I’m troubled by the attitude of some to the Covid restrictions, particularly the “No Mask, We don’t ask” people. While I don’t agree with everything the authorities do or impose on us, I’m troubled by this type of open defiance.
Even around Melbourne, I’ve seen a sign along these lines (see image) — although in this instance the message got a bit lost in all the wordiness!
Well, here we are in lockdown yet again. I guess a blog post on this topic is unnecessary! We had given some thought to an interstate trip (to attend an event), but the planets didn’t align and we didn’t get away. But a family member planned to go to Darwin, for a break. As it happened, the NT border closed while she was in Brisbane – so she got no further and is now spending time in Queensland. We’re told that it’s warm up there and the restaurants are still open!
But here, it’s an excuse to start looking at doing the tax.
I suppose it’s a “good thing” that many stations now have wall charts giving some basic information about the local area.
I’m not sure how many people actually use the information, but be that as it may, surely the information ought to be accurate. At our local station, the information about the nearby tram route is just wrong.
I guess even the posties need to learn how to operate those new “vans” that many of them now seem to use!
I heard a talk about Sir Redmond Barry. The speaker came from an Irish background, so wasn’t pre-disposed towards Barry, who was of Anglo-Irish stock (as has been said, regarded as Irish by the English and English by the Irish). He regarded Barry as having been a harsh judge, with a strong belief in strong institutions, but paid credit to Barry’s work – consistently with his belief in strong institutions – in being instrumental in the founding of (what is now) the State Library and the University of Melbourne (he was the first Chancellor). Barry had a long-running relationship but wasn’t married, and fathered four children.
Of course, he is often remembered as the judge who sentenced Ned Kelly to death, along with Kelly’s retort to the effect that “I will see you there when I go” – and who died 12 days after Kelly was hanged.
Although I knew a little about Barry, the talk filled in a few gaps. However, I thought afterwards that, when assessing him, perhaps we need to take into account the times in which he lived. I suspect that he was by no means the only judge in that era who could be describe as “harsh”.
As I’ve said before, the possums have definitely raided our lemon tree. Yet, other people have citrus trees, and are seemingly unaffected. Are out lemons better than those of our neighbours?
Another theory was offered by a family member. Apparently ring tail possums (the variety we have around here) prefer not to walk on the ground. So they stick to fences and the like. And, since our lemon tree is next to the fence, they can access it it easily.
This is broadly consistent with what is said here, (about them being vulnerable on the ground) and is certainly in line with my experience. Maybe I’ll try and trim our tree so that it’s away from the fence and see if it makes any difference.
It was great that Ash Barty won her final. We didn’t wait up to watch, but of course checked first thing in the morning (on the internet). I then went to buy the Sunday newspaper, and there it was, on the front page. 
Before the advent of the internet, we’d expect the morning newspaper to give us all the news from overnight, but we have to accept that this isn’t realistic in the modern era. And, in the afternoon, when the Melbourne Herald was around, all the schoolboys knew there were four editions: “City”, “Home”, “Late” and “Final”.
So it was really a reminder of past times that the Sunday paper had apparently held off printing at least the locally distributed newspapers until the Wimbledon result was in.
A glossy magazine fell out of the newspaper a few days ago, promoting Western Australia as a tourist destination.
Well, good luck with that. With the trigger happy attitude of the politicians over there, closing the state down pre-emptively as soon as there’s the slightest whiff of covid, I think there’s some way to go to re-build confidence about interstate travel, even if there are to be direct flights between Melbourne and Busselton (for Margaret River).
I’d never heard of World Chocolate Day, but it got a mention on the TV news. Some reports suggests that it has been celebrated on 7 July since 2009 because it was the day when chocolate was introduced to Europe in the year 1550. I’m not sure of the basis for this, but it seems as good a reason as any for a celebration!
I attended the funeral of a Minister who had served at our local Church in the 1990s. He had died unexpectedly. We were told he had come from a working class Methodist background, but amongst other degrees, he had a PhD from Princeton. He was known for his conservative theology, which was not a good “fit” in today’s very progressive Uniting Church. However, he was greatly respected for his deep convictions and for his strong faith, integrity and compassion.
Covid restrictions meant the the format of the service was less than optimal, and attendance was by invitation only. But at least we were able to gather in person.
Musings and Mutterings 