Anyone have a suggestion?? Aussies, that is. We have to compare oranges with oranges.
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Saturday, October 1, 2011
The AFL Grand Final or the Melbourne Cup??
One of them is Melbourne's biggest day. Football or horse racing? Despite my best efforts, I can't think of anything that rivals these events in excitement, numbers and fervour. I don't particularly follow a footy team and I rarely have a bet on the races, so I have no vested interest in either. So, why can't I think of other events that can match these two?
Anyone have a suggestion?? Aussies, that is. We have to compare oranges with oranges.
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Anyone have a suggestion?? Aussies, that is. We have to compare oranges with oranges.
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Jerilderie
Those of you who have travelled with me for years, will know about the numerous Ned Kelly appearances in Jerilderie, so I won't mention them. Anyway, I didn't see them this time. I didn't wake up until we were in the caravan park. Ahead of me, I saw people smiling and pointing. As we passed them, they smiled widely, so I gave a feeble wave, from my reclined position, with my feet up on the dashboard. Doesn't everyone travel this way?
I don't know what we've left behind --- we shovelled in the last few things without looking! Steve was coughing his head off and I was snorting, gurgling and felt about to breathe my last. We, along with our Tasmanian friend, Sue, all caught a rotten cold at the same time. Richard missed out. For those who haven't heard my story ---- my Dad said that we had colds, not flu. Then followed a lecture about the thousands who died of flu in the 1900s. Although most people called it flu, Dad stuck to his guns. When we were sick, notes were written to the school, saying that we had a cold. One day, a nun settled an argument with me by saying, "But you aren't as sick as she is; she had the flu and you only had a cold." But still Dad didn't change his mind! He is totally to blame (or thank) for my kids never having the flu!!!!!
A nice young man on a motor bike, directed us where to park. He had very precise hand gestures, like an air hostess, or whatever you call them these days. Steve felt obliged to obey. The result of these precise hand gestures is that we can't put the TV antenna high enough to get all the channels and the van is on a lean. Steve was too pooped to level it and didn't think that it was much of a lean. I struggle out of my armchair and hunch over to get up the hill to the bedroom! He barely notices the lean. I think it's because I'm much closer to the ground. He suggested that he could tie octopus straps to me and to the railing at the bedroom steps and then shoot me back and forth!!
By the way, this is the first trip for our new armchairs. They are soft, cuddly and recline to almost flat out. They fit in with my purple colours, being called "cranberry".
And so to bed ....... with my head higher than my legs.
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I don't know what we've left behind --- we shovelled in the last few things without looking! Steve was coughing his head off and I was snorting, gurgling and felt about to breathe my last. We, along with our Tasmanian friend, Sue, all caught a rotten cold at the same time. Richard missed out. For those who haven't heard my story ---- my Dad said that we had colds, not flu. Then followed a lecture about the thousands who died of flu in the 1900s. Although most people called it flu, Dad stuck to his guns. When we were sick, notes were written to the school, saying that we had a cold. One day, a nun settled an argument with me by saying, "But you aren't as sick as she is; she had the flu and you only had a cold." But still Dad didn't change his mind! He is totally to blame (or thank) for my kids never having the flu!!!!!
A nice young man on a motor bike, directed us where to park. He had very precise hand gestures, like an air hostess, or whatever you call them these days. Steve felt obliged to obey. The result of these precise hand gestures is that we can't put the TV antenna high enough to get all the channels and the van is on a lean. Steve was too pooped to level it and didn't think that it was much of a lean. I struggle out of my armchair and hunch over to get up the hill to the bedroom! He barely notices the lean. I think it's because I'm much closer to the ground. He suggested that he could tie octopus straps to me and to the railing at the bedroom steps and then shoot me back and forth!!
By the way, this is the first trip for our new armchairs. They are soft, cuddly and recline to almost flat out. They fit in with my purple colours, being called "cranberry".
And so to bed ....... with my head higher than my legs.
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Friday, May 6, 2011
Melbourne Surprises
Here we are in Melbourne, supervising Maddy 14, Josh 12 and the Chinese student Jiaming, 16, while Talitha is working in Gippsland.
Last night, I cooked a silverside roast beef. This was no easy task, as the oven never seemed to get hot enough. After battling with it for 2 hours, I was told by Josh that it was a bad oven and that his Mother and Maddy hated it. So I turned it up full bore and after a total of 4 hours, some of which was in the microwave, I pronounced it cooked, ready or not.
I carved off some and gave Josh his to eat. Steve and Maddy were out and I didn't know where Jiaming was, so I planned to dish the meal up for everyone and heat it up when they arrived home.
Just then, the phone rang and Josh picked it up, in the lounge. He called out that his Mother wanted to talk to me so I walked to the lounge and straight back to the kitchen. This small "journey" was too long. I arrived back just in time to see the big Labrador, Zack, with the roast sticking out of either side of his mouth. He wasn't going to drop it --- he chomped hard and fast. Away went the roast. Josh said it was nice too!!! The look in Zack's eyes said the same thing!!
Ziaming still wasn't home at 10.30pm and the kids informed me that he had never been out that late before. I was worried. We didn't know his second name, his phone number or any of his friends. I couldn't ring anyone to enquire after him and it seemed a bit ridiculous to ring the police when we had only his first name. Talitha knew all of these details, of course but I didn't want to worry her.
Ziaming walked in at 11pm, only moments after I had wailed, "He could be dead in the gutter somewhere." When I told him this, he thought it was very funny. As we're here for another week, we exchanged mobile phone numbers and I discovered his second name.
Last night, I cooked a silverside roast beef. This was no easy task, as the oven never seemed to get hot enough. After battling with it for 2 hours, I was told by Josh that it was a bad oven and that his Mother and Maddy hated it. So I turned it up full bore and after a total of 4 hours, some of which was in the microwave, I pronounced it cooked, ready or not.
I carved off some and gave Josh his to eat. Steve and Maddy were out and I didn't know where Jiaming was, so I planned to dish the meal up for everyone and heat it up when they arrived home.
Just then, the phone rang and Josh picked it up, in the lounge. He called out that his Mother wanted to talk to me so I walked to the lounge and straight back to the kitchen. This small "journey" was too long. I arrived back just in time to see the big Labrador, Zack, with the roast sticking out of either side of his mouth. He wasn't going to drop it --- he chomped hard and fast. Away went the roast. Josh said it was nice too!!! The look in Zack's eyes said the same thing!!
Ziaming still wasn't home at 10.30pm and the kids informed me that he had never been out that late before. I was worried. We didn't know his second name, his phone number or any of his friends. I couldn't ring anyone to enquire after him and it seemed a bit ridiculous to ring the police when we had only his first name. Talitha knew all of these details, of course but I didn't want to worry her.
Ziaming walked in at 11pm, only moments after I had wailed, "He could be dead in the gutter somewhere." When I told him this, he thought it was very funny. As we're here for another week, we exchanged mobile phone numbers and I discovered his second name.
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Monday, November 8, 2010
CARLA
RIP
Carla van den Berg Lamers
17.11.1950 -- 4.11.2010
Carla passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at her home in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.
Her indomitable spirit kept her going through the last 3 years of numerous operations, chemo and radiotherapy. She continued with her painting and travelled extensively during the last year, through Eastern Europe, Canada and Australia.
I will sorely miss her sharp mind and our regular communication.
Dear friend of Laurie, taken too early but no more pain.
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Thursday, October 21, 2010
Home at Milnes Bridge
Steve didn't let the grass grow under his feet and we arrived home on the night of Tuesday Oct 12th.
Since then, he has been running around like a chook with his head cut off!
He brought Betty home from hospital last Monday and she has done very well.
In between times, Steve is cleaning up our house. It is SO bad. I retched when I first went inside --- the stink was overpowering. Isn't it great that Steve can't smell!!!! The mice have been everywhere except in the linen cupboard. I'm grateful for small mercies. Steve's cleaning has been meticulous -- just like I would do if I were capable. He has amazed me! He has disinfected the kitchen benches and cupboards to within an inch of their lives and finished the computer bench today.
On our first full day home, I put on a load of washing in the front loader in the van. It did its various cycles as we watched TV and it wasn't until the end that I noticed a little water on the floor. The more I looked, the more I found. It had run down onto the lounge carpet and parts of that were squelching. The weather was cool and it took more than 3 days to dry out. We mopped it up with every towel we owned.
I'm now washing all the towels --- 3 dozen of them ---- and every other piece of material that was around the house. The mice camped on everything. Washing is something I can do --- about the only thing at the present time.
The phone wasn't working when we got home. It was finally fixed yesterday --- it looks as though mice were to blame for that too.
One of my worries was that I would lose a large photograph that Harvey Norman, Moree, had sent away for processing. It should have been back before we left but it wasn't. I rang them today and gave my name. Before I could say anything else, the young man exclaimed, "Laurie Jenkinson". I asked why and he explained that he had his hands on my photo at that very moment. Phew. I haven't lost my money.
We had a visit from my Case Worker, Carol. She offered help for cleaning up the house but I refused. I just don't want anyone in there until every mouse sign has disappeared.
So, we remain in the van until the time is right to move inside --- whenever that might be!!!
Since then, he has been running around like a chook with his head cut off!
He brought Betty home from hospital last Monday and she has done very well.
In between times, Steve is cleaning up our house. It is SO bad. I retched when I first went inside --- the stink was overpowering. Isn't it great that Steve can't smell!!!! The mice have been everywhere except in the linen cupboard. I'm grateful for small mercies. Steve's cleaning has been meticulous -- just like I would do if I were capable. He has amazed me! He has disinfected the kitchen benches and cupboards to within an inch of their lives and finished the computer bench today.
On our first full day home, I put on a load of washing in the front loader in the van. It did its various cycles as we watched TV and it wasn't until the end that I noticed a little water on the floor. The more I looked, the more I found. It had run down onto the lounge carpet and parts of that were squelching. The weather was cool and it took more than 3 days to dry out. We mopped it up with every towel we owned.
I'm now washing all the towels --- 3 dozen of them ---- and every other piece of material that was around the house. The mice camped on everything. Washing is something I can do --- about the only thing at the present time.
The phone wasn't working when we got home. It was finally fixed yesterday --- it looks as though mice were to blame for that too.
One of my worries was that I would lose a large photograph that Harvey Norman, Moree, had sent away for processing. It should have been back before we left but it wasn't. I rang them today and gave my name. Before I could say anything else, the young man exclaimed, "Laurie Jenkinson". I asked why and he explained that he had his hands on my photo at that very moment. Phew. I haven't lost my money.
We had a visit from my Case Worker, Carol. She offered help for cleaning up the house but I refused. I just don't want anyone in there until every mouse sign has disappeared.
So, we remain in the van until the time is right to move inside --- whenever that might be!!!
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Sunday, October 10, 2010
On our way home
This is a very sudden take off.
Steve's Mother Betty went into hospital, with the same condition, a build-up of fluid, so we spent Friday and Saturday packing up and left on Sunday. Tonight we are in Gilgandra.
We tried to think of everything that had to be cancelled, rearranged, picked up etc --- all except for paying the last few days of rent! We were given the usual grand send-off and Lindy also rang tonight to see how far we got, so I don't think she is worrying about the rent!
We anticipate being home by Wednesday.
I plan to live in the caravan until I am satisfied that the house is clean and sweet. Last time Steve went home, he cleaned up a lot of mouse droppings. No doubt they will have played while we are away.
I planned to put some sounds here last week. They were of two frogs croaking, one in a pipe and the other on the ground. I had been wondering how best to capture the sound and Steve came up with the idea of using the video on the camera. It worked brilliantly.
Then I wanted to extract the sound, so I downloaded a program to do this. It went through the motions but didn't make a playable file. So I downloaded a second program. It didn't make a difference either. I think the problem must be Windows 7. Now I've downloaded about 21Mb unnecessarily and to the detriment of our allocation. I'll have to be careful until the end of the month! If I can't find a way to put the audio here, I'll just put up the video and we can watch a black screen and pretend it is night while we listen to the frogs!
Steve's Mother Betty went into hospital, with the same condition, a build-up of fluid, so we spent Friday and Saturday packing up and left on Sunday. Tonight we are in Gilgandra.
We tried to think of everything that had to be cancelled, rearranged, picked up etc --- all except for paying the last few days of rent! We were given the usual grand send-off and Lindy also rang tonight to see how far we got, so I don't think she is worrying about the rent!
We anticipate being home by Wednesday.
I plan to live in the caravan until I am satisfied that the house is clean and sweet. Last time Steve went home, he cleaned up a lot of mouse droppings. No doubt they will have played while we are away.
I planned to put some sounds here last week. They were of two frogs croaking, one in a pipe and the other on the ground. I had been wondering how best to capture the sound and Steve came up with the idea of using the video on the camera. It worked brilliantly.
Then I wanted to extract the sound, so I downloaded a program to do this. It went through the motions but didn't make a playable file. So I downloaded a second program. It didn't make a difference either. I think the problem must be Windows 7. Now I've downloaded about 21Mb unnecessarily and to the detriment of our allocation. I'll have to be careful until the end of the month! If I can't find a way to put the audio here, I'll just put up the video and we can watch a black screen and pretend it is night while we listen to the frogs!
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Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Shaving Day
On September 20th, Lindy and Steve raised over $1200 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, by parting with their hair. (Not my Steve --- I wouldn't agree to him shaving his beard; he looks like a teenager underneath, or at least he did when he shaved it off about 20 years ago!)
There were about 100 people gathered at the BBQ area for the big event. Lindy, Steve and helpers cooked a BBQ lunch and drew some raffles, then it was on with "business".
The hairdresser started on Lindy first. I was sad to see the lovely curls go but having seen her with very short hair in the past, I know that it will grow back quickly. The whole cut was liberally sprinkled with Lindy's irrepressible laugh!!
I wasn't sad to see Steve's beard go! I don't like long, straggly beards. (Sorry Steve.) His hair and moustache went as well and he looked a very different man. As some wit called out, "Now he looks younger than his son." Steve has lived permanently in the park for the last couple of years but he left a few days ago. He has written a book called, Australia's Great Thermal Way.
Good on the pair of them for agreeing to part with their hair for such a good cause. It was a fun occasion.
See some of the photos by clicking on Shaving Day, below. Choose slideshow on top left of the new page.
There were about 100 people gathered at the BBQ area for the big event. Lindy, Steve and helpers cooked a BBQ lunch and drew some raffles, then it was on with "business".
The hairdresser started on Lindy first. I was sad to see the lovely curls go but having seen her with very short hair in the past, I know that it will grow back quickly. The whole cut was liberally sprinkled with Lindy's irrepressible laugh!!
I wasn't sad to see Steve's beard go! I don't like long, straggly beards. (Sorry Steve.) His hair and moustache went as well and he looked a very different man. As some wit called out, "Now he looks younger than his son." Steve has lived permanently in the park for the last couple of years but he left a few days ago. He has written a book called, Australia's Great Thermal Way.
Good on the pair of them for agreeing to part with their hair for such a good cause. It was a fun occasion.
See some of the photos by clicking on Shaving Day, below. Choose slideshow on top left of the new page.
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| Shaving Day |
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