Month: November 2021

Posted on

Pardon….say that again

Like many other bloggers I keep a record of the books I read – I even keep lists here on the blog. See Books Read above. Just occasionally readers will comment on the books, more often on a post I’ve written but I ‘have’ received one or two on the book page itself. Which is surprising but nice just the same.

Until, like recently, when there were loads of them……this sort of them

They’re not the nasty ‘don’t want them on my blog’ ones…..just strange ’english is not my first language’ type and with WordPress’s system of skimming off into another folder what they think is spam, I have the option of ’publish or delete’ (by the way, nothing in there ever does get published)

The fun (if there is fun in checking spam comments) is seeing those recent ones on the book pages…..funny to read – not funny if you click on the links they provide – (which obviously I haven’t….shown you or clicked) So I thought you might like a giggle – just remember these are all on pages containing lists of books I’ve read not postings on the main blog

  • just couldn’t depart your site prior to suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard information an individual provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back frequently in order to inspect new posts
  • Outstanding post, I think blog owners should larn a lot from this website its rattling user friendly
  • As usual I was disappointed in your blog Thank you for the information 
  • I really appreciate your professional approach.These are pieces of very useful information that will be of great use for me in future.
  • Everyone looks fabulous. 
  • Attractive portion of content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact loved account your weblog posts
  • Hey, you used to write wonderful, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track!
  • Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Magnificent. I am also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your effort

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Am I weird in wanting to rewrite them so they read correctly??

Fun Friday – the day we leave the troubles of the week behind

Posted on

How come….

Note arrived from brother accompanied by this ’photo’

How come If mum was Irish and we never lived in Yorkshire, she put this on the tea table?

Actually she added sliced tomatoes as well but I’ve no idea why she put onions, cucumber and tomato into a marinade of vinegar then served it along with cold cuts.

All I know is I disliked it then and still do……like my salads clean – naked – no dressing at all.

Vinegar goes on Fish and Chips 😊

~ ~ ~ ~

Is it truly a Yorkshire dish?

Posted on

Did we ever find the answer??

I’m not sure what the question was or even if there was an answer

These turned up in a box out in the garage

I remember them as interesting reads at a time when I needed a bit of encouragement

Thinking back, I wasn’t a sheep, following along with everyone else, but strangely was ambitious yet didn’t want to be ’the big boss’ – what I was really interested in was what ’the big boss’ thought and how they might have gone about things.

At that time the words ’self improvement’ never entered my mind – what these books (and more) gave me (because they were always being mentioned in the staff room) was a small insight into how and why some of my colleagues and ’superiors’ thought (and acted) in those days.

I’m still cross we lent the ever popular Think and Grow Rich to a ’friend’ never to see it again yet still remember Hill’s first principle of success being Desire.

Anyway that was a long time ago now and guess what……Of all the advice I gleaned at the time …Dress Well and Be Nice …is what I remember the most 😊

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I had a week off from the blog, not writing or reading or answering comments……because ’The Back’ ‘flared up’ and has been a problem again I’ve been indulging in a self pity party – not wanting to talk to anyone, feeling angry (it’s not fair!) knowing tears don’t solve anything yet wallowing in misery. Which has got to stop!

I feel another quiet week coming up I think. A warm sunny one I hope
It’ll soon be breakfast time – time for another cup of tea…..will it be cereal, toast and marmalade this morning or porridge with cinnamon sugar and a handful of sultanas?
Then afterwards maybe I’ll dip into those books again and refresh my memory on how to Think Big – Win Friends – Look Good – Read Body Language – and Communicate Well With Everyone 😊

Curious to know if anyone else read these or any similar books and did you find them useful at the time? As some of them are still in print people must think the ideas haven’t dated and are still be relevant to life in the 21st century.

Posted on

Just because

Those old phones have a lot to say for themselves don’t they 😊



Life was much simpler when these were in use – small neat fitted comfortably into my hand – there was an awful lot of talk done on this one!

And just because I’m not in a talkative mood right now doesn’t mean I can’t smile 😊


Fun Friday – the day we leave the troubles of the week behind

Posted on

Guess what….

Not sure if you’re aware of this

and I’m wondering how you might feel about the fact

that we might be in for another wet summer here in Australia


“The ENSO Outlook remains at La Niña ALERT. This means that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation is currently neutral, but the chance of La Niña forming in the coming months is around 70%. This is roughly three times the normal likelihood of an event forming in any year.”

“ A La Niña ALERT is not a guarantee that La Niña will occur, rather it is an indication that most of the typical precursors of an event are in place. La Niña events increase the chance of above average spring and summer rainfall in northern and eastern Australia ”

source 26/10/2021 – http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/outlook/

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/15/bureau-of-meteorology-warns-of-floods-with-double-likelihood-of-la-nina-predicted-for-australia

Posted on

Not in my house…..

Yes, it’s Monday!

For years Monday was always referred to as Wash Day……that gave it the rest of the week to get it dry and ironed before Sunday. But did you know that for a long time wash day (known as the great/grand wash only came round
maybe every three to six months.

If like me you’re a fan of everything old and interesting have a look at this site – lots of quirky facts there about what is described as domestic paraphernalia….. fabulous info about things from around the house. Want to know about washing machines pre 1800…look no further than here. Tablecloths in the middle ages, mangles, history of pressure cooker….it’s all there.

Unlike a lot of my friends (even in these days of ’automatic washing machines’) Wash Day in my house has never been on a set day. Two adults + five children = a lot of people = an awful lot of clothes to be laundered ….so when there was a load out came the washing machine. My granny would have turned in her grave if she’d have known I washed on a Sunday but it did happen…..now and again.

I wonder if I’m the only one who loves the sight of a line full of laundry blowing in the wind? There’s a soft gentle comfortable look about it..….yes, even if it’s a line full of mens shirts, jocks and socks
Which is really strange because I’m the least domesticated person you’d ever come across – I’m sure there are many like me who would much rather sit with a book than do housework. There was more play with the children than housework when they were little as well.

After having so many rainy days where everything had to be dried on the back deck, it was good to get some dry sunny days with a bit of a breeze so I was able to launder a woollen blanket, hang it on the big line and know It wouldn’t need all week to dry


What is a constant in my day (each and every day) however is an early cup of tea 🫖☕️

Putting the kettle on in the daylight is still a novelty – I can see how the day is beginning but have to go by the BOM forecast for how it may end. If the one from early evening yesterday is anything to go by it’ll be a case of close the window overnight …….or put the blanket back on the bed!

Linking to Life this Week hosted by Denyse at Denyse Whelan Blogs. 
Do pop over and see what others have been up to this week

Posted on

Walking in sunshine…

Sunny not too hot days are just right for a wander round the local park, especially for my first one since getting home from Queensland.

(Photos will enlarge with a tap/click or using two finger spread)

Going in past the decorated toilet block…not too far from the playground. A load off parent’s mind not having to trail far when little ones say all of a sudden ’I need to go Mum’

Round to the fenced part of the ’lake’ where I ’met’ this lovely lady. “She’s a rescue and quite timid” ”She has a name but it doesn’t suit her so I’m thinking about another one” “Yes you can take her photo but don’t come too close”

So I stood at the railings and watched a little unnamed duck turning circles looking for something to eat before I took a couple of quick photos of the dog

But where to from there I wondered
Along the sunny straight but not narrow or along to the right and up the windy hill?

Right it was, because I knew as I walked past the wetland area I’d get a view of the hills with the TV masts sitting there on the top. There they are, in front of the clouds

And if you look really carefully you’ll see the (hopefully I’ve identified it correctly) Heron making its way past the pale green grasses near the shoreline. Then I lost sight of it (or thought I had) The bridge in the background is in honour of the person the ‘park’ is named after.

See the Purple Swamp Hens who’d come up out of the water and were entertaining me with their antics – it looked like there was a bit of ’Chase me Charlie’ ‘Hows your Father’ going on….possibly was….I’m not actually au fait with the mating habits of water birds. 😊

Anyway they didn’t seem bothered by me standing there and came right up the bank….and that’s when I saw it.

There it was – the one I thought I’d lost. The Heron
it was hiding out in the shade of that scraggly gum tree. Look how tall and elegant it is when on the lookout

And it was about that time when I knew I had to find somewhere to sit down. Sometimes the back plays up meaning my legs tingle and go numb……and because of the vagaries of the condition (spinal stenosis) sitting takes the pressure off the nerves and after a while I’m good to go. Luckily I knew just the place!

A short way on and a turn to the right brings me to the ’old trees’ ……visible in the photo showing the hills (pruned back but left standing for birds to use). Plus a very conveniently placed bench right near the bridge – short sit down, cross over the bridge and I’m there where I began near the car park. A slightly shorter walk than usual – better that than nothing I say!

This week I’m joining Elephant’s Child and others at Sunday Selections

Also Linking to Life this Week hosted by Denyse at Denyse Whelan Blogs. 
Do pop over and see what others have been up to this week

see https://www.weekendnotes.com/elizabeth-bridge-reserve/

Posted on

No comment…..

The different blogging platforms are not playing nicely with each other.

For quite a while now I’ve not had comments go through on several blogs I read

Some days I can – some days I can’t

And it’s not always the same blogs

Just saying that If you haven’t heard from me for a whIle – that’s the reason why

Posted on

Looks can be deceiving…

As you can see our PM (about four years ago when he was treasurer) on the premise of making a point, thought it would be a bit of fun to bring a piece of coal into The Chamber….. to add a bit of misplaced interest to his argument.
This week he has been representing Australia at a Climate Change Conference.
Whatever your views on this issue are I’m sure you’ll agree – this photograph (which has now appeared in worldwide publications)and the reason behind it will haunt him and our government for evermore.


During that week we spent in Mackay early last September we visited Artspace Mackay – a gallery that exhibits not just paintings but other forms of art.

I’ll share some of the other exhibits in the next few weeks but I must tell you that when I walked into one of the rooms and saw what I thought were lumps of coal on the floor I laughed and jokingly asked The Golfer if he knew if Mr Morrison had been in town.

Anyway after walking round and studying them for a while, still convinced it was coal I was looking at, I came to the conclusion they hadn’t just been scattered but had been ’placed’.
But why?
If you open/enlarge the information panel you’ll discover it wasn’t coal but small pieces of rock from the artist’s ’country’ – cleaned, painted black then varnished ‘to conceal their identity and protect their stories within colonial spaces.

Country at night by Hayley Millar-Baker

Yes looks can certainly be deceiving

Posted on

If it affects you….

For some it would appear that they will do something they were loathe to do if it affects them

Our state government has mandated covid vaccination is necessary for various trades and occupations. ‘No jab – No job’

This has caused strife amongst the ranks, protests galore and even workers leaving their long held positions on principle.

There is one person in the group The Golfer plays with who wasn’t interested in the Covid vaccination. For months the others kept on at him about it but he kept saying ’I’ll take my chances.’

When restrIctions began to ease he could play, in fact up untIl quite recently he was still able to play – then the rules changed statewide. For many activities it’s now a case of ’vaccinated you’re welcome – unvaccinated you’re not’

Anyway when The Golfer’s friend discovered he wouldn’t be able to play unless he was vaccinated he suddenly changed his mind…..he booked and had his first dose a week ago. Friday was the last time he was allowed on the course, now nobody is even allowed through the gate into the grounds unless they are fully vaccinated (or show exemption)

He’s not happy at how long he has to wait for his second dose……

Posted on

Nine months….

A length of time usually associated with birth, smiles and laughter

Nine months ago today my darling little sister died, a day filled with tears and sadness

When I thought of her today it was as if I’d turned a corner

There were no tears – just lots of smiles

I spent the day remembering the good times we’d shared that were filled with laughter

Clarborough July 2006
Paphos September 2014

Or nursing late night headaches 😎

Paphos September 2014

Website Built with WordPress.com.