Saturday, May 14, 2022

And Then Along Came COVID- Not Fun!

 Amy and I drove back from Melbourne on Tuesday, 8 hours in the car together, Thursday morning I woke up feeling exhausted and a bit congested. Did a RAT which tested positive COVID. Bill and Amy both did a test and were both negative. So I was isolated to one end of the house. Spent the first couple of hours cancelling the week of appointments I had the following week with the dentist, physio, gynaecologist, skin doctor and plasma donation- it was a busy week! I thought I was in for a couple of days of not feeling the best, instead it turned into 10 days of feeling exhausted and fatigued and doing virtually nothing. Even now I am only just feeling that I am on the improve and still struggling with that feeling of fatigue.



I am grateful for all the lovely people in my life that dropped off various goodies and items that made my day, made me feel loved and not so alone. 



Then to add to the drama of the week, Amy was in the kitchen getting some lunch when Budgie the macaw flew onto her head bent down and bit her really badly on the ear. I heard screaming and came out to find blood just dripping from Amy's ear. Amy was badly shaken, we stopped the bleeding and cleared her ear up. Trying to bandage and ear is not an easy thing! Amy wasn't up to going to get it looked at that day, so went to the walk in clinic the next day. That was a 4 hour process, waiting, getting checked, nurses contacting the Plastics Registrar Clinic who recommended that she come in and have it looked at the next day. When she went in the next day at the time given she was told that she needed to come back later the afternoon. Amy is always anxious about going to the hospital and having to go alone because I was in isolation meant she just couldn't face going back again so ended up going to the local GP who looked at it. The main concern was about scarring, Amy decided she would rather have a scar than go through the ordeal of another long wait at a hospital. Another concern was bacteria and infection, so swabs have been taken and Amy is on antibiotics, the ear looks as though it is healing okay so that is good.


When the McAllisters found out about our drama, Sarah turned up with a first aid kit for Amy and a helmet for me to make sure I didn't become a victim of a similar encounter!



We had a real laugh at all the messages from Sarah,  including having to find a missing ear for Mrs Potato Head, some chocolate with crunch, and a card for Big Ears- we were in tears!


On the day I helped Amy with her ear I did a RAT test which came back negative so at least I had passed the infectious stage. The day after I came out of isolation, Amy and I had to go and pick up Lachlan who had fainted while having a fasting blood test- so it was a week of drama. Hopefully things will calm down now!


On the Road Again- Melbourne to Canberra

 Had a lovely time in Melbourne, Bill and I briefly caught up with Bill's sister Hilary and BIL Stuey, was looking forward to seeing Benny the Dalmatian, but was greeted by a second liver spotted tail wagging Dalmatian, so got to meet Millie as well. Bill made it safely home to the macaws, eclectus and the dogs. Amy and I enjoyed a day out at Healsville Sanctuary, we have loved staying in the Dandenongs, it was a lovely break away.



Two gorgeous Dalmatians, Millie and Benny


Lots of birds at the Healsville Sanctuary, including a bird show 



We stopped for a late lunch at the Kallista Tea Rooms and enjoyed a nice meal being watched by a flock of sulphur crested cockatoos, in the the tree right next to our window. Quite entertaining.







Friday, May 13, 2022

The Wedding

 My niece Natalie ( youngest child of my older brother Michael) was married to Dylan, on Sunday 1st May at Marybrooke Manor at Sherbrooke in the Dandenong Ranges. It was a lovely day and in a lovely setting. It was nice to catch up with all my family, especially not having seen many of them for quite a while with COVID lockdowns etc. It is  lovely up in the Dandenongs, and the wedding venue was 10 minutes from where we were staying at Belgrave. Was a great opportunity to get family photos.


Bill scrubs up okay


Me, Bill and Amy


Charlie, Bindi and Mia

Gary, Arlene, Kelly, Matthew and Ben

 Gary and Arlene


Filomena, Kim, Daniel, Ella and Kieran


Pam with quite a few of her grandchildren





Dylan and Natalie




Pam and Natalie


Natalie with her brothers Josh and Nathan

On the Road Again- Trip to Melbourne

 We had a family wedding in Melbourne so it was time to shake off COVID anxiety and head to Melbourne. It was a bit of a logistic nightmare as we had to drag Bill away from his birds and find someone to feed the dogs and the birds. Amy and I drove down on Thursday, stopping off overnight at our favourite bed and breakfast, Amberesque, in Rutherglen then heading on to Belgrave in the Dandenongs, where we had hired a house to stay. Bill flew down on Saturday afternoon and flew back Sunday night. We organised friends of ours, Emma, Noah and Adele Stuart, who love birds and were happy to come over Saturday night and then Sunday morning and Sunday night and look after the rest of our family.



Main street of Rutherglen- it is a lovely town with beautiful buildings


Lovely walk around the local waterhole


Our favourite B&B in the main street


Amy enjoying her kiwi fruit parfait with hokey pokey ice-cream for breakfast


We got to revist more favourite haunts including The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie!


We picked up Amy's friend Steph from Belgrave Railway Station who came out to stay with us for the night, it was lovely to catch up with her. Dinner was a grazing platter from stuff we picked up along the way down.


Chocolate Dessert Platter


On our way out to the airport on Saturday afternoon we called into a plant shop called Collectors Corner in Braeside. Amy was in plant heaven.










Thursday, May 12, 2022

Good Friday Easter Picnic

 We had our annual Good Friday Easter Picnic at Lennox Gardens again. It was a foggy start but then a lovely sunny day. Gary and Arlene were visiting from Melbourne so it was lovely to have them there with Ben and Matthew as well. It was the usual menu, hot cross buns, fruit, egg and bacon rolls and haloumi and then an Easter Egg Hunt. We had the Scott's and Stuarts, Gary and Arlene, Bill, Amy and I , Bindi and the kids and another family with young kids who are friends with Bindi.


  Gary, with Matthew and Ben


Lennox Gardens looking lovely with the autumn leaves


Traditional line up from youngest to oldest for the Easter Egg Hunt




After the picnic, Matthew and Gary went off to ride electric scooters around the lake, so Arlene and Ben came back with Amy and I, Matthew and Gary came out later. We had a lovely time catching up with them, they ended up staying for dinner, we got takeaway from the local Thai places. Gary and Arlene both had a snooze at some point. Ben had fun playing with Amy's squish mallows, her sensory toys and the bean bags and weighted blankets. It was lovely being able to spend time with them.



On the Sunday afternoon Amy and I glazed and baked a ham and we had a lovely family dinner with Bindi and the kids and Gary and the kids. We then played Gartic Phone and Family Feud that had us all in stitches. Was nice to see Matthew getting to know his cousins.