Ride with Bomber

A sunny calm day presented itself so I got the bike out for  a slightly longer ride. Along the foreshore heights I could see the diggers down below, once again trying to keep the boat ramps clear of piled seaweed.  I kept a steady pace and decided to go down the main drag to get back. I don't do this to often and now I remembered why when the swooper swooped. It must be at least two yar ago when a bird sent me crashing into the gutter. This is exactly the same place, as I could see the same barriers looming as I was under fire. Three times it came down and it must be the same bird for I have read they can recognize people from a long way off.  I was not going as fast this time and backed off even more. So I let him do his thing which was thudding against the helmet.  It has nothing to do with protecting young in the middle of Winter, this one is just a bit crazy.

boats beware of rocks, weather and tractors

Dental not Gentle

 There have been persistent mouth issues as a result of medicinal side effects. It's time to look closer they said. We'll just poke around they said. As two holes are made in Debbie's mouth, one in the gum and another in her tongue that one with yet more stitches. These are turning out to be quite abrassive as the tongue moves. So it will be a liquid diet for the next few days.  What chance of there being no talking on the phone as well ... no chance.  Ah I have just noticed it is a sunny day. I am going outside.

Crown of Orchids

 We are on a two day hospital tour, one day for a visit and the second day for an apppointment. Tim is looking like the medicine is kicking in. We missed the head shaving ceremony and that's fine with me since I lost most of mine some time back. We have not been to Willie for a month or so which was always the plan and some work was done on the orchards here prior to that and it has paid off.  The new position has seen an explosion of growth with maybe ten sprays of flowers in all directions.  The book police will be onto me here as there are three books I have had for many weeks and the head librarian lives just across the road. The replacement electrification of heating, hot water and hotplate is all working well. We might now apply some of this to Clifton Springs.

Mary's door

St Vincents view

Gloved Putting

 There was a break in the weather which was perfectly timed for a beach session. The wind has thrown up a lot of F&J as well as swathes of wrack along tide lines. It was tricky even to find a sandy section to try a few throws. I cleared a spot of driftwood and sea balls which left a reasonable space. I also brought the rubbish bag and easily filled it with small bits like rope pieces, bottle tops and plastic shards. As for the throws I was as rusty as. I did four stand and deliver efforts then one glide style delivery which did not gain me much. I had the gloves on for this which hindered more than helped do to their grippy surface. No ill effects from a missing appendix that I could tell.

not sure what this is

seaweed city

Compression Gloves

Since we went to the fingerologist who was always looking sideways at my fingers as well as the patient's and as a result suggested arthiritis gloves for me.  I have been trying them for the last week or so and I think there is an improvement particularly with outside activities.  I am typing this now with them on and don't recommend it.  There are movement restrictions which I guess is the whole idea of squeezing the fingers. Pluses are warmth, say when walking and extra grip built into the palm surface.  Minuses are getting them wet.  Don't try cleaning your teeth, that was messy. 

the real patient has a neat criss cross

the pointer is my worst problem

Shells

 The indoor activities have continued around here. I did poke my head out the door considering a beach session maybe even bring the shot put. The wind has not quite given up its two day force so I went back inside. Last year we went to Asher's school fete.  It was huge and at the end, the $5 stall was giving it all away and I was handed a jigsaw puzzle.  I could not remember where this unopened box had come from until after I had finished it. This one took me weeks limiting myself to around 30 mins a day. We have picked up a lot of this stuff on our beach and maybe I could make my own puzzle.

Shall I ?

The Challon Heads

 I got this whodunit specifically as it has a stamp theme throughout the telling.  Alfred Chalon was an artist who did a sketch of a young Queen Victoria as she stood in regal pose at the top of the House of Lords staircase.  I am no longer amazed at the number of references I keep coming across as to where we were supposed to be this last month, like standing on the stairs at the House of Lords.  YadaYada. Anyway the Chalon sketch was turned into a painting that became the basis for many stamps from all manner of british colonies.  In the story, ransom demands were being made with stamps attached from Van Diemen's Land.  The whole murderous drama involved a stamp collector, a forger and a million dollar stamp. The stamp references were very factual and led me to investigate one of my stamps a bit closer. See below.

This is the only one I have that is featured in the book