A very busy 3 weeks!!!

Well, it seems forever since I sat down and added to this blog, not sure where each day has gone, but they are going ever so quickly, so here's a rushed overview. (I'm actually writing this on November 1st - not October 12th as it says above!) Had a lovely day out on my birthday, went to a charming cafe with my Godmother, her daughter and my cousin, Ailsa, Mum's youngest sister, and her daughter in law, Sue and of course the Brig, representing the male species. Great food and conversation, as always, finished off back at my Godmother's for birthday cake. A great group to spend the day with.

At my Godmother's (left) - (Mum's 2nd youngest sister) celebrating the day and the Beatle's hit "when I'm ..??"

Not long after this event, our Sponsor Child in Brazil, became a sponsor "teenager" - seems like a nice kid, writes lovely little letters and sends us photos, here she is on her big day.!!

Now in between all of this we have still been renovating, some success stories, and a few near disasters, however our furniture arrived from the Bay on October 20th, early - the kitchen people were still here futsing around, the carpet layers had just left, and the tiler was still up and running. Anyway all was unloaded, the garage was packed with boxes and we put the large pieces where they would fit or were supposed to go. The goal was to downsize, and this we did, but hell is it hard deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. The Salvation Army have made a couple of happy calls over the past two Friday's and we still have a load more to sort out. Of course if I didn't save everything from 30 years ago, and the Brig is not much better, then this particular stage of our life would be just a tad smoother. We have been aided a bit by some fading of books, prints and furniture due to the amount of "soleil" the old house tolerated. We will get there though!. While this is going on, the painting of the outside of the house is now under way, so not long now till we can get back to normal.

The Brig is really happy now that he can barbeque and cook outside every night - I don't mind it either!!!. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous every day. and even though most of the coast and Brisbane suffered during, and after, a horrendous storm the other night (thousand of lightning strikes), we could see it, the garden got some rain, house didn't suffer at all and we generally relaxed through it.

What's next? Looking forward to our Christmas down south, then of course we have our reunion with my old Kiwi flatmates in Napier, N.Z. in March, sooh looking forward to that, then depending on currency, health and everything, we may just head further on next year - Who knows!!

Hope everyone is well and happy.

Reno - nearly finished - I hope.

Things have been on the go for awhile now with this reno thing we are doing - no joking, this will be the absolute last one!!!! Still waiting for the plumber, not impressed with the electrician in the long run either, but that's still to be sorted!!! Good side, great young landscaping guys, originated from Bowral, went to Chevaliar College opposite Mum's cottage there. They sort've tolerated my whims, camelia sasanqua's and magnolia port wine hedges with sandstone pavers - in the damn tropics. These plants do work in the area, so here's hoping mine do as well!!! Fortunately we do have a water tank at the side of the house!!!. The new front door and bi folds are done and painted - oh goodness that painter!!! The window shutters and venetians are installed, with the exception of a couple that have been lost (not complete, no pay yet)!!!. The kitchen gets ripped out tomorrow, so another exciting day, pest man sprayed in and out today, and Frank and his new mate Pete have a couple of jobs to do at the end of the week, plus a few other things are waiting. Carpets soon, and then eventually the furniture will attack us from the south. Anyway, nearly over I think and hope. Our brick camphouse should end up as a small cottage sooooon.! In the meantime the weather has been absolutely superb, certainly no complaints there, though I am sure the tropical variations will hit soon.