Kerran very cleverly re-configured our computer while he was home last week, but he ran out of time to re-load everything for me. It's taken a couple of days to finally get it all back on - virus scans, programmes etc etc.
Uni holidays seem to come around pretty frequently but there are always assignments to be done. Both Jessie and Kerran have been doing just that, and this week Jessie is back working at the hotel and Kerran has gone on a camp which is part of his course.
I hope to take Jessie back to Adelaide at the end of the week, so that she can get organised for the resumption of lectures and the downhill run to final exams in just a few weeks.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Glorious Rain
Opening rains in April, closing rains in September and very little in between.
The new advertisement on televison says it all - Ausralia is a country of drought! It's normal. We live in the driest state in the driest continent, so we have to expect years of low rainfall.
Despite driving winds over much of the weekend, the rain was most welcome - our rain guage managed to gather 12mm - I'm not sure how it collected any to be honest - the rain was almot horizontal - we found it difficult to walk into the iwnd it was so strong!
But we're not as badly off as those in and around Sydney who lost houses and property to bushfire over the weekend. Or our poor "cousins" on the land who face another bleak year with little or no income.
Despite having a bore to water the garden we will have to be careful too this summer. Coastal gardening is a big challenge at the best of times, so this will challenge us even further.
The new advertisement on televison says it all - Ausralia is a country of drought! It's normal. We live in the driest state in the driest continent, so we have to expect years of low rainfall.
Despite driving winds over much of the weekend, the rain was most welcome - our rain guage managed to gather 12mm - I'm not sure how it collected any to be honest - the rain was almot horizontal - we found it difficult to walk into the iwnd it was so strong!
But we're not as badly off as those in and around Sydney who lost houses and property to bushfire over the weekend. Or our poor "cousins" on the land who face another bleak year with little or no income.
Despite having a bore to water the garden we will have to be careful too this summer. Coastal gardening is a big challenge at the best of times, so this will challenge us even further.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Some rain at least
Last night we had 8mm of rain!!!! It was just lovely this morning to awaken to the fresh green look of the plants and dampness, although it still wasn't the soaking rain we'd all hoped for. I don't recall any puddles outside AT ALL this year! That is very sad and very unusual for this part of the world, a sign of things to come I fear. The mini-series, "men and a Tinnie" showed the absolute dryness of the inland on the ABC last night - it was both humorous and real.
Unfortunately the gale force winds are with us today so any surface moisture will be soon dried up.
Unfortunately the gale force winds are with us today so any surface moisture will be soon dried up.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Update on Kerran
Kerran is absolutely fine now after the dramas of last weekend.
Upon phoning Virgin, he was fortunately able to cancel his phone AND transfer the credit to a new one (at a cost of $15), and will retain the phone number - it will take about a week for that to come into effect. Noone had used the phone so it makes you wonder whether someone has handed it in somewhere that he hasn't reported it.
And West Coast won last night so he's more than happy. Now there are no Melbourne teams left in the AFL competition! Adelaide will have a tough game against the West Coast powerhouse next weekend, so we will have to wait and see the outcome.
Upon phoning Virgin, he was fortunately able to cancel his phone AND transfer the credit to a new one (at a cost of $15), and will retain the phone number - it will take about a week for that to come into effect. Noone had used the phone so it makes you wonder whether someone has handed it in somewhere that he hasn't reported it.
And West Coast won last night so he's more than happy. Now there are no Melbourne teams left in the AFL competition! Adelaide will have a tough game against the West Coast powerhouse next weekend, so we will have to wait and see the outcome.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Emergency department
Kerran's little trip to emergency last Saturday night, captured by Elyssa on her mobile phone, shows just how unwell he was.
Kerran hasn't had a good week - lost his brand new mobile phone on the train today! (Jessie says the photo of him conked out is better on his phone) .
And he'd just put another $50 worth of calls on it. If you know Kerran, you know that he doesn't use his phone all that much - certainly not to MAKE calls - they cost too much.
But to be fair - he is a poor Uni student.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Football season over
With the help of Rikki, Kristin, Elyssa, Jordan and Jessie last night - and at least 20 STD phone calls - Kerran responded well to 2 litres of saline drip in hospital after obviously suffering concussion in yet another game of football yesterday afternoon. From that point of view, I am just glad the season is over, despite the fact that it is disappointing to get so close to the one big game of the year.
He finally made it home around 11pm - it was a marathon effort to get treatment on a Saturday night - and expensive, despite our private health insurance and Kerran's health care card. Private hospital treatment is certainly quicker than the public health system in such circumstances, but costly. I just wanted to get in the car and rush to Adelaide.
But, hey - the West Coast Eagles (Kerran's favoured AFL team) and our local team also lost yesterday, with similar margins (about a goal). Finishing third on the ladder is nothing to be ashamed of.
Amazingly, Kerran's football club didn't seem to notice his demise (which had been obvious to me at 2.30pm when I spoke to him - he made little sense, immediatley after the game). Once at the hospital (around 7pm) the staff commented that he should have been seen to much earlier. That's the problem with living so far away. We couldn't get to Adelaide this weekend because Rick had to work all day yesterday, unfortunately and you feel so helpless in such situations.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, Kerran is fine, other than being tired today.
Jessie took it all in her stride and did all the right things - contacting doctors, hospitals, us, Rikki, Kerran's workplace (he was meant to work last night) etc etc. Kristin's medical background helped too - she was sure he needed to be checked out. Blurred vision, rolling eyes and extreme tiredness are not normal symptoms after a game of football, so it was a team effort.
Rikki's taxi service deserves a mention, too - driving back and forth all night, delivering food to Jessie at the hospital, waiting for Kerran to get home again. Well done, everyone - and thanks! We are all very grateful.
He finally made it home around 11pm - it was a marathon effort to get treatment on a Saturday night - and expensive, despite our private health insurance and Kerran's health care card. Private hospital treatment is certainly quicker than the public health system in such circumstances, but costly. I just wanted to get in the car and rush to Adelaide.
But, hey - the West Coast Eagles (Kerran's favoured AFL team) and our local team also lost yesterday, with similar margins (about a goal). Finishing third on the ladder is nothing to be ashamed of.
Amazingly, Kerran's football club didn't seem to notice his demise (which had been obvious to me at 2.30pm when I spoke to him - he made little sense, immediatley after the game). Once at the hospital (around 7pm) the staff commented that he should have been seen to much earlier. That's the problem with living so far away. We couldn't get to Adelaide this weekend because Rick had to work all day yesterday, unfortunately and you feel so helpless in such situations.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, Kerran is fine, other than being tired today.
Jessie took it all in her stride and did all the right things - contacting doctors, hospitals, us, Rikki, Kerran's workplace (he was meant to work last night) etc etc. Kristin's medical background helped too - she was sure he needed to be checked out. Blurred vision, rolling eyes and extreme tiredness are not normal symptoms after a game of football, so it was a team effort.
Rikki's taxi service deserves a mention, too - driving back and forth all night, delivering food to Jessie at the hospital, waiting for Kerran to get home again. Well done, everyone - and thanks! We are all very grateful.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Stingrays
Although I have never been a huge fan of the "Crocodile Hunter", Steve Irwin, it was difficult to comprehend how such an experienced wildlife hero could die yesterday from a stingray barb on the Great Barrier Reef, whilst filming a documentary. However, the barb apparently pierced his heart, so it would have been a very quick demise. Kerran is "gutted".
It is becoming more and more apparent just what Steve Irwin had done for conservation and the Australian tourist industtry, but after all he was an ordinary human being - and his family has recognised that in not accepting a state funeral.
For those of you who are already afraid of Australia's deadly wildlife, I have never seen a stingray and they are, by all accounts, quite timid - only stinging when they feel threatened. But it does show that when your time's up, it's up - and there's no going back. Life is very fragile.
It is becoming more and more apparent just what Steve Irwin had done for conservation and the Australian tourist industtry, but after all he was an ordinary human being - and his family has recognised that in not accepting a state funeral.
For those of you who are already afraid of Australia's deadly wildlife, I have never seen a stingray and they are, by all accounts, quite timid - only stinging when they feel threatened. But it does show that when your time's up, it's up - and there's no going back. Life is very fragile.
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