Well hello world, I typed today’s post up yesterday only to have it not save causing me to loss it when the computer did an update and restart over night and now have to start again. Bloody annoying….

Here are this weeks slang words and sayings………..

Doovalacky…..The word you use when you can’t remember somethings name just like a thingamajig…..

Earbashing…..Nagging or non stop chattering

Esky……Large insulated container for food and drinks

Fair suck of the sav…….Exclamation of wonder,awe or disbelief

Fairy Floss……Candy floss or cotton candy

Welcome all to Tuesday or whatever day it is you are reading this anyway it is creature day and this weeks creature is a bird called a Social or Sociable Weaver.

It is common in the Kalahari region of southern Africa, they are finch sized birds that build the largest tree nests in the world. The measure up to 6m wide by 3m tall, this extraordinary nest is like a massive unit block housing up to 100 families at any one time. What the hell………..

Some nests are used for more than 100 years, from a distance you could mistake them for something like a haystack hanging from a tree. They can become so heavy they cause the tree to topple over.

These birds drink less water then any other bird and most never take a sip, the get all their moisture from their food.

They do not migrate; in fact, chicks may never leave the nest. Fledgling chicks might just move to an empty nesting chamber nearby. Building such a huge nest is no simple task for such a small bird, which is why it is important for them to be in constant communication as they maintain their group home.

Well I am done with Australian wonders and now move on to famous Australian’s through the years. I am kicking this off with Sir Henry Parkes. Why Sir Henry Parkes well because my mum was born in the town of Parkes.

He was born in May 1815 in a place called Canley which is now a suburb of Coventry in Warwickshire in England

Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was a colonial Australian politician and longest non-consecutive Premier of the Colony of New South Wales, the present-day state of New South Wales in the Commonwealth of Australia from 1872 to 1891.

.After the loss of their two children at an early age and a few unsuccessful weeks living in London, Parkes and his wife emigrated to Australia arriving in Sydney on the 25 July 1839.

During his early years in Australia, Parkes took an interest in political issues. Most notably, he joined the growing movement in the colony for self-governance. This was already a major political issue; the New South Wales Legislative Council had been reformed in 1843 to include elected members for the first time.

He also became an opponent of the transportation of convicts to Australia and a supporter of land reform.

In December 1850, Parkes founded the Empire Newspaper which at first a broadsheet only published weekly, it soon became a daily. Parkes was loyal to the British Empire, but also wanted critics of the establishment to have a voice. As a result, the paper became critical of the incumbent Governor Charles Augustus Fitzroy and the rest of the colonial government.

He also attacked William Wentworth‘s plans to introduce self-governance because it proposed an unelected Legislative Council and a restrictive franchise for the elected Legislative Assembly. The proposal was eventually passed after some amendments to make it more democratic. Some years later, Parkes said that, “in the heated opposition to the objectionable parts of Mr Wentworth’s scheme, no sufficient attention was given to its great merits”.

He began his political career quietly. He was with the minority faction in the Legislative Council, and he and his political allies could afford to bide their time until the new constitution came into force. His workload at the Empire office was extremely heavy, and in December 1855 he announced his intention of retiring from parliament. He was persuaded to alter his mind, and a month later he stood as a liberal candidate for Sydney City in the NSW Legislative Assembly.

After he was relieved of his heavy work on the Empire, which was continued in other hands, Parkes stood for parliament and was elected for East Sydney on the 10 June 1854.

He stood as an independent candidate, but in the list of candidates elected he was described by the Sydney Morning Herald as a “radical”. He was generally in favour of Sir John Robertson’s land policy, of the extension of education, and of free trade.

He was a strong supporter of free trade, immigration programmes and education reforms. He was also strongly in favour of developing manufactures as he was of encouraging agriculture. He introduced laws that gave the Government the power to employ teachers and create public schools, abolished government funding to religious schools and improved prisons.

Parkes convened the 1890 Federation Conference of February 1890 and may be considered the first real step towards Federation. When the convention met on 2 March 1891 Parkes was appointed as its president.

He has had many things named after him.

Woke to the sound of rain and it being cold enough to change my mind about the clothes I am wearing, choosing something warmer.

Been raining all morning, since we have the cleaners coming on Wednesday I am thinking about changing my appointment to another day.

Sam came over looking for a replacement set of headphones, Papa found some but they don’t work with his phone.

Monday here, not too cold and I can’t hear rain which is good. I didn’t get Sam to put socks on my feet as I didn’t think I needed them, now my poor feet are cold and sore because outside it is pretty damn cold. Silly me……

Tasha tried going for a walk but didn’t get very far before heading home, she was not using either a cane or crutches. She picked up her crutches and tried again, heading to the shops after she had done what she wanted she rang her dad to go and pick her up.

I am having trouble with the flash drive it will only play a few songs as in 8 songs before not playing. I have checked the USB and all the songs on it play through the laptop. I think the CD player is packing it in. As it even doesn’t play some of the radio stations.

Had a decent sleep till 4am when I woke and started shaking. I managed to stay in bed till 4.50am when after a moment of shaking head to foot that I decided enough was enough and got up.

A colder morning and I kick my toe and damn it hurt. Sam put my socks on for me before going to school.

Tim has a doctors appointment this morning.

Jess received 3 packages 2 sets of headphones and 1 dumpling maker which she didn’t order it was suppose to be another set of headphones. She took photos and is going to complain to the Ebay seller.

Slept well waking only once to pee and settling back down before getting up at 4.50am. I have a doctors appointment at 9am Tasha is taking me.

The cleaners were suppose to come but not long after I left they rang and said they wouldn’t be coming, they will be coming next Wednesday at 11am.

My appointment went well and not long after we got home Tasha rang and asked if Tim and I would like to go out f or lunch with her and Jess. Tim didn’t want to go but I went and had a good time.

I managed to get in and out of the car on my own.

After a good nights sleep I was up at 5am, a cold morning. I found my laptop flashing and a note from Tim that it had started last night. I did a restart and that got rid of the flashing.

It hasn’t turned out as warm as I was expecting but I am not cold inside the house.

Having a bad day pain wise mostly in my lower right side of my back.

Tim has gone to pick up Sam’s laptop from Harvey Norman were he took it for them to look at and fix if the price was ok which it was costing $150 for them to look at it and repair it, which is ok. I just hope it now works.After a good nights sleep I was up at 5am, a cold morning. I found my laptop flashing and a note from Tim that it had started last night. I did a restart and that got rid of the flashing.

It hasn’t turned out as warm as I was expecting but I am not cold inside the house.

Having a bad day pain wise mostly in my lower right side of my back.

Tim has gone to pick up Sam’s laptop from Harvey Norman were he took it for them to look at and fix if the price was ok which it was costing $150 for them to look at it and repair it, which is ok. I just hope it now works.

Cold enough for the heater to be on for an hour or so this morning.

I have an earache this morning in my right ear not too bad but there and spreading to my head.

When Kathy rang we chatted about how her girls like going to school and how my girls didn’t like going but went any way. Also how I was a goody two shoes when I was a child. Blain tries and gets out of going as much as he can, Sam likes going.

I have had a lot of back pain again.

Tim is still not eating and I am worried.

I was surprised to see that Tim hadn’t put the dishwasher on, how annoying, I will put it on after I have breakfast. I forgot to tell him to put it on so my bad.

I also needed the heater on this morning.

I have a lot of back pain again today. So much I can’t sit comfortable.

Tasha had her shopping delivered but they left it just inside the front door and when she said to the Wordsworth’s delivery bloke just looked at her when she said she was recovering from surgery and still left it near the door. She tried moving it into the kitchen and caused her so much pain. I told her to make a complaint.

Well here I am at take two as I lost take one, thankfully I hadn’t written much but still annoying. I type my post out on the laptop saving as I go along which is why I noticed a problem, what I wrote couldn’t be saved, same with my diary entry and the program shut down and I had to restart it thus losing what I had written.

Since it is Friday it is the day for my thoughts, which of course are all over the damn place but that’s how I roll. As I sit here thinking about what to write I can see all the money boxes I have sitting on the TV stand I have 10 in total. Three of which are mine the others are for my grandchildren including Daemon and Freya who are not grandchildren but my great-nephew and great-niece. Since I don’t go shopping like I use to money hasn’t been added much in the last few years, I hope that changes soon.

I started thinking about whether I had a money box as a child and honestly I can’t remember having one. I do remember having a bank account used for school banking and my mum & dad gave me money to put into that each week.

I also don’t think my girls had a money box when they were young girls but they also had school banking.

I started the money boxes for my grandchildren when Blain my eldest grandchild was a baby and I also deposited $1 each week into their bank accounts. This I did for many years.

I wonder at times if the youth of today have any real idea about saving money, I know my grandchildren do because they have told me at times how they saved up to buy such and such and how long it took and what they did to earn the money.

None of them have a regular payment of pocket money or what some would call an allowance but if they wish to purchase something that cost a bit they need to do something to earn the money, small toys and such will just be bought if requested but only if they are doing their regular chores around the house. Such as cleaning their room or in Sam’s case cleaning out the bunnies cage.

Share your thoughts on my thoughts if you wish.

Arthur Upfield was a prominent author of half English and half Australian descent.

He was born as Arthur William Upfield on September 01, 1890, and died on February 12, 1964.

He is best remembered for his exciting works based on the detective fiction genre. The most famous book series written by author Upfield was titled as DI Napoleon Bonaparte series. This series features an Australian police officer named Napoleon Bonaparte from the Police Force of Queensland. He has been described by author Upfield in the series as a half caste Aborigine.

The books written by author Upfield were used as the basis for the development of the successful Australian television detective series named ‘Boney’ during the 1970s, and a 1990 film and a television spin-off series in the year 1992.

His birth took place in Hampshire and then he immigrated to Australia in the year 1911, where he was a part of the military forces of Australia, fighting in 1st World War.

After his military service got over at the end of the War, he travelled to a number of places throughout Australia. By doing so, he got acquainted with the culture of the Australian Aborigine.

Well here we are at another Wednesday so it is time for some Aussie Slang of these ones the only one I haven’t used is number 3 Dead Horse although I can remember my grandfather saying it when I was a child.

Compo……Workers Compensation Pay

Daks……Trousers or pants

Dead Horse…..Tomato Sauce

Deadset…..True or the truth

Dero…….Tramp, Hobo, Homeless person as in derelict

Let’s have a chat about hippos not the hungry board game type but the short, stocky water loving mammal who’s name is derived from the Greek word for “river horse”.

It’s closest living relatives are pigs whales and dolphins and they need to stay moist so much so that its skin releases and oily red fluid. Which at first humans thought was blood but is more like a sunscreen with moisturiser and antibiotic combined.

Hippos can remain underwater for 5 minutes before needing to come up for air. Even when they are sleeping their bodies will automatically bob to the surface so they can take a breath, then sink to the bottom again.

They are also one of the most aggressive animals on the planet and the most deadly in Africa, reportedly killing up to 3,000 people each year. Also they can run pretty damn fast up to around 30km/h over a short distant so you may run but they are likely to catch you.

I have only ever seen them at the zoo.

 Hello Monday, hello world, I hope everyone is doing well. It is time for a few more wonders of Australia.

The Wallaman Falls, a cascade and horsetail waterfall on the Stony Creek, is located in the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Wet Tropics in the locality of Wallaman, Shire of Hinchinbrook in the northern region of Queensland, Australia. The Wallaman Falls are located in the Wallaman area of the Girringun National Park which is a fifty-one kilometre drive from the town of Ingham.

As the highest, single-drop waterfall in Australia, Wallaman Falls has to be seen in person to really understand its magnitude. The cascade skyrockets up to 268 metres while its pool dives a further 20 metres below.

The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 240-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. Ready for sweeping coastal views, ancient rock formations and an unbeatable feeling of freedom? Then it’s time to hit the Great Ocean.

The Great Ocean Road was completed in 1932 and is characterised by great variation and amazing sights, including breathtaking views of the Southern Ocean, Easily one of the world’s most beautiful road trips, Great Ocean Road drive was inspired by America’s Highway 1 down the coast of California.

The Jenolan Caves are limestone caves located within the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve in the Central Tablelands region, west of the Blue Mountains, in Jenolan, Oberon Council, New South Wales, in eastern Australia. Jenolan Caves are the largest, most spectacular and most famous caves in Australia.

Scientists have determined, through the examination of the clay found in the caves, that the Jenolan subterranean system is around 340 million years old. This makes it the oldest known and dated open cave system in the world, and it is still being heavily researched today.

The beauty of the Umpherston Sinkhole/Balumbul has to be seen to be believed. Appreciate its size and depth from the viewing platforms at the top of the sinkhole, then walk down into the sinkhole, along the terraces and behind the hanging vines. The Umpherston Sinkhole (or the Sunken Garden) is one of the most spectacular gardens located in the Mount Gambier region. The sinkhole was once a typical limestone cave that formed by the corrosion of limestone rocks by seawater waves and the sinkhole was naturally created when the chamber’s roof collapsed.

That’s all the wonders I have been able to find information on, next week I will move onto something else.

Had a good night slept pretty much straight through, waking at 2am to pee but settling straight back down when I went back to bed.

Found a container of ANZAC biscuits on the kitchen bench left by Tasha.

Having a bad morning shaking a lot.

Been awake since 3am and up since 5am after 2hrs of dozing on and off I was happy to get up.

When I spoke to Kathy she told me Sydney is still sick and off school today, and Kathy is also sick so she is off work and staying home with Sydney.

Tim has an afternoon appointment with his new counsellor, I hope it goes well and he likes the guy.

Tim not home by 3.30pm so I went and met Sam, he seemed happy to see me.

The first of August, horses birthday here in the Southern Hemisphere.

At 7.15 I started to have trouble with the internet dropping out and driving my mad.

Had an appointment with my GP just for scripts and got a copy of the last letter my neurologist sent which says bugga all.

Then on the way home I had Tim take me to Warners Bay Plaza so I could go to Hot Bargain and get a couple of things, it felt good to be able to walk around the store myself. I also went to Barker’s Delight for a couple of danishes.

KAYLA’S BIRTHDAY (NIECE)

Up at 5am not as cold but cold enough.

At 7.55am I get up to throw my warm dressing gown on to take Sam up to meet their driver, only to discover it was raining and so I rang Jess to go up with Sam. I am glad Jess was home so I didn’t have to wake Tim to take Sam.

I have cleaned out part of the linen press, then sorted out a box of rubbish and old photos that was in Sam’s room,about an hour of work and it left me exhausted and with a lot of back pain.

I told Tim that sometime in the next or so I want to sort out his office and make room in a large cupboard he has to store stuff that I had stored in a large cupboard in the dining room before the tree came through the roof. He didn’t look happy but all he said was ok.

Up at 4.50am as from about 3am my body was shaking so much it wasn’t comfortable trying to lay there.

Heard from Kathy she is very sick with the flu type C I think I can’t remember and I can’t but she is feeling like death warmed up, except she is very cold.

The day started out cold but warmed up a bit. I again managed to sort through and store more photos that came of the walls.

I also went through and sorted out a set of drawers that I have next to my computer table as they had become a right mess.

Friday at last been a mostly fast going week, and I feel good that I was able to get some things done.

While I was vacuuming Sandy arrived and she took over, she came to drop off my postage stamps. While she was here she helped me hang a few things, it was great to see her.

She told me about how her bathroom sliding door came off its runners due to her losing her balance and falling against it and how when she was attempting to fix it part of the door fell and hit her in the head cause a nice bruise on her forehead. It also gave her a damn good headache.

Tim had a rehab appointment this afternoon, but decided to take Sam’s laptop that isn’t working to Harvey Norman so they can look at it and say what it will cost to repair it, this what Tim did with his desktop computer and it only cost him $50 for them to look at it and repair it. At least Jess will find out how much it will cost to get fixed.

Tasha came down to get a cane to use she is fed up with the crutches.

Slept well till 2am when I needed to pee after that I dozed on and off till 4.30 when I decided to get up and take my morning meds. I thought I might be able to go back to sleep for an hour or so but no I couldn’t so I got up 5am as per usual.

I spent the first 45 minutes going through the songs on my flash drive and deleting ones that didn’t play.

No visit from Kathy this weekend she is still pretty sick. The flu has gone right through her family.