Not feeling the best

Isn't it funny, when you are feeling sick and you want to chuck you don't give a damn who is around or where you are you just go ahead and do it. That's what happened to me on Monday when we went for a test drive for a new car. No I didn't do it in the car, I was feeling ok then. It was when we were doing all the paper work inside, I had to leave Tony to it and venture outside for fresh air or so I said. The air wasn't too fresh it was 34c. I didn't realise I was going to be sick but there was a garden handy and I had to let go. Tony eventually came out and drove home just in time for me to throw up again in our garden as I could not make it inside. I then slept for about 14 hours and didn't care what was happening in the world for that amount of time. Tony had been sick earlier in the day so he too had an early night although he did make some beans on toast for dinner so he could throw them up later. I didn't go to RE Tebbutt yesterday as I still wasn't feeling the best. I didn't like letting them down as I know some of the residents would have been disappointed and look forward to me coming. Even Nelly who actually grunts at me now " biscuits please" when I am serving morning tea.

We are both much better today and ventured out to the movies to see "Up In The Air" with

George Clooney. Its about a businessman who does a lot of travelling in his job (which is firing people) and it is his ambition to clock 10 million frequent flying miles and is on the verge of doing so when his company decides to cut back on travel. It is a bit different to the usual run of movies.

Tony had a blood test today and we go back to the specialist on Tuesday for the results. We will then know what direction he will be taking next.

I didn't mention that we brought a new car. I purchased a Mitsubishi Lancer back in 1996 and it is still going strong. Apart from the roof that is where it has been sprayed a few times because there was fault with this model and the studs keep rusting through. So we thought we would go with the Mitsubishi Lancer Sports as it has 5 safety bags, 10 years wty on the engine and gear box, 5 years wty on all parts and 5 years free road service. Tony has sold his Ford Focus privately as they were willing to pay an extra $500 then we would have got with a trade in. We will be picking the car up next week.

Well footy season just about here. We are going to see the Charity Shield match Rabbits v Dragons on Saturday night and we will also be sitting in our members seats. Tony is very excited about this. I'm looking forward to the season and am still a true blue tiger even though I am a South Sydney member. All the people that sit around us (and

Russell sits at the back behind us) know

I am a Tigers fan and put up with me when I wear all the tiger gear when they are playing the rabbits.

I joined oz tips again this year through my old company IC Frith so I hope I improve on my pickings.

Farewell dear Barry

We farewelled Barry off to Maccesfield on Wednesday evening after his 2 week stay in Sydney. He had already been to Perth for 2 weeks and enjoyed the hot weather over there. Just as well, as his first week in Sydney was rather wet. We did ventured out to Darling Harbour after one previous attempt had failed and went to the Maritime Museum. Tony and I had been there once before but only to the gift shop as we were buying presents then to take overseas. This time we had a good look around the museum and even went on the submarine. Tony got a bit claustrophobic and was pleased to get off. I couldn't believe how small the beds were. Also the tiny galley that was capable of serving four meals a day for 64 men. The men would all have had to be midgets. When they got into bed they wouldn't have been able to turnover. Maybe they were all so tired they didn't care. This submarine HMS Onslow was commissioned in 1968 during the cold war, a tense time that called for a submarine to watch, listen and collect information without detection. The most secretive work was tracking Soviet submarines moving into the Arabian Gulf from Vladivostok via the Coral Sea and the Great Australian Bight. It was decommissioned in 1999.

We had coffee in the QVB before getting the bus back home as at this stage it was raining quite heavily.

The Great Australia Clock (this is one of 2 clocks in the building) - This clock stands 10 metres tall and depicts 33 scenes from Australia' s history from both Aboriginal and European perspectives. An Aboriginal hunter continuously circles the exterior of the clock to represent the never ending passage of time.

On the clock are replicas of the Crown Jewels, wax model of Queen Victoria dressed in full coronation regalia seated on an ornate chair, a letter from Queen Elisabeth II written in 1986 to be opened by the Lord Mayor of Sydney in 2085, a tribute to recipients of the Victoria Cross and replicas of royal paintings.
Barry visited most of our local shopping centres, Castle Hill, Parramatta, Winston Hills, Baulkham Hill, North Rocks and Macquarie Centre. Also most of the local clubs. He enjoyed our"local" shops and had many a coffee. In the evening Barry and I would take off for a walk. I tried to take him different routes and we even did one via the Chisholm Centre.

On one of the sunny days we took him to Manly via the M2 bus and ferry and did our usual walk around to Shelley Beach.

We have renamed a part of our lounge room "Barry's Corner" as this is where he used to sit, have a beer or a cup of tea and read his book all the time.

Had an early morning call from Kerry-Ann, she had food poisoning and so did Felise. So I went and got Jake and he spent the day with us. They both slept most of the day and were feeling a bit better this evening.

Return to Dutchies

This humid weather is killing me. Come on Autumn! At the moment it keeps showering then clearing up and getting rather hot. It was good on my recent visit to Nelson Bay for a few days as it showered in the night and early morning then was clear for the rest of the day. Kerry-Ann and Michael had rented a large house near Dutchies Beach and it was only a few minutes walk down to the beach. I missed the shop that used to be opposite the beach but was told it had been gone for a few years. I liked the idea of popping across for coffee and some munchies. I even took the nostalgic path from Dutches to Nelson Bay marina one afternoon with Jake.

Down at Dutchies the water was beautiful and Jake seemed to enjoy himself swimming but when he came out of the water instead of going to sit on the towels and play in the sand he kept heading for the stairs to go back home (or as Felise kept correcting me, their holiday house). Felise on the other hand was a bit hesitant with the water and seemed to prefer building sand castles and birthday cakes in the sand. Speaking of birthdays, Felise celebrated her 5th Birthday while I was there and David turned up to help Felise blow out the candles. We all enjoyed the chocolate birthday cake Kerry-Ann had made that afternoon. We also gobbled up the delicious spaghetti bolonaise Felise had requested for her birthday dinner.

I decided not to drive up and caught the train to Newcastle (2 1/2 hrs) and then the coach (1 1/2 hrs) to Nelson Bay all for only $2.50... Tony remained at home as he had to entertain our visitors.

I return to Tebbut Lodge next Tuesday. It has been awhile since I was last there so I hope some of them remember me. Vicki says Shirlee can't wait for me to get back.

When Melissa left to go overseas some years back she gave me a plant before she went. I still have that plant even though it nearly died off and only had 2 small leaves left at one stage but it has survived and it thriving again.