Deck, Sleep, Work, Repeat

"Rita: This day was perfect. You couldn't have planned a day like this.
Phil: Well, you can. It just takes an awful lot of work."

Groundhog Day

The groundhog did not see his shadow upon leaving his hibernation and so the back of winter has been broken. We have had couple of days over 25 degrees which is all the incentive we need to break out the deck furniture and look out onto the magnificence of God's creation at the end of the day.

We took the puppies for a trot at the local showgrounds and then back home for a well deserved rest. The pups are easily exhausted in this heat, but we find that a cleansing ale goes a long way to aid recovery.

Salud!

Going loopy

"You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen, it said 'Parking Fine."

Tommy Cooper

The third lot of visitors in three weeks have drifted into our orbit - and lately we have taken to a nice 3-4 hour loop through some lovely countryside, picking up a meal here, a drink there, some coffee and maybe some of the best chocolate on the planet.

It's a nice quick view of the valley and this week it saw Kym and longtime friend Susan checking out quirky gift shops in Cygnet - the Royal Dalton Teapot at $285 we passed over in favour of a lovely version at the local recycling centre. Sorry snobs, if you visit us you'll definitely be slumming it!

Loop de Loop

Buddies since Grade Five!

Which hair was cut?

"Another theory about hair, not from my mother, but from the best friend. A woman who cuts her hair drastically is set to make some decisions."

Weike Wang

We have given up on Kelly being groomed by us in any meaningful way. We seemed to have been reduced to cutting out matted clumps, something which neither us nor her enjoyed. And how can you deal with any animal that grows a prodigious amount of protruding hair from between their toes? We were out of our depth.

So armed with some discretionary funding and fresh from the success of shearing the ruminants we trucked Kelly off to "Bubbles" in Margate. They said "what would you like us to do with Kelly today?" and we replied "please take this walking carpet and turn her into a dog!"

Mission accomplished!

Dad they cut all my hair off! I know sweetie, I know...

Speaking (er, writing) of immaculately groomed youngsters, we are in the middle of a three weekend hosting splurge and have been joined by Jackson and Alex on their worldwide tour of the Huon Valley. Nice to see you kids again - come back real soon.

Sitting around the couch in a totally natural manner

Pining for work

My normal life is like being on holiday.

Valentino Rossi

Not all of us are Rossi fans, and also we are not sure if there are that many people who would consider that hanging on to an engine mounted on two wheels travelling upwards to 350kph in close quarters with 20+ like minded maniacs constitutes a "holiday" - but that's Valentino (and his mates) for you.

In the meantime our "holiday" time is filled with car servicing, new tyres, motormower and whipper snipper servicing, garden duties, host duties, cooking, spring cleaning, dog grooming, etc., etc., to the point where we do wonder if going back to work early would be more relaxing.

Anyhoo - we did get out to Willie Smith's for an ale with a friendly octogenarian last night. Some of us look a little surprised to be there! Good music, good food and good company - OK the holidays are not that bad.