General Chat

What a sleepy lot you are!! I know I'm very late - but I had a big day yesterday. However, I thought you Brits would have taken advantage of the extra hour to talk to us - and you're all going to bed to get the extra hour's sleep!

Don't know where I went yesterday, but I may have been somewhere in your territory, Colin. I have not been over that way for many many years, and I thought I was in another country. Block after block after block of multi-storey concrete buildings - flats and commercial buildings - I couldn't tell the difference - and I wondered how much of the sun actually gets through to them, there are so many of them, and yet in the distance, I could see dense growth. I'll have to check with my son on where we were, because I think I got the name of the restaurant wrong - can't find it on the net or phone book.

They told me they tried to book a table closer to where I live, but they were told by all restaurants "we don't do lunch on Saturdays". As it was, we were the only ones where we went and spent nearly three hours there. Most of that was taken up in having a rest between the various items on the platter. Hot seafood on the lower dish, cold seafood on the top dish and the lobstermornay was served separately. I put a couple of photos on FB. They were taken between our 'breaks', we should have thought of taking photos before we started eating! We had an entree of oysters natural and kilpatrick, then there were more on the platter. They'll know better next time! Of course, we couldn't finish it all and I cleared my conscience saying that I have to have fish twice a week - but I think I had enough to appease my diet rules for the next couple of months! We couldn't think of any type of fish dish that wasn't there (and that makes you feel you want to try all of them). It makes you feel hurt that you have to send so much back. I did have hopes that we would be offered a doggy-bag - but I didn't say anything - didn't want to show my ignorance.

How my son and his wife could go out later in the evening to a Halloween dinner - is beyond me. I couldn't eat another thing until breakfast, this morning.

I know where I was now. The restaurant was Atlantis and it was at North Ryde...and yes, they did find it difficult to line up again in the evening!

I still don't know why the restaurants out my way don't do Saturday lunches! There are lots of them and it's always necessary to book in advance.

Reviving Fred................

Sounds like you had a lovely birthday lunch Berona

Tec..

Good mornig/evening everyone. Did you miss me yesterday? lol

I didn't buy any dolls - collecting dolls isn't my thing. However I did meet up with a couple of friends and had a lovely time catching up. There were lots of gift stalls as well as the doll exhibition so I made a small start on Christmas pressies.

I've just looked out the window and it's cloudy yet again with showers forecast although it's getting quite warm now. Good weather to garden in as long as the rain holds off but it's housework that needs to be done today.

S x

Good morning Sue. Are we the only ones talking?
"Showers developing, top of 23" was just announced for Sydney. It's overcast here just now.

Where is everybody? Probably still eating their dinner, trying to get used to the clock change.

Good morning to you Sue and Berona .

We are probably trying to adjust to our " new " time , it seems to have been a very long day .

I made my Christmas cake today , so am feeling rather pleased with myself : ))

Glad you enjoyed your day out with the dolls Sue .

Good evening Amanda. You should be proud of yourself! I've never tried to make a Christmas cake in my life. Possibly because I'm the only one in the family who likes fruit cake and whenever I bought it to give visitors, it was always left to me to eat it all up!

I still buy one at Christmas, but I usually give more than half of it to my brother to take home and I gradually eat the remainder myself over the next couple of weeks.

Good Morning Sue, and Berona,
Good Evening Amanda,

I hope everyone is in the pink.

Nice sunny day here today, rather cool and Autumnal. Went dark around 5 pm, the days will get shorter and shorter now.

Tec.

Good evening Tec , not sure what you mean by being in the pink ? I'm wearing red and purple ...lol

Berona , I've made a cake every Christmas since I was 12 ( first one being in school cookery ) , the only year I missed in all that time was 1990 ( as I was laid up in hospital after a road accident then ) .

Sometimes I wish I hadn't made it quite the " tradition " that it is ....lol

Luckily I have a biggish family so I divide it up amongst us , I even send a wedge to my friend in Scotland , as he was there with me in those school days long ago when the tradition began .

Good evening Tec. Yes, I had a lovely lunch, thanks.

That change, when the clocks go back to standard time, does seem to make the day finish earlier, doesn't it?

Just think of it this way - all the more time to talk to US!!!

Hi Amanda,

If you're not in the pink, then red and purple sounds very nice, and rather regal.

I'm sure your Christmas cake is legendary and delicious.

Tec.

Hello Berona,

I don't really mind the dark evenings - it has its compensations, and yes, more time to chat to our friends who live their lives upside down - must play havoc with your blood pressure lol.

Tec.

LOL Tec......Regal ! you wouldn't say that if you could actually see what I'm wearing , a red night shirt ( that the dog chewed a corner off of ) and the most revolting purple pyjama trousers , scarecrow yes , regal no ....lol

My cake is legendary : ))

Amanda you conjure up quite a vision, as I'm convinced I was some kind of hippie in another life, then your casual get-up sounds good to me lol.

Tec.

Hello all - again:-))

I didn't really enjoy the dolls Amanda - I find the handmade baby dolls a little creepy as are some of the people who carry them around like real babies and ask if you would like to cuddle them. The crafts were lovely. One thing that I thought would interest you were decorated wooden boxes. Some had little glass gems on the top and one had padded fabric on the top edged with braid. It looked easy and very elegant. As we are having a special girl as a guest on Christmas Day I thought I would make her one as a gift. She's 7 and will love it filled with hair clips etc.

Is that why you live in a cave Tec?

S x

Kindred spirits then Tec , as I've always been some sort of hippie in this life : ))

Sue , I don't care for those " life like " dolls at all , I've never actually see one for real , only advertised in magazines and that was enough to give me the creeps .

The boxes sound interesting , I seem to have ground to a halt with mine at the moment but I might have a go at sticking things on one .

I expect your Christmas guest will be delighted with hers : ))

My little guest has had a sad two years with more to come and I want to make it special for her.

The baby dolls are beautifully made and very realistic - that's what makes them creepy.

S x

Sue .....your little guest sounds like a very precious person , it is all the sadder when the harshness of life touches a child , I hope she has a delightful Christmas x

Sue I live in my imaginary cave because I am by nature a repressed rebel. I've always felt that we shouldn't all have to conform to the whims and customs of "society".
There is a small market town near me. On market day the people that we used to know as hippies come into town. They are interesting, brightly clothed in a fashion all their own. They live in a commune out in the country in teepees. Most are very well educated, and I know that one had an article published in Time magazine. They don't live off the State, but earn their living making things, and doing casual labour. they also do some busking in the streets.
Best of all they all seem remarkably happy.
Something about their lifestyle I envy.
Maybe next time around I shall join them lol.

Tec.