Ford No More

 I was reading the local paper here where there was an article about the ford up the road being replaced with a bridge.  There were a number of times when I would go that way and turn back because of the water levels. I did go thru one time with my feet raised as I had turned back the week before.  So I got the bike out to see for myself. A nice new bridge much higher off the water but I predict there will be a time where the water floods it again. I continued onto Altona. The tide was way out and the works at the pier area are still ongoing. They claim it will all be finished by this Summer.  Your rates at work.  Jezza would never put up with this delay. 

The circle is around the old Williamstown racecourse

Previously the council couldn't afford to pay

Alfred Update

 Just returned from a morning bedsit.  The area is called the short stay and if you've had some serious incision work then they want to keep you closer internal on the floor near the nurse station rather than on the outside where there are rooms with windows and is much quieter.  Like when the BP dropped suddenly and did not rise much thru the night so they pressed the alert button and within 30 seconds there were six people on the scene having urgent discussions. In the end two bags of saline got the BP back from 80 to 105 but it took all day with no food and no getting up.  The site is battered and bruised and so is the arm where they tried three different spots to get the drip in.  Let the healing begin.

Overcast Ride

 It was a cool breeze but I have to fill this time in so I got the road bike out which is back at Willie now. I was distracted and went out without the helmet. Only realised it after 10km.  There are still plenty of people frequenting the beach areas, mostly walking but a large crowd was down at the Jawbone area collecting samples of something.  The gate was open at the boat club yard so I went in for a photo. This spot looks old with all the walls made of piled rock.  I doubled back along the same route with the breeze behind for an easier return.

Waiting Waiting

 There are four sources of info at the Alfred when you are trying to get an update. The first one is the automated messaging and that did not start well as I received three or four messages in the first half hour declaring the start, finish and recovery phases all in 30 min.  A closer look showed them dated 2022. So I think it was a replay of the cheek procedure back then as when you get assigned a number the history stays and I think I was sent it again. The best info came with the inside contacts where I could get them to look at the procedure notes. Here was good info like 'procedure went to plan and no issues found'. Hooray.  Just then a recovery nurse rang thru to say there is a large wound but was able to sip water and nibble food. 

Now for the next bit

Lethal

A good day to finish off reading a book.  First wind now rain, so I guess we are ready to call it, Winter is here.  This is another book from the Willie collection.  It seems this author is more a romance writer but had a go at a whodunnit shootemup. Not a bad effort but I have read this scenario before.  There was a bit of a twist to work out who it was, so I will give her that.  There are meant to be at least 50 more of hers but if I see them on the Willie shelves I will just leave them there.

Stag Fern update

 I spent another hour finishing off the vegie beds weed clearance effort.  There is still a row of strawberries to be removed but they are helping to keep the birds off.  I checked out the stag ferns that have been leaning against the wall for the last few months. They are getting plenty of water now compared to the dry state they were in after being remounted on new backboards.  You can see new growth appearing but when compared to the others that have been in their spots for years there is a ways to go. Also the six orchid spikes in the middle courtyard are exploding this year, way ahead of their previous schedules.

recovering

staggering

spike

Tassie Boat

 I was unloading the video camera which I have not done for a month or so. There are some Tassie boat moments on there which I have below, comparing day and night.  I need to remember that these videos are here, for more comparisons when the improved new Tassie boats start up.  The project has been delayed because the Tassie Govt stuffed up. There was so much concentration on new bigger boats that new bigger docking facilities were overlooked. Now it is catchup time getting docks built.

SawJigs

 It was a cooler wetter day so it gave me a chance to do some puzzling.  I don't like this idea of jigsaws without a picture to refer to. It's like those cryptic crossword puzzles without the frame of reference to fill in your answers.  These guys call their version a wasgij but it is not really a backward puzzle is it.  Now that would be hard eg trying to assemble a puzzle face down.  Just like trying to do one that is all the same colour, which I did about 40 yar ago and never again. I am at least half way thru this one but it is hard going.

Slow Session

 Went back into the gym for a 30 min session.  I must have strained something when I was doing some weeding of late.  Must have pulled when I should have pushed.  I noticed for the first time that all the equipment here is designed to sit on except the treadmill.  Not sure if that is an age thing or are all gyms like that.  I took it slower for 20 min on the bike machine and 10 min on the rowing machine.  The bike profile consisted of two hills but I took my time travelling only 7km in the 20 min.

two hills

3km in 10 mins

Veggie Patch

 I think there is going to be some Winter plantings or maybe even preparation for Spring plantings as I seem to be going over this veggie patch with a small trowel getting it plucked clean of unwanted growths. There were some withered zuchini plants in one part which did not do much this time around.  There is also a string of old strawberry plants that have been there for at least three years now. These did really well and need to be replaced however they are staying put for now as they deter the birds from foraging along on the edge of the path. There is still more to do but I only give it an hour at a time.

before

after

Lake Lorne circuit

 I included a detour around the the Lake in today's ride. It did not add much distance but there are a lot of birds in that direction. The islands in the middle of the lake would never have had human visitors so the birds nesting there are numerous.  I did another small garden bed chore which was some quiet poisoning of some creepers attacking our fence. I also sprayed the pavers while I was at it but there is not much growing in the cracks at the moment.  Roll on Sunshine.

Boat Calm

 I could not let the day go without getting on the bike.  It was crystal calm wherever you looked so I rode down into the small harbour boat ramp area. I had not been down here for a while and for a change the jetty was deserted.  Got a few calm photos of the area.  I continued the ride around my half circuit of Drysdale and then back.  It turns out the patch of flower bed I weeded yesterday was not the right one, although it still needed the workover. This time I waited for the Sun to come around and weeded the patch outside the fence.  There are pesky rose bushes starting to spring up here again.

new

old

no weeds today

Not Winter

 Yes we are not ready to call it just yet after another very calm and sunny day.  I had an excuse to ride into town as I was due a flu shot this morning.  At least one of us are allowed to have vaccinations at the moment.  The ride back was slightly chilly with the breeze.  This arvo was very pleasant so I took the beach walk to spy out any debris from the weekend. I did get some, including a ball, some crate strapping and small plastic lids and bags.  To finish off I spent an hour doing some weeding out the back. There was an overgrown patch near the back gate that Debbie was looking at nastily.  It doesn't look much for an hours effort but it is the rose bushes right there that cause it to be ignored.

Cobweb Ride

 It was an indoor day yesterday with much rain and darkness however the Sun meant I could get the bike out for a bracing 14km at 13° today.  Some would declare that temperature to be a warm ride when you think the Giro guys rode thru a day at 5°.  The train yards were quiet this time and I noticed they left one of their working track trucks out in the rain.  Maybe they should get a bogeyman to do some spit and polish.  I also got a shot of a lone pelican at low tide.  I think he just finished lunch.

Stalling Tactics

 I have been chasing up travel insurance claims for the last few months. I have had more success getting vouchers and reimbursements from suppliers than anything from insurance so far.  I have two insurance possibilities and have not got passed the first one yet.  This is a freebie inclusion to the credit card and I got no updates back from them, so after prompting, they said we are stalled because we could not contact you on several occasions.  (They know my email.)  So I have sent the same information back on company letterheads even though they have already got this stuff.  Oh Boy!

Night Moves II

 I can tell you that at least half the residents in the street have no qualms what so ever about leaving their blinds or drapes fully opened throughout the night.  Our 7:00pm walks have been a bit of an eye opener. I can tell you what's on their TV,  where people eat and half the layout of each house.  We have to get our blinds drawn not long after dark even if its just to keep the cold out.  The car park at the beacon is still busy at night, maybe too busy,  as we can see video cameras have been installed to watch over that area. The closest house is probably noise effected by this spot.  It's a good thing an aboriginal site stopped any further development at our end. 

This would have been a good rogaine night

Big Dipper

The Boy from the Woods

 We have been watching the Harlan Coben netflix series for the last few months.  This guy manages to get twisty turns into every whodunit that he writes.  Netflix must have bought the rights to every book he has written as there seems to be no end to the number of series that have been made.  They have been made in different countries so you need to get used to the English soundtrack but it is worth it, as these have all been good yarns.   I went hunting in the Willie library for a Harlen Coben story that I had not yet seen on netflix and we have watched around six series.  The one I found seems to be the exception as the main character "Wilde" who might be described as a Jack Reacher type, is going to feature in more that one book, also to be be shown on Netflix.  

not to be confused with that other show "The Boy in the Woods"

Main Street Complete

 Debbie helped to start this puzzle but in the end I finished it off and it took a few weeks to do so.  One of the issues was that the cutting pattern was not unique for every piece.  So some pieces slotted in perfectly but did not match their neighbour.  I have packed it away now and started another one which seems way more harder, as it does not give the proper puzzle picture on the outside of the box.  There are clues there like the puzzle action is what the people on the box are looking at.  They are judging a performance of some sought so there must be a stage etc that they can see.  At least these pieces are oddly cut. 

Main Sreet

Paddle Boards

 We have had an ongoing discussion this Summer about getting further out into the water other than swimming.  A few neighbours have stand up boards which are all of the hard deck variety. I tried one of their's as well and would need a lot more practise.  In the end we got Mick's old kayak but then I could not sit in it with much comfort.  I observed the whole inflatable paddle board setup for two people. It is a lot of mucking around, inflating, assembling paddles and some type of ballast loading. In the end they both got on it in seated positions with a dog balanced in between.  My swimming is faster than their paddling.  Meanwhile I filled another plastic bag with jetsum, mostly a large hoodie that washed up and butts and plastics as well.  Just had an idea whereby one of the neighbours has been warned off his board for health reasons, maybe that one is for sale.

Mothers day or Grandie day

 We drove to Estelle's house for a Mother's day luncheon which was lamb and beef on a spit.  Always worth the effort as the taste of those crunchy pieces are the best.  We got in some good play time with Estelle before other Grandie's arrived but then the expected mayhem was on.  James and Heidi have some interesting additions to the backyard like a worm farm and a chiminia.  The worm farm is a work in progress and the fire pit was a hit with the grandies for roasting marshmellows.  We finished off with a violin practise session from Asher showing stance and poise with her instrument. How melodic.

I made this

dressups

chiminia

Orchid Bud Blast

We spent a pleasant afternoon gazing at the passing parade from our deck. Meanwhile out the back the orchids are suffering from something called Bud Blast.  There is a list of possible issues. The buds are turning yellow and dropping off before they bloom and could be due to sudden temperature drops, bugs and even nearby fruit trees that give off ethylene gas.  There are seven spikes that are dying off this way and another eight that seem ok.  I don't think we have done anything different to previous years so hopefully it is a one off problem for this Winter as it is the first time we have seen this.

Yellow Peril

Yellow Glasses

Yellow Sun

Beach Report No 326

 A perfecto day so I went across to see what the beach was like. Normally I would wait til after the weekend, especially a Sun filled one like this one.  We had a large partying group in the rent a house a few doors down. We could not hear them but I noticed they brought a trailer load of supplies. What group of blokes are so organised midweek?  Sure enough there were a few bottles and oddments on the beach that did not come back with them.  There were also some standout bigger items like a broken roofing sheet, a bucket and not to forget, a poo bag.  I was tempted to go in but the water was a bit murky with grass. 

You Yangs gold

Steam Action

 Got the bike out earlier again. It seems morning is better at the moment before afternoon clouds start rolling in.  You never know what those train buffs might be up to as you approach the station. Sure enough they were all over it with a shiny almost new looking steam engine chugging in.  Just for good measure they backed it all way out again. There were eager types on the platform as well so maybe it was a morning tea ride being 10:00am.  My knee has survived two days in a row of short rides but it was a bit sore just now. 

Ride before Cloud

 Got the bike out earlier this morning for a 12km short ride when there was a fair bit of sunshine about. It seems to be closing in now and I need to keep one eye on the clothes line.  As I moved along, I kept on the lookout for a different photo view. Just by veering slightly or even turning around you can see a new perspective.  I have made a step out of pavers and am trying the step up exercise.  I am doing 20 on each leg and it must be doing something as there is a stiffness there like after you haven't jogged for a while.  I thought the bike might wear some of it out. It seems not.

beach with stairs

You Yangs with pond

The Letter Box

 You can tell it is an indoor day when I am scanning old letters and correspondence again. Nasty squalls are hitting us from the West all day so far today and we have not ventured out as yet. I wonder what the time delay is in making letters public. I know the government declassifies stuff after a while, like 40 yar. The letter below was written 40 yar ago so I should be able to air it here by now.  There is a lady, pregnant for the first time, (always a scary business) describing her current state with 16 weeks to go, to a recently unpregnant lady.  She has also heard that Brendon and Cathie are considering moving to QLD and is that for real.  Meanwhile, back on the farm it is shearing shed season.  Ahh the farm life.