And It's Getting Worse

 Well, it's the New Year, and gotta say: things are going from bad to worse. I'm in Brisbane, Australia, and today, we're going into lockdown for 3 days, starting from today at 6pm. This means no going out, unless it's absolutely necessary - and we must wear a mask.

I had to go out today to buy a part for my computer and I wore a mask for the small trip to OfficeWorks. However, there were so many people who didn't wear a mask... and yet there were plenty who did. I was pleased and disgusted at the same time. So, what can I say? This isn't the first time we've been told to stay home, and to wear a mask, but it won't be the last either; and yet people are not taking it seriously.

Anyway, there's new strains of the Covid virus and we can't seem to get it to stop spreading. This is not a good thing... and I'm making sure I'm staying away from people. Today, I was supposed to go out and have coffee with a friend, but she got a cold, and we called it off. I was going to call it off due to the lockdown anyway; and when I called her up, she sounded so stuffy and croaky, I thought it was best if she stayed home.  But there's going to be so many people out and about panic buying things and acting weird, that I'm glad to be home right now.

Anyway, it's just begun to rain again - and it's nice and cool outside, which is strange for January - but I'm glad to see it's the weather is getting better for us. I'm just lucky to have not had to be tested for Covid yet, nor catch it. I've been very careful in where I've been and how I've be participating in public... so when I know there's been problems with everything outside, I'll get my masks going and wear them. And I've got plenty of anti-bacterial gel and wipes as well, which does play well in my life.

I just do hope this gets worked out. The UK strain has hit Brisbane, and it took one person to take it around Brisbane... and that's all it takes - just one person. So, please be careful with where you go. And remember to stay well, keep safe too, and wear your masks. Well, I'm off now, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

East Coast Bush Fires

Okay, by now, you've all heard about the huge bush fires which have been terrorising us up the east coast of Australia from the back of Sydney, up the North Coast of New South Wales and the Gold Coast and around the back of Noosa and around the back of Ipswich, Logan City and further north here in Queensland.

Anyone who knows me personally as a good friend, I'm here to let you know: I'm fine. Stressed out to nothing else, but fine. I hate natural disasters like nobody's business, and get to the point where I lose sleep and suddenly bust into what I call 'stupid tears' but it's a way of dealing with the stress. 

But I'm okay otherwise.

I'm knitting like nothing else. I made a long beanie in 3 1/2 days - and that's fast for me; as it normally takes me 2 weeks. I needed something to do to keep my mind off what was going outside. I've been decluttering day and night so I have tidy house to clunk around in during the smokey and hazy days - which are no fun because I cough during them.

We're going into our 2nd day of smoke haze; which causes Brisbane to have worse air quality than Hong Kong, Tokyo and Beijing. On Monday, I wore a mask while I drove my car. You see, I hate having my window up when I drive because I like to be able to hear the other vehicles around me; and not be locked inside my car by my window and be deaf to the world. So, I wore a mask while I drove and scored a lot of people staring at me - mind you, they were all cocooned in their cars with their windows up and in their air-conditioned comfort. Yeah, good for them, wait until they park that vehicle and have to get out and walk around without a mask on. At least I had that covered.

Am I scared about the bush fires being this close? Yes, I am. I'm as scared about them as I was when we had the Brisbane floods in 2010/11 and the news was banging on about how many roads were cut, how much water there was around the place, how much food there wasn't in shopping centres... how much fuel we should have.. how much... what we should do. Emergency kits. And speaking of, I've even had my mind playing tricks on what I should be packing if we do get told to move (which is most probably never going to happen if it rains tomorrow - which I hope it does). 

Anyway, Just letting you know, I'm okay. The smoke haze is coming back today, and I'll have to close my windows here in my home office so my computer doesn't get stuffed up by it. But you know, I washed my car two weeks ago, and it's got a fine coating of soot on it... I keep washing it off, but it keeps coming back. I'm not washing it again until this is all over! Well, anyone I know out there, I hope you're all well, you're all going okay. Take care in this and keep in touch. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Cyclone Debbie Fallout

It's been a really weird week. 

Really weird.

We had Cyclone Debbie hit the coast up north and then after it devastated the Queensland coastline, it turned into a tropical low and came to Brisbane, drenching us in rain, wind and thunderstorms.

We had a whole month's rain in 48 hours - that's over 300ml! 

The day of the rain, I found I had run out of breakfast cereal and took off to the shops to pick up only what I needed to see me through until today... and just as well I got to the shops at 8:30am because by the time I left at 9am, the undercover car park (where I had parked) had cars trying to get in, lining up outside, vying for the best spots out of the worsening weather.

Once home, I unpacked the car, turned on the radio and settled in and readied myself to have either the power go off in the first 12 hours and lose all my cold food or to be flooded out of my home. Yep, I charged up my phone, tablet and made sure I had my mp3 player working. The torches around my home had fresh batteries in them and all the candles in my home were within reach as well. I was thankful (as I always am in weather events) that I have a gas stove and hot water system; because then when/if the power goes, I can still have a hot shower and cook a meal.

It got dark early - I mean around 4pm - and the rain really came down hard. The wind came from the front instead of the back and the unit complex was dead quiet. I ate dinner, washed up, moved things out of the way and made sure I had a torch with me all the time once the sun went down. I don't like being caught out in the dark - as nobody does, it panics me.

Anyway, I managed to watch all of my television viewing and get my tapestry done, have a shower and stayed off the computer in case there was thunder and lightening around. The latter of which worried some of my friends on Facebook, but I told them later on I was okay.
The next day, I went out and checked all the storm drains around the place to make sure they were all clear from leaves and other things, as the rain was going to get heavier and those drains needed to let as much water through as possible. 

I didn't go out again until the next morning; and even then, it was on foot. 

Today, though, I was out in the car to Moorooka to pick up something I was interested in on Gumtree. While I was driving around, I found so many trees had fallen down from the wind and also the weight of the water on the leaves. I found I was driving a lot slower because I never knew what was around the corner on the roads with all the trees overhanging them.

Logan City and Beenleigh are still recovering from the deluge. Yatala Pies went under and are going to have to clean up big before they reopen, as well as the Rum Distillery and the drive-in movies not far from Yatala Pies. Anything low-lying around Logan and Beenleigh is still underwater. Roads are destroyed and a lot of people are still without power or running water everywhere (not just here in Brisbane, Logan and Beenleigh). 

I'm hesitating going to the Logan Artists Association in case some of the roads I have to use to get there are underwater... or the car park out the back is; and I can't park anywhere else.

So, do be careful out there my friends here in Brisbane. There's still a lot of cleaning up to do around our areas. Don't go swimming in floodwaters or near the storm drains. And if you do see a fallen power line, call the right people and don't go touching it yourself - it'll be the last thing you'll do. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Yesterday

I wasn't going to be doing anything yesterday... but then, I was asked out by my niece - who I haven't hung around alone with in ages.

Dad asked if I could take her somewhere for a few hours and I jumped at the chance of taking her to show her my piece at the Logan Art Gallery and also take her on a tour of the place.

I picked her up at around 11am, but when I arrived, they hadn't arrived home yet. Dad had taken Riley to Aunty Narelle's and Uncle Iain's place for coffee. So, I waited and texted them to let them know I was at the house. It didn't take long to return and we chatted about the plans for the next few hours.  Dad said it sounded like I had made a few good plans and Riley looked forward to seeing some nice places around Logan.

The first place we were off to was the Kingston Butter Factory. I took her here first because it's a place of historical interest and it's also got an artistic area as well. I told Riley about how it used to be a real place of industry for South East Queensland until demand became too big and they had to move production somewhere else and close down the factory. She thought that was a pity, but great the building still stood - I said that it was unused for a very long time and became very much rotted and needed a lot of fixing by the council. 
When we walked to the place, she was amazed at how pretty it was and how quiet the area is. I told her that there's the Butterbox Theatre as well inside - and that I used to work there as a volunteer too. She loved that. 
We looked at the craft area upstairs and I asked if we could look at the theatre - as it was locked up - and the lady who had the keys let us in. I told the lady I used to work with the Butterbox Theatre Company and she asked if I remember Judith (the lady who ran it) and I did. We looked inside and Riley was amazed at how big the place was. I said that there is rumoured, and I could confirm those rumours as I have experienced things with the theatre company I just can't explain away and what happened don't make sense. Riley asked who it would be haunting the place, I told her that it's known as 'the lady in white' and but she's more active at night than in the daytime and she used to be a Butter Factory worker. But then, that's only what I've been told. 

The next place I took Riley to was another historical place: the Kingston Pioneer Cemetery where the Mayes Family is buried. She loved it; as it too is quiet and off the beaten track a little. She was amazed I knew about it. I said that I found the place years ago and the Logan City Council has looked after it better by putting a fence around it and a sign up for tourists. But it's still an open cemetery and one of the first in Logan City. She was touched to see some of the oldest residents of Logan were laid to rest there - but sad that some of graves didn't have headstones. I said that some of the families could only afford the fences, but not the headstones; and it's been so long, that not even the Logan Council knows who's buried here anymore. It's really sad when that happens. I was going to take Riley to Mayes Cottage but the place was closed until Thursday.

We took off to the Logan Art Gallery. I took the back way, along Jacaranda Avenue and we showed up at the Gallery at around midday. The place wasn't very busy and I Riley was really impressed with it. I walked her around the gallery telling her the history of the whole place and how long it's been open, what was there before it and how long the building has been there. Then, I took her out to the workshop and showed her that and the store room there and out into the garden as well...she was amazed that Logan City wasn't the only city of its kind in the world. I said there was a city just like Logan City in Japan - our sister city - and we communicate with it artistically every two years. 
I showed her the exhibition where the children have done their artwork; and she was surprised at how good year 5 artwork is. I said that the way they teach children over there is different to the Western way of life; it's more structured and the kids there have less distractions. She loved the Allsorts Exhibition and saw my work and took a photo of it; marveling at the stitching and how it was just amazing on its own and so different from all the other work in the exhibition.
Then, Jillian took her out the back and she let into the world of how exhibitions are put together; and how fast exhibitions are changed over at the gallery. At some bigger galleries, they take a month to change over an exhibit, whereas at the Logan Art Gallery, it takes a little over a day to do that same thing; and the people who work at getting it all done are there from around 9am until 5pm. They are constantly working to get it all right first time around. 

After the gallery, we walked out to the car, and Riley said she learned a lot about galleries and said that it must be a great place to work at the desk of. I said it is and that I'm constantly learning new things as well. 

We went to Diggers in Logan Central for lunch. This an RSL (Return Services League) for return soldiers anyone can join. I swiped my card and because Riley was under 18, she could walk in as my visitor. We had a wonderful vegetarian lunch of feta and spinach cannelloni and huge ice coffees as well. It was great to eat a lovely meal in a nice place without having to yell over traffic or any young kids. She really liked that place; and said the meal was huge! We couldn't finish our meals, they were that big!

Before long, we were back on the road and heading back to my folks' house to meet up with my parents to take Riley home. Dad, Riley and I sat down and had a chat about what we did and Riley said it was a great day. I made a status update on Facebook - mentioning her - and she loved it. 

It was a huge few hours with my 17 year-old niece and she loved hanging out with me and seeing some places around Logan City... places she's never been to before - and one where she was revisiting after a long time. I'm so glad I could show her around in the comfort of my car and it was a lovely Winter's day too.

Well, it was a busy day yesterday and a busy one today - and there's another couple coming up too. Today was shopping day and I got out late and came home late; but with the cold weather, I wanted to take my time. It's always nice to have a day dedicated to grocery shopping; where you don't have to rush to get it done. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

This Busy Week

Winter is most definitely being felt around Brisbane and Australia.  Yes, it's nice and chilly and some of us are enjoying it completely.

I've gotten in and made some table cloths at Mum and Dad's place just last Saturday.  It was great to be able to spread out there and do some serious work and enjoy not only the house but to also feed the birdies too... they loved that I was there.

Then, I made some scones and took them to my craft group on the Monday and everyone loved those, while I worked on my dish cloths. I'm starting on more than 2 at a time, to boost numbers for the markets. There's more colours and sizes to pick from as well, so they're going wonderfully well.

I'm working on more things around the house, as it was raining this week, and I didn't really get outside much.  There was laundry to do, cleaning up, reading and a lot of other things to throw out while I was around the house.

Then, there was my grocery shopping day - and now my house is chock full of food! Wednesdays are always fun for me - the midweek run around to get the rubbish bin out, make sure it's filled to brim with everything I don't want in my house and lined up outside for the rubbish truck to collect... sometimes I forget, but not often.  The truck almost always comes here late, which is good; but there sometimes, it comes early in the morning, and people go running out to it to put their bins out. It's funny in a way to see them do that.

Thursday was busy for me too.  I was out and about at a friend's house for a visit. She was feeling down about not hearing back from a job interview a few weeks ago, and I dropped by to chat. We shared some fresh scones I had made that morning and talked about everything on our minds.  It was a good day, but before long, I was off home; as I had laundry to bring in and stuff to get done here at home.


Friday seemed to be the only day I got to stay home and finish up my housework.  I put away my laundry, made the bed, cleaned up the kitchen (mostly) and sat down and did some serious knitting of the dishcloths... I ended up finishing one that afternoon! Very cool.

Then, on Saturday, I was out and about again at a book launch at the Logan North Library for Karen Tyrrell's children's book: 'Harry Helps Grandpa Remember'.  It was all read out in a pantomime - what fun! - I haven't been to one of these in years, since I was a child actually (and back then, I didn't know what was going on without the words the actors were supposed to say). 

Yep, my week was busy... and next week is going to be busy too.  So, has your week been as busy as mine? Hope so.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Logan Car Show

Today I was off to the Logan Car Show.  It was amazing!  At first, I thought not to go, all because I didn't know anyone there; but then, I wanted to see the cars.  It was only $5.00 entry and Triple M was sponsoring the show (strangely enough, I hadn't heard it on the airwaves of it being advertised... weird that). 

Anyway, I dressed myself up and got going to the place and - wow! - it was filled to the brim with cars of all sorts. From vintage Taxis to an old hearse or two, this show had it all.  I saw rides, craft stalls and food stalls, there was a stage which rocked a couple of bands to keep the crowds entertained... and there was even a pizza-oven there too!  

But I loved the cars.

So many cars!

I even found a 1958 Plymouth Fury - a red one - which looked just like 'Christine'.  Actually the first words out of my mouth, when I came across it was: 'Oh my god!  Christine!' the people sitting next to it laughed telling me that the owner might not call it that, but yeah, it was a '58 and a duplicate - and that he owned a blue one at home!

Just before I left, I went by to drool over the Fury again, and found the owner there.  He and I had a good chat about the car and he let me sit in her!  Man, it was creepy and beautiful at the same it!  I never thought I'd be able to be anywhere near such a gorgeously creepy car as this, but I was.  And it's much bigger than you'd think.  I got plenty of photos of this car, and had photos of me in it and standing next to it too!  What a car, and what a day!  I was so happy to have see a car such as this!

Well, after leaving the Logan Car Show, I was off to my folks' house to see them.  Mum said it would be great to see me too.  So, I showed up and they were happy I had a good time there.  I showed her the photos on my phone and they were both amazed at the cars and how close I got to the Plymouth Fury.
Then Gabe and Kat showed up and I showed Gabe, he was happy I had gotten to meet a 'Christine' in my lifetime, and gotten photos of it too - as well as sit in the driver's side of it.  

Too soon, we were all on our ways home.  It was then, they all noticed how sunburnt I was.  I hadn't felt it or noticed it, but Gabe noticed it first, then Kat... I hadn't known about it really until I got home and put the Banana-Boat After Sun Gel on.  I'm so glad I have that in the fridge.  It really worked a treat.  At around 6pm, I took a nice long shower and worked on the sunburn with an in-shower moisturiser and then rubbed in a rich moisturiser to help it along.  Before going to bed tonight, I'll be rubbing in Nivea Night Cream to give it more moisture as I sleep. 

Tomorrow is Craft Day.  Two ladies won't be there... pity, so much has happened.  Oh well, it'll give me so much more to do I guess.  Might take along my hand-sewing instead of painting tomorrow... it'll be a difference in my work.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.