Mikeatmainbeach

 Why is changing barbers so difficult?   I’ve been going to this regular guy for a while now. Just get used to him and he closes the business to move somewhere else too far away. Thanks Jeremy :)   Always such a good cut and he said “Really it cuts itself,”  I wish that were true it would save me some money over the years.   I’m not really one for small talk. I hate it at places for drinks and you have to make small talk with someone you would never normally meet. Have no idea what to say and just mumble from one thing to the next hoping it will soon be time to go. Maybe that’s why I’m never invited out much!   Well that’s me...sorry for being honest but there it is!   So a new barber. Well I finally plucked up the courage, yes for me it takes courage, and tried one. Nice enough guy, friendly and the conversation flowed easily. What was I worried about? I have NO idea.   You have to be a good communicator to be a barber...

I got to thinking the other day while sitting having a coffee before doing the weekly shop.... I was studying two guys, I’m not sure of the country of origin, maybe Indonesian, sitting talking using sign language. They were deeply engrossed in each others conversation. It just looked interesting and made me wonder is sign language, the actual signs used,  universal or does it change from country to country? Is there an accent ...a twist? I guess there must be.   I’m always fascinated watching them on the news standing beside a politician or when some important news event is happening. The facial expressions are so distinctive...so very expressive. They seem to feel the words as well as sign them. It just intrigues me and wonder how difficult it must be to learn.   I try to follow them rather than the person talking and though they may be a sentence or two behind the talker they do an amazing job. I suppose they make an interpretation of what’s said at times to catch ...

   Yesterday I had my covid shot!  All good at this stage.     Fingers very firmly crossed!   The doctor was very thorough beforehand. Blood pressure check...twice...temperature check...twice.. stethoscope sounding chest, back and heart. Its when the doctor was filling out all the forms  on the lap top she asked “Do you still want to go ahead with it?” Have to admit I was concerned but went ahead...  There was something I didn’t really think about as I have had a bad experience with codeine I ticked that box; there was a concern of an anaphylactic shock. Pleased I did as they asked me to wait longer for half an hour after the shot instead of the usual 15 minutes to see if there were any after effects. So I had the shot and wore an “attractive trendy paper bracelet”,  as the nurse called it while I waited for the appropriate time to pass. There wasn’t any reaction!  Trendy bracelet removed I made my way...

  A game I like to play when having coffee along the rich strip where I live (not me...I add...rich that is!)  on Queensland's Gold Coast is to “size people up”. Surreptitiously  glancing from one customer to the next as I sit sipping my morning brew.   The reason I mention this today is this morning there was an expensive car parked just opposite.  A very pleasant blue Bentley Bentayga four wheel drive,  with a starting price of around five hundred thousand dollars, then there’s $$$ options. There’s always options!   There are so many great cars around here I guess I get used to seeing them after a while watching the  “average price of a house on wheels” driving by.  Lamborghinis, Ferraris, McLaren's Maserati's in an assortment of colours designs and personal number plates.   The personal number plate MADAM LASH on a nice looking car... always makes me wonder, also smile, what that lady driver does! That’s another story ...

  Bi Coastal...   As I remember Peter  (They still call Australia home)  Allen used to say...he’s Bi-Coastal! L. A. and New York...Guess that’s me also not Los Angeles and New York exactly but bi-coastal meaning the north and south coasts of Brisbane.   I now live on the Gold Coast of Queensland but used to live two hours north on the Sunshine Coast and still have connections there hence the bi-coastal bit!   Both are equally attractive. Beautiful beaches and a busy cafe culture, restaurants and night life. Maybe more the Gold Coast for night life..if that’s what appeals.. but are both equally attractive.   When I lived on the Sunshine Coast my latest house was beachfront and I mean beach frontage. Just a brief walk out the back gate and on the beach. It was wonderful of course but always at the back of my mind come cyclone season was exactly that...cyclones! The last one was in the early 1980’s and a long time ago but locals a...

 Hands up if you’re like me and you hear a favourite song from the past played on the radio and you’re instantly transported back in time. Back to a time that may have had a happy memory or even a sad one. You can remember the surroundings, what you were doing, where you were and who you were with at the time. It all comes flooding magically back.   Then if like myself you also wonder...is that person singing the song still alive..or how old are they?  A You Tube search shows they are still alive! That’s a relief I think after so many years, or even more of a shock that they may have been dead for many more!   Numerous have fallen by the wayside and never heard of again or let themselves go and come to a sad and unknown end as they and their star quality faded into obscurity; we continue to search all the same. Through YouTube we click and continue....one link following the next as we go from one old song, one old singer, to the next. Re-living them in...

A day in the life :)   Just the other day I had my annual visit to my specialist for a check..a urologist..but before that in the morning I had to have a scan. I always get so nervous with anything medical. I know it’s silly and there are plenty of people much worse off than I who are actually ill. I have good health and count my blessings for that.   As I was saying before I interrupted myself..so arriving for the said scan..early of course..always early.  My mother used to say she would be early for her own funeral...guess it must run in the family...hopefully not a funeral for me but I am always early or I try to be for any appointment.   So with the scan I had to drink one litre of water...and hold...mustn't forget the ..”and hold” as it states on the form. So I did this and I was ready. The young lady who greeted me with a smile stated she was a student. I lay on the table..loosened belt and trousers...cold jelly applied... apology stated from ...