Finally had the new computer EMACHINE installed yesterday.

Thank you Ron and also thanks to Peter fro retrieving so much from the hard drive of the now deceased machine. It did not have a long life but I enjoyed it.

Some how this day seems like a whole new beginning for me. There are many reasons for that, need not be mentioned here.

I want to tell you about Deirdre, she is the duty nurse caring for the group this morning.

I once suggested to her that she suffered some paranoia from a past life but she didn’t agree. A dainty person who loves to dress according to whatever celebration the day happens to need.

This morning she has the Australian flag draped around her shoulders attached somewhere but with corners flowing. Almost as if she is flying around the dining room. She has transfer tattoos of the flag on her forehead and throat and white stars here and there to cause an excellent image. Not only does she impose such a happy appearance, but creates a pleasant talking point for the ladies at breakfast.

Deirdre is an absolute delight. 

Well HO HO HO and all that jazz, can I be myself (an old lady) or must I conform.

Today was Christmas Party day for the residents of this Hostel. I have NO complaints about this Hostel, it suits my needs very well and my family make up any shortfall. I am not a party person.

From my room I could hear quite loudly some men singing some old favourites and I guess that should get me in the mood. Sorry I am not prepared to get into music at lunch time. I even have my Christmas shirt on.

All the staff girls both from the food section and nurses work so hard to please everyone. It is just a shame I don’t feel like dancing.

All residents were entitled to invite their family to be involved too. I thought that was a great idea. One lady had about 10 extras with her. Included in that lot were 3 lovely looking little boys, but these kids have bottomless stomachs. When someone offered a dish of sweets one little bloke took every soft lolly he could hold in his hand. The mother could have suggested he share them, but not a word was said. Don’t invite them next year.

Why am I writing my complaints. I should just keep away.

This is the third day in a row that I have been out to a Christmas DO

Three very different occasions. The one today was with a club I have been a member of for 8 years, but I have not been for a long time, so I was given  very nice welcome today

The highlight of this affair was the stage show brought to the club ‘at great cost’ Very brave ladies on stage doing what they should be leaving to others. One act was a reappearance of I think Pattie Page singing Tennessee Waltz, such a sad song and as her mother stood along side she pulled out about 2 dozen handkerchiefs to dry up the tears. It was absolutely classic. Deserves an Oscar.

Another one was such and old favourite My Grandfather’s Clock, you would have to see it to believe it, with glittering silver sparkling stiring spoons being the pendulams. The whole event was really quite pathetic, but so comical. I enjoyed every minute of it.

I will do my best to be a regular attendant at that club next year.

To-day I have attended a Christmas gathering of the seniors computer group. We have about 40 members and some visitors also came to-day. What a great bunch of like minded friends. There are no professionals among us, one person is a little cluier than the rest but we manage to help each other with whatever is annoying at the time.

Each week we start with a different chair and work our way around the room and between us we manage to solve many problems. Quite often there are ones who don’t have a problem but they come for the social outlet anyway.

All food and drinks to-day were very much appreciated, mostly provided by the lady members. The men prepared and decorated the tables and as I was leaving I noticed the men washing the dishes. Equalising responsibility.

We now have a month break and then perhaps with a few new frustrated hopefuls we will all be back solving whatever problem crops up.

Has to be some thing good in there somewhere.

I have a friend, she is an English lady although lived in AUS for a long time. She is a very nice person, certainly has her own story to tall, as we all have. She has recently moved here into the village.

This lady is more than surprised and of course very pleased with how well she has been received by the friendly residents. When ever she comes up this part of the village she comes and has a chat. I’m sure we get on very well together. We talk about a lot of different things and agree on most all topics.

So what I am asking is, why does she need to keep being reassured that she is a nice looking woman. Sure she has a pleasant face and no doubt she was a pretty young girl way back when. Weren’t we all. To me most if not all young people look great. For a lot of years I used to look in the mirror and think “that’s OK” now when I look I either see my mother looking back at me or I see an old lady. If someone said to me “I want to be your friend, you have such a  pretty face” I would think what is that about. She has repeated similar tales to me several times and I have to wonder how true it is.  I can’t imagine anyone saying ‘Nice to meet you, you have such a pretty face.’

I do also have an old friend who to some degree has the same idea. One of the first things she does every day is put on the mascara, then she will say “how do you think I look this morning”  I say ‘you look good’ under my breath I think,’You would look better if you washed your face’ She also has been a pretty girl, so why do they need to be reassured. Why are looks so important at this age, of course it is important to look after ourselves. All the makeup in the world is not going to hide the fact that you are an old lady.

This thought probably all ties in with the fact that  a beautician is coming to the village. Are we getting to the stage where having our eyebrows tinted is as important as out pills. Or do I have a psychological problem.

At this time of year it is the custom of the village programme to have this tradition up held and arrangements are carried out for the big event.

I need to question “Has this tradition changed over a number of years, or is it just me”

As I recall when it was introduced into Sydney many years ago the event was held in Hyde Park and each person held a candle and sang along with the professional singers. I only ever saw it on TV but it seemed such a lovely evening.

For reasons best not to go into here I am suffering with various hangups, among which is a dislike for being with a crowd of people and I don’t handle loud noise.

The event last night started with some recorded very “modern” music where the drummer suffered from a very heavy foot, instead of getting a beat, all I could hear was BANG,BANG.BANG ETC ETC ETC.

At this point I decided to stay in my room, it soon became necessary to close the door as well. In this secluded position I didn’t miss a thing.

I could not hear if the audience sang along because the person with the microphone drowned out EVERYTHING ELSE.

Fortunately it was all over by about 8.30 but the sound rang in my ears all night. With a bit of luck next year it will rain and the event can be cancelled.

During summer in this country we have temperatures as high as 40c.

Today being 1st September it is the first day of summer and it is 11c. Can only hope it improves.

This morning in the dining room the duty nurse is not only wearing odd socks but Bright Thursday out fit as well. She is such a breath of summer and the brightest thing about. She has a red dress with a selection of rainbow colours of netting draped from the waist and a very bright yellow feathered boa. Even the finger nails on one hand painted yellow and the other hand bright green.

And she always wears a smile to match.

How good is that.

In this day and age I thought I was ready for anything. but today to my absolute amazement I have been given a paper that informs of the availability of a Beautician.

I can have among many things an eyebrow tint for $7.00.   

Eyebrow wax and tint for $11.00.

Half leg waxing for $20.00

Full leg waxing for $30.00

The list goes on forever.

I don’t know whether I have lost my sense of humour

or to feel insulted.  

We do have a hairdresser and I understand the ladies wanting their hair to look nice, but a beautician in an old peoples retirement village, could this be going one step too far.                             

Only 3 days left of what was supposed to be spring.

In the spring months we have had the weather of all seasons.

As a very ordinary person I listen to those who believe we have a problem with “Global Warming” and those who think it will all just go away because of something about 100 years.

I have listened to scientists who are very sure there is trouble coming if we don’t face up to improving our ways of dealing with the planet. I also listened and watched the ‘white board’ as a pair of scientists, a husband and wife team, who had such a convincing opinion that what is happening has also happened at several times in the last 100 years. They had the figures to prove it. I remember thinking to myself at the time how easy it is to manipulate figures. So who is right?

Whatever the truth is, to me at advanced years, it will not concern me too much but I have to admit our old weather patterns that I have experienced throughout my life, have certainly changed.

I have to give the staff credit for effort, they are so good.

This morning one girl is all dressed up as a BEE.

Bright yellow skirt and yellow and black striped top with frail wings at back.

Cute little antlers on her head. How good is that. 10 out of 10 I say.