The BLUE Challenge

Blue ... we looked up in the sky ...

... over the tops of buildings ...

... we even looked over the fence ... it was all we could see ...

... clear blue skies shone above us ...

... glorious ... a clear beautiful Sydney day !

Unconscious Mutterins week 338 ...

Thoughts for the day ... I say and you think ???


1.Banter :: witty

2.Amazing :: life

3.Towel :: dry

4.Cinema :: movies

5.Newspaper :: daily

6.Not good :: whingers

7.My type :: real

8.Twinkle :: star

9.Actress :: drama

10.Daft :: stupid


Read more Mutterings here

BLUE Challenge ...

In Aussie vernacular a true blue Aussie redheaded shiela, or a bloke, is

affectionately called Blue or Bluey ... a brawl or a fight is a Blue too ... a

bushies favourite cattle dog is frequently called Blue too ... learn more here ...

... does this count?

Amelie & Atticus BLUE Challenge ...

BLUE's the challenge for this week ...

Not being a lover of blue I've dug through pics and found this gem I took one morning ...

Who is that up there ???

National Gallery Knitta Please event ... WOW !!!

The talented Grrl has co-ordinated an amazing event along with knitters

from around the world.


She's co-ordinated the Knitta Please event at the National Gallery in

Australia's capital city Canberra with Magda from Knitta Please who's

pulled the wool over other major cities read here ...


Take a peek here at the magic Grrl 's taken to our dull nations capital ...

awesome ... inspiring ... sensational ... wish I'd known ... Bravo Dneese!

I'm Over It T Shirts ... just for you or design your own at REMO

Taaaaaaaaaaa Daaaaaaaaaa ... just what you always wanted ...

... your very own I'm Over It T shirt ...

... available from the great guys at REMO ...

... in all sizes ~ ladies fitted, bubs, kids, big blokes, fat lady sizes ... you can tell

which one I bought ...

... and ...

... if you don't want one of these you can design your own ...click here to learn

more or place an order.

FASHION FACES Photography by BELA BORSODI

Photographer Bela Borsodi created a collection of Fashion Faces for Internet store Yalook ...

... fabulous ... see more here

...Borsodi profile here

A new weekly challenge ... RED RED RED

A wonderful discovery ...

... a gorgeous new blog ... exactly what's needed ...

... a challenge at Amelie and Atticus

Week 2 challenge is RED ... 4 photo's on Flickr + 1 craft ...

... here's one I prepared earlier...




... white satin roses ... no weddings planned ... what to do ...



... dunk in Scarlet Ozecraft Dye ...



... place on paper towel nuke for sixty seconds ...




... attach to scarlet satin ribbon ...




... adorn a lamp shade painted with Scarlet Ozecraft Dye ...


... challenge complete !!!

When I grow up ...

Hey good news ... when I grow up and get a Seniors Card I can use it to travel Australia wide ... Launched in January and now fully operational, the National Seniors Transport scheme provides seniors card holders with concessions on transport throughout Australia.

Previously unavailable outside your home state, now your Seniors Card can be used to purchase concession tickets on public transport throughout Australia with all states on board.

Further to this, Senior’s Card holders can receive 25% off standard adult fares on any of Great Southern Rail’s services ... and International cards can be obtained too ...


Read more HERE ... Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Eating our way round the Sydney Food & Wine Show

The absolute find of the event was Sabor Gluten & Dairy free Chocolate Mousse

... made in Sydney ... not just Taditional Chocolate but Orange Chocolate, Hazelnut Chocolate with more varieties on the way ... the people were gorgeous as is their product ... gorgeous ... nahhhh ... it's addictive!

We said Hi to the always sweet ChocolateSuze ... despite being crushed in the bag Suze's Gluten free Macadamia Biscotti's ... Yummmm ... heavenly morsels ... scrumptious!

Mrs. May's Naturals slow roasted dry snacks ... Gluten & Wheat Free ... bite size ... crunchy explosions in your mouth finds ... Pom-Raspberry Crunch is TDF ... check them out here

The show bag for a favourite mag, Healthy Food Guide was absolutely total value for money ... jam packed with brilliant goodies ... one copy of this great publication is handed around the entire family!

Yayyyyyyyy I scored their very last show bag for the entire show ... nope I'm not showing these contents ... they're mine!

Sydney Good Food & Wine Show ...

A couple of years ago we went to the Sydney Food Show at Darling Harbour. We never forgot the feeding frenzy we witnessed in one massive hall at the Sydney Convention Centre.

This weekend we braved the Sydney Good Food and Wine Show extravaganza that covered five halls. Gnashing, dribbling, gorging, pushing, nudging and elbowing was the order of the day. The masses obliterated anything on offer they could get into their mouths. Timber from a healthy forest was surely cleared to manufacture the squillions of toothpicks used to stab the morsels.

We said hi to the always gorgeous ChocolateSuze ... pop over for her food blogger / exhibitor perspective of the show ... we saw celeb chefs, we tasted, we enjoyed!

We lugged home bags and bags of samples and bargains. I stupidly didn't buy a shopping trolley to lug the loot ... I was over them after having been whacked in the ankles and tripped up by the people dragging them. I'd thought they were idiots for buying so much stuff ... Hah!

I primadonna'd like a small petulant child the entire, what felt like a marathon, walk to the car. With my one, half a good arm and two bulging bags I huffed, puffed, pouted, fought back tears, grunted, groaned and cursed like a tetchy toddler who'd missed an afternoon nap. Reaching the car was bliss.

SOoooo this week I'm going to blog on some of the food and wine we discovered
... for now my biggest decision is what to eat next while I journey through France via the live telecast of le Tour de France where Aussie Stewart O'Grady is currently in second place ...

... more food delights and observations tomorrow!

Unconscious Mutterings Week 336.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1.Independence :: content.

2.Meltdown :: shutdown.

3.Vulture :: looming.

4.Hope :: floats.

5.Float :: weightless.

6.Hole :: ass.

7.Trespass :: forbidden.

8.Moving :: on.

9.Extinct :: gone.

10.Alligator :: see ya later.

LOOKING UP ...

... one of my best ...

Dad ... would be 94 today ...

Dad would have been 94 today ... here he is, handsome devil, in WoyWoy on

leave in 1942 ... Happy Birthday ole fella!

Miss Jones was Christened ...

A vision in an heirloom gown and bonnet ... can you believe my Dad wore this ...


... she asked me what does this all mean ...

... have you heard this before?

We'll never know what she thought ... wouldn't it be interesting if we did ...

Unconscious Mutterings week 335 ...

I say ... and you think ...

Guest :: room

Impact :: pow

Unplanned :: never

Tactic :: scheme

Delayed :: annoyed

Bombastic :: gruff

Comfort :: cuddles

Trumpet :: brass

Joe :: blow

Budget :: none

Read others here

If you'd like to use this 'free association meme' ... please give Patricia the credit she deserves ...

Sunday Scribblings ... TOYS.

The Sunday Scribblings girls wanted to make it lighter this week ... the prompt is Toys!

New babies in the family bring to mind how things used to be. Toys are beginning to appear. $70.00 for a plaything for our new girl shocked the socks right off me. A couple of lengths of psychedelic coloured man made material with brightly coloured shapes hanging from it. Add batteries and Bach or Mozart will serenade our little treasure and by the time she's six months old the thing can be adjusted to become a night light with some additional new fangled devices added so the mobile part will rotate ... can you believe it?

I know, I know I sound like that bloody old stick in the mud I swore I was never going to be. At the unveiling of the contraption I didn't express my horror, I kept my opinions to myself, and tried to reassure my doubtful self ... that's how it's done today. I refrained from sounding disapproving or judgmental ... I quietly wished I had shares in a toy factory!

In my day ... I cringe at that term ... I was adamant I'd never use it ... but here it is!

In my day a length of fabric from the bottom of a tattered sheet or thread bare towel strung through a couple of wooden cotton reels was usually baby's first toy. The cloth was long enough to slip over bub's head. Baby would be propped up or sit for hours twirling the cotton reels. A soft fabric ball hand sewn from scraps of fabric thrown into the air, rolled along the floor or gently thown toward the bub was another toy. We scrunched paper to make a noise, we allowed them to play with a spoon and as they got bigger a wooden spoon banged onto the tray of their high chair was all the entertainment needed.

We saved up to buy the first teddy bear. One that made a gentle growling sound when tipped backward or forward. We put soup mix, aka dried peas or beans into the corner of a piece of cloth as a noise maker. We clapped hands, snorted like a pig, blew raspberries, clicked our fingers, goo goo gooed, whistled and laughed ... all without batteries.

As my Dad aged toys of a different kind featured. He wanted what we grew to call his 'boys toys'. First was a new top of the range electric / battery operated shaver. Next he demanded a battery operated CD player, a small battery operated radio, a battery operated toothbrush, a battery operated hand held fan. Eventually the cost of batteries use was becoming exhorbitant as he'd forget to switch his toys off.

The purchase of a battery charger with re-chargeable batteries was going to save time and money. Dear old Dad would invariably plug the unit in then forget about that as well consequently burning the life out of the batteries ... on second thoughts forget the shares in a toy factory I'll settle for shares in a battery factory.

Happiness is ...

... from this ...



... to this ...

... life changing ... the purging continues ...

It's happening ... purging = dreams ...

... nothing is impossible ... watch this space ...

Flynn ... one day old

Here's Flynn ... one day old ... beautiful despite his rough arrival ... Mummy and Daddy are doing fine!

Unconscious Mutterings ~ I say ... and you think ...?

Week 334

I say ... and you think ... ?

1.Divorce :: done

2.Napkin :: serviette

3.Camera :: smile

4.Leather :: cow

5.Fractures :: ten

6.Flip out :: freak

7.Coroner :: inquest

8.Atomic :: bomb

9.Liz :: ard

10.Leave :: off

Miss Jones having a chat at 3 months ...

Miss Jones has plenty to talk about ...




If only we could translate ... she is so adorable it wouldn't matter what she was saying ...

Disappointed ... we survived Bistro Lilly ...

One entree, one main, 2 glasses of wine, 2 desserts total $140.00 ... we survived with great disappointment Bistro Lilly.

Two weeks previously MJ had degustated with a group there. The grilled lamb salad and chocolate yucatan pudding made it imperative for another visit.

My selection of roast duck was horrid. The serve was enough to feed two, not hot, tough plus the accompanying turnips were THE most bitter ever tasted ... the chocolate yucatan pudding ... no comparison in the size and presentation of two weeks prior ...

Feedback was offered ... mine hosts didn't appear to care ... she wanted to argue that MJ had been there more than two weeks ago ... enough said ...

NEXT!

Tonight these will be mine ... dinner ... TDF!



If I survive I'll tell you where ...

National Australian Thyroid Awareness Week Jun 1-7

Do yourself and your thyroid a favour ... pick up any information

you see or click on :::

The Australian Thyroid Foundation Ltd

::: you'll be glad you did!

A day with the Jones girl ...

... she's 8 weeks ... so very gorgeous ... so loved!

Like sands through the hour glass ... memories at Bondi Beach

A beautiful day at Bondi Beach today ...

... leaning on the rail at the top of Campbell Parade, listening to the hum of the grader making patterns in the sand, the ozone fogging up our specs, smelling the aroma of the sea, watching the brown bodies heading into the surf ... and the memories ... it was spooky when I remembered the year I commenced school at Bondi Beach Public School ...

... so are the days of our lives!!!

Scribble Soup for Writers Block ...

Stumbled across Scribble Soup for Writers Block ... a great quickie to get the grey matter working ... Thanks Dee ...

Reminiscing ... Wayne Cooper shoes ...

Look at these shoes will you???

Recollections of thin ankles, swinging finely stockinged legs swathed on the brim of a high stool ...

... the shoes the legs said 'take me home and ....'

... seems like only a moment ago ...

WORRY / HEALING / Thyroid Surgery alert!!!

How apt ... like I say week after week the Sunday Scribbling girls are synchronised in my life.

WORRY ... it was ... not any more ... for me that is ...


Further to my healing post I called the surgeon Dr Christopher Hughes to tell him of the MRSA diagnosis ... his reaction alerted me to write down the conversation ...

Read on, you be the judge!

Hi Dr Hughes this is Moi ... gave him surgery details ... do you remember me I asked?

Hughes says: Yes vaguely.

I say: I'm calling to tell you I have MRSA ...

H replies: Well don't blame me, I didn't give it to you, I don't want to catch it, you must have picked it up at the hospital ...

I was gobsmacked and replied ... I am not blaming you ... it was suggested I give you a call, the wound is really ugly, open,and there's something like a small suture sticking out, even though it is small it wasn't there before ...

H replies: The registrar did the surgery not me ...

I said: I was referred to you ...

H says: OK well come and see me and I'll pull it out ...

I said: There's skin growing over it ...

H says: Oh Well .... sounding even more exasperated - then silence ....

So I asked ... When can I come and see you ...

H: says ...Not this week ... May 21 9.45am ...


His defensive attitude isn't what I need right now! I don't want a battle, I am not blaming anyone ($hit happens)

On May 16 - twelve weeks after surgery - I notice something protruding from the wound. With a small mirror and a pair of tweezers I gently pull on the object, it moves, I pull again, it moves again, I pull again ...

Prior to surgery when I asked about the wound Hughes assured me the sutures would be inside a 6cm wound and the sutures would dissolve!!!

Taa Daaaa ... I remove 8cms of synthetic thread from the wound in my neck!!

I spoke to a number of medical professionals who agreed Hughes defensive attitude was unsatisfactory. Commonsense told me he prefers to see fantastic outcomes, not problems that need addressing!

Based on Hughes reaction I decide not to upset myself by attending the appointment ...

I phoned ... Hughes answered ... I said who I was and I would not be attending the appointment that morning.

Hughes said 'OK' ... and hung up!

Says it all doesn't it?

Drat ... I should have asked Hughes will he pay for the neck scarves I'll wear for the rest of my life ...

... and ...

The infection was treated successfully by caring medical professionals.

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 328

I say ... and you think ... ?


1. Again :: and again

2. Shower :: gifts

3. Flirting :: beware

4. Moving on :: healthy

5. Rachel :: who?

6. Chips :: dips

7. Texting :: torture

8. Feel better :: yes

9. Cashmere :: cosy

10. Sucked :: in!


Wanna play this word game then Click here.

Sunday Scribblings ... HEALING.

Sunday Scribbling girls have done it again ... OK I won't repeat my weekly exclamation ...

'Healing' is this weeks prompt ... Gadzooks ... healing ... not round here!

February 25th a renowned surgeon removed a 2.6 cm nodule and my right thyroid. 'It'll only be a 6cm incision' he assured ...

NOT ...

Eleven weeks on ...

Now an MRSA diagnosis ...

Plus I'm fed up with people talking to the gash ...

Before my living bra died they used to talk to the girls ...

Mother's Day ... Roses Only ... smelling the roses

A delivery of a metre long box containing superb blooms & chocolates ...



... made for a gorgeous, unexpected surprise from MJ ...


... hope you were smelling the roses on your Mother's Day too!

PURGING ... out with the old ...

The New Years resolution was to purge ... it's begun ... a new look too !

Miss Jones is 5 weeks ... a quilt from NZ ...

"what a beautiful surprise ... a new quilt from Aunty P " ...

..."Oooooo it's so smoochy too" ...

Can you believe she is only 5 weeks ???

Sunday Scribblings - FOLLOW.

The Sunday Scribblings girls write ...
I find this whole concept of following very intriguing. Sunday Scribblings, for example, can be followed in Blogger, in Bloglines and Google Reader to name just a few. Who do you follow? How do you decide what to follow? Do you follow anything else? People, pets, television shows, careers, really slow drivers, toddlers, family lines, rules, regulations, paths, routes, celebrities, all need to be followed in one way or another. Tell us your take on 'follow


In every day life I don't regard myself as a 'follower' I attempt to be unique, I think and see things differently to everyone I know yet in the contenxt of the SS prompt I am a follower of sorts.

I follow many TV shows, yes I'm a self confessed reality fan ... Project Runway, Amazing Race, Big Brother, Biggest Loser, Idol, Trinny & Sussanah ... love them all ... amd more! Some of the changes in my life I owe to Oprah, ten years ago that is, not by the Oprah standards of today.
Now my daytime TV followings are Martha Stewart, Ellen and The View, more down to earth ... yes still contrived but more believably so and much, much more fun!

The blogs I follow are numerous. I adore being motivated by the plethora of talented women around the world in blogland. My one and all time favourite is Corey of Tongue in Cheek . This beautiful woman and her photography, her thoughts, her opinions, her ideas, plus her values all full of beauty, ooze an integrity that fills me with joy when I pop by.

Following traditions, mores and values change as we change. I don't decide who to follow, it simply happens. Keeping an open mind leaves the possibility of happening upon something or someone new open to me ... if I followed too closely ... I'd be a stalker then wouldn't I?

Miss Jones ... 18 days old trying to find her wings ...

Miss Jones ... 18 days old ... trying to find her wings ... makes my heart sing!

Sunday Scribblings #158 Scary ... what scares you?

The Sunday Scribbling girls have done it again ... with their "SCARY" prompt ... they say 'I can't recall if we've done this prompt before, but I'm curious: what scares you?'

From twelve to fifteen I was sent to live with my Grandma ... that's another story ... but the most freakiest, scariest, thing living there was the double door linen cupboard at the end of the hall. When you entered her front door the said cupboard was on your left, dark timber doors, each about two feet wide. Straight ahead was the bathroom down the hallway to the left was the breakfast room, as she called it. Ahead was the "middle door" into the living room through to the bedrooms where beyond, the most panoramic, million dollar view of Bondi Beach took your breath away.

As the weather grew cooler she would insist the middle door, that doorway from the living room was kept closed, 'to keep out the draft' ... I was sure it was to keep out whoever lived in that cupboard. Even walking down that hallway during the day, with the sun behind me, the reflection of the sea making my shadow glisten on those doors I was sure someone was going to leap out at me ...

Nights were the worst. She'd not allow the hall light to be left on. To get to the bathroom I always had to stretch from the middle doorway to the breakfast room to get the light on ... oh golly just thinking about it makes me cringe ...

She had no idea. I wonder why I didn't ever tell her?

That three years was torture ... so was walking into the bathroom where she had a curtain hanging behind the door covering brooms and a ladder ... someone was lurking there too ...

No-one has ever heard me yell " ... turn that light off!"

Thursday night I was scared going in to a tunnel. The taxi driver didn't know I don't do tunnels ... you can overcome anything!

Unconscious Mutterings #324 ... I say ... and you think?

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Animal :: magnetism.

2. Temporary :: brief.

3. Moan :: ....er.

4. Rapid :: swift.

5. That’s for me to say :: got it?

6. City :: lights.

7. Bumper :: bar.

8. Eclipse :: rare.

9. Problematic :: life.

10. If? :: no ifs.

Miss Jones ... 13 days ...

Miss Jones after a beauty session ... 13 days ... so precious.

Unconscious Mutterings Week 323

I say ... and you think ... ?


1. Log :: Wood.

2. Plaything :: Gigolo.

3. Broom :: Transport.

4. Heels :: Spondylitis.

5. Smoke in :: Stench.

6. Guests :: Girls.

7. Attraction :: Seduction.

8. Shiny :: New.

9. Risked :: Zilch.

10. Velvet :: Lavish.

Haven't done one of these for a while ... Mmmmm

Sunday Scribblings ... #157 CELEBRATE

Sunday Scribblings has done it again ... a prompt so in tune ... 'CELEBRATE.'

The girls ask "what do you have in your life to celebrate" ... my one word reply ...


EVERYTHING!


Hope you're life is as excellent as mine!

6 days old ...

Isn't she looking so wise and worldly for only 6 days old?

You'd swear she knows what's going on ... and just maybe she does ...

Sunday Scribblings ... AGING.

Yet again the Sunday Scribblings topic for this week hits the nail right on the head for me …

This week I became a Great-GrandMaMa (click here to meet Isabella) … yes I know … how can that be you ask, someone so vibrant, so young, yet only 39 with a lot of late nights …


March 25 I was blessed. I’ve said so many times before I am blessed again and again and to be there, no not in the delivery suite, no way could I see my baby have her baby but to be stroking my grand-daughters brow shortly before Isabella made her entrance, was phenomenal!


I’m a cryer, I tear up at movies, parades, sad songs, happy songs, births, deaths, marriages, surprises, graduations, celebrations of any description, jokes both sad and funny, good and bad … you name it I shed tears, get a red, snotty nose …and Isabella’s entrance epitomised what life, tears and aging was all about.


For me aging is only ticking off the numbers. You can’t change it … think old, you’ll be old, worrying about it makes you old, endeavouring to avoid the inevitable simply detracts from what’s impossible to change. So go with it, enhance it, surround yourself with positive, happy, contented people ... trusts me it rubs off. Avoid negative whingers who drain the life out of you, who clog up your pores with their woeful baggage ... choose people who get over it, who don't dwell on what they can't change, people who love being alive no matter what destiny deals.

A dearly departed friend always said she would never hang round with old people, sick people and poor people … that was a funny saying when we were out and about in our prime but not so funny when that same friend died not so old, but sick and poor … says it all doesn’t it?


To have survived, to own a myriad of stories, memories to cry about, to smile, share and hand on to a new generation … makes aging bliss.


To have reached a never dreamt of pinnacle in my precious life allows me to choose a new theme song ... the perennial, somewhat defiant chorus of the Australian 70s group The Masters Apprentices song “Because I Love You” … Do what ya wanna do, be what ya wanna be yeah click here to sing along ... you’ll love it ...

Introducing ::: Isabella Jones.

Isabella Jones ~ arrived March 25, 2009 at 2.22pm.

Isabella was 2.89kg, 48cms long ... Mummy, Daddy & Isabella are healthy,

gorgeous, tired and excited ...

Moi ~ I'm a Great GrandMaMa ...

Now we're four generations ...

Sunday Scribblings ... I come from ...

Sunday Scribblings has done it again ... given me the opportunity to share with you one of the all time, greatest Aussie anthems ever recorded ...

I Come from the Land Downunder.

See the video here ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNT7uZf7lew

Follow the words and sing a long ... courtesy of here

Traveling in a fried-out combie
On a hippie trail, head full of zombie
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous
She took me in and gave me breakfast
And she said,

"Do you come from a land down under?
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover.

"Buying bread from a man in Brussels
He was six foot four and full of muscles
I said, "Do you speak-a my language?
"He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich
And he said,

"I come from a land down under
Where beer does flow and men chunder
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover.

"Lying in a den in BombayWith a slack jaw, and not much to say
I said to the man, "Are you trying to tempt me
Because I come from the land of plenty?"
And he said,

"Oh! Do you come from a land down under? (oh yeah yeah)
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover."

So what does it all mean?

According to Wkipedia ...

The term Down Under is a colloquialism referring to Australia and New Zealand. It locates Australia as "the land down under" because it lies totally within the southern hemisphere. "Down Under" is also attributed as the inspiration for the underwear brand Gilly Hicks, from the internationally recognised American lifestyle brand and company Abercrombie & Fitch.[citation needed]
The persistence of the media use of the term has led to its wide embrace and usage. The Men at Work song "Down Under" became an instantly recognisable, patriotic rallying song. The famous Australian boxing champion Kostya Tszyu was nicknamed "The Thunder From Down Under".

So now y'all know ... I come from the land downunder ... and mighty proud of it too!!

My Dad's Gone Fishing ... 3.7.1915 - 14.3.2009

Dad was born in Heaton near Newcastle on July 3rd 1915.

Dad was the eldest son of Sidney and Ethel. They were ‘dirt poor’ and Dad would tell you how, from his earliest days, he would rather fish than anything else.

He described himself as a wild scrawny kid. He wagged school to fish, left school to fish and he changed schools half a dozen times. His Mum even sent him to St. Bernard’s Catholic School at Matraville hoping the nuns would straighten him out but fishing remained number one.

His Dad was an itinerant sign writer. When his Dad wasn't working my Dad managed to bring home a feed of oysters, cockles or leather jackets. He caught blackfish/ Luderick, the fish that became his favourite, at Bunberra Point near Bunnerong.

Dad would also take home wood from foreshores of Botany and would follow the coal truck, picking up coal that fell off to keep the family in light and heat for cooking and water. He knew two old blokes who had a camp out at “Pussy Cat” a spot on Botany Bay. Dad used to go there to bludge sandwiches from them when there was no food at home and to pick up any fishing gear they saved that washed up.

By 14 Dad had left school for good. By 15 he was sent away from home because of the depression to the north coast to go fishing as a paid job with his Uncle.

At 18 Dad joined the 55 battalion Militia at Zetland, like today’s army reserve, then transferred to the the regular army because there were no jobs at that time. His Dad had died and he needed to support his Mum, brother and two sisters.

Fishing played a major role in Dad's life and when he married he supplemented his wage by selling fish on the beach at Bondi and to the Bondi Fish Shop. His beloved wife was a ‘fisherman’s widow’, she never complained. He lived and dreamt fishing, he made all his own rods, reels, sinkers and floats and had his name and photo in the newspapers because of it. He also used fishing as an excuse to go shagging…

They called Dad the "Pied Piper." No matter where he fished whether it was the Merk at Bondi where he built the first ladder down the cliff, on a break wall or the banks of the Georges River - when no-one else could catch any Dad would be reeling them in!

Despite his meagre beginnings Dad became a fitter and turner by trade and rose to become a cost investigator, costing weapons and missiles with the Department of Defence, a good provider and an extremely private man with unique esoteric beliefs.

Now he's gone fishing fishing again … Hoo Roo Dad!

Photo taken 1942 ... handsome devil!

Sunday Scribblings ... Listen up etc ... My Dad's health ...

The past week has been turmoil with the unexpected decline of my Dad's health.

Last December a bout of flu became pneumonia. Dad also had a mild heart attack resulting in heart failure which has slowly worsened and confusion has become dementia. Dad's conscious, his breathing is laboured, he knows who's around, he tells the staff to 'get nicked' when they tend to him! Palliative care has started.

This pic was on his 92nd birthday surrounded by staff at the nursing home. His major priorities, wine, women and food remained foremost despite his age!

Listen up this is important ... it doesn't matter about the man he once was, it's of no consequence what's transpired in the past ... he's my Dad. He did what he thought was right, he worked hard, he was a good provider, he did the best he knew how with what he had!

Now his dignity, peace and most of all his comfort are paramount. I'm sitting with him every day. This isn't a sad time.

Lisianthus ...

To brighten a dull day ...




Lisianthus blooms ...



from MJ ...

The stupidity of ebay ...

A Darling Mate of mine has been selling on ebay for seven years. On Sunday he was notified by ebay that two items he's listed had been withdrawn ...

One was a 'BONE necklace' the other was 'a set of BONE handled knives' ...

the ebay reason for the action ... use of the word BONE ...


When questioning the ebay decision he was told by the unbudging, over zealous, supercilious, pillock on the other end of the phone was "to use the term bone you must stipulate what sort of bone it is "


My mate wonders ... how on earth is he expected to find someone to do the DNA, the research and who is going to foot the bill?

For now he's having fun with ebay ... his listing reads ...


According to ebay policies I have to specify the 'species' of animal the bone came from. This listing was previously removed for this reason. In a piece this age it is a ridiculous suggestion so my feeling is that it is either unicorn or wookie but certainly not a protected species ...


If there's no response from ebay they've more than likely satisifed with the listing edit ...

Unicorn / Wookie ... WOTHA ...

Unconscious Mutterings ...

Week 318


I say ... and you think ... ?


1. Pain :: neck.

2. Lego :: blocks.

3. Trooper :: super.

4. Flicker :: pics.

5. Character :: individual.

6. Determined :: always.

7. Wing :: it.

8. Control :: freak.

9. Automatic :: pilot.

10.Yeah :: Man!

Sunday Scribblings #152 ... LOST ...

My previous post reminds me of how losing things, obvious things, everyday things, increases with age hence my cynical suggestion that a small keepsake purse might have been a good idea at surgery.


Women in our great grandmothers era wore a chatelaine round their waist. What a splendid idea. A belt with the then necessaries of life attached. The scissors, pencil, thimble, keys, watch, spectacles all suspended from an individual chain. Todays chatelaine might have your mobile phone, digi camera, credit cards and other essentials in easy reach yet individually attached so as to never become lost!


How can you put keys down, glasses, scissors, a pen, the lid of a jar or bottle, an implement that you’re in the process of using and in one nano second they’re lost?


Is it age? Is one side of your brain slowing down? Does someone have an answer?


This week I’ve lost my right thyroid and the attached 2.6cm nodule, as well as my keys, the cover to both my camera and mobile phone, two sheets of paper with addresses written on them plus my reading glasses … please don’t reply till the glasses turn up!

NEW LOOK NECK ...

How's this for a new look?

6 cms incision, stitches on the inside, will heal to look like a natural wrinkle ...

If only they'd tightened the skin a bit more ...

Should have asked for zipper to be fitted ...

Maybe a purse for small change or a key holder ;)

Sunday Scribblings #151 ... TRUST ...

TRUST …

Pondering this Sunday Scribbling prompt immediately reminded me of my first confrontation with trust concerning my so called best friend at the time and my husband. My immediate plan was the write about this ultimate betrayal. How trust was broken, the consequences plus think about trust. But I remembered other episodes.


Like the two girls I employed, how I trusted them implicitly in the business, how the business went bust yet, later, they took a trip to Greece. I congratulated them. Years later I realised more than likely I paid for their trip. The next one was about how I set off to open a restaurant with the then loser of my life. I put up the collateral. When he couldn’t take the heat he fled the kitchen. Before he left town he filled his mates car with petrol on the business account. I heard for the next month flashed plenty of cash


The thread in my experiences wasn’t trust it was my stupidity. Yes I’d trusted these low lifes with friendship, familiarity, confidence and honesty to be by my side. I’d neglected my personal short comings by believing I was such a good judge of character, always sure I could trust with the belief of ‘do unto others.’


These episodes, over three decades, were because of who I was at that time.
Thankfully I’ve learnt to trust you must first trust yourself … isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing??

Sunday Scribblings # 150 ::: SPORTS

SPORTS


Gadzooks it's Sunday Scribblings 150th prompt … my last entry was at 123 …

Let’s talk about sports ... I’ve known a few … good sports!

Australian male’s calling each other sports began in WWII when Aussie soldiers, according to Sidney J Baker’s The Australian Language called each other “feller”, a form of fellow used mainly as a genial form of address, comparable to the use of “digger” or “mate”.

Reference to females as good sports probably began around the same time! The very un PC reference to a girl who was easy or loose, with the boys that is, led to these friendly your things, looking for love in all the wrong places, as being identified as a ‘good sport’ resulting in them being stigmatized by society.

In Queensland the northern state of Australia sport was used to describe an isolated coral outcrop.

Cyril Hopkins wrote a biographical notice of the life and work of Marcus Clarke where he wrote “If you invite a stranger to partake of supper, you say, “Hullo Mate! Come in and sport your Dover!”

As for sports, I’m a major sports fan! Whenever Australia is on any field, oval, running on to a major sporting venue, on the ocean, in the surf, on a tennis or race course, I’ll be seen wearing the green and gold screaming Aussie, Aussie Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi … but that’s as good a sport as I’ll be!

Another New York reason ... The Tuck Shop

No need to yearn for a good Aussie pie 'n' sauce, a sausage roll, a vanilla slice,

a lamington or a host of other Aussie delicacies ... get along to The Tuck Shop

on 68 1st Street ... it's all there ... they stock Vegemite, Tim Tams, plus heaps

of other Aussie groceries ...


The guys are pushing to get VB into the US pop over here to sign the petition

photo by Reinhard Hunger. Styling by Adriana Castro

Papabubble ...another reason to go to New York

Martha did a fabulous segment on Papbubble ... click here to see them in action ...

Is it art? Is it glass? people ask when they happen upon the gorgeous Papabubble store in Broome Street, Manhattan / New York. Opened in 2007 the gourmet candy "sculpture" is prepared, twisted, stretched and packed in the store.

The concept belongs to Australian papabubble originators, Tommy Tang and Christopher King, who opened the first shop in Barcelona in June 2003.

Stores are in Seoul, Amsterdam, Tokyo, head office in Barcelona ... lollies have never looked or tasted so good.

Victoria bush fires images ... how sad we are ...

A power station in the forgeound ...

A 737 taking of from Melbourne airport ...

Ash ...

Words can't express ...

Spot fires looking like fairy lights ...

Australia is united for the people of Victoria ::: 80 people missing ::: almost 200 people dead :::

almost five million dollars raised so far :::

Makes me proud to be an Aussie hearing and watching out country unite ... Oi, Oi, Oi!

Images courtesy of online search.

Victoria, Australia burns ... Bushfires rage ...

The southern state of Victoria has been engulfed with bush fires for days ... this image from the

National Geographic News site here ... shows the ferocity that people and animals have, and

are, enduring.


They want money, not essential items at the moment, not food or clothes, they need money to

give these people back some kind of dignity and hope ... they don't want sight seers ... how

morons can drive to the area for a 'look' makes my skin crawl!


A well known and much publicised blog Meetmeatmikes has plenty of details on how and

where to donate. If you feel inclined please ... click here to find out how to make a donation.


C'mon people if everyone only gave one dollar ... imagine the accumulated difference this would

make ... more heartbreaking stories are emerging ... they need our help!

Tinsel Trading ... another reason to go to New York ...

Martha Stewart calls it "my favourite store in all of the world" ... it could be mine too.


Treat yourself ... take a look at the stunning video made by Kaari and Molly as they uncover interesting finds in the basement at Tinsel Trading before the move to 37th Street


Check out their web site here Tinsel Trading 1 West 37th Street ...


or the MSN clip 'All in the Family' here ...


Allow plenty of time for browsing ...


Mmmm another reason to save the shekels for New York!