Let's play catch.

Catch Up, that is.

WARNING: LONG POST FOLLOWS!

OCTOBER.
The month of the trip, the wedding, the op, the birthday. My journey to Melbourne was pretty uneventful, though I was disgusted that the first thing everybody else did once we were on the plane was put on their headsets and turn on the entertainment. I abstained. I confess it was because I'd never used it before and didn't want to look like an idiot fiddling with it! I also have trouble putting headsets on. So I pretended I was aloof from the inanity of it all. I ended up watching bits and silent pieces of several films on other peoples' screens! Quite fun really. The meal was ho-hum - I chose the beef pie, and guess what? it was a beef pie, just like you'd get from a pie-warmer. Served with a small amount of potato salad. Dessert was a very nice Carrot cake - moist and well-flavoured.

I met up with Pauline and Kelvin in the city and I had my first experience of 'the train'. I thought it was fun. And yes, people really do answer their cellphones with 'I'm on the train'! Eventually, hour/hour and a half later, we got to our stop where we were met by Dave with the car, and we continued on. And on. New Zealand is a really small country. Australia is vast. Victoria is only a little state but it has a lot of space in it. We finally got 'home' and I got to meet Ray and Maree (Dave's dad and step-mum). Nice people. Samantha was in bed but had to come out and see what was happening. She's just gorgeous. I think I fell in love with her there and then. It was great to see Spen too. I love my nephew, he's the son I never had.

Let's see, what shall I tell you about? The weather was nice - not too hot, except for one 38 degree Celsius day; it was mostly fine. The bird life was amazing - kookaburras, rosellas, cockatoos, can't remember what else. Just in and around the backyard and neighbourhood. They're all raucous. The city - well I wasn't all that impressed with the little bits I saw. P, K and I took ourselves off to the city for the day and we saw some interesting buildings, and we went to the art gallery. But could we spot the 'free' tourist tram anywhere? No we could not! So we went home again. Mum and the boys went in on another day and found some interesting things to do, but it wasn't my scene. The shopping - being impecunious, I didn't have a lot to spend. I bought a book on soft toys and some knitting yarn that I could have got back here at home (it was on sale tho!). Mostly my money went on food and drinks. I could have spent a LOT in Warburton, a 'hippy' type town! If I'd had a lot to spend, that is. Actually, I preferred Warby to Melbourne. If only the tea pot shop had been open..... The people - it was lovely to see Dave again, he's a nice chap. P made a good choice I think. I loved playing with Sam, she's fun, bright and cheery. And smart. I got to see my bro from Brisbane, Darin, and my SIL, Karen. That was nice - hadn't seen them for 5 years! The wedding - lovely. Lovely, lovely, lovely. The parting - ah well, has to happen. I think P cried a little bit. Mum, Graham and I were all leaving the same day, but my flight was later than theirs. Dave drove us all out to the airport and mum and G were gone just like that. Dave stayed with me a while and we had coffee and wandered around. He's good to have to yourself, quite knowledgeable about a lot of stuff but doesn't put it out there in mass company. I don't know if that was clear to anyone else, but I know what I mean.

And then it was just me. Waiting till check in so I could deposit my luggage and be free. And after that, waiting some more. I bought a few things in Duty Free (food!) and spent half an hour on the Internet. In the end my flight was called and I was off. The first thing I did was....yoooouuuu knowwwwww....put on my headset and turn on the entertainment! Being the seasoned traveller this time I had to now, didn't I? LOL! I had Dr. Who (David Tennant) in my face; ooooohhhh it was luvly. Food this time: uninspired lamb pasta bake thing with very nice carrot and sweet potato salad, followed by a delectable Choc orange cake. Yummmmmmmm. I would have liked more, much more. Oooh, and I had the BEST tomato juice EVER!

Eventually I got home, but not before I'd missed my bus in the morning and had to re-ticket! My cats were fine, and my joy at seeing them again lasted all of several hours. Being hounded/ catted(?) for food is NOT a nice welcome home.

So that's that, but October isn't done with yet: Dad had to go into hospital for a knee replacement surgery. Through the power of prayer or something, it was scheduled for the day after mum got home from Melbourne, pretty amazing timing really. Dad has had these bad knees for ages, it made me cry sometimes to see him struggle with the pain. He went from a man who walked to and from work every day to un-aided retirement, ti using a walking stick, to two sticks after a tumble. The op caused almost as much pain as his worn-out right knee had but it has lessened A LOT and it's so good to see him getting around again. So very good.

And after that, my birthday. 45. I don't know how I feel about being this age, not happy, but not despairing either. I had a very quiet day, got messages from all my family and friends, which was nice, and carried on. And, yes that's me, scooting around P's kitchen floor. Not bad for 45!

And THAT was October.