Grumpy old woman

Yesterday I set out to revisit Woollahra, a suburb where I lived when Philip was 3.  I took this pic at the bus stop, a few doors down.

I travelled by train on the north shore.  Two seats in front a couple of teenage girls were sitting facing each other.  A couple, aged like me in their 70s, got on and went to sit in front of me.  As she sat down, the woman tapped one of the girls on the shoulder and said loudly, 'We have to sit on that,' presumably because she had her feet on the seat.  I tapped the woman on the shoulder, smiled at her, and said, 'Good on you!'.

At the next stop, another teenage girl got on, sat opposite me and put both her feet on the seat.  Emboldened, I said to her, 'Excuse me, we have to sit on that.'  To her credit, this girl said, 'Sorry,' and immediately took her feet off.  The woman in

front turned round with a big smile and a thumbs up.

Public transport would be all right if it wasn't for the public!

After a delightful visit to the Woollahra village, where I had lunch, I hopped on the bus and continued to Bondi Beach.

That was a mistake.  Bondi is an appalling area, with dreadfully ugly buildings.  It was an unusually hot day of 32 degrees, so the beach was crowded - well, the sand was crowded, not so many people actually in the water - and people packed onto the bus like sardines, with strollers and surfboards as well.  Couldn't get back to the oasis of Hornsby Heights quickly enough.

Time do do a little catching up

One year ago I sent this plant through InterFlora to Jacky and Maxime in Brittany (France) for their 50th wedding anniversary.  Yesterday I got this pic, showing how it has flourished!  It certainly was a good choice.  And Jacky must have green fingers.

It's school holidays and I'm breathing a big sigh of relief - no English, Japanese or piano lessons. However I'll keep up my fitness program and have already swum my 10 lengths this morning.  Today's task is to sort through the accumulated brochures and letters that I usually put to one side when they arrive.  They build up to a pile that almost reaches the ceiling before I force myself to attend to them.

Keeping fit is wearing me out!

Winifred,I don't think I'll be able to keep it up for a year like you.  It's not just the physical activities, but the changing of clothes and having showers all the time that I'm finding hard.  (Not to mention hanging onto our heads so the Muslims won't chop them off, as they're threatening to do to random Sydneysiders.  But since Hornsby Heights is as far as is possible away from the city centre, we might be lucky up here.)

I took these pics at the centre earlier this afternoon, at my second Zumba session.  As you can see, it is beautiful.  There has never been more than one other person in my slow lane in the outside pool, whatever time I've been.  (They really need to have a Painfully Slow lane for me.) The view from the west side is absolutely glorious - tree tops in the valley seen through a glass wall.

The last two pictures could be side-by-side.  They show the interior, with the pool at the bottom closed due to 'contamination'.  'Baby poo' in other words.  Oh, yuk!!!

It's quite possible for you to hear the music in UK - thank goodness it still is United - as we prance around.  Would somebody please explain to me why the noise level must be at maximum?  Seems it's the same for you, too, Winifred.  Don't know how long before it will drive me away.  I'm told the neighbours within a hundred-mile radius are complaining.

Fitness fanatic now!

Last Wednesday, tired of my slothful self after weeks of not being allowed to go to exercise class, I went to our new pool and joined, unlimited, for 6 months.  This entitles me to everything - Zumba, pilates and aqua classes as well as lap swimming.

So far I've breast-stroked 10 laps on three days, been to one Zumba class, and had a rest day on Sunday (as Philip assures me all elite athletes do).  And the plan is to do something six days per week every week.

Good to hear from you Olga - what a fantastic life you are having.  Hope you're OK Michael.

My very own recipe

DIANE’S MEATLOAF

1 pkt Aldi organic beef

5 slices bread, crumbed

3 tblspns tomato paste

dash Worcestershire sauce

1 egg

salt and pepper

flour to sprinkle

spray oil for tin

milk to brush on top

¼ onion, finely chopped

1 carrot, finely chopped

handful pine nuts

1 tspn garlic

Fry onion, carrot, pine nuts and garlic in a pan till soft.

Meanwhile, put all other ingredient (except flour, milk and spray) into a bowl.  Add fried ingredients.  Mix together by hand till firm.  Roll in flour.

Place in lightly sprayed rectangular baking tin, pat down, and brush top with a little milk.

Bake in 200 oven for 45 minutes.

Delicious as a sandwich filling.

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I do apologize for my long silence.  Busy, busy and sick, sick.  But completely fine now, and hope you all are, too.