Robyn visited us this weekend. Travelling without her children (Josh playing tennis tournaments and Sheridan on a school excursion in Italy) she arrived shortly after I got home from work Friday. I was tired as usual but pleased to see my friend and eager to catch up. Robyn's life direction seems so apart from my own that I had worried seeing her this time would be difficult. It wasnt at all. Talking to someone on MSN or occasionally getting distraught text messages or phone calls is not the same as in person. In person... she is still beautiful, compassionate, caring , funny and someone I enjoy being with.

So naturally enough we went fishing on Saturday.

That is her foot and line.... behind MOTH has caught something odd that fights well... are you guessing?

Only a baby but with the tail and barb and quite annoyed anyways....
You have to click on that photo and zoom.. the tail was quite long but I guess the damn thing wouldnt stay still and the flexibility of the tail so good... it was all curved up. Line was cut and off he swam.

We drove up Calliope River, fished a little, talked a lot and enjoyed the scenery.

Robyn is a fisherwoman who will adhere to the no fuss fishing rule some men like - and will sit over the boat and tinkle when necessary. I wont and require being taken to a public toilet or at very least a sandbank that I can go find a private place. We had been out since 11 and it was close to 4 pm when I decided I wanted to go home. MOTH is completely aware it mostly means I want to go to the loo.

He made a choice to drop me off at the boat ramp - I did consider objecting but felt I was being unfair to take my friend for a "quick" cruise up to see the harbour in the boat. So - without money, phone or shoes I climbed out of the boat and headed for the public toilets while they drove off for their cruise. And the damn sandflies swarmed me. I had nothing to get away from them... no insect repellent, no keys to get into our car, nothing. And they bloody hurt. So I decided to start walking... wrote a note in my lipstick that MOTH and Robyn could barely read... it meant to read "silly standing in sandflies.. walking".

My feet are ridiculously tender from working in sandshoes every day. I was bad tempered but still... in an understanding mood... the sandflies cannot possibly be MOTH's fault. The forty five minute stranded alone on a god damn boat ramp and walking along a highway in bare feet however.... somewhat made me worse tempered. I actually know in his head he was doing the right thing looking after the happiness of my friend. He has NO idea how I felt or how scared and vulnerable and miserable I felt. And little things like this have happened forever during our 12+ year relationship.

You would think I would of learnt by now how to not let myself be so vulnerable.

At home best attempts to restore temper... and .... well I am still scratching.

Robyn left for a family function this morning at about 7.30 am and to continue her journey that I am sure will be lots of fun.

We have been babysitting our friends Hope & Christian's dog Joe for the past fortnight and they came to reclaim him this morning too. So - I made kebabs with steak, mushroom, capsicum, onion, cherry tomatoes and marinade, cooked sausages and eggs and heated baked beans.... and we made it into an occasion.

Christian and Joe in the background. (MOTH's name is also Christian and my oldest daughters beau's name is Chris - just to create extra chaos..)
It was a pleasant brunch. Holiday snaps and tales shared. The white dog is of course our Dotti.

And the food and wine flowed just as I like it too.

Both my friends have wise and helpful advise on what to do with my troubles with my daughter and somewhat inharmonious? home. I choose to thank them both and dismiss the suggestions anyway.