Last night I caught up with Norma and David at Shimla Pinks and had a lovely meal. The madras was only medium but it was lethal, so bloody hot and my mouth was on fire and David had to mop up.

As usual this Naan breads were the size of snow shoes and the Peshwari was just marvelous. All in all a great meal and great company and hopefully I’ll have time to do it all again before I go.

Houston Square in Johnstone was looking great as the sun was setting 🤗

I’ve not been to the Burrell Collection in Pollock for over 35 years, last time I came here was with my friend Rosemary. If I remember correctly the collection was actually in the old house and not in a fancy gallery as it was today.

I went with Ken and Linda and we were on a bit of a tight schedule so we were in and out in about an hour and a half but I would think that you really need more time than that to explore and there is also the amazing grounds to walk through.

The collection is vast and covers historical artefacts from over 5000 years ago, mainly Egyptian. If I have time I think I will go again and maybe this time try to explore the outside. As usual parking is a premium and it’s £3 for two hours although it is free entry to the collection.

Another day in Glasgow, this time to catch up with cousins Ian and Ken. Went to Weatherspoons pub and I had Haggis and cheese panini, it was not very good… Black pudding is so much better.

After I just went for a stroll around the city centre enjoying the sunshine and watching the people. There seems to be quite a lot of different nationalities in Glasgow at the moment. The sun shone and the humidity was climbing but still pleasant. I only had two layers on today 😁

Stopped off in Johnstone and popped in to see Margaret in the flower shop before heading back home. It’s great coming home and catching up with “old” friends.

Sun was shining, put the bunnet and shades on and off we went. I was surprised at how warm it felt as we headed out winding our way through the neighbourhood until we came to some greenery.

A prefect day for a stroll. The objective was to make our way to the cafe in Bridge Of Weir and have a coffee. Lovely sitting outside, however the coffee was rather weak. Not too worry it was nice just sitting there watching the world go by.

Then on to the old track that went to kilmacolm and we turned left to go to Johnstone where we stopped to have a couple of rolls with egg and black pudding, I forgot to take a picture because I just wanted to eat. It was delicious and I nearly ordered another but I’ll save that for another time. The first of many I hope.

With the clouds beginning to form we headed for home feeling quite knackered.

As we come to the end of this epic flight I am surprised that it’s gone fairly well. The first leg was over 14 hours and when you get on the plane it’s really difficult to even comprehend that length of time and it’s better not to.

I had an aisle seat and was very disappointed because before I changed the date of my flight I had a window seat in a better area, however apart from the idiot sitting at the window who had to get out his seat like clockwork it was better than expected.

Next to me was a Baptist minister from Kenya and he was a big unit but a nice guy. We spoke about many things and only touching on religion briefly, which of course is his day job. And I have a place to stay if and when I go to Kenya.

The clown at the window would go to the loo and not come back for a good ten minutes or more, not sure if he was in there for business or pleasure. Even my Baptist friend was becoming aggravated at the number of times. Mind you he did look like someone you would happily just punch in the face.

So 14 hours to Dubai and then just under 8 to Glasgow with a 3 hour transit. On the second flight I once again have an aisle seat but the two ladies have not moved from their seats once, I did. There are too many kids on this flight and the parents don’t seem to realise they are on a plane with a few hundred people, I hate kids. Especially the ones that just moan and moan for the attention knowing their parents boundaries. I still feel that a separate cargo hold has merit for these creatures.

All of this justifies spending a huge amount of money on my Sony noise cancelling headphones which have been invaluable in making this journey bearable. I am surprised at just how effective they are at cutting out the background noise, including those Fuckin’ kids tantrums. I did manage to get a bit of a snooze on the first leg, although I think there was a bit of dribble. My new neck brace worked well but still not the best design. The seats are hard and getting comfortable is not easy. I didn’t drink much, only two glasses of wine so I feel it was just sheer exhaustion that helped me get some zzz.

I am very dehydrated but that is no surprise because I often do this so I don’t have to keep going to the loo on the plane, mind you the A380 has nice loos.

An hour and ten minutes to go and then I’m home.

I started the building of this wall a few months ago and I’ve only just more or less finished it. I still have to plant a few plants and finish the storm water.

Mick said that if I have a big piece of white stormwater pipe that you can see in the picture it will attract too much attention, which I think is true. The stormwater is supposed to go into the drains but this has never been the case with this outlet, however now that I have made this nice new wall then council workers might get a bit suspicious and so tomorrow I shall go to plan B to divert the run off towards the park along with all the other houses that do the same.

It’s taken me quite some time because it’s been difficult to dig the holes due to the black soil which is so sticky when it gets wet and the weather has not been dry enough over the last few months. The last two weeks have been fairly dry which allowed me to dig the post holes. I have four posts, each one about 600mm deep by 350mm square. Three holes took 60kg of rapid set and the last one took 80kg.

I also used 7 lengths of treated pine @3000mm long along with one box of bugal head screws. I think it’s turned out well and I hope that it works and helps protect the shed from further damage. Over the next few months I will continue to work on shoring up other parts of the wall as well as to try and under pin the shed. That will have to wait of course because I’m going home on Sunday for a month.

After feeling like shit for the last few days I decided not to start on the retaining wall because it is the Sabbath afterall and instead go for a walk around Ipswich.

The sun was shining, it was 20C and perfect weather for a wee stroll. There was hardly a breeze too which made it somewhat different to my last wee walk in Walcha. I also wanted to hit a few hills and get the lungs and legs working as there has been a lot of lying around doing nothing since my return from Armidale.

My stomach is feeling as if it’s on the mend and I feel it won’t be long till I’ll be scoffing some Chilli Con Carne and enjoying the burn.

I fuelled the car with gas and was surprised at how little gas I had used on the way back, mind you I think because I last filled the car at Glen Innis and it was very cold and of course it sits above 1000m. So in other words there was more gas in the tank at that altitude and it appears that the economy was great.

To prepare for my trip to Armidale, I fuelled the car up with gas and petrol. I thought I would run the car on petrol for a few hundred kilometres’ to clean out the injectors because the car had been running like a burst arse when I used the petrol. I mostly use the gas because it is cheaper.

The flap at the top of the tank was sticking slightly and it took a bit of effort to push the nozzle in. It was getting on for 50 litres and it clicked off, so I eased the nozzle out slightly and clicked the trigger once more ………the next thing petrol was going everywhere as a tsunami flew from the nozzle and splashed over my feet and more of a concern all over the car and the floor. This has never happened to me before in my life. Petrol all over the forecourt and dripping profusely from under the car, a deadly waterfall that good ignite at any moment.

When I got back to the house I parked on the driveway and tried to catch as much of the fuel as possible that was coming from every orifice and at the same time trying to wash and dilute the fuel already on the ground. I caught another 4 litres of petrol.

At night I put the car in the garage and left the windows and screen door open for ventilation, what I did not consider was the petrol fumes rising up to the house and so when I woke the next morning the smell of petrol was very strong. As I cleared the snot from my nose my nasal passages complained and the smell of petrol in the hanky was palpable. I was beginning to feel like shit too.

I left the car outside for most of the day with the windows opened to get rid of the smell, however when I headed for Armidale the next morning there was still quite a strong smell in the car and so for the next 500km or so I drove with the windows open slightly to keep the fresh air coming through the car.

Armidale was cold and wet, usually when I go down it is just frosty but this time the rain was there to remove any remaining heat from the body. The house was warm, but I think it was too warm considering the way I was beginning to feel and it was only later I realised that I might have been suffering from the effects of petrol poisoning. My head was sore, sinuses choked and sore and I was very tired and my appetite was not as it should be.

It was good to catch up with Stuart and Catherine; mind you I don’t think I was the best of company…even worse than usual. We got out one day for a bit of a walk and a stroll through a sculpture park in Walcha which was nice, however the wind was always there to remind you that it was winter.

The drive home was uneventful and once more the windows were open slightly to let the fresh air in. The petrol smell was still lingering almost a week after the drama at the petrol station. I was tired when I got home, all I had was a cup of tea and then I went to bed. The next morning I could not eat breakfast. I had no appetite and I felt nauseous. All of Friday I slept and made cups of tea and then tried to force a couple of slices of toast down but failed.

Either I had caught a bug or the extended exposure to the petrol fumes was taking its toll. The garage windows were left open, to let the air circulate. The house was frozen but I could not smell petrol. I read that if you put Bicarb in the infected area it can soak up the smell and so that’s what I did.

Today Saturday, there is still a faint smell of petrol when I opened the boot. I have left the windows and doors open and there has been a breeze which has helped. I opened all the windows in the house and froze me nuts off but at least the air is fresh. I did manage toast and banana this morning and had a very small lunch of pasta but I think that is just about enough for one day. A few more cups of tea of course and maybe some ginger to try and make me and my stomach feel belter once more. My stomach feels as if someone has taken a scraper to the inside, it is rather tender and I still do not have much energy.

I was hoping to start on the retaining wall but I think I will have to wait one more day, refuel the body and at the same time drink lots of fluid to clean out the Benzene poisoning which I think I have encountered.

I leave for home in a weeks time and I need to use the following week to finish the retaining wall and a few other small chores. The sun is supposed to be shining this week so at this stage I still feel confident of getting things done, well kinda confident if I’m honest 🤔

It was the Ipswich Horse Racing Carnival today and the sun had not come out to play. It was a bit dull and overcast as I walked by the racecourse looking at the “Mutton” walking around wearing clothing more designed for a Biafran than a fully rounded Australian. Make up was caked on and many had a tide mark around their necks. Faces the colour of sandstone, neck and limbs chalk white. Legs that have not seen the light of day or exercised in a millennia wobbling under the large tare weight propped up on skyscraper heels and this was them walking to the races.

God knows what disastrous sights would be prowling the streets at the end of the day, but one thing I knew for sure I was not going back to check it out. I’ve seen what a day at the races does to a mad keen punter. I went with friends maybe 15 years ago and for $130 you got into a booze tent to quench your thirst on beer, wine and soft drinks. I was not able to walk in a straight line that day and I nearly got sunstroke to boot.

Instead I did a bit of retail therapy, well it is nearly my birthday afterall. And so I bought some Sony 1000XM4 noise cancelling headphones which I’m hoping will come in useful on me flight home in a few weeks. Mind you, since Trump has decided to start WWIII I might not be able to get on said flight.

What a Fuckin’ stupid piece of shit he is…..

I got an email from my bank telling me that my mortgage is 21 years old this June. A few weeks ago they sent me another email which said that because my mortgage had been in credit for a while they might go ahead and finalise it and give me the title deeds. This is not what I want because I currently use my mortgage equity to my advantage and I need it to continue with life as I know it.

It runs for another 9 years and yes there is an account keeping fee of $400 per year, this also provides me with a credit card and a few other benefits and besides I like the flexibility it lends me if I need money in a hurry. I might not be here in 9 years’ time and if I am then my “Super” will cover any outstanding payments needed.

Pictures above from 2004

I’m struggling to process the fact that I have been here since 2004, I have lived in this house for 21 years and it has changed along the way just like me….both for the better I think. My old house has been through the wars. In 2011, massive floods in South East Queensland caused major damage to communities and my house had water around 300mm on the second level of the house and is an experience I do not want to ever repeat. The insurance would not pay out immediately and it took nearly 9 months of fighting to get paid out and this I think was more stressful than the actual event.

Going through the flood was very surreal; it felt as if for the most part you were having an out of body experience watching yourself or someone that looked like you navigate through the chaos. Strangers stopping to help, or giving you food and drink, and the fire brigade coming in to hose out the shed and bottom of the house. Finding small fish in the garden and of course the smells were ripe and intense. It was the middle of summer and very hot and decay was in the air.

In 2022 after what was called a rain bomb sat over SE Queensland the flooding came within10m or so from the back of the house and that brought back many dark memories and stress, I guess it must be PTSD and that was the case for many years after the 2011 flood.

The house has protected me from many storms, it’s kept me dry and with the help of the air conditioning warm and cool when needed. It was built around 1980 and I have done much work to it over the years. This is my sanctuary. When I come home and lock the doors, close the blinds and leave the outside world behind then there is a sense of calm. At this time of the year the house is cool in the morning and so I like to sit out the back on the deck that was added many moons ago, a great place to read a book or have a siesta or just to contemplate.

I’m so glad that I was unable to sell up a few years ago when I had a bit of a “mental glitch” I would have regretted that decision I feel. I have everything I need here and the house has changed through the years like me. I would still like to make a few changes and I will get around to them at a later date. One thing I always think I should get is a wood burner for downstairs, especially when winter arrives and the frost comes.

Present Day 2025

This also means that I have owned my olde Ford for 21 years also; my trusty steed has also been through the wars during this time but I still enjoy driving my old friend.