No one wants their house to burn, and I do feel sorry for the family, but...,

the fire was started in the two storey house by an electric go-cart. Now I am making assumptions but if you can afford a two storey house in Eltham, to breed five children and afford an electric go-kart, you can probably afford home insurance in case of fire, yet they did not have such cover. Naturally a gofundme has been set up.

At my great niece's birthday weekend before last, there were quite a few families who came along and bought their lunches and for their children. From my observations, it would have cost a couple with three children north of $150, drinks included, say a jug of Coke. My two gin and tonics cost $26, and my meal $32. It is a nice venue and the service was good, but it wasn't cheap. 

With a friend whose birthday it was, we had coffee and cake and the total cost was nigh on $40, just in a cafe. 

I'm not crying poor but as people moan on about the cost of living, there doesn't seem much of a sign of it affecting their spending. 

While I'm on about money, just over 60 years ago Australia switched from pounds, shillings and pence to dollars and cents. This clip to educate us about dollars and cents was released by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

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?

Potted petunias become lanky quite quickly. One year I cut them right back and the plant did regrow and flowered again, but recovery to full bloom took about six weeks, and by then the weather was cooling and its time was soon coming to an end. 

This year I've tried a different approach, by cutting off the longest flowering stems back to a tiny leaf at a branch. I might take two stems off each week and it seems to be working. New flowering stems are growing where they were cut back. 

For no real reason, instead of throwing the newly cut flowering stalk off the balcony, I put it in this pot, and if i can remember what River said, the plant is a crown of thorns.

My action reminded me of my Tradie Brother who used to visit Mother and put a plastic or silk flower in her garden plants. Mother was amused, and I was caught out at times, absently minded noticing the odd flower and then later wondering what this strange flower was in a bush. 

Tradie Brother was and still is quite a prankster. Many years ago he had a piece of wood about 1.5 metres tall, say a few feet. Think of a very fat garden stake. It was painted with blue and white horizontal stripes, looking a bit nautical really. Evenly spread notches had been cut into the stake. Quite mysterious. "Bro", I asked, "What is this stick for?" And another notch was cut into the stake.

Off and on Ray and I used to talk about the merits of robot vacuum cleaners and buying one. We could never justify the expenditure when we had a perfectly good stick vacuum cleaner to clean not such a large area. Unlike getting out the old barrel model, unwinding the extension cord and putting the hose into the vacuum shaft and head, the stick vacuum cleaner was simply taken off its wall mounted charging stand and it was ready to go. For here, with just the two of us, it was perfectly adequate.

The lads will vacuum whenever I ask them but they are rarely proactive about doing so. At times they have a cleaning burst and it will be done.

I confess, me getting one though would be nothing but a toy to play with, however with two people and them cooking a lot, along with Jass' fur, I was thinking about it. Then a blogger mentioned she had one, and although there is just the two of them, a lot of fur will be shed in their abode.

The straw that broke the camelus back was when Ex Sis in Law mentioned she had bought one. Now she doesn't have money, but maybe there is some kind of cause and effect thing happening there. Right, I want one.

I researched and found the one I wanted for a good price, so meet what Phyllis named, Rover. 

We firstly sent it off on a mapping run, which it did successfully, and has been continually adjusting the map since. Kesav worked on putting names to the rooms. 

My room is Andrew's Chambers, with my ensuite called Andrew's Retreat. Their room is simply PK and the spare room is called Rover's Room, where the robot's base station is located.

The main bathroom is called Shower with the toilet called Potty. The kitchen is Cook's Area, the dining area, Eatery and the lounge area, Jass' Play Room.

The machine is great and continually refines itself, doing less strange things than it originally did. With water and a couple of drops of detergent, it also mops the tiled areas, as directed by how you set up the map.

Jass initially followed Rover around, always keeping a safe distance but its path is not always predictable. Then she started to ignore it, but once again as I made this video today, she was on watch.

Rover returns to its base after vacuuming and mopping the kitchen floor and then empties itself into a bag within the base unit, which is when it makes a loud noise. 

ABI Brother arrived by train and tram and with Phyllis at the wheel, me as driving advisor and my brother and Kosov in the back seat, we headed towards Geelong, with a stop off for nourishment at service station. 

It was to see my niece Jo perform onstage in the musical Anything Goes, the children's version. Sister told me Jo had a couple of songs to sing in the musical. She undersold her. Jo had the lead role as Reno Sweeney,  and sang many songs and she was brilliant on stage. Sister said Jo cried a bit on the way to the theatre. When asked why, she said Ray, my late partner, won't be there to see me. I minorly cracked up when Sister told me. Then later, among the various family members who were there, Hippie Niece mentioned Ray, and how he would have loved to have seen Jo as the lead in the musical. Auntie Andrew cracks up again. 

Oh my God. Jo was fantastic, shone above every other performer in the role of Reno Sweeney.

You may not know the show, but I am sure you will know some of the music.

I saw Jo performing last year at the same venue, the Belmont Secondary College. The school auditorium is good, but it is not airconditioned and the seats are awful. I can live with the latter because it is a school theatre but it is a disgrace that the venue is not air conditioned in this day and age. I am going to become an activist about this. Five years after Melbourne Boys' Grammar completed its fantastic new building no doubt with air con, another fantastic new building is being, a school subsidised by Australian taxpayers. 

Last year at Belmont Secondary, with a temperature of 38/100, sweat just rolled off us. This year at 23/74, it was uncomfortably warm and stuffy.  

If you aren't familiar with Anything Goes, I'm sure you will know the song Anything Goes, and perhaps You're the Top, I Get a Kick out of You, It's De-Lovely and Blow Gabriel Blow.

A photo that will disappear soon, taken at when the performers come out to have photos taken with friends and family. Jo even nailed an American accent. Her costumes were fabulous. This one was not her best. Most were more tight fitting and blingy. I cropped Auntie Andrew out of the photo. I said to Bone Doctor, Sister's wife, you must be so proud of your daughter. Oh yes, I am, she replied. 

No, actually Funky Farm.

My former Tradie Brother, now working in a caring position, had two tenants, one in the self contained granny flat at the back of house and another who had a bedroom in the house. The latter, Keiran, died suddenly in his bed. My brother found him the next morning, very dead, at the age of 62. Brother was shattered. For him it was nearly like losing a partner. We all knew Keiran, and he helped out at family events, but always stayed in the background.

He left his superannuation to my brother. Kieran's ex wife disputed the will, and was paid I think $10,000 'fuck off' money. Separately Kieran stipulated that a certain percentage of funds from his estate was to go to animal charities. My brother has distributed the money, and an amount went to Funky Farm. The owner said, Mate; come any time for one year and bring along your family. 

You have to book and I was invited, along with my other brother, who forgot and was a no show, Hippie Niece, her partner and their four children. My brother had already taken two other family groups.

It was one hour's drive away and I left home at 8.30 Sunday morning past. I planned to stop off on the way and eat one of my meals on wheels sandwiches and find coffee. There was no where along the way to stop for coffee and to relax, so I was a bit early at the venue. Brother arrived soon after with Dog in tow. Then at the last minute, but they made it, so did Hippie Niece and her crew. 

My arthritic pain was at its worst, as it usually is in the morning, but nevertheless, I really enjoyed the guided tour that lasted about 1.40. 

This doesn't look like a dingo I know about, but apparently it is an alpine dingo, with thick fur to keep it warm. I learnt that there is little connection between dingos and dogs. They are physically very different and the dingo more closely related to the Asian wolf. Quite fascinating. 

This is closer to the dingo I know, but it has a long coat too.

A rosella? 

I believe this is a horny dragon. We saw water dragons too.

Feeding a wallaby.

Kangaroos, wallabies and emu roam freely. 

The cassowary is the most dangerous bird in the world. If you come across one, flee! They are only found in the northern tropical areas of Australia.

Look at the size of its feet. They can rip you to shreds. 

This particular emu was amusing. 

A young fresh water crocodile. Many of the animals at the park are rescue animal from idiots who got drunk one night and ordered a creature to be delivered to their home, only to discover their choice was troublesome. 

A blue tongue lizard, friendly lizards. 

Maybe this is a frill necked lizard. 

Kosov thought we were just going our for a driving lesson with Phyllis at the wheel. After about 10 kilometres of motorway driving, he said he was becoming suspicious about what was happening. 'Kosv, you will have to socialise!' 'No, Ondrewwwww. I don't want to.' 'Don't worry, you will enjoy being social this time.'

Oh dear, there had just been a shower of rain before we arrived less than an hour later and the potholed gravel carpark was a muddy mess. I was glad my car was already in need of a wash. I imagine the carpark is dusty in dry weather. That's my only criticism of the attraction, but asphalting would cost a fortune. At under $20, I thought it was a bargain.

Geese were pestering for food but we didn't buy a bag of appropriate food. Someone else did and I watched them. 

Yesterday I was burnt by liquid nitrogen at The Alfred Hospital, under my right big toe, a wart apparently, and under my left eye for sun damaged skin. At times, waits can be a bit too long, but on the whole I have received excellent treatment as a public patient at The Alf. Our Medicare system ensures no cost to the user of public hospitals. Generally, that is.

On the way home into the lift came my 'dead in bed' neighbour HH, who I communicate with daily to ensure we are both alive. She has her older sister staying with her, and the older sister spoke very old school posh. I said as I was leaving after being invited in for a chat, 'Today's trivia is that in the old and tall flat block we can see in South Yarra, lived Una Fraser, the mother of the late Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser'. 

HH's sister chipped in with an amusing anecdote. "We were leaving a reception at the Australian embassy in Seoul when out taxi driver yelled at us, 'Look, look, your king has fallen into the gutter'". The driver was referring to Malcolm Fraser. I remember Fraser losing his pants somewhere in the Tennessee, and there was another indiscretion too. Marcellous? NB, he was not our king but Prime Minister. 

Last night was take away pizza, except I had it delivered and did not take it away. Peri peri chicken pizza, very nice. 

Last Sunday was the family party for Jo's 18th birthday. All the family were there and it was a great gathering. The venue was perfect, a boating venue on Swan Lake. The water looked so clear and beautiful. The decking has seats and tables overlooking the calm water. The gazillion young kiddies caught crabs from boat ramps. No child fell in the water, and the crabs were returned safely to the water. 

Phyllis and Kosov were with me, and while they had met some family, they met all and people were very nice to them. They connected well with the kiddies, but the load on their social batteries was high. Quite high on mine too. 

Sister had cooked three dishes for around 25 people, and Phyllis contributed a curry and brought along his rice cooker.

Sister teaches senior boys at a posh private school, and is inclined to be bossy. She is a great organiser, but can be bossy out of school too. We three adoring brothers don't take too much notice, but I did apologise to Phyllis regarding her snappiness on the day. Phyllis replied, she was very stressed, which is quite true. A good time was had by all. 

We were right next to the railway line of the Bellarine Express, with the train passing by several times. The first time it passed everyone went out to wave at the Thomas train. I took a last minute video.

Last Sunday was a pleasant family affair as I joined Ex Sis in Law and her husband for lunch to celebrate his 68th birthday. He was born in a very auspicious year, as a couple of you know.

Many family members attended, and a photo was taken of him with 10 of their collective grandchildren. They all love Pa. 3 children weren't there, the Bellarine Peninsula boy twins and their older sister, so that is 13 grandchildren in total. 

But how are they made up? Only two are his blood relatives, his daughter's two children. So the rest must come from my family and are blood relatives to me, via my youngest brother. No, not quite. 

Birthday boy has four children, a boy and three girls. His dyke daughter has a partner, who is new to me, and I will guess that the child they brought along is their daughter. She and her partner are Anglos but the daughter is of Asian appearance (English: Chinese). I will ask about this later but no one batted an eyelid. While no one should, I am naturally curious. Maybe she had an Asian husband before she saw the errors of her straight ways with a man, or maybe the father was a doner? Or it could be the daughter of a friend who who asked if she could come along? I am happy once I fit people into boxes. 

Two others were also of neither family's bloodline, Ex Sis in Law's daughter's two step daughters, meaning Hippie Niece has a Brady style blended family with her twin daughters. The two step daughters are the ones with the drug using mother. 

Are you still with me? Ray always said it was stupid of me to note bloodlines, and perhaps he was right, 

An afternoon family party has been organised for Jo's 18th birthday in July, my sister's and her wife's daughter. Eighteen! How can that be. She was born in 2007 and I blogged about her often on my old blog. She is all growed up now and what a privilege it was to spend so much time with her when she was young. 

I was looking for something on my old blog and I think it was about 2010 and not one person on my favourite blogs list still blogs or even makes comments. It was interesting to remember who they were. As a long time blogger, you have to develop a bit of hard heart as people come and go. 

Later edit: There is one, Daniel Bowen, owner of the first blog I started reading. 

Being Friday, here are a few funnies I came across last week that appealed to me. 

A conversation that I knew would crop up at some point, and after allowing me a respectful year of mourning the loss of Ray, it did and came from my lovely Ex Sister in Law. We were just sitting and chatting about everything and nothing.

She: Do you think you might like to have another relationship?

Me: No. I am pretty happy with my life as it is. Ray and I were so used to our way of life, I can't imagine ever being in that position again. We led our selfish lives side by side. Well, I suppose I could but it would be quite a different relationship, probably not a live together one. (She had unleashed a speech demon by someone who does not normally talk about such matters so frankly). I am quite set in my ways. Phyllis and Kosov adapt and respect that. I expect any person I may meet of a similar age would also have a very established life. I have a life, much the same as I led with Ray, except he isn't with me anymore. 

And beside that ESiL, I am not interested in sex with old men. In one moment of self aggrandisement when I was in my early thirties, perhaps even into my early forties, I thought I would like to have sex with myself, meaning I thought I was pretty good at sex. I still think I was back then. Now, assuredly not. I would not want sex with me. 

She: No, I don't want to have sex with old men either (Her husband is my age. Lots of laughing at this). 

Me:  Phyllis and Kosov are more than enough company and we are creating our history to the point where can now say something like, "Do you remember when...?" That's nice.

Me: As for sex, I can't be bothered with any personal hook ups with anyone. It is just too much bother. Besides, Melbourne is full of attractive young overseas students from all corners of the globe, who are looking to make some money. 

Me just writing now: As James/Jasmine used to say, a girl has her needs. They are very professional, don't cost much more than the price of a normal massage, and they appreciate a tip. I sent one $200 during Covid lockdown when he was desperate, still paying his rent by relying on a charity for food. That as guests in our country, and overseas students weren't looked after by our governments, was a disgrace. He later offered to repay the money in kind. He stopped working as a 'masseur' to open a dog grooming business. To be slightly fair to the governments of the time, overseas students were told in the very early days of Covid to go home (losing everything they had worked for and paid for).   

So that is a bit of a confession. You will have your own thoughts on the matter and about me, and so be it, but I have no shame. I have great respect for professional sex workers, male or female, and the respect happened many decades ago when I realised how important sex can be in life and listening to off mainstream media about what they had to say about their lives. 

The above is partly what I said to ESiL, but then my fingers ran away over the keyboard. 

Bone Doctor, that is Sister's wife stayed Saturday night. She had visited her mother in South Gippsland for Mother's Day. She then stopped off at ABI Brother's place and she took him our and forced him to spend money on a new outdoor table setting and a temporary two seater couch. His friend has had Mother's lounge suite for about five years, long before she died. With her, we chose the fabric that had to be imported from England, and the woodwork was to have new French polishing.Vanilla Bean seems happy atop the new microwave. Its exterior is so minimalist. The manual had to be consulted to set the time. Press plus button twice for the hour, etc. I think I can melt cold butter and melt chocolate with settings. What fun. 

Well, this is a surprise. I thought Victoria's regional town of Bendigo was larger than Ballarat, but apparently not, and as I read it, not only is it the third largest Victorian city, Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, it is the third largest in Australia, which would now be exactly the same as listed. Correct me if you will, and that is by population. 
The metal plate at the front door must tell the stories of thousands of people who have entered the building, once a private home.