Back into it

After what seems a million years of me not blogging, i've decided I need to just get back into it. I made a commitment while we travelled to post every day, which hell or high water, I managed; something I'm very thankful in doing as it serves an incredible source of memories for me.  

I've sunk into that awful hole where I dont think what I am doing or seeing is worthy of sharing with anyone, much less an international fan base. However, after reviewing all the little achievements and progression we've made over the last 6 months since arriving back from Europe, it IS important to record them, to share them; even if for me alone.

Something that prompted me was discovering a letter my grandfather wrote to his oarents while he was in Palistine during the second world war. He never spoke of those times and I found photos which made me cry, having never seen them bwfore. Mich less knowing they existed. Reading his letter...reading between the lines.... It makes me so grateful for those around me, my life now, the opportunities whic continue to surround me.

So, my blog for a while at least, may mot be filled with castles or magnificent scenery, but it will be filled with what consumes my time right now.

Warwick Aquatic Centre

The calf whisperer

Slacko here

Its been months since I posted up a blog, and for my loyal readers, I have to beg your indulgence and apologise.

I have many drafts waiting to be completed, and so much to put up - but just never gotten round to it. Its a huge difference not to have access to the internet all the time as we did in the UK. Fortunately, we now have it - and I can start sorting out a bunch of internety things.. including this blog..  So, please excuse me too as I start to publish things - they may be in a strange order.

The 'Sanctity of Marriage" debate

It seems insane to me that the hoo ha about the “sanctity of marriage” is even an issue. I’ve decided to weigh in my 2 c worth.

Love is love. You want to be with the people you love and share a life with them. You don’t need a piece of paper to prove you love someone - but if you want it, you aught to be allowed to have it. Thats called equal rights. 

Just as I believe you don’t need a religious person to ok it by their gods. Its between your God/Goddess and yourself - no-one else damned business. I certainly don’t think the state or Gov have any rights to tell me who I can love or share my life with and damned as heck don’t feel I need to ‘keep them in the loop’.

But lets reel this back a little.. The Sanctity of Marriage? Please…. It should read “The slavery and misery of women” - watch out - you’ve got me started…In no way am I trying to male bash here - they are just a part of the machine of marriage. Here is a small history lesson about marriage - we are looking at the white anglo-saxon Christian point of history - but many of these points still hold true in other societies and religions. Marriage was rarely about true love. Its a business transaction. It was ( and for many still IS) about ownership, it was about patching up arguments, wars, making political alliances, bringing new money , land and influence to old families. It was about climbing up that social ladder and of ‘bettering your standing”.. and still is.

Marriage was about revenge, to prove loyalties, to settle debts to annoy the neighbours, to prove a point, the be ‘better than the others.”  What the individuals thought of the union was rarely if every considered.

Rape was ( and still is in many places) acceptable in marriage ( how about your ‘marital duties?” thats still VERY much part of our present day culture). Countless women were brutally murdered for having the wrong gendered child, or if they were unable to produce a child ( too bad if it was the males issue and not her fertility - just blame the woman!!)… Children are still being married off at young ages as business transactions. Women were murdered or discarded when a better alliance appeared on the horizon ( lets not start on the mid life crisis issues we have now when many men discard their ‘worn out wife’ for a younger chick”). Many women were perpetually kept breeding until they died ( how many of you have grandparents who were 1 of 12 or 16 kids? Its not that long ago that this was still happening). 

I’m not saying that love and romance didn’t happen in marriages - and that it was possible for arranged marriages to bring respect and happiness between the two; but that Disney fluffy crap about romantic marriage and the ‘sanctity of marriage being eroded?” The whole business of marriage is a money making , plastic BS fashion statement set up - even now as a passing of a chattel ( the daughter) over to her new owner.  It makes my blood boil.

So - summing it up.. I believe in love between two people. Is it really that hard? If they CHOOSE to dress up and have a party in front of some religious person or civilly appointed person and get a piece of paper proving it - then they aught to be allowed to do that. 

Soo.. what would you do?

Yawn.... Just arrived in Singapore ( big delays due to fog and knock on effects at Abu Dhabi)

Just a little hick up to prove that it doesn't matter how much you plan or organise stuff, something always throws a curly one at you.

However, I believe that the trick with travel is, is to be flexible... ( and be grateful to have a little extra money stashed away for that rainy day.. thank goodness....)

Our hotel transfer was unable to pick us up at airport - as it was a sedan car and the guy said he only accepts 1 bag per person.. I know.. WHAT?  Normally these are those little minivans or mini buses...I've NEVER had issues with per person luggage before..We had 30 kg each plus cabin luggage.( which is a NORMAL amount for any international traveller. so.. The driver suggested I send the children with him to the hotel ( half an hours drive away BTW) or leave Morgan at the airport and he'd come pick him up later. (is anyone imaging my face right now.. after nearly 20 hours of travel, I stink and I am damned tired...)

To be fair, I know he was being helpful but at 2 am (no damn it - anytime) I was not comfortable at all with either leaving a child at a near deserted international airport or letting a stranger take the kids somewhere.

So, I said no thanks and got a minivan to the hotel. (where that little extra stow away cash came in handy)

Sigh.. I guess ya just got to roll with what you are given when you are travelling... sleeping now.. sad we got here so late and are going to be sleeping till we get chucked out at check out time - and not see anything of Singers. Still, its not that far away and there is always a next time.

Bye bye little car!

I loved my little car. I was so sad today to hand over her keys as we left the UK.

First, I want to give a huge thanks to my gorgeous cuz, Christine Angus for keeping it for me that extra six months. When we visited in 2013 with Age, we confirmed with her our 'secret' that we were returning the UK for an undetermined amount of time in the coming January . She and Roy quickly offered us OOT as they were upgrading. At that time Age and I were planning to return the Europe to live for a few years, so it was a perfect offer and so kind.

Things didnt quite go to plan, but the kids and I did keep our one way tickets and return in January...still to live for a few years...Its been such a blessing to us. Poor little thing just about doubled its milage - did nearly 40k miles in 12 months ( and 3 of those were when we walking the camino) 

We have had our ups and fowns.. A very scary crash in Wales where the insurance company wanted to scrap her.. Nooooo! A few hundred pounds had her up and tunning again - with a few beauty marks....

I was in such a quandary as to what to do with her when we decided to come back to Aus. I hate the whole selling behicles malarky and I really needed her till we left. Chris and Roy didnt want her back, so after a bit of thought, realised one of my younger cousins didnt have a car and had just started his first job. I think he was a bit gobsmacked when I offered him my car for nothing. But its made me glad to pay it forward - and have encouraged him to give a kindness to another person at some point. 

My little way of spreading world peace.. It may not be much, but every kindness encourages more. 

Hogmanay

FIRE!! There is nothing which screams to the primeval part of anyones psyche like a fire. We were fortunate enough to be invited to spend Hogmanay in Scotland and be taken into Biggar, who host a fire festival.

The roots of Hogmanay are a bit fuzzy but its believed that it ties in with the Norse celebration of  winter solstice among the Norse as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic celebration of Samhain ( which is celebrated in various forms throughout the UK featuring fire).  Usually in Scottish villages there is a precession of fire bearers, a pipping band and fire ball swinging before the huge bonfire is lit and dancing begins. 

I found it interesting that traditionally Christmas was not celebrated as a festival and that Hogmanay was the more traditional celebration in Scotland ( though now with commercialisation its anyones game)

The day before New Years is spent cleaning the house spotlessly and ensuring that everything has been aired.

We went into Biggar to check out the huge bonfire heap which had been accumulating for over a week and I have to say it was impressive. Sat on the main street, tonnes of waste wood pieces and logs were thrown up higher and higher.  I've taken a shot of the kids in front of it for scale. 

A huge precession marched up the street to the sound of many bagpipes wailing their tune. ( an eerie sound - as there were no cheers - silence all but for the bagpipes and roar of the fire bearers)

Fire bearers nearly stood shoulder to shoulder around the fire and waited for the signal to lower their burning brand.

It went up with a huge WHOOMPH! and began crackling madly. I can imagine a few people lost eyebrows and eyelashes being so close. 

We stayed for a while to watch the flames lick high into the inky darkness; that is, until the smoke almost overtook us. We were soon blanketed in thick smoke and had to escape to the car to get away from it.  Great night though!

Happy new years one and all.  May the dark young man who steps across your threshold bring fortune, happiness and health to you and your family.