Busy in retirement - who'd 'a thought it?

Did I say “More in a couple of days”?

I have been encouraged by our friends in Switzerland to continue the blog, so after I have caught up with the travels, will carry on with our everyday lives.

Being slow and tardy isn’t all my fault! We have problems with our internet connections. Sometimes we are lucky enough to get email but websites, including the blog page are near impossible to get into. We have already had our “computer guy” here once, who pronounced Howard’s old clunker computer on it’s death bed and disconnected it but the problems seem to have leached through to both laptops and now our little travel pc has been infected with access to websites slowing to a snail’s pace or just not connecting.


We’ve been on the go since we arrived home, so on with the story….

It took only minutes to unload, make our way to the luggage carousels and push our way through the duty free stores to Immigration and Customs. Finally we were in the “Australian” entry line, and soon unzipping our bags for the customs people. As in most places, everyone plus their luggage are scanned these days, so no escaping scrutiny. We chatted with the officers while showing them our Navajo stone paintings (which they loved) and only lost a pack of Sequoia seeds because there was no botanical name and no origin. We’d expected that.

30th June was the coldest winter’s day in Sydney for between 38 and 61 years, depending on who you were listening to.

How strange to be heading to the “underground” in Australia. Trip over, back to normal, except it didn’t feel like that at all. On the crowed peak hour train into the city I took notice of people, their demeanours, reactions to people getting on with mountains of luggage. They were snoozing, ear plugs in, playing with phones, ignoring the new passengers trying to squeeze in, just like overseas. What was I thinking? That people here don’t see or expect to see travellers? Especially on the airport stations? Get a grip girl! Alighting at our city station and dragging the baggage against the tide of workers hurrying past, I decided that Central Station could use a massive upgrade. Up at the country terminal, I was wishing for any of the grand overseas terminals while we searched for our platform then waited in the cold for our train to pull in. The journey through the rear side of Sydney and suburbs - the view from a train isn’t through the most pleasant suburbs, but why was I surprised? Suddenly becoming very critical of the homeland, especially with no heating in the carriage that we could feel, no places for luggage either. Spirits uplifted when we reached the escarpment to the mountains and I could see shades of green and sandstone. Is it normal to fall into melancholy after such a trip/holiday? The sun was shining brightly, everything was ok, and we had congratulated ourselves on a very successful journey. Tonight we would sleep in our own bed!

Blackheath finally arrived and a biting breeze hit our faces, oohhh! Howard went for a carton of milk and came back in the town taxi for the 2.5k trip home. Last time we were here, mid summer, all was colourful, now the streets were barren, all the imported deciduous trees bare.

Home looked close to the same. There’d been quite a bit of rain and everything had grown. First thing we did was sit down to a cup of coffee and take in the backyard. We would have to drive into Katoomba to shop and stock up on supplies.

I am really pleased to report that the colourful birds returned, in greater numbers, to feast from our seed table.

We would have three sleeps before we had to drive down to Sydney for the weekend birthday festivities (Michael’s 40th and Howard’s birthdays both on 4th July) and an overnight at a city fringe hotel (I write ‘city fringe’ so you will understand that we will not be staying in any classy hotel).

Now it was time to jump into the car, which had been left unlocked by our house sitter (along with the laundry room door and various windows) and drive into town. How strange, back on the left side of the road and feeling a little uneasy about it. I think I may have felt slightly fresher than Howard which was why I got the job of driving. Except that we drive on the left, it felt like the US, the traffic moving quickly along our "Highway" of one lane each way, more huge haulage trucks than ever before (semi trailer use of our main road here is increasing at a great rate as railway haulage decreases), and now regular traffic jams on the main entrance to Katoomba. Our state traffic authority has explained that some delays should be expected and to live with it. Happily, there will be a state election at the end of the year and we will be able to choose the lesser of two evils by tossing this lot out, finally. They have been in office by default only because the other lot were worse, but it might be time to give them another go again.

All is not complaints though. It’s bitterly cold most days - shades of the moors in England - with temps from below freezing to around 8 - Celcius - and not much sun to brighten the days, but we seem to be so busy the time has just flown. I keep pinching myself, what territory would we have covered overseas in the same time?

We are child minding again this weekend and the two youngsters are out in the bush behind our back yard (building a fort with bush rocks, Howard has been asked to go and help). It’s a relief that they have now taken an interest in being out there rather than sitting in front of the computers all of the time.

Child minding requires us to drive two hours to pick up and two hours return, usually on Friday and delivering them again on the Sunday, usually by lunchtime so that their dad can have weekend time with them. I may have mentioned that Rebekah has a four month singing contract in Japan, so we will try to be available for Mike on some weekends when he has to work. This weekend is only our second minding weekend.

So, on with the show here in Blackheath. I will endeavour to keep writing and posting as often possible. We are off to Perth on Wednesday 11th, for 6 days.

No photos this time but there are more on the way.

I've got my fingers crossed that this post will take.

Cheers to all.