Today is book ended with set up activities.  This morning Merril and I will set up for a sewing meeting that happens from 10 am. Tonight (after 8.30) we will set up for a group that uses the space of a Saturday morning. (It just occurred to me that we run a Market in a portion of that area tomorrow as well which adds another level to hat needs doing.)
During the day I will have a test (scan) which needs a couple of hours set aside.
After that we will get some paint for new doors we have had installed.  We had someone yesterday instal them.  They are external doors designed for strength and noise reduction.
Yesterday afternoon from 4pm when it was cooler we mowed and whipped snipped and generally tidied up the yard.  The yard always looks good when it is tidied up.
During the day I heard something that is incredibly obvious, but which seemed to impact me in a new way.  It was something like “distance discourages dialogue.”  I did look up that phrase and there is a whole psychological science built on it.  It had to do with an increased unwillingness of employees working from home to express concerns about what they instructed to be done, actually being done.
Yet that is not what I was thinking about concerning distance discouraging dialogue.   I just know that people I associated with in Townsville where I am from, I have very little to do with anymore.  It is not that I have come to the conclusion that my friends from there do not have anything worthwhile to say.  It is that because of the tyranny of distance they pursue their goals together with others and I do the same where I am.
But for me the whole tyranny of distance thing has to do with relationship.  It is hard to call someone a friend I do not converse with on a regular basis.  I may have good memories of them, and warm feelings towards them, but a current friend is someone I converse with on a regular basis. It is a two way dialogue impacting my present and my future.
It seems to me one of the first things to happen when distance is created between two is different worlds are created and inhabited by others.  There may be a get together from time to time with distant former associates, but it is mostly a sharing of what has been rather than a working together on what will be.
The whole point for me is a friend is someone I converse and associate with regularly.  Really the minute presence is not maintained they become a former rather than a current friend.
What has that got to do with setting up and scans?  Nothing really, but it is one of the things I was thinking about yesterday amidst any other activities.

The break is over. 
Today we start the Market again for this year.  Heaps of people have been donating stuff to sell for $2 with all proceeds going to the food pantry.  It feels like our food pantry is a well kept secret.  The value of the items for sale is second to none with the added bonus of free vege’s and bread.
We do our part.  The items we sell are often worth heaps more than what we sell them for.  The most meaningful interaction I have had was when we sold a tent worth probably close to $100 for $2.  The guy said to me “I won’t need to sleep in my car anymore.”
It is not just meaningful stuff we have but also nic naks.  Merril and I would be amongst the best customers.  We get to see stuff as we are putting it out and sometimes we deem them as something we would like and purchase it.
Anyway we start again today.  Any stuff we do not sell goes to “Trash and Treasure” for them to sell.  They would have a much wider group of people that visit the shop.  There is no doubt in my mind they are fantastic value too.  Merril and I have bought stuff there.  One of the highlights for us was getting four chairs for $20.  Looking at the price of chairs I reckon we got $200 worth for $20.
I do not feel like we will even need to go into the place we store stuff for sale as we have been given heaps we are going to take down with us.  We have a modest goal of takings for each time we are open and mostly exceed that.
We also have a table or two of free cloths which always proves to be popular. (I stress we mostly do not take cloths but feel I am wasting my breath).  Still it sure is an attraction.
So today is the day for the market.  Sure it is effort but so worthwhile for both us and the customers.