Cannot believe I last posted 4.5 years ago

Friday 1st March, 2019

Yes it's me, back again back after 4.5 years.    Where do I begin?  So much has happened yet nothing much is really any different.  Tony and I are both doing well health wise, 

Katie has grown into a beautiful teenager doing her last year of school.  She has just obtained her P plate driving licence.  This year she turns 18 (OMG where has that time gone).  She will always be our baby though.

We are still very happy in retirement.  We live life at our own pace, have no real routine but are loving life. 

Today is our first day of Autumn.  We have just sweltered through our hottest summer including our hottest ever day of 46C on January 24th.   Today and tomorrow we are going to have temperatures of 40C  and then should get a cool change where the temperatures will drop back into the low 30'sC.  We desperately need rain!!!!!   So far we have no recorded rain this year, and if we don't get some soon we could go back to water restrictions as like what happened a few years ago.  And they say climate change isn't real.

I don't know how often I'll be posting on here but if and when I have something to say whether it be good or negative I will vent on here.

                                                                                     

Happy Birthday Tanecia!!

Monday 20th October, 2014

Happy 17th Birthday Tanecia!  Hope your day is as awesome as you are.  Love you!

Starlight, Starbright What Colour Is The Moon Tonight?

Wednesday 8th October, 2014

Starlight, Starbright what colour is the moon tonight?   Red

Tonight was the eclipse of the moon and with clear skies we got a great view of the lunar eclipse and the red moon. Wow! the moon looked gorgeous.

This was a much better viewing than back in April when the last eclipse of the moon was held.....we could hardly see any colour change then.

These photos were taken from our front garden.  Tony put the cameras on the tripod and managed to eliminate most of the street lighting so as to get a better view.   I think he did a great job.

Kangaroos Do Wander And Fight On Our Streets

Tuesday 7th October, 2014

The first week of October has flashed by and having had our last long weekend before Christmas the rest of the year will flash by just as quick I bet.

We had Katie come and stay over on Saturday night.  I treasure these stays even more than before because they are becoming much less frequent.  She spends a lot of her spare time with her friends now.

Because of everything that has been going on in their lives lately and it's also school holiday time, Kahra and Katie took some time out and went to Sydney for a couple of days.  By all accounts they had a great time.

Tony is still having physio on his hand.  It is healing nicely and this afternoon was another visit to the physio to see how it's progressing.  She was happy with his progress and has given him a compression glove to wear as his hand is still swollen.  She has also recommended some hand and finger exercises for him to do to regain his strength in his hand.

The perception of many people who live overseas is that we have kangaroos hopping down our streets all the time.  It would have to be one of the most common asked questions when one travels overseas.

Well let me tell you, maybe we do, as witnessed by some residents living on the Central Coast of New South Wales.  Two male kangaroos were trying to show their dominance to the "mob" that were sitting further down the street.  No kangaroo was hurt, just the pride of one perhaps, dented.

This isn't the norm on our streets, but it shows that when man encroaches on the habitat of our wildlife we all have to learn to live with one another, even the wildlife.  

Katie Is Officially A Teenager

Saturday 20th September, 2014


Happy 13th Birthday to our gorgeous granddaughter Katie!  We hope that your day is as wonderful as you are, and that it is more wonderful than anything or anyone else in the world.

Earlier tonight we went to celebrate Katie's birthday with her.  She had invited several of her friends over to her place for a bar-b-que and then some of them were going to sleep over.

Tony and I left around 9pm, the party was in full swing and the kids were having a great time.

For several months now we have had our suspicions that Kahra and Darrin's relationship had soured.  Kahra seemed to be spending a lot of time this side of town.  Last night she confirmed that our suspicions were correct.

She is still living at the house while Katie continues her schooling.  Next year Katie goes to High School and so she has to decide whether to stay in that area or they move to this side of town and enrol Katie back in the school where she first started.  That school goes from Reception right through to Year 12. 

My concern is with Katie.  She has got a very good bond with Darrin plus has made such a lot of really good friends.  It will be so sad to see her leave her friends behind.  Just seeing her with these friends tonight you could see how special they are to her.

I think it is already playing heavily on her mind because she said that she doesn't want this year to end.

It will be interesting to see which way Kahra goes.....stay down south or move up to this side of town.

Tragedy At The Show

Friday 12th September, 2014

This morning we went off to the Hospital for Tony to have his follow up visit with the Doctor.  His hand is coming along nicely and so they took off the huge bandage (much to his relief) and now he just has a small bandage over the wound. 

They sent him to Physiotherapy where they made a small splint for him to wear mainly at night so that he doesn't make his hand into a fist when he sleeps.  He has to go to his own doctor Monday week to get the stitches out.

After we were finished at the Hospital we went for a wander up the Mall.  They still haven't completed the paving of it yet, but that what has been done doesn't look very inspiring.  When Tony was working I didn't mind going for a walk in the Mall, but today I couldn't wait to leave.   As far as I am concerned it has lost some of its magic.

Last Friday was the start of the Royal Adelaide Show but this year we didn't have to take Katie as she went with her friend Maddi.  Tony and I thought that we might go ourselves but with him having his hand operated on we decided against it.

Today there was some tragic news.  An eight year old girl died after being flung off one of the amusement rides.  She was on the Airmax 360.  So far the authorities do not know who is at fault and investigations into the tragedy are continuing.

I have yet to ask Katie if she and Maddi went on this ride.  She used to get annoyed with me at times because there were rides at the Show that I wouldn't let her go on.  I just felt that they were not suitable for her or her age at the time but as this tragedy has shown, you may meet the height criteria but a lot of other factors come into play as well.  

Preliminary investigations are showing that perhaps the safety belts that are supposed to hold you in place may not have been adequate for this little girl.  Even though Safety Inspectors inspect all the rides before and even while the Show is on there are no guarantees for one's own safety. 

My heart goes out to all involved and this being the 175th anniversary of the show they added an extra day.  The Show was going to be open on the second Sunday making it a total of 10 days instead of the usual nine.  The officials have said that this will continue to be the case but this particular ride will be closed.

Not An Ideal Way To Start A Week

Monday 8th September, 2014

Today has been a rather stressful day.  We had to be up early (like 5.30am) and be at the Royal Adelaide Hospital by 7.00am as Tony was going to have his hand operated on.

For the last 7 or 8 years the tissue from his fingers to his palm have been contracting, forcing his fingers, mainly his ring finger on his left hand to become bent.  We have always thought it was due to his years of electrical work where instead of using screwdrivers like us normal people do, apparently some electricians use the palm of their hands to turn the screwdriver.

The condition is known as "Dupuytren's Contracture".   Researching the condition we found that it is quite common among the Northern Europeans such as the British, Irish, Dutch (which he is) and the French and also among the Scandinavian countries.  It can be hereditary (but he knows of no other family members that have had it).  It is also found in those who have epilepsy, diabetic or alcoholics which thankfully he is none of those.

According to the doctors it is a very common problem especially among men.

In the last 12 months his finger has been forced forward more. He couldn't remove his wedding ring because it was so bad and in the end had to cut it off.  When he was last at the doctors he mentioned it to him and the doctor put the wheels in motion for him to have it looked at.

An appointment was set up for him at the Hospital and because his finger was more than 35 degrees they decided to operate.  Last Monday he got the call to say that his operation had been scheduled for today and last Thursday he had to go in for his pre-op.

He was first on the list to be operated on and so I decided to stay at the Hospital.  By 11.20am they rang me to say that he was fine but they wanted to observe him for a further 60 minutes and then he could go home.  They said that I could come and sit with him which I did.

When I went in he was sitting in the chair eating a sandwich.  He looked good but about 20 minutes later he lost all his colour, started sweating profusely and was feeling nauseous.  The nurse said that this was common after an anaesthaetic and told him if he could be sick he would feel a whole lot better.  

He didn't vomit but after about 30 minutes he started to feel much better and his colour returned.  Armed with some pain killers we ended up leaving the hospital around 1.40pm.

He has to keep his arm elevated which is supposed to stop swelling and reduce any pain.  So far he hasn't had to have any pain killers and his fingers are still feeling numb though he said he can just start to feel his little finger and thumb.

On Friday he has to go back to the Hospital for a follow up visit.   I'm afraid Hospitals aren't a good way to start a week but i am glad it is over and done with.  

Now to get him back to where he can do the dishes again, make me breakfast and make the bed.  I wonder if he will be able to do that tomorrow...................lol.