Vena McGrath, click
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Blogs by Vena McGrath
Today is 27/1/07 - Time 9.25 am Sydney Daylight Saving 1/26/2007 2:10:49 PM
Another hot day with the cicadas singing in the trees or wherever it is they lurk I read a little bit about cicadas (I needed to know how to spell the word so did a Google). Apparently they only emerge from their underground haunts every prime year. How strange! It seems that scientists are baffled by this behaviour, as well they might be. I imagine they will have to either go live underground with them or learn the language to find the answer :)
Yesterday, 26 January, was Australia Day. Best thing about it is we have a Public Holiday though it's not a holiday where the shops can't trade. So the poor retail workers have to drag off and do their shifts. A friend works in a Bowling Club in the bar and also helps out in the all you can eat restaurant. She did an 8 hour shift . $40 an hour. That's fine so long as you don't have a normal week to go with it as the taxman loves overtime and gets into it with a big axe hacking off a huge hunk.
The weather was fine, lots of blue sky and sun, but the humidity was high as well. Strange how there was a breeze that wasn't hot and yet the humidity hung around and spoilt the day. I did a bit of housework in the morning as we were having visitors. Silly really as you have to do it after they go as well usually, however yesterday we spent most of the afternoon outside by the pool. The water in the pool is just perfect at this time of year as long as there isn't much rain or cloud around.
We had the traditional Aussie barbeque minus sausages. Yesterday was a beef and lamb day with rissoles, lettuce, tomato and bread rolls. Not the usual fare, we couldn't be bothered in the heat fussing too much. The cheesecake melted so had to go back in the freezer as it's not much fun eating a runny cheesecake. It wasn't much of a cheesecake either, nothing like the homemade uncooked one I used to make when I was motivated to cook.
Shaye managed to sneak in the pool gate and jump in the pool after it had been cleaned of all his hair that was floating. He wasn't very popular but then everyone settled and the ones in the pool actually played chase with him. He has a big problem though with his claws as he manages to rip skin off his playmates. My son-in-law was the recipient of a nice gash above his top lip where Shaye reached out at him with his paw in the water.
Eventually they removed him from the pool after quite a long playtime and the hair was removed once more. However, Shaye being Shaye, managed later in the day to sneak in the gate with my granddaughter and straight into the pool again. Oh well he does love the water, it was hot and he has to wear a fur coat. I just pretended I didn't see anything and smirked quietly.
Everyone was gone by late afternoon and I settled in front of the air conditioner for a while before heading to the computer to do my BAS for my company for the final quarter of 2006. It's such a bore, but at least I can do the paperwork online and the GST I am owed goes straight into my bank account.
I would like to sell the company as I don't use it and it now has a healthy loss of close to $40K so would be a good buy for anyone who could offset their tax with the loss. It's just all too hard though to try ahd find a way to sell it. Perhaps my best plan is just to advise the powers to be that I want to close it down as it's costing me fees every year and also I have to pay to have my tax return done.
Today is hot ahd humid again. I am starting to perspire through my clothes. The worst problem I have is that the perspiration runs out of my hair, down my forehead and into my eyes. The salt content is not good for my bad eye and yesterday I ended up with ointment in it and a patch that I left on all night. I can feel it getting sore now because of the perspiration. I might add that other than putting washing in the machine this morning, I haven't done any labouring around here so that's how humid it is. Doesn't matter if you are sitting still, it will still get you. I might see if I can fine a head band today to wear as it could help me.
I have decided to join a dog obedience club with Shaye so I can learn how to be obedient :) The first night is 6 February and I go without Shaye to the first meeting. In the main he is a lovely fella but he is obstinate and so am I. One of us has to be the dominant obstinate and I'm sure not going to let that be him! It will be nice to do something different and meet some different people and dogs as well. I hope that both Shaye and I benefit from the experience as he does have some important lessons to learn and I don't have the ability to teach him it seems. For his own safety and my stress levels we need to learn how to ensure that he knows I am top dog, not him.
I am researching pet friendly holiday homes in an effort to secure one for the week commencing Easter in April. The family have said they would all like to get away and do some idling by the water, and some fishing, and I would love to take Shaye away where he can run around and enjoy the water without getting into trouble about his hair in the water. I also need a break away from work/home and it's a long time since I had a lazy holiday with my family.
There are plenty of pet friendly places up the coast where we want to go, but of course many are already booked for the holidays (it's also the school holiday period)and some will only allow animals outside. As Shaye is an inside dog who only goes outside to his loo or for the day when I am at work, there's no point in renting a place where he can't go inside. So, I've sent some queries for a few places on the water that would be ideal and I'm waiting for replies. The prices range from about $700 for the week to over $3,000. I would be willing to pay around $1000 or just over, but no more. There will be 5 adults and a 12 year old, one dog and one moggie (cat). Hope we get some good news soon.
Well must away as I have washing to do. One day of my three has already flown so it's now down to a normal weekend with the usual jobs to do.
