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.

Awake since 4am tossing and turning so out of bed at 4.45am needing to pee, not as cold this morning.

Kathy and Summer came over and I had Kathy vacuum out for me. Summer walk down and posted my letters.

I also hung a skull thing in Sam’s room both Tim and Kathy don’t like the look of it, it has the look of something you would see in Mexico during the celebration of the dead. I like the look of it and hung it somewhere they won’t see it.

A new week and a cold start to the day I have an appointment with the podiatrist and then Tim I will be going to lunch.

Tasha has gone into hospital for her operation, I hope all goes well for her.

We had just got home from the podiatrist when Jess rang she was stuck in town with a flat battery and needed her dad to go and give her a jump start.

Lunch was good although Tim didn’t eat as much as he thought he would. Just after we got home Sam came over to give us a hug and show off his new ear piecings and to give both Tim and I a hug each.

Woke this morning to a message from Tasha she is doing well surgery was 4hrs long and she isn’t much pain thanks for the pain relief. I will see if Tim will take me over to see her tomorrow.

I spoke to her on the phone and she sounded tired but ok, still has drip and catheter in.

Tim got into his office and sorted out his files, it has taken him a couple of hours. He is happy with what he did.

Another bloody cold start to the day, I put on a long sleeve singlet which I should have to done yesterday.

Sam came down at 7.30am and put my socks on my feet for me which has helped a lot.

Kathy was suppose to ring at 6.30 but she sent me a message saying she slept in and has three teenage girls asleep in the lounge room and doesn’t want to disturb them, so I said don’t bother ringing but that will mess with her routine so she may still ring.

I have a doctors appointment but not with my GP as I think he must be off as there were no appointments available for him online till the 24^th and since I just need scripts I will someone else a female who hasn’t been there long.

Cleaners came and did a so so job before we left for the doctors, after the doctors we went to see Natasha she looked ok, they had her get up and walk a short way. She is in ICU as there was a problem with her blood pressure.

I came home in a right mood and I don’t know why but I got over it pretty quick. Maybe I was hungry as I felt better after I ate.

Tasha looked ok which made me feel better her right arm/hand is swollen but they don’t know why. The got her up for a short walk, she is unable to put any weight on her left leg but is doing ok if her condition improves she will be moved to a ward, and she thought she would be home by Friday, I doubt it.

Up at 5am and woke with a headache after getting up and dressed I had my bowl of fruit for breakie.

I had a voice message from Tasha she sounded good and her blood pressure has stabilised and she has been transferred to a ward.

I was watching telly and stuff on my phone when I got a low battery message, I wasn’t surprised as the phone wasn’t plugged in when I got up this morning.

Rang Blain at 11.30 to make sure he was awake, he was.

Tim had a rehab appointment this afternoon. I had him go to the chemist for me to pick up medication I am out of.

Another day has arrived I think I slept straight throw the night as I have no memory of waking up. It isn’t as cold this morning thankfully.

Tasha shared some Xray images of her hip and pelvis via message and there are a lot of screws and rods in there now.

Received a message from Tasha saying she hopes to come home tomorrow, we will see. If she does come home I hope all will be ok.

When I woke up I could remember part of a dream in which Tasha was standing near the kitchen with crutches and wearing an orange top.

When I checked overnight messages there was one from Tasha saying she was home, she came home last night. While writing this she walked in the front door with Blain, she wants a good shower and I have a disability shower easier for her to use. Oh and she was wearing an orange top and has crutches.

Tasha has decided she wants to buy a recliner like mine as she can’t sit anywhere or lay in bed comfortably. So Tim drove her around some shops in order to find one which she did. Cost her around $1,000 I believe.

Here we are at another Friday so a day to share my thoughts on something but what I need to have a little think. Well since Tasha is in hospital let’s talk about hospitals.

Hospitals have come a long way they are generally staffed by kind and competent people.

When in hospital do you like getting visitors and do like them to stay a while or only 10-15 minutes. I prefer short visits over longer ones as generally after 10-15 minutes you can run out of things to talk about and if you are unwell you may just want to sleep. Thankfully visiting hours are not as restricted as they once were. At the John Hunter Hospital visiting is allowed anytime between 8am and 8pm except between 1 and 3pm when it is rest time.

I remember the days when parents usually had to leave their sick child in the hospital alone over night as parents were not allowed to stay with the child. I remember Mum telling me that once when my sister was in hospital suffering from a severe asthma attack and after being told to leave her as she would be fine there overnight Mum refused and sat by her bed all night, the staff were not happy but Mum didn’t care she wasn’t leaving her child.

Are you or do you know someone who is sure if they go to hospital they will die there. This is something that can scare a lot of the older generation. I don’t have that worry as yet.

Also there is the issue of parking at a hospital our local hospital is large and busy and it’s not uncommon to have trouble finding a parking space and then there is the cost of parking at some hospitals it is way expensive, thankfully not so much at the John Hunter Hospital as we have a disability parking permit in my name.

Good morning here we are at Thursday so here is this weeks word.

Obeisance: Deferential respect

A gesture expressing deferential respect, such as a bow or curtsy

Here we are at another Wednesday and of course it is slang day so here are this weeks slang words.

Bail……To cancel plans

Bogan…..Someone one other countries might call a redneck or someone who is acting weird

Cactus…..Dead or broken

Chrissie….Christmas

Dag…….Someone who’s a bit of a nerd or geek

Good morning and damn it is cold here this morning only 3 degrees when I go up and still only 5 degrees 2.5hrs later and I shaking a lot due I suspect to the cold.

Well today I have yet another damn spider this one is the Diving Bell Spider they live in still waterways throughout Europe and are the only spider species that lives its entire lives underwater, mating, laying eggs and catching prey from their webs.

This clever little spider only needs to come to the surface of its pond once a day to breathe, it spins a web underwater and fills it with oxygen.

It moves tiny bubbles of air from above the water surface to its underwater “diving bell”. The bubble works a bit like a fish’s gills, taking oxygen from the water and sending carbon dioxide back out.

When out of the water, the spider ranges in colour from mid to dark brown, although the hairs on the abdomen give it a dark grey, velvet-like appearance.

Diving bell spiders have a painful bite that can leave you in pain for a few days.