I don't care if you lick windows,
see dead people,
or occasionally PEE yourself...
You hang in there sunshine,
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Memememe!
Today is International Disturbed People's Day. Please send an encouraging message to a disturbed friend... just as I've done.
I don't care if you lick windows,
see dead people,
or occasionally PEE yourself...
You hang in there sunshine,
you're Bloody special.
I don't care if you lick windows,
see dead people,
or occasionally PEE yourself...
You hang in there sunshine,
Monday, 29 October 2007
Four weeks to go.
The overt rhetoric is nothing compared to the underlying change Australia has had.
The right to lamblast those who are 'not like us', or those who appear weak and in need is too too awful.
This 'leadership' took the attitudes of Pauline and made them embedded in our society.
Howard's lies, his meanness, his overt shows of fear and hatred during the 'terrorism' upswing made us into a cowardly, sad, self serving nation.
The green stuck in his teeth is the residue of never having said 'Sorry'. His mother should have washed his mouth out first then kicked him out of home at 17 instead of into his 30's. He would have seen how life really is for the rest of the nation.
He has been fooled by surrounding himself with 'yes' men.
I remember when it was the Liberal Party who crossed the floor to vote on things of conscience, representative of their electorates and the people they cared about. It was always seen as abhorrant to some of us to see the stalwart rock steady voting of the Labor Party.
Now we have seen the guts taken out of the representatives behind someone like Howard.
There is so much to observe about this sad little man...a sad little powerful man who took us and fed us to the money grubbers.
But the most important thing of all were..the LIES.
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Rememberance
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/sas-soldier-respected-the-foe-who-killed-him
/2007/10/26/1192941338552.html
A second Australian soldier has died in the 'war on terror'.
In his memory for this fool of a conflict:
Bob Gollan was a digger of the Second World War.
In August 2005 Gollan, then 87, got a letter along with a commemorative medallion marking the 60th anniversary of the end of WW11.
He wrote a letter back.
"A few days ago, like thousands of other old men and women, I received a shiny medallion and a letter signed by John Howard which thanked me for my part in protecting 'the Australian way of life in times of conflict' and for helping to build 'our community in times of peace'. It made me think of Ivan Barber, a West Australian wheat farmer who substituted for me on an operation so I could take a few days' leave, and who died in my place.
"I wondered what he and the more than 40,000 men and boys who died defending our country in WW11 would feel about John Howard's Australia. Certainly most people are materially better off. We have shared in the bounty of the one-fifth of the world which has become rich. But we have become a country governed by lies and fear.
"John Howard has surrendered the self-reliance for which we fought, to curry favour with the most dangerous military power in history. He has stoked the fear of terrorists who may target us because of his fawning subservience to US President Georg Bush. He boasts he stands for mateship and egalitarianism at the same time he attempts, by his industrial relations 'reforms', to destroy the institutions on which those qualities have been nurtured.
"The chief law officer (Philip Ruddock - the one who put children behind razor wire because they were seeking safe habour from horror as refugees) seems not to understand the principles of the rule of law. He and Howard undermine the very principles of democracy in the name of defending them. The Foreign Minister ( Alexander Downer - the one who called David Hicks names before he was tried) rails against those who don't accept his opinion, as fools. He supports his stand by some weird interpretations of history.
"Yes, we would not have survived (WW11) without the American alliance. But the Americans I served with believed, correctly, we were defending a great democracy. Today the alliance, for which Howard and his coterie are prepared to sell our soul, is a militaristic plutocracy."
He was hospitalised on 10 October this year. He said to an old friend:
"I"m going to walk out of here or leave in a wheelchair, then I'm going to hang in there long enough to vote that bastard out of office".
Howard called the election the next day.
Twenty four hours later, at 6am on Monday after, Bob Gollan died. He would have been 90 in December. He could not quite "hang in there" to keep his impassioned vow.
Hopefully we will all remember this amazing thoughtful man and do it for him!
(Thanks to Alan Ramsey of the Sydney Morning Herald for this piece.)
*italic pieces are my editorial
/2007/10/26/1192941338552.html
A second Australian soldier has died in the 'war on terror'.
In his memory for this fool of a conflict:
Bob Gollan was a digger of the Second World War.
In August 2005 Gollan, then 87, got a letter along with a commemorative medallion marking the 60th anniversary of the end of WW11.
He wrote a letter back.
"A few days ago, like thousands of other old men and women, I received a shiny medallion and a letter signed by John Howard which thanked me for my part in protecting 'the Australian way of life in times of conflict' and for helping to build 'our community in times of peace'. It made me think of Ivan Barber, a West Australian wheat farmer who substituted for me on an operation so I could take a few days' leave, and who died in my place.
"I wondered what he and the more than 40,000 men and boys who died defending our country in WW11 would feel about John Howard's Australia. Certainly most people are materially better off. We have shared in the bounty of the one-fifth of the world which has become rich. But we have become a country governed by lies and fear.
"John Howard has surrendered the self-reliance for which we fought, to curry favour with the most dangerous military power in history. He has stoked the fear of terrorists who may target us because of his fawning subservience to US President Georg Bush. He boasts he stands for mateship and egalitarianism at the same time he attempts, by his industrial relations 'reforms', to destroy the institutions on which those qualities have been nurtured.
"The chief law officer (Philip Ruddock - the one who put children behind razor wire because they were seeking safe habour from horror as refugees) seems not to understand the principles of the rule of law. He and Howard undermine the very principles of democracy in the name of defending them. The Foreign Minister ( Alexander Downer - the one who called David Hicks names before he was tried) rails against those who don't accept his opinion, as fools. He supports his stand by some weird interpretations of history.
"Yes, we would not have survived (WW11) without the American alliance. But the Americans I served with believed, correctly, we were defending a great democracy. Today the alliance, for which Howard and his coterie are prepared to sell our soul, is a militaristic plutocracy."
He was hospitalised on 10 October this year. He said to an old friend:
"I"m going to walk out of here or leave in a wheelchair, then I'm going to hang in there long enough to vote that bastard out of office".
Howard called the election the next day.
Twenty four hours later, at 6am on Monday after, Bob Gollan died. He would have been 90 in December. He could not quite "hang in there" to keep his impassioned vow.
Hopefully we will all remember this amazing thoughtful man and do it for him!
(Thanks to Alan Ramsey of the Sydney Morning Herald for this piece.)
*italic pieces are my editorial
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Marriage and Other Pains
Stephanie Coontz, a historian, documented what marriage used to exist for.
Marriage in the 'olden days' was a web of extended family obligations. For the upper classes, its purpose was to magnify wealth and power. For the lower, to choose a spouse who could contribute sweat or material goods to the small business that was each household ( farming, cottage industry included).
Gradually with industrialisation and the movement of jobs outside the home, love replaced the communal economic imperatives as the glue between husbands and wives, striking two blows to the institution.
First, romantic love isn't known for its long-lasting adhesive properties. Second, no-one is as deeply invested in a marriage as the two people in it.
The continuing argument against same-sex marriage ( or legal contracts) is a no-brainer.
The Church throughout the middle ages was more consumed with the consumation of the rich marriages as this is how the Church got most of its fortune.
In Britain the ideal of having a 'vocation' in the Church was a choice as one son would/could choose the Army, the family business ( landowners) or the church. It was not NOT a 'spiritual' calling. ( See "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austin).
The religious orders of all colours ( not just Christian) have always seen the need to control the woman. If they controlled her through her 'right' to marriage, bear children, closet her in her father's care then her husband's , they would have control over the great wealth of most lands. This is still clearly witnessed within the 'kingdoms' of Saudia Arabia et al.
Once women got control over who they marry, and then eventually over their own children ( not until the beginning of the 20 Century) they could then start to have a say over work, money, and then choice of representation...Finally in most Western Nations by the 1920's. ( Australia and New Zealand being the first two to give suffarage to women).
The importance of the 1960's was NOT the sexual revolution per se, however because of the right of women to control their own fertility (ie contraception..the Pill), the sexual revolution came along for the ride.
With this final right extending to the right to abortion the Church lost a great chunk of its power. The Christian church that is.
While guilt and blame are still the heavy burden for most religious minded women, foisted upon them by the (male) Church leaders, there will be a continuation of the power that once was.
What the new fundamentalist/Evangelical Christian faiths do is revert to 'type'. They enjoy in a perverse way the fundamentalism of Islam and other such faiths. Seeing the continued control of women, their choices, their suffarage and their bodies means the ancient faiths still wield unholy control of the nations.
What the ( especially American) Evangelists do is to re-gain the horror of the imaginary friend's displeasure at women's freedom to enjoy and hanker after sex without the worry of pregnancy, castigation or choice.
So the idea of continuing to hold to the 'sacredness' of marriage between a 'man and a woman' is historically nonsense and at the best a furphy.
(Actually it is completely and utterly bullshit, but I was trying to stay measured and calm throughout this post).
Hence the notion of gay marriages being wrong, abortion being against god (abortion has always been an option, legal or not, for women from time immemorial), or sex before marriage being 'sinful' ( it has always happened and always will) is nothing but a return to the control by Church ( ie men over women).
Hence a friend's son is now involved in a strange religion of which he is now studying to be a pastor. The church is full of young married people ..some as young as 17, most married before 20 years of age. Because the sex urge is to be controlled by the Church the children are having children 'legally' within the bounds of their religious brainwashing.
My ex- son-in-law is now involved in another form of these American evangelicals. I talked to him last month to find out how he is 'travelling' in his life post marriage.
I asked him to 'testify' to me as he would to someone in the streets as he does once a week.
He made the mistake of asking a confirmed atheist questions of how I am without a god.
I wanted to answer how he wanted me to so he could go onto his next 'piece' but I didn't want him to feel insulted by my condescension.
Sadly I just confused and befuddled him. I do love him still, as he was a part of my family for several years. He is a good person. He is a soft and gentle man. But..
He is judgemental of others who do not believe in the Bible as the 'truth'.
He is judgemental of women who have sex outside marriage.
He is judgemental of those who cannot claim Jesus as their saviour.
He is ...hurting, lost, trying to find a way out of his disappointment.
I held him to me and told him that he is a good person.
He said: "Only God is good. I am nothing but filth in comparison".
I said: "But isn't everything your god creates good?"
He stood back and stared at me. I wanted him to know that even on HIS God's terms...he is good. That his 'god' died for him...and that is how precious he is.
Somewhere there was a disconnect between what he was reading in his Bible ( that is all he reads now..refuses to watch TV), the understanding of the forgiveness and love contain ( in parts) therein, and the horror of believing in something that was written peace-meal over hundreds of years and re-hashed over centuries.
I left him with my love. I have nothing else to give him.
Marriage in the 'olden days' was a web of extended family obligations. For the upper classes, its purpose was to magnify wealth and power. For the lower, to choose a spouse who could contribute sweat or material goods to the small business that was each household ( farming, cottage industry included).
Gradually with industrialisation and the movement of jobs outside the home, love replaced the communal economic imperatives as the glue between husbands and wives, striking two blows to the institution.
First, romantic love isn't known for its long-lasting adhesive properties. Second, no-one is as deeply invested in a marriage as the two people in it.
The continuing argument against same-sex marriage ( or legal contracts) is a no-brainer.
The Church throughout the middle ages was more consumed with the consumation of the rich marriages as this is how the Church got most of its fortune.
In Britain the ideal of having a 'vocation' in the Church was a choice as one son would/could choose the Army, the family business ( landowners) or the church. It was not NOT a 'spiritual' calling. ( See "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austin).
The religious orders of all colours ( not just Christian) have always seen the need to control the woman. If they controlled her through her 'right' to marriage, bear children, closet her in her father's care then her husband's , they would have control over the great wealth of most lands. This is still clearly witnessed within the 'kingdoms' of Saudia Arabia et al.
Once women got control over who they marry, and then eventually over their own children ( not until the beginning of the 20 Century) they could then start to have a say over work, money, and then choice of representation...Finally in most Western Nations by the 1920's. ( Australia and New Zealand being the first two to give suffarage to women).
The importance of the 1960's was NOT the sexual revolution per se, however because of the right of women to control their own fertility (ie contraception..the Pill), the sexual revolution came along for the ride.
With this final right extending to the right to abortion the Church lost a great chunk of its power. The Christian church that is.
While guilt and blame are still the heavy burden for most religious minded women, foisted upon them by the (male) Church leaders, there will be a continuation of the power that once was.
What the new fundamentalist/Evangelical Christian faiths do is revert to 'type'. They enjoy in a perverse way the fundamentalism of Islam and other such faiths. Seeing the continued control of women, their choices, their suffarage and their bodies means the ancient faiths still wield unholy control of the nations.
What the ( especially American) Evangelists do is to re-gain the horror of the imaginary friend's displeasure at women's freedom to enjoy and hanker after sex without the worry of pregnancy, castigation or choice.
So the idea of continuing to hold to the 'sacredness' of marriage between a 'man and a woman' is historically nonsense and at the best a furphy.
(Actually it is completely and utterly bullshit, but I was trying to stay measured and calm throughout this post).
Hence the notion of gay marriages being wrong, abortion being against god (abortion has always been an option, legal or not, for women from time immemorial), or sex before marriage being 'sinful' ( it has always happened and always will) is nothing but a return to the control by Church ( ie men over women).
Hence a friend's son is now involved in a strange religion of which he is now studying to be a pastor. The church is full of young married people ..some as young as 17, most married before 20 years of age. Because the sex urge is to be controlled by the Church the children are having children 'legally' within the bounds of their religious brainwashing.
My ex- son-in-law is now involved in another form of these American evangelicals. I talked to him last month to find out how he is 'travelling' in his life post marriage.
I asked him to 'testify' to me as he would to someone in the streets as he does once a week.
He made the mistake of asking a confirmed atheist questions of how I am without a god.
I wanted to answer how he wanted me to so he could go onto his next 'piece' but I didn't want him to feel insulted by my condescension.
Sadly I just confused and befuddled him. I do love him still, as he was a part of my family for several years. He is a good person. He is a soft and gentle man. But..
He is judgemental of others who do not believe in the Bible as the 'truth'.
He is judgemental of women who have sex outside marriage.
He is judgemental of those who cannot claim Jesus as their saviour.
He is ...hurting, lost, trying to find a way out of his disappointment.
I held him to me and told him that he is a good person.
He said: "Only God is good. I am nothing but filth in comparison".
I said: "But isn't everything your god creates good?"
He stood back and stared at me. I wanted him to know that even on HIS God's terms...he is good. That his 'god' died for him...and that is how precious he is.
Somewhere there was a disconnect between what he was reading in his Bible ( that is all he reads now..refuses to watch TV), the understanding of the forgiveness and love contain ( in parts) therein, and the horror of believing in something that was written peace-meal over hundreds of years and re-hashed over centuries.
I left him with my love. I have nothing else to give him.
Sunday, 21 October 2007
CULTURAL CRINGE
The real Aussie Citizenship Test
LANGUAGE
1. Are these terms related:
chuck a sickie; chuck a spaz; chuck a U-ey?
2. Explain the following passage:
"In the arvo last Chrissy the relos Rocked up for a barbie,
some bevvies and a few snags. After a bit of a Bex and
a lie down we opened the pressies, scoffed all the
chockies, bickies and lollies. Then we drained a few
tinnies and Mum did her block after Dad and Steve had
a barney and a bit of biffo."
CUSTOMS
1. Macca, Chooka and Wanger are driving to
Surfers in their Torana. If they are travelling at
100 km/h while listening to Barnsey, Farnsey and Acca
Dacca , how many slabs will each person on average
consume before having a slash?
2. Complete the following sentences:
a) "If the van's rockin' don't bother..........."
b) "You're going home in the back of a........."
c) "Fair suck of the.........."
3. I've had a gutful and I can't be fagged. Discuss
4. Have you ever been on the giving or receiving end of a wedgie?
5. Do you have a friend or relative who has a car in their
front yard "up On blocks"? Is his name Keith and does
he have a wife called Cheryl?
FOOD
1. Does your family regularly eat a dish involving
mincemeat, cabbage, curry powder and a packet of
chicken noodle soup called either chow mein, chop suey or
kai see ming?
2. What are the ingredients in a rissole?
3. Demonstrate the correct procedure for eating a Tim Tam.
4. Do you have an Aunty Myrna who is famous for her
tuna mornay and other dishes involving a can of cream
of celery soup?
5. In any two-hour period have you ever eaten three-bean
salad, a chop and two serves of pav washed down with
someone else's beer that has been nicked from a bath full of ice?
6. When you go to a bring- your-own-meat barbie can
you eat other people's meat or are you only allowed
to eat your own?
7. What purple root vegetable beginning with the
letter "b" is required by law to be included in
a hamburger with the lot?
CULTURE
1. Do you own or have you ever owned a lawn mower,
a pair of thongs, an Esky or Ugg boots?
2. Is it possible to have a "prang" while doing "circle work"?
3. Who would you like to crack on to?
4. Who is the most Australian: Kevin "Bloody" Wilson,
John "True Blue" Williamson, Kylie Minogue or Warnie?
5. Is there someone you are only mates with because
they own a trailer or have a pool?
6. Would you love to have a beer with Duncan?
The people to be granted citizenship are the ones
who call it a crock and cheat.
LANGUAGE
1. Are these terms related:
chuck a sickie; chuck a spaz; chuck a U-ey?
2. Explain the following passage:
"In the arvo last Chrissy the relos Rocked up for a barbie,
some bevvies and a few snags. After a bit of a Bex and
a lie down we opened the pressies, scoffed all the
chockies, bickies and lollies. Then we drained a few
tinnies and Mum did her block after Dad and Steve had
a barney and a bit of biffo."
CUSTOMS
1. Macca, Chooka and Wanger are driving to
Surfers in their Torana. If they are travelling at
100 km/h while listening to Barnsey, Farnsey and Acca
Dacca , how many slabs will each person on average
consume before having a slash?
2. Complete the following sentences:
a) "If the van's rockin' don't bother..........."
b) "You're going home in the back of a........."
c) "Fair suck of the.........."
3. I've had a gutful and I can't be fagged. Discuss
4. Have you ever been on the giving or receiving end of a wedgie?
5. Do you have a friend or relative who has a car in their
front yard "up On blocks"? Is his name Keith and does
he have a wife called Cheryl?
FOOD
1. Does your family regularly eat a dish involving
mincemeat, cabbage, curry powder and a packet of
chicken noodle soup called either chow mein, chop suey or
kai see ming?
2. What are the ingredients in a rissole?
3. Demonstrate the correct procedure for eating a Tim Tam.
4. Do you have an Aunty Myrna who is famous for her
tuna mornay and other dishes involving a can of cream
of celery soup?
5. In any two-hour period have you ever eaten three-bean
salad, a chop and two serves of pav washed down with
someone else's beer that has been nicked from a bath full of ice?
6. When you go to a bring- your-own-meat barbie can
you eat other people's meat or are you only allowed
to eat your own?
7. What purple root vegetable beginning with the
letter "b" is required by law to be included in
a hamburger with the lot?
CULTURE
1. Do you own or have you ever owned a lawn mower,
a pair of thongs, an Esky or Ugg boots?
2. Is it possible to have a "prang" while doing "circle work"?
3. Who would you like to crack on to?
4. Who is the most Australian: Kevin "Bloody" Wilson,
John "True Blue" Williamson, Kylie Minogue or Warnie?
5. Is there someone you are only mates with because
they own a trailer or have a pool?
6. Would you love to have a beer with Duncan?
The people to be granted citizenship are the ones
who call it a crock and cheat.
Thursday, 18 October 2007
Warning - Only for those who can Laugh at Anything!
http://media.theage.com.au/?rid=32516&category=National%20News
(Please cut and past above link into address bar..can't seem to get a direct link)
Even Death should be laughed at!
There would be at least ONE person in your life that you can relate this piece to.
The Chasers are the last of our Satirists that are getting airplay.
(Please cut and past above link into address bar..can't seem to get a direct link)
Even Death should be laughed at!
There would be at least ONE person in your life that you can relate this piece to.
The Chasers are the last of our Satirists that are getting airplay.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Vale!
r191430_721150.jpg (JPEG Image, 285x190 pixels)
Lance Ferris of Ballina has died. He was known as the Pelican Man. He helped set up a sanctuary for seabirds, turtles and other marine creatures to help them when they were injured.
I had the honour of hearing him speak one year on his ability to grab pelicans when they were injured by fishing-line, hooks, plastic bags etc and save them from a horrible debilitating death.
I shook his hand and thanked him for raising my consciousness about what can be done to prevent such horrible disfiguring wounds. Ever since then I have been a Pelican lover.
I am a pelican.
I am Polly.
So to Lance and his fellow workers thank you for all you do for our marine creatures.
And to Lance, who at the too-early age of 60 died of a stroke, my tears were shed for you and your family and for the rest of the Australian community who admired and praised you.
Vale! Vale to the Pelican Man of the North Coast of NSW.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/15/2059743.htm
Lance Ferris of Ballina has died. He was known as the Pelican Man. He helped set up a sanctuary for seabirds, turtles and other marine creatures to help them when they were injured.
I had the honour of hearing him speak one year on his ability to grab pelicans when they were injured by fishing-line, hooks, plastic bags etc and save them from a horrible debilitating death.
I shook his hand and thanked him for raising my consciousness about what can be done to prevent such horrible disfiguring wounds. Ever since then I have been a Pelican lover.
I am a pelican.
I am Polly.
So to Lance and his fellow workers thank you for all you do for our marine creatures.
And to Lance, who at the too-early age of 60 died of a stroke, my tears were shed for you and your family and for the rest of the Australian community who admired and praised you.
Vale! Vale to the Pelican Man of the North Coast of NSW.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/15/2059743.htm
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
An oldie but a goodie.
So the first billion dollar promise has been announced by HoWARd and his idiot Treasurer.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/team-howard-in-34bn-income-tax-cut-splurge/2007/10/15/1192300686377.ht
Just shows you how greedy and moneygubbing we have become in Australia.
My! How unlike our old selves we are..but we will take any amount of handouts you can throw at us even if it does take from the poor to give to the rich.
So tired of it already and we have 6 weeks of campaigning to go.
Ho hum...shall we rent videos/dvd's instead and wake up from the somnolence when it is all over.
If HoWARd does get back in again...( and he promises to leave half way through the next term) then I cry for my country, my beloved country. We are but all lost.
Meanwhile back in the White House....
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/team-howard-in-34bn-income-tax-cut-splurge/2007/10/15/1192300686377.ht
Just shows you how greedy and moneygubbing we have become in Australia.
My! How unlike our old selves we are..but we will take any amount of handouts you can throw at us even if it does take from the poor to give to the rich.
So tired of it already and we have 6 weeks of campaigning to go.
Ho hum...shall we rent videos/dvd's instead and wake up from the somnolence when it is all over.
If HoWARd does get back in again...( and he promises to leave half way through the next term) then I cry for my country, my beloved country. We are but all lost.
Meanwhile back in the White House....
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Reconcile
My great great grandfather closest to the camera. (cira 1899)HA!
NOW the PM wants to talk about reconciliation with our Nation's first peoples!
Just before an election.
He has been in parliament for over 32 years.
He has been PM for 11.7 years.
We walked, signed petitions, yelled and screamed for this since before the 2000 Bridge Walk.
You are a nasty piece of work!
We are not the fools, PM.
YOU ARE!
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22577782-601,00.html
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
This little beauty is 28 today.
She lives far away from me but at least I got to see her recently.
She is an amazing person...
I love her with all my being and have learnt so much from her since she arrived so calmly into my life.
Happy birthday to my bright eyes.
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Whilst Away
Whilst away a party was given and a number of young(?) people arrived, mostly men between the ages of 24 and 31.
Taking advantage of this situation which is not a common one at all for one so old I decided to inquire if I could ask questions of them.
There was one 'group' calling themselves 'runners'. The lone female was a lawyer and ran to 'clear her head of the days events in court'.
The 31 year old blonde male was obsessive about his running and was trying to compete professionally but knew his days were numbered. It turned out he had 6 children in all. Three of his own by his ex-wife and one step-child by his first partner and two by his now partner.
He did have a favourite child. His first born daughter. He wanted to teach her to 'run'.
There was not one hint of wanting to teach her about life, love, charity, compassion or curiosity. It was merely 'to run'. Poor thing!
He was droll but absolutely funny because he didn't know his delivery of 'facts' and his telling of his life was done in such a way that the humour was palpable. Needless to say there was three times that I could not breathe for laughing so hard. He was perplexed by the appreciation I had for this type of story telling.
The third 'runner' was 29. He had not had any 'time' for relationships, as he was busy working in a warehouse so he could be free to 'run'. He thought he would give it till March '08 and then give up running, look for a proper job and then a 'wife'.
I was both bemused and gobsmacked.
"But" I said."What if 'she' does not come along?"
He was quite sure she would and that he would have a son.
Why a son I asked.
So I can teach him to run.
So girls don't run I asked eyeing the lawyer now on the other side of the room?
Well it isn't the same, he said.
And a boy?
Well I want him to be like me.
I have never ever understood this totally arrogant and narcissistic attitude of parents. Surely we want our children to be different, nay even better than us?
As he left ( I called him the bear of little brain) I shook his hand and said;
"I wish you many daughters".
He looked puzzled.
I told him that some recent research shows that the more daughters a man has the longer he lives. So in fact I was wishing him a long life.
The next person I talked to was totally blotto. He was a small boy,26 visiting from Canberra. He had never registered to vote. He believed the 'economy' was all that mattered.
"What if you go skiing in the snow fields and you break your back? Wouldn't you like the reassurance ( as in the past of other governments...not this present one) of knowing you will be 'looked after' by our rich and generous nation?"
"OH...I never thought of that..."he slurred.
It turned out that he had never thought of much at all.
He never got 'over' his last break up with his partner two years ago. He was depressed and went off to hail a taxi to aquire some drugs to bring back to the party. We went to bed before we were involved in that little episode.
So I sidled up to another confident, smart, clear faced young'n. He was 28 and an accountant.
He was a conservative, Liberal voter from a sheep farm. He didn't take up his father's profession but was sent off to boarding school and then onto private school and to university. He was arrogant, boring, single and thought nothing of the poor or the possibilities of his future. Only that he would be fine.
The next young fella was the best looking in the room. He had glasses, was tall-ish ( to me who is tall to begin with) and stood easily with his legs apart and a look of calmness.
He was from the country area. He didn't have a girlfriend ( he was not gay) and was not interested in anyone in the room. He worked at the same firm as the other boys and he was around 27. He held no fear of the future, of not finding a wife and of not being employable. He did not show arrogance just a green naevity and callowness. Before I could find out more the flat mate came and swept him away so she could try her feminine wiles on him. She scowled at me as she grabbed his arm and brushed past me.
The other young man who I spent most of the time with was interested in my daughter. He was the right political persuasion, the right religion ( ie none), the right humour ( Monty Python, satire, The Chasers etc) and was an engineer. He was pleasant to look at ( though not attractive in a commercial sense) and was entertaining and good company. He is 28. So what was wrong with him?
He has a girlfriend of 6 years. He does not 'love' her but can't break up with her as when he tried before she threatened self harm. So he ignores and neglects her hoping she will part from him so he won't have to deal with it.
This is not an attractive trait.
This is not a way to live your life..waiting to be free.
All of these young people are wasting their time.
They are waiting for something...another job ( the drugged boy going to leave his job in Canberra and wing it down in Melbourne), another love, another time when they will 'start' to get connected.
I was amazed at the political ignorance of this generation.
I was saddened by their lack of passion for anything let alone another human.
I was confused by their attitude to our society that requires us to become engaged in the needs of others.
I was angry at their waste of time and their youth.
I was confounded that for all their incredible education that they had no idea about the real world.
I was glad I met them.
They are a 'spoilt' and retarded generation. We baby boomers have a lot to answer for. We have dealt them a bad hand. We have let them down. We are only giving them 30 years of real living...between 30/35 and 60/65 ( for they all want to retire early and rich).
What have we done?
Taking advantage of this situation which is not a common one at all for one so old I decided to inquire if I could ask questions of them.
There was one 'group' calling themselves 'runners'. The lone female was a lawyer and ran to 'clear her head of the days events in court'.
The 31 year old blonde male was obsessive about his running and was trying to compete professionally but knew his days were numbered. It turned out he had 6 children in all. Three of his own by his ex-wife and one step-child by his first partner and two by his now partner.
He did have a favourite child. His first born daughter. He wanted to teach her to 'run'.
There was not one hint of wanting to teach her about life, love, charity, compassion or curiosity. It was merely 'to run'. Poor thing!
He was droll but absolutely funny because he didn't know his delivery of 'facts' and his telling of his life was done in such a way that the humour was palpable. Needless to say there was three times that I could not breathe for laughing so hard. He was perplexed by the appreciation I had for this type of story telling.
The third 'runner' was 29. He had not had any 'time' for relationships, as he was busy working in a warehouse so he could be free to 'run'. He thought he would give it till March '08 and then give up running, look for a proper job and then a 'wife'.
I was both bemused and gobsmacked.
"But" I said."What if 'she' does not come along?"
He was quite sure she would and that he would have a son.
Why a son I asked.
So I can teach him to run.
So girls don't run I asked eyeing the lawyer now on the other side of the room?
Well it isn't the same, he said.
And a boy?
Well I want him to be like me.
I have never ever understood this totally arrogant and narcissistic attitude of parents. Surely we want our children to be different, nay even better than us?
As he left ( I called him the bear of little brain) I shook his hand and said;
"I wish you many daughters".
He looked puzzled.
I told him that some recent research shows that the more daughters a man has the longer he lives. So in fact I was wishing him a long life.
The next person I talked to was totally blotto. He was a small boy,26 visiting from Canberra. He had never registered to vote. He believed the 'economy' was all that mattered.
"What if you go skiing in the snow fields and you break your back? Wouldn't you like the reassurance ( as in the past of other governments...not this present one) of knowing you will be 'looked after' by our rich and generous nation?"
"OH...I never thought of that..."he slurred.
It turned out that he had never thought of much at all.
He never got 'over' his last break up with his partner two years ago. He was depressed and went off to hail a taxi to aquire some drugs to bring back to the party. We went to bed before we were involved in that little episode.
So I sidled up to another confident, smart, clear faced young'n. He was 28 and an accountant.
He was a conservative, Liberal voter from a sheep farm. He didn't take up his father's profession but was sent off to boarding school and then onto private school and to university. He was arrogant, boring, single and thought nothing of the poor or the possibilities of his future. Only that he would be fine.
The next young fella was the best looking in the room. He had glasses, was tall-ish ( to me who is tall to begin with) and stood easily with his legs apart and a look of calmness.
He was from the country area. He didn't have a girlfriend ( he was not gay) and was not interested in anyone in the room. He worked at the same firm as the other boys and he was around 27. He held no fear of the future, of not finding a wife and of not being employable. He did not show arrogance just a green naevity and callowness. Before I could find out more the flat mate came and swept him away so she could try her feminine wiles on him. She scowled at me as she grabbed his arm and brushed past me.
The other young man who I spent most of the time with was interested in my daughter. He was the right political persuasion, the right religion ( ie none), the right humour ( Monty Python, satire, The Chasers etc) and was an engineer. He was pleasant to look at ( though not attractive in a commercial sense) and was entertaining and good company. He is 28. So what was wrong with him?
He has a girlfriend of 6 years. He does not 'love' her but can't break up with her as when he tried before she threatened self harm. So he ignores and neglects her hoping she will part from him so he won't have to deal with it.
This is not an attractive trait.
This is not a way to live your life..waiting to be free.
All of these young people are wasting their time.
They are waiting for something...another job ( the drugged boy going to leave his job in Canberra and wing it down in Melbourne), another love, another time when they will 'start' to get connected.
I was amazed at the political ignorance of this generation.
I was saddened by their lack of passion for anything let alone another human.
I was confused by their attitude to our society that requires us to become engaged in the needs of others.
I was angry at their waste of time and their youth.
I was confounded that for all their incredible education that they had no idea about the real world.
I was glad I met them.
They are a 'spoilt' and retarded generation. We baby boomers have a lot to answer for. We have dealt them a bad hand. We have let them down. We are only giving them 30 years of real living...between 30/35 and 60/65 ( for they all want to retire early and rich).
What have we done?
Saturday, 6 October 2007
It is NOT the Economy...stupid!
"Gross national product does not allow for the
health of our children, the quality of their
education or the joy of their play. It does
not include the beauty of our poetry or the
strength of our marriages, the intelligence
of our public debate or the integrity of our
public officials. It measures neither our wit
nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our
learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion
to our country; it measures everything,
in short, except that which makes life worthwhile."
J.F.K.
health of our children, the quality of their
education or the joy of their play. It does
not include the beauty of our poetry or the
strength of our marriages, the intelligence
of our public debate or the integrity of our
public officials. It measures neither our wit
nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our
learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion
to our country; it measures everything,
in short, except that which makes life worthwhile."
J.F.K.
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Bulli Pass
A group of German tourists joined us on the platform lookout overlooking the south coast of NSW. The city of Wollongong lies to the right and the day was perfect for travelling and sight seeing.
On to the far south coast and here is where my ancestors landed, jumped ship and settled ..taking the land from the aboriginal people, to farm and prosper.Here is the original cheese factory where my great great grandfather worked. He was employed, sent over to England to learn the best cheese making methods and came back to produce Bega cheese.
Photo of my ancestor in 1910. Found this in a corner of the Cheese museum at the site of the original factory.
So it was a 'back to the past' trip.
More later.
South Coast of NSW
Just south of Sydney lies the large city of Wollongong. It was the centre of the coal export area including Port Kembla.Many years ago when just a child my father would drive us south to visit relatives. Not until now had it been personally driven so it was a new and exciting adventure for us.
Being a lover of maps this was conveniently posted at a lookout at Bulli Pass.
Blogspot has now decided to not let me download more photos...will continue later.
Monday, 1 October 2007
Home again...
Home again home again trittity trot...to look for the porridge that is kept in the pot.
Over two thousand kilometres of driving dear beloved 'Frieda' who hummed along in her red volvo fashion. Ah we old girls are wonderful when it comes to reliability and being cheap sheilas!!
She did good.
Went to Sydney...saw daughter number one.
Drove south to the land where my ancestors landed in the late 1700's..ie the white side.
Meandered around my mother's home town. Found her dad's old house.
Trotted off west to the land of my forbears...the cheese-makers.
Landed on the Estate where my aboriginal ancestor worked as a servant in the late 1800's. Found his grave and that of his wife, and two sons.
Dropped in further south on the aged aunt. 90 and still sharp even though she has macular degeneration.
Crossed the border into Victoria and stayed on the banks of the Snowy River.
Sped along the bottom of Australia to Melbourne and stayed with Daughter number two.
Meandered up directly north to the border twin towns of Aubry-Wadonga and landed on my brother's door step in our nations capital of Canberra.
Back to Sydney to visit the city centre and remind myself what a beautiful city it is...wouldn't want to live there but stunningly wonderful to visit. ( BTW Georgie porgie never got to see the beauty out of pure fear...dickhead!!!)
Meandered back to the northern clime and to a heat wave after 12 days of cool, wind-swept southern weather.
Will post pictures when time and energy rise.
I am sick. But I care not....
Love love love travel...especially driving.
I am a driver. First automatic car, old Frieda so am very grateful especially in city driving.
I am getting old Father Williams....
Until later...hoo-roo.
Over two thousand kilometres of driving dear beloved 'Frieda' who hummed along in her red volvo fashion. Ah we old girls are wonderful when it comes to reliability and being cheap sheilas!!
She did good.
Went to Sydney...saw daughter number one.
Drove south to the land where my ancestors landed in the late 1700's..ie the white side.
Meandered around my mother's home town. Found her dad's old house.
Trotted off west to the land of my forbears...the cheese-makers.
Landed on the Estate where my aboriginal ancestor worked as a servant in the late 1800's. Found his grave and that of his wife, and two sons.
Dropped in further south on the aged aunt. 90 and still sharp even though she has macular degeneration.
Crossed the border into Victoria and stayed on the banks of the Snowy River.
Sped along the bottom of Australia to Melbourne and stayed with Daughter number two.
Meandered up directly north to the border twin towns of Aubry-Wadonga and landed on my brother's door step in our nations capital of Canberra.
Back to Sydney to visit the city centre and remind myself what a beautiful city it is...wouldn't want to live there but stunningly wonderful to visit. ( BTW Georgie porgie never got to see the beauty out of pure fear...dickhead!!!)
Meandered back to the northern clime and to a heat wave after 12 days of cool, wind-swept southern weather.
Will post pictures when time and energy rise.
I am sick. But I care not....
Love love love travel...especially driving.
I am a driver. First automatic car, old Frieda so am very grateful especially in city driving.
I am getting old Father Williams....
Until later...hoo-roo.
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