OLD THINKING ON JOBS, EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.
“Collection of Scotch Proverbs“
Stampoy, Pappity
Better sit idle then work for nought.
Changing of works is lighting of hearts.
Many hands makes light work.
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A miscellany of Irish proverbs (1922)
O’Rahilly, Thomas Francis
Three things that are useless when old, — an old schoolmaster, an old horse, an old soldier (?)’ (GJ. 79, p. 105).
The rest that the smith's working-boy gets,' i.e. no real rest but merely a change from one kind of work to another Learning comes through work. Be one's trade good or bad, it is experience that makes one an adept at it. Dall súil i gcúil dhiiiiic cile. An eye is blind in another man's corner,' i.e. One feels strange among strangers : one does not know one's way about in a strange place, or when attempting unfamiliar work.There are three kinds of men,— the worker, the pleasure-seeker, and the boaster._________________________________________“Turkish Proverbs” 1880.
All work and no play will make such a dull boy.During the pilgrimage not eyery thing does suit the taste of the pilgrim._________________________________________"Buddhist proverbs"KAMMAVAGGA – SECTION OF ACTION. Atisitam atiunham ati say amid am ahu iti vissatthakammante attha accenti manave. “Too cold, too hot, too late” can always be the excuses to those who do not want to work. They let their chance pass by.
Do study the law of Morality. With morality veil studied and observed in this world come all kinds of wealth.
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I also throw in here some consideration of schemes I have seen which haven’t been too bad.
LEAP in BELLINGEN. Peer support. Cool leaders. Appropriate to situation and clients.
JETS for single mothers.
BEECHMONT FOR LIGHT RELIEF
Took a trip up the Mountain behind Nerang to Beechmont. Could see forever and passed my beloved MARIAN VALLEY MONASTERY on the way down to Canungra for lunch. There are some good and fine things in this world.
ADVANCED LEADERSHIP ?
http://www.adv-leadership-grp.com/index.html
Today’s Exercise.
TIME MANAGEMENT CANDIDATE SELF DIRECTED LEARNING GUIDE.
http://www.adv-leadership-grp.com/index.html
The Black and White Homework exercises of the Job Search Network appear to be sourced from the above company. I have been verbalising my attitudes on many things but you can decide for yourself on this one. This webpage which is 1. USA. 2. of a less than salubrious design standard , is the material being used in an Australian Environment to the unemployed of Australia. Well done – send Australian Money to Overseas Companies for strategies which match neither our psyche nor our needs and perhaps have not worked as well there as one might desire.
I will close with the Chicken Burger image sourced also from the Homework Sheets to which said clients are to be devoting their entire Friday.
Having determined somehow that LIFE IS MUCH LIKE A CHICKEN BURGER, the day’s exercises conclude with points which include:
A total time of 6 minutes is THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER for cooking a chicken burger.
“This is how fast food restaurants operate” says the sheet from the Salvos and Friends. ” IDLE TIME IS WASTED TIME” says the sheet and summarises the day’s study with ” USING THE CHICKEN BURGER IN YOUR OWN LIFE WILL ALSO HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH MORE IN A SHORTER TIMETABLE”.
I wonder if anyone mentioned to the Buddha that IDLE TIME IS WASTED TIME. Or to Bill W who founded Alcoholics Anonymous and of whom his wife said: Bill never ran when he could walk, walked when he could sit, sat when he could lie.
The two of them could have been making CHICKEN BURGERS. I am being flippant this morning because I do not want to look too closely today at the deeply disturbing attitudes underpinning these exercises.
It does day very clearly. THE BEST POSSIBLE TIME TO COOK A CHICKEN BURGER IS 6 MINUTES and the “WORST POSSIBLE” is 16 minutes. There are worse possible things in the world of these JOB SEACHERS than taking 16 minutes to cook the burger and there are WORSE POSSIBLE things which could cause them to take longer than 16 minutes.
Do we actually want to live like American Fast Food Restaurants?
I am happy to wait a good half hour for fresh food, cooked with love and thoughtfulness, not prepared in a microwave. I am delighted to have the cook or the waitperson take a moment and chat and ask me how I personally would like my food. WHAT KIND OF LIFE DO WE WANT ?
From IZZY FOREAL with the ZARSOFF BROS.
Join https://www.getdropbox.com/home
Free and easy membership to listen to audios.
As Schumaker says – ALL WORK SHOULD BE GOOD WORK.
As an ancient primary school teacher I would also be happier with something other than,” Go into a quiet room and SHOT the door”. (I let many booboos slip through on this blog and others but I am not an national and international major company in service of “a myriad” [their mistake not mine] of people in trouble. Proof readers anywhere ? Editors?)
I was going to recommend that you take a look at STREETWIZE COMICS – a comic and health issues for Kids which used Aussie graphics rather than the salvos generic Clipart and which was specifically directed at OUR Kids and their world. Being a few years out of
the World of the Young and of the troubled, I find it has folded in 2006. Thanks again Mr Howard and Co. STREETWIZE – relegated to the POWERHOUSE MUSEUM where, perhaps. other Australian Artefacts dwell.
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=123085
Here is the blurb. Shed a tear or two for the loss of this one and for the implications. More U.S. companies? More facile generia is all we seem to have left to us. Chicken Burgers indeed.
Statement of significanceFounded in 1984, Streetwize Comics produces free educational comics for young people covering a wide range of issues. The
comics communicate important messages in an easy-to-read format that young people can relate to, particularly disadvantaged youth. The comics, as well as other material including posters and educators’ notes, deal with topics such as health and safety, legal issues, racism, sexual
harassment, domestic violence, homosexuality, housing, employment, gambling, drug and alcohol abuse and other current social issues. They are developed in consultation with young people from the target audiences and are based on the philosophy that effective communication must be built around the perceptions and needs of the audience. Funding comes from federal and state government departments and community
organisations.
The Powerhouse Museum collection contains a selection of comics from Streetwize, but mainly those editions dealing with health and safety. They illustrate the way in which government and community organisations approach the dissemination of information to targeted groups (in this case, disadvantaged youth) and at the same time provide a record of the range of health and other social issues affecting young people in the late 1990s.
‘Spur of the moment!’, is a national publication aimed at raising awareness among young people of the issues and consequences of car theft. It was produced by Streetwize Comics Ltd for NRMA Insurance Ltd.
MORNING MOTIVATION.
PERHAPS the Goal Forming Workshops worked subliminally as Ideas come racing in. Perhaps also because my years of teaching and forming units of work and Izzy’s years of lecturing and tutoring and study are re-forming within in us despite the stripping away of dignity and pride. Be that as it may, Ideas formed during the night and are still here in the Morning. The Old People of Newstart do have the option of 15 hours per week of Voluntary Work. I woke this morning considering the existent skill base and experience foundation.
We make websites for bands and 19 Century Colonial Studies.
Izzy is writing and I am research Assistant for the PhD thesis on Melinda Kendall (1815-1894_ Australian Pioneer, Teacher and Poet.
Izzy has published a collection of the Poetry of the Illawarra. Re-discovered verse from earlier days. So we begin wonder. Perhaps it would be considered eligible Job Network Activity to compile a similar book of poetry of the Northern Rivers, much of which is hidden in archives and old newspapers, garages and memories.
I wonder whether that will be seen as a valid contribution or whether it will be cappucino making or trolley collecting.
LENNOX HEAD AND BACK
In recovering from Centrelink and JObSeeker Shock, I shall take a look at the weekend newly passed. Lennox Head Weekend was indeed a pleasure. I have been there only once before other than a quick swoop through a few years back. Lennox has good eating and smiling people. 
The 7 mile beach was as impressive as I had hoped. So was the Lake and the LAKE AINSWORTH CARAVAN PARK was HUGE! We were allocated a Cabin which was a half kilometre from the entrance. It was tucked in amongst Trees and Birds. The park was immaculate and reminiscent of childhood dreams of summer holidays. THREE amenities Blocks. I loved it. If I am taking this North Coast Path, and I am, then I shall also embrace THE CARAVAN PARK. I had thought them dead and dying. Long Live LAKE AINSWORTH. In fact the Byron Bay one whose name seems to have been obliterated by the trauma of it, is the only dud we have struck. Happened to be the most expensive as well and the rudest and the most security conscious with minimal success. Apologies to all the GOOD Byron Resorts and if I can recall the DUD I shall list it here.
Grafton has been accommodation friendly as was CASINO. Cheap. Clean. Friendly with character and personalities of their own. 
Izzy likes the LENNOX HEAD BAKERY and I like the salad and fruit shop. Yesterday we ate at CAFE BELLA. The Pub is a little raunchy of a night for my taste but thats where the banditz Play and this time we met up with Lynne Komidar and her family as well as other Convention Friends. Social Experiences for a loner like me. That’s
the Cabin. No 4. Top Marks the more I think about it. White Linen and cooking gear. Even a DVD player and internet wireless access. We coulnd’t get it but we tried. The surrounding cabins housed fellow conventioneers and we shared brekkie and late night capuccinos and tales of this and that. 
Sitting at breakfast on our own porch, we heard a sound which soon
translated into the rising of a balloon over the trees. I’ve not been near enough to actually see the flames before. Off they sailed and we were into the day. The ti-tree lake was precisely the correct colour. I met old friends and initiated the elements of some new relationships. Next week we begin the mud map exploration of our potential new home. CLARENCE. 
ANOTHER DAY WITH INTENSIVE TRAINING AT THE SALVOS
IZZY returns from his UNWORK at the SALVOS and again I give thanks for the Animated Gif. Nothing else covers this area of Shocked Reaction with so accurate in this situation.
So lets look at Mondays again. Monday at the Salvo Job Network. A brief Rounding up. Iz has worked since the 1960s. He has a degree, a Masters and is half way through his PhD. He has headed Bands, produced albums, been Project Coordinator of the Food-Share Australia Programme in the Illawarra, was Recreation Coordinator of Headway Illawarra, Media Communications with AUSTRALIA HEALTH MANAGEMENT Group. Coordinator of the ILLAWARRA COMMITTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, President of UOW SRC and now he is being taught how to Google NORTEC VOLUNTEERING for a volunteer position and Helpful Trainer has written in Large and Clear Letters on a scrap of paper – Just in case Iz has used up all his intelligence in these previous positions- “NORTEC VOLUNTEERING” – Then in a kindly addendum she writes – “GOOGLE – PRINT VOL JOBS.” Just in case he doesn’t know how to use the Internet or a computer. Iz says he now feels perfectly trained to be INTENSE.
As he would after a one day session of HOW TO SET GOALS.
He says he now has a goal - I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE EVER AGAIN.
On top of it all – the coffee is sh** !
Some of the issues are these -
They are told to be there at 9a.m. and in order to receive their $395 per fortnight and to sit for 5 hrs a day 3 days week being ASSISTED.
However, the Training Sessions so far have started sometime 9.15 am or later despite the Clients’ being required to be on time. All Training Sessions Izzy has attended finish early. A lovely bonus but if the day has been planned ahead, what use is an ‘early mark’. By the end of the 2nd week, the 3rd day has already been dropped with instructions to DO YOUR WORKBOOK AT HOME. One question to be asked is – Is the TRAINING COMPANY being paid for the designated hours that this “intensive training’ is recorded as taking place ?
This jobwork network has replaced the original CES which DID actually assist you in finding a job. This Job Network approach states that it doesn’t find you a job. That’s up to you. There is also an apparent assumption that you have been doing something wrong to end up where you are.
Izzy HAS a goal. He has a few goals. One of them is to complete his PhD which he is battling to do because there is NO GOVERNMENT PAYMENT FOR PHD CANDIDATES. AUSTRALIA – THE CLEVER COUNTRY.
Izzy’s overriding philosophy about the whole thing is – GIVE ME A DAY JOB. There’s less work involved and you get real pay. It really is like a punishment for being unemployed.
The day continued into the sublime with the COLES Lass on Checkout. “They are white peaches”. said Iz.
Says the Coles Lass -” I don’t have to know what the fruit is. I just punch in the number on the sticker on the fruit”.
WOW!!!!!
Putting aside the cynical, and recalling programmes which I have seen work and work well, there are ways of developing and providing specialised assistance which are less generic, far less shaming and have lasting impact in lives.
I,myself, in the 1980s, emerged from 20 years of drug and alcohol addiction and unemployability into what was truly INTENSIVE ASSISTANCE. I was assigned a case manager who assessed me – my needs, desires, abilities, health issues etc. We then moved into a cooperative venture of preparing me for the future. Had training or study been the best next move that would have been where I was directed to. In my case, we, WE , working together, re-located my Teaching Career from my early adulthood, and through stages of rehabilitation I was able to resume an aborted career. This was a combination of CES and JETS – JOBS EDUCATION and TRAINING for SINGLE PARENTS.
In today’s case, the Trainer who was showing her Client how to Google for a Volunteer’s Job, at no stage incorporated the information that her client had in fact managed large Volunteer Programmes himself, that his computer, research, goal setting skills etc are highly developed. The various participants in the workshops are treated as if THEIR needs, desires and abilities were all homogenous. The reality is that there is probably a greater diversity than in many other situations due to the only primary common bond being UNEMPLOYMENT. Some are longterm. Some shorterm. Some old, some young. Some are educated and some not. Some are healthy. Some are physically fit and some are not.
Etcetera. Etcetera. Etcetera. As the King of Siam once said. Shall we dance?
The Package which I am seeing doesn’t attend to the differences AT ALL. Being recommended to ring people from the Yellow Pages is a very minimal level of client service. Being sat in front of a video of – HOW TO ATTEND A JOB INTERVIEW – is in the same Lazy technique for assisting people who are already struggling with the effects of unemployment. Suggestions of how people should wear hair or clothing must surely be entering into dangerous areas re personal rights as well as being naive.
Perhaps thats the issue troubling me. The Naivitee, the Folly and the Waste. At some stage is an assessment made of the effectiveness of these programmes ? Of the Harm done ? Is there any psychological assistance ? I haven’t seen it here as yet. Some of the other areas which seem to have missed an opportunity – to me – are:
The group involves changes from day to day eliminating the process of peer support.
The morning breaks change from day to day. There is no social or living skill development such as sitting and eating together. There is no official lunch break. That might be legally correct but is a missed chance at job situational rehab.
Petrol and transport costs are not attended to effectively.
I shall leave off with visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. Of INTENSIVE ASSISTANCE which targetted the “jobseeker’s” specific strengths and weaknesses. Of a hand held approach. If age be the raodblock to employment – then deal with that. If lack of training be the issue – then deal with that. If a mental or psychological condition be the issue, then deal with that. ONCE AGAIN – ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL. Do not treat me for smallpox if I have malaria. And don’t ask me to fly to the moon if I am dolphin.
IZZY adds to this – I have put alot of years into my Game Plan to reach a Goal that I had set only to be sent by the JobSearch Network to start again from the Bottom of the Heap.
In cases where the unemployment is not long established, early intervention in and re-direction of long held and well developed goals might well be deemed unwise and inappropriate.
AND SO WE FIDDLE WHILE ROME BURNS. 
DONKEY MAN OF URUNGA
Just a few words. They tell me that the Donkey died and Brad organised for him to be buried out at the Rainbow House. Then, two days or so later, the Donkey Man had a massive heart attack and we lost him.
I shall write some more stories later, about pigs and kangaroos and sugar gliders and in particular, about the Staffies. There is also the canoe carved from a log and the outrigger he sailed on the River. R.I.P. Donkey Man.
LENNOX HEAD
We are going south for the weekend to Lennox Head. A turn just past the MACADAMIA CASTLE at Knockrow. 7 MILE BEACH they say. I have not actually looked at 7 Mile Beach although I remember being very impressed with the concept when I was a child. Having determined that I appear doomed to remain on the North Coast of NSW and having therefore made the decision to truly embrace that choice and claim the Area, I shall take a close look at the Regional differences etc. Subtle perhaps in Australia but I am taking a look. We have hired the BASIC CABIN. That means no LOO and no shower and leads to use of the AMENITIES BLOCKS. The Lake where the Caravan Park is situated is LAKE AINSWORTH – legendary in NSW Primary Schools for SPORT and RECREATION and school Camps. I managed somehow to avoid ever taking a class of children to said camp and can go today for an adult conference without the added dimension of “TEACHING”. Or even of a random child. Its a Ti-Tree Lake. I have seen it once. That was last year in flood, when Izzy played at the Lennox Point Hotel. I had greater visions for the Lake. Something along the lines of Lake Ecumbene – but there it was. Brown from the ti-tree. A little smaller than the Snowy Mountain Lakes. Up here the CREEKS are HUGE and the LAKES are NOT.
Certainly an entire town could not be submerged under Lake Ainsworth and I won’t be doing a night boat ride over eerie drown-ed streets but it is TI-TREE and the beach, they say, is 7 miles long and they are fine things to look forward to.
A DAY IN BRUNSWICK HEADS
Spent today in Brunswick Heads which is one of the good towns on the Coast. We ate at the Pub which is one efficient, friendly and interesting hotel. The meals are HUGE and I have now eaten there a half dozen times or more and its always been fresh, fast and delicious. Autumn here in the sub-tropics is splendid.
TUESDAY IN BILAMBIL.
THE perfection of Autumn weather in this area is always a delight to me. Has been since I arrived here in May 2001. Today is one of those days. Last night . as we were sitting discussing DENIAL, a large Owl crashed into the window and then took up residence on the Porch. 
MONDAY IN BILAMBIL.
Izzy is off to his Unwork with the Salvos where, today, they deal with THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET. He seems quiet cheerful about it.
The bottom paddock is being slashed and I am going into a meeting in Coolangatta a little later. Qld time that is. The border is just over the far ridge of the Valley.
16 rescues off Gold Coast Beaches yesterday, so they tell me on COASTFM. The local ABC. Our plans continue towards the Clarence with all the attendant excitements and doubts. One thing I shall miss is COASTFM. I also suspect that mobile internet will be an issue. GPRS only I would think and perhaps not in the original abode which is being offered to us. The Residence looks – quite beautiful. In 100 acres. From there we can look about and get a better feel for what we’re planning.
I have been promised one lifelong communist and that makes the area look even more appealing. I don’t like a country where one cannot vote Communist or Socialist. I don’t even know that I want to vote for them but I do want to be able to do so. When the Greens are the furthest Left we get – I don’t feel so good.
I grew up a Carpenter’s daughter in Belmore. Granddaughter and Great Granddaughter of tramways men. Descended from servants and farm labourers, convicts and assisted emigrants. Then I arrived at adulthood amidst Vietnam War and all that came into being in the late 60s and early 70s – The last few decades haven’t fitted me very well at all.
As for today, the weather is back to normal. Cool and fresh and sweet. The Coucal is up near the Cottage, due to the slasher having disrupted his ground nesting home. I have another month or two of my NORTHERN BELLES Calendar Online to finish off and then I am going to town.
P.S. In Skinner Street, South Grafton is a cafe with a Bedouin Tent.
MR B AND THE 3 KIDS
Just a last Centrelink snippet for the weekend. Years back in Urunga, Mr B was raising his three small children after the loss of his young wife. Big Daughter, Only Son and Little Daughter whom I once saw with a cat dangling over her shoulder and thumb in her mouth. A year or more into the sole raising of the three little ones, he received a reduced pension and on enquiry discovered that he had, in fact, only TWO children. The Centrelink Computer had luckily determined that fact.
Well then, said Mr B who is somewhat of a wag, Best take Little Daughter in and hand her back. Who is going to break the news to her?
Even personal visitation with all 3 children met with resistance.The COMPUTER had spoken.
GRAFTON AND THE CLARENCE
It is looking like Grafton and the BIG RIVER just might become HOME for us. If you are Clarence Familiars, I would be very glad to get some feedback on life on the River.
I caught a train from Urunga last year, heading back to the Tweed and a young woman was being taken to live there from Sydney. She wasn’t one bit keen and nor was I. I felt inclined to rescue her even as I was listening to her mother and other Grafton adults reassuring her that life on the Clarence was a fine thing.
That was before I began to study the 19th century in the area and began to visit for Conservatorium Workshops. Now It begins to Call. 
GRAFTON HINTS AND TIPS GLADLY RECEIVED.
CENTRELINK PONDERINGS.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.
That was my waking thought. Another Centrelink encounter via Izzy has brought me to that place. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL. This client – Thats the word they use – This client presents as a 59 year old man with a 40 year employment history including music, welfare, project manager, management of own company and academic background which has reached Masters and PhD candidature, has included tutoring, lecturing, course design of Local Studies Subjects amongst others. The client is highly articulate, well presented, 4 syllabic in literary manner and following a 2 year contract at the University of Queensland and unable to obtain Government Assistance in order to complete his PhD thesis – has been driven into the World of Newstart. The Client is also computer literate and masters his own websites.
However, in the world of ONE SIZE FITS ALL Employment Network, The Client is required to participate in INTENSIVE ASSISTANCE.
For me, there are a number of problem areas involved in this. One for me, despite my being somewhat of a God Freak, is the involvement of religious organisations in such matters . I don’t see that this is appropriate in allocation of Client and Network.
The Intensive Assistance seemed a little exciting – Hmm ! Thought I. Perhaps tailor made to The Client. So The Client heads off into the Industrial Area of Tweed Heads where the Network Office is located, to return after a 2 hour session with a generic programme of activities, designed to prepare him to enter the workforce. The Folder is glossy and contains the fundamental prerequisites of the Boom Era which has just ended and the conclusion seems to me at this stage to be – that with the shiny folder including Logo and rather intimidating catchcry “WE NEVER GIVE UP”, and with 3 weeks of rah sessions in an airconditioned ( don’t worry about the environment) cell, The Client – who is already more Job Ready than the average – will defeat the Great Recession and the sheer lack of jobs . As the world tumbles around us, I do believe the very thought of this is driving me back to the Animated Gif.
Pay no attention to the 590000 jobless figures.
When we have completed the INTENSIVE ASSISTANCE, the Client will be:
- well dressed (with Funds provided by the Network)
- carrying his TARGETTED RESUMES ( which said Network is about to teach him to do. They have already SIMPLIFIED his Resume for the online site and incorrectly listed him as an English Teacher)
- he will understand his Employer Needs
- have found the Hidden Job Market
- have developed JobSearch Strategies
- and Overcome the Roadblocks to Employment.
Some of these Schemes might work. I have not over my 21 years or more of observing them, seen success in any substantial degree but there are some valid and interesting techniques. I have seen far more failures and distressing outcomes. In this case, I see serious problems with the ONE SIZE FITS ALL which does not cater for the enormous variations within Clients and their needs and desires and capabilities.
And the waking thought was that – the programme of Intensive Assistance which I am looking at right now – does not respond in any way at all to the situation which exists. Years back, at an education conference in Boambee, the Guest Speaker spoke of Education in Australia as being oblivious to the Neutron Bomb which had gone off. The building still stood and we catered educationally to an imaginary stable family of Father Mother and Children with 3 meals and cosy beds to tuck into of a night. Here we are, attempting in the same manner, to prepare people who are unemployed from a wide variety of causes, to re-enter the world in which the Neutron Bomb has already exploded. A better outfit of clothes, an even higher standard of education than a PhD Candidature, a wider smile , the compliant attendance at “Training Sessions”, the patronising ” we shall give you petrol vouchers and new clothes” – none of these things is addressing the World in which we live. And each of the elements of these programmes makes a life already difficult and usually incorporating shame and embarrassment, even more difficult, even more shame-filled and even more embarassing.
IT COULD WELL BE TIME FOR THE FULL MONTY.
And IN CLOSING – as they say. I will close on these PET PEEVES as Jim Belshaw calls them:
Why should I say thank you for giving me what is mine. And why should I say thank you for giving me Half of what was already mine? That’s a loose mauling of a quote from someone in the Black Panthers probably. I just can’t deal with the ” if you are a very good boy we might let you have petrol and maybe new shoes”.
Oh! So you have worked all your life and done wonderful things – bad luck. Now we have you.
And on my Mother’s passing, a wee blossom of a social worker, maybe 24 years old, entered the ante-room of shock and overwhelming grief, in the same manner as Young Mr Grace on “Are You Being Served?” – Everyone alright in here ? says she.
Finally my daughter’s comment on emerging from a session with her high school counsellor – I HATE PEOPLE WHO SMILE WHEN YOU’RE TELLING THEM THE SADDEST THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.
__________________________
AND THE FINAL WORD FROM THE CLIENT.
Says I – The original INTENSIVE ASSISTANCE idea was probably pretty good.
YES, Says He – SO WAS THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
EAT MY FISH
Following the weekend discovery that we are connected to EAT MY FISH in DAISY HILL, I decided to re-locate the Fotos from May 2008. EAT MY FISH is situated in a simple neighbourhood shopping centre and is simply EXCELLENT. We ventured into it because it was the only cafe open when we found ourselves in the Belly of Just off the M1 Land en route from Brisbane airport to Bilambil. Seeking only Vegetarian Food we were intimidated by the sign but hunger won. There was some trepidation in the waiting despite the reassuring conversation with the Chef. And then – BRAVO !
EAT MY FISH – DAISY HILL, BRISBANE.
HAMISH AND CO
A few wet and wild days here as aresult of the slow moving Hamish. He sounds like my enlarged heart which apparently slogs around within my chest. She isn’t fast either but does wreak havoc at times. The beaches are closed on the SUNSHINE and the GOLD Coasts. I have not left the Hill to go and look but the TV shows storm eaten beaches and walls and homes perilously edge hanging. It hasn’t been unpleasant being at home. Now we wait to see what Hamish and Co are intending to do next.
They say people are now out surfing and that the weather is ‘improving’ as night comes approaching. They are expecting to stop calling him Cyclone tomorrow but Hamish has fooled them for quite a few days now. We will see. The surf comp down at Coolangatta has proved exciting. I know little about surfing. I do know that a Cyclone will not have stopped them. I used to attend a meeting in RAINBOW BAY SURF CLUB and the views stretched from the Bay all the way to Surfers’ Paradise. The lads would sit there paying attention to the business of the meeting but if the surf came good, their heads would come up , noses sniff the air, eyes open wider and they would slowly rise from their seats as if being called by an ancient Siren. Down the stairs and GONE !
I, myself, have only experienced that with FISHING. I do know that particular siren call.
THE WEDDING
Having had time to recuperate, I am left with fond memories of interesting and truly nice people. I heard tales there of Ulysses Bike Rides and Sculling and met a fellow railway person. My own line goes back to the steam trams of the 19th century and Izzy’s brother has a gold card just like my Nana and Poppa Bell had. I grew up in Belmore on the Goods line to Chullora. The track was straight across the road over the canal where the chokoes grew and the water flooded when they opened the gates of Warragamba Dam. Well – they told us that it would flood when the gates opened at the Dam.
At the wedding, I did get to eat caramellised onions which I have never had before. I have a soft spot for young people as well. No we need to choose a gift. Belatedly – but we were unsure of the process due to the many years between weddings for me. All in all the memories are rather nice. Someplace in these blogs is a picture or two from EAT MY FISH in DAISY HILL. A great cafe where we had the BEST Vegie Burger. I shall locate those posts as well because turns out one of the family connections is the young man who cooked the Burger for us and told us about animal products in the wedges. I just might do another wedding after all.
VALE BRAD
It seems that it was indeed Brad. I am only getting this from my Facebook kids so far but they say it was a heart attack. My sister told me about Liz Allen and Kerry Marsh also passing away and these are sad times in URUNGA. Years back when I was teaching at Urunga, we lost several people in a cluster like this and the grief counsellor was called in to address the school and spoke of the Angel of Death HOVERING over the town. I found that a little disconcerting.
Turning away from the jokes, It is sad. Brad kept Staffies and Tyrone, a big pit bull. Our Staffie, Odin, who was gentle and timid and kindly by nature, always flared up when in sight or smell of Ty and then battle would ensue. We couldn’t leave the pair of them off at the same time. They were both rascals.
Urunga is one of those small towns which breed one million tales of eccentricity and humour. I shall get to the stories bit by bit. But not today.
DONKEY MAN
Way back in Urunga in the 1990s, I was out driving with my friend, RQ, looking for a xmas treet. Just south of Urunga we came across a sign saying XMAS TREES FOR SALE and drove up to a rainbow house. Rainbow inasmuch as the corrugate iron roof had been painted in panels of whatever coloured paint was available at the time. Out came a fierce and wild bearded man with an axe over his shoulder who told us to follow him. As we did so, I was wondering about the wisdom of following a large bear like man with an axe into the pine forest but down we went and out we came with a perfect tree purchased cheap and with goodwill. A couple of years later when circumstances led me, my son Mad O’Brian and our dog Odin to the Brigalow Caravan Park just across the Highway from the Rainbow House, The bearded man took in Odin and became a good friend to all 3 of us. Brad is his name. He was known as Donkey Man. His property housed all manner of critters and out the back was 100 acres of bush with roos and sugar gliders and the ocean not far behind. Brad led his donkey to town and often Odin had Donkey’s lead in his mouth when they went in to fetch the day old bread for all the creatures who lived out there.
Now it seems that Brad might have passed away sometime this week. I am still hoping its not so but the word I am getting is that it is. 
I saw Brad just before Xmas in Urunga and he bear hugged me as usual and told me about his two little boys. I shall look for details and hope its a rumour. Either way, Brad is one of those people who deserves to be remembered and written about. I have very vivid memories of times there and will write of more later.
WEDDING DONE
We did the wedding.We did it fairly unscathed and also fairly unfed but it was a far greater pleasure than I had expected. I shall save my usual cynicism and comments about VENUES and such things because I met some VERY nice people and felt very welcome. Therefore restraint of pen and tongue.
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