Privet privations.

It is heating up here in San Antonio, Texas. This might give the impression that I am stating the bleeding obvious – and I am – but it is quite disconcerting to see that it is now warmer here than it is at home.

Mind you, we have had several very cool nights this week. In that regard it’s a lot like Spring at home…complete with the Privet blossoms.

I had been told that the hay fever I was suffering from was San Antonio’s infamous Oak pollen fever. Then I realised that the hotel complex I am living in is surrounded by a hedge of bloody, blooming privet. I hate the stuff. It makes my life a misery.

There used to be a very tall Privet bush/tree at my front gate. Once I figured out that it was the culprit behind my newly discovered allergy, I set about trying to kill it.

I’m still trying to kill it 5 years later. There’s a reason it’s considered a noxious weed in Oz. It fruits profusely and suckers prodigiously.

(How was that for an example of a really bad sentence?)

I decapitated this bush. I cut off all the suckers it put out. I used Zero weedkiller on the cut surfaces. I completely disoriented my friends who used it as a landmark when looking for my home…

It now tries to come up in the footpath beside the garden bed it used to preside over. I dread to think what I’m going to find upon my return. Hopefully, the bottlebrush I planted there not long before I departed will be flourishing. Hopefully.

At this particular point on the globe, I am still exploring the savings to be found in shopping coupons. I’m only buying things I need, but applying a coupon to each item purchased. Amazing the amount that can be saved that way!

I’ve also noticed that every night the local television news has an item about Jesus or the Virgin Mary being spotted on a taco/tree/table-top wood grain/somewhere really odd. I’m not sure if this is a new thing or that sightings have increased in the days leading up to Semana Santa or Holy Week.

It occurred to me today, that I should make an effort on Good Friday or Easter Sunday and actually attend a church service. After all, I am in the Bible Belt. I put aside thoughts that the edifices themselves may actually fall on my non-believing head and searched my mind for the closest consecrated facility. Heaven knows there are many of them around (did you see what I did there?) There are even churches in stores in shopping centres here – it’s mind-boggling really.

I thought a more traditional church might be the ticket though, and racked my mind for one close by. Where Oh Where? Then it registered that the church behind the hotel was ringing its bells as it always does at midday…

I know. I’m an idiot.

We’ll see what the weather is like on the days in question. There are rumours that we may have rain and even hail on Sunday, so Friday may be my only option. That is, if I can be bothered.

I am going to sign off and tuck into an Oscar Mayer Steakhouse Cheddar, Hot Sandwich melt that I bought with one of the aforementioned coupons today. It has to go soon as it is 59% sodium and I want to get rid of the evidence…

I don’t usually buy prepared food, but it’s Holy Week and I thought I might be able to find a holy icon pictured in it somewhere.

ttfn,

s.

Coup(on) de grace.

I am feeling very proud of myself. I think my brother would be proud of me too. He likes it when I save money.

Today I used my first coupons. I saved myself $10.

Ta da!

For my American readers, I should explain that coupons are not generally part of the Australian retail experience. We have shop-a-dockets and fast food offers, yes, but we don’t tend to get little bits of paper that entitle us to 40c off 6 tubs of yoghurt and so on.

In fact, when I saw my first coupons, I wondered why anyone would be bothered with them. Some of the savings didn’t seem particularly generous and hardly worth the trouble or possible embarrassment.

Then I remembered something really, REALLY important.

America is the land that inflation forgot.

Seriously, I can do a week’s grocery shopping for less than $40. At home, it would be more like $100. Here, a half dozen eggs costs only 99c. Here, a 2 litre bottle of Diet Coke costs $1.50, at home it’s somewhere between 2 and 3 dollars.

You get my drift.

Anyway, I discovered that the Sunday newspaper has more than just the television guide for the next week. It also has many, many coupons. Many. Big mobs. A lot.

So, I spent Sunday morning listening to pod casts of ABC Radio National’s The Book Show (natch) and clipping coupons. Then organising them into categories and expiry dates.

Then I spent some time stretching out my hips after sitting cross-legged on the bed for far too long given that I am an old, old lady…

Then I had to summon the nerve to actually use them – which I did!

Woohoo! Who’dathunkit?

Now, just to emphasize how much I came out on top – I only paid $20 after saving the $10.

Right. Bragging over.

Back to the novel.

ttfn,

S