John Smith

Retired now but worked as a tradie, a teacher and manager. Left leaning voter with a green hue. Union man since 1974. Two kids, Six grandkids, one dog, two degrees. Born at 314.3ppm CO2.
#auspol #DogsOfMastodon #canberra

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Last Notes

2026-06-04 08:11:09 UTC

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She could always go back to her old job. She was pretty good at it.
Clouds - an original song by Leanne Castley: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDh5TXeoNro&feature=share

2026-04-18 22:40:00 UTC

I had my daughter's dog, Laura, as well as Monty Loco with me for this morning's walk. They're not ideally matched as Monty just likes to walk non-stop while Laura likes to stop and sniff every second clump of grass. We had a good time out anyway often under the studious gaze of the locals. ;? )
#canberra #umbagong #kangaroos
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/428/082/831/167/098/original/eaef3ef2d7d9b59f.jpg

2026-04-17 23:30:34 UTC

It was a cool but beautiful morning at Umbagong today. Monty and I were there a bit after 7 and the sunlight playing in the mist above the creek was stunning.
#canberra #umbagong
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/422/627/004/400/389/original/68d164e9fa86d604.jpg

2026-04-16 01:19:08 UTC

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Bought and owned by the fossil fools.

2026-04-15 04:45:57 UTC

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hopefully this paves the way for a similar ruling on the Farrell Fiddle.

2026-04-15 02:59:49 UTC

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yep, it was working ok for me.

2026-04-14 11:42:51 UTC

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I think you're right but Hastie is from the Christofascist faction and would be far more dangerous.

2026-04-14 11:37:21 UTC

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He looks as though he'd struggle to tie his own shoe laces. He's really got NFI. Just tired old racist dog whistling. About 50% of Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. 🤯🤬

2026-04-14 05:37:25 UTC

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Here she is. Ruby.
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/401/434/887/491/817/original/3d4da48fc038439c.jpg

2026-04-14 05:24:33 UTC

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My day's going nicely. Dog park with Monty Loco first thing, then a bit of work in the shed and then a visit to my son to meet their new pup. An Aussie Cobber. I'd never heard of them but they're like a Labradoodle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cobberdog
I'm back at home now and Monty wants to know who the "other dog" is. He reckons he can smell her on me. 😄
He's not allowed to meet her for a few more weeks until she's sufficiently vaccinated.

2026-04-14 01:42:55 UTC

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yep. It gets cold in Canberra but more often than not it's sunny and that makes a difference. Mum's in the south east of England (closer to France than she is to Manchester). I stayed with her for all of February and only had 3 days when it didn't rain.

2026-04-14 01:35:06 UTC

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I guess coalition voters needn't be too despondent. At least Angus makes Matt Canavan look better.

2026-04-14 01:02:58 UTC

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you're right. When I was at Mum's in February it was like being in a sauna and mum was complaining it was too cold. 😜

2026-04-14 00:35:40 UTC

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my place is pretty well insulated too. Rock wool in the walls, batts in the ceiling, floating floors, double glazed windows and doors.

2026-04-13 23:26:47 UTC

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I had the heater on from about 3.30 yesterday afternoon. I aim to turn it on before the temperature drops too much so it doesn't have to work as hard to bring it back up. I'm not sure if that saves electricity or not. Generally I have the temperature set to 20 degrees which some people think is not warm enough but it seems comfortable to me. I turn the heating off when I go to bed. The battery dropped to 52% of it's 16kwh capacity overnight and is charging happily this morning starting from a bit after 7.30 am. It's just charging from the solar panels.

2026-04-13 06:10:00 UTC

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I feel sorry for her. I used to have some dodgy characters close to me and it was nightmarish at times.

2026-04-13 06:06:50 UTC

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I replaced my solar panels and added a battery last September. Since then I've powered the house (100% electric) and my EV totally without drawing anything from the grid. It handled running the aircon ok through summer but maybe now that it's in heating mode I'll need to be a bit more careful about what appliances I use and when. I've got a solarhart hot water system and get enough hot water from the sun so it's not usually using any power although I need the booster occasionally in the depths of Winter. I don't get enough feed in credits to cover the power company's fixed connection fee so I'm paying about $50 per qtr for that.
My main reason for going solar/battery and EV is to minimise my carbon footprint.

2026-04-12 23:30:16 UTC

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I was recently treated by a robotic urologist. He was amazingly lifelike. 😜

2026-04-11 07:37:31 UTC

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old whiskey Pete certainly puts the "nut job" in RWNJ.

2026-04-10 09:11:57 UTC

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Hope it comes good sooner rather than later Jude. 🤞😀

2026-04-09 08:48:57 UTC

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I love it too. I've been tracking back from my DNA matches lately and that's been really fascinating. I even found a first cousin, once removed, that no one in the family knew about.

2026-04-09 04:12:20 UTC

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the NSW BMD certificates are expensive compared to the UK ones and much slower. But still bring great satisfaction when the missing grand aunt, who disappeared from UK records in the early 1900s but then reappeared in Portland, Oregon in 1914 is found getting married in Sydney in 1913.

2026-04-08 11:40:51 UTC

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And that reminds me of a joke:
A horse walks into a bar and orders a whiskey. The barman says to the horse "You're in here a lot. Do you think you might be an alcoholic"?
"I don't think I am" replied the horse and instantly it disappeared.
It's a joke based on René Descartes idea of "I think therefore I am" but if I'd mentioned that at the start it would be putting Descartes before the horse.
;? )

2026-04-08 11:34:39 UTC

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And more of the philosophical
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/368/861/082/899/091/original/d6ffec0fc90d630a.webp

2026-04-08 11:31:10 UTC

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A class struggle
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/368/842/154/054/982/original/38f8f0befaea852a.jpg

2026-04-08 11:26:35 UTC

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Here's a couple more. An Easter one.
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/368/826/565/659/684/original/16a5ffbf42e6eaaa.jpg

2026-04-08 06:51:58 UTC

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Netanyahu is and always has been the fly in the ointment.

2026-04-08 04:57:22 UTC

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And this one. 😄
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/367/309/628/423/222/original/43a9efd9d53e6cad.jpg

2026-04-08 04:55:59 UTC

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This is one of my favourites. 😄
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/367/303/161/576/222/original/c8bea6deacba9308.jpg

2026-04-06 00:54:39 UTC

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Yes they are. Platforming a propagandist representing a criminal regime that has murdered about 300 journalists and media workers. And they have the nerve to call themselves a 'Press Club'. Reprehensible.
#auspol

2026-04-03 23:21:03 UTC

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it's really good Josh. One of my friends is helping a young refugee with her English. The youngster is very interested in the Artemis mission so my friend is going to use your story with her this week. 😀

2026-04-03 19:45:05 UTC

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He was Mark of Cornwall in Arthur of the Britons on tv in the early 70s. Always does a good job whatever he's in.

2026-04-03 06:53:28 UTC

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I built a deck on the back of my place close to 40 years ago and it needs replacing. I don't think I'll do it myself this time although I might change my mind when I get quotes. 😄

2026-04-02 08:01:34 UTC

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thanks Caity. All done and results are good. The doc says nothing to worry about. 😀

2026-04-02 07:35:39 UTC

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All good. Had it done under a local so no hanging around in recovery. He says there's nothing to worry about. 😀

2026-04-02 03:51:54 UTC

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well done Rosie. I can sympathize as I'm currently on the gurney waiting to go into theatre for a cystoscopy. 😬

2026-03-30 06:51:29 UTC

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let's call it neolaborism then. Same thing, different colour suit.

2026-03-30 03:54:51 UTC

Thought I'd put my feet up for five minutes. The resident opportunist was quick to join the endeavour.
#dogsofmastodon
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/316/083/368/078/264/original/d32c15ec44b866bf.jpg

2026-03-30 00:17:17 UTC

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the last time Israel invaded and occupied Lebanon it resulted in development of a resistance movement. It's called Hezbollah.

2026-03-30 00:09:46 UTC

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Don't quit. I can see in the replies that you've already got some good suggestions. I would definitely talk to someone more senior and your student union. You've got some difficult days ahead so 🫂 ✊💪 from Monty and me.

2026-03-29 07:14:26 UTC

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bugger. Hope getting onto it early means it won't be a problem for too long. 🤞

2026-03-27 21:30:00 UTC

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I get out early with Monty so that we don't get trampled by the park runners at Umbagong and my backyard thermometer said it was 3.7 degrees at a bit after 6. 🥶
The sun is out now though and it looks nice out. Enjoy your run 😀

2026-03-24 23:18:50 UTC

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😄 BBQ chicken gets Monty's attention better than most things and I've tried heaps of different treats. He's really not motivated by food. It's a challenge that I haven't faced with any of my previous dogs. He's good natured, enjoys human company and loves playing with other dogs so there are no real problems. He doesn't like to be left alone though and has tried to dig through the front door while I'm out grocery shopping. I'm trying different toys and treats to discourage that.
The front door incident. I think that face is his version of Bart Simpson's 'I didn't do it, nobody saw me, you can't prove a thing' 😄
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/286/692/894/289/915/original/ebb7318260e5dfc2.jpg

2026-03-24 10:44:15 UTC

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Pocock's right, it is shameful. Albanese's servile response to the gambling industry marks him as a total loser who has let Australians down badly. Again.
#auspol

2026-03-24 08:22:16 UTC

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the clickers are mostly just to signal that they've done good and a reward is on the way. It's a way of getting the positive message very close to the behaviour you want to reward. You need Rosie to make the connection between click and treat though. Maybe you'd have more luck with your voice - a quick 'good girl' and then a treat. Not all dogs take to training as enthusiastically as others though. I'm currently finding that Monty Loco's resistance is getting the upper hand over my persistence 😄😄

2026-03-24 08:00:15 UTC

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Entrenched behaviours can be hard to correct but I think it's possible. I reckon what you're doing - removing the 'threat' by closing the door and then getting her focused on something else - is good. As long as she doesn't think the attention is a reward for the bad behaviour. Maybe try getting her used to doing something that can be rewarded when you have the door open (something other than barking at the passers by 😄). Stick at it Caity. 😀

2026-03-23 02:55:07 UTC

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it's 100% at my place and that includes the car.

2026-03-22 21:19:49 UTC

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I think f**k-up is his middle name Jude.

2026-03-21 01:03:48 UTC

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I put in a 'Flower of Kent' last year. It's the apple that is credited with prompting Isaac Newton's ideas. It'll be a few more years before it becomes a reliable fruiter. It's a cooking apple.

2026-03-21 00:28:28 UTC

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I've got a Cox's Orange Pippin in my backyard, espaliered against the fence, but haven't yet succeeded in keeping the possums at bay. Some years I get one or two apples but most years the possums get the lot. I'm going to have to build a cage around the tree.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox%27s_Orange_Pippin

2026-03-18 22:03:43 UTC

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Now would be an excellent time to get more people driving electric vehicles. Any loss of fuel excise can be recouped by winding back the exemptions gifted to miners et al.

2026-03-15 01:13:49 UTC

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Labor sees its job as keeping the mainstreet media and the billionaires happy. They've lost the plot and their moral compass. They're worse than useless. They're destructive.

2026-03-14 21:50:18 UTC

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people are dying to get in there.

2026-03-14 21:46:19 UTC

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the dead centre of Woden. 😄

2026-03-14 00:17:03 UTC

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we've had them land in the paddock next to the dog park a few times. Some of the dogs become quivering wrecks while others are totally incensed by the interloper. I don't know which category Monty Loco is in yet as he's not had sufficient exposure. 😄

2026-03-13 22:50:46 UTC

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yep. Some days the balloons come our way and some days not. 😀

2026-03-13 21:10:16 UTC

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Monty and I have just got back home from about an hour or so strolling around our beloved West Belconnen and didn't catch even a glimpse of a balloon. One flew over the dog park yesterday morning though and that caused a bit of a ruckus. 😄

2026-03-10 22:15:00 UTC

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Yep. The road is much improved from years past. It really is driver competence that needs to be addressed.

2026-03-10 07:29:24 UTC

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yep. With Pauline and Mad Mal in the Senate he'd be aiming to flip his Maranoa seat in the reps to ON. Not sure what the mood of that electorate is.

2026-03-10 05:58:03 UTC

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I wonder if there's a switch to ON coming? I know he says he'll always be a National but we all know what a bloody liar he is.

2026-03-04 22:09:20 UTC

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Very good of the powers that be to arrange the 29 gun salute to welcome you to Canberra Caity. 😜

2026-03-03 04:46:55 UTC

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it's a waste of time. And you could replace the opposition with a bunch of 12 year olds and they'd do a better job. In fact, the reason Labor get away with being such a bunch of disappointments is because there's a completely incompetent opposition.

2026-03-01 08:17:25 UTC

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I'm due to fly to Singapore tonight. 🤞 there's no trouble. I imagine it'll be a full flight given flights that go via the Middle East are being cancelled.

2026-03-01 07:53:56 UTC

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My feelings of disappointment with the man that Albanese has become have deepened over the last few years. Now, all I have for him is contempt.

2026-03-01 07:42:31 UTC

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sounds awful Heather. Happy for you that it didn't last too long.

2026-02-28 10:40:16 UTC

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they accepted a colour photo copy of my Australian passport (all pages, even the blank/unused ones) along with the original expired UK one. The old one was returned when they'd finished with it. I thought they could have accepted photographs of my Aussie one but they didn't.

2026-02-28 08:19:20 UTC

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nice photo 😀 If you do need to get a UK passport it's a bit time consuming with some nuisance steps but nothing unexpected for such an important document. It takes a bit of time though. I was able to renew mine last year and it was a smooth process. Quite a bit less expensive than our Aussie ones too.

2026-02-26 08:52:40 UTC

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When his Party is recognised as a harrowing cadaverous beast, in late stage decay, what better mascot than the odious Erica Betz. Exhumed from his federal grave to torment the poor folk of Lutruwita.

2026-02-26 08:29:20 UTC

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I've had good experiences with Aussie Housesitters in the past. Now Grandson number 1 looks after things for me when I'm away. The dogs, past and present, know him so that reduces any worries I might have on that front.

2026-02-22 08:39:24 UTC

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I've been in the UK for three weeks now and have only had two days without rain. More of the same today. It's not heavy but it is quite persistent. There's flooding in some parts of the country but nothing to speak of where I am.
🤞for you Heather.
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/113/355/477/392/811/original/55ce9fa9e434749f.png

2026-02-21 08:33:12 UTC

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I'm still in touch with a mate who I became friends with in the year before we started school. His parents ran the corner shop. We were 4. I was best man at his wedding. We've lived on opposite sides of the world for close to 50 years now but still chat online a few times a year and if I'm in the UK we usually manage to catch up in person.

2026-02-19 20:29:25 UTC

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If it goes the way that often happens for me you'll get a blood sucker who can't find a vein and asks you to go home and try again another day 🤬

2026-02-19 17:02:04 UTC

When they asked if I wanted a beer I said 'That one's got my name on it'.
#whimsy
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/098/359/315/942/887/original/9b0bb9602ec6030f.jpg

2026-02-19 07:51:08 UTC

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It's yet another instance of shameful behaviour by the government. I think you're right about the women being there due to their husbands choices. I think there might be some who were still children when their parents took them. The only excuse Albanese has for leaving these Australians stranded is that he wants to placate racists and bigots.

2026-02-17 14:07:10 UTC

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that's a nuisance. Have you tried earplugs? My former partner found they helped and used them a lot when she was working nights. I didn't find they helped that much. Nowadays I've got the luxury of being hard of hearing so I can just take my hearing aids out and the world is much more peaceful. 🙉 😀

2026-02-17 08:45:09 UTC

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Yes, fresh bay leaves are much better. My Grandmother always put them in her rice pudding. It's a taste and smell that has stayed with me through the years.

2026-02-17 07:54:38 UTC

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sounds as though you've been busy today Heather. Keeping the Bay in a pot is a good idea. I recently had to get my son to come and cut my in-ground one back as it had got to a height and spread that wasn't compatible with power lines. It's height was approaching 10metres 😬

2026-02-16 10:00:31 UTC

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The mainstreet media, Newscorpse especially, are very good at selling a lie. They won't tell people about the high cost, the time to build, the dangerous waste, etc. There will be a lot of $$ poured in to mislead.

2026-02-16 07:59:20 UTC

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I think that's got a fair bit to do with who's able to take advantage of rooftop solar and home batteries. If you're renting it's difficult or impossible to take advantage of that so you'd be looking for alternatives.

2026-02-16 07:55:02 UTC

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we'd have to assume that he's learnt nothing from last election's results. Has he or Jane Hume announced a sacking of the Public Service yet?

2026-02-15 08:08:30 UTC

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Clearly, Trish, what we need now is a nuclear powered tram. Then there'd be no need for those unsightly overhead cables above the tracks. 😜

2026-02-15 07:21:33 UTC

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He's an idiot. Being led by the nose by the big money lobby groups.

2026-02-14 13:22:21 UTC

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11.6 - sheer luxury. 😉
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/069/176/471/420/921/original/2039b91fa2e0c1cd.png

2026-02-14 11:20:44 UTC

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probably fair to say that the only thing that can keep Labor in power is the Coalition.

2026-02-13 11:54:28 UTC

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Some of the old buildings in the town centre with the jettied upper floors and fancy pargeting. 17th century I think.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pargeting
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/063/145/290/558/167/original/6deb51d95855cdd7.jpg
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/063/146/012/496/371/original/593ddea520c77e31.jpg

2026-02-13 11:15:54 UTC

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A couple of the local swans. The one in the foreground was just moving towards me to let me know I'd taken enough photos and should move along 😄
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/063/023/554/876/491/original/3f81aa118b7d1144.jpg

2026-02-13 11:12:32 UTC

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Here's a view of a church. It's build was finished in 1398. There's a sundial on the wall that, given the current weather, is about as useful as t*ts on a bull.
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/063/004/388/578/960/original/06cd8ebe74c788ed.jpg

2026-02-13 11:06:53 UTC

A couple of photos from my current tooting spot. These old stone buildings date from the late 1300s and are still in use today.
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/062/953/291/250/402/original/2b036210f9ec8438.jpg
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/062/953/427/621/136/original/277b678b57a656c8.jpg

2026-02-13 07:19:35 UTC

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it's a great walk isn't it. I've only done the bit where dogs are allowed but friends and family have been all over the tracks, old and new, and tell me it's wonderful. One of my grandsons did some work experience/training building the new tracks a year or two back.

2026-02-12 07:38:11 UTC

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I've been worrying about Monty Loco regarding thunder but grandson who is dog and house sitting while I'm away says he wasn't too bothered by it. I imagine Monty was comforted by having a house full of computer gaming twentyish year olds. Pizza may also have been involved.

2026-02-11 20:58:01 UTC

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9 degrees and raining here in the UK and I'm just finishing Wednesday. Miserable weather but I'm enjoying my time here. 😀

2026-02-04 06:14:16 UTC

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The water company has closed the road outside my mum's place while they set about replacing water pipes. We're not too happy about it as in some nearby sites houses had their water cut off for several days. Plus we're anticipating a lot of noise. 🤬

2026-02-01 23:02:10 UTC

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my flight to Singapore was delayed and I missed my connection. The airline put me up in Singapore and fed me. Now I'm back at Changi waiting for the replacement flight. I'll be about 9 hours later arriving in London than planned. Just in time to catch all the commuters on the train to mum's. 🤪

2026-01-31 21:34:31 UTC

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Clearly on the side of genocide. Albanese, Wong and co. are on the wrong side. Shameful.

2026-01-30 23:58:07 UTC

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I'm looking forward to playing around with it with my grandkids. We often work together on creative stuff and did have a go at woodblock prints but not very successfully (wrong wood, wrong tools and limited know-how). Lino or potato would, in hindsight, have been a better starting point for relief printing with them.

2026-01-30 23:36:02 UTC

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Procol Harum are on my regular play list too. Also the Kinks.

2026-01-30 23:34:03 UTC

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inspired by a Johann Sebastian Bach piece of even earlier times.

2026-01-30 22:30:47 UTC

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I think there are quite a few songs from the 60s that straddle the years very well. But maybe we're both preserved in amber. 😄😄

2026-01-30 22:18:01 UTC

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Summer in the City (1966)
https://youtu.be/zs8ZNa73OS4?si=8NxelFlq6VHNU5Qt

2026-01-30 21:46:54 UTC

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Yep, it's a bit sticky indoors this morning. I went out for a walk with Monty just before 7. It was fresher than in the house but even then the gentle stroll was sweat inducing.