Well I waited - AGAIN - all day today for Jemena to arrive between 8-6PM to read the gas meter. The original date was last Friday, 10 April - a no show then. Called Energy Australia & Jemena - where are you?! My appt was changed to Monday 13 April but no thought to call the customer - me. Not sure if my U.S. followers can follow this since it’s confusing and frustrating beyond belief.

Back to today, Monday, I learned the retailer did not arrange for the appt with them. They simply suggested I just take a pic of the meter and email it to them. If only they suggested that in the first place. lol Screwy system indeed.

Well off to the shops and a walk around the neighborhood.

Aldi’s North Sydney, Note that fresh eggs are stored at room temp here as opposed to refrigerated in the U.S.

Just next to our busy street and sidewalk is a brick wall that borders our apartment building. This is where we pick up our daily mail. Next to it is this ever-growing pile of dead palm leaves. As they die and fall off the trees, they are much heavier than you would think as they crash onto the side walk and front garden. So the clean-up crew neatly places them here until they are overflowing. Before long they seem to take over the property but eventually they do get removed.

Today we walked over to McMahon’s Point and took a walk around the neighborhood, then had lunch at Olivo’s on Blues Point Rd., just one of many sidewalk cafes around Sydney that serve delicious food.

http://www.olivoonblue.com.au/

From there, we came upon a flyer posted on the community bulletin board for a pet-sitting opportunity. Might be worth looking into. On the way back home we saw a Moving Sale sign, lots of those around here with so many people moving in and moving out. Bargains to be had all the time. Vida was selling a chest of drawers and two bedside cabinets - $150, delivery included, in excellent condition. Picked up a whole bunch of free stuff too!

Aussie Word of the Day:  Bicky(ies) = money or a cookie(s)

Yesterday was Mother’s Day in the U.S. - a sad day usually but a bit more difficult as Jim was traveling. Just one of those days when I will feel a little sorry for myself, spending the holidays alone, missing my parents and siblings. That kind of pain never really goes away.

Took a nice walk through Clark Park and Wendy’s Secret Garden and through into McMahon’s Point then north up to North Sydney CBD. Gotta love the hills here. If you have never been, you can’t imagine how challenging it is to get around. We both love it though. It’s a free workout walking up to the grocery store and back! 

A good amount of exercise definitely quiets the mind. Looking forward to the week ahead.