They were a delightful couple to keep company with. We visited Sister's on the Bellarine for a barbeque lunch. We dined together at Gentleman George across the road, at Gourmet Curry Hut and at Rosco's at the old Chevron Hotel. 

They visited the Grand Prix on three days of the event. They wandered the city and St Kilda. They caught trains, trams and walked. without help from me aside from giving them a Myki card each with one day's public transport credit. We visited the Dandenong Ranges on the Labour Day public holiday, firstly visiting Mount Dandenong, having some tucker then driving on to Grant's Picnic Ground, where we could surreptitiously and illegally feed some birds with seed, but  we could not find a parking space. The best laid plans...

I had a thought, and we journeyed on to Belgrave. Ray's nephew is an excellent driver, and he did all the driving while he was here. We arrived at Belgrave and for the life of me, we could not find parking at the Puffing Billy Railway Station. Later I think I worked out that you use the suburban train car park, I think. We eventually squeezed the car into a space and illegally walked across the railway line. 

There was a train full of people and ready to depart but it didn't have an engine. But we had seen an engine being loaded with coal.

Mustang!

Ready to depart.

I thought it was quite a feat of the platform staff to walk upside down on the platform.

Puffing Billy sets off, full of happy and waving people. I was waving to them too.

It is interesting that it is quicker for me to visit the Bunnings hardware store in West Footscray by public transport than it is to visit my local Port Melbourne Bunnings. 

Drive time to Port Melbourne (Saturday evening, so little traffic), 13 minutes. Drive time to West Footscray, 18 minutes.

Tram and bus to Port Melbourne, 44 minutes. Walk and Metro Train to West Footscray Bunnings, 30 minutes. 

In ways I never guessed, the new Metro Tunnel train has changed how I travel around our city.

Some years ago when drying the car after a car wash, I noticed a bump and a mark on the side of car. Ray had not noticed it. It was very minor, and I think by a shopping trolley. I showed Ray how the mark was most likely made. 

Kosov has an Indian car driving licence and his parents paid for lessons and the test, yet like Phyllis he did not know which way to turn the car steering wheel. Unlike Phyllis, he is not picking up driving nearly as quickly. I would have liked him to spend a couple more times driving on the roads around Albert Park Lake, but alas, the roads have been closed because of the Grand Prix. We tried residential Port Melbourne, but the streets there are so narrow. He drove home from there on big roads, and he was ok.

Cat litter was needed, so I pushed Kosov into the deep end, driving along Queens Road, and he struggled to stay in his lane.

With my constant guidance, we entered the St Kilda Aldi carpark, and all was well, until we left. It was a very tight turn to the exit ramp and Kosov didn't go far enough to the right to line the car up for the tight left turn. But I thought it would be ok. Time slowed and then sped up. By the time he reacted to my stop command, he has already scraped the side of the car on the wall. 

I couldn't get out because of the wall next to me so Phyllis took over, and just made it worse. I told Phyllis to get out and I clambered over to the driver seat and reversed with the correct steering wheel action to get the car off the wall. 

As you can imagine, I was not a happy chappie, but Kosov was under my guidance and I was too slow to react to what he was doing, along with I should not have expected him to make such a difficult manoeuvre. I take the blame. 

My insurance excess it $1200, that's out of my pocket before insurance kicks in. I will take the car for a repair quote this coming week. If the cost is more than $1200, I will have to think of the impact of making an insurance claim against perhaps a higher insurance cost. 

This is a bit of a downer, when others are posting Sunday Selections. Let me add some balloon photos in the memory of the late Sue. 

In memory of her late Ricardo, Ingrid will have been glued to the screen watching the Australian Grand Prix, as Rick did. No, Ingrid?

As I type just before 9pm, fireworks have gone off so that's the end the Grand Prix and the most awful invasion of inner Melbourne.

Sadly Australia's Oscar Piastri bumped into a wall before reaching the start line and a wheel fell off. He's not a bad looking dude.

No worries mate. Next time.

Written last week. Already behind. I took the batter off a fish at the venue and ate mashed potatoes with the fish. White diet on track, 

with the procedure done today, Monday.

Well, back to square one with me now teaching Kosov how to drive. Phyllis is quite competent at driving now and has not banged up my car. Kosov has an Indian driving licence which makes it an easy administrative process. He needs to sit the test, and he's done the theory, so as he has an Indian driving licence, driving a manual car, stick shift as I believe it is called in America, it should be easy. 

It isn't. He doesn't know how to drive at all. I would almost say he is worse than Phyllis at the beginning. I had to smack his left leg to get it away from the brake pedal and on to the footrest. One day driving around Albert Park Lake, with quite some improvement the next day, I'm sure he'll get there. Twice I told Phyllis who was in the back seat to shut up at advising Kosov about his driving in their language. 

It interests me how they switch from their language to English and back. Oddly sometimes with me around they will talk their own language, but from their bedroom, I hear them talking in English and their own language. Their language sounds quite rapid fire, and they tend to speak English very rapidly, which at times makes it hard for me to understand them. Phyllis' spoken English is better, whereas Kosov's is slower, and at times he struggles for the correct English word.

It's been a busy week, with three medical appointments and dinner out with Bone Doctor and Jo, who called in after spending a couple of days with Bone Doctor's mother in south Gippsland, who is rapidly deteriorating with MS.

They parked here and went out to explore the new Metro Tunnel, before returning for an early dinner with me and then going off to see a new production of Pirates of Penzance at the Palais Theatre. Sister and Bone Doctor bought Jo a car from an elderly couple across the road and Jo's university where she will live in, is a long way from home, and she will return to home each weekend. 

Today I went food shopping, and I say that advisedly as I mostly buy tissues and Vim, along with restocking my metaphorical wine cellar. Phyllis and Kosov buy most of the fresh food to cook. It has become a lot harder to find a car parking space where I shop, so I need to leave home before 10.00. This does not suit me, so I am thinking of another way to shop. 

Sunday there will be a family celebration for my great niece's 10th birthday. It's over an hour away, in Balnarring, which most people, including me pronounce as Balnairing, but last weekend at the great nephew's first birthday, my niece's husband argued to his wife and children that it is more like the a in apple, and he was quite right. I hate being wrong so I did check. 

Sadly I will be on the 'white diet' on Sunday, some of you will know what I mean, and I've looked at the menu and I can have grilled fish  and chips, no vegetables or salad. 

Can I chuck in a photo? Let me look. Don't we all need a blue Aga?

We have some shiny new things in Melbourne, our new Metro underground rail tunnel and a new toll road, including a bridge over the Yarra River and a tunnel under the Maribyrnong River.

I've use the Metro tunnel a number of times since it opened. It works well but does have teething problems. Both incidents happened at Anzac Station, one with the train stopping short of the platform doors and having to move forward to align the train doors with the platform doors.

The second and more disturbing one was when the train I was travelling on stopped at Anzac Station, my local, and the train doors opened but the platform doors did not. Well, this is interesting. What will happen? I did not have to be anywhere soon and the worst case was the train would leave the station and I would end up in Malvern. While in the tunnel, the train is self driving, there is a driver to drive once out of the tunnel. Of course the driver and the staff along the platform would realise what was happening, and so they did. There is a green handle on the platform doors to open the doors, but after a few minutes, no one had used any of them, which is I guess like the olden days of pulling on the filthy and rusty emergency train chain, which would automatically apply the train brakes. There was a fear of interfering with the train. 

I was in the front carriage and there about three wheelchair passengers at the very front, and one of them must have opened the doors manually.  I used the exit they opened. Staff had ensured all were off who wanted to be off. I sat on a seat to see what evolved. The train doors closed and opened a couple of times. There were a couple of announcements, apologising for the delay. 

Ok, I was getting bored and as I started to walk away, there was announcement that a reset was underway and shortly after the platform doors opened. I was home ten minutes later and I saw on my phone that the train was mobile and then past South Yarra Station.

Yesterday I asked Phyllis and Kosov if they would like to try the new road tunnel and I would take them to the biggest large green shed they had ever seen. "Phyllis, I am driving through the new tunnel." It is probably the only time I will ever drive on the new road and tunnel. It is way too early, but the tunnel was dead quiet. Will this be a failed road project? I think the toll was just under $5. 

I missed seeing the big green shed as while it once stood out, it is now surrounded by other buildings. A zip around a roundabout had me in the other direction and finding the entrance. We bought what we had to, and then drove a couple of hundred metres to the supermarket where we bought food. 

I saw no need to use the same tunnel and road to return home as it would take longer, and cost another $5. Well, it may have been faster as even on a Monday, the Westgate Bridge and Freeway was congested. "Phyllis, you drive." I really don't like driving. I concentrated on the road guidance signs and still we nearly ended up in Williamstown. I think the signage at that point was very poor. 

State Library Station is rather confusing if you are lift user. I should try the escalators to how they work...well I did on opening day and the escalator failed and I had to walk up many stairs The problem is that most stations have a platform, concourse and street level, whereas State Library has a mezzanine level in between, making it three lifts to get to ground level, and none are next to each other. 

Photo separation problem above, and a linking problem here. 

Rather nice art at State Library. 

Train doors auto opened, but platform doors did not.

Both sets of doors closed.

Train doors reopened, but platform doors remained closed. 

This was written a couple of weeks ago. I may as well publish it. Don't feel the need to comment. 

Tuesday I had forgotten Ex Sis in Law was going to park here, catch a tram to St Vincent's for a procedure, and I would have to pick her up after, post anesthetic. There was some car shuffling involved. 

She was due to arrive here after 11, so my plan of a leisurely trip to buy new lounge room chairs was thwarted. I/we decided on what we wanted a week or so ago, so armed with monies, I went early, leaving home at 9.20. I chose the fabric and double checked what I was ordering. It went smoothly but the shock was it won't be delivered until March. I guess it is made to order in China, and then sent on a ship to Australia. 

She set off on a tram, and at a bit after 2.00, I received a call that she would be ready to collect at 3.30. I was only a few minutes late, not bad considering I had to check out the pick up patient parking, of which there was none available and then park in the pay car park. Oh, this is going to cost!

From when I parked until I was back at the car with Ex Sis in Law was about 15 minutes, and I was charged $0.00 for parking. I was impressed.

Once back home and finding stuffs to make her a cup of tea, she felt fine to drive, and off she went. 

He did it. While I wasn't in the car, Phyllis passed his test, and received compliments from the tester, and a couple of words of  advice. She made him reverse parallel park with a twist, on top of a spend hump.

I didn't quite understand what Kosov was telling me, as I don't think he did himself, but Phyllis couldn't take the test driving my car because of its electronic brakes! What? The car is four years old. Many cars have electronic brakes. Staff in the centre told him he had two minutes to find a driving instructor among the people there to in the testing centre to take him in the instructor's car. He did and kaching, an extra $180 to pay. 

Kosov and I stayed in my car while Phyllis underwent the test. Eventually I worked out that it was the electric hand brake that was the problem. I searched the VicRoads website and found the answer. If using your own car, it must have a centre mounted conventional brake handle for use by the tester or instructor in case of emergencies. That is, they can reach to the centre and grab the handbrake.

However, certainly at low speeds, my handbrake comes on if I lift the button and it is within reach of the passenger. I can't imagine it would not work at higher speeds. Phyllis passed, but he was annoyed by the extra cost, especially as he said the car he was tested in had the same electric handbrake as mine. Yes Phyllis, but the instructor in his car has a brake pedal on his side as well. I do think it should be made clearer to drivers who about to sit their licence test. They are already nervous enough without the extra botheration. At the end of the day, he would have had to pay regardless. 

I have a question for those of you who have taught their children to drive a motor car.

As learner drivers, you constantly correct them as you teach them driving skills. At what point do you stop correcting their driving and keep your mouth shut?

I think I will struggle to stop correcting Phyllis' driving now, even now he is a probationary qualified driver and allowed to drive on his own. 

Nevertheless, I am rather proud of him for passing his driving licence test. And just a bit of tiny pride in myself for getting him there in about six months when initially he didn't know which way to turn a steering wheel.

Next year it will probably be Kosov who I will teach, but he has a better idea of driving than Phyllis did, and he has often been in the car while Phyllis was learning. 

Well, I will be away for a few days, taking the lads to the countryside, that is Kosov's belated birthday present. When I say taking, Phyllis will be driving, and over the (treacherous?) Black Spur to a place where my maternal grandparents used to stay at a holiday guesthouse.  

Tata. 

Some very unfortunate political play has happened over deer hunting. Let's begin with the fact that before white people arrived in Australia, there were no hard hooved animals in Australia. Cattle, horses, sheep, buffalo, pigs and deer were introduced by white people. While cattle and sheep are managed as farm animals, wild populations of horses, buffalo and deer exist. Horses and buffalo are partly controlled by government contracted exterminators, the others are not generally except by private hunters.

Hard hooved animals do terrible damage to our fragile environment and should be eliminated. 

Deer have no protection in Australia beyond cruelty to animals laws, except for in my state, Victoria. They are able to be shot by hunters, but otherwise they are a protected species. They are often hit by cars, causing terrible damage to cars, and I should think danger to those who run into them,  and aside from dingoes and wild dogs, they don't have a natural predator. Why has this protection nonsense just be reinforced by our state government? 

In my view it is solely down to the hunting lobbyists. They don't want to see the pest species eliminated because they won't be able to hunt them. The Labor(sic) state government has caved into pressure from the hunting lobby, over the environment and motorist safety, and it is a disgrace. 

With our preferential voting system, I've always voted Labor, or directed my preference to Labor after voting for The Greens. It will be a pointless exercise, but I will inform the Labor Party of my disgust and disappointment. If enough people do as I do, maybe it could make a change. 

My apologies if I've upset your Bambi feelings, but it is an important environmental and road safety matter, and we don't want to end up like Debby mentioned in her post referring to deer. 

"Andrew, we are taking you out on Saturday for lunch for your birthday." The whole point of being away for my birthday was to avoid such things, but it seems it was all in vain. It was also a day or so short of Kosov's birthday.

It was going to be a car trip to the charity shop, then to the big green shed for some gap filler and a duster for home. Apparently though, something was booked, so without a clue where we were going, Phyllis' phone guided us from the South Melbourne charity shop towards Richmond, then north. We are going to Easey Street in Collingwood, it seems. There is nothing much there but local people my age will remember the infamous street where the Easey Street murders occured. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easey_Street_murders 

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-case-of/introducing-the-case-of-the-easey-street-murders/105922022

Finding an on street car parking space was challenging, after dropping off Kosov in Easey Street as we were a bit late for whatever was happening. We found a space and Phyllis reverse parked not quite expertly, but not badly. I knew it was paid parking, but I was feeling a bit stressed by not knowing what was going on and forgot. We walked down Easey Street to meet Kosov and I remembered the paid two hour parking. Phyllis went back to deal with it. I didn't give him the car remote, so I hoped he didn't have to put a ticket on the dashboard, and he didn't. He just had to enter the car registration number plate on the parking pay machine, and pay of course, which he did with his phone. 

Kosov greeted me at the doorway into a dim building, we were checked in and told the stairs were to the left. Ok, five storeys we climbed and ended up in an eating area. We were seated at our table and there were nice views from our seats. I looked around a bit, and what hit me was the double sliding steel doors, with a handle. OMG, we are in one of those three old 1970s retired Hitachi train carriages, sitting atop a four storey building. What a super surprise, and the meals were nice. 

Later we wandered along Smith Street and stopped for coffee at Kent Street Bar. We were supposed to go to the big green shed in Port Melbourne after lunch, but I'd had enough of 'being out'. 

Once home, I received the bottle of wine I mentioned on Sunday there was a heap of tiny Cherry Ripe bars, and a special meal was made for me and this appeared attached to the shelves.

The next day a parcel arrived containing various things Phyllis and Kosov had ordered. For me there was a new black case for my phone, which I love, and also this case for my car's black fob. It's not a match to the colour of the car but not far off. 

So the next day after Kosov went to work, Phyllis drove us to Brunswick to collect what he had ordered for Kosov, a three kilo container of Nutella. It absolutely poured with rain on the way home, as Phyllis negotiated the tricky Haymarket Roundabout, and then another massive roundabout at South Wharf. I thought Phyllis may have been in the wrong lane in the heavy rain as we traversed the Haymarket Roundabout, because a car blasted its horn at us, but later after checking maps, we were not in the wrong lane, the horn blaster was. 

We soon reached Bunnings in Port Melbourne and bought what we needed, along with a sausage with onions in bread each at the charity fundraiser barbeque.

This tale will be continued.

I have posted this clip before but a long time ago, and the clip was made even a much longer time ago. As brilliant as the concept is, I think I can safely say, it didn't catch on. 

On a serious note, it was sad to hear of the death of Dr (Dame) Jane Goodall. If you don't know who she was, do yourself a favour and look her up. You will be uplifted. 

JB mentioned about 29 car motorcade used by the couch fucking eyeliner wearing Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance when he holidayed in England's Cotswolds. The rather well to do local residents were not impressed by the restrictions placed on them.

I expect #47's motorcade is even bigger.

From a quick check, the English PM's motorcade and the Royals' is quite a bit less.

What about our PM? 

PM Albanese travels in an armoured Series 7 BMW, a slightly later model than this 2017 model. 

Shouldn't our PM be riding in this car above?

Then there are the six state Governors, also representatives of Kingie Charlie. Their cars have a number plate featuring the crown of St George. I would guess all state governors would have cars like Victoria's governor. I wouldn't mind a ride around in Governor Margaret Gardner's car, a 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.

Alas, it is rarely used and for official duties, as she travels around in State Government car pool Series 7 BMW. For official duties, there will be a police escort, but mostly not otherwise. Our state governors are probably at no more security risk than any other Australian. 

Monday was the usual hanging around for my meals on wheels delivery. Each three course meal costs $11, but I never sit down to a three course meal. I can choose three main meals, three sandwiches or soups and three deserts. Of sandwiches, I choose two, and one soup, potato, leek and bacon. Of deserts I normally choose two fresh fruit, which gives me four days of fruit for my cereal, and one naughty and very sweet bread and butter pudding. 

Before my meals arrive, I cross the road to sit and have coffee. That was after I had gone down a paper rabbit hole after my Dead in Bed neighbour HH asked me question about my council rates. I didn't go out until late, just to Prahran for something I can't remember.

Tuesday I was back in Prahran, to see my doctor. I requested new scripts for medications, asked him to look at my hernia surgery scar and his opinion, he reassured me that my recent MRI indicated no further action needed to be taken about a suspicious mass within my pancreas, prescribed an ointment for some dermatitis looking spots on my ankle. The ointment is Kenacomb, one I'd never heard of. 

Some time after four, a man came to check before quoting to supply and install a new air conditioner. His tan tradie boots had a velcro siding to remove them easily. He began to take one off when I said, no need. Just as I was letting him out the door, Phyllis and Kosov arrived home. 

Ondrewwww, your special friend has just left. 

Don't be silly. 

Ondrewwww, why are you blushing? We don't judge you. 

I'm not, and why do you think I would be interested in an older man like him?

Ondrewwww, your breath smells of something! 

Can you both just piss orf. 

When our car used to need servicing, Ray would book it in for 8.00am. I once asked him why so early? He replied, so that it is finished early. I found that 8.00am car delivery very unsettling. I booked my car in for its annual service at 10.30. It would be ready by 4pm. I changed the name of the business's account to my my name. I had to catch a tram to the city and then one from the city to get home, and reverse to pick it up. There were complications because I changed the day from Friday to Wednesday, but not a big problem. I then said, damn it, I will pick the car up tomorrow morning. 

Back in the city, I bought some new socks at Big Trouble You (Big W) at QV and some milk. I was struggling with walking by then. I don't walk well in the mornings. I stayed home for the rest of the day and paid out a horrendous amount of money, $2,200 for the quarterly body corporate fee, $1,200 plus for council rates, $370 for my October train trip, and about the same for my October air flight. 

I don't know why, but who handles my Centrelink dealings with our social security government department, wanted all my bank statements back to when I began receiving my government pension, that took me about forty minutes to do online. My government pension has dropped from about $860 a fortnight to $300. The maximum government old age pension here is about $1,200 a fortnight, a bit higher if you are a home renter rather than a homeowner. If I inform Centrelink of all my expenditure this week and my bank account balance, adding about $700 for the car service, I should see my pension rise for a time.

It may rise further, because after collecting my car this Thursday, I drove it to do my weekly shopping. I was home before noon. The early bird does catch the worm, but generally I have little desire for worms. I went back to the city for a haircut. Phyllis rearranged my delivered corned beef with mustard sauce and salad to something a bit more palatable. Some of the meals I receive are great, some are not, and the corned beef was very tough.

On the way home from town, the quote came in for new air con, $3,500 or a better unit, $3,700. I will take the latter as it has a feature of self mould cleaning. My old unit does have a little visible mould inside. So, that will be installed in a week or so. 

Phyllis gets it when I said we are going pussy hunting on Friday, Kosov, hates it. No Ondrewww, don't say that. 

I can't decide if we will tram and train it to the Lost Dogs Home to find a homeless cat to adopt, or Phyllis should drive us in the newly serviced Pearl. We may choose a cat tomorrow, but we won't bring it home until next week, when we have all that is necessary things to home a cat.

Cat problem is; my age nearly 68. A cat may live for twenty years. I will be 88. I think it is unlikely I will live to that age That's ameliorated somewhat by we won't be buying a kitten but an adult cat. What if Phyllis and Kosov can't stay in Australia? It will then be my cat. What if I die? Well, Sister or Oldest Niece would take it on. 

Kosov told me of when his family got a cat when he was young, and it was quickly established that his sister wae allergic to cats, and within one day, it was decided the cat had to go. He cried for three days afterwards. He told me he doesn't want any more heartbreak like that. I understand. In the 80s Ray and I took on a dog from the Lost Dog's Home, and she was totally unsuitable for us, and we made the hard decision to return her to the home. She was a lovely dog, but not right for us and our existing dog and cats. I had tears in my eyes as I took Tess back, and the staff understood. 

Something is kicking off at 'The 'Gog' tonight. Barriers have been erected, all leaking water. When I first saw these barriers in Melbourne, perhaps in the 1990s, they were called New Jersey Barriers. Does Boud know why?  They are no longer called that. 

Phyllis drove Sunday before last, but he was unwell this weekend with perhaps a viral infection. He has recovered Monday. He has been masked when he leaves his room, which was rare. I've learnt girlie man sickness is even worse than man flu. 

Anyway, I gave him a driving lesson regardless, from the balcony. I took photos. Now sorry, but it will do my head in to try and explain this to those of you who drive on the wrong side of the road, but the pictures should help you understand. Just to note, while in England at least, you cannot overtake on a multilane road on the left. We can here, leading to more lane changing. England does it better. Are you allowed to do so in other countries? That would be can you overtake on the right on multilane roads?

The cab is still in the same lane, but the trailer is going awry. 

The cab is still in the same lane, but the trailer is completely in the next lane. When a truck is labelled at its rear, 'Do not overtake turning vehicle', take that seriously.

In what I paste below, there is a single left turn lane and the truck mounted the footpath. A temporary solution was to mark footpaths to keep pedestrians back from the corner. Why penalise pedestrians and treat them as the problem on a footpath when the truck driver was clearly in the wrong? The problem is that there is only one left turn lane, and semi trailers simply can't turn without using a second lane. 

Victorian police have charged a man over a serious crash in Southbank that left five pedestrians injured.

Police said the 64-year-old driver from Wyndham Vale was arrested after the incident on Thursday night. On Friday night he was "initially" charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury.

In a media statement, police said it was alleged that while turning left, the truck cut the intersection corner and mounted the footpath, knocking over a traffic light.

Five pedestrians — four men and a woman all aged in their 20s — were injured.

The driver has been remanded into custody and will face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.

Earlier, investigators said the B-double tanker was turning left from City Road on to Power Street about 7:00pm on Thursday when it mounted the footpath. 

This is a clip from a comedy tv show, broadcast after the kiddies have gone to bed. You are warned. Three metres in the old money is close to ten feet. The bridge has its own website and Facebook group. A couple of weeks ago, the bridge was slammed three times in three days. The bridge always wins.

I am not making my splendiferous return to the world of blog. I just want to write a little rant, after hearing weirdness on one of our commercial tv news bulletin. I call it the car crash news, and there was ripper tonight whereby many cars were damaged and the driver of an unmarked police car accidently gave the miscreant a bump with the police car, with him receiving multiple bone fractures, and he is under police guard in hospital. 

The incident was also covered by the 7pm ABC TV News, somewhat less sensationally than the Channel 7 news. 

Then came the pre ad promotion for a following story by Channel 7 newsreader, Peter Mitchell. 

How to reduce your risk of dying by 40%! 

The 40% odds for perpetual life is quite good. The detail was made clear in the story. I calmed down, until this...

Reduce your mortality by 25%.

In spite of my poor lifestyle choices, isn't that something for me to grasp at too?

PS For those who follow Elephant Child's blog, I am sure we are all wishing her well as she recovers from serious surgery. I think she is the most caring person I've come across on the internet, and that is quite a statement. Be well, EC.   

This is today's route for Phyllis, Thursday 19/06/25. 

Reinforce correct seating and mirror adjustment before moving the car. Exit car park, right into Queens Lane, right into Bowen Crescent, left into St Kilda Road, left into Albert Road, left into Lakeside Drive, left then right into Queens Road, pass under the St Kilda Road Junction.

Near the corner of Chapel Street after travelling along Queensway, stop and Phyllis learns how to fill the car with petrol. Left into Dandenong Road, U turn across tram tracks, then down Westbury Street to turn left into Inkerman Street/Road. Turn right at Orrong Road, then left into Balaclava Road, right into Normanby Road, left under the train viaduct to turn left into Dandenong Road. 

After travelling along the multi lane Dandenong Road in heavy traffic, right into Chapel Street then left into Commercial Road, right into St Kilda Road, left in Bowen Crescent, left into Queens Lane and into our carpark. 

I don't over praise him but he likes to be reassured that he has done well, and he has.

My mistakes when teaching him? The car made a strange alarm, one I didn't know. Phyllis said, I think I pressed the brake when my foot was on the accelerator. Oh. I neglected to tell him to only use his right foot on the accelerator and brake. He immediately changed that. I should have been firmer about slowing down when there is a potential hazard, and be more prepared for a situation. I've reinforced that now.

With my guidance, he is always in the correct lane, but once on his own, he will have to work that out as he goes. I am pretty confident that he could now drive on his own.  

Yesterday was a busy day. More electronic paperwork this morning which meant I didn't finish blog reading.

At 10.30 we set off for Phyllis' second driving lesson. He had improved, so much so that we left the quiet environs of Albert Park Lake, after he successfully made a three point turn and ventured down Kerferd Road to Richardson Street where he negotiated a large roundabout and two smaller ones, one with a tram travelling through. He knew that he had to give way to trams at all times, including at roundabouts and I pointed out that he has to look left as well as right at a roundabout if there is a tram line. 

If this map link works, you can see there are curves around the lake where he increased his turning skills, and he took to driving in heavier traffic quite well. 

We stopped at Armstrong Street to buy coffee, he angled parked perfectly and I then drove home. 

It was then into to town on the 58 tram for lunch where I really wanted thali at Villas. It was busy and the food was nice, although perhaps a little overpriced. The beef was a bit tough and the spiciest dish was the vegetable one. Lovely gulab jamun. Phyllis drank the left over syrup. There was a little uneaten, which they put into a plastic container provided by the restaurant. This is interesting because some places won't do this, citing health regulations. I remember researching and I could never find such regulations. My tight arse ABI Brother takes containers with him when he eats out.

Phyllis and Kosov paid for my thali and a glass of wine. 

After lunch we walked down to Swanston Street and they headed up the hill to Melbourne Central shopping centre and I caught a tram home.

It was my aunt's birthday and Ex Sis in Law's husband's birthday. I wished them happy birthday on FB. 

Wombat, formerly Our Friend in Japan, asked if I was interested in a gay Christmas in July public lunch event. I probably would have gone, but I will be away on cat care duties.  

After a large lunch, home alone, I had soup and a sandwich for dinner.