Sam, the Mad Hatter

I had a good talk to Sam on Monday night. He told me that the three performances of Alice in Wonderland went really well and he had a lot of fun.
With the aplomb of a professional, he explained how a tape was played too early, over the top of the people speaking --- but that it was neither here nor there and didn't spoil the play.

I love how both Sam and Madeleine talk about their enjoyment of the performances, not about their own abilities.

Break a leg for the last 2 performances next weekend, Sam!!

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Out of the past

Jeanie McMillan arrived today and we have spent the evening talking ---- trying to catch up on nearly 30 years.
It's amazing how we meet so many old time friends up here in Moree, thousands of kilometres from our homes.

I first met Jeanie in Wonthaggi in 1967. Barely out of her teens and with her own newborn baby boy, she became nanny to 4 little girls who had lost their Mother. That was the beginning of my great admiration for her courage and fortitude. As I said to her tonight, I have always wanted to write her biography. That really surprised her. Modesty is one of her virtues.

Today she has 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grand children. Driving a Toyota Troop Carrier, towing a camper trailer, she is returning from the very tip of Australia, Cape York. A grandchild has printed a sticker for the back of the truck --- Nan's Tonka Truck. I'm sure that they must all be very proud of her.

Men see her backing into a camp site and ask where hubby is. (Sexist pigs!!) I would love to be there to tell them exactly what this amazing woman has achieved on her own, over the years. I'm in awe!

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Grandkids on the move

CONGRATULATIONS to Maddy, who received a Judges' Award at the Talent Quest. Keep singing and composing, Madeleine.

CONGRATULATIONS to Tatey, who passed her driver's licence yesterday. Keep driving safely, Tatum.

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I WANT TO SPIT

EXCUSE ME...... I am Laurie Jenkinson, who gets a cold about once every 3 years. This is my second cold in 4 months. THAT'S NOT ON. If I didn't feel so sick, I would feel totally offended. For all these years, I have prided myself on not catching colds. As a kid, I had a lot of colds, so many that Dad used to ask, "Is this next week's cold or this week's cold?"
My throat has been viciously sore for 10 days. At the diabetic nurse's suggestion, I went to the doctor. I've never taken a cold to a doctor before and told him so. He applauded me for this ....... and the applause was all I got. He didn't even look in my throat! So here I sit, coughing up my toenails and waiting, waiting,waiting for nature to take its course.
Maddy has suggested that I go to the beach. That would be about a 10 hour drive, otherwise I would. Dad used to take us on a little red bus to South Melbourne Beach. He stood on the sand and called to us, "Keep swimming. Kick those legs. Don't stand up." When we got out, he rubbed us dry with Mum's roughest towels. Then he bought us hot chips, which we ate on the way home, before getting into bed. I want to be a kid again!!

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Painting

A very beautiful surprise arrived in the mail this week. It was a gorgeous painting done by my dear friend Carla, in The Netherlands. She painted it expressly for me, in my favourite colours. Steve was very quick to hang it up. I took a photo from the chair where I sit at my computer, so that I could show her how it was always within my view. You can see my computer monitor at the bottom.

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Opening of the New Pool

On the day we arrived here, the concrete was poured for the new, 25 metre cool pool. It had to all be done at once, so a veritable army of men worked all day until 11pm.
We watched its progression for the next 3 months. The tilers worked for weeks and it was fascinating to watch "Gywdir Carapark " being spelled out down the centre of the pool.

It was hoped that it would be finished by Aug 1st but there was a hold up with the filters. A shed was built to hold these filters, which look like miniature diving bells. Last night, Neville told us that, all being well, the pool would be opened at 10am today.
I texted him to ask if it was open and he answered that he was having trouble getting the right chlorine level. After a bit of back and forth, he wrote that he would text when it was all ready. Half an hour later, in came another text. "Great", I thought, "It's ready". I opened the text which read, "No, it's not ready yet."

We changed into bathers and went down to sit with them at the kiosk. Lindy suggested that she, Marion (her Mother) and I should be the first ones into the pool. Finally, Neville gave the word and as luck would have it, Lindy was unfortunately busily occupied with a bunch of caravans booking in.
So, Marion and I were the first to break the water! It was around 28C and as the day was warm, 25C, it felt beautiful. Within minutes, we were followed by about 15 people, some doing laps, which hadn't previously been possible. I was happy to alternate between the 39C pool and the new cool pool.


Click on the arrow to start the sequence of photos.

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Tatey's Birthday

Our eldest grandchild, Tatum turned 19 on Friday. How the years fly!!!!
She had a family celebration on Friday and there's a friends' gathering tonight, Saturday.

Josh was at the family dinner but Talitha and Maddy attended the school's Talent Quest, where Maddy won an Encouragement Award for her singing.

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