Category: House, Garden and Dogs

Days seem to merge into one another and there are times when I am really not sure of what day it is.  Fortunately I have my trusty Filofax to keep me sane. I really do need my diary/organizer, for my appointments and to keep track of all  Annabell’s medical appointments. Annabell refers to it as “John’s Brain” and up to a point she is right. Someone suggested that it would be serious if it was lost.

Well, yes and no.. it would be irritating, upsetting, no doubt about that, but not as serious as one would imagine. At the end of the each day I transfer  the contents of the day into  Microsoft Outlook and at the end of each  print everything off so that I have a bound hard copy. Between one thing and another, I have only just  printed off and bound  2021. Normally I would have all this completed but December and January were “interesting” months to say the least.  The garden? Well it was good of you to ask – the flowers are dead but the weeds are doing very nicely, thank you. Getting someone (son) to look after Benji is one thing, but to also do the gardening, is pushing things just a touch  :o)  Never mind, I wasn’t happy with a few things anyway and over the  Autumn (Fall)  I should have the opportunity to rearrange things  differently.  LOL – then it will be time to go back to Adelaide again for the next round…….Ah well, there is always winter. Actually, the only thing that has survived is the Mulberry Bush

We returned from Four days in Adelaide   I partly unpacked, repacked and on Thursday sent off back to Adelaide for a Church Conference, The delays were pretty much the same as they were when we drove down last week. The interesting thing is that the delays were a lot less on the return journey this afternoon (Saturday 12th)

and I made good time.  Benji was at the door waiting for me and  it took me a while before I could even get near Annabell  :o)  For the rest of the afternoon he watched me like a hawk each time I went out to the car go fetch in my bags. It took him a while but he settled down. Later on after things settled I took him to the Ada Ryan Gardens for a walk.

Nothing stays still for too long.  I am currently talking to Annabell and  expressed my belief that my time as Commissioner to the Presbytery and the General Assembly is coming to an end. This, whilst personal on my part, also effects the church and that’s why I have to take Annabell into account before I make any decision.   Like many Traditional Churches we are in decline, a decline that has been accelerating since the onset of Covid. When I was with Annabell in Adelaide,  the Sunday Service here  had a congregation of 11.  Other churches are also suffering and my information is that the L.D.S. ( Mormons)  which was once a full and active

organisation was reduced to 6 members. As the  pandemic decreases we may see an increase in  congregation size as people feel more confident about going out and being with other people. The other problem is that the rules for South Australia require masks indoors and even when singing :  I know that alone has deterred  some people from  attending service, so we may well see  things start to change as the  rules change.  Although, having said that,  I don’t see that happening any time soon. The Sign-in rules have changed for retail so perhaps  the new regulations due out next week will have some new changes in them – the  rules this week do not. There has been more rain and some outback roads are flooded again. The reason being is  that the ground is still waterlogged and the rain has nowhere to go. The police and others have warned drivers  not to drive through moving – over the road – water. It could be stronger than you think it is and the road,  underneath the water,  could be damaged. We are ok down here and the wetlands has benefited from all the extra rain.

Monday 7th Feb.

After four days in Adelaide we arrived hack home yesterday afternoon. The drive down on Thursday was uneventful – the weather fine and the roadworks, irritating and time-consuming. The convoy system in a couple of places was interesting to say the least. The weather was good and we made several stops for refreshments and “comfort” stops for Annabell. We did a small detour to Spotlight for me. I wanted some things but due to the “back to school” sales just about everything I wanted was sold out.  By the time we arrived at

the Lodge Annabell was starting to “weary” so once booked in and settled into our room, I  got her into bed and let her rest for the rest of the day. We started out at 6:30  and with all the delays and diversions and convoys, it was well into the afternoon before we settled into the Lodge. I had intended to  go into Norwood Shopping centre  but decided against it and let her sleep instead. I pottered about on the laptop. It had been my intention to go to the  kitchen and cook dinner  for us but in the end I decided against it and ordered dinner.  The  Restaurant was closed  and the cooked meals were “take away” which was fine. Overall she had a quiet day and slept well. On Friday were up at 05:30. I had ordered a cab for 06:15 and we went out to the Flinders Hospital. Her appointment for her operation was 07:15, so after booking her and and seeing her settled in the waiting room. I  left and  went to the Marion Shopping Centre. Since the facilities are closed down at the hospital I have  breakfast at Marion. I stayed there from about 7:40 until about 11:30 and expecting her to be ready at about 12(ish) I made my way back to the hospital. I went to the area and was told that she was still in surgery —-Odd!! As it happened I did not collect her until  after 2pm.  When we got back to the Lodge I asked her what happened and she told me that there    were

problems in surgery and she did not get taken until almost 11am – so she sat in the waiting room from 7am to 11am. Can’t say I was very impressed about that. In other words, I was making my way back to the hospital and she was still sitting in the waiting room. Anyway, that’s us for three months – our next appointment sometime in May.

I left her resting for most of Friday then went down to the guest kitchen and cooked  dinner for us. There are tables

and chairs in there so I set the able for us – she chatted – I cooked.. LOL it’s been nearly six weeks and I haven’t managed to poison anyone – yet…….

One of the things I love about the Flinders Lodge is that there is a park across the road and that park is home to a host of Golden Crested Cockatoos. In the evening when they gather they  start flying over here to the lodge. We are not supposed to feed them and I think I did mention that last time, but it is difficult when they are so lovely and looking to be hand fed. Well, ok – I broke the rules — again…

Saturday and I  waited until she was awake and had breakfast then  caught a but to Norwood Shopping Centre and did some needed shopping. During this time the hospital telephoned so I told the nurse where I was and  asked her- nicely – if she could call back to half an hour to give me time to get back. It being Saturday and busses  far between, I  took a taxi back to the lodge and waited for flinders to call back – which they did and spoke to Annabell.. Later on in the afternoon, I walked to Mile End – a bit away – to Bunnings.  Didn’;t see anything I wanted so I walked back to the Lodge. I cooked dinner for us and we settled down for the night. I pottered around on the laptop and she watched TV.

Sunday and back up at 5:30. Packed and loaded the car sorted everything out, tidied up the room and l=closed the door, leaving the keys in the room as instructed. By 6:30 we were on our wat home. We stopped for breakfast at Wakefield, then coffee at Port Pirie. We also made a stop at Port Augusta because I wanted some things from the

shops. As it happened, they too were sold out because of the “Back to School” sales. About 50 minutes after that we were being attacked by a four legged brown monster who was more than happy to see his  peepel home – particularly his “mum”. So there you are, that was our trip to the Hospital at Adelaide. It’s a long drive down and back and means  accommodation for the two of us but that’s were the

“Innovations in Cancer” centre is. It’s not too bad and I can manage and I really don’t mind the driving.

If you look at the image with the single cockatoo and look to the left you will see a maroon car with a red sticker – that’s our car. Behind the head of the bird you will see an area with a white face – that’s the Guest Kitchen.

Last weekend was fairly quiet. Sunday evening we had dinner at  Andrew’s Place. Andrew and Rachel decided that since mum was still unwell, they would cook dinner this week, so that’s where we went. It was most enjoyable and Andrew refused  all assistance from his mother and produced a simple but excellent  meal with Rachel making a Cheesecake for desert.  We had a good night and got to play with Connor for a while.

As I said on a previous post, Benji and I go out for our morning walk at the same time every morning – 05:45  and I find it passing odd that the mornings are getting darker. And before you suggest “he’s cracking up” it just seems to me that it has gone from daylight in the morning to darkness very quickly. I have even started bringing my flashlight with me

On Monday I booked accommodation for the Church Conference in February. There is every possibility that I may not be able to attend or that the conference may be cancelled, but I thought it best to book early and  did ensure that there would be no fee charged for a cancellation. Not being able to attend means problems with Annabell or it clashed with a Hospital appointment, or it’s simply just cancelled due to Covid. At this stage we just have to take things on a daily basis.  Went shopping on Monday and didn’t get much. The

reason that I didn’t get much was that there was not much to get – the spread of Omicron  has closed down  warehouses, reduced shop staff and reduced the number of  drivers able to transport goods to  places around the country. Thus, some shelves are very bare looking, particularly the meat sections.

At the moment, here in South Australia we have about 3400 cases per day. A decline from the over 5000 cases a day a week ago. The total number of cases here is about 65,000. We are however, as of this week,  90% fully vaccinated.

Annabell still gets tired but she is starting to do some things around the house. I am still doing much of the cooking and all of the Laundry. I mean there might only be the two of us here but the laundry still mounts up at the end of the week.  Andrew and Rachel are heading off to Adelaide today. I was invited to go with them but I would have to get a coach home as they are staying until Sunday. It was a kind offer but I said no. If all is well I will be going to Adelaide myself first week in February and for what I want in Adelaide I need the car.

Having just written the above we have had a telephone call from Flinders and we will be in Adelaide on Friday  4th February for her surgery. Now we do not know all the details  but they are sending them by email. We may be required earlier for tests so I will leave off booking the accommodation for the moment.  I had intended on going to Adelaide so I might be able  to combine the two events — well, that’s plan A.

I read a comment recently that a regular writer had “lost her mojo” and  I fully understood. I want to keep writing but I seem to have temporarily misplaced the  overall desire to add pen to paper, I haven’t really done anything.  For the last six weeks I have largely been confined to the house and infrequent trips to the supermarket and out walking with Benji. To be honest there is nothing really exciting about grocery shopping or trips to the pharmacy for medication. Although, I have to say that I get some odd looks when I buy “ladies things”. Can’ t think why in this modern day…  My mobile (cell) phone had been playing up and in essence it’s old and by old I mean that it’s more than four years old.  With other phones – as I did in the not too distant past –   I would simply go to the battery shop next time in Adelaide and buy a new battery for that particular model. Not any more. Phones are sealed and  are not able to be opened. The battery lasts only for a few years and then it has to be charged more often –   twice, sometimes three times a day. I was getting close to the three times and I was missing calls, so I decided to get a new phone = Samsung, not Apple. I have to say that I was amazed at the price of modern mobile phones and sad though it may be, $2486 for a phone is a bit beyond  my budget limitations. I suppose it really depends what you want. I want a smart phone,  I don’t want a, computer, phone, and sophisticated camera sitting my my shirt pocket – I just wanted a phone similar to what I already have,  and that, really is what I now have.

Annabell continues to improve and on Tuesday I took her out to her Ladies Group. She had a good evening with the “girls” and I picked her up when she called me. Last

night (Wednesday) I went back to the Photography Group for a little while. The group are going for a photo shoot on Saturday so, depending how things are I might go along for a while. Benji and I are still out in the morning but not during the day, as it’s too hot to take him. I do take him out later in the evening when things have cooled down. I get “the look” every time I leave the house without him and before I  get the few feet from the door to the car, he’s at the window looking out and watching me leave and abandon him. Nothing like making people feel guilty. However we have still managed to maintain our total distance walked for the week  despite problems and  “the Look”. He still has his treat then heads off to  watch over his “mum” as soon as we come back from our morning walk.

I took a photograph of a sunrise a few days ago and I was surprised to see that the ground had been cleared not very far from here. There have been two new houses built in the area and this land clearing leads me to believe that there might be some more building in the pipeline. At the moment Adelaide is undergoing a “Rental Crisis” and one young lady interviewed was sleeping in her car because, although she has  a job, she just can’t find a place to rent.

Covid cases continue to increase in South Australia with a new total of 5630 cases today (Friday) with 160 in hospital. Not quite as bad as other places, but they have a much greater population  with higher density than South Australia.  We had a call from Flinders Medical regarding Annabell’s Surgery and the fact that the December visit had to be cancelled because of the seizure.  Flinders want to re-schedule the operation and we were willing for that to happen.  There will be discussions with the doctors and  given the  medical restrictions currently in place, ( due to Covid) organise a time for us to go down to Adelaide. Flinders hope to let us know sometime next week.

All in all, a quiet New Year.  Andrew was at home looking after Connor and John came here to stay overnight as he generally does. Annabell stayed up with us until “The

Bells”  then she went off to bed. John and I watched “70 Years of the Edinburgh Tattoo” since the actual Tattoo was cancelled. We also gave a little bit of a scare to a Elderly Gentleman from Glenmorangie.

It’s been an interesting week, really. Annabell continues to improve and gain strength. I have continued cooking and looking after things. We have been out but not too much since there are now Covid-19  (Omicron) cases here  and in Port Augusta. Started at the Port then moved here and we now have about 115 cases between both places Masks are still mandatory at the shopping centre  because of the overall number of cases. These continue to escalate  throughout the State. Elsewhere, there have been serious floods in Queensland and loss of life :  major fires  with property and lives lost, followed by major snowstorms in Colorado. I was worried about people in Denver for a while then I remembered that they had gone to Texas and the newsfeed hasn’t told us anything about Texas. Europe is not doing so well , France less so, and I understand that “what’s her name”

has all but closed down Scotland. If I am reading the figures correctly, Scotland has over 100,000 cases. Like many people I thought 2022 would bring some relief. I never for a moment believed that it would happen instantly – that’s just silly – but I did believe that it would show a light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel. However, I  am beginning to fear that the light we see is not an exit but  that of an on-coming train.

In the beginning of this  pandemic people were panic buying. Not so now because the  produce is not there to panic buy. Woolworths have announced that they  have a 12% absence of warehouse staff and  almost 22% absence  of shop staff  and produce is not arriving because of the shortages of staff to load and transport the produce to the stores. Coles  (the other major supermarket) have put restrictions on what amounts of certain produce that people can purchase at one time. But it is not just Covid that is responsible for the

shortage of shop staff. People are leaving because they would rather be unemployed than  accept the daily abuse from customers. This is bad in some instances and people are blaming the shop staff for the shortages and the long wait at the checkout.   The speed of the spread of this variant has caught everyone by surprize.  The Prime Minister underwent a 7 day isolation as did the Premier of South Australia and the leader of the Opposition. Doctors locally are not “seeing” patients but are conducting telephone consultations. I still take Benji out but I stay local and not during the day. Nothing to do with Covid – the temperature is up around 35c – 40c so the ground it too hot for his paws. Before I take him out in the evening, I go out and test the ground with the back of my hand and then decide if we are good to go.

I am toying with the idea of a new computer. This one works very well but it is old and has come to the end of upgrades. Howeffer— I have only recently updated my mobile (cell) phone, so a new computer might be pushing things a tad much  :o)