Five photos

 Over the last fifteen days (in no particular order) (well, in the order that hopefully makes sense to some bot in blogger else it's mad)

Being the school holidays for the last two weeks and a specialist appointment for Dad, I have been going to work early, and one morning this coincided with a decent fog. I work across the road from a cemetery.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. I got all thinking that I perhaps had hidden talents as a modern art architect-y photographer, but turns out not unhidden, unbidden.

We are still in the market for a few key items of furniture. This cupboard will not be joining our household no matter how often it it enters my feed.

As I said when I shared this link on Facebook "Oh my freaking good-ness - deliciousness with a capital cious!!" - Link. When enticed to try, Paris' review was "eww no, tastes like felafel" so not everyone is a fan.

Yes G. It does need sorting.

A wishful

 Isn't it funny how shared language evolves?

Image: regular readers will know by now that the pictures generally have glancing acquaintance at best (if not completely unrelated) to the subject matter. Case in point - the prunings of my mother's rose bushes administered by my father and I. Rose prunings in a blue wheelbarrow with a yellow frame an a green lawn, a fence and a paved path that doesn't quite reach it.

When a child, it you're lucky, you live in the sort of family that develops it's own lore.

Courtesy of my baby brother, we embraced the words "smink" as in to smink it up - to mix something, hopefully chocolate cake batter.

When a teenager at an all girls boarding school, I learned to avoid certain people when they were on their rags, and hell was a malfunctioning charley burner at the height of Summer.

Image: the red facade of the local Jetts gymnasium

When in Sydney in advertising, the yuppies were on the wane whilst I bought space and time in the search of optimised reach with enough frequency to sway the targets towards the desired outcome.

Image: the clouds are doing their best jazz hands impression 

In Melbourne I temped and attended open mikes found in the green guide - or was it pink? while the doof doof crowd were trancing up country.

Image: the Gangster and lilo-Lil. Two cats regarding each other across the tiles. L visits on occasion. G isn't sold on the idea -yet.

And to think that was a lifetime ago for these young things, some of whom I work with.  I have recently read that these young things may find it offensive if I employ the use of a full stop at the end of a sentence.

Image - for sale in the local Facebook marketplace - someone else's unfinished dream.  Is it a Dalek?

Yes, really!

Image: the inimitable Jimeoin on a television set on andn inadequate bookshelf. Link to some of his funnies

Aren't they precious 💞?

And I collect my official "old person" badge and shuffle back into my place.

Image: cartoon ginger cat reclining against the microwave on the counter, sipping martini, feet up, on the phone saying "So she's like "GET OFF THE COUNTER " and I'm like"Get OFF MY ASS!""

BTW - a wishful is our shorthand for "a wishful sip" meaning the Schrodinger's sip that may - or may not - be in the bottom of your mug.

Do you have any words?

Selwyn the timber getter

 Well, Selwyn the timber getter was old school - set up camp and live on-site whilst getting timber. Not a hugely social being outside his circle. Jeans and a singlet with Blundstones and gaiters. Rollie holding the left side of his mouth.

The 90s were big on initiative in a lot of industries and - as unconventional as the timber industry was at the getting end, and Selwyn the timber getter at the narrowest corner of that - the safety fellas tracked him down one misty May morning up the scrub paddock.

"Well" drawled Selwyn as he observed the leather safety chaps on offer. 'i don't know about that."

He took the proffered clothing and disappeared into his caravan.

He reemerged shaking his head.

"I can see how it works for the legs" he said "but I don't know how it's meant to protect the old fella" as he came back out,  with his buttocks bare to the elements.

Since then

Weekend with the parents. 

Specialist appointment for Dad.

Colonoscopy for me (all as tickety-boo as one wants one's colon to oscope about)

Bad poetry.

Still loving Paradise 2 but the honeymoon is over and the ports have been unpacked.

The oven has proven why you don't buy ovens in a supermarket which apparently occurred prior to our purchase of the house.

The light over the stove doesn't work.

There is no variation on the flame - high or low - and the ignition doesn't ignite.

I am laying blame at the imperfect door of said oven for the worst outcome ever of the perpetual experiment that is sourdough.

Paid a fortune for my car to undergo a prophylactic procedure for timing issues.

Had a book club gathering - made pikelets and lemon butter. Discussed Heart the Lover by Lily King and Yesteryear by Caro Claire Bourke.

Discovered that the tricolour is blue white and red to the right.

Am now attending the gym on a semi regular basis.

V had a futile few hours with medical professionals who want to try again in Brisbane.

Spent another little fortune to the mechanic to attach a new mirror.

In the gaps work, driving Paris to and from work and sleep.

(Apologies in advance for the use of the vernacular in the below)

My day "home"

 So today I had an RDO.

An RDO is when the half-hour extra that you work every day is all smooshed together and you can take a day off.

When I first started work way back when, we started earlier, worked later for less and never got a day off just because.

And then I spent decades a temp.

At first it was fun.

New focii every week. New people, new buildings, new jobs.

But that life changed with time and place and by the end I was juggling three long-term part-time passion projects.

And then I had that horrible full-time reminder of all that I had hated in previous corporate life that had sent me to the impermanent workforce in the first place.

Flood relief was the first ever temporary job that had offered RDOs, but it was not until this job that I got to appreciate the advantage of them.

 So today I had an RDO.

One month and one day since moving in. 

My fourth - maybe fifth - "at home" day since moving in and it was to be devoted to doing home things. I had such plans.

However gym. Fuel. Drive by old house.

Appointment. Electronics store. Op shop. Furniture store. Shopping centre. Accidental cousin connection. Weird childhood connection. Department store. Electronics store. Into the city on our way home to another electronics store.

 Amazing sandwich shop for takeaway sandwiches which epitomises delight. Decision made we drove back to the electronics store in the shopping centre and bought ourselves a big-assed TV.

Then school collection, television setup, taxiing and shopping for Mum and Dad ('Salina and I are heading out there tomorrow), home for a shower and printing then poetry before being driven home by an L-plater.

A leisurely day never stood a chance, did it!

I am clinging on to

 short sleeves here.

I am defiant against the approaching Winter 

Giving no heed to the speed of the passing of days

Where nights' flights of fancy imagine that it's not that cold yet here.

~~~

Image: girl, 10 pin bowling alley, lighting...

A Paris interruption:

You never think a vegetable is gonna call you 

But then onion rings.

Image: New Paradise Eastern aspect

It's really hard to get back into serious poetry when there is a comedy show here at bedtime.

Image: later that day 

~~~

I am clinging on to short sleeves here.

I am defiant against the approaching Winter 

Giving no heed to the speed of the passing of days

Where nights' flights of fancy imagine that it's not that cold yet here

It's not that cold - yet 

Here nips the wind a little harder.

Here pokes the shards of icicles twixt nerve endings 

And the hope that I hold of

Warmer weather never losing my enthrall.

~~~

Image: the bedside table lamps who were winning the game of hide and seek 

I had my fourth full at home day since moving on Saturday. I had an ambitious list and completed almost half.

Image: sewing boxes

Mother's Day I got to spend with my girls and V, failing at furniture shopping (a lot of gob-smacking was undertaken), lunching, cuddling kittens, bowling, cooking, eating.

Image: culturally-appropriated stir fried rice and vegetables

Today I worked and then came home and cooked culturally-appropriated stir fried rice and vegetables,

Image: Diana Chan's Korean Beef Dumplings 

Diana Chan's Korean Beef Dumplings and poached eggs.

Image: meme saying "Don't let anyone talk you out of spending$35 on plants.

That $84 will be the best $176 you ever spent."

I am pooped and it's not even Tuesday.

You?

Social

 I am generally a pretty private person. On a scale I would see myself as a maybe six in sociability. I do get energized with a certain amount of people but too many - like a party - or too chaotic - like a party - has me seeking quiet corners or escape.

It's where and why I used to write so much before kids.

One or two people that I click with - perfect. A half dozen friends of friends - small doses.

Fifty family. An hour or two, but looking for a quiet role by the second.

Holding court - if I have a role or am performing no problem at all. But never when ill-prepared or put on the spot.

Family members one on one - eminently doable. I love most of my big wide family one-on-one. It's when you throw more people into mix. Same with friends.

Alone. Bliss. As long as there is a book or a pen and paper I am made. Kitchen. Ingredients. Yes please.

I have written a true account of people that I know for a funeral on Friday. It will be given then.

What about you? What people mix works best for you?

Instead of

 Setting up the kitchen on this so very rare events when day off and being at home coincide.

But instead I am hiding in the "Throne Room" away from Kryon, out robot vacuum.

Anyone else occasionally think that the Jetsons have finally arrived?

G and I hung outside for a bit, smelling everything that the garden had to offer until it got really spooky when the hedge rustled and I thought that this was not an experiment I was yet ready to continue.

I think that she is secretly happy to be back inside. She has successfully hunted several flies and her only predator is Keyton.

These are two very special reasons that I am away from home quite a bit these days.

Very much the egg salad of sandwich generation.

Thursday one week later

It was going to be Wednesday, but Wednesday got away from me.

Let's see, I 

Image: best breakfast ever - toast with Dad's marmalade; toast with Vegemite, avocado, cracked pepper and lemon juice; and Ruby Grapefruit juice and soda water.

• I did a bit of adulting on the weekend. I hired a car (courtesy of fuel supply instability, economy and prudence) when this last weekend was planned.

• I learned how to swap my brain around to European mode for lights and indicators vs windscreen wipers.

Image - electronic flyer for Staerstone by H. k. Stubbs 

• I went to an art show. (Lost and Found by a friend. I will get her link - it closed last night)
• I visited my aunt.
• I saw a friend from pre-'Salina days who is launching a book.

Image - buckwheat wraps for Saturday's breakfast at a creekside cafe

• I saw friends from University days and ate very, very well indeed.
• We discussed many things and watched Northern Exposure and I am so very grateful that I have been blessed with such friends 

Image: pineapples book ending massive grapefruit in a wooden tray 

• I took a tour of my aunt's future home 

Image - oven-roasted Barramundi with broccoli, onion, zucchini, sweet potato, and tomato. The lemon wedges were from my tree.

• I got lost coming out of a freeway-side service centre with an open fast food option and spent half an hour of dark roads turning back on themselves time and again - the Traveston Triangle

Image - greens including basil, rocket and spinach freshly harvested and dressed with scrambled eggs, grilled haloumi and stall-bought chutney.

• PSA don't drive a tiny NSW hire car in the dark on the M1 (or Bruce Highway) after peak hour on a weeknight when the truckies consider it theirs.

• I eventually relearned how to swap my brain back right to local  mode for windscreen wipers vs lights and indicators.
• I saw my brother and my Dad.

• I was reader at an event at the beautiful little bookshop that also hosts the poetry and my book-club.

• And I signed up for the gym with Paris. It's May Day tomorrow.

What did I miss?