No inhibitions

Words fail me...

New Year Resolution broken already

Some days ago I decided NOT to buy any more stuff for me or the kids in 2014, as we are really bursting at the seams in this house and I'm very much against the current religion of consumerism.  But, this morning when I was having coffee with friends at the local shopping centre, they they told me a new bookshop has opened.  Of course, I had to check it out, and found an electronic dictionary bookmark which I just had to buy for Emma.  Since Santa brought her a Harry Potter book with lots of new words, I thought it would be ideal.  We've already had a go of it and she loves it.  I'm very proud of her reading ability - no prizes for guessing who taught her! - as she's only in kinder this year and can read like an adult.

So, please tell all your friends to buy the Oz Phonics apps available on the AppStore.  So far we've got Australian, New Zealand and US accents, with Canadian ready to go in the New Year.

Next big event is New Year - I wish you all a very happy and healthy one.

A perfect Christmas yesterday

It's fortunate this house has a chimney, so Santa had no trouble bringing the presents in. Emma passed a big one to Hugo, who was so thrilled with the contents - a Lego pirate ship and treasure island - that he said, 'No thanks,' to all the others she offered him.  He played with it for hours before showing any interest in the others - water balls, clothes, bubble stuff, a Lego train set and an Aquanaught set for the bath.  Emma got a new scooter and lots of things for a good reader and writer - a calender, a diary, a journal, some chapter books, including her first 'Harry Potter' and some jewellery and clothes.

Santa even remembered Nanny, with a digital clock radio.  It only works if you hold your breath and hang the antenna about 90 cm straight up in the air onto an invisible hook!  And even then, it keeps cutting out. It even has words going across the screen telling you what you are listening to (in case you are deaf, I suppose) and what the weather is (to save you looking out the window.)  Oh dear, modern technology! 

The meal was absolutely scrumptious - wafers and cheese; a huge sushi (sticky rice, salmon, a sliced omelette and mysterious strips of stuff from a packet on top); ham, prawns, two chickens with different stuffing; purple cabbage salad, green and tomato salad; the trifle pictured above and a huge fruit salad made by me (apricots, nectarines, grapes, watermelon, rock melon, passionfruit, oranges, bananas, mango and separate cherries); chocolate cake; red wine and champagne.

After lunch I slipped downstairs and slept for a few hours, with Muffy curled up beside me.

Have seen pics of the dreadful storm in UK.  I hope you have not been affected, Winifred and Frank.

5 minutes later: Philip just came and took the new radio away - he's very cross and is going to return it.  

Santa is getting ready...

My friend Scott, who lives in Finland, took this photo of two of Santa's reindeer resting in his backyard, getting ready for the big night!

Today I promise myself that, before I have a swim and play the piano, I will catch up on my emails.  If I miss out on sending Christmas Greetings to any of you, please accept this:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
and Be Safe and Healthy

Tonight's dinner

Oh, how I wish I didn't eat meat!!!!!!  It really breaks my heart, yet I continue to do so because I'm too silly to work out a proper vegetarian diet.  I hope one day the entire world will stop behaving as though we have the right to eat other creatures.

Ticks

That is a good question, Olga - how did the vet know it was the larva of a paralysis tick?

I can only trust to her honesty.  Under the microscope the creature was VERY clear, so I assume this made it easy to identify.  As you can see by this (enlarged) ruler comparison, the larval stage is very small to the naked eye.  All the little dots on Muffy appeared to be black, but in reality they are a light brownish colour.

Yesterday Muffy had trouble opening her right eye and I thought she must have got some shampoo in it.  I rang the vet surgery and was told to take her up, but I wasn't well - sleepless nights lately - so decided to leave it till this morning.  Fortunately the problem has gone, so I'm glad I waited.

Have been frequently washing bedclothes and sofa throws and vacuuming since 'the discovery'.  Muffy seems OK, but her neck area has dozens of lumps from the bites.  How such tiny creatures can cause so much damage is hard to understand. 

Oh dear

This morning I gave Muffy her usual going over with a fine-tooth comb while we were sitting outside.  So much hair comes out it's a wonder she's not bald.  This evening she hopped onto my lap while I was sitting inside on the sofa, and, as I'd left the comb outside, I stroked her with my fingers, getting handfuls of hair.  I started on her back, going down towards her tail, then went to her head and neck.  Oh my god, I felt dozens of tiny black balls, smaller than a pinhead, and when I pulled one out and squeezed it with a tissue, an amazing amount of blood for such a tiny creature came out.

Panic stations.  It was 10 to 7.  I rang the vet surgery and was told if I could be there by 7 we could see a vet.  I threw Muffy into her cage and tore up the road and just as well. The vet said they were paralysis tick lavae and she let me have a look through the microscope at one.  I actually let out a wild scream of horror, the magnification was so large, and the little black dot was now a very large creature with legs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The vet bathed Muffy in tick shampoo and I bought some to bring home for a mere $50. (The visit cost $100.15 on top of the shampoo, but I'd pay anything to save her life!)  I have to bath her every three days and check her out carefully every day.

I adore animals (in case you hadn't figured that out already!)

I've been a bit slack with entries lately, mainly because of my inability to use my own photos now that my camera is broken.  This one came from my 'Worth Keeping' email folder and is just gorgeous, isn't it!

I got a reminder from Muffy's vet a few weeks back to take her for her annual checkup and vaccinations and I was a nervous wreck until the job was done.  She HATES being put in her cage to travel there and that really upsets me.  I'm such a softie, as I know it does no harm and she should just put up with it, but I almost come out in a sweat and get palpitations!!!  The vet did her treatments in another room so as not to upset me!!!!!!! Oh, how embarrassing.  Mind you, it's the bill that should be making me break out in a sweat and get palpitations!!!!!!!

Today I've promised myself I'll have a good tidy up.  It's long overdue.

Sunny and calm today

Yes, it is indeed a scary world!  This pic shows what a narrow passage the tornado took on Monday afternoon.  How unlucky were the owners of these cars in the station carpark!

My camera has worn out and I can't figure out how to use a new one Philip gave me, so I'll cheat and put in an old photo of the backyard, taken at this time last year.

The hydrangea is flourishing and looks just like this today.  Muffy, as usual, is lapping up the sunshine.

Severe storm in my suburb earlier this afternoon

Witnesses likened the storm to a mini-tornado, that lasted only 15-20 seconds.  It hit the main shopping centre, about 5 km from here, while I was safely tucked up at home.  But at about the same time we had a tremendous downpour of rain and I had to dash out in my rain poncho to pump the pool out; Philip has had to do it three times over the last couple of days.

New car

Philip got this car today - I'd 
never heard of a Skoda, let alone how to pronounce it, but
here it is: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMs1eXBn4VQ. Apparently it comes from the Czech Republic and is pronounced the same as in German.

Don't ask me why this piece has formatted itself this silly way - it was perfectly normal just two seconds ago, then it hopped like this while I was just looking at it!

Have been getting more and more fed up with the world, and have come to the realisation that it's best to ignore most things.  Instead of watching the stupid breakfast programs in the mornings I'll listen to classical music on the radio and only watch the news at night occasionally. I can't do anything about more people shooting each other, so there's no reason for me to know.  Better just to mind my own business.

And instead of watching other rubbish on TV I've been enjoying my uni course from Jerusalem on 'A Brief History of Humankind' and have started another one from Michigan on ' The History of the Internet'.  I get 9 or 10/10 for all the quizzes I've done on the first and not surprisingly the only quiz I've attempted so far on the second netted me a mere 5/10.  I say 'not surprisingly' because I know absolutely nothing about the internet and it is a real challenge for me.

Fire danger over for the moment

I was so worried about animals during the fires but reassured to know lots of people were helping them.  Animal suffering affects me more than people suffering.

Lina, thanks for these absolutely heart-warming shots of a Japanese grandmother and her cat. They are the most gorgeous pictures you will ever see:
http://www.demilked.com/grandma-and-odd-eyed-cat-miyoko-ihara/

Today expected to be the worst so far

It's hot outside today.  I just skimmed the leaves from the pool and could hardly last the few minutes required for this job.  It's hard to imagine what it's like for the hundreds of firemen and women and police close to the flames.  The wind is whipping up, which is a real cause for concern.  Dozens of schools are closed and retirement villages are being evacuated.  Extra firefighters have come in from other states and NZ.

The message before the arrival of the wind is 'Get out while you can!'

Organising all these people is a phenomenal task.  And they all have to have somewhere to sleep and be fed.  

Another day...

I was just lying in bed listening to the BBC news when I was surprised to hear the ABC news theme.  It was an item about the bushfires, from Sydney.  Still only the one death, which is amazing.

Bushfires worsen

Hundreds of houses have been lost, but so far only one death - a man died from a heart attack defending his house.  A state of emergency has been declared.

Jacarandas in bloom four weeks early...

...not a good sign.  Our poor planet.  What's it going to be like in 50 years?

Yes, the bushfire situation is dire.  Our firefighters certainly do deserve our respect and thanks. Are we going to make it through the summer???  I'm ready to grab the kids and Muffy and evacuate at the first sign of fire near here.

A day to forget

Sydney is surrounded by fires and we are affected by smoke, though there are no fires close to us.  It's extremely frightening.  Hundreds of houses have been lost.  

A lot can happen in 12 hours or so - last night I was enjoying Andre Rieu and now look. Glad to hear Georgina loves him as much as I do, Winifred.  Emma loves him, too, and dances round whenever I play one of his DVDs.

Too close for comfort

Some of you know my friend Lyndall, at Fingal Bay.  (Winifred, it was through her friend in Cirencester that I met you and Roy.)  This bushfire came so close to her home on Sunday she packed her vital papers and was ready to evacuate, though in the end did not need to.  When I spoke to her the following day she was still trembling.

We are also at risk, living in the bush as we do, and this season is high risk for bushfires. All householders are warned to have a fire plan.  I'm constantly aware there could be an outbreak at any moment. 

And 80 cars were burnt out in the middle of Sydney, right next door to where I'm going to see Andre Rieu tomorrow night!

The weather is quite mad.  One day it's 37 degrees, the next 20.  We are forever putting on/taking off clothes and bedclothes.

Long weekend

Philip took the family camping here on Sunday to a property near Bathurst owned by friends. Look how dry it is.  It's very hot during the day and very cold at night.  

I was invited to see the Fleet Review and fireworks by my friend who lives right here, but didn't go as I hate crowds and my arthritic feet and knees would have made it difficult to walk from the station.  No chance of driving there, with hundreds of thousands of people about.  I got a better view on the telly from the comfort of my sofa!

Yes Winifred, I think swimming is addictive, isn't it?  Once the weather warms up, I want to hop in the minute I see water. 

Daylight saving starts today

Truly, nothing makes me feel so good as having a swim - it washes away depression and makes me feel good to be alive.  This morning after my dip I lay on the deck and read the Sunday paper now that it is being delivered.  Muffy was right there beside me.  

All those years between 1961 when I started teaching and 1999 when I retired, I didn't know how to relax, as there was always preparation to do for school.  It's taken me years to learn how. (Strictly speaking, I didn't teach all the time - I did other things like full-time uni, live in France where I was a gynaecologist's receptionist, and journalism.)  But nothing was as all-consuming as teaching.  There's an article in today's paper about what a stressful job it is and how many teachers burn out after just a few years.

On being 70 and filling in the day

Thanks for this gorgeous photo, Frank.

I'm so fortunate being near Philip, as nothing is as important as family.  I used to think I didn't have many more years to live, but now I feel as though I'll live forever!  Minding the grandkids three days a week gives me some purpose in life and I have so many things to do with the rest of my time I can barely fit things in.  Some people I know put off retiring as they don't have a life outside work and won't know what to do with themselves.

This morning I had my first swim of the season.  It was quite cold, but bearable.  So, from now on I'll go into the pool every day at least once.  

After my dip I drove to Hunters Hill, a beautiful suburb by the river, with huge sandstone mansions, many with tennis courts and a $M3+ price tag.  Here are a couple of typical houses with a view:

I had lunch in a restaurant with French chefs and waiters.  I wonder if there are any French people left in France!

Now I'm back home and will play the piano.

I subscribed to The Sydney Morning Herald today, out of sympathy, as it is going broke and I want to do my little bit to help.  I'll get the paper at the weekend and online access the rest of the week.  The journalists do a great job exposing corruption and it will be a shame when it dies.  They must be desperate as you get the first month for only $1.

Oh, and now that I have figured out how to work the DVD player, I can watch Andre Rieu to my heart's content.  He'll be in Sydney in a couple of weeks and I can hardly wait...

A perfect Sunday

I really am very easily pleased and have very simple tastes.  For lunch today I enjoyed red wine ($4 bottle from Aldi), white Castello cheese from South Africa (my favourite and also from Aldi), a bread roll, salad and salami followed by ice-cream and strawberries.

Then I amazed myself by actually getting a DVD to work and watched Andre Rieu in Cortona, Tuscany, which brought back sad memories.  (My friend Gemma who saw me off on the plane back to Australia after my stay in Milano died soon after.)

Yes, Winifred, I'm sure Emma will soon show me how to do these things.

It's a very comfortable 22 degrees inside today and probably 30 out, so I think I'll start swimming tomorrow.

Pink geranium

This is a poor photo, but tells the story of my life...I don't understand the first thing about how to use my camera, even though I've had it for years and read the manual many times. I just don't have a head for such technical details.  If I manage to get a good photo you can be sure it was a fluke.  I don't understand the first thing about the computer, either.  I can play a CD but have never figured out how to watch a DVD.  And the biggest mystery of all is my mobile phone - I can barely do a thing.  But at least I can watch the telly and change channels and move the volume up and down!!!

Olga, don't hold your breath waiting for the album of DJs photos.  I haven't forgotten, but haven't quite figured it out yet!

The one thing I am good at is online jigsaw puzzles and I still do several a day, with a cup of coffee beside me.  I find it very relaxing, even though I stand at the pc.

Some of you may remember the pics of my beautiful garden in Mayfield.  Since moving to Sydney I seem to have become a caterpillar farmer, providing fodder for the fattest, juiciest ones you have ever seen.  This pink geranium is the loneliest plant in the street, as it's the last survivor of all my efforts.

How lucky we are

Yesterday I was invited to lunch by a friend who lives in an apartment opposite the Opera House, next door to the Governor General and the Prime Minister (Kirribilli House, above). I arrived early, so walked down beside Kirribilli House to Lady Gowrie Lookout and waited there (next pic).  There was a group of children about seven years old, each in a little dinghy with brightly coloured sails, and all joined together by ropes, with adults in a craft at the head and tail of the procession. Just as they were passing, they burst spontaneously into our National Anthem. Beautiful!!  (Lina, I was sitting here when I SMSd you.)

The apartment block from the road and view from the front:

There were 10 guests, all lively conversationalists, and the food was delicious.  It makes me mad when Australians in general never stop complaining.  Of course there are some poor people, but the vast majority of us are doing very nicely, thank you.

Extended family

This is Georges, my other son, from Burkina Faso.  At the moment he's studying in Sweden and this was taken in Malmo.  He's positively brilliant, speaks many languages, writes poetry and one day a novel, I hope.  We've known each other through cyber space for years and years and now it's good to be able to follow him on Facebook.

Wonderful friends

A couple of weeks ago I got an email from Jacky, a French penfriend from high school days, telling me it was her 50th wedding anniversary.  She and husband Maxime had been absolutely wonderful to me in 1973 when I left my husband, and Philip and I stayed with them for a while in their country home.  It was from there I moved to live with Catherine and Jean-Claude, the couple whose 50th anniversary I went to last year in France.  I spent a few days with Jacky and Maxime in Orleans while I was there last year.  Both couples were amazingly kind and generous and I have to thank both of them for getting custody of Philip in the nasty divorce.  We have remained in touch ever since.

I sent a flower pot through Interflora and here's a photo of it in Jacky's living room.

David Jones spring flowers

For the third year in a row Olga came down from Newcastle to go to David Jones with me to see the beautiful spring flowers.  It's always one of the highlights of the year and thousands of people flock there.  Thanks for taking the photos, Olga.

We then went to The White Rabbit Gallery to see a Chinese exhibition.  These clothes were knitted from pages cut out of the Chinese/English dictionaries shown.  Truly amazing!  Some people are sooooooo clever.

Winifred, I think the whole world is in for a troublesome future with climate change. 

The other day it was 27 degrees here, so I decided to have my first swim, but when I hopped in waist-deep and nearly froze, it took about one second for me to decide to climb straight back out again!!!!  I think I'd better leave it a bit longer to allow the water temperature to catch up to the air.