Hello, Rosie.

I mentioned back at the end of April that I came home from work to find our cat, Normie, in distress and that his condition was irrecoverable.
That was a rather upsetting time and it took several weeks to accept that he was no longer part of our daily life after ten or more years.

Time has a way of easing the pain and we did get another cat - from the RSPCA - and she has now become ensconsed into our life, just as Normie did (and also our dog that preceded him).

Rosie, a spotted tabby, is the new member of the household and is now about a year old.
She is a very affectionate little thing and, like her predecessor, has taken to following me around the place and if I'm sitting here working at the computer, she jumps up into the space between me and the back of the chair, where she is quite happy to stay until I want to lean back!

So, this update is simply to introduce Rosie, whom I have dubbed "Red Rose Speedway" due to her love of racing up and down the hallway when in high spirits.

Rosie and grand-daughter Matilda

Jottings on recent happenings.

GOODBYE MONARO, HELLO JAZZ.
I have now been a retiree for almost three months, having departed the workforce on August 24th..
Over the past few weeks several changes have occurred in my lifestyle, not the least of which was saying "goodbye" to the Holden Monaro CV8Z that I had owned for just over twelve months.
After driving around Canberra and seeing Premium 98 fuel disappearing out the exhaust at the rate of 16.8 litres per 100 kilometres, I came to the realisation that this could not continue.

So just after filling up with the liquid gold a month ago I drove straight to the local Honda dealer and did a deal on a brand new, optioned-up Honda Jazz VTi 5-speed manual.
The reason for my choice was quite simply that, back in February of this year I had spent a week driving my sister's Jazz and was most impressed by it.
So when thinking of a replacement for the Monaro I had no hesitation in opting for the Jazz.
I've never been a "car shopper". I'll decide what I want from personal experiences and specifications.
Apart from the versatility of the Jazz (5-door and a multitude of rear-seat configurations) the fuel economy also was a major player.

Taking a break at Black Springs, on the return run to Canberra

Only this weekend I took the Jazz on its first long run out of Canberra, when I drove up to the Blue Mountains.
Since taking delivery of the car (19th. October) I had been getting between 6.3 and 6.6 L/100Km around the suburban streets of my hometown.
On the highway run to and from Leura the consumption averaged 5.6 L/100Km.
And this is Regular 91 fuel, not the more expensive 98.
To say that I am delighted with the cost savings would be an understatement.
I am equally delighted with the car overall; it was a joy to drive on that trip. I went up to the 'Mountains via the freeways and returned through Oberon, Taralga and Goulburn and the car was just a pleasure.

CATALINA PARK, KATOOMBA.
Many years ago, back around 1964/65/66, I and a friend used to catch the train from Sydney (I think we boarded it at Strathfield) to Katoomba to attend the motor-race meetings at Catalina Park circuit, literally in the heart of the capital of the Blue Mountains.

This was in the hey-day of its operation, when the stars of the motor-racing brigade would be in attendance, such as the likes of Norm Beechey, Leo and Pete Geoghegan, Bob Jane, Frank Matich, Ron Thorpe, John Harvey, Peter Manton, Brian Foley....et al.
Catalina was a top little (about 1.3 miles) circuit and very exciting racing was usually the order of the day.

When I was at Leura this week just gone I had the opportunity to revisit the circuit with a couple of old friends. We walked a full lap of the now overgrown and dilapidated facility, unused for its intended purpose for several decades.
But it was a most nostalgic moment and brought back many good memories as we reminisced for an hour or so.

The link above goes to a site that provides some excellent information and photographs but I provide a couple below that I took during my first visit after 40+ years.

Probably the most poignant item - the sign advising the permanent closure

Faint signs of the original "Craven A" sign-writing at "Craven A Corner"