Okay, so I know winter is almost here, but...

that doesn't mean I want it to be that cold yet!  According to Fluffy, a couple of areas around Mount Pleasant are ranked amongst the coldest in South Australia.

Well, either last year, or the one before, we had a rally in Mount Pleasant.  And it was the coldest we have ever experienced.  There was ice on the windscreens and dog bowls the next morning, and another family couldn't bear to camp out again and left the next afternoon.

This time we were pleasantly surprised.  It was quite as cold.  But it was still cold, and very moist.  Fluffy drove up Friday morning, but as I had to work Dobby, Lawsy and I followed later.  I left the servo up the road at 4.15 pm to be precise.

It drizzled on and off most of the way up.  We arrived just on dark, about 5.20pm then did a couple of laps of the main strip to find somewhere to buy dinner.  I found a bakery that did take away, and bought hot chips and a couple pieces of fish.  I also bought dessert.  Hey, it's a bakery after all!

When I found the park, Fluffy said he thought we were supposed to be joining the rest of the club for dinner at the pub.  Oh.  I must have missed that portion of the conversation.  Last I heard I was to pick up dinner and we were to go out Saturday night.  Oh well.  He had the place set up lovely, with the girls tent up and their stretchers in already.  He had, I also found out, served several cups of coffee from his new you-beaut coffee machine.

It was his (very) early Father's Day present - he didn't want to wait.  He loves it because it's a one-touch machine.  So, from the next rally, it will be gold-coin donation to cover the cost of the pods and milk.  And from the feedback, people are going to be happy to pay that.

After dinner we joined the rest of the group as they wandered back from the pub, around the camp fire.  Wouldn't be a SAPI rally without the camp fire.  This time, we were under a huge tin shed, with wooden grandstands, where they hold sheep sales.  There are several of these sheds, and they also hold dog shows and horse trials here.  And, on Saturday mornings they hold a farmer's market.

At the fireside, Crate, one of my favourite members, presented me with my very own pair of fluffy fleece lined croc shoes.  We are now the Croc Club apparently!  There are a few of us, whose standard uniform is one of those beanie hats with the ear covers that tie under the chin, (although any beanie will do), fluffy crocs, and often pajamas.  It's a lot of fun.

Camped next to us was also a new family... with a teenage boy.  Talk about laugh.  On the way up Dobby, who has just discovered the opposite sex, was lamenting there needs to be more boys in the club.  The family joined us at the camp fire and I met their son, who is almost 17.  I had to go find Dobby and tell her.  Next thing, she's donned some make up, fluffed up the hair, sprayed herself and joined us at the camp.  It was so cute to watch because all the men of the club were teasing her mercilessly.  Hilarious.

She took it in good faith and had some fun.

Saturday morning, as I said, it was foggy and cold.  I took a few pictures, and wandered back to the warmth of the van.  

I gathered the girls and we walked over to the markets.  I didn't have a lot of cash on me, so I bought us cupcakes (choc orange), and some popcorn for the girls.  There was lots of fresh produce, and local condiments to choose from.  But I just stuck with the cupcakes.

Then, a little later we had morning cuppa, followed by the counting of the votes for the club name change.

Fluffy was a bit upset, as the name he put forward lost by 4 votes.  It was very close and rather exciting.  We did it publicly, with the president of another club reading out the votes, and our secretary keeping tally on the whiteboard.

Once the count was done our new name, which still has to go before the AGM in August to be official, was announced.  Unless something drastic happens, we will be known as the Family and Friends Caravan and Camping Club.  Exciting.

We then had some quiet time, so I chilled out catching up with some of the other members I hadn't seen for awhile.

Just as we were playing club game after lunch, another member Wenz came with her two girls Minnie and Akkers.  They are either side of Dobby (14 and 16).  They are Dobby's favourite kids to hang with.  Lawsy likes to hang with the younger boys of the team (Crate's sons).  They had fun.  Oh, and Crate's husband was home for a very brief leave from Afghanistan, so it was so lovely to see him. Crate's parents are from Bundaberg in Qld and they have been staying with her, helping her out.  So they have been to a few rallies as honorary members.  They are so funny.  They presented me with a lovely "prum" pudding (yes, prum because it has a lot of rum in it, although this one is not as strong as the pudding that penned this name).

While we were at Club Game Ozzie and his dad shared some close time...

Oh, and while I think of it, while waiting for the food on Friday night, I looked about the bakery.  It was an old house, with lots of little bits and pieces to look at.  Here are a couple.

 
After club game we retired to the hall for Happy Hour (drinkies and nibblies).  Then, as I overindulged, I didn't feel like going to the pub for dinner.  Neither did Fluffy really, so much to the disgust of Dobby, he took her and Lawsy back to the bakery for tea.  She was placated with wedges and a container of lollies.  Doesn't take much...

Back to the hall for social at 7.00, and this time we played some unusual games.  First we were split into 4 groups, with a mix of kids and adults in each.  One game involved runners (kids) from each group taking items up to the adjudicator, such as drivers licences etc.

We had to guess a lot of local places, sing songs with key words (like valley, river etc), we had to tie all our shoes together, we also had to put all our shoes in the middle and the team who collected all theirs (relay style) won, we also had to make mountain ranges out of people (our team won that one).

Overall it was... interesting.

Then, back to the fireside.  The new teen boy in the group thought he would see how many marshmallows he could get in his mouth.  15 apparently.

He ended up spending a lot of time with Dobby, Minnie and Akkers.  Hmmm...

Then, Sunday it lightly rained.  We all packed up and as a lot of the group had to rush home for various things (sport, jobs etc) we didn't even do farewell morning cuppa.  But it was still a lovely weekend, and it's always nice to be home in one's own bathtub and bed, yes?  Specially with prum pudding and home made custard.

whoo boy!

My, sometimes it doesn't rain, it pours. Last week was rather slow, with a somewhat relaxing weekend. Dobby had a friend over for the day who ended up staying the night. That's about it. This past week has certainly made up for that.

It's birthday week, so Fluffy and I spent some time on the weekend doing the last bit of shopping. I also stopped at Wendy's and ordered the cake. Icecream cake of course. Expensive but hassle free.

Monday was rather quiet. Dobby was asked last week did she want to go to her old OSHC (Out of School Hours Care) to help out. They get free labour and she gets to add something else to her resume, win win I'd say. She agreed, so Monday morning I dropped her off on the way to work. She stayed the whole day and I picked her up on the way home.

Tuesday she also spent the day there, getting a free ticket to the movies. She was home around 3.30 though that time. Tuesday night she was complainign she didn't feel well. As Wednesday was birthday day, I hoped she wasn't coming down with something. She got out of bed to ask her dad if she could have some money for a new school bag. She had arranged to go shopping with a friend for the day, with the friend staying over. We agreed, and gave her some money. She was hoping for a bit for shopping too, but we didn't give her any.

Wednesday she was actually out of bed without me having to wake her. Naturally. I told her she had to be ready before the friend arrived at ten, so she was. I gave her her birthday card - with $100 in it. One happy birthday girl.

I went to work and she went shopping. She didn't find a bag, and surprisingly enough, gave me all the money back. We agreed we'd go shopping on Sunday at Harbourtown to see if we could find something there. She bought herself a pair of blue pants for school and a pretty knitted salmon-coloured jumper. When I got home they had actually cleaned the dining and lounge rooms. Apparently Dobby had cooked herself breakfast, washed up, and put the dishes AWAY. Amazing.

She had asked another friend to come over but she could only come at dinner time. So it was agreed she'd stay over. The first friend, Tiny (from years ago), was also invited to stay over. So much for no birthday party. Mum's a schmuck.

Anyway, when I asked what she wanted for dinner, she decided party style nibblies. So on Tuesday I picked up party pies and sausage rolls, spring rolls, and some lovely chicken kiev balls. Fluffy and I went for a drive and picked up hot chips and a pizza too. He and I then filled our plates and retired to the lounge to leave the ferals in the dining room. From the sounds of it they had fun.

Later when we'd (and by we'd I mean I'd) cleaned up, we did the cake. Dobby was very happy with it. Her friends didn't want to be photographed but agreed eventually.  I've not put their pictures up here.

Then I went to the office, Fluffy went outside (and fell asleep in the hammock poor fellow) and left them to take over the lounge. I did have to yell at them several times because they kept waking me up.

Thursday I took great pleasure in waking them up early. Another friend, Sarah, was coming for the day as her kitchen floors were being sanded and they had to get out of the house. Not sure I like that idea - 4 teenagers in my house unattended. One left about lunch time, another at 3 and the last just before we got home. The house was even clean when we did. Aaah. Looks like Dobby has the capability to look behind her after all!

Friday Dobby had a quiet day at home.  the house still looked good when I got home.  Not sure what she did.  Friday evening some friends from the club stopped in to drop off their two daughters.  They live an hour away so it's easier for them to drop them over, and the girls stay the night.

Saturday we took the girls go kart racing, meeting another SAPI daughter there.  The girls paid $25 for ten minutes, and Fluffy treated them to a round of laser skirmish and another ten minutes of racing.  They had a blast!  Their time finished just before it began to rain, which was good because half the track is outdoors.

Here's a short clip of the hoons in action (that's Fluffy overtaking Dobby at the start, with the rest of the group following).





After the racing, we met the parents at Hungry Jacks across the road for a late lunch.  Everyone was very exhausted, and the weather had turned cold, so it was a very tired family that headed home.  Fluffy set up camp in the hammock with the dog and a blanket, Dobby put herself into her bed, which was still made made up from last night and put Mr Bean on the TV.  I went and lay on the bed watching Contagion.  Good movie.  Toasted chicken sandwiches and ice cream cake for dinner.  Yum.

Sunday and Fluffy was back at work.  Dobby and I had a previous engagement with our friend Marg for lunch.  She'll be 80 this year and I think she's finally starting to feel 70.  Lovely little thing.  She insisted on treating.  Usually I pay or let her pay for dessert.  Today our whole order was only about $37 so I relented.  Truthfully, I had to keep money aside for something Fluffy wants to do on Monday so wasn't game enough to spend too much today.

After lunch Dobby and I went to Harbourtown to find that school bag.  She knew what she was looking for, so it was just a matter of looking at any shop that may have back packs.  She found it on about the 3rd shop but sensibly decided to keep looking.  Along the way I stopped at Rivers to see if I could find a replacement pair of work shoes.  I didn't find what I was looking for but did find a nice pair of black patent cort/loafer style shoes for winter.  And they were on special.  Dobby found black suede ankle boots she loves.  She bought those herself.  Even better.

I also found the white ceramic garden gnome a friend had asked me to get if I happened to see one.  Harbourtown is a big place and my back isn't what it used to be, so by the end of the day I was quite exhausted.  When I got home it would have been very easy not to move again.  Apart from getting the washing in and cooking dinner, I didn't do much.  I also have a headache.  Not a bad one, but if I don't take care of it tonight it will become one.  That's the result of watching movies yesterday afternoon.  Which is why I don't do it much.

Anyway, that's my week.  Thankfully I only have two days then Anzac day off.  And at that Dobby is bringing a friend home from cadets Tuesday night.  Sigh.... oh well.... at least we can all sleep in!

Bunny Hopping

So, I hope you had a good Easter. As always, we went away with the club. I'm not going to bother putting pictures up, because the one or two who actually read this are also FB friends and can see them there.

It was a horribly busy week last week. Work has been rather stressful (for both Fluffy and myself) and Dobby has been busy with an incident at school. Seems some immature young girls posted a stupid video on Youtube, which caused a minor riot at school. The poor students were inundated by media and horrid taunts from other school kids. Dobby was very stressed about it. She mentioned it to me late on Tuesday night, after cadets, while she was checking Facebook, and said that some girls had done this stupid thing and that the proverbial was going to hit the fan the next day.

It blew up on Wednesday, and the girls were put into lockdown. They were not allowed to walk home from school alone, and her friend, who lives close by, asked if Dobby could walk home with her. I picked her up on my way to run a million errands, and as a result completely forgot about guitar. Sigh. Means I have to pay $50 this week... they rip you off cause you have to pay whether you go or not. Stupid.

Anyway, we got through that, and it was time to pack up and head up to Eudunda Area School for the long weekend.

Fluffy took a couple hours off on Thursday afternoon, so headed up early. Dobby and I left around 5pm and got up there just before 7. We even took the long way around because we missed a turn off...

Later that night Fluffy realised he had left the most important part of the weekend at home, so had to go back on Friday morning to get it. He took a lovely fellow named Danno with him and left early.

But through the morning a horrible gale force wind blew up, and where we were parked we bore the brunt of it sweeping down the oval. All his awnings blew down, with menfolk running from all over to help me dismantle it all.

Naturally, when Fluffy got back and saw what we had done, he was livid. He pulled down the remaining stuff, hooked up the van, and turned it around. Then that's where it stayed for the day with no awning or anything. That wind was ferocious! The tent that Dobby and her friend had slept in the night before fell over, so Fluffy put up her tent (facing backwards) and added the side walls and then strung our spare awning across the front as an extra wall. That left a tiny gap in the side for access. Did you know what you can fit 3 stretchers and a mattress in there? Mind there was no walking space... but it was fun to set up for them.

Friday night Dan's father died. Wenz came into the room in tears saying she had to go. Her daughter was sharing a tent with our kid and another teen, who arrived that day, so they stuck together to wait for more news, while Wenz and Danno drove the short trip to the next town to be with the family.

Later that night there was a terrible cry. They had just told the young lass that her pop had passed away. Her sister was brought back with them, and the girls (including my kid) all rallied around and they all stayed in a 2 man tent ...

On Saturday the wind had stopped (thankfully) and the sun came out for the most part. I think a lot of people were a little unsettled. Danno drove back to Kapunda but the girls and Wenz stayed. There wasn't anything anyone could do until Tuesday when businesses opened again. We kept them all distracted.

But then later in the morning Sally, a rehab nurse, found out that one of her patients had passed away. He had been there for quite some time, and apparently all the girls who travelled used to send him postcards. So that was a little sad too.

But the Advisory Committee (as us girls call ourselves) rallied around and had some lovely girly time doing our toenails out in the sun.

Saturday night we had a hot pot dinner. There were supposed to be 20 families there (67 people in all). I think that may have been close. We all put dishes out on the long centre table and helped ourselves. I did a slow cooked chicken curry with corn, but it really needed just a bit more coconut cream. I have the leftover for lunch today...

That was followed by what Crate labled "prum" pudding (it was a wonderful boiled plum pudding her dad made, which was 2/3 rum! Bloody good it was!) with custard.

Sunday was a visit by EB. I had to help put out the little eggs for the egg hunt. I gave my camera to one of the lads to hold, and it came back with pictures of a dog's bum, keys hanging out a car door, ME (ugh), car tow hitches, and other ramdom stuff. Funny as.

The kids had a ball. After, they all go and sit on EB's lap (including the adults). As I was taking photos I was happy to stay there but then they all started chanting my name so I had to hand over the camera to Dobby and go up for my bunny. Sigh...

Sunday night we had a social. They are always fun. We never know what we are doing until we get there. This time Crate and Jenny had organised a game show themed night. We had a game of Price is Right (which was hilarious because they got 4 kids for each team to hold a grocery product, while two families had to arrange them in order. One of the kids was 17 and over 6' tall, and another of his team was 7 and about 4' tall).

Then we played some family feud type games, followed by a wheel of fortune game, which I participated in. Couldn't get the clue, but eventually someone did and got the question right.

Then of course, it was Monday and time to pack up. It rained. But luckily it was only light, and by the time Morning cuppa was over the tents and stuff had dried out. We took our time, and headed off spot on 12. We were home by 1.45. Always nice to come home after a weekend away. It was an odd sort of weekend. Because he has been under a lot of stress, Fluffy spent a lot of it alone reading or sleeping. Dobby disappeared with her girls for the most part (coming home only to eat and leave a mess), and I got some paperwork and a lot of reading done.

It was so cold, though. We found ourselves pulling on winter coats quite a bit. It's even cold here today, and overcast. Dobby is on holidays now, and spending the day with a friend helping keep her two fluffy cats out from under the feet of the renovators doing their kitchen. Should be an interesting day for her...

Anyway, not sure if there will be anything to post for the next couple of weeks. Dobby is on holidays, I am at work, nothing new. She is marching in the Anzac Day parade on the 25th, so that will be the next lot of photos I'll have up. If all goes well she'll get her slouch hat on the night before, so keep your fingers crossed for her please!

Till then, stay well and finish that chocolate off! Mmmm!

Counting down

That's what I'm doing, counting down until next weekend. Dobby is going for a 2 night bivouac for Army Cadets. She's been a right handful recently.

Anyway, to recap my week. Work. Work, sleep, work... that about sums it up. Dobby was supposed to be packing and organising herself. But, as teens are want to do, she left everything for this weekend. She got her webbing and a bag from cadets on Tuesday so I told her to go through the list and see what she needed. I also told her to clean her room as this was the last weekend for it to be done. But, that hasn't happened either.

Yesterday I asked her to pack then do her room. She took 4 hours to almost pack. As she went I was able to get her to mark off the things she needed. One of them is a waterproof sleeping bag. Well, today proved that no such animal exists. We went all over town looking for something suitable. The only water resistant ones are very expensive. She is taking the one from the van...

We did pick up a few other bits and bobs. She has packed. Mostly. Still a few things scattered around the lounge, which is driving me insane. Lazy thing she is. The room didn't get touched.

I had visitors for a bit today and I was quite ashamed at the state of my house. There never seems to be enough time in the day. I did get the floors washed but that's all.

This week I have a meeting on Thursday, Dobby has cadets on Tuesday, and guitar on Wednesday. Sigh. But, Friday she goes. Late though. 7.30. I hope they get there while it's still light out. They have to rig up a hootchie to sleep under. I also hope it doesn't rain because they'll all get soaked. Oh well. Toughen them up I guess...

I've been feeling somewhat crabby lately. Today I was ready to kill someone I was that annoyed. Eventually I calmed down but buy, I just want to scream with frustration sometimes. Don't know why. Stressed maybe? I don't think I can talk to Fluffy about it because he is under so much pressure himself. Work for him is an endless round of disputes, complaints, and men acting like children. He doesn't need to hear my prattle either.

So I'll just battle on. Try not to lash out, and try to hide myself here in the office working on pages for mum's scrap book. Yes, I did finish it, but now I'm doing the birthday party. Hopefully they'll come out okay.

Well, time to go make a cuppa then run the bath I guess. Hopefully that will ease the aching joints and soothe the grumpy mind... that and the bar of chocolate I have stashed in the freezer. Sure to help anyway...

Visual art II

So because I don't have too much going on right now, I thought I would pop up a few photos from my phone that I never got around to downloading before.

This last week was busy, with a SAPI meeting on Thursday at my place, then an Undercoverwear Party as well. Did okay there - I had $90 to spend and a half price garment. I managed to score:

1 long sleeved tee
1 top
1 pair black pants
1 knitted sleeveless vest, open at the front
1 jersey (trakky dak material) ruffle front black jacket.

All for the low cost of $66.50, and that was because the long sleeved tee and the top were on special so I had to pay full price for those. Neat.

I also went to a Miche Bag party on Saturday, where I purchased a purse for $50. Hope it does the trick now...

Anyway, on with my pictorial...





To begin our ride, the first two photos are of a play area at Noarlunga, not far from where Dobby does cadets. A few weeks ago we had a "meet and greet" with some of the support staff at cadets, and we didn't have time to come all the way home and go back, so we bought pizza and sat down at the playground. Pity it was so cold. But it was also our anniversary, so it was a nice way to spend an hour or so together.

This is a pic of Mother's photo albums all wrapped up for her.



These two old cars were outside RG's where Moose took us to breakfast on the Sunday after Mother's party. Neat, aren't they?





On the way to Cobdogla the other weekend, we stopped at the roadhouse at Blanchetown for a bite to eat. Lovely wedges they do there.... The sun was just setting, and we still had a way to go.





At Cobdogla (or Cobby as we preferred to call it) I took Lawsy and Dobby to see the train and history museum. It was a little place that had a few old pumps and pieces of machinery on display.

Cobdogla is famous for the Humphrey pump, which irrigated a large portion of the countryside for industry such as grapes and farming.



This fellow was awesome to see - HUGE! There are about 6 people sitting way up there. They got to go for a ride about 100m down the track and back again while the fellow did a running commentary.

Dobby was quite fascinated by the old motors, and actually said she would like to be a diesel mechanic because she loved the smell of fuel and oil. I'd like to see her do that, actually. She'd be good at it.



The train was about to leave so we jumped aboard for a look. It wound it's way slowly out through the back of the grounds, past the caravan park next door where we were all staying, and around some of the wine country.



Pretty area, and the weather was perfect for the day.



Just to finish off, this photo was taken on Monday morning out on my back patio. Daylight saving must be drawing to a close when we get sunrises like that after 7.00am!



Anyway, that's it from me this week. Catch you next time.

Go fly a kite

So, this last week has been a nightmare. Because I took two days off work at the most crucial time, and because of things happening at work, and because I got sick and was told to take a day and a half off, I am so far behind I could easily just curl up and pretend I don't exist.

And to make matters worse, the geek has to give me an unlock key for a program he has updated half way (I'm on a trial version until he can give me the full version), and he's offline. I need to use that program today to get myself anywhere near caught up. Sigh...

Anyway, this last weekend was the Adelaide Cup long weekend here. Which, of course, means a caravan rally! This time we headed more than 3 hours north east to Cobdogla. Cobdogla is a little place on the Murray River, population about ten I think! There are a few towns close by, but this place has a pub, and a rail museum.

We headed up after work on Friday, arriving in the dark at 9pm. Would have been a little sooner but Fluffy was pulled over for speeding. He was doing 90 in an 80k zone. But the copper was nice, letting him off with a warning. Fluffy copped lots of flack back at camp :-)

Saturday dawned sunny and cool. Perfect sleep in weather. But no, the girls, having gone to bed relatively early, were up just after 7. I crawled out of bed and up to the shower, feeling a tad more normal after.

We didn't have much planned for Saturday, with Kids Club being changed to Sunday due to the organiser being late arriving. There was plenty of time to sit and relax.

Dobby and Lawsy (her friend from Cadets who came with us), decided after lunch to go kayaking. The caravan park had kayaks for hire, but one of the other families invited the girls to go out with them in their spare kayak. Actually, there were 3 adults and the girls.



Do you think they're having fun?

One of the other adults was giving them a hard time so they decided to tip him into the water by ramming his kayak. He had a spot of trouble getting back up but soon found his way.

But in true good sport form, he soon got his revenge...



There was a lot of tipping out after that. Looked like a lot of fun from where I was standing (which, I might add, was safely out of the water on the shore!)

The club put on a bbq dinner Saturday night, so we all sat around and chatted, while the kids played Spotlight, running about like mad people. There were 19 children at this rally, plus the two vans behind us had a handful as well. Quite the noisy place to be.

There was a spectacular sunset happening over the river, too, which I took advantage of.








I like this one the best... see the stars?



Sunday was quite as well. After morning tea there was time to relax. The lass who was running Kids Club took a drive into Banrock Station, a local winery (see here), and was taking orders. A lot of the girls drink Moscato, including SOL and Moose, so I asked her to pick up a red and a pink for me to try. She also brought back some merlot for Fluffy.

In order to pay her I needed to find an ATM, and was directed to the club down the street. We went for a walk, deciding also to visit the rail museum. Just as we got there, the little train was getting ready to leave so we jumped on for a ride. It was just a little short ride around the back of the place and through the winery district. Very enjoyable.



After the ride we wandered around looking at the machinery. Cobdogla was famous for inventing the Humphrey pump, which helped irrigate the surrounding districts for a very long time.

After lunch the kids gathered for Kids Club. This time they made kites. And they were great! They flew too. The kids ran around with those kites all afternoon until the icecream truck came by...



After kids club was dinner (we joined Leanne and her parents) at the local club, then it was time for the social. We all gathered with a camera, torch, and a pen. We were given a sheet of questions/things to find or do, and off we went. We got one question wrong so we missed out, but it was a lot of fun.

Along the way there was time for another lovely sunset...



Eventually it was time for bed. Dobby joined a couple of friends she hadn't seen for a while, and Lawsy joined some new friends she had made. That left Fluffy and I childless. So I went to bed early... he was busy playing with the big boys, seeing who could peel the paint off the games room wall I believe... phew!

Anyway, Monday was pack up and come home time. We left around 11.15, and were home at 2.30. Long drive, but relaxing all the same. Two loads of washing and I was done!

Anyway, this weekend will be busy, and this week will be flat out. I think I need a holiday...

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...