Sad day for Pinto

Our friends, Rolf and Christa, his godparents, who usually look after Pinto when we go away, are unable to do so this time as their daughter and four children are staying with them before going to Sweden and also with Christa's health problems it is unfair to do so. Pinto is staying with a couple of his friends. Sandy and Toby. He gets on well with Sandy as he has known him longer. Toby gets a bit jealous. Anyway I packed his bag and with his bed Tony took him over there this morning. Les and Lyn are the carers and have a rather large grassed backyard so there is plenty of room for Pinto to do his favourite thing, sniff around. The carers also spend most of their time at home so they will be there to break up any fights.

Pinto could sense something was going on when we started packing our bags and became very clingy last night. I know for the first couple of days he won't eat anything but his hungry will get the better of him and he will come around. I don't like to admit it but I miss him around the house.

We leave for Perth tomorrow at lunch time and come back on 3 June. We stuffed all our belongings into one middle size bag and one small bag. Most of the bag was full of gifts for all the family over there so it should be light on our return. The wedding of Catherine's half sister Amanda is on Saturday. Craig and the girls are already over there. Danielle had to stay behind as she is unable to fly because of the blood clot. I am wearing light clothing so I hope its not too cold.

Speaking of cold, it was cold and windy on Saturday morning when we ventured over to Greystanes to see Amy play soccer. However, she was not feeling well so Craig thought it would be better if she didn't play as they were going away the next day. They were standing on the sideline watching her team play. She is the only girl in the team.

My hospital visit on Monday was a day long drawn out affair. I was told to be there at 7am for 9.30am op but didn't end up going into the theatre until 1.30pm. Tony picked me up at 3.15pm. I didn't end up seeing the doctor afterwards as he had already done his rounds when I came too. As a matter of fact I didn't even see him in the theatre. I suppose he turned up. He left a message to say everything went OK. I have booked a follow up visit when I return from Perth so I will know more then.

Sheila's brother in law from Perth, John was over here for a course at North Sydney last week. His wife Kathy came over on Thursday to be with him for a few days. Kathy hasn't been to Sydney before so Tony volunteered me to take her around the city and have lunch.

After arranging to meet at the Town Hall we had coffee at QVB then ventured down to Chinatown, Paddy's Markets, Darling harbour and back to the city on the monorail. I got a surprise to see that they had knocked down centrepoint shopping centre and had planned to eat in there. They have also updated Centrepoint Tower and have a tour around the outside of it for $40 if you are brave enough. We settled on lunch at DJ's cafe overlooking Hyde Park. After lunch we went through Hyde Park and into St Mary's cathedral.

Saw a great adaption of the ballet "Nutcracker Suite" on Saturday. Poor Kerry-Ann just made the start by a couple of seconds. I think she must be training for the City to Surf. Anyway when she had settled down and had a sandwich at interval she was back to her normal self.

I had the same rush to get home as I normally have as we were meeting John and Kathy for Dinner in Manly.

Will say farewell for now as I may not get a chance to write until my return from Perth.