Evoking A Memory

The Gold Coast has received a lot of rain during the last seven days. Funny how quickly we become bored with grey skies, when we experience clear blue skies for so much of the year. Anyway, having got soaked for the umpteenth time going to work, due to a non waterproof shower jacket and a broken umbrella, trying to hold off torrential rain, I was taken by the pretty green, plastic mac that a work colleague sported to work on Friday morning. Memories of my childhood in England came flooding back to me.

When I was a girl, everybody owned a plastic mac (short for Mackintosh, meaning raincoat to non Poms!) Males had grey macs females pretty pastel coloured macs.They were fastened at the front with flexible plastic buttons or press studs, that were apt to cause tearing,they often had an attached hood. I remember the grey male style had slits in the sides to enable easy access to the trouser or jacket pockets underneath, whereas the ladies style had front pockets, for hankies and so forth. Mine went everywhere with me, ie to and from school, at least a three kilometre walk each way, folded neatly into it's matching plastic envelope,taking up as little space as possible beside all the school paraphernalia that was required to be lugged on our shoulders for daily lessons. One never knew when a shower would occur and, trust me one could get VERY wet during such a long walk. The plastic mac was my insurance policy against a wet uniform and a cold soggy day.

With the benefit of hindsight, the idea of owning a pair of brown leather indoor and outdoor shoes wasn't such a bad idea as it seemed at the time, because we were at least ensured of dry feet during wet weather,especially when on wet days the rain having hit the plastic mac then trickled down the garment and dripped onto one's feet! Oh we did it tough as kids! Happy days!

Anyway my plastic macs saved me from many a soaking. Damaged macs could be repaired with sticky tape, and so patch up jobs were evident when necessary, when we couldn't afford a replacement.

Also popular at that time with ladies were rain hats made of fan folded, soft,clear plastic with ribbon attached to the ends, that could be opened an used to cover ones hair. After use they were shaken dried and refolded and returned to their envelope for subsequent use. I think these may still be available, though I haven't been in England for several years and thus am unable to verify this fact.

As I sit pondering all this, I wonder when and why plastic macs went out of fashion, when they are clearly so useful.

My colleague said she had purchased hers while holidaying in an Asian country, surprise, surprise!

Plastic ponchos have become quite popular for unsuspecting tourists, visiting supposed sunny destinations. This evokes another memory for me of our family trip to Disneyland, back in the mid 90's. My family members are few of the folk in the world who can testify to the lie of the song lyrics "It never rains in California", it does, and it did, much to our surprise and consternation, during our brief visit to this iconic theme park. we witnessed hundreds of visitors to the park wearing bright yellow plastic ponchos with Mickey Mouse printed on the back, sloshing around in the mud. It rained a lot in that corner of California that day.

Back to my question, what has caused the decline in plastic macs? During my schooldays, there were no family cars available to taxi children to and from school, it was shank's pony or if we hadn't spent our bus money on sweets, then a bus ride, but even then, in my case that only halved the walk! You couldn't walk with a couple of friends on a pavement holding umbrellas, even if we could afford them.

Today, so often, in our materialistic western world, it seems that kids enter the family vehicle in the dry garage, exit the property through electronic gates and are chauffeured to school in the dry. The journey is reversed at the end of the day and dealing with rain is not a problem. Not only do they not have to deal with inclement weather, but they are also deprived of exercise and all the fun of spending regular time actually socializing, face to face with mates, in so doing rubbing off prickly personality traits and learning pecking order and social skills that, I am sure kids in my era benefited from in later life when we entered the real world. So school kids have no need for rain protection, and it would not be cool to wear such garments even if they were available! Indeed we all have much easier access to vehicles that precludes the need for rain wear.

I suppose the plastic poncho is popular due to its one fits all design and size and more economical to stock. Let me say that they are extremely helpful in the rain providing one can keep the lower edges where they are supposed to be! They fold up small and are inexpensive, very handy to have in the glove box.Umbrellas are now very affordable and so the demise of the plastic mac was inevitable.

Long live memories! Where would we have been without those plastic macs?

Simply Susan

This is a snap of a sodden parrot that took shelter under the eves of our deck earlier in the week, definitely not impressed with the inclement weather.

A Sprat To Catch A Mackeral!

Earlier in the month, I received electronic notification of a $10 gift voucher from Spotlight (for non Aussies, that's a mega haberdashery store in Australia).

With only 48 hours remaining before its expiry, my daughter alerted me to this fact. On Thursday morning, en route to work, I detoured and hot footed to my local store, about 10minutes drive away, eager to make use of the gift, hoping to spend the voucher on yarns that I will inevitably use for knitting in cooler months.

Knitting is one of my passions. Settling for a long knitting session on cooler days is right up there for me with losing myself in a book. I find it very therapeutic, I get a kick out of seeing seeing garments, especially throws and scarves, take shape from yarns of different textures and colours.

I always keep my eyes open for unusual, well priced yarns to add to my considerable stash of yarn, for future projects, be it car boot sales or op shops..

While prowling the yarn section of the Spotlight store, I smiled to myself, as once again I found myself in the situation of feeling like a rabbit caught in a headlight, frantically running up and down a fence trying to find a gap. In my case, frantically rushing up and down the aisle, trying to decide which yarns to choose, from the amazing variety of colour and texture arrayed before me, keen to get the best value, constrained by budget and time. How many balls will I need when the time comes, which colour will be the best choice; should I buy more than one colour of this very well priced yarn? Constrained by time on this occasion by the presence of my husband, who intensely dislikes Spotlight, and the need to arrive at work punctually and budget because there is only so much that one can decently spend on such an occasion...isn't there?

Something I have become aware of about myself in recent years, is my inability to make a decision when faced with too many choices. This becomes evident when choosing shoes, fabric, yarns even making selections from a menu in a restaurant. Too many options can cause me to freeze and I have been known to do nothing when overwhelmed with choices. Thinking about this revelation probably explains why I am so much happier shopping opportunistically, when there is only one of each kind,size, or style to choose from - so much easier.

Back to Thursday morning, keen to enjoy my voucher and having approximated the total cost of my selections, I hurriedly withdrew to the checkout. The ten dollar voucher cost me thirty eight dollars! I was delighted with my purchases, my exasperated husband was only too happy to exit the store and drop me at work.

Later that day, having displayed my purchases to fellow workmates, who love knitting, I remembered that I had another ten dollar voucher in my purse that the generous Spotlight store had bestowed on me as a birthday gift for the month of January! Whoopee.

Being so enamored with my Thursday selections, and feeling the need to buy more of certain yarns for future exciting projects, I returned to the store on Saturday morning! That expedition cost me a further forty one dollars!

Do I hear you chuckling and identifying with me or muttering SUCKER under your breath? How easy it is to get caught up in a good offer! I have no regrets, but I recognize the old saying that my Dad used to use regarding using using a small sprat to catch a large mackerel! Oh he was a wise man!

I'm going to have a busy winter...
Simply Susan

Perhaps I should mention that though my husband dislikes visits to Spotlight, I have used this to my advantage, by explaining to him exactly what I am looking for, he is very good at finding things for me, (whereas I get distracted) this ensures for him a very quick visit and we are both happy. He actually has a pretty good eye for my haberdashery needs!

Miss Fluff

Shortly after moving into our house, four years ago this month, we had an unexpected but pleasant visit from neigbourhood cat.

The visit occurred while we were enjoying a morning coffee out in the back garden. We had been counting our blessings, enjoying our garden, when all of a sudden this large black ball of soft fluff brushed my leg and made me jump. The cat proved friendly, having rubbed itself around the legs of the chairs, it jumped up onto my lap for some love. I admit I was surprised and pleased, having felt a little wary as to this cat's personality, having had some nasty experiences in the past with a cat that bit without provocation. I was delighted that puss settled happily on my lap and it seemed to be thoroughly enjoying me stroking it, contented purring ensued.

We provided some milk in a saucer and wondered where the cat lived.

This instigated several visits to us, which I thoroughly enjoyed as I am a cat lover and was pondering whether to go to the local pound and find one to live with us. If this friendly puss was going to be a regular visitor to our property then I would enjoy its company without the responsibility of owning one of my own, and this cat's personality was delightful, indeed, just what I would look for in a cat of my own.

Over time we witnessed this cat visiting other houses in our street and realized that it probably played us all cadging titbits when and where it could.

One morning on the way to work I saw the cat emerging from a nearby storm water drain, looking somewhat disheveled, its fur covered with cobwebs, pieces of grass and other bric a brac from its subterranean adventure.

I christened the cat Miss Fluff, as I was so impressed with her gentleness and the softness of her fur. She had seasons of visiting us, like all cats, happy to do her own thing on her own terms.

She would turn up at the back door and sit patiently waiting for one of us to deliver a saucer of milk, having lapped her fill she would have a quick wash and leave.

On a couple of occasions Miss fluff has arrived with wounds to her rump, clearly she has had her share of night time encounters with other felines in the area.

Some months after Miss Fluff's initial visit to us,I happened to meet our neighbour from two doors down and discovered that Miss Fluff belonged to her. It was a male called Cosmo! I told her what had been happening and that I thought it was a female, she laughed.

A young child lives at Miss Fluff's home and I think that sometimes little people might agitate her, and so she escapes to our place for some peace, when she has the need.

Miss Fluff, for so she shall remain to me, visited yesterday and I managed to take her photo, she looked so regal purchased on the deck railing.

Isn't she something?
Simply Susan

I Had To Smile!

Just recently, our daughter, who lives in the "sky" (2nd floor unit), discovered a TV cabinet in an op shop several suburbs away from home. She rang and told us all about it, asking our opinion as to the the wisdom of purchasing it. She was particularly excited at the price, a mere twenty four dollars, reduced from thirty! What a find!
A day or two later it was still on her mind and so she rang the shop to see if it was available, it was and so she asked if it could be put on hold for collection later that day.
Having measured the wall where she envisioned it being placed, and having measured the back of her van to see if it would fit, she and I headed off full of optimism for a closer inspection.
Light rain fell as we drove through Christmas holiday traffic. Our spirits were high as we headed towards our goal.
A parking space was thankfully available right outside the shop, some snappy reversing on my daughter's part had us well positioned to receive our intended purchase.
The unit was behind other furniture, it appeared to be very suitable for its anticipated use and position in my daughter's lounge, condition was excellent, the price was very attractive. Feeling confident, we decided to have a look around at other available 'treasure" in the shop. Being in possession of a half price discount voucher, due to expire any day, this seemed a smart move.
My daughter decided that she should make her presence known to the volunteer on duty and to stake her claim on the TV unit. Having done so, while the rain continued to fall, we continued to potter around the racks checking this and that.

I spotted a well dressed lady, and a gentleman of European origin, who had bowed legs, and was sporting a hat; both of significant years, pushing the cabinet toward the door. We headed towards them and heard the man say that it was very heavy, this was not surprising as the unit had several glass doors and wooden shelves. I suggested that if we removed them, it would hopefully make it light enough for us to lift into the back of the van.
The dear man produced a screw driver and proceeded to remove the many screws. It was suggested that some muscle be enlisted from the fish shop down the road to help us move the furniture, but no, it didn't seem that this would be necessary.

By this time it was raining steadily and the lady had positioned a coffee table in road the behind the van to keep the car space free for our manoeuvres.

We,the two elderly folk and myself, lifted together and carried the unit out of the shop, across the pavement, circumnavigating a concrete planter and the previously positioned coffee table, into the back of the van. The rain was no deterrent. It fitted with only an inch or two to spare, You can imagine our delight!
We thanked the volunteers profusely for their enthusiastic assistance and having made further selections and amused ourselves further at a quick 'try on', we paid for our 'haul' and headed out of the shop.

The further purchases that we had made provided cushioning for the glass doors, we drove happily back, delighted at our success, meanwhile my daughter wasted no time in contacting some friends to come later that afternoon to assist her in carrying the unit up to her flat in the sky.

It looks amazing in position and easily accommodates the TV and some treasures. You don't have to spend a fortune to make your place look homely.

The outing was totally enjoyable, this account doesn't do it justice, but it is a record of a wonderful time we had treasure hunting together with help from an most unexpected source, that enabled the whole deal to go ahead. Thanks to the lady and gentleman who helped us in the rain.

Keep those eyes wide open for good deals!
Simply Susan