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)