Yesterday I posted a photo of our male white peacock’s budding relationship with one of our two white female peahens. Here are three more pictures of the same scene. Aren’t they beautiful?
Ages ago, the other white peahen formed a relationship with one of the colorful peacocks. What amazes me about the peafowl is the delicacy with which they approach each other – so different from the loud and very public ‘frolicking’ of the geese, ducks and, now that I have allowed the roosters to meet the hens, those guys too!
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I am stuck at home today because Centrelink (Australian social security organization) have booked me for a telephone appointment in order to put me on something called ‘Newstart’ (not this isn’t a drug!) while I look for a job now that I have had to resign from the university. They were supposed to have rung nearly and hour ago so I am beginning to get annoyed. Ming also has a phone appointment at 2pm to discuss what benefits he may be entitled to. I have been in and out of Centrelink since late last year when it became obvious that Anthony would have to be temporarily ‘placed’ in care on a trial basis so that I could go to Perth to be with Ming during his spinal surgery. Since then I have been somewhat remiss in providing information this organization has asked for so have done so in a haphazard way in between having several nervous breakdowny episodes, you know, getting down in the dumps!
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Yesterday I had the best visit to Anthony’s nursing lodge ever. Instead of sitting in his room to sort out the Golden Valley photos, we sat in the dining room with the big box of photos and, surrounded by nurses and carers going to and fro, we managed to find several more photos of Golden Valley from Anthony’s childhood time there, including of trees he himself planted.
During our treasure hunting I found a couple of photos of Ants as a young man and showed some of the staff and there was a lot of laughing and banter because he was posing rather arrogantly in just short shorts with his muscles flexing and looked a hell of a lot like Ming does now. The couple of hours I was there broke the ice as I have, so far, been quite nervous of the staff and almost sychophantically grateful. I am rather loud and laughy and Ants and I are in an unusual category in the sense that most of the people in his ward are either alone or have spouses who are also quite old.
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I am so proud of Ming. He has taken over in a way and is just like Ants. Ming has arranged for the termite people to do their thing (long overdue); cleaned out the garage of all the junk that Ants, being a hoarder, wouldn’t do and, in collaboration, we have had the nearly 30-year-old BMW serviced and ready to drive and now fixed up the nearly dead ute. We are getting some long overdue stuff done and it is such a great feeling! It makes me want to kiss the breeze.
jmgoyder 
You are a past master (whatever does that mean?) of the punch line and almost every post leaves me smiling at the last line. Today’s in no exception. M.L.
I am going to have to google ‘past master’ now!
See? Life isn’t all doom and gloom. There are good things too. Great that Ming is stepping up to the plate. Love those peahens!
You are so right!
I hate it when someone is late.. and I’ve always been early rather than late… glad things are getting sorted and you’re feeling better around the staff… must be a lot of fun going over the old photos.. be nice if you could identify one of the trees that Ant planted years ago as to how it is now… Hugs to you, and keep the chin up, things will improve…
Thanks BD! I am now making it my goal to befriend each and every member of the staff so that I know everyone’s names etc.
Regarding the GVally trees, yes, Ants has already recognized on he planted. This is working much better than reading him my blog which he finds boring and difficult!
Sounds just wonderful, Julie.
So glad to hear you & Ming are ‘back on track’ sharing the load.
You have my sympathy over your Centrelink experience. Despite my cognitive disfuntion, short term memory probs & other health stuff, they nearly drove me insane when I had to quit working and apply for a Disability Pension. I kept having to fill out extra forms of information on which I had watched the Assessor type onto the computer in my initial interview & assessment.
I’m still not sure whether they’ve ‘GOT’ all my info correct and it’s 2 1/2 years since that initial interview.
Good luck with your interview.
PS If you don’t already do so, ensure you keep a copy of ALL correspondence, names & times of phoning, what was said and who you said it to. Centrelink must be one of the most useless forms of red tape in this country (except when they awarded me a pension and at least they got that right).
I’m a good record keeper pay attention to detail. At least my cognitive function is still working in that area of my brain, even if I can’t add 2 + 2 = 5? (is it?).
Thank you so much for this info. Victoria. Yes, I am asking all Centrelink phone people their names so that I, too, can keep a record. Oh and 2 + 2 = 4 – hahahaha!
We could all learn a thing or two from the peacock approach 😉 Ming is growing into the most splendid person. You both must be feeling a great sense of shared achievement.
Thanks so much, Annie – yes things are beginning to look up after all that doldrum stuff!
I think you have to do this from your end – many many thanks!
Thank you so much, Rosemary!
Top post. A useful son is a rare thing to be treasured.
Yes and he is getting more and more useful – I am amazed!
They are so beautiful! Love it.
i wouldn’t mind these governement offices and programs if they didn’t have to know every single detail about you. next they will be asking me how many sheets of toilet paper do u use to wipe……
That TP question will probably be next ha!
i better start stock piling then, so they don’t leave me short handed!!!haha
You are hilarious!
I’m a control freak so when other people don’t move on my agenda, i go a tad nuts…I feel for ya!
Yes – glad you understand!
It sounds as though things are picking up and moving forward–a good feeling. Your Ming is a wonder. And good luck with the phone business.
Ming is also rather bossy and a bit of a bully so I am teaching him to be more gentle when he commands me to do things. I am teaching him by smacking him on his big head!
I hate all the stuff needed for official stuff-wish I could live in a world without bookwork and phone appointments etc.
Almost spring there, almost fall here —
As usual, love this glimpse into your life
Yes all those documents – I loathe paperwork!
Great that you and Anthony went over the photos together and id’d more of the trees and Ming has obviously come a long way from surgery because he is just digging in. You had a pic of him recently pre-surgery and it was a shock to see how curved it was-what a recovery he has made!Lovely photos of the interactions between the peafowl.
Thanks Jane. Yes Ming is now becoming the man of the house. The only trouble is that he is extremely bossy!
the photo box really does hold magic! sounds like a grand day. wonderful. and imagining the unruly one kissing the breeze just makes my day! love it. xoxo
Thanks Uncorrigible!
Stunning birds and they seams to get along very good … maybe chicks ????? Loud is good – and laughing is even better. I think it can be refreshing for not least the staff to hear laughter and high voice. When I on hospital after my operation – I shared room with an 83 year old Norwegian lady – we had so much fun, so the staff came in and looked us … because they never had so much laughter and noise on the ward before. Cancer is a serious thing .. yes, it’s but laughter is the best medicine for serious matters.
I hope you told Ming how proud you are over him and that he did a good job – isn’t great when youth think for themselves in the right direction, Great and joyful post. Wonderful.
I love your generous comment Viveka – thank you so much!
My pleasure … always.
I love the way peahens court! That is very sweet!
They are so gentle with each other. I have never even seen them do what the poultry do (you know)
I hope and wish everything to be well for you dear Julie. I can’t believe how passes time… For us will be autumn soon here and spring in there… Thank you, have a nice weekend, love, nia
I think autumn and spring are my favourite seasons.
The photo box – my favorite part!! So wonderful that you could enjoy this together and include the staff at the lodge Julie… I’m sure the posing was hilarious… where are the shots??!! Expect some blog posts on this shortly! So happy also Ming is really stepping up to the plate ~ we could use him over here … 🙂 You keep kissing the breeze Julie – I love to hear that from you xxoo Much Love
Yeah and the best thing is that today, when I had planned to go into nursing lodge, but Ming just told me he is ‘hosting’ a party this arvo, I rang Ants and he was fine about me not seeing him until tomorrow (I am getting him wheelchair taxied out again). I will scan photos of the spunky young Ants soon – hehe!
Can’t wait to see! Great about the wheel chair/taxi plan too!! Sounds like you’ve got things flowing … go Julie!!xo
Robyn I am continually gobsmacked by your incredible empathy and the way you so generously reach out to others like me with your comments and, of course, your amazing blog, when you yourself are dealing with so much physical pain. I bow to you my beautiful friend, sister!
Such pristine, white beauty!
Reading this makes reminds me how everything falls into place, one way or the other.
I hope so!
Just been catching up on all of the posts I missed while I was away. Sorry to be so clichéd, but what a roller-coaster you are on. I hold you all in my prayers.
You are so fantastic Tilly – thank you!
Okay, maybe you can keep your Mom…I’ll take that wonderful son of yours!! And, what is an ute?
I think you guys call them trucks (a ute is a little truck!)