Wednesday
Category: House, Garden and Dogs
Out and about
It’s now into Autumn (Fall) and the days are still warm to very warm ( 28 – 37C) but it’s not too bad and we can still get out and about – just have to make sure the ground is not too hot. Message last week suggested that I should be in Adelaide this weekend and I did try and comply – honestly. However, I did send a message and tendered an apology. I will not be going to Adelaide this weekend for several reasons 1) the Adelaide Fringe Festival – 2) Womadelaide – 3) the Adelaide Cup – 4) It’s a long weekend and 5) I really am not going to pay the inflated Adelaide accommodation prices this weekend. However, I am not alone in this in that the people from the South East ( Keith to Mount Gambier) will have a similar problem. Anyway, I can think of lots to do here rather than drive back and forth to Adelaide this long weekend.
It’s starting to get quite cold in the mornings and soon I will have to change from a middle weight jacket to a heavier jacket. In the summer the hot north wind comes off the desert and pushes the temperature up. In winter the wind blows in off the Spencer Gulf bringing cool to cold air from the Indian Ocean and right at the moment the wind is from the Gulf in the early morning and the late evenings. At the end of this month, the clocks go forward ( I think!) and that will make a change. We will still go out at the same time – that doesn’t change. I had intended to take a run through to the Arid Lands Gardens to get plants to replace the plants the sun kindly burned to death for me. Annabell does not go out into the garden – too many hazards there for her – fine for us but not for her, so when I am away, I try to make sure that the plants are watered before I leave – but 47C was just too much and I was away for four days. Anyway, it’s not a total loss and I still have one single Mandevilla remaining. Still, look on the bright side in that we have managed through the heat of summer without any major bushfire. Oh, we have had a few fires that were attended to, but nothing too major.
At the moment Annabell is hosting the Ladies Coffee evening and morning. She (we) were only to do it for this month but she suggested that she (we) do it for the next two months –
March and April. This would mean that she (we) would not have to host it again for the remainder of this year (barring emergencies/Illness) Why the (we) well, she cannot carry the things – extra chairs, sort out the tables and set out the chairs and put everything away on the Wednesday afternoon- so in essence, she gets the credit, but it’s a joint effort given that there things she cannot do. Actually, I’m not altogether sure that she knows where the garage is :o) Benji does well and he gets well petted by everyone, but I generally have him in the room with me. Barring emergencies or Special Purpose Meetings, I should not be leaving for Mount Gambier until mid May.
When the ladies were here this morning I took Benji for a wander round the wetlands. Still a bit on the sticky side, but not too bad. I think the temperature today was about 32C but the ground was cool, so he was ok. It being a week day I was able to talk to the workmen down
at the Wetlands and I was correct in my assumption that they are preparing the foundations for a Kiosk/Cafe at the entry to the Wetlands. This will be a good move and will certainly attract more people to the area and that in turn will lead to the upgrade and development of the Wetlands. Sadly though, Benji is not good with other dogs – other than those he already knows, like Yogi and Dougal, so this means that once the kiosk is up and running and it attracts more people to the area, it could restrict our visits to the Wetlands. But for all that, it’s a good development.
Wednesday
Not my best days.
Every so often “one of those mornings” comes along. This morning was that morning. We went down to the church yesterday to photocopy the minutes of the Management Meeting ( Annabell is the Secretary) and the Church Newsletter. Part of the way through that Annabell started feeling a bit unwell, so I took her home. I decided that I would go down tomorrow (Saturday/Today) and finish off the photocopy. So, today, I finished off her things and then started on the Newsletter (12 pages) only there was not sufficient A3 pape to complete the job. It being Saturday the two major stationery shops are closed but after running around I finally got a ream of A3 and started work on the newsletter. Halfway through doing this the toner
light came on and the machine ground to a halt. Too easy I thought, there’s toner in the stationery cupboard. Well yes, there was a cardboard box and inside the cardboard box was a toner container, only problem was that the toner container inside the cardboard box in the cupboard – was also empty. No one, it seems, had thought to order a replacement or even let me know that we needed one. When I got home and related all this to Annabell, her comment was “I did notice we were short on A3 and I meant to tell you” Oh well, these things happen!!
As we approach the official end of summer and the start of Autumn ( Fall), the temperatures, although still warm to warmer ( 28C – 37C) at times, have started to calm down. I really do hope that we are finished with the 46/47C. On the subject to heat, you may remember that I wrote some weeks ago about how the heat had burned up my plants and how the people at the garden center suggested that I keep on watering them because the exposed sections of the plants may be destroyed but the main plant may still be alive and watering it could help to bring it out again. The dead leaves would act as a sort of umbrella for the new shoots —— well it didn’t work, the plants are well and truly dead. I had great expectations for the Mandevilla, expecting it to grow over the trellis, but now I’m not sure what to replace them with. I had a look at the Japanese Wisteria and I may take a run out to the Arid Lands garden tomorrow and see if they have a native Wisteria. The Bougainvillea was recommended but I think that has too many problems associated with it.
Monday and I took the toner box up to the stationery shop and they will have to order from the manufacturer. Ah, there are times when I think the ladies of the early church with their Gestetner Machines had it easy::::: Well, no, that’s a silly thought, but it’s amazing the thoughts that run through your mind at times, and all I can say is that this was in my mind when I walked out of the stationery shop “Hmm I bet they never had this problem when they were using gestetners”.
So much for my trip out to the Arid Lands Garden. I have been asked to drive out to Iron Knob to the tourist office and then to the Post Office. Both of those places have RFDS Donation Units and both are full. John Taylor, who normally does this is away, and, since no one else is available, I’m it. Still it’s to be a pleasant day and since it’s going to be reasonably cool, I’ll take Benji with me. He will enjoy the drive. Don’t see how really, since he simply curls up on the front seat and goes to sleep. Annabell says that doesn’t matter, he’s with his daddy and that’s all that’s important.
Benji and I had a nice, quiet drive through to Iron Knob to collect some donations for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. We went to the Tourist Center
and then to the Post Office. I bought some Postcards. First time in years I have been out there – it has changed. It’s 90 years since a Minister from the Presbyterian Church of South Australia had a vision to create a service that would provide a Mantle of Safety for people who worked, lived and traveled in the Outback. He was the Rev. John Flynn — Flynn of the inland — and the vision of 90 years ago is the Royal Flying Doctor Service of today.
Wednesday
Monday Morning
Wednesday
Home – Feet up.
It was a very hectic time with meetings not only every day but several meetings per day in one instance. Added to this was the fact that on the Thursday when I left the temperature was hitting a a hot 46c. On Wednesday we had 44c and I was out doing things for the RFDS. On Thursday I drove down to Adelaide and thankful that the car A/C was working well. I paid a visit to the Wine cellar, then headed off to Bunnings. At least at Bunnings I was able to use the gift cards that the boys bought me for Christmas. On Friday the temperature was again 44c and I had a meeting at West Terrace and spent several hours in the sunshine since this particular meeting was to determine the state of disrepair of several places and the work needed to restore and repair the structures. On Saturday the temperature was a mere 30c and I had three meetings. However, I got away as quickly as I was able and headed for home to get there before it got really dark. I hate driving north when it’s dark in hot weather – Kangaroos become a problem. I normally would have spent another night in Adelaide and headed home in the morning but we
had a special service at church on the Sunday and I needed to be home for that.
It took me days to catch up on everything and I think I managed to do just that. There was 87 thousand emails but I figured sleep was for wimps and got through them. Part of the week was also spent with Benji the beach – the lighthouse and the wetlands. He got a bit upset when I went out without him several times, but I was going shopping and I don’t want to leave him in the car. Monday after I came back I picked up Jim and Fay from the airport – home from their two week holiday with family in Perth (Western Australia). On Tuesday afternoon they came over and collected Yogi. It was mixed feelings really – glad he was going home with his family, but sad that I’ll miss him. He is a friendly little character and he and Benji get on well, so I’m always happy to look after him..
The beach wasn’t so good this week – less of a beach with sand and more of an area covered in seaweed and seagrass. We do get a beach with sand from time
to time, but this wasn’t that time. Certainly it has been a little while since I have taken the dogs down to the Wetlands – not in the extreme heat that we had. I was amazed at the loss of water from the area and it showed. I was also disappointed that the black swans had gone, but not only that, most of the bird life had gone. There were, generally, a lot of ducks and I have taken photographs of them in the past, but there was none. All that was there was seagulls. I did photograph the new memorial to Jim Pollock, the Mayor who died a year or so ago. He was a mayor – he was always well turned out, well liked and respected be everyone he look good and inspired confidence. His death was sudden and he is well missed. I also noticed that there was an area under construction a there had been talk of building a cafe at the Wetland to make the area more family and tourist friendly. This could be it, but there was nothing to indicate what it is.
Anyway, barring any emergency, I wont be traveling again
until early May. This will be to Naracoorte. Not quite Mount Gambier but at least through much of the Limestone Coast, Coonawarra and Padthaway — not complaining 0:) However, we are moving from Mount Gambier to Naracoorte for the May Conference to accommodate the Adelaide people who are concerned about driving through winter misty conditions on the way to Mount Gambier. I shall do my very best to think kindly of them as I drive through winter mist and fog on the Eyre Highway on my way down to Adelaide.
Wednesday again.
Wednesday
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