tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25814548379151370452024-03-14T04:31:58.373+10:00Oldie's BlogOldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-43058328854385581392013-08-21T18:55:00.003+10:002013-08-21T18:55:24.754+10:00A bit of peace and serenity.. sortaIt's weird.<br />
<br />
Somehow the grumpy-old-man phase went fast for me, I sped right into it, and after a couple of years dawdling around in it there is now a lot less interest in things I cannot effect for the better.<br />
<br />
This means a lot of mental energy, and feeling responses energy isn't being burned up with me being, well, burned-up about something/someone's behaviour.<br />
<br />
How's that going for me you may ask ??<br />
<br />
Pretty bloody good really.<br />
<br />
Seriously. Most of the time now there is a calmness inside me, unless I let the mind wander into what-ifs and other thoughts... which happens a fair bit still :) but at least I catch myself not being here n now.<br />
<br />
Just thought I would share that with anyone who may still read this almost totally inactive Blog, in the hopes they may realise the same thing for themselves....<br />
<br />
.. if you can positively change a thing then go for it... but if you know it cannot be changed, don't put energy into it. <br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-17456302522760294742013-05-31T09:59:00.001+10:002013-05-31T09:59:07.769+10:00Tom Waterhouse; The perfect GenY example.Yep, I said it.<br />
<br />
Tom Waterhouse, "You'll see less of me now".<br />
<br />
And then he goes into trying to justify what he has been doing showing up on TV shows as a presenter to hawk his massive profit making gambling business.<br />
<br />
The whole way through the report I see young Tom.. he is only 30.. talking Me, Me, Me.. and totally missing the point that Gambling is bad news, causes serious issues in families and seems to only be good for one person.. the Bookie.. in this case the high profile Tom Waterhouse.<br />
<br />
Yep, perfect GenY behaviour right there.<br />
<br />
And they say we need to get up with the times... Pffftt.. they need to grow a socially aware brain to discover the universe does not revolve around them and what they want to do.Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-78679290893759630682013-05-13T09:52:00.003+10:002013-05-13T09:52:55.259+10:00No Rants lately ?I know, us old blokes are supposed to rant all the time about how bad the world is, how youth are screwed-up, etc. But you know... what's the point ?<br />
<br />
No one actually listens to our concerns until they are directly affected themselves. When they do hear you or read your rant, they automatically think you are nuts, a stupid old man, and in need of getting up with the times, etc.<br />
<br />
So they miss the message completely.<br />
<br />
Which brings me to my question... What's the point ?<br />
<br />
If no one listens, if no one takes one or two important facts on board for consideration then there is no real point to any of it.<br />
<br />
In which case that means I am wasting my time and effort in trying to help people see what is going on all around them, all the time. Most of you want to move on through life wearing blinders.. I don't want to see!!!<br />
<br />
So people like me can put you into an uncomfortable place.. and the option taken in those times is to close the webpage and do something else. No getting off your bum to start a movement for better, no speaking up in public so we can all go about our day to day stuff without hearing offensive language and seeing offensive behaviours around us. How sad.<br />
<br />
So I think I should give up trying to show anyone anything.<br />
<br />
And as I turn away from the ranting times, I begin to think a happy thought... I get my new front tyre on the bike today.. Yay!! So let's hope no bastards offend me in public today, coz I will have to speak up anyway. If no one tells them, how can they learn ?Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-92214791887695989662013-03-05T08:56:00.000+10:002013-03-05T09:06:43.207+10:00Heavy Rain + Motorcycle = AdventureI went to Brisvegas Saturday. Left home and it started to rain a little,
then more, then more, and then even more, and yep, then even more rain.
Heaviest rain I've ridden a bike in. Ever!<br />
<br />
Couldn't see
more than 20 to 25 feet at best and was focused on not running in the
deep lines created by heavy transport, as they can be anywhere from 1
inch to 3 or 4 inches deep, so a good chance of aquaplaning, or even
worse hitting a submerged pothole. Oh, and the rest of the time I ws
focused on trying to miss potholes that emerged from the trailer ahead
of me. It had bright tail lights in the spray and rain so if he could
see the road, I was okay following.<br />
<br />
Besides.. it isn't wise to
try and stop or slow down a lot because chances are a large semi will
bear down upon you and not seeing you until it is too late, shuffles
you off the mortal coil. So, is best to keep going.<br />
<br />
This ride was the most awesome moment by moment adventure I can remember since rally driving, last century.<br />
<br />
Ok, how wet did the old bloke get ?<br />
<br />
After the first hour, and finally off the range, I stopped at a Servo to empty out the boots I was wearing. Seriously. My
gauntlets where heavy and had a stream of water leaking out of them.
Leather jacket was 4 x heavier than normal, the quilted jacket
underneath was saturated. So was my phone, my tobacco, everything, money stuck together, lol.<br />
<br />
Before I emptied my boots I topped up
the fuel tank and when paying for it inside I looked at the floor..
there was a puddle of water around my feet, and it was growing, fast. I
told the girl behind the counter that she will need a bucket and mop
where I'm standing, she thought I was joking cause she didn't look.
Oh well, she would have gotten a nice surprise when she saw it. River
in aisle one!!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I got about a glass of water out of each
boot, another quarter glass just from the socks, each glove accounted
for another quarter glass, and, about two or more glasses from the
inside jacket, too mch was in the leather jacket
on the outside. It was so heavy to take off and put back on again.<br />
<br />
But, what an adventure!<br />
<br />
The
tyres on Pearl worked perfectly, except for one patch where the bike
aquaplaned for a couple of feet, and one time in the City on a
roundabout. Okay so it is double-pissing down with rain, 70% of peak
hour traffic, and as I lean around to the right (still in 2nd gear
slowly riding) the front tyre slipped followed immediately by the rear
tyre. I didn't see the oil or diesel or whatever was there but "caught it"
right away as it did a double flop and continued down the road.. Upright<br />
<br />
Like I said, a great adventure.<br />
<br />
Rode
home Sunday morning and it pelted down going through Brisvegas but
began to ease after that to light-ish showers. Was even sunny at home. I
could see the town lit-up in the distance while all around was various
shades of rainy, cloudy greys. Was like having a light in the window to
come home to at night.<br />
<br />
I was glad to see four other bikes on the
road Saturday, all Cruiser styled, and one with pillion. That's the
spirit, its only water after all.<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-70781433879757407722013-02-19T11:36:00.004+10:002013-02-19T11:38:31.633+10:00A poll on A Current Affairs website today....I was watching the Hillsong segment and noticed the poll below the video window. So I read it and was shocked.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Are thieves who target elderly people cowards?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes 976</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No 67</span></blockquote>
<br />
I was one of the people who voted Yes... obviously.<br />
<br />
But my mind could not get around the fact that 67 responders DO think people targetting the elderly are NOT cowards !!<br />
<br />
What does this tell you folks ?<br />
<br />
About 8 percent of the population, if we are to accept the demographics of this poll, think targetting the elderly is OKAY.<br />
<br />
This means the rest of us, the 92 percent, MUST stand up to Protect our Elderly from the 8 percent of the population that thinks it is okay to attack them.<br />
<br />
What the hell is the world coming to ?<br />
<br />
Only 20 or 30 years ago 100 percent of responders would have said YES, it is cowardly to attack the elderly. In just those few years we have bred a larger number of arseholes who don't give a shit about anyone but themselves.. as was witnessed by me only last Friday night and written about in the blog post right below this one.<br />
<br />
How to fix it ?<br />
<br />
Men.. STAND UP and be Counted now. Stop this shit from happening. It is Your DUTY... otherwise you are part of the problem and not the fix.Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-10015154483600835812013-02-16T12:44:00.002+10:002013-02-16T13:03:10.272+10:00Idiots Galore...While quietly watching the silly box waiting to be tired enough for sleep I heard loud swearing out front of my place, so I went to the window to have a look. There was someone in my yard with a small light and another person outside yelling abuse at the person in my yard.<br />
<br />
So outside I went, coz I am not afraid. Not like all the other men in my street.. and probably your street.. who prefer to stay in the safety of their own house and not get involved.<br />
<br />
Turns out the person in my yard is the abusive 20 something year old guys girlfriend, looking for the mobile phone he threw at the footpath in his stupid 14 year old, self important, spoilt brat behaviours.<br />
<br />
As I was going out my door he slapped my letter box, and so knocked the lid half off it with a loud bang. And so I walked up to him with a light in his eyes.. as cops do.. and he yelled, "<i>Get that fucking light out of my eyes c#nt</i>"<br />
<br />
At which point I considered grabbing his throat and walking him backwards until he realised he was about to get his arse kicked... but instead I decided to take the higher road and talk him down. Of course I don't take orders from anyone, especially not poorly behaved young men.. if you can call him that.<br />
<br />
So I stepped right up to him and pointed my torch at the letterbox to ask him about it.. he of course did the usual Gen Y/Z thing and claimed he never touched it. I informed him I had seen him do that, and he was disturbing the peace in my street at midnight, to which he yelled.. "<i>So fuckin what ?</i>"<br />
<br />
I then put my hand up to show where my space was in relation to him and asked him to be honest and I will help look for his phone. He of course just turned away and sat in the gutter while abusing his girlfriend for not looking hard enough to find the phone he threw away!<br />
<br />
Yep.. very typical Gen Y/Z behaviours right there. So I asked his girlfriend as we looked around why he was so much more inportant than everyone else. She only said, "<i>I don't know. He always does this shit. I don't know why I stay with him</i>." Good girl.. now take that to the next obvious step and leave the dickhead.<br />
<br />
So I then said to the young 'man', "I don't know why I am wasting my time looking for the phone you threw away and can't be bothered looking for yourself."<br />
<br />
He got up and started walking away while saying, "<i>I'll just leave my phone behind then.. give me yours now</i> (to his girlfriend)". So as he started to walk away from my place I turned to come back inside.. then he threw his girlfriend's phone at the footpath and it smashed into a zillion bits that could not be found. Idiot.<br />
<br />
After that he proceeded to abuse her for him <u>having</u> to throw both phones away.. what a childish dickhead he was.<br />
<br />
So I quickly came indoors and grabbed my short door-manager... well I am in my 50's now.. and went back outside because I felt he was going to physically attack her. They got about 10 metres further up the footpath when he really began yelling abuse at her louder than before.. I walked out onto the footpath to watch what he would do in case the girl needed help.<br />
<br />
And that's when he ran at her, grabbed both her arms and pushed her backwards into the wire fencing along the tennis courts nearby. That was enough for me, I called out to him, "OI!! Get your hands off her, BOY."<br />
<br />
He yelled back, "<i>Shut the fuck up c#nt and mind your own business or else</i>."<br />
<br />
Okay, so he gave me another order did he ? Well that won't work. So I started walking in his direction saying, "You don't hit or push women around, BOY."<br />
<br />
"<i>Oh really ?</i>", he asked as he started to run towards me as if he was trying to scare me into submission. That won't work either. "<i>I didn't punch her, so fuck off</i>", was his next words to me as he approached in a fast jog.<br />
<br />
So I kept walking casually towards him as he got closer, and put my hand up again to show where my safety space was for him.. but he kept coming and walked straight into my hand that was now in the middle of his chest... coz he was about 6 foot 2 inches tall.. he towered over me, and was trying to use what he thought was an advantage over me. Well that won't work either.<br />
<br />
Once he realised my hand was pushing harder into his chest he freaked, "<i>Don't fuckin touch me</i>." He yelled like a windbag but didn't DO anything, and I was ready for anything. I pulled my hand down as he tried to swat it away.. and because his weight was against my hand, he started to fall forward into the neighbour's fence. He stumbled and then caught himself and I had moved around to his offside in case I needed to blow out his eardrum to stop him coming at me.<br />
<br />
When he realised I had moved and he was now past me enough to have no chance to land a hit on me he quickly looked at the situation, saw I wasn't backing down, he saw the door manager in my hand, and then backed off immediately.<br />
<br />
That's when I told him, "I didn't touch you, you walked into me trying to scare me." <br />
<br />
By this time he realised it was better for him to leave.. so he did.. his girlfriend was already across the highway and he walked fast to catch up to her... but was not yelling anything, no more abuse or anything.<br />
<br />
Then a 4x4 pulled up at the lights on the highway and they got in it.. he looked back at me once before getting in the car and leaving. And that was the last I saw of Mr Hero spoilt brat acting like a 14 year old with attitude.<br />
<br />
Found some smashed bits of phone afterwards and so I threw them onto the footpath for him to find if he came back in the daylight. Woke up this morning and checked.. yep.. the bits were all gone.<br />
<br />
And that is the saga of my encounter with yet another self-important Gen Y/Z'er that thinks they are superior to everyone else.. especially old blokes and girls.<br />
<br />
Honestly, his Mum screwed him up big time by letting him rule her and the home as he was growing up. He only learned that he was more important than anyone else alive, that he could use his size and attitude to intimidate women and smaller men.<br />
<br />
If he isn't now, he will become a women basher. I don't stand for that, never will.<br />
<br />
It is every man's DUTY to protect those who cannot protect themselves.<br />
<br />
So men need to stop being afraid of boys.<br />
<br />
Oh for the good old days when men were men and didn't take shit from dickheads needing to learn a lesson in the real world.<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-37409100341200858522013-02-13T10:09:00.002+10:002013-02-13T10:09:32.465+10:00Yay!! I got it...After quite a bit of time being a grumpy old bastard I have finally come to understand something important.<br />
<br />
And that is.... Unless someone effects me directly I have no need to be pissed off about their behaviour in public. Of course this does not apply when in my own house, so anyone behaves with disrespect and they get turfed out.. simple.<br />
<br />
I was getting wound up about all the stupidity I see around me in every moment of every day.. some of which you can read in earlier posts here. I let the idiots get to me.. let them get under my skin. I tried to reform them by talking up and showing them a mirror.. all to no avail. Why ? Because they DO NOT CARE, they are "more important" and so they do not and cannot think of why they should improve their public behaviours.<br />
<br />
The second issue was that no one else had the BALLS to speak up. Which tells me they are living in FEAR. I don't do fear, so was lacking in understanding why almost everyone else does. It confused me endlessly and caused me a lot of grief.<br />
<br />
Now I get it. They are where they are in their overall perceptions, and there is NOTHING I can do to assist them into a clearer perception. So.. there is no point even trying.<br />
<br />
Or as some wise person was alleged to have said a long time ago.... "<i>Don't throw pearls before swine.</i>"<br />
<br />
I used to hate that saying with a vengeance.. until I finally began to understand it is not being Judgemental on anyone, it is simply stating in the most simple of terms.. NOT to waste your energy, your breath, your thoughts on anything you cannot directly affect for the better.<br />
<br />
So there ya have it. Simple idea, BIG gem to hold onto.<br />
<br />
And hold onto it for dear life is something we will all be forced to do over the next year as we lose even more Freedoms and Rights, and have no recourse to have our say about it. There is NOTHING we can do to change anything that is oging on in the world around us today.<br />
<br />
You do not have the power, nor do I.<br />
<br />
So no point wasting anything we have on it. Better then to work on things we can Affect... our own actions, our own thought processes.. get out the back yard and put in a vegie patch coz you will need to supplement your food soon enough in order to save some dollars, etc.<br />
<br />
Basically, it is time to work on yourself. Do the things you want to do that you can do now days within the very limited freedoms we still have. And.. let all others be who and where they are now without feeling the need to help or change anything... except for where it is something that you CAN change.<br />
<br />
And that's it.. my newish outlook on life. It might sound like I am saying, "Me First!!".. and in a non-egotistic way that is what I am saying. We cannot be right for anyone else if we are not right with ourselves... fact of life... get used to it.<br />
<br />
Oh... almost forgot... have NO EXPECTATIONS of anyone.. that way you cannot feel let down by another person.<br />
<br />
There is method in this madness.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-57887658308548324182013-01-27T15:16:00.001+10:002013-01-27T15:16:13.662+10:00Water must be a scarey monster for most people.So I went for a ride today in the rain, and got a lot of weird looks from people, and some WTF? looks from the two highway patrol cops.. as if I was doing something wrong.<br />
<br />
Had to turn back after 20km's when I realised the highway would be closed due to deep flooding before I got back from where I was going.. shame that, as I was really enjoying the ride up until then despite all the new deep potholes and 6 inches of water across the road at creek crossings.<br />
<br />
So then I stopped off at a shopping centre to get stuff for the cats, and it was there I noticed again ... people running from their cars to the store entrance. What ? Is the rain deadly ? Is it toxic, or radioactive or something sinister like that ?<br />
<br />
That is weird. When I take my car down to the shops and it is raining, I walk like normal because it is only little drops of water falling from the sky. So you get a little wet... so what ?<br />
<br />
Many years ago I discovered that when we grow from being kids into adults, we suddenly find Rain a Scarey Thing.. something to avoid, something to run from in case you get wet... oh dear.. don't let the raindrops get you.<br />
<br />
But when we were kids what did we do ? We played in it.<br />
<br />
We jumped in the puddles. We used bits of bark as boats and had bark-boat races in the gutters. We were not AFRAID of a little rain at all... we must have been more brave as children than what most people are now as adults.<br />
<br />
Yep.. I don't understand what happens to people as they move into adulthood and become scared of getting wet... "<i>I'm not scared of getting wet. I shower every day</i>", somone said to me years ago when I mentioned it the first time.. and he was serious. He took my words as a direct offense against him personally.<br />
<br />
I suppose the difference is that I haven't forgotten how to be kid and not take myself way too seriously all the time.<br />
<br />
Oh well, must be time to go paddle along in the gutter outside....Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-40441086397780526272013-01-12T15:21:00.003+10:002013-01-12T15:21:25.543+10:00Still in the saddle.. 10 months later.Ten months!! Already ? Wow times does go fast when you are having a good time.<br />
<br />
The week before xmas I did another run up to west of Gympie to see friends and family. This time the bike used less fuel.. might be something to do with the fact I stuck to the speed limits the whole way.. except when overtaking of course.<br />
<br />
Felt to me as if Pearl is really starting to loosen up now from her previous life of hardly ever seeing a road let alone riding along it. Poor old girl. I bet she loves me coming into her life and riding her every day.. she sure seems to like it more and more.<br />
<br />
So that trip I went the same route as last time but took longer as I stopped more to have a smoke or drink and a yak with whoever was around at the time. I love that bit. I get to meet a lot of people and they are helping me to regain faith in humanity. All of them so far have been genuine, good, honest people.. not the feral, un-mannered, low-IQ'ers that plague the town I live in.<br />
<br />
One of the old bokes I met at Woombye parked up next to my bike on his scooter. I watched him put his helmet into the deep storage box under the bike's seat and then I commented on how it must be like the Tardis inside.<br />
<br />
He turned around with a smile before walking over to where we chatted in the shade of a big old tree for half an hour or so. Turns out that between 1957 and 1963 he campaigned a Harley Sportser in Californian drag racing events !! How cool is that ??<br />
<br />
I listened a lot more than I talked so was able to learn about how he and his mate who was into hotting up any type of engine, managed to take what started out as a stock new Sporty in '57 to an almost 1300cc pump-fuelled sporty Drag Bike that finally ran a best 9.98 second quarter mile before they retired from running the Sporty.<br />
<br />
Awesome story. One of the reasons why I love riding my bike around and meeting all sorts of people.<br />
<br />
Bugs... sometimes they are an issue. Moreso in my district for some weird reason, and much less so nearer the coast. So.. being nearer the coast at the time I got hit hard on the chin by a Bee... even though it splattered wetly everywhere.. I knew it had to be a Bee coz it was hurting like a bastard. I managed to pull the sting out.. along with half the Bee's arse and tried to damp the area with some spit to stop it hurting.<br />
<br />
Ahhh... its just part of the Adventure ya know.<br />
<br />
Anyway.. I had a great time visiting friends and family, got to see a friend who was not available to see last time..so all was good with my world. Except... when I got home the last 5 days only felt like 2 days to me!! Bastard!!<br />
<br />
I also do enjoy the interest people show in Pearl.. I am okay with her attracting attention because she is beautiful and I think she likes hearing people say it. On the road people just ogle her.. or try to ignore her coz they have stiff-upper-lip syndrome or think I am some nasty Bikie (stupid stupid word) to steer clear of. Women seem to show more interest than many men.. old ladies.. and women in their 30's and 40's all look and comment on Pearl. I can see the sparkle in the old ladies eyes as they see Pearl and remember their good old days on their or their boyfriend's bike.<br />
<br />
Yep... Pearl's a Granny Magnet alright. Wish she would have the same effect on late 20 to late 30-somethings. hahahahahahhahaha... but seriously.<br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-78782878361149075112013-01-12T13:54:00.001+10:002013-01-12T13:57:30.453+10:00Internet cost versus service actually provided.Trying to download something and it is running at only 20kb/s !! FFS!!<br />
<br />
I live about 200 metres from the CBD in my town. I pay megabucks to have an ADSL2 internet connection that is supposed to provide me with up to 8mb/s.. and yet I rarely even see 1mb/s.<br />
<br />
So I began to wonder......<br />
<br />
Why do we ALLOW ourselves to be ripped off blind by our Telcos who are not supplying their advertised speeds, ever ?<br />
<br />
Yes I have read the small print about speed variations, etc.... had to check that out before signing up to my current and previous deal.<br />
<br />
What sizzles me about it all is simple.. I pay top dollar for what is supposed to be the fastest internet connection I can get in my area.. and I NEVER, EVER get the service provided to me that I am paying to have.<br />
<br />
Sure I have internet connection and a full service home phone.. and mobile.. in order to get the internet portion down from $79 per month to $49 per month I had to have the above Bundle bullshit ripoff deal.<br />
<br />
But where is my 2mb/s to 8mb/s service ???????<br />
<br />
I've seen 2mb/s only twice in 3 years !!!!!<br />
<br />
So why isn't my Telco reimbursing me for the service they cannot or are not providing to me at their advertised speeds, etc ?<br />
<br />
Why do we not get Reimbursed for our payments on a sub-par service ? Why do I have to pay so much money for such little speed in the first place ? And why do I have to bundle shit I don't want just to have access to ADSL2 at a reasonable montly price ???????<br />
<br />
Ripped OFF !!<br />
<br />
Any other business that does not provide their advertised service and their advertised fee are made to reimburse the complainant... all except Telcos!<br />
<br />
If you buy a burger that is sub-standard you can take it back for a refund.. or an upgrade for free... but not with our Telcos.<br />
<br />
If you have car repairs done that are not up to stadard then you have some comeback on the mechanic.. but not with Telcos!!<br />
<br />
If you buy anything that does not live up to the advertised standard.. then you are legally able to be reimbursed for that... BUT NOT WITH OUR TELCOS!!<br />
<br />
WHY NOT ?? <br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-61376506379462370642013-01-04T09:56:00.002+10:002013-01-04T10:12:02.387+10:00Live on $35 per day ?This what the MSM said..<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Families Minister Jenny Macklin, has angered welfare and social service
groups by claiming she could survive on Newstart payments of $246 a week
- or about $35 a day. </blockquote>
<br />
So let's break that down in my case...<br />
<br />
$35<br />
- 25 One seventh of my weekly rent.. which is cheap compared to most other rentals<br />
= 10 <br />
<br />
So only $10 left already ? What do I do with that massive sum I wonder ?<br />
<br />
Let's see..<br />
<br />
$10<br />
- 5 per day is my cost of internet and phone services<br />
<br />
Which of course means I would have only $5 left already, and that's without paying for fuel in the car, fuel in the bike, bike loan repayments, insurance, car and bike registration fees, or Electricity.<br />
<br />
Subtracting the above items....<br />
<br />
$5<br />
- 5 Fuel for car<br />
- 5 Fuel for bike<br />
= -$5<br />
<br />
Continuing...<br />
<br />
-$5<br />
- 5 Loan repayments<br />
- 2 Car Rego<br />
- 1.50 Bike Rego<br />
<br />
-$13.50 and some change<br />
- 3 per day for Electricity<br />
<br />
Bringing me to a total, not including FOOD, of <u>MINUS $16.50 per Day</u><br />
<br />
Imagine how that would build up each week then....<u><br /></u><br />
<br />
Minus $16.50 per day x 7 days = <u>MINUS $115.50 Per WEEK</u><br />
<br />
Of course this means I would not be able to afford to Eat, go anywhere, smoke ciggies, buy Cat Food, buy Clothing when needed, etc.<br />
<br />
So.. I wonder how Jenny Macklin could possibly claim she could survive on only $35 per day from Newstart Allowance ? <br />
<br />
I can imagine that if she lived in her already paid for Home, with her already bought Food, already paid for Phone and Internet Service, and her already paid for Transport costs.. then it is possible she could "survive" on that measly pittance.<br />
<br />
If not, then she is full of shit like every other Politician alive today.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-88121880295112829372012-12-24T13:15:00.003+10:002013-01-05T11:15:23.658+10:00December 22, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-28164483874873770932012-12-17T12:39:00.001+10:002012-12-17T12:42:18.848+10:00Only one thing to show today....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-7448060392320175122012-12-15T11:09:00.002+10:002012-12-15T11:09:59.620+10:00Offensive Youth in Public....On my way home late last night I stopped at a local service station to buy some catfood, but had to stand back while three early 20-something's did their business.<br />
<br />
All good, I am a patient person and they were doing nothing that concerned me.. except I thought I heard one of them say the F-word fairly quietly.... so quietly that I did not have the right to say anything to him.<br />
<br />
But, once these young 'men' walked away from the counter up went their volume and out came the offensive language.. so what did I do about it ?<br />
<br />
Same as I always do.... I spoke up and said, "<i>Hey BOYS, how about not swearing in public, in front of women and your elders</i>." And of course they kept walking away and ignored me.<br />
<br />
So as I was paying for my cat food the young women behind the counter.. also in her early 20's said to me, "<b><i>Thank you. I hear it all in here late at night. All these young people and even kids talk loudly and say anything they want. It SCARES ME a lot because they don't care about anything or anyone</i></b>."<br />
<br />
I told her not to be afraid of anyone before I headed out the door to my car. And what do you thinkI could hear then ?<br />
<br />
Yep.. not only the three young 'men' swearing their heads of even more loudly, yelling over the shoulders at<i> </i>the "<i>stupid fuckin old biatch </i><i>c-nt </i>" (Me) and laughing about it, but just up the street there were some younger teens also being incrediably loud and obnoxious in their actions and language.<br />
<br />
Now.. don't get me wrong here.. I swear, my mates swear.. but we don't use the F-word 6 times in a 10 word sentence, nor do we use the C-word often. In fact I have only used the C-word twice in the past year because I DETEST the word. Never do we speak like this in public.. never in front of females... never in front of Families with kids,.. never in front of the elderly (Elders) and certainly never in front of our Mothers.<br />
<br />
But Gen-Y and the younger Gen-X do not give a shit about anyone except themselves. They do not think about anyone else being offended by their language or behaviour<i> becasue they are the most important people in the whole wide world.</i><br />
<br />
I am sick and tired of being the ONLY person who has the balls to stand up and say something to these IDIOTS. I am tired of being the ONLY one I can see in my town who is NOT AFRAID of the youth today.<i> </i><br />
<br />
Oh how I wish for the good old days when a Man would teach a disrespecting young man about manners... oh no.. can't do that today... these "kidults" are Protected by the Law.<br />
<br />
Why doesn't the law protect my rights to not have to listen to these self-important young bastards showing no Respect for anyone with their behaviours and language ?<br />
<br />
The world is Stuffed Up now.<br />
<br />
We let it get like this.<br />
<br />
People need to stop being Afraid of youth.<br />
<br />
People need to Stand Up and be Counted before it does spiral into anarchy and really does become far more dangerous for anyone who is aged over 35.<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-39233330717225763042012-12-15T10:48:00.000+10:002012-12-15T10:48:07.375+10:00Annoyed ? Yes I am....I got woken up yesterday morning by the sound of someone bashing hard on my front door, and thinking it must be cops since that is their usual M.O.<br />
<br />
Guess what?<br />
<br />
It wasn't. Turned out to be an aboriginal man about early 20's who I had seen two weeks ago asking me to pass on his mail from my address to his address across the highway from me.. mine is 1/64 and his is 64A, so there has been some problems in the past with the postman putting the wrong mail in the wrong letter boxes. So I agreed.<br />
<br />
Back to yesterday morning...<br />
<br />
This guy was a bit pushy, asked me where his mail was, told me Centrelink had cut him off and that his mail had been retured to sender..... and 1 month ago I did re-send a lot of mail for him and others back to sender. I stopped doing it after we talked 2 weeks ago... and had even taken mail for him to the other address since then.<br />
<br />
But yesterday morning he was not in a good mood and before huffing off he told me to leave his mail in my letterbox and he would come get it..I said, "No mate, if I get mail for you I will put it in your letterbox." He huffed-off then.<br />
<br />
An hour later when I had woken up properly with a coffee and my brain was working right, I did some errands on my bike before going to his house to talk to him with my now clearer mind.<br />
<br />
Guess what?<br />
<br />
He does not live at that address at all !!<br />
<br />
The young white guy living there said, "Neville lives in the lane over the back in one of those houses." And that was when I started to see a little bit of Red.<br />
<br />
I knew that in the past two years that I have been getting mail for these people that the house did have a young aboriginal women living in it for about 2 months.. who I used to take the mail to, but then they left and the house was turned into some sort of business for about one year before going back to being a rental house. <br />
<br />
In the FIVE years I have lived here I've been getting mail for this guy and many others.. you know, unpaid fine notifications, unpaid bill notifications, Electoral Office letters and many other things, which at the time I Felt had something to do with these people AVOIDING their Responsiblities.<br />
<br />
Turns out I was very correct about that aspect of things.<br />
<br />
So how do you think I am going to deal with this ?<br />
<br />
Yep. Putting a padlock on my letterbox this coming payday, and returning all mail for all of these people to the sender. <br />
<br />
Why you may ask ?<br />
<br />
Because he is ripping off the system, he is NOT taking Responsibility for his shit, he is USING ME to continue hiding from his Responsibilities. So I will not ALLOW him to keep using me like this. I will stand my ground, and I will tell him to take Responsibility for his own shit instead of using me to cover his tracks.<br />
<br />
I will also explain that it is a criminal offence to be rooting around in anyone else's letterbox, and that if I catch him at it I will call the cops.<br />
<br />
Moral of the story is........<br />
<br />
We all have to learn how to stand up and take responsibility for our own stuff, to sort out anything that requires our attention from the Government or any of it's agencies.<br />
<br />
It is everyone's job to NOT be used by people who will not do the RIGHT THING. How else will these slackers learn to take Responsibility if we ENABLE them to continue hiding from such responsibilities and using us to ensure they can ?<br />
<br />
Once again it all comes down to people needing to STAND UP.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-64823437803265694442012-12-13T00:36:00.002+10:002012-12-13T00:36:31.169+10:00Bah Humbug!I love that little phrase and only get to use it at one time of the year.<br />
<br />
Christmas. What is it good for ?<br />
<br />
I ask because WHY we do it confuses the hell out of me. I mean, most people spend way too much money every year on presents, decorations and food.. all for one little day of each year that really has nothing to do with when Jeshua was born in the middle east.<br />
<br />
True that. He was not born on December 25th. Many scholars think he may have been born a few years earlier than currently Believed by Religionists, and that he was born just after mid-year.<br />
<br />
So WHY do we do it ?<br />
<br />
No one expects Muslim of Buddhist followers to DO christmas, but they all expect everyone else in the western world to DO it. WHY?<br />
<br />
If I am not a christian then why should I DO it ?<br />
<br />
Why put yourself through Shopping Hell, slaving in a hot kitchen to cook Traditional food eaten in Winter.. when it is Summer here in Oz ?<br />
<br />
"<i>Tis the season to be jolly</i>"<br />
<br />
Really ? So we are only expected to be jolly once a year ? Who thought up this crap ? And why do you all do it to death every year?<br />
<br />
And who invented Santa Claus ? Why do we LIE to our kids about Santa ? When the day comes that they hear Santa is not real, they will KNOW you lied to them all their life.... how good is that for your kids ? Do you expect them to ever Believe you again ?<br />
<br />
I do like the fact that many friends and family get to have some holidays at this time of the year... so I can ride around and catch up with them all..but I don't want to DO xmas.<br />
<br />
I don't want to be expected to buy xmas cards made from Trees, p[ut them in envelpes made from Trees and pay to send them all over the country so that they can hang on a wall for a couple of weeks before being thrown into the rubbish bin.<br />
<br />
Why do we do that ? Are we really that stupidly blind to being led by the nose and wallet every single year in December ?<br />
<br />
Ahh December.. specifically the 25th... well, the Full Moon closest to that date. A time of the year that had major significance to most ancient peoples in the northern hemisphere.. and being six months opposed to the north, we here in the southern hemisphere see a another significant time of the year... but it is not Jesus's Birthday. Hell NO!!<br />
<br />
Religion USURPED all the ancient days and festivals in order to convert Pagans in a less deadly way to how it had been done before that when Conversion was at the Point of a Sword normally.<br />
<br />
I kind of feel as if by not DOING xmas, that I am heading towards the point of a virtual sword with family and others who EXPECT me to DO xmas.<br />
<br />
Nope.. not me. I don't have to DO xmas anymore. And I won't be made to FEEL as if I am wrong or crazy for not FOLLOWING the Sheeple and their absurd ways at this time of the year.<br />
<br />
"<i>I'm an individual and you can't fool me</i>."... hmmm, never really liked that song anyway, but the words certainly apply.<br />
<br />
Christmas.......<br />
<br />
BAH HUMBUG!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-80467365019935124232012-12-10T15:38:00.002+10:002012-12-10T15:41:08.143+10:00Gen Y bad form again.Why is this such a massive problem in our world today ?<br />
<br />
I was standing at the ATM, about to put my card in and hit the pin number when an aboriginal boy about 19 or 20, with his girlfriend suddenly appear to my right side only two feet away from me, facing me. So I stopped what I was doing and asked, "<i>Are you just going to stay right there ?</i>"<br />
<br />
He said, "Oh.. so what am I gunna do ?"<br />
<br />
Straight away I picked up his attitude of Whites thinking Blacks are doing something criminal.<br />
<br />
So I replied, "<i>It's just common Courtesy mate. So why not go stand just over there please ?</i>".. as I pointed out where I stand when waiting for the ATM.<br />
<br />
"Why should I", he asked with a hint of attitude.<br />
<br />
I answered, "<i>It's what I do for everyone. It is common courtesy</i>."<br />
<br />
He then said gruffly, "Just hurry up, I got to get some money out!"<br />
<br />
I turned around to look at him again, with steely eyes because his attitude was starting to piss me off. I don't take orders from anyone, not Cops, not Bikers, and certainly not from some young upstart Boy with attitude. So I put my hand up towards him and said, "<i>Drop the attitude mate.</i>"<br />
<br />
Was that the end of it ?<br />
<br />
Nope!!<br />
<br />
He then started on about, "I'm not giving you any attitude, so just get on with it."<br />
<br />
Hmm, another order by this upstart. I stopped what I was doing and turned around to look at him again with those steely eyes.. I could see in my mind's eye his throat in my right hand after he spat the dummy and went for me.<br />
<br />
So I turned back to the ATM and said loud enough for him to hear me, "<i>Unbelieveable! You got no respect for elders. Got no manners and think you are the most important person in the world.</i>"<br />
<br />
He stepped forward and said in front of the growing crowd, "You didn't even say Please or Thank You did you?"<br />
<br />
I cancelled the selection on the ATM, pulled my card out and as I was putting it in my wallet I looked at him rush forward.. so I said, "<i>If you had listened to me you would have heard me ask you to move over there please.</i>" And I moved away from the ATM.<br />
<br />
He of course rushed in and couldn't help himself, "Yeah Buddy whatever!" he spat out as I walked away.<br />
<br />
I still don't understand WHY Gen Y and the newer Gen X think they are the most important people in the world.. ALL THE TIME! I see 90% of them have NO MANNERS at all, NO Respect for others and in most cases NO RESPECT for themselves either.<br />
<br />
How I wish for the good old days when an older man could thump a young man for being an arsehole to him... and that is what we need to pull these Self-important idiot Youth's heads in.. by learning that there are ALWAYS Consequences to your choice of action, lack of manners and common sense.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-56505661078920240352012-12-06T10:02:00.000+10:002012-12-06T10:02:00.359+10:00New Tyre.. well almost...Funny thing that.<br />
<br />
Two weeks ago I ordered a new rear tyre for my bike, and prepaid half the cost. All good you would think, right ?<br />
<br />
So yesterday arrives and I take the bike with it's now quite bald rear tyre down to the mechanics. He says the tyre hasn't shown up yet !!! And with that a van arrives in the driveway, we are both hoping the new tyre might have just arrived. So I leave the mechanic to his job and wait for the phone call to come pick the bike up.<br />
<br />
No phone call came!<br />
<br />
So I figure that means the tyres still didn't arrive yet (?) Heard nothing so far this morning, so I am hoping for a call before 5pm this arvo. Will not be a happy chap if I don't get a call today... but will have to be a patient chappy instead.<br />
<br />
One thing about growing older is you have to learn patience.Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-69495266577425033962012-11-15T22:26:00.002+10:002012-11-15T22:26:51.889+10:00Road Safety, Motorcyclists and IDIOT car drivers.Just emailed this off to the Qld Road Saftey section of the Transport Dept....<br /><br />"<i>Dear Sir/Madam,<br /><br />I'm
a returning motorcycle rider aged 52. I come back to riding in March
this year after an 18 year period raising my daughter on my own.<br /><br />As
such I was very much aware of the dangers with the massive increase in
road traffic, so I took my time to get my 'riding-legs', insured I did
some emergency braking practice in wet and dry conditions, and put in
the effort to keep a high focus on the vehicle movements around me while
on the road.<br /><br />But, all my efforts are almost in vain it would
seem. Riders have a joke they like to share amongst themselves..
"Remember everyone else on the road is out to kill you!"<br /><br />Sadly,
this is very true in Queensland. In the 8 months that I have been riding
again I have had over half a dozen instances of car/truck drivers doing
things that endangered my life, causing me to take evasive manouvres in
order to survive.<br /><br />A few have been young Red P Platers not giving
way at roundabouts, two were Police doing the same thing, two have been
people braking very hard so as not to miss their highway turnoff, one
was a person at a cross junction pulling into the furtherest lane on me
and the rest have been idiots changing lanes on me with no indicators.<br /><br />My
bike is brightly painted with lots and lots of chrome, the exhaust has
been opened up to a safer sound level and the headlight is constantly
on.. so there is no excuse about not seeing me.<br /><br />This is NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!<br /><br />Please,
Please, Please place Motorcycle Aware advertising on Television and in
the Print Media in order to educate car drivers about Motorcycles
sharing the roads with them in the hope that these IDIOTS might actually
learn to drive safely. And so that I may LIVE beyond the next 8
months</i>."<br /><br />Probably some wheezer desk jockey will read the email and have a good giggle before deleting it.
<span><br /></span>Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-60413494373350857342012-11-12T16:03:00.001+10:002012-11-12T16:03:05.119+10:00Awww Crap!! So much for a holiday!!Grrrrrrr bhgffffuuuccchhhhwwllkdnuerst!!<br />
<br />
Over 20 years since I last had a real holiday and with it all planned out, routes now mapped into the GPS, just enough dollars sorted and everyone informed... I have to cancel it.<br />
<br />
Damn and blast... I was so looking forward to having a real time-out.. time in the wind riding interstate with no worries about anything.<br />
<br />
Now I have to replace the rear tyre on the bike before I can go anywhere.. so there goes three quarters of my dollars for the road trip. Bloody cops.. couldn't just let it go since it's only almost bald right in the centre and has a shitload of tread left everywhere else.<br />
<br />
Grrrr... not a happy Oldie at the moment.Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-86431206378738805582012-11-09T10:17:00.002+10:002012-11-09T10:17:29.037+10:00Road Trip !!!About bloody time with my Gap Year flying past way too fast for my liking. Started the GY in March and these past 8 months I've hardly ridden anywhere and done next to nothing.. so now that is about to change.<br />
<br />
Two weeks, about 3,000km, lots of fuel and food, a sore butt, getting lost around Sydney.. yep.. sounds like a great adventure to me.<br />
<br />
Can't wait to see what has changed in almost 40 years since I was last down that way. I expect traffic and housing to have multiplied by some gigantic factor, roads going everywhere and little signage to show me the way before I hit the place to turn, so much going on that it will be hard to focus purely on going where I want to go.. and all on a super-tight budget.<br />
<br />
I prefer to camp out at night, so will be looking for rivers and camping areas nearby, maybe roadside caravan and camping parks for the facilities.. hot showers, phone recharging and a camp site far enough away from everyone else that my snoring disturbs no one. lol<br />
<br />
The highlight I am looking forward to will be in the last week where I get to ride out to Bathurst, do a slow lap or three and visit the Motor Racing Museum near The Chase. Haven't been to Bathurst since the mid 70's and the Easter Bike Races that were on each year until the COPS screwed it up for everyone with their heavy-handed tactics.. the BASTARDS!!<br />
<br />
But, I digress.<br />
<br />
Will be heading into Canberra for a couple of days, have a good look around there too as I was last there in 1977.. so do expect to see a lot of change.. except those bloody big roundabouts will still be there.<br />
<br />
For preparations i've only put a set of highway pegs on the bike, ordered some pullback risers for the handlebars that should be here next week from the States.. and a tent coming next week. Will be able to load up the bike and sit on her like she is a big armchair.. soooo comfy.<br />
<br />
I figure one saddle-bag will be my food fridge, the other will carry a couple of days worth of clothing.. extra jackets and stuff for if it rains or gets colder. Spare full face helmet on the sissy bar and everything else tied on to the two small luggage racks.. woohoo.. did I yell ROADTRIP yet ?<br />
<br />
Can you tell I'm getting excited about now ? I can. It's been far too many years since I rode a bike interstate on a roadtrip.<br />
<br />
The days of easy rider are not over !! <br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-62989015362067264432012-10-30T11:14:00.006+10:002012-10-30T21:12:30.520+10:00The insanity of Shared Zones in Warwick.Once again our town planners and decision makers have shown they don't have an ounce of brain between them by inflicting us all with the use of Shared Zones.<br />
<br />
Now, in a sensible world the Shared Zone is not a bad idea as long as people are sensible and use it correctly.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately that's not what is happening in Warwick with it. After a small trial in the main CBD area, we found idiots would just walk out in front of oncoming cars then abuse the driver for not stopping quickly enough. We saw people not using the pedestrian crossings only 10 to 20 feet away from them because they can now walk out across the street at any time.. and car driver's MUST give way to them.<br />
<br />
So council in it's apparent wisdom decided to extend the Zone all the way along the main street right up to the end of the high school where it then becomes a School Zone with an even higher speed limit!! Sheer madness.<br />
<br />
My problem with Shared Zones in Warwick is the sad fact that now instead of low-IQ'ers having to learn to be responsible for their safety.. nay... use the Road Safety learning they had all through their primary school years... their safety is now MY responsibility!!<br />
<br />
So the whole Shared Zone thing goes against the road rules in this state and it panders to the least intelligent so that they do not have to take responsibility for themselves.<br />
<br />
We had this same problem for years at the high school, where kids would flood out into the busiest street at the busiest time of day.. and council had not even put Pedestrian Crossings in for them to use!! Next council allowed a bottleshop to go in across from the highschool.. and then an IGA across as well for good measure. All of which meant that the few carparks in the street available to pick up your kids were now used by people shopping and buying alcohol... the street was now filled to over-capacity with cars zooming into the bottleshop and IGA.<br />
<br />
Instead of fixing the problems that already existed, council instead took the easy path.. save the dumbarses from themselves by making their safety the concern of everyone who drives a car in town.<br />
<br />
Did I say the Shared Zone speed limit is only 25km/h ??<br />
<br />
How stupid?? My bike struggles to chug along at 25km/h in 2nd gear.. first gear is far too low and revs the engine too high.. so I chug along around engine idle to stay in the speed limit while idiots walk out in front of me, left, right and centre.<br />
<br />
If there is a God.. I hope he saves idiots from themselves coz I am fed up with this Nanny State taking self-direction and self-responsiblity off the agenda.<br />
<br />
Bastards need to wake the hell up.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-41645542569319207072012-10-20T09:20:00.002+10:002012-10-20T09:20:22.961+10:00Heavenly Sounds Cathedral Tour... Cancelled!!!After all these months of waiting to use my purchased ticket to see Karise Eden sing at St John's Cathedral in Brisvegas.. I find out late last night.. when the concert is this Tuesday.. that Karise has come down with a flu she got in Hobart, so all venues have been cancelled now.<br />
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Those thousands of people who got to see Karise in Melbourne and Sydney now have an experience they can call as a Life Highlight.<br />
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Those of us who are now missing out on such a unique performer in such a unique setting will never get to experience it exactly that way.. the sounds, the vibrations in a cathedral setting.<br />
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I feel a little cheated as I was looking forward to this as a real highlight.. something to savour for years afterwards.Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-28939521126109682112012-10-14T10:57:00.003+10:002012-10-14T10:58:19.923+10:00A first time for everything....Yesterday dawned, and I went back to bed in the hope of a good sleep in before heading to Brissy for a day trip.. then the phone rang. Grrr!!<br />
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A couple I know who ride bikes asked if I wanted to ride along to a bike rally called "Bikes Through a Bar".. it sounded like a bit of fun so I canned my plans and took on this new outlook for the day.<br />
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We arrived after a 20 minute ride and parked up at the end of a row of nice looking bikes, only tobe told that parking was for the Show and Shine competitors bikes.... so I rode away to park elsewhere.. then changed my mind and parked again for the competition. Paid the $10 for charity and walked away to see what else was around to keep my entertained.<br />
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Spent a fair bit of time around the historic bikes, and some of the trade exhibits (sellers) before grabbing some lunch and coffee. Did the ride through the bar ($15 for charity) and parked her up again in the Show and Shine.. went off to watch the piglet racing.. a bit of fun for charity which raised a few hundred dollars just on that little bit of entertainment.<br />
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My friend found me and said they were about to call out the winners for the show and shine.. so we wandered over there to see. And that's when I got a big surprise!!!<br />
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My bike WON the category for Best Jap Bike out of 30 or so jap bikes in the competition !!<br />
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So I happily took my new trophy, had my piccy taken with a cute girly and promptly placed the trophy on my bike to show it off.. hahahahhhahahhaha.<br />
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It's funny how the universe offers up something different at times.. little opportunities to meet neww people and enjoy the day.Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581454837915137045.post-5716189426069731852012-09-29T12:16:00.003+10:002012-09-29T12:19:58.794+10:00RED "P" Platers; A Gen Z RantSeems like the kids my daughter went to high school with have gotten their driving licences and have begun to wreak havoc on the roads around Little Gumbieville. And I would have thought given how these kids are, something I came to know well, that anyone with authority would have said "No driver's licence for you.. Yet."<br />
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A couple of these apparently Adult Red "P" Platers I've had the displeasure to encounter so far have ploughed into and through a roundabout while seeing me halfway across or already entering the same roundabout.... meaning they were supposed to give way to me, but despite seeing me they turn their head away and keep going.<br />
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It's kind of perfect really, as a description of Generation Z youth.. (Gen Z, born from 1990 onwards). Generation Y was the most visible with their "<i>It's all about ME !</i>" mindset.. but now along comes Generation Z.. who have perfected their Isolated "I" Behaviour Patterns, their Self-Righteousness, their lack of Common Knowledge and Common Sense to the extreme.<br />
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These are the 'adults' who cannot do simple math in their head, who go nuts if "Facebook" goes down or they lose phone service, or the power goes out, or a real adult tells them the truth... or anything else does not go how they want it to. Generation Z... yep that's them.<br />
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Okay, so I know many slightly older adults ( 20's to 40's) also do the same thing at roundabouts, possibly due to their mindset of "<i>I'm in a hurry, got to go do.</i>..... ", and I should NOT EXPECT the new batch of Car Drivers to drive with more manners and sense when they didn't see the proper behaviours from their Parents.. but... but... Damn it pisses me off.<br />
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It's not as if getting around on my bike or in my car was a whole lot safer before the new batch arrived, but it sure as hell just got a lot more dangerous for me on my bike.<br />
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For anyone confused about what Gen Z is.. or Gen Y.. and Gen X.. click on this linky..<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Z">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Z</a>Oldiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885123412249815549noreply@blogger.com0