MONDAY MIRTH

No words needed from me:

SOMETHING RATHER DIFFERENT No 2

I wonder how many of you remember this poem?  I didn't realise when I read it as a child how deep the meaning was.  Hope you don't find it too serious.

TO DAFFODILS by Robert Herrick

Fair Daffodils, we weep to see you haste away soon;
As yet the early rising sun has not attained his noon.
Stay, stay, until the hasting day has run but to the evensong;
And, having prayed together, we will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you, we have as short a spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay, as you, or anything.
We die, as your hours do, and dry away, like to the summer's rain;
Or as the pearls of morning's dew, ne'er to be found again.

THINKING ALLOWED

38ºC (another century this summer) in Perth today....not funny but we 've been enjoying cooler weather this week instead of many of our eastern states cousins who've been having mini heatwaves.  29ºC here tomorrow so a respite worth looking forward to, and then a couple of cool days before returning to the 30s again.  Will this summer never end?

Checked bank account early yesterday and deposit (payment) from insurance company had arrived so quick work on their part which was appreciated.  Also they did repay the $100 excess.  Another couple of weeks and the we should have working aircon again.  Fingers crossed.

#2 granddaughter and her daughter (our #1 great-granddaughter) came for lunch yesterday.  I always enjoy their visit as we have some lively discussions about lots of topics.  I need to be able to converse more face to face with people when possible.  Does get the old brain working in top gear. Fortunately our discussions are always affable.

Only 3 more days and I can once again enjoy coffee and chocolate and take my anti-depressants.  It has definitely proved these tabs do help decrease overall pain to some extent.  On Tuesday morning will have fasting blood test and then wait for results before seeing GP.  Had a letter from him on Thursday reminding me to go in for my B12 shot but may as well wait till test results arrive.   Must also ask when 'flu injections will be available this year.

We decided a cooked chicken with salad good for weekend meals (Phil's suggestion which surprised me as he's not a fan of chicken) which is always good when it's hot.  He's out this morning doing a bit of top up shopping and filling the car with petrol.  $1.03 a litre which is quite cheap although there are some petrol stations selling below a dollar a litre.  Wonder how long that will last?

My mum used to make up barley water which she said was good for her kidneys.  I've been looking up how to make it and may try it for myself and many websites still say it is very good for us. Diabetics are prone to kidney problems so worth thinking about.

TV is beginning to look up a little although still relying on DVDs quite a lot but then we are very fussy about what we watch.   Neither of us enjoy reality shows and tend to prefer UK shows although we do watch 2 NCIS shows.   We often wish another series similar to "West Wing" would be made. That was truly brilliant.  "Death in Paradise" is on tonight which we both really enjoy and a new UK cop show "Cuffs" which is reasonably good.

I have two more frangipani coming into flower which is quite late in the season and my Callistemon citrinus (bottlebrush) (above) is flowering again. I am sure the strange weather we have these days causes confusion in the plant world as this bottlebrush flowered in November.

I've popped in some small garden pics to brighten up a dull page   It's amazing how many pinks and mauves there are.

FRIDAY FAVOURITES

I have always enjoyed to the Skye Boat Song and while searching for it on YouTube I found a version I'd not heard before sung by the Corries.   I believe there are other versions included here as well.  I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Just an added note re family:  My great-great-grandparents must have at one time lived on the Isle of Skye as their son (my great-grandfather Stephen Anderson and his sister Isabella were both baptised on the island).   James and Jessie Anderson (he was a shepherd) arrived in Australia on the "Salsette" on 2 January, 1841 with their family.  They finally settled on a property "Lollipop Ponds" near Werribee, Victoria.   I have researched the family thoroughly and have been delighted to find out so much about them.  (Incidentally, this is my birth family that I learned about in the 1990s.  I had waited until mum and dad were gone before I attempted to find my roots).

AIRCONDITIONING UPDATE

I have a new Thursday offering in the pipeline but decided while I get it sorted I'd update everyone on our airconditioning claim saga.   I have been dealing with three different places:

1.  The GIO office in Queensland where I first lodged the claim.  They are very busy with all the claims from fires and floods etc and the first time I was on hold  for 30 minutes and the second time for 45 minutes.  I do wish they would change their 'music' as there is some very loud whistling which does rather get on the wick.  Perhaps they hope it will annoy people enough that they will hang up.

2. We have had calls from a gentleman in India who said he was our claim manager.   Very polite and asked the same questions I'd been asked the previous day by the people in Queensland.  We then heard from him again on Tuesday when we had to go through the same list of questions but the outcome was good.

3.  On Monday I had a call from a place in Sydney telling me they were handling the claim and would be contacting our repairman here in Perth.  It was also possible they would ask for a second quote and hopefully we would reach a conclusion within 10 workdays.

Each time you speak to someone they need verification of who you are.  I know there are lots of scoundrels out there but if they are ringing our home landline you would think they would know it was us they were talking to.

On Tuesday the gentleman from India rang again.  Phil answered the phone as the same time that I picked up the phone here in my workroom.  I let Phil do the talking but when I realised he was not understanding what was being said I chipped in and said I'd take the call.

The outcome of this call was to tell us that out claim had been accepted but not as straight out fusion but as though the damage was caused by storm/lightning and they would repay the $100 excess I'd paid a couple of weeks back.  I didn't even try to find out why this was but apparently by doing it this way we also receive a little more than the original quote.

This aircon we have has caused nothing but trouble since it was installed in 2006 and the repair that is needed would necessitate using a gas which is soon to be phased out.  On his invoice our repairman wrote he felt the repair was not a good idea but he could install a new unit with a 5-year warranty.    We accepted the payment which is to be paid direct into my bank account (Phil had to give his approval for this to happen) and we felt if we decided on the unit being repaired it was quite likely within 6 months another part would break down and we could be up for another heavy repair bill. 

Derek has been good to us over the years and kept the Airwell unit running for us so we contacted his firm and ordered a new Mitsubishi unit which hopefully will be installed on 14 March.   We will receive nearly $3,000 and by paying exactly the same amount again we will have a new reliable unit with this 5-year guarantee.  Seemed the only and sensible way to go.  If *Derek had thought it worthwhile repairing the old unit he would have told us so as he is as honest as the day s long.Guess we'll have to try and stay here for 5 years now to take advantage of this decision.

Incidentally I asked the Indian gentleman who I'd been talking to the previous day to his call and he said that was the technical department.  Strangely enough they'd not contacted our repairman etc so am still trying work out what that is all about.

To add some beauty to the story I added some of my frangipani.
1.  A close up of the common white which blooms every year and is in flower now.
2.  George Brown which flowered prolifically last year and actually has some buds again this year.  It is a frangipani that all growers really love partly because of its change of colour as it ages.
3.  Bowen yellow which flowered for the first time this eyar but is not nearly finished.
4.  Cotton Candy which flowered last year and has some new buds so should have some blooms soon.
5.  Pink Cheeks which has been flowering for weeks now and is such a dainty colour.

*Derek has, as I said, been good to us.  Years ago Phil tiled our front verandah but eventually the rain had loosened the cement and the front rows of tile began to come off.  We decided to remove all the tiles and perhaps redo it.  Unfortunately the cement had set too hard (it had been a very hot day when Phil did the tiling) and it resisted all attempts to remove the remaining tiles.  Derek had noticed this and on his next visit when he knew it would take some time to fix the aircon (gas I think) he brought a grinder with him and removed the remaining tiles and as much of the cement as he could.  When I thanked him for his kindness (no charge) he said I reminded him of his mum and it was a pleasure to do it for us.  Trouble is we've no idea what to do with the cement verandah now so it still sits there with the remaining cement looking grotty.  If we can afford it perhaps one day we'll get an expert to do something about it.  Perhaps.....one day.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

I guess most of us do this from time to time:

TUESDAY CHAT

Not a lot to report this week.  We have more or less recovered from lots of hot weather and thoroughly enjoyed a couple of cool days.   It won't last though as I see Saturday is forecast to be 38C (another century).   We are still waiting on a decision about our airconditioner.   Have had calls from three different sets of people and are now waiting for them to contact our repairer about repair or replacement. We may even have to wait for a second quote which will drag it on and on.  I shouldn't complain as this is only an airconditioner and not a home that has been destroyed by fire or those damaged in floods.  I feel so for all those people who have lost so much as well as the dreadful loss of life as well.   Doubtless we will soon learn the final verdict and hopefully it is not going to cost us too much if a replacement is needed.

I am being very good and not drinking coffee or eating any type of chocolate and have also been off my anti-depressants for a week.   I am drinking tea which apparently doesn't contain a lot of caffeine and may even stick to lemon barley cordial for a few days.   Next Tuesday I will present myself for a blood test after fasting overnight.  It seems quite a palaver but I guess it has to be done this way to get an accurate reading.  I would like a final decision to find out if there is really a problem or not.

The AFL season has begun with the pre-season competition called the NAB Cup.  Fremantle won their first game which was very pleasing but our big ruckman may perhaps not play in the first week of the home and away season because of 'rough play' where he knocked another player to the ground.  It is not regarded as deliberate but bad enough to lose a week which is a shame right at the beginning of the season.

With the cooler weather I have been getting outside a little more and able to check on my frangipani and was delighted that two plants that flowered last year but seemed to be sleeping this year now have tiny buds so something to look forward to in the coming days.  It is amazing how easily one can become hooked although so far I only have 8 plants; some people have dozens.  Phil surprised me the other day, arriving home with a new one and one which I don't have.  I think he is becoming as keen on these plants as me. 

Hope you will forgive me for showing off a couple of my frangipani that flowered this year.

MONDAY MIRTH

I did promise I'd pop in the odd dog joke but it needed a cat to make it funny:

SOMETHING RATHER DIFFERENT

Having used up all the little stories etc from Collectable Cats I scratched the old noggin wondering what I can do next.  Suddenly I remembered my old Laurel and Gold poetry book that I had at school.  I first used it when I was 12 back in 1944....oh my goodness!! that was 72 years ago.  I will try and find some poems that some of you may remember from your youth....although, of course, your yourth is not as far back as mine.

THE SAGE'S PIGTAIL by W.M. Thackeray

 There lived a sage in days of yore,
And he a handsome pigtail wore;
But wondered much and sorrowed more
Because it hung behind him.

He mused upon this curious case,
And swore he'd change the pigtail's place;
And have it hanging at his face,
Not dangling there behind him.

Says he, "The mystery I've found;
I'll turn me round" - he turned him round;
But still it hung behind him.

Then round and round, and out and in,
All day the puzzled sage did spin;
In vain - it mattered not a pin -
The pigtail hung behind him.

And right an left, and round about,
And up and down, and in and out,
He turned; but still the pigtail stout
Hung steadily behind him.

And though his efforts never slack,
And though he twist and twirl and tack,
Alas! still faithful to his back,
The pigtail hangs behind him.

THINKING ALLOWED

On Facebook the other day I found this sad but beautiful poem.  It is from a dog to its master but could come from any beloved pet.  I wondered should I share it with you and then thought yes, I will as there are many animal lovers who read this blog and I am hoping they will appreciate what it says.  We've all had to say goodbye to furever friends at one time or another.  Unfortunately they are not with us forever as the majority of us outlive them.  (The author is unknown but whoever wrote this understand the love we have for our pets).

IF IT SHOULD BE THAT I GROW WEAK
AND PAIN SHOULD KEEP ME FROM MY SLEEP;
THEN YOU MUST DO WHAT MUST BE DONE
FOR THIS LAST BATTLE CAN'T BE WON.

YOU WILL BE SAD, I UNDERSTAND,
DON'T LET THAT GRIEF THEN STAY YOUR HAND;
FOR THIS DAY MORE THAN ALL THE REST
YOUR LOVE FOR ME MUST STAND THE TEST.

WE'VE HAD SO MANY HAPPY YEARS
WHAT'S TO COME CAN HOLD NO FEARS;
YOU DON'T WANT ME TO SUFFER SO
THE TIME HAS COME, PLEASE LET ME GO.

TAKE ME WHERE MY NEEDS THEY'LL TEND
BUT PLEASE STAY WITH ME 'TIL THE END;
TO HOLD ME CLOSE AND SPEAK TO ME
UNTIL MY EYES NO LONGER SEE.

I KNOW IN TIME YOU WILL AGREE
IT WAS A KINDNESS DONE FOR ME;
ALTHOUGH MY TAIL NO LONGER WAGS
FROM PAIN AND SUFFERING I'M SAVED.

PLEASE DO NOT GRIEVE THAT IT WAS YOU
WHO HAD THIS PAINFUL THING TO DO;
WE'VE BEEN SO CLOSE, WE TWO, THESE YEARS,
DON'T LET YOUR HEART HOLD ANY TEARS.

FRIDAY FAVOURITES No 28

I always enjoyed Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers and then I discovered this version by Inca Gold and felt it well worth sharing.  It's hard to believe such beeautiful music could be made on a pan pipe and a guitar.  Two very talented musicians and in particular a wonderful guitar player.  Hope you will enjoy it along with me.  Once again of course it is from YouTube. 

MY FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

We now come to the end of yet another list and with it the lovely Zinnia.

My mother invariably had zinnias growing in her garden although I can't really remember her ever picking them to put in a vase.  Perhaps leading the busy life she had, she felt it better to let them put on a show in the garden where the blooms probably lasted longer than as a cut flower.  As with sweet peas, when I see zinnias I immediately think of mum.

ZINNIA is a genus of plants of the sunflower tribe within the daisy family.  They are native to scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from southwestern USA to South America, with a centre of diversity in Mexico.  Members of the genus are notable for their solitary long-stemmed flowers that come in a variety of bright colours.   The genus name honours German botanist Johann Gottried Zinn (1727-59).

Zinnias are annuals, shrubs, and sub-shrubs primarily in North America, with a few species in South America.  Most species have upright stems but some have a lax habit with spreading stems that mound over the surface of the ground.  They typically range in height from 10 to 100 cms tall (4" to 40").  The leaves are opposite and usually stalkless (sessile), with a shape ranging from linear to ovate, and a colour ranging from pale to medium green.  The flowers have a range of appearance, from a single row of petals to a dome shape.  They may be white, chartreuse, yellow, orange, red, purple or lilac.

I hope you have enjoyed this series of garden flowers.  I know there are many I have missed but I was mainly looking at those of which I was familiar.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

There are many people that should pay heed to this advice.

TUESDAY CHAT x 2

Just as I was about to begin I had an interruption and Candy said she wants a chance to have a chat of her own so I said OK as long as she keeps it short.

CANDY CHAT:

I haven't learn to type yet so am dictating this and mum is going to type it for me.  I guess now she will know what this is all about but I don't really mind as it is partly about her anyway, and pop too.

It is nearly 18 months since I was at the animal shelter and when they came to visit I chose mum and pop to be my family and they brought me home with them and made me very welcome.  I have been really happy here and know I made a good choice 'cos no cat could be loved more than I am.  I sleep on mum's lap whenever I get the chance and sleep on pop's bed every night (unless it is very hot and then I sleep on mum's bed as that is under the overhead fan.   After all I am a cat and cats are pretty canny creatures).

The other day I heard mum and pop talking about me so I pricked up my ears without letting them know I was listening.  I felt so proud 'cos mum said she I had brought so much happiness into their lives since their other wee cat has gone to the rainbow bridge and pop agreed wholeheartedly with her.  I even heard mum say what an obedient cat I am and I do try to come when one of them calls me, especially mum, as I know it makes them happy.

I try and stay near them as much as I can although I do sometimes have to go and inspect the back garden and makes sure all is well out there.  I prefer it though when one or both of them are out there too, except when pop is using the garden hose and then I take off.   It seems the three of us were all meant to be together. 

May be back another day so I can let you know how things are going here.

MY TUESDAY CHAT:

Now it's my turn.  On Sunday afternoon we drove down to Baldivis to help #2 great-granddaughter celebrate her 8th birthday.  The usual family gathering with nibbles and then an icecream birthday cake with 8 candles.   The usual fun watching gifts being opened.  I was fortunate that my granddaughter had messaged me with suggestions for gifts and Phil was able to find 3 of the suggested 4 (the other was not in stock) and I had already bought 2 books so felt that she would be happy with them.  She loved all the presents she received and she and her little sister proceeded to have fun with the little toy 'mice' and their mouse house/trail.  Just another wonderful family get-together which we both enjoy so much.  Next family birthday is great-granddaughter #3 on 26th April.  She will be 4 and is not at kindy.

I am to have a follow up blood test as it seems to get accurate results I need fast (I was told last time that wasn't necessary) and also no caffeine for two weeks nor can I take my anti-depressant medication for two weeks.  It is a very low dose anyway but best to follow instructions.  I believe it has helped relieve some of the minor aches and pains so hopefully won't come back with a vengeance ass the major aches and pains are enough to put up with at present. 

The previous test showed up a 'condition' (a possible growth on an adrenal gland) I may or not have so hopefully this test will be more accurate.  It is not terribly serious and could be one reason why I have episodic attacks of high blood pressure.   Looking forward to seeing the results in a few weeks.   Wish me luck.  Life is never dull at my age.  (*:*)

MONDAY MIRTH

I  can understand just how this cat feels:

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT No 12

"THE KITTEN AND FALLING LEAVES" by William Wordsworth

See the kitten on the wall sporting with the leaves that fall,
Withered leaves - one - two - three - from the lofty elder tree!
- But the kitten how she starts crouches, stretches, paws and darts!
First at one and then its fellow; just as light and just as mellow.

There are many now - now one - now they stop and there are none.
What intenseness of desire in her upward eye of fire!
With a tiger-leap half way, now she meets the coming prey,
Lets it go as fast, and then has it in her power again.
Now she works with three or four, like an Indian conjurer;
Quick as he in feats of art, far beyond in joy of heart.

FRIDAY FAVOURITES No 27

Once again I've been browsing through YouTube and trying to decide which song I'd choose for today.   I have always loved real rock and roll and there is just so much on offer.   There's Little Richard, Bill Haley...oh, just so many of them and then I came across this one with Chubby Checker singing and dancing "Let's Twist Again".   I remember it so well and, of course, when we went dancing we all did the twist.

I'm not sure if the younger ones will enjoy this but it's the type of music I grew up with in my teen years and beyond and I still enjoy it so much.

MY FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

Today I am cheating just a tiny bit and you will understand why as I know nothing of any "Y" flowers that may grow in the northern hemisphere or anywhere else for that matter.

YASMIN is the name in Persian for a flowering plant, and from which the name Jasmine derives.  The pronunciation of Yasmin is often parallel with the English Jasmine, but in Persian, Arabic and Turkish the "s" is not taken as as "z", and so is often pronounced as jaesmin/.  (That is not exactly right as I don't have the correct characters on my keyboard to show it properly).

JASMINE (taxonomic name Jasminum) is a genus of shrubs or vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Eurasia, Australasia and Oceania.  Jasmines are widely cultivated for the characteristic fragrance of their flowers.   A number of unrelated plants contain the word Jasmine in their common names (see Other plants called "Jasmine".)

Jasmines can be either deciduous or evergreen and can be erect, spreading or climbing shrubs and vines.  Their leaves are borne opposite or alternate.  The flowers are white or yellow in colour, although in rare instances they can be slightly reddish. 

Jasmine tea is consumed in China where it is called jasmine-flower tea.  It takes four hours or so for the tea to absorb the fragrance and flavour of the jasmine blossoms, and for the highest grades, this process may be repeated as many as seven times.  It must be refired to prevent spoilage.  The spent flowers may or not be removed from the final products, as the flowers are completely dry and contain no aroma.  Giant fans are used to blow away and remove the petals from the denser tea leaves.

In Okinawa, Japan, jasmine tea is known as sanpin cha.

My daughter has a jasmine vine and the perfume is almost overpowering and it is so pretty.  We have jasmine as well but there is no perfume and I am wondering if perhaps is one the other plants called jasmine.  Ours is attacked nearly every year by some type of bug that almost completely strips  the plant of leaves.  We are gradually getting rid of it from the garden.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

I have often found this to be true.  Think about it.

TUESDAY CHAT

Last week when I chatted I was complaining about the weather and the fact that our ducted airconditioner had broken down.  We couldn't get our repairman Derek here till yesterday and then we heard the bad news.....the motor (actually I think he called it the compressor) had burnt out.   When the temperature tops 42.5C (108F) that is something you don't need to be told.   I said I wouldn't complain again about the weather and I am not going to even if we do have another two days of 42C and one 41C to look forward and very little of a cool change in sight and definitely no rain.

After being told about the motor, I immediately telephoned the insurance company and yes, we are covered for fusion.  Was asked if we'd had the aircon for more than 11 years and was able to truthfully answer it was less time than that.   It was installed on 16 October, 2006 so well within the time limit.....big sigh of relief.

Derek said once we had a claim number he would work out quotes for repair and/or replacement of the unit and email the results to the insurance company.  He is very good and I would imagine that email would be sent quickly.  We then wait to hear from our 'claim manager' within 7 working days who will discuss the claim with us.  The wheels grind slowly at times.

We are not even sure whether parts are available at this brand of airconditioner is no long produced so perhaps a replacement unit which could mean us having to pay the difference but hopefully that won't be the case.

We are just managing with the two small airconditoners but the bedroom and kitchen only have overhead fans.  The one in the bedroom is quiet and seemingly more efficient that the other and the kitchen is like a furnace and will be till the end of the week when the weather cools a little.  No cooking will take place for some time but then we love salads so no problem.

I know all insurance companies must be very busy with the horrendous fires that have happened in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria and the floods in other areas so I was surprised to have to wait 35 minutes until I was able to lodge the claim.  I must admit the young lady was very polite and efficient which always helps and you are less inclined to be cross about waiting.

One good piece of news is that Phil's blood test and ultrasound results all came back as being OK.  He'd not had a call up from our GP following having the tests done so just to make sure he rang the surgery yesterday and was relieved to be given the all clear.   We are now sure the UTI he'd suffered from prior to the first lot of blood tests caused the suspect result.

I am seeing our GP this week but that is another story and I won't go into it now.  Just about a blood test I had and I am confused about the results as not at all what I expected it to be.  I am sure all will come clear when I see Dr Ken.

Rotten news is there is another out of control fire near Harvey quite near where those disastrous fires occurred recently (when the town of Yarloop was virtually wiped out with two deaths as well).  I can't even imagine what it would be like to be out there fighting fires in these weather conditions.  The wind keeps changing which is making it difficult to maintain containment lines.  I take my hat off to the men and women who risk their lives trying to control the fires and at the same time protect people and their homes.  I feel they all deserve medals.  Incidentally another smaller fire nearby was determined to have been deliberately lit at three different ignition points.  Makes you wonder about folk at times doesn't it?

MONDAY MIRTH

I did warn you to be ready for lots of cat jokes didn't I?

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT No 11

"COLLETTE, DIALOGUES DES BETES

I am so white that my whiteness seems merely a kind of lure, a stealthy trick of reflections.  When there are leaves above me, I turn green, and blue cinerarias cast upon my flanks a splash of tranquil indigo that barely stirs when I breathe.  Have you never seen me rose-coloured at the hour when the great cirrus clouds flee before the setting sun like a flight of flamingoes?

It tires me to have all these colours taking possession of me, because my childhood without a nurse has left me delicate and sensitive, very much taken up with my own fragility and the attention it secures for me.  I'm pensive as an angel, and if I often close my eyelids it's to prevent the blue of the sky from meeting and deepening the blue of my eyes."

Obviously a cat who is a very deep thinker as well as being very beautiful and full of itself.

Am I correct in saying white cats are sometimes deaf?  I am sure I've heard that somewhere and I suppose I should 'look it up' instead of just asking.

THINKING ALLOWED (in this case mainly about hot weather)

I am thinking....no I am saying it out loud and using the venacular ... I am not looking forward to the coming week.  It is going to be bloody hot.  We've already had 2 days of 35C and 36C and today is forecast to be 35C followed by 40C (104F),  two days of 42C (105.8F) and then 41C, 39C and 36C.  Not even sure we are due a cool change after that but one can only hope.   It is bad enough having days constantly above 35C (95F) as they say at that temperature we stop working at capacity in mind as well as body, but when it gets higher and stays there nearly everyone is just absolutely pooped.  I wonder if they will keep children home from school this coming week or do schools now have airconditioning?  We had neither cooling or heating when I was at school but with the lower humidity back then I am not sure we felt the heat quite so much.

Even the night temperatures are not going to be much of a relief with a couple of nights expected to only drop to 25C (77F).  That's about my favourite daytime temperature!!

To top it all off our reverse cycle ducted aircontioner has stopped working.  Phil rang last Monday to ask for Derek (our wonderful aircon man) to call but he is booked up all this week and can't make it till Monday morning.   We will be so pleased to see his cheerful face and hopefully he can get the beast working again.  We couldn't afford a really expensive airconditioner when we had this one installed and of course, as is usually the case, you buy cheap and pay for it later.

We are fortunate to still have the old hole in the wall airconditioner working (it must be all of 40 years old as I bought it secondhand in the mid 80s) but it only cools the living room so the kitchen becomes really hot as does the bedroom.  It's an amazing fact we have never had to have any work done on this old aircon. Overhead fans do help in those rooms but only so much, very often just circulating the warm air.

I have a modern in the wall airconditioner here in my den that my wonderful daughter bought me several years ago.  As you will see the light is on and it is cooling me right now.

Unfortunately it was the smallest size she could get of the type she wanted and it is rather too large for this 10'x10' room.  Even when I leave the door open the enclosed back verandah and laundry get cooled too.   I set it on 24C and in no time I am cold as it will cool the room to about 19C.  I then turn it up little by little and fiddle with it all the time.  I am not complaining though as at least I am cooler than I would be in other parts of the house right now.

I often wonder if I am truly feeling the heat more now than I am much older.  For many years when I was young we didn't even have table fans and yet we managed.  Perth's summers have always had very little humidity but now (possibly because the Indian Ocean is warming) the humidity in our city is rising more each year.  For years I drove to and from work in a car that had no cooling and yet I managed.  Even Phil is feeling the heat much more than he once did but then being from England he enjoys Australia's warmer weather.

Enough about me and the heat.....I have to have a whinge every summer and this will be that one and only time so forgive me please.

FRIDAY FAVOURITES No 26

I quite often browse through YouTube while on the computer, find a song I like and sit and listen to it while perhaps playing Scrabble (on Facebook).   Today I found a rendition of The Seekers singing "I am Australian."   I know it is a song that some folk may not like but, having been born here, it always brings a tear to my eye so I thought I'd share it in case some of you haven't heard it before.

It's always great to have the words as well as the music, as is the case here.

MY FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

I must begin this with wallflowers which was a flower my dad often grew in his garden.  Perhaps it reminded him of home as I believe they are grown quite prolifically in England.  They are certainly very beautiful.

Erysimum is a genus of flowering plants in the botanical family Brassicaceae (that must mean they are related to cabbages etc  Now that is interesting).  They are native to southwest Asia, the Mediterranean, Eutope. Africa, Micronesia and North America through Costa Rica.  Many are endemic to small areas.  Apparently wallflowers come in many colours but those that dad grew always seemed to be yellow or orange.

Wisteria also comes to mind although I've not grown it nor do I think I've ever seen it grown.  Have seen lots of wisteria on film and have always though how beautiful it is. It is a genus of flowering plant in the pea family that includes ten species of woody climbing plants native to the Eastern United States and to China, Korea and Japan.  Isn't this picture from Wikipedia beautiful.

I am sure there must be others but these are the only two I am aware of.  If you know of other "W" flowers I would be interested to hear about them.

(thinking to self....I wonder if wisteria would grow in Perth?)

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

You may need to be on Facebook to understand this but believe me it really is very good.

TUESDAY CHAT

Another week has simply flown by with more medical hooha going on.  Our GP didn't like one of Phil's blood test so off he had to go for another blood test and also an ultrasound of his bladder and kidneys.  He's had this ultrasound previously and all was well so we are hoping for the same result this time.  We are wondering if the RTI Phil had a couple of weeks ago could have given the bad result so fingers crossed that is what caused it.

I had my blood test .. the one that had to be spun and snap frozen.  I have part of the result which seems to be within given parameters but a part of it had to be sent to Fiona Stanley hospital (our new government hospital not far from us).  No explanation as to why but perhaps the laboratory I went to doesn't have the facilities to do the test.  If I hear nothing by tomorrow I may ring them to find out what the story is. 

To add to not only the medical stuff but the cistern in our back toilet sprung a bad leak and eventually I had Phil ring the Tap Doctor.  We'd previously had the leak mended (twice in fact) so it was no surprise that we needed a new cistern.  The week before that Phil had some work done on the car muffler and now our reverse cycle ducted airconditioner has broken down.  It's just as well we've put off a few jobs we'd like done around the house isn't it?  Have do the more important jobs first.  Rang Derek (the wonderful man who has kept our aircon going over the past few years) and he's not available until next Monday.  He may have a cancellation and I am hoping he does as we have 37ºC and 38ºC forecast for Sunday and Monday.   (those temps are around 100ºF).

We do have an old R/C aircon in the lounge wall but it only cools or heats the living area and not the kitchen and certainly not the bedroom.  We are fortunate right now that we had a couple of really cool days over the weekend and about 10mm of rain but it won't take long before the heat is with us again.

Sunday was a delightful end to the week when we once again met with the family down at Steel Tree in Settlers, Baldivis.  We had lunch together to celebrate our oldest granddaughter's ..th birthday.  It is always so good to see them and Phil and I both had grilled 'fish of the day' with chips, salad and tartar sauce and voted it delicious.

I just added a picture of one of our azaleas to bring some brightness into what was a rather dready week...unless until the Sunday which I guess made up somewhat for the rest of it.

MONDAY MIRTH

There is a good chance you will be seeing a series of cat jokes over the coming week so be prepared (with perhaps a dog joke or two thrown in not to discriminate too much).