Author: Crofton77

Chapter Sixty: Tit for Tat

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in The Story.

"I…just…no." Giggles looked gobsmacked.
"That's what I said." Crusader Mark agreed.
A massive tank being piloted by Mobster Marion was tearing the suburbs of Pleasantville apart.
"What set her off THIS time?" Chuckles asked.
"We beat her little boyfriend to the stash of diamonds that was being held at one of the banks." Crusader Roger grinned. "So she's furious she's not going to get her ring AGAIN."
"YOU ROBBED A BANK AND WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT?!" Chuckles and Giggles yelped.
"We're a bit more sophisticated than just using brute strength all the time. Besides, we can't afford it like the Mob can." Crusader Mark pointed out. "I'd love to know how they're constantly paying for all of this though."
"Although those diamonds did fetch a good price." Crusader Roger grinned at his co-conspirator.
"Quit with the back-slapping, we have to stop her from destroying the city!" Giggles took to the sky to try and stop the tank, and only succeeded in getting fired at.
"Heh. I think we should leave the HEROES to this." Crusader Roger clapped Crusader Mark on the shoulder.
"I agree. Have fun punks!" Crusader Mark smirked as he and Crusader Roger made themselves scarce.
"Darn them!" Chuckles groaned. He was disturbed by the fact that one of the banks had been robbed and no one seemed to know about it. The March Hill Crusaders definitely knew what they were doing, and it was scary.
Giggles had finally landed on the tank and was trying to remove Mobster Marion from the cockpit. It was difficult work though.
"IT'S MINE AND YOU CAN'T HAVE IT!" Mobster Marion screamed.
"Play with it elsewhere!" Giggles snapped back, dodging another swing from the sword that Mobster Marion had with her.
"I'm coming Giggles!" Chuckles ran towards the tank, but was stopped by machine gun fire. "You're on your own mate!"
"Well thanks for nothing." Giggles rolled her eyes. Just then, she heard a familiar shuddering noise.
"Your Backpack?" Mobster Marion asked.
"Yup." Giggles sighed.
"Wow." Mobster Marion looked amused as Giggles landed on her bottom (again).
"Now. You die." Mobster Marion jumped from the tank and prepared to strike the finishing blow with her sword. Giggles groaned. The only way out of this was to kill the Mobster, but Giggles wasn't prepared to do that.
A loud clang assured her though that she was safe for now, and she looked up to see-,
"THE DRAGONS SCALE SCYTHE?" Giggles cried.
"No, it's not, it's just a replica I made. Pretty good though right?" Sir Lionheart grinned, forcing Mobster Marions sword back with his new blade. Giggles quickly scooted away, just as the replica went flying, leaving Sir Lionheart in a bit of a pickle.
"Now leave me alone, I was having fun before you lot showed up." Mobster Marion gave an injured sniff, leaning on her tank.
"Is this because you didn't get those diamonds?" Giggles raised an eyebrow.
"All I want is pretty things, is that so wrong?!" Mobster Marion sobbed loudly.
"You're pregnant, aren't you?" Lady Luck came over and leaned on the side of the tank as well.
"NO! How could you even think that?! I'm no where near as fat as you!" Mobster Marion screeched.
It took Sir Dark, Lady Courage, Sir Hyper and Chuckles to hold Lady Luck back.
—
"So next week how about we go for the coal lines next? Could be some big money in stopping the trains from reaching Brisvegas." Crusader Mark said as he and Crusader Roger drove back to their hideout that was hidden in Pleasant Gorge, the wind running through their hair as the convertible sped along.
"It could work, but we'd be provoking the Last Order, not to mention the DVM would be on our case. I'm certain that Councillor Jofrey is on the Mobs payroll, and she owns the trains that run through the city." Crusader Mark pointed out. "There's so much junk on this road." He added offhandedly as they drove past what looked like some degraded old plywood boards and old baby carriage wheels discarded at the bottom of the cliff.
"I'm sure we can deal with the Order, and as for the Mob, if we cut off one of their biggest money-spinners then all the more better for us." Crusader Roger pointed out.
Both men jumped. A lone Emerald Mobster had landed on the bonnet of their car, forcing Crusader Mark to brake heavily.
"What do YOU want?" Crusader Roger pulled the Dragons Scale Scythe out of the back of the car.
The Emerald Mobster merely scowled under her mask. Her long blonde hair was loose and her eyes were aquamarine. Crusader Mark was tempted to guess that she was a relation of Mobster Marion.
But Mobster Marion didn't have any living relations left…
"Can you speak, wretch?" Crusader Roger held the Dragon Scale Scythe to the Emerald Mobsters throat. Suddenly her hand snapped out and grabbed the handle, leaning back as she yanked the weapon from its masters grasp. Enraged, Crusader Roger tried to pull the weapon back, and wore an Emerald Dagger to the shoulder for his trouble. He lost his grip on the weapon, and it was gone.
Meanwhile, Crusader Mark was trying to get the Mystic Eight Gun from its holster, which was caught in the seatbelt. The Emerald Mobster sliced the seatbelt in half, just as Crusader Mark got the gun loose. It dropped to the floor.
Crusader Mark reached for it, and almost had it when he felt a numbing pain around his neck – the Emerald Mobster had smacked the back of his head with the butt of the Dragon Scale Scythe, stunning him. She kicked his hand away and took the Mystic Eight Gun for herself.
"By the way," She turned back to them as she prepared to head back to the tank. "My name is Sidewinder."
She jumped from the bonnet of the car and disappeared.
"Turn this thing around and go and get her!" Crusader Roger felt the feeling return to his arm as Crusader Mark turned the car around.
—
"AND THEN HE SOLD MY PUPPY!" Mobster Marion wailed.
"That must have been awful." Lady Courage tried to sound sympathetic. The other Knights were lounging around waiting for the authorities to arrive, while Giggles was trying to tell Chuckles about some of the other weapons of lore.
"I am NOT interested." Chuckles tried.
"And then, he gave all the family assets away and said I couldn't have them!" Mobster Marion continued to sob. She was sat on the edge of the tank, feeling sorry for herself.
"How did you ever manage?" Sir Hyper commented dryly.
That was enough to set the Mobster off again. She ran screaming at Sir Hyper, swinging her sword fiercly and accurately. He managed to dodge the first blow, but had to be saved by Lady Courage for the second.
"I do like that baseball bat. Even if a cricket bat would be more culturally appropriate." Chuckles grinned.
"HELP!" Lady Courage struggled, Mobster Marions sword beginning to dent the baseball bat.
Giggles aimed the Lucky Seven Gun at the sword and fired, shattering the sword and sending Mobster Marion into a fresh fury.
"WHY DO YOU DESTROY EVERYTHING I HAVE?!" She cried. She made to rush back to the tank, but it was already rolling away.
"I am CERTAIN I put on the handbrake!" Mobster Marion looked confused.
"You did. We're just stealing it. Consider it payment for your Sidewinder taking the Dragons Scale and the Mystic Eight!" Crusader Mark poked his head out of the top of the tank, grinning.
"ARGH!!!!" Screamed Mobster Marion, throwing the now broken sword at her rival. It hit the tank with a loud clang, as it headed away from the city and back towards Pleasant Cliffs. She sighed, then grimaced.
"I'm going to kill her. I am going to slaughter her." Mobster Marion stalked away. "Stupid SIDEWINDER!"
The Noble Knights of the Last Order looked confused as they watched her retreating back. Giggles blinked, and turned to Chuckles.
"Who's Sidewinder?" She asked.
"That would be me."
Giggles barely had a split second to dodge as the Dragons Scale Scythe scratched her helmet, as the Emerald Mobster known as Sidewinder landed between them.

Professional my hairy, fat, cellulite ridden, A*se

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in eatsaroundaustralia.

I'm a nice person
I don't bag people out.
I accept that certain things are just the way they are and naff all I can do about it. BUT…..
When a company uses the word PROFESSIONAL in their name you expect them to behave professionally right?
Picture it… the family home empty, all the little mong, er, children have flown the coop, HR is transferred interstate, and I don't need this much space.
Let's sell up we say
So we put the house on the market. Agents say the market is slow. I get a second agent on board from the so called PROFESSIONAL team. The agent does the best they can and all goes on as  you'd expect until four weeks ago.
Four weeks ago HR gets a call from these so called professional types. Your agent no longer works for us, pay this bill and then you're off the books. Just like that. We don't want houses in your suburb anymore we were told.
I sent the agent a text asking what was going on…no response whatsoever.
Two weeks later I get the bill. No Cover letter apologising for what has happened, just a final bill.
Right then, I send an email telling them to get our house of all their advertising, the bill will be paid such a date and by the way you have a set of keys please return them.
A week later they send the keys, in a normal envelope, unsecured, no registered mail, through the post, delivered into the mail box for anyone to take and use to open the House and rob us!!!!!
Again no cover letter not even a single attempt to disguise the keys.

Obviously customer relations are not a high in priority at this real estate company.
I certainly will NOT recommend them to anyone EVER!

love me love my dog…or cat or….

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in eatsaroundaustralia.

Once upon a time there was a family of three kids and two adults (at least one of us was an adult not sure about HR). We had a cat and a dog and all was well with the world.
Morgan, the Beagle, was a great friend to The Normal Autistic Girl (even though he was really supposed to be the Mini Brat's dog) and Footsie (the abandoned cat from next door) ruled everyone and everywhere as befitting the Empress of Fluff.

Then one day the Normal Autistic Girl decided birds are what we need and promptly brought home Finches and Budgies. Of course Footsie, The Empress of Fluff, thought all her Christmases had come at once. Guess who got to clean the cages and feed the little feathered monsters?

The Normal Autistic Girl got a boy friend and they built a house and she took her birds thank goodness.

Then I turned the big five-oh. Let's do something special we thought (Harry Potter World had just opened at Universal Studios in Orlando) so off to the States we went. We took the Mini Brat with as she was still a little young to be left at home alone. Can that child spend money or what????
Just before we left for the States The Normal Autistic Girl and her by then fiancee decided to rescue cat brother and sister who were unwanted but their owners would not be responsible and spay the parent cats. Such irresponsible behaviour. I'd say that the adoption of the sibling kittehs had some bearing on what happened next….

Whilst we were away The Boy Child was looking after the house. He was in a relationship, they decided to 'have kids'…a cat (Lillith, who the F**K names a cat Lillith?)…several months later The Boy Child got 'divorced' and as always it's the children that suffer (or the in laws in this case) and Lillith became Skitteh.
At this stage the Empress of Fluff is around about ten years old and has been an only cat for all that time. Suddenly there's this little ball of attitude in her space. It took awhile but they finally learnt to live together and there is the odd photo of them actually sharing space.

Several years pass, The Mini Brat gets a boyfriend (who lives mostly with us for a few years) and he in his infinite wisdom decides that The Mini Brat needs a dog (remember we have two cats and a dog already) and thus Skipper comes into the house. (and YES I am the silly cow who feeds, walks, trains, looks after the bloody dog). Ultimately The Mini Brat and the boyfriend parted ways and then she moved out. This year Skipper was successfully rehomed. If I didn't work and had the time to spend with her, I would have kept her, but I didn't ask for the dog. Sounds harsh I know, but when I finally get a dog for me I want to have the time and space to treat that dog the way it deserves with love and affection, not just dump it in the back yard to be fed and patted when I can find the time.

Time passes and so do our furry friends. Morgan crossed the Rainbow Bridge 2014 and The Empress of Fluff was only a few months behind. It was such a sad loss. I have a great appreciation for Pets Rest In Peace, the company that took our beloved fur friends and cremated them, returning them to us with a beautifully presented Urn and remembrance pack.
Skitteh has blossomed without her bossy companion but I know she misses her.
Now Skitteh is an only pet. For most of her life Skitteh has been a purely indoor cat (Footsie, Empress of Fluff, played chicken with the cars one too many times and after many years as an outdoor cat she also became an indoor kitteh). In the last few months I have let Skitteh out the back while I hang laundry and the like. Several weeks ago I went to get her in before I went off to get my nails done and there is Ms Skitteh out the front, having jumped the fence, about ready to cross the road!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say she is back to being a purely indoor cat again! However, Ms Skitteh does not appreciate my concern for her well being. Ms Skitteh sets up an unholy caterwauling when she thinks she should be outside, which is like all day every day!!!!
Ah well I'm happy to be a Crazy Cat Lady for now…….

When the Moon is in the Seventh House, and Jupiter Aligns with Mars…..

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in eatsaroundaustralia.

Jan 24 1:46 am
so.. The New Year is 24 days old, let's take stock:

  • I have a new car
  • The pooch got rehomed
  • The Commodore is FINALLY gone
  • I survived the car smash with no serious injuries

and

  • I've read 8 books….

I like this year…it's EXCITING!!! (gratuitous Star Trek reference)

Feb 14 2:12 pm

  • The Boy Child has viral meningitis (he has a couple of  lumbar puncture sites to prove he doesn't have the bacterial meningitis) 
  • The Mini Brat's car died on The Range coming back from seeing her sick brother
  • Then the remaining poochie got seriously ill and had to be helped over the Rainbow Bridge to ease his suffering.
  • My real estate agent has left the company and has yet to inform me of such (her boss rang and told us, he also informed us he does not want to list houses in this suburb)
  • I have three interviews for jobs  

and

  • I've read another 5 books (going back to work slows one down a tad)

this year is not so exciting mebbe…

According to both Western and Eastern astrology this is meant to be an excellent year for me…..could someone please tell The Universe/God that??

Master Tsai tells us that this is the Year of the Metal Monkey and that as I am a Water Rat this is an auspicious year for me:
 'Rat is connected to placid water or rain. Water is also connected to wisdom and intelligence. Monkey is connected to wind or storm. Storm can bring more rain to Water. Monkey can bring more wealth, wisdom and health to Rat. Wind can stir the water to flow. But we don't know which direction water will go. Monkey can change Rat's life style from tranquillity and relaxing to busyness.'
and
Typical Western predictions:
' Tenderness and tact are also highlighted skills for you in 2016. Be realistic and kind, especially in the late summer and early fall when Jupiter and Mercury increase your people skills. Watch as obstacles and opposition melt away under your gaze.

It will be in the realm of family and friends that you may see the most progress. When things are going smoothly at home, career and public life are much easier. What a dynamite year!'

So, when does this all start again? I seem to be missing out on a few things methinks.

I'll let you know how the year progresses…..


Up There Cazaley

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in eatsaroundaustralia.

Did anyone else just feel it?
that little frisson of excitement that tells us it's almost FOOTY SEASON!!!!!!!!

The official AFL Season starts Thursday 24 March 2016 with Carlton Blues v Richmond Tigers and though both teams are crap I will watch the game purely because it is the FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON.
There have been pre season hitouts, but they are scheduled when us folk that live 150 minutes plus drive from Brisbane canna get there.
There's the NAB Challenge, used to be the NAB CUP and if memory serves Brisbane won the last CUP on offer there. NAB Challenge is played at non traditional grounds, out in the communities that might not otherwise see footy. I hope to get to Burpengary and Metricon but given the old financial situation ( petrol and a hotel trips these are) it may not be feasible.

I am a fairly rabid Brisbane Lions supporter and have been for ten years or more. Let me tell the story of how I came to be an Australian Rules fan.

Way back in the dark ages, so my kids tell me, I emigrated to Australia with my family and after a short sojourn in South Australia we settled in a place called Little River for a year or so.
Little River is just outside Werribee, which is just outside of Geelong. Geelong Cats are the AFL team. I was under the age of ten and in my formative years, the years when a child is most susceptible.
At the little two room school I went to everyone was a Geelong fan. We had a Polly Farmer doll (Geelong great) in our classroom. Every time Geelong won he faced the room, when they lost he faced the wall…he spent a lot of time facing the wall that year.
After the indoctrination in Little River it was only natural when we went to West Australia that we would continue the love affair with footy. Swan Districts was the club of choice. The arch rival of the Swans was/is Subiaco  and many is the time we were at Basendean oval screaming our team on. I even got to go to Subiaco oval long before the remodel. Back in the day there was a local TV footy comp where if your picture was shown on the telly, after attending a game, you won a Sherrin, my brother won himself one!!!
From the west it was off to the Nation's Capitol for a few year and I took my interest in Geelong with me. From Canberra to Adelaide and I became a rabid Glenelg supporter. I worked in hotels at this stage and there was always a great rivalry with the patrons who didn't always share my enthusiasm for my team.
After a few years of not following any particular team we fetched up in Queensland and the love affair with the Lions began.
At the beginning of each season the feeling is the same; unbridled optimism. We pick up some good players in the off season and draft, we go to training if we can, watch the boys get their pre season under the belt and start to speculate. Every season we think we have the mix right we just need a little patience and luck. Every season we think we can make the finals at least if not the big one.
Then it gets to every game we think we can win this one…it's never over till the final siren and as our famous coach Leigh Matthews once said if the amount of time left is the same as goals needed you're in with a chance.
Then it gets down to well we can win this quarter……
I always believe my Lions can win right up until the last siren. I make bargains with God/The Universe that if we win I'll do/stop doing this or that. When we win I remember the routine of the day in hopes that by doing everything precisely the same before the next game we will win….sad but true I KNOW that nothing I do or don't do has any bearing whatsoever on the result of the game but..I bet I'm not the only one who does it 🙂
Being a member of the Brisbane Lions is a wonderful thing. I also sponsor a player. I get to meet my player and other players, I have access to fantastic functions (Player sponsor and Club Champion are my two favourites) and I am an Foundation Member of the Women of the Pride as well.
There's nothing quite like the drive down to Brisbane, checking into the hotel, meeting up with The Normal Autistic chick and strolling up to the Gabba Inside we get to our seats, generally in time to watch the boys warm up 40 minutes or so before the game starts.
As the time gets closer to the first bounce the nerves set in. Watching my team is the most exhausting thing I know; I am even worse watching the Lions play an away game on TV. At the Gabba I have to behave as there are kids around and we want to set a good example. At home the neighbours get to hear the full range of my anger .Of course almost all of my angst is reserved for the umpire.

Of course should we lose the blokes at The Mausoleum think they're funny and make jokes at my expense, it's always good if their teams have gone down that weekend, they're less likely to be mouthy.
Ah well another few weeks and it'll be on like donkey kong!!!!

GO LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Spicks and the Specks of My Life….

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in eatsaroundaustralia.

I was wondering how I'd get a Bee Gees song reference in and here it is!! Personally I would prefer to put the link in the post title but it appears I can't.
Of course now I have digressed from the original intent of this blog….I am listening to the song as I type and memories of a younger me come flooding back and I need to hear Massachusetts before I go on which will lead to ….OMG Scott McKenzie's San Francisco ..oh no now look what this blogging thing has brought me too….a sentimental walk down memory lane (at my time of life)

Best I pour a glass of wine and hunker down for an evening of nostalgia (damn you YouTube)…you lot may as walk with me
..and then suddenly while I am typing the Mamas and the Papas and California Dreaming starts to play
I was a kid in the 60's not due to be a teenager until the next decade. We had a big old black and white telly with valves in that Mum would remove when dad had annoyed her ( he was too drunk to work out what she'd done ). I had a big old Bakelite radio in my room (shared with my sister) and my Friday and Saturday nights were spent twiddling the dials seeking my favourite songs. Interestingly one of my favourites as a teenager, Mrs Robinson (Simon and Garfunkel, now playing) is from a movie I have never seen, The Graduate. Oh and we had a beautiful big FB Holden (I am a Ford girl but those big old Holden's were fricken awesome)
One of the most hauntingly beautiful Simon and Garfunkel songs , The Fighter, is not only a favourite from childhood, but came to have a deeper meaning to me in later life as I watched my Father battle the cancer that killed him 20 years ago…..and here come the tears..Love you Dad.

ahh look there's Leapy Lee with those Little Arrows….I thought that was an awesome song back in the day.
I am a bit of an excel demon, everything is spread sheets to me, how I wish I could have had excel back then to record how many times I heard my favourite song in one night (hey I was a kid sue me)

and who can ever get past Jim Reeves and He'll Have To Go…Jean Black did in her cheeky little reply He'll Have To Stay

Enough with the maudlin let's move to the 70's.. and my infamous flirtation with The Bay City Rollers, much to the disgust of my brother who tried manfully to get me into The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Cream, Black Sabbath and The Small Faces. What I didn't tell him was I loved those guys as well and as an adult I have an even better appreciation for their music.
AnyWhoo the Bay City Rollers were the first live concert I went to, apart from the lunch time concerts we had at high school where such bands such as Hush and Ol'55 would come and play.
I didn't have as much tartan as the other fans at the concert but I gave it a good shake!! Of course everyone was mad for Woody the lead singer but I have always had a thing for drummers. Anyway here's a gratuitous link for a 'Rollers song Rock an'Roll Love Letter.
Pilot was another band of the same ilk and nationality and I preferred them to some of the other boy bands around then. January was a good hit of there's and Magic.
The best thing about the 70's?? GLAM ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kiss
Slade
TREX
Sweet

Alice Cooper doesn't come under Glam Rock he just WAS.
This names but a tiny few, who were my favouritests. There are so many songs I could link you too but apparently at some time tonight I must sleep (The Mausoleum is expecting me on the morrow) and I haven't got to the Country music yet!
My name is XXXXX and I am a Parrot Head YES!!! I am a Jimmy Buffet fan. The first song I ever heard of his was Come Monday and it is a firm favourite even today. It was the very first single (45 vinyl record) I saved up to buy and my mongrel brother actually broke my record!! I hated him. Singing along now. Margaritaville and Pencil Thin Mustache are great faves as well.
One band, The Bellamy Brothers, made many many albums, but their very first is the only one I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE. sadly they made this album with one record company before moving to another and apparently the first record company won't allow them to use the material. I think that is what happened. Nothin' Heavy is the best song ever.
No Country music line up is complete without a mention of James Taylor 
Fire and Rain is brilliant, though he sings in a key that doesn't suit me. Marcia Hines did an excellent cover in a key that suits me better! (Fire and Rain Marcia Style). Marcia also had some other fantastic hits and you should check them out. Marcia was Mary Magdalene in the Australian stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar in the 70's. the very first stage production I saw live. (I performed in a few of my own but that's another story for another time).
This is just scratching the surface of the 70's but I just let the music take me where it wanted to go. One day I might write the blog I set out to write tonight, but I'd have to remember what the hell it was first…:)
Anyway, the wine glass is empty and it's time to sleep. Thank you for indulging me this evening. I hope you'll join me one day for a trip through the 80's………

My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in eatsaroundaustralia.

Probably from too much reading late into the night!
That's why I have circles under MY eyes (old age has naff all to do with it thank you very much).
Hello, my name is XXXX and I am a read-a-holic. Exhibit A: I have started keeping a spread sheet of the books read from 25/12/2015 – 25/12/2016, to date (30 Jan 16) I have read 11 books all averaging around 700+ pages.

I have favourite authors; Kerry Greenwood and her divine Phryne Fisher, Con Iggulden and his rollicking historical tales, Ken Follet and his fabulous sagas, Jant Ivanovich and her resourceful, love conflicted, Stephanie Plum, Laura Joh Rowland and her stoic detective Sano Ichiro, James Clavell's epic masterpieces of Asia, David Rotenberg's vivid novel of Shanghai, Phillipa Gregory and her historical fiction, J K Rowling and Harry Potter, Stephen King and his Dark Tower series, Eric Lustbader and his gripping stories of Nicholas Linear, Bernard Cornwall and Uhtred of Bebbanberg's quest to regain his heritage, Jung Chang's gripping tale of three generations of Chinese women, the salacious, thinly veiled swipes at Hollywood of Jackie Collins, Ellis Peter's detective monk, Cadfeal, Sharon Penman and her historical portraits, Dan Brown, Mathew Rielly the list goes on, and on, and on. Pretty much any book I read the author becomes a favourite.

I do get cross when you read a book, go looking for more by the same author and discover the book is actually the last in a series!!! Why wasn't I told?????? It should be made CLEARLY obvious to the humble reader that there is a reading order and that this book is first middle or last!!

Another pet gripe is when authors start an epic series and then takes forever to write the next instalment!! I am not getting any younger here author I need to know what happens before I die thank you. Stephen King was probably the guiltiest one here, he started his Dark Tower series a million years ago and only finished it a few years or so ago and he managed to almost kill himself before the last instalment was written (The Wind Through the Key Hole doesn't count in my opinion as it was an after thought book).

The latest gripe is the author who makes you wait for another book even though there was no cliff hanger from the previous book (I'm looking at you Kerry Greenwood) it's over two years since we had another adventure with the racy, dynamic, fabulous Phryne Fisher and quite frankly I am a tad annoyed. Yes we have had the gorgeous Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (Thank you ABC) and they have helped us realise some of the images we have in our heads of what everything was like in the 1920's BUT it isn't the same as getting a fresh new book to savour!!!!
Janet Ivanovich is a veritable trooper and has released a book a year recently!!

I think the biggest whinge I have is when they make movies out of my favourite books. They never get it right! The pictures I have in my head as I read do not resemble those on the screen and when they start adding stuff to the movie/series that was never in the book I get very very very cross!!!

Anyway… I have a new book to read…..

Let's Talk About Tea

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in eatsaroundaustralia.

One of the greatest pleasures in life is a cup of tea.

Back in the day I drank my tea white with two. Over time I cut out the sugar, then the milk. Tea was just a drink I had, nothing special.
I'd heard of green tea but never tried it.
One Christmas, about eight years ago, the Normal Autistic Girl went to The Tea Centre and bought me a green tea sample set and a beautiful cup and saucer to drink from. The right cup is a huge part of the tea drinking experience!
Using leaf tea was new to me I was the Queen of Tetley black tea bag!!  Using a teapot or diffuser was a novel thing and I figured if I was going to be serious about my tea drinking I really should learn how to produce the perfect cuppa!
Rule number one: ALWAYS use fresh cold water, NEVER reboil water. There is oxygen in the water and the tea needs the oxygen to produce its best flavours!!  There are a few other rules but this is the cardinal rule!
From memory I loved all of the different flavours in the sampler. I decided to go to The Tea Centre and have a look for myself and oh my goodness what a selection!!!!
I quickly found favourites,specifically Japanese Garden Green and Strawberries and Yogurt Green.
I also found some lovely cups for the drinking of tea and at one stage had a cup for black tea and a cup for green tea! Now I have so many cups I could open my own store. Here are just a few.

Of course I love brewing tea in a pot. Not just any tea, not just any pot. Christmas before last, HR bought me this beautiful tea pot and cups. Every time my friend from down the hill comes to visit we brew tea in this pot and sit there savouring the brew and our friendship.

Sometimes I just brew a pot of tea for myself in almost a meditative state.
I make a ritual out of making the tea, nowhere near as solemn and beautiful as the Japanese Tea Ceremony but in thoughtful contemplation of my actions and the alchemy that makes a simple leaf into a restorative refreshing drink. This process allows me to appreciate the simple things in life and, for a moment, not take for granted an everyday process.This in turn helps to calm and order my thoughts.
Clumsy prose but sometimes it is difficult to put a feeling into words.

 I was moved to not only go to the Tea Centre but to look at different brands on the shelf at the supermarket. There were two brands that struck me at the supermarket Dilmah and Madame Flavour.
Dilmah had a lovely Jasmine petal Green Tea . A lovely Jasmine scented and flavoured tea in tea bags that is quick and easy to make in the work place and I keep a box at The Dragon Lady's place too.
 One time the local supermarket had a feature of Dilmah's flavoured teas and one of the most delicious tasting and smelling was/is the Peach Flavoured Tea. A black tea that had the most awesome smell of peaches. After the promotion finished at the local supermarket I had to actually buy the tea from Dilmah direct! Always a lovely experience, I was always sent a sample of their other teas and once a year a calender was sent as well.
I would alternate the Jasmine and Peach tea during the day. and then I discovered the Madame Flavour range.
It was from Madame Flavour that I first heard of White Tea!! Her Romantic White with Rose is a delicate tea that is perfect for those quiet moments alone. It is to be savoured in an atmosphere of peace and calm, and NEVER rushed!
My other all time favourite is Madame Flavour tea is the Delicate Green Jasmine and Pear. 
This tea has a lovely drift of pear added to the Jasmine and it is not just pear flavouring but actual pear pieces! I can drink this tea all day every day!

For me tea is not just about the intake of a fluid, it is about, choosing the right tea for the occasion, the right cup for the right tea, the process of making, and then the quiet contemplation whilst slowly savouring the special brew.
I hope you enjoy exploring the linked pages and maybe finding a new brew for you!!

Heartfelt Thanks

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in eatsaroundaustralia.

Recently I was involved in a car crash. Not my fault, and apart from a lot of bruises, aches and pains, I am  alive and thank fully so is the other driver.
The car I was driving (not mine) not so much.

I realise that the thanks I am about to offer in this blog may never reach the people involved,  I will write it anyway.
Almost from the moment of impact, perfect strangers came to help me out of the car and started calling the police and ambulance. Oddly enough the tow trucks seamed magically appear 🙂
As I was standing there surveying the carnage and feeling very lucky to be alive, a perfect stranger brought a chair out for me to sit on, I was pretty shaken,another brought me a lovely glass of ice water, a little girl talked to me and that helped me get a little control back.
My colleague who I had just dropped home came running and stayed with me, organising towing and administrative stuff (work vehicle).
Other people were doing the same for the other people involved. All these people helping and being concerned for people they had never met before and will most likely never meet again.
The ambulance personnel were amazing!!! The police were efficient and kind. The firemen were sweethearts ( they got my stuff out of the vehicle). The hospital staff were over worked but efficient and lovely.
The two colleagues that came and sat for hours with me at the hospital went above and beyond their duty of care and the Admin team at The Mausoleum were terrific too getting paperwork and such organised and I even got flowers!!!
My beautiful Mini Brat was awesome too, finishing work,coming to pick me up,  ferry me home and stay with me for the night.
The Normal Autistic Girl and the Boy Child live hours away but they have called regularly.
HR drove 12 hours straight to come home and look after me.

Car Crashes are pretty bloody scary, but the way people rallied about to help ( yes I understand for some it is their job but damn I am gratefull they do it so well) is very very humbling.

THANK YOU to EVERYONE!!!!!

Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Past Behind Us

Written by Crofton77 on . Posted in The Story.

Whiteness. Blinding whiteness. A dark spot. A dark spot getting bigger. Taking form.

Maddy blinked. A black-haired young lady with hazel eyes looked back at her. She was wearing a grey top with some sort of insignia on it, and black pants with combat boots.

"Your eyes. They were green." Maddy pointed out.

"Yes. They were. Not anymore though. Usually they're either hazel or red now." Tate Markington smiled wistfully back.

"Am I dead?" Maddy asked.

"Doubt it. Knowing Webby he probably got you out of there as soon as you got hurt. You'll be fine." Tate smiled.

"He misses you so much." Maddy sighed.

"He needs to let go. We all need to let go." Tate let one tear roll down her cheek.

—

"She's awake!"

"Maddison!"

Maddy slowly opened her eyes to more whiteness, which eventually faded into the forms of the Masters and Begly families.

"Webster?" Maddy asked groggily.

"He's currently trying to drown himself in alcohol." Betty Begly looked disgusted.

"Tate?" Maddy tried to sit up. She felt Lara Masters help her up, and put a cup of water to her lips.

"Tate is right here sweetheart." She stroked the younger womans cheek.

Maddy held her daughter, but in her mind she was thinking about the dead woman from her dream. Obsession killed her. Would it kill Webster too?

—

Charlie, Daniel, TJ and Sam sat at the pub, watching their fellow Noble Knight of the Last Order get completely plastered. He didn't know they were there, sitting in a booth keeping an eye on him.

"This is embarrassing to watch." Sam sipped on his soda water while Webster started drunkenly slurring a story to the bartender.

"If it were any other situation it'd be funny." Daniel replied, beer in hand. TJ frowned at him.

"If you saw the number of domestic disputes I had to go to as a cop that were fuelled by alcohol you'd never touch the stuff again." He snapped, clutching his lemonade.

"Easy there tiger, one beer won't hurt. It's self-medicating like Webster is doing that's the problem." Charlie took a swig of his own beer.

"Complacent." TJ scowled.

"It was my fault!" Webster suddenly cried loudly. "Everyone I love gets hurt or killed because I'm such a bloody coward!"

"Easy mate, I think you've had enough." The bartender tried to calm him down.

"DON'T YOU PATRONIZE ME!" Webster yelled, prompting his friends into action.

"Time to go home Webster." Daniel took one of his arms.

"NO!" Webster tried to fight him off, but Charlie had his other arm. Between the two brutes they had the situation pretty much under control.

"I'd really hate to be on the wrong side of those two." TJ mused. While he and Sam definitely weren't small, they paled in comparision to their bigger friends.

"I could take 'em easily!" Sam bragged.

"Yeah, right."

"I could!"

"Tell him he's dreaming." Daniel called back. "And get over here, one of you two has to drive us back home, we can't leave him in the back seat by himself!"

"Your car." TJ smirked as they headed out to the carpark. Sam grimmaced and went to the drivers door, while TJ held the rear passenger door open for Daniel, Charlie and the invalid.

Suddenly Webster lurched and gagged, which was followed by a large amount of vomit landing on TJ.

I don't think Sam's laughed so much in his life.

—

Webster sighed. His headache had subsided after the bender from the previous night, but the guilt still lingered.

He had to see Maddy again. He knew that. He had to make things right again. He loved Maddy, with all of his heart.

So why was Tate still on his mind?

He rolled over in his bed and drifted off into an uncomfortable sleep.

"Really Webby?"

He spun around in suprise. Standing behind him was Tate Markington.

"You ditched me, remember?" Tate folded her arms. "You chose her over me."

"Tate, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was too worried about what everyone else thought of me, that I couldn't care for you the way I should have." Webster felt tears stinging his eyes.

"That's not Maddys problem. You have to learn to live with that, not her." Tate frowned.

"I know. I just…" Webster looked away.

"Don't worry about me Webby. You're my best friend, and you always will be. I know that now." Tate smiled at him.

"We were quite a pair, weren't we Tater? You'd love baby Tate." Webster smiled back. "You would have been a great Aunt."

"I wish I could have been. But still, I'm in a better place now. Somewhere where I can fix my faults without the scorn or ridicule." Tate replied.

"Yeah. You never had that chance before." Webster sighed. "I wish I could have helped you more."

"We both screwed up. Anyway, I gotta go. They're waiting for me." Tate turned to go back into that bright whiteness. Webster could make out six other figures behind her.

He smiled, and turned to head back too.

—

It was nothing short of a disaster. TJ was clutching his head, Daniels ankle was twisted, Sunny had a sprained wrist, the twins had a black eye apiece and Petunia was nursing a sore jaw. The only two who had any fight left in them was Belle and Charlie, and THEY were still going at it hammer and tongs (or Lucky Seven Gun and Lions Claw Blade, they're interchangeable).

"THAT WAS WIDER THAN MY AUNT MAUD!" Charlie roared in fury, swinging at Belle, who dodged.

"IT WOULD HAVE HIT THE STUMPS IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR YOUR FAT FOOT!" Belle ducked under his arm and kicked him in the knee, which he barely felt through his rage.

"You know, maybe we should give up on our cricket games." Petunia said to TJ as they watched the pair fight.

"I think that'd be wise." TJ groaned, his head throbbing from where she'd smacked him with her first-aid kit.

"You weren't kidding when you said this lot were immature Webster, I can't believe what I'm seeing!"

The six Knights spun around. A pale Maddy was walking slowly towards them, supported by Webster and the young Tate.

"Maddy! You're out of hospital!" Belle and Charlie quickly forgot their quarrel and bolted over to see Maddy.

"Yup, and almost as good as new." Maddy smiled at them.

"Wait, you two are talking again?" Sam asked, earning him a clip over the back of the head from Petunia and an elbow in the ribs from Tammy.
Webster laughed, his clear green eyes full of merriment.

"We had a long, long talk. We've decided that we're going to move back to Brisvegas permanently." He told them. "We're going to try and bring outside attention to plight of Pleasantville, and hopefully mount a stronger case for people to start to change their ways."

"Well, we hope it goes well for you both." Daniel smiled ruefully. "Although that means we'll be down a Knight."

"I'm sure you'll…manage." Webster frowned at the current condition of the Noble Knights of the Last Order.

"I think we should all head home and get cleaned up." Sunny looked sheepishly at her friends.

"Besides, Patrick will be home with Melody soon and I need to have dinner ready."

"Where were they?" Belle asked.

"Doctors. I can't stand needles and I couldn't bear to watch Melody get her vaccinations." Sunny shivered, making Petunia roll her eyes.

The troop headed home (Melody LOVED her needles, much to the horror of Sunny and amusement of Patrick) and two weeks later they farewelled Sir Hedgehog from the Noble Knights of the Last Order forever.

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