Rundle Mall – Page 2 – Edgar's Page

Catherine, Road Trip and Introducing Benji

04/10/2015 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

He was unknown now he is "Benji" — He was unknown – now he is “Benji”

The drive to Adelaide was uneventful. I took Catherine shopping – mainly to the duty free and then along Rundle Mall before heading off to the hotel. I was staying – she was not. The car came for her at 19:45 and her flight was at 21:45. I did not go to the airport with her since there would be a wheelchair and an assistant waiting for her at the other end and she would be taken to the Emirates Lounge and, not being a passenger, I wouldn’t be allowed in there. Her bags were checked in for her. It seemed little point in my going out there and having to get a taxi back for no real reason. She will be well looked after. I watched some television, sent s few emails to Annabell and went to bed.

I was up fairly early on Saturday morning, checked out and set off to Mount Gambier arriving there just after 1pm. The “Unknown” was waiting for me – we had formal introductions ( of course) and he took his place on the front passenger seat – seat-belted and clipped in. After driving for about 15 minutes I had to stop and make different arrangements. For some reason he was unhappy in the front seat, so I set up the carry case with a blanket and set him up in the back seat. Being slightly elevated he put his head on the window and sat and watched the world go by. Then he slept. As a traveler he was very good and slept most of the way. We were slightly delayed and I had decided that I had to make Bolivar on Saturday. I did but it meant doing something I always said I would never do – travel the Expressway and negotiate the Steep descent from Crafers to the end of the Expressway then drive through the city in the dark. Not the most enjoyable thing I have done of late, but we made Bolivar where we stopped for the night and I was finally able to call Herself and let her know how things were.

We left Bolivar at about 5:30am and drove to the Tin Man for fuel and a walk. I was asked – since the forecast was for 36c – why I was wearing a jacket. I answered that my car was almost like an ice-box. I had a youngish dog in the car and was keeping the temperature down for him.

We arrived home when Herself was still at church so I was able to get him settled in and a wander about the place – inside and out – a bit of food and a drink. Apart from anything else I was slightly stuffed since over 1200 miles in two days is tiring and my hand feels like it has been stomped on by half a dozen, big longshoremen – with boots on. I think I need my head examined, but that is something I have to avoid at all costs – mainly because of a concern that they will find nothing in there.

Oh and I don’t have photographs (yet) since I was too busy concentrating on other things – like driving

Back from Adelaide again.

14/08/201414/08/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

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

Adelaide (second time) was fun. The aircraft was due to land at 20:15 so I got there a little bit early. Now, in Adelaide airport, all the shops and the eating places and the coffee shop are all upstairs and in order to get to them one must go through security. I had the great good fortune to get a Security Jerk. I have since found out that this is not unusual at Adelaide. Anyway, I was told to take any laptop or tablet out of my bag and place it / them and the bag in the white tray. This I did along with my phone but the alarm went off. I was asked to go back through and try again. I was asked if I had anything that could be setting off the alarm and I suggested that the steel belt buckle could be the problem. The girl examined the buckle and suggested to the Jerk that this was indeed the problem but I was ordered through again and again the alarm went off. So he instructed me to take off the belt, which I did with difficulty and then my shoes. Threw the belt in the tray and walked through. There was no reason other than him being a prat because having been told that it was the buckle he could have brought me through and used a hand scanner. I understand the need for security but the scruffy, untidy, overweight “character” just wanted to be a jerk because he could. Never did have my coffee – well not until we got back to the hotel.

On Monday afternoon I walked to Victoria Square and took the photographs which I posted last post. Considering the time, effort and money that was spent on the Square, I am not very impressed. Perhaps the six skateboarders jumping on and off the wooden benches, the less than appealing nature of the place ( I found it cold and impersonal / no warmth about it) and the cracked tiles might just have had something to do with it. Rather than walk into town I thought it would be good to just wander through the Central Market. Good plan – problem is that most of the Market is closed on a Monday :o) I did, in fact, walk into town after all. I did some shopping for my Filofax and was just too lazy ( no, let’s go with tired, I like tired) to walk so I took a taxi back to South Terrace. I picked up John from the airport and returned to the hotel. We had much to talk about :o) and it was good to have him home again.

Traveling home was interesting. John went to the restroom before we left, and I had to find a place to stop several times for the same reason. I think the flight was catching up with him. He stayed and had dinner with us then I took him home. I was very pleased that the dogs were very kind and the Man slept through all last night – actually until 7am this morning – so I too was able to get a good sleep. This afternoon I take herself to the hospital for some tests, so that’s the afternoon all tied up.

Over the weekend I have two fundraising functions for the RFDS and I think the Saturday morning one could be a bit on the cold side. I will be home until the end of September, one week away and two days in Adelaide. Two days during the first week in October and that will be me for the remainder of the year. I will have another two days away but that’s not until December.

I do not know if this will work, but I pressed the wrong button and I really did not mean this to be posted at this stage. I am trying to retrieve it but I think it is unlikely. However other than the fundraising, I have a relatively quite week end to match the quiet few days I have had since I came home. John's Poster I really need to gert back out and get some work done on this mess that used to be the back garden. It would take too much effort to set it to rights so once the weather calms down and it’s not quite so cold, I will get back into it and have it ready for Herself’s sister arriving in November. Lots to do between now and then.

Home, for a while!

13/08/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

I have been working in my room for most of today and it is cold outside, so much so that I carried the Man’s bed from the other room into my room, where there is a fire. He is curled up and asleep. He sleeps a lot these days. In fact he spends most of the time sleeping, but when he is awake he eats well enough and he still has his stick in the morning. For the last couple of nights they have been in the room with me and Chi sleeping up with me. I just looked over and he is out cold on his warm bed on his three inch cushion of foam Only another eight days and John will be back with us. He is still enjoying his holiday and I believe he is presently in Budapest. I hear the weather over there is quite good at the moment – it’s cold here.

It has been a week since I wrote the first paragraph and I have spent most of my time away from home. I spent Monday to Thursday out of town, came home Thursday evening and set off to Adelaide on Friday Morning. I was at conference on Saturday morning and although I can’t say much about it, I can say that in all honesty it was probably the worst conference I have had the misfortune to attend. I felt a deep sense of shame over what had taken place. So much so that I left before the end, got in the car and drove through the city and up to Port Wakefield (about 115 klms) before I settled down. I called herself from Pt. Wakefield and spent some time talking to her before starting the drive north. Today (Sunday 10th) I am home. Tomorrow I head back to Adelaide and pick up John from Adelaide Airport. Just seems like a few days since I took him down there and yet six weeks have just flown past. However, as a British Politician used to say, “A week in politics is a long time” and I think the same goes for Word Press – CDL has a sort of Kitchen Meltdown. and Rachel has a horrible time in Hospital and I feel so much of a “fraud”complaining about having to do all this traveling whilst people have had “real” problems.

Anyway, I am home again. I picked up John at Adelaide airport last night and we stayed in South Terrace and traveled back this morning. I have the rest of this week off. I have made myself not available so I can settle down for a while. I took some photographs whilst I was in Adelaide. Some should please Jill because they are the two fountains in Victoria Square. A couple of others are the “Porkers” in Rundle Mall. It was a fairly pleasant two days – cold but dry and good for driving. Although John was not so sure – after the heat of Europe he was really feeling the cold. The Man has not improved any and still barks into empty space, which at 2am, is a bit of a trial. I have spoken to his Vet and he seems to think that the half tablet is sufficient for his age and weight. I did look this up and it

The Main fountain, Victoria Square, Adelaide SA

seems that a half tablet for dogs under 10 klo is the recommended dosage and that’s what he gets each evening – half tablet of Carprofen (10mgs) Still, I am not altogether certain that this is helping him as much as

it should. He is not in any way hampered because he still eats and he still runs around the place like a mad thing at times, but the yelping gets on everyone’s nerves at times. Poor little thing !! Most of the time the dogs are in with me – where the fire is. Not too long now and I can start to complain about the heat :o)

Adelaide, Driving and Bushfires

09/02/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Friday Adelaide:

The run down to Adelaide was quiet and uneventful. The temperature was 38c and it was hard to get out of the air – conditioned car at times :o) I managed to get all the things I wanted done and was able to get repairs to my Filofax. It’s close to 25 years old and with TLC it should be still going in another 25 years.

Rundle Mall was most entertaining, despite the heat. I always like the buskers in the Mall. I had been asked to get a couple of things but in that I failed – out of stock. Of course it was crush room only – half the Mall is being dug up again so there were narrow walkways at either side of the construction areas. The fellow in the photograph is quite real, I had to crane my neck just to talk to him. Lots of people were taking photographs with their children standing next to him. Actually, If you really look at the hands, they don’t really match up with the size of the person, so, although I was not about to ask, the person was real enough, but I don’t think the height was. But regardless, he was walking well and it really was well done – however it’s done.

Tomorrow the temperature will be 42c and I will be driving in the hottest part of the day. By the time the meeting finishes, I do not stay for lunch, and I get on the road again, it will be well after 1pm. Of course that’s depending on several people not talking for as long as they generally do.

Saturday -Adelaide

Head off to the conference this morning. It’s only 7:10 am and already there is a bit of heat in the air. As I said yesterday, I hope the “hot air” is kept to a minimum and I can get away at a reasonable time. All very good and I was on my way home by 12:40. From Port Wakefield onward there were constant warnings about the fires off the Main Highway. I was concerned when I saw the smoke cloud from far off and knew that I was heading in that general direction. Beyond the Tin Man there were police cars and emergency vehicles and several ambulances. We were safe, but that is the

nearest I have ever been to a bushfire. The emergency services on the car radio were informing people to be ready for evacuation and that the fire had breached the containment lines and was now out of control and the flames were now visible as it sweeps towards the National Highway.

Sunday – Home.

This is now the worst fire since Black Tuesday when the Mount Remarkable National Forest went up in flames and threatened the towns of Wilmington and Melrose not to mention the fuel depot at Mambray Creek. Unfortunately Wilmington as well as Warnertown are both in the firing line. The fire can now be seen from here as it lights up the horizon on the other side of the Gulf.

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