Wild Blue Yonder

I became an empty nester again on Saturday.

The eldest headed off after spending two weeks with me during uni break.

We spent our last night together on the couch eating pizza and watching the three Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials with David Tennant.

It’s been 15 years since David Tennant was Doctor Who. He looks EXACTLY THE SAME. It is spooky, almost like he has a touch of the time lord about him.

I was giddy with nostalgic joy and almost shed a few tears during the first two episodes, The Star Beast, Wild Blue Yonder … Wilf … but The Giggle didn’t quite do it for me. It was a bit too neatly tied in a bow at the end.

Still, I can’t knock gazing and David Tennant for three hours as he whizzes through time and space.

The next morning, I postponed my weekly walk so I could give the eldest a goodbye hug – and a bag of groceries – before he hit the road to Albury to visit his grandparents.

His dad picked him up from my place, then they collected the youngest in Canberra following a snowboarding trip that involved sleeping in a tent at Lake Jindabye … brrrrr ….

It got much quieter in my apartment after that. Sad face. It was so lovely having him home.

Soon after they headed off, I was shocked to hear the news that Julian McMahon had died. My sister and I met him many, many years ago at a premiere party for the Fantastic Four. She was a big Julian fan, whereas I was obsessed with his co-star Ioan Gruffudd (aka Horatio Hornblower).

We dared each other to go up and talk to our respective crushes. Both were really sweet … and very gorgeous. Vale Julian, gone far too soon.

Then I drove away from the emptiness, dropping the dogs at DD’s on my way to get my roots done.

While my grey hair was being painted I remembered DD had an unused voucher to a local restaurant that his brother gave him for Christmas … I reminded him and we headed there for a steak dinner.

The next morning dawned with the shortest electrical storm on record, maybe one bolt of lightning.

I wandered to the beach in the light drizzle for a stickybeak at the pretty colours, then grabbed coffees and the Sunday papers.

Mid-morning we took our folding chairs to Avalon headland – my happy place – for a piccolo, splitting a yummy Big Mac-style burrito from Classic Coffee as we watched for whales.

The weather was absolutely glorious, what an amazing winter’s day!

However, no whales materialised, so headed to ALDI, which had some awesome centre aisle specials. I went a bit crazy buying things I didn’t realise I needed until I saw them, including a cocoon dog bed for Charlie.

The floofy beds are supposed to be good for anxiety, which is ironic as Charlie doesn’t have anxiety and loves them, while Bilbo is a quivering ball of anxiety and acts like he’s been electrocuted if you try and put him in one.

After dropping by the mall to get some black polo shirts for DD, we went to Dee Why RSL to satisfy DD’s burning desire for a Christmas in July lunch.

Very good value at $26 for non members!

Then we rounded out the fun with a trip to Long Reef to watch the para sailors in action.

All too soon it was time for me to pack up and head back to my empty apartment.

Bilbo started shaking with misery when he realised we were going. He hates car trips and loves being at DD’s place in equal measure.

How was your weekend?

PS Don’t ask me how the diet’s going.

Song of the day: Coldplay “A sky full of stars” (wow, didn’t realise it was filmed in Newtown)