Scout

John came to the Probus meeting at Kingsgrove on Monday where, after the official meeting, a speaker from Sydney Water gave a talk on recycling water -how the desalination plant at Kurnell worked to households using water and ways of saving.

Diane came over to see the handcraft that Katrina sent and she admired it. I wish I had more experience in the bit I had to do.

The hens are now roaming free and not only are weeds being eaten but their heads go thru the fence to get the nearest lettuce or broccoli. We are getting one egg daily.

Thursday was reconnaissance day as the leader Kay had to do a pre walk and asked for volunteers. I said yes and as John was home, he too became a scout. We walked approx. 12 km from Bardwell Valley station thru bushland and then along the Cooks river to Campsie. We were very glad to get home and rest the legs. One offshoot was to Nanny Goat Hill and it was aptly named. When the official walk is on next Friday thats the bit I'm going to miss and stay at the bottom.

We had afternoon tea at Louises where we caught up with all the news. All plans for Louise's wedding are going to schedule (end Oct. in Tamworth)

chickens

Its five days now that the hens have been in their shed and today at about 4 we will let them out to have their first roam and as it gets dark at 5.30 or so, that should be enough time for their run. Tomorrow the time will be longer and then in a few days they can roam all day. We have had 3 eggs over 3 days, but I dont know which one is laying. Here is John spraying the fruit trees with white oil to help with the stink bugs later in the year.

At the computer class I learnt the principles of making a card. As I dont have the programe they are using, I come home and practice . Wordart is different and still cannot work out how type on it but I'm sure with a little more time it will be fine.

lots and lots

Tuesday saw Margaret and I at Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts in Pitt Street to hear four authors talk about their books. The main attraction for us was Gabrielle Lord who is mystery and crime author but who has been commissioned by Scholastic Books, to write, aiming at the 11 -13 yold boys. It was very interesting and group of about 60 enjoyed hearing her and the other 3. We joined the SMSA for the year and now will have another venue to enjoy.

Friday was a 12 km walk starting at Kurnell, along the paths through Botany Bay Nat. Park to Cape Bally lighthouse. We were lucky to see a humpback whale (far off) spout and a flick of its tail. My new walking boots were broken in as it had rained the night before and the tracks, in places, were very bloggy.

Mossman/movies/tangello

At the second part of lecture on Macquarie at Mossman Art Centre was as interesting as the first. The speaker, John Flint, turned out to be the great great grandson of Charles Whalan who was Lachlan Macquarie's lieutenant for 13 years, and it was his letters and that of his brother's reply, that were read out

Movie Tuesday saw Margaret and I at Newtown Dendy where we saw two really really good movies - in French - The Hedgehog and an Australian - Animal Kingdom. Margaret is sitting on the roots of a Moreton Bay fig in the church grounds a block or so from the cinema.

After the tangello died last year, the ground had a rest and was boosted with organic material and then on Thursday we planted a new tree.

The chook house has been cleaned out, nesting boxes, perch and food container are at the ready. Now await next Saturday when the cooks arrive.

Caught in the Rain

On Thursday John and I went to the movies and saw - I am Love and Farewell. Both so different but we didn't rate either of them well.

Friday was the circuit around Manly dam after crossing the dam wall through woodlands, heaths and wetlands. Well, that's what was supposed to be, but not only did we get lost but it began to bucket down in the middle of lost nowhere. Eventually we reached road and walked back to a bus stop which took us into QVB. I was hungry and had very wet feet so I went directly home. Only some of the other stayed to have the usual coffee after walk.

I decided no more wet feet and John took me to Ray's outdoors where a pair of good walking boots and a waterproof jacket was bought. Now as a girl guide would be - I am prepared.

Today, between showers, I planted out two asparagus plants which will take 2/3 years before spears can be picked for eating. They went in next to the rhubarb plant and just hope they will be good companions as they will live in their positions for some time. They say an asparagus plant can live 30 years.

The Past Week

The two tomato vines started to die so it was off with the produce and then what. I have kept the red and the starting to pink up tomatoes, and then the rest went into green tomato pickle which took three days to prepare, rest, cook and then jar up. The filled jars are to sit for three weeks before using (as per the cookery book).
I attended the monthly Probus meeting and will put in my membership form next month. John has had a bad cold so it was a quiet weekend. He is just now picking up and only coughing once in a while.
Yesterday I travelled to Mosman on public transport. The group U3A have a course at Mosman Art Gallery each Monday and this first talk of two, on Govenor Lachlan Macquarie and Elizabeth was interesting and looking forward to next week.
The highlight of the week was to see Henry, Lucy, Fiona and Andrew for one minute and 5 seconds on Skype before my computer interrupted and stopped the webcam.