A Mattress for Beth
Hui Mei's colleague was giving away a double mattress, and we thought why not take it? It could serve as a bed for Beth and/or baby. Then we had to figure a way to bring it home.
We mentioned our little problem to our pastor and asked if we could borrow his trailer. He said sure, except he had to fetch it from Bendigo (somewhere really far away). On Monday morning, there came a rap on the door and there he stood on the doorstep, with the trailer tethered to his car. He asked where I wanted it stored, and proceeded to push the trailer up the driveway to the neighbouring unit (which is vacant), where it could remain safely out of sight. "You can't leave it out here on the lawn; it will be taken away," he explained. And he was off, saying something about stopping by for a chat on the way back if he had time.
After Cheng Ann got home, he inspected the trailer and then realized: horrors, our car has a towbar but not the connector needed to affix the trailer. We mulled over options and talked to Hui Mei. She came up with a brilliant suggestion: she would ask to borrow her boss' ute (utility vehicle) and we could load the mattress into the back.
That's what we did this morning, and now Beth has a mattress to bounce around on in her room!
The Cousins Get Together
My cousin Sean passed through Werribee last week and popped in for dinner. HM was off duty that evening, so we had a nice get-together before Sean's trip home to do his internship. He'll get to celebrate Christmas and CNY with his family in Sg, good for him!
A Visit From Home
My aunt (HM's mum) is here to visit for a month! We will be having Christmas dinner together before she goes home on the 24th. My aunt flipped through the ALDI catalogue and suggested a turkey thigh roast (more manageable than the huge standard turkey) and boneless ham, so that's what we've ordered.
Within a week of her being here, she and Beth have struck up an incredible rapport that they didn't get to develop back home. They take turns to read to each other (my aunt says Beth reads her to sleep, haha), and have funny heartwarming conversations about anything and everything. Beth even listens when my aunt tells her to do something "now", quite remarkable considering she doesn't always accord us the same privilege.
Christmas Carboot Sale
Last Sat, my aunt visited the Carboot Sale at church with us. There were a record number of stalls set up because of Christmas, which meant heaps of bargains, including collectors' items like a commemorative book of Charles and Di's wedding pics. But the best thing was the Devonshire Cream Tea served up by Val Driscoll ($2.50 for 2 homemade scones with cream and strawberry jam and a cup of coffee/tea). Val and her hubby Tom live in Federation Retirement Village just behind us, host a Home Group on a weeknight, and she often talks of popping in to see us.
Equally priceless was the sight of Shirley (she's 79) whizzing round the lobby in her brand new red mobility scooter. Her children got it for her after she lost the use of one eye. She uses it to go shopping and lawn bowling! And her failing eyesight has not stopped her from continuing with her passion for sewing. In support of the Carboot Sale, she put out a small collection of cheery cotton green/black and orange/black frocks and playsuits for summer. Alison bought a green/black frock for her 7 y.o. daughter Rebecca, and the next day we all admired R in it as she took her turn on stage with the kids.
Coming Up: Another Visit
Our dear friends who've just celebrated their baby's 1st birthday are coming this way next month! The hubby is on secondment to the Australian Competition Commission and the wife is joining him for part of the trip. We're so looking forward to catching up with them.
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