I know I should download some photos - but I really haven't plucked up the courage to be discouraged at my inability to come to terms with that technology - I promise that at the end of this blog - which might go on rather longer than I am sure you would have hoped - I will endeavour to do a photo blog - how about that ? Deal ? Okay don't drown me with replies then !
Following on from Tuesday morning, Vicky decided we needed a food shop so off we went (I hasten to add AFTER I had showered and washed my hair so looked more or less human !) we drove into Ocean Reef something or other Mall - it seemed to take ages, but Vicky's driving is great (after all who taught her ? I think it was Mel - I only took over the mantle when she was actually pretty good and I didn't have kittens every time we went out or argued).
Once there we found the Post Office- and then KMart - where I purchased a couple of pairs of 3/4 jean type trousers and a pair of "thongs" Ozzy parlance for flip flops so don't get too excited. As my lovely ones (as previously stated) had a blow out in KL !!! All this for $35 bargain - exchange rate is currently just over $1.80 to the pound - (Dee's computer doesn't sport the pound sign as far as I can fathom). The major reason for the shop - I now recall, was to get me back into contact with the outside world - using my UK phone would bankrupt us within seconds - so a sim card was the first major purchase $30 for 250 texts and minutes - can't be bad (as an aside Vicky checked the balance on day 2 and I had $190 credit - I'm not querying the amount - just thankful that Telstra or whoever I am with is so generous !!!)
Home with all the shopping - and a chill out in the garden - oh Vicky & Craig's place is just lovely - it only lacks a pool, according to them and a redesigned entertainment area, I think its perfect as it is now and not a priority - but can see in the years to come to update it and incorporate the Aviary into the design would be fantastic. Vicky and Craig had erected the "new" aviary for Chicken, Biggles and Mr - Craig was somewhat fed up with the birds flying free in the house - there is a lot of mess and feathers to clear up every day in the house ! (I'm certainly with him on that one) So a flat pack metal aviary was purchased, unpacked, several items found missing, and when it was more or less erected, Craig went off to play golf. The text he received from Vicky would not have passed any censors in the UK for certain sure, she was experiencing a problem with attaching the wire mesh to the frame - a fairly important procedure - and the fixings were the items that were missing ! So she resorted to string - it works - it may not be the best form of fixings but for the moment - its fine. The birds are way happier - I keep telling Vicky - I may be lying - as their area is considerably reduced ..... maybe I should have said - I'm much happier with their accommodation. It has a half door - so any human over 2'6" has to double up to get in there - why would you do that ? because its the only way to feed the birds. Hold on to this bit of information - it will come in useful later on !
Off to bed after one of Vicky's lovely meals - oh she is such a great cook - it was going to be my turn the shortly and she sets a very high standard - bless her, she served her Speg.Bog - how cruel - that's my signature dish ! No way could I follow that !
Wednesday morning Vicky decided we would have a dummy run to the hospital and then on to Dee's for coffee - which was fine - I knew driving to the hospital wasn't going to be an issue - she was going to be doing that - it was the finding my way back at 7am in the morning when the rush hour was getting up to speed, that was going to be my major issue.
We came down to Dee's and had coffee sitting in the garden - it was lovely and relaxed, and great to catch up. Needless to say we couldn't leave the dogs for long - Millie had tried to make a break for freedom when Vicky went shopping and left me at home - Vicky was of the opinion that Millie was just wanting human company - but its HER company that Millie craves. So another 2' square slab was positioned against the back gate that had been the point of her departure on Monday morning !
Vicky and I had a baking afternoon - me curried butternut squash, sweet potato and carrot soup - Vicky Banana bread - and preparation for the night's meal. We so know how to have a good time.
Early night - and very little sleep - a result of my anxiety of being transport manager for the next few days, so at 6am we set off for the Hospital and arrived some 10 minutes later (strange how I made the journey back last so much longer !!!) I stayed with her until she was called and then - with fingers crossed - made the journey home - result I got there - safe and sound without getting lost ! To be honest it would have been almost impossible to get lost - the Freeway is signposted from the Hospital - but ....... you can understand anxiety makes you do very strange things. Arriving home to an uproarious welcome from two canines, I treated myself to a Mocha Coffee - and a sit in the sun. I then decided I would do some housework - I know - Mel will be surprised that I am capable of such duties. A wash and all that sort of stuff. Oh doing a wash here is just wonderful - no sooner is it out on the line but it dry and ready for ironing - so unlike back home ! Day after day out here of clear blue skies, glorious sunshine and a great drying breeze - being just 5 minutes from the ocean - its so wonderfully cooling and never stops- the breeze that is not the washing & ironing - oh I don't know though !!! The next challenge was the ironing - Vicky does have an iron - I don't expect its been used too often - its still in its original box - but she doesn't possess an ironing board, using my girl guide skills (I was never in that organisation - they wouldn't have me) with a spare duvet cover folded as a pretend ironing board - I was able to do the business.
Around 10am I txt Sarah (my niece) to see if I could pop down for an hour or two to a) see the family and b) get on with the blog. Affirmative was the response - so flushed with my successes of the morning - finding my way home from hospital (keep up now - I don't want to have to repeat myself too much - I'm not that good at typing) I set off - but sadly I missed the roundabout that I should have taken the 3rd exit - but went straight on !!!!! Whoops - I knew I was going the wrong way - but thought - I'll soon find a road name that I'll remember ! And I did - I found Burns Beach Road - great - the only snag being it was heading for the beach - lovely place I understand, and I checked out the real estate on the way - which too was pretty desirable - however wasn't getting me that much closer to my ultimate goal ! Then I saw another road I remembered so jumped onto that one - and joy of joys I found a sign for the Freeway - result - the only snag being I went north instead of South - but hey at the next junction (and strangely the end of the Freeway) I went around the roundabout and headed South - once heading in the right direction it took no time at all to get to Dee's and a welcome cup of coffee to restore the somewhat punctured the previously inflated opinion I had of my ability to navigate in W.A.
However I had to wait for that drink as the idea was to proceed to Hilary's (a wonderful marina resort) that Mel I just love as did Ben & Cameron back in 2009 and have visited on numerous occasions during our various stays in Perth - this time I had a mission - from Sheila (yet another niece - we do have a large family) - however I had forgotten to bring the picture of the item she required - it was on my UK phone that was lurking on my bedside table at Vicky's ! I went into the prescribed shop and found all sorts of wonderful items - but NOT the one I was sure was on the email. So took photos and sent them to Sheila for verification. Duty done - we went off to the Dome (there are everywhere) and had that restorative cup of coffee and very welcome it was too. I sat with my legs in the sun and on my right shoulder - my left arm is now a different colour to the right - dear old Zebra features once again ! It was a great family gathering, Linda (yet another niece) her husband Rol and their daughter had just come back from Malaysia, where they spent 5 days as guests of their son's future in-laws to celebrate their children's engagement ! Viv (their son) is converting to Islam, as his future wife is from a strict Muslim family and refused permission unless he embraced the Islamic faith. Their wedding is in 6 weeks time. It was so interesting learning of the customs and hearing all about the family and their gracious hospitality. They sounded absolutely delightful, and a very close knit, loving family.
Talking about knitting - oh why did I choose such a complicated pattern - I guess it would be okay if I actually concentrated on it instead of chattering and loosing my place - there are 24 rows to the pattern - and being a bear of very little brain ..... and yes Pat I do have your wonderful counter - if only I used it !!!
That evening Craig and I went to visit Vicky - Craig bought the most beautiful bouquet of glorious flowers and a magazine - I took some of her banana cake - which sadly she didn't feel like eating - so I ate it for her - I am all heart when it comes to my daughter and food !!! Poor Vicky - she was doing amazingly well and put on a tremendous show for us - but to be honest as any mother - I hated seeing her in a hospital bed. Her gall bladder operation had gone perfectly apparently her inside is text book - there is not an gram of fat around any of the organs - in fact Vicky is in perfect shape inside - to which her response was "I knew I was a skinny person inside trying to escape !" she was so thrilled that inside her body its all good. Vicky, being Vicky, had decided on staying overnight (thankfully) for she was having her colon oscapy the following morning - sort of two procedures for the price of one night in a private hospital - buy one get one free sort of bargain. I thought it was pushing the limits somewhat but she decided that was what she wanted.
An early night was called for - I had been up since 5am - this early morning lark is getting a bit of a habit. Next morning Craig left for work at 4am (needless to say I didn't hear him go - I was snoozing happily - plus their master bedroom is in the front of the house and mine is at the back !) Craig had very thoughtfully left the back door open so the dogs could go out into the garden, which was a blessing. I did get up at 6am and walked Millie and Jack - well I thought I had problems with Henry - no way - he was just so super behaved and obedient if not a show dog in comparison to those two. I am sure on their own they would be better behaved. Millie (as all small dogs) has the BIG dog aggression - and as soon as she sees another dog, or bicycle she shouts all kinds of threats of retribution should they get anywhere near her. Which of course encourages Jack to join the cause ! Nightmare and pull !!! Thankfully there weren't too many folk around for the two to be so badly behaved about ! They didn't get a second walk that day - nor on Friday either !
Once home it was the turn of the birds - remember the half size door - try going in there with their feeders, ensuring you shut the door behind you swiftly (and it doesn't fit properly because of the slope of the site) and fasten it ! Actually they are quite sweet - just incredibly noisy - I hadn't put the containers down, when they all three alighted on me to sup their 'nectar' - it comes in power form and you mix it with hot water a bit like Ready Brek - they love it - Chicken was a little nonplussed that I wasn't Vicky - so I put the big container down for the boys and stuck my finger in the mixture and held it to her - she was so gentle and licked it off my finger it was an amazing experience, so, so gentle. I can understand Vicky's love for them. Removing myself from the aviary was another challenge - and I was so glad no one was available with a mobile phone - although 250 pounds would be useful if shown on You've been framed !!!
Vicky was in a great hurry to get home, called me at 12 and at 1 and said she would be ready at 2pm - I duly (as doting mother ?!?) arrived at 3pm - paid for my hours parking and txt her to say I was in reception. She was still in bed - she hadn't been discharged, so I returned to the car and collected my knitting and started up to her ward. Only there a few minutes - when she was able to get dressed after her wounds had been examined and her obs taken. Thus we drove home. Well we got to the first set of traffic lights and I made the wrong turn - as her phone rang - she had left her charger in the bedroom !
It was good to have her home. Poor love - she finds it so very hard to rest and relax - she is such a busy person. Honestly trying to contain her is a problem, I reckon shark wrestling would be an easier option.
Next instalment - when I come over to Dee's again. Thanks for reading - I know its totally mad - but its the only way to be out here ! Just lovely to be with the family though.
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