House, Garden and Dogs – Page 87

Elections, Clowns and back to Adelaide.

01/09/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Just under two weeks left in campaigning for the Federal General Election. We have compulsory voting in Australia and I have to say that I have found the campaigning to be very underwheleming. All the parties have been very luck-luster and I think most people are fed up and just want the election to be over. Already we are $300 Billion in debt and one side are concerned whilst the other side are claiming that it’s nothing and a debt we can handle, so they keep adding to it. It’s like drug addicts ” It’s ok man, I can handle it” I dare say all the countries of Europe that are begging for a bail out said pretty much the same thing, – Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and the British Economy is not in such great shape either – although it is starting to recover slowly. It was not so very long ago that Ireland was referred to as “The Celtic Tiger” because of the strength of its economy and did like they all did, borrow and spend. I think the barrel they rolled out is missing quite a few staves. The best definiton of a politician that I like is “A politician is a person who sees the light at the end of the tunnel and goes out and buys more tunnel”

We have a nice new addition to our hospital – two new wings – and very impressive they are. This was all paid for by federal money, but here’s the thing – our State Government (Socialist) is also up to its eyes in debt and they haven’t got the money to staff the place. No idea what’s going to happen but I expect, now that it’s finished, they will have people come and open the place with great fanfare. It’s like something from ” Yes Minister” In fact, now that I think of it, a British person reading this will probably think I have stolen it from “Yes Minister” but be assured I most certainly have not.

Tomorrow I head off to Adelaide again. We have to be at a clinic in North Adelaide. However my younger son will drive back home and the main reason for driving down and back is that we have a funeral to attend on Friday. Edwin was 100 years of age when he passed away last week – and he received his letter from the Queen.

We all have a special friend – someone we love dearly but can be a bit of a clown. You know the one – he/she is the friend who, when you take what you think is the perfect shot with a camera – stick his/her tongue out. I have a friend like that – she’s called Chienne.

Less than a week to go and already there are predictions of a landslide against the present (caretaker) government, so, by this time next week we could well have a new government and a new Prime Minister.

Work, Chocolate and little twisters

22/08/201324/08/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

I have been called into work three days this week and decided that I am not available for the last two days. I said that my garden is starting to get messy because I have not had the time to look after it, I should have added that my room is also like a tip. I have brought back paperwork from Adelaide and have not had the time to put it away before I was off again. I really need some time to get things organised before starting again – i.e. heading south in the general direction of Adelaide. When we were in Adelaide last week, Herself just wanted to go back to the hotel and rest after the journey and the tests. I took her to the hotel, got her settled and made sure she was ok. I then took off into town for an hour or so to do some shopping – mainly stationery that I can’t get at home. I wandered into David Jones and saw this display of Chocolate. Talk about “Death by Chocolate”. There was also a display of Marilyn Monroe, in Chocolate, but it was just too crowded and I couldn’t get near to get a good look and not the time to wait around. Probably just as well!!

In the morning I will make a start on the garden and hopefully get rid of the bulk of these weeds. I also need to sort out the Sturt’s Desert Pea which has been sort of running wild and has overflowed into the driveway. The Arid Land plants are doing well, at least I think they are. I will know better when I can get to see them better through all these weeds. We have just had so much rain recently that the weeds have just taken off. The weather has been really odd and a tornado – not the big scary ones like America gets, but big enough to cause a lot of damage on the outskirts of Adelaide – touched down not far from Bolivar.

I’ve cleared the bulk of the weeds away and refreshed my Arid Lands Plants – which are doing well. I am also in the process of creating two new raised flower beds alongside the garage. I had some thoughts about placing the flower beds on concrete but then I came up with the idea of using the wood chips as a draining agent rather than a mulching agent – covered the bottom in a good layer of wood chips then the potting mixture on the top of that. Anyway, that’s

my theory and what I have done. I just have to see if it works :o) And the Sturt’s Desert Pea is taking over everything at the front — Joyfull with its bright green and bright red flowers. I had to cut it back a little because it had spread out over the driveway and people, including me, were driving over it.

Hospital, flowers and space invaders

21/08/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

First of all, the good news is that the tests Annabell (herself) underwent were clear and the doctors are pleased with her. We still have to live with other things but she is doing well and we don’t have to go back again until March of 2015 – which is great. The weather in Adelaide was cold and added to the fact that she does not travel well, it was a difficult two days for her. It was a difficult day to be down in Adelaide and there being no parking available at the hospital I had to drop her off and then go find a parking place – which I did – about a kilometer away. I parked then walked back to the hospital, then reversed the process when she was finished. The time was not all that crash hot for me either – five trips in four week at 760 klm per trip is 3800 klms, and it’s about time I had a break from travelling. Apart from the Sturt’s Desert Pea, my garden is suffering because the weeds have started to take over and I have not had a weekend nor time during the week to get it sorted out. I’ve done some but I need to spend some serious time in there over the next week or so. We stopped into the Arid Lands Botanic Garden on the way through, but there was nothing ready yet and the Desert Pea they had was smaller than a seedling so it needs some more time. I’ll be heading back to town on the 26th, so the travelling is not quite over yet for a little while.

The drive home was fun and we joked, when passing Bolivar (the Extreme end of Adelaide), that we were leaving civilisation behind us and heading into the ” Badlands” – “Bandit Country”. Too many people have the idea in their heads that they just about need a helicopter gunship as an escort if they leave the security of the Metropolitan District and head north . It was also interesting for in that when we were at the start of the journey she realised, for the first time, that all the pastureland she could see on either side of the road to the horizon on either side, was now military property. That aside, she slept most of the journey down and back, which was good.

I was up to my wee eyeballs over the weekend with RFDS Fundraising and other things and on Monday I was asked to

Some people call them 'Top-Notch" pigeons. — You invading my space, Bird.

work – which I did. I have this weekend free ( at the moment) and I should be able to get into the garden and attend to these weeds. I miss my little associates when I am away. I even miss him standing, staring off into space and barking. He’s silly! I have even watched him barking at birds that have the cheek to invade his air space. I didn’t have a photograph of a bird on the fence, but I thought this would sort of give you the idea. It’s a Crested Pigeon – cute – but still a pigeon.

Hospitals,clinics and Sturt’s Desert Pea.

15/08/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

I do not have Wallabies and Kangaroos in my garden. I do have two dogs and the occasional wandering cat, which sits high on a fence and teases the dogs. I’m not a cat person, but she/he is a lovely creature.

This week I head back down to Adelaide again. This will be – at least – one overnight stay, however, there is a possibility that it could be two, depending on how the meeting goes on Saturday. At this time of the year I will not make the long drive back home in the dark. The further north you go the more chance there is of wildlife on the road. If you hit a Kangaroo the damage to an ordinary vehicle would be extensive – perhaps not quite so bad in a Jeep, but still cost a dollar or three to get the repairs done. I was told that there is a device you can fit on the front of the vehicle that will deter a kangaroo from coming near you – emits a high frequency noise – or something. Must look into that.

As expected the meeting went on until late in the afternoon and it was almost 5pm before I got back to the hotel. Fortunately they did have a room for me. There were some very contentious issues that were not entirely resolved and will have to be dealt with again at the next regular meeting in October. The space between will give people time to reflect on these issuses and, hopefully, come up with solutions. I arrived home Sunday afternoon and on Monday I was called into work – something I could really have done without. On Thursday I head off again to Royal Adelaide Hospital and take herself for tests. Not looking forward to this because she is not a good traveller and the tests will tire her, so even although the hotel is nice, she will be glad to get back home.

Once back home I have to organise a fundraising event for the RFDS this Saturday. I think I have rostered myself on for that one and provided everything is ok, it should not be a problem. If it were summer I would be back home tomorrow night, since it would have been light until about 9:30pm.

20130809_122208 — Always something new at David Jones

Anyway I kind of feel like John Denver ” All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go” and we take off shortly for the RAH. Her first appointment is not until 12:45 so that gives us enough time to get down there and get parked and make our way to the clinic. Depending on how she feels at the end of the day, we might have time to go into town for a little while. My son is staying here for a few days to look after the dogs.

Now the Wallaby!! Sorry.

02/08/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

The previous post was incorrect in that I forgot to remove the Wallabies part from the title. The Hospital part ran on (ok, so I’m long winded!!) more than I meant it to and I took the part about the Wallabies out. In essence it was that a friend who lives in Tasmania has Wallabies who are frequent visitor to her garden. Recently she noticed that one the regulars ( she named him Rufus) had been injured – probably an altercation with a car. She called the Wildlife Park who sent out two wardens. She assumed that they would tranquillise the animal and attend to his injuries. No so – under Tasmanian Law it is illegal to discharge a firearm (tranquilliser gun is a firearm) within 200 meters of any dwelling. Instead they tried to hand capture the the already stressed animal. I can think of many things I would like to do, but trying to capture a Wallaby (fully grown) by hand is most definitely not one of them :o) She sent me a number of photographs and I’m sure she wont mind if I pinch one of them.

I see Kangaroos from time to time and I keep a tight lead on the dogs. These silly things would take off after it or them And I would be unlikely to see them again. About 20 feet away from the end of the road a fence has been erected so we don’t see them as often as we used to – which is sad in one way, but in another it keeps them safe and away from any traffic since it can get busy at times when strange people think this is a through road out to the main highway some seven kilometres away. They stop at the end of the road and come back. I have redirected traffic several times when out with the dogs and pointed them in the direction where the road does go out to join up with the highway.

Desert Flowers and Wallabies

01/08/201301/08/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

The Sturt’s Desert Pea has really taken off and I am very pleased about that. For a long time I was somewhat disappointed with it in that it was just green with no promise of flowers. Then yesterday morning there were flowers and little buds everywhere on the plant, so I was really happy about that. Perhaps the Arid Lands plants that I have put in the back will take and grow. That would be nice. Although having said that the Sturt Desert Rose I planted have not really done anything, but considering how quickly the Pea started to flower, I’m still hopeful. I’m a little bit concerned about the tree out front. Workmen repairing the storm water drains have dug into the area and exposed part of the root system – never a good thing to do with eucalyptus. Fortunately the weather has been fairly reasonable This morning I was called into work so I head off there later today. Herself had not so great a day yesterday. We’ll see how she is this morning. I wont be going in to work until about 11am. In ten days I will take her back down to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for her four year check-up and to make sure everything is still fine. Four years ago she had a golden staph infection that made her life – interesting!. Oh yes they killed the infection, but in doing so they got to the stage where they were pumping so many drugs into her that they started to compromise the liver and kidney functions. All in she was over four months in three different hospitals, our local hospital and then two in Adelaide – the Royal Adelaide and then a rehab .hospital for a further four weeks. I spent much of that time travelling back and forth and since I was staying there for days at a time, I left the car at home for John to use and I went down by coach and stayed at a hotel close to the hospital – or at least within walking distance. Couple of times when one or other of the boys was not available, I had to put the dogs into the local RSPCA Kennels. Ok – but they were really glad when we came to take them home I have to go down to Adelaide for a conference next week and the following week I go back down to the Hospital with herself. John is available to stay for a few days. We believe everything will be clear and we can return home and wait for the next appointments – four years hence – perhaps even longer :o) I expect so because if everything is ok, then we don’t foresee any concerns and should not have to go back again. What we are going down for is the follow up on the original operation – nothing to do with the Staph infection. That’s gone (says he with hope in his heart!)

Mute Monday.

29/07/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Not quite mute but I jut had to share these photographs. Sturt’s Desert Pea is not the easiest flower to grow. It is an Arid Lands / Desert plant and I just put two small ones at the side of the front garden. Look what happened!! I am quietly happy…

And— there are little buds all over…

Spies, Cakes and Scones

28/07/201328/07/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

A recent comment sent me off on a strange thought pattern ( well, yes, it doesn’t take much!) and I started to speculate on whether or not the Federal Government have a Secret Police (K9 Division) because it was only after I wrote the piece about Federal Bullies that The Man tried to trip me up and send me crashing down the stairs ( both of them) I could have landed badly on the brickwork and required medical attention – perhaps even an ambulance and once inside that, well it would have been all over. I’ve read an expert on this – Ian Fleming knows these things. A lot of things fall into place. I’ve seen police cars drive past the house and head towards the end of the road – which is the very last road in the town. There’s nothing out there but— this is where I take the dogs for walks and I am beginning to suspect that there is some sort of drop point. I have often wondered why The Man sometimes stops and just stands still staring into empty space. It could be that this is how they program him and perhaps the long “sleeps” are really the Secret Police downloading information to their data base – information on everything including the visitors and the conversations.. It is very possible that so called “Microchip” is really a receiver/transceiver. I think we’ll have to keep a very close eye on him. I may not have enemies, but some of my friends need watching.

Herself has had a very busy week. The different Ladies Groups throughout the town (and there area number of them) all met together on Thursday. All up there were about sixty of them and they had a special service. Herself not only organised and conducted the service, she and the committee arranged the guest speakers. At home she spent much of the week in the kitchen making cakes and biscuits. And yes, I was there (the only male!!) because I had to drive her there. I was involved because I designed and printed the covers and nicked out to the shop when necessary – more eggs or butter or flour. I have my uses!! Besides, there was the promise of cake at the end. The photograph only shows some of the cakes — and — one of the ladies brought scones. Life is good :o)

3am this morning and we had an unexpected (nothing in the weather report) 40 minute storm. Heavy, no thunder that I could hear, but enough noise to upset Chienne. Poor thing. But as I said, 40 minutes and it was all over as suddenly as it started and everyone (sort of) settled down again. Four/Five hours a night – I probably sleep too much anyway. I just love those early morning sudden heavy storms, almost as much as Chienne.

Bullies and Babies

24/07/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

20130723_114229 — The babies relaxing on their daybeds.

Ok, going backwards here. The Federal Government has used its vast powers against farmers in the north of South Australia to take control of their land and they have used the term “National Interest” to force through Compulsory Purchases and give the defence force a bigger play pen. Not far from here the Feds took control of 20% of the farm land owned by the French family. They were given to understand that the remaining 80% they could continue to work. Then the Feds decided they wanted it all – the remaining 80% – but they wanted it, not for the National Interest, but to use as a bribe – to give it away to an Aboriginal Tribe so the tribe wont launch a Land Rights claim against the Commonwealth for another part of the land in another play pen. The French family went to the Federal Court and the Justices ruled that the Actions of the Commonwealth were illegal. After eight years the French family thought they could now be relieved of the worry and stress and get on with working their land. In the dying hours ( honestly!!) of the time limit set for an appeal the Feds struck, launching an appeal against the Federal Court Decision. The French family, a single small farming family who have worked this land for generations – are now pitted against the wealthiest entity in the country – The Commonwealth of Australia – led by the highest ranking legal officer in the country with the sole purpose of seizing control of a parcel of land, not for national purposes, but to give as a bribe to a third party. Our Federal Member of Parliament said the following – ” The appeal by the Commonwealth is an act of bastardry and is more about department officials covering their backsides than anything else. It is an appalling precedent for our legal system, that the Commonwealth can confiscate your land, not to use for the national purpose, but to give to a third party as a bribe.” I guess that makes it the biggest bully in the country..

20130723_091613 — All is calm, all is bright..

I think My Man tried to kill me today. Just as I was about to go outside, he decided he wanted to go out as well and ran in front of me with his little circling run and if I had not had something to grab a hold of I might have fallen down the steps. Ok, so it’s only two steps but brickwork is hard to bang your head off irrespective of how many steps there are. He is one strange dog – bouts of very high energy followed by long – very long – rest and sleep. Actually, I kind of envy him, really.

On the above photograph there is a “thing” on the ground outside the Dog House. Herself sewed up a kind of pillow which I packed with polystyrene and we thought the Man could use that to help him get up on the bed easier. He seems to have a problem jumping up on things although, it does not stop him running around like a mad thing during his high energy bouts. Herself says I spoil the babies – I don’t agree :o)

Adelaide – Again (2)

22/07/2013 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

In a recent post I said that I had some Carpal Tunnel problems and seven hours behind the wheel of the car ( after I was geographically misplaced) was just too much. Anyway, coming out of that Herself, ever the thoughtful person, was in the chemist and saw a pair of pressure gloves made from neoprene. She thought they would be helpful and bought them for me. OnWednesday, off I set to Adelaide wearing the Neoprene gloves. I think I lasted about 30 klms. before The pain forced me to pull off the road onto the gravel and rip the things off. I drove a further uncomfortable 170 klms and stopped for a good break, which helped. I was a bit later getting into town but still in time for my appointment with Apple and after that my meeting with the Moderator. The Apple Shop in Adelaide offers testing, advice and a range of iPod, iPads and computers, laptops and phones, but no internal parts. For that I would have to go elsewhere – and I did – to an Apple agent in another part of the CBD. I wanted extra memory and was staggered at what they proposed to charge me for a mere 4 gig. I could just about buy a new Windows Computer with 500 gig for the price. I “reluctantly” declined. I didn’t even ask about the price of a new battery,.

Had a good night and made an early start in the morning. I had been asked to go out to Kurralta Park again and I said I would even although it meant, not once, but twice, travelling my favourite road in all the world – The South Road. Still more detours but I didn’t get misplaced this time and I returned by a different route that I had just learned, which was good. Ok for a direct return but difficult in getting there because of the twists and turns and the crossing traffic lanes, so I can’t give up the South Road just yet.

The journey home was interesting in that there were high winds all the way and at times I was having a “difference of opinion” with the steering wheel regarding directions. The gusts, I learned later, were up to 60kph which accounts for the car being pushed about a bit. Did my hands a power of good!! I have to make a confession in that I got home and Chienne really made a fuss of me. I think she must have realised I had a bit of a hard time and was all over me. My Man did lift his head from his bed to sort of

The Maltese Terrorist in "our"Chair — The Maltese Terrorist in “our” Chair

acknowledge that I was back. I understand – he is getting quite old for a Maltese and I love him dearly — except when he starts barking at 2am for no earthly reason that we can see. — “Excuse me, Daddy, I’m awake why are you not??”

I was saddened to hear that Schoep, the arthritic dog that his owner took to lake Superior every night because the temperature and buoyancy of the water, eased his pain and allowed him to sleep, passed on 19th July – a few days ago According to John Unger, his owner, Schoep passed peacefully at 20 years of age.

I have no idea if the computer or my settings are at fault but some posts I get some I just don’t. Odd, very..

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