LEE'S MOUNTAIN VIEWS

After yesterday's post in which comments were made about laying blame...or not laying blame on the military in the Black Hawk tragedy, in which I made comment saying it's about time Private Jake Kovco's family moved on, an article appears in today's paper. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I'm a little confused!

The family of Private Kovco has now slammed the inquiry's finding that the soldier's shooting death occurred because he was 'skylarking'. Suicide and murder have been ruled out previously and the new report blames Kovco for shooting himself and dying as a result of the inappropriate handling of his personal weapon, which occurred in the context of Pte Kovco engaging in skyklarking/fooling around behaviour. Just moments before he was shot, Pte Kovco was joking and singing with his two roomies.

Now this is where I'm confused...Kovco's widow and her family insist his death was accidental. And her father said there was no evidence to back up the skylarking claim. He, Kovco's father-in-law claims, "I believe that, whatever happened - now I had some theories of my own I'm not going into - is that it was a total accident'.

Isn't that what this latest finding is saying? Mrs Kovco (widow) is saying she has a concern about the term 'skylarking'. If it wasn't murder and wasn't suicide and it wasn't an accident...what was it? Beats me! I hate to say this (or write it) but I think young Mrs Kovco is following her own personal agenda here...and perhaps looking for a huge pay-out. I may be wrong. But I really don't understand why she is going on and on, 'picking out fleas when none are there any longer!'

A WASTE OF TWO YOUNG LIVES

Further to the Black Hawk tragedy, it really makes me wonder "what's it all about, Alfie?"...Fiji's promised military coup was stalled because of a rugby match!

It's good to know where their priorities lie, isn't it? Commodore Bainimarama might have to clean up his act, I would reckon! The police team beat his army team 17-15. Perhaps he should go back to climbing coconut palms!

MORE PEOPLE-BASHING!

Mel Gibson did it! Michael Richards (Kramer) did it! Now Danny DeVito has lashed out on Barbara Walters' top ranking morning chat show. Apparently, he was looking very hung-over and began mocking President Bush. You'd think DeVito would pick on somebody his own size, wouldn't you?

TALKING ABOUT SIZE...

German sex educators plan to launch...no, not the B-52...but a spray-on condom, tailor-made for all sizes! Ummmm...my mind boggles...and I shall say no more!

EVERYBODY HAS AN 'OFF DAY'...

A female killer whale grabbed her trainer by the foot and pinned him to the bottom of the tank at San Diego's Sea World show. The other orca trainers in the meantime are staying out of the water until they figure out what went wrong. The trainer who was dragged to the bottom of the tank is fine and in good condition. Kasatka, the orca, has been at Sea World for 25 of her 30 years and twice before has tried to bite her trainers. It's easy to understand why she was a bit fed up...how would the trainer like everyone to expect him to jump out of the water upright every day so some idiot could jump of his nose? I'm on Kasatka's side...I would have held him under a little longer until he promised never to treat her that way again! She must be due for long service leave soon and a pro-rata superannuation pay-out!

Duty's Tragic Call.

The tragic deaths incurred by the collision of the Black Hawk helicopter with HMAS Kanimbla, causing it to plunge into the dark, forbidding depths of the ocean, some two to three kilometers below the surface, has sadden this nation. Two fine young men lost in the prime of their lives. The pilot, Mark Bingley leaves behind a young widow and a six-month old son, a son who will never know his father. 28 year-old SAS Corporal Joshua Porter, forever entombed beneath the sea it would appear after the length of time that has transpired since the helicopter went down, leaves behind a loving family who still wait in hope that he will be found alive. Sadly, as each minute, each hour and day passes, this is an unlikely scenario.

Let's all give these fine young men, their loved ones and friends, a moment's silence and our heartfelt thanks for their service in conflicts over the past years. Lest We Forget.....

Doing a Nellie Melba!

I wonder if Kim Beazley will ever get the message! It's about time he swallowed his pride and gaffs, steps aside and allows someone else take over the leadership of the Labor Party. Not that I mind him staying as leader, mind you...he has less chance of leading the Labor Party to a victory in the next federal election as I have!

Not only is he emulating Dame Nellie Melba, Australia's famous opera singer, who kept coming back for encore performances, but now he's emulating Fred Astaire by planning to do a 're-shuffle' of his frontbench! Give up while you're not ahead, Kim...you can neither talk properly, let alone sing...and I doubt very much you can do a successful 'shuffle'!

Bee-Careful...Bee-Good...It's the Buzz! Bee-Bond Is the Name!

Scientists in the US claim they have trained bees to sniff out bombs. They say the project could have far-reaching applications in homeland security and the Iraqi war.

The bees have been trained to stick out their proboscis-the tube the use to feed on nectar - (Okay...stop laughing...I'm bee-ing serious!)

The 'Stealthy Insect Sensor Project' exposed the insects to the odour of explosives followed by a sugar-water reward in their training.

My name is Beeeee-ond.....a honeytini, please, sticky not stirred!

No Strict Timing!

Okay! Okay! So I didn't post any recipes over the weekend! Let's live on the edge a bit and not keep to a hard and fast routine! Spontaneity is the name of the game! It's a great time of the year down here in 'Down Under'. It's mango season...'mango madness'! I miss being surrounded by mango trees as I was when living in tropical North Queensland. My house, when I was working in Collinsville the first time around, had four Kensington Pride (Bowen mango) trees in its back yard. On the property of the motel I was managing in Cardwell, about 21 trees tempted me regularly. Between the highway motel that I managed and the beachfront motel at the other end of the property were cabins, caravan sites...and lots and lots of mango trees! I'll stop my drooling and swooning! Here are a couple of recipes for you to play around with.

Mango & Prawn Salad: Shell and devein 12 (or as many as you desire!) large prawns. Halve really large prawns. Cut a large slice from each side of the mango stone, then cut away the remaining flesh. Cut the large mango slices into strips. Blanch 125g snow peas in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and cool under cold, running water. If you prefer, snow peas can be served raw in the salad. Combine prawns, mango, snow peas, 4 chopped shallots and 1 cup of pecans in serving bowl. Pour over some French dressing. Season to taste. Toss well and serve. When you are making a vinaigrette for the salad, you can add a little chopped or crushed chilli to the dressing if you'd prefer a bit of a 'bite'!

Mango Chicken Ginger: Dust 4 chicken breast fillets (or thigh fillets) in flour. Pan fry in 1 tablespoon hot extra virgin olive oil with 40g butter until golden brown on both sides. Add slices from 2 mangoes. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in 2 teaspoons finely chopped preserved ginger, 1 tablespoon French mustard, 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon, 1 tablespoon honey, two or three pinches of powdered chicken stock and 1 cup dry white wine. Return to boil, cover and simmer for 2 minutes. Lift out the chicken and keep it warm. Puree mango sauce until smooth, then return to pan and stir in 1/2 cup cream. Season to taste. Serve garnished with mango slices, pitted black olives and green capsicum strips.

Mango Ice Cream: Puree 1 peeled, seeded, chopped mango with 1 pawpaw (papaya) together with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Set aside. Combine 4 egg yolks and 2/3rd cup icing sugar in the top of a double boiler. Whisk mixture until eggs are pale in colour and thick. Remove from heat and whisk a further 2 minutes. Gently fold in the fruit puree into the egg mixture. Add cream and mix until well blended. Pour into a 1 litre metal bowl and place in freezer. Before it's set, take out and beat again, then freeze in a decorative mould, if you like, for a minimum of 3 hours. To remove, dip the mould in very hot water for 30 seconds before turning out or scoop out as ice cream balls. Rockmelon/cantaloupe could be substituted for the pawpaw/papaya...or just make the ice cream from mangoes!

Ginger Mango Cheesecake: Thoroughly combine 125g butter, melted, with 2-1/2 cups chocolate biscuit crumbs. Flatten across the bottom and sides of a greased 23cm spring-form pan and chill. Filling: Heat 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup lemon juice until boiling, add 25g lemon jelly crystals and stir to dissolve. Allow to cool. Whip 375g can evaporated milk, chilled until thick. Add 200g soft cream cheese and 2 mangoes, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped. Beat until smooth. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar, vanilla essence, to taste, 1 tablespoon glace ginger, finely chopped and jelly mixture. Pour over crumb crust and chill. Decorate with mango slices, piped cream, small lemon pieces and chocolate curls.
Or....if you prefer.....stand over your kitchen sink and just 'hoe' into the mangoes! Yum!

More Dangerous Here!

Those who jump up and down about our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan should listen to the daily news...or even the hourly news! The youth in this country are wiping themselves out far quicker than in any war in Iraq or elsewhere!

If it's not high-speed fatal car crashes, it's through brawls and other unnecessary acts of violence. Another young man is missing after being involved in a fight on board a pleasure boat in Sydney. Apparently, he fell overboard, hitting his head on the way down. The search continues.

Give Us a Break!

I attended Gympie State High School. It was compulsory to wear the school uniform. There were probably a few grumbles about the non-flattering uniform but that didn't matter. At least it saved on our parents' pockets in having to buy clothes for us to wear to school. Wearing of the uniforms also, no doubt, eased peer pressure in that we didn't feel we had to 'keep up with the Jones'. I don't even know if we had a problem with 'peer pressure' when I was in high school or when I commencing working. If it was around, it didn't alter my behaviour in any way and still doesn't!

What has prompted this post is an article I read in today's 'Sunday Mail' about "State school uniform standards are now enforceable by law, making it possible for schools to compel students to conform to a code, and to punish those who don't conform with sanctions." Apparently dress codes in state schools were under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education manual. Now, under the new legislation, schools that don't have an official uniform can still maintain its "no uniform" policy but its dress standards would be enforceable. In schools where there is a uniform policy, students will be expected to conform.

I don't think it hurts the kids to wear uniforms! And I believe we allow kids too much say in matters these days...they are still 'kids' after all!

I've not worn a uniform since, of course...I hate them! Even when I was cheffing, I created my own "uniform" as I didn't want to conform. At high school uniforms were the rule, so I conformed! I doubt it did my any harm.

Schoolies: I think this is a load of hogwash, too! I'd already been working a couple of years earning my own living at the age of these kids are who go crazy at the coast this time each year! 'Schoolies' Week' may bring a lot of money to the coastal communities, but it also brings added pressures and problems.

When I was a teenager working in a legal office in Gympie, every weekend during the spring/summer months, about three, sometimes four girlfriends and I went to the coast, either Mooloolaba or Noosa. Noosa became our beach of choice after a year of frequenting Mooloolaba. It was also closer to Gympie. We spent the days, from early morning, sometimes hitting the beach at 6am, until late afternoon, surfing (board and body-surfing), sunbathing (in the days when sun cancer wasn't a term in our vocabularly) and our nights were spent dancing our feet off at either the dances at the RSL Hall in Tewantin or various record hops. On the long weekends, midnight to dawn record hops were organised, so we would be dancing through the nights! I remember a couple of instances where I had blisters on the soles of my feet from 'rockin' & rollin' all night long!

Alcohol wasn't a big part of our equation, nor were sex and drugs. When alcohol was present, binge-drinking definitely wasn't part of it. We weren't supposed to be drinking so, although not totally abiding by the rules, we had respect for the rules and didn't abuse the fact that we were drinking illegally. I know in my case, and that of my group of friends, we still had our parents to answer if we stepped over the line. (And you can guarantee they would have heard about our behaviour somehow or other...lots of 'bush-telegraphs" and bush-tom-toms' around in those days!) I'm not saying we were a bunch of prudes...we weren't...but we had respect for our parents and ourselves.

So many of the young people of today appear to lack respect for their parents, themselves or each other. A lot of the time, I believe the blame is upon the parents. When I first moved to the mountain, I cooked in a restaurant up here. A young sixteen-year old lass who was still going to school at the time but doing work experience on weekends at the restaurant was heading off to the Gold Coast for 'Schoolies' Week'. Her parents loaded up the boot of their car with booze for her to take to the coast. They drove her down! Great message, I thought! (Hang on! I'll take my tongue out of my cheek and remove the sarcasm key!)

It's all a bit sad and a bit crazy, I reckon! I know if I had kids attending 'Schoolies' I'd be worried sick. I would hope that I had instilled in them good values but there are just so many dangerous traps for kids today to fall into and so many bad characters around who prey on them, looking for the slightest, smallest chink in their young armour.

Scaramouche....

Following on from my previous post about David Hackworth and Peter Hackworth and my time at 'Scaramouche' Restaurant in Brisbane, I'll relate a story.

I have many to tell about my time at 'Scaramouche'...and all, I think, are fairly interesting and fun. I worked at 'Scaramouche' on tables, (and one time in the kitchen...but that's another story for another day!) starting off by going into help one day. I had taken four days or five days off from my regular day job, which was in the fashion industry, to give a hand...just polishing glasses, writing up the blackboard menu...stuff like that but as the day progressed, I became so involved I didn't want to leave and I ended staying on into the evening, greeting and seating guests...and doing the odd bit of waitressing. No stoppin' this kid! Peter asked me if I'd like to do a couple of nights a week and I jumped at her offer, starting off doing Friday and Saturday nights. By the end of my time at the restaurant I was doing five nights a week and all through my service there I maintained the main section. The restaurant was divided up into three sections at the beginning. My section grew! It ended up extending from a back room opposite the kitchen, through the main area, up unto the 'stage' section! We did three turn-overs a night! First one commenced at 6pm. Second one around 8pm and the third around 9pm. I still had my full-time day job, as well.

One particular incident comes to mind. It was Saturday night. All week the kitchen staff had been taking the bookings we discovered, the hard way...and they had failed to enter most of the bookings in the book, so we were absolutely over-booked! Around 7-7.30pm that particular Saturday evening, prospective diners were queued up at the door, extending from the restaurant, which was on the corner of Turbot Street and Coronation Drive (for you who know that area of Brisbane), up along Turbot Street, around the corner into George Street. The Majestic Hotel was on the corner and the queue was past the Majestic Hotel. I don't know if the hotel is still there. So you imagine the crowd of hungry diners waiting to be seated inside the restaurant! The early diners were still leisurely enjoying their meals, totally unaware of the mayhem which was about to explode...or implode! The guy on the door wasn't handling the situation very well, and no one could blame him. Peter started to hyper-ventilate almost...she was in a panic, not knowing what to do being faced with the possibility of a riot on her doorstep! I walked outside and that's when I saw the length of the queue. I came back inside the restaurant, took Peter aside and said, "Look! There's no point panicking...as that's not going to solve a thing...it will only make the situation worse. My suggestion is that you and I grab ourselves a bottle of wine and head upstairs for a bit and let them work it all out themselves!" To which Peter let out a huge breath of air and replied, "What a great idea! Let's go!"

This we did. The two of us sat on the stairs, at the top of the staircase and drank our wine! By the time, we came back down, everyone was seated, bar a party of six! They, fortunately for us, were in a good, partying mood. When Peter and I approached them, I explained to the group that they would only have to wait a little bit longer before we would seat them. They replied, "That's okay as long as we can have a drink while we are waiting!" At that time, 'Scaramouche' wasn't licensed but the party had bottles of wine under their arms.

We said..."Great! Not a problem! Come with us!" Peter and I led the happy revellers up the stairs to the store room! Once there, I opened their wine. They asked us to join them and we did! So there we were with the jovial group sitting on bags of flour, sugar and large buckets of mayonnaise or whatever, having our own private party! Shortly thereafter, their table was ready and all was well!

There was not an unhappy diner in the restaurant that night and I think Peter was eternally grateful for my suggestion.

Years later, I was up in North Queensland taking on a new job as chef. The guy whom I was replacing worked with me on my first night. We were exchanging stories about cooking, restaurants etc., as one does, and for some reason or other, I began telling him this story. As I got towards the end of my tale, he had a grin like the Cheshire Cat out of 'Alice in Wonderland' on his face. He said, "I remember that night! It was the talk of the trade in the city!" Apparently, the word had passed around and our magical trick was now a well-known legend in the Brisbane restaurant trade! Small world! And it is a lesson to be learned that when relating a story to make sure you don't embellish it. Just tell it as it was because you will always get caught out if you spin a yarn that's not true!

A lot of the restaurant folk used to come to 'Scaramouche' after they'd finished working in their restaurants to have a drink with us. We seemed to be always closing much later than the others at that time. It used to be a lot of fun sitting around a couple of tables in front of the 'stage' area exchanging stories as we enjoyed a few drinks.

The Silence of the Men!

For the next few days/weeks, you who have menfolk in your lives will hear little more than a grunt out of them! Glory be, I hear you say!

The Ashes have begun as I write! Our boys are walking out on the the field! Now, the Poms are making their entrance! It's all about to erupt!

Stock up your eskies! Load up your fridges! The test match is about to commence! I just hope our fellows play better than how the 'Young Divas' sang the National Anthem...or how the sound equipment worked (didn't work!)

With all the media hype that's been going on during the lead-up to The Ashes, it's hard not to be carried along with the euphoria whether you're a cricket nut or not! Go the Aussies!

I'm Not Really....

The other day I was joking around with a friend when another person, a social worker, joined us. I didn't know this woman but the conversation continued on in its jovial manner. Something was mentioned about 'anger management'. The woman related a humorous tale and my friend jokingly nodded towards me and said, laughingly to the other person, that I'd be a good candidate or words to that effect. We all laughed but I've been thinking about this on and off ever since the comment was made.

I don't believe I am an 'angry' person. There are many things, I know, that make me feel anger like, for example, paedophilia, rape, terrorism, ignorance, stupidity, ill-treatment of animals, being taken for granted, to mention a few! Oft times some people make me angry but I tend to 'stew' privately 99% of the time!

I believe rather than being classed as an 'angry' person, I would consider myself to be 'passionate' person. I feel 'passion' about certain issues. I'm not afraid to speak my mind if and when an issue arises.

I don't suffer fools easily, if at all. And that includes myself if I do something stupid when I should have known better!

Standing up for what one believes in and not being afraid to voice one's thoughts or feelings, doesn't make a person an 'angry' person to my mind. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so.

A Sad Day In Swimming...But Good On Him!

'Thorpedo' has announced his retirement. He did it in the style and class we are used to seeing from him. What a fine young man of just 24 years he is. I have to be honest and admit I had a tear in my eye watching him speak today during his press conference. He is such a great role model for all young people. During his swimming life, he inspired us all, I'm sure. We will miss Thorpie, but let us respect his decision as it is, in the end, his decision to make and his only.

Best wishes to this wonderful young Aussie...may his future be bright and may all his dreams come true.

Duh!

I finally 'discovered' that I don't have to keep logging in every time I want to write a new post! All I have to do is click on the 'header' on my site where it says 'New Posts' and it brings me directly to my 'compose' page! Double "Duh"!

But...I deserve to give myself a pat on the back! I successfully installed my broadband modem yesterday after having cords going everywhere, around my neck, through my fingers, legs, over the monitor, around my pc and in the midst of all the drama, a friend arrived! Not exactly the right time to arrive for a visit! I put my toys aside until after he left as there was no point my continuing while he was here, plus he and his wife don't have a computer and know nothing about them (quite a phenomenon these days!). I set my frustration aside, poured him a wine as he settled in for a long chat! Hiding my impatience to continue with the installation/connection, under pressure from myself, I enjoyed the interlude but as soon as he departed I tackled the 'job' once more, successfully achieving what I set out to do. I'm now with BigPond Broadband and now my phone is free for all the stupid 'call centres' to annoy the hell out of me! My 'first' call was one such call and I gave them short-shift!

Words of Wisdom

Top US general in the Middle East, General John Abizaid, says if the world does not find a way to stem the rise of Islamic militancy, it will face a third world war. General Abizaird compared the rise of militant ideologies such as that driving al-Qaeda (al-Qaida) to the rise of fascism in Europe, which set the stage for World War ll.

In his words, "If we don't have the guts enough to confront this ideology today, we'll go through World War lll tomorrow."

Now is not the time to tread softly, wear kid gloves or ignore General Abizaid's words of wisdom.

Leave Him Alone!

I wish everyone would lay off Ian Thorpe. 'Thorpie' has served this country well in his chosen sport of swimming. If he decides to give up swimming, it is his right to do so. Selfishly, I will miss watching him swim as I'm a huge fan of Ian Thorpe, however, one must realise this young man has devoted his time and energies since he was 15 (and younger) to competitive swimming. It's understandable if he is suffering 'burn-out'. Also, we must understand he had glandular fever earlier this year. The effects of glandular fever can linger on for years.

There comes a time in everyone's life for a 'seachange'...when that time comes, we have no control over its unexpected arrival. We just know something has to change. So, good on you, Thorpie...whatever you choose to do. You have represented your country well. I, for one, am very proud of you and your achievements. Now it's your time to enjoy life without the pressures you've had to contend with.

Can't Help Myself!

While on the subject of 'chickens', I thought I'd give you a couple of recipes for non-toxic chickens, just in case I've whetted your taste buds. Sneak into your neighbour's yard tonight and swipe a couple of his chickens, that way you'll be sure not to get poisoned. Don't tell your neighbour I was the one who advised you to do this or he might sue me on Monday!

Roast Spatchcock with Lemon & Herbs: Make a lemon and herb paste: Combine 1 tablespoon rosemary leaves, 1/4 cup Italian parsley leaves, 1/2 cup basil leaves, 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped sage, 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind and 2 tablespoons extra virgin oil in a food processor. Process until a paste forms. Season to taste with sea salt and cracked black pepper. Using hands, loosen skin on four spatchcocks by pushing your fingers between skin and breast meat, then rub 1 tablespoon of paste over meat. Pull skin back over meat. Season to taste. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large flameproof casserole and brown spatchcocks, in batches, until golden all over, then remove from pan. Rub spatchcocks with remaining paste and set aside. Heat some more oil in pan, add some eggplant chopped, 4 small zucchini, chopped, 4 egg tomatoes, coarsely chopped, 1 red capsicum/pepper, chopped, 2 Spanish onions, chopped and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup burghul (cracked wheat), then add spatchcocks, cover with tight-fitting lid and pot roast at 220C for 20 minutes. Remove lid, then roast a further 10 minutes or until spatchcocks are cooked. Serve on a bed of the vegetable mixture.

Smoked Chicken in Filo: Chop 1 bunch chives and mix with 300ml sour cream. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, a little fresh ground black pepper and the juice of half a lemon. Remove meat from 1 smoked chicken and place bones in a saucepan with 400ml a rich chicken stock, 1/2 cup white wine and a dash of port. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer to reduce to about 400ml. Remove one sheet of the filo pastry. Brush liberally with melted butter or with olive oil. Place oiled side down on a second sheet of pastry. Take about 1/6th of the smoked chicken meat and place it at one end of the pastry. Peel 2 avocados and slice thinly. Place 1/6th avocado on top of the chicken on the pastry. Add a heaped tablespoon of the sour cream mixture. Form into a log shape by folding both edges of the pastry into the centre and rolling up. Brush the roll with more melted butter or oil and place on a baking tray. Repeat five more times with the remaining mixtures. Bake the rolls in a preheated 200C oven until the pastry is browned, about 15-20 minutes. To serve: pour a little of the hot, reduced sauce on each of six plates and top with a filo roll.

Cluck! Cluck! Or Should I Make Noises Like a Mushroom?

The point is, government treats us like mushrooms by keeping us in the dark and feeding us...well, you know what...chicken manure?!! If mushrooms made a noise, I would make a noise like one!

Only by persistence on the part of 'Courier Mail' reporter, Renee Viellaris, was the public alerted to the death of 49,000 chickens from an overdose of parasite control treatment. The government doesn't think us, the mere public/consumers, need to know the fact that 150,000 chickens, which had survived a toxic overdose in the feed that killed their feathered mates, had arrived at our supermarkets! Who's having roast chicken for dinner this weekend?

It is apparent the government never intended us to find out about this. Except for Viellaris's chasing up the Minister for Primary Industries, Tim Mulherin, in her investigation of this issue, we'd still all be in the dark. Mulherin is dodging and darting from the bullets and passing the blame onto others, not wanting to admit to any misdemeanour! Mulherin has been ducking and weaving for the last couple of days, refusing to answer questions and his 'deputies' and spokespeople claim he has been in 'all-day meetings'. He did, however, find time to make a press statement about Queensland citrus producers, saying they were aiming for the Olympics after their mandarins were recommended for the 2008 Olympic menu!

I guess feeding mandarins to the Mandarins is more important than feeding toxic chicken to the voting public...and their offspring!

Watch This Space!

Self-proclaimed 'British' multi-millionaire, Mohammed Islam aged 22 years (I guess he's a Muslim...what do you reckon?) arrested on the Gold Coast yesterday with almost $120,000.00 in cash and a mobile/cell phone stuck up his rectum would have found it difficult to sit on a bar stool, I would imagine. Just as well, he was arrested!

He was charged in Southport Court yesterday with possessing 'tainted' property...one doesn't need much imagination to figure that one out!

A check with Interpol revealed Islam had supplied police with a false London address. I would hope he is boarding a jet back to Britain as I write.

A Pain in the Butt!

I've switched over to Beta...for better or worse! Worse, I think, as I can see no advantages at all! Also why do I have to go through such a rigmarole in having to sign in every time I want to post??? It was much simpler the old way! As the saying goes..."why fix it, if it ain't broke?"

Storm Brewing.....

I was tempted to post this watercolour I did a couple of years ago because Robyn "puss-in-boots' posted a pic on her blog which reminded me so much of my painting, although the colours are different.

The wind is still blowing a gale up here at the moment. I spent the afternoon at the local RSPCA 'Op Shop' terrorising the customers! It's always a bit of fun and I end up coming home with lots of goodies! Today, however, I limited my spending to some children's books, a martini glass and a pair of white slacks for myself. The books are for my nephew's 15th month old little girl. Children can never have enough books to my mind. When I was young, every birthday and every Christmas I received many books as part of my presents. I used to love the smell of new books...still do, though these days I buy them second-hand more than I do buy them new. There is an excellent second-hand bookshop up here on the mountain, which donates a percentage of their takings to Landcare. The quality of the books available is excellent as is the range.

I love books and I love bookshops. I can wander around studying the titles for hours, wishing I had an unlimited bank balance! My many bookcases here at home groan under the weight of my books. I have more books than the shelves can hold. My bedside chest of drawers presently holds a dozen or more...ready to be read.

Between browsing through bookstores, kitchenware stores and good food stores I could easily fill a day...oh...add music stores to that list, as well!

I Haven't a Clue!

What I'm going to write about, that is! As I've been a bit slack in that department this week, I felt I had better 'say' something today before I head out for the afternoon. It's blowing a gale outside and the temperature has dropped drastically...winter has made a return visit, so it's out with the warm clothes, albeit only for today as reports are this is only a twenty-four hour or so visit.

Not that I mind the cooler weather. I prefer it to the scorching heat of summer. So far we've had a gentle entry into spring/summer and I'm hoping against hope, we don't have a very hot summer this season. No doubt, Christmas Day will be its usual furnace.

A wild storm went through parts of Brisbane yesterday afternoon causing loads of damage. The mountain received the rain and some small hail but no damage.

The new Bond movie is being promoted heavily...all eyes are upon Daniel Craig, the new James. I think he should be okay...better than some others, namely Roger Moore. I'm still a Sean Connery fan...he, in my mind, was the best Bond.

I had an interesting experience one evening many years ago. I thought I was starring in a Bond movie. An elderly gentleman who was at the time the Australian Consul for Chile and also a Doctor of Dentistry used to take me out to dinner once a week. It was a purely platonic relationship and I enjoyed his company and stories. He was born and bred in Brisbane and a 'true blue' Aussie. During the time we were dining together was when Allende was kicked out of power in Chile. One Wednesday evening, we had just begun to place our meal order when my escort was called to the office of the restaurant. He returned to our table saying we had to leave immediately as there had been a threat made against him! He instructed me to go one way to the carpark as he went by another. Arriving at the car, I stood wondering to myself as he was opening the car door, whether or not I should climb in the car with him. My mind was racing through all the movies I had seen where the cars blew up when the key was put in their ignitions! I felt it wouldn't be very 'kosher' for me to mention this to him at that particular moment. I thought to myself, 'What the hell! If it's going to happen it's going to happen and I shouldn't allow myself such thoughts." I felt it would be a very cowardly thing for me to do, to allow him to proceed while I ran! So, I got in. As you can see, the car didn't blow up!

He drove me home along a different route...along Coronation Drive, saying that the Federal Police were following us at a distance and that they would have done all their checks on me etc. As we were driving along, I could smell petrol. Again, my mind went into overdrive. Finally, I just had to say something, so I pointed the smell out to him. He had a can of motor mower fuel in the trunk of his car! He deposited me safely to my door and went on his way!

I never did get to eat that evening!