Did you miss me? I was away for eight days and it seemed like a couple of weeks. There has been a lot happening in my part of the world and in world wide events. It is so sad that innocent people suffer when the fanatics take over the world. I do wonder sometimes at my age where the bold voices of the moderators are. Two deaths in my friendship groups while I was away too so that is sad. I know when I befriend people who are sick, or old or infirm in some way that that is going to happen but it is still sad and another hole in my life. One was another carer for a stroke affected daughter so she will really be missed.

I went out to Broken Hill again to support my son in his struggle to get more flexible access to his daughter. It was beginning to warm up in Broken Hill and although the lawns a green a few days of over 40 degrees heat will brown them off again. The semi arid country is a wonderful place as it is so different from the coast where I live and I love it. I love the spectacular sunrises and sunsets, the parrots and galahs wheeling overhead and their ear splitting screeching has to be heard to be believed. You don't get colourful feathers and a singing voice in nature it seems. But who could not be in awe of the bright sky and the wheeling shapes dark against it as night falls?

I did step out of my comfort zone and attended a local Lions Club dinner. Ray and I often used to do that on our holidays, one thing to do it as part of a couple, quite another to do it alone. However the Club members were friendly and I came away thinking that was a great idea. As in any organization the more you put into it the more you get out so it was good to hear what they are doing in their community, the different activities to what we do. The highlight for them is the Christmas party they throw next Sunday on behalf of a lot of the groups that help the disabled, 150 people plus Carers so a really big deal. They say it brings them much happiness to see the expressions on the faces of the younger ones when Santa comes along on the big red fire truck. At the summer temperatures that they experience it is no place for reindeers for sure.

Today I set out to do three tasks, half did two of them and did not do the third at all. It was one of those days. I think I am still tired from travelling yesterday. I have noticed a couple of the handier shops have closed and moved to bigger centres. Makes it harder for those who are old or have disabilities to get the services they need. And there is no free transport to those big multi-store centres from here. I think our Federal government should start promoting shopping locally again. It is better to see the money going into the pockets of local families rather than the big multinationals for a change. When will we see the small traders getting a fairer go?

Just had a call from my son in Broken Hill. Alice has discovered Granny Sue's caravan in the back yard and has been jumping on the bed. She says she is going to have her lunch on the table tomorrow. Looks like it is her new favourite place. I said that is okay as long as she and Daddy keep it clean and tidy. I bought the caravan at a garage (yard) sale for a very reasonable price last week, it is 35 years old but has always been out in desert country and used for camping and family holidays, is in good condition and will make that extra "bedroom" that Trevor needs. I have had to share Alice's room which is small and not good for either of us in the hotter weather so a caravan in the back yard is ideal. If Trevor moves on I can always sell it again.

Today I also went out to lunch with the seven other women who still meet from my former church, they are mostly in their 80s but tell us younger ones all about what has been happening in their lives. It is good to meet with various groups and share some food and laughter, it is what a widow like me needs.Today we commiserated with one of the group who lost her mother last month and sang "Happy Birthday" to one of the others. We have been meeting together roughly monthly for the last eight years so it is good to continue to do so. Last month's lunch was actually the afternoon tea on the day of the big hail storm, today we were looking over the inlet of a little lake and enjoying the summery view. What a contrast.

I have been drawing up my Christmas calendar, there are gaps to be filled but that is okay, it is not all settled yet. No intention of repeating last year and doing it alone so may think of alternative plans. There is always plenty of festivities and pre-Christmas parties but without Ray and the gathered family is not really Christmas as I would like it, not that family occasion it used to be. Maybe with my daughter and family closer next year that will change again. For now I have to live life as it comes, stepping out of my comfort zone occasionally to include something I once did with Ray performed in a different way by Sue Alone.