Sunday, 1 October, 2017

As we just got home last Sunday, this week, as usual, was full of appointments.  Of course, number one on my list was getting a facial from the lovely Helen - as always, it was so relaxing and my face felt wonderful afterwards.  On Tuesday, both Dad and I had to go to the doctor's for excisions.  Our doctor does a skin check once a year on us and he saw some freckles on both of us that he didn't like.  I really like our doctor - he is very kind and gentle - but, because I get so anxious when I have to get a needle (still can't work out why), I hold on to the nurse's hand and pump it while the doctor pokes my body with the needles.  Both the doctor and the nurses are so understanding there and very compassionate and caring - they gently talk to me as I am getting the needles - I really appreciate their kindness.  Dad got his usual chiro visit in and also took the car in for its maintenance this week.

On Wednesday, Robyn and I went visiting teaching - always a nice chance to get together with some of the sisters and get to know them better.  This day, we met up with two older sisters in our ward - one of them is in the hospital at the moment as she fell and fractured her hip.  Jeanne is in her 80s and has early dementia.  She repeated at least a dozen times her thanks to us for coming and visiting her - we just said 'You're welcome' each time as we knew that she was forgetting she had already told us that.  It's kind of sad, actually, that her memory is going, but then she doesn't realize it, so I guess it's not a bad thing for her.

On Thursday, I met up with Robyn, Jan and Daphnie for a Relief Society meeting and catch-up over lunch at 'Hogsbreath'.  We have all been away and wanted to touch bases with how everyone's time away had been and also to connect about how things were shaping up for our next Relief Society activity - we are going to be filling Christmas boxes for underprivileged children overseas.  The catch-up was great - there's just never enough time to do that on Sundays.

 Jan, Robyn, me and Daphnie

On Friday, we met up with our friends, Faye and Bill (Bill was an instructor with Dad at one time) - they live not far from Hervey Bay, so whenever we get back to town from being away we give them a call and get together.  This time, they suggested we meet them for lunch at a hotel in a small town near HB called Howard.  It is very common in Australia (in smaller towns) for hotels to have a dining room with cheap meals and big portions.  The Howard hotel is one of Bill and Faye's favourites so we were looking forward to eating there and catching up with them.  However, both Faye and I wanted to have their chicken parmigiana (our favourites), but they had run out of chicken (someone had forgotten to go and pick up the chicken order in HB - a half hour away - boo!).  So, while both Dad and Bill enjoyed their steak, Faye and I weren't overly impressed with our lunches.  But, we had a great time hanging out with Faye and Bill and when we were saying good-bye, Bill mentioned that we should go camping together some time - they have the same camping trailer as we do - and we thought that was a great idea.

Bill, me and Faye

On Saturday, I met up with my teacher friend, Luise, at 'Happy Days Diner' for another catch-up.  Luise loves to read as much as I do and really likes reading mysteries/thrillers - she gave me a ton of books which she had finished reading so now I have a ton more to add to my pile.  You can never have too many books, right?  😃

Luise and me