We attended a funeral during the week. It was very unexpected in that he was ill but his death was sudden and came as a shock to his family. We knew the daughter and some other members of the extended family I have also been watching the British General Election, which is due this weekend. From what I have been reading it is going to be a bit on the nasty side. I miss the times when we had political figures that had the ability to use the English Language, who had wit and style, who could destroy, but still be good-mannered about it. These days I look on most politicians as thugs in ties whose first thoughts are in filling their pockets with looking after the interests of the nation coming a far away second. Vision is something that lasts only between now and the next election. There is something seriously wrong with a system where politicians can award themselves a 7% pay increase yet maintain that they can only afford a 1% pay increase for frontline troops.
Today here in Australia it is Mother’s Day – Happy Mother’s Day to all Mums and Moms and including all Fur-baby Mothers. My little Chienne is as happy as anything – we play and we go walks and she sits beside me. There is no indication that there is anything amiss and unlike the Man, I can do a lot more with Chienne because she is not blind and

can see what is going on. I feel a little sad in that Chienne was just a tad neglected these last few months when we were looking after The Man. If it gets to the stage where she has difficulty in walking ( and I really don’t see that happening) we always have the Dog Stroller to fall back on. That’s good fun. I put her in it from time to time and wheel her around the garden and the house and unlike the Man, Chienne is quite comfortable in it. My idea here is getting her used to it – just in case! I miss the Man and think of him constantly

It’s been a fairly quiet month and I have been doing some work in the garden and across in my office. My office was a mess- well very untidy anyway, so I decided it really needed a clean and a clear out of all the old paperwork that was piling up and was no longer relevant. Isn’t that what I bought the shredder for anyway?? So, I filled the recycle bin with all this shredded and other paper and generally gave the place a good clean out. I’m quite happy with how it looks now – like it’s supposed to!
Only a few weeks and I set off to Naracoorte. I am sort of looking forward to this. I have never been in that part of the state so it will be somewhat of an adventure – almost as far from Adelaide to Naracoorte as it is from here to Adelaide. Although I have driven through part of the way when I went over to visit Alan in Geelong some years ago. I am looking forward to having some different places to photograph. I was thinking of taking a short course on photography but having looked at some of the costs I decided to just potter along as I do. My photographs might not be great or professional looking but they work for me.
I am so sorry to hear that things are not well in Arizona. I am thinking about you all every day and I really hope that everything can be worked out and settle back down again. I am sorry about the horses. I know how you loved them too. Poor Charlie! I thought building the “Fortress” would solve the problem, but apparently not. Everything that has happened must be very upsetting ( to put it mildly) so I really do hope that you can sort everything out and get back to “relative” peace. I have missed you and I think others have too, so you know many people are thinking about you.
I have missed the posts of late, but then, since New Year I have missed a lot. However, as I said the other week, things have improved and I am much, much better.