Wednesday, July 25, 2007

A busy day in Geelong

from w
Yesterday was chockablock with things to do in order to get Peceli on that Air Pacific plane in time to go to Fiji. Check in time about 9 p.m. at Tullamarine airport.

Firstly in the morning we had to check email, read the Fiji news about the nurses strike, shop for coffee, Milo, chocolate for Peceli to pack, take 'March of the Penguins' DVD back, shift four mattresses back to the Donation in Kind depot - borrowed to help a family with a bereavement and visitors, then two hours sorting books for a container, buy 'All Those Bright Crosses' by Ross Farrell (partly set in Fiji), visit two op-shops to top up our cases of clothes to give away, my writing group for two hours in a distant suburb of Geelong,(Peceli had banking to do and mowing the lawn etc. so I caught a bus), check the mail - a one day turnaround to receive a book from Lonely Planet - Fijian Phrasebook, buy little fishes and cook for dinner, drink kava for five people for an hour, give a $500 cheque to treasurer of our Fiji group (a govt grant), repay a friend who'd bought Peceli's air ticket on the internet, find another case for three more bags of clothes brought at 7 p.m.,(now there were three suitcases and two small bags!) drive to the airport,check in worried about the weight of the luggage, coffee, and say goodbye. Oilei! Arrive back in Geelong before midnight, then start reading 'All Those Bright Crosses'.

There was one unexpected Good Samaritan incident though. As I was walking from a bus-stop to my writing friend's house, I heard a weak 'Help me! coming from a garden. An elderly woman had fallen face down on a cement verandah. She could not get up and had been there some time. Should I lift her up or get an ambulance? She was middle size, not too heavy, but what if I did damage? I'm not a nurse. She said she hadn't broken any bones. I rolled her onto her side, then helped her to sit, get her bearings and shuffle to put her feet down two steps. The door was locked so I found the keys on the ground and I said I would ring a relative. I'm okay she said, just stand me up. It was an effort but I got her up and she held onto me and a pole. We got inside and I moved a chair for her near the phone. Her daughter did not answer. So what do I do next? She said there was no-one else to call. She would wait there and ring again. I left then, took her name, and promised to check two hours later. Well, I glanced into her yard later and there was a car in the drive, so her daughter had turned up. What a strange experience but I was thankful that I had been walking past. She might have stayed on the cement all day! In Geelong and other Australian cities and town, many elderly people live alone and this can happen easily. Okay, that's my good for the day. Pat on the back!

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3 Comments:

Blogger The Moody Minstrel said...

Wow...talk about being in the right place at the right time! It was fortunate you were able to help!

I hope the Fiji trip goes well.

3:19 AM  
Blogger Tami said...

Thank you for visiting my blog. I have looked around yours and like your drawings! The negative drawings also, they are a little different take... Hope the trip goes well.

8:06 PM  
Blogger Peceli and Wendy's Blog said...

It has been quieter since then with Peceli away. I haven't burnt the rice even. I'll do some sketching today because it's sunny.
Hello Tami,
Negative manipulation is fun using Photo edit, but often there is too much purple. One day I'll get a newer program.
w.

6:02 PM  

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