A rainy day

 Valentines day, which we dont celebrate, and we drove to Birtinya Islmand for parkr7n.It had rained quite heavily overnight and we were hop8ng that it would clear. No rain when we left and we had allowed an hour to get there but I guess at that hour of the morning and being a Saturday, our trip only took 40 minutes.

Warren took off for the start and a chat with other runners. I had found a cache, the only one on the island so I set off in the opposite durection.

Middle of summer and I wished I had taken a jacket.

Ginger flowers around the water.

Across the bridge was the island. Parkrun went around the whole of the island and a little more to get the 5kms. The water was grey and chopping from the wind.

This statue was on the rise leading down the the pkayground where I needed to be.

It started to sprinkle as I started to walk back, hoping that it wouldnt get too heavy as I was at least a kilometre away.

I was slightly wet when I returned and the rain got heavier and rain has continyed all weekend, much to Lucy's disgust. She did get a walk each afternoon but she was ready to go walking this morning but couldnt go until this afternoon. 

Friendships

 Its been a week of meeting up with old friends, yes, we are all getting older but these friendships go back decades.

Sunday we travelled into town to met a couple that we used to work with overseas. They live the closest but it is still over a two hour drive to get there. Six of us had lunch together catching up on families and day to day happenings.

Many memories were brought up and many laughs were enjoyed. After a great couple of hours, we left to catch our train home and they walked into the city to catch their bus. Fifty cent fares for travel is the greatest.

Yesterday we returned to the same cafe to meet another couple who live interstate, that friendship spans about 35 years as we both moved around the country.

The beauty of these friendships is there is never any akwardness and the conversations pick up as though it was only last week we saw them.

My only regret is that each couple live considerable distance from us, one in another country, one in another state the other on the other side of city.

Our ferry ride.

Goat curry

 We have ordered goat curry at the local Indian place and enjoyed it with rice and naan bread.

While on holidays, I went to a market and there was a butcher selling goat meat, I thought I would buy some. Unbeknown to me it was already packaged and frozen in kilo lots. I was also taken aback when the woman said it was $35 but paid the mobey as I had already committed myself.

We bought it home and put in our freezer until a later date, a kilo of meat is like four meals for just us. Had visitors staying and I thought what a treat to share one of our favourite meals.

I defrosted the pack and tumbled in into the slow cooker, on reccommendation from seller, we went out for the day. Six hours later, meat seemed tough and so many bones.

I changed my menu and cookedgoat meat went in the fridge.

Two days later when it was only us at home, I used a curry sauce, mild one and put the goat into it.

Well, the mild curry was HOT! I had some sour cream to tone it down. I served some up saying that it may or may not be good. If not good, maccas wasnt far away. I think we only had a couple of bites and yep maccas won out.

The sauce was still too hot even over rice, every piece of meat was attached to bone and it was tough and very chewy and basically tasteless. Doesnt even look appatising. 

S

Four wheel driving on the beach.

 Not me but I was asked along on a training course purely as a passenger.

I was a little unsure at first then bit the bullet and said yes. After all it was a training course.

I must admit I had forgotten the date, it had been put in the diary but on a tablet which did not transfer to our phones. Thank goodness for ak reminder phone call them night before. Once reminded, I recalled that I offered to make lunch for both of us.

Hum, no bread left so sandwiches were not an option. I did have a pack of sausage rolls so at 8.30pm, I am cooking them and boiling some eggs and some chocolate bars make lunch for two.

Pick up was 7.30am as we had a two hour trip to get to the beach. Coffee at the meeting place and when all thirteen Jimny's were there, all women, training commenced.

Tyres were let down and then it was follow the leader on to the beach.  Big dip and soft sand, yay made it. All vehicles had a radio and there were many cries of "made it" as each one got onto the sand.

One very happy and pleased daughter.

An instruction stop, all had to park next to each other facing the ocean, to show other traffic that your vehicle is stationary and it is also easier to drive off  slightly down hill.

Most of the girls

Being instructed about tow ropes and towing.

Not one the same

Trying to get bogged, which proved difficult to do.

Rainbow car pulled it out.

It was a fun day, not scary at all, even when we drove over deep ruts in the sand trying to bog the Jimny.

I think we probably drove 50 kms up the beach,  twice going back off the beach, lunch was at a lagoon.

Bit of rain coming back to the start point where everyone reinflated their tyres and set off home.

Not once did I reach for the Jesus's bar.

 

L

Cluedo, the show

 The board game has been made into a musical and it had been advertised for awhile. I hinted for a birthday gift, then suggested a date and time for tickets.

Unfortunately the show was the day after the tennis and Warren felt that he would never be able to sit through it without being in pain. 

After some plans being changed Aidan took his ticket and accompanied to the theatre.  We had lunch beforehand, just as well as there was no intermission.  I was starting to wonder where they could possibly break but no break, just ninety minutes full on. 

Very enjoyable day out, I left home at 9.30am, home by 5.30 with the smell of dinner cooking when I opened the door.

 

Tennis

 This month is all about the tennis here down under. The United Cup is in Sydney and Perth, many countries have a team and it is countries against countries. One men's and one women's singles then a mixed doubles.

Brisbane International tennis started on Sunday and we got night tickets then Warren decided to buy a ground pass as well so we could go anything during today plus have our ticketed seats for Pat Rafter arena.

We watched two sets on an out side court, first in best dressed for seats, then we went over to the other show court and watched two young Aussies play there. One was ranked 76 and the other 111, Rinky was 111 and won the match fairly convincingly, it was good to watch. He is a bit of a doubles specialist. 

 Rinky Hijikata, with a name like that, it's surprising that he is an Aussie but he was born in Sydney.

This one was inside and Grigor can't remember how to spell his surname, he's Bulgarian and has won the tournament a couple of years ago. Probably slowing down a bit but still great to watch and hear the ball being knocked around.

We caught the bus and train back after his match. Great day out, long journey of ninety minutes each way, thank goodness it's only once a year. We will watch the rest of the matches on TV.

New pattern

 I ironed my donation sewing this morning ready for delivery in a few days. I had used the same pattern for several dresses, even though they were all different. Different fabric, different pockets, different buttons, I try to make them individual. 

I had made several pairs of shorts as well plus bucket hats.

 Time for a new/different patterns. Patterns are some expensive now, last ons I bought for myself was $20 and whilst it looked simple, it wasn't and after two goes to make it, it went in the bin, and expensive exercise.  Pattern was half price with purchase of overlocker and 6 metres of fabric was bought at an op shop.

Many kids patterns I buy at opp shop, always a concern that some pieces may be missing but that has not been the case so far.

Not a very good photo, it's a cross over top, plain ambulance uniform in bottle green, looked too plain so applied two groups of the owls on the front. Somewhere in my sewing room I discovered a card with 3 metres of pink bobbles. I decided that I may as well make use of them. I do not remember buying them at all and I dont usually sew in pink, anyway hopefully some kid will enjoy it.

I will use the pattern again probably next time without the ruffle sleeves, they take a fair bit of material and are time consuming to do.