Further more ....

Well, so it turns out that the Queensland Government could have ordered the engineers at Wivenhoe dam to start releasing small amounts of water during the previous week/s to the flood and the devastation to Brisbane would not have been so bad. How many lives would NOT have been lost?

So why didn't they? Turns out that Labor as a Political Party still adheres to the concept of Global Warming. Had they released the water it would have "been a waste of a valuable resource". Well, what did it end up as anyhow? How many "resources" were wasted as a result of the flood?

What idiot came up with the concept of Global Warming thinking Australia would be in perpetual drought? Accepted that there is some climate change going on, but this flood is a result of a strong El Nina event, NOT anything else. If we were warming up, then the flood would have been worse than the one in 1974 - even if it was more widespread - and what about the floods in the 19th Century which were even higher?

People have been going on about the insurance companies who are not going to pay out on damage because Flooding was not covered in some policies. The State Government is being heavy handed with the insurance companies trying to make them pay. I think if the insurance companies do do the right thing, they should demand an inquiry and investigation.

So much for having the "Greenies" on your side. So much for your tears Anna Bligh...

Floods...

I guess like most people in Australia, I have been watching the awful floods in Queensland. It has been very tragic that 15 people have lost their lives and thousands have lost their homes and possessions.

Having family who lives in Brisbane, I am lucky that none of these events have really touched them. I can't but wonder at the turn of events that prevented us from moving there two years ago as we originally planned. It reinforces that God really does care for me and my family.

I have to wonder too at the idea of building large commercial cities on the banks of rivers right where they meet the sea. Brisbane is a port with shipping on a regular basis. It is the same with New Orleans. Too much of the wrong weather and both cities were devastated. Toowoomba is a largish city as well. Flood plains are not called that without reason. Sooner or later there will be a flood.

Will sense ever prevail - hardly, since the size of the cities are too large to just abandon to the fates. There was a flood in Brisbane in 1974 so it stands to reason there will be floods in the future. Homes can be made flood proof or as flood proof as possible; in the future it should be the demand of insurance companies and councils that new houses are built only above the height of floods (on stilts - like the old Queenslanders) and/or have rooms that can be totally sealed off so that possessions can be safely stored during a flood event.

Insurance premiums will undoubtedly rise again, to help defray the costs of having to pay out on the floods. Some food stuff costs will go up from crops destroyed during the floods being unavailable. Mostly these sort of costs never come down again. It will be harder for the poor to afford these things. There is a sort of selfishness involved in these sort of lifestyle choices whether made consciously or unconsciously.

We are seriously reconsidering our choice to move to Brisbane now.

Poor old Steph...

Old girl nearly gave me a heart attack - again. She was lying down at dinner time, then when she started to come up, she lay down again. She wouldn't move, and rolled a bit like she was colicky. We offered her a little food, which she wouldn't eat. Rang a vet, who said to walk her. So we put the halter on and the daughter lead her round and around. After about the third time around, the mare had a great passing of manure, a huge fart ;-), and then we gave her a little food. She ate the food with great gusto.

We kept an eye on her a bit longer, offered her some water, which she didn't really want. She and Bell stood around the food shed for a while, then wandered off in search of the steer.

I checked on her again about half an hour ago, offered her a piece of carrot. She not only ate her piece, but swiped Bell's as well. So hopefully she is fine now. I will keep check on her during the night. More later.

Boys

With tomorrow being Christmas the boys are really excited. So because they are excited, it means arguments, squabbling and yelling at each other. I have had to threaten both of them that I will cancel Christmas. The daughter was called into work early and most likely will not finish till late as they want to set her shop up for the after Christmas sales next week.

My patience is wearing thin, and they could be banished outside if they are going to keep it up.

Wishing all my followers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Lets hope it is a good one.

Christmas ...

Early Depiction of Santa

Well, it is almost that time of year again, when the Bearded one dumps his garbage under our moth eaten tree. Actually, it is already there. The boys know "who" Santa is and as long as they get goodies, don't really care. I shall ask them to tell me the true Christmas story and read it to them. We shall wander off with our stuff and except for lunch it will be a fairly normal day.

The boys are more interested in raising $20 each so they can get three months' registration for some fantasy game they are playing on the computer and can buy goodies with the money. We are fairly critical of the commercialism of Christmas and if it wasn't for the peer pressure put on the boys about it, would probably skip Christmas. They do like their goodies, though. It needs some thought, obviously.

My youngest sister and I met up in Campbelltown last night and enjoyed a fine meal at George's. I have known it was there ever since I first walked down Queen Street some 15 years ago, but last night was the first time I had actually been in there. It is a very nice little restaurant, with no stairs to get into it, it's biggest selling point. You can also eat at tables on the footpath. The prices are not bad either and it was reasonable to good quality food.

My biggest drawback was that I have lost my glasses. Still have not found them. I took them off before I went to shower for going out, and when I went to get them afterwards, they were not where I thought I had left them. I searched everywhere and then some. They will turn up eventually. Meanwhile I am left wearing my dark glasses, which luckily are the same formula, just shaded for the sun. On the white screen of the computer, the sunnies are actually much nicer and softer on my eyes.

More updates soon.

Negligence...

Just as well the blog can't charge me. lol.

I have really not been doing much. I am finding the muscle cramps a bit of a distraction and have to wait till January for the MRI for the spinal specialist. Four days later I am getting the first of my dental work done. Although I am nervous about the pain I am starting to feel excited about the finished result when I get my dentures.

I am fully committed to loosing weight, and even though the exercise part is difficult, I have been doing it. So by this time next year, I will be a totally new person. My 2012 New Year's resolution will be to get fit enough to start horse-riding again. So I suppose my 2011 Resolution will have to be to stick with it.

The photograph above is of a lady who is 75 years old and had not ridden for over twenty years. When I saw this photo on one of the horse forums and realised how much older than me she was, getting back in the saddle, I was just blown away. I know I can get back in the saddle at a much younger age. (yes I do have permission for the photo).

So while I am loosing all this weight, I am saving up for a quality helmet, boots and maybe a pair of joddies. I keep looking at Bell in that way. lol.

Christmas is just around the corner, and this year we are prepared. This is the first time ever I can say this. EVA.

Slip slidin' away ...

The Sister (note straight hair)

Gosh here it is Saturday already and I haven't blogged about last weekend yet. I feel like the week has just frittered away (it hasn't but feels like it).

Last Friday I got the train down to Canberra, to stay with my sister in order to visit my father who now lives in a Care facility there. My sister met me from the train and we went via the shops to her place. First thing I noticed was that she had straightened her hair. She has always had wavy to curly hair, a rich honey blond. Now it is dead straight.

My sister is a great cook, probably learned during the years she was a vegetarian. She made us a lovely meal with fish and an assortment of Mediterrainian vegetables. Followed by sorbet and frozen raspberries. To die for.

Saturday we went to visit my father in his care facility. He has a largish room with a bathroom. It has cupboards, a bed, some shelving, his computer desk, his bed and some chairs. (My sister and I squabbled in the car going home about who would inherit it ;-) ). It has a pair of large French doors that open onto an unenclosed roofed patio. There is a white hydranger bush next to it and it leads down to a beautiful garden of plants that flower all year round, and lovely trees. Just a delightful setting.

My father wanted me to adjust some clothing for him, so most of our time was taken up with working all that our - measuring, trying on, pinning and telling stories. He was in great health and has grown quite a beard. We agreed to meet for lunch the following day. The afternoon was taken up with unpicking some clothes for some adjustments for my sister and talking.

On Saturday we met Dad up on Red Hill, the highest point in the city itself. There is a restaurant there. We had a lovely lunch; Dad and my sister had steak with salad and I had a chicken terrine with slices of toasted Turkish bread with a tomato relish that was the nicest I have ever had. Dad has always been a story teller and a collector of stories, so now that he is living somewhere new he has new stories. It is never dull spending time with him.

After lunch my sister dropped him home, since he lives in the same suburb. She has borrowed her son's ute for a while while she waits for her new car to be delivered, so she can only take one person at a time. I used my phone to take some photos of Canberra, which I will share soon, while I waited.

The afternoon was spent talking and sewing. Her grandsons came home (they live with her) and we chatted with them for a little while. We watched the Iron Chef that night, which is a bit amusing.

The Father

Monday I did some more pinning and sewing. My sister collected my father again for lunch. We chatted about things as I kept on sewing. Then I took some photos. They are not the best, done with a phone camera, but you can get the jist.

Later I went to the station to get the train. But due to some "Operations failure" (i.e. probably drunk train driver), they had cancelled the train and put on buses. I am not the best traveler after dark on the roads. Meeting up with the old Person doesn't help matters either as he hates driving at night as well.

And final say of all goes to my sister's 18 year old cat, Lala - talk to the tail...