Dear Blog, I'm sorry I've been remiss for the past few days, but really, how could I top the excitements of last Thursday?
I've finally got the ball rolling on the Centrelink/Job Network front, not without some bureaudrama - but all sorted now I hope. And the damaged tyre has been fixed - I'd rather pay $25 for that than $125 for a new one!
Yesterday was - absolutely ghastly, weatherwise. Actually it all started on Saturday evening. The weather bureau had predicted a day of rain for Sunday, and we were all looking forward to that, but instead a long series of short, sharp thunderstorms came rolling across from the northwest, for hours and hours - from about 4pm to well after midnight. They were at about 1/2 hour intervals, and each one was neatly packaged with huge black clouds, lightning and thunder and a ten minute drenching shower with high winds. Weird, but effective!
This seems to have replaced the earlier prediction, because Sunday was warm and clear - some cloud around but no rain at all.
Yesterday started off OK, but the Man at the Bureau said - high winds, some showers, areas of raised dust. Cue to lock every window and door, pull the curtains shut - anything to keep the dust out! So, it's ok till about lunchtime. In the morning I had to take Mum to the doctor for a checkup: I managed to persuade him to give her a referral to a specialist, and he noted that she hadn't had a chest x-ray for 2 years. So we organised that for 3.30 yesterday afternoon. At this stage, it was a bit windy, but nothing too dramatic. Boy did that change! By about 1pm, the wind was howling, the dust was swirling, and when I went to the employment agency for the appointment-that-never-was at 2.30, it was raining mud. Yep, a good old Narrandera red rain mudstorm - which is what you get when you have showers and a dust storm happening together. I am SO glad I didn't wash my car at any stage! When I took Mum to the hospital for the X-ray, I had to hang on to her so she didn't blow away, little budgie she is...
Anyway, the X-ray showed a heap of stuff in one lung, but the other clear. Now I don't pretend to know anything about emphysema, but that's not what I'd expect to see. Nor, it seems, did the radiographer - he rang the doctor, and they organised some antibiotics. It looks to me like the poor woman has been suffering all this time from an undiagnosed chest infection rather than emphysema! We'll see if the antibiotics clear it up - and in any case it's worth going through with the specialist appointment (especially since she doesn't have to pay for it, being a war widow.)
Honestly, sometimes I lose confidence in doctors. And I thought this one was quite good! It doesn't help that whenever Mum gets in there, she talks down the problem: but the cough is absolutely terrifying to witness - it looks as though she's going to explode. Anyway - we could be on a good track at last.
Am I turning into Proust yet????
The new photo shows a scene looking south on the road between Matong and Ganmain (I think - somewhere out there anyway) on my way to Wagga last Thursday. Yes, the soil is that colour. The yellow bush is golden wattle, our national flower! I'll upload a closeup of the blossom too. I have some other cutesy pix to display - including Basil the labrador and Mia the moggy, snuggled up in the sunshine at the back door. Too cute.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Exciting Times in Paradise!
Oh! Can I stand the excitement!!
Thursday dawned, a warm and sunny spring day. Right, I thought. I can't bear this enforced idleness any longer. I must do body movement stuff. With the right heel hideously painful, a simple walk is out of the question. I look longingly at the 12 x 5 metres of vivid blue water in the back yard and think - er, no, I know it's going to be 24 degrees today, but the water is utterly freezing still.
OK - a perfect excuse to rev up the Mazda and head to Wagga Wagga. The Oasis swimming centre to be precise, complete with the 25 metre heated pool. Yee har! I stuff the undies and towel in the Ravelry tote (along with a current knitting project and all the other crap I cart around), put the swimming cozzie on under the pedal pushers and shirt, and off I go, pool noodle tucked under the arm.
Ohhh, it's HEAVENLY! I have a lane all to myself, there are schoolkids doing beginner classes on the other side, the odd young chaps showing off in the faster lanes. I poodle a few laps (this involves supporting oneself on a noodle placed sideways under the tummy, dog paddling with the arms, and cycling with the legs). Every few laps I chuck in a "rowboat" lap, which means sitting astride the noodle and rowing backwards through the water. Very good for the shoulders!
After 10 laps I'm feeling stuffed, but I persevere and do 20. Once the backyard pool is warm enough, I'll be doing 60 x 12 metres every day, so I need to get up to speed. 500m seems like a good start.
Afterwards, it's across the road to the Marketplace shopping mall for lunch, during which I share a table with a very nice farmer from Barellan who is very philosophical about his need for it to rain soon. He has several thousand acres under wheat and lupins, and reckons they're on the edge. Poor man. I run into my niece's MIL Sue and her daughter Monica. I also keep running into our neighbour Karen. I think What the hell and buy myself a new pair of little pearl stud earrings.
Then it's off to Bunnings for some seedlings (snapdragons, the little buggers come back year after year, and we just need to fill in a few spaces. The garden bed with the birdbath.
Next stop, the tile shop. I have a piece of tile coated with the tile paint we are using, and need to find a fancy edging tile and bullnose capping tile to match as near as poss. BINGO! I find a colour that is so close, a blind man on a galloping horse would never notice the difference (or is that a galloping man on a blind horse?) AND - instead of paying $20 for each edging/bullnose combo, we can get a one-piece tile that gives the same look for $14 each. Excellent.
Now comes the exciting bit, and the reason one should always have some knitting on hand. Heading home up the Sturt Hwy, brrm brrm, pass through Collingullie, brrm brrm: now I'm about 15km further on (so still about 65km from home, and bugger all in between) and under the sound of the radio I hear kerfloop, kerfloop. The sound of a flat tyre. AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!
Well, it's moments like these you pray for mobile coverage, and bless the day you renewed your roadside assistance package with the NRMA. Yes madam how can I help you? I'm old and useless and I have a flat tyre. What address are you at? Er - I'm on the Sturt Highway, about 15km west of Collingullie, and I'm opposite a property called - hang on, I'll just limp across the road avoiding large trucks doing 120kph and check - yes, it's called Yarragundry. What's the nearest cross street? Er - I'm out in the middle of nowhere. There are sheep, and fields of wheat. There is a road going off to the left, but that's about 300m further along and I have a stuffed foot and.... That's OK madam, I'll just let the serviceman know you're around 15k west of where? C o l l i n g u l l i e, between Wagga Wagga and Narrandera. Ok, please hang on while I ring Wagga and find out how long they'll be...... (waits, waits, thinks this call is costing a fortune).... they'll be there within 60 minutes. OK, thanks.
Ever practical, I open the back passenger door, and drape my towel and swimming cozzie over it to dry. It's a warm day with a pleasant breeze, so I get out my knitting, open the windows, and keep an eye on the rear vision mirror. If I see a large truck looming, I flick on the hazard lights to warn them (since I'm just on the shoulder of the road: there's a large dip so I can't go any further).
Time passes. Then Huzzah! It's only 40 minutes and here comes the NRMA man. Within 5 I've brought in the washing, and I'm on my way again, thinking - In Sydney, I could have waited up to 3 hours. Big tick for country living: at least in this area you can usually get a tradesman the same day, and the road service are very efficient.
Today - I'm playing on Ravelry when sister Kate says she's going to Griffith and would I like to come. But of course, so off we go. One of the bare rooted standard Iceberg roses we bought a couple of months ago is decidedly dead - but we drop into the nursery where we bought them, and they replace it on the spot, no problem. Note: Riverina Nurseries is a fine establishment, I will tell the world and they will get lots of sales.
While Kate gets her hair cut, I go to the Victoria Hotel and KIP (knit in public for those unacquainted with crafty talk) while reading Hannah Pakula's An Uncommon Woman (a biography of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert's eldest child, Princess Victoria - she was the mother of Kaiser Wilhelm II of WWI fame). Interesting book, fascinating subject.
Then we enjoy Atlantic salmon for lunch, with a delicious semillon sauvignon blanc - as VIP members we get 10% off meals and a free drink of your choice. Wine at $6 a glass for free - and that's a bucket, not a thimble - and a delicious meal of Atlantic salmon on baby spinach and roast veg for $15.30 is a BARGAIN!!
On our way home we go to the Good Guys emporium (new in Griffith) and buy a new microwave for the Garden Room: our 14 yr old one decided to snuff it last week. With a 10% discount for cash, we're well pleased.
Now - after a ridiculously warm day, about 27degrees, the clouds are gathering in a stormy looking sky. The clouds to the west and northwest look ominous - and Ashleigh is preparing her swag to take to a party where 30 teenagers are planning to sleep under the stars! HA! I think they're all gonna get w e - e - et.!!!
OK, I know this is all pretty boring but my life isn't very exciting at present. But I have heard from Centrelink, so the preliminaries to getting welfare are in hand. I have to go down and register with Summit Personnel on Monday ("Hi Karon! Oh, Hi Linda. I heard you got laid off.") And, since the man at Centrelink thinks the payments won't kick in until late October (since I got redundancy money), I've made the appointment to get the heel looked at, even though I'll have to pay. Yay for universal health care, it will only cost me $18.
Over and OUT!
Thursday dawned, a warm and sunny spring day. Right, I thought. I can't bear this enforced idleness any longer. I must do body movement stuff. With the right heel hideously painful, a simple walk is out of the question. I look longingly at the 12 x 5 metres of vivid blue water in the back yard and think - er, no, I know it's going to be 24 degrees today, but the water is utterly freezing still.
OK - a perfect excuse to rev up the Mazda and head to Wagga Wagga. The Oasis swimming centre to be precise, complete with the 25 metre heated pool. Yee har! I stuff the undies and towel in the Ravelry tote (along with a current knitting project and all the other crap I cart around), put the swimming cozzie on under the pedal pushers and shirt, and off I go, pool noodle tucked under the arm.
Ohhh, it's HEAVENLY! I have a lane all to myself, there are schoolkids doing beginner classes on the other side, the odd young chaps showing off in the faster lanes. I poodle a few laps (this involves supporting oneself on a noodle placed sideways under the tummy, dog paddling with the arms, and cycling with the legs). Every few laps I chuck in a "rowboat" lap, which means sitting astride the noodle and rowing backwards through the water. Very good for the shoulders!
After 10 laps I'm feeling stuffed, but I persevere and do 20. Once the backyard pool is warm enough, I'll be doing 60 x 12 metres every day, so I need to get up to speed. 500m seems like a good start.
Afterwards, it's across the road to the Marketplace shopping mall for lunch, during which I share a table with a very nice farmer from Barellan who is very philosophical about his need for it to rain soon. He has several thousand acres under wheat and lupins, and reckons they're on the edge. Poor man. I run into my niece's MIL Sue and her daughter Monica. I also keep running into our neighbour Karen. I think What the hell and buy myself a new pair of little pearl stud earrings.
Then it's off to Bunnings for some seedlings (snapdragons, the little buggers come back year after year, and we just need to fill in a few spaces. The garden bed with the birdbath.
Next stop, the tile shop. I have a piece of tile coated with the tile paint we are using, and need to find a fancy edging tile and bullnose capping tile to match as near as poss. BINGO! I find a colour that is so close, a blind man on a galloping horse would never notice the difference (or is that a galloping man on a blind horse?) AND - instead of paying $20 for each edging/bullnose combo, we can get a one-piece tile that gives the same look for $14 each. Excellent.
Now comes the exciting bit, and the reason one should always have some knitting on hand. Heading home up the Sturt Hwy, brrm brrm, pass through Collingullie, brrm brrm: now I'm about 15km further on (so still about 65km from home, and bugger all in between) and under the sound of the radio I hear kerfloop, kerfloop. The sound of a flat tyre. AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!
Well, it's moments like these you pray for mobile coverage, and bless the day you renewed your roadside assistance package with the NRMA. Yes madam how can I help you? I'm old and useless and I have a flat tyre. What address are you at? Er - I'm on the Sturt Highway, about 15km west of Collingullie, and I'm opposite a property called - hang on, I'll just limp across the road avoiding large trucks doing 120kph and check - yes, it's called Yarragundry. What's the nearest cross street? Er - I'm out in the middle of nowhere. There are sheep, and fields of wheat. There is a road going off to the left, but that's about 300m further along and I have a stuffed foot and.... That's OK madam, I'll just let the serviceman know you're around 15k west of where? C o l l i n g u l l i e, between Wagga Wagga and Narrandera. Ok, please hang on while I ring Wagga and find out how long they'll be...... (waits, waits, thinks this call is costing a fortune).... they'll be there within 60 minutes. OK, thanks.
Ever practical, I open the back passenger door, and drape my towel and swimming cozzie over it to dry. It's a warm day with a pleasant breeze, so I get out my knitting, open the windows, and keep an eye on the rear vision mirror. If I see a large truck looming, I flick on the hazard lights to warn them (since I'm just on the shoulder of the road: there's a large dip so I can't go any further).
Time passes. Then Huzzah! It's only 40 minutes and here comes the NRMA man. Within 5 I've brought in the washing, and I'm on my way again, thinking - In Sydney, I could have waited up to 3 hours. Big tick for country living: at least in this area you can usually get a tradesman the same day, and the road service are very efficient.
Today - I'm playing on Ravelry when sister Kate says she's going to Griffith and would I like to come. But of course, so off we go. One of the bare rooted standard Iceberg roses we bought a couple of months ago is decidedly dead - but we drop into the nursery where we bought them, and they replace it on the spot, no problem. Note: Riverina Nurseries is a fine establishment, I will tell the world and they will get lots of sales.
While Kate gets her hair cut, I go to the Victoria Hotel and KIP (knit in public for those unacquainted with crafty talk) while reading Hannah Pakula's An Uncommon Woman (a biography of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert's eldest child, Princess Victoria - she was the mother of Kaiser Wilhelm II of WWI fame). Interesting book, fascinating subject.
Then we enjoy Atlantic salmon for lunch, with a delicious semillon sauvignon blanc - as VIP members we get 10% off meals and a free drink of your choice. Wine at $6 a glass for free - and that's a bucket, not a thimble - and a delicious meal of Atlantic salmon on baby spinach and roast veg for $15.30 is a BARGAIN!!
On our way home we go to the Good Guys emporium (new in Griffith) and buy a new microwave for the Garden Room: our 14 yr old one decided to snuff it last week. With a 10% discount for cash, we're well pleased.
Now - after a ridiculously warm day, about 27degrees, the clouds are gathering in a stormy looking sky. The clouds to the west and northwest look ominous - and Ashleigh is preparing her swag to take to a party where 30 teenagers are planning to sleep under the stars! HA! I think they're all gonna get w e - e - et.!!!
OK, I know this is all pretty boring but my life isn't very exciting at present. But I have heard from Centrelink, so the preliminaries to getting welfare are in hand. I have to go down and register with Summit Personnel on Monday ("Hi Karon! Oh, Hi Linda. I heard you got laid off.") And, since the man at Centrelink thinks the payments won't kick in until late October (since I got redundancy money), I've made the appointment to get the heel looked at, even though I'll have to pay. Yay for universal health care, it will only cost me $18.
Over and OUT!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Another perfect day in Paradise
It's Wednesday. Two exciting things happen on Wednesdays - no, I lie: three.
1) I wash my hair.
2) I bring in the wheelie bin as well as the mail
3) I go down to the bakery, collect my pay from last Saturday, and put it in the bank.
This is what my life consists of, at this point in time.
If I didn't have a very painful right heel (probably a heel spur), I would go for a walk, but I can't manage that. I tried the mountain bike, but couldn't balance on it (whatever happened to nice, normal ladies' bikes??) I am waiting for the unemployment money to kick in, which will give me free health care, so I can go to the doc. and get the heel seen to.
I have, however, started on my brother Robert's (this is brother Robert, pronounced in the French way, as opposed to BIL Robert, not pronounced in the French way. It's the only way we can avoid confusion) pullover for his 60th birthday, which is on 30 December. Not the right time of the year for knitwear round here, but he'll love it. He wanted a garment with a story: the pattern was bought from Sue McCain (I wonder if she's related?) at Vermont Fiber Designs in the US, and it's called the Shawl Collar Pullover. The yarn was a misdyed lot from Australian Country Spinners, the big Patons/Cleckheaton woollen mill in Wangaratta, Victoria. It's a deep charcoal DK wool, spun with a camel coloured silk. Beautifully soft, and will look fabulous.
Spring update - the two big prunus trees are in blossom and looking gorgeous: so are the Manchurian Pears. By this time next week we should have a crop of pink tulips next to the steps by the pool. The other great sight this year is the cymbidium orchids - our friend Ron (who breeds native orchids) gave me a few bits of various types about 4 years ago, and this is the first year they've all come out. So we have lots of dark red orchids in pots all around the place.
OK that's it for today!
1) I wash my hair.
2) I bring in the wheelie bin as well as the mail
3) I go down to the bakery, collect my pay from last Saturday, and put it in the bank.
This is what my life consists of, at this point in time.
If I didn't have a very painful right heel (probably a heel spur), I would go for a walk, but I can't manage that. I tried the mountain bike, but couldn't balance on it (whatever happened to nice, normal ladies' bikes??) I am waiting for the unemployment money to kick in, which will give me free health care, so I can go to the doc. and get the heel seen to.
I have, however, started on my brother Robert's (this is brother Robert, pronounced in the French way, as opposed to BIL Robert, not pronounced in the French way. It's the only way we can avoid confusion) pullover for his 60th birthday, which is on 30 December. Not the right time of the year for knitwear round here, but he'll love it. He wanted a garment with a story: the pattern was bought from Sue McCain (I wonder if she's related?) at Vermont Fiber Designs in the US, and it's called the Shawl Collar Pullover. The yarn was a misdyed lot from Australian Country Spinners, the big Patons/Cleckheaton woollen mill in Wangaratta, Victoria. It's a deep charcoal DK wool, spun with a camel coloured silk. Beautifully soft, and will look fabulous.
Spring update - the two big prunus trees are in blossom and looking gorgeous: so are the Manchurian Pears. By this time next week we should have a crop of pink tulips next to the steps by the pool. The other great sight this year is the cymbidium orchids - our friend Ron (who breeds native orchids) gave me a few bits of various types about 4 years ago, and this is the first year they've all come out. So we have lots of dark red orchids in pots all around the place.
OK that's it for today!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Lagrigat to Universe!
Now that I've set up the basics, here is my first post. Hopefully, not the Last Post!
I'm Linda, I'm an independent woman of 57 living in the small rural town of Narrandera, NSW, Australia.
I live in a big house with other family members - sister Kate, BIL Robert, mother Joyce, teenage great nieces Ellisha (18) and Ashleigh (16 today). They're all blog fodder. Not to mention the aged Labrador Basil and the standoffish cat, Mia.
We run a B&B called The Garden Room, in a separate guest wing attached to our house.
Come up & see us sometime!
I'm a mad knitter, reader, interneter. Ravelry member lagrigat.
When I get the hang of this, I'll add some photos & things.
Bye for now!
I'm Linda, I'm an independent woman of 57 living in the small rural town of Narrandera, NSW, Australia.
I live in a big house with other family members - sister Kate, BIL Robert, mother Joyce, teenage great nieces Ellisha (18) and Ashleigh (16 today). They're all blog fodder. Not to mention the aged Labrador Basil and the standoffish cat, Mia.
We run a B&B called The Garden Room, in a separate guest wing attached to our house.
Come up & see us sometime!
I'm a mad knitter, reader, interneter. Ravelry member lagrigat.
When I get the hang of this, I'll add some photos & things.
Bye for now!
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