Kelly looks for home

It’s hard to describe my disappointment when half way through my walk this morning I realized it was not the start of my holidays but everybody’s holiday. Its just not the same when you have to share it. Why should the Queen’s get their own public holiday anyway, is it to compensate for their not being able to marry? (sorry that was worn and tasteless)

Are you all feeling rested? Not having to read Robert’s long blog must have seemed a windfall. I’m hearing of people who look at their watches and check their calendars before starting to read them. I did write it but nasty Mr. Computer ate it prior to publication or filing, most disappointing but it was just more rubbish and anyway the pleasure is in the writing as I’m certain you will all agree.

I’m writing now in an effort to stay awake. I’ve had Sue Chris and Kelly staying with me for the last week, most enjoyable. The reward for my “hospitality” has been lavish meals every night. My body did not understand this. As a finale to the week we attended a dinner at Alice and Jack’s where the wine and bonhomie flowed freely till the early hours of the morning. I survived the next days eight am start and weathered the day at Bunnings remarkably well, retiring early for a good Saturday nights sleep. Yesterday I took the skill of napping to record heights and once more retired early for a sound nights sleep. I think my body had decided with what ever component of DNA it has in common with bears that with all this extra fat and the onset of some genuinely cold weather it was time to hibernate.

As I say I’ve had the pleasure of the company of Chris Kelly Sue and of course if last by no means least Olly these few days. Olly has to be the most pampered dog, yes more than any of Paris’s Chihuahuas. Kelly is also pampered, deservedly so it seems, she also does pretty well for herself. Her English employers hold her in such high esteem that they have flown her here at their expense to renew her work visa as there is absolutely no one in the UK who could replace her. Cleverly they or she have decided that rather than take leave to undertake this excursion, she can continue to work in London via the Sydney office. Of course there are time constraints to this system. There’s no point going to work before mid-day as London’s still asleep. Mid day is early but from our southern hemisphere point of view seems a good start time as one can commence work with lunch, liquid preferably. At five and again at six local staff leave lamenting the lot of poor Kell who must slog on, at least to seven when there’s no one left to notice whether she’s there or not, nice one Kell.

It was a great week for a weather watcher at the gates of Bunnings Mascot. Seven am Thursday’s opening in the middle of a electrical deluge during which three people at the airport nearby were struck by lightning was exciting. My Bunnings issue, XL Japara jacket kept the rain out however once it was wet it turned into something akin to the Australian designed canvas water cooler bag which by the process of evaporation from its surface cools its contents, you get it. Cosy and warm when dry, freezing when wet. It pretty much pissed down for the rest of the day but without the early morning pyrotechnics. Friday began blustery and warm, proceeded to gale force and freezing, then gale force freezing and wet. Protection from these violent conditions for the gatekeeper, consisting of the dunny size gate house and afore mentioned XL Japara which is not unlike wearing an armchair, I spent most of the day hunched in the driest corner letting the world outside pass me by. Watching the TV news that night I recognized that by comparison I had had the better of it mostly.

Jack and Alice made a good hand of their Friday night dinner party. Lacking a table they spread a round table cloth on the floor demarking a no walking/sitting zone that was well respected. Chicken-a-la-Jack was excellent and fermented grape juice kept all of us generating heat to provide strong competition for their new bar heater. Certainly the highlight of the night was Jacks mike which easily recorded a surprisingly accurate account of our artistic or should that be autistic endeavors with renditions of pop songs, rather like chorale karaoke. His best trick was to present all with burned copies of same endeavors as they left. I know your all saying “but he’s her father” however I recommend this little venue to anyone seeking something different.

Our picture for today is titled Cows Love and features Chris in the left foreground taking the concept of cowboy to its logical conclusion. I love this photo and count the cows in it if I’m having trouble sleeping. Well I haven’t had to count them yet but you should feel free to do so yourself preferably with a glass of warm milk. It’s from these creatures that warm milk comes Gabby, but not soy milk, it comes from soys a misspelling of the female pig.

Good night all,
Robert