Bailies Bits

I will never get used to it and I will never accept that it is necessary.... stop and look around you at the rail station or in town. People are hanging off the end of mobile phones as if their lives depended on them. Others are using them in cars when driving as if their lives (and everyone elses) were unimportant.

Have you been in a public toilet and heard someone having a deep and meaningful conversation to himself in one of the cubicles? You know you can get on the Internet on your Mobile phone when traveling on the train from work - Why would you not wait until you get home for goodness sake!!!!

I have been walking along the street and actually answered a blokes' question thinking it was aimed at me until I noticed the big 'comma' hanging on his ear. It looks so really pathetic when you see groups of people huddled outside a meeting room during the break making those urgent calls that could not wait until a more appropriate time. Then there are the walkers - they dander up and down jabbering away oblivious to anyone else around listening to their every word. People actually call or text each other in the same house. Now you can be sacked by text message and in Australia it is a great tool with the new Industrial Relations Laws!!!

Then there's texting, taking pictures, (when you should not) and of course you really need it don't you. The world would end without it. Nothing like a crazy ringtone when the Minister is reaching the pointy end of his Sermon or when that executive meeting is beginning to run into extra time.

I probably would not be able to understand the programming of the horrible things and it would be yet another Pin number(in addition to the phone number) that I would have to store in the old brain box.

Anyway they say it is the way it is but for me it is madness and doesn't have to be.

Posted by John at 5:12 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

What a Stupid Decision

It would have been nice to see a true result in the World Cup Match between Italy and Australia with the game going into extra time and possible shoot outs. However, the referee got a call from his girlfriend saying that if he wasn't home in 10 minutes she would be calling Shane Warne!! What a stupid decision he made. The more I look at it, then the more I am convinced that this did not deserve a penalty kick.

Still it is done. Good on you Aussies for such a brilliant showing on the World stage. Good Luck Italy - but Beckham will stop you lot now....

Posted by John at 5:44 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

The Minimum Wage in Australia is set at $484.40 or $12.75 per hour. What a disgrace, we should all be ashamed. We elect Politicians who look after themselves and worry little about how much sorrow and stress there is in the comunity when families just can't make ends meet.

Our Australian Politicians have just awarded themselves a 7% increase, effective July 2006. This means backbenchers will get an extra $7,800 a year and Prime Minister John Howard's annual 'minimum' wage balloons by $20,000 to more than $300,000. How can they sleep at night? It is impossible for a family to live on $484 a week. Rent alone takes over $250.

What is Reasonable and Fair

The Howard government says:
"The Government is committed to retaining a fair minimum wage with reasonable and sustainable increases."

Just what is reasonable and fair? On top of the recent Industrial Relations changes which leave Australians liable to unfair sackings and a reduction in wages, Petrol and food prices have shot through the roof. Yet the minimum wage hardly moves.

Australians really would like to see at least one politician campaign for the minimum wage to be increased in a hurry so that people can live with some kind of dignity and hope for the future. Is there any Pollies who could live on this minimum wage? Why are they not subject to the 'Fair' Pay Commission like everyone else?

Shame Australia

Many people are quite happy earning above the minimum wage including, the Prime Minister earning over $300,0000 and the Bank CEO on a staggering $7Million - but surely in this 'Lucky' country, we can have some compassion and insist that people in our country are given the same opportunity to live a happy and stable life in return for the same hard days work. It is time to elect polititions who can think of others and not just themselves!!

Posted by John at 6:42 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

How Do Farmers Keep Going?

I will never understand how farmers and their families continue to battle year after year in order to keep their farms going. I have been farming, in a small way, for 9 years mainly with Stud Boer Goats for sale to breeders in Australia and for export around the World. I had to get rid of them all 1 year ago.

Mature Boer Goat Buck

The Daily Grind

There are things on a farm that just have to be done every day and you just do them. Cattle or Goats have to be milked twice a day, feed has to be put out depending on availablity of natural feed at the time and many other chores depending on the extent of the farming including, of course, the maintenance of fences and farm machinery. However there are many other things to be done in a farmers day that again the farmer considers normal. There could be thounds of sheep to shear along with the trimming of hooves in sheep and goats. There is the sheering of herds and of course the drenching for internal paracites and spraying for lice. It never stops - Sheep have a big problem with flies in Australia and they have to be sheered and cleaned around the back end at warmer times of the year. It just goes on - farmers have to look after sick animals themselves or pay Vet fees. So one day they could be pulling a calf from a cow and the next splinting the broken leg of a goat plus many other Vet type duties that I would not have dreamed about had I not experienced it for myself. A farmer here in Australia will always have to be on the watch for enevitable problems with Dams, Water Pipes and Water Tanks.

Then Along Comes Mother Nature

Our first few years were perfect. Plenty of feed in the paddocks and lots of rain ( Too much in fact as we had some flooding with water cascading down Gullys and not only leaving paddocks inundated, but also cutting out driveways.) Young Kid goats became lame because of sandy grit in their toes and started to sit down a lot so they were not eating properly. That was fixed with regular inspection and treatment. Still there was always plenty of feed for the animals and they were selling.

Kid Buck 3 Days Old

The Drought, which we had no experience of, hit us hard and is still here after about 4 years. We did have the odd break with some rain and thought it was over. After experiencing the drought for some time and having to spend everything on feeding the animals we did get some rain that brought a sheen of green to the paddocks. Not long after some follow up rains put some growth there for the goats. Hungry Locusts then invaded our valley and turned the fields into brown dust again despite are efforts to control them with chemicals. They left us eventually, we again got some green back but before leaving they left lots of eggs which hatched and again stripped the paddocks bare. Dams are empty, there is absolutely not a blade of grass to be seen and of course nobody is buying. The water tanks are registering water at only a few rungs up from the base and who can keep feeding animals just to keep them alive for so long? When the water runs out then we face buying it in by the tanker.

Foxes - Eagles - Packs of Wild Dogs

The heading says it all really. It was a very hard to offload our animals but it was better than letting them starve or shooting them all. Despite all this, hardened farmers are still struggling on, treating it all as normal. I will always wonder at the work they do and the tribulations they face. It is hard for City people to understand it all.

Posted by John at 3:29 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

We've Been Sucked In

These two jokers have really sucked Australians in. Industrial Relations in this country have never been better. We have strong economic growth and disputes are at a record low. So ask yourself "Why would a Government go to so much trouble to fix something that isn't broken?". Why would a government get rid of Collective Bargaining when it was working and the only democratic way for people to ensure that they are treated fairly and with respect in the workforce? Why would a government get rid of Independant Industrial Tribunals and replace them with a fruadulently named 'Fair Pay' Commision. If the government found, as they claim, that small business was suffering because they could not get rid of bad or incompetant workers, then surely this could have been changed without stripping ordinary workers of their rights.

The Sackings Have Already Started

John Howard's new Industrial Relations laws have immediately resulted in unfair sackings and changes to work contracts that have cut the take home pay and employment conditions of workers. You may be sitting cocky and smiling arrogantly right now like Peter Costello, (Mr "I want to be Prime Minister and I want it now")but it could be you next. I have experienced the ruthlessness of a Power Crazy employer who quite easily sacked all around him, even before these new laws arrived, without having to obey the rules. He simply made their positions redundent moving employees around, until they had no resposiblities left. Now it is even easier.

The Australian Workplace Agreements(AWAs) are one big joke, in place purely to reduce the entitlements and wages of people, while big business profits continue to soar and the fat cats in our country receive salarys in the Millions of Dollars. Can you imagine ordinary workers being allowed to negotiate with intimadating bosses?

It is Going to get Worse

If the Australian people vote Peter Costello into office at the next election. Remember the 'smirking assassin's' recommendations for increasing employment in country areas:

People in country areas should be prepared to take less wages so that more people can get employment.

This man is living in his own little world where he believes everyone has government provided cars, free travel around the world, wardrobes full of suits, Imelda Marcos shoes, huge Superanuation payments, average wages of about $10,000 weekly and no chance of ever being unfairly dismissed from work.

I wonder will the Australian public have the wits to wipe the stupid smirk of this mans face and save Australia from becoming the nation with the worst poverty in the Western world? Only time will tell.

Posted by John at 9:12 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

They Were Left Unprotected

Just Another Number

American soldiers in Iraq continue to be paraded like sitting ducks for any would be 'terrorist hero' to slaughter. It begs the question 'Are US Soldiers considered to be expendable like toilet paper along with all the other logistics of war?' Statistics of US dead and wounded are available daily from TV news, Websites and in Newspapers. I don't like the statistics. The use of these stats when referring to people who have Wives, Husbands, Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Sons, Daughters, Grand Parents and many more grieving family and friends, makes their deaths, just another number, that can be replaced. I found this list of American deaths appalling and I continue to be shocked at the daily news of of yet more young men or women killed when trying to protect the people of Iraq. Some more hateful statistics of the wounded should have the American people up in arms. The trauma from the injuries to these men and women and their families is something I can not begin to imagine.

People may commend Mr Bush and his Government for their concern for the people of Iraq. Others believe there is no justification for the war and suggest 'Oil' was the only reason for moving in. That is not what matters at the moment. The soldiers are there and should be given the protection they need to be able to carrying out their duties successfully. Why is there not a major investigation into how the Troops are used? Should there not be a policy that says US Troops do not move in areas of Iraq unless the protection and safety of the soldiers is first considered?

US President and American People to Blame

On September 11, 2001, at least 2986 innocent people were murdered in New York and the American people got angry. From 2003 to 8 June 2006 2440 US Troops have been killed. On September 11 Terrorists were to blame but the blame for the needless slaughter of US Troops in Iraq, must to a great degree, be placed on the American President and the people of America for not getting angry enough.

No soldier on active duty in Iraq should be exposed as an easy target. They should be unseen until they can surprise the terrorist, deal with a situation and return to base safely. They should be protected with the best and latest armor and intellegence reports should be the best in the world. How can the US Soldiers protect the Iraqis if they are bombed and gunned down at will themselves?

Protect Them or Bring them Home

Shame on you America that you would send your young men and women across the world to fight without the protection they deserve. One death of one of your children should not be tolerated. The first priority should and must be the safety of these brave men and women. Once that is right then they can help others and do the job they were send there to do.

If this protection is not sound then they should be brought home now.

Posted by John at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Yes Australia did it, against all the the odds and with History against us, we beat Japan 3 to 1. So many Aussies are now calling out "Bring on Brazil"
To be 1 goal to nil down with only about 8 mins left on the clock was sad, nail biting, and very tense for Aussies around the world. However, what a finish!! Not happy to draw the Socceroos went on with it and showed they can match it with the best.
Oh, one last little note to the Coach of the USA Team who is reported to have said,

The Australians are only there to fill up the Numbers

,have a look where you stand in your World Cup Group then look at the Australian Group - Now go and eat 2 bowls of American(Humble) Pie....

Posted by John at 6:04 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Only Our Second Visit but Look Out World

It has taken 32 years for an Australian team to reach the World Cup Finals.

The Background Story from Australias Home of the World Game.

One of the reasons why Australia’s qualification for this year's World Cup finals was greeted with such delirious celebrations is because they have only appeared at the game’s biggest showcase on one previous occasion.

Another reason is because that success was too far back for many Socceroos fans to remember, back in the 1974 tournament that was hosted by West Germany.

Australia's part-timers were up against it from the outset having been drawn in the same group as the hosts and their neighbours from East Germany but they battled hard and were in no way disgraced. The group was completed by Chile.

Australia’s opening game in the World Cup finals was against East Germany on June 14, 1974, in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion.

The Aussies did well to hold their opponents until the break, but two minutes before the hour mark they fell behind to an own goal from Colin Curran and, with 18 minutes remaining, Joachim Streich sealed a 2-0 win for East Germany.

West Germany were next up but Australia found them in imperious form, with the hosts going two-up within 34 minutes through goals from Wolfgang Overath and Bernhard Cullmann.

German great Gerd Muller then wrapped up a 3-0 victory for the eventual winners just after the break.

Australia were already out of the competition but they were hoping to bow out with a positive result against Chile, and although Ray Richards was dismissed late on, a 0-0 draw gave Australia their first World Cup point.

Little did they know it would be another 32 years before they would get a chance to get their next one.

It really matters very little how many or how few times a team reaches the World Cup Finals - it is the team and it's abilities in each game. Hey World, Look Out, because The Green and Gold can bite!!

Posted by John at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Stop your Whining

The train was late. The car is broken down. You have spent all your allowance for the week and it is only Tuesday. You have fallen of a ladder and broken your wrist. You stuck your finger in the back of a Lawn Mower (why would anyone do that?). You have oodles of everyday problems that just have you so fed up and mad at the world - well stop now. You have no right or cause to whine!!
Have a long hard look at this little girl.In December 2003 a car ploughed into her Pre School Classroom. She received 85% burns to her body, lost a lot of skin, lost and ear, lost a foot and half of another leg. She lost a hand and fingers of the other hand. She underwent operation after operation since then and was not expected to live. Against all odds she pulled through with smiles and thanks for all those around her. She never complained - can you believe that? She received Prosthetic Limbs and has been admired by millions around the World for her courage and cheerfulness. She has a loving Family who have devoted everything to her well being.

But that is not all of the Story

Sophie, who reached the ripe old age of 5 years in April 2006, was crossing the road with her carer on a Pedestrian crossing 3 weeks ago and a car ploughed into her stroller throwing her about 20 metres. Sophie suffered several badly broken ribs, a broken leg and a severely bruised lung. After the accident she had a cardiac arrest. She was in a drug induced coma for 2 weeks with fears that she may have Brain Damage.

This week Sophie went home, insisted on walking (shakily) from the hospital and with her beautiful smile said "Thank you everyone for caring for me".

An example to us all

Despite facing years of medical operations well into her latter teenage years this very special little girl is a shining light to us all. So mate, instead of whine, Whine, Whine, get on with this special life you have been given.... and if you could , before you squander next weeks allowance, consider puting a little aside for the Day of Difference, Foundation a fund set up by Sophie's parents to make sure that the research and equipment and technology is in place, so that future children in accidents can receive the best possible medical attention. The foundation can also be reached in Sydney Telephone: 61 2 9266 0913.

Posted by John at 3:40 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

So I have started a Blog but find myself wondering what to write about!! Who is going to read my Blog anyway?

The Road To Paradise

First of all I will let the Millions reading my blog know that I am living outside of the 'concrete jungle' in an isolated valley 50 km's from Mudgee in NSW, Australia. However, I do get a lot of visitors, some friendly some not so.. I will introduce them to my 'Wee Notes' along the way.

Murphy's Law

It might be a bit tame but it will serve as a start to the wee notes... My wife and I have been building an extension to an old 'Kit' Cabin that was here when we purchased the property. It is an ongoing nightmare. You thought Frank Spencer had problemsNo, no, no - he was a genius when it came to DIY. We have just about covered everything in this extension ; from building wall frames, roofing, cladding, fitting and plastering Gyprock (or Plasterboard), plumbing (oh was that fun) and my real party trick, Cutting and fixing Cornice to the ceiling/walls. To cut this stuff at the correct angles you have to be some sort of 'Architectural Einstein' or have the ability to see things inside out and back to front, whilst standing on your head - and all at the same time!!! I had all the gear and decided to try some small test pieces first so as not to waste too much material. Hey, Murphy arrived and I ended up testing about 5 meters of the stuff before managing to fluke the required angles that joined the cornice in the corners Murphy visited again and again. You had to be here to believe what happened with the installation of the doors and door frames.

Computer & Graphics

Anyway, the computer has served as a most welcome escape at times to get away from it all. Thank goodness for IncrediMail, Paint shop Pro and now these Wee Notes all of which have stopped me, so far, from jumping off the Gap.

Posted by John at 4:50 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post