What's new pussycat?

I have been letting Jerome outdoors with me when I go out to peg out the washing. Now he keeps asking if he can go out. I tell him No of course. I mean at this point he's not collared and I'm not sure he won't be jumping the fence. Mind, these days if I pick up the laundry basket or even put a load in the washing machine he begins his song and dance to be let out. I used to take him out for a few minutes while he was in the harness but now he's out without harness but only while I'm out. The little terror doesn't like coming back in though and often runs just far enough to be out of reach when you try to pick him up to come back in. I'm hoping that if I give him treats when we go back inside that he'll learn that coming indoors isn't such a bad thing.

I've had my second session with the counsellor. She thinks I'm doing very well and we've agreed that I don't need any further follow up until after I return to work. My doctor has extended my leave until the beginning of September. She's also happy with my progress, my K10 score having dropped to 20 last visit from 38 at my first. She laughingly suggested that my best route to recovery is not to work at all. Ahhh, if only!

I'm getting out of the house more frequently, though not today. I was going to redye my hair, but now I'm not sure I really can be bothered. If I rebleach the regrowth it might be the last time. I'd love to be all grey but there isn't really enough grey to work that. And while the top might be light brown, it's still very dark underneath.

I've been enjoying my time with the Club while I've been on leave. I now consider myself formally one of the group - Special K has whupped me with a rolled up magazine because I gave her cheek. This caused much laughter. Sometimes the old boys even forget I am there and tell raunchy jokes they don't normally consider fit for ladies ears. *not sure i've ever seen a lady there though!*

So right now, I'm feeling the best I have felt for years.

Wombat suggested we all go out to dinner. A couple of the club are members of one of the local Services Clubs. They recommend the meals and we've been thinking of doing it for a while now. MOTH and I joined up as social members but are still awaiting final approval. The committee meets once a month to decide membership applications. And Wombat was right. The meals were very very good. I had sizzling garlic prawns, MOTH had ... barramundi I think. He thought his was ok, I really enjoyed mine. And I ate most of it too. The two mains, a can of coke and a bottle of Bundy red and cola came to just under $50. Which I think is ok for dinner for 2. Oh, and it was a Thursday so dessert came free with dinner. A small slice of cheesecake with icecream.

The company was great that night, Wombat even brought his wife and everyone told stories, laughed, gave each other a hard time. Even Wombat. I enjoyed it so much that MOTH and I are thinking of going back for our anniversary dinner.

I had been toying with the idea of getting a KitchenAid bench mixer with my tax refund. Or maybe a washing machine. Then I also wanted a GHD hair straightner. And to go to the Ekka. For those not in the know, that's our "show" with show bags, stage shows, food halls, art and craft, side show alley, equestrian events, showing cattle and other livestock, dogs and cats. It goes for a week and gets thousands and thousands of visitors through. I ended up putting all that aside and purchasing a new laptop. One I can use for gaming. Not something I need but something I will definitely get use from. The laptop is big enough for me to use as a desktop *ultrabook it's not!* and the iMac has been moved to the guest bedroom where I can still get to it if I wish. MOTH's laptop is an ultrabook, so small and light. Mine has something like a 15 or 17" screen and weighs a tonne in comparison.

The Elder is getting grumpy as her security job is not giving her shifts and she's busy trying to maintain a house and pay her bills. The only work she has at the moment is her work as a bouncer at the local nightclub. This though is the one she loves the most so I'm hoping that continues for many, many, and many more shifts.

The Teen has headed out to New Zealand for a holiday in the ski fields with Harry and his parents. It's her first time overseas and joy of joys, the departure flight was delayed several hours due to fog at Christchurch. At least, I think that's where they were headed, on the way to Queenstown. Or something like that. Her father in law has threatened to get her on the zipline, so we'll see how that goes. She's pretty excited to be there.

MOTH cooked one of his favourite dinners on Wednesday night. I had bought rhubarb last shop and thought I had better make the crumble he requested. He'd been out with the Club that morning and came home, telling me we would have an extra dinner guest. Apparently he made it sound so good that Stan was impressed and he would be arriving for dinner. Not a problem, we could do extra mash and cabbage and the crumble was big enough to stretch to three. Last time I made white sauce I kept some of the base. All I had to do for dinner was reheat and add the onion. I'll have to do that again next time! Stan really enjoyed his meal and dessert. MOTH enjoyed the crumble as well, eating most of it in two helpings. Yep, guess that might be requested to be made another time.

We might go out for dinner for our anniversary. The Services Club of course. I've mentioned it to the others if they want to join us, but it's not their pay week so they may not. Special K made us laugh as she had thought it was Thursday not Wednesday today. We wondered why she was with us on a Wednesday.... She tells the tale of getting ready to go with her brother to his specialist appointment. The time comes and goes but he doesn't show. Eventually she discovered she was ready on time ... just not the right day. We have a lot of fun laughing at this. And shall for some time yet...