flashman181

Another glorious day dawned so was put to work as Pool Boy extraordinare. You don’t need two legs when you have a cunning plan . He scoops , he scores .

Friday rolled around and time to head to Brisvegas for Day 1 of the SS – Turkey Flat long lunch at Port Office Hotel with AD. Not being able to find the lift to get to the “balcony room “ made access a tad difficult but where there is wine there is a way. Two long tables for about 50 thirsty folks or as we call it in the trade – Super Spreader event ! There was a 3 course meal hidden in there somewhere as well, you just had to find it in between the glasses.

3 different reds were served with each course and we did our best to empty all glasses before the next course arrived. It was a friendly group in close proximity but not sure emptying their unfinished Mataro into my now empty glass was my finest moment 🤦🏻‍♂️

Then they just seemed to fill up again 👀

The food was excellent as was the company. Not sure the service was all that well planned and was difficult for waiters to get in between the chairs and tables . And crutches. They managed

As we were on Plan H by now we wanted to be on the road by about 230 pm to head to Yabba Dabba Do and try to avoid the notorious M1 afternoon traffic. We did get to try the last dessert wine but sadly missed the cheese platters. We shall survive . It was a great way to spend a few hours and lube up the tonsils .

I may have nightmares tonight about all the lovely wine left behind. Either way suggest it could be a rough nights sleep 😏

Now it was time to get on the road and head to Yabba Dabba Do and sober up in the 90 mins it would take for designated driver to travel there . Some congestion at times but still a good run had us ready to hop into our next drinks package. Here is one I prepared earlier

A couple of rumbos by the fire finished off day one perfectly as we retired to our separate lodgings for the night . Not a great night’s sleep but that was self induced of course. We have a small gathering today by Della standards so one of the easier table configurations to configurate.

My main job for the morning was to prepare the Antipasto plate. With the smaller gathering it was easier than expected.

The gang dribbled in as midday approached and as we were about to tuck in to the reserve antipasto plate we looked around for someone to say Grace and realised we were struggling. And then on the stroke of midday in drove AD and saved the day

As always plenty to eat and maybe the hosts didn’t get the tick tock update about reduced numbers but as had the two night package deal any leftovers would not go to waste. Special mention must be made of the cake made by Mike and Jodie. It was diabetic heaven . I got 3 Kit Kats just in my one slice !

As always the hours passed quickly in good company

I did notice CLP doing the rounds with a huge smile on her face. It seems she was telling everyone that “ yes he finally goes home on Wednesday 💃🏻

Bruce teased since last night that he had a new Scotch to try with a unique “flavour”. His exact description was “ tastes like the sticky part of a Band-Aid” Yeah right . With the family all on the road we settled in for our leftovers dinner and finally ok bring out the scotch.

Fuck me. He nailed it 😏 As the glass approached the mouth an odd smell was detected . The first taste confirmed it. It is a sticky Band-Aid! Now, what are our options to finish this glass and not waste precious ice . Some dry ginger ale? Hmm, now it’s a sticky Band-Aid pulled off after wearing it in the shower by mistake. Thanks Bruce for a unique experience never to be repeated 😅

A good nights sleep followed by the usual delicious breakfast had us on the road by 0830 and a good run home relaxing at Ponderosa by 11 am on a cloudy cool day . So now a couple of days of chilling before heading back to Maryhole on Wednesday for good. The ankle is rather swollen today after a lot of upright activity in recent days so will be a very quiet afternoon. TB didn’t seem too sad to see us leave but to be fair it may have been the T Shirt I wore yesterday 😏

Will sign off now from Grind n Bind as we approach the 9 week mark and well on road to recovery if still a few curves ahead but hopefully no dark tunnels. Of course would have been totally lost without CLP who has been my rock. ❤️

A quiet couple of months before October rocks around and “ What Happens in Las Vegas “ kicks off. Later dudes and dudettes.

Always leave em smiling

As in, I’ve stretched it out long enough she wants me to go home 🤓

It’s a fluid situation at present . Current plan is to head home to Maryhole on Wednesday August 3rd. Fair to say recovery not proceeding as quickly as hoped (or informed by surgeon!) but all things still on track. Increasing weight bearing slowly but surely but still require two crutches to get around. Any thoughts of single crutch or walking stick are kidding themselves. Maybe my balance is crap 🤔 On the good news front wound is clean but still enough of a scar to attract da ladies 🕺🏻

This week was planned to be a busy week culminating with annual Xmas in July eatery drinkery caper at TB @ Yabba Dabba Do near Canungra. Some notable omissions already sadly with RJER headed off on a 6 month caravan odyssey across Australia starting this week. Then just this last weekend there has been an illness in the Della clan that could cancel the whole event . ‘Twas only 12 months ago we were eating/drinking on Saturday morning at said celebration when Beaverhausen, A closed borders and we had to leave Yabba Dabba Do that afternoon 😢 We also have booked a Long Lunch as a Primer with Turkey Flat Winery at Port Office on Friday with AD. So, at this stage this week could be very busy or more of the same😏 Stay tuned

Also been a busy few days planning our African Safari for next March. Devoted followers may recall we have been trying for this since 2020 and literally got within a day of flying out. Not a lot of planning needed now for this then but an opportunity to tack on a week in France afterwards is now on the table. John and Lorraine will be in Europe for 3 months starting February next year and more importantly in rural France starting a few days after our Safari ends. Too good an opportunity to pass up we have been trying to work out flights that connected but is your basic nightmare. So we went for two separate bookings and will fly Emirates from Johannesburg to Lyon and back before returning to Australia on Qantas on a separate booking.

Workmen have all gone now and the finished landscaping does indeed look a treat and just in time for next rain bomb ! We got 200 mm over a couple of days but before that twas the usual glorious winter weather

The glorious weather has returned for the week. Time to start working on the tan again although will there be dipping of toe in water ? Of course – Queenslander ! It’s cool certainly but body adjusts quickly in this weather. Will come back and dive for my testicles tomorrow 🤓

As promised did return the next day and went full immersion. It was cool but glorious at the same time. No testicles found but a new occupant in the area had a grin on her face so suspect I know where they are . Again 🕺🏻

Certainly cleared the mind and as luck would have it Qantas were having an international flight sale. This means airfares now are only about 20% above pre COVID prices😏. All flights for Africa/ France now booked so can start thinking a bit about What Happens in Vegas coming up in October .

8 weeks have rolled around now and so off to Physio again to add to his Super. All things are going as he expected if not the surgeon 😏 Given how much was shaved off the right side some pain there is to be expected when weight bearing. The moonboot is required for another 2 weeks but at least now can use one crutch which leaves one hand free . At last 🤓 Just have to be careful now that I don’t become too independent and cause CLP to lose the reason to live .

The weekends plans are up to about Plan H at this stage but we head off on Friday morning for Brisvegas and a looooong lunch at Port Office before continuing on for the 2 night package at Yabba Dabba Doo and a loooooong drink . The home stretch has stretched out rather a long way so will pull up stumps here as could be a fair amount of shenanigans over the next few days to report on and wouldn’t want to detract from that appeal with the half naked images of La Bod attached in this report . So as we say in cheese-eating surrender monkey region of the world it’s Au Revoir from him .

And so life continues with my very own snug single leg warmer. Could be needed as the temps drop for some typical glorious QLD winter days . Darool Darool

Moonboot was a pain to wear while sleeping and so as support is still required we fell back on the old tried and true crepe bandage. Only wear boot for about 4-5 hrs max a day when at home. Always have it on when moving around or leaving the house but it’s been a quiet week . Time then to start drying out the wound so can start wetting it and maybe have a shower or two . Sun, do your magic big fella

CLP is having a lot of landscaping done around the pool area and starting to look a treat. Does mean there are workers here most days but no drama . I love to watch someone else work as much as the next man . I’ll drink to that . Suck on that Riccardo

CLP headed to Brisvegas for Saturday night to see da girls . I suggested having two cuties to look after she didn’t need an old fart as well so I stayed home alone. What could go wrong ?

We set up the house as best we could , sort of opposite of child proofing it was Flash Foolproofing. Everything in easy reach and the only issue I could see would be when it comes to afternoon drinkies . Turned out wasn’t a problem at all but alas did raise another problem 😏

On Thursday we headed to Low Security Twilight Home at Carseldine to see Ferguson Matriach on occasion of her 96 th Birthday . The homes are very careful of course and in current climate we had to have a negative RAT to see Mum so tacked on an unexpected 15 min delay – when they are 96 every moment delay could be dangerous 🤓. We passed. Here’s two I prepared earlier, saves time.

As luck would have it that 15 min delay had us arriving just in time for a special morning tea the staff had arranged for the birthday girl . At this place I imagine they order their birthday candles in bulk 🎂. Even got to join in the singalong. M

Mum was looking rather good for 96 . Quiet an amazing woman and one tough lady. We spent some time in her room , just a couple of cripples hanging together while we gave her some flowers and choccies. I was going to save some money and play the old dementia trick of “ No Mum we gave you your present yesterday” but that seemed cruel even to me 🤔

Due to current restrictions only two visitors per day so we had arranged to meet my sister Anne up in the cafe for lunch. This meant we needed a wheelchair and Mum and I played Rock,Paper, Scissors to see who got wheeled up to the cafe . Damn that bloody paper 🤦🏻‍♂️

It was a lovely day although a little wind chill but we found a nice table with sunlight streaming through. Who knew you could reserve a table and a mother both at the same time

Very nice lunch actually and very reasonably priced. Maybe they gave me a discount thinking I would be shifting in next week too 🤔 Smartasses

Then it was time to head home to Flashman Inc and hopefully some quiet time with no workers around. Bit like last couple of years in Maryhole Pathology Lab 😅 They have done a great job but will be nice to get my solarium back tomorrow.

To wrap up first week of camp then it’s the first Physio appointment today . Will be interesting as ankle feels ok but odd at the same time. Luckily only just up the road at Mapleton . Sadly I don’t have extras cover anymore . According to surgeon I can drive now but don’t let CLP know 🤓 Personally I wouldn’t want to be a passenger in a car I would be driving at present. I have heard of lead foot drivers but dead foot drivers are a whole different problem.

So, the Physio was a bit of a bummer or to be more specific a reality check. Everything is progressing as expected it’s just the time frame suggested by Surgeon and Physio are somewhat divergent by a few weeks and not in a good way. Surgeons do a great job but not really big on the post op period once the cheque clears 😏 It looks like another 4 weeks before 100% weight bearing so plans to be home in Maryhole by August 1st are not looking good. And of course some stage I have to tell CLP I guess 🙇‍♀️Then have to make a tougher call and call Billy Bobs Bootique and cancel my lessons next week 😰