tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110616757854981202011-11-20T08:58:58.922+11:00BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.comBlogger1571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-3794006210917756922011-03-13T22:27:00.004+11:002011-03-13T22:37:12.768+11:00

We were told on Friday that it's about time for us to go home. For M to go to our local hospital to continue general rehab, for me to resume life in our home with our cat and the garden... and for all of us, to get on with the next stage of adjusting to a very changed life.Mad packing and swinging emotions as we get ready to leave, because what we have here is so known now... tonight, as we sat

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-30751367095741454932010-12-24T21:10:00.004+11:002010-12-24T21:32:12.366+11:00

Hi there neglected bloggie, how are you under all that dust???We're still here. We 'celebrated' eleven months to the day since M's accident on Tuesday. Eleven months! How wonderful, WONDERFUL, it is not to know the future. I can't tell you how I've managed it, and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to know, at the beginning, that this could be the reality.Times have been very shaky. My M has

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-11847674746415861572010-09-14T01:06:00.005+10:002010-09-14T01:50:27.356+10:00

Howdy. It's all a bit of a f**'n shambles, as my friend Wilf the old fart across the hospital hallway used to say.. The lovely old 1940's flat had major rising damp (carefully hidden behind furniture, which I moved; I was MOST unimpressed) so I left a week after I moved in. Dreadful waste of energy and hope.. I retreated to the dear old Lodge, and tried their patience with the large amount of

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-24701393527261104832010-06-17T17:33:00.003+10:002010-06-17T17:36:54.532+10:00

My husband is still in Intensive Care, fighting many fights to regain the ability to breathe independently. He will be permanently paralysed but the extent of this is not known. He'll need months of rehabilitation before we can come home.I am hovering in my new life; I've been house-sitting for eleven weeks and am now about to move into the 1940's solid brick flat equivalent of a serviced

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-10443839491736670972010-01-29T20:05:00.003+11:002010-01-29T20:11:30.620+11:00

One week ago my dear husband suffered a catastrophic injury in a car accident. He was not at all at fault; a fact which some people find helpful.We have had to move to another city to a specialist medical centre for help. Since arriving he's had successful surgery, but unfortunately developed life-threatening complications. This entire week has been a vigil of sorts.This blog suspended until

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-37037582539961048202010-01-15T01:24:00.007+11:002010-01-15T01:45:20.490+11:00

We've just returned from our holiday, in about four hundred safe little pieces. Three warm-blooded pieces and many, many bags, boxes, piles, hangers and bits. Including the fabulous, unleavable-behind many-coloured chandelier which will, I hope, be the star of the first photo I manage to post to this site.I took many photos of my sewing projects of the past.. visits to the coast house began

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-59476944029593088282010-01-02T23:37:00.004+11:002010-01-02T23:49:26.322+11:00

We've run away to the coast for a couple of weeks. We've had some deliciously cool rain, and some horrible steamy humidity afterwards. Why both I ask sweatily??I've packed numerous projects, knitting and sewing, and hope to do some FINISHING. Now, pick yourselves up off the floor and behave. It has to happen sometimes you know. I recall, a couple of years ago, I was determined to finish some

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-10536657495501759382009-12-26T23:01:00.005+11:002009-12-26T23:20:53.916+11:00

Hello! And Happy Thing Celebration to you all. I hope your festive event has been more fun than stress; more bling than blah; and certainly more food than you ever thought you needed! My day with friends and family yesterday set what I believe to be a purrsonal calorie high. Mind you, temptation was thrown before me in lavish quantities - just the dessert portion of the meal went like this:1.

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-4702423031723767812009-11-28T14:27:00.004+11:002009-11-28T14:31:24.598+11:00

Nobody nose wot my nose nose.I have been quietly gathering photos, thinking of where old projects might be, and very slowly working on current projects (mostly the shawl for my daughter). However we had a sudden, early hot spell, and then another, which knocked me over flat and made knitting suddenly seem very last season.I shall leave TnS on pause until the weather and my energy level improves.

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-83638599330816173592009-10-15T20:11:00.003+11:002009-10-15T20:16:31.130+11:00

We've just returned from our travels. TnS collected anecdotes, experiences and some photos of textile projects now belonging to dear ones interstate. Also a commission and a very beautiful project to finish for my dorter in Perth.There were adventures, sightings, meals, a fairly major set-back, and much time spent with very good people. Watch this space for details soon.In the meantime, I am

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-23057051974195422672009-09-25T12:49:00.003+10:002009-09-25T12:52:54.327+10:00

T n S is going on the road for three weeks. To visit fambly in SA, and to tour some of the area north of Perth and walk some wildflower trails.On my return I will begin the history of a textile wrangler and how I trod the rocky road to quilting in straight lines.Meantime these divine spring days are brought to you by coral-coloured Californian poppies, swathes of forget-me-nots, and a triumphant

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-31144527278393103532009-09-15T20:24:00.004+10:002009-09-15T20:33:38.076+10:00

Hi, thanks to all of you who put a vote in. I can see my way a bit more clearly now. What I'm planning is a retrospective of my textile adventures (and those of you who have been recipients, I'm gonna demand photo ops very soon!). I'll put in some blurb about how and why I made things the way I did, and give you some insight into what I'm working on. It won't change the blog to an entirely

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-74491177757723095492009-08-17T23:30:00.002+10:002009-08-17T23:32:51.027+10:00

.. mostly that this blog is so internal and, lately, un-newsy, uninformative, uninformed , and kinda .. floating. Purrhaps I should close it down? Call it an interesting experiment in writing about travels and leave it at that?Lack of inspiration; lack of wellness; no Maccy... What do you think?

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-15597731163821531372009-08-15T14:12:00.002+10:002009-08-15T14:15:27.308+10:00

.. this episode brought to you by a return to the horizontal. Our heroine is struck down, AGAIN, by a lurgy. She takes to paracetamol, books, comfort food and cursing. Another week down the gurgler.This is the price you pay for breathing. In public, in private, anywhere. It's a damn germ-jungle out there.Today brought to you by the memory of the spicy Prada scent I love so much, slippery

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-58836995254793073302009-08-04T00:13:00.004+10:002009-08-04T00:19:47.023+10:00

I got better.I got some energy.I spent last week dashing about using it and doing great things with friends and the odd bit of business just to keep the desk tidy.One of my favourite things was going to Clark Rubber with the Good Wimmin. I was researching outdoor mats (the sort for catching the crud off your shoes before you go inside onto the purrfectly clean and gorgeous yellow tiles...). The

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-73471433269631672392009-07-14T19:49:00.003+10:002009-07-14T19:59:45.560+10:00

Possible diagnosis of endless respiratory woes for about 6 weeks: chlamydial pneumonia. An 'atypical pneumonia'. I'll say. I have no idea what this really is; the only important thing is that IF it was that, I now have antibodies and so can't get it again. This applies to another few weirdo atypicals that were on the list of suspects. Cor.Can't be proved definitively cos the timing of blood

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-27381000231465449012009-07-11T16:12:00.002+10:002009-07-11T16:16:12.410+10:00

... it's been a difficult time lately.Just dropping in to add a new item to my 'Have to read' list and see if anyone's been leaving comments. No. But that's ok, not much to comment on.Most days brought to you by the hope that someone else can enjoy Gucci, Gucci Flora, or the lovely Jo Malone Dark Amber and Ginger Lily. And the fun I had making an almost-Sacher Torte for book group. I piked on

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-26320585386796658372009-06-23T17:38:00.003+10:002009-06-23T17:40:10.347+10:00

I am too blue to write. This blog is internal enough without the added blue tint.I am surroundedby wordsthey testand tease me;nets and strings of allusionsline upgap-toothedto chewon my thoughts.

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-30072295382433097432009-06-17T23:50:00.004+10:002009-06-17T23:54:32.118+10:00

A nice surprise today when things are a bit blue... we went out to lunch so I could 'take the air', and we met two interesting and very charming people who came to sit at the table next to us.Two young wimmin writers, both with a deep interest in their subjects, and an equally deep satisfaction at describing them to us and getting into a fascinating chat. A very interesting example of the

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-38336270028987903502009-06-06T17:07:00.007+10:002009-06-06T22:39:57.313+10:00

Well, there's art therapy and music therapy and a zillion types of physical therapy.  I also specialise in deck therapy [sit on the deck with a cuppa tea til you feel better].  Last night, after a long (but not arduous) day, I suddenly got the urge for some cooking.  I bought a ton of organic fruit and veg, and good meat from the butcher, on Wednesday.  Didn't want to end up throwing half of it

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-79328695392892182272009-06-03T12:39:00.005+10:002009-06-03T13:21:23.140+10:00

I upped stumps and ran off to Adelaide last week, for a family funeral. Goodbye Pip, you were a one-off, an amazing woman and someone I found comfort with at a very dire time. I'm sorry your end was so awful, and I'm glad you are now truly at peace. It's impossible to write about death without using cliches I think. That may well be because the cliches are in fact useful and exact and say

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-61286412790257626562009-05-27T12:53:00.003+10:002009-05-27T13:00:59.805+10:00

After my last post I thought I'd be flying away with the sewing machine, happily producing masses of product.Nup.Stuff happens. You know it does. But why does it happen so much? I'm mystified. Where does the time go and all that... what with M continuing on the sick list, a sudden trip away to attend a funeral (later this week), a lot of severe insomnia, going for walks, keeping the home

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-73262265379970443252009-05-22T18:26:00.005+10:002009-05-22T18:37:17.735+10:00

Go and buy (lots of) fabric. Pore over it, pat it, fiddle with it, hold it up against self, walls, cats, willing friends, unwilling husbands, the kid walking past on his way home from school.Eventually, having repeated the above many, many times so as to accumulate a large and unwieldy stash of pristine fabrics.. buy the book. More books. Magazines, flyers, exhibition booklets, online freebies

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-54163398957385904362009-05-15T19:36:00.004+10:002009-05-15T19:57:40.665+10:00

Two weeks ago I started a new patchwork class - how to make a Ramallah quilt. Using saturated plain colours, on a black or other dark background. Very interesting, using only a basic log cabin, but swapping colours within the patch, and then cutting the whole thing (a 30cm patch) into four pieces, so that you get four times the possibilities for making different patterns and colour combinations

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-1492156418848877272009-05-05T21:52:00.003+10:002009-05-05T22:02:06.031+10:00

I've probably used this title before. Tis the season of viral discontent, just before violets burst forth (or fifth) into a wasted land... well, actually that's a harsh word for my backyard, which is looking quite spiffy these days. I however have resumed the famous Panda-eyes stance. Bugger it!It's not the oinky flu, just a cold. But it hit fast and hard on Friday night, and I've had no

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-71778733590214547422009-04-27T23:11:00.004+10:002009-04-27T23:21:31.070+10:00

I went away for 10 days.I did this:1. Wrangled four wonderful friends and one wonderful husband. Not at the same time.2. Cooked an amazing cake, an amazing risotto, and some amazing marmalade. Yes, I DO have a strong ego about cooking, don't I?3. Slept, and slept, and slept. Lots.4. Didn't get a horrible chest infection in spite of leaving with a toxic sore throat *boggles*.5. Did excellent

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-56005179598351590812009-04-14T20:21:00.004+10:002009-04-14T20:37:23.645+10:00

We've had "overflow guests" - friends who usually stay with a mate came to us, cos the mate's new bathroom is looking very spiffy but has no actual plumbing. Tricky to manage dry showers at the best of times.. our guests spent truly amazing amounts of time (their stamina!!) at the Folk Festival, and in between times ate satisfyingly large quantities of the food I made in a big splurge of cooking

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-60134931576829782582009-04-02T19:25:00.004+11:002009-04-15T16:19:41.278+10:00

Still feeling very subdued... there's a biiiig Maccy-shaped hole in the house. Small reminders of his huge purrsonality follow one after the other. Sprinkling petals on his grave helps, a little.Still receiving messages from around the world, literally, such kind words. Stunned shock from friends who can't see email regularly.We know he was a very special kind of angel. We like knowing he's

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-47775869451467340052009-03-30T21:49:00.002+11:002009-03-30T21:58:28.313+11:00

We miss Maccy.We can hear him squikking at the door, wanting more food, demanding access to the bed. I heard him quite distinctly earlier this evening, saying 'you call that DINNER??'. I ate my dinner on a tray on my lap, unmonstered by a large purring black bucket attempting to nick all the best bits for hisself.All my little prickly-paw spots have healed up.We scattered some rose petals on

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-44751925423523463542009-03-27T23:32:00.003+11:002009-03-27T23:42:55.449+11:00

Maccy developed breathing problems during Thursday, and an x-ray confirmed he had significant amounts of fluid in his lungs. At 6.30pm we (M, dorter and me) gathered at the vet's and said our farewells. Maccy was very very tired. He allowed me to hold him, oh so gently. He laid his head on his paws, on my arm, and after we kissed and cuddled him, and surrounded him with warm arms, he sighed

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-59947576880982721522009-03-26T00:01:00.004+11:002009-03-26T00:28:03.040+11:00

Maccy has lymphoma. This is a very treatable cancer in cats. We have the option, if he's well enough from the peritonitis, to try a dose of chemo on Friday and see if it shrinks the cancer and thereby helps him feel better. The vets are quite keen to give it a go, they are confident that it's a good move. But when we visited our boy today, he was a bit brighter but tired very quickly and just

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-90147143835772617612009-03-24T22:11:00.003+11:002009-03-24T22:17:35.601+11:00

Darling Maccy had an ultrasound today. The vet found what are almost certainly cancer cells, and peritonitis. The samples have been rushed off to a lab to confirm the diagnosis, but we're not hopeful of it being something benign. When the vet rang us, her voice said it all; she was sombre, quiet and so regretful.We went to visit our boy, and he was purry, but eyes dilated and very floppity.

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-68028711790861069922009-03-23T18:26:00.003+11:002009-03-23T23:31:42.159+11:00

..our poor boy Maccy (seen here in his famous old black cardie pose) is most unwell. He picked up quickly from being irradiated with an iodine isotope (to kill the cancer causing his hyperthyroidism). He was frisky, hungry and oh so purry. Suddenly last Thursday he started going quiet, going off his food, being very sooky. We knew he was unwell but on the advice of St Libby, his personal

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-71293468137926587182009-03-19T23:43:00.005+11:002009-03-20T21:44:14.413+11:00

Next week the combined forces of about 40 throats and some instruments are presenting Bach's St John Passion at two local churches.  I've been croaking my way through rehearsals for a few weeks now, gradually remembering how it goes (I've sung it before, about 15 years ago).  It's amazing how much CAN be remembered after such a long time - Bach's figured writing helps in that many themes are

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-35079561398748516942009-03-14T00:33:00.003+11:002009-03-14T00:48:48.544+11:00

I am not a happy camper.This makes it harder to write, unless you care for more comparative lists of my attempts to first vent and then attempt counting blessings.This week? - I'm only putting blessings in, cos I'm sick of feeling whingy.So...There's been a LOT of culture - saw 'The Reader' on Saturday, a most compelling and somewhat upsetting film. Saw Teddy Tahu Rhodes and David Hobson

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-29970400598431913092009-03-05T23:20:00.004+11:002009-03-05T23:33:04.339+11:00

Is Over.It wasn't very good as weeks go. Here are some comparisons:- the virus sucks. Like one of those horrid alien things which stick over your face and then hatch thru your guts. IckkkK.- I missed gym once, swimming once, lunch twice, and was generally of great disorder.- I wasn't very good at being A Prop And A Stay for my M's week of deth, either.- two of the iceberg roses are definitely

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-13102394620389484312009-03-01T13:07:00.002+11:002009-03-01T13:08:59.725+11:00

.. use another. We're off to have a look at the new Portrait Gallery. Feasting for the eyes seeing as the other sort is still tasteless. Nuthin. Nada. Not a single zippo of a shred of flavour. I could be eating (very healthy, well-prepared) cardboard.So, today brought to you by goddess-only-knows what, cos *I* can't smell it!

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-55014953206636030592009-02-26T21:54:00.000+11:002009-02-26T21:55:14.956+11:00

Created by Train Horns

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-5724532400081511552009-02-24T13:10:00.001+11:002009-02-24T13:11:58.745+11:00

.. I has a virus. An achey-bone, older than Methuselah virus. Ow.Yeah, and total white-out in the sense-of-smell department. Hmf.

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-81085338286870523452009-02-21T09:25:00.001+11:002009-02-21T09:26:17.512+11:00

... that's 'Dark Amber and Ginger Lily'. Sounds even fabulouser!

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-6379297884170532392009-02-20T21:31:00.003+11:002009-02-20T22:14:17.823+11:00

.. in a little town called... hang on, that was in December. And now it's, oh gosh, it's practically the end of February and here I am still mulling over the difficulties of making a commitment to even one New Year's rez. Even half a one... dammit, maybe like Cath (hi) I'll just declare that the new year hasn't started yet, not til I'm ready. She only delayed hers by one month; hell, watch me

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-43169215010222546192009-02-09T16:32:00.003+11:002009-02-09T16:40:24.932+11:00

Nine days at the coast, except for one day it was a mere 28 degrees. Watching the rest of east/south Australia, I dare not mention the evening humidity which made my hair run with sweat, dare I. No.The Good Wimmin joined me on Thursday for 4 days of shared food, bubbles, venturing, swimming, reading, chat and deep appreciation of the surroundings. Major shopping took place at Mogo, where

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-13889126144757928862009-01-30T21:01:00.004+11:002009-01-30T21:14:38.244+11:00

Gee we've had a long run of hot weather. And yeah, I know it's been 10 degrees hotter in other places, like Adelaide and Melbum... doesn't make it any easier here tho. We have lovely dusty smoke haze over the city from the Budawangs fires (south coast); nasty warm winds and a lot of gum tree branch-drop. Not to mention foot-expansion, face-melting, clothes-too-damn-hotting, and general yerk.

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-79367239483025204462009-01-24T22:33:00.003+11:002009-01-24T22:52:11.516+11:00

It's still hot. Now it's humid as well. We've had cracking great storms the last two nights, dumping great rain on the gardens, washing the birdsh off the car, and getting quite carried away making a huge hole in a new garden bed. Triffic. No watering by hand or bucket for several days. But sheesh, the humidity. The ultimate waah happened when I visited a friend (hi there Plummet-mummy!)

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-55864454553255054032009-01-22T22:30:00.003+11:002009-01-22T22:34:17.135+11:00

I am Officially Amazed. For once my 'make it rain' antics made it rain! We were sitting in a Szechuan restaurant (yeah, chillie on a hot muggy night, weird I know) and suddenly a huge flash of lightning, then a crack of thunder and it was pouring. Then there was another loud bang, and we saw a substantial bit of ceiling descending on two hapless customers. Oooooops.... the sudden flush of

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-26691860406070671422009-01-22T16:02:00.004+11:002009-01-22T16:06:00.814+11:00

Hot, hot wind, blistering sun, fading garden, failing ppls, house getting lovely n warm if you like sweating like a bloody sweater all the time. I've had wet hair for days.We used the portable aircon thingy in the lounge for a few nights, blowy but cool. Last night we even lugged it into the bedroom to cool it down before bedtime.Now it's muggy, blowy and trying very hard to be a huge

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-59092622369217077942009-01-12T00:32:00.003+11:002009-01-12T00:39:23.466+11:00

I decided to look them up, so I wouldn't spend the whole night wondering if I know less than I thought. If you want to check, go to 'Weeds Australia- Noxious Weeds List'.I am delighted to report that apart from the plants I listed, I have also eradicated or refused to accept these plants for my garden:- periwinkle- radiata pine/cypress pine- St John's wort- broad-leaf and Chinese privet-

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-11555753616025214032009-01-11T23:49:00.009+11:002009-01-12T22:48:28.122+11:00

Bumpy. Undulating? Definitely not smooth, anyway.A friend had a bad fall and broke his hip; instant mayhem for the family. I hope he'll heal fast, completely and with added wisdom. Nasty events always have this potential!My darling M has been very down today, after spending yesterday being wonderfully energetic and keeping ME going. He woke in the night saying he was feeling his age. Poor

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-84837187472768201072009-01-08T12:51:00.003+11:002009-01-08T12:56:26.310+11:00

.. is feeling better!! Add thyroid meds, and he's himself within half a day. Amazing. All he's done since we started meds is sleep, and be happy. Every now and then we see a black shadow stomping up to the kitchen for fud supplies; then he returns via a nice drink from the bucket in the shower to his preferred sleeping place - the carpet on my study floor. He lies against the door, paws all

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-32611560724660229122009-01-05T17:56:00.003+11:002009-01-05T18:10:09.201+11:00

Saint LIbby the vet says all his symptoms (agitation, extensive vocalising, weight loss, poor grooming) can be attributed to hyperthyroidism. We were investigating this in early December, but he was unwell in other ways so the treatment had to be delayed. Now he has nice thyroid tablets to take for a few weeks. Then we'll re-check his blood test to make sure other things are working properly,

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-21905116030821066052009-01-03T22:55:00.003+11:002009-01-03T23:02:18.888+11:00

So... 2009.We returned from our coast holiday this evening. Somehow getting home was not entirely joyous, even tho we had to push the car all the way cos it was so full of xmas purrchases and gifts! Our dear Maccy has been incompletely cared-for, and has lost weight and condition. He's been found outside a lot, so I suspect he's suffering food allergies again. Poor kitty. Little Miss Wendy

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-63545571175535828952008-12-10T19:29:00.004+11:002008-12-10T19:38:38.808+11:00

Christmas.The deeper meaning escapes me. For the faithful or the dedicated consumer, maybe there's a point. All I can see is work, bother, money flowing away on strange pointless things that for 364 days are useless. Stress. Distress. Sticky tape curling back on itself, far too much silly food and drink, and a series of uncomfortable social happenings which would be much more fun if spread

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-58388772106515240982008-11-29T22:58:00.003+11:002008-12-01T21:37:57.974+11:00

We've both been terribly tired lately. Maybe a touch of a virus? Whom nose. But M developed a koff, which turned into pneumonia and he has been hospital overnight, having intravenous antibiotic to quell the bacteria of deth. He's home now, still koffing but feeling better. I, otoh, am still buggered. It seems to be terminal.This last week has been very exciting as the building of our new

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-86016904097108538332008-11-23T23:04:00.004+11:002008-11-23T23:10:49.444+11:00

Sorted many, many things off the top of my work table, so I could sort many, many more things. Felt a great sense of orderliness and sortitude.Cleaned wax, crud, old spiders and soot off the hearth surrounds, dropped the little glass cat and broke its tail, and made it all look tidy around the fireplace.Had to wash many, many things sitting underneath the 'striking' vases on the kitchen

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-13209586679395310832008-11-22T21:14:00.004+11:002008-11-22T21:19:08.540+11:00

Three cupcakes, two good wimmin and a sunny afternoon.Maccy purring all over my lap.Rain!Finding the right pair of shoes for the right person today (no, not me!).Spending time with me ma.Lying back on the heat pad, feet up, talking to my darling dorter while my darling husband gets fish'n'chips for dinner.Having my feet massaged while I lay cuddled under a doona and was allowed to cry for a

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-10189887775052867132008-11-20T23:36:00.004+11:002008-11-20T23:42:32.152+11:00

Why do mornings ALWAYS suck?How come I'm a mum but I can't fix everything, not even with a purple Mickey Mouse bandaid?Which purrfume can do the most magic? Try all of them, just in case, or asphyxiate in the attempt?When will the shit turn to rainbows?Where will the rainbows be and can I have a ticket?What does all this mean? - nah, scrap that, just have a coffee.Today brought to you by a

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-42772692958240208752008-11-18T16:29:00.005+11:002008-11-18T16:47:16.621+11:00

I have been informed that my blog is not being updated frequently enough. Oops! I've been letting mere life get in the way... I'm very distracted by worries over my darling dorter's health, but frequent phone calls are keeping my maternal urges more or less under control. She's very patient with me! I keep thinking that as I'm the mother, I should be doing the supportive nurturing, but

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-59315989116955406942008-11-10T14:57:00.004+11:002008-11-16T15:22:35.662+11:00

I spent a lot of time with friends and relatives. All of them so delighted to meet my darling dorter, who has never been to Adelaide before. One aunt who was even slightly teary! And darling dorter had a good time meeting people, playing with the kids, having excellent champagnes and wines and of course lovely tucker... on Saturday was a picnic for the extended family, to celebrate a visit

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-55946759307017170112008-11-08T14:53:00.003+11:002008-11-08T14:57:30.749+11:00

I'm reading weekend magazines and listening to the iPod and looking at a flat cat snoring on me feet. There are a million things I "could" do, but .. nup. My dad is ok after a minor op yesterday, it rained propurrly last night so I don't have to water, and later on there will be roast veggies. Counting blessings is important!Soon I will be rested enough to write 'Adelaide: The Story'.

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-24307452226896206172008-11-07T13:21:00.003+11:002008-11-07T13:29:01.331+11:00

I spent a very busy week with rellos and friends. I walked on the beach, ate and drank far too much, and patted a lot of excellent cats. The visit to the uber-doc was successful in that he pronounced my sinuses 'as good as they've ever been', and has suggested a change in meds which will be easier, in the long term, for me to manage. This change also means I won't be afflicted by the long-term

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-79384440845475438032008-10-28T21:53:00.003+11:002008-10-28T22:18:37.801+11:00

Hello blog,Somehow since last week and the depths of abstract anxiety-coping mechanisms, I have found the middle ... sort of. I blame Cath, she made me get up on Saturday and go to Bungendore for a cooking class with native limes. It's hard to be deep when you're whisking lime sabayon and making your first successful shortcrust pastry for 12 years. I won, I won the whisking! Everyone else had

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-39338974541430003772008-10-24T23:57:00.003+11:002008-10-25T00:17:12.897+11:00

So, what does the intrepid blogger do when she isn't packing, unpacking, finding herself or losing herself?Not much ektually... bumped into friends at Tilleys ... topped up the scripts (sigh) at the doc ... pulled up the first zillion of a trillion forget-me-nots .... cooked twice! ... spent time with friends and family trying to re-engage in what I longed for so much - my real life.This is

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-12025765367127821942008-10-19T14:03:00.002+11:002008-10-19T14:06:29.284+11:00

M pointed out to me that one thing we did not do, Over There, was brunch. There were many lunches masquerading as brunch, but as an entity in itself, brunch did not happen.To redress this awful lack in our lives, I am ignoring the fresh eggs, english spinach, and sourdough bread - not to mention the international range of coffee I have to hand, thanks to assiduous posting - and taking ourselves

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-40576931250052835942008-10-18T12:30:00.005+11:002008-10-18T12:53:34.853+11:00

Hmm...I am Officially Not Well. Again.Sighhhhhhhh...My respiratory system was, as you regular readers well know, a troublesome travelling companion. Oh well, I thoughts to myself, once I get home things will settle down.I was wrong. You don't need the details. Roids rool, n all that... re-entry is being prolonged by continuing shit health. I don't know if that is a Medicare item, but it

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-53505046277511265042008-10-11T16:02:00.005+11:002008-10-11T16:21:33.584+11:00

.. is all about the strangeness of the familiar.. gosh, the fridge hasn't moved!! Oh, wow, peanut paste tastes the same! Hey, great, my black shoes!And things to rejoice in meeting again, like the overgrown, wonderful wild fairy meadow spring garden, and decent cups of tea, and chutney, and supermarkets where I understand every item..And funny things, like I can't find where I packed away my

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-50276045062584998712008-10-06T23:50:00.004+11:002008-10-06T23:55:40.706+11:00

Yeah I know I said I was going away.. but I thought I oughta at least confirm that we be home. Walking around going 'Wow. Who belongs to all this stuff???' and 'Where is a cat when I need it?'See? Even when I go to the trouble of coming home, I can't get no satisfaction from a cat.Altho... eventually Maccy gave me a 'howdy-whoever-you-are' purry drool onto my new coat, and Little Miss-chief

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-87262516849468438982008-10-04T23:15:00.001+10:002008-10-04T23:17:04.302+10:00

Getting here was ok. Aiports didn’t throw any wobblies at us, unlike leaving Helsinki where I had to watch the nice security lady guard throw my L’Occitane face wash that cost at least half a big bomb, into the bin cos of the regulation that says ‘Nothing liquid in a container bigger than 100ml’. The container said 150ml, but it was half empty. Visibly half empty. Duzzenmadder, roolz is

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-71179429328452526012008-10-02T22:49:00.004+10:002008-10-02T23:17:46.651+10:00

I have now found a Net cafe which doesn't charge by the wounded bull .. but still can't spend as much time as I'd like, cos we only gots one key to the hotel room and M needs to sleep soon.Seoul? Well... hard to say. I've never been in a huge Asian city as clean as this one, which is a good and very impressive thing, given that this city is home to about 10 million people, and purrhaps could be

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-59325795584789955002008-10-02T19:26:00.002+10:002008-10-02T19:28:33.942+10:00

The Net cost at this hotel is OUTRAGEOUS. I can only spend a few minutes; we are suffering jet lag, culture lag, energy lag and homesick lag...Not that anything is WRONG, actually, but it's bloody hard to find our way around, to make sense of things, to get anything done without a hassle. We leave Saturday afternoon, can't wait.seeyousesoonfromalandwhereIknowswotswot.

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-39203154139471797742008-09-28T18:32:00.003+10:002008-09-28T18:42:58.677+10:00

Writing very hastily, having just added to this blog a lot of stuff from as far back as Helsinki (and sorry for any doubling-up).. and putting in the notes I scribble when I don't have time for full entries, just so you can see what delights of detail await. Very soon now we'll put our luggage in the hotel's temporary holding room, so we can spend our last two hours here at the National

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-20873276452385100792008-09-28T18:30:00.001+10:002008-09-28T18:32:39.921+10:00

Wednesday, 24th September.Our last full day in Freiburg. We had a good party last night, much jollity and good food and I didn’t get too tired.. after sleeping half the day it’s not surprising! My family gave me some fabbo goodies - chocolate made in the very village where my sis-in-law grew up; a Winnie the Poo pencil (for reasons I don’t fully understand, they associate WTP very strongly with

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-892678387724637442008-09-28T18:28:00.000+10:002008-09-28T18:30:16.902+10:00

Freiburg, Monday, September 22nd.A major birthdate in the family - two of the matriarchs share this day. And they are indeed sharing it, at home in Canberra. Hi guys!!! ... ...and WHY did I miss it? Well because I was crook in Berlin and missed the post and then last night M was getting ready to go to Heidelberg for the day to day at the crack of morning and the night porter has no English

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-64527192189297911802008-09-28T18:27:00.001+10:002008-09-28T18:28:44.928+10:00

mHello bloggie,Yes I’ve been remiss the last few days. What with the extra resting, to help the asthma settle, and the wonderful happy hours we’ve spent with the family, there’s been no time for mere computers. But now we’ve established a pattern of sorts, and here’s what’s doin’...You’ve read about our arrival. A huge success. The second day we slept in, then went to spent the rest of the

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-33497573956063705352008-09-28T18:17:00.003+10:002008-09-28T18:26:57.170+10:00

[Here are some of my aide memoires; ready to have details filled in when I get the urge. At least you'll know I've not totally forgetten some fairly important bits!]Helsinki, last dayM was feeling quite off - he thought probably culture-shock, tiredness, fedupofcrookwifeness, and maybe a touch of the blues. We could see over the road there was a shopping centre of some kind, and a sign saying

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-24629443205819237802008-09-28T18:12:00.003+10:002008-09-28T18:17:22.907+10:00

I’ve been in bed all day, hedding of deth, sinusing and exhaustipating. M’s been out doing miracles - finding out about the public buses, going to the ... (I seem to have cut something from here, now, 3 weeks later, whom nose what it was, sorry!)..I see events are preceding you before you've even started...pardon me if I'm being a bit post-modern, we just got back from seeing Daniel Barenboim

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-40299677357572060802008-09-28T18:10:00.002+10:002008-09-28T18:12:50.814+10:00

Yeah, I know it's the anniversary of THAT September 11... but for me...A day off.Sleep; plunger coffee and decent muesli. More sleep. Air-conditioning!! Reading English papers (The Independent, The Guardian, and the (American) Herald Tribune). Lavish showering with all the unguents unpacked and to hand. More lots of Gucci.Sitting around while M sleeps, after he went out to find and then

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-75567673920031335972008-09-28T04:06:00.005+10:002008-09-28T04:29:11.592+10:00

The last two days have been a physical marvel - a palpable lifting of the weight from my shoulders and spirit.I think, since we crossed the border into Russia, I've been under a dark cloud. The reckoning for this I shall examine more closely when I have more time (having spent 2 hours sorting things to post this afternoon, and 2 more hours re-packing this evening, I'm not inclined to natter just

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-91056420035876506482008-09-26T01:41:00.003+10:002008-09-26T01:50:05.527+10:00

We're in Frankfurt, two hours by train from Freiburg. Very sad having to farewell our dear ones last night. ...Yesterday M and I did the biggest post you ever saw, 15kg!! Then went shopping for gifts for everyone (purrfume all round, heh); then to his ... his ... somewhat helplessly doomed look of marital understanding, I went to the fabric shop I'd noticed on Monday.You know how you post

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-84263658670994779172008-09-23T20:05:00.005+10:002008-09-23T20:22:08.597+10:00

Hellooooo.... I have a ton of stuff to upload but once again I am not using my own dear little lappie, so another period of patience from you all is required, sorry. We are in Freiburg, with our family, having a holiday from our holiday. I'm at their dining table as I write, having had a sleepover last night - a most satisfactory event involving pasta, choc-chip biccies, the new Pink Panther

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-47397302275844441102008-09-17T03:55:00.004+10:002008-09-17T04:02:54.633+10:00

Just very briefly - I've been having asthma troubles for a week or so. When I saw the doc yesterday I mentioned it, but in the concentration we all needed to get the sinus bit right in our English and German, I forgot to get her to listen to me lungs. Bad move. Last night I had another of those 'bolt of lightening' severe attacks; twice. As we were getting ready for the train this morning, I

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-54254779895535141142008-09-16T01:10:00.003+10:002008-09-16T01:16:52.805+10:00

Berlin, Monday Sept 15 (I think)My nose has dominion over the holiday, again. I beens to the doktor and I gots aunty-biotix. We travel to Freiburg tomorrow, to spend time with my Curly-Girls and their mother. There will be PROPER blog entries from there, pwomise. I tried to post a lolcat here for you to be going on with, but I no not how to html such things.Sorry... Here are two words to keep

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-80846307897971443582008-09-11T05:23:00.000+10:002008-09-13T05:24:27.145+10:00

Sleep; plunger coffee and decent muesli. More sleep. Air-conditioning!! Reading English papers (The Independent, The Guardian, and the (American) Herald Tribune). Lavish showering with all the unguents unpacked and to hand. More lots of Gucci.Sitting around while M sleeps, after he went out to find and then consult an English-speaking doctor nearby. He’s had his blood test and immediately

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-8577952050130793802008-09-10T05:22:00.000+10:002008-09-13T05:23:05.030+10:00

Ah, the joys of travel.... what are they again???Oh yes, *I* remember. Frantic packing, sorting, culling, stuffing, mangling, squishing, thumping and not a drop of booze in sight, the night before.Failure of wake-up call in spite of two requests. Fortunately M has an alarm which wakes him up... the night porter knocked on our door THIRTY MINUTES after the designated time, saying our phone wasn

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-9433073787353142042008-09-10T00:26:00.002+10:002008-09-10T01:01:16.004+10:00

I've been trying to work out some improvements to my blog, like how to put a 'fold' into each post; and how to add photos, and that. Not very successfully as you can see!I guess I could investigate the blogspot list of goodies and see if I understands it a bit betterer.. anyone who cares to write in with suggestions for brain-dead travelling blog-dags is most welcome.So, what we up to? M is

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-4598489856079705972008-09-08T05:20:00.000+10:002008-09-13T05:20:52.303+10:00

I’ve come to the WiFi cafe, only to find, as I often do, that WiFi doesn’t necessarily mean I can connect easily to the webs and read/write stuff I want to. Damn. This is very frustrating - I keep getting an error message suggesting that my network settings need to be changed, but danged if I can work out how. Sometimes it just spontaneously gets a grrip and lets me into the webs; sometime no

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-63174151417442091002008-09-07T04:49:00.004+10:002008-09-07T05:31:31.091+10:00

Howdy from Krakow.. it's Saturday night here, with celebrations of all kinds going on outside (in the main city Market Square) - live music, stalls selling exotic cosmetics and beer and other useful things. It's warm (28ishC) and humid - yes, sigh sigh, my personal weather dark star is working again; locals tell me it's NEVER humid here, and hardly EVER this warm at this time of year. And our

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-21024748848320768812008-09-05T05:18:00.000+10:002008-09-13T05:19:26.241+10:00

The alarm went off at 4:15am. I’d been up til after midnight, trying to finish packing but really just fiddling around ineffectively, because of a toxic combination of anxiety and fatigue. It *was* good to post off umpteen hundred dollar’s worth of stuff yesterday - two huge boxes (parents please note!) (about 14kg, believe it or not - but this included MAJOR items like M’s spare shoes, spare

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-83920214446698271932008-09-05T02:16:00.003+10:002008-09-05T02:20:14.929+10:00

Yes, I've posted my Tallinn/Riga posts AFTER some 'current comments'. Like before, it's too time-consuming to fiddle with dates to make it all purrfect.You can cope!This Vilnius hotel has free WiFi in the foyer, and I would have used it more, if we'd been here longer. There is a STORY about our travel from here to Krakow, tomorrow, which you will see asap. Meantime, there is more on Riga

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-64542074462697698952008-09-05T02:12:00.001+10:002008-09-05T02:15:45.783+10:00

Riga, Monday 1st September.Hey, it’s spring in Canberra which makes it autumn here, I expect the autumn weather in Riga is warmer than Canberra temperatures.. I hope I’m wrong though. It’s been a balmy 18 degrees today, sunny with a light (and, it must be said, slightly chilly) breeze. We’ve had a very romantic day.. what with the miracle of M wanting to go shopping, and the weather, and the

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-14253269950785049672008-09-05T01:45:00.002+10:002008-09-05T02:12:30.133+10:00

sWe’re sorry to leave our very comfy hotel in Tallinn.. sorry to leave Tallinn, and Estonia, where far too little has been seen and done. Whenever I say to someone “I must come back” they respond skeptically, travellers don’t come back, they always go somewhere new, apparently. Not this little birthday girl, I’ve been dreaming of a visit to Estonia for at least fifteen years, and twice I’ve not

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-6339606190901686992008-09-05T01:43:00.001+10:002008-09-05T01:45:44.912+10:00

Erg. We wake after about 6 hours sleep, both with head aching, bleary baggy eyes, and a firm desire to get back to sleep asap. We’re going to totter off to brekkie, have an actual meal, and then resume slumbers.In a tiny, tiny concession towards the possibility of maybe an inkle of a zephyr of birthday-ish nuance, I am wearing my red cat socks today. Thanks sis! They’ll get a serial outing -

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-18765647750140748732008-09-05T01:40:00.000+10:002008-09-05T01:42:51.075+10:00

Wednesday 27th August, putatively a birthday..... but it bears NO resemblance to any birthday I’ve ever had. I think my idea to postpone it until the festive mood strikes is a good one. M is out of hospital, laden with medical documents, advice and consolation. Unfortunately our bus to Tallinn IS the 4.45pm, so we spent the day at the dear old Hotel Sonata, resting and packing and preparing to

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-59806205667157578612008-09-04T16:56:00.002+10:002008-09-04T17:03:02.063+10:00

Phil the travel agent of miracles, has found us flights from here to Warsaw, then W to Krakow, taking only 2.5 hours of flight time. And the cost is only a little less than one extra night of hotel (ie on top of our pre-paid bookings, which would mean that a night in Warsaw would be an extra cost on top of the booked night in Riga, which we can't get out of paying for now; too close to arrival

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-81384661635087461042008-09-04T05:24:00.003+10:002008-09-04T05:36:10.737+10:00

.. in Tallinn??? Well, now we've had a brilliant, wonderful, magical and very very interesting time in Riga, you all HAVE to go. It's beautiful and lively and the streets are full of music - I've never been anywhere where there were so many people busking and dancing in the streets. Bach duets and saxophone jazz and the lady in the square who dances to folk music and the two young gels who

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-57393875302298406462008-08-29T10:30:00.000+10:002008-08-29T17:41:25.904+10:00

If you have a look at the bottom of this page, you'll see I've added a Slideshow function. But no, they're not MY sunsets. I haven't loaded my own photos onto Flickr yet, so patience, childies.. they will come.I have to get out and touristing, this is my only day in Tallinn. M says first stop is the market in the Town Hall Square, which has been "the centre of Tallinn life since the 11th

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-44409071481483525402008-08-28T20:05:00.001+10:002008-08-29T03:09:07.052+10:00

Below this post are all the St Petersburg posts, written when we were mere tourists, and then detailing M's hospital time and our exit to Estonia. Yes I know the date order is decomposed. I've got so much purrfume on it won't matter. If you scroll down you'll find a post saying "Tallinn; god sei dank", which is today. It's too hard to go through and change all the dates so the St P posts

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-30014094565686454672008-08-28T20:03:00.000+10:002008-08-29T04:16:55.897+10:00

Wednesday 27th August, putatively a birthday..... but it bears NO resemblance to any birthday I’ve ever had. I think my idea to postpone it until the festive mood strikes is a good one. M is out of hospital, laden with medical documents, advice and consolation. Unfortunately our bus to Tallinn IS the 4.45pm, so we spent the day at the dear old Hotel Sonata, resting and packing and preparing to

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-40002537242899037952008-08-28T20:00:00.000+10:002008-08-29T03:02:54.059+10:00

Thoughts... as I walk to the Autobank to fund lunch and interwebs...Russian young women are GORGEOUS - slim, beautiful skin, graceful. They walk along Nevsky owning the city.. one prevaling fashion is a fitted dress with a fullish skirt, worn quite short over long, long tanned legs and high, high heels. Many of them are wearing high-heeled Mary Janes, which is a demure look on the feet making a

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-25759680135681691332008-08-28T19:55:00.000+10:002008-08-29T02:58:24.122+10:00

[Finally I've found a WiFi cafe near the hotel]... just reading good wishes from many people, who have taken the time to send me/us lovely messages of good health and hugs and gin and humour, and one hilarious story of a huge cat fart - I’m rolling around the bed giggling at that one, thanks Toni!M has had a rocky few days - yesterday he was very bored and irritated (as was I, a long story behind

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011061675785498120.post-91574338589559536522008-08-28T19:50:00.000+10:002008-08-29T02:54:06.664+10:00

It was harder, today, to leave M at the clinic and come ‘home’ alone... I wandered through some different parts of the streets, half-looking for a small ‘milk bar’; half-hoping for a restaurant to entice me in; half-ready to cry. It’s all very well being practical and patient, but the implicit drama of ‘M is in hospital in Russia, with fluctuating heartbeat, blood pressure and liver function’ is

BJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922264732788568346noreply@blogger.com0