Vinnies don't do Lay Buy !

Here's a sign of the times folks... another in a very long line of things to notice if you can that show us where we are in the big scheme of things.

St. Vinnies.. the place were so many of Australia's poor buy used clothing and furniture.. since that is all they can afford to buy.. has stopped allowing Lay-Buy since January this year !!

Seriously folks.

I went in to lay-buy a decent entertainment unit and was told flat out that they don't do lay-by. I asked since when and the old woman told me since January.

Then I asked her, "How are poor people supposed to buy stuff then ?"

I got no reply.. just a look.

This little snippet should tell you how bad things are getting when St. Vincent DePaul can't help the poor anymore to get furniture items... one small cog in the bigger machine.. and that cog isn't doing it's job anymore. Read what you will from that.

Winter .. or who turned the heater off ?

Three nights this week I woke up freezing cold, and it was too cold to get out of bed to go find another blanket, so I just curled up and waited for sleep to overtake me. Then woke up an hour later still freezing.

Still, that was nothing compared to riding my bike to the Big SMOKE a couple of weeks ago to see Karise Eden sing live. At 7:30am it was still -2.. I was heading out to the bike then.

By the time I got to the end of my street I was thinking of turning back for home!! Damn it was so cold.. my face hurt so much in the open helmet that it gave me a neck-ache and headache!

But the stubborn part of me, the not-a-wimp part wouldn't let me turn around and so once I got over the range and descended the air began to warm up. Just in time for a breakfast stop at Aratula and to peel off all the layers of clothing, coz now I was sweating golfballs... yep I have no balance at all.

The rest of the day was wonderful and warm, and Karise was truly amazing to watch live.. loved it. Bought the album and haven't stopped listening to it yet... two weeks so far. Even turned some friends onto her performances who had never heard of her before.

So, my original question is Who turned off that bloody big heater in the sky ?

Can we have it back on please ? Coz I am starting to be one of those old fogey's who try to avoid the cold at all costs.... not really but it sure seems that way some times. Most days my house never warms up enough to take socks and jacket off.. and yet in Summer it is stinking hot indoors all the time.

Anyway.. that's me late bleat for this month so far...... come on Spring time !!