The Diggers Rest pub destroyed by Fire

I was shocked watching the 5 pm news tonight on Channel 10 when they had a report about a fire which destroyed the historic Diggers Rest pub. Why? Well because it was owned at one time by my uncle. I only went there once with my parents over 50 years ago and was introduced to three female cousins, Eleanor, Jill and the baby, Lyn. the reason I recollect it so vividly is because it was a Sunday and Diggers Rest was then in the country and my uncle "opened " the pub to give Dad a drink of beer. In those times if you travelled over 20 or 30 miles you were entitled to beer with a meal. I remember being given a very cold glass of raspberry vinegar. I can still remember how refreshing it was although it was over 50 years ago.

Tonight I spoke to my cousin , Eleanor, who now is resident on the Gold Coast and she had not heard the news.Naturally she was saddened over the news as she remenbers the times when she lived there. I also chatted to my aunt down on the Mornington Penisula and she also remembers the place. Sadly the hotel was closed for renovations and was hoping to open for Christmas. It was 157 years old. Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

Wednesday October 29th.

I read that Microsoft has announced that they are bringing out yet another operating system to replace the failed Vista system, which had so many bugs that many, including yours truly, opted to stay with XP. Windows 98 no longer has support but I am aware that there are still quite a number of computers still running with it. These operating platforms have become so complicated and use up a great deal of memory and resources, that they are in fact much slower than 98 was. No commencement date has been revealed yet but I am sure that many will be wary installing it until it has been trialed extensively.

I also note that AOL has taken over ICQ and integrated icqmail into aol. I had to reload ICQ to get access to that address and I will  be notifying all contacts  that come through icqmail of my primary emaiil address.

Also I have tried most of the windoze based browsers and have found that Internet Explorer 8, Firefox and Sea Monkey all work but the Safari browser, eats up too much RAM.For  reliability and a quicker start- up,  Google Chrome is by far the best. I took Netscape Navigator down after they withdrew support and stopped updating the browser. Firefox has taken over and Seamonkey appears to be identical, based on the same Mosaic foundation that Netscape had.

Reflections on a Celtic heritage.

I haven't done a blog for a few days and yes I am still around. Yesterday afternoon took Mum to a celebration concert put on by the St. Andrews Caledonian Pipe Band. They got her up on stage to recognise her involvement with it as the first woman piper in about 1938. She was really touched. It is funny that I have always felt Scottish and the skirl of the bagpipes always stirs me.

The reality is, however, is that many of my ancestors are in fact Irish. They are in fact on both sides of the border and different religions. Naturally it has caused divisions and animosity within the families. In 1979 I was fortunate that my parents took me to Britain and Europe as part of their long service leave entitlements. I have always identified with Scotland and really felt I belonged, when I was there. Before arriving in Scotland, we went to Eire and I felt uncomfortable as the tour guides were very anti English and pro- Catholic. My parents were nominally Anglicans and rarely attended services. I was a committed Christian but did not make a fuss about it. During the whole 12 week period I only had a very brief meaningful encounter and that was at Iona, known as the sainted isle in the Hebridies.

Despite strongly identifiying with Scotland, I discovered many decades later, that many of my ancestors actually came from Ireland, both North and South. This surprised me as I vividly remember the strong feelings of hate and ethnic division stirred up by my 1979 visit.These divisions were still apparent within my family history. My father was unaware of his father's Irish roots as my grandparents marriage foundered in the 1920's and he was not allowed to have anything to do with his father.

In the final few weeks of his life, I started out the quest to find his family history but sadly was unable to finally complete it before he died early in 2006. I have also developed an interest in Irish history discover for myself my family roots. As somebody has said, you cannot choose your ancestors, you are born into their family line and inherit their DNA.

Local Government reform proposals again.

It was interesting to recently read in the "Launceston Examiner" that once more there has been discussion on once again on local government amalgamations. This has been tried and yes we have reduced the number of local councils to reduce duplication and make them more economically manageable but naturally there will be opposition from vested interests who prefer the status quo.

Originally we had 46 councils or municipal regions and these were reduced to 29.
The proposal is to cut them back to 11 and it makes sense economically yet most ratepayers are naturally very wary of the creation of super councils which will seem distant and remote from them. Most would prefer a local council that would concentrate on needs closer to home.

Do we need state governments at all? I wonder if we bypassed them and only had the federal and local governments, what a lot of duplication would be cut.
What do you think?


Robin

My beef continues

I profess not to know what is really going on behind the scenes but the recent developments around the re-appointment of a key retired police adminstrator and the subsequent reversal by the government following some unspecified objections raised by the legal fraternity, makes me question what is going on with the administration of this State. The present Labor administration led by David Bartlett seems to lurch from one crisis to another. This is not good and indeed is a very bad advertisement for Tasmania interstate and overseas.

I wrote recently of my personal disgust of the parliamentary behaviour of the Opposition Leader and the narrow focus of the minority Greens Party. Both lead me to wonder are we really being served by responsible and mature leadership in the State. We do need fresh blood and focus in government and parliament.Certainly by no means an increase in the numbers of pollies in the Lower house but a cleanout of the deadwood that seems to be there on all sides. I am sick of the point scoring and name calling. Do these politicians realise the low standing they have in the general community by this behaviour more akin the schoolyard instead of parliament?

Robin

Did I go too far in my criticism?

Am I too harsh on politicians? Probably after all they are human. Yet we do require them to set an example and really get down to solving problems and making things better for you and me. I know I get angry when I see them playing very childish games of one-upmanship and point scoring. It is very sad. We need better political leadership with integrity and vision.

I see President George W. Bush has called for a World Summit to discuss the worsening financial crisis. If only we would see an outcome from this but I suspect it will end up as a talkfest and political grandstanding. He is only in office for three months before the next president takes over and I personally cannot see he can do that much. Either Obama or McCain may want to do things differently.

Robin L. Harwood.

The Tasmanian Political scene due for a shakeup

I , along with many other Tasmanians, was disgusted by the childish actions of Opposition Leader Will Hodgman in State Parliament this week. He made a very obscene gensture to an opposition backbencher and it was seen from the parliamentary press gallery. I am appalled at this behaviour, especially coming from an individual who aspires to be the political leader of this island state.

This episode has only reinforced the standing of politicians who are ranked alongside used car salesmen for creditability. We need to have a complete cleanout of those presently in parliament and get back people with integrity and vision. It is no wonder that the Liberals languish in public opinion polls.

The Labor government is no better and they seem captive to faceless bureaucrats and spin doctors. The minority Greens have claimed the high moral ground but are so idealistic and have a very narrow focus of saving trees.The Greens are no pragmatists, nor are they realistic.
The loony left have abandoned their traditional Labor base for the Greens.

The former Liberal federal candidate , Ben Quin, who was dumped because of his opposition to the Gunns pulp mill, has hinted that he is going to form a new political party with a claim of 13 candidates. I take that with a grain of salt. However we do need fresh blood not only in government but in opposition as well. That is why I am sympathetic to independent candidates not affilated to political parties. I voted for Brian Harradine and before him Spot Turnbull.
They did more for Tasmania in the Senate than party affilated pollies. I am thankfull for the independent Legislative council, our upper house, for laregely being free of parties, although they are trying to get more in that chamber. If they can't get elected, then they favour abolishing the Upper House.

Ok I will get down from my soapbox now.

Robin

As I see it.

Today I really got up early as I had an scheduled appointment. Naturally I managed to get started much earlier than I normally do by commencing to get some unfinished business underway at last. I really should endeavour to get going and not dawdle. Trouble is once my brain starts working, my body wants not to cooperate. I should program my body to go to the active mode and my brain ( thought processes) into a standby mode. In other words, stop daydreaming and get going.

Yes I viewed the final presidential debate between Obama and McCain. This debate was more spirited than the two previous encounters. Obama did impress me on how controlled and relaxed he was under pressure. McCain came accross as being very tired and did not offer anything new. Just a few hours prior to this debate, Wall Street nosedived again and it appears that they and other markets really do not have much confidence in the rescue packages hastily formulated by very nervous governments.

It is also very obvious that unemployment is rapidly increasing in the wake of this financial meltdown. Ford Australia has slashed another 450 jobs on top of the hundreds laid off just a few weeks back. Economists also predict that jobs will be slashed in the small business sectors, not only here in Australia but also in North America. The BBC World Service recently stated that over 30,000 positions will be axed within London's financial sector alone due to this massive meltdown.

It doesn't surprise me that Obama is the frontrunner in the coming US presidential election because he represents change
whilst McCain is identified with incumbent Bush administration. Naturally the Republicans have resorted to smear and innuendo to try and deflect the flack they are getting over their poor administration, which has largely contributed to this meltdown.

Now it appears that the crisis is starting to hit Australia with cutbacks in orders for Australia's base metals. We naively thought that the huge demand from China for these would cushion Australia from the financial meltdown. Credit has become so tight that it is difficult attracting investment.

Australians have also discovered that it has become too expensive to travel overseas with the local dollar shrinking over 30% in value compared to six months ago. Then the Aussie dollar was 98.7 American and now it is 66.4. I have decided to forego ordering books from overseas for the time being. It no longer is economical.

Robin L. Harwood

Thoughts at the end of the day.

Today I have been doing absolutely nothing when I have a few tasks I should be doing.

I think I procrastinate too much and I must get down and complete them.  Tomorrow morning I have to get up early and maybe I will get into clearing the backlog.

Yesterday Mr. Rudd announced a package to try and cushion pensioners from the present financial crisis. Yes I am on a disability pension and the $1400 bonus will help me but I do know of others in a much worse situation than I am in. There are some in this retirement village who solely rely on superannuation which has dramatically shrunk because the funds were caught in questionable investments in the current crisis. 

Well to be honest, I have been thinking about my future and I would like to spend more time with a person who has had a huge impact on my life. I have been alone for over a decade ever since my marriage ended in divorce. To complicate things, my ex-wife died tragically six and half years ago and this also has had a lasting impact. I moved in here rather reluctantly and although I have become accustomed to being single, I have had this void and no longer like being alone. A long-term friendship has developed into a deep mutual love and a desire to be in each others company.

Have you really considered your future?  Do you want to break out and try something different?  Or are you content with the status quo?  Yes I know what I would like yet without taking too many risks. Change comes whether we are prepared or not.  We like to be in control and feel threatened by anything we can't control. I know I am at the crossroads and I am the one who has to make decisions regarding my future. I am weighing up all the options.

Robin

Just thinking aloud.....

Where do I go from here? I have been writing this blog and I know that it is being read. I have been sharing on my reflections on many situations from my perspective. I have wanted to be open and candid yet have often retreated into my shell. So often we hide our innermost feelings because we are afraid of becoming hurt or being misunderstood. This self-censorship makes us guarded and reticent about being truly open.

I have become somewhat cynical and wary and do quite a lot of thinking about the issues that are before us. Just scratching the surface or as somebody once said, skimming the headlines, contributes to generalisations and half-truths That is why we have to keep on questioning and fully investigating. We need access to a much wider field of information and expertise rather than the blind acceptance of a single source of information. We need to exercise closer scrutinity and not to take things at face value.

What do you think?

Robin L. Harwood

October 12th 2008.

We have all been shaken up by the recent dramatic developments with the collapse of the financial system on Friday. This crisis has hurt many people and there is no sign yet of it recovering. This crisis was largely brought on by greed and living off credit, which isn't healthy. It comes then as no surprise that the world's financial markets have collapsed with politicians and financial regulators trying desperately to unravel the mess. They have tried to introduce stopgap measures in the interim to restore some confidence but the public is extremely nervous and does not seem to have much confidence in politicians or financial regulation.

This crisis , as I said , has touched everybody and we should learn from our mistakes and live within our means. Most commentators seem to agree that it will take a long period before the system returns to "normal'. But as I have pointed out, people are searching for answers as to what has caused this financial meltdown and readily blame Wall Street, financiers, politicians or banks instead of realising that the crisis came out of out of their own greed and desire for easy wealth.

I also believe that the obscene amount of expenditure outlayed on the Iraqi war and in Afghanistan has significantly added to the ever-mounting debt accrued particularly by the US.

The US presidential election is scheduled for November 4th and I would expect that voters there will want to send a clear message to politicians that they are very angry. They want change and the incumbents naturally have resorted to smears and underhand methods against their opponents.

I , along with everybody else, am closely watching what will happen next.

Robin L. Harwood

Thoughts on Wednesday October 8th.

I have found today rather unusual and very tiring. October is notoriously windy here and as the Spring Season takes a while to settle down after the cold winter. I also think it takes a few days for the internal body clock to adjust to daylight saving. I am finding difficult to get going in the mornings and  slowing down to a crawl.

Around noon I sat down to watch the second presidential election debate between McCain and Obama. There wasn't anything really new and basically both candidates rehashed their earlier positions. McCain really failed to impress me whilst Obama came across as being from a younger generation. It was obvious that he appeals to a younger audience who really yearns for change.
Also it appears that support for McCain has dwindled markedly following the worsening financial crisis.Electors are seeking somebody to blame for causing this financial meltdown which has caused so much uncertainity and distrust for the political and financial sectors. Obama has picked up support but it is unclear what he can really do if elected to overcome this crisis. McCain is tainted by belonging to the Republicans and George W. Bush's policies which are hugely unpopular with the American public. I think that this election on the 4th of November could possibly see McCain and the Republicans being routed in elections for presidential and congressional offices.Americans want concrete actions and not platitudes at this juncture.

Reflections on Depression.

I have just read about two distressing episodes from Online news sites (1) that another high profile Australian entertainment personality has apparently committed suicide and (2) a mentally depressed individual in LA has killed members of his family and then turned the gun on himself. It is extremely tragic and it is no accident that this week here in Tasmania happens to be Mental Health Week.

I am know only too well the effects of depression as somebody close to me succumbed to ending her own life. Suicide is perceived as an escape from the inner torment and pain they are going through and from my experience, it is extremely difficult trying to reason with an individual whose thought processes are seriously impaired. They cannot see or understand the tragic consequences of their selfish actions on those closest to them. I have many friends who are still tormented and upset from a suicide of a close friend or family member.

As I see it, a seriously depressed person is often incapable of perceiving reality and is internally focused on their inner feelings of rejection and low self-esteem. Intervention is vital where an individual is obviously displaying severe depression, which can lead to extremely irrational behaviour and even death. This intervention will take time as the effects of this depression are deep seated.. Throughout the period of Intervention and beyond, they are going to need ongoing support and loving encouragement.

For further information on helping thosetrying to cope with depression, please go to www.beyondblue.org.au

(1) http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/entertainment/5059962/idol-contestant-dies-balcony-fall/

(2) http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=5968168

Memories and a new Beginning....

Today I keep hearing Barbara Striesand singing "Memories" Why? Well today would have been my 22nd wedding anniversary. I was married for 9 and half years before it finally failed. Fortunately we parted as friends and divorced 18 months later. She sadly passed away just three days before her 48th birthday.

Now I have finally been able to move on. Although I confess that I still find it impossible viewing the wedding video or the photo album .We can choose not become prisoners of bad memories. We cannot change the past yet we should learn from our mistakes and move on. That is what I have been able to do at last for I have found somebody I want to share my remaining years with. She too has cerebral palsy and we have known each other for quite some time. We have so much in common. . We understand each other completely and we have always been very close, despite the twists and turns of life's journey.

Robin

The Veep debate as seen by me.

I read today on the Web that the number of Blogs written in the past 24 hours number in the tens of thousands. I guess that they are being read and probably will generate even more replies and controversy. Even though, I have not received much of a response, I am determined to continue.

Along with countless millions in the USA and throughout the World, I watched the debate between the two candidates for Vice-president. Normally the Veep debate does not gather huge audiences but this election certainly has elicited a huge response since the nomination of Governor Sarah Palin by the Republican Party. There were many who questioned the wisdom of her selection and obvious inexperience, including yours truly yet I was surprised today by performance and style. I still think it won't work.

Senator Biden has more experience it is true but I was put off a little by coming across as a professional politician. Biden has more seniority than Obama yet he came across as being deferential to him. However I think the Obama-Biden ticket would govern better than McCain-Palin. I think the American voters are going to severely punish the Republicans for getting into the current financial mess. That is how this Tasmanian sees the situation as it is currently panning out. I think Americans want change and an end to the current mess and they are looking for scapegoats. I also think the financial mess is too deep to be solved with a bailout package, which is apparently deeply unpopular with ordinary voters

Robin L. Harwood
Norwood, Tasmania

Shall I continue?

I am wondering if my blog is serving any purpose as I have had no real feedback.

Am I writing nonsense to the blogsphere? Does anybody really care? Will I give up or is there a better platform to write and share my reflections?

The World is certainly changing so rapidly and it really is no surprise that there is so much anxiety and uncertainty about the future, especially after the dramatic collapse of the World financial markets. It is obvious that greed has played a large part in this collapse and naturally people are extremely wary of bailout packages that have the appearance of propping up

an unworkable situation. Nobody wants to see the perpetrators of this financial free-fall

rewarded with huge golden parachutes. In fact the huge bonuses and salaries earned by these corporate robbers are rather obscene.

This present financial crisis will continue for some time and is a wake-up call to us to get our house in order. We have been living beyond our means.

Robin L. Harwood