the great adventure ended almost as quickly as it began with the bus breaking down one hour out of Canberra, however another bus came and onto Sydney and then Heathrow, where dreadul weather conditions in the Nederlands saw us waiting on the tarmac for a while, then Amsterdam, with backpack lost, and lots of bicycles...
After four great days it was onto SW France, a winter wonderland.....

Well it's time to close down the laptop and be internet deprived for a few days.
The trip to Europe begins and I have too much stuff to deliver, so no room for the laptop.

Netherlands, Francais and SW England and London will my destinations.

Over the past years I have promoted and actively assisted various sundry activities close to home, in Asia and the Pacific. Africa is a distant continent....

Yes, we know that people of religious conviction staff schools and hospitals in Africa, and we may even sponsor children or donate money to salve our consciences.

But, I want to write about 120 mothers and children that began to be cared for at The Holy Family Care Centre is situated at the foot of the Drakensberg Moutains at Ofcolaco in the Limpopo province in mid 2002. See googleearth for the location.

These children ranging from new born babies to teenagers suffer from AID's/HIV and TB. Since the centre opened most of the mothers have died.

Yes, in 4 years, most of the mothers have died.

However, the death toll for the children remains much lower. Approximately 60 children are cared for.

In 2004, the local Bishops Conference recommended that the Centre be given access to anti-retroviral medication. This is being funded by PEPFAR in America, the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief. The children will grow into adult life dependent on the medication until death, unless another medication breakthrough is achieved.

The Director is an Australian religious sister who had spent ten years in Rome supervising her orders mission work, she now is at the 'real' front lines. Both her love for the children and her appreciation for the support this 'work of love' receives is immense.

I commend this special place. as worthy of prayer and financial support. Hopefully some gentle readers will be moved to join me in assisting this work.

As an interesting aside, apart from Australian support, this work of love and human dignity also receives support from the wonderful people of Netherlands, whose land I visit in two weeks. Some are visiting Zuid Afrika at present - My first link to a non English web-site: http://www.margrietinzuidafrika.fkraak.com/. I was gobsmacked to see that a school in my early childhood abode in the county of Essex, UK is also assisting in this work.

It's great that the internet allows us to join the dots and appreciate the global humanity of the little people.

2007 has begun, and the countdown to my trip overseas suddenly becomes more insistent.
13 more work days, and a few days off, a birthday, some entertaining with the weber and then it will be onto a greyhound bus, a plane to Amsterdam via Singapore and London and then EUROPE!

The trip to the UK several years ago was a bit less exciting than I had expected, the images of the UK seen on TV and movies over my lifetime led me to think ho hum at times, I have seen all this. It was great to be there in the flesh so to speak but I had more in common with my homeland than I will be in Europe experiencing the culture shock of travelling in countries where the native tongues will be alien to me. I will have to rely on others to explain signs and show me where to go!

The Nederlands and France will soak up 8 days then onto the chunnel and over to the UK to visit my relatives in the West Country.

2006 ended with some special moments for me:- God's mysterious ways at work, I have no doubt, and I am sure that 2007 will continue to unfold in unexpected ways. Thanks once again to all who pray for my special intentions, and may we all know joy and peace in abundance in 2007.

Postcards from Europe:

Blogs on Air: www.blogspiel.de






Austrian Nativity: Joyeux Noel




THE KENNEDYS Berlin 1963

2007!
I wish all my gentle readers a wonderful year, may changes bring joy and peace to all our lives!

Well Christmas 2006 has begun, I was able to go to the childrens Christmas Mass with Ms 8, the church wa decorated with silver stars and cloth angels hanging from the ceiling.

Then enjoyed watching 'Miracle on 34th' with Ms 8, a family favourite over the past decade, it's funny how some things remain the same. A few presents opened with Ms 8 and then its Carols from the Myer music bowl in Melbourne on the tube.

I raise a glass of Cabernet Merlot and say a prayer for loved ones and all my friends.

Merry Christmas! In God We Trust! May 2007 be a happier year for all of us gentle readers!

love and prayers, Graham

another day closer to celebrating the anniversary of the greatest love the world has seen... a quote that I have been pondering:
For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation.
- Rainer Maria Rilke

And so 2006 draws inexorably to a close, my annis horribilis punctuated by the kindness and concern and prayers of so many - thank you! The world seems a real mess, but 'twas ever so...

2007 will be a new year, with possibilities that I have not even begun to think about. Suffice to note that I will enjoy a trip to western europe and the west country of my birth country in mid January.

What dreams may come, before we shuffle off this mortal coil? to twist the bard. Hope and expectations run deep, knowing that love conquers all. Yet love and suffering are intertwined, and hope and faith are sureties that one can only rely on in our interaction with other people. The scale of suffering in Iraq and Sudan, to name just two places seems to be increasing. But even the pain of individuals and society locally seems to be increasing. So I pray "come Lord Jesus, with your peace and healing." I look forward to increased peace and an increasing acceptance of my fragility in 2007.

But before that I will spend the last week of 2006 with the image of the child, the child who is the master of the universe dandled on his mothers knee, and know that in the sight of God, there is much more to life than we can know.

Merry Christmas gentle readers; rejoice for unto you a saviour is born who will free us from sin and suffering and lead us into the ways of love and eternal peace!

Advent - traditional understanding is a time of waiting, conversion and of hope:

waiting-memory of the first, humble coming of the Lord in our mortal flesh; waiting-supplication for his final, glorious coming as Lord of History and universal Judge;

conversion, to which the Liturgy at this time often refers quoting the prophets, especially John the Baptist, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt 3,2);

joyful hope that the salvation already accomplished by Christ (cf. Rm 8, 24-25) and the reality of grace in the world, will mature and reach their fulness, thereby granting us what is promised by faith, and "we shall become like him for we shall see him as he really is" (John 3,2).


As part of my advent preparation (or in the old language: discipline!) I have been reading each day from a collection of writings, Watch for the Light I was particularly struck by a short passage from Edith Stein, which made a nice change from the lengthy extracts earlier in the week from Karl Rahner and Meister Eckhart.

Edith wrote (and I quote more than what is published in the anthology): The Christian mysteries are an indivisible whole. If we become immersed in one, we are led to all the others. Thus the way from Bethlehem leads inevitably to Golgotha, from the crib to the Cross. (Simon's) prophecy announced the Passion, the fight between light and darkness that already showed itself before the crib. The star of Bethlehem shines in the night of sin. The shadow of the Cross falls on the light that shines from the crib. This light is extinguished in the darkness of Good Friday, but it rises all the more brilliantly in the sun of grace on the morning of the Resurrection. The way of the incarnate Son of God leads through the Cross and Passion to the glory of the Resurrection. In His company the way of every one of us, indeed of all humanity, leads through suffering and death to this same glorious goal.

It is only love that can conquer suffering, sin and evil. Love triumphs, the second reading at Holy Mass for the second Sunday of advent reinforces this: that the one who began the good work in you you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1). Love rules, keeps us focused and enables us to endure the waiting.

It's been a long hard week: the pain of people enduring the suicide of a young man, a family coming to terms with a miscarriage, a woman having a mastectomy, a woman attacking her mother and a support worker outside the bookshop with a baseball bat, ongoing news from a internet friend of a young man with bowel cancer, and so many others; all with their own story. My own woes pale into insignificance almost. For all who have shared with me, in the flesh and over the internet, my prayers continue:

Come Lord Jesus! Come again, into this suffering world and bring peace, hope and healing. AMEN!!

Advent is upon us. The bookshop is busy and hustle and bustle dominates peoples life.

Stillness, silence, waiting, patience is what is needed.

Enjoy this online advent calendar,and you can't cheat by opening the windows and reading ahead of time....

found at postsecret, spare a prayer for troops who are so stressed out that they can only react with such sentiments...

are you out there:

Mais, si tu m'apprivoises, nous aurons besoin l'un de l'autre

or if latin is more acceptable:-

veritas vos liberabit

well three glasses of lambrusco, pasta and salad on a freezing cold night in late spring makes one melancholic, or is that depressed or just lonely for the one one loves???

spring winter summer in a week....

To feed those enquiring minds who enjoy a wide mix of experiences: http://www.neverhappened.org/ - enjoy.

I enjoyed reading Children of Men many years ago. The art and music clips on the site are also interesting... G_7

A friend sent me a neat powerpoint presentation collating some of Mother Teresa's thoughts. During the first months of our marriage in 1981 we were privileged to meet up with Mother Teresa in Sydney during her visit in the International Year of the Disabled..

A couple of quotes from the presentation that really struck me:

If you judge people, you have no time to love them

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love

from plog to blog:



It's a tradition of the Catholic church that when a member of the clergy writes a book, the Pope is sent a copy. Here, in an unusual twist, John Trigilio and Kenneth Brighenti, authors of Catholicism for Dummies, have traveled to Rome to present Pope Benedict XVI a special hardcover edition of their forthcoming Pope John Paul II for Dummies. No predictions on whether it's headed to the bestseller lists or straight to the Vatican Secret Archives.--Jon, Books Editor Amazon books..

Meanwhile down under drought, bushfires and snow are all happening....

I have been battling a laptop that I should have installed Vista RC2 on, not Vista RC1, but hindsight heheheheh....

Master 22 has moved into the new abode, and life goes on with friends visiting for meals and the vegetable garden underway...

Gentle readers I hope that all is well with you all, for all will be well! (apologies to the dame from Norwich :0 )

well the extra large photo of moi and the clergy was too big for blogger to process so in the meantime enjoy this puzzle of perception:


It's been a great few days: contact with mothie, mauberly, tfisb, mdw and bronwyn. My brain is congitiving more each day, the dull shock and depression is lifting. The days are getting increasingly warmer. And within a month I will be back living in Canberra again. The hunt for an abode is about to begin.

It's been a while since I have felt like adding to my brain dump into the digital storage chamber. Winter has moved on and spring has sprung. Lenghtening days and warmer weather however do not dispel my anguish on the change in my lifes circumstances. Anguish for me comprises confusion, loss of intimacy and bewilderment in such a mysterious and sudden disruption to life. However the mystery is caught up with the holy and spiritual and I am at peace in my misery.

#72 appears to have been sold and once again 13 appears to have some more than random significance in 2006: the house sale will be finalised on October 13. Hopefully in early October Master 22 and I will be renting a house and some normality of lifestyle will return for me.

I made the local Canberra times again, this photo is not the exact one used but is representative of the published shot: Archbishop Mark Coleridge kissing the crucifix as he enters St Christophers' cathedral to be installed as the the new Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn.

Finally, a thank you and a request, please keep praying for me. I need those prayers.

YMCA - You must come away....
US-born Archbishop Ambrose B. De Paoli,Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Fr Peter Brock (seated) and Archbishop Carroll.
I met up with the nuncio again today. The last time had been at the funeral mass for Pope John Paul II, this time was for a book launch.

Archbishop Carroll is on his last weeks as Apostolic Administrator for the Archdiocese, Bishop Mark from Melbourne will be installed next week.

Fr Peter Brock of the Newcastle Diocese who probably holds the record for the number of parishes visited in all the dioceses in Australia, whilst he was Executive Officer for the National Commission for Clergy Life and Ministry, has had a book of retreat talks published. And no he is not the racing car driver, instead an accomplished musician and pilot, as well as a wonderful pastoral priest who for four years was the priest for priests, all over the country! As executive officer he actually spent more time out of the office and was outback - literally.

"You must come away" is Peters' third book I think, published by Spectrum Publications of Melbourne. The book was launched about an hour ago, and is available via the internet site "Abebooks "- well as soon as the computer processes the upload of the books details... The book is based the talks and formats of retreats he gave clergy in most Australian dioceses. Peter hopes that non-clergy will be able to benefit from the book as well.

Hopefully, Fr Francis in retirement may be able to publish a book of reflections of his times both as Bishop of Wagga Wagga and Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn.

It's an instant world: book launch, blog, advertise... But hopefully many will benefit from turning the internet and television off; and using Peters book to 'rest for a while

I am currently in Queanbeyan, NSW, just over the border from Canberra. A time of waiting for #72 to be sold, and to begin another stage in the life journey. Days are getting longer again, and I cannot wait for spring to hopefully re-energise me and give more joy for life.

Some days are very painful, and the last eight months seem to be just a minute long. The shock, sorrow and suddenness of my change of circumstance almost pushes me into depression. However I keep on, aware that life is very wonderful and that I have so much to be thankful for. World events and even other peoples tragic lives around me keep me very aware that what has happened to me is not such a big deal. It hurts and the onoing estrangement seems weird and bizarre but I know that something wonderful will come out of this suffering.

On the computing front I have been tinkering with windows Vista, a slick and powerful operating system, that even though in beta has performed flawlessly. The folder navigation is great, and the slick sidebar is cute, however the networking implementation leaves a bit to be desired. I was amazed that I was able to get the USB broadband modem working with just a few clicks after reading on the manufacturers site that they were not supporting beta software. Roll on RC1, and more improvements. The only real downside is that a DOS program I use to run the bookshop will not work, I'm hoping support for legacy DOS applications will be present in the release candidate, otherwise I'll have to stick to XP and Win 98 at work. The laptop currently dual boots both XP and Vista. A stuff up with system commander stopped it booting but the Vista installation DVD fixed the problem and also re-activated the Dell Media boot option which System Commander had trashed... A neat feature of vista is its ability to use USB keys as a prefetch hold, to improve memory & CPU usage. I got a 2 gig key and it works well. The downside is that some memory cards eg from cameras are too slow.... never mind, keep the photos on the memory card...

Death has been ever present the last four weeks: friends parents, clergy and neighbours have all passed away, and the realisation that we are born to die hits home hard.

However joy of time with children and good news such as Amy finishing her "walk with a rose" help ease the descent towards depression.

I remain very grateful for all the prayers that are being said for me. I remember all you pray-ers in my prayers !

In less than 12 hours I'll be exiting #72

Goods and chattels are piled high in the shed

I'm housesitting for a friend for a few months until the house sale is settled

Funny how life aint what you expect, #72 I expected to be my home for the second half of my life, after enduring over 30 moves in my first 45 years...

I guess I'll croon "I have been a rover" as I clean the last few cupboards and mop the floors...

I'm just thankful that for the last 26 years loves been good to me. So many great memories, of life lived to the full in so many different ways. Now I prepare for the next 26 years of life, a life that may bring... who knows... but I trust that my faith will continue to deepen and my heart and mind remain open and loving.

Thanks, gentle readers for sharing my life over the past years, watch out for Graham?? coming later this year! For all those who pray and send good thoughts my way, I remain totally indebted to your care and concern. Thanks so much.

later...

Nigerian scam. Internet cons, tricks of the electronic age: scammers can drive you to bizarre and even murderous behaviour.
I have great compassion for Mary.

My last post promised more darkness posts, I had come across a book that gave me the idea of quoting selected passages from it and then reflecting on them. Too easy and probably a little disingenuous on my part. So I won't go down that blogging path, yet...

Meanwhile life goes on. The past week I have had early starts, putting in time at the bookshop, then off to the Australian National University until 10.30pm or so each night selling books at the National Charismatic Conference.

The conference this year was used to run a signs and wonders seminar featuring a guy from England, Damian Staynes who is a full on Roman Catholic, but convicted of the power of Jesus to heal people today. His message was an orthodox mix of Catholic teaching with Scripture,Church Fathers, the Catechism and Papal statements all getting full credence but also proclaiming the power of God in providing people with prophetic words and healings. He was no smoke and mirrors operator full of smooth talk; instead demanding people turn to God and turn off the television, that they spend more time in prayer and less time just wasting time. He draws on some of the teaching of John Wimber and Smith Wigglesworth.

On the Thursday evening there was an open night, for healing ministry. Over 800 people turned up (including the 300 conferencees') Damian, suffering jet lag did not preach a very inspired message but when he started praying for people to be healed, healings there were! Peoples shoulders, ears, knees, spines et al! Praise be to Jesus Christ! Damian demanded people not claim that they were healed unless they actually were. He was almost rude in challenging some people who thought they were healed. The most amazing thing for me was the healing of a teenage girl who had been suffering muscular dystrophy running and jumping around the hall after being healed. All up there were at least 90 healings, and Damian said some people would find that their healing would happen over the next few days, so probably all up 100 or so people have a new perspective on their health.

I came away from the week with a deeper desire to pray more. I find that I am a "great one" to pray when things are difficult but then I start coasting again, and just give lip service rather than a deep committment in my heart and mind. So I am going to start trying to maintain a regular deeper prayer life.

I was given some personal words of knowledge,and also had the most amazing experience when I asked for prayer about what to do with a sum of money. I have been trying to decide what to do with $40,000 and so I asked a woman to pray with me that I would know the Lords will. So we started praying, and all I could sense or intuit was that God was telling me to give a customer back $10.00. Originally this customer had said she was going to buy 4 CD's by a particular artist so I offered them to her at $20.00 each, however she only ended up buying one of those, and selected a brand new CD which I charged her $29.95 for, $49.95 in total. She had expressed some unhappiness about that. I decided to give her the $10.00, and then felt very peaceful through the rest of the prayer time. I did not get any amazing answer as to what I should do, but decided to keep seeking the Lords will about the $40,000.

I took the money to the customer, and apologised for causing her any distress. I went back to the book table, and ten minutes or so later the customer came back wanting to give me the $10.00 back. I said 'no, I believe God wants you to have it.' She said she would put it in the offering box. I said I was OK for that, and that as far as I was concerned all I knew was that God had told me to give her the money. She said 'are you sure?', and I said yes, and explained how I had sought prayer about $40,000 and all I could sense during the prayer time was to give her $10.00. Her face changed and I thought I had upset her more.

But she explained that the previous evening a friend had visited her at the conference and she had not paid for her friends meal. The cost of the meal $10.00! So the meal got paid for, and you gentle reader have had something to read from me!

Anyway enough of my spiritual adventures. Life is not just prayer and wonders. I am off to the pub with Master 22 and his mates for a beer tonight. I think Jesus would have had a beer or two, too after a week of healing and prayer!

Human existence is a journey of faith and, as such, goes forward more in darkness than in full light, with moments of obscurity and even profound darkness.
Benedict XVI, March 2006.

I have held these words close over the past three months. However, I do not feel that I am in darkness, more so that I am called to the light to understand the way forward.

Darkness is no enemy, seeking the light in the darkness is what matters.

more darkness posts to follow...

Johnson Briggs / Mega Loans Agency - beware this scammer dude has left London and now operates from Portsmouth - SCAM ALERT! If you have googled Briggs re an offer of money if you send tranfer monies to him, read the following and do not go down the same path as this email correspondent:

Hi there,
This is ***** who recenlty had wired some transfer money to Mr.Johnson Briggs
in Portsmouth, UK.
However, after I wired the transfer fee to him, I never got his message back
to me on when I will get the loan.
I just do random searach of "Johnson Briggs" on the google , and I came
across that your blog do mentoined about his name.
Please, I would like to ask you how is this guy Mr.Johnson Briggs is like,
is he a decent guy?
I am askthing this is because he has not replied my email for 3 days after
his company ( Mega Loans Agency) picked up the 335 USD trasnfer money I just
sent.
I am wondeirng is Mr.John Briggs a geniue guy to turst? Please let me know

*****

I replied to this email suggesting police and bank should be informed, however no doubt the money was wired through the usual channels and my correspondent has lost $335.00 USD - another scam victim. Mr Briggs obviously is staying one step ahead of the law....

However this savvy blogger had a bite of briggs. sweet!

quote of the 1/4 century found tonight whilst packing up books:

"we learn in school to value information more highly than behaviour"

'tis true, 'tis true.

And I won't allow my self to sing "if I could turn back time" {insert} wry sad emoticon {/insert} or "can we start again please."

Yet hope for good times, healing and a future of a relationship restored but different, probably apart but at least friendship is my dream. The future is unknown but anything is possible.

May is one of the best months of the year in Canberra, warm days, not too hot, not too cold. Today was "stay at home, Sunday", an unexpected chance to get back into the garden and weed, weed, weed, prune, tidy up the detritus and dead vegetation. The clock is ticking down to my departure from #72, a dream that was short-lived due to the complexity of lifes circumstances. Memories will always remain happy and positive until December 2005, when life began to change due to my ignorance of what was unfolding... Regrets, sure I have a few, but the reality of the good times far outweigh the nightmare of what I lived through in December and early January.

Meanwhile I guess I should post a reflection on that movie... "I have to get to a library - fast." I have not seen the movie, but what a thriller heh! How many libraries still retain quality books these days? No use of a handheld internet capable PDA or phone, no it's a modern drama that has such scintillating dialogue. I'll wait for the DVD release. Every radio station, every TV channel, and I guess the print media has multiple reviews... People want something to generate excitement but it does not excite me. I read Holy Blood, Holy Grail, books about Rosyln and the Green Man et al in the 1990's so I guess I was ahead of the pack. Reading the DVC I guessed the ending about half way through. I have not bothered to read any of Dan's other books, the feeble characterisations and abrupt location and event changes did not enthuse me to try his other novels...

I have been listening to audio books each evening. Richard Rohr & Paula D'Arcy on midlife, and the Journals of Thomas Merton. Much more interesting and affirming for the journey I am living. I remain sane, eating and praying well. Thanks again to all who remember me in your prayers. Gentle readers, may your life be blessed, also!

Here's to Amy, the hero of Walk with a Rose an upcoming a charity event that will take place in June and July 2006. Over eight weeks, Amy Banson will attempt to walk 1463 kilometres (910 miles)from Brisbane to Canberra.

Amy decided to undertake the walk as a fundraiser after caring for Clea Rose in the minutes after she was struck by a stolen car in the center of Canberra in July last year. Clea later died from the brain injuries she sustained as a result of this crime.

Wonderful and inspiring things come out of tragedy.

Wintry weather has arrived in Canberra. It's cold! The coldness is mitigated somewhat by the appearance of various species of parrots on the grassy verge outside the golf course directly opposite nos 72, however some days white cockatoos take over and drive the "beautiful plumage" parrots away.

Night comes quickly and the darkness falls suddenly. Clouds dark and menacing roll over Canberra but little rain ensues. I remain full of hope, love and faith. I have an inner joy that resonates with the oft quoted comment of Mother Julian all will be well.

Patience is my new middle name, I wait expectantly for the miracle that one day will turn sadness into joy. Once again thank you to all who email me with concern and compassion. Your love enables my love to continue to blossom. The waiting game continues. In the arms of God I continue to "live and move and have my being."

May God bless you also gentle readers!

I wander past post a secret occasionally.
This postcard got me thinking about the differing attitudes to life, victim mentality, positive world view, christian and buddhist perspectives. The concept that "I suck" is sad, life is a bowl of cherries, and if we get lemons we should "make lemonade". In the aeons of time that the known universe represents our life is very short, and there is only the now, not yesterday or tomorrow. Our now is a time to rejoice and be glad, and celebrate all that is worthwhile. Not negating our foibles and errors but accepting them, attempting to change, exulting when small changes are made.

I don't accept the "I suck" mentality. I know that life is wonderful, and exciting and past errors should be acknowledged and life goes on. Everyday is an occasion to make others feel good and welcome in the great mystery of life. Sure I feel down at times, overwhelmed, almost crushed but there is an energy within that tells me that life has changed not ended and I keep on keeping on. I aint one to think that "i suck."

Cooking for one seems to be an acquired artform. Thank goodness for plastic containers that keep the extra food for the following evenings' meal. Whimsical post, huh!

Since I was first self-aware of myself, my relationship with the world, and my need for God, sometime around the age of 9 or 10, I felt secure in my world view.

The events of the past four months however have opened up a chasm-like split in how I view the ways of the world and the ways of God.

I believe in the power of love, of forgiveness, of realising ones own fragility and vulnerability, of acknowledging weakness and failings, above all noting that no-one is perfect in this mortal life, but we keep must keep trying to maintain relationships. Something in the above words echoes the call to love one another, and thus love God, for me.

However society has now decreed the cult of the individual, where one person can claim to be a victim and the other person becomes the powerful evil aggressor who is offered no opportunity other than in adversarial conflict to put ones viewpoint.

As a Christian not wishing to cause distress I chose not to participate in adversarial conflict, and I have taken to heart the call of Jesus to turn the other cheek. I have chosen the moral high ground to act justly and morally. I have been true to myself and my values

In this paradoxical situation 'twixt Christian values and modern societies 'cult of the individual', I have found myself at peace, with a deepened faith and a greater love. Ever conscious of my failings, I also know all that is good within me.

The words of Les Miserables echo continually in my mind and heart and soul: "To love another person is to see the face of God." True love wishes the best for the other, even when one is left bereft and broken-hearted. I may be an incurable romantic, but it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

I have taken the path of patience, goodwill, and acceptance. Life is short and truly I have found love leads to suffering.

We live only once and the joys and woes of life truly are the stuff of reality not dreams!

No I did not get an early Easter egg, instead I was given a paschal chocolate lamb. I had heard of them, but never seen one. It came with an Alleluia, Christ resurrected with banner of triumph holy card. In Australia the easter egg, bunny or bilby are more popular but I understand that in Germany and Poland the chocolate lamb is still around. Indeed, it has only been over the past 200 years that the rabbit became an easter symbol, introduced by some greeting card maker.

Easter greetings to all my readers! May something of new life and resurrection come your way over the next few days!

tfisb and SO in Canberra on January 26th

Climbed onto some scales on Friday, I have lost 2 stone since January. Worry and smoking are to blame. I am eating well and actually enjoying the occasional Guinness or stout. It's been busy the last few days, friends and relatives have stayed overnight and it's wonderful to not be the only body in the house.

I am sleeping for longer periods, and actually do not have to get out of bed for a cigarette at 4.00am any more :)

I slept in thise morning deliberately and did not go to 8.00am Mass, I went tonight at 6.00pm at the church that is just down the road. I was pleasantly surprised and uplifted by the people that I knew there. I have maintained contact at my old parish, about 10 minutes away since moving to Nos 72, but it may do me good to start attending the local church rather than the building which has so many memories of good times.

Change comes to us all, and it's important to make changes...

Here's to change!

It's amazing how much time 7 days is.
Last Sunday I was at a really low ebb, and feeling totally overwhelmed by the turn in my life situation.

Interviews with various professional and government organisations has been a great help.

Several days leave from work for the first time this year has also enabled me to relax and chill out and replenish my adrenaline and bonheur de vivre.

So I continue to be patient and accepting of what life is currently offering me.

I want to thank my friends and relatives both locally and internationally for all the support in emails, phonecalls, prayers and other ways....

I am amazed at the generosity - practical, spiritual, monetary, legally and emotionally - that I have been shown by so many.

I have not walked alone the past months but have been helped by so many with different ways of supporting me that I could never have imagined.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!

I have learnt over the past month that perception is now more important in modern society than the truth.

One can act honourably, with dignity, and wear the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune but the law is not interested.

So it's great to be back home, with the familar but altered surroundings. There is much cleaning and gardening to do so I'll only be popping into check comments occasionally.

I do read them all and my emails and appreciate all the support from so many!!!!!!!

Keep on praying my friends, for healing and for a change in perception. thanks G.

Life is always full of unexpected moments.

I have tried in my life to act justly love tenderly and walk humbly, however the ones I love the most often get the worst side of me, tired, grumpy, and lazy. My motor mouth is not always in control and I have said things that I did not mean.

Regrets and shame diminish me but I get back up on my feet and try again each new day.

Life has just dealt me a huge blow. So I know now, that my energies in 2006 are going to be in a few different areas than the past three years.

Gentle readers, if you are a praying person; pray for me that I will be honest with myself and become a better person.

thanks G_72

It's the end of an era.
The Disease Outbreaks board at the Agonist has been archived.
An increasingly useful reference during the SARS experience, and providing snippets of information on Ebola and other diseases around the globe it attracted much attention from medical professionals, scientists and amateur googlists and yahooists.

In late 2004 and early 2005 it was the main clearing house for a deepening understanding of the interaction of the H5N1 virus within domestic and wildbirds. A careful scrutiny of translations of Boxun reports and the use of proMed and traditional media reporting ensured the agonist rode the wave of best practice reporting. Eventually we saw the MSM jump aboard and create an almost hysterical reporting of the inexorable spread of the disease westwards, feeding posters on various other bulletin boards with fear, doubt and uncertainty.

H5N1 remains a problem predominantly for birds. Humans that maintain ultra-close contact with birds, ie sucking snot out of their beaks or playing with chicken heads can succumb to the disease. My 'informed' prognostication is that the chance of a human pandemic remains below 8%.

Adieu, the Disease Outbreaks board!

SCAMMERS, DO NOT SEND MONIES TO ANY OF THESE JOKERS!

Darwin Michelle darwin_michelle2002@yahoo.com

Helen Bryant who writes thus

Hello Dear,

Good day to you, my name is Helen Bryant, I am an artist with my husband James Bryant, we are the owner of Hellen-Bryant Arts Inc. Inc. I reside in London, United Kingdom with my two kids, four cats, one dog and the love of my life my husband James Bryant. It is definitely a full house. I have been into artworks since I was a small child. That gives me about 23 years of experience. I majored in art in high school and took a few college art courses. Most of my work are done in either pencil or airbrush mixed with color pencils. I have recently added designing and creating artwork on the computer. I have been selling my art for the last 3 years and have had my work featured on trading cards, prints and in magazines. I do MARKET my art works & galleries to private companies in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA).

I face difficulties when it comes to PAYMENT, This is because my customers in America are always offering to pay me with U.S POSTAL MONEY ORDERS OR CASHER'S CHEQUE, etc etc YUCK

clarklife@gmail.com - Clark Mathias (October 08, 2005), 196.207.1.214, RIPE network Africa.
williamsugo12@yahoo.com - williamsugo (October 07, 2005), 195.166.242.109, RIPE network Africa.
Solosammi3@yahoo.com - Solomon Gutie (October 07, 2005), 66.178.40.2, newskies satellite provider, presumably Africa.
cleflinkexpress@deliveryman.com - Ademola Kareem (October, 2005), unknown address.
womanshopltd@yahoo.com - Adeola (October 6, 2005), unknown address.
teekgates@hotmail.com - Olamide Gates (October 06, 2005) 66-178-40-2.reverse.newskies.net, Virginia, USA -
g_buba2005@yahoo.com - Genevieve/Wisdom Buba (August 20, 2005) 419 scam, RIPE network Africa
arina_khadel2004@yahoo.fr - Arina Khadel (Augst 20, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, RIPE network Africa
chigiokeawelle_esq@lawyer.com - Cigioke Awelle (August 20, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, RIPE network, Africa
vivia_v@yahoo.fr - Vivian (August 19, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, RIPE network, Africa
arina_khadel2004@yahoo.fr - Arina Khadel (August 19, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, RIPE network, Africa
mercy02_inc@mail.austria.com - Mercy Cole (August 18, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, Lagos Nigeria
simonekabila@yahoo.com - Simone Kabila (August 17, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.64.62, RIPE network, Africa
lucasgantsha@excite.com - Lucas Gantsha (August 16, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 80.179.250.149, Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network, Africa)
stephenbamba@yahoo.com - Stephen Bamba (August 16, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.64.62, Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network, Africa)
merabel2010@yahoo.com - Mark Johnson (August 14, 2005) scam, IP ADDRESS: 217.194.145.179, Amsterdam, Netherlands, (RIPE network)
e_baldry2k1@yahoo.co.uk - Eric Baldry (August 5, 2005) The same old scam... this time they have actually geared their message towards the arts and antiques. IP ADDRESS: core-dvb-r.skannet.com, Ibadan Nigeria
paul_kay64@yahoo.com - Paul Kay (August 4, 2005) IP ADDRESS: 81.199.7.9 , Amsterdam, Netherlands, (RIPE network again)
j4john_doh@yahoo.co.uk - John Doherty (August 04, 2005) seems like another scam IP ADDRESS: 81.18.36.83, Amsterdam, Netherlands, (RIPE network).
cvoller01@yahoo.com - C Voller (July 2005) overpayment scam.
jude_williams01@oleco.net - Jude Williams (July 27, 2005) 419 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.67.50, Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network) (Nigeria)
matkoroma@yahoo.com - Mat Koroma (July 27, 2005), 419 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.64.18, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Ripe Network)
paul_williams_1981@yahoo.com - Paul Williams (July 27, 2005) 419 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.71.32, Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network) (Nigeria)
illar_neanita2@yahoo.com - Villiran Nanita (July 27, 2005) 419 scam, IP ADDRESS: 81.199.125.134, Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
gibkone@yahoo.com - Gibison Kone (July 25, 2005) 419 scam, IP ADDRESS: 80.255.59.94, Amsterdam, Nethlands (RIPE network).
brightdordzi@yahoo.com - fifi jones (July 24, 2005) fraudulent credit card, IP ADDRESS: 81.199.93.97, Amsterdam Netherlands (RIPE network).
cvoller01@yahoo.com - Voller (July, 2005) fraudelent money order scam, IP ADDRESS: unkown
ros4gueii@yahoo.com - Rose Guei (July 22, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 213.136.113.98, African Country.
john_kokone@walla.com - John Kokone (July 20, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.78.26, Amsterdam Netherlands, (RIPE network) (Nigeria)
vivianleo@oleco.com - Vivian Leo - (July 19, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.78.26, Amsterdam Netherlands, (RIPE network)
martin_joe1@yahoo.fr - Martin Joe - (July 18, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 213.136.112.242, Afrinic network (African country)
paulwilliams2@walla.com - Paul Williams - (July 18, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.73.84, Amsterdam Netherlands, (RIPE network)
mm0jim0@yahoo.co.in - Martial Jim - (July 17, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 80.248.64.59, Amsterdam Netherlands, (RIPE network)
james_kukou01@yahoo.fr - James Kukou - (July 17, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 213.136.107.214, AFRINIC network (African country)
mr_umunnajames@yahoo.com - James Umunna - (July 17, 2005) 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 217.194.152.12, Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
ken_biz101@yahoo.com - Larry Ken / Matin William - (July 16, 2005) Fraudulent Art purchase attempt, IP ADDRESS: 82.193.43.56, Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
sexyblkleon@hotmail.com - Larry Ken -(July 15, 2005) Fraudulent Art purchase attempt, IP ADDRESS: 82.193.43.56, Amsterdam, Netherlands, (RIPE network)
lambert_k01@yahoo.fr (July 13, 2005) 419 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.75.153, Amsterdam, Netherlands, (RIPE network)
alvugo_01@yahoo.fr (July 13, 2005) 419 scam, IP ADDRESS: 81.199.84.111, Amsterdam, Netherlands, (RIPE network)
lambert_k01@yahoo.fr (July 13, 2005) 419 scam, IP ADDRESS: 196.201.75.153, Amsterdam, Netherlands, (RIPE network)
mcahty5000@yahoo.com (July 13, 2005) Scam, IP ADDRESS: 81.153.198.145 , Amsterdam, Netherlands, (RIPE network)
evangelistmarky2k@yahoo.co.uk (June 14, 2005) 4-1-9 cashier cheque scam, IP ADDRESS: 216.139.164.94 Panamsat Corporation, Elenwood, GA, USA
lizy_k20051@yahoo.it (June 13, 2005) Lizy Kama, 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: 81.199.125.8 Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
kalaharion@yahoo.com (June 09, 2005) Hendrix Taiwo, 4-1-9 scam, IP ADDRESS: unknown
davidjulious@yahoo.com (June 08, 2005) David Julious, 4-1-9 scam IP ADDRESS: 81.199.84.130: Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
barr_james70@yahoo.com (MAy 27, 2005) Barrister James Obioma, or Barr James (this guy has been doing this for years...) - 4-1-9 scam IP ADDRESS: 80.248.64.59: Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
ceaserwilliams1@yahoo.co.in (May 27, 2005) Ceasar Williams - 4-1-9 Scam IP ADDRESS:80.179.236.210: Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
pricepayee@hotmail.com (May 26, 2005) Abraham Collins - 4-1-9 Scam IP ADDRESS: 82.206.242.10: Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
johnpaul_535@yahoo.com (May 25, 2005) John Paul - Credit Card Scam IP ADDRESS: 80.88.141.140: Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
ben7k22001@yahoo.co.uk (May 24, 2005) Ben Khumasi - 4-1-9 scam IP ADDRESS: 198.54.202.210: Pretoria, South Africa
ahmedmohamedballa@yahoo.com (May 24, 2005) Mohamed Balla - 4-1-9 scam IP ADDRESS: 212.199.254.190: unknown location
koffijkope@yahoo.co.uk (May 24, 2005) Koffi Kope - 4-1-9 scam IP ADDRESS: 80.248.64.59 Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
lordalfred101@yahoo.com (May 24, 2005) Lord Alfred - Cheque Scam IP ADDRESS: 192.116.155.248: Amsterdam, Netherlands (RIPE network)
dmarc@conexcol.com (May 23, 2005) Marc Duchene - Online Fraud IP ADDRESS: 213.185.106.194: Nigeria. (google has Marc Duchene fraud attempts at other sites).
barrmarkphilip1@yahoo.com (May 23, 2005) Mark Philip Esq. - Nigerian Scam... IP ADRESS: Amsterdam, Netherlands
melizy_k2005@yahoo.it (May 23, 2005) Lizy Kama - Nigerian Scam... IP ADDRESS: 81.199.125.8 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
jacklee_1979@yahoo.com (May 19, 2005) Jackie Lee - Certified Cheque Scam, IP ADDRESS: 213.185.106.3 - Nigeria
linda_smith00@yahoo.com (May 12, 2005) Linda Smith - Check Scam, Unknown IP ADDRESS
milolastore1@yahoo.com (May 4, 2005) Damilola Williems - Cheque Scam, Unknown IP ADDRESS
dube1_roy@yahoo.com (May 3, 2005) Dube Roy - Same old scam, IP ADDRESS: 81.199.84.113 - Amsterdam, Netherlands.
CINDY_van0002@yahoo.com (May 3, 2005) Cindy Van - Same old scam, IP ADDRESS: 81.199.84.113 - Amsterdam, Netherlands.
sandra_janet0002@yahoo.com (May 3, 2005) Sandra Janet - Same old scam, IP ADDRESS: 81.199.84.113 - Amsterdam, Netherlands.
d1baker@yahoo.com (May 1, 2005) desmond baker - Typical Cheque Fraud, IP ADDRESS: 192.116.94.71 - Amsterdam, Netherlands, again.
bensonandbenson@yahoo.com (April 30, 2005) Benson - Typical Fraud, Unknown IP ADDRESS
sandra_janet002@yahoo.com (April 28, 2005) Sandra Janet - Cheque Fraud, Unknown IP ADDRESS
nathaniel_gorski@yahoo.com (April ?, 2005) Nathaniel Gorski - Cheque Fraud. Unknown IP ADDRESS.
womanshop2005@yahoo.com (April 26, 2005) Miss Adeola Afolabi - classic fraud... (can't they get a little more creative???) - IP ADDRESS: 192.116.137.149, once again Amsterdam, Netherlands.
acton_eric2000@yahoo.com (April 7, 2005) Acton Eric - classic certified cheque or money order scam - Unknown Address
shirley_treva@yahoo.co.uk (April 6, 2005) Shirley Treva - classic overpayment scam - IP ADDRESS: United Kingdom.
ash_garder@yahoo.com, afriukshippers@yahoo.com (April 7, 2005) Ashanti Garder, David William - classic fraud - Unknown Origin.
walex_addy@yahoo.com (April 6, 2005) wale adeniji - classic overpayment scam - Unknown Address.
shirley_treva@yahoo.co.uk (April 6, 2005) Shirley Treva - classic overpayment scam - IP ADDRESS: United Kingdom.
dashley0@juno.com (March 25, 2005) David Ashley - IP ADDRESS: 212.165.157.145 - United Kingdom
mrskokou@ozu.es, Williams Kokou, (March 24, 2005) - classic overpayment scam. - IP ADDRESS: 213.136.99.166 , Africa.
zanna_madiga@yahoo.fr, Zanna Madiga, (March 23, 2005) - classic overpayment scam. - IP ADDRESS: 213.136.116.141 - Lagos, Nigeria
rsuth@sify.com, Ann Smith, (March 23, 2005) - stolen credit card - Lagos, Nigeria
tango4all2003@yahoo.com, Tango Ugoh, (March 22, 2005) - stolen credit card - Lagos, Nigeria
james_key@mail.com, or larry_key@mail.com, (March 16, 2005) cashier cheque scam - 81.199.85.91 - Amsterdam, Netherlands.
pastorjamesmaliburev@yahoo.com, (March 15, 2005) another version of overpayment scam - 80.255.59.94 - Amsterdam, Netherlands.
moses_kerry@yahoo.com, (March 13, 2005) Moses Kerry - overpayment scam.
dannymills_03@yahoo.com, (March ?, 2005) Danny Mills - classic overpayment scam.
satagello_7@hotmail.com, (March 02, 2005)Caren Stagello - classic overpayment scam.
karbajanet@yahoo.fr, (February 21, 2005) Jeff - IP ADDRESS: 196.201.64.246 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
mary_gallery2003@yahoo.co.uk, (February 18, 2005) Mary Johnson - IP ADDRESS: 212.199.251.45 - Israel
kateadam00@yahoo.com, (February 18, 2005) Mrs. Kate Adams - IP ADDRESS: 192.116.137.176 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
benjamic2003@yahoo.com, moore_adams@yahoo.com (February 17, 2005) Dr Benjamin micheal / Mr. michell Aderson - Unknown IP ADDRESS or location
joeltobby@hotmail.com (February 17, 2005) Tobby Joel / Joel Tobby - IP ADDRESS: 65.172.4.250 - Fort Lauderdale, USA - Lagos Nigeria
banzarkunte@yahoo.fr (February 17, 2005) Barrister Kunte Banzar Esq - IP ADDRESS: 81.199.125.4 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
kateadam00@yahoo.com (February 17, 2005) Mrs. Kate Adams - IP ADDRESS: 192.116.137.178 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
kateadam0@yahoo.com (February 12, 2005) Mrs. Kate Adams - IP ADDRESS: 192.116.137.169 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
woc343@yahoo.com (February 11, 2005) Mrs. Adams - IP ADDRESS: 192.116.137.169 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
magaret_bryne@yahoo.com (February 5, 2005)Magaret Bryne - IP ADDRESS: 213.185.113.52 - Nigeria, Africa
cyrilboile@yahoo.com (February 1, 2005) Cyril Boiley - IP ADDRESS: 217.194.149.149 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
glory0022000@yahoo.fr (February 1, 2005) Miss Gloria Guei - IP ADDRESS: 213.136.116.27 - Ivory Coast, Africa
daniel_howard2005@yahoo.com Daniel Howard, (Supposedly, East Liverpool Ohio) Classic overpayment scam.
clany00002@yahoo.com (January 30, 2005) Mrs Clany - IP ADDRESS: 213.185.113.219 - MDS Solution Ltd customer, Nigeria
katebroom01@hotmail.com (January 20 - 26) Kate Broom - IP ADDRESS: Not Known - claims to be from Nigeria...
smith_1_2005_2006@yahoo.com (January 18, 2005) No Name - IP ADDRESS: 66.98.134.34 - Houston Texas
smith_1_2005_2006@keromail.com (January 18, 2005) No Name - IP ADDRESS: 66.98.134.34 - Houston Texas
willis_jacson@fastermail.com (January 10, 2005), Willis Jacson - IP ADDRESS: 193.220.26.20 - Lagos Nigeria
andersonfine@yahoo.com (January 08, 2005) Anderson Fine - Unknown Origin.
hammyx24c@yahoo.com (January 08, 2005) Keith Pinna - IP ADDRESS: 213.185.113.46 - Nigeria
john_peller@yahoo.co.uk (January 04, 2005) John Peller - IP ADDRESS: 81.199.85.11 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
simpatrading@yahoo.co.uk (December 15, 2004) Oliver Jiannan
smithdecor@yahoo.ca (December 11, 2004) John Smith, IP ADDRESS 217.194.149.146 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
jsmith4all@yahoo.ca (December 11, 2004) John Smith, IP ADDRESS: 217.194.149.146 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
jsmith4all@yahoo.ca (December 10, 2004) John Smith, IP ADDRESS: 217.194.149.146 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
dm_douglas9@yahoo.co.uk (December 10, 2004) Michael Douglas, IP ADDRESS: 62.56.189.175 - Togo Telecom, Togo
abel_smith22@yahoo.co.uk (December 6, 2004) Abel Smith, IP ADDRESS: 81.199.241.186 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
steven_gomo@yahoo.co.uk (December 1, 2004) Steven Gomo, IP ADDRESS: 193.220.188.94 - AFRIPA TELECOM COTE D'IVOIRE IS LOCATED IN ABIDJAN
ajibo23@yahoo.com (November 29, 2004) (aka: Ike Solomon, Tom Agustin Karen, supposedly NYC) IP ADDRESS: 81.199.84.38 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
abletoven@yahoo.com (November 21, 2004) IP ADDRESS: 213.181.81.66 - Lagos, Nigeria
ozbite_1@yahoo.com (November 21, 2004) IP ADDRESS: 213.181.81.66 - Lagos, Nigeria, Name: Danny Alvarez
bret_lewis@fastermail.com (September 23, 2004)
Taylor Claire - barrjames03@yahoo.com
Frederick Berry - festula_lala@yahoo.com
Kola Smiths - udcbn@hotmail.com
James J Green - afajide@fastermail.com
bob brown - kelvintaylor@post.cz
DONA ELVIS - dona_elvis79@yahoo.com
ALEX PETE - a_pete2004@yahoo.com
jennifer james - jenferjames@yahoo.com
GARY ROBILLARD - judeogommuegba@yahoo.com
elmanam menkasi - edomachinegun@yahoo.com

No, I'm not freezing up due to bird flu.
Yes, I knew the photo was being taken!

Yup! Santa knows who I am!

Australia is re-discovering the Christmas crib aka Nativity scene.
Cardinal Pell and Prime Minister John Howard are excited.
Meanwhile back in the good ol' US of A it's a "have yourself
a gory santa christmas." Knowing that several readers of this
blog are cat crazy, I leave you with the unique wonderful
Warhol Christmas picture displayed above. hattip: The Tablet.

Crowns all round! May this be a time of peace and joy and good will to all. Graham.

All work no play makes you a dull comrade.
You are visiting aynclouters blog.
There is a fork in the road, you can choose the Commissar or the Princess.
Yes, I chose the princess (sorry analyst :D) :

The Traditional Princess
You are generous, graceful, and practical with both
feet planted firmly on the ground. You tend to
be a little on the old-fashioned side. You
value home, hearth, and family life and love to
be of service to others.
Role Models: Snow White, Maid Marian
You are most likely to: Discover a hidden talent
for spinning straw into gold.

What Kind of Princess are You? - Beautiful Artwork (Original Music is BACK!!!)

Year one of Bachelor of Theology is complete w00t!
5HD and 3 DI yeah!
Now I have to start reading Plato's Republic to prepare for next semester's unit on philosophy.

One noticeable thing about our perception about American culture is the annual rite of the Christmas tree. Movies, sitcoms, the simpsons (tm), southpark(tm) and the great American novel all ensure that the ROW know all about the ritual of the great fir, the decorating and the lighting of the same.

In our house, we have a tiny fir in a pot that continually grows larger and larger in its pot. Over the years it has gone from less than a foot high to now three foot high. The pots get bigger also. Sadly the size precludes huge numbers of decorations and christmas lights get hung on the wall behind the tree. Prior to bonsai christmas we had a plastic tree rescued from a white elephant stall. Sadly over the years more and more pieces went missing or broke.

However, some people go and get a real tree which creates problems: Oh Christmas Tree.
Make sure you read the comments to find out the solution to the problem. Women rule!

The Christmas craziness has started. Exhausting days at work and sore feet at the end of the day. Customers are very grateful for the quality products they are buying, and that makes it worthwhile. I decided to go with a small Christmas Card producer from Brisbane, a 'young family man' and did not produce my own card designs this year. It worked 'whew': customers are appreciating the unique designs, rather than the catalog designs, card embossing and verses I have mixed and matched over the past 14 years or so... Another milestone: in-laws celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary currently... Ten months to go for me and mine.... commitment means always starting afresh and choosing to stay, rather than walk away. The world can pull in so many different ways in obsessions, addictions, distractions and escapes. Constancy is an interesting concept, there is always another day, another year where I find myself saying 'I do' to all my life with my partner brings.

Away from all the Christmas hype; as I try to contemplate on what the birth of the Chfrist child really means, I found this reflection worthy of note: Tis a gift to be simple aka God under the bed.

Click to visit:


Basic Information:
click here

Latest news:
click here

The UN has handed promotion over to The World Aids Campaign This change in the way that World AIDS Day is organised has caused some confusion among HIV & AIDS organisations. Some have chosen to adopt “Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise” as their theme for World AIDS Day 2005.

Others have, for the first time, picked their own topic for the events they’re holding this year on 1st December. In New Zealand the old slogan “condoms save lives” has resurfaced, the NZ Foundation’s poster for World AIDS Day this year features three “rings” - a popular round sweet with a hole in the middle, a traditional round flotation buoy and a condom - with the word “lifesavers” beneath. The idea of the “lifesavers” theme is to increase visibility and awareness of condoms over the summer months when sexual activity is high. Abstinence and faithfulness to one partner also make great sense to moi.

Don't be confused, the most important thing is that you follow its basic principals by raising awareness and understanding where you live and by remembering the millions living with HIV or suffering because of AIDS.

There's a new section over at the Agonist.

Faith and Spirituality, SP and I are gonna try and dialogue about matters that neither of us really understand.

We both agree that there is an emptiness in the world and we attempt to discuss what can fill it.

more Europe from the young travellers.

Europe, October 2005, as snapped by Son&GF

Pakistan and Kashmir
harsh lands even harsher now
the Tsunami tragedy and disaster almost pales in significance compared to:
death toll rapidly approaching 80,000
over 1600 schools destroyed (approx 140 destroyed in Tsunami)
widespread disease outbreaks accentuated by increasing cold weather
failure of western / first world countries to increase financial and in kind donations of aid.
(no sexed up videos of tidal waves approaching hotels on sandy beaches does not stir the public imagination)

Australia is increasing its aid little by little, whilst Clinton and Bush (snr) get the International Rescue Committee's Freedom Award for Tsunami and Katrina.

Meanwhile The Agonist has been blogrolled at Informed Comment by Juan Cole w00t.

Ramblings on a spring evening:

Driving home from work today I had a real privilege to listen to the dramatised diary and an interview with a young doctor who spent some time on the Ugandan border with Mediciens San Frontiers (French for Doctors Without Borders).

Her tales of her sense of helplessness when she encountered malaria, parasitic infections and nutritional disorders as well as coping with a corrupt political system at the local level was invigorating.

Inspirational and enlightening it is important to realise that even sending people to assist those in disaster areas does not necessarily improve their lot. However to have tried and failed is better than not having tried at all.

I had the humbling experience of sitting with a Moslem couple the day after Ramadan ended, they had been fasting from 3.30am to 7.30pm until daylight saving began 4 days before the end of Ramadan. Makes lenten practice almost laughable. I was also moved to learn of the disrespect and abuse they receive from some of their neighbours. Their stoic acceptance of evil and inhumanity in our neighbourhood was challenging.

France is rocked by sectarian and class warfare at present, it is possible that it can occur locally in my area going by the treatment of Moslems by some white aussies.

Whilst hunger and tragedy occur and re-occur in Africa and Pakistan, to name just two, Avian Flu provides an easy cop out for people to lose concentration. mea culpa.

DID
YOU
EVER
WONDER

and using Pink Floyd too :)

hattip dr.

He agreed with me!

My blog is worth $1,693.62.
How much is your blog worth?

I have known many people who have been encouraged and influenced by the biographies of the military, of politicians and sports-people.

My personal favourites who inspire me tend to be people who have influenced people at a grass-roots level. Dorothy Day, Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Jean Vanier, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, CS Lewis all spring to mind.

Today I shed a tear(actually several) in honour of the memory of Rosa Parks.

Sulla Jones at the Agonist posted the wapo story, at wapo I found this list of blogs via technorati linking to the wapo story about Rosa.

Gentle readers,
the deed is done
all first year assignments
have been handed into respective lecturers
and so the wait begins
to discover what
my results
will
be...

Spring has sprung, showers have brought out many flowers and not too many snails seem to be around this year!

Current Addiction remains H5N1, aka avian flu, bird flu...

Have grabbed 3 SF novels from the local library, DVD's of Steeleye Span and Concert for George and intend to walk a little if the hayfever and asthma settle down.

and so to bed... g'nite.

Agonist Bulletin Board is having corruption woes,
meanwhile Avian Flu is still flapping around Vietnam and more recently Indonesia,
keep in touch with the latest developments: http://www.curevents.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=40

New Orleans crisis shames Americans
By Matt Wells BBC News, Los Angeles

Matt tries to get a handle on what slowed the response.
fav line: The truth was simple and apparent to all. If journalists were there with cameras beaming the suffering live across America, where were the officers and troops?

remember:
Give me your tired , your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, well it aint so bros, it aint so. If you aint got no mo or no mo-car you aint nobody, you just get forgotten.

It's a national humiliation over in the land of the free, the poor have been overlooked, this is a challengin read from pbs: POLITICS AFTER KATRINA. So will the US national consciousness finally realise that people are people and poor blacks are not "three-fifths of a human being?" as Jesse Jackson said on Saturday. We can but hope.

Nature is a great leveler and hopefully out of this suffering and maelstrom a new day for the Ameican Black People will arise. A new 'preferential option' is possible.

What is particularly eerie after watching for years thin, ravaged human bodies on the television is the large physical size of the distressed down in Southern Louisiana.

In early 2001 the USA warned its citizens that the three most likely major disasters were hurricane, earthquake and act of terrorism. I sure hope we are not going to have a hat-trick.

Well, Friday afternoon August 26th arrived, a lovely late winter sunny afternoon. I'm given a lift by a friend to the ACT Legislative Assembly for the Australian Citizenship Ceremony where I hand in my letter of invitation. I am asked to prove my identity by showing my UK passport and given a form to change my electoral status from UK citizen to Australian. I am escorted down to Row C. Row's A, B and C have Bibles on the seats, a pledge of allegiance, order of ceremony and the words to Advance Australia Fair. The seats in the row behind me do not have Bibles.

Two seats to my right is a lady from Malaysia. Behind me a gentleman from Thailand, next to him a woman from California. A petite woman sits down next to me and we exchange pleasantries. She is from the Karen, her parents fled Burma in the 1960's and she was born and grew up in a camp in Thailand. She met her Aussie husband there. A guy from the USA sits down on my left. Most of the people around me have lived in Australia from 4 to 6 years, much laughter erupts when I admit to having lived here for 40 years, and that I am becoming an Australian out of financial expediency to assist with university study costs.

The ceremony begins, the politicians make all the usual spiel about how great we all are adding to the tapestry of Australian life. Citizens from the UK are particularly noted as contributing especially to building Australia over the past 60 years. My chest swells with pride.
Suddenly I find myself on my feet with the other occupants of rows A, B, and C pledging our oath to God of allegiance to Australia. Changes to the oath make interesting reading.

Then we sit down and row D make their pledge without reference to God. So it looks like 25% of new Aussies do not wish to involve a deity in their citizenship ceremony.
Then we have to sign our electoral papers, they are collected and we sing the first two verses of Advance Australia Fair.

Then I tumble outside and walk back to work, an errant Englishman no more.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, OY OY OY!

72 hours to go, until I take the oath of allegiance to the Queen of Australia and become a citizen fully of Australia.

This will then mean that I have to watch sport for at least 30 hours a week, drink a slab of beer twice a week, lose any sense of respect for fellow human beings and use bloody in every sentence.

just joking

everything old is new again.

Westward ho, bird flu moves inexorably towards Europe.
meanwhile i have created a group, a yahoo group:

Click to join diseaseoutbreaks

Avian Flu, anthrax, swine flue, ebola, the picture from China is foreign.

The links and posts here are recommended.

Niger.

Niger is not an isolated island of desperation - it lies within a sea of problems across Africa, says Nobel Prize laureate Desmond Tutu.

meanwhile in the motherland:
In the wake of Niger's food crisis, we must question the right of charities to have a monopoly on "calling famines", says Simon Harrigan, a freelance anthropologist with experience of famine relief in Sudan.

staying with the Guardian:
It's up to African writers to provide positive alternatives to the global media's preoccupation with hunger, war and catastrophe, says Doreen Baingana, Ugandan poet and novelist.

Starvation in Niger is not only an inevitable consequence of poverty, drought and locusts but also the result of applying free market policies to try to lift the country out of poverty.

over to the NYT:
It is shocking that the crisis in Niger developed in a year heralded as a year for Africa, says this editorial.

no pictures, the emotional effect is enough in words alone.

As part of semester II, alongside the history of Christianity, synoptic gospels, Australian Theologies, we are studying Practical Theology. It all becomes rather academic in the light of pondering Niger.

To pinch a line from JCSuperstar "what's it all about", indeed. weep and know no answers...

Dance of deception by James M. Wall " Among the messages of sympathy that poured into London following the July 7 bombings were condolences from the governments of Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iran, Turkey—all nations with majority Muslim populations—and at least two Muslim nongovernmental groups: Hamas and Hezbollah.

But as Middle East scholar Juan Cole pointed out on his Web site "Informed Comment," only ArabicNews.com and a few Chinese sites mentioned this list. The Western media gave little attention to this strong Muslim expression of solidarity.Why this omission? Support from Muslim nations did not fit the dominant narrative in the U.S., which insists that "the reason we are attacked is that they hate us and our way of life, and we are not going to let that deter us from fighting terror." This narrative is not based on reality."
hattip Don over at agonist.org.

Semester two has begun and the workload is massive. Assignments and book reviews on church history, the gospels, australian theologies, practical theology and other stuff I have already forgotten. There will be little time for agonising or blogging over the next three months.

BUT somethings are just too powerful and righteous to ignore. L O Y A L T Y by Larry Johnson, proud to be an American. I am well pleased. May more like Larry stand up and tell it as it is.

Other trees remain a naked forlorn testimony of the raging fireballs of January 18, 2003

Eucalypts trunks enveloped with new growth.

Sunday afternoon the family piled into the wagon and up into the Brindabellas we drove. Major rainstorm Friday evening had washed a lot of snow away but there were occasional mini drifts. Lots of trees are still bare from the bushfires but some are regenerating.

Just so it seems that the whole world cares about skippy, click here. Sometime I may vent forth on the use of animals as pseudo-heroes but life is busy this week, juggling home, work and a conference as well as preparing for Semester II, next week. Just click it. Thank You.

sometimes it's just fun to read and tinker. Remember that disclaimers are to ensure your safety.
As a kid I got thrown head over heels several times by playing around inside television sets and once by a vacuum cleaner that I had forgotten to unplug before I started examining the brush contacts on the motor.

Garage / yard sales are a great place to pick up hi fi gear that often just needs dust blown out or rubber bands replaced.

"I pity them"
Angelo, a barrister was interviewed by the BBC after escaping one of the train explosions in the London underground. Covered in soot, shaky, confused as to why more emergency workers were not assisting in the evac (he did not know or had not taken in the fact of multiple attacks), he was asked what he thought of the perps.

"I pity them". Asked to elaborate he responded that "such wicked behaviour can only be pitied".

Resilience and compassion mean that we will all arise again on July 8 and live. Terrorism means death, but humanity will overcome terrorism. We live to honour the dead and I too pity the wicked.

A little selfishly I am relieved that my eldest boy will not be in London for several months....

Hopefully, we will not be reading the likes of this in six months time.

Rain wonderful rain, plenty of rain around Canberra, too much on the north coast of NSW and the Gold Coast. Goulburn still needs more. Our Prayers of Intercession on Sunday include one each week thanking God for the rain we have received and praying for more rain for those areas that need it. It's a prayer being prayed across the Archdiocese.

The winter days are beginning to lengthen again so spring is coming. Cold weather will be the order of the day for several more months yet. Global warming is not a micro weather feature yet.

First semester is over, all assignments have returned to me with satisfactory results in essay writing and research. Beginners enthusiasm seems to have caused me to try to cover too much in my assignments so I am seeing a lecturer mid month to try and get a grip on what is required.
Footnotes gave my lecturers some grief. I have a lot of misunderstanding as to what each lecturer particularly seeks with respect to the correct citing of authors, texts, quotes and page numbers. Hopefully by October 2007 I will have mastered the art of citation.

Master numero uno living son turns 21 on July 6, so we had a surprise party for him on Saturday night. An assortment of relatives and friends recent and past managed to arrive and allow him an enjoyable evening that almost moved him to tears. Sweet boy. His ticket to Austria and the UK have been purchased - 'rock on' September is his song.

Diary entries for me at the agonist have been a bit post and run lately. Time does not allow too much self promotion. So casual readers don't miss out: read them >>>>>here<<<<<<.

This is one of three paintings by congo the chimp, that took the media by storm this week, pushing once again to the background the horrible ongoing violence and death toll in the Congo.

See, I'm safe with a good Christian family. On the weekend I went to Wisconsin.

Hmmm. the table is the same as the one in canberra, but this fellow is certainly not an australian. I'm told it's about 45�F in Canberra, sleet and snow on the way, I'm so glad I'm in sunny Minnesota.

Almost there, I can see home from here.

Uh oh, better wait here, I can hear someone coming. I cannot believe the grass, it is so green and lush compared to the dry, dusty brown stalks in canberra.

Down the shute and into the wonderful outdoors.

Never fear Uncle Minnesota Winnie to the rescue.

USA Customs Department, strip Kanga of beanie and scarf and prepare to cut open in search of contraband.

I dinna mean to scare you, I dinna wanna make you freak:
BUT
H5N1 is getting more and more serious, keep uptodate >>>here<<<.

The most important thing is to remember is wash your hands, a lot.

If you are out and about in malls, or other places where there are lots of people do not, repeat, do not touch your face. Before eating food - wash your hands, before touching your face - wash your hands. When you get home, yup - wash your hands.

Avian flu may not be the next pandemic, but the odds are increasing all the time.

And remember wash your hands a lot.

Two Deacons, an Archbishop, a Bishop, one puppet and sundry lay people sing a ditty to celebrate the 200th edition of the Catholic Voice newspaper(link down on the left).

Breaking News - Kanga has arrived in Minnesota and has commandeered a vehicle to take a weekend trip to Wisconsin. stay tuned...

THE ILLITERATE SURGEON
:Kristof @ NYT writes Just about the worst thing that can happen to a teenage girl in this world is to develop an obstetric fistula that leaves her trickling bodily wastes, stinking and shunned by everyone around her. That happened four decades ago to Mamitu Gashe.

But the most amazing thing about Ms. Mamitu is not what she endured but what she has become.
cont @ NYT.

I have been a supporter of Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital for many years, I urge you to support it as well. G_72

My eldest son, almost 21 is saving madly to travel to Europe, his gf is currently travelling through Austria and Germany. This is a neat photo she took in Melk.

Which Beatles song personality are you? Lady Madonna You have a lot of kids and no time. Wonder how you manage to make ends meet?

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Dear Mr Graham

On behalf of the Government and people of Australia, I wish to congratulate you on your decision to become an Australian citizen. I am delighted to advise that your application has been approved.

Dear Mr Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, w00t!
I don't have to pay uni fees for semester two, yeah!

PS I have been allowed to vote since 1977, but that was not good enough to get a university "edwucation."

President Bush, right, answers a reporter's question as British Prime Minister Tony Blair listens during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, June 7, 2005, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
With warm words but few solid promises from President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has tough negotiating ahead to work out deals on boosting Africa's poor and tackling climate change in time for next month's summit of rich countries in Scotland.
Bush inched toward Blair's position on writing off impoverished nations' debt and praised his close ally Tuesday for pressing Africa's cause.

A powerful consensus is building for a doubling of aid to Africa among the world's heavyweight donors, except the United States -- a divide that is likely to come into sharp relief this week when British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrives in Washington to meet with President Bush. sfgate

Read discussion at the Agonist