Category: House, Garden and Dogs

Well, we are just about packed and ready to go. Annabell has to see her specialist this afternoon, then we are free until we head off to Adelaide on Saturday morning. It has been raining heavily in Adelaide this last weekl but I am thankful to say that Friday and Saturday are forecast to be dry. This means a fairly quiet run down to Flinders Lodge. I  expect the city centre to be busy but we should get through that  fairly quickly. Once I get Annabell settled in I want to  head up to Norwood Parade and the main  Shopping Centre.  It’s interesting going back down this trip since we

suspect that this is the last time we shall be at  Flinders Lodge.  Really, we didn’t expect to be back there again since we were told that the new building would be opened by now. Anyway, this is South Australia where no major building is ever completed without cost blowouts and delays – so why should the New Cancer Lodge be any different?

On the way down we will  stop off at Officeworks. Annabell needs a new tablet and  my ipad is getting much too old – Still serviceable – but only just. So, I said I would get her a new  tablet so she can continue to watch Foxtel. Not being a TV person it doesn’t really bother me. I watch the news and that’s about it. Although I have to say that this computer is causing a few problems. Like the ipad, it’s getting  on a bit and slowing down and I am sure I am losing some of my mail – at least on this machine. I have mail on my phone that has not shown up on here yet. When we get back from Adelaide I’ll take it to the computer center here and get it updated. Actually, I cannot  download  Windows 11 to this machine but from what I hear, that’s no loss

Other than a Tuesday night with the ladies, Annabell does not get out much these days – unless I am available to take her out and even then it’s generally shopping – or to church. She used to represent us at the various ladies group functions in  other churches, but  many of them have the same problems we have – declining numbers.

Currently we are in the midst on the local Council elections – both for Mayor and the Council itself. All positions end this year so it’s a full election. We have  2  candidates for Mayor and  19 people for 9 positions on council. On the agenda for the new  council to consider is  the building of a new Council Chambers, where, when and how much?

On Saturday the City Council are promoting an Air Show to celebrate the $10 million upgrade and development of the Airport. I  have tickets for this and, sadly, I will not be attending. What a great photo opportunity, but we will be on our way to Adelaide and Annabell’s Clinic. Still, not too great a loss – Annabell, however,  has the great Joy of spending 4.5 hours in the car and a live concert – starring  ME.

Slight change of plans. We were supposed to be travelling down on Saturday, however,  we are now not travelling down to Adelaide until the Sunday.  We decided that the “Sunday Rest Day” was really not necessary so we decided that we would put off our departure until Sunday morning.  Given the new arrangements I could now attend the Air Show, but  after some discussion on Wednesday night at the Photography Group, I might give it a miss. I don’t know, I will see how things are. Mainly there is really not the space available for parking at a major air shop. Goodness, it’s bad enough trying to park when an  aircraft comes in and you go to collect someone. Heaven knows what it would be like at an air show.

This afternoon was not a good afternoon for me. For reasons unknown, other than wandering all around the hospital getting Annabell to tests and then waiting on her specialist to see her, all of which took from 1:30  to 4:45 pm. and my right knee decided to play up. Sadly,  by the time we got home it was quite painful. Still, if I behave and don’t do too much this evening, it should settle down for tomorrow. At least that’s what I hope.

We had a lovely weekend, warm and sunny,  which lasted until Tuesday afternoon and then the rain came back. It rained much of last night and has been raining off and on all morning – well since I got up at 05:30 anyway. We did not go out at 6am since it was still raining, but it cleared up and the rain stopped round about 07:30 – or at least, that’s what I thought, It looked ok so I decided to take Benji for a block walk and the rain started again – yes we got wet and that’s twice in the last week I have managed to do that. At least on this ocassion  the showers were intermittant and not particularly heavy.  Fortunately I have a towell in the car so I got that out and dried off  Benji before we went back into the house.  Benji is a lot better now – the odd scratch from time to time – which is fairly normal – however the medication and the injection seems to have done the trick

Annabell has not been  at her best this while back and she has difficulty walking. She is slowing diown and thus walks very slowly. If she gets any worse then regardless of her protests I will get a wheelchair. But then again, that’s easy to say – not much use if I go ahead and buy it and she refuses to use it.  I still take her to the ladies night and she enjoys  her night out and if truth be known – I do too !!   She has a mobile (Cell) phone which is used for about two minutes per week.  She calls me to come and pick her up, then she switches it off until next Tuesday. Hospitals and doctors and clinics want a contact number –  what she does know, is my number so that’s what everyone has – they contact me and I hand the phone to her, or take a message if I am out of the house. It’s complicated, but it works.

We now have a new Government.  The last one of this colour, built a new hospital – the New Royal Adelaide Hospital. At over $3 Billion it was the third most expensive building on the planet. It was costed at $2.1 Billion but with  blowouts in cost and major delays, it ended up costing $3.9 billion, for a building we wont own for a generation.  We will be paying for this for the next twenty years- or more.  Now this new  Government, of the same colour, want to build another Hospital – the Women and Children’s Hospital- bulldoze a herritage building  to accommodate it and with a cost of well over

the perevious record of $3.9 Billion.  I did mention that South Australia  has a total population of 1.7 million and that the greater mass of South Australia is desert and  Grassland ( Arid Land) .

It is my  Son’s Birthday this coming Saturday, so Annabell and I are taking him, the family and a few of his friends out to dinner. Should be a good night, and we are looking forward to it. With any reasonable luck, Connor might actually behave. Annabell and I have not been to this Hotel before. It used to be a senior BHP Officer’s Accommodation when they visited here but BHP sold it off years ago. I have never been  to it since then. I was there at a function once  many years ago. I have not been  there since and that was about 1985(ish).  We had  a telephone call from Flinders Medical and they want Annabell down in Adelaide on Monday 31st October. This means that we will be away from Saturday 29th. October until Wednesday  2nd November with the Tuesday being a “rest day” after the procedure and we head for home early Wednesday.

Saturday. I over slept this morning. The alram went off as usual and generally I touch it once and wait until  the next buzz  in two minutes. I must have touched it twice and it went off altogether. As a results I we did not get out until 06:20. I am so glad it was not later since we are now in the middle of a rain storm. Ther clap of thunder that started it off was so sudden and so loud I  felt like chicken little (The sky is falling!!~the sky is falling!!)  However, we can’t really complain since much of this week was dry,  and at times, warm and sunny.

Oh no!! It’s only been four months and the black ink on my  Epson tank has gone below the top line. Is it ok to panic now?  :o)  By this time, considering what I hve been doing lately, I would have gone through  at least two sets of ink cartridges, so that’s quite a  saving. If it continues at the same rate  then it will  have paid for itself in no time. However, even at the present it is still the best investment I have made recently. Strange morning. When we went out last night the moon was high in the sky,  bright and white. This morning ( 06:10) the moon was low in the sky and a pale yellow – very odd. Well, I thought so.  Did look on-line and it’s just atmospheric dust, least that’s what it says, and there was me thinking it had some significant  importance.

Had a telephone call from the President of  “The Pink Ladies” (Hospital Ladies Auxillary)  and they would like to use the church hall for their meetings twice a month and also asked how much we would charge. They have been told  that we do not charge but if they  wish to give a donation once a year – at Christmas for example – that would be quite acceptable. However, before we make any final arrangements we will have to contact our insurance people and  talk to them first. We will do that this week so we can give an answer to the request as quickly as possible.

Well, it’s Monday again and this morning was fresh but with a fantastic sunrise. Trying to operate a camera and control the stroller with Benji inside it not so easy so I don’t. However, I do have a half decent Android Galaxy   Phone and it does take some really nice photographs. I haven’t at this moment downloaded them but I will.  I wont be able to do this for much longer – take photographs in the early morning – at least not from the area I walk in. Much of the land is being cleared which means that there will be new housing, so not going to have an interupted view over the  spare ground for much longer.

The  Royal Flying Doctors ( Local Branch) continues to expand and  at the meeting we welcomed three new members. I will be out of things for a while. I can’t take on any fundraising projects  until we hear from Flinders and get the dates for Adelaide. I felt it would not be good to agree to do something and then have to back out. Not only that but the lady that works with John Jnr and I will not work with anyone else. So I can’t agree to anything until I know when we are due in Adelaide – and probably not until after Adelaide. Mind you,  the “team”and I have managed four events since the last Adelaide visit. Provided everything goes well this next visit to Flinders,  we should be fine for Christmas and New Year.

Last night the weather presenter said that there would be rain today. However, she did say,  and showed  charts,   to back up her presentation, all of which indicated that the rain would come in the mid afternoon today. I took Benji out for our morning walk at 6am and the rain started when we were at the furthest distance from home.

Yes, we got wet and it is now 7pm and the rain is still falling. It has not stopped the whole day. At the moment there is some small  flooding here with little sign of the rainbands moving out of South Australia for the moment.  I have a problem with all this and and that problem is that  this kind of weather makes a fellow feel homesick!!!  I was out at the Photography Group this evening and now – at 22:05 – it is still raining.

The visit to the vet  and the  injection seems to be working.  He is still scratching a bit – mainly his ear – but he is a lot better than he was.  I’ll take him for a follow up on Friday this week.  On the subject of injections, there is now talk about a 5th vaccination for a new Covid stain. Is this ever going to end???

 

October started off well with the first few days being warm and sunny. Well, yes, we did have to give up an hour of sleep but it’s Monday and I’ve got over it. Today, Monday,  started off well and still sunny but as the day wore on it became cloudy and by late afternoon the rain started. The forecast for the next few days is wet and overcast.. The rain didn’t start until Benji and I got back from our walk and I was able to get things under cover  whilst it was still light. On the subject of light, I was getting used to it being bright in the early morning but now that the ckocks have moved, it’s dark again, but it is lighter at night. – not much yet, but getting there.  The rain started  mid evening on Monday and continued all through the night and into Tuesday. We did not go out  for our walk on Tuesday morning. Well, yes I could have put on the Cagoul and gone out on my own, but he wouldn’t have understood why I was going out without him. Even as I sit here

at this moment I can hear the rain bouncing off the Carport. It is pretty heavy. Perhaps if the rain clears up we’ll get out later. Yes it will have to be much later. I have recieved a message from the Post Office that a package is being delivered to me today. If It is still not arrived before Annabell wakens, then I will have to stay until she does.  The package is coming from a Department Store – David Jones. Got mail from them some weeks ago telling me I had money sitting in my account and I had not purchased anything for almost two years – would I like a refund?  I thought about it for a bit then decided no, I would use it. So I added some extra to what was there and bought myself a new Fitbit – Charge 4. SE.  The Fitbit I have is nearly three years old.  On the subject of Fitbit, it has been having a bit of a rest.

Although not as heavy as what is happening in Adelaide, it has still been raining up here so we have not been out walking these last two days. Aparently the weather has been pretty wild in some parts of Adelaide and surrounding areas – flooding, trees down, homes and cars badly damaged. No reports of any serious injuries thankfully.  Today we are told that it will be warm and sunny until mid to late afternoon then a rain-storm will roll in from the Bight. So that’s something to look forward to.

Annabell has not been too bad. Still  not a morning person – but she’s getting better. The up and down of her illness is taking a bit of a toll on her and she tires easily, but otherwise,  we are managing. We are waiting on  the date for the next visit to Flinders Medical. All they could tell us at the time was that it will be late October – November. I suppose at the moment that’s about as specific as they can be, so  a  spot of patience  for the time being.

I had Benji at the Vet at the start of the week. He is still scratching and we still do not know what is causing it. The Vet believes he has an alergy  but we have no idea what. However, he has given him a cortisone  injection and we’ll see how that helps.  Apart from that he is well still likes his food and  we still go walking.. There is a possibility that it could be a grass alergy so I have been keeping him away from the Ada Ryan Gardens. We have gone back to the Wetlands but only in the afternoon when I know Annabell is okay and  Benji and I can take off for a little while. As long as we stay on the path and off the grass we should be ok. I have Synthetic Grass since real grass would be murdered by the toxic leaves of the Eucalyptus Trees.  Go across the road – still in my street – and things are different. That is all new housing and no trees, except trees that have been planted by the owners.  The trees that were uprooted causing serious damage to houses, cars and structure in Adelaide these last few days have all been Eucalyptus Trees. They are great in the outback where they belong but not in an urban environment.

I spent a good part of yesterday at the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens with the photography group. I have to admit that I was not feeling the best and really didn’t do much. On arrival I had coffee and  cake (don’t tell Annabell!)  but I paid for it – in more ways than one!  It was a lovely day  and after the drive over (80klms) I just wanted to sit down for a bit. After the coffee and chat I went for a wander around the gardens. As I said it was a really nice day, warm and sunny and after a wander I found a nice spot to sit down and relax in the sun. My only regrets in coming here are that I could not  bring  Benji. I would have loved to have had Annabell here but it would have been too much for her – the  long, winding walk from the car-park to the buildings alone would have been a bit much. It being such a lovely day, the place was fairly busy so there was a long wait for  meals. Most of the group enjoyed a good lunch but still not feeling great I opted for simple Scones and Butter ( I like scones)  However,  I ordered two scones and discovered that  the scones at the Arid Lands  are very big and one scone  was about equal to two scones that humans have, so my two scones were about  four “normal” scones and I struggled.  The drive home was uneventful and I was glad to see Annabell and Benji.

This is the first time that I have been with the photograph group outside meetings and I was interested to see  quite a few of them have  the kind of camera that you would find with a good journalist – large telephoto lenses. Interesting.

Two years ago I bought a new tent. The  reason for this was simply to  get out to Point Lowly or Douglas Point with Benji and camp there for the night. I would then be in a great place to get up in the early morning and get some really good photographs of the sunrise. That was the plan.  Knowing the area I knew that it is not “good” ground so I ordered on line, an inflatable camp bed. Then, Annabell took ill, then the seizure and everything other than that took a back seat. I actually forgot about the inflatable campbed and the fact that it never arrived drove it from my mind.  Fast forward to ten days ago and I ordered a new Camera Bag. So, in the middle of last week I  had notifications that a package was coming via Parcel Post. I was

impressed in that the Camera Bag was coming already!  Imagine my  astonishment when the parcel arrived this morning and I opened it to find – not the Camera Bag but the Camp Bed that I ordered 16 months ago and had given up as lost.  Annabell was very amused and I had to explain to her what it was all about and the fact that there was a tent that I’ve never used, lying in the garage.  The clocks go forward this weekend and since we are starting to get some decent weather ( between the rain, of course)  I might still get out to  Point Douglas for an overnight stay.

This last week has been interesting in more ways than one.  Some days ago my computer crashed – well, windows crashed – and I lost my access to Outlook, which is where my diary is.  I expect you know what’s coming – yes I lost all my diary entries for the last three years. However, I  still have hard copies for the last ten years ( yes I am a Magpie!)  I use a Filofax and have done for many years. Up until two years ago I used a “personal”size , but with all that has been happening these last two years = meetings, hospitals and doctors and everything in between, I moved up to an A5 size – I can get everything into that. What I have done for all the years that I have been using a Filofax is that at the end of each week I transfer the written copies into the computer using Outlook. I then print the  copies off  and bind them. So I have all my entres filed and bound – everything is there. I have just lost the ability to quickly go back to any particular date and get the information using the computer  The oddest thing is that only Outlook was damaged.  Flashing through my mind in all of this,  this last week was an old Greek Saying  “Whom the Gods condemn, they first deprive of reason”  I’m getting there, I think  :o)

Over two weeks (18 days days, actually) into spring and  thus far we have had rain on 11 of these days – up until yesterday. It has been cold in the early morning (6am) but dry, so we have managed to get out for our morning walk. Both Benji and I are well rugged up for the cold and he is quite happy in his stroller. By  06:05  it is daylight and I am too late for the dawn. Still  I did get some nice photographs. I have not seen any of the Magpies yet. As I said, I used to feed them in the mornings but no sign of them, Still, it’s early days. Annabell has  been  qood this last week or so although Flinders have increased her medication for a while. One of the things that has annoyed me is that when we tell  another female where the cancer is they immedicatly start talking about a hysterectomy. I know they mean well,  and she was starting to think that way herself, but given  her  ‘other’ medical conditions, such an operation would be  too dangerous for her. We asked Flinders and given that it would be a  danger to her life,  they said that they  have not even considered it.  Ok so we have had a bit of a set-back – these things happen.

Just to ensure that I didn’t have time to weary, Benji took sick.  He vomited a couple of times. I was a bit worried about him for a little while. He was  very lethargic and refused to move out of his bed. I  tried to lift him and carry him through to my room ( it was bedtime) and he snapped at me. He’s never done that before so I  knew he was not a well boy. However, I wasn’t going to leave him alone in the dark. He always sleeps in my room and sometimes he sleeps at the end of my bed. Well since he didn’t want me to touch him, I took hold of his bed and dragged that, with him in it,  along the hall and  through to my room. During the night he jumped up onto my bed and I woke up with him beside me. 6am and he seemed not too bad  but he  went out the dog door and I was a tad concerned. I decided to do the  “Evening Walk’ rather than go

with the stroller. and that was good decision since he just about filled three doggie bags. Since we came back from that walk he has been fine – back to his normal self again. I suspect it was something he had eaten  – peanuts  loom large

I sent in four photographs for the competition, both category  (Song Title) and  open. The judge ( in Adelaide)  didn’t really like my photographs much and I didn’t

score very well. But disappointed at his comments. I scored  5 for the “Morning Has Broken”. I didn’t create the halo and I actually have no idea how I would do that anyway so I was a bit concerned about that comment. The “You don’t bring me flowerers”, scored a bit higher but still concerned about the adverse comments re the background. The AGM of the group is late October and I am not altogether certain that I will continue after that. I am not really learning anything. Anyway, I like taking photographs and I  never said I was good at it  :o) I am, however, trying to talk myself into a new camera but it’s hard going  :o)

Sunday,  weather wasn’t too bad although we did have rain and high wind at odd times. Monday (yesterday) however, was very different. It was a beautiful spring day – warm, light breeze, much sun – all round a really good day. Today – Tuesday – cold, wet and miserable with thunderstorms. Tomorrow- Wednesday – wont be all that much better.  The good news is that the ladies Tuesday get-together is back on again. So I dropped Annabell off  which means just me and Benji here for a while  tonight.

After a nice start to Spring – it bucketed down yesterday. Really heavy rainstorms with  the  odd roll of thunder to keep us awake. Parts of Port Augusta were flooded – not as serious as New South Wales, but enough to cause disruption to traffic for a   while.  Further north from us they had Hailstones – bit of a mixed bag all round, really.   It bucketed down here but no reports of any flooding although the pit at the end of the street was full and that’s about 15-18 feet deep. I know, why do we have a pit at the end of the street?  ( even if it is fenced off)  Some years ago we had a mining and resources boom.   Land was being sold off and houses were being built mainly  up in this area. The  plan was to extend  construction all the way to the main highway. Then the boom ended and construction halted.  Well, at one point we were the last house and beyond us was scrub. When the houses were built beyond us the storm drains were extended but when construction ended there was no place for the storm drains to go, so  hence the pit. The storm drain empties into the pit and the overflow into the empty land beyond. Well, ok it’s a solution – not a great one, but  not a lot of choice really.  I  suspect they reasoned that since we do not

have a lot of rain, it was an easy  decision.

Annabell is a lot better – still gets tired but not quite so much.  We were supposed to be at the specialist now, but a telephone call yesterday informed us that Mr. Alam was ill and all  appointments were cancelled for the moment. We are due to go back down to Adelaide late October. Not sure if the new Cancer Lodge is ready for guests yet – haven’t heard anything and it would have been in the state news if it had been opened.  The opening of a  new State of the Art Cancel Council Lodge, is much too good a photo opportunity for a politician to miss  :o)

Today started out fairly fine –  but as the day progressed the  next storm front came through from the west and we are now in the middle  of a new round of rain storms and high winds driving the rain. The news tells us that Port Augusta took another hit today and the flooding increased and hailstones brought down roofs. One lady had her ceiling collapse on top of her – however she is ok. Further north, roads were flooded and people cut off for a while. And guess what ???  more rain storms forecast for tomorrow. During a break I  drove the car to the end of the road and had a look at the pit – it really is overflowing. I

have never seen it like that before. Provided the rain stays off for a bit tomorrow, I will try and get a photograph or three. However, by the time I do get out and it is light enough to take photographs, much of what I  see tonight will have gone.

I did not open the computer until after I had returned from our morning walk, so it was  around 6:55 am when I opened the computer and read that Her Majesty the Queen had died. There is much sadness today and I will be interested in seeing how things develope. I have a feeling that many  events will be cancelled here. . I will have to  change the Order of Service for  sunday. Not too sure what to do – never having done anything remotely like this before. Indeed, not many people have – she has been there for  all of our lives. I actually didn’t think he would use the name Charles  – Charles I caused a Civil War and  was executed, Charles II didn’t really do much other than set the groundwork for a second Civil War  although they don’t like to use the term  “Civil War”  for the second conflict and insterad call it  “The Glorious Revolution”.  The RFDS Fundraiser went well and we were finished by 1pm ( 9am – 1pm) Endedup in a short family gathering as Andrew brought Connor down for a little while – which was “interesting”  :o)

Thursay; 1st Day of Spring!  The boy and I had a great walk this morning and, yes, he is still in the stroller. I think 3 miles is a bit too much for him these days. Yesterday, Annabell went for the CT Scan and the results were faxed to Flinders. Today around 11:30am, Flinders telephoned and gave us the results. The CT Scan has cleared up a few things and  the results are quite clear. The cancer has grown slightly  but enough to upgrade a stage. However, they believe this is not  too serious and they would start her on medication that will help with this.  We arranged for the medication script to be sent directly to the pharmacy  and afer lunch we went down to the shopping  centre to collect the medication. Well, there you are – this medication is not available here and after telephoning varions  places, the medication will come from inter-state and be here Saturday afternoon. The joys of living in a small countgry area!  Apart from all that, she is  responding well. She gets tired but otherwise she is not  too bad. Flinders did mention that we would be down for  day surgery  end of October or early November

Tails/Ranch bought an Ink Tank Printer and I am just wondeing how it is going. I have been printing a lot with mine recently  – much colour – and the ink levels don’t seem to be moving.  Not that I am complaining but it seems that although I have printed much, the ink levels have barely moved. Annabell did mention that at this stage I would be looking at a second set of cartridges for the ink jet. The only other person I know who has a “Tank” printer  and I would be interested in knowing how that one is going. I just have this frightful feeling that one day I will look at the high level of ink, set a task and the levels just vanish to nothing and I have no ink . And yes, Paranoia  is part of my make-up….

Annabell has been unwell the last day or so. Nothing too serious but she has been very tired. We  suspect that it is a question of her body getting used to the new medication she has been given. I worry about her. – well, I have to – that’s my job.. Five days into Spring and the weather has been fine. Light and lovely sunrises in the early morning and sunny as the day progresses. At times it has been warm, not hot, just warm. The forecast for the week in Adelaide is rain, rain and even more rain . In the forecast Adelaide gets a forecast  a week in advance, whereas we only get the next day.   Benji has been making the most of the weather outside spread out on his chair or on the  “bench”I made for him.  It is a very low bench with a full bench cover at the back and a second one at the front. He sometimes, depending where the sun is, jumps on that and spreads out, catching the rays   :o)

Last week we had something medical almost every day, which became quite tiring. This week we only have one medical appointment – she has to see her doctor on Thursday morning and the rest of the  week is free. Well, it is only Tuesday and there are three more days to go and anything could happen. ( And generally does!)  I was asked to do a fundraiser for the RFDS  on Saturday morning and I said I would provided Annabell was  ok.  I will have help from son John and Rosemary so it

will work out ok provided the weather is good, Fortunately the trees in this area are few and far between. This generrally means that I can walk along the road without too much fear of being attacked.  In streets down from here where there are many trees, it can be a dangerous time of the year – Magpie Mating Season and they attack anyone or anything (even cars and pushbikes) that for them represents a danger to their family. Once the young have grown up for a few months it all  tapers off and walking is safe again.

What’s in a name? Well,  Annabella Drummond was the Queen Consort of King Robert III of Scotland.  George Gordon, (Lord Byron), claimed descent from Annabella through his mother,

Catherine, Daughter of Lord Gordon of  Gight. Oddly enough, he (Byron)  married an Annabella – Annabella Milbanke in 1813. She became Lady Annabella Milbanke Byron. If  I have got this wrong I dare say one of you will tell me, but that’s the Wikipedia line that I followed. We generally drop the “a “at the end of the name unless it’s an official document when we have to use it.
The weather these last few days has been  quite unsettled – cold, wind rain and sun. Some moments have been warm and sunny other times, cold, windy and wet. We have still managed to get out and about, so it’s not been bad enough to stop that. Well, yes it did one  day during the week but that was for the evening walk..  We had telephone calls from Flinders today and it would seem that there is some concern with the last set of results so I have to take her to the hospital for a CT Scan on Wednesday 31st. or sooner if there is a cancellation.

The scan will be sent to Flinders and examined.  They will then call us and give us some indication of where we go and what we do from here.   Yes, it had shrunk some but the last tests were inconclusive and  this seems to indicate that it has regained some of what it had lost, so a bit of a worry.  I had organised with Annabell for me to  drive through to Port Augusta one day next week, so  that’s now on hold.. Nothing particularly special, I just felt like going for a drive and taking Benji with me for a litle while. Next week is going to be a sort of busy week in that I have to stay close incase there is a cancellation and they can take Annabell quicker than planned – I have to be close to get her to the hospital. if required.. So if all goes according to plan I can think about driving through to Port Augusta  probably next Friday, Well, that’s  the legandary  Plan A !!

We had a lunch at church today and afterwards I  put Benji in the car and we drove through to Iron Knob about 35

miles North-West of here. Still fairly flat as much of South Australia is. At the far end of the drive are the Middleback Ranges and there were once two mining townships that dominated the area – Iron Knob and Iron Baron. Iron Baron is gone – nothing remains and the entire township was bulldozed.  The Knob was saved from destruction and is still  a town – sort of. If you have ever seen  film of some of the poor towns in Mississippi or elsewhere –  then you have an idea, very run down, unkempt and  quite a few uncleared ruins. The workforce that are required for the mines are bussed to the place and bussed out again.  We once had a preaching place out here but that too is gone.

I was sitting with several people after church on Suinday and  two of us were discussing the changes that had taken place over the last twenty yerars or so and how the  church has declined as the town itself has declined. It was then pointed out that we should look around us and consider who – if any – would follow after us.  We continue to decline and despite all our efforts, there are no young people to follow after us. Most churches within the city are much the same.  There is new industry planned for the future but  but we have a Socialist Government  so we have to wait and see. There are some changes in the near future, Bunnings is planning to move here as is Spotlight and  some of the empty shops in the Centre have been filled or are currently in the process of being filled, so it’s not all gloom – we’ll get there.  Ah this weather. I am so looking forward to complaining about the heat  :o)

 

The last two days have been really good. The rain vanished for a couple of days and we had really nice weather for a change. Still

cold at times but  warm at other times. The temperature these last few days – and again tonorrow – was 20c.  Not as warm as we would like but at least not  freezing cold like it has been. I took advantage after church today and went out for a wander with Benji. It’s been a while since we went out to Point Lowly and the lighthouse so that’s where we went.  Ovedrall, a nice drive  – warm and sunny.  Since we adopted him, Benji has loved to go out in the car but he has never been a  “poke your head out of the window” kind of dog. He’s more of a “I’ll just curl up here on the fornt seat and watch you drive”. But he like being in the car and we try to take him out with us as often as we can – and he really doesn’t mind if he is relegated to the back seat, just so long as he is with us. Sometime we go out and it’s “Lunch for three” .

The road out to the Point Lowly turn-off was pretty busy and I was wondering why – then I remem,bered it is the week-end of the  Show (Local Fair) and this is the first real show since the pandemic. I would like to go but I wont go on my own since Annabell is not able to go. We used to run a tea, coffee, cakes and sandwiches Marquee but  during the downturn of industry  some years ago we lost a few of our members and we just didn’t have enough people to erect and  the marquee , set it out with tables and chairs brought from the church,  urns and the Fridges – then dismantle it all at the end.         Well,  let me quality that – we certainly did

have enough people – but I should have said – young  fit and healthy people. We ended up recruiting family and friends – mainly  males. Also we were running out of ladies to  spend an entire week baking and then spend time, making  drinks and sandwiches.

We decided that after 24 years of doing this,  it was time to stop. We did one more year to make the 25 and then we did no more.   The marquee was sold as was much of the equipment. It was a lot of hard work and whilst it might have been rewarding, it was still long hard work from  8am to 9pm.

Apart from the traffic up to the turnoff, the drive to  Fitzgerald Bay was fairly quiet and Benji was curled up  and strapped in to the front seat  I drove out to Douglas Point and the Shingle Ridge and we walked around there for a bit. From there we drove out to the lighthouse and had a bit of a wander around there. The front area of the lighthouse is closed off with fencing as work is being done on the platform and the base of the lighthouse.

We didn’t spend too much time at the lighthouse since I needed to get home and start helping Annabell get dinner for the family ready. I do most of the work Monday to Saturday but she does Sunday Dinner for the family and I TRY (note the capitals) not to interfere,  just offer assistance.

Monday and a change  in the weather again. We seem to be back to winter and it’s cold and raining – fairly heavy at times.  I spent much of the day at the hospital waiting to

see an eye specialist. We do not have any specialists here – they just come up every now and then and hold a clinic which is always very busy.   The last photograph is Port Pirie from the lighthouse area. Port Pirie looks close enough but to get there is is about 175 Klms  Up and across the top and then along one side of the gulf from here to Port Augusta, then  down the gulf again from Pt. Augusta to Port Pirie. It’s a long drive. For some reason two posts wont allow me to reply. For reasons unknown my reply has been rejected.  So if you have noticed my lack of comments, this could be the answer.