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Red Cross event

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We have decided that a good way of reducing our tax bill is to make donations to charities which we would like to support.  Conceptually this is another form of taxation but we minimise our contribute to Government expenditure with which we disagree (such as our taxes contributing a tiny amount to the salaries of Senator Poor Lean and Senator Malcolm Roberts).  We consulted a friend with good knowledge of suitable bodies and were recommended to donate to Australian Red Cross (ARC).  So we did and as a result were invited to attend a presentation on their  Immigration Detention Monitoring Program. This was in their Victorian HQ on Flinders St.
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September to Melbourne

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We have booked to go and see "Xerxes" an opera by Handel at the Malthouse theatre on the evening of Saturday 5 October.  This meant we  headed West on Saturday, rather than Sunday morning.  As we drove through Mallacoota there were lots of roos beside the road.  Fortunately we didn't collect one. There was quite a lot of traffic heading into Mallacoota as well - much more than on Sundays.  Perhaps the fish are running?  That changed from Genoa to Cann River, where we didn't see a car!  After swapping drivers at Newmerella the traffic was back and many of those heading in our direction had obviously got their licence off a Weetbix packet: slow as old moles! A State election is due in November.  I noticed a couple of signs for the new Nationals candidate, following the retirement of Tim Bull.  Frances saw a big <1 Notion sign on a rather low budget motel at Traralgon. Then as we approached Pakenham (having already lost about 15 minutes on ou...
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August Trip

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It was just coming to sunrise as we left Mallacoota on a pretty cool morning. As I was wearing my Ugg boots I wasn’t really cold while finishing loading the car, having done most of the job on Saturday. As I have forgotten things a couple of times recently Frances ran through a checklist before we left. The checklist will be modified a bit for the next trip since she noticed - as we passed through Cabbage Tree Creek - that I was still wearing my Ugg boots rather than the intended walking shoes!  Fortunately we intended to call in to Anaconda in Bairnsdale to pick up a new parka, so we can also get a new pair of Keens. Sticking with coolness, things got a little white on the Genoa Flats, as the car thermometer showed 0C.  It warmed up to 7C at Drummer and then dropped back to 3C at Cann River. After a very productive stop at Anaconda where the parka was collected, new Keens acquired (recognise that, facial AI) and Frances discovered an excellent fleece (for me) marked down fr...
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Same-same.... but different

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 When we lived at Carwoola water was a constant issue for us.  We either had plumbing problems (too little water); floods across the road due to storms; or a watercourse running from the dam overflowing and flooding the garden (too much water). I thought we might be past all that. However today I was quietly reading, while Frances was out for a walk when there was a rumble from the general direction of the ceiling or roof.  My first thought was the chimney had fallen over but that wasn't the case (and the solar heater and panels all looked OK.  Then I walked past our water meter and it was going berserk, when nothing should have been running.  I turned it about 90% off and started looking for what could be the problem.   Then Frances returned and went to check her bathroom.  She described it as like Niagara erupting from under the basins. Turn off of water goes to 100% and our plumber is contacted. He arrives quickly (he is sort of retired but hel...
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Nearby snaps

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 These are just a few snaps from 505 or very nearby. It is quite usual to see groups of dog-walkers in the morning.  However they are usually out in the middle of the park, not blocking the path.  I have no idea why the big dog - possibly a Burmese Mountain Dog - is in the cart. The low clour/fog has been keeping the balloons away but 4 came in on the 17th.  I thought this one was going to land very close to 505 but it ended up about 200m away. A couple of snaps of a colourful sunset on the 17th.  This looked quite nice .... ... but the colour got more intense 3 minutes later.    It is also surprising that the sky was this light at 1743 hrs.
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Albert Park and nearby

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 on  The following image shows a 20-meter high mural in Bowen St, South Melbourne (heading from Mac Rob to the Toorak Rd tram stop,  honoring Boonwurrung matriarch and trailblazer for Aboriginal rights, Louisa Briggs .  The mural was painted by acclaimed street artist Pete CTO.
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Landing

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 We were walking to Prahran on the morning of the 10th and heard a helicopter coming from the general direction of Richmond.  It was indeed the Air Ambulance, albeit on an unusual flight path over Fawkner Park rather than Albert Park. Here it is coming down.  Note the bloke with the Hi-vis and a stop sign on the pavement.  It seems he was just stopping pedestrians not vehicles. Then it has to be lined up properly.  I assume it is more efficient to swing it round in the air than to get a couple of wardsmen to shove it round after landing.
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