Aussies! Check in here!

[geronimo_appleby]

Sad. Depressed. Over it. Almost two years and the policy of our state government here in Victoria clearly isn't working. The last few days have been the highest number of cases and deaths since the pandemic began. I won't get political, just wanted to vent as my beautiful town has become a prison and the laughing stock of the world. Sadder than that, buildings are empty, business are going under left right and centre and the mental health statistics are not even allowed to be published anymore.

Very sad.

*pounce*

complicated times. or interesting times as that chinese curse goes (curse as in curse, not connecting covid to china...

although...)

anyway, i dunno about australia being the laughing stock of the world. UK is doing a good job of that! here it's like nothing happened, all that shit is over. a huge percentage of people i see out and about swan around with no thought about transmission, personal hygiene, etc. masks are still commonplace, but that number will erode once the herd mentality percolates through. got to find a balance, i think. it's not going away now.

plus we have all the bollocks about brexit and shortages - with panic buying a a result because stupid seems to be an epidemic. too many cockwombles watching too many apocalypse films. cnuts.

so, good to see youz, anyway.

 

[missswannie]

Friday. It's been a bloody wet week here, ok on the coast really, but getting dangerous for the farmers inland as we approach harvest time. They are on track for a record year, the uni students are ready to finish exams and be sent to help out, but just don't need to fall down at the last hurdle with damage or mould.

Finally some big stick laws over here. Almost 70% of people now have a mandated vaccination order hanging over them. The NT had it right in their approach and WA took that and widened it. 5% of people will refuse to have it but we have a sticky 20% who are just not motivated to do today what they could do another day. That's the problems of zero cases and no restrictions, you don't have a pathway to go beyond 80%. As an employer, it is a brilliant move. Now that it is a mandate, it is no longer the employers problem as to asking for employees health status. You can all blame the Govt and with a 90% majority in both houses, they can take the heat and any legal challenges. Ask Clive Palmer.

Some businesses will lose good staff over it. There is a shortage of people so there will be some effect of the holdouts. For others it's an opportunity as there will extraordinary openings to take a chance on. I think most hold outs will protest to the end but economic self-preservation will win through and they will make it in the end. $100k fines for businesses that have unvaccinated staff or contractors on their premises will nail the outliers. With borders open I am sure there will be movement west and north to take up the positions.

Looks like we have a nasty out there. The poor little 4 y o girl that's missing has been declared a criminal case. The police and army are pouring over the video surveillance of all the cattle grids, gates, highway surveillance and NorForce strategic camera systems in place all over. Almost a shame to tell the crooks that there is such an extensive system up there. The druggies were forced to start making their illegal shipments into Geraldton or below over the years because of it. $1m for any information will tempt a few in the knows perhaps.

29C weekend so can resume beach activity. I did have a nice run this morning but it is still a touch chewed up after the storms.

Optimistically, I downloaded the IATA travel app that is necessary for airline bookings going forward. Still a bit of a dog's breakfast, you'll need a bit of time and effort to get it up to travel ready. I wanted to see what its weaknesses were in terms of getting ready for a flight. I see the weak link will be that pre-flight testing will only be valid in a lab that has a license to upload the results to the app. That bit is going to need some planning and undoubtedly those labs will charge some big dollars. The new international travel vaccine certificate is on my gov Medicare site to apply for, link your passport to, and download, but mysteriously only exists as a QR code verifiable PDF and not an e-cert to go on your phone in the car wallets like the original one.

Cinnamon buns... I had a hankering for a cinnamon bun again the other day. Like the ones you got in delis or country bakeries. Not a scroll. Big slab of icing on the top and they were that much better if you got them to slice it and put butter in. They are actually hard to find now. A few places doing fancy scrolls, the odd bakery doing a scroll but not the classic. I can still find my other preferred apple turnover at a chain of bakeries, but even the good old yellow custard pink icing vanilla slice is in decline. A giant lunch bar ham and salad roll, one of the three cakes, and an ice coffee (not one of the crap ones) never wears thin. Probably the reason why I need to beach run so often but hey, female hormones aside, everything that can be kept in balance.

I had to buy a Melbourne Cup hat this week. There is a rather large MC/charity/fashion event on that starts with the 11am race (my time), goes through the day and then turns into a sunset formal event. There are going to be some messy people undoubtedly, but they are hoping at least half will survive into the evening. Anyway, suitable dress found and then a milliner friend said she had made a range of original hats outside of her haute couture usual so have taken on one her a little bit more normal ones. My last event hat suffered unrecoverable damage after the traditional black sambuca after lunch shots had been lit up. Don't drunkenly raise it in the air and say cheers when sitting next to someone with a big hat on....

So Twiggy is off to Glasgow, Rio upped the ante and committed to their own targets, and the share market is setting its own expectations. I expect the Nationals will have to cave and Morrison will have to write a national 30 year framework in the remaining week beforehand. I think they're were looking for an out after the US got hamstrung by politics on what they would do. Nickel and EV battery minerals are going through the roof so spending on emissions reductions have been offset by gains and takeover. That's a win-win. Even if you move all the coal workers over to the battery minerals and hydrogen economy there are still not enough, so politics should focus on as much like for like replacement as possible to keep existing communities relatively intact and not hollowed out. That's not 100% possible on a town by town basis but might be on a regional basis. If you throw a domestic nuclear power industry into the mix then power and green fuel will be a big industry. Not sure in other states but the road map over here is that the hydrogen economy will go hand in hand with having to refine minerals prior to export, with penalties on raw exports. I'm not a huge fan of Dom Perrotet but he is correct in that unless we increase birth rates (he leads the charge in that department) we are in need of 2-4m extra people on top of the existing workforce, let alone the services from population. The challenge is to channel the new populations into the secondary and tertiary cities and towns and not the capital cities so as to increase the pie outside of CBDs.

A movie set needs a 3/4 drunk bottle of Yamazaki 16 year old. We happen to have one or two here, unopened. They don't want to buy a brand new one and we don't necessarily want to knock off a heap without a happy evening in which it makes sense to bring it out. Where is the happy medium between and at what price?


Enjoy your weekend.

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all,

Well it's so called "freedom day" here in Melbourne. Although not for lots of stuff just mainly hospitality and beauty stuff. They finally updated the website with the new set of rules. Danny Boy made the announcement last weekend but without any details on the website. Not much has changed from the original roadmap. Main difference seems to be visitors to the home and removal of the curfew and travel restrictions. Although we can only travel within the city limits for now. I'm expecting lots of parties either tonight or the weekend or at least lots of visitors to the family homes in the street. The kids will go nuts. The only thing that might temper that is the rain we are expecting tonight and for the weekend. Lots of it apparently. Will see if that is true.

Just finished the mowing out the front. With the warmer weather and wet stuff we've had in the past week the grass had gone nuts. Still warm out there so I did build up a sweat. Have the fan going to cool me down at the moment. Still have to wear a mask outdoors so wasn't happy that I had to mow the nature strip with the mask on in the warmth. Apparently lots of people are presenting at chemists with nasal congestion issues. I'm guessing breathing in your own CO2 for long periods is not good for you. Once we get to 80% double dosed the masks are not required outdoors. So we will play the mask on, mask off game again. No indication on the road map when masks indoors will not be mandatory. Well I guess it gives the anti-vax groups something to bitch about apart from the normal stuff.

Can now travel across the city again to do work on the other property. Then it's off to get a hair cut. Might even think about shaving off the beard. Certainly a task for the warmer weather. Drives in the country not yet allowed, but orgies and gang bangs are technically on the table again, then again you might like a couch. Says you can have 10 people to your home, doesn't say they have to be family only. Although that would be an awkward conversation. "Sorry we're having an orgy this weekend, Uncle Fred and Aunty Betty can visit next weekend."

It shouldn't be a surprise the lengths the LNP will go to cover up fraud and corruption. The whole Porter thing is just a coverup. Nobody is buying the fact that the secret trust was done without his knowledge. It's not a blind trust as he keeps telling people. Doesn't fall within that definition. And the people involved who donated don't want the general public to know who there are so they must be rich and high up in private industry. Your average mum and dad couldn't afford to donate. As Porter said himself, his lawyers were very expensive. As for Gladys well I'm sure people are now having doubts about how honest she has been. And the usual far right pollies are trying to undermine the ICAC in NSW. It's politics first, truth is a non-starter. Protect the brand at all costs.

Have a few phone calls to make to sort out the stuff I was organizing prior to the lock down which was back in mid July. So far the new Far Cry video game I'm playing is good. Getting to understand how things work. Good selection of weapons and the bad guys are a challenge even on easy mode. Good for those nights when there is crap on TV.

I found Christmas cake already in the supermarket. Well I already have the beard, now I just to have to find some ho ho ho. Which is just good timing since we can have visitors to the home again. Might go home visiting this weekend depending on the weather. Hope the weekend is good for you.

 

[missswannie]

Share The Dignity campaign is on again at present. People are encouraged to make up a bag of toiletries or buy an extra item of shampoo, tampons, pads etc and put it in the collection box at supermarkets. I was explaining the whole thing to a bunch of iron ore miners at an industry meeting earlier in the week. Today a truck load of tampons and pads arrived at the warehouse courtesy of the purchasing power of that lot. There is good in the corporate world.

Also encouraging is the increase in the report of assaults and harassment on mine sites. The visibility is encouraging people to come out which helps clean it up. Alcohol on site is a contributing factor. You were able to have 6 drinks per night/morning (actually it was unlimited first) then for many mines it was cut down to 4. Now the proposal is 2, with a couple of dry mines still around. Everyone still has to blow zero at the start of shifts but it is the instantaneous behaviour towards colleagues that has to come to scratch.

The labour shortages over here are causing some of the funny stuff to creep back in. The days of the big tin of nescafe and the urn of hot water passed years ago here in favour of the coffee machine. During the construction boom mines put on baristas to keep people happy and contracted. They are back again.

At a certain place a while ago, renown for its accom village, there was a strike because they reduced the flavours of cordial down from 7 to 2, and the ice cream fridge with 10 flavours was taken away in favour of 2. Seems those days are back with an announcement of a supply deal for gelato from a known dairy company as well as premium milk for their barista. A couple of the big Pilbara iron mines have a dozen local beers on tap in the mess.

Looks like the opening date for WA is going to be Feb 1. That coincides with the last of the mandatory vaccination dates. Local business is up in arms at the prospect of masks and 2 sq meter rules. The anti-mandate mob have turned their attention to this saying they want no masks or restrictions. Looks like kids from 5 will be able to get done from late November so that will cut down the school and family transmission routes. Frustratingly to certain parts of the media there is a large proportion of the population that say if there are restriction involved then leave the borders closed. Despite their gripes about not being able to have cheap backpacker labour, regional centres have done more business in the last two year than ever.

We managed to score a nice warm weekend here, with everyone on the beach, before the rain set in on Monday once again. Wettest October in 56 years apparently and its not over yet. the El Nina warning is up so it could be a wet summer across the north.

Went to the final session of the SAS intake as part of the Foundation. After 22 weeks, 7 didn't make it, with 5 of those asked to do it over again. A higher than usual rate, but they are repopulating the ranks with a higher intake. On the flip side, on their final week in the north they all had to nominate a distance to make a definite shot over, and every one of them nominated at least 2000m and scored. The old days of a kestrel and ballistics calculator have gone the way of lasers that feed distance, wind and humidity directly into the scopes. Fascinating stuff they get.

Christmas sales are already up according to retailers, with a pickup from September. Clearly with supply chains under pressure world wide, there is not going to be as much floating around the shelves as normal. I have decided that all gifts this year will be from local small businesses, especially those selling at markets. We all just might kick the big retailer domain and go back to supporting local folks after all. That would be a great trend.

Talking of locals, I bought a few pairs of bikinis from a local mob getting their product out there. They had a carpark stall out of a van at the beach so why not.

Don't forget to get your tax in by the end of the month, or apply for the accountant extension to March.

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all,

Another nice sunny day here in Melbourne town. Had a phone afternoon today and found out that general retail is now not going to open till tomorrow night. Was originally supposed to happen tonight. So Saturday will be real freedom day for retail shopping. Everyone will need their double vaccination cert, so that is going to be interesting to see how many conflicts arise. I'll be part of that throng. Need new wipers for the car and my mobile doesn't work with those apps so I'll have my hardcopy with me.

After the rain expected tonight and tomorrow, looking like it will warm up to Summer type temps on Melbourne Cup day which no doubt will send the ladies into a spin as to what to wear. Saturday will be a test run for Tuesday with only 5000 allowed at Flemington, expecting 10,000 on Tuesday. That part of Epsom Rd and the roundabout up the road from the racecourse will be a pain in the butt for local traffic. Like it is every year.

Not sure what's the sudden urgency with the new ID's for voting. It will disadvantage some parts of the population. Seems a bit strange given the AEC has stated there isn't a problem with voter fraud. Sounds like it's just a distraction from the so called plan for reducing emissions. Seems ironic that the LNP is using the Labor results back in Kevin's day as part of their strategy. Since then emissions have actually gone up not down as the LNP claim. We look like such fools when going to COP26 with a plan that resembles the Emperor's New Clothes. We'll need a kid to point out the truth. This plan was obviously written by a financial person based on stuff that doesn't exist and is a projection. We all know how bad the Fed's are about forecasting. Their model will be Barnaby in a bikini.

Will be back across the city again on Sunday lining up the next tradie for work on the other property. Tradies are back at work but some haven't survived. Even tried to get a hair cut this week but the barber I normally go to has closed her business due to the increase in rent on the premises. Which apparently the owner didn't know anything about. It was the real estate agent trying to increase the rent by 20%. This happened whilst we were still in lock down. No doubt there are other similar stories with small business owners. The painter that I had ready to go after lock down lifted, has also gone out of business.

Barnaby seems to be really happy that he held the Libs to ransom to sign up to their plan. Which means he doesn't give a flying fuck about even the coal industry. It was all about gains for the Nat's. Pure self interest.

Hope the weekend is good for you. Looking forward to not having to wear a mask outdoors. Also have to find a new barber and buy a beard trimmer.

 

[darkelf9]

Share The Dignity campaign is on again at present. People are encouraged to make up a bag of toiletries or buy an extra item of shampoo, tampons, pads etc and put it in the collection box at supermarkets. I was explaining the whole thing to a bunch of iron ore miners at an industry meeting earlier in the week. Today a truck load of tampons and pads arrived at the warehouse courtesy of the purchasing power of that lot. There is good in the corporate world.

Also encouraging is the increase in the report of assaults and harassment on mine sites. The visibility is encouraging people to come out which helps clean it up. Alcohol on site is a contributing factor. You were able to have 6 drinks per night/morning (actually it was unlimited first) then for many mines it was cut down to 4. Now the proposal is 2, with a couple of dry mines still around. Everyone still has to blow zero at the start of shifts but it is the instantaneous behaviour towards colleagues that has to come to scratch.

The labour shortages over here are causing some of the funny stuff to creep back in. The days of the big tin of nescafe and the urn of hot water passed years ago here in favour of the coffee machine. During the construction boom mines put on baristas to keep people happy and contracted. They are back again.

At a certain place a while ago, renown for its accom village, there was a strike because they reduced the flavours of cordial down from 7 to 2, and the ice cream fridge with 10 flavours was taken away in favour of 2. Seems those days are back with an announcement of a supply deal for gelato from a known dairy company as well as premium milk for their barista. A couple of the big Pilbara iron mines have a dozen local beers on tap in the mess.

Looks like the opening date for WA is going to be Feb 1. That coincides with the last of the mandatory vaccination dates. Local business is up in arms at the prospect of masks and 2 sq meter rules. The anti-mandate mob have turned their attention to this saying they want no masks or restrictions. Looks like kids from 5 will be able to get done from late November so that will cut down the school and family transmission routes. Frustratingly to certain parts of the media there is a large proportion of the population that say if there are restriction involved then leave the borders closed. Despite their gripes about not being able to have cheap backpacker labour, regional centres have done more business in the last two year than ever.

We managed to score a nice warm weekend here, with everyone on the beach, before the rain set in on Monday once again. Wettest October in 56 years apparently and its not over yet. the El Nina warning is up so it could be a wet summer across the north.

Went to the final session of the SAS intake as part of the Foundation. After 22 weeks, 7 didn't make it, with 5 of those asked to do it over again. A higher than usual rate, but they are repopulating the ranks with a higher intake. On the flip side, on their final week in the north they all had to nominate a distance to make a definite shot over, and every one of them nominated at least 2000m and scored. The old days of a kestrel and ballistics calculator have gone the way of lasers that feed distance, wind and humidity directly into the scopes. Fascinating stuff they get.

Christmas sales are already up according to retailers, with a pickup from September. Clearly with supply chains under pressure world wide, there is not going to be as much floating around the shelves as normal. I have decided that all gifts this year will be from local small businesses, especially those selling at markets. We all just might kick the big retailer domain and go back to supporting local folks after all. That would be a great trend.

Talking of locals, I bought a few pairs of bikinis from a local mob getting their product out there. They had a carpark stall out of a van at the beach so why not.

Don't forget to get your tax in by the end of the month, or apply for the accountant extension to March.

Hey Misswannie,

Reading your post has brought back memories of working back in the 80's when you could drink at work. Seems the mining industry hasn't moved on. I get the fact it is remote work but it's still a work place in our so called enlightened times. The fact that mine workers need a barista is also a bit out of character with the idea of a tough job. I guess the latte sipping doesn't just happen in cities. When I would travel to remote locations I was just happy to get a black cup of coffee. I also remember the days when they got rid of tea ladies and replaced them with coffee machines. Cost 2c for a cup of what you could call coffee. Not too different to what you can get in coffee machines today. Just not the different options you get these days. No latte option back then. It was either black for flat white. And hot chocolate for some reason.

I remember cold Winter days on a firing range helping to set up laser velocity devices when I was a trainee. That was again back in the early '80's. The dudes responsible for the ranges would get pissed off when the operators would fire through the devices rather than the targets. Lots of cursing. I on the other hand would just laugh.

 

[missswannie]

Hey Misswannie,

Reading your post has brought back memories of working back in the 80's when you could drink at work. Seems the mining industry hasn't moved on. I get the fact it is remote work but it's still a work place in our so called enlightened times. The fact that mine workers need a barista is also a bit out of character with the idea of a tough job. I guess the latte sipping doesn't just happen in cities. When I would travel to remote locations I was just happy to get a black cup of coffee. I also remember the days when they got rid of tea ladies and replaced them with coffee machines. Cost 2c for a cup of what you could call coffee. Not too different to what you can get in coffee machines today. Just not the different options you get these days. No latte option back then. It was either black for flat white. And hot chocolate for some reason.

I remember cold Winter days on a firing range helping to set up laser velocity devices when I was a trainee. That was again back in the early '80's. The dudes responsible for the ranges would get pissed off when the operators would fire through the devices rather than the targets. Lots of cursing. I on the other hand would just laugh.

Not always like that. I was back and forth to Central Queensland for a while a few years ago keeping an eye on a mine being rehab-ed back into production. The local store near the dirt road turnoff made their own pies and you could order a coffee. Didn't matter what you ordered, she shouted out white coffee or black. The boys at the mine used to get excited when the big Nescafe Blend 47 tin was replaced by Moccona for the week. Very flash. There was a bbq with steak and sausages from the local cattle farm, no veges.

On the flip side, I've been in some head offices where any coffee order requiring normal milk was somewhat sneered at. I'm quite partial to the Coles Brand Organic instant and a splash of milk. Highly recommend it.

 

[darkelf9]

Not always like that. I was back and forth to Central Queensland for a while a few years ago keeping an eye on a mine being rehab-ed back into production. The local store near the dirt road turnoff made their own pies and you could order a coffee. Didn't matter what you ordered, she shouted out white coffee or black. The boys at the mine used to get excited when the big Nescafe Blend 47 tin was replaced by Moccona for the week. Very flash. There was a bbq with steak and sausages from the local cattle farm, no veges.

On the flip side, I've been in some head offices where any coffee order requiring normal milk was somewhat sneered at. I'm quite partial to the Coles Brand Organic instant and a splash of milk. Highly recommend it.

Well when they start selling inorganic coffee, I'll switch to tea only

Moccona is my standard coffee at home. Occasionally I'll go for Robert Timms. I don't get the trend with capsules. It's just instant coffee in a package that can't be recycled. I discovered many years ago that instant coffee is frowned upon in the US and Canada. It's like we are heathens for offering it. Did by a coffee machine for the home years ago but then got jack of it and went back to instant. Best OS coffee experience was in the US at a college cafe. They had 14 different blends you could try. You just paid for the cup. Do like those bottomless coffee places in the US.

Never go to a country bbq and ask for vegies. Shows you're city folk. It's meat and onions and tomato sauce, and a bun if you're lucky. The onions and tomato sauce are the vegies. No sourdough anywhere.

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all,

It's a humid rainy day in Melbourne town. The Melbourne Cup is over and as usually happens the favourite was beaten by a horse not on anyone's radar. It actually ran in The Cup last year and came 7th. We just call it "The Cup" in Melbourne. It's a public holiday only for city folk. I spent a couple of hours out in the heat hacking stuff in the garden. Have had a busy front end to the week so it was my only chance before the rain hit.

Life in the street has returned to normal. There were parties yesterday. People visiting again and kids running around till someone got hurt. Thankfully I don't have to wear a mask outside. Hope those days are behind us. Not sure when we can get rid of masks inside shops. Probably not till next year. May be after the booster thing gains momentum.

Was out at the shops and had two different experiences with the whole showing your vaccination status thing. Went to Bunnings and nobody asked to see my vaccination proof. Then went to a takeaway place I've been to before during lock down and I had to show my vaccination status. Which I didn't understand considering, takeaway never required it before. So that was confusing. I thought it was only required for dining in the venue.

The Christmas stamps are out. I think Australia Post is having a lend of us. One of the options is a Christmas Island stamp. Seriously! Now we know people actually live on Christmas Island but it's associated with a detention centre where we lock up toddlers. Not very Christmassy I would of thought. Still, I did buy the Christmas Island ones just for the irony of it.

Was interesting looking at the ICAC this week with Gladys. When people are put under pressure their true nature comes out and Gladys showed her true colours. She was belligerent and just denied everything. She thought the whole thing was beneath her. She was very indignant that she was even there. Afterall she is a very honest person that even the rules don't apply to her right? Really? What's the point of having rules of conduct if you can disregard them because you believe you are honest. Shows a lack of self awareness. She has obviously made a little world of her own and convinced herself she couldn't possibly do anything wrong.

Even when faced with the facts she just denied she knew anything. Then lied about telling her Chief of Staff that the relationship was over in 2018 but it was still going till last year. Her Chief of Staff had no reason to make up that story and lie to ICAC. She sacked her boyfriend for his corruption but then said she didn't know he was doing anything wrong. None of her statements made sense and none were consistent. We only have the tapped phone calls, so what they actually said to one another we will never know. And the people that do know won't say anything as they still have careers to think about. We know the actual truth will come out years later or if it goes to criminal case. Which is probably not likely because there won't be enough evidence to convict unless someone is willing to testify. Her work colleagues will feel betrayed as she was living this double life. If she was a bloke we'd say he was pussy whipped. Then again if she was a bloke the media would be much stronger in it's reporting. The media has been quite gentle with her. I guess all those flowers now have a wilt to them. She knew there was corruption happening but failed to report it because she would then have to reveal her relationship and that would of tarnished her political career. She trashed her own political career. She can't blame anyone else. But she will get a job in private industry to get govt contracts because she knows the system. Private industry will overlook a little corruption for profit. Gladys will be fine. They always are.

Hope the rest of the week is good for you. So warm that I had to break out the shorts and the fan, if only for a day. Was a rather warm night.

 

[missswannie]

The WA road map out of border closures to the three states is now out. 90% vaccination rate which at current rates will be reached late January or early February. Some areas of the state are way ahead already, others behind, so there is the possibility of the intraregion borders going back up and certain areas remaining off limits. If the numb nuts contingent pull their finger out and pick up the pace then it's earlier. G2G pass system remains in place so people coming in have to be double vaccinated and upload their docs before hand, test results etc etc. International arrivals on the same system as elsewhere. Masks on public transport, nightclubs, and stadium events with more than 1000 people.

The intraregion hard borders going back up is a sensible idea. You have some areas where the vax rate is 90-95 already, but others where it is sub 50 and immuno-compromised population. The wet season has started a touch earlier so that will bring a few groups into population centers where they might get vaccinated and pick up the pace out there.

Whatever your political affiliations or ambitions may be, the reality is 450 extra bed capacity (150 ICU, 300 respiratory ward) to deal with whatever comes out of reopening. You can say you would have done it differently, maybe you could have, nation vs state hoo ha, but at 451 you are overrun and shutting down everything else. Make it work.

A great ruling yesterday for agriculture workers and their award rate. The piece rate system was in the act as part of an incentive system over and beyond the award rate but had been rorted and left the door open for rip offs and illegal workers. The backpacker tax ruling in the high court also evens the playing field a bit. There are a few too many loopholes that need closing out and just give everyone a fair go. Even the requirement for people to stay on farm accommodation at often high rates needs to be a wage statement line item so that it is a deduction item at tax time and open to scrutiny rather than an off the books declare the left over only. We are a better nation than that.

Quite shocked to see a former client of ours go bankrupt and in the wash up see that they have not paid employee superannuation deductions to the funds for more than 2 years. Now, the nature of the people that came in at the top didn't match our ideals, hence our non-involvement with them, and probably leaves no surprises. Some of our New York based contractors get paid through a state agency that makes sure that all requirements are done, a system that emerged after similar rorts and non payments. The employee bank is one you should not tap into.

Boobs. Data just out shows that not only have Australians increased in average boob size over the last 25 years, but the past 2 years look like a plus one size event. Hold your horses because that's based on size sales info in lingerie, dresses and swimwear. You don't get uniformity in brands, styles, shapes, so a D here, a DD there or scratch you head and play with a C in a bigger band for a different fit. Most blokes have trouble with the idea of cup size being a mathematical difference not a defined volume, but it makes for good media.

 

[darkelf9]

Sounds like she has the same playbook as your Premier was using when they had the inquiry into the botched Melbourne hotel COVID isolation fiasco.

Good to see you guys in Canberra are doing well with the vaccine rollout. I guess being part of NSW helps.

 

[darkelf9]

The WA road map out of border closures to the three states is now out. 90% vaccination rate which at current rates will be reached late January or early February. Some areas of the state are way ahead already, others behind, so there is the possibility of the intraregion borders going back up and certain areas remaining off limits. If the numb nuts contingent pull their finger out and pick up the pace then it's earlier. G2G pass system remains in place so people coming in have to be double vaccinated and upload their docs before hand, test results etc etc. International arrivals on the same system as elsewhere. Masks on public transport, nightclubs, and stadium events with more than 1000 people.

The intraregion hard borders going back up is a sensible idea. You have some areas where the vax rate is 90-95 already, but others where it is sub 50 and immuno-compromised population. The wet season has started a touch earlier so that will bring a few groups into population centers where they might get vaccinated and pick up the pace out there.

Whatever your political affiliations or ambitions may be, the reality is 450 extra bed capacity (150 ICU, 300 respiratory ward) to deal with whatever comes out of reopening. You can say you would have done it differently, maybe you could have, nation vs state hoo ha, but at 451 you are overrun and shutting down everything else. Make it work.

A great ruling yesterday for agriculture workers and their award rate. The piece rate system was in the act as part of an incentive system over and beyond the award rate but had been rorted and left the door open for rip offs and illegal workers. The backpacker tax ruling in the high court also evens the playing field a bit. There are a few too many loopholes that need closing out and just give everyone a fair go. Even the requirement for people to stay on farm accommodation at often high rates needs to be a wage statement line item so that it is a deduction item at tax time and open to scrutiny rather than an off the books declare the left over only. We are a better nation than that.

Quite shocked to see a former client of ours go bankrupt and in the wash up see that they have not paid employee superannuation deductions to the funds for more than 2 years. Now, the nature of the people that came in at the top didn't match our ideals, hence our non-involvement with them, and probably leaves no surprises. Some of our New York based contractors get paid through a state agency that makes sure that all requirements are done, a system that emerged after similar rorts and non payments. The employee bank is one you should not tap into.

Boobs. Data just out shows that not only have Australians increased in average boob size over the last 25 years, but the past 2 years look like a plus one size event. Hold your horses because that's based on size sales info in lingerie, dresses and swimwear. You don't get uniformity in brands, styles, shapes, so a D here, a DD there or scratch you head and play with a C in a bigger band for a different fit. Most blokes have trouble with the idea of cup size being a mathematical difference not a defined volume, but it makes for good media.

Hey Misswannie,

Geez you know how to dash a guy's hopes. I mean larger boobs that's just maths, not fair. It's probably like clothes and shoes made in China. I have to buy a size bigger in shoes to get my right size since it's all made in China. My feet haven't grown in the last 20 years. Now have to get a size 10 or 11. Same with shirts and suits. Hard to find anything that fits properly and let's not get started on skinny jeans. Just want proper jeans, not jeans I have to peel off.

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all,

Well it's a rainy day in Melbourne town. Rain on the roof woke me up in the early hours of the morning which has lasted for most of the morning. Has gone away for now but will be back either later today or later tomorrow. Lots more rain for Friday and all weekend. The last two days were good weather. Warmish. Was at the other property hacking trees, cleaning stuff and hammering one part of the fence. Felt a Peter, Paul and Mary song coming on.

We have been out of lock down for a couple of weeks now and general retail has only been open since last weekend. Had to wait several months to get new wiper blade refills for the car. Thankfully that click and collect thing is not required. Good if you know exactly what you want. Then again how much time are you actually saving since you have to go to store to pick it up anyway.

Smoko seems determined to make himself more embarrassing than Abbott. Not sure what his office was thinking leaking that text message. Even JoeB was distancing himself from Smoko. Not sure what other world leaders now think of our govt. Can they be trusted with anything. Don't worry we'll keep your private conversations private unless you piss us off, then we'll act like an angry teenager.

So the LNP are now promoting electric vehicles cause the technology has vastly improved in the last 2 years. WTF? And the only money is for building more charge stations even though most people can't afford to buy EV's. Rather pointless building this infrastructure if you can't afford the vehicles that use it. And you can bet they will build these charge stations mainly in LNP seats since only the rich can afford the vehicles. Yet another spreadsheet in the works. They'll probably build the first one in an outback location somewhere near crocs. And when that fails, they'll say nobody wants EV's.

Hope the rest of the week is good for you. If you live in Sydney buy a boat. You'll need it to get to the shops.

 

[missswannie]

I had a puzzling conversation with a Sydney client today. They were under the impression that WA people can't go anywhere. Technically I can go anywhere, but I can can come back from Queensland, NT, Tasmania and SA. Only NSW ACT and Vic are one way trips at the moment. Anyway as a result I am covering for them in Queensland and SA, as well as an event in WA. Typical organisation skills, it is Perth - Brisbane - Perth -Adelaide - Perth flights in 6 days, so I will be doing my bit keeping the Qantas shareholders happy. Maybe I'll hang around Adelaide for a couple of days after and see whats happening.

Rain. We copped a month's worth of rain in 3 hours on monday night. 33 for the weekend so should be back on track for where it should be. A poor bloke got eaten by a large shark or two the other day. Offshore distance swimming way out beyond the break around the reef beaches from Port to Swanbourne is a bit of a risk during the whale migration. There are mothers and calves resting within a mile of the shore at the moment up and down the coast. Better to do that activity off the non reef beaches from Swanbourne to Trigg where things don't creep off the reef at you. Typically, politicians smell a fear opportunity, as do the lifesaving organisations, with debates happening about just how many new helicopters/jetskis/other toys would satisfy. Not sure the Feds can drop any cash into that, they are still behind on the carparks. In the meantime, the swim between the flags mantra is going out. Only problem is that to reduce their risk, flags are set 25-50 meters apart in set positions, which is ridiculous on a sand beach 3 miles long and inevitably a moving rip inside the flags. Yes I am old school SLSA, not the current.

Sorry to deflate anyone on the previous boob size thing. I am reasonably informed that the experience of slipping on a pair of mass produced undies and finding that the fit has suddenly changed (or did I get bigger) is universal. Blokes have complained of jocks manufactured offshore that are in their size but no way does everything fit in like it used to. Probably made on the same model used to mass produce some women's dresses. The bloke opened up a packet of what I thought were nice stripey ones, in organic cotton, in K-mart the other day. Make a fist, he said, and put it in the front pouch. I saw the point. Clearly not pouchy enough, so the wearer is going to be squished flat or more likely has significant side gap and high risk of escapism. Honestly, there are some lady mounds that would be more suited to these things. To prove a point a packet was bought and home experimentation confirmed that these things are not regular man suitable even at plus one size, but are ok for me to run around the house in. It does remind me of a story of the bloke's best mate, who is exactly the same size in jocks as his wife knickers. Having bombed out on the bed post fly-out day nookie, he awoke with only a short time to go before having to get on a FIFO flight to a mine. He stuffed his sports bag with handfuls of the requisites in the dark, but ended up having to do a 2 week swing with only her knickers in his bag. BBQ and beer debate of this has ensued for the past 20 something years with clear lines of enquiry on silky vs non-silky, could he fit in them (much peering surreptitiously at budgie smugglers on beach days following), maybe he should shell out for nicer knickers for her, were they comfy undies or sparkly g-bangers. Doing a 12 hours shift a kilometer underground with just a pair of your wife's lacy g's underneath your lollypop coveralls is high level kink.

Enjoy your week.

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all from chilly Melbourne.

We are back to Winter temps here in Melbourne town. The weather forecast has done a 180. Now we are forecast to get only one dry day this week which is tomorrow. After a weekend of the wet stuff, we've had rain both yesterday and today but it has been more localized. Was out yesterday driving across the city. Was raining at my place, drove two suburbs over and it was sunny and dry. No rain on the other side of the city till later in the day, then drove back across the city thru rain to dry sunny weather again. More rain this morning on my side of the city. So the weather is all over the place. Got a tradie to do an external repair task on the other property, but just waiting for the weather to fine up. Annoying since I've waited 3 months in lock down to get that job done.

So COP26 was a cop out from the main players. Just shows that the big polluters, including us, have no intention to do anything on climate change. Lots of cans being kicked down the road. Meanwhile half the Pacific islands will be underwater and those rich people won't have a remote island to escape to. That's about the only time anything will be done. When the rich and well off can't go on holidays to a warm sunny spot without using a snorkel to get to their hotel room. The world has just about given up on keeping global warming below the 1.5 temp increase. We are on track to get to 2 degrees. Doesn't sound much but will mean more frequent extreme weather and will increase insurance for all of us, not just those impacted by floods and fire. We all saw during the pandemic how the air quality improved in cities by less traffic and people movement. Nature will fight back, but we need to give it a chance by changing our behaviours.

Quiet laughable when Smoko says he hasn't lied to anyone. There have been so many that someone has now written a book on all his lies over the last few years. Macron must be smiling. Labor just has to sit back and let it all play out. Then we get Barnaby on the TV saying that the Libs signed up to reducing emissions, not the Nat's. May be someone needs to tell Barnaby his is the Deputy PM and he does represent the entire govt. His carry on on the ABC yesterday was comical. And he had a go at Victorians again. Not smart coming into an election. Smoko spent last week down here in Victoria trying to shore up the LNP seats. Barnaby just blew all that work up. We have such dumb fucks running this country. No wonder the rest of the world reckon we are some backward yokels. Cue the banjos! Australia is now that family member that nobody talks about and doesn't get invited to family gatherings. When ever we get back OS, people in other countries will see us as those climate change deniers. We even have our own shouty man, he's Deputy PM.

Not sure why Smoko persists in using the Friday 4pm tactic. It's the arena of cowards and bullies. It's a well know management tactic that if you want to bully someone you send them an email at 4pm on a Friday for a meeting on Monday. It's meant to intimidate people over the weekend and not give them any recourse for reply. If you want to bury info, Friday at 4pm is when they send out all the info. They teach this crap at management courses. It was notable that the modelling was known before Smoko went to COP26 and was only released after the press conference so journalists couldn't ask questions. Again Smoko caught in a lie. Not sure why they do this considering that news is now reported 7 days a week, 24hrs a day. It's rather childish.

Seems the LNP is back on the bandwagon of calling Danny Boy a nazi. The Feds did that last year and now the local opposition is encouraging those disturbing images again. Threatening a politician with violence is not on regardless of which party they are from. Again the Lib opposition here in Victoria is back to their old tactics. Last time it was using racism about African gangs which was just a lie, now it's calling Danny Boy a nazi. They just can't help themselves. Then again Little Johnny did gain power by using racism and creating fear about refugees being terrorists. It's still used today by the LNP and keeps working with white people. Same reason we don't have a treaty for indigenous people, because white people are worried they will be kicked off their land. It's that simple.

Even with the lock downs, that feeling that Christmas will be on us sooner that we think is still there. Like last year Christmas here in Melbourne will be reasonably normal. Although I'm sure there will be discussions on who is vaccinated and which family members are hold outs. Could be a reason not to invite the annoying ones. I'm looking forward to another peaceful Christmas of staying home and not having to think about family issues for at least one day. Will look a bit more normal once the cricket starts again.

Hope the rest of the week is good for you. Another trip across the city later in the week. The price of petrol varies a lot across Melbourne at the moment. Bought at $1.55 one side of the city and saw it at $1.83 an hour later on the other side of the city. This was on a Monday not the usual change over day.

 

[missswannie]

Quickest way to see $120k go up in smoke, other than pranging a lux car. A young couple with kid started home quarantining up the road. Next day there is a pile of cars there, presumably family visiting. Following day there is a tradie there working on the house. Then it goes quiet. Cops knock on the door this morning to say that there have been quarantine breaches they have verified and they have been issuing fines to the tune of $120k. But the entire street gets a mandatory test directive. Muppets. I've got better things to do than drive through a stick up your nose place.

Looks like we will have to close off areas of the state again with internal borders and travel passes. The Pilbara is going to be a hard one. Unfortunately they only have a vaccine rate of 30% there with a lot of resistance among the communities, so won't survive an outbreak once the borders are open given the health issues up there. If we do keep it open, plus the desert communities, then we will not get to 90%. It will be hard on them as some work on the mines, with the mines falling into the category of fully vaxxed by end of january or fired. Tough one. The opening dates over here have been extended accordingly to try and get the outliers up to speed but it is not going to make it for quite a while. Maybe it will be air travel only to get over the top of the border desert communities and the northern ones. Tricky stuff to manage.

Schoolies week on now, with all events down south mandated to have vaccinated kids only. They all had to line up for hours to prove their ID and status to get accredited but are partying on with bands and whatever now.

Nice beach weather now and back up to 30-35 for the weekend. Ocean sunsets are looking good.

I was supposed to fly to Adelaide next monday but the tip off was that the no quarantine status for SA arrivals would be up for review if they copped a case after reopening. For a one night stay I couldn't be faffed getting stuck with a potential 2 week home quarantine stay so it can wait until next year.

Jackie Lambie had a lot to say today in the Senate. Well said. Playing the mob for easy votes vs doing the right thing for the country. That's a script from all sorts of places over the last few years. I can't vote for her, that's a Tasmanian electorate, but you have to say she says it like it is and she is prepared to say it. Good qualities of someone who takes their job seriously. The others didn't turn up to even vote on their own bill so just a publicity stunt.

Enjoy the weather people.

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all,

Well it's another windy day here in Melbourne town. Had a change of plans, so staying home today. Then was going to do some hacking in the garden but that heavy wind put me off. Not clever to have tree branches hitting you in the face while you're trying to trim them. So the morning turned into a paperwork day instead and of course paying bills. With two properties they come in relentlessly.

Expecting lots of rain for the remainder of the working week starting later in the afternoon. The rain wasn't supposed to get here till Thursday. Have to drive across the city tomorrow so a good chance I'll be in that thunderstorm tomorrow. Good thing I got new windscreen wipers. They will get tested. The latest tradie task should be finished tomorrow. Then one more to go hopefully before Christmas. The lock down is still having a bump on impact in getting tradie work done, plus there is the usual looming Christmas shut down in the next few weeks.

The latest Mitsubishi add has Sammy Davis Jr singing on it. Was surprised to hear him on a modern add. Doubt the younger generation buying those cars even know who he is. The guy was a great entertainer. Didn't just show up and do a few songs then leave. That generation of entertainers where you got value for money if you went to their shows. Like a lot of black entertainers of the day, they weren't allowed to enter the venue via the front door. Even though they were the headliner. As he said, didn't do too bad for a one-eyed, black Jew. Mr. Bojangles.

All the talk over the last few days has been about the radicals protesting in Melbourne and Smoko's comments which reminded me of Rump's comment about 'good people on both sides'. There were even texts from one of those radicals encouraging people to bring guns to the protest to shoot Danny Boy. Apart from the gallows and verbal threats. I'm not sure the Fed's know that their actions are being watched by OS countries. The slow take over of the LNP by facism and radicals just to hold onto power, similar to the Republicans in the US. It's not happening as quickly as in the US but when LNP pollies support these radicals by speaking at their rallies shows how desperate the LNP is to remain in govt. It's all about them and not about governing the country. If you have to court violence to stay in govt then the democracy becomes a dictatorship. Aussies aren't go to put up with that. Time for the cops and the Fed's to shut down these radical groups and stop treating them as fringe groups. It's not going to take much for something tragic to happen.

Was thinking about booking a trip for my birthday in Jan but whilst things have opened up there is still uncertainty. Lots of people are looking at holiday destinations but not many are actually booking holidays. They've been bitten in the past with the loss of money. Airlines don't refund money they keep it and just give you a voucher for future travel. People also got ripped off by travel companies. So I just might go for drive instead on the day. There is also going to be massive road works on the West Gate Bridge during Summer so that will result in chaos and more traffic thru the CBD.

Hope the rest of the week is good for you.

 

[missswannie]

The Christmas party season is upon us. I'm still not used to being around for half of it as it's usually meeting season overseas as well. The weather is hot and there are some big corporate profits to be spent, so it's functions everywhere inside and out. After 5 days on the trot it was nice to have a night at home last night.

The way the cool wet spring was going I didn't think we were ever going to kick off summer. The jacarandas are only peaking now, almost the beginning of Dec. The frangipani leaves have only just started popping out so might only get flowers and the perfume over the yard at Christmas.

Talking about Christmas, looking at the price of decent pieces of meat to throw in the pizza oven the bloke better head out on the boat and start catching a heap of fish. Between certain foods and fuel, the inflation rate for the quarter is likely to be high. Interest rates will be under pressure. I wouldnt want to be up to the gills in mortgages at the moment, hopefully people have been building the buffer needed. Present wise, the order of the day is local things. I don't think I have seen as many Christmas markets around here before. There was one that took over a uni campus on Sunday here that was top notch. A couple of ex Qantas pilots laid off started making interesting takes on chocolate and were selling by the dozen every time I went past. I think it is a great time to refocus on local stuff and reign in the crazy present buying. Unless someone wants to buy me a new laptop before I can go and get a new one myself. I want something high powered, which all the insiders keep saying wait until next year, but if the US raises interest rate the Aussie will drop through the floor.

With the vaccine mandate on workers over here, wineries restaurants and other places are complaining that fully vaccinated service staff will be able to ask their own prices and put their profits under pressure. I'm not sure that's the case unless there are particular pockets of antivaxers dominating the service jobs in the regions. Supply and demand. There is nothing wrong with in demand workers naming their price. If you dig deeper, the issue is the businesses offering award rates and no one taking them at that level. They are easily commanding 30-50% more than that from the businesses that want to trade. Do note that there is a ready pool of older workers that would be willing to do the work but somehow get ignored. The restauranteur that was caught on off air audio saying he couldn't wait for the backpackers to arrive again so he could get rid of the locals is probably close to the mark for some of these places. Reap it while you can kids.

Grain harvesting is underway. Some areas had late rain so are not ready yet. It should be a good year for them all if the rain and frost stay away now. The north is getting some big rain in the wet season. Looks like a wet one right across the north of the country so it should green the place up and get things happening.

Enjoy the summer days people

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all,

Well it's warm and humid in Melbourne town which I suppose is appropriate given it's the first day of Summer. Was out in the garden again this week mowing the lawns this time, in the heat. Was also hacking trees at the other property on Sunday. The arms, shoulders and hands are feeling it now. Trying to cool off. Had to break out the fan again. The heat seems to hit us hard cause it just comes out of nowhere. Another warm day tomorrow then we'll be back down to the overnight lows of 12. Heard the thunder just now so that storm is here. And the rain she is falling. Actually got the weather forecast right for a change.

Had my first foray to lunch with the unwashed masses yesterday. Was so humid. Wasn't impressed with the venue. The new owners were all over the place. Put us in an upstairs area then didn't man the bar so everyone had to troop down two flights of stairs to get drinks. Then they put us outside in the heat. So not impressed. But I was there for a farewell not the food. There seemed to be just as much interest in my return as the dude who was leaving. Anyway it was good to catch up with some of the former work colleagues. People swapping numbers and showing family photos. People talking about their time in the organization and a lot that didn't need to be said. It was a good afternoon.

Seems Melbourne is getting back to some kind of normal. Apart from the masks you see everywhere. You know things are back to normal when the trains are fucked up on your trip home. Thankfully the aircon in the train was working. Gave me a chance to cool off before getting in to a hot car for the drive home.

Well the official word has been published about what a basket case our parliament is as a work place. Not that people didn't know that, but now it's in writing so they can't just look the other way. The fact that Parliament House is a dangerous work place for women. Over 70% of the women who work there say they have been sexually harrassed. That includes female politicians as well as staffers and public servants. As for the open bar, well that drinking culture went out of favour back in early 80's. After that the rule came into force that was if you went out for a drink at lunch time you didn't come back to work. So I find it incredulous that pollies can go the bar during the day, get pissed and go back to work let alone go back to both houses of parliament. They need to put in breath testers at the front doors. What kind of mickey mouse work place do we have in Canberra. Supposed to be the seat of our democracy. Yet these so called adults carry on like they are at schoolies. Why the fuck are we paying these people? They are a disgrace to this country.

Seems the world number 1 won't be here at the Aussie Open because of his vaccination status. Surely he will get some sort of penalty for choosing not to attend because he doesn't want to follow health protocols. He seems to think he is above the rules of any country. Head firmly planted up his arse.

Some talk about the Ashes test in Perth being a no go due to the need to quarantine for 14 days. Well if that is the case I'm sure the MCG could do two tests. Goodness knows we could do with the extra sporting event and the cash that goes with it. I reckon people in Melbourne wouldn't mind having two Ashes tests here.

Hope the rest of the week is good for you.

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all,

Have been watching The Ashes most of the day. Was out early and got back home just in time to see the Aussies lose their first wicket cheaply. The pitch seems to be favouring the bowlers. Scoring has looked difficult at times. Not expecting a high scoring game. The Aussies are throwing it away at the moment after a good fight back. Will be interesting to see how the new guys go in those conditions.

It seems cricket umpires don't call No Balls anymore. The umps have missed several in the Aussie innings. Seems the third umpire is now responsible to call No Balls which seems bizarre. Even with all that technology they still don't call them. The Aussies were robbed of at least 3 runs in one over.

So Smoko is defending yet another cretin in the LNP ranks. He won't sanction George and the only come back is that George won't be there for too much longer. Not good enough. The level of incompetence and stupidity keeps rising in the LNP. If they win the next election then the Australian voting public are as pathetic as the govt. Putting Gladys up as a candidate was a dumb move and shows the LNP are fine with corruption. Gladys is playing everyone nicely and she is still totally deaf to what society expects of our politicians. Can't keep playing the victim card. Mind you Labor would of welcomed Gladys being nominated. Nominating someone who is under investigation for corruption for a candidate in an election is incredibly arrogant.

Not sure what is the point of officials boycotting the Winter Olympics considering the IOC is fine with China's human rights record. No point govt's making noises if the international sporting body in charge of the biggest sporting competition in the world ignores society's expectations. We put all our eggs in the same basket with our trade with China. Aussie companies were falling over themselves to get a piece of the Chinese market, hence why we are so dependent on China for our own economy. So if Australian business is fine with human rights abuses in China then why is our govt only now making a feeble stand other than just following the US.

Had a couple of free days this week and tried to get a haircut only to be told they are booked out for the rest of December. Only a few spots left. What a fucked up world we live in now that it's easier to get an appointment with a GP than to get a haircut. Small business continues to advertise but when you want someone to come to your place they say they are fully booked. Also continue to hear stories of tradies and small business operators charging more to try and make up for their losses during the lockdowns. If you live in Melbourne and had a small reno job well you'll now be waiting till close to Feb. Took a couple of weeks just to get some rubbish removed. The guy only did the job because I've used him before. The world certainly has changed and as usual private industry is trying to make a buck on people's desperation. That's one thing you can count on with private industry, they'll screw anyone to make a profit even when the world has gone to crap. At least they are consistent. It reminds me of the Sydney Olympics where hotels were charging 3 times their normal fees and taxi's were allowed to up their fees by 10-15% for the Olympics. The NSW govt allowed all that to happen. It was a total rip off. You don't mind getting ripped off in an OS country, but when that happens in your own country, it stinks. For the amount of money I spent going to the Sydney Olympics I could of gone to the US twice in the same week.

So The Jackass is now trying a new angle to get into the country. He apparently has a medical condition that exempts him from being vaccinated. Wasn't aware being up yourself was a medical condition. Still Tennis Australia has listed him and has already been caught out sending secret emails to players saying they will be allowed to enter the country regardless of their vaccination status. If The Jackass is allowed into the country without being vaccinated then there will be a lot of angry Aussies who haven't been allowed to come into the country because they are not a tennis star. Once again money talks. Now if people want to protest, well protest about that.

The rain has dominated the week. Not lots of it just passing showers for most of the week. Today was supposed to be a dry day but it has been overcast and drizzly at times. Just enough so that you have to use the car's wipers. That annoying type of wet stuff....wipers on, wipers off...wipers on.

Road works have now come to my neighbourhood. They will here till close to Christmas. As if I don't encounter enough of those driving across the city every week. Anyone trying get from the east to the west or vice versa will be aware of the traffic chaos with the West Gate down to one lane each way and the M1 basically a car park. This will continue for most of the Summer. Plus we have the continuing upgrades to train stations removing level crossing. Those train lines are either going underground or up on bridges. More of that again this Summer on some of the more popular lines. The Vic govt is spending big on infrastructure.

Hope the rest of the week is good for you. Off across the city again tomorrow to do more work on the other property. Also going to visit family in the country on the weekend.

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all,

Well the Christmas thing has almost gone back to normal. Compared to last Christmas there is much more activity and the roads are very busy whether you are travelling in your local streets or going thru the city. The level of road works in Melbourne have also amped up. Nearly everywhere you go there are roadworks of some kind. And just to add more chaos when travelling thru the city, next week Aughtie Drive in Albert Park, most of you would know it as the F1 circuit, well that will be closed again till Christmas. Why? Who the fuck knows. It was closed for two months earlier in the year. Not sure how much more roadworks you can do on it. Either way it's just means it will take even longer to get across the city.

Went to visit family in the country on Sunday. It was a nice sunny day. And yes once again the only thing that fucked up that pleasant drive were roadworks. Thought I got past the roadworks on the M1 but now they extend nearly all the way to the boundary of Melbourne suburbs. No matter what you do travelling down that way you can't avoid them. Even saw a cop car in the country. That's only twice I've seen cops in that area in the last decade of driving down that way. Lots of speed limit changes also. The 100km travel limit is only in short sections now. Which means it now takes longer to get anywhere. The journey that would normally take 90mins nearly took me an extra hour. Can see lots of people rocking up late for Christmas lunch. The roadworks on the M1 have been going on a very long time, must be at least 5-6yrs, seems more like a decade.

Went to Dan Murphy's today to get the usual OS beers for my brother for Christmas and of course whilst I was there I picked up a few for myself. Didn't see my special single malt scotch as it's still not in stock. Did see one that is a bit more expensive. Will wait till the big birthday in Jan to buy that one. Lots of people buying booze in Dan Murphy's although next week will be worse. That's the only time they have traffic wardens in the car park. Haven't seen any retail staff in Santa hats yet. Thought at least they would be playing Christmas songs by now.

The next test will be interesting. England gets it's two strike bowlers back and we lose one of ours. The night game will favour England with it's swing bowlers and we know Aussie batsmen can't play swing so that should balance out the batting. Since it seems without Root, England can't post a total.

So just when people thought we had a handle of COVID it's showing that it's not done with us yet. The bravado of the Fed's might be short lived. The 72hr COVID tests prior to travelling interstate is no guarantee that people aren't carrying the virus to another state. You are taking pot luck catching a plane. Despite the huge jump in numbers in NSW today, they are still removing all restrictions. No masks, no social distancing as of tomorrow. The let it rip Premier is true to form. So no doubt the entire east coast will be impacted again. Sydney is just a petrie dish for COVID and they love to spread it around the country and determined to fuck up as many people's Christmas as possible. It's deja vu. Last New Years was cancelled here in Melbourne due to virus spreading from Sydney. Things are on track for that to happen again. This is exactly how things started just before last Christmas in NSW. NSW gets a gold star for giving the middle finger to the rest of country once again.

A medical thing to do today. Funny how the specialists now prefer telehealth yet GP's prefer face to face. So I'm home this afternoon waiting for a phone call from the specialist. Also interesting they now still allow prescriptions to be sent in the mail even though the lock down has lifted. Prior to COVID you had to make an appointment. You couldn't phone it in. It would be nice if the medical fraternity were consistent.

Off to the dentist next week and another trip into the city. Then it's a trip across the road from the dentist to the chocolate shop. Just have to do things in the proper sequence. It would be inappropriate to rock up to the dentist with a bag full of expensive chocolates. Like putting on a condom after sex. Like I said, the sequence is important.

Apparently the new birth control for guys is to soak your balls in a warm bath. WTF? As if women are going to trust guys doing that. They can't trust guys to change the sheets. They'll need a pic as proof then make you do it again in front of them. It'll be like proving you've had a COVID test. And yeah sure guys are going to forego sex if they haven't done the ball bath thing. No doubt Billy Connolly would have joke about this.

Paid all the bills for the year. Got a lovely email from the utility company just to say the prices are changing again in Jan. They informed me that costs are reducing....for usage..What does that mean? Well if you read the detail what it actually means is that they are reducing the cost of usage by a few cents, but increasing the supply charge by more than three times the cut to the usage charge. Nett result is that there will be an increase to the overall bill. So much for cheaper electrical bills. You can't win.

Was working in the garden at the other property yesterday and it was very warm. I couldn't stop sweating for the 3 hrs I was out there. Then when I took a break, I didn't have the energy to do the other task. It was only 22 so not high temps but the humidity was high. Felt more like 30. Off to Bunnings again tomorrow to get more stuff for work on the other property. Then venturing to a shopping centre to get some Christmas stuff for members of the younger generation. Which is the extent of my Christmas shopping this year. No big present giving this year. Has been a very busy tiring trying year. Can't wait till Christmas and I can get break from everything, if only for a week. Intend to spend the last week of this month on the couch watching the cricket with some form of booze. Don't want to engage with the world for that period.

Hope the rest of the week is good for you.

 

[missswannie]

Christmas functions galore. Tomorrow night's one is the last of the corporate stuff then its just a few personal ones. Kind of sad hearing other states asking people to ease off, but its been a pretty big financial year for companies over here so there is some spending happening.

I can't make up my mind on when to get my booster shot. When they changed it to 5 months I became eligible this week, but then we are not opening up until Feb so perhaps wait until just before Australia Day for max benefits. Depends if you look at it as a booster or as the rumoured third jab like the hepatitis shots. If its the third then I might just pop in on Sat morning and get one.

It rained today! Shock. Or rather it dropped a cloud rapidly. I was coming out of Bunnings this afternoon after picking up a new hose (the Lab decided to eat the front one yesterday) and there was a car in the rain drifting sideways off the roundabout onto the grass. So I went back in for a few more things while the inexperienced were busy crashing. No rain means oil but they spray a layer of detergent down from time to time to try and keep the oil down, but it turns into liquid soap on the first bit of rain too until it drains. Don't drive in Perth during the first rain in a while.

Can't for the life of me work out why you'd get rid of check-ins and the ability to trace quickly. No check-ins so no pings on your phone so no way you'd be worried about anything because you wouldn't be warned? Anyway, retailers are not happy.

Bloke was out fishing and has come back with a pile of crayfish and some big snapper. That will take care of the extras when they rock up over Christmas. We have very craftily organised for friends to come over on the 27th for pizzas, the toppings for which shall be made out of whatever is left over after Christmas. Worse case, a big Sri Lankan fish curry to get everyone sweating a bit.

Keep well, enjoy your activities. Outdoors around the BBQ seems like a good a theme as any this year for however you want to look at things.

 

[darkelf9]

Morning all,

Well early to bed, early to rise....just not at 4am...it was dark, so what's a guy to do...paperwork and look at emails. Was waiting for the latest pension update. At least the CPI did something in the last 6 months. It did zip in the first half of the year. I'll be able to buy a CD and half a coffee next month.

Waiting for the next birthday to roll around in a couple of weeks so I can apply for my seniors card. Then watch out! Although it's only useful on what is now considered dangerous activities. Having a sit down coffee inside a cafe and going to the movies. Can also get discounted PT fares. Apparently I get a new PT card for seniors. Will see how all that works. Annoying part of having a seniors card is that it's not applicable to all cafes, even though it technically does apply. They get away with it by not displaying the logo on the shop front. You have to ask. It's a bit like begging.

Speaking of seniors. I managed to get a haircut yesterday just by luck. Was on the other side of the city and decided to go for a walk down a shopping strip street in search of cakes and walked past a barber shop which only had two customers. I asked and only had to wait a few minutes. The seniors bit came when I went to pay. Was only $30 but the guy in charge told the other barber to only charge me $25. He must have looked at the grey beard and thought I was on the old age pension, which I'm too young to qualify for. Had a laugh at that, but I paid the $30. He must have missed all the gold I was wearing. I was just happy to get a haircut after not being able to find a barber over the last month. So I've gone from the homeless dude look to now the bush ranger look, manly due to the beard. The beard is having a life of it's own. And yes I did buy the cakes. Went for a larger box. It takes up a bit of room in the fridge. Guess I'll have to have cake everyday to make room.

Went to a shaver shop to look into buying a proper beard trimmer only to learn the regular price is close to $200 for a decent one. Not sure I want to invest that amount of money in something that is temporary. I'd rather put that money towards a bottle of scotch. I also discovered that COVID is still impacting retail in getting supplies to the point that Boxing Day sales this year is being hampered by the lack of stock.

The difference in traffic was quite noticeable yesterday even compared to Monday. Last week it took me over 90 mins to get across the city. Was stuck on Spencer St (major street thru the city) for nearly 30 mins. Not sure why. Just lots of traffic. The road works even around my area suddenly just vanished overnight. It feels more like weekend morning traffic. Wish it could be of been like that over the last week. Not doing anything next week. Just vegging out and watching the cricket and eating cake assuming they last till next week. Fridge is nearly full. Went to the dentist on Monday then went to chocolate shop across the road. Decided to buy a few extras, so spent nearly $90 on chocolates. Well they are expensive but hey why not.

Went to the shopping centre on Tuesday to get something for the younger members of the family for Christmas and was surprised the car park was not full. Felt like a normal day. Plenty of places to park. The shops were busy but not manic like a normal Christmas period. Went grocery shopping yesterday and there weren't the normal Christmas crowds. Got in and out rather quickly. So not sure what is going on. Either people are travelling or just not having the normal Christmas lunch. Either way it's just not normal.

Purchased the new Adele CD. Listening to it now. It's not all torch songs. She does sing from the heart. Apparently her shows in Vegas next year are all sold out. Can't get tickets so the scalpers are on the hunt for suckers.

What's going on in NSW is just stupid in the face of the virus spreading thru the community. They have doubled our numbers in Vic in less than a week. The numbers in Vic have been around the 1000 mark for a while now. It feels like Dom had to be taken to the head master's office and told to follow the rules. Even his fellow LNP Premiers had a go at him for his lack of rules in the face of out of control numbers in NSW. But I guess he is only following what Gladys started. Why have rules now, they haven't had any in the past. Then they bitch about other states enforcing rules on people from NSW. Really! And then Dom is suggesting they are going to charge people who are not vaccinated if they are hospitalized with COVID. WTF is going on in NSW? No matter what people might think about anti-vaxxers, medical care should be the same for everyone with COVID. What next, not treating them? They keep making comments about Dictator Dan, but Danny Boy has never treated anyone differently because they have COVID. Even those that broke the rules were not penalized for coming forward. Last thing we need is people not seeking treatment because they are going to be charged for a hospital stay with COVID. That stuff can kill you. We don't need anymore unnecessary deaths.

Looking forward to a quiet Christmas Day. Did that last year and it felt good to just relax for the day. Off to see family tomorrow for Christmas and get my normal Christmas treat of hand made sweets. Don't mind travelling for good food.

Hope your Christmas is good for you. Even if you've lost someone this year, time helps but doesn't mean you forget, it just allows space to accept the loss.

 

[missswannie]

Day 4 of 42C plus Christmas. "yeah but it's dry heat" immediately identifies you as a local. Plenty of midnight skinny dips in the pool to get cool, and plenty of people spending all night on the beach.

Observing with interest how other states are handling things. Christmas travel and prior to kids immunisation seems to be capacity buster. I'm up for a booster on Thursday. I had an email a week prior to Christmas but thought I would wait until after Christmas and new year. Unfortunately with the mandates here, a week out of date lost me my WA green tick so I had better correct that or else no entry after Jan 1.

The pizza oven has been going continuously the whole time. It keeps the heat out of the house. A few sides of meats, a turkey, couple snapper and a dozen lobsters. Then the leftovers went on pizza bases yesterday which fed the day three friends.

We have had a bushfire on the outskirts of the city which with the high easterly winds had the potential to get nasty. It burnt out a house and a few sheds on properties but came under control. Regrettably Western Power went into cautious mode and have been slow on bringing outages back online. Plenty of solar power feeding into the grid during the day but the switch to base load while every air conditioner in town was working overtime caused a few people to be without power for quite a while at a time. Obviously a few areas very hot, looking at dodgy food in the fridge and a bit pissed. Fortunately we are on the same grid as a hospital and old age homes so are priority one, it's never here.

Slightly cooler at 38 tomorrow so it's going to a beach morning.

 

[darkelf9]

Afternoon all,

Another nice sunny day here in Melbourne town. The slight cool breeze makes for a nice day to be out and about. No doubt the beach areas will be full. Not my thing as I don't need the tan. Spent two hours in the garden hacking stuff today. Managed to build up a sweat. Just trying to cool down with the fan and a cold cerveza. Haven't done much drinking thus far this festive season. Had planned on just watching the cricket this week till the the Aussies smashed the pomes once again. So have some time to do other stuff. The demolition job by the local boy on the pomes was amazing. Although he probably isn't going to make the next test. Would be good to see Boland and Richardson at the next test given their wicket hauls in their respective tests. The series is wrapped up so Starc and Hazelwood don't need to play.

Slowly managing to eat my way to the back of the fridge. Going grocery shopping tomorrow but just need the essentials. Have been surprised by the lack of activity in the shops. Avoiding the big shopping centres, but still the crowds are just not there in the other retail shops. Went to Officeworks and Bunnings yesterday and it felt just like a weekend. Didn't even see a sausage sizzle. I'm guessing lots of people are trying to travel.

Well the govt's around the country have underestimated the need for pre-testing. Lots of people are getting tested so they can travel. Can't blame the public. The govt's put the rules in place but didn't have the infrastructure in place to meet the demand, which they must have known would come with people wanting to travel during the Christmas/New Year period. What did they think was going to happen? They knew people were keen to travel. In fact state govt's encouraged people to travel to boost the tourist industry. NSW is in all sorts of chaos. Faults with test results and testing centre staff on holidays but nobody told the public. Over 1000 incorrect test results and their daily numbers have doubled overnight. They are now 3 times that of Vic. That no doubt will increase again. The NSW govt seems to not care about people's health. Their health system is overwhelmed and in danger of breaking down all together. Then blaming other states for the consequences of NSW's own dumb decisions. Given New Year's is only a few days away you can bet those numbers in NSW will have a massive jump again. Is Dom, is fuckwit! I'm waiting for Hazzard to blame migrants and refugees again like he did last time. Just use the LNP racist play book which they learnt from Johnny Howard. He couldn't get elected so used boat people as the scapgoat and it worked. Ever since then it has been a standard go to for the LNP, because it works in the eastern suburbs where the money is.

Weather here on New Year's Eve is set to be a hot one. Then a run of nice cooler days. No rain though with the cool change on New Year's Day. Luckily I have lots of beer, though need to get some of the bubbly stuff. On the list for tomorrow.

Am enjoying the relatively lazy days. But have gone to bed early recently which kinda mutes the point of being lazy. Getting up way too early, not sure why.

Hope the rest of the week and New Year's is good for you. I see lots of food, sweats and chocolate in my immediate future. No medical stuff to do till Feb so I'm going rogue, well food wise anyway. Will be back into the work on the other property straight after New Year's. So no holidays for me.