Monthly Wrap-up - August & Signs

Linking to Signs at Tom's blog. Please follow this link for other signs from around the world.

I seem to hibernate in Winter, and the month of August topped rain records and low temperature records! But, we still made time for some outings...

Saturday 2nd - We had dinner at a friend’s house. I took along a Chocolate Mousse, while another guest brought two tarts.

Sunday 3rd - On a cold and blustery day I met a Sydney friend (and some common Perth friends) at Dome Cafe in Mt Pleasant,  ahead of Sandra's funeral.

The café looks out over the Swan River, and a rainbow appeared in the sky when we were leaving.

Winter trees

Monday 4th - Finally booked our flights to Portugal via Qatar for October 6th. Also booked a short trip to Tasmania for January when our daughter Karina visits.

Wednesday 6th - My friend's Sandra's funeral at Fremantle Cemetery. 

A moving service, which was followed by a wake next to the Church, which was a chance to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a while.

Saturday 9th - Visited my friend C in the afternoon, then a fun house-warming party in the evening.

Signs at my local shopping centre for "Bullying No Way Week - 11 - 15th August)

Friday 15th - Did my blood tests in preparation for my upcoming visit to the rheumatologist. After that I met up with my long retired colleagues Jan and Gill at the "Apron Cafe" at the Jandakot airport. A lively cafe overlooking the runway.

This small airport focuses on pilot training, charter operations and hosts the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The cafe looks out to the runway and people can watch the small planes taking off and landing.

               

This Holden GTS was parked in front of the airport building.

Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th - Jose was called for jury duty for the first time since we became citizens (I've never been called), but he was not chosen. Even so, it was an interesting experience for him.

Tuesday 19th - Heavy storms and rain in Perth, news of this being the wettest winter in 30 years!

Thursday 21st - Had coffee with my recently retired colleague Sue J, Praline French Cafe.

Saturday 23rd - Another storm swept through Perth, damaging a couple of roofs and fallen trees in suburbs north of the river.

Tuesday 26th -  Consultation with my rheumatologist. A change of medication,  with less side-effects. I'm hoping this one improves my hand, as 6 months on the previous medication didn't change a thing.

Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd - Jose and I finally started tackling the big job of sorting out our double garage. One wall is lined with metal shelving full of plastic boxes we hadn't sorted through since our arrival in Perth 18 years ago!

There is still much to do, but we've gone through 9 or 10 boxes with documents, bank statements, etc which we threw out, but other things we had to decide what to keep or donate. Our local "Buy Nothing" neighbours picked up a lot of things, and what didn't go I took to one of the op-shops during the week.

Two boxes of very pretty glasses and a white dinner set will go to the kids.

In another box with the kids' school books, we came across some sweet cards from when they were little - Michael's letter to Father Christmas, asking for a mountain bike and Lego made us smile, and their Father's Day and Mother's Day hand drawn cards melted our hearts.

             

Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st - We continued sorting out the garage, with some gardening in between as we finally had a sunny weekend in a while.

I made pesto with parsley, growing wild in our garden, and made lemon butter as our lemon tree is packed. Also shared lemons with the "Buy Nothing" group.

                   

That night, dinner was spaghetti with prawns sauteed in garlic and butter, and finished with my fresh pesto. It was delicious !

       

I received the 5 photo books I had made with photos of the "4 generations birthday celebration", (in March this year) to gift to the family when I see them in October. I used the Australian "Mixbook"  program and I'm very happy with the outcome.

Side tables painted in Fusion Mineral Paint in Ash, which are for sale.

    Can you spot the doves sunning themselves on the fence?

Last year we had about 6 or 7 magpies living in the park across the street, all of a  sudden there was only one magpie. But in the last month or so a youngster has moved in and seems very friendly and not scared of us. When I put out seeds for the crested doves, if they see me they walk across the street and come and eat the seeds.

The magpie on the left has gray feathers indicating it's a youngster still

      SIGNS:

Can anyone figure out what is meant by the number plate bottom left?