Hippo Birdies Two Ewes...

Well, a project I've been assigned at work is turning out to be quite a deal bigger than first thought. It's keeping me busy... to be honest, I just want it over an done with.

Dr visit this week to check results of some recent tests. Iron levels are low *surprise surprise* but this doesn't require injections. I need to lose weight *again, no surprise* and I gain a referral for a sleep study. Darn, I'm not sure about that one.

The Teen takes me to task about my spelling of Moscato and Crouchen Reisling. Working in a bottle shop, she would know! I don't hear from her much, she keeps quiet. No headlines to let me know she's been up to mischief. She's getting good hours at work, but too many weekends. I read somewhere that she, Elder, Burrich and a friend managed to catch up for lunch. Lunch at Sizzler and all I hear about is fish pooing in the tank...

The Elder is excited that she has finally managed to get some work using her security license. She will be joining the crew monitoring a function for employees of one of the big industry employers. She's happy. The night goes well. The drunks love me! she tells me. The crew tell her it's the smoothest exit for a long time. She has been on a short list for more security work, but the industrial partner needs to coordinate an induction. This is taking forever, and she's been promised and ignored by this bunch before. I christen them "Useless Trev". Burrich has picked up some casual work with his old employer.

Saint Valentine's Day. MOTH and I don't usually celebrate but we notch up 30 years together this year. Maybe I've mentioned planning to go out to dinner previously? Well, ok, we will. And did.

I think riding the bus into the city will work best. What is the point of driving halfway to destination to pick me up, driving home and driving back in again? No point, that's the point. So, I'm bussing into the city.

And why is it I only ever see interesting stuff when I'm on the bus?

We come around the corner. A very tight corner. And there are birds. Everywhere. Galahs. Pigeons. Lorikeets. All chasing seed in the gutter. They scatter as the bus comes around the corner, but only just.

The streets are winding and the corners tight. We have to turn right across the traffic and up the hill. Drivers can be impolite here, and leave just enough gap for the bus to come through the line. But it doesn't leave enough room for the bus to turn up the hill. A car sits there and the driver watches the bus come closer and closer to his bonnet. Finally he seems to realise that something has to give and begins to turn the wheel to get out of the way. The bus creeps through. It might have worked a bit better if the car driver had reversed up the hill a little. Especially when the bus first appeared at the intersection!

The main road into the city is busy, though not nearly as busy as it could have been this time of day. Oh look. The coppers have some driver pulled up in a bus stop. Lights are flashing. Huh, silly. They'll get you if you misbehave in peak hour!

I've arrived in the city in plenty of time. No rush but I decide to check out where the restaurant is. Oh, there it is. Nice and close to where I told MOTH to park. I'm about to text to let them know where I will be waiting and ... Elder pounces on me from behind. They're already here. And parked way further down in the car park. *shakes head*

We've an hour to kill so spend it sitting al fresco at an ice creamery, drinking lemonade and watching people walk by. Eventually it's time to leave. The restaurant is empty - it's only 6.20pm or so after all. We're seated and already MOTH is giving the kids and the waitress a bit of cheek. It's going to be an interesting night.


The setting is modern and quite upmarket. I can't really say we are though! Those of us partaking of the "Romancing the Stone" menu are sectioned from the main dining room. The price is excellent for a 3 or maybe 4 course dinner. Amuse Bouche, Entree, Main, Dessert, and a complimentary glass of bubbles on arrival. All $75 a person. The reservation was for 6.30pm and at 8.30pm we've dined and left the restaurant.

It's raining. We dash across the street and pause to catch up under the shelter. I didn't see the balloon man, but he saw us! Elder ended up with a balloon flower, Burrich a bow tie, I had a crown. MOTH was the only one who escaped.

Parking costs $24 - delayed by the balloon man!

Early Friday morning, Elder and Burrich head back up north. A rush visit home to go out to dinner and collect some gear. Weird, isn't it. They can't find a place to live so come back here. They can't find jobs. They go back for a visit and land part time work and camp out in the downstairs bedroom of Burrich's parents. They assure me *or is that warn* they will be back in a week or so to attend a concert.

I head up the road with MOTH this morning. I need to buy some new apparel for the sleep study. For which I have yet to make an appointment. The local Robin's Kitchen has specials. So many good things! I would like a pie dish. A deep one as I have in mind to make a chicken pie. If I buy a Maxwell Williams, I can get a second piece for half price. I buy the dish, and after some consideration *cough. MOTH came looking for me after half an hour* I decided on Turkish glass cups and saucers.


But there is other stuff on sale too. Baccarat pans. They're already drastically marked down with another 25% off the marked price. I'm so tempted, so so tempted.

Sunday morning and I'm off with the oldies again. Don't know why. Oh yes. I want to check out the sale... I layby one of the pans. Back home and I offer to buy lunch for MOTH and I. While he's out, I vacuum the rumpus room floor. I contemplate rearranging the contents of the pan cupboard but it's going to be a big job and I change my mind. I nap in the couch. I move to the bed for some more nap, but Penny interrupts me. I play a game on the Wii for a while. I think I should get in some xBox time before it disappears next time the kids come back, but then again, maybe I should be getting used to the Wii.

I think of playing again this evening, but Sherlock is on and he wins out. Bennedict Cumberpatch is the best Sherlock I've found so far. Robert Downey Jr is a close second. Heh.