Stupidity - they name is Man

For anyone that actually reads my blog, you should note that I am about to slink off to the beach for three weeks.

Camping.

Yes.  You heard me.  Camping.

Think bugs.  Probably snakes.  No power.  No laptop.  Zip other than my iphone and although I dare say I could leave the odd comment on my blog to signal that I’m still alive, I doubt I’ll waffle on as I usually do.  If you an avid reader over your morning coffee; have no fear, I will return.  Or at least I’m not anticipating ending up in a shallow grave at the Prom, but who know what he has in store for me!

Now.  Camping…  I used to have a fantastic theory on holidays.  Sadly, this appears to have gone out the window since the squeeze came on the scene.  (Along with romance)  When holidaying – don’t go anywhere you can’t wear high heels (or thongs)

That doesn’t mean you have to wear them, it’s more about luxury level.  Holiday luxury level should encompass huge beds; floating your lilo over to the bar; drinks with little umbrellas; dining out; romantic dresses and high heels!

I’m really not seeing a requirement for any of those things at the beach - CAMPING!!  Hell, I haven’t even packed any heels.  If annoyed with the squeeze, I’ll have to show my displeasure in a different way it would seem.  That’s alright.  I can be creative.

Strangely, I’m quite looking forward to three weeks away.  I have a bag of books; and plan to totally relax.  No computer, but even better…  No television.

Hell.  What will the squeeze do..?  How will he exist???  He may have to spend the nights in; ‘gulp’; conversation!

Now this ought to be fun.

The big 40

I can't believe we are planning another 40th. Our kid is turning 40!! And to make matters worse, we've already had two of them birthdays. Both our sons turned 40 last year!

My daughter wants to have her 40th in Thailand. It's not until next year giving everyone some saving time but looking at where we are going to stay makes me want to go now!

I loved Thailand. It was the best holiday! Better than Vietnam - which isn't Vietnam's fault; the weather last year was abysmal! When I say it was raining so we couldn't really go and see anything, I mean it was slanting, pouring... You couldn't see two feet in front of you. 

We went one day to get pick some clothes up we had made. They next day, she sent us a pic of her... In a boat going down the main street! It was pretty awful.

I got sick... As a dog, (which was good for the diet, not much else).

But Thailand! It was gorgeous weather. Swimming every day. We had to decide to walk the ten feet to the pool; or ten feet to the beach! Of course, the pool usually won out (it had a bar in the center of it...)

We are trying to decide if we go back... The Squeeze had to go back in April/May to get his teeth done; I just have to decide if I want to go. He said 'we may take a quick trip to Thailand...) as a sweetener.

Do I stay at home by myself (with 4 cats and a dog) but by myself...

Or do I go and see what it's like minus the torrential rains!

Oooo I forgot....

Yes. I forgot to blog. I have brain damage so be gentle with me!

Ok. Where was I? Well the sun has gone today, you can't even see it above the blanket of cloud. It is cold actually. 24 degrees Celsius. Brrrr! When you consider that last week, we had one day in the 40's! And judging by the BOM (which is incredibly wrong most of the time) we don't get another day in the 30's until next week.

So, the weather is done...

The weekend went by and we had a houseful. My son and girl, and their two kids. Maia... My god what a beauty! 

We went to my sisters for lunch and we had John's brisket... Done in the smoker for about 12 hours. It was beautiful and sunny; in fact, I got sunburned from being in the pool. Amazing what an afternoon in the sun does for you. I drank a bottle of champagne so rolled on home about 4.30pm.

And the whole time I was out, smiling, having fun... I kept thinking about writing. Go figure!

Gardening in the sun...

That's what I should be doing... Instead, I'm inside, writing. Only pausing to break when I have to. 

This morning, I had to go and see a specialist at Epworth Hospital, in Geelong. I can say that is the best hospital I've seen, and I've seen a few with 27 brain operations. But wow, this place is fantastic! But I regress...

So, I had 2 hours off going to the specialist, saying the weird 'it's as though I'm drunk.' And I haven't had alcohol in a week, and then only a stubby because it was bloody hot! 

I fall down. A lot. I fell down, face first while walking the dog at the cemetery! I told my partner in between tears of self-pity to just cover me in dirt and leave me there. He was shaking with laughter (bastard) when he saw I was okay and helped me up.

The doctor worked out in about ten minutes that I'm having too much Gabapentin, so I have reduce that. If I don't, I'll continue to walk like a drunk... Which personally, I think is better that the nonstop pain! I said to him the pain is manageable now... Unlike when I came last time you were my last hope. I was going to kill myself if he couldn't alleviate it. 

And he alleviated it! Now he wants to take that away? Hmmm I'll have to think about that!

So... as soon as I got back here, I made a cup of coffee and sat to write... 

The Squeeze is at work - where all good men should be!

A job? What the hell is that?

Well I could say I'm worried about being jobless. (woe is me! putting my hand to my brow)...  But the reality is that walking out of my job, still with 3.8 years of work to go until retirement may have been the best decision for me! I only realised upon leaving how much I hated it. How they had stripped my confidence!

Oh don't worry, money will be tight. It will get a hell of a lot tighter I'd say; but aside from the money, I'm happy! Happier than I've been in months.

My garden looks divine. My house is in great shape and I'm writing again. 

It hasn't been easy. I don't think I've put pen to paper (or in this case, fingers to keyboard) for a whole lot of years but now that I'm back into it, I wonder how I ever existed without it!

It's as if I'm telling a story out of my head - and I'm reading it!

Annoyingly we're off to the Vic Market today to meet our kids and shop! I love them really, but writing has me again and I just think 'get out of my way and let me work!'

Wonder if it will last!

It's now nighttime.

I went to the Vic Market and shut up about time wasted on the way. I just drove.

It ended up a fantastic day! We met friends who all congregate there. My son came (flying the flag as he was the only one of our kid's there) and his wife. I got to hold my granddaughter - (who is gorgeous!) She has the bluest eyes and the best lashes!

How's those for eye lashes!

Back on the Unemployed List!

I started work about four years ago for Barwon Health in the department of SWARH. Although I didn't love going to work (I saw my time as a lady of leisure, which doesn't really work if you're penny pinching!) but I liked it well enough and figured I only have another 3 years until I can be old and pension myself off.

My boss exited stage left and a shoe salesman came to take his place...  That just happened to live up the road from the CEO and they used to walk their dogs together (how cute)  We weren't getting rid of him anytime soon. I worked mainly with five others, two got out immediately when they could but they are young, The three of us left, well we are older - it's not so easy to find work then!

A new guy started who came an introduced himself... And told me he was there to do my job. WTF!!!!