Baby Sitting the Grand Kids (Part Three)

On Thursday after I couldn't sleep Wednesday I decided to
clean Donald's house. So after dropping off Donald I
cleaned the outside of the mircowave, the fridge and the
stove, it took nearly 1 1/2 hours just to clean the top of
the stove, the dirt was so baked on.

I cleaned the wall behind the stove as it had a film of
yellow grease. I used car degreaser it was so bad. Started
on the wall around the kitchen window but ran out of time.

I woke Maddie about five minutes earlier than the boys and got
her to stand on the chair on the bench and reach right up to
the architrave and clean it for me. She loved it and asked to
be woken up early the next day to help with the house work!!!

We went to my place and dropped off some rubbish and recycling
papers as Donald's bins were full.

Then I drove them up to the A.M.P. plant and showed them the
cooling water ponds and the stacks of timber drying out and they
saw dust piles. I explained that as trees had sap in them which
helps keep them to stay alive, it means when they are cut down
they have to be left for a few years for the sap to dry out.

We still got to school at 8 45 a.m.

I went off to the gym and then collapsed into bed at Cliff's
longing for a sleep as I had not been to bed at ALL on Wednesday
night and within fifteen minutes just as I was drifting off some
bugger started mowing his lawn. Well that lasted nearly 45
minutes so it was about 10:30 a.m. before I could start to go to
sleep and I woke up at 1.45 p.m. and could not go back to sleep
again!

Babysitting The Grand Kids (Part Two)

Well I turn up at 4.10 a.m. on Wednesday morning and Donald
was only just getting up. I drove him to the station and we
got there at 4.40 a.m. When I got back to his place I found
the back oor closed and after fumbling around in the cold and
dark for five minutes trying to get one of the keys on the ring
to fit the lock (None did) I thought bugger I'm not staying out
here and freezing for the next two hours and then it struck me
that the front door key might be on the ring. Luckily it was!!

So now it is just after 5 a.m. and I thought that means two and
a half hours sleep! So I laid down and put my ear plugs in. The
first thing I realised was that the light from the heater would
keep me awake so I turned over and faced away from it and decided
that tomorrow I would bring my eye mask.

The next thing that struck me was the fact that the fan in the
heater sounded like the engine of a Boeing 747 taking off and
landing it was horrendous! even with the ear plugs in no matter
what I did, even trying to pretend I was on a plane, did not help
me to go to sleep. It was a relief when the alarm went off.

The kids pretty well looked after themselves I just keep saying
"get up" "get dressed" "brush your teeth" "eat breakfest" "no
hitting at the table" "pack your bags" "get your lunches out of
the fridge" "take your bags to the car" and they did it.

We got to the school at 8.40 a.m.

Babysitting the Grand Kids (Part One)

Well the week did not go as I expected.

Karen went off for the week to a dart's tournment in Geelong
and Don Jr had his children for the week.

I was suppose to come in everyday at 4.15 a.m. and drive him
to Morwell station and then come back catch some ZZZ's and
then wake the kids up at 7.30 a.m. to get them to dress, brush
their teeth, eat breakfest and then drive them to school in
Traralgon. After which I was going to the gym and then back
to Cliff's for the day till it was time to pick the kids up
at 3.30 p.m.

Well on Sunday night I get a call from Donald the silly bugger
has done his ribs again but this time while playing soccer,
so he was having the Monday off work and wouldn't need me.
I had made the effect to come home Sunday afternoon about 5.30 p.m.
so I wouldn't be trying to come into the house in the dark or
waking Cliff up at sparrow fart on Monday morning. So I spent
the night alone and as I was not in Traralgon Monday morning
taking the kids to school I did not go to Curves as I had planned.

On Monday night I went to cards as usual and despite the fact
there was a table of 3 I scored a 107 ( my average is now 104.6)
down on the 106 I had last year but not too bad.

At the first break I rang Meg to get her to record my shows on
7 for me. After that break I was changing tables and heard my
phone ring, it was Donald telling me that he wasn't going to work
on Tuesday either! But that he would definately need me for
Wednesday.

I had planned to have a $1 Video Ezy day with Beryl on Tuesday
when I was at Cliff's so not taking the kids to school put paid
to that.

Not a good start!

Peter Joseph Nankervis

In the early hours of the morning on Tuesday 15th July 2008
Peter died. He was having a quarrel with his children and
when he woke up his wife with his shouting, she threatened
to leave and began to pack her bag.

He shouted that she wasn't leaving and grabbed the bag from
her and dropped dead.

I was always polite but not friendly with Peter. I have never
liked bombastic, rude people.

I feel sorry for his family and sincerely hope that they do
not harbour any gulit over his death.

After all he had a heart attack about ten years ago and was
warned to cut out the drinking, smoking and to eat a proper
diet and not one that consisted of only fish, chips, pies and
Coke, especially as he had high blood pessure and cholesterol
levels. I don't think he made much of a concession, so really
he only had himself to blame. He was 51 years old.

As he died in the middle of a argument the police seperated
the family members and questioned them extensively and the
body was examined for gun shoot, stab wounds or any abrasions
and contusions. All very harrowing for the family who were
stunned and grieving.

The funeral service was held on Monday 21st July, 2008.

Yarragon Book Fair 2008

What a bust that was!

This year Cliff and I forgoed our 'diry weekend' and did
not stay over night but saved the $100 and drove home at a
cost of $20, but in so doing we also gave up the dinner
party on Saturday at a saving of $50.

We had hoped to break even but as the petrol and cost of
the tables was $200 that meant we had to sell $400 worth
of books.

This year the organisers stuck all the dealers out in the
back room away from the main action. I would estimate that
we had half the people from previous years. So we did not
take what we had hoped for.

The takings have gone as follows:-
2005 $560.
2006 $450.
2007 $340.
2008 $215.

We will not be going next year, unless the tables we 'rent' are
reduced by 1/3rd, from $150 to $50. It is just not worth it.

My Birthday 2008

Well when Cliff and I arrived at the Traralgon R.S.L.
Donald and his kids were already there as was Meg. So
I said we could order tea but Meg said that Kath had rung
and said they were at Rosedale and where coming for tea.

So Cliff and I went off and played the pokies for twenty
minutes and then I came back and talked to the kids and
they gave me cards they had made.

We had a couple of drinks and Kath and Nathan and kids
showed up at about 7 p.m. so I said well as there is no
one there we can start ordering tea. (As I only had Cliff's
and my card for discount meals.) So I allowed Donald and
Meg to order first with the cards and then Cliff ordered
for us. But when it was Kath's turn she said she wouldn't
order now as we had NOT WAITED FOR HER!!!! and nothing I
said would convince her that she had not been left out but
had to wait her turn for the cards!!!

But dispite her carrying on, the night ended up not too bad.
I only put Cliff's money through the machine so still had my
$30 for the weekend.

Meg had other plans later in the night and left at 8.20 p.m.
and as Donald wanted the kids in bed early as they had an
early start for soccer on Saturday he came back to the house
and we divided up some of the fruit that Cliff had won in the
raffle, Donald couldn't wait for Kath and her kids but left
at 8.45 p.m.

Kath and Nathan had gone to KFC and spent $10 more there on
food than they would have on meals at the R.S.L. We gave
them fruit from the basket as well as long as I had two
bananas I was happy.

Cliff , Donald and Meg did not give me cards or presents.
Only Kath gave me a card from her and one from the kids.
Donald's kids gave me a candle holder.

Everyone claimed to be broke.

It must be a miracle that no matter how broke I am I always
have a few $'s for a card and a present, for everyone else.
But then I don't wait till the last moment but generally buy
something I know the receiver would like when I see it on
special. It's called being thoughful!

My Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me!!

Went to the shop at lunch time and Don Jr was there and he
had Brooke as it is holiday time so when Meg came we all
went to Lunch together for my birthday.

We are all meeting tonight at Traralgon R.S.L for tea and
hopefully Kath and the kids are coming too as she missed
Mother's Day this year. That is the first time I have not
seen her for Mother's Day.

More on this later.

Beryl wanted to take me to lunch tomorrrow but Cliff and I
are doing the Yarragon Book Fair this week end though we are
not staying overnight because it costs too much and we will
not be attending the dinner either, even the extra fuel costs
mean Cliff will still save over a $100.

All the more to spend on books!!!