It is hard to find fault with my electronic diary, it thinks for me,
sends me e-mails to remind me of dates, dentists appointments and
meetings.
It keeps my birthday calendar up to date not only for the current
year but perpetually without my doing a single thing.
I can send invitations to HeeHoo to join me at suitable functions
and
he can send me "accept " or "decline" invitations to join him.
(Accept cocktail parties and dinners but "decline" rugby matches and
evenings at the pub !!)
But it fails dismally when I try and press fresh flowers in it as I
used to do in my old fashioned paper diaries !!
Would have dearly liked to pinch a few of the Oz wildflowers that
are
so beautiful along the highways in Perth in Spring.
The Geraldton Waxes would have pressed beautifully, the brilliant
red
Kangaroo Paws, the abundant gorse and brilliant yellow wattle
flowers
would have looked good too.
There is consolation in that I photographed them, but not quite the
same as paging through old diaries and coming across pressed flowers
to remind one of happy days.
A visit to Perth is always like a time warp for me. Not only do I
see
my precious family members but I also get to see much loved people
from halcyon and happy years gone by.
Among those special friends are Jenny and Marcus, we can still pick
up a friendship from thirty years ago as if there were never any gap
at all, and reminisce about those whacky days when they lived in
that tiny flat on the top of the High Court in Bulawayo. A stones
throw away from the very same flat mentioned in John Gordon Davis
Book "Hold My Hand I am Dying"
Of course the primary reason that I was invited to Oz was to
decorate
"She Who Must Runs" newly purchased apartment ! A quaint double
story
unit with some most interesting neighbours, very close to the Swan
River which will become prime real estate quite soon I am sure.
Now decorating in the First World certainly has its advantages, I
fell totally in love with my paint roller. It was so porous it could
hold enough paint, without spilling a single drop, to paint an
entire
wall. ! Those Aussi blokes sure know how to make excellent DIY tools.
Hands on Home decorating is new to me as a spoilt Zimbabwean, for
years now Charlie and I have decorated homes, but not in this sort
of
luxury and nor at such close quarters !!
Normally Charlie has decorated the numerous rooms with an awful old
ladder with missing steps, an antiquated paint brush that loses six
hairs with each stroke and he has lugged a heavy metal roller bucket
around while I have directed operations from an easy vantage point
nearby !
HOWEVER nothing daunted, Charlieless, I took to this decorating lark
like a duck to water. Its easy with the right tools I must say, the
paint slurped on like liquid gold, the step ladder was so light I
could swing it around on my little pinky, and the sewing, stitching
and curtain hanging was a piece of cake with the Australian mod cons
in creativity.
SheWho did occasionally allow me off my step ladder to go for runs
with her in the beautiful Perth parks and many happy memories were
made as She ran and I shuffled along the glorious Swan River.
(Here I must offer abject apologies to the Director of the Perth
Publicity Association for once saying that Perth has no trees. The
more established parts of the City have a wonderful abundance of
trees and the parks and gardens are superb !!)
Of course the Piece De Resistance was when we and 26 thousand other
Perthians ran the City to Surf 12km "Fun Run" It was reminiscent of
all the pain of childbirth and a tonsillectomy rolled into one.......
However we did receive a fine medal for the pain, but climbing the
step ladder for the next few days to slosh paint on the ceiling (and
the carpet and the couches) was pay back time for all those years
of
making Charlie undertake Home Decorating without the right tools. !!!
Jerry Dodman - Dearly loved cousin who we will greatly missed.
Condolences to Joan, Lisa and Lara.
Jill, Denis , Mike, Trevor and Suzie
++++++++++
CONDOLENCES
Michael Gaines-Burrill
A great friend and colleague for so many years.
I miss you Michael.
Gerry Taylor
+++++++++++
DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF BARRY JOHN ROBERTS
Roy and heather Stirling stirling@mchsi.com
+++++++
MIKE GAINES-BURRILL MEMORIAL SERVICE
FRIDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 3PM
BULAWAYO BAPTIST CHURCH
GEORGE SILUNDIKA/2ND AVE
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TIDBITS
Always laugh when you can it is cheap medicine
Lord Byron
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