Different erspective

Had an accident while doing some garden work - hose flew up and knocked my spectacles off! They landed on concrete, and though nothing is broken as such, the right lense fell out. I've put it back in but will need to to take it to the local OPSM as soon as I can. My backup specs are some years out of date, and if I can't see what I'm doing, it's either confusing or dangerous.

While I'm there, I might see about getting a new pair on Visioncare again. I tried to do this last year but with the rent money I was getting from Kevin prevented me from getting free specs. I'm back on full now so we'll see.

Two days of Shopping

Only expected to go out yesterday. In fact, I was going to do a library run, and then visit my friend Helen who lives in the next suburb. As it transpired, I did do my library run (latest Thomas Covenant book - yes!) and then double backed to Glendale for some light shopping. The first stop was Bunnings, and was just about to cross the busy access road, when who do I see on the other side, but Helen! As it happens she'd had to go to a medical appointment and had texted me to cancel, but of course I hadn't even looked at my mobile (still sitting in the lounge charging). "It was fate we'd meet" she said.

Maybe it was. I decided to spend some time with her before doing my own shopping. Helen's diabetic and we both needed to eat as it was mid afternoon. We had lunch, she found a good purse for $9, and we chatted. It was fun, and after she caught her bus I did my shopping. It was compact enough because I knew exactly what I needed (the Bunnings items were cheap plumbing brackets which I'm going to use for cables on the walls). It was a good day, and later I spend time in Second Life with a friend building props for webcomics.

Today was a different matter. Hadn't planned to go out, but after an accident popped out the right lense in my spectacles, I needed to go to OPSM at Glendale to have it re-inserted properly. Bugger!

As it happened, I decided to go to Cardiff first and returned some library DVDs, almost immediately catching a bus back to Glendale.  First stop was OPSM where my specs were fixed and I talked to them about re-applying to get a new pair via vision care (didn't qualify last year because of the rent I was getting). Then it was a round of visiting shops to look for specific types of bargains. I found more or less everything I wanted, but it was a longish process and my feet hurt bad by the time I got home. Bumped into Sue, who told me that I was better off not having any boarders. Also, I think I overate. Went to Subway for lunch and got a 12" Chicken and Avocado sub. Nice, but when I got hope I just felt so tired and exhausted. Today had meant to be a clean-up day around the home (starting with the backyard) and instead I fell asleep until after 8pm!

Tomorrow (and probably Monday as well) I will be staying home, regardless.
 

True Grit

Saw True Grit on Wednesday. I was surprised with just how good the film was.

Haven't read the book that both this film and the 1969 version were based on, but this film version seems to be a fuller, more believable account. I absolutely did not recognise Matt Damon as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf! Of course many scenes are shared with the 1969 version and the film includes the classic "Fill your hands you son of a bitch!" line from Rooster Cogburn.

I read somewhere, and I think it's true, that a big difference between this and the earlier version is that the focus on the story is firmly on Matty Ross, not Cogburn, who though a major character, is a supporting one. Some elements are entirely different. For example, in the 1969 version, after threatening everyone and sundry with her lawyer, we finally get to see him and discover him to be a short weedy man with a high pitched voice!

There's a good reason that never happens in this version, but I won't spoil this for you. Suffice it to say that scenes towards the end of the film reminded me of certain French films, and are better for that. More like Dead Man and The Grey Fox than the previous film, which is a GOOD THING.

ONE WEEK

It's been a whole week now since Kevin and Michelle moved out.

In that time, I've found it a little odd how quiet it's been in my home (and I've missed Hallie a little bit), but:

• I haven't missed K & M's nonsense at all;
• haven't missed the pups in the slightest;
• have been seeing a lot more of Gabby and Ebony (both cats);
• Bobby has been much more cuddly; and
• I have felt more calmer, and much less stressed

There are still issues I need to address (like whether or not to chock down the trees on my front yard, or replace the drainage thee with PVC) but on the whole these are a lot clearer. Cleaning up is a slow process. I was going to do the washing up first thing and then discovered that my bottle of detergent had fallen over and drained into the sink. And today I had to make a detour to get my spectacles fixed, which ransformed into a shopping expedition. But I can do that in my own time.

I got drunk a bit just before they left. I have a bottle of Merlot in the fridge and was going to celebrate today, but just can't be bothered. Tomorrow, maybe.

 

Oh, and absolutely no word from Kevin or Michelle - no forwarding address, email advice (on the bathroom door or 18 toilet rolls of mine they used) or phone call. Am I worried? What do you think?