Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Use this thread to chat about anything that takes your fancy. Today's my BIRTHDAY!!! Got lots of goodies and celebrated over the weekend. Can't believe I'm 49 years old! Isn't 50 the new 40??

Congratulations Mandy! Ha ha. I've stopped aging. I only admit to being 29. My kids went through a phase of saying. 'But Mum, that means you were.....' They now get it!!!! :)

I'm waiting for the publication of 'Punctuation for Dummies,Dummies' LOL!!!..I'm hopeless with it..LOL!!

David wrote: "I'm waiting for the publication of 'Punctuation for Dummies,Dummies' LOL!!!..I'm hopeless with it..LOL!!"

Now that would be a worthwhile publication to own. I was away the day we were supposed to learn punctuation at school -- and spelling -- and grammar. Actually, apart from learning to read, I think I must have been absent for all my English classes. :)

Mandy wrote: "Use this thread to chat about anything that takes your fancy. Today's my BIRTHDAY!!! Got lots of goodies and celebrated over the weekend. Can't believe I'm 49 years old! Isn't 50 the new 40??"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

whoops!!!...yes HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mandy (-:

Gail, I made the odd appearence at Rocklea State school in Brissy & when I was there I was only interested in cricket & footy, I was subsequently 'kept down' twice & ended up 15 years old starting high school, stayed for 3 months and then left, so I suppose my punctuation would be eqivelent to a 13 year old LOL!!!

Thanks guys!

Mandy wrote: "Use this thread to chat about anything that takes your fancy. Today's my BIRTHDAY!!! Got lots of goodies and celebrated over the weekend. Can't believe I'm 49 years old! Isn't 50 the new 40??"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mandy, I heard 50 is the new 30! Live it up and enjoy your special day.
Congratulations, Stuart :)

Mandy, wishing you all the best from the hot humid tropics.

David wrote: "whoops!!!...yes HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mandy (-:

Gail, I made the odd appearence at Rocklea State school in Brissy & when I was there I was only interested in cricket & footy, I was subsequently 'kept do..."

David I don't have that excuse. I went on to finish High School & have a Uni degree. (They give them out to anyone.) I was more interested in Math's and Science.

Happy Birthday Mandy : )

A question for David.

Was it you who posted the ANZAC poem put to music in the James Mason group, or do I have you confused with someone else? It was very moving. I tried to find the poem but it was quite a few months ago (I am guessing April!) :)

G'day everyone. I'm Carole Sutton,author of Ferryman. I write crime fiction novels. I have two published and as third about to come out any day now. Great to see some familiar faces on this list.

Carole wrote: "G'day everyone. I'm Carole Sutton,author of Ferryman. I write crime fiction novels. I have two published and as third about to come out any day now. Great to see some familiar faces on this list."

Welcome Carole! Ferryman looks like a great thriller. I've added your books to our bookshelf and your link to our Aussie Authors list.:)

I have no self control ... I have about 20 books on the shelf at home waiting to be read, told myself I would not buy anymore until I had made some progress on them, told myself I would not deviate from where I buy my lunch into the bookshop nearby ... and lo and behold I have returned to work with yet another book ('Eleven' by Mark Watson). Aagh!

Dee-Ann wrote: "I have no self control ... I have about 20 books on the shelf at home waiting to be read, told myself I would not buy anymore until I had made some progress on them, told myself I would not deviate..."

I seem to have developed that problem since joining Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. I have this irresistible urge to buy all the books on my TBR shelf....must resist....list getting longer....Ahhhh.

One thing that stops me buying & buying books...my finances, or lack thereof (-:

G'day Gail, yes it was I who posted my poem/youtube link
I think Barry did a wonderful job with it, here it is for anyone else to view, & if you can please leave a comment. Dave.

Thank you for that link David. The whole piece was incredibly moving and a wonderful tribute.

My pleasure Surreality. also if anyone is interested all my current 'military themed' poems are here....



This site is run by an Aussie & ex Vietnam veteran, friend, Anthony Phale OAM.

Thank goodness Bob Oakshot or however you spell his name finally stopped talking and announced his decision...Gillard stays on as PM.

If nothing else the current election has made politics in Australia interesting. I don't normally like to talk about politics and am indifferent to which party leads. The only think I want them to do is develop policies that are well thought out and considered, and that they don’t suck up too fiercely to the US.

Jan wrote: "Thank goodness Bob Oakshot or however you spell his name finally stopped talking and announced his decision...Gillard stays on as PM."

I was just driving home from work and heard this. Everyone on the radio was also complaining about the length of time he spoke. I have this vision of them dragging it out like when they announce the Australian Idol winners! ;D

His comments were informative on what he took into consideration, but should have been saved for later interviews...5 minute summary would have sufficed...he went on and on for 25 minutes!

I eventually had to turn it off. I'm not a great one for crap, give me the decision, 5 mins to explain and then get off. LOL.

Jan wrote: "The weather? It's terribly dark and windy with lots of rain here in Perth...and with the speed it's blowing, should hit the east coast today or tomorrow...batten down the hatches, get more sandbags, Shepparton!"

Keep your head down in Perth Jan!! Victoria's already been hit hard with floods, they don't need any more rain!!

Dee-Ann wrote: "I have no self control ... I have about 20 books on the shelf at home waiting to be read, told myself I would not buy anymore until I had made some progress on them"

If it makes you feel any better you're just a baby when it comes to a TBR To Be Read) pile if you only have 20 books yet to read - I thought my 150-ish books as yet unread was a large amount but on one yahoo book group I'm a member of multiple people report TBR piles of several thousand books. So really you're being quite restrained :)

Wow, only 20 books. I couldn't function with so few to pick from.

I just had a look and I've got 769, and I own about 690 of them. Not boasting truly, I just like having them ready to go, with so many challenges I need the variety.

my computer keeps freezing when trying to look at the other discussion on favourite things.

Went to the library with my sons class, which is a small class of special needs kids, for a book reading session. It made our day to see one of his classmates who is seriously disabled get excited (which included laughing and rolling around on the floor) when a particular book was read.

Kids reactions are so honest and uninhibited aren't they. That would be one of the best things about being a librarian, reading to the kids and seeing their rapt responses.:)

I tried the favourites discussion just now and it seems to be working again.

Can't stop the rain...just warning you...need more sandbags!

Jan wrote: "Can't stop the rain...just warning you...need more sandbags!"

Jan thanks for the updates!! ;) So far we're safe in Brissy but very sorry for all those stuck in the bad weather. Here's a link to the Bureau of Meteorology so we can keep abreast of what's happening in our country:

Very good link, thanks Mandy, looks like the weather I spoke of will hit Victoria in the night, Sheparton by about 1pm tomorrow. Tasmania can expect it as well.

I know I'm not paying enough attention to the news, but last I heard Australia was struggling w/ drought... I hope the rain is hitting the areas that need it the most! - ? (I'm in USA)

Good morning to all our lovely Aussie readers. Just a bit of useless trivia. Famous Australians (or people famous to Australians) born on the 9th of September include:

1754 - William Bligh, nasty ship's captain (HMS Bounty)
1822 - Napoleon J K P Bonaparte, French prince/member National Convention
1828 - Leo Tolstoy, Russia, novelist (War & Peace, Anna Karenina) [NS]
1911 - John Gorton, Australian politician (d. 2002)
1941 - Otis Redding, Dawson Ga, rock bassist (Sitting on the Dock of the Bay)
1951 - Alexander Downer, Australian politician
1960 - Hugh Grant, London England (4 Weddings & a Funeral, 9 Months)
1975 - Michael Bublé, Canadian singer and actor.

Check out this fun website if you want to know who shares your birthday:

Mandy wrote: "Michael Bublé, Canadian singer and actor...."

You learn something new every day. I didn't know Michael Buble was an acter as well. (Okay so I have probably been hiding under a rock for the last 10 years.) I love his voice. :)

Cheryl wrote: "I know I'm not paying enough attention to the news, but last I heard Australia was struggling w/ drought... I hope the rain is hitting the areas that need it the most! - ? (I'm in USA)"

We had been struggling but the last 6 months has been nothing but rain. Rain rain and more rain. That's in Sydney of course.

Aargh. The internet keeps dropping out today.

Cheryl wrote: "... I hope the rain is hitting the areas that need it the most! - ? (I'm in USA)"

Rain is going where it's needed but unfortunately because victoria hasn't had decent rainfall in a while ...i think the weatherman said 10 years but don't quote me on that- he may be wrong!...Victoria is flooding. As i'm the "black sheep" of the family, i live in the city... the rest all live in various places throughout country victoria.
But apparently farmers will yeild better crops this year, and out water restrictions has been eased. about the funniest thing is that the government are building a Desalination plant to help boost our "dwindling" water supply. but work has had to stop as its too wet!!

The ABC have a special report on their news site about the children in disadvantaged communities, in this case in Western Sydney. It is interesting and can probably be relevant to many places in our country. I thought that the three young adults at the end were quite inspiring.

Just wanted to shout out a big CONGRATS and THANKYOU to Gail who has kindly agreed to join me as a co-moderator of Aussie Readers. Now that the group is getting bigger it will be great to have a sidekick. So Gail... Which one of us is Batman and which is Robin??? ;)

Mandy I'm definitely a sidekick! I'll change my name to Robin now.:D

Shouldn't that be 'Batgirl & Robyn' LOL!!..congrats on accepting the co-mod Gail.

You are too kind.

::curtsy::

just great about the rain and take care whjere the floods are and have to laugh at USA thinking we were in drought...well we were but somehow therains came and the cold with it. Perth winters I love when there are the squalls and strong north westerly winds. I like sitting in the train with the rain coming down slantwise and seeing the shrubs, heavy with buds and some bloom, dancing like dervishes. Best winter ever for that wildflower state that was home

Gail "cyborg" wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Michael Bublé, Canadian singer and actor...."

You learn something new every day. I didn't know Michael Buble was an acter as well. (Okay so I have probably been hiding under a rock..."

Adele wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "... I hope the rain is hitting the areas that need it the most! - ? (I'm in USA)"

Rain is going where it's needed but unfortunately because victoria hasn't had decent rainfall in..."

and in other states as well

WA has by far the best wildflowers without a doubt.

yes they are magnificent and I miss them and get homesick from July on...so I write poetry of them

You do? Could we have a sample poem?
Jan, from Perth.

Gail "cyborg" wrote: "Mandy I'm definitely a sidekick! I'll change my name to Robin now.:D"

Loving the new nicknames Gail!! But 2 can play that game, LOL. Mwahahaha! ~tries to think of funny names~

Colleen wrote: "yes they are magnificent and I miss them and get homesick from July on...so I write poetry of them"

Colleen, I too would love to see a sample of your poetry!

Wow, Has anyone else found internet connection to be a bit dodgy the past 24 hrs? Must be the bad weather!

Dee-Ann wrote: "The ABC have a special report on their news site about the children in disadvantaged communities, in this case in Western Sydney. It is interesting and can probably be relevant to many places in o..."

I just read/watched the report you mentioned on the ABC. It's a fascinating look at the lives and thoughts of people and children living in our disadvantaged communities. I loved the 'breakfast ladies'. I haven't accessed the ABC news online before. I'm really impressed with how they can give a few minutes of video such an emotional impact. It's really well done. If you're interested here is the link to the report:

Thanks for the group, Mandy and Gail - so good for me to learn more about the wider world by eavesdropping on your conversations :)