Discovering the M2 bus

It was over 40 degrees on Sunday and we decided to take the bus down the M2 to the City to attend the Wesley Mission Volunteer's dinner instead of driving in. This was our first time on the bus although some years back I used to catch the M2 bus to Epping sometimes when I worked there. This was Tony's first trip and he was kind of excited. Being so hot, we drove to the bus store but of course it is within walking distance. As we are now "seniors" the fare is only $2.50 and we were a bit nervous as we had not purchased one of these tickets on the bus before and were unsure of what to do and how they worked. Tony pushed me in first to ask for the tickets and then we took a seat at the back of the bus. It was one of those new buses where there are different floor levels but you have to be careful that you don't pick the seats that sit over the wheels. The trip took about 40 mins and we disembarked at the back of the QVB. We had borrowed a timetable from Rolf and Christa who catch the buses all the time and were able to see when the return buses left which was about every half hour and this would be in front of the QVB. There are 3 buses you can get 610 (which does not go through the Lane Cove tunnel by via Lane Cove) 610X (which does go through the Lane Cove tunnel) and the 619 (which goes via Macquarie Uni). So all in all it doesn't take much time this way to get into the City and we have decided to take this mode of transport in future. In fact I went in by bus this morning to go to the Conference Centre at Darling Harbour where Felise's Variety Christmas Party was held. After getting off at QVB it was only a short walk down the street and across the Pyrmont Bridge and you were there.

Some good news at last

Tony had a CT Scan and a bone scan during the last week and we went to see the Specialist this afternoon to find out how far the cancer had gone. Luckily it is contained in the prostate and Tony will be having a radical prostatectomy operation (ie is removal of the prostate) on the 11th January. So that is a relief and Tony will now be able to enjoy Christmas.

On Wednesday we were setting off to have lunch with some friends at The Entrance. We were just about to go onto the M2 when the car began acting up. We called the NRMA and they told us to take it to an auto electrician which we did. The auto electrician checked it out and said it was the automatic transmission and we would have to take it to an automatic transmission place as it was a specialised trade. We picked the car up today and it cost a total of $2200 to fix. Any other time Tony would be pulling his hair out over this but after what he has been through lately this was just another thing that had to be done.

Michael had a father's retreat last weekend so Kerry-Ann and the children came over on Saturday and stayed the night. Then on Sunday we looked after Felise and Jake while Kerry went to work. We took them to the park but it was rather hot so we didn't stay that long. We then went to McDonalds for lunch and after brought them one of those soft service ice creams each. You can just image how much mess they got into. I had to wash Felise's clothes out when we got home.

I won't be going to Tebbut Lodge this week as Felise's Christmas party is on at Darling Harbour and when I told Shirlee she was disappointed as she is beginning to rely on me now. The residents certainly enjoy their Trivia with me and have a good laugh. Even the gardening group has started to expand. Shirlee has been showing me some new programs she has in mind for me to do with the residents. I even got an invite to the residents Christmas dinner on the 6th Dec.

Also Tony and I are going to a volunteer's thankyou dinner at Wesley Mission on Sunday.

I'm having problems with Farmville again!!!!!! I am about to lose a whole crop of Sunflowers as I am unable to access my farm. Help..........

Shame to spoil a beautiful day.

Raymond Terrace - 31st October

It was such a beautiful day today you wouldn't want anything to spoil it. However that was not the case. The pest man came this morning to get rid of all those nasties that lurk in our back yard. After he finished Tony had an appointment with the specialist as he had a biopsy last week on his prostrate and we were going to get the results. It turns out Tony has prostrate cancer. The doctor said it seems to be contained in the prostrate but he made an appointment for Tony to go for a CT Scan tomorrow and a bone scan next week to make sure. If it is contained then he will have surgery to remove the prostrate altogether and that should be the end of it. Except of course for his recovery which will take up to at least six week or more.

Any other result we will deal with if it happens. It was all a bit of a shock as we were expecting it to be the same result as he had previously when his PSA reading was high.

Carol's husband Malcolm ( this is the couple who live at the back of us and I used to work with Carol) had his prostrate removed a couple of months ago and this has been helpful for Tony as he knows what to expect and is able to talk to Malcolm.

I have been a bit slack lately with my blogging but have had a lot on the calendar and looking after 2 farms and a cafe doesn't give you much time.

Back to the real world.......... Re the volunteer job at the fertility clinic I applied for. Out of the blue I got an email from them inviting me to a morning tea to meet the Manager etc and to explain what was involved. It said they were still sorting through the applications. So I will go along and see what it is all about. At least I will get a cup of tea and its only in Parramatta.

We are going for dinner with our New Zealand coach friends, Peter and Gina at the Ibis hotel

at Thornleigh tomorrow night. Then back to their place for coffee. They are still trying to be

matchmaker between Edwina and their son.

News on Tebbut next blog.

Back to winter again

It has been rather cold the last couple of days. Its also been raining but I don't mind that as we really need it. Its the cold I don't like going back to when it should be warming up.

Anyway not a lot to report from last week and the weekend.

Since I wrote the first few lines the weather has warmed up. Yesterday, it was overcast and there were a few spits of rain but I dragged the gardening club from Tebbutt outside to put mulch on the plants. We will be planting some dahlia's next week according to our Baptist minister that comes every so often with his plants and tools to administer his gardening acknowledge and put us on the right track. So we prepared the soil for these also.

After lunch I was at the microphone again asking a variety of trivia questions. One of the resident even told me when I arrived in the morning that he wouldn't be at trivia as he had to go

to hospital to have some tests done and that he was very disappointed.

When I get that microphone in my hands I change into a different person. It makes me feel as if I have all this power. Anyway, I made them listen to a poem I wanted to read and they all stayed. Maybe it was because it was too much of an effort for them to get out of their lounge chairs.

After trivia one of the older gentleman on a walking frame came up to me and said "I know where you are going now, home" I said "yes, that is right". He said "would you mind doing me a favour and buying me from the shops around the corner 4 packets of Continental Chicken Noodle Soup (4 in a packet) "and gave me $20. I said, "ok" but thought this is a bit of an nuisance as I had to get the car, drive down to the shops and come back again.

I hadn't been to these shops before but managed to stubble across them from the directions I had been given. There was a little supermarket, a hamburger/milkbar shop and some other shop. The supermarket did have packets of soup but there were no Chicken Noodle so I thought I would go to a convenience shop at Terry Rd I used to call into on my way home from Eastwood some years ago if it was still there . I found the shop but that too didn't have any Chicken Noodle. By this time I was getting rather fed up and just wanted to drive on home but I had this chap's $20 note and had promised him I would do it. I was now on a mission and was determined to get that soup so I headed towards Carlingford Court and Woolworths. Of course, when I entered the complex I got stuck in a line of traffic. I finally found a car space and rushed in a purchased the soup and headed back to Dundas. When I arrived I handed the bag and change to Vicki who said I was not to do that again as the residents were not allowed to ask me to do favours for them (I don't think she had noticed it had taken me an hour). That's ok with me but I suppose Les got a talking too.

Last night's show, Nightcafe, at the Riverside Theatre was a bit of a disaster too. It was billed as "Exhilarating dance and live gypsy music, whipped into a frenzy. It will have you jumping out of your seat wanting more. Nightcafe is an alcohol fuelled chaos where the audience will be ducking the flying furniture."

We were trapped on a stage and couldn't just sneak out. They were tossing wine bottles, glasses (all plastic of course) and chairs around and dancing with them for about an hour. Then they were getting the audience to get up and dance to music that was not very suitable. When there was a bit of a lull a couple of people got up and we followed them out and a number of people followed us. The best part of the evening was you could take food and drinks in and we had purchased a package of strawberries, cheese, dried apricot and biscuits to eat.

Melissa has booked her trip and will be spending Christmas with us. It will be nice to have all my fledglings together. She arrives in Sydney at 8.45am on Monday 14th December and will be departing at 7.50pm on Sunday 27th December. Have I got that right Melissa.

Great news Melissa.

Not much to say

Not much to report on the last week or so.....same o same o. We forgot little Michael's birthday last Sunday. We had noted it on the calendar so we wouldn't forget and then forgot to look at the calendar. Rang him last night and he seemed to have had a great birthday with 5 friends staying overnight. He got a bit of money for gifts and is saving up to buy some sought of bike..... he did say what it was but I have never heard of it.

Had a rather tiring day yesterday at Tebbutt as the weather was rather hot. I made everyone wear a hat and had to make sure they had sun lotion on for our garden club. We mostly did watering and put some mulch on the plants. I have to watch them when they have the hose gun as they turn around not thinking and wet everyone. One of the fish in the tank was sick so had to empty some water out and put in some medicine and fresh water and now the water is green. Hopefully this will fix him up.

Nellie was at exercises and was even moving her feet when she didn't think I was looking.
I think I am like a regular to them all now and expect me to turn up on Tuesdays.
Some of them certainly enjoy their trivia and this week I used the microphone so I didn't have to shout. I just found it hard to hear their answers as I am a bit deaf myself at the moment.
I got a bit carried away with the microphone and read to them about the life of Kingsford Smith. I told them all to listen carefully as I was going to ask them questions next week on him.

I went to the movies with Judy today and saw a good film called " Mao's Last Dancer" It is based on a best selling autobiography of Li Cunxin, a chinese ballet dancer who was invited to dance in the US and stayed. He married an Australian ballet dancer and now lives in Melbourne.


I mentioned previously that Tony was invited back to work on a casual basis. Well he has declined their offer and is sticking to doing little jobs for himself now an then.

Back on air at last.

You will be all pleased to know that we are back on air after 9 days of total isolation. I am able to get back to my farm and sought out the devastation. I now know how farmers must feel when their crops are ruined and all the money they must lose. I have replanted potatoes and couple of over vegetables and providing there are no other hiccups will be able to expand my farm when the crops are harvested.

Thank you Kerry- Ann who has been looking in on my farm and reporting the happening but unable to do anything about it. Also thank you David for letting me tend to your farm so I would not be completely lost.

Some things to tell you about David.......I know you just wanted a pig farm but in order to get this up and running I needed to plant some crops. At harvest I will then have some money to work with. Also I had to sell 1 horse and 2 of your goats to get enough money to buy the crops as I had spent the little money you had on fences etc. I will be able to sent these animals back to you as gifts. I hope you don't mind but I also adopted a couple of ugly ducklings that were found on other peoples property and needed a home...................doesn't this all seem real to you !!!!!!!

Sunday was the annual Buddy Walk and our family raised $1,110 towards this great cause. Unfortunately, David and Simone could not make this event as they were both still recovering

from flu like symptoms which they probably passed on to everyone on Saturday at Emily's 8th Birthday. Seriously, I hope you both are feeling better.

The weather was kind to us and we all meet at Circular Quay and walked across the Harbour Bridge to Nelson Park for a picnic. Felise didn't walk as far as she did last year as she had a "stitch in her side" . She was feeling better later and joined in with all the dancing but got a bit shy when a photographer wanted to take a photo of her. Jake had a great time too with so much open space and enjoyed wandering off.

We were entertained by the Japanese hip hop sensation "Love Junx" (all of whom have down syndrome). The crowd was enthralled with their amazing moves. After the performance Love Junx invited the audience to the dance floor to teach them a bit of hip hop and soon most of the Buddy Walkers were dancing to the beat including Felise.

We were all tired little teddies at the end of the day.

Photo taken at Zacs on my Birthday on Friday with David and Amanda, Gina and Peter and Tony. We are going to make this a monthly event.

Saturday was October Birthday day at Craig and Danielle's place. Emily turned 8 and scored a Sportacus suit which she would not take off for 2 days. Picture shows Emily in her Sportacus suit. (He is one of the characters in Tiny Town). One of her presents from David and Simone was a Goonies video and she was over the moon with this and wanted to watch it straight away.

Alvira and Jason were also there with their daughter Jazmin who is 5 months old. Jason was Craig's Best Man.

NEWS FLASH: Tony has been invited back to Fairfield Hospital to work on a casual basis........ will keep you updated.

I am so annoyed

There is a problem with Tony's facebook and I haven't be able to get on for 4 days now and I am hopping mad. I have sent them several emails and they say there are technical issues and are looking into the problem. This doesn't help my farm. All my crops are ruined and I was about to get enough money to expand my farm with those crops. I had planted potatoes and was expecting heaps of money but these would all have withered away by now.


Well I didn't win at cards on Monday night. In fact the only game I won was the last game.
Maybe the reason could have been that they decided to take all the 7s and 8s out of the pack.
This I believe and so did the majority of the others was stupid. Hopefully we can have them back in next week.

Had a good day at Tebbutt Lodge on Tuesday. I now have the run of the place and they even gave me a master key to get into all the rooms. I tend to take all the classes by myself these days as Vicki always seems to have other things to do. All the residents look forward to my trivia as when I arrive they always ask if we are having trivia. All except one gentleman who always shakes his head as much to say " you are not turning off the movie to play that silly game are you?" Only he is not able to speak but I'm sure he means that. I gave them some tricky puzzles this week that I had brought from home and they went down well. To my surprise even Nelly answered a couple of questions. I think she is getting used to me now. Although she does give me one of those looks now and then.

I have put in for another voluntary job. It was like applying for a real job that pays money. They wanted to know everything and asked for referees. I have sent the forms in and will see if I get an interview in the next 2 weeks. This one is an office job.