Gundagai’s Dog on the Tuckerbox was first introduced into verse in the period when pioneers travelled in bullock wagons, pushing their way into the vast unexplained interior of Australia. In the early days, back over a hundred years ago, Gundagai was then, as today the chief “port of call” one the main highway between Sydney and Melbourne.

A favourite camping ground of the teamsters was the Five Mile Creek on the same highway, where the monument now stands. It was there that occurred an incident that inspired the bard to write the original Tucker Box poem.

A faithful friend, the guardian of the teamster’s possessions, a dog accompanied every wagon that pushed inland. It was the action of one such dog in spoiling food stuff whilst he sat on a tuckerbox, that so amused the poet he wrote……..

Good morning mate, you are too late,

The shearing is all over,

Tie up your dog behind the log

Come in and have some dover.

For Nobby Jack has broke the yoke,

Poke out the leader’s eye

And the dog-in the tucker box,

Five miles from Gundagai

The original doggerel was crude and vulgar, and verse after verse ran on depicting incidents along the track that leads to Gundagai.

I can’t say I understand the above verse and I expect I am not alone.

Good morning all another Monday is here so that means facts and here they are………….

In the 1580’s a chain of warning bonfires across Britain could send only two messages. One was “help! The Spanish invaders are coming!”, the other was “Oh no! The Spanish invades are here!”.

2,400 years before the Ancient Greeks put together a system using sets of five torches they could send any letter of the Greek alphabet. The people who ran the torches burned different combinations of torches to send different letters. It must have been quite a show.

Emus lay emerald green eggs

The huge clock on the British Houses of Parliament was once slowed down when a passing group of starlings decided to take a breather on the minute hand.

99% of the matter in our solar system is contained in the sun.

Woke at 5.30 got up peed had my wash and dressed myself, it took me a good or bad 5 minutes to get my long pants on. I also did my own breakfast which also took ages.

Jessica borrowed the heater out of the bathroom yesterday and is yet to return it, so I had to use loungeroom heater.

Been a cool wet day, some may say cold, not me.

10-7-21

Woke at 5.22, thought I would have a sleep in but my bladder thought differently, so up I got.

Tasha came and gave me a shower, I was out and drying off in the warm bathroom. I like to sit naked in the warmth to for a few minutes to fully dry off. Towel drying only goes so far.

However, within seconds Tim wanted me out of the bathroom, so instead of taking my time I had to rush and Tasha had to dress me while I was still damp.

11-7-21

Had a reasonable nights sleep till 4.30am when I woke needing to pee as I knew that getting up would result in me leaking I decided I would wait an hour. It was 6am when I had enough of feeling restless and got up I must have dozed off for that amount of time to have passed.

First day of term 3, Leo is back at school but Blain goes back tomorrow.

Been a nice day not that cold in my opinion.

12-7-21

Managed to sleep pretty good last night, up at 6am washed and ready for the day.

Saw Kelli and Jono before they went home.

Sandra came over to pick up forms Tim printed for her. She asked if I could laminate the death certificates for her and of course I will.

13-7-21

A new day awake and up, I was having a wash and heard someone in the kitchen, it was Tash she saw the bathroom light on and came down.

A bloody cold day, when I went with Leo to meet his driver it started to rain so Leo made me come home. Because it was raining Tasha went up to wait with him.

This afternoon it was bloody cold

but dry when I went to meet Leo.

14-7-21

Awake at 5.30 up at 5.40 thought I would get up and ready before Tim got up as I take a good 15 minutes to have a wash and get ready. Tim started at 7.50am.

Took Leo up to meet his driver and it stated to rain so Leo made me come back, he will not have me waiting in the rain.

Had rain on & off all day but it was fine for me to meet Leo this afternoon. He is here tonight.

Just when I think I have caught up with my mail more arrives.

Jessica’s new licence arrived it is red or magenta as Tim would say. This is her HR licence this stands for heavy rigid so she can drive buses and trucks without a trailer.

15-7-21

Had a decent enough night, I woke at 5.30 and would have liked to have just lay there for a while but my body started shaking so I got up.

Been a cold windy afternoon, raining on and off all day but I was still able to go with Leo up the top of driveway.

Printed up 8 letters using Tim’s printer had only 2 left to answer but then Tasha arrived with 9 more letters. Pen pals keep me busy.

16-7-21

Babies say love

They say it with gestures

and noises……and coo’s

and soft, lonesome whimpers

at night

Acquainted With The Night

By Robert Frost More Robert Frost

I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-bye;
And further still at an unearthly height,
One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/acquainted-with-the-night-by-robert-frost

Here we are at another Dog on the Tuckerbox post, this week we will read about the decision to erect the monument.

The popularity of the poem and the publicity it gave Gundagai grew greater year after year. Prior to Gundagai’s centenary celebrations O. A. Collins prevailed upon the organising committee (the hospital board), to adopt his suggestion that the climax of the celebrations be the unveiling of a Pioneers’ Memorial which would be in the form of a dog on a tucker box.

Erected at the Five Mile, the known camping site of early teamsters. The adoption f this suggestion the late Mr Frank Rusconi who constructed the famous Marble Masterpiece, was commissioned to build the monument.

More next week.

Good morning all, here we are at another Monday, so that means it is facts day.

The first paper was made way back when dinosaurs walked the earth, using dried wood mashed into a pulp. These paper makers were wasps. These insects have always built their nests from home-made paper, which means they were making paper 300 million years before humans.

The longest word in the English language dictionary is “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis” (I hoe I spelt that right)

Canada is an Indian word meaning “Big Village”

Venetian blinds did not originate in Venice: they were invented in Japan.

The Three-Toed Sloth is the slowest animal in the world, it can take three days to climb a medium sized tree.

Woke at 5am got up went to the toilet then back to bed but found I was awake so after 20mins I got up.

I was getting my breakfast stuff ready when Tasha walked in, this was a surprise as Saturday mornings are her morning off. She had brought down a load of washing. While here she took over and prepared my breaky.

Noticed that Tim had put up the shelves he wanted, they look good.

I got Kathy to put up some picture hooks so I can hand more photos.

Up at 5.20 again, messaged Tasha but for some reason my phone didn’t send the message till 6.09, she came straight down to find me already dressed and starting breakfast.

Tim altered Tasha’s bras last night but she said it is a half-assed job and isn’t happy.

Had Leo, Daemon and Freya come down for breakfast, they spent some time here playing. At one point Daemon wanted a paperclip so he could try and pick the lock on Leo’s door.

A new day, awake and up at 5.50am rang Tasha, now ready for the day.

Leo came down around 9am and when Daemon came down an hour later he found Leo asleep. So he had breakfast while he waited for Leo to wake up.

Kelli arrived around midday to get Daemon.

5-7-21

Up at 5.20am sent text to Tasha she came down straight away.

I had a doctors appointment as did Tasha, I need a referral to see neurologist in Sydney and a couple of scripts.

Tim home for 3hrs as he has a split shift.

6-7-21

Awake and up at 5.30am Tasha came straight down and got me ready for the day.

Been a pretty good day not as cold as I thought it would be.

I checked my recorded shows for something to watch and everything is for Tim. He records stuff but is slow to watch what he has recorded.

7-7-21

Woke at 5.55 the latest I have slept in for ages, well it feels that way.

Tasha had a rant about the mess in the kitchen and on the table I use daily.

It has been a nice day.

8-7-21

Awake at 5.27 straight up dressed and breakfast had I am now ready for the day. It is raining here but of course I will be going no bloody where.

Been raining all day on and off.

Kathy-Lee rang this morning to let me know she will not be here tomorrow as she isn’t well.

Leo wants to learn Russian.

9-7-21

Babies say love

with the flush of their cheeks

and their great big inquisitive eyes

The way that they just

sort of melt in your arms

and touch you with

tender surprise