Every second week I think I might do a post on the history of something, starting today.

Here is another history of something post and this weeks something is the old school blackboard which is now pretty much obsolete. In some places they may have been called a chalkboard, here in Aus it has always been called a blackboard.

As a child I had a blackboard that my dad would freshen up with blackboard paint, when needed.

In 1801, the rather obvious solution to the problem made its debut. James Pillans, headmaster and geography teacher at the Old High School in Edinburgh, Scotland, is credited with inventing the first modern blackboard when he hung a large piece of slate on the classroom wall.

Manufacturing of slate blackboards began by the 1840s. Green porcelain enamel surface, was first used in 1930, and as this type of boards became popular, the word “chalkboard” appeared. In the US green porcelain enamelled boards started to appear at schools in 1950s.

So what’s up with the name? Originally, blackboards really were black. Before wall-sized chalkboards existed, late 18th-century students used their own mini boards made of slate or painted wood, according to Concordia University. Those first boards were, in fact, black, and they paved the way for the larger ones

In any case, early blackboards were primitive, made from materials such as pine covered with a mixture of egg white and carbon from charred potatoes. Or a paste of lime, plaster of Paris and lampblack might simply be spread on a classroom wall.

By the 1970s, whiteboards were slowly being adopted in schools. The amount of dust created when using and cleaning chalkboards was a major catalyst for many switches from blackboards to whiteboards.

Here we are on another cold but dry Wednesday so it is time for this week’s Aussie slang.

Battler: Hard working, barely making ends meet

Boomer: Large male kangaroo

Bush Telly: Campfire

Bushie: Someone who lives in the bush

BYOG: Bring Your Own Grog

Of these the only one new to me is the bush telly haven’t heard that before. My parents were battlers same can be said for Tim & I

Well this morning it is another cold morning had over night rain and have unpacked the groceries. Anyway here is this weeks creature it is the greater flamingo, this regal looking bird owes its exquisite pink colour to the animals it eats, which are prawn like crustaceans that live in the saltwater mudflaps of south-western Europe.

Stirring up the mud with its webbed feet, the flamingo buries its long, bent beak, and sometimes its whole head, in the water to suck up the tiny treats.

Its tongue pumps up and down pushing the water out of its mouth and trapping the food in tiny filters. The greater flamingo is the largest of the family at 1.5m tall.

The live and breed in colonies of up to 200,000, there are safety in numbers, while some birds stand watch while others can feed. A loud deep warning honk, similar to that of a goose, alerts them to predators.

The greater flamingo is the most widespread and largest species of the flamingo family. Common in the Old World, they are found in Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, the Levant, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean countries of Southern Europe.

Another cold and wet start to the day, Tasha is here having a shower she said she will try to have one at home tomorrow. I have some more wonders of Australia.

The Bungle Bungle Range is a major landform and the main feature of the Purnululu National Park, situated in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The striking natural landscapes is one to explore – home to hidden gorges and a unique range of wildlife, observe the natural wonder by foot. They are striped rock towers that rise to over 570 meters above sea level and are adorned with circular orange and black sandstone layers. Also found in the area surrounding them are dramatic gorges, tropical pools, and caves home to unique mammals and wildlife.

The Horizontal Falls, or Horizontal Waterfalls, nicknamed the “Horries” and known as Garaanngaddim by the local Indigenous people, are an unusual natural phenomenon on the coast of the Kimberley region in Western Australia, where tidal flows cause waterfalls on the ebb and flow of each tide. Instead of the typical vertical waterfall, is one of the most bewildering natural wonders in Western Australia.

The Ningaloo Coast is a World Heritage Site located in the north west coastal region of Western Australia. The 705,015-hectare heritage-listed area is located approximately 1,200 kilometres north of Perth, along the East Indian Ocean. It is the largest fringing coral reef in Australia and can be reached right from the shore, making it an amazing snorkelling destination.

The Blue Mountains is a rugged region west of Sydney in Australia’s New South Wales. Known for dramatic scenery, it encompasses steep cliffs, eucalyptus forests, waterfalls and villages dotted with guesthouses, galleries and gardens. Katoomba, a major town in the area, borders Blue Mountains National Park and its bush walking trails. Echo Point affords views of the storied Three Sisters sandstone rock formation. This escarpment of mountain ranges is located about 2 hours outside of Sydney. Here, you’ll find yourself in awe of the colours before you.

Kings Canyon, also known as Watarrka, is a canyon in the Northern Territory of Australia located at the western end of the George Gill Range about 321 kilometres southwest of Alice Springs and about 1,316 kilometres south of Darwin, within the Watarrka National Park. The towering red sandstone walls of Kings Canyonare astonishing. The jagged red rock and smooth, steep stone of the canyon stretch out across the desert.

Slept well up and had breakie when Tasha arrived to have a shower, she made a right floody mess of the bathroom which I cleaned up. She said she slept well which is good and she likes the new recliner.

This afternoon I tried to help Tim set up his laptop but it was frustrating. We were doing all the right things but it was suppose to send a code, like they do to verify ones identity but no we got now text tried using his different email to prove who he was but no still didn’t work. So frustrating indeed.

Monday and the first day of term 3 for school but today is a pupil free day. It is also raining but not cold.

Tasha came down for a shower after which I threw all the wet towels in for a wash.

Tasha lost her shit with the staff at her doctors surgery so rang and asked the number to my Dr’s surgery.

Sometimes I think Tasha could be called Karen but she isn’t quite that bad.

A new day and awoke with a pain behind my left ear just a dull stinking pain.

Also found the dryer had been overfilled yet again clothes with the towels, very frustrating and not safe in my opinion could catch fire.

A cold and wet type of day you can feel the moisture in the air.

Sam left me a note asking me to ring him at 7am and keep ringing to the phone is answered, however, it was answered first ring which was good. I did come close to forgetting Sam’s medication but I didn’t we were nearly walking out the door when I remembered but that’s ok.

A new day I didn’t feel like getting up but of course I did, not overly cold thankfully.

Tasha arrived just before 6am to have her shower.

I had a phone call from Sam at 7am asking me to ring him back in 20 minutes time to get him out of the shower. Which I did and they walked in at 7.40am.

Tim took the car for its rego check it passed no problem. While he as out I checked to see if I could get the shredder to work it did so managed to shred some paperwork for Tasha. Tim kept saying it was cactus but he was wrong.

Slept in till 5.20 and was still getting dressed when I heard someone at the front door, it was Tasha and she couldn’t get in. I let her in while only half dressed and missed my wash this morning but that’s no drama. I had to turn the heater on this morning I am that cold only 4 degrees according to my computer.

Tim has driven Tasha to a doctor’s appointment with her GP’s nurse well they were gone for over 2hrs. It turned out they didn’t have the right dressing stuff to change her dressing and sent her to the chemist to get what was needed, she had to go to 2 different chemists to find what was needed. Tim wasn’t very forthcoming with information , I will find out more from Tasha later.

Didn’t oversleep this morning up at 5am as usual and yeah it’s cold. Up at 4.15 to pee and make sure the front door was unlocked just in case Tasha needed to get in before I got up, she didn’t.

Tasha arrived at 5.45am to have her shower and we had a chat while she was getting the bathroom ready for her shower.

I had to get Tim out of bed to take Sam up the front as it is raining. It is also very cold outside.

Up at 5.30am and found Tasha in the shower so had to wait till she finished to get in to pee. Tim went outside to pee.

Tasha is walking better on her own and has driven Jess’s car to Charlestown to do some shopping on her own.

Kathy and the girls cam over to have Tasha do their hairs as they are going to a formal birthday party for Micheal’s mum, she is 70yrs old.

Good morning not a pleasant sunny but a cold overcast and wet morning, it is the day for Jo-Anne’s thoughts but what are my thoughts this morning.

While talking to Kathy-Lee this morning she was making her girls breakfast which is normal but since they had no milk Sydney-May was unable to have Coco Pops which is what she has every morning. So Kathy made her bacon and eggs and I commented to Kathy that most mothers wouldn’t want to bother making bacon and eggs, they would think it is too much work. Kathy said it isn’t and doesn’t take that long to do and she likes to know her girls have food in them before school.

Once upon a time a cooked breakfast was considered the norm now it is cereal or toast. Me I start with a bowl of fruit and a glass of chocolate milk, followed by toast or crumpets or raisin toast.

This made me think about how I always had breakfast before school from the age of 13 maybe I would get up before anyone else and make my own breakfast.

I also remember my dad getting up for breakfast with the family and he would go back to bed after breakfast, he did that because he could go without seeing us kids for 4 or 5 days in a row due to his work schedule and he didn’t like that.

I tried to put my own socks on and failed, I was still struggling when Sam arrived and they quickly took over and put them on for me. I had been struggling to do it for 15 minutes when Sam arrived and only half had on one sock.

I had to get Papa up to go with Sam to wait for his driver because it is raining. Thankfully he got up without complaint. I can still hear the rain dripping into the ceiling but not coming through, kinda wish it would so the idiots would come and do a proper job of fixing it.

So I guess my main thought this morning is breakfast.

What a bloody cold start to the day, had the heater going but I am still bloody cold. I just took Sam up to meet his driver and damn it is cold outside.

Today’s word is: Racketeer

Which means to operate a dishonest or fraudulent business dealings

Good morning all hope it isn’t too hot, wet or cold where you are, it’s not too bad here cold but not too cold. Well here we are with some more Aussie Slang maybe old slang no longer used or current slang we will see.

Harold Holt: as in to do a Harold Holt meaning to bolt do a runna

Hoon: Hooligans

Journo: Journalist

Footy: Aussie rules football or rugby league depending what State you are in.

Freo: Fremantle

These are still used by many people

Good morning all, here we are at Tuesday and the first school day of term 3. Well it is time for this weeks creature and this week we have the Ocean Sunfish.

One of the ocean’s true oddities, this disc-shaped creature is one of the world’s largest bony fish, measuring up to 3.3 metres I diameter and weighing around 2,000kg bloody hell that’s big. That’s like the size of a car.

It’s bullet-like shape is the result of a tail fin that never grows, it folds in on itself instead and forms a rudder called a clavus. They are clumsy swimmers, waggling their large dorsal and anal fins to move and steering with their clavus.

Often seen sunbaking near the ocean’s surface, its oversized dorsal fin cuts through the water and is commonly mistaken for a shark.

This giant fish only has a taste for jellyfish, zooplankton and algae. They are harmless to people, but can be very curious and will often approach divers.

They often become so overrun with parasites that they jump yp yo 3m out of the ocean, landing with a slap on the surface, to try and get rid of them.

Here I am this Monday answering 5 questions sent by another blogger. I have forward these questions to Carole at https://ramblingon-ramblingon.blogspot.com/ for her answers.

Are you a native Australian? How many generations of your family were born there?

Yes I am a native Aussie going back I think 5 generations on Dad’s side and I think the same on Mum’s side so I am 6 generation Australian

If you could have dinner with one historical figure, who would it be and why?

This made me think trying to come up with someone and decided on Edith Cowan born Edith Dircksey Cowan in 1861 and lived to 1932 she was an Australian social reformer who worked for the rights and welfare of women and children. She is best known as the first Australian woman to serve as a member of parliament. Cowan has been featured on the reverse of Australia’s 50-dollar note since 1995. Why her, well I am fascinated with women who have fought for women’s rights.

What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?

In many ways I have accomplished very little in my life but I have raised 3 wonderful daughters and have 4 amazing grandchildren, which is one type of accomplishment.

Other than your loved ones, what is your most treasured possession?

I don’t think I have one and I have thought about this question for a while.

Before blogging, what, if any, was your main mode of personal expression?

In the days before blogging which was a long time ago as I have been blogging since 2007 or 2005 I can’t remember which. Anyway back in those dark days before blogging I use to do a family newsletter 4 times a year so that would be my answer.