Achoo! And Happy 70th Birthday!

Well, what it week it was. Work flew by cause Boss was away and I only had a 4 day week. Have to love 4 day weeks. Should be more of them.

Tuesday night Dobby had cadets, Wednesday I had a hair cut (except she took offense at my brown hair and made it orange again. Why the heck do I let her do that to me??), Thursday was some last minute shopping (found a bra and some shoes), and finish packing.

Friday morning we were all up at 4.15. Except me. I was up at 3.45. Just couldn't sleep. Gave up in the end. Headed off to the airport about 4.45, and made it with heaps of time to sit and relax for a bit (Dobby and I like to do that). Slow breakfast and get settled.

The plane took off on time, and arrived in Brisbane on schedule. We had just enough time to disembark (which was not easy, carrying a camera bag, small suitcase thing, and a tote bag with 3 photo albums wrapped weighing it down!), and luckily we were at the same gate our connecting flight left from.

Sitting waiting in Brisbane was SOL, and she accompanied us up to Rockhampton. She sat behind me and I am pleased to say did not kick the back of my seat. Well behaved for a change she was.

We got into R0cky about 9.50 and wandered over to collect the hire car. For whatever reason, my booking wanted to charge me more so the chick redid it, and upgraded me from a Corolla to a Ford Focus (I think it was). Very nifty anyway. It was typically hot out in the carpark, but with the airconditioner going full blast, and SOL navigating (sans glasses to start with, so that was fun) we headed off to visit Moose at her workplace. It was way out of town. Well, not way out, but in the outer suburbs. Nice place, too. We met her workmates, and picked up the house key.

Blonde moment of the day was, when speaking of someone SOL knows, Moose asks "So is Fatty her real name?" Dead silence for a beat, then I said "yeah, and her last name is Boombah". We all laughed but sadly I broke out into a fit of giggles that I could not contain.

*Edit - SOL reminded me too that Moose did protest that "Fatty" could stand for Fatima or something...*

SOL came back with "That's Mrs Boombah to you!" Well, I just lost it completely. I couldn't stop laughing, the tears were flowing. And that line set the tone for the rest of the weekend...

Soon we were off again, heading down to Gladstone, after stopping for a Maccas run. Not sure what I was thinking - I can't drive and eat a burger. So mine had to wait. But, I can report that the Quarter Pounder BLT is very nice, even almost cold!

We got into town around one, I guess, went to Moose's place and unloaded our crap. Then headed out to Calliope to see the Birthday Girl. Mother was 70 on Saturday.



She was very happy to see us. Not long before we arrived, my brother Andy and his family arrived too. It was lovely to see him, as we hadn't since dad's 70th, 3 years ago. His son has grown. He, Lyss and Dobby are all the same age, with only 5 months between all of them.

Eventually we made our way home, unpacked a couple of things, and dagged about before Moose got home from work. She works in Rocky, which is more than an hour away from Gladstone, a couple days a week, so the last thing she wanted to do was cook. And it was hot. So we jumped in the car and headed out for Chinese food. Yumbo! Unfortunately Moose paid, because she wanted to use her club card. I still owe her for that, she wasn't supposed to pay for mine!

On the way home we stopped for refreshments, and then flaked out in front of the fans. One thing Qld is known for is humidity. Unless there is a breeze, the place is a killer. We helped Moose set up the bedding for the pump up bed before we went out, and after dinner we noticed that the bed was almost flat. Well, what do we do? Dobby and I were supposed to share (Moose's room and the spare are air-conditioned, so SOL had the stretcher in Moose's room).

Never mind, says I, I'll sleep in the lounge on the sofa bed. So that's what I did. An extra set of sheets for Moose but comfy all the same. The bed was way down in the morning but Dobby said it was still comfy.

SOL went to see her girls and we stayed at home, telling her that the house would be locked up if she failed to turn up at 8.29... she was late and it wasn't...

Saturday morning was the Birthday day. I was up early (Moose is a habitual early riser and the cat, Bobby, had puked. She and SOL kept me awake listening so I decided to go down and say good morning. Then I got my camera and took this:



Poor SOL arrived with the sniffles, which quickly turned into a full blown head cold. The worst part is that she cannot take anti-histamines. Imagine how uncomfortable that would be. *shudders*. And, Moose developed a migraine. Fun for everyone.

Still we had a good day. Pop approached me on Friday saying he wanted to get a table centerpiece for Mother's dinner Saturday night. But he was unable to get to the phone long enough to call Moose. Leave it to me, says I. So Saturday morning a trip to the chemist for me was followed by a visit to Lindcraft. Pop had also purchased a lovely engraved wine flute for Mother (although why is a mystery as she doesn't drink, but his reasoning was that it was something lovely to put on the table), and it was beautifully wrapped, but he was worried about the stem snapping.

So I suggested a gift box lined with tissue paper. Hence Lindcraft. I eventually found what I was looking for, but not at the price I wanted to pay. Still, it is one she can use again. I found black tissue paper to line it with, and while there, Moose and I decided that instead of a fresh centerpiece we should get a fake one so she can keep it.

I knew what I wanted to do, and I managed to find a bunch of red roses and lillies with some greenery interspersed. I also had to buy dry oasis to set it in. Then what to put it in? I settled on another little gift box and we were off.

SOL walked down to the nearby shopping centre and we collected her when we were done. A trip out to Calliope to see the family (and collect some wire cutters). I gave Mother her gift - the 3 scrapbooks. She loved them. Everyone had a look, too. It was nice to be able to see her face when she received a gift I had given. That's half the fun, but I don't get to do it often. It was a labour of love, and to see it so greatly appreciated was very special to me.

We stayed for a help-yourself lunch. It was very nice and lots of fun. Dobby and I sat with all our friends out on the patio. When Dobby had left, Tanny joined me. Moose was sitting at the kitchen counter on a stool. I said "grab your chair and join us". Next thing she wandered out with a plate (not seeing Tanny sitting out of view). She gets there and says "now just where am I supposed to sit?" I looked at Tanny and said "what exactly did I say?" Tanny repeats me with a laugh. Moose realised that she was supposed to bring her chair, and decides it is too difficult to get the stool out and goes back to her corner :-)

It was hot, and Moose wasn't getting any better, so we decided it was time to make a move. We said out see-you-laters and we left SOL in the care of Elder. Moose, Dobby and I went back home so Moose could grab a nap, stopping on the way to collect the cake. You know, cakes are expensive here in Adelaide, and you get a top notch job. But this one, was comparatively cheap, and still looked fantastic. It came out better than Moose had imagined, so she did a great job with ordering it.

By the time she did Dobby's nails and a few other bits and bobs, I had made the centerpiece and it was already time to take the cake up to the restaurant. We tossed the centerpiece in a bag and took that too.



What do you think?

Back to Moose's and she got to have a lie down. Not sure she actually napped. Dobby and I put on Ghost Town (Ricky Gervaise) and I wandered down the hall to take a cool bath. Man, there is nothing on earth like a soak in a tub, I reckon.

Moose had the fan going flat out - I wondered why she didn't put the aircon on to cool it down to rest better? So she did.

Eventually SOL made an appearance and it was time to get ready for dinner. I put the aircon on in Dobby's room and got my make up done. My hair was a write off. I got it trimmed earlier in the week and, as I said, it's now orange. And in the humidity, it was a pointless gesture blowing the fringe straight, which actually looks quite nice. So I scabbed a headband from Moose just to try to make it look reasonable.

Once we were ready I thought I might take some snaps. I am very disappointed with my photography this time. Nothing seemed to work, and when I get all the photos printed they will be grainy and dark. Wish I had used the flash. *kicks self in large arse*.

Still we had some fun playing silly.



This was a serious one - the only one I think...



Then it was off to the restaurant. They had done a lovely job, with the little alcove we were in done in red, black and white with a mirror along one wall. We were all seated below the mirror. Lucky I had made the centerpiece in the right colours!

We were first to arrive, followed by everyone else, who had come from the same place. Teen gave Mother a large box of chocolates, which I am sorry to say were not opened the whole weekend we were there! Bugga!

As chief photographer, I bagged the seat directly opposite the birthday girl (why not?). Do you think she looks happy?



Anyway, I decided to help Tanny with ordering for the kids, and chose a pizza for them to share, with chips to share on the side. I had salt and pepper squid (which was TO DIE FOR!) and Dobby actually ordered a Chicken Cesear Salad. I told her they didn't have wedges as a main, and when they brought out Andy's plate of wedges (their entree) she shot me daggers and got all hoity toity. Wedges are her staple when we eat out. Still, she did enjoy the salad.

After our meals Moose and I wandered out to the bar, and the waitress asked if we were ready for the cake. Sure are!

This is the moment Mother spotted the cake - a tell-timed piece of photography if I do say so myself... (note the reflection of the cake in the mirror?)



The sparklers went out before the cake could be cut so the waitress suggested we light some more (brilliant thinking!).



I took some shots, and lined the waitress up to take a group shot. Then Teen took some of Mother, Pop and us kids.





Then we decided we had bothered the Indian couple sitting behind us long enough and while apologising for interrupting their evening, made our exit.

Once home it was early to bed for Moose, pump up Dobby's bed again, and pull out the sofa. I actually didn't mind sleeping out there. The first night Bobby sniffed my fingers and woke me up with a start, the second he jumped onto the bed for a quick hello. The third he slept on the floor in front of the kitchen door all night.

Sunday it was oppressively hot. I remember now why I live in Adelaide. My goodness, I don't think I could ever live up there again. Moose's head was no better and poor SOL was a red, sniffly, drippy mess (nothing unusual there I hear you say). There was no breeze blowing at all, everything was stagnant.

So we did what any self-respecting southerner would do - we got into the air-conditioned car. Moose had arranged breakfast at RG's, which she paid for (two meals! Bless me! We were spoiled!) She had also arranged for a mutual friend of SOLs and hers to join us. I had met the fellow before so it was a nice meal.

While we were there Moose spoke to a fellow at another table she knew, who was there with a vintage car club by the look of it. There were two old cars parked out the front. I took photos of them too, but perhaps I'll put them up another time.

After breakfast it was back to Chemist Warehouse for Moose to get some pills for her head. Then I dropped SOL and Moose off and Dobby and I headed out to Calliope to visit the rest of the family.

It was sooo hot out there. Mother was going through some of her old jewellery and offered for Dobby and I to look to see if there was anything we wanted. Dobby made the comment to me that she would be interested if Gran had Rosary Beads (she feels she would be "safer" with a set of those). As it turned out, Gran did indeed have some - 2 sets from an old friend, and a set still in their leather pouch which used to be my grandmother's (Grandma Wilson would have been 100 today, 6th March, were she still alive! What a party that would have been!)

We looked at some other photo albums, had a bite of lunch, it was time to go see my in-laws. We had a lovely visit with them, till Fluffy's brother turned up. Now, I do not like to say bad things, but I just don't like them as parents to their girls, and they have to have the best of everything. Enough said. Then poor Nanna was so upset because she was telling me some of the issues the eldest girl has, and how her parents don't want to do anything about it.

Anyway, as I was coming home I checked my phone. OMG I was popular. Moose asked could I bring custard home for dessert (hell yes!), and Wally was mad keen to contact me to visit (we had planned a get-together for after dinner, but her domestic circumstances dictated she needed Wally time away) so I told her to come to Moose's. Not a good thing, as a guest, I know, but Moose knows Wally and was only happy to have her visit.

Moose had a lovely sausage hot pot going and I was worried we were holding up dinner, so Wally left, and just as she was Rat arrived. So we sat around (sweating because there was no breeze to speak of), and, well, shot the breeze... It was lovely to catch up with my girls. I don't see them enough anymore.

I started sniffling...

Early to bed for everyone as Moose had to get up early for work on Monday. She had to go to Rocky. I woke up with SOL's head cold. Thanks. Heaps...

We staggered about in the humidity (it rained but that didn't help any) and saw her off. Once she had gone we finished packing ourselves, cleaned up the beds, and SOL cooked breakfast (it was bloody good scrambled eggs!).

We headed out to Calliope to say farewell to the family. It was so muggy out there. Mother, Dobby and I did an ice cream run up to the shop, then because it was so muggy we decided to put SOL out of her misery and head off. It was sad, really, because we had the time to spend the day with Mother, but it was just too uncomfortable.

The ride up to Rocky was lovely in the air-conditioned car, but I admit I was having trouble staying awake. We went out to the shopping centre and had lunch in the food court. Nice to sit in the cool and have plenty of time to do just that. Dobby still had a few dollars left on her birthday (last April) vouchers at JayJays so she went for a look. She found 3 tops for $10, and a bikini for $5. Mind you, she wears those under shorts and a tee. But they fit and they are very nice.

Then we put fuel in the car and headed out to the airport. Once there I discovered Moose's umbrella under the back seat. Oh dear. Will have to either send it home or send her some money for her to buy herself another. Will speak to her about what she wants to do later (unless she comments here...)

We found we were unable to get seats near each other on the plane, with SOL way up the back and Dobby and I up the front. But I as the seat beside me ended up vacant (someone missed the flight), I asked the attendant if SOL could join us. She did, but under duress I fear. I don't think she wanted to really. It was s short flight so she didn't have to stay long anyway.

A quick dash at the Brisbane airport to our departure gate. SOL beat us there, as the back of the plane had exited faster than the front. We said our goodbyes and Dobby and I boarded our flight.

I felt horrid - nose was stuffed up, tummy iffy. This was going to be a long flight. Not long into it, Dobby was complaining it was hot. It was hot. I was feeling terribly stuffy too. Just as the food cart stopped at us, I was overcome with the need to stand up. I felt like I was going to pass out. I must have looked bad because they shifted the cart up the aisle so I could flee to the loo at the back of the plane. There was a lady standing outside the loo waiting, so all I could do was grab a sick bag out the seat pocket of the last seat in the row. I discreetly stepped around the back into the "kitchen" area, and luckily all I did was dry retch. OMG I felt horrid. Once I had finished, though, I felt better. It was considerably cooler back there. I went to the loo, then realised I was stuck. I had to wait for the two carts to come back before I could get back to my seat. Poor Dobby was worried. And, the fellow who was sitting with us got stuck with our food. I had to ask him if I could stick our drinks and crackers on his tray so I could close up mine and flee.

He was very good about it. The rest of the trip was better. Dobby and I watched Madagascar 2 on the iPad, and that made the trip go fast.

During the descent of both flights, my ears blocked completely. For some time I couldn't hear anything at all. And the pressure behind my ears was quite painful. It was very hard. I was chewing gum, yawning, everything but nothing worked.

At last we landed and made our way outside. It was so lovely to be cold again. It was about 20 outside. Quite cool. Fluffy picked us up and it was home to a clean house, a cold tablet, and my own bed. Doesn't get any better than that.

Today my ear is still blocked (feels like I have an ear plug in) but the pain is gone. Now I just have a headache, bad chesty cough, and extremely painful chest from coughing. And my nose is blocked. I believe SOL is not much better. Share the misery, I say, what? I got some time off work today, and he told me to phone him if I wasn't any better tomorrow. But I know full well he wants stuff from me that I have to get done. I think I'll just wander in, do some stuff, then come home again. Suits us both that way I think.

Anyway, it's almost time to get Dobby. Catch you again next week for more adventures. And there will be too...

Caravan and Camping Show

So this week was a busy one. Been working furiously getting stuff done ready for Boss to sign off on. He's now in Sydney for the week so I had to get all the end of month stuff ready before he left. All done.

This weekend saw Fluffy and I do four hours on the Association of Caravan Clubs of South Australia stand. There are 16 clubs under this banner, which offers a type of structure for clubs to work together under. Our club, SAPI CC, is just one. There are a lot of changes happening in our club, and Thursday's meeting brought some of them closer to resolution.

The original club was called South Australian Postel (Post Tel) Institute Caravan and Camping Club. However, we recently found out that the Australian Postel Institute has withdrawn support of our club. This means we are on our own. The repercussions of this are:

1. We recently took a vote on losing the SAPI part of the name, which was a majority vote to change the lettering entirely.

2. We have to clarify that they want us to change our name, relinquishing all reference to API lettering. There seems to be some confusion to the results of the vote - my understanding was that we voted to ditch the SAPI, however some people seem to think we were only voting to change the name, but keep SAPI. This needs to be sorted very quickly.

3. Changing the name is going to be very costly. As the API are forcing us to change our name, we are hoping they will come good on some funding to do just that, but we are doubtful.

4. Strictly speaking, in the constitution it is written that if the SAPI club folds, monies are to be returned to API. Now, we need to clarify if we are indeed folding and reemerging as something else, or just changing the name per se. Very tricky situation.

It will be interesting to see what comes this week from the president's communications with API.

So, anyway, all that aside, Fluffy and myself, and two other club members, spent the better part of Saturday at the stand. And it was hot. Where we were was hot, because there was no air circulation. But once our tour of duty was over, Fluffy wanted to look around the show (I did dob us in just so he could get free entry to do just that so I can't complain).

But boy, it was even hotter. By the end of it I thought I was going to pass out. Then I got a message from Dobby that she had been invited to a sleep over. At Woodcroft. Down the sourthern side of town. Sigh. Yes, she can go.

So it was a trip home, cold drink, pick up Dobby, and drop her off. Once we got back ran a cold bath and that's where I stayed for about an hour. It was bliss!

Because I had bought a seafood pack with calamari, salmon and prawns, and because I didn't think Dobby would like it, I made Fluffy and I some pasta with carbonara sauce and this seafood mix. It was bloody fantastic, with just a little left for me for brunch on Sunday.

I had some time to myself on Sunday morning. I didn't rush. Just pottered about. Then took a trip down to the supermarket, and while there I decided to duck into Target just to see if I could find something cheap. I have a dress to wear to mother's 70th, but thought I might just take a peek. And I found it. The last dress at all in my size, which was originally $59. Reduced to $17.83. It came home with me. I treated myself to a bra and knickers. But the bra is a bit small so I'll swap it tonight after work.

Then, after doing a few chores around the house, I headed up to Salisbury to have scones with Nan. Remember Hermione and Nan? Dobby was still at her sleep over so it was just me. Fluffy was good enough to pick her up on his way home from work, bless him.

Anyway, got home around 5, just in time to grab the washing before the rain (is that what it was? hardly worth the effort...) came. Dinner was going to be cooked by Dobby, but I ended up doing most of it, with her help. It was nice, sausages, baked (well microwaved) potatoes, and a salad.

Then Dobby decides that she hasn't finished this maths assignment, due today, because it's too hard. So I sit with her and try to help. We have to redo it a few times because we realise we made a couple (well, I made a couple) of mistakes. We work at it till almost midnight, then call it quits with one theory question to go.

I wake Dobby early this morning for her to finish. Dobby is not a morning person, and I have no idea what she wrote. The rest of the assignment was pretty much me, so if she fails, she'll blame me. Well, at least more of it was done than if I had left it to her. Who knows? It may just even be right....

Victor Harbour

So, another week down and dusted. Doesn't time just fly when you're having fun? This year will be over before I know it at this rate.

Busy one. Work is busy at the moment, which is good I suppose as the day goes pretty fast. Although some days I swear I do twice cause they seem to take twice as long.

Dobby had cadets. She has a friend there, whom I'll call Myrtle for the sake of this blog, although I know I must have used that before. Anyway, Myrtle is a couple years younger than Dobby, and the only other girl in her unit. She's a lovely little thing.

Anyway, this weekend we took the van away to Victor Harbour, on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Lovely little place. Myrtle came with us. She and Dobby camped out in the tent.

As I wanted to get a little practice with people and my camera, I asked a couple of the girls if they wanted to have some fun. They did. This is the result.







There were 7 girls there, and they had a blast.



This is Dobby and Myrtle.

Then, last night, the club vice president asked if I wanted to take some sunset photos, and if so he'd take me up to a nice spot. Just before we were ready to go, a couple of the girls asked would I take some nice photos of them as the light was just right. I told them what we were doing and if they were quick they could come too.

So we all jumped into Terry and went for a drive.

The view was nice. But the colours weren't as nice as previous. However, I think they aren't bad.







Anyway, apart from the fun photo shoot on the beach, and the pics last night, we didn't do much. Pretty tame weekend.

Next week will be busy. Nothing Monday, Cadets on Tuesday (which is also our 4th wedding anniversary), dinner with my boss Wednesday, then Dobby and I fly to Qld Friday. Fun fun that will be!

So much to do, so little time. On a positive note, I think I am all but done with the scrap books. I have about 5 clear sleeves, and I think I'll leave 3 of those to fill with photos from the weekend.

Anyway, the day is a wastin', so better get on with it. Housework has a way of not doing itself in this house... strange that....

NOTE. I have just gone online and read this blog, and it seems that some bug has put highlighted text all through it, wanting to take you to websites or something. Please don't click on them, they are not my links. Sorry :-(

RIP Whitney

What a waste. Just when she was supposed to be getting herself clean. It will be interesting to see what happened. Perhaps her body gave out? Did she relapse? I also hear her daughter, 18 year old Bobbie, was rushed to hospital for treatment because she was totally distraught. Sad time for everyone.

But for me, well, not so bad. It's been a busy week. I have been flying solo at work, which being end of month, has been very busy. I got heaps done last week, so hopefully I can finish most of it today or tomorrow. Although, when you look at it, it's not end of month anymore, is it, today being the 13th already. Geez!

So, I have been working to get that last scrap book done. It's almost there. I also found a couple of sets of sleeves, which I think I'll leave empty at the back so it can be added to. If I get some good photos at the party, I can do them up for mum and send them up to be added.

I have the poster finished for the SAPI Club. I just found some photos of people doing funny things and stuck them on. Looks great, too.

Dobby has been scaring me a little lately. She has long said our house is haunted, because she hears things all night. A family friend gave her a cleansing ritual to perform, but Dobby thinks she did it wrong, because things did settle down a bit. Until Saturday night. Dobby has a friend who is quite sensitive. They apparently had a rough night, with doors opening, my beads rattling, and people moving around the lounge where they were sleeping. The friend was quite distressed, saying she could see several people. While we were discussing it, Dobby admitted she has seen a child walk down the hall, someone standing in her room watching her (a lot apparently), and on the weekend she thinks she saw her guardian angel, but that could have been a bit of suggestive transference. She said she saw a very tall, good looking man, wearing white, in the hallway. This is what I described another friend seeing, who introduced himself as her guardian angel. Now I don't discount what she's saying, but it could be that she has produced the image to calm her, as she said she was not frightened by him but calmed. Whatever works, I say.

While she is a volatile teen, we can expect a lot of negative energy to be circulating through the house, plus her dad is under immense stress at work (to the point I am quite worried about him), so we can expect things to continue. I believe perhaps that these entities feed off the negative energy, so we are trying to get more positive energy going. Not easy let me tell you! But I'll do some reading into it and see what I can do for her to put her mind at rest.

Perhaps this trip to Victor Harbour on the weekend will help relax them both a bit. Fingers crossed.

On a different note, I recently bought a CUDO voucher for a leather bound photo book (all the latest craze apparently, even though I gave mum one of my wedding photos 4 years ago), valued at $85, which cost me $25. So I wasted almost the entire day yesterday playing with that online. My computer is soooo sllooooow now, so it took forever. The flash player kept crashing and everything.

Anyway, it's done. Once I have the book back, if I can, I'll put up a link so you can check it out. But I want to take the book to Qld with me to show around, if anyone is particularly interested. It's personal to me, just a collection of the photos I have taken so far. Better get clicking so I can do some more!

Only 3 weeks till my girlie weekend. I really need this. Dobby has a new dress to wear. I have one that I think will be okay. A good old cheapie KMart dress and a pretty over jacket. Back to wearing fat clothes is quite depressing, but I guess I just have to make the most of it.

The next few weeks will be interesting, so with the threat of a blog that might be worth reading soon, I'll bid you adieu, till next time. Have a great week.

Why do I do this to myself??

I always seem to jump in and do stuff without thinking about it.

This time I managed to give myself extra work while doing something nice for Fluffy. But more of that soon.

This week has been a quick one. Work, work and more work. Dobby started school, started back at cadets. The first week of school went okay. She decided originally that she was going to like this year because she had some good teachers and subjects. But typically that view didn't last long. Still, she is doing photography and fashion so she'll enjoy it more anyway. Turns out, though, that one particular teacher she had issues with last year has her for a totally different subject this year. Not too happy about that, but hopefully she'll adjust her attitude (Dobby, not the teacher), and it'll sort itself out.

The lass she joined that particular cadets unit to be near has quit. I expected Dobby to do the same (she's a follower in some cases, not a leader), but she hasn't. She said she likes the people there, and has another girl friend there. It's a long way for us to travel, but hey, if she's happy there, I see no reason to move her.

As you know, I am the scrap book queen. I have been going non stop for what seems like ages. I have finally finished two albums and started a 3rd. This weekend I also made the birthday card and a little envelope to put in the front of one of the scrap books. Whew. That was my goal, but now I think I need to get a few more pages of book 3 done, as it's mostly the grand kids and all the other rellies.

Also, we have been planning our trip up for the party. I have booked the flights. On Friday SOL said she didn't think she'd be able to go as life has a way of throwing bills at us when we don't need them (I know, I just paid out close to $2000 since Christmas, all of which ended up overdue cause I just had to juggle them). Anyway, Moose and I got together on the weekend and pooled our resources and bought SOL a ticket. Just wouldn't be right if she couldn't come.

She and I both had to leave our spouses behind, but hey, that means.... GIRLIE WEEKEND! OH YEAH! Cause we'll all be bunking at Moose's house. Man, I can't wait. We are going to have so much fun. Apparently the board game Mystery Date has already been hauled out of the closet...

So this weekend saw me spend all day Saturday at SAPI caravan club meetings. The first half of the day was spent in our regular committee meeting. Poor Fluffy was left all alone. I honestly thought, as we were following the meeting with a BBQ, that other spouses would be there, but they all came later. Poor Fluffy.

We took a couple hours for that, then fired up the BBQ and bought out the food. We brought cheesecake. Yumm.

After lunch we all sat around and discussed where we were going to go next year. Called a forward planning meeting. This bunch are such a bunch of women, with lots of too-ing and fro-ing and arguing. Great bunch though, but sometimes they seem to go back over stuff.

Anyway, we did end up with our program for next year, now it's just up to the forward planner to book what he can. We come up with 3 suggestions for each month and he goes off and books them.

During the first meeting, though, they asked for volunteers to represent the club at the Caravan and Camping Show on at the end of the month. A 4-hour stint at the information stand, where all the other clubs will also have people. Thinking Fluffy might like a free ticket to the show (he always try to go) I volunteered us.

Then got told by the vice president that he needs me to make a poster of sorts to put on the wall behind us. Sigh. More stuff to take up my time. As if I'm not busy enough. See, I can do it this weekend, then the next we are off to Victor Harbour with the club, and the weekend after that is the Show. The weekend after that is mum's party.

Luckily I know exactly what I want to make, and how it will be assembled. I think I'll stop at Officeworks on the way home this afternoon for a large piece of cardboard. orange, I'm thinking... nice and bright....

Coobowie

So, another rally down and dusted, the first for 2012. This one was a ripper, too. Australia Day themed, for obvious reasons.

We decided to go up after work on Wednesday 25th. I didn't want to, but I'm mighty glad we did. Dobby was the oldest kid there again (she hates that) so she only had one other little 6 year old girl to keep amused. The rest were boys and other kids she didn't really know.

We arrived just on dark on Wednesday, and it was blowing a gale, so we didn't even put up the awning. We just put up the tent. But because it was so windy, Dobby dragged her mattress into the van and crashed on the floor. We followed one fellow and is partner in their van, which was good. Another couple of families were there, along with several families who wanted to "check us out".

Thursday we awoke to even stronger winds. At least it was cool. We just dagged about for the day, with the rest of the attendees arriving through the day. It was very relaxing just to sit and not move. We did put up the awning and a piece of rubber flooring acted as a wind break.

Thursday afternoon we met another couple, who just happened to ask us about Terry, as they were interested in buying a new one. They found we were with the club and let slip they were discreetly checking us out. Well, we put paid to that. We introduced them to all the other members and they spent the rest of the day with us.

As we were all "on holiday" we had dinner at the pub. Man, that was sooo much fun. This new couple are hysterical and it turns out they live right up there with most of the group (not us, we are on the wrong side of Adelaide) and in fact knew some of them (friends of the kids, a soccer mum, that type of thing). They fit right in with our twisted sense of humour so it was a fantastic dinner.

On Friday the wind finally dropped. Also, my friend and her husband arrived. They too want to check us out. He is a lot more sedate than us, so I'm not sure how they will go... We had our customary morning tea, and at treasurer time where we pay our entertainment fees for the weekend, Stewie and Sue joined up. So much for a discreet look! So they were just part of the team, as if they had always been there.

After lunch the kids had kids club, which was really just playing at the playground down the street. Then at what is usually "happy hour", we had Australia Day games. This consisted of a heck of a lot of noise and much laughing.

We were divided into 4 teams, making sure to separate families as much as possible. First game we had to draw a picture of Australia, with all the states and capitals (in the right place, if you please). We also had to then list all the ingredients of Anzac Cookies.

Then we had to bounce some orange ping pong balls into a white bowl. My team won that (naturally! haha!). Then we moved outside for a Thong Throwing competition. For all you Americans, that would be a flip flop to you. Again, one of my team won that!

Our 4 teams then had to first walk with a balloon between the knees, but we could pass it between players with our hands, cause there were lots of kids. We won that... After the indignity of that, we had to use toothpicks and transfer a little lamington finger without breaking it. We won that too, folks!

We saved a couple of games for later that night. First we had a sausage sizzle provided by the club, with families donating salads to share. That was great, except it was sooooo hot! The clear cafe blinds were still down on the camp kitchen we took over, and there was no breeze at all.

After dinner we reconvened for the last of the games. We were asked a series of questions, after which our map and question sheets were collected and scores tallied. Our team, the Bilbies, won. It was a great day.

Saturday after morning tea a lot of us decided to go across to Stansbury to the markets. We have friends in Stansbury so after we checked them out we had a bite to eat and stopped by. John was away at boles but we saw Margaret for a lovely chat.

After that we decided we would join some others at Point Turtin. You may remember we have spent a couple of Christmases there. We thought they were going to do some swimming but instead we found they had gone 4WD driving on the beach. Terry is an AWD, which is sort of 4WD. However, we did get stuck in the sand. Divine providence came through because Stan and Yvonne just happened to be coming the other way and pulled us out. Our friends has heard our plea for help as well and met us up there.

We followed them back to the beach and got lifts down to the water (leaving Terry up on the sand). However the tide was coming in fast so we got out of there.

Now, I am a chicken when it comes to new things. And I was scared. Of the sand driving, getting bogged, and the last bit. In order to leave the beach we had to go over a sort of boardwalk thing. Which was, of course, 4WD only. It was two large hills, covered with boards, some of which were sticking up quite high, over sand dunes. We had to drive down toward the water and take a run up.

Well, we went bouncing over, bottoming out a few times, and jolting a bit. I couldn't help be scared, and the others gave me hell for it. Seems that every thing I said was taken as whinging, and Dobby kept lecturing me and carrying on.

I just wanted to curl up and cry. The others laughed at me too, and it really did hurt. I will just have to keep facing my fear until I have conquered it, because I suspect I am in for a lot more of it.

Anyway, we got out okay and went back to camp, and it was time to sit in the shade with a drink. The clouds started rolling in, and the weather cooled to something far more pleasant.

We played club game, after which I looked behind me and saw the most fantastic sunset through storm clounds (we didn't get any of it, but it sure made the weather cooler for a bit).


I was going to put up photos but because my computer now runs so bloody slowly, you can check out some of them for yourself here:


Sunday it was time to face reality and come back to town. We were packed and ready to go by morning tea, so a small convoy of Al and Sue, Stewie and Sue, Leanne, and us headed back together.

We stopped in Dublin for lunch, and Dobby and I ordered wedges. They were in one of those styrofoam divided take away containers, and because they had run out of sour cream, we just had chilli sauce. But man, those were the BEST wedges we have ever had. Crispy as!

After about 45 minutes it was time to go. We got home around 3pm. Now it's down time. Dobby has everything out ready for school tomorrow, Fluffy has put away his stuff, and I have done two loads of laundry and downloaded my photos from the camera. I got a fright because twice it was interrupted so I thought I had lost the pics. Whew! I didn't.

Anyway, next rally is in February. I may have something to post next week, but don't hold your breath. Not much happens in my life... :-)

Just checking in

I don't have too much to report, though next weekend should be a good one.

After our holiday we have been back to the whole work, eat, sleep routine. Dobby has had a friend or two over, and spent two nights at a friend's house, so that gave her a bit of a break.

I have been furiously working to get mum's scrapbooks complete. But then I found that I am actually out of room, with still so many good photos to mount, so I bought a 3rd album yesterday. That has taken up most of my spare time.

I also rearranged my "play" area, making a bigger space with things a bit more organised. I think when I get these books done I might have to actually finish our New Zealand holiday? But sadly we lost the written account of the trip, which formed the basis of the album, so not sure how to work around that now.

Nothing terribly exciting has been going on. This weekend we moved Dobby's room around. Not ideal but she likes it anyway. A good opportunity to give it a bit of a clean. If she keeps it clean she can start to make some money again, but I'm not hopeful. Yesterday, although she actually made the bed, she did get it into a bit of a mess again.

It's hard to believe that the holidays for her are now over. Well, almost. We head off to Coobowie on Wednesday night, and when we return on Sunday, she will have one sleep till school. First day back she has school photos in preparation for their identity cards, and on the Tuesday she has cadets. She has agreed that this year she will be more committed to cadets, going every week as if it were a job. Fingers crossed.

Yesterday Dobby and I went into the city to visit the museum, something she liked to do as a child. We paid $20 for both of us to visit their special exhibition on the abyss in the ocean, and frankly, we were ripped off. They had a kids play thingy right next to the viewing screen, and there were kids just running rampant in there. Running around, yelling. Not a parent in control anywhere. Then, the displays were just dead, wrinkly fish in glass boxes. There were little boxes you lifted the lids on to feel or see things, but they were so hard to see in the dark. Overall, it was totally crap and I wish we had kept our money.

Because lunch set me back $30. We had nachos and a drink each. Mind you, they were great nachos. Worth it. But I wasn't expecting it to be so expensive. Wait, yes I was. Museum food is always dear. It was a lovely day out though. Hot, bloody hot.

The Tour Down Under has been in town the last week. For those who don't watch the news that's an international cycling event that floods the town in lycra. I hate it personally. Well, I like what it does for Adelaide's profile, and what it does for the town financially, but I hate being held up on the roads by millions of cyclists and wannabe cyclists. This week, however, I hardly saw any. While we were in town, they last of the road races was held, and it wound through North Adelaide. The main bridge from the city to North Adelaide was closed off. We were on North Terrace, where the start of the closure was, and as we were waiting for the lights to change, we looked down toward the cycling event and saw the support vehicles racing around the bend in the crowd. Well, what we actually saw was car after car of bicycles - we could only see the bikes strapped to the roofs. However, that, and the hovering helicopter, provided some light moments. As did the 8' tall bagpipe player in the mall. I had a hard time convincing Dobby that he wasn't really that tall, as his costume was so good it all but hid his stilts. He had a long kilt, long socks, good leg covers, and a tall black fluffy hat. His babpipe playing wasn't bad either. He disappeared into Darryl Lea, where we had just been a few minutes earlier...

Well, at this point in time I can't think of any further things worth gossiping about so I'll leave it here. I'll post a better one next week after our trip, which will hopefully see some photos. Till then, ciao.