Perfect Day with Spots

Swan Family: Mum, Dad and 4 cygnets

It's Thursday and I thought about the day ahead and how it could work to make Mel's week a time to remember.  It wasn't so special but it was memorable.  We headed off to Hyde Park, one of Perth's oldest parks in North Perth.  There is a easy walking path around both picturesque lakes.  Plane trees and huge Moreton Bay Figs Trees surround the lakes like a living veil.  The warm air of the suburbs is not found here among the shade of these magnificent trees.  If I had a jacket I would have put it on until our walking warmed us up! A number of families with small children and elderly people strolled around the lakes stopping like us to admire the family of swans with  cygnets, almost adult themselves,  the coots and numerous ducks.  We walked around the lakes three times, over thirty minutes before heading off for lunch at a local café.  


Mel dwarfed by a Moreton Bay Fig Tree

I  had already warned Merv's support worker we would be back to change into our bathers before going to the local pool.  Joe said Merv had won both games of ten pin bowling.  Before the sentence was finished Melanie screamed!  We stopped and looked at her.  I don't know what we expected, what could possibly be wrong?   Mel stood pointing at the carpet in the hallway. My one year old carpet on special from Solomans, still expensive with a protective coating.  My carpet all one colour but now with spots.  Not just ordinary spots, but big black blotchy spots.  The spots that would make anyone scream in horror!  I surveyed the damage, I stooped and looked closely before I sprung into action. The black spots turned into Merv's room and stopped at his chest of drawers.  A clue.  I had left the house after they had gone off to the bowling alley and later the pathology clinic.  There were no black spots before I left, therefore they had to be walked in after they returned home for lunch.  Joe said he had
 


View of  the first lake

 

not walked down the hallway but washed his hands in the kitchen.  The clues did not add up. 
White vinegar was of no help, so I grabbed the bucket with warm water and a splurge of carpet cleaning fluid.  On my knees and no more black spots, just wet spots.  I sighed, releasing my tension.  Agatha Christie was now at work deciphering the evidence and writing a plot of how it happened.  Both Merv and Joe sat quietly looking sad and innocent but I knew better. 

Mel and I escaped to the pool walking and swimming in the pool and having fun.  After I dropped Mel home and before I returned home a plot had evolved in my head.  Agatha Christie would have been proud of my detective skills.  My first suspect was innocent (pity).  Merv was the now the suspect.   Joe checked the passenger side of his car to find the tell tale black spots.  

Black Gooey Stuff on Merv's Shoe (left): Mystery Solved

We no longer took a quick look at Merv's shoes but insisted they come off and this is what we found:  the very back of his heel was filled with black gooey stuff.  Black gooey stuff in his heel, in Joe's car, the same which had been found on my beloved carpet.
It had been a perfect day with spots and a mystery solved!


 










Mel's Big Day

Surprise Birthday Cake for Mel
 

Mel's big day has at last arrived.  I rang her at 8am this morning and sang, 'Happy Birthday' to her.  I could almost hear her smiling!  I dropped Merv off at his HD social group, arriving at Mel's unit before 10am.  This allowed us time to arrive and take her cake to her art class.  I made a Weight Watchers cheesecake, which promises 5 points for each slice.  I am sure no one is tracking their points today but the thought is there. 
Mel was dressed and ready for her day.  She was proudly wearing her, 'Birthday Girl' badge and sporting her new haircut.  I dropped off a shop bought cake at Hogs Breath Café before we arrived for lunch.  Mel didn't know about this surprise.  This morning I found little round candles with smiley faces on them in Coles. 
I unexpectedly met up with her boyfriend at the shopping centre and asked him if he wanted to come and pick Mel and her friend up from the art class.  He was happy to do so.  He confided in me how much he enjoys talking and being with Mel.  Sweet words to warm my heart! 


Happy Candles for our Happy Girl
 

We easily found a parking space not so far from Hogs Breath and soon the invited party of eight turned into eleven!  Mel is just the type to invite people when she sees them and not count heads.  It wasn't a problem we just squashed up a little more and added a few more chairs.  Lunch was a $9.90 deal for most and well priced as many of her friends are on the pension and have to watch their expenditure.  Oh yes, I'm also on the pension!  We had the cake after some of the guests had left and there was plenty of cake to go around.  We took some photos and left with pleasant memories of another birthday celebration with Mel.  Every birthday is a bonus to cherish.



The Day Which Stops A Nation

Merv picking horses from his hat

My brother and his wife live in South Australia and they own and race their horses.  I know nothing about race horses or racing them but I do know the second Tuesday in November is always Melbourne Cup Day.  The state of Victoria always has a public holiday to celebrate.  The race is held at Flemington and is firstly about the Cup but also the fashion and even the magnificent roses!  The rest of Australia hold their own parties at pubs, their own racecourse or arrange office lunches with the TV in the corner.  Perth had a record attendance at our own Ascot Racing Course today.

 Everyone dresses up and the ladies compete in wearing the best and often outrageous hat or fascinator.  Fashion features throughout the day at Flemington.  

Damien Oliver Jockey winning his 3rd Melbourne Cup
 

Mel was born in 1979 on Melbourne Cup Day.  Her birthday has fallen on this all important day many times.
We  have stopped celebrating at the local pub but I wanted to make it special for Merv.   I printed the list of horses and cut them into individual strips.  Merv folded them and put them in a hat drawing them out and dividing them into 2 piles.  His horses and mine!  He was happy he had drawn Damien Oliver's horse Firorente.
Damien is a well known jockey in Australia, he comes from a jockey family.  His father died during a race when he was a young boy and his brother Jason died the same way in 2002 a week before the Melbourne Cup Race.  A film called, 'The Cup' was made about Damien's dilemma whether to race in the cup of that year on Media Puzzle.  We watched the film at the movies a couple of years ago and again last night on TV.  It finishes with Damien riding Media Puzzle and winning the race for his brother.  This was the second time he had won the prestigious Melbourne Cup.


Gai Waterhouse, Horse Trainer with her 1st Melbourne Cup Win

Today I made strawberry cocktails served with chocolates and put together warm chicken rolls for lunch.  We sat glued to the TV at 12noon as the race took place in Melbourne.  I didn't give much thought to the horses and their riders, I just enjoyed the pleasure of watching.  The race lasts just over three minutes and right before our eyes Damien spurred Fiorente at the last moment and won the race!  I had a tear in my eye.  He is the only jockey I know anything about!  To top off the fairy tale finish the horse trainer is Gai Waterhouse.  Gai, a vivacious, hard working trainer and she is often in the news. Until today the 'big one' had always eluded her.  A double celebration!
Another year, another winner.  History was made today and I am glad Merv and I were together to witness it.

Life Goes On

Petunias, Marigolds and Tomato plants
 

Merv watering hanging baskets and many pots
 

Everyone is doing something.  We are all busy doing chores, planning for tomorrow and making things happen today.  Today when I re-started the weeding I took time out to check Merv's patio plants.  The petunias are raising their heads to the sun and displaying their amazing array of colours.  Pink, yellow, purple, deep velvet, white and red.  Marigolds on the other hand are always orange.  There is no surprise here.  They shine together in a garden bed or a hanging basket and give joy to the heart. Every morning and every evening Merv is seen, hose in hand watering his precious plants.  Some of them get a little more water than others, some of them appear to be drowning in the puddle from a little inattention.  I am assured by their growth there is no harm done as they wiggle and fidget, fighting to be seen by the sun, their foliage spreading out before them.
Life goes on as it always does and always will.  We continue to be busy, the plants continue to grow and thrive.  I am amused just for a minute.  The moment is not about reflection or stopping to reminisce it's about going forward.  I smile as I see Merv busy watering his plants.


 

Mel's Birthday

Mel Birthday Girl and Dustin

Today is not Mel's Birthday but I made her a birthday cake and we celebrated her upcoming day at Sizzlers Restaurant.  She has insisted she celebrate her birthday at Sizzlers and so be it.  Who am I to refuse?  Mel wore her birthday badge, chose her birthday clothes and put on her make up which Merv and I gave her as a present. Family birthdays are a time enjoyed by all, especially Mel.
Mel's birthday is Wednesday 6 November, Dustin will be at work, Merv is busy and birthdays are always celebrated in our small family.  Dustin ran 5kms this morning in the 'Colour Run' which raises money for charity.  Money is raised for Perth's children's hospital Princes Margaret Hospital.  Dustin arrived here at 1pm and we finally made it to Sizzlers at 1:30pm.  At least we were hungry!  I was surprised to see the restaurant quiet with only a few patrons.  Admittedly it was well after midday but not everyone eats early.  As a family we have frequented Sizzlers many times in the past.  The price was more competitive and buffets were popular. 
We all ordered a main meal and selected a variety of salads from the salad bar to complement our chosen dish.  Merv no longer eats salad but he enjoyed the pumpkin soup and bread roll. After his barramundi main, Merv enjoyed two small desserts; chocolate mousse and later apple crumble with custard.   I added a little dish of smarties and mini marshmallows to keep him smiling.  When I dipped my hand in to share them with him, he scooped them up in his hand and handed me the empty bowl! We were like little kids stuck in a candy shop!


Watermelon base & jelly filling

Yoghurt and fresh strawberries to complete
 

I made Mel a birthday cake with a  difference.  All without: flour, sugar, and chocolate. Mel loved it.  I had wondered what type of birthday cake I could make which we could enjoy after a Sizzlers lunch.  So I created my own recipe:  A watermelon jelly cake.  Yesterday I bought half a watermelon, slicing off a generous plate size piece.  I lined a spring-form cake tin with baking paper before adding the

Birthday Cake Celebration

round of watermelon.  I made a lime sugar free jelly and poured it over the watermelon once it cooled and began to set.  Once set I made a strawberry sugar free jelly and added it to the pan and left this in the fridge.  After picking up Mel from her unit this morning.  We removed the watermelon/jelly cake from the cake tin and decorated it with fat free Greek strawberry yoghurt and fresh strawberries.  Hey Presto, fat free no sugar added birthday cake.  We used sparklers to sing Happy Birthday and Mel loved it so much she asked to take some home to her house mates and best friend!  Yes, Mel will have another birthday celebration on Wednesday.  She may have up to 4 more celebrations during the week with her various clubs and friends.  Every birthday is a celebration and more.


One Way Traffic Without Comment

I knew it was coming but I didn't know when.  It hit me like a runaway train only yesterday.  As I sat down to enjoy a little entertainment last night I promptly fell asleep.  I slept all night and still my body and mind yearned for rest this morning.  My plans to dig and prune in the back garden during the cool air of the morning were put aside and I had what could only be called a, 'lazy day.'  Sometimes we just need a rest and sometimes we listen to our bodies but most of the time we don't!  Instead it hits us fair and square and we have no choice but to listen.  Needless to say Merv had a lazy day with me.  It was too hot to walk later in the morning when my energy level increased slightly.  Instead we played games, read the paper and watched the TV.
A good friend emailed me today and said she had read my blog but was unable to post a comment.  I sent her the procedure for commenting but still it didn't work for her.  She doesn't have a Google account and she was asked for her password.  A number of people in the last few months have said they couldn't post a comment on my blog and therefore I am believing my blog page is at fault. I checked my settings this afternoon which clearly states anyone can post a comment.  Obviously there is an error somewhere I am not aware of.  I spent a couple of hours checking my blog set up and Google search to no avail.  I even sent an email or two to Google in hope I may get a reply! 
If you would like to comment on any of my posts you can also contact me on my blog email: life8angel77@gmail.com   If you have a BlogSpot blog I would appreciate any advice on receiving comments from readers without a Google account.  Hoping to hear from you soon.

A New Home

I know Merv's sister has moved to Ellison House recently.  I haven't seen her since I visited her in hospital after she fell due to dizziness.  I had a slow start to the day and it was after 10am before I rang to confirm Merv's sister was well and happy to have a visitor.  There are often appointments with therapists or specialists whether elsewhere or at the residence.  It is too disappointing to just roll up and find you have wasted time.  It takes over 30 minutes to drive there from my home.
Just like the first time I visited Merv's sister at Ellison House when she stayed for two weeks on respite the staff were friendly, helpful and caring.  I arrived when the weather was warming up but as yet not too hot for fun outside under the shade.  A huge beige coloured sail covers the space between two of the houses ensuring a generous coverage of shade for the residents and staff.  A game of bingo was just about to start and I was impressed the bingo cards have been replaced with A4 size laminated sheets printed with large squares with numbers.  Each number on the sheet has a Velcro dot allowing a bottle top with a corresponding Velcro dot to adhere to the sheet and not move around.  Very clever forward thinking.  A staff member used the bingo wheel and called out the numbers, until one of the residents won the game and it was time for lunch.   I had the opportunity to share my varied holiday photos with Merv's sister and she enjoyed the wildlife photos from Makalali.
I am pleased she is happy and is settling in well.  The staff explained specialists have been consulted to ensure she has the right equipment to assist her in her daily living.  I know Merv will also be pleased.