And So Say All of Us

You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.

Irish proverb

Photo: "Hey Grandpa" by trusk

Photo Challenge - Animal

Yah Kim!

BLACK Saturday victims vowed last night to build a "mini-Marysville" on the flattened town's surviving golf course, and actor Russell Crowe offered to fund a new community centre for the devastated residents.

As the death toll rose to 208 yesterday, Marysville Golf Club president Doug Walter told locals temporary housing would be built on the course's fairways and government agencies would operate out of the club rooms.

"This club is no longer a club dedicated to golf and bowls," Mr Walter said. "It is a club dedicated to the community."

He said later that Crowe had offered to finance building a permanent community centre in Marysville.

Former federal Labor MP Kim Wilkie has been appointed to manage the town's rebuilding project.

"Australians are very resilient," Mr Wilkie said last night. "You can destroy their property but you can't destroy their spirit."

Power has been restored to the town, and water is expected to be pumped from a local river into the town's reservoir from today.

Victoria Police lifted the Black Saturday death toll last night from 201 to 208 as Marysville claimed the unfortunate title of the town with the most fatalities.

The official number of people killed in Marysville has increased from 39 to 45.

Story from The Australian


With many thanks to Miss Kylie :-)

Sigh ....

The time to relax is -- when you don't have time for it.

Sidney J Harris

Photo: "Relax by KirlianCamera

Grapes

Photo Challenge - Updates

Whoops ... when I posted the themes last week, I forgot to include this weeks. Thanks to Pita for keeping me on the ball :-)

So, getting it right this time:

This Friday: Animal
Friday 6 March: Aging
Friday 13 March: Mineral

Happy clicking :-)

Q and A

It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.

James Thurber

Art: "New Start" by Carole Felmy

What Happens to a Dream Deferred?

On my list of things to do in life is get a BA in Literature - I actually got accepted into UWA when I finished high school but deferred for a year and ... well it more of a luxury choice than something "practical" so that was the end of that.

Up until now - while I was having a quick break from the workload last night I stumbled across a BA that I can do externally - and not only can I major in Literature, but I can pick up other units in sociology, politics, history or art. Most of the course is through Griffith University (I have heard of them but I don't know much about them but how bad can they be lol). And I can take up to 10 years to complete it.

Now that I have been addressing my "fear of failure" is this a golden opportunity that has landed in my lap at the right time? Is this the chance to live a dream for no other practical reason than "I want to"?

Good Plan

Don't throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water.

Swedish Proverb

Photo: "the Blue Bucket" by raphos

Helping ...

I have been doing some extra hours at work helping those affected by the floods and the fires.

I worked until 9 on Friday. I worked Saturday. I worked Sunday. I was due to work until 8 tonight ... no make that 9 .... no let's try for 10... ok who can stay until 11.... okay we need 10 people until 12 ... sigh.

Canberra should be calling again in the next 15 minutes, if they are going to call but I am calling it myself - I got here at 8 and that makes it a 16 hour day. That's enough helping for anyone .... especially as I am back again tomorrow to do it all again lol

Welcome to Today

Whoever is happy will make others happy, too.

Anne Frank

Art: "Morning Joy" by Felicia Hunt

Flowers After the Storm

Just Breathe

You can take from every experience what it has to offer you. And you cannot be defeated if you just keep taking one breath followed by another.

Oprah Winfrey

Art: "Feel of Spring" by Carole Felmy

Photo Challenge - Solitude

After the Rain

Please click on this one so you get all of the detail ....

Photo Challenge - Updates

Well my big news of the week is living in an official "Natural Disaster Area" and getting my version of a snow-day from work (yes I had a flood-day). Now none of that really suits this week's theme but worse things happen at sea lol

And speaking of themes.

This Friday: Solitude
Friday 6 March: Aging
Friday 13 March: Mineral

Now there is something for everyone in that little combination.

Happy clicking folks :-)

It Rained ... A Lot

Bellingen Flooded ... A Lot

The is a view across the road - the river is usually very securely behind the tree line and not particularly visible :-)

The Garden Flooded ... A Little Bit

Skin Starvation

One of the biggest problems of being an independent, single woman is skin starvation.

Now I am guessing that most of you will need that explaining - you rarely get to touch other people. Now I am not talking about personal or sexual touching, just literally a human touch - touching hands while passing someone a coffee, a quick kiss goodbye in the morning, a touching of the bodies in the hallway.




As a single person with no kids, I doubt I would have touched another human being for more than 2 minutes (total) in the last fortnight - and the month before that would have been the same. Sometimes I just want to touch someone - a hug, a holding of hands, just something ...



Art: "toUch" by supergrass

Surprise!

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.

A A Milne

Art: "Surprise" by urstardust

We Are Flooded In

It has been gloriously raining since Friday - apparently we have had 400 ml since then with something like another 200 ml overnight. So the town is flooded in. Now I should clarify immediately that (to my knowledge) no houses are at risk, it is just the roads in and out that are under water. And I live on a mountain, I will need a Noah's Ark-type flood before I am personally at risk of going under.

So there is no work today. Okay we are going to try again at lunchtime but I am not personally hopeful that things would have changed that much.

Part of me is going woo-hoo - this is kinda like the snow day that I have never had. The rest of me wants to be there - I have things to do and people to talk to and stats to work on - I have a work ethic! :-)

Sigh ...

Art: "Flood" by nukieu

Yes

Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.

Christine Bovee

Art: "Confident" by BitterGrapes

What A Day

I volunteered to do some overtime last night to call some of the people affected by the bushfires to update them on their interaction with my workplace. In doing so I had to decide not to do a big cook (or "go overboard" as others might say) for the fundraiser today. Not that that means there won't be enough for everyone - so many are pitching in.



Anyhow, the calls started off well with the resiliance and sense of humor of the Australia spirit shining through - those affected by the fire admitted they had lost their homes but they were still together and were overwhelmed by all of the support they were receiving.


Then the calls started to get harder - people sharing their stories of loss, trying hard to focus on the future but struggling to cope with the present, people worried about the effect the fires had on their children, people worried about where they will live or what they will wear.

I cried along with them. The pain, the fear was so palpable, so tangible.

I decided to take a break and go home early - I will make more calls today but I wasn't much use to anyone at that point.

The irony of going 'home' for a break didn't escape me so I stopped and had a quick time-out before hitting the road with a precious friend who listened, who loved, who who got me laughing.

And on the way home it started to rain. And by rain I mean I had to slow down from my usual 100 kph to 40 kph with serious thoughts of just pulling over and waiting for it to stop. I thought the clouds were crying with me until, again, the ongoing irony of the situation became obvious. Some 1000 km away people are fighting over 30 bushfires, 15 of which are still out of control and in my neighborhood, the rain was falling so heavily I could barely see the road in front of me.

And after a night of little sleep and many bad dreams, I am up, ready to do it all again. The muffins are in the oven, their smell is wafting around the house. And I am wondering where all of these people, and the thousands of volunteers who are helping out, are getting their reserves. I sit here and still weep.

Art: "Angel Cry" by digitalsoldier

Photo Challenge - Saint

For all of the saints who are out there doing so much more than just "lending a hand" in this week of devastation.

Bushfires

It has been a tough week in Australia - while the floods continue to cause considerable damage up north, there has been the ongoing fire tragedy down south. With over 180 people dead and complete downs that have been wiped off the map, it is impossible to imagine what those most affected have been going through.

Every time I think about blogging it I have wept. I know that sounds pathetic - I mean I have no friends involved, nor have I ever even visited the affected areas. But it is how I am responding.

We have a fundraiser at work tomorrow so that gives me something practical to focus on. On top of that, over $40 million has already been raised by Australians, with funds also coming in from foreign governments to help those who have lost everything.

There are no words, there is no way to say "I understand".

Photo Challenge Updates

The world seems to have gone somewhat crazy this week and the Photo Challenge seems so trivial but I have to admit it is taking my mind off things that are so far out of my control.

I know that sounds dramatic but I can't make apologies for that at the moment.

This week: Saint
February 20: Solitude
February 27: Animal

More "Cold" Photos

Lesson for Today

If you can react the same way to winning and losing, that is a big accomplishment. That quality is important because it stays with you the rest of your life.


Chris Evert

Art: "This Moment Now" by Katrina Power

Guess Who is Coming to America?

Dance dance dance :-)

Yes I am pleased to officially announce that I am going to America. Yippee!!!

To back-track just a moment, I did plan a big 6 week trip in January/February this year catching up with Miss Weasley and family, meeting my penpal Rob and his family and dropping by our own Pita but all of that had to be shelved if I took this current job. Now it was a big choice but the old work-place is so toxic and I was being "targetted for removal" so it was a chocie I had to make.

This trip won't be my six week spectacular - I will spend about 6 days on Obama-scented soil and that will be in Dallas with Miss Weasley and the kiddlies who are no longer kiddlies. The big trip will have to be next year :-)

In any case, dance dance dance ... this will be my first overseas trip and a huge step out of my comfort zone but dance dance dance ... I am going to America :-)

The Price of Peace

You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has freedom.

Malcom X

The Glory of Light

The Veil of Ignorance

I was listening to my pod this week when I came across a discussion of philosopher John Rawl's "Veil of Ignorance".

"Imagine that you have set for yourself the task of developing a totally new social contract for today's society. How could you do so fairly? Although you could never actually eliminate all of your personal biases and prejudices, you would need to take steps at least to minimize them. Rawls suggests that you imagine yourself in an original position behind a veil of ignorance . Behind this veil, you know nothing of yourself and your natural abilities, or your position in society. You know nothing of your sex, race, nationality, or individual tastes. Behind such a veil of ignorance all individuals are simply specified as rational, free, and morally equal beings. You do know that in the "real world", however, there will be a wide variety in the natural distribution of natural assets and abilities, and that there will be differences of sex, race, and culture that will distinguish groups of people from each other."

I must have gone back to deep sleep because I can't really remember what came after that so I didn't hear any of the opinions of those in the show. So I have set myself the task of taking up the challenge but I am not sure I am getting very far.

I considered that my first "rule" would be that all people would be equal. Then I stopped and had to think about that - does that mean they contribute equally, or are paid equally, or are equal before the law, or have equal access to health and education services. Although it sounds really easy, I am not sure that any of that is entirely practical (or maybe I am carrying forth my prejudices of the world I live in).

What about the very disabled, are the same expectations on "contribution" to be put on them as the able bodies. And how do we define "contribution"? It all gets hard after that.

In theory we are all equal before the law but then there is the maxim "he who has the best lawyer wins". And, currently in Australia, prior to processing, people claiming refugee status (yes the "illegals") are not equal. Nor is David Hicks. And we all know the paedophiles get rougher treatment once in jail than others (mainly by the prison population). And there is the thoughts of solitary confinement... or guilty by means of mental incompetency. Again, it is all getting quite hard.

Equal access to government services is another one - by default many services are located in major population areas and are progressively reduced the smaller your community.

Hmm, I thought it would be easy to come up with a few guidelines for an alternate world but this is as far as I have got.

Any thoughts?

Photo: "You Are the Veil" by imakatia

Cooking at Work

Ok I made these a couple of weeks ago (you probably have noticed I am really behind with my blog and blog visits) but better late than never :-)

White Chocolate and Raspberry Mini Muffins

2 1/2 Cups SR flour

1/2 C sugar

1/14 C milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

90 g butter, melted

30 frozen raspberries

8 squares white chocolate, each cut into quarters

Preheat oven to 180 C.

Combine flour and sugar in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, egg and butter. Mix and then pour into the dry ingredients. Gently mix until all of the ingredients are combined.

Put about 1 teaspoon of the mixture into the muffin pan. Add 1 raspberry and 1 quarter of a square of white chocolate. Top up until three quarters full.

Bake for about 12 minutes. Makes 30 mini muffins.

Blueberry and Macadamia Individual Cheesecakes

Base

150 g sweet biscuits, crushed

100 g butter, melted

Filling

3/4 C cream

500 g cream cheese, softened to room temperature

3/4 C sugar

3 eggs, separated

36 frozen blueberries

1 handful honey-roasted macadamia nutes, crushed

Combine the biscuit crumbs and the butter and gently press about 1 Tablespoon of the mixture into 12 paper muffin shells. Refrigerate until the filling has been made.

Preheat oven to 160 C.

Beat together the cream cheese and sugar until well combined. Add egg yolks, one at a time, mixing thoroughly before adding another. Add cream and mix again.

In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold in egg whites to the rest of the mix.

Add 3 frozen blueberries to each of the bases. Top with filling.

Bake at 160 C for 15 - 20 minutes. Turn off oven and leave the cheesecakes in the oven for 4 hours. Top with crushed honey-roasted macadamia nuts. Refrigerate overnight.

Just for Today

The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it's all we need.

Ann Richards

Photo: To Be Content" by nighthawk663

Photo Challenge - Cold

Lunchtime Treat

It was time to treat myself for lunch - yes it was Sumo Salad time. This used to be my treat whenever I was in the Sydney airport but a local outlet has opened - and even better, they deliver to work one day a week :-)

I was contemplating a change from the "usual" but it has been over a year since I had the Pumpkin and Pine Nut Salad, I had to default to the tried and true lol. The Sumo website describes it as: Savour the sweet joys of BBQ-roasted pumpkin, crisp cucumber, Danish fetta, roasted pine nuts and crunchy walnuts. Top it all off with fresh mixed lettuces, and a light and tantalising dressing of Frenchstyle mayonnaise. This salad is a vegetarian fantasy come to life.

A definite trat - and one serve did me for a meal and a snack later on :-)

Photo Challenge Updates

There is something exciting in the air - is it change, is it challenge, is it possibility ... not quite sure but it sure is feeling positive and exciting.

And it is cathcing - other friends and family can feel it too. Actually if I had to describe it, it is that moment in the movie "Mary Poppins" just before the woman herself appears. The winds change direction and you can see Dick Van Dyke's character respond.

Anyway, back to the Photo Challenge...



This Friday: Cold
Friday 13 February: Saint

Friday 20 February: Solitude