Saturday, April 1

When I browsed the news headlines this morning, I came across a story from the US where a fellow has been charged with manipulating election results in, I think, 2016.  When I went back later to check the details, I couldn't find the original article but, from memory, he put a message on social media that people could vote for Hillary Clinton by texting 'Hillary' to a particular phone number.  Nearly 5000 people responded.

What does that say about the voting public?  Did people go along with the joke and vote properly as well? Or did 5000 people believe that this was legitimate?    Could it happen here, or are Australians a bit more sophisticated than our American cousins?  Or is it just an April Fool's joke?

Friday, March 31

 Marilyn and I did our first cruise in 2006 to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.  Instead of picking a random ship sailing from Sydney or Melbourne, we looked further afield and decided to fly to Singapore to experience the Superstar Gemini operated by Star Cruises.  It was only a small ship but we enjoyed it so much we sailed on the same cruise a year later.

A lot of water has sailed under the bridge since then and Star Cruises is no more but, yesterday, I came across an article which has given me the good news that the ship sails on.  It's now called the MV Gemini and is operated by Life at Sea Cruises.  Currently it is offering a 3-year cruise for $75000.  It claims that, on the long, long voyage it will visit 13 of the 14 Wonders of the World including the Taj Mahal which is 750 miles from the ocean. 'It will be a long drive,' says the managing director.

$75000 sounds like a lot but it wouldn't be out of reach of a lot of people and it wouldn't be a bad way to see out your last days.  I wonder if a burial at sea is part of the package.

Thursday, March 30

It's a miserable day today: grey skies and a dampness in the air. I went to the gym as usual and fulfilled my obligation and we're having lunch with a friend later.  We've been very slack lately in maintaining our connection with Deloraine, missing a couple of Probus meetings and avoiding other invitations to make the 50km journey.  However, we were enticed to meet some Deloraine friends on Sunday and we're meeting another one today, so we'll probably fall back into the old routine.

Marilyn is determined to join the local Ladies Probus Club so that she can feel a better connection with the Longford community and I might join the Men's Club as well.  The couple of times I've been at functions with that club I've notice how old they all are but, when I think about it, they're probably saying the same thing about me.  They can't all be doddery and I know they meet up regularly for coffee and I'd enjoy that.

Wednesday, March 29

It rained yesterday for the first time in a long while, so we stayed at home and caught up on some reading. We don't have any trouble keeping ourselves amused but I wonder how it would be if we were confined to the house for longer periods.  I'm in the routine now of going to the gym each morning and, even though I complain about it, I would miss it if it didn't happen.  Marilyn has her routine too: walking the dog, organising the meals, and so on.  I have a couple of domestic chores which are my exclusive domain: making the bed, hanging out the washing, and Leah come in once a fortnight to make sure the house is clean, but Marilyn is the Domestic Manager for everything else.

Looking at my diary, I see that we are both having a visit to the hairdresser today and lunch with a friend on Thursday so we have things to look forward to.  Friday, of course, is my day for Poetry and Writing and there is little point in looking any further ahead than that.

Tuesday, March 28

My RACT magazine arrived yesterday, boasting that the organisation is celebrating 100 years of existence.  Reading the Letters to the Editor, I wondered whether they had reprinted some from the first issue because I bet they were no different then: 'don't people know to dip their headlights to oncoming traffic?', 'why does oncoming traffic up King Street think they have right of way?', 'I'm amazed at how many people don't understand how to use a roundabout', 'Please explain why drivers do not indicate until they are actually turning a corner'. 

Of course, the writers are not expecting anyone to answer their whinges; they're just looking to let off steam and the RACT magazine is a convenient place to do that.

The magazine did contain some interesting snippets about each of the past ten decades and how motoring has changed over the time.  Sadly, I'm been driving since 1962 so I've experienced more than half of those decades.

I generally ignore this magazine, leaving it on a shelf until it's chucked in the bin.  It's like all the free magazines we receive which are aimed at the older generation: full of advertisement for cruises and trips on the Indian Pacific.  Someone's worked out that our generation has enough money to travel and the time to do it.  Who would have thought?

Monday, March 27

A friend rang during the week to invite Marilyn and me to have a barbecue on Sunday.  They live in Deloraine but were happy for us to pick a spot closer to Longford to save us the long drive to their area.  The only place in Longford that we know of is always busy so we suggested the riverbank at Hadspen, where there are a couple of barbecues and plenty of tables.  There were 7 of us all together, the sun was shining and it was great.

Except, we were inundated by wasps.  As soon as the food appeared, especially the meat, the wasps descended.  We suspect they were nesting in the wattle trees and chose that spot because they could be sure of a feed whenever anybody arrived for a picnic.

Archie, of course, was with us and was his usual friendly self., sharing his favours with all and sundry.  He was exhausted when we finally arrived home

Saturday, March 26

There's some kind of football carnival on today at the local oval which is next door to the gym I go to.  I can do my exercises while being entertained by the activities on the ground outside.  It was all kids today.  They divided the oval up into three smaller playing fields and the kids were charging up and down having a wonderful time.

I wondered how the organisers had managed to divide an oval ground into three appropriate playing areas.  Surely the ones on the end would have steeply curved sides.  But I don't have to worry about that.

I couldn't help but notice that most of the cars parked around the oval were large four-wheel drives and that ties in with a newspaper article I read this week that informed me that the biggest selling motor vehicle in Australia is once again the large, gas-guzzling 4WD 'family' wagon.  The people advocating for cutting emissions must be tearing their hair out.

But I won't worry about that this morning.  Marilyn and I are meeting friends today for a lunchtime picnic and we'll travel there in Jamie's quite large gas-guzzling 4WD wagon. C'est la vie.

Friday, March 24

All the time we've been here we've watched a house opposite being renovated.  I think the owner is doing a lot of the work himself but professional tradesmen come in from time to time if the particular job needs it.  It looked like a 1960's ranch-style weatherboard house with a galvanised iron roof and an imposing chimney breast at the from.  

The front fences were removed early and that gave room to operate.  I think every cupboard in the house was dragged out on to the front lawn and eventually carted away.  A few months later, the roof was torn off and new colorbond was delivered.  After a flurry of installing insulation, it took a few weeks more with mostly weekend work until eventually the new roof was completely installed.

The other day, a load of grey metal cladding appeared on the lawn and a team of tradesmen set about installing it.  I've never seen this style before; it's grey and attached vertically. Maybe not what I should choose but certainly makes the place look more modern.

The big issue is the chimney which is right at the front and a commanding feature of the house.  Sadly, they've decided to cover it with more cladding and it seems to be in a blonde woodgrain pattern.  I may be doing it a disservice to describe it like that but, in my eyes, it does the house no favours.

We'll keep an eye on progress and suspect that landscaping will be the next focus.  (or fences?)

Wednesday, March 22

The weather has changed and it's a bit cooler today. We had rain overnight which is a good thing because, while we have hot and dry days,  I've been having to water the garden at Hadspen as well as my own.  It's not a big job but I'd rather find something else to do in that time.

I'm a bit better organised this week and have already written my story for Friday's Writing Group.  The only one of the three topics I could even imagine writing about was A Tree in a Meadow.  It's an uninspiring story about a lovelorn 16-year old who carves his girlfriend's initials into the tree and is surprised at her negative reaction.

The topics are supposed to be taken from the titles of songs but I've never heard of A Tree in a Meadow.  I'll have to look it up.

I've just checked Google and it was first released in 1948 when I was just 5 years old.  It's been sung by Frank Sinatra and dozens of others.  You learn something new every day.

Tuesday, March 21

 We've been watching a show on TV called Vigil. It's great: about a nuclear-powered submarine cruising in the North Sea and dealing with some problems aboard.   We've seen two or three episodes and are hoping there will be a second series made this year.

The submarine is British, Vanguard class which I think is similar to the ones that Australia has ordered to be delivered over the next decades.  That's by-the-by.  What interests me is the reaction these UK submarines received from the people of the north of Scotland where they are based.  They're not welcome and there is a continuing protest about the dangers of having nuclear reactors right beside where people are living.

Local news here in Australia is that the likely place for the Australian submarines to be based will be Port Kembla, in the midst of one of Australia's largest cities and just a stone's throw from the largest urban area in the country.  Is this a good idea?  Will the good people of Port Kembla march in the streets in protest?  How will they feel when they become a target in a future war?  And where will we store the waste?  Not in my back yard is the cry.

Sometimes there are advantages in living in this far-flung outpost of Tasmania.

Monday, March 20

 Something popped up on Facebook asking What was the most controversial movie released in the year you were born?  I clicked on the link but, sadly, it didn't go back far enough; the earliest movie mentioned was from 1970.  Not to be outdone, I googled Movies from 1943 and there were some beauties: For Whom the Bell Tolls, Casablanca, The Song of Bernadette, and so on.  The highest-grossing movie was a musical called This is the Army, starring a little-known actor called Ronald Reagan.  I wonder whatever happened to him.

Sunday, March 19

Jamie rang to ask what we were doing today.  Not much is the obvious answer.  We seem to have been out every day recently so a day at home seems like a good idea.  He suggested we might like watch a movie the he and Nera have enjoyed but we'll be happier with our books.  Marilyn is engrossed in a book by Jane  Harper and I have a new series with the main character called DI Fenchurch.  There seems to be a never-ending supply of UK police dramas and, when I get to the end of the ones I have read I can go back to the beginning and start again.  They all have essentially the same plot anyway and the same 'happy' endings.

The movie Jamie suggested is A Man Called Otto.  It is based on a Swedish. book entitled A Man Called Ove and I think the book might be more satisfying than the movie, even though it has Tom Hanks in it.

Saturday, March 18

The gym was very quiet this morning when I got there.  Nobody had bothered to turn on the lights and the huge TV was silent.  There were a couple of people working away without much enthusiasm.  By the time I finished my routine I was alone, so I wound up and crept out, leaving the place to the ghosts.

Archie gave me his usual greeting when I arrived home, barking furiously as if I was a burglar or homicidal maniac.  As I opened the door he rushed off to find one of his soft toys in the hope that I might play a game with him.  Breakfast first, though.

This afternoon, we're driving down to Deloraine to help a couple friends celebrate the husband's 80th birthday.  Steen and Clare aren't very social and weren't interested in a party but we hoped we might convince them to come out for lunch with us.  However, the invitation was Come for a chat and to drink some port. Sounds OK to me but Marilyn might turn her nose up at the port.

I decided to give up drinking two or three years ago and I've been pretty good.  However, I was given a bottle of Haigs Dimple for my birthday and it seems a shame to waste it so I've been having a wee drop with Dry Ginger Ale in the evenings and really enjoying it.  I've finished the bottle and now have to buy a replacement.  Since the last time I looked, they've reduced the size of the bottles from 750ml to 700ml. What's that all about?  Did they reduce the price as well?  

In any case, Dimple is a bit expensive to be mixing with a $1 bottle of Dry Ginger so I'll look for something a bit less pricey.

Friday, March 17

Doctor's visits seem to come in waves.  Marilyn saw hers yesterday and I have an appointment this morning with the nerve specialist who is trying to solve the problem with my right hand.  There's no pleasure in visiting a doctor; but 'what can't be cured must be endured'.  

Friday, of course, is always a special day because I go to my two classes at the Launceston School for Seniors.  Last week, I was responsible for providing the poems for the Poetry Appreciation Group and that went very well.  Today it will be another one of the group and I hope we don't have the same old tired English Romantic poets being trotted out for the umpteenth time.  I try to find more modern poets or poets from unusual countries. The internet is great for that sort of stuff.

The topic for this week's story is Four Strong Winds.  There were two other options but neither appealed to me.  I've written about a lighthouse keeper on Maatsuyker Island who has dreams of becoming a writer; pretty ordinary stuff but fitting in the theme of four strong winds was a bit of a challenge.  I only have 800 words to work with so it's not always easy and I made the mistake this week of leaving it until Wednesday before I started thinking about it.  Sometimes it's good to have some pressure to write but sometimes it's not.

Wednesday, March 15

We had a busy day organised so we didn't linger in bed.  Marilyn had to get a blood test at the local surgery so I dropped her off on my way to the gym, and picked her up afterwards.  After a quick breakfast, I set off to the local Berry Farm to pick what I thought would be the last blackberries of the season and was disappointed when there was a large 'CLOSED' sign on the gate.  Clearly, the farmer decided the last. berries had been picked a day to two before.

Leah arrives at 11 for her fortnightly stint at the housework so we'll head off to Hadspen to check that all is well at Jamie and Nera's.  Marilyn feeds the fish while I water the garden. They have a gardener who comes in to do the lawns and any pruning but it is my job to see that the plants have a drink.  It's also a good chance for Archie to see his real home and check out all his special areas.

This afternoon, I have to write my story for Friday's Writing Group. I usually have it done by this stage but I can't even settle on a topic.  The tutor gives us a choice of three but we can decide for ourselves if we don't like any of his ideas.  He's using song titles at the moment so last week I wrote on The Five O'Clock Whistle and today it will probably be Five Strong Winds which is the best of a pretty uninspiring lot.

Tuesday, March 14

 Our car is booked in for repairs on Thursday.  I was backing out of the garage on the weekend of my birthday when the right wing mirror clipped the edge of the roll-a-door.  I've backed out a thousand times with no worries but cut it a little fine this time.  Of course a wing mirror is a very complex part of the vehicle so it separated into a myriad of pieces: mirror, shell, housing, small electric motor, and so on.

Marilyn reminded me that she always turns the mirrors in when she enters and leaves the garage (that's what the electric motor is for) but I'm confident that I'm a capable enough driver that I won't clip the sides by mistake. Until I'm not!

To her credit, Marilyn reassures me that I was distracted by someone in the car talking but she's only trying to make me feel better.  I know I was careless and will just have to wear the blame.

I tried to have it put back together but to no avail so I've had to make a claim on my insurance.  Happily, they haven't raised any objection and the local repairer tells me they'll need it of a week.  And it will only cost me $300 for the excess.  Bugger!

Luckily, we've had the use of Jamie's car while he and Nera are on the mainland.  It's a very nice Nissan 4WD station wagon and we're certainly enjoying the extra space.

Thursday, March 2

It's Marilyn's birthday today but she insists that it not be celebrated.  We've been to Stickybeaks for lunch and are now just enjoying the warm afternoon and some unexpected silence.

My Writing Group returns tomorrow and I am expected to write a story to share.  I decided to write about the chooks which have moved in next door and are disturbing our equilibrium.  I finished it last night, printed it out and put it in my folder to take to the meeting.

Marilyn and I woke a little later this morning.  It was eerily quiet and we couldn't put our finger on what was different,  I happened to glance over the back fence and the chook yard was abandoned!  It was bereft of chooks!

For whatever reason, overnight the chooks disappeared.

I've added a postscript to my story, to say that the chooks have moved on,  and will read it to the group with a new sense of fulfilment.