Turn up the a/c

Our first heat wave of the summer is upon us, in the dying days of summer 2008. I know it's 'only' around 34 today, but yesterday was another hot day in the low 30's, so was Thursday, and tomorrow is supposed to be around 28 - cooler - here on the coast. I relented. Just now at 11:45am I turned on the air conditioner in our apartment and am enjoying dry, cool air. We've only used it once before for cooling. The reason I turned on the a/c was that I popped next door into the gallery apartment where Rene is working and he had his a/c on and it was SO very pleasant, so I immediately came back and switched ours on too. The great news is that the builder has had dry weather to pour the concrete for the foundations of our new home back in Brisbane. It was boxed up on Wednesday (I photographed it) and it was poured yesterday - we know because late yesterday an invoice email came through requesting another 10% payment. (Edit: it finally reached 39C here and 40C in Brisbane).


The Queen Victoria berthed in Sydney at 7am today. I'm still hoping to catch her sailing past here on Tuesday morning but my friend who works on the coast guard here (our former registrar at my old Toowoomba school) said that it would come past Warana Beach around 4am to pick up the pilot from Point Cartwright (Mooloolaba) and she reckons it wouldn't be worth getting up to see a load of lights out to sea - it's not light until 5am. Maybe I'll have an early brekky and drive to Caloundra and see it from there at first light? Don't know (and don't ask why bother, Rene has already done that and he didn't get a sensible answer - I just want to see it.)


I'm the proud owner of a new fridge. It's all stainless steel, shiny and new. I said 'I' because Rene thought the change from a perfectly good white 'right door hinged' fridge to a left hinged fridge was unnecessary (hence I paid for it myself). Anyway, it will fit perfectly into the new kitchen design in the new house. Yesterday the new one arrived and the old one left for the new home of American friends in Holland Park, Brisbane. They are using it as a second fridge. I'm very happy with the change over, and our new house will be the better for it both ergonomically and aesthetically (does that sound like enough justification??). Anyway, it's keeping the beer cold next door because it's still too big to fit in the main apartment.

Driving three days a week to Brisbane is more than tolerable - I no longer get annoyed by the inevitable and unexpected hold ups in traffic. My days at both schools are getting some sort of organisation about them, and my latest project is developing a garden with my African parents and planting vegetables as well as getting a nutritionist from Queensland Health to talk to them about healthy eating. The African mums are trying very hard to do the right thing, but sometimes they copy us in ways that aren't so helpful - eg lots of processed, prepackaged foods that their children's bodies are just not up to accommodating. A little, yes, it's OK, but too much and the children have the potential to develop diabetes and other illnesses because their diet isn't rounded enough. They desire their kids to have what Aussie kids have, so they buy these prepackaged foods, but we as a society already have issues with childhood obesity and we certainly don't want our refugee children developing such conditions. Anyway, we'll get our African parents involved along with our other parents, and of course the children. It should be wonderful.

Yesterday Rene and I spent two hours in the pool. I used sunscreen, but tried to keep in the shadows (not many early on, but towards the end it was covered in shade). Around 4pm I'll head out again, but not until there's a little shade. I've never been one for baking in the sun, and with our record for being the world's worst area for skin cancer from too much exposure to sun, I'm working on enjoying the great outdoors without harming my body (plus I don't look so blindingly white when there's shade around haha).

Finally, we are going out to dinner tomorrow night with friends from Brisbane (ex Toowoomba) who have an apartment here plus another couple (ex Toowoomba, building in Brisbane, banished to their coast apartment here until the remodelling is finished). Looking forward to some seriously good conversation, some great food, a little drink (I'll yet again be the designated driver) and a swapping of yarns. And guess what? No work Monday - again. Ah yes, life's good. Until next time, have a great week.

I don't do Mondays either!

I now only work three days a week in Brisbane, at least until the house is built in Brisbane. With my Monday so far I've gone shopping (we have dinner guests tonight), played a game of tennis with the Melbourne-based daughter of one of the apartment dwellers here, put a load of washing on, and generally relaxed. This afternoon before dinner I'll go for a swim with Rene, in readiness for an evening of chatting, drinking and eating. What a life!

In my emails today I received this little story about English, and how confusing it must be to learn. I've read many of these, but it's not a bad idea to reflect on occasions regarding the sheer hard work that's required to finally master colloquial English, complete with all its nuances.

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men,
Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?
If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those,
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

Let's face it - English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;
Neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England.
We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes,
We find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square,
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing,
Grocers don't groce and ha mmers don't ham?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend.
If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them,
What do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English
Should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.

In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
We ship by truck but send cargo by ship.
We have noses that run and feet that smell.
We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.
And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,
While a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language
In which your house can burn up as it burns down,
In which you fill in a form by filling it out,
And in which an alarm goes off by going on.

And, in closing, if Father is Pop, how come Mother's not Mop?

Last night with visiting friends we ventured yet again to our favourite Thai place in Mooloolaba. It was yet again delicious and inexpensive. The only coffee place left open after 9pm was Starbucks, so it received our custom. Three other coffee places immediately around us were already closed. The Coast really changes character after the peak holiday season is over. Daytimes are still busy, but after 5pm on a Sunday most day trippers or weekenders are heading back home, then we get the whole place to ourselves - it's rather nice.

Yesterday I ventured to the beach (actually, I had to buy wine) and when I surveyed the beach from the top of a dune it didn't look very inviting at all. Strong on shore winds encouraged large waves, the little bit of beach was strewn with what looked like millions of bits of kelp - all in all good reason for going back earlier than I had planned and buying the wine to take home for our visitors. Still, the pool here is a wonderful temperature, very inviting and pleasant.

Rene got a call from the builder after lunch. They'll get back to the foundations this week. He has a team of carpenters waiting to get on with the frame. I sincerely hope it stays fine enough to get this work really underway.

Finally, the maiden voyage of The Queen Victoria, Cunard's latest cruise ship, brings her here next Tuesday (26th). I'm going to get up extra early to see if I can see her sailing towards Brisbane. They pick up a pilot just off shore from us here. At 90 000 tonnes she'll be an impressive sight I'm sure. The ships come in quite close to the coastline here on the Sunshine Coast. Ships, cars, aeroplanes - I love 'em all. For details about the QV check out this site http://www.beyondships.com/QV.html

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!

Who'd have thought! I actually want the rain to go away. Here at the Sunshine Coast we've had loads of it - not as heavy as in the central and northern parts of the state - but still, days and days of it. Summer rain isn't constant here, it comes in dribs and drabs. I've driven the highway to Brisbane and back again in torrential rain one minute, then showers, nothing, then heavy rain again. Almost every day recently. I'm pleased to say the Brisbane dams are now over 35% full, but the drought isn't quite over yet. Toowoomba, my old home town, still hasn't had it's water supply significantly improved, yet it is green and lush to look at. There's a lot more to come, the monsoonal activity to the north is still very active and there's a month or more left still to go.

Now, another reason for holding off is the fact that the builder hasn't had enough dry weather to get the foundations finsihed on the house. We have some materials, some plumbing in place, but that's all. The picture was taken yesterday, hopefully they've got more done today.

Getting my 8 cents a day's worth

Years ago the Australian Broadcasting Commission ran a campaign mentioning that the cost to the Australian taxpayer of having the ABC was just 8c a day. For that we got free TV, domestic radio networks, Radio Australia, state orchestras and a host of other benefits. Rene and I get our 8c a day's worth, and more. This incredibly diverse organisation runs free to air TV (3 stations nationally), many radio networks, develops many original concepts that are later bought by commercial rivals, and above all does an excellent job of providing coverage for all Australians via regular airwaves and the internet. Last week their two major TV networks changed their names (like many overseas countries have done) to ABC1 and ABC2, as well as resurrecting ABC kids, in preparation for a raft of new digital networks currently in the planning stage. I'm a huge fan of 'Auntie'. Long may she live!

SORRY!

Yesterday in the national parliament in Canberra the newly elected Prime Minister of Australia said 'sorry' on behalf of the Federal Government for the deliberate removal of indigenous children from their families - a practice that began early in the 20th century and continued just into the 1970's. This apology was the one that the previous conservative prime minister would not give, even though many of his cabinet and back benchers agreed it was long overdue. Many members of this so called "Stolen Generation" needed this statement in order to start forgiving and moving on, a symbolic gesture that acknowledged the incredible pain and suffering wrought upon quite innocent people.

As a New Australian, I found it difficult to grasp the difficulty in this simple statement of what was obvious to myself and countless other Australians. Our Queensland State Parliament issued it's apology around a decade ago, along with other parliaments across the continent. John Howard stubbornly held out against such a move from Canberra. Along with the 'Children Overboard' scandal (a chapter in our recent history that haunted me during 18 months in Europe - it sullied our nation's fantastic record with immigration), this man resolutely on occasions reminded me of Joh Bjelke Petersen - a bastard of the highest order.

Yesterday I was most fortunate in being at my one school with a significant indigenous population. The speech was at 8am, therefore we watched a recording of the speech later in the morning. Whilst the prime minister spoke, the indigenous teacher aides wept quietly - the other staff members holding their hands and being silent and contemplative. The children (aged 41/2 through to 12) sat quietly, not fidgetting, for quite some time. I'm sure the true understanding of this historic moment wasn't completely comprehended by most, but there was a concentration from them that was impressive to behold.

Later that day, the afternoon began in the school's Reconciliation Garden, established four years ago after the passing of one of the community's elders. Aunty Maude, one of the school officers, reluctantly addressed the gathered staff and students. Even though she wept a bit, faltered occasionally and was a bit self conscious at first, she gathered herself and spoke of her family's members taken from their mothers. She spoke of her grandfather who, she said, died of a broken heart because he couldn't go back to his land (Kuranda, near Cairns) and was forced to stay at the mission he was taken to as a young boy, over 1500km to the south.


Another indigenous aide said to me afterwards that she was surprised about the thoughts and feelings the day had brought to her. She had been sort of ambivolent about the whole thing, but it had actually been quite powerful for her. I think a lot of people felt like she did yesterday. Yes, there will be the detractors who say the words alone won't solve the many difficult problems facing indigenous Australians, but many more will find it part of the reconciliation process we just had to have.

It is a start, be it only 'words', but a start towards healing and ultimately forgiving. What we can't do is ever forget. The words are below, an extract from the Prime Minister's speech. To those who didn't watch it on television, the ABC website has video to download (http://www.abc.net.au/).

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australian.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have changed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country."

The picture at the top is of some of the invited Stolen Generation guests arriving at Parliament House Canberra for the historic occasion.

Finally, another update

Who'd have thought it? February 3rd already! - where did January go? It must be all the good clean living I'm doing, because I can't think of another reason - unless just packing in an awful lot in a short time might be the answer.

The gallery opening last Saturday for Australia Day was a success. Rene even sold some paintings, including two to a couple visiting from Berne, Switzerland. It was a lot of fun, we saw lots of new folk as well as old friends..all in all a great day. To top it off our very lovely friends Di and Torquil (from Brisbane) stayed over and made it a really terrific Australia Day.

The new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, (a Queenslander born here on the Sunshine Coast) has scheduled a statement of 'sorry' for the forced removal of Aboriginal children years ago as the first act of business when the new parliamnet sits within a fortnight in Canberra. The majority of Australians support this action and it endorses statements in other Australian parliaments carried in past years (Queensland's parliament did theirs back in 1997). The stubborn and out of touch conservative PM of old refused to say this, even though many of his party supported the move. It's now to happen as the centrepiece of Rudd's new government. The federal government is even bussing and flying in many indigenous Australians, affected by these past actions, to Canberra just for this historic session of parliament. The recent Australia Days have been known amongst indigenous Australians as 'National Sorry Day'. With the promise of this statement of 'sorry' imminent, I think the recent day (January 26) passed with little acrymony for the first time in years.

School is good, the driving to and from Brisbane is not. Wednesday it took me 1h45m to get to school, the next day 1h40m (a different school). The wet weather did not help, but still, driving home is 1h5m, quite a difference. I'll have to get over it, it's not forever. June is the scheduled completion date for the house.....

...speaking of which, last week the block was levelled (didn't need much) and also pegged out. Because of the very wet weather recently the foundation hasn't gone down yet, but hopefully this week will be it. Last Friday we met with the cabinet maker in Brisbane and came away very satisfied with the look we've planned. He'll get the 3D plans to us this coming week and we can check that it looks right (ensuring doors open without hitting others, that sort of thing). Much to Rene's chagrin I'm getting a new fridge since where it'll go needs a door swinging from the opposite side to the fridge we have (a perfectly good white upside down fridge with all bells and whistles) but we'll get an upside down stainless steel finished unit with a door hinged on the left. This fridge is manufactured in Brisbane by a NZ company and is used by several of my friends - they all love theirs. It'll match the double drawer dishwasher we're getting made by the same company. It'll all look very smart.

The weather forecast is for more rain - we've already had loads. Last week 72% of Queensland (a state 2.5 times larger than Texas) was affected by floods. There is more (much more) to come. Unfortunately we here in the South East haven't had as much as the rest of the state, but it has improved. Our combined water storage is up from 18% to nearly 28%, ensuring that we don't run completely out of water - not being overly dramatic but it was very possible a few short weeks ago - had this traditional rainy season not arrived. It has been something like 7 years without this pattern, so we were well and truly overdue.

A multi million $ dragline in a Central Queensland went under when 'once in a hundred years' flood levees were broken. Three others were safe, but this one will take months to get back into production. The mining company is having to import pumps etc to drain the mine of countless millions of megalitres of water along 1km deep, 3km long tunnels. Oh well, at least the flooding brings back hope to the many who live and produce in the far flung corners of this vast state.

We're off in a few minutes to witness the first auction of an apartment here at Caribbean. We might (just 'might') sell ours when we're ready to move in June. We'll see what the market is like. The pictures are from the auction site on the net.

Finally (for now) an American friend of mine living here now in Brisbane replied to an email I sent out with questions about past lives. One job Polly had before being on staff at the University of Queensland was that of 'riding drag'. I had visions of a Mae West look-a-like with spurs, but it's more interesting than that. With her permission, I post her reply to my puzzled email enquiring about 'riding drag'. Bye for now, have a brilliant week.

Riding drag is thought to be the lowest of the low, the person who rides behind the herd, eating dust all the way, picking up the calves that get too tired, and slinging them over the saddle with you. But I learned a lot riding drag....for instance, never judge a man/woman by the position they hold at that moment...Although I rode at the back (girl, youngest etc) I had the best cutting horse in three counties, and they would call me out front whenever they had a problem to turn a cow out of the neighbors herd, or deal with a heifer on the fight. Plus, while eating all that dust I learned the skills of tracking, watching, following the whole system, cows and cowboys alike, all of which are the skills I use in facilitating groups (which I have a good reputation for in many settings)...someday I plan to write a professional journal article entitled: Riding Drag, What I learned about facilitation at the back of the herd.

Now, admit it, I know some pretty darn interesting people. And that includes you too - ciao!