Wednesday, August 31, 2011

August is Something Different

This month was a big one for changes and tragedy.  Early in the month, we had a few goodbyes in my life; major ones.  The first was of Video Hits.  It was a music show that had been going since 1985 and on the first weekend of this month, I had it on the television and had to say goodbye to it; how sad that after 24 years, they couldn't wait another year to make it a quarter of a century?  Well, their loss - and ours - that such a great music show is now gone.
The next day, I was off to my parent's house and saying goodbye to my dear Little Vroom; better known as my Celica.  Nobody knew I called it that until that day and Mum thought it was cute little name to call my car and wondered why I never told anyone.  I told her that I thought that nobody would take me seriously if I let them in on the name I gave it.  She smiled and said the car was a little vroom; as it wasn't very loud when the engine was going.
I then did a hilarious post about funny things you may find in the credits of some television shows.  I had been watching 'Hercules' on the free-to-air cable here in Brisbane and at the end of its credits are some really funny things they protect; like fluffy stuffed elephants and 'almost-on-fire-evil-dudes'; really funny stuff if you look at the show and how corny and lame it really is. 
I did a few good posts about the roots of Anarchy and where it may be coming from in the name of the London Riots that happened recently; that came right on the heels of a post about good manners and how it seems to be the in thing to be horrible to other people.
Then we had the worst house fire in Australian history; where it 11 people perished in it at Slacks Creek.  It was a complete shock to wake to it and a bigger shock to find out that one of my neighbours - and friends - worked with one of the men who had lost his entire family in that night.  The Samoan and Tongan Communities are banding together for him and his brother right now and the Salvation Army has opened a fund for them to try to begin again.  However, nothing can bring back the family they have lost.  May they all Rest In Peace.
Then, on the 27th, of this month, I found out a few things about myself.  For one thing, I can get a lot done in one day and still go out to one of my brother's gigs that night and have a good time (even though I'm itching like you wouldn't believe!).  And secondly, I found out why I was itching like crazy.  I'm allergic to Garnier Fructis products!  I broke out in a horrible rash and had to high-tail to the doctors where she gave me some steroids (2 pills once in the morning for 3 days) to stop the rash from irritating me more; and to help me get to sleep at night too.
Over the last few days, we've had some lovely weather of sunny days and weirdly warmish nights.  However, last night, we had a storm pass over Brisbane where it hit the Brisbane Airport the worst and the southern suburbs didn't get much.  Out here in Logan City, we got some thunder and lightning and rain, but not much else.  I was prepared with a torch and my candles, but otherwise, the lights didn't go out like I expected.  Well, that's what's been happening this month; lot's a big things, tragic things and amazing things as well.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Favourite Photos Time - August!

Wow! A month certainly races by so quickly, don't you think?  For me, it's been a strange old month; and I've got the photos to prove it.  And here are some from the vaults that didn't make it onto Facebook or 365 Project.

The engine of my old Celica. Now, that's when engines were engines!

Love this shot of the moon above the complex.  The colours are just magic.

The moon just clearing the trees over the road.

A recent photo of Brisbane City with the lights reflecting off the clouds.

Love this tip jar at The Music Kafe on Boundary Street, West End!

I Love Beer! 

The King of his own car park...

For Legacy.  Lest We Forget all of those soldiers fighting for our country.
I hope you have enjoyed the photos I have found to be my favourites this month.  There may be only a few of them, but I still love them just the same. 

Monday, August 29, 2011

Another Beautiful Day

We had another beautiful day here in Brisbane; and I savoured it by going out to Garden City to do a few errands.  I caught the earlier bus than I normally would and was off to the bank to deposit the money I got for the sale of my Celica into my holiday account.  On the way there, I perused the shelves of QBD and found two books I was interested in, but didn't wish to spend the money and asked them to hold the books for an hour or so until I went to the bank and got the money out for the day.  
Once I went to the bank to get my money out, I then went to another bank to deposit the holiday money and I had the day to myself to buy some paint, and look at another book store for 'Red Dog' (which was one of the books that I had seen in QBD for $20; but I wanted to see if somebody had parted with it at the Book Cafe upstairs).  Unfortunately, the book wasn't there, but I did find 'Journey From Venice' by Ruth Cracknell for $12 and it's a first edition; in hard cover!  Nice and well worth the money.  I went back to QBD and looked over the two books I had chosen and decided to leave 'Red Dog' and take 'One Last Dance: Patrick Swayze' for $6.99.  I picked up my medication, looked through 'Dotti' (where nobody served me; but they did serve a heavily pregnant 20-something year old woman... strange but true...) and then I walked toward the bus station.  On my way, I spotted an army officer in uniform standing in the crowd At Ease with Legacy badges and items for sale in a cardboard tray around his neck.  Immediately, I walked up and looked through some of the things that he had on offer and found I could only afford the key ring; which looks pretty good too!  And on my way to have some coffee, I attached my house key to it; now it's in my pocket as a permanent key ring to use all the time.
I had a coffee at Gloria Jeans and it was lovely until a lady sat down with her Autistic child.  Something about the place set her child off screaming; it was the coffee machine - when they used it - and the poor kid slammed their hands on the table and screamed at the top of their lungs.  Meanwhile their mother was grabbing their hands saying: "No, stop doing that.  Now, be good." And I don't think she realised it was the coffee machine that bothered their child in the first place.  Instead of asking them, she just kept on telling them to be quiet.  I felt so sorry for the kid; and wanted to take them out of the place to somewhere quiet, as loud, unusual noises can really set them off.
Anyway, I headed off to the bus stop and waited for about 20 minutes and I was home before long.  There wasn't much in the mail and I was happy with my purchases for the morning as I had arrived home just after midday to Little Miss Stevie happily singing to the day in the sun; so I pulled the curtain a little for her to have a bit of shade and opened up the whole house and a nice breeze came through before jumping online to see what I had missed out on this morning.
This afternoon, while I was watching some 80's television, I got a phonecall from Mum and Dad and they asked me to meet them down the front of the complex.  So, I did; and what did Mum have for me from her trip to the coast on the weekend?  She had bought me a copy of 'Red Dog'!  I just had to tell her that I had contemplated buying it today and didn't; opting instead for the cheaper book of Patrick Swayze's.  She laughed saying it was just pure luck I did that.  Well, it's getting on a bit now, and I have some washing up to do.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Allergies

It's that time of the year here in Australia when common allergies arise.  Be it from animals or flowers and trees, we can all be affected them.  I sneeze out of control and need antihistamines and they do help.  However, more recently, I've had to use them for another reason; and this is not to do with a runny nose caused by pollen.
I'm allergic to Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner; and when I wrote it in my Facebook status, I found out that I wasn't the only one out there who found this product faulty.  I bought a bottle of the fortifying shampoo and conditioner last fortnight and used them within a few days.  By the third wash I found I had what I thought were bites all over my neck, chest and arms; and I was scratching them  hard.   By last Friday night, I found I had to use Lavender Oil and my Nivea Night Cream to settle the itching; as I couldn't sleep.  
Then, on Saturday, I washed my hair a fourth time in the stuff and I found my allergy became worse!  I stopped under the water after washing out the conditioner and realised that this is what I was breaking out from.  I grabbed my Pantene and re-washed my hair thoroughly - and conditioned it in my Pantene conditioner - and the itching stopped immediately.  I had even changed over my towels (in case something had gotten into them and nested while they were on the line.  With this strange wet Winter we've been having, it's known to happen) and it turns out it wasn't my towels, it was what I washing my hair with.  So, I'll be returning the bottles of Garnier Fructis and crossing them off my shopping list, then going back to the most basic of shampoos and conditioners I can find.  Something that I won't be allergic to, something that dates back to when I was a kid and I washed my hair with... if it's still around.  Because if I can find it and it worked for me then, well, I'm sure it'll probably still work for me now.  
As for today's hairwashing?  I'll be using baby shampoo to keep my scalp from being scratched away by me and to sooth my skin from the rash.  It's a nice and gentle shampoo that will be good to use until I go shopping next.  So, when you do go shopping, and wish to try out a new shampoo you've never tried out, just be careful of it as it may not be all it says in the advertising.  Fructis not only isn't what it says in the advertising, but it also made my skin break out in a rash.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Busy Saturday

Today, it was a busy one; and a wet one to boot, which made what I had to do a lot easier than it would otherwise if it was if the sun was out.  I tidied up the house.  The wiping up was put away as I made breakfast and served it up, then, the laundry basket was taken upstairs and the kitchen table was cleared of all things it didn't need and the lounge was also found again after the yarn, clothes and other crap was put away or tossed out.  I organised my knitting and patterns and knitting books into their own area; it looks pretty good too!  Then, I put on some vinyls and kicked back and did some singing (didn't sound too bad - a little flat - but had fun seeing the house was closed up!).  
Once the last Jethro Tull vinyl was finished up, I realised the Hawthorne vs Western Bulldogs game was on channel 10!  So, I switched it on and my team (Hawks) was ahead... great!  I needed to be upstairs, so I turned it off and left the room and grabbed everything off the clothes horse, folded it up and put it away and went up to my room and put the clothes in the clean basket to await folding - which didn't get done today.  I jumped online for a second time for a little while and thought to have a shower and wash my hair and begin to get ready to go out tonight.
Well, once the computer was off, and I washed my hair with the Fructis shampoo and conditioner, I found the itching I had been experiencing for the last week became worse!  So, I looked around and quickly grabbed the expensive Pantene shampoo in the rack, poured some out and washed my hair.  the moment I washed it out, the itching stopped! I couldn't believe it!  I am allergic to Fructis!  So, I grabbed the Pantene conditioner and used that; and once out of the shower and dried off and dressed, I felt little to no itching.  I survived the evening without scratching too much; well not as much as I was today, where I looked like I had head lice!  Now, it just feels like I have peeling sunburn and I have to ignore it; at least it's not driving me completely nuts anymore.
Tonight, Mum, Dad and I went out to see Gabe and Darren play as 'The Gypsy Wagon' duo at The Music Kafe in West End.  It was an early gig - starting at 5pm and finishing at 7pm; where we showed, Riley was there, and some other friends also showed up.  Then, there was this guy who was sitting at another table who turned to me and said he saw my brother play at The River of Hope Festival at Greenslopes Bowls Club earlier this year; and he said that I stuck around for the Mr Percival Show... I said I did and that the River of Hope Festival was brilliant; even though it was dreadfully hot that day.  He agreed.  
After the gig, Kat, Gabe, Riley and the rest of the family took off to The Punjab Palace to have dinner.  It was a lovely little get together for us.  We chatted and at delicious food and had fun too.  Mum and I had our cameras with us and took photos of all kinds of weird things around West End... you know, this place has some interesting stuff when you really look around on a Saturday night.
We walked back towards the Music Kafe and passed by The Boundary Hotel when we heard some great Rock-a-Billy music coming from inside and stopped to listen.  We looked in through the window and found a duo playing away there; with the audience really getting into it; enjoying the moment, the beat and the raw sound of the double base.  It was brilliant!  I loved it.
Then, Riley turned to me and said: "You're the height of a year 7, you know that?" I smiled and said, "Yeah, and I got stuck there." we both laughed and kept listening to the music as the song ended.  Too soon, it was time to go our separate ways and head off home.  And you know, it wasn't all that late either.  It had only gone 9pm and we were pulling away from the curb off Boundary Street and into the wet streets of West End of Brisbane City.
Now, I'm home, I'm drinking the last of my lukewarm Milo, it's almost 11pm and I'm hoping to head off to bed soon to read a little before turning out the light.  Tomorrow being Sunday, it's going to be another busy day here.  I've got plans to make for the coming week; including my day out on Monday to Garden City.  But that will have to wait until another time.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Weird Friday

It's been a week of tragedies; of rain and cold and of heartbreak.  I have been feeling rather down about it all as well. So, that why this week, I haven't posted much here.  
At the beginning of the week, it poured rain for about two days and was freezing cold.  My house was closed up and I sat on the computer and surfed the net, wrote a bit, edited a bit and began 'Other Colours' by Orhan Pamuk.  I also tried to knit with the new Marshmallow yarn that Mum bought me last weekend; unsuccessfully.  
However, it wasn't until Wednesday when something really went wrong around Logan City.  A rented house in Slacks Creek burnt to the ground housing two families, taking three generations with it.  Only two people survived and they were the husbands who are brothers.  The whole Samoan and Tongan Communities have bonded together to help these two lost men in their time of need.  The Salvation Army has opened a fund to raise money they need to pull their lives back together again.  However, they have both lost the most important people in their lives:  their wives, children, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother.  And these are people who survived the Bali Bombings.  My heart goes out to them both in their greatest time of need.
To get my mind off this tragedy, Mum and Dad took me out to the Victoria Point Cineplex to see 'Red Dog' on the big screen.  These cinemas are owned by the Hawthorne Theatre people and so their screens are massive, the seating is gorgeously comfortable and the screen is set up on a proper stage with a huge, long red curtain with golden tassels all along the edges of it and along the awnings of it.  The stage has wings and is well-built for people to stand on to make speeches for premiers of movies.  What a place!  And the film was hilariously funny and - if you've ever own a dog - you would relate well to it!  This dog was brilliant and had the right face and look for the film.  Now, I want to read the book and own it on dvd when it comes out.
Yesterday, I did a load of washing, hung it out and caught a bus to the Logan Art Gallery to work my shift there until 1:30pm with Jane Poole.  We chatted as we read our books, I knitted a bit and we sold something from the store.  Catriona Russell came in and she and I caught up after greeting each other; she's looking really well.  Then, it was time for us to go after the next two ladies arrived; however we did chat about books and what we're reading now and what we were reading in school.  Also why we liked the books in school or not.  I caught a cab home and found my laundry was dry and so pulled it in, washed up and jumped online to check my mail and see what's going on.  
Thursday nights don't have that much going on in the way of television.  From around 7:30pm onwards, it's pretty boring.  So, most of the time I turn it off or put on a dvd to watch or watch repeats of 'Big Bang Theory'.  Otherwise, I cleaned up a little from dinner and made sure the place was locked up before jumping back online for a quick look around before bed where I read a few pages of my current read before turning out the light.
Today, I did my hand-washing and hung it outside.  However, the weather looks weird; so at around 11am, I pulled it all in and found that most of it was dry.  So, I hung what wasn't on the clothes horse inside and draped the jeans over the backs of the dining room chairs and made sure Little Miss Stevie was nice and warm as the cool breezes started up again.  
So, there you have it, my week.  It's not too exciting, but then, when I haven't been out shopping, or been out anywhere really, my weeks can be a little boring.  I'm hoping to have a more exciting weekend coming up; and next week too.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and save and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

A Tragic Night in Logan City

We had a horrible night here in Logan late last night.  At around midnight, a house burnt down near Mayes Street, Slacks Creek taking with it eleven people; this was two families of Samoans.
The news was a complete shock to me as I talked to one of my neighbours; and found out that her daughter (who is my age) works with one of the men whose entire family was lost in the blaze.  The youngest child was only 3 years old and the eldest was 15.  He also lost his Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother last night in the two-storey house his brother rented.  They were all staying in the house because there was a big event at one of the schools they all wanted to attend; and had decided to go from the one place today, thinking it was easier to leave from the one destination instead of meeting up separately.
However, there were leaking gas cylinders and no smoke alarms installed; and there were two cars parked around the house (one out the front and one in back) which also burned in the fire.  These people didn't have a chance when the place exploded (from what the reports on the news channel here have said) and the fire crews and police had to hold back the two men who were the only survivors of the house fire, who wanted to go in and save their family... and they were the only ones who came first in their lives.  This is a family who survived the Bali Bombings and migrated here to Australia to live.  
The whole Samoan and Tongan Community here in Logan City have come together in support of these two men.  I have changed my profile pic on Facebook to the Samoan Flag in support of them and I hope you all say a prayer for them tonight; and for the next couple of weeks; it's not going to be easy.
My neighbour's daughter - Lisa - has been at a loss today as to what to say or do.  She knows the man who lost everyone in his family so well.  She told me today that he has photos of all of them at work everywhere around the office; and he talked about them all the time.  However, today, she really didn't know what to do with herself; and neither did I.  So, tonight, I'm going to say a prayer for the ones who have been lost in this tragedy and keep him in my thoughts; I hope you do as well.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm, and remember, I'm always here.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Busy, Long-Feeling Weekend

This weekend has felt longer than it really was.  I mean, was it really only two days long?  Well, it didn't feel like it; not to me.  Saturday seemed to go on forever as I was called in to the Gallery for the morning shift with Geoff; and that was one busy shift with people coming in and the staff readying the place for the RADF meet (this is a grant given out by the Logan Council; not for writers so I don't apply).  The phone rang all the day and we could barely get a word in to talk to each other. I did a little bit of knitting my green scarf, but didn't read anything of 'Other Colour' by Orhan Pamuk; pity, he's a great Turkish writer.
That afternoon, I got home, jumped online and stuffed around until Mum phoned me and invited me out to Spotlight at Logan.  This place is great if you want to decorate a new home, or redecorate an old one.  It's got cushions, drapes, lounge covers (of all sizes), kitchen stuff (and that's everything), fabric to make anything you have in mind.  Then, there's the hobbies section of tapestry, knitting, crochet and painting... it's a huge and amazing place where if I had a credit card, I'd run myself into debt so badly, I'd never get out of it.  But Mum just kept adding balls of yarn to the trolley and we were going all gaga over how nice they were and the price of them.
We paid at the checkout and took the lift downstairs to where there's a Gloria Jean outlet and I bought us both coffee and mocha.  It was lovely to sit down and relax for a little while.  While there, Mum made a donation and got a postcard to give to the Mater Children's Hospital and wrote on it with her pen before giving it back.
As we drove out onto the Service Road, it was becoming cool outside and the sun was turning the western skies golden and the clouds burnt pinks and oranges.  Mum and I got talking about what we were having for dinner and chocolate on our way back to my place.  It was good, light conversation.  We unpacked the car, called Dad and said our goodbyes after closing up the house and making sure my little bird was comfortable.
Today, I woke around 7:30am, dressed quickly in the cold and went out to buy the paper and milk (as I was getting low on it).  When I got to the front door, the key wouldn't work.  So, I took the initialised key cover off it and opened the door.  It was still being difficult, but then, suddenly, I couldn't find that damned thing!  I looked everywhere!  I retraced my steps and it wasn't anywhere at all.  So, I found my spare keys upstairs and found two spares for the front door and made a new key from it; attaching the keyring I normally have for it (minus the cover with my initial on it; as this is how the key became difficult in the first place).  Then, once I had the key in my pocket, pulled the newspaper out of the bag and put it one the table and grabbed the milk, what did I find in the bottom of the bag?  My house key I had dropped at the front door!  I had spent 20 minutes looking for the darn thing and it was in front of me the whole time!  I felt really stupid when I came across it... and don't you when that happens?
I ate breakfast and let Little Miss Stevie out of her cage to hang around the newspaper with me and she ran around and pooped on the table and licked it too... yuk... then eventually, flew off to her cage after I took some photos of her.  However, the rain settled in with the cold and wind causing me to keep the house closed up tight for a good part of the day.
By around 1pm, I went out and bought myself a Chicko Roll and ate it at home and then washed up everything in the kitchen and cleaned the stove inside and out while listening to a couple of vinyls.  At 2pm, I read 'Other Colours' by Orhan Pamuk and found that the spine of it had come apart due to cheap glue used by the publishers.  So, after I finished reading at 3pm, I grabbed the craft glue and caked it on then strapped it together to hold the whole book in place for the next three days or so.  I have lost count of how many books I've done this to; but they've been old books, whereas this one is new.
As the afternoon turned dark and the rains returned, I turned on the television and listened to 'Roseanne' while I painted up a new canvas green for new work.  Then, I watched the movie 'La Bamba' and skipped between channels as I knitted for the next few hours - until around 9pm when I turned off the television completely at the wall and deadlocked the whole house up; but left the lights on for a while.
I'm almost ready for bed now.  It's getting late.  My bed has been made up and ready for the last hour and half... and I'm getting really tired; and one of the last few things I have to do is clean my teeth and put on my Nivea Night Cream before turning out the light.  Tomorrow is going to be another cold, wet day... another day where I can't do my laundry - bummer!  I can't wait until it fines up again.  I have new sheets to wash for my bed this Summer and all my other clothes to clean too - including handwashing - to get done and put away.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Volunteering Time

Today, I was called into the Logan Art Gallery on a last minute phone call from one of the staff members.  It was early, I had put on my second load of laundry, was making breakfast and the phone rang when I was asked to do the favour.  Of course, I said yes.  
Being a volunteer, to me, means that I can put off the last load of laundry until tomorrow.  The washing up I did last night was well-thought out and will still be here for me to put away when I return from my shift.  It means I'll give my little bird a cuddle before I leave and then, when I get home turn on the radio and let her talk to the music as it plays.  
However, I have found that there's a lot of people out there who don't want to be volunteers.  Their usual retort is:  "What do I get out of it?  How much do I get paid, I mean?" Well, nothing.  At the Gallery, each Christmas, you get taken away for the day to the coast, or inland to lunch by bus where you can have fun and enjoy yourself.  It's a great day out for everyone - usually on a Sunday - and you receive a present as a thank you for the year.  It's a way of also getting to know all your other volunteers you don't see during the year.
I love taking my Mum with me.  We've been to Caloundra, Redland Bay, Tweed Heads, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Beenleigh Historical Village, GoMA (we were the first organised group to go there when it opened).  And the lunches weren't anything to be sneezed at either... just wonderful food that's served up.  I always take my camera to record my time I have had with my friends of the Gallery.  It's a lot of fun.  We return to the Logan Art Gallery in the late afternoon still full from lunch, with our gifts in hand, anything we've bought during the day and tired and sleepy from the day out.  
Chris Trotter's work at the Gold Coast Art Gallery. Nov 2010
Part of the Sculpture Walk at the Gold Coast Art Gallery. Nov 2010
Part of the Sculpture Walk - made of flip-flops! Nov 2010
Buffet Lunch at Jupiter's Casino - all we could eat! :D
Receiving my Christmas gift!
 Otherwise, during the year, when you're a volunteer, you get to meet a lot of people who appreciate what you do in your spare time.  Being a volunteer gives you life experiences you'd never achieve in a workplace.  You learn how to talk to all different types of people from artists, school teachers, children, parents and the elderly.  And even if you only volunteer for a few years, it will go a long way on your job applications.
I have been a volunteer for the Logan Art Gallery for 12 years this year; and I have loved it.  I have seen this gallery change from a place of mediocre art pieces to some brilliant works by famous artists; as well as meeting some great collectors and having the honour of meeting some of the biggest art suppliers in the world.  It has been a great experience all up; and I have great memories of memorable openings (however, I don't attend them as much anymore; unless something really catches my eye.  I'm not a big crowd person as they make me feel very claustrophobic).
So, why not volunteer?  It may well, change your way of looking at life.  It doesn't matter where you volunteer your time - be it Life Line, Red Cross, Salvation Army, RSPCA or any other great volunteer organisation - it will be the best thing you'll ever do in your life.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and warm and remember, I'm always here. 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Show Day Holiday Crowds

Today, I looked outside and it looked like it was going to be a lovely, warm Spring Day here in Brisbane.  So, I dressed in a t-shirt and jeans; nothing too warm in case it did get hot.  The sun was lovely as I walked to the bus stop; and the clouds looked a little dark but none of us there thought it was going to amount to much.  Well, not until I hopped off at Triple C Shopping Centre at Logan Central and I got a good look at those gathering rain clouds!
I walked quickly to Life Line and found my next major handbag and a couple of wallets, then it was off to the fabric shop to buy some cheap stuff to make a table cloth for Stevie's cover this Summer.  I bought 2 metres of checked material that was nice and light which I'll be cutting down the middle and then making into a nice table cloth with so I can cover her over... yep, something else she can chew through! 
By the time I walked out of Woolworths, the clouds were looking very menacing and low, and I had a fifteen minute walk to K-Mart Plaza ahead of me.  So, I took off as soon as I organised myself and got there in less than that time.  About ten minutes after walking through the doors of that shopping centre, the heavens opened up and it poured!  Boy, did I time that trip right or what?
I paid off 'True Blood' Season Two (there was only $16.95 left on it and I wanted to get into paying off the Supernatural Box Set faster and have it by Christmas) and now have something to watch this weekend.  However, as I exited 'Woody's Music Store (which is owned by Savage Garden), I found a massive Jumping Castle looking at me and a long queue of children and adults awaiting their turn.  The blue and purple and pink castle just brushed the ceiling support of the place as the generator out the back kept it fully inflated.  The co-ordinator sitting at the door of the castle was using his iPhone to keep tabs on the time of how long each group of kids were in there for.  As I walked past, there was another line going in the opposite direction for donut decorating and sample bags.... some of the kids didn't know whether to eat their creations or to take them home as a work of art!  The parents were having more fun with this activity than their kids; that was for sure.
Then, down near the chemist, there was Sideshow Alley; where they had a clown face game, where you put the ball in their mouth and you got a prize.  With only one set there, kids were fighting over who was next; and the parents were telling them:  'You have only one go... no, only one!'.  Outside Coles was a long line of kids who were getting their faces painted by one woman.  She was rushed off her feet - um hands - with her creations; but she was great.  The children walked up plain-faced and walked away looking like Spiderman, a butterfly or a Tiger... very cool!  And she was brilliant too!  I haven't seen one as good in a long time!  
But it was the crowds that surprised me here today.  I keep for getting that the supermarkets bring the Ekka to the suburbs as a novelty for us all; and the kids benefit from it.  For us people without children, we forget this goes on each year as it's just another day.  
And speaking of which, Coles Supermarket is putting on a big thing for the schools where you can earn tickets for your schools to get free items - such as books, sporting equipment and other great things.  Well, I went through the checkouts and the guy there asked if I wanted my tickets and I said for him to hand to the lady behind me for her kids (as her three or four kids were with her today); that I don't have children and my niece goes to a private school and doesn't need them.  The lady was totally surprised about how generous I was; and I said seeing I don't need them, her kids' school does... so why not put them to good use.  So, there was my good deed for the day.
Well, it's just about 2pm and it's become very cold.  I can't get onto 365 Project to upload my photo for the day... bummer... oh well, I guess, I might go and finish the washing up from this morning, put away the shopping trolley and do some reading on the lounge.  Oh, yeah, and call that job agency for disabilities through their toll-free number; seeing when they called, I was given a wrong number to call back on (whoops!).  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Long Weekend for Logan City

This weekend has been a busy and hectic one; it's also been an interesting one as well with an 8-year mystery of a missing Sunshine Coast boy solved on Saturday night.  
Eight years ago, Daniel Morcombe went missing while waiting at a bus stop on the Sunshine Coast.  His parents and twin brother have been looking for him since; so have the Queensland Police.  The case has never been closed and people have been diligent with their search for Daniel until Saturday night when police arrested a man who was a suspect those years ago.   Now it's the case of finding the body of Daniel; as he did not survive his abduction.  This is a horrible thing to find out about a person; and yet it's a relief they're going to find him as it will help his family grieve and start their lives over.
On Friday night, some friends and I went out to the Logan Art Gallery to an opening.  We went for a couple of reasons.  One of friends had her art shown there; and we wanted to support her.  Bailey Hughes' paintings are just gorgeous and very pretty.  And I also wanted to look in on a knitting show of one woman's where she took knitting up to a whole new level.  It was amazing; such a pity we weren't allowed to take any photos of it all.
During my weekend, I caught up on my reading - something I haven't done for a while seeing I've been cleaning out the house and tidying up.  I've begun 'Wrestling With The Angel' by Michael King.  It's Janet Frame's biography - her last one - before she past away in 2008; and her most detailed as well with three lots of photos in it.  I'm up to Chapter Three; which is by far the most I've read since receiving the book in 2000 for my birthday from Mum.  
Today, we were asked by Daniel Morcombe's family to wear red in memory of Daniel.  So, I searched my wardrobe and realised that I didn't own a single red item of clothing - no red shirts, shorts, jeans or jackets.  And the reason for this is because I have red hair; and it's not the colour I'd wear.  So, I tied some poppies from ANZAC Day (they're not real ones) to my camera case and took it out with me to the post office to mail out the Census - which didn't get picked up yesterday - so it was something I wore; also that camera is always with me all day in case there's something to photograph.
Also today, I got stuck into doing all my laundry - all three loads - and filling up the clothes line, washing up everything, cleaning the stove and writing out the shopping list for Wednesday.  I put away all the knitting wool I've got spare, threw out the scraps and tossed out the recycling and rubbish into their respectable bins in the car port before I had a nice hot shower, washed my hair and read about 15 pages of Janet Frame's biography.
Tomorrow, I'm off to the Logan Art Gallery for my volunteer work.  Seeing I made more than enough pasta, I might take some with me for lunch.  It ought to be a nice day to learn how to knit a teapot cosy... I've been needing one for a while now and just found a pattern for one.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.
 

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Funny Endings and Stuffed Elephants

Do you know what I absolutely love?  I love funny twists to things; and I don't just mean movies or television shows.  I mean anything.  I love reading a book and it turns out nothing like I expect!  I love watching a television show and reading the end credits and finding something hilarious written in the end of it.  I grew up with television shows such as 'The Adam's Family' and 'The Munsters'; so my sense of humour is pretty interestingly dark.  I love to read funny books and do enjoy the odd practical joke - if it's dished out correctly.  But when I see something in a show that's definitely funny, and it's repeated all the time, I just have to tell others about it.
Okay, for example, I've been watching the last five minutes of 'Hercules' on the free-to-air cable lately.  Now, I'm not a big fan of the show because it's so corny and a that little bit lame.  But I watch the last five minutes for a good reason.  The end credits have funny and off-beat things they protect just before the copy-write section of it comes up; and it's mainly in the protection clause they put in the funniest things.  I've seen things like Mandrake being protected.  Now, Mandrake is a very poisonous plant; and to say none of it was harmed or destroyed is hilarious to me.  Another one was stuffed elephants... now that one had me giggling all night; and I just had to call my Mum immediately and share the funniness of it.  She was laughing as much as me.  Can you imagine protecting stuffed elephants in a television show; then have to put them down as not being harmed in the credits?  I've seen unicorns and fairies being unharmed and Sam and Phil and none of the other Piglet Brethren being harmed either.  All funny and hilarious to have to put in the credits of a show about a mythical hero; but it does show somebody has a sense of humour about it.
So, have you seen something similar to what I've been seeing on television?  Has something in life made you laugh recently and you just can't tell anyone about it?  If so, leave a comment and let us know what it is; and get us all to laugh about it; goodness knows, we do need a good laugh about now.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Anarchy's Roots

I've been observing the riots in the UK and have been disgusted about what they have done to the great country I visited in 1997.  London was a grand old lady of a city; sure it had its problems, but its history goes so far back it's amazing.  This city has had four names in four languages and started out at a little village by the river Thames; and the oldest parts of it still exist to this day.  
However, it's been through some vicious wars.  I've read about them.  London has been attacked from the sea and air over time; and yet this city has been rebuilt.  It has been the phoenix which rises from the ashes; coming back bigger and better than ever before.  It went through the Blitz where most of its great buildings were burnt down and destroyed.  Yes, history hasn't been kind to this old city.
But now, this attack on the Grand Old Lady of a city is just dreadful.  The people who have destroyed parts of London have terrified its residents, the rest of the country and did it while the world watched on helplessly.  What was sparked by the police killing a man last Thursday; and a quiet protest against the killing (as it was said on BBC1 that he was unarmed when it happened), turned into anarchy.  A small group of people began rioting because it was an opportunity to do so.  Suddenly, copy-cat groups went around and started up other troubles in other parts of London.  Not only did they loot and destroy shops, they also burnt down people's residents, cars (and just anyone's cars that were parked on the street; not any car in particular.  These cars were in the wrong place at the wrong time!).  Two police cars, which were being used as a road block, were burned to the ground as the rioting gangs turned on the police.  
I have friends who live in London who I contacted last night.  Hannah and Gray have lived in London for a long time now and have never seen anything like this.  Hannah didn't sleep for two whole days.  She was terrified that her house was going to be burned down while she slept; so stayed awake the whole time.  She only slept due to exhaustion; that was when I called.  Gray said to me that he hasn't seen anything this bad in so long; and they are pretty much shell shocked.  However, he can't leave their place as it's his place of work; and he's scared that if he does somebody will come and destroy it.  They do appreciate how scared I am for them, though, as they live in Lewisham; right in the middle of it all.  
But what makes me wonder is where this all came from?  Despite the quiet protest to the man's death by the police.  Could this have been avoided?  I think so.  But how?  We have so many quick and easy conveniences in life now that how children are brought up today so much different to how we were brought up a generation ago - or even two generations ago.  It wasn't so hi-tech back when I was a kid. Yes, we had computers, but they weren't so much a part of our lives as they are now.  We did have television, but it was luxury to watch it instead of it being on all the time and something blaring out into an empty gallery.  The way we eat is totally different as well; not to mention lazy.  We don't cook things from scratch anymore; instead opting out for microwaved meals or one-pot meals that come frozen or already prepared by a company we pay per month to be delivered to our doors all because 'I'm too busy with my life to do anything like cook a meal.'.
Well, when I was growing up, both my parents worked when I was in primary school.  My brother and I both had a key to the front door as normally Mum wasn't home in the afternoons and we had to let ourselves in.  She did try to be there; but sometimes she wasn't.  So, when we got home, we'd do our homework, have a shower, and set the table for dinner and get the vegetables ready for dinner.  Sometimes there'd be wiping up from breakfast to do or the dishwasher to empty; and we'd do that too.  By the time all that got done, Mum and Dad would be home.  They'd be stuffed from their day at work, but because my brother and I helped with the dinner that little bit, it took a load off Mum.
As we grew up into high school.  We took on more chores; such as bringing in the laundry, taking out the rubbish and making our beds before they got home.  These were added onto our usual chores of what we had before.  And then, we were also learning to cook too; so we took turns cooking at times and it became easier for Mum when she got home and found one of us cooking a meal for dinner for the family.  
Nowadays, kids just come home, have a shower and whinge about when dinner will be ready.  They dump themselves in front of the television and do nothing.  They don't do the vegetables, don't help around the place and don't ask if anything needs to be done.  It's just not what is used to be.  No wonder there's so much anarchy and disrespect around the world now; as it begins at home, not when they leave school.  By then it's too late to try to instill it into them.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember I'm always here.

Monday, August 8, 2011

A Weekend of Goodbyes

This weekend was a melancholy one where I said goodbye to a long-running music television show that shaped the way I looked at the music world; and had been running in Australia for 24 years.  I also said goodbye to my rusted out Toyota Celica (at long last!).  
Now, I dedicated a post to Video Hits; so today, I'll dedicate this one to my car.  I bought this car when I was 19 years old; two months after I got my driver's license.  Dad wanted me to wait; but I didn't want to.  It was something I wanted to do, something I couldn't wait to do... get out on the open road and drive without having to be accompanied by somebody with an open license.  So, once we settled on a car, we got a personal loan of $5,000 and I bought my Toyota Celica Liftback from a local car yard.  There was a list of things wrong with it; but I loved that car with every paypacket I earned, every free weekend I had.  Dad helped me with keeping it running - engine-wise - and it was a great car for me to learn how to drive the roads of Brisbane in.  I loved it.

On the weekends I wasn't working on it, I'd pull out a referdex, pull up a part of Brisbane I knew and drive out to it, then spend an hour or two getting home another way.  It was a good way to know how the roads joined up; and to figure out how to get home if one or another road was cut off for one reason or another.
I even gave my car a name:  Little Vroom.  This is because it wasn't a loud car, but it wasn't a buzz-box either, it just vroomed me from placed to place and that was it.  I loved the sound of the engine when it was fully warmed up and it just pretty much went 'vroom'... I know that sounds weird, but that's what it sounded like to me.  So, Little Vroom was its name; and it stuck.  I wanted to use Jelly Bean, but one of my friends already used that one for her 1988 Ford Laser; so I couldn't.  
Little Vroom saw me also to Brunswick Heads, my favourite holiday spot since I was a kid.  I remember the first time I drove down there I had a great run along the highway on Christmas Eve in the afternoon (I had half a day off work as I was given NYE off.  I had gone home, gotten changed, packed the car and was going to leave from work).  The sun was nice and hot as I wound the window down, had music blaring out of my speakers from the radio and Little Vroom took me along the M1 at a good, speed towards the NSW border.  I went along the coastal road and through Wooyong and Pottsville where some of the roads were one lane both ways (and this was before the new lot of roads that have been put through; way before it when it used to take about 2 hours to get there).  I got to Brunswick Heads and found that I didn't need my car to get anywhere around the town, so put the cover on it until I went home.  It was a memorable first long drive for me; something I'd never forget... and something I'd do a few more times.  One time we were evacuated from Brunswick Heads and we were forced to all travel over the ranges to go home.  It was bumper to bumper for all cars, trucks, caravans and other vehicles going both ways in the pouring rain as we left Brunswick Heads behind knowing the river had broken its banks as we watched on just before we left town.  Dad had packed a good lot of his fishing gear in the back of my car; including his tackle boxes, fishing rods, some luggage, my luggage and other stuff as well (we were really grateful that the back seats folded down as the car held so much more then).  It truly was a convoy of travellers trying to get home in the wet; and I had to concentrate on the road, rain and other traffic coming in the other direction.  This included a car - driving in the opposite direction to me - losing its hubcab during the drive, which struck my car, rattled and clanked under my vehicle and then got spat out just in front of the back left wheel.  It scared the crap out of me as I couldn't pull over or stop until we got to the top of the ranges for a break.  I had to get my cousin, Cameron, to help me pull my license plate straight and check my mudguard and tyres to make sure they were going to take me home.  He thought it was the funniest thing; as he'd had the same thing happen to him once when he drove.


I will have great memories of my dear Little Vroom as we all do of our first car.  My Toyota Celica Liftback took me everywhere I wanted to go - and some places I didn't.  It became my identity when I drove, I could easily find it in carparks (even though I lost it the first time I parked it in a big carpark at Centro; just behind our house at Springwood.  How embarrassed was I to have to get the security guard to help me look for my car?  Plenty!).   I drove my friends into the city, to the movies and was responsible enough not to drink and drive or get caught speeding or be in any major accidents that caused it to be sent to a panel beater.  Yes, Little Vroom will be missed from my life dearly as I move on and hope to find myself another car in the future.  But as with all first loves, in the car world, nothing beats the first car love.  Little Vroom will never be forgotten as it was a great car to drive.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Video Hits Say Goodbye

After 24 years of entertaining over two generations of teenagers and young adults, 'Video Hits' on Channel 10 are closing down this Saturday at 1pm for good.  It's a sad day in the music industry.  
I grew up with this music show - as well as 'Rage' - every Saturday morning from the time I went to primary school, through high school, right up until now in my late-30's.  And now, its film clips of music videos, interviews and other great music-orientated entertainment is going to be disappearing off our televisions screens.
Originally, this show showed in the late-80's playing the top 40 hits, then it shrunk to the top 20; showing us Australians what was the best songs to listen to and who was in and who wasn't in the music industry; as well as who was up and coming from overseas before they hit our shores.   Then, in the late 1990's, there was an 'Interactive Top 10' where the audience supposedly chose the top ten songs of the show (this was later stopped as after claims of vote rigging); then in 2000s, the show switched to the ARIA Report.
From 1986 to 2004, the show featured a non-stop video clip-based format. In 2004, the show introduced a new look and format that included feature interviews each week and clips from different music genres.
In 2006, the show was broadcast live without an audience. The chosen artist picked songs they wanted played along with their own past and present videos in a format similar to ABC's rival music TV show rage. As of April 2007, the show still continues with this format.
Video Hits turned 20 years old in 2006 and celebrated with a special event featuring a countdown of the Top 100 Video Clips of the past twenty years, compiled from online and SMS votes. This countdown was shown again in 2007, with slight differences in the list; however, "Thriller", by Michael Jackson, was voted #1 both times. Instead, in 2008, a special entitled A-Z of Pop was shown.
A new show called Video Hits First premiered in September 2006. The premise for Video Hits First is that it is rated G and suitable for all audiences, after claims throughout the media that certain music videos were sexually explicit. The format also shows the top 10 video clips from the ARIA Charts and it also features competitions and interviews with artists.
Video Hits abandoned its top 10 on Saturdays in 2008 (which was moved to Video Hits First from Video Hits in 2007) and its top 20 on Sundays much earlier in the 2000s.
In mid-late 2009, regional affiliate Southern Cross Ten dropped the show, in order to air their own chart show, known as Hit List TV, based upon the nightly radio show of the same name that goes to air across Macquarie Southern Cross hit stream stations. The show is hosted by Tim Dormer and Renee Peterson (hosts of radio program The Hit List), and shot on location at Gold Coast attractions including Movie World and Sea World. This also helps the network fulfil, albeit cheaply, their local content requirements imposed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Tim replaced Matty Acton who relocated to Sydney for a position at 2Day FM.
Personally, I'm going to miss this show being on the Television Times each Saturday.  I remember watching it when I was sick, dancing in the living room when I was a kid to all of the new music - and the old - and enjoying the fun time with my family when we'd see the yet-to-be released songs and artists.  It's a pity that Channel 10 didn't wait another year; to make it 25 years... it would have made it easier for us all to remember a quarter of a century, than one year off.  But I guess that's how it all goes.  
Seeing I didn't really know the entire history of 'Video Hits', I had to go hunting for it through Wikipeadia... unfortunately, it was the only place that had it all there (a little back to front but it was there).  So, I hope to you're all watching it - or taping it like I am - and enjoy the last ever show of Video Hits.  I grew up with it with fond memories connected to it.  What were yours? Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Friday Plans For the Weekend

It's been a fruitful week here full of overspending - by accident - followed by me trying to figure out what I'll be doing for this next fortnight with only $80 to live on.  There'll be no takeaway food or luxuries, that's for sure!  I'll be entertaining myself completely this time... no bus trips anywhere to big shopping centres, no visiting anyone and no posting off books or other parcels (even via sea mail) overseas.  Nope, this fortnight, I am going to try and keep that $80 in the bank and keep my money growing just that little bit more.  
This afternoon, I've got a busy lot of work lined up for myself.  With the washing up done, there's the kitchen floor to wash, the rubbish to put out, the laundry to put away, the shopping trolley (with all its reusable bags inside it) to put away, the vacuum to put away, the bathroom to tidy up, the kitchen table to tidy up and clear and then, there books to put away, bags I'm not using to stash in their own places (which I have made a place for each and every one of them; so that shouldn't be a chore) so I can find them again.  Then, I'll have dinner to prepare of chopping up pumpkin, sweet potato and carrots with garlic cloves.  I'm making my very famous orange vegetable combination soup that tastes gorgeous!  I'll also be looking at updating my recipe book too; making sure I've got all my recipes written down so I don't forget them (as I've invented a few new ones over the last year) and I can remember them when I pull the book down.
Yep, I'm going to get as much as I can done before the sun goes down today because I don't want to be working my butt off like I did two weeks ago.  Sure it was fun, but really, my weekends are for kicking back and enjoying reading books, or playing the piano or vinyls... even if it's raining, I'll get into my music or a good movie and it's just to enjoy what I've got right under my roof and not have to go out.  That's my belief of what a weekend is for... it's the end of a week, and work shouldn't be involved; and yet for many households, it is.
So, this weekend, I'm going to have two days where I do pretty much nothing and enjoy what I've got... look around myself and feel pretty good that I have a roof over my head, food in my pantry and fridge, my Grandma's piano to play, vinyls at my disposal (and a turntable that works), a little bird who loves me unconditionally (sometimes!) and all the books I'd ever wish for to read carefully crammed into one little room at the top of the stairs.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Best of Manners

It's cold and flu season and nearly everyone I know - and don't know - has some version of it. However, seeing I avoided it this year (by taking Zinc & Vitamin C tablets twice a day), it doesn't mean everyone has to go and share their germs, snortings and coughs with me! Okay, I'll begin with yesterday. I was out and about doing my fortnightly shop; and there nearly everyone out there sounded terrible, but did any of them have a handkerchief to cover their mouths or blow their noses? Nope. Did any of them turn away from us ones who were well enough to be out there without a cold so we didn't get whatever they had (even if they had asthma or a smoker's cough, it still sounds like a flu; but we're not know that)... and the answer is nope. They just coughed and sputtered all over everyone around them. It's disgusting.
I had one lady handle my things at Life Line after she rubbed her nose with her hand. And those things were a Glo-Mesh bag and a vinyl bag... gee, thanks. I wiped them down when I got home so I didn't get whatever she had - even if she only had sinus, I don't know if it was the beginnings of a cold. While I was at K-Mart Plaza, I was standing outside K-Mart searching my trolley for a bottle of water I had bought when an older man and his son (who was my age) walked past. The older man turned in my direction and hacked out a phlegmy cough - without covering his mouth!!! I stood up and said, "Dude! That was gross! Cover your mouth, don't give me what you got!" his son grabbed his arm and said, "Dad, don't do that. Get out your handkerchief, that's why you've got it." the old man said, "I'm sick, I should be able to cough where I please." I shuddered when I heard that... I was so upset about what he said I almost followed him to tell him off again; but thought he might cough directly in my face; and I didn't want that. Instead, I found my water, had a drink and kept walking.
This is the kind of thing that we shouldn't have to put up with. I may be a young - late-30's - person, but I was taught my manners by my Grandparents and my parents;
and it was strict. I was told to keep my elbows off the table at restaurants, excuse myself if I belch, cover my mouth when I cough and sneeze (plus turning away is also another thing to do!) and never backchat my elders. It's just something that was drilled into me when I was growing up; and it's still with me today.
A couple of years ago, I was on a bus traveling to Springwood when an older Turkish woman with her daughter were sitting adjacent to me. The older woman opened her mouth and let out a loud belch that stunk strongly of garlic! I was insulted in two ways; firstly that she had such bad breath; and secondly that she didn't excuse herself. I straight out said so and her daughter also pulled her up. The older woman said, "I belch because I need to. Why should I excuse myself?" I said it was good manners to excuse herself and better manners to cover her mouth if she was going to belch like that in public; not to mention unladylike to do that. The older woman said it wasn't a problem in Turkey; so why would it be here? Her daughter said it was here because women are taught to burp, but to into their hands as it's not what others want to hear. We were both dismissed by the older woman as though it wasn't true.

I don't understand how when I express good manners, I'm laughed at by kids today; and yet when people act like untrained monkeys, it seems to be okay with the rest of the world. Is it me? Am I getting to point in my life where I'm losing the fun of it all? I hope not. This doesn't just cross people in general, it goes across all kinds of ways we express ourselves. From the minute you attend pre-school (better known as Prep now) to when you into college or university, into the workforce, driving a car, taking a holiday, flying on planes... pretty much anywhere you go where there's going to be other humans - as well as animals - you're going to come across sets of manners from different cultures that are going to differ from your own. In Japan, they have a totally different way of looking at how you should carry yourself from not filing your nails in public to not sticking your chopsticks into the middle of your meal (yes, that's very rude to do), their culture makes their manners totally different to the Western World's manners.
Manners of all types - from all over the world - should be taught through each generation through word of mouth; as well as etiquette classes at school; so children know early what is expected of them throughout their lives - not just when they leave school and get a job. Today's generation of kids have no idea how to treat each other or anyone else around them. It's pathetic that the rules of manners and good behaviour has to die with one generation or another. Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Volunteer Work

I was out early today. However, I had to get a few things done before I left the house; and one of them was the washing up. After that was completed, I packed up my gear, went to the post office, picked up some things at the service station and headed off to the bus stop. I thought I was going to be late; however it was the bus that ran late by ten minutes.
Work at the Gallery is always good. I was paired with a different person than I normally have and we sat and chatted for most of the morning; while people came and went. We had two kids come in who looked like they were supposed in school; yet they weren't. They walked around the place without shoes on after we asked them to leave their scooters at the door; and then we asked if they came with any adults. However when we found they didn't we kept and eye on them both.
Then, a group of teenagers came in with an older woman. They looked at everything; then pulled out their phones and proceeded to take photos of everything displayed. I had to go around and ask them to delete their photos due to copywright laws and to protect the artists. They said the photos were only going up on their class' website; I ran it past Chelsi and she they were still no allowed. I had to go back out there and tell them that they still had to delete the photos; and they did. They were a good group of kids (if not a little troubled) and left with the older woman.
When the time came for us to leave, I called Mum and Dad and asked if they could pick me up. We had another customer arrive as Dad pulled up and I rushed around and grabbed my gear; only to have Dad park in the Logan City Council car park for a while. I decided to stay in the car and wait for him. While there, a coffee/cafe truck came in and parked right next to the car and the driver got out - leaving the cappuccino machine motor running - and walked into the council building. Man! Did that thing stink! I had to wind up my window! Did she have to park that shitty truck there? NO! she could have parked it somewhere else - somewhere next to an empty car where that stench didn't suffocate the person in the neighbouring car. Gross! When Dad came out to the car, he wondered why the ignition was on and I told him; and he agreed it was inconsiderate to have parked next to us and make me wind up my window. Just goes to show exactly what kind of person she really is, eh?
Well, that's my post for today - about today. I've got shopping to do tomorrow. It's not exciting, but it's gotta be done. Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.