I'm Coming Out of my Cave...

If you look at this cat long enough, it seems as if he's limping...

I'm so pleased the last couple of days have passed. I'm not sure what was wrong, but things were really getting me down and that is not really like me. Then today, I realised that it was probably the effects of the full moon - especially this one, because it's my birthday month and I think it was really zapping me! Anyway, the effects have warn off - thank goodness and I can get on with it now. Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments - especially since I was probably being rather self-indulgent!

I rang the Ombudsman about my sister-in-law's cheque from New Zealand and got the reply that it takes so long to clear because it was "for my protection as a lot of people send fraudulent cheques and the 'clearing houses"(?) have to ensure that they are genuine." I'm sure my sister-in-law will be sooo pleased to hear that! So, what are 'clearing houses'? I hear you ask. Believe me, I asked that, too. Apparently that is where the cheques are held for clearing and because they get soooo many each day, it takes some time for them to clear. Yeah right, try the explanation "putting the cash on the overnight money market" and maybe that'll be nearer the mark. I bet the money has already been taken out of my sister-in-law's bank account, don't you agree?

As for the $10 conversion rate, I am waiting for someone to get back to me about that. We can't hurry these things, now...

I've just been doing a bit of channel surfing; murder, mayhem and shootings - and that's just the news! So...being a Monday evening, looks like it's "The West Wing" for tonight's viewing. Actually, it's not a bad programme, this is actually a re-run and I have a feeling there's an Australian guy in it somewhere, probably later on in the series. His name is Alan Dale and he lived two houses down the road from me when I was about 14 or 15. There was a gang of us who used to go to the Youth Club on a Friday night and he and his sister used to tag along. I say tag along, because they were so up themselves and, as kids are wont to do, we used to tell them to sod off. Not that it made any difference to them, they still used to attach themselves to us. Horrible little brats, we were...

I can smell rain, hopefully I will hear it soon. The weather bureau guy did mutter something about storms tonight, but if there were, we didn't get them here. Fred's got the downpipes and plumbing to the three water tanks hooked up so now all we are waiting for is rain. Had some a few days ago and we were out there in the rain listening to the lovely sound of water running off the roof and into the tanks.

According to a news item tonight, some researchers from the university are saying that the water tanks provide a damp, warm environment for mosquitoes and we may get an outbreak of Dengue fever, which does not usually happen this far down. Although, they added the comment that it would probably most likely affect sea-changers and visitors more as they're not used to the hot and humid weather! So there you go, Queenslanders, because we're used to being bitten by mozzies we'll probably not have to worry about getting Dengue fever. To be quite honest, I can't quite see the reasoning, however I'm not a scientist so that's probably why!

Right, I think I'll naff off to bed. Got to get up early for the morning constitutional, then come back and hammer on the keyboard in an effort to earn some money for my car payment.

I'll get around to commenting soon.