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*waves from her hotel*

Hello Aussies!

I finally arrived in San Francisco 2 hours ago - getting through customs wasn't too horrible (other than the finger print and photo part). Now I'm chilling, in my PJs, in my hotel room until tomorrow...then I'll get up, go for a walk and head to the shops when they open.

I'm very pleased to report that I didn't sit next to my work mate! Each time I went through a check point, and at the Qantas lounge, they kept on trying to seat us together! I managed not to make it TOO obvious that I didn't want to sit next to him. Still, he managed to corner me for an hour at the end of the flight. It's amazing how even MORE annoying he can be when I've not had a decent nights sleep.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all the Dads out there.
:rose:
 
I am totally stoked that it stopped raining for Father's Day. While I still had to wear gumboots from my car up to my parent's house (the yard is underwater) at least the sun was shining and drying up some of the water :D
 
Both of us have lost our Dads, so I'll be having a drink for mine tonight.

Just checking in to let you all know we're still alive, Gil is slowly getting over the flu that's been bugging him for over a month :rolleyes: Other than that not a lot to report, good to see WQ popping in after a loooong break away :rose:
 
Oh, and ain't this wonderful :rolleyes:

I couldn't survive on pension: Swan
September 7, 2008 - 10:19AM

Treasurer Wayne Swan admits he couldn't survive on the aged pension but says recipients will have to wait until next year before the government considers any increase.

From September 20, the single aged pension will be around $560.[per fortnight]

When asked if he could survive on that amount, Mr Swan said no.

"No, the single rate pension is totally inadequate," Mr Swan told the Nine Network.

Mr Swan said in recognition of that, the government provided a $500 bonus and increased the utility allowance in last year's budget.

But he said pensioners would have to wait until next year before the government considers lifting the pension.

"The reason we put in place the $500 bonus and the increase in the utilities allowance was in recognition of how difficult they are doing it at the moment," Mr Swan said.

"But we can't undo in one budget what the previous government didn't do in 12.

"We are considering a rise, we said we would have the report from the Henry review back by February, and that would be considered in the context of the next budget."

Treasury secretary Ken Henry will head a review of taxes on work, investment, property, savings and consumption and their impact on individuals, families and retirees.


He's talking about the age pension here, but there are others like Orlanth, Gil and me who are on disability/carer pensions who are in the same boat - and people on disability didn't GET any sort of bonus! :mad:
 
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Hello to all the new faces!

So, I survived my first night in the US....so far, the only differences to Perth (weather is very Perth-like) is that they drive on the wrong side of the road, the taps turn on in a clock-wise direction (rather than turn off) and they don't have kettles (which I was warned about, becuase I don't drink much coffee - I'm a tea drinker) and the accents.

Hey Bandit - good to hear that Gil is finally on the mend.
I'm not sure if I'd be pushing for a bonus for pensioners - I'd rather than a bigger weekly/fortnightly allowance. A "bonus" in my mind is something that can easily be taken away or reduced (which it has!) but when it's a normal income/pension, it's much harder for them to cut it.
 
Oh, and ain't this wonderful :rolleyes:

I couldn't survive on pension: Swan
September 7, 2008 - 10:19AM

Treasurer Wayne Swan admits he couldn't survive on the aged pension but says recipients will have to wait until next year before the government considers any increase.

From September 20, the single aged pension will be around $560.[per fortnight]

When asked if he could survive on that amount, Mr Swan said no.

"No, the single rate pension is totally inadequate," Mr Swan told the Nine Network.

Mr Swan said in recognition of that, the government provided a $500 bonus and increased the utility allowance in last year's budget.

But he said pensioners would have to wait until next year before the government considers lifting the pension.

"The reason we put in place the $500 bonus and the increase in the utilities allowance was in recognition of how difficult they are doing it at the moment," Mr Swan said.

"But we can't undo in one budget what the previous government didn't do in 12.

"We are considering a rise, we said we would have the report from the Henry review back by February, and that would be considered in the context of the next budget."

Treasury secretary Ken Henry will head a review of taxes on work, investment, property, savings and consumption and their impact on individuals, families and retirees.


He's talking about the age pension here, but there are others like Orlanth, Gil and me who are on disability/carer pensions who are in the same boat - and people on disability didn't GET any sort of bonus! :mad:

sounds like the USA, they would rather the retired and disabled die off......:(
 
Oh, and ain't this wonderful :rolleyes:

I couldn't survive on pension: Swan
September 7, 2008 - 10:19AM

Treasurer Wayne Swan admits he couldn't survive on the aged pension but says recipients will have to wait until next year before the government considers any increase.

From September 20, the single aged pension will be around $560.[per fortnight]

When asked if he could survive on that amount, Mr Swan said no.

"No, the single rate pension is totally inadequate," Mr Swan told the Nine Network.

Mr Swan said in recognition of that, the government provided a $500 bonus and increased the utility allowance in last year's budget.

But he said pensioners would have to wait until next year before the government considers lifting the pension.

"The reason we put in place the $500 bonus and the increase in the utilities allowance was in recognition of how difficult they are doing it at the moment," Mr Swan said.

"But we can't undo in one budget what the previous government didn't do in 12.

"We are considering a rise, we said we would have the report from the Henry review back by February, and that would be considered in the context of the next budget."

Treasury secretary Ken Henry will head a review of taxes on work, investment, property, savings and consumption and their impact on individuals, families and retirees.


He's talking about the age pension here, but there are others like Orlanth, Gil and me who are on disability/carer pensions who are in the same boat - and people on disability didn't GET any sort of bonus! :mad:

Why wont they do something about the Dis Pen damn it! I can barely afford to scratch my own ass on $500 a fortnight. To top it off, I need to put in $1,300 to a medical aid that I need (the orignal is 15 years old and instead of replacing it years ago and a cheaper cost, they hit me with this crap). That's only a fraction of my problems.

It is bullsh isn't it, I don't know how you and Gil do it.

I might have bigger medicle expense in the future aswell. On that topic anyone know any thing about Radioactive Iodine?
 
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Why wont they do something about the Dis Pen damn it! I can barely afford to scratch my own ass on $500 a fortnight. To top it off, I need to put in $1,300 to a medical aid that I need (the orignal is 15 years old and instead of replacing it years ago and a cheaper cost, they hit me with this crap). That's only a fraction of my problems.

It is bullsh isn't it, I don't know how you and Gil do it.

I might have bigger medicle expense in the future aswell. On that topic anyone know any thing about Radioactive Iodine?

Well mate there are two of us, we live in subsidised housing, and we aren't big spenders (lol in fact I would be described as a tight arse!). We do a main shop once a week and that's about $70 or so. We buy specials and have found butchers and fruit & vege shops are often cheaper than supermarkets. There's a discount chemist I use for things not on script, which often works out much cheaper than a standard pharmacy. We keep the car topped up with petrol - premium unleaded, which makes the car run better and gives us more km per litre than E10 or standard unleaded. We don't go out a lot either - a couple of times a month for lunch at a pub, and we rarely have takeaway.

I do have money from my ex which is used for a few little luxuries like a gym membership and wireless internet. It might need to pay for a new computer for Gil - his desktop PC has the freezes very badly :rolleyes: I also bought a laptop with it. The kids mightn't have much of an inheritance left by the time I'm finished ;)

I googled radioactive iodine and found this, hope it helps :)

http://www.endocrinologist.com/Radioactive.html
 
Little similarities

I just got off the phone with Ladybird and we were having a laugh at the way things pop up that are entirely cooincidental but strange.
Obviously, last Sunday was Fathers' Day, and LB was saying how she spent the day with her father and was going to spend this coming Sunday with him again for his birthday. I told her that my fathers' birthday is on Tuesday but we are celebrating it this coming Sunday because of time constraints.
Then, we spoke about the Hadron Accelerator (in Switzerland & France) which is coming on line in the next couple of days. We both read the same book, about 2 years ago, concerning particle acceleration and anti-matter (it was a novel of fiction).
We've had these types of things happening each time we talk and it always cracks us up. LB has the dirtiest laugh you'll ever hear.
Maybe we were married in another life and fate, or qi, has put us at both ends of the country to avoid any trouble we might cause. We may have caused embarassment, in that other life, through raucous behaviour and bawdy humour, and that could be why we're separated by an entire continent. Or maybe, it's just that great minds think alike.
Personally, I'll just blame it on the Labor government, as that seems to be the current trend, and leave it at that.
LB wants you all to know that she is currently experiencing technical problems with her computer and she will be back as soon as she figures out how to turn it on.
Seriously, the First Lady of Lit will be back as soon as the pc repairs have been completed. Until then, play nicely people. :rose:
 
She wants us to play nicely????!!!?????


Are you sure you are talking about the same Ladybird????
 
afternoon everyone .. :)

yes i know .. i dont get in here a lot .. i promise i shall try to ... will have more time on my hands soon ..

so how is everyone, all good i hope ... :) and have been behaving .. ;)

and Hello :D to all the newbies that have joined ...
 
gotta love telstra.
not.
i tried to connect broadband today.
yeah, yeah, i know, it's not that hard, right?!
after 2 hrs of trying to get it working, i finally rang telstra, only to be told that my password wasn't working and it would take up to 2 working days to find and fix the problem.
it'd be laughable...... if the bloody installation cd didn't have 'broadband - connect in minutes!' written on it!

~sigh~
ah well - at least i kept my dialup for another week just in case!
 
I just got off the phone with Ladybird and we were having a laugh at the way things pop up that are entirely cooincidental but strange.
Obviously, last Sunday was Fathers' Day, and LB was saying how she spent the day with her father and was going to spend this coming Sunday with him again for his birthday. I told her that my fathers' birthday is on Tuesday but we are celebrating it this coming Sunday because of time constraints.
Then, we spoke about the Hadron Accelerator (in Switzerland & France) which is coming on line in the next couple of days. We both read the same book, about 2 years ago, concerning particle acceleration and anti-matter (it was a novel of fiction).
We've had these types of things happening each time we talk and it always cracks us up. LB has the dirtiest laugh you'll ever hear.
Maybe we were married in another life and fate, or qi, has put us at both ends of the country to avoid any trouble we might cause. We may have caused embarassment, in that other life, through raucous behaviour and bawdy humour, and that could be why we're separated by an entire continent. Or maybe, it's just that great minds think alike.
Personally, I'll just blame it on the Labor government, as that seems to be the current trend, and leave it at that.
LB wants you all to know that she is currently experiencing technical problems with her computer and she will be back as soon as she figures out how to turn it on.
Seriously, the First Lady of Lit will be back as soon as the pc repairs have been completed. Until then, play nicely people. :rose:

HONEY - I FOUND THE BUTTON!! :D

Hiya peoples, I've had major computer problems which aren't quite sorted out yet... but I am back online for a while anyway. Phew.. it's good to be back too. As for 'net withdrawal - it's horrible!!

And a warm and friendly welcome to all of the new posters here. It's great to see you and I hope you keep returning.

As for my Sydney friend - I'm with you, let's blame it on Labor. So many co-incidences, such good understanding of each other, a lovely friendship and a seriously bad sense of humour shared by us both - we must have crossed paths in another life, cos it's really as though we know each other, yet haven't met. :rose:
 
HONEY - I FOUND THE BUTTON!! :D

Hiya peoples, I've had major computer problems which aren't quite sorted out yet... but I am back online for a while anyway. Phew.. it's good to be back too. As for 'net withdrawal - it's horrible!!

And a warm and friendly welcome to all of the new posters here. It's great to see you and I hope you keep returning.

As for my Sydney friend - I'm with you, let's blame it on Labor. So many co-incidences, such good understanding of each other, a lovely friendship and a seriously bad sense of humour shared by us both - we must have crossed paths in another life, cos it's really as though we know each other, yet haven't met. :rose:
*Spank*
 
It is hard to keep a positive outlook on life at times, but I do try. One of those is I am starting a Chess club in town, or trying too.

It will help keep my mind of my worries. I know it won’t do it alone, and one other good way is to talk to friends. I haven’t done much of that for quite awhile, and I shamefully admit, I didn’t think of talking to my friends here. I came across a card dating back to early 2004 that LB sent me when I was in Hospital. It reminded me that I have friends here who care.

Long story short: I have Osteoporosis and have had multiple fracture in the spine, so that with a full spinal fusion and Fredreich’s Ataxia is scary. My Thyroid is also on the borderline of being overactive again, if so my Graves disease reawakes, and then most likely have my Thyroid removed.

But, remember, Nostress broke his dick.
 
It is hard to keep a positive outlook on life at times, but I do try. One of those is I am starting a Chess club in town, or trying too.

It will help keep my mind of my worries. I know it won’t do it alone, and one other good way is to talk to friends. I haven’t done much of that for quite awhile, and I shamefully admit, I didn’t think of talking to my friends here. I came across a card dating back to early 2004 that LB sent me when I was in Hospital. It reminded me that I have friends here who care.

Long story short: I have Osteoporosis and have had multiple fracture in the spine, so that with a full spinal fusion and Fredreich’s Ataxia is scary. My Thyroid is also on the borderline of being overactive again, if so my Graves disease reawakes, and then most likely have my Thyroid removed.

But, remember, Nostress broke his dick.

**Hugs** to you my friend and a couple of these as well :kiss::kiss:

Yes he broke his dick... but that 's not so bad.... you should have seen what came into work the other day........:eek:
 
Hi guys.. busy busy times for me at the moment.

Orlanth, I'm sorry I missed your call yesterday - I was in a meeting at work and couldn't answer, and by the time I got home last night my head was spinning and I wouldn't have made much sense to talk to anyway.

What was it Roz? You can't leave it up to my imagination!! I am coming up with some outrageous scenarios..

Good to see LB and WQ back online again..
 
finally! broadband is here, and i am caught up to the 21st century!
lol - way faster, and now i can continue with my proud tradition of multi-tasking... on the net, on the phone to mum, and texting the kids :D
 
Yeah Baby. That on/off switch can be a bastard to manipulate, can't it? Does it go up, or down? Do you have to tease it first, or just grab it by the tip and give it a tug?? If it ran on batteries like something else, you could just throw the batteries at the ex and use it manually, remember Lady?
Oh, I've been a bad boy. It might be time for Mama to come on over from the barren wastelands and break the drought. Take things in hand and see what comes of it.
I actually know 2 authentic Aboriginal dances for the drought that we're currently experiencing.
Both involve copious amounts of alcohol consumed in rapid timing at a bbq, with lots of witnesses. Then I jump up on the nearest inanimate object, so far that's been a table - I've been lucky - and dropping my pants before singing "Little Things Mean A Lot" in my best Dean Martin impersonation, followed quickly by " I, I Who Have Nothing" done in a Nana Mouscouri falsetto. I don't actually know if it ever worked as I usually pass out by that time and, again, collapse onto another inanimate object.
Now that I've stirred up the Lady of the West, you can now return to your normal viewing unhindered. :rose:


HONEY - I FOUND THE BUTTON!! :D

Hiya peoples, I've had major computer problems which aren't quite sorted out yet... but I am back online for a while anyway. Phew.. it's good to be back too. As for 'net withdrawal - it's horrible!!

And a warm and friendly welcome to all of the new posters here. It's great to see you and I hope you keep returning.

As for my Sydney friend - I'm with you, let's blame it on Labor. So many co-incidences, such good understanding of each other, a lovely friendship and a seriously bad sense of humour shared by us both - we must have crossed paths in another life, cos it's really as though we know each other, yet haven't met. :rose:
 
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