Where’s Lancpudin?

[Raiyn]

Oh hell......Now we're gonna have "The Great Fedora Faceoff" in Memphis one day. How "fedorable".

Maybe not Memphis, but I'm still up for it as long as I don't end up in Iowa.

I'm sure using Google maps we could figure out a route.

 

[Otto99]

Good, someone to teach me as I may finally be getting to the age where the right hat may become part of my trademark.....LOL. The guys in our Blues/Soul band once tried to get me to go "hatted" during gigs but I've never worn hats my entire life so IMHO it would've been out of character for me. Now.....maybe not so much. I just need the "right one" is all.

Find a real hat shop, or haberdashery as they were once called, and try on a lot. You’ll know when you’ve found the right one, as it’s not unlike getting your first wand at Ollivander’s. Serious Harry Potter geek reference, but if you know, you know. When I considered wearing a hat, I just happened to see one at the higher end store I’d raid for sales, tried it on, and it just worked.

 

[soulman969]

Find a real hat shop, or haberdashery as they were once called, and try on a lot. You’ll know when you’ve found the right one, as it’s not unlike getting your first wand at Ollivander’s. Serious Harry Potter geek reference, but if you know, you know. When I considered wearing a hat, I just happened to see one at the higher end store I’d raid for sales, tried it on, and it just worked.

Hmmmm......now I need to find out whether such a place even exists here in FOCO. If one does I have to wonder whether or not it will carry far more Stetsons than Fedoras or Bush Hats.

 

[Lancpudn]

I think many herbs are from a Mediterranean climate Ian, inc. rosemary. Not sure Lancs qualifies as being “Mediterranean”? Grin~ I think your winter would do them in!

LOL Yeah you may be right I should just leave them growing in the greenhouse instead of outside under the grey skies & rain.
Sausage making didn't quite go to plan! I ordered some hog casings off the ebay but they were a small diameter, I could barely get the casing over the smallest diameter nozzle despite soaking in water for two hours previous, I think I may need to soak them overnight instead of a few hours to get them more pliable.
I managed to get five sausages made before I gave in. I made a batch of sausage meat from pork shoulder & pork belly through that mincer. I added leek & cider to the mix.

All was not lost as I made a batch of sausage rolls with the rest of the sausage meat & they were delicious.

 

[Lancpudn]

It's one of those days where you take one step forward two steps backwards trying to sort other peoples crapolla up.

I've been trying to get two lots of meds for my cancer treatment but my usual online pharmacy doesn't show either of the meds on their site Trying to speak with my doc is nigh on impossible, I'm going into the docs this morning to try & sort it out. I'm down to my last few days supply.
Those bloody boiler people! Aarrgghh. Spoke to them yesterday asking if there is a date to start the installation & was told we cant find anything on our system for you despite having signed the paperwork over a month ago

She said you will have to have a survey done first, I said we had one done a month ago

Other than that I may go & see if I can get an haircut.

 

[Digger]

If there’s a problem with free universal healthcare, then it’s that it gets overused and causes problems and delays! I can remember people complaining about just that when I was there in 1964. It’s getting the same here now but still beats systems adopted by some other countries.

Off to see our travel agent this morning about a few days in Hobart next month. I’ve gotta get me one of those delectible scallop pies at Salamanca market! Gael wants to see the Mona art gallery so we will fly down for 4 or 5 days maybe in March.

 

[Otto99]

If there’s a problem with free universal healthcare, then it’s that it gets overused and causes problems and delays! I can remember people complaining about just that when I was there in 1964. It’s getting the same here now but still beats systems adopted by some other countries.

I’m beginning the schlog towards Medicare and the needed supplemental coverage, and it’s about as complicated as choosing a cellphone plan. Some cover my doctors, some don’t, some cover most of my meds, but none cover all, some offer vision and dental, but with serious caps on annual costs, so basically the one I end up with with be the one I have to settle for. That strikes me as not quite right.

 

[Lancpudn]

Well I only managed to get one out of my two meds sorted out at the docs yesterday & still no luck with the boiler people, Spoke to two offices who are dealing with it to be told we'll ring you back but they never did Communication from them is hopeless.

I did manage to get my haircut yesterday though

 

[soulman969]

I’m beginning the schlog towards Medicare and the needed supplemental coverage, and it’s about as complicated as choosing a cellphone plan. Some cover my doctors, some don’t, some cover most of my meds, but none cover all, some offer vision and dental, but with serious caps on annual costs, so basically the one I end up with with be the one I have to settle for. That strikes me as not quite right.

From my own experience analyzing them for some of my clients many Medicare Supplement plans aren't worth the paper they're written on and the more they appear to cover in all practicality the less they do.

Their dental and vision benefits are so sparse as to be nearly null for much other than annual checkups and basic maintenance. Those that do offer prescription coverage can be useful for those who badly need it but again do they cover the drugs needed by that individual?

IMHO short of looking to have catastrophic coverage for major issues in many cases it's actually better to self insure the rest since you'll still be spend above and beyond the premium dollars spent for coverage. I won't mention names but only a few are worth even considering.

Universal health care would benefit us all however the insurance lobby will spend tens of millions to fight off seeing it ever happen and the very wealthy will support that since it's health care costs they see as a major way to keep people poorer than they would become if they did not have to pay for coverage and also have debts for what it doesn't cover.

 

[Digger]

Sorted out plans for Hobart trip, looks like 30th March for about 5 days. A visit to the chemist was productive as I snaffled a months supply of Ozempic which is akin to winning lotto. This is a drug that whilst designed to help diabetics control blood sugar also helps reduce appetite and is in huge demand for that.

Then to our cabinet maker to look at samples for redoing the kitchen and that looks OK so far.

When we got home Roz (Gael’s sister) and her friend Robyn were here waiting for us and that was a nice surprise.
Tomato vines were stripped but then thats par for the course with family I suppose.

Not a bad day all told!

 

[Lancpudn]

Well just looked on my online pharmacy prescription list account this morning & the missing medication is now on there,
I ordered some shallot sets yesterday so I'm getting the beds ready with fertilizer when they arrive. The majority of the tomato seeds I sowed weeks ago have still not germinated yet despite being on heat mats in the greenhouse It must still be a tad cold for them yet.

 

[Digger]

Been feeling very low in energy for some time and it’s been effecting everything. Doc gave me a script to go back onto Vitamin B12 injections and I took a shot Thursday and had heaps more energy yesterday.

I dragged that heavy a$$ brushcutter to the front and hooked into a load of weeds in the corner that are hard to get at, then moved to cleaning up the inside of the front fence. I spent an hour going flat out and ran out of fuel 2/3rds of the way through. My back was stuffed so I didn't refuel and continue but moved to the slightly easier job of coming back & poisoning all I’d cut. Easier is a relative term as the backpack full weighs 20 kilos and my back was already sore.

However I was happy to do much more than I’ve been able to do for ages thanks to the B12. The downside is that despite munching jelly beans to avoid it I had a massive low blood sugar event that flattened me for the rest of the day. Geez it’s bloody hard to win~

Still sore but I’ll try to get out early and finish that fence line brushcutting before it heats up too much.

 

[Lancpudn]

Haven't done much at all lately, I think I'm having a satellite delay of side effects from that radiotherapy treatment, I've never felt so fatigued & listless in my life, I'm feeling the cold a lot more since the treatment too.

Managed to get the other meds sorted out on Friday , The boiler people sent another engineer round on Friday afternoon to do a survey!!! We've already had one done & to do an asbestos check, er the condenser boiler was less than 8 years old so I wouldn't think there would be asbestos in that Anyhow they never let us us know he was coming which has been par for the course with zero coms from them & even though we were in all day I never heard the door bell or him knocking so he left a note saying he'd missed us I give up.

 

[Digger]

Oh bugger! They aren’t making things easy for you ATM mate are they? You need a dog to let you know when someone is around. Works beautifully for a deaf old bugger like me!

I have to wait in from 10AM while the cleaner does her thing and the grass is wet so mowing is out. I do have to go into town to pick up a spray pump and tank that has been rewired for me and while I’m there I will drop into Bunnings our big harware chain and grab some bungee cords as I’ve used most of mine on covering up the hydraulic splitter. I keep flirting with the idea of getting a Dremel but apart from doing my toenails while my podiatrist is away, I don’t have an immediate need. It’s either that or go up a size with footware....Chuckle~

 

[Raiyn]

I’m there I will drop into Bunnings our big harware chain

Be sure to grab a snag.

I keep flirting with the idea of getting a Dremel

I keep flirting with the idea of getting a newer model than my 20+ year old two speed. I've changed out the collet for their chuck style adapter and moved to a number of their "EZ-lok" accessories as the old "let's dink around with a tiny screw to change cutting wheels" got old after the first 18 years or so.

I might get one with the flexy snake extension for finer work, as my two speed is more of a "blunt instrument" compared to the machines they offer now.

TL;DR Dremel good - not just for toenails.

 

[Digger]

I bought a cordless Dremel today for $109, I’m charging it overnight and will have a play tomorrow.

 

[Lancpudn]

Oh bugger! They aren’t making things easy for you ATM mate are they? You need a dog to let you know when someone is around. Works beautifully for a deaf old bugger like me!

I have to wait in from 10AM while the cleaner does her thing and the grass is wet so mowing is out. I do have to go into town to pick up a spray pump and tank that has been rewired for me and while I’m there I will drop into Bunnings our big harware chain and grab some bungee cords as I’ve used most of mine on covering up the hydraulic splitter. I keep flirting with the idea of getting a Dremel but apart from doing my toenails while my podiatrist is away, I don’t have an immediate need. It’s either that or go up a size with footware....Chuckle~

Well the boiler guy turned up again this morning to do another boiler inspection & get copies of our personal details for the means tested part of the boiler grant but wanted paper copies . We don't get paperwork anymore here not many places offer it unless you specifically ask for it, it's all digital, I said the last guy took pictures off our PC monitor as proof but now he reckons they will need physical paperwork copies to proceed. One step forward two steps backwards again.

 

[soulman969]

I have nothing to report It's been an amazing uneventful couple of weeks. Other than a haircut, a trip to the grocery store, and an hour or so with my granddaughters yesterday was just another lazy day.

 

[Digger]

I was too busy to make it a lunchtime anniversary meal so we will go out tonight. Probably go our usual Chinese tonight as it is a bit special.

Gael suggested a very flash place at Lakes Entrance but it’s twice as far and I’m tired from working very hard this morning. Besides it’s really expensive.

Shawn came today and Gael put him to work in the garden while I mowed. Towards the end he approached me and asked if I still wanted to sell the box grader I had in the shed. He'd asked me before and I said I’d sell it to him for $300. I paid somewhere in the $600s, said to anyone else I’d be asking $400, but he could have it cheaper again. I stopped mowing and moved machinery out and around so I could get the tractor in to it and then chained it to the bucket and lifted it out. I placed it in his big trailer for him.

Roz mentioned at lunch the other day that there were other things he had his eyes on so I asked him what they were and one was an old single Tyne ripper that had been in the shed through the fire and in my mind was probably weakened through the intense heat. I put a figure of $50 on that. Then there was a home made (well made) 3point linkage towing arm. Grant made it and it was specifically to fit the old tractor which I’m only using for spraying now. I gave him that for $100.

He got some good deals and I moved on equipment that was just laying around. It’s nice to give a young bloke working hard to get his own property and machinery a bit of a bargain.

That set me back an hour so as he left it was back to the mowing. I cleaned up the mower before putting it away and then cleaned up the shed where the plough was sitting. Lastly I put the old tractor, the trailer and the mower in and locked up. I was stuffed after that.

However it was lovely working out on a warm day in my best ever “office”.

 

[soulman969]

Life goes on pretty much as usual here. Work has it's daily challenges but as I allow myself the time to engage with our callers on a more personal and friendly basis I find I'm enjoying it more. Now the question is will the powers that be keep allowing me to do that or will I once again get reprimanded for the length of may calls. We shall see.

On Wednesday PM our non-profit organization Otter Cares is hosting an open house from 1:00-2:30 as a way for us to meet with some of the folks we serve in that manner. My daughter is the second in command at Otter Cares so I'm taking some of my 24 hours of annually allotted volunteer time to attend in support of her and of Otter Cares itself.

I'm quite proud of Tricia and the work she does for the company. She's well known and very popular with our workforce. In fact just last Friday I mentioned to one of my associates that she was my daughter and was delighted to hear how she'd been a mentor to that person long ago when she joined the company. It fits. Tricia has an innate talent for engagement with others and a talent for organization.

When she was in college here at CSU she was the head of the entire Greek Council of associated sororities and fraternities and she's still active with her own sorority as a local board member and senior advisor. When she was still in school I jokingly called her CSU's Pan-Hellenic Princess. She and I have always had a close relationship that's grown even closer now that I live nearby and we can share work stuff and my granddaughters as well.

I believe I've mentioned before that I do have an 18 year old grandson whose Frosh at the U of Wisconsin. He's my oldest daughters son but due to the distance between us Joey has grown up far outside of my life and influence. Much of that is my own fault and I've had to accept that.

So it's wonderful to actually be a day to day grandpa for the very first time in my life and have an opportunity to share in their young lives and watch them grow. That and being closer to Tricia has restored a sense of balance that was missing for many many years. It's a good thing.