Woudn't You Know It...

I've been going well this week. There's been late nights, but I've been sleeping so well!  I've been eating well, taking care of myself, making sure I'm going well with my stress too.

Then, I went out yesterday to get some last-minute things and dropped by Mum and Dad's house.  I was suffering from some sinus - and let's face it, it's Spring, and I get hay-fever, I'm bound to get this problem - and so I ignored it.  I started sneezing a lot last night, took an antihistamine and made sure my dinner had a huge amount of garlic in and chilled out after dinner.

I even went to bed at around 10pm... yeah, now that's early!

But, I didn't sleep well.  The sinus kept me up all night and I woke this morning with a cold!  Now, I didn't get the usual warning of an earache, so how did I score a cold without my warning?  I'm still trying to figure this out... but I'm also thinking about the Mama Mia Mini Market tomorrow night; and still want to attend it as I've been told that it's a great place to make money.

I can't miss it!  I don't want to.

So, today, I packed the car and checked the stall sizes on Facebook and then ... well, I've been pumping myself with vitamins and minerals.  I've been eating plenty of super fruits and foods since I woke up and even took a boiling hot shower to clear out the sinus' this morning (and will grab another one this arvo to clear them out again).  I'm going to knock this damned cold on the head before it picks up speed on me.  I'm not going to let it effect me - not after I've been waiting to go to this market.

I just hope it doesn't rain tomorrow night as I'm not under cover... fingers crossed, knock on wood and anything else for good luck.  But really, don't you hate it when something like a cold shows up to wreck a good streak of good health?  Yeah, me too... oh well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

At The Movies: Amadeus

I've decided to do something on a regular basis.  Yep, I'm going to have movie night.  I have a massive collection of movies at my disposal.  They're all in an index book in alphabetical order, so why not watch them one by one each Saturday Night?  Sounds good, eh?  And the best thing is that I'll be able to see a different movie each Saturday without any re-runs... without any ad-breaks and in the privacy of my own home.

Yeah, sounds like a good plan to me too.

Tonight, it was 'Amadeus': The Director's Cut.  Yes, there's one.  It was put out when the film hit the 30 year mark, and I snapped it up!  The film was made in 1984 and starred some great people.  The version I have is a 2-disk set and I watched special features too.  This whole movie is almost 3 hours long, is full of sex, love affairs, God, hatred, jealousy and spreading rumours... and all this from one man who carried a hatred for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart so strongly, he had a plan to kill him through making sure he gave him a commission he knew Mozart couldn't finish.  What a film!  I loved the director's cut of this film... it had so much in it, and I don't know why they cut so much of it out; when quite a bit of it didn't make sense once they did.  Okay, Mozart's wife didn't like Salieri, and her dislike of him is evident, but exactly why she hates him so much isn't; not until I saw the director's cut.

This film's music score is fantastic.  I love the music of W.A. Mozart as it just fills me with such joy and love as it cresendos from the lows and takes me on the journey throughout the piece without stopping, without pause, without leaving my side... as though he's taken my hand and led me along a path and is showing me the way to see his music, not just listen to it.  However, using the music as a muse in the film and Prague as the backdrop to fuel the emotions of the whole thing; well, it was fantastic... pure genius.  And it takes me as a viewer on a journey I will never forget.  Even now, I have the music score resonating through my head and it's been over half an hour after I've put the dvd away... it's become it's own ear worm and I don't think I'll forget it tomorrow either.

'Amadeus' has become a classic film in its own right; as it's won 8 Academy Awards.  And if you haven't seen it - in particular the Director's Cut - do go out and rent this dvd.  Even if you're not really into classical music, opera or orchestral music, the story of this man's life will definitely pull you in... and maybe make you a fan of Mozart's.  And I'm not a fan because of movie.  I've been listening to W.A Mozart since I was around 10 years old when my Grandpa first put his music on the radio and I asked who it was, and he told me that Mozart was the best composer in the world.

Over recent years, research has shown that Mozart didn't die from the result of being murdered by Antonio Salieri.  Instead, he died from Strep; which was something that was common in the late 18th Century amongst men under 40.  There's more research to say that he may have had other medical conditions that may have come back on him that he had when he was a child - however that's all something that people across the world have theories about but have yet to be proven or not.  But the more research I do, about Mozart's death and how he died, the more it all seems to go in circles and goes nowhere.  I do have two books about him, and I am determined to read them and find out the full truth about how he lived, worked and died... then I'll come back here and tell you all how it happened - once and for all.  Otherwise, I do recommend enjoying this movie by all means.

Saturday!

I woke to birds outside and a little bit of rain.  But I woke just as my alarm was beginning to go off; and I thought that was cool.  I heard the chickens and wondered if they had found another way to get out, so went down there in my pajamas to check on them and found they were all in the coup.  Seeing I didn't have anywhere to really be today, I went back to bed.

An hour later, my alarm woke me again.  This time I stayed in bed for another half an hour and then decided it was time to get up and feed the chickens and have some breakfast.  
With the FM Classic station going, I ate my breakfast and planned what I had to do today; namely to make sure the house was cleaned up, washing up was done from this morning and to see if my laundry had dried from the other day.  And I wanted to have a shower to wash my hair too; as it was a warm night. 

After I got the washing up done, I swept the floors, put out the rubbish and wiped down all the counters, cupboard doors and fridge and looked at the time.  It was going onto 9am and I had had my shower by this time too.  All my planned chores had been done and dusted... even the chickens were happy; but my laundry was still not dry.  

Tonight, a couple of my friends are coming over for dinner.  I've planned on making a nice dish for them of vegetarian pasta.  I hope it all works out.  We ought to have a good night as I've never had people over here before.  
I'm sure to find some great music on their collection to play - or if all else fails... I'll plug in my iPod and play an album off that instead.  In any case, we ought to have a great time here.  

So, what are you plans over the weekend?  Mine are to paint, read and hang out with friends over dinner.  Sounds pretty sweet, eh?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

A Weekend of Sadness

The last 24 hours have been the quietest I've ever experienced.  Normally, today, I would regal you all with what happened over my weekend and what I'm going to do this week.

Not tonight.

Tonight I'm in mourning with the loss of my little bird, Little Miss Stevie.  This little Sky Blue Budgie has been in my life for the last 7 3/4 years and yesterday afternoon, at around 6:30pm, she died in my hands as we sat outside watching the sun disappear in the west.
Her last 10 minutes on this planet were not the easiest as she struggled to breath, panting heavily, and I tried to make her as comfortable as possible in my hands.  I hated seeing her suffer as she did, but I'm sure she was happiest being outside where she had always wanted to join the other birdies where she could hear them singing and screeching around us.
As she lay still in my hand, my heart broke - shattered - because my little blue friend was gone and I didn't have anyone to help me with her.  I called Mum and Dad and they immediately drove up from Brunswick Heads to see me; staying overnight at their house.  

But the one thing I have noticed is that the house is so bloody quiet without her here.  I hated it that this morning I came downstairs and she wasn't t here to greet me, turning around to look at me come and talk to her, to say 'Good morning' in Spanish to her and change her feed and water over after I opened the curtains for her and then the window to let in the breeze to freshen the room for her.  No.  Last night, I had put a cover over her cage to show there was no more bird in residence.  But I've yet to clean it out.  The food is still there from yesterday; so is the water.

I won't lie.  I'm struggling not having her around as company.  I've had her in this house for so long, it's hard to not know me without my little bird by my side; or hear her in the background when you've phoned me as she's tried to include herself in the conversation (believe me, it's funnier still when I use phone banking and she manages to confuse me enough that I have to either go outside or upstairs to do check my bank balance).  

I miss my little bird greatly; and will definitely get another one.  So, if I don't seem like my usual happy self for a little while, this is the reason why.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.      

If I Thought Friday Was Busy.....

Man, oh, man... did I have a busy weekend!  Friday was just the tip of the iceberg. I woke from a deep sleep on Saturday, made myself some pancakes and scoffed into them - even though two of them were undercooked - and drank some lovely plunger coffee and thought to take the day to relax.  I had this weekend to myself for the first time in 5 weeks!  And also  the Home Festival wasn't on, so I was sitting pretty for the weekend - wasn't I?

Nope.  I had forgotten something.

Mum called at around midday and asked if I was still on for that night and I drew a blank.  She reminded me of an art opening at her hairdressers and I then remembered it and accepted the invite. So, I started sorting out what I was going to wear, which bag I was taking and all that kind of thing and made sure my camera had fresh batteries (nothing worse than taking along your digital camera and the silly thing dies on ya!).  So, after eating two eggs on toast, Mum picked me up at around 6pm and we were off to Holland Park and found the opening was well under way with the bar outside, the paintings well-displayed inside and music playing as well.  It was a great array of colour, fun and portraits by the new up and coming artist Sandra Hosking who uses mixed media to produce her work; and I loved her stuff.  So I asked her if she'd like to put in an application for the Logan Art Gallery - to see if she'd get in there.  She was thrilled I offered; but I said I only volunteered there and seeing her collection was complete, it may be the thing they'd go for; and it would be up for 6 weeks instead of only 2 days.  Her secretary took down the details on how to get onto the Gallery's site and thanked me very much.

Mum and I left around 8pm or so.  So, it wasn't a late night, but I was very tired; and got to bed around 10:30pm and was out like a light as soon as my head hit the pillow. 

Yesterday, I was up early again; but I had my usual porridge instead of bacon and eggs.  I was also dressed and ready to leave the house by around midday with everything to take into the city.  Mum and I were out again together!  We were heading to a Bookcrossing Meet-Up at O'Malley's at the Wintergarden on the Queen Street Mall.  I met Mum and Dad out the front of the unit complex and they picked me up with my blue trolley and Dad dropped us at the bus station.

All the way into the city, I was sitting there on the bus next to Mum thinking I had forgotten something.  I didn't know what it was, but I knew there was something I had forgotten.  As soon as I got off the bus, I wondered if I had my keycards and other cards to get around the city with; and when I looked inside my Bookcrossing Briefcase, I was really mad at myself to find that I had left those cards in my other 'Beatles' bag hanging off my kitchen chair nearby!  How dumb did I feel doing this?  Yep, very dumb!  I felt dumber asking her for money. 

O'Malley's was a nice place to meet.  The atmosphere was lovely.  There's an area called 'The Library' where you can have a pint and read as well if you want some peace and quiet; and that's where we all met with our books.  There were 4 other ladies who had brought along their books to swap.  I was glad to have brought along my trolley as it carried two tote bags (one for me and one for Mum), 6 books, Mum's book and it still had enough room for a jacket and a bag if needed.  We all enjoyed ourselves, got some drinks and had lunch; which was Guinness Pie (this was a beef and Guinness Pie that was the size of a dinner plate!  All 4 ladies ordered one each - and that was the small one!).  I ordered a small bowl of wedges and I couldn't finish those!  But they were very moreish as they didn't have that dreadful seasoning on them that most do - which gives me mouth ulcers - and all they had for dressing was sour cream and sweet chili sauce; yummo!  

We arrived back at Springwood at around 4:30pm not wanting to eat dinner.  I ate 2 pieces of raisin toast for dinner and that was it; but I still had my tea and bit of chocolate with ginger cordial and mineral water... just habit I guess.  But I did turn off the tv at around 9pm and head off to bed around 10:30pm.  Yep, a very busy weekend; which has led into the beginnings of a busy week. 

Today, I got in and did two loads of laundry - including one load being hand-washing - fed the pets, checked the mail, put the wiping up away and made breakfast; then I got a chance to read yesterday's paper.  Now, I'm just hanging out online before I get in and read more of 'The Gunslinger' by Stephen King and hopefully get closer to the end of it (by another 30 or 40 pages).  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.  

Earth Hour

Last night was Earth Hour.  I had prepared myself with new batteries in my big torch, grabbed some tea candles from the freezer and lit them beforehand - the make sure they'd work - and then pulled out the battery-run cd player and chose a cd to play.  The television was turned off at 8:30pm on the dot and I lit all the candles after I turned off the main light; and it was on for me.  The best thing I did for myself was wash up everything from dinner an hour before so I didn't have anything in the way for that hour.

I sat there writing in my journal by the light of two bright tea candles.  It was lovely and quiet.  I enjoyed my time without the brightness of the television set or the electric lights running my home and watched as the fish settled in and rested on the bottom of the tank; thinking it was time for bed.  Little Miss Stevie even had her own candle; and this time it was in a proper, safe holder of its own.  It's an old blue one which has a broken moon on the side that I don't use very often and I should.  I left the lid off so that the light got out more and out the sides, it cast off light in the shapes of moons and stars; very pretty and not too bright for my little bird, who went to sleep on her swing almost immediately.  So, I'll be using this one next year as it's not a bad candle holder.  So, that was Earth Hour.

Today, I was up at around 7:30am and out the door to buy the paper and some milk.  It was a lovely morning and I so, after breakfast, I thought to cut up some pumpkin and cook it up in a pot of water to make a cake for some afternoon tea; and invite my folks over for some coffee today.

While it was on stove on a low heat, I went out in the back yard and began working on removing the disgusting-looking bench two of my potted plants were sitting on.  I had picked it up off the footpath a few years back and now was harboring a Green Ants' nest.  So, after unclipping it from the fence, I found it was going to be a complicated operation.  I had to remove the top of the bird bath and put that on the table, grab the basket underneath, toss that over the fence into my carport, then grab the whole metal bench thing and throw it over the side fence before the ants attacked me!  I did that in two quick moves.  This thing that used to be really heavy years ago, was light as a feather now and went over that side fence easier than I thought... and it bounced!  I put the two heavy-duty metal planters in its place, put the plants back where they were and the bird bath top and the area looks just lovely!  It actually looks a lot neater and on its way to being something better than what it was.  I can see it's going to be something I can work with, something I can mould into what I want and need; and that's what I've been wanting to do for the longest time.

Well, after I went around the side and cleaned up my mess  and threw out what needed throwing out, I washed my hands and got the dirt and mud off me (yeah, some of it came out of a chair I tossed and I wore it; along with my shirt!), I scrubbed my shirt and then checked on the pumpkin.  And what do ya know? It was all cooked and ready to be turned off!  I did that, grabbed the colander, emptied out the vegetable and a pyrex bowl and mashed it up; and now it's cooling down for the next step in the process of baking this cake (which will start in half an hour or so).  

So, I've had a pretty busy weekend.  How about you?  Have you been up to much?  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here. 

No Comment

Okay, so, I might not be the only one who has noticed this... maybe not.  And don't worry, you're not being rejected by anyone.  You may have noticed that you can't comment on anyone's blogs of late.  Yep, neither can I.  It's nothing to be concerned about, it's just a big glitch in the system that occurred yesterday - and as usual - will be cleared up soon.

This doesn't mean you can't post blog posts - like I am doing now or chat on forums or get onto your Facebook account.  It just means you can't comment on blogs; annoying but it'll pass soon.  Just thought to let you guys know, you're not losing your minds - and neither am I - and that everything will be back to normal soon.

Otherwise, today, I've been busy.  I did three loads of laundry, washed up, fed the pets, put out the rubbish and went for a walk.  My foot was feeling a little sore halfway through the walk, but it's going well.  I walked to music on my iTouch; and will most probably do it again tomorrow if it's not bothering me too much.  It was lovely to get out and about around my area and enjoy the fresh Autumn air.  The breeze was nice and cool, the sun was warm and the traffic was horrendous, but I had a good time.

I returned home in time to hang out the last load of laundry and to wipe up a little bit.  However, it's been a pretty boring day otherwise.  I'm looking forward to Saturday night - Earth Hour - where I'll be getting into playing the piano, reading a book I'm getting into and writing a little on the typewriter; all by candlelight.  Are you taking part?  If so, how are you doing it?  And what will you be up to?

I did my shopping yesterday on my own - and on foot - and enjoyed it.  I scored myself some great things at Life Line (and did you hear about the Woollongabba store burning down this morning?  Dreadful!).  I'm looking forward to testing out the lambs wool bag; which I might try tomorrow while at Garden City for the morning.  It's from New Zealand.  I came in under budget by $18.00 and have saved that towards the next garden renovations.  

Well, there's not much more to report.  This week has been good, sunny and has been feeling very much like the Autumn that we've been expecting.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Oh Man! I'm A Clutz!

Tonight, I'm supposed to be out at a '80's Icon Party for a birthday.  However, instead I'm here writing this post with my foot up on a dis-used, broken shredder.  Yep, you read right, my foot.  I have broken a toe in my left foot and it hurts like hell.  

Okay, today was supposed to be different, fun, enjoyable, relaxing, silly... anything but agonising and feeling like I wanted to cut off my foot and put it somewhere until the pain went away.  I know that sounds stupid, but that's how I feel about pain; I want to disconnect and have it leave me alone until everything's okay again.  But our bodies don't work that way; and it'd be dangerous if they did.  

So, after I organise the rest of my outfit, I trundled downstairs and missed the last two, ending up on my knees... not a great sight or feeling.  It was horrible.  I sat up, swearing and cursing knowing I was a complete clutz for missing the steps I normally knew were there; and yet, as I stood, I felt immense pain in my left foot and sat back down again.  By the time I pushed my foot into a shoe and gotten myself to the shop and back, I knew something was wrong... as it never took me 10 - 15 minutes to get there and back (and getting back took longer than going there).  So, I called Mum and Dad and then the doctors and by 10:40am, I was off the doctors (this was after I climbed the stairs and shimmied down them twice on my butt - stop laughing, my foot hurt really badly).  

Dad arrived with the same walking stick I used for the recovery from my Melanoma and took me to the doctors where she confirmed it that one of my toes were broken... damn!... and she wanted x-rays.  So, we were off to the one at Rochedale; which ended up being closed... double damn!... so Mum called up the people at Woodridge and we made it there in record time and I ended up being the very last patient for the day.  And yep!  I have a hairline fracture on the tiny bone between the end bone and longer bone that connects to the foot itself... how bloody painful can it get?  Thank god I took three painkillers before I left the house!  They worked a real treat for the day.  I hung out at Mum and Dad's place and stuffed around on the net too... it was a good day.

Mum made me lovely lunch with a home made ice coffee (a big one as I needed the sugar) and then, she gave me some very sweet seedless grapes...it was a good day.  But soon enough, it was time for me to go home.  I just wanted to be in my own place to have something to eat and settle in.  

When I did arrive, the truth stared me in the face that I wasn't going to the costume party... bummer!... and I really did want go to.  I had to learn to navigate around the house with this damned walking stick and my foot in a flip-flop!  My foot stiffened up, so I massaged the arch and then the toes ached swelled up, so I iced it... and once that stopped, I put the packed ice back in the freezer.  It's not going to be fun, but I'm hoping to keep off my feet by doing something I can do on my butt.

This something is sorting through and reading what I haven't finished by my bed.  It's a good way to keep it all in some kind of order.  If I can finish them - great!  I'll do a review and pass them onto another Bookcrosser.  However, if I can't finish them, I'll just chalk it up to a book I can't get into and give the said books away in a giveaway (I'll think of a name for it yet.  I'll just have to find out how many there are of books that I haven't been able to read).

So, that was the beginning of my weekend... not a great one, but not a great loss!  How was the beginning of your weekend?  What are you getting up to?  Let us all know.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

What Happened To Shine?

Today, it was raining and I looked at the television times to see what old movies were on channel 22 for tonight.  Usually, they put on a double-header of old classics from the 1980's or really old black'n'white ones between 8:30pm - 12:30am... and there's no adverts to interrupt them once they get started; which is great!  I look forward to seeing these movies each week and when I pull the television times from The Sunday Mail.

However, tonight - at around 6pm - I checked channel 24 for the weather tomorrow.  Then, at around 7pm, I turned it over to channel 22 to watch the show before the movie 'Shine' (which I was hoping to watch tonight; as I love it) when it showed that the channel didn't exist on my HD Box.  So, I rescanned the box and watched it carefully as it went through all the channels; only to find that none of the channels from the ABC were scanned in.  I unplugged and replugged the box, pulled out the antenna and switched off the whole system from the wall and restarted it from scratch (which is really annoying, but sometimes it works)... but no go.  I called my folks to see if they lost the channels too, but they hadn't. 

So, I did the last thing possible:  I called the ABC in Sydney.  The number is a local Brisbane number, but it sends me to Sydney.  They hadn't had anyone from here in Brisbane call them with anything like this tonight and asked if Brisbane had had any storms.  I said no, but we have had rain; but that couldn't have done it because the channels were working right up until around 6pm.  This puzzled the receptionist as much as it annoyed me.  She put me through to the trouble-shooting section (which was a voicemail which wouldn't be looked into until Monday; but she told me that it's best if I report it so they know something's wrong) and I left my name, number and what was going wrong with my HD Box.

I called my folks back and told them what I ended up doing and Dad said that's all I could do.  It was a pity I couldn't watch what I had planned; and I ended up writing down 'Shine' to be a dvd that I put on layby next year so if this happens again, I can just toss it on the dvd player.  However, it looks like I'll be in for a new HD Box next week if this doesn't fix itself up by Monday morning.  I'll just go to Retrovision and get another one and throw this old 5 year old one out.  After all, I only bought this one to clean up my television reception; not because it was the in thing to get.  Now, I need another new one, and the good thing is that it's not going to cost me as much as this first one; it'll be a lot cheaper.  After all, I don't record on these things, I just watch the shows.

So, did the ABC drop out on you tonight?  If so, let us know... this means all four channels disappeared on you as well.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

20 Year Class Reunion of Rochedale State High

Last night, I went out to the Beach House Bar & Grill at Mount Gravatt for my 20 year class reunion.  It was a great night.  However, before it all began, Brisbane was attacked by a massive storm for about an hour.  The blue/black clouds descended upon us and poured rain, hail and wind rattled around us.  It was a freaky storm to start the evening.  However, before long, it was finished; and I readied myself to go out.

Dad picked me up and dropped me at the place and I found I was about half an hour early; but I wasn't the only one.  There were others who were sitting around watching either the footy or the horse races on the televisions around the place while they had something to drink or eat.  But, then, people began to arrive and I climbed the stairs to find about ten people already there.

We were handed our name tags and a beer cooler when we entered the place.  It was nice to have something to take home and to remember the night by.  I put mine in my bag straight away so I didn't lose it and then began to try to take photos.  However, not that many people wanted to be in them; pity, as I really did want to get into the spirit of the night and grab as many photos as possible before too many people left.  

The place became packed - and loud - and the band (Theory) played a few sets before Kylie Lovejoy made an appearance at the door with her guitar.  She put her equipment at the stage and went around to everyone and then got herself a drink and sat down.  It was very cool she attended; and better still that she decided to play a set with the band. 

I found that a lot of people there still hung out in the groups they did when they were at school; it was really strange.  I tried to talk to them - without letting those years take me back to those times - but it was them who did that, not me.  The snobs were still snobs, the clicky groups were still the clicky groups and the quiet groups were still the quiet groups.  So, it was an amazing kind of experiment where physically we all changed, but mentally, we gravitated toward our old social groups as though nothing had changed; when really it had.

I found out that one of our classmates had died over the last year or so.  Brendon Jones - one of the funny guys from my Care Group - went out on a deep sea fishing trip and never came back.  I was told that by one of the people I ran into, and it's completely shocked me as I thought he was one of the nicer people I knew then.  What a waste to somebody who was so funny at school.

Well, the night was really great otherwise.  Most of the people I talked to were married, were in relationships or had partners.  I was about the only single person there who had never married or had children.  But a lot of people did tell me that I hadn't change a single bit since high school.  One woman - Nicole - came up and told me that I didn't have a single wrinkle (except laugh lines) and my hair was exactly the same colour as it was in high school; and she was amazed that I haven't changed in anyway.  I thought that was really lovely and sweet.  Then, Kylie Lovejoy said that she and I were the only two who hadn't physically changed all that much in the last 20 years; she found that amazing.  I said that she hadn't changed at all; and she said the same thing right back smiling.  It's so great when people you haven't seen in so long say that about you; and then you see somebody who's exactly the same as you and you can say the same thing about them.

Well, there was a lot of food - more than enough - and we were all given two tickets to have free drinks at the bar during the night.  Our $25 covered the drinks, food and a band for the night; until around 11:30pm.  This was a great deal; and a great evening.  I totally enjoyed myself.  The greatest thing was that I wasn't the only one who didn't remember everybody; there were others who barely knew anyone else.  But I guess that's what reunions are about, getting back in touch with people who you've lost touch with; and kick starting the memory of them again.  

Busy Weekend

What a weekend it has been so far!  Mine started at the wee hours of the Saturday morning when the first grumblings woke me at 6am of a storm approaching Brisbane.  I raced into the home-office and unplugged the computer and phone line to the modem and went back to bed; relaxing, hoping it was only going to be a few grumbly showers and that was it.

Boy was I wrong!

The thunder kept coming and the rain poured from the sky and it got darker as it became later in the day.  I had gone to get some milk and by the time I arrived back and used it on my breakfast, it was beginning to bucket down.  I opened the side door and the carport was beginning to fill up - as it normally does - and so I walked out there and checked the storm water drain and it was blocked and there was a car parked on it.  Damn!  So, I did my best to unblock it with a shovel without success.  

By the time I turned around, there was more water in the carport than there was before!  I raced back to my place and called Dad and unfortunately he got the bad end my anger because I was not dealing with what was happening right now.  By the time I hung up from him and opened the door, the water was lapping at the edge of the tiles!  Oh my God!  I raced out there barefoot with the key to the back gate and unlocked it, wedge an old fence paling against it (to keep it open) and began sweeping the water through; but none of the water moved!  I took the opportunity and photographed the scene a few times and filmed it too; then put the camera back on the kitchen table and kept sweeping out the water.  It took 20 minutes for it to move anywhere!  I was absolutely freaking out that I'd need to make an insurance claim on a weekend because my house got flooded for the first time in 9 years!  

By the time the water receded and I ate my breakfast, I was exhausted, cold and the clothes I had worn were wet right through!  And to make things worse, they were the only clothes I had for the day to wear... until the next time I had done some laundry (which was today).  I pulled a pair of tracki-dacks on and an old painting t-shirt out of the laundry basket and wore those (as there wasn't anything else to wear that was warm enough) for the day and then I spent the day on the net; thankful I didn't have to go out that day for anything.

At around 2pm, I had a nice hot shower and got dressed up for our night out at the German Club on Vulture Street.  This place is brilliant.  I have been here once before for a celebration of Vivienne's and totally enjoyed myself.  It has great food, amazing German beers and the atmosphere is fantastic!  I love it.  So, I had invited Mum, Dad, my brother, Gabe and his new fiance, Katrina and Aunty Helen (Mum invited her and her family along; but only Aunty Helen could come).

Outside the German Club at the Wooloongabba

Our drinks... all big glasses of everything! :D

My dinner of Atlantic Salmon - well worth the wait!

My brother's meal...

The German Beer Hall at the other end of the Club in full swing!

A Greek Dance during Oktoberfest!  How weird!

Well, we arrived and Gabe and Kat were at the table perusing the menu and they were amazed at how nice the place was.  While we lined up to order our meals, Gabe said he didn't know the German Club was like this; it was this nice, and I said to wait 'til he tasted the food.  It was large servings and very European and it'd remind Mum and Dad of being there.  And when our meals came out half an hour or so later, they were in agreement in how deliciously hot and beautiful they were!  And Mum said it was good decent, solid food, just like they served them in Germany.  I'm happy they loved the place.  

The best thing about last night was that we were there for Oktoberfest!  Now, this year, I've been trying to get myself out there in Brisbane's festivals and fun things.  And this was one of them to have a go at.  I have always remembered the German Faust-house at World Expo '88 fondly and how hugely popular it was - along with the famous Chicken Dance it brought with it - and so when I walked into the hall at the other end of the place, there were lines and lines of tables of people drinking German beer singing and dancing to German songs and loving every drunken minute of it!  How much fun is that?  So, I took in the camera and photographed it a few times and took a film of a hilariously funny clip of a Greek song being played in the German Club... now how weird's that?  Even so, everyone had a brilliant time dancing to it!

Before we left, we heard a well-known German rock song that was big in the 1980's and I wanted to dance to it.  So, I asked Mum to dance with me but she hesitated and I begged her to come and dance.  She wouldn't; and it wasn't until the end of the song that she finally did.  Mum used to be so spontaneous when it came to things like this; and I thought it would be fun to dance in Faust-House during Oktoberfest just once... oh well, next time.

Today, I was up nice and early, went and put on the laundry then went and got the paper.  It's been a relatively quiet morning.  I got 4 loads of laundry done and it's all weighing down the line out there in the sun drying in the lovely breeze while I'm here on the computer.  I'm tired but know it's been a good, busy weekend.  I'm just looking forward to the week I've got organised; where there's barely a day to myself... bummer.  Oh well, at least it's a busy week this week.

Busy as Hell Weekend

Busy weekends are usually fun weekends; and this one has had its high points and low points.  Today, though is the day of rest and relaxation - most definitely - after a Saturday of running around and acting like it's the last days for Christmas Shopping!

Yesterday, was my cousin Kate's birthday.  So, she invited all of us out to The Fox Hotel on Melbourne Street for a meal.  I thought to meet Mum and Dad in town because I had been invited to The Gathering at the old Brisbane Museum at Bowen Hills.  However, as the temperature climbed - and seeing as I couldn't afford the tickets to the event - I decided to hang about Southbank instead and peruse the markets.  And it was the best thing I could have done; seeing how hot it became that afternoon.

I arrived in at the Museum bus stop on the south side of the river at around 2:45pm and didn't rush as I walked around and under the Victoria Bridge; where they had fixed up the large spiral walkway which took you down and under the bridge so you can walk along the Brisbane River and along to Southbank Parklands.  I found there was a lot going on with the Brisbane Festival (this was another reason why I wanted to go into the city; as I never get to see any of this stuff normally).  Then, I found the markets - with buskers along the way, playing their best in the hot Spring heat of the afternoon while people walked past.  I found one lady who was playing a cello who played a piece which always makes me cry; the way she played it yesterday (which was totally different to how I've heard it in the past) still brought the tears to my eyes I was so familiar with that it did to me.  So, she did the right things with the notes she had been given.

The heat of the afternoon began to get to me about an hour after I arrived; so I looked around for something to drink and wandered past Max Brenner's Chocolate Shop; which was a massive place with the aroma of the stuff just wafted out onto the street of the marketplace and drew me in!  I walked into the lovely cool air-conditioning and I saw the long line and decided to find myself a bottle of water first then come back... and I did!  It was another 20 minutes before I was served, but I read a book while I waited; then had to have somebody explain the decadent chocolate-based and chocolate drinks and chocolate pizzas to me... talk about a chocoholic's heaven!  It was brilliant.  I bought a great iced dark chocolate drink and a cupcake called "chocolate mountain" (or something like that).  There's icing on the top where there were little blobs of chocolate that were crunchy!  The whole cupcake was warmed up and had milk chocolate drizzled over the plate!  OMG!  Talk about yummo!  I could barely finish it!

Well, I sat outside Max Brenner's Chocolate Shop in the shade of the tall trees as the balmy breezes of the afternoon blew gently by and people-watched.  I listened to the a guitarist play the most gorgeous riffs on an electric acoustic guitar; and he made it look so easy.  He played so well that his music caused people to stop and listen to him - to take in his work - and then as if waking from a dream, move on.  But more often then not, they returned and purchased a cd and took it home to chill to.  I didn't want to leave where I was for the rest of the day; but I had to.  I had to go as it was time to get walking to my dinner destination and it was time to keep moving before I went and took an afternoon nap - because it looked like a good time to do just that.

I gathered my gear together and picked up a little notebook at a very busy newagency and walked along where I had come along, took photos and made my way to the banks of the Brisbane River to sit down on the grass.  However, as I was about to, I almost scared the life out of a Water Dragon.  He was off to my left and I ended up slowing right down, putting down my bags and approaching him with Tai Chi slowness and photographing him well... can't say he enjoyed the experience though!  However, after I sat down on the grass, some really stupid Asian tourists (now, not all Asian tourists are dumb, just some of the odd ones are) came running up to him thinking he was tamed and he bolted onto the rocks... there was a cyclist next to me - who I was chatting to - who also saw them and we both thought they were dumb thinking they could just pat him; when really they couldn't.

Anyway, I took some lovely photos of the Brisbane City skyline at the right time of the day as the sun began to reflect off the buildings and the river.  I took the best photos with the right light; and they turned out really well.  Too soon, it was time for me to start back toward The Fox Hotel where I was going to meet up with my family for dinner for Mum and my cousin Kate's birthday dinner.  I walked through a park area where DJ was playing some very cool music and enjoyed her pumping out some tunes on vinyl.  I picked up a Brisbane Festival program - which covers the whole two weeks or so that the festival runs for - and then I wandered past a private function that B105 was putting on just for their staff in a closed-off area. 

Soon, I was down the way from the Southbank Train Station and taking photos of the mural on the wall when I heard sirens blaring close by.  On turning, I saw four fire engines go racing by - with a white fire station car following - and they stopped just next to the Performing Arts Complex where they were evacuating people.  The firies raced inside with hoses and everything they needed and did their job as I took a closer look and took photographs as well; then I smelled the smoke as the breeze picked up.  What is it about fires and emergencies that attract the public for a look into it all?  It's amazing we all just stand around and watch.  Well, I got some great photos of the Engines anyway before walking back up the road to The Fox and past it... then I realised I didn't want to be too tired for dinner.

Well, finding the reserved table was an absolute wild goose chase.  I was sent up four flights of stairs to the top floor before they realised I was sent to the wrong party, then they pointed me across the room to the tables... did they really think I was in my 20's?  Jeez, I really have to start looking my age before I do myself some horrible damage.  It's probably why I was so darn tired when I sat down at the table and was there an hour and half earlier than everyone else; and froze my butt off because the air-conditioning was on arctic ice!  Mum smsed me and told me they were on their way, I said to bring a jacket; that it was freezing.  Well, it wasn't the only thing that was freezing... we ordered our meals and the entrées came out on time; and they were nice and hot and delicious.  However, it took another hour and a half for the main meals to come out - and after everyone was ready to eat their napkins off the table - the meals turned out to be stone cold.  How dreadful is that?  They all complained about it and the Mater-de offered us a round of drinks on The Fox Hotel.  Well, I didn't think it was good enough; but we all ordered expensive drinks; then they screwed up the bill!  Jeez, they really weren't working all that great last night!  The only thing that made the night great was Kate's birthday cake; which she made.  It was all of her favourite things mixed into it with Maltesers; and everyone loved it!  The one slight problem with the cake was that it kept me up until around 1am with a massive sugar rush.  So, today, I'm half asleep and feeling like I've been out nightclubbing.  Oh well, I'll catch up with it all by just relaxing, reading and hanging out here at my folk's house to mind the dog, the fish and I brought Little Miss Stevie to help me in doing it.  Already, she's had a 'blonde-budgie' moment and bathed in her drinking water (which she's been doing more and more lately; silly bird!) and has been rather surprised to find a better-looking bath when I put in the chinese container in the cage was better to bathe in... and a lot more fun to jump into.

Well, I better go, I hope you enjoy the photos of Southbank Parkland, the Markets and my night out.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.  

Busy Saturday

Today, it was a busy one; and a wet one to boot, which made what I had to do a lot easier than it would otherwise if it was if the sun was out.  I tidied up the house.  The wiping up was put away as I made breakfast and served it up, then, the laundry basket was taken upstairs and the kitchen table was cleared of all things it didn't need and the lounge was also found again after the yarn, clothes and other crap was put away or tossed out.  I organised my knitting and patterns and knitting books into their own area; it looks pretty good too!  Then, I put on some vinyls and kicked back and did some singing (didn't sound too bad - a little flat - but had fun seeing the house was closed up!).  

Once the last Jethro Tull vinyl was finished up, I realised the Hawthorne vs Western Bulldogs game was on channel 10!  So, I switched it on and my team (Hawks) was ahead... great!  I needed to be upstairs, so I turned it off and left the room and grabbed everything off the clothes horse, folded it up and put it away and went up to my room and put the clothes in the clean basket to await folding - which didn't get done today.  I jumped online for a second time for a little while and thought to have a shower and wash my hair and begin to get ready to go out tonight.

Well, once the computer was off, and I washed my hair with the Fructis shampoo and conditioner, I found the itching I had been experiencing for the last week became worse!  So, I looked around and quickly grabbed the expensive Pantene shampoo in the rack, poured some out and washed my hair.  the moment I washed it out, the itching stopped! I couldn't believe it!  I am allergic to Fructis!  So, I grabbed the Pantene conditioner and used that; and once out of the shower and dried off and dressed, I felt little to no itching.  I survived the evening without scratching too much; well not as much as I was today, where I looked like I had head lice!  Now, it just feels like I have peeling sunburn and I have to ignore it; at least it's not driving me completely nuts anymore.

Tonight, Mum, Dad and I went out to see Gabe and Darren play as 'The Gypsy Wagon' duo at The Music Kafe in West End.  It was an early gig - starting at 5pm and finishing at 7pm; where we showed, Riley was there, and some other friends also showed up.  Then, there was this guy who was sitting at another table who turned to me and said he saw my brother play at The River of Hope Festival at Greenslopes Bowls Club earlier this year; and he said that I stuck around for the Mr Percival Show... I said I did and that the River of Hope Festival was brilliant; even though it was dreadfully hot that day.  He agreed.  

After the gig, Kat, Gabe, Riley and the rest of the family took off to The Punjab Palace to have dinner.  It was a lovely little get together for us.  We chatted and at delicious food and had fun too.  Mum and I had our cameras with us and took photos of all kinds of weird things around West End... you know, this place has some interesting stuff when you really look around on a Saturday night.

We walked back towards the Music Kafe and passed by The Boundary Hotel when we heard some great Rock-a-Billy music coming from inside and stopped to listen.  We looked in through the window and found a duo playing away there; with the audience really getting into it; enjoying the moment, the beat and the raw sound of the double base.  It was brilliant!  I loved it.

Then, Riley turned to me and said: "You're the height of a year 7, you know that?" I smiled and said, "Yeah, and I got stuck there." we both laughed and kept listening to the music as the song ended.  Too soon, it was time to go our separate ways and head off home.  And you know, it wasn't all that late either.  It had only gone 9pm and we were pulling away from the curb off Boundary Street and into the wet streets of West End of Brisbane City.

Now, I'm home, I'm drinking the last of my lukewarm Milo, it's almost 11pm and I'm hoping to head off to bed soon to read a little before turning out the light.  Tomorrow being Sunday, it's going to be another busy day here.  I've got plans to make for the coming week; including my day out on Monday to Garden City.  But that will have to wait until another time.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.