We had a “so how’s it going” thread before, but it’s been dead for awhile. Here’s a new one. Hope everyone is doing well!
My oldest kid just started high school today, which is crazy. Younger ones started 4th and 6th grade.
Took a couple trips over the summer to see family, once up to Massachusetts and once to Ohio and Kentucky.
We got some chickens for the yard over the summer too. There are foxes and raccoons around so they have to stay in the coop most of the time unless someone is outside with them; can’t leave them out by themselves. Our neighbors have had chickens for awhile, and the foxes have gotten a few of them. Older son and I built the coop together, think it’s pretty good. Though a couple days after we got the chickens, it turned out there was a bear wandering around town. Didn’t built the coop strong enough to keep out bears. Fortunately that’s unlikely to happen again.
I’m taking 4 weeks holiday from work next week. Our family is going to Queensland for a 5 day holiday, staying at Broadbeach. We’ve been there before, it’s quite nice. Where I live south, it’s coming to the end of winter, not much rain happened during autumn & warmer than usual. Some of beaches down here have this algae bloom, we’ve had lots of dead fish wash up on the beach. The government said it was climate change, others are blaming the desalination plant or excessive nutrients from farmland washing down into the rivers and then out to sea. I don’t know who to believe.
We did have chickens about 2 years ago. When they passed away, we didn’t replace them. It was a hassle getting someone to look after them when we wanted to go away for a few days, and what was worse, the feed attracted mice & rats that we had to deal with. I do miss the fresh eggs & the kids loved the chickens. My kids have grown up now.
I had the family over for lunch today. Mayhem- two toddlers one 3 years old and one 18 months, both into everything everywhere all at once. Love them to bits though. The only casualty was a teddy bear toy from the Dolls House which had a leg broken off- easily glued. School starts again in a couple of weeks.
The garden’s hanging on in there. There’s been a glut of fruit this year- I had 50 apples on my “Diana” apple tree (planted in 1997- well I had to do something). I’ve got most of them down now and handed them round.
This one remains- it’s up too high for my step ladder and homemade apple releasing contraption- a broom handle with a hanger tied to one end . I think it’s “Feeling Gravity’s Pull” right now and will be on the ground soon……..
I’m with my family at Gold Coast this week. I haven’t seen so many apartments all in one place. My camera doesn’t capture it all. It’s a nice & busy place if one likes the lifestyle. Been going for lots of walks, not brave enough to swim in the ocean, I’m not an experienced swimmer, scared of the rips & maybe also heard too many stories about stinging sea creatures. Where we’re staying has a nice pool..
Night balcony view & moon lit walk along the beach.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese copped a lot of flak from the opposition this week for wearing a Joy Division T shirt. Apparently the band’s name Joy Division was borrowed from a wing in Nazi concentation camp. What interests me, is what polititians are doing for the country, how they present themselves, are they for real or is it a big act to gain votes. I’m really suspicious and I scrutinize them down to the bone. The Premier of the state where I live uses his hands a lot to define words & make strong points. I often think he went to “Learn to define with your hands” school. This might sound mad, I can’t help imitate his hand gestures when I see the Premier on the news.
So here’s a bit of Albo & the notorious T- Shirt.
Wish you the best Kevin. x My first job after I left school was in an office where people smoked at their desks. This was before all the warnings about ciggerettes became a thing. I’m not kidding, the walls were stained yellow with nicotine. I would open the window near me just to get air. Seven years later I got laid off and remember being sad & felt kind of rejected. I found a new job a few weeks later, much better job & nicer place.
I don’t remember my grandfather smoking, but he apparently used to when he was younger. He was an engineer for General Electric starting around 1950. I have an imagined picture in my head of a bunch of guys in short sleeved white button down shirts sitting at desks all with slide rules and ashtrays.
I started smoking at 22, this was sometime after I left my first job. For some reason I liked the drowsy kind of drunk feeling of a cigarette (there, I spelt it right this time ) Biggest mistake of my life. I tried to give up several times. A lot of stress has passed. I think I have nailed it this time, been tabacco free for over a year.
II think maybe most people smoked before/during and just after the First and Second World Wars- got to have some kind of escape I guess. My maternal grandfather smoked Woodbines * as did my parents in the 50’s/60’s until I came along I think. I have a photo of my Mum as a young woman with a cigarette in her hand. My uncle smoked Consulate (remember them?) " Cool as a Mountain Stream" and the advert had a guy with a cream Arran style jumper. I tried them once- quite nice. Knowing what we do now I woukdn’t touch cigarettes. Weak alcohol now and again is my vice. I also have an old tin of my father’s- “Senior Service”- he kept bits and pieces in it which I still have ( and use). It says " The Perfection of Cigarette Luxury" on it (!) How times have changed… we do have a specialist tobacco shop down the road though- it has a great big wooden American Indian outside in full headdress with his right hand over his forehead. He got nicked once and put down the other end of the High Street but they found him and took him back. Now he’s chained up outside . …
I hope never to go back to the habit again. I’m actually too scared to. One puff with me has always lead me to addiction. Plus, the Australian government has a whopping tax on tobacco, it goes up every year.
After many failed attempts I finally quit on August 10, 2008. I was 46 at the time and had probably been smoking since I was at least 14 or so. Thing is, leading up to when I quit, my smoking was minimal at best, at least during the week. On weekends, I smoked considerably more. However, at the time I quit I was under much duress, largely due to a relationship that was falling apart. I had gone back to Marlboro reds after years of smoking Marlboro Lights and was up to a pack a day. I was even smoking before breakfast which I hadn’t done in years.
I also had health concerns having recently being diagnosed with sleep apnea. I quit cold turkey when I had a cold. I used Nicorette to stave off the cravings, especially when I was drinking. You’re not supposed to combine the two but I did. I’ve never really desired a cigarette since probably because I fell off the wagon so many times in the past. I don’t miss it.
I smoked tailor made cigarettes for several years & then switched to roll your own because at the time it was cheaper. I used Nicorette spray this time, really helped me get on the road to quitting for good. I have so much energy now than I did about 18 months ago, the phelgmy cough has gone, I don’t miss it either.
I definitely needed nicotine replacement to quit after 35 years of smoking multiple packs per day. Amazing to think that it’s been 19 years now since I quit.
. I think it’s “Feeling Gravity’s Pull” right now and will be on the ground soon……..
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