Back Home In Wet Ol' Brisbane

I arrived home yesterday morning at around 11am; however, I didn't post anything because my computer is still out of action - so I'm on my neighbour's computer right now to post this while it's absolutely pouring outside.

Anyway, it was fortunate I did come home yesterday in the horrible heat and sun.  Besides being a little sunburnt, I'm glad I did drive home then because I got so much done yesterday than I would have today.
The first thing I did was get outside and mow my lawn... it was so long, my mower could barely cut it.  I had to clear out the cutters every few minutes it was so heavily long.  And then, I checked on my green house and found it was going well.  The plants in it were still alive and the water inside the soda bottle was still mostly there.  This is something I'll have to look into more and see if I can make it better.

After that, I washed the double bed sheet cover I bought at Whatever in Brunswick Heads and hung it out to dry.  It took only an hour or so to dry because it was so hot and humid and the sun was turned around to the afternoon.  And once I pulled it in, I put it on my bed (as I was planning to do), and found it was for a Queen-sized bed and it looks amazing!  I have photos, but don't have my cable to my camera with me (I'll upload them onto 365Project and link them back to here).  
Then, seeing I had a few things done at home, I looked in the fridge and pantry and found that they were looking quite bare.  So, out to the shops I drove to get some food in the house.  I spent around $100 and came home to fill the house with enough food for the next week.

Once all that was done, I did the unpacking and putting away of things and bags I took to the coast.  By this time it was around 4pm and I wanted to just sit down and veg out in front of the television; so I did.  I ended up having just salad for dinner and making myself a nice pot of green tea and watching a few dvds of 'That 70's Show'... season 4.  

Today, I'm getting my computer back and it's poured rain for a good part of the day.  I got the laundry done (well two loads of it) and hung it up on the large clothes horse in the house, paid two bills, received a Christmas card that sings and have a few other things planned for the day - seeing it's raining.  Well, until my next post - which will be from my computer at my place - take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Hot Saturday Markets

This morning, I woke to my 7am alarm and made myself get out of bed and get ready to go to the markets at Memorial Park here in Brunswick Heads.

This market is usually on the first Saturday of the month, each month and I'm normally not here for it.  But this time, I am able to stay for it because I've got a car to go home whenever I want to.

Well, I was off from the van before my folks even got out of bed to score myself a few bargain things I've wanted to look at.  People were still setting up when I arrived and so I found the place wasn't really humming yet.

The first thing I bought was a new cutting board.  The guy who makes these has a strong European accent, but he makes the best cutting boards in all shapes and sizes from all kinds of woods; and they are well worth the money.  I found a discounted rack he had them all sitting in and laid my hands on one I totally wanted the moment I picked it up... it was gorgeous, just the right size and had no knots in it.  And I asked how much it was - he said half price: $25!  How cool is that?  I forked over my money and was happy with my purchase.
There were so many book stalls there, I didn't know which one to look at first.  But the Book Bus wasn't there unfortunately.  I wish it was, I would be able to talk about it on My Reading List... as it's such an amazing stall that it's meant to be experienced to be believed.   However, this time around, it wasn't anywhere to be found.  So, I found two books I liked.  One was some collective works by Dorothy Parker and the other was a biography of Iggy Pop; both very great books to own.  I also bought a book on how to grow bromiliades; it's from the 1970's and I'm hoping it will keep mine from either dying on me or multiplying too much.  
Well, I ran into a writer friend of mine - Dawn Alice - from the Logan Writers and we had a chat after I got a reading done from a friend of hers.  It's great to run into friends like this here; when you least expect to... anyway, I went in search of coffee.  It was around 9am, and I really needed to sit down and have a rest and a cup of coffee and something to eat.  So, I found this place called 'Coffee Oasis' where the man made the most delicious Chai I've ever had.  It was the kind of Chai my brother, Gabe, would have had in India when he traveled around there.  I sat at a table and chatted with some people while we listened to the stylings of a young man across the way from us on his guitar.  He was selling his EP for $10... it has only 5 songs on it, but this is the kinda place people start out at.  I bought the EP and played it back at the van.  He's great!
Well, I went on my way in the search for a hat... something nice and bright.  I looked around the hat stall, but they were to far too expensive.  I didn't want to spend $30 on a hat... it's just not worth it.  So, I found another stall where I found a very colourful, rainbow one for $16.  Perfect!  I love it as it's got 2 brims on it and it keeps its shape.  

Anyway, Mum called and I waited around for her to arrive.  When she did, we walked to the Soap Lady where Mum bought a huge amount of soap; and I found some soap for my feet (my feet are really rough, honestly, they are!  I wear a lot of sandals and don't care for my feet as well as I should).  And then we looked at some jewellery, leather goods, plants, bead thingys that are substitutes for water, and then at a jumble stall... and then?  We were off back to the van.  Mum didn't want to look at anything else.  I had found what I was looking for - and even picked up a nice basket made from recycled materials in Burma (or somewhere near there) by a man who uses old packing tape.  He doesn't speak English, lives in the middle of the jungle and just makes baskets all the time... when this lady who sells the baskets takes them off his hands, and she returns with his money, she gives it to him in cash as he doesn't have a bank account or a phone or is anywhere near a town to do anything modern.  So, people have been buying these baskets like hot cakes.  I bought a small one for when I go to my writer's groups or volunteer work and I want to take stuff with me; and I don't want to lug a bag with me.  
Well, I better get packing soon... time is going to get on and I'm going to end up leaving things behind otherwise.  But I've had a great week here in Brunswick Heads.  

I've been to Mullumbimby and bought some Lemon Butter (which amazingly my Dad loves... this from a man who doesn't normally like it) and it's the nicest Lemon Butter around!  On the same day, I bought a towel set in its original packaging by Supertex, a lovely mug and a bowl from Re Sould; a cool little retro store here in Brunswick Heads (yes, you can find it on Facebook... go and have a gander).

Then, we went out to trivia night - Mum and I - and we had a great time.  I drove up to the Bowls Club and we had a wonderful time, our team coming in 6th... and Mum and I shared a bowl of wedges.  Then, we were home by 9pm.  It was a good night.

NYE was great... well, until the storm hit at around 10:30pm or so.  And man!  What a storm!  It lasted around 6 hours and didn't quit until 4am.  Not many of us got much sleep that night, so we all felt very hung over - more so than normal - the next day.  When we found we didn't have another storm on New Year's Day - we all got a very early night... how well did we all sleep!

The weather has been pretty much very steamy and hot, with bouts of rain and a storm... really weird weather.  I am looking forward to being at home because I'm getting cabin fever.  Otherwise, I'm not liking the attitude I'll be returning to of my townhouse complex.  I just hope it all gets better than it has been in the last year.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember I'm always here.

Happy New Year!

It's another new year, and we've all survived it... well, most of us.  Some people we have loved in Hollywood have left us high and dry - comedian Robin Williams is a man I grew up with on 'Mork & Mindy' and I don't think his presence will ever be really replaced and we'll always miss him in one way or another...

Each year, I seem to lose a few friends of mine or within my family.  This started happening a few years ago, and it's something I have hated more and more.  One of the parents who camp next to us at Brunswick Heads passed away in the last quarter of 2014 and now we're all down here again, it just doesn't seem the same without him here.

I've gotten a car over the last year, and well, it's been wonderful to have my independence back again after 20 years of missing it completely.  After losing the use of a car, you really never get over not being able to drive - you just don't.  You have a very trapped feeling all the time; and it's not a very nice feeling to be on holidays by the sea, but not able to drive anywhere unless somebody else is going.  Even then, you have to leave when they want to.  You still have the kept feeling of only being the passenger - the child - in the situation, when you want to stick around more in a place.
It's been great here at Brunswick Heads, seeing I have my Little Green Machine to take me places.  The only tiny problem is that there's no promises of my visitors parking spot being there when I return from wherever I've taken off to.
I did get my butt out to Mullumbimby where I sweated it out in the sweatbowl of a town.  For once I wasn't following my folks around the town and looking in on stores at my own pace; and it felt wonderful to do just that... I haven't been able to do that for years.

While Mum and Dad were out visiting friends at Cabberetta Beach, one day, I went and did the shopping.  They didn't realise how hard it had been for me to not have a car until this past year... and when they arrived back to the van and found all the products they wanted, it was wonderful to have all their shopping done without stressing out about it.  And Little Green Machine got a run too.  

On New Year's Eve, we had an Italian Night.  However, I made a Ratatouille... yeah, I know, it's a French dish, but nobody complained about that, not when they were scooping it into their mouths.  I was asked how I did it; and I told them about how long the preparation took and that it was a layering process, with garlic, freshly chopped parsley and patience... and they said it was well worth the wait.  Dad had insisted, though to get my dish cooking after his pizzas were done, but it cut the cooking time by about half and hour and we were rushing it... so so it wasn't fully cooked, but everyone loved it anyway.  It was hot, delicious and very yummy.

However, as the dessert came out, we felt a few sparse drops of rain, which turned into a shower... then as we looked around at the river, we spotted some lightning flickering over at Ocean Shores and out to sea, and down at Byron.  I had commented earlier that afternoon that we were in for a storm - at which everyone snorted and said it would be just a shower.
Well, the thunder and lightning really lit up the skies and the rain poured from the darkness above!  Everyone ran off to check on their own places and came back with muddy feet and umbrellas dripping with rain.  

The New Year came and went... we all hugged and kissed and sat down under a fly and chatted.  Then, I wanted to go back to our van and just read... so I did.  I dropped in on our neighbours and found the booze in one of the desserts was catching up with me... oops!  Then, once the rain settled down, I headed off home and found I was too full, had eaten way too much, but wasn't ready to go to bed yet - not that Mother Nature was going to allow us any sleep this night.

Well, the storms lasted all night from around 10:30pm until 4am... and well, I was right about them.  They had shown up and I told everyone about them... but nobody believed me.

Okay, next time, I'll just keep my mouth shut and nod the next time there's a storm around and I know it.  Besides, who's going to believe me?  Well, besides me?

Hoping your NYE parties went well.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

All Seasons

This morning, I awoke to sun and the promise of a warm day.  Within two hours, it was pouring rain and miserable, and Dad had gone out fishing.  I prepared myself to go out shopping at Ocean Shores for some art gear at the cheapie store.  While I was over there, I picked up some stuff for us all - why not?  We needed some food and milk.

Then, I was back here, dropped the stuff off and I had to wing it and get my car into a nice little parking spot... if I could find one.  Anyway, I've been here for hours just kicking back and enjoying the day.

While I was here, I sat outside on one of the seats and found I had a wet bum!  Well, while you're laughing at me, I'll explain:  I had pulled one of the seats off the pile out on the fly, from under the cover, and the spongy cushion was dry to touch, but wet in the middle.  Yeah, I put a towel on it, and it got wet right through... so did my denim skirt and my underwear.  Oh, joy!  I had to get changed the put my nice clean skirt out on the clothes rack in the sun to dry.
While it dried, I wrote some poetry, did some drawings in my Writer's & Artist's Journal and just enjoyed the hours to myself doing what I loved... which is pretty much nothing at all but watching the day go by.
I've been enjoying my Christmas presents of a new phone and an artist's journal of Frida Kahlo's - the latter I ordered off Amazon and I had bought for myself for Christmas.  It's been a great time for me this year... this time around.  I've totally enjoyed myself because I have a car this time and I can just get in it and go anywhere I like.

It's getting on a bit and Mum and Dad have been away at their friend's house for some time now.  But I think I'll get some takeaway tonight.  It'll be nice not having to cook... but then, I might not.  I bought mushrooms, potatoes and pumpkin...hmmmm, I see the use of the bbq's at the camp kitchen coming back into my night for my dinner.  Yep, it ought to taste good too if I can find some garlic! Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

The Pitter Patter of Rain

Here I am at Brunswick Heads and it's pouring rain.  Yep, raining like cats and dogs... everyone's walking around in the poodles.  Okay, bad joke time.  That's how boring it is here; cold and boring.

I arrived here by Little Green Machine yesterday morning and within about an hour or so, it began to really pour rain.  How's that for timing?  Great, eh?  Yeah, wonderful.

Oh well, at least I have some great reading to get done - that is if I don't get it all done within the first few days of being here, hehe.  

But I am hoping to get my butt to Mullumbimby and up to the Tweed River Art Gallery (again).  It'll be good to see that place at my own pace.  I also want to get in and look around the markets here too next Saturday.  So, no matter what the weather, I'll be going somewhere in my little green car.  

However, last night, I cooked a lovely dinner of pumpkin and carrot soup for Mum and Dad at the camp kitchen.  And this morning I tried to cook pancakes... but I burnt most of them.  Oh well, can't win them all.  I'm just not accustomed to the electric elements and heavy-based pan I was using... live and learn I guess.  

Today, I'll be checking on my car to see how it's going in the rain.  Then, I'm hoping to get myself to the shops at Ocean Shores to pick up some art gear at the cheap store over there as I forgot to bring along my sketch book and pencils.  

So, what do you love doing on a rainy day?  Normally I enjoy reading and writing and listening to music.  However, if I'm down the coast, staying in a caravan, things are a little different.  And with the world being so tech-savvy, it's easy to keep yourself occupied.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

This Week...

This week which is the busiest for a lot of us. Christmas is on its way and there's presents to buy, food to make, people to accommodate for and roads to safely drive along... and I really mean it on that last one.

This week is filled with public holidays.  It's gonna be a hot one for Aussie and anyone in the Southern Hemisphere and a challenge for us to stay cool; and vise versa in the Northern Hemisphere.  However, Christmas is Christmas for everyone, everywhere... no matter who you.  Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, it's still going to be public holidays out there.

This week, I've gotta get a lot done.  But today, I got more done than I expected.  There was the mail checked, the banking done, money taken out, money put across, money, money, money... yep it makes this damned world go round don't it?  

It sure does!

But we need it to get things done.  And done I got the needed things worked on.

Tomorrow is another busy day of me doing what's needed for my place.  This includes packing most of my gear, washing the car, cleaning up the house as much as I can and making sure I have everything all sorted out to go by the end of the week.  
Then, I have to make a dip for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  No probs... it won't take long.  And then, before I know it, those days will be here... rushing, hurrying us along like a fast-running river, making us, taking us along on the hot sunny days of the Orgy of Greed (aka: Christmas Day) and I'll be there taking it all in... enjoying myself with family.

Yes... life will be slowing down once I have a few days off.  A few days... yeah... to enjoy the sun, the salt air and kicking back and reading books and writing a little.  And maybe to go out and do some driving around Lismore and Mullumbimby.  Now, that'd be wonderful to do before I get home.  

So, what are you plans over this time of year?  Anything fun?  Anything interesting?  Or are you just kicking back and watching the days travel and cruise by with a few drinks and family close to you?  Until my next post, take care on the roads, stay safe out there and Merry Christmas to you all... I'll be doing another post or two before the New Year.... and as usual, I'm always here.