The last 3 weekends have seen Tress and I more on less on groundhog day modes, with small modifications of course.

On Friday, we did a home barbie to welcome the weekend. We were both spent, and staying home was just what felt best. It’s also easier on the hip pocket. Everything costs more now, particularly eating out, and often, I don’t get the feeling that we’re getting anything special or that is really different. The biggest thing is the serving size – eating in on home cooked meals just work better in this regard. Being tired at the end of the week also had something to do with it, but I have to say the St Alf’s home group meeting on Thursday, though it took a bit out of me as I was leading the discussion, did make me feel a touch rejuvenated. Physically however, I felt every ounce of juice drained out of my reservoir and I had wanted to just sleep on Saturday.

On Saturday, we did sleep in but I didn’t feel well rested. We took the little fellow for a leisurely walk, then came home and changed into something more presentable for a quick brunch in an Asian cafe in Knox. They have some lovely Malaysian food there and we both just felt like having some. We drove there late morning and no sooner had we ordered and sat down when we saw Kok Eng and Li Lin walk in. They live close to that cafe so they’ve been coming regularly whereas it was only our second time. We chatted for a bit to catch up.

When we got home close to noon, the house further down our street that has been on the market, was to be auctioned off and the crowd had built up. We mossied there after a little while, and stood around as the auctioneers did their thing. It got sold for a bit over the listed price but that was expected. In spite of what real estate agents claim, under quoting is still rampant and it was never going to sell for the $1.3-$1.4m range that it quoted for. It got sold for $1.471m.

Later that arvo, we went and did some grocery shopping at the Glen, but we also went to David Jones there and a few other shops, to look for a birthday gift for Abby. Later that night, my mum rang and we chatted for a bit, and she also asked that we gave Abby an angpow on her behalf. It would be a biggie…

On Sunday at St Alf’s someone asked me to stand in for communion duty – the person I replaced is an elderly man and he was a touch indisposed so I acted on his behalf. It was also a bit cooler, and for the first time since summer began, I was in my jeans and shirt sleeves with a jacket – just as well as I felt a touch more presentable while on duty 🙂

Back home in the arvo after lunch at our usual joint in Donvale, I did the usual cook while Tress again went to Peter James to visit an ex-colleague. Later that evening, we took the little fellow to the oval again for his third walk and soiree for the day. I had felt far less tired by then – the weekend has finally injected some juice back into me battery but of course, it is the end of the weekend again. Later that evening, we exchanged messages with Kiddo on WhatsApp. Bryan, Tress’ nephew will be married in August (in Malaysia). There’s also a Teh reunion thingo in December (also in Malaysia). We also have two other weddings here in Melbourne – one each in June and July, so there’ll be a bit of calendar juggling going on, although we’d almost certainly not be at the December event. With us trekking up north in a couple of weeks and Tress then heading for Malaysia a few weeks after that, those other events as the year ploughs on, would all add up to a year of travels that will feel like I’d have travelled more than I would have liked to. Who knows however, it’s always interesting – exciting even – to anticipate what’s around the bend. For the moment, I’m just happy to look forward to next week when we see little Abby again for her first birthday.