Kinda back

I am not making my splendiferous return to the world of blog. I just want to write a little rant, after hearing weirdness on one of our commercial tv news bulletin. I call it the car crash news, and there was ripper tonight whereby many cars were damaged and the driver of an unmarked police car accidently gave the miscreant a bump with the police car, with him receiving multiple bone fractures, and he is under police guard in hospital. 

The incident was also covered by the 7pm ABC TV News, somewhat less sensationally than the Channel 7 news. 

Then came the pre ad promotion for a following story by Channel 7 newsreader, Peter Mitchell. 

How to reduce your risk of dying by 40%! 

The 40% odds for perpetual life is quite good. The detail was made clear in the story. I calmed down, until this...

Reduce your mortality by 25%.

In spite of my poor lifestyle choices, isn't that something for me to grasp at too?

PS For those who follow Elephant Child's blog, I am sure we are all wishing her well as she recovers from serious surgery. I think she is the most caring person I've come across on the internet, and that is quite a statement. Be well, EC.   

Holidays

I am away today to The Bellarine to look after Sister's, Bone Doctor's and Jo's cats. I will pick them up from a cattery (yes I know they aren't called that now. I can't think of the right name) along the way where they have been for two days. 

Bone Doctor's grandmother will turn 101. Her daughter, BD's mother, has MS and doesn't have too long to live. The last time BD was in northern Queensland was for her grandma's 100th. Her grandmother is a little doolally but still recognises family. It is sad about BD's mother. She was a nurse and travelled the world in weird places, like Mongolia, Russia but none of the big cities, deepest and darkest Africa, staying in favelas in South America, and Antarctica. 

Somehow, I sent my dead in bed neighbour an sms this morning that went to Bone Doctor. I quickly deleted it but it was later revealed, I was too slow to delete and she saw it and replied to me who said, I didn't know where Sister was visiting. 

I've finally worked out the difference between Sunshine and Sunbury, not yet Whittlesea and Winchelsea, and not quite Toowoomba and Townsville. The latter is where BD's grandmother lives and the former has pretty gardens with lots of flowers and sits upon an escarpment. From gay media, I remember Townsville as being very homophobic in the 1990s.

Two nights before I leave Sister's place after cat sitting, Phyllis and Kosov will come down by train and I'll pick them up from the station and they'll stay two nights. I don't normally take the car out at night at home, as I like to have a drink or two, but with dark arriving at 5pm, I will give Phyllis some night time driving experience. My headlights dim automatically, but I wonder if he needs to know how to dim lights by his left foot pushing a floor button, or operating a steering wheel stalk. 

In theory, I will have plenty of time to blog and comment, which I don't normally do when I am away from my desktop. My excuse was that it was unfair to Ray when away to be too focused on the matters of the internet. But maybe I will try a little bit during this break. 

I try to make the best of my life and I adore having the very loving Phyllis and Kosov in my life, but I feel so lost and purposeless without Ray. Nevertheless, I remind myself that I am a very privileged person in this world, mostly by luck of birth and the country I live in. See ya whenever. 

Beach and the overview of Port Phillip

It was an impromptu visit to Elwood Beach when Phyllis (correctly spelt, unlike in a previous post) was driving. The waters of Port Phillip are normally quite calm, but not this day with a high tide and large waves. So exciting in our humble not so little bay. The lads have been there before in calm times, and so were also impressed. 

And a few photos from our visit to The Eagle at Arthurs Seat. This is looking up to Arthurs Seat from the pier at Dromana. 

Views to north west

The gondolas travel about up and down for about one kilometre in each direction. It was a devil to pay because while we ate at the cafe, I looked online and if I had booked The Eagle in advance, it would have cost about $17 less for the three of us. I went to the counter and asked, and sure enough, if I stepped back and booked online now, I could save that money. I suppose it was worth it. I needed a QR code and apparently I downloaded the required app using one email address, and the tickets with the QR arrived to the different requested address. Old man became confused with matters tech, but I did get there in the end. Kosov tried to help, but couldn't understand what happened either. 

In the lower centre of this photo, you can see a grazing kangaroo. The skies were quite cloudy but we could just see the tall Melbourne buildings. My usual joke, "Guys, you left your bedroom window open", fell rather flat. 

Looking south towards Rosebud. We stopped off for food in Mornington, and then headed home. 

I visited the doctor today, Monday, and he took off the clear plastic bandage and proclaimed I had healed. I was impressed by how good the wound looked. There will be a scar I suppose, but what is one more. 

Monday Mural

It was time for Phyliss to learn reverse parallel parking. His first attempt was a fail, and that was my fault as I failed to initially see the trailer behind the SUV. Pull out and try again. I gave no advice and he parked perfectly. Yeah, well, anyone can fluke a perfect parallel park. We moved on and jesus, he made a second perfect parallel park. I could not believe it. I think I was happier than he was for his achievement.

I rarely parallel park, and you do become rusty. The ladies who shop and lunch in High Street Armadale are experts at parallel parking their large black Beemers and Mercs.

Anyway, this is supposed to be about murals and as usual, I join with Sami and others. What can I find today. I took this photo in July 2024 and this is a street we/I often walked along and I had not noticed the mural painted in 2023. It's rather marvellous, even if it doesn't correctly represent the heavily built up area. Route 78 was the last tram route to see the old W class trams running in regular service, not so long ago really. It is now served by the more modern A class trams, which are quite old too now, dating back to the 20th century. 

This is a bit interesting, not so much for the artists name, but in the top right are the words 'Poof Doo..'. Poof Doof is a gay venue in Chapel Street with an overall name of Chasers. If you don't know, poof is slang for gay, and doof is the loud heavy backbeat normally heard in young people's dance clubs, and sometimes coming out of car windows. 

About three weeks, the international artist Katy Perry performed at sold out concerts in Melbourne. I know nothing about her, not even her nationality, but no matter. One evening after performing, she turned up at Poof Doof and opened the bar for an hour to all the queens at the venue. Phyllis was very jealous. 

The most successful female stars have always created a strong gay base, going back to Audrey Hepburn, Piaf and of course, July Garland, or even earlier. Later think Cher, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Madonna, the stars of my era, and a whole lot more since. 

Sunday Selections

I'm joining with Elephant's Child and River for Sunday Selections. These photos are fairly recent.

Another photo of the good old days, with few cars on the roads and free flowing traffic before all those foreigners arrived and clogged up our cities.

This is a terrific sign, recognising that in spite of it being illegal to feed native creatures, people will do what they do, and feed ducks. Well done Melbourne Water.

I don't have a clue what these flowers are called.

Jacaranda flowering season is well past. When we first moved here in the early 2000s, I think the Jacaranda count in South Yarra, viewed from our balcony, was around 12. This year, I could only see 4. 

I want nothing to do with Temu, no matter how hard FB and other sites try to force me to it. I do think it might be a serious threat to Amazon though. It's not that I give a whatever for Amazon. I have to use it for Kindle books, but that's it. 

Further investigation is required. 

A nice welcome home.

A gift from Oldest Niece, a toasted sandwich maker and a food processor are in the cupboard which was open shelved for wine bottles. It shows the original kitchen colour before we had it made white. It is above the new and larger fridge, and I can no longer reach the cupboard without steps. 

There were a number of these 'art items' spread around the City of Port Phillip. 

 

A heron I think, waiting to spy food at St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

Yeah, nah. It doesn't work for me. 

Everything in this area was removed for the construction of the Metro Tunnel, and put back and it is a great space. I remember checking to see if the water flowed from the bubble tap, but I can't remember if it did. 

Near the State Trustees' huge building in Footscray, although I recently heard its location is Seddon. State Trustees is a government organisation who drew up my will. It can handle your affairs, and looks after the funds of those who are unable to look after themselves. 

Maybe the same Footscray area.

Chapel Street, Windsor. So sad. I am sure it was there in the 1970s. 

And another sad closure. The rents can be absurdly high, and it seems property owners would rather see buildings empty than negotiate on building rentals. It is much the same for newest high rise apartment buildings. 

A crabbit old woman

Think back to when you were young, your hopes and dreams, your lusts and dislikes, your insecurities, the pleasure you had from successfully rearing a family, maybe not perfect, but you did your best.

Ingrid lives in her care home Nonna's Castle in Waterloo and she posted something that caught me.  You can read Ingrid's post here, but a snip to read.

At the next table was a man sitting with his wife severely handicapped. She lay in a special wheelchair, couldn't speak and eat alone and what was awful was her look she always had her mouth wide open and two teeth were missing. At the beginning I really was afraid and disgusted when I saw her and admired her husband who came each afternoon to look after her.  

Ingrid became used to the woman's appearance, and the woman referenced may have once been gorgeous looking, outgoing and the life of a party. In old age you don't know what people's lives were like.

One of Ray's sisters told me she wants a photo of herself in her young and party days next to her future aged care bed, just to remind staff of who she once was. 

The use of the word crabbit indicates this is quite old, but it's still very apt. 

"Look Closer Nurse"
What do you see nurse, what do you see
Are you thinking when you're looking at me 
A crabbit old woman, not very wise
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes 
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try" 
Who seems not to notice the things that you do
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe 
Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will 
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill
Is that what you're thinking, is that what you see
Then open your eyes nurse, for you're looking at me

I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still 
As I use at you biddings, as I eat at your will
I am a small child of ten with a father and mother
Brothers and sisters who love one another
A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet
Dreaming of soon her lover she'll meet
A  bride soon at twenty my heart gives a leap
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep
At twenty five now I have young of my own
A woman of thirty, my young growing fast
Bound to each other with ties that will last
At forty my young sons will now grow and be gone
Af fifty, once more babies play around my knee
Again we know children my loved one and me

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead
I look to the future, I shudder with dread
For my young are all busy, rearing young of their own
And I think of the years, and the love I have known
I'm now an old woman and nature is cruel 
Tis her jest to make old age look like a feel
The body, it crumbles, grace and vigour depart
There is now a stone where I once had a heart
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells
And now and again my battered heart swells
I remember the joys, I remember the pain
And I'm loving and living life all over again
I think of the years all too few - gone, so fast
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last
So, open your eyes nurse, open and see
Not a crabbit old woman, look closer, see ME

It's my life

Phyllis and Kosov want to travel on the Puffing Billy train, but it is booked out well in advance. I think possibly because tour companies take out block bookings for their clients. I may be wrong but I think if you rocked up on the day, you might be able to buy a ticket because of no shows, or whatever.

Next week I will be away for a week as I catsit at Sister's.  The last full day of my stay, Phyllis and Kosov will come by train to Geelong where I will pick them up from the station and they will stay the night with me at Sister's. The next day, Phyllis will drive us back home. 

They want to see the area, and so I told them to come early on the day they arrive, and lucky lucky, the Bellarine steam train is running on that day.

Today, with Phyllis at the wheel, we will visit The Eagle chairlift at Arthurs Seat. If the sky is clear, the views are great, as is the whole experience. I've done it before twice but oddly, I can't find the blog posts. Miss capital city of Peru may join us, or not, as I hope. 

I am mending well enough after surgery, and I took specialist advice to take painkiller medication if I felt pain. However, a subsequent call from the hospital pharmacy, once the person realised I was sensible to speak to, said, generally avoid pain medication if you can. Specialist doctors don't have to pick up the pieces of painkiller addiction. 

Yeah, I know. My mother was addicted to pain medication and her doctor had to make special calls to a federal health department to authorise her strong painkiller prescriptions. 

My grief at Ray's sudden death has reduced. Ray is a memory of 45 years, but I've moved on. I was prepared to live alone until Phyllis arrived into my life, and then Kosov. I can't believe how well I've done in life, to have caring people around me. 

I can't avoid mentioning Ray to Phyllis and Kosov on a day to day basis, but they ignore anything I say about Ray. They are not interested. And why should they be? They are 22 year old young men. I can't expect them to understand how lost I feel without Ray after being together for such a long time. 

No matter, I function, each day and every day.