Artichokes

Are we growing globe artichokes as well as Jerusalem artichokes? This appeared in the back garden:

And here is a picture of a poppy that decided to grow in one of the raised garden beds:

And in the financial news, we have not been paid as it's not payday, and the markets are down. Back to where they were six weeks ago.

Scanner

Well, I've got the USB stick on the scanner back - sort of.

It seems there's a network discovery issue with Windows 10, which I'm a bit surprised about as that's something I'd think businesses would use a fair bit. After poking around for a while it seems that although I can see the printer and can access it, it's not being found automatically by Windows 10. The same goes for the WD MyCloud backup box. I can map drive letters to them, create shortcuts to them, all that stuff. Windows 10 won't automatically discover them though. The only thing it will automatically discover is your laptop - when it's turned on.

To get around this lack of automatic discovery I used Explorer and "Add a network location" to add the USB drive to my list of network locations and mapped drives.

Not a complete fix, but at least I can now access the USB stick on the scanner.

What's even better is that the networkj location persists across a re-boot.

Corel

I decided to have a play with something in Corel Photopaint today and under Windows 10 the menu bar in Corel is white on white. Not very useful! After scrabbling around on the web I found that there's a Corel update (update 4 for X6) that is supposed to fix it. I gave it a try and it did.

I also discovered there's a Corel hotfix for update 4 so I downloaded it, and it doesn't seem to make things worse.

Easterly hurricane

The easterly hurricanes have started for the season - and not always on hot days.

And 2kg of red peppers doesn't make much red pepper paste - about enough for two soups.

All systems - cook!

Red soup - the vegetarian kind!

Red pepper paste!

I spent the morning at the local archery as last week's rain seems to have ended. I made the red soup before going and now that I'm back I'm making the red pepper paste.

Christmas already!

I have bought the first fruit mince pies of the season.

WIndows 10

Today's exercise in technology was the installation of Windows 10 on my laptop - just as well I upgraded our download limit as to get it sorted out I had to download a heap of stuff, and not just Windows 10.

It all seems to be working OK, though I haven't tested everything yet. There are some minor problems that I haven't looked into fixing so far:

• I've lost access to the USB drive in the scanner. In fact I can't see the printer in my network drives at all. I can still print stuff, just can't get stuff from the scanner.
• Partially fixed - see the Scanner entry on 18/11/15.
• There's some strange interaction between USB drives and my wireless mouse. The mouse doesn't work when I insert a USB drive, but it starts working again as soon as I remove the USB drive.
• 14/11/15 - fixed, well not really. Nothing to do with Windows 10. It seems there is a known problem with the Logitec cordless mouse and USB 3.0 devices interfering with each other. This was the first time I noticed it as I normally don't use the mouse and most of my USB drives are USB 2.0. This was the first time I'd plugged a USB 3.0 drive into the USB port next to the mouse receiver while using the mouse. The mouse works if I plug a USB 2.0 drive in next to the receiver and if I plug a USB 3.0 drive into a port on the opposite side of the system to the receiver.
• There are occasional things left on the screen when I start doing things much too quickly. I think this is because I'm not using the right video driver. I had a lot of trouble sorting out which drivers and versions I should be using.

Apart from that it's all OK. I'm not sure I like the look of Windows 10. It all feels a bit like it's still a work in progress.

Modem

I had another go at getting the new modem to work and was mostly successful. This time I got stable DSL sync, but with no improvement in line speed. I also got most of the devices connected. Something curious was that they all connected as 802.11n rather than 802.11ac. It's not important, though, as we can't drive 802.11n at it's full rate anyway.

The one thing that didn't work was the printer. I couldn't get it on-line while using the new modem. I suspect there's some incompatibility between the security schemes being used by the printer and the modem. I've gone back to the old modem and will leave this for another day.

The numbers are down

We have been paid and the numbers have been recorded  They are down to where they were a mohtn ago.

It looks like it will another wet day today, so I'll be staying inside and doing the archery newsletter.

Update day

Your computer updated properly. The treasurer's computer updated properly. Mine didn't. A video driver scrambled itself and it took me most of the day to get it back to where it should be. Along the way something else got mangled too, but it's not important and can wait until later.

Fortunately I wasn't planning on doing much useful today as it has been raining gently most of the day.

Job of the day

All stitched together and pegged down. The peach tree took a bit of a pruning in the process but it still needs more.

28 degrees

I have scheduled payment of your 28 Degrees card as per the latest invoice. According to them you haven't used it since you left the USA.

Apart from that there's nothing to report. All very boring.

Wet, wet, wet!

We had 40mm of rain in about an hour last night. As a result there was minor internal flooding in my bedroom, but nothing like there has been in the past.

I have forwarded a message to your dpr2903 account about changes to your G Adventures tour itinerary. I don't think the changes are significant, but you can make up your own mind.

After I spoke to you I received a phone call from Internode, and it seems that the Telstra people fixed a wiring problem at the exchange rather than coming here as I thought they would. As a result there has been some minor improvement in our DSL synch speed, but not much observable difference in our download speed. I think an improvement by a factor of four is all we'll see.

The numbers

We have not been paid as it's not payday and the numbers have been recorded. They are down slightly on last week, but still higher than the week before.

I may be out of communication for a while today while Telstra does some tests on the phone line.

Thanks for the post on ikat. It's made me realise why some fabrics tun out looking the way they do.

Nancy Crow (2)

I have paid the second installment for the Nancy Crow course of NZD500 from the S1.1, which I refilled with AUD500 from my S10.

Off to Melbourne soon. I hope you had a good time in the Amazon. I'll talk to you when I get back - assuming you've got Wifi.

Flowers

Haven't had any flowers for a while, so here's a different kind of iris:

and some wahlenbergias:

Cherries

Well, I don't think youll get much of a cherry crop this year. Today I had a go at setting up the netting - well, several goes actually - and failed. In the process the cherry tree took a bit of a beating. I've decided that trying to roll up the netting at the end of the season doesn't work well.

When I get back from Melbourne I might have a try at building a new net as we've got plenty of netting and I can re-use the ropes at least. Might be a bit after that though as it's supposed to rain much of next week.

Internet

I had the cabler call around today to fit a central splitter to the phone line so the alarm system is now separate from the rest of the phone/ADSL circuits. He was going to run a cable from the central splitter to the modem and phone so they would also be separated but he couldn't do that as he couldn't drag the cable through.

As a result of what he has done we're now getting a line speed of around 5Mb/sec which is about four times what we were getting before this whole saga began. And Telstra haven't done their stuff about looking at the line between our place and the exchange. We might get some more speed yet!

The cabler recommended that we still go ahead with running a new cable from the splitter to the modem and phone, but that would probably mean relocating where they both are. I thought it best to delay this until you get home so we can discuss if we really want to do it and, if so, where the best place for them might be.

Financial news

We have been paid! And the numbers are up! The numbers have also been recorded.

I haven't paid the Nancy Crow stuff yet. I plan on doing it on Friday morning (local time) before going to Melbourne unless I hear otherwise from you.

Nancy Crow

I forwarded two emails to your dpr2903 account about the next payment for the Nancy Crow workshops, which is due 01 November (Sunday) and is $500. Do you want me to pay it or are you going to?

If I don't hear from you before I go to Melbourne I'll pay it anyway.

Telephone line

The technician sent out by Internode came today and checked the telephone line, which involved taking the line out of service for a while. He said that the line was not as good as it should be, so the next step is for Internode to contact Telstra to fix the line. Who knows how long that will take or what our line speed will be when it's done.

On a related point, I'm thinking of having him fit a central splitter to the phone line so there won't be any contention between the alarm system, the modem, and the ordinary phone.

Last of the new irises

Here is what is probably the last of the new types of iris - at least there is nothing that looks like it will become a new iris:

I made some wedding soup yesterday, but I weakened and bought some sucuk to go in it. It's not as thick as the last one, but it's pretty close. I think that if we want a thinner soup we will have to move to the big pot. I am eating the soup with the smoked paprika that I bought. It seems to be a good combination.

Modem

I had a long session with Internode today trying to figure out what was wrong with the new modem. In the end they decided that the modem was no good and they are going to replace it. While testing things they also thought that we might have a line fault between here and the Kambah exchange and so their cabling people are going to come around to try to sort the line out.

During the process they also tried a few things to get the modem going and, as a result, we've now got more bandwidth using the old modem. It's gone from 1.7Mb/second to 3.2Mb/second. If there is a line fault and it gets fixed we might get up to 9Mb/second. I'm not holding my breath though.

Wet, wet, wet

Yes, it did rain and is still doing so. 12.3mm overnight and some more since then. It might stop this afternoon.

The numbers have been recorded and are up on last week. Here's a picture of a different kind:

Two new irises

They were hiding under the Apricot and the Kentish Cherry, but I found them!

Nothing much

Good to hear that you arrived in Quito safely and that you're enjoying things so far. We can't seem to make a connection at the moment - either I'm away from the tablet or you're outside wifi range.

I spent most of Sunday at the archery range helping to set up and tear down ranges. It all went pretty well. I think I was at home when you tried to call, but must have been outside.

This morning (Monday) I am making soup as I didn't have time yesterday. I missed your call this morning as I was downstairs.. I tried to call you back but couldn't get a connection. Later on I will have another go at getting the new modem to work so the internet connection might not be working for a while.

A new iris!

The first new type of iris for a while:

Similar to one of those on Monday, but with darker petals.

On the technology front, the new modem isn't working well. The wifi seems to be good but I haven't yet been able to get stable synch to DSL and hence no internet connection. I'll give it another try sometime, but if it still doesn't work I'll get in touch with the support people and figure out where se go from here.

Still no new types of iris

So you'll have to settle for a picture of the acer palmatum dissectum instead:

 Although there are no new types of iris, these ones are cropping up everywhere:

 

In other news, we have been paid and the numbers are up slightly.

Tomatoes

I am being picked on by tomatoes. Every time I eat something that contains tomatoes, tomato sauce or tomato paste some of it ends up on my white t-shirt!

I doesn't look like there will be any new types of irises today. I can see that some are on the way, but it looks like they still need a few more days.

Communications

Well, I've had a big day re-organising our communications. I've ordered a new ADSL2+/wifi router, changed our internet plan from 30GB per month to 100GB per month, changed our phone line provider from Telstra to Internode, and our long distance provider from iinet to Internode. All this should save us about $50 per month and will be paid for from the S10.1. I've also added you as an administrator or our Internode account.

In another break from tradition, yesterday I had sushi for my lunch. I figured that with you being away Canberra's sushi providers would be going broke, so I thought I'd support them.

No new irises

There are no new irises today. Well, there are new irises but no new types of irises. The tulips are just about done for the season. There are a couple that still have flowers, but they are just about to fall apart.

I think you were right about the victoria plum. It hasn't had any more blossoms son I think it will be a poor crop this year. I fact, I think tat some of the branches are dead. We can discuss this when you get back and before I do any pruning.

It's time for you to visit your parents again - we've run out of used plastic bags.

I've resent Charlotte's email - this time to the right place.

While I was away

The irises have been busy. I think this one was first as it was the furthest developed when I left:

Another one:

And another one:

And another one:

That's all for the moment.

My weekend

While you have been touring around seeing all the sights, this is what I have been doing:

Irises

The white iris has finally come out, and we might soon have some other kinds.

The Dutch Irises are in flower too.

Chainsaws

I am being persecuted by chainsaws while trying to slack off. Yesterday it was Andrew trimming the hedge along the fence.

And now for the financial news. We have not been paid as it is not pay-day. The numbers have been recorded and the markets are up - about $20K in your case. Holiday Concepts/RCI have both been paid, as has your 28 degrees mastercard. I decided to pay now and to over-pay as you are going through money quickly and I don't want you to run out.

Email and other stuff

You have at least three new emails in your dpr2903 account. One is from your mother and two are ones I forwarded from your main account - one is an Airbnb request for a review of the place you stayed, the other is about your 28degrees account.

I'm happy to pay your 28degrees account, but I've forgotten your log-on id and password. I'll have a look at your computer tomorrow to see if they are there, otherwise you can tell me what they are or you can pay the account yourself. I don't want to try too many things as they only give you three attempts to get it right or they lock your account, and I've already had one try. I didn't keep

In other news, the elevated cubby house that was next door is gone. I don't know when it went - probably over the weekend - but it's gone.

FotD

I think the tulips have finished for the year, and the irises still aren't out - maybe tomorrow as they are looking like they're about to open. You'll have to settle for a Kentish Cherry, which looks like it might have a good crop.

Yesterday it was 32.2°, which was the hottest October day ever in Tuggeranong. The forecast for today is 31° and then it drops to more reasonable temperatures, which a chance of showers. Melbourne, Bendigo and pretty much all of the south-east have been unseasonably hot.

Bogong moth

The first Bogong Moth of the season. I was shaking out a cloth in the tool room, and there it was.

Flowers of the day

The last new flowers before I go to Melbourne are a tulip and some freesias. The irises still aren't out.

Tulip

Freesias

Technology

I've updated your laptop with all the Windows 8.1 updates and also updated Firefox, Thunderbird, Chrome and a few other bits and pieces. I've also malware checked it and am in the process of virus checking it. WHen that's done I'll take a full backup.

I've also taken a full backup of the old PC and have updated it to Windows 10. The update went very well, with all user accounts, data, settings and software seeming to have come across without me having to do much at all. I still need to fiddle with the new Windows 10 settings though. Still a long way to go before I'll try the update on one of the systems we use.

Australia Post Philatelic

Well, Australia Post Philatelic has done it again. I got a letter from them saying your accouunt had a balance of $0.00 and you had an order for $23.20. I rang them up and it seems they placed the order against an old credit card, so they said I should ignore the letter.

Australia Post Philatelic really needs to get its act together.

Flowers for today

Today's new flowers are two tulips:

Purple

Yellow

We have been paid and other stuff

We have been paid as it's pay-day. The numbers have been recorded. The market is down, but your cash has gone up due to a pile of dividends being paid. As a result, your total has gone up slightly.

What I wanted to know about Holiday Concepts & RCI was whether or not you wanted me to pay them both. I'm confident that you have to pay them separately, for a total of $799. Let me know if you want to pay them both and, if so, I will sort it out..

WIstaria

Have you ever noticed that when the Pin Oak is in blossom it looks like a wistaria with small green flowers?

Pin Oak

Wistaria

And the rotten possums are back!

Stuff

Yes, lucky me. And again today as I finished off the sucuk this morning. The soup has thickened up - enough that you could spread it on toast.

I've forwarded a couple of emails from AirBnB to your dpr2903 account. I don't think either of them is important, but you never know.

I've renewed "Embroidery for Fun" for three years from the S1.1 and have received a confirmation email from ASIC. I've also paid AAA Tidy bags $50 from the S10.1. I'll leave the prescription until closer to the time of your return.

I've forgotten what you wanted me to call Holiday Concepts about. Now I've read the forms in more detail it seems that the $59 RCI membership is in addition to the $740 Holiday Concepts invoice ($690 annual fee + $50 maintenance refurbishment fee). I can just go ahead and pay the total ($799), or is there something else you wanted me to ask?

Fog

Well, the Bureau of Meteorology was right. As I was driving home there was fog at the corner of Hindmarsh Drive and the Monaro Highway. That was the only place though.

Sucuk and eggs on toast for breakfast.

And I found the USB charger for my tablet. It was hidden behind the curtain and magically appeared when I opened the curtains to let the sun in.

Boronia travel

I spoke to Boronia Travel and they said that the issue was probably that the booking was done as group travel - even though you're not now part of a group. Apparently check-in for group travel can only be done at the airport rather than by any of the modern methods - internet, mobile phone, whatever.

From the follow-on to your original message I assume that it's been sorted out from your end. If not, call me and I'll get back in touch with them.

No pay for us

We have not been paid as it's not pay day, but the numbers are recorded.

I'll contact Boronia Travel later today - when they open.

Lake Eyre

Lake Eyre has got water in it again - at least so says the ABC.

Public nuisance

Only in a desultory fashion. There's not much hope of changing anything because, as I said, it's an ideological thing. Part of the backroom deal with the Greens.

Food

Fancy going all the way to Turkey to eat Chinese food! What kind of pide was the good one?

Meeting

I was just planning on meeting you at Sydney airport where you get out of Customs. WIll probably cost money for parking, but that's OK.

My number is 0.4.5.9.3.6.6.3.2.3 without the dots. I sent you a text message yesterday with the number in it.

Lie trail

Haven't you been following the light rail saga? It's being driven for ideological reasons rather than sensible ones - or even plausibly sensible ones. Let me list some of the stupidities:

1. Its cost is being entirely carried by the ACT as Infrastructure Australia says the cost benefit ratio doesn't warrant support by the Federal Government.

2. There is a high risk of cost overruns because of the way it's being done. For example, the costings rely on the ACT Government identifying all the infrastructure that's already buried under Northbourne Ave.

3. The ACT Government subsidy of the operating cost per year will be the same as that for the entire current ACTION network.

4. The disaster that will be Northbourne Ave during construction, and the subsequent change in the appearance on Northbourne Ave - noting that none of the publicity drawings of the light rail show the overhead wires or their pylons.

All these things have been pointed out to the ACT Government but have had no effect on the decision to build it.

Comments

It doesn't matter to me if your comments are showing up in your gmail account. I was just wondering if it was something you were doing deliberately.

I thought we could do better!

I was right, the minimum this morning was -6.3. A bit less than the forecast of -4. It is currently -3.3 and starting to warm up as the sun has now risen. I haven't turned into an icicle, but my washing has. I decided that today was the day to do my washing, and the stuff that I hung out before sunrise went all stiff.

The toilets don't sound good, but the hotel does. You mentioned some of its features before and a  I looked it up on the web. From what you say and what I read it looks to be pretty good and to be in a central area.

Yes, groups of children can make a lot of noise.

Yes, freeze

Yes, it looks like a definite freeze. The time is 19:47 and the temperature is 0.7 - apparent temperature is -3.1. They are predicting -4 in the morning but I think it might go lower given the current temperature.

Quite a change from Istanbul - I looked at the Istanbul forecast.

Your comments are appearing in your gmail account again.

Freeze

Yes, freeze. They've changed the forecast a bit. It's now 10 (Monday), 12 (severe frost), 12 (frost), 11 (frost), 12, 14, 14. At least it will be warm in Sydney for your arrival - 17.

Very obliging guide at the Yildiz Chalet Palace. Sounds like the Turks need to be a bit more organised with their facilities for tourists, or about advertising what is or isn't there and what is or isn't open.

Email

You have a message from Citibank in your gmail account - nothing to pay.

Saturday

Sounds like a good day. How did you get on battling the political rallies? The news here didn't give any indication of riots or mayhem, so it must have all been pretty civilised.

The museum card sounds like a good idea - standing in queues isn't fun.

Winter starts Monday, and the forecast agrees - 10, 12, 12, 11, 11, 14 and minima all zero or below.

Material

As you said, it's not surprising that you pick out the most expensive stuff - it generally the most intricate and the most interesting. A little odd that they would be making cloth in kimono width, but with the two Japanese in the store they might just be catering to the market.

I wonder what the idea was behind setting up the shops in the hippodrome?

Definitely sounds like staying away from the rallies would be a good idea!

Mosques

I've just figured it out - the mosques are reason you're getting up early.

John's address

The only address I have for John is:

10 Cranbrook Road
Bellevue Hill, NSW, 2023

Culinary walks

Sounds like a good way to put on weight, though I guess you might walk some of it off.

I doubt the postcards would get here before you do, but at least you would have made the effort. Just say what you did that day. Ugur might or might not like one. Not sure what his postal address would be. Maybe:

Turkish Halal Pide House
45 Novar St,
Yarralumla ACT 2600

Postcard

By crikey! I have a postcard! All the way from Turkey! It shows the frescoes on a church in Göreme.

Public transport

You will be an expert on Istanbul's public transport system by the time you leave! It's not really surprising that the public transport system is good if the traffic is as bad as you've described. All those people have to get around somehow.

In your journeys it sounds like you found some areas where Turks shop rather than tourists.

Nothing of note happening here - just boring old Canberra. Gina Rinehart is back in the news - she's lost control of the family trust.

Paid

We have been paid and the numbers recorded.

We got a $7K tax refund. I've stolen it all and put it in my account. I was going to put it in yours, but I could only find my deposit book. I think most of it is yours but we can apportion it later.

Foggy here today, and it might rain later - slight chance. Nothing exciting happening.

Back in February I put $20 on my bus ticket, and I decided to check my balance after using the bus to get to and from Fyshwick while having my car serviced. It seems I was credited with $40 rather than $20. Maybe there's some advantage to being a senior. Maybe it was a 65th birthday present from Action.

Phone number

Your phone number is 5316987129. I hope that is what you asked. Might have a zero in front of it.

Glad you like your new hotel. Maybe your feet have just decided that they have had enough and want a rest. Could also be walking on hard surfaces all day.

Maybe Alan Jones has decided that it's time to come out of the closet and he wants to get married. More likely he's just decided that opposing gay marriage is a loser and he wants to be on the winning side.

I think it would be a good idea to stay close to home on Saturday. People at those rallies can get pretty excited.

Volcano

A volcano in the Galapagos islands is erupting. Doesn't seem to be a big deal unless you are an iguana:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/25/us-ecuador-volcano-idUSKBN0OA17C20150525

Email

You have a message from your mother in your gmail account.

Magic

By magic and my amazing powers of deduction.

Actually, they sent me a letter saying my doctor had moved there along with a pile of others including yours. You'll probably get a letter too. They said that our medical records will go with the doctors as they are still working for Ochre Health, just at a different location.

Doctor

Your doctor (Helen Morrison) has moved next to the Garran Malay! Mine too.

Spices

While I like Turkish Delight, there are other things I prefer - like Haigh's. And I'd assumed we could get herbs and spices from A1 Lebanese Bakery, or Ugur could tell us where to find them.

My car went in for a service today, so I had another adventure on the buses. Nothing outstanding, but my Senior's Card still works.

Is there anything I want?

Not that I can think of. I'm not big on souvenirs.

Email from you mother

You have an email from your mother in your gmail account.

Manti

Thinking about it more, I now think manti are more like sui mai than ravioli.

Longbows

There is no real definition of  a longbow other than that it is long and it is not notably recurved. The materials and method of construction vary. English longbows were made from a single piece of wood with a D shaped cross-section. Native American longbows were made from a single piece of wood with a rectangular cross-section. Japanese longbows are made from laminated bamboo.

Soup

Red soup with sausage. You didn't really need to ask.

Honeycomb for breakfast might seem a little strange, but I guess it is similar to putting honey on toast.

It seems like you can fill manti with a lot of stuff, though beef and lamb seem to be the big winners. The only mention I could find of walnuts was as a sauce for beef manti.

-4.9

And definite frost. Sounds like soup making weather, so that is what I am doing. Later I will fight my way through the ice and snow going to archery - well, through the frost anyway.

Must be a pretty harsh place if the poplars still have no leaves - it's nearly summer! Do you have pictures of the tulips? I wouldn't mind seeing what tulips in the wild look like. The Wednesday Walkers might be interested too. Speaking of whom, they have been postponing a few walks lately. They didn't like the look of the weather, though most of the time I didn't think it was bad enough to not go out.

I've always wondered what manti (Turkish ravioli) were like to eat. How was the soup? From your description it could have ended up tasting like anything, but I assume it was good.

It could be that they are mellowing, but Tintern might well have something to do with it. At least there are some good people on the trip.

Email

You have a message in your gmail account confirming a change to your hotel booking.

More better

These are better. Just had to get the sun in the right position.

Acer palmatum dissectum

Here is a photo of the acer palmatum dissectum, which is really looking good at the moment. The photo doesn't do it justice.

While trying to take this photo I ran out of batteries. Then I ran out of space on the SD card. I moved all the stuff on the SD - looked like photos of Lakes Entrance, but I'm not sure - to a USB stick and cleared out the SD card.

Ani

Looks like it would be an interesting place to visit. Supposedly abandoned in the 16th or 17th Century.

You might have been on television, what with the politicians staying at the same hotel and the tour group becoming part of the procession - even if accidentally.

Yes, I saw that report on the ABC too.

Door

Didn't work like that where I used them, there was usually a light somewhere that wasn't on the interlock - maybe the Turks still need to sort things out a bit.

I hope the weather holds out for you.

Door key

The interlock between the door key or card and the lights has been common for a while - at least in the US and to some extent Australia. If it's 8 degrees you might need heating rather than air conditioning.

You don't need either here today. The temperature isn't too bad, but the wind is blowing strongly. We haven't had much rain, but Wollongong, Sydney and Newcastle have all been getting whopped.

This is the third day in a row on which we haven't had any letters!

More emails

You have an email in your gmail account from the Istanbul hotel (Tashkonak?) saying it should be OK to use their shuttle from the hotel to the airport.

On your other email you got a message from Joris asking how the Koleos is getting on. I put in an interim reply saying you are away and that you were happy with the car. You might add more when you get back.

Iris sari

Yes, very pretty - the marvels of the modern internet.

Numbers

We have not been paid, as we were paid last week. We do have the numbers though.

Email

You have a new email in your gmail account about the Ecuador trip.

Also, when you logged on from the hotel I assume you used Internet Explorer on their computer - at least Google claims that someone did.

Woodbridge

The Woodbridge Fruit Trees catalogue sale opens tomorrow (21st).

Blog comments

How come your comments on this blog are turning up in your gmail email? Is there a configuration setting  to do this? Or maybe it just happened.

Airbags

I can't find anything relating to a recall of the Koleos but I'll keep my eye out. I think the only Nissan part in your car is the motor. The car is actually made by Renault-Samsung in Korea.

Checked the Federal Government Product Safety Recall web site and there's nothing there for the Koleos.

Pension

I didn't pay much attention to the pension changes in the budget - just enough to figure out that it wasn't going to affect us or my family.

I didn't initially see the article about roadkill, but have now looked it up. Interesting that the more central parts of Canberra have such a high number of crashes - you'd think that there would be fewer kangaroos there. Also interesting that Kambah has such a low number, given that it's boundaries are largely snake corridors, where you'd expect a higher number of kangaroos. Maybe the number of drivers in the area has something to do with it too.

Not a bad morning this morning - a bit of sun and a bit of fog and a bit of rain overnight (7.3mm). Not cold either.

Jury duty

You've just got a letter saying you are to report for jury duty on the 15th of June. That gives you a week to recover from jet lag. It's on yellow paper this time, rather than pink, but it's still got the white-out.

Wifi

You must have a working Wifi again. I thought that getting a Turkish phone would be a good idea.

This must to holiday season in Turkey. The rose celebration that you had before, and one today - Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day. That mst be one of the longer names for a public holiday.

The history in the years following World War I was particularly difficult, and didn't show any of those involved in a good light.

We've got our first real fog for the year today, and showers are forecast for later in the day. We've also got - or at least had last night - smoke from a hazard reduction burn in Kowen Forest.

Car registration

The renewal notice for your cart registration has arrived, but it can wait until you get home.

Cold

Another cold morning in Canberra - minimum was -2.3 and there is a frost again. Not as much frost as last time though. Those warm days in Forbes have spoiled me.

Home again, home again...

I'm back from Forbes. I had a good time and shot well on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but not as well in the afternoons. My cold/'flu didn't affect me too badly, though I'd much prefer it if I didn't have it. Very tired at the end of each day - and now. The weather was great - cool mornings and warm and sunny afternoons. I'll be going to bed soon.

Sounds like elections in Turkey are worse than the ones here - and harder to ignore.

Food

Better to have too much than too little. You can always choose not to eat it all.

Gobekli Tepe would have been worth seeing - I ddn't realise you were going there.

Positively tropical this morning - only -0.9.

I'll be off to Forbes in an hour or so.

Email

You have an email from your mother.

Trousers

The trousers might dry quickly but it's no good if they're coming apart already. Too bad about the tops and socks - it's not fun getting into wet clothes.

I think they've over-estimated the rates for waitresses. Still, if the cafes or restaurants could get people cheaper I'm sure they would. If it takes $40 an hour to get people to work at weekends then that's how things are - capitalism at work.

Good crop of King Parrots around the house today.

I thought you might have to do some rough walking.

Canberra Times

By crikey. Getting my local news all the way from Turkey.

Paid

We have been paid and the numbers have been recorded. I'm still not a millionaire.

Busy updating all the computers.

I'll be off to Forbes for archery tomorrow, even though I'm now sure I have a cold or the 'flu and, as you said, I can't blame it on you.

Frost

Definite frost! Minimum so far -3.9 and the sun has just come up so that's probably as low as it will get.

Good that you are getting to see some interesting stuff in the unopened museums.

And children these days claim they have a hard time - nothing like Abraham though.

That'll teach you not to be late for your meals!

Hail

Currently having a hail storm - only small hail though, so unlikely to cause any damage.

Has stopped now.

Bazaar

I've never seen a bazaar, but you're description matches the mental image I had from looking at photos of them.

I didn't know that there were 23 kinds of pistachios. I wonder if they all taste different.

Turkey's building of dams along the Euphrates and other rivers has been a source of friction with Syria and Iraq for some time, but it hasn't been the main cause of any conflict yet - at least not from what I've read.

I think I'm coming down with a cold or the 'flu - throat feels scratchy and I'm more tired than I usually am. I'll see how things develop.

Settling in

Sounds like you are settling in to this traveling stuff - learning to navigate around strange places, shopping where the locals shop, etc. The bazaar sounds like it would have been interesting.

Nothing of note happening here. This week is supposed to be dry but cold - still no forecasts of minima below zero though.

Off the beaten track

Sounds like the less well traveled (at least by tourists) parts of Turkey are a bit less organised than the rest.

It's a bit rough when even the people in the tour group beat you up!

Yes,  the people at A1 Lebanese Bakery thought they were much beset upon.

I don't think the speed issues were related to the iinet upgrades as they sorted themselves out last night - I think it was just the particular web sites that were a bit slow. The connections problems were all internal.

Network

When I got home our network had got itself in a tangle with nothing wanting to connect. With a few judicious re-boots things seem to have sorted themselves out, but it seems to be running slowly. I'll monitor things for a while before I do any more prodding and poking.

Back

Well, I'm back. A pretty uneventful trip - bought chocolate (including Rocky Road), saw Justin and got some books, went to lunch on Sunday with the family for Mother's Day.

I guess that the most interesting part of the trip was that when I arrived at the A1 Lebanese Bakery the floor was all wet. I initially thought they'd been having a big clean-up or that the floor was being relaid, but it turns out that there was a lot of rain in Brunswick on Sunday night (didn't get much in Oak Park) and that the roof had leaked. No apparent damage as all the water seemed to have run down the wall, but they'd spent two hours getting rid of as much water as they could. They were having the building owner come to have a look at the roof later on Monday.

It's good that there was no serious damage to your nose - that would have been a less than good start to the second tour. As would have been the airport roof caving in.

It's also good that you have found someone you can get on with. With a tour name like Australians Studying Abroad there was always a chance that there would be plenty of people who are full of themselves.

28 Degrees

You got a statement from 28 Degrees today by post. All the charges seemed reasonable so I have scheduled it for payment in Big Sky.

Sounds like you got a better view of the military aspects for the commemoration than the people at the service would have.

Apple tea

I meant to mention that some of your apple tea escaped and got into everything.

You also got some more photos from Lynda Rudd.

Lebanese food

Today I'm going to get lebanese food, and yet again you will miss out. As a result there won't be any posts here for a while.

Thank you for the Turkish Stars hat. I take it you saw them during the Turkish Gallipoli commemoration.

I tried on the jacket but it was too short in the arms for me. Maybe you could use it for Winter Wednesday Walking.

Sounds like you are making the most of your time in Istanbul. I hope the next tour starts out well.

Lost

With all your explorations while getting lost in Istanbul you'll soon be an expert on its layout!

It's a pity about the loss of all the old architecture as it will make the overall feel of the city just like anywhere else. Still, I suppose that's better than having your house collapse on you  in an earthquake.

Parcel

You have a rather large parcel from Barbara Bennetts of Mount Martha, Vic.

No pay for us

No pay for us because it's not payday.

The fortune teller would have problems telling your fortune as you don't drink coffee.

In your email you have a booking confirmation from Tashkonak Studio Suites - doesn't look like there's anything unusual in it.

The cockatoos are back and picking at the planks on the deck. I think they're looking for edible acorns and decide to have a pick at the planks while they are there.

Roses

No idea why roses are considered lucky in Turkey, or what they were celebrating on the 5th of May. Tried to look them both up but couldn't find anything.

No, I didn't watch the cockatoos attacking the pegs. That was an assumption on my part, supported by the mangled pegs and the accompanying acorn waste.

I did, however, see them playing with the Gladwrap and frightened them off before they could pull it off. The next time I looked, the cockatoos were back and the Gladwrap was on the ground.

Cockatoos

No, it was definitely cockatoos - I watched them doing it!

It's good that you are in a better hotel. It's much easier to sleep when it's cool.

There was a lot of wind yesterday. All the hills looked fuzzy, as if you were looking at them through rain or smoke, but it was really dust that had been picked up by the wind. Today it isn't as windy - or as dusty.

We are rich! Yesterday the super fund got a cheque from the tax office for $7,000 as a tax refund. Well, you are probably rich, as it's probably your refund. I haven't told Paschal about it yet.

Photos

OK, I thought something like that would be the case. I will download the emails later today. I might even have a look at them.

The cockatoos may have given up on the oak tree, but this morning they have taken up residence on the wires and the deck railing. Yesterday I started to do the periodic repairs of the deck railing where it isn't under the deck roof, and to keep things dry I'd wrapped the bit I was repairing with Gladwrap. Naturally enough, the cockatoos decided that they had to investigate the Gladwrap and rip it off.

Over the weekend the cockatoos found the bag of spare pegs we keep under the bench on the deck. They tore a hole in it and chomped on a few of the pegs.

Today looks like starting off as another nice day, but then deteriorating as a cold front moves through. Then it's back to winter.

Guzin Sapmaz

Who or what is Guzin Sapmaz and why are they sending you multiple large emails that claim to contain photos? Is this spam, or are you clearing stuff out of your camera?

Pide

So it's not just Ali who like to cut pide thin!

Sounds like they are feeding you reasonably well. The cheese and tomato sounds good. I wonder why we've never seen it here?

I think I'd enjoy sour cherry juice  - even for breakfast. Have you tried "turnip" juice? It's actually red carrot juice flavoured with fermented turnips and other stuff - salgam with a squiggle under the s.

Google

Strange. Although I found it painful to do things on the tablet because it was slow and the screen was small, I didn't have the same sort of problems you seem to be having.

Archery was OK, nothing outside the normal. It was a nice day to be outside though. The sun was shining and it was reasonably warm. It looks like today (Monday) will be much the same. Back to colder weather later in the week though.

28 degrees

Not there either - I check both regularly.

Of to the local archery this morning.

Lentil soup

Ugur likes lentil soup too. And my Easter egg has finally been opened.

Email

You have an email from your mother.

28 degrees

Haven't seen anything from them yet.

Citibank

I have checked your Citibank statement (in your email) and there is nothing to pay. Not surprising as I've got your card.

Archery meeting

Off today to an archery meeting in Goulburn. Yet again the Collector pumpkin festival is on when we are having an archery meeting. Dreary looking day. Light rain - drizzle - for most of the morning so far. Still, better that than Brisbane's weather - 182.6mm since 09:00 Friday.

Just as well you like lentils! If any of the soups are good, maybe you should get the recipe and we can try them here.

So far Haigh's haven't said anything about specials - maybe later in the celebration.

Traveling is OK, but it's much better if you can do it at your own pace. That way you can concentrate on the things that most interest you, and can take a day, or a week, off if you feel like it. Maybe some people don't want to live with themselves.

Little parrots, little messes. Nothing like it was before I cleaned up. The same could be said for the microwave. Much easier to clean up after the exploding soup than to do the initial clean.

Haigh's

Happy birthday Haigh's! One hundred years old today.

Concrete

The clean concrete didn't last long. The King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas have been making a small mess - at least in comparison to the Cockatoos and Corellas.

Microwave

Well, the microwave was briefly clean. Tonight I had an exploding soup. Had to clean it again.

Grouping emails

I've now changes it so that emails aren't grouped together, so you should now see each email individually. Let me know if you want it changed back and I'll fix it.

Armies

My armies were a mixed batch covering the ancient, medieval and renaissance periods. Mostly cavalry armies.

emails

There were actually four emails - but the way gmail works they'd only look like two from the main screen. You have to open them and then there'll be some indication that there's more than one - probably like another title line somewhere in the text of the message or before or after the message. You then click on that and it will open too.

Just had a look at your email and it will probably a grey bar before the message showing the title and a snippet of the other message in that group. Might be after though.

The number in the sender/receiver column tells you how many messages there are in the group.

Omnibus

We have been paid!

Sounds like the hospital was OK, but you were in more danger on the ride home.

Later today I'll forward some emails about the Galapagos trip that arrived in your other email account. I can post them up on this blog if you prefer. Done - plus an email from me to the Galapagos people.

The mulch mountain is in the Japanese garden - or near the brussell sprouts if you prefer. I decided it was easier to cart stuff downhill rather than uphill. It's still only a small mountain.

Insurance

I spoke to the insurance people and they weren't concerned about you not calling them at the time of admission. Further, they are happy for any claim you might make to be submitted once you return to Australia. They've allocated and initial contact number (12438885) if you do wish to make a claim on your return.

What you will need if do do wish to make a claim is proof of payment, and a statement as to the treatment you received - this should have been provided by the hospital.. The statement of treatment should be in English and they suggested having it translated while you are in Turkey. They said it doesn't have to be an official translation - having it done by anyone who can read and write both languages is good enough.

I found them easy to deal with - once I stopped being in the hold queue.

Microwave

Clean!!!!! Maybe not sparkling though.

Leaves

Today I started my assault on the leaves, and in the process I started a new mulch mountain. So far I've vacuumed the leaves from the concrete under the oak tree and from the Japanese garden and the area around the bamboos. I also removed all the acorn waste from the concrete.

The area under the oak tree looks bare and uninteresting without its decorative oak leaves.

Next will be the rest of the garden.

Confused

It's good that you are feeling better and are up to getting out and about. And eating again - that is good too.

First you say you didn't buy any carpets, then you say you gave away your rug. Took me a while to figure out you were talking about the Gallipoli tour rug.

It took me even longer to figure out your comment about dogs.

Poor old me! All these parcels to collect.

Tour

It's good that you are feeling up to going on the tour. I hope that you survive without any accidents.

It's been mostly sunny today, so I went for a walk this morning - I've been feeling fat and lazy for a while.

This afternoon I've been making fletching for my arrows and later on I'll bring in such of my washing as is dry.

Good

It's good that there's nothing seriously wrong. No so good that they thought you needed an IV drip - implies that you are still dehydrated. I hope that you fully recover soon.

This morning has been the coldest so far - minimum 1.9 at Tuggeranong and -0.8 at the airport. Still, the sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky so things aren't looking to bad.

My new soup is good, but not as good as the last one. Maybe it will improve on the second eating as soups usually do.

I've decided to take advantage of the sunshine, so today is washing day.

Much confusion over who has a public holiday today (Monday) with it being quite inconsistent in the ACT and nationally. Seems like the various governments made up their minds at the last minute and it hasn't been well communicated. ACT public servants would seem to be getting the day off, most private businesses aren't, and not much has been said about Commonwealth public servants.

Are you getting up really early, or going to bed late? Your latest comment seemed to have been made at about 23:00 Turkish time.

Tulips

I knew that tulips originated somewhere near Turkey, but not they were the Turkish national flower Shouldn't have been surprised I guess. Sounds like the tulips would have been worth seeing. Better than Floriade?

Rhubarb

No, I didn't know that. It don't think they were eating it in the way we (well, maybe you) do though. I think they were using it for medical purposes - possibly as a purgative. I seem to remember reading that somewhere. Yes, that's right, I just looked it up.

Sydney has received another whopping. Hailstones in Sydney:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-weather-hail-storms-batter-sydney-20150425-1mt1rk.html

and snow in the Blue Mountains. All we got in Canberra was 1.7mm of rain and lots of thunder and lightening.

As I write soup production is in full swing - red soup with sausage. Almost had a disaster this morning. I was heating up my Turkish food for breakfast and the beans started to boil, so I set the timer for one hour, forgetting that it was already in use for timing the Turkish food! I had to guess how long my breakfast had been heating for. Worked out OK though.

Off to archery when the soup finishes.

Not much going on

No much happening here today. For the ANZAC commemoration (the ABC keeps saying celebration, to which I object) there was a fly-over by an E-7A Wedgetail (Boeing 737 with a radar of top) and three F-18E/F. First time I'd seen the E-7A.

Lots of lightening and thunder today, but not much rainfall.

TA must have got a surprise as the people rushed past him!

I hope you're feeling better and can participate in the other parts of the tour.

Acorns

It looks like acorn season is over for the year. We're no longer getting flock of corellas or cockatoos producing a gentle rain of acorn waste. Just an occasional visit by parrots of the usual types. Earlier today there was a cockatoo eating the discarded acorns on the deck, and when it ran out of them it started to have a chew of the planking on the deck. That didn't last long as I went out a shooed it away - it hasn't been back so far.

There's still plenty of acorn waste and oak leaves under the tree though. I keep meaning to clean them up but whenever I think about it, it starts to rain and makes all the leaves wet again. Vacuuming wet leaves isn't much fun.

Some things have priority

It's good that you're starting to fell better. Wouldn't be good if the whole trip was ruined.

The tour people may be busy, but medical problems should take precedence. In any case, it doesn't have to involve them. Anyone with some command of English should be able to point you to a doctor.

There is a limit

I may be flexible, but I'm not a contortionist!

Flexible

Yes, amazing - and it wasn't too bad. Not much different from going there on Saturday morning. Much the same number of people around.

The impetus for this radical action was that I decided to I wanted to make a soup for next week and needed more ingredients.

Travel insurance

Doesn't sound so good - could be something more than just a minor reaction. Maybe you should go to the doctor. No point having the travel insurance if you don't use it when you need to.

Break with tradition

Because ANZAC day is on Saturday I'm going to break with tradition and do the major shopping today. Flexible!

Clothes

How strange. I guess you win some and you lose some. Trousers might be harder to replace than other things though.

Too bad about you not being well. I hope things work out OK.

Phone call from your mother

I just had a phone call from your mother wondering how you are - she hadn't yet looked at her email. All seemed well with your parents, and the only reportable thing is that they are going away tomorrow (Friday) to Bright for a week.

Other stuff

Sounds like you are enjoying the food, even if the ferries leave something to be desired. The buses sound interesting. Does the rest of the traffic behave like the buses? If so, sounds like a good place not to be a driver.

The difference in floor level is to provide better sealing without using a snake or draft excluder. Serves the same purpose as the doorstops at the side of the door jamb.

Email address

I have added the email address you requested. Try typing your mother's first name and it should come up - at least it did for me.

We have not been paid

Because it's not payday. I have, however, recorded your numbers and will continue to do so while you are away.

Too organised!

Well done, you are just too organised! I also added a comment to your comment, but thought you'd be more likely to see it here.

NRMA

Today you got a membership renewal notice from the NRMA. It covers Club Care (28.00 - basically maintains from years of membership and access to discounts) and Traveller Care ($89.00 - the bits other than roadside assistance). It does note that you do not have roadside assistance - I assume that this is still included in the car purchase. The renewal is due on 16 May.

I assume you haven't set up an automatic payment for this, so I'll pay it in the absence of any other instructions.

I got the other three letters.

Warmer, but still windy

Today has started out warmer, but still windy. Nothing like in Sydney though. Here it's been mostly dry and the wind has been continuous, but hasn't been gusting very strongly. As a result there's not much damage in Canberra - in fact they are sending some of the ACT SES crews to Sydney to help out.

Citibank

The Citibank card finally turned up - along with a PIN which may or may not be the same as the other one you've got. I spoke to Citibank about the situation and they couldn't come up with anything that I thought was worthwhile.

They do have an office in Istanbul at:

Tekfen Tower
Eski Büyükdere Cad. No:209
34394 Levent
İstanbul - Türkiye
Telefon: (0212) 319 45 00

and other places around Turkey, but they said they wouldn't be able to issue another card as yours was issued by Citibank Australia.

All they could really suggest was that you call them on the number on the back of the card (+61-8225-0615) to discuss what they might be able to do.

All in all, not very helpful.

Cold, cold, COLD

Maximum temperature 12.7, currently 12.3, apparently 6.4. The Ugly Black Fingerless-Gloves are on, the green thing is on the couch, and the heater is on! Very windy too.

WInter arrived

Winter arrived at 10:15 this morning. The wind got up, the temperature dropped, the rain started, and the sheep graziers were warned. Snow down to 1200 metres. The forecast for the rest of the week is pretty bleak too.

Snail-eaten mail

Found another snail-eaten letter from Citibank in the letterbox. Still no sign of your card, but the letter contained instructions on how to activate your card, and a request to provide them with a tax file number and provide a declaration saying you're not a US citizen - otherwise they might apply withholding tax at the top marginal rate and the US IRS may start asking questions.

First phone call

Got my first phone call from Turkey We exchanged numbers and I told you about the strange "phone authorisation" phone call.

Laptop

I've done the usual updates on your laptop, malware checked it and virus checked it. I'm now in the process of doing a full backup to a removable hard drive.

I still haven't figured out why Windows Defender is doing strange things.

Today & yesterday

While driving home I saw the reason for planning on leaving home so early. There was a big accident on the Hume, and traffic towards Sydney was banked up for kilometres. If we were still heading north we would have been delayed for quite a while.

When I got near Canberra on the way home there was a LOT of smoke in the air from a fire somewhere. I didn't find out were it was, but it must have been on the north side somewhere as when I got home the smoke wasn't as bad.

Raining all day today. Not heavily, but persistent.

No sign of the Citibank card yet.