Winding Down

I'm winding down from church affairs, and getting my mind into holiday mode. Also adjusting to the change in time and daylight; almost dark now, and it's not even tea time...

I was phoned up out of the blue by a friend, yesterday morning, and invited out to coffee and cake at her place that afternoon. She had a huge triple layer iced cake, which she'd bought to celebrate a birthday with the grandchildren, and the grandchildren weren't turning up, so we and some others were invited round to help eat it. And so we wiled away a pleasant couple of hours. 

So, the job planned for yesterday got done this morning after church, and I've looked at the bags and boxes ready for travel. Just a couple of supplies to get in tomorrow from the supermarket, and then deciding what clothes and layers to take for a still pretty warm South Australia. The next door neighbour is all set to water the flowers, take the bins in and out, and collect the mail. By Tuesday morning, we'll be in good heart to set out and get going!

Update

I finished a good book last night, just before I posted. It was the last of a series of 18 books by Jacqueline Winspear, centred around her main character, Maisie Dobbs. The first was published in 2003, and this last one, in 2024. I've pretty much read each one as they were published, and added to the library catalogue. They were all good solid reads, with interesting characters, and absorbing storylines.

I tackled Ticketek again today, for tickets to the "Treasures of the Vikings" exhibition, on at the Museum of South Australia. Easy peasy this time, so we're all set for an outing there on Thursday morning. 

School has finished here in Victoria, so the car has been emptied of the crossing gear, most of the clothing items have been washed and dried and packed away, so I can concentrate on getting packed ready for travel. 

 Making Plans

Finally I’m reaching the end of a busy time with church stuff. Leading the service last night all went well; it wasn’t a late night, but I was pretty wrecked afterwards. Today, I took it easy; did a little cleaning/dusting job, finalised the minutes from Monday’s meeting and sent a long winded notice in for the bulletin. 

So, my mind is turning to our driving holiday next week. Have been in touch with Hazel, and have settled a time to visit, and now I can arrange things around that. So, I headed to the laptop to buy tickets to “Treasures of the Viking Age” at the Museum of South Australia, and do you think I could get through the dialogue boxes to buy tickets. No way! Will have to try again tomorrow. 

Not Much News

There's not much news, but a lot has been happening. 

Meetings and more meetings as we try and move forward with a special general meeting on Sunday 4th May. The meeting will be run according to the LCA's constitution, and not our own church's constitution, so some things are different, and we have to be more careful over certain protocols. 

Apart from this, there are people away, and even more people disappearing over the Easter period, so managing services and helpers is proving tricky. This morning I read the sermon, and on Wednesday, I lead the whole, short service! I'm mentally pretty tired at the moment.

A Mixed Bag of Days

Yes, good and fair matters have been happening. 

On Monday we had been asked out on a lunch date, with old business clients of Jim's. I can't remember the last time I'd been out for lunch, so I thoroughly enjoyed it, and had a good meal, too. However, an hour earlier I'd had a Shingles vaxx, and fairly warned by the doctor, I've had a very sore arm for 36 hours, and felt unwell on and off for the same amount of time.

Yesterday, I picked up 5(!) books from the library - happy days! - But the news came that a friend from church had died, after two years of increasing ill-health.

Today's been a bit easier - looking forward to a feed of Coorong Mullet with chips, before doing a draft agenda for another church council meeting coming up next week. 

(Arrg! I can't get this formatting to work properly)

The Rest of the Day

After Waterloo, we travelled to Ghent, and had a very late lunch at a patisserie in a square in the old town, followed by a walking guided tour around the main sights. There were lots of people and tourists around and along the river and bridges. We eventually settled into our rooms, and after a short river cruise in the evening we had a meal at a refurbished warehouse.

The hotel was very nice, with lovely reception areas and meeting rooms. There was a gorgeous garden out the back which would have been lovely if we'd been there a bit closer to summer. 

Ghent and Waterloo

On this day in 2024, Monday the 29th April, we travelled to Ghent via Waterloo and its Lion's Mound and museum. This has been an interesting day to recall.  I couldn't get the photos printed quickly enough; the hardest task was picking out which ones to put in the album. They were the morning photos visiting Waterloo, and then the rest of the day, a walking tour around Ghent was much harder, as being less than inspiring. And the last couple of photos, to finish off the day, have taken a week or more to choose. 

We had no idea what to expect. Most of the displays inside the museum were excellent.

But it was outside, at the re-enactment that we had a ball. The weather was perfect for standing around pretending to be french soldiers. 

Quick Post (they all seem to be quick these days)

We're heading out to a Lenten service tonight, so easy tea of a salad roll each. And I've just finished a 30 minute low impact cardio work out, so it doesn't matter if I don't get a walk around the block later on (well done me). Difficult church matters are on the go at the moment, hopefully they'll get resolved soon.

 

The End of an Era

Darrian OfficeChoice Store and Business closed yesterday. The business has been a fixture in my life for 40 or more years. Once I got started as a Sunday School teacher back when Nathan was a baby, I was always popping in to buy craft paper, glue sticks, glitter, other bits and bobs, even to do a bit of photocopying. 

Back then, the shop was in Kepler Street next to the Capitol Theatre, and a good stop off between Coles and the Library on a Tuesday morning. Once Lauren reached Year 10, and started a Graphic Design subject, I set up an account, so she could go in and pick up whatever supplies she needed, as and when required. The account lasted until the fourth child finished school, and debit cards were a thing. After that the account lapsed, and the business moved round to Fairy street. 

My routine continued. I called in there every week or so between Coles and the library on a Tuesday morning for craft paper, textas, glue sticks and photocopying. I'd got the brush off from the church office person for using the colour copying function on the church printer/copier.  Grayscale copies were pretty boring for the children; I liked colour every time. 

I finished up with Sunday school about 5 years ago, but the routine continued much the same, maybe calling in a bit less often. We still needed our own printing paper, printing inks, and empty A4 boxes for paper recycling; also specialty folders for photo albums from time to time, manila folders and envelopes, drop folders and ring folders for business and home administration. 

We now have an Officeworks business in town, and Office National have taken over the stationary side of OfficeChoice so I'll still be able make my favourite stationery purchases, but it's not going to be quite the same.

  

Good Things

Yes, lots of small good things happening. I didn't get to post last night; we had a visitor from church round to discuss a few things, and the evening got away.

We brought back home two half lobster tails from the Lobster Pot shop in Beachport; we enjoyed those, just on white bread, on Monday night, and last night we had Coorong Mullet. Two more packs to go - Yum. 

I had a massage yesterday, another good thing - I don't have too many these days - it's too expensive, and I'm not sure it helps with the aches and pains too much.  But it was good.