Looking UP!

Ok. If all about you looks dark, look up!
I did for the afternoon's display. I sat & watched as the play of the weather pattern displayed itself in the skies.

Yesterday, we had about 6 season's worth of 'weather'! We had fine blue skies, cloudy skies, with hot temperatures, & high humidity. It seemed very tropical, for our *degree* on the planet.

We had a lot of growly thunder, striking fear of a deep & primitive nature, into the heart of Leo. He really does get upset at the sound of the thunder, & shakes like a very bad case of 'the palsy', as Blackadder might say.

I sat & watched as the panoply of ominous clouds passed. I finally caved in, & went & got the camera, hoping to capture some of the spectacular sights on display.

This appeared to me, as a Flying Dragon, with puffs of smoke! This was taken between bouts of thunder, lightning, hail, & torrential rainfalls.
In between all these extremes of nature, this is what passed overhead. Here, I could see some large dog, tail bobbed, perhaps, & a hunger for the blue patch. A crack into the next, bone filled world?

Deep down on the view of the horizon, was a glimpse of what was to come. We had gathering thunderheads, more torrential rain, hail, thunder, lightning of course, & wild winds, whipping the trees into bows, & frenzied leaf storms.

Today has yielded no such interesting sky scapes. It has remained sullen, & steadily grey, & solidly overcast all day. Amid heavy downpours, & humid showers, with sun shining through the cloud cover to steam it all unbearably!

My lovely Daughter J, came to take me out for fabric treats!! We were also looking at bed linen, but didn't find what we wanted. I did reel, drool, & bemoan the lovely new fabrics I saw. I patted & fondled, & wished. I weakened, & did make a few purchases.

We met a favourite shop assistant, & began to chat. She told us of insults, & rudeness we were shocked about. Customers had been extremely rude, swearing at staff, & abusing them. We could not believe the customers could be so rude!

Please spare a thought for hard working staff in shops of all types, over the "Silly Season". Bear in mind, they are under stress, & pressure too. They dont make the staffing policies of the chain concerned. Or the shop they represent. They are there to serve, with dignity, & politeness, & they don't deserve to be abused, if you have to queue, or wait a little while, it is never their choice, or fault!

Please be kind, & polite, to everyone you are served by, in this Season of Joy, & Peace.

Baying at the Moon.

Last night was Full Moon.
So while I was out baying at it, I thought I may as well take a few shots of it.
This, while all the pink of the evening was still lining the clouds.

These a little later, then later again. As I howled out on the balcony.

Haha, not really, but I can always tell when the moon is full, whether I see it or not. I have the most vivid dreams which I can usually recall all too well next day. It can be very disconcerting to have the memories lingering on. Perhaps if I wrote them down, they may dissipate sooner.

While going through some old paper recently, I found an old notebook, with some of my dreams written down in detail. And, though I had forgotten about them, as I re read them, I could still see them clearly, just as they had been when I dreamt them.

My latest dream involved friends from the past. They were a husband & wife, & their 4 daughters, & 2 adopted daughters were all in the dream. I know the husband is in fact dead, & one of the daughters also died. It seemed rather nice to think I had seen them all in the dream.


This view from the balcony was taken last evening also. It is looking South, in the direction that Sydney lies. That small mound on the centre left is called Rumbalara Reserve. We see all the approaching bad weather in the slight dip between Rumbalara, & the hill to the right.

And of course, here is the 'tree' again, though it is hiding behind our palm. This was taken last night while I was 'honouring the moon'!!

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A somewhat frenzied trip off to a shopping mall again today. A Westfield, this time. Those floors are so hard on the feet! After half an hour, I can feel my feet complaining, & then my back starts to go. This one has two levels now, & from one end to the other is a long haul! Luckily we didnt have to do the top, we found all we wanted on the lower level.

We took Daughter J, & SG. SG wanted to visit the 'toy shop'. So I took him off to the toy end of the big department store. He was quite good, & when he asked for things I just told him there was no money. So he was happy.

GOM scowls if SG wants things. But, I am a great believer in give the kid whatever it takes to keep him happy, whilst out shopping. His wants are few, really. He likes to have an icecream, as a treat, so we get a small one, in a carton, & it is mess free, & he eats every last drop, without splattering anyone, or anything. And they put a little umbrella in the top, & he loves that. And he is very happy for at least an hour. Well worth $3.20.

Later, because Nanna was on the point of collapse, we sat in the food court, & had drinks. It was almost lunch time, so SG asked his mother, very nicely, if he could have a Happy Meal. I dont approve of them, but they seem to make him happy, & the plastic looking stuff that passes for 'food' seems to get eaten. And he was very good & patient, & behaved himself the whole time.

I had a vegetarian wrap. It looked delicious. It tasted rather bitter, & looked as if they had minced the salad ingredients. Why? I was going to complain, but just couldnt be bothered. Why do so many places bugger up perfectly lovely fresh ingredients, by doing stupid things to them?? Why do they think vegetables must be tasteless, & so they add curry or something?? Vegetables are perfectly tasty & delicious just on their own.

Oh well, I guess not everything goes to plan.

At least our expedition was a success from the shopping point of view.

We all came home with just what we wanted, so that has to be a plus.

And tonight I get to go out with friends to a guitar concert. Bruce Mathiske, who I am told is very gifted, & talented. I am really looking forward to it.

Gom is not given to liking guitar music, so he will be entertaining our dog babies!