Arranging The Cabinet

The cold snap seems to have hit, more or less. It’s still a bit up and down, but I can see winter on the horizon.
And the sunsets are…colder.

More pink! 🙂

I have been feeling better, although still getting tired sooner than I’d like.
But I now have a glass cabinet! Yay!
It’s not the same as the cabinets I already have, but this one is for teacups and pots/plates, so it doesn’t matter so much.

The empty space is for the other type of glass cabinet, when we get around to finding one.
My Babe and Sweet Bean went out in the rain last weekend to get this one for me, and also to pick up some Pop Vinyls the seller had as well.

Wonder Woman, because…why not?
Mrs Potts and Chip, from Beauty and the Beast. A cute addition to my real teapots and cups! 😀
But the one I really wanted was Charlie (Bradbury, from Supernatural)! My favourite character, but hugely expensive – $100 or more online. I told the seller she could get more on Ebay, but she very nicely let me have it for around $3.50 🙂
You never know what you’ll find on Facebook Marketplace…

*********************************
Just a little addendum, as I heard today that another of my favourite actors has died – Michael Keating, who played Vila Restal on Blakes 7 (and went on to play many more roles).
Here he is, quipping his way through dystopia…

Published in: on May 22, 2026 at 11:19 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Over It

Not the rainbow!

There’s always a place for those. 😀

I haven’t been doing too great the last few days.
Enjoying the cold and the rain, though!

I had my Covid/flu shots on Tuesday, and expected that to be that, with perhaps a bit of an ache here and there…
What I got was a painful arm (only the Covid side) that hurt when I even thought of moving it, nausea and vomiting, and high temperatures (although not quite ambulance/brain-melting levels. That’s a plus.).
Wednesday was a bit of a blur. And I couldn’t even manage to hold a book, let alone read!!
Still not quite there, arm still painful, and temperature fluctuating, but much better overall 🙂

So, perhaps that’s a reason to not get the vaccinations, I hear you say?
I wouldn’t say so…
I haven’t kept up with my Covid vaccinations, and have never had the flu one, but it seemed like the right time to get them. I didn’t react at all before, so all this has been unexpected.

And having had time to stop and think, I remember sitting on the plane on my way to England in 1994. I’d had the recommended basic travel vaccinations (can’t remember which ones), and my arm from shoulder to elbow was hot, swollen and red.
Seems like my immune system just likes to throw a tantrum now and then.
(Somewhere in the back of my brain I see it sneaking up behind me, waggling eyebrows, twirling a moustache, and saying, “A ha!”)

It’s possible that my temperature hasn’t quite gone down far enough…

Well, I still have books to read.
Possibly even sleep to have.
And here is a little heat pack I saw the other day (I didn’t buy it), just to leave on a cheerful note.

🙂

Published in: on May 15, 2026 at 10:50 pm  Leave a Comment  

A Shot In The Arm

Sunday afternoon brought an unexpected visit to a cafe I’ve wanted to check out for a while.
Their opening hours don’t generally fit in with my week – we only dropped in Sunday because we were heading somewhere else.
It was, of course, Mothers’ Day.
My boys were involved with an online gaming session, and forgot what day it was…
So my Babe took me out for a coffee ❤

French Earl Grey tea, a caramel latte, with a backdrop of vintage clothing 🙂
Just the thing to cheer my day…

The boys did fund my choice of pressie, and this was the sort of place I enjoy shopping!

Some new badges. A tiny “rubber” ducky. And some china shards I found on the road outside.
I also chose a little screen thing for my desk.

We didn’t sit in the garden this time.

Or contemplate changing our mode of transport…

I indulged in some unicorn fancies later in the afternoon.

Such a lovely day!
❤

I finally got around to getting my flu and covid vaccinations today, so my arms are a bit sore.
There’s always something different to do/see/look forward to.
I’ve had the literal one… but a metaphoric shot in the arm might be just around the corner!

Published in: on May 12, 2026 at 11:47 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Under A Mackerel Sky

Bit cold this morning.
I put on more layers to wait for the early bus, so I was comfortable.
The clouds were shining in the sun – not sure if they were completely “mackerel” – I think there were some mare’s tails in there!

The sun was still low(ish), so not much heat radiating onto the town.

Shiny! 😀

Sat and enjoyed a cappuccino…

before checking out the markets.
It was still too early for the library to be open, so I lingered on one of the green areas, watching the world go by.
I was soon joined by a bubble fairy.

Magic!

❤ 🙂

I was apprehensive about going out today – the cold snap, and the early start.
But I got there, and was able to experience and appreciate hot coffee on a cold morning.
And bubbles!

I wandered (lonely as a (mackerel) cloud?) before taking a leisurely bus ride home (roadworks on the route – it was late).
Saturday’s a good day for that.
Weekdays are appointments and schedules, Sundays are church.
Saturday stretches out with anticipation…
At least, this one did!

Published in: on May 9, 2026 at 11:52 pm  Leave a Comment  

On Clouds Of Bliss

After (far too) many years, we have finally bought a new mattress.

The finished article…
(and no, there isn’t someone skulking under the duvet. Just a pillow)

The old mattress was sagging in random places, with springs that pinged when you moved in any direction. It had its day, but was too expensive to replace.
Until now! 😀

This new one came in a box, compressed.

Doesn’t look too comfy here.

Nope.

Voilà!

It made a weird sound as it was decompressing – like something was boiling over on the stove.
If I’d known that was going to happen I would have filmed it! 😀

It needed to be left alone (with plastic removed) for at least 24 hours.
And then – sleep!
It’s significantly deeper than the last one.
And much more comfortable…

Yay!

As for bliss…
another random YouTube offering.

Very much enjoying the video 🙂

But – time to drift off, on pillowy clouds, to sleep.

Published in: on May 7, 2026 at 11:36 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Such A LOVELY Day!

I sometimes wonder if I use the word “lovely” too much.
It can be seen as one of those words that are a bit too twee, maybe insincere…one of the lazy adjectives.
Occasionally, I will use “wonderful”, or veer off into the “spectacular” type realms.

But, mostly, I think “lovely” is the only appropriate word.
The dictionary seems to associate it with “delightful” and “charming“, and that’s how I see it – a sweet flower, or a cute puppy, or a wide-eyed child taking in the wonders of their world – what else could I say? ❤

There seems to be a sort of soft, squishy inner me (my mental image is of a cartoon granny – apple cheeks, grey-haired bun, little round wire glasses) that notices the delightful things in odd corners, and coos, “Ooooh – lovely!”.
And then totters off with a wistful smile.

Yesterday, I enjoyed loveliness in different guises.
Off to town on the bus in the morning to browse the charity shops, and relax with a hot chocolate and an unexpected treat.

A cruffin!
(not as sugary as it looks 🙂 )

I sat by myself at a tiny table for one.
Facing the wall, but with an off-centre mirror to see the world pass by.

Self portrait, with blue.

I was overlooked by a drift of feathers.

Time to move on!

I finally remembered to see the exhibition that is on at the gallery at the moment –
Leonard Brown, an Ipswich artist who paints both abstracts and icons (in the traditional manner).
In the context of my day, I will still say “lovely”…but I will also break out and add “beautiful”, “amazing”, and “inspiring”.
The exhibition is called “Painting the Celestial”, and is on until 14th June.
Go have a look!

One section of the abstracts.

…and some of the icons.
Neither photo does justice to the paintings. They’re best seen live.

My day continued with a selection of leaves, alive –

and dead.

Lovely! 🙂

The skies were a bit dramatic.

And then it was time to go home.
But not before treating myself to a t-shirt, which I didn’t need, but couldn’t resist.

Well, we all have to have a hobby…

Published in: on May 2, 2026 at 10:49 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Autumn Leaves As May Arrives

We have no shortage of fallen leaves at our place.
Most days I leave them be, but some catch my eye and become part of my decor.

It’s been a drizzly day.
Cool, and comfortable. But grey.
Yesterday was unexpectedly busy (but good!), so today was correspondingly quiet.
A reading, dreaming day.
After a coffee and toast and books and catch-up day 🙂

The sun shone yesterday, as autumn gathered its frost-tinged air and swept through the town.
I basked in the light, and appreciated the way it glowed through the growing things I came across in my day.

Whether it was artificial light through the leaves –

Or natural light through glass…


…and garden…

it was a chance to fill up on sunlight, before the grey today!

My garden has been happy in the rain.
Repotting the big plants helped.

The frangipanis were becoming root bound.

A bigger pot, and more space to spread out, seems to have made all the difference.
A little guardian bee, with its own little flower house, would obviously help!

Tomorrow will be another today.
Rain? Shine?
I don’t know.

But, just for today (tomorrow) –
remember…

❤

Published in: on April 30, 2026 at 10:12 pm  Leave a Comment  

Once More, We Remember

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

We will remember them
Lest we forget

Published in: on April 25, 2026 at 6:40 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Chasing Down The Universe

Yesterday was a busy day for me.
Consequently, today was slow and quiet (with a side of inspiration) 🙂

I had an appointment in Woolloongabba, which meant a couple of train trips and a walk at the end.
I managed to step onto the second train pretty much straight after getting off the first. There was time for a leisurely stroll to my destination.

I think, finally, that we are entering autumn.
There’ve been a few false starts, but the temperature has dipped below 30°C now for longer than a minute…

Ultimately, my journey yesterday was tiring.
But somehow I’m still feeling invigorated.
It’s something about that bit of chill in the air.
Thinking it through this morning led me to realise that my memory is linking that “glimpses-of-winter” feeling that autumn brings to two times in my life – wandering the map through New Farm and the Valley back when I lived there, and exploring my new home in the U.K. in the years after.
Both times of new possibilities, when I was discovering myself, and forging my future.

As I sauntered down the alleyway to the train station, the light seemed brighter. The air crisper. And taking each breath felt just that little bit more joyful.

My future is still unfolding, and the possibilities are still exciting.
Winter chill or not – I am glad to be breathing the clear air!
❤

Published in: on April 23, 2026 at 11:53 pm  Leave a Comment  

Take A Pause

and…

Published in: on April 20, 2026 at 6:51 pm  Leave a Comment  
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