#2201 Sunday 9th July

 The "box" project is going along slowly.  Since it cannot have any metal, all the parts must be glued and pinned with a dowel.  So each phase has to be completed and the glue set before the next part can be started.  I'm making the box to be used as a cupboard (with shelves) till the day .... many years hence .... when it becomes my final ..... mmm .... what shall I call it?

It's school holiday time and even though Kaylia isn't going to school, life is still disrupted by carers not being available because of their own family needs.  So this coming week will again be one where I'm in the hot seat.

I've just watched a video of the Mercedes Benz factory ....it shows the whole process of building a car.  It is only at the very last processes that a human is visible!  Amazing.

#2200 Friday 7th July

I'm listening to Kaylia in her room..... she's listening to her music.....  the same 2 or 3 bars of a song over and over.  I remember when I used to be able to listen to music in the house..... but now if Kaylia is around she stops anything else.  Maybe it's time to train her to allow other people to enjoy their music.

Shortly after writing that I came across an FB music clip  ..... and I thought WOW!

It was a group called Otyken .... from Siberia .... using many traditional instruments.  I located an album and downloaded it.  It's very different.

#2199 Thursday 5th July

It's been another day with no carer assistance..... it's school holidays.  So today we went for a long drive.... 5 hours!  We drove east to York and then east again on the Goldfields road till we reached the Quarading to Cunderdin road. We turned north to Cunderdin and crossed the Great Eastern Highway and headed north to Dowerin. This took us past the Cunderdin airfield where I learned to fly gliders so I had a look around to relive the memories.

At Dowerin we turned west through Gomalling and Toodyay back to home.  The trip was 350 kms. Mostly through country that I'd never seen before.  The fields of lupins are beginning to flower so the views are special. 

#2198 Tuesday 4th July

 It's been a good day!  In all senses of the description.  It began at breakfast with a magpie singing beautifully on a branch just outside the window .... and Kaylia singing her happy song as she ate her breakfast. 

After her speech therapy session, Kaylia and I headed down to Midland for a movie. (Jenny - who usually cares for k on a Tuesday - is away this week.  So I'm in the "hot seat")  Kaylia had selected the movie 'Elemental' and I thought that I would snooze through it ...... but it was a surprisingly good film with a good soundtrack.  I'll try to download it.

We had lunch and then went 'round the block'  for a drive along a road about 20mins drive north of Darlington.

The yellow line is the road from Midland to Gidgegannup and the blue loop (going north and round back to the yellow line) is the way we wandered.

It went past a grove ... about 50 acres ... of very straight trees ....  the wind was rushing through the timber ... almost sounding like a stream of water.

 

.... and then at several places .....

(I've marked it on the map as "view" and the direction ....  

there was a beautiful vista stretching into the distance.  

There are many houses on this route and I'm envious of their location. The elevation is very high (for WA that is) and it's very peaceful.

Much of this drive was through country that was burnt in the huge fires a couple of years ago .... and it's good to see how much of the bush has regenerated.  Australia is a land of the cycle of death and regeneration.... 

#2197 Wednesday 29th June

 As Kaylia does her "shop" work I can hear her singing/chortling .... her happy noises. Life is pleasant at the moment .... her medication is just right and as a result she's relaxed and easy-going.  She's good company for me as she is content to just sit with me when I need my "down-time".  I talk to her about things .... she doesn't respond but I'm pretty sure that the talks go into her memory.  At times she surprises me with actions that show that she is thinking and reasoning.  Her lack of verbal interaction means that we have to interpret her actions.

I've been down in the shed today ..... with my two "mates"!  I hear a scratching in a corner .... and there they are .... hunting spiders I guess.

My current project is making my coffin!  To have it on hand when needed in the next 20 to 30 years. 

It's bare timber so far.  The question is whether to paint it?  It will end up being burnt so .... is painting it a good idea?

#2196 Tuesday 27th June

It was the end of an era for me today...... I've sold my kanga loader.  It was partly due to planning for the time when my physical ability diminishs. I don't want to leave tasks to others.  I'm not doing earthmoving tasks these days so it's best to dispose of the machine.

Kaylia is at dancing class at the moment..... and after that we go to Nandos for tea. 

#2195 Wednesday 21st June

I can't help myself....