It begins, appropriately enough with beer, and a buck’s night. MAME arcade game consoles are very cool if you want to relive your misspent youth spent in video game arcades (specifically, the one behind the Rottnest tea rooms, where many children would spend the time while their parents were drinking nearby at the Quokka’s Arms).
Australia Day itself begins with watering my Parents’ pot plants. After specifically going around to get instructions last weekend (which basically amounted to “I water these every day”), I proceeded to water them with the help of Puggle, which only made everything take twice as long or thereabouts. Much more fun though, although Puggle seemed to be getting more water than the plants. This time around it was just me, which probably halved the water use. Counted the potplants. There are 272 of them.
Took advantage of the Parents being away my cousin’s wedding in Bangkok to enjoy their swimming pool. Sadly did not get around to ensuring the MX-5 was in good running condition, very un-Ferris like.
Avoided anything that might involve fireworks, other than listening to them outside. Saw many Australian flags (including one stylishly flying from the front of a jet black Cadillac(?) station wagon), locals lounging about in their wading pools with the BBQ in the front yard. Caught random snatches of Triple J’s Hottest 100 on the radio whilst driving. Saturday was the usual shopping (this time in Dad’s car, fortunately his airconditioning seems to work better than mine…). A brief trip to the Fish shop to keep Puggle appeased, then it’s off home for a quick nap before heading out to watch Jim Henson’s Storyteller: Greek Myths in the evening, followed by the Scrabble fiend documentary Word Wars.
Sunday is Puggle’s cousin’s birthday in the park. Sure is hot. Log onto the Perth Airport web site to check their flight arrival time from Thailand, only to discover their plane was delayed 108 minutes (pilot decided to go back after taxiing rather than continue without hydraulics fully operational). Watched lots of unaccompanied minors getting off the plane from Dubai, presumably all going back to their boarding schools this week. (Hint: If sending your kid as an unaccompanied minor, remember airline and airport staff are not necessarily trained or vetted for working with kids). Watched woman in burkah arrive and have child in burkah run towards her and hug her in greeting. Some wag in the crowd comments “How do they know?” Managed to get my parents from the airport and drive Dad’s car back to their place with no disagreements! My parents estimate that they have about 90 potplants, I offer them some more realistic figures. Glad they are home safe anyway.
Expending discretional power usage on airconditioning. Heat rash.
Must now catch up on a long weekend without blogging 
