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.