The week just gone

Happenings of note:
Helen received a lovely email from Ron in New Zealand with news of a new great-niece's arrival; Family phone calls with Louis (daily), Robin, David (from overseas) and Sally. Kaye visited again mid week and on Saturday morning we made another outing to the Frillies op-shop and cafe and saw Jo and Shirley and Kaye and Emma. Susan and I went to the Deckchair again! Honouring (or imitating) Helen's old life in Darwin where it was not unusual for her to go to the movies several times a week. Our paw paws all survived their transplants - some more marginally than others.
The dogs have continued to adapt to their expanded pack and the last few days have been marred by Jed attacking Freckles out of the blue (to human eyes) and Freckles defending herself (and usually leaving a number of wounds around Jed's ears and eyes). Ah the not-so-sweet sound of snarls, whimpers and cries interspersed with human owners' groans, growls and shouts. Umphy is overexcited by these interactions but at least doesn't join in. I am struck by how respectful he is of Freckles and although he loves to play with her he doesn't hassle her the way he does Jed. Jed and Umphy continue their relationship of mutual licking (unimaginable when Umphy first arrived in Jed's life) and Umphy has discovered that if he is left out of something fun eg a walk with Freckles he can shimmy up the bike leaning on the front fence then worm his way through the bigger holes in the fencing that start a metre off the ground. The main result being the removal of the bike to another place!
I have started my new job at AMSANT in Darwin - hard to report on much as yet but the other staff are welcoming and the work and political environment are new and interesting to me. At some point each day I feel I may be in an episode of Yes Minister - I think I may have to re-watch some old episodes. Next week I will make trips to both Gove and Katherine as part of my orientation (which I am looking forward to). Susan is making a trip back to Victoria for a few days and Cousin Dorothy is arriving to visit with Helen.