Mid Week Update

The weather has been 'cool' for this part of the world.  We haven't bothered with the bedroom ceiling fan the last two nights which is a real indicator of just how mild it has been.  We still manage 30° or so each day but that sometimes happens in between the clouds and the occasional showers.

We headed back to the Tavern for tea last night but opted for the Parmigiana instead of the Steak.  This was an error, we should have stuck with the steak.  But still for the cost we certainly weren't hungry when we left.

Recently there has been plenty of cricket on TV for me to watch with games from NZ available via the Pay TV.

The Community Association continues to keep me very busy.  I did an interview yesterday for the local paper and we have been busy getting flyers organised for an upcoming forum on the Helicopter Noise Issue.

Today I washed bottles ready for the bottling.  We had a couple of showers first thing this morning so that delayed my ride.  I washed bottles instead and then rode later.  It is around lunchtime now and the bottles are all dry and have been put away ready for Friday's bottling.

My PC continues to cause some minor hassles.  I had some printer dramas yesterday but after re installing the printer software all worked well again.

Today I 'acquired' a later version of Windows 7 and I will be embarking on a re formatting of the PC sometime in the next few weeks.  I just need to maintain my backups to ensure all is OK when a major catastrophe hits (if it ever does).

Trish is at Stitchers today and is due home shortly.  She is visiting the Home Brew shop to get some mixer so I can make more Sambucca and Bourbon.  I received a 1125ml bottle of alcohol on Saturday from a Computer Club mate so it is time to mix up some new supplies.

I may take in some of the Women's Cricket match this afternoon when Australia meet England in a T20 match live from Hobart.  The men's teams then play later on this evening.

Another Brew Is On

The pool is a wonderful asset at this time of the year.  It gets used daily and is a great spot for a quick 20 minute cool off as required.

Also the recent rain has been great as well.  We have had over 3.5" the last few days or so with most falling overnight.  I didn't ride on Friday as it was too wet.  Saturday is Computer Club day so I don't ride, but this morning (Sunday) I got almost 13k's in without a problem.  We have a very strong S/E wind blowing which means there may be a shower or two of rain around but it won't be too hot as the prevailing wind is coming in off the sea.

The helicopter issue remains simmering below the surface.  I was on the local TV News for a short resident's perspective of the problem with another member of the Community Association on Thursday evening.

At computer club a European guy came to me with a problem with his tablet.  He said he couldn't get into his Google account to get his emails.  It turned out he wasn't connected to the internet which is why he couldn't get his emails.  It does make you wonder doesn't it?

I put another brew on this morning so bottle washing and a bottling will follow later this week.

We had Friday drinks at our place.  Hopefully there wasn't a booze bus around about as several of our guests were severely affected when the left.  It is only a three minute drive for them but in retrospect we should have driven them.  I reckon Saturday would have been a quiet day for them!

I have cricket on the telly this afternoon and the men's tennis final from Melbourne is on tonight.  The day is organized then isn't it!

Another Good One ..

Dear Mum &  Dad,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm telling you that I've eloped with my new boyfriend.

I've found real love and he is so nice.  Especially with all his piercings, scars, tattoos, and his big motorcycle.

But it's not only that, I'm pregnant,  and Ahmed said that we will be very happy in his caravan in the  forest. He wants to have many more children with me and that's one of my  dreams too.

I've learned that marijuana does not hurt anyone and we'll be growing it for us and Ahmed's friends.

They're the ones providing us with all the cocaine and ecstasy we could ever want.

In the meantime we'll  pray to Allah for science to find a cure for AIDS, so Ahmed can get  better. He deserves it.

Don't worry about money.  Ahmed has  arranged for me to be in films that his friends Leroy and Jamal make in their basement.  Apparently I can earn £200 per scene. I get a £200 bonus if  there are more than three men in the scene and an extra £100 for the  deer.

Don't worry Mum.  Now I'm 15 I know how to take care of myself.

Someday we'll visit you and Dad so that you can meet your  grandchildren.

Your loving daughter,

Sandra

P.S. Dad, it's not true.  I'm watching TV at the neighbours.

I just wanted to show you that there really are worse things in life than England losing the Ashes!


Hope you enjoyed the joke too, now read our latest news in the post below.

Be It Ever So Humble ......

We flew back into Maroochydore around 5pm on Tuesday.  The plane had heaps of spare seats so Trish and I had a row to ourselves, allowing us to spread out and be comfortable.

By 7pm we had unpacked, I had sorted much of my stuff (update downloaded movies, unpack, set up the Waeco etc) and we headed to the local Bellvista Tavern for Tea.  I had been given a $25 Bellvista Tavern voucher for helping someone on their laptop so we put the voucher to good use. Trish wasn't in any mood to prepare any sort of meal.

We both had steak with chips and salad and really enjoyed it.  I don't order steak at pubs but made an exception this time.  Then it was a couple of beers, a glass of champers and we headed back to our home.  It was tropically hot and steamy.  And it was great to be back in our own bed again.

Needless to say we had a quick swim at around 11pm before hopping in to bed.

On Wednesday we awoke to our first morning back at home and another hot and steamy day.  Trish had Stitchers so she was on her way early.  I jumped on the bike for a shortened ride and the day was off to a usual start.  I decided I would ride around to Bunnings only 2k's away to get some 'trigger gun' hose nozzles and I needed fuel for the mower.  Up here anything plastic just doesn't last in the hot sun so to get a couple of years out of a plastic trigger hose nozzle isn't too bad.

As I was riding I miscalculated the driveway into Bunnings where there was a lip of a couple of inches between the gutter and the drive.  I usually cross these on an angle and ride up the lip that way.  There is always the chance the tyre won't grip and then you go over.

In this case the latter occurred and I have finished up with several nasty grazes.  I knew it was a possibility that I would fall so I was prepared to some extent.

Sorry about the photo!

With temps in the mid 30's and  high humidity, the pool at around 30 degrees was a great spot Wednesday afternoon.  The Waeco is fully in operating order so a couple of icy cold home brews ensured a great afternoon.

It has been very dry up here.  Thunderstorms were predicted for overnight Wednesday but these were expected to be hit and miss.  Caloundra was one of the few places to get a decent drop of rain, there was almost 60 mls in the rain gauge this morning.  Already much of the front lawn has turned green again.  We need a lot more before our lawn gets back to looking its best.

The rain and me needing to get a blood test done meant I won't be riding today.

I am pleased to say we have been home a couple of days now and my PC is working fine!  And I can also add that to have access to my home brew is wonderful.

Helicopters were comparably quiet yesterday.  It seems the Sunshine Coast Airport has been inundated with complaints regarding noisy incessant helicopter flights from all over Caloundra, not just from us, according to a local news broadcast yesterday afternoon. 

Now it is time to complete doctor appointments and get down the wonderful hum drum of being at home!

Our Bags Are Packed, We're Ready To Go ......

It is Tuesday morning and we are in the midst of getting ready to head to the airport and return to the Sunshine Coast.  Our plane is due to leave mid afternoon and we get back to Maroochydore around 5pm.

Most likely it will be later than that as being one of the final trips of the day, any previous delays will add up and further delay our departure.

Everyone recovered from Kate's Party.  Sunday was very quiet while Monday saw us enjoy another quietish day.  Many of the people we know are away so we couldn't catch up with them while here this trip.  However I did catch up with Gordon and Anne for a chat and a couple of beers Monday afternoon.

In summing up our time here the massive heat wave where we endured well over 40 degrees for 4 consecutive days had a huge impact on us.  It meant we were locked into staying around the house, it was just too hot for Trish to head to the tennis or for us to do anything during the day.

Even our night time trips were to places near by where we were ensured there would be some form of cooling.  It was fun helping Graeme and Pat set up their new media player and I received a great text message from them saying how much they enjoyed the freedom of being in charge of what TV they were going to watch.

Another major concern has been an issue with helicopters back near our home.  As President of the Community Association the whole affair has been stressful, a feeling I do not enjoy.  I feel I should be receiving some remuneration from it the way the pressure has been.  This is a pressure I do not need at my age.

Despite being in Melbourne I was repeatedly on my phone to people back home or adding entries to the Association's website.

With our plane leaving later today there is plenty of time to ensure we have everything.  From time to time we remember something and pack it into one of our bags.  Kate and Arj have a funeral to attend which makes today a little messy as far as us getting to the airport is concerned.  But we will get there OK.

My next post will be from back at the Sunshine Coast where the weather bureau promises us there will be a 'heat wave', but nothing like the 40+ degree days we have had while here in Melbourne.