Lockdown - Stage 4

Six Weeks of Stage 4 Restrictions came in place on the 2nd August at 6:00 pm.

We got an 8:00 pm to 5:00 am Curfew and a few other fun things too - like face masks and no sitting in a Cafe for Coffee. These things we can work with.

Not being able to Travel or even "Go for a Drive" is a bit disappointing as I have a new car and time to go places - But they too will still be there when this is over.

Holidays may be cancelled but we can revisit those we have already enjoyed!

I am currently Scrap-booking my way thorough South Australia.  

It has taken me TWO WEEKS of solid work to get just TWO DAYS into the Album!

There are Folk who when they think of South Australia only think of It's Capitol City Adelaide and the surrounding Hills and Wine Regions. 

We spent 3 days in Adelaide before moving on to explore as much of the State as we could in 20 days!

Picking up the Project - We had just taken a Shortcut across Spencer Gulf and landed on The Eyre Peninsula.

A mere 161 km of very straight highway away from our next overnight Stop at Port Lincoln. 

With Three in the Backseat all with recently acquired Learner Permits...

It was the perfect opportunity to get in the required 120 hours of tuition. 

We even added a couple extra rows to the "Required Experience" in their Logs!

From Port Lincoln we travelled 170 km West to Elliston - The Map says it takes 1:45 hrs.  

It actually took us NINE! 

After all Getting from Point A to Point B in the quickest possible time was not the purpose of the Adventure!

According to our records we actually travelled 253 km that day and stopped at no less that 7 different "Points of Interest" all requiring a Page of their Own from the many photographs taken on 4 different Cameras - Of which NONE were set on the Correct Time Zone!

I am Going to need a Bigger Scrapbook!

"Equal Parts Prayer and Science"

And Speaking of Miracles...

I have waited all Year to Share This Bit of News.

Our DD's Announcement Read:

After Years of Heartache,        we are beyond Thrilled to Announce the Safe arrival of little Ada Ashlyn.

Equal Parts Prayer and Science.

Born at Dinnertime 07/08/2020





And from me - "Grandma and Grumpy" are Thrilled Too!

*It's been a VERY Big week.*

Happy Birthday

Or should it be 

Happy (.....Socially Distant.....) Birthday

It was definitely NOT the Cake I would have made

It was not the Celebration we would have had

And it hardly feels like anytime since I was posting their 21st Birthday Photos.

A Shop bought Cake and Homemade Honeycomb for Decoration - Not my usual Style.

But we could all gather together (without anyone having to travel).

We brought our offerings to the Table, 

Said Grace as a Family

And enjoyed Time Together - But Apart.

And the Cake?

It was brought to the Table

and They Blew

And the Candles went out

I can still work Birthday Miracles!

Bridge Out No More

DH and I  have not been down to the Creek Walk since Covid-19 infiltrated into our small corner of the Planet. 

With shutdowns, Working from home and other restrictions it seemed that "Every Man and His Dog" all want to walk it's Paths at Once - and Let's just say it got a bit crowded down there!

Yesterday we ventured out to see what has changed if anything in the Last few Months.

The Formal Bike Paths and worn foot trails are still there and a beautiful Ford which of course you can't cross when it is flooded.

There are signs that there Used to be a Bridge, or perhaps it was just wishful thinking by whoever designed the bike path.  

Which led up to and away from the Creek but not OVER it.

The Last time we ventured this far we were met with activity of the Building Variety.

A new path was being installed. 

Maybe some lighting too?

We are currently restricted to "Exercise Outside for One Hour" and I was keen to fill my Lungs with Fresh Air that only Trees can Give.

But what do we Spy across the trail?

We had hoped that one day they would build a Crossing.

A small Wooden Bridge to get us from one side to the other without getting wet.

This was WAY MORE Engineering than I ever imagined!

This Bridge will handle everything that Foot Traffic and Nature can throw at it.

I recon that it will withstand the most ferocious Floods and determined arsonist*.

*[Ref: Post 6:00 am Walk]

I can't wait for them to finish it - And when it is finally open I will dust of my Bicycle and Pump up it's Tyres and Go for a Ride!

And by then I sincerely Hope and Pray that I can spend more than an Hour doing it!

COVID Meltdown

The Moment when you discover that your Carpet is NOT Wool!

It was a hard lesson learnt in keeping your workspace clear and tidy...

Hello Sweetheart ...

The one thing that will send me into full Mum Mode is to answer a call from one of my Kids and be met by silence....  Such was the case Wednesday night.

We are OK Mum but -
The House next door has just exploded.

Oh and the backyard is full of CFA - Firemen

and I don't know what they are doing to my Garden.

She was extremely shaken to say the least, and not one who is prone to exaggerating -

I knew it was bad.

DD has 5 properties backing onto her rear boundary and if any of them were involved in a fire it would be 'touch and go up in flames' for all the others - This is what the House next door looks like on Google Maps.

And the photo she sent through while we were talking showed how close they were to the flames.

Paying strict attention to the advice of the Fire Brigade they stayed inside until directed otherwise.

Even so - the heat of the flames could be felt through the Glass.

In the cold hard light of Day-

This is all that is left of the House Next Door.

With the Fire starting slowly and quietly in a Clothes Dryer in the Garage the home was well alight before the Family could stop it spreading.

They have lost everything but evacuated safely.

HOWEVER:
 
The residents in the next door Unit were totally unaware of what was happening and that THEIR house was also on Fire - until the Brigade smashed a window to alert them!

In all, 3 properties were damaged.

And DD's Garden?

She said it was Best Decision of her life to Buy a Block that had a big Backyard.

And let's just say She won't need to Water it for Quite Some Time!!!

Back in Lockdown

Just when you thought it was safe to go out....

Someone did something daft and now we have that "Second Wave" we were trying to avoid.

Lock-down 2.0 started off with a few Suburbs, now it encompasses all of Melbourne and Mitchell Shire an area of approx 13,000 km². 

For those of us that live within this boundary we have just 4 reasons to leave the house. 

The hope is to contain the Virus to a Geographical Area.

Is SIX weeks going to be enough to squash the curve when, with more and more testing, more and more infections are being found?  Time - and only Time will tell.

How am I surviving the Lock down?      

UFOs - That's How! 

I have been a "Stay at Home Mum" for 35 years, and have many projects that have been put aside with the wail of a Child in need. 

In all those years I have never been bored and I don't intend to start now.

So - Which Project will it be?

Considering that Going on Holidays is not one of those 4 allowed Options - I decided to pick up my Scrapbook record of "Our Last Big Adventure." 

It was a Holiday of a Lifetime and one we wanted to have before the Kids went off, and started having adventures without Us.

The last entry was 3rd December 2008 - It was DH's Birthday and we were far far from Home!

Actually we were taking a Shortcut somewhere between the Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas in the middle of the Spencer Gulf - 

South Australia. 

The Boys were thrilled to be invited onto the Bridge by the Captain and shown the finer parts of the operation of the Vessel.

The First Instruction - 

Sit and Don't Touch!

My Scrapbook is not all that different to Instagram posts I send today - so I am hoping to finish the next 10 Days of pages by the time we are out of Lock-down.  

Now - Where do I start?