I'm not alone...

A couple of times now I've referred to articles on www.news.com.au.  This isn't because I think it's a great news site.  I just find it easy to access and see the things that I want to see.  Anyway, I was looking at articles yesterday and read this line:  "HAVING heaps of friends on Facebook and Twitter is no cure for loneliness, the author of new research says."  I've just cut and past these lines, they were actually in bold - being the first line of the article.  Now, I've gotta say that my first reaction was a big 'derrrrrrrr'!!  I mean, it seems incredibly obvious.  And what sort of research is this person/organisation doing anyway!  But then I started to think about it and realised that in the past year I've often got in touch with someone via the computer just to catch up quickly!  And how would I necessarily know that they are lonely!


I consider myself fortunate in my friends.  I have a relatively large number of people that I can contact and that I enjoy their company. Actually, I should say that we can try and organise something but most of the people I know are pretty busy - and so using email or late night Facebook chats (mainly Nadine!) are the best options.  I've been conscious that I have been busy this year and haven't caught up with people as I would have liked to.  Then again, sometimes I've been busy because I've been catching up with friends!!! Ummm...


I'm not someone who suffers from loneliness.  There's always too many people around.   Although I did go away by myself once - for the weekend - and by the end I was talking to the cows!!


Anyway, today I am grateful that lots of research is useful, makes us think and actually contributes to making our lives better...  Just don't do it alone!

Its been a hard day's night

I'm quite worn out.  I really would like some time off during the school holidays.  I need to organise another holiday to give myself something to look forward to.  Its been a hard day's night!!!!
Still, I'm grateful that tomorrow is Friday...
I'm still smiling...

Wimbledon

It's that time of year again.  Evenings spent watching tennis.  I really enjoy watching tennis, especially if it's the Australian Open or Wimbledon!  So I spent some time tonight on the machine that is changing my life and watching tennis.  It was perfect!  I'm grateful that I've got the time to watch TV!

My Father

Today I remembered why I have such respect for my father and why he has been such a big influence in my life.  The girls in Ian's Sunday School class were interviewing people about their Christian faith.  Ian asked Dad if he would mind being interviewed - and obviously he didn't mind.  So he was asked how long he'd been a Christian, and my Dad replied along the lines that his faith was constantly changing, and used the piece of elastic cliche to describe his faith.   I've been thinking about it all day - which is a big strange really.  But the elastic cliche is a pretty good way to describe faith.  I think I'll use it myself!  My Dad has been a constant source of embarrassment to me: from his long winded explanations, and his continued teachings to his orange sneakers purchased because they were on special.  But he's been a constant in my life and a source of strength to me.  He's also generous and kind and extremely loyal.  I love him dearly and I'm very lucky to have him as my dad!  And this photo is slightly dated - it was taken over 40 years ago.

My Family's Photographic Heritage

I've been thinking about the wonderful photos that I have of my family.  Not just my kids (and I think they have a pretty good collection of photos!), but Ian and my parents; grandparents; and great-grandparents.  I have at least one photo of all of them except for one - and I'm hopeful that someone has a photo of his somewhere, I just have to hope they kept it and I find it someday!  I also have photos of over half of our great-great-grandparents and a few in the generation beyond that as well.  I must be pathetic, because I love looking at them and I thinking about HOW I got to have them and I also like the "numbers" associated with them - by that I mean how many, the variation of dates even though it was the same generation, the number who emigrated to Australia etc.  I also know that it is an old person hobby - but I figure that I'm getting there now, if I'm not already there, and it's useful to have an old person hobby.  So I'm very grateful to have these photographs - and other pieces of memorabilia as well!

And in the interest of trying to be more exciting that just writing, I've put one of my photos up.  In order to get a 'random' photo, I typed today's date into my database and decided that I'd use that as my guide.  The only person who came up was Robert John Woolley.  He was a great grandparent of mine and he wasn't a very nice person.  I have lots of information about him because the divorce courts has kept records regarding his behaviour.  Clara, the mother of his children, was my mother's grandmother and she has lots of memories of her grandmother - mainly that she was slightly scary.  I suspect that she become very tough after her divorce.  She had to survive!  She also ripped up every photo she could find of her wedding, but fortunately two survived and I've put one of them up.  Oh, and the only reason that this date came up was that on This date 23 June, 100 years ago, Robert John Woolley advertised for a vacant position in his butcher shop - opposite the Post Office in Rozelle, Sydney.

Beach Culture

I've been helping Sam with her oral presentation on Beach Culture for her History class.  I'm even a bit jealous that she has such a great topic to work on.  I sure didn't have anything as exciting as beach culture to discuss in Year 11.  I think I undertook too many boring classes (unfortunately I was good at maths!).  Anyway, one of the interesting things I've been pondering because of this presentation, is idea that our Australian National Identify (this probably shouldn't be a 'proper noun' but I've done that intentionally) is linked to the beach.  Leone Huntsman in her book 'Sand in Our Souls: The Beach in Australian History' also looks at this idea.  We talk so much, as a country, about the role of Gallipoli and that 'Australia rode to prosperity on the sheep's back', that I hadn't thought much about by how important the beach is to our country.  The 'Bronzed Aussie' started as a life guard!  Perhaps one of the more interesting assertions is that  "everyone looks the same in speedos" (not really true, but I try not to look!).  It's the idea that at the beach we are all equal!  This was quite important to the early Europeans in Australia.  I really like the analogy.  We are all equal - and it doesn't matter what you do, when you come to the beach you are exactly the same as the person next to you!  I'm grateful for this lesson!   

Of course, as part of my help, I showed Sam some pictures by Max Dupain - and now he has another fan!  'The Sunbaker' taken on Bondi Beach, has to be one of the most awesome photos ever taken...

Weekends

For many people the week end is an opportunity to take it a bit easier, get a few things done around the house and sleep in (and get to sleep late!).  I haven't been able to do any other those things which is a bit of a pain because I really needed to!  The last two days have been extremely busy and I'm exhausted.  I basically spent most of my weekend at netball courts.  It doesn't sound exhausting, but somehow it is!  I enjoyed watching them play.  The only down side was that I really didn't feel great all weekend and so I wasn't feeling up to Laura and Sharni's Engagement Party on Saturday night.  Anyway, I'm pleased that my health was OK enough to watch the girls.  They both played well at the Carnival today and their teams ended up coming first (Natasha) and second (Rachel).  I think they were both pretty happy with their performances.

Cultural Expectations

Culture is an amazing thing really.  I am feeling a bit sad today for my friend who unloaded to me about the issues she is having with her mother and brothers.  In her "culture" the children look after their parents, but a lot of pressure has been placed on her to provide extra because she is 'rich' (and they are no where near as comfortable as we are).  So she is giving her mother large-ish sums of money, which she thinks her brothers are then taking.  It's a very difficult situation and I feel so sorry for her because there isn't an easy answer.
We'd actually discussed the issue of caring for the elderly on the week-end.  Basically our culture, in Australia, is that the elderly are looked after by the social security system.  The system has developed over a large number of years, and it means that the most vulnerable people in society - the elderly, sick and children - are supported.  I think this is fairer than having to rely on children, who may or may not be generous (I guess then it depends on how you raise them!).  It also is better for those who don't have children (choice or not).  It's not a perfect system.  Of course there are going to be people who miss out, or who are disadvantaged by a peculiar rule or - and this is my annoyance - people who rort the system to get more than they are entitled to (and my response to them is that they should use their powers for good not evil!!!).  But on the whole the system works.
I am so grateful for the social security system in this country - which over time was fought for by many different people.  It's enough to make me want to read more about the history!  Maybe that's something I can do in retirement!!  

Week-end away

We went away for the weekend with four other families.  It was a repeat of last June - except that Sam and Micah (the two eldest children) didn't come and two additional families did come!!!  We had a wonderful time.  The house we stayed in was warm and the bed comfortable.  I'm grateful to Belinda who organised the weekend (especially when I'd volunteered to help but didn't end up doing anything).  We had a lovely weekend but ATE way too much!!  Everyone brought their favourite foods!  It was just wonderful!

Cold, wet weather on the weekend

I don't mind rain - in fact, I quite enjoy gentle rain!  I don't like the cold.  I really don't like being cold!  On the weekend it was cold and wet.  And I was very grateful for that because it meant that I didn't feel bad about sitting inside scrapbooking with nine of my friends (and 30 other acquaintances!).  Mind you, I did go for a jog in the gentle rain, and remembered why I liked it so much.  But otherwise, I sat inside for the whole weekend.  Bliss!  Love it!  Of course, the weekend it over too quickly and it's back to reality!  So I'd better get going to work!