The personal

I had new venetian blinds installed in the lounge room last Friday. The old ones had a couple of bent slats at the door, one when Mother went out to smoke on the balcony and closed the door on the blinds, and on the other side of the blinds, where I stood up from the lounge chair and fainted and fell against the blinds. I had them cleaned about 18 months ago, and the man said they would not stand up to another sonic clean. They are 28 years old, so they've done ok. An internal part on one important blind broke, which pushed me to get them replaced.

Sadly for the money spent, no one will notice the new blinds, six of them, but I see them and I did it for myself, and for Ray, who would also be pleased. 

I had a nice afternoon tea with my friend Bunyip to celebrate her birthday, the afternoon after the blinds were fitted in the morning.

Phyliss and Kosov were out both days at the weekend, socialising with female friends. Sunday I wanted to visit the shops at Port Melbourne, so I took the car, and stopped off at the big green shed hammer shop for a charity barbeque sausage in a slice of bread with fried onions. I did't even go inside the shed. Then for coffee at the Port Melbourne shops and I bought a couple of things.

Car parking at the South Melbourne Central Aldi car park has become difficult on Thursdays, often being full by 10am. It never used to be but it is now. I needed a plan B to reduce my parking stress. Let me try Tuesday. South Melbourne is not open either day, so I thought Tuesday would be quieter. It wasn't. Phyllis and Kosov came, well Phyllis drove and we were just lucky and found a space quickly. Soon after the red car park full sign illuminated, instead of showing in green the number of spaces available. I need a plan C. 

The barista where I have been buying coffee for quite some time, the one who winked at me a while ago, has left after seven years, wanting to get out of hospitality. I'll miss him and his attractive Italian accent.   

I blame Ballarat because about ten days after visiting, my car displayed a map of all four wheels with tyre pressures and one was low on air, 27 whatever. It should be 34. Phyllis and Kosov were with me and I showed them how to pump up a tyre at a service station, a servo as it is called here. Two weeks later it had lost air again and Phyllis pumped it up this time at the servo. Yesterday I took it for repair and I waited an hour for the repair in a nice air conditioned waiting room while it was 34/93 outside, with free coffee and cold drinks. A small piece of steel was pulled from the tyre and I guess the hole was then plugged. How much did this cost? No charge. When I need new tyres, that is where I will go. Nice work Bob Jane T-Marts in Port Melbourne.

How do my old lounge chairs look? Ok for a struggling person? They are a bit saggy in the seats, but still look reasonable. There are swing out footrests and the backs recline. Phyllis put them on FB Market Place, for free. I called a charity shop and they weren't interested, even though they welcome furniture. I put them on my FB for free. No one wants them. Phyllis and Kosov said they could carry them, and picked them up to check.

So they will go in the hard rubbish collection when the next happens. This Friday, the new lounge chairs will be delivered. There is space for the old ones to stay until the rubbish collection. I've spent so much on my home over the last year or so, and much of it not really visible, but the new chair assembly will be noticeable, I hope in a good way. 

I haven't checked this post, so it is just raw.