TUESDAY 3 FEBRUARY     NELSON

We drove across to Mt Gambier to buy new tyres for John’s bike. I shopped for groceries and fruit there.

On the way back, went to Piccaninnie Ponds and fished in the surf breaking on the beach. No bites.

John phoned the bank to check our balances. His final pay cheque has hit the account. His last wage! It is rather scary to realize that there will be no more comfortable fortnightly salaries – just the much more modest superannuation money.

At the van, John began fixing his bike. He went to the rubbish tip to find a piece of metal to repair the mudguard that got damaged when the bike fell.

I read the paper and did some embroidery and watched John’s efforts.

Tea was the bream he caught yesterday, for him, with french fries and corn. I had fries and some salad. Bream has too many bones for my liking – and it wasn’t big enough for two, anyway. For dessert John had bananas and yoghurt, and I had yoghurt.