Done

I got to the hospital at 6.45, was in theatre at around 8.45 and was discharged at 9.45. Not bad for a day's work!

It was a very interesting experience. Lots of drops to dilate the pupil, something fancy to disable the eye and the procedure itself was painless. Some gentle sedative which didn't put me to sleep but calmed me down. 

As the anaesthetic has worn off my eye is a bit itchy but panadol takes care of that.

I keep the shield on until I see the surgeon in the morning and then just wear it at night to protect the eye. 

I have spent the day listening to podcasts as trying to use one eye is challenging. I am touch typing here so hopefully it makes sense!

In other news, as I was sitting in recovery having my cuppa tea and a sandwich the agent rang. Finance has been approved. We can go unconditional.

A good day all round.

And no, I am not trying to emulate the great orange one - they washed my face with betadine.
 

Normal service will be resumed shortly

Again, I know, and I apologise. 

I am exhausted to the point of finding words hard. 

I am quietly shitting myself over Wednesday's cataract op. It scares me more than any other op I've had including a knee replacement. 

Good news ... Three has a new rental and is over the moon. A much better house for them all and now Amy can look for another job.

I may pop in over the next few days or not but I will be fine.

Sunday.

Last night was great fun. The neighbours are considerably younger than us and his son and daughter came along as well (one is in high school and one at uni). The dogs were made a fuss of. Max didn't disappear and indeed, tolerated a stroke or two. Pizzas were eaten and wine was drunk. It was a really lovely evening. Typical. Just as we are about to leave the area we make the sort of friends we could do this with on a regular basis!

Another few boxes and I think I will have packed as much up as I can for now. 

Himself has just about got the garage sorted. Another couple of tip runs should see it through. 

And then we sit and twiddle our thumbs waiting for the move!

Three and his lot popped over yesterday. Sally was looking at the for sale board out the front. It has photos of the back garden, the kitchen, the formal lounge and the top room which has the bar. She said "here is the back yard, here is the kitchen, here is a living space and here is the winery".

My kind of kid.

Scam

Yesterday I learned the joys of scammers on marketplace. I usually give stuff away but had some stools that were virtually new.

This is just one example ...

 I did sell them to a lovely lady from Australia! And the dresser went today.

Our hard rubbish goes out this weekend and the scavengers are out in force.

We have the neighbours over for pizza shortly so will love and leave you.

Boxes

We came across this whilst going through papers from, well, 2013 and before! After mum died I contacted Bupa to cancel her health insurance policy and this was the letter we received!

The boxes in the ceiling space and under the house. Oh my god!! I had no idea SOMEONE had brought so much shit with us. I thought my craft stuff was bad. Anyway, the ceiling is now empty (and I have told him in no uncertain terms the only thing going in the new house ceiling is insulation). CDs, DVDs, books, paperwork, computer stuff (how many external hard drives does one person need?) and the list goes on.

Himself will contact one of those shred onsite companies to get rid of documentation that could be sensitive. The op shop will get the DVDs and CDs. 

I cleared out the dresser which is being picked up tomorrow. I put the bar stools on market place at $150. They are worth over $300 and are as new. Two nibbles so far but I think I will have to drop the price.

The bathroom cabinet is now empty and I have tubs of stuff to take down when I go with the Mermaid. 

I really hope the buyers' finance is approved. We are bit screwed if it isn't!

Murphy was groomed today. Himself went to pick him up and rang me to say he could hear him whimpering!! Murphy is a sook. The groomer said he loved his bath but didn't really like the hair dryer. I know he doesn't like being brushed. Jinx has her turn tomorrow. 

Phones

Does anyone else think they (and everyone else) spend too much time on their phone? 

Remember when you could leave the house without worrying that someone might ring you?

When you could go out to dinner or catch up with friends and not worry about missing a text or an email?

When people didn't get pissed off because you weren't available 24/7?

When you could engage 100% with someone without them being distracted by a ping?

When you could walk down the street and not worry about being bumped into by someone oblivious to their surroundings?

Today I used my phone to put the big dresser on market place and someone is coming to get it on Saturday so I am currently packing up all the contents.

Phones do have their use but I do wonder if we could, perhaps, use them a little less.

Nearly there.

Today I got the quote from the anaesthetist. All up I will be out of pocket around $1550 for both cataract surgeries. $1000 for the surgeon, $300 for the sleepy bloke and $250 excess on our health insurance. Not bad, eh?

I planted the lettuce, carrots and peas for the new owners. Well, the little boy, really. Pretty sure we saw the wife do a drive by earlier. I am sure they will do that regularly until they move in. We did.

I packed up all my summer clothes and some of my winter stuff. I have another load to take to the op shop. Stuff I like but never wear. Not worn in 6 years? To the op shop! 

I popped into the local hairdresser to see if she could tidy me up. I looked around at who was in the salon, looked at the hairdresser and decided I will try elsewhere. I don't need much done but I also don't want to look like those women in the salon!

Yes, I am struggling for something to talk about right now. I am still a bit zonked with all that is going on. 

I feel as if I am just about to reach the summit of a very steep, rocky mountain and then I can launch myself off and roll all the way down the sweet, grassy slope on the other side.

There will be other challenges once we have moved but we won't have the "must dos" hanging over our heads.

It doesn't help that my anxiety is creeping up. I know why but it doesn't help the feeling.

Half an hour

Max the magnificent. 

 

I apologise for not answering your comments from yesterday. It's been a bit of a day.

I had an appointment with the orthoptist to measure my eyes for my cataract surgery. I went in there with the intention of cancelling my second surgery for now as it created too many logistical challenges with living down there and needing to be up here for the op. Turns out they had had cancellations so I am now being done next Wednesday and the 21st of June. All done and dusted before we have to be out of here. It does put the moving plans out a bit but it is all doable. 

I had allowed half an hour for the appointment. I was there for an hour and a quarter.

I came home and got onto the phone to arrange the connections for electricity and water in the rental. Himself went out for coffee with an old work mate.

He then messaged to say he was bringing said workmate and his wife back so a quick whip around to tidy up and vacuum the constant dog hair off the floor. 

After they had left we went and bought dry dog food and then went to the local shopping centre so I could buy some sunglasses (imperative after cataract surgery especially if one has blue eyes). 

Himself went to book an eye test at the local Specsavers. They could do him then and there. How long? Half an hour.

I did my shopping, had a coffee, moseyed around the shops and then met him to choose specs.

An hour and a quarter later we wandered over to a bank to open new accounts.

We have been with ANZ for decades but have not been happy with recent customer service not least stuffing up the transfer of funds to our solicitor for the payment of our block of land. It was fixed. ANZ is a bank that is used by a lot of elderly people. They have shut down branches right left and centre, especially in rural areas. The Aunt has a passbook account but if she wants to access it she needs to go to Townsville which is TWO FUCKING HOURS away from where she lives because the bank closed its branch in her closest, not small, town.

As you can guess ANZ has closed its branch in Lakes Entrance so we decided to switch banks. 

Remember when you could rock up to a bank and see someone straight away. I think they were called tellers and there was always a few of them and they knew everything. Now you have to see a concierge, explain what you want to do and come back later. In half an hour.

So we did. 

The woman we saw was very helpful and we opened accounts and did what we needed to do. Interestingly Himself and I both held powers of attorney for our respective parents with this bank so had our details on record. Cool. MIL died last year so I expected his details to still be current. My father died over 9 years ago but I still have a profile with the bank. Why? No wonder people get twitchy about financial institutions getting hacked.

An hour and a quarter later we left with our new bank accounts and the pleasure of looking forward to telling ANZ to stick their customer service where the sun don't shine. 

Admission paperwork for next week? tick

Moneys transferred to new accounts? tick

Accommodation booked for the weekend after my eye op to pick up the keys for the rental? tick (The mermaid is coming down with me and we will have a lovely couple of days).

Time for me to go to bed? tick tick tick.

Ring Ring

It's been a bit of a crazy day although I did fritter a fair bit of time on the interwebs. You know, mindless stuff. I then got cross with myself because I could have been reading, knitting or packing. 

The "under contract" sign has gone up on the board.

I spent an hour on the phone to The Aunt just at the time that the emails from the rental real estate agent came through and a call from the company that arranges services transfers. It was a two gin phone call. She is lonely and forgetful.

In light of having to go a work through lengthy emails and contracts I shall leave you with this thought.

Can you remember phone numbers from your past?

These are some of mine ...

Sutton 212 - my grandparents' number when I stayed with them when I was at boarding school. It was Sutton, Sussex for those who know there are more than one Sutton!

96437 - our phone number in Hong Kong.

992513 - our family's number when we first came to Melbourne

5782513 - our number in the first house we owned

5783512 - my in laws' number. See a pattern?

100

Yesterday my paternal uncle turned 100. He still lives at home (his wife died several years ago) and potters in his garden and walks to the shops. He was a pilot for BOAC back in the day. I remember him as a lovely, gentle man. As was his brother, my dad. His eldest son died from MND just before Covid. His other two sons are close by and keep an eye on him. He is talking about going into supported accommodation in September but I think one of my cousins are planning to move in with him. 

Other Brother and Fave sis in law popped over from Italy for the celebrations - hence the photos.

Not bad for 100, is he? I think he was quite chuffed at the family turn out.

I wonder if this was one of the first after the coronation? Surely not that many people turned 100 in the past couple of weeks!

I was a bit confused about this one until I read it. Another thing I didn't know about my family. There is a quite a bit I am finding out.

Another cold day here. People are still stopping and looking at the house. I am hoping we will get the "under contract" sign up soon. 

I bought some carrot seeds and dwarf sugar snap peas and some lettuce seedlings. I'll plant them in the vege pod in the next day or so.

I don't want to start packing properly until I know we have gone unconditional but I can start clearing out the cupboards and packing away summer clothes.

This time in 5 weeks we will be in lakes entrance!

 

SOLD!!

We had 15 groups through today which is phenomenal in the current climate (financial and weather - it was pissing down and freezing cold). Quite a few found reasons not to buy (I think some were tyre kicking sticky beaks) but the couple that came through way back on the first day we were styled made an offer we couldn't refuse - and we only needed one. It's above the asking price and is subject to their finance but we are confident that won't be a problem as the agent has already spoken with their broker. Assuming all goes according to plan we will settle on 3rd July.

Tomorrow I will go and buy seeds to plant so the little boy can harvest winter veges.

We are over the moon, gobsmacked, exhausted, terrified, excited, overwhelmed and slightly stunned. 

Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

Another box ticked

I woke up with a scratchy throat and have taken the day very slowly. As in I have done absolutely nothing!

I did get a call from a real estate agent with a property we might like to rent. And we do so we have. It is more than the previous one but still under our target and much, much nicer. I'd post the link but Mr Pudding might still have his cohorts on the ready to track us down! it isn't in Lakes itself. Rather the suburb up the hill but a five minute drive into town. And the pub is within walking distance! One less thing for me to stress about. Now I just need this place sold. Once it is I can get the removalists in to quote and start planning the move.

Considering the timing I am thinking of putting the second cataract op off for a while. The ophthalmologist wasn't too concerned about it but I was wanting to get everything done before we move. We'll see. I will need to stay with someone willing to get me to hospital first thing in the morning, pick me up and take me back the next day to have the dressing removed. A bit of an ask. 

An early start tomorrow to get the place spick and span and smelling good so an early night for me tonight. A couple of gins first to help me sleep!

So tired.

I think I might be sickening for something. I am feeling the cold which I never do!

Mind you, sleeping with two dogs, a cat and a husband does not result in a restful night. I could kick Jinx off as she is the one on the bed the longest and prevents me from moving my leg which causes my hip to hurt. But she is not coping with the stress of everything at the moment and I don't want to upset her further. Animal lovers will understand, I am sure. I can't even go and sleep in the spare bed - it's been styled!

Today I baked a batch of biscuits (cookies for some). I haven't baked since Christmas and it was nice to get back into it. Himself mowed the front lawn. Hopefully the last time. 

Tomorrow I will go around the house and make sure things are clean. You know the stuff. Where the dogs lie against the walls and where the cats rub up against the doors. You don't know? You  haven't lived! I was going to make a pot of pumpkin soup to have on the stove on Saturday along with the cheesy rolls but Himself said that was a bit much. His loss. No pumpkin soup for him.

I bought a couple of wrist supports for the old grizzler. He said they are helping. 

Apparently there is no law in place to say that wearing seat belts on buses is mandatory (unlike cars). Our illustrious leader is considering this. What is there to consider? Although, to be fair, who will be liable if the seat belts aren't worn? In a car it's the driver and the passenger. On a bus you can't really expect the driver to enforce such a law. They get shit for less than that already.

Haystacks for dinner tonight. Quick, easy and tasty. Think deconstructed tacos using corn chips. NOT nachos for some reason. Haystacks!

That bloody garage!!

We had another lot through today.

They LOVED the house blah blah blah but she is a violin teacher and wanted to plaster the garage and turn it into a studio and the ceilings aren't high enough!

Later on today Himself got a call from the agent to say original people through are still very interested and are just trying to work out the storage for his car. They are coming through the open on Saturday and they may make an offer. The weather forecast is for constant rain and cold so I shall make sure the place is warm and inviting and I shall have those cheesy rolls oozing yummy smells.

I have submitted an application for a rental down in Lakes that is available from the 9th June. The owners are amenable to animals and I shall go down in a couple of weeks when it is up for a viewing. Fingers crossed. It doesn't look flash but is $100 a week below our max limit and is within walking distance from our block.

Himself went to the Shed this afternoon. He is whingeing commenting less about his wrist and back. 

I didn't do much today after getting the house ready for the open this morning. I am finding it a bit weird not having to do stuff and I am wondering how I will fill my time once we move. I am sure I will find stuff! Part of the problem at the moment is that I don't want to sit on the furniture and muck it up so am limited to the dining table and the desk!

The blurb on the listing refers to an "edible garden" which is a bit fancy for the old pumpkin patch but I guess I could plant some vege seedlings so whoever buys the place can harvest something. I might go to Bunnings tomorrow and see what I can find.

On a more sombre note ...

This happened yesterday. It is just tragic. Were the kids wearing seat belts? Probably not. Was the truck driver distracted? Probably. He has been charged and bailed. He is a father of two and I cannot imagine what he must be going through. Apparently the bus driver realised what was about to happen and sped up so the impact wasn't as bad as it could have been. Everyone is amazed no lives were lost but there are some horrific injuries. It is one of those awful situations where everyone wants to lay blame but it should probably be shared. Truckies need to have better training. Kids on buses need to wear seatbelts. The road authorities need to upgrade the roads. And sometimes shit just happens when sunlights blinds a driver. I am not saying who is to blame or that no-one is to blame. I am just saying. 

Missed you

 

I must say a few days doing very little has been wonderful if a bit strange. We both keep feeling we should be doing something!

My back is a bit better.

Remember how Himself took a tumble in the garden and complained his wrist was sore and I told him to suck it up? He kept whingeing about a sore wrist so I made an appointment with the GP to shut him up.

He had an xray yesterday to rule out a fracture.

Whoops. Bad wife! We are still waiting on the results but regardless of fracture (did you know that # is medical speak for fracture? remember, please) he will require some input from his grumpy exnurse wife. If it is a # he will have the wrist put in plaster. For ever. Well, it will seem like forever. At least it's his left hand. If it isn't a # then it is most likely soft tissue injury and I will strap it and feed him drugs if the doctor will take pity on me and give him drugs. 

In my defence (again) if he stubs his toe you would think he had ripped the whole foot off. 

I know, I know ...

“Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever the experiencing person says it does” (McCaffery, 1989)

... this was rightly rammed down our throats at uni and I have rammed it down throats of uncaring nurses who dismissed their patient's pain as insignificant but I am a weary wife. Not a nurse in this scenario.

I caught up with J and C today and we had lovely knit and natter time. Much needed.

On Sunday (Mother's Day) we went to Ikea to return some curtains. The place was almost empty. I think Mother's Day beats any other occasion for lack of crowds. Three and his lot popped in briefly on the way to the other grandmother, One and Two rang me and I was content knowing that my boys were spending the day with their wives and kids which is as it should be. Mother's Day is not Grandmother's day (I forgive Three as that family lost a son to suicide when he was only 16 so a poignant time for them all).

Yesterday was spent looking at all the photos, copy and video content for the house. It is amazing. I really want to post the link but, surprise surprise, it lists my address and I am a bit wary about putting it out there. You, my lovely readers, are not an issue but who knows what low life lurks in the depths of the internet? I tried to share some of the photos but not happening for some reason. 

Anyway. We are now on the market. We have someone coming to look tomorrow (not holding my breath) and our first official open on Saturday at 11.00.

I will be baking cheesy rolls.

A wee break

I think I might take a day or two off from blogging.

My brain is fried and I can't think straight. The body hurts.

I love blogging and I love my blogging mates but at the moment I can barely remember my name.

I am surprised how much the past 6 weeks have taken out of us but there you go.

We're not getting any younger!

And now we can breathe

 At 8.45 the agent's assistant popped in to have a look at the styled house and make sure all was ready for the videographer.

At 10ish the floorplan dude rocked up to see what changes we have made since he did the floor plan for the previous listing.

Then the videographer rocked up and did his thing.

Then the copywriter rocked up, made notes and chatted to us about the house and how we feel about living here. He is a local boy from way back and gave us some interesting insights into the area. Yet again, we were told this is one of the most sought after areas in the suburb.

Some down time until 4.30 when the photographer rocked up and did his thing. 

We are both really, really tired. 

I managed to make the bed to spec this morning and am now confident I can reproduce it. We won't put the paraphernalia on it every day - no need. 

I bought new sheets for the styling process and we really love them so I think a trip to Spotlight for some more is in the offing.

Now we wait. 

On Monday we will get the advertising blurb and photos for our approval and then the place officially goes on the market. A board will go up at some point and the place will be listed on the various real estate websites. At this stage our first open for inspection will be next Saturday. 

I have no idea what we will do with ourselves over the next few weeks especially after the frenetic pace we have kept up over the past 6 weeks. Some down time is definitely needed but I'm not sure we can remember how to do that! 

And today I finally asked myself if we have made the right decision.

A bit late now!

We have been styled!

Photos from around the house. You get the idea. 

 Of course I forgot to take a photo of our bed, didn't I?! I hope I can remember how to put it all together in the morning.

The couple that came through loved the house but he has a project car that won't fit in the garage. They are talking about building a shed so all is not lost.

The agent loves what we have done and says he is sure it will sell. 

For now ... send gin. 

Knackered

The window cleaner did a fabulous job. She was very chuffed when Himself gave her his extendable folding ladder. One less thing for us to get rid of!

The house is ready for the stylist tomorrow. I'll need to get up eato clean the floors! Bloody dogs.

I popped into give Ivy her birthday present and seemed to like it. I dutifully grovelled and all is forgiven, I hope.

Then on to babysit Sally and Alice so their parents could go out to dinner. I fed and changed Alice and gave her a bottle but getting her to sleep was a battle. I understand why the whole family's struggling.

After I finally got her down Sally and I had some snuggle time watching a Harry Potter movie and now I'm waiting for the parents to get home.

I hope they had a good evening. 

Here is the news in brief

 (which I used to think was a country in SE Asia that was also involved in the Vietnam war)

• The cat run has been assembled but no cats have yet been placed in it. I thought it was cruel to carry them in the rain and then plonk them in a completely strange space. Maybe tomorrow.
• Furniture as been moved in readiness for the stylist and her furniture on Thursday.
• Curtains have been purchased and then returned because I didn't read the measurements properly. The new ones have now been hung replacing the ones we put up the other day and tomorrow we will hang the bedroom ones.
• The house looks huge with very little furniture in it!
• The agent rang to touch base and said the couple that are coming through on Thursday have driven past half a dozen times and looked at the old listing and like what they see. I hope they like what we have done even more. The good thing is their house has been sold and is unconditional so they will be needing to buy asap. This could work in our favour.
• The window cleaner comes tomorrow and I will, fingers crossed, freshen up our bedroom carpet without having to do a full clean.
• Tomorrow night I am babysitting so Three and Amy can go out for dinner. 

Monday - I think

The phone rang at half past stupid o'clock to say the carpet layer was on his way.

I stumbled out of bed and had a quick shower. We had been told we would be most likely the last of the day so it was a bonus.

The new carpet makes such a difference to the look of the place. I wish we had done it sooner but that is an argument not worth having. There is still a lot to do in two days. 

I have moved stuff into the cupboards in the two spare rooms which has sorted our wardrobe out for "creating a blank canvas" as the stylist says. The top room is almost done. It has cathedral ceilings so I need Himself to get up a ladder to clean the lights, fans and get rid of the high cobwebs. Hopefully he will see that as more of a priority than putting the cars in the garage. 

At this stage I just want to be sold and gone!

Anyway, enough of my constant whingeing.

I missed Ivy's 4th birthday on 18th April because of all this stuff going on. Ebs is most shitty with me. I understand but had we actually been invited to celebrate her birthday I might have remembered the day. I ordered a doll and a doll's outfit on Amazon over the weekend and it should be here tomorrow. Now I have to get it over to her. And eat humble pie and grovel a bit.

We didn't get to Spotlight today so that is a must do tomorrow for the curtains for our bedroom. 

I can't wait to show you the house when the stylist has done her magic.

Oh Dear

For some reason better known to anyone but me, I decided to "clear all data" and now find I can't get back into some sites. Give me time.

Today I swept cobwebs from the outside areas and bricks. Himself hung curtains to replace the ones the cats had used as climbing frames. I had to hem them in situ which probably was another unwise idea I had today. They don't close all the way but are more for appearances. We will, however purchase new curtains for the bedroom which will close all the way to give the new owners some privacy in that area even though we don't close them. We rarely close our curtains on areas that can't be seen from the street and I like waking up to the sunrise. 

I have been feeling a bit like a rabbit in the headlights. I am finding it almost impossible to get moving so overwhelming is the whole situation.

I am hoping that after the carpets go down tomorrow and things can be put where they belong I will be able to see the light at the end of a very, very long tunnel.

I have only watched snippets of the coronation and read bits and pieces online. Why in the name of all things holy are our media referring to our King and Queen being coronated? Is this a thing? I thought they were crowned.

On that note, this grumpy old woman will go in search of gin. 

A 250km little drive.

Today's weather has been miserable. Cold and wet.

Just the way I like it!

I convinced Himself to take another drive and we went waaaay back over to the other side of town to look at a couple more display houses. I am really glad we did because I found a colour scheme I just love. Very similar to what I have chosen but with some tweaks. I believe the style consultants have access to the actual colours used in the displays but I took some photos just in case. 

Pizza for dinner and we will have an early night as tomorrow we really must get stuck into the final stretch before getting this house on the market.

I am sure everyone will be very glad when I can think of something else to rabbit on about!

Need drugs

This morning the agent's offsider came around to check the place out.

She commented on the size of the place and said it was "very unique". I inwardly cringed but didn't correct her. 

Himself then had a conversation with the agent about price range. If the agent is to be believed FIVE couples have driven past and shown interest. 

My back has been giving me gyp all day so I haven't done too much. A bit of work in the garden is all. I took some serious pain killers last night and did sleep well but I think I need more.

Himself was working down the blind side of the house and tripped over a branch and landed on his back and wrist. His wrist looks a bit swollen. I have read the riot act but I doubt he will listen. 

On a completely different topic - I am so sad to read every single day of a shooting in the US. When will this stop? I can't begin to imagine how awful it must be to live with the fear of a random person opening up with powerful guns and killing the innocent. 

I don't understand US politics and don't like to comment on other countries - we are far from perfect. But this just beggars belief.

3 weeks left of Autumn and Winter is knocking hard on the door this weekend. Wind, rain and temps barely getting into double figures (*C). 

I am cooking tonight so I had better get a wriggle on. Chicken katsu with rice. I love my rice cooker. Does anyone else use one? We had one when I was a kid in Hong Kong and although I have tried to cook rice other ways, the rice cooker wins every time.

More house stuff

 

Well at least I will have the third in the bag in a couple of months!

We are both really tired and sore. We might have been a bit snappy with each other today.

I took the dogs on two walks because the park would have been too muddy and Himself's knee is giving him gyp. On the second walk my back was spasming and Murphy was being a turd. It was a long walk but I didn't swear once (out loud).

I went to the supermarket and walked very slowly around leaning on the trolley. I must have been slow as Himself wondered why I had taken so long!

Anyway, most of the hard yakka is done.

I had a chat with the stylist. I had wondered why I hadn't received her quote. She had my email address wrong. My email address is my last name @ gmail.com. My last name is unusual so I always say my last name and spell it out. Even so, she wrote it down as she thought it should be spelt! In her defence she did have reasons to be distracted and had explained when she arrived.  And yes, I do have faith in her!

Once we sorted that out and she sent the quote to the correct address we had a chat and I have paid for her services. If it all goes as she says it will, this house will not know itself!

On the new house front, I have received a bucket load of information in preparation of our Studio M.

Oh my.

This is our third build. The first was in '86 and the second in '99. The styling sessions took about 2 hours and we were not given options on door furniture, window treatments, cabinetry and the like. With this build we can even pick the rubbish bins to go in the kitchen cupboards if we so choose. So a lot to explore and digest so that when we go down to Traralgon on the 7th June for our appointment we will have a lot already picked out to save time on things we need assistance with. I am so glad we went to the session the other week as that has helped already.

I am trying to think of something fascinating to write about but my back still hurts and I hear a second G&T calling my name.

Another short post

My vision is very blurry.

I saw my ophthalmologist this afternoon and my pupils still haven't recovered from the drops they use to dilate them.

I go for cataract surgery on my left eye on the 14th June and my right on 19th July.

Explains why I have been struggling to focus and why I am wearing my sunnies even when the day is dull.

As if life couldn't get more complicated let's throw this into the mix! 

I still want the house to sell and settle as soon as possible and will just work the surgery around it.

A tip

If you need to pull the staples out of the floor from which carpet has been removed the best way to do it is in bare feet. You will find every. single. one.

You're welcome.

I am now going to look for bandaids.

I hope you had a good day.

Old.

I just read a news item wherein an elderly man was arrested for the murder of a woman.

HE IS YOUNGER THAN HIMSELF!!! 

When did we get old? Or worse, elderly?

Elderly screams decrepitude, infirmity, frailty, knocking on heaven's door and all that.

We might not be in our prime and the spring in our step might not be as bouncy as it once was.

BUT WE ARE NOT ELDERLY.

The dog is on antibiotics and antidepressants. 

Our land settlement went through.

Tomorrow I will catch up with J and C and do another Vinnie's drop off. Himself will hopefully do another tip run and a storage run. He needs to finish the interior painting (one coat on two walls) and fix up some timber work. Then he can pull up the carpet and we can move some furniture around.

Time for a gin.