Good bye to a great colleague

Last week was a real shocker. A fellow work colleague who had only recently retired had a massive heart attack while at home. He was able to call triple 0 before passing out.

He was brought to the Hospital where he had worked for the past 26 years. All up he contributed thirty continuous years of his working life to the Hospital and Medical Research. He worked almost ten years past the "retirement age".

Our Frank never regained consciousness.

Most of his fellow co-workers were allowed in groups of twos into the ICU to say "goodbye" to his unconscious form. I am very grateful to the ICU Staff for allowing us in to see him. That very night, he passed away.

A week ago today we said "good bye" again at his small funeral held in the Hospital chapel. He really deserved a longer retirement. It was an extremely sad time.

I can't believe how sad I have been.

A week has past and only today is the real sadness starting to lift.

Good bye Frank. You were a Gentleman and a pleasure to work with during the past 11 years.

Thoughts on the Fires

I am really struggling with the fact that most of the fires that are ragging across Australia at the moment have been lit by people.

I can cope with the tragedy of an accidental ignition such as from workman or electrical wires arcing but how can anyone "get off" on causing such destruction and misery? Even if their twisted minds hated fellow humans how can they visit such pain and death on the local flora and fauna?

I usually pride myself on being logical and applying logic to most events in my life but when I see the results from arson, I could, oh so easily, be part of a lynching gang.

There is smoke all around today in the distance. Not so close that you can smell it which is good.

We drove through the Peats Ridge Fire on the way back home on Saturday. We saw other
firefighters hard at it and the choppers along with the sky crane water bombing. The RFS are fellow citizens laying their life on the line to try to contain the fire.

I find it difficult to express my feelings about the fact that a fellow human would light a fire there during that weather.

It is very easy for me to become illogical and want to
string them up instantly. This thought disturbs me even more.

At least they caught the *&^%##% 31 yo that lit the Peats Ridge fire, he faces court today.
What sentence is adequate?

Our local RFS contacted all the members last week and told us to be on standby/ on call, which I have been since last Thursday. I haven't been called in as of yet.

The TV coverage on the Victorian fires has been just too confronting and almost American in the type of coverage.
Even the ABC had footage of fire, exploding houses and burnt out cars on endless loop.
Dear ABC have a hard look at your coverage.
I think this in your face coverage has traumatized many Aussies all over the place.
I am sure that it isn't only my kids that are scared and don't understand.

Boy do we need rain!


Photos of the Victorian and New South Wales can be found at
http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/bushfires/

School days

My eldest boy, (Boy5) has his last day at daycare today.
He has grown from a 6 month old baby attending daycare about 3 days a week into a confident, intelligent boy.
He is very eager to learn about all there is in this new and exciting world.
We have been quite happy with our daycare experience.

He starts school on Thursday and is just so excited.
He has been counting down the days.
He wears his school uniform at home because he is just so excited.
He even asked if he could wear the uniform to bed as pajamas!
I wonder how long this eagerness will last!

We have chosen a small local school where we hope he will get a safe, personal school experience.

It is so satisfying to see how our little baby has already grown into a curious, excited boy.
I hope his schooling experience provides all that he wants.

5% you must be kidding Mr Rudd!

5% you must be kidding Mr Rudd!

I think a lot of Australians are in shock today.
The man, and the government that we thought were serious about climate change have announced that Australia will go with an unconditional 5% cut in emissions (1990 level) by 2020.

If we can get the world to sign up we will go to a 15% cut as an absolute maximum!

The government will also give $4 billion to the Coal industry.

Last week he announced close to $580 million to improve the Hunters rail network to take our coal exports from Newcastle from 97 million tonnes to 200 million tonnes per year.

What have you done Mr Rudd?

I think you have seriously damaged your support base by this response.

What incentive has any other Country got to make bigger cuts now that we have an absolute maximum cut of 15% on the table?

I am very saddened by this totally underwhelming response of our Government to climate change. We have a serious threat to the World, our best scientist urge action and our Government's considered response is a 5% cut!

Mornings

I have been getting up earlier in the mornings just as the sky begins to lighten.
I amuse myself by hanging out the washing so I can be outside as the birds visit.
It is really amazing how small some of the baby's little dresses and socks are.
The washing line soon becomes full of clothes which vary oh so much in scale.

On Tuesday morning as I opened the door a king parrot was sitting about 1.5m from our door. S/he was on guard duty watching over about 6 more that were on the lawn. While I was out there the following birds dropped by, king parrots, sulfur crested cockatoos, at least two sets of satin bower bird both male and female, two pairs of wood ducks, crimson rosella's. The magpies and currawongs stand on the veranda and sing until my youngest boy wakes up and rushes out there with the bird's morning offering of little cheese pieces.

The colony of around ten Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos is still missing. It has been weeks since we have heard from them.

The kookaburras burst into song once the sun hit the tall gums. We have a colony of gang-gang parrots which come up from the valley floor (where the bell birds are) in the morning and spend the entire day eating the flowers of a couple of gums.

A disturbed, crazy lyre bird then took off into the bush. They are very highly strung things.

After witnessing the day come to life I get my commuters coffee mug and pieces of fruit and then like a mad fool I leave my patch of heaven to go to work!
Well it pays the bills at least.

Being a Dad

I didn't realize just how much I would love being a Dad.
In those pre-children days when my family and friends would gently hint about the prospects of us having a family I would reply "that there are already enough children in the world". I would then see a sad look in their eyes and not truly understand why they would look so sad about my reply.
Well we stumbled along and finally it was time. What an amazing experience it has and continues to be!
Having three now at 5 yrs, 3 yrs and a 1yo is certainly hard work but it is such a rich and rewarding experience. Life is rarely dull.
Now I know what that sad look meant.
To miss out on a family is a lot in life to miss out on.

I know that having kids isn't for everyone and for some there isn't even a choice. I guess the main thing is that you are happy in your own life.

In many ways having a young family is like having your own personal cheer squad. They always see you in the best light and think that you can achieve absolutely anything.

I guess in the teenage years ahead of us this will change for a while but I hope it is only temporary.