The photos of rain and flooded streets in Newcastle reminded me of the Pasha Bulker weekend* when I travelled up to see a shipmate in a choir. What a weekend of weather!
Not quite as intense as Pasha Bulker or the more recent superstorm of 2015. The heavy rain did not stretch as far inland as us this time, so our back room and the garage stayed dry, as opposed to being waterways on both occasions. The useful rain seems to have stretched into the far west of the state where it is desperately needed.
The photos of rain and flooded streets in Newcastle reminded me of the Pasha Bulker weekend* when I travelled up to see a shipmate in a choir. What a weekend of weather!
(a tanker ran aground)
It sure was a reminder of the Pasha weekend. As we were away for the 2015 I canoot compare. Both times there was more rain in short space of time. 196 mls since Saturday
Please do - we miss lost friends ... I note @Clarence has popped in a bit recently but many others seem to have jumped ship
Jumped ship implies a positive action, whereas I suspect that it's more a drifting away. Mr Curly has shown up recently but none too often. MSHB has vanished, Lothlorien died, Simon Toad seems the only Victorian still posting - who was the teacher from the Mornington Peninsula, not seem for many years - Orfeo's ventures are probably limited by parliamentary sittings, but no-one else from the ACT now.
... and - at the risk of reduplicating the other "anyone heard from" thread, I think fondly of FD (though I am in constant contact elsewhere), @Rowen hasn't posted for a long time now ... Nutmeg, LATA, the broadcasting tekkie from Melbourne who I maintain contact with on FB but whose nomme de waka (confused tongues, there) I forget now, Kuruman (though I do fight her for pillows), DeeNZ (sometimes with, sometimes without a full stop ... still in close FB and occasional F2F contact) ... Meow (FB contact) the chap from Wellington who was a photographer ... ARB (whose partner turned out IRL to be a former flatmate of my sister) ... even my daughter appeared briefly as Innocent Stranger though I don't think she ever graduated past apprentice and her posts were mainly about Peanut Butter (and she's busy with her-own child these days) ...
Athrawes is from inland Queensland, NNW from Brisbane I think; the one from the Mornington Peninsula was a man. Rowen posted at the time of the fires. She was evacuated from her parish to the coast and IIRC was then rescued by ship when the fires reached there. I was trying to think of LATA, but it's a long time since she last appeared. There are very few posts from WA, and I've not seen Evensong for years. I suppose that's what happens
Hi cgichard, how locked down is Melbourne? I have been horrified by the daily number of new cases there and hope the lockdown is successful in limiting the spread.
Reading every day, not contributing much. Most of my Ship friends are also on Zuckerberg's site. In touch with Athrawes, Rowen, LATA, FD, and many others that way.
We're in the safe State/Island of WA. Very thankful for good strong borders. Not happy with the Palmer/Feds High Court proceedings.
Reading every day, not contributing much. Most of my Ship friends are also on Zuckerberg's site.
I'm the same as you, rexory, in that I come here every day, but I only go to FB if I get an email notification (not often). I can't work out who's who even though there's a FB thread with Ship names and their FB equivalents (and which I can't find). And apparently, two Ship sites?
Here in Brisbane, we've lost our long-standing zero cases status so it's got a lot scarier, suddenly - glad to be closing the border more securely again. Our baby* girl works in a Victorian regional city. She and her non-Victorian workmates, anticipating that they won't be going home for Christmas, had been planning an Orphan's Christmas Day all-day progressive dinner-type event. They're not so complacent any more, though.
@Huia This lockdown feels far more restrictive than the initial one months ago. Whereas before one could walk freely in a park, now masks have to be worn as soon as you leave home, and my 20 minute weekly walk to the shops (and longer returning with a full trolley) feels onerous. That's now my only exercise. No church, no library, no coffee with a friend in a café, no visit to anyone's home, no visitors to mine, no NZ-style bubble for a solitary.
Thinking of you and all Melbournians, cgichard and Arleigh's girl (and you too Arleigh) -- and nice to have you both posting here. The latest case count and now compulsory mask-wearing regulations would be very tough to deal with. Hard enough to hear about.
On missing Shipmates, I must be up to my 19 year anniversary on The Ship I've just realised! Not continuous, I disappeared several times. It is nice to think on all the people I got to know here, and a number "in person" too. Where has the time gone?
Hi Climacus, hope all is well with you in NZ. Here in ACT and surrounds there are no new cases at present, but the mini outbreak in Bateman’s Bay and the Sydney hotspots have got most people I know a bit on edge. I also have the background worry that my son and his girlfriend are living in York in the UK. I miss Banner Lady and even more dear departed Lothlorien.
cgichard apart from the compulsory mask wearing that sounds very much like the 4 week lockdown here. I live alone, so no one else in my bubble either. It was made worse by my cell phone dying. It was only when we reached the next level down that we could share our bubbles - I didn't as most of my friends are more vulnerable than I am.
I am not sure why mask wearing never became compulsory here. There was to be an announcement this week, but so far I haven't heard one.
NZ currently has 24 cases, all of whom are in managed quarantine. We don't appear to have any community transmission - having said that I didn't feel so great on a crowded bus this afternoon (which was my own fault as I stayed too long at the library.)
I am also in frequent FB contact, and some F2F (pixellated contact, too ... Zoom etc) with many of the missing (including "the teacher from Melbourne"). Sounds clairvoyant? Piers Ploughman was another: was dangerously ill a couple of years back has made a remarkable recovery. @rexory and Mrs @rexory even survived a drive up a big hill with me (and thanks again for lunch ).
I drifted from the ship after the boat changed, but you know ... dogs to vomit and all that
@cgichard ... wave to my six daughters and my grandbubs when you (don't) see them. Sadly I will be missing the wedding of one of them (daughter, not grandbub) in October, but that's life .
On missing Shipmates, I must be up to my 19 year anniversary on The Ship I've just realised! Not continuous, I disappeared several times. It is nice to think on all the people I got to know here, and a number "in person" too. Where has the time gone?
I think I’m up to my 19th birthday too! I thought you’d been around a lot longer than me...
I drifted from the ship after the boat changed, but you know ... dogs to vomit and all that
Lots of people across the Ship generally drifted at that time. Any one have thoughts as to why? I didn't find much if any difference in how it all operated. Perhaps it was having to go through what I remember as a pretty straightforward process.
I'm a regular here, reading when not posting, and active on FB, where I see Arabella often though I haven't communicated directly with her for a while. Always interested in Huia's doings after our weekend in Napier a few years back , and enjoyed contact with the rest of folk from this end of the world — I have happy memories of meeting Shipmates in Perth before my daughter moved to BC Canada. But it's not often that someone comes to the capital city, though Uncle Pete's visit, way back when, was a special treat.
Uncle Pete timed his visit well - after the September 2010 quake and before the Feb 2011 one. Had he been later we would not have been able to visit so many places.
It's always good to see you posting GG. I am postponing my annual visit to Wellington in hopes of warmer temperatures. I really want to take the ferry between Eastbourne and Wellington which should be easy as my nephew tells me that the Eastbourne bus travels through Lower Hutt.
Uncle Pete timed his visit well - after the September 2010 quake and before the Feb 2011 one. Had he been later we would not have been able to visit so many places.
It's always good to see you posting GG. I am postponing my annual visit to Wellington in hopes of warmer temperatures. I really want to take the ferry between Eastbourne and Wellington which should be easy as my nephew tells me that the Eastbourne bus travels through Lower Hutt.
I always enjoy posts from both of you. In many ways, both recall the old Ship.
I drifted from the ship after the boat changed, but you know ... dogs to vomit and all that
Lots of people across the Ship generally drifted at that time. Any one have thoughts as to why? I didn't find much if any difference in how it all operated. Perhaps it was having to go through what I remember as a pretty straightforward process.
Despite Huia's better experience, I found the vessel impossible to board for about six months .. then somehow I did find a way up the gangplank ... but it tool me a long time to get interest levels up again. I'm still only really engaging to host Ecclesianstiwhatsitcalled a bit and scurry around a couple of All Saints' threads ...
A couple of hiccups at the start but that was all, as far as I recall. But there has been a real change in the overall character of the Ship since then (as being discussed elsewhere).
I'm a bit vague as to where everyone is - and I'm not asking you to out yourselves, but I have just seen the announcement of the level 4 lockdown in Melbourne for 6 weeks! I admit to going a bit stir crazy after 4, so I am thinking of you all.
I think some of us here are getting a bit too laid back and it's a reminder to us of how quickly this virus travels.
I seem to remember it took me a bit of trouble getting my avatar, actually an old photo, back in place. It really shows me, several decades ago — I'm trying to form a poem about some mean influence stealing my body and substituting a second hand one.
That's a long time - I take it this is a second lockdown, after a resurgence?
Yes, the original lock downs worked well to reduce the rate of infection. They were relaxed, some people seem to taken the relaxation too far (a queue outside a Sydney pub for example) and the rates have now increased. Another death yesterday, alas.
I'm in Melbourne and have been on the ship since 2002 but read a lot more than I post. I always resolve to post more here, but never keep my resolution! The book club is the only thread I am involved in consistently.
I'm doing ok during the pandemic as I got a bit burnt out with teaching and have been only teaching casually a couple of days a week while doing 3 days care work for one couple a week. That means I still have some work while schools have been closed. I don't plan to teach again while there are quite a few cases even after lockdown is over as my care clients are high risk and I have asthma and often get chest infections or post viral fatigue after just a cold.
Hope other Victorians are coping ok. I have 2 housemates, 2 bugdgies and housemate's cat so at least I am not isolated. Between them, my care clients, their other carer and online socialising my introverted self is getting enough social interaction.
I was enjoying a weekly walk with my mum and parent's dog Jack as we live about 30 minutes walk from each other and we can exercise with one adult outside our home. But now we only have 60 min a day exercise, so by the time we met we'd have to almost go home again!
I have been walking to work to avoid public transport. That takes more than an hour one way and is about 1km outside my 5km limit, but I have an essential worker letter from work if the cops question me. Closest to living in a police state I hope I ever get to. We even have a curfew! But desperate stakes call for desperate measures. Just praying they work and for a vaccine.
With six zapplettes (four and three quarter grandchildren, too) in and around Melbourne I am watching closely ... they're surviving well so far. Their mother is unwell and potentially immuno-compromised so that is probably of considerable concern but I'm not sure how she's coping ... there's a kind of cone of silence in that regard. The one daughter who lives outside metro-Melbourne is getting married in October. I'm assuming I won't be there . It may well go ahead as it's an outdoor wedding and rural, so not I think limited to ten as the city weddings are.
Hi @Zappa, as of this afternoon all weddings in rural Victoria are limited to five - couple, 2 witnesses and celebrant, while weddings in Melbourne are completely forbidden. The lockdown is tightening as cases continue to grow.
Hi @Zappa, as of this afternoon all weddings in rural Victoria are limited to five - couple, 2 witnesses and celebrant, while weddings in Melbourne are completely forbidden. The lockdown is tightening as cases continue to grow.
Back to the initial restriction then. Is it down to 10 for a funeral?
A question for someone who knows both countries. Will an electrical appliance that works in NZ work in Australia? Are the plugs configured the same way?
I think so. Pretty sure I used my hair straightener when I was on holiday in NZ. I have another holiday booked for mid December that I booked start of Feb when we didn't realise how serious Covid 19 would be. Looks like I may be postponing it - I can get my accomodation cancelled and I think my travel pass costs refunded, but currently I think Air New Zealand is giving travel vouchers to be used later on. Not doing anything yet as travel may be possible by then, but not getting my hopes up! Last time I visited the North Island, this time South whenever I can!
A question for someone who knows both countries. Will an electrical appliance that works in NZ work in Australia? Are the plugs configured the same way?
Hi @Zappa, as of this afternoon all weddings in rural Victoria are limited to five - couple, 2 witnesses and celebrant, while weddings in Melbourne are completely forbidden. The lockdown is tightening as cases continue to grow.
Back to the initial restriction then. Is it down to 10 for a funeral?
Thanks for the answers to the electric al question.
Mili, I hope you are able to come over. Parts of the Sth Island are stunning.
Apparently The Coastal Pacific train, between Picton and Christchurch will be running in spring and The Northerner (between Auckland and Wellington), in summer.
The Tranz Alpine between Christchurch and Greymouth is currently running and I am thinking of a trip over there myself.
A frustrating couple of days, when I was totally cut off from the world — my Internet wasn't working!!! Took the computer to an Apple specialist shop, where it behaved perfectly — but not back at home. Rang Vodafone and talked for some time to a technician in India, who eventually arranged for a local techie to call today; he spent 90 minutes sorting it out: Vodafone had made some sort of changes which took him that long to identify, but at least it was their fault so I don't have a bill to pay.
And there were 20 or so emails waiting, including all the remaining contributions that I'd been trying to get for the church quarterly Newsletter I produce, so lots of editing in the next few days, including lots of photos to choose from and process.
When I got back at lunch time from the lecture I'd been to, there were, at the top of our little cul-de-sac, men erecting scaffolding for roofing one neighbour's house, the new lawn mowing contractor for several of us who also does the street tidying, followed at the same time by the techie and then the man with my meals-on-wheels. A very crowded spot for a while, with little room for parking.
Life is certainly back to normal for some of us.
We have gone all nostalgic! I have no idea how long I've been on the ship. I do remember when Jugular was ordained, and when Blackaxe's first was born. (he's 14). There was a dinner at my place in 2006 with at least AdamPater, Duo and Lots of Yay, but I can't recall who else.
I've just popped to the old site and there are DMs in 2004.
I guess that was all pre facebook, which probably explains the drift.
Funnily enough, by closest Ship friends IRL are the ones in Perth, where I visit periodically to visit the Curlies Senior - although not as much as planned this year. I look forward immensely to lunch with Rexory, Jugular, AdamPater and occasionally Dark Knight.
And it seems like a good time to remember Lothlorien, who I met IRL three times I think, and who sent me a lovely thoughtful gift when I was seriously ill 8 years ago this week.
My "little ones" - Biggest, Middle and Little Miss - are all of age, and in the blink of an eye the last will be out of school.
Looks like we'll be back to 100% online for church for a while in NSW. We'll see how things go from here.
Comments
Thank you. I need to check in on this site more often.
Been bucketing down Newcastle all day and flooding in some suburbs
Please do - we miss lost friends ... I note @Clarence has popped in a bit recently but many others seem to have jumped ship
The photos of rain and flooded streets in Newcastle reminded me of the Pasha Bulker weekend* when I travelled up to see a shipmate in a choir. What a weekend of weather!
(a tanker ran aground)
I need to check in on this site more often too. 😀
It sure was a reminder of the Pasha weekend. As we were away for the 2015 I canoot compare. Both times there was more rain in short space of time. 196 mls since Saturday
Jumped ship implies a positive action, whereas I suspect that it's more a drifting away. Mr Curly has shown up recently but none too often. MSHB has vanished, Lothlorien died, Simon Toad seems the only Victorian still posting - who was the teacher from the Mornington Peninsula, not seem for many years - Orfeo's ventures are probably limited by parliamentary sittings, but no-one else from the ACT now.
... it's sort of a metaphor for life, really
We're in the safe State/Island of WA. Very thankful for good strong borders. Not happy with the Palmer/Feds High Court proceedings.
Here in Brisbane, we've lost our long-standing zero cases status so it's got a lot scarier, suddenly - glad to be closing the border more securely again. Our baby* girl works in a Victorian regional city. She and her non-Victorian workmates, anticipating that they won't be going home for Christmas, had been planning an Orphan's Christmas Day all-day progressive dinner-type event. They're not so complacent any more, though.
Arleigh
* She's 35
On missing Shipmates, I must be up to my 19 year anniversary on The Ship I've just realised! Not continuous, I disappeared several times. It is nice to think on all the people I got to know here, and a number "in person" too. Where has the time gone?
Evensong posts on FB from time to time.
Neither of us is on Facebook.
I am not sure why mask wearing never became compulsory here. There was to be an announcement this week, but so far I haven't heard one.
NZ currently has 24 cases, all of whom are in managed quarantine. We don't appear to have any community transmission - having said that I didn't feel so great on a crowded bus this afternoon (which was my own fault as I stayed too long at the library.)
I drifted from the ship after the boat changed, but you know ... dogs to vomit and all that
I think I’m up to my 19th birthday too! I thought you’d been around a lot longer than me...
Lots of people across the Ship generally drifted at that time. Any one have thoughts as to why? I didn't find much if any difference in how it all operated. Perhaps it was having to go through what I remember as a pretty straightforward process.
It's always good to see you posting GG. I am postponing my annual visit to Wellington in hopes of warmer temperatures. I really want to take the ferry between Eastbourne and Wellington which should be easy as my nephew tells me that the Eastbourne bus travels through Lower Hutt.
I always enjoy posts from both of you. In many ways, both recall the old Ship.
Despite Huia's better experience, I found the vessel impossible to board for about six months .. then somehow I did find a way up the gangplank ... but it tool me a long time to get interest levels up again. I'm still only really engaging to host Ecclesianstiwhatsitcalled a bit and scurry around a couple of All Saints' threads ...
I think some of us here are getting a bit too laid back and it's a reminder to us of how quickly this virus travels.
Sorry - I've just realised the lockdown is for the state of Victoria. Keep safe people.
Yes, the original lock downs worked well to reduce the rate of infection. They were relaxed, some people seem to taken the relaxation too far (a queue outside a Sydney pub for example) and the rates have now increased. Another death yesterday, alas.
I'm doing ok during the pandemic as I got a bit burnt out with teaching and have been only teaching casually a couple of days a week while doing 3 days care work for one couple a week. That means I still have some work while schools have been closed. I don't plan to teach again while there are quite a few cases even after lockdown is over as my care clients are high risk and I have asthma and often get chest infections or post viral fatigue after just a cold.
Hope other Victorians are coping ok. I have 2 housemates, 2 bugdgies and housemate's cat so at least I am not isolated. Between them, my care clients, their other carer and online socialising my introverted self is getting enough social interaction.
I was enjoying a weekly walk with my mum and parent's dog Jack as we live about 30 minutes walk from each other and we can exercise with one adult outside our home. But now we only have 60 min a day exercise, so by the time we met we'd have to almost go home again!
I have been walking to work to avoid public transport. That takes more than an hour one way and is about 1km outside my 5km limit, but I have an essential worker letter from work if the cops question me. Closest to living in a police state I hope I ever get to. We even have a curfew! But desperate stakes call for desperate measures. Just praying they work and for a vaccine.
Back to the initial restriction then. Is it down to 10 for a funeral?
Yes they will and the plugs are identical.
Yes
Mili, I hope you are able to come over. Parts of the Sth Island are stunning.
Apparently The Coastal Pacific train, between Picton and Christchurch will be running in spring and The Northerner (between Auckland and Wellington), in summer.
The Tranz Alpine between Christchurch and Greymouth is currently running and I am thinking of a trip over there myself.
And there were 20 or so emails waiting, including all the remaining contributions that I'd been trying to get for the church quarterly Newsletter I produce, so lots of editing in the next few days, including lots of photos to choose from and process.
When I got back at lunch time from the lecture I'd been to, there were, at the top of our little cul-de-sac, men erecting scaffolding for roofing one neighbour's house, the new lawn mowing contractor for several of us who also does the street tidying, followed at the same time by the techie and then the man with my meals-on-wheels. A very crowded spot for a while, with little room for parking.
Life is certainly back to normal for some of us.
I've just popped to the old site and there are DMs in 2004.
I guess that was all pre facebook, which probably explains the drift.
Funnily enough, by closest Ship friends IRL are the ones in Perth, where I visit periodically to visit the Curlies Senior - although not as much as planned this year. I look forward immensely to lunch with Rexory, Jugular, AdamPater and occasionally Dark Knight.
And it seems like a good time to remember Lothlorien, who I met IRL three times I think, and who sent me a lovely thoughtful gift when I was seriously ill 8 years ago this week.
My "little ones" - Biggest, Middle and Little Miss - are all of age, and in the blink of an eye the last will be out of school.
Looks like we'll be back to 100% online for church for a while in NSW. We'll see how things go from here.
mr curly
(formerly Brains)