Hi everyone, this week I thought I would wrap the posts about Russia with a bit about what it’s like now days.
So, the country is experiencing a period of significant transformation and challenges. While its economy has shown resilience, particularly in the face of Western sanctions, it remains heavily reliant on energy exports and faces persistent issues with corruption and human rights abuses. The ongoing war in Ukraine has also led to intensified repression of dissent and a decline in international relations.
Power is concentrated in the hands of President Vladimir Putin, with a system that suppresses genuine opposition and controls the media.
Life expectancy is lower than the OECD average, and there are issues with poverty and inequality. Life expectancy for women is 78 years, compared with 68 for men.
The war with the Ukraine has had a profound impact on Russia, leading to a decline in international relations and increased repression within the country. While overall confidence in the military remains high, there are signs that the war has eroded some support, particularly in comparison to pre-war levels.
The war is a significant factor in Russian life, with many citizens living in a “twilight zone” where the war is both ubiquitous and a backdrop to everyday life.
The Russian government has been using propaganda to portray the war as a struggle against the West, and this has been effective in uniting some segments of the population.
The war has led to a transfer of wealth from the government to the military and regions impacted by the conflict, creating a temporary consumer boom.
Russia’s international standing has been severely damaged by the war, and it faces increased isolation.
Many countries advise against all travel to Russia due to the ongoing war and associated risks. Also, there’s a high threat of terrorism. Terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda and Daesh-aligned groups, continue to call for attacks in Russia. Attacks can be indiscriminate and may occur on or around seasonal, festive, or religious events in public places, including popular tourist sites.
Next week we will move on to somewhere else as yet undecided
I had another good night’s sleep slept for 6hrs 52-mins and didn’t wake at all. It is cold this morning at 10C.
Tim and I went shopping, and by the time we got home I was exhausted with my legs aching.
Tim bought himself a tablet so expect him to need my help to set it up.
Around 5pm I started to feel unwell, with a headache and a tight feeling in my chest and I am very tired. The tight chest feeling has passed but I still have a headache and just feel kind yuck.
BGL:4.9
Steps: 4,852=2.44Km
I had another good night’s sleep slept for 8hrs 51-mins and didn’t wake at all. It is cold this morning at 9C, and I am aching all over my headache is worst then when I went to bed last night.
After Sam left, I decided to make myself a croissant it is a bake at home one after having that and emptying the kitchen bin I took 2 more headache tablets and started to feel more energic, the headache eased of a lot.
After a while the headache went away but it has come back, as it has gotten colder.
Tim received an email telling us that our rent is going up $65 per week to $515 per week, he is going to ring and find out what is happening about our subsidy claim.
BGL:5.1
Steps: 6,265=2.99kms
I had another good night’s sleep slept for 8hrs 54-mins and was awake for 41min. It is cold this morning at 9C.
Jane told me this morning we only get one kerb side collection per year, and we have already had it. This is because when unit 16 placed a heap of rubbish near the letter boxes and someone reported it, and the council came and removed it so now we have to wait another 6 months. I am not happy.
Also, Tim rang about our rent subsidy application and was told it wasn’t in our file, they lost it, so we had to resubmit it via email. That should have been easy, but no the email kept bouncing back, I told Tim I would try from my Gmail account, and I think it went, well it didn’t bounce back. He will ring in a couple of days and see what they have to say about it.
BGL: 5.5
Steps: 8,270=4.45Km
I had another good night’s sleep slept for 6hrs 11mins and was awake for 26min. It is cold this morning at 9C and the weather ap says it’s going to rain around 9am.
Asked Jess if she could get me a bacon & egg muffin and a hash brown for breakie on her way home from work and she did.
Started raining at around 10am and hasn’t stopped.
BGL: 5.5
Steps:7,946=3.92km
I had another good night’s sleep my watch said I slept for 6hrs 23mins and didn’t wake at all, but I think it was more like 8hrs as I went to bed at 8pm and woke at 5am. It is cold again this morning at 10C. Yesterday was the coldest day we have had all year according to the news report.
It hasn’t been as cold as yesterday and no rain.
Found a letter in the letter box from Housing says they have arranged for a skip bin for the complex to get rid of our bulk rubbish, this will happen next Thursday the 12th. Tim is going to take the morning off work so he can take our stuff out and get rid of it.
BGL 5.9
Steps: 7,776=3.99Km
JESSICA’S BIRTHDAY SHE IS 36 TODAY
I had another good night’s sleep my watch said I slept for 8hrs 52mins and didn’t wake at all, damn it’s cold this morning only 5C.
Went with Sue her doctor’s appointment, then we went to the square so I could get muffins from Muffin Break as they are my favourite muffins. Sue bought me a ham & cheese pretzel which I had half of for lunch.
Jessica cane over around 1pm and I gave her the birthday present I bought her; she liked the tops and the bag.
After Tim got home, she came over and he gave her the present he bought her, a locked box for a spare house key or whatever she wants to use it for.
BGL:5.8
Steps:6,223=3.18km
I had another good night’s sleep my watch said I slept for 8hrs 45mins and didn’t wake at all, not as cold this morning 13C.
What a morning, Tim helped Tasha return the not working TV to Big W at Lake Fair Shopping Centre, they exchanged it without issue. But Tim was in a mood about having his plans not go as he wanted. After helping Tasha, he came and picked me up and we went back over to Lake Fair so I could do a little shopping.
It has turned out to a warmish day although this afternoon it has become very windy, and the wind is cold, so I had to shut the doors as I was freezing.
So, we have looked at the capital cities of Australia, now we will look at the second largest city in each state, starting with Queensland.
The Gold Coast is a metropolitan region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast. It’s famed for its long sandy beaches, surfing spots and elaborate system of inland canals and waterways. It’s also home to theme parks such as Dreamworld, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild. Inland, hiking trails crisscross Lamington National Park’s mountain ridges and valleys, home to rare birds and rainforest.
The Gold Coast is Australia’s sixth largest city. It is home to over 635,000 people. It is a city known for its lifestyle and diversity, with almost one in three residents born overseas. The city boasts close to one million visitors each year from countries all over the world.
The Gold Coast’s history in Queensland, Australia, spans from pre-European settlement to its modern status as a major tourist and economic hub. Archaeological evidence suggests indigenous Yugambeh people inhabited the region for at least 23,000 years.
European colonization began in the late 1700s, with the first accurate map of the area produced in 1842. The area developed into small townships like Nerang (1865) and Southport (1874), and by 1959, it was proclaimed a city.
Tourism became a major economic driver, particularly from the 1920s onwards, leading to the city’s boom in the 1980s with skyscraper construction and a focus on tourism and entertainment.
The Gold Coast is generally a safe place, but like any city, crime can and does occur. Those in charge acknowledges that crime is a concern, but also that they work to maintain a safe and liveable city. The Gold Coast is known for its relaxed coastal lifestyle, but crime is a part of life.
This week are looking at a creature called the Chevrotain, or mouse-deer. At first glance, these animals look like a weird mash-up of a deer, a mouse, and a pig, however they and not a mouse nor a deer or even a pig.
They are primarily found in the forested regions of South and Southeast Asia, Specifically The Greater Sunda Islands, the Philippines, southern China, and mainland Southeast Asia.
Vietnam Mouse-Deer
A single species, the water chevrotain, is found in the rainforests of Central and West Africa. The water chevrotain is found in western equatorial Africa.
They are known as the smallest hoofed mammals in the world, with their size typically ranging from 45 cm (18 inches) in length and 30 cm (12 inches) in height.
Water Chevrotain
The water chevrotain, is a larger species, is still relatively small, with a body length of about 85 cm and a shoulder height of 35 cm.
Mouse deer are territorial, unlike many other hoofed mammals, they have no antlers. Instead, the male mouse deer protects itself with a pair of tusk-like canines. When under threat or agitated, mouse deer rapidly beat their hooves against the ground.
After getting pregnant, a female chevrotain will carry the offspring for five to nine months, depending on the species. The baby can usually stand on its own within one hour of being born. Mothers will visit their young periodically for feedings and stand on three legs while nursing.
New born mouse-deer
Chevrotains are known for their ability to be almost continuously pregnant—greater and lesser Malay mouse deer can mate again only a few hours after giving birth.
Due to their small size, chevrotains are preyed upon by many different animals. Lacking antlers or horns for protection, the tiny animals are forced to lead secluded lives. Some species are nocturnal and very rarely seen. Chevrotains are very shy and often graze alone, only coming together to mate. They communicate with a series of smells and noises; this timid behaviour makes it difficult for scientists to study them.
Mother and Baby
Although normally peaceful, a male will angrily beat his hooves when agitated—they can stomp around four to seven times a second. This “drum roll” technique wards off predators and warns others in the area that there’s danger.
They are primarily herbivorous, feeding on the leaves, fruits, and buds of trees and shrubs. It has occasionally been observed eating insects, crustaceans and even small mammals. Like many herbivores, the water chevrotain has various adaptations to facilitate effective digestion of its low-nutrient diet.
By the age of 5 months, the mouse deer is sexually mature. These animals have a lifespan of about 12 years. Life isn’t easy for a mouse deer, with a range of carnivorous predators sharing their habitat.
They are farmed in some parts of Asia, particularly Vietnam, where they are raised for both their meat and other products.
This week we will have a look at Russia during the twentieth century, this was a period of immense political, social, and economic upheaval, marked by revolution, civil war, and the rise of communism.
The century began with the Tsarist empire, ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union, and saw the country transform into a communist state. Key events include the Russian Revolution, World War I, the rise of Joseph Stalin, the Cold War, and the eventual disintegration of the Soviet Union.
St Petersburg early 20th Century
Russia’s participation in the war contributed to the social and political unrest that led to the February Revolution in 1917. This is when the monarchy was overthrown, and the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power, establishing the world’s first communist society. This marked a shift from autocratic rule to a communist regime. This was known as the Russian Revolution’.
The country found themselves with a civil war which lasted between 1918-1922, this saw the Bolsheviks fighting against various anti-communist forces, ultimately solidifying their control over the country.
After the civil war Russia united with other republics to form the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
The Soviet Union was composed of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics (SSRs). These republics were: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
It was at this time that Joseph Stalin became the dominant leader, implementing policies of industrialization, collectivization of agriculture, and widespread repression.
During the second world war The Soviet Union fought against Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, suffering immense casualties but ultimately contributing to the Allied victory.
At first The Soviet Union officially maintained neutrality during WW2 but cooperated with and assisted Germany. However, after Nazi Germany attacked the USSR on June 22, 1941, the country allied with the United Kingdom and then the United States after the latter joined the war in December 1941.
On 22 June 1941, Adolf Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, an invasion of the Soviet Union with the largest invasion force in history.
Hitler had always wanted to see Germany expand eastwards to gain Lebensraum or ‘living space’ for its people. After the fall of France Hitler ordered plans to be drawn up for an invasion of the Soviet Union. He intended to destroy what he saw as Stalin’s ‘Jewish Bolshevist’ regime and establish Nazi dominance.
Soviet forces launched a counteroffensive against the Germans arrayed at Stalingrad in mid-November 1942. They quickly encircled an entire German army, more than 220,000 soldiers. In February 1943, after months of fierce fighting and heavy casualties, the surviving German forces—only about 91,000 soldiers—surrendered.
After the second world war the country known as East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was formed in October 1949 within the Soviet occupation zone of Germany following World War II. The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), led by Walter Ulbricht, played a key role in its establishment and subsequent governance. The GDR was established as a communist state within the Soviet zone, marking the beginning of the Cold War division of Germany.
Between 1947-1991 saw what was known as the Cold War, this was the ideological and political rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States shaped global politics and led to an arms race.
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was characterized by an ideological struggle between capitalism and communism, a nuclear arms race, and proxy wars, but no direct military conflict between the two superpowers.
The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to a combination of internal factors like economic stagnation, overextension of the military, and rising ethnic tensions, along with the influence of the Cold War and US policy of containment.
Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms, including perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (openness), while intended to revitalize the Soviet system, inadvertently accelerated its demise.
The Soviet economy was struggling with low productivity, inefficient planning, and a lack of innovation. They were heavily invested in a large military, especially during the Cold War, which strained its economy.
As the USSR was a vast empire with numerous ethnic groups, it was natural that many would feel oppressed and sought greater autonomy or independence.
Gorbachev’s reforms, while intended to address the economic problems, also opened the door for more political and cultural freedom. This led to increased criticism of the government, rising nationalist sentiments, and the weakening of the Communist Party’s grip on power.
In 1991, hardliners attempted to overthrow Gorbachev, but the coup failed due to a lack of support from the military.
After the failed coup, the Soviet Union’s republics began declaring their independence, and Gorbachev resigned as president. The Soviet Union was formally dissolved on December 26, 1991.
The collapse of the Soviet Union had a profound impact on the world, leading to the end of the Cold War, the emergence of new nations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and a shift in global power dynamics.
That will do it for this post more about Russia next Monday.
A cold start to the day I was up at 4.45am, I had a shower and dressed, I have been so cold all morning had the heater on a beanie on my head which helped with the headache.
My watch says I got only 5hrs & 9mins sleep.
My left wrist has a sore spot with broken skin, I applied some antiseptic cream and covered it with a band aid, so I am wearing my watch on my right wrist.
I tossed a load of washing in the machine, I am planning to hang it up to dry.
Jessica asked if we could go to Costco and get her a cheese pizza and take it into her at work, and we did. Tim also filled the car with petrol while out there.
We also went to Coles and then checked the P O Box, there was 11 letters, 5 for Tasha, 2 for Tasha 1 for Tim and the rest for me.
BGL: 7.2
Steps: 10,938=5.25Klm’s
Another cold morning, I slept for 6hrs & 13mins but woke up tired and not quite with it.
Sue and I went into the Tafe to have aromatherapy massage done by Tasha and wow what a great massage it was better then the one we had a couple of months back which cost us $90 each. This massage didn’t cost us anything, and we both didn’t realise how good Tasha was at massage. I felt so relaxed that I fell asleep.
This arvo I had an issue with my BGL dropping it went from 4.7 to 3.3 in 20 mins and I had to ring Tasha as I wasn’t with it. She came gave me a teaspoon of honey and made me eat something. Tim wasn’t here he was late home from work due to being caught in traffic due to a road closure.
Steps: 4,103=2.15Klm’s
BGL: 7.0
I woke to the sound of rain again; I hope it doesn’t hang around for long not as cold this morning. I had a good 9hrs & 34mins sleep and didn’t wake at all during the night.
I went with Sue to an appointment, and we also went to the post office to get stamps.
Tim keeps going on about how much weight he has lost, and I ended up telling him that going on about it is upsetting me since I have gained some weight. He did acknowledge that part of the cause is that he goes days with only eating very little. I can not do that as if I go too long without food, I start to feel sick in the gut and get a headache.
It was very overcast when I went up with Sam to wait for transport, I started to take the scooter but felt a few heavy drops of rain, so switched to the walker and of course it didn’t rain and hasn’t rained all day.
BGL: 7.00
Steps: 10,027=5.22Km’s
I slept reasonably well had 5hrs & 20-mins sleep with 20-mis awake time.
Tim only had his school runs today which saw him home for 4hbrs, so went out to the Eastern Tiger, all you can eat place.
Just as we arrived home Sandra called in to say high, Sue texted Sandy and asked if she would drop off some ginger beer, I had for her, and she reluctantly agreed. Not long after that Sue turned up to get it as she thought Sandy wasn’t going to do it.
While Sue was here, I helped her set up her new email account.
BGL:7.0
Steps:8,969=4.8Klm’s
I had another good night’s sleep slept for 6hrs 15-mins, not too cold at the moment. The temp is 13C or 55F
What a day, I was feel sad and like crying due to the frustration of my body moving so much. I said so in a text to Sue who decided to come over to see me and she brought Archi with her, so I was able to have a cuddle. She also brought me the latest limited custard pie from Macca’s this on is a mixture of chocolate and normal custard and was quite nice.
Tasha also bought me a 4pack of mini custard scrolls and when Tim came home this morning, he brought me a sausage roll.
Anyway, he made a smart-ass comment that no one brings him food and that he has to go and buy his own. Sue told me that was right as he is more able bodied and can drive so can get his own stuff.
BGL: 5.8
Steps: 10,207=5.7Klm’s
I had another good night’s sleep slept for 8hrs 35-mins and was only awake for 14-mins. It is cold this morning at 10C and I have the heater going.
I put on the new panty hose they fit but not good around the crotch area just not sitting flush against my body. Had them on till around 1.30pm.
I was ironing when I heard Tasha she was printing stuff and said I was low on ink again so I ordered more.
Tim late home tonight, it was close to 8pm when he arrived home had another run after his school run.
I changed the sheets and damn that left me exhausted.
BGL: 5.8
Steps:9,058
I had another good night’s sleep slept for 8hrs 6-mins and didn’t wake at all. It is cold this morning at 10C.
We left home at 9am to go to Sydney to see Tim’s sister Jenny, it took us 3hrs & 15mins to get there and 2hrs & 20mind to get home.
The visit went well, it was the first time Tim had seen her in 13yrs.
I was exhausted by the time I got home, I thought I would eat something and go to bed but after I ate, I was ok sitting in my recliner playing games on my tablet and watching the evening news.
Jo-AnneRamplings 