non-lucid

I was watching on as two people were resting in a hollow in the ground out in the wilderness. Suddenly they were surrounded by soldiers, pointing rifles at them. The soldiers, upon finding out who they were, put down their rifles and said they were there to rescue them. The woman claimed that her arms were paralysed. I took her to a nearby park bench where we all sat and played cards. I suspected that her arms were fine, so I started to torment her by putting things near her hands etc. Eventually she got mad and just grabbed things, and then everybody saw that her arms were fine. We all laughed about it (including her).

I climbed aboard an old steam train, for a tour. I went ahead of the tour, since I knew my way around already. I made it into a race of some sort, where I went from carriage to carriage looking following where I knew the tour would go, being careful that nobody from the tour could ever be quick enough to see me. I now thought of the train as a retired submarine which had been put inland as a tourist attraction. I hopped off, and started running alongside it (it was very long). Since I wanted to run fast, I went on all fours. Realised it was a dream, but was tricked into thinking that if I went fully lucid I would awake, so I gave up lucidity.

Suddenly I was in the back yard of my parents' house, which was actually the art house from my previous dream. Nikolas was with me, and Gordon the dog was there too, by the back fence. Suddenly, Gordon started to vomit profusely, and I quickly took Nikolas inside away from him. We went in by the laundry door, and up the steps.

Driving up Kingscote Cres with parents, turned into house over the road from no. 23. We were going there for dinner. Lady walked out to meet us, somehow walking with her feet upside-down. She climbed on the bonnet of the car where she knelt and did some welcoming ceremony. We went inside. Toured house, which was multi-level, with lots of turning half-staircases. Very modern. Lady told me to keep the children out of her art room, and I understood it was because of what they might see, not for fear of them damaging anything. Some very strange and grotesque art, like that of Richard Upton Pickman.

Walking in back yard, see a native bee. Stoop to have a closer look, and see several of my own bees as well. Look up to see my bees everywhere, working on collecting nectar and pollen. Each bee is fully laden, and even looking in the distance I can see the pollen on the bees' legs. As I remark about this to dad and others standing by, a strong wind comes up, blowing pollen in from every direction. We have to go inside, bu I keep an ey on the beehive. Bees are still bringing their loads in even in the strong wind. Suddenly, I'm aware of individual bees at the door of the hive. They morph into actors, and I follow their actions further into the "hive." One of the actor-bees (played by Angel Coulby) had done something wrong, and was being brutally persecuted by another of the bees.

Driving home to new house, somewhere on a steep hill. Talking on the phone to Anin while wife is driving, looking at mountains in the distance. Arrive at driveway, which is mostly dirt, and very steep and long. Drive most way up, but car won't make it. Roll back down. Tell wife to try again; don't want to climb it in the rain on foot. Same again, make it most way and then start rolling back. Quickly apply brakes, very hard. Brakes won't hold, even when I move into driver's seat and stand on brake with all my weight, while reefing on the handbrake. Roll back to base of driveway.

Kingscote. Waiting for boys to get into car. One of them lets off the handbrake. Car rolls toward road, and knocks letterbox out of ground. I push the car back up the driveway, and look for a chock, since the handbrake now won't hold the car.

At Covenant College again, this time it's daytime. For some reason I am chewing on the lunch bell, and spitting out the pieces.

Night time. Driving past Covenant College with David K. Remark about waste of money on "security" lighting, and how sensor lights would be far more effective, and economical. Drive to library and get out to look around. Kill some vampires and quickly get back into the car. Lock doors and drive away. Dodging pillars down driveway, leading to food court in shopping centre, possibly science and technology museum.

Arrived home to find the block of letterboxes missing from the street. As I proceeded up the driveway I noticed some houses had new letterboxes installed out the front of the house. I lived at no. 10 (old house). When I parked, I noticed a new letterbox slot in the brickwork, in front of the car, and wondered how the postie was supposed to get to that. Also, the slot was only about 2" wide, so it was far too small to accept mail. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that it was open at the back, and letters (if they could fit through the hole) would just sit on the ground, open to the weather. There was also a small oriental garden there, with a candle. A single piece of junk mail was there, having been put underneath the candle (but on top of the candle base). I looked to see what the neighbours' letterbox was like, and found a gravel driveway, indicating that the whole house had been moved and had become a battleaxe block.

Walked into an auditorium where I knew my children and wife were. Not sure what was supposed to be going on there. Turns out to be a hostage situation, with some woman shooting people with a laser. She thought I was a fellow terrorist for some reason, and handed me the laser so that I could continue the shooting while she worked on some electronics behind the lectern. I started sending children out to the toilet, whispering to them how to escape once there. I was just beginning a mass rescue when I woke up from the dream.

At in-laws' house. Mum was having a bath in the laundry sink, while my wife and I watched TV. Small children playing on the floor. I was playing with one of them for a while, while I waited for Mum to come out of surgery. Child became upset so I handed her to my father-in-law who had just arrived home from a road trip.

Walking in the city (dream-geography) on a Sunday. Happen upon a bike store with a closing sale. Browse in shop, which is kind of bare. Shopkeeper asks if I'm interested in Trek bikes. I say no, and he proceeds to take me to see some bikes. I was thinking "I bet he'll show me a Trek bike just because he's a salesman." He didn't, but showed me a MTB of some other brand. He tried to convince me that I should have the seat low enough that I could rest both feet flat on the ground while seated, and just to be polite I pretended to agree. He asked if I would be more interested in a road bike, and I said that I ride a fixed-gear road bike. Somehow he knew that I ride 30km (20mi) to work, and was impressed that I ride a fixie. He showed me a weird road bike with a removable rear triangle, which could be re-attached with different lengths to change the wheelbase. Not sure how the chain worked(?). While he was showing me this, two suspicious kids walked in and looked around. I was tempted to talk to them, thinking I could convince them not to steal, but then I got the feeling that the shopkeeper didn't want anyone to do anything, so I watched. They picked up a pair of bright blue ankle-high shoes and walked out. The shopkeeper joked that it would have been impossible to sell those shoes anyway.

Taking lunch in the University courtyard which I often dream of (not the real one). Become aware of a pilgrimage of Western soldiers through China, from SW to NE, as some form of protest. Started to watch a news report on the subject, which was presented like a weather report, with a puppet weatherman standing in front of a map of China covered with yellow McDonald's symbols of varying size, probably representing cities. Reporter showed path of soldiers, and where they were taking refuge in a small country, isolated in the middle of China. Report of some being abducted from sanctuary country by Chinese government. Reporter went on to talk about commercialisation of mainland China, indicating McDonald's symbols.

Planning to go to Sydney with parents and hire car. Remembering past dream as a prior trip similar.

Later in the night (after dragon dream), in Sydney. Getting a lift somewhere, but wife won't let me in the car (says there isn't room, even when there is a seat). Go back to hotel car park to get stuff from car, followed by suspicious security guard. Find car trashed. Security guard gave about $20 in sympathy. Breakfast is served outside what is now a hospital. Try to figure out how to afford new car without defaulting on home loan.

Walking home at night, possibly on holidays. Saw stars far more vividly than before, crystal clear. They were moving around the SCP, as if time were sped up. Suddenly became aware of fireworks, following the stars. Near home, getting phone out to take some photos when I heard rustling in long grass. It was Nikolas (4yo), playing with an empty Pringles can. Brought him in, why was he out in the middle of the night? Where did he get those glasses? Went outside again to see stars and fireworks.

Saw some girls sitting around watching the show. Wife came out wanting me to hear the song on the radio, forgot the words while she was trying to sing along. We all laughed. Saw beautiful (and huge) temple, lit by fireworks. Phone out again to take photos. Not working too well in low light. Suddenly, a huge procession of oriental warriors poured towards temple. Dancing started, with enormous lion dragon dance.

Low battery warning on device which is now an iPad. Can't turn it off for some reason. Show Rohan (for some reason it's now his iPad). Eventually close apps and turn off. Now Rohan, Imogen and I are leaving from a friend's house.