House, Garden and Dogs – Page 61

There and back again – again!

17/11/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

The drive to Adelaide and then on to Mount Gambier was completed in beautiful weather; an average of 34c. I spent Thursday in Adelaide, and, as I had promised myself, I visited Miss McGregor at the nursing home. She is in the locked (closed) section so I was escorted in by the Chaplain. I have to confess that I was taken aback by the changes in Mary’s looks. She has lost a lot of weight and she looks different. The voice, however, although

less strong, remains much the same. I am told that her health is good and that although she is confined to bed ( being unable to walk) but also that she takes part in limited activities. I have never had a “conversation”with a dementia (Alzheimer) person before so I was unsure of how to proceed, but I just talked about mutual people we knew and I was pleased that some of the names were familiar to her. I, sadly, was not but I had accepted that from the beginning and felt that it was not really important that she remembered who I was – the important thing is that I know who she was/is. I mentioned one name and she responded by asking how he was. I told her that, sadly, he died last year and she was sad, but a short time later she mentioned his name again and asked how he was. I decided to tell her that he was fine. She mentioned other people who have also passed and I told her but then she mentioned them again and asked how they were and I saw little point in repeating the sadness each time, so I told her they were well. I stayed with her for some time going over the same subjects and talking about the same people and after I left I decided that whenever I am in Adelaide I will make time to go out and visit with her. I wish to make sure that this is not a case of out of sight – out of mind. She deserves better.

A beautiful drive to Mount Gambier – sunny and a warm 34c in Adelaide – not so much in M.G. but still nice. I did what I promised myself I would do and that was to visit some of the wineries of the Limestone Coast – my favourite wine area. I was in no hurry to get to MG so I took my time and ended up with a half dozen bottles of wine from several places – a mixture of Shiraz and Cabernet-Sauvignon, with one Vintage Cab-Sav. However, I was still able to spend time at the Blue Lake, The Umperston Sinkhole Garden and the Sailing ship, The Lady Nelson. Although no one is allowed on the ship, I was amazed that something this small could make the long voyage from England to Australia. I would have gone to the Caves but after the stairs at Umpherston, I gave the caves a miss. The stairs at Umpherston were enough torture on my knee for one day, although I found the gardens quite impressive and I would have liked to go back later in the evening and perhaps feed the possums that live there at night, but I didn’t for a number of reasons.

Saturday was very different – cold, wet and miserable and the meeting dragged on well into the afternoon. That being so it was after 4pm before I got away from MG and I believed that I could make the descent from Crafers into Adelaide before the failing of the light. I did not count on there being heavy rain storms and dark clouds so, in essence I did two of my most favoured things in all the world – the descent from Crafers in the dark and in the middle of a rain-storm- what joy! I made it through town and headed to Bolivar – in the rain – to find that it was closed (irritating) so I pushed on through to Dublin only to find that they have a very nice hotel for which they have lost their accommodation license. I decided to drive back to Two Wells and stayed there overnight. Didn’t get much sleep because the rain belted down and the wind was pretty fierce and having a balcony outside my room didn’t really help. I know, I just like complaining!!

Sunday I got up early, had a quick wash ( no shower – I’m a mucky pup) and hit the road as soon as it got light. It looked good, dull, overcast but dry. That didn’t last long and I had only passed Dublin (again) when the rain started. Much of the time it was quite heavy but occasionally I was going through a bounce off the road kind of rain. And the really fun part was that the

Tailem Bend with the River Murray in the background

corrugations and depressions on the Port Wakefield were all filled with water, which made for an exciting drive. Fortunately there was no other traffic on the road and I was the only idiot out in this inclement weather, which was just as well because I skidded twice. This weather pattern kept up until I passed Crystal Brook about 200 kms from home. After that, clear skies, dry road, sun and blue skies even. I started to wonder if the previous 200+ kms were just a bad dream. I made good time after that and arrived back at the church just as the urn was boiling and people were having coffee and biscuits. A good way to end the trip. Oh yes, and the River Murray is looking good and I did make a stop at Tailem Bend on the way through – not on the way back.

Wednesday

16/11/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Road Trip and Ice Cream

14/11/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

The weather today was a warm 34c. I took the Benji on a small road trip of about 100+ lkms – wandering around the region and ending up having Ice-Cream at the Foreshore Cafe. He had a small tub I had a Cornetto. Well, we sat outside since we couldn’t go inside in the

cool but that aside, we enjoyed our Ice Cream and it would have been much easier if a certain someone hadn’t kept trying to eat the wooden

spoon as well as the Ice Cream. My predictions are going to prove right and already on the first warm to hot day and the flies were ferocious. We finished our Ice Cream and were glad to get back into the car again . A few flies in the car but they went as soon as we started driving with both windows open. Inovation… I brought water but I forgot a container for Benji. Well I did what they did in “The Lighthorsemen”I took off the Akubra and emptied the water into my hat and he was quite happy to drink it from there. – Yes, push in the crown to make a bowl and it can hold water.

Just shows how quickly things change – or how media get things wrong – not really sure which at the moment. Yesterday it was announced that at the meeting of shareholders it was agreed that Arrium would be sold as a whole company. Now, this morning it was announced that Molly-Cop is to be sold off to an American company for $1.6 Billion in a separate deal with the funds being used to pay back creditors – about $0.50 in the Dollar. But this is the last I will mention this because it’s all a mess and things change from day to day. . However, Molly-Cop is being sold (now sold) to American Industrial Partners – but here again there is confusion in that the “Australian”says $1.2 billion while the Arrium Administrator says $1.6 Billion. But there is still a group of shareholders that are opposed to Arrium being sold off now that the Iron Ore Prices and the Steel Prices have risen. They want the company to be handed back to the shareholders and that the company continue to trade and thus trade itself back into profit again. Yes well, As they said in “The Castle” – “Tell him he’s Dreaming”. The idea that we go back to trading and perhaps in a few years go through all this trauma again ( probable) is not really appealing. The idea, I thought, is to mitigate the pain, not increase its severity whilst prolonging it. But as I said, last mention.

Thursday and I head off to Mount Gambier. First stop is Adelaide where I will stay overnight before heading off to M.G. on Friday morning. After the warm and sunny 34c the temperature crashed and it has been cold for the last couple of days. This morning, when I took BJ out I put on a heavy jacket as protection from a cold, biting wind. In our walk there is a section of ground that I walk across to take me from one area to another. I do not know why, but when we went onto that ground, about 15+ feet – Benji goes bottom up, head down, digs in his paws and will not move. It could be the yellow, stubble grass(?) that hurts his paws, but he will not move and no amount of talking or pulling will make him move. Well that’s the way I want to go so I do what any daddy would do, I lift him up and carry him across. Well, you know what they say – He aint heavy, he’s my brother” o:) That apart, it’s a good walk.

The interesting news of this week is that the Electronic Patient Administration System, crashed across most of the major hospitals in the State. Fortunately no patients were at risk during the 10 hour crash ( this time) but doctors and medical staff have been complaining about the system (American) that’it’s clunky. chunky and slow. Not only that but in the new, much vaunted, third most expensive building on the planet, plagued by constant delays. running over budget, New Royal Adelaide Hospital, the builders and designers never included any provisions for storing patient records – all of which will have to be stored off-site. Ah, the joys of living in South Australia.

Wednesday

09/11/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Benji and Walking and WaWa Panic

02/11/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Part of Ada Ryan Gardens on Monday Afternoon

Tuesday am: Got up, dressed and out with the Benji at 6am this morning. We have not gone back to the old route and are in the process of planning a new one. The reason I didn’t do this before was simply that with the old route I had become a slave to the fitbit and was more concerned with steps than enjoying a walk with my dog. I am not going to let that happen again – so a new start and a new route and an acceptance that the 10 klms a day was forced and sometimes I was taking the dog out at 10:30 at night because I needed to make up distance and I knew where to go and what part of the route to take that would allow me the steps needed to achieve the goal. A thoughtful gift from my younger son had a sting in the tail. But the thing is that there are not so many different places to go walking here and generally if I am not going to the beach, wetlands or the gardens I go walking in the dark around the area. The dark because it’s quiet and because there are no flies. I hate flies and living in outback South Australia is not much of a help in that regard :o) With all this rain and flooding I think it’s going to be a bad season. The only recent change was the drive out to the Wild Dog Hill Conservation Park. Not something I want to do on a regular basis because the track is so appallingly bad in places.

I had to smile!! A lady from Chattanooga – on another site- was complaining about a high electricity bill. It was $300. There are people here in South Australia who dream of a $300 electricity bill – almost salivate really! The highest electricity costs in Australia and among the highest in the developed world. Some of the largest companies in the State considered closing down for a while to try and combat the soaring electricity costs in South Australia. Only last week one of the Electricity Providers wanted to increase costs and the application was turned down by the regulator. The provider is now appealing against the regulator’s decision.

There are, as far as we are aware, three interests in Arrium – one from Japan, one from Korea and and a British company and as far as we can make out, the British company is the front runner. The Administrator is hoping that the company will have a new owner by Christmas. My one concern – and the concern of many – is that the unions don’t screw things up by doing

something silly. For this to succeed we need everyone working together. I don’t know if it’s just me ( probably is) but I get the impression that we are being sidelined. In the past when the media wanted a quote from a Mayor in the region it was to Mayor Jim Pollock they came for a comment. These days they look to the Mayor of Port Augusta for a comment. I stated in a post some time ago that I didn’t want the current Mayor to be elected. I felt we needed a strong, independent voice, not a party hack who will fall into line with whatever North Terrace decrees. Jim Pollock looked like a Mayor and inspired confidence – this one does neither. The sideline is subtle, but I think it’s there.

Amazing how quickly things change. In the news last night the British Steel Company was the “Front Runner” for buying Arrium, now, today less than 24 hours later the South Korean Steel Company is being “courted” and an Arrium Delegation is in South Korea.

Had a serious panic this morning. I was working on the front door installing a new security door and left to go fetch another tool. And yes, I did leave the door open. A short while later I happened to notice that there was no WaWa. I searched the house for her and could not find her. I searched all around the grounds – nope. Locked up and went wandering around the area looking for the lost WaWa. Came back to get the car and go further. Decided to search the house again – nothing in my room – nothing in the other rooms – went into Annabell’s room – nothing…….wait, was that a movement?? Lifted the cover and there halfway under the bed was the WaWa. You have no idea how relieved I was to see her. I complain about her but I never want any harm to come to her. I was just so glad she was safe and well – little pipsqueak bully that she is!!

Wednesday – With Words!

02/11/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

I called an old school friend the other day and asked him what he was up to. He replied that he is working

on “Aqua-thermal treatment of ceramics, aluminium and steel under a constrained environment.

I have to say I was very impressed!!

However, on further inquiring, I learned that he was washing dishes with hot water —– under his wife’s supervision.

Getting out and Walking.

30/10/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

This is our "Back Yard" — This is our “Back Yard”

Benji has had a good day. He had not one, but two good walks today. We went down to the Wetlands and had a good walk around the main pond. We even used the new bridge. I brought him back and had some supper and then went out for a walk around the block – not as good as our original walk, but a decent start. All in about 5.5 klms. At the start of next week I hope to feel good enough to be able to go back to our morning walk – probably not the full walk yet but we will build back up to the 10 klms per day we were doing before the knee problems.

The weather has been clearing up and the temperature tomorrow will be a nice 34c. Couple of days like that and the rainstorms will be forgotten. Sadly it wont last at the moment but it will start to do so as the season wears on. I should be able to get some work done in the garden for a change. This last week has been a sad and horrific week for news. First there was the disaster that killed four people at Dreamworld in a horrific accident. Also in Queensland, a man waiting at a bus stop, got on, threw some inflammable liquid on the driver and set him alight, then sat down on the seat at the bus stop and watched. Others helped to get passengers off the bus. When the police and fire truck arrived the man was still sitting on the seat and still watching. It has been reported that he has a criminal record and has mental health issues. The driver died. Here in

It's been a hard days night :o) — It’s been a hard days night :o)

South Australia there is concern regarding the number of home detentions that judges are handing out – car driver kills three people, judge rules it was not careless driving but simply a moment of inattention that caused the head on collision, so he gets home detention – a whole five months. It’s even more of a joke because there are not enough people to run the system and monitor home detainees so you might as well tell them to just go and sin no more and try to be a good citizen – “and what’s that – you need your license because your brother-in-law is an alcoholic and needs you to run him to the bottle shop, well that’s very community minded and I believe we can grant that for you.” Also in SA the Building Company Collapse that has left over 200 houses in limbo, has debts of quite a few millions. And on the subject of millions there is now an investigation to determine whether the Arrium board were trading whilst the company was insolvent. But buyers are now lining up so we might have a sale before Christmas and a hope that this will bring some stability to the town.

Saturday: After yesterday I decided that I had put this off long enough so rather than to wait and see how I feel next week, I got up, got dressed and took Benji out for his morning walk at 6:30 am. It was not a long walk but it was a start and each day I will go a little further until I get back to our full route again. He lay there watching me and as soon as I lifted the track suit, he was up and at my side all ready to go. We did part of the old route and he got to check the mail, so he was quite happy. It was warm as predicted but the wind kept the temperature down and it was still a coolish wind. We did much the same as we did yesterday about 5.7 klms , so we are about halfway there. I am quite happy with my reduced route for the time being.

Wednesday

26/10/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Two days without rain – Joy!

24/10/201624/10/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

In court this week, a teenager admitted that he had deliberately started fires in South Australia that could have had catastrophic consequences. Judge was pleased that the lad took responsibility for his actions. His little arson adventure ( acting out his frustration with life) caused the loss of bales of hay, damage to farm equipment and the destruction of a farm shed – all in – about $80,000 damage. But the judge said that she believed that he understood that he had been a naughty boy, and that he was really sorry – so she suspended his sentence. You have to love South Australian Justice.

I didn’t know the gun was loaded

And I’m so sorry my friend

I didn’t know the gun was loaded

And I’ll never, never do it again.
This last week has been Whyalla Pride Week, a week when people organize and take part in activities that showcase the town . Saturday was the Day in the Park and the RFDS Barbecue was

there. I was not on duty but my son was and I did go down and see what was happening and have a slow wander around. I stayed for a little while and the weather was not too bad – warm, sunny with a bit of a cool breeze. Just nice I thought for a walk along the beach with Benji, so I went home and picked him up. We drove to the beach, parked the car and I got out. It was freezing cold. The “light wind”of Civic Park was blowing a bit harder here – and it was cold, coming in off the Gulf. I lasted about ten minutes without a jacket of any kind then gave up and got back into the car, strapped Benji back in and headed up the hill, sat in the car for a few moments before heading back home. Last night, suitably clothed, I took him out for a walk. I am still not good enough to do our full walk but I did not too badly and achieved 8697 steps – which is about 4.7klms. I have decided – depending on the weather – that I will take him walking in the mornings and try to get back to our walking routine. I think it will take me a bit to get back to our day routine. However, I did (confess time) become somewhat of a slave to the Fitbit and I have decided I will use it as a guide – not let it dominate things.

We have heard from Sooah and it is unlikely that she will be back in October as she had hoped. She and her husband now have to find a sponsor and employment. Given that South Australia has the highest unemployment rate in Australia and things have deteriorated since she left in late April, this could prove to be a problem. Only this week a major Building Company ( Homestead Homes/ Ashford Homes in Victoria) has collapsed leaving thousands in strife – contractors, people who are now left with partly constructed houses and young couples who paid a deposit have lost everything. Partly constructed houses are covered by insurance, but builders are very reluctant to take over another builders work. Why?? Well as one builder explained, ” I have to guarantee the work when I hand it over and I do not know what is underneath the concrete, I do not know what is behind the walls, my people didn’t do the plumbing or the electrical work – it’s all very messy.” There are approximately 207 properties involved.

However, Sooah and her husband will not be back this year so Annabell and I are going to trap the feral WaWa, get her into a crate and up to the

vet. I want her examined and I want her measured up for what probably will be a 00 muzzle – not because she is a vicious dog, but we want her to stop attacking Benji. ( she NEEDS a bath and I value my fingers!) Also I want advice on what we can do about this almost constant barking – which is driving Annabell crazy. Benji lives with me and generally he is with me in my room. He can’t have the run of the house as he did before because she will attack him. Yes Benji has turned on her a few times but it’s not made any difference – she just comes right back again. As someone said, Benji is paying the price for my promise. Overall, the barking and the problems

with Benji aside, the WaWa is a funny, friendly little dog that loves playing with her toys and chasing a ball. I don’t want her to be really curtailed but I need to stop her attacking Benji if she has to stay here for an indefinite period.

Rain,Wind and Lazy Days.

21/10/2016 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Last Friday I drove down to Adelaide in lovely weather. It was an excellent day for a drive and I enjoyed the journey. Well I did until I reached the crossroads of the State ( The Tin Man) and discovered that I had left my laptop bag at home – so an exciting two days ahead – no laptop, no modem and – more importantly – no diary. That’s the first time I have ever done that. I completed the task I had to do at Elizabeth, then continued on to Adelaide and met up with a young friend who is currently continuing her studies at Adelaide . We spent a few hours drinking coffee and catching up with each other’s news. I walked her back to the railway station then caught the tram to the Central Market. My son had asked me to look at some computer things for him and the computer store was halfway down Franklin Street. The walk to this store was something I had done many times before, but on this occasion it was a nightmare and I was in pain not long after I got off the tram. When I finally got to the computer place it was to find that the store was closed down and empty – which – to say the very least – was a tad annoying! Anyway, got back to Rundle Mall, rescued the car from the Car Park and drove to the hotel. Once I unloaded the car I was in no mood for anything other than getting my feet up. I did buy a small notebook so I was able to keep a note of things for my diary. I spent most of the evening propped up on the hotel bed with a good book.

The Saturday meeting didn’t last long since there was only one item on the agenda – what used to be called an “in hunc effectum” meeting before the use of outdated Latin phrases was discontinued about four years ago. Anyway, by 11:30 I was on the road home and called Annabell to let her know I was in Port Wakefield. The drive home was something else. Given the poor state of the highway, depressions, potholes, poorly repaired sections and a high wind into the bargain, it was not the relaxing drive it was the previous day. The Port Wakefield Road is part of Inter-State National Highway 1 and I believe the responsibility of the Federal Government. I arrived in Port Augusta tired. I did some shopping there, had coffee and fuel and headed out to the last 80 klms.

Since coming home the weather has been wild and windy and to round off a bad weather week, it has been raining heavily all night. There was an interesting report on the news the other night about the consequences of all this rain – things are growing like wildfire – I know that by the continual battle against the weeds that we are all having – but already the pollen count has been very high and starting to foreshadow what could be the worst hay fever season on record. I spend a small fortune on weed killer and by and large the weeds laugh at it, have a ball and invite their friends to the party.

It now be official! I went to my diet people this morning and was weighed at 82.7 kilo.Not good but a lot better that I had expected and a loss since I was last weighed a few weeks ago. I not only want to get back to where I was before the operation but to push further to about 77 kilo. I shall be happy then. Anyway this bad weather has not been “all bad”and not going out at night means that my Associate (Benji) and I had a few lazy evenings plonked on the bed, propped up watching season 6 of Downton Abbey. I had a look and season 10 of Lewis is not out on DVD yet. I have all the others.

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