Time Out

It is amazing to me how everything is coming together.  We have had major work done on a place I rent out.  It should be ready by the end of the week.  Merril and I are going away, and the time has arrived.  Someone is keeping an eye on this place.  And feeding our fish.  It never thinks, “I feel like some weeties” and goes and gets them.
Someone wrote to me to say they were going on holidays about a month after us.  It was uncanny the number of places they mentioned that we have booked in, for but had not publicised.
I have been to Longreach before.  I still recall with a wry smile how the skipper on the Bush Poet’s dinner cruise told how the local river ended just around the corner.  He also highlighted how the sky changed colour as night approached.  I thought at the time and still do, “that happens everywhere.”
At one place we plan to do some fossicking for opal.  The trip was planned for years ago but my bro had a stroke and that put an end to that.
The day before leaving promises to be a big day.  There is still packing to do, and we need to visit a couple of places.  The builder of the place we are having done up is coming around to give us some invoices.
Today I am up bright and early, but it is like the morning after.  I keep forgetting I am not as young as I used to be.  I did a fair bit of work around the place yesterday.  I am more cactus than I thought I would be.
But this is not the time to give in to being cactus.  I am on the home straight.  One more effort and then I can rest.  Until then though there are places to go, people to see and things to do.  Besides, we need more milk.  I use the term “need” loosely.  We want more milk.
Still, I do feel better for what was done.  The lawn needed a haircut.  Pots needed rearranging.  Rubbish needed clearing.
We checked on the dog next door.  It did not eat me, so that is good.  The neighbour gave us a key to the house so we could approach the dog from inside.  We had practiced a few days ago.  The dog greeted us with a wagging tail.
Someone had said they were going to visit.  Late in the day I rang them and suggested the next day.  They are due in a few hours.  Someone else is due to visit later this afternoon.
The packing calls.  I am ok with that.  Home straights are good.  I am looking forward to time away – and the State of Origin.