I liked Lorne. Did a lot of walking there, too. I especially enjoyed a hike up through dry forest to reach a lookout, with this view.

And after the wedding we drove up the Great Ocean Road towards Lorne, where a house had been rented for all of us to stay in for the week.

It was warm in Melbourne. Much hotter than home. 28 degrees. I took full advantage of it, spent every minute I could outside. It'll be a while here before we're outside without parkas and toques and mitts on.

Melbourne is a good city to walk around. I think I wore out my shoes. For most of the time I was by myself, as Dad isn't up to walking much anymore and everyone else had wedding preparation things to do. Except Robyn, so she and I took the tram to St. Kilda, the morning before the wedding, and walked on the seafront.

The wedding was held at Montsalvat, a beautiful place that used to be an artist's colony.

This picture is taken from the back of the Old Melbourne Gaol. I spent quite a long time reading all the exhibits on the walls, and was interested to see that it is possible, according to one death certificate, to die of too much 'self-stimulation'. We have a few regular visitors to our cell-block at home who might benefit from that little bit of information.

Australia was an adventure. Partly because I was escorting my parents on the Vancouver to Melbourne portion of the journey. My dad, who's now seventy, did very well, he was cheerful and excited to be going, but the trip brought into stark relief, for me, my mother's increasing mental confusion and emotional fragility. She had a couple of bouts of alcohol-induced tearfulness, which, to my chagrin, I found very annoying. I would like to think that I could be sympathetic, but I guess the past year or so of dealing with the emotions of drunks in cells, I find that I'm just not. You're drunk. You're crying. Yeah, you and all the other drunks. Oh, right. You're my mother.

There were funny moments, though. Mum has been given a walkman, and she likes it. She puts the headphones on and sings along. People gave her some funny looks. Also, on the plane when she was listening to her music, she kept thinking of things to say to me, while she was still hooked up to the walkman, and yelling them in my ear. At one point, when the flight attendants were about four rows away, she suddenly shrieked, "Tell them I'll have white wine!". Everyone around giggled, even the happy flight attendants (Air Pacific cabin crews are the most laid-back on the planet) but then when they came by, they gave her red wine and she didn't notice until my father pointed it out.

Well, Blogger is giving me a hard time, I'm not having any luck uploading the pictures of my trip. But I'll try again.

I'm jet-lagged. I feel strange and out of synch. Rachel's teacher, Christy, says it's because your soul only travels as fast as a horse, and so you have to wait for it to catch up. So I guess my soul is swimming around in the Pacific. Hopefully it knows I came back home, and it doesn't have to swim all the way to Australia and back. Because I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have arrived in Australia before I left. I keep falling asleep when I sit down. And my brain is anxious. And my feet are still swollen.

Happy Feet, yes, Ed, is a cartoon about penguins. I don't even remember what the scene was that made me cry, some boy-penguin/girl-penguin thing. I get emotional when I fly.

This is Delia's tag.

1. Where is your cell phone? I do not own one. They don't work up here.
2. Your spouse? Watching American Idol
3. Your hair? Down my back. And orange, again.
4. Your mother? In Tahiti.
5. Your father? Ditto.
6. Your favorite thing? Rachel.
7. Your dream last night? I don't know, but I woke up in a hotel room and didn't know where I was.
8. Your favorite drink? Grapefruit pop.
9. Your dream car? I'd rather have a button-start snowmobile. I get tired of putting my shoulder out pulling the start cord.
10. The room you are in? Dining room. Where I can hear American Idol but not see it. And Rachel is standing next to me.
11. Your ex? Ex what?
12. Your fear? Dying.
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Exactly what I am right now.
14. Who did you hang out with last night? The bartender at Montana's. And Madonna. I couldn't sleep so I watched Desperately Seeking Susan.
15. What you’re not? A good housekeeper
16. Muffins? Blueberry. Or Lemon.
17. One of your wish list items? Snowmobile as above.
18. Your dinner tonight? Chicken.
19. The last thing you ate? Strawberries after Cubs.
20. What are you wearing? Green shirt I bought yesterday, jeans, my bracelets from Tahiti, Grannie's cross.
21. Your tv? Is currently tuned to American Idol.
22. Your pet?Joeby, who is a goof but very loyal.
23. Your computer? My mother-in-law's old laptop.
24. Your life? Wheeee.
25. Your mood? Really good. I'm home with my family.
26. Your holidays? Oh, just did that.
27. What are you thinking about right now? How to get Rachel to stop putting herself down.
28. Your car? Don't have one.
29. Your work? I start MONDAY woohoooo.
30. Summer? Well, it'll be here. It's still minus 20 or so. But I'm sure it coming.
31. Your relationship status? Good, I think...
32. Your dream vacation? Hiking anywhere. With Rachel.
33. When is the last time you laughed? Very recently.
34. Last time you cried? On the trip home. About Happy Feet. I was tired...
35. School? Well, not at the moment, but I don't rule out the possibility of a Master's. When I'm done having fun up here.

The wedding was beautiful and all concerned happy about the outcome. I'll put pictures up when I get home, they got married in a beautiful artist's colony, and the reception was at a 30's dancehall. Very elegant. Graeme and his new wife had even learnt to tango so they could do that as their first dance.

Other than that I've been wandering around, down on the waterfront and in the town, it's so nice to be out without a parka! And drinking beer. I like Victoria Bitter, and have been spending some quality time in its company...

Anyway. I'm in the library now. Roy and Robyn are off to get a rental car, and tomorrow we're going up the Great Ocean Road, where Graeme's rented a house for us all to stay in, on the beach, and we're going to go surfing....

I am in Melbourne. I got up this morning and ditched my parents. I heard them at the door but I hid upstairs. I got them here, my responsibillity is over. Anyway. I've taken the train downtown and I'm just wandering around. Such a beautiful city, all the old buildings and the new shiny ones. Gonna go see the Old Melbourne Gaol, I think. I'm loving the warmth. And the sunshine. And being alone. More later....

Yesterday I was idly watching television after supper, and the phone rang. On the other end was the young woman working in the guardroom, asking me if I'd come in to work until midnight. When I arrived (now that we've moved I'm about 2 minutes away including coat-putting-on time) she had her coat on and she ran off.

Only one cell was occupied, and it was a man I know. He greeted me by name, and said, "I'm so glad you're here. That other one gave me dinner and it was still frozen, and she's been outside smoking all evening, and I'm dying of thirst." I went down to the coffee room and bought him a pop and a bag of chips, then sat on the floor for an hour and we talked through the little window in the cell door. He's feeling very sorry for himself, for various reasons, but there's also a realization that he's brought all this on himself, and we talked about that. Although I had been annoyed at being called back to work after already doing a full day of transcribing, it seemed like he really needed to talk. Afterwards, he settled down and went to sleep, and I worked on the baby blanket I'm crocheting (I give them to the income support office, I'm not having any more babies.)

The only problem with working the evening shift is that I end up back home again at midnight, and I can't go to sleep right away. It happened again tonight, the same girl called and talked me into coming in. So here I am. And I'll still be up relatively early, because I like to get to work before eight thirty in the mornings, to clean up after the night shift and make coffee for the day shift. Even though really I don't have to, because making coffee isn't in any of my job descriptions. Oh, well.

I'm almost ready to go. Although I do still need to find one of my black shoes, the only decent pair of shoes I own. I've got one, but its mate is missing. I suspect the dogs. I found my non-Arctic coat, (it's black, goes with the shoes) that I haven't worn since September, and it's filthy. It seems to have been dragged through some mud. This I can't blame on the dogs.

Dad asked the travel agent, and although we are compelled to spend about 14 hours in Fiji on our way to Australia, we are not allowed to leave the airport. Given the snakes that I saw on the last episode of Survivor, I can't say I'm terribly sorry. Hate snakes. Hate 'em.

We had a blizzard today. Very windy. I now need clear skies up here until Saturday, so I can get out safely.

I think that tomorrow night I will stay home.

Saturday night:

Clear. Wind becoming northwest 30 km/h overnight. Low minus 43. Extreme wind chill minus 63.

Ow.

Grannie's funeral was Wednesday. I called and talked to Mum in the evening. Hard day all round.

However, my passport came and I sent off the information, to get my visa for Australia, and then my tickets arrived yesterday. So I guess I'm really going. Maybe it'll be a bit warmer than here. I'm leaving here Friday and staying in Edmonton Friday and Saturday nights, flying to Vancouver Sunday morning to meet Mum and Dad and catch the plane for Fiji. This gives me some leeway if flights get screwed up due to storms. This means that I've got a day to shop in Edmonton, but my list is pretty long. I've got to get a dress for the wedding, I desperately need a haircut, I need some other clothes, too, and books. Definitely need books...

Matthew 11:

25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

**************************

This is the reading for Grannie's funeral. I like it that they took my suggestion, even though I'm so far away and can't be there....

My mum called Monday at lunch time to say that Grannie passed away. Not unexpected, she's been fading, the last year or so. But still a shock, when it actually happens. I feel lost. I know that I'm incredibly lucky to have had a grandparent still in my life at 39, but then again I'd come to think of her as somehow indestructible. That we'd be having her 105th birthday at some point and her jokes about us having to shoot her in the end being true... I wish I could go to the funeral, but it's in England next week and it's just not doable. So, if you think about it, send a little thought out for my dear Grannie. We'll miss her. Graeme and I both figure she's off somewhere playing dominoes with Grandpa now. I hope that's so.

It is Valentine's Day. Miguel is in Yellowknife with a co-worker. (male and Hungarian. they've been shopping)

We had spaghetti for dinner, tonight, and I made custard for dessert. For Ian, who loves it.

I got two valentines. One from one of the Cubs, last night, and one from my friend Karen. It has two frogs on it. I said to her, "You've been to my house." "Yeeesss," she replied, "And I know about your little problem." I explained that others buy me the frogs, but she was unconvinced. She said, "I understand Batwoman, or Catwoman, but Frogwoman?" Truthfully the frogs are getting out of hand. I declared a moratorium on people buying them for me, a few years ago, and sold some when we moved up here (the larger stone garden ones) but they keep appearing. Miguel's parents brought me a beautiful soft stuffed frog, last week.

The lady whose maternity leave I filled at the detachment has decided she needs to stay home with her baby. So I will hopefully be back in that job for six months starting when I get back from Australia. Yippee! I can't wait.

But the funny thing is, I knew she would be saying something like that. Last week she started cleaning out her desk, and she moved her soap. I came home and said to Miguel, after I'd been over there cleaning in the evening, "I think she's thinking about leaving again, because she had two bars of soap on the sink and she's moved the unopened one." As if to say, I won't be needing this soap, because I won't be here...

Oh my.

I can't talk about what I'm doing at work. I've been sworn to secrecy (I feel like a spy) because I'm transcribing interviews for someone at headquarters and he doesn't even want me to save what I'm doing on our hard drives at work. But it's fascinating. I'm beginning to have an indepth understanding of how polygraphs are administered.

I think the post office tried to contact me this week, but I was holed up doing the abovementioned transcribing. As I suspected, the class is not going. I had one student for ten minutes on Wednesday. However, they've got me doing some proposal writing, for a Life Skills course for September that they're trying to find funding for, and I got to spend an hour with my students from the social work program I was teaching before Christmas, so that was fun.

Today I cleaned house from top to bottom. Even vacuumed the rug in the laundry room. All is clean. This partly in preparation for Miguel's parents moving to town on Tuesday. Don't know if I've mentioned that... but coming they are, and soon. (I'm wondering if I'll ever have the chance to say, "this town's not big enough for the both of us...")

The sun is out a lot more now. It's 3:45 and it's not dark yet. It was a brilliantly sunny day, which is what sparked the cleaning frenzy. When it's dark all the time, you don't notice the dirt. ha. Miguel showed up back home just as I was emptying the last of the mop water. All that was left for him to do was take out the garbage. I think he has radar. Lurks over at the school, and then suddenly says, "Oh, she's done cleaning. I can go home now." I'm kidding. He offered to help, when he got back, but I wanted to get it over and done with. So that I could mess around later on this afternoon, posting here and answering emails. Also I have a new magazine, with promises of recipes. And I made some paper earlier this week that needs ironing and starching.

Interestingly enough, I read recently, an interview with a guy I went to university with. I was in the writing class he mentions, at the same time he was (he's a sweet guy) and the professor said much the same to me, about 'are you sure you want to be a writer'. I took it to mean (as I think he did) that I was wasting my time, and I stopped writing fiction for years. Turned to poetry and messed around with that. Anyway. Long story short, I have been writing fiction again recently. And enjoying it. If I ever get published, I'm going to give a similar interview, about how Professor R. W. told me I should rethink my life goals... (or maybe I should say, when I get published).

Here is our weather. It's celsius. (Although I believe that at minus 45 the two measurement systems merge?)

Blizzard warning in effect.

Tonight

Blizzard. Wind northwest 60 km/h gusting to 80. Low minus 28. Wind chill minus 46.

Thursday

Blizzard ending in the morning then sunny. Blowing snow in the morning. Wind north 50 km/h gusting to 70 diminishing to 30 gusting to 50 in the morning. Temperature falling to minus 31 in the evening. Wind chill minus 46.

Thursday night

Clear. Wind up to 15 km/h. Low minus 34 with temperature rising to minus 23 by morning. Wind chill minus 46.

The keys to the post office have been out of my possession for 48 hours now. They haven't called me. I think it might be over. After my last post I surrendered the keys but someone dropped them off at my house surreptitiously and I ended up back there again last week. I feel very grumpy about the whole thing.

I've been sick since Saturday. A nasty flu-thing. My class that I'm supposed to be teaching has also dwindled, due to sick babies. I went in yesterday and today and waited for 25 minutes or so, but no students, so I thankfully went back home to bed. Tonight I feel a bit better, but I think it might just be the virus regathering strength to come back at me in a different area.

I'm not sure that this class is going to fly. Interest seems sporadic. Which is a shame, but then what can you do? I guess the funny thing is that seven students were signed up, but so far I've only seen one on any kind of a regular basis, and a mixture of excuses and silence from the rest. But, I've been working a lot, since the beginning of November, and I decided that the sickness (which rarely happens to me) is because I'm too tired. So I'm being lazy. I watched soap operas with Kirsten all afternoon today. Too much fun.

Some things of note:

Cucumbers are currently $8.19 each. I like cucumbers, but not that much.

Coffee came in the mail. Mmm.

My last day at the post office is Friday. Yay!

The sun is peeking over the horizon at lunch time for an hour or so, now. It's pink and orange and very well-cherished. People keep coming into the post office and saying, "So nice to see the sun." Then they yell at me cos they've got no mail. Yeah, that's cos nobody loves you. Suck it up.

I spent ALL last week, (well, it seemed like it, 70 hours in all) sitting in a truck guarding the crime scene from the incident I linked to below. Triple homicide. Strange thing to happen in our otherwise pretty sleepy little town. Plus I worked my other regular jobs. I slept for 14 hours on Sunday night, after working a 12 hour day... I'm still a bit tired.

I'm still trying to find a dress for Graeme's wedding. The ones I like online are all back-ordered. Patti lent me two, but she's -- more of a woman -- than I am so they don't fit on top. Found a beautiful dress at Victoria's Secret but it won't be shippable until March 16th. The day after the wedding. Ack.

Oof.

It is possible, as with one of the victims of the shooting here, to be mailing parcels at 3pm on Friday and lying dead in the street at 4am on Saturday.

Life is so fragile.

Give each other hugs.