WEDNESDAY 23rd NOVEMBER
No I am not refering to the pop group, but the weather. Leaden skies and the wet stuff keeps coming down. Horror of horrors the temperature was down to 17 degrees. Robert went off to Beecroft where he is one of several parents involved in organising members of Nick's class in a group performance to take place in a week's time.
I drove down to the new Polish deli and bought pierogi, poledwica and krakowska sausage. The shop only opens Wed - Sat as they are smoking their meats on Monday and Tuesday. Naturally I spoke Polish with the lady assistant. Unfortunately they didn't have pierogi (Polish dumplings) with cabbage and mushrooms - only ruskie and with sweet cheese. I opted for ruskie (with potatoes).
Otherwise I had a quiet day until it was time to drive to Epping for Nick's indoor football which of course is not affected by the weather. In a tight first half Nick scored a brilliant solo goal skipping over several tackles before firing in a long range shot about 12" below the crossbar. Unbelievably the refree disallowed it claiming the ball had gone over the crossbar! The net wasn't attached to the crossbar and the ball had gone in and then fallen behind the net. There were howls of protest from the gallery with one of the other parents urging the ref to check the net properly. However the score remained 0-0 at half time. Not long into the second half, following a neat interchange of passes, Nick opened the scoring with a well crafted goal. Two more goals followed, one a powerful shot from Tom and another one from one of the two Asian lads in the team to complete a well deserved 3-0 victory - a fitting result for the last match I shall see.
The drive back to Oakhurst wasn't as bad as I thought it might be as it was the rush hour, albeit the traffic was heavy all the way back. Robert has spoken to Jeannette and apparently she has been appointed temporary Customer Relations Manager for Victoria as well as NSW. The boss there is already grateful for what she has done in a couple of days, and it looks like she will be going back for another week. The manager there said that if they didn't renew her contract in Sydney, he would give her a job like a shot. Robert said he wasn't moving to Melbourne!
There were still some risoles left from yesterday and along with fried mushroom and onions, the pierogi went down a treat, washed down by the remaining red and white wine and then beer. I saw that the Manchester teams hadn't fared too well in Europe - what a shame!
Robert decided it was time to bring Muslim Johnny down a peg or two. He texted him last night saying he wouldn't be into work. Why, came the reply. Please don't tell anybody but I've got a new job. You can trust me. Where? In Melbourne. Well the best of luck. And all the best to you it's been a pleasure working with you. Oh you're going to make me cry. "I've really got him hooked now", said Robert with satisfaction. "Just wait till I come into work in the morning and he asks me what I'm doing there - and I'll just say because I work here. You really fell for it!".
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
TUESDAY 22nd NOVEMBER
I had a briefing from Robert last night on the way to the airport and more importantly on the route back. Jeannette successfully guided me to the airport and she was there in plenty of time for her flight. I set off back home and within minutes was lost! What was worse I suddenly developed an urgent desire to have a pee. Eventually I spotted a small park and turned into a side road that led through it. I parked up and looked around - there weren't any trees to hide behind, but equally well there wasn't too many people about. I opted for a fence and quickly did the business without being seen by a living soul and successfully avoided arrest on charges of fouling the grass!
I drove on and eventually spotted I was in Victoria Road which when I looked it up on the map seemed to be heading roughly in the correct direction. However I quickly found the road name had changed and not into the name the map had led me to believe it should. I blundered around for a while, and turned back on one occasion where I seemed to be heading down some obscure back streets. And then I spotted a sign for Princes Highway. This was one of roads on Robert's list of roads to take on the way home. My sense of direction hadn't let me down! I was home just after 7am, a good hour before Robert phoned to see if I had got home OK.
I got home nicely in time to watch the Spurs v Aston Villa match live. A satisfactory result at 2-0 although it could easily been 4-0. Anyway the important thing is that this places Spurs above Chelsea with a game in hand. Been a while since that happened!
Later on I drove over to Mount Druitt and went shopping for dinner, whch involved buying minced beef, potatoes, brussel sprouts, mushrooms, corn flake crumbs (I couldn't find bread crumbs) and beer and wine. It was still raining and continued to do so most of the day. Again no walk for Reilly (well after the wash he had over the weekend Robert didn't want his glossy sheen muddied.
Robert has been involved in scamming a variety of Muslim Johnny's various friends on the phone. Johnny is one of his work colleagues and he gives the lowdown on a friend and gets Robert to phone him. So Robert has been a tax inspector telling a guy he owes the tax dept over a $1000, another guy that his car will be repossessed for an offence, yet another that he has been spotted in a fracas and if he wants to avoid arrest he must give the name of a friend of his also pictured in the scene. Johnny records all these conversations on his i-Phone and later replays them to his victims! Robert is seemingly very good at these impersonations and adlibs brilliantly. Johnny seems to have an endless supply of friends, but Robert is starting to tire of this prank.
Jeannette accidentally phoned home and was surprised to hear my voice as she hadn't realised she had called the number. Anyway she was safely in Melbourne and was on her way to pick up the car. She spoke to Robert later and told him that she had found the Bev Chain offices and had met guys from the IT dept whom she knew to speak to and they had provided her with her own laptop. Apparently things are pretty chaotic on the customer services front in Melbourne.
I cooked dinner; risoles with mashed potatoes, fried mushrooms and sprouts. I must admit it all went down well, and the sprouts were cooked to perfection.
I had a briefing from Robert last night on the way to the airport and more importantly on the route back. Jeannette successfully guided me to the airport and she was there in plenty of time for her flight. I set off back home and within minutes was lost! What was worse I suddenly developed an urgent desire to have a pee. Eventually I spotted a small park and turned into a side road that led through it. I parked up and looked around - there weren't any trees to hide behind, but equally well there wasn't too many people about. I opted for a fence and quickly did the business without being seen by a living soul and successfully avoided arrest on charges of fouling the grass!
I drove on and eventually spotted I was in Victoria Road which when I looked it up on the map seemed to be heading roughly in the correct direction. However I quickly found the road name had changed and not into the name the map had led me to believe it should. I blundered around for a while, and turned back on one occasion where I seemed to be heading down some obscure back streets. And then I spotted a sign for Princes Highway. This was one of roads on Robert's list of roads to take on the way home. My sense of direction hadn't let me down! I was home just after 7am, a good hour before Robert phoned to see if I had got home OK.
I got home nicely in time to watch the Spurs v Aston Villa match live. A satisfactory result at 2-0 although it could easily been 4-0. Anyway the important thing is that this places Spurs above Chelsea with a game in hand. Been a while since that happened!
Later on I drove over to Mount Druitt and went shopping for dinner, whch involved buying minced beef, potatoes, brussel sprouts, mushrooms, corn flake crumbs (I couldn't find bread crumbs) and beer and wine. It was still raining and continued to do so most of the day. Again no walk for Reilly (well after the wash he had over the weekend Robert didn't want his glossy sheen muddied.
Robert has been involved in scamming a variety of Muslim Johnny's various friends on the phone. Johnny is one of his work colleagues and he gives the lowdown on a friend and gets Robert to phone him. So Robert has been a tax inspector telling a guy he owes the tax dept over a $1000, another guy that his car will be repossessed for an offence, yet another that he has been spotted in a fracas and if he wants to avoid arrest he must give the name of a friend of his also pictured in the scene. Johnny records all these conversations on his i-Phone and later replays them to his victims! Robert is seemingly very good at these impersonations and adlibs brilliantly. Johnny seems to have an endless supply of friends, but Robert is starting to tire of this prank.
Jeannette accidentally phoned home and was surprised to hear my voice as she hadn't realised she had called the number. Anyway she was safely in Melbourne and was on her way to pick up the car. She spoke to Robert later and told him that she had found the Bev Chain offices and had met guys from the IT dept whom she knew to speak to and they had provided her with her own laptop. Apparently things are pretty chaotic on the customer services front in Melbourne.
I cooked dinner; risoles with mashed potatoes, fried mushrooms and sprouts. I must admit it all went down well, and the sprouts were cooked to perfection.
START OF THE MONSOON SEASON?
MONDAY 21st NOVEMBER
The weather forecast proved to be right so far; the forecast is for rain all this week, and today lived up to expectations. Temperature is down to 20 and under - I appreciate that this is warm by UK standards but as far as I'm concerned it is positively arctic conditions.
So walk for Reilly - but I did get him some teeth cleaning chew sticks, and he has been allowed to sleep in the summerhouse.
Jeannette confirmed that she is flying off to Melbourne tomorrow and I have volunteered to drive her to the airport. This means getting up at 4.30am!
The weather forecast proved to be right so far; the forecast is for rain all this week, and today lived up to expectations. Temperature is down to 20 and under - I appreciate that this is warm by UK standards but as far as I'm concerned it is positively arctic conditions.
So walk for Reilly - but I did get him some teeth cleaning chew sticks, and he has been allowed to sleep in the summerhouse.
Jeannette confirmed that she is flying off to Melbourne tomorrow and I have volunteered to drive her to the airport. This means getting up at 4.30am!
Sunday, 20 November 2011
STILL HOT BUT RAIN AHEAD
SUNDAY 20th NOVEMBER
My new sliced crusty loaf has been attacked by ants and binned by Robert, so our breakfast is fried egg and bacon but no toast. Suitably refreshed we set off for Epping late morning, and pick up Nick and go to the open air swimming pool. The sun is still shinning and the temperature is around 30, but the forecast warns of severe rain and storms in the offing.
My new sliced crusty loaf has been attacked by ants and binned by Robert, so our breakfast is fried egg and bacon but no toast. Suitably refreshed we set off for Epping late morning, and pick up Nick and go to the open air swimming pool. The sun is still shinning and the temperature is around 30, but the forecast warns of severe rain and storms in the offing.
The water is pleasantly warm and the sun continues to shine down on righteous.
We go for lunch in Epping and the egg and sausage roll I opt for is more than filling. Returning to the house we stay with Nick for half an hour or so before heading back to Oakhurst. On the way back we drive through several downpours. Robert is back in time to get the washing off the line, and I take Reilly for a quick walk but turn back when I feel the rain starting to come down. By the time I get back to the house it is coming down quite heavily. The temperature drops and the rain continues intermittently throughout the night. I watch South Africa set Australia just over 300 to win and then take two wickets for 19 runs before I decide to go to bed.
ACTION ON ALL FRONTS
SATURDAY 19th NOVEMBER
I was up at 6.00am by dint of my watch having stopped and as daylight was in full swing, I thought I might be late and promptly got up. After whiling away a couple of hours we set off for Beecroft for this morning's basketball game. This is where Nick's part of Arden School is located, and they have built a new indoor basketball court there. However that was in use by one of the more senior teams so we resorted to the outdoor court, and as the weather was superb, this was no hardship.
Arden started off with concerted attack and the opposition never got into their half for the first 15 minutes of the game. By half time the score was twenty something - nil! Nick had a superb game, outspeeding the opposition both in defence and attack, stealing the ball expertly, whizzing down the wings at speed and scored 3 baskets himself as well as laying off good passes to other members of the team who then scored. It was all in all an excellent team effort with most of the members having outstanding games. The human bulldozer, Ryan ploughed through the opposition but all too often ignored opportunities to pass to well placed members of his team, and eventually loosing the ball. However overall this was one of the team's best displays. We had a sturdily built member of the opposition who I fear lost it during the game. All too often he crashed into members of his own team knocking them flying, and whilst intercepting the ball well, kept on stepping back over his own court line thus giving possession back to Arden. After doing this three times on the trot in a very short space of time, he burst into tears and went to leave the court. The excellent ref, who encouraged both teams, told him he was intercepting very well, calmed him down and gave him the throw in (even though technically it was Arden's). Shortly afterwards he was substitued by the coach and appeared to be in some distress. At the end of the game his mother marched him straight off! Obviously not a good day for the poor lad. Arden finished up winners 44-3.
Afterwards Nick took Robert to his classroom and explained what he would have to do next Wednesday when he came in in the morning to partake in a pupil/parent event.
Robert then went off to meet Pav and I went along with Nick and Jane for some brunch (in my case scrambled egg with smoked salmon on toast), joining Lockie and Ryan's parents. Nick consumed three quarters of a burger which was about the most I've seen him eat at one sitting!
I then went back to Epping with Jane and Nick, where Jingles is no longer recognisable as the kitten I last saw earlier this year.
Eventually got a call from Robert to say he was at the Epping Hotel with Pav, and would I come over there to meet him. A pleasant 15 minute stroll in the sunshine saw me there just as Robert was finishing his drink, so we set off back to Oakhurst.
On what was turning out to be a scorching hot day, Robert decided it was time to give Reilly a wash. Normally he is terrified of the hose, but such was the heat of the day that he seemed to welcome the cooling effect of the water!
I was up at 6.00am by dint of my watch having stopped and as daylight was in full swing, I thought I might be late and promptly got up. After whiling away a couple of hours we set off for Beecroft for this morning's basketball game. This is where Nick's part of Arden School is located, and they have built a new indoor basketball court there. However that was in use by one of the more senior teams so we resorted to the outdoor court, and as the weather was superb, this was no hardship.
Arden started off with concerted attack and the opposition never got into their half for the first 15 minutes of the game. By half time the score was twenty something - nil! Nick had a superb game, outspeeding the opposition both in defence and attack, stealing the ball expertly, whizzing down the wings at speed and scored 3 baskets himself as well as laying off good passes to other members of the team who then scored. It was all in all an excellent team effort with most of the members having outstanding games. The human bulldozer, Ryan ploughed through the opposition but all too often ignored opportunities to pass to well placed members of his team, and eventually loosing the ball. However overall this was one of the team's best displays. We had a sturdily built member of the opposition who I fear lost it during the game. All too often he crashed into members of his own team knocking them flying, and whilst intercepting the ball well, kept on stepping back over his own court line thus giving possession back to Arden. After doing this three times on the trot in a very short space of time, he burst into tears and went to leave the court. The excellent ref, who encouraged both teams, told him he was intercepting very well, calmed him down and gave him the throw in (even though technically it was Arden's). Shortly afterwards he was substitued by the coach and appeared to be in some distress. At the end of the game his mother marched him straight off! Obviously not a good day for the poor lad. Arden finished up winners 44-3.
Afterwards Nick took Robert to his classroom and explained what he would have to do next Wednesday when he came in in the morning to partake in a pupil/parent event.
I then went back to Epping with Jane and Nick, where Jingles is no longer recognisable as the kitten I last saw earlier this year.
On what was turning out to be a scorching hot day, Robert decided it was time to give Reilly a wash. Normally he is terrified of the hose, but such was the heat of the day that he seemed to welcome the cooling effect of the water!
A much cleaner and sweeter smelling Reilly is left in the shade on his bed to dry out.
Although we didn't make it to the fish markets for lunch, Jeannette has purchased fish for dinner that Rob barbeques as well as preparing a tasty seafood salad for starters. I watch more of South Africa v Australia and the game is still in the balance.
Friday, 18 November 2011
SUMMER's BACK
FRIDAY 18th NOVEMBER
Although the day started overcast, by lunchtime there were blue skies and the temperature was up to 25 degrees. I even managed our long walk in the park in the afternoon with the dog without getting mud on my shoes. I was able to sit out and work in a short sleeved shirt without feeling at all cold. It was a day of phonecalls. Robert phoned putting on a spoof Indian accent, but I rumbled him after a few sentences. I then had a call asking me if I was Mr Caceres to which I replied in the negative and the bloke hung up. Then there was a woman telling me I could win a holiday anywhere in Australia for two weeks. I asked her if this included a flight from the UK and she told me it didn't. In that case, I told her, your offer is of no interest to me and hung up. Finally Robert phoned again, this time without assuming an alter ego, and told me that Jeannette was working late and would I be ready at the end of the drive at 5.30pm for him to pick me up as we were going to the pub. In the event he turned up at 4.50pm. We went to the pub at 6.00pm, had a couple and returned home awaiting Jeannette's arrival.
We went to the Plumpton Hotel where I had a sizeable rump steak, chips and salad for $16, along with a couple of glasses of wine. After returning home I watched the 2nd Test in South Africa. Yesterday the South Africans had slumped from around 240-4 to 266 all out. Today Hughes and Watson put on 180 odd for the opening partnership. Ponting was out for 0, and the South Africans took four wickets before tea with the Aussies still behind on first innings. On that note I went to bed as it is a fairly early start for basketball in the morning.
Although the day started overcast, by lunchtime there were blue skies and the temperature was up to 25 degrees. I even managed our long walk in the park in the afternoon with the dog without getting mud on my shoes. I was able to sit out and work in a short sleeved shirt without feeling at all cold. It was a day of phonecalls. Robert phoned putting on a spoof Indian accent, but I rumbled him after a few sentences. I then had a call asking me if I was Mr Caceres to which I replied in the negative and the bloke hung up. Then there was a woman telling me I could win a holiday anywhere in Australia for two weeks. I asked her if this included a flight from the UK and she told me it didn't. In that case, I told her, your offer is of no interest to me and hung up. Finally Robert phoned again, this time without assuming an alter ego, and told me that Jeannette was working late and would I be ready at the end of the drive at 5.30pm for him to pick me up as we were going to the pub. In the event he turned up at 4.50pm. We went to the pub at 6.00pm, had a couple and returned home awaiting Jeannette's arrival.
We went to the Plumpton Hotel where I had a sizeable rump steak, chips and salad for $16, along with a couple of glasses of wine. After returning home I watched the 2nd Test in South Africa. Yesterday the South Africans had slumped from around 240-4 to 266 all out. Today Hughes and Watson put on 180 odd for the opening partnership. Ponting was out for 0, and the South Africans took four wickets before tea with the Aussies still behind on first innings. On that note I went to bed as it is a fairly early start for basketball in the morning.
BRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
THURSDAY 17th NOVEMBER
The cold spell continues. The temperatures have plummeted and it is also raining solidly. It was so wet in the park that I just took Reilly to the entrance and threw his baseball into the distance and watched him race through the puddles throwing up plumes of water (and mud), until I deemed he had had a good bit of exercise, and I was sufficiently drenched by the rain and returned home with one muddy and dirty dog. He was confined to the garden until the evening by which time he had dried out!
I sat outside with four layers of clothing and was barely warm enough. And that really is all there is to tell. This definitely ain't summer weather as far as I'm concerned!
The cold spell continues. The temperatures have plummeted and it is also raining solidly. It was so wet in the park that I just took Reilly to the entrance and threw his baseball into the distance and watched him race through the puddles throwing up plumes of water (and mud), until I deemed he had had a good bit of exercise, and I was sufficiently drenched by the rain and returned home with one muddy and dirty dog. He was confined to the garden until the evening by which time he had dried out!
I sat outside with four layers of clothing and was barely warm enough. And that really is all there is to tell. This definitely ain't summer weather as far as I'm concerned!
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