Sunday, 26 October 2025

 There was a celebration in Deloraine yesterday to mark the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of Giant Steps School for Autism.  For the first five years it muddled along under the direction of a group of parents but when it was a bit more established they decided to appoint a Principal.  I started at the beginning of 2000 and I think it was the most interesting period of my working life.

There was more to the job than managing the program.  I found myself being advocate for the school, negotiating with and educating government, fund-raising and extending the school's footprint by buying adjoining properties and building extra classroom space.

It's been over fifteen years since I retired and there have been three other principals since then.  The current boss was appointed by me in about 2005 as a Teacher Aide and has now taken on the job as Principal.  The school is unrecogniseable with new buildings and reorganisation of facilities.  When I became Principal there was always the danger that we would have to close our doors but those days are long gone.

It was great to see that Giant Steps has gone from strength to strength and is now very well-established.  It's nice to think that I played a role in that.

Friday, October 24

 I came across an interesting story this morning about a group of convicts who escaped from Tasmania in about 1830, hijacked a merchant ship called the Cyprus and sailed it towards New Zealand, through the Chatham Islands, past Tonga and along the coast of China before arriving at a small island called Tebajima in the south of Japan.  The local population of Samurai families were very suspicious of the intruders and frightened them away with cannon fire.

This is probably the first encounter between Japan and Australia, and not very diplomatic.

Our cleaner is here this morning, a young man from Nepal, so I'm hanging around at my desk until he leaves and I can get my shower.  It's all very well having home-help but I resent the invasion of my privacy.  Marilyn and I have an exercise class this afternoon.

Thursday, October 23

 I hate it when I'm shown to be wrong about something.  It's bad enough when it's another person pointing out my mistake and I just have to put on a brave face and accept that I'm not infallible.  But, it's worse when it's my own sub-conscious that points out my error.  Although, at least I don't need to admit my fault publicly.

A couple of weeks ago I was talking about a bloke I know in Deloraine who shares my birthday and I boldly said that he was the only other person I know who does.  Thinking back, there may have been a slight feeling of disquiet, that it was a careless statement and that, at some time in the future it would come back to bite me.

Today was the day.  In fact, it was early this morning when I was still in bed and  my subconscious rang a little warning bell in my brain.  It wasn't a polite bell; in fact, if I had to categorise it, it was a peal of bells, highlighting the carelessness of my statement.

Yes, I had forgotten my childhood friend and class-mate at Blantyre Public School in Scotland. Matthew Scott was born on the same day that I was and we ended up in the same class at school.  The last day I saw Matthew would have been about December 9th or 10th, 1950 and I haven't heard from him since.  Perhaps I can be forgiven for leaving his memory back in the mists of time.

Wednesday, October 22

 Marilyn and I both have places to be today but an executive decision has been made that we will ignore them and stay home.  Marilyn would normally be at her Craft Group/Bingo and my Probus Club is visiting the local Police Station but it's a miserable day, grey and pouring with rain, so we'll stay indoors and stay dry.

The local Police Station is, apparently, a state-of-the-art facility and well worth a visit ... but not today.

Yesterday I went to the Exercise Group which meets at Toosey the local Old Folk's Home.  Marilyn usually comes with me but wasn't feeling up to it.  We go twice a week; there are usually a dozen of us on Friday but only five or six in the Tuesday group.  Yesterday, I was the only one to turn up.  I though the Physiotherapist who runs it would pull the plug but she decided that, as I had taken the trouble to attend, I would have the hour's session to myself.  I don't know how much I would have been charged if I had booked an individual session but it certainly would have been money well-spent.  Emma asked what I would l like to focus on and I suggested balance so I was given the benefit of her expertise in an area which is becoming a concern.

It was hard work, of course, but well worth it and I don't know when I might have an opportunity like this again.

Monday, October 21

 It's a glorious day here in Longford and all the farmers and other exhibitors will be getting busy dismantling their stalls at the local show which was held over the weekend.  Marilyn and I haven't been to a show for years.  Back in the 60s, we always made a day out at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and, when we came back to Tasmania we often found ourselves involved in one way or another with the local event.  Giant Steps would often have a van selling ice cream or I would take a group of our students to wander around looking at the sights.

I often wonder, though, at the relevance of traditional shows in the modern world.  Is there still a place for showing off your prize bull or chickens.  When I'm faced with a question like that I usually turn to the internet to see what I should be thinking and when I googled 'What is the relevance today of Australian country shows?' I was firmly put in my place.  Of course, I was told, they are still relevant, 'Country shows are the heartbeat of so many rural communities. They not only celebrate the 'best of the best' but allow visitors to experience the tastes, sights and sounds of the bush.'

I shouldn't be surprised that the above quote came for the website of the National Party who might be a touch biased but I'm prepared to admit I'm not a typical resident of a country town.

Apparently there are still about 580 Agricultural Shows each year in Australia so they must be doing something right and I was surprised to find that the first ever show in Australia was held in Hobart in 1822. Still, Marilyn and I probably won't be planning to visit next year's show in Longford.

Sunday, October 20

 The question which is exercising my mind this morning is 'how much portable technology is too much?'  I only started to think about this after a chance remark from Jamie set my brain working.  I was sitting in my chair, minding my own business, when he walked in.  "Look at you," he said, "With all your technology around you."

I had my 10-inch tablet in my hand, completing a jigsaw puzzle.  On the table beside me was my 7-inch tablet which I use for the internet, my ebook reader, my mobile phone and the music player I take on my morning walk.

Is that an unreasonable amount of technology?  To my mind, I would be unhappy to cope with less.  Maybe the phone could double as a music player or I could browse the internet on my games tablet.  But it wouldn't be as .. something!  I like the set-up I have put in place and I think I deserve a little indulgence after how hard I've worked over 50 years.

Anyway, Jamie can't criticise; he's notorious for cherishing his collection of sound equipment and he can't resist adding to his stash.  

Let him who is without sin, ....

Saturday, October 19

I had always understood that this blog would come to an end one day.  I knew it would end with a bang or a whimper, but not which one.  Perhaps I would made the decision that it had fulfilled its purpose and deserved a decent burial so I would construct a one-off spectacular last hurrah, a post which would leave a positive lasting impression.  Or, more likely it would creak to a halt like a derelict bicycle, with flat tyres and squeaky handlebars.

Looking back over the past week or ten days I think the second possibility is the more likely.  There's not one post which could claim to leave any lasting impression, nor claim any relevance.  There have been almost as many vacant days, where I haven't posted a single word, as days when I scratched together a reasonably relevant comment.

However, I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet.  After all, what would I find to replace it?  I've always known that I don't write for the audience; I write for my own satisfaction.  Having realised that, the blog will continue but with a clearer focus.  Of course, it started as a travel diary and morphed into something else, without any real understanding in my mind what that might be..

In future, I'll write only when I have something to say, it won't be a diary of what we are doing but more a vehicle for putting down my thoughts on issues which flit through my brain from time to time.  I don't expect anyone will find it interesting but I might and that's all that matters.

I'll start with my thoughts on a video I watched this morning on Youtube.  It was of one of my 'regulars', Steve who, with his wife Alicjia, was in Switzerland, climbing up the Matterhorn to a restaurant high on the slopes.  It was breathtaking and surprisingly difficult.  The two of them must be reasonably fit but they were certainly stretched by the experience, especially Steve who almost threw in the towel.  Only Alicjia's 'positivity' kept them going.  It was a good lesson in how people can rise to the occasion when it is necessary.  And, of course, although I have never been to Switzerland, the video helped me recall experiences I had in the Snowy Mountains and in Tasmania.  All positive!

Thursday, October 16

 I'm waiting for a parcel from Temu. I can follow its progress on the Australia Post app and was pleased when I noted yesterday it had arrived at St Leonards, the local AP depot.  That should mean a delivery this afternoon.  However, on checking this morning, I find the message INCORRECTLY SORTED AND FORWARDED TO CORRECT LOCATION MORNINGTON TASMANIA.

Mornington is miles away, closer to Hobart than to Longford.  So, some geographically-challenged AP employee has diverted my parcel to a depot miles away from here.

Oh, well, I suppose it will get here eventually.

It's one of the drawbacks of ordering on-line but I've been doing it for years and seldom had a problem. I think my first foray into what used to be called mail order shopping was when I was at school.  I had picked up a brochure from the counter of a Shell Service Station which invited me to fill in a form detailing a road trip I was planning and they would send me free maps to help me on my way.  I invented a trip to the Gold Coast, sent it off and the maps duly arrived.  I was hooked.

Since then, I've bought stuff from a hundred on-line suppliers.  Sometimes it goes wrong but, in most cases, the parcel arrives as expected.  I have just ordered a cover from Kogan for my new tablet.  They have acknowledged the order and noted that it should arrive by January 3.  January 3?  Has somebody typed the wrong date or is there a backload in deliveries from China?  I wait to see.

Sunday, October 12

 I woke up this morning with a few words of poetry in my head.  

'There is sweet music here,

That softer falls 

Than petals from blown roses

On the grass.'

What on earth was I dreaming about, that the residual memory was about blown roses?  I know the quotation comes from a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson and I probably learned it at Gwynneville Primary School where Mr Fuller was a great fan of Tennyson but this morning I can't even remember whether I've taken my tablets.

I realise the problem.  My head is so full of stuff I learnt over seventy years ago that there's no room left for what I need to know today.

Saturday, October 11

 It's another gloomy day in Longford.  I've already been to the supermarket to pick up a few things and the rest of the day spreads out ahead of me.  We have nothing much planned so we'll probab,y catch up on our reading.  

It's surprising how quickly the days pass even though we have very little to do.

Friday, October 10

 Over the past couple of nights we've been watching a TV mini-series called Karen Pirie.  It's Series 2 in fact and is based on a novel by Val McDermid.  I think it is probably one of the best TV dramas I have ever watched.  Set in Scotland, it features a couple of actors I remember: James Cosmo who seems to have been in everything and John Michie I remember from Taggart. I'm now looking around for something else to watch which might come close to matching it.  I'm not confident.

It's a shocking day here in Northern Tasmania: strong winds and persistent rain.  We're looking after Archie because Jamie and Nera had a big function last night and didn't want to leave him at home.  Sandra, our cleaning lady is here and I'm sheltering at my desk to keep out of her way.  This afternoon is our regular exercise class at Toosey but, unless the weather improves, we might be tempted to give it a miss. 

Wednesday, October 8

 It's been a busy morning so I'm late in writing this blog.  I've just come in from my Probus meeting where the guest speaker(s) were from the Commonwealth Bank talking about scams and how we might deal with them.  The young woman was very clear and articulate but the young man had two irritating habits; he said Um before every sentence and mumbled as well.  

It wasn't a topic which interested me particularly and they had nothing particularly interesting to say.  On the way out I commented to one of the other members that we didn't have these problems before computers were invented and he told me about his early days in politics.  He started work at the local meatworks and became a Union Organiser.  To keep track of his members he had a little wooden box which contained a card for each member.  Dick had to remember to keep every card up to date.  But he didn;t have to deal with online scams.

Tuesday, October 7

 Another day, another dollar!  When you're over 80, there's a sameness about the days which unfold before you and there's also that nagging worry about how many days are left. Not to become too morbid, of course, but we are all mortal.  When I was younger and looked at old people who sat in their lounge chairs letting the world pass them by, I thought that I wouldn't let that happen to me.  I'd stay busy, travelling, involving myself in 'good works', studying ... And those old men and women I observed were all younger than I am now.  When I was 25, most 'old' people were in their 60s or 70s and very few survived into their 80s.

Nowadays, thanks to modern medicine and, in my case, clean living, it's not unusual to be still hale and hearty at 85.  I think I am still fairly hale and hearty but, really, I'm not interested in gallivanting or carousing or kicking up my heels.  A good day for me is seeing the sun shining though the window when I wake up in the morning, a short walk to the end of the street and a few good meals and cups of coffee. If a parcel arrives from Temu or Kogan, that's a bonus.

I've already heard from the Post Office that a parcel will arrive today; I believe it's only a replacement remote for the television but it will still feel like Christmas morning.

Monday, October 6

Another trip this morning to the pathologist for a blood test.  The last one I had showed a slight anaemia so the doctor wants a follow-up.  Luckily the pathologist comes to the local doctor's surgery each morning so I don't have to traipse into town.  Still, it's a pain having to get tidied up and sit in a waiting room with all the other sick people.

Jamie came in the other morning to set up a new lamp on my desk.  I've had a little one for years but it's pretty useless.  If I want it to shine on the keyboard or the section of the desk where I write, I find it too close to my eyes and I have to switch it off.  The new one is a narrow CR tube about 50cm long on a flexible  support which is positioned just above eyebrow level on my left.  It gives me good light on my keyboard and doesn't interfere with the computer screen.

I wouldn't say it's attractive but you can't have everything.

Sunday, October 5

We're totally confused today.  Somehow we missed the fact that today is the start of Daylight Saving so when we woke up our phones showed a different time to the clocks in the house.  I know how it happened; we never watch the news on TV, listen to the radio or read a newspaper.  We can't be the only people in the world who live in a self-imposed cocoon but it works for us.

Anyway, we started the day with a late breakfast and it's now past time for morning tea.  We should be caught up by this evening.

A couple of weeks ago I bought  a rubber foot from Temu for my walking stick.  I am forever dropping my stick and when it is lying on the ground I find it hard to pick up.  The foot allows me to stand the stick up beside me and it's on hand when I need it.  Marilyn was impressed and I ordered her one as well.

When she went to her Probus meeting, a couple of other members asked her where she had found them so Marilyn generously agreed to get them one each.  At our exercise class on Friday, we took orders for two more.  I didn't ever imagine I'd get into this business but I've just sent off a Temu order which contains a request for four more. It's an interesting prospect but I don't think I have the energy to turn it into a money-making venture.

This is Post #2002.  I seem to have snuck past the 2000 target when I wasn't looking so I'll have to find another end-point to aim for.

Saturday, October 4

 Marilyn is going out for lunch today with the ladies from her Probus club.  They're driving into Launceston to a very nice Chinese restaurant where they will, no doubt, wine and dine to a high standard.  Am I invited? No! It seems, in Longford, hsubaands and wives lead separate social lives.

I've commented before that the two Probus Clubs in town maintain a strict gender divide.  Few wives come to the Men's Christmas Lunch and men are not even invited to the similar function at the Women's club.  Having said that, Marilyn and I were surprised yesterday to receive an invitation to a Morning Tea at the home of one of the Probus ladies.  Her husband is a member of the men's club so maybe they're trying to mend the fences.  We'll see!

It's overcast today but I don't expect it to rain.  I might mow the lawn while Marlyn is out or I might not.  We'll see.

Friday, October 3

 A few weeks ago we bit the bullet and decided to buy Marilyn another tablet.  She had been using an 8-inch one which was a hand-me-down from me and it really wasn't suitable for the jigsaw puzzles and other games she likes to play.  As I've mentioned before, we're becoming much more sedentary and need to keep our brains active while we are confined to our chairs.  We bought a very nice 10-inch Lenovo tablet from Officeworks and she is delighted with it.

Reading through the details of the Kogan sale the other day, Marilyn noticed a similar tablet with the Kogan brand at a greatly reduced price.  Being the generous soul she is , she ordered one for me.  It arrived a couple of days ago and I couldn't wait to install a few activities, among them a BIG crossword.  It's so big that it doesn't fit on the screen and only small sections are displayed at one time.  

The instructions tell me that the puzzle has 1284 clues.. I can't resist a challenge but I'm getting to the stage where I need to move on.  I haven't managed to finish it but, apparently, I have successfully completed 1019 answers (which is 79%) and have been working on the puzzle for 11 hours, 33 minutes and 36 seconds.  Has my life come to this?  It seems I can work out each answer in an average of 88 seconds.  I'll count that as a victory.

THE BOARDING HOUSE

It was a big step for me, taking a job in the capital city and having to find a place to live.  PeopIe would say I was old enough (and ugly enough) to cope but I had lived a sheltered life, looked after by a conscientious mother and a father who made no demands on me.  I suppose I had expected that I would stay at home with my meals provided and all my washing done until I found the right young woman who would marry me and cheerfully take over those responsibilities.

But now I had accepted this job away from home, without properly considering the implications.  I would have to get my head around so many things: where would I live, what would I do about meals, how would I be sure I had a clean shirt each morning, and so on?  My fiancée thought it might be unwise of me to take a flat because there would be just too many things for me to think about and I might forget to eat or change my underwear.  She thought the best thing for me to do would be to go to a boarding house.  I know it makes me look like a wimp, but I found her confidence reassuring.

We found just the thing in Randwick, a short walk from where I was working.  It was a typical, 2-storey Federation House.  Two women were taking on this house as a new venture, hoping to tap into the potential market of young men involved in the racing industry: jockeys, strappers and so on.  I had the choice of a single room or a shared one, which was considerably cheaper.  I wasn’t sure about sharing, especially with a jockey, so I opted for a single room even though the cost of the accommodation was about half of my weekly wage.

The first few nights were difficult.  I knew there were other people in the house and I could hear noises from time to time but there were still several empty rooms and, in any case, everybody else in the house was a stranger.  I know I spent sleepless hours wondering whether I had made the right decision to change careers and whether I should have stayed in my previous occupation but continue to enjoy the sanctuary of familiar surroundings.

After a few weeks, I began to sense that this new venture was not proving to be the success that had been hoped for.  Apart from me and two other young men in another room, there were no other paying guests, and there was not a jockey in sight.  The two women who were the proprietors were starting to show signs of stress and I wondered how long this establishment could stay open.  Surely, the rents of the three tenants were not enough to pay all the bills.

One morning, when I awoke, the sun was shining through the window and I sensed it was going to be a great day.  I showered and dressed and presented myself at the dining room to be greeted by broad smiles on the faces of the faces of the proprietors.

“Great news,” one of them said to the assembled trio. “We’ve been approached by the owner of a local business to offer accommodation to a number of his staff.  There will be five guests coming within the next few days and perhaps a few more as time goes on.  You’ll be pleased to hear that the first group are all female; young women who work at various jobs in the club.  Most of them work in the evenings so you might hear them coming and going quite late at night. I know this is not what you expected when you came here and we would understand if you decided the arrangement would not suit you.  We won’t expect you to give notice if you feel you would prefer to leave.”

You won’t be surprised to hear that we all decided, on reflection, that we would stay.  It only occurred to me later that my fiancée might not be so keen on the arrangement.

Thursday, October 2

 Well, we tried it, gave it our best shot but NEVER AGAIN!  After Marilyn's trip to the doctor, we called into JJ's coffee shop for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Woolworths looked busy but we weren't intimidated; after all, we were used to shopping there when we lived in Mowbray.  I pushed the trolley and Marilyn carried the list.

Have I said it already?  NEVER AGAIN.  I'd forgotten how obnoxious some people can be, using their trolleys as weapons to get to the shelves first.  And, we don't know where anything else is any more.  Marilyn asked one poor fellow stacking the shelves where we could find Bubble and Squeak.  When he looked blank, she just said it louder.  It reminded me of the Fawlty Towers sketch where Manuel couldn't understand what Basil was saying.  I expected the poor shelf-stacker in Woolworths to use the famous line Que?  But I think he was Nepalese, not Spanish.

We've decided we'll accept our limitations, let our fingers do the walking (as I said yesterday), and let Coles do the hard work.  Because of our sacrifice several people have jobs: the person who follows our list and collects the stuff from the shelves, the chick who checks it out, and the fellow who delivers it to our door.  The delivery man, especially, deserves our support.  he is an older bloke, very cheerful and loves dogs.

Wednesday, October 1

Marilyn has an appointment in Launceston this morning and we'll take the chance to pick up a few things at the supermarket.  We buy most of our groceries on-line now apart from the few bits and pieces, bread and milk and so on, that I pick up at the local small supermarket.  I'd hate to go back to the days when we pushed a trolley round the aisles and then loaded up the boot with the spoils.  I'm happier to let our fingers do the walking and have the results delivered to our door.  However, this morning's rare excursion will be something of a treat and we might end up buying something exotic that we haven't even though about.

Of course, our problem is that we get our shopping 'fix' by buying stuff on-line.  I hate to say it but we should receive no less than three parcels in the next few days and that's on top of the two which have already arrived this week.  And, they're not groceries ... they're just 'stuff' which we can't live without.

I've just switched off the TV after watching Donald Trump address his generals.  I despair of the United States when I see the stupidity displayed by the population who elected this man twice.  Thank goodness we live in Australia.

Tuesday, September 30

It's a miserable, drizzly and cold day, but Marilyn is going out with one of her groups for lunch.  She'll be picked up so I won't worry about her driving. Normally, I'm up and about before 7 o'clock but we slept in this morning.  We were roused by Marilyn's phone going off; it was Bertine from Number 5 wanting to come around so that Marilyn could change the dressing on her back.  It's very difficult for a single person living alone to deal with such eventualities and Marilyn is happy to help.

But, we had slept in so there was a scatter to get up before she rang the doorbell.  She was telling us that she has bought herself an electric lift bed and we've been toying with the idea of getting one for ourselves.  As an interim, we're experimenting with foam wedges which change our sleeping position so that it's not such a struggle to sit up.  It's a bugger, getting older.

Anyway, Marilyn can now have the opportunity of checking out Bertine's new electric bed to help us decide whether it will suit us.

Monday, September 29

I'm waiting for a parcel from Temu and each morning I check the website to see where it is.  Today I am told it is on its way from Melbourne to 'it's next destination' which I assume is Launceston (or, in fact, Burnie which is the state distribution depot for Australia Post.  I'm not one for deep contemplation of the logistics of parcel delivery but I have to be somewhat in awe of the magnitude of the problem faced by the people whose job it is to get a Temu parcel from some warehouse in China to one of a million tiny outposts in Australia.  Longford is bad enough but what about Humpty Doo or Dunk Island?

I get fidgety if my parcel doesn't arrive in five days and I can only feel sorry for those other poor souls who might have to wait seven or even ten.

PICK A COLOUR                                                                                  MAY 19, 2023

Ever since she could remember Adriana knew that, when she left school, she would go to work in television.  There was no other obvious choice.  Both her mother and father, and her grandparents before that, had been employed by important TV stations and she knew that she had even been named after some obscure TV presenter from ages ago.  The television sets in her house, and she wasn’t really sure how many there were, were only turned off at night.  The rest of the time they beamed their messages to anyone who happened to be watching.

Adriana was proud of her parents.  Her Dad had worked with some of the greats in the business: John Burgess, Georgie Gardner, and Darryl Summers, and her mother would tell her bedtime stories of how David Koch had come in drunk one morning and Tracy Grimshaw had dropped her false teeth on a tiled floor just before her live show was to be broadcast.

When Nan and Pop came over on Christmas Day, they talked about another generation: names like Bob and Dolly Dyer, Jack Davey and Bert Newton.  Adriana listened to the tales, her eyes wide, dreaming of her future in this world of glamour.

A week after her 16^th birthday, Adriana enrolled in a Media Studies course at her local TAFE and she persevered even though she couldn’t see the relevance of some of the topics in the syllabus.  There was a Unit on Print Media and stuff on Radio, all of which would be of no use to her in the future, but she did her best, expecting that there would be stiff competition for places with any of the major stations.  She needn’t have worried: her Mum and Dad called in some favours and she was offered a cadetship at one of the big channels based in Sydney.

After some initial orientation, she was attached to a Production Unit whose main role was in Quiz Shows.  It was exciting at first but, eventually, the pressure of being involved in the production of five episodes in one day became tedious, and Adriana started to wonder whether she had chosen the right career.  The regular ‘production meetings’ were also a bore and Adriana knew that her life was not turning out as she had hoped. Where was the glamour she had hoped for: where was the excitement?

One day, she arrived at the Production Meeting and was surprised to see that there was a new face sitting among the executives.  The Production Manager introduced the new person and said,

“As you may know, ratings have been dropping for several months now.  Our audience is dwindling.  We know they’re not watching the opposition because their figures are just as bad and we think they are watching more on Catch-up and You Tube.  Our focus groups are telling us that our afternoon shows are old hat. It’s not enough now to just copy shows that are popular in the USA and UK.  Their productions are better anyway.  We need something distinctly Australian, something that will help us hold our head high among our international colleagues”.

“After a great deal of discussion at the Board meetings, it has been decided that our new show will be called Pick a Colour.  Catchy, isn’t it?  It’s going to have distinctly Australian prizes like meat trays and Woolworths vouchers and we’ll attract Mr and Mrs Average Australian to become audience members or contestants”.

“Wayne here will be the compere.  We’ve had an Andrew and a Grant and a Larry so we think it’s time we had a more up-market name.  Some of the board thought we should try a woman but that’s a bit drastic.  Let’s try this format first and, if it works as we expect it will, we might use a woman as a fill-in over the summer period when most people are at the beach.  Anyway, women traditionally play the support role in these shows and we’re not in the business of taking chances”.

“We have a name for the show: Pick a Colour, and we have a compere, Wayne.  It’s over to you now to work out the details of this show.  Adriana, you’ll be the Production Assistant.  Your namesake, of course, was on TV back in those glory days when Quiz Shows were king and everybody watched Pick a Box and talked about it in the canteens and staff rooms the next day. This new show should reflect those days. Don’t make it too intellectual; it’s not Mastermind and remember, our audience is used to the likes of Tony Barber and Eddie Maguire.  Don’t expect too much of them.  The future of this channel and the livelihood of everyone who works here is in your hands.  Good luck!”

Sunday, September 26

 Marilyn is catching up on the exploits of someone she watches on Youtube.  They're in Canada at the moment and I should find that interesting but gormless Benjy is too much for me.  I tried to be reasonable this morning but Benjy appeared dressed for going out, with his baseball cap on back to front and a pair of sunglasses perched on top of his head.  Does he never look in a mirror?  And why doesn't his wife try to educate him? She has set herself up as an 'influencer'; perhaps she should practice by working on her husband first.

The postie arrived yesterday with a parcel for me; it was a 10-inch tablet which I had ordered from Kogan and I plan to use it for playing games.  Marilyn has had one for a while now and uses it constantly.  We find we're spending a lot more time in our chairs and we've been reading a lot.  We're not great viewers of TV and find the jigsaws and other activities on a tablet much more stimulating.  With the best will in the world, we just aren't fit enough for more walking so, if our lives are heading down the sedentary track, at least we can continue to stimulate our brains.  

Saturday, September 27

 I think one of the dangers which face retired people is that they start to miss the busyness of their working lives and have to look for something to replace that buzz.  We join Bowls Clubs, take up new hobbies, make new friends, go travelling.

But then, one by one, those new interests start to fall away.  It's too painful to stoop to play your bowl, all the 'new' friends are as old as you are and are starting to show signs of dementia, the idea of sitting crammed into a plane is just too much to contemplate.  So, what's left to do?

Temu is a great temptation.  I wouldn't be surprised if elderly people make up the bulk of their customers.  Their website is a veritable treasure trove of delights and, if the choice is getting in the car and travelling into the city, finding a parking spot and trudging to a shop, or letting your fingers do the walking, I know which option is the more attractive.

You'll guess by now why I am writing this blog.  Yes, just one more attempt to justify another shopping binge.  We convince ourselves that we can't do without the 'stuff' or that our lives will be immeasurably better when we receive the 'stuff', but the reality is that most of  the 'stuff' will end up in the cupboard in the laundry or the garden shed.  

But, it's that moment of excitement when the parcel arrives and the pleasure of opening it.  It's like Christmas all over again.  Don't knock it!

Friday, September 26

 As we waited to see the doctor yesterday I couldn't help thinking about a Tony Hancock sketch I remember.from over 60 years ago.  It was first broadcast in 1961 and was called The Blood Donor.  Tony was appalled to find they wanted a pint of his blood.  "That's very nearly an armful" he complained but he was reassured by the fact that the doctor had a Scottish name.  "Great doctors, the Scots," he enthused. "It's the porridge, you know."

I don't know whether Dr Hamilton enjoyed porridge but he was very pleasant and I felt comfortable with him.  He didn't twig that I had a Scottish background and I didn't confess.

We had a Tenu delivery yesterday, the first of a few expected over the next several days.  One item wasn't suitable so I 'sent it back'.  In fact, I simply notified them, attached a photograph and the refund appeared in my bank account. I don't know what to do with the too-small support belt but I'll keep it just in case.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?                                                                                                                         26 JULY, 2024

Do you think it’s true that people’s character can be affected by the name they have been given at their birth?  Is it possible that Joe Biden might never have become president if he had been saddled with the moniker Hayden?  Hayden Biden .. would you vote for this man?  If this is nonsense, why do Hollywood Studios, as a matter of course, invent new names for their stars?  Can you really believe that Norma Jeanne Mortensen or Frances Ethel Gumm could ever have achieved international fame, or even Roy Harold Scherer Jr?

Mabel used to think that her failings in life were due almost exclusively to the name with which she was saddled.  And it was worse; it was not just her first name which was a problem, it was her second as well.  How would you like to carry the name Mabel Gertrude through life?

Going through school was a nightmare.  Young children are not always intentionally cruel but often seek out the members of their circle who are different.  Mabel with her old-fashioned name was an obvious target.  At first, it was just mild teasing such as the chanting of the simple rhyme, ‘Mabel, Mabel, under the table’ but it progressed to more blatant abuse. ‘What sort of name is Mabel?  Only ugly people would have an ugly name like that.’  So, schooldays for Mabel were not the happiest time of her life.

When she was sixteen, she asked the lady behind the counter in the post office how she would go about changing her name.  You may wonder why it was the lady in the post office who was singled out.  Well, Mabel couldn’t ask her mother or father, obviously, as they were the ones who had chosen those names from among all the other, wonderful, names which might have caught their attention.  She couldn’t ask the lady next door, because she would have reported the conversation straight back to her mother and, for the same reason, she couldn’t ask any of her teachers at school.  The lady in the post office had always been nice to her and she was one of the few people that Mabel trusted.

The lady in the post office confessed that she didn’t really know the answer to the question but suspected Mabel would have to be eighteen years of age, at least, before she could legally make that decision.  There’s probably a form for it, she said, and promised to make enquiries.  In the meantime, Mabel continued her lonely existence, avoiding confrontations with her school-mates in case the dreaded teasing started up again.

One day, Mabel was walking past the newsagents and noticed a little sign in the window: ‘Help Wanted. We need the assistance of a 16 or 17 year-old girl for two hours each Sunday morning to work behind the counter.’  Without pausing to reflect, Mabel went into the shop. The bell attached to the door alerted the harassed woman behind the counter.

When she smiled, Mabel said, shyly, “I saw the sign in the window.  I’m 16 and I’m interested.”

“Oh, good,” said the woman. “I only put it in a few minutes ago.  What’s your name?”

Without thinking, Mabel blurted out, “It’s Gloria.  Yes, Gloria.”

“Alright Gloria, can you start this weekend?  The work isn’t hard.  I just need someone to help me out behind the counter when it gets busy with people coming in to get their Sunday papers and their lottery tickets.”

Gloria never looked back.  The newsagent had a badge made for her which clearly stated that her name was Gloria.  Being successful in her part-time job gave her the confidence to deal with her insecurities about her name. When anyone she knew came into the shop and reminded her that her real name was Mabel, Gloria pointed out that Mabel was a name from a previous life and now, as she was moving forward into the future, she was Gloria and she would now only answer to that name.

For all official matters, Gloria still had to use the name that had been given to her at birth.  She might have gone through the process of changing it but that no longer seemed necessary.  She refused to answer to Mabel and found that people were generally happy to use the name she had chosen. Of course, years later, when her boyfriend finally got around to suggesting they might marry, he learnt the truth about her name.  But, that’s another story.

 

Wednesday, September 24

 As you get older it's inevitable that you spend more time with medical people.  Marilyn has an appointment today at the hospital and mine is tomorrow at the next village. Neither of us has anything serious to investigate but the point of the exercise is prevention.  I've recently changed the practice I use from one in Westbury, 25 Km away, to a local group with two surgeries, one close by in Longford and the other in Perth, about 10 Km away from us.  It's a bit of a lottery which surgery you go to but, if you want a particular doctor, you go to where he (or she) will be.

This time I'm seeing a doctor I haven't seen before, although Marillyn has seen him and was impressed.  His name is Hamilton and he was born in Scotland.  I wonder whether I'll have an opportunity to tell him that I was born in Hamilton in Scotland, or will that be too tacky?  Maybe it will come up in conversation.

It's a beautiful day here.  Jamie is coming to take Marilyn to her appointment.  I'm perfectly capable of fulfilling that role but, apparently, I'm now being relegated to being 'poor old bugger' who needs to be looked after.  That's OK; I have a good book to read and it might be nice enough to sit out in the garden.  I might even find a podcast to listen to.  I enjoyed the last one about the woman who poisoned her family with mushrooms.  I see that they've made a TV program about that.  I'll have to watch for it.

Tuesday, September 23

 

At the beginning of winter this year I moved the bowl of our bird bath into the garage for safe-keeping.  I use an ordinary large flower pot for the base but the bowl is a decorative piece which we had made in North Queensland and cost us quite a few dollars.  I was worried that we might have a heavy frost one night and the bowl would suffer.  Although we are now having warmer days, frosts are still a possibility.  I wasn’t worried about the base and left it in the garden.

This morning, I noticed two blackbirds bouncing around the rim of the flower pot. “They’re looking for their bath,” said Marilyn, so I retrieved the bowl from the garage, put it where it belonged and filled it up with fresh water.

Within five minutes, the two blackbirds were in the water, having a bath.  Why do I think I’m being manipulated?

Marilyn's getting ready for her Craft morning but I suspect she's starting to lose enthusiasm for going out.  The weather is cold and our loungeroom is warm.  Our chairs are more comfortable than the ones at the centre and, maybe, the conversation with the other ladies is not as interesting as it once was.  I won't be surprised if she decides to have a break until the warmer weather returns.

Monday, September 22

 

I'm a bit slow about getting to this task this morning; My normal routine is: breakfast while watching a Youtube video, usually about Donald Trump at the moment, followed by writing to the blog if I can think of something relevant.  Marilyn came through a little earlier than usual and we found ourselves watching a longer video about a ferry trip from England to Haarlem in The Netherlands, while we had our coffee.  I regret sometimes that we were never able to visit Europe when we were younger and fitter but we would never have given up our trips to Japan or the great times we had in the Philippines.

The story I've attached today was written in response to an exercise at one of the groups I belonged to

(This is blog post #1990.)

THE BEACHCOMBER                                                                    23 JULY, 2021

Let’s think for a moment about becoming a beachcomber.  There are some basic questions that would need to be answered before you commit yourself.   The first question, obviously is Why?, and following on from that Where? and For how long?  Is it something you aspire to or is it an occupation you fall into? Is being a beachcomber an end in itself or is it simply a vehicle to satisfy some inner longing?  Can you make a living at it or doesn’t that matter?

If you can be satisfied that beachcombing is really what you want to do, we need to look at the question of ‘where’ because not all beaches might be suitable for this activity. You don’t want to be too close to civilisation, because solitude might be something you are seeking, but you don’t want to be too far away, either.  If you really want to comb the beach, what will you do with the gleanings of the beachcombing activity? If you intend to sell them, it would be helpful if you’re not too far from civilisation?  Nowadays, of course, most beachcombers don’t bother combing the beaches for items that may have some value – their time is better spent in other activities.

You need to think about climate, too.  Black Beach on the southern coast of Tasmania might seem attractive but the unreliable weather could be an issue. Further north is probably best.  Perhaps one of the sparsely-inhabited islands off the Queensland coast – possibly South Molle or Dunk Island.

Dunk Island, as it happens, was the home of a man who gave up the pleasures of modern civilisation and lived the simple life on the island for over 25 years.  His name was Edmund Banfield, but he is now better known by the name of Beachcomber.

He was trained as a reporter and worked on the Melbourne Age and the Sydney Morning Herald before joining the Townsville Daily Bulletin in 1882.  Although he took his professional responsibilities seriously, he felt, in his own words, that he lacked ‘those qualities which make for dutiful citizenship’.  He happened to camp, on one occasion, with some friends on Dunk Island; he was enchanted by the place and, in 1896 applied for a thirty-year lease of part of the island.

His health was not good: he had tuberculosis and had suffered a nervous collapse, so he resigned from his job and, partly blind, with a palsied hand and a deaf wife, he settled on Dunk Island at the end of 1897. His health improved enough that he was able to set about growing maize, vegetables, coffee and fruit, and he kept farm animals.  Although his farming activities were reasonably successful, he was not able to support his household - which consisted of himself, his wife, an Irish servant and occasional Aboriginal helpers - without the assistance of provisions from passing ships, which he received from time to time.

He kept an ‘erratic diary’ of nature observations, and this became the basis for frequent articles, the sale of which brought in some welcome income.  Many of his articles were written under the nom-de-plume, Beachcomber. He corresponded with naturalists throughout the world and a species of rat found on the island was named after him. 

Later, he wrote several books, including The Confessions of a Beachcomber and My Tropic Isle.  He was surprised by the widespread interest in his simple life, describing himself as a ‘sedate and determined man’ who resented violations of his privacy.  At least one enthusiastic reader of his books arrived unannounced and was certainly not welcomed.

Edmund Banfield or Beachcomber died in 1923 of peritonitis, and his wife was alone for three days before her signals were noticed by a passing steamer.  Banfield was buried on the island which has now become one of the most popular of Queensland’s tourist destinations.  A cairn has been built over the grave and a commemorative plaque installed.

Sunday, September 21

 It's a beautiful day in Longford so I decided to have a walk as early as possible after breakfast.  The air is still cold so I wear a padded jacket and a hat which I bought in Nepal. It's felt and shaped like a pill-box but it's in bright colours and obviously ethnic.  It does the double duty of keeping my head warm and informing passers-by that I have travelled internationally.  

I bought a litlle music player from Temu to give me something to listen to on my wanderings.  It cost me about $20 and I think it is money well spent.  My walk is not very long and, in fact, I can manage to listen to just three songs while I am wandering.  I don't know how many minutes that is but I might have to try harder.

Marilyn's watching a Youtube video while I am writing this.  I think I've mentioned Brogan before, and her gormless husband, Benjy.  They're in Canada at the moment giving anyone who cares to tune in their collected wisdom on that country.  I'm keeping away but I notice it's a 90-minute video and it might be hard to find things to keep me occupied for that duration.  I don't want to appear anti-social but still ....

Saturday, September 20

 I had a bit of a break-through yesterday; for years I've been trying to get Marily to slow down and look for ways to cut back on housework.  We have a cleaner, of course, who coms on Fridays but it's the day-to-day stuff which is the problem, like loading and unloading the dishwasher.  Yes, I have offered to do it but Marilyn knows that I'm opposed to the monsters and believe there is no place for them in homes like ours

Yesterday, I was surprised to hear Marilyn say that she might try to arrange a couple of home help mid-week for things like emptying the dishwasher.  I sensed that this was my chance to put in a suggestion.

"Why don't we forget about the dishwasher for a while and I'll just do the washing-up in the old-fashioned way?"

Reluctantly, I think, Marilyn agreed.  I suspect she was worried that my initial enthusiasm would soon wane and she'd be back to the drudgery of filling and emptying the so-called labour-saving device again.

It's been a whole day now and I've washed up three times.  Thyere's no reason why it can't continue.  One thing, though.  How can one elderly couple use so much cutlery?  Last night, after dinner, there were 9 forks in the washing-up.  Nine!   Something will need to be done. 

Friday, September 19

 Today's turning out to be just one more day in a long line of days just like each other.  I woke and was out of bed by 7 o'clock just like almost every other day.  I was disappointed that the blackberries I had stored in the freezer had been finished and I was forced to fall back on a punnet of strawberries from the local supermarket.

What has happened to strawberries?  The last time I took notice, a strawberry was a small, heart-shaped fruit, with a delicate pink tinge and a sweet flavour.  Now, after years of mucking around with the genome, scientists have produced a monstrous, bloated, mis-shapen, coarse abomination which has no perceivable flavour.  The punnet I unwrapped this morning had was full but had only seven strawberries in it, each looking like a retired prize-fighter after oner too many bouts.

I can't wait for summer to come and the first blackberries to appear.  I know they've mucked around with blackberries too but I can live with the fact that they don't have thorns now.  At least they taste the same.

SEPARATE LIVES                                                                                                 JULY 15, 2022

It was love at first sight, they said.  But everybody says that, even if the first emotion that passed between them was indifference.  Still, when you’re eighteen and all those around you are pairing up, the last thing you want is to be unattached: left on the shelf, they call it, like a slightly damaged box of soap powder that nobody wants infiltrating their shopping bag.  In a situation like that, even Barry was acceptable.  Easy-going, non-threatening, safe, unexciting Barry was how Freda heard him described but, as her mother often said, there’s a Jack for every Jill, and it looked like Barry was the only Jack in sight. 

Both mothers thought the news of an engagement was wonderful and you would swear you heard your father breathe a sigh of relief when you came home holding the sparkling ring aloft for all to see.  And the wedding day was joyful, with all your friends and family there to share in the triumph.  Barry had a few too many drinks, of course, and the wedding night was something of a disappointment, but you can’t have everything.

Twenty years on and you wonder whether it was all worth the effort.  You’ve made a good life for yourself, with a solid career and a reputation as a good friend.  You and Barry have managed to buy a very substantial house in a good suburb and you know you are envied by people who don’t know your circumstances.  You have an overseas holiday every year and have had a holiday home on the coast for ages but you have long got over the joy of seeing new places and relishing a change of scenery. And, in many respects, you lead separate lives.

You realise that the time you feel most at ease is the week night evenings when Barry goes off to his Model Railway Club or Toastmasters or Rotary, and you can have the house to yourself.  Oh, yes, there have been times when you have enjoyed the company of young men whom you have met casually on-line and, if Barry has ever had any suspicion, he has been gentleman enough not to say anything.  You’ve read about people like you in novels and even seen them on television; it worries you that characters like that who cheat on their husbands often come to a sticky end and you think that’s hardly fair.  What do you expect, though, when most of the programs are made in the USA where everyone has an unhealthy Puritan outlook on anyone over 40 having sex?

You tell yourself it would be much better if you lived in Paris where you would be expected to enjoy a personal life without busybodies casting aspersions.  You have a little chuckle at that phrase: ‘casting aspersions’, one of your mother’s favourite sayings, although she could never remember whether it was aspersions or nasturtiums.

Is that the doorbell?  Who could be calling at this time of night?  You’d better answer it; it could be important.

“Good evening, madam,” said a rather large policeman.  “Is this the home of Mr Barry Buchanan?  Is he at home at the moment?

"No, he’s not,” you reply.  “What is it about?”

“I assume you are his wife, Mrs Freda Buchanan.  We want to talk to your husband about a number of matters regarding several houses in this area which we believe are being used for the purpose of trafficking illegal drugs to minors.  Do you expect your husband home soon?’

“What?  Barry pushing illegal drugs?  He won’t even take an aspirin for a headache.  He wouldn’t have anything to do with drugs. And, no, I don’t expect him home soon. This is his Toastmaster’s Night.”

“Well,” said the policeman. “About this Toastmasters Club: we have reason to believe it is a front for a ring of drug pushers. The meetings seem to be where drug deals are concluded and when any disputes about areas are dealt with.”

“And while we’re waiting for your husband to come home, I’d like to talk to you about complaints from your neighbours regarding suspicious goings-on at this address and regularly-observed inappropriate behaviour.  We’re told your guests are often young men, some clearly under-age, and neighbours have observed frequent nudity and drunkenness. 

Perhaps you should sit down.  There’s more and this could take a while.”

Thursday, September 18

 We've fallen into a quite comfortable routine since moving into this unit.  I 'm in the habit of getting out of bed at around 7 o'clock. Marilyn likes to stay in bed for another hour at least but likes me to take her a cup of coffee as soon as the kettle boils. Until recently, I had made a habit of turning on the TV to see what is happening on Youtube; I avoided anything to do with news or current affairs although Trump's antics are rivetting and I generally found time for the reporting of one or two of his most ludicrous antics.  

I often used this time to catch up one of the better UK comedy programs like Have I Got News For You but lately I'm becoming bored with the predictability of these.  In fact, I've become disenchanted with the whole rigmarole of morning TV and often don't turn it on at all.  I'm more likely now to read a book while the house is quiet.

I don't like to analyse my actions and try to make them seem like they are based on some philosophy but I think it's fair to say that my desk is my 'safe space', the place I go when I want to be with my own thoughts and, perhaps, make sense of something which is bothering me.

I just wish I could keep my 'safe space' a bit tidier.  If my desk is supposed to reflect the state of my mind, I should be very worried.  Indeed!

Wednesday, September 17

 

Sometimes I come across a sentence in something I’m reading which stops me in my track.  It might be a reference to somebody I’ve heard about or a word that reminds me of a past experience.  Today it was a question asked, innocently by one character to another.  The question was, “What book have you read which changed your life?”

There’s an assumption there that everyone will experience that life-changing moment, or that people will recognize it when it occurs, and each of those assumptions , of course, is nonsense.  The avid reader of Mills and Boon novels or the devourer of Jack Reacher may never feel the sense of revelation implied by the original question but that’s avoiding the point.  It’s not just about the content of the book being read but it may be about the very act of reading.

If a person is not a reader, their life may be narrower and less invigorating than someone who can experience what it is like to be in someone else’s shoes.  When I read a simple detective story by someone like Stephen Booth, I can vicariously experience what it is like to be on the moors in England in a snowstorm trying to make my way back to my car without a torch.

So, I, of course, have tried to think of the book which changed my life and I can’t get past the book which I was given, I think, for my seventh birthday in 1950.  It was Rubbalong Tales by Enid Blyton.  I couldn’t put it down and I think that book, more than any other, sparked my lifelong love of reading

By the way, I saw a copy of the book for sale on the internet.  It was the 1950 edition with original dustcover and was only $78.  My copy, without dust cover, may still exist, in a box in Jamie’s garage.  I might go looking for it one day.

Tuesday, September 16

 Our Coles order has just been delivered.  The usual Sunday delivery man is a person of mature years with white hair and a very pleasant manner.  He always asks how we are and whether Archie is staying with us.  He's a great asset to the company and, if we were thinking of changing suppliers, we would probably not, juts because of the man who delivers the groceries.

It's a miserable day here.  I've been waiting for  Temu order and the last notification I had is that it arrived in Launceston on Saturday, and was expected to be in my letterbox on Monday or Tuesday.  The next think i should hear is that 'it is on the truck' and will be delivered today.  I don't have that message yet and I wonder what is going on.

Monday, August 15

 I've just dropped Marilyn off at her Probus meeting.  Unlike me, she enjoys them and looks forward to each one.   I think it's the fact of getting dressed up as much as the opportunity for a chat.  Neither of those things works for me so attending my Probus meeting is more of a chore than anything else.

This morning I'm waiting for a parcel from Temu.  The tracker tells me that it has arrived in Launceston so, with a bit of luck it might turn up at any moment.  There's nothing much of any significance in the order but there is a small piece of technology which I will especially enjoy.  It's a small music player which I can carry on my morning walk.  I've had ipods and other players in the past and, in fact, I dug the old ones out to see whether they still worked.  But, time has taken its toll and they've all gone to God.  I checked the local suppliers and nobody seemed to sell what I wanted; Temu gave me a choice of colours and only wanted $21 so the deal was done .I'm keen to see what I get for my money.  I had to make up the order to $50 to get free postage so there are a couple of other delights there as well. But, it's the technology which is the real prize!

Sunday, September 14

Jamie and Nera are in Hobart this weekend so we are baby-sitting Archie.  It's a regular thing and he seems to cope with it very well.  He has routines and favourite toys and sometimes it seems the whole household marches to his drum.  I suppose any dog-owner might say the same.  

The day started off sunny but the sky has clouded over and we might get rain.  We have no plans to do anything.  I can't help wondering what our lives might have been like if we had lived our lives in another environment.  I can't help comparing our lives with that of Steve Marsh whom we follow on Youtube.

Here is what we saw on his video this morning: he woke up on a particular morning in Montrose in Scotland where he lives.  He decided on a whim that he might go somewhere so he walks to the railway station, catches a train to Edinburgh and on to the airport where he takes a cheap flight to Copenhagen.  He arrives there early enough to take another train to Malmo in Sweden, crossing the famous Oresund Bridge on the way.  It's Spring in Europe and the weather is delightful.

A comfortable night in a reasonably priced hotel caps off a great day in which he has managed to visit two foreign countries.

I suppose if we lived near Sydney or Melbourne we could have a similar experience if we flew to Auckland, but I can't imagine it would be as exciting There certainly is a price to pay because we chose to live in Australia.

Saturday, September 13

 After almost 2000 posts to this blog, the program decided it didn't recognise me this morning and that meant I had to go through the rigmarole of remembering my password.  Except, this morning it was different.  Instead of asking for my PIN I was asked for my address.  Okay!  I started to type 2/40 Burghl.. and a list appeared of 5 or 6 possible options and I was surprised to find there were other places in the world where 2/40 Burghley St existed.  There were two in Lincolnshire, UK, for example, another in London and even one in Birchwood, New York.

It's getting harder to be an individual in today's world, isn't it!

I'm thinking about whether I should have a walk this morning.  The weather is cold and I seem to have strained my back.  Yesterday was our exercise class which is a strain in itself but Marilyn and I decided it would be a good idea to walk from there into town to a favourite coffee shop, and back to the car afterwards.  This morning the twinge in my back is telling me that I might have done a little too much.  Nothing is very far from anything else in Longford but we still need to be careful.   

Thursday, September 11

 I don't usually take any notice of the 'Australia's Best ...' competitions which pop up in the media from time to time.  After all, who needs to know that Australia's Best Icecream is found in a little shop in South Australia?  I'll never be there to try it.  But, my interest is piqued by a claim that Australia's Best Vanilla Slice comes from a shop in Campbelltown, Tasmania, just down the road.  Of course the locals call it Australia's Best Snot Block.

The claim is suspect, of course, as it's the proprietor of the shop saying it with no evidence of any procedure to measure one slice against another.

I did note one 'Best Of ..' in today's news.  Somebody has been looking at Australia's small towns and has tried to rate them against each other.  What a job!  And what criteria what you use?  And what an opportunity for corruption!

In any case, I was pleased to see that Deloraine in Tasmania came second.  I have a soft spot for Deloraine, of course, as it's the home of Giant Steps and the world-renowned Deloraine Craft Fair.  I don't know whether any benefits will flow from being chosen as second-best but one can only hope.

Oh, by the way, the winner this year is Fremantle.  My only memory of Fremantle is of Marilyn and i having coffee there when we stepped off a cruise ship many years ago, so I have no idea what sets it apart from any other small town.  Or maybe it was just Western Australia's turn to have a winner.

Wednesday, September 10

 I wonder what the process is for the Friends Request facility on Facebook.  Every morning, when I open Facebook, I find one or two 'requests' from people wanting to be my friend.  I haven't checked but my feeling is that most, if not all, are from females.  Perhaps, though, this is just wishful thinking.

This morning there was a request from a woman from Deloraine.   I don't know her well and probably wouldn't recognise her in the street, but I did know her husband and I can recall that he died a few years ago.  Mike was the only person I know who had the same birthday as me.

I've never responded to any of the 'requests' which come to me.  Clearly, I can't imagine what can of worms I might open if I clicked the OK button but I know I would not be a worthwhile Facebook friend to anyone.  I don't post anything nor respond to anyone else's post so it would be like befriending a picture on the wall.

But back to Sonya's (not her real name) request.  Is it legit?  Did Sonya do a search of Facebook until she found my name and, breathlessly, clicked the button to alert me she was keen to hook up?  Or did Facebook do a periodic trawl of all the other subscribers who matched some of the characteristics which might suit Sonya: locality, age, sex, 'click' history, and so on?  Who knows?

I'm sorry if Sonya is waiting breathlessly for a response from me. She might be a little disappointed but she would be more disappointed if I had said Yes.  I'm too old for all this nonsense.

Tuesday, September 9

 There's a sameness about life at the moment as each day seems to be just a reflection of the one before.  There are subtle differences, of course: we usually receive a Coles' order on Friday and I have to put out the bins for Wednesday morning, but in general terms one day is just like another.  Is there a song with those words?

This week, the stand-out day is Wednesday where we have, not one, but two events: the first is a luncheon involving my Probus Club where Marilyn will attend as my guest, and the other is that we will have to hurry away from the luncheon for our appointments with the podiatrist.

I've been giving serious consideration to the Probus Club.  I've managed to off-load the job of treasurer but I've been a member for about three years and still only know a handful of names.  Part of that is my lack of attention to such things but the rest is that we only meet once a month and don't do much else.  Most of the members have known each other since school and I still feel I'm the outsider.

Thinking about tomorrow's luncheon, I can't say that I'm looking forward to it.  Having Marilyn with me will make it more enjoyable but otherwise I'm ambivalent.

Still, if we weren't going, what else would we do?  Sit at home reading our books, no doubt!

Monday, September 8

I've been for my walk and the rest of the day is unfolding in front of me.  Unfortunately, I have no plans to fill those hours in any meaningful way.  At least the weather is promising: cold, of course, but the sun is shining.  

I look at the untidy mess on my desk and imagine what it would be like if I were able to make it tidy and more efficient.  The problem is that I have on my desk things that I like as well as things that I need, not to mention things that I don't need at the moment but might in the future, like a fan.  And, I don't have any drawers in this desk; only a narrow set of shelves down the left-hand side with several open baskets.  

It's things like cords for connecting the various drives to the computer that lie around and staplers, sellotape dispenser hole punch, plastic bag of USB drives ... the list goes on.

I need a plan to fix this ... so that will become my project for the next couple of days.  Isn't life tedious when you become older?

Sunday, September 7

 It's not a very inspiring day here in Longford.  The sky is grey, the air is cool and there's no sound of life from the street.  I'm not aware of any activities being organised in the town and, because it's Sunday, I don't expect any deliveries.  I suppose the only thing to do is turn the air conditioner to warm and curl up in the loungeroom with a book.

I'm re-reading a series of detective novels at the moment.  They're by Stephen Booth and are set in a rural area of England.  I don't know why I am attracted to this type of novel.  I'm no anglophile, I think the villagers depicted in the stories are unappealing and the outcomes are often predictable (who needs a happy ending every time?)

Maybe it's the fact that I've been brought up on this sort of stuff: Midsomer Murders on TV, for example.  Or maybe it's because the books are predictable and, yes, they do have a happy ending, or, at least an ending which confirms that right always triumphs in the end.

I've tried reading other, more worthy, books, but I've decided I choose to read for enjoyment rather than for edification.

I've just noticed that this s blog post number 1976: only 24 more to reach 2000.  If I were planning to call an end to the experiment, 2000 is a nice round number.  I'll have to think about it.

Saturday, September 6

 Marilyn is reading a book called The Chocolate Factory: a novel based around the establishment of the Cadbury plant in Hobart in the 19th century. We knew several families who worked there and, especially, one whose son played in Jamie's basketball team.  There were always chocolates at team barbecues.

On the ship which brought my family to Australia we met a couple who had worked at Cadbury's in Bournville in England.  Ray and Edna Sparks were not heading for Tasmania but settled in Sydney where they opened a cake shop at Five Dock. They seemed to take a shine to me and I spent a lot of time there, travelling by bus each morning to school at Drummoyne.  I would only have been eight or nine.  Later they moved to Wombarra and then Thirroul where we kept up the friendship.

Ray drove a delivery truck for Cadbury's and I really enjoyed being his off-sider, going with him when he made his deliveries.  Often, shopkeepers would return bars of chocolate which their customers had rejected, saying they were mouldy.  In almost every case they were bars of Treasure Island or Rum and Raisin with little blemishes which Ray said were caused by air bubbles formed in the manufacturing process by the fermentation of the raisins.  They were perfectly good to eat, of course, and I acquired a taste for them.  Which 10-year old boy would turn his nose up at free chocolate?

We had Christmas with them one year while they lived in Wombarra and, when we stayed with them at Thirroul on another occasion, Ray helped my brother and I build a canoe out of a sheet of roofing iron.

Great memories!

Friday, September 5

 I'm always up before Marilyn in the morning and I use that time when I am alone in front of the TV to watch Youtube.  Lately I've found myself drawn to clips which highlight the idiocy of Donald Trump and I wonder at the irony of the country which holds itself up as the epitome of freedom and democracy now being in the thrall of a de facto king.

There's no way, in any other democracy, that the leader of the government could make such demagogic pronouncements as Mr Trump makes on a daily basis.  Can you imagine the UK Prime Minister deciding to clad the Tower of London with aluminium sheeting, or Mr Albanese building a ballroom on to The Lodge, without getting the populace onside first?

When the US people overthrew the rule of the British King, it was because they wanted a say in who ruled them.  The wanted their leaders to be elected by the people. Wonderful!  A very noble and forward-looking undertaking. Unfortunately, they then gave to that elected person many of the rights and privileges which are totally inappropriate in today's society. The President became a de facto King and not a modern king, but more a king from the Middle Ages.  The leader of the country should never appoint judges, for example.  That's asking for trouble, as we can see every day in the USA.  Judges should be appointed on their merit and not on which party they support.  In Australia, I might guess that a particular judge would be a Liberal voter, but I wouldn't expect it to influence his judgement.  And, kif it did, his peers would soon deal with it.

I don't know how the US is going to get out of this mess.  Simply changing sides is not enough.  They almost need to draw a line under the Great Experiment and start again.

Thursday, September 4

 For years I've downloaded TV shows and movies to watch at our leisure and it's been suggested that it's become an obsession.  As if!  The fact that I download much more than we could watch in two lifetimes is irrelevant and, as I've been heard to say, everybody needs a hobby.  I store the stuff on two hard drives which I've had for years and like all animate and inanimate objects, they're showing signs of wear.

I wondered whether it was time to splash out and purchase a couple of solid-state drives but, even if I went to Temu, I'd resent the outlay.  Jamie is not a fan of Temu and would try to talk me out of it.  His suggestion is to store all my downloads on the hard drive of the computer and, when we want to watch something, transfer it to a decent USB stick and go from there.  Why didn't I think of that?  There's plenty of room on the hard drive and all my precious programs would be available when needed.

It will take organisation: setting-up and transferring files, so I had better make a start.  A trip to Officeworks to get some better-than-average USB sticks is on the cards sooner rather than later.

Wednesday, September 3

 I'm looking for a particular cable for an electronic gadget I've discovered in one of my baskets.  It's a tiny media player which I can clip on to my shirt and might be useful when I go for a walk.  Of course, it's a bit old and the required cable is obsolete.  Maybe Jamie will have one hanging around.

I might have had a whinge in a previous post about my problems with listening to audio on my walk each morning.  I've been using my phone and find that it switches itself off when I reach the corner where I turn for home.  And it won't switch on again.  I wondered whether it has a built-in mechanism to turn off after a certain number of minutes to save power.

Not so, says Jamie.  The problem is that you don't have your Gefooly switch on, so the 'phone is still connecting to your internet and that's why you can connect to podcasts.  When you reach a certain distance from home (and lose your internet connection) the 'phone detects the loss of  that link and switches off.  (The switch may not be called Gefooley!)

Anyway, he's now switched it on and I'll give it a go this morning.  As a backup, I need the cable for the media player. It's old technology and I'm more comfortable with that.

Tuesday, September 2

 I've never understood the reason why dish washers have become so ubiquitous in Australian homes.  Maybe I should clarify that I'm looking at this situation from the point of view of an elderly pensioner who lives in a two-person household.  I understand that this is not the norm but I suspect that there are fewer large households than there used to be as I suspect that people are deciding to have fewer children than was once the case. Or maybe contraception is better.

But what has this to do with dishwashers?  Even though there are just two of us in this household; even though we eat simple meals, even though we have lived in this unit in Longford for five years and have never cooked a roast dinner here, even though our normal meal is pre-prepared in another kitchen and re-heated in ours, we still have a dishwasher.

I had my cereal this morning, put my slice off thick-cut fruit loaf in the toaster and reached for a knife to butter it.  The knife drawer was empty, because all the knives were in the dishwasher waiting for it to look full enough that we could switch it on.  Madness!  I extracted a single knife, rinsed it under the hot tap and buttered my toast ... and then put the knife back in the dishwasher!

From a labour-intensive point of view, a dishwasher makes no sense.  A time and motion study would need to note that using a dishwasher involves loading it, unloading it and putting the washed items away.  All of that involves bending because the dishwasher sits on the floor.  Compare that with the energy needed to wash up today's breakfast dishes in the old-fashioned way.  Half a sink of hot water from the tap, a squirt of dishwashing liquid, swill around 2 teaspoons, 2 cornflake spoons, 2 bowls, a knife and a plate, and leave them to drain.  It's a no-brainer.

But, I'll never convince Marilyn.

Monday, September 1

 September already, and, as if to welcome Spring, the sun is shining and there is the appearance of warmth in the air.  Of course, that's the perspective from inside the house looking out through the window.  The reality is what I experienced when I had my walk at 8 o'clock: bright sunshine, certainly, but a real chill in the air.  However, it can only get better from here.

Jamie arrived ten minutes ago, realised he had left something at home and left again to collect. it. Marilyn has gone with him for a drive and a chat, leaving me to look after Archie.  I'm not surprised she has taken the chance; I don't have much to say and that must be frustrating for Marilyn,

We had news last night that a friend has died in Townsville. He was a few years older than me and we met when Marilyn and I arrived at Cathedral School in 1987.  Roy was the Property Manager and it was his job to get us settled in to our house on the school grounds.  H must have seen how shell-shocked we were after the long drive and invited us to have dinner with them that evening.  He and Marg became very close friends and we have kept in touch.

Sunday, August 31

 My computer was a bit reluctant to start this morning and, when I tried to open Blogger to record my 'thought of the day'. it downright refused to cooperate. It told me there was probably an internet cable unplugged, which was ludicrous as I have a wifi connection.

 Being a natural pessimist, I immediately sent my thoughts to having to buy a replacement.  But, should I go for another All-in-one desktop or would a decent-sized laptop be better?  Should I buy something from Officeworks or might I do better on Amazon or Kogan, on-line?

I spent an hour browsing on my tablet and came to the conclusion that, really, a local supplier like Officeworks would be better, but I would have to outlay several hundreds of dollars.  As Jamie often says, if something goes wrong, it's more satisfying to walk into the shop and throw it back at them.  You can't do that with Kogan.

I finally settled on a Lenovo all-in-one desktop.  It was white which would be a change and not too expensive.  Decision made, I went back to the old computer to have one more try at getting it to go.

Of course, it behaved itself and started without any bother.  Bugger!

Saturday, August 30

 Marilyn and I go to an exercise class every Friday at Toosey, the local Aged care facility.  It's part of our Care Plans.  There are about 10 participants altogether and the young woman who runs it has a very pleasant, professional manner.  We've had three or four sessions so far, and have focused on various activities.  Yesterday, we used rubber balls with knobs on.  We called in to Kmart and bought a couple of similar balls to practice at home. Youtube has lots of videos to keep us focused. 

It makes a change from watching videos of Donald Trump's lunacy, or Steve or Scott wandering around Europe.

Friday, August 29

 As I mentioned yesterday, Jamie and I had a visit to Officeworks.  I had in mind to buy a tablet for Marilyn as the one she has been using is a few years old and the screen is not as sharp as it once was.  In fact it was a Samsung Tab 8 which Jamie and Nera received as a freebie when they signed up for home internet.  It was passed on to me and I used it daily until I acquired my Lenovo, bought for $99 in a JB HiFi sale.

I love going to Officeworks.  Some men rhapsodise about visiting Bunnings but I just don't get it. I met a bloke once who told me the best Christmas present he received was a $100 Bunnings voucher.  I can visualise him now: running into the big shop, voucher in hand, to pick out a new shovel or punnet of seedlings.

On the other hand, Officeworks is like a fairy kingdom, with aisle after aisle of treasures.  I could spend hours there (and often do).  

Yesterday, we looked at the avalaible tablets and I selected a Lenovo Tab 10.  It's a beautiful machine with a very clear screen.  Marilyn has a number of favourite games that she likes to play, including jigsaws so a 10-inch screen gives her a big enough work space without being too ponderous.

I've already floated the idea that, if this purchase proves to be worthwhile, I might consider buying myself one too.  It doesn't hurt to lay the groundwork.

Thursday, August 28

 I got to the end of my book and there was no surprising denouement about the relationship of Alan and Dan.  I don't know how I feel about that; disappointed, I suppose, because it would have been nice to have my instincts proven right but also relieved that the author didn't give in to the temptation to play the gay card so blatantly.  Still, there are two more books in the series so there is time yet.  However, I've decided to move on to something else.

We're waiting for Jamie to arrive to take us into town.  Marilyn has a doctor's appointment and I plan to call into Officeworks to buy a 10-inch tablet for Marilyn.  We're finding that we are spending more time at home now and need to have more things to keep us occupied.  We can read or watch TV, of course, but Marilyn likes jigsaw puzzles and other various games and her 7-inch pad is just too small.  

Life does change when you get older and you have to make accommodations for that.

Wednesday, August 27

 I'm reading a book called A Study in Stone by Michael Campling.  It appeared on my ebook reader yesterday and I thought it might be about archaeology or something and I often enjoy books like that.  In fact, it's a fairly standard English village mystery with a local pub, a big house and a handful of typical local yokels.  The two main characters are Dan and Alan.  Alan has moved to the village because he has lost his job and Dan has befriended him.  They have coffee together and find themselves investigating the theft of some precious artifacts from the coffee shop.  There is a barista in the cafe who has 'an impressive set of whiskers'.

Perhaps my 'gaydar' is working overtime because I keep anticipating a development in the relationship between Dan and Alan. I'm on page 363 of 646 and I'm anticipating a development at any time.   Funny, I've never questioned the relationship between Captain Bigglesworth and Algernon Lacey or Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson but Dan and Alan seem to be heading in a particular direction.

Perhaps I'm reading my first LGBTQ  novel.

Tuesday, February 26

 I think there's a number somewhere which tells me how many posts I have written since I started this blog in 2010 but I can't remember where that is at the moment.  If I had nothing else to do, I'm sure I could find it or, at least, look back through the archives and work it out. But, does it matter?  Probably not; they're just trivial random thoughts for the most part and it's irrelevant whether there's a lot of them or just a few.

The blog was more relevant when we were traveling and, since we've retired from that pursuit and are living a more sedentary life, what I have to say is much less interesting.  Take today, for example.  If we were hurrying to catch a train from Osaka Sation to visit the historic town of Takayama in the Japan Alps, what I have to say might catch the attention of any readers who happen to notice it.

On the other hand, if I am reporting on the weather in Northern Tasmania (cold and wet!), and whether Marilyn will decide to go to her Craft group or stay home and read her book, the expected reaction might well be Ho, hum!

I think it gets to the point that the writing of the blog becomes the purpose in itself.  It's not what I say, it's the fact that I'm saying it, no matter how trivial.  The fact that there are still people who read it astounds me.  Of course, it may not be the same people each day.  With the vast number of people around the world browsing Blogger maybe a random half dozen happen to stumble upon jandme each morning, and they're a different half dozen each time.

Makes as much sense as any other scenario, I suppose.