Benji – Edgar's Page

Changes and Surprises

06/04/2023 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

I did discover that there is a place beyond Port Augusta – a campsite that caters for dogs. It’s a place called Baroota. Of course, I always knew that was there but only ever thought of it as a Garage and Petrol (Gas) Station. But it turns out that they have a camping ground and campervan area. The reason I never gave it a thought is that it is the area of the Mount Remarkable National Park and the Mambray Creek Campsite IS within the National Park. However, the owners of the land and the area have their own Campsite at the ruins of the Old Homestead and that is not within the National Park, so they allow – indeed their website welcomes – pets to their campsite. It’s worth thinking about when the weather is warmer and Annabell is well enough to allow me to go away (Two hour drive away) overnight with Benji.

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I wrote the above about a year ago and I find it interesting how things have changed. Since then, the Government have bought over the land, closed down the camping and caravan site and incorporated the whole area within the confines of the Mount Remarkable National Park, so, taking Benji there is now out of the question.

Well, now, here is a turn-up. I just turned on the computer and lo and behold, my original site turned up. Have no idea what happened or how it happened but there you are – I think I am back. Well I hope I am and that it is not just a fluke that will vanish as soon as I close down. That could happen and it could be a way – considering the date – where the computer says – ” April Fool” and it all gets lost again.

April already. March was an interesting month with this last week topping it all out. I think I have had more doctor and hospital visits this last month than I have ever had in my life and next week we start again with the hospital on Monday afternoon. Although presently it is only 07:40 and the day – and weekend – are yet young – something about not counting chickens’ springs to mind. I have to take Annabell to Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital for a special set of tests and X-Rays that cannot be done here and I have no idea when that will be – soon I hope. The last thing I want to happen is a clash with the Flinders visit. And people wonder why I maintain an A5 Filofax! I was right!!~ — and as soon as I left the room to attend to Annabell, the laptop went into sleep mode. When I opened it again, the old page was gone and I cannot find it, so I guess it was “April Just Done Fool” after all :o) I am really giving thought to opening a completely new site in the Classic Style.

This last week has not been such a good week for Annabell and she is slowing down quite considerably. It is now something of a minor struggle to get from her room to where she wants to go. I guess that’s what I’m here for to provide the extra arm she might need.

just-stare Benji and I are back to walking again and we have had no encounters with any strange animals since last week. I would like to take him out for a drive but to go to the lighthouse or Douglas Point or the Shingle Ridge means several hours away from the house and I would be too concerned about how she is to enjoy the trip. I can’t keep asking young John to keep looking in on her – that’s my job. On the subject of John Jnr. He let me know this morning that someone in the work has just let them know that he has tested positive to Covid. He Telephoned John last night and John called me this morning, so I wont be seeing any of the family this weekend. But John will go for a RAT during the day and let me know.

I have discovered that I am able to load photographs but only from the media page. I have difficulty going outside of the post to get photographs. Also, once loaded I have problems moving them to where I want. There has to be a way so I will keep on trying.

You know, I hate it when I’m waiting for someone to make dinner – then I realize that I’m the “someone”.

Talk about ” The Best laid plans” I was at the supermarket (on my own) when my phone (cell phone) rang. I answered it and was talking to the Whyalla hospital. It seems that at her meeting, Annabell had agreed to certain things – which she failed to tell me about – and as a result of that we have to be at the hospital at 11am tomorrow (Thursday 6th.) Seems she had agreed that she needed help with walking so it has been arranged that she will go for an assessment tomorrow and the result of that will be that she will be attending a course to, hopefully, assist her for the next 6 weeks at 11am on a Tuesday. We have been down this road before, and it came to a dead end. Perhaps this time will be different and there will be a positive outcome.

Now that summer is over and the clocks have gone back, the weather people, just about every night, predict rain. How much rain have we had?? Well we had a few spots sometime last week and although the rain bands keep rolling over us in the TV charts, nothing much has come of it. Not that I am really complaining!! Yes it has been raining in Adelaide and rain is predicted for much of next week – in Adelaid, and we are 300 miles north of Adelaide.

Sunrise, Spiders and Flowers.

28/10/2021 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

It’s been a good few days – no medical emergencies, no hospital visits, peaceful and quiet. Wet and windy at times but that’s fairly normal here. However, I have still managed to get Benji out and about. This morning, for example, Benji and I were out at 6am. Quiet and peaceful with hardly a breath of wind. An absolutely brilliant sunrise. Seven am and we were back home and by 8am we were in the middle of a thunderstorm – the first of three that came and went throughout the day. More are forecast for the next few days I had a look at my plants outside and found a

creature with a web. I had no idea what it was since it was like no spider I had ever seen. Turns out it was a Golden Orb Spider. To be honest I had never even heard of it before. I did check up on it and they are common in rural areas and I realised that this was one of the plants I bought at the Arid Lands Botanic Garden. However, it is fairly harmless and a bite can cause temporary localised pain but it is not toxic.

Also on my walk this morning I had an unusual sight – a mother feeding her young. I carry a plain Oat Bar in my pocket. Sometimes when I am out a magpie will land beside me and I will crush part of the bar and let the magpie have it for breakfast. This does not happen every day. It did happen this morning and after the magpie

started feeding what looked like a second magpie landed close to it yelping its head off. The first Magpie lifted some food walked over to the second one and fed it. It kept doing that all the time I was watching. Magpies mate for life and I believe this was either a mother still feeding its young, or a male feeding its partner. I told Annabell and she thinks it was the former, a mother feeding its young. It really was interesting to watch and it’s something I will look out for.

During the week I spent some time with Benji at the Ada Ryan Gardens. I

remembered seeing a plant on a post recently and I think we established it was a South African plant. Anyway, as I was wandering through the gardens I came across what I think is the same plant. There was no identification but I’m sure it is the same plant- if not then it is something very similar.

I really must commend the council and the gardeners at the Ada Ryan Gardens for the great job they are doing. The gardens are well looked after and cared for and really are a credit to the work that the people do there.

Annabell has been good this last week and long may that continue. We have no hospital appointments until December. We were given a choice of two dates for day surgery – 10th December or 20th December. Since we didn’t want to take the risk of being “out of action” – so to speak – so close to Christmas, we opted for the 10th. Depending on what they want to do at the clinic, we could be another four days away, which was another reason for not going with the 20th. Any reasonable luck we should drive down on the 9th, day surgery on the 10th and drive home on the 11th or 12th. Well, that’s Plan A :o) Haven’t got a Plan B yet…..

Lockdown day 1 – Walks and shopping.

21/07/2021 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Took Benji out this morning for a district walk and, since I decided on a rest from the last few days, I had him out in the stroller. The reason for the District walk and not the Wetlands, was that my son borrowed my car yesterday. He called me to say that his brakes needed attention and he had to get to work. He returned the car just before 10:30 this morning. I told him that we had a medical appointment at 11:30. While he was here there was a NEWSFLASH – as from 6PM this evening South Australia will go into lockdown. Yes there have only been five cases but we know how quickly it can spread so mandatory masks immediately and the lockdown for a minimum of seven days. After 6pm we are to stay indoors unless out for essential reasons. Not really very sure – is walking the dog an essential reason?? I think so but does the State Government? o:) Well, apparently so. – exercise is a valid reason for leaving the house.. However, there are restrictions : I can travel no more than 2.5 kilometres and the wetlands is more than 7.5 klms. away. I can exercise only once a day outside and for no more than 90 minutes, so taking him on a district walk is about 40 minutes. This means that I am well within the area and time limits for two walks – and I have to wear a mask outside – easy. The sunrise at the back area was really great and I was a bit miffed that I could not get down to the Wetlands this morning because the sunrise there would have been spectacular.

Of course it will mean a lot of changes within the State and for some businesses it might just be too much and they will not reopen. The Flight Centre in the Shopping Centre is a good example. When all this is over I think we will be looking at a fair number of tax increases to pay off the damage (financial) that covid-19 has cost the world-wide economy. Of course, it’s not all bad. I am feeling very self-indulgent these days. With a massive harvest and nowhere to sell them, there are Avocado’s by the bucketload available in the

supermarkets right now, with the prices as low in some shops as 65cents. Generally though $1. Anyway, that’s all very well, but I have to tell you that smashed Avocado on toast for lunch is quite nice.

Annabell saw her doctor yesterday and I was called in halfway through the consult. I was called in because the information that was required was in my Filofax. It turns out that

Flinders had not been keeping Annabell’s doctor up to date and informed of what was happening. He knew nothing about the MRI and I had the dates, times and the appointment letter in my diary. Once he had that information, he called Flinders and asked why he had not been kept informed and what this MRI was for. Seems that there was nothing wrong with the X-rays and everything is in place. The purpose of the MRI is to determine that the cancer is still where it was first detected and has not grown nor moved any.. If it has I think surgery may be suggested, but that’s a decision Annabell has to make.

As usual in this part of the world, mention the word close or even Long Weekend and people panic buy. Throw the word Lockdown into the mix and the result is chaos. According to reports and news, less than two hours after the Premier used the word Lockdown ( there I said it again) and shelves in the supermarket were being emptied of stock. People must be expecting to use the toilet a lot since the toilet paper shelf was emptied, despite the Premier and the Supermarket owners telling everyone not to hoard or panic buy because we have plenty of stock and it’s not necessary – they did anyway.

Adelaide and Back again.

19/06/2021 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Years ago I used to drive down to Adelaide in the morning, do what I had to do then drive home. I don’t do that anymore. One time coming back from a conference I dozed off and I was fortunate that I simply wandered into the grass verge and woke. No harm done to either me or the car, but it gave me a right wake up call – forgive the pun – and since then I do not go down and back on the same day – at least not if I am driving. I will do that if I am on a coach because it’s a five and a half hour journey ( 11 hours there and back) and I can always have a quiet nap. That’s what I did yesterday ( Wednesday) . I was disappointed that I didn’t get the Laptop where I wanted to get it – in my preferred store – and I thought I was going to go home empty handed.. indeed, I felt that if I jumped in a taxi I could make the coach terminal in time for the 12:30 coach home. Then I decided to check out another store and behold, they did have the laptop I wanted at the price I wanted and a special in store 15% discount for the EOFY Sale ( End of Financial Year). How good is that? So, yes, I have a new laptop. I’ll have to set it up over the weekend.

Was “attacked” when I got home last night. You would think I had been away for a week the welcome Benji gave me. He is really looking well and he is

walking well. We went out at 6am this morning( Thursday 17th) and two thirds in the stroller and the last third walking and he has little blue and red lights on his collar, which I bought for him in Adelaide. Because of other things recently, although we have been walking, we have not been down to the wetlands. I will start taking him back there again after this weekend is over.

Annabell has been fairly well since we returned from Adelaide. I had to take her to the hospital once with a new infection but otherwise she has been pretty good. As I said last post new tests were done and we should have the results of those in a week or so. This will determine what happens next. She tends to feel the cold more so I bought her an electric throw blanket for her chair and that keeps her warm and comfortable. Otherwise she is good. Had there been any doubt I would not have gone to Adelaide.

On Friday morning my son picked me up and I drove with him to Adelaide. Quite a number of years ago, during a medical test it was discovered that he had a spot on his brain. At the time his specialist said he should not be too concerned and he told him that he, personally, had two spots on his brain. It could be something or it could be nothing but it has to be monitored. We shared the driving there

Well, that would depend on which one of them I choose.

and back. Going down we became part of the roadworks convoy on the Port Wakefield Road. That wasn’t too bad although after we had cleared the area it did slow down the driving somewhat. It is a 40 klm stretch of road and on the way back – late afternoon – the convoy was pretty big . There is a by-pass road but knowing me, if I took that I would probably end up somewhere in the Northern Territory. Still, we did get home about 7:30, so it wasn’t too bad. Before dropping me off we went and picked up Connor. Benji was glad to see me. I think Annabell said “Hello” but I couldn’t be sure :o) Anyway, an interesting two days to be sure and setting up the new laptop was much easier than I had anticipated. The SSD is smaller than I wanted but it will do for the moment and Solid State Drives are not very expensive.

Wetlands, Stroller and Walking.

04/06/2021 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Well everything is booked for next Monday and we set out for Adelaide, booking into the Lodge sometime Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning I take her to the Flinders Clinic and she will go for day surgery. I don’t collect her again until around 1:30. After I hand her over to the medical staff – who have my mobile phone number – I take off to Marion Shopping Centre. After the surgery and the Vet Bills for Benji I was going to put the New Laptop on hold, but we discussed this and decided that I really do need a new laptop. At the last Church Conference in Norwood, it was embarrassing the way my old laptop kept falling out and had to be reset, so I need a new one. I hope to get it on Tuesday at Marion..

This last week or so has been pretty hectic with Annabell being ill and setting up a bed for her, so I can keep an edye on her . Her recovering – well sort of – and then Benji and his operation and me sleeping on a blowup mattress on the floor beside him rather

than take him into the bedroom with me. The reason being is that I was afraid the he would try to jump on the bed to be beside me and cause injury to himself. Or if I put him on the bed beside me he might jump off during the night and also injure himself, so what I did do was the better option. Crazy I know, but Benji is my dog and I look after him. Anyway, it was only for a few days.

At the moment because of the attack, followed by the operation followed by the number of dogs we now have around here, we have been driving to the Wetlands and walking

around there. He is in the stroller, of course, and he has made lots of new friends. Sometimes it’s “Good morning Benji” then as an after thought, “Good Morning John” However, I have found that even two laps of the wenlands is only slightly more steps than the walk of the district that we used to do before his “injury”. But it’s a good walk and we both enjoy it and the people we meet are really nice = even the joggers who give a “morning”as they go whizzing past in the dark – and yes, most (Me too) use a head light. This afternoon, I put the lead (leash) on him and took him outside and had him walking for a few minutes – about six minutes in all and I am pleased to say that he did well.. He did lift his leg a couple of time but mostly he walked using all four paws, which was great. – and yes, it is the leg he lifts when he “Lifts his Leg”! Hopefully, once we come back from Adelaide and he gets the stiches out, a few more days and we can retire the stroller for a while.. What I will do is one and a half turns in the stroller and the remaining half turn with him walking, and see how that goes.

At the Wetlands today I saw a man who had a dog with him, but the dog had a blue light attacked to his collar so that it tells people in the dark that there is a dog comming towards them. I thought this was a great idea. First time I have ever seen him or the dog and I didn’t get an opportunity to talk to him. There is a “Pets Domain Shop”here so I may have a look in there in the morning, but they tend to be over-priced in many things. But that is common here. I could get the laptop I want here rather than in Adelaide, but there is a difference of over $100 in the price, so I can wait until Tuesday. The reason for the difference in prices is “Transport

During the week I drove out to the Lighthouse and in our wander round I discovered a new information board which tells of the exploration of the Upper Spencer Gulf, Matthew Flinders was not the only explorer to venture up here. The French charted the area of the Gulf up to and including what is now Whyalla, whilst Matthew Flinders explored and charted the other side. There is an information Board for Flinders but I thought the French Connection would be more interesting. The ship was built in New South Walesd and sold to the French Government

What the French ship may have looked like.

Benji, walks, weather and Glasgow

22/04/2021 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Two weeks since Benji was injured in an attack. He is recovered fairly well and we are out walking again, but on a different route. Actually we are back on the original route which is in the opposite direction from the area where we were injured. He still has antibiotics to take twice daily and I will take him back to the Vet on Tuesday as a follow up when the antibiotics finish. Apart from the surface wounds there seems to be no internal damage, for which I am most thankful. After three days in the stroller, he was ready for walking. He was glad to get out again and enjoying the walks and the fresh air. We stick mainly to the Ada Ryan Gardens and the Wetlands during the day when there are very few people with dogs around. Since we are surrounded by National Parks and Conservation parks, there is not many places we can go to. There are a number of places further down the coast that are pet friendly and the nearest of them is 70 miles away (think Glasgow to St. Andrews) so just going there and then coming back again seems to me very wasteful. In order to justify travelling that distance it is necessary to make a day of it. At the moment I am not happy going off and leaving Annabell. Yes the boys are here and that’s fine when I have to go to Adelaide for

It’s real!! Lobey Dosser’s Horse, really exists !!

Presbytery, but leaving her on her own while I go off on an unnecessary road trip with my dog is a different matter altogether In fact it almost ranks as being self-indulgent. When we have to go Adelaide and the Clinic, John usually looks after Benji, makes sure he is ok and feeds him. With the dog door, Benji can get in and out as he needs. When we come back from our afternoon walk to the Wetlands we go in the back gate and I take his harness off. Annabell’s comment is “What kept you? The dog was in ages before you!” Me: “Ah yes, but he has a private entrance”

The weather over the last week has been great and the boy and I have got out and about. However, with the cyclone in Western Australia and the effects reaching to us, this will change over the next few days with forecast rain and high winds. Well yes, it was a bit on the windy to very windy when we were out walking this morning but we didn’t get blown away and made it back to the house safe and sound. Sitting hear I can hear the wind rushing through the carport. It’s not constant and comes in waves. Anyway, a very warm welcome to Bogie. He is lovely and I did reply to the post but it seems to have vanished into some void. I am finding this with a lot of

things recently. Fortunately not the photograph I found and thought about Anabel Marsh – because I thought only a Glasgow person would really understand what it is all about. The photograph is real but it was part of an article I read about photographic mishaps and when I saw that one, Lobey Dosser was the first thing that entered my head. Weird, I know, but there you are.

As we move further into April the weather is starting to cool down in the mornings. This morning was positively fresh with a fine – but slightly damp – mist for a little while. Good for a 50 minute morning walk. I still have my Glasgow Street Director ( yes it is out of date,) and Queen Margaret Drive to the Broomielaw is about two and one half miles, so there and back is as much as I do in a day. :o)

Had Benji back at the Vet. He is very pleased with him and now that his fur is starting to grow back no more treatment will be required, but we did discuss how lucky we were that the teeth of the big dog did not damage anything internal or we would have been in strife. However, that has never happened to me in this area in all the years I have been here and I find that it has made me wary of other dogs and has made me change where I walk and and be in a position where I can see what is well ahead of me. No, we do not go out in the early morning dark any more. Sunrise is now our time.

Benji, Walks and Photographs

16/04/2021 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

One week today since Benji was injured in an attack. He is recovered fairly well and we are out walking again, but on a different route. Actually we are back on the original route which is in the opposite direction from the area where we were injured. He still has antibiotics to take twice daily and I will take him back to the Vet on Tuesday as a follow up when the antibiotics finish. Apart from the surface wounds there seems to be no internal damage, for which I am most thankful. After three days in the stroller, he was ready for walking. He was glad to get out again and enjoying the walks and the fresh air. We stick mainly to the Ada Ryan Gardens, the Wetlands, the lighthouse and Stoney Point during the day when there are very few people with dogs around. Since we are surrounded by National Parks and Conservation parks, there is not many places we can go to. There are a number of places further down the coast that are pet friendly and the nearest of them is 70 miles away so just going there and then coming back again seems to me very wasteful. In order to justify travelling that distance it is necessary to make a day of it. At the moment I am not happy going off and leaving Annabell. Yes the boys are here and that’s fine when I have to go to Adelaide for Presbytery, but leaving her on her own while I go off on an unnecessary road trip with my dog is a different matter altogether, I think the term self Indulgent kind of fits the bill. When we have to go Adelaide and the Clinic, John usually looks after Benji, makes sure he is ok and feeds him. With the dog door, Benji can get in and out as he needs.

There is a photograph exhibition in May and I have been thinking of submitting photographs to it. I like my photographs but I’m not so sure others will. I was at the photograph club

last night and photographs that I thought were good were criticized by the judge who found many faults with them. I guess the idea is that the criticizing and pointing out the faults – as the judge sees them – is supposed to assist you in doing better, grow and mature, so to speak, in all the aspects of photography. I shall never succeed in this because I found many of the comments, pointless and excessively picky. Just as well I had no photographs there or he would have had a field-day, What I have is an excellent camera but I don’t know how to use it to get the best out of it. This group is “Competition Based” with only some minor practical nights. They are really very nice people but this is not what I want and really not helping me much. Many years ago the TAFE (Technical and Further Education) ran a number of Community Courses. A course on Photography – a Basic Computer course, the wife of one of the local doctors, ran a course on Indian Cooking, another lady ran a course on Italian Cooking. The fees were reasonable, cooking people brought the ingredients as required each week, and so forth. There were no Diplomas nor Certificates at the end, but they were well attended. But the Government of the day spent money on other things and when it needed money, it started closing down TAFE Campuses. It tore the heart out of the TAFE system and it never really recovered – it still has not.

Fitbit, Stroller and Benji

08/04/2021 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Every time I went to the door, Benji was there already. It was clear to me that he wanted to go out but I wasn’t quite sure that he was ready for a harness and walking. So, I went to the garage and got the dog stroller out and made it ready for him. I got everything ready to go out and then lifted him into the stroller, clipped him and half closed the overhead cover. Off we went. Since it was a public holiday (Monday) the place was fairly quiet. I also decided to go back to our old route. Yes there is a number of barking dogs but I now figure that they can bark as much as they like – they are behind fences and gates and therefore no problem. Except to Dougal who goes ballistic when a dog barks. I don’t mind

looking after Dougal. He is a lovely dog in the house, but a real pain to walk out with. A short tale for Fitbit users. When I took Benji out on the stroller, I was upset that my Fitbit

did not record any steps. Pushing the stroller means that my arms were not moving and the Fitbit needs movement to record. I mentioned this to my son and he suggested “why don’t you strap the thing round your ankle?” Yes, I dismissed the idea with a quiet chuckle. However, later on I thought about it and decided to give it a try – nothing to lose anyway. So, I did that – strapped it round my ankle ( the strap was long enough) and off we went. Well, was I surprised! I have used that route for a number of years and know how many steps it should be – at least I thought I did. When we came back home and I removed the Fitbit from my ankle I was shocked that it had recorded nearly 500 more steps than I had expected. It was a double shock because I really (honestly) didn’t think it would work, but it did. However, it is back on my wrist where it should be, but worth remembering if I have to use the stroller again. However, I think Benji is ready for walking.

I have no idea why WordPress decided to change a system that was popular and working well. I don’t like the block system at all and I have already outlined the process I go through to get back to Classic. It’s long drawn and convoluted but it works for me – as the saying goes.

Benji is coming along well. His wounds are healing up nicely and he gets his antibiotic medication twice daily. Since his wounds have now closed, I will start taking him out to the Ada Ryan Gardens when the weather is not too warm.

I took Benji out to the Ada Ryan Gardens this afternoon. We had a wander around the gardens and then drove to the foreshore where I bought us Ice Cream. Wont do that again! Since the Foreshore Café was closed down and awaiting repairs and renovations, food vans have popped up. It was to the food van that I went for the ice cream. Turns out they

Benji in the Stroller — Same time same area.

use a machine similar to that used by McDonalds and it is not REAL ice cream – sort of soft serve stuff. Anyway, it started melting almost as soon as I walked away from the van and to add to that Benji just wouldn’t look at his. Well, he had a couple of licks but that was it. I finished mine (not great) and was left with this other stuff melting and running over my hand. Never thought I would drop ice cream in a bin, but I did, then looked for a water tap to clean my hands. Should have gone to the Wetlands where they serve real Ice Cream. The reason we didn’t go to the Wetlands is that it was a warm to hot(ish) day and I felt the Concrete Path would be too warm on his paws

I seriously dislike Blocks!

02/04/2021 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

I had already completed a post with over 800 words and several pictures but a malfunction in WordPress – or me – lost everything. It had gone back to blocks and I tried to get it and load again in Classic and lost everything. I have no idea if this will survive. Anyway – What I do remember from the lost post is that I did recall on seeing an item in the news about a unit that is similar to a pacemaker only this unit is for the brain. Once activated it send signals to the brain and can reduce the trembling of hands as well as other aspects that are associated with Parkinson’s Disease. There was a demonstration on the news and once activated the difference in the man’s hands and in his overall demeanor was incredible. The reason I mentioned this was not really to highlight a breakthrough in Parkinson’s but the fact that the Medical Scientists are looking further and feel with further investigation and development it could be used to control and contain the effects of epilepsy. That would be some breakthrough.

Apart from a few days here and there, we didn’t have much of a summer. However, this early weeks in Autumn have been glorious, mild to warm and sunny – warm and sunny during the day, still warm in the early evening and cool to cold at night and in the morning. Yesterday Benji and I went for a drive in the car out to Fitzgerald Bay and the Shingle Ridge, from there to the Lighthouse. From there we drove to the Foreshore – which was busy so we went to the Wetlands and had a good walk there. This was followed by Ice Cream , Vanilla for him and Almond for me ( but don’t tell Annabell)

During the week I attended a Memorial Service at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Brian, a member of St. Mark’s, was also a good friend to us when we needed help. He died last year but because of Covid-19 nothing could take place. As of Midnight Tuesday most of the restrictions in South Australia were lifted and, with some assistance, I have put all the pews back to their positions and removed the seating tags.

Had a telephone call from Flinders yesterday and the reports from our last visit and not great but not bad. The cancer is still there but not moved nor enlarged. However, we will go back down to Adelaide in about six weeks and spend a few days there, There will be an investigation of what is happening and day surgery to replace the units. They will be left in place for six weeks and if there is no progress then they will consider chemotherapy.

The weather since the beginning of Autumn has been great – this is the weather that we should have had over summer. Yes we had a couple of heatwaves that lasted a few days each time, but other than that it was not all that great. This weather coupled with the Easter Holidays has people swarming to the beaches and

Part of the Shingle Ridge from the roadway.

holiday spots. After church today (Friday) I made sure Annabell was ok then took Benji for a drive in the car. We had a great time and went to Fitzgerald Bay, the Shingle Ridge, the Lighthouse and back to the Wetlands ( no ice cream) – a pretty busy afternoon and since we went much further along the coast road, this time, slightly different from last time. I drove to the end of the bitumen and went on the gravel until I was able to turn around and head back. When I go out I always make sure I have my phone with me. When the hands free speaker tells me I am “disconnected” I will turn back and get my phone. It does this about 100 yards away from the house and out of range. If Annabell were to call me I am only about 40 minutes away from home and can soon be back.

Cars, Dog Stroller and Cars.

02/03/2021 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

What now my love, now that you’ve left me, how can I live through another day?

It has now been seven days since the car was towed away and the repairs started. The unit for the ignition system was supposed to be over here from Port Pirie yesterday and, I imagine, fitted yesterday and today. I would like to have the car back sometime today, but, to be really honest, I am not very hopeful. Today, being Friday, summer officially ends in two days and Monday 1st March is the 1st day of Autumn (Fall) Summer begins on 1st December and ends on the last day of February, a total of 90 days and from that total we have only really had 14 days when we could say “Summer is here.” A total of three heatwaves – 5+4+5- there has been a lot of rain, there is flooding in Queensland and people being evacuated – cyclones in the north have meant heavy rain here accompanied by high winds. In fact I don’t recall seeing all that much on the weather charts but high winds. Well, that’s not strictly true, sometimes the forecaster forecasted “damaging winds 95kpm+) I answered a comment by Tippysmom the other day and I said it was a nice day with a gentle breeze and it was for about half the morning before the wind increased. I took Benji out for a walk and before I was halfway through the walk I was struggling and ended up carrying my hat rather than wearing it. In fact, the long range forecast is for more rain

I am concerned in that it is not very long before I have to take Annabell to the clinic at Flinders medical and I still don’t have a car. Yes, I realise that the visit to the Clinic is ten days away but that’s wont stop me from worrying. Yes I worry, it’s my job :o) I worry, Benji does the relaxing – we share the load – that’s what friends do!

I am beginning to believe that the birthdate on the Adoption Papers for Benji – 2010 – rather than the Microchip birth date – 2012 – is the correct one. That would make him 11 this year. I have noticed that he is starting to slow down just a bit and it was very noticeable this morning when he started tiring and dragging towards the last 200 yards of our morning walk. I thought he looked

so tired that I lifted him up on my shoulder and carried him the rest of the way. This afternoon I wanted to go for a walk and he came with me. We had not gone far when he really started to slow down. I turned around and came back home. I got the “Dog Stroller” out of the garage, cleaned it and put a thick blanket in there for him to sit on. Lifted him him in, attached the harness and off we went. He loved it, sitting there watching everything around him and still being out with his daddy. Can’t get better than that. ( I have to mention that it is over 34 years since I pushed a pram for any distance and I forgot how tiring it is on the arms) I also took a bottle of water and a collapsible bowl so we could both have a drink. Well, yes, I got some looks from passing motorists, but who cares. Benji was comfortable

John & Rene’s Toyota Camry which I am now using.

On the subject of friends, a member of the church heard that I did not have a car so she phoned another friend who telephoned me. She asked if it was correct that I did not have a car at the moment and wanted to know how I was getting about. I said either I was not or I was by taxi. She said that they have a spare car and I was welcome to use it. I said it was ok and my own can should be back soon. I thought that was that until she and her husband dropped off a Toyota Camry in my drive. They handed me the keys, said it was registered until June and I can bring it back when I no longer need it. So there we are, I have a car- now I can take Annabell out as needed. Just as well since I ended up at the Emergency Dept. at the hospital with her last night. She was not a well girl – had another infection.

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