Yeah, I know. But...

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Yeah, yeah, I know. I have been mislead by the scientists who should know better. I should not have tried to apply logic to God's great plan. I should fall to the feet of Tom and Bartek and Avus and all those wise people who say we innocents are being hoodwinked by the climate change chorus.

But you can't avoid one fact...

This has been the driest start to the year here since records started to be kept.

I keep plugging away, pointing out the succession of new records being achieved here in Melbourne, as I can't help feeling, despite the wise and venerable panel of worthy gentlemen telling me otherwise, that if we keep hitting the dusty end of the superlative spectrum over and over again then, perhaps, something is really happening.

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Hliza in hospital...

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Many of you know Hliza from her wandering the world of blogs commenting and from her own delightful blog.

I have heard today that she is in hospital after a car accident.

The last post her sister put on Facebook 3 hrs ago said "waiting for my sis at operation room.she's ok,with some injuries. My mind cant stop thinking abt her kids."

Her sister's blog is here

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Ambushed by the obvious...

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The saxophone was invented and patented over 160 years ago.

The various sources differ on the exact date but it was patented somewhere late June, 1846.

And you know what?

I had never occurred to me that the saxophone was invented by a Mr Sax.

Obvious when you know.
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Some Rural Thoughts

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Always drink upstream from the herd.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives...

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the success of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every morning.

Good judgment comes from experience.. and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

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Mixture

Nothing very exciting happening as far as this blog is concerned.

Found a few posts for the other blogs (they are all pretty tame this week, have a look) but what to say here?

Life is going along OK, work is fine, the garden is dormant (well, it IS the winter solstice here), Martin's birthday this week, I have a new car (Honda Civic Hybrid), met up with a lady I hadn't seen for 30 years yesterday, various bugs about the place but no piglet flu, pasta is cooking for dinner.

That's it.

Hugs to the lot of you.
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Opportunists Rule!

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I tend not to read spam, so I may be late noticing this.

I have been getting Viagra stuff for ages (how did they know?) but is it just in this Swine Flu infected era that the purveyors of fine pharmaceuticals have added Tamiflu to their range?
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Bit of a dabble...

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It the Queen's birthday.

Well, no, it's not really but it is the day we commoners are given off to celebrate the event.

So, as it's raining outside I started revisiting the painting I started back in April.

Still some work to do but it's moving along.

This is was the original looked like when first blocked out:

I am continuing with the three segments separately so they will be slightly different from each other but still part of a whole.
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Happy as.

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Dear readers, I have neglected you so.

I am sorry. And I am happy.

My creative efforts have been directed at work of late. Not quite two months since I started and it has been fun. I feel I can make a difference, the staff appreciate me and the management support me.

And I get paid to do it.

What more can I ask?

And what am I doing? I am Laboratory Director at a laboratory in Melbourne, part of the Silliker group of laboratories. Silliker originated in the US but is now owned by the French firm, Merieux. Its principal focus is food testing.

When I can I will blog. Promise.

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Phineas T Barnham, where are you?

Got the following email at work today:

"The Coca-Cola Foundation, is glad to notify you that you have been chosen by the board of trustees after series of secret deliberations as one of the final recipients of a Grant/Donation for your own personal, alleviate poverty across the globe, and business development.

The Coca-Cola Foundation, was established in the year 2000 by the Coca-Cola Multi-Million Groups.

To celebrate the 9th anniversary program,the Coca-Cola Foundation in conjunction with other relevant bodies is giving out a yearly donation of £12,000,000.00 GB Pounds ( Twelve Million Great Britain Pounds Sterlings) each to 10,000.000 lucky recipients.

This specific cash Donations/Grants is awarded to recipients worldwide; in different categories for their personal business development and enhancement of their educational plans.

At least 15% of the awarded funds should be used to develop a part of your environment. This program has been conceived with the objective of human growth, alleviate poverty across the whole globe, educational, and community development, which is a measure to universal development strategy.

These grants are issued every year around the world in accordance with the objective of the Coca-Cola Foundation International to alleviate poverty across the globe.

Kindly note that you will only be chosen to receive the donation once, which means that subsequent yearly donation will not get to you again. Take time and thought in spending the donation wisely on a project that will stand the test of time for you.

You were selected among the 10,000.000 lucky recipients to receive the award sum of £12,000,000.00 GB Pounds ( Twelve Million Great Britain Pounds
Sterlings) only as yearly charity donations/Grant from the Coca-Cola Foundation in accordance with the enabling act of Parliament.

You will be required to contact the Finance Portfolio Officer through the below contact information to direct you on how to redeem/Remit your prize. of £12,000,000.00 GB Pounds ( Twelve Million Great Britain Pounds Sterlings) Only."

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That's one hundred and twenty TRILLION dollars of largess from Coca Cola!

The really sad thing is people fall for this stuff.

But it brightened up my afternoon.
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Pig? I'm not a pig!

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Now if it was Guinea-swine flu...who would care?
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Some stray wedding pics...

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Simon, Richard, Martin & the best man, Dave Lane.

Late developer

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Apparently George W Bush listed "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" as one of his ten favourite books of his childhood.

He was 23 when it was written.

Funny. Embarrassing for George but really it does show how our memories are reconstructions rather than recollections.

Never trust an eye-witness.

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Troubled times for Piglet

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The Wedding, Part 2

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This photo was taken out on an open platform near the top of the KL Tower.


Steady hands.


The lovely Roni.


The view from the reception area.

The KL tower, from the base, while waiting for a taxi.

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Sorry for the quiet of late - got back from five days in Malaysia yesterday, straight back to work.

Will post more over the weekend.

Promise.

Two days in the job.

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I'm still here. Just a little dizzy and bewildered.

I am now "Laboratory Director" of a reasonably large laboratory in Melbourne; part of a worldwide chain of American laboratories; so, who knows, I may get to the US yet.

I have tried to sever the links between the 'work me' and the 'blogging me' - my picture's changed, all links to my website gone. Just in case my various forays into sex, religion or politics touch any unnecessary nerves. Likewise I need to be a little careful with the Chemist's Kitchen blog, dealing only with generic issues, not specific products. Nor will I write about the company or the staff here.

But it has been an interesting two days; lost and floundering as one always is when new at a job. But the people are nice and it is a pleasant work place so it bodes well for the future.

And the coffee is excellent.
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