It's taken me quite a bit of searching to find this thread - that shows how talkative we are!
I haven't been on here for a few weeks as well. Hubby is going in for a colonoscopy this morning, has been waiting for almost a year, such is the public system!
Have been lurking but not commenting. My blood pressure has been absolutely haywire for the last few weeks - the GP has changed my medication three times to try and get it down to normal range. The newest regime seems to be keeping daytime pressures under control, but there is still an overnight spike. Coupled with some respiratory after-effects of COVID it has been a dispiriting time.
Have been lurking but not commenting. My blood pressure has been absolutely haywire for the last few weeks - the GP has changed my medication three times to try and get it down to normal range. The newest regime seems to be keeping daytime pressures under control, but there is still an overnight spike. Coupled with some respiratory after-effects of COVID it has been a dispiriting time.
Have been lurking but not commenting. My blood pressure has been absolutely haywire for the last few weeks - the GP has changed my medication three times to try and get it down to normal range. The newest regime seems to be keeping daytime pressures under control, but there is still an overnight spike. Coupled with some respiratory after-effects of COVID it has been a dispiriting time.
A very decent comment from the outgoing Premier. He believed that the new Labor Premier will make a “fine 47th premier … because I believe that he will lead with the same decency and the same integrity that he has led with so far”.
The first election in over 40 years where I have not had an active campaign role. I had hoped to spend an hour or so handing out how to vote forms at the prepoll centre but was just too wobbly to think about it. Great result for Labor, and reminiscent of both Wran and Carr in their initial victories. A couple of my former local government colleagues have now been elevated to the parliament.
Some may know John McLaughlin, formerly Master and then Associate Justice of the NSW Supreme Court, sitting in the Equity and Probate Divisions. He has died after a good retirement:
John was openly gay, even back in the early 1960's, although it was not something he trumpeted. He just was. Always a pleasure to appear before, but on the odd occasions he became cross with counsel appearing before him, there was no doubt that counsel had got something really, badly, wrong. As a board member of the Students' Union, he was punctilious in attending Union Night debates to answer questions on behalf of the Board.
He was a very devout man, and amongst other honours, he held a Papal knighthood.
This may be of interest to other Vegemite eaters. BBC World have recently featured articles about Vegemite including a recipe for Buttery-miso-vegemite-noodles.. I would put it in Recipes, but I received it by an email which was incomplete.
The article also said that Vegemite featured in disgusting food museum in Sweden.
This may be of interest to other Vegemite eaters. BBC World have recently featured articles about Vegemite including a recipe for Buttery-miso-vegemite-noodles.. I would put it in Recipes, but I received it by an email which was incomplete.
The article also said that Vegemite featured in disgusting food museum in Sweden.
I am always interested to hear from our South African shipmates about life there. I just heard from my sister about their Post Office, prompted by the fact that she has just received our Christmas card, posted in Canada in early December. Apparently their community mailboxes are no more. According to their local paper:
A case of theft was opened, according to the Benoni SAPS. This was after Johan Kruger, of the SA Post Office's communications division, responded to our query as follows, "The postboxes at Farrarmere were not removed by the SA Post Office. The postboxes disappeared overnight, and the matter was reported to SAPS. The boxes will be replaced as soon as possible to ensure that customers continue to receive a service. We will get back to you as soon as possible." Further attempts to reach Kruger were unsuccessful as, also overnight, he became a former employee of the SA Post Office according to his "out of office" automated response.
My sister said that the shopping plaza owners didn't hang about, and they've already used the site to add parking spaces. (Something similar happened to us in Texas years ago, so it's not just South Africa). We are awaiting another instalment of this tale.
Yes GeeD This goddess does too! Either that or Fix and Foggs Everything Butter which is made in Wellington. It's crunchy peanut butter with other nuts and seeds in it. It comes in a large family sized jar. Fortunately the cat doesn't like peanut butter, so I don't have to share it.
For those who worry about the salt content of vegemite there is a low salt version (and a gluten free one too). It can only be bought here in a small jar and is more expensive. The supply is a bit dodgy too which is why there are always 3 jars in my cupboard.
Wahine Day today. It's 55 years since the ferry sailing between Christchurch and Wellington was blown onto Barretts Reef and sunk in Wellington Harbour.
There's no longer a ferry sailing this route, but lately there have been problems with vessels owned by both the companies that sail between Picton and Wellington not caused by the weather, as the Wahine disaster was, but by mechanical problems. One incident had passengers donning life jackets as a precaution.
I don't really enjoy flying, and I hate feeling cut off from easy access to the family I still have in Wellington.
Belated Easter greetings to you all. Son and his fiancee came south for the long weekend. Good to see them smiling and laughing together, often with the Marama and I joining in. Son , who is now much more energetic than me, and is allowed up ladders unlike his aged father, made himself useful cleaning up parts of the garden, especially the large shrub that shades our sunroom. As temperatures here in the bush capital plunge to near freezing at night, a bit more sunshine reaching inside is much appreciated.
Fortuitously, they were here at the right time to join us and his sister (and her family) for a dinner out to mark our wedding anniversary. This time next year it will be a big round number, so the dinner will probably be in Fiji.
Apart from being well suited to each other and obviously in love, it may be that their upcoming wedding in July was partly prompted by the success of our marriage (and that of her parents). So that's something else we have to look forward to (and, no doubt, to assist) , especially as it will be in the Sunshine State where it's certain to be warmer than here.
We're just back from the Anzac service in the next suburb north. A glorious bright and clear morning gave a good roll up for a service with a 7.30 start, probably about 1750 - 2000 in all. The local Seventh Day Adventists have taken on the job of running it - the group of ex-servicemen who had been organisation were clearly dwindling in numbers as well as aging. It's good of the SDA's to do the work, but they do need to learn that most of those attending are not accustomed to the long services they provide, and on top of that are almost all standing up.
Some help please. Starting in the mid-50's, we would spend the August school holidays in the Blue Mountains. A common outing was to go to Lithgow for general sightseeing but also to visit some special friends who lived there. A feature of the journey was to see the remains of a war-time runway and associated buildings that had been constructed during WW II. A squadron was stationed there to deal with any Japanese planes that somehow managed to take off from an aircraft-carrier, then make their way past Richmond RAAF base, cross the Mountains more or less along the Bells Line, and then bomb Lithgow, its Small Arms factory, and the coal mines. A special plane may even have made its way to Bathurst*, where there was a very secret Army base. Pretty unlikely that any ship-borne plane of that time could manage the journey, let alone return, but the powers-that-were were concerned. Don't ask me why, but this has come back to me in the last couple of days and won't leave me alone. My recollection is that the runway was somewhere between Bell and Clarence, but it could have been a bit closer to Lithgow. It certainly was not on either the Sydney side of Bell or on the Darling Causeway.
Does anyone have any memory of this please?
*Bathurst gave reasonable road and rail connections to Sydney and by road to Canberra, as well as having decent infrastructure to support the Army staff.
Some help please. Starting in the mid-50's, we would spend the August school holidays in the Blue Mountains. A common outing was to go to Lithgow for general sightseeing but also to visit some special friends who lived there. A feature of the journey was to see the remains of a war-time runway and associated buildings that had been constructed during WW II. A squadron was stationed there to deal with any Japanese planes that somehow managed to take off from an aircraft-carrier, then make their way past Richmond RAAF base, cross the Mountains more or less along the Bells Line, and then bomb Lithgow, its Small Arms factory, and the coal mines. A special plane may even have made its way to Bathurst*, where there was a very secret Army base. Pretty unlikely that any ship-borne plane of that time could manage the journey, let alone return, but the powers-that-were were concerned. Don't ask me why, but this has come back to me in the last couple of days and won't leave me alone. My recollection is that the runway was somewhere between Bell and Clarence, but it could have been a bit closer to Lithgow. It certainly was not on either the Sydney side of Bell or on the Darling Causeway.
Does anyone have any memory of this please?
*Bathurst gave reasonable road and rail connections to Sydney and by road to Canberra, as well as having decent infrastructure to support the Army staff.
When I lived at Blackheath, there was a disused runway at the top of scenic hill above Lithgow on the Bells Line of Road, on the left just before the road descends into Lithgow. Could that be the one?
When I lived at Blackheath, there was a disused runway at the top of scenic hill above Lithgow on the Bells Line of Road, on the left just before the road descends into Lithgow. Could that be the one?
Thanks. Certainly your description matches much of what I was after. When you follow Chifley Road along a bit from there towards Bell, you come to an anti-aircraft gun station. The the NE side of the road is what probably was built as a runway. The trouble is what I remember crossed Chifley Rd, whereas what google maps shows runs parallel. As the road goes further towards Bell, you come to Sinai Halt, which is more what I was after, but although it meets the Road does not cross it. Perhaps my memory is not spot on, as I'm talking of what I remember from the mid-50's. We might take a run out there soon, once we get through some things here first.
All this started from looking at a video of the train line climbing up from Lithgow through the Ten Tunnels. An innocent time passing activity has turned into a real search!
There was also an airstrip between Blackheath and Mt Victoria, almost adjacent to the current heavy vehicle checking station, between there and the railway.
If you’ll forgive a long distance intervention, satellite view in Google maps reveals a suggestive straight line feature running SW to NE and crossing Chifley Road at Lat. -33.474800, Long. 150.185731.
Using plotaroute.com to investigate it reveals it to be about 630 yards long with a height difference from end to end of only 13ft. I wonder if this might be your missing airstrip. It’s certainly long enough for WW2 fighter aircraft, or even a Douglas Dakota.
Thank you both. I've been looking again, and I'm pretty sure that BroJames' suggestion is the correct one. The place and what remains matches my memory. All this started from online watching a video of a 46 class climbing through the Ten Tunnels from Oakey Park.
The need for an airstrip there is hard to understand. How could a WW II plane based on an aircraft carrier have flown past the base at Richmond to Lithgow, done some damage, and then flown back? Certainly there was a need to keep the mines and works at Lithgow in operation, but there were other challenges to that (which Curtin and Chifley dealt with very effectively).
AFAICT Lithgow was a centre for small arms manufacture, and there were also chemical weapons operations at Marrangaroo as well as chemical weapons stocks in Clarence Tunnel.
Perhaps there was a perceived need for defensive measures on that account, or perhaps the airstrip was to enable rapid shipment by air if required, or to enable chemical warfare equipped aircraft to be armed.
AFAICT Lithgow was a centre for small arms manufacture, and there were also chemical weapons operations at Marrangaroo as well as chemical weapons stocks in Clarence Tunnel.
Perhaps there was a perceived need for defensive measures on that account, or perhaps the airstrip was to enable rapid shipment by air if required, or to enable chemical warfare equipped aircraft to be armed.
You're right about the Small Arms and chemical weapons facilities at Lithgow, and there were also the coal mines. There was also an Army intelligence base at Bathurst - it was placed there as Bathurst had four main advantages: easy access to Sydney using either the road or passenger railway; the road south past Oberon, over the Abercrombie River and on to Canberra (a much easier road than those a bit further west via Burraga or Tuena); the distance from the coast; and in the event of a sea-based invasion, the ability to move further inland very rapidly. My father was based there for much of the war.
Been absent so far this year, but had some spare time this afternoon to catch up. It’s been a bit crazy with Mr Curly Snr turning 90 (visit to Perth - Jugular, AdamPater and Rexory send their regards) and Mrs Curly’s dad recovering from a minor stroke. (going ok in rehab hospital). Those with long memories will be pleased to hear Blackaxe is alive and well - had lunch with her a fortnight ago.
Frequent visitor to Blackheath here but can’t help with airstrip location.
Mrs Curly went to a concert and I needed a break from the frantic schedule of our holiday so I snoozed and read for a while. Currently in Aix-en-Provence (south of France) after last week in Paris staying with friends from Sydney who moved there at the start of last year. We spend the next 2 weeks pottering around before handing our trusty steed back in Geneva. Then fly to Portugal for 2 weeks with 2 other couples, then fly home from Barcelona just in time for June.
Feet and legs are sore and head is full of amazing sights and sounds already. Stomach full as well. Enjoying not having to worry about traveling with the little Curlies, but Mrs C has planned a full itinerary.
Blackheath airstrip - I have a very vague recollection of one out to the north or north west. A quick Google says that one was built in 1938 and closed in 1955 - that later date would be within my time. Google maps gives:
which does fit my memory of it. The Google maps search has it in what I think is a steep valley with a creek running through it, so just the right spot for an airstrip.......
I just did a quick search for Katoomba airstrip, which is well to the north of Katoomba itself, more like a northern part of Medlow Bath. The search says: It is a country airfield that has seen minimal use.
Comments
I haven't been on here for a few weeks as well. Hubby is going in for a colonoscopy this morning, has been waiting for almost a year, such is the public system!
Thanks. all went well and came home around 4pm, a 3cm polyp was removed and has to have another removed in 3 months.
Thanks for your wishes. Nothing medical seems to faze my dear beloved!
Sorry to hear, I hope you get on top of it soon
And from us also.
LOL. Journalism sure has gone to the dogs these days.
The local independent ( Sydney) has kept his seat: no surprises there as he has been an effective lical member.
Takes me back 12 years to when the late lamented Lothlorien ( Labor to her bootstraps) declared that Labor had to go.
Takes me even further back to 1978 when firstborn’s pram sported a sticker declaring that “ Wran’s our man”.
Tasmania is now the only state where the Libs have government.
I guess we don’t have the British class obsession as manifested in the political scene.
https://inbrief.nswbar.asn.au/posts/21dc6bda18d1036ec37b45178e0d3d87/attachment/Vale Dr John Kennedy McLaughlin AM.pdf
John was openly gay, even back in the early 1960's, although it was not something he trumpeted. He just was. Always a pleasure to appear before, but on the odd occasions he became cross with counsel appearing before him, there was no doubt that counsel had got something really, badly, wrong. As a board member of the Students' Union, he was punctilious in attending Union Night debates to answer questions on behalf of the Board.
He was a very devout man, and amongst other honours, he held a Papal knighthood.
The article also said that Vegemite featured in disgusting food museum in Sweden.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230405-buttery-miso-vegemite-noodles
Fixed link. Nenya - All Saints Host
At the risk of being run off this site, I do not like Vegemite at all. Last time I had a jar in the pantry it went mouldy!
There is the question of whether it could make it taste any worse.
A case of theft was opened, according to the Benoni SAPS. This was after Johan Kruger, of the SA Post Office's communications division, responded to our query as follows, "The postboxes at Farrarmere were not removed by the SA Post Office. The postboxes disappeared overnight, and the matter was reported to SAPS. The boxes will be replaced as soon as possible to ensure that customers continue to receive a service. We will get back to you as soon as possible." Further attempts to reach Kruger were unsuccessful as, also overnight, he became a former employee of the SA Post Office according to his "out of office" automated response.
My sister said that the shopping plaza owners didn't hang about, and they've already used the site to add parking spaces. (Something similar happened to us in Texas years ago, so it's not just South Africa). We are awaiting another instalment of this tale.
If I were rude, I'd say that all your taste is ........ Vegemite is what the gods use on their breakfast toast.
Yes GeeD This goddess does too!
For those who worry about the salt content of vegemite there is a low salt version (and a gluten free one too). It can only be bought here in a small jar and is more expensive. The supply is a bit dodgy too which is why there are always 3 jars in my cupboard.
There's no longer a ferry sailing this route, but lately there have been problems with vessels owned by both the companies that sail between Picton and Wellington not caused by the weather, as the Wahine disaster was, but by mechanical problems. One incident had passengers donning life jackets as a precaution.
I don't really enjoy flying, and I hate feeling cut off from easy access to the family I still have in Wellington.
Fortuitously, they were here at the right time to join us and his sister (and her family) for a dinner out to mark our wedding anniversary. This time next year it will be a big round number, so the dinner will probably be in Fiji.
Apart from being well suited to each other and obviously in love, it may be that their upcoming wedding in July was partly prompted by the success of our marriage (and that of her parents). So that's something else we have to look forward to (and, no doubt, to assist) , especially as it will be in the Sunshine State where it's certain to be warmer than here.
We're just back from the Anzac service in the next suburb north. A glorious bright and clear morning gave a good roll up for a service with a 7.30 start, probably about 1750 - 2000 in all. The local Seventh Day Adventists have taken on the job of running it - the group of ex-servicemen who had been organisation were clearly dwindling in numbers as well as aging. It's good of the SDA's to do the work, but they do need to learn that most of those attending are not accustomed to the long services they provide, and on top of that are almost all standing up.
Does anyone have any memory of this please?
*Bathurst gave reasonable road and rail connections to Sydney and by road to Canberra, as well as having decent infrastructure to support the Army staff.
When I lived at Blackheath, there was a disused runway at the top of scenic hill above Lithgow on the Bells Line of Road, on the left just before the road descends into Lithgow. Could that be the one?
Thanks. Certainly your description matches much of what I was after. When you follow Chifley Road along a bit from there towards Bell, you come to an anti-aircraft gun station. The the NE side of the road is what probably was built as a runway. The trouble is what I remember crossed Chifley Rd, whereas what google maps shows runs parallel. As the road goes further towards Bell, you come to Sinai Halt, which is more what I was after, but although it meets the Road does not cross it. Perhaps my memory is not spot on, as I'm talking of what I remember from the mid-50's. We might take a run out there soon, once we get through some things here first.
All this started from looking at a video of the train line climbing up from Lithgow through the Ten Tunnels. An innocent time passing activity has turned into a real search!
Using plotaroute.com to investigate it reveals it to be about 630 yards long with a height difference from end to end of only 13ft. I wonder if this might be your missing airstrip. It’s certainly long enough for WW2 fighter aircraft, or even a Douglas Dakota.
The need for an airstrip there is hard to understand. How could a WW II plane based on an aircraft carrier have flown past the base at Richmond to Lithgow, done some damage, and then flown back? Certainly there was a need to keep the mines and works at Lithgow in operation, but there were other challenges to that (which Curtin and Chifley dealt with very effectively).
Perhaps there was a perceived need for defensive measures on that account, or perhaps the airstrip was to enable rapid shipment by air if required, or to enable chemical warfare equipped aircraft to be armed.
You're right about the Small Arms and chemical weapons facilities at Lithgow, and there were also the coal mines. There was also an Army intelligence base at Bathurst - it was placed there as Bathurst had four main advantages: easy access to Sydney using either the road or passenger railway; the road south past Oberon, over the Abercrombie River and on to Canberra (a much easier road than those a bit further west via Burraga or Tuena); the distance from the coast; and in the event of a sea-based invasion, the ability to move further inland very rapidly. My father was based there for much of the war.
Frequent visitor to Blackheath here but can’t help with airstrip location.
Mrs Curly went to a concert and I needed a break from the frantic schedule of our holiday so I snoozed and read for a while. Currently in Aix-en-Provence (south of France) after last week in Paris staying with friends from Sydney who moved there at the start of last year. We spend the next 2 weeks pottering around before handing our trusty steed back in Geneva. Then fly to Portugal for 2 weeks with 2 other couples, then fly home from Barcelona just in time for June.
Feet and legs are sore and head is full of amazing sights and sounds already. Stomach full as well. Enjoying not having to worry about traveling with the little Curlies, but Mrs C has planned a full itinerary.
mr curly
https://www.geodata.us/australia_names_maps/aumaps.php?fid=43154&f=43&name=Blackheath Aerodrome
which does fit my memory of it. The Google maps search has it in what I think is a steep valley with a creek running through it, so just the right spot for an airstrip.......