Month: November 2010

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Theres nothing like a trip to the hairdressers

Quite a few people showed an interest in Kiera the other day
which made me think you’d like to see some more of her antics
on the day recently when I gave her a brush and comb
These are the days when all the gloom and doom seems to lift right off her shoulders 
and you can see here whole attitude change in front of my eyes 
Just like ours when we have a trip to the hairdressers lol
So it started like this
Well come on then
I’d like you start with my head
it needs a good scratch
My furs a bit broken on my back
could you look into my diet please
I’m not sure if that cheaper brand of dry food is doing it or not
Maybe you could go back to that ‘good’ stuff you get from the vet
and see if it makes any difference – Please:))
(Sounds like me reassessing the shampoo I use lol)
Why did you stop – I was enjoying that
Think I’ll have a little snooze in the sunshine
I feel quite relaxed
you can carry on without me 
What all done – that was quick
Oh don’t I look beautiful
I love this – it makes me feel good
And look at those ears
all photos will enlarge
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This is my post for Camera Critters
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Grey skies are going to clear up

Well thats what Captain Werner Timmers said
last August on the day we cruised into Glacier Bay Alaska
I’ll leave you to decide 🙂
Early in the morning looking a bit ho-hum
A couple of hours later
yes – theres some blue sky there
Didn’t last for long tho’
Here we are later in the evening
with the sun going down behind some very low cloud
these photos will enlarge
click and then click again
This is my post for Skywatch Friday
There are more skies to be seen from around the world
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Sad times

It is a sad time in New Zealand at the moment
The devastating news from Greymouth yesterday of a second explosion in the Pike River mine
took most of their population by surprise
29 lives have been lost
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/world/world/general/nz-mine-disaster-a-nation-grieves/2007443.aspx
Australia and New Zealand are not far from each other
There’s just a small amount of water that separates us
The Tasman Sea
lovingly called
The Ditch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasman_Sea
The Tasman Sea has for many years been referred to as “The Ditch” by Australians and New Zealanders. The exact etymology for this term is uncertain, however when traveling between Australia and New Zealand, it is commonly referred to as “crossing the ditch”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_the_Ditch
There is a rivalry between us
especially in sport
that is completly different to any between us and other countries 
http://www.suite101.com/content/rivalry-between-new-zealand-and-australia-a213374
No matter how much emphasis is put on safety there are times when mines and disasters seem to go hand
Many Australians (especially mine workers) will be thinking of their lost ‘brothers’ and their families
We hope that others around the world do so as well
These photos show a memorial statue 
that was placed outside the United Mine-workers Club
in Collinsville Qld
to honour miners who had lost their lives in pit accidents 
I love the acknowledgement of the pit ponies
http://www.dme.qld.gov.au/media_centre.cfm?item=800.0
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Watch Out For This Scam

This came in an email today
I felt you needed to see it
Police Warning
Watch Out For This Scam
Police say that the gang usually is comprised of four members,
one adult and three younger ones.
While the three younger ones,
all appearing sweet and innocent,
divert their ‘mark’ (or intended target) with a show of friendliness,
the fourth – the eldest — sneaks in from behind the person’s back
to expertly rifle through his or her pockets and purses or bags
for any valuables being carried.
The picture below shows the gang in operation.

Good one eh?  LOL
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Sink or Swim – Lifeboat drill

Now some of you know at times I’m a real scardey cat
As much as I put on brave face – especially when flying
I have been known to worry about things going wrong
Lets just say when I get onto a boat/ship the first thng I check
is where the lifejackets are and also where the lifeboats are
So off we go to Alaska in August on the Zuiderdam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Zuiderdam
and on my first venture round the deck
I spot this little number
Not going to get many in there is my first thought
Don’t be daft my dear one says
look at your room card
Boat number 2 is ours
So off we go to lifeboat muster -without lifejackets this sailing
Rules have changed for this drill because theres nothing worse
(or dangerous)
than trying to make your way up and down
the inside stairs and passageways
(unless its a real emergency lol)
complete with a bulky lifejacket
So we make our way to Station Number 2
Not that one says Dh – it says 4
So are you telling me that we are down further
in that little tiddly one I saw earlier
Surely that can’t be ours ðŸ˜¦
Oh, we came from the other direction
and the number is painted on that big one up above
At the end facing the station number
Relief after all :))
The day we arrive in Skagway and are getting ready to go ashore
I notice some movement along the line of lifeboats
down below our deck
The lifeboats are starting to be lowered off the side of the ship
Love that relection on the verandah panels
Right on down to the water they go.
Oh goody – they have roofs
I wont get wet if we have to use them
Hush Catherine – those thoughts are not necessary lol
My dear one stayed in the room longer and saw them reach the water
It was good to know the crew does practise their lifeboat drill
Now I’ve told you that a short while after that
we took the Marine Atlantic ferry Joseph and Sarah Smallwood 
from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Joseph_and_Clara_Smallwood
Can you imagine
my surprise – joy – feelings
 when I saw the size of ‘this’ lifeboat lol
This is my post for Watery Wednesday
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Who can answer my question

The day before we took the ferry to Newfoundland
we had a meal in a pub
right next to the ferry terminal in North Sydney
Called Rollies Wharf – it was a fun place
Food was good but what was even better was the session that took place as the night went on
I wont say much today – I’ll leave that for another day
Today I need an answer to a question
one I think my some of my North American readers could have the answer to
Outside of Rollies was a plant – sort of like a small bush
Covered in these huge flowers
It looked like a Hydrangea to me – the long shape of the flower head reminded me of
Oak Leaf Hydrangeas – Hydrangea Quercifolia
‘cept it had the wrong shaped leaves
These were not oak leaf shaped but as you can see longer  
When we get to Dh’s cousins house she had a similar shrub
‘cept much taller and its flowering wasn’t as advanced
but look what I did see in hers lol
Not one but two bees lol
I forgot to ask the cousin the nameof the plant
So who is going to put me out of my misery?
To see more beautiful flowers from around the world
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All I want for Christmas

While we were away there was a lighthearted moment the last time
we saw our travelling companions Laurie and Bonnie
Because they were upset we wouldn’t be there
in Nova Scotia for Christmas
Laurie treated my dear one
to something every good Grandad should have
A Santa Hat lol
My dear one just laughed at the time and said he felt like a dork
Anyway today he put some junk mail in front of me
and asked if he could have one.
It didn’t make any sense until I saw what it was he was talking about.
Could I have one to go with my hat?
Don’t worry about the underwear I’ll just have whats inside it!!
Honestly Men
Sometimes you can’t live with them – but I bet lifes not half as funny without them:)
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Shopping for Kiera and a look round the neighbourhood

Kiera was the centre of attention the other day.  Moulting time has started and even tho she is a short haired Burmese cat she loses great quantities of hair at this time of the year.  Cat hair all over the indoor furniture as well as the outdoor stuff she sleeps on isn’t a good look and means you have to have a good look before sitting down so for her that means more grooming this season than during the winter
As she’s been pottering around the garden a lot recently I give her a good brush and comb which luckily for me isnt a problem – she comes running when she seee the brush and almost flings herself down in front of me – and I’d far rather the fur be on a comb or brush than elsewhere – it also gives me a chance to make sure she doesn’t have any little ‘friends’ lving there either  
BTW This wasn’t a plant shot – the brush and comb were on the table before she lay down.  Ignore the ‘friend’ coming up the steps – he’s one of the magpies who think its my role to feed him lol  
So when I popped down to the pet shop in Montrose for her fresh meat supplies and saw this very useful bench outside the hall and also for the first time in a long time had my camera in the bag you know what I had to do lol. 
Painted green to match the door, window frame and railings it’s at the top of a slight rise in the footpath and I’m sure is used on a hot day to grab a little shade from the tree next door 
Then later in the day I had to go to the Vet clinic to pick up flea control supplies for her – can never be too careful.   Honestly I’m getting a bit forgetful these days I didn’t even think about doing both errand whilst I was out ealier
It was such a beautiful day to be out – full of  blue skies and sunshine
Zoomed through the streets and came out here.  Its a T junction which meant I had to cross the road to go up the hill so I had a quick glance right, then looked left thinking its so sunny I can see the hills in the distance
Then right again up the hill
Then left again to make sure all was well and I could move across the road.  Nothing there except all those lovely shadows on the ground.  This particular road (Mount Dandenong Road) is tree lined all the way down to Montrose  a couple of kilometres up the road
That’s the Vet’s clinic on the corner across the road.  Its such a lovely sight seeing the hills and the TV masts in the distance especially on a day like this with the blue skies and little cloud
When the clinc was renovated they had a mural representing the area painted on the back wall.  As well as catching your eye – good advertising – it also takes the bareness of the brick wall 
If you stand in the same spot and look down the road this is what you see – Another tree lined street lol
This is Liverpool Road and is one of the ways we take to get to Boronia
Those are two very well placed benches believe it or not ‘cose if you are walking up Liverpool Road you discover that what looks like a ‘level’ road is nothing of the sort as it has a definite incline lol
Home after that to a nice drink of tea – very refreshing.  You know we travel the world and love what we see but sometimes we forget what’s there right under our noses lol
This is my post for My World Tuesday – To see other Worlds from around the globe – please click here
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There’s a bear in there

You never know what you’ll see in a strange country
Not far out of the town of Juneau in Alaska there is a fabulous glacier
Just a short bus ride down the road
No boat or helicopter needed to see this one lol
This is the Mendenhall Glacier
On the day we were there this is what we also saw
A small black bear who happened to be brown
The ranger is this area said he/she (I didn’t hear what gender) was young
and had been seen on its own for a little while
We were on a bridge/walkway close to a small stream 
when we saw the bear
looking for the salmon that pass up through the fish gate
There must be days when dinner can come easily
or not as the case may be lol
Remember they are wild animals the ranger said
Not for cuddling!!
Then his/her head lifted 
Maybe it heard some of the crowd noise even tho’ most there were trying to be quiet
and the little bear was off like a shot
Hence the blurred photo
Photos will enlarge
click and then click again
‘There’s a bear in there’
is the song played at the beginning of Playschool in Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_School
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_School_(Australian_TV_series)
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Long walk – lots of sit downs

After the very long flight from Australia to Vancouver last August
we certainly needed time to rest up before the Alaskan cruise 
So as well as part days – arrival day and departure day
we decided on having one full day in town as well
This time we planned to start the day by walking from our hotel
over Burrard Bridge to visit the Maritime Museum
 missed out on our last time in town
wander round Vanier Park and then make our way to Granville Island
We had a day of blue skies and sunshine
This photo is of a beach close to the Maritime Museum
Taken from one of the rear windows 
And here is the start of our long walk
Wandering over the grass I came across this strange sculpture
Couldn’t find any information near it and haven’t been able to find any since getting home either
Does anyone know its name and why its there?
We did discover an abundance of benches along the way
Some of which came in very handy
 There were doubles
Heres a couple of singles 
All with views of  downtown Vancouver
As I said lovely sunny skies with a hint of cloud build up
Perfect for walking
We’ll go further another day
all the photos enlarge
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This is my Skywatch Friday post
for more skies from around the world
Click Here
Also my Scenic Sunday post
Beautiful scenes from around the world can be
Seen here
 
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Did I cry?

Is it spilt milk you’re supposed to cry over – or is it not to cry over
Anyway after accidently dropping the last 4 eggs on the floor
I wondered what we would have for lunch the other day
So instead of the poached ones on toast along with a bit of salad
it turned out to be cheese on toast along with a bit of salad
Still annoyed at losing my beautiful free range eggs tho’
Maybe I should go over to Angie’s place
its about a 2 hour drive away
 http://angela-earthmama.blogspot.com/2010/11/eggs-for-sale.html
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On my bookshelf

I came home from babysitting the other Sunday night with this boxed set of books
The author is one thats new to me – Dd said she was ‘sort of an ok read’
so I’m not sure what recommendation that is.
So it will be ‘time will tell’ as to how I enjoy them
That’s when I actually get round to opening one lol
BTW if anyone else has read some of her work I’d be interested to hear what you think of it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tess_Gerritsen
Since we came home from our trip
I have been trying to read Di Morrisey’s book
‘Heart of the Dreaming’
http://www.dimorrissey.com/book_heartofthedreaming.html
I’ve read and enjoyed qute a few of hers – and as they say – they are always a good read
Like most of her books it involves Australia and Australian characters 
 but for some reason I’m finding it hard to get into this one
I’ll be able to spend more time on it
now that I’ve finished the xstitching I had on the go
(the one which caused me all sorts of grief)
I did however get to do some reading on the cruise
‘Salvation Creek’ by Susan Duncan
who was once editor ot The Australian Womens Weekly and also New Idea
A biography of the time after the death of her husband and her brother
The trials and tribulations of  being diagnosed with breast cancer
Moving to a small community in NSW 
Coming to terms with her life
and rediscovering love  
http://www.randomhouse.com.au/Author/Duncan,%20Susan
Yes, I took time to read on the cruise
Freezing cold outside but I enjoyed it
Whats on your bookshelf?
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Going somewhere – need a hand

Cruising to Alaska is often up the Inland Passage
At some part along that body of water stretching the coast of British Columbia and Alaska
it’s necessary to have a Marine Pilot onboard to assist with the navigation of the ship
I never noticed their arrival the first cruise we took but this last time – in August – we happened to be looking out the window in the Lido and noticed this boat approaching quite quickly 
All pictures can be enlarged
click and then click again
It sailed alongside for a while
keeping pace then dropping back a bit
I think at one time it went round to the other side of the ship
Then Dh pointed out that some people had come out onto the deck
They stood there quite nonchalantly holding on to the rail
There were two other people there as well who were crouching down
Then I noticed two of them had moved up the deck
Here one seems to have positioned him/herself in a certain spot
Then the little (compared to the cruise ship) boat moved right in alongside 
(You can just see the two people down in the left corner of the little boat)
It turned inwards for a while at an angle
Then turned outwards and moved off minus one and possibly both of the people in the coloured overalls
It then moved on off into the middle of the waterway and sped away back to shore
Obviously our helping hand had arrived lol
I wonder if a GPS system would have been any use lol 
Now I didn’t really notice it at the time because we were moving (not very fast I will admit) and I was concentrating on what was going on and wondering if the little boat was going to be swallowed up in the waves but looking at these photos the other day I could swear the two other people on the deck had things in the hands.
Not going to say what but maybe they just can’t be too careful in this day and age
Enlarge the photos and have look see and tell me if you think the same thing
This is my Watery Wednesday post
To see more water from around the world
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Feeding the Family

So, following on from the food post yesterday
 here’s one I hope you enjoy
Australian Magpies
 seem to liked by all Australians
till it comes to nesting time and the swooping begins
Once thats over and done with the birds raise their young
and later get on with the job of teaching them
the ‘Birds Way of Life
The young have left the nest now and are flying round the neighbourhood
accompanied by Mum supposedly learning how to find things to eat
I have a family like that in my garden
but their little one tends to think that Mum should still be providing for it 
Poor Mum wanders around followed by her ‘baby’
who carrys on as though he’s starving
and won’t get another meal in his life
Watch what happens
Mum is digging around in the ground having a look see
and the young one comes tearing across the grass
and goes into a begging position almost straight away
I’ve noticed she’s starting to ignore him recently
and he is digging about himself
photos will enlarge if you click and then click again
Later that day on the grass
I did see her give into him
Some of us in the suburbs have been known to feed them
Heres a good article on the perils of doing so
Magpie mums have a junk food policy
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Blowing in the wind

Do you remember the load of washing I did last Sunday
It was a very windy day so I stripped the bed and washed all the linen
As well as the blankets – I did the bedspread and mattress protector
The pillows went out to air as well – nothing like a day in the breeze to freshen them up
Sometimes I’ll vacuum the bed – top and sides
but it didn’t get done this time

I try to do this on a regular basis – its just finding the right day to do it

We have a manufacturing company here in Australia that deals in bedding
Doona/Duvets – Pillows – Mattress Protectors
Its a company most Australians respect
http://www.tontine.com.au/our-range/default.asp
but they have come up with an idea that to me just seems like a market ploy
It goes like this
Their pillows now have a date stamp on them
Seems our pillows are full of lots of wriggly things that much away at our dead skin flakes
and we need to renew our pillows every 2 years
You can read all the information on these sites

http://www.tontine.com.au/fresh-pillows/index.asp
http://www.tontine.com.au/fresh-pillows/QA.asp
http://www.tontine.com.au/FRESH-PILLOWS/register_pillow1.asp

For a while when our kids were young I used to wash their pillows but ended up with funny shapes
later discovered if you drip dry them making sure they are thoroughly dry you get a nice clean fresh pillow
Mid summer seems to be the best time to do that

As well as the cover on the pillow mine are put inside pillow protectors
and then have a pillow case on top of that

I think I’ll take my chances by hanging mine out to air regularly
My latex ones cost $80 each and I can’t find that every two years

Just curious as to whether this is taking place in any other country?
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Thursday November 11 – Remembrance Day

Even though the main time for honouring war dead in Australia
is in April on Anzac Day
there are many here who also remember on November 11th
Remembrance Day sometimes called Armistice Day
was the day set aside to commemorate the ending of fighting on the Western Front during the First World War
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month
was the time selected to sign a treaty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day
It is still used in many countries as their day of remembering and honouring 
those who died in battles fought in wars and conflicts over the years
even though many also – like Australia – have their own recognised day
But why are the Poppies on sale
This link will answer that question
Poppies in November
There is a very long history in my family of men serving their country
My father served in the English airforce during war time and also for years after in peace time, my dear one also served in the same airforce in peace time and our son followed the tradition by serving in the Australian airforce   
These flags are of  various countries and their airforces aound the world
and are displayed outside the Calgary Aerospace Museum   
They commemorate a training plan for airmen from various Commonwealth countries
that took place in Canada during the Second World War
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

There are many who dissagree but we must remember them all
to enlarge photos click and then click again
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Calgary Memorial Park

Look at this beautiful fountain we discovered in Calgary last October
It’s in the Central Memorial Park
and seems fitting I chose it for this weeks Watery Wednesday post
Central Memorial Park is the oldest park in Calgary and close to the downtown area of the city
It has this beautiful fountain and with walkways and seating where you can watch the world go by
Its also a place to honour Canadians who died in conflicts around the world
So close to the hustle and bustle and yet so peaceful and quiet
click on the photos to enlarge and then click again
Its where you will find several War Memorials
Calgary’s oldest park, Central Memorial Park is home to eight memorials including the Boer War equestrian statue and various others that commemorate both World Wars. Set aside for park space by the Federal Government in 1899, the park is also home to Alberta’s first public library. Another important feature of the park is that it is host to the city’s annual Remembrance Day celebration.
http://www.discovercalgary.com/Calgary/SightsAttractions/ParksGardens/
There are also other of my favourite things there
Look at the marvellous stone (?Granite) carved bench
inscribed with the words
May we live as nobly as they died
And this truly lovely statue of a soldier and his horse
(terrible picture as the sun was in the wrong spot)
This plaque was set into the ground detailing
where each of the monuments
were and who they honoured
(as I said the sun was a problem hence the shadow from a nearby pole)
I can’t really describe the park and do it justice 
so maybe you’d like to read about it at these websites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Memorial_Park
http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_780_237_0_43/http%3B/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Parks/Find+a+Park+or+Pathway/Major+Parks/Downtown+Parks/Central+Memorial+Park.htm
http://www.suite101.com/content/calgarys-central-memorial-park-a27490
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1ZZD_Central_Memorial_Park_Calgary_Alberta
Click this link here
To see more WateryWednesday posts from Australia and around the world  
This is also my post for Scenic Sunday
Click here to view more Scenic Sunday posts from around the world
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Why is life so messy

Well yesterday (Sunday) was another day of fine dry and very blowy weather
My granny in Belfast would’ve been turning in her grave
‘cose I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass me by 
I stripped the bed and the bathroom and put a load of washing on the line
photos enlarge with a click – if you dare
We went over to babysit a grandaughter later in the day
A long time ago this particular daughter happened to answer my question about why her house was always tidy with
‘When I was young we lived with a messy house and I vowed mine would never be that way’
I thought to myself – Oh the thoughts of the young and recently left home
wait till theres a family lol
Anyway once again I marvelled at how clean and tidy my daughter’s house was
Both she and her dh work full time and have pursuits as well yet it never seems to have a thing out of place
You could call in anytime and it would be the same
Now don’t get me wrong
Sometimes it almosts seems bare – but then each to his own
They had a late night so we didn’t got home till well after midnight and went to bed almost immediately
This morning I walked into the sitting room and this is what I saw
Thats the chair where I spend a lot of time
and there is stuff all round it!
As well as the ‘crafty’ stuff theres 2 pairs of trousers
that need stitching
and the jacket I took with me last night
Talk about lazy
I could have hung that up when I went into the bedroom
but chose to toss it on the chair when we walked in the door
and this is the couch – covered in most of yesterday’s washing:(
Yes, its sorted ready for ironing or just putting away but its there all over the place and very obvious
The vacuum is there ‘cose I was going to whizz round some time yesterday
never got round to it and left it there to remind me to do it 
Oh dear she really is telling the truth
My life really is messy sometimes lol
Does anyone else suffer from this problem??
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