Deer, oh dear

Some very unfortunate political play has happened over deer hunting. Let's begin with the fact that before white people arrived in Australia, there were no hard hooved animals in Australia. Cattle, horses, sheep, buffalo, pigs and deer were introduced by white people. While cattle and sheep are managed as farm animals, wild populations of horses, buffalo and deer exist. Horses and buffalo are partly controlled by government contracted exterminators, the others are not generally except by private hunters.

Hard hooved animals do terrible damage to our fragile environment and should be eliminated. 

Deer have no protection in Australia beyond cruelty to animals laws, except for in my state, Victoria. They are able to be shot by hunters, but otherwise they are a protected species. They are often hit by cars, causing terrible damage to cars, and I should think danger to those who run into them,  and aside from dingoes and wild dogs, they don't have a natural predator. Why has this protection nonsense just be reinforced by our state government? 

In my view it is solely down to the hunting lobbyists. They don't want to see the pest species eliminated because they won't be able to hunt them. The Labor(sic) state government has caved into pressure from the hunting lobby, over the environment and motorist safety, and it is a disgrace. 

With our preferential voting system, I've always voted Labor, or directed my preference to Labor after voting for The Greens. It will be a pointless exercise, but I will inform the Labor Party of my disgust and disappointment. If enough people do as I do, maybe it could make a change. 

My apologies if I've upset your Bambi feelings, but it is an important environmental and road safety matter, and we don't want to end up like Debby mentioned in her post referring to deer. 

Friday Frippery

I have posted this clip before but a long time ago, and the clip was made even a much longer time ago. As brilliant as the concept is, I think I can safely say, it didn't catch on. 

On a serious note, it was sad to hear of the death of Dr (Dame) Jane Goodall. If you don't know who she was, do yourself a favour and look her up. You will be uplifted. 

Fun in Melbourne

Melburnians and tourists have fun in Melbourne at a major horse racing event, the Melbourne Cup.

The majority of attendees arrive by train, for many the only train trip they take for the year. Trains only run on this branch line for special events and it is such an easy way to get there and home.

Ready for fun with a river cruise.

Massed and ready to board, with diners across the river stuffing their faces at Afloat, formerly Arbory Afloat.

Arbory above Afloat is where Platform 11 at Melbourne Flinders Street once saw trains from St Kilda and Port Melbourne. The lines were converted for light rail trams. With hindsight, it wasn't a great idea as these lines now require quite intensive trams services, whereas less frequent trains could better deal with the number of passengers.

Banana Alley vaults under the railway viaduct have various businesses, and this one is where men go to meet up with men. In these times of internet hook ups, as I sat on a seat outside, I was surprised how many men were coming and going. I suppose if you connect with someone using a hook up site, it is a cheap place to meet up if a home isn't available. 

Phyllis' driving lesson went ok, with only one alarming moment when I reached for the steering wheel. While he rode a motor bike in India, he really is starting from absolute scratch for car driving. But he is smart and quick to pick things up. Next weekend he is not working for four days and I will take him for a lesson each day. 

Next Monday is a public holiday to celebrate the King's Birthday, which actually isn't next Monday. It's the 14th of November. I have promised myself that every time I say Queen's Birthday, I will donate $10 to a charity. I am $10 down already. 

A day in Africa

Anzac Day in Australia was the anniversary of Ray's sudden death. What can be a better antidote to a sad day than surrounding yourself with children and at Ex Sis in Law's suggestion, the family got together at Werribee Zoo.

My Arthur Itis mate was not keen on a 10.00am meet, 40 minutes drive away. I suffered, but it was just wonderful to have family around me. Not quite all the family were there, but all the greats were. 

Nephew's three, two being twin boys and one daughter, Oldest Niece's three, and Hippie Niece's twin cafe latte coloured daughters, and their two stepsisters, one who has returned home after some time with her drug user mother. 

The new Elephant Walk recently opened, and it was a long walk in hot sun to visit. I had lost my enthusiasm and I saw an open vehicle to transport people back to the main area approach, so I took a ride back to the zoo entrance. I would have had to walk further to actually see the elephants but I just couldn't do it. 

The sky had clouded over and there was some light rain. We found a shelter area near the hippopotamus enclosure to sit where we all ate our brought from home food; Phyliss having made me a large sandwich with an Indian taste. We bought coffee at the cafe. 

About 2pm, most of us departed. The night before was a melancholic memory evening for me, but the actual day, filled with children, family, and still with some memories of the last time Ray and I visited, was ok. 

There'd be animals, some fierce animals. You can stand on the back of a jeep and see a lioness lounging on the bonnet of a jeep.

I didn't know lions climb trees. Nowhere is safe.

A lonely zebra.

I know I should know what this bird is, but I don't. Pretty, yes? 

A dromedary camel or a humpty dory camel. I can't remember. 

No photo but seeing a gorillas move around was amazing.

I can't remember the name of these deer like critters.

Indian antelope. 

Giraffes, how exciting. 

And zebra.

Giraffe are quite tall, very tall really.

Ostrich. 

One of the animals in this photo is called something like the horseshoe bum deer. 

Some rhino have horns pointing upwards, and some downwards. It depends on their diet preference. 

Sister snapped the hippopotamus out of the water. I did not. 

As I was leaving, I passed by the cheetah enclosure. Wow, it is so pretty. Don't you just want to give it a cuddle. 

I am away again for another family event. Back soon. 

Easing Emergency

This is a terrific innovation, aimed at reducing pressure on our hospital emergency departments, and our emergency ambulances. 

Unfortunately some people try to abuse our ambulance and hospital emergency departments by wanting emergency transport to a hospital emergency department for quite trivial matters. Yes, they are triaged over the phone, but some know phrases that will trigger an emergency response.

They clog up emergency departments. If emergency departments are overwhelmed, ambulance staff must look after patients until they can be admitted to emergency. This leads to an ambulance shortage. Clearly those who have say a heart attack or stroke, are straight in with the best care modern medicine can provide. 

That was my experience when I had heart issues, and twice I was taken by ambulance to The Alfred Hospital emergency with atrial fibrillation, that is my heart was racing at over 200 bpm and would not stop. Doctors stopped my heart on both occasions and restarted it. After the second time, a chemist picked up a conflict with one medication I was taking, and my heart medication. Minor surgery called ablation and refinement of my drugs, and I've been fine for about four years. I am checked annually by my cardiologist. While he works in the public system, as his private patient, I think the cost is worth while. He is now an Associate Professor, and still quite young. 

I've drifted off topic. 

So we have a new addition to our medical system called Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, where many health issues can quickly be treated. I think this is a terrific initiative. Let's face it. Nurses can do much of what doctors can do and the clinics do have doctors too. 

I planned to write this post a little time ago, but there is an urgency now. Kosov was bitten by a dog as he crossed a road today, as I write this Thursday evening. Kosov punched the dog's head, and it retreated. The owner said, 'Sorry'. While Pitt Bull Terriers are banned here, it was a similar dog. I hate the owners of such dogs more than I dislike the dogs. 

Phyllis and I have nagged him that he needs a tetanus shot after the dog bite. He has never had a tetanus shot before, so this is a good opportunity. The dog bite did pierce his skin.

So Friday morning we will be at the aforesaid clinic at 9am, one hour after it opens. I'll let Kosov explain to the clinic but if there is any kind of issue, I will be there for him. I will do the talking. There are no restrictions of who can visit the clinic. If you are in need, you are eligible. It is the same for our public hospitals. No questions are asked for emergency care. Ongoing care might be a problem for those without an Australian Medicare card, but really if you are in need, our system will care for you as if you are local citizen. 

I experienced a walk in clinic in England and while the wait was quite long, I received the best of care. Ray's family receive very good health care in England too.  But apparently according to blogger Rachel, I am quite unqualified to comment on the English medical care system, so take no notice of me. (Yeah, I was hurt, and I don't understand why)

This won't be published until after the clinic visit.

The next day, Friday. 

Well, as usual I knew exactly knew where I was going to the clinic, but no. It had already moved, into within the Alfred Hospital. Staff directed us to Emergency. I said to staff, it is not an emergency, but that was where we had to go. A brief explanation to more staff, and we were told to take a seat. A chap soon arrived with the logo Heliport Ground Staff on the back of his jacket. I suppose if there isn't an incoming chopper, he can do escort duties. 

We were taken through a labyrinth of old hospital corridors to the clinic, which was actually at the front of the hospital, looking out to the ambulance parking. There were five people there waiting. Kosov was given a consent form to sign and a medical questionnaire was sent to his phone to fill in. Once Kosov had filled everything in on his phone and signed the form, we returned to the desk to hand in the paperwork. By this time it was after 10am. I said to staff that Kosov had a job interview at 12 and it would take him an hour to get there, a slight exaggeration, and so staff checked with the doctor for urgency of care, but of course he wasn't urgent. I'm glad I asked.

Staff said come back later in the day. You will still be in the system. I returned home as I was meeting neighbour HH for brunch at 11, and they set off to catch the Punt Road bus to change to a bus to Doncaster. 

As I am attempting to complete this post at 7pm, they are at the clinic, and have been sent to pharmacy to buy the serum. 

I really expected there would be a doctor and nurse on duty. The nurse would have quickly given Kosov the jab and all over in half an hour, but no. Like the normal emergency department, you just wait.

At least they have learnt of a back entrance to the clinic where you don't have to be escorted. 

Now, I really wish I had sent him to my medical practice and I would have paid, although he does have some kind of overseas student appropriate health insurance, but I don't know what that covers.     

Why wasn't I told!

I know a little about a lot. That suits my shallow mind and persona. I lack commitment to anything and I've never acquired great knowledge about anything specific.  What is this nonsense word Phyllis and Kosov are saying. Something like seeing a keyring that cost $20 and has a cappy burrow hanging off it? There is a big language problem, on my part because I did not know the name of the world's largest rodent, the capybara.

Now I do know about the capybara, as Phyllis showed me some YouTube clips, and I found my own clips, and how cool are capybaras. This photo gives you an idea of their size.

I am sure most of you know about capybaras and wonder what this blog post is about. Well, I simply didn't know about them. 

They adore being in water.

The Brazilian natives seem like they might make a good house pet, albeit a bit of a weighty one.

It seems most Australian zoos have capybaras.

A quick explainer.

 

And this appeared on the bench yesterday. It's squishy.

Friday, kind of Funnies

What can I find on information super highway to amuse you. Sorry about the brief watermarks. I need to find a better downloader.

I was looking for some cockatoos being very funny, but I couldn't find very much, however I did come across this vaguely related piece, that certainly made me laugh. While he may have it ready to say, I don't think she knew it was coming.

This is not funny, but ever so clever at changing the lyrics to the famous Gloria Gaynor song, with thanks to Jackie of Toronto where I saw it first. Nice work.

Travelling East, Part II

The lakes are very extensive and singing in my mind, 'a three hour cruise' alarmed me a little. Yes, most of you will get that. 

Before so, my host drove me around a newly developed area, which I thought was terrific but underused, for now. It won't always be, and just wait for the summer tourist influx.

The cruise with the commentary was terrific. We paid with cash and the lovely attendant did not have change and said she would deliver it to us later on boat. We said, don't bother. She offered us a Mel Bag Tag instead. I took up the freebie offer and paid $10 for another to give to Phyllis and Kosov. I had also bought them chocolate in the morning when we had coffee. I correctly guessed they would really like a souvenir. 

There was free instant coffee available, and tea bags, along with a bubbling hot water urn. At some point a huge hot scone with jam and lashings of cream was served.  (I've always wanted to insert lashings of something into a post and never had the chance since I last read a Famous Five book)

We were informed about many things involving the waterways and surrounding land and one fact among most I've forgotten was the area had the highest Aboriginal population in the state before the white invasion. 

We arrived back home around 4.30 and took a rest until we later went out for dinner to the local RSL club. The meal was ok although there was some bother about me wearing my hat indoors. I explained why and I was allowed to keep it. I was annoyed at about the way I was told and once back in Melbourne I sent a message to the club and received an apology. If you've forgotten, I had a melanoma removed from my scalp and there is a bare patch. Slowly its appearance is improving but I am not ready to expose it to the world yet.

The next morning we both set off in our respective cars to Paynesville and after meeting, travelled as foot passengers less than 200 metres across the water by a chain pulled ferry to Raymond Island. We walked the two kilometre koala trail walk and while I was hopeless at koala spotting, my friend was excellent. I couldn't even see some as she was pointing to them.

It took quite some time to walk the two kilometres because of the wildlife distractions. It was a terrific outing to Raymond Island.

We had coffee from a caravan near the ferry and I fortified myself for the journey home with a toasted sandwich and I took a break from driving at a service area at Officer South.

So, the day before:

There are a number of these timber carved sculptures along the foreshore, all war related. They are very well done.

A dredge can be seen in the distance. A lot of money has been spent in the main street along the foreshore and in a kind of marina area. This is to cater for the huge number of tourists who arrive during holiday periods and it seems there is space for numbers to increase. 

Here comes another dredge that I guess had been out dredging. No surprise there. 

A couple of young lads were crabbing near here.

The man made entrance has to be dredged to keep clear of sand. There was once another natural opening that often closed over, so fishing boats could not get out to sea. 

You can see the turbulence at the entrance. 

There were many seals next to the ferry, jumping out of the water but of the dozen or more photos I took, I did not get one of  a seal jumping from the water. A few were sitting on rocks.

The seal fin sits out of the water as the seal tries to warm or cool itself. 

 

Human made concrete point, that was in less than stellar condition but the cormorants liked it.

This sea eagle was sitting in the tree as I snapped, but it had taken flight, which made a much better photo.

The next day at Raymond Island.

The callistemon was past its prime, aren't we all, but what a great shape. 

A tawny frog mouth in its excellent disguise. 

Nein mein herr. I have a headache. I've never seen anything like this, although I've heard the sounds. Make sure you have yours on.

We were nearly back to the ferry terminal when a passing motorist indicated to us to look to the left, and a few metres away was an echidna, or a spiny ant eater. We would have missed it. It had no fear of humans, which they normally do and wandered around the feet of the rapidly gathering throng of tourists. Note its rear paws with claws that face backwards that enables it to quickly burrow straight down underground if threatened. Just wow!

I am again away for a few days where I will stay on my own in a quite posh hotel that I picked up for a good deal. Later babes...

A farm causes me hearing loss

I took many personal photos but not too many of the critters at Myuna Farm. We have been there before but not for many years. Last Saturday there was an incomplete family gathering for no real reason other than a day out during school holidays. The arranged meeting time was ten, a little earlier than I would like but it was only a thirty five minute drive away. 

The staff were negligent as both of my brothers walked through without paying. I was not pleased that my brothers did not front up to pay. My nephews paid for a family ticket plus, so perhaps they thought that included them. Well, that's the best face I can put on it. 

It was good to see family, especially the two year twin boys and their four year old sister.

There were many animals to see and the kiddies and some adults went on a train ride, actually a tractor pulling trailers, through the park and then later a short pony ride. One great nephew twin was eager and loved his pony ride. The other did not want to and took no interest. They are just so different. 

While they were away, I fed a gentle llama and fed a goat, who tried to rip the paper bag from my hand. Ex Sis in Law said one goat was trying to eat her clothing top. It's not like they would be hungry. 

ABI Brother disappeared early as he had won a free pub counter lunch in a raffle. I did not stay to the end as my arthritic neck pain was so bad, as it is if I am standing around or slow walking in the morning. It was so bad I just has to find a seat with a backrest to sit for five minutes, and I did. 

Everything seemed normal once home. I can't remember what I did for the rest of the day. Come Sunday morning, it was time to change the clocks for the start of daylight saving, three bedroom clocks, microwave, oven, weather station, mantle clock and wall clock. 

Every Sunday I put new batteries into my hearing aids. As I went to do so, I realised my right ear one was not around, totally missing. I thought it might turn up in some obscure place, but it hasn't. I called the farm and no one had handed one in, but they said they would call me if it turned up. I really don't have a clue where I lost it. 

The aids are supplied by Workcover, as I was judged to have some hearing loss due to excessive noise at work, so I won't have to pay for a replacement, but in my ears rang what the audiologist told me. Please never lose one hearing aid. Things always work out better if you lose both hearing aids, so I have a rehearsed story about how on the farm I took the aids off because of noisy children, put them in my pocket and they must have fallen out on the train/tractor ride, that I did not take. My replacement hearing aids will cost Workcover maybe $1,500 dollars, yet I make a moral judgement about my brothers avoiding paying a $25 entrance fee. Mind, I have been very careful with my hearing aids and I can't work out how I lost one, but as I have, I am entitled to a replacement. 

Here are a few animal photos I took. This fowl had feathered feet. Watching it walk around was quite amusing. I'm sure one of you will know what kind of chook it is without having to look it up.

Llama took the food so gently from hands unlike the goats.

I think this is great nephew Lucas mounted on a pony.

This would be the cousin of Lucas, great nephew Louie, who found the pony fascinating after his ride.

Ray would have been exhausted by such a gathering, as I pretty well was. Speaking of Ray, and it has been a while since I have cracked up, but tears ran down my cheeks as I sat today having coffee outside Leo's Spaghetti Bar in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. I was overwhelmed with memories which I try to push away, but almost everywhere I go, Ray was with me. We dined there for a romantic meal shortly after we met in 1979.