Beautiful Sydney

I set out this morning for some inner-city, harbourside suburbs, and managed to get lost three times in the attempt!  Honestly, I was very frustrated with myself.  I had lunch in a trendy cafe with wholesome food in Rozelle, where I took the top two pics, then continued down the road a bit to Balmain, where I photographed two of many lovely old sandstone buildings.  On the way back, just a few kilometres from home, I took the last three pics.

Sydney is full of trees and magnificent mansions and cute little cottages.  It's absolutely breathtaking.  I never tire of just driving round, even when I'm lost.  Most people love the harbour and waterways but I love trees and gardens.

I went to a movie, 'Hyde Park on Hudson' in the afternoon.  There's no doubt about humans, they're a pretty terrible lot.  Even presidents lack integrity and decency.  And last night I watched 'Babel' on TV and was appalled at the stupidity of humans.  Give me cats any day...

Yes, Olga, I have to agree, Muffy is indeed a princess.

Easter 2013

Yes, the weather is better here in the Antipodes, and I feel sorry for you, Michael, and everybody else up north suffering freezing conditions.  Almost every day I manage a swim and the top pic is the view upwards from the pool, while the bottom one is where Muffy and I are whiling away this morning, in absolute bliss!  (I brought my mug of coffee with me to get the camera, otherwise it would have been on the table.)

I don't really want to go anywhere, as I get too annoyed by The Great Unwashed (a rude term for other people).  People in general push and shove on footpaths, put their feet on seats in the trains, and talk loudly on their mobiles.  I want to withdraw more and more from society and just be at home.

Last night I cooked a Thai massaman curry and brown rice, with pancakes for dessert, for the whole family. Nothing beats the simple pleasures of life, away from the noise and violence out there.  I'm trying to stop watching/listening to the news, BBC radio 4, and reading any newspapers, especially The Daily Mail.  I need to calm down and enjoy life, not be constantly worried about what's going on in the world.  As you say, Frank, even trying to make a phone call drives us mad - I think your idea of a number for being totally cheesed off is brilliant!

Frazzled again!!!!

These days I try to avoid filling in forms, making phone calls or doing things online as it only ends in An error occurred while trying to save or publish your post. Please try again.

Can you believe this message just popped up and perfectly illustrates what I was trying to say!!! Nothing is simple!!!  Nothing ever works!!!!  Philip just switched the computer off upstairs without telling me and mine is connected through wifi or some other thing I fail to understand.

Trying to make a phone call has to be one of life's most frustrating experiences.  Every person who answers - eventually - is almost impossible to understand, either because they're at a call centre in India or the Philippines or a new arrival to Australia and can barely speak English.  Why give them a job answering the phone?????????????

And, of course, you are expected to know the magic number and password for a thousand things and if you don't, you can't make any changes.  A bloke on the phone just emailed me a form to print, but I must have photographic evidence of myself!!!!  How ridiculous - they don't know what I looked like in the first place!!!!!!!!!

What I was trying to do was find out why emails addressed to dlphilipson@ozemail.com.au through iinet are not getting through, even though they've charged me $25 for the privilege.  They, of course, have not answered my email asking for my money back.

So, if you are still using the ozemail address, please get rid of it and only use
booknook@gmail.com.

Michael, I'm sure Muffy wouldn't even venture outside into the snow!  What a lovely pic!

Where does time go?

With 70 years of practice, you'd think I had life worked out, but no, I just keep on muddling along!  I become extremely frazzled at having to constantly recharge the batteries in my phone, camera and iPad.  In fact, it drives me mad!!!!

There are never enough hours in the day to play the piano and learn some Japanese, let alone all the other things I should be doing.  The more time I spend on Japanese the more confused I get and I have to admit it is almost impossible to learn.  However, I will persevere.

Some time back I started on family history and that takes a lot of time, too.  It's fascinating stuff.  Hard to believe how things have changed in my lifetime.  I can remember my grandparents' house without electricity - Pa used to read by kerosene lamp.The ice man used to deliver to fill the ice chest.  The baker delivered warm bread every morning. Pa used to travel by horse and cart and I would follow on my pony.

Oh no, Michael, I couldn't do that to Muffy!!!!  The other night I accidentally stretched one leg out without realising she was at the end of the bed.  As quick as lightning, she scratched or bit - I couldn't tell which - right across my toes and drew blood, which got all over the sheets!

Spoilt cat

Aahh Lina, you say the nicest things!

Last night I had great difficulty sleeping as Miss Cat was stretched out right in the middle of the bed and I had to squeeze down one side!  I was still awake at 1am, so got up, took this photo and emailed Winifred.  Her very rude reply said, 'Chuck the cat aside'!!!!! :-))  I don't have the heart to ever do that, unfortunately.  Talk about a spoilt cat...

I still listen to BBC radio 4 all night and still do jigsaws all day.  I'm trying to wean myself off both and learn some Japanese instead.  That would be a much better use of my time.

Sydney weather

We've had rain for days and days, and were lucky to have a sunny break for the party last Sunday. It's hard to believe a week has already passed and today I MUST write thank you cards for all the lovely presents I got.  My beautiful umbrella has had quite a workout!

I swam in the rain this morning, which is always lovely.

For those of you who do not know Sydney, we live at quite a distance from the coast - you can always have a look on Google maps.