St Stephens Uniting in Sydney CBD is doing a monthly “It’s Church, it’s jazz” event this year. 6 pm tonight, Biggest is playing guitar in the band which is otherwise made up of Students from the Con. I’ll be there for first time, reports from those who’ve gone are very positive.
Speaking of jazz and church, I'm just listening - together with a fellow Shipmate on Skype - to Trane's 'Love Supreme' again! Still as mindboggling as when I heard it for the first time!
Not sure what's happened to Wellington's largest mammal but a friend told me earlier in the week Otago Harbour had one too and there were squabbles as to whose was bigger - I though only insecure people played those games
Commiserations on the head cold MR Curly - me too, though it will go to my chest with a cough somewhat akin to the bark of a Great Dane if it follows the usual progression.
Two weeks early but we now own the place we have been after. Settlement just gone through. Alll very happy. I am getting interested parties for here and just need one to jump and buy. I will let the others move in over next week before I move, sale here or not.
Two weeks early but we now own the place we have been after. Settlement just gone through. Alll very happy. I am getting interested parties for here and just need one to jump and buy. I will let the others move in over next week before I move, sale here or not.
Yay!
Fingers crossed for a quick and smooth sale of your spot so you can move on soonest.
Now that the Uniting Church is allowing ministers to perform SSM I wonder if my church which was once 'the' place in Newcastle to get married in, will have come into its own again?
Two weeks early but we now own the place we have been after. Settlement just gone through. Alll very happy. I am getting interested parties for here and just need one to jump and buy. I will let the others move in over next week before I move, sale here or not.
Great news and I do pray you will have a buyer very soon
I live within 1 km of the sea, and the last one we had close to where this one was entailed evacuation at 1 a.m due to a tsunami warning so I overreacted.
Best to be ready. You can/'t win in this - live on the level and you're at risk of a tsunami, on the hills and the risk is that the quake will send you and your house sliding to the valley. Very best wishes, thoughts and prayers from both of us.
Best wishes, Huia. Stay safe. I can't imagine what it's like to live with earthquake and tsunami possibilities.
I had an encounter with 10 kangaroos this afternoon* while walking on the island that separates Albury and Wodonga. Some big buggers too. Just happily grazing.
And while at work the most glorious parrot I have ever seen perched in the tree outside my office. The tree is deciduous, so its leaves are gone, and this parrot-of-all-the-colours-of-the-rainbow-then-some looked even more brilliant against the brown branches. Never seen its kind before; may be an interloper from Victoria! Its mate, of a duller plumage, was nearby. I'll have to look up a parrot website and try and find it. A plump thing too. A bit of brightness in an otherwise horrid work day.
* in winter I start work around 6:30am so I can leave early and take a walk in the sunlight to help with my mental well-being
I reckon most encounters with God's Little Creatures are good for one's well-being. We have several visitors* who come to our bird-feeder and just watching them makes us smile, which is always a Good Thing.
* not all of them birds - we also seem to have been adopted by a squirrel and a chipmunk.
I am trying to be a Good Girl and wear my hearing aids every day. This means I can turn the radio/TV down, and if I go to the door I hear all tui's softer chirrups, not to mention the sound of his wings as he crosses the garden.
My 2004 Nissan had to spend the day at the dealer's across town to have its worn keys replaced, and they gave me a nice new VW to come home in. A helpful young man accompanied me as I drove round the block to make sure I knew how to drive it, and then off I went. Great fun. I hope they call me before the afternoon rush hour though, to take it back and pick up my old war horse.
Madame and I are taking this week and at least the first half of next off. It was too cold to do so until yesterday, but sitting on the back terrace in the sun for an earlyish (around 9.00) cup of tea at this time of the year is very restful. Next to no noise with only a distant lawnmower, fresh air, plenty of sun, and just sitting together. The way things are going, we won't be doing this next winter as part of a break but what we can do every fine day.
Just outside on balcony and could not believe how warm today is. No wind and lots of sun. Totally different to yesterday when it was -1.1 here at 7;30 am. Coldest I have seen in this suburb in very many years.
Along similar lines Huia was my first pair of glasses. In my mid teens. was told to look at trees in Hyde Park and everyone laughed when I said I could see leaves, not just a blob of green
I felt like that when I had my first contact lens fitted after having cataract surgery when I was 17. I looked down at the floor of the optician's surgery and realised there was a pattern there that had previously just been fuzzy, and I could make out the lines of the "cord" in my cord trousers! My dad was with me, and I remember saying, "I can see!" and the look on his face has stayed with me ever since.
Funeral on Wednesday for senior (89-year-old) cousin. More of the next generation turned out, some now retired – great meeting those we don't see often, and meeting others for the first time. Considerable interest in joining those of us who occasionally gather for a 'cussies' lunch'.
The funeral 'service was pretty minimal. Celebrant welcomed us, read a brief life of the departed (got the number of siblings wrong) and read a couple of the 'I am not gone; I am still here' type of (to me) cringe-making poems, and there was quite a pause in which we were almost dismissed for. refreshment, when some of the close family got up courage to share brief memories. And that was it. No carrying out of the coffin: maybe this funeral home have their own crematorium.
I guess I'm now the senior cousin. I don't feel like a matriarch but maybe I can be a kuia, a wise and respected female elder.
My bird-phobic neighbour came in yesterday to report a large brown bird lying dead face down on the bank above her house. She helped me to get up there; I turned it over with my cane and it was an Australasian harrier hawk. A beautiful creature. She carried it down on a spade and is trying to find out if DoC or the sanctuary want to try and find out how it died. I don't think I've seen one flying in our suburb.
Tuesday evening we received news that a friend of some 43 years had died in somewhat suspicious circumstances. It appeared at first he had hung himself but that does not bode well as he settled on a new house the previous day. The police were called and it was determined that the garage door, where the deed was done, was locked from the outside. We are awaiting more from the police. This has been very disturbing for all concerned as it it totally out of character.
The second 'news' is that two good friends have left the Uniting Church because the the stance taken with SSM. What good it will do is anyone's guess. I feel for his wife as she now has left the congregation in which she has been involved for over 40 years, music and the womens groups are just two of the areas she was involved with. I pray that they will find some solution to their troubles.
Oh my Dennis. My condolences. What a tragic situation re your first friend. Thoughts for you and all who knew him.
News I heard on the Border is that individual Uniting congregations had the choice... Was that wrong? Or was it leaving due to the general stance, or specific stance of friends' parish. I too hope they can find a solution -- 40 years: wow.
That sounds so distressing, Dennis. Hugs and sympathy, prayers for your friends.
Out here we've had a snap of hot weather. Southern Right whales have arrived in Walker Bay near Hermanus to calve and wildflowers are coming up on the West Coast, spectacular despite the months of drought. Not quite spring, but it is on the way!
Oh my Dennis. My condolences. What a tragic situation re your first friend. Thoughts for you and all who knew him.
News I heard on the Border is that individual Uniting congregations had the choice... Was that wrong? Or was it leaving due to the general stance, or specific stance of friends' parish. I too hope they can find a solution -- 40 years: wow.
Thanks for your thoughts.
You are correct, all UC ministers now have the right to choose whether they carry out SSM. The two in question have left because it is their personal belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not surprised as they had expressed their opinion some months ago. All very sad as it will not have any effect whatsoever. It is interesting to note that my partner and I have been good friends with them for the last 13 years. The wife did express her love of both of us (perhaps hate the sin but love the sinner??) and hoped that we would still be friends! They are in my prayers.
I'm having a quite acceptable lunch of roast lamb and jacket potatoes at Falls Creek Ski Resort. Skiied all morning, and will continue to do so in the afternoon. I feel so relaxed up here. Very calming. Living 150 or so kms from the snow has advantages.
edit: rather expensive though! Definitely not a weekly activity.
Probably not, but I find that being out there doing physical activity lifts my mood immensely. Skiing definitely isn't my activity of choice - it's cold and my balance is not the best, but I find Nordic pole walking (which was developed by cross-country skiers so they had a sport to keep them fit during the summer months) is very enjoyable. I usually take my poles everywhere because they enable me to walk faster and cope with the uneven footpaths here without falling over. Unintended additional bonus is that teenagers stand up for the "poor old lady with two walking sticks" in the bus.
I hope you can see the virtue shining from me. I have prepared before 11:00am a curry from leftover roast pork from the other day. I like doing such things in sunlight, rather than having to do them when it is dark. NOt only do I have tonight’s dinner ready, but will freeze another couple of serves.
Another one who's been virtuous: one of things I've done this morning so far is grilled a load of sausages and cooked up some butter beans so I can make a salad for supper quickly. It's 7:30am here.
Colour me cranky. The real estate market has dropped considerably and is slow. Some places have had no one to inspections for weeks. I am getting people through every week. I am signed up with a local office of a well known and old firm.
This afternoon I was rung by another old firm, also local but different suburb. I explained I was with another agent. She knew that but launched into a list of questions, some general and some more personal. I said again to speak to my agent. She went on without a pause so I broke into her list and told her this was none of her business and hung up. She was still talking. Have emailed my agent and told him and said I was very annoyed. No answer yet. They all know each other so he will know the firm. Cranky about this
We've been doing the virtuous "cooking ahead" thing too - I don't feel so bad about making the kitchen hot in the evening (although one of the air-con units is in there, so it could be much worse). I'm contemplating a potato curry for tomorrow, which I may well make later this evening.
Sixty years ago I made all my own clothes. 40 years ago I made dresses for my daughter. With pieces that I never got around to making for her, for the last ten years I've made a dress each year for my granddaughter. Finding everything takes longer as I slow down I chose a simple McCall's pattern that said it would teach a beginner how to sew. It had the most complicated diagrams and descriptions! However it's almost finished (and the Canadian summer well advanced) but has buttons – I've done plenty of machined button holes, long ago, but this time I practised on offcuts and was totally stumped: with a tiny overall pattern I couldn't see what I was doing at all. So I took it this morning to a dressmaker just to get the buttonholes done, and hope she can fit it in in the next few days.
Oddly enough, with a tremor in my hands and glasses about to be upgraded, I've nevertheless had no problems threading needles.
Lucky granddaughter! Dressmaking skills of any kind are always an asset, GG.
Is anyone else watching the lunar eclipse on 27 July? It will be a blood moon and the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century, visible from Africa and Australia, parts of the UK and Asia. Not North America or Greenland. I have tentative arrangements with friends to wrap up warmly and head up a mountainside for good viewing, but woke up this morning to heavy cloud cover. Keeping fingers crossed.
Curry is one of the counter-intuitive ways to stay cool, Piglet, hope the cooking isn't too much of a trial.
Should the eclipse be visible in NewZealand? I haven't seen anything in the paper (I am an old fashioned woman who still gets a daily paper and worries about the amount of time it takes to read it, even though I skim through the headlines and skip the items I've seen on TV).
I must say that Venus is huge after dinner, and Mars is a brilliant red later in the evening. Jupiter not as striking as I would have expected. At least we're having some clear skies some nights.
We are having wonderfully clear skies almost every night, and day too for that matter. That's manageable here, at least in the short term, but west of the Range things are very tough with next to no grass for stock to eat, and no money to buy what little dry food is left. My cousin, who like Vulpior lives on the range, is still going reasonably well, but more distant family well west from there are finding it possible only because they have made ample provision for dams and water. They think they can go another 6 months without rain.
I may be up to watch. Have any of you been looking at Mars which is plainly visible here in Sydney in northern sky for much of the night till dawn. When I moved here seven years ago, there was an ecli[pse of the moon at a civilised hour and I took some photos from my balcony. Can’t do that this time. Good camera is packed.
The South Island of Aotearoa/NZ is the place to be on Saturday for the eclipse. Apparently we will be able to see the moon setting and the sun rising for a 3 minute span in Christchurch 4 minutes in Dunedin and longer in Invercargill.
Comments
Enjoy!
I'm now on the mood to put some Ella on...
It was fun! The (serious jazz) bassist did give him a few quizzical looks, but he did OK. I'll go again - second Wednesday 6 pm.
Came home from work feeling woozy at 10 am. What it is with July and head colds?
mr curly
Commiserations on the head cold MR Curly - me too, though it will go to my chest with a cough somewhat akin to the bark of a Great Dane if it follows the usual progression.
It seems to be going around here too, mr curly - best wishes for a quick recovery.
Hurrah Lothlorien! Wonderful news. Hope someone buys your place soon.
Yay!
Fingers crossed for a quick and smooth sale of your spot so you can move on soonest.
Great news and I do pray you will have a buyer very soon
Was about 5 km away.
I live within 1 km of the sea, and the last one we had close to where this one was entailed evacuation at 1 a.m due to a tsunami warning so I overreacted.
I had an encounter with 10 kangaroos this afternoon* while walking on the island that separates Albury and Wodonga. Some big buggers too. Just happily grazing.
And while at work the most glorious parrot I have ever seen perched in the tree outside my office. The tree is deciduous, so its leaves are gone, and this parrot-of-all-the-colours-of-the-rainbow-then-some looked even more brilliant against the brown branches. Never seen its kind before; may be an interloper from Victoria!
* in winter I start work around 6:30am so I can leave early and take a walk in the sunlight to help with my mental well-being
* not all of them birds - we also seem to have been adopted by a squirrel and a chipmunk.
My 2004 Nissan had to spend the day at the dealer's across town to have its worn keys replaced, and they gave me a nice new VW to come home in. A helpful young man accompanied me as I drove round the block to make sure I knew how to drive it, and then off I went. Great fun. I hope they call me before the afternoon rush hour though, to take it back and pick up my old war horse.
GG
Madame and I are taking this week and at least the first half of next off. It was too cold to do so until yesterday, but sitting on the back terrace in the sun for an earlyish (around 9.00) cup of tea at this time of the year is very restful. Next to no noise with only a distant lawnmower, fresh air, plenty of sun, and just sitting together. The way things are going, we won't be doing this next winter as part of a break but what we can do every fine day.
GG I remember the bellbird I heard when I first got my hearing aids. Bliss.
The funeral 'service was pretty minimal. Celebrant welcomed us, read a brief life of the departed (got the number of siblings wrong) and read a couple of the 'I am not gone; I am still here' type of (to me) cringe-making poems, and there was quite a pause in which we were almost dismissed for. refreshment, when some of the close family got up courage to share brief memories. And that was it. No carrying out of the coffin: maybe this funeral home have their own crematorium.
I guess I'm now the senior cousin. I don't feel like a matriarch but maybe I can be a kuia, a wise and respected female elder.
My bird-phobic neighbour came in yesterday to report a large brown bird lying dead face down on the bank above her house. She helped me to get up there; I turned it over with my cane and it was an Australasian harrier hawk. A beautiful creature. She carried it down on a spade and is trying to find out if DoC or the sanctuary want to try and find out how it died. I don't think I've seen one flying in our suburb.
GG
Oh dear re the bird. I've never heard of them. Shall Google.
Tuesday evening we received news that a friend of some 43 years had died in somewhat suspicious circumstances. It appeared at first he had hung himself but that does not bode well as he settled on a new house the previous day. The police were called and it was determined that the garage door, where the deed was done, was locked from the outside. We are awaiting more from the police. This has been very disturbing for all concerned as it it totally out of character.
The second 'news' is that two good friends have left the Uniting Church because the the stance taken with SSM. What good it will do is anyone's guess. I feel for his wife as she now has left the congregation in which she has been involved for over 40 years, music and the womens groups are just two of the areas she was involved with. I pray that they will find some solution to their troubles.
News I heard on the Border is that individual Uniting congregations had the choice... Was that wrong? Or was it leaving due to the general stance, or specific stance of friends' parish. I too hope they can find a solution -- 40 years: wow.
Out here we've had a snap of hot weather. Southern Right whales have arrived in Walker Bay near Hermanus to calve and wildflowers are coming up on the West Coast, spectacular despite the months of drought. Not quite spring, but it is on the way!
Thanks for your thoughts.
You are correct, all UC ministers now have the right to choose whether they carry out SSM. The two in question have left because it is their personal belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not surprised as they had expressed their opinion some months ago. All very sad as it will not have any effect whatsoever. It is interesting to note that my partner and I have been good friends with them for the last 13 years. The wife did express her love of both of us (perhaps hate the sin but love the sinner??) and hoped that we would still be friends! They are in my prayers.
Prayers ascending for the soul of your friend, and for all who mourn him.
edit: rather expensive though! Definitely not a weekly activity.
I like the sound of that for a summer activity! I'll look into it this spring and see if there are any groups here. Thank you.
Colour me cranky. The real estate market has dropped considerably and is slow. Some places have had no one to inspections for weeks. I am getting people through every week. I am signed up with a local office of a well known and old firm.
This afternoon I was rung by another old firm, also local but different suburb. I explained I was with another agent. She knew that but launched into a list of questions, some general and some more personal. I said again to speak to my agent. She went on without a pause so I broke into her list and told her this was none of her business and hung up. She was still talking. Have emailed my agent and told him and said I was very annoyed. No answer yet. They all know each other so he will know the firm. Cranky about this
Oddly enough, with a tremor in my hands and glasses about to be upgraded, I've nevertheless had no problems threading needles.
GG
Is anyone else watching the lunar eclipse on 27 July? It will be a blood moon and the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century, visible from Africa and Australia, parts of the UK and Asia. Not North America or Greenland. I have tentative arrangements with friends to wrap up warmly and head up a mountainside for good viewing, but woke up this morning to heavy cloud cover. Keeping fingers crossed.
Curry is one of the counter-intuitive ways to stay cool, Piglet, hope the cooking isn't too much of a trial.
I must say that Venus is huge after dinner, and Mars is a brilliant red later in the evening. Jupiter not as striking as I would have expected. At least we're having some clear skies some nights.
GG