Another day in paradise

Another day in paradise was how our new Forster friend Ilonka described the new day. She and husband Peter have just moved here from Canberra, and we met her because they are long time friends of the Boroughs.  It is a relief at least to know a few people here! It makes the thought of leaving Canberra for good, and all you dear people there, a little easier.  But having said that, we are very hopeful that lots of people will come and visit. Especially once the house is built and we can accommodate you in style in our new nest.

Tuesday, we had The Inaugural Swim at what will be our local beach.  There is a delightful ocean pool there, built in 1949. Surely an auspicious year, being the year of your writer's birth. It was renovated recently and is maintained by a group of volunteers who call themselves "Dad's Army", and who have a special room in the surf club devoted to their "Arsenal". What a cracker of an idea, I thought.

Speaking of Canberra friends who have moved here, Chris and Robyn Borough arrived yesterday, having moved out of their fabulous Kingston apartment and put it up for sale. Incidentally, if you know anyone who is harbouring a wish to live in a large North-facing 3BR apartment plus a big balcony with views of the lake that can never be built out, then now is the time to jump. It is going up for auction on Saturday and WILL BE SOLD. The reserve is extremely reasonable. We set up a welcome for them in the form of flowers, marmalade and a hand painted welcome sign on local paperbark, finished moments before they arrived.

The three of them, Robyn, Chris and Robyn's Mum Heather, have been under just a tiny bit of pressure in the last few weeks. But they bravely tried to smile. Later we fed them and granddaughter Jessie a feast of oysters, wine and spag bol.

Medical report on David: he went to a Forster doctor a couple of days ago, still feeling weak and unwell. Dr says he still has the virus and it will be a slow process. Dr Blondie had to operate on him yesterday as well, extracting this shellfish dart from under his big toe. From the Intrepid Walk into Lake Wallis. Note to self: wear thongs.

Don't know if you can quite see this, but it is a magpie that came and laid itself out, spread magpied, on our black door mat in the sun. Apparently they do this to bake off their parasites. It looked seriously dead. Quite alarming.  But when it heard the camera clicking, it gathered itself up and sat there panting. Magpie sauna.

Saved the big news for last - we have a house sketch plan from our designer!  It looks good. Very exciting. Over the next few days we will study and modify it and have another meeting on Monday to discuss again. Very fortuitously, David's architect sister Linda and her architect partner Phil, are coming to visit today! No swims for them, it's back to the drawing board for both of them. Holiday weekend? What holiday weekend?