Oreo Buried

We buried Oreo today.

Oreo slept the night in the corner of my room. I was up quite a few times as he would drag himself toward the door.  Usually to collapse about 3/4 of the way. 

When the sun had hit some of the grass in the back yard,  I carried him out as i thought he might like the feel of nature. He dragged himself into the carport.

Jemma came over and she and Oreo spent a long time in the back yard and Oreo dragged himself to the Eastern fence. 

At 11:20 Jemma sat in the passenger seat cradling Oreo. 

The vet inserted a new tube thing and injected a strong sedative and listened to his heart.  After his heart stopped, there were a couple of movements. 

Tears from Jemma and I.

Back at home,  we dug a therapy grave.  Not easy.

Oreo was buried with the remainder of an open tin of cats food and smooching a carrot. 

We covered him with dirt and added some pavers mid way to the surface and again on the surface to stop the dog from digging. 

More tears from Jem and myself. 

Kids came for dinner. 

8:30pm update.

I'm feeling down.

There's an emptiness about. 

No Oreo. He'd usually be on my bed but no longer. Just a bit silly of me but there you go. 

It was very difficult to dig the grave.  Lots of roots.  We used water to soften things up.  Had to use a pick to cut through roots.

We buried Oreo with an open tin of cat food to ease his entry to cat heaven.  We also buried him with a carrot in his hands.  Oreo used to like to smooch / rub against carots.

To prevent other animals digging up Oreo, we put three smaller pavers half way between the body and the surface and then two large pavers on top.

Oreo - The last night

 Megan, Dan & Jemma came over.  Magnus was the consummate carer.  Seems like she sensed it was the end. 

 

 

Jemma and Magnus with Oreo in the corner of my bedroom.

 

 

cat2

Poor Oreo. At 14 he's come down with kidney failure. 

I think he's had a good life. Used up 2 lives with a snake bite and a altercation with a car. 

I recall when I was living in Magee St.  Alone in the house.  Just a mattress on the lounge room floor. Super depressed. One night I was lying there curled up on my side and Oreo came over and snuggled up to my chest. 

A week ago the vet did blood tests and ultrasound and advised there were cysts compressing his kidneys.  Not sure why they didn't drain them then and there. Over the weekend he deteriorated and  Monday I took him back and they drained them but he was basically had it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cat

 

  WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY
Gathered cat and took him to the vet.  Arrived at 8:00 opening time.
Gunk in eyes, dehydrated and weak.
He is going to get cysts drained and a drip for 24 hrs.

PM UPDATE

Larissa (Vet)

Blood tests shows kidneys bad. Levels higher than the other day. 

Bill is for now $345

Plus over night. 

Euthanasia costs $182

Take home for burial

We will leave him over night and see how he goes. 

I'm feeling sad.  Earlier I was a bit sad but rationalising that it's the cycle of life.  Now the reality hits and the impending loss kind of hangs.  Thinking and memories.

The most striking was when I was super depressed at Magee St. Curled up on a mattress in the lounge and he came and lay in the curl. It was unusual because he normally liked to just lie near you not on or touching. Many times in recent years he's snuggled up on my bed or on my lap when on a chair.  He was a typical cat.  The dog wanted to be friends and the cat would have none of it. 

MONDAY
No sign of the cat this morning.
Last night it sleept on some clothes in the corner of my room.
Fearing it's gone away to die.
Called the vet and booked in.
Went home -> No sign of cat.  Looked under neighbours houses.
5:30pm Doctors appointment.
       Big storm. 
6:30pm Mens Group.
10pm arrived home. 
Cat appears out the front of the house.  Dry.
Kept inside all night despite protests.

SUNDAY NIGHT

I think I managed to get the daily half pill in.

SUNDAY MORNING 

I thought I'd gotten both the 3day pil and the daily half pill in but on Sunday night found the half pill spat out beside the water bowl

Electricity Meter Saga

 Origin sent me an email wishing to upgrade my meter.  It's turning into a saga.

8-Oct-2024 Email from origin "FYI:We're upgrading your meter" (With pdf)
15-OCT-2024 Email from Origin "FYI: Upcoming planned power outage" (With PDF)
23-OCT-2024 Email from me to Origin asking how to contact the technicians to arrange access.
23-OCT-2021 Email from Origin to me saying Contact Enerjex.
23-OCT-2024 Phoned Enerjex and spoke to Emma who said not our problem (We just turn the power off and on)
23-OCT-2024 Called Origin and spoke to Peja but her mic was crap and kept dropping out.  Eventually the line dropped out.  Gave up.  Back to email.
23-OCT-2024 Another email to Origin. 
29-OCT-2024 No reply from Origin.
29-OCT-2024 Receive a text from INTELLIHUB that starts with "Meter Install reminder..." Ha
29-OCT-2024 Call Intellihub on 1800 531 772.  They will call back.
31-OCT-2024 Technician arrived.  Looked and said the board needed an upgrade to meet fire regulations.
                        He also said he would put in that we wanted a specific time visit.
22-11-2024    New Meter upgrade letter.  Still has the unacceptable 7:30am-5pm time frame. For TUE 5 DEC

--------------------------//---------------------------------

27-11-2024 My response to the 22-11-2024 letter

Hi Origin team,
Thank you for notifying me that you intend to change the meter.  You have put a very wide, and unacceptable to me, time frame of 7:30am to 5pm.  I note that I do not need to be present however the meter is in the garage.  The meter reader can view it from outside but the technician will need to go into the garage in order to wire it up.

I am however not willing to wait around all day for your team.

I can suggest four options;
a) Your team calls me half an hour before they arrive and I will drive home from work and let them in.
b) Your team calls me and I will tell them where I have left a key so they can let themselves in.
c) You provide a 1hr time window and I will be there for that time.
d)  Origin pays me $1600 and I will take a day off work to wait around for your team.

Please let me know how origin would like to proceed.

Kindest regards,

Frank Thomson

22-11-2024 Letter

Pub Choir

 Phoebe and I went to pub choir.

The ticket said it started at 6.  To avoid the after work peak hour traffic, We met at Glenrich st and then took the train from Corinda to The Valley.  I was somewhat confused (story of my life) in that they have renamed Brunswick St Station as "Fortitude Valley Station".  

the week that was

MONDAY

Was it this Monday or the previous one where the yarra eight fell apart.  Maybe I should have found a few more subs.

Men's night at Aaron's place was good. 

TUESDAY 

Coffee with Ben and a preceding walk with Magnus.

Dance lesson seemed to go well.  I'm crap at it. No idea where the beat is. Very ploddy.

WEDNESDAY 

Home alone. I think this was a chill night. 

THURSDAY 

A good row in a 4 with members of the 2nd eight 

Pub choir 

FRIDAY

crappy row in the morning 

Argument with Phoebe in the evening. 

SATURDAY 

wrote some satellite remote monitoring software. 

Grammarians allocations 

Feeling like I never quite manage it. 

A life of mediocrity and underachievement. 

I just don't quite make it. 

I fuck my marriage. 

The kids don't live with me. 

I have lots of acquaintances but few deep friendships. 

I seem to fuck over girlfriend relationships. 

I'll say or do something that unintentionally hurts them. 

I seem to spend my life accepting disappointment. 

flat

Feeling flat. 

Monday my crew decided to scrap going to Melbourne. 

Late this afternoon a couple of people asked if we were rowing in the morning. 

Hi E8

Wednesday cancelled 

I screwed up. 

Thought I had grazza for Mike but was deluded. I had Grazza for Justin. 

So I think we will cancel tomorrow.

I tried to track down cam but he's off line.  

Sorry on the last minute decision but after Mondays disappointment I kind of disassociated from rowing for a couple of days and forgot to check on things. 

Frank

----------//-----------

Dance lesson with Phoebe was lovely. 

She cooked a beautiful dinner while I informed the grammarians that I was cancelling Wednesday's row. 

Just didn't have the energy to find a 8th rower. 

Now sitting alone eating ice cream. Basically getting fat. 

Breakfast Club

It's Saturday and Phoebe and I thought of riding to Breakfast at a Cafe in of all places 'Laura St'.  Drove the cruiser from St Lucia to Corinda to collect bikes. Discovered my bike not at home and remembered it was at work.  I'd ridden to work last Tuesday but had gotten a lift home because it was raining. 

Loaded a bike for Phoebe and Magnus into the Landy and drove to work. By a nice coincidence, son Chris was there soldering up his Bluetooth earphones. Loaded bike and continued onto Highgate hill.

Blokey Bash

Frank

Fil

Bob 

Paul

Scott

Frank

Italian film. English sub titles. "A world apart"

Went with the X Sherwood UC blokes last night. 

Lovely film. I'd happily watch it again. A dis satisfied teacher at a city school moves to a remote village in the Italian alps. Although initially pretty incompetent he's welcomed into the community and gradually gets into it but as with any good movie, disaster strikes as the school is to be closed due to insufficient numbers.  

It's got a good mixture of tension, humour, fun, tears and love.

https://youtu.be/2S9fk4WcxLU?si=lVr7FWe9C74MM8DZ

Rowing

FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER 

that was tough. It was nice to have Jemma in the coxes seat but with a different crew every time and with shitty technique the boat rocks and not in a good way. 

I wish I'd not signed up and spent money to go to Melbourne. 

WARM UP

Traditional:

In 4's Hands only, 

Hands and bodies,

1/4 slide, 

1/2 slide. 

Today the Focus is on 

minimal tap out at the finish. 

Sequence: hands away together before rock over. 

Rock together. 

Then break knees. 

Slow up the slide. 

Slide speed should be half drive speed. 

Keep an eye on oar heights (low /20cm off the water)

 and angles.

Should be the same.  

 Call the recalcitrants. 

 STRIKES IN 6'S

start with stern 6. 

Get it up and running.

Then 10 strokes, strike at the finish every stroke. 

10 -15strokes normal. 

Swap the unused pair during the normal rowing at about the mid point. Make stroke pair the last out.

Then 2nd rotation is a double strike. 

Every stroke. 

Finish and hands away. 

Call strike on the first one then call hands then "row on"

For subsequent strokes, everyone should strike at the finish. 

You call hands then row on. 

Look for people going early. 

FULL EIGHT

Get it up and running. 

Then 10 skim blades. 

10 normal. 

Repeat 5 or so times. 

Look for and call what you see. 

Oar hights and timing. 

WORK 1 (8 minutes)

2 minutes each at

18, 20, 22, 24

Go to skim blades for 10 if it's rocky. 

Start at 60% Pressure and call for a increase in pressure with each Rate increase. 

Row light for a minute at the end so they get the lactic out. Then easy but just for a minute or two. 

WORK 2 (12 minutes)

3 minutes each at the same rates.

Same focusing.  

We will see where we are and can always do another ladder. 

meatloaf

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/EGn4mu9dQBen5Wv8/

Meatloaf with Savory Green Beans and Bacon-Infused New Potatoes

Ingredients:

For the Meatloaf:

1 ½ pounds ground beef

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup ketchup (for topping)

For the Green Beans and Potatoes:

1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed

1 pound new potatoes, halved

4 slices bacon, chopped

1/2 onion, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, milk, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.

Shape the meat mixture into a loaf and place it in a greased baking dish. Spread ketchup over the top of the meatloaf.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C). Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

While the meatloaf is baking, prepare the green beans and potatoes. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the new potatoes and cook for about 10 minutes.

Add the green beans to the pot and cook for an additional 5 minutes until both are tender. Drain and set aside.

In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside, leaving some grease in the pan. Add sliced onion and sauté until translucent.

Combine the drained potatoes and green beans in the skillet, tossing to coat with bacon and onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 1 hour | Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Kcal: Approximately 450 kcal per serving | Servings: 6 servings

Visit Aunty Margaret

Got up reasonably early. Fed animals. Made coffee in sipper cups. Put on boardies. Packed bag. Loaded dog. On the road. 

Went to ? Beach. 

Chosen because off lead. 

Interesting because mags can get on with other dogs when off lead. 

Coffee and croissant. 

Drove onto Aunty Margs house. 

A lot of family history chat. 

Left Aunty Margs house and drove east along the river. 

Phoebe purchased us some beautiful salads and we sat in a park beside the river to eat. 

Started driving South. Following the coast. 

Realised short on power went in search of a charging station. Got some at Sunshine Coast University Hospital but only 16A. Got enough juice to get us to wild horse mountain petrol station.

Fri 4 Rowing

It's a disparate crew who've not rowed together and some are injured/ unfit.

Major objective is just to row smoothly. 

Whenever we start, first stroke at half slide. Check oars buried.

WARM UP 

Row off in 6's. 

Start with stern 6. Then bring in bow pair and drop 3&4 and so on so stern 6 is last to be dropped. 

Rotate at least twice. 

INSIDE OUTSIDE ARMS or WIDE ARM

In 6's.

10 inside arm, 10 outside & square, 10 normal.

Rotate during the normal. 

FULL CREW ROW 

5 minutes at least. 

And relax flow into

STRIKES

Every stroke for 10. and after the 10 then row normal for about 10.

Finish, 

arms away, 

arms & bodies,

 half slide. 

Then row normal for at least 5 minutes. looking for stability. 

WORK 1 (8 minutes)

2 Min each

Rate 18 20 22 24

Start light work at 18.

Increase in pressure with each Rate 

WORK 2 (12 minutes)

3 Min each

Rate 18 20 22 24 

2 Min Rate 26

WORK 3 (4minutes)