Lovely to hear from you! Hope your draught is still foaming nice and cold, @Foaming Draught, I think we will need it this summer.
Thankyou @WormInTheGrass. It's over 30 up here this morning. As for a draught, I'm Advently abstinating. Unless, following St Paul's wise counsel, someone offers me one in the shambles. Or the North Queensland Cowboys Leagues Club 😉
Chastmastr posted on *another social medium*'s Ship page, and loadsa familiar folk piled in, so I thought "wonder if ye olde barque is still afloat"? And wotcha know, my log-in works, and among recent posters here is my own dear wife. So hi folkses.
Wonderful to hear from you, Foaming Draught. I pray you and Clarence are keeping well.
Your prayer availeth much, thankyou @Climacus, we are both well, you must be who St James styles a righteous man 😊
Now come on up for a tropical hol 🏝️🐊, we’re 1,500km or so north of where you last stayed with us.
I was going to buy myself a big thirsty bath towel from the poshest shop in town for Christmas. This was a reaction to buying some measly, thin towels from one of those shops that has constant sales. I felt ripped off because in the past that brand of towel has always been OK, now it's both smaller and thinner.
BUT
I went to SpecSavers to have my needlework glasses panel beaten as they were beginning to resemble a piece of modern sculpture,. While I was in the mall from hell I popped into another optometrist nearby as my everyday glasses are on their way out. I didn't believe it, there were some frames in their sale that were the kind of thing I had been looking for, but at a reasonable cost. They may or may not arrive for Christmas, but even though they cost more than the planned towel. I am over the moon.
Even better, I have now finished my Christmas shopping. YaY!!!
Really pleased for you @Huia! Glasses that work, fit well and that you like are so important. Maybe you can get a posh towel in the After Christmas sales?
I've had a lovely catch up with my sister on the phone this afternoon and my Aunt yesterday, and now my throat is actually feeling a bit hoarse! I must be out of practice re talking so much!
Cheery daughter has reported that the gingerbread men went over well at her work and this morning Cheery son and I have added some more coloured balls to the Christmas tree. We haven't made this much effort in years!
I am feeling a bit dopey as they are balls we bought at the Swedish shop and I should have guessed that I would have to thread the loops myself, but I was taken aback that they didn't come pre-looped. Son said to me, Well they do come from the Swedish shop, so they are DIY! My sister said she would have returned them saying they were broken, but I just knuckled down and threaded the loops! It was slow going!
I booked a table for lunch on Saturday to have a catch up with work colleagues and I am very much looking forward to that!
My sister and I have decided not to exchange pressies this year, if she comes to see us, that will be nice enough for me! She is a November birthday, so she will still have a present to open, it just won't be one for Christmas.
I am enjoying that it's sunny (and I did some weeding this am), but it is certainly not as humid as last week, PTL.
With Foaming Draught and Clarence and Climacus having climbed back up the gangway, and my own tentative tip toes back, I'm tempted to quote Jake of the Blues Brothers ... "We're putting the band back together"
"tip toe" and "band", why is that a familiar conjunction? Of course, Henry V. I'm declaiming to the dog and the cockatiels right now. I knew my coronary artery bypass would come in handy one day.
"Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars".
Seeing FD post on FB about returning to the Ship prompted me to jump in, to not only find him but dear old friend @Climacus back aboard - along with others. Well, Mr Curly is back too - and who knows, with retirement just one week away, I might pop in from time to time.
A uni acquaintance of mine retired (late 40s) this year. We had been out of contact for 20 years or so so that was an additional surprise to hearing from him!
Some bosses can be very persuasive @Zappa, can be good to keep it sweet with them!
Good to see you here @mr curly. I remember your posts from when I was a lurker.
Out and about early this morning to post some large mail at the Post Office, shocked at the price of that! Managed to get one of their last lots of cards and fortunately they still had some Christmas stamps. I have not yet started my cards, but have no excuse now!
As the forecast looks as though it's going to be Zappa preferred, I think sitting inside and writing cards is not a bad idea!
A wee tad warmish out here too in a heatwave across the Overberg, hitting 39°C (102,2°F) at noon. Indefatigable locals still shopping up a storm and many will only get salaries and bonuses paid in on 24 December which means a mad last-minute rush to malls and markets.
Tomorrow is forecast to reach 30C here. I know that's not hot compared with other countries, but for me, anything over 24C is too hot.
I have two consecutive days volunteering at the Community Library which, thanks to the old one falling down during a quake, is a modern building with good air conditioning. Nevertheless I plan to treat myself and our most regular customer to a chocolate ice block at the end of my shift.
Some of the other volunteers are not so lucky and are staffing a fund-raising sausage sizzle tomorrow. I actually did intend to volunteert to do this too, even though I hate doing it the last 2 times, but I was away when the list was being compiled.
Cheery husband and I ducked out this morning early so we can hibernate inside where it is cool. I bought some plants at the big green garden centre, but they were very dry and so I've given them a good water and popped them in the shade to plant next week when the temperature drops.
@Huia, Looks like you struck it lucky missing out on the BBQ, however I do hope it was a successful fundraiser!
Working in the community library sounds really pleasant, especially in Aircon and I love the sound of a chocolate iceblock!!
Cheery husband bought me some ginger cordial last week, so I can see myself using that up over the next few days.
@MaryLouise the shops sound very busy and a place to be avoided if you don't want to be stressed! We are not doing a lot of Christmas shopping this year, but the things I've bought I've ordered online as I'm enjoying the shops a lot less as I get older!
The one place I did go to in person, was a shop to buy Cheery husband's Christmas Lego and I've just offered to buy him a new sunhat as the one he bought when Cheery son was a toddler has a hole in it. I'm just waiting to be told which style/size.
Cheery daughter only has a couple of work shifts next week as she's having a small procedure on one of her toenails and will have a few days off to recover. Her workplace is winding down for the year, so there is no desperate need for her to go in, and many colleagues will be working from home until the new year, anyway.
This weekend the focus is on staying cool and starting the Christmas cards, I don't know why but this year, I'm just not in the mood!!
@Huia, your Community Library sounds very active and welcoming.
@Cheery Gardener I'm doing very few Christmassy things this year, just giving small scented soaps, chocolates and nut assortments to friends and neighbours in the retirement complex.
Gardens here all blue with flowering agapanthus and hydrangeas, mountains shimmering with heat. From early next week we'll have an influx of returning expats and tourists from the frozen north all risking heatstroke on beaches and mountain hikes.
@MaryLouise the blue gardens sound absolutely lovely. We have a small patch with mini agapanthus, about 12 plants and I can see them just coming into flower. Blue in gardens gives such a peaceful vibe. I love the sound of your Christmas gifts also. I think we will do something similar for my husband's brother and his wife. Or even some type of experience for them like some theatre tickets. I'll leave Cheery husband to get them sorted.
I'm envying you your hydrangeas, ML - I think they're possibly my favourite flower. There's a statue along the road from my work of St Michael (he's the patron saint of Linlithgow) surrounded by a bed of the most gorgeous hydrangeas, but at this time of year, they're just brown.
And I'm only not retired because I agreed with the boss to give the gig an extra six months
The job that finishes up this week started as a 6 month contract gig and lasted 27 months. It’s been good and feels like the right time to leave them to it. It also feels 100% like the right time to claim the R word, as where that may not have been the case 18 months ago.
Now all we need is for Little Miss (now aged 22 for those playing along at home) to smash her second interview this week, score the job and head out promptly into the world of share flats, and leave Mrs Curly and I to the world of quiet empty-nester bliss.
@Mr Curly is your daughter's interview for a second position, or is it a second round interview for one position?
I only ask because for her job (which was only a casual role), daughter had a preliminary phone chat, a group interview and then an individual interview. She now has a permanent position which came from that first job, but I don't remember what the interview process was for that.
I absented myself from working about 6 years ago, but will reach official retirement age next year. I am already getting ready to start all the appropriate paperwork in the New Year as I guess it's going to creep up and catch me by surprise!
@Zappa my thoughts on hydrangeas are probably closer to @Piglet's but Kuruman's description did give me a giggle!
Getting ready to spend the afternoon watching Elf with Cheery son and then mooch around until it's time to chat with my Aged Aunt, late in the afternoon. I'm looking forward to putting the feet up having done a few jobs this morning and encouraged Cheery husband in his garden efforts!
Little Miss (now aged 22 for those playing along at home)
You mean that she's not permanently three? So I must be, let me make an actuarial calculation, nineteen years older?
"I grow old, I grow old, I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled". Or I would, if I wore trousers rather than obligatory North Queensland shorts. And good success to Not-so-Little Miss!
You mean that she's not permanently three? So I must be, let me make an actuarial calculation, nineteen years older?
Indeed. Biggest is 26 and getting married in May, while Middle has just completed his first 2 years as a youth mental health social worker.
Little Miss worked at whatever she could find for first half of year then 3+ months travelling. Now looking for one real job.
Has Mrs Dr Curly bitten the bullet & retired from the horror of GP land?
No, she’s enjoying it mostly. Mixing it up with some GPs in Schools sessions and volunteering at Street Side Medics. Plus she’s 6 years younger than me so has a while to go.
Great night tonight at our community carols. Good crowd and no rain! I was on the bbq where we pumped out 600 snags.
600! Wonderful to hear of the carols. A different season, but I remember with fondness the Passion Play.
If, as if the case a bit north, the skies were somewhat clear the full moon shining forth tonight and illuminating all around may have added to the joy. Spent a while outside just now enjoying it. I am a man of very simple pleasures.
... I was on the bbq where we pumped out 600 snags.
What's a snag?
That would be a humble sausage, thin for quick cooking and long enough to hang over the ends of a piece of sliced white bread folded diagonally. Topped with a little scoop of slightly burnt chopped onion and your choice of tomato sauce (ketchup), bbq sauce or mustard. Or as several younger folks tried, all three. If you don’t end up with sauce on your shoes/pants/shirt, you didn’t put enough on.
Mr Curly, good to hear about the younger Curlies and what they're up to.
Yesterday I was wandering around the backyard gathering up branches of a bush I had demolished to add to the green bin for collection today. I glanced over at the place where I'd had planted the remains of the yellow rose that had been run over by the lawnmower then had to be dug up due to the invasion of the drainlayers. Andthere is new growth.
I am absolutely amazed and delighted. The reason I hadn't noticed it earlier was that some leggy weeds had taken advantage of the constant supply of water and they were hiding it. The presence of the weed also provided some shelter from the hot nor'westerly winds which are tough on new plant growth.
I had originally planted the rose in memory of my father and had already been searching unsuccessfully for a replacement, now I don't need one.
Thanks @Cheery Gardener it really is. I'd been trying to be brave about it, especially after I couldn't find any yellow roses at either of the two nearest places selling plants, but of course this is far better than a replacement would have been.
One of the places had a rose I already have 2 of, Blackberry Nip. It was named after a liqueur that Grandad used to drink. When we visited him. which took a bus, a train and a tram (or another bus) he often gave Mum a glass to warm her up. I was tempted to buy another one because it is so beautiful and has one of the strongest scents, but I'm glad I saved my money. I may yet buy one, but in season when it's more likely to thrive.
The blokes doing the concreting put in the boxing yesterday, so I have hopes that the man work may be finished soon. (fingers crossed).
Glad to hear there is progress with the drain fixing @Huia, that's good news and I'm sure the fixing men want to clear all their jobs before Christmas, so my fingers are crossed for you (and them).
I have not thought about Blackberry Nip for years. It was in my parents' pantry but not used in it's usual way. For some reason my Mum had a phase where all her banana cakes were rising and then falling. If we had a batch that failed, that would become that night's dessert. Sunken banana cake with blackberry nip and ice-cream became a firm favourite at our place. Mum did get a bit annoyed with sister and I when we started to stand in front of the oven chanting, flop, flop, flop! I am sure sister and I slept like tops the nights we had that for dessert.
I posted the very last of the cards this morning, took the last few decorations out of the box from the Swedish shop, threaded them through (I've gotten it down to a fine art now) and hung them on the tree. This afternoon in between driving Cheery daughter to the podiatrist for a procedure, and collecting her, I plan to begin the present wrapping.
I'm really delighted that I managed to get an Aly Fell graphic novel for our daughter, that I think @Eigon recommended. It came from the US and arrived yesterday. Still waiting for a new gardening hat to arrive for husband, but it's in the works, and will hopefuly come before Christmas. Might do some baking tomorrow, if the mood takes me. I nearly bought some mince pies last week but thought seventeen bucks was too many for six. They did look to be posh ones, but decided to give them a miss. If there's time, I might make some the cheating way with frozen pastry.
@mr curly I love a sausage sanger with caramelised onions and the crispy black bits are the best!!
We've had a lot of rain oop north, but the BoM has been adamant that it's not The Wet yet. However, more rain now, and with the season's first Tropical Low forming in the Gulf, I think it's fair to say that The Wet has come upon us.
YaY - the concreting is finished and Aroha and Spooky (the black cat from along the road who hangs out here) have both been fed and shut inside in separate rooms with their own litter trays). I will feed and release them tomorrow morning when they won't leave cute pawprints in the concrete.
I will leave the concrete to set more firmly for a couple of days then move the cat's bench under the open laundry window so Aroha can come in that way and both she and Spooky can sleep in the sun and sleep on the shelf underneath when it rains.
After the Christmas break the blokes will be back to fill in a couple of holes and generally tidy up.
Whew! Then there's just the bill to pay, most of which is covered by earthquake insurance,
Sorry if I've forgotten something, but have you been waiting that long or this something recent as a result of the earthquake?
Hurrah for its completion!
Hope your power comes back soon, FD.
Hot today, 14 degree drop for tomorrow which will be nice. Last day of primary school placement for the year (may go back next year) tomorrow, high school placement finished last Friday, but I have an invitation to a fellow learning support officer's home Thursday afternoon for the department Christmas party which will be nice. Stealing Santa, which I've only played once, will feature -- will need to buy a gift among the placement, church busyness (two services (following one another) today, one tomorrow night, one Thursday morning -- the last 2 for our parish's Saint day, St Nicholas (Julian calendar)), medical checkup...
Comments
Thankyou @WormInTheGrass. It's over 30 up here this morning. As for a draught, I'm Advently abstinating. Unless, following St Paul's wise counsel, someone offers me one in the shambles. Or the North Queensland Cowboys Leagues Club 😉
Hi!!
Now come on up for a tropical hol 🏝️🐊, we’re 1,500km or so north of where you last stayed with us.
BUT
I went to SpecSavers to have my needlework glasses panel beaten as they were beginning to resemble a piece of modern sculpture,. While I was in the mall from hell I popped into another optometrist nearby as my everyday glasses are on their way out. I didn't believe it, there were some frames in their sale that were the kind of thing I had been looking for, but at a reasonable cost. They may or may not arrive for Christmas, but even though they cost more than the planned towel. I am over the moon.
Even better, I have now finished my Christmas shopping. YaY!!!
I've had a lovely catch up with my sister on the phone this afternoon and my Aunt yesterday, and now my throat is actually feeling a bit hoarse! I must be out of practice re talking so much!
Cheery daughter has reported that the gingerbread men went over well at her work and this morning Cheery son and I have added some more coloured balls to the Christmas tree. We haven't made this much effort in years!
I am feeling a bit dopey as they are balls we bought at the Swedish shop and I should have guessed that I would have to thread the loops myself, but I was taken aback that they didn't come pre-looped. Son said to me, Well they do come from the Swedish shop, so they are DIY! My sister said she would have returned them saying they were broken, but I just knuckled down and threaded the loops! It was slow going!
I booked a table for lunch on Saturday to have a catch up with work colleagues and I am very much looking forward to that!
My sister and I have decided not to exchange pressies this year, if she comes to see us, that will be nice enough for me! She is a November birthday, so she will still have a present to open, it just won't be one for Christmas.
I am enjoying that it's sunny (and I did some weeding this am), but it is certainly not as humid as last week, PTL.
But of course I won't.
"Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars".
mr curly
(not envious, not envious at all ...
A uni acquaintance of mine retired (late 40s) this year. We had been out of contact for 20 years or so so that was an additional surprise to hearing from him!
Good to see you here @mr curly. I remember your posts from when I was a lurker.
Out and about early this morning to post some large mail at the Post Office, shocked at the price of that! Managed to get one of their last lots of cards and fortunately they still had some Christmas stamps. I have not yet started my cards, but have no excuse now!
As the forecast looks as though it's going to be Zappa preferred, I think sitting inside and writing cards is not a bad idea!
Fine advice.
And though I love the heat I'm getting information that suggests it's going to be a wee tad on the warms side in Oz for a while 🕯🕯🕯
I have two consecutive days volunteering at the Community Library which, thanks to the old one falling down during a quake, is a modern building with good air conditioning. Nevertheless I plan to treat myself and our most regular customer to a chocolate ice block at the end of my shift.
Some of the other volunteers are not so lucky and are staffing a fund-raising sausage sizzle tomorrow. I actually did intend to volunteert to do this too, even though I hate doing it the last 2 times, but I was away when the list was being compiled.
@Huia, Looks like you struck it lucky missing out on the BBQ, however I do hope it was a successful fundraiser!
Working in the community library sounds really pleasant, especially in Aircon and I love the sound of a chocolate iceblock!!
Cheery husband bought me some ginger cordial last week, so I can see myself using that up over the next few days.
@MaryLouise the shops sound very busy and a place to be avoided if you don't want to be stressed! We are not doing a lot of Christmas shopping this year, but the things I've bought I've ordered online as I'm enjoying the shops a lot less as I get older!
The one place I did go to in person, was a shop to buy Cheery husband's Christmas Lego and I've just offered to buy him a new sunhat as the one he bought when Cheery son was a toddler has a hole in it. I'm just waiting to be told which style/size.
Cheery daughter only has a couple of work shifts next week as she's having a small procedure on one of her toenails and will have a few days off to recover. Her workplace is winding down for the year, so there is no desperate need for her to go in, and many colleagues will be working from home until the new year, anyway.
This weekend the focus is on staying cool and starting the Christmas cards, I don't know why but this year, I'm just not in the mood!!
@Cheery Gardener I'm doing very few Christmassy things this year, just giving small scented soaps, chocolates and nut assortments to friends and neighbours in the retirement complex.
Gardens here all blue with flowering agapanthus and hydrangeas, mountains shimmering with heat. From early next week we'll have an influx of returning expats and tourists from the frozen north all risking heatstroke on beaches and mountain hikes.
The job that finishes up this week started as a 6 month contract gig and lasted 27 months. It’s been good and feels like the right time to leave them to it. It also feels 100% like the right time to claim the R word, as where that may not have been the case 18 months ago.
Now all we need is for Little Miss (now aged 22 for those playing along at home) to smash her second interview this week, score the job and head out promptly into the world of share flats, and leave Mrs Curly and I to the world of quiet empty-nester bliss.
mr curly
I only ask because for her job (which was only a casual role), daughter had a preliminary phone chat, a group interview and then an individual interview. She now has a permanent position which came from that first job, but I don't remember what the interview process was for that.
I absented myself from working about 6 years ago, but will reach official retirement age next year. I am already getting ready to start all the appropriate paperwork in the New Year as I guess it's going to creep up and catch me by surprise!
@Zappa my thoughts on hydrangeas are probably closer to @Piglet's but Kuruman's description did give me a giggle!
Getting ready to spend the afternoon watching Elf with Cheery son and then mooch around until it's time to chat with my Aged Aunt, late in the afternoon. I'm looking forward to putting the feet up having done a few jobs this morning and encouraged Cheery husband in his garden efforts!
You mean that she's not permanently three? So I must be, let me make an actuarial calculation, nineteen years older?
"I grow old, I grow old, I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled". Or I would, if I wore trousers rather than obligatory North Queensland shorts. And good success to Not-so-Little Miss!
Little Miss worked at whatever she could find for first half of year then 3+ months travelling. Now looking for one real job.
mr curly
Has Mrs Dr Curly bitten the bullet & retired from the horror of GP land?
No, she’s enjoying it mostly. Mixing it up with some GPs in Schools sessions and volunteering at Street Side Medics. Plus she’s 6 years younger than me so has a while to go.
Great night tonight at our community carols. Good crowd and no rain! I was on the bbq where we pumped out 600 snags.
mr curly.
If, as if the case a bit north, the skies were somewhat clear the full moon shining forth tonight and illuminating all around may have added to the joy. Spent a while outside just now enjoying it. I am a man of very simple pleasures.
This cracked me up -- I have a large pink shower cap that I now realise looks just like a mophead hydrangea
What's a snag?
That would be a humble sausage, thin for quick cooking and long enough to hang over the ends of a piece of sliced white bread folded diagonally. Topped with a little scoop of slightly burnt chopped onion and your choice of tomato sauce (ketchup), bbq sauce or mustard. Or as several younger folks tried, all three. If you don’t end up with sauce on your shoes/pants/shirt, you didn’t put enough on.
mr curly (aka Lord of the Tongs)
I had a feeling it might have had something to do with sausages, but you never know! 🙂
Yesterday I was wandering around the backyard gathering up branches of a bush I had demolished to add to the green bin for collection today. I glanced over at the place where I'd had planted the remains of the yellow rose that had been run over by the lawnmower then had to be dug up due to the invasion of the drainlayers. Andthere is new growth.
I am absolutely amazed and delighted. The reason I hadn't noticed it earlier was that some leggy weeds had taken advantage of the constant supply of water and they were hiding it. The presence of the weed also provided some shelter from the hot nor'westerly winds which are tough on new plant growth.
I had originally planted the rose in memory of my father and had already been searching unsuccessfully for a replacement, now I don't need one.
One of the places had a rose I already have 2 of, Blackberry Nip. It was named after a liqueur that Grandad used to drink. When we visited him. which took a bus, a train and a tram (or another bus) he often gave Mum a glass to warm her up. I was tempted to buy another one because it is so beautiful and has one of the strongest scents, but I'm glad I saved my money. I may yet buy one, but in season when it's more likely to thrive.
The blokes doing the concreting put in the boxing yesterday, so I have hopes that the man work may be finished soon. (fingers crossed).
I have not thought about Blackberry Nip for years. It was in my parents' pantry but not used in it's usual way. For some reason my Mum had a phase where all her banana cakes were rising and then falling. If we had a batch that failed, that would become that night's dessert. Sunken banana cake with blackberry nip and ice-cream became a firm favourite at our place. Mum did get a bit annoyed with sister and I when we started to stand in front of the oven chanting, flop, flop, flop! I am sure sister and I slept like tops the nights we had that for dessert.
I posted the very last of the cards this morning, took the last few decorations out of the box from the Swedish shop, threaded them through (I've gotten it down to a fine art now) and hung them on the tree. This afternoon in between driving Cheery daughter to the podiatrist for a procedure, and collecting her, I plan to begin the present wrapping.
I'm really delighted that I managed to get an Aly Fell graphic novel for our daughter, that I think @Eigon recommended. It came from the US and arrived yesterday. Still waiting for a new gardening hat to arrive for husband, but it's in the works, and will hopefuly come before Christmas. Might do some baking tomorrow, if the mood takes me. I nearly bought some mince pies last week but thought seventeen bucks was too many for six. They did look to be posh ones, but decided to give them a miss. If there's time, I might make some the cheating way with frozen pastry.
@mr curly I love a sausage sanger with caramelised onions and the crispy black bits are the best!!
I will leave the concrete to set more firmly for a couple of days then move the cat's bench under the open laundry window so Aroha can come in that way and both she and Spooky can sleep in the sun and sleep on the shelf underneath when it rains.
After the Christmas break the blokes will be back to fill in a couple of holes and generally tidy up.
Whew! Then there's just the bill to pay, most of which is covered by earthquake insurance,
Hurrah for its completion!
Hope your power comes back soon, FD.
Hot today, 14 degree drop for tomorrow which will be nice. Last day of primary school placement for the year (may go back next year) tomorrow, high school placement finished last Friday, but I have an invitation to a fellow learning support officer's home Thursday afternoon for the department Christmas party which will be nice. Stealing Santa, which I've only played once, will feature -- will need to buy a gift among the placement, church busyness (two services (following one another) today, one tomorrow night, one Thursday morning -- the last 2 for our parish's Saint day, St Nicholas (Julian calendar)), medical checkup...
I've just sat down and am enjoying a bit of quiet while Cheery son has a quick nap before his Zoom meeting after lunch.
Extra Christmas bikkies made, petunias all planted, front door porch (a mess trap) has been swept and anti covid masks dropped off at friends' house.
This afternoon's plan is to watch a movie and just take it slowly. I might start making a mental list of food shopping to get before next week.
I'm lining up Cheery son to mow the lawn later this afternoon and I think that will be quite enough for today!!
I'm starting to feel a bit like Adam Smallbone when he was trying to get everything done before Christmas!!