The Mossies Are Bad This Year.

Anyone else having a problem with mozzies? They've been driving me mad over the past few weeks and unlike respectable mossie bites whose itch goes away when you spray Stingose, they become raised lumps about the size of a one cent piece, they itch like mad, the skin breaks from all that scratching, then they scab over. And they last for weeks. Most everybody I've spoken to here says the same.
Even applying insect repellent doesn't seem to work - if you've missed a tiny bit of skin, as sure as Bob's you're uncle, those little buggers will zoom in like a bomber on steriods and find it!

I've applied so much calamine lotion, I resemble a beached, polka dot blob. Is the rest of Australia suffering from a mossie plague, or is it just in my area?

The Aussie Mossie

Above: Getting ready for dinner!
One of my favourite songs about Aussie animals. As the opening words state -

There's a little Aussie mossie
In her little Aussie cossie
And she's looking for a possie
On your unprotected skin
When she's finished her inspection
She will give you an injection
And you'll have an itch to show you
Where the Aussie mossie's been.

I remembered I had one of those mossie clickers - you know the things - you place it over the bite and click the end in.

Above: Mossie clicker
It transmits some sort of electric current and is said to stop the irritating itch. Well.......it has worked well in the past but this time it isn't quite as effective. I do believe we are breeding super mossies who are able to withstand just about anything that'll deter the little blighters.

Did you know?
That a mosquito can smell you from around 30 metres away? That's about 300 feet for those who still use imperial. They don't have very good eyesight but there sense of smell is perfect.

Some are of the opinion we are seeing so many mossies because of our recent wet weather and humid conditions. That may be true, but we had hoardes of them before it became humid. And the funny thing is you rarely hear them making that well-known humming sound. Reckon they've become smarter.

Now, if only there was such a thing as the common cold for mossies.

Why didn't Noah swat the pair of mossies before they entered the Ark?

Perspective

This is from a friend of mine and I'd like to share it with you. The words make a lot of sense. Make sure you have your speakers turned on so you can hear it too. I like it so much, I'm going to add it to the side bar there ------->

Here it is - Perspective

"You Have To Live Spherically"

One of my favourite movies is "Under The Tuscan Sun", which tells the story of Frances Mayes, who after a terrible divorce goes on a ten day tour of Tuscany, courtesy of her friend Patti. There, she buys a run-down villa Bramasole and tries to re-start her life.

 

Above: Catherine and Francis
Photo from tribute.ca

One line that stands out is when Catherine tells Frances, "You have to live spherically, in many directions. Never lose your childish enthusiam...and things will come your way." Sometimes when times are dark, these words come back and I try to think and put them into practice (I don't always succeed though). When you think about it, it is very good advice - I guess it means accepting yourself for what you are and trying your best at whatever you do. Try and enjoy life and always try to see something good in everything.

There is another line I like and have used this as an example sometimes. Seeing that Frances is sad again, Signor Martini says to her, "Between Austria and Italy, there is a section of the Alps called the Semmering. It is an impossibly steep, very high part of the mountains. They built a train track over these Alps to connect Vienna and Venice. They built these tracks even before there was a train in existence that could make the trip. They built it because they knew some day, the train would come."

It's about having faith is't it? Believing in yourself, and having faith that your hopes and dreams will work out.

At the Fair

We went to a fair and this little miss was all decked out in pink. Doesn't she look cute?

Above: Shopping is sooo tiring

Above: How do I look?

Hot

We have had three days of 33º and the house feels like a sauna. Although the temperature has dropped and it's pouring rain outside, I can't sleep. The weather outside is cooler but inside it's like an oven. Somehow I don't think it would be a very good idea to sleep outside. All those mossies - you'd get eaten alive.

It's times like this I wish I was rich - I'd have a house with air-conditioning.

Well do I remember asking my dad when I was a little girl, "Daddy, would you rather be too hot or too cold?" To which he replied, "Neither". "Yes" said I, "but if you had to be too hot or too cold, which one would you choose?"

Dad said too hot and when I asked him why, he replied, "Because you can always get warm, but you can't always get cool".

Ain't it the truth! Very smart man my dad.

I wish I was here -

Above: Little Mermaid Ice-Cream Shop
You can keep the Danish hot dogs - just lead me to your ice-cream!

Above: Peter's Light
This is an original Peter's Ice-Cream Light from the 1950's. You don't see too many of them now, more's the pity. They've been replaced with neon lighting and modern stuff.

A Time To...

Well, it really isn't a good time just right now. I really do feel really cheesed off and of course there isn't a punching bag nearby, I can't go and yell in the back yard (the neighbours would think I was a crazy old bat) and I'm too old to flounce and lose my temper so I'll just have to take it out on here.

Warning
This is a rant so if you don't wanna read and hear me whinge then I suggest you skip this post and go make yourself a nice, hot cup of tea.

Well now, don't say you haven't been warned. It all started off the other day, I was on a forum, someone asked about presents and mentioned Christmas, asked for suggestions. People offered suggestions, I gave this, we gave that, you know the kind of thing, then one suggested several things, a number of which were really OTT expensive - think plasma tv, chopper rides, kitchen items costing hundreds of dollars each, expensive courses. (These weren't the actual items but are in a similar price bracket).

I was flabbergasted and I'm thinking how commercialised Christmas has become, and quoted the three (OTT expensive) things and asked what happened to the meaning of Christmas and has it now become about buying expensive presents and spending hundreds of dollars?

Then a few hours later that one tells me to get off my high horse and then goes on about how she said presents and didn't say the pagan solstice festival I call christmas, (note - not even a capital letter for the word Christmas) then has the gall to say I'm comparing a single income with kids and grandkid(s) with 'dinkys' who only had each other to buy for. Blah, blah, blah how much he likes his ring/watch/whatever more of the same etc.

Sheesh, where do some people get off with having tickets on themselves? So alright, I have mentioned I have children and yes, I've said I have grandchildren, it's not a great big secret. But gee whiz, there's no need to carry on like a two bob watch. Much as I wanted to type off something in a flurry of fingers on the keyboard and tell her what she could do with a pineapple, I knew getting angry and saying nasty things achieves nothing and anyway, that's not my style.

After giving it some thought I did respond in what I thought was a dignified manner, without getting rude or nasty. I qouted the bit about getting on one's high horse and the bit about finances, incomes 'dinkys' etc. Then wrote that I wasn't on my high horse and I didn't think that I was better than anyone else - that's what the meaning of the phrase is - and if somebody said something I didn't agree with, I hoped I'd have enough courtesy and  good manners not to make pointed or personal remarks about what I thought somebody's financial or family situation was.

I wasn't prepared for the avalanche which followed - Oh please, if you chose to bring money into it and make a comment implying that I'm only buying presents because they are are, to you, expensive - of course I'm going to comment on it because it's not comparing like with like, and you do this on a board where you post a lot about yourself...well suck it up princess

In the words of Hermione Granger.."What. an. idiot."

Then of course we have those in the "select" little clique who always seem to come out and have their own bit of loveliness to add. Like Yes, and frankly it doesn't matter what so-and-so (me) thinks since she's not invited to my family home for Christmas.

Well Doh! Even Homer Simpson could have worked that one out. Not to mention there is an ocean or two in between. Anyway, that little remark (about not being invited) prompted someone to say, Ahh the smell of Christmas spirit is in the air... nothing like Christmas to bring out the best in people!

I tell ya, it's better than watching boring soapies on the telly.


You know something? It never ceases to amaze me how the people who are the favoured few can say things and and that's alright, but if somebody else were to say the same thing, the pack of the elite all band together and jump down your throat. I've witnessed this a few times. One person I quite like posted about something that happened at her work and oh boy oy vey... you shoulda heard the catty remarks that came forth - she had committed the unpardonabloe sin of not being one of the "clique" you see. Same thing has happened to some others as well. Another time the nastiness that was directed at someone was horrifying and a few people remarked on it - the amount of venom that spewed forth combined with a complete disregard and utter lack of emotion. It made my head spin.

I came upon this phrase - Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level and I thought how appropriate. It was Quentin Crisp who coined that little pearl of wisdom and it made me laugh.

Well I think I've worked it out of my system now, I actually started writing this before today and wasn't going to click "publish post", but then I added some more and thought why not? It's probably good for one's equalibrium to get it off one's chest rather than bottle it all up inside where it festers. So, I'll finish this and have my tea.

Derby Day 2010 - Rain, Rain, Rain

A lake in the garden
This is our front garden yesterday ~ Wet, Wetter, Wettest!  Fancy a swim?

I took a short video with my camera - listen to the rain (For some reason, Youtube videos don't have those nice frames around them anymore)


"Rain" Songs
Listening to this made me think of the song "The song of the rain", which brings me to this - how many songs are there that are about rain, or have "rain" in the title?
Off-hand, there's ...hmm..now let me see (better put my thinking cap on)
I
l'll do my crying in the rain
Rainman
Rainmaker
April showers
Somewhere over the rainbow
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head.

And then there are sayings, like "It never rains but it pours", or putting something away for a "rainy day".

Saturday's storms dumped over 53mm on Melbourne and broke a 35 year old rainfall record and in north eastern Victoria they had 147mm of rain. That's a lot of water.

I am so glad Junior mowed the lawn on Thursday.

I Am Now A Snapdragon!

Remember that quiz I took a while back? And I bemoaned the fact that I was a something or other - can't remember now but I know I wasn't pleased with it. Well, guess what? I did the same quiz again (happened to see it on someone's blog) and lo and behold.......

I am now a Snapdragon!

That's a great improvement on what I was before.

You Are a Snapdragon
"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

Now that sounds more like me - I do like playing practical jokes on people. When my daughter was in her mid 20's, she'd come home on a Saturday night very late, and I used to hide behind the door and as whe walked past spring out and yell, "Boo" and I caught her out every time. I got a great kick out of scaring her - she'd nearly jump out of her skin.

I wonder if other grown up people do stuff like this?

Australian Election 2010

The Mad Monk on the left, the Red Head on the right
Julia Gillard became Prime Minister two months ago when Labor party members made a political move and decided it was time for the then PM Kevin Rudd to step down. Rudd had been on the nose for some time - and had he gone to election, it was felt he would lose them the election. And so - Ms. Gillard was given the job.

We went to the polls on Saturday 21st August and it's looking like a hung Parliament. Of the 150 seats, Labor has 72, Libs 70, Greens 1, Independants 3 and still in doubt 4. A party needs 76 seats to form a government.

If neither of the big two (Labor and Coalition) get 76, whoever either gets more or can get the 3 Independants on their side (the Greenie will side with Labor), will then go to the Governor General and ask to form government.

Oh, decisions, decisions. Will it be the mad monk or the red headed lefty? Some say they think Abbott will be in.......who knows. One thing is for sure, unless they (whoever they may turn out to be) can work with the Independanst, it doesn't bode well for an easy time.

If I Was Prime Minister
If I was Prime Minister
Of all the Ausie states
I'd live on chocolate truffles
And swing on all the gates.

I'd have lots of money
What I wanted I would get,
I'd buy me a brand new car
And then a Lear jet.

I wouldn't have to worry
When the water bill fell due
Or phone, or gas, or SEC
They'd all be paid by you. (The tax-payer)

I'd be living like a king,
Rub shoulders with the best
And then I could look down my nose
At all the poor in jest.

And so you see dear people
As dear old Malcolm said,
"Life wasn't meant to be easy",
You elelcted me instead.

What Kind of Flower Are You?

I did a quiz titled "What kind of flower are you"? and the result was...well a little disappoining. Visions of all the beautiful flowers in the world rose in my mind, I love roses, stately hollyhocks, delphiniums, fragrant freesias, all kinds of flowers really. I hit the 'submit' button and found out I am an --- Echinacea.
"This is What Kind Of Flower You Are
You Are an Echinacea

"You are a health conscious person, both your health and the health of others. You know all about the health benefits and dangers of the world around you."

Oh dear, I'm not a very pretty flower now am I? Why couldn't I have been a rose? Or at least a hydrangea.

Oh well, at least I can look at the flowers in an English Country Garden -

Remember When...........

Remember when things were different? When you always left the back door open? Your next door neighbour popped in for a "cuppa"...when your mother asked the lady next door for a cup of sugar...when the kitchen was where everything happened... and you had lino on the floor and the cupboards were painted red...

 

and the ice man came each week....when your parents finally bought a fridgedaire...when mothers always wore an apron and the aroma in the kitchen heralded dinner was nearly ready...

 

when there were hardly any cars on the road...petrol was cheap and you'd go for a Sunday drive...

 

when the letter boxes were red and the postie came twice a day and once on Saturdays...when Monday was washing day and Tuesday was for ironing...Wednesday was "poor night".....Friday was fish and chips...on Saturdays dads went to the footy and you always knew if his team lost because you'd hear the dustbin being kicked...

 

very few people had a caravan...holidays were a week at the beach in the summer holidays...bathers were frilly things with elastic and nothing ever showed...when a ladder was what appeared in stockings...when you'd play outside on the road until tea time...grass was something you mowed...there was sawdust on the butcher's floor...biscuits came in large tins and were sold by weight...a meat pie cost 10d...pocket money was "tuppence" and you'd spend ages deciding which lollies to buy...lollies were 4 a ha'penny...
you always had roast lamb with all the trimmings every Sunday followed by apple sponge...and the leftovers were made into a casserole on Monday...the radio was set to 3DB and there was no television...families did things together and you made your own fun...remember those times...life was simpler then
I sometimes wonder if the children of today are better off - with all the new-fangled gadgetry and technology are they happier? Somehow...I don't think so.

A blast from the past

Araluen

Above: Olinda gardens
I though this was a fitting picture to go with a favourite song of mine. I can't find it on Youtube anywhere but can write the words. "Araluen" is the name of a poem written by the Australian poet Henry Kendall for his baby daughter whome he named Araluen.

Araluen

Take this rose, and gently place it on the tender mosses deep
Where our little darling, Araluen, lies asleep.
Put the blossom close to baby -- kneel with me, my love, and pray;
We must leave the bird we've buried -- say good-bye to her to-day;
In the shadow of our trouble we must go to other lands,
And the flowers we have fostered will be left to other hands.
Other eyes will watch them growing -- other feet will softly tread
Where two hearts are nearly breaking, where so many tears are shed.
Bitter is the world we live in: life and love are mixed with pain;
We will never see these daisies -- never water them again.
. . . . .
Here the blue-eyed Spring will linger, here the shining month will stay,
Like a friend, by Araluen, when we two are far away;
But, beyond the wild, wide waters, we will tread another shore --
We will never watch this blossom, never see it any more.

Girl, whose hand at God's high altar in the dear, dead year I pressed,
Lean your stricken head upon me -- this is still your lover's breast!
She who sleeps was first and sweetest -- none we have to take her place!
Empty is the little cradle -- absent is the little face.
Other children may be given; but this rose beyond recall,
But this garland of your girlhood, will be dearest of them all.
None will ever, Araluen, nestle where you used to be,
In my heart of hearts, you darling, when the world was new to me;
We were young when you were with us, life and love were happy things
To your father and your mother ere the angels gave you wings.

You that sit and sob beside me -- you, upon whose golden head
Many rains of many sorrows have from day to day been shed;
Who, because your love was noble, faced with me the lot austere
Ever pressing with its hardship on the man of letters here --
Let me feel that you are near me, lay your hand within mine own;
You are all I have to live for, now that we are left alone.
Three there were, but one has vanished. Sins of mine have made you weep;
But forgive your baby's father now that baby is asleep.
Let us go, for night is falling, leave the darling with her flowers;
Other hands will come and tend them -- other friends in other hours.

Music for the Soul

Being struck down by a rotten cold/flu/virus thingy, I called the doctor who made a home visit - several hours later mind. It being a Sunday and all. I have what the Medicos call URTI - Upper Respitrory Tract Infection. You know, the fancy name given to an infection which doctors don't know what to call! The usual, it's viral, take panadol, get plenty of rest, take it easy, take Vitamin C, put Vicks in a bowl, pour on boiling water, place head over bowl covered with tea towel and inhale.

Actually, URTI's is are the illnesses caused by an acute infection which involves the upper respiratory tract: nose, sinuses, pharynx or larynx. Did you know with this you could have
Rhinitis
Rhinosinusitis
Sinusitis
Nasopharyngitis
Pharyngitis
Epiglottitis
Laryngitis
Laryngotracheitis
Supraglottitis
Tracheitis

Not to mention a touch of the flu! Now I think I feel worse reading all that lot.

I've been listening to some music - well there's only so much time you can spend watching movies in the lounge with the heater on. Not to mention the gas bill. I've been alternating between hot and horrible and cold and shivery. At the moment it's the hot/horrible stage.

Anyway, getting back to music, Youtube comes in very handy doesn't it? Here's what I'm listening to right now -


He always wrote such happy music and this is one of my favourites.

I Have A COLD

 

Winter woes
Isn't it wonderful - the kindness of sick people who are just dying to share with you, and give you what they have?!
A family member was sick as a dog on Monday and Tuesday, and still not 100% on Wednesday. Come Thursday, they're on the mend. And for me - it started on Thursday night - my throat felt a leetle sore.

Friday was the "my throat feels like razor blades" syndrome and you just know your taste buds will be shot to pieces the next day. So it was and so on the Friday I decided on having "junk food" for tea. After all I reasoned, I wouldn't be able to taste it or anything else much the next day. And so it proved.

Today, Saturday, sees me with the full works and getting progeessingly worse as the day wore on. The razor blades had thankfully removed themselves from my throat, but the taste buds are gone - can't taste a thing really. And the nose - it alternates between blocked and stuffy and running like a tap. But blocked seems to be the winner.

Sneezes too, and those rings of heavy fire going around in circles around the eyes. Lethargic and energy-less. I rarely get sick. And I don't much like it when I do. I just wish this heavy infestation of being an incubus of viral plague would go away.
It is now early Sunday morning and I need some TLC. Which I won't get. Mums aren't supposed to get sick - right?

War: When Will We Learn?

Two young Australian soldiers died in Afghanistan. Sapper Jacob Moerland, 21, and Darren Smith, 26, from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment were killed while on patrol. It was Jacob Moerland's first overseas deployment. He was 21 and engaged to be married. Darren Smith had a wife and young son in Brisbane. This was his first deployment too. He was a handler for an explosives detection dog named Herbie who also died.

Why are we there? To stop the Taliban? Or is it about oil? Protecting "interests".
What will it achieve? Things will remain the same. Women will still be kept in submission, human rights - what human rights? 6o - 80 % of women are forced into marriage. Countries send in armies and young men will die and nothing will change.

That is the real tragedy.



Have we learnt nothing?

What The??

Well! Today I thought to set up a blog title for my next trip and not knowing which one I actually wanted, or rather thought would look better did a couple. The blog title I thought looked best - I couldn't use that for the URL, obviously it has been taken. So I chagned the blog title so it reads the same as the url. That's fine. Next, I thought to do another for aanother place I'm going to, that's fine too.
But, when I decided to set up a third one, I struck trouble. I get a message asking me to verify my identity and putting down my mobile phone. Problem is, I don't have a mobile phone and have to decide which family member's one to use.

Weird eh? Vewry strange.....

First Birthday

 

This little poppet turned one on Saturday. Here she is with her two year old cousin enjoying birthday cake.

Oopsy daisies, I made a boo-boo. Her cousin is not her cousin - he's her uncle!

Genteel Ladies Luncheon - Part 2

Well we ladies met for lunch - oops, luncheon (sounds so much more genteel don't you think?) at the RACV Club in Bourke Street Melbourne.

 

Above: Those majestic doors
These imposing doors with automatic turning and the hushed, dulcet tones of the other diners set the tone. Very staid and conservative - really not me at all, at all, at all. I remember thinking a "Lady Godiva" might liven things up! Or...perhaps a Gypsy Rose Lee - now that would have everybody talking.

 

Above: Lemon Tart
Some of the ladies opted for this delicious tart - a tart for a tart, I hear you say. Hmm..what happens at the lunch, stays at the lunch.
My lips are sealed.

 

Above: Ginger and Berry
Some other ladies had this ^^^ !
All in all, the propretries were observed and decorum prevailed. Although.....a couple of ladies were seen accosting the local Mr. Plod, something about could they see his weapon?

Genteel Ladies

Ladies Luncheon

 

Today a group of us are having a ladies lunch in the CBD. We are of course all very...genteel. Genteel ladies one and all.

Further updates will be available. (At the last meet-up there was some suggestion of one of our group having been seen climbing a lamp post singing at the top of her lungs but this I can assure you was all a big lie.)

Melbourne - It's A Washout!

 

Rain, Rain, Everywhere
This is what my place looked like yesterday. We had thunder, lightning, storms, rain and hailstones the size of golf balls.

We were at the fruit shop when the heavens opened. Keilor Road was flooded, we had to wade through 10 inches of water, son lost one of his thongs, I had a 6 inch stick of wood in my thongs. Trying to drive through Ross Street - large tree across the road, the tree had been struck by lightning, split from the ground up and burnt black.
Many main roads were flooded, trees and branches everywhere.

Came home - water leaking where no water should - kitchen cupboard dripping water, phone wet, clock wet, bench wet. The power was on but had gone off while we were out - clock on electric oven was flashing.

Went out later to buy coffee - my local Safeway was closed (flooded), Coles down the road was also closed (roof caved in) Coles in Moonee Ponds I was told was closed - they had a fire. Debris everywhere, signs of traffic accidents - knocked over road signs. Emergency vehicle, flashing lights on Calder Highway.

I almost feel like I'm living in Queensland with all this flooding. And I hope the rain fell in the catchment areas.

Turning Sad into Happy

Ever had one of those days when you feel sort of miserable? When you feel disappointed? Well. today I turned disappointment into un-disappointment. I'd planned on going to the farmers market, primarily to buy free range eggs then go up to Kinglake to get a lambskin steering wheel cover from a little country shop, and over to a place where you can bottle your own spring water. Today came I didn't really feel like going anywhere - weather was cool and miserable. Anyway, son asked for a lift to the station so I thought if I'm going to be driving, I might as well go out as I'd planned.

So, driving along I felt sort of sad and depressed, arrived at Yering and all the free range eggs had gone. Disappoiuntment No 1. Thought I'd buy one of the delicious shepherds pies. Disappointment No 2 - none left. Drove up to Kinglake, the shop is closed until next month - Disappointment No 3. Took out my Thermos and made a cuppa tea - it started raining, the weather had turned nasty. Thought I'll buy a nice hot pie. Disappointment No 4 - no ordinary meat pies left. Had sausage rolls instead. Decided to forget about bottling spring water - driving an extra 50 odd kms on a cold and rainy day wasn't worth it.

Started on my way back and stopped a few times to photograph the Ranges. Stopped at a country general store where I'd bought a cup of tea last year, just to say hello - she didn't remember me of course as I would have been just one of many customers. To my surprise, I started feeling better. Driving along I saw a sign "Lovegrove Winery" and thought why not? So in I went.

Lovegrove Winery Estate

The sun had come out and the scenery was just lovely. I enjoyed a spot of wine tasting. Knowing I had to drive, I sat outside and had a smoke while taking pleasure in the scene before my eyes. And do you know something? I realised I felt better and I was glad I'd gone out today. I was really pleased that I'd stopped at Lovegrove and wondered how I hadn't seen it when I was up this way last year. I found out why at my next stop.


Winery Gardens

This was the view I had. I bought a bottle of wine (a 2005 Merlot) and asked the owner Stephen would he mind if I set a while outside with my coffee. So I drank some coffee and thought I'd better eat something. All I had was a box of cakes I'd bought at the farmers market.

Yummy Cakes

There were six - I had one of the friands. Later I saw the road sign saying "Hurstbridge" and thought to myself, hang on, where's Panton Hill? Saw a sign pointing backwards saying "Panton Hill 3)and noticed another road with "Free Range Eggs" written on the road side sign, so up this unfamiliar road I went - alas they didn't any eggs but the lady said if I cared to stop at the studio just "up there" they might have some.

Country Hens

I did and they did. The chap said they were only pullets but I didn't mind. I had my free range eggs and was happy.

Coffee Stop

Stopped here for a cappuccino - my thermos flask is small and the water long gone - and that's when I found out the reason for not seeing the winerey before. Turns out the road I drove on today is the low road and when I'd come this way before, I'd turned left and gone on the high road. Isn't it strange how the simple act of not turning left showed me different things and made my day happy? Not only did my day turn into a "good" day, I found a place where you can buy fresh eggs, and a nice winery.

Singing Syrup

The bottle of wine I bought.

Another Year Older

Always will I remember the words on a birthday card sent to me from Nana. I think I was around ten or so. It went -
Another year older
Well maybe that's true,
But another year nicer
Sounds a lot more like you.

And Mum making a comment about me not behaving myself and Nana hoped I would be better behaved the coming year! Funny what we remember isn't it? That card had beautiful girls (I thought them grown-up ladies) dressed in a crinoline with a matching parasol and the one on the front of the card had this most beautiful shade of blue. With little pink rosebuds and ribbons. There was one in green and I think another one - you saw them as you opened the card.

Well I'm a year older since yesterday, can't say that I've learnt an awful lot over the past 12 months. Do we really learn" I've often wondered about that - how can we learn from our mistakes when we keep on making them. Or perhaps we make them with more style and flair insted of gauche and clumsy?

So we had a good time yesterdy, an apple upside cake was made, the candles were lit and served with that expensive cream - you know the one I mean, the one that tastes delicious which we don't buy very often because
a) It'a too expensive, and
b) It has 48% fat!

But ohh... it sure does taste yumnmy!

Japan Invades Australian Territorial Waters

Japan refuses to recognise the Australian Antarctic Territorial waters - nice isn't it? You want to hunt whales so just say you don't recognise something! The Australian Antarctic Division maintains three stations - Mawson, Casey and Davis.

Japanese consider whalemeat to be a delicacy and an aphrodisiac, but the story they give is they hunt whales for scientific research and the only way to judge a whales's age is by killing it. Their so-called research is to see if the whale population has increased enough for commercial whaling to re-start - yeah right, and I'm the Queen of Sheba.

Whales were on the threatened list in 1950 and by 1963 were on the endangered list. Commercial whaling was banned in 1986 by the IWC (International Whaling Commission).

Yesterday, Japan rammed the Ady Gil, a small anti-whaling ship.


I lay no blame on the anti-whaling ship or its crew - Japan should stay out of our territorial waters and the damned government (ours) should get off its rear end and act.

Below: Research stations and territorial claims in Antarctica (2002).

The three most common whales seen in Australian waters are the Humpback, Southern Right and Orca (Killer) Whales. Humpback and Southern Right whales follow a similar route each year. Whales migrate to cold waters for feeding and travel to warmer waters to give birth.

Below: Migration routes of whales

Are you aware for example, that whales mate for life? And that the humpback whales are famous for their haunting songs which last for 20 minutes and can be heard from a distance of up to 185 km? It is only the male that sings - it is believed they sing to attract mates. Whales reach maturity when they are about 11.4 m long (about 4–10 years of age).

Below: Rare White Humpback Whale

Migaloo, whose Aboriginal name means "white fella", is believed to be the only completely white humpback whale in the world. (Photo AP 2005)

A pregnancy is around 12 months, and females calve once every three years, from June to October. The weight and size of a new-born calf is approx. 1.5 tonnes and 4.5 metres long. Weaning takes palce when the calf is around 11 months old and it can be up to 9 metres long.

Below:Southern Right Whale

A southern right whale and its calf swim in the waters off the east coast of Tasmania in early August 2009. (Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment)

Below:Orca Whale

These beautiful, gentle creatures along with others of their ilk have in the past been hunted almost to extinction, and yet Japan refuses to acknowledge the Antarctic Treaty and still sends out its whaling fleet to kill. How long will it be before they are no more?

These people are trying to stop whaling. Will you? The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) established in 1977, is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization whose aim is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Remembering

I was reading a blog earlier and it sort of hit home and now I can't sleep. (It's currently 4 o'clock in the morning) and I know I should go to bed, and I know it won't help or change anything, but somehow, my mind just keeps going round and round and round.

And I've got the most annoying mossie bite on my leg which is itching like mad. And no matter how hard or often I scratch, the damned thing still itches!

It can be a very lonely life when you don't have friends and use the internet as a way of communication. Sometimes it's alright and things are bearable, but sometimes it gets to me and then I feel terrible. Do others feel like this I wonder?

Happy the person who is always happy and has no depressing thoughts - for theirs is the kingdom of living! How maudlin I sound the first anniversary of my Dad's death is coming up soon and I find myself starting to cry and wish I could have time back so I could have another chance and do things different. If only, but life isn't like that - we can never bring back that which has past. Time does not return to us, no matter how much we may want it to or how many regrets we have.

New Years Day - Boring Children

Happy New Year to all the Bloggers everywhere. D'you know something? Last night was the first NYE for many years that I was actually going to go and see the fireworks.

Son down from Sidders and his gf (lovely girl btw) and I were going to go - anyway the cool change came and it was bloody pouring - thunder and lightning, sounded like the heavens had opened.

Honestly, it was raining cats and dogs, ergo we couldn't go and see all the pretty fire crackers. The gf said they probably wouldn't start - they'd all get wet you see and that'd put 'em out.

Heard 'em, but couldn't see 'em. Not to worry - had a very nice 2005 Barossa champers in the fridge plus a half bottle of Charders from the Peninsula just in case they didn't want a drink.

Come midnight, asked son to open the champs. I'd forgotten he had to drive his gf home - so he couldn't drink. (He's on his P's). Disappointing for me really, But oh well, made do wtih some Lindt - that and working on my blogs.

Rang Mum - we sang Auld Lang Syne together

then rang eldest son (also in Sidders) - no answer.

Rang daughter, she was asleep,

rang next son, he was groggy and asleep,

rang youngest son - he said he's brushing his teeth and off to bed

Rang my gd - couldn't hear a thing, she was at Crown or somewhere. She rang back later when it was a little quieter about 1.10am it was.

As my son (The Banker) said, "We're boring aren't we?" You can say that again - I reckon I must be the only parent who has boring grown-up kiddies who go to bed on New Years Eve long before the clock strikes 12! Shouldn't it be the other way around? (Sigh) A very big one!☺ (Sigh that is)

Today I'm goin' shoppin'!