Today is Australia Day.
This is not like Independence Day in the US. We don't walk around wishing each other "Happy Australia Day", we don't do anything particularly Australian, we don't do much except enjoy a day off work. Or at least that's how it was with my family, friends and me. And generally how it was when I was growing up - maybe it's a bit more than that nowadays.
Living in the UK I feel it a little bit more, and I take time to think about Australia, an integral part of my formative years, and who I am. But again, it's not something I usually post about.
I also don't make a fuss about it because it's a day that causes some pain to Indigenous Australians. Not only the date (which is a big part of it) but the concept. I believe the date needs to be changed, and the day needs to be redefined to be more inclusive and pay particular attention to a long, long Aboriginal history.
Like others this morning, I tried to share Yothu Yindi's 'Treaty' on Facebook. Like others I was stunned to find that it is banned as it apparently goes against Facebooks "community standards".
Dear me.
However, I see no reason why I can't post it here, and then link to it.
Please enjoy and share the link to this post.
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Yothu Yindi
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Sorry / Not Sorry
I suspect someone in management once shared the idea you can sound like you're apologising without actually being sorry, while placing the blame on the other person. Probably learned it in a CPD session.
But that's OK. It was only an enquiry and they lost my potential custom.
On the other hand, I recently placed an order which messed up due to a glitch in the system. I gave them a phone call, a reasonably lasrge local company, and they were friendly, funny and helpful. Oh, and they apologised.
See the difference? One took responsibility and sorted it out quickly.
None of us are perfect. Mistakes happen. I try to admit to them when I'm behind them, apologise, and move to quickly remedy the situation. I don't always get it right, but sometimes all it takes is to be honest and open.
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Speeding Up
In fact, and I recognise the ironay in using those words, I recently read a theory that time is really speeding up – label it under paranormal, pseudoscience etc. But if it were true, we’d have no real way of measuring that, would we? Maybe there is some quantum method by which scientists could.
I’m really looking forward to this break. It’s been a tough year for a few reasons, and
this down time is something I need.
Looking around at my colleagues, I suspect it’s something we all
need. But I’m not convinced the breaks
recharge and revitalise is in quite the same way they used to. Or maybe it’s
just me as I get older.
I’ve been back in the UK for more than 8 years now, and I enjoy the Christmas
atmosphere here, with nights drawing in and festive lights visible from around
4pm. Christmas is a winter festival, and
makes a lot more sense here than it does in Australia. It feels right
here. And I look forward to it.
But I do wish I could catch up with my family and friends in
Australia. That’s not going to happen this year, but maybe next year?
But onwards to the gifts, the food, and the wine. Oh, and the time spent with family. Apparently
that’s important too.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
It's Never Too Late.

I’ve just spent a week travelling in France with an old friend.
We met more than 30 years ago while working in Japan, and
despite living on different continents, we manage to catch up every couple of
years. Of course we are in regular online contact, but it’s not the same, is
it?
But France was a lot of fun. Good food,
good wine, and a lot of chatting. Oh, and there may have been a few Beatles singles
found along the way.
In our reminiscing, he told me something from all those years ago, something I
didn’t know, and something that absolutely delighted me. I think he thought I
knew, and so never mentioned it before.
Thanks for letting me know.
I arrived back in the UK, exhausted after a week of travelling,
all on trains and buses, and then walking long days all around cities - Strasbourg and Paris. We saw some great sights, visited museums,
art galleries, Christmas markets, and scenic spots. Did I mention vinyl shops?
What a week. One I will remember and cherish.
And if you have something positive to share, it’s never too late to let
someone know. It will be appreciated.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Digging, Digging, Digging.
A new neighbour was showing me the work they were doing in their garden and said they were getting rid of the shed. I offered to buy it from them and they said we could have it for free.
Of course everything has a cost. Mine was about 6 days of work. In one back corner of our garden there is a wasteland. Think post-apocalyptic. We had no idea what we were going to do back there as it would require quite a bit of work, and until there was a purpose, a vision if you will, we didn't know what the work would be.
But now we have the vision, the purpose. We have a shed.
As a result I spent a number of days excavating - the land is not level. And I had to go slightly deeper then I would have liked. There were rocks under the fine soil, some as large as a schoolboy's head. And tree roots as well. The tree is long gone, but those roots were up to 4" across.
So as well as a shed I now have an axe.
In the end I dug out more than a ton of soil, and although I didn't find any Roman ruins - not uncommon around here - I did find some bottle cstoppers that are amore than 80 years old.
I then carted nearly a ton of pebbles from the front to the back in smallish tubs. We might have a shed and an axe, but we don't have a wheelbarrow. Oh, and front to back is mostly steps.
The excavation then needed to be leveled, with a weed membrane put down, and cement blocks to keep the shed of the block. Then a layer of pebbles to allow for drainage, and it was done.
I must say I am pleased with the results. It was a race again time before the weather became too cold, and despite being chilly and damp each day I did beat the clock. There still needs to be work done in that corner, and the now-dismantled shed needs a few repairs before being assembled, but that corner is now almost civilised.
And so we have a shed, and and axe. And in telling this tale to a friend, who asked why I didn't use a wheelbarrow, we now have one of those. He had a spare, an old one which he was getting rid of.
I might wait till the weather warms a little before erecting the shed.
But did I mention, we now have a shed.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Big-noting and Small Talking.
They hadn't actually published anything of real note, and I hadn't read any of their work. Or so I thought.
They then mentioned a book, quite an obscure book that they had recently ghost-written. I had to bite my tongue, as it was a book I had actually read - an historical book on a subject close to my heart. It was awful. It was, in fact, the worst written book I had ever encountered. Poor grammar, badly structured, repetitive, with whole paragraphs that seemed to convey the same thing several times, and obvious spelling errors. And the editing was even worse. (Yes, they had self-edited, I believe.)
There is no reason to believe this author remembers me at all, and we have no current connections. Even though, I doubt they would recognise themself from the above. Someone told me recently that they hadn't changed, although the minor glories were now long in the past.
As they spoke I didn't say anything, just smiled and nodded with the others who were standing there. But they continued to preach their prowess, name-dropping at will. Oh, and they said a few things which shouldn't be said in public.
On the other hand, a few months ago I managed to listen to Charlie Higson. Not only is he a respected author, but a very funny comedian and fine actor who appeared in The Fast Show, one of my all time favourite comedy shows. A show that I watched repeatedly when I lived in Japan, and then again when I returned to Australia.
Charlie was funny, engaging, self-deprecating, and humble. I managed to catch-up with him afterwards, and thank him for his time. Told him how much I appreciated his work and then left before I could annoy him. He was gracious, and thanked me. He said he was grateful the Fast Show had been able to touch and entertain so many people.
I know who I would want to listen to again, or purchase from. Which reminds me, I need to go and watch The Fast Show again.
It's gripped! It's sorted!
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Such a Silly Season.
As many know, I am a huge fan of Australian Rules football. I am a diehard Essendon supporter, who has suffered for more than 20 years with a team who seem to aspire to mediocrity. We are the butt of many jokes, and there are even webpages counting up the number of days since we have won a finals match. It is a ridiculously high number, and one that frustrates all Essendon fans.
Brad Scott, our coach, has just completed his second year at the helm. At the beginning of the year he cautioned against getting our hopes too high. It didn't help that for much of the year we were sitting high in the league ladder - higher than we deserved, especially when you looked at our percentages. But then we completely collapsed at the end of the season to fall outside the top 8, and miss the final series once again.
I was disappointed, but not surprised. We finished roughly where I had anticipated. We won some close games, and lost when we played better teams. And faded badly at the end of the season.
While many fans are angry and upset, I understand that changes take time, and recognise the cultural changes being brought into the team. A slow change, but one that I believe will reap rewards.
And the silly season? Why, that's the trade period that is currently happening, and finishes on Wednesday. It runs for about ten days and the fan forums are either laughably funny at insanely delusional suggestions made (trade "this player who can barely get a game" for "their champion") or just downright frustrating at the negativity and hostility.
The media is no better. One day Essendon is criticised for not being active enough in trades, and the next reminded we have no real trade capital and should go to the draft. You simply cannot win.
I'm sticking with Brad. It takes time to turn a team (and a club) around after years of complacency. AFL is not like other sports where you simply buy in players. We have a draft system for rookies, but then players in the system already need to be traded - either for other players or draft picks and so on. It provides some equalisation across the league, but means it is difficult to change things quickly when you need to.
So I do think the future is bright, despite the calls in forums for Brad to be sacked and everyone at the club to be replaced. We will get there, and I think it will be in the next few years.
But this season still hurt, though.