07

two spencers, one of which was long sleeved and long-bodied, a t-shirt of winter weight, soft felted beanie, leather gloves ('coz I couldn't find my woollen ones) and a padded raincoat with hood. And I was still cold. I stayed out of the way, and let Brian do all of the bidding. I had come for the household gear, which included a butter churn and a whole lot of Fowler's preserving jars (very well known in Oz as the preserving company) for bottling up a whole lot of goodies. Trouble with that was that we had to leave early so that Brian could pick up Alice. So I missed out, but Brian managed to snaffle some wonderful continuous belts for his tractor for only $5. He couldn't believe it!

The reason why he couldn't believe he was so blessed was that we thought like everyone else, "The weather is so foul, no-one much will turn up". The result was one of the greatest crowds I've seen in some time, and it wouldn't have been so bad, but the prices were like 1970s inflation. They just kept going up. There was a lovely tractor or horse tray there which Brian would have bid a maximum of $120 on, which went for $600. The dealers were out in force, and the auctioneer acknowledged them before he started! So perhaps I would have wasted my time with what I was after in any case.

We had a good hailstorm today (is there ever a good hailstorm? Only if you have a glasshouse and are keen to collect insurance!), and poor Brian was reminded it was time to come inside to the warmth of the kitchen when he was pelted on the head. Still, a lovely lunch of roast lamb, roasted potatoes, mixed veggies and a dessert of apple pie and cream had him very happy. The lamb was a bit tough, but the flavour was magnificent! Nothing like a wood-burning stove to increase the flavour of food! Yummo! We almost didn't get the apple pie, I had just bought it, and when I came home, Brian called me over to show me what he had been doing to get the saw bench into repairable condition. I put down my shopping bag, and went to check. When I was ready to pick it up again, there was a cluster of chooks excitedly pecking at the apple pie. I cut off the bit they had been pecking and cooked the rest any way. No grit or dirt so I presume we're safe for now. I'll tell you, when you're out in the country, you get a cast iron constitution.

Brian has been emptying out the feathers bath into what will be the spring veggie patch. I'm sure the fruit trees will also love the cocktail of chook, duck, goose and whatever else poo that was in there, well watered in.

The dogs are currently napping in an armchair in the kitchen, where it is nice and warm. To the manner born, as they say. All daschies have a look about them that suggests all good things are justly due to them. Occasionally, they will look gratefully at you. Don't believe it! That's as much a con as the "Shiver, shiver, poor little me" scam.

We have been blessed with a bit of a flow of cash lately, but that does not mean I won't still bargain - Brian and I went to a large discount store called "The Warehouse" , and they were having a sale on many items. I needed yet another bookcase (even Brian could see that, poor man) and the ones available had been discounted down from $49.95 to $39.95. We were really only after one, and there was only one left - the demonstration model. I asked for a discount because it was shop-soiled, and was at first refused. I persisted, and was handed over to the Floor Manager, who promptly gave me the bookcase for $35. All I had to do was ask.

Sometimes discounts get handed to you. I was in a movie hire shop (no longer can I call them video hire shops!), and had found a table with "3 for $29.95" marked on it, provided that all of the videos each cost only $12.95. I took three videos to the counter, only one of which was $12.95, the others being more expensive. "It doesn't hurt to ask" I thought, and so I enquired if the sign was valid for the three videos I had selected. "No," I was told, "the more expensive ones aren't included in the deal, but hang on, we've discounted a couple of titles this week." Well, one wasn't, it was still $19.95, so I told them politely that they could keep that one. The other was down from $16.95 to $9.95 and so was the $12.95 one I had originally wanted for Brian. Yahoo!

Bargains can be had anywhere. Never take for granted that the price stated is the price that has to be paid. The ONLY time that this is so is in the New Testament. Eveything else is negotiable. Highly.

My Home

I cannot tell you what I really want-

those castles in the air,

so prettily they hang there

beyond any millionaire.

I had such grand visions,

designs beyond mortal ken,

long ago, now, and far away

I was so different then.

Now you ask me what I want

where would I be content

with you, my love, is all I beg

you'll hear no plaintive lament

I feel the wrinkles on my face

I see the grey in your hair

but I tell you true, my own sweet love

'tis better than castles in the air.

Dominus tecum.

Leonie