While Not Working

In a fit of enthusiasm earlier in the year,  Roger and I decided that every month we would try to ride just a few kilometers more than what we did the month before. In January I rode 193 km. In February I rode 220 km. We won't talk about March. Today was the last day of April, so April's total relied on how far I rode today, but we had other commitments taking precedence over bike riding.  Namely, our weekly drive up to the Adelaide Hills to visit with family.  From the car it's possible to catch glimpses of Lycra Lads on a bike path beside the highway, usually grinding up the hill to earn the coffee that they'll have at the top. The sight of the Lycra Lads set off a light bulb in my wee brain:  what better way to round off April than to get Roger to drop me at the top of the hill so I could have fun going down without all the hard work of going up?  Even better, if I did it after lunch all the Lycra Lads would have gone home so I wouldn't shame them with my awe...

The Big Fluffy Cat (BFC) liked to be brushed, which is a good thing because the his owner was very clear in his directions that the BFC was prone to matting and must be brushed regularly. The BFC really liked to be brushed while standing on a computer keyboard in the office, and insisted on doing so whenever anyone was at the keyboard.  Due to this, the BFC spent the last two days whining and scratching outside the office door while inside I conducted work on a feline-free keyboard.  When I emerged the BFC was consumed by an internal struggle: should he ignore me for ignoring him, or should he sacrifice his very catty dignity and beg for a brush? It's hard to be a cat. Brush me, human servant. The BFC's stuggle was not the only one going on in our house today.  The nice Google lady, who tells us where to go when we're in the car, had moved into the house as well.   "Google!" Said Roger, "A B C radio!" The Google lady recited the alphabet. "Google s...

When we were first in Adelaide, back in November, we set out to ride the trains over the entire Adelaide Metro network, not counting the Gawler line which was (and is) undergoing upgrades and had buses instead of trains.  A couple of days ago Roger realised with horror that we had not yet ridden the branch line out to Flinders, and if that sounds familiar it's because this isn't the first time we've missed entire branch lines (see here).   The line to Flinders wasn't long - only four stations - but you can't say you've ridden an entire network if there are four stations and an entire branch line missing, so off we went to rectify the matter. Despite being on a train riding adventure, we spent most of the time riding our bikes. In fact, we went quite a long way out of our way in order to include the Torrens Linear Path and the Western Bikeway on our way to the train station. Most of the ride was on dedicated bike paths, some of them prettier than others. This was...

We are the temporary custodians of a Big Fluffy Cat (BFC) while his owners are overseas.  BFC likes being brushed, sitting on keyboards, and sleeping on the humans' bed. Unfortunately BFC had rather a mixed up first night with us because Roger got himself a painful tummy/back so we tried out the facilities at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and BFC had to sleep alone for most of the night. Excuse me, you have no hair! Everyone at the Royal Adelaide was very nice and there was even free entertainment in the form of various drunks, security men, no-nonsense nurses, and the general parade of the unwell or worried public. People in Adelaide crashed their cars (four crashes!), ran into elbows while playing footy, sprouted mysterious rashes, broke their ankles, and got bopped over the head with a stick while floating on a cloud of chemical enhancement. Roger was really quite dull by comparison, and was eventually sent home at 0230 with suitable pills and written instructions for the GP. The ...

When I handed in my keys in the morning I told the Keith Motel about the everlasting light situation, thereby discharging my duty of care to future travelers.  I dodged all the rain showers on the highway, stopping briefly to admire some wire art; and again at the look out as I came into Tailem Bend, with wide open views of the Murray River. I watched the ferry cross the river at Tailem Bend.  On the other side of the river is Jervois, relegated to being Tailem Bend's little cousin on account of being on the other side of the river from all the action eg the highway and  The Bend   motor sport park, which on its own is almost as big as Tailem Bend anyway.   Flocks of little corellas dotted the trees and paddocks alongside the river.   And then I met a rhinoceros, which was not what I was expecting in Tailem Bend.  At first I thought he was another whimsical folly but no, he was merely advertising for the nearby Monarto Safari Park (but with animal...

It was nice to spend a week in Melbourne just down the road from Daughter, with the bonuses of a dog to play with and a bicycle to ride.  I watched balloons float overhead while walking the dog in the morning. There were endless bike paths to explore: in the city; beside new highways; down gravel paths behind airports and golf courses; and around lakes. The dog provided unconditional adoration and puppy eyes, always begging for a walk or a tossed ball. The last roses of summer bloomed in my street, and I watched the sunset with a  beautiful young woman, who needs to learn better manners. I met  some seagulls, and found a really creepy seagull sculpture. And of course, we had coffee and cake on at least one occasion. Purely to fit in,  you understand.  "When in Melbourne etc..." All  good things must come to an end however, so on Tuesday morning I packed the car, fed the dog, mopped the floor, and started the drive back to Adelaide. It rained.  Surprisi...