Leisure Day

I now have a full on cold with accompanying very runny nose... Just thought I should share that little gem with you... But no one ever dropped down dead from a cold, so being the very brave little soldier that I am, I shall continue to lead my little kitten herd on our last full day in Darwin. At breakfast, most decided that they were going to catch the local bus and head out to Casuarina which has a large shopping centre. I headed out on my own to the shops and enjoyed the 45 minute drive through the suburbs to Casuarina. It was much like every other Westfield or similar shopping centre and nearly all the same shops. I made a bee line for a chemist to purchase cold/ flu drugs and bought a coffee but that was my entire shopping effort. Caught the bus back with all the girls after catching up with all the herd to tell them that I was heading out to Mindil markets later and to meet at 3.45 if they wanted to come with me. Little M said she wanted to come but when I told her that we were going by bus, she said that she couldn't go in a bus so I told her she would need to take a taxi. I could tell that she wasn't happy about that but the reality is that she should never have come on this trip as she can't manage the coach steps well, nor can she walk any distance and certainly can't do many stairs or uneven surfaces. I've told her that we will need to rethink future coach trips, although she is already booked for our September Canberra coach trip. That will definitely be her last with me. It's just too hard and she takes up too much of my time. Right.... Now where was I??? Had a cup of soup and roll in my room for a late lunch and then I headed off with all bar little M to the markets. Today was the Beer Can Regatta at Mindil Beach so the place was heaving. I saw the end of the 'boat' race but it looked more like a "who can sink whose boat quicker'" competition to me! Didn't think much of the markets as most of the stalls had items clearly brought in from Bali and very little actual hand made items. Lots of food stalls but as it was only 5 o'clock it was too early for my dinner so I caught the bus back into town, headed for the hotel, dosed up on more drugs, and booked a table for dinner in the hotel restaurant for me, little M and a couple of the kittens I've rounded up since getting back to the hotel. Head off to dinner and M ends up joining us too. This kitten is usually off with the fairies and at dinner tells me that she hasn't been able to read the magazines she brought with her as they are locked in her suitcase. When I ask her why she doesn't unlock her case, she tells me that she has lost the keys to the padlock. When I ask her how she has managed to get clothes out of the same suitcase I'm now informed that she had to get hotel reception staff to bring bolt cutters to her room the afternoon we arrived, to cut one of the padlocks on her suitcase so that she could get to the main compartment but she didn't get them to cut the second padlock on a smaller zippered pocket. Makes no sense to me, but just as well I didn't know about this on the first day... Anyhow having dinner with both M's is not something I actively seek out, so just as well there were two other 'normal' kittens at dinner as well or I would have contemplated scooping my eyes out with a fork just for some light relief! My Singaporean Laksa was really nice and spicy enough that it certainly has helped clear the sinuses. But time to head back to the room for more drugs and the blog for my last night in the Top End. One of the kittens told me this afternoon that 6 of them have already decided that we need to come to Alice Springs next year! I can only hope and pray that of the six, none of their names start with M!!!