The rest of the Sunday

Ex Sis in Law invited me to visit their new rented home she and her husband have just moved into. I drove the fifty minutes Sunday afternoon, after the train trip, to a very new area of what is at times referred to as Crimebourne.

It is a  large house four bedroom house for two people but they know the owner well and she invited them to take on the home at a generous rental offer.

It is a nice enough home, with central heating, evaporative cooling and a decently sized roof top bank of solar panels.

I had heard about housing in new estates (it was new as my sat nav showed me driving in paddocks) and the minimal sized blocks of land they are built upon, but I hadn't actually seen one until now. I was shocked.

I took some light fruit cake from a new store I found called AhlDie but Ex Sis in Law's husband had baked scones, delicious with lashings of cream and jam. Best of all, the scones were already spread, hence saving dropped jam and cream from my shaky hands, while holding a knife.  

Oldest Niece, her husband and their three turned up. It was nice to see everyone. The three children were gathered in the small front room watching tv as I left. They all gave me a hug, and the youngest boy who has just began school said to me, "I am sorry you have lost your friend". Well, that came out of the blue. I don't think he will remember Ray well, but his older sisters certainly will. He was at Ray's memorial.

I sent a message to his mother and his grandmother once home about what he said, and I made his grandmother cry. Ray was such an important part of the family, and it was always Andrew and Ray, rather than us individually. 

It will be Valentines Day on Friday, and I asked Phyllis if he and Kosov were doing something special. Apparently Kosov has a secret plan.  Sometimes Ray I and I went out for a meal on the eve of the day but mostly we just exchanged cards, his to me always with a nice heart shaped chocolate stuck to the envelope. I will miss the chocolate on Valentines Day this year. 

Here are a few photos I took of the garden at Ex Sis in Laws new home. The owner has spent a bomb on exotic plants, and they will really need lots of watering.

The Australian back yard used to be a place of a lawn, fruit trees, a vegetable plot, maybe a dog kennel and heaps of space for children to play games. Now, two metres of land from the back of the house to the fence. 

Beautifully scented roses. along with a stunning hibiscus not really visible. 

A mix of roses and rhododendrons.

 Azaleas and rhodies  along this side of the house. 

"Are you cooking for me tonight Phyllis?" "Yes, Andrew". A salad would have been nice with it, but I did have a salad sandwich today.