The Rest of September

I wish I could say that it was RESTFUL but I really don't think that word is in my Vocabulary.

So I find myself - once again playing catch up with my Blog Posts.

DH and I are trying to 'Up Our Fitness' in preparation for an upcoming Trip so we have been walking as much as possible. 

My limit is 5 km before my hip starts to hurt.

So a trip to the Dr to find out why, discovered that although the hip is fine, I have "Degenerative Disc Disease".  

This sent us, (Yes, I dragged DH with Me) into Hydro Therapy Classes 3 times a week.

I organised a Company to come to My Mother's Home to Install Window Film on her Back Veranda hoping to fix the complaint that it was "Too Hot".

Instead it opened up a whole new raft of complaints that make my head ache. 

Some Days I just need a Strong Coffee! 

Some Days it comes with a side serve of Pavlova and Panadol!

(The Coffee Shop Understands...)

September wound up with Some Bright person deciding that the AFL Football Grand Final Day would be the perfect time to Cut the power to half a suburb while installing a Power Station to the Local Primary School. 

Another walk … 

For Cold Coffee.

And a (not Dr. approved) Cronut 

- which was also cold an not very appetising.

So that  Folks was a snapshot of September - hopefully I will catch up by the end of the Year!

I have a New Toy

Last December we went on a Mystery Picnic where one of our Picnic Items was "Fresh Squeezed Juice" and my heart sank, because...

Back in the 70's my Mother got a Juicer and made us drink concoctions that were 40% Juice and 60% Foam and they were NOT nice.

I am happy to say that our "Picnic Juice" was VERY nice and we started noticing and using DIY Juicers in our Hotels at Breakfast.

We came home and forgot about the Juice of our Holidays - Until I saw an Advert for a machine that ticked all my boxes and some. 

So we bought one.

It came with some accessories that I probably won't use 

(I am even less fond of Smoothies and prefer to make my own Sorbet) but then, I didn't buy this model for the accessories.

As far as the Juice is concerned... It is pretty impressive.

I am not quite ready for Kale and Cucumber but I can now understand what People see in Tomato Juice!

* * *

FYI:

Kuvings EVO Evolution Cold Pressed Juicer in Red. 

Our Poor Tree . . .

When we purchased our House the street was lined with Flowering Prunus Trees that sent Pink "Confetti" everywhere on Hot Spring Days.  Those Trees had been planted almost 40 years before and 4 years later ours just .. fell down.

The council sent us a letter giving a choice of replacement and we chose the "Pink Tipped Callistemon" with its Pink tipped leaves and Yellow Flowers. 

That was 39 years ago.

In the ensuing years I have watched it grow, grumbled about where they planted it, Saw it pruned and have it's roots ripped up by Path replacements.    Once a Large branch got torn off it's side by a careless Skip Bin driver.

The other day I noticed that the bark wasn't looking so healthy and there were bugs underneath - I was concerned and thought about contacting the council but I had a meeting to attend so my call would have to wait.

On the way home, I received a text from DH saying "Don't Park under the Tree".

Apparently, while I was away the Poor thing got hit by a removal Van ripping yet another branch off.

The Council came to remove the branch off the Road and promptly decided that it was too dangerous and Sick to stay.

Their Notice Read 

"White Rot to Main Branches. 

Risk of Further Fail Likely"

We are currently waiting for them to come and take it out and replace with a New one. 

I just hope that...

1. They plant it in a better position this time and

2. They don't come when it is in Full Flower - Because that is when the Bees are there!

Today is RU OK? Day

From Personal experience

If you ask someone this question are you prepared for their answer?

It is not a throwaway line - A life may depend on how you react.

It is also, not always about Suicide.

Depression, Anxiety and Abuse are all reasons people are Not OK

Sometimes they need professional help that you can guide them to.

Sometimes it is as simple as a Coffee and a shoulder to cry on.

Sometimes it takes longer and many Cups of Tea and Tissues

and eventually

with your help

your Friend can be OK.

* * *

The Links below are to Websites dedicated to help.

AUSTRALIA

1800 RESPECT

BEYOND BLUE  - AUSTRALIA

SUICIDE-LINE - Victoria 

LIFELINE - AUSTRALIA

USA

LIFELINE - USA

EUROPE

International Association for Suicide Prevention

(this is a Portal to many Organisations worldwide) 

Coffee With the Giraffes

Today we decided it was a nice day so we went and had our Morning Coffee with The Giraffes.  

After all - The Zoo is not that far away and we should go more often.

So Coffee with the Giraffes it was.

But then - There was more than Lattes and Coffee Scrolls on the Menu.

We were fortunate enough to arrive right on Feeding Time and All the Big Cats were out.

AND I had brought my Canon 760D with the 18-135 mm Lens just to see what it could do.

As far as Cameras go - It is getting a bit on the "Old Tech" side but still...

I wasn't disappointed with these shots of Our Beautiful Snow Leopards. 

It breaks my heart to know that these Magnificent Creatures are still being Hunted Today and are under Threat of Extinction.

Check this Post from the Zoological Society of Auckland for a great write up on Our Snow Leopards and their Habitat.

Continuing on through the Carnivores Trail I caught a glimpse of our elusive Sumatran Tiger.

I have other Photos of this Beauty from previous trips to the Zoo but today Indrah was on the hunt as she was very aware that her Keepers were just meters away

 - On the OTHER side of the fence!

I was very pleased with todays 'Photo Shoot' and look forward to spending time with the Other Residents of Melbourne Zoo.

Granddaughter Number 4

 Meet Ivy Grace

Arrived in the early hours of Saturday Morning (22/07/2023)

4 weeks early

6lb 7 oz  (2925 gm)

Little Sister to GD#2 Hazel

She has had a rough introduction to the World

(The result of her impatience to get here.)

It has been a Week of constant Updates

But she is making progress.

We can't visit her yet but Plenty of Photos and

The hospital even had a Live Video Feed to her Crib!

Time for Grandma-Grandpa cuddles when she is home.

Getting Pedantic - AKA Research!

THIS is an example of why the "Great Photo Cull of 2023" is taking so long.

Melbourne has FOUR Airports. The details are below this Post.

We live under the Flight Paths of Essendon and Tullamarine and therefore have some Interesting air Traffic overhead.  These are the Photos I am sorting through today.

Not content to just cull the blurry ones

and Rename the photos as the Camera file names are now being duplicated

I decided to Identify the Aircraft.

Some are Very easy - Our Flying Kangaroo is recognisable from any angle

Some not so easy - 

especially the Private Jets that fly into Essendon

And some Livery has long since Faded from Memory.  

Pacific Blue? 

Rebranded to Virgin

It has been an Interesting trip which also included Hot Air Balloons and Helicopters not to mention Vapor Trails and Skywriting.

The price of having a Curious nature and a Camera!

* * * * *

Essendon: Opened February 1950 was Melbourne's International Airport until

Tullamarine International Opened in July 1970

 

Moorabbin: Has been in operation since December 1949 is it mainly Light Aircraft & Training

Avalon: Was built in 1953 for the production of Military Aircraft. Situated 23 km from Geelong is now Melbourne's 2nd International Airport. 

It is also the Venue for the Melb. International Air Show.