NEW WALKS and CELEBRATING AUS. BIRTHDAY

Thank you to all those who were proud enough to celebrate this weekend.We've had a few hot days again are are often the hottest in the country. Today was a very mild 30.3.
On a sad note , the loss of Heath Ledger must have hit his family very badly . The bereavement notices were heartbreaking.

I have discovered a lot of ways to walk around here. All the way around,down the middle (it has an axis of path with parkway on the side),down the middle and up the hill,down the middle ,past the mansions and into the dog zone. Today I went as far as crossing the main road to see Scott's old house. The new area in front of that is actually a little disappointing, no gardens or street parks yet. Mind you, the old house and several around it look pretty neglected too. The photos are of the axis path and sun setting over the trees here.

Then we had breakfast to celebrate Australia day. We went to Freo ,to the MIlls Bakehouse and it was very enjoyable and very reasonably priced .Service good and staff friendly. Kids enjoyed it too, they had pancakes,Karen & I , Eggs Benedict and the others big Breaky ( I think,).

Went back home today to Mahjong (I won again) and check emails and a bit of shopping. Not impresessed with our new favourite store, they also serve smokers before anyone else and that's discriminatory when we have stood in line for ages, as we had, these stores being one of the few open on a public holiday and thus VERY busy. I may have to formally complain.

I know she won't see this but Happy Birthaday Michelle. Card still coming.

Ger, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO. Your card is on the way. Must be the time for the G's as Gerda and Gwen also have a birthday. Riley boy has his on Friday He'll just be home and we'll see him for coffee and cake so also to our only Grandson, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. While I'm at it ,on the 5th we have our middle granddaughter turning 5 years also. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH. She starts big school this year,in pre-Primary.

Rick went fishing with Gary and so we are cooking that for them at home tomorrow. Kiah dog will miss me 'cause I also have to have a haircut and will stay home till after tea.But then my own Mac is missing me too so I'll be able to see him all day. (Yes he's only a dog, Vicki , but then your father does not seem to be missing me so I need SOMEONE to miss me.) I'll be back to not having the easy internet access on Thursday. Pity, I'll have to try & make more effort going to the clubhouse.

AUSTRALIA

Happy Australia Day everyone. Love this country.
Celebrating with breakfast at Mills Bakehouse in Fremantle.
Having a problem importing a flag on Scott's computer so will have to do without.

Hoorah,did it!

The Art of being Lazy.

This is Cassandra, daughter of an Australian Champion who is "going to do well" I reckon Mr Mac would do well too. .( Note ,that shopping at the end should include going for coffee,lunch and the occasional drive as well.)

Have just spent 4 hrs on Scott's computer,looking up poetry,dachshunds,petsites,Maps,Found great one of Scott's house but could not find Denise & Bruce. Will try others on Google maps later. But then , this is the hard day for this 68 year old at present anyway. \

Get up, 6.00 or 6.30 am. Walk 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

Back for breakfast fruit & shake & watch Sunrise & Today while embroidering till 9 am.

Do washing, by hand as there is not much, wipe sink, any watering & other little pickup jobs.

Shower.

Watch telly, go on computer , talk to dog,throw her the odd ball and perhaps read a little till shake & salad for lunch.

Embroider,watch telly and /or have a short snooze and a swim and walk in pool.

Go & have tea with my husband (today) and play Mah Jong at the club.

Return to this house after 9. Better wash (by hand!!!!! believe it or not) my dishes and to bed.Read a little.

I reckon that is as it should be for all female 68 year olds but include in that some shopping trips.

What a difference a street makes. Walked the edge of this estate and admired the mansions and beautiful gardens on the extra large lots.(Despite our water problem, though I noticed a few had advertising boards for watersaving systems having been installed)Then took a small path around the back . That was full of graffiti and rubbish thrown in the bush . At the end of that small path was the Banjup kennel zone. I walked all the streets( Including Crufts Way, where Mac came from) and boy, what a difference.The reasonably nice homes (or kennels) and gardens were few and far between. It was typically unkempt houses with dead trees, dead cars and garages full of junk. That is just a street away from the other pristene area. Amazing.

Karen can you photograph your girls' embroideries and email them either to my Yahoo or home email. I'll do the same here. I've been told one must photograph and publish all one's Xstitch so will do and publish on here.

THOUGHTS

It will be Australia's birthday on Saturday and I was reading in the weekend papers that about
80 % of Australians now celebrate Australia Day in some way. There are lots of flags on cars already and on some houses. We are going to breakfast with the family in Fremantle, will enjoy that and am glad that there is that feeling of pride in one's country now.

Andre Rieu and his violin The huge stage setting (They have been to Toronto already)chandeliers and all.

Got up early this morning to take my doggy , Mac, for a walk . Trev said Mac was missing me so we had a very long walk and the walk was like Hay Street this morning,lots of dogs and people and lots of greetings and talks. Took me 2 hours almost. ( Yes, Travis and Vicki,I know he is just a dog and a sausage dog as well, but the best of the best).

Had a long session looking at Andre Rieu's website and others. There are even fans who devote most of their own websites to him. I could not go that far but certainly enjoy his music and the DVD's of his concerts. Could still get tickets in Melbourne for $99 but up in the gods of Telstra Dome and ofcourse does not include airfares.!!!!!!!!!There seem to be no bookings open for Adelaideas yet, or if there are ,can't see them. Perth was touted to be on the program on November 21st and also Dec. 1st but nothing has appeared as yet. Have also heard that tickets will be seriously expensive. When one reads his website and the number of containers it takes to put on the show, as well as the number of people to set it up and to perform, one wonders how many planes he charters? No wonder they say it will be expensive. It is amazing just to follow up on that.The girls I went to lunch with yesterday had not heard of him and I was amazed at that because I thought that by now everyone had. His latest album was the top album in Australia and when one reads the comments on his website his fans seem to encompass all ages, men and women and all nationalities. There are lots from Australia, indeed ,lots from Perth.

Our lunch was not the quality it used to be ,at Ramons,disappointing but we enjoy each other's company so we'll try somewhere else next time. Was quite costly as well e.g. $ 9.50 for a scoop of sorbet, some cream and flavouring!!! Same for cakes.

Picked five large cucumbers today off your vines ,Scott. Will have to take some to the Mah Jong girls tomorrownight as I can't eat them all on my own.Have to go back on Thursday evening as well. Our Social Club General meeting requires 50 % for a quorum and we did not have that last week, hope they do this time. 122 attendance is a big ask from old people.

Home Alone

Well , not exactly home but at Scott & Jo's minding their dog. They left everything so clean that I have just closed up the rooms and am walking, swimming, watching TV, reading playing on the computerand doing embroidery. What a life eh? This is Riley with the devil dog. She is not a devil really, very good at home but take her out walking and she pulls and pulls. Decided that I would teach her to walk properly but one walk this morning and every bone in my body aches.,especially those in my left hand ,which holds the leash. She just may not get trained properly after all. Tomorrow I go out to lunch with the" Wackie " girls, some of my former colleagues from East Waikiki school. Always enjoyable so looking forward to it. Scott & Co flew the new budget air;ine , Tiger Air. It seems they enjoyed it and had a brand new plane. First good comment I have heard so good on them. Trev home with Mac and I am sure enjoying himself , cooking all the things he thinks he misses out on Yeh, really!!!

It's a hot day

Down at Vicki's today to look after Caitlyn with Bella & Sarah coming in the afternoon. Had Bella & Sarah on Monday & Tuesday but not Zoe & Riley 'cause their dad is on holidays already. They go to Melbourne with the 4 of them early Saturday morning. Two weeks and I'll go to their place to look after the dog. Our dinner with 2 neighbouring couples was a great success and they all enjoyed it. Better than just waving and saying hello. We had pork ,chicken and gin terrine for entree,steak,rissoles,fish and chicken sausages barbecued with sauces and green garden salad and spinach,asparaghus and egg salad. For desert we had 3 tastings of honeycomb cheesecake,apple syllabub and Jo's icecream slice. we were all full but was nice. Did not take any photos. Today is to be 39 degrees again so not very nice and it feels like it might be hotter than that. Sounds like Japanese whaling and Greenpeace anti whaling ships (the Steve Irwin)are really creating incidents with whalers hanging on to 2 Greenpeace guys. Not nice either. Really japan needs to stop the whaling to comply with the rest of the world. The rate our large creatures are disappearing is a worry. Don't say we kill our kangaroos. That is done to keep the numbers at a reasonable level,they are certainly not endangered at this stage.Just take a look at the paddocks near Byford and some of the Golfcourses like Melville (right in the city of Melville) and Preston Beach.

Finished the embroidery

Traditionally I have done a large embroidery for each grandchild and meant to finish each one when they were born. Zoe is the only one that was. The others have had to wait up to 2 1/2 years. Caitlyn just got hers. I found a lovely gold frame but SOMEONE (her dad) leaned on it and broke the glass. Fortunately he found another frame the same and he had to re-do it. Looks good on the wall though. Maybe I'll have to take pictures of the others as well. Can't stay long on this, have some neighbours coming for tea, which should be nice. It always is when one does not have to worry about drivinng home. NOt that that makes much difference to me!!!!!!!!!! I do like a little tipple.

Have joined facebook but like this much better, less buttons to click. Hope people will still look!

En een grote Hallo voor myn nicht Clara, die nu zelf een computer heefd en dus ook zelf naar myn site kan kyken,leuk he???? Heb juist vandaag naar verschedene Andre Rieu DVD's gekeken, hy is hier nu ook erg beliefd en komt in November hier maar natuurlyk niet naar Perth. Zou graag naar een concert toe maar het word een beetje duur als je zo'n $ 600 of meer voor een vlucht naar Melbourne of Sydney moet betalen.

HELLO 2008

Frank,not at his best Rod with girl squaws

Rod. the butcher, provided and cooked the roasts. His carving was much admired.

Trev & others at Ina & Frank's for entre. The man at the right Karl. is a friend of Rod & Chris's,used to be Trevor's boss at Clipsal.

Another with Ina & others at the Frankens.

Well our New Year started with a sparkle and I hope that yours did too. We had a very enjoyable Progressive dinner with lovely ,quality food and a lot of fun along the way. We finished the evening by noisily entering the club and joining the dancing and frivolities there. We went home at 12.30, which was a record for the old boy Trevor but the others went on later.

I put a bit more than 2 kilos back on over the festive season but I did eat everything and enjoyed it immensely. Now have to work hard to lose it again unfortunately. However, my dog Mac and I are back on longer walks again and all the chocolates have gone from the cupboards and the shortbread is finished,that makes it a bit easier.We have walked every day because I have not had to babysit but that starts again this week.The kids are on ho;idays ofcourse so I'll have them all day. Bella & Sarah on Friday too. Howevere, I think that is what Omas were made for.

Next Sunday we have asked a couple of our neighbours for a meal.

Have had several emails about the value of honey and cinnamon lately and my arthritis has been really bad .So I have started the regimen of 2 spoons of honey & one of cinnamon before I go for a walk. God , I hope it works for I am pretty desperate.

Went to Dim Sum Lunch with Ina, Sheila and Val. That was really nice too. I really enjoy going out with the girls. Have one with the old Wackie girls on the 21st and love that also.

Temperatures here have varied from the late 20's to 40 degrees C and tomorrow will be another 40. Oh well, we have to take that along with the good days and we have really had some lovely days , making the early morning walks most enjoyable. Ofcourse, everyone is feeling quite jovial at this time of the year so when I walk there are many stops along the way ,talking with the other dogs and their owners.

The worst part of this time of the year is probably the bushfires and sadly a convoy of trucks was caught along the highway to Kalgoorlie and 3 men were burned . There were several houses , cars and sheds lost in the Perth foothills and a lot of arcreage burnt between us and Vicki & Travis's suburb but no loss of life there,thank goodness.

So now, here is 2008 and we hope that it will be a good one with much health and joy for everyone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I am about to go home to start organising things for making "bitter ballen" for New Year's eve and then remembered that I meant to thank also those people who messaged and rang to give their Christmas wishes. Thank you, we just love it.

Here are the pictures

On Dec the 26th we all went to Scott & Jo's and that was the really hot day. When the kids were finally allowed in the pool , it was after 5 pm and the pool was 38 oC. They had a great time ( see Karen's blog) I did once more pinch one of her pictures because I forgot my camera again. This is Pop & Riley makeing the bon-bon pop. The 25th was quiet and we heard later that our 42.2 C temperature put us as the hottest city in the world for Xmas day. Well the next day was worse, 44 oC.With aircon one does not even notice so much and Trev and I had baked pork roullade and baked potatoes for lunch and all. 24th December and the old fella has finally arrived, such excitement. Lots of loot, lots in stockings and poems to read, fun to share. What more can you wish for? One boy was a little worried but the girls were not. Later he was able to thank Santa most politely though.

Dec 21st. well ,I started the Christmas lights tradition in the village but have never won the "Best Lights". howevere, That's OK, I am just happy that we have a very well lit village every Christmas. On this night the winner is announced and the winners of the hampers are drawn. It is done very fairly, the house numbers are drawn out. We missed out but many in our street were winners, which was great. We won a hamper last year so it is being shared around very well.We had our fish & chips with the Mynsbergen family.

Dec 20th, Carols in Our Domain (at the Club) and my 5 aangels all participated in the Traditional tableau. (one got tired and wandered back to Mum & Dad every now and then.

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

Sorry People we have a case of the huge spaces again because the Xmas tree turned up about 10-12 times. Keep scrolling, there IS a message down below.!! Bloody computers!!!!

To all our friends and family may your lives be blessed with all you wish for . Ours is. It is Boxing Day and we have filled our bellies with some wondrous food and spoiled the children and each other with some wondrous gifts. The atmosphere has been great and it is always extra special when there are little ones and Sarah, Caitlyn and Anna have certainly given us some great moments. I have quite a lot of photos to share but have not got all of them on my flash drive yet and I need that, to put them on this site because the computers in the club are the only access I have on the Internet ( unless I use those at the kids places.) I guess the only down part has been that the temperature yesterday was 42 and today was 44.2 C. Lucky it was not humid so the airconditioner is working well. The kids were not even allowed into the pool at Scott"s until late because it was just too hot. There is quite a large fire not far from Vicki & Travis's house but across the FReeway. The freeway was closed so they are obviously watching in case it jumps across. They are packed with emergency gear just in case but ofcourse we hope it does not come to that and they are keeping us informed. Not nice.The children were all here for our Carols in our Domain last Thursday. Then we had an excellent night at Kristy & Colin's for dinner and father Xmas on Xmas Eve (Thanks for a lovely night), and today lunch at Scott & Jo's and thanks to them also. Thanks to all who sent us Xmas greetings, by mail and by cyberspace, It was much appreciated and some of the emails are so clever.If I don't seem to answer as many as I used to it is because the system here is highly security protected and it is not just a matter of pressing forward and clicking on a name. It is a rather tedious process and that is why I encourage people to look at the blog (s). Hope your New Year is one which brings Peace for all and Health, wealth and Happiness for all our Family and Friends.

Another dancer

Eileen,Bob Cullins,Shirley and Rodger Kwok, the owner of the village

Our table
At our table,Dorothy,Marjorie and Hilda

Various of Sarah and Holly, before and at the concert (thanks to Karen)

Sarah ,it seems also did very well at her dancing concert and for those who don't look on Karen's blog, I have purloined (is that spelling correct?) one of her photos again. It is good to see the kids achieving.

We had our Xmas Dinner last Saturday and that was an achievement too because our chef Reiner, cooked beautifully and successfully for 180 people. It was a most enjoyable night.

Won at Mah Jong again this morning., not a big score but it gets a bit embarrassing at times. Wish I could teach some of the family, I would not be at all embarrassed about slaughtering them. Anyone want to take the challenge?