Its October.

 I said that I would attend an event at out local library. I havent been to the library in over two years. I used to go about once a fortnight to get a bag of books but since turning my tablet into a kindle (I didnt, Warren did) I havent had any need to visit. 

I still read a hell of a lot but I also took out a monthly subscription for $14 for as many books as I like.

But I digress, at the library, I saw my first Christmas tree already up and decorated. 

I swear Christmas gets earlier and earlier each year. It did put me into gear though as I have been collecting a few things to make into Christmas decorations and I made three tonight while watching TV.

Storm season

 Yep, its started and Lucy is scared of storms. So hard to know what to do for her. Over time we have bought her a storm jacket, anxiety pills etc, nothing seemed to work.

She gets a bit fidgeting so she must hear or sense them before we do.

Last night a storm came over just after dinner, she had been settled in her chair in the family room then she got up and moved to near our chairs. We heard the rumble and realised why she moved. Another rumble and she moved closer, her ears were up, she was panting and looking towards the door, which we had shut trying to keep out as much noise as possible.

Ten minutes later, she got up and walked back to her chair, storm was over but we knew there was another one expected. Second one was about 9.30pm and Lucy came into the bedroom. We invited her up onto the bed, she doesnt get on our bed normally but jump up she did and again she was panting a bit. My thought was that I had just had the doona cleaned, usually she dribbles as well in a storm but she didnt so I think she is getting better. Same thing once the storm was over, off she hops and goes back to her bed.

Tonight the storm was louder and Lucy had been by our chairs, then she stood up and looked at me and then in the direction of the garage. I asked her if she wanted to go in the car. She bolted to the garage door. Last year we had put her in the garage in the car for the duration. Yep, that what she wanted. I opened the car door and put the shed towel down on the seats, she didnt need a second invitation.

I left the door to the car and the garage open so she could get out when she wanted. She came back in twenty minutes later. Damn dog, didn't shut the doors after herself though. Hope we dont have too many storms at least with a kid, they can understand an explanation. 

Melbourne, what a week!

 Theres been protests about construction workers being told to vaccinate.

Then there was the earthquake, it was a 5.9 and east of Melbourne but there were some buildings damaged in the CBD. 

Weekend was topped off by a seige. This so far hasnt been on the news but was two houses away from Rob's house in East Melbourne. The street was blocked off with several police, a couple of ambulances, riot police. Gas masks were used at one point and guns were drawn.

Melbourne did win the AFL grand final on Saturday night after a drought of 57 years.

A miracle

 Yep, witnessed an ongoing miracle.

I have coffee in the park with three friends each week. We used to go to a cafe each month and then boom! Covid!

Zoom catchups which evolved into weekly coffee mornings, where we can social distance and stay as long as we like. 

Our venues have changed a little over the last fifteen months dependant on the weather. Discovered a part of the park that gets very little use, shady trees a car prk and even a covered patio type building if needed. Contractors were completing a toilet block as well. What more could one ask for?

The toilet block was finished about eight weeks ago, very nice looking build, three cubicles, one is wheelchair friendly now to the miracle.

These are the pictures on the outside of the toilet, two sides and back, I have only taken two of them. The pictures are scenes within the park. Miracle is that there has been no graffiti or tagging.

My C2C chevron

 Well, its done,  took me twelve days.

To get the look I wanted, I had to do it in four panels and turn every second one over. It was a breeze to sew up.

As I was doing it by blocks, I didn't know how big it would end up. It measures 120 by 135 cms.

I used mill ends from spotlight and although they are supposed to be 8 ply, each colour had a different weight to it. The white was quite thick and I only did two stitches instead if three for each block, took all five balls of white three of the purple and one and a half of the teal. I was going to put a teal border around it but the deadline was Sept 15 so I ran out of time to do that.

Check ins

 After several weeks of checking in using the covid app, it has become rather common place.

With our last lock down which I think was in July, more restrictions came into play which included checking in at many more places.

If we go to a shopping centre, then its check in at the entrance and then each and every store that is entered. 

However I was rather surprised this morning when visiting a small township up from our place. We had been in the park and then walked further up the street still in parklands and I saw a toilet block. As we were going to go home for at least an hour, I thought that I might as well use it.

There were two cubicles and as I went to enter one, I noticed on the door a check in app.

Surely not! In a toilet! I read the sign and yep sure enough, it stated that it was the Smith Street rest area facilities so got my phone out and checked in. Reminded me of my Dad grumbling about filling in the census form, saying that soon government would want to know how many times one had a sh....

Outside of the block

Picnic in the park.

 I wanted to go out somewhere the other day but didnt want to go too far. A picnic was the answer. I had made pasties a couple of weeks ago, the pastry and mixture meant 20 pasties so there are a fair few in the freezer. 

Pasties heated in microwave and wrapped in foil, a nut bar, some cheese and biscuits and a coffee in a travel mugs and we were away. Of course we couldnt forget Lucy so we took her travel water and a couple of biscuit bones for her. She got a piece of our pasties as well. 

  Think this ducks parent had been playing around, not a normal coloured duck.

These cockatoos were in the trees just above us, we made sure that they were hanging about in front of us, had enough milk in our coffee, didnt need any more white, courtesy 

 of birds.

The pea hens were out in force too.

A large water dragon cut across our path.