A drive to York

York's main street

The Avon ValleyToday we went for a drive to York. We rarely do drives any more because it is too expensive. Was very nice and better than sitting at home on what was quite a miserable day. The funny thing was that we had to get out and stretch the legs a couplke of times, both ways. This IS getting old. It is no further than Mandurah where we used to drive to and from daily.

Then on Thursday Denise came home for good to join husband Bruce and daughter Kelly. Nice.

Kristy had her 30th birthday with a nice afternoon tea at Net & Gary's place , last Saturday.

I call this "the Swinging Girls", even though one of them is 30 years old.

Back with Kiah

A few weeks ago Caitlyn & I did Rockigham, a coastal town here ,where I used to work. It is only some 15 mins from Vicki & Trav's house.We bought chips and juice and coffee for Oma. It was a pleasant day between rainy days so we enjoyed it. This weekend I took Sarah & Bella to their dancing while Mum & Dad teamed up with Bruce to check the computers at the Travel Agency. I was even allowed to see Bella dance for 5 minutes so that was nice. More coffee and cake while waiting for each dancing lesson.I took the girls home and then on to Net & Gary's for a celebration of Kristy's 30th Birthday. That too was a nice occasion.This week should be reasonably quiet, though I may get some of the non- perishables for the Holland day at the village. We have a lot of people coming so we'll be flat out.House is open again on Wednesday but I'm leaving the final preparations to the old boy for a change because I am at Scott & Jo's minding the dog again ,while they have gone North to Kalbarri for a holiday.I'll have computer access again without being made to feel guilty!!!Well , it is only 9 weeks until our family holiday in Phuket and Bangkok.Looking forward to it. Caitlyn's fairy Princess Castle Cake

Caitlyn Liked the pram we bought for her

Investigating a sculpture on Rockingham foreshore

SOOOOO BIG

Pure delight on the swing

Just Jottings

Well we have had Karen's & My birthdays,most enjoyable. The cupcakes non-birthday cake a lovely surprise. The site for this innovative and enjoyable business is www.cupcakecreations.net.au. Last weekend we celebrated Caitlyn's birthday and that was enjoyable too.We gave her a pram and she really seems to like it. It is always lovely to see the family and now that Bruce is here, an enjoyable extension. Denise is due home next week.It is to be hoped that it all goes as they wish. We have had a few "lookers" at our house but the most promising seems to be a couple from Parks in NSW who appear to have sold but not settled their house. I really dislike this very much, one is in such a limbo.In the meantime the unit we are building has increased by 10%!!We could not go ahead because we need the money first. I suppose the best news this week was that a friend in the village, diagnosed with in-operable braintumor, was operated on after all and the operation was pronounced a success. Everyone is thrilled for her (Betty) and her husband Jack and we hope for a good recovery. I'm still to have another stress test before they decide what to exactly do re. my heart but my own doctors, Natalie and Dr Hassan seem to be pretty re assuring that it is not overly dangerous and Natalie has already changed some of my medication. Dr Hassan is removing a skin cancer next week so that will be cleared up too. It seems my vitamin D levels are VERY low and I have to supplement them and get more dairy food into me as well as sun. Don't want dementia , do we? But then ,exposure to the sun is no good for skin cancers either and the dairy foods help to fatten me up, so it is just a viscious circle!!!Worst is that I'm no longer allowed the anti-inflamatories and my back is killing me , even with some slow release panadol.The old boy has had his needles now and seems to be improving. Just wish I could get him doing a bit of excercise sometimes. Busy times ahead, test tomorrow, Saturday take Bella & Sarah to dancing and then on to an afternoon tea for Kristy's 30th at Net's. Next week just a few things, Denise arriving back,mind Bella & Sarah Friday, house open Wednesday and mind Kiah all week. Ofcourse I will also have 'Caitlyn" day every Thursday.The following week will be flat out with various things, my face thing and the Dutch day preparations with the day itself on Friday the 18th. About 40 for lunch so far and many more for morning tea. NO PHOTOS TODAY. Left my flashdrive at Scott's.( I hope, unless I am demented again!!!!!)

Birthdays and shifting

The "Baby" I'm looking after. KIAH!

Well it seems that not many people read this blog because I have had no reaction from anybody about our shifting to Rick and Karen's. I guess all the important people know. The family , ofcourse and the people at the village. The reaction from the village has been very nice in that they don't want us to go , which is a bit surprising . One or two even shed a tear, including my kitchen hand . I've asked her to take on the cook's job. I'm told that rumour has it we are leaving because of the Manager that is not true, it is simply because of Trevor. The Manager's antics have not helped to settle Trevor but it is not our consideration for this move.

We had a lovely Birthday, Karen and I. We got a few bits and pieces together for the family on Friday and I had morning tea with Ina and her friends.Then Rick's surprise was the birthday cake that was not a birthday cake, it was just great and they tasted lovely which made it even more delightful.More coffee at the cafe today and then to the Casino where Trevor lost his money and I left $40.00 in front, for a change.We have also had our meeting for the Dutch day and all seems to be well there.Holland seems to be doing well in the soccer and I have had many photos showing all the orange dress ups and house decorations. Scott, Jo and the kids went to see our team play in Melbourne. Last week they had a huge win here but they had a loss again over there, what a shame but Scott said it was worth going to such a great venue.Everyone has rung and messaged me and I got some great gifts. I feel very priviledged. It is COLD. 4 *c in the mornings but about 20*C high. Had two more school friends visit on Thursday, Kay Kovalevs, best friend at school and bridesmaid and Maureen Gathercole. Should have taken a picture but had Caitlyn and forgot again. It wa s very pleasant though. What is not so pleasant is that my cardiac investigations are not finished, there seems to be something wrong at the bottom or back of the heart and I have to have further investigations on Friday week.What a bummer.trevor getting gradually better. Busy times ahead.

NOW SOME BIG NEWS

To begin with, we have the' cats', our former Aqua Aerobic friends, here at our cafe with Nanny in the foreground.( She and Geoff have left for KL and Penang today and Net has just had a wonderful holiday in Phuket) The bi g news is that we have decided to sell our house, or at least the life lease, to be totally correct. Trev was not really happy and with him being sick the last weeks and totally miserable, Rick and Karen renewed their offer for us to build a granny flat on their property. Vicki and Travis were keen for us to do it also and I guess we probably would have done that in the future but now the future has come foreward. Trevor is quite happy about it and it seems to certainly have cheered him up , which is the most important thing.

Biggest problem is the bit in between selling and the granny flat being finished as we can't build it until we have money from the sale. Thoughts are a caravan but Vicki and Trav want us to stay there. I don't know yet, I'd like to be as little nuisance factor as possible. The unit will be quite small but we think also quite comfortable. We have told the family, Viv & Mick still to come and the people in the village. Most seem to agree it is a good move and what's more, said they would miss us.

The Cafe Manager ,Lorraine turned on the drinks last week because we have had some busy days , with 45 cats here ,busy normal days and the 60th wedding anniversary of our backdoor naighbours. Was a very pleasant evening. This is the boss and the other the table of girls.

Just a Memory

This is the new banner for Karen's blog. Brings back lovely memories. She certainly did some interesting things on her tour and packed in a lot. See her blog by clicking her link below.

Mostly a Horsy story

Caitlyn loves Maccie.

Karen was home from China so they asked us for tea and we met Pixie, she is gorgeous. Pop brought a carrot for her.

The light was starting to fade but it made her look even more beautifulWe,that's Bella and Pixie and Rick and I then went for a walk along their river, Cardup Brook , along the new walkpath.Bella looks great on her horse and rides well.

It is the rainy season

Here we are with an update.
Firstly the Birthdays. Yes there is my own this month and then Karen on the 19th and Caitlyn on the 30th. Cousins Jan & Adrie and Goos & Ger each have an anniversary, 45 yrs and 35 years. Hearty congratulations. It seems they are having parties,don't usually hold so much with those in between anniversaries here.On June 6th we have about 45 of the swimming girls coming here for lunch so that will be a busy day.
Should be enjoyable, though Ina & I will have to provide some additional food as well as help.Karen is in China and loving it , as we knew she would, despite the tremors. I sent her a photo of the girs with a kiss and have included another one here.
Our Football is a sad state of affairs, we keep running up the good scores and staying in front until the last quarter , then losing it. Too many losses in a row now. The photo here was at an exciting goal kicked by our captain Pavlich. The Wattle, the first in bloom along our walk. Then several of the dogs we meet ,though there are many more, we have not seen so many in the last few weeks
Mac on the boardwalk.

Penny

Sasha

The beagles


The Finnish dog

A goal at Subi Oval

Girls with a kiss for Mum in China

The girls modelling when Oma was minding them all

Dinner at Carmel's

Some of us from the village got together at Carmel and Mal's place for a lovely casserole dinner a few weeks ago.

Poor Trevor is having a terrible time. His shingles are basically gone but the bursitis is so bad he looks like a real poor old man. We got him in for a cortisone injection on Thursday week but then Vicki suggested we try Armadale hospital and we got him in there tomorrow. He just can't wait because he needs relief so badly. He can't sleep and now is hardly able to move his right arm at all. Hope it goes well tomorrow!!!

Finally, I saw the cardiologist and I have to have some tests over 2 days nextMonday and Tuesdayweek,the 8th & 9th. That is to eliminate blockages and if I come out of that OK ,the flutters are not because of heart desease and I should not have to worry. So the news is good so far. Well, that is the update again.oh, my sister Nanny & B.I.L .Geoff are back here from CI for 6 months. Clare , je kan weer naar Nanny schrijven hoor. Any lack in quality of photos is because they were taken on phone but nevertheless, not bad for just a phone camera.

There are sunsets and sunrises!!!!!

I am totally surprised that no-one has picked me up on the fact that the sun RISES in the morning!!!! Does that mean that absolutely no-one reads my blog??? Take this as a correction, it is the lovely morning sun RISES.

I'Ve DONE it

I have finally conquered the telephone photo download and now you are going to have all these beautiful early morning sunsets thrown at you. There is also one summer sunset and a monarch butterfly plus Leschenaultia in bloom. The hazy one was the other day, when the ducks and mushrooms just showed up under the mist.Also three of the grandies walking home from the oval.

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT DAY? I DID.

Mothers Day photos of the family at our place.

Travis,Zoe and Rick. Bella must have been in my bedroom) Even Michael called in which was appreciated.

Riley,Karen,the Nanks and Trev

Sarah ,Vicki & Jo

The rose garden at Fremantle cemetry

A Rose bush for My Mum & dad

Mum& Dad Branch's grave (also grandparents Barnes & Uncle)

Mother's day today and yes, I had a wonderful day. We all went to watch Reiley play football and then repaired to our house for coffee. They all contributed and Scott made the coffees with the expresso machine he gave me some time ago. After they left Trev and I went to the cemetry to check the Barnes grave and the de Jong rose memorial and to place a rose there for our mothers.Home for a quiet afternoon. Altogether a lovely Mothers' day.

Our dinner at Roxby's last Friday was worth a mention. I had Thai green curry duck and Trev had a T Bone, along with salad and garlic bread. It was simply superb and I could not eat it all, more was the pity. It really is top food and good service to boot.