So DB orders a new phone and it will be delivered. Good.We returned home Friday to a note on the door saying the delivery was attempted but no details about what next. The website of the company wasn't any help - the nearest company depot being two hours away. The toll free number eventually got through to someone (in Manila?) who assured us the delivery would be on Monday morning. By 2pm that day I wondered about the definition of morning and by Tuesday i wondered about the definition of Monday. So a request was logged on the website. Nada, nothing, zip.....
W were walking down the street to a friend's house and I spotted a TOLL (yes, that's the company) van. "Quick," I said,"He might have it." Turns out he was the pick up van but happily gave us the mobile number of the local delivery guy. A call to him and yes, he knew about the phone but had no order for delivering again. he said he'd driven past but didn't see a car so thought we weren't home. Der.....I did wonder what he would do if he never got any further instructions. Drive around with the parcel for ever?
So today is Wednesday. Maybe he'll drop by...........
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
I went walking by the lake today. Patchy sun and stormy clouds. Not a pelican in sight and only a few seagulls. Then I spotted it - a little (black?) duck all on its own. Where were the others? What about its mother? It was so small it wouldn't even have showed up on my little phone camera. And then it disappeared under the water. Oh no! Drowned, gone. Sniff!
It was minutes later that it bobbed up again. I watched this repeated several times. No pelican to remind me of the presence of the Divine. Just a little duck paddling and bobbing up and down. It's the sort of day where I feel a bit like I'm paddling all alone and in danger of sinking and never coming up again. Reckon we all have days like that. But the little duck wasn't swamped or overwhelmed. Just kept on keeping on. And then the sun shone.
It was minutes later that it bobbed up again. I watched this repeated several times. No pelican to remind me of the presence of the Divine. Just a little duck paddling and bobbing up and down. It's the sort of day where I feel a bit like I'm paddling all alone and in danger of sinking and never coming up again. Reckon we all have days like that. But the little duck wasn't swamped or overwhelmed. Just kept on keeping on. And then the sun shone.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Hunting and gathering
Is it part of a primeval urge or a product of being brought up by parents who experienced the Depression? Whenever we are in town I head off to the nearby shopping centre to see what I can find. Is there a bargain to be had, a special price on something or just products that don't appear in my small country supermarket.
For yes, it's the supermarket I head for, not the other shops on offer.
And today I was rewarded. After coffee (free, thanks to a coupon in my letter box) I wandered the supermarket aisles (that counts as exercise doesn't it?). I chatted to someone about the price of lemons (70 cents each) as I thought about the large bag I had brought with me from our backyard trees.
And then there it was - a leg of ham reduced to a ridiculous price. Just what I wanted to go with the turkey for my celebratory dinner with the family. Best before next Monday. Surely we'd be able to do our best if we shared it around. (Ignoring my daughter's comment that the large pack of toilet paper is not a bargain if I give half to her. Of course it is. A bargains a bargain........)
Feeding the family, finding what's, bagging a bargain. An age old instinct and I love it.
For yes, it's the supermarket I head for, not the other shops on offer.
And today I was rewarded. After coffee (free, thanks to a coupon in my letter box) I wandered the supermarket aisles (that counts as exercise doesn't it?). I chatted to someone about the price of lemons (70 cents each) as I thought about the large bag I had brought with me from our backyard trees.
And then there it was - a leg of ham reduced to a ridiculous price. Just what I wanted to go with the turkey for my celebratory dinner with the family. Best before next Monday. Surely we'd be able to do our best if we shared it around. (Ignoring my daughter's comment that the large pack of toilet paper is not a bargain if I give half to her. Of course it is. A bargains a bargain........)
Feeding the family, finding what's, bagging a bargain. An age old instinct and I love it.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Gratitude
What's with this gratitude for a limited time only thing? It's doing the rounds on Facebook. Three things you're grateful for listed for a few days and then suggest someone else do the same. A bit like a chain letter. Is this really something people haven't thought of before? In my youth ( a fading memory) we sang "Count your blessings, name them one by one..." and even the Saturday Advertiser quoted that, as though it's a present fad.
Surely even on the worst of days there are things to be grateful for. It's good to stop and breathe deeply for a minute and acknowledge them; to take mental snapshots (no, you don't need to whip out your phone) of wondrous moments.
I love that Heather has a regular Gratitude Friday post on Facebook. I talked to an old friend recently. She is an artistic type so has a lovely book where she has recorded for many years the things she is grateful for. Has her life been pain free? Of course not. But the record is there of the good and lovely things.
As I doze off I like to think of the good things of my day and give thanks. We all have dark days among t he sunshine. But even on the dark days may there be things to lift our spirits and delight our hearts and let's notice them. Not just for a few days but every day, starting today.
Surely even on the worst of days there are things to be grateful for. It's good to stop and breathe deeply for a minute and acknowledge them; to take mental snapshots (no, you don't need to whip out your phone) of wondrous moments.
I love that Heather has a regular Gratitude Friday post on Facebook. I talked to an old friend recently. She is an artistic type so has a lovely book where she has recorded for many years the things she is grateful for. Has her life been pain free? Of course not. But the record is there of the good and lovely things.
As I doze off I like to think of the good things of my day and give thanks. We all have dark days among t he sunshine. But even on the dark days may there be things to lift our spirits and delight our hearts and let's notice them. Not just for a few days but every day, starting today.
Friday, July 25, 2014
No weekends
This was the title of a book I thought I should write when I was a new Mum struggling with the 24 hour, 7 day a week demands of a new baby. Things just churned relentlessly onward day after day with no difference in the routine of feeds and nappies and sleepless nights.<br />
In my former life as a school teacher I had looked forward to Fridays (although not last lesson!) and the promise of weekends with sport and church and relaxation if there wasn't heaps of marking to do. Now home with a tiny baby, there was no familiar weekly rhythm. Just more of the same day after day.<br />
Later when there were three children and a demanding mix of activities to fill my weeks, Saturday was the day to sleep in. During the week I got up to our children in the night (3 or 4 or more times a night until they were 2 or 3). But on Saturdays David got up and made breakfast - green pikelets anyone) and I slept till 10am. Bliss!<br />
The circle continues to turn and now unemployed (or semi-retired) I can sleep in most any day. Somehow it doesn't have the same appeal. And we're back to 'No Weekends'.
In my former life as a school teacher I had looked forward to Fridays (although not last lesson!) and the promise of weekends with sport and church and relaxation if there wasn't heaps of marking to do. Now home with a tiny baby, there was no familiar weekly rhythm. Just more of the same day after day.<br />
Later when there were three children and a demanding mix of activities to fill my weeks, Saturday was the day to sleep in. During the week I got up to our children in the night (3 or 4 or more times a night until they were 2 or 3). But on Saturdays David got up and made breakfast - green pikelets anyone) and I slept till 10am. Bliss!<br />
The circle continues to turn and now unemployed (or semi-retired) I can sleep in most any day. Somehow it doesn't have the same appeal. And we're back to 'No Weekends'.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Shopping and Food
(Apologies: this was was written in 2010 but only published now.)
Yesterday we went to the famed Victoria Markets (forgot to put it in my 'Sunday' blog. What did I buy? Not one thing. Yes, I'm not feeling 100 percent but what's this about. Others describe shopping till they drop. But did I want/need anything? I saw some cute red shoes with a zip front and high heels but wasn't really tempted.
Not at all interested in Bridge Road etc precints. Maybe I've got to the stage where i want to get rid of stuff not add more.
BUT and this is a big but. I love looking at food. There was heaps at the markets - rows of fish and meat and small goods. Too much for me. But I love peering in all the eating place windows. Today I thought i'd like to try the braised hoof - the picture looked good! As we wandered along past China town the cariety was amazing and last night we passed the Pie Place - open 24 hours a day. And so it goes on. I love it. So what did we eat for lunch today?? Our sandwiches made before we left and an apple. Boring!!
Yesterday we went to the famed Victoria Markets (forgot to put it in my 'Sunday' blog. What did I buy? Not one thing. Yes, I'm not feeling 100 percent but what's this about. Others describe shopping till they drop. But did I want/need anything? I saw some cute red shoes with a zip front and high heels but wasn't really tempted.
Not at all interested in Bridge Road etc precints. Maybe I've got to the stage where i want to get rid of stuff not add more.
BUT and this is a big but. I love looking at food. There was heaps at the markets - rows of fish and meat and small goods. Too much for me. But I love peering in all the eating place windows. Today I thought i'd like to try the braised hoof - the picture looked good! As we wandered along past China town the cariety was amazing and last night we passed the Pie Place - open 24 hours a day. And so it goes on. I love it. So what did we eat for lunch today?? Our sandwiches made before we left and an apple. Boring!!
"Are you excited?" the well-meaning car salesman asked as we arrived to collect our new car. For heaven's sake, it's a car. It should get us places reliably. It's red. Nice. The old one is 10 years old. The new one will have depreciated the moment we drive it away. The old one is comfortable. All the scratches were mine, so no big deal about adding a few more.
"Got to treat yourself occasionally," he followed up with. Nup. A treat is nice cheese or a good book. I just don't feel cars are like that. Glad to have one that has safety features and is comfortable - and did I mention red?
"Got to treat yourself occasionally," he followed up with. Nup. A treat is nice cheese or a good book. I just don't feel cars are like that. Glad to have one that has safety features and is comfortable - and did I mention red?
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