Month: October 2025

Halloween in Australia

~ joannerambling ~ 4 Comments

Well today in Australia it is the 31 October, in my family that means it is my baby brother’s birthday, however for some it means it is Halloween.

In the past, Halloween was not a major event in Australia, for many it was something we saw in American movies and TV shows.

Early European settlers, including the Irish, brought some customs with them, but these traditions were largely overshadowed by other local and British influences.

However, in recent years, things have been changing due to the influence of American media, globalisation, and the internet now in some parts of the country there has been a significant rise in Halloween festivities. There has been a gradually growth in popularity, particularly in the past two decades, bringing with it a mix of imported customs and unique local touches.

Participation varies by suburb, with some areas embracing the tradition and others remaining less involved.

While many Halloween customs come from overseas, Aussies have added their own flavour. Costumes sometimes feature native animals like kangaroos or kookaburras dressed in spooky attire. Given that Halloween falls in spring in Australia, costumes and decorations may be lighter and more suited to warmer weather compared to the autumn chill of the northern hemisphere.

Some Australians combine Halloween with other local traditions, such as backyard BBQs or gatherings in local parks. The lollies handed out often reflect local brands and tastes, with Freddo Frogs, Caramello Koalas, and Minties being common treats.

Halloween’s rise in popularity hasn’t come without debate. Some Australians see it as an unwelcome American import, while others enjoy the sense of fun and community. In some areas, neighbours signal their participation by decorating their homes or placing balloons on their letterboxes, letting trick-or-treaters know where they are welcome.

Trick-or-treaters are encouraged to travel in groups and only visit homes displaying Halloween decorations.

Costumes should be safe and visible, especially as the sun sets later during the Australian spring.

Respect for those who choose not to participate is important—no eggs or flour should be thrown at houses that don’t join in.

Halloween in Australia is a lively and evolving celebration. While it may have started as a minor event, its popularity continues to grow, fuelled by media, community enthusiasm, and a desire for light-hearted fun. Australians have made the festival their own, blending traditional customs with local culture to create a unique and enjoyable occasion for all ages.

Eye Care

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

Ok I am going to share a bit more about our eyes today I am focusing on eye care. Our eyes are so important, and we need to try and take care of them.

One simple thing we can do is to wear eye protection not just when working around or with things that capable of harming our eyes, but we now know that our eyes also need to be protected from the sun thus, the reason we should wear sunglasses. Most of us know we shouldn’t look directly at the sun.

However, there are some who do not realise that snow reflects a lot of light and the glare can also damage our eyes through snow blindness, this is why snow goggles should be regarded as essential when enjoying the snow.

Something many don’t think about is cleaning our eyes this is simple to so by washing our face of a morning to remove what many will call the sleep around our eyes overnight. We also should remove any make up before going to bed at night. Then there are those who wear contact lenses, some have left their contacts in longer than what is considered safe and do not clean their contacts as often as they should.

Now days there is the damage that can be done by sitting in front of a computer screen, if you are finding your eyes feeling itchy and dry then you need to take a break from staring at the screen. Apparently when we are looking at the computer screen we don’t blink enough, anyone who finds their eyes feeling dry or itchy they should consider using some dry eye drops also know as artificial tears.

As we age having our eyes checked by an optometrist which here in Australia is free to do. I have my eyes checked every year as I have diabetes.

I will write more about the different conditions that can affect the eyes in future posts.

Pygmy Jerboa

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Last week we looked at the worlds largest rodent so this week will look at the smallest rodent, this is the Baluchistan pygmy jerboas it is also known as dwarf three-toed jerboas, they are native to the arid regions of southeastern Pakistan — Baluchistan.

 Adults average only 4.3 cm’s (1.7 inches) in head and body length, with the tail averaging eight cm’s (3.1 inches). Adult females weigh only 3.2 grams (0.11 ounce). At birth newborns weigh an average of 0.48 grams (0.017 ounces).  But the tiny body doesn’t hold it back, for they can jump up to over 9 feet, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The colour of the fur matches with the colour of their environment, providing camouflage, so it’s usually beige, yellow or brown in colour.

They have a mouse-like head with large eyes and whiskers and small ears. As they live in the desert, a small flap of skin is present to prevent sand from entering their ears and nose. Their hind legs, which are designed for hopping, are four times larger than their short front feet. Its back legs have five toes, but the middle three are fused. That, and the fact that the Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboas are the smallest of the 33 species of the Jerboas gave them the name “the dwarf three-toed jerboa”. 

Don’s let its small size fool you. It’s incredibly resilient, and it has to be to survive in Baluchistan — one of the world’s harshest desert environment, and one that decimated Alexander the Great’s army. There is hardly any water and daytime and nighttime temperatures vary significantly. They live in burrows generally excavated under small bushes and feed on windblown seeds, succulent leaves of desert-adapted vegetation, and various dead animals such as other rodents and lizards. When plants dry up, they dig up roots of desert plants and eat them.

They may appear cute and defenceless, but their teensy size helps them do much more than just look adorable. From climbing across delicate branches while hunting for insects to dodging predators by hiding in thin crevices, their petite frames work to their advantage.

They are nocturnal creatures that move through the dry using long hops, balancing themselves with their tail.

They can slow down their respiration and blood circulation dramatically — a process called facultative hypothermia — that helps them make the most of their low nutritional diet. Animals that prey on them include the leaf-nosed vipers, trans-Caspian monitor lizards and sand cats

The pygmy jerboa hopped into the spotlight when it became a viral YouTube sensation in 2010, looking like a cross between a mouse and a baby kangaroo

Japan

~ joannerambling ~ 6 Comments

Hi everyone, this week we are looking at Japan, known as the Land of the Rising Sun, it is a country with a mixture of cultural heritage as well as advanced technology and has some unique traditions.

Japan isn’t just one island but has as many as 4,000 small islands and 4 main islands, which are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.  It stretches approximately 2,400klm’s or 1,500 miles.

It is a mountainous place with about 80% of the land covered in mountains, including Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji is not only Japan’s highest mountain; it has been a sacred site for the Shinto religion since the seventh century. The cool thing is that Princess Konohanasakuya is the Kami (divine person) of Mount Fuji in the Shinto religion. The cherry blossom is her symbol.

It is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire which makes it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and it has around 1,000 earthquakes each year. Most of these earthquakes are minor and unnoticeable, but large and destructive earthquakes do occur from time to time.

The capital is Tokyo and is considered the largest city in the world, with around 374 million people living there.

It is one of the most technologically advanced counties and is well known for its innovations in robotics.

They give a great deal of attention to education and is one of the most literate in the world. A distinctive awareness of natural beauty and interest in shape and balance are obvious.

The country is 98.5% Japanese and yes this may seem absurd, but the modern world is becoming increasingly multicultural. However, this is not the case in Japan. That is largely due to stringent visa requirements and a cultural mindset keeping its distinctive and ancient culture steeped in old traditions.

I expect when you think of Japan, you’re probably thinking of the country’s numerous cities or its main islands. You may be Surprised that 67% is covered in forest. It is not uncommon to see signs on forest trails warning to look out for black bears.

Ok that will do for this week.


Week 43 of 2025

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I had a really good night, slept straight through and woke feeling good, it is a cool 15C or 59F.

I had 8hrs and 45mins of sleep and by 7am it is 18C or 62F. I managed to hurt my hip again, I slipped while sitting at the computer because the shorts I have on are Lycra and they slip and slide on the chair, so I use a towel to prevent that but didn’t have the towel on the chair at the time.

I went and got Jess’s work shirts as I am doing the laundry. Even with a sore hip I managed to hang the clothes up to dry and Tim took them outside in the sun.

I didn’t have a nap and this afternoon I am really tired.

It has reached a top of 26C or 78F, I even had a shower this afternoon as I was so dripping in sweat.

Steps: 13,291 = 6.8klm’s or 4.2 miles

I had a good night’s sleep took me an hour to settle but I did get 6hrs & 50 Mins of sleep, and I am feeling ok this morning. It is a cool 13C at 5.30am I did wake up with a headache on the left side of my head.

I was surprised when Sam arrived at 6am she was here for an hour. 

I mopped the floors and washed the towels, oh and I sorted the medication for the next 4 weeks.

By 11am it was 31C or 87F and went up to 35C or 95F.   

Tasha is in a lot of pain and can barely walk she will see the doctor on Wednesday, and we expect she will need another Xray or scan.

By bedtime at 8pm it was 25C

Steps: 8,251 = 4klm’s

I had a good night’s sleep got a good 9hrs and 45 mins my watch said I was awake for 28 mins but I have no memory of waking at all.

It’s a nice 15C at 5.30am, I vacuumed, ironed the work shirts, emptied the bins and unpacked the dishwasher, oh and folded the towels all by 7am.

At 8am it was 20C or 68F, thankfully today isn’t going to be as hot as yesterday.

Tim had someone come and clean the solar panels, he arrived at 8.15 and was here for an hour and did a good job.

I had an hour nap which felt good.

The temperature reached 25C or 73F.

BGL: 7.2

Steps: 18,620 = 9.5klm’s or 5.9miles

You can tell by how high my step counter is how much my body was moving today.

Had a rough night but I am up and dressed and have already vacuumed it is 17C or 62.6F at 6am. I had only 5hrs & 35mins of sleep

We are in for another scorcher of a day but right now it is nice with the doors open.

I had a nap from 11am to midday.

Well, it sure did heat up by mid-afternoon it was 37C or 98.6F, I am glad I don’t have to go outside in this heat.

The temperature at 8.30pm was 24C or 75F

BGL:7.7

Steps:9,518 = 4.8lm’s or 2.9 miles

Had a rough start when I first went to bed last night but managed to settle by 10pm and slept straight through I got 5hrs and 59mins of sleep.

I didn’t feel like getting up so I laid in bed for an extra 15mins, I had a shower after Tim left for work. The t3emp this morning is 15C or 59F.

I have a doctor’s appointment at 8.24am. The appointment went well I have to have an Xray and a scan done of my right hip, he says it may be bursitis.

After the doctors we went to Lake Fair shopping centre I went to get batteries for Tim but was unable to find the size he wanted.

Tasha came down to get two eggs and some bread for her lunch, Tim’s bread only contained the crusts also known as the end of the bread and 1 slice and I know Timm will not eat the crusts I gave it to Tasha. Well, when Tim got home he wanted to know where his bread was, I told him and he went on about it saying there was more bread the that.

It has been a much cooler day to temp was 25C or 77F

BGL6.9

Steps: 15,249 = 7.7 klm’s

Had a good night, slept straight through had 9hrs 13min of sleep, the temp this morning is a nice 15C.

Sue drove Tasha to Charlestown to her ultrasound done; she also picked up Maccas’ for my lunch.

Sandy arrived to pick up something I had printed for her. Shem had Denni with her, Denni is now going to Glendale High.

At midday it was 23C, at 1pm I had to turn the air con on for 2hrs, by 5pm it was quite cool.

I went to bed at 8pm but had to get up at 10pm as I wasn’t able to settle. I used the powerfit and went back to bed.

BGL: 7.0

Steps: 17,505 = 8.9klm’s or 5.5 miles

After returning to bed I settled and slept the alarm went off, I got up took my meds and could hardly keep my eyes opened so I went back to bed and woke up at 6am. The temp was 14C or 57F. I had 7hrs of sleep.

Tim was already up and doing research for the job he is doping, this means looking at photos to make sure doesn’t take the bus down a road or driveway he isn’t able to turn around. He is doing the Crowded House concert.

I decided to order pizza; I don’t do that very often.

I did the ironing and it left me exhausted, I also spilt Pepsi while trying to pour myself a drink, then when I was trying to add water to the iron I spilt the water in the kitchen, cleaned that up, the spilt the next lot in the lounge-room and  then cleaned that up and when I wanted another drink I rang Jess and she came and filled my cup for me.

Sam and Bailey came down for cheese, ham and bread. Later on they came back just to say hi and show me what they got when they went to the Pride Festival.

Steps: 14,402 = 7.3klm’s or 4.5 miles   

Indonesian National Anthem

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Hi, everyone well Friday is here again and today so here is some information about the national anthem of Indonesia. The anthem is called Indonesia Raya it has been the national anthem since the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on 17 August 1945.

The first stanza of “Indonesia Raya” was chosen as the national anthem when Indonesia proclaimed its independence on 17 August 1945.

The song is played in flag raising ceremonies in schools across Indonesia every Monday. The flag is raised in a solemn and timed motion so that it reaches the top of the flagpole as the anthem ends. The main flag raising ceremony is held annually on 17 August to commemorate Independence Day. The ceremony is led by the President and is usually held in Merdeka Palace.

In 1951, ownership of the copyright to “Indonesia Raya” came into question. President Sukarno ordered a search for the rightful heir to Soepratman.  By law, Supratman was the copyright holder of “Indonesia Raya” as its composer. After Soepratman’s death in 1938, ownership of the rights to his works fell upon the designated heirs, his four surviving sisters. However, because “Indonesia Raya” was officially adopted as the national anthem of Indonesia on 17 August 1945, the work became the property of the state. In addition, the name of “Wage Rudolf Supratman” must be listed as its creator.

As a national anthem, copies of “Indonesia Raya” cannot be circulated as merchandise to be sold. Consequently, the government had the obligation to obtain all the rights to distribute the song, including the original recording, from Yo Kim Tjan. In 1958, the government obtained the sole right to “Indonesia Raya” from Soepratman’s family.  The following year, Yo handed the original record of the song to the Indonesian government. With the recommendation of the Department of Education, the government also rewarded Soepratman’s sisters with 250,000 Indonesian rupiah each on 31 May 1960.

Here is the English translation

Indonesia, our native country,

Our birthplace,

Where we all arise to stand guard

Over this our Motherland:

Indonesia our nationality,

Our people and our country.

Come then, let us all exclaim

Indonesia united.

Long live our land,

Long live our state,

Our nation, our people, and all

Arise then, its spirit,

Arise, its bodies

For Great Indonesia.


CHORUS

Indonesia the Great, independent and free,

Our beloved country.

Indonesia the Great, independent and free,

Long live Indonesia the Great!


Indonesia, an eminent country,

Our wealthy country,

There we shall be forever.

Indonesia, the country of our ancestors,

A relic of all of us.

Let us pray

For Indonesia’s prosperity:

May her soil be fertile

And spirited her soul,

The nation and all the people.

Conscious be her heart

And her mind

For Indonesia the Great.


CHORUS


Indonesia, a sacred country,

Our victorious country:

There we stand

Guarding our true Mother.

Indonesia, a beaming Country,

A country we love with all our heart,

Let’s make a vow

That Indonesia be there forever.

Blessed be her people

And her sons,

All her islands, and her seas.

Fast be the country’s progress

And the progress of her youth

For Indonesia the Great.




Eye Development

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Ok I am pretty sure everyone knows that a baby is able to see as soon as it’s born and you may know that vision isn’t fully developed but continues to develop gradually over the next few months.

Before birth as early as 22 days of conception two shallow dips develop in the embryo, as the pregnancy progresses the eyes will form as the sight of these dips.

The progression is controlled by a series of genes, if any of these genes are abnormal, they eyes may not develop properly. There are conflicting thoughts about what other things may cause the eyes to not develop things like the mother being exposed to viruses, insecticides, radiation and environment pollution may cause deformed eyes, very small eyes or not having eyes at all.

At birth the structures are fully formed but the nerves that carry signals from the eye to the brain are not, light enters the eye so the baby can see but cannot make sense of what it sees.

A newborn can detect bright colours and big patterns and can focus on things 20-30cm’s away. Within a week they can distinguish their mother’s face.

By the time they are 3 months old they are able to focus on things around them and follow things with both eyes. They now blink when something is pushed towards their face, and their colour awareness has increased. Also, at this time their hand/eye coordination is starting to develop and will reach for things that attracts their attention.

By the age of 6 months most babies are starting to see as adults see, they can spot small objects and can accurately track movements up and down, side to side, backwards and forward. Their colour vision is fully developed.

By the time they are 1yr old the sense of sight is fully developed.

It is important to check a baby’s sight is developing properly as the sooner a problem is detected the sooner is can be tended to.  The first check should be at birth then at 6mths of age, the doctor is checking that both eyes are working together and that the baby isn’t near or far sighted.