January 21. Day 21. Wheel of fortune

 We're back.
And for the 18th year in a row I'll be a regular on ABC Radio. This is both a privilege and an absolute blast.
Over the years this has involved chatting on many a subject. Right now it's television and movies.
I watch more than my fair share of screen content and I have an opinion on everything so it's perfect really.
And tonight the wheel was lit up red when I went to the studio. There was doubtless a reason although I have no idea what that reason was. It looked very pretty and sometimes that's reason enough. Goodness knows enough film makers seem content with that. See, it's comments like that they need me for. I'm just so insightful (not) but I'm pretty or something.

January 20. Day 20. Parks and recreation

 It is good to take time to smell the roses - but even the roses don't smell like roses at the moment.
Everyone is wilting because it is so frigging hot and every threatened rain fall fails to be anything more than a sad spit.
We went to New Farm Park briefly this afternoon. There was a breeze coming off the river, in much the same way as hot air blasts you in the face when you open a fan-forced oven.
So the visit was brief and even then it required stopping at the water bubbler. There is no such thing as cold water in Brisbane at the moment. I think the lettering in the taps is in French where a c is for chaud or hot. But it's better than nothing - just.

January 19. Day 19. Disguises

 Forget walking a day in someone's shoes, why not go the whole hog and dress in their clothes.
I suspect most people like a good dress up, although some hide it better than others.
When you discard your clothes and put on something less familiar, less like your normal get up you become a slightly different person.
It's fun to be someone else every now and again.

Today I found myself in Disguises, a costume place just down the road. I like the shop a great deal if only because of the window display. They change it regularly depending on the time of year or what's in the public imagination at the time. So there might be leprechauns around St Patrick's Day or Storm Troopers when a new Star Wars film is about to be released. But that's just window dressing' literally. When you get inside you expose yourself to a whole wide world of possibilities.
Today the aim was to find a costume for Oliver who is heading to a party where the brief is to dress as a childhood here. I told him the wear . blue skivvy and say he was a Anthony Wiggle. There aren't too many skivvies  in Brisbane at this time of year. Anyway it was fun considering the options. To find out what he decided on you'll have to watch this space.

January 18. Day 18. At the bottom of the gardens

It was a flying visit to the Gardens. After completing business in the city there was 15 minutes before where my car was parked became a clearway. Those who tow cars rate lower on the scale of people you want to do business with than journalists and that makes them the dung beetles of the human race. So I was a woman with a camera on a mission.
It rather seemed I was the only one in a rush. The weather at the moment means the thought of moving at any pace is enough to make you break out in a sweat. Everything was just hanging, a bit like the humidity. So I snapped and ran, well did an impression of moving at a pace slightly approaching a run which given it is me and bloody hot is the best you can expect.
And the parking inspectors were getting no joy from me today.

January 17. Day 17. Beach babies

 There was this Channel 7 show Instant Hotel where people owning AirBnBs visited and rated other homes in other parts of the country. As part of their stay they were shown the local attractions. The property that eventually won was in West End in Brisbane, really close to where I live.
In the heats the visitors were taken to South Bank and our man-made beach. They put a lot of shit on it, basically describing it as a lame public pool.
These people obviously don't have kids.
Families love the South Bank beach and water park.

It is not unusual to see groups come from the train or bus station clearly equipped to stay and play for hours. It costs them nothing.I admit I'd much rather cool off in my own pool but I'm not a five-year-old or the parent of one. And I do walk through the area a lot and love to see the obvious joy on the people at play. So southern snobs you might not like our beach but we do and today I reminded myself why. I even got wet and it was fun. Take your beach towel and shove it.

January 16. Day 16. Charity begins at the nursing home

 I know it wasn't my first meeting with Margaret but it was certainly shortly thereafter.
I was told about her love of all animals, the dog called Sandy who had slept on her bed, her support of animal charities and her love of birds.
She said she didn't trust anyone who didn't like dogs.
She talked of the old towels and dog food she would take to the RSPCA.
She scoured the TV guide for Attenborough documentaries and Bondi Vet.
And then my dogs came along and she loved them as her own.
So it came as no surprise that she decided she wanted to make donations to the RSPCA and Guide Dogs for the Blind. She was over the moon with excitement when she called me to say that both organisations were sending a representative to collect the cheques AND a guide dog would be coming along. This morning she beamed as the presentations happened and Hilde the guide dog put her head on Margaret's foot and snuggled. It was picture perfect.

January 15. Day 15. Lone Pine

 Lone Pine is the world's biggest and largest koala sanctuary.
It is also awesome but people like me don't go there.
It's a place for tourists and people with small kids.
This is a shame.
Like so many things we often forget what's on our own doorstep.
Of course I'm a bit like Peter Pan - I decided against growing up so when given half a chance I'll join the little people and the kids and head there.
Today was my day.
My friend Alison, who resides in Singapore and is the mother of two small people invited me.
She ticks all the boxes so I borrowed one of her ticks or something. Anyway, I got to spend a delightful morning with the animals and my friend and her lovely boys.
And I fed the kangaroos.
I also narrowly avoided being lunch to a lizard who seemed to mistake my toes for a snack.
 But the real joy was watching the joy on the kids' faces.
 That, as the credit card ad puts it, is priceless.