Normalcy. I think....

Back to the grind today. Amazing how some weeks fly, isn't it.

I may have mentioned I was on holidays this week. If not, I apologise. I was on holidays this week! Whoo!

I had intended to do an awful lot of nothing, and I think I might even have managed to accomplish that too.

It was our wedding anniversary earlier this month while I was visiting with family for Mouse's 40th birthday. While I was there, Ma gave me a small monetary gift as an anniversary present. Unexpected, but wholly welcome. I added a little bit to it and thought MOTH and I could go out to dinner somewhere. He agreed. We just had to settle the day. Saturday? Maybe. Actually, I'm on holidays next week, we can go out any time. Good point he says and we left it at that.

We decide that lunch will work well. Into Southbank for Italian? He's happy with that. We hop a lunch time bus and off we go on our little adventure. It's been some considerable time since the two of us have ventured city-wise and we notice there have been some changes. Not all of them good. New buildings have gone up, one right in the middle of the *once* common areas and it well and truly spoils the view.

Wait! What's this? A churro house? We'll go there for dessert I say. We'll see, he replies.

And further along THERE'S A CHOCOLATE / COFFEE PLACE ON THE CORNER! *dies*

I've done some research so I know where the Italian restaurants are. We stop at the first. It only does pizza. *crosses off list* We find the fully fledged proper Italian one. He's not happy. There's no cannelloni on the menu. We keep going. He walks past another. Wait! Don't you want to look? What? Oh. He stops and we ask to check the menu. It's touted as Itallian but pasta dishes make up only a small portion of the menu. He sees other possibilities and we stop there.

We sit, and I see this place has done away with salt and pepper shakers ...

I ended up with fish and chips, he had a steak. We also ordered a chorizo dish to share. When he'd finished his meal *steak and mash, no vegies* he remembered the chorizo. It hadn't come out. He was going to leave it, I told him to ask for it. He did, it came promptly with apologies for the kitchen and he had something else to scoff.

And I decide to be adventurous with my drink. The waitress asks if I'm sure. She's seen customers order it and walk away with it untouched. I'm game.

There's just enough room to go back for churros dessert.

On the way back to the bus stop I pause to look in the window of a little boutique that seems to have some interesting shoes occasionally. MOTH draws my attention to this pair.

I wonder what they would be like to wear as they seem to be made of plastic.

I have a whole week at home with MOTH dragging me along to the baby sitters club. Why not. It's an outing. Of sorts.

The Elder is in a huge panic. She as worked extra hours this week and is expecting a big pay. She is planning to use it for a visit. She gets only half *employer has stuffed up somewhere and has taxed her at a rate like 50%* She is well and truly upset. She checks with her boss who agrees that something has gone wrong. She tries to phone HR the next day buuuut....

Today is RNA Show Holiday. The Ekka is in full swing but I've decided not to go this year. I seem to have run out of funds. Never mind.

She tries again on Thursday and manages to get something sorted. Her fingers *and toes* are crossed. The same thing happened to Burrich but his employer said they couldn't fix it and he is to wait to tax time to claim it back.

It seems there is a new JB HiFi store opening locally. I'm sure the sign said today but research on their website indicates next week. MOTH decides he needs to get mower blades and we'll have to stop in the hardware place on the way throught. *rolls eyes*

We go to park around the back and the shop is definitely not open yet. Ah well. We drive round the front and MOTH and I wander through the hardware where he eventually selects mower blades. He's not sure if they are the right ones. Did you check before we left home? Nooooo.

I decide I want to visit a different JB HiFi store. Turns out not only have they got DVDs for $15.95, there is also a buy 2 get 1 free deal going. I end up with six DVDs and one extra MOTH chose. Which, oddly enough, wasn't part of the 2 4 1 deal.

The Elder and Burrich arrived just after midnight / Saturday morning. Up again next morning. She and I went shopping for a dress for a friend's wedding while Burrich stayed home and played WoW. We found a dress with promise very quickly but the size was wrong. Back home and she and Burrich head out to the Ekka.

The next day they are out and about again to check out that dress in a different store and a different size. She's still not happy with the fit. Dang. It had such possibilities.

They pack belongings and dogs *yes, they brought both the dogs with them* which proves to be more difficult that first thought. Freddy is fine but Heffe doesn't want to jump in the car. He sticks his head in and has to be manhandled in. *he's 10 months and is bigger than Freddy* We don't close the tailgate fast enough and he's back out. He's headed toward the neighbour' garden and suddenly he sees a bush turkey. The turkey's off! Followed by Heffe! Followed by Freddy! Followed by Burrich! While we stand and laugh. Eventually we get the dogs rounded up and in the car. The door is closed a bit quicker this time! They're in and headed off around 2.30pm. Fifteen minutes later I fall asleep in the recliner.

A busy week. Not bad considering I wasn't supposed to be doing anything!