Archive | June, 2014

what were they thinking ??

9 Jun

Travelling home from the south coast late yesterday, and as we approached the city I was struck by the lame attempt to ‘beautify’ the otherwise grey concrete walls of the free-way.

Dipping dolphins, garish galahs and cavorting kangaroos just to name a few … all in their 3D glory and embellished in a range of tacky metallic colours, they stood out like the proverbial ‘dogs balls’. Al I could think was ’embarrassment’ for any newly arrived tourist who headed south from the airport to explore our great land.

I wonder whose great idea it was and what on earth were they thinking ? IMG_9275

slow on the uptake…

8 Jun

reconciliation week

Watching regional TV the other night and on came an advert for Reconciliation Week.

A fabulous and well deserving initiative…. BUT… the week in question ran from 27th May – 3rd June…           and I spotted the commercial in prime time on the 6th !!!

I know that things are slow in the country… but seriously ???

099

Australiana at it’s best…

7 Jun

boxing kangaroos

camping with the Roo’s

caught like a rabbit in the headlights…

6 Jun

Travelling home from work on these short winter days, means that it is usually pitch black before I get to the sanctuary and warmth of my fireplace… BUT the blackness doesn’t stop the die hard joggers and walkers.

I was startled the first time I came across one, but have now come to expect those small bright lights bobbing up and down, and popping out from behind the bushes on the quiet country laneways.headlight3

I wonder if these die hard runners by night, masquerade as ‘miners’ or even more interesting, gynaecologists by day? mmm?headlight 4

These miners ‘headlamps’ light up the the way with enough luminosity to blind the oncoming traffic….perfect for the jogger …but not so fabulous for the one being jogged at.

 So if you happen to be one of these culprits, perhaps it’s worth checking to see if you have a dimmer switch before you blind a driver and end up on the tar next to the flat rabbit.

IMG_9173

what’s in a name ?

5 Jun

namesTonight’s nonsense is one of those stories that sound to odd to be real… but I swear on my keyboard it is the truth…. trust me I’m a Nurse…(well I was once).

Here we go…

You probably recall learning that WAY BACK that surnames originated from your occupation …  if you made barrels you surname would become Cooper, if you played with wood you would likely become known as Carpenter, if you were part of the constabulary you might be called a Constable…. I’m sure you get the picture.

But I wonder how that translates in the modern world … I mean is our name a self fulfilling prophecy ??

nurse

Back in my school days I knew of a woodwork teacher called Mr Nailor, and a technical drawing teacher called Mr Drew. Later when I went nursing I met a girl called Joy Nurse.. (true) and what’s even funnier is that she was awarded “Nurse of the Year” so she became Nurse Nurse~ Nurse of the Year…then graduated and became Sister Nurse (yep..that’s telling, … but I remember I AM 50 Something)…. No doubt the list goes on … But why am I writing this ???

Well…because you see, today I sent an email to make an enquiry about the cost of  hiring a ‘snow machine’ (but that’s another story)… I near fell over when the reply came from Dean Sunshine …. SERIOUSLY!! (see the screen snip from my inbox).

dean sunshine

Now I just wonder if he got into snow because of …or in spite of… his name ???  Either way it was the highlight of my otherwise dull day, so thanks Mr Sunshine, you made me smile.

P1130570

it’s a fine line between pleasure and pain…

4 Jun

hairdresser1Those of you that have been following my musings, will know of my hairdressing dilemma. How to break in a new one that I…  like.. trust… can get to easily every 3 weeks… and that I can communicate with (especially given my vocal limitations).

I found ‘Ms J’  and, while she will never be able to ‘fill the scissors’ of my old super-hairdresser… she is lovely and ticks most boxes. However…there is a new dilemma.hairdresser

You see, she has a school-based apprentice working in the salon, who is a shocker….surly, unfriendly and really really ROUGH.

The first time I was treated to her fingers at the basin, I found myself wishing that I was having hot pokers stuck in my eyeballs… but I cut her some slack because she was so young and new.

The second time I was hoping for an improvement, but alas no !… More pain, less gain and the best part of a salon visit had been reduced to torture.

I finally found the courage to have a quiet word with Ms J and was happy (but not surprised) to hear that many had gone there before me. PHEW …I wasn’t imagining it… and it’s not just ME  that she doesn’t like.. she really is awful at her job, and yes… she is ‘being encouraged to do better’

THAT was 3 weeks ago.

hairwashingSo tonight I went expecting to find a slightly less aggressive approach with the suds …(I  even dared to look forward to it)…  You can imagine my disappointment when  she jumped in and  started ripping at the roots while scrubbing the same spot round and round in circles for what felt like 2 minutes of sheer agony. By the time we progressed to conditioner, to her credit, she did ask ‘is that pressure ok?’   … so I guess you could say that’s an improvement.

Having survived the basin Ms J asked me what I thought,  so I replied that perhaps she should encourage her young charge to consider a career change….as a hairdresser she would make a great accountant (or anything really, as long as it doesn’t involve touching another person).

IMG_9297

 

paranoia ….

3 Jun

highway patrol

How is it that you can be driving down the freeway minding your own business  and the mere sight of a highway patrol car makes you slam your foot on the brake..your heart race….and your palms sweat?

The tell tale flashing red brake lights scream ‘GUILTY Officer’.. (even if you’re travelling 10kph below the speed limit)….mmm…and isn’t it funny how the level of paranoia is directly proportionate to the number of points left on your licence?

 

IMG_9386

 

 

 

can someone remind me where I’m going…

2 Jun

Well almost four years in and I’m still not sure what I think about my mid life decision to do Uni by Distance. On the one hand I love the flexibility and being able to fit it in around my real life… but on the other hand I find myself wondering if I have some kind of death wish….(and enjoy running the gauntlet).study kitchen

As a 50Something, I made the decision to jump into the books. Having lost my voice I had rediscovered my love of the written word, so I thought it would be fun to write …ESSAYS !! …. LOL ..What was I thinking ?

exam hallAnyway, as a student I make a great full time worker.

My dedication to the task of study is haphazard to say the least…yet in a weird way I am really enjoying it (a crazy thing to say after doing the longest exam in history today). I have spent the last 6 hours sitting at the kitchen table in my PJ’s, making up 3000 words on topics related to law and human rights… punctuated by hanging the washing on the line and taking regular coffee breaks… exams were never like this ‘back in my day‘.

With any luck, only 18months to go … I’ll still be 50 Something and then I might decide what I want to do when I grow up!

IMG_9279

 

 

exam eve…

1 Jun

exam tomorrow

AND It’s Monday… double whammy