eMwvJaXKTC51fXMbiq_x-XJtU4clqPckUYaBo96Fn4myAUUX63LTDmRflwDRSWsQCxY1oBfhNM-QjXWHcmtEQ1g6aOqHX2WCTEy4bS86saToNs6_E8rSZYn7VjdQYPxvUdyUX1w_HPuI6/s320/IMG_9078.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I was bringing something in from the patio in the evening. As I came back inside, something hit me and fell to the floor. I looked down - and found a small frog. I do not require small frogs in the house. The cats would find it a lot of fun, the frog would not, and it would almost certainly not end well. I managed to catch it and put it outside:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAuHlW6y9YECSdZMR7TR076aR7-D_AlfxFuuD1asDNVNTvwfQw6Qt6PZ9y0KLr8IxuyciYoNH4Yg9uGYr0hWjfD2PR-ggRIDae3CkXPoOGzw5ico8bB8d7a1XWoNAOmHeL08cKIWOmTUffu4iakSNEG6kFByuN5LBp7TrgPEK9vCPlNEdHngN/s4032/IMG_9070.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAuHlW6y9YECSdZMR7TR076aR7-D_AlfxFuuD1asDNVNTvwfQw6Qt6PZ9y0KLr8IxuyciYoNH4Yg9uGYr0hWjfD2PR-ggRIDae3CkXPoOGzw5ico8bB8d7a1XWoNAOmHeL08cKIWOmTUffu4iakSNEG6kFByuN5LBp7TrgPEK9vCPlNEdHngN/s320/IMG_9070.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Then I saw a small Huntsman spider on the kitchen floor. I caught it and went to put it outside, tripped over a cat and dropped it. Not surprisingly, it was reluctant to be caught again and ran under the couch. Its current whereabouts are unknown but either it will make its own way outside or it will turn up again and I will try to re-capture it.</p><p>I am hugely pleased that it was a Huntsman spider and not a grumpy frog that I managed to drop on the lounge room floor. Trying to deal with a leaping frog in the house is not my idea of an ideal evening's entertainment.</p><p><br /></p><p>Let us consider the question of home-grown potatoes. I emptied the small potato grow bins yesterday and the contents were very disappointing. Not that the potatoes were small because they weren't particularly. I had pulled them a little early but not that much and they were a reasonable size. But there were hardly any potatoes in either bin. I have decided not to bother with the grow bins again. I have had precisely no success with them over many years of trying. I am considering whether I have enough space to try growing some in one of the garden beds, or whether not to bother. We did well for potatoes in the ground in Tupton and at Hill House, so it might be worth a go, but I don't have a lot of space here and I do well for beans, broad beans, peas, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet corn, silverbeet. Seed potatoes aren't cheap, and buying potatoes from local farmers isn't all that expensive. I shall ponder over the autumn and winter. </p><p>Stella added an extra element of entertainment last night by somehow setting off her emergency alert on her phone or watch at around 11:30 or so. I have no idea how she managed to do that because as far as we can tell she was asleep at the time. Lindsey managed to get through to the care home and someone went to investigate. All was well, Stella was very confused by all the unexpected activity, and those of us who had already gone to bed were now awake and alert! There are far too many people on her emergency alert list. When I go in to see her I shall reduce the list to Lindsey and me. </p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-76644240897373531112024-02-19T12:15:00.008+11:002024-03-10T09:15:56.902+11:00Random Things<p>I stayed in Melbourne on Wednesday night. I was opening up on Thursday and, without a car, there was no possible way I could get from Mount Helen to Reservoir by 7:30.</p><p>It was a good evening. I had pizza from the shop below, enjoyed the sunset and dusk, had a mellow evening and was up nice and early on Thursday morning to enjoy a leisurely tram trip into work</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEBMFw3lwyJC8nZp_mDkyVyk1jKDQ1I_fgYGSEHRaS0at0mv1FqV1yCLtcE5RoWaQi4pTBcaLs31I1-7Au9Vpo108HOqQvHr_Z_w4QTQUkgo-rou8r6KRqyxpmDPQoVGdymsB7jJ8TXdiSXYMTAu-gTEMqYQcIcEPiE4yKGBZK1PU1IhLgplJ/s4032/IMG_9022.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEBMFw3lwyJC8nZp_mDkyVyk1jKDQ1I_fgYGSEHRaS0at0mv1FqV1yCLtcE5RoWaQi4pTBcaLs31I1-7Au9Vpo108HOqQvHr_Z_w4QTQUkgo-rou8r6KRqyxpmDPQoVGdymsB7jJ8TXdiSXYMTAu-gTEMqYQcIcEPiE4yKGBZK1PU1IhLgplJ/s320/IMG_9022.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPh1HgqGeeUqGq-em6beVQtdNBDyvD25QpQGjGkP1QRTCdoxzUICfRzmNZwHOFouanB36g4tR-99LuEt8qPT3GbT8Bj-pik4OhxOzQ9aJkE7uHc6ATaiqta0p8mVD8-np3ZLOsAo6fSnKMPSIlraVL4AQJjF-KMMXpNtfSLxaxS7kDCWtIaXw/s4032/IMG_9032.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPh1HgqGeeUqGq-em6beVQtdNBDyvD25QpQGjGkP1QRTCdoxzUICfRzmNZwHOFouanB36g4tR-99LuEt8qPT3GbT8Bj-pik4OhxOzQ9aJkE7uHc6ATaiqta0p8mVD8-np3ZLOsAo6fSnKMPSIlraVL4AQJjF-KMMXpNtfSLxaxS7kDCWtIaXw/s320/IMG_9032.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is rather blurry, sorry<br />But it does catch some of the vast crowd of fruit bats<br />heading out for their dinner</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8YDLHRkSIO9USVnwDemKv0c4-Qygt3O4sRo60id-Ndg1mdHYpg5c8iz9eyh97HiHTTxbxJdq5OMCDbv8No2ChpH8fovaFyq3E8EpMMA97c18Fag9xxtkix8p073-KtQbT_aE_guRY6KZZU8iGKxZxtmUpIHNsnYTmeAfU60P_ejEj4ok1QkP/s3792/IMG_9041.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2844" data-original-width="3792" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8YDLHRkSIO9USVnwDemKv0c4-Qygt3O4sRo60id-Ndg1mdHYpg5c8iz9eyh97HiHTTxbxJdq5OMCDbv8No2ChpH8fovaFyq3E8EpMMA97c18Fag9xxtkix8p073-KtQbT_aE_guRY6KZZU8iGKxZxtmUpIHNsnYTmeAfU60P_ejEj4ok1QkP/s320/IMG_9041.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>It was Hugo's 7th birthday yesterday. He is enjoying some of the unexpected advantages of being an Only Dog. New toys, that he doesn't have to share. The treats are all for him. The birthday bone was all for him. And best of all - he gets to go for walks! It's been a very long time since Rupert was able to go for a walk, and quite a long time since he could get in and out of the car. We couldn't take Hugo out and leave Rupert behind, so their social life had been confined to home and the gardens. Hugo misses his companion - but he is definitely enjoying the walks and the toys and treats</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhxMEaMLYnIxehuaAvsBoFm39xtNmdawhxUaXkCVvyiOMZrRpJbsDcZb4JAlmU09tzWW9zXqfJnn3INyi-paUQoJ455KCIBHep9PphwujCtrd8GKP2Ub8I4iOLKqx2Ifc4vOtZNzCYuPLllONtedu_cS-Zyl26jxzHxfR8GjYpuj0VFzlkwoX/s1290/IMG_1330.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1290" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhxMEaMLYnIxehuaAvsBoFm39xtNmdawhxUaXkCVvyiOMZrRpJbsDcZb4JAlmU09tzWW9zXqfJnn3INyi-paUQoJ455KCIBHep9PphwujCtrd8GKP2Ub8I4iOLKqx2Ifc4vOtZNzCYuPLllONtedu_cS-Zyl26jxzHxfR8GjYpuj0VFzlkwoX/s320/IMG_1330.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening stroll in the forest with Lindsey and Ian<br />Photo by Ian</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>At some point in January, Lindsey asked if the Talbot Market was still operating. As far as I was aware, it was. I checked and yes. The next one was on Sunday 18th February. We marked it on the calendar and yesterday we headed out for a visit. Lindsey asked if we had been since the covid lockdowns. I thought we had, maybe?, perhaps once?, with Jim? I checked with the blog. And yes - we had been in <a href="http://nethergreen.blogspot.com/2021/06/weekend.html" target="_blank">June 2021</a>, but not since.</p><p>My memory vaguely suggests that the market didn't operate reliably in 2021 because of various metropolitan lockdowns and other restrictions, but I am not really sure. I do know that we got out of the habit of going. I have put it back on my calendar, and added the Clunes monthly market that we haven't ever been to but feel we should check out.</p><p>It was a beautiful day for a potter out to Talbot and a wander around the market. I couldn't buy much because there is almost no mobile signal so most of the market stalls couldn't take card payments. I, of course, had no cash. Next time I'll make sure I have cash as well as my card.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfKSnLTMksdt9Aa22vPhDV2VNbaBjPJkSDUbZhLqZs2TQkOOiql1yHCf7te8uZf7fZdMguKeQ4bNeOXdhDRi2P2w4RK3hyphenhyphent1jqJULWWpVKXDBN8uOt6EYRHSO1imBkl1G6uCMNsqU9Fjvf_yBKK2n_374pSm8GJk0xNrWJV4ST_NgmWyWw-a_/s3761/IMG_9051.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3761" data-original-width="2820" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfKSnLTMksdt9Aa22vPhDV2VNbaBjPJkSDUbZhLqZs2TQkOOiql1yHCf7te8uZf7fZdMguKeQ4bNeOXdhDRi2P2w4RK3hyphenhyphent1jqJULWWpVKXDBN8uOt6EYRHSO1imBkl1G6uCMNsqU9Fjvf_yBKK2n_374pSm8GJk0xNrWJV4ST_NgmWyWw-a_/s320/IMG_9051.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwGfdIDNkqzDYHjOmAlM4hwmgVm4t65Ci0pm1uIOd6THBMoDwo5SyPrqPMCYjizXs5hmuTCFoRV_oWuCg3lfPpi-fpqRQFQF2y6BV1qKRVvN1E-v5WH_0c3DWXAeys_xYAPc4s4odFiY0_wuZreR4HbZVVzamkh6kF7CuY9rr7fiw_prm4ziy/s4032/IMG_9052.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwGfdIDNkqzDYHjOmAlM4hwmgVm4t65Ci0pm1uIOd6THBMoDwo5SyPrqPMCYjizXs5hmuTCFoRV_oWuCg3lfPpi-fpqRQFQF2y6BV1qKRVvN1E-v5WH_0c3DWXAeys_xYAPc4s4odFiY0_wuZreR4HbZVVzamkh6kF7CuY9rr7fiw_prm4ziy/s320/IMG_9052.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDXZsaYepJDdjcLHH4VnixJ-qAFXrsTzPBE8tRpIOYESdXjmIBENnKRK8X34sAa0JoWLWeGalkDsBkBat1S4JzrHTHr2wIfE2yUfTvEQ2Yf8RNPn7A6_rD6ztgNReuYOUDIv7rrAOa6bfKkib_1tJPj7uT8Wf8FJvcTj4K9uRMsFUx3U2DgTW/s4032/IMG_9054.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDXZsaYepJDdjcLHH4VnixJ-qAFXrsTzPBE8tRpIOYESdXjmIBENnKRK8X34sAa0JoWLWeGalkDsBkBat1S4JzrHTHr2wIfE2yUfTvEQ2Yf8RNPn7A6_rD6ztgNReuYOUDIv7rrAOa6bfKkib_1tJPj7uT8Wf8FJvcTj4K9uRMsFUx3U2DgTW/s320/IMG_9054.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXohHV5e-kI4UTpezacpL9ryIPw-L28SfKi6Vlg2LUV8R46wkQMcs9BxMWZa7685Nr6NLeCU8zduhrUr2OthMrfUfqGayW6wgDNkDCUuxAfZ_J283Z2uxWeYCs01EZgPgke1f40EJGY_IAmy14ERjeEI99MLDCNwgjHb7rcid17JMoMLYWkK-B/s4032/IMG_9055.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXohHV5e-kI4UTpezacpL9ryIPw-L28SfKi6Vlg2LUV8R46wkQMcs9BxMWZa7685Nr6NLeCU8zduhrUr2OthMrfUfqGayW6wgDNkDCUuxAfZ_J283Z2uxWeYCs01EZgPgke1f40EJGY_IAmy14ERjeEI99MLDCNwgjHb7rcid17JMoMLYWkK-B/s320/IMG_9055.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlvn6EBf70HJ_xV7JoH3b5hz2qStBPUl-uLV7NMmnHahVG8Mq6f3GjKs_Bc_dIJJtiYYUqvzLbF4yQ2OBTN8f2Za1lB2yxGKSNgi1Im4SW7FXOyWd8pbpk0tyVLLUmXi2pgqt7k84_unuDUIqvRub6XhsMQfjjKpEoDEXoqeFsf_I85NlnRLT/s4032/IMG_9056.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlvn6EBf70HJ_xV7JoH3b5hz2qStBPUl-uLV7NMmnHahVG8Mq6f3GjKs_Bc_dIJJtiYYUqvzLbF4yQ2OBTN8f2Za1lB2yxGKSNgi1Im4SW7FXOyWd8pbpk0tyVLLUmXi2pgqt7k84_unuDUIqvRub6XhsMQfjjKpEoDEXoqeFsf_I85NlnRLT/s320/IMG_9056.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>We should go more than once every two and a half years. Pre-covid we would go two or three times a year.</p><p><br /></p><p>On another note: my runner bean plants are thriving out the front, as are the silverbeet plants, the zucchinis and the cucumbers. I have had lots of runner bean flowers, although I think that something sneaky is eating them overnight. I'll have to keep an eye on that</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Qq4r30z0dGIGW2GKTLikSa_tQfQGs-CRn5P9GUuPhyphenhyphenRCH5AKxapt50s_OzRxHEZX24pRDPem9CbP2ee7RzVXqFhyyf545tYFbXrX7VhDObw5nd8tYMeHO6ag5B04yhtlFfE6jX6JF5A6oree-1ic1nVd_y9zvQexOl2k832EsQmIoVH6FZdg/s4032/IMG_9048.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Qq4r30z0dGIGW2GKTLikSa_tQfQGs-CRn5P9GUuPhyphenhyphenRCH5AKxapt50s_OzRxHEZX24pRDPem9CbP2ee7RzVXqFhyyf545tYFbXrX7VhDObw5nd8tYMeHO6ag5B04yhtlFfE6jX6JF5A6oree-1ic1nVd_y9zvQexOl2k832EsQmIoVH6FZdg/s320/IMG_9048.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>And - the patio fly screen door fell off its tracks the other day. I couldn't work out how to get it back on, though I could see that the bottom needed lifting, after I had inserted the top into its space. I tried to lift it, using a screwdriver, which sort of worked but not properly. So I looked at a few videos on YouTube and now it is properly on its track and running more smoothly than it has, almost for ever.</p><p>Go me!!</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-37828107278442917082024-02-13T16:04:00.004+11:002024-02-19T18:12:23.878+11:00Rupert<p>It never rains... as they say.</p><p>The good news is that Stella is on her way home.</p><p>The bad news is that we had to have Rupert put down this morning.</p><p>Lindsey rang me from work while I was eating breakfast, and contemplating having a shower and getting dressed, to say that Rupert had fallen and couldn't get up. Josh has been looking after Rupert and Hugo overnight when Lindsey and Ian are away. He had tried to get Rupert up and couldn't, and his back feet were weak and floppy. I hastily put some clothes on and Josh came down to pick me up.</p><p>Rupert was on the floor in the hallway. He didn't seem to be in distress but clearly couldn't use his back legs. His hips have been dodgy almost for ever. They have been very unreliable for around six months or so. Some of his siblings have had wobblers and/or hip dysplasia. Some of them have already had to be put down. We knew this day was coming. </p><p>Our vet couldn't help with a home visit today but referred us to The Kindest Goodbye, who run an At Home service.</p><p>A vet came about an hour later. Rupert was quite happy on a rug, eating scoobie snacks. Hugo was also happily eating scoobie snacks, although his need wasn't as great. Josh was keeping Hugo occupied. I was sat on a stool stroking Rupert's ears. I do love Great Dane ears. They're lovely and soft. They are also very expressive. Great Danes can say a lot with their ears!</p><p>The vet was very gentle and calm. Rupert and Hugo liked her. I liked her. And Rupert's ending was equally gentle and calm, although we had to keep Hugo out the way, lest he come to an untimely end by pushing his nose in where Rupert's injection was supposed to go. I don't think anyone, including Rupert, but apart from the vet, noticed his last breath. Just sleeping peacefully.</p><p>The vet's husband came up to see if he could help us carry Rupert out to the vet's car, which he kindly did. It turns out that he has been up to Lindsey and Ian's place before to do some plumbing work, and had come up on a couple of weekends with their children to go ferreting for rabbits. It's a very small world, if you live in Ballarat. (One of the people who works at the Mushroom Farm has also been to Lindsey and Ian's place, to fix the fridges)</p><p>Some of the first photos I took of Rupert when he first moved to Hill House:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp4kvNtU-V25dLvNM7rfr_9ARiE_p4opEV3HyoYKldrgrnKEoG6FUpbso-68e2X50yJsdh4yaCZha8gEVTlemHC7cnA2ZD9xNZvv_0zv9i4Q0Yvfat_CXX-UdViIc-zHfijODlM9_yFUHGn8XtwQbInHFY6cc_yqIa1Z87FqekzYHG1RkRe42/s1024/63910BE2-AE7E-4DB4-AC40-42F759542784_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1024" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp4kvNtU-V25dLvNM7rfr_9ARiE_p4opEV3HyoYKldrgrnKEoG6FUpbso-68e2X50yJsdh4yaCZha8gEVTlemHC7cnA2ZD9xNZvv_0zv9i4Q0Yvfat_CXX-UdViIc-zHfijODlM9_yFUHGn8XtwQbInHFY6cc_yqIa1Z87FqekzYHG1RkRe42/s320/63910BE2-AE7E-4DB4-AC40-42F759542784_1_105_c.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day he arrived</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt1a3oi0rIOiS_WWuSPmLwDxpE4d9z4md_fQMq_gqT3mBS-HYpxf2zdPfg8JhWXXOZabKOAXd-n7sK-LOw0iYYWP04iO2NXCAxs2tZBTS5u-P-AVZZdmSBE44YY4yx_NzXGE4w2am2YK7X5wZRky7k1q7s0pTb9lFEy68iODSm3XT24HTi_hr/s1922/Roops.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1922" data-original-width="1813" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt1a3oi0rIOiS_WWuSPmLwDxpE4d9z4md_fQMq_gqT3mBS-HYpxf2zdPfg8JhWXXOZabKOAXd-n7sK-LOw0iYYWP04iO2NXCAxs2tZBTS5u-P-AVZZdmSBE44YY4yx_NzXGE4w2am2YK7X5wZRky7k1q7s0pTb9lFEy68iODSm3XT24HTi_hr/s320/Roops.jpeg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His first walk in De Soza Park, Buninyong</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxyjvrkU3J9t9ZMVFpAhfV5otjv022bIRfF-I0B18rMZdfr6hR9wZrOcVAiJC4XAYXtDWP-vpBwT-10mGxkV4asXgq5ileGpqvhG947gDuCTNnmx0XICjmew1LVr4siSXtKGfDupBZguEK0bcUMWYU3QA843Noy5A3sD3llztdkpPZBER5bRo/s1024/F8D5554A-3590-4A62-95AF-83E27B9816D4_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxyjvrkU3J9t9ZMVFpAhfV5otjv022bIRfF-I0B18rMZdfr6hR9wZrOcVAiJC4XAYXtDWP-vpBwT-10mGxkV4asXgq5ileGpqvhG947gDuCTNnmx0XICjmew1LVr4siSXtKGfDupBZguEK0bcUMWYU3QA843Noy5A3sD3llztdkpPZBER5bRo/s320/F8D5554A-3590-4A62-95AF-83E27B9816D4_1_105_c.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slowly growing into his ears</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Some of the last photos I took of him:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcKBLZTY4E8xLYQ3y57skRRTLxDNfdV0AqX3CZrMXhnetVst1NA211WvrYfmsH0zGk5gvcZpFMiRrUXiz3X80I9E7g5OaWPS6QeVgHWyPKzbiJHDT1naLTZl1WecH1eErBkTcRWvSYQkFKxiX_xaTQd1AncqLXBvynBWW7JKb4bxM2B3N5D_q/s4032/IMG_8724.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcKBLZTY4E8xLYQ3y57skRRTLxDNfdV0AqX3CZrMXhnetVst1NA211WvrYfmsH0zGk5gvcZpFMiRrUXiz3X80I9E7g5OaWPS6QeVgHWyPKzbiJHDT1naLTZl1WecH1eErBkTcRWvSYQkFKxiX_xaTQd1AncqLXBvynBWW7JKb4bxM2B3N5D_q/s320/IMG_8724.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSi6csc9n31vsdar43cDBaOr4Y6Q7-X-zk7amKlS5C9tBB5q4OfE8Kp-EZaihzGmUCVD3gHT7xZ_WUVEvlXydFWCXCRVfAEcqVcLHLH6DS9JJBaibhaK79yE35050f41kVvIUYpudO3e8lM8FuB6yvez3zJK_iA3FGrkTDDaNj3I4Gtg_xAkq/s2981/IMG_8699.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2981" data-original-width="2376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSi6csc9n31vsdar43cDBaOr4Y6Q7-X-zk7amKlS5C9tBB5q4OfE8Kp-EZaihzGmUCVD3gHT7xZ_WUVEvlXydFWCXCRVfAEcqVcLHLH6DS9JJBaibhaK79yE35050f41kVvIUYpudO3e8lM8FuB6yvez3zJK_iA3FGrkTDDaNj3I4Gtg_xAkq/s320/IMG_8699.jpeg" width="255" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaVqBkR0iotLZSANY3n8VTpJyf3s1RBdhyphenhyphenhen62aW-4TwahgUisJ7B8B3QTYSOlwVpRXUgrqlYE6yJT9C1fpo7P9CRS241lR1eNnlsXrEZDQVGAX-x5tq-m96-6_t0h61-yZJ3Ug5GkegarWljHtzB7dfjyZH9b04EEP9xJgcHjAtLAUNj_ea/s4032/IMG_8980.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaVqBkR0iotLZSANY3n8VTpJyf3s1RBdhyphenhyphenhen62aW-4TwahgUisJ7B8B3QTYSOlwVpRXUgrqlYE6yJT9C1fpo7P9CRS241lR1eNnlsXrEZDQVGAX-x5tq-m96-6_t0h61-yZJ3Ug5GkegarWljHtzB7dfjyZH9b04EEP9xJgcHjAtLAUNj_ea/s320/IMG_8980.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some of my favourite photos of Rupert and Jim:</div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv3uRhB5J2lLn-AOGDyPgLyGdyeVhB1ap0pAGUKufPSJyLzNhcPFvbuslcbbSWd8w2WQkouOlLaUyInNTmAPgth2V0p2Jb60Y6gY6Nd04p3Fn2e7SfAMfwISBSW0iNQ56MiKEbb1mkxk_L992GxGY_HXcxoi9nnRe-4IIPfnWqdMNkQHdoJ_j/s1024/60CC9B54-575B-4765-A1BD-E92671A87F11_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv3uRhB5J2lLn-AOGDyPgLyGdyeVhB1ap0pAGUKufPSJyLzNhcPFvbuslcbbSWd8w2WQkouOlLaUyInNTmAPgth2V0p2Jb60Y6gY6Nd04p3Fn2e7SfAMfwISBSW0iNQ56MiKEbb1mkxk_L992GxGY_HXcxoi9nnRe-4IIPfnWqdMNkQHdoJ_j/s320/60CC9B54-575B-4765-A1BD-E92671A87F11_1_105_c.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU4HDynjV_VNuykZ3M7OLqSq88HTtnwZXjByLfU2r3vYChG2byy2msqsUg7o6x77EIP_2fnn4kR5xnb9XluQt3XWkAXDxk2Afte1fqeESIEuZlzWdRgG5jTmCFJ0tkEmyoPJHPiRlw8XSdiLzLAm2AIhCrJCST6MO-hCNxu-EgqltSCv3H6t7/s4032/IMG_6290.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU4HDynjV_VNuykZ3M7OLqSq88HTtnwZXjByLfU2r3vYChG2byy2msqsUg7o6x77EIP_2fnn4kR5xnb9XluQt3XWkAXDxk2Afte1fqeESIEuZlzWdRgG5jTmCFJ0tkEmyoPJHPiRlw8XSdiLzLAm2AIhCrJCST6MO-hCNxu-EgqltSCv3H6t7/s320/IMG_6290.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij31gXxI7EQLYzdIkknjynyY-0b3QQaVr1JYEu0eHeDqwK5JN-zKon_cYW7Dw2eP7KQ-xdDtoV7Gc-7bHOFtFw8_rkwch0kn_u7d5Ot3pf52udVEbe0B9zoN7K8he8BKheBFGN8jRVLQlqQDiyC82d7ge9X7PdSC8jURFeGhwvliMdiOsxAK9u/s4032/IMG_4672.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij31gXxI7EQLYzdIkknjynyY-0b3QQaVr1JYEu0eHeDqwK5JN-zKon_cYW7Dw2eP7KQ-xdDtoV7Gc-7bHOFtFw8_rkwch0kn_u7d5Ot3pf52udVEbe0B9zoN7K8he8BKheBFGN8jRVLQlqQDiyC82d7ge9X7PdSC8jURFeGhwvliMdiOsxAK9u/s320/IMG_4672.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>And my most favourite:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSk2VktqEc7QfWUHsvi_ai2AhmESjKFusAeU9sC_ZMO-OrDgpxzFT1sbFt12_1DZon967ILf8IqnTpBYs3IYNvU8_JTbHmPm4mj7drFlmUZl9qQ8Y9n086lmfRUfjAsY1BvACPEYq6HyG7kgNiYQB9nBt68TKuT3xhl-Gld9UE12HYM4utm2Z/s3079/ECDA128D-8FB6-49DE-A59B-3B6D9FB858C3_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3079" data-original-width="2309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSk2VktqEc7QfWUHsvi_ai2AhmESjKFusAeU9sC_ZMO-OrDgpxzFT1sbFt12_1DZon967ILf8IqnTpBYs3IYNvU8_JTbHmPm4mj7drFlmUZl9qQ8Y9n086lmfRUfjAsY1BvACPEYq6HyG7kgNiYQB9nBt68TKuT3xhl-Gld9UE12HYM4utm2Z/s320/ECDA128D-8FB6-49DE-A59B-3B6D9FB858C3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Well done, Rupert. You were a goofy, loving and gentle Very Good Boy</p></div><br />Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-20552516229692161042024-02-11T07:54:00.003+11:002024-02-16T16:14:47.535+11:00Off to the Hospital <p>Phone calls at 4:30 in the morning are disconcerting enough. When they are from your 90 year old mother's aged care facility they are Very Disconcerting Indeed!</p><p>They had called an ambulance and were sending her to hospital. Her blood pressure was very low. She had been extremely fatigued and was getting increasingly confused. Her leg was very swollen and painful. Off to hospital for her.</p><p>And in hospital Stella remains. Her blood count was rock bottom, her blood pressure was almost non-existent. Her readings were so low that they prompted her GP to call me just after 8:30 to see what on earth had happened. Stella herself had just assumed she had overdone it at her 90th birthday celebrations and that she should slow down a bit. If that had been the cause, though, she should have been much better. It wasn't that raucous a weekend! It turns out that she had had a very slow internal bleed - which almost certainly accounts for all the odd symptoms she's had since Christmas. </p><p>She spent pretty much all of Friday in the Ballarat Base ED, before being moved into a ward.She's had four units of blood and they're trying to stabilise all her odd readings. She won't come out until tomorrow or Tuesday. However, once Stella goes into a hospital they always seem very reluctant to let her out again, so who knows when she will finally escape.</p><p>I stayed at home on Friday, just in case. Ian and I went to see her on Friday late afternoon and took her phone and some pyjamas in for her. Wendy came up yesterday morning and she, Lindsey and I went to visit. Wendy is heading home again this morning but Lindsey and I will call in this afternoon. We'll see how she goes.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdJaGQZQPHLnrFpDfrog0MzSMd3dyapGYyif0SQ5WLqJCutXVc3TcbfHIHDRSXHMccfeapYe3zS1ki-FFceWWa8u2Gbxfrn1R13XorUUYkr0udh6WoEMPH-wjHplvSd4uF6CLzz3HTBY-mZt9RPgVs5H-HYinMmtQ9q-zcw6P0OIQG-ftg7ou/s4032/IMG_9004.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdJaGQZQPHLnrFpDfrog0MzSMd3dyapGYyif0SQ5WLqJCutXVc3TcbfHIHDRSXHMccfeapYe3zS1ki-FFceWWa8u2Gbxfrn1R13XorUUYkr0udh6WoEMPH-wjHplvSd4uF6CLzz3HTBY-mZt9RPgVs5H-HYinMmtQ9q-zcw6P0OIQG-ftg7ou/s320/IMG_9004.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A much better colour.<br />She had been an alabaster white on Thursday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>It would be very useful if I could have my car back. Life is nice and quiet travelling on the buses but it is very inconvenient not having a vehicle if I need to get to the hospital or to Rupert and Hugo's place. Not to mention getting to work!</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-46850334141355740512024-02-07T15:25:00.000+11:002024-02-07T15:25:01.368+11:00Ziggy has broken down<p>I was coming back from Stella's place on Monday afternoon, intending to drop home for a bit and then to go up to Rupert and Hugo's place for an hour or so.</p><p>As I was passing the Damascus School, my car made a strange noise and a warning symbol came up on the dashboard. A picture of an engine and "Check System", plus a little picture of a skidding car. Ziggy has never done anything like that before. I drove home very carefully, contacted the overnight dog sitter to say I couldn't feed the dogs, checked the oil and water and left the car to it. I did notice that there was a slight smell of petrol inside the car, but not outside, and that the car had made a few odd noises after the warning sign had come on.</p><p>After my Japanese class at 8:00 on Tuesday morning I rang My Car in Delacombe and told them what had happened. Bring it in, they said. We'll run some diagnostic tests and see what's going on. I asked if it was both safe and wise to drive the 9km to Delacombe. They didn't know. It could be nothing, it might be something, there was a slight chance it was something catastrophic.</p><p>I decided to give it a go. It's only 9km.</p><p>This was a bad plan. I was going up the hill where Stella lives, had in fact just gone past her place, when the car started making lots of strange noises, the petrol smell became stronger, the car announced that it was Not At All Happy.</p><p>I pulled into a side street and called the Roadside Assistance people. I have a choice of Roadside Assistance. I am properly insured with AAMI, but I have 12 months assistance with My Car when I have a full service done with them. I had only had the car fully serviced three or so weeks ago. I might still have gone with AAMI, but I was going to My Car anyway so I called them, and they turned up about an hour later. (I think it would have been the same people no matter which Assistance Service I called!)</p><p>In fact, I was quite happy where I was. It was a lovely morning. I had a book, my iPad and full signal. I had a forest to my right to look at. I did some Japanese practice. All was well (apart from the car).</p><p>The tow truck turned up and took Ziggy and me to Delcombe. The My Car people said they would run the diagnostic tests and it would take about an hour. So I went and had bacon and eggs on toast while I waited.</p><p>It turns out that the car needs a new exhaust manifold gasket (which was the source of the weird noises, the petrol fumes and the alarm symbols). It also needs new spark plugs and an ignition coil. And very sorry and all that, but we are unusually busy so we won't be able to fix it until the 20th, unless we have a cancellation.</p><p>I couldn't see any point in taking it anywhere else, so left it where it was and took a bus back into the city and then a bus back out to my place.</p><p>Let us be grateful that the car decided to misbehave when I was less than 2km from home and that it decided not to go any further when I had the option to pull into a side street. It would have been much worse if I had been going at 110 on the freeway. As it was, I had quite a peaceful day. Just lots of waiting around for tow trucks, mechanics and buses.</p><p>I did rather miss the car this morning, though. It is VERY time consuming getting to work by public transport, and then back again. If Lindsey had been coming to Ballarat this evening I would probably have gone, because then I could have cadged a lift back with her this evening. But she's heading in the opposite direction tonight and I really didn't want to do a total of 7 or 8 hours on buses, trains and trams, plus all the waiting around.</p><p>I quite enjoyed taking the bus into Mount Clear to visit Stella this afternoon. It's quite nice having someone else conveying you there and back, plus you get little walks in the mixture.</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-44264602935093069412024-02-05T11:43:00.002+11:002024-02-05T16:02:25.298+11:00Partying<p>The Family gathered on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Stella's Birthday Achievement.</p><p>Lindsey and I had ordered various platters from the Mushroom Farm a couple of weeks ago. Wendy and I went out to collect them on Saturday morning. We called at the bakery for party pies and rainbow* bread (for the fairy bread). We collected Stella and took her to Hill House.</p><p>Pretty much everyone in the family who is in Australia came for a celebratory afternoon tea.</p><p>There was also a Surprise Guest. By a complete coincidence, one of Stella's regular carers, from when she lived in Mount Martha, rang Wendy mid-morning on Saturday. She was in Ballarat with a friend for the weekend. Did Wendy think it appropriate for them to go and visit Stella? Wendy and I managed to persuade her that not only was it appropriate but that Stella would be absolutely delighted - only she would need to come to Hill House, which is where Stella would be. She took a bit of convincing that it would be acceptable to "gatecrash" the party with her friend, but we finally managed to persuade her. And Stella was indeed delighted. And surprised (we hadn't said anything). And very pleased.</p><p>It was a good afternoon. And better than a full on family Christmas, in many ways. We had mostly finger food and people spread themselves all over the (rather large) house and into the garden, unlike at Christmas when everyone is noisily gathered around a couple of dining tables in the one room. It was much easier to talk to people, not to mention being able to get at the tasty tidbits that you fancied!</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFhpsy68mHWxJBNZTQ5oCMrcAJKAJzaHvaaSikO-f9Vqyz46fQqYhtsLWouIzWYIOWpr1uF1hzbtI4sRCMG80flLaRpxXdGk9rhLYlT73V_20m2LwsYvef09ziIec70nNKzHeZ1SZk1eMSlnzsGwszeho-6z_9Cl0jVsgC7PLQFf3hFVDGBLn/s4032/IMG_8976.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFhpsy68mHWxJBNZTQ5oCMrcAJKAJzaHvaaSikO-f9Vqyz46fQqYhtsLWouIzWYIOWpr1uF1hzbtI4sRCMG80flLaRpxXdGk9rhLYlT73V_20m2LwsYvef09ziIec70nNKzHeZ1SZk1eMSlnzsGwszeho-6z_9Cl0jVsgC7PLQFf3hFVDGBLn/s320/IMG_8976.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony was there, with his glass of wine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOp32kw_5fTpKes43Ywcv0jSUOSAdtBjdg1_qHI2MX3WnYpqVt3QuYiKeQkEhkZabarW_M4Ud1Z9uTLAec4lhriGsInFIfXpxbjBuNb22sNlgTnsR79XpLXGyUEtntcFBHYn_WXfXWUxUUBtDnSawq88nPgmg20ac2ievKd-VgJfrq5IVg7P4/s4032/IMG_8977.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOp32kw_5fTpKes43Ywcv0jSUOSAdtBjdg1_qHI2MX3WnYpqVt3QuYiKeQkEhkZabarW_M4Ud1Z9uTLAec4lhriGsInFIfXpxbjBuNb22sNlgTnsR79XpLXGyUEtntcFBHYn_WXfXWUxUUBtDnSawq88nPgmg20ac2ievKd-VgJfrq5IVg7P4/s320/IMG_8977.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A platter of donuts, cakes, pastries<br />- and lots and lots of lollies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMu0QOuLEUpxLT2_WnWFJqky2n1xM8fu9JmY3Yzm6OZ4iYV1s83kVUMvgHkFowAjF0zvxl0c0DO4yAxhBVL6dM1kCmv2hqVJqw3JCEBcg9MX4LR6s0Kx2MgUm88SiAfP90bjcjLP9u3YXMAKDj4H-s05995VeZxV5JZtOuHvuR35PbxtMTai1/s4032/IMG_8979.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMu0QOuLEUpxLT2_WnWFJqky2n1xM8fu9JmY3Yzm6OZ4iYV1s83kVUMvgHkFowAjF0zvxl0c0DO4yAxhBVL6dM1kCmv2hqVJqw3JCEBcg9MX4LR6s0Kx2MgUm88SiAfP90bjcjLP9u3YXMAKDj4H-s05995VeZxV5JZtOuHvuR35PbxtMTai1/s320/IMG_8979.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday girl with her cake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8fmGq_Mlp1tr1Mj7DAQHMV3hpFXVZPvrn6-cogvkvC6UhxhXKAykerX2JC9QjN5rZg1rHCKufxzo2Hrku-Kso7qW43zoUhXiETS2P4x3ItExfPg5E3_x3Mgiwr9mbBJQIle-efjU68E4rkZqcxEaxszH-Xijv5RViYu1ZZJczeADlGxkKz9t/s4032/IMG_8980.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8fmGq_Mlp1tr1Mj7DAQHMV3hpFXVZPvrn6-cogvkvC6UhxhXKAykerX2JC9QjN5rZg1rHCKufxzo2Hrku-Kso7qW43zoUhXiETS2P4x3ItExfPg5E3_x3Mgiwr9mbBJQIle-efjU68E4rkZqcxEaxszH-Xijv5RViYu1ZZJczeADlGxkKz9t/s320/IMG_8980.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sure I can get at that abandoned piece of cheese <br />if I just try hard enough</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pg4n050ThLJRKl8DQ8LbwtEMefUHdoTuCt55jTST1XqN4YJaWC2bY5WKZLpk7ang03kDeF27-nLZtRap8firD96infCYl-4Rj9rZhxMV6eu8bPUDtx4_UnpLTbP2hyphenhyphen423Icy4b0Ngn7vUQoTbRKqgq2Y78ZXUDfMuzPOqkLtTzGwUmAWHdz8/s4032/IMG_8983.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pg4n050ThLJRKl8DQ8LbwtEMefUHdoTuCt55jTST1XqN4YJaWC2bY5WKZLpk7ang03kDeF27-nLZtRap8firD96infCYl-4Rj9rZhxMV6eu8bPUDtx4_UnpLTbP2hyphenhyphen423Icy4b0Ngn7vUQoTbRKqgq2Y78ZXUDfMuzPOqkLtTzGwUmAWHdz8/s320/IMG_8983.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit platters, party pies, sandwiches, cheese <br />and charcuterie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReA018YDHR7UhHHOFp30gtjGUAuB2aGiw09QOiJLHO97dkaP7vxW7zmN3KlognNmImMte70iHYwAHqvrwHLJe7GVHZGj3dmQaSQAiTy1eYkAdC84S8uBds9_QGsYoEsrR4RS1xxrPagt_6CG5V-QtHaGLFMOd4LPoYtl05zC5B98BckpBREwD/s4032/IMG_8987.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReA018YDHR7UhHHOFp30gtjGUAuB2aGiw09QOiJLHO97dkaP7vxW7zmN3KlognNmImMte70iHYwAHqvrwHLJe7GVHZGj3dmQaSQAiTy1eYkAdC84S8uBds9_QGsYoEsrR4RS1xxrPagt_6CG5V-QtHaGLFMOd4LPoYtl05zC5B98BckpBREwD/s320/IMG_8987.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bundle of boys</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PHqTC-Hw8clWdM0-0MOj9JLiwTxkUYDNHibhCGI4xvigyjgbFhbiFry8fpyfXskThEJC3sXJk3dxC36895k1P8u2OYPxgL1gg7DSy7mD0wc5B5QrV7mIw1m0MuXlBdHi8KKbJaYS9IcBTTvSy5YM_fmyOoA0xfsSDw7Iny74fjFmaavslEtu/s4032/IMG_8989.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PHqTC-Hw8clWdM0-0MOj9JLiwTxkUYDNHibhCGI4xvigyjgbFhbiFry8fpyfXskThEJC3sXJk3dxC36895k1P8u2OYPxgL1gg7DSy7mD0wc5B5QrV7mIw1m0MuXlBdHi8KKbJaYS9IcBTTvSy5YM_fmyOoA0xfsSDw7Iny74fjFmaavslEtu/s320/IMG_8989.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and a gathering of girls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The plan had been that Stella would stay overnight at Hill House and join whoever was there for brunch/lunch on Sunday. However, she decided that she was absolutely exhausted and would prefer to go home to her own bed. So Lindsey took her back, where she repaired straight to bed. I also pretty much went straight to bed when I got back to my place.</p><p>Those of us who were still standing on Sunday went out to the Wallace Hotel for lunch. Stella was going to come with us but decided that she was too tired and stayed back at her place. I suppose, once you get to your 90s, three days of partying might be pushing it a bit. Mind you, Lindsey reports that Rupert and Hugo had barely moved from the bed and the couches after everyone had gone home on Saturday evening. They were still on the couches when everyone headed out to lunch on Sunday.</p><p>It was an excellent birthday weekend. The weather was glorious. It was pleasantly hot. Everyone had a good time. </p><p>The weather has changed today. After a weekend of sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-30s, today is cloudy, damp and misty with a forecast high of 20. I might even have to put a cardigan on!</p><p><br /></p><p>*Our bakery makes rainbow bread which has red and blue colouring stirred through a white bread dough. It's perfect for fairy bread, which is thinly sliced bread, crusts removed, buttered and spread with hundreds and thousands</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-76497914477751889372024-02-03T06:36:00.000+11:002024-02-03T06:36:40.591+11:00She Made It!<p>Stella tells us that she woke up yesterday morning and thought - I made it!</p><p>I wasn't convinced she would do. She was so breathless on Wednesday morning that she couldn't speak when I rang her. I hung up, called the nurses, and they sorted her out.</p><p>In truth, there has been doubt that she would make it to yesterday pretty much since she was born. She was a very premature baby and her parents were told to take her home and enjoy her for the few days they would have her. She has had heart attacks, respiratory issues, circulation problems, dud kidneys - you name it and she has suffered from it. Reports of her imminent demise have been rife throughout her life.</p><p>But make it she did, to her 90th birthday.</p><p>Wendy came up from Melbourne and Lindsey, Wendy and I accompanied Stella to the Boatshed for a celebratory lunch. Both my brothers have asked why they weren't invited but actually no one was invited. Wendy had assumed Lindsey and I would be working as usual and arranged to come up and go for lunch. Lindsey had, separately, taken the day off and decided to go out for lunch. I had also rearranged my week so I would be free for the birthday. And lunch just evolved.</p><p>It was a glorious day yesterday, as perfect a summer day as you could ask for. Mid to high 20s, blue sky, light breeze. And I had booked a table on the (inside) deck, out over the lake. We had a window table with lovely views over the water.</p><p>We shared a seafood platter (with extra chips). Stella and I had an affogato each for dessert. Wendy had a coffee pudding (although we think that might have been a typo because it was most definitely a toffee pudding). Lindsey decided not to indulge in dessert. It was all very delicious, washed down with mocktails for Lindsey and me, a light beer for the usually teetotal Wendy and a glass of proper champagne for the birthday girl.</p><p>Stella had phone calls from all sorts of people, social media messages from even more people, lots of presents.</p><p>An excellent celebration</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6w3L8kp94qil7AcnOqQPsDramXQWj8p7-mXLGy3C5W0ZIYDuOwrFwmg-SrZ7b5RqUGAruhb_mTip3L1fpB3nv9JdEdcFpLAWBqbCk3PdHK0SiL-Cumk00H7g54a8YSGnhe2f554NAV37nEfKgnqDFboIzPwtVijn15mhWGJMd0nwg9tWz_p0x/s3666/IMG_8965.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3666" data-original-width="2445" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6w3L8kp94qil7AcnOqQPsDramXQWj8p7-mXLGy3C5W0ZIYDuOwrFwmg-SrZ7b5RqUGAruhb_mTip3L1fpB3nv9JdEdcFpLAWBqbCk3PdHK0SiL-Cumk00H7g54a8YSGnhe2f554NAV37nEfKgnqDFboIzPwtVijn15mhWGJMd0nwg9tWz_p0x/s320/IMG_8965.jpeg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">90 years old<br />Not a bad effort</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOUJVLEGaM6k_1k4g3IOOxd8YWCjRrHDLWafPpO7xssGlKhpUAaeeEvaJLLYHOi_MLioeoiCSyhGJNapvJSwUJepVaIdSaPrIeJCK39MgggKsyg_auh5YgS2fn0GO6Fd9jYszNenkQSktfsJE2SyPjx4Ym5tpnzUG5R15ezJXc6QRP7qQNY77/s4032/IMG_8967.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOUJVLEGaM6k_1k4g3IOOxd8YWCjRrHDLWafPpO7xssGlKhpUAaeeEvaJLLYHOi_MLioeoiCSyhGJNapvJSwUJepVaIdSaPrIeJCK39MgggKsyg_auh5YgS2fn0GO6Fd9jYszNenkQSktfsJE2SyPjx4Ym5tpnzUG5R15ezJXc6QRP7qQNY77/s320/IMG_8967.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wendy, decorated with rainbows</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhliYNZJ56zLBSpE1e01eUkV3jwkBPA8dqrpxZhk-m3V20p1a4PD8ZtW0KiBem6qyJGeZUHSk8lL2jRv4fo6VhOL-TCVjUJonSc0LD0h2u7ZUwPnyD0t9JTzjsECzPNm4WE_s_cM4F1ghokf_YQB_S1C56lGUDv0DB-g0ogCezZ6v4yFqX-LUr/s4032/IMG_8968.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhliYNZJ56zLBSpE1e01eUkV3jwkBPA8dqrpxZhk-m3V20p1a4PD8ZtW0KiBem6qyJGeZUHSk8lL2jRv4fo6VhOL-TCVjUJonSc0LD0h2u7ZUwPnyD0t9JTzjsECzPNm4WE_s_cM4F1ghokf_YQB_S1C56lGUDv0DB-g0ogCezZ6v4yFqX-LUr/s320/IMG_8968.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seafood platter</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Q_clDRlMo4UrggBksxYvP3LE_jblzc1Sm32GLOFqrT9aClwPlvmO-69GzAGK1JJ7HivdX26Qs21DDKfqBKJ3Tgd84d50bguWjKu_gO0IzVlqOptQYB6SuxCbiTPUAXndx7PaDu_ciMLYDBWsVtw4Y5XNMNnsYRQYBVVuZP_0eG45aVBS95lV/s4032/IMG_8969.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Q_clDRlMo4UrggBksxYvP3LE_jblzc1Sm32GLOFqrT9aClwPlvmO-69GzAGK1JJ7HivdX26Qs21DDKfqBKJ3Tgd84d50bguWjKu_gO0IzVlqOptQYB6SuxCbiTPUAXndx7PaDu_ciMLYDBWsVtw4Y5XNMNnsYRQYBVVuZP_0eG45aVBS95lV/s320/IMG_8969.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table with a view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoWZx5tQqfK2VkIZvMBuLhLv-jLBco_6uXbUzbkC2gxZcnPOV_J4AN0-UtdcxvycnT473fBjxfujnQ9eSXyYwf41XNCwhJ7-j7Rk_uaKLrwK3QV6jYBZEYb1mvgjxo1E4uq6qrC8iamUHBzNWsk4zRfcQgj8epIsVYttnlIcV9igdkb-fovIw/s4032/IMG_8972.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoWZx5tQqfK2VkIZvMBuLhLv-jLBco_6uXbUzbkC2gxZcnPOV_J4AN0-UtdcxvycnT473fBjxfujnQ9eSXyYwf41XNCwhJ7-j7Rk_uaKLrwK3QV6jYBZEYb1mvgjxo1E4uq6qrC8iamUHBzNWsk4zRfcQgj8epIsVYttnlIcV9igdkb-fovIw/s320/IMG_8972.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desserts</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-5mk_shBClR7DhiK1pdj4KnhnqH3tmqpvVtF53DGPu0xUuDWEgOHj15bNOTUHqvnw4jvaotVTHBSTmiNtR2uASonov9AnwVPuF1twNXp695hNbFToVOiOQVE3h2vzfBEeSUSkr7oWDjMt8EhhoszEYowjQPXCfjNV5A8-W27sPtQgMEt4DjR/s3524/IMG_8951.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3524" data-original-width="2624" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-5mk_shBClR7DhiK1pdj4KnhnqH3tmqpvVtF53DGPu0xUuDWEgOHj15bNOTUHqvnw4jvaotVTHBSTmiNtR2uASonov9AnwVPuF1twNXp695hNbFToVOiOQVE3h2vzfBEeSUSkr7oWDjMt8EhhoszEYowjQPXCfjNV5A8-W27sPtQgMEt4DjR/s320/IMG_8951.jpeg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening presents</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpKaNmJPlIo4Mvuuk-c5vNgLSWITQSqcwtdvSKAl9XoeoJvD_D3dxChHMOV48AdBMTnwC3GRg-o92VSjFYTtFALIondUEeH-P05grgUbcUdiBV2KpUER8k5C9claMJe0ec63yv-LoF-QLrH8Nb9eVMEWIc0kr4t8v3dLaT-FhRmeOL3W8Frsg/s3751/IMG_8959.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3751" data-original-width="2812" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpKaNmJPlIo4Mvuuk-c5vNgLSWITQSqcwtdvSKAl9XoeoJvD_D3dxChHMOV48AdBMTnwC3GRg-o92VSjFYTtFALIondUEeH-P05grgUbcUdiBV2KpUER8k5C9claMJe0ec63yv-LoF-QLrH8Nb9eVMEWIc0kr4t8v3dLaT-FhRmeOL3W8Frsg/s320/IMG_8959.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Flower mocktail for me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoZdAoHHM45iAiCfKg3XbzI_cli9aaEZ6xKV-k2HeuzWy7rDkdaXA-vVVc-izrNE5bXkXLD33-xtyDjwSpTMJxPD4kiwnc9lDRV1hmn3zTDNt_nGC2s_eGvBWx_Bw36-t49xzf3oO3tIX8zVdK6PSFZx2rd9cKfc6jHchP23hRB9zWyzo6fXY/s4032/IMG_8973.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoZdAoHHM45iAiCfKg3XbzI_cli9aaEZ6xKV-k2HeuzWy7rDkdaXA-vVVc-izrNE5bXkXLD33-xtyDjwSpTMJxPD4kiwnc9lDRV1hmn3zTDNt_nGC2s_eGvBWx_Bw36-t49xzf3oO3tIX8zVdK6PSFZx2rd9cKfc6jHchP23hRB9zWyzo6fXY/s320/IMG_8973.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was on the door of Stella's room</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Then we took Stella home - and she repaired to her bed for a restorative nap</p><p><br /></p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-43450418380475747082024-01-29T11:15:00.002+11:002024-01-29T11:52:10.193+11:00Long Weekend Activities<p>It is really quite confusing when you start doing regular things on the wrong day!</p><p>On Thursday, Lindsey and I did a whole load of Saturday things. Not the markets, because there weren't any, but shopping and pottering. Then we confused things even more and went and visited Stella in the morning instead of the afternoon. I did have a hair appointment on Thursday afternoon, which is when I usually have them, but mostly I was doing Saturday things, or Thursday things at strange times.</p><p>Friday was a national public holiday. Just to confuse me even more, the Sunday Lunchers met at Gillie's house in Daylesford and had a Sunday Lunch on a Friday. It was a lovely afternoon. In addition to Chris, John and Irene, Gillie's sister was over from South Africa. I have heard lots about her but hadn't previously met her. So lots of good food, a good catch up and a new friend - even if that friend is heading back to South Africa tomorrow.</p><p>I had dropped by to visit Stella on my way to Gillie's place. I had some shopping for her. She was wearing the jumper I gave her for Christmas</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuRgTZpGTtFB8thdZrGROjhdo3PPOnf0t59YdvChBmiObmZk4p_RHe9P150nJ1gF3ZyitXVCrNuh87Outi637Ih6aPQRSjrD8xQpaz9vnE_oeQQS3H49fgKvkoqvMQ8rDPqBYL8vwVe10cKW57vmtt9AJ13da0f4IdsHRyouRbZC2bdBHD8lX/s4032/IMG_8908.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuRgTZpGTtFB8thdZrGROjhdo3PPOnf0t59YdvChBmiObmZk4p_RHe9P150nJ1gF3ZyitXVCrNuh87Outi637Ih6aPQRSjrD8xQpaz9vnE_oeQQS3H49fgKvkoqvMQ8rDPqBYL8vwVe10cKW57vmtt9AJ13da0f4IdsHRyouRbZC2bdBHD8lX/s320/IMG_8908.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I was working on Saturday morning, which only served to make the days even more confusing. If I had done Saturday things on Thursday and Sunday things on Friday, and then I was working - well, surely it had to be Monday????</p><p>Then, in the afternoon, the days all gave themselves a good shake, fell back into place, and I found myself in Saturday afternoon. Which I spent on the rooftop terrace at Freyja and Simon's place with cups of tea and cake. Afternoon tea with a view!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQkrHMSLCF6VxydqV0tHienFpccWPBLYULiOgSSSdgAeYG0fgJygv0AMcai7YCkpvFXxVHomuSwBgL0O4bSHgVDgmEFtfavgGzV3tJ0yS_tKET1cYsoKO4DQDqezAmd16zmcgqx9jJAJOB9dnnScWUWmh1ISZuurXPmS3IJb1i_X3jv9afQPa/s3850/IMG_8911.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="3850" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQkrHMSLCF6VxydqV0tHienFpccWPBLYULiOgSSSdgAeYG0fgJygv0AMcai7YCkpvFXxVHomuSwBgL0O4bSHgVDgmEFtfavgGzV3tJ0yS_tKET1cYsoKO4DQDqezAmd16zmcgqx9jJAJOB9dnnScWUWmh1ISZuurXPmS3IJb1i_X3jv9afQPa/s320/IMG_8911.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oXoiWG60mZHJOwrOi0jiAPwvrSxp1K73foqXbwJmplQDMOSTwkNzprM9t0Lm8uCX7PgI-uA_z6dJlhd08UBjJSxUnvcRKAaEZvQOibXiC1Ngl902s9SX7ZVyCQLBA2JFh2MM0-2lBmj_wSSaQ48stNnZWnWo7NXxteU47UhKiN9rTrgdbYmI/s3676/IMG_8912.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2894" data-original-width="3676" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oXoiWG60mZHJOwrOi0jiAPwvrSxp1K73foqXbwJmplQDMOSTwkNzprM9t0Lm8uCX7PgI-uA_z6dJlhd08UBjJSxUnvcRKAaEZvQOibXiC1Ngl902s9SX7ZVyCQLBA2JFh2MM0-2lBmj_wSSaQ48stNnZWnWo7NXxteU47UhKiN9rTrgdbYmI/s320/IMG_8912.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsiDsuxpDvaUQMSMGbyO0q0yYdnKDYEWLDhkBQXvr0gnURj-ZyNttxYncr2m2VllV_d87FAMzq5p1vQ6ZC-XS9GuUWS_X3GndoLNWG2UDFPyrExJk95ReRAJA0SMopU-8KQ8TMUVL4EXB7D_nuDl-YFG9Py9lE3QhcDYDp3UVwRor49CHvk2l/s4032/IMG_8913.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsiDsuxpDvaUQMSMGbyO0q0yYdnKDYEWLDhkBQXvr0gnURj-ZyNttxYncr2m2VllV_d87FAMzq5p1vQ6ZC-XS9GuUWS_X3GndoLNWG2UDFPyrExJk95ReRAJA0SMopU-8KQ8TMUVL4EXB7D_nuDl-YFG9Py9lE3QhcDYDp3UVwRor49CHvk2l/s320/IMG_8913.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIDObA-35uyr2XK3IkfAu6HPyBwDignf8MvuSFkQZeY5FMzH77IGt_IBuNVqo-RReGJ1U2-mrmUalSkzlQuWp5vPLIdy4laQS82hRX8NSWGS3am8ennzgZEY1t4vk96iihFZQFSdbdQLYMCGQ_YQQs_G_POlm-GCtVS7aHxnZBY9iAriQjJRn/s4032/IMG_8914.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIDObA-35uyr2XK3IkfAu6HPyBwDignf8MvuSFkQZeY5FMzH77IGt_IBuNVqo-RReGJ1U2-mrmUalSkzlQuWp5vPLIdy4laQS82hRX8NSWGS3am8ennzgZEY1t4vk96iihFZQFSdbdQLYMCGQ_YQQs_G_POlm-GCtVS7aHxnZBY9iAriQjJRn/s320/IMG_8914.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And when I got home, I found that the Tomato Fairy had been:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q-yfJfcgb9t2v_m3OiIZ6F96luPMxkA6cduBVbUckj34tRJ7SMFmAXP3CgXgC6cyHsZmWF972sf6BdfouQ41vi2LlGROApg1YyYA_QSgimKpxDpduprMD6GyM8wQzEuS245Tk7WKXFDNw3uvNbB-D9KbsJq4rqXH3alUxevRXeFtG00ocnIs/s4032/IMG_8915.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q-yfJfcgb9t2v_m3OiIZ6F96luPMxkA6cduBVbUckj34tRJ7SMFmAXP3CgXgC6cyHsZmWF972sf6BdfouQ41vi2LlGROApg1YyYA_QSgimKpxDpduprMD6GyM8wQzEuS245Tk7WKXFDNw3uvNbB-D9KbsJq4rqXH3alUxevRXeFtG00ocnIs/s320/IMG_8915.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindsey had picked up a 10kg box of tomatoes<br />at Wilsons and abandoned them at my place</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I haven't processed them all yet, but I have done two lots in the slow cooker, put them through the blender and then a sieve and then reduced them down by about half. I've also done two trays in the oven, then blended them and passed them through a sieve. They didn't need reducing. All of those are in tubs in the freezer. I chopped some up with some zucchini from the garden and onions and made a tomato stew, almost Pizzaiola style, which I have been eating with dinner. The rest are awaiting attention.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lindsey and Ian went to Melbourne yesterday, for afternoon tea at the Melbourne Museum. I bought it for them for Christmas. So I spent the night up at Rupert and Hugo's place, there being no point in Lindsey and Ian coming back to Mount Helen early evening only to turn around very early this morning and head back to Melbourne. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I put the dogs out for a wee before bedtime, closed and locked all the doors, turned out the lights, turned off the TV, went to my room - and found two Great Danes on the bed! No hesitation on their part :D. We all slept well. Hugo didn't try to push me out of bed until nearly 6am, when we all got up and they had their breakfast. Eventually, I thought that perhaps I should have a shower, get dressed and declare the day properly underway. I went into the bathroom, looked in the sink - and there was a skink (very small lizard) sitting on the metal bar in the plug hole. It was VERY lucky I noticed it before I turned the hot tap on. I fished it out with a Christmas card and a small wine glass and put it outside.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Showered and dressed, I went into the lounge room with a breakfast sandwich. Rupert and Hugo came in from outside to watch me eat it and to cadge any leftovers there happened to be. Then I noticed that Rupert's jowl was bleeding. I sorted that out. Finally ate my sandwich. Rupert and Hugo got the crusts.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Time to head back home. As I drove down the driveway, a young rabbit appeared out of the grass and zigzagged its way down to the bottom. Fortunately I drive down the driveway very slowly. Equally fortunately, I was driving along the road very slowly because two kangaroos came bounding over the paddock fence, onto the road and across into the University grounds. THEN one of the ducks that patrols the road decided to try and fly into the car, heading over the top only just in time.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I got home, pleased to encounter no further animal life, only to find that a spider had decided to spin a mighty web across from the side of the house up to the roof of the porch, effectively blocking my access to the porch.I have now moved the spider and swept the web away.</p><p style="text-align: left;">And I am sitting in my dining room, currently animal free (the cats are outside), pondering whether it might be safest if I just stay here for the rest of the day and avoid all further potential animal encounters.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Except, there are things to do. I would quite like a cup of tea. And I should go and visit Stella later. Plus I need to go back to Rupert and Hugo's place after that to give them their dinner and to make the dog stew for this week.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I might have to cloak myself with an animal shield to avoid any further animal excitements!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMyOXJvly7oqa3FwBA1mO002UKdgF3its6A48lDk3I1v_woCs6Qn1eQOWfCpqqP1l9nJvRFtD2lOMEWzx_d66ncwiCNI0yQd7m74dPjH1qzY3Dm3EFPnS6WHlD997ICRZjQMFPTYxZdNvD81c2aMI-9f7UCO6az_CF_sL2WMw3QKq76OXulSP/s4032/IMG_8916.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMyOXJvly7oqa3FwBA1mO002UKdgF3its6A48lDk3I1v_woCs6Qn1eQOWfCpqqP1l9nJvRFtD2lOMEWzx_d66ncwiCNI0yQd7m74dPjH1qzY3Dm3EFPnS6WHlD997ICRZjQMFPTYxZdNvD81c2aMI-9f7UCO6az_CF_sL2WMw3QKq76OXulSP/s320/IMG_8916.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo on the couch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4p4QefcP1uoGqhqKM8sWKwvKwWfHRfEAhUmnWWEw0wEpUS9XF2NowNvG9hzvuO2rmhkGmXuGWV0XoY_ukEuRvGAvsbH_n2J2xQVcUQTJcfFGR23RiixpXazdjofHBBXSuDsQHLyytVdTmscNLuoiv2qrFEp9y4anKWXPXo6T7QSss75MV6d_2/s4032/IMG_8924.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4p4QefcP1uoGqhqKM8sWKwvKwWfHRfEAhUmnWWEw0wEpUS9XF2NowNvG9hzvuO2rmhkGmXuGWV0XoY_ukEuRvGAvsbH_n2J2xQVcUQTJcfFGR23RiixpXazdjofHBBXSuDsQHLyytVdTmscNLuoiv2qrFEp9y4anKWXPXo6T7QSss75MV6d_2/s320/IMG_8924.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rupert on my bed (at Hill House)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">You know you are a proper grown up when you get quite excited (and move out of the safety of the dining room) when your new garden hose and accessories are delivered. Except that I may now have no excuse for not washing the windows. One of the accessories is a window washing brush!</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-66112612793237515352024-01-25T13:09:00.007+11:002024-01-27T10:41:21.431+11:00Hospital Shenanigans<p>You may remember that Freyja was struck by a stomach bug on Boxing Day and couldn't come to my Boxing Day Luncheon party. I knew it had been a particularly nasty stomach bug and was a bit surprised that no-one else came down with it. It didn't seem likely to be food poisoning. I know that vegans can get food poisoning, but I think it is more prevalent among meat eaters.</p><p>Anyway. As far as I was aware she eventually recovered. Nobody else got sick. All seemed to be well.</p><p>Except - it wasn't. She had ongoing terrible abdominal pains, violent vomiting, a complete inability to eat. Eventually Simon took her to the emergency department at St Vincent's Hospital. They ran some tests, gave her medications, checked her over and finally sent her home with instructions to visit her GP.</p><p>She came to see one of our GPs, who ran some more tests and sent her off for ultrasounds and things. She came back the following day for the results and the general consensus was that it was almost certainly gallstones, along with an inflammation of the gall bladder. Go back to the hospital and get them to sort it out.</p><p>So back to St Vincent's she went.</p><p>May I suggest, should you need an unscheduled but not desperately urgent operation, that a weekend in January is not an absolutely ideal time to go in search of one. Apparently, the weekend operating lists are filled with scheduled brain and heart surgeries, plus all the usual summer weekend emergencies and then complicated by the crowds at the Australian Open tennis getting heat stroke, or drinking too much champers and falling over, or other sporting festival mishaps. (I had absolutely no idea that weekend operating lists so prominently featured brain and heart surgery. I would have expected the surgeons to be taking the weekend off and operating Monday to Friday.)</p><p>Anyway. Freyja went in on Friday afternoon. Waited patiently all day on Saturday and all day on Sunday, fasting from midnight until they decided there was no hope of an operation that day. There was some excitement on Monday, when she was told that she would be on the list that day. But alas - there was a delay of some sort and she missed her slot. So everyone was VERY surprised when at around 8:15 on Tuesday morning they dashed in and grabbed her. Quick. Hurry. Before someone snaffles the OR. Not a moment to lose lest an over-excited tennis fan comes in and steals the spot.</p><p>And by 11:00 she was in the recovery room, minus her troublesome gall bladder.</p><p>By teatime she was back at home. All those days waiting and then only around 8 hours from going in to theatre to being back at home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcFgL4rl66NwpU-m7cKUlRNXh8WYXnOep58d-Xu6KeT5mtzBblLqfoot7Rm5sRCXqUTc3b3VTVlrYXX1hqpd61dpURAswt28H38VPasXgu5YVzh1G8nN9wrW-8UhirLGSTy-9Xo847NCPHRa7KHRNtcMpnubLk8gcmaVHPyVO4lyl2b0CvLuz/s1600/Freyja.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1204" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcFgL4rl66NwpU-m7cKUlRNXh8WYXnOep58d-Xu6KeT5mtzBblLqfoot7Rm5sRCXqUTc3b3VTVlrYXX1hqpd61dpURAswt28H38VPasXgu5YVzh1G8nN9wrW-8UhirLGSTy-9Xo847NCPHRa7KHRNtcMpnubLk8gcmaVHPyVO4lyl2b0CvLuz/s320/Freyja.jpeg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p>If you absolutely have to go to hospital, you could do a lot worse than St Vincent's public hospital. I had my hand done there and was very impressed. Freyja is equally impressed, despite the delays - which were not really the fault of the hospital.</p><p>Meanwhile, back at my place, I swept and weeded the patio:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaKKIZCB2ArWHVNJPDyIWJzCusHsW8r0zYZ5rj2Ro9soAyCB7lILTyMZZHrTt-J6hZB8NvhGNGjHq6mirXHZTQp1_8k_TvYuElOZKBdE2TXby8a3QdHjR8Ovhd6u-tOBR2Xpjwk2e9VPln0gUCD5NX1EbO63CTii3OEQqU8ke20Eiuxd-LPmw/s4032/IMG_8878.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaKKIZCB2ArWHVNJPDyIWJzCusHsW8r0zYZ5rj2Ro9soAyCB7lILTyMZZHrTt-J6hZB8NvhGNGjHq6mirXHZTQp1_8k_TvYuElOZKBdE2TXby8a3QdHjR8Ovhd6u-tOBR2Xpjwk2e9VPln0gUCD5NX1EbO63CTii3OEQqU8ke20Eiuxd-LPmw/s320/IMG_8878.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It is almost as thankless a task as is sweeping the dining room or kitchen. I sweep the dining room and the cats spread cat biscuits all over the floor. I sweep the kitchen, and someone goes in and starts cooking and stuff goes all over the floor. I sweep the patio, the trees think it looks far too bare and oblige by showering it with more leaves. It does look very beautiful for about ten minutes though.</p><p><br /></p><p>Storm clouds over Mount Helen, at around 6:30 on Wednesday morning:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQiO2f0vxpqyRFxjV8e7YST0aCSGbMwP__vMIukAko8dLf17mOt63Hx2ej2F2YypMVCLvAxad1eSnLVZ86YvdJ2WpaXyK6itm4mGPJeIs_HTpqm2dqXjMXzsYrdBRiPVYfdJBGNu6pS-U_l15EnY9wbuRudGSbK6JuHaafLG01AJJ7GzGt1yu/s3950/IMG_8896.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3950" data-original-width="2962" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQiO2f0vxpqyRFxjV8e7YST0aCSGbMwP__vMIukAko8dLf17mOt63Hx2ej2F2YypMVCLvAxad1eSnLVZ86YvdJ2WpaXyK6itm4mGPJeIs_HTpqm2dqXjMXzsYrdBRiPVYfdJBGNu6pS-U_l15EnY9wbuRudGSbK6JuHaafLG01AJJ7GzGt1yu/s320/IMG_8896.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-23230856117967672222024-01-22T06:53:00.004+11:002024-01-22T11:54:08.923+11:00In the Garden, amongst other places<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have dug up one of my tubs of potatoes. King Edward potatoes aren't a First Early variety and needed another month to six weeks to grow to their full size. I dug them up anyway. I needed potatoes. I am impatient (not an ideal characteristic in a gardener 😂). And the plants were seriously impeding attempts to get up the back walkway! The potatoes may be small but they are very delicious. However, I won't dig up the other tubs until the autumn. I am reconsidering growing potatoes in large compost bins. It never seems to be particularly productive, the tubs take up a lot of space and potting mix, and I already have (and can acquire more) smaller potato tubs. However, digging the potatoes up early is not useful from an assessment of growing methods point of view. I need the potatoes to come to maturity in the one remaining large tub and the two smaller potato tubs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OLk0L_xQxSmiiqpBvScd92YRThB8Q4R-NBdjN8D5VYfklsDfLk5Ue2RiKosjqCz2DE9jYvvXRIoqrWIWMedhnBT8t2cDb3u8Tk5619yGGSny7fCTQZsoxLApD7YSMapbemuK025nt5jw05leHvNAk4zdRCUSPDBUNVcIwJPgoby2vt_trk9Z/s4032/IMG_8857.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OLk0L_xQxSmiiqpBvScd92YRThB8Q4R-NBdjN8D5VYfklsDfLk5Ue2RiKosjqCz2DE9jYvvXRIoqrWIWMedhnBT8t2cDb3u8Tk5619yGGSny7fCTQZsoxLApD7YSMapbemuK025nt5jw05leHvNAk4zdRCUSPDBUNVcIwJPgoby2vt_trk9Z/s320/IMG_8857.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small, but very tasty</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The plants out the front are doing quite well, although I have to defend them against vigorous attacks by snails</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcrEixzrtjTa11RZn6caUgkTib8ngSCyymJ5YLVnwY0STDkwhoUAxsFQkfUWmykjl3zbcm0-EOz8wV0bs0Jbs33F18kTd69XeuijvNLt01V7q7rjymq5iWQmmuS6GgKI7oOCD-XsCJFO6UM7Xp_YYOG8-WymgpqKiA20EXcZvsfhEKO1nG-f0/s4032/IMG_8862.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcrEixzrtjTa11RZn6caUgkTib8ngSCyymJ5YLVnwY0STDkwhoUAxsFQkfUWmykjl3zbcm0-EOz8wV0bs0Jbs33F18kTd69XeuijvNLt01V7q7rjymq5iWQmmuS6GgKI7oOCD-XsCJFO6UM7Xp_YYOG8-WymgpqKiA20EXcZvsfhEKO1nG-f0/s320/IMG_8862.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cucumber plant, growing up the wire "fence"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBzMBBObDmQz44o7pGCG9pPRAiTdgsrBZiMwpxlND3C1FB9NiPU0ra-QReZkgfYZs66ieD1deSJjP6eN67g_uUaw3oFKw6kWskuP5eLTArl8l9kzDGlCjHaua-CisPNA3rd0KZb0C-oEfNePT1TE07xVr29sfByfDgCNQyf8t9FWcrKX3b5gN/s4032/IMG_8864.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBzMBBObDmQz44o7pGCG9pPRAiTdgsrBZiMwpxlND3C1FB9NiPU0ra-QReZkgfYZs66ieD1deSJjP6eN67g_uUaw3oFKw6kWskuP5eLTArl8l9kzDGlCjHaua-CisPNA3rd0KZb0C-oEfNePT1TE07xVr29sfByfDgCNQyf8t9FWcrKX3b5gN/s320/IMG_8864.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow zucchini</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmKMTX4DwmHBlYWEKNx4KgsR7hFo5zRZdEog21UmVrS2otSsZtld7eLRR-Mu4iPJTuOfkXB6ke6SLlegzlXBf78CxVtFiEmr6TRxLREeaSc1kVbrRq1qobSAkGJyIecGXshkGUWq_I9Ly9Xa-_JwDNxWqhLv6wXqSjNIM_ppTZia3Jk5BQX3D/s4032/IMG_8865.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmKMTX4DwmHBlYWEKNx4KgsR7hFo5zRZdEog21UmVrS2otSsZtld7eLRR-Mu4iPJTuOfkXB6ke6SLlegzlXBf78CxVtFiEmr6TRxLREeaSc1kVbrRq1qobSAkGJyIecGXshkGUWq_I9Ly9Xa-_JwDNxWqhLv6wXqSjNIM_ppTZia3Jk5BQX3D/s320/IMG_8865.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and pale green, growing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTcV2_8Wp8A23o1pAtNYUAe2aoHxTTyU-jvOMLQvtAXU6kt8HcRZty1zLvIWq_Gd3lr-YWyVTnQukqVnIhvwgq2wyvgdEDcPgZhrnbQLlSj7qo5F-SEF8Edt5wU-8FXnXf727hhixlF96V-cEot18I-slzYoyc6l8B_aUZRAOMBE2mwpaeADo/s4032/IMG_8866.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTcV2_8Wp8A23o1pAtNYUAe2aoHxTTyU-jvOMLQvtAXU6kt8HcRZty1zLvIWq_Gd3lr-YWyVTnQukqVnIhvwgq2wyvgdEDcPgZhrnbQLlSj7qo5F-SEF8Edt5wU-8FXnXf727hhixlF96V-cEot18I-slzYoyc6l8B_aUZRAOMBE2mwpaeADo/s320/IMG_8866.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on what is almost a zucchini hedge</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Runner beans were Jim's most favourite vegetable ever. We grew them with success in the garden in Tupton. We tried to grow them in the garden at Hill House but it was too exposed and much too windy and the plants didn't thrive. They didn't do particularly well the first year we tried in the back garden at Tani. We decided it wasn't worth trying to grow them, especially since green and yellow beans grow quite well. You can't buy runner beans in the supermarkets here. You can buy "flat" beans in places like Wilson's and Tully's, which are close to runner beans and filled the gap. Not quite the same but close enough.</p><p>I recently saw runner bean seeds on the Diggers website when I was getting the seeds for next winter/spring. On impulse, I ordered a packet along with the seeds on my list. The packet says the seeds can be planted in spring and summer in cool areas. I wouldn't normally plant them in January, but I thought I'd give it a go and see what happens. Jim wasn't here to stop me so I planted a few out the front. And this is what is happening at the moment:</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-BK-v2GgB-rMzSTjZFbKIOTxtjM4lL5zblhPnDeIKuqoUczCmOMHVzZh4DNuMdNboy0jpU4EWf8znMQJ06wX4JF4tyWiMBx66wOs1Fe9eXKDXqjSHno_Kjs1GcPA4BFRjKXEZ9ThqyqKxKmLypgh2pXodKtGhHBRKOjj_ASc1bmiAlL9RGpT/s4032/IMG_8867.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-BK-v2GgB-rMzSTjZFbKIOTxtjM4lL5zblhPnDeIKuqoUczCmOMHVzZh4DNuMdNboy0jpU4EWf8znMQJ06wX4JF4tyWiMBx66wOs1Fe9eXKDXqjSHno_Kjs1GcPA4BFRjKXEZ9ThqyqKxKmLypgh2pXodKtGhHBRKOjj_ASc1bmiAlL9RGpT/s320/IMG_8867.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />The snails have been very interested in these plants but they seem to be surviving (the plants, not the snails). I don't know if I'll get any beans, but if we don't get any early frosts I should do. And I have plenty of seeds left to plant in the spring. I might even prepare a dedicated "bean bed" for them and the green and yellow beans. <p></p><p>The green beans out the back are producing nicely, although the plants themselves seem to be miniatures - with one climbing bean among them. Fortunately it is growing up the central pole of my wigwam, surrounded by small bushes around its feet.</p><p>My tomato plants are thriving, although only now producing flowers. There are also several self invited plants dotted around the garden. In fact, the garden is thriving, although it desperately needs weeding and tidying. The summer so far has been fairly cool in Mount Helen, with quite a lot of rain. This has the disadvantage that I don't notice that the beds need watering when it has been dry and cloudy for several days - until I see that the herbs in small terracotta pots are suffering.</p><p><br /></p><p>The weather was cool and cloudy over the weekend - although the sun was very warm when it managed to break through the clouds. Lindsey and I went out to the Mushroom Farm, to Bunnings, to the supermarket on Saturday morning. We visited Stella in the afternoon. Yesterday Stella and I went to the Golden Point hotel for lunch. Stella very much enjoyed her grilled barramundi and chips. I definitely enjoyed my open souvlaki with chips. Stella had a senior's portion. They didn't have the souvlaki on the seniors' menu so I had to have a full sized one.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1YUjccGnJS-v352AXxOM_ayMdJXZ0s1UJ3a5B_8iLgCvJ-eOiPGUZgW4cjkPe0W9fSad2AItuYNydCKZTTTMkihkQEcGyrm5hgLz4Rrvl-zg8yNy28WjRGDYVCkpKrIdBknRnRyvPNfZKZ-fLawJzOT3xdOtBWWG2Kzo4zilnxR97tySpmie/s4032/IMG_8872.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1YUjccGnJS-v352AXxOM_ayMdJXZ0s1UJ3a5B_8iLgCvJ-eOiPGUZgW4cjkPe0W9fSad2AItuYNydCKZTTTMkihkQEcGyrm5hgLz4Rrvl-zg8yNy28WjRGDYVCkpKrIdBknRnRyvPNfZKZ-fLawJzOT3xdOtBWWG2Kzo4zilnxR97tySpmie/s320/IMG_8872.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely full sized. It was enormous!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpKsF6ZfmY9hJ4OiMgQNBeg7gn94GdEpSvgB5PdQ90JGMoRkRtxQa3g3SL5asEoqKcBYf1vl_m8-DXs9QFWcs-xQ-G_Zq6hUDHAAyWC-W5KYsOatiyMeCUWPVekWMp5Ylh8c__XiS46s68Uw9M8W_xlB134hRHJ8uWAgG2G9wyHHuIhHDXdiT/s4032/IMG_8874.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpKsF6ZfmY9hJ4OiMgQNBeg7gn94GdEpSvgB5PdQ90JGMoRkRtxQa3g3SL5asEoqKcBYf1vl_m8-DXs9QFWcs-xQ-G_Zq6hUDHAAyWC-W5KYsOatiyMeCUWPVekWMp5Ylh8c__XiS46s68Uw9M8W_xlB134hRHJ8uWAgG2G9wyHHuIhHDXdiT/s320/IMG_8874.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the senior's portion was quite substantial</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I have almost finished clearing Tani of clutter and rubbish and unused Stuff. Once I have finished the house there will be the garage and the garden (not a lot of Stuff in the garden, but some things that need a bit of thought). And then it will be time to start all over again 😂 Although it shouldn't be such a major undertaking in the future - if I can resist the temptation to acquire yet more Stuff! </p><p><br /></p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-3396410956320373002024-01-15T08:04:00.004+11:002024-01-15T08:06:46.731+11:00A weekend in mid-January<p>It was quite hot in Melbourne on Friday. I think it got to around 35d. I had had the foresight to park the car in the under cover car park at work!</p><p>It wasn't 35d where I sit, if I happen to be on the desk at work. I was wearing a waistcoat and a long sleeved shirt and was *just* comfortable. I took the waistcoat off and rolled up my sleeves before I left to go home.</p><p>I worked three days in a row starting at 7:30. This means I need to leave at around 5:30. Except for during January when the schools are on their summer break. I can leave at 5:45 and get to work with ample time to make a toastie and a cup of coffee for breakfast. I don't mind leaving very early during the summer. It's a beautiful drive very early in the morning. I might be slightly less enthusiastic about volunteering to cover the opening shift in June, when it is dark and cold and miserable at that time of the day.</p><p>I don't think it was quite as hot in Mount Helen. It was a very pleasant temperature with a gentle, cooling breeze when I got home. I didn't put the air conditioner on. I opened the windows in the dining room and lounge room to let the cooling breeze into the house.</p><p>Saturday was a complete contrast, weatherwise. Very low 20s, cloudy and showery during the afternoon. This did not stop people going to the market by the lake. I think they estimated around 6000 people attended. By the time Lindsey and I got there, a bit later than usual, Tim's Toasties had more or less run out of toasties (we got one of the last cheesy ones). Lots of the stalls were running low. The citrus and the olive oil stalls weren't there at all. The Blue Bay cheese people were - and were running low but still had some of my favourite cows feta. </p><p>Sunday was a glorious day. Just Right. We collected Stella and went out to Piper's for lunch. And very lovely it was too:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR89flVRamTolADOQAfgOzaxCEPNH7Ye23cWJmRlqnJtE47D012QIUhdCPvHcPe7dZXXryksHCTRzvVpuD0JNV2vrDQd_K1lBnNv56cFsk9N1L3E4ls5kjrfqAD_GJJ_o4H1jNmxBBXiTcv4Op0wMJtNr6NiPuR0d_R63g20pYnPh1V2nVDH30/s4032/IMG_8854.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR89flVRamTolADOQAfgOzaxCEPNH7Ye23cWJmRlqnJtE47D012QIUhdCPvHcPe7dZXXryksHCTRzvVpuD0JNV2vrDQd_K1lBnNv56cFsk9N1L3E4ls5kjrfqAD_GJJ_o4H1jNmxBBXiTcv4Op0wMJtNr6NiPuR0d_R63g20pYnPh1V2nVDH30/s320/IMG_8854.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNi-0fCijRCLol95KUGeU1xoIEt28JCDzsW_hxFxx3THC3WKhh2HC1CM36QMsolc9FAqDzwCRyC-p9_d03ZX1Q8ws9rSOxyxyiVvEndXgx0D0bQzWeUScF5mikKNohc81413z_a2oxAeQTZClZjAIjkQQkBcbvD1L_ZWInCdZob96zfyr4JP1/s4032/IMG_8855.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNi-0fCijRCLol95KUGeU1xoIEt28JCDzsW_hxFxx3THC3WKhh2HC1CM36QMsolc9FAqDzwCRyC-p9_d03ZX1Q8ws9rSOxyxyiVvEndXgx0D0bQzWeUScF5mikKNohc81413z_a2oxAeQTZClZjAIjkQQkBcbvD1L_ZWInCdZob96zfyr4JP1/s320/IMG_8855.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusik3eQM4a4MOHA0H7pZbVn8D5SMDGUQ3uPBo4q6rMPC-Qd7vYyVasSxAwzcADt64RidNkJBKp02hu3lNmEP_cn-d73MV2ixrTzp8dLqTzw8y1Q-MIbUKs2vaVu153SojZ9RhTT4VCB8Avf9nPzjo3In8v4FHsnnvAAoG4uK357fpAKBWQBZS/s4005/IMG_8856.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2041" data-original-width="4005" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusik3eQM4a4MOHA0H7pZbVn8D5SMDGUQ3uPBo4q6rMPC-Qd7vYyVasSxAwzcADt64RidNkJBKp02hu3lNmEP_cn-d73MV2ixrTzp8dLqTzw8y1Q-MIbUKs2vaVu153SojZ9RhTT4VCB8Avf9nPzjo3In8v4FHsnnvAAoG4uK357fpAKBWQBZS/s320/IMG_8856.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Brandy and Whiskey were enjoying the weather yesterday:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIs4usyEMXKI3azDBVkdPqCFCn8CA3Lfb8eyFQmHg2y0pL69OQ7b50-ARKHL-SU-C-ZvpyN_s-Bt2MWd9-p6ZwwPezKH2ajHdkA79P0HYB1Hike7Q9On7pGCaZlSPPlfSbVu9-U1IDu-aPHYsRX4z5_tlCv5v_Bz4HyPVzHTdSN4hFhcJUJHEl/s4032/IMG_8844.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIs4usyEMXKI3azDBVkdPqCFCn8CA3Lfb8eyFQmHg2y0pL69OQ7b50-ARKHL-SU-C-ZvpyN_s-Bt2MWd9-p6ZwwPezKH2ajHdkA79P0HYB1Hike7Q9On7pGCaZlSPPlfSbVu9-U1IDu-aPHYsRX4z5_tlCv5v_Bz4HyPVzHTdSN4hFhcJUJHEl/s320/IMG_8844.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>And Tony's rosebush seems to be happy. It's producing some lovely roses which smell gorgeous. This time, I kept some at my place, rather than taking them in for Stella. She can have the next lot</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVePPN8nCdXzE-ymYoGIqq2N9H-AuCBZ9yQf89yz-V6oomt_rpHkKoD_Rppb0dEYKW31ontxsWL-F07UHcj4b3FL4Id3XPdruMZ3UQkVlqHXdkSrqeujRib8H0Hk_v-pYQH_lZAm9iwssd6kIyiJ97CJOLet8JLzCmbGVLReYAeVbanKgyaBn/s4032/IMG_8847.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVePPN8nCdXzE-ymYoGIqq2N9H-AuCBZ9yQf89yz-V6oomt_rpHkKoD_Rppb0dEYKW31ontxsWL-F07UHcj4b3FL4Id3XPdruMZ3UQkVlqHXdkSrqeujRib8H0Hk_v-pYQH_lZAm9iwssd6kIyiJ97CJOLet8JLzCmbGVLReYAeVbanKgyaBn/s320/IMG_8847.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>It's cloudier today and I think there are possible thunderstorms forecast for this afternoon. I might try and tidy up the courtyard before any rain comes my way.</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-85107411012733037702024-01-09T07:57:00.001+11:002024-01-09T07:57:49.358+11:00Coming Home<p>They did open the cafe yesterday morning, in time for us to go around and have breakfast before we left. They were a bit surprised to see us. They weren't expecting anyone while the rain was as heavy. Although people did come in for coffees and cakes and sandwiches to take away.</p><p>Fortified by a good and hearty breakfast, I bade farewell to Freyja, Simon and Tooradin and made my way across to Mornington. It was quite a challenging drive. It wasn't the rain itself so much, although that was quite heavy, as the water across the road. At one point the road was flooded in a dip. If I had been on my own, I might have turned around rather than driving through it. (Don't drive through flood waters, people; good seldom comes of it!) However, there were other vehicles, including cars, trucks and 4WDs, driving through it VERY carefully. As it happens it wasn't very deep and I carefully followed the vehicles ahead of me. All was well.</p><p>I made it to Tully's, which was why I was going to Mornington and then went home. CAREFULLY. There hadn't been all that much rain in Mount Helen. My rain gauge only registered 10 ml from last Friday. We had definitely had more than that in Tooradin! And it had been raining with intent all the way from Mornington until it petered out somewhere around Bacchus Marsh. The roads had been very wet until then.</p><p>And now I am poised for quite a busy week. I shall kickstart it with a cup of coffee, made by me. (I was just thinking that it would be nice to have a cafe next door where I could buy coffee and perhaps even breakfast. In fact, the Krooze In Cafe is only a five or six minute walk and I could walk there for coffee and breakfast. Perhaps it's just as well it isn't immediately next door. It might swallow up all my money!!)</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-16018357238672058442024-01-08T08:49:00.005+11:002024-01-08T15:20:15.536+11:00Dodging the Rain<p>There had been rain of biblical proportions forecast for Victoria yesterday and today. However, yesterday morning looked as though it might be ok.</p><p>We planned our day accordingly.</p><p>I went for a morning stroll before Freyja and Simon got up</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdzYSKhyjBLHoak_moQf2dABCsIrztduBp1PY2pjP0ELkjNh33b7vF4OHwvqW_gTXpesUThtPEfW_ZYho6IsDq_IzRrjQHVgAwxaSD3tF_8zXQp5OGLyKo_3mBpq1iJ760ccoJ06WvXNPQvB7C58on7DnE0o6LWMzIBlY5QMUi-FbqN64wh8J/s4032/IMG_8814.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdzYSKhyjBLHoak_moQf2dABCsIrztduBp1PY2pjP0ELkjNh33b7vF4OHwvqW_gTXpesUThtPEfW_ZYho6IsDq_IzRrjQHVgAwxaSD3tF_8zXQp5OGLyKo_3mBpq1iJ760ccoJ06WvXNPQvB7C58on7DnE0o6LWMzIBlY5QMUi-FbqN64wh8J/s320/IMG_8814.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tide was in</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIquCNwkph3T-YeR7XMJnt33-IkrJONQJaBIQUyHYmP9qOE0tnu2-Oft6W3o8pyLUy17XPUvWmGH6C04-eU4G7SAiWFjPb6FfYdiu_jqV2DEEODH2LpiADZEQWw5g-tlyXa3ceQpj0vrVlpwk2XYLWWQgQa0tqdezBvlVxCIeVZ2XJ4Z2IMs0f/s4032/IMG_8817.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIquCNwkph3T-YeR7XMJnt33-IkrJONQJaBIQUyHYmP9qOE0tnu2-Oft6W3o8pyLUy17XPUvWmGH6C04-eU4G7SAiWFjPb6FfYdiu_jqV2DEEODH2LpiADZEQWw5g-tlyXa3ceQpj0vrVlpwk2XYLWWQgQa0tqdezBvlVxCIeVZ2XJ4Z2IMs0f/s320/IMG_8817.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ours is the blue cottage next to the cafe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwQOBtYI_spq4RodzwKbWLFu3fks_6znuufQwmqCq8TDBCcCXBL1v_Q037aqGJ6vN1tpa5Ul7J0VM9XVYfWAwKRTxPbiBRq7Br74QPma0riqI_CSSlwFoU0GOJ6IbxJVyvRj77yCVBI7M_-3NWtc0ZC3UG5A1nxl2vsakyzSj50y-Jp7Jt1Vo/s3888/IMG_8818.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2916" data-original-width="3888" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwQOBtYI_spq4RodzwKbWLFu3fks_6znuufQwmqCq8TDBCcCXBL1v_Q037aqGJ6vN1tpa5Ul7J0VM9XVYfWAwKRTxPbiBRq7Br74QPma0riqI_CSSlwFoU0GOJ6IbxJVyvRj77yCVBI7M_-3NWtc0ZC3UG5A1nxl2vsakyzSj50y-Jp7Jt1Vo/s320/IMG_8818.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little beach was quite inviting</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Then we went to the cafe for breakfast</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvBsLzqZhcQyb0_xFmhPGxLgKU2nCzhC3iHWaKHebluP3n9F3nzaYYxQg2bpkq4Kj_0EXfFpvvmto7SDjpJB1y0-FwexlWSuonHKO9NIZv0rfN-2T79Xn2jDyNHdvw21do2MmzGJl9VTt2EJWIrFw827oMU1ke5EWXGDNH5ekw0jCjTjUIwEw/s4032/IMG_8820.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvBsLzqZhcQyb0_xFmhPGxLgKU2nCzhC3iHWaKHebluP3n9F3nzaYYxQg2bpkq4Kj_0EXfFpvvmto7SDjpJB1y0-FwexlWSuonHKO9NIZv0rfN-2T79Xn2jDyNHdvw21do2MmzGJl9VTt2EJWIrFw827oMU1ke5EWXGDNH5ekw0jCjTjUIwEw/s320/IMG_8820.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mindful that Freyja and Simon had reported that the coffee had been quite weak when they had gone in on Saturday morning, I asked for a double strength cappuccino. I didn't really need to. It was verging on too strong for me. I had eggs Benedict with my coffee. No rocket, please!<div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: left;">Then we headed out to inspect the local area. Blind Bight, because the reviews for the Blind Bight shop are uniformly awful on Google. It seemed OK to me, just a bit understocked. Perhaps not surprising on a Sunday in January in a country village. We went to the local lookout and looked out.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFm3Slpg4PE_IhY-0xDkF7_moX4ZCAwZ8hyUAMTLpsIp0zygEreo5EYdDUhXai576bXDMZVdLosqn4Z3Z2q5JmGjY498iHIhNwaSu8dzINrxd7LzeM0jqXVDiqmY7ERXpLuaL1LrrAerQ08C_W1c2V4jFRYL_sUVVePiVEJiCfzmJIrxTvCkl/s4032/IMG_8822.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFm3Slpg4PE_IhY-0xDkF7_moX4ZCAwZ8hyUAMTLpsIp0zygEreo5EYdDUhXai576bXDMZVdLosqn4Z3Z2q5JmGjY498iHIhNwaSu8dzINrxd7LzeM0jqXVDiqmY7ERXpLuaL1LrrAerQ08C_W1c2V4jFRYL_sUVVePiVEJiCfzmJIrxTvCkl/s320/IMG_8822.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'd be in real trouble if deep mud actually engulfed you <br />on the lookout point</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-7JhA1FE5kuX5q9FhYxkIDfrXW5O15rAPYtO2R-lUtt8_U74gk7Rr6Ctdt0uBENpKvhf5tk48Kq7ApYUIGhFlCRHhyeQ7UlZRhXKi9UFQHJue1g71s58WKUxDshyphenhyphenQvGZ6HixgaT2QL8s44QEOCi88o3YucDsMoUqfJZNDLztwwKBblCRINNO/s4032/IMG_8823.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-7JhA1FE5kuX5q9FhYxkIDfrXW5O15rAPYtO2R-lUtt8_U74gk7Rr6Ctdt0uBENpKvhf5tk48Kq7ApYUIGhFlCRHhyeQ7UlZRhXKi9UFQHJue1g71s58WKUxDshyphenhyphenQvGZ6HixgaT2QL8s44QEOCi88o3YucDsMoUqfJZNDLztwwKBblCRINNO/s320/IMG_8823.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vast expanses of mangroves<br />(which probably are muddy)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;">And so to Warneit. We inspected another village shop. Also slightly understocked but a bit more interesting. And then we walked a <a href="https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/-/media/project/pv/main/parks/documents/get-into-nature/conservation-and-science/marine-docs/mangroves_vic_infokit_2011.pdf?la=en&rev=9b6c3f21b9ea493d899ce2219d9a18da&hash=2D87A072AFD30B411CC7A431F06A4D3C663C4873" target="_blank">mangrove</a> trail. I didn't take any photos, partly because there really weren't any obvious things to take photos of and also because I was obsessively worrying about snakes. We were all wearing open toed sandals and I wasn't all that excited about having to deal with snake bites in Warneit. I don't know how excited snakes would be about living in muddy, soggy mangrove areas. I didn't really want to find out. At least we were fairly sure there weren't any crocodiles. No worries about being actually eaten.</p><p style="text-align: left;">And so to Cannon's Creek. No village shop to inspect, although it is a surprisingly large settlement. We checked out the viewing point, but not the boardwalk. We did see a collie paddle boarding, which is not something you see every day</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3Rdh8bfqQAT26-ge6XGn00yC1xxdHlIBJBiW4yCGi4-T2LBty4OTNd2yqNZP8ZpFoNQcAWVPSu3BXKHOBZ-LjUWprEqBqSwahGVd4mLyOj0_TcqmUpcAPUA680GoxjJ938s9pjhuPIGSsIhyphenhyphenDr1GmWIGJCpmIU6CwR4-HXEPnB7dYJ2y6s5K/s2164/IMG_8830.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="1744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3Rdh8bfqQAT26-ge6XGn00yC1xxdHlIBJBiW4yCGi4-T2LBty4OTNd2yqNZP8ZpFoNQcAWVPSu3BXKHOBZ-LjUWprEqBqSwahGVd4mLyOj0_TcqmUpcAPUA680GoxjJ938s9pjhuPIGSsIhyphenhyphenDr1GmWIGJCpmIU6CwR4-HXEPnB7dYJ2y6s5K/s320/IMG_8830.jpeg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_fqJC6NL-oPn9y2JHHLKtrW7h1Xc6rHandMh8OwUC5pB5xRGCNFCgUhyphenhyphen2LuCJievmegQ6HplPTMPVdNE1HdqLL1Q_IHJ_j0sCciqJoLvrYpDWjWaX0yX9z3TidUC_Uibkp3ALHrGQwmk85wtWPonQGG9ihxWJnUdsIbvzeqLamg5VXj8aKft/s4032/IMG_8824.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_fqJC6NL-oPn9y2JHHLKtrW7h1Xc6rHandMh8OwUC5pB5xRGCNFCgUhyphenhyphen2LuCJievmegQ6HplPTMPVdNE1HdqLL1Q_IHJ_j0sCciqJoLvrYpDWjWaX0yX9z3TidUC_Uibkp3ALHrGQwmk85wtWPonQGG9ihxWJnUdsIbvzeqLamg5VXj8aKft/s320/IMG_8824.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb9pq6o7jMQvgMtFihZ8_vBVtHOARl14KvgtAFITBDk38K-yUF_2ny_aukMh78RHLOoksHcQbolXcyZtvDcJ-AjRkRCQpIGfq4Jlb2HXxVJam0hR-y_Uxui4v_1bTFO1VJHWLnYMLiap4CZ_ifWNTi_KJiZUZKXI966mD26alUwsIDhRrzIFs/s4032/IMG_8827.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb9pq6o7jMQvgMtFihZ8_vBVtHOARl14KvgtAFITBDk38K-yUF_2ny_aukMh78RHLOoksHcQbolXcyZtvDcJ-AjRkRCQpIGfq4Jlb2HXxVJam0hR-y_Uxui4v_1bTFO1VJHWLnYMLiap4CZ_ifWNTi_KJiZUZKXI966mD26alUwsIDhRrzIFs/s320/IMG_8827.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx1wtSjyhAGZ1wQlUAbpsWMrN84v_PKq4u4EinV0KB3nMyVQmWawF6EJlZRKyRkBAkD9y2ecqiPGG97nv60StGdiOr8Z9CNPQPBi-Tuh0nf1Hjap_LLUh6rP1zWgIoXakU4zBCgDNRLwO26CImbPNmjrPc4sxc0SmveK9vntfTGUtBebCzF5y/s4032/IMG_8829.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx1wtSjyhAGZ1wQlUAbpsWMrN84v_PKq4u4EinV0KB3nMyVQmWawF6EJlZRKyRkBAkD9y2ecqiPGG97nv60StGdiOr8Z9CNPQPBi-Tuh0nf1Hjap_LLUh6rP1zWgIoXakU4zBCgDNRLwO26CImbPNmjrPc4sxc0SmveK9vntfTGUtBebCzF5y/s320/IMG_8829.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">And so home. Simon went for a run, just as the heavens opened. I did not!</p><p style="text-align: left;">We went into Koo Wee Rup to see what was there. Not a lot, really. We had lunch/afternoon tea in Degani's. Freyja and Simon shared a bowl of wedges. I did not. I had this:</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj574oOIf95G19_ye6LhnKY3s15G_1mU65yTW3fCwJFHA5gwCSsxWAZKitLzOAP2X5mss78D-UoKmwvMVvdYMQk1X61mSW7XRdYClMDThVy_i-RAhKkqBPkNSGGiJiJfDaoOxhQfLKlE5ZC_fY1ecEE-3H8PvjLU3k0bmH-RsQtg3VU94fpUqMl/s4032/IMG_8833.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj574oOIf95G19_ye6LhnKY3s15G_1mU65yTW3fCwJFHA5gwCSsxWAZKitLzOAP2X5mss78D-UoKmwvMVvdYMQk1X61mSW7XRdYClMDThVy_i-RAhKkqBPkNSGGiJiJfDaoOxhQfLKlE5ZC_fY1ecEE-3H8PvjLU3k0bmH-RsQtg3VU94fpUqMl/s320/IMG_8833.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I really should know better, but when you talk to me of pancakes I think of French style pancakes. Shrove Tuesday pancakes. Crepes. I do not think of these American style griddle cakes. I should do because that is nearly always what is meant on Australian menus. Especially if there is also talk of maple syrup.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuKVoxMMBiC2B7u1Qnx9y1oyar9v0o93oOiggvEIncxdCDJx7Lq_uVgHYcsMQ4QzEqfnxjVu7rSgBrJo0um-cfdXkizIZ8sp_8zn_0DJvCXMrwWRslGT-xgmXHRINRX14yiRJavroaRIG_GzbtnifNphv-QphkZa6ZKZlNycbeMa31KMMxIs9/s1800/pancakes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1355" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuKVoxMMBiC2B7u1Qnx9y1oyar9v0o93oOiggvEIncxdCDJx7Lq_uVgHYcsMQ4QzEqfnxjVu7rSgBrJo0um-cfdXkizIZ8sp_8zn_0DJvCXMrwWRslGT-xgmXHRINRX14yiRJavroaRIG_GzbtnifNphv-QphkZa6ZKZlNycbeMa31KMMxIs9/s320/pancakes.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well and truly defeated by the "pancakes"<br />(Photo by Freyja)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>We checked out the supermarket and pottered around and then made our way back to the cottage.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was still raining.</div><div><br /></div><div>For dinner I had what I think might be amongst the worst pizzas I have ever eaten. I asked for a marinara (seafood with garlic). I have a feeling they actually gave me an Aloha (prawns, chicken and pineapple). My pizza definitely had prawns and some amorphous other protein. No discernible garlic. And lots of pineapple. Even if I actually liked pineapple, it would not have been a pleasant culinary experience. As pineapple is obviously a food of the devil it was a horrible taste sensation!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's now just on half past 8. We need to be out by 10. If it opens (it is supposed to open) we might have breakfast in the cafe before we go. Only - it's raining just a little bit</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCErEdXchMRTeNqEgpLQLHiE0sTXSC_eIog1IDW-PMHxiaXf2cvC50eNvQI__HD3c0VdRvu_ILL8doY10eVO0N3JgNWII-5adOVRTZ2SRCmvq_nCReu0nZlSzwLpwFJadbpb_AycA1-onBB2ajNEYGPbTVKJDu6tB4fSY4og4K-7Jp9QfYqQp/s4032/IMG_8835.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCErEdXchMRTeNqEgpLQLHiE0sTXSC_eIog1IDW-PMHxiaXf2cvC50eNvQI__HD3c0VdRvu_ILL8doY10eVO0N3JgNWII-5adOVRTZ2SRCmvq_nCReu0nZlSzwLpwFJadbpb_AycA1-onBB2ajNEYGPbTVKJDu6tB4fSY4og4K-7Jp9QfYqQp/s320/IMG_8835.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the front door</td></tr></tbody></table><div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><p style="text-align: left;">I like it here. It's not as exciting, or buzzing with the "summer holiday" vibes of the Mornington Peninsula, It's a pretty, small, relaxed place with all sorts of things accessible if you don't mind driving to them. Although, as Freyja points out, we are in a pretty fisherman's cottage on the foreshore with inlet views. We might not have been quite so enamoured if we had been in the more suburban parts of Tooradin. But, I would come here again.</p></div></div>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-36508235423798622922024-01-07T07:47:00.001+11:002024-01-07T08:19:32.784+11:00Tooradin<p>A little while ago, Freyja and I were discussing the possibility of a summer weekend away. Maybe the Mornington Peninsula? Perhaps the first weekend in January?</p><p>I went a-hunting. And discovered that if we wanted to have the first weekend in January anywhere on the peninsula, we were looking at $2,000, $2,500 for three nights for three people.</p><p>That seemed slightly excessive to me. I looked further afield. And found this delightful cottage in <a href="https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/tooradin-vic" target="_blank">Tooradin</a>, for $800. I booked it, before anyone else did.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEr3elSdhdf4lSP4rEPMr-5zxDvtaPM7gG-eOmdwpFWw7z2oSDN5zw69BFjAJuwyVi843Bi4j8Lj-Mz9izLKWAEsnmJj6P-ZVJEbM-GsWDySpUmBNTqIRX_f1lUQpRg6SkhpVfxe_aeqbOphQareDmJs9jrejDH72vqVI7y3h_G1cJoAG4u2mt/s4032/IMG_8791.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEr3elSdhdf4lSP4rEPMr-5zxDvtaPM7gG-eOmdwpFWw7z2oSDN5zw69BFjAJuwyVi843Bi4j8Lj-Mz9izLKWAEsnmJj6P-ZVJEbM-GsWDySpUmBNTqIRX_f1lUQpRg6SkhpVfxe_aeqbOphQareDmJs9jrejDH72vqVI7y3h_G1cJoAG4u2mt/s320/IMG_8791.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Tooradin is on Westernport rather than Port Phillip Bay. We are on a dead end street, by an inlet, with a cafe next door. We are perhaps a 30 minute drive from Frankston, we are en route to Phillip Island, we are around 30, 40 minutes from Hastings, Balnarring and Somers. And Tooradin itself is a delight. </p><p>Freyja and Simon came down as planned on Friday. I waited until I was as certain as I could be that I was covid free and came down yesterday. It was a lovely day, so after a spot of lunch we headed to Somers to inspect the beach. We went to Balnarring to inspect the shops. We had chips (and fish for me) from the local chip shop for tea. It was a lovely day.</p><p>We were taking advantage of the weather, which is set to change to Very Wet today. </p><p>Where we are staying:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrX2Yt7m5mFh57dyb-j-Zq8t24EXYKfYmLwvO8EBamlR_dVaqFZamuQ3DwVtlD_GMYF3CeAwciytAs5mSaKZUicqWZxsnfSydvtIkqwf9E3LEmEtMTi-oO-Pxy_Ypy-aWF6s7s_Z9WdP4U8aCuoLO5opkkdIKPcNTPhspIKyy53XLRz3sg32-/s3814/IMG_8790.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3814" data-original-width="2860" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrX2Yt7m5mFh57dyb-j-Zq8t24EXYKfYmLwvO8EBamlR_dVaqFZamuQ3DwVtlD_GMYF3CeAwciytAs5mSaKZUicqWZxsnfSydvtIkqwf9E3LEmEtMTi-oO-Pxy_Ypy-aWF6s7s_Z9WdP4U8aCuoLO5opkkdIKPcNTPhspIKyy53XLRz3sg32-/s320/IMG_8790.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRVxJAA5ZMl5T9u8y6ul5UKblu0OTu604FHD9SoO4Zc0xG_PZCwtZqxHqL5sJPjLJujc41y3TSO5WZmUpbETBLk1qFQRt5Tlw5XTJIb0hgE21iR4FPWfkTRetkxPVTxBA9jrpZyYtrt8wAQ90LHZ7fiwLXXZgdFVsdNto_7Qbm8WpfPsyAvHc/s4032/IMG_8793.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRVxJAA5ZMl5T9u8y6ul5UKblu0OTu604FHD9SoO4Zc0xG_PZCwtZqxHqL5sJPjLJujc41y3TSO5WZmUpbETBLk1qFQRt5Tlw5XTJIb0hgE21iR4FPWfkTRetkxPVTxBA9jrpZyYtrt8wAQ90LHZ7fiwLXXZgdFVsdNto_7Qbm8WpfPsyAvHc/s320/IMG_8793.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvChDV3KBXqvRhEUsJz4Ym1VNQQYJuCKjl2FXhKYAuQR1d5Kp_noH99u_Sy3E_Z9mAfVSvjRDStitnibxfHM9NtafQvu7HVsy-oKpKGhoc8eJJHpPVhwtx3NrbNKnIGSuPwlr3hdnBli0fLRn6OHeGHFgvwodNcsPFaOkllj1a29ZtI4_m-ezc/s4032/IMG_8795.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvChDV3KBXqvRhEUsJz4Ym1VNQQYJuCKjl2FXhKYAuQR1d5Kp_noH99u_Sy3E_Z9mAfVSvjRDStitnibxfHM9NtafQvu7HVsy-oKpKGhoc8eJJHpPVhwtx3NrbNKnIGSuPwlr3hdnBli0fLRn6OHeGHFgvwodNcsPFaOkllj1a29ZtI4_m-ezc/s320/IMG_8795.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and these are our neighbours </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Things around us:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2RqbbSLZT02UAeDGwVLtb3Cb9rTTb4wdH1uFeTQzzt2XjbDntCuaueW0BU-ptzhWavXoT7wVsQuzjaBLzObHG35yc3tqIs4-kA7jJLEuuH5IsH4PEggZfT_8tSkT7cVvpC0UsMRIEJvx3jKVB78mdTNIfjZhmgicinyzZS5HrcimJ_q9fpRY/s4032/IMG_8794.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2RqbbSLZT02UAeDGwVLtb3Cb9rTTb4wdH1uFeTQzzt2XjbDntCuaueW0BU-ptzhWavXoT7wVsQuzjaBLzObHG35yc3tqIs4-kA7jJLEuuH5IsH4PEggZfT_8tSkT7cVvpC0UsMRIEJvx3jKVB78mdTNIfjZhmgicinyzZS5HrcimJ_q9fpRY/s320/IMG_8794.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjsGb86n2YJXlPUF40swCUB991U6KEBhPRQYlvKM7dPhOw_Of6MHd4NuvkBrJVaBSm0sgVg7WzYyBvbWG8Zq0HRXfYdO38KS02fASX_eiA-HbBO-3TwGN_Kf9v4cu1HmfMwaZDVsjZHYaigTo1pGO9-TAXwWflCE025wJ48A_gdkkspplQ4c3/s4032/IMG_8798.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjsGb86n2YJXlPUF40swCUB991U6KEBhPRQYlvKM7dPhOw_Of6MHd4NuvkBrJVaBSm0sgVg7WzYyBvbWG8Zq0HRXfYdO38KS02fASX_eiA-HbBO-3TwGN_Kf9v4cu1HmfMwaZDVsjZHYaigTo1pGO9-TAXwWflCE025wJ48A_gdkkspplQ4c3/s320/IMG_8798.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-JeMFL-MJRzW9XwJScJBfyPicONNHT2QDXwqSbBNnq-lM7UoolkerBZhvEtVQIOjg2HG6WRvnMpWNh1RM3mkZIKVfDhCxktMaBw0RJX050kcKKs3nFwgMDCgsXDNKHf8TZYAEyAHg19ZK6nPOEnjLNdhbJ_av91lnv8Y9PkkK6sWuJWzBagd/s4032/IMG_8811.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-JeMFL-MJRzW9XwJScJBfyPicONNHT2QDXwqSbBNnq-lM7UoolkerBZhvEtVQIOjg2HG6WRvnMpWNh1RM3mkZIKVfDhCxktMaBw0RJX050kcKKs3nFwgMDCgsXDNKHf8TZYAEyAHg19ZK6nPOEnjLNdhbJ_av91lnv8Y9PkkK6sWuJWzBagd/s320/IMG_8811.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Somers Beach:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BJ5d-ePAskQ4VmkiRcECsPk4_rb7K2sv3t7p9Zaj84UqhJ58o1T-48JsUH33aRCrCYNbE7WnRdfVmuUVDXvW0ifLFQ5Sph7-aI9YBy99jwiWzBaOhAYVLK6keOrBvcwNlk2rVkWZkuv02zy2cd_w0tK9775fECH7VtM-IBCJMV4RybiF7lHP/s3136/IMG_8801.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3136" data-original-width="2976" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BJ5d-ePAskQ4VmkiRcECsPk4_rb7K2sv3t7p9Zaj84UqhJ58o1T-48JsUH33aRCrCYNbE7WnRdfVmuUVDXvW0ifLFQ5Sph7-aI9YBy99jwiWzBaOhAYVLK6keOrBvcwNlk2rVkWZkuv02zy2cd_w0tK9775fECH7VtM-IBCJMV4RybiF7lHP/s320/IMG_8801.jpeg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXd_H8mGC4H0Fw4HNRuRxFxJO7kUNtLON8RkegXR_vnNQM5q2FzsDt-RrwXSUFutGgnIIdnmJ75pMtiKrS4_nT3XNOOeTrVRqWYphws7wfLvg19n6unebWXaIEWvxwZh0lJy4kQx5D5RVeKErnPRwOj1jj81AR82bgLIkwLjBKVUXScJeJrWs/s4032/IMG_8802.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXd_H8mGC4H0Fw4HNRuRxFxJO7kUNtLON8RkegXR_vnNQM5q2FzsDt-RrwXSUFutGgnIIdnmJ75pMtiKrS4_nT3XNOOeTrVRqWYphws7wfLvg19n6unebWXaIEWvxwZh0lJy4kQx5D5RVeKErnPRwOj1jj81AR82bgLIkwLjBKVUXScJeJrWs/s320/IMG_8802.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6V3isv1Dw3J8wqDbnVN3canThR_cnHoA6x_jkkwnHOk99DixC2nJwIbBAMLnU-jNB3P4YWq4DtVIjE_0qVe8IOImNapxfRarqSIuGBN2xi_U8D4sG51DOOWoo0L9-Fhe598L5jwNzwqicHAN9hwbJVrdeZWGoP4QB46w_FKJl4DPm0wDOYBk/s3571/IMG_8804.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3571" data-original-width="2678" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6V3isv1Dw3J8wqDbnVN3canThR_cnHoA6x_jkkwnHOk99DixC2nJwIbBAMLnU-jNB3P4YWq4DtVIjE_0qVe8IOImNapxfRarqSIuGBN2xi_U8D4sG51DOOWoo0L9-Fhe598L5jwNzwqicHAN9hwbJVrdeZWGoP4QB46w_FKJl4DPm0wDOYBk/s320/IMG_8804.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-83097442784154432272024-01-05T15:13:00.003+11:002024-01-23T06:35:10.056+11:00What to do with all that food?<p>One of the problems with planning a New Year luncheon and then not hosting it is the vast amount of food you end up with in the fridge. And then there are the covid antivirals which leave me with a hugely unpleasant taste in my mouth which makes every thing I eat or drink taste equally unpleasant. That is definitely an appetite suppressant!</p><p>Some of the food couldn't go in the freezer. It had already come out of the freezer and been defrosted ready for cooking. Also - my freezer is pretty much full. So. Lindsey took some of the salmon to her place and I cooked up the rest of it at mine. I took pumpkin, red onion, carrot and zucchini and roasted them. I stir fried more zucchini plus leeks, red, green and yellow capsicum, asparagus, broad beans, green beans and snap peas with garlic, ginger and lemon. I roasted the chicken wings. And I made sure that I ate these things after the taste effect of the antivirals had started to wear off and before I took the next lot. There is a pot of stir fried and a bowl of roasted vegetables left</p><p>I might have had left over stir fry and salmon for breakfast this morning. I have finished with the antivirals, I was hungry, and there was a breakfast bowl left from last night's dinner. I wouldn't think anything of having fish and vegetables for breakfast in a Japanese hotel. Can't see why I shouldn't have it here as well.</p><p>I was given a gift card for Christmas and bought myself a tiny rice cooker with some of it. I've never had a rice cooker so got a single person one from Kmart to try it out. It's very cute. And very efficient. I need to fine tune how I use it. The first lot of rice was properly cooked but a bit dry. The second time was a tiny bit sloppy. I'll get there. And it's much less trouble than cooking it in a saucepan</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUWQxsato3aC_G0-4ZgVwjNL4JmHevQhIMm14Iwx_uD_wSWJXTB87enNEjrwEi7xiAiqt3uHBSVaKxCF8nQRMWBHU8e6qpovCV6FumgMX9N35BHR43V_3tJoOpyd9LUo40YwDOy7AV6StgpuN2PpO7p_RBdNIzKNxOdaKSN_frmr65LNqzsb8/s1600/1704266543777359.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUWQxsato3aC_G0-4ZgVwjNL4JmHevQhIMm14Iwx_uD_wSWJXTB87enNEjrwEi7xiAiqt3uHBSVaKxCF8nQRMWBHU8e6qpovCV6FumgMX9N35BHR43V_3tJoOpyd9LUo40YwDOy7AV6StgpuN2PpO7p_RBdNIzKNxOdaKSN_frmr65LNqzsb8/s320/1704266543777359.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I did a RAT this morning and it was negative. I am definitely symptom free. I've pretty much been symptom free since I did the original RAT on Monday. As I said, the only symptoms I had were a very slight scratchy throat, a very mild headache, a bit of a runny nose and some sneezing. And only on Sunday afternoon and Monday. Apart from the side effects of the antivirals and a great sleepiness when watching TV in the evening, I've been much as usual. Even the evening sleepiness isn't all that unusual. I think that I can go back out into the world. </p><p>Actually, I could have been out in the world anyway. The current government guidelines are that you are <b><i>encouraged</i></b> to stay at home if you have symptoms but you don't have to. You can't go into high risk places such as hospitals and aged care facilities, but you can, if you are minded, go anywhere else. Please wear a mask if you do. But we won't make you. Your sense of social responsibility is all down to you. </p><p>By way of celebration I have thoroughly cleaned most of the kitchen. I just have the lower cupboard doors and the floor left to do. I will do the floor but the bottom cupboards will have to wait. I'm exhausted from all that cleaning!!! (I should perhaps do a thorough clean more often. The kitchen gets cleaned daily, but not doors and walls and crevices and everywhere. I don't actually remember the last time I did a deep clean 😯)</p><p><br /></p><p>Whiskey:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwbTrO1Ht3KOGF5VfvKiTNzV_SkntT0mx6w8KFJ0JB4PE6VmDY70R7qfPxM9jecbW-VLyKE2sdAExoxYQtnemWkJQqRbkQ9kYbWbhi8Hy0eVhdswffgeJl4bmqm3gLn1K8F2bdvsJcBBJqBEAu8GQuGV4Fj_zjyK0aT6AQoE-AgTtdhSkDACi/s4032/IMG_8777.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwbTrO1Ht3KOGF5VfvKiTNzV_SkntT0mx6w8KFJ0JB4PE6VmDY70R7qfPxM9jecbW-VLyKE2sdAExoxYQtnemWkJQqRbkQ9kYbWbhi8Hy0eVhdswffgeJl4bmqm3gLn1K8F2bdvsJcBBJqBEAu8GQuGV4Fj_zjyK0aT6AQoE-AgTtdhSkDACi/s320/IMG_8777.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a dedd, dedd, dedd, DEDD cat!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-RS1tkrrbOpEijoenE5WNpB98o2bhKxFKAqA3SfOL-ZzvZrW8EAnzVgEOtS7kDWRrznLx3hD07ovZij09AK30-PNYmG7Ea705_VSdq8HUxyShdmFueg-o4uta55y3AHOlG4TecEdV7wXzH8M2ZJMVhHsg_YhmyFbTOfP0t5tVHePLPp50uXB/s4032/IMG_8780.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-RS1tkrrbOpEijoenE5WNpB98o2bhKxFKAqA3SfOL-ZzvZrW8EAnzVgEOtS7kDWRrznLx3hD07ovZij09AK30-PNYmG7Ea705_VSdq8HUxyShdmFueg-o4uta55y3AHOlG4TecEdV7wXzH8M2ZJMVhHsg_YhmyFbTOfP0t5tVHePLPp50uXB/s320/IMG_8780.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just kidding 😺</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-85731624630552021042024-01-03T08:32:00.003+11:002024-01-03T10:29:12.282+11:00Storm<p>I got the thunder weather warning alert yesterday morning as I was standing in the sunshine in my courtyard, cup of tea in hand, thinking what a lovely summer's morning it was. It didn't look as thought it was going to be stormy. I pottered along through the morning, largely ignoring the weather warnings that came to my phone.</p><p>Then it clouded over. And started raining. Then I realised that it had got very, very dark. So dark that the solar lights came on along the back fence and the front porch. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVaD4qtxwdvp2mUu0sr9TgfakLP6A2Qd-jmBDx4TIzmf117BhxOG4CoWvAHp3ieVkiBr3lCnUeVAZ4QkV4x83LNNGXCemZHPpB4NdmJdXazwBZ2eF4Aep8zH5_2yVjaUbodJICQ0CRUt-2b0e8o2Zz2dfyM61e4A-yM70-BRtsWeAA6IpKwqC/s4032/IMG_8771.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVaD4qtxwdvp2mUu0sr9TgfakLP6A2Qd-jmBDx4TIzmf117BhxOG4CoWvAHp3ieVkiBr3lCnUeVAZ4QkV4x83LNNGXCemZHPpB4NdmJdXazwBZ2eF4Aep8zH5_2yVjaUbodJICQ0CRUt-2b0e8o2Zz2dfyM61e4A-yM70-BRtsWeAA6IpKwqC/s320/IMG_8771.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lights had been on the wooden Christmas<br />tree. I decided to hang them along the<br />fence on S hooks rather than packing them away</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">And then the storm hit. Torrential rain. Thunder. Lightning. Wind. The power went out and came back. Then it went out and stayed out. Fortunately, I have wind up storm lanterns so at least could see in the house.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I waited until the worst of the rain and wind had passed and then drove cautiously up to Hill House. There would be nobody there until mid-evening, so I couldn't gift anyone a dose of covid. And I thought I should check to make sure that the dogs and house were ok.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The dogs were pleased to see me (and the treats I had in my bag). The driveway was behaving like a small creek. The house was dry, but the back yard was flooded and rainwater had blown in through the back door. I prepped the house for the power not coming back on until 11pm, which is what Powercor was predicting, fed the dogs and then came back to my place.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV4lBd8qC4CmDX5_3yp21SN7-il4Ba3vQz0rDQdBNqeC8DFAamzDbjxuZqy3vXVEFl1E8GCtrftHUN76rzlwZaRDxOBzzDi55W0co4EJzVl6IhvZ2lY-d-yRMrc7Ql-9cdRnBmsYh7MwVo-3D4ithyiQ8h3DclWTBXK2j0fkFWtmXVzo9CqYB/s4032/IMG_8772.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV4lBd8qC4CmDX5_3yp21SN7-il4Ba3vQz0rDQdBNqeC8DFAamzDbjxuZqy3vXVEFl1E8GCtrftHUN76rzlwZaRDxOBzzDi55W0co4EJzVl6IhvZ2lY-d-yRMrc7Ql-9cdRnBmsYh7MwVo-3D4ithyiQ8h3DclWTBXK2j0fkFWtmXVzo9CqYB/s320/IMG_8772.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The power came back around 5pm. A considerable improvement on the predicted time.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The BoM is predicting possible storms for later today. We could do with quite a lot less rain. My garden gauge had 60ml in it when I got home. And quite a lot of the shops in Buninyong were flooded.</p><p><br /></p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-4998175961929483552024-01-01T09:39:00.002+11:002024-01-01T09:39:35.938+11:00Not Starting the Year as I Mean to Go On!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX803vxHfTRiTF57JFvr1MWRymRUfZ_tPJe5MUpZWRi_Zp9yBLP_TlnOO0vIYbIIkuyW66XiEyMMlsAMQOw2rH6VQlKMAeotzHBL-BrlThcnavmbLjAD1xdCVniC_uDlSrXrazd4_IZ33AC7npYVN2EYcut7ADN8L5PFzIBJ53KdowJ5Ra78Jg/s4032/IMG_8768.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX803vxHfTRiTF57JFvr1MWRymRUfZ_tPJe5MUpZWRi_Zp9yBLP_TlnOO0vIYbIIkuyW66XiEyMMlsAMQOw2rH6VQlKMAeotzHBL-BrlThcnavmbLjAD1xdCVniC_uDlSrXrazd4_IZ33AC7npYVN2EYcut7ADN8L5PFzIBJ53KdowJ5Ra78Jg/s320/IMG_8768.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>I was intending to start the year with a New Year's Day lunch at my place.</p><p>Oh well. I suppose I have lots of food to tide me over.</p><p>And the next few days will be nice and quiet.</p><p>In the Before Times I might not have paid much attention to a light headache, a runny nose and sneezing. Hayfever symptoms, more or less. But I thought, under the circumstances, that I had better check,</p><p>Just as well I did!</p><p>We will have to have our New Year lunch at another time.</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-73730659691726339162023-12-31T15:30:00.001+11:002024-01-07T08:17:24.914+11:00<p>You will be pleased to hear (or, at least, I was pleased) that Whiskey has not needed the mini enemas that the vet sent home with him. All appears to be, more or less, back to normal.</p><p>The weather recently has been cool and cloudy with showers of rain, often clearing in the afternoons and evenings to sunny and bright. Today has been sunny and warm, apart from a cool wind. I even put the washing out. And I have done a few, gentle things in the garden.</p><p>For the past many weeks, the internet has been bringing to my attention a lovely, colourful and bright doona cover which I rather fancied. It is true that I could probably have done with an extra cover. I only had three which is enough unless I need to change both the beds at the same time. Four would give a bit of wriggle room - but I would buy a cheap one if all I was looking for was wriggle room. It was a Want but not really a Need.</p><p>Then Jim's daughter Jeanette and her family gave me some Amazon money for my birthday. I try, when I can, to use money that is a gift to buy fun things, not essentials, so I bought the doona cover. It arrived on Friday:</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia39Nx-pRJKadKEfgl0E148uMo8-wek-QUCFJbZGbcx-ckes_KrL-493N116N_4lwCUorInUMCmIGoFvM9hufPaEnVrgobbyJBqe9mqGDinX26-aqHqYhdr0tCa9nG3U_6BAqQ-Ffr9NQd_BERPeSg1fMuWUeYVoGMsFXsTkMGdwSvVsVkjh0U/s4032/IMG_8756.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia39Nx-pRJKadKEfgl0E148uMo8-wek-QUCFJbZGbcx-ckes_KrL-493N116N_4lwCUorInUMCmIGoFvM9hufPaEnVrgobbyJBqe9mqGDinX26-aqHqYhdr0tCa9nG3U_6BAqQ-Ffr9NQd_BERPeSg1fMuWUeYVoGMsFXsTkMGdwSvVsVkjh0U/s320/IMG_8756.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cumbrian Forest<br />with optional Whiskey</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Stella wanted to know why I had bought a delightful bed set with their birthday money and boring, manky potting mix with hers. Because they gave me Amazon money. If they had given me Bunnings money or cash, I would have bought potting mix, or mulch or something for the garden beds. I find such things exciting (or at least the things I can do with them) even if Stella does not. I promise I won't buy potting mix for her for her birthday!</div><div><br /></div><div>Lindsey and I went out to the Mushroom Farm yesterday morning and then out to Elaine to the Farmgate Shop. They have a paddock of pick your own sunflowers, which opened to the public yesterday. Someone came out to take publicity photos. As the owner came out of the paddock after the photo shoot, he handed me a couple of sunflowers as a New Year present. They are looking very sunny on the sideboard.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzmux9I2AsuSZ6CKO_xgdsKCwZtGXiaXygGYL9LzvskGi8L1RVLbOyfg0IUSBwibxuTcbkHzJKQ8PoYXgUTpgG8iNs3KOedJdG7-lQ6BChWpnlC0e3EhyphenhyphenGAZxzK6E6DAI8jRhpdpTqqAUnNqnuDhLAqbkXjB22SnURN63TelPXR708l4HoU_R/s4032/IMG_8767.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzmux9I2AsuSZ6CKO_xgdsKCwZtGXiaXygGYL9LzvskGi8L1RVLbOyfg0IUSBwibxuTcbkHzJKQ8PoYXgUTpgG8iNs3KOedJdG7-lQ6BChWpnlC0e3EhyphenhyphenGAZxzK6E6DAI8jRhpdpTqqAUnNqnuDhLAqbkXjB22SnURN63TelPXR708l4HoU_R/s320/IMG_8767.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>Ordinarily, I keep the Christmas decorations up for New Year. I have taken them down early this year. The Christmas tree was in front of a cupboard I needed to get into and when I tried to move it the top part fell off. I couldn't be bothered reassembling it and sorting out the lights and baubles again so I took the whole thing down. And then figured I might as well take everything down. </p><p>It is amazing the number of cobwebs and gunk hiding behind the tree. It's a plastic tree and had only been up for three weeks or so. My spiders constantly make my place look like it's a haunted house, or part of a set from a Hammer House of Horror episode. I know I need to de-web frequently to deter the spiders but mostly I can't be bothered. I don't mind the spiders - if only they didn't web absolutely everything! I wouldn't even mind that, if only the webs weren't so sticky. And if they didn't put them where I want to walk. I emphatically do not care for spider webs across my face!!!!!</p><p>Oh, and I have the Christmas crackers for next year. Kmart was selling them on Wednesday for 50c for boxes of 8 and $2 for boxes of 12. I got this little lot of 40 for a whole $5</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9NX6r1XpyydVuY13sDx4dbrVSjlmGldKDZl7LD71h4ETx2LJOrW2pn1Yhbi93L9TNwbHf5qm4ggUCpxEMZ_FUdwr1LhFmupTUJfu6IX22VgrVsfMniD4vLnKJzKl3PQDmUhzJ-SAS1LxmyIhgVqivzQtJFsR4yxfIEqxm8YeFx28g-LO95P4/s4032/IMG_8748.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9NX6r1XpyydVuY13sDx4dbrVSjlmGldKDZl7LD71h4ETx2LJOrW2pn1Yhbi93L9TNwbHf5qm4ggUCpxEMZ_FUdwr1LhFmupTUJfu6IX22VgrVsfMniD4vLnKJzKl3PQDmUhzJ-SAS1LxmyIhgVqivzQtJFsR4yxfIEqxm8YeFx28g-LO95P4/s320/IMG_8748.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-68499505113233741212023-12-28T09:53:00.002+11:002024-01-03T10:25:36.320+11:00Whiskey Goes to the Vet<p>Wendy and I noticed on Christmas Day that Whiskey was off his food. This is unusual for Whiskey but not particularly unusual for cats in general.</p><p>He was still off his food on Boxing Day and was strangely subdued in the evening. He also appeared to be constipated, straining to pass poos and when he did they were hard and rocklike.</p><p>He was very subdued yesterday so I rang the vet as soon as they opened and got an emergency appointment. He miaowed all the way to the vet. He miaowed all the time we were in the waiting room. The young golden retriever sitting opposite us did not approve of this and sat behind its owner's legs and tried very hard to get under the chair.</p><p>Whiskey was very well behaved while in the vet's room. She poked him and prodded him and took his temperature, looked in his mouth and ears and generally did a thorough examination. She was keen to keep him in overnight for re-hydration (I hadn't noticed him near the water fountain so don't know if he had been drinking), a mini enema or two and some other medications, for the bargain price of between $800 and $900, depending. If he needed an actual enema, another $900.</p><p>I could buy a great dane puppy for that. Or around 12 new cats. Or go to Japan and back with spending money to spare. So the vet gave him three injections, a tablet and some liquid and sent him home with a supply of medication for me to give him. </p><p>He miaowed all the way home.</p><p>One of the medications is used as an anti-depressant in humans and also makes cats hungry (I think that is a side effect in humans as well - but you have to wonder who thought it would be a good idea to try this medication on a cat to see what would happen!!) It certainly made Whiskey hungry. As soon as I let him out of the (enormous!) cat carrier he made a beeline for the cat food bowls in the dining room where he positively scoffed the cat biscuits. Then he glugged vast quantities of water. And then he went outside for a potter around. Obviously feeling better, but still no pooing. I hope the laxatives work. I really don't fancy giving him a mini enema myself, and certainly not on my own!</p><p>I must buy a smaller carrier before I have to take a cat anywhere again. I bought the enormous one when we first got Brandy and Whiskey because it was all I could get. I might get a smaller one for quick trips to the vet. In the meantime, I had left the enormous one by the front door. It has a cushion in it. Whiskey thinks it makes an excellent bed. I might have to keep it for the time being.</p>Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22644365.post-24804811051949621022023-12-27T07:14:00.000+11:002023-12-27T07:14:16.917+11:00Boxing Day Lunch<p>When Jim and I went to England in March 2020 we had intended to make a train trip through Spain, France and Switzerland. My cousin Rosie and her family live in France but she works in Geneva and we had arranged to meet there for lunch while we were around.</p><p>Alas, Covid intervened, the train trip was called off and we came back to Australia.</p><p>Rosie was intending to come to Australia. with her family, the following Christmas. That didn't happen either.</p><p>I was a bit worried when she contacted me to say that they were trying again and expected to be in Melbourne for this Christmas. If Rosie and I hatched another plan to meet, what pestilence, plague or other disaster might we unleash on the world?</p><p>As it happens - no worldwide disasters unfolded and Rosie, Jon and their two boys made it safely to Mount Helen for lunch yesterday. Lindsey, Ian and Stella came down from Hill House. Wendy was still here. Matt and William came from Warragul. Freyja and Simon had intended to come but Freyja was struck with some sort of stomach bug and they beat a retreat back to Melbourne (I hope that wasn't the start of a worldwide disaster - although none of the rest of us have been struck down. Yet!)</p><p>We had chicken, ham, scallops and spring rolls. We had the obligatory roast potatoes. We had a fruit platter and lots and lots of chocolate. I didn't make the (vegan) vegetable tart I had intended to make. I did make a festive "trifle" salad which was vegan friendly. I didn't get the message saying that Freyja was sick until after I had put in the vegan cheese.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEHU2HkKhADUha9J1pj44qmUNgOh3y_vrLSyOB3hWEEW-gSxh0p8NIBuI6n76PMAba4_YljYhW9dL894XWck-fjmAI1c1C7xqZO53LTjXNr6LgZiqiqtFbF5LY9e_jKwa-L0jsWlRHLwDVrPNa9-hplFkxJ-Dat96DTfdkQF-DgtTMY_ehOY5/s4032/IMG_8731.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEHU2HkKhADUha9J1pj44qmUNgOh3y_vrLSyOB3hWEEW-gSxh0p8NIBuI6n76PMAba4_YljYhW9dL894XWck-fjmAI1c1C7xqZO53LTjXNr6LgZiqiqtFbF5LY9e_jKwa-L0jsWlRHLwDVrPNa9-hplFkxJ-Dat96DTfdkQF-DgtTMY_ehOY5/s320/IMG_8731.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Lindsey had made a KitKat house. Tommy had a great time smashing it with a ladle</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox81Bi39OYsMqWz4PRTu_SdR-FmlGdwlI6vEqbR8pzyp94r3Tn43dXxCdbCdLsVEJ-lipp20SrnkINQAgTc9wQwsKI_bMHpuMledMPpducLyUU6nKBrcbIHvDisWiO8-p248p5SIPgBX3JGonQxB56uJhsMl-sKAHd4gQhq6yXwWiZ5G7vbHK/s4032/IMG_8732.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox81Bi39OYsMqWz4PRTu_SdR-FmlGdwlI6vEqbR8pzyp94r3Tn43dXxCdbCdLsVEJ-lipp20SrnkINQAgTc9wQwsKI_bMHpuMledMPpducLyUU6nKBrcbIHvDisWiO8-p248p5SIPgBX3JGonQxB56uJhsMl-sKAHd4gQhq6yXwWiZ5G7vbHK/s320/IMG_8732.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDewxsbmXnLbIJVADYnPs-1bLYlw8-e-zjP2K5bQKomco3heCRH9kaNkCE78psJZjBZb8N_EKiH7V8JG4YZALRw0o_p8R8LhWCiap1FlGVbr847Pb-JPrn0hY6NbnDONJ9DKqn4BiGxKzxkfyAZK0jpweYPF0KgBTk2uyiFFyztiA24RQW-NlQ/s4032/IMG_8733.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDewxsbmXnLbIJVADYnPs-1bLYlw8-e-zjP2K5bQKomco3heCRH9kaNkCE78psJZjBZb8N_EKiH7V8JG4YZALRw0o_p8R8LhWCiap1FlGVbr847Pb-JPrn0hY6NbnDONJ9DKqn4BiGxKzxkfyAZK0jpweYPF0KgBTk2uyiFFyztiA24RQW-NlQ/s320/IMG_8733.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFOIDamRV7tuY1qjNxT8hs0RgSVVu3Ca93tfBM5EcZvtVyequ901jxx-dgeBND5F4eafYKBJOWb7OHEIkmwA83g_xbChF0TOiXWk5ZJ3rVuwWOYXCd-2OqoRdmmneBBg1INKBRFw1MMq9X25Y9-bAysAUYwQex8QvhrONnjpUjzzV4c1Auc5o/s4032/IMG_8734.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFOIDamRV7tuY1qjNxT8hs0RgSVVu3Ca93tfBM5EcZvtVyequ901jxx-dgeBND5F4eafYKBJOWb7OHEIkmwA83g_xbChF0TOiXWk5ZJ3rVuwWOYXCd-2OqoRdmmneBBg1INKBRFw1MMq9X25Y9-bAysAUYwQex8QvhrONnjpUjzzV4c1Auc5o/s320/IMG_8734.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>My cats are usually very suspicious when lots of people come around, especially if they are people that they don't know well. Usually, they hide in my bedroom. They liked Tommy and Miki though (to my surprise - they are usually even more suspicious of children; they don't see many of them)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z_XzPUi2EQ1vcXt-pzxc0NqQqRdk7L39D-IABsXZKLYir3fnWdYCPNWMadtbGG7bjsA3kYrKnQaCGeIPHWZ3DhzAEBrW2Pe3vVgD2GWY1XBZSSqSPw3I1vyapCkNXRv3H4bw0j54TONSmwN1REUWrrsmkuVXl1_uOVsQn7iPq528_cY32T3W/s4032/IMG_8742.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z_XzPUi2EQ1vcXt-pzxc0NqQqRdk7L39D-IABsXZKLYir3fnWdYCPNWMadtbGG7bjsA3kYrKnQaCGeIPHWZ3DhzAEBrW2Pe3vVgD2GWY1XBZSSqSPw3I1vyapCkNXRv3H4bw0j54TONSmwN1REUWrrsmkuVXl1_uOVsQn7iPq528_cY32T3W/s320/IMG_8742.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>It was a good afternoon. And then everyone went away back to their homes and holiday places. I was early to bed. It's been a busy few days</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKe3Cgt8FkWTFpzbqTeB8ireDKaIvOWn8iS3Dh_FFNKuKzET2l5K-_IfurAbVXhFfeBy-5CH7TYDr_kUZ3eB6M64y4qBsbkHyiy1qtGpjdJs-ysdOBp_NygARLnpvQ0BT99ee_tZZisB-DBngl-rAtltQj-GOByJvCNWod5HUZvKxeB47sPv0/s3330/IMG_8736.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3330" data-original-width="2536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKe3Cgt8FkWTFpzbqTeB8ireDKaIvOWn8iS3Dh_FFNKuKzET2l5K-_IfurAbVXhFfeBy-5CH7TYDr_kUZ3eB6M64y4qBsbkHyiy1qtGpjdJs-ysdOBp_NygARLnpvQ0BT99ee_tZZisB-DBngl-rAtltQj-GOByJvCNWod5HUZvKxeB47sPv0/s320/IMG_8736.jpeg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie and Stella</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Nethergreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974299414693887515noreply@blogger.com0