My Holiday House

Another Christmas already gone.  Someone somewhere is counting the days to the next one.  It's certainly not me!  I just want to sleep and hide all the chocolates and drink all the wine.  The Christmas cake already devoured and enjoyed.
The weather is delightful.  So hot in Perth but it's so much cooler here by the coast. I'm loving it.  I have my 'Crimsafe' security on all my windows and doors and at every opportunity I slide open the windows with great vigour!  The sea breeze is refreshing and fills every nook and cranny of my home.
It is warmer outside today than usual and I balk at turning on the reverse cycle air conditioner.  Dollar signs and overpriced electricity bills besiege my mind.  I leave the windows open and the air conditioner off.  I turn on the fans instead.
Why is it that the sweat that trickles down my neck and finds the small of my back so comforting? What is the memory here?  I rack my brain to no avail but eventually it surfaces and I laugh.
My house which I own with Merv is not like any holiday home we have stayed in, the clue is the setting.  We are only two kilometres from the beach.  The beach I walked to this morning to enjoy my morning cuppa and a slice of fruit cake I found hiding in my fridge.  It is the proximity to the beach which is the clue and the joy of fresh breezes.
I conjure up memories of beach shacks, units, old houses and even caravans we have hired for past holidays at various beach locations.  Busselton, Albany, Mandurah and others. I don't think any of them had an air conditioner and most didn't have a fan.  They were holidays with the sea breeze dancing through our windows.  Days of sitting outside for meals or on the beach.  The trickle of sweat on our necks considered a necessity never a nuisance.
So here I am in my permanent 'holiday' home enjoying the trickle of sweat as the breeze dances through my windows and doors.  Precious memories of holidays visited.
With the pressures of everyday life as this year comes to a close, I choose to enjoy these memories.

Distance Apart

I heard that Addie wasn't well.  I was alarmed and chose to ring her at home but I woke her from her healing sleep.  I apologised.  Maybe it won't be enough.  Maybe it's time to let go.
I used to work with Addie.  Addie was the Admin Officer. One of my fellow colleagues when she began working with us was terrified of her.  All she could see was a scary person at the reception desk ensuring all was running to clockwork and sorting staff and clients out as necessary.  I remember I would work efficiently and quietly so not to be noticed.
Addie had already retired from a previous job due to her reaching retirement age but after a short time she was aching to get back to work so she did just that.
I don't remember how long it took but every now and then we would chat, Addie and I.  Always in control and when she was finished I would slink back to my desk and remember (most of the time!) to answer the phone if she was busy or away from her desk.  I have a bleak history of pressing the wrong connection buttons and cutting clients (and colleagues) off.  I could only get better!
I never quite made it to her elite group and I new I never would.
After four years I left work to care for Merv full time.  I had been employed as a full timer but asked for three days per week once Merv became ill in 2010.  I had made good friends with some of the staff but I still felt on the outer.
After leaving work Addie was the only person I kept in contact with.  We emailed and sent the occasional message including numerous photos.  In hindsight I think I sent all the photos!
I mentioned I needed a little adult conversation and just like that we began meeting at the local coffee shop once a fortnight after she finished work.  Jackie came along as well.  It was really very nice to share a meal and chat for hours.  Merv spent the time with a Support Worker and had his tea with her.
Addie knew I was going to sell my house but no one would have expected it to sell in two hours and eight weeks later I had moved an hours drive away.
Addie said she would come to my big birthday bash but she didn't.  I hadn't expected her to.
I keep her in my prayers and I think of her.  I want her to get better and go back to work.  Maybe she'll ring once she is well enough to and maybe she won't.  Maybe distance is severing the ties.  It can and often  does,
I will always rejoice in her friendship and thoughtfulness.  She opened a closed door for me.  I will be  forever grateful. Bless her.

Poison or Amputate?

A question not to be taken lightly.  Should I use a bottle of poison or should I use my quick acting power saw for a messy amputation? It wasn't something I spent time thinking about, the answer was clear from the start.
Poison.
My memory clouded with images of me digging, sawing, prizing and eventually that damn tree stump lost its battle!  It was just a few weeks ago and those images pop up mercilessly.  It took over four hours over two days to finally wrench it from its hold.  I power sawed the endless roots which jutted from its colossal stump (well not really so big).  There is always one hidden anchor root.  I twisted the stump, I turned it, I swore at it and finally I put it in a headlock and severed it lose.
Triumph at last.
Then I remembered its opposing cousin hiding in my vegetable garden.  The sawn stump remains hidden under the compost and soil but on further evaluation it's sprouting new growth.  I began the haphazard task of digging around the stump only to give in and swear to a humane poisoning!  So it will be.  Another trip to the hardware stop for Blackberry poison.
It's been a busy month in the back garden.  Firstly digging up all the grass and reticulation followed by my friendly landscaper completing his work at hand.   From six quotes I felt he was the only one who understood my plan for a walk path for Merv to use in his wheelchair.
Merv loves his new place to spend time either enjoying afternoon tea or having a stroll along his own 'catwalk.'
Dustin and Grace visited last weekend digging and planting the array of native and flowering shrubs and plants I had chosen from a local nursery.  I hummed and ha-ha-ed where they should go and the final colour combinations.  Yes I read about that in a well intended garden book.  I had nightmares for a week.
Yesterday I bought a 30m retractable hose to water the garden in case the reticulation proved difficult and I need to put it off for a year or two.  Now I need someone to mount the hose reel to the wall.  The list is endless.
My garden plan is like a jig saw slowly coming together.  Next week we will have a Ocean Blue Shade Sail floating above our outdoor dining area and hopefully we can acquire an outdoor dining setting as well!  My much 'loved' pink and purple pergola will be repainted Classic Cream
Then there is the mulch, the stepping stones (many of which are needed) and God knows what else.  A garden is never completed, it is just a work in progress.
I like the idea of it never being completed, just a labour of love.  I can run with that.  While some gardens maybe a masterpiece mine might just be a 'paint by numbers' version but I will love it just the same because its mine.

Sleepless Nights

After digging in the garden most of the today I decided we would watch a 'nice movie' on Netflix.  Merv delights in his action packed movies but they're not for me.
"Oh, this looks good."  I remarked as I clicked on, 'Our Souls at Night'.  Starring the fabulous Jane Fonda who looks good at any age and Robert Redford who continues to have the cute boy look even his rather weathered features!
I was taken aback when Addie (Jane) knocks on Louis' (Robert) door and makes him an unusual  proposal.  She merely says she is lonely and presumes he is also.  Both their partners have died.  She proposes they sleep together for company not sex.  She says it is difficult to sleep by herself.
The story progresses with them giving it a try and continues with a healthy relationship growing between them.
I suddenly remembered a good friend of mine stating many times she is often awake most of the night.  She lives alone.  My thoughts then centred on the times I am alone in my own house.  I have security and my phone lies next to my bed but I find it difficult to sleep in an empty house.  Logic doesn't come into it.  If an intruder entered our house at night what could Merv do to protect himself or me?  Absolutely nothing.  What would Mel do? Maybe send me a text message?  She often texts me in the morning to see if I'm awake.  I sleep alone in my room I just know the presence of my loved ones in the same settles me into sleep.
So if my housemates are no good with a baseball bat, why does their presence give me a sense of security?  I gave this much thought.  Is it the presence of trusted loved ones?  Is it a spiritual sense?  I don't know.
Then a rather weird thought.  Maybe all the sleepless singles could pair up and have sleep overs ensuring a good night's sleep?  It's worth a thought!

Yo - Yo Weight

The news, current affairs programs, reality TV shows and those most annoying marketing shows continuously have stories on weight loss.  It's an epidemic of overload do's and don'ts.
It's got to a point you might as well just ignore whatever they say because tomorrow there will be another supposed easy solution for weight loss.
In 2012 it took me over 12 months to lose 18 kilos.  I was ecstatic when I finally found my hip bones!   I soon put back on 5 kilos but I was comfortable with my weight.  Since selling the house in January and moving I've put on an extra 5 kilos which is no friend of mine, it has to go!  With the arrival of Spring it is easier to eat salads and less filling foods, I feel I'm finally making headways but I know it won't be an easy journey. I travelled that road before...
Mel has been on her Weight Watchers journey since May and her journey is that of any inspiring yo-yoer.  "I have lost weight,"  she cries,  I remind her she is losing only what she put on last week.
Yesterday I decided I better check her food diary only to find her pro-points aren't matching the foods she is listing.  She ate a whole pack of Allens Party Lollies and a chocolate caramello bear.  She had recorded the points for the lollies as 3 points which is one serve but there are nine serves in the pack.  I searched the Allen's website for the information.  Ooops from 3 points to 27 points. I'm hoping that's a wake up call for her.  I have vowed to go through each day with her and we will  add the points together.  Her daily limit is 35 points, yesterday she ate over 89 points and wondered why her weight increased.
Eating out is difficult when watching the calories.  You either decide to say, "what the hell," and eat whatever you want or calculate the calories, fat and sugar contents.  I despair at the so called healthy cafes which list the calories (kilojoules) of their menu items.  They sound like scrumptious meals but most of them have 500-700 calories for a lunch dish.  Mel and I often chose to share a meal, thus halving the calories.  Last week we had calamari and salad, it was a big serve and filled us both.
We've begun measuring her again, every couple of weeks and it's now beginning to show a difference.  Mel is smiling once again,

Sharing 2 huge meals, we should have just bought one!

A Different Group of Friends

Mel spends hours texting her friends in Midland.  They send back messages.  She wants to know what they are doing.  I'm sure she feels she is missed.  In Midland she would walk through the shopping centre and greet not just one or two people she knew but a crowd of people!  I'm sure she misses that.
It's been six months this Sunday since we left the suburbs and moved south.  I have no regrets.
Mel has left a community group she joined here a few months ago.  They didn't connect together as she had hoped.  I believe in the saying, 'When one door closes another opens.'  We put our heads together and worked out a list of places and things she could do instead.  She now joins an art group every second week and the the alternative week joins a lunch group.  This has opened up a greater group  for her to meet and build relationships.  These groups have created a contact for her to join a Saturday morning group and another lunch group on the alternative Wednesday.  I must say I'm pleased.
My sister recently arranged to meet people she hadn't seen for awhile.  She said it was good to spend time with a different group of people.  We so often socialise within our own family and close friends boundaries and don't take that extra step.  It can make us feel so vulnerable.  What if they don't like me?  What if they find me boring?  Can they understand my reasoning or humour? What if I find them boring?  The list goes on,
Since we moved I also text my friends from before but not so often.  I have put myself  'in the firing line' by attending the community dinners, lunches with a group at local restaurants, even the 'busy bee' group raking leaves and other mundane chores at the resort.  The resort is open to all homeowners in our small housing estate.  It is community.  I'm glad to be part of it.

My New Mac

'You have to learn a whole new system,' said the woman sitting next to me at the Carer's Lunch.  She is right, of course.   It's almost like learning a new language,  Mac Chat, Mac talk, whatever it is.  The woman in the Apple Store encouraged me to think of group learning at her store,  My head did the figures,  45 minute drive to the store, then the lesson and 45 minutes back.  Brain punched out the figures and said it did not compute.  Hmmmm I responded, only one solution - use You Tube to learn the bits and pieces and the fine tuning,  Without leaving my seat I have already learnt how to remove the black dot below the task bar icons, how to do all sorts of things in Documents, including transferring my documents from my old Microsoft files,  Yes I have installed Microsoft Office for Mac.  I look upon it as a learning curve.  It took only a couple days before I connected by blogs in my new Mac Pro.
I wish I had all day to do all things Mac but I have so many more things to do.  Why do I do so much in just one week while Merv is in respite?  I suppose it is the freedom to do things I wouldn't normally do with Merv due to limited wheelchair access in many areas.
Yesterday Mel and I walked through the swampy areas near the bird park and today we took a road journey to Waroona, a small country town. I  photographed Mel next to the town icon, a life size cow dressed in a nightgown and night cap.  Just to amuse both locals and visitors,
We bought things from the second hand shop and the information shop, nothing from the bakery  before enjoying a healthy lunch at the old hotel, I was saddened to see so many empty and dilapidated shops along the main street.  After talking with shop owners there still  is a sense of pride and community among the residents,
Best of all was the colour of wildflowers, especially the vibrant yellow of the wattles littering the road verges.

Mousing Around

Tom and Jerry would be one of my favourite cartoons.  Cat chasing mouse and mouse winning.  Always a laugh!  How cute is it when Jerry speeds away from Tom and we all laugh!  I tell you I wasn't laughing when his cousin took up residence in Mel's room and decided to tip toe down the hallway!
I pushed back my chair in an instant causing Jerry's cousin to flee in full flight but I couldn't see his exiting direction.  I chose to sleep in the lounge that night instead of my room.
Early the next morning I was seen hooting down the road in a hail storm towards the hardware store.  I drove back with numerous mouse traps, electronic gadgets and a jar of peanut butter.  No cheese for this mouse, only the stuff to entice him!
Next stop a call to the Pest Control man who came out the next day armed with mouse baits for the ceiling. I called, 'War' and I had every intention of winning!
We searched and cleaned Mel's room but no nose twitching mouse did we find.  That night I set four traps in her room each with a generous smear of the dreaded peanut butter.
The next morning Mel called out the mouse had taken the bait and lay lifeless in the trap.  Was I sad? Shucks not a bit; relieved?  Yes.
I reminded Mel it was her room about fifteen years ago a mouse had snuck in.  I had picked up our overfed cat named Roxy and placed her warmly in Mel's room.  Thirty minutes later I checked to see if she had located the mouse but found her fast asleep on Mel's bed! Yes Roxy was well fed and had no interest in a playmate!
Since the (Tom and) Jerry affair I looked Mel in the eye and threatened her with eviction.  Mel hoards food in her room, whether it's chocolate, lollies or a half eaten McDonalds.  It had to stop and stop right now. 
Mel now has her own 'goodie' box complete with tight fitting lid in the kitchen pantry.  Woe to her and goodbye if I find any food in her room!

Celebrating Another Birthday

Not just another birthday but the big six zero, yes 60 years and still going strong.  I had spent over 4 months renovating and decorating our house. I figured I could have worked forever and the house would never be perfect so I just had to stop and let it be.
The birthday invitations had been sent and most of the guests had replied mainly in the affirmative. The only other birthday party I can remember is a party when I was just thirteen.  It was 1970 and I wore my hippy pants with huge white flowers on an indigo background.  We played all the rock and roll greats and had fun.  It lasted me forty seven years. This year with the big number looming I had no where to hide!  Ten years ago when I turned fifty the family went on a cruise from Sydney to the South Pacific.  On my fortieth birthday Merv and I went to Geraldton and there was little memory of my thirtieth.  Turning eighteen was no milestone in 1975 and my diary entry said I went to visit my best friend.  No mention of a cake.  When I turned twenty one it was a Tuesday.  Dustin was only 14 months old.  Merv had asked his Great Aunt (who made our wedding cake) to decorate a cake for me.  A few family members called in to have a drink and slice of cake and that was it.
I was way overdue for a birthday party.  No hippy pants and long hair for this one!

Merv had been in respite the week before and Mel attended a camp a few days beforehand.I even stayed with a friend who lives an hour south of me for a fun filled weekend.  We went to Laughter Yoga together, visited her communal veggie garden plot and worked at her son's farm before dining out in the evening. It was fabulous to have a break from showering and caring for Merv.
My birthday was the Tuesday before my celebration the following Saturday. It was a warm, sunny crisp day.  We went out for lunch with Maureen and had a great day.
My birthday celebration arrived and the sky was grey turning black. The wind howled and the rain poured and spluttered.  It was no spring shower!
I had expected a whole list of text messages from my dear friends saying the weather was atrocious and they would have to cancel.  I looked at my phone - nothing.  I looked later and there was nothing.
They all took the freeway with non stop rain lashing and black evil skies and arrived happy and smiling at the local restaurant I had chosen.
I gulped; it was difficult enough to get Merv from our house to the restaurant in the rain.  With the help of family it was easily achieved.
I felt very special.  Blessed that so many would brave the elements to celebrate with me and doubly blessed that they chose to do so.  How special is that!
It was such an amazing celebration.  My family and friends were all delighted in the restaurant and the excellent service and food provided. I was so impressed how organised and helpful they were ensuring everything ran smoothly. They had arranged the cake, poured the champers.  It was just perfect.
Afterwards my city friends visited our new house (all that hard work renovating paid off!) before they once again battled the weather to return on their long journey home.
A very special day.

Life Returns to Routine

It's been almost 12 weeks.  I originally said to Mel when we moved it will be like a holiday for awhile then life begins.  Yes, it's true, it was just like that; now there are weekly routines for all.
Merv now has regular support workers who visit and he is booked into a local day centre ongoing each Friday.  Merv sorted.
Mel has a day out with a group each Tuesday and attends another group each Wednesday and Friday mornings.  She also joined Weight Watchers and a local church (we also attend the church which gives me a whole hour of sitting - praise the Lord!) Both her bedroom and recreation rooms are furnished and colourful.  Mel sorted.
That just leaves me.  Like both Merv and Mel I found a GP and have made some new friends.  I have arranged all types of tradesmen to tackle a range of tasks.  My wonderful brother in law and his brother have both helped in many ways.  I am most grateful.
My list has been ticked off, everything is done but like everyone who owns a house there are a few more tasks to complete.  After cooking on the electric hot plate for 12 weeks I decide I miss my gas cooktop. Hopefully that will be completed soon.  Should I get solar panels, some I talk to say yes and others say its not worth the cost.  I will put it on the ponder pile.
Now that the most time consuming jobs are completed it's time to spend time on a little R & R.  The weather is so much cooler.  It is winter but we're having sunny days and colder nights. It's a great time of year to set off on long walks along the coast.  Mel and I could stop for lunch or a snack and enjoy the view while getting the exercise we both need.  These paths are not wheelchair friendly for small women pushing heavy men!  Too many hills and dips. 
Instead we take Merv to the foreshore and have a stroll watching the local birdlife and town activity.  We finish having coffee while Merv tucks into apple pie and cream at the café.  A delightful afternoon out.
I wonder what the next 12 weeks will bring.  That is life itself, not knowing but making plans and dreaming dreams to bring peace, joy and happiness.

The paving complete time to enjoy coffee and a read

Dustin & Grace put the table together and joined us for afternoon tea!

Our front garden finally planted after trade men left

Local photographer David Rennie's photo of pelicans adorns our wall

Our main bathroom finally renovated

Finance Guru

Spending money is always fun. We've always been lucky with money since I married Merv. When it seems we  would never get ahead we would end up with an unexpected windfall.  Even Merv's employer once had too much money (really?) and every employee received a lump sum of over $3,000.  I think we received that twice.  My father's brother passed away and his estate was divided between his siblings.  My father had already passed away and his share was divided between us children.  I bought my first computer with the money.
This year we sold our house for more than I expected and bought a house a week later for a lesser price than advertised.
After settlement there appeared a great amount of money in my bank account.  "Oh spending money", I cried.  Admittedly I was not frugal enough and spent money on all sorts of things but nothing I would call wasteful.  A facial was probably the most extravagant thing I had, but the pleasure of having it outweighed the cost. I haven't bought new clothes, well just one pair of practical shoes for $34!  They were on sale.
Already I had to put a stop to endless supermarket shopping.  A bottle of milk turned into a $70 shop almost everyday.  Mel and I sat down and worked out a menu and a shopping list which helped reduce the excessive spending.
The house was a bargain but it only had one blind which was worth keeping. All the other windows needed new verticals, blinds and panel blinds.  All done.  Oh and there's a 'but'.  When I sat in the tiny lounge room with those fabulous new vertical blinds I realised the chunky lounge suite would have to go.  Wrong colour, too chunky and over twenty years old.  On the verge for council pick up it went.  Now new furniture is needed.  A rug for the lounge is also on the list.
Just days ago I found the perfect recliners (which rock!) compact size and the perfect colour!  We bought two, one for Mel and one for me.  Merv has his lift recliner chair, which is great for his needs.
We had no security but now we have Crim Safe on all the windows and doors.  The main living area was dark all day and we had a skylight installed.  Merv's ensuite bathroom needed gutting and redoing.  It is now a fabulous walk in bathroom. This coming week the team is coming back to renovate the second bathroom and tile the toilet and laundry floors.  Eddie the renovator suggested I upgrade the laundry and extend the floor tiles.  Hmmm more decisions.  Much more money. The list is endless. 
Only last week my brother in law Steve paved part of the front garden for better access for Merv's wheelchair.  It looks fabulous. 
I looked at my bank balance yesterday and wrote a list of the foreseeable future renovations and additions.  Then I checked the balance again! After settlement I had taken a large chunk of money and placed it in another bank account which generates a better interest rate.  That's great I thought.  Now I'm working out how much of that money is safe to use.  I could of course just stick most of it in a term deposit where my eager fingers would be unable to access it!  Sounds like a very good idea.
Most renovating ideas blow the budget and I suppose I'm not surprised mine has as well. 
Mel and I have decided to make a sandwich or a slice of quiche for a picnic at the foreshore instead of eating at cafes, which we have been doing once a week, twice at a stretch.  Another very good idea for keeping the money safely in the bank!
Now it is up to me to be a smarter person making our savings work for us while having the benefits of a lovely home. 

Fabulous new paving for wheelchair access

Compact Recliner Rocker for lounge bought 2!

Cleaning windows ready for Crim Safe screens

The Big Move

Here I am.  Almost two months since I last blogged.  I have thought about hitting the keyboard many times but alas time and energy escaped me.  Only days ago I dragged my computer and its many components out of a big cardboard box where it had been unceremoniously placed on Friday 17th March, the day of the big move. 
My family and friends are tired of me saying, "I sold my house in five minutes and five minutes later I bought this house."  It's not entirely true; the time elapse is slightly longer but it seems it happened that way.  Sold and bought.  Simple.  Done.  No one is more surprised than me.  I am very grateful to the powers that be.  I know the good Lord above is looking out for me. 
The timing couldn't have been better as I see Merv's health declining so rapidly.  He went into respite before the move and stayed there for over a week afterwards. 
I was terrified to have him home.  I was so scared of him falling and me of failing.  In hindsight he has not fallen though there have been many near misses.  He can not walk without a person guiding him while holding his arm and a hand placed firmly around his waist. 
Everyday he stays on his feet is a day well done.
Moving house is the time you find out who you can count on.  To say it was overwhelming is an understatement.  Firstly I had to get it through my thick head that my house had really sold and packing and leaving my house was definite! 
My two sisters were amazing.  They packed for me, provided me with boxes, tape and texta colours.  They brought food and talked me through the packing process.  Maureen provided support and labour (and children) for our garden makeover, rubbish skip, cleaning for the Home Open and so much more. Susan packed my kitchen.  I didn't know where to begin but it appeared she had it all done in five minutes, at least it seemed that way.
In the last week Susan stayed for a whole day packing and cleaning and sorting.  Two good friends offered their help and though I had no idea what they could do I took up their offers.  I was hoping they would like to go out for coffee but they planted their feet, grabbed boxes and we filled them together.
Six days before we moved we invited friends and family to our Farewell Party.  It was an open day where people could come whenever they had time.  It was quiet in the morning with a few people stopping by but in the afternoon people filled every part of the living areas and spilled outside onto the patio.  Not only did we catch up, they caught up with mutual friends and agreed we should all do it again. A friend later asked if the Farewell had been a good idea.  I replied it was an amazing experience catching up with people, some we hadn't seen for years.  No packing happened that day and in many ways it was good to have a break.
I remember many bedtimes I would think, 'this time next month I'll be sleeping in the new house.'  It always seemed so far away and then it was upon us.  Time waits for no one.
I still wake up each morning hardly believing we sold and bought so quickly.  Selling at an inflated cost and buying at a bargain price.  This house is so very different from our last but it ticks the boxes and provides a fabulous recreational area for Mel. 
We have been truly blessed.  We walk 16 minutes to the ocean and 5 minutes the opposite direction to the estuary.
There is much to do in this house of ours.  It is slowly becoming a home.  Maureen and Steve have provided many hours of labour in the garden and house.  Steve's brother Larry has amazing patience and never flinched once while putting together the IKEA sofa bed and TV stand.
There is much to tell and write about but just one story at a time.

Farewell Party - Some of our friends

Friday 17th March - the big move

16 minute walk from our house to the ocean

Mel exercising at the beach with her cousin

New house, new furniture

Merv enjoying fish and chips at the beach

Oh no, IKEA flat packs!

Perth Writer's Festival

I had planned this weekend for several months.  Merv went into respite while I relaxed and later in the week would be attending the Writers Festival at UWA.  I never considered we would be packing and getting ready for the move of a life time.  I had planned to put our house on the market this weekend but it's been sold and it's now time to pack.
I wasn't sure if I should just scratch the writer's festival or whether I should take the time to go.  I figured next year I wont be able to attend so I decided to make up time packing and cleaning tomorrow and in the evenings.
Over two days at the festival I attended eight sessions.  Each session comprises of two to three authors and a speaker who oversees each session.  The authors always have something in common, whether its the setting or the plot or the genre of their books.  I am always inspired.
My first session was called, 'The Woman Who Changed her Brain.' Barbara Arrowsmith Young was born without spacial awareness deficiency of her left side and had various learning issues.  I was amazed how she learnt how to overcome her learning difficulties and has created programs which initially helped her but now has helped many others throughout the world.  I bought her book.  Hopefully I will find time to read it soon. Other sessions I attended focused on: crime, Australian towns, community grief, families and their secrets and the current plight of refugees throughout the world.
Throughout the following sessions the auditoriums were filled to capacity with many being turned away.  I soon learnt after each session you have thirty minutes to move to the next one.  A quick toilet break, a bite to each while walking across the university grounds and getting into line awaiting the next session on my list.  There were a good range of topics and authors for each time slot but it often meant walking across lawns, up steps while reading the festival map!
It was hot both days but I wouldn't have missed it.  I feel more inspired to read and to write. 
There was just one thing I found annoying.  Not the authors or the organisers but the audience.  Many times I found myself sitting next to women who pulled out their iPhone and checked their social media.  One woman who was almost as old as me, pulled out her iPad as well as her phone.  I grunted for all to hear!  I wanted to wack her but refrained from doing so.  I couldn't see the point of them attending if their attention was on their device and not the authors.   Maybe I'm becoming a grumpy old woman!

Missy Mel

It is a term of endearment.  Missy Mel just stuck.  A name I call my daughter when it is just her and me together.  It's usually when I trying to get her attention or just to give her a hug.
The last twelve months have been more than trying for her.  Her beloved housemate Harriet left for a t year to access therapy and she was replaced by a older woman who berated her verbally and threatened her with violence. 
Mel's Grandmother died in May last year followed six weeks later by her boyfriend Damien.  He died from lung cancer at the tender age of 35.  Mel sat by his bed holding his hand in the weeks before he succumbed to the cancer.
It was a difficult year.
By December last year she had more than she could cope with.  Continuously she would ring me in tears, telling stories of her offensive housemate and the lack of support from staff.
Mel cried, I cried.  It just became too much.  I spoke with the resident manager but nothing was resolved.  Mel wanted to move out of the unit to another but permission was denied.
My brain went into lockdown, there was only one answer.  She had to leave and come home.
In hindsight it was the very best thing.  After a few weeks Mel became a happy, contented person once again.  There were a few meltdowns on the way through but all in all it was the very best decision.
I only thought yesterday if she was still at the villas we would be moving her out about this time and going through the rigours of sorting out her stuff.  How does a person fill one bedroom and ensuite with so much stuff?  At least the sorting and chucking out of her  'treasures' has already happened!
Mel is looking forward to moving with us to our new house closer to the ocean.  She has her own bedroom, a bathroom she doesn't have to share with everyone and an entertainment room with two entrances.  The sliding door opens into the back garden.  There is a lot of work to be done but just like here Mel will do her part and our house will become a home.