Nightly Goodnight Everyone

[dream4red]

Dot, the re-potting job is never ending. Once you settle into your forever home, will you try to get as much as possible into the ground, instead of temporary pots? Had fun with the Rosy sitting? Poor Brian will need a very long nap. xxxx

Ray and Dot, I wish you were both here to give our locals a chat. The blokes had taken 9 months to complete the task to the poor quality and we had so much trouble getting them to even finish them, (kept blaming covid etc), that it's just not worth wasting our breath to complain. We may have a secret weapon tho. We have a new member, who is a very smart, lovely man, who has also joined the men's shed. I think when we show him the photos, he may say something about quality control and save us the need to complain.

I am sorry for gloating about your freezing weather. It has now arrived here bbbbrrrr. I did some painting of the insides of the boxes today. But as it's so cold and windy, I didn't want to put on the clear coats. I don't think they would set very hard or worse, get flying grit and rubbish stuck to them. I will have to wait for some much nicer weather. I have them all set up on our verandah because they take up too much room anywhere else.

That's about all for this frozen duck

Night all xxx

[Newcastle George]

Hi All. Dot, we are having a break in a hotel in Manchester just up the road from our daughter, leonie, who has just started her job at a local hospital as Assistant Psycologist. While here, Julie is doing some work which she would be doing at the office in Abu Dhabi and by doing so is not using up holiday time. The weather here is drizzley and a little cool so we went on a tram trip to one of the outer suburbs this afternoon. The public transport here is great compared to that in Australia.

George

[dream4red]

How wet is it down there Dot? We had over an inch of rain last night and with all the noisy rain that's falling right now, I reckon another inch for tonight too. xxxx

George, I understand that anywhere else in the world, would have better public transport than Newcastle (NSW of course). I haven't even bothered to discover what the new trams in Hunter street are like, too much fiddle with fancy cards needed.

Went to Bunnings to collect some clear paint to finish off the boxes. The sample pots that we were given to use on them, say they are suitable for indoor or exterior jobs. Lady told me that the paint is not really suitable and will fade fast, unless it's given a couple of coats of expensive clear spray. Two tins of rustoleum clear gloss cost me forty dollars. Not really happy with that and now have to wait for the weather to have very little humidity. Might be waiting a long while.

night all xxx

[Dot]

Deborah, not wet at all down here, have to water the garden but will do that from the tank. My repotting was the hoyas and another plant I can't spell it's name had grown so big it had to be separated and others had to have fresh mix . Had another choking episode tonight, think I might rethink having that stricture fixed now, scary shit choking. I ate 4 peaches off the tree today as they slide down the gut nicely. Tomorrow is going to be another hottie so time to test the air con out as we will be inside doing more sorting out. Did you know that Norman aka Rammie has a new car ? just like Tanks it's an MG brrrrroom brrrrroom. Goodnight everyone x Goodnight Supersparky x

[Greynomad]

Deb,
Visited Ncle last year. The trams were more of a worry than Melbourne’s, as the latter has wide straight streets in the CBD… different story in the ‘burbs.
There’s a choke point at the bottom of Hunter St where the harbourside buildings end (can’t remember the name of the street alongside the railway line).
Cars have no choice but to drive over the tramlines. Scary.
However, I reckon Werribee in Melbourne’s west would take the cake for lousy public transport.
Thirty km from the city, population 250,000, and trains run at 45min intervals, except weekends when it’s every 90mins.
Eastern suburbs have 10min services — even on weekends.
Reliability is another issue: working in the city I had a 7:00pm meeting of school council in Werribee. Left work at 4:00pm… and was late for the meeting! That night I tore up my (one week old) monthly ticket and started driving to work.

[dream4red]

Dot, stop choking, that's not good mate xxxx

Ray, I don't think the locals would even have registered that the tram line is there because they are so used to crossing train lines in the area. I will admit that Newcastle is a bit over an hour away and we just don't bother going there. Most things that our little shops don't carry, I can get online. So there is rarely a need to go into "town".

Today was pull down the Christmas tree and get all the decos down. House feels a lot less chaotic now.

Had to go and collect new glasses, so while there went into coles to collect a few things. Since his first lot of brain surgery, when I ask his nibs what he wants for tea, the answer has regularly been "lobster mornay". So today his wish was finally granted. Coles had the tiniest lobster tails that I have ever seen for $5 each. I went all out and bought 6. He finally had his menu of choice. Only took a few months, but the catering staff around here are not always compliant. Interestingly the tails were marked produce of Canada and further down the label there was a reference to a SA fisheries place. These tails would not have been legal size here, so I assuming the SA mob were the importers. Very nice dinner tonight, much cheaper than a restaurant and we didn't have to dress up.

sweet dreams out there xxx

[Newcastle George]

Some photos taken during a long walk thru Manchester.

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George

[Newcastle George]

And a few more.

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One just for Dot

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George

[Dot]

George those pics are really interesting, I see they also have the graffiti rat bags as well. Thanks. Stayed inside all day apart from grabbing some ripe plums and peaches Yummy white peaches. Air con did a good job I am currently watching the Indian Pacific ( The full journey) SBS makes me want to do it now probably cheaper than going in the bus the way fuel prices are.For tea tonight I had custard and peaches and a blob of ice cream, taking no chances again for a while Geeze this train scurries along? speed if anyone knows? Heard about a new strain of Covid may be upon us soon and is easier to contract, please NO we need to get out of here... How are things with you Shirley any bowls yet? . Keep on a painting Deborah atta a girl. Glad the old boy is improving. Train heading into Broken hill now, I wonder how the "Bullet Train " would go on this trip and how many lith batteries would it take?? Goodnight everyone x Goodnight Bernie x

[Greynomad]

Dottie,
Not sure about the Indian Pacific, but the Ghan’s on-board commentary said it cruised at around 120km/h (except when passing through towns).
Still took threes days from Adelaide to Darwin!
We’re hoping to book on the I-P in the next year or two…