Journeys

Haven’t written much, as don’t really see much point in telling the readers the daily trivial minutiae of what i ate for breakfast or whether i had a headache for half an hour, or scratched my finger collecting wood.  And there are, these days, a multitude of websites and blogs detailing “opinion”, commentary and information about “politics” and “news” - all far more interesting and literate than what i can invent.

That is not to say that interesting things 'don’t’ happen around here; but are few and far between. Perhaps have become a cynical, boring old fart, restricted by finance, impetus and incentive to actually “do” anything interesting, much less ‘unique’.

So; a summary of stuff since last post.

As for health .. um.  There was a period some weeks ago when had an interesting chest pain and breathing difficulty. Drove self the 35k to Doc -  ECG - to find nothing wrong with heart. Prescribed pain pills. Didn’t really solve problem. Back to a different Doc (tiny, beautiful, apparently Chinese - excellent command of English - and very keen) - who then put me through a long series of ‘tests’. ECG, three different blood tests, chest X-ray - even a CT scan.  Found nothing wrong (well, apparently some sort of fluid build-up in heart cavity. Went away by itself). No problems now.

All my teeth have now been extracted - and feel muuuuch better. Apparently abscesses don’t do general health and attitude much good. Am now waiting for manufactured ‘Tom Cruise’ replicas with the ‘hero’ glint. Well, that’s my request, whether they eventuate is anyone’s guess. Also, hopefully, they won’t be a set of those evenly matched, perfectly aligned, Colgate advertisement ‘white’ which scream FAAAKE! Who knows. Am not in a financial position to ‘dictate’ or demand. Que sera sera.

The ‘journey’? .. Ah.

Have been in email and phone contact for a year or two with a friend who lives roughly 450 kilometres away, down near the River Murray - and yes, in case anyone was wondering - female*.  It just so happened that last Tuesday found self with a few hundred ‘spare’ dollars, so decided to go visit. Departed Wednesday morning at about 9.30am, arrived about 5.30pm - an 8 hour journey.  Have to say that the ‘91 VN Commodore wagon performed above and beyond the call of duty.  Self discovered that the NSW road and highway system is very well maintained so, once past the hilly ground where i live - and the further south one travels - the roads are smooth, wide, with long straight stretches, gentle curves.

Far be it from me to publish ‘facts’ - but apparently speeds of 150kph can be comfortably (and safely) sustained.

Yes, am aware that there are ‘rules’ and ‘regulations’ - but who makes the ‘rules’? And ‘regulations’ can only be ‘enforced’ when noticed by ‘authority’ .... heh.

So, arrived safely, enjoyed several days in civilised good company, departed Saturday at 8.00 am - arrived (safely and in good condition) at my patch 4.00pm. Am very proud of the wagon .. heh.

[*there has been some discussion of late about ‘homosexual’ marriage. Have to say that while i find the notion peculiar - have no particular objection, except to say that the prime purpose of any species is reproduction and survival.  It just seems more logical for any human society to favour the union between male and female since biology dictates a higher chance of reproduction].

revisiting the past

Fascinating, really. This blog has remained, online, since 2005. Much has changed, since then; but the author has attempted to keep the original premise. No fancy stuff; no 'adverts', no 'entreaties'.

HOWEVER, it's not me or my writings that are all that important - but the "old links" in the sidebar. Most of which have not been updated for some time. Where have those authors gone?

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Thursday, January 13, 2005

Introduction

Be patient with me, Dear Reader, I was born before Television (as we know it) was invented, rode a bike (purchased with pounds and shillings - my lollies with pennies) 5 mile to catch the school bus, learned to write with a pen, nib and inkwell…. (Was that only 60 years ago?? ye gods). My computer is "steam driven", and uses a telephone to hook into "the web".
This is all very new to me. I am, in fact, a neophyte.. a Blog virgin. (blog virgin, ya twit.. not an everythingelse virgin). I could use it as a sort of "letters to the Editor" with guaranteed publication, a "drivel diary", or.. apparently.. anything that took my fancy. Am still at the experimental stage, so some things may change.
I’d like, though, to keep revolving around a theme of "communications", "perceptions", "understandings", "mis-understandings" and "deliberate deceptions."
And Yes, I know that field is wide and far ranging. I work in the daytime and mostly sleep at night, so progress will be slow. There will also be times when I misplace a comma, a word, lapse into "local jargon", or forget the rules of grammar entirely (not that I’m an "expert" in the first place), so what you think you are reading may not be what I’m trying to say.
The English Language is a complex beast.
Am NOT, in fact, an expert at anything. Sort of know a little about a lot, and a lot about very little.
This blog was, however, set up with a specific purpose in mind which may, or may not, become apparent as time passes, and I become more comfortable with it.


Waffles. I had thought of "whinges", but think that "waffles" are far more palatable. What is a Waffle? Dunno really. Could be a kind of batter-cake, baked in an iron utensil with hinged halves, sometimes covered with Jam, cream or icecream. There is also a variation meaning "to wave". Probably derived from the Scottish - "waff". In Australia, it is also jargon for a speech with no substance.. sooo.

I also have to say that Wombats are not very good cooks, and sometimes spill the salt, or use Quince jam.

Step 2

Oh Boy, somehow, methinks, this is going to require a VERY steep learning curve.

mm, think have just got lost

Posted by Davoh at 12:43 am No comments:

hoax emails

Um, Gurgle (and Blugger) seems to becoming very peeved me with for hanging on to the 'old', or 'original' version of Blogger. The time may well come when Womby's drivel will have to 're-create' itself according to the dictats of the gurgle conglomerate.  Will let you know when Wombat's Waffles 2, appears.

However, have just received two emails puporting to come from American Airlines telling me that my ticket is now available ... with the innocuous link "download details".

How stupid do the scammers/phishers think i am?

I live in Australia and, while might be elderly - methinks i might remember if i had any interest; or indeed HAD booked a ticket on an airline.

What bothered me was the intimation that my credit/debit card had been already debited.

I do not trust the internet, my card No's might be known to those with whom i have had no transactions.
Have contacted the bank (initially by phone) to say that there is no way that any transactions from "American Airlines"  have my authorisation - and they also suggested that i 'forward' the emails.

Excerpt for info -

Thank you for alerting us to a suspected hoax email via our email address 'hoax@cba.com.au' - your feedback is greatly appreciated.
The information that you have provided will assist us and the relevant authorities in discontinuing these hoax websites as quickly as possible.

Just sayin'.

Aboriginal elders

Sometimes one will
come
into

my house.

perhaps chat;
We sit,
in silence,
contemplate the temporary
walls.

.. and wonder why.

paper planes

yer, i know, playing with words.

Today was one of the most interesting. Friend of mine has a son - 8 year old.

Both parents working separate shifts (i.e. 24 hours).

Almost DINKUM  aussies (i.e. double income, no kids, unbelievable mortgage) ..

But yep, there's an 8 year  old trying to understand where he stands - or will stand - in the Australian landscape.

We made paper aeroplanes out of A4 paper .. and some of them 'flew'

One of these days - i hope he will remember that 'flight'  ...

or the cosmos - is not limited to -ancient teaching ..


..at this point - the boy has no concept of Werner Von Braun. Each "innocent" child has to discover his, or her, future.

As, now, myself, continue to discover many concepts that i did not know 

Wow, that was quick

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-14/new-pope-announced/4569070

Well, they had to. The only remaining "growth" areas for the Roman church were Africa and Latin america.

Seems a logical 'political' choice. ... heh.

Can you imagine the "jokes" about 'white' smoke announcing a 'black' pope ..whooo hoo.

How much is a heart worth (2)

Age? Perish the thought. If Rupert Murdoch's mum could reach a chirpy 103 - anything' s possible (though guess that she had considerable finance to help her along .. heh -  but Rupert Murdoch reaching 103 is a scary thought).

Me? Quiet?  Mmm, never have been particularly garrulous, and there hasn't been very much of interest  or excitement around here to actually write about - EXCEPT -
Monday 4th March 2013 at about 4pm.

So, the story. As you know, have been pottering in to Bathurst to get my teeth (or what's left of them) removed.  Am on the lower end of the socio-economic scale, so is being done as freebies through the equivalent of the NHS (probably by trainee dentists from various far flung parts of Asia- Pacific - but have to say that the lovely lady who is tackling my dental challenge is extremely gentle).   Two teeth per visit, in/out in 20 minutes every ten days or so. All's been going well, so far; except yesterday.

Had been getting my friend Larry to drive me in and back, as am generally a bit woozy from the injections but generally recover in an hour or so. The extractions were a bit harsher than usual. One of my remaining eyeteeth had fused to the bone, so ended up with a slightly mangled jaw and gum.   Larry seems to think it a huge joke, as have to spend the drive home with my jaws clamped together over the gauze pad to stop the bleeding - so he gives me schtick, and knows that i can't answer back (except by hand gestures).

Anyway, all in good humour. We arrived back at my place at about 3.30pm, made a cuppa tea (for him, me with glum face and jaws clamped sitting listening to Larry chortle).

Sometime between 3.30 and 4pm, he gets up from the table and wanders outside mumbling something about "bloody sausage roll". Left him out there for a minute or two, then wandered out to see where he'd gone. Found him rolling around on the lawn at the back door.
"What's up with you?"
"Feel like spewing".
He dry retched a few times, so i suggested the olde 'two fingers at back of throat’ trick. He did, but nothing much happened except a lot of dribble and, in retrospect, seemed a bit 'un-coordinated'. Tried to get him to drink a glass of water, but he didn't seem interested.  Am, of course, at this time assuming that it was just a "tummy bug".

Brought him inside, sat him on the bed.  By this time he didn't seem very well at all. He flopped back on the bed and it was really only then that i noticed that he was extremely pale; cold, and clammy.  It was, actually, himself, who sat up and mumbled "ambulance".

Have to admit that it took a few seconds to digest that info. Bear in mind that the nearest ambulance is 35 kilometres away, and probably as many minutes. Not something that one does lightly.  "Ambulance", he mumbles, "pain". "Where?" He points to his breastbone.

So yep, dial 000.  Three brrings, voice answers "Police. Fire. Ambulance.". "Ambulance, thanks", say i. Three more brrings, "Ambulance service, what is your emergency?"
"um" say i, "I have a friend here who asked me to call. He's not well". (yer, i know, always the understatement, suspicious of histrionics - and covering my arse).
"What are his symptoms?" asks the very nice sounding female.
"Um, he's very pale, cold, clammy, and tells me he has a pain in his chest."
"OK, where are you?"
[give them my address] Slight pause.
 “How is he now?"
[ I have a landline handset that is detachable from the 'base station' and can be switched to 'speakerphone', which i used throughout.  "mobile" or "cellphone" access in this area is patchy , unreliable - ]
Me; “Larry how are you?"
Larry; (mumbling) “pain”.
Me; “Where?"
Larry; (barely conscious) “Arm”.
Operator; “Which arm?” [Larry indicates left arm].
Me; “Left Arm”.
"OK, am dispatching two units; one from Bathurst and one from Lithgow”.

Then ensued a longish conversation between me and the operator about estimated times of arrival, my exact location, and whether there was a defibrillator nearby.  I told her yes, but it was in the bushfire shed across the road, but didn't know who had the key.

'000' Operator; “OK, I'll stay on the line with you until the ambulance arrives”.

Cutting a longish story short - for 40 minutes there was continual dialogue between me and the operator on the other end of the phoneline; explaining what was happening, my exact location; punctuated by grunts and groans from Larry.. The scary moments were when Larry 'became still and silent' for 30 seconds or so - probably the longest half minutes of my experience. Have never tackled the problem of CPR in a ‘real life or death’ situation.

Lithgow unit arrived first, with Bathurst a few minutes later.

For half an hour my little kitchen was filled with three extra blokes and one female; and a whole heap of electronics that had never seen -  Larry was duly placed on a gurney and transported - first to Lithgow for stabilisation, and then, apparently, to Sydney.

Shortly after the ambulances departed at about 6pm, I drove to Portland to notify his family .  - and give them his mobile phone.

Received a text message next morning at 2am. " ONLY YOU AND MY BROTHER CAN DRIVE MY CAR DONT DRINK AND DRIVE". (he left me the key).

So, guessed that he was still alive as of 2am that morning, and was being well cared for in one of Sydney's  hospitals.

Post script - yes, have been in contact with his family. Am informed that there was a “blood clot” - apparently repaired with ‘non invasive’ surgery (a tube shoved up an artery in the groin) and a “stint”. Is probably back home in his own bed by now.

As Larry is only age 45, and me? somewhat older; found the whole episode (and concept) somewhat fascinating. Would there be anyone nearby who would - or could - do the same for me?   Would anyone even “notice”. Would anyone else really ‘care’ whether i ‘fell orf the twig’? Some might feel a bit “sad", perhaps; but would have to admit that my ‘passing’ would have no serious effect on their own lives. And some that would be more than happy to see me "gone".

Such is life.

How valuable is a human heart

Ok, will be honest - this is a 'teaser'.  Just wanted to say that a friend of mine experienced - in my house - a serious, medical  "heart problem" at roughly 4pm yesterday.

All am prepared to say, at this point - is that can only thank the 000 personnel, as well as the Bathurst and Lithgow 'ambo's' for a result that is - as far as i know - positive.

Will stress - friend of mine,  not me.

Details will emerge later.