I found quite a ‘detailed’ discussion this morning,  happening on Face Book between my son and some of his friends about the Australian cricket team –  right at the end, I added my own brief viewpoint on some of the personnel being discussed –    “Interesting ‘discussion’ guys – Ponting and Hussey will be gone soon, but it should be their decision, they don’t deserve, or justify being  dropped at this stage. As for comparisons with Bradman, if anyone fits that category, it should be India’s Sachin Tendulkar, I saw his first Test in Australia and he’s being brilliant ever since, but always hard to compare modern day players who play so many more games, and have more opportunities than the likes of Bradman did. As for the Indians, it’s about time the world cricket authorities started to stand up to the Indian boards, we seem to give them what they want every time, because they’re got the money – while half their population begs in the streets of India!! It’s time to stop bowing and scraping to every wish of the Indians!!   No subsequent response to that, at the time of writing.

While on the cricket, today’s ‘Australian’ newspaper has a good ‘wrap up’ of yesterday’s Test match –  [by Wayne Smith] – ‘It’s only a short hop over Bass Strait from Hobart to Melbourne but what a giant leap the Australian cricket side has taken from Bellerive Oval to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After being humiliated by eighth-ranked New Zealand in Hobart a fortnight ago, Michael Clarke’s men maintained their maddeningly inconsistent recent form by dismantling the might of India to claim an extraordinary 122-run victory inside four days in the first Test yesterday. What turned out to be the final day of an absorbing Test began with Australia precariously placed, just 230 runs ahead  and with only two wickets in hand. Most of the smart money in Mohali, Mumbai and Melbourne was on India quickly sweeping aside the last of the Australians and then unleashing the demi-gods of their batting line-up. ‘Anything under 300 is gettable,’ opener Virender Sehwag had predicted. That was almost what India was left to chase after tailenders James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus pushed the Australian lead out to 291 with some lusty last-wicket batting. Sehwag’s early departure, brilliantly caught by the suddenly inform Mike Hussey, rocked India on its heels, but while Sachin Tendulkar was still there the Swami Army never lost heart or voice. Then pace spearhead Peter Siddle struck, as he did in the first innings, to remove the Little Master and from that moment the Indian crowd was muted, the Indian cause doomed.  Siddle must have cost Cricket Australia a small fortune when he dismissed Tendulkar in the final over on day two [Tuesday], robbing the Melbourne Test of the massive crowd that would surely have turned out the following day to watch him score his 100^th Test century. But by repeating the feat yesterday, he recouped CA’s losses because it guarantees the Swami Army now will descend on Sydney in force next week when Tendulkar takes yet another tilt at a unique century of centuries”.

A beautiful morning in Sunbury  – a brief visit to the shopping centre, saw your writer purchase another small set of bookshelves [almost have more shelves than books these days – well, that’s a slight exaggeration] –  plus another book from the proceeds of a small money gift given to me for Christmas by Shirley’s mother  [another book of short stories, this time by international author Maeve Binchy called ‘Treasury, the quality of which I am anticipating might be a little better than the selection I read by Rachel Treasure the other day – my view anyway!]. Also purchased the latest edition of Songlines Magazine, which in addition to the regular CD attachment, included a second CD of Australian Roots music – Global Sounds of Australia [featuring artists from the Australasian World Music Expo 2008-2010] – a perfect new selection for my Monday night program over the next 18 weeks!!  Back home just as Susie left again, this time for work!

With the end of 2011 nigh, a couple of the news headlines have attracted my attention, and without going into much details, these include:

• The first full calendar year of the minority Gillard government has been the worst polling period  for federal Labor in modern times. As 2011 draws to a close, the Gillard Labor Government has finished the year in the worst position of any Labor government or opposition since Newspoll surveys began almost 30 years ago. Labor also started 2011 in its worst position of any year and reached an all-time low in primary vote support of just 26% in September…..[and they are still the Government!!!!
• Australian brain surgeon Charlie Teo is one of 16 world experts who have accused a global newspaper [the ‘Economist’] of publishing ‘technical errors and misleading statements’ in an article that rubbished the idea mobile phones cause cancer –  The experts wrote that history was ‘replete with failures to control highly profitable carcinogenic substances, ranging from tobacco to asbestos, until proof of harm became irrefutable’, and suggested on a conservative analysis that mobile phones and other wireless radiation might be seeding 250,000 avoidable brain tumours every year……………..while the Economist article ridiculed those who believe mobile phones are harming people as a ‘tinfoil-hat brigade hours in the wreck with no food and only a bottled water’ who continue to believe ‘deadly waves in the ether are frying their brains’…….[I think I might pay more credence to the experts, over the opinions of the entrepreneurs!]
• A NSW woman who survived for more than three days while trapped beneath her upturned car sought to amputate her own leg in a desperate bid to free herself…..Omn 3pm on Christmas Day [she] was driving home after sharing lunch with her daughter when she swerved to miss a kangaroo. Lost control of her Commodore and rolled 8m down an embankment with the car coming to rest in thick scrub not visible from the road…her leg pinned under the car door, she spent the next 75 agonising hours in the wreck with no food and only a bottled water…..found by pure luck, 3 days later by a teenager out walking a neighbour’s dog………………[my query, how come she was not missed by her family for that three days, surely a search along the route of travel would have been the first search action undertaken had the alarm being raised???]
• A memorial service that provided a once-in-a-generation public glimpse inside North Korea ended yesterday with the country’s military and civilian leadership pledging allegiance to ‘supreme leader’ Kim Jong-un. The window into the world’s Stalinist state slammed shut at midday yesterday…to mark the end of the two-day funeral service for dictator Kim Jonh-il……………….[I am left wondering at the authenticity of the ‘mass mourning and tearful hysteria that we have witnessed on our screens over recent days, just seems so typical of the regimented and forced way that the people of North Korea have lived under for most of my life – depiction of millions of brain-washed actors!!].
• The Alice Springs to Darwin railway now looks certain to be closed for at least two weeks, in the wake of the after-affects and some consequences of last weekend’s assault on the Top End of Australia by Cyclone Grant  – big industrial cost consequences as well as the affect on private travel, etc.
• And in sport, Lleyton Hewitt has nominated defending champion Novak Djokovic as the player to beat in next month’s Australian Open after correctly predicting his ascension to the top a year ago……[not exactly a difficult prediction in either situation, as Hewitt prepares to return to the court this Sunday representing Australia in the Hopman Cup].

Meanwhile, from the 30 December publication of ‘Life Choices’, I’ve found a few recipes of  recommended ‘healthy’ meals that appear simple enough in preparation and ingredients, that ‘even I’ could perhaps manage to cook!!!,   I’m going to share three of them here with my readers.

From Centrelink ‘Life Choices’ publication – 30 December newsletter
One Pot Chicken Curry

This is a great dish to rustle up when you’re on the move or looking for a tasty Friday night dinner option…serves four

Ingredients

1 tablespoon cooking oil
750g boneless chicken thighs, cubed
1 large brown onion, cut into wedges
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoons curry powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
250ml chicken stock
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 large potatoes, washed and cubed
375ml tin coconut milk (you can use the light variety)
500g tin canned diced tomatoes, drained
Freshly ground salt and black pepper to taste

 Method

Heat oil in a large pot over a medium to high setting. Add the chicken and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until browned, stirring occasionally. Add the onion and fry until slightly tender. Add the ginger, garlic, curry powder and cumin and fry for a further two minutes…………………………Pour over the stock and stir, ensuring you scrape all the brown tasty bits at the bottom of the pot………………………….Stir in the coconut milk and add the potatoes. Leave to simmer for five minutes, and then add the tomatoes and carrots…………………………Simmer until vegetables are tender and season further if required.

Healthy Veggie Slice

Getting five serves of fruit and vegetables every day is easier said than done. This Healthy Veggie Slice is a tasty snack packed with all the goodness you need.

Ingredients
2 medium carrots, grated
2 medium zucchini, grated
100g baby spinach, chopped
1 red onion, finely sliced
1 cup freshly chopped herbs
1 cup cottage cheese
3 eggs
1/2 cup self-raising flour
1 & 1/2 cups milk

Method
Sprinkle vegetables with a pinch of salt and leave in the fridge for 15 minutes. Remove from the fridge and squeeze the liquid from the vegetables…………………Preheat the oven to 200⁰C and lightly grease a pie dish…………………………Combine the flour, cheese and mixed vegetables……………………..Mix milk and eggs together and add the mixture gradually into the vegetables…………………..Pour into the pie dish and bake for 30 minutes…………………………………………………Serve with salad or crusty bread

And believe or not!!!!

Fish and Chips

Fish and chips are the perfect dish to round off the week but can be quite unhealthy if deep fried. This fresh, oven baked version is low fat and tasty, so why not treat yourself.

Ingredients

For the chips
1 teaspoon sunflower oil
1 egg white
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
400g potatoes

For the fish
75g fresh bread crumbs
A handful of flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons chopped chives
Zest of 1 lemon
20g butter, melted
1 tablespoon plain flour
1 large beaten egg
4 fish fillets such as rockling or whiting, with skin on
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Lemon wedges, to serve

Method
Preheat oven to 180ºC. Rub the oil over a non-stick baking sheet……………………….Peel and cut the potatoes for chips. Whisk together the egg white with the black pepper and salt. Toss the potatoes in the mixture and place onto the baking tray, separating as much as possible…………………………Cook in the oven for 45 minutes, turning every 10 minutes. They may look a little pale and soggy in the beginning but they will start to crisp……………………..While chips are cooking make the coating for the fish by finely chopping the parsley and chives, then mixing well with the breadcrumbs and lemon zest. Next stir in the melted butter…………………….On separate plates, place the flour, beaten egg and breadcrumb mixture. Season with salt and pepper and then coat each fillet in flour, on the flesh side. Next, place in egg and then bread crumbs……………….Place the fish onto a large non-stick baking tray and bake on the top shelf of the oven for approximately 15 minutes. The thinner the fillet, the less time it will take to cook……………………….Once cooked through, serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.

What I would actually eat tonight was much more basic than those suggestions – tomatoes, egg and mushrooms!!  Susan eating out again, so my services were not required!! I guess that suited me, as I was also going out myself, though simply to the radio station to do a one-off program tonight – filling a gap with 3 hours or so of jazz music. Not much jazz gets airplay on our station apart from what I play on a Monday night, so I always like the opportunity to produce and present as program of jazz, in the absence of any degree of regular commitment, when the chance to do so becomes available.  A mix tonight of traditional and contemporary jazz music – I know many of our listeners prefer the traditional stuff, but I reason that they need to be  ‘educated’  to move on a little, so I like to mix it up a bit!

Meanwhile, a couple of phone calls this afternoon gave me unexpected news – the presenter I was filling in on early Wednesday mornings, I thought would be back on Wednesday week. No, not until the 29^th January!!  Could I manage his show until then?  Admittedly, I’d been looking forward to just one more week!    Ohh well, I’m sure I will manage!  The other call was more disturbing.  My wife’s niece, who had two young children, had been separated from her husband for a year or so now. Apparently this afternoon, he had collapsed and died suddenly, from a heart attack!  At 38 years of age!  Tragic news, and also rather sobering, for us 65 year olds!!

Dull and overcast outside first thing this morning, then all of the sudden, the sun breaks through, and we realise that those predictions of a hot New Year’s Eve weekend, are going to bear fruit, like it or not.  Another  ‘restless’ night for your personal essayist, who arose this morning not really feeling like doing very much at all!  Some might say, well, you don’t have to, you are retired now, give yourself a break!   But, being a few too many of those lately, must get on the move!  No doubt we will, as the day proceeds, it’s in the blood!! But I think I will at least watch the closing stages of Australia’s 2^nd innings batting first – it may not last very long!  In actual fact,   a good morning session for Australia, with the bowlers adding a few valuable runs to the overnight score of 8 for 179, to take Australia’s total on to 240.  That leavers India with 292 runs needed to win the match. By lunch, on Day 4, they had lost their first wicket,  for 24 runs, still requiring 267. Unless there is a collapse of wickets, the match is unexpectedly, unlikely to finish today.

Susan came home quite late last night, and whether she left again during the night, or early this morning, I really don’t know  – in fact her car was still here this morning, but no Susie!!  I seem to have little knowledge of her whereabouts quite often these days, and I suppose that if she wasn’t living here, that would generally be the case anyway! Certainly, yours truly is alone for a large part of the time lately, and while that doesn’t specifically worry me, it would be occasionally nice to be informed now and then, as to where one’s daughter is gone to! Maybe it’s the beach, or somewhere similar today, with friends. Not aware of any daytime concerts on at this stage. She arrived home in fact, just before 7pm!  I hoped she’d had a good day, had she been to the beach or somewhere?  That enquiry, or conversation point,  was greeted with a look of ‘what a stupid question’, so I didn’t proceed any further down that line, just remained feeling ‘stupid’ though not sure why!!!

Yesterday’s mail, as well as including a late Christmas card, also included the Summer edition of the ‘Art Gallery of Ballarat’s’  quarterly publication, simply called ‘Association’. An amusing start to the President’s column  –  “My first year as President has been…um….interesting to say the least. There have been tears, laughter, confusion, hizzy-fits, and that’s just coming from me!”  Thankfully, that sentence was a misleading indication of the many positive things she had to relate about 2011 activities at the Ballarat Art Gallery. For a moment there, we were going to have a long tirade about the dispute during the year over who should take possession and care of the historic Eureka Flag. In fact no reference to that subject – that came a few pages later under the ‘Director’s Say’ [Gordon Morrison], and that was relatively brief, and positive with the issue not yet resolved apparently. He had this to say.

“In early December we will also be welcoming back the Eureka Flag after its lengthy conservation treatment at the Artlab in Adelaide. While I did see it once during the treatment process it is going to be almost as much a surprise for me as it will be for Association Members to see it in its new display case in the Selkirk Gallery. You can expect to see it arranged according to its original proportions, and the colour of the backing cloth will be somewhat less obtrusive but the main changes arte things which you will not see, like an amazing honeycomb aluminium backing that is strong, inert and flexible – without being too flexible!  The negotiations with the City of Ballarat for its loan to the new Australian Centre for Democracy at Eureka are still ongoing but, assuming that the remaining issues are resolved, the Flag will be placed on loan at the Centre after the middle of 2012”.

With that last statement in mind, I must make another visit to the Gallery before too long  –  apart from the potential loan of the Flag to the Centre for Democracy, part of the ongoing debate is that the Centre believes should be permanently displayed at its new venue, while the Art Gallery, where it has been on display for decades, obviously wants to retain that display. I agree with the Art Gallery to where it was originally donated for safe keeping by descendants of the original Eureka participants, and I would prefer to see it remain on display in the outstandingly created Selkirk Gallery within the main building of the Art Gallery complex.

Reading some more of the William McInnes/Sarah Watt book today – a little paragraph about one of their friends  –  it sounded familiar, you could almost be describing this writer, and his ‘;hesitant’ but consistent involvement in community affairs  –  from p. 162   –  “He was a funny bloke. In many ways he was a shy man. He never liked being made the centre of attention if people were trying to praise him. But the fact that he found a place in the school community and became part of its bedrock speaks not only of his generosity but of also how much he felt at home there, sensing something in this community that was worthwhile and decent”. I spent every year of my children’s schooling [between 1987-2007] as a member of the respective school councils on two of the three schools they attended] and a great part of that time as the council president. Yet through all that time, I maintained a low profile, not wishing to throw myself at the forefront of the community, just quietly working away in the background and in conjunction with the relevant school principal and/or staff.  I felt that William McInnes’ description fitted that ‘profile’ as soon as I read it.

Unless there is a collapse of wickets, the match is unexpectedly, unlikely to finish today  – that’s what I said above!!!  Well, the Test Match was over before 5pm, and not because India scored 292 runs in record time, but because the Australian bowlers took all 10 wickets in a session and a half of cricket!!  Australia, against all the odds at the beginning of the day, won the 1^st Test by 122 runs. Team scores were:  Australia – 333 and 240  defeated India 282 and 169. Man of the match was James Pattinson of Australia, playing just his third Test match  The total crowds at the MCG for the four days of the match were 189,347 [including 72,000 on Day 1, Boxing Day].  The teams were:  Australia Brad Haddin, Michael Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Peter Siddle, David Warner, James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Lyon, Ed Cowan   India  Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Zaheer Khan, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma   The 2^nd Test commences in Sydney next Tuesday.

In the meantime, I finished reading  the book I referred to earlier, ‘Worse Things Happen At Sea’ by Sarah Watt and William McInnes this afternoon. A beautifully written book by this husband and wife team. On page 240, Sarah writes:-  “I don’t know when I will have to go. I give myself small aims; get through the summer, get through the winter. See Clem finish school. Get Stella to the stage when her friends are as important to her as I am. But I don’t believe it’s in my control. I have seen the most excellent and deserving people do their absolute best to control their own biology, and fail. I would feel a fake and a traitor to them if I thought it was up to me. Cancer’s a disease, and good people die”

The book was published in 2011.  Sarah Watt died of  the cancer of which she was speaking on the 4 November, 2011, aged 53 years.  Reading from Wikipedia, we learn that Sarah Watt, who was born in Sydney in 1958,   “completed a Graduate Diploma of Film and Television (Animation) at the Swinburne (now VCA) School of Film and Television, Melbourne in 1990. Her student film “Catch of the Day” was to reflect the style of future work. In 1995, she directed a short film, Small Treasures, which won Best Short Film at the Venice Film Festival. In 2000, she made a program for the SBS series Swim Between the Flags. She received the Australian Film Institute’s award for Best Director for her 2005 film Look Both Ways.  Watt returned to the VCA School of Film and Television to teach animation and was to assist in the development of many animators including Academy Award winner Adam Eliot in 1996. Watt was instrumental in the development of scripts for all of her students, but left the School to further develop her own projects, returning on occasion as a script and final production assessor.  During the post-production of Look Both Ways, Watt was diagnosed with cancer. Her second film My Year Without Sex was released in 2009.  She died on 4 November 2011 after suffering for six years with breast and bone cancer, aged 53.  Sarah Watt was married to actor William McInnes.  They have two children, Clem (b.1993) and Stella (b.1998]” [the two children referred to in the book quotation, above].

Sent a message to Jodie, thanking her for that book as a Christmas present.

Today’s ‘Weekly Times’ rural newspaper had an Editorial, which provided a nice little summary of the State’s rainfall situation through 2011 –  headed ‘For wetter or for worse’, and I felt it worthwhile sharing and retaining as a perspective on what has passed in the rural sector.

‘This has been a pretty good year for rural communities across southeast Australia. It has been a year where, yet again, the weather dominated. After a decade of drought, 2011 will go down as the year the rain returned with a vengeance. And with it came all the good and bad wet weather can bring. Of course, the floods early in the year across Queensland and Victoria will dominate any discussion about the weather. But we can’t lose sight of the good that has come from the rain. Water storages are almost full, crops and pastures have hit their stride and the financial stress of drought has been somewhat alleviated [though I’m sure not all the farming community will agree with that]. It has been a year where commodity prices rose in unison, despite what should have been a cripplingly high Australian dollar.  For a major exporter, the dollar should have decimated our farming industries. Yet beef, lamb, dairy and wool confounded the experts and continued to rise. The only lowlight has been the steady drop in grain prices, just as grower hit the paddock to harvest a near-record crop. The quiet achiever this year has been the wool industry, where the action finally moved from the boardroom to the paddock. After years as the whipping boy – the commodity that once was – wool came into its own. In June, it hit its highest price in 23 years and while it has come off the boil to more sustainable levels, it remains strong enough for many growers to contemplate a return to the fibre.  Of course, all livestock industries are a replacement game. When prices are high it means buying replacement stock will also be high. It has always been this way. But farmers are happy to pay good prices if they are confident of the year ahead. It is this sentiment which makes next week’s annual weaner calf sales such an important indicator of the year ahead. Early this year the talk was of exorbitant calf prices. They are expected to be even higher next year. If producers believe they can stand to make a quid, they will pay accordingly. Let’s hope they do’. [Of course, there’s the other side to that, faced by us poor customers – meat prices, for quality meat, or otherwise, have been quite high for a year or so now –  and if those indicators are correct, we can expect the prices to be even more out of the reach of many consumers in 2012. I’m certainly glad these days, that I don’t have to buy a week’s meat to feed a family, there’d be not much left over for anything else judging by current lamb and beef prices, etc. The chicken must be quite prosperous these days, as the meat alternative!].

 The Bureau of Meteorology puts a slightly different perspective on things – yes, a year that began, and ended, with floods, but while many people will perceive this as having being a very wet year, most of it occurred at the start and end of the year – the growing season, from April through to October, had been drier than normal in most of Victoria, but the rest of the year had balanced out to a picture of pretty high ‘annual’ rainfall figures. While the annual total won’t be a record, it is expected to be somewhere just inside or outside the top 10 records. Perhaps the rain on Christmas Day might push it inside! Meanwhile the rainfall records for the summer of 2010/2011  did break some records [and the drought] –  339mm for that period [average summer rainfall is 119mm, and the previous highest was 237mm in 1910/1911].  A few individual figures of places I’ve visited in 2011 for eg, showing 2011 rainfall as a percentage of the average, revealed for Melbourne [128%, Sunbury probably similar], Bendigo  [138%], Ballarat [114%], and Charlton [104%, yet that town, which I visited in September, has still not fully recovered from the disastrous floods in the town, early in 2011].

I was able to make reference to some of those facts during this morning’s early radio show  –  from 6am, for 3 hours, as I filled in  for that time slots normal presenter. Ron usually mixes his music up with lots of news, sport and phone interviews. I gave the latter a miss [most of Ron’s regular interviewees were away also], although I did have a guest in the studio at one stage. I must say, that after a night of not feeling well, it was difficult to want to get out at 5am this morning, but once I was out in the morning air [overcast, chance of drizzle, but sunny conditions expected for most of the day, and some very hot weather ahead of us this weekend] and on the road to my destination, felt much fresher and enthusiastic. Bit more traffic around this morning, compared with Christmas morning – from memory, on that drive, around 6.30am, I think I only passed one other vehicle, and one pedestrian, which surprised me, as I had expected to find a few kids around the streets with new bikes, etc, perhaps it was even too early for that, though not from my memories of Christmas mornings when my children were younger. Anyway, the first hour this morning was devoted to country, and them we brought in a variety of music genres for the rest of the program.  I do enjoy being able to play a range of music types – one reason, I ‘created’ the Monday night format!

A little ‘lazy’ at home today, after I eventually returned, from the radio, and a bit of shopping, etc. Lazy, that is, from the point of view of external physical work [it’s a ‘holiday’ week, the cricket is on, some great books to read, etc, etc, etc – those are my excuses any!], but I did catch up with an old ‘online friend’ that I have not ‘chatted to’ for some years. Bronnie and I met up on the internet, over 12 years ago, and for some years, had many lengthy ‘chats’. But over the past 5/6 years, I came to find that sitting at the computer ‘chatting’ [irrespective of how friendly I might have been with the person at the other end] simply tired me out, even bored me at times, with the feeling of other things I should have been doing. Lost a few friends because of that, although Bronnie is one of the few I have stayed in touch with through the occasional email, Face Book etc!!  Anyway, it was a pleasant change to be able to ‘converse’ for a while today.

Rang Shirley this evening  – she’d had her car booked for a windscreen replacement, but with all the storm damage done to cars on Christmas afternoon and evening, I wondered whether she’d been able to have it proceeded with? A bit of a wait, but yes the job was done – however, had she not had the prior booking for the job, would probably have had no hope!! Expensive  but satisfactory outcome. Meanwhile, Susie away all day, working, and the disappeared again quite quickly late this afternoon, after returning home – not back until ‘late’!!

Today’s cricket  – Day 3 of the 1^st Test against India, and after a day in which 15 wickets fell, including another poor performance by some of Australia’s batsmen who should have done better, India was in a strong position to win the game, at the close of the 3^rd day’s play. As the ‘Times of India’ described it ‘On a topsy-turvy day, when Test cricket resembled a rollercoaster ride, India and Australia took turns to seek comfort in discomfort and left the first Test at the MCG poised on a razor’s edge’.  Yes, on a bright and sunny Day 3, during the course of which the pendulum swayed crazily and as many as 15 wickets tumbled, Mike Hussey redeemed himself and rescued his Test career with a gallant unbeaten 79. With two days remaining in the Test, Australia, with 179 for eight on the board in their second innings, enjoy an overall lead of 230 runs. Obviously, only the 4^th day will be needed to finish this game – tomorrow is the day I was considering going to the cricket myself, and if Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey had still been batting together at the end of the day, I would have been on my way. But this match might be over very quickly, and despite the optimism of some of the TV commentators, I think India are a sure winner of this First Test.  Ricky Ponting scored another 60 runs, and while his two innings in this game might be enough to keep his place in the team for now, I don’t think that he personally, would be satisfied with his innings on both occasions  – good strong starts, but individual mistakes cost him a wicket, when a century looked on the cards both times!  Anyway, at Stumps on Day 3 –  Australia: 333  and 8 for 179.  India 282, with Australia’s lead just 230 runs, two wickets left.  I’m predicting the India team will win this match rather easily, later on today!!

With Christmas Day falling on Sunday, an additional public holiday was allocated for today, not that it means a great deal of difference to my routine, now being retired. After a reasonable sleep following last night’s program, I woke at 8am, and was pleased to hear that one of our regular weekday presenters was on air this morning, Christine with her program. In the meantime, I completed one of the books I was given on Christmas Day – from Jodie and Ash, it was a collection of short, easy to read fictional stories by popular Australian author, Rachael Treasure, whose novels seem to be based around Australian farming people, horses, etc, with a strong romantic aspect to the storylines. This collection went under the title of ‘The Girl and the Ghost-Grey Mare’ [which was in fact the first short story in the book] While in general, the stories provide quick and easy reading, and were broadly interesting, of the 19 separate tales, I actually only found about three of them really inspired me in any way and/or created much in the way of an emotional response. The cover described the author as Australia’s favourite rural story teller – perhaps true, and maybe I should read one of her complete novels before I pass complete judgement [there are four of them, and they have been good sellers – I asked for this particular book as I thought it might be a good introduction to her writings.

 If the couple of stories I read and enjoyed are an indication, yes, perhaps the praise is justified, and certainly the description that the book ‘features stories full of warmth and heart and humour, and with characters as diverse and colourful as the Australian countryside itself’ is an accurate depiction.  I just didn’t walk away with the usual warm feeling that ‘I want to keep reading this author’! One day when I feel like another quick and light read, I might try one of her four novels!!

In the cricket, just before today’s scheduled lunch break, Australia were all out for 333 runs, thanks to another good effort by our tailenders, the bowlers!!  By stumps, the Indians had batted themselves into a strong position at 4 down for 214.

I’m reading another book at present [which was in fact a present – from Jodie & Ash] named ‘Worse Things Happen at Sea’ and written jointly by husband and wife team William McInnes [Australian stage and screen actor, and author] and Sarah Watt [AFI filmmaker, photographer & animator], and published a few months ago  –  described as ‘Tales of life, love, family and the everyday beauty in between’.  This book celebrates the wonderful, messy, haphazard things in life — bringing home babies from hospital, being a friend, a parent, son or daughter, and dog obedience classes. It’s about living for twenty years in the family home, raising children there, chasing angry rabbits around the backyard, renovations that never end. It is also about understanding that sometimes you have to say goodbye; that is part of life too. It’s illustrated throughout with Sarah Watt’s photographs of family life and beautiful, everyday objects.  On the back cover of the book, each has the following to say.

‘I don’t think anyone really understands that idea [that the fun begins] until you do give up a part of yourself to another person or people. It’s not even about having children or a family or even having a long-term relationship. It is simply about sharing yourself with people’ [William McInnes]

‘William and I have been living together for more than two decades in the same house. In that time we have been growing happiness in the same measure as collecting grief’ [Sarah Watt].

Sadly, Sarah Watt died from cancer, at the age of 53, in November, a few months after the book was published.  The family published a tribute in The Age newspaper, saying she “died peacefully at home filled with the love she gave to those who adored her – her family”.  “A life of courage humour, intelligence, generosity, honesty and grace.”  She is best known for her feature films Look Both Ways, and My Year Without Sex, which combined her distinctive animation style with live action film.  Watt was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and secondary bone cancer in 2009.  So when the book was being written, and then published, the authors must have been well aware, the time was running out for Sarah.  I shall return later to comment on my view of the book – expect to finish it in a day or so. Meantime, I am enjoying the read, because it is much in liking to my own style of ‘biographical’ writing, though of course at a much more elevated professional level. I read a few more pages in bed tonight – went there much earlier than usual, feeling unwell, but not really sure why. Restless for a few hours, for that reason, but later slept for a few hours with an early start due, next morning.  

Another ‘book’ I’m trying to gain something from is a ‘Diabetes Cookbook’.  I want to improve the food I’m preparing, mostly for myself these days, with Susan seldom home, and in this particular book, there are over 250 recipes for all meals of the day. But everything has to be so damn complicated, or involve a range of ingredients, half of which I’ve never heard of!! It so often just seems so much effort to go, simply to prepare a meal or two for myself.  In the end, I gave up trying top prepare a soup from the book – went out this evening and brought a few extra vegetables, etc, to add to what I already had in the house, and prepared one of Bill’s ‘famous’ home made vegetable soups.  I honestly believe that will prove just as beneficial  to my health without the addition of the various extra ‘exotic’ items that the book recipes want me to include, and it will provide for at least two meals over the next day or so!  Just about cooked as I type – will allow it to simmer and breathe  for a while, before  adjourning it to the fridge, for tomorrow’s tasting!!

Reasonable overnight sleep – once James & his dog left, and  I was able to get to bed. Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, in Melbourne is traditionally the first day of a cricket Test Match – this year, between Australia and India. In years past, I would have been at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Day 1, but the crowds, traffic, etc, have put me off in recent years, and I am quite content to sit back this day now, in front of the TV, and watch the cricket. The cricket, and the start of the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which is also televised, are two sporting items of particular interest to this blog writer.

That would be my Boxing Day  – home, basically alone – Susie returned home for a brief time early afternoon, before going out again [without her car I noticed, again].

Last night I briefly referred to the Queen’s Christmas Message, delivered yesterday – the following is the text of her address, which was actually recorded on the 9 December, a couple of weeks before her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh was treated in hospital for a blocked coronary artery – a bit ironical when the subject matter this year dealt with the importance and influence of family, friends and the community! Being a bit of a traditionalist, I do like to take note of this particular address each year, and one can’t help noticing, that as she gets older, the emphasise of her speeches tend to become more family and personally orientated.

……………………………..”In this past year my family and I have been inspired by the courage and hope we have seen in so many ways in Britain, in the Commonwealth and around the world. We’ve seen that it’s in hardship that we often find strength from our families; it’s in adversity that new friendships are sometimes formed; and it’s in a crisis that communities break down barriers and bind together to help one another.  Families, friends and communities often find a source of courage rising up from within. Indeed, sadly, it seems that it is tragedy that often draws out the most and the best from the human spirit. When Prince Philip and I visited Australia this year, we saw for ourselves the effects of natural disaster in some of the areas devastated by floods, where in January so many people lost their lives and their livelihoods.  We were moved by the way families and local communities held together to support each other.

Prince William travelled to New Zealand and Australia in the aftermath of earthquakes, cyclones and floods and saw how communities rose up to rescue the injured, comfort the bereaved and rebuild the cities and towns devastated by nature.   The Prince of Wales also saw first-hand the remarkable resilience of the human spirit after tragedy struck in a Welsh mining community, and how communities can work together to support their neighbours.  This past year has also seen some memorable and historic visits – to Ireland and from America.  The spirit of friendship so evident in both these nations can fill us all with hope. Relationships that years ago were once so strained have through sorrow and forgiveness blossomed into long-term friendship.  It is through this lens of history that we should view the conflicts of today, and so give us hope for tomorrow.   Of course, family does not necessarily mean blood relatives but often a description of a community, organisation or nation. The Commonwealth is a family of 53 nations, all with a common bond, shared beliefs, mutual values and goals.  It is this which makes the Commonwealth a family of people in the truest sense, at ease with each other, enjoying its shared history and ready and willing to support its members in the direst of circumstances.  They have always looked to the future, with a sense of camaraderie, warmth and mutual respect while still maintaining their individualism.

The importance of family has, of course, come home to Prince Philip and me personally this year with the marriages of two of our grandchildren, each in their own way a celebration of the God-given love that binds a family together.  For many, this Christmas will not be easy. With our armed forces deployed around the world, thousands of service families face Christmas without their loved ones at home. The bereaved and the lonely will find it especially hard. And, as we all know, the world is going through difficult times. All this will affect our celebration of this great Christian festival.  Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas. Jesus was born into a world full of fear. The angels came to frightened shepherds with hope in their voices: ‘Fear not’, they urged, ‘we bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  ‘For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.’

Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed.  God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive. Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love. In the last verse of this beautiful carol, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, there’s a prayer:

Holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us we pray.

Cast out our sin

And enter in.

Be born in us today.

It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.  I wish you all a very happy Christmas.”  [the Queen, 25/12/2011]

That was Queen Elizabeth II’s 59^th annual Christmas speech, and was filmed in the 1844 room of Buckingham Palace, a seven minute address, actually delivered the day after Prince Phillip underwent emergency heart surgery.  As various media reports indicated, earlier in the day, Queen Elizabeth II appeared stressed without the presence of her husband who was still under observation following his surgery..  The presence of Kate Middleton,  the Duchess of Cambridge, however, and the children who brought her flowers, seemed to brighten the Queen’s spirits.  Prince Philip, meanwhile, is reported to be in better health and excellent spirits. Prince William told The Telegraph that his grandfather, now 90, was “very resilient” and “very determined.”

Meantime, back here in modest Sunbury, the sun has come out midway through the afternoon, though not of any particular strength, but it has brightened up the general aspect of the area

One of the books which, my eldest son in fact, gave me yesterday, was rather an unusual purchase by him, but one which indicated a good understanding of what Dad would be interested in!  A magnificent 700 page book entitled ‘ART’, detailing the historical span of world art in the fields of architecture, painting, sculpture, graphics, and technics, to name a few categories. In the introductory section, it was noted that ‘Art can be archaic, academic or abstract. It can be motivated by religion, politics, or simply by creativity, and it serves as a mirror of it’s time. In any case, art requires a personal, intellectual or emotional dialogue between the creator and his environment. Artists make use of certain techniques, sometimes perfecting them or even inventing completely new ones, but without spiritual individuality, art could never be more than kitsch. In addition, art constantly challenges the viewer to open and train his or her own emotions – and eyes. Personal interaction with art can be hard work, but it always provides a glimpse into culture[s] and it imparts wisdom’.  While the survey in this book doesn’t hope to replace that kind of interaction, but it does hope to improve the reader’s understanding and ability to communicate about the various concepts and genres of art. A book I will read through in stages over the next year or so, and am looking forward to doing so. 

As for the 1^st Cricket Test between India and Australia – Michael Clarke won the Toss for Australia and decided to bat.  Another debut player for Australia this match, and a new opening partnership –  Ed Cowan, joining Dave Warner to open the innings. A reasonable start for the Aussies, followed by another middle order collapse, and then some consolidation at the end of the day’s play, to leave Australia at 6 wickets down for 277 runs at Stumps on Day 1, with our wicketkeeper and bowler helping to make Australia’s score a little more respectable than it was looking at 6 down for 214 runs mid afternoon.

Meantime, some brighter news from the hospital front, with music guru, Molly Meldrum, seriously injured in a fall at his home a couple of weeks ago. Now taken off life support, and having spoken his first words since the fall.   While his words were “almost random” and not in response to any questions, they are providing great hope to the loved ones and fans wishing him a speedy and full recovery

My Boxing Day night ended up back at the radio station again – from 9pm for 3 hours of my ‘Smorgasbord’ program. As usual, an enjoyable evening’s music, etc, although by midnight, I was ready to finish up, feeling rather tired, and while I should be use to the ‘aloneness’ of the studio of that time of night, seemed to feel it more this evening.  I noticed that since Christmas Eve, there had only been three of us broadcasting live, a fairly normal situation at this time of year, with all of us volunteers, and the majority deciding not to be available over the Christmas/New Year period.  Each year, as I have undertaken extra time slots to cover some absentees, or simply continued with my own shows, that were it not for myself and generally one or two other presenters, there would be few ‘live’ programs during this period.  With a volunteer component, it is difficult to construct any kind of permanent relieving roster for such times. Meanwhile, I notice that we must have been off air for a time during the early hours of this morning – presumably an outcome of the power blackouts that hit Sunbury last night.  Apart from the power, by all reports, Sunbury survived those storms fairly well – there was widespread news from parts of Melbourne, particularly in the northeast suburbs, of widespread damage, and serious  flooding in many areas as a consequence – not a pleasant way to finish their Christmas afternoons. In light of that, we were rather lucky up here!

It’s 6.30pm Christmas evening, and I’m alone with Susan’s two cats, while outside, the humidity of the afternoon has finally led to the sounds of rolling thunderclaps and rain. I’m made a start of one of the books I was generously given by various members of the family during our gift exchanging session this afternoon, following our Christmas dinner. As I sat here, I almost considered driving back to the family home, share a bit of the evening meal, and a bit more of the company that had occupied most of the afternoon. But with the rain getting heavier by the minute, decided that I would tolerate this rare moment of feeling lonely, and remain where I was. As I look out the opened front door, the rain is driving on a slanted angle in towards the house, as my grassed lawn areas, and even the patio begin to flood. Hope everyone else in the family is now out of the rain, as I am. As the water begins to splash through the screen door, I decide it is time to close the main door, which I left open, hoping to encourage the coolness of the approaching change into the house.

It was an odd sensation that led to that unusual feeling – sitting here alone on Christmas evening. Done it before, but has never really worried me previously – well not worrying me, but just found myself wondering why that sensation had occurred to me! Meanwhile, as the water begins to build up around the front doorstep, I can hear and see the intensity of the rain dropping off, while the thunder goes in the opposite direction. Suddenly quite dark outside!  Whilst this was happening, a call from sister Jean in Ballarat – this rain-belt had gone through their area a couple of hours ago.

About 15 hours earlier, at 3am precisely, I was awoken by another thunderstorm, though didn’t appear to be as much rain in this area on that occasion. Nevertheless, as usual for a Saturday night, I found it difficult to get back to sleep with the knowledge of the usual early start ahead of me. Also feeling a little bit of a diabetic hangover from the pizza and glass of red wine I had [unwisely] indulged in last night after returning home from the Christmas Eve festivities at the radio station. Nevertheless, I looked forward to this morning’s Christmas Day broadcast, which I presented from just before 7am until 10am.  I confined the first couple of hours to traditional renderings by choirs, etc of well known carols, and other sacred songs related to today, and then finished up with an hour of more contemporary and  ‘popular’ versions of carols and general Christmas songs, all of this mixed up with a few Christmassy instrumentals along the way. Also made a point of playing two or three tracks from ‘Songs For All People’, the little CD put out by the young people of the Sunbury Uniting Church a few years ago, and which I make a point of playing each year at this time. I have to admit, that each year when I put those tracks over the year, this presenter is sitting there at the studio desk with tears in his eyes, such is the level of emotion can is created by listening to those young singers, especially the two or three lead girl singers. I’ve not been around the church for the last couple of years, preferring to keep Sunday mornings to my own needs, and so I found myself wondering whether those ‘young singers’ were still in fact singing at the church or elsewhere?  I asked that question of Helen on the internet last night [the lady I had coffee with on Tuesday] but she was unsure as to which group of singers I was referring to. Probably the older ones had moved on, pretty typical of many church families these days.

A brief look at a couple of the lyrics from the ‘Sings for all People’ CD stuck in my memory – ‘Heal the world, make it a better place, For you and for me, and the entire human race. There are people dying, If you care enough for the living, make a better place for you and for me…….’ [from the song ‘Heal the World’ which I’ve heard sung professionally by a well known singer, but still prefer the ‘amateur’ St Andrew’s version].  Then there were the words from ‘Jesus born on this day’  –  ‘Behold the Lamb of God has come, Behold the Saviour is born, singing of His love to everyone. Oh Jesus, born on this day, He is our God and our Saviour’.

A couple of phone calls during the program – from radio President, Olly, thanking me for being on air this morning, Alan James, and Sandy of the duo who normally follow me on a Sunday morning. Her husband, the other part of that ‘country music’ combo, had apparently been rushed to hospital with heart concerns, and his condition was not very good. Sandy wanted me to organise ‘fill-ins’ for their show over the next couple of weeks. Also had another presenter call in to the studio, even if that visit was ostensibly to pick up the glasses he’d left behind last night!  But it was nevertheless nice to have some communication with my Sunday morning program, even though this was a special Christmas program rather than my usual ‘Sunday Classics’ feature! Jck Harris, from Diggers Rest followed me this morning – continued much in the same vein with basically more Christmas music. I notice he also played a number of Scottish bits of music for our loyal listener out at Glenhuntly – Jayne was not well, and not having a good Christmas, but hopefully as she usually claims, she gets a lot of comfort from the music and presenters here at 3NRG. Jack and myself both certainly hoped that was the case this morning.

At 7.45 pm, and another heavy rain belt comes through this area – close to hail, but of much shorter duration than the earlier downpour. Glad I am not out on the roads now!  In fact apparently much of Melbourne, and particularly the north and northwest areas, where we are, were hit by huge hailstones, the size of lemons!!  Thankfully, I didn’t see any of those!  Meanwhile, planes were diverted at Melbourne Airport [15 minutes south of here], as a thunderstorm, hail, and a ‘tornado’ battered the city!!  Again, glad I’m here, and not out in those conditions. Meanwhile, Cyclone Grant over northern Australia has begun battering remote areas with gale-force winds and heavy rainfall hitting communities. Earlier warnings in Darwin have been moderated a little below actual cyclonic conditions but the weather is currently expected to be quite rough.

Had a very pleasant afternoon with the family over at Goonawarra [on the city side of Sunbury] – a relaxed main Christmas dinner meal, followed by the traditional gift swapping exercise. As the ‘estranged’ member of the family, I always feel a little guilty at the level of generosity given to myself, not just by my children, but by Shirley and her mother. A wonderful collection of new books, some gardening items, and some bed linen – all items that Bill was well in need of!!  I would go away with no complaints!! As usual, the bulk of the meal was planned, prepared and cooked by Mrs S, now approaching 91 years old in March!!! Admittedly, she is looking weaker each year, but currently refuses to step down from the task of ‘getting’ her family in Sunbury, their Christmas dinner.  And of course, she continues to use my late mother’s recipe for the Christmas pudding, and always makes sure there is an extra amount left over for Bill to take home, for a later meal.  Joined in later in a ‘family game’ that Susie had been given as a gift – I’m not generally one for such games, but enjoyed the opportunity for all of us to be involved in something, even if the process was a little noisy for this old conservative.  Afterwards, Susan went off to Jimmy’s place  – it seems they were back together again! I felt a bit uncomfortable about that, for Susie’s sake, as not sure how she could manage another beak up! Jodie eventually went off with boyfriend Ash, while Adam had actually left earlier – he had worked at the Bakery this morning, and would be back on duty early tomorrow morning. When I left around 5pm, there was just James remaining at Goonawarra, with Shirley and Mrs S.  He is living there again at the moment!

Suddenly realised that I had  missed watching the Queen’s Christmas message. A bit of concern on that side of things –  Prince Phillip [in his 90s] was admitted to hospital a day or so ago with chest pains – I wonder if she made reference to that in her address? In fact apparently, her speech emphasised the importance of family strengths and community bonds.

Meanwhile, over  large areas of Sunbury, the power went off this evening, but not here at home  – it was out over at Goonawarra where I’d had Christmas Dinner, and throughout that whole area, as well as wherever it was in Sunbury that Jimmy & Susie following another violent storm a few minutes earlier. Both Susie & James contacted me, enquiring as to whether I had lost power – no, and with the wether much calmer now, I assumed it would remain that way. At James’ request, I contacted the electricity authority, and was able to pass on the ‘good’ that the power was unlikely to be restored for some 8 hours!!!  James wanted to play games of poker on the internet, so asked if he could come over here!  No problems, suddenly my lonely night had company – James and his dog [his mother had asked he bring the dog with him rather than leave it over at Goonawarra in the dark], knowing that I was never really keen to have the animal romping around this place.  However, our little friend settled down pretty well, and shared it’s visiting time either sitting with James out in the other room where we had connected him up with the internet, where he was playing his ‘poker’, or for me, watching the TV – I’d already decided to watch a couple of movies on the ABC before James decided to come over. So in fact, neither visitor was any problem, and the fact that my house retained it’s power following the afternoon storms, meant that Bill’s lonely Christmas night went a little differently than anticipated. Susie remained wherever she was with Jimmy, the lack of power obviously not worrying them!  And for the time being, the storms stayed away, having created Christmas havoc across Melbourne over the past few hours, and the temperature outside was much more pleasant!!. Mind you, I did have to encourage James that it was time to leave as midnight came an went, but apparently by that stage he had won his way into an online poker final, which he had to be ready to participate in at 7am Monday!  Worth a lot of money however, so he would obviously make the effort.

Placed  this on Face-book early this morning – 

“No matter your age, treasure your parents always. It may be 42 years, yet sadness, memories and   love remain as strong. Thankyou , Jean, for your separate posting.  Tribute for our dear Father, who left us 24 Dec 1969”. Pleased to see some ‘quiet’ responses [no words, just a ‘Like’  from four people initially –  son Adam, friend Ruth, and  Jean’s [my sister] husband, Ross, and their daughter, Rosie. Earlier, Jean’s words on the same media site expressed similar thoughts – “Well dad after 42 years I still miss you heaps, even more now I have children to, will bring you some flowers up later on. Love you heaps” [daughter, Jean].

[I made a brief visit into town this morning – very busy in the shopping centre, and at Bakers Delight where Adam was working, as he suggested, everyone must be buying their bread needs at the last minute!! I noticed Susie was home, don’t know if she is on the roster to work there today, hopefully for her sake, not, as it looks rather hectic and stressful behind that counter, like everywhere else!!  Adam wandered out from the rear of the shop with a fresh batch of buns, etc, but it was too crowded and busy to even attract his attention – will see him tomorrow – I see he must have finished work not long after I saw him, after a 13 hour shift – two days worth of baking to be done, I guess].

To be continued >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My little message received responses from various quarters.  Colin [youngest brother] wrote ‘I was driving a train down to Maryborough over night [last night] and was thinking of that phone call we received early Christmas Eve, only 11 years old but still have fond memories of that 11 years with Dad’.  I added to that the observation that ‘Yes, I forget that Jean and yourself were quite young at the time – I had visited Dad at RMH the night before, and stayed at Bev Blyth’s place – her father took at hospital call at 5am, and then at my request, rang Ballarat for me, I couldn’t tell Mum!! Then I had to finish my Christmas shopping at Ivanhoe, before driving down to Ballarat that morning. Met at the front gate by an old schoolmate, who’d just arrived to enquire as to how Dad was getting on!!’……………………..

Sixty nine [69] years ago, these words were written by my father from a war zone in New Guinea.

• Through life’s dim ways
• Sweet memory strays
• Of loving thoughts of one
• Who lives and loves for me
• Of she who is my heart’s delight,
• My love who waits for me.
• That voice is dear
• I long to hear
• Dear heart I dream of you,
• And swear my love t’is true.
• Though all the world may be awry,
• Sweet love, my hearts true blue.
• [by JKK, 23-12-1943, New Guinea]
• Back to 2011, and it is ironic  to read reports of warnings of a potential cyclone ‘attack’ on Darwin, our northernmost city – exactly 37 years to the day of ‘Cyclone Tracy which devastated Darwin in 1974, hitting the city on Christmas Eve that year, and killing 49 people on land and another 22 killed at sea, and destroying most of Darwin. I was in Ballarat those two days, and listening/watching the TV with horror as the disaster hit. Let’s pray we are not going to be doing the same thing tomorrow.
• Meanwhile, news came through yesterday of the death of Bruce Ruxton, outspoken former president of the RSL [the Victorian Returned & Services League], at the age of 85. As one comment made about him noted – ‘Bruce was a fearsome fighter for [war]veterans and their entitlements and [also] for things that he considered to be right [or wrong] in the world’. A man who ‘fought’ for what he believed in, even often at the cost of his personal popularity or standing in the eyes of many. He enlisted in the Australian Army in 1944 and served in World War II in the south-west Pacific, the Dutch East Indies and Balikpapan in Borneo, and then for 3 years with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, in Japan. As RSL President for 23 years, he was equally well known for his controversial statements which included called Archbishop Desmond Tutu a ‘witchdoctor…..breathing hatred’ in 1987. Some of his other nore controversal views and statements included ‘Their [the republications’ cause] argument is so shallow, if it was water you wouldn’t get your feet wet’, or, ‘I’ve done nothing to the Aborigines and I’m not apologising; and, It is outrageous that public finance should be made available to give boat people access to our legal system. We must be the laughing stock of the world’. Certainly, many of his comments were out of tune with modern sentiments and attitudes,  but that never stopped Bruce from making them!!
• As the afternoon of the 24th draws to a close, it is warm & humid outside, and thunder rumbles in the distance [quite close actually]. I would spend the next few hours up at the radio station, as a part of our annual presenters’ Christmas Eve on air celebrations, and I would return to an empty house tonight – Susie is staying elsewhere, at Jimmy’s place, I assume!!

Made yet another ‘urgent’ call to the ‘Garden Bag’ people this morning  – my ‘garden bag’ [a paid garden refuse pick up service] was due to have been replaced last Tuesday, and despite numerous phone calls over the past couple of weeks, no one is bothering to reply. My work in the back garden has been put on hold, while I attempt to get this situation remedied. This has been a good ‘service’ in the past, so I have been somewhat disappointed at the lack of response to my attempts to speak to the business owners over recent days. Obviously not a good time of year to get any kind of trades people – am also trying to get somebody in the business of replacing windscreens [for Shirley’s car] to respond to a phone call!!  I mean, just how difficult is it to at least pick up a phone, even if you decided to ‘stop work’ before Christmas.  My opinion of the attitude of many trades people has not improved over the years – poor response, high charging however!!

By mid afternoon, I’d given up on the above phone calls – no-one got back to me! Simply pathetic service. If somebody’s ‘accountant’ acted in that manner they would end up in court over some trivial claim, but the ‘tradies’, they can get away with any attitude, because most people chasing them up, do so because they need a job done, which they can’t, or are not qualified to do!!  And the public complain about ‘monopolies in the media’!!!

Anyway, enough of that, let’s try and retain some Christmas ‘spirit’. Speaking of which, we don’t have one of the ‘real’ Christmas trees in the house this year – I have usually purchased them annually from the local Scouts, but when I suggested I would do so again to Susie, a couple of weeks ago, she wasn’t interested – too much ‘mess’ from pine needles, and effort in decorating, etc, etc!! Unexpected response but as she is the regular ‘decorator’ and always does a great job, I let it be! However, a few days ago, the small artificial tree which she has used in other parts of the house previously, suddenly appeared one night, decorated and all lit up, so we finally do have a little ‘tree’ on display this year, plus a few decorations around the lounge room area, and the Christmas spirit is back at 6 Fisher Court!

Now as someone who ‘lives with diabetes’, I noticed a recent item which claims that a ‘diabetes epidemic is on the rise’.  Here in Victoria, local communities are being asked to take urgent action, as new data reveals rates of diabetes have soared in the past ten years. Figures recently released by Diabetes Australia – Vic., show that 252,000 Victorians are now know to be living with diabetes [up from 2% of the Victorian population in 2001, to 4.5% this year], and this figure is increasing by 73 new cases each day.  At the international level, recently released data from the International Diabetes Foundation, confirms that the diabetes ‘pandemic’ continues to worsen – the number of people with diabetes in 2011, estimated at 366 million!!

DA-Vic’s CEO,  Greg Johnson was recently quoted as saying that ‘We are in the midst of a diabetes epidemic and it is imperative that local communities understand the impact and take action. Communities and local government can play an important role in prevention’. The number of Local Government Areas [LGAs] considered diabetes ‘hotspots’ has increased dramatically from only 1 in 2001 to 64 in 2011, presumably based on medical records. An area is designated a ‘hotspot’ when more than 4 per cent of it’s population has diabetes. One of the highest metro areas includes the City of Hume into which Sunbury falls, although we are located on the rural fringe of the municipality, so I think the bulk of the problem would be in the more urbanised parts of the municipality. Australian Medical Victorian President Dr Harry Hemley, called on doctors to be aware of the diabetes epidemic. He said “Doctors must be aware of the growing rates of diabetes in Victoria…..it is one of the most significant challenges that doctors face in the 21^st century. Doctors in general practice need greater resources to better co-ordinate the complex, multidisciplinary care for people with diabetes in their practices”. As a side note, it will be 60 years in 2013, since the origin of Diabetes Australia – Vic was formed – in 1953, at a meeting at the Melbourne Town Hall which supplied the impetus to develop an association for people with diabetes that provided education, advocacy and support, together with things like regular holiday camps for families of diabetic children.  Of course, one possible reason for the vast increase in diabetic cases in the last decade, is that it is probably more in the public’s eye these days – in the past, many of the symptoms of diabetes, were probably put down to some other ailment. Today, our medical people, and the public generally, are more educated as to the signs, causes and treatment of the complaint!!

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, Julie Bishop, submitted on her social media site this week, her reflections of  the world as it was in 2011. I found this a useful précis of some of the events of the past 12 months, particularly because there was, in my view anyway though some of her readers obviously cared to disagree,  no real negative political overseas towards the local scene or government policies in general, that we have come to expect from the Liberals over the past 18 months or so. So I decided that the nature of the contents were worthy of sharing on this page, as a reminder of some of major events [usually of a tragic nature, sadly], that occurred around the world over the past 12 months. And in including this, I note on today’s news from New Zealand, that country has faced more earthquakes in Christchurch today, the city so devastated earlier this year.

Meanwhile, from Julie Bishop:-

‘It was a year in which we hardly caught our breath’  –

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2011 was the year of the Golden Rabbit, a year in which you are meant to catch your breath and calm your nerves. There were many events during this past year that tested that astrological prophecy to the limit.

Natural disasters such as the earthquake that struck Christchurch in February and the earthquake and tsunami that devastated coastal Japan in March captured the world’s attention with dramatic footage of the ravaged landscapes. Massive floods occurred in Pakistan, South-East Asia, Australia, South America and the United States. The impact of these events will influence the decisions of government and communities for many years as they struggle to find ways to prevent a repeat of the aftermath of these tragedies. The damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy plant, for example, has changed the dynamics of the global nuclear debate.

However, it is the actions of people during 2011 that will arguably have the biggest impact on world history.  The universal human desire to live in freedom erupted with a vengeance in the form of the pro democracy uprisings or “Arab Spring” beginning with the fall of the Tunisian regime in January. Civilian protests forced Egypt’s long-serving dictator Hosni Mubarak from office in February. After the strong results in support of Islamic parties in the November elections, there are concerns about the potential for a confrontation between the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the leaders of the Islamic parties including the Muslim Brotherhood. Events in Egypt are of particular importance because of that country’s peace treaty with Israel, the Suez Canal (through which about 8 per cent of global trade is carried) and its long-standing military links with the United States. Any Egyptian government more hostile to the West and to Israel would pose an enormous strategic challenge for the world, and particularly for Europe and North America.\ Protests erupted in Bahrain, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Syria and other nations throughout the Middle East and North Africa.  Libyan rebels supported by NATO airstrikes fought for months against the forces of Muammar Gaddafi and took control of the majority of the nation by late August.  Gaddafi was eventually killed in late October, ending a brutal reign that began with a military coup in 1969.

The ongoing violence in Syria has marginalised the regime of President Assad from even its strongest supporters and led to condemnation from and suspension from the Arab League. There have been ongoing reports of thousands killed, captured and tortured and detained indefinitely. Defections from the armed forces have increased the potential for full-blown civil war and there is currently no prospect of a breakthrough to end the cycle of violence that has gripped the country for months.  The short, medium and long-term implications of the uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East are far from clear.

The War on Terror launched in the wake of the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington reached a beachhead with the killing of Osama bin Laden by United States Special Forces in May.  In recent days, the death of Kim Jong-il has created deep unease around the world about the transition to a new leader in his 28-year-old son Kim Jong-un.  The secretive Stalinist regime has launched unprovoked attacks on South Korea in recent years and there is grave concern that the new leader will repeat these provocations in an attempt to prove himself to North Korea’s military commanders 

Against this backdrop of instability, the slow-moving European sovereign debt crisis has continued to weigh heavily on global markets and the world economy.  There were repeated attempts to deal with the crisis by providing large bailout packages to various nations, but with the apparent effect of delaying what appears to be an inevitable crunch at some point in time.\ The struggling United States economy and doubts about the sustainability of China’s high growth rates have added to concerns about a recovery in the short term.

Australia has continued to make important contributions to the maintenance of global and regional peace and security with members of our armed forces working in dangerous and remote locations.  The largest contingent by far is the 1550 on deployment to Afghanistan, where we have sadly lost 32 soldiers since 2002.  Australia has 380 troops in East Timor, 80 in the Solomon Islands, 25 in Egypt’s Sinai region, 17 in South Sudan, 12 in Jerusalem and two in Iraq.

As we look back at the events of 2011 and then head into the flamboyant and tempestuous Year of the Dragon it is timely for us to remember those in our armed forces who are serving overseas in support of the enduring ideals that underpin our society.  Perhaps, as Sigmund Freud once said, “One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful”  [by Julie Bishop, Dec 2011]

One of the universities with whom I completed one of my qualifications all those years ago, the University of Melbourne, have just sent me their annual generic Christmas greetings, and a bit of self promotion. Probably well deserved – as the oldest university in Melbourne, it’s status and success continues to dominate much of the tertiary sector in Melbourne, and I’m always happy to support their promotions, even though my ‘support’ as such,  is absolutely minimal these days.  Anyway, that greeting included the following advice about the past year in the life the University and it’s Alumni groups of which I’m a member. I do recall commenting on the achievements referred to, in a blog some months ago.

“This year has been a remarkably successful one for the University of Melbourne, thanks largely to your continuing support and involvement.  Alumni are actively engaged with the University, through mentoring, volunteering, teaching, providing internships and employment as well as attending events and reunions.  This year witnessed the formation of the Alumni Council following a highly anticipated election. Having met for the first time in December, we look forward to the Council tackling a comprehensive agenda in 2012.    The alumni community and friends contributed generously to the Annual Appeal, pledging a record $1.46 million to further support students, teachers and research across the University of Melbourne. Funds raised will go towards a number of faculty and university priorities, particularly immediate and long-term assistance to students. We thank you for your gifts.  The University works hard to fulfil its ambition to be one of the world’s finest universities. The 2011 Excellence in Research for Australia Survey confirmed the strength of the University’s research, with 99 per cent of our projects rated at or above world standard. We focused heavily on industry partnerships and were honoured to open the historic IBM Global Research and Development Laboratory in October. Working closely to improve community links, we also sealed agreements to share leadership and management expertise with local groups in Carlton and the Goulburn Valley.  These achievements have culminated in Melbourne being recognised as the leading Australian university in the three most cited international rankings. Your contributions and advocacy help make these achievements possible, and assist the University in its pursuit of academic and research excellence, and its desire to remain a public-spirited institution”.

As a part of my current ‘retirement “Spring” cleanup, I guess I really should do something about ridding myself of those university notes, etc from the 60s and 70s – like so much other material, I have retained my study notes, etc, but to what purpose these days I’m not really sure.  Certainly, over the past few weeks, I have ‘got rid of’ a lot of paper and other material, that a year or so ago., I would never have considered disposing of. And as the weeks advance, that process will [and must] continue, just haven’t got to the university years as yet!!!  I haven’t made as much progress as I would have planned prior to Christmas, however things are slowly been sorted and/or discarded.  My ‘bower bird’ reputation remains with me though, in many respects, but quite obviously, when and if I downsize my living arrangements, that particular side of my ‘personality’ is going to change.

Meanwhile, this year, I am building up a reasonable collection of Christmas card greetings from friends and family – although might I say, I probably wouldn’t have received many that I did, had I not got in first, and sent those people a greeting!! Not that it really matters  – I do like the opportunity that Christmas gives one to once again, get in touch with old friends in particular, although I prefer that kind of communication to be on a more regular basis than just once a year. In some cases it is, while in others, well, I do like to simply let people know I’m still around  – and, it’s good to hear back, but if not, not to worry, I’ve done my bit!!  My late mother was a wonderful communicator in that respect, and I remember the Christmas after she died, receiving a few cards for her, generally after Christmas from friends who were surprised and/or worried that they had not heard from her that Christmas.  Sadly, I was the one who then had to pass on the belated news – we had always thought that we had contacted everyone who would have wanted to be advised of Mum’s passing that year, but there will always some of her former contacts, that we would not have been aware of. As time passed, they gradually became known.

After yesterday’s wasted trip to the major shopping complexes, and their chaotic parking situations, I actually finished most of my ‘Christmas’ shopping in Sunbury yesterday  – perhaps not the best deal always in terms of price, but I balanced that up against fuel, and traffic and parking headaches, by leaving my car in one part of town, and walking from one shopping area to another – probably the equivalent of a major shopping centre in any case, as far as distance and area covered was concerned! Since 1983, when we came to Sunbury, the retail shopping and other facilities have grown enormously, and for many aspects of shopping, there is becoming little need to travel to suburban Melbourne and the larger retail areas.  Obviously, the latter do offer much more choice and competitive prices, but for someone who is not a keen or regular shopper [apart from supermarket & grocery needs], this town suits me just fine.

A busy household tonight  – I was continuing with my reallocation of resources [referred to above], while Susan, home for the evening, was throwing herself into a ‘late Spring cleanup’ of her ‘computer’ room [or 3^rd bedroom in the house] which she generally has the main use of.  Then I ended up with the rare occurrence of watching a movie on SBS TV into the early hours of the morning – rarely do that, but just happened to ‘come across’ this one as I was preparing for bed!!  Bit of a trap!!

One of the universities with whom I completed one of my qualifications all those years ago, the University of Melbourne, have just sent me their annual generic Christmas greetings, and a bit of self promotion. Probably well deserved – as the oldest university in Melbourne, it’s status and success continues to dominate much of the tertiary sector in Melbourne, and I’m always happy to support their promotions, even though my ‘support’ as such,  is absolutely minimal these days.  Anyway, that greeting included the following advice about the past year in the life the University and it’s Alumni groups of which I’m a member. I do recall commenting on the achievements referred to, in a blog some months ago.

“This year has been a remarkably successful one for the University of Melbourne, thanks largely to your continuing support and involvement.  Alumni are actively engaged with the University, through mentoring, volunteering, teaching, providing internships and employment as well as attending events and reunions.  This year witnessed the formation of the Alumni Council following a highly anticipated election. Having met for the first time in December, we look forward to the Council tackling a comprehensive agenda in 2012.    The alumni community and friends contributed generously to the Annual Appeal, pledging a record $1.46 million to further support students, teachers and research across the University of Melbourne. Funds raised will go towards a number of faculty and university priorities, particularly immediate and long-term assistance to students. We thank you for your gifts.  The University works hard to fulfil its ambition to be one of the world’s finest universities. The 2011 Excellence in Research for Australia Survey confirmed the strength of the University’s research, with 99 per cent of our projects rated at or above world standard. We focused heavily on industry partnerships and were honoured to open the historic IBM Global Research and Development Laboratory in October. Working closely to improve community links, we also sealed agreements to share leadership and management expertise with local groups in Carlton and the Goulburn Valley.  These achievements have culminated in Melbourne being recognised as the leading Australian university in the three most cited international rankings. Your contributions and advocacy help make these achievements possible, and assist the University in its pursuit of academic and research excellence, and its desire to remain a public-spirited institution”.

As a part of my current ‘retirement “Spring” cleanup, I guess I really should do something about ridding myself of those university notes, etc from the 60s and 70s – like so much other material, I have retained my study notes, etc, but to what purpose these days I’m not really sure.  Certainly, over the past few weeks, I have ‘got rid of’ a lot of paper and other material, that a year or so ago., I would never have considered disposing of. And as the weeks advance, that process will [and must] continue, just haven’t got to the university years as yet!!!  I haven’t made as much progress as I would have planned prior to Christmas, however things are slowly been sorted and/or discarded.  My ‘bower bird’ reputation remains with me though, in many respects, but quite obviously, when and if I downsize my living arrangements, that particular side of my ‘personality’ is going to change.

Meanwhile, this year, I am building up a reasonable collection of Christmas card greetings from friends and family – although might I say, I probably wouldn’t have received many that I did, had I not got in first, and sent those people a greeting!! Not that it really matters  – I do like the opportunity that Christmas gives one to once again, get in touch with old friends in particular, although I prefer that kind of communication to be on a more regular basis than just once a year. In some cases it is, while in others, well, I do like to simply let people know I’m still around  – and, it’s good to hear back, but if not, not to worry, I’ve done my bit!!  My late mother was a wonderful communicator in that respect, and I remember the Christmas after she died, receiving a few cards for her, generally after Christmas from friends who were surprised and/or worried that they had not heard from her that Christmas.  Sadly, I was the one who then had to pass on the belated news – we had always thought that we had contacted everyone who would have wanted to be advised of Mum’s passing that year, but there will always some of her former contacts, that we would not have been aware of. As time passed, they gradually became known.

After yesterday’s wasted trip to the major shopping complexes, and their chaotic parking situations, I actually finished most of my ‘Christmas’ shopping in Sunbury yesterday  – perhaps not the best deal always in terms of price, but I balanced that up against fuel, and traffic and parking headaches, by leaving my car in one part of town, and walking from one shopping area to another – probably the equivalent of a major shopping centre in any case, as far as distance and area covered was concerned! Since 1983, when we came to Sunbury, the retail shopping and other facilities have grown enormously, and for many aspects of shopping, there is becoming little need to travel to suburban Melbourne and the larger retail areas.  Obviously, the latter do offer much more choice and competitive prices, but for someone who is not a keen or regular shopper [apart from supermarket & grocery needs], this town suits me just fine.

A busy household tonight  – I was continuing with my reallocation of resources [referred to above], while Susan, home for the evening, was throwing herself into a ‘late Spring cleanup’ of her ‘computer’ room [or 3^rd bedroom in the house] which she generally has the main use of.  Then I ended up with the rare occurrence of watching a movie on SBS TV into the early hours of the morning – rarely do that, but just happened to ‘come across’ this one as I was preparing for bed!!  Bit of a trap!!