Stress

I confess when I left the night before owners' corporation meeting that my head was not in a good space. I can't say I've experienced this before, so it is rather interesting to note. 

The shortest walk from the venue is along our back lane and enter the building by the carpark. While I have two remote controls, one sits in the car and the other I don't use because it weighs a bit in my pocket. I and the kiddies use the touch fobs to get around the building. But I could not find the touch pad to open the carpark gate. I actually looked at it earlier in the day when I returned home from shopping in the car. I just could not find where to touch. I turned on my phone torch. No, so I gave up and walked further to enter the building by the front entrance.

I was convinced the touch pad had been removed, yet I saw it that morning. I had stepped back to take in a greater view, but no. This morning when I went out, I went straight to the gate to check, and there was the touch pad where it always is with its red light illumination. WTF happened? 

Once inside, I went straight to the loo, and realised I had left my cap behind at the meeting room, hanging on a chair. I texted HH to ask if she could pick it up, but she didn't see my message until after she left. She tried to call the building management representative, but the call went to the person's message service. I replied, thanks, I will collect it in the morning.

This morning when I woke, there was my cap, hanging off the chair in my bedroom, where it always sits. 

So what really happened? I left the meeting prematurely, absolutely fuming. I knew HH would be disappointed that I left, but I could not bear the situation any longer. The level of stress caused my mind to not function properly. It's a bit scary because it's never happened before. I certainly won't be putting myself in that situation again. 

It is so interesting to note my actions when I was stressed. For the sake of my brain I've just checked again, and yes, the touch pad is where it should be. Crazy. I think I might have been at the wrong garage entrance. The lighting is not good. 

A bit of Phyllis and Kosov news. They left home Thursday around 10.00 for work and Uni. They did not come home until after 11.00pm, when I was already in bed. They stayed up until 3.00am. I went out at 11.00am and did not return home until 1.30pm. They were in their bedroom and Phyliss was talking rapid fire and loudly. They were having an argument. The arguments never last long, but boy, does Phyllis nag and nag. I didn't see them until around 4pm, about 30 hours after they first left.

They are taking me out for lunch on Monday, thali, which I love. 

Phyllis has just cooked large vegetarian curry puffs with ham (don't ask me), and he and Kosov are playing with model cars, buses and trams on the dining table. What a life! 

Busy

It was my building's AGM last night. Neighbour HH and I attended together. When the meeting reached two and a half hours, I made my apologies and left. As usual, people went on and on, raising ridiculous concerns and failing to acknowledge the building is 27 years old and money must continue to be spent, and with a capital works sum banked of AU$1.9 million, I want money spent, while I am still alive and I can receive the benefit. 

There are a couple of people within the building who put so much effort into the building management and projects, with no financial reward. At least one of people who kept going on and on about trivial matters was a last minute and accepted nomination for the building management committee. His wife was even worse, an architect as she pointed out to all, but I'm not qualified to work in Australia. I am pleased that my involvement ended in about 2009. I would have ended up punching him on the nose.

Anyhow, my social and mental capacities are exhausted. 6.30 to 9.00 without food or wine is too much. Bye for now. 

I is fat

While my stomach is larger than I would like, I don't consider myself as being particularly fat. Older man with a bit of a belly is my preference to describe me.

I was in our major department store Myer buying third birthday cards for the twin great nephews , when I thought to have a look for a couple of new shirts. Up a level I went to menswear and I immediately saw a couple I quite liked. I took a large of both shirts to the change room, and wow they were 30% off. 

They were too tight to be flattering. Cheap shirts can be undersized, but expensive shirts are normally ok. 

At the age of thirty I was Small Mens. At the age forty I was Mens. At the age of fifty I became Large Mens. Now it seems I am damn well Extra Large Mens. How had this travesty happened? 

I am not sure if I would have bought the shirts anyway, Gant label, $200 each with 30% off. For a really nice shirt, I might spend up to $60. I will return to modernise my wardrobe, which is full of ten year old shirts, with suitable shirts for a Large old man.

The cheek. 

Found phone

A call at 7.45 today from Yarra Trams to say they have Phyllis' phone. He's gone into town to collect it. That got him out of bed early. I've told him I am going to drill a hole in his phone and chain it to him. 

Just call me Tippi

Yes, my Tippi Hendren moment. I stepped onto the balcony, checking left to see if next door's window was open. It wasn't until I sat down that I notice this cockatoo sitting on the balcony railing. Blog fodder! But it will fly away if I go inside to get my phone. It didn't. I moved close to it and it didn't move.

Then there were three.

Two more arrived.

Then another two.

But wait. There are more, with one visible above. 

I fled inside, but I remember that didn't do Tippi much good.

The problem is that birds around here, aside from the Indian mynah birds I target with a spray jet to deter them from nesting, have lost their fear of humans. Just yesterday I was sitting outside at the cafe opposite having my afternoon double espresso, when a mudlark landed on my table. I shoed it away but I had to get my hand very close to it. It soon bounced back and I shoed it away again, and then again. There wasn't anything obvious on the table for it to eat. This is quite recent bird behaviour. I know someone in the apartment building next door was feeding cockatoos on her balcony. She stopped as she discovered how pushy they could be. I think the cockatoos have learnt that if there is a human on a balcony, there could be food for them. 

The Vandals, as EC calls them, smashed up the plant pots at the apartment next to neighbour HH. The owners are overseas and HH called their son, who came and cleaned up the mess. Many years ago, they smashed up one of our balcony pots. They will just pull away at a plant, the pot moves and falls off whatever it was sitting on. 

Tales of Phyllis

Kosov was at work, so it was just Phyllis who I took to the big green shed, Bunnings hardware store, for charity fund raiser sausage with onions on top (controversial. Should they be on top or the bottom?). Phyllis declined the sausage. He thought it would be like a hotdog. 

He decided it was his turn to choose a balcony annual, and I really wish I had gone to the posh plant nursery in Surrey Hills. Most of the plants on offer looked like they were the leftovers after everyone had bought the best. We bought a purple pansy, which should be ok. Purple and mauve are Phyllis' favourite colour. 

It was then on to Port Melbourne's Bay Street, for coffee and cake. Phyllis bought a small pizza, and I as gay man, naturally bought a slice of lemon meringue pie. We both had coffee and then Phyllis bought a cake too. 

Phyllis was looking his absolutely girliest, wearing wide flowery pants, his nails beautifully painted, with plenty of bling and a new wrap over his shoulders. 

The back story. At the bakery there are two baristas, both of which Ray and I used to like. One is East European, cute with an almost shaved head. I would guess Latvian or Lithuanian. That is an educated guess. The other I think white Australian, and in summer when he wore tight shorts, well the rear view of him was rather impressive. It helps that they are both really nice guys too.

Well, the last barista I mentioned complimented Phyllis on his outfit and look, and then young female staff joined in with compliments to Phyllis. Phyllis was over the moon with the compliments. I full know what people think when they us out together. Ah yes, younger foreign born with a rich sugar daddy. I need a tee shirt, He is just my tenant. But that would be a lie. While Phillip and Kosov are my tenants, boarders, lodgers, whatever, they have become important in my life, and that was not what I was expecting. I know they will move on one day, but... I don't want to think about it. 

Phyllis attended Uni today, which is rare, everything is mostly online, and then later passed the final part of his driver learner permit test after visiting he VicRoads office and he now has a driving learner's permit.

I will suggest he has a couple of professional driving lessons by an RACV approved driving instructor, and I need to check my car insurance to ensure that a learner can drive my car. 

I was having my afternoon rest in my bedroom and about 5.15 Phyllis and Kosov arrived home. I could hear rapid fire voluble Tamil being spoken loudly. Somethings up.

I ventured out from my room and there much ado, with Phyllis having lost his phone. He soon went out to check where he has been. Later he went out to buy a new cheap sim card, so he could lock down his bank account. He was stressed, Kosov was stressed, and naturally I am stressed for him. He borrowed Ray's phone, but soon gave up on that. The big problem with getting his phone back is that the battery was flat. I hope some kind soul will charge up his phone and call the number that is not locked on the phone. If your memory is good, he lost his phone last year, the day before he returned to India to see his family. He got it back just hours before he was due to depart. 

He came to the kitchen just before 7.00 to prepare my meal. I told him to forget it. I can do it myself. He seemed relieved. 

I gave him comforting hugs and assured him even if he doesn't get his phone back, it is not the end of the world. Believe me, I know similar after my Google account was killed.

Ah, the kiddies keep me so occupied. Yes, my insurance covers him. He said he first wants a couple of driving lessons from me. I said not. I found a nice looking RACV driving instructor of Indian heritage. After a couple of lessons, then I will get his learning driver up to the needed hours. For a few years I taught people to drive, albeit not cars.

Tonight I called Tradie Brother for his birthday. He left his phone on his car roof two weeks ago, and it has not been returned after I guess falling off. Oldest Niece is sorting out a new phone and logins for her dad.

Here are a few photos of food Phyllis has made or improved. 

Monday Mural

Along with Sami and others, here is my Monday Mural contribution. 

Billy Slater looks a bit interesting. While he has an unappealing to me, a bulky body, he was much trimmer when he was young. Err, so was I.

Right, he plays NRL football. I have to think. Former blogger and now friend in Sydney, will be ready to slap me if I get this wrong. NRL is National Rugby League. Rugby League is quite different to Rugby Union, with League being much more popular. I think Rugby Union is more rough and played by posh private school boys, say like lads who attended Sydney Grammar School. But I don't think all boys at SGS played Rugby Union.

I assumed he was a Sydney player but he plays or did play for Melbourne Storm. I'm bored with Slater now. 

This is the mural. It's rather good, methinks. After all that, I wonder if it is just a vinyl poster, produced from a media image?

Sunday Selections

Elephant's Child, River and others participate in Sunday Selections.

What and where, I do not not know. Interesting...

Mixing old buildings with new buildings can be very fraught, and in my opinion often fails. I don't really know if this building stands alone, but I am glad it stands.

The lamp, which is not turned on, and the candle holders are originals. The coloured glass pieces are not, but I really like them. 

My view was enhanced when the blinds were away being cleaned.

Making a liar out of me, greens are used in Phyllis' cooking but they go into what is being cooked rather than be served separately. 

I immediately sent a message to Snap, Send & Solve, so I guess the graffiti was quickly removed. I am not sure what India has to do with anything. 

You used to be able to browse Rose Chong's shop. Now it is by appointment.

This was an exhibition promoting last years Melbourne Fashion Week, with hats supplied by Rose Chong.

While the cheque is made out to Ray, I think I can still deposit it to my bank account, but I don't really know if it would be accepted. I forget the date but I would guess twenty years ago, plus. I missed that it is a Bank Cheque, so maybe I can't claim the $1.20. 

This is the Mexican promotional ship Cuauhtémoc moored at Melbourne's Station Pier in October 2024. As I recall, sailors climbed masts, and with lighting and booming music, would sing. The ship came to grief after travelling under Brooklyn Bridge, NYC, sadly with sailor lives lost and injuries.

Yep, it looks like the end of the lane to me. The warning is clear.

I would normally leave such truths to Bob, who isn't quite as vulgar as this poster. But it has to be said, I met a cousin of Ray's who was a Trump admirer, though that was in 2023.

Why do British people like Donald Trump?

Ah, this man! Well, obviously I am not entitled to speak on behalf of any other British person and I’m not arrogant to do so. Therefore you are stuck with my own personal views, which, I must warn you are rather strong and base.

Sit tight, it’s going to be a bumpy ride (said the actress to the bishop).

Firstly a couple of facts:

Trump was found liable for the sexual abuse of writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump is a sexual abuser.

Secondly, Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records, becoming the first US president (former at the time) to be convicted of a crime.

Now my opinion:

Trump is a fat, orange faced, thick, fucktard, bastard, wank puffin, cockwomble, cunt chops, walloper, wank stain on humanity, bawbag, shite stained cunt.

Regarding the above, I’ve described the best of him.

Love and peace fellow humans (and Celtic fans 😂)