WHAT GOES HA HA HA BONK?

If anyone had been passing by our office this week, they would have thought we were the new venue for the 'Comedy Club'.  The laughter could be heard from the moment you opened the front door, and reverberated around the building.  It was not seasonal cheer, and it was not mid-summer madness (obviously) but everything seemed to have an amusing element.

I went into the ladies restroom, and the toilet would not flush.  I turned on the taps, and they, too, did not produce water.  I walked around to the water fountain, and it was dry.  Nothing produced liquid!  I called the managing agency.  Of course, our person was not available, but they could put me through to her voicemail, and give me her email address.  I left a message and then emailed.  A response was immediate and Laura, our point person, promised to call maintenance.  I put down the phone and went to report to the staff, and commented that the dogs' water bowl was empty, yet the feeder was full.  "Why isn't it working?" asked Matnee.  "Because the water has been turned off, silly!" I responded!  This kicked of the first round of giggles.  A moment later Grant told me that the water in the men's bathroom was on.  I checked the ladies, and flushed the toilet.  Yes, it was working.  However, it would not stop filling in and the water was a rusty colour.  Instead of leaving it, I flushed the other toilet.  This produced the same effect!  I turned on the tap, and it spluttered before ejecting a reddy brown liquid that eventually turned clear.  I went back to the toilets.  Will I ever learn? I flushed again, both toilets.  Thankfully, they did not overflow, but stopped filling in and the water turned clear.  I sent Laura a 'Thank you' email, to which she immediately responded, "I didn't do anything yet!" We came to the conclusion that it must have been something to do with the road works that were being executed along the way, and just took it in our stride.

Apparently, my 'Ice cream sweepstakes' winning box was going to be shipped this week, and I received an email telling me so.  I was very excited.  "What did you win?" I was asked.  "I shall let you know when I get the box", I replied.  "Don't you know what you entered for?" came the question.  "It's a contest.  I just go in for the contest", I replied.  These were what were to become what is commonly known as 'Famous last words', as I returned to my desk, and opened a new email.  "Congratulations", it read, "You have won a Tushy Classic Bidet".  I shrieked with joy, and then just started to giggle.  "What did you win?" came the question.  When I announced my latest gift, there were a variety of comments ranging from, "A what?" to "I wanted one of those!" (from my daughter) accompanied by some looks of "Why would you enter a contest for that?".  The answer was simple. There had been somewhat of a dearth in contests, and the only two that were constant were the bidet and the ice-cream sweepstakes.  I am not sure why the two were together, but perhaps on finding the latter was being shipped as I jested, I would find out sooner rather than later!  Thankfully, I did not win the 'first' prize, which was an actual, full size bidet, something that I would not know where to put, but the runners up received something that fits on the side of the toilet, is connected to the water pipe, and is controlled by a switch.  Then came the 'toilet humour'.  I thought about the mornings events, and things went downhill from there!  The laughter, once again, reverberated around the building!

The temperature during the week started to rise.  From a crisp start to a balmy seventy degrees.  I travelled across town to pick up some coffee on Wednesday, and visited with Joe for a while.  It was nice to see him.  

My parcel arrived on Thursday.  It was not a big box, but was very pretty.  It did not contain ice-cream, but a gift card so that I could (perhaps) buy some.  There was also a blanket, a large coozie,(apparently to hold a large pot of my favourite iced treat,) a scoop, with 'ice-cream shop' printed on it, and some lip balm, held in an ice lolly shaped holder.  Also some sprinkles of varying kinds.  I was very excited.  The delivery man had been carrying two boxes.  I wondered if the second had been meant for me, as my last prize had been two large boxes.  I went outside and looked around.  All I could see was a large box outside the door of our office neighbour.  It was quite clear, by the picture that was on the outside, that it was a swivel chair.  I went back inside.  "Did you get something else?" the question was asked.  "Nope.  It was a chair.  Who would enter a contest for a chair?" I said.  Of course, this caused more laughter, and once again, yes, etc., etc!

I replied to the lady at the radio station, when she sent me an email to say my bidet had been shipped.  I told her that she had made my day. This had to be the funniest prize I had won.  Of course, I thanked her, and her team, for the opportunity, and also for 'being there' come rain or shine, with music and entertainment.  She responded with thanks for my thanks!  

By the time Friday arrived, we were all exhausted.  It had been a long week, albeit full of joy and laughter.  By the time we left the office, I was ready for the weekend.  It was going to be a full weekend!

Saturday morning started later than usual, as I slept in.  I did not anticipate a 'sleep in', but after a fitful night, I finally dozed around five thirty, and did not wake for two hours!  My walk was brisk!  It was not cold, but there was a cool breeze.  Samantha collected me at a little after nine thirty, and we headed on our way.  After all our shopping requirements were met, we went to the dollar tree.  It was 'tree decorating weekend' and we had some helpers.

Grant arrived with his two sons as we got home.  I had met one but not the other, and introductions were made.  They had no idea what we were going to do.  "Are you excited?" my daughter and I asked, in unison.  They shrugged their shoulders, and Grant told us that he had just told them it was a surprise.  "This will be how many years?" asked Dana.  Samantha thought five, but I was adamant. "Six.  Two with Grant, one with Sandra, and two on our own.  One by the usual place, and one where you pushed me off the cliff".  Both boys gasped.  Samantha and I continued to talk, in unison.  "It's okay, they share a brain", said Dana.  Grant nodded.  "They finish each other's sentences, and if I have a conversation with her, then she will walk in and know what we are talking about, and vice versa!"  They stood open mouthed, and a little shell shocked. Who where these English women and what kind of alien were they?  We headed out.  "What are we doing?" they both asked, nervously.  "Have you got parachutes?" Samantha teased.  They tensed!  I teased some more. "You know when you are in a plane, and someone presses the ejector seat, and you fly out, your parachute opens, but you are still connected to the plane.....".  Silence.  Of all people, perhaps I should not have been making the joke!  I wondered if they would be disappointed.  "Okay, guys.  Final clue.  You might not want to tell your friends you did this".  The relief was evident as we pulled off the highway on to the grass verge, and handed them a bag of decorations.  "We are going to decorate trees!" said Samantha and I, in unison!

The relief turned to a slight mood of disappointment, but once they
realised there were no rules to the decoration, and they could choose a shrub and just make it as crazy as they liked, it became fun.  "Can we do this next year?" they asked.  Passing motorists honked approval, as usual, and we all waved. It was a novel experience, and again, we joined others in bringing some cheer to the highway, and making Austin pretty!

Hiking up the side of the cliff, was not expected.  I thought we were going home after the decorating experience, but apparently not.  We headed up one side of the steep hill that overlooked the river, and followed the trail down.  "If we decorate a tree in these woods, do you think anyone will hear it scream?" I asked, playing on words.  The boys did not understand.  However, there in the middle of the woods, was a decorated tree!  It was silent!  

We headed back down the path, with some of the trees decorated, and looked across to the other side, where more trees had been adorned. Crossing the road, we headed back to the next trail, and climbed the opposite side.  Instead of going to the top, we headed around the side.  I started to become unsteady.  The ledge was too narrow for me, despite being wide enough for someone to pass.  "You can do it", said my daughter.  I tried.  I managed to make my way around to the front, but my bravado ended.  I could feel my earrings start to depart from my ears.  Of course, they were not but it is the strangest sensation when I am feeling insecure.  I decided to go back.  I followed a couple who were walking their dog.  If the dog could do it, then so could I.  He had to keep four feet on the path, I only had two.  I edged my way around back to where we had left the original path.  I headed up the steep steps to the summit.  I was going to send a message to the others to let them know I had arrived safely, but they had climbed the cliff face and were already there!  The view of the city was spectacular, and the river was glistening in the late afternoon sun.  

Not content with climbing two mountains, we headed to Mount Bonnell.  Of course, we had to turn the truck around, so headed up the highway, passing our trees, where everyone gave a cheer, and then headed back down, passing the trees again on the other side of the road.  The boys were delighted.  Mount Bonnell was quite busy as it was about half an hour from sunset, and everyone had coveted their space for the event.  We did not stay.  Instead we headed back to my house and the kids played pool for a while.  It was a fun afternoon.

Sunday morning was drizzly.  I marched around the complex four times, like a soldier on duty, and then came inside to make some breakfast.  My next walk was shorter, after which we had a wonderful facetime event with Richard, Steph and the kids.  It was lovely to watch the boys play in the background.  Pulling each other along on a blanket, seeing every item of furniture above ground level as being a climbing frame.  As a mother, I would have been telling them to 'get down', but I think grandparents revert to childhood and see the wonder!  

I await the arrival of my most funniest prize, which should arrive during this coming week.  I have watched the fog disappear this afternoon, and the sun make its appearance during the past hour, but I think a 'sit out' will be a little ill-advised.  The wind is strong and the 'feels like' temperature is lower than the actual.  Is winter back?  No!  Just a blip in the system, no doubt!  Next week?  Who knows.  I shall plod on and within a blink of an eye find myself back at this precise spot, in front of my screen, writing ........... another story!