Footy finals and sore back.

My brother is visiting for a few days. He’s come up to see the football final on TV with my husband. This is Australian Rules Football and the final is our equivalent of the Superbowl or FA Cup. Just as well I like the game too or I may have gone to Melbourne. My brother’s team hasn’t won a final since 1966 (their one and only) so we’re hoping today’s the day. So for today only, I’m a Saints fan.
Haven’t been doing much lately as I’ve had a really bad cough for weeks. When it’s flu season I’m lucky not to ever get it. However every now and again I get a really bad virus that starts with a sore throat, like swallowing razor blades. This develops into a deep cough, almost like a whooping cough, that can last for weeks. This time I also had a nagging ache in my back that wasn’t too bad during the day. But when I lay down to sleep it was terrible. No matter how I tried lying in bed, it was sore. After being on anti-inflammatories from the doctor, I decided maybe it was a problem the physio could help with. I’ve seen her once and the ache is lessening and I can sleep at last.
The weather has been glorious for the last week. Spring has come at last, although people are still skiing in the mountains. Winter hung on longer than usual and the snow season was long too. But that means we get more water in the rivers from the snows melting. The mornings are still cold though. Everything is so green from the rains we had. I wonder how long that will last?
We’ve decided to go to Melbourne and meet up with Evan to see Billy Connolly. I think he’s touring in January sometime and Evan says he’ll try and interview him. I hope he can.
Before that thought we’re going to Sydney for a week from Jan 1st. I hope the weather is better than last year when it rained for the 4 days we were there. This time we’re staying at Melissa’s apartment for 7 days, as her flatmate will be away for a month so there’s a room for us. She lives right next to the train station and it’s only a few stops from Sydney harbour. Although she and Luka will be working we can see them each night. M and I will have a good time looking around Sydney. Can’t wait for it.
Hard to believe it’s nearly October. I’ve bought Melissa, Luka and Evan their Christmas gifts. They all wanted tickets to a concert in Melbourne, so we bought them last week. As they were $150 each they won’t be getting much more, except maybe some small gifts.
Husband finishes work in a few weeks. Although he hasn’t worked since July 1st, he was still an employee although he’s being paid by the insurance company. All too complicated to explain. The big boss called him yesterday and told him they would be paying him all the money owed for holiday pay and long service leave and that would be it. All that happens in about 6 weeks. I told him he was much too pleasant to the guy, as they had injured his back through bad work practices, and then just chucked him out as unemployable by them. As the insurance company pay his wages he is expected to look for work with his chronic back injury. So who would employ him anyway? Can’t tell insurance companies that though. So he fills in his forms, and looks for work which he and the insurance company know he won’t find. We’re just lucky he’s near retirement age. What if he had been younger and supporting a family?
Well I’m off to watch the last quarter of the football. Brother’s team is only 7 points down.

Bye……….