Yamba Prawns

Hello to everyone,
First of all a big congratulations to Alice and Jack, great news and we wish you happiness always, we hope to see you at Luke & Jamie’s family day, we will be there.
It has been a busy time since our last blog. After leaving the sunshine coast we headed down to the gold coast, where we were lucky enough to get Lucy (van) up onto my sister’s (Christine) front yard, it was a bit of a battle because her yard isn’t level, but Chris is getting really good at reversing into any spot, after leveling the van with bricks, Chris and Dennis assuring me it wasn’t going anywhere, I relented and we stayed there for 2 weeks. Although what we didn’t know is that Christine was going on a weeks holiday to Tangalooma Resort , which she invited us to come over, which I did for 4 days and Chris would follow, he stayed to dog sit the four dogs as most of her family were going over or not at home, so Chris came over for 2 days. I don’t feel sorry for him because he was lucky enough to get a free grand stand pass for the Gold Coast Indy 300 car races, thanks to my niece’s boyfriend who had the ticket and couldn’t use it, so he had a great time, but I’m sure he will elaborate on this.
Chris Comment: It was a great coincidence that we were on the Gold Coast for Indy week, Sue and Christine had entertainment, the poor dogs needed company and a free ticket was on offer. I spent most of the day absorbing the sound and vision and high speed atmosphere enjoying the Indy race and two V8 races. You cannot appreciate the sound and speed without being there. I think every second promotional model in Australia was there for the day promoting everything from night clubs to portable fridges, Bundy Rum (as if it needed promotion there) and every car accessory made. Sorry Guys I forgot to take my camera. On the down side I do not recommend spending the night on the floor with 4 dogs.
Tangalooma Resort, on Morton Island is beautiful, 70 minutes ferry ride from Brisbane has white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, it’s a resort type of island so you can do as much as you want or as little as you want. Christine and her friend Karlene go there for a week every year and stay in a three bedroom beach front villa, which sleeps 8, so they can invite lots of visitors while they are there. Christine and I did everything from parasailing which was fantastic, sand tobogganing although, when you climbed up this massive sand hill and looked down was a bit scary but I did it and it was great, it was a really windy day when we did it and the tour guide said we would be doing about 40klms an hour, but it was lots of fun, I even fed a dolphin in thigh deep water (Christine knows the trainer) and so he took me out, although when we approached the water he said now don’t be alarmed, but there is a wobbygong shark just under the jetty he might come out, don’t be alarmed your kidding aren’t you, all I heard was the word shark and I was more concerned about that then the dolphin, then I thought what could he do, gum me, so the dolphin feeding wasn’t as amazing as I thought it would be. In the bar every night was a themed night so we had karaoke (where is Kelly), bingo and a Hawaiian night which was a great laugh. I had a lot of fun with my sister and on the gold coast. When Chris and I got back to Surfers we went up the new Q1 building. At 80 floors it is the highest residential building in the world and the 20th highest building overall. Wow it’s amazing, the lift does 77 floors in less than 43 seconds and you can see from Tweed Heads to Brisbane, fantastic views ,me not being much of a lift person we were on the 3rd floor before I knew we were moving, it was so quiet and fast.
Our next stop was at Ballina for 3 days, it’s also beautiful. We caught up with Phil Heggen and Sue for an afternoon, and it was good to catch up with them. From Ballina we drove out to the farm at Goolmangar, to see if it was for sale, but unfortunately it wasn’t, if anything it was like Fort Knox to get into with padlocks on the gates, so I guess maybe the owners were away there wasn’t any sign of life only a few horses in the paddock which Chris went over to feed, but gee it looks nice, green grass lush paddocks even the house looks picture perfect. On the way back we got bananas for $5.00 a kilo, what a treat.
Next onto Yamba for 3 days, we are now visiting places we normally zoom past on our way to other destinations and they are so nice, truly if you can you should take the time to see this wonderful country. Yesterday we caught the ferry over to Iluka and today we drove into Grafton via Mclean and along the banks of the Clarence river crossing at the Bluff point ferry and traveling through beautiful country side. Grafton is celebrating the Jacaranda festival and it’s just beautiful with all the Jacarandas in bloom. Having Yamba prawns for dinner tonight, life’s tough. Leaving tomorrow for Coffs Harbour for three days, then Cresent Head, Forster, Hawkes Nest and Toowoon Bay by the family day.
Love to all, Sue, Chris & Olly.

Walk like an egyptian

Hi everyone

This week we had a taste of egypt when Tam threw an egyptian fancy dress party! She's riding a bike along the nile next year for charity and the party helped to raise money. Also a perfect excuse to buy lots of gold accessories and wear lots of eye make-up as you can see in the photo! We drank lots of yummy cocktails with names like Cleo-plastered, Sand Storm and In Da Nile - it was fun!

The fancy dress shenanigans are set to continue this week with Halloween - it's seems like it'll be pretty big over here. On Thursday night we're going to another fancy dress party at the London Dungeon (tacky tourist attraction wear you learn about Jack the Ripper and London's spooky history - i think)! Should be fun and it's in aid of another charity event so it's all for a good cause.

Happy Halloween everyone and of course, Happy birthday Robert!

Love Kel xx

Blog potion #5

“Look at that girl, wow she’s hot, but what’s that she’s carrying? It’s a stepladder, that’s so cool, I’ve got to have one.” Yes my friends, step ladders as fashion accessories, here at Bunnings. I first noticed a staff member carrying a little two stepper that was so sleek and compact it looked like one of those hip slim briefcases but yesterday I saw this girl walking out with a five step version over her shoulder, all slim line and neutral anodized with bright lolly red plastic trims, I realized I was witnessing the latest must have fashion accessory, goodbye fluffy dog in a bag, I’ve got the ladder. Ideal for those situations where you want to assert yourself, you’ve got something to say or you want to slap that sports star to show you’r not that kind of girl. “Ye! Brake through the glass ceiling with a Lugger Ladder”
These type of products which were traditionally marketed to tradesmen with functionality and price as its main selling point, are beginning to appear as fashion items which Bunning’s family / female friendly marketing nouce is flogging to a new client. No longer, the trades and would be handyman blokes exclusive zone, no not Bunnings, bring the wife and kids, in fact send the wife, she’ll probably take you and the kids next time in the Hummer. I’m constantly amazed no gobsmacked at the number and variety of people who say “I love Bunnings”. On Saturdays the whole building reeks of sausage sizzle as the families from all creeds and cultures come streaming through as if it was The Tait or some other wonderful museum where you could not only view but handle the exhibits, indeed open and desecrate them, take them home, try them, bring them back if not satisfied, just keep the docket. . Imagine this, it is perfectly possible to buy a twenty meter extension ladder for $500.00, take it home, do the job and bring it back next week, say it wasn’t long enough and get your money back. Does it get friendlier than this. There in this maelstrom we bunnies curators with responsibility only to point and inadequately advise, vainly attempt to preserve some order on the disheveled shelves.
I have to admit to a delight in this passing parade. On Saturday I spotted a Blue Jay, like a bower bird, for you non ornithologists, who collects only blue objects for nest decorations. She was wearing a smart black track suity thing accessorized with blue bag and blue highlights to her shoes, a blue hair tie and the brightest blue glasser fames I’ve ever seen. She was on her way to checkout with a bright blue deck chair thing she’d come for but had not been able to resist that brilliant blue feather duster she’d seen on the way. So clever to make hardware so accessible to females they being the true gatherers as apposed to the male hunters who seek out only what they want and leave. The Gay nesters and young aspirational hetro’s are a treat too as they argue over how best to secure the Ficus on the porch at Newtown. I guess overall our client base are usually in a constructive - read positive – stage of their lives which makes them rather upbeat and pleasant to deal with. Not at all like being a cop or security guard.
Enough Bunnings Bull Sheet for now - if their lucky I may offer them this as a title for a in house news letter – though they will have first to show themselves worthy of such brilliance.
Went to Michelle’s (Walters wife’s) birthday bash this arvo, 29/10, very close to that most important 30/10 but as they say a miss is as good as a mile. An interesting collection of not yet chardonnay (cheap reds were in favor) swilling, tea not latte drinking boomer lefties though not a Marxist in sight. Forced retirement and medical procedures (hip replacements) were the major topics of conversation though luckily an abundant show of support from late teen children, nieces and nephews and their loves provided a light balance. Everyone wanted news of Alice. “Was she still seeing the Ellis boy what’s his name, Jack?” When who should call but the one and the same Alice with the surprise news that she and the said Jack were in fact newly (just that morn.) engaged “Engaged in what” I foolishly asked. “Engaged! Like to marry” the terse reply. Diamond rings and knees bent begging hands flashed through my mind. (I’ve seen a few movies) and I blurted a few stupid questions along these lines as I sought to understand what this all meant. Collecting my wits I managed to congratulate her and Jack (I think that was the proper procedure but I’ve never had to do this before and the movies can be so unreliable when it comes top real life) I asked for and received Alice’s permission to report this event and her words as we hung up “I’ll call mum now” left me in another few moments of dazed reflection before returning to the party. The news was accepted universally by those present as good and as I have said there were some present who knew or knew of Jack as well as Alice. Still a little bewildered I sought the opinion of some of the guests as to the meaning of engagement. Well I should have guessed in this group of leftie Boomers I couldn’t find a couple or a single for that mattered who had ever married at all. Statistically speaking my two marriages would have seriously corrupted our group poll. This led me to reflect that there are many more types of marriage, than those the likes of George Pell and John Howard would have us believe. Here were John (Murch) and Deb (Masters) with about to be twenty one year old Max and one of the twins with her boy friend all very wholesome looking despite Johns hip. Here were Walter (Vanveenendaal) and Mischelle (Murch) with Nella, Tosh and her boyfriend Jack looking gorgeous and not a marriage in sight. Obviously these oldies were going to be of no use to me in a quest to understand engagement so I approached Tosh and Jack of Generation Y or Generation Un-Do as Alice prefers to call it. Tosh as spokesperson, without hesitation, explained that engagement was a commitment one to another that there was to be no other and that there was intention to marry, diamonds and knees were only ceremonial appendages to be indulged or not no matter. Tosh is in my opinion a very serious and thoughtful girl and I fully accept her explanation. Thank you Tosh and Congratulations Alice and Jack.
So then what do you all think of that. I deliberately include all this after the boring Bunnings bit to catch out those who just go ho hum another boring blog and don’t read on. If I don’t get any comment I’m going to suicide by swallowing my hard drive whole, no better still I’ll strap my body with penny bungers and suicide bomb the next family day.
Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday dear Robert, Happy birthday to me.

HERE I AM KELL

Mmmm! It’s very dark in here, let’s try this light, nothing! But wait on, seeing it in this good light, they say no news is good news so I guess there’s lots of good news. Let me see now, what’s my good news? Mmmm
I’m in good health just as I’d thought though I now have professional confirmation. I’ve recently had a comprehensive array of medical tests which have turned up little more than low levels of vitamin D, the vitamin that comes courtesy of sunlight and, eggs if Alice is to be believed. Ironic considering that it has been self inflicted on the advice of the same medical profession who encouraged me, too late to save much of my damaged skin, to stay out of the sun, advice that I had recently observed so scrupulously as to have eliminated all color variation bar freckling and rashes from my body, ie. no high water marks. Now, as I hear you all saying how you so badly needed to know that, I’ll move away from health and see what other embarrassing good news I have.
My little car continues to perform well and is showing every sign of a good return on my seven hundred dollar investment, more than I can say for my Telstra T1 shares which don’t seem to be taking me anywhere. Not like my friend Walter’s NRMA freebies which appear to have matured into a $5000 windfall that he didn’t even have to buy. Now that may sound like a whinge from me but for Walter it’s good news.
With a little fine tuning in the shoes and underwear departments I continue to improve my capacity to cope with my shifts at Bunnings. Whilst I have the physical side of the four straight ten hour shifts pretty much in hand, on the mental side, details of the second half of the week still tend to become a little blurry. Hope the situation never arises where I have to be interrogated about anything specific during this time, like what color frock was the alleged thief wearing. On the light side I’m beginning to get to know my immediate team mates: Mahesh; mid 50s, Aussie born of Indian origin, been in retail hardware all life. Chris; 50s, ex chippie, double hernia, AKA Don Burke. Berne; looks like Andy Warhol, early forties, German, mathematician, doing Dip. Ed., will leave B’s and teach next year. Lucasz; 26, Israeli I think, jeweler, teacher, mortgage, no kids yet. Raj; 50s, Indian origin, been here a long time. Meghan; Aussie, late 30s, four kids, my favorite so far. Kerry; Aussie, Mt. Druitt, 40s looks 80s, has leg deformity or backyard bone set.
These folk work in the same immediate subsection as I called “Builders hardware” unless you call it that and are told “oh shelf hardware” which if you call it that are told you mean builders hardware just to be sure there’s no confusion. On the light side each day brings a customer or two who provide humor or at least food for thought. There have been a number of engineering and design students from various educational institutions who have in varying degrees presented me with their projects. The best of these was the girl who was researching on behalf of her team, how to make an approx. 400mm3 self propelling, self lifting and braking scissor lift. It had to lift a half kilogram bag of rice, come in under one hundred and fifty dollars, and be as light as possible. I found out all this slowly over the approximately five hours she spent at B’s during which she spent at least two hours under my expert tutelage. I was able to lecture a privileged Chinese design student on the engineering properties of MDF board. He returned on a subsequent day and reported that my advice had been very helpful, how many of you professors out there get that sort of feed back, and I’m not even marking him.
Another customer wanted something to keep birds out of his house, you thought you had a problem with your cockroaches and mice didn’t you, I was able to recommend the multi colored plastic strip door curtain (we have them) to keep out the flying rats.
An Iranian bloke wanted a special door locking mechanism. He was there with his daughter who looked just like any sixteen year old teenager except that she would not look in my direction. Turns out he wanted steel plates that could be screwed on to the edge of a door and the door jamb with protruding rings that a padlock could be put through. He proceeded to babble something about how he was going overseas and his daughter needed special protection from her brother’s mates. I might suggest to Bunnings that they get in a range of chastity belts.
I’m not too confident that I’m making a good impression with those I need to impress at Bunnings I’ve been told more than once to keep my hands out of my pockets – that’s OK, I know, should have learnt it at school, they told me often enough, but that apron has so many pockets not to mention the bib which is so inviting to a pair of hands looking for somewhere to go, I can strike poses just like the butcher use to in the old days - when there were butchers. I’ve been told not to slouch against stacks and stands, and I’ve been told when on sentry duty at the back gate, checking dockets and entering numbers on the sheets on my clip board, that I should stay on my feet and not lounge on that comfy swivel chair in the little sentry box. These things I can work on but no matter how much I sit on my hands and bite my tongue I sense these guys can see I have a bad attitude and like most old dogs will not be able to learn their new tricks, so don’t go looking for my name in the company prospectus any time in the near future.
Speaking of company prospectus these guys pay just north of the poverty line and point zerofive of a percent rise in the CPI (which I think happened yesterday) will take them south so lucky for you John that you no longer have shares in Westfarmers or you’d be owing me big time, and any shareholder out there had better watch out that I don’t find out.
That’s it isn’t it? Bunnings are gonna find this blog and It’ll be bye- bye Robert, I read where it happened to this girl in England, stands to reason, be lucky if I’m not sued for defamation, they’ll seize my assets, the car, no not the bike, nooo…
Phew! Rush of blood or something, I’m alright now, Wonder did that doc get all those tests right, I read a lot about these charlatan doctors, I’ll ask to see her badge next time.
Anyway back to the topic Good News wasn’t it. Alice is good news. Alice is the next big thing in radio journalism now that Walters brother in law’s brother in law (have to clear that with John) Chris Masters has chased that Alan (the second coming according to John Brennan 2GB program director) Jones out of town. Her inspirational articles for Voyer and Weight Watchers magazines are the talk of the town. She’s also the family’s writer of choice for business proposals or any other positive spin that may be required. I’m thinking of getting her to present my case to Bunnings if I can ever save enough to afford her. Jack is good news, his new CD has hit the living room and he has started his nation wide promotional tour with gigs at The Cat and Fiddle and The Harp that have left audiences breathless and clamoring for more. I’m especially good and have Prime Minister John Howard’s nomination to be the next Attorney General to the Solomon Islands, I believe our Johny’s endorsement carries a lot of clout over there. It’s a bit of a risky job but it can certainly be done, in fact it’s preferably done with hands in pockets, someone’s pockets.
You know what’s troubling me now is I can’t think of any more good news and even when I think of good news it keeps on straggling into bad news or if not bad news at least not so good news. I mean I could say it was a beautiful day today, good news but it might be hot or cold tomorrow straggles into bad news but hold on that’s not the news it’s the weather isn’t it? Spending too much time with mum.
Better go and post now for if I re-read this sober I’ll probably delete it all
Robert

Where's Robert?

Hi everyone

Now I don't want to alarm anyone but it has been almost three weeks - 20 days to be precise! - since Robert has completed a blog entry! What's going on? Has Bunnings kidnapped our beloved blogger? I'm very worried.

In the absence of a blog entry from Uncle Bob for some time I thought I should post some of my latest pics, but when I went through them there aren't any that really stand out. I always look drunk in them! Nonetheless, here are a couple of snaps from Frog's houseparty on Saturday night with all my new London friends (mostly Aussies from Goulburn)!

Lots and lots of love and keep on blogging everyone!

Love Kel

Partying in Europe

Well, much to my surprise I have survived another Bela Vista event - supposedly the last, but we'll see. As you may recall, I doubted I'd be along this time, due to cost, but sanity prevailed.

Getting there and back is the worst part. I took my window seat at Mascot, next to a large couple and resigned myself to my fate. Then I discovered my meal tray was broken - no, no upgrade, alas, but I was moved to a four in the middle, with only one bloke on the other aisle, so I had two seats to Kuala Lumpur. Then to Vienna I had an aisle with a slim girl in the window, so we shared the middle seat. The worst part is arriving in Vienna at 6am and having to wait for a 10.30 flight to Kiev. Had coffee, breakfast and a Bloody Mary!

I was a "surprise" to most of the Bela Vistans already in Kiev, and that worked quite well. I had the first night off to get over jetlag and hid in a quiet corner of the bar. One of our mob returned to his friends in the foyer and said, "There's a bloke in the bar who looks just like Hugh O'Keefe!"

But after that, it was five nights on the trot - a shonky, honkytonk grand in Kiev and the world's smallest electronic keyboard in Tiblisi - God, how I hate them! I didn't mind the five nights as I would have been in the bar anyway. But for three of them I went to bed when everyone went out for the evening and got up at 10.30 to be at the keyboard when they returned. Mostly a 2am finish, 3.30 on the last night.

Didn't see much of Kiev as I was only there a day and two nights. Went to the huge outdoor war memorial on the Sunday - quite spectacular - and had a Russian themed lunch - much stodge and potatoes. Then to the Kiev Opera House for "Manon Lescaut" - dead boring but beautifully sung. Then me on the honkytonk (the advantage of crook pianos is that I can blame them for all the mistakes).

Monday, all in pink, we flew to Tibilisi, capital of Georgia. Charter jet, great food and service and plenty of room. We flew over the Caucasus, as I wrote in my previous blog. Arrived in the tin shed that is the International Airport to be greeted by flag-waving masses. Turned out Georgia's judo team had just won the world title. But we didn't half feel silly all in pink.

The Marriot Georgia was a most luxurious hotel and my "piano" was in the hotel bar. Got friendly with the bar staff who wouldn't let me pay for drinks as I was a fellow worker - shades of the old Soviet. They are very friendly and honest people. Last night there, on my own, I got a taxi from the Old Town to the hotel. When I gestured "How much?" the old driver shrugged, so I gave him 5 lari (about $3). He didn't look happy, so I threw in another two lari and then he beamed! So much for international communications.

By the way, Georgia has its own alphabet which is no use to anyone but themselves, so forget about street signs and the like.

Had some wonderful food there - tomatoes you could eat like an apple (not since my childhood), fresh produce and all varieties of cold meats, and a wonderful thing they do with walnuts: mash them up into a sort of pate and add them to salads - yummy! And Georgia is famous for its wines, both red and white (esp. a lovely pinot grigio style). Russia used to be their main market, but while the two countries are at loggerheads over Georgia's drift to the West, Russia has embargoed their import. All the more for us.

Had the strangest day out to the Stalin Museum (!?) (Where, pray tell, is the Hitler museum?) He was born in Gori, an hour or so from Tibilisi. His two room birthplace is now a shrine and the Museum is huge, but a little scanty when it gets round to the gulags. Had our group photo taken under "one of the few remaining statues of Stalin in the world". Well, yes. Then had lunch and a barbecue by the river on a gloriously sunny day (they all were) and were entertained by schoolkids who did the most wondrously acrobatic dancing and drumming. The youngest, about eight, was a terrible showoff and we all wanted to take him home.

One day we had a garden party, dressed as woodland pixies and fairies, in the old part of town by the river. A highlight was the vodka still - mmm, very fresh. (In both countries vodka is served with meals along with the red and white wine.)

It was great to meet up with so many friends (about 100 of us), some who haven't been to the dos for over ten years - pity about my memory. A newcomer was Victor, a young up-and-coming concert pianist from Germany - very matinee idol. Of course I didn't let him anywhere near my awful keyboards and on the last night of farewells I said to him, "I'm so sorry I never heard you play, and just as sorry you did hear me play!" But he was very kind.

This has gone on long enough, sorry I can't do pictures (so come to Luke and Jamie's) and I'll save London and Devon for the next entry.

Hugh

Travelling the English and Welsh countryside

Hi everyone

I had an absolute blast on our weekend away. We visited Brighton, Salisbury, Stonehedge, Bath and Cardiff and got to see a lot of the English countryside. Cardiff was crazy thanks to Wales playing in a world cup qualifyer - it had the same atmosphere as Sydney during the Olympics! Here's a photo of us in Bath in front of the green gardens outside the Roman Baths, town centre and cathedral. It was such a pretty town.

Lots of love xxx Kel

The Nomads at the Sunshine Coast

Hello to all, since we last blogged we decided to leave the Queensland coast and its sand flies and head inland. It was a great decision, we drove from Yeppon via Rockhampton to Biloela with the plan of heading south along the Burnett Hwy. Just stayed one night in the Biloela Caravan Park which was pretty ordinary, but the clear sky and sunset was beautiful.
Next day headed south through green fields of wheat which was nice to see. Stayed two nights a Cania Gorge in a beautiful park set in a valley between high rocky cliffs with tall gum trees, scenic bush walks, camp fires, lots of birds and grassy camp sites. The first night there was a bush poet reciting to an audience around the campfire. We went four wheel driving through some spectacular rugged countryside to the site of the now vanished, Mondal goldfields. We drove up high ridges with views towards the coast, over the valleys with lush farms. A really beautiful part of Queensland and not a sand fly in sight.
We then traveled on through the small country towns of Monto, Eidsvold, Mundubbra to stay a free night at Gayndah. These towns are clean, tidy and prosperous and you can see the locals take a real pride in them. Gayndah which has lots of citrus orchards had some beautiful “queenslander” homes for under $200K. It is listed as the oldest town in Queensland and is a place you could live. Also staying at the free camp was a couple who now live on the sunshine coast. The man used to work with Sue’s uncle Morrie Ryan at the Naval stores depot in Sydney and still keeps in contact with him, small world.
The next day we were not sure where we were going to end up but when we heard there was a rodeo on at Kinaroy we headed to the Yallaokool Tourist park on the Bjelke Petersen dam near Murgon. Another beautiful place and were pleased to book in for two nights as each caravan site had its own ensuite bathroom. The only downside of this park was that the magpies were nesting and swooping anyone who went for a walk without an umbrella or stick to wave over their head for protection. Before Sue realised the danger, she was hit by a magpie which drew blood. One got me the next day when I was not being vigilant, but it just wing hit me. Next day we drove to Kingaroy for the rodeo which was great, It was a small rodeo ground so you were closed to the action and just watching the locals enjoy themselves was great. I love watching the children with their hats, checked shirts and moleskins who are miniature versions of their parents. They stand on the rails of the cattle yards directing the cattle with their shouts and arm waving. It was a charity rodeo put on by the lions club and so was very casual and it was a great afternoon, with some beautiful horses and skillful riders.
From here we drove to Gympie, only an hour away and found a dog friendly park. Spent three days here waiting for mail but visited Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay and the beautiful Mary river Valley that Beattie wants to flood for Brisbane water supply, It will be a real loss if it goes ahead.
We are now spending a week on the Sunshine coast at Peregian Beach, which is very nice. Great to be at a beach with a surf and no sand flies. Yesterday we found a second tick on Olly and this one was the potentially fatal paralysis kind so we rushed him to the vet. He had been favoring his leg for a few days which caused us to check him over, but Luckily we got it off him before it had done much harm and as we put Frontline on him each month it helps to prevent the transmission of the poison to the blood. So he is OK now but we have given him a real short hair cut today to make it easier to check him each day. The vet said that the ticks are really bad at this time of year.
We took it easy today, went to the farmers market for fruit and veg watched a bit of “Bathurst and had a swim in the crystal clear pacific Ocean, life’s tough !!!! Not sure how long we will stay her but we might head down to the Gold Coast to see Christine (Sue’s sister) and Dennis and family and maybe have a look at Indy. Hope you like the pictures.
So that’s all until next time, love to all, Sue, Chris & Olly.

The Sporting life

Heres a pic for you Kel
God who could have imagined that feet could feel so sore after only four straight ten hour shifts on the concrete, luckily I’ve discovered this really good beer foot bathing regime. You just drink two bottles of beer and as it makes it’s way to your feet for what’s called internal bathing, nothing wasted this way, the feet begin to revive so much so that with intensive bathing sessions and some revival music its not unusual to find ones self up and dancing without any sensation of pain, look out Lourdes. I intend to present this new therapy at the next Big Bunnings Bunnies Bonding session and I am confident that it will be taken up with gusto possibly replacing the fire walking as a finale.

Had a yuppie customer begin to abuse me over some shortcoming of Bunnings in the manner that bank customers often vent their spleen on tellers not realizing that the tellers are even more the victims of the banks selfish policies than they are. I suggested that he take his complaint to someone who cared, maybe a shareholder, stopping him in his tracks as he reflected that he was a shareholder. A woman who looked one step this side of a bag lady had introduced herself to me that morning as an undercover store detective, I wonder do they have undercover staff attitude detectives. Alice’s friend Sophie who works as a barmaid told me of being approached by a customer, obviously intoxicated, to whom she politely refused service only to have him congratulate her on having passed their bosses test of her attitude. Scary Orwelian stuff I think.

That’s enough Bunning’s diary for now. I realize I haven’t given you all a Mum report since the blogs in space incident and am pleased here to report that now that I have explained to her what “hash brown” is in relation to leaving a message on one of these new fangled mobile phones, and the ads for Macdonalds she sometimes sees on TV, sorted out that the clock radio emergency static situation was probably just caused by global warming and would most likely return from time to time, causing her 2CH easy listening to be a little uneasy, and adjusted the oil induction heater in her room back to the way she had it, she’s as contented as a cat. The induction heater is a valid complaint as it has the potential to confuse even one as technically savvy as I. It has a knob which when turned clockwise takes the heat up and anti clockwise down presumably to off at its furtherest extension, just as mine does. Beside this is a on off switch which I would have thought to be surplus to requirements though I suppose some would argue that one might want to turn it off and then back on at exactly the same setting, which this switch would facilitate. Are you all following me here? Kelly sit up straight and stop garching out the window. This is the tricky bit, the on off switch has as its symbology a black circle and a black dot one for on and one for off, mmm, as well as this it has a small red indicator light imbedded in the switch, A-HA you say on will be when the light is on but wait, the light is controlled by the thermostat so that if the unit is hot enough it will be off even though the unit is on. I could go on but there’s the bell so suffice to say that this gets my nomination for Her Majesty’s Prize for Industrial Design and I recommend it exclusively for all old age institutions. Class dismissed.

RESOLUTION AT LAST

Theres a lot to be learnt about this bloging business and its made all the harderwhen your constantly watching not to touch anything that says anything like delete.
Here are some more candid cameras from Gabby and Adrians big gig. If I could caption these three photos, from the top, those captions would go like this:
Photo #1. AND I SAY TOMATO

Photo #2. HE SAY TOMATO

Photo #3. WE ALL SAY TOMATO