THURSDAY 17 JUNE     ALICE SPRINGS

This was my dad’s birthday – he would have been 89. Had he not died a couple of years ago, he’d have enjoyed hearing and reading about our travels.

After breakfast, drove into town. John found the Memorial Bowls Club and arranged to play this afternoon – a “fix” at last!

We went to the Information Centre and found the staff there very helpful. I collected quite a lot of reading matter and we spent some time looking at displays in the Centre.

Next stop was the Library, where I found I could borrow paperbacks for free. Wonderful. I would have to pay a $10 surety on each hardback book borrowed, though. That’s alright – I have no issues when I will get the money back. So I did a book stock up.

Then it was the Woolworths supermarket for a few food items. I found a film processor and put in four rolls of film to be done. We collected the mail from the Post Office.

Back to the van for a quick lunch and then John was off to bowls. I sorted the bag of mail. There was a letter from my brother and nephew, a card from John’s sister H, a card from friends C and H, travelling in India, written whilst on a train between Madras and Delhi. There was no other personal stuff. I received a Coles Myer discount card, now being a share holder.

Checked the bank statement received – am concerned that no deduction for the house insurance appears on it – surely that is still not a problem? John must check that out, tomorrow.

John came back saying he had not played well at bowls. Out of practice, I guess.

I made veggie soup and we had some for tea, folowed by chow mein and rice, and fruche, as a change from yoghurt.

John tried to phone S a couple of times today – left a message for her at work, and then there was no answer at home at night. I phoned K to let him know where we were and that we had received the mail.

John watched World Cup cricket on TV – no problems with TV here, although the stations are different; there is a local one, Imparja, that seems to replace Channel 9, with some elements of 10 as well. He stayed up till the cricket finished, in the early hours.

I went to bed early, with a book. It is so, so very good to have books to read again!