Welcome to everyday Lets Talk

 Safariman on surviving twelve months with us all, which is easier said than done  Your safari stories with photos and wonderful wit have been terrific for us all to experience. May there be many more years of WAA fun ahead.

"Another wedding today"  Pete goes to Scotland for a week and already you're getting married again! Mrs Kipia please  

  GR - good one  

Mrs Kipia aka E

 E  

I'm sure that Pete can trust you not to  out on him!

I suppose that the major news from my end of the world this week is the breakdown of my car  Gearbox/transmission is shot; a clutch drum or something must have just snapped. Fortunately, with my lucky life as it is, I get to borrow my mum's car next week ( dear  ). My dad drove me to work today and mum picked me up this afternoon. They will drop the car around after going to the football tomorrow.

She also bought me some extra food supplies - spoilt aren't I  - and some home cooking; soup (already devoured  ) and stew. A blessed boy indeedy.

I have been in a generally happy mood all week despite the car, and especially so this afternoon. Went for a marathon walk with the pooches and although exhausted after it, it was a satisfied exhausted. We then enjoyed some Rip Van Winkle   whilst having the stereo (or technically DVD player  ) blaring with a new album I just got from Parov Stelar. It's dance music, but I'm really enjoying it. It's a bit of a branch out for me which is great. I put in the more dancey CD first (double album), mainly because of Catgroove which I seem to have some major obsession with  , and that was interesting enough for a first listen, but now having just finished the other CD (slightly more lowkey) I have to say that I liked that even more (and just starting the second listen now  ). I have been bopping along to it constantly, and I think this was even before I started with some Canadian Club   After the snuggle it's safe to say that I have truly got my second wind today  

I also watched a new Silly Sparrowness (she's a youtube sensation, but without taking her clothes off  ) video whilst snuggling and it was a terrific one. I encourage anyone to seek her out on youtube as she has the perfect combination of serious information and childishness.

After our snuggle the dogs have really calmed down too, and as I was bopping away just before and half dancing (I can't call that full dancing  ) I'm not sure that I've ever seen them so attentive and serious. They were watching me closely and peacefully, probably with the thinking, "how did we get involved with this looney?"  My wonder woos and I make a pretty awesome team. We're the three amigos.

I haven't even finished one drink, but I just feel on top of the world, no matter what. What does the rest of the night have in store? Maybe continuation of Parov Stelar (yes, into track 3 for second time on second album, which is officially the first album...yes, I know I'm a contradiction  ) and even some reading  I have a new book just come in today that I am keen to try out.

I watched the fourth of five Endeavours last night and boy is this some series! Every episode has been wonderfully written. It could very well be outdoing Morse and Lewis! Shaun Evans is great in the lead role.

Have a great weekend my dear friends. That's not the Canadian Club talking. I mean it.

 Oh on GR not your car -     that bad news. I am typing this whilst on youtube listening to Catgroove  lucky you have supplies in from your mum and that you can borrow their car,   certainly you are very lucky indeedy!

Sounds like you're having a good day/evening and I'm about to do the same with our dogs, a nice walk in the field, me checking out the wildlife and them checking out the   no doubt.

Still waiting for Endeavour to be repeated, I'm into Midsomer Murder repeats at the moment.

mmmmmmmmmm enjoying Catgroove, may get me dancing too  luckily nobody here but the dogs to see    

Enjoy ........ what is Canadian Club?

Lai

Your not having much luck with your car lately GR  hope its fixed soon. Hope the weather was alright for the wedding Lai, it did'nt rain on this side of the hills, sunny, and some cloud so hopefully you did'nt get any rain. Have a great 3 days in London with your Mum Lai.
WS

The weather was ok and another wedding today and mostly ok again  

Thanks, we are both really looking forward to it  

Lai

Lai, that has bought me a big  that you are listening to Catgroove  

I have the dance cd on again now first thing in the morning! Well there is never a wrong time for dancing  

There is only wrong dancing  

I have also begun today with ice-cream for breakfast! Because I can, and because there is nothing wrong with indulging in what is most beautiful in this world. Yep, I really like my ice-cream  

But even a childish boy can't just live off that for breakfast! So I am 'washing' that down with some honey on toast  

Plus a drink of course. No, it's not   Just some plain old coffee. It's Moccona (you know that Kenyan stuff), and I also have some Brazilian coffee, so coffee from two dream holiday destinations! I haven't managed to find any Icelandic coffee beans at the supermarket  

The car thing is no big deal, because there are really much more important things in life. But I have been thinking about a possible trip overseas - South America - and the transmission blow up might put that on hold. I am booked to see a travel agent next Saturday and still will. I wasn't going to book anything at this stage anyhoo. Next overseas adventure probably won't be until next April/May at the earliest.

"Another wedding today"!!! Man, you Brits really are the most promiscuous folk going around. Those murder mysteries (with affairs galore) are right!  

In Australia we are really much more civilized   

G   R

P.S. Canadian Club is a whisky, and a cheap one at that. Not that I'm particularly fussy  

P.S.2. Hope that your three days in London are full of fun for both of you.

Ice cream for breakfast,   what could be better?  I love ice cream but it has to have toffee, caramel or something, no choccie as I've given that up.  I used to love choccie out of the fridge in the morning   Honey is my weakness, I eat more honey on my natural yoghurt than yoghurt, in fact I could just eat the jar with a dipping of yoghurt     

Thanks for explaining that GR.  I'm not a whisky drinker at all, so have no idea  

Good to know you are practising with the different coffee in readiness for your trips around the world.  Icelandic coffee, mmmmm     hard to grow in those conditions.

Managed to find an episode of Midsomer Murders I hadn't seen before and watched half of it last night so I am very  

Have a good day everyone.

Lai

Getting late here now so will catch up on all the goss here tomorrow.........I am in need of my  ...laters as they say  

littlewid-x-

 Perhaps all of that volcanic energy can be put to use re that Icelandic coffee Lai  

A big  for you finding that Midsomer Murders ep! For me I can only hope that they go for a second season of Endeavour  

Leo understands your love of honey very well Mrs Kipia. It's the one time with food that sometimes, he drools as I give it to him (on toast)! He really does. Talk about scrumdidillyumptious   

S   Leo, I totally agree with him GR.

Lai  

Good afternoon everyone

After another totally frustrating week of BB on and BB mostly off I am ready to   so hence my short visits as I keep losing where I am up to  

I hope you all have a great weekend and the  shines, although we had so much rain last night I thought we might need an ark  

Pete is back on Saturday night and meantime I've 2 friends coming to stay tonight and we're all off to Bird Fair in Rutland tomorrow. Should be a fun and long day but much to see and do and people to catch up with. Fingers crossed it stays  

WS don't work too hard   and everyone else have fun          

Lai  

I feel ya on the broadband thing Lai. Can be most frustrating. Often you have something you really want to say, or a photo to post (particularly when I've got a selfie craving  ) and you just can't do it   It's a rare time that I can swear a lot  

The weather has been rather interesting here too  Incredibly wild winds have been prevalent, though this hasn't stopped us three from going on walks  But on one I thought we were going to have some sort of Wizard of Oz moment  

I must confess to also having caved in a number of times recently regards the pooches and their sleeping arrangements. I reckon it's been half the days of the last ten or so! Sometimes too windy, sometimes me just too tired, or sometimes too cold, or sometimes just too soft  Fortunately their behaviour has been pretty good (well, for a jack russell  ) and last night they were fine out on their own, so it's time to get back into routine.

It's funny how much their actions are set into routine, and I guess we are very much the same. Bella will almost always jump up onto me on the couch from the same side. I say almost because today she surprised me by going all the way from my left (she will often hesitate before jumping up, like it's a big deal, or just cause she's teasing  ). In my bed, Leo always lays to my left, with Bella to my right. When awaiting food they will often sit adorably on the small carpet mat that links the kitchen and main room.

Yesterday I played tennis with a friend and surprised myself by playing well, though I didn't care much about that, as it was just good to get out and do something with him. He was using his new racquet for the first time, so I'll give him that excuse  

Fortunately it was indoors given the wild weather!

Hope that the bird fair is a FURRtastic time for all Mrs Kipia. Sorry, hadn't done that for a while  

Good news your two are behaving GR  . Your BB is becoming an absolute nightmare  Lai no wonder your  hope it improves soon. Have a good time at the Bird Fair. LW your week off has soon gone, funny how when your off it goes quick, but goes slower at work. Could'nt work Sat it was much to windy for the Add/Mobile, I would have been sailing it instead of driving it We went over to Nantwich in Cheshire in the afternoon, it was Mrs S's brothers Golden Wedding anniversary which was fun as he did'nt know it was happening, he just thought it was a quite Tea with his Daughter, you should have seen his face when he came through the door  .
Hope everyones had a good weekend

WS

 it's a little quiet around here. Where did all the  's go  

Oh, I know. Kip and Rosie have kept them in their burrows  

The weather in Melbourne is rather shiver like on a regular basis just now, though not too long and it will be spring, and we will be likely to start to feel the  again. Well even now the pops out on occasion, such as on our short lunchtime walkie today which was much appreciated by me, and I'm sure Leo and Bella too  

This Friday night I've decided to brave the wild and wooly conditions and will go into the city. My initial plan was to take my mum out on our second date for the year (following on from The Script concert) as this gig features musicians and poets, the latter includes a student that she assisted at school (mum was an intergration aid) who has cerebral palsy. She does regular readings, though I've never been to one, so I thought it would be nice to finally see what one of these events is like. It's at The Grace Darling Hotel in Collingwood, and as fate would have it, my dad's footy team of the same name is playing that same night! So I gave my mum a choice of one Collingwood or the other, but she didn't choose mine   But then I realised that it's sweet what she's doing, because the best partners support each others gigs of choice.

And it's vice versa. Cause I'm pretty sure that dad will follow mum in to watch Essendon the following week  

And with the way that they're playing at the moment that's real commitment  

I am getting my haircut Saturday morning, and then perhaps will go to Melbourne Zoo that afternoon or Sunday. May depend on the weather.

My dynamic duo are not always behaving well WS  Right now they are not particularly happy that I'm at the laptop! Upon arrival home it's feed me, walk me, cuddle me, love me. They will get the third one soon.

And they always get the fourth.

It sounds like it is just as windy in Britain as it is here  How many years is the Golden wedding anniversary? It sounds like a big innings and enormous achievement.

Although with the best marriages wouldn't you just say that it was "no sweat, life's a beach" etc

Very busy times as usual for you Doogs. You often are apologetic for not being on here enough, but I reckon you do a good job in keeping up considering that heavy work load and hectic social calendar   

My car is not so bad now, though doesn't seem to drive as well as before. Then again it is getting older too; so no breakdowns since I got it back, but pick up on the acceleration is a bit of a struggle. I get a free check up in 1,000 kms time so will see how it is travelling then. I don't really care about cars much. Just that they can get me from a to b and can play music   

Ice-cream for breakfast is superb indeed! Don't worry, I'll get what's coming to me. In ten years I'm going to pay for this...

Surely  

Doogs I am off on the 31Oct. going to the Offbeat Safaris' Mara North Camp for 8 nights so we will be there at approx. the same time, hopefully before the rains start. They have been so unpredictable in the last few years that nobody is certain when they will arrive. I was there last Dec. and the rains hadn't started so who knows what will happen this year. Piers Winkworth the owner of the Offbeat Camps normally closes in Nov. but this year has decided to stay open for the first 2 weeks of Nov. which meant I managed to get a good deal from him!! Hopefully the remnants of the migration should still be around and I know they have had some fairly heavy rain recently which should freshen up the grass. I can't wait to be off!!!

Safariman

Safariman if Piers is there please give him a big   from me (Camilla aka Milly) I did a few riding safaris with him when he was with Mark (and one with his sister Jess). Peter and I are thinking of adding in a few days at his Mara north camp in January next year (also I would love to see Kapeen again).

Sorry I've been   for a few days, after Bird Fair which was brilliant I've had 2 busy days at work and intermittent BB at home  Pete is going to report the fault, yet again  

I hope everyone is well and the UK weather isn't too bad wherever you are - mmmmmm looks like rain here today.

Lai

Lai I will of course pass on your greetings to Piers (minus the hugs) if I meet up with him in Nov. However I am not certain if he will be around as I know he has been conducting some of the riding safaris again this year as Tristan suffered an injury and secondly and more importantly, Piers has at long last got himself engaged and as far as I am aware hopes to get married at the end of Nov. in the UK so he will probably have a lot of things on his mind!!!
Hope the Broadband gets sorted soon.

Safariman

Wow, brilliant news re Piers and his engagement, still think the   apply even more so now Safariman  Tristan is mad on a horse so no surprise there!

BB working in my office at the moment, but home is 50/50  

Lai

Great you to know people where you are going Safariman. The weather here was really cloudy this morning and looked like yours on that side of the hills Lai, but we went out at around 1-30 pm, and it was still the same with a strong breeze. So I decided on wearing a track suit got down on the coast about 10 mins, and it was wall to wall  , and I've been roasting all afternoon  happens everytime I where this track suit. Hope the weather was OK for the rest of you

WS

Hello Everyone.

That is really funny that you say Collington Doogs, because my dad's team is Collingwood, but their arch enemy is Carlton, so you have actually combined them!  

When I next see him I will have to make mention of this dream team of his, after the merger  

I have not even checked the result from last nights game, though would assume that Collingwood won. They have been going okay lately, but it's my mum's team Essendon (and mine admittedly, though with my lack of interest you can barely call me a supporter) that has been in the wars, on and off the field. They have this drug scandal hanging over their heads, and the coach may lose his job soon. But the whole thing is not very black and white.

Which in actual fact would be Collingwood (black and white are the magpies colours, same as the English soccer team Newcastle)!

I still went out last night, and it was a nice experience, something a little different. I don't much like driving in the city, but lucks a fortune, I found a park just a minutes walk from the venue and it was free! Inside I had a couple of lemon lime bitters (LW, I must confess that I since found out that this has minor alcohol content   though so minimal that it is often served to minors, kinda like having a dessert with brandy or something I guess) and a lamb burger with beetroot and chips and stuff which was nice. These sorts of areas of the city are always nice in their own way for the fact that the people are very peaceful. I suppose one would say that these people are more for the environment, human rights, etc then elsewhere. That said, having a Government being solely nice isn't necessarily the right way either. Well, not that I am very political, but one of the poets went on a big spiel about the refugee. It's quite a topic of conversation in Australia right now, as both major political parties are taking very hard lines about non acceptance. When you look at virtually any of these cases individually, one will side with the refugee. I mean, in most cases they have come from war torn, poverty stricken nations; they have nowhere else to go. How can one not open their hearts and not invite them into their home? Because in terms of most of the world we have so much.

But when looking at the bigger picture, there are many more issues that come with just letting anyone and everyone into the country, but an animal forum is probably not the right place for such ramblings  

Stevie did a great job with her particular poetry reading, though I must confess that I couldn't pick up on all that she said last night, only some words (due to her cerebral pausy). Her passion for her art is incredible though, and it is true what the introduction person said of her, that she has very powerful words. I got confused too. I picked up on the fact late in her main poem that she was discussing her own issues with restrictions in regards to personal movement, to transporting herself around (which she always requires assistance for), and that she was highly thankful for everyone who had travelled to hear her, that she felt graced by their presence. This was not a part of the actual poem, so I didn't even differentiate between her poetry reads and general thanks. But she has her poetry on her website, and below is the main one that she read last night.

http://www.steviewills.com/poetry/fabrics-of-divine-colours/

The main aspects of her personality are that she has a strong Christian faith and is a big time advocate for the rights of people with disabilities the world over, but particularly in the third world, where often they have virtually no rights, receive no education. She even travelled to Africa with a group to try to inspire greater awareness a couple of years back. The other poem that she read was this one, based on this subject.

http://www.steviewills.com/poetry/the-cycle/

I had a couple of nice chats with her before and after her performance which was good. She seemed in good spirits and I believe that my mum would be very proud of her.

The whole event took place in a tiny basement of the bar, and was probably not for the claustrophobic    The first poet was terrific. He read poems about the moon, a lioness (not a lioness, but it was his metaphoric use for a courageous lady) and a tongue in cheek poem about Christianity (so yes, this place was very open with its conversation) which was very clever. I preferred him to the latter male poet, as the first guy was confident and proud of his subjects, but he wasn't pontificating. The latter had some good content, but the way he spoke was as if he believed himself to be the centre of the universe and 100% right. Sometimes the most problematic people can be those who are the most certain.

They had a band too which was called Iris and were pretty catchy. So overall it was a pretty nice short and sweet night out. I wasn't out for long, in fact was back with the pooches by about 11pm. Later today I get my haircut, just the short back and sides  

WS, you should have taken your full athletics kit and then you could have taken your track suit off  

Oh, with my car, it went well on the freeway last night, so I think it's okay  

Exciting news on the way for both Safariman and Doogs with those African adventures   

Good morning everyone

Sorry I've been AWOL for a few days, with it being the b/h weekend lots to do and my son Tom is here for a few days so a lot of catching up.  He's starting a months course for teaching on 2nd September so has some work to do for that and then back to Uni after that.  Also his b'day on 28th so he'll be whizzing back to Swansea for that.  

Doogs I hope you enjoyed Priscilla - Oh my word I loved it, and was brilliant and one of my favourite songs 'some one left the cake out in the rain' - here's hoping it comes round our way again and we can see it once more!

GR sounds like your busy and having a good time, and glad your car is now okay.

WS - we got the rain, big time, but it's okay now, not really doing anything but hopefully some sunshine later.  We're off to a country fair today, I think they have birds of prey flying displays so that should be interesting.

Yesterday we went to Greenfields greyhound rescue place where we got Rosie from with 5 dogs beds that our fussy greyhounds don't like, and she has a 14 weeks old male greyhound who had a broken leg, the trainer was going to have him put down so she has taken him in, he had his leg set in plaster and was totally gorgeous, a pale brindle colour and I bet he will be re-homed in no time at all.  I've never ever seen a greyhound puppy, but they are all legs and gangly and soooooooooooooo cute  

Lai  

Good morning everyone

Hope you all had a good week and are enjoying the weekend, it seems summer has gone   and we're back to grey not so warm weather, and even worse it's getting dark so much earlier!

We've got some friends coming for lunch, hopefully outside in our African breeze hut but not so sure now as it looks a bit like  

Have a great day and a good week.

Lai