Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Breakfast Bio Pic

Boud at Field and Fen posed a quest recentlyLife Story on a Tray 

So, I am not really fancy enough for a tray - and I am not bloggy enough to curate such a thing - but I had taken this photos a little bit ago thinking its a picture of our life.

IMAGE: counter top with marmalade, Dr Pepper cans, dairy spread and vegemite featuring Gout Gout

 My Dad has some prolific citrus trees at their house and he is a man who does NOT LIKE WASTE - and therefore has become a marmalade maker, with MANY jars of his output available.  I am a happy recipient because I do like marmalade of a morning on one of my pieces of toast.

On my other piece of toast, I like vegemite - and it has to be with butter.  This is as far as I will stray from that, where spreadable has been introduced to the concept of butter.  I am not brand loyal, though - it has to be Australian 0-ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.; - - th85e 7-= - apologies for that interlude, apparently Miss L, the cat, considers the laptop merely a viewing post on her way to the windowsill.  As I said, it has to be Australian as foodstuffs is something we do not want to become reliant on imports for if I can help it.  That and the farmers.  I do go for price and whether I can win a cruise (I haven't won one yet and am not sure I would like to cruise, but would welcome the option of trying the experiment).

Vegemite - I grew up on the stuff and cannot imagine life without it.  I did have to try during my first trip to visit my Mother-in-law on the other side of the world, as the little jar I took with me ran out a few days shy of my return.  I take large jars now.  Gout Gout is a phenomenal running talent, only 17 - unfortunately not long after Vegemite released this special commemoration for him he was badly injured, which may be par for the course for an athlete but OUCH.

If you REALLY want to make your vegemite toast that bit extra and have a ripe avocado hanging around with not much to do, mush some of that on, a bit of lemon and cracked pepper and - chef's kiss! 

The Dr Pepper cans are all V I am afraid - I am not a huge fan of softdrink but unfortunately he and Paris have not got that gene.  Dr Pepper is very hard to come by in this town, and every possible outlet is mined during baseball season. These are awaiting final rinse before recycling from the night before when every game that may affect the Padres finals chances has been analysed.

And yes, that countertop is on the list of "things to change in the new house" but it is down a little way. 

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

I probably need to catch you up on the last 3 weeks (ummm - month) BUT

 instead I need to make phone calls.

To insurance agencies...

Nothing that dramatic though - just a windscreen repair from a tiny stone out of nowhere last week to this which will cost me $800 unless insurance come to the party;

IMAGE: crack in the windscreen - whilst not in driver view (because we drive on the right side of our car and the left side of the road here) it will only get worse and apparently become less likely to be a one piece windscreen) 

 (When I got the initial quote, they asked whether it had rain sensors - as the car is only old enough to scold when not wearing seatbelts but not so young as to think for me when it rains, I answered no - apparently the wrong answer, as the manufacturer (founder Henry) installed the more expensive rain sensoring screens but not the rain sensoring software so twice as much dosh is required.  The initial quote would have saved me having to think about insurance input.)

getting paperwork organised for a little altercation that my 87 year old father had with a log;

 IMAGE: as I don't have a photo of the log or the vehicle, I submit a photo of my Mum and Dad.  As you can see, he emerged relatively unscathed.  He was showing his cousin and her husband some scenery and telling tales of yore, no doubt.  The log had not been across the road last time he drove down that dirt track.  He does not "DO" paperwork.

and get some advice on what to do about the earth moving.  

IMAGE: the line diagonal is what I am concerned about.  The vertical line in the corner is a cord.  I am not asking about the cord.

(I started with this one first and oh. em. gee.  It wants me to make a claim, make a complaint, email and stamp my feet.  How hard is it to just get advice once you muddle through their directions of go to the app, go to this page, go to this form - please, for the love of mike, a 2 minute call with the advice required is all that I need!!!)

Instead of spending my "day off" telling you all about this.

IMAGE: lots of things that I have taken photos of in the last month

 Next day off then? 

Image:  johnathan edward durham's most excellent wit:  Look, I can offer you awkward silence or awkward conversation the choice is yours.