Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sincere apologies
In the unlikely event there is anyone still out there who might be reading this long-neglected blog, I need to tell you that one of my links to favourite blogs had been corrupted and had been leading to a particularly nasty pornographic site - for quite a long period of time. I was only made aware of this today and am deeply distressed in case anyone followed that link. I couldn't get into the blogrolling site to delete the particular link, so had to go into my template and delete all links. I am not easily offended but there was no way I would knowingly leave a link to this depraved filth on my blog for another day.
Anyway, that's the story. If any of my old friends are out there, you'll need to post a comment so I can add you as a link again. You never know, I might start writing again one day.
Anyway, that's the story. If any of my old friends are out there, you'll need to post a comment so I can add you as a link again. You never know, I might start writing again one day.
Labels: Sorry business
Friday, May 18, 2007
In the news
In the news in NT this week:
First an "only in Darwin" moment - I love these!
ABC radio news:
"A demonstration is going on outside the building where an international conference on uranium mining is being held today in Darwin," ..... reports from the site... " About 8 protesters have gathered outside..." etc. Eight! Eight protesters is a newsworthy event here.
Next - the dark side of Territory news
A 25 year old Aboriginal man bashed and raped his grandmother who was in a wheelchair. Oh yes, she had only one leg, having lost the other after an accident. Actually he did it twice. The first time he was supposed to be wheeling her home when he took a detour into bushland. When she asked where he was going, he said "to get a root". She did not report the incident as she was too ashamed. The second time he did it in a more public place and when he bashed her she screamed. This alerted bystanders who dragged the man from on top of her.
In his defence his solicitor said the man was sexually frustrated after his wife left him.
Well now, isn't that a good excuse!
He received a gaol sentence of 10 years for his crimes and will be eligible for parole in 5.
Hmm, I reckon I could have thought of a much more appropriate sentence... something requiring an amputation without benefit of anaesthetic perhaps?
...and the nice side of Territory living
Government House was open to the public today. I went along after work on a warm dry- season evening and walked up the red carpet to receive a kiss of welcome from the Governor's wife. The gardens are filled with garish, clashing tropical blooms - red, purple, orange and yellow, glowing against the deep greens of a rain forest background of palms, ferns and raintrees.
It's a modest, tropical design home dating from the 19th century, made of local stone and timber. With only four main rooms, surrounded by wide stone verandas, it's somewhere you could almost imagine living; not imposing or stand-offish in any way, just beautiful, comfortable and relaxed.
Afterwards I had a seafood dinner on Stokes Hill Wharf (a Darwin institution) among crowds of locals: families, groups of friends, couples, and a few tourists, all soaking up the peace of the tropical evening.
Although I guess I must have felt more tranquil than some, for amongst the lone diners, I appeared to be the only one who didn't feel the need to resort to a conversation with an absent friend via mobile phone!
Finally a unique work moment:
A report this week at work, written by one of our Aboriginal liaison officers, contained the sentence "we was as happy as a mob of galahs in a gum tree when we got that motor going again."
Ahh, the Northern Territory - you gotta love it!
First an "only in Darwin" moment - I love these!
ABC radio news:
"A demonstration is going on outside the building where an international conference on uranium mining is being held today in Darwin," ..... reports from the site... " About 8 protesters have gathered outside..." etc. Eight! Eight protesters is a newsworthy event here.
Next - the dark side of Territory news
A 25 year old Aboriginal man bashed and raped his grandmother who was in a wheelchair. Oh yes, she had only one leg, having lost the other after an accident. Actually he did it twice. The first time he was supposed to be wheeling her home when he took a detour into bushland. When she asked where he was going, he said "to get a root". She did not report the incident as she was too ashamed. The second time he did it in a more public place and when he bashed her she screamed. This alerted bystanders who dragged the man from on top of her.
In his defence his solicitor said the man was sexually frustrated after his wife left him.
Well now, isn't that a good excuse!
He received a gaol sentence of 10 years for his crimes and will be eligible for parole in 5.
Hmm, I reckon I could have thought of a much more appropriate sentence... something requiring an amputation without benefit of anaesthetic perhaps?
...and the nice side of Territory living
Government House was open to the public today. I went along after work on a warm dry- season evening and walked up the red carpet to receive a kiss of welcome from the Governor's wife. The gardens are filled with garish, clashing tropical blooms - red, purple, orange and yellow, glowing against the deep greens of a rain forest background of palms, ferns and raintrees.
It's a modest, tropical design home dating from the 19th century, made of local stone and timber. With only four main rooms, surrounded by wide stone verandas, it's somewhere you could almost imagine living; not imposing or stand-offish in any way, just beautiful, comfortable and relaxed.
Afterwards I had a seafood dinner on Stokes Hill Wharf (a Darwin institution) among crowds of locals: families, groups of friends, couples, and a few tourists, all soaking up the peace of the tropical evening.
Although I guess I must have felt more tranquil than some, for amongst the lone diners, I appeared to be the only one who didn't feel the need to resort to a conversation with an absent friend via mobile phone!
Finally a unique work moment:
A report this week at work, written by one of our Aboriginal liaison officers, contained the sentence "we was as happy as a mob of galahs in a gum tree when we got that motor going again."
Ahh, the Northern Territory - you gotta love it!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Holiday snapshots
I'm standing on a 3rd floor balcony overlooking the traffic on Parramatta Road with the Sydney skyline etched in the mid distance, when, right in front of my face, a huge maple leaf dances by on an air current. It eddies and swirls, twirls, lifts and drops and eventually settles on a balcony two doors away from me. Suddenly the air space above the street is filled with drifting, dancing leaves. They come singly and by twos and threes, nature's ballet, three floors above the noise and fumes of man's invention.
.......................................................................................................................................................................
An old woman, proud of her last shreds of fierce independence, little vision or hearing left, every step a slow agony, waits fearfully for the day when she must admit defeat and accept the ignominy of allowing others to provide for her most intimate needs. Every day survived to lay at last on her bed and sleep, for a few hours free from pain and confusion, is a hard won and hollow victory.
.......................................................................................................................................................................
A tiny fireball of energy, small, hard, tough, fast and inexhaustible throws his arms around me and says 'cuddle' as he head-butts my glasses from my face; while his sister, his antithesis, soft, tiny and delicate crawls quietly into my bed at night to snuggle down and sleep without moving till morning and the big sister, the responsible one, the carer and nurturer waits her turn to gain the attention she too wants but is too shy to demand.
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................
An old woman, proud of her last shreds of fierce independence, little vision or hearing left, every step a slow agony, waits fearfully for the day when she must admit defeat and accept the ignominy of allowing others to provide for her most intimate needs. Every day survived to lay at last on her bed and sleep, for a few hours free from pain and confusion, is a hard won and hollow victory.
.......................................................................................................................................................................
A tiny fireball of energy, small, hard, tough, fast and inexhaustible throws his arms around me and says 'cuddle' as he head-butts my glasses from my face; while his sister, his antithesis, soft, tiny and delicate crawls quietly into my bed at night to snuggle down and sleep without moving till morning and the big sister, the responsible one, the carer and nurturer waits her turn to gain the attention she too wants but is too shy to demand.
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Labels: Holidays
Friday, April 20, 2007
Nature's glory
Today was a perfect day.
In the morning, the tide was full and the sea a crisp, dark blue dotted with tiny wind-blown peaks. It appeared to swell and sway against the golden strip of sand and red cliffs opposite.
Tonight a bright, new moon rode high with Venus, huge in counterpoint, set together into a sky of shadowed blue taffeta.
In the morning, the tide was full and the sea a crisp, dark blue dotted with tiny wind-blown peaks. It appeared to swell and sway against the golden strip of sand and red cliffs opposite.
Tonight a bright, new moon rode high with Venus, huge in counterpoint, set together into a sky of shadowed blue taffeta.
Labels: Environment
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
#8
The Darwin lifestyle was epitomised by the unique transport methods glimpsed outside the primary school at 'going home time' today. One mother rode a tandem made up of a child's bike welded behind adult one - only mum was pedalling, but they both looked happy.
A second mother had a standard toddler seat on the rear of her bike, which was towing a small ,enclosed trailer containing the two other children .
The photographic observation is of a very small and skinny kitten, taken in a Balinese village.
Labels: One line wonders
Sunday, April 15, 2007
#7
She had just finished reading a trashy novel in which the thoughts and emotions of one of the most dislikeable characters bore a disquietingly close resemblance to her own.
Labels: One line wonders
Thursday, April 12, 2007
#6
Living alone meant there was no-one else to blame when the empty toilet roll hadn't been replaced
Labels: One line wonders
Sanur Beach
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#5ish (lost track already)
That half-sleep waking where you drag leaden limbs upright only to stumble into the door frame on the way to the loo
Labels: One line wonders
