Sudokuaholics Anonymous 9A

I noticed you mentioned a Dutch Health Care worker (from Diversicare? part of the Health and Aging Department. My sister was in management with them in Qld) but is there a Dutch Care Facility in Perth? We have one, actually here in the Redlands. I know my sister used to try to refer Dutch patients there, it made them feel better to be there.

Whoops - over the page!

Remember the old bumper sticker - 'Lord, let me live long enough to be a worry to my children.' I used to think that was funny! Not any longer.

We took the car over to our insurers panel shop today - were so pleased as Col knows the owner and his top man and office girl are our former next-door neighbours - for a quote today but it has to go back and be left there tomorrow because the back door has to be cut out. Then after the quote, we wait for the go-ahead from the insurer. So we wait..... for how long. I don't know. Hopefully soon.

Good evening everyone.

Just having a sit-down while the cannelloni cooks. I put a little chilli in the mince mix, and must have touched my lip!!! You would never know that our best crop was chillis, it's in everything!

I can hear that Beth has just arrived home. Toady was her first day at a new job. She has left the family business, as hubby said, 'Good, get out of the factory and do something you like'. She is now working in retail at a clothes store.
Just had a chat to her and she seems very happy. I wish her all the best.

Rolanda, I like the idea of a home in Holland...

Cyn, good luck with the car, insurance etc.

Update on my car...heard from the repairers last week, and she really did a number on the steering! It has been sent to a mechanical repairers, then will come back to the crash repairers to have to cosmetic bandaid work done. Still looks like it will be another couple of weeks.

Yikes Gail! You're making me terrified of taking out Ebob.

Good thoughts to Beth.

I need a replacement chili plant, mine has coughed up its last chili. The little chili plant anyway, the one that gives bigger chilis is still going strong. Oops, typing in a foreign language. Oh well, you know what I mean.

Cyn, hope they don't take too long. Our insurance company sent one of their adjusters over to check out the car. It was really fast, which was a bummer because we only qualified for a rental until they officially wrote off the car :(

Hi Ladies.
Oops should be watching Masterchef.
Back later I hope.
Hope everyone is fit and well.

Hi All my friends, still reading and trying to catch up.

Yep looks like I have missed you all, back after a few more pages to read.....oppps and dinner!

Missed you Broni and Viv - come back!!
Sorry to see Jimmy go on Masterchef (for anyone who watches it).
Please don't tell me any horror stories about how long it takes to repair a car - I want mine back NOW!!! I feel like I've lost my independence, I had 2 appointments today plus I needed groceries and, even though Col took me without complaint, I felt I had to hurry so I wasn't holding him up.

geez CynB.. the show has just started here. They haven't even started cooking yet!!!

Oh Rola! damned if you do, damned if you don't! Major Hugs for you, another one who has their own story. All I will say is I had to make my own choices in the end and it hurt like hell. Glad I cannot inflict that on anyone else.

Hi Broni. Hope you have had your dinner by now.
CynB. ARrrhghghghg we have to be careful about what we say about Masterchef as of course Rolanda has not viewed it when we have.
I have to agree with your earlier comments especially about Joanne. I am not a fan of hers either.
I know what it is like when you do not have a car.
Much the same as when I do not have a computer.
I know it is nice for others to take us but it is not the same and yes you feel like you must hurry.

Oh Rolanda - I am so sorry!!! I was not thinking. I will promise never to do that again. It must have ruined your whole viewing of that show. I would be very miffed if someone did it to me.
I think I had just read Viv's post about going to watch it and made the comment to her, knowing it was over for us without giving any consideration or thought to you.
Please, please forgive me!! (Pretty please)

I see Suzy and Gail have Learner drivers, like me.
I have not been for a while with Ethan I must admit. Have not got around to it since before Father In Law passed away.
He has about 40 hours up so far but needs 120. 20 of which have to be night driving.
After he crashed into the wall at KFC with his father in the front passenger seat, it has been up to me to go with him most times.
As for parking, well no way will hubby go with him. Hubby expects him to just know how to drive but that is ridiculous.
Just another job for good old Mum.
Better hit the sack here I guess.
I will be off to Cafe 66 in the morning to have coffee and crosswords with John.
Then my Avon is due to arrive so will start packing that.
Then at 2pm have to go with gf for the school run.
Nite all.

Hi CynB. Heheheh I am sure Rolanda will forgive you this once.

Well, another Monday is here for me. We woke up this morning to the smell of smoke and a haze all over town. Turns out it's from the 50 some forest fires, 8 of which are out of control, in Quebec. This is a long way away from us ... it's amazing how the wind can carry the smoke so far. Fire crews from Maine and New Hampshire in the States are helping to battle the blazes ... thank you to our American friends for their assistance. TTFN.

My thoughts are with those who are being impacted by those fires, and very bravest wishes to the firefighters.
Yes, it is amazing how far smoke can blow, and just how long it can linger.
Night all.

Good night Gail.

Another good sleep. I'm definitely on the mend. I took the last antibiotic this morning, so I should be able to go out in the sun soon.

Much to my surprise, the men are here finishing up the barn!!! On a National Holiday!

Wow, Heidi. One day nearer completion!

They are finishing it today!!!

One day closer to the sun room Heidi.

George told me that he has a couple of small job to do before starting the sun room. They'll take only 2 days. That'll give us time to get ready for him. There's still brick and mortar to be removed.

Jobs, not job.

Heidi, wow, glad your carpenters came to work today. sooner the barn is finished, the sooner you get the sun room. I think you will be happy with the north facing room, good light all day, less heat gain in summer. African violets would love that exposure, I grew some of my best years ago, in a N window over my kitchen sink.

HUGS Rolanda, as you deal with your Mom. come and vent with us as needed, and hope you see all of our suggestions and reports of out trials with our family as support, letting you know you are not alone in what you are dealing with.

Theresa, I do know how that smoke smell can travel, we had enough from a fire over 500 miles away, few summers ago. Smoke bad enough I had to get medicated allergy eye drops. Hope your smoke is soon gone.

Viv, not fair you became sole licensed driver to log hours for your son. My daughters did not like going with their father, but asked to drive when I drove them to school and after school functions. We did not have mandatory hours then, they were learners from age 15 till 16 when they could take and pass drivers test. Daughters did the demanding they be allowed to drive hehehe,

well, tis 11:30 am, and I have had no breakfast, perhaps I should do that. Later friends,

Rolanda, Heidi said it best when she described your mom as a Jewish Mother. (sorry mom). I do hope things work out for your mum. At least, by hearing you rant, I can get ready for the fight I might have with my own parents. Luckily they are both ok, dad is doing much better.
Hiedi, good news about the barn. Hope you are going to post pictures of barn and sunroom. They would be nice to see completed.

Hi to everyone else I missed. My parents are coming over for dinner. I am going to grill chicken. For sides we have: onion rings, corn, and potato salad. I have a bread to slice and will roast garlic to spread on the bread. I am making my mom a sweet potato instead of onion rings. She is diabetic and very strict with her diet. Try to come back later.

THE BARN IS DONE!!! All I need to do is put the farm name on the side, with some Red Angus silhouettes. I've already ordered some BIG vinyl letters to do this with. They should be here in a week or so.

Hello everyone.
Heidi...glad to hear you are feeling much better.You must be thrilled at having the barn finished and about to start the sunroom.
Tami..enjoy your dinner with Mum/Dad,the menu sounds yummy.Bet you are looking forward to summer break.
Rolanda..if only your Mum could read some of the comments here she may see the other side.Maybe not too.Feeling guilty is natural also but her safety is your main concern.Has her Dr tried talking to her,many listen to them.
Suzanne..enjoy your parents visit and I hope the house sells quickly.
Hi to Viv,Theresa,Bean,Broni,Suzy,MizT,Gail,Brenda,Cyn,
Julie and all.

Hello from wet (but not currently raining) Illinois!

Hi, Rolanda, Theresa, Heidi, Vicki, Gail, Suzy, CynB, Viv, Broni, Brenda, MizT, Tami, and Nola!

Rolanda, I'm so sorry it's a tough time and getting tougher! I'm not trying to make light of your situation or pretend to know all (or any) answers - just throwing some ideas out there. Her doctors need to step up and let her know that they do not want her living alone. That way she can be angry and upset with them and not with you. At this rate, I'm concerned that it will take some major event, possibly medical, that absolutely prevents her from being alone. This is NOT an easy time. Sending positive vibes, prayers and hugs {{{{{Rolanda}}}}}

Vicki and Cyn, hugs for both of you {{{{{Vicki}}}}} {{{{{Cyn}}}}} as yo both deal with similar situations. My mother also said she didn't ever want to be a burden and followed through on it by dying from a massive heart attack. MIL never said she didn't want to be a burden but was relatively reasonable, all things considered, though she could never understand why we couldn't get to her in minutes. (It was her choice to live nearly an hour away.)

Cyn, another good thing about an assisted living facility that provides food is that you know they are sitting with food in front of them for 3 meals a day and you're likely to be notified if too many meals go by without them eating. When they're living along, there's no good way of knowing how often or what they eat.

It's very reassuring to know that we have a place to let off a bit of steam when the day-to-day gets crazy. That's what friends are for! Thank you!

Cyn, I hope the car can be repaired promptly and perfectly. (Good news that you know some of the people involved!)

Gail, good luck to Beth with her new job. However, one of the dangers of working in a clothing shop is spending half the paycheck on your wardrobe. Good luck with getting your car repaired perfectly as well. I'm not so sure about the "promptly" part, since you mentioned weeks.

Broni, it sounds like you also had tough decisions to make. I sometimes think it's impossible to make a decision that will please everyone, especially the aged parent! You just do the best you can!

Viv, I didn't realize you also had a learner sharing your car. Oh, dear, the wall at KFC? Never good when it's an immovable object. And, of course, it's the Mum who often gets to take the learner out for all those hours. If only more cars would learn to park themselves! (At least one of the Ford products in the US does, according to a TV ad I saw.)

Theresa, I hope the smoke doesn't bother your breathing or eyes. Sending prayers and positive vibes for the many firefighters and hoping no one is in the path of the fires!

Woo Hoo, Heidi, a good night's sleep, AND men working on your barn on a holiday! Enjoy! Oh, an important question for you about your sunroom - if it is being built on top of a concrete patio, does the patio h

Heidi, here's an important question for you about your sunroom - if it is being built on top of a concrete patio, does the patio have footings to prevent damage from freezing & thawing? We wanted to put a sunroom on the back of a house once, and the municipality we lived in required 4-foot deep footings. We never got the sunroom.

MizT, you're right about the northern exposure for good light, especially for checking colors! Heidi, do you paint, sew or do creative stitchery? (Yeah, right, in your spare time.)

Tami, the dinner with your parents sounds yummy! Enjoy! It's so good to hear that your dad continues to get better!

Nola, I hope your coursework and practical work are going well!

Viv, same situation here. Hubby thinks out of our previous three learner drivers, he was in the front seat twice...WHERE'S MY MEDAL?!

We don't have those requirements here, Julie. That patio is very thick ... at least 2 feet.... and has been there over 30 years. It may even have footings, but I don't want to dig down to find out.

EMPTY HOUSE for 24 hours!!!!!

Next time let us know in advance, Heidi, and we can all come to your place for a party.