Kerry's Blog

That Darn Cat or you don’t know how good things are till they aren’t and “Ancient” Revelations

Jul 27th 2014

By: Kerry

No comments

The saga of the missing roo meat continues. I commissioned a kind friend to purchase roo meat when she did her normal Wednesday shop at a supermarket
which always has roo meat, even if it didn’t have it when I went on Monday. Unfortunately, the shop had still not been resupplied with roo eat so she returned empty handed. Meanwhile, Indie had been eating her expensive filet steak, even donating a filet to my tea on Tuesday. However, I was getting a little desperate to be resupplied with the normal “Indie approved” product. By the time I reached a local supermarket on Thursday afternoon after an easy exercise session and an hour chasing ancestors in the library I was desperate for the comfort of my reclining heated chair and didn’t have the energy to chase everywhere looking for roo meat. The supermarket which had no roo meat on Monday was now selling just expired meat at a discount. I gambled and bought a packet.

I opened the roo meat yesterday, fed Indie some and froze the rest in small piles for later. All went well until the wee small hours. Indie cried and cried. She has approved of her meals and been well for the past several months so I’d forgotten how awful sleep deprivation caused by an unhappy cat can be. She was very clear about wanting to go outside. Having been caught with that previously (put the cat outside, start to drift off to sleep and an hour later the caterwauling begins necessitating yet another getting up to let her inside) I placed her beside one of her kitty litter trays and disappeared to bed. She was under the bed before my head hit the pillow. We both returned to sleep without any more fuss. She has slept most of the day apart from taking time out to eat one of the defrosted roo patties and to present herself at dog feeding time for a little of their “vet unapproved for Indie” pet mince. And I hope she can sleep well tonight and approve of her early morning snack.

Son Number 2 heeded the call to delve in the roof space today. My memory of its
contents was 2 Christmas trees and an empty computer box. Several boxes, a bag of clothes and a small fan heater made their way to the floor along with a goodly volume of dust and leaves. The Christmas trees are still there. Son Number 2 didn’t lay claim to the heater or clothes and disappeared off home after disposing of the unwanted boxes. Sometime later, and after dusting the bag I embarked on an archeological investigation into its contents. It was a bit of a trip down memory lane. It contained lots of specialized work and sporting clothes organized neatly in plastic bags and kept for posterity. Both Sons 1 and 2 had exactly the same work and sport clothes background but I don’t think I’ll need to send out the photos of the bag and heater to identify the owner. The suspect son is about to board a plane. Unfortunately for me it is not to return home and claim the multitude of items I have been harbouring knowingly and seemingly unknowingly for years.

Animals, Australia, Family History
Spring has Sprung

Jul 21st 2014

By: Kerry

No comments

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day preceded by an overnight low of -5. The wildlife hasn’t been reading or listening to weather reports. A magpie was busy selecting some of the copious cat fur decorating the seat of the office chair on the verandah. Indie has displayed herself on it in the past and left her calling card. The bird was welcome to it and it spent ages selecting sufficient to surround her beak with a fine light fuzz. She then hopped over towards the glass door where a dog was stretched out on the other side. Perhaps she had thoughts of adding to the
colour scheme with some personal plucking. She returned to the chair and further fur selection before flying off. I’ve left dog hair out in the past with the hope a bird would put it to good use, but doubt it happened. It’s always ended up in great drifts in the carport catching leaves and general grot until I’ve raised the energy to deal with it. Bushfire season has always been a good galvanizer of such action.

I enjoyed some time on the verandah chatting to Floyd and dealing with some washing. Even Floyd sounds brighter and chattier with the sunny weather. While there I heard and saw the first blow fly of the season.

saluting the sun

This morning the animals were stretched out enjoying the sun. After taking advantage of the photo op, through the door so as not to disturb the pose, I put washing on the line and investigated some of the flowers in bloom. Some came out before the cold snap started about 6 weeks ago but others are emerging all the time. The blow flies were numerous and making a racket as they flew around the garden. It must be time to get the fly trap out of mothballs.

This afternoon I went shopping for kangaroo mince for Indie. I had expected to sail, well, hobble, into the first shop and leave with a kilo of human grade roo
mince for one cat. The roo mince section was resoundingly empty. I tried to
plunder the next supermarket to meet the same result. While not completely out of roo mince we didn’t have far to go before facing the equivalent of Mother Hubbard’s cupboard and an Indie without her favourite food is not for the faint hearted. I was a bit desperate. I drove for miles to a shop where I fully expected to find the required food. Again, I met an empty shelf. I succumbed to a tray of kangaroo filet as I had more plastic capacity than energy to search additional shops. Now there is the additional job of finely cutting half a kilo of roo. Unfortunately stock piling even of small quantities of roo mince doesn’t work. Did I mention she is fussy and an excellent trainer of humans?

China
The Tuna That John West Rejects

Jul 19th 2014

By: Kerry

No comments

The Tuna That John West Rejects

I feel a bit like the fish in this ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ_RoeZxhrU At least I got thrown back into the water with the chance of developing into a more acceptable ‘fish’. The pre-admission clinic was dissatisfied with some blood results and no further impressed with those from a repeat blood-letting five days later. So, I’ve had the joy of spending more time and money with my GP to investigate anomalies, not to mention swapping turtle stories. Unlike her, I’m unlikely to be stuck with my offspring’s turtle although I did have to mind a snake for a couple of months. Meanwhile, someone else gets to arise early
on Tuesday morning instead. Guess my cardio-vascular system is pleased, but can’t say much else is, especially my joints particularly as I’d been fast tracked due to need. I was looking forward to having 24 hours with little else to do but breathe, wriggle my ankles and press the button for on demand analgesia before commencing the boot camp of life with a new prosthesis. If everything goes according to the new plan I get to be sleep deprived with an early start at the hospital in 4 weeks.

I have returned to the “snatch and grab” on the genealogy database. Can’t say I’m making much progress although I’ve only just returned to the problem area after a break of more than a month. The 1841 and 1851 census returns for a great grandfather create more questions than answers. There are kids in the family in 1841 census who can’t be offspring of the marriage he comes from as some were born before the marriage occurred. The woman referred to as “wife” in the 1841 census has a different name although she may be recorded under her second name. We have two like that in current generations and few besides their nearest and dearest would know that they are known by their second names. Perhaps the kids belong to an earlier marriage, seemingly another time honoured family tradition. The wife dies in childbirth or very young and the man remarries. I remember looking for birth records for some of the other kids in the 1841 census previously and don’t remember finding anything that made sense. I need to re-evaluate what I have, try and make sense of it and start searching again.

Meanwhile I have documents from another branch of the family to scan so I REALLY know what information I have.

China, Family History, Other
What I’ve Been Reading Plus

Jul 15th 2014

By: Kerry

No comments

What I’ve Been Reading Plus

I had my preadmission appointment early on Friday after an all too short disturbed sleep. I felt seedy all day and for the next two days but not bad enough to prevent a spot of simple weeding and vacuuming etc. I made some yoghurt last night despite forgetting the need until the last minute. The last step in its manufacture is to cover the container with a blanket for 8+ hours. I always use the two crocheted ones usually found in the lounge room. However, it’s been so bitterly cold recently I’d put one on my bed a few night ago. Of course, the Steel Claw in the Velvet Paw, well known by my dining chairs, also known as Indie, was lying on it. Fortunately, I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse so I escaped the claw and got my blanket.   This morning I had 3kg+ of yogurt to pot up. It’s not the greatest as it contains no additives, simply milk plus a tiny bit of a previous yogurt, but it’s not milk anymore and very cheap, edible and quite edible if post production additives of sugar and/or fruit are added.

Indie as a cat sandwich a few weeks ago

It proved a useful form of defence following her repeated incursions onto my lap and then chair when I got up. She was very happy for many hours.

Have been reading a variety of books lately and thought I write about some. These days I borrow books from the library based upon recommendations I read about or hear on the radio. I then save them to sticky notes on the computer, far superior to the piece of paper which I used previously and which used to get lost. I then order the book from the library and while not all are there, most are. Usually by the time I get the book, unless it’s a well known author, I’ve forgotten why I wanted it. This was the case with two of those I’ll write about. I also pick up some of the ones left lying around by library staff for fast selection. Most times it’s a good choice, a few are poorly written rubbish which I don’t finish.

Saree   by Su Dharmapala

It is a very thick but very readable tome. It starts in Sri Lanka with the story of friendship between two young male friends from different ethnic groups. One has a passion to unravel silk from a cocoon without killing the silkworm within it. He was about to throw up an opportunity to attend university to follow his dream with silk when war broke out. The next chapter seems completely disconnected apart from including a sari making factory. The next several chapters also seem disconnected but contain certain completeness within and in various ways continue the theme of silk. With time the connections slowly emerge and the major characters slowly reconnect in a different country. Themes including beauty, decision making and love in its various guises are intricately woven into a modern story involving ancient crafts.

After Romulus by Raimond Gaita

He is an author and philosopher and is to talk at one of our universities in a month or so. I’d seen the film and read his book, Romulus My Father, a kind of memoir and biography. I thought I’d read his other books before the talk. After Romulus is an odd book and won’t suit everyone. It talks about Romulus My Father and some of the comments he received following its release with his attempt to explain further. It includes some very philosophical sections, which he says in the Introduction, are difficult to read and deserving of being read twice to try and understand them. They are difficult and I’m glad he said philosophy is difficult. Makes me feel a little better given my brain had turned to mush when I’d tried to philosophy before. He explains goodness in a philosophical but clear enough way by using the innate goodness he saw in his father and another character. His discussion of madness is very clear, honest and respectful. Not so sure about the rest of the book as it doesn’t remain in my memory but am looking forward to the lecture. He also has a book called The Philosopher’s Dog which deserves to be read even if just for the title.

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Anchor

Again no idea why I ordered this from the library but order it I did and now I’ve read it. It’s based on a model of positive psychology by the author, previously an academic and now consultant. It’s an intensely readable book containing squillions of simple examples and experiments demonstrating his concepts, arguments and examples. He talks of criss crossing the world to consult with major companies to assist them to improve morale, productivity etc and mentions some very simple techniques for improvement. He has a lot to say about the world of work not least because it is a major part of most people’s lives and very influential regarding their happiness and that of their families. He writes of habits and the concept of “common sense” and why it doesn’t work. It all sounds too plausible and slick yet he uses simple examples and experiments which we can relate to. One example he gave was of creating a new improved habit of playing guitar ever day, to replace an old undesirable one of flopping in front of the TV on arrival home.    He developed a plan but after 3 weeks had only played 4 times. He simplified access to the guitar by always having it in sight, one of his concepts revolving around reducing energy required to create a new habit, and he achieved his goal. I’d say a lot of what he’s written is not new or rocket science but he has the ability to communicate it easily and make it accessible and doable. When I checked the web he appears quite often including video talks.

Animals, Australia

Books
On Dogs and Ancestral Children

Jul 9th 2014

By: Kerry

No comments

On Dogs and Ancestral Children

Yesterday when I went to leave home there was a dog roaming near the house, a very rare occurrence. I was about to open the garage door and remembered the past. Jessie was in the open doorway when a couple was walking their leashed dog on the road. Jessie took exception to its presence in front of her property, took off and attacked the dog. Her faithful friend, normally the gentlest creature, had to join in. Fortunately Jessie’s proprietary instinct was superior to her fighting technique and she was the one requiring a few stitches. Yesterday’s dog, a timid looking creature with some greyhound ancestry and a collar, disappeared when I walked towards it. I could leave safely without fear of an ancient protector engaging in a dog fight.

Jessie had a very unsettled night last night. She receives monthly injections for arthritis and has other medical conditions. She’s had the pointy end of the final injection hovering over her for over a year. However, she manages very well, at times initiates play with Phantom and enjoys throwing her toys, large soft drink bottles into the air and squashing them. I think she’s had an OK day and is currently looking comfortable on her double decker bed.

The “smash and grab” raid in the genealogy data bases continues although there’s been minimal recent grabs due to a combination of reduced numbers of relevant files and a certain amount of fishing in the dark among Irish ancestors. I’ve also been tidying the records I do have. I reexamined an Irish census return for a great grandmother’s sister and my jaw dropped for the second time when considering family size in some earlier generations.

The Irish sister reported bearing 10 live children with 6 alive, some quite young, at the time of the census. Can’t help but think of the wasted resources; emotional, social, financial, physical, time etc involved in being pregnant, bearing 10 kids and then
losing so many. It is interesting to consider the social, health and religious environment responsible for such results. I noticed that her 2 widowed sisters in NSW did not remarry in Catholic churches; one even marrying in the rectory rather than the church. We have much to be grateful for when living in a social and health environment, which despite its faults, is full of opportunity and choice.

My jaw first dropped when I discovered that an English born great grandmother had borne 12 children in Victoria, especially when we’d only ever known of one, our grandfather. She was having kids about 20 years earlier but in a far more comfortable housing and financial situation. However, she was unlucky enough to lose 4 of them during childhood. One died from diphtheria. Today we are routinely vaccinated against it along with several other infections which were common in previous times and nowadays are kept at bay by community vaccination. We have a photo of her as an elderly woman where she looks worn out and sad. She outlived her husband by around 35 years and also one of their children who had reached adulthood.

A Scottish great great grandmother lost a daughter and two of her grandchildren to a common infectious disease which few people know of these days. From what I remember of the records I think they had tried to spread the risk and perhaps share the load of care by sending one of the kids to live with his aunt but he still succumbed to the disease. While the great grandmother hadn’t lost any kids during childhood she’d previously lost 2 children to Victoria so the family had its share of loss. Luckily for her, the son in Victoria returned home after about 12 years, rejoined the family business, married and had 2 children.

Animals, Family History
- <
- 1
- …
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- …
- 31
- >

Kerry's Blog

Hello and Welcome

Subscribe

Recent Comments

Pages

Categories

Favourite Websites

Site

Tags

Archives

That Darn Cat or you don’t know how good things are till they aren’t and “Ancient” Revelations

Spring has Sprung

The Tuna That John West Rejects

What I’ve Been Reading Plus

On Dogs and Ancestral Children