Working on the Lucerne book at work, the Lucerne Lady brought her son to work and we went on lunchtime walks together. He brought his magnifying glass once, and found some poo.
I would kind of like to have one more blow-out though, because when this colleague is bowing their way gracefully out of an issue they sometimes say "I'm just worried about you", and frankly, I hate that. I can't think of a wise way to confront the issue, it's too slippery, so again, just get on with my life and be me.
More progress on my native bee hotel: making the bedrooms in clay blocks, wood blocks and sticks.
Maddie's 21st was the party of the year! Costumes and dancing and speeches in the Anglican church hall. What a special girl she is.
I decorated our breakfast table for her on her actual birthday.
Mum and Aunty Sandra were going down to visit Grandfather when they were called from the nursing home that he was dangerously sick. So mum spent quite a while down there and her sisters also visited.
I dropped fitness out of my routine to focus on cello practice more, because there was a student concert. I did a run through of my 2 pieces at work in the morning for colleagues, and I was a bit disappointed because I got stuck a lot, but on the night I made it through well and was pretty pleased. Mum and Dad came to hear.
On the Saturday mum and I went down to Goulburn and back to visit Grandfather for what was the last time. We left very early, arrived around 10:30, and I had a little cry and the woman who was looking after him there was lovely. All he was able to do really was suck on a lemon swab, squeeze your hand, and maybe hear music and talking. 2 other Aunties came with a couple of cousins. We played music for him, hung out together, it was a nice day. Painful but good. We left after lunch, went to the paragon for a hot chocolate before we drove home. The waitress had a good radar because she was very kind.
Disappointingly, they painted over the bird mural on the back wall.
G was on holidays so we had arranged for her to visit for the weekend, but she came on Sunday instead and stayed through til midweek. On Sunday we walked to the art gallery cafe and had a really delicious lunch outside. I had beef cheek on sweet potato waffle! And then we caught bus home which was super fun too, my first local bus. It’s a good service.
We went to church, and at church dinner mum told us Grandfather had just died. I wasn’t very upset though, I think because I had been very upset earlier in the week, when I knew he was dying. I had a flex the next day to hang out with G which was very nice. I was just super tired because of the sadness. We went over to mum and dads for morning tea, and then mum came with us to the new indoor heated pool, and we had a gentle swim, and it was lovely. I think we rested in the afternoon. I'm very blessed with friends like G who was good to have around on a day like that.
I went back to work on Tuesday and just tireded my way through the week. G visited the uni and spent a bit of time with JK. My lovely leader at work bought me this orchid as a condolence gift. She knows plants are my love language!
On the Saturday, I went bushwalking with Liz from work, and AM and CW from Sydney, at the national park near Mooney Mooney. http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/muogamarra-nature-reserve It is only open during the wildflower season, it’s got lots of volunteers and its great. Would repurchase. Flowers, views, a range of walks, information for walkers.
Sunday, I took a book to the art gallery for reading breakfast. I’m reading The Things Of Earth, which is a great follow on to my reading this year, which was the Barefoot Investor and The Art of Frugal Hedonism. Christian enjoyment of creation without idolising it. It has started with a section on the trinity. Great to be reading that because church is doing a series on the trinity too. Always good to get multiple inputs on an idea.
The next weekend, I lined up Steve to show Liz and me how to put our kayaks on my car. And once they were on the car, we took them out to Morpeth! We kayaked for 2 hours. It was great. And I wasn’t stiff the next day! Would repurchase.
Just a photo of the kitchen table. Has permanent flowers, which makes any mess look perfect.
I made crumpets! I found the lemon butter I had made, remembered how good it was on the black fox crumpets, and decided to make my own. I don’t know why I had never done this before. Its just a really yeasty pancake really. I made the mixture, put it in the warm sun on the table to rise while I went to the shops, came home and cooked them in egg rings. I now want to get crumpet rings which are the same but higher, so you get thicker crumpets. I cooked the whole batch and froze most of them and every weekend I defrost 3 and refresh them in the george foreman, and have them with lemon butter and blueberries.
Sweet peas all this colour this year.
Took Thursday off to drive down to Goulburn, taking Julia and Heather. We got Heather from the airport. We ate ham and cheese sandwiches in the car. We did a music practice at the church when we got there. I was a bit stressed and snipped at Julia for chirping about about how sad mum was. I just think feelings should be ignored where possible. Dad and I went for a walk to the rose garden park. I saw a funny cactus. This is the house we had.
On Friday, some of us walked to the church. Had another run through of the 2 songs and did sound check. Got a bit real when the coffin was brought in. Family all arrived, and my friend DB from work who is a family friend and gardener. The service went pretty well, there was an army bit with ex servicemen laying poppies and reading his service record, and anglican prayer book parts, and the 2 songs which were good. I played, my 3 siblings and our uncle sang, Amazing Grace and 10,000 Reasons, which are both good for a funeral if you get the pace right. There was a church luncheon, and I was tired. Then family went to the soldiers club, but it was busy and all I wanted was a hot chocolate and not talking to people, so I walked home via a hot chocolate at the Paragon. Siblings headed off in the evening, I stayed another night with mum and dad.
Next day, parents went to a family meeting in Canberra with a lunch, but I stayed in Goulburn. I did Tiffxo, showered, and then walked into town. It was a bad windy day. The lilac festival was on, so there were markets in the park. I didn’t see any lilacs though. I tried out 2 cafes, one for lunch one for lunch dessert. Walked 5 km total. Got a card and gift for Julia B. Then I drove to Mossman for JBs birthday dinner, then drove home. It was good driving.
That was the end of the month. The next day, I had so many poppies to pick, and my first iris flower was almost ready to open.
