I can see clearly

 We were going for a visit and a pub lunch today before yet another lockdown got in the way. Except we are sick of talking about that, at least we got in a video chat with Estelle, not that she was paying that much attention. Meanwhile around here it was very clear this morning.  The light is often better on the You Yangs first thing. I could pick out features where it is often just grey.  I haven't had a close look at this video clip yet but it should have some good detail.  The rain is coming now and as I look across we are back to grey.

Plant Farm

I have been watching the pile of succulent plants that Debbie placed out the front.  I wasn't sure about a cottage industry dealing in secondhand plants however there has been a steady removal of them with the last one going for a song this morning.  There were at least 20 all up at $10 per bunch we could have had beer money for a month. There were differing approaches as they were quite awkward in shape and size. One woman came back in her car with large rubbish bags to wrap them in. Another couple just grabbed four plants and he stuffed his pockets with lemons just because he could. 

New Viewpoint

 They have been working on my new seat again today and in fact have finished it off.  It is one of your better wrought iron frame work type of seats with the wooden slats.  There are two of them, both placed in salient spots with views of the You Yangs. Not as good as our balcony mind you but we will take them. We wandered over just now to check one out.  I have seen people making a bee line for the old seat especially when there is a show on like the Air Show with its fireworks and bombing runs or the Geelong fireworks that occur from time to time.  Our rates at work.

Decathlon Day

 The athletic multi events start today and we currently have an aussie in 2nd place.  It was 21 yar ago when we went to the Olympics in Sydney and my strategy for the main stadium was to get tickets for the two Decathlon Days.  This meant we had plenty to watch thru the sessions. It has taken me a while to find a few photos from then.  For some reason at Tokyo they have scheduled both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon on the same two days.  Events all over the place.  Very handy to be typing this and watching on the other screen. 

PS I have had one eye out the window and our two new seats have had concrete platforms laid today. Let's see if they survive the day without getting any hand prints or dog paws across it.

Olympics with a crowd

flying the flag in 2000

a seat for two?

Just passing thru, dwarfs the You Yangs

Garden Update No 245

 The newer succulent bed has been laid out in the front.  Older plants that needed thinning have been placed on the kerb for anyone who is interested and a few have started to disappear. They almost went in the bin. The green lady has had a dressing down but been resown at the back as she was loosing some dirt from back there. And the last of the orchids have opened up a bit even though the first lot have bloomed and died.  There are others still going strong.  

PS I can see what the red ground markings across the way, were about now. Two seats were removed today and it looks like two new versions are going back. 

newly opened

going strong

succulently dressed

that was a good seat

Pardon my Pipe

There is only so much Olympic viewing you can do without going outside. A few days back I was on a cleanup detail and spied a pipe that was laying high on the beach. I already had a bag of stuff then so went back today to take a closer look.  At first you think I can get that to the bin.  Then you try to lift an awkward 6 metre long bent piece of pipe. I reckon it was between 15 and 20 kg in weight. I was able to drag it with two ends trailing in the sand.  It seems like marine cable housing, very thick, very tough yet still broken.

It would be 1km to the bin from where it washed up

skid marks

Drysdale Riding

 A calm sunny day for riding. There is a neighbour we have spied on his bike but we may be a bit too fit for him as he keeps saying he needs to get his bike fixed. We went out anyway for a shorter 16km circuit.  There has been some consistency in the rides for the last few weeks so we will try to get it up to 20km next time around. Our only drama was some furniture that had come off a truck (dumped?) on to the bypass track the last time we were there but has since been cleared away.  

sunset cloud bank