Drifting through life

Today, May 31st, is World No Tobacco Day. Wonder how many participated? I sold just as many packets this morning as I always do.... May 31st also sees a new era beginning for smokers. From May 31st, smokers will no longer be allowed to smoke in the grounds of Public Hospitals and Health Clinics. Smokers must leave the grounds and go out to the footpaths. I don't know if any of you readers have seen, or been to, our Royal Adelaide Hospital, (RAH), but the main footpath there on North Terrace, is quite narrow in places due to large trees and numerous bus stops along its length. There are always people crowding or queueing to catch a bus, to have this area now be more crowded with visitors and patients alike, some in wheelchairs, would make this footpath impossible to walk along. What happens in the future when smokers are no longer allowed on the footpaths? Where do they go? What of those who are ill at home and have health workers come in daily or weekly to assist them? From May 3...

....is not something I'm good at. My hands aren't steady, so people tend to have their heads chopped off, or things are blurred. But now and again, I surprise myself. This is a single flower from a native frangipani tree. The leaves were deeply shadowed and this one blossom was highlighted by the sun.

I took this from kelly at www.kelly.pegasuscreations.co/nz Since she borrowed it herself, I knew she wouldn't mind. 1. What's your middle name? Emma Maria; (one for each grandma) 2. How old are you? Ageless-as a river should be 3. Where are you from? Are you living there right now? Originally from Germany, have been Australian since I got here. I've lived in several states, but home is Adelaide and yes, I'm living here right now. 4. Is it cold where you are? Define cold. If you mean snow and ice, then no, it isn't cold here. But it is very late in our autumn (fall) and most people are now wearing jackets, gloves etc, so yes it's cold(ish) by Australian standards. 5. What's the time? Hot chocolate time. Oh, you mean look at the clock? 5.20pm 6. What are you wearing? An old worn out tracksuit that now doubles as pj's and a sleeveless polar fleece vest. 7. What was the last thing you listened to? Trisha Yea...

Broccoli trees grow mainly on Mashed Potato Island often found surrounded by Carrot Sharks which only swim in the Beef Casserole Ocean.

This bursitis I've got is a right royal pain in the....well, in the shoulder actually. After waiting 3 months for what I thought was a strained muscle to settle down and stop hurting, I finally was persuaded by my supervisor to see a doctor. Her exact words were "Go! Today!" So I have bursitis, an inflammation of the lining between the shoulder joints. A cortisone injection in the back of the shoulder, (ouch), followed by another in the front of the shoulder, (oh my god he's killing me!). Doc then told me to take things easy, don't do too much, this sometimes can take up to a year to fix itself. Ha Ha. Think about this for just a moment. How many times do you move your shoulders every single day? Showering, dressing, general housework, (oh wait, there's one I can stop doing). Plus my job requires a lot of arm/hand actions. So for a while there, I was eating panadols like they were smarties. But I did wise up and start taking things easier and working slowe...

My suburb, Norwood, is a cafe society. Stand in the middle of The Parade (the main street), and you're practically surrounded by cafes. Gloria Jeans. Uncle Alberts. Cafe Bravo. Cafe Primo. Cibo's. And more. All with seating. Indoor seating. Outdoor seating. Plenty of places to park your bum and enjoy the hot beverage of your choice. With or without a snack or meal. So there really is no reason, none at all , to bring your takeaway cup of coffee into the supermarket, wedge it into your trolley, then wander around shopping, not noticing that you've knocked the cup over and are now leaving a trail of coffee around several aisles.

...are so much tastier than fast food ones, in my opinion.

In our Saturday Advertiser I read a small piece on a "seniors playground". Here's a quote: "London: A "seniors' playground has opened in Hyde Park- and it has the over-60s lining up to have a turn. The playground - with six low-impact fitness machines, including a stationary bicycle and a sit-up bench - was installed after residents campaigned for more facilities to help older people get fit. Organisers said older people were lining up from early in the mornings to try out the newly installed exercise machines." I think this is a fantastic idea which should be adopted world-wide. Now, who do I speak to about such a thing being installed in various parts of Australia.........

Pretty yes?

Anyone who watches The Big Bang Theory knows that Leonard and Sheldon keep their keys in a bowl by the door. I've done this myself for as long as I can remember. Except my "bowl" has been and old chinese takeaway container. While browsing a homewares shop earlier today, I spotted a small square bowl in a lovely shade of blue. Almost a denim blue. Well, more accurately, the bowl spotted me! It practically jumped off the shelf into my hands and insisted I bring it home. So I did. Who am I to argue with a bowl? Now my keys reside in a sweet little Portugese stoneware bowl from the French Country Collection.

I know I live in the driest state in the driest continent. I know we're all supposed to be saving water. Short showers, redirect the washing machine rinse water on to the garden etc. But sometimes....now and again....once in a blue moon....I step into that shower and run the water fast and hot. And I stay under there! For at least 5 minutes, sometimes 10. I don't do it often and I tell myself it's okay because I only wash one or two loads a week, dishes are only washed up once a day, the garden is watered according to regulations imposed by our government. Plus I don't grow plants that need lots of water. I figure the guilt is worth it when my achy old bones and muscles relax under the hot spray and when I get out of the shower I feel renewed.

When I was a small girl, (not that I'm much taller now), I lived alone with my Dad. Thursdays were paydays and coincidentally Thursdays were also "Ranch" nights at the local B grade cinema. This meant a double feature of two cowboy movies. Plus of course a newsreel and cartoons. Dad loved westerns, especially if Audie Murphy or John Wayne was in them. So every Thursday night at 5pm, we'd set off walking into town for our weekly outing. First stop was the fish'n'chip shop where we'd sit in the cafe section and have dinner. Dad would always get a "mixed grill" plate, which had steak, sausages, chips, grilled tomato and a fried egg. I'd get the fish'n'chips, junior sized meal. Then we'd walk around town a bit, window shopping, choosing what we'd buy if we could have anything we wanted, until it was almost 7.30. Time to head for the cinema. Dad would buy Maltesers for me and Fruchocs for himself, then we'd choose our seat...

Hmmm, not sure how long this blog will last. Rivers sometimes dry up you know. Take a look at our famous Murray River. Well, "our" end of it anyway. I've been reading others blogs for quite some time now, and several people have mentioned that I should have my own blog. Being a lazy person, I kept saying no. Blogs involve thinking. And typing. Neither of which I'm very good at. So this is it. River's blog. Post number one.