Month: July 2024

I have often said that I like looking at photographs and the real closeness to actual   flowers. I like Coleus and grew them for a while until the jinx hit and things I bought and planted just died.. It became so serious that I really felt I should just buy plants, take them home and throw them in the bin to save all the trauma. I didn’t of course, but it was a thought. On the subject of plants and flowers one of the largest retailers in the country, and many others, are under fire from the State and Federal- Governments for selling what had been determined as an invasive weed. This will include many other garden centres as well. It is a very pretty flower, but it comes from South Africa and no one is sure how it got to Australia. The plant is called ” Gazinia” and it is sold in many places across South Australia. I don’t have any but I have taken quite a few photographs of the flowers. But it seems  they grow like wildfire and are a threats to the  lands of the farming industry. We had the same problem  with a Weed called Salvation Jane – but better known in South Australia as Patterson’s Curse. and  we are still trying to control it – without a lot of success. Salvation Jane was brought to Australia by Jane Patterson as seeds to plant in her garden.  She brought the first seeds from Europe to beautify a garden, and then could only watch helplessly as the weed infested previously productive pastures for many miles around.   Paterson’s curse is now a dominant broadleaf pasture weed through much of New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania and also infests native grasslands, heathlands, and woodlands. We did the same in Scotland. The wealthy and rich landowners brought a plant  from Northern Europe to Scotland. It was used as a ornamental plant to line the driveways up to their mansions.  It  got out of control and spread but no one was too concerned because the they believed the snow and ice of the Scottish winter would take care of it. What they didn’t know ( nor did we for nearly a century) is that the plant has its own internal system in its sap for protecting it for such an event. It thrived the winter and when the sun came out it was ready to take off like a rocket covering  great areas of land before it was finally brought under control at the end of WW2. It is a most beautiful plant/bush and I love it – but there are islands in the North of Scotland where the plant is forbidden and pretty hefty fines.

What is the bush? Some may recognise the bush on my left – the Rhododendron Ponticum. It won’t grow in South Australia – I know because I tried and although I covered it with love and kindness it died. Of course, then I didn’t know about the problems it caused. I would never do the same again. It grows very well in New South and my sister lived  not far from Orlinda Research Garden and she had Rhododendron in her garden.

Change of subject:

I had Benji down at the Wetlands this afternoon. I saw three of the swans for a little while, then they seemed to in ( to wherever they go) and we never saw them again. Still it was a Reasonable afternoon and we enjoyed our walk. It made up for me abandoning the walk due to the  cold this morning.  I did take him out at 6an as usual but even with heavy jacket and gloves I was still cold – I mean very cold – 2c kind of cold, so I gave up and came home.  It had warmed up some so we went for a wander. I have been invited over to my son’s place for dinner tonight

Interesting discovery. Sometimes I forget things so these days I look up the name of the thing on the computer.  I used to ask Annabell now I have to find what  I want on line now.  It’s a bit of a pain and much slower  :o)  I have watched some of the Olympics – thought the opening ceremony was interesting but a bit too much to take it all in and the pouring rain didn’t help and I felt that actually getting finally to the cauldron to light was too drawn out with too many  handovers. I expect I’ll watch some but not a lot..

It’s been a while but things are finally starting to settle down and I think the bills have stopped coming in. Things are moving along,  although,  I have to confess that I still have  ” Moments ” but other that, things are fine. My son chastised me for always responding to his question “How are you, Dad” with the answer ” Fine” I mean, what else am I supposed to say? I mean I could say that I spend ,my days crying in my beer, but that he knows to be untrue because I don’t drink beer!  If he wasn’t so serious it would be quite funny. But he means well and I know he is concerned and he does care, but I am “fine” and getting on with things.

Benji has been good these last weeks. I am hardly able to move and he is at my heels. Several times now, he has repeated his climbing up on to my lap whilst I watch the evening news. I take him out with me most of the time and, as I said before, he just curls up

on the front seat and sleeps. Despite the cold, Benji and I have been spending time at the wetlands. Both of us are well rugged up, which is just as well since he is slowing down a bit.  I lift him into the car these days.   Saturday and Sunday – dressed, Breakfast with the RFDS at George Avenue, then down to the Wetlands and our  walk and visit with the swans. Interesting today (Monday) in that I had just taken a photograph of the swan when it decided it had to go and spread its wings and take off and yes I did  photograph this — not, perhaps as good as I would have liked, but it did come as something unexpected, so I was not ready for it. When it took off I really thought it weas going to go head first into the bridge, then it suddenly swooped straight upwards, well clear of the bridge.  The other pair were  just swimming around in the pond beyond the bridge.

I am heading off to Adelaide on Thursday of  this week. I have a major account from the SA Ambulance Service for the transport of Annabell from Quorn back to Whyalla and I prefer to take that to my insurance Co. rather than post it down.  When I was  taking Annabell to the Cancer clinic I got into the habit of taking accounts  that were covered,  to the insurance for payment. Apart from which I really want to get out of town for at least a day and spend time  wandering around Adelaide Centre. John is going to look after Benji for me  and then pick me up from the Coach Station later at night. Apart from the Ambulance account I really haven’t much to do in Adelaide but the break will be most welcome.

The unfortunate thing about Adelaide is that for a major city it has a pretty poor excuse for a Coach Station – the seats are not the best – actually they are pretty poor, there is no place to buy anything to eat or drink and if you want something to eat of drink it’s a ten minute walk to the  Central Market and back.  There were other Coach companies when the place first opened, but they have since moved out leaving the place almost empty except for the Whyalla /Flinders / Flinders Ranges service. People don’t really like it because it is

too far a walk from the city centre. True, the old Coach Station was just across the road but at least it had a canteen which served hot food and drink.   I wont have time to go to the big  centres but I will be able to get to Central Market and if  you include Rundle Mall that’s  big enough for the few hours I have there.

However, I will probably spend much of my time in Rundle Mall in the city. I want to look for a new coat for Benji. The one he has he has had for a long time and it  is getting a bit worse for wear and there is no Annabell  to make him a new one, so I will see what I can get for him. If I can get a tartan one so much the better – but I doubt it. If I fail, I might try and have a  “nice talk” with one of the RFDS ladies and I will supply all the necessary material. – We’ll see…

The weather has been cold and many people – including me – have mentioned that it has never been this cold that we can remember. This could well mean that – like you – we could be for a very hot summer.  We have had some rain, but not too bad although the wetlands could do with a drop more, but I just want some heat..

Saturday 29th

I neglected to include one of the photographs I took when I was at the Wetlands with Benji. The reason for not including it was that I thought it was too far away to be useful. I have had another look at it and perhaps it is not as far off as I thought it was. I did get up with the alarm this morning and decided that it was cold, wet and miserable and not really a good idea to go out walking. Benji was still sleeping and I doubt he would have been really happy with me if I were to drag him from a nice warm bed out to the cold and the rain  ( drizzle). Actually, I really didn’t  fancy the idea myself, so we just stayed home.

I have to drive through to Port Augusta tomorrow and the weather is supposed to be  cold, but dry. As I said the other day I will be watching the boys and the Karate Grading for the next level. Once the Karate Grading  is done I will do some shopping and perhaps  spend some time at the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens before heading home. I would like to take Benji with me but I do not know how long the Grading will take and dogs are not allowed in the Arid Lands B.G. so I really don’t like the idea of him being in the car the whole day.  The grading  and the driving, took up all of five hours. Two hours driving there and back and three hours for the grading, results, presentation of  new belts, so as I suspected – too long for him to be in the car and I didn’t get to the Arid Lands anyway.

However, it was good to be home again and I think he was pleased to see me. Tomorrow, being Monday,  I will not be going to watch the boys at training bur rather I will be attending the AGM of the Royal Flying Doctors, Local Support. I think I did mention before that there is a move to have me returned as Secretary again, but I will do my very best

to kill that off – who am I kidding – I will not accept any  nomination. It’s much too early and as I said before, my successor,  the Present Sec. is doing a good job. Through one thing and another, I have been out of things for much too long, and  the system I  created  here on the computer, is long gone. Apart from which, I really don’t want to  be tied up so much. I was secretary for over 11 years and I sort of feel like Australian _ “Been there! – Done that! – Don’t want to go back again!!”. I just want to spend my time with Benji and the boys with  helping out in the occasional  fundraiser.

The Karate grading yesterday was quite interesting. I understand, however, that changes had to be made, mainly because there were no matts available.  Apart from their problems I had  my own problems ( as did most of the parents present) – the place was like a blooming ice-box. There hours of that was quite enough. At least the next grading will be in November – summer! But that aside, it was interesting. Andrew did not up-grade, but he assisted across the area when needed and to assist others when required.  John up-graded to a Brown Belt and young Connor upgraded  to a Blue Belt, and I just sat quietly and froze!! Was glad to get back to the car and get the heaters on. I did get over to the market but there was nothing there that I really wanted, so I just made my way home.   By the time I got home I had heated up somewhat so I  got Benji and we went out for a short  walk together.  A new week begins and, we hope, a bit drier and a bit warmer that the week just gone. The sun is out but there is,  presently, no heat in it