It’s been raining since before 5 am. Good, steady, rain that means I don’t have to water today. Which is just as well because something drastic has happened to our water supply and yesterday there was not enough pressure to rotate the sprinkler. Makes chasing the hose pretty much a whole days occupation when that happens.
Those of you who have not been getting the Whisper over the last few months will be pleased to note that it will now be delivered with the mail. It will be nice to have the regular delivery again so we know what is happening in time to join in.
Odd News.
Top of the plops - Pigeons ruin KOL gig
Monday, July 26, 2010 » 10:00am
Rock band Kings of Leon abandoned a US concert after just three songs because pigeons kept pooing on their heads.
The musicians managed to struggle through the first part of their set despite being repeatedly splatted - but the final straw came when the bass player Jared Followill was hit near the mouth by one especially large dropping.
The band, from Nashville, made the decision to leave the stage in St Louis, Missouri,before they were completely covered in excrement.
Their publicist Andy Mendelsohn issued a statement blaming an infestation of pigeons living in the rafters of the Verizon Amphitheatre in the city.
'Jared was hit several times during the first two songs. On the third song, when he was hit in the cheek and some of it landed near his mouth, they couldn't deal any longer, ' it said.
'It's not only disgusting - it's a toxic hazard.'
Drummer Nathan tweeted: 'So sorry St. Louis. We had to bail, pigeons sing in Jared's mouth and it was too unsanitary to continue.
'FULL REFUNDS 4 ALL. SO SORRY. Don't take it out on Jared, it's the f... venue's fault. You may enjoy being s on but we don't. Sorry for all who traveled many miles.'
When the band arrived at the venue, they were warned there had been a significant infestation problem with summer shows over the years, but they (Bigpond Odd Spot)
Guess it wasn't quite the same as "Raindrops Keep Falling..."
This following piece arrived in my “In Box” just after I’d had a conversation with an off shore service assistant. It may be politically incorrect but is relevant to our times.
“TENJOOBERRYMUDS"…
ja unnerstan dat?By the time you read this, you’ll be able to. In order to continue getting-by in Australia, we all need to learn the NEW English language called Englasiaish! Practice by reading the following conversation until you are able to understand the term "TENJOOBERRYMUDS". With a little patience, you'll be able to fit right in. Now, here goes....
The following is a telephone exchange between maybe you as a hotel guest and a call room-service somewhere in good old Oz today......
Room Service : "Morrin. Roon sirbees."
Guest : "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service."
Room Service: " Rye . Roon sirbees...morrin! Joowish to oddor sunteen???"
Guest: "Uh..... Yes, I'd like to order bacon and eggs."
Room Service: "Ow July den?"Guest: "......What??"Room Service: "Ow July den?!?... pryed, boyud, poochd?"
Guest: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry.. scrambled, please."
Room Service: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?"
Guest: "ummm... crisp will be fine."
Room Service: "Hokay. An Sahn toes?"
Guest: "What?"
Room Service: "An toes. July Sahn toes?"
Guest: "I... ummm... don't think so."
RoomService: "No? Judo wan sahn toes???"
Guest: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo wan sahn toes' means."
RoomService: "Toes! Toes!...Why Joo don Juan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we bodder den?"
Guest: "Oh, English muffin!!! I've got it! You were saying 'toast'... Fine...Yes, an English muffin will be fine."
Room Service: "We bodder?"
Guest: "No, just put the bodder on the side."
Room Service: "Wad?!?"
Guest: "I mean butter... just put the butter on the side."
Room Service: "Copy?"
Guest: "Excuse me?"
Room Service: "Copy...tea... meel?"
Guest: "Yes. Coffee, with meel uh milk please... and that's everything."
Room Service: "Wanminnie. Cramah egg, crease baykem, Anglish moppin, we bodder on sigh and copywith meel ... rye??"
Guest: "Whatever you say."
Room Service: "Tenjooberrymuds."
Guest: "You're welcome"
Remember I said, "By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND 'TENJOOBERRYMUDS' "......and you do, don't you!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
20th July
The rumble of heavy machinery down the back streets of Torrens Creek heralded the progression of cable laying through town this morning. The company is laying fibre optic cable to accommodate the Broadband Internet installation which, a spokesman told me, hopefully means that we will—sometime in the future—all be able to have access to a more reliable internet. The cable will be continued to Townsville before any upgradings to our services occur. Wonder what happens to the existing cable that runs through Torrens Street , to which we never had access?
Another skill learned. I’ve worked on a few chain production lines, headed prawns in Normanton, detailed towels in Richmond (to name a couple) and now I have added to the list. I’m a pill-popper processor. Ever tried to quickly empty those capsules and pills enclosed in alfoil and plastic? Extracting one is bad enough, try a whole medicine kit. By the end of the day I was quite adept. Like shelling peas, it was.
The old medications in the Flying Doctor’s kit have finally been disposed of. We spent an interesting Sunday burning the remains. The results were a little like Guy Fawkes night. Our dogs ran for cover as capsules exploded in the drum. Burnt remains of foil scatter the yard at some distance from the site. Some of the medications have been returned to the Flying Doctor’s, as requested and useful items for minor accidents have been returned to the rooms.
Did You Know? (Another email received-Thanks Sandra)
Microwaving Water!
A 26-year old man decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he wanted to bring the water to a boil... When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the! Water was not boiling, but suddenly the water in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand, but all the water had flown out into his face due to the buildup of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns to his face which may leave scarring.
He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye. While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is a fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in a microwave oven. If water is heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc...., (nothing metal).
General Electric's Response:
Thanks for contacting us, I will be happy to assist you. The e-mail that you received is correct. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it.
To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any liquid for more than two minutes per cup. After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds! Before moving it or adding anything into it.
Here is what our local science teacher had to say on the matter: 'Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this happen before. It is caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur anytime water is heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that the water is heated in is new, or when heating a small amount of water (less than half a cup).
What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapor bubbles can form. If the cup is very new then it is unlikely to have small surface scratches inside it that provide a place for the bubbles to form. As the bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat has built up, the liquid does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past its boiling point.
What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred, which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly form and expel the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a carbonated beverage spews when opened after having been shaken.'
Another skill learned. I’ve worked on a few chain production lines, headed prawns in Normanton, detailed towels in Richmond (to name a couple) and now I have added to the list. I’m a pill-popper processor. Ever tried to quickly empty those capsules and pills enclosed in alfoil and plastic? Extracting one is bad enough, try a whole medicine kit. By the end of the day I was quite adept. Like shelling peas, it was.
The old medications in the Flying Doctor’s kit have finally been disposed of. We spent an interesting Sunday burning the remains. The results were a little like Guy Fawkes night. Our dogs ran for cover as capsules exploded in the drum. Burnt remains of foil scatter the yard at some distance from the site. Some of the medications have been returned to the Flying Doctor’s, as requested and useful items for minor accidents have been returned to the rooms.
Did You Know? (Another email received-Thanks Sandra)
Microwaving Water!
A 26-year old man decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he wanted to bring the water to a boil... When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the! Water was not boiling, but suddenly the water in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand, but all the water had flown out into his face due to the buildup of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns to his face which may leave scarring.
He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye. While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is a fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in a microwave oven. If water is heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc...., (nothing metal).
General Electric's Response:
Thanks for contacting us, I will be happy to assist you. The e-mail that you received is correct. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it.
To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any liquid for more than two minutes per cup. After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds! Before moving it or adding anything into it.
Here is what our local science teacher had to say on the matter: 'Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this happen before. It is caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur anytime water is heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that the water is heated in is new, or when heating a small amount of water (less than half a cup).
What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapor bubbles can form. If the cup is very new then it is unlikely to have small surface scratches inside it that provide a place for the bubbles to form. As the bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat has built up, the liquid does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past its boiling point.
What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred, which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly form and expel the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a carbonated beverage spews when opened after having been shaken.'
Monday, July 12, 2010
TC 13th July
Well, school’s in, our visitors are gone and the wind is back. Guess all’s right with the world?
Do you ever get asked, “Why do you live here?” Often, I bet. Sometimes I do wonder, then a week like last week happens and I thank God that I do live here. City people miss so much. The new butcher birds have arrived and compete with the dogs for their food. Every time the birds win I get the benefit of their wonderful whistle.
Then the bower bird has his go. Strange that the dogs always seem to be the target. He confuses my boys by mimicking “Bossy” from the hotel, or sends them running because a cat sounds in distress. Chasing the happy jacks completes the day’s work-out. Simple things, but things I missed during my working life.
The Golf Course is looking good. Barry ha been busy mowing in preparation for September’s big tournament. Locals are brushing up their strokes in hopes of being able to compete this year.
Christine Scott rang from Charters Towers last week to find if the wattle is out yet. It was a miserable, grey day when we drove into Charters but on the way out the sun came out just as we reached the hills. It illuminated them, was a spectacular sight. Also lots of soap bush, gravillia and melaleuca out on the ranges to colour trip home.
Lots of bikers on the road now, both pedal and motor, some returning from a rally around Cape York dropped in for supplies yesterday and that reminded me that the Burdekin River V Twin and Vintage Charity Bike Show will be on in Charters Towers on 17th July, at the Show Grounds. Entry for Adults is $15.00 and kids under fifteen are free. For more information call Steve on 04 28511 168.
I believe Steve and his gang plan a trip out to Torrens Creek later in the year.
Remember our Darts Nights? They were fun, weren’t they? A games night, including darts, pool, cards, Xbox or board games, has been organized for the last Saturday of the month starting around 7pm, after the Torrens Creek Progress Association Meeting which begins at 5pm. Ring 47 417378 for more details.
Another Aussie Pioneer Staple. Camp Pie.
Meat in the bush was often tough—for your own needs , you killed only the beasts that were no good for selling. So people devised ways to make the meat more edible and easier to store for periods when there was no fresh meat. Camp pie was born. Commercial versions of this recipe used a lot of sodium nitrate to break down the meat fibres, horrible stuff!
Ingredients:
700gm shin beef, 250gm bacon, 1 tsp. salt , mace, 1tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp mustard, 1 tablespoon geletine, one egg beaten.
Method: mince the beef and bacon, add salt, a little mace and cayenne pepper, the mustard and the geletine. Mix in the beaten egg to holdthe mixture together and pack tightly into a billy can. Cover with buttered paper and put the lid on. Steam for 2 1/2 hours. Then take it from the fire, remove the lid and put a weight on the camp pie until it is firm. Serve sliced, with bread, butter and salad or on sandwiches.
Do you ever get asked, “Why do you live here?” Often, I bet. Sometimes I do wonder, then a week like last week happens and I thank God that I do live here. City people miss so much. The new butcher birds have arrived and compete with the dogs for their food. Every time the birds win I get the benefit of their wonderful whistle.
Then the bower bird has his go. Strange that the dogs always seem to be the target. He confuses my boys by mimicking “Bossy” from the hotel, or sends them running because a cat sounds in distress. Chasing the happy jacks completes the day’s work-out. Simple things, but things I missed during my working life.
The Golf Course is looking good. Barry ha been busy mowing in preparation for September’s big tournament. Locals are brushing up their strokes in hopes of being able to compete this year.
Christine Scott rang from Charters Towers last week to find if the wattle is out yet. It was a miserable, grey day when we drove into Charters but on the way out the sun came out just as we reached the hills. It illuminated them, was a spectacular sight. Also lots of soap bush, gravillia and melaleuca out on the ranges to colour trip home.
Lots of bikers on the road now, both pedal and motor, some returning from a rally around Cape York dropped in for supplies yesterday and that reminded me that the Burdekin River V Twin and Vintage Charity Bike Show will be on in Charters Towers on 17th July, at the Show Grounds. Entry for Adults is $15.00 and kids under fifteen are free. For more information call Steve on 04 28511 168.
I believe Steve and his gang plan a trip out to Torrens Creek later in the year.
Remember our Darts Nights? They were fun, weren’t they? A games night, including darts, pool, cards, Xbox or board games, has been organized for the last Saturday of the month starting around 7pm, after the Torrens Creek Progress Association Meeting which begins at 5pm. Ring 47 417378 for more details.
Another Aussie Pioneer Staple. Camp Pie.
Meat in the bush was often tough—for your own needs , you killed only the beasts that were no good for selling. So people devised ways to make the meat more edible and easier to store for periods when there was no fresh meat. Camp pie was born. Commercial versions of this recipe used a lot of sodium nitrate to break down the meat fibres, horrible stuff!
Ingredients:
700gm shin beef, 250gm bacon, 1 tsp. salt , mace, 1tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp mustard, 1 tablespoon geletine, one egg beaten.
Method: mince the beef and bacon, add salt, a little mace and cayenne pepper, the mustard and the geletine. Mix in the beaten egg to holdthe mixture together and pack tightly into a billy can. Cover with buttered paper and put the lid on. Steam for 2 1/2 hours. Then take it from the fire, remove the lid and put a weight on the camp pie until it is firm. Serve sliced, with bread, butter and salad or on sandwiches.
Monday, July 5, 2010
School Holidays
6th July
The weather has reverted to what it should be at this time of the year, thank goodness, (that wind is a killer!) and the tourists are certainly making the most of it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the caravan park so full since I’ve lived here. Obviously the word has got around about our hidden assets.
Speaking of assets. Big congratulations to Bill Holzwart for his 21st birthday. Friends, including “Charlie’s Angles”, travelled from interstate to help him celebratethis milestone. Must be something about twenty-firsts because, despite the gloomy predictions of ,“It’s always cold for Stamford Races,” the weather was kind for the evening and seems to have been the beginning of real holiday weather. Hope the kids enjoy their last week of freedom.
Welcome back to the Norths. James arrived Sunday to start work again on 6th, and Caroline flies up with the kids on the seventh. It will be great to have them back in town. Guess they will notice a few changes since they’ve been gone. Not the least, the mail service.
The new postal delivery started last Thursday and by now we’ll have all met the new post man. I’d forgotten, after having a mail box for so long, how nice it is to have the mail come to the door, even if only twice a week. And did you know that the price of a stamp has been increased—again? Sixty cents to post a letter now, so save those stamps you have for Christmas cards, is what the financial guru’s advise, as many post offices don’t carry the 5 cents stamps.
I was going to post another of Shirley’s recipes but, what the hey, it’s holidays so instead I posted this bit of fun:
BUT before I do—Can anyone PLEASE tell me how to cook Yellow Belly? So it’s edible???
EXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS):
1. A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
2. A will is a dead giveaway.
3. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
4. A backward poet writes inverse.
5. In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.
6. A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
7. If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.
8. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
9. Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.
10. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
11. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
12. A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.
13. You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
14. Local Area Network in Australia: The LAN down under.
15. He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
16.A calendar's days are numbered.
17. A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.
18. A boiled egg is hard to beat.
19. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
20. A plateau is a high form of flattery.
21. The short fortune teller who escaped from prison: a small medium at large.
22. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
23. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
24. If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.
25. When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
26. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
27. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
28. Acupuncture: a jab well done.
29. Marathon runners with bad shoes suffer the agony of de feet.
30. The roundest knight at king Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
31. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
32. She was only a whisky maker, but he loved her still.
33. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
34. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
35. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
36. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
37. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
38. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
39. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
40. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here, I'll go on a head.
'41. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
42. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
43. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a Nurse said, 'No change yet.'
44. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
45. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
Laugh while you can, now a woman has ‘the power’, who knows where it will end?
The weather has reverted to what it should be at this time of the year, thank goodness, (that wind is a killer!) and the tourists are certainly making the most of it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the caravan park so full since I’ve lived here. Obviously the word has got around about our hidden assets.
Speaking of assets. Big congratulations to Bill Holzwart for his 21st birthday. Friends, including “Charlie’s Angles”, travelled from interstate to help him celebratethis milestone. Must be something about twenty-firsts because, despite the gloomy predictions of ,“It’s always cold for Stamford Races,” the weather was kind for the evening and seems to have been the beginning of real holiday weather. Hope the kids enjoy their last week of freedom.
Welcome back to the Norths. James arrived Sunday to start work again on 6th, and Caroline flies up with the kids on the seventh. It will be great to have them back in town. Guess they will notice a few changes since they’ve been gone. Not the least, the mail service.
The new postal delivery started last Thursday and by now we’ll have all met the new post man. I’d forgotten, after having a mail box for so long, how nice it is to have the mail come to the door, even if only twice a week. And did you know that the price of a stamp has been increased—again? Sixty cents to post a letter now, so save those stamps you have for Christmas cards, is what the financial guru’s advise, as many post offices don’t carry the 5 cents stamps.
I was going to post another of Shirley’s recipes but, what the hey, it’s holidays so instead I posted this bit of fun:
BUT before I do—Can anyone PLEASE tell me how to cook Yellow Belly? So it’s edible???
EXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS):
1. A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
2. A will is a dead giveaway.
3. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
4. A backward poet writes inverse.
5. In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.
6. A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
7. If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.
8. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
9. Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.
10. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
11. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
12. A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.
13. You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
14. Local Area Network in Australia: The LAN down under.
15. He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
16.A calendar's days are numbered.
17. A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.
18. A boiled egg is hard to beat.
19. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
20. A plateau is a high form of flattery.
21. The short fortune teller who escaped from prison: a small medium at large.
22. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
23. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
24. If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.
25. When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
26. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
27. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
28. Acupuncture: a jab well done.
29. Marathon runners with bad shoes suffer the agony of de feet.
30. The roundest knight at king Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
31. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
32. She was only a whisky maker, but he loved her still.
33. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
34. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
35. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
36. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
37. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
38. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
39. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
40. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here, I'll go on a head.
'41. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
42. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
43. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a Nurse said, 'No change yet.'
44. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
45. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
Laugh while you can, now a woman has ‘the power’, who knows where it will end?
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