Time is fleeting...

We have been here a month already. The weather has been so varied from day to day.

Some days are brilliant sunshine and warmth radiating through the windows, other days are freezing with winters tentacles sliding through those same windows trying to grasp onto whatever warmth there is inside.

Earlier today the weather was fine with a hint of blue skies and the atmosphere not too inclement.

Now it is freezing outside. Even your breath turns to vapour as you talk before it dissapates into the sky. It is raining again, not too strong like yesterday's sky carnival. Just a soft gentle rainfall that makes me know it must be snowing higher up again.

The cows across the road don't look too fussed. It's heads down over there as they munch on their diet of grass and hay with an occasional bellow heard as they barter for best posse along the hay line.

We lit the weber today and I've just put in a lovely rolled leg of lamb that with do us for dinner nicely, not too mention lunch over the next few days as well.

This arctic vortex or whatever it's called is apparently upon us and the dogs are even snuggled inside taking pride of place in front of the wood fire sleeping on the mat.

They are both filthy, and I will proceed to explain why.

Yesterday, Murray and I ventured down to Melbourne to pick up our last load from the storage place we had hurriedly dumped stuff between Merryn moving overseas, Mum moving into her aged care facility and us moving up here.

We knew the weather was going to take a turn for the worse but we were not expecting the pyrotechnics, the thunder and torrential rain we drove through to get back home. As some of you might be aware, we drove through a snow patch on the Snow Road coming home which was a novelty for a city girl like me, but alas when we arrived home, it was water water water everywhere.

Where we had the front paddock cleared last week, we listened last night to a large sound which initially I thought was wind but Murray and Stuart thought different.

Stuart sat there with his ears pricked on the deck and I could tell he was frightened, not only because of the thunder but this new sound too. Because it was so dark outside there was no way we were going to venture down to see where the noise was generating from so it was an early night for all as a clap of thunder had knocked out our TV reception anyhow and it was too cold. I might add at this time Noni was rather ambivalent about all these happening as usual. 

Stuart is the anxiety ridden timid dog when it suits whereas Noni is laid back and not too much phases her. It was so cold and wet, they spent most of the night inside in front of the fire which I am sure they were happy about.

Anyway, I woke up this morning around 6:30.... which is about 30 minutes before sunrise. The predawn light was just enough for me to visualise an unusual phenomena at the front of our property.

Low and behold, we had our very own mini lake, creek, or river....which has managed to remain throughout the day so the rainfall must have been enormous whilst we were away.

This was what Stuart and Murray had heard the previous evening and today the local ducks thought it a wonderful event as they swam and they swam all over our dam!

Murray and I dressed up in our jammies, slippers and coats to witness this new landmark firsthand and as we walked back up to the house Noni accompanied us. We arrived back at the homestead and Murray realised Stuart was not with us but was comfortable he was off on an early morning wander which he usually does.

Not 10 minutes later, at the back door, there stood, resplendent in the freshest colour of brown, our black and white border collie. As many of you know, S&N are partial to a swim at the beach. Apparently Stuart thought this nature made swimming pool would suffice as his current swimming hole as he came back not only covered in dirt and mud but bramble bits, twigs and the like on his erstwhile fur. Perhaps he was chasing the ducks and frogs that had taken up residence in the 'fresh' water.

Half an hour later, Noni was seen also having a wonderful time rolling around on the grass, in 'what it was I don't care to know' as she too returned not only in a dirty brown shade but also there was a greenish hue on her white bits too.

It's a dog's life that's for sure.

The day has been spent admiring the beautiful green scenery in front of our property with a visit from Michelle, a friend and colleague from WMH and her two girls who are returning home from a trip to the snow. Although it was a brief visit it was great to see one of many I am missing these days in our new place.

Let's do the time warp again.........

Can you believe it???

Can you believe it?

It's been a week now since we moved heaven and earth to make this place our home.

This past week has been a week of moving furniture; of bringing in boxes and emptying said boxes; of replacing stuff from said boxes (I am so over stuff) and of shuffling furniture around and around to fit into the house.

I finally sorted the kitchen pantry last evening, and today it was so lovely gaining access to the pantry, knowing where I had put things, instead of the ramshackle (now there's a word you don't hear every day) misplacement of food, condiments etc.

We even had our very first guests who honked their horn as they came up the drive.

It was so wonderful to have visitors come and admire our place for the very first time. I know, after all our hard work to make this house and property our forever home, it was great to get some feedback and know we have made the right decision for us both.

Life changes as you become older, not necessarily for the better as some will attest, but we have up till now, been most fortunate in having our health and the ability to continue with work if needs be in the short term future.

I know I have secured employment, be it casual at this point with the immediate health professionals in Myrtleford, Bright and Mt. Beauty and I look forward to augmenting their work and knowledge base with whatever I bring with me when I start work there next month.

This past week, whilst it has been a frantically busy one because of the wet weather we have experienced, has been extremely therapeutic and rewarding as we have put our worldly goods into place.

Our dogs I might add have apparently enjoyed the change in their lifestyle too, with a few hills to climb, new smells to sniff and roll in, yes, literally roll in, wombat burrows to investigate and creeks to check out as well at the foot of the property.

Stuart as always, is the adventurous one and goes a wandering all over the place, whereas Noni displays a bit of insecurity and continues with her ball fixation whenever there are humans she knows around.

Perhaps we need 'Harry' around to give us some advice on how to stop her throwing the ball at our feet all the time but at least she is comfortable with the familiarity of our presence after such enormous changes, so, hopefully she will settle down in time.

We both love our new home... Our forever new home, nestled in the hills out the back of Myrtleford.

Here's hoping we live forever, happily ever after!

The beginning of the journey

So, yesterday, the driver and I picked up a 4 tonne truck and had ourselves a bit of a road trip.

We had to take the truck up north to a storage facility close to our soon to be new residence filled with odds and sods from the garage out back here.

I did not realise we had so many tents (4) at last count, not to mention tent poles...about six sets, let alone tent pegs by the thousands!

We took up a lot of childhood memories...... Books from my own childhood and that of the kids...... assignment pieces that when completed we thought were amazing and apparently most of their teachers thought so too.

How does one dispose of such stuff?

I would love sometimes to be cold and callous and just send the lot to the tip, but I am a proverbial hanger-onner and lots to do with my children I have kept, if only for my sentimentality.

I recall doing assignments myself such as the Suez Canal and the book I wrote in 6th. Grade called "Bang" and understand them to be forever obliterated through time and decay but I am loathe for my children's masterpieces to suffer the same fate.

Anyhow, I digress...this is all about our road trip and the adventures we had along the way.

Up to the truck hire place by 8 to pick up the aforementioned vehicle then back to our place to load it up with that camping equipment, bikes, outdoor settings, books upon books upon books (didn't know I had so many of those either), outdoor fire-pits, more books, old children's toys....guess what Mez, not only did I find your Sylvanian dolls house, but your Barbie dolls, some with hair, some without!

Lots of soft toys from baby days and other bits and pieces which we cannot part with yet.

We had loaded by 9:30 am thanks to Jimmy The Mitch and were on our way not long after.

I did not know that such trucks are made with thin iron bars in the back rest and seat which are designed to make one shift uncomfortably from time to time.

The cabin was relatively spacious though and warm, which is all one can ask on such a cold winter's day. We were out of the city and on the Hume by 10 which was pretty good going, as Westgate and the Ring Road are often fraught with stop start intervals. It was our lucky day with that aspect though and we made it up to Myrtleford with just one stop at Milawa for something to eat and an ablution and before we knew it, we had arrived at our storage facility.

The driver unlocked the gates to the complex then reversed up to where the door was. There was an unsuccessful attempt at this stage to unlock the padlock securing our storage space and a brief moment of panic, thinking we had not brought the right key up.

My driver then thought...."Bloody lock must be stuck" (he might have added a few other expletives at this time but me no say!) "What shall we do"? 

I had a go at unlocking unsuccessfully as he made the van suitable for unloading and then came across a set of bolt cutters he had brought up just in case.

Before one could mention Jack Robinson the lock was busted for all time, but it was then he, the driver, had an epiphany.....Perhaps he was trying to access the wrong shed!

Sure enough, we tried the lock next door with our key and miraculously, the shed door opened. I tried without much access to keep a straight face as he realised he had broken into, and without much effort, someone else's storage shed, so, without much fuss we quickly put our lock onto the 'not our shed' shed and proceeded to unpack our stuff into 'our' shed.

That didn't seem to take too long at all and we were finished by 3. 

The next job was to nick into town though and purchase a couple of new locks to replaced the busted one and give to the agents as a conciliation attempt towards the owner of the other shed!

That was done finally and we were underway again before we knew it and it was homeward ho once more.

The truck travelled quite well with minimal noise and as I mentioned before, the cabin was quite warm and cosy. The only drawback was the not overly comfortable seats but I suppose trucks aren't made for their seating comfort. One just gets used to such things as one gets a little older.

No time to check out our new abode today...

That will be done on Thursday as we will venture up again for a 'final inspection' and it's just a matter then of emptying out what we have left (lots!!!). I am sure 'stuff' grows when you're not looking, especially when you've lived in this house/home as long as we have.

An uneventful journey home apart from city traffic had us back safe and sound by 7:00pm. 

Every day's a new day...

A different day today. One filled with yet again, another tinge of sadness; a large quantity of joy and anticipation, some celebration, some thankfulness for friends we have and to round it up, a feeling of never ever wanting to eat again.

Murray and I were up early this morning as the plan was to meet the owners of the property we are purchasing then mosey on over to the local winery to celebrate a another friend's 70th. birthday.

Our primary plan was mildly thwarted as the wife of the property we are purchasing is unwell and in hospital but the husband was happy to meet us at our soon to be new address providing it was early in the morning as he had to go be with his wife for the best part of the day elsewhere.

Given this lady is unwell, we had wanted to purchase some flowers for her husband to take to her whilst she was in hospital, but despite visiting the one and only florist in Bright, then both supermarkets, not to mention Myrtlefords opportunities, we had to go empty handed as there were no flowers fit for an unwell patient in hospital to be purchased.

We visited our property and we're delighted yet again with what it has to offer us....beautiful scenery, a delightful contemporary (to us) home, albeit 15 years old, a marvellous garden and lots of opportunities to flash my camera again and again. It was with some sadness we learnt that the wife is extremely unwell in hospital and her treatment is palliative at this time. Consequently, the husband is not yet sure where his future lies once he leaves this property other than him residing in town with his wife until life declares itself, once we move up and in.

He is a very personable chap, quite easy to talk to and more than willing to support Murray with his initial ventures once we make the grand move.

We worked out some logistics re fridge, freezer, kitchen dresser, washing machine and so forth. Checked out the ride-on mower, equipped with trailer and props, spray system, chain-saw and various collections of timber and corrugated iron etc. and then it was time to depart so he could be with his wife.

We called into town for a coffee and then returned from whence we came (our cabin) to prepare for lunch with friends at Boynton's Winery across the road.

It's a delightful 10 to 15 minute walk from our cabin which is just as well, as quaffing a few wines mid day is not conducive to driving afterwards regardless of the distance so needless to say after our rather large lunch we walked back to our abode to rest up for a bit.

Lunch was in honour of Pauline who lives just a couple of cabins down from us. It's Pauline's 70th. birthday this week so celebrations were in order . Plenty of wine was drunk, white and red and our two-course meal was to die for. I am no food commentator, but it was delicious and plentiful and the service by all the staff exemplary not to mention we were also honoured with a visit by Kel and Janine, the owners of the winery who certainly know how to host.

Just a little example above of my roast pork with crackling. Scrumptious to say the very least. 

I don't normally take photos of food but this was the exception today!

Following our delightful meal we all staggered home...staggered for more reasons than one...then just as I was about to rest up Fay tripped down to tell us the park owner had baked scones and jam and cream for Pauline as well and we were to partake (again!!!) of fine food.

No room at the in my belly for anything else tonight that's for sure!!!

A story for Mal

Today I am writing. Not because it is Easter time. Not because I feel sad for yet another child with progeria who has died. Not because I have eaten too much chocolate, which I actually haven't (put that in ya book Mr. Ripley!).

I am writing for a friend I made and met whilst we were in France last October. 

I cannot understand how that trip is now six months away from today. Six months! Six bloody months sinced I accomplished a few adventures on my own personal bucket list over in Europe.

Unbelievable how quickly time passes when you are that little bit older.

I suppose some short term memory loss has kicked in and some days now they have gone, might not even have existed if I did not have calendars throughout my home.

They were obviously not special days as I have no recollection, so I believe that could be a reason why time has dissipated without recognition.

This friend of mine (Murray's too I might add) has steadfastly remained in contact with me and sends me occasional messages as well as lots of funny humourous sayings and video clips to make me smile and laugh. This lady is a gentle compassionate soul who lives close to water in northern New South Wales with her partner in crime and time. May they both live happily ever after in their spot in the universe.

My friend, in a roundabout way has prompted me to write as she said she had missed my writings of late, so, here it is. Once again a lot of flotsam and jetsam and much ado about nothing really. Just a bunch of words thrown together to form a collection of sentences, but entertaining and time occupying for me all the same.

It's Sunday morning here as I write. Easter Morning to be precise and I sit out front of my cabin, on my own with my cup of green tea with ginger (invigorating to the digestive tract) and listen to the sounds of the holiday park in which I reside.

Children laughing and playing, probably comparing chocolate stashes, cars whizzing by on their way to church no doubt, others cooking on their camp stoves, bicycle bells, occasional birds getting their two bobs worth in and people emptying their rubbish from the previous evenings revelry (holiday parks rock at night time!!!).  Footsteps on the gravel can be heard too as people walk and run and ride their bikes and drive their cars around the road within the park. One never gets the sense of being alone here yet ones can be alone at the same time. This is a very family oriented park with its big jumping castle out the front and play areas around conducive to children's' occupation and playing.

It is Easter and my plan is to travel to Harrietville this morn as I am of the understanding they have yet another market to attend. I went to the Bright Market yesterday and in parts it was jammed pack with people, in other places it was not so busy. 

For the life of me I cannot understand why people bring their dogs to such events, especially little ones that are encouraged to walk on a leash. I tripped over one dog, hopefully not hurting it too much in the process, apart from my pride. Got a dirty look from the owner as I obviously wasn't looking where I was going in the crowded throng. There was another dog obviously lost and running up and down looking for its owner. I do hope he/she found who it was looking for eventually. There were heaps of designer dogs being carried in handbags a la Paris Hilton which seems to be a new wave thing!

For those of you that reside in Melbourne and have been to Vic Markets on the odd occasion, there were even the South American musicians playing the pan pipe music, not to mention the heavy metal musical man and the young chap with his beautiful lab sitting there along side as the master played his guitar.

The rain has just started here and the perfume in the air, magnificent. 

I have just realised I've left yesterday's washing on the clothes line out back....oh well it'll have to dry another day and it's a good excuse for me to pack up my breakfast stuff and prepare myself for a venture to the foot of the snow mountains for the day.

So there my friend Mal..... A little bit of rumination for you. Now i've written this, I hopefully will have the urge to write some more later today.

May every person who reads this have a safe happy Easter (what's left of it that is) and we will catch up on the flip side as Julian Lennon is oft to say!

Buon Pascale! Joyeuses Paques!

Wandering along the pathway

I had started this journal a couple of days ago when our world in Australia was besieged and consequently very sad with the deaths of innocent people because of one madman.

This was not my purpose for writing so late at night when my world is quiet. The street is dark, the dogs and birds are sleeping as is my husband. My problem is I have so many thoughts roaming through my brain I cannot switch it off, so, write I must.

I was planning initially to start my exposay into life as a student nurse in the 1970's but there is so much to write about, so much to dredge up from the cortex of my brain I might leave it for another day.

I recently had a visit into a health establishment in the inner city of Melbourne and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised with my experience..... well, some of it anyhow. I won't go into the bits of what I didn't enjoy as it's totally irrelevant when trying to write a light bit of fluff.

I must say though that I had direct continuity of staff, from my (yes, my) night nurse who cared for me from my first to my last night, as well as the nurses during the day.

I found this continuity to be so very important as when I was initially admitted I was feeling somewhat miserable and revolting and wanted to be unconscious ( which wasn't the case I might add). By my time of discharge I was feeling so much better and back to myself and it was important to me for these nurses to see the real Jenny...not the monosyllabic misery guts who couldn't keep her eyes open without vomiting and crying! I can assure you dear reader, I am NOT like that normally hence the importance of that said continuity for me.

The staff from the nurses, be they clinical or the pain nurse or the gynae nurse, the cleaners who came in and vacuumed and emptied my rubbish bins every day, the food services staff who, when safe to do so, bought me tea and iced water, breakfast, lunch and dinner were all pleasant and friendly, not to mention the woman who bought in a fresh newspaper every day as well with compliments.

Nothing was too much bother. My buzzer was answered quickly and my needs met quickly as a consequence. 

I come from an environment of frantically busy midwives and nurses who do their utmost best to exude the same calmness and spontaneity but are hampered by the large volumes of people we care for every day and their ensuing dramas, so this recent experience is no criticism of my work environment nor is it a judgment of, or comparison to my workplace. It is merely an observation albeit a pleasurable one of my recent expense about being 'on the other side' for a change.

My first couple of days were spent trying to sleep more than be awake I felt so bad, but once I improved I began to observe my own habits of this time, and realised just how unusual I can be. 

For example, as mentioned earlier, I slept a lot initially. The day I began to emerge from my cocoon I would lie in bed. With the covers up I felt too warm from time to time so I would pull the covers down. Almost immediately I would begin to feel cold so, I would then pull the covers up again and snuggle under and relish the joy of being able to enjoy the increasing warmth again. I would adjust the pillow against my head, have a snooze then wake up too hot again then begin the whole procedure once more.

 I most likely had too much time on my hands as I wondered about this action=result=action and the physics involved in such activity a little bit until I was distracted with drinking from a straw whilst lying down.

I really now do appreciate the person who cleverly invented the bendy straw which is used in most hospitals throughout the land far and wide now.

I am enjoying some peace and tranquility when the dogs aren't barking although I find being stuck at home and not able to drive, so close to Christmas frustrating, but, such is life and it is very much a first world issue.

I am intrinsically healthy and for that I am grateful.

We have our home on the market at this present time and unfortunately I am beginning to think it's unsaleable as we have not had anyone come through for an inspection for over a week now. The most difficult part of being up for sale is the constant need to keep everything in its place, just in case someone should want to come have a look, but as I mentioned, it's been over a week since our last visit from the agent and supposedly interested parties, so, thankfully I have not been holding my breath.

Perhaps after Christmas it might change, I don't know anymore, as at the onset, we were spun the "We'll sell your house really quickly" tale and are still waiting.

Perhaps if I get bogged down tomorrow in my life story of a student nurse we might see some action at an inopportune time.

Cockatoo Magic

We're up north again for a fleeting visit and I was hoping to wander outside and take a few photos but it's raining softly on the roof and therefore I've decided to stay indoors till the rain stops.

I do love the rain up here, be it dramatic with thunder and lightning (we get plenty of that) or soft and gentle like today, nutritive for the ground and grass and all other things green.

There is a flavour in the air that is only apparent when the rain happens and it lifts the heart and makes me want to stay like this forever.

It's cool outside too and this I do prefer to the extreme heat that is apparent everywhere in this great land of ours come summertime.

I took some photos this morning of beautiful scenery, of which I hope I will never see with unseeing eyes.

You know how familiarity breeds contempt? If you have something in your life that you love when it's new, but forget about after a time, it's rather sad that the appreciation and that gob smacking awesomeness loses its presence once you look at it long enough.

I recall my mother when she and Dad lived in Rosebud, used to have a view to Arthur's Seat and she would stand out on her veranda every day with a cup of tea and admire her mountain.

Once we moved Mum up to be closer to family she lost that connection with her view and I have always felt sad that she has had to miss that lookout. Even now she still refers occasionally to 'her mountain' and wonders if it is still there.

Taking photos and putting the picture up on the wall is not quite the same as the real thing when you know the real thing is now unattainable. This makes me very determined to appreciate our good fortune and make the most of what we have in our life.

Even where we currently live, there is a gorgeous view from the front window which looks out onto the square. Night time has its own beauty there as our one street light comes on and shines on the front lawn. If it's foggy it creates a mystical type hue of a night time and many times I have been reminded of just how lucky we are.

The way the rain has set in I am thinking it'll be damp for a long haul now and I'll have to give my walk a miss.

We brought our dogs up with us as we always do. There often seems to be a tale these days of dogs going missing from their homes and even though we have to leave them when at work and when on big holidays we like to bring them up with us when we visit our nirvana.

Mind, they do have to stay in a farm stay/kennel whilst here, but the owners know them well now and like their presence and both dogs exude a happiness of sorts when we arrive (that may well be because they're sick of being cooped in the car who knows) but at least we know they are being cared for and it is a bit of an adventure for them.

They are both that little bit older now. Stuart is heading towards 4 years of age and Noni 3 1/2 now and really are delightful companions.

 Stuart is the woosey one and sooks a bit whereas Noni is quiet and just goes about her business. Stuart is also a typical adolescent and tries to expand the boundaries when out and about. One would think sometimes he doesn't know his name when he is called which can be an embarrassment until ones voice becomes a little gruff and he knows he is in trouble.

Noni however is the antithesis to such vexatious behaviour and is very well behaved, coming when called and forever trying to play 'fetch the ball' with anyone who is remotely interested.

Consequently dear reader, I have to provide yet another photo opportunity of the two of them for your perusal...

So, there you go, no lean machine here, but happy, healthy and well.