Nearly missed the wedding!

Last Saterday, the 12th, Deb and the boys and I travelled to Tailem Bend, which is about an hour and a half from Adelaide, to attend my former sister-in-law's wedding. I have always loved Denise, and am very pleased, dead chuffed in fact, that she has found such a lovely man, and is so happy. The anouncement in the local paper of six weeks ago said the wedding was to be at 2 pm. We left early, about 9.30 am. Deb had to come and get me, as I don't drive, and Neville would not have taken me to Keith, as he has never liked Denise. He is not the most accommodating person in the world.Deb phoned her friend, Bonnie,who lives in Tailem, and asked her to find out where the church was for us. Deb said we had oodles of time to go to Murray Bridge, which is 30 mins further up the wallaby. We pulled into the BP road house, for a pit stop and refreshments.
Whilst Deb was in the loo, her mobile rang. I have no idea which button to press to answer it, as she has a new one, that is nothing like mine. When she came back to the car, I told her it had rung. She checked it, but didn't call back. I will explain why in a mo.
We continued on our way, and went to Target to try to buy some clothes for Lachlan and Riley. There was not a lot to choose from. The shop seemed almost empty, as though they were moving to another premises. Then we went to Bi-Lo, so Deb could get a few things. I got some more batteries for my camera, as I was not sure how good the one's in it were. They have been there yonks. Suddenly, Deb came 'screaming' down the aisle yelling, 'Mum, the wediing's at 1 o'clock!!' It was at that time, 12.35 pm. She said Bonnie had rung and told her it had been moved up and hour, and that it had been her who rang and I couldn't take the call. It had shown up as a privte number, because she had called from a phone booth. Her phone is playing up.
We had to get through the check out, and back to Tailem, and it takes half an hour. I told Deb it was not worth getting a speeding ticket, that we would get there in time to see some of the wedding, even if it was only the reception. We got there just as Denise and Trevor had finished signing the register.I got a couple of pics as they came down the aisle, and some outside, and where they had the reception, which was next door in a tin shed. The church is very new, and has not in fact been finished, so I daresay they need to raise more funds to build a proper hall. It really was NOT my day, as I had something to eat and a drink of Lemonade, and then went to the loo, which is inside the church.I had to queue, as there are only two cubicles. This was fairly early in the proceedings, and while I was 'away', they cut the cake. I got back just after, and people were taking photos. I couldn't believe it! Deb said, "Don't worry, it is all on film."
One of the guests, who also comes from Bordertown, said to me, he had seen us when we pulled up at the BP, and had thought about asking me if I knew the time had been changed. He and his wife and her mother were in there having a cuppa. Would have been a bloody pity if some one had told me!!! Apparently, the minister had changed the time. Denise doesn't know why. Bit incosiderate in my book. She said she thought someone from here would have made sure I knew. I guess it was one of those times when everyone thought someoe else had done it, etc.
Laclan made his mum and me very proud. He was outside waiting for us, as we were talking to Denise, and he picked some Gazanias and brought them over and said, "These are for you, Auntie Denise." He then tried to give her a hug, but could only reach her behind. She bent down and hugged him and kissed the top of his head. She was very touched by his spontaneous gesture. Lachlan hardly knows her.
He is a lovely boy.

Our Weekend.

Last Sunday, Neville and I went to Gawler, which is north of Adelaide, to my distant cousin by marriage's 80th birthday party. The lady's name is Daphne, and she has always been like a second mum to me. Her husband and his elder brother and my late dad, all attended Tech college together, and had always been great mates. Two of them are dead now, but we keep in close contact with Malcolm and Daphne. The party was at Daphne and Malcolm's daughter Dianne's home. She and her partner, Dave, have a beautiful home. It would not be suitable for me to live in as it has many levels, steps etc, and I had to be very careful all afternoon when I moved around. The patio, where they held the party, has two levels ad there are three steps made of lovely gray slate and old railway sleepers. The slate does not meet the top of the sleepers, but curves down to the top. A trap for someone with impaired vision and not too agile, like myself. I was able to hold on to the steel post that held the awning, so I felt secure. On one occasion, George, offered to help me down the steps but I declined the offer, as he was pretty well tanked when he got there and drank anything that was uncorked. I met him at Malc's 70th, nearly 11 years ago and didn't like him one bit. I Don't like being around heavy drinkers, and am fussy who I allow to touch me. I am not prejudiced, I have never been comfortable around them, as I am not accustomed to it, and have been pawed by too many in the past.
The food was superb and plentiful. They had chicken mornay, spicy beef, Rogan Josh, I think, fried rice, Shashliks and party pies, pasties, and sausage rolls. Dave and Dianne did all the cooking and would not allow Di's parents to pay for any thnng but the drinks. For dessert we had fresh fruit skewers, cream puffs with Chantilly custard filling and chocolate on top. There were other things but what they were eludes me. The birthday cake was magnificent. A huge square sponge, covered in cream, flaked almonds and strawberries, with a chocolate plaque with Happy 80th Birthday Daphne, on it.
We left at 5.45pm. Just as we were about to go, Yu-Jin rang me and I had to tell him I would ring him back. We got down the road a bit, and Neville agreed to go to the city to find a bed for the night, so I rang our usual motel, and was able to secure a room. I asked for a twin room and we were given a room with a queen sized bed plua a single one. Neville slept in that. I watched a bit of telly, but was very tired, so went to bed and 9.00pm. I had turned the air conditioner on to warm up the room, but turned it off when I got into bed, as I thought Neville would not be able to sleep with the noise. About 3/4 of an hour later, I woke up shivering violently, and thought it was because I was cold, so turned the AC back on. It made no difference, and then I got some twinges in my middle, and thought 'Oh, no. Why now,why here?' Went to the toilet and thought that would be the rnd of it. Not so. I hastily rang reception and asked for a plastic bucket, which the guy brought over poste haste, and I was promptly ill. I do wish 'Murphy' would not lurk around me quite so much! After I had booked the room, I rang Yu-Jin and we had quite a long talk. He is a lovely boy, and I miss him greatly.
I spent Monday with my Mum, and we had a good day. When I arrived, we had a cuppa out in the sun on her back porch. We played three games of Scrabble. Mum won two, but not by much. We
had lunch then went to the local shopping centre to get a few things from Foodland and the post office. Mum said it was good to have someone with her in the car, as she has lost a lot of confidence since her op in March. As mum has recently been in hospital, again, and as I can never visit her there, I took her a bottle of Tawny Port, some chocs and flowers. She asked me why I had brought so much and I explained as above.
Neville got back about 4.30, and we had another cuppa, then we left. We were heading down the freeway, and I got a very urgent call of nature. We had to make a detour at the first exit. We had no idea which town it was, as it was dark by then. We finally found a small service station that was still open, and I made a mad dash inside, and asked if they had any loos. Got back in the car, and we could not find our way back on to the freeway! We drove around a lot of dark towns and winding roads and got a bit lost. These old towns don't always have signage, so we didn't know where we were most of the time. We drove for 3/4 of an hour and Mother Nature came aknocking again!! I very nearly didn't make it. After that, I was OK. We finally found the exit to Murray Bridge, and headed to there, then on to Tailem Bend, to get some tea and see Neville's brother Peter, who has just moved there. Because we were so late getting there, Pete thought we were not coming. We had never been there before, and it is not easy finding a place in the dark, especially as there are few street signs and hardly any house numbers. We found his house about 8.30 and stayed for an hour. We had another cuppa and our tea. I was whacked by 9.30. and said we had better make tracks. This we did, and arrived home at 11.45. I slept most of the way, and for a further 8 hours when I got to bed.

I've had a very busy week.

For someone who usually does not go out very much at all, I have had a busy week. I have gone out three days in a row, so far, and will probably go out again tomorrow. I went to Keith Tuesday, out to lunch here, yesterday, and down to Naracoorte today, to do the rest of the shopping, and so Neville could do some jobs at the farm. I am feeling a bit exhausted I must say. Have to slow down next week and take it easy!
After I had finished the shopping, I went to sit on one of the benches to wait for Neville. There was an elderly lady sitting on the only bench that had a vacant space. I asked if anybody else was going to come and sit there, and she said no, so I sat down. We got chatting, and I discovered who she was. She was someone I had only heard of, but I knew, some of he family, slightly. She said she was waiting for her nephew to come and pick her up. It transpired her nephew was a bloke I had gone to school with in grades six and seven.
She couldn't place me, even though I had told her my maiden name, but instantly knew when I told her my late father's name. Funny how people don't remember my mum. Her nephew duly arrived, and I said G'day. I don't suppose you remember me?' He looked hard, then said I think I do. Yes, you're Sue, aren't you?' I am not sure if I would have recognised him if he had been in the street, as he has filled out a bit. It has been 46 years since I saw him, too.
Neville came in and they had a chat, then I asked Neville to get the groceries. Edward asked me where my sister was now. I said, 'Do you mean Alison?' He said, 'No, the older one.' I said,'Bronwyn?' He said, "Yes, Bronny. That's the one. This is what I was talking about, before. No-one remembers me, they all remember Bron. This has been the way of things all my life. I never existed if Bron was in veiw!
We went to one of the three pubs for lunch, and Neville asked me how old Edward would be. He said,'He wouldn't be 50 yet, would he?' I said he is the same age as me. He said, 'Well, he doesn't look it.' I said, 'Thank you very much, I will kick you in the shins any time now'.
I rang me mum, who is in hospital once again, when I got home, and told her all about it. She is much better, and should have gone home today, but the doctor was going to put her on oral antibiotics, yesterday,then let her go home, But she still has not started them. She said he probably forgot to write them up! I bought her a bottle of Tawny Port, which she loves, just to give her a boost. I will see her next Monday, and will be able to spend some time with her, which will be nice.

I had a good day, mum.

My friend Sue and I went to Keith today, to see my daughter and her young son, Riley. Her husband is off work because he has done his back in, again. We normally go out on a Tuesday for coffee and to do errands, but decided to have a change of venue. We had coffee and cake at one of the cafes , Deb had a salad roll. Then we went into a shop called The Purple Paddock. It is a shop where people can sell their handy crafts, paintings and cooking. They also had some beautiful pieces of old furniture that had been restored. The prices were very much today's, though. I bought four coasters with Aussie farm scenes on, to send to my sister in Wales. When I told the lady serving me where they were going, she said it had been a bit of an international day, as there had been a french lady in, who had bought some things to take home with her, and someone else who was sending things somewhere, but it eludes me.Then Sue and Deb and Riley went to a craft shop. It was too far for me to walk, so I went to the newsagent's and checked my lotto and bought some magazines. I went across the street to sit and wait for them. It was quite chilly, as it has been an overcast day, and the wind had a chill factor of about -5. When they got back, I asked Deb if she was coming to lunch at the pub with us. She declined, as she had just had a salad roll. She asked Riley if he would like to come with us. At first he said no, as he is a bit shy, in spite of his exuberance and chatterbox nature.(The lady in the Purple Paddock said we would never be lonely with Riley around) We met Pete and his mum, Margaret, who is on two weeks holiday from the meat works, and Riley decided he would come with Sue and me. We all had bangers and mash and oinon gravy. I asked if they did children's serves, but was told , no. He ate nearly all of it by himself, with no coaxing from us! I don't know where he put it all, as he is not very big. Half way through the meal he said, "I'm having a good day". When we got back to Deb, he told he that too. It was very gratifying to hear. We went to Deb's house, so I could drop off some things she asked for when I had my cupboards cleaned out last week, and to see the new Bull Terrier pup. Then a van pulled up, and Deb was very excited, as she said they had come to fix he washing machine. When the men had a look at it, I heard one say they had the wrong parts, as they were told something quite different needed fixing. Goodness knows when she will get it fixed now.
Sue and I didn't stay long and came home and did some shopping and other jobs here. We were quite 'done up' when we got back, and had a cuppa and a chat. She looked through her catalogues she had got in the mail. I had a bit of a rest, as my legs were giving me 'hurry up'.