Wednesday Bits

Does #47 ever visit the west coast of the US? 

Phyllis bought some flavoured maple syrup and didn't like it. You need real maple syrup Phyllis, Queens, from Canada. OMG, it was AU$10 for 275ml/9.3oz. That's CA$10.00 too, US$7.00, GB£5.00, €6.00. This seems a bit excessive to me. I don't remember it being so expensive. 

Kosov's parents sent this cat hut for Jass, but she's never used it. She must have heard I was going to take it to the charity shop, and so has used it a couple of times in the last week. While I was having my annual hearing test today, Kosov sent me a clip of Jass in the hut.

I don't normally buy mixed flowers for home, but a week after Mother's Day, this bunch was 75% off the full price, so $8. They have lasted a week, and still seem ok.

"Kosov, I don't like this gory dinosaur display". I need to make my opinion sound stronger.

 

I went to the bank yesterday to sort out money to pay for my new car, and then get a bank cheque. As staff was ready to print the cheque, I said stop! I realised the figure I was given to pay did not allow for the $1000 deposit I had paid. I returned today for the cheque with the corrected amount to pay. I pick up the car on Friday. It seems like Kosov can come with me, but Phyllis is working.

My car still has the scratches on the side. The first quote was outrageous and where I went for the second quote never got back to me. Through the books, the car repair would cost $4200 I think. The new car business said, although your car is in excellent condition and low mileage, it will cost us about $1500 to get the scratches repaired, and so that devalues the trade in value. I did get a better trade in price than I thought I would. I'll take some pics of my current car tomorrow and the new one once I pick it up. Although a different colour, the body is the same shape.

Not quite buddies in the Middle East

Israel was a once safe place for Jewish people from all over the world. If only Israeli Jews did not illegally extend their territory into Palestine. If only rabid Palestinians a couple of years ago did not go on a killing and abduction rampage in Israel.

I know about what has happened in the Middle East because many on the ground journalists have informed me. 129 journalists and their assistants who have informed the public have been killed as they went about their daily jobs. These are generally not western country journalists, but locals, as western journalists have been banned.  

Although with troublesome neighbours, isn't Israel a civilised democratic country? Yeah, nah. No. In 2025 two thirds of the 129 reporters covering the conflict were killed by Israeli forces. My abacus tells me that is 86 people doing an honest day's job. This would not happen if not for the huge funds being transferred from #47's government (yeah, you US taxpayers)  to Israel. The US is equally complicit in the killing of journalists as it blindly supports Israel.

To me it is simple, and call me an ignorant simpleton if you like, but Israel recognise Palestine as an independent country and not take over Palestine land. US, get the fuck out of there. For Palestinians respect that they have their own county and there is no reason why they cannot peaceably live next to Israel. The two countries may never be bosom buddies, but they could exist beside each other.     

Monday Mural

With Sami and others, this week my Monday mural is perhaps a commercial endeavour but quite good in my opinion. 

For the birds

Today has been good but stressful. I bought a new car. Obviously more on that another time. I only have the mental energy to post this rather lovely live webcam site.

 

Let's visit Ireland, where a pair of blue tits are raising their young. I haven't really researched Fionn O'Donoghue but I like what I did read about him, a good guy. So, check out the baby blue tits. It seems the babies of Lapis and Lazuli will fledge in two weeks. Blue tits remind me of Australia's fairy/blue/little wren. Tip for Aussies, the feeding action is really full on after 5.00pm east coast time. 

Songs of Phyllis

At times I hear a song I like coming through the car's sound system being played by Phyllis' phone. I don't really expect most of you to like the music.

My first discovery, and I am repeating a previous post, was Dua Lipa. I'd never heard of her until I heard Phyllis play her music. I love hearing Phyllis singing along when he is in the shower.

This one is a real flea in the ear for me, by Samuel Kim. Da, da, da da da da.

There is a Just a Boy song and Just a Girl song. I prefer the Just a Boy video. The song is described as rap. I don't hear it like that at all, at worst it is light rap. It sounds sweet to me, and is also quite catchy. 

Always learning, as I composed this post I came across a Japanese word that is often used to describe sex or rather lack of between married Japanese couples. Yep, I feel rather mendokusai about 'the biz'.

South Gippy 2

A zoom in on the Inverloch sandbar. It looks so temporary, but I expect it is centuries old. 

From the Environmental Centre we drove on to Flat Rocks, an area where many dinosaur fossils have been found. While I was once quite familiar with South Gippsland, neither I nor my brother can remember visiting Flat Rocks. I don't think I need to explain the name. There were steps down to the beach, more than a few, so I stayed up top. A P&K photo. I could see the people on the rocks from above.

This photo is and odd one out, taken by P&K. I think they went out for a walk the first night.

We then drove on to Eagles Nest. I saw the nest from a distance while in the car, but again steps down to the beach. I walked half way down, but stopped and left the lads to continue and I climbed the steps back up to the carpark. This is an impressive headland, looking to the east.

And I think this is what is known at Eagles Nest.

I am not sure where these P&K photos were taken. 

We were back for cheese and nibbles with family by 3pm. That night we all dined at the Inlet Hotel where P&K and myself bought the meat platter, which had far too much meat for a platter, and so was served on a cake stand, well similar.

P&K had been to the games room the night before and had some tokens to use. They took some of the greats to the play room, probably paid for more tokens, and some kiddies won and picked up stuffed toys. 

Next morning at 8.00 an armada of greats appeared at our cabin to see P&K. They were still asleep. Come back later guys. Oldest great nephew, 5?, returned on his bicycle and he and Kosov had good fun together by racing against each other and generally having fun. All the greats love Phyllis and Kosov, as they are fun and energetic, unlike me.

I had coffee with Hippie Niece, her partner and their four combined children, and they were away. 

At the suggestion of Bone Doctor, my sister's wife, we journeyed home via a steep hilly and twisting road to Korumburra and then the South Gippsland Highway. Gippsland's rolling hills were just beautiful. 

Phyllis

What I have I learnt about Phyllis over the eighteen months he has lived with me, is he is incredibly smart.

A few examples:

While checking into the caravan park at the weekend, I was given the usual sheet of paper with a map and the route to our cabin highlighted, and another with the Wi-Fi password and some other information, including the six digit code plus hash for the car boom barrier to enter and exist the park. The first time we exited the park, I realised we had forgotten the paper with the written code. It's ok Andrew, I remember the code. What? I read the code out to him when we entered and there was nothing memorable about the code.

Bone Doctor suggested we take the scenic route home, via her old home town, and it would only take a few minutes longer. It was good choice to travel via the twisting road, and Phyllis drove without fault at a speed like an experienced driver. I only opened my gob once when near home on the motorway and I told him he was too close to the car in front. 

When he moved here, he did not know how to cook. With the assistance of the internet and his mother, plus a little advice from he who professes to not know how to cook, he quickly picked it all up and became a competent cook, better, like Ray, an instinctive cook. As I have told him though, not everything needs to be spiced up. Steamed broccoli alone is delicious, as are many vegetables. Cauliflower and brussels sprouts are excluded.

He and Kosov are bilingual, Kosov having improved his English a lot since he moved in to my home. Between them, they mostly speak their own language but at times switch to English.  I don't dumb down the way I speak when talking to them. 

I won't say Phyllis is manipulative, but he could be if not guided by a firm yes or no. By instinct I tend to say no, and then think about it, and maybe say yes later. He has worked out that if I say no, he just needs to wait for me digest what he has asked or suggested. 

Whatever, they are both agreeable and fun guys and I am fortunate to have them in my life.