Modern Technology!

Three yeas ago, this month, we had to buy a new washing machine, as the old one had given up the ghost after nearly thirteen years of hard labour. We were somehow seduced by the whiz bang touchpad ultra modernness of the latest models, and bought a Fisher & Paykel electronic one.
Twelve months ago, when it broke down the first time, we were told that , because we had had a big discount on the price, even though it was brand new, because of a miniscule ding in the front of the cabinet, we had lost one year of the usual two year warranty, & therfore, it could not be fixed under warranty. Eleven weeks ago, it was repaired for the second time, with the same fault! Today it broke down, yet again, with the same fault. I have not finished the washing either. I wish I had listened to my inner voice, and bought another one,like the previous one, and not one like this. So much for the advances in modern technology. One would think that the parts would last longer than eleven weeks!!!

How to lose weight without really trying!

Well, now I have heard it all! It makes me sick to think all these years of angst and strugge I have endured over my weight, and all I have to do is threaten to play some sport or other, and it will scare the weight off! I read this week that lack of sleep, is a contributing factor to weight gain. Well, I now know what to do. Sleep all day and I will soon be as slim a a reed! The fact that I would not be eating much might have some bearing on the matter, too. As I am unable to do anything much in the way of moving around, is a real dampener on that theory, of letting my body think I am taking up sport, or some such.

So, the historians have finally realised that if Charles becomes king, Camilla will be queen. Surely Charles himself should have know that!? There has been some talk in the press about Camilla committing bigamy if she marries again, because she has not sort an annulment from her marriage to Andrew Parker-Bowles. This is guff, as she is an Anglican not Catholic. Andrew , being the Catholic has to do that, and he is already remarried. Camilla has to seek a special dispensation from the Anglican church to remarry, as she did not convert to Catholicism.

Let's hear it for Grandparents!

Well, most of them anyway. Mine weren't all that crash hot, and my children have only known a maternal and paternal grandmother. My daughter particularly has keenly felt the lack of a grandfather. Now she has two boys, and the eldest, Lachlan, is wanting to spend more time with Pop, she is only too happy to acceed to his request. It is pretty boring for a nearly five year old to drag around with Mum & Nan when we do the fortnightly grocery shopping. Today Lachlan went to a clearing sale with Pop, and had a great time. It was a new experience for him.
It is wonderful that his Pop is so willing to take him with him,as he didn't do very much with his own children, and I know they have regrets about that. So do I! Neville was going to try to buy an old header, but finished up buying a mister sprayer! I think he only wanted the diff shaft off it and could have paid $10.00 for one, but it was with a header and the farmer wouldn't let them be sold separately. He only got $10.00 for the lot! Men's thinking begger's belief sometimes.

One Ham to Another

Well, they are everywhere. There were more of them here today. Neville's brother Lew & his wife Maureen are making a quick trip to visit some friends and rellies. They came to lunch , and then we went to Naracoorte so they could see the 'Thistle Farm'. Mionr problem getting in. Neville forgot the key to the gate! He had taken every other one but that one. He & Lew had to climb over the fence, while Maureen & I stayed in the car.
Maureen's nephew & his family own a dedli/cafe in the town. They called in yesterday on their way up here from Millicent. We decided to go there for a cuppa, & Maureen commented that Kate would be surprised to see them again. I said, jokingly, that she could tell her that they had got lost on their way to Bordertown , and finished up back there. I must learn never to say things like that to Mo. She only went & done it!
I walked in just in time to hear her. The thing is, she knows her way round the district & Bordertown very well, as she grew up here. She & Lew raised their kids in Millicent. I had to tell Kate the truth. There was much laughter. Kate should have known Mo was pulling her leg.
I cooked Apricot Chicken & veg, and all but Lew had home grown watermelon for afters. Lew had some jellied strawberries. He doesn't like watermelon. Everyone agreed the meal was 'scrumptious' . Not restaurant standard by any means, but very nice.

The saga of the digital camera drags on.

I told you with my last Blog, that I had had a great deal of trouble getting the damn thing here at all. Now Deb can't use it until she buys a battery charger, as the battery is flat. You would think it would come with a fully charged battery for crying out loud!
Frugal Bastard has had a bitch about SVU's. I totally agree with him. Why do the Yanks think their version of the English language is the correct one? They misspell , mispronounce and misuse words, so we who know how it should be done, get very frustrated. Another thing that annoys me no end, is the incorrect and overuse of the apostophe.
Another thing that I have complained about that really annoys me, is when people call and ask for my husband and treat me as a nonperson!! If they knew how to use a phone properly, I wouldn't feel like they think of me as 'Scotch Mist'.
The other thing is, when they ring and I give them the information they require, and they do not take heed and remember, then have to ring me again the next week and ask for it again!
The person who is in my sights at the moment, is the Works Manager at the Naracoorte council. He has rung me twice in the last week, and did not listen when I told him how to get to our property. As Works Manager, he should bloody well know where the property is! He also took no notice when I told him we don't have the phone on down there, and Neville is never here on Mon & Tues. Neville never said he wanted him to ring him, anyway.
I have written him a scathing letter, but will have to 'hold my fire' as we are trying to get the road into our place sealed. It was supposed to be done two years ago.

Gross incompetance, Pt.2

Well, since my last post, I have had to deal with more incompetance and indifferance from the store where I purchased my daughter's digital camera. Three weeks ago, I had a phone call from them, and the girl said she had my final payment cheque, and asked me which freight courier I would like them to send it with. I had specified one, and she asked if I would like her to ring them, or use one that they use. I asked her to ring the one I had specified, and if they didn't charge more that $10.00, to go with them. She called me back and said that courier service did not pick up parcels from Adelaide, and said she would send it by Australia Post. She said I had to send a further cheque for the coverage of postage. This I duly did that day. Last Wednesday I recieved another call from them to tell me that my two cheques were still sitting in the office, but the guy said he was about to process them. This was almost two weeks AFTER the date to finalise the layby!! Shortly after this call, Neville brought in the mail, which consisted of a letter from this store, telling me that my layby was over due to be paid, but they had extended the time for me. I rang them and the girl checked for me and said that it was not an active layby anymore, so it must have been sent to dispatch. I asked why the cheques had not been processed, and she said the first girl had not known how to, and, and thought someone else would do it. When the camera had not arrived by Monday, I rang them again to ascertain it's whereabouts. The young man said he would look into it for me and ring me back.
After waiting a further hour, with no phone call, I again had to ring them, and this time I got a very helpful young lady who told me that it was still there!!!! She said she would ring the bus company and try to get it on the next bus out, which was the next day. She said that if no-one could take it into the city, she would take the darn thing in herself.
I explained that I don't drive, and that my husband would not be home until after 5pm. the next night. She rang me just before lunch and said she had rung the bus depot and the one here. She said it did not matter what time I went out to collect it, as it is open 24/7.
We duly went to the bus depot, and Hallelulia, it was there! Shelley, the competant girl at the store, apologised for 'the stuff up' and said they had never had anything like that happen before. I hope somebody was taking notes, and it never happens again.

Charles & Cammilla.

It would appear that she is totally shocked by the hostility she had recieved since the announcement of the wedding, She thought that people would have 'forgiven' them and be ready to accept her. She has by all accounts, told Charles to call off the wedding, as it has become a nightmare, and is not turning out how she wanted it to. People have very long memories.

Gross inefficiancy

For nearly three months, I have been paying off a digital camera and printer dock , which is a 30th birthday gift for out daughter, at a big variety store in Adelaide. I have abided by all the layby rules, and had the cheques sent well in advance of the next due date. After I sent the final payment, with instruction as to who I wanted to deliver it, I recieved a phone call from one of the staff, two weeks ago, when the cheque arrived. She asked if I wanted to use the carrier I had specified, or one they use. I said mine, so she rang them, only to discover that they don't do pick ups from Adelaide. She then said she would organise one of their own to deliver it. She also said that I would have to send a further cheque to cover the cost of freight. This was duly done that day. I have been expecting it to be delivered this week. I got another phone call from them today, with some guff about a privay act that every customer had to read and sign before they could dispatch any goods. He read it to me and said he had the last two cheques and would deal with the transaction himself. Later, I received a letter from this store, telling me that the last payment was overdue, but they had extended my layby period for another two weeks. I rang them this afternoon, only to discover that the reason for the delay and the strong possibility that I could lose the goods, was because the girl didn't know how to cash the cheque, and had thought someone else would do it! I said to the young lady I hoped that the girl in question had been told a few home truths, and that I could not afford to lose something that cost $300.00 through no fault of mine. It would be entirely unjust and unfair. I said that as a pensioner, I could not have paid outright, and by the time I had, the goods would not have been at such a bargain price. It would be just too much of a disappointment as they are for my daughter's birthday. She checked the computer, and said it was no longer an active layby, so must have been dispatched. I can assure them, if it is not here by Monday, there will be ructions in the camp!! Why don't these young people use their brains and consider how they would feel in the same circunstances?
Poor Queen Elizabeth, she can't win! The papers are going to make a meal of her not attending 'the wedding' I fully understand why she won't attend. Besides, she has beeen there, done that, got the T shirt. And why the hell should she have to pay for the reception? Charlie's got enough ready cash to cover it!

Sport!

In the imortal words of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bah, Humbug! I am NOT a sports fan. I am not all that interested in the Olympics either, apart from the swimming & diving. The reason is simple. I have been nearly blind all my life, though only legally blind for the last 21years. I was a natural at sport, but not quick enough for competition sport like Netball, or Basketball as it was known in my youth I could not focus on the ball and react quickly enough.. It is therefore, irksome in the extreme that there is so much sport on telly. It is even more so, when any decent programme gets 'hijacked', because the TV channels want to broadcast a sporting event that has not been advertised in the guide. Not being in the business, I neither know or care about the ratings. When our son, the Frugal Bastard, was younger, he played cricket & football. He was a natural & very good. I could not enjoy watching him, as I could not see him properly. I can only watch so many videos & DVDs, as they get boring if repeated too often, no matter how much I love them. Now it seems, we are to get even more of the bloody cricket, if the twenty20 matches catch on!

How to get a wet behind without even trying!

17.02.05
Twice, in a week, I have had the indignity of a wet behind when I have been going somewhere in a car. The first time, it had been raining, and as we have nowhere to put our little car, it was out in the rain. The window was up, so I do not know how the seat covers got wet. If they were a dark colour, I would have noticed before I sat down. Today, my daughter & third grandson were driving home from our forthnightly grocery shopping trip. Riley was in his car seat in the back. He had wanted another drink, as it is quite a warm day. I handed him a bottle with a small amount of water in it. He drank some, then started to mess about, pretending to give it to me. Next thing, he lobbed it over the seat, & unbeknownst to me, it did not have the top on. I thought it was empty, but rapidly discovered my error!! I cracked up laughing, as it was too funny that it happened again. It was a bit embarassing, as I had to go to the butcher & our local supermarket. Luckily, my T shirt is long enough to cover the wet patch.

I'm baack!

Is it just me, or do other Baby Boomers feel affronted, & caught on the back foot, when total strangers from businesses ring you and address you by your first name. By the time I have realised the lack of courtesy & good etiquette, it is too late to do anything about it. Most people don't mean anything by it, but I was brought up in a very different era , and find it mildly disconcerting, to bloody rude. Another thing that gets my dander up, is when people ring and totally ignore my status as a wife, and ask for my husband . The fact that he is the person they wish to speak to not withstanding, ackowledgement of my existance at least, would be nice.
Why can't tele marketers ring you during the day? I guess the answer is , because they know they are more likely to get somebody to answer the phone in the evening. But why is it always just as you sit down to tea? !

It's on again

Well, I can't believe how much space the world's Press have devoted to 'The Engagement'. One day of all the hype would have been enough. I wonder how long they will be given front page treatment? Surely, there are much more edifying & interesting things to read & write about. I agree with the Brits, when they say they are happy they are finally getting hitched, but don't want Charles as king. I would have thought they would have made a more discreet announcement, like Prinsess Anne did. Ho hum.
Yesterday, I entertained my other eldest grandson, & played games on the computer. Lachlan is exactly the same age as Yu-Jin, but does not have access to a computer. He did very well for his first time, but, I wonder how long it will be before I need a new mouse! He was pretty hard on it, but I guess he will get the hang of it with practice. I wish we could see them more often, & for longer. He stayed with us while his mum, our daughter, Debra & her younger son,Riley & Deb's friend did some grocery shopping. I must start writing the funny things the children say, down again so I have something to write on this Blog.

What happened to Summer?

Not that I am complaining mind you, as I have said in a past blog, I hate the hot weather, but this is supposed to be our hottest month. We have had rain forcast for days, but that has not realy eventuated either. With all the techno aids they have for forcasting weather, they seldom get it right. It seems that we are going into Autumn early. Having said that, we will probably get a heatwave next week.
In an editorial yesterday, one journalist was lambasting Prince Charles for not putting Adelaide on his itinery. As one who used to have great admiration for him, I am glad he is not coming here. I cannot for the life of me, understand why anybody would want to meet him. What useful purpose does he serve? His 'skills' as a parent are nonexistent. He needs to pull Harry into line before he self destructs. He seems to leave the 'heavy' stuff to his aides, and is more interested in huntin' , shootin' & fishin' & some charitable work. I don't think the monarchy will last much after the present sovereign has shuffled off this mortal coil. I think they should all work for their bread and butter, except, when they become monarch.

Makes me tired thinking about it!

I have just read today's addition on the Frugal Bastard, & it reminded me of a time , which seems very long ago indeed, when I rode a bicycle. I don't know how I managed it, but one day my friend Mary, who is about 10 years my senior, & I rode to the hamlet six miles from here, called Mundulla. We hadn't planned to go that far, when we got there, we decided to ride down a back road to see what we could see. We finished up riding over twenty miles before we got home. I couldn't sit down let alone ride, for days afterwards! I think Yu-Jin is very game for a nearly five year old. He will certainly be fit and no wuss. I miss the freedom bike riding gave me, as I have never had a driver's licence, either. Eyesight no good.
#1 son must get the tendancy to make anagrams out of number plate letters etc, from me. I do that , but nothing as interesting as his efforts.
Another thing I love is beautiful old buildings, especially if they have some history. My Great-Great Grandfather Gray was a mason, and built, or oversaw the building of, many of the buildings in Gawler in the 1800s. A lot of his handiwork is still in use today. I have seen some of them.

More about what I enjoy.

I love doing crosswords, especially the clueless ones where you only have two or three letters to get you started. I like two speed ones, with ordinary and cryptic clues. The Hard One, in the Adelaide Advertiser, is a real test of your word and history knowledge. Even my very widely read and highly educated mother gets stumped on that one at times. She hates it when I know the answer! I also love old cars. We sometimes have car clubs come here for a couple of days. They had a rally in Adelaide this weekend. As it is a three hour drive from here, & I don't drive, it wasn't likely that we would have gone. Saw some of them on the news.
I love some, not all, classical music, some opera excerpts, country music, & Elvis. I enjoy Pop music, providing it has a melody & is not one phrase repeated adnausium

Hope I get it right this time!

February 4th, 2005.
Hullo out there fellow Bloggers. I tried to do a blog yesterday, but once again, I clicked the wrong spot and it was lost in cyber space! As my Mum would say, all that for nothing, how much for sixpence. Now, that is dating me, is it not? I am very new to this blogging, & my son, the Frugal Bastard, is getting a bit exasperated with me. But I will get the hang of it eventually! Let me tell you something about myself. I have been married to Neville for nearly 35 & a half years. We have two wonderful children,& 3 fantastic grandsons. I love God, my family, my friends, steam trains, cats, dogs, horses, photography, mucking about on my computer, big rigs, & flowers. I love my Anglo Saxon heritage, particularly the Welsh bit. My paternal great grandparents came from the Rhondda Valley. I have a bit of Danish Viking in that mix as well.
I love ancient & modern history. I used to be very keen on the British & European Royals, but that has palled somewhat of late. I love murder mysteries, especially Inspector Morse, & Agatha Christie. I am a great fan of I Love Lucy. Catch you later folks.