Friends

A good friend rang today.  Together, Steve and I have known him for 32 years and Steve a little longer.  I am significantly older than he but  age was never important in our relationship.  We rarely ever see him but we hear from him maybe once a year.  

When I first met him, he had not long lost his Mother and was at Uni in Bendigo.  He was from a dairy farm, not far from where we lived.  He was passionate about plants and very interested in music.  He had (and has) a quiet, friendly charm and an ability to draw people out.  I've always loved how he can pass on technical explanations in simple language.

Whilst talking to him tonight, I told him that he was the nicest and kindest person I have ever met.   I've always thought that but have never told him.   

Why is it that we don't tell our good friends how we value them?   

What's wrong with telling someone what we like about them?

I'm going to do it more often!!

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Christmas Day 2011

It was a wonderful Christmas with the family, as always.

The tables were set up outside but they were covered/ uncovered a few times, as the light rain came down.  Finally, the sky brightened a little and we ate our meal very comfortably.  

 

We were a much smaller bunch than usual, only 14 of us,whereas last year there were 21 all told.   Betty was noticeably absent.  Christmas in Heaven would be much nicer,anyway!       

We had the traditional food ---- turkey, ham and pork, with every vegetable known to man and all the trimmings.  This was followed by plum pudding and/or trifle.   So lovely!

It was a muggy day, so a few of us decided on a dip in the pool ...... the little kids, the middle sized kids, the older kid,Tatum, our PNG friends Jason and Lega and the old kids, Steve and me.  At first the water was shockingly cold and it was hard to continue creeping in but we soon warmed up and had fun.

 Jason and Lega are cricketers from Papua New Guinea.  They are sponsored to play cricket for the Box Hill Club at this time of the year and they move on from here to other places all around the world.   Jason boarded with Talitha last year but this is Lega's first time with her.  They are great lads and they like to join in all the fun.

Jason does a back somersault into the pool.

Not long after leaving the pool, it began to rain again.  It was slow at first and some of us remained chatting at the table, under the shelter of the big umbrella.  When it began to pour down, we all went inside to exchange Christmas presents.

                    Indy gives Tish a bone that Santa left.

 Noise, colour, screams, excitement, happiness, gratitude ---- and that was just us big kids (not really!)  The rain came again, thundering on the flat roof.  I looked outside a back window and saw a fountain spurting from the guttering.  Tom hurried out, climbed onto the roof and removed the leaves that were blocking the gutters.  The rain belted down, accompanied by thunder and lightning.  Poor Tom!

Safe inside with our presents and fun, we were slow to notice that the water was coming inside.  Rachel and Mandy were getting wet, so they were provided with towels and a bucket and we continued on with the present opening. 

Rachel and Mandy shelter from the leak

When it came time for people to leave, it was a race to bring the cars into the drive, pack them and depart, leaving space for the next car.    We were very lucky in Croydon South and only Tom had reason to complain!   Many other suburbs were hit with huge hailstones and a lot of damage was done.   Emergency workers are attending to a backlog of 1000 calls.  Neighbouring states are sending extra workers to help out.

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My Daughters in Tasmania

The long planned trip to Tasmania took place last weekend.  The destination had remained a secret to the two girls but it unravelled very quickly when Talitha called us on our way down to Melbourne.  

Tatum's eye had suddenly blown up like a balloon and Rachel was with her at the Eye and Ear Hospital.  She asked Talitha to get her a flight the next morning.  Then I had to say that we were going to Launceston.  As it turned out, Rachel came with us on the Friday.

I'm very pleased to say that Tatum's eye was significantly better the next day.   Although it was painful and nasty looking, it fortunately was not the very serious disease that the doctors had originally thought it was.

We went over on an Embraer, about 88 seats and made in Brazil.  The return journey was on a smallish Airbus, around 180 seats.  Both flights (Virgin Australia and Jetstar) were smooth and pleasant.  I especially enjoy the take offs!

I had thought that it would be difficult restricting our luggage to 10kgs but not so.

Our accommodation was superb; the touring and scenery were fantastic; spending time with Sue and Richard, on their 50th anniversary of meeting, was terrific and the meals we had were out of this world.

The best of all was just spending time with my daughters.  Without their children and their responsibilities, they were my little girls again.  We had such fun and found a lot to laugh at ---- especially when we played Pictionary!   I did say they were "my little girls" but in fact, they were the ones who did the mothering, looking after me and all the details. 

This time was so valuable that I think I'll have to see if I can involve Dominic next time.  Whenever that will be --- sooner rather than later.  

Little kids are great and I enjoyed mine very much.  Adult children are magic.

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NO CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Oh dear, girls and boys, Nana has spent the Christmas present money on herself.  How selfish!!

I should feel guilty (?) but that hasn't hit yet!

As I type here now, my feet are on the $300 Circulation Booster and my leg muscles are twitching.

BLISS

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WEDDING

We went to Melbourne on Saturday for the wedding of Shane Jenkinson and Mary Bride.  Shane is our nephew, son of Steve's sister Debbie.

It was a very relaxed, friendly wedding.   Although I was probably the oldest person there, it didn't occur to me until after we left!   Their friends came up and introduced themselves and I had great chats with many different people.

Mary's younger sister and Mother had made delicious finger food which was passed around during the evening.  Finally I know what a falafel is!!!

It was lovely staying the night with Debbie and Gary..... good company, relaxing, no fuss.   As our daughters live on the opposite side of the city, we rarely stay with D&G.  Shame we can't be everywhere at once!

We returned home on Sunday, with me sleeping all the way, my legs up on the dashboard.  I woke each time that Steve stopped the car (which was numerous) but went straight back to sleep.

Now I have a few days to prepare for next weekend away with Rachel and Talitha.  I'm really looking forward to this.

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Home Again, Home Again, Jiggedy - Jog

Jiggedy-jog was about the size of it!   I bounced around so much that I was sick!  We took it easy for the last 2 days.

One stop was outside of Deniliquin, where we broke down on our first trip in this truck.  Previously it was just a gravel lay by.  Now it's a neat little area with a picnic table, a tank and a toilet.  A caravan had drawn up under a shady tree and they were set to stay a night or two.

Now we are living in the caravan, parked outside our house.  It usually takes me about 3 weeks before I move in.    Fortunately, there is no evidence of mice this time!

Dom was here attending to cattle when we arrived and gave Steve a ride into town to fetch the car back from Marion's.  He has a lot of news about the two farms here.  It looks as if he might sell his original one and laser this one.  It would be great to see water back on the farm.

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Away we go .......

We headed off on Saturday morning, making numerous stops to say goodbye.  Marion came over with 4 bags of mini Mars Bars.   Mars Bars replaced mini Crunchies which replaced cigarettes, as Marion knows.

We had a good trip to Gilgandra, a place I intend to have a really good look at, one day.  Now how many times have I said that!!!   It had rained a lot before we arrived.   The caravan park owner worried that we might get bogged but the rain had soaked straight down.  After talking with him as we came in, Steve said, "He's the saddest man I've ever met."   He had a very downtrodden look on his face, too.

       The following morning, Steve was bailed up by him again and eventually got away, hoping that the man felt better for having vented his problems!  

I've always liked staying at Gilgandra because of the large disabled toilet and shower.  For the last couple of years, there has been a man alone, with his caravan parked right in front of the shower.   He sits outside his van, facing the shower and I always feel awkward and fumble with the key.   The owner told Steve that the guy resents other people using the shower and toilet and views it as his own personal block.  Tough!   Lindy rang at 11pm to see how far we had got!!

Today, Sunday, we had a very strong head wind and Steve was struggling to do 85 kph.   We stopped at Peak Hill RSL Club for a Chinese lunch, as we often do.  I like Peak Hill; it has character.  The old open cut is on display; the shops are generally old and the people are friendly.  

Strangely, I got car sick, so Steve took the truck back to 75 kph and eventually we arrived here at West Wyalong.  That was the result of a misunderstanding.  Steve was questioning me about where I wanted to stop and assuring me that I could chose anywhere.  I was reluctant to slow us down but I really did want to stop travelling so I thought it would be good to stop where we were, at Parkes.  Somehow, my answer made Steve think that I was prepared to travel on.    The good news is that I slept for most of the distance and arrived feeling much better.

The manager here explained why he had to put in a security code in the toilets and showers.  Last year, men working on the crops parked their trucks and lived outside the park in them.  At night, they would leap the fence and use this ablution block, leaving it in a filthy state.

All fruit and vegetables have to be eaten or binned in the next 133 kms tomorrow.   Cauliflower for breakfast???

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The Growth of the Vegetable Garden

We had baby carrots and lettuce from the garden this evening.  Yummy!  Most of the lettuces have gone to seed now and Richard is planning on replacing them.  These were very successful and have fed 4 families plus numerous visitors.

Looking around, I decided to take another photo to show the growth.   Even my parsley and thyme seeds are thick and about 1".   Compare the three photos, particularly noticing the corn at the front of the photo. 

October 4th

Oct 17th

Oct 27th

We were meant to leave tomorrow, Friday, but that didn't happen ---- OF COURSE!   We're all packed and ready to go and I guess we'll do it on Saturday.   Lindy bets on Monday!!

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Thanks to everyone for flower ideas

DAY LILY is the most popular suggestion.  I've flicked through many images and my flower could be this.  But it's not at all like the day lily that we had on the farm, where a bloom lasted for only a day.  It closed at night and didn't open again.  Still .......

Anther suggestion was AMARYLLIS/Belladonna/Naked Lady.     As I remember it, the naked lady flower bloomed without any leaves and had a magnificent perfume.  I checked up and found many photos, which confirmed my memories.   So, I think that this is not the one.

Yet another suggestion was the HIPPEASTRUM.   Interestingly, the hippeastrum is "often commonly, but incorrectly, known as amaryllis."     This, like the day lily, looked very like my flower too!    


Thank you to everyone who emailed an answer to me.  It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to know that people respond to this simple blog. 

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Packing up

Our weekly rent runs out tomorrow ------- but we aren't going!   We'll go on Friday or Saturday or ..........

We were invited out last night, with 10 others, to celebrate life, I think it was.  Nominally, it was to farewell Steve and Cathy and Laurie and Steve but we were just good excuses for a night out!  Lovely company and food at Tuhb Tihm Thai.  Our evening meal tonight is leftovers of a dish with chicken and coconut.  Delicious!    

Lindy and Angela work long and hard in the Office and Neville never ceases work around the park but they are always on for a laugh and a play.  They are inspirational.

I was feeling good after my massage today, so I chose the steps instead of the ramp when I went to the Post Office.  With the rail on my left hand and the stick in my right hand, I decided to try to walk up in a normal fashion. (Instead of having two feet on one step before going to the next step.)     AND I DID IT!!!  I was tired and it hurt but it was exhilarating.  On the way out, I did the same, although that was a lot harder but once again, I DID IT!!  All of my exercise in the pool is paying off!

On our return, we found Richard and Marion in the garden beside us.  Richard asked me if I was satisfied now that he had made beds for the strawberries.  LOL,  He had finally put straw under them!  I had been harping for ages.   While they were on holiday, I put thin pieces of wood under the growing berries.  These slats were Richard's markers, saying carrots, parsnips etc.  They helped to save a few berries from being belted with rain and pushed into the mud.  The straw will do much better because these plants are loaded and clumps of berries stretch in every direction.

As usual, I'm not contributing much to the packing up.  Steve has the biggest job ----- getting the annexe down, making sure the truck is in perfect condition, likewise the caravan.  I just have to pack away the things that will fall when we travel.  I know what I have to do but I'm reluctant to do it!!!   I hate leaving here each year but I hugely look forward to seeing all the family again.  I get butterflies when I think about them!!

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Rest In Peace, Marco Simoncelli

Steve is safely back with me, after his 25 hour train and bus journey.  Although a bunch of people wanted to pick him up from the station, I had to tell them that he preferred to walk.  His choice.   We went to the pool as soon as he got here and that helped to iron out some of the kinks.

 The great news from home is that there were no mice!!!!!

The sadness of the day is the death of Marco Simoncelli.  We were watching the Moto GP race, live from Malaysia.  We both have had a keen interest for many years. Then came a horrible, 3 bike pile up.  It was very clear from the beginning that the outcome wasn't going to be good.  Only 24 years of age.

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The Yearly Swap

As we have had the Landcruiser and the truck both here since August, it's time to return the car back south.

Steve drove from Moree on Thursday evening, around 6.30pm.  He drove and slept (alternatively) and arrived home around 1pm on Friday.  By 5.45pm, he was on the bus to Albury, having parked the car at Marion's, in Cohuna.   A quick turnaround!!

We have kept in touch by text, all the way, just quick 'sit reps' --- on station at Albury;  on train to Sydney;  on train to Moree.  He will be here in 2.5 hours, around 6.30pm Saturday.  If we could think of an easier, quicker way to do this swap of vehicles, we would.  Over 24 hours on trains and buses makes a long trip.  Fortunately, Steve can sleep anywhere.

Only another 6 days here in Moree..... sigh. 

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Garden

This garden is growing like crazy, largely due to the rain that we have had.   2" in 2 hours, last Thursday.  I revelled in rain on the metal roof of the caravan!  I definitely didn't like the light and sound display, though.  Cringe, cringe!!

Here is a photo of the vegetable garden after the rain.   Note the differences between the first photo and this one, taken only 10 days later.  The corn, at the front, has grown in leaps and bounds and the tomatoes are headed for the sky.

We have all eaten a lot of the lettuce and Richard is planning on putting more in very soon.   We tried baby carrots, for a real treat and surprisingly, baby parsnip is fantastic.    I didn't expect the parsley and thyme seed to be up for another 2 weeks but it has broken the ground!

If anyone can tell me the name of this flower, below, I would be very grateful.  The buds seem to come at the end of the stem, which grows thicker and thicker.  One day it bursts open, displaying tatty looking, unopened flowers. A day later, out they come, 5 or 6 flowers to a stem.

The bud at the end of the stem.

Individual flowers are only tatty for one day before they open.

Almost fully open.

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Gardening

I've been weeding today.   It used to be the vegetable garden of the man who lived here permanently, up until 9 years ago.  Eric had a fabulous flower garden too and some of it is still blooming.  Not being here all year, we couldn't keep it going and no one else had the interest.  But this year, Richard Rush put in a lot of work, renewing and remaking the vegetable garden beside our van. 

Entrance to garden

He went to a lot of trouble to prepare the raised beds.  I told him that we were going to move out when he dug in chook poo.  Boy was it smelly!!   It has had a marvellous effect, though.  He has planted carrots, parsnips, lettuces of different kinds, silverbeet, two sorts of onions, corn, tomatoes, capsicum and zucchini.  I've put in mint and seeds of thyme and parsley.  In the paddock outside the fence, he has planted pumpkin and watermelon.

Richard and Marion have gone for a short holiday and the garden is our baby while they are away.   Our main task is to keep it watered but there has been rain every second day, so we haven't had much to do.  Everything is thriving and I'm sure the tomatoes in particular have grown many inches in the last 6 days that they have been away.

We have set a date to leave here.  It's Thursday  27th October.  That means Friday at the earliest.  Everyone would be so surprised and disappointed if we broke our tradition of never leaving on the day we planned!!     Shortly after we arrive home, we are going down to Melbourne for our nephew Shane's wedding on Nov 5th.  Then on Nov 11th, it's a "girls' weekend away."   There's a lot to look forward to.

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AFL Grand Final or Melbourne Cup??

One of them is Melbourne's biggest day.   Football or horse racing?   Despite my best efforts, I can't think of anything local that rivals these events in excitement, numbers and fervour.   I don't particularly follow a footy team and I  rarely have a bet on the races, so I have no vested interest in either.   So, why can't I think of other events that can match these two?
Anyone have a suggestion??   Aussies, that is.  We have to compare oranges with oranges.

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Hirsute

I had a hair cut on Wednesday --- just walked in off the street, no waiting.   When asked how much I wanted off, I said, "most of it."   My hair is very short so that when it begins to grow a bit, it feels like a mop.  The woman started on the back and asked if I minded if she did the edge with clippers.  I was happy with that and as she worked, I had a thought.  I said to her that it was a shame that I couldn't get the whole lot done with clippers.  She said that I could as she had a #8 blade, which cut hair just a little shorter than the scissors would do.   Away you go, I told her!  As she was finishing, she put the icing on the cake ------ "And by using the clippers, the haircut is $10 cheaper," she said.    I was delighted to hand over the mighty sum of $15!!!  Yippee.

Yesterday, I finished my blog with, "Added to that, she tested his blood sugar and pronounced it to be excellent for that time of day.  He danced out!!!"

An email arrived from one smart alec daughter this morning, with the tongue in cheek question, "Could he dance before?"   I love this kind of humour ----- it reminds me of my Father.

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First Anniversary

21.9.11

On September 21st last year, I gave up smoking.  

While I'm glad that I did and the grandkids are thrilled, I have to say that I miss cigarettes so much.  

There isn't a day that I don't crave them.  I was surprised that I overcame the situations where I had cigarettes, as easily as I did.  I used to think that it would be impossible to drink a cup of coffee, write a letter or answer the phone, without a cigarette.  Surprisingly, I didn't have too much trouble.  

No, there's some deep, gnawing yearning for a round tube between my lips, the steady in-drawing of breath and the long, slow release of twirling smoke.  Ahhhh.

YUK, you say???    May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits.

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GREAT NEWS

When I went to the doctor about my blood tests yesterday, her first words were, "How is your husband?"    She was very concerned about him because all she had heard and seen, made her wonder if he had had a stroke.  She wanted to do an ultra sound on him, to check on the neck arteries.    She urged me to bring him in.  Oddly, that was quite simple and there were only a few mumbled groans!

Steve's appointment was for 2pm today, Tuesday.  She (Dr Nan Gu), spent some time getting history, making notes and asking questions.  She explained why she wanted to do an ultra sound.  Then she started on some neurological tests.  As he progressed easily through each one, she  realised that it wasn't a stroke after all and commenced on a new tack.   Eventually, she came to the conclusion that the most likely thing was a virus, like a flu, which zoomed in causing a high temp and delirium, amongst other things, and rattled around the inner ear, causing vertigo.  As Steve says, he's a lot better every day, so we hope that his memory will rapidly improve.   

If it doesn't, our household will be in a terrible state ------ but perhaps neither of us will remember that the other one has forgotten!!

We were both very pleased with this news, as you can imagine.  Added to that, she tested his blood sugar and pronounced it to be excellent for that time of day.  He danced out!!!

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A Good Sunday

He's MUCH better.  He has been in his chair for most of the day and has had only a couple of short sleeps in bed.   He was able to watch TV, something he couldn't do before.  It was a good day for him --- some big car race at Phillip Island.
He sat in a deck chair beside me and passed the clothes while I hung out the washing, which was a big improvement.   There's a tiny bit of vertigo left with certain movements but nothing by comparison with what he had.

It was 31C today, with a bit of a breeze and supposed to be the same tomorrow.  I hope that Steve feels fit enough to go to the pool.

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I did it!

I rang the ambulance and he went to hospital!

It was horrific trying to get him on the trolley and into the ambulance.   His vertigo was awful and that brought on more vomiting.  But like all ambos, they managed it with great kindness.   Maxilon and some oxygen made him more comfortable.

At the Moree hospital, he was given an ECG and told that his heart was OK.  The nurse pronounced his BP OK.   I didn't think that 175/107 was at all OK.   They gave him a litre of intravenous fluids and his colour improved.  Eventually, a doctor came to see him and asked a lot of questions.   No one ventured any opinions as to what was wrong.    I was getting very agitated!   

Finally, the doctor casually gave him the option of staying in hospital or going home.   Steve was all for going home and I was all for him staying there.  I asked him to practise walking and he staggered for 3' and fell into a chair.  To cut the long story short, he won, came home and continued to sleep!

He began to feel slowly better on Saturday and was even able to eat a little.   He also spent a little time sitting in his recliner chair.  Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

I must tell you what happened when I rang for the ambulance.   I dialled ooo and put the phone to my ear, without looking at it.  It rang and rang, which I thought was very unusual for the emergency services.  Then a woman answered and I found that I was talking to Healesville Cemetery!   I tried twice more but the same entry came up and apart from deleting Healesville, there was no way to dial for Fire, Police or Ambulance.    By the way, the last 3 of 10 numbers for the cemetery were 000, from which the search feature took its cue!   So I rang Marion, who then rang the ambulance.

Marion was fabulous, helping at whatever she found would be useful.  She insisted that she would come to the hospital to bring me/us home when it was time.

Riding my gopher down to the kiosk or rubbish bin at the front gate is taking a very long time.    Everyone lined the way when the ambulance went out and now they line the way to ask about Steve.  I have to keep telling the same story over and over.   Everyone offers help, of any kind.

I think that Steve is alert enough tonight to drink for himself, so I'll leave him to it and try to get a good night's sleep myself.

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I'm not accustomed to this

Poor Steve ----- he has been so ill.   Wretched Steve ---- he refuses to go to a doctor.   GRRRRRR.

When we returned from a swim, on Tuesday just after 7pm , he said he felt as if his blood sugar was low, but he tested and it was fine.  He ate dinner but was very tired and said he had a headache, so he was in bed by 9pm.  For the next 14 hours, he alternately slept and vomited.   The headache diminished when he lay down but returned vigorously when he sat or stood.   I just sat up and waited.  Over and over again, I told him that I wanted to take him to the hospital but he was adamant that he wouldn't go.  He was quite delirious for a lot of the time but his refusal to do anything medical is perfectly typical!!

Wednesday passed with Steve sleeping but vomiting only a little.  Sometimes he made sense but often not and he just wanted to sleep.  I asked repeatedly if he would let me take him to the doctor.  NO NO NO.  I took his blood pressure, convinced that this must be the problem but it was the lowest he had had for a long time.   I went down to the kiosk to buy him a drink and talked to a few people.   We agreed that Marion, Lindy or Angela would be able to stand up to Steve, delirious or otherwise, and make him see a doctor, so I said that I'd let them know.   

Once again I stayed awake for most of the night but by 3am, Steve had been quiet and calm for a while, so I fell asleep in my recliner chair.  I woke to find Steve sitting in his chair beside me and felt very happy, convinced that he must be much better.  He must have had a momentary good feeling too because he had made himself a sandwich ----- he took half a bite before he went back to sleep.    When I got my bearings, I found that I had slept non-stop from 3am and it was now 4pm on Thursday.

Many people have called in to ask if we need anything but with Steve not eating, we have plenty in hand.  It's 1am (Fri) now and he has been asleep for another 8 hours.  Every time he snorts, rolls or grumbles, I go in to see what I can do.  This time he was complaining about a sore back so I persuaded him to get up.   Well, that's what I thought I was doing!  He sat up, talked in a soft voice, docilely agreeing with all I said, then announced that his water bottle was more than empty and went back to sleep.  I roused him for a few silly conversations then got him into his robe and down to the lounge.   He managed about 40 minutes in the chair before needing the bed again.  

Today I've been saying, "Tomorrow you go to the doctor."    This evening he said,  "No, tomorrow is my day to eat.  I'll have a pie for lunch."

That's something he could mean!!!

Was he delirious then or not??

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

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Surprise from Tatum

I turned to Facebook yesterday and was confronted by Tatum in a wedding dress!  Her comment was, "We decided to elope."

Judging by the comments from her friends, they were as astounded as I was.  It soon became apparent that she was in Adelaide, doing a photoshoot.

Some time ago, she joined an agency in Melbourne and has done a number of promotional jobs.  They have made me laugh ---- draped over a car or boat and looking glamorous.  She enjoys it and is making good money.  This all fits around her study at Monash Uni.  Tatey has a great work ethic.

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Romance

Some people have asked me what has happened to the blog.   I'm sorry.  Blame laziness and too much pain.

When I was in the pool this evening, I met a lady who is being treated for Staphylococcal meningitis.  It has had a devastating effect on her life.  I'll stick with what ails me, thanks.   By coincidence, she and her family have stayed in their caravans at Cohuna Caravan Park for the last 30 years and we knew many of the same people.

I want to repeat a beautiful, romantic story, sent to me by my friend Richard, in Tasmania.  I thought that I would edit it, but on reflection, it's best left as he sent it to me.   I hope that you enjoy it, as I did.

 Richard's email to me :-

For a long time Sue and I have been trying to work out what date we first met. We  knew it was sometime after September 1961. 

We met at a party given by mutual Singaporean friends. Susan's friends were an engaged couple, Chou Chee Eng and Tan Chor Beng and Richard's friend was Richard Tan Tin Lam. Chor Beng was Richard Tan's uncle. They were all students at Adelaide Uni etc.

Chee Eng invited Sue so she could meet a young man, (not me), she thought would be suitable for her. 

Richard Tan invited me because he wanted me to meet a young lady he thought suitable for me. It was Sue. 

Sue and I were attracted to each other and there started our courtship. For Richard it was love at first sight.

Since then we have lost touch with our Chinese friends.

I remembered the day but not the date because it was the Saturday before a concert by Andres Segovia in Adelaide. The most wonderful, spellbinding concert I have ever been to. I couldn't ask Sue to come with me because the concert had been booked out for ages.

Many times I have searched the internet for a clue and at last I have found the date of the concert on the AusStage web site

The concert I attended was on Saturday 18th, November.

So the date we met was November 11th, 1961.

So this Nov 11th is the 50th Anniversary of their meeting.

I answered Richard and asked many questions and here are bits of his reply.

Having met Sue I was determined to find out where she lived, so when our hosts took her home in their car, I followed on my motor bike. When they dropped Sue off they wouldn't leave until I was out of sight. 

Every day that week I rode past hoping to catch sight of her. On Sunday I went to a nearby Methodist Church hoping to meet her—no luck. That afternoon I took Richard Tan with me and we visited her home. During discussions I found I had gone to the wrong church, so I went to the right one the following Sunday. 

Before she left for church Sue told her Mother that she might bring someone home for lunch. When we arrived there she realised she didn't know my surname, to introduce me to her parents.   From then on I was a very regular visitor.............

We married on 4th January 1964 — 2 years and 7 weeks 5 days after we met..

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WHITE RABBIT

WHITE RABBIT.    That's what we say on the first day of the month, (for good luck!)   I learnt that little tradition from some of the kids I taught at Erica in the 60s.   It was in opposition to "A pinch and a punch, the first day of the month", which was carried out with great enthusiasm and energy, which I disliked.

Mrs. Heffernan's shop, (called Heffernan's Family Outfitters)  is amazing.    It's a run down building, with one room crammed with clothing and accessories, another room stuffed with  books and a door leading to her kitchen and the rest of her house.  Marion next door tells me that Mrs. Heffernan had the shop when she, Marion,  was a little kid at school.   She thought she was pretty old even then!   That must make Mrs H in her 80s, probably late 80s.   She is such a sweet old lady and very friendly.  She is petite and vibrant.  She really knows her business and I imagine she loves it.

I have bought my swimsuits from her during the last 7 years.  A new lot was  due in today but didn't come, so I'll try tomorrow.   I'm happy to have an excuse just to go to chat with her!

She has a really interesting assortment of skirts, pants, tops and coats.  Nothing is cheap but the prices aren't outrageous.  She told me that she only ever buys one garment of any kind, so that people who buy from her will never bump into someone in town wearing the same garment. 

It wasn't the red that Marion H had trouble reading;  it was the pink.  Anyone else have trouble? 

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Rotten rampant rodents!!!

Oh those little wretches know how to get at me!!!   Just when I think I have found all their little tricks, they spring another one on me.  

I picked up a bag of documents relating to the caravan and paper fluttered out like confetti.  There has been evidence of nest building in a few places, most notably MY PYJAMA DRAWER.   They (or IT)  ate a big hole in a pink pyjama top.  I'll make them/it suffer for that, if it's the last thing I do!!

The Moree mice and the Milnes Bridge mice have one similarity.  They both love the cutlery and utensils drawer!   I've taken everything out, washed and poured boiling water over all the tools but I expect to do that again and again, if it follows the pattern from Milnes Bridge.  There, I have reached the stage where I never expect to use the drawer again.

At least we have caught ONE mouse.  Steve went out  and bought extra traps today.  Now that should be insurance that there aren't any more mice!!

Marion minded Jackie Bear while I was away.  She returned her tonight, saying that she had been a naughty, 87 year old bear, very cheeky!    Marion has been particularly helpful to me but had a bunch of troubles of her own, while I was away.  She had no sooner returned from helping one daughter with her 4 little kids, than another daughter's husband was taken away by air ambulance, with a heart attack.

We were in the pool before 9am today, revelling in the warm water.  There weren't the usual number of people because it was pouring rain!!   Swimming in the rain is one of my childhood memories.   It was a determined, ceaseless rain, giving us a little over an inch, but it wasn't "hard rain", just non-stop gentle rain.

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Back home in Moree

Since the funeral, we have been working hard to sort out Betty's things and find an appropriate home for them.  Most of this has happened.  Then Steve started on the will and this has now gone off to the Supreme court for approval.  It costs nearly $400 to die!!   If approved, it will come back in 6 weeks for signature.  About 12 weeks later, "the parchment" will arrive and then Steve can distribute the money.

We caught two mice in traps, just before we left for Melbourne!!

Our trip to Melbourne, for Tatum's 21st was wonderful but we came home the day after, Monday, repacked suitcases and boxes and I had a massage on Tuesday and then we were off on Wednesday.   We stayed one night on the road, in a $60 motel in West Wyalong.  Steve was very eager to keep the wheels rolling so we travelled all day Thursday and arrived here around 8 pm.

And you'll never guess what!!!!!!!!

Mice had been in the cupboards here.

SOB SOB SOB SOB SOB

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Key of the Door

Tatum, our eldest Grandchild, turned 21 on August 21st.

She had the night before out with her friends and a lunch on Sunday with family and family friends.

 Here is Tatum, ready to go out on Saturday night.

We arrived in Melbourne on Friday and were ready, willing and able to do whatever was necessary to help.

On Saturday afternoon, we took Indy, seven, shopping and after about an hour in the Body Shop, he finally made his choices.  He had about $50 to spend and wanted to get as much as he could for his money.  The shop assistants fawned over him!!  They called him by name and fell over each other to bring products to his attention.  His major purchase was a container of 5 eye shadows, which he liked because they were in a wave shape.  By the time he gave them to Tatum the next day, they had become "5 perfumes that you can also put on your eyes."

We spent Saturday evening and Sunday morning until 2.30am with Rachel. She has made me laugh since she was a tiny child and this long stint of cooking was no exception.  She has a 'can do' attitude to everything, (which is helped along by experience.)  The heart shaped cake was a challenge but she decided that it would be the size of 3 normal cakes and went for that.  Disaster soon came when she tried to use her 21 year old electric hand beaters to beat the vast amount of mixture.  First there was heat and then smoke and finally they gave up.   Here we were with a lumpy mountain of dough for the white chocolate cake ------ HELP PLEASE STEVE.  He mixed by hand until his arm muscles were quivering.

With the cake in the oven for the next 2 hours or so, we turned our attention to other goodies, one of which was the famous "cake pop".   Not difficult to make but fiddly and time consuming, we laughed our way through a batch of what someone called "diabetes on a stick."

Rachel had chosen a shoe for the cake decoration as Tatum is a 'Shoe Queen.'  Oh boy!!! She had already made the sole, modelled on a real shoe, so we worked on strapping over the toe, a bow and the heel.    It was such fun, even though we were so tired that we got our words mixed up.  The stiletto heel was proving quite difficult, so I called for Steve.  He measured carefully and used his excellent eye to get the right angle and shape.

Making the bow was probably the best part.  It came together like a real bow.  We packed the loops with Glad Wrap to keep them open.

We fell into bed at 2.30am, half an hour before Tatum arrived home from her night out.  What I didn't know is that Rachel set her alarm and was up again by 5am and working on salads.  What a champion!

When Talitha, Maddy and Josh arrived, the amount of food increased hugely.  They had been busy bees!  Talitha and Rachel have always worked well together for catering but now we have Madeleine as well, who is a very capable cook.

Click for a slideshow of captioned photos or watch small version below.

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Dreams

Last night I dreamt that I took Betty to a large conference of doctors.  She and I stood on stage while questions were asked of her.  I did the answering because her voice was too soft.  We were given a folder and told that it was private;  the doctors were not allowed to see it.  This seemed so unfair to me.  What if the folder contained information that could have cured Betty?  So, as we walked out, I tucked the folder under my arm and we went in search of her doctor.  Naturally, my dream didn't have an end .... we didn't find her doctor.

I think it was an indication of the thoughts that have run in the back of my mind.  As I recall, Betty was 47 when she was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  She was diligent about blood testing, food preparation and counting "portions" which was the method of that time.  She had a couple of hospitalisations when the blood tests were too high, where they adjusted her medication, checked on her food and made her walk the corridors of the hospital for exercise.  For the next 30 years, nothing else was done except for regular blood tests, yet her kidneys were slowly and  irrevocably damaged.

Forgive me for thinking of myself and Steve, but we don't want to do nothing but have blood tests for the next 30 years.  We need to know what we should do instead.  I need to know what possibilities, if any, were not offered to Betty.  I guess that's what underlies my "doctor's conference" dream.

By the way, Marion tells me that she has trouble reading when I use RED.  Anyone else?

 

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Dare I ?????

It's a mouse story again.....

When Andrew arrived before the funeral, he was a bit jet lagged so we stayed up talking until late and he was sleepy.

In the morning, he told me this story.   At some stage during the night, he put his hand under his pillows and guess what he found?????   

There were two.   Old and withered up.   The sheets had been changed and the beds made before we left for Moree.   As there were no mice evident throughout the house, I didn't think to check the beds. 

Poor Andrew!!!  He leapt out of bed and spent the rest of the night in a single bed.  Fortunately, that was also made up and even happier, it had no mice in it but he gave it a good inspection first. 

We had four more visitors after Andrew and we whipped the sheets back on those beds before we let anyone in!!

A visitor noticed one little chappie dart across the dining room while we were eating.  Steve set traps.  One day, we came home and the trap behind the fire was missing.  Steve had already experienced a mouse dragging the trap away, at his Mother's, so he went looking.  No sign of mouse or trap.  A few days later, we were making the bed.  Steve pulled the bed away from the wall and found the trap and mouse.  The mouse was dead BESIDE the trap,  It was no longer in it.   I don't even want to think about that.  My aim is to trap them so that they die immediately, not to torture them.  It travelled about 4 metres to reach the bedhead.

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The spirit lingers

Each night at seven, I go to ask Steve if he has rung her, or will I ring tonight.  I've been on the point of going around to her flat to ask how to look after the hoya plant.  After reading letters from Aunty Grace, I was going to tell Betty how funny Grace was and ask about some people mentioned.  And so on it goes......... 

I've never thought it could be possible for someone's inner spirit to disappear at the moment they died and Betty's spirit is certainly hanging around.   That's good for us.   Unless, of course we become frustrated if we can't hear her answers.

A funny moment -----  Whilst cleaning out the flat we found a mean looking dagger and a loud sounding whistle in a bedside drawer.  Betty was not a big woman and in recent years was quite frail.  The thought of her leaping out of bed to menace an intruder with the dagger, while blowing her whistle, is too funny!!

We had a lovely break from funeral affairs on Wednesday.  It was Indy's 7th birthday and we went down to Melbourne for an overnight stay.   Rachel had a student and Talitha had two, so we stayed in a motel that Rachel organised.  It was an interesting layout --- the large public dining room was overlooked by a semi circle of bedrooms and conference rooms on the floor above.  We breakfasted there in the morning; it was a fine array of fruit, cereal, bagels, croissants and juices, plus sausages, bacon, tomatoes, eggs and hash browns in hot boxes.

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And now it's over ......

We were happy with the funeral, which was conducted by Debbie's civil celebrant friend, Nerelie.   Steve and Andrew spoke very well and most people expressed their approval.  Kim, a granddaughter, said a few moving words.  It was a lovely gathering of people ---- family galore, old friends and some friends from new pursuits, like the Library.  I think that Betty would have approved of the simple but dignified  informality.  She would have been amazed at the large number of people who attended.  Most people came back to the Leitchville Complex for "the wake", which was catered for by the Leitchville Anglican Ladies Guild.  What an amazing job they did.  That was a good couple of hours for people to mix, chatter and debrief.

The rest of this week was taken up with cleaning out Betty's flat.  No one would ever have thought that such a small flat could hold so much!   There were a few surprises.  We all knew that Betty made many notes, particularly in her later years when her memory was failing.  We just didn't know that she made so many!!!  Little messages were everywhere -- letters that she was planning on writing to us, instructions on how to operate the computer, notes to remind herself of something to do, but best of all -- some beautiful, romantic pieces of poetry.

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~~~~~ VALE BETTY 29.7.2011 ~~~~~

One moment she had a pulse --- the next she didn't.  It was as simple as that.  

One could argue that such an important event as death should receive more fanfare.    We are happy that it did not.  With family around her, Betty quietly and peacefully breathed her last, at the age of 77.

Her funeral will be on August 2nd, a graveside service at the cemetery on the windswept plains of Patho, where her husband is buried.

We met with the undertaker(ess) today and have planned most of what is needed.  We're awaiting confirmation on a couple of things.

Last night was amazing.  Steve's siblings Deb and Andrew stayed here and we talked, reminisced and laughed for hours.  It was just a shame that their brother Greg couldn't be here.   Funny how a death can do this, isn't it?  Lovely, though.

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OFF HOME TO SUPPORT BETTY IN HER LAST BATTLE

I am booked on the train that leaves Moree on Wednesday, 8am.

It gets into Sydney around 5pm and I then have a 3.5 hour wait for the next train.  I told Steve that would be enough time for me to go into the heart of Sydney and have a good look around.  It was nearly Steve's heart that was explored!   He wasn't at all impressed with my idea. hee hee

Steve plans to meet the train in Albury around 4.30am on Thursday.   I'm going to have a sleeping berth for that leg of the trip.  From there, it's only about 3 hours to home.

We are leaving the van here.  Everyone has been so helpful to me and Marion next door will take some of my things into her van for safe keeping.  People are so kind.

It is time for Steve's Mother to begin the next stage of her life.  There had been plans to send her to Melbourne for an operation to enlarge some blood vessels in her lower legs.  Those plans were abandoned and palliative care has continued in Cohuna Hospital.  She will be much happier there than being bounced around to Melbourne and prodded and poked in hospital there.  Our doctor rang Steve to put this to him and we and the family were very relieved.

Steve is doing a wonderful job at home.  He sees his Mum at least twice a day, feeds her and helps her to receive phone calls from the rest of the family.  He keeps her sisters and brothers updated daily.  He tells me that some people burst into uncontrollable crying when he said that she probably had about 10 days left.  That was very hard on him.  He's keeping it together for his Mum's sake and for the sake of his sister and brothers.  He speaks on the phone and sends texts dozens of times each day, to keep everyone in the loop.  I'm very proud of him.  I just hope that people can keep their emotions under control while he is trying to organise things.

Betty has had a bad heart and diabetes for a very long time.  She has had end stage heart disease and end stage kidney disease for many months but she managed to stay at home.  

She never wanted to go into the Nursing Home and she has achieved this.  Good on you, Betty.  You won that last battle.  Only one more to go and then you can read every book in the Library, without interruption.

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IT WASN'T A FROG

My detective work was wrong.   It wasn't Steve's cough and it wasn't a frog. 

I have two air freshener 'machines' that run on batteries and give a burst of spray  every so often.   It was one of them, on a shelf behind me. 
Only one makes the noise, so  I've turned it off for the moment.  I'm not unhappy to do without it as the smell is a bit like coconut and it makes me hungry!!    I have to hunt around to find one that makes me feel full.   I'd really like one that smells like tobacco!!!  It has been 10 months and I really miss my cigarettes............ boo hoo

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Hard Week

This has been a difficult week for a few people.

Steve left by train on Monday morning, 8am.  He arrived in Cohuna at 9am on Tuesday.  He found his Mother in a lot of pain and not able to walk easily.  He took her to the doctor and then immediately to the hospital, where she is now.

Her diabetic/heart/vascular condition has worsened significantly.

We wait every day for a bed to become available in Box Hill Hospital.  Betty's GP in Cohuna has contacted a vascular surgeon who is willing to perform a particular operation for public patients.  There is a vascular surgeon in Echuca who can do this fiddly op but he will only treat private patients.  Same for a number of other vascular surgeons in Melbourne.  

Box Hill hospital is well out of the way for my SIL, Debbie and her family, which is a shame, but what can we do?   

Betty's GP was irate about the situation, particularly about the doctor in Echuca.   He no doubt wants a country life but with a city pay and I suppose I couldn't blame him for that.  But the European GP is a humanitarian and he insists that we country people urgently need DOCTORS, not someone catering only to people who can afford private health insurance.

I am alone in the caravan and missing Steve.  He is alone in our very cold house and missing me.  Tonight, he told me of his plans to come up and take me and the van home this weekend, if Betty doesn't go to Melbourne on Friday.  Such over-the-top adventurous plans which would be super exhausting, especially as we would have to be prepared to leave early on Monday if Betty's hospital bed becomes available.  I've persuaded him to wait until Betty has had the op and is completely settled, preferably back in Cohuna.

We did a big lot of shopping before Steve left but my fresh vegies are getting low so I might get a taxi into town at the weekend.   I need to "fly under the radar" to do this, as the family will be alerted when I go to find the taxi number and then I'll have 5 different offers of help.  I do appreciate the help but I like to be independent.

It's consoling that Betty is happily settled into the Cohuna hospital and not in need of pain relief.  As long as she has her feet up, the pain stays away.

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Someone stole my washing

I washed clothes yesterday and sheets today.   It was a furiously windy day and I thought they would dry quickly.  I have a tiny rotary clothes line, very popular for caravans these days.  It lives inside the annexe on wet days and outside on sunny days.  It has to be watched carefully on windy days, or it and it's load could take off.   I tried hard to get it outside today but I just couldn't do what Steve does;  never mind, I pegged the washing on it and left it right up at the entrance.

I would have thought that it was impossible to get into the annexe past the clothes line, but Lindy managed.  When she heard that I had sheets to hang out, she grabbed them from the machine and headed to the big outside clothes line.   It was blowing a gale and we were struggling with them and laughing.  We made enough noise to attract Marion and between the 3 of us we made sufficient noise to get everyone in the park to visit!  

Lindy decided that the clothes on the small line were still a little damp and should be taken elsewhere.  I was perfectly happy to leave them there until they dried but neither Lindy nor Marion were.  They were gathered up and taken away.

Later, I went out to get the sheets from the line but they had gone the way of the other clothes.
Marion arrived here later, with all the clothes and sheets dry and folded.  They had been through her tumble dryer.

  Some people are so kind.

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coughing and hawking

When we arrived here, we were both dealing with the after effects of a wretched cold.    All sorts of obnoxious noises were emanating from every orifice and we agreed that we would skip saying "pardon me."   Slowly the symptoms disappeared.  One night, I mentally noted that Steve was still bringing up a bit of muck.  I had heard him give a couple of deep snorts, as he sat beside me.

Steve left on the train on Monday morning, so I have been alone in the caravan.  Early in the evening, I heard Steve snort.  I even accepted it for a split second!!   I realised that it was exactly the same noise that I had heard previously.   I went outside and looked if anything was banging up against the back of the van ---- nothing.   Throughout the evening, I heard the noise a few more times.  Gradually, it became more familiar but it took me hours to put my finger on it. 

 

A  FROG

Steve's journey takes 25 hours.  Although this time, it could take 28 hours.  He booked his train tickets at a Travel Agent in Moree ---------from Moree to Sydney then Sydney to Albury.  When he looked on the internet to book a bus ticket from Albury to Cohuna, he found that you had to do it well in advance, as they post the ticket to you.  We rang Sydney station and located the bus depot there.  They were very helpful and told us how and when to get the bus ticket from them.   

BUT ------ when Steve attempted to buy his ticket, the man refused to sell him one for the 4.30am bus.  If the train happened to be late and missed the bus, the railways don't want to be held responsible.  They would sell him a ticket for the 7.30am bus.  The thought of spending a very cold 3 hours at a railway station was giving Steve goose bumps.  He said that he was happy to buy 2 tickets, one for each bus.  But the man wouldn't sell him that!!   So, I wait to receive a text telling me how he fares.   I do hope that he can talk his way onto the first bus.  I gave him some devious ideas!!

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Lost in the translation!!

Annie said, "Come early.  I show you through  house."   I thought.

I was ready early, thank goodness and just playing around on the computer, when she unexpectedly arrived here at the van. 

Her conversation with me should have been..... I come early.  I show you to house.  There's a world of difference between through and to.

Her kind idea had been to come here, pick me up, take me to her house for a massage, then bring me back home, so that I would know where to go in future.   

She honoured me!!!    Turn me around once and I'm lost.

I went with Annie, with Steve loudly repeating, "I will come to Annie's and Tom's house to get you at 4pm" as I was getting in the car.  

An hour and one welcome massage later, I walked out the back of their house and had Annie greet me at the front, "I take you back to caravan."

I sat on their patio and waited for Steve, thinking that it wouldn't hurt me to learn to speak a bit of basic Chinese.

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Is it time to wake up yet??

I've been asleep since Rachel, Tom and Indy left on Monday.   The weather has been cold and dreary, so I didn't miss too much.   One failure is that I haven't seen anything of Caroline for a few days.   We  had two long chats earlier but nothing recently.  Her husband Cliff died 6 weeks ago and it's hard for her, of course.   They lived 2 sites up from us and we came to know them quite well over the years.  Caroline is here to pack up their van.  She is doing it in a couple of bursts; she will go home to Quirindi by train on Monday and return later for another session.  Cliff has left Caroline with a wonderful legacy, which she possibly doesn't see yet.  He had a cheeky wit and a good knowledge of people; he had sayings for just about everything.  He has left her with so many of his thoughts, which I think will sustain her in the bad times.

Steve is also going on the train on Monday at 8am.  He will have a slightly different journey to last year, when he went all the way to Melbourne and then to Kerang, by train.  This time he will go only as far as Albury by train, then will catch the bus to Cohuna at about 4am.  Hopefully there will be someone around to drive him home on Tuesday.

He will be there to take his Mother to see the eye specialist in Echuca on Wednesday morning then to the GP in Cohuna in the afternoon.  There are a few little problems to attend to and then he will be on his way back here, in the car. 

I have made an appointment with Tom for a massage tomorrow.  The main town pool is being refurbished and Tom is practising from home.  When I rang for an appointment I was given a lovely welcome, with both Tom and Annie referring to me by the name they call me ---- Laurie-uh.  I used to be Rorrie-uh.  Annie asked me to come early so that she could show me through her house.   I wonder if there are any Chinese customs that I should observe during this time?

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They've gone

Boo hoo.....  family have gone.   It was wonderful having them here.  They left only this morning but I'm missing them already.  They join the growing band of people who have holidayed with us here but not at home --- these people appear to be happy to drive 1200 kms but not 300 kms!!   

I think I understand that, though.  Here in Moree, we all have the same interest.  In a caravan park, no one is staying with anyone, no one is imposing on anyone else.  We're all free to come together or move separately, without consulting others.

We had a lovely dinner out last night, meeting the others at the Golf Club, where the three of them had played 9 holes.   Indy went particularly to drive the golf cart!   He had driven my Gopher the day before and was pretty chuffed with himself.   The Thai restaurant at the Golf Club is very nice but my food wasn't.  That pays me back for having a  nice meal at The Tavern, while Tom and Indy had soggy pizzas.

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Cranky Rock

Long time readers are entitled to groan,"Oh no, not Cranky Rock again".  

As always, it was a spectacular trip.  I could never get sick of looking at the rather unusual scenery. 

The rocks are amazing and I feel so small and young beside them.  Sometimes it's possible to see where a rock has split.   The original shape is still there;  it's just slightly askew from where it was originally.  I can see in my mind's eye how a huge rock was spewed up from the depths of the earth, to land with an ear splitting thump.  A weaker piece at the bottom can't take the violent landing and splits along its fault line.  It slides a little forward of the rest of the boulder and there it stays for hundreds of thousands of years.

Indy had a wonderful time and declared himself to be an explorer.  He loved walking on the swaying suspension bridge and leapt over the rocks like a mountain goat.

Making the bridge sway for Nana

Rachel and Indy After climbing to the observation deck at the top of the hill, we went down to the creek below.  Tom and Indy walked across the creek on a log and Indy eagerly went off for more mountaineering.   In my effort to find the smoothest path, I put one foot in mud and went for a big, sliding fall.  I had to call for help, as I couldn't get up from my seated position.  Intuitively, I told Steve and Rachel that I had "fallen over."  I'm so glad that was the first phrase to come to mind.  I'm not old enough to "have a fall." Indy on the far side. Eventually, we headed back to the picnic area for lunch.  Tom had come so well prepared!!!   Like a magician, he produced various meats to barbecue, tongs, bread, eggs and cheese.  The Cranky Park reserve provides free BBQs, which is a wonderful service and Tom conjured up a delicious lunch.  Indy then decided to do some rock climbing in the opposite direction.  Three peacocks scurried passed him and Rachel and frightened the daylights out of them.   We headed up to the kiosk and passed some caged birds so we stopped for a chat.  The sulphur crested cockatoo was very pleased to have our company and requested a scratch.  He clung to the wire and put his head on one side, so we obligingly scratched, very cautiously at first.   He stretched out his wings and raised his crest for a dance routine, looking so pretty as he bobbed around in the late afternoon sun.    A few drab peahens wandered around and were soon greeted by the peacocks.   Indy kept us entertained on the trip home, with his version of the old fashioned car games.  It was lovely to see my daughter playing the games with her son that I had played with her!! Steve and I were too pooped to go for a swim but the others were eager.   It was a lovely day all round...... made all the more pleasurable by the enthusiasm and excitement of a 6 year old boy. Lunch ~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~