Friday 29 September 2017

Friskier by the day Jan has biked to yoga twice this week plus into the CBD and looks forward to the last poisoning 31 October. Next hurdle will be end of radiation 15 December. Already showing signs of resurgence, hair will soon get serious about returning to former glory. May nevertheless take awhile. Since she has been wearing scarves her head hasn't UVed to red so never seemed appropriate to paint that "3" on top. Dang! Regrettably missed opportunity for great blog photo.

Can't figure the reason, but pregnancy around Darwin seems to be highly contagious. Never seen so many pregos waddling behind strollers with barely ambulatory toddlers maintaining formation. Can't go into a restaurant, cafe or pub without the incessant screeching of recently hatched progeny. Judging by parents ignoring the cacophony, they seem immune to it, but us non-breeders would rather have a more mellow environment. Please don't get the idea that we don't like children. It's not true. We just don't like being near them.

In related thought, it was slightly less annoying 20 or 30 years ago in the US for some hoping that all the little proto-workers would keep social security and Medicare afloat. Lots of folks actually believed politician's promises to take care of them. Oopsie! Now looks as if the new little blighters won't be vast enough or join the ranks soon enough to keep these schemes solvent. Glad we planned a fallback. Nevertheless, their parents, struggling to make ends meet, are no doubt delighted to forego 15.3% of their earnings to provide us with medical care (unused due out of country) and adjunct income for toys such as the newly purchased mammoth-screen TV (24") - much better than squandering it on the bairn. Thanks, guys. Your voluntary contributions are wonderfully altruistic and greatly appreciated.

Saturday

Have decided to get serious about working on boat. With the barest glimmer of light at end of tunnel, want to make ready for expedition. Since it will soon begin to rain virtually every day and travel is contemplated from holidays onward, need to get cracking. Improved attitude has inspired that very thing for last three days. Fresh water leak found and repaired, slime from dampness cleaned up, dead secondary bilge pump replaced, entire system renovated and collapsing sole panel fixed. Generator next. Awaiting parts for windlass. Meantime cleanup of good parts and anchor locker in sight. Feeling terrifically virtuous.

Sunday

Egad! Woke to rain on the roof - first in at least four months. This year wet season ended late and came early. Awning will go back up dirty. Had planned to wash first, but rain makes the effort moot or so we tell ourselves. Look forward to finding numerous leaks so near-favorite task of rebedding deck hardware may begin. Perhaps for now, however, a little lie-down to contemplate forthcoming virtuousitousness (not a real word).

Jack