Just for you guys who have never been to Australia. Was looking through my photos and these are some I found to share.

This is my ex-mother in law and her dawg, Smithy. Both long dead now. But you can see the Hill’s Hoist, a very very Australian sight in many back gardens. Not so many today, but at that time (1972 or thereabouts), was standard.



This is the Fremantle Markets, and some of the shops.



The Streets of Fremantle and the restaurant where we had dinner. Fremantle is an “in” spot to go for a night out, there is often happenings there for families. Very pretty area.




This is a picture of my back garden. Woke up one morning to this so had to get out the camera. Couldn’t resist.



This was my mother in law’s house in Brisbane. She was prone to floods and this one occurred very shortly after my son was born. Notice the high set houses. Very common in Queensland, but not in Perth where I live now.



I rather like this next one. Looking down onto the flood with the hoist almost submerged. I’ve recently got some slides scanned onto CD and these were a couple of them. They’ve done a pretty reasonable job.



This is a miniature village at Cockington Green, just outside of Canberra. Been there twice and loved it both times.



This is a picture of the Swan River here in Perth. Gives an idea of the Australian “nothing” landscape – flat and brown. This was taken from a little restaurant where we were having lunch. Rather a nice spot to eat, relax and enjoy the company of friends.



And of course, Australian photos would not be complete without the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I once took one with my son in the middle of it. He didn’t want me to do it, too touristy, but I insisted that I was a tourist and was allowed to take touristy pictures if I wanted to.



I’ve got hundreds more. Figure it is time to stop now. Enuf is enough. I must admit I have enjoyed this little exercise.

Madeleine
Sunday, 1 January 2006

New Kettle

Cast of characters:
Gezunda – me
MA – my son
KJ – his partner
DB – KJ’s father
Kettle – my old kettle

Everytime I look at my new kettle, I wonder: Was the old one really dead or not? This is going to be another one of these unanswered question which will likely plague me for the rest of my life. See, we threw Kettle out. I’ll tell you the story.

I woke up one morning while the kids were here to realise that we’d had a power failure overnight. The “kids” were up and informed me that while I was in sleepland, they had had to replace the fuse wire 3 times. They decided that it was Kettle. So we put Kettle aside, bought a new one, and time marched forward.

Seeing Kettle sitting on the table, and being a “thrower outer” rather than a “hanger onto-er”, I threw Kettle in my grotty bin. No point in keeping her, says young Gezunda. It’s just more junk in your house. You know what its like at work with the “hanger onto-er” we have there, and all the junk that gets kept. So in the bin she went (I assume all kettles are she’s, don’t know why. It’s a bit like all cats are girls and all dawgs are boys. Bit of a worry, cause my dawg’s a girl. But never mind, I digress here).

By this stage, we are running a bit short of fuse wire and KJ and I are at the shops, so we buy some new fuse wire.

That day DB comes to visit KJ, and MA asks him is there something wrong with the electricity in the house? Do we need to call a professional? Someone who actually knows what they are doing with this stuff called electricity? I mean, I know how to change a light bulb. But anything else to do with electricity……………… (There’s those dots again, Colo). DB takes some things apart, looks very intelligent and pronounces: You’re using the wrong fuse wire. Huh? Is there more than one type of fuse wire? Well you coulda fooled me.

So there may or may not have been anything wrong with poor Kettle, who is now in a tip somewhere in Perth, Western Australia. So please, all blogstreamers, mourn the death of Kettle, who may have met an untimely death due to the ignorance it her owners.

Madeleine

Sunday, 1 January 2006

The new year: remembering

 Talking to someone the other day, reminded me of the new year from 1999 to 2000 and the kerfluffle about the “millennium bug”. I assume this was a worldwide phenomena and not just nutty Australians.

 Most of 1999 was spent with concerns about what would happen to all our computers when the year turned from the 19 to the 20. Part of me had complete faith in, I don’t know who, maybe my own sense that this can’t really happen, the government wouldn’t let it happen, who knows. So I spent the year poo pooing the dramatists who predicted doom and gloom at the turn of the century. But there was a small sense of anxiety: something bad could really happen, bad things do happen to me, this could happen.

 I don’t often go out New Year’s eve but this year I did. I was in Sydney visiting my son and his partner for Christmas and stayed for the New Year. We were at a party and watching the television as the year turned. Being in Australia, we witnessed one of the first turns of the year from 1999 to 2000. I remember the talk in the background, almost as if people were expecting the world to end. I remember a small sense of anxiety in myself and then relief as time passed and nothing dramatic happened. It was almost an anticlimax.

 This year is totally different. My personal life is marching on quite nicely. I’ve got my friends, my hobbies and my writings. There is always hope that this year will bring a grandchild.

 2005 was quite a stressful year at work. The colleague causing the stress has now left (yippee!!) and work is now quite smooth. However, my new boss is busily pushing me out of my comfort zone. I haven’t decided whether I want this or not (do I want to be a queen bee or stay a worker bee?). I have decided to accept the change in the short term with a 3 month trial period. I can change my mind if I want. Always keep your options open, Gezunda. So 2006 could also be a stressful year. It could also be most rewarding as far as my work is concerned.

 I’m just pondering the differences over time and the differences in my life over time. For me, the new year, like birthdays, brings a sense of something different about to occur. Funny that. It is just one 24 hour period to another.

 1998 to 1999 was a lousy year. Susan died in 1998 and the change of year felt like another bit of her passing.

 2002 to 2003 was great. I spent that New Year in London, England with my son and his partner. Saw snow for the first time in years and visited places I’d never been and revisited places I hadn’t seen in years. London was great to visit in the winter. No crowds. No long queues. Just cold.

 2004 to 2005 saw me having one of my best New Year in a long time. Spent in Sydney, again with my son and his partner, the whole trip just went well, I rested and relaxed, took Ally with me so I didn’t have to worry about her and generally had a lovely couple of weeks.

 This Christmas/New Year has been nice, pleasant, but not one of the most memorable. But time will tell. It is only when time has passed that we know what are significant memories and what are the least memorable.

 2006 will also see me turning 60. As I’ve written before, this one feels like another milestone. Again, who knows how I will feel when it happens. My work will be moving into our new building in 2006 so that’s another big change. We have been in this old building now since 1996. The new one is purpose built, much bigger and we will be expanding our services. My role will probably change to a more supervisory role, one I have avoided for years. I won’t let it stop the counselling part of my work. I enjoy that too much. I have realised however, that I enjoy supervising as well.

 What else can I see coming up in 2006? Friends. I need to be more proactive in keeping up with friends. I tend to get quite comfortable with what I’m doing, with being alone, and I know that can be a problem for me. I could allow myself to become quite isolated if I allow that to happen. I am hopeless at ringing people, and some people object to that. I don’t generally make New Year’s resolutions because I feel they are a “should” rather than a want. I guess the above is a bit of both.

 So I will quit rambling. Those are the definites for 2006. For the rest, I will have to wait and see. Part of me loves change; another very strong part of me hates it. So the New Year to me suggests change, and part of me waits to see, with anticipation what will happen next; another part of me waits with trepidation.

 I do know that whatever happens I will survive. No matter what happens in 2006, I will always be me: generally confident, cheeky, silly sometimes, intelligent, love people and animals, independent, hating to ask for help, love hugs, movies, dancing, music etc etc.

 Happy new year, blogstreamers.

 Madeleine

Saturday, 31 December 2005

 

 

 

Why isn’t it flowing today like it normally does? Am I digging too deep into my own stuff? Or are my ideas not clear in my head?

 I don’t normally have trouble writing. I sit down at the computer and my fingers take over. One quick read, a few minor changes, spell check and it’s done.

 Not today. Today, the idea is there, but just somehow won’t come out my fingers. Why?

 Usually when I have trouble with an idea it’s because there is something going on for me. I’m trying to think of an example to illustrate what I’m saying. I know the example is there, but just can’t seem to find it. The thought flits into my mind. I start to type. The idea flits out again. Bugger!!!

 I know what I need to do. I need to stop thinking about it. I need to let it rest on the back burner for a day or two. For some reason I can’t seem to let it go. Why? What’s going on?

 I rather like the way this one has started but can’t seem to finish. Let it go, Madeleine. Let it rest. Let it percolate in the background.

 Madeleine

Saturday, 31 December 2005

On my retail therapy afternoon (and yes, I did it again today), I bought myself some new DVDs. Tonight is Beaches. I don't know what I like more the music or the movie.

Enjoy your evening/morning everyone.

Madeleine
Friday, 30 December 2005