It was another busy week for me. After spreading mulch around my unit and mum’s place I returned on Monday to collect another bag full to finish off a spot I had missed. Unfortunately it was all gone as our unit secretary had advertised free mulch online. It was all taken. I was glad someone could put it to good use but sorry I hadn’t taken one more bag full to finish off under mums mulberry tree. I made a booking for 2 hours of horse riding at 8am Tuesday morning with a horse loving friend of mine then rang for an appointment with the hairdressing college to have a student give me a free haircut. Unfortunately the only time left before they closed for the year was at 1pm….. Hmmmm ….this would be a tight schedule as one was at Wanneroo about an hour’s drive north of here and the other in the CBD which, if I leave from home, is about an hour on public transport.
Tuesday arrived, I drove to Lou’s place then on to Ron’s Riding Ranch. We mounted our steeds and headed for the bush. It was a lovely time of the day to ride as it was not to hot although we did encounter the cobwebs across the tracks as we were the first riders of the day. I was riding Reginald and Lou was on Will. Reg was a lead horse which basically means he doesn’t like to be behind which is where I think he should have been as he was shying at every shadow! This was ok when we were walking but then when we broke into a trot and then a canter and having not ridden for over seven years I didn’t have the strength in my legs to hold myself in place. So when he veered right, to avoid some imaginary boogie man, at top speed I kept going straight over his head. Poor Louise, who was traveling at the same speed behind me, tried to pull up fast and went headfirst into my saddle. She fortunately only ended up with a fat lip and didn’t break any teeth! I came off a little worse for wear, as I landed first on my shoulder and then on my bum and somehow ended up on my coccyx bone. My neck was a bit saw too. My biggest concern had been that my feet would not come out of the stirrups. Thank God I had worn my old riding boots! After the fall I kept a tighter rein on Reginald! I am pleased to report that by Friday I was able to start jogging again although it was still quite painful to sit.
After about an hour’s ride it seemed we were approaching the stables so we decided to turn around and go a little longer. Have you ever tried to turn a riding school horse around when it’s on the homeward stretch! I had a bit of a fight on my hands especially as I wanted to stop to take some photos of the beautiful little purple feathered native orchid that was growing long the trail.
As I was leading the way I decided to take another track along what looked like the property’s fire break. This was ok till I thought I’d try a smaller track into the bush. I figured we had at least half an hour to explore before we needed to turn around. Lou wasn’t very impressed and kept suggesting we turn around as the track was getting narrower and looked like it hadn’t been used for some time, the bushes were getting thicker and were overhanging the trail. Those who horse ride know what that means, we were constantly trying to avoid being knocked off by branches as we passed under them. I finally relented even though I was sure the stables were just over the next little rise!
It took us over half an hour to get back as we were further away than expected and maybe we were a bit off track on our exploration but hey we had fun…. or should I say I did, I’m not sure if Lou really appreciated the adventure. I must admit I was rather glad to get back and dismount as my coccyx needed a break. If I go again I will definitely ask NOT to have Reggie! He was too much hard work which spoilt the ride.
Back at Lou’s place we had a quick morning tea and chat before I heading home. Mum dropped me at the train station and from there I headed into town on a 2 hour return ticket. I wanted to go a bit earlier so that I could do a few things before my hair appointment and to make sure I arrived in plenty of time, being the last for the year I didn’t want to miss out. Little did I know it would take nearly 4hrs! Wow that is a lot of pampering.
When I arrived at the college there was a bit of a wait before all the volunteers were ushered into the salon and given a student depending on what they wanted done. The student I was assigned needed to do something called ‘relaxing the hair’ which I didn’t realise used chemicals. Der! it is a hair salon silly! As some of you know I don’t even use shampoo but I agreed to the treatment as I wanted to help the student with her assessment. First she washed my hair then she applied the ‘relaxing agent’, after washing this out she cut and styled my hair. I felt very pampered. Fortunately the cut I asked for meant most of the ‘relaxing’ chemicals were cut out. My student used the ‘graduate’ and ‘uniform’ cutting techniques but she also learnt several new techniques due to the style I wanted. For example she learnt how to use scissors instead of clippers on the back of my neck. I feel the cut is a little bit too short on top but the good thing is it will soon grow out and I can come back for another cut in the new year when the college reopens. $15 wasn’t a bad price to pay to get a very professional cut.
Since my return home I have been trying to catch up with my old Perth mates. The homies. I visited Corinne whom I knew from a church I attended in Armadale she had just had a knee operation. I hadn’t seen her or her David for around 19 years! As you can imagine we had a lot to catch up on which included meeting her lovely teenage daughter. Meeting my friend’s children really does make me realise how old I am. Without children of my own I feel ageless….. which of course I am in Christ J
I also caught up with Sue, who studied mothercraft nursing with me in 1972-1973. She later joined me in England where we became travel companions exploring the UK, Europe and South Africa. The last time I saw her was in 2007. Ps Bob De Graw who had encouraged my first mission trip after Bible College. We went to Malaysia where I stayed on for six months involved in itinerate preaching as well as church planting in 1986. Robin and Peter who knew me from my hippy days in late 70’s and were instrumental in my coming to Christ on the 13th of February 1983. I had dinner at Chris and Rowina’s. I had known Rowie since she came to Perth from NSW to attend the Bible College I had just finished at. Rowie stayed at my mother’s home for 3 yrs from early 1985 while I was overseas.
On Sunday I visited the church where some of my friends were attending from the church I had attended in Armadale (in WA for those in NSW also with an Armidale- please note the difference in spelling). It was lovely to catch up with familiar faces. The visiting preacher I has seen in Sydney had recently moved back to WA and was living in Trigg! After church I was invited to lunch with my old mission’s pastor and his wife. As I talked about my plans to pave an area at my unit he have me a heap of very valuable advice, suggestions and loaded my car up with tools for the trade. Wow I felt really empowered. Now all I needed was someone to help me shift the sand!
From here I visited another couple and their family also from the Armadale church who had visited me in Sydney many years back. I stayed on for dinner, discussing our future plans and catching up on past years, before setting off to pick up my sister, Jen, from the airport. She was flying in from Melbourne having just come back from a 6 week holiday in the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon jungle. Jen stayed 3 days with us before returning to Broome where she works. While she was here I asked her to have a look at the work I had done and was about to do at the unit. I’m glad I did as she gave me some helpful suggestions which will reduce the amount of paving work to do.
Mum, Jen and I drove to Mandurah, an hour south of Perth where we had a lovely lunch together before attended an old friend’s funeral. We had known the Roux family since Christmas Island days. I had stayed with the Roux’s while they were holidaying in Portugal. This was when Sue and I were traveling around Europe.
Oh yes, the next job has arrived. The pavers have been delivered to the unit so it looks like that will be what fills up my next blog activities.
I also want to say thank you to my friends who have helped me proof read my blogs before they go up, Vi-Lay, Amanda, Lou and my sister Jen …. THANKS