Brighton Photo Album

A couple of weeks ago, I promised to get a photo album together for you all.  Well, this afternoon, I've gone and done that on photobucket.

Brighton Holiday Livin' Photos 

Now, they might show up with the newest being on there.  One the left hand side, there's a 'view by' title and you'll get a choice when you click on it.  Click on 'Oldest First' and the whole album will make sense.

If it won't let you do that, let me know I'll organise something else.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember I'm always here.

Back At Home!

Tonight, I write to you all from my Logan townhouse; and I'm very tired.  I've had a long day of traveling and doing lots of things to get back home.
I was up at 6am; unable to get back to sleep.  So, I fed the chickens, fed Watson for the last time and fed Jay the dog and then took an early morning walk to the paper shop where I picked up a carton of milk and a bottle of 'Cascade' Ginger Beer.  I was planning on taking it to the baby shower this afternoon, but it was left in the car by accident.  By the time I returned, everyone in the house was still asleep.  So, I tidied up the lounge and packed my shoes and began sorting out my things to take with me later in the morning when Dad was going to pick me up.
At around 8am, Kat, Gabe and Riley were up and about and pancakes had been made and we were around the breakfast table scoffing into them!  My Maple Syrup I had brought along for the week was tried out by Gabe and Riley as they'd never eaten it before; and they loved it!  So, I left that bottle there for them to enjoy.  Actually, I accidentally left my dark chocolate in the freezer... oops!  Oh well, they'll enjoy that too.
They had to go out and pick up a part for the Kombi as it broke down at the camp site at Kennleworth; so they were out for the day to rescue it.  While they were out, I took a quick shower and packed my last minute stuff and pack any food stuffs I wanted to bring home; including organising Little Miss Stevie.  However, this took time.  Dad showed up just after I had finished washing up and tidying up, putting my shoes into a plastic bag - as they all had chicken poo on the soles of them - and Little Miss Stevie's blankets were all folded up and I had made sure everything was ready to go.

Now, I haven't mentioned anything about the next thing for a good reason.  My Mum has been in hospital for the last two weeks or so.  This is so she could have a major operation to have a lung cancer removed and part of her lung.  She was the ICU for some time and then in she was moved to a regular bed around Wednesday of this week as she was doing a lot better.  It's so good to see her improve from there.  She's now able to shower and dress herself and she isn't attached to any machines anymore; and now they are managing her pain with panadol instead of the heavy stuff.  I'm just looking forward to seeing her come home and watch her recover over time.  Mum's really hanging out to get home, but will stay in the hospital until they let her go home.
Well, today, Dad and I went and visited Mum on the way to a Baby Shower at Thorneside.  She was thrilled to see us and we were happy to see her too.  I can't wait to see her home and recovering where I can get to her via a bus instead of being driven to the other side of town.

The baby shower for Vivienne and Geoff Treagus was a great success!  My knitted gear for their baby was a great surprised and Vivienne absolutely adored the hats - especially the tiny one!  All the ladies were amazed at how much I knitted and how lovely the blankets were.  I spotted almost all of them going up and looking at them close up at one point or another during the afternoon.  So, I'm flattered that everyone - not only Mum and Dad to be - loves my pieces too.
By around 4pm, I thought it was time we made tracks.  Little Miss Stevie had had fun with us all.  She was the real social butterfly around everyone.  So, I left her at the Summer House with the ladies while I tracked down Dad at Viv and Geoff's house and found him with his feet up in a lounge chair enjoying a chat with Stefan - one of the guest's boyfriend's.  He asked if I was ready to take off.  He looked pretty comfortable; so I said when he was.  But truthfully, I didn't want us running into any peak hour traffic.  

We arrived home at around 5pm.  The traffic was busy - but not horrible - and the day was beginning to catch up with me.  It's been a long day of sitting in the car and traveling around Brisbane.  I do look forward to tomorrow where I'll be catching up with my house, my laundry and anything else there is around the place.  Most of my stuff is unpacked otherwise.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

A Birthday Tradition

Tomorrow is my birthday; and each year, the night before my birthday, I do a journal entry about what I've done in the year between my last birthday and this one.  I know this seems like a silly thing to do; however with my memory problems through Epilepsy and medications, it helps me remember how far I've come from one year to the next and to see how many goals I've reached - and exceeded - each year too.  And doing on my birthday instead of NYE makes is better for me too.

Last year, around this time, I was writing this at my townhouse; this time I'm writing this in the living room of my brother and my future sister-in-law's house at Brighton on the north side of Brisbane.  It's past 10pm and it's bin night.  I only found out because the dog wanted to go outside for the final toilet run and I found all the other neighbours had put out their bins... okay!  Finding out the hard way that this is bin night!  At least I found out.
Within this last year, I've fallen in love with a wonderful man.  Since I have told him - and he hasn't told me that he doesn't like me - I have tried to be with other men (just to be sure it's not a crush or something silly like that).  I found that the spark we have together isn't there in other people; so there is something there.  
I've worked on my art and writing over the last year too.  I've been to workshops at the Logan Art Gallery and been painting and have done some life modelling for a friend as well.  I've been published - in December - through a UK e-book company where I don't get paid, but people can download my book for free and read what I can write.  It's a start at least.
I've been reading some great books - and not so great books - and My Reading List blog is still running and getting more popular with each passing month too.  I don't know what I do that's different, but people seem to like it.
We have lost a family member during this year, though.  Uncle Allan passed away from Prostate Cancer, aged 71 1/2.  He passed on in April and will be missed badly from the family as he was a favourite Uncle of mine.  His friends, Frank and Dave and himself all helped me through a rough break-up years ago when nobody else knew how... and I'll be forever grateful for what they've all done for me.  I will always miss him and his quirky sense of humour and his laugh and generous nature.  And I'll never be able to listen to 'Always Look On the Bright Side of Life' from The Life of Brian without thinking of his service; as it was the song he picked for his casket to be wheeled out to the hearse to... you can see what I mean by the sense of humour now, right?

I've attended a massive workshop that took up over a month of my time; and ended with The Home Festival at Kangaroo Point where our Pop-Up Museum Exhibition was a great attraction to the public.  My piece was an Altered Book about why I collect books and why I love to read and write and pages hanging in a tree nearby with words on the backs of them telling in a word or two of my passion and love for the written word.  The Pop-Up Museum has been asked to be shown in either the Logan Art Gallery or the Queensland Art Gallery - I've forgotten which this December.  Otherwise I'm back into working on my works again; and have begun designing a necklace holder for my necklaces.  

Now, it's October and Jay the dog is sleeping on her bed.  Little Miss Stevie is on her swing all fluffed up, her head stuck firmly in her feathers fast asleep (truthfully, trying to ignore my noisy typing).  I'm not all that tired really; but it's very quiet outside now it's late.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Hot Day Thursday

It was a cool day to start off with today.  But it was lovely to get outside and feel a cool breeze on my skin.  The chickens came crowding around my ankles clucking and fluffing happily; all but the black chicken.  I called and looked for the black one but didn't know where it was and thought she may have been in the coop for one reason or another.  So, I took the door off a little and - sure enough - there she was, squatting, about to lay an egg!  Quickly, I put it back on and thought to wait for her to finish before cleaning out the coop.  I turned around and looked for Jay but she had vanished on me... oh, great!  Her without her collar on too. So, I took a walk up the back to where the rent-a-fence was set up and there she was, sniffing around the long grass.  I called her in and we started playing around and running around the yard when I saw the black chicken strutting around; and I pulled the door off to find a nice brown egg there waiting for me.  On picking it up, I found it was toasty and warm!  I'm still amazed these animals make these things for us.

I had a cool little breakfast of muesli and yoghurt, folded some laundry from yesterday, put away Riley's bean bag in her room and then began getting ready for this morning's walk.  This time, I wasn't going to take Jay as I was going for a walk that was probably into shops and other places she wasn't allowed.  So, I thought it best to leave her at home.  When she figured out she was staying home, she wasn't all that happy, but I promised her walk this arvo - and I will take her out for a good walk up the road to a cafe where I'll do some writing and photography too.

Well!  I got myself to Vinnies again and found there a teapot and cups set I had seen the other day and couldn't stop thinking about.  And it was still there!  Seeing it was covered in dust, I kinda thought it might have still been there.  Once it was all wrapped up for me and bagged up, I decided a walk toward the water wouldn't hurt.  So, instead of crossing the road again, I kept walking toward the Esplanade.
Once there, I found it was so beautiful and quiet and lovely!  The sun glittered off the water, looking like diamonds; and the tide was fully in.  I looked around on the footpath along the waterfront and found not a single person in sight!  Nor were there any cars driving along the road - sure there were plenty parked, but none were being driven along here.  It was so very quiet I was amazed at the serenity here.  I walked along the footpath for a bit and pulled out my map to find I had come upon Seventeenth Avenue; so I took that street to get back to Beaconsfield Terrace.  Along the way, I saw a lovely cat who came over and was very social with me.  Then, I chatted with a lady who lived in a unit complex, who was taking her little dog for a walk.  This little pooch was sniffing at every post and bush there was.  We had a good giggle about how dogs do that all the time and chatted about a few things, then went our own ways.
I took my time walking along to find the Vinnies store again; after all I was in no rush to get back to the house; I'm on holidays too.  I came across a house that sold plants and had a good look at them all, but found that I couldn't buy the one I wanted because I had no way of getting it home.  So, I wrote down the name of it instead to remind me to get it when I got back home to Logan City. 
Once back here, I unwrapped my teapot set and filled the sink with hot water and detergent.  The Vinnies store had taped the lid to the pot itself with sticky tape and I couldn't get it off.  So, I have had to soak it off.  This set should make a good little addition to the ones I have at home.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Mid-Week Sun

This week has been going well.  Despite my small injuries on my right foot that happened on Saturday - which are healing now well now - I'm enjoying the peace and quiet of having a whole house to myself.  
The chickens enjoying a pat a few times a day and are funny when they think I'm going to feed them; and I'm not.  They've been laying some good eggs too; so far I've got around 5 eggs and have eaten one for breakfast.
Jay is really missing Kat and Gabe and Riley something big.  Even though I'm taking her for a walk every day and she's enjoying running around the yard after breakfast all day, when she comes inside in the late afternoon, she just doesn't seem to connect with me very much.  I know she's really missing them all and can't wait until they come home.
But today, I found I was in the mid-week slump of my holidays.  I really needed to get some laundry done so I didn't have to do so much when I returned home.  So, I did some hand-washing and got two other loads out on the line by around 1pm.  Then, I took Jay for a walk to the bakery up the road and looked at the cakes for Friday - my birthday - and found it was best to just go for a plain old chocolate log.  Compared to an ordered cake, it was far less to pay and easier to store.  The chocolate log cost me $5.00 and I could bring it home today; whereas the ordered cake took 2 days and would have cost me $22.00.  So, I went to the cheaper alternative... it does the same thing.
This morning, after breakfast, I had the computer and internet on - for the radio - and I dampened a cloth and wiped down all the dusty surfaces around the place.  The place looks to much better now.  Even the speakers, computer and modems had a huge amount of dust on them.  Anyway, once I rinsed it out, I found the place felt and smelled better.  I then washed up from this morning's breakfast and hung about on the net chatting with a friend who was in Tassie visiting family.  
I took more photos of the things around the house and have enjoyed being around here, writing, editing work, knitting and cooking.  After having one day of cold and drizzle, I'm glad it's fined up to a good-looking week.  Little Miss Stevie is enjoying herself too... even if the breezes are a little on the cooler side for her.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Tuesday Morning Walk

This morning, I was up at 7am - nice and early - dressed and out in the yard to be greeted by the lovely chickens who all came running down from the coop clucking happily to see me!  They're such funny little things!  I always get the giggles when I see them doing that and I've only been here a few days.
After cleaning out the coop and feeding them, I looked around for Jay, but couldn't find her.  I called her name and searched high and low, but still couldn't find her.  So, I went about making her breakfast really noisily; but still, there was no Jay to be seen.  I went looking for her again... and found her up the back beyond the rent-a-fence.  Cheeky dog.
Well, we went next door and was greeted at the front gate by Watson the Intillectual Cat.  He had come looking for me to feed him... he was starving; poor little guy.  Watson raced ahead of me and showed me his plate and that it was empty.  So, I promptly filled it up, gave him a good pat and he meowed his appreciation.  Good little cat.  Jay and I came back home and I then fed Little Miss Stevie and finally myself.

By the time 8:30am came around I was ready to go for a walk and Jay was excited to see that she was coming along!  I pulled on my sneakers, closed up the house, grabbed the map that was printed out by Katrina and we were off! It took us around 20 minutes to get there and the place wasn't open yet.  So, I looked through the windows until they opened the doors and I tied Jay to the nearest post and took a good walk through, looked at the massive amount of books, clothes, kitchen items and found a huge set of size 10 knitting needles with both ends in tact.  So, I bought them for .50c.  Not a bad buy if you ask me.  I did see a teapot set but they had priced each piece separately... so I thought to leave it; it did look like it had been there for a while though.

Anyway, the day has turned out to be a lovely, windy, sunny one.  I'll be going out again at around noon to buy some milk, sugar and plain crackers at the convenience store.  These are the only things missing from the pantry at the moment; and the sugar is the one thing they took with them... when they went camping I needed. Oh well, it won't take much to replace it. Until me next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Well, I'm sitting here vegging out in the computer and internet while it's raining outside.  It's been raining all morning; since I've fed the chickens and the cat next door actually and I'm really getting sick of it already.  I thought this was going to be a good week of sitting out in he warm afternoons and reading as the bay breezes cooled the house.  However, I was wrong.  The days have begun to be wet and not all that great; and to make it even worse, I packed only two pairs of jeans and didn't pack a jacket or anything remotely to do with Winter.  Seeing we were having such a nice Summery spell of warm weather, I thought it was going to continue - well that's what we were led to believe - and so I didn't pack anything for cold weather.  So, when I found it was chilly this morning, I was grateful that there is a Vinnies store not far from here.
Today is a public holiday so I'll be off tomorrow to dig amongst their jackets and winter gear for this week.  I only hope  I can get it all washed and dried in time to wear it.  If not, well, it doesn't matter; I'll have some nice clothes from there.

But we've had a good time so far here - Little Miss Stevie and me - as Gabe, Kat, Jay and Riley are great to be around.  Living alone is hard but being amongst others is great and noisy.  They are always playing music and chatting and laughing about everything.
They took off this morning after breakfast.  Jay looked around after them as though she was being left out of some great adventure - poor girl - but she's here in the living room sleeping seeing it's raining and cold outside.  I have been offering for her to take a wander out around the yard, but she keeps looking at me as though I'm nuts and going back to bed.  And really, do you blame her?  Nah, me neither.
I've fed the chickens twice already and this morning they all thought I was the Food Goddess... it was hilarious when I stepped outside in my blue socked feet this morning at 7am and put on my shoes, all four of them came running towards me like little feathered children!  Such little cuties and funny as hell!

This arvo, I'm not sure what I'm going to be up to.  Might get into reading a bookring from Bookcrossing yet, or edit a few stories I have brought with me.  So, I'll see where this day takes me.  But today, I've given the chickens a treat, Jay got a treat and Little Miss Stevie did too.  Then, I fixed up some flowers that the neighbour brought over to Gabe and Kat so they survive better; and they're looking good.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

First Day At Brighton

Well, all my organising has been well worth the running around.  I've had a good first day and night here at my brother's house and today I'm here on my own as he and his partner, Kat, are away for a while on an errand where I don't think I'd fit in.
Anyway, I've learned to feed the chickens, the dog and the cat next door - whose name is Watson and he's very affectionate - and I've only just washed up from eating Gabe's new invention of Electric Corn Cakes, which we had for breakfast.  
Yesterday, we took a walk around the streets so I could find my way to the local IGA and they showed me that there was a St Vinnies here too.  So, in the next week, I'll be going there as well to take a look around that place to see what kinds of thing people donate in this area.  Should be interesting.
We ended up down at the water just as the sun was setting and the tide was coming in.  So, we saw the lights of Sandgate and the Port of Brisbane glittering over the water.  How pretty is that?  I have some photos of it all and will upload it all onto my photobucket album at the end of the week for you all to see once I'm home again.  We found some sea snails in the shallows as well - and I took some photos of them too! They really are amazing creatures.  

I'm looking forward to seeing this week out with the animals and Little Miss Stevie here at my brother's house.  But worry not, I do have a good neighbour of mine watching over my place while I'm away.  He's a good person and has agreed to put out my bin on bin night too.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.