Toots

Yes, well we swapped the so called buzz of Sydney to escape the heat you describe. No flies and mozzies here and it's 21C. Back and front doors wide open. Apparently it was even hotter in NSW yesterday. A friend in Richmond, a far flung out post of Sydney said it reached 42C yesterday at her place. She has horses and she spent a bit of time hosing them down in the shade.

Sounds like you have a lovely life in the UK. Australia isn't going to disappear. Plan your next holiday here. Half the fun is in the planning.

I like it on a foggy winter morning when 2 or 3 of the big boats use their horns as they navigate the river. When the ferry arrives at the mouth of the river it gives a blast just for fun really but Devonport has a much smaller boat called Goliath which transports concrete regularly to the mainland and though much smaller than the ferry gives a huge, deep horn blast when it arrives ...... far louder than the ferry.

It could be @Rallyman. The Atlantic Harmony makes regular trips up and down the east coast of Australia as well as calling in to Devonport.

We also feel the vibrations when a big boat is coming up the river. They also blast their horn/hooter when they arrive. Watched two of them arriving early this morning. The Atlantic Harmony and the Liekut were shuffled up the river by the tugboats.

Nothing to do with snobbery. All to do with how cruel battery hens conditions are.

This is where we get our eggs from. Tamar Valley Pastured Eggs (near Launceston) definitely free range as the hens roam around the pastures.

Yes chickenpox is downright nasty to have as an adult. I will discuss the whole matter with my GP next time I see her. I had measles a long time ago when I was 21 and I thought I was dying. I had the spots everywhere even in my mouth and had the marks left from the spots for over a year until they disappeared.

It's an Australian slang word meaning to criticize, disparage, or dismiss a person or thing. Surprised you haven't heard of it before.

Perhaps not a hillbilly could get together with the PIO member in Perth who is constantly seeking intellectual and sophisticated buddies to have meaningful conversations with? Said Perth member seems to have disappeared for the time being.

No I didn't know people got paid for that sort of stuff. I've really no interest in what people get up to.

When do you all put up Christmas decorations? I don't bother until a week before the actual day. I've seen houses here decorated inside and out since late November. I put away all decorations etc on 12th night (6th Jan).

Maybe ............... all I have to say is, some people have far too much time on their hands for them just to fiddle about with a photo. Takes all sorts I suppose.

Why would anyone bother to stick up a photo of her with someone else's legs. That's just weird.

I'm along the road from you in Devonport. Know what you mean about the hillbillies. I just tend to steer clear. We've been here almost 10 years but I feel quite at home. We live in the quiet part of town where the hillbillies don't bother us. As Marisa has already said, there are many people like yourself who feel stuck and unhappy. Are there any social clubs you could join? You might find that there will be a fair percentage of people there from the UK and Europe.

King Charles and Katherine were named in the Dutch version but apparently it was an error in translation according to Scabby Scobie.

I think Marisa has you muddled up with another poster who had a query very recently.

I've only been on the Spirit once and it was overnight in a cabin. Wasn't bothered at all about the trip. Most times I've gone to Melbourne and back it's been by plane.

Agree. If you're not sure don't do it.

I wouldn't have been happy either. Imagine paying for a cruise to New Zealand and you end up in Tasmania. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-28/p-and-o-pacific-adventure-cruise-ship-arrives-hobart/103157262

Try Langers sugar free Cranberry juice from Woolies. It's bitter mind you. I water it down.

Yes, I wonder if a referendum had been held after WW2 what the result would have been? Things were an awful lot different back then.

It probably depends on how severe the shingles are. My sister-in-law had shingles quite badly a couple of years ago. She took a couple of weeks off work but was still in quite a bit of pain when even her clothes touching the bad area was still very painful. All up, she didn't feel back to normal for a good couple of months but didn't take any more time off work.

Oh that's not a nice thought. Well worth discussing the whole thing next time I see my GP. How are you feeling today? When were your shingles diagnosed?