A whole new level

I think I have turned into a Grumpy Old Woman.  I'm not even in the process of turning ... it's a done deal!  I've been reading the real estate ads in today's (Saturday's) edition of the Cairns Post and it appears the English language has morphed into something I don't always understand.

Once we had Juliette balconies that they gave way to gourmet kitchens, whatever they are, I thought it was the food produced that was gourmet, not the cupboards but now it seems we have "single tandem parking".

As I've always had a spatial problem and maths has always been my weak point I can only conclude that single and tandem can now be used together but to what end I have no idea unless there is only room to park one tandem bicycle.  I referred to Wikipedia to check on my understanding and found the following -
"The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle (occasionally, a tricycle) designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement (fore to aft, not side-by-side), not the number of riders."  So that must be what they mean!  Funny though, it looked like an ordinary carport.

Spiritual Cinema Circle

I can highly recommend the Spiritual Cinema Circle and the monthly subscription for their DVDs.  Content varies greatly each month and ranges between personal development, esoteric, spiritual and anything inbetween.  The first month is free, you just pay the postage which is very small on one DVD.  Otherwise it's $AU30 on present conversion from the US$.  It's available worldwide now I believe.

It's our entertainment for the month which also brings about some personal growth.  A worthwhile indulgence.

If you live in Cairns or the Atherton Tablelands I'm quite happy to lend you one or two to show you the quality.  Next month will be Bob Proctor as one part of the DVD.

Find the treasure in a fearless life.

Those who succeed where others fail have discovered something that the rest haven't -- they have learned how to understand their own fears instead of being pushed around by them - Guy Finley.

Thought for the day

“When one is a stranger to oneself then one is estranged from others, too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one cannot touch others. Only when one is connected to one’s inner core is one connected to others, I am beginning to discover. And, for me, the core, the inner spring, can be re-found through solitude…
Certain springs are tapped only when we are alone. The artist knows he must be alone to create; the musician, to compose; the saint, to pray. But women need solitude in order to find again the true essence of themselves; the firm strand which will be the indispensable center of a whole web of human relationships.”
 Anne Morrow Lindbergh in Gift from the Sea

Family Enterprise

Yesterday I met a young couple from Atherton in Far North Queensland who have taken about 18 months to design and research the production of modern cloth nappies.  I took my hat off to the enterprise of this couple.  They've produced a fantastic cloth nappy that is made partly from bamboo and lasts from newborn to toilet trained.  The nappies also come in a range of fabrics to suit just about everybody and have additional liners for night time use.  Using these nappies would save so much money in the long run as they cost $15 each and last for years and years.  See their web site or find them at Yungaburra Markets and probably other markets in the future in Far North Queensland.

Has forfeit changed its meaning?

Tom rang Jetstar today to cancel a booking made for several weeks ahead and now no longer required.  Their staff member said that if he cancelled he would lose his money because there is no refund ... now wait for the response to the question "what is the alternative as I don't wish to make the journey" ... and she said ... just don't turn up and your money will be forfeited.

Now I'm wondering how many people are out there unemployed but very worthy of this post and are twiddling their thumbs instead?  How do some of these employed people ever get employed?

Legless

On booking a flight with Brindabella Airlines to replace the flight I cancelled with jetstar I decided to read the terms and conditions.  In the section that listed what was permitted on board was this

"A pair of crutches and/or other prosthetic device for the passenger's use provided that the passenger is dependant upon such device. The device may be used for boarding but will be stowed in the aircraft hold;" The vision of artificial arms and legs being removed at the top of the aircraft steps was quite cartoonish.

There was no mention that prosthetic devices didn't include false legs or arms so I instantly had visions of flight attendants assisting one legged people to the toilet and then perhaps if they were one armed ... well, we won't even go there!

Master of Ceremonies

In a local paper recently I came across the word "emceed" used regarding a celebratory function in an outback village.  Before writing on an expletive to that paper I thought I'd perhaps better Google the offending word just to make sure I didn't come out with egg on my face.

To my absolute horror that word "emceed" is the acceptable version of M.C.'d, meaning conducted by a Master of Ceremonies. 

I accept that language changes and I'm happy to comply with those changes but surely there has to be a bottom limit to the acceptable standards.  I'm now going to check on the word in both the Macquarie and Oxford dictionaries.  No wonder we lose the meaning of words of generations.

Prisoner gets IVF

I saw this piece in the Weekend Post (Cairns Post) of Saturday July 10 2010 -
"
A Victorian prisoner has won the legal right to be eligible for IVF treatment behind bars.

Kimberley Castles, 45, had begun IVF treatment before she was jailed for welfare fraud for 18 months in November 2009.

The mother of two took legal action against the Department of Justice when it refused her access to continue her treatment while in jail.  Once Castles turns 46 in December, she will be[sic] ineligible for treatment at Melbourne IVF and her chances of falling pregnant drop each month.

During her trial her barrister accused Victoria's Department of Justice of breaching its duty of care and her client's human rights by denying Castles the right to continue IVF treatment while in custody."

I find it hard to work out where to start to express my opinion on this situation and will leave it at that.

More money than manners

At Ben Chuck's funeral there were 2 older couples that were obviously quite comfortable financially but their manners left much to be desired.  Firstly they arrived with 2 folding chairs and expected to be able to move the other seats in order to set their own up.  Then they decided to move from just behind us down to the front and set up their chairs in front of the front row and facing towards the middle!  I couldn't believe the audacity and neither could a female funeral director who approached them and told them in very definite terms that it wasn't on.  So once again they proceeded to move several seats in order to get in position their 2 folding ones for the ladies to use.

Afterwards I found them parked in the row of cars behind ours and they weren't prepared to wait for all the military personnel to leave first as instructed by the SES who were in abundance.  There was a row of cars ready to leave when the word was given and they were all 4 in one car in the row beyond that and spent some time shuffling their car backwards and forwards, ignoring a traffic cone trying to stay upright, until they had the car ready in the direction of the road.  The dear SES man directing traffic at that point had 2 broken feet and was in plaster - he deserved a medal for even turning out!

I've known a family as rude as these people before and our son once mentioned that he had known bird feeders with more depth ... I love that comment.

I'm glad I went

It's a few days now since Ben Chuck's funeral at Yungaburra.  It was held near the boat ramp at Tinnaburra on Lake Tinnaroo.  A red stage had been built out over the slope of the bank and 2 enormous marquees full of chairs were set up.

We were both very glad we went even though we didn't know the family.  It was an absolutely huge funeral with the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Premier of Queensland, notable members of the military branches and hundreds of soldiers, some in civvies and some in uniform.  The Chuck family members were so brave as those spoke of Ben, I'm not sure I could have done it but they probably felt it was the last thing they could do for him, so I would probably have felt that too had it been me having to stand up there.  The gun carriage was so shiney and pulled by a khaki coloured Ford F250.  Most attendees wore dark glasses, including myself.  The gun salute was so loud and it ricocheted round the hills and across the lake and returned twice for each shot - quite amazing.

As the bearers lifted the coffin after the ceremony I was wondering why they faced out to the lake when they'd only have to shuffle round to leave the stage and then I heard the dull thud of a single rotor helicopter approaching and as it came into view it did a half circle over the water and came in so close that the ripples on the water only just stopped short of the bank.  It hovered at little more than coffin height for a minute or two then dipped its nose in salute, flew a short distance backwards, turned and flew away.  I lost it at that point, it was the most moving tribute one could wish for.

Funeral for a Commando

In one hour's time I'm going to the public service of the funeral for Pte Ben Chuck who was brought down over Afghanistan in a helicopter with 2 comrades who also died.  Ben came from our neighbouring small town of Yungaburra on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland.  The service is on the boat ramp at Tinnaburra and Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be attending.

This picture postcard town will be marred today by sadness.  But the turnout of people attending this public ceremony will bring a determination that this life wasn't wasted as it is bringing residents and friends together in a common cause and a common pride.  Ben's partner, parents and Commando brother will always remember him as a dedicated soldier who could commit to a cause and see it through.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/07/01/116095_local-news.html