Chickafinty ~ A Life in the Laundry

Dear World,

We are NOT Telstra customers.

We used to be Telstra customers.

In 1997.

That was 12 years ago.

Twelve years ago is not recent.

Your name might well be Tom Jones, but your accent leads me to believe that it probably isn't.

The poor quality of the line owned (by Telstra) and maintained (by Telstra) is not going to make me think again about our (12 year old) decision to ditch Telstra and choose another telco.

Telstra is over-priced and underserviced.

Telstra had a monopoly on telco services for decades and used it like a cash cow.

Whilst leaving bush services woefully inadequate.

As recently as 30 years ago, some areas of Australia were still reliant on two telephone lines for a whole community, like Wyangala.

That's pathetic.

No, I am not currently a Telstra customer.

No, I don't intend *ever* becoming a Telstra customer.

Save your breath to cool your porridge.

Regards

Me.

Grammar Lesson

MEMO: to the Channel Nine and FOXTEL Commentators

Melbourne Commonwealth Games

Please note that the word "medal" is a noun and not a verb.

One can win a medal, have a medal presented, receive a medal, or be a likely prospect for a medal.

One cannot *medal* in a race.  If one desired one could *meddle* in a race, but that would be frowned upon by all in the sporting fraternity.

Your attention in this matter would greatly enhance my viewing pleasure,

Regards

Anne

Explanations

Just watching something completely stupid while I ate my breakfast...namely 101 Celebrity Oops...and they hashed out the old "Why did Rachel Griffiths give her son such a dumb name?  Who'd call their kid Banjo?"

The short answer is: an Australian.

Heard of "The Man From Snowy River?"  It was written by one of Australia's most celebrated and loved poets, one Andrew Barton "Banjo" Patterson.  He was known as Banjo Patterson and is revered in Australia.  He was responsible for a few quintessential Australian poems, the most famous of which would be the above quoted which was made into a feature film about 23 years ago.

You can find a link to the more famous ones here.  My personal favourites are

• Clancy of the Overflow
• The Geebung Polo Club, and
• A Bush Christening

If you have a look and are unsure of any Australianisms, feel free to comment and I'll answer.

That's why Rachel Griffiths gave her son such a "ridiculous" name - in Australia it's not ridiculous at all.  Well, maybe just a tad, but at least there's an understandable reason behind it ;)

Ripped off!

I hate mechanics, especially the ones who see you coming.

On tolerance

Was going to post on this topic, but deleted what I wrote.  It's probably intolerant, so in the interests of tolerance I will choose to keep my opinions to myself.  Which incidentally is not actually tolerant.

You win a Tim Tam if you actually understood any of that.

SPRUNG!

To Maria <insert slightly abashed face and wry grin with a wink>Ok, ok, ok.  So maths isn't my strong suit.

Adjusting those figures to: 

Australia - pop. 20million, aid (to date) $35 million = $1.75 per person.

USA  - pop. 290 million, aid (to date) $45 million = $0.155 per person.

The same figues came to Mr Bear in a vision whilst on the loo last night - you know, sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits?

It's still paltry.

I hate the dog

The dog has dug up my beautiful corner garden in the screened room.

I hate the dog.

The dog sucks.

In case you were thinking of holidaying there...don't!

Mr Paul Minett
Senior Environmental Health Officer
Port Stephens Council

Dear Sir,

We are writing with regard to an infringement notice received after walking our dog on Fingal Bay Beach on Thursday, 16th September, 2004.

Whilst we acknowledge that we were in the wrong, I would like to bring to your attention the following points:

• The prohibition of dogs on Fingal Bay Beach is inadequately signposted. Following the discussion with the ranger at the time, we could locate only one sign indicating that dogs are prohibited on the beach. This sign was located at the opposite end of the beach to the Surf Club, and was significantly aged and defaced,
• There are no notices regarding the prohibition of dogs on Fingal Bay Beach at the Fingal Bay Holiday Park despite the fact that it is directly opposite the beach, allows dogs during non-school holiday periods and is a Port Stephens Council operated concern.
• There is no signage at the entrance to the beach closest to the holiday park, the entrance most commonly used by visitors to FBHP,
• In the brochure produced by the Council regarding responsible dog ownership there is no mention of dogs being prohibited on any beach in the Port Stephens area, despite the fact that we were told only one beach is “dog-friendly”,
• Our dog was at all times on a leash and under our complete control.
• We were completely courteous and cooperative with the Council Ranger who approached us on the beach and had no hesitation in allowing our dog to be scanned, and
• upon speaking with her we immediately removed our dog from the beach and did not return that day or indeed on any other day.

With reference to the points listed above we consider it most inappropriate that a fine was issued immediately, when a warning would have sufficed in this case. Having never received so much as a parking ticket in the past we are humiliated at the treatment we have received at the hands of Port Stephens Council.

In view of the fact that Port Stephens is an area with a high proportion of tourists at any one time, we feel that greater information and signage would be appropriate to ensure that others are not financially and emotionally embarrassed needlessly as we were.

We were then, are now, and will continue to be responsible pet owners as pointed out by the leaflet so kindly sent to us,

In anticipation of a prompt reply,
Sincerely,

Can anyone here spell furious?

Rowing

Shame on the members of the Australian women's rowing team who ostracised their team mate who collapsed 600m short of the finish line in the race this morning.
Shame, shame, shame.
I know that it is the Olympic Games and I know that they've trained for years and I know that it was devastating to end so disatrously, but honestly! If you faint, you faint and there's not a blind thing you can do about it. If you collapse, you collapse, Olympic Games notwithstanding. Unless it is proven that she did not collapse or faint and that she deliberately threw the race, which I doubt, then shame on those who shunned her. You have proved in losing that you did not deserve to win.

Just when we thought it was safe

Ever since I was completely independent from my parents, financially that is, I have had a golden rule. I/we must have xxxx amount of money in the bank at all times. This rule is so unbreakable it almost counts as the eleventh commandment "Thou shalt not let thy bank balance drop below xxxx". The reasoning? Just in case the fridge/hot water service/washing machine/dishwasher/computer breathes its last and has to be replaced. This has never, ever happened, but being the Worst Case Scenario sort of person that I am, that money is untouchable.

We HAD to replace the car two weeks ago. It was breathing its last and was not a safe or reliable vehicle for transporting Chickabid and the FintyBaby. We scraped together everything we had a bought the car. We left ourselves without xxxx in the bank. For the first time, ever. We knew that there would be a brief period...like about 12 days...when we'd be real close to the breadline, but that was ok, we'd be fine. Our buffer zone was gone, but we'd be fine.

No. Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

It was the hot water service. It blew up today somewhere between my morning shower and washing the baby's bottles. No hot water and a swamp at the side of the house where the hot water heater has been free flowing all day. We rang the plumber and he confirmed the awful thought that had been hovering away at the edge of my subconscious all day...the hot water service is dead and we have to replace it. Now. Well, Friday or maybe Saturday depending on the availability of plumbers who can come to do their thing.

Great. Like we need this at the moment, but then again...

I had a boss a few years ago who had a favourite saying. You'd be telling her about a potential disaster or suchlike and she'd say "What's the worst that can happen?" It's incredible how often such a saying comes back in a moment when your whole world seems to be in crisis. Like today.

What's the worst that can happen?
We could lose one (or both) of the kids

Losing the kids would be an unbelievable tragedy.
A bung hot water service doesn't even come close. Won't waste any more time worrying about it.