Saturday 29 January 2022

Blown out of place

Thank goodness we did our last lateral flow test on Thursday. A nasty business sticking things in your throat and then in your nose. Fiddly, too and time consuming.

We've had  quite a few tests since December, one way and another and all of them have been absolutely clear. I suppose that is reassuring.

I miss the warmth of Australia now that we are living in the low figures, around 3-7 degrees. DH says his fingers didn't ache while we were there,  but now we are back home, they ache on a morning and are very stiff. Now I think about it, my back didn't ache as much on a morning either, but it does now we are  home.  Perils of getting older, I think, to be matched only by worsening eye sight and crumbling teeth! I am off to the dentist this afternoon so I suppose health is running in my thoughts.

I have a couple of chapters to do to round off my new story, so I shall get on to that next. That will take my mind off teeth and health problems.

Saturday morning update:
There's an 80-mile-an-hour wind shaking the windows this morning, but I cannot see any damage to us or any of our immediate neighbours.

I saw one blackbird cowering under our garden shrubbery hoping for some peanuts so my first task was to put some out for him. The trouble is they get so territorial about it. Probably the same blackbird chased two females away from the spot yesterday and some years ago two males fought - one broke the other's leg. He didn't last more than a couple of days even though I tried to keep him fed.

 A few things blown out of their usual place, but nothing disastrous. So it might be a quiet day indoors or me, which wouldn't be a bad thing. I still have the last two chapters to finish! and lots of other work to do. Researching key words, smartening up the book descriptions, checking over the washing basket. Riveting stuff, but so necessary.

Monday 24 January 2022

The days we sailed

 When I look back at pics of the splendid days we sailed out on Paul and Kathleen's boat, I wonder how I managed to get my knees so sunburnt! (I was not wearing long trousers all the time!) It doesn't look good weather at all - but then I remember that the temperature was probably around 25 degrees and because Sydney harbour has sheltered little bays all around it, there was very little wind. If you Scroll down you'll see a sunnier pic  - and five minutes later I scrambled back under the canopy because a rain cloud burst over us. Happily it only lasted five minutes.

Covid test number 4 due today. So far we have been clear, but we are socially distancing - as we have done all the time this virus ha been at large.

 We've missed the odd dinner (not that the dinners were odd!) with friends and neighbours and we have not been into Newcastle for close on two years but really that is the only change we have made to our lifestyle. We didn't venture into Sydney centre this year for the same reasons, which was a pity. We saw much more of the outskirts this time and it is a very pretty city with some beautiful trees offering shade along the streets.

I am happy to report that I finally plucked up the courage to try another themed layout for my blog and this time all seems to have worked well. People with phones, please check it out and let me know if it is OK. 



https://jenblackauthor.blogspot.com




Saturday 22 January 2022

Pinged

Adapting to colder temperatures now.

Frantically Housecleaning to remove a month's dust,

the washing mountain has diminished and

we've been pinged.

We were tested for Covid before  we were allowed on the plane leaving England. Once we landed in Australia we had to show our vaccination certificates and take a test on day 2 and day 6. Day 2 in particular involved us in a 3 and a half hour car queue which took up the entire morning as Australians rushed to be tested after being told that Covid infections were escalating. Day 6 was much quicker. 

All our tests showed that we were clear. Coming home, we showed our certificates and got on the plane. 14 hours to Dubai, 9 hours in the airport, and 7 hours to Newcastle. Seating capacity on both planes 853+550 or say 1400 people. In the airport we social distanced and it was in no way crowded. Yet someone in that number has tested positive for Covid and we were pinged. I assume all 1400 would get the same instructions.

Picked up lateral flow tests courtesy/free via the NHS, did the first one last night and we are still clear. Whoever manufactures these tests is probably a millionaire by now. We have to do 6 more tests this week to be sure.

Pic shows some of the houses around one of the smaller bays of Sydney harbour.

Tuesday 18 January 2022

Mountains of washing

 Working my way through the mountain of washing/ironing every holiday entails, and at the same time, reminiscing - the pic today is of Port Macquarie beaches. It is the largest town in the area and it was stonking hot that day, which made walking around quite a challenge.

There are two long breakwater/harbour walls and it seems as if everyone has made their mark on them. Back in 2012 we inscribed a small Black family shield, but either it has been painted over or  more likely we simply couldn't remember where we had put it! Either way, we never found it!

 

I suspect we'd be accused of vandalising the town if we did this in Whitby, but Australians are much more relaxed about such things. Sometimes the lack of formality can seem a bit too loose, but it is basically a country for young people and they love the no ties, no business suits, very few high heels and in fact, very few dresses - everyone wears shorts and what I call flip-flops but they call thongs. My eyebrows lifted the day Paul told me he always wears thongs, but we soon understood each other's linguistic problems. 

OTOH, I saw many, many dress shops in Mosman and they all sold very elegant dresses that I would have been happy to own if I had the figure I had when I was 20!

My current story has reached 51k, and now I have to decide how to finish. Another 20-25k should do it. I hoped to tie it off while I was away, but there were so many diversions it didn't happen. Building jigsaws with the kids, for one. That evoked a forgotten skill. As always, I'm torn about revealing the plotline of my story. Part of me says I should tell people and part of me wants to hug it to myself and keep it secret - not a good move if I want to sell any copies.


Sunday 16 January 2022

Travelling highlights

 Currently sitting in the Emirates Business Class Lounge and catching up on e-mails and stuff. Thank goodness it was open! The Emirates Lounge at Sydney was closed and we had to used the Plaza Premium lounge, so we had fears about this one, but it is the major hub of the airline, and it is open.

The flight was OK. 7,600 mile in 14 hours. I watched the new James Bond and could hardly hear a word for the gunshot noise on screen and the general airplane engine noise. Good, but puzzling as to plot until I can hear the dialogue/ I thought the slender dame in the black dress and heels was the new 007 but evidently not. I think I need sub titles! Ben Fogel's wilderness retreats entertained me through all 6 episodes, but I must admit I kept nodding off and waking up again. Next leg I plan to watch Bear Grylls. I kept seeing chunks of it on a seat ahead of me and it looked interesting.

We shall be here for 9 hours, and will get something to eat and find the comfy "beds" to have a sleep. Maybe soon I shall hear news of NoVaX....


Thursday 13 January 2022

 Our Australian adventure is drawing to a close.

Now back in Mosman, where there seems never to be less than 3 lanes of traffic hurling around junctions and turning at right angles in the face of those 3 lanes. Scary stuff. Last night we decided to take our hosts out for a meal. We had all had a long day, but they had driven back from Brisbane to pick us up in Redhead and then driven down to Sydney the next day. Almost 800 odd miles.

A meal at a restaurant on Chowder Bay called Ripples seemed a good idea. The bay used to be a naval establishment - in fact it still is. I chose Barramundi as my main meal and enjoyed it. A chunk of fish that was moist, sweet ad succulent. I can honestly say I have never tasted a better chocolate mousse with cherries on the side plus a portion of ice cream. Two bottles of Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc-Semillion blend from Margaret River and I was in heaven.

Today, Thursday, we walked up Brady Street and onto Military Road. We walked to the cricket ground and then then along the other side of Military Road. Almost every shop is a dress shop, and each seems to have selected a certain colour as their Window display of the week. We ordered a Salami Baguette for Bill and a chicken and Arvo ( Advocado) baguette for me, plus a Florentine to share and we ate it on the bridge between malls (it was peaceful and cooler there with air con working) that crosses Military Road while we sat and watched the traffic flow beneath us. Three lanes heading in one direction, three in the opposite direction and it never stops. A fire engine bundled its way through, and we knew when cars appeared with headlights shining that the  storm was getting closer. We walked around the cricket oval and then headed home. We only just reached shelter in time before the rain came pelting down.

This evening, Monopoly is the game of choice, much to the delight of 7 year-old Alexander. 

Tuesday 11 January 2022

The Strawbridge Hat

 What with wind, rain, the NoVax situation and the Omicrom virus, the last few days have been memorable, but possibly for all the wrong reasons. 

Talk of summer in Australia and you expect hot temperatures. Well, we certainly have those. I have gone around in bare feet since I got here and have never worn a jacket, cardigan or anything approaching such a garment. But...there have been some torrential rain storms, and days spent watching dark clouds drift about all day long. Nights have been sticky and hot, which isn't good for sleeping and if you sleep with an open window then the wind screams around the corners and there is a constant roar of the surf hitting the beach. 

We've spent the morning in brilliant sunshine sitting on the beach and dipping our toes in the incoming tide. Yet step out on the balcony to eat lunch and the wind almost takes my sandwich off my plate. One day I spent on the beach with my sun-hat (which you need here otherwise you might end up with a cracking headache or sunstroke.) securely tied on with a chiffon scarf - as you see in the pic. Bill found his Dick Strawbridge hat worked extremely well.

Omicrom is escalating here in spite of all the restrictions people in Australia have put up with for so long - which is why they are so cross with NoVax. If he actually steps on court in the Open, the crowd reaction will be interesting. One commentator here says "he has no idea what he's in for." We had to jump through endless hoops to get here and we are  hoping there will be no sudden changes in plans as we think about returning home at the weekend. having spent 18 hours in Dubai airport on the way out, we know our way around now. 9 hours there will be a doddle and I know where the champagne bar is now!

Friday 7 January 2022

Welcome to Australia

You probably won't believe me but there is a stonking wind howling around the balcony and it is so unpleasant we are sitting inside. Dh is reading Musk's book about building Tesla cars and me writing  this and then going back to my story. I thought Australia was this pleasant, sunshiny country where tennis players melted on court because the weather was 40 degrees and climbing.

Well, I kid you not. I would not class outside as cold. Not exactly. But it is not pleasant to be out. If you find a sheltered spot out of the wind, the temperature makes you break into a sweat. Beaches must be wind tunnels of stinging sand, and we know from yesterday's walk that the sea is not for swimming as it is too rough. 

The waves may look innocuous from high up
where we are, but down on the beach they are breaking at heights that would be well over my head and the undertow is powerful. Stand still when the waves retreats and you find yourself toppling over with its power dragging you out into what we should never forget is the Pacific Ocean. There are sharks out there, and Southern Right Whales. Life guards say No swimming. Bluebottles inhabit the waters, blown along the coast from northern beaches. Evidently they look more like lobsters than the bluebottle we know, and they sting and if too many sting you at once you are in deep shit.

I remember that old ditty "Welcome to Australia..." Click here

Monday 3 January 2022

Time to Relax

 Apologies to anyone who is confused by the appearance of my blog in the last few days. When I arrived in Oz, the family told me they didn't follow it because they couldn't read it easily. The blue background took over the screen. So I decided to experiment with backgrounds and have now got myself in a tangle. Hopefully more of you will be able to read it now, but it certainly isn't the kind of "look" I wanted. (Evidently it depends on which browser the blog reader uses as to how it looks on screen. Most of the time I favour Google Chrome.)

The odd weather continues with really heavy surf that takes over the entire beach at high tide, storm clouds, heat and occasional torrential burst of rain. It is all very restful, actually. The life savers bright orange high perch is in its usual position, but I don't suppose he is lurking there. No one is supposed to be in the water at the moment. (The pic is of a calm day at the beach.)

There is a vast store of books in this house. So far I have indulged myself and read Maeve Binchy's last book A Week in Winter, Adele Parks If You Go Away and for a complete contrast, James Rollins Excavation. Easy to guess which book belongs to which member of the family! I am now embarking on another Rollins Ice Hunt. I've dipped into the presidential chapters of Becoming by Michelle Obama, looked through James Martin's new book on Butter and I'm planning on flicking through the many Nigella Lawson books here before I leave. I enjoy her writing as much as the recipes. 

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