Wrapped up!

Ooh, it was chilly today!It only got to 18 degrees centigrade......the coldest day for a decade in some places around here.I had to put my tracky-dacks on and my fleece.

Film Night Update IV

The Law is an Ass!

So.....a few days ago I had a phone call from a woman about the money that I am owed on my Carer's Pension because someone at Centerlink made a mistake and took an amount, I had written on my application form, of $225 to mean £225, thus I have been underpaid just over $100 a fortnight for a year.It seems that she has looked at the case and I am not going to be paid the money owed because I had a letter apparently, last May, which outlined what I was to be paid and I did not pick it up and inform them about it.I don't remember the letter nor can I find it in all the correspondence I have kept.It is all set out in the legislation apparently regarding informing clients and the period of time open for reply and dispute and my time has passed.I told her I didn't dispute it because I didn't know about it and that I assumed that they had done their maths correctly."We are a big organisation and sometimes we get things wrong," she said."Yes, you got it wrong but it is my fault for not informing you of something I wasn't aware of?""Yes," she said."If it had been the other way around and I was the one that owed you money you would pursue it no matter what the law said wouldn't you? I would end up having to pay you because that is the way things go but in this case a law is protecting you from making up for 'your' mistake"I hear what you are saying," she said."Can I appeal?""You can."I AM.

A Happy Birthday to Me!............('and me!' says 'Elaine'.)

My day began with four cards from the UK. Thank you to Anne, Margaret, Auntie Joan and Andy, Julia, William and Maisie.I went for a walk in Toohey Forest, though I forgot my phone and feared getting lost without my satnav, but happily didn't.

Grass tree incineration.

Dulcie, 'Elaine' and I shared half a Charcoal Chicken for lunch, 'Elaine' had more than her fair share as you would expect.

When Will returned home I opened my presents and got a lovely new rainbow umbrella, games , minstrels and a tee shirt and a Custard tart cake!

Wendi, Will's sister came for tea with Dulcie and Will and I went out for a meal to 'Blackbird', a restaurant in the city by the river over looking the Story Bridge.

For starter I had warm citrus cured New Zealand king salmon with baby squid, garlic, saffron and ink linguini.

Will had silk purse from a sow’s ear with Glasshouse Mountains snails and green goddess dressing.

They were both fantastic and so delicious, though 'Elaine' grumbled at the portions.

For mains we both had a 300g Darling Downs - Black Angus – Scotch fillet. All served with a selection of house made mustard, sauce and Blackbird coleslaw.

We both had a caramelised red onion sauce and shared shoestring fries with lemon myrtle aioli and saltbush, truffled cauliflower ‘mac-n-cheese’ gratin and beans and pulses, cracked grains, salted ricotta and caperberries.

We were well and truly stuffed!......even 'Elaine' was grumbling.

Afterwards we drove to Balmoral (no, not that one.....the suburb of Brisbane...tut) to see a film.

We had a private showing (yes, we were the only two in the whole cinema!) of 'Boy Choir' with Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Eddie Izzard and Debra Winger.....such an illustrious cast but one of Dulcie's descriptive phrases comes to mind to sum it up:

"A heap of crap!"

No matter, I have had a very lovely day.

Battle Update - Achievements.

So.......since we came back from our trip to Canberra I have walked at least an hour everyday.Thanks to my friend 'Endomondo', who travels with me in my pocket, I can tell you that in the last fortnight I have walked over 100 kms in 18 hours and burned over 6500 calories.I can also report that the new, more accurate scales that I bought last week, announced today that I am now 89.4 kgsTake that 'Elaine'.