FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER     DEVONPORT

Today was a grey day, with rain.

We shopped in the morning, getting groceries for a week. In K Mart I bought some new perfume, and three of the type of photo albums I’ve been seeking for a while – archive quality ones. At the book exchange, I traded in several books I’d had for a while, and got four new ones – overall cost was $2.50. We bought up big at the fish supplier – I am always on the lookout for good quality fresh fish.

After an early lunch, we drove to Burnie to visit my father’s sister. Since we last saw her, in early 1993, her husband had died. She is in her 80’s, and has had health issues. She was not as frail and shaky as I’d envisaged, although even thinner than before – stick like. She gets around the house alright. She had obviously cooked afternoon tea for us, dressed up, and looked forward to the visit.

There was much talk of dad, her family and their doings, and her health. She is resisting being relocated to the Sunshine Coast, where her son and his family lives. Says she would hate the summers!

It was after 5pm when we left her, and it was raining steadily, so it was not a particularly pleasant drive back to Devonport.

We bought fish and chips and took them back to the van.