Heavenly Beverley : Here's To Better Times...

Today has been Valentine's Day. Across the world, people may take the opportunity to be extra thankful for their partners and show affection with a gift, a gesture or through words. Michael has always loved bamboo, with fond memories from his earlier years. We'd talked about a stand of bamboo at Brooking Street without any action. Michael became resigned to no more bamboo in our garden due to its courtyard dimensions.

Yesterday, I pondered possible Valentine's presents for him. A DVD - very shallow. Flowers - watch them die in our February heat. A voucher - heaven forbid! These were some of the thoughts I dismissed whilst travelling to Mundaring, our closest major outpost of the Big Smoke. Due to the ongoing chaos caused by major roadworks on the Great Eastern Highway, Midland, a further twenty kilometres, was a Bridge Too Far.

I was successful in finding a suitably gushing card in the supermarket. My hopes were fading... Then, salvation was at hand. Displayed outside Hills Fresh, my fruit and veg Go To shop, were a variety of plants, including miniature bamboo in a pot. Sold!

So, this morning, I presented my beloved man with his card and Baby Panda bamboo. He was stoked. Not to be outdone, he reciprocated with his own card for me. *sigh of happiness*.

I was delighted. Gold hearts and romantic words. A cherished personal statement of his love for me. The day was off to a wonderful start. We walked hand-in-hand up the main drag to Janet's SLAB (Stretch, Lift and Breathe) class. The other attendee was Lois, a good-natured, funny and very encouraging lady who is as fit as a flea. Yet Lois is always helpful, always supportive. Which I needed as I held the kettlebell the wrong way...

Staggering out of the combination of cardio and resistance moves (which is why I think SHAG - Step, Heave and Gasp is a better title), we picked up the newspaper and returned to Station House. I had time for a quick breakfast, a shower and a frock.

Hurtling into the Gallery, I welcomed guests from interstate and wondered if I would get any takers for our Gallery Play Day. Another friend dropped in with a card and a scratchie. The day was getting better and better. I was thrilled when both Jenny Couper and Gracie Courtney arrived in the Gallery. Gracie came only for my comedy routine, a cup of tea and biscuits and a wander and chat with Michael. Jenny played with some copper wire trees and began a sketch of an inkwell. A most enjoyable few hours ensued.

Comment was made, twice, that Valentine's Day was also our anniversary. Huh? Then the penny dropped and I roared with laughter. My darling husband had bought me an anniversary card, rather than a Valentine's Day card. He had tried hard and his heart was, as ever, in the right place. The card and Michael were both perfect!

Valentine's Day will conclude with a dinner in York. A real treat for us. And best of all, no dishes. I can't think of a better way to end what has been a rather lovely day.

Other snippets of news are more positive as well. Relief, both monetary and physical, is being highlighted on social media for the pastoralists in Queensland's North West. Emergency funding is becoming available. Help for station families in the form of more feet on the ground is being requested, including running homesteads whilst they recover and salvage their herds. Feed is starting to get through.

In Tasmania, which has seen World Heritage Areas threatened by fires for weeks has had a most unusual weather event. Snow has fallen in some parts of Tassie, easing the ordeal for exhausted firefighters. Let's hope cooler days can bring this saga to a close.

In our nation's capital, we have been thrilled at the passing of a humanitarian bill (Medivac) to bring very sick refugees to Australia from Nauru and Manus Island. And to show the calibre of our parliamentarians, Senator Brian Burston was involved in a bit of biffo over a tit-for-tat sexual harassment spat with Senator Pauline Hansen's chief of staff James Ashby. Meanwhile, the government, exceedingly shirty at having their Medivac legislation defeated, have succumbed to hysteria and need to be put to bed with a swift and sharp smack and no dinner...

The best news of the day is that we are hopefully twenty-four hours closer in removing this current crop of self-interested parasites from the seats of Parliament House.

How's your day been?