Panicky...

A couple of nights ago I got panicky about this overseas trip coming up, and realised I had only about 6 weeks to get everything organised. Spent several hours tossing and turning.

The answer to this type of stress is to make a LIST. Very calming. And I've already made a start - I've ordered new lens' for my long distance specs - the transition coating was getting all blotchy.

We have an appointment with the travel agent tomorrow to get started on train bookings and tickets - various transfers and pick ups throughout the month. It prompted me to spend time on the travel bible.  I'd done a rough draft a couple of months ago, but it was time to finesse each entry and plastic pocket in the display folders. I followed the same system last time, which was very successful. Each day the folder is opened to that day's activity and information, and tickets and paperwork are transferred to the daypack ready to go. At the end of each day any paperwork still in hand is returned with any brochures or flyers collected during the day, and everything is in order for writing up the photo journel when we get home. The bible is spread over 3 folders, with the third containing the information for the Germany days at the end, plus documents for insurance, and copies of passports etc

The labels are just clipped to the page at this stage; still making amendments as we go along. Will print onto proper sticker labels before we go. The printing in the photos hasn't come up very well, but you get the idea.

This and That for This Sunday

I got my 25/26 financial year paperwork filed away into its archive box yesterday - well done me! The 24/25 year box went into storage and last year's into that slot ready for access if required. It's a much easier business than it was several years ago, as we've simplified our affairs over the years since Jim retired.

I just love looking for pictures re storage and filing.  There's so much to choose from!

This afternoon we had our monthly outing to Officeworks, topping up on paper, pads, pouches, ink cartridges and a small Canon printer. The current Canon printer is not doing so well, not well enough for photo printing - all that photo printing coming up from October. Spent some time looking at their travel accessories, but nothing there that we don't already have.

Before that we called into Harris Scarfe to spend a $300 gift card, that was gifted to me six months ago from the city council. In recognition of 25 years service as a school crossing supervisor. Stocked up on towels, face washers and kitchen hand towels, so should be right in that respect for the next couple of years. Our current bath towels will become bathroom hand towels, and the current bathroom hand towels will become rags - they're so thin, they're hardly good for drying hands. 

Last but not least, the school crossing gear is packed into the car - did that between the rain showers.  A shortish term for me once again, with long service leave happening in September.  

A Glorious Travel Day

It was a glorious travel day back from Adelaide yesterday. Beautiful pale blue, clear skies the whole way. No biting wind, spitting rain or glaring heat to endure every time we alighted for a refreshment stop. The paddocks and vistas were green and green. So different to last year. It was a slow travel day for whatever reason, arrived home about 45 minutes later than usual, even though our stops were about the same length as they generally are.

We had good days and visits while in Adelaide. Mini Golf was a pleasant outing with Eloise, followed by a milkshake at the local cafe.

The house was freezing after five days of no heating; it's taken the last 24 hours to get the temperature up to liveable with the heater running much of the day, and the air con going as well, at times.

Today, the tradie turned up to clean the gutters, all good there - nothing needs repairing, thank heavens.

 

 

Ready to set off!

I think we're ready to set off... It's been more than three months since we packed up and headed to South Australia, so I hope we haven't forgotten anything. Shops, supermarkets and servos are always open these days, so not a problem with getting supplies of this, that or the other. The days are pretty much booked up with family gatherings so that's all good. 

We've got a couple of stops to do on the way over, so will be doing the run into the motel at the end of the day, when the roads and streets are extra busy; there could be rain, but we'll be fine. 

   

This and That for this Sunday

An hour after my last post about sewing and ironing, I realised I didn't need the ironing board for hemming my fleece pants, and an hour after that, I realised the sewing machine was set up where I usually do my travel packing.  So, I gave myself a kick up the backside to get this last sewing job done, so I could pack everything away. The sewing is all done and dusted for now.

The school crossing gear is washed, folded and put away for the next couple of weeks. I have chilblains on my toes; They're hot and itchy...

The Half Yearly meeting after church this morning was straightfoward enough, and then we were back at the church this afternoon doing a little fix-it job.

On Tuesday we have a quick trip to Geelong and back again on the train for a dental appointment, so life continues apace.

Sewing Update

I've finally got the main lot of sewing done, all the pillowcases made. In the end I put the ironing board up permanently, just so it was ready for pressing seams and hems, on the odd occasion I had 20 minutes to sew the next pillowcase.  Made a big difference not having to put it up every time I got to the sewing machine.  Only the hemming of a couple of my favourite fleece pants to get to and I'll be able to pack everything away. 

This and That for this Sunday

Well, I had a nice nannanap!

We hosted a visiting pastor, his wife and three others from church for lunch today - easy lunch of party pies and sandwiches. And then the pastor and wife were off to visit someone else from church. I'd overcated of course, so the spare sandwiches went up to a local halfway house - they would have enjoyed them for afternoon tea. 

Yesterday, we out did ourselves. Bought a new clothesline, erected the new clothesline and took the old clothesline to the metal recyclers - all in a matter of three hours! I haven't even used the new line yet; it's been raining steadily on and off since yesterday.

Two meetings coming up in the next week, and then it'll be time for a short break. 

 

Wins and Losses

I had a win today. Something I've been dealing with on and off since December has now nicely resolved itself. Commonsense has prevailed. And I fronted up at Red Cross Lifeblood today to donate, and I couldn't give. The surgery I had a couple of months ago precludes me donating for 6 months, so, a loss there. 

Otherwise, life goes on as usual with its committments, appointments, lists and tasks. 

 

This and That for This Sunday

A bit of a rush at church this morning. A short meeting before the start of the service to ratify some people into newly created positions. Then I led the service, thankfully with a helper to read the first two readings and the sermon. Afterwards, we celebrated a 90th birthday with cake and speeches and a blessing song, sang by the girls in the family. So, the morning finished off on a friendly note, and we all felt blessed by the worship and fellowship.

Jim's disappeared for a couple of hours, and I've quietly booked the most expensive outing tour on our overseas trip. I've been mentally wrangling whether to proceed for a few weeks now, considering the cost of it, but taking into account a similar situation on the previous trip when I didn't book, and our ages and our ability to cope with one off train trips and stations, I've forged ahead and booked.

Lastly, I was wandering around the side of the deck, with my trusty bottle of weed spray, and found some bulbs shooting up.  I'd bought this little pot of flowering tulip bulbs from a flower shop in spring last year, and after they had died down, I just plonked them down away with all my other dead pots of dead things. Now they're shooting!  We'll see how we go with getting tulips in 2026...

Fish and Chips

Yes, fish and chips for tea tonight; the usual menu item for a Wednesday night. By Wednesday I'm wearing out for meal ideas, so it's easy to organise. I generally buy the fish at the Woolworths Deli, salad items to go with it, and Jim gets the chips from the local fish and chippery.