The last couple of days have been delightfully wet in south-east Queensland. I noticed last night coming home from work that there has been so much water coming down that the reflective E-TOLL paint on the motorway has been partially washed away! Still I’m not complaining.

I’m pretty sure this little white kitty has had enough of the rain though. She has come to visit once before, only to be scared off by an extremely hostile Mojo who just happened to be in the cat enclosure at the time. I guess he figures that he already has to share it with one other cat – no way is he sharing with a third!

She’s very sweet, fairly timid and in reasonably good body condition but no collar to tell me her name or where she lives. It was raining really heavy here most of yesterday and I just felt sorry for her sitting out there in the cold. So I put out a small bowl of dry food and water in the patio as well as a clean warm blanket for her to sleep on while she was waiting out the rain to go home. The food was gone by the time I got back from work, so I’m only assuming she was hungry.

I know I will probably pay for my kindness in the long run because if she is a stray, she will probably return for more food and comfort. If she does, I might see if I can get close enough to check her ear for a desexing tattoo and feel for a microchip.

June 3rd, 2008 | Category: Cats |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Comments (1)

I went through the hassle of reorganising my study a few weeks ago so that I could look out the window while working at my desk. I figure I spend a lot of time in here, so I might as well have a view of something other than the wall. Shortly after doing it, I wondered why I had bothered since all I had a view of was a fairly weedy slope, the standard Brisbane suburban variety of birdlife chasing grubs and if I duck my head, I can only just see the newly planted garden bed. Nevertheless, I decided to leave it as it was because I really couldn’t be bothered shifting everything back.

Watching the willy wag tails chasing grubs out there this afternoon, I realised one of my juvenile grevilleas is out in bloom after our recent rain. It’s a Robyn Gordon variety and the only one of the three I’ve planted to flower as yet. Hopefully with a bit more rain, the Peaches and Cream varieties will bloom as well and I will have a slightly colourful view – providing I duck my head just that little bit.

June 1st, 2008 | Category: Home and Lifestyle |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Comments (1)

I love the people at Nintendo, particularly whoever the spark of genius was that came up with the sensor technology in the Wii. We’ve had a Wii for a little while now and had fun playing with the Wii Sports pack – the boxing especially is really satisfying.

So when Nintendo released the Wii Balance Board as part of Wii Fit, it was a must have winter accessory for my technology wardrobe. I figured it didn’t cost that much – only a trifle more than what I would pay for a new release game, so why the hell not?? I wasn’t entirely convinced that it would deliver any form of fitness given that none of the exercises have any resistance attached to them. But with a daily 30 minutes of Wii Fit, I have actually lost some weight in the past 2 weeks.

Be warned though….the cats appear to come from miles when they hear the Wii turn on. They don’t want to do any exercises of course but I think it has something to do with the feline tendency to constantly be in the way of what you’re doing.

May 25th, 2008 | Category: Cats, Home and Lifestyle |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Comments (1)

Today was the 15th annual RSPCA Million Paws Walk, so armed with two rather energetic mutts, I headed out to Cleveland to participate in the local event. There was an unprecedented turnout and I’m sure the RSPCA volunteers were overwhelmed by the support of the local community. I was absolutely astounded to see such a large number of dogs congregating in the park with their owners. There were dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds and it was just so good to see them all out, having fun and socialising together.

As for us, we had a brilliant time. Both the dogs got a lovely hydrobath from Bill (Aussie Pooch Mobile Cleveland ph. 0411 776 663), some really nice treats and they have gone home thoroughly exhausted from all the excitement. It was a brilliant day and if you didn’t get a chance to participate this year, keep an eye out for dates for next year.

A mere fraction of the people and dogs walking in today’s walk – Cleveland’s shoreline has never been so busy!

May 18th, 2008 | Category: Dogs |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Comments (1)

Hoorah! I finally got a night-time shot without laser eyes! She doesn’t look that impressed though does she? I think it won’t be too long before she starts shutting her eyes in every photo like Mojo does.

May 16th, 2008 | Category: Cats, Photography |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Leave a comment

The problem with jetting away somewhere for a 3 day holiday is that you always seem to be rushed. Or maybe it’s just me who wants to be able to fit in ten days worth of holiday into around 48hrs in a strange city. The only way I can possibly do it is to be phenomenally organised but my old mate Murphy always likes to throw a spanner or ten in the works. You try to plan for every possible contingency but in the end if you’re going to Sydney, you might as well not bother in the first place.

You see, it seems a common thing in Sydney for trains to not arrive when you expect them to. My experience with public transport is fairly limited but I’ve always thought that if you had a choice between buses and trains, go for the train because they don’t have to contend with peak hour traffic. The trains in Brisbane are for the most part very reliable and I’ve never had one turn up more than maybe 30 seconds late. Consequently, when I look up at the departure board and see that a train leaves in 1 minute, I really do think that it will leave in 1 minute, so I’d better hoof it to the platform in a hurry or I will miss it.

Consequently, over my three days in Sydney, I did a lot of running back and forth between platforms and was almost disappointed to find that it was for no reason when I got to the platform and the train was late, yet again. Oh and by the way, if you see a bloke who looks remotely Warwick Cappa – don’t ask him what the time is. His watch is still stuck on daylight saving time and all you will achieve is bolting from one end of Circular Quay to the other to catch a train that doesn’t leave for another full hour.

May 13th, 2008 | Category: Travel |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Comments (2)

What a whirlwind weekend! I’ve been planning for weeks to head off to Sydney this past weekend for a get together with a few “awful women” and celebrate three years of All For Women. We had a lovely lunch in the Parramatta Park and then headed off for some dinner, complete with mini cupcakes, washed down with Mudshakes. Although I really loved my time away, the best part was coming home to familiar sights and sounds and train services that actually run on time.

  Part of the cafe area at Parramatta Park

May 11th, 2008 | Category: Travel |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Comments (1)

Here’s your chance to test your powers of observation. There is a bird in both the following photos in exactly the same place – it didn’t move for about 10 minutes while I was taking a series of stills which was convenient. Don’t go by where Rosie is looking…..I don’t think she has a very keen hunting sense because she seemed completely oblivious to the bird – although the bird was definitely watching her.

May 9th, 2008 | Category: Cats |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Leave a comment

I’m not sure why she does this. Is she after more food?? Trying to get a better view?? But it just isn’t a normal day around here unless Rosie spends part of it up on her two back legs. Perhaps she’s telling me that I’ve been watching too much Meerkat Manor lately….or maybe she just thinks it makes her look extra cute.

May 7th, 2008 | Category: Cats |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Comments (3)