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izmeinaTwo days free of goblin enslavement and how different as chalk and cheese.
Thursday morning started on a seemingly bad note. Ever since applying for extra income protection cover through the superannuation fund insurance they have been pestering the Izzie with all sorts of nosy snooping questionses. The latest indignity would be a visit from one of their vampires at 10am.
Turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The long overdue Putz Blitz could no longer be put off indefinitely. Was too lazy to mop the floor and tidy the kitchen on Wednesday night but was amazed at how much it was possible to get done in less than 90 minutes on Thursday morning. In the end she did not come into the house but was happy to grab her serpent snack in the garden where Izzie was sitting when she arrived
But it proves yet again never to underestimate the power of an externally imposed deadline.
The next item on the schedule was to visit the newly opened grocery store just up the road. But that could wait a little longer. A certain Betty Windsor was on a quick visit just a bit further up the road and it would be interesting to watch the drama.
There was cops everywhere and folks on the street who all looked like they were returning to work or going home or whatever. So Izzie obviously just missed the motorcade and the green lightseses. But that was coming. She still had to return from her morning of munching on sultana scones and kangaroo stew
Was getting ever so nostalgic passing the very large chemistry centre with the enormous BHP logo on the top. Been wanting to sniff out that place for years and managed to get two visits in the space of a week back in August. It was absolutely fabulous even if it did not happen to be the bright shiny new state forensics lab amongst other things
Got to thinking not for the first time that the Izzie lives in an excellent location so near many interesting things and a lot of them within walking distance
There were a few stragglers at the entrance of the school grounds where Lizzie was lurking. A few news crew and camera people were still around hoping to get some happy snaps after the ceremonies
One of them said she would be leaving around 11.30. But it did not take that long. Suddenly a bunch of cops on bikes appeared out of nowhere like a bunch of worker bees leaving their hive on a serious mission. That was an unmistakeable sign that there would soon be a bit of action
Being opposite the entrance to the school proved to be the perfect snooping spot. It’s hard to speed when turning a corner. She was in the second car in the motorcade. A most undignified nasty black suburban assault vehicle. It was a royal Range Rover with only a red crown on the number plates. Guessing that she to be seen to support the British automobile industry even if it means being seen in clunky black crap rather than a more dignified and elegant black Mercedes Benz
Got a pretty good lingering glimpse of Her Royal Greenness. A pleasant change from that hideous glow in the dark pink she was wearing the day before which the usual groupies all adored - of course.
But it was the manouevres of the men in black and the countless cops that was really most fascinating. There's never been so many big wigs in downtown Dursleyville all at one time.
The day before they arrived at the airport in the middle of rush hour. It certainly would have been a spectacle to see the green light motorcade to the city. Amazing what the powers can be can turn on when the occasion demands it.
Pottered off back to the newly opened supermarket. Really it was most inconsiderate of the Queen not to drop in and cut the ribbon. After all it was on her way back to the city and any opposition to the evil Coles and Woolworths needs all the endorsement it can get.
Lingered a while to admire the new shop on the block. Much much bigger than any IGA the Izzie has ever visited before. But in spite of being brand new, there’s something about it that looks quite old fashioned. Must be the fairly narrow aisles and the really really high shelves.
Next stop was the city. There’s an unofficial festival on the edge of town but the first thing to notice was arriving within the city limits. Aside from the police headquarters towering over the eastern edge of town there were big blue posters everywhere, fences and railings on the main street and more cops than blow flies. They were swarming around everywhere.
It was so much fun spotting the Choggies. Did not take long to give up counting all the blue security zone posters.
Government House was like Cop Central. It is on the main street of the city with a small insignificant wall and lots of gorgeous gardens including a magnificent 180 year old olive tree which looks remarkably like a typical Australian gum tree.
It is a nightmare of a place to keep intruders out of especially since a certain royal visitor has her abode there for the duration of her visit to dreary old Dullsville
Pottered off to the museum end of town where all sorts of cultural events and free street theatre was going on. This place has got the state library, two art galleries - one monstrous carbuncle with all the gorgeous art works and a beautiful old building with the modern pompous avante garde awfulness. There is also the museum and a gorgeous new urban orchard
Had a wonderful time admiring all the various herbs and trees especially the olive trees in strange constructions made of what seemed to be building rubble all contained in square mesh and surrounded by heat loving herbs such as oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary and sage. The oregano was sending runners everywhere - even over the rocks and it was just the inspiration for lists of nano potions and plants for the Eden Vale garden festival
Then there were some very good street theatre shows. Just as well we got to see them yesterday as today the place was infested with hordes of humans.
One of Izzie’s acquaintances had a stall there selling home made soaps. She says hello and adds “It’s not like you to be all in blue” to which Izzie replies along the lines “Well you see the Queen was wearing green today and it would just not be suitable for a certain serpent to be wearing it too”
She laughs and adds “Yes. It wouldn’t do for there to be any confusion would it now?”
The performance by the Ayers Rock Surf Lifesaving Club was wonderful. Glad we got to see it yesterday as today was standing room only. In fact it was almost impossible to see much at all.
Today was a much different kettle of fish. The city was packed with humans and there was even more cops crawling around than yesterday - bus loads of them who looked like something out of the SAS.
Did see the infamous black Range Rover turning into the driveway of Government House but was too busy trying to take a picture to be able to take a proper peek. Looks like a whole bunch of folks did the same thing. A few more nondescript white cars crawled behind them. Izzie was sure that Kevin 747 was lurking in one of them.
It was most amusing watching all the heavies crawling around the gardens of Government House and the odd strange man with black glasses in a pin stripe suit with tiny red lapel badges bearing the inscription “ER”
Was hoping to see hordes of tin pot dictators but they kept themselves well and truly hidden.
Next stop was to watch all the protesters. Aside from the “Land Rights for Gay Whales” brigade, the best bunch were the Malaysian Hufflepuffs all wearing black and yellow.
One had a wonderful yellow shirt with a black slogan along the lines “In Malaysia even the dead arise to vote in Federal Elections”
There’s still of course the whole pecking order thing with Malays being highest in the pecking order for all the perks and the Chinese and Indian Malaysians being left with the crumbs falling from their tables.
The Australian universities do very well out of this discrimination. It is supposed to have officially ended. They would not be happy about this at all.
Another strange thing that the Izzie had not known about all the crazy security that has turned big chunks of the city into a ghost town is that mobile phone calls in the city get cut off automatically after only a few minutes or so. Was ringing a friend and kept getting cut off. Assumed it was the crappy not so old Nokia phone. She was the one who realized what was going on. Apparently it had been announced on one of the radio stations earlier that morning
Tomorrow will be security on steroids. Before flying non stop back to London, a certain member of the Royal family will be mingling with the masses at a big sausage sizzle. Cannot see Lizzie nibbling sausages and she most certainly will have a ring of 20 something heavies around her.
Looks like this vegetarian serpent will have to bring along her own tofu burger. Been most fascinating cop watching and spotting the spooks and tomorrow this game will be on steroids.
While not a monarchist nor a republican, the one thing that Izzie always thinks about when reading about her schedule and the attendant security, is being the Queen must be the job from hell. It’s 24/7 and unless you abdicate you do not even get to retire. It’s worse than living in a fish bowl and the worst possible nightmare for any self respecting privacy loving introvert
The city has spent squillions on security and certain streets were told to cancel their rubbish collection for the days of her visit because they did not want the royal eyes to be offended by such mundane matters. That’s not to mention the green light motorcades and the inability to go anywhere or do anything without twenty zillion cameras observing your every move and hordes of worshippers wanting to offer bouquets of expensive stinking weeds
And of course the endless cutting of ribbons, pretend planting of trees and smiling while a bunch of boring old farts bow, curtsey and otherwise grovel at your feet
Sunday will be all back to normal. It will be the big Tim Tam talks fest for the nanowrimo nutters.
The next big thing will then be a certain horse race over east. It lasts less then two minutes and is nothing more than an excuse to drink champagne and wear silly hats. It really is an Oz version of the old pagan spring festival orgies but everyone pretends it is all about the horses.
Will probably stay away from the radio and slink in the garden. Of course lots of squiggling too. It would be a good idea to have a stash of 10,000 words before slinking down south next Friday for a much more civilized spring festival
Thursday morning started on a seemingly bad note. Ever since applying for extra income protection cover through the superannuation fund insurance they have been pestering the Izzie with all sorts of nosy snooping questionses. The latest indignity would be a visit from one of their vampires at 10am.
Turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The long overdue Putz Blitz could no longer be put off indefinitely. Was too lazy to mop the floor and tidy the kitchen on Wednesday night but was amazed at how much it was possible to get done in less than 90 minutes on Thursday morning. In the end she did not come into the house but was happy to grab her serpent snack in the garden where Izzie was sitting when she arrived
But it proves yet again never to underestimate the power of an externally imposed deadline.
The next item on the schedule was to visit the newly opened grocery store just up the road. But that could wait a little longer. A certain Betty Windsor was on a quick visit just a bit further up the road and it would be interesting to watch the drama.
There was cops everywhere and folks on the street who all looked like they were returning to work or going home or whatever. So Izzie obviously just missed the motorcade and the green lightseses. But that was coming. She still had to return from her morning of munching on sultana scones and kangaroo stew
Was getting ever so nostalgic passing the very large chemistry centre with the enormous BHP logo on the top. Been wanting to sniff out that place for years and managed to get two visits in the space of a week back in August. It was absolutely fabulous even if it did not happen to be the bright shiny new state forensics lab amongst other things
Got to thinking not for the first time that the Izzie lives in an excellent location so near many interesting things and a lot of them within walking distance
There were a few stragglers at the entrance of the school grounds where Lizzie was lurking. A few news crew and camera people were still around hoping to get some happy snaps after the ceremonies
One of them said she would be leaving around 11.30. But it did not take that long. Suddenly a bunch of cops on bikes appeared out of nowhere like a bunch of worker bees leaving their hive on a serious mission. That was an unmistakeable sign that there would soon be a bit of action
Being opposite the entrance to the school proved to be the perfect snooping spot. It’s hard to speed when turning a corner. She was in the second car in the motorcade. A most undignified nasty black suburban assault vehicle. It was a royal Range Rover with only a red crown on the number plates. Guessing that she to be seen to support the British automobile industry even if it means being seen in clunky black crap rather than a more dignified and elegant black Mercedes Benz
Got a pretty good lingering glimpse of Her Royal Greenness. A pleasant change from that hideous glow in the dark pink she was wearing the day before which the usual groupies all adored - of course.
But it was the manouevres of the men in black and the countless cops that was really most fascinating. There's never been so many big wigs in downtown Dursleyville all at one time.
The day before they arrived at the airport in the middle of rush hour. It certainly would have been a spectacle to see the green light motorcade to the city. Amazing what the powers can be can turn on when the occasion demands it.
Pottered off back to the newly opened supermarket. Really it was most inconsiderate of the Queen not to drop in and cut the ribbon. After all it was on her way back to the city and any opposition to the evil Coles and Woolworths needs all the endorsement it can get.
Lingered a while to admire the new shop on the block. Much much bigger than any IGA the Izzie has ever visited before. But in spite of being brand new, there’s something about it that looks quite old fashioned. Must be the fairly narrow aisles and the really really high shelves.
Next stop was the city. There’s an unofficial festival on the edge of town but the first thing to notice was arriving within the city limits. Aside from the police headquarters towering over the eastern edge of town there were big blue posters everywhere, fences and railings on the main street and more cops than blow flies. They were swarming around everywhere.
It was so much fun spotting the Choggies. Did not take long to give up counting all the blue security zone posters.
Government House was like Cop Central. It is on the main street of the city with a small insignificant wall and lots of gorgeous gardens including a magnificent 180 year old olive tree which looks remarkably like a typical Australian gum tree.
It is a nightmare of a place to keep intruders out of especially since a certain royal visitor has her abode there for the duration of her visit to dreary old Dullsville
Pottered off to the museum end of town where all sorts of cultural events and free street theatre was going on. This place has got the state library, two art galleries - one monstrous carbuncle with all the gorgeous art works and a beautiful old building with the modern pompous avante garde awfulness. There is also the museum and a gorgeous new urban orchard
Had a wonderful time admiring all the various herbs and trees especially the olive trees in strange constructions made of what seemed to be building rubble all contained in square mesh and surrounded by heat loving herbs such as oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary and sage. The oregano was sending runners everywhere - even over the rocks and it was just the inspiration for lists of nano potions and plants for the Eden Vale garden festival
Then there were some very good street theatre shows. Just as well we got to see them yesterday as today the place was infested with hordes of humans.
One of Izzie’s acquaintances had a stall there selling home made soaps. She says hello and adds “It’s not like you to be all in blue” to which Izzie replies along the lines “Well you see the Queen was wearing green today and it would just not be suitable for a certain serpent to be wearing it too”
She laughs and adds “Yes. It wouldn’t do for there to be any confusion would it now?”
The performance by the Ayers Rock Surf Lifesaving Club was wonderful. Glad we got to see it yesterday as today was standing room only. In fact it was almost impossible to see much at all.
Today was a much different kettle of fish. The city was packed with humans and there was even more cops crawling around than yesterday - bus loads of them who looked like something out of the SAS.
Did see the infamous black Range Rover turning into the driveway of Government House but was too busy trying to take a picture to be able to take a proper peek. Looks like a whole bunch of folks did the same thing. A few more nondescript white cars crawled behind them. Izzie was sure that Kevin 747 was lurking in one of them.
It was most amusing watching all the heavies crawling around the gardens of Government House and the odd strange man with black glasses in a pin stripe suit with tiny red lapel badges bearing the inscription “ER”
Was hoping to see hordes of tin pot dictators but they kept themselves well and truly hidden.
Next stop was to watch all the protesters. Aside from the “Land Rights for Gay Whales” brigade, the best bunch were the Malaysian Hufflepuffs all wearing black and yellow.
One had a wonderful yellow shirt with a black slogan along the lines “In Malaysia even the dead arise to vote in Federal Elections”
There’s still of course the whole pecking order thing with Malays being highest in the pecking order for all the perks and the Chinese and Indian Malaysians being left with the crumbs falling from their tables.
The Australian universities do very well out of this discrimination. It is supposed to have officially ended. They would not be happy about this at all.
Another strange thing that the Izzie had not known about all the crazy security that has turned big chunks of the city into a ghost town is that mobile phone calls in the city get cut off automatically after only a few minutes or so. Was ringing a friend and kept getting cut off. Assumed it was the crappy not so old Nokia phone. She was the one who realized what was going on. Apparently it had been announced on one of the radio stations earlier that morning
Tomorrow will be security on steroids. Before flying non stop back to London, a certain member of the Royal family will be mingling with the masses at a big sausage sizzle. Cannot see Lizzie nibbling sausages and she most certainly will have a ring of 20 something heavies around her.
Looks like this vegetarian serpent will have to bring along her own tofu burger. Been most fascinating cop watching and spotting the spooks and tomorrow this game will be on steroids.
While not a monarchist nor a republican, the one thing that Izzie always thinks about when reading about her schedule and the attendant security, is being the Queen must be the job from hell. It’s 24/7 and unless you abdicate you do not even get to retire. It’s worse than living in a fish bowl and the worst possible nightmare for any self respecting privacy loving introvert
The city has spent squillions on security and certain streets were told to cancel their rubbish collection for the days of her visit because they did not want the royal eyes to be offended by such mundane matters. That’s not to mention the green light motorcades and the inability to go anywhere or do anything without twenty zillion cameras observing your every move and hordes of worshippers wanting to offer bouquets of expensive stinking weeds
And of course the endless cutting of ribbons, pretend planting of trees and smiling while a bunch of boring old farts bow, curtsey and otherwise grovel at your feet
Sunday will be all back to normal. It will be the big Tim Tam talks fest for the nanowrimo nutters.
The next big thing will then be a certain horse race over east. It lasts less then two minutes and is nothing more than an excuse to drink champagne and wear silly hats. It really is an Oz version of the old pagan spring festival orgies but everyone pretends it is all about the horses.
Will probably stay away from the radio and slink in the garden. Of course lots of squiggling too. It would be a good idea to have a stash of 10,000 words before slinking down south next Friday for a much more civilized spring festival
