The Benji Team 2

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