This and That

I've finally finished a book; it took several days even though it was a feel good, easy book to read (kind off). It's the third in a series of recently published books, but the writing style does take a bit of getting used to. There are two stories running parallel, which I generally object to - I mean if you've got a story to write, write the story, and write the parallel story in another book... Anyway, once I got used to it, it was a very nice read. I'd tried the first in the series from the library, and I liked it so much, I went into Collins Booksellers and bought all three. 

The computer tech person came on Thursday and spent a good hour or more fixing up little bugbears on my laptop, and connectivity issues with the new modem. I'd done most of the connectivity to the various devices, but the receiver into the house was beyond my capabilities. We talked about the NBN, yet again... A problem for another day. Our DVD player no longer plays DVD's - good for recording and playback - so I'd bought a little DVD player to connect to the laptop. Brad got that program installed and I'm all good to go with the DVD series I received at Christmas. 

A Little Outing

We had a big outing yesterday; an early start for a run to Geelong for a dental appointment. I had a sedative anaesthetic, but it was a short, easy procedure, so we were on the road back to Warrnambool by 1.30pm. I was sleepy yesterday, but I'm feeling bright and shiny today, with a pretty positive outlook after the tensions of the last few weeks. 

I even did a little cleaning job today, one that only comes along every 6 weeks. Nothing heavy, just a bit of dusting to get my desks sorted out and clean for the next 6 weeks. 

After that, I was at a lose end, so ventured forth on a little outing to Spotlight, for myself. Bought some nice flannelette to make some new hankies, and a couple of pillowcases for my bed, to give it fresh look. My old hankies are pretty thin after being used continually for the last couple of years, and I've now been cutting them in half to use as pads on a couple of wounds (still healing after the surgery). The supply is getting low. Jim will have to set the sewing machine up for me - too heavy to lift from its storage place.

I'm trying to make a fresh start on my walking routine, now, as well. Making the effort to get moving, regularly, so I can build my fitness back up. No weights for another couple of weeks yet. 

Struggling to Read

Yes, I'm struggling to read at the moment.  Just can't concentrate. I'll read about 6 to 8 pages, and I just can't be bothered to learn and remember the characters, and who's who. And these are books in a series of familar authors and plot lines. I'll watch a couple of TV episodes, and then try reading again - to no avail. Last night I finished watching the final in the "Patience" TV Series (a wonderfully satisfying conclusion, with a teaser at the end to know another series is going to be made).

I couldn't face reading so I spent a pleasant hour online seaching for things to do in and around Helsinki, on the couple of free days we have there, in September. 

All went well at Bette's funeral. It was a lovely service, and arrangements regarding the refreshments afterwards went smoothly. Mostly everyone donned their aprons and pink shoes and sallied forth to serve food, collect dishes, and wash and wipe. Jim and I finished up with the floors, and returning the church to normal, after everyone left; we were exhausted, but happy to know that Bette is safe in the arms of Jesus, and I'll be joining her some day. 

Not All Sweetness and Light

It hasn't all been sweetness and light getting over my recent surgery.  Only three weeks but it feels like forever. I've had a couple of complications which have necessitated extra appointments, but both are being resolved satisfactorily with a bit of extra TLC. Now at the end of today, I'm feeling the best I've felt for a week... May it continue..

The weather has turned nasty - cold, blustery and rainy - Jim and I are needing to wear our beanies around the house, and back and forwards to and from the office. 

Tomorrow we get the church and hall set up for the funeral, and I pick up the flower arrangments for the altar. Guild was meeting this afternoon - about half are going to be away on Friday, so the rest of us are just going to have to muck in, and get the lunch served and cleaned up as best we can. 

   

Unusual Week

With the funeral of our esteemed Bette coming up on Friday, we have a busy and unusual week ahead of us as we try and juggle logistics of who's doing what and when. One of the drawbacks of not having a pastor in situ, who would normally liase with the family, the funeral parlour, the musician etc. All shall be well.

Yesterday, the large windows across the front of the house were washed down, ready for winter. Thank you, Jim!

Wrecked

By the end of yesterday we were both wrecked... Jim drove to a funeral, three hours away, and then three hours back. I dealt with the NBN that went nowhere - after 20 minutes they left with a flea in their ears, and unlikely to return anytime soon. I spent the rest of the day on the phone - texts and calls - sorting out details of an upcoming funeral here at the church. Made a welfare visit to an older friend, and then a podiatrist appointment, so all in all a busy day.  Then we were out for a pub meal for a birthday...

 

A Stressful Day

A stressful day coming up tomorrow, for sure. The NBN is coming onto the property to do an upgrade and install cabling, outside utility box and inside connection box. Can they do it?? That is the question...  The office where the modem and computers are is way down in our backyard, and I cannot understand how it could be doable with concreting, walls, roofing etc between the street and the office. We shall see. 

I'm confined to the property as well, to be on hand to make decisions, which is fair enough, but I feel like I'm too old now to understand these complex arrangements, especially with fixed infrastructure. And no-one on hand for back up... 

 

A Bit of Light Weight Day

All things considered, it's been a bit of a slow, light day. The service this morning waas centred on solace and consolation, after the tumults of the last 12 months in the congregation. The theme was especially apt, considering it was Good Shepherd Sunday. A member is very ill, and is receiving "end of life" care, while she waits for the good shepherd to receive her into Heaven. 

After a couple of emails and messages were sorted, and a light lunch, we ventured forth to consider a couple of small jobs at the church. We decided not to proceed in case there was a funeral this week, so ended up at Officeworks for a wander and a little shop. 

The day's been glorious again, in a row of such days; normally by now I'm in my winter weight polo shirts, but summer ones are still the order of the day. 

Another tricky week coming up, what with one thing and another - it's hard not to get stuck into things around the house.  I'm still on LIGHT duties!  And definitely no school crossing duty as yet!

 

Internet Down

I wasn't up for writing anything on Sunday, but we've had no internet connection for about 72 hours, anyway. The technician came today, and our 12 year old modem was no longer viable, so it was off to Telstra for a new modem, and a sign up for NBN upgrade next week. Then, when it was quiet during the afternoon, I connected everything up - modem, computers and phones to new WiFi names and passwords.

I had a great birthday yesterday, with all my loved ones and friends sending messages and greetings. The day ended with a quick and easy pub meal; we were home within an hour, which was about as long out as I could tolerate at this point in time of my recovery.

  

A Bit of a Drive

The weather has been atrocious for the weekend; we've hardly put our heads out of the door; had the heater on for most of the day yesterday. In the end, after lunch today, we went for a bit of a drive. I'll be confined to barracks for a week or so, and Jim's had a rotten cold for nearly 2 weeks,(he's climbing the walls), so a bit of a drive was the order of the day. We ended up at Timboon ice-creamery, ventured forth from the car in beanies and scarves, and enjoyed our honey crunch ice-cream cone inside the building. 

Wednesday during the week was much more pleasant. We caught up with good friends at Proudfoots Boathouse, and enjoyed a coffee and dessert sitting outside in the mild sunshine. The rest of the week was spent in various meetings, keeping up with the housework, ready for this week, and trying to stay well, ready for this week... I won't be posting this coming Wednesday; I'll be back here in a week. 

New Pedestrian Crossing

A new pedestrian crossing is being installed at the end of our street!

Easter Day

What an inspiring day it's been. The church was full, with members and lots of visitors attending.  The service was simple, with a great sermon from the visiting pastor, and the songs were familiar and inspiring, with lots of Allelujahs. While having a bite of lunch we were invited out for a coffee at a local restaurant, and we whiled away a pleasant couple of hours.

Now, I need to get my head around various little meetings coming up this week to plan services for the next couple of months, and other admin matters pertaining to the current pastor resigning and also our financial position.

All in all it's been a hopeful day, with more good days to look forward to. 

 Queen Garnet Plums

I've just feasted on my last Queen Garnet plums for the 2026 season. Apart from the occasional strawberries and grapes, I've been buying QG plums non stop for the last six weeks. Oh, so delicious. None in the supermarket when I dropped by this morning.

A Sigh of Relief

A long awaited final service for our congregation's pastor has come and gone this morning.  The various speeches went well until Pastor's longwinded speech at the end, which dragged on, and he got on his high horse with his opinions, which didn't make us feel any better about ourselves or him. Anyway, that's the end of an era now, and apart from various admin duties, we shouldn't have much else to do with him. 

The day has turned out sunny and shiny, gleaming and showy after a few days of cooler temps. It's my last week of school crossing duty coming up - a four day week before the school holidays start, and then I take some sick leave, so a proper break for me.

Running Late

Yes, running late here today. It's been one of those days, where an appointment went long, church emails requiring attention were coming in, and I've been trying to catch up all day. Just when I was about to head out for a walk, the phone rang and a longwinded conversation followed; I'm finally here, briefly. 

 

Bunnings and Other Places

Well, there was church in the morning, of course, and then for lunch we were at Proudfoots Boathouse enjoying a meal with good friends.

After that we toddled off to Bunnings for a look see and some purchases.

It was time to update our stepladder. The old original stepladder which has served us well for over 30 years; served me well for over 30 years, being a munchkin, needed to be replaced. Jim had occasion to use it yesterday, doing some cleaning and it was really no longer safe enough to do the job, or safe enough for me, for my reaching tasks. The new one's a little bit wider, with sturdier rubber feet. 

 

The deck pots have been empty since christmas so we come home with some potted colour, as well. They'll look better in a couple of days when they've perked up after transplanting... I'm pretty rough when it comes to potting up...

Pottering Through the Days

Once again, there's not much news. I'm getting my daily tasks done, and then extra tasks that rotate on the calendar every 2-3-6 months. Pulled my bed out from the wall today, and vacced and dusted behind and underneath where it usually sits. Turned the mattress over. I'd washed the underblanket, top blanket and pillows a couple of weeks ago, so that should set me up for the next few months. 

The nights are turning cooler, and I'm generally sleeping well snuggled up under an extra blanket. 

Appointments and commitments are going on the calender, and into the diary already for Term 2. I'm hoping church stuff will settle down after Easter - we'll see how we go...

 

Not Much News

There's been a few bits and pieces going on with appointments, and discussions with various church people during the last week, but basically not much news of any note.

Tired as anything today... The doctor has given me a strong cortisone cream for my chronically itchy back, and I'm wondering if that's having an affect? Not on the list of side effects, but you never know.

We had a quick outing to Koroit this afternoon to catch-up with some-one, but she was out. We did a short walk along the rail trail, and then got home for our afternoon tea. 

Beachport 2026

We made our annual trek, along with the families, to Beachport on the weekend. It was a great time for everyone, but a wild wind blew for 48 hours. It was well nigh impossible to put my head out the door for a walk, or a stroll around the shops. It had blown itself out just when we were packing up to go home. 

Just to get out of the apartment, Jim and I did a bit of a tourist drive around the local coast road, and ended up at Woolley Lake. It was warm and sheltered walking along the bush track.

 

Falling Into Place

An upcoming event has been scheduled with some certainty, now, so I can make plans about other things happening in the next couple of months. March and April doings are all falling into place...

No changes to this weekend coming - as we're off to Beachport for our annual visit. I've got the Beachport list out; most things are in hand; the weather is promising to be mild; the children will be cheerful, and I've got a good book packed and/or a Midsomer Murders ep to watch on the ipad. 

Today

Today was Harvest Thanksgiving at church. Despite the numbers of members at church being considerably reduced in the last few months, we had a very respectable display of fresh and packaged goods . Our visiting Pastor gave a wonderful address, and despite the lapel mic not working all went well.