Fun Monday

Now let me see... I've been going to do a post for Fun Monday... but for one reason or another I keep putting it off... there must be a single word explanation for this...PROCRASTINATION.

And our Fun Monday host for the month of October has set this as the topic for the week so you had best get a start on as there's no way of telling how long it might take!!!
I hope that Faye will forgive me for using her Maxine example... its just SOO right.

Now if procrastination ever becomes an Olympic event you are looking at a potential World Champion right here, I have been putting off or postponing things for so long now that it takes a conscious effort to decide to get out of bed each morning and from that time on throughout the day for each chore or task I have to do.

It seems to me that the best method of avoiding putting things off is to convince yourself that you really want to do ... whatever it is you are post-poning, we are far less likely to post-pone something we enjoy doing... good luck with convincing yourself that you enjoy weeding the garden or washing the car!!!!

I believe that procrastination is born out of laziness but develops far beyond mere apathy the longer we practice it, as an example of this.... I can quite easily put off washing the dishes for a week at a time (some time back I purchased an extra set of dishes as I was running out of plates before I was ready to wash-up) now I look at this as dedication to the cause... PROCRASTINATION Rules!!!!!

Fun Monday

Fun Monday is hosted this month by Faye's Summit Musings

While at times when I travel I lead a mildly exciting life if proof of my normal mundane existence is required a quick glance at the adornments on my refrigerator doors will surely be sufficient.

Sitting on top of the fridge is one of my heroes Steve Irwin 'the crocodile man" while on the doors starting from the top; The manufacturer "Kelvinator" gets pride of place, a strange little magnetic button asking that we call health @13 HEALTH, having never made the call I'm not sure what the result would be, Energex (who were my electric power suppliers at one time) were good enough to supply information about why my supply was temporally unavailable and just what I should do about it, Next comes a little sign that says "The older I get the better I cook" this is a total lie and deserves no further comment, centre stage is a magnet in the shape of a rooster adorned with "cockado-odle-doo" until his battery ran flat he used to make a similar noise to this... he is clasping a small "belly button duster brush" a gift for "The person who has everything", beneath this is an old exercise chart dating back several years to when I was still able to do exercises, a magnet supplied by the caravan park that I called home for about 3 years away back when I had a heart that could be broken, finally on the freezer door there is a thing about politics... you know, Socialism "you have two cows and you give one to your neighbor" etc etc.
On the door of the fridge there are two magnets from financial advisory firms, I don't recall whether I took advice from either or both of them suffice to say I have very little money so perhaps they are the reason for this? next there is a magnet showing my grandson Daniel during the time he played AFL football for Geelong, the final magnet is probably the only one I have looked at recently and its from "Eagle Boys Pizza" an often times meal choice.


Just for comparison This is my sister Merle's fridge, I'm not going to describe or explain any of it and I'm sure Merle wouldn't either.

Happy Fun Monday Please check out other players at Faye's.

Laundry day

Janis is the Laundress?? of this weeks Fun Monday

Everyone has laundry. Where do you do yours? Show us your Laundry room, or where you go to get those clothes clean! Photos, please.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Way back in August 2007 when I bought my front loader washing machine I wrote the post which you can read by clicking on the link below.

http://holtieshouse.blogspot.com/2007/08/thoughts-deep-still.html


For those who choose not to bother with the link...
here is the culprit, which I eventually named "iPlod" in keeping with the Apple "iEverything" image, and because... while it washes perfectly... it is so damn slow.
btw, iPlod came to me at least in part from a readers comment that she would ask "iPastor" (her husband) for suggestions.

I became so enamored with iPlods ability to clean my laundry seemingly without the use of water that I would sit and watch the kaleidoscope of tumbling items through the "screen" in the door, I seriously thought about selling the TV set as the programs at the time were not as entertaining.

I have one complaint with iPlod, after line drying... yes, I use the old fashioned method of drying laundry with fresh air and sunshine, towels are so stiff and scratchy that they are uncomfortable to use, I've tried altering water temp right through the range, spin duration through the range, reducing the detergent level to half the recommended amount all to no avail, any further suggestions? finally in desperation I bought a dryer, the towels come out of it soft and cuddly!! and a couple of times a year I use it because of inclement weather.

Here is "iTumble" which I must get around to wall mounting one day.


And here is "iNatural", sorry it wasn't a laundry day... but you've all seen laundry before... right?


So that's my laundry post, go to our hostess's site and check out the other players.

Fun Monday March 29

Janis is our host this week and below is her topic for this Fun Monday.


http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Hello my friends....this weeks challenge is all about Spring. Here is what I want you to do.....Take a photo of whatever represents Spring to You....and tell us why.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well here in the land down under it isn't Spring, its Autumn (Fall), I for one am not unhappy about that as Autumn produces some of the years best weather here in South East Queensland where I live, sadly because the area is Sub-Tropical we don't get a very big range of Fall Colour in our trees.

All this aside it is a very nice time of year which marks the start of the 9 months of weather that makes our region so very popular, the other 3 months of Summer can be a different matter all together!!!

Please click on photos to enbiggen.

This is a typical Autumn evening viewed from my front veranda.

Sure I would love to see a bit more of these lovely colours but taken all round this time of year here in Gympie is pretty darned good.


Just a reminder of what Spring is like from the same veranda when the beautiful Jacarandas are in bloom.

Now join me as I go to see the other players entries. (link at top of page)

Fun with a Fantasy

Your assignment for next week's Fun Monday was actually inspired by Ari. She was musing about how she would change her life today - which got me thinking about how I would change mine.

We're talking FANTASY here. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? What would you do with your time? Who would you live with? How would you get there? What accomodations would you be living with? Tell me about this life you have fantasized for yourself!

Sign up in the comments - and I'll start asking now for volunteers to host on Monday, March 29th.

http://sayresmiles.blogspot.com/

Fantasy land

Now lets see, Fantasy should suit my style perfectly as I've been told that I live there already, but only by unkind friends????

The "where" is very easy to imagine... not so easy to find though, I am a born and bred Aussie and have no desire to live anywhere else (why leave the best country in the world?) so lets have a look at the choices,

I like the beach lifestyle, except for the sand and salt water, that sort of puts a hold on "Coastal"

I like the mountains but I have a fear and loathing of the bushfires that seem to go with them, they also usually have a COLD winter climate that I'm not too keen on.

Now that raises the point of climate, I don't like COLD weather and I'm not at all a fan of HOT weather, so if my Fantasy is in the real world I think I need a roving commission to live my fantasy in several places rather than one.

If however I can create a true Fantasy land....

Uumm.... alongside a trout filled river or perhaps a freshwater lake nestled in the foothills (no danger of rising sea levels here) where the rainfall is steady and constant, the temperature range hovers between 18 and 26 degrees Celsius..... you work it out if you use the Fahrenheit scale but take my word for it those are GOOD days, it should have 4 defined seasons with Autumn (fall) being very colourful, night time temperatures will be cool enough for restful sleep but only on rare occasions get really cold. There will be a good size town with all the required shopping and entertainment facilities needed just an hours drive away, no problem coping with that in my nice new Mercedes, I can use the open top model, the saloon or the 4 wheel drive as the fancy strikes.

With whom would I share this Fantasy? interviews will be held shortly... some of the short listed include, Elle McPherson, Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Shania Twain.... and of course my 2nd ex Julie.

The accommodation in this fantasy would be spacious without being overdone, there would be a sound system channeled throughout, a small theaterette, a computer room, Oh... and a few bedrooms, bathrooms and relaxation areas spread about the place.

What would I do with my time??? just how far can I stretch the fantasy boundaries??? if there are no limits then I guess much the same as any independently wealthy 45 year old guy would do, if there are restrictions binding me to the NOW, much the same as any independently wealthy geriatric would do.

OK I'm off to dream some more of this Fantasy, why don't you visit some other sites who have entered this weeks Fun Monday

Fun Monday Oct 12

Wendishness is hosting Fun Monday this week.

This week it’s all about gadgets! I would like to know what gadgets you can’t live without and those you could get rid of. It doesn’t matter what part of your life or house they dwell in, whether it’s the kitchen, your desk, shed or any other place but what works well for you and what doesn’t? I would prefer you take photos but I know for some that’s not always as easy s0 do whatever works for you. Most importantly – have FUN doing it!


I've got to admit to being a gadget geek, (not that I understand their technology... I'm
just a compulsive collector) I've posted about some of these things in the past if you
want to have a look go to;
Global Positioning Sally.
Front loading washer
More on the washer

Meanwhile... back at the ranch,
A little over a year ago I bought a largeish LCD flat screen TV having become enamored
with them on a stay at FD and FOSSILs home. (Favourite Daughter and the extended
URL for Favourite Son In Law)
Sad to report it died, no, this isn't a rant about things that die just AFTER the warranty
expires, there is a generous 3 year warranty, its a rant about being deprived of the great
picture and also the video player/recorder that requires more cable connections than
my puny 2nd TV/or I am capable of making.
We have 2 major codes of football here in Queensland, both of which have played their
Grand Final matches on said puny TV, now I'm not fanatical about football, but these
occasions are just made for BIG screen TV, not puny size TV and I couldn't even record
them for later playback.... are we getting the idea about the gadgets I miss most?
All of the above just highlights the fact that I can't even try out the latest gadget I've
bought, A Media Player which will enable me to view my photographs and videos on the
big screen TV (no need to enbiggen!!!)
The service people are replacing the panel for me and have promised the return of my
toy as soon as they can meanwhile I'm stuck with PUNY... pas the Valium please.

















This photo shows my new
Media Player waiting to be installed



While on the right you can see the puny TV in all its glory
(and probably some dust if you enbiggen the photos).

All of this without even a mention of my Computer... More Valium please.

Fun Monday May 11

Faye of Summit Musings is our hostess for Fun Monday this week.

Heres da rules according to Faye.

So, as your host for the upcoming Fun Monday, I'm asking you to think about gardening. Do you consider yourself a gardener? Or, just the lawn keeper? When you think of your home, is it important that there are growing and flowering plants in your home landscape?
........ she went on with a bit more stuff but you get the idea!!!!!


First and foremost I must state clearly for the record, I AM NOT A GARDENER, there is not the slightest trace of green on my thumbs, and I have been known to kill a plant simply by smiling at it.
This has not stopped me from time to time thinking that I may have shed the "killer" gardener streak, I venture forth and buy a heap of plants... this usually happens around Spring time when plant growth is so vigorous that it takes a few weeks for my killer talent to win over natures vigor, this causes me to think that at last I'm going to have some plants survive... But NO!!!
I have a talent for growing weeds that would rival the best gardeners out there but if its something that would be chosen as a thing of beauty worth growing, I can kill it in double quick time.
To perhaps illustrate this point best, you will recall that I have been away from home for about 3 months during this time I have had the lawns mowed by a contractor, we had lots of rain and the garden grew like crazy (I wasn't home to kill it!!!) so the contractors weeded, pruned and sprayed away merrily and my garden was happy.
If I can bear the pain of more photos later I'll show you how to undo all their good work.

Please click on photos to enbiggen.

Not a trace of green to be seen. (but cop that lifeline!!)

During one of my bursts of optimism I hung all these baskets, installed an automatic watering system, and was briefly as one with nature.

A photo from this morning shows the total devastation of this scheme now (please note that the third basket from the right contains a weed known as the spider plant)


During another burst of energy I planted a few things in the front garden.

During my absence things have flourished... we'll see what happens next. (At least the house looks better with the full verandah and paint job.)

Now go and read what the gardening fraternity have to say about their exquisite little gardens of Eden while I console myself with a cold beer.

Fun Monday May 4

Karisma is hosting Fun Monday May 4

Heres da rules

.......We all know our kids and pets are often a great source of amusement to us at the best of times. I want to hear a funny, silly or just downright cute story about your pets or your children. Have they ever done anything to totally embarrass you in public? Have they done something you thought was outrageous at the time, only to laugh at it later? Have they outwitted you in some devious way, only the way a kid can? Come on, out with it! Lets hear the juicy gossip!

For those of you who are too lazy to write, how about posting some funny pictures instead! (Must be of your pets or offspring though!) Have fun with it!

*************************

My story goes back maaaany years and has to do with a wily old horse named Ned,
(a most original and imaginative name I'm sure you'll agree) this crafty old nag had quite a bag
of tricks which included the ability to nuzzle the chain over the peg of a gate to open it should
he decide he wanted a change of paddocks.
The incident I am about to tell of didn't involve him in opening gates though, a visiting cousin
and I decided to hitch Ned up to a buggy and take a ride into town, a distance of some 8 miles,
we had covered about half of this distance at a leisurely pace and stopped to let Ned graze on
a patch of green grass by the roadside, quite suddenly the idea came into Ned's mind that he
didn't want to finish this trip he felt inclined to turn around and go home.
With Ned once a plan was conceived he would put it into action, accordingly he made a sharp
about face causing the four wheeled buggy to teeter dangerously on two wheels, believing our
very first vehicle roll-over was about to occur Danny and I leapt clear, the expected roll-over
didn't happen so Ned trotted of down the road towards home.
Danny and I scrambled to our feet and gave chase to the buggy that was headed off at a fast
clip, here I must ask whether my readers know what happens when an animal perceives that it is
being chased??? They increase the speed of their escape!!!! Ned soon convinced us that he
would win this race so we slowed to a walk hoping he would soon follow suit, as he disappeared
around a bend it became obvious he was dancing to a different piper!!!
As we trudged dejectedly up to the home gate an hour later there to our surprise was Ned
complete with an undamaged buggy waiting patiently to be let in, the lazy B****** didn't
bother to let himself in!!!!!!!

Here we are, two 12 year olds all set for our big adventure, I did mention that this Looong
ago didn't I? before the days of colour photography.


This shot shows Ned and three of his small buddies all set for a days fun, I don't recall
the outcome but its a safe bet that Ned won.

I could have told you about the small disagreements that Boston, my sheepdog and I used
to have... he was quite sure he knew more about sheep than I did so he would totally ignore
my commands and do it his way, I must admit he was usually right... but he could have
humoured me sometimes!!!
However I didn't choose to tell you that story so you should go and read some of the tales
of woe written by other Fun Mondayers at Karisma's site.

Fun Monday March 16 2009

Hosting today’s Fun Monday is Mariposa

http://mariposatells.blogspot.com/

The topic she has chosen is;

Kids Say the Darnedest Things!

Yes, they can be your children...your nephew...niece....siblings...just any experience which makes you say...indeed, Kids Say the Darnedest Things! They need not be a lot...but no limit to how many you can share...more means more fun!

I posted this story way back in 2005 and it seems to me to fit the chosen topic perfectly.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Rodney

I don’t know how well this little story will go in written form, I have told it quite a few times, always successfully.

My Sister, Merle, lived next to a family who’s youngest child, Rodney, became a regular visitor to her home to borrow the proverbial “cup of sugar” or the like, as Rodney was a likable six year old and Merle is a friendly type this extended to him receiving a biscuit or sweet most days.

One day when Merle was in the front garden tidying up Rodney came to visit and started to swing on a wide gate that is located in front of her car-port, looking up she spied him and said, “don’t swing on the gate Rodney you’ll break it.”

Rodney continued to swing away as small boys are wont to do.

“Don’t swing on the gate please Rodney” she said again.

Rodney continued to swing away.

“Rodney don’t swing on the bloody gate” said my slightly exasperated Sister.

Quick as a flash Rodney said, “Are you a Christian?”

“Yes I am” said Merle.

“Christians don’t swear” said Rodney triumphantly and waved his finger at her reprovingly.

“I wouldn’t have sworn if you had got of the bloody gate” Merle said.

“You did it again” said Rodney waving that same finger at her.

The family and Rodney have moved away so there will be no follow up stories, a shame, I’m sure Rodney could have become a regular!!

Don't forget to visit Mariposa and read some more of the

"darnedest things that Kids say."

Fun Monday March 9

Sayre is hosting Fun Monday this week.

http://www.sayresmiles.blogspot.com/


So here's da rules:


What are you and your family doing to deal with the current economic situation
on a personal level? Obama's got a plan for the nation, but how do you/will you
deal with your own economic stress?


Obama doesn't feature in our economic plans much here in Australia, we have
Kevin... that sounds like a bit of a lame name for a leader doesn't it.
Kev has joined the frenzy to see who can throw the most money at the problem
in the hope that it will go away, trouble is when giving handouts along with a
plea to spend up to help the nations economy and at the same time talking of
recessions and tough times ahead the tendency is for people to sock it away for
the rainy day they have been warned about.

OK that covers the general population... I'm a bit more patriotic than that,
(read, I'm something of a spend thrift who can't resist a bargain!!!!)
So as things have got tougher and the stores have been bundling their stock
out at bargain prices I've been buying/spending just like I've been asked to.
We perhaps should take a moment to be serious here... I live alone in a house
that I own which is filled to overflowing with the things that I want/need, so in
fact there isn't a lot of things on my want list.
I am hoping to leave my children a few trinkets when my time here is up, so I'm
really just getting by in the best way I can and putting aside any small excess
that happens along for the stated purpose.

I could easily have written about the habits of a lifetime not catering to waste
or extravagance... having been around since 1936 there isn't a whole lot of new
stuff they can throw at you that you haven't had to dodge or learn to live with
already, so to a large degree its "business as usual" until things calm down
again, as they always seem to!!!!!

Just in case anyone thinks this post has got a little morbid, check out this one.

Fun Monday Feb 9

Fun Monday

This weeks hostess is Pamela, and here's what she wants us to do.

The subject: Show me in pictures or tell me in words what defines the place where you live.


This is the view from the front door, (well a few steps outside the front door actually) this is a temporary residence in Adelaide South Australia not my home in Gympie Queensland.
I am living here as support staff for my Daughter who is having some medical problems and is undergoing treatment here in Adelaide, Vicki normally lives at the small rural town of Wudinna which is a 6 hour drive from here, she is married to a grain farmer and the busy life on the farm would not let them both be away at the same time for the 6 to 12 months that her treatment may take.
As some of you will already know, I am single and retired so I was able to (and pleased to) become her carer at least until her health improves to the stage where we are all certain she can manage on her own.
All of that is to explain why I have this very pleasant outlook from my place of abode, Vicki and Rex have a unit here in town for family use so we are using this, it is located in a very nice suburban setting adjacent to an ornamental lake (two lakes actually) which is very popular with birdlife and people who enjoy walking and exercising their dogs on the paths that meander around the lakes.
I now must confess that my mind is not really on this post and I apologize for this, the southern half of Australia has been undergoing a severe drought for the last few years and more recently a severe heat wave (we are in the middle of our summer here), this has led to some really horrific bushfires particularly in the adjoining state of Victoria.
There has been a huge loss of life in these fires, possibly as many as 100 people, and my mind is distracted by the horror of this... I will post photos and some detail probably tomorrow if you would like to come back and see the sad details.
Please visit some of the Fun Monday sites and have a "Fun Monday"

Fun Monday July 28

Mommy Wizdom is hosting Fun Monday this week

http://blog.mommywizdom.com/

Here’s da rules;

The topic for Fun Monday for 7/28 is:

If you were ruler for a day/week/month/year (your choice on the time) you would...

ex...make coffee free to all citizens. Or you'd abolish the penny. You may also specify if you're ruler of the world or just your country. Have fun with it; be creative.

There's my favourite word again... CREATIVE

I have long held the view that there should be a better way to start the day than “mornings” and a much better way to start the week than “Mondays” so among the far reaching changes that my year of being in charge of the world will bring; Mornings have been completely abolished and henceforth days will begin at midday, this will completely eliminate one meal each day (breakfast) so will be a great help to our budgets and our efforts to take control of our weight, along similar lines Monday is to be eliminated leaving a 4 day working week, a far more suitable arrangement for those still employed, the rest of us don’t really mind what the days are called.. so there!!!

There has been an unseemly trend of late for prices to spiral out of control so there will be an instant reduction in the price of such essentials as; Petrol (gas to you Americans), Fast food (who wants to cook?), Admission charges to all entertainment venues, All alcoholic beverages, but not for those nasty cigarettes though, they’re BAD for you, these price cuts will start with 50% reductionsand will be further adjusted (downwards) as required.

Our political leaders (but not me of course…. Someone has to do all the planning) will be made personally responsible for sanitation collections, fighting on the front line of any wars or skirmishes that they allow to occur, and will, effective immediately, be entirely responsible for their own pension funds.

Noisy children and barking dogs will be fitted with those wonderful training collars that give a mild (well non-lethal) jolt when they flex their throats to yell/bark, similarly motorists who insist on loud exhaust noises (from their cars) or squealing tyres (tires for you pedantic Yanks and your spell checkers) will have their vehicles confiscated.

There will be a new subject added to all school curriculum’s, it will have a daily class of 1 hour for all students, this new subject will be known as Blogging and will be compulsory, there will be a competition (No, it will NOT be a MEME) to select suitable teachers for Blogging held at a website near you very soon, more details to follow.

Because we (you will be pleased to see that I am a fast learner, already using the royal "we") realize that things have been tough for some time now the workforce will be granted a salary/wage increase of 25% while pensions will increase by 80% effective immediately (yeah I know that’s a big increase in the pension rate… if you’re not happy about it… tough, you shouldn’t give old people the “Rulers” position!!!)

That will have to do for Day 1 as its time for me to take a nap and dream up some more “improvements” I'm going to look into world peace, famine and crime once these important changes are in effect.

Go visit Mommy Wizdom and check out some more blogs.

Fun Monday July 21

Irish Coffeehouse (doesn’t that name conjure up some pictures in your mind)

Is hosting this weeks Fun Monday

http://irishcoffeehouse.blogspot.com/

.

Here’s da rules;

Careers- Then and Now

THEN: As a child day dreaming of what your future would hold for you, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you ever pursue or achieve it?

NOW: If you could be trained and placed in any career beginning tomorrow, what would it be?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This one is nearly to easy to bother with… but here goes;

In my youth I wanted nothing more than to be a Motor Mechanic, possibly the best Motor Mechanic around but still a Motor Mechanic.

There are more romantic names used now “Automotive Technician”, “Service Personnel” These guys all seem to wear white overalls or dust coats and are all presented to the public spotlessly.

Now in the real world, and I’ve been there, while you might start the day looking all neat clean and tidy come lunchtime and things have changed quite a bit, now you have the large grease patch on your chest where that stubborn *&$$##@& transmission landed when it suddenly let go the hold it had been maintaining on the engine.

On another day by 10 AM after you have wrestled with the front suspension in a nice clean (ON THE OUTSIDE) vehicle you have effectively removed the skin from three knuckles, made 3 trips to the washroom to flush the debris from your eyes and look more like a homeless tramp than an “Automotive Technician”.

Couple all this with a constant battle to get your fingernails clean and the hair you are washing daily with industrial strength products in a vain effort to have it looking stylish for the love of your life… Oh yes this all tends to happen at that time in your life when you really want to impress someone!!!

OK by now I think you are getting the idea that my career choice wasn’t perhaps quite right? Never one to quit early I stuck to my chosen career for the 5 years necessary to complete my apprenticeship plus another 12 months while I desperately applied for Jobs that had nothing to do with motor cars… I eventually got into a sales career that saw me through most of my working life.

There is VERY LITTLE evidence of this stage of my life surviving but this photo
gives strong support to the dirty fingernails and wrecked hair that I mentioned.
By the way don't waste your time trying to enbiggen this photo I'm not silly
enough to enable that function and show up the flaws on a larger scale.

As for the “Dream job” part of this weeks assignment…. I have it now and it suits me perfectly, What is it? Its called retirement!!!!

That’s all I have time to write for now, I have a nap to take and lots of important stuff to put off until “tomorrow” so go and see what all the others have to say at Irish Coffeehouse’s.