Papers and work day

The Saturday papers are about to shrink even more. News Ltd are putting up the subscription to the Australian, so to honour their hiring of Peta Credlin, I will cancel the subscription. It is a pity to miss their arts coverage but that is about all they are offering apart from right-wing propaganda. I went on with both biogs and got quite a lot done. Cheesy tomato soup for lunch; now for a nap. I made the first instalment of fondue for dinner. It turns out it's Swiss national day tomorrow. We watched the second part of Hemingway (what a rat!} then the penultimate (I hope) Belgravia.

Health morning

I woke up this morning almost deaf after having seen and heard King Lear last night (not cause and effect). I went to the Health Centre (my home away from home at present) where Rebecca the podiatrist changed my dressing which was inspected by Joanne the doctor. They both opined that it was healing well. Not quickly enough, thought I. Then I waited for nurse Gill who syringed both my ears and I can HEAR again. I'm very grateful. Home again for minestrone for lunch. The gutter cleaners arrived at the end of lunch for the annual clean-out of autumn leaves from the plane trees. Naptime. P. is making curried chicken for dinner ahead of a very boring night of teev (Midsomer Murders or Jackie Kennedy). Time for a book methinks.

Biogs by two

This morning I was quite productive. I started reading the biog. for report, then did some more editing on the big biog. After quiches for lunch, I went for a physio. assessment at the Health Centre. I passed - just. Now for a short nap before going into town for a change. We had a welcome good meal at Tazio: I had gnocchi gorgonzola followed by affogato and P. had spaghetti marinara followed by panna cotta. I started with a much-needed Negroni. Life seemed like it was getting back to normal. We then went to 45downstairs for their much-postponed King Lear with Evelyn Krape. It kept you on the edge of your seat for the much-shortened version. Well done all.

Shopping

We went shopping today with Rupert the Picanto and got ours and Noel's shopping at Victoria Gardens. Home again after dropping off at Noel's then lunch then nap. I made prawn bisque for dinner then baby cheeses. We watched usual Wednesday night teev then, on P.'s request, the bio. of Amy Whitehouse which was more interesting than I expected. I have a new non-fiction for report. At least this one is not too long.

Tidying up

I'm still tidying up, not very efficiently, having hurkle durkled a bit this morning. Now I'm spuddling (doing lots of things but not achieving very much). However, there's a bit of progress on the big biography and it's now ready to go. So only 195,000 words to go. P. went shopping and got sangos for lunch. After a nap, I made up the steak and mushroom pie for dinner which was okay though the pastry was a bit long in the tooth. We then watched normal Tuesday teev. with standout being Ms Represented.

Dressing, biog. comes back

I went to the Health Centre this morning, got some pills and had my foot redressed by Virginia. Back for the podiatrist on Friday. Home again to find the sample chapter is back from the author of the biography and all seems fine. We'll see whether it is ready to proceed. We had French onion soup for lunch. Naptime. I made the filling for beef and mushroom pie (which needs to rest overnight). P. made yummy pork tonkatsu for dinner. Then we watched normal Monday night teev with TikTok featured on 4Corners followed by a Johnny Cash biog.

Crossword easy, rest not so much

The Sunday crossword was relatively easy with no problems. It's a kind of tidying day, though it will take more than one day to get everything sorted. We had miso soup for lunch, then a nap. We had the leftover Belotta pork ragout pasta for dinner. Then we watched Grand Designs (they promised it was final, but I bet it's not), Innocent, Poirot then Monaco (disgusting).

Papers and a go at the biog.

The usual Saturday paper influx with not much good reading (except a few relevant reviews), so back to the biog. I got the edited sample chapter off to the author and made a few phone calls to celebrate having finished (only about 195,000 words to go). We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch, now it's naptime. We've had three scam attempts this morning. One email (someone pretending to be Lesley P.), Facebook (someone masquerading as Robert S.) and P. had someone pretending to be e-Bay on the phone. Perhaps it's like burgs used to go up during hard financial times and scamming is the modern equivalent of burglaries. For dinner, we are having an exclusive. No one has ever done it before: French onion soup (by me) and chawan mushi (Japanese custard by P.). P. asked what order it should come in. I replied that it doesn't matter as it hasn't happened before. It all turned out well and we finished with the chocolate truffles from Bellota with vanilla icecream. We watched Hemingway (not bad), then Belgravia (limping along) then a bit of Endeavour to round off the evening.

Slow-going on biog.

I'm not making much progress on the big biography as other things (like shopping) keep getting in the way. Also, I hurtle durkled this morning as it was so cold. I'll try again this morning and got to the end of this round, but still need to check through it one more time. Sally S. dropped in to deliver some things (marmalade, essential supplies) and have a muffled masked mag. We had vegie soup for lunch. After a nap, we had the rest of the Bellota box: anchovies, arancini, pork shoulder pasta (plus the fondue cheese box arrived which we'll have tomorrow). Frank arrived with some of our books found in his packing. We had Midsomer Murders (but really we are close to giving up. As the previous Barnaby said: Money for old rope). Then archaeology (more interesting) then news and covid.

Shoping plus not much

We (P. and I) picked up Rupert the Picanto this morning, picked up a missed wine delivery, then went to Victoria Gardens to do our shopping and Noel's. Home again for salmon fishcakes. While napping, our Bellota box was delivered, a reminder of last year's March lockdown. We had half of it for dinner tonight: oysters (from Vic Gardens), cured fish, duck leg with mushrooms and lentils. Then Vietnamese trains which brought back memories, then Q&A (why will the Fed. government only allow junior boring ministers on, while the majors are hiding under tables?). Then the Caribbean, the news and Putin (yuk).

Health centre, biog. and teev

After a bit of confusion about whether there was a nurse at the Health Centre, I'm now off to have my dressing change and to pick up pills for my infected toe. Virginia fixed my dressings and Dr Joanne gave me antibiotics following a positive test on a swab for some kind of bug. Home again to finish this stage of the sample chapter, but there's more to go. P. went to the shops for sangos and sushi for lunch. P.'s books for U3A were delivered promptly by Readings. We're having takeaway pizzas for dinner. Then it was around the world, China, Australian parliament and women, Dark Ages Britain (the same thing really), then news then the Amazon.

More biog.

I hurkle durkled this morning so had a late start. But after breakfast etc., it's back into the big biog. sample edit. We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch and a nap. Then I reheated the rakott krumpli and P.'s zucchini fritters for dinner. We watched Who Do You Think you are? (dull) then Bisexuals (pretty dull), then Australian Ballet history (better), then news (depressing).

End of the Tour, dressing and biog.

I got up early to watch the completion of the Tour: Pogacar won of course, the sprint final was won by Wout van Aert who appeared on the podium with wife and baby as kind of trophies and Mark Cavendish didn't break the record for the number of stage wins but won the green jersey. Pogacar won everything else. Then I went to the Health Centre where both podiatrists were unhealthy so the wonderful Virginia redid my dressing. My swab results from Saturday are not in yet. Home again to get on with the big biog. We had leftover anchovy pasta for lunch, and now it's naptime. P. is making leftover pork roast for dinner tonight with trimmings and zucchini fritters. We watched Ms Represented episode one (brilliantly edited), then a surprisingly gripping Everest, then Media Watch. Then we enjoyed a Bob Dylan concert of his early songs in an ersatz speakeasy in Marseilles!! Thanks Bryony and Philip.

Tour then biog.

There isn't much to see in the replay of the Tour as it was a time trial day, won by Wout van Aert. Major placings unchanged and tomorrow is the show run into Paris with the sprint round the Champs Elysee the only interest, so that will have to wait till Monday. After breakfast and the crossword I went on with the sample edit of a chapter of the big biog. We had leftover chicken curry and rice for lunch, now it's naptime. I'm making rakott krumpli for dinner. We watched Grand Designs, Innocent, then Indian empire, Scottish lochs and back to the final Tour which we'll complete tomorrow.

Dressing again, big biog.

I got up early to see Mohoric win last night's stage of the Tour. Apparently his team were raided by the French drug squad. The main placings stay unchanged. Then I went to the very deserted Health Centre to have the wonderful Virginia change my dressing. Home again to start preliminary work on the Big Biog. P. went up to the shops for supplies including sangos for lunch. Naptime. P. is making roast porchetta for dinner. We then watched Midlands railways and a poxy bonnet show and a poxy Dawn French bad idea (she confessed to it in the credits). A dose of Tour made up for it.

Same again

Up early to watch Pogacar win another mountain stage. We got a brief glimpse of Luz-St Saveur where we stayed and its scary Napoleon bridge. I then went to the Health Centre to see Dr Joanne whom I missed yesterday. She gave me a path. slip and a swab for the nurse who changes my dressing tomorrow to see whether my toe is infected and, if so, with what. Tiny steps. Home again for lunch and a nap. I made anchovy pasta for dinner, then we watched Cotswold railways, soporific Midsomer Murders (it gets worse in the new series), then the Tour for a while.

Health Centre and BIG biog.

This morning, I got up early to see Pogacar win last night's stage of the Tour de France (quelle surprise) then I went to the Health Centre to podiatry. Rebecca has gone on hols so I had Jennie. She redressed my foot and found I had an infection in my big toe, so arranged for me to see a nurse on Saturday for a redressing and her on Monday for the same. I should set up a tent. I also waited to see whether a doctor could fit me in to get antibiotics, but they couldn't, so after waiting for an hour or so, I made an appointment for tomorrow to see Joanne in the morning. Home again for lunch. P. was at U3A post-colonial lit. just in time before we go into lockdown. Naptime, then I had a long chat with the author of the Big Biog. and we seemed (for now) to be in furious agreement. P. is making chicken curry for dinner. We watched Vietnamese trains, a rather lacklustre Q&A then back to the Tour.

Tour finish, shopping

Up early to watch the finish of last night's Tour with no major changes after Patrick Conrad won the stage. P. and I picked up Rupert, did the shopping and delivered Noel's. Home again for lunch, now for a nap. I sent a quick response off to the BIG bio. author. They replied early this evening and we'll have a phone call on Friday. After a nap, I made seafood bisque for dinner, P. got on with his reading for Post-colonial lit. and I watched news, Micallef then the Tour again. Nearly over.

Still on the big biography

I've spent the morning reading the big biog. and still haven't finished, though only about 70 pages to go. It's rivetting and I want to get to the end. Now it's lunch and before naptime I got to the end of the big biog. this round and really enjoyed it. After the nap, P. and I went into town to Superhiro for a super good meal, then to the Recital Centre for a Musica Viva Genevieve Lacey and Marshall McGuire concert. Some of it was a bit effete and longwinded (joke) but most was delightful. No need for all that smoke and darkness. Why give out a program when you can't read it? Home again for the Tour.

Back to the biog.

This morning, it was back to the biog. I am about two-thirds of the way through and think I'm close to cracking it. We had tomato soup for lunch and P. has gone shopping. Time for a quick nap. We had dumplings and leftover rakott krumpli for dinner, then Scotland, Media Watch and news. No Tour tonight as it's rest day. They need it.

Biog. then lunch

I read some more of the big biog. this morning and it is starting to gell as I get nearly halfway through. P. and I then went to the Elephant and Wheelbarrow in town which was full of small girls in costume, obviously off to either Harry Potter or Frozen. They soon cleared off and left us and my sister and brother-in-law in relative peace to have a good chat and a meal. Home again for a nap. We had leftover lamb stew for dinner, then Great Wall of China, NITV comedy, then Sam Watson memorial, then Tour.

Paper plus small biog. off then big biog.

It was another very cold hurkle durkle morning this morning. For some reason the voluminous Saturday papers were more rewarding this week, with News Ltd and the rest having entirely contrary views of Scummo. Back to the small biog. to make some small corrections then send it off to the publisher. Then back to the BIG biog. which I am a bit over a third of the way through. Over lunch, we watched the end of last night's Tour stage with Cavendish the winner, again. I started work on rakott krumpli for dinner, excellent for cold days. After a nap, I finished the krumpli, which wasn't bad. Then we had Scottish trains, the the Tour until we weakened and went to bed.

Dressing plus biog.

I went early to the Health Centre where the wonderful Rebecca did my foot dressing. I ran into Frank who is moving soon and is very busy. Home again to the BIG biography. P. went off to do some shopping. After a nap, P. made leftover pot roast with extra spuds, then it was gardening shows, Vera and back to the Tour on the way to Carcassone which might have to wait for tomorrow for us to get there.

Large biog., rubbish and family zoom

The rubbish man came early today and took away the dead fence. I went on with the new BIG biography. P. went to the shops and got stuff for lunch. Now for a nap. Then Kit had organised a family zoom which by the end included the whole Sims side of the family: Kit, Ben, Nick, Sara, Allie, David, Maggie and Mark. So it was almost like making the journey we couldn't make to Moss Vale, Sydney and Bourke. P. is making a braised chop meal for dinner, followed by trains in Thailand, Chinese development, Q&A then the Tour again.

Tour and shopping

I got up early to watch the end of last night's Tour which Mark Cavendish won. I then sent of the current version of the small biography to the authors with a couple of queries. P. and I then picked up Rupert the Picanto and went to Victoria Gardens for the shopping, dropped off Noel's to him, did some shopping at Bunnings (powerboards as recommended by Shane the computer man) and to Readings for P. to get his Joney Mitchell records. Home again for salmon patties and now for a rest. I made fish chowder for dinner, followed by Winchester Cathedral, then Micallef, then the Tour going up Mount Ventoux. We'll get there in the morning on the replay.

Dressing, then biog.

I went up to the Health Centre early and Helen the nurse changed my dressing. Home again to the slow final proofing of the biography which is now finished. The corrections just need to entered and a couple of queries resolved with the authors. P. made excellent curried egg sandwiches for lunch. Now it's naptime. P. is making leftover pot roast for dinner, then it's Jack Charles, then back to the Tour with a hope of seeing the finish in the morning.

Biog. then new computer

I did some more proofing on the biography, then Shane the inestimable computer man arrived to install my new computer system, which he did by just after lunchtime while we watched Ben O'Connor win stage 9 of the Tour on replay. It all seems to work, though I might have to adjust some of the settings. We had vegie soup for lunch and now I need a rest after getting most settings right. P. made leftover chicken couscous for dinner, then it was Julia Banks dumping on Scummo, then the usual Monday night treats including 4 Corners on Crown Casino crookedness and Media Watch on Covid reporting.

Crossword then biog.

The Sunday crossword was finished effortlessly, then it was back to the biog. Nearly there but not quite. I might let it rest till tomorrow and do a review of the hardcopy as a final check. I do want this one to be 100 per cent. The BIG biography can wait for a day or so. For lunch, minestrone, now for a nap. P. made pot roast of beef for dinner with mirepoix and potato, which was delicious and will keep on keeping on for days. We watched Malta history with only a little prehistory, then a Jack Irish satisfying finale, then back to the Tour in the Alps but not right to the finish. That can wait till tomorrow's replay.

Papers then biog.

The usual deluge of Saturday papers. The Australian has two disturbing new tacks. One is Helen Dale (ex-Demidenko) on transgender issues which she kind of says don't exist. She is a lawyer now, living in London, perhaps because she is probably persona non grata in Australia. Then a review of Huntergatherer vs Agriculture (the title gives it away: why is it vs.?) raises the question of 'fake' Aboriginals which seems to be an idea on the march. Now no doubt there are fake Aboriginals, though probably not many, and hardly any in any positions of prominence, so why make it an issue? I smell a rat. I got quite a lot of proofing done on the biography which I should finish this weekend. Just as well as another has just turned up at a massive 200,000 words. We had tomato soup for lunch, now for a needed nap. I made a cheese souffle for dinner while P. made a caesar salad to go with it which turned out to be a gourmet meal. It is a quiet night on the teev with trains in North Devon, the feeble final of the bonnet program, followed by the Tour.

Tour again, podiatry then biog.

Up early to see the end of last night's Tour then to the Health Centre for a podiatry dressing. P. went off to American Literature while I went on with the biography. Nearly there, I should finish it this weekend. After a nap, P. made chicken couscous with zucchini for dinner, then replacement Gardening shows of little account, then Vera, then the Tour which held us to the end. No change to the leaders.

End-of-year, biog., physio and concert

I did the immediate end-of-year things like the Business Activity Statement (grrr! I owe them money), then a bit of proofing on the biog. We had quiches for lunch, then I went to physio. at the Health Centre starring Rebecca, Jebbie and Rose(trainee) and Sybil, a new participant. It was worth it. After a short nap, we went in a cab (the trams in St Kilda Road are off love) to the Recital Centre (!!!) where Ensemble Liaison and friends (David Jones and Jill Griffiths) gave a jazz-inspired concert with pieces from all over the place including Piazzola, Gershwin, Bolling, Gould, etc. It was a splendid concert, all the better for a drink outside with chippies and dumplings beforehand. Home again to finish off the pea-and-fish curry, then Tour then bed.