We stayed locally for the day. I did a couple of walks, we had a pleasant lunch and we both checked out the clifftops overlooking the “Back” (surf) beach as well as the front beach.
Torquay 2021 (2)
Torquay 2021
We’re at Torquay for a short break. As I’ve already posted, it’s not a new experience for us, but in these uncertain times, we must take any opportunity as and when it arises.
We diverted into Geelong on the way down with a view to having some lunch at Eastern Beach. But – nothing doing. The crowds were out, at restaurants where bookings were possible, there were no vacancies, and there were queues at the cafes. Everyone was out in the post-lockdown sunshine.
So we headed on to Torquay. There traffic on the Esplanade was likewise bumper-to-bumper, and parking was at a premium. So, on to Plan C. We checked in and then had a leisurely but late lunch at the resort. Nice views out over the golf course and the ocean in the distance, and closer-up an antique Jag!
Then coincidentally we ran into B and M! So, coffee and a long conversation. It was nice to catch up.
Relaxation of lockdown (3) – getting away
The end (relaxation) of the lockdown had been announced but, even though it hadn’t actually come into effect, there I was “dreaming” on the internet. So, travel anywhere within Victoria was to be OK again. And what’s that? Accommodation at RACV Torquay at a “reasonable” (albeit not “bargain”) price in a few days time? Well, sometimes you just have to do these things, so we didn’t take too long to book. We’ll be off soon for a couple of nights. Familiar territory (and here) maybe, but a change from the local scenery, with which we’ve become all too familiar.
Relaxation of the lockdown (2)
Naturally, I headed into the city for lunch as soon as possible after the 5th lockdown eased (that is, on the first day). I was almost alone on the train, and the number of people out and about in the CBD was noticeably “subdued”.
However, we headed out for dinner in the evening and I’m pleased to report that several of the restaurants were busy.
Relaxation of lockdown
Well, it was the afternoon before the “relaxation” of the latest lockdown – and we still had a packet of muffin mix on the shelf.
Making muffins is a lockdown activity – so we got to work before it was too late!
Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind (2)
Ideas and beliefs have long been integral to our way of life. I’ve previously posted about Tom Holland’s book. I’ve now borrowed it again from the library. It’s dense reading, with lots of facts, and not always easy to absorb. Sometimes the mass of detail gets in the way of the “big picture”.
He examines of Christianity’s influence on Western civilization so as to demonstrate that the religion’s influence continues to be seen in ethics and cultural norms throughout the world today. But it’s more than this. The main point of the book is to describe the evolution of Christian thinking and ideas down the ages. This necessarily involves pointing out the numerous defects in its history. For example, it was the Church who imprisoned Galileo because he demonstrated that the planets revolve around the sun.
Yet, as I previously noted, Holland acknowledges that at least some Christian values had their origins in Greek times, and I was interested that this was acknowledged in Patrick Leigh Fermor’s book, Mani. PLF states, “The Christian Church was the last great achievement of classical Greek culture” and, “Where but in the ancient schools …were developed the intellectual thews which enabled the great Doctors to hammer the raw material of the Gospels into the intricate and indestructible apparatus of Christian dogma?”
Holland also pays tribute to Christianity’s role in founding the universities.
Amongst the many other matters that he deals with is the issue of marriage. He makes the point that “the insistence of scripture that a man and a woman, whenever they took to the marital bed, were joined as Christ and his Church were joined, becoming one flesh, gave to both a rare dignity”. The husband was instructed to be faithful to the wife. This was a big change to the prevailing values of the day, where “double standards” had long prevailed. Apparently Roman law required marriages to be monogamous, but husbands could divorce their wives, and it turned a blind eye to them forcing themselves on their inferiors. Hence the Christian views in this regard came as something of wakeup call to them!
I’m not sure how this fits in with the Old Testament commandment not to commit adultery, as to whether this was seen as a re-interpretation of it, or whether it was always meant to be a “one way street”.
Holland also points out that a lot of what can only be described as “slaughter” was done in the name of Christianity (or at least with its implicit support), such as Charlemagne forcing the Saxons to convert and the suppression “heresies” as well as by the Spanish in the Americas – amongst others.
He delves into Christian attitudes to slavery and evolution, as well as taking a particular interest in the numerous sects (for want of a better word) that emerged over the centuries, such as the Taborites, the Diggers and the Pelagians. And he comments on the influence of radical Protestantism on the formulation of the US Constitution.
In short, Holland covers a lot of ground, yet sometimes he seems to jump around a bit, between centuries and geographically. I suppose that’s mainly because there’s just so much in this book and it must have been a challenge to organise it all.
The Olympics
I’m not entirely convinced that the Olympic Games aren’t over-rated. They provide lots of content for the insatiable media, which of course always likes live content.
But I’m left wondering why people suddenly get interested various sports just because it’s on at the Olympics. Skateboarding or “sport climbing” (whatever that is) anyone? However, in fairness, I note that the TV coverage seems on concentrate on the more “mainstream” sports.
I watched just a little of the opening ceremony, but wasn’t “swept off my feet”. Perhaps I should have persisted? Did it really go for 4 hours? I later watched the TV news report, and enjoyed that, but wasn’t left with the feeling that I’d missed much.
Limits
Have there been limits on the amount of toilet paper you can buy all along? Or did this limit come back at the same time as the latest lockdown?
My suspicious mind sometimes wonders if the stores like to create the impression of a shortage. Then people feel they have to “buy up”!
Cats (2)
So it’s not only in the ACT where a firmer line is being taken on cats. The weekend newspaper had an article about Melbourne councils that have similar rules. There are at least four categories: councils that have no rules, councils that have some sort of curfew, councils that have very strict curfews and require the cat to be kept on the property at all times and councils that just make recommendations.
Our local council doesn’t seem to have any rules. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time.
Aldi and tech
Aldi always seem to have defined systems, which they seem to stick to pretty closely. In recent years, the only thing that’s changed much are the store layouts.
So it was interesting to read a report a few days back that they’re now planning some changes: an on-line offering, self-serve checkouts and even some smaller format stores.
The smaller format stores will compete with the Woolworths Metro and Coles Local formats, which seem to have been quite successful. It will be interesting to see how the Aldi concept (especially a much smaller range of products) translates into this format.
Musings and Mutterings 