In the 'woods' very close to Civic centre Newcastle

Jasper, a feline, and Abby, a canine, are from the Prime Minister's family, and are real party animals on Australia Day in a new child's picture book.
Now we know what happens behind the scenes at official functions and it is all good fun and the Australian Flag raising is saved in the nick of time. 
This copy is from the fine collection at Borders Bookshop.

Indonesian style fabric. Local Ethnic Community groups featured cultural collections, food, music and dance on Australia Day holiday where crowds were busy relaxing all over the city, parks and beaches. Japanese design was outstanding in a mini display and the Ukraine was revealed in a potted history which provoked wander-lust then an Indonesian food tasting and samba lessons were cooled off by a small shower of rain and relief from the hellish humidity and before any drunks got out of hand.

Hill climb event. Find the flag or has he 'lost it'.

Fill the missing stars, there is room for more brave citizens 

Australia Day 26 January and a pledge for old and new citizens:

From this time forward, under God,

I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,

Whose rights and liberties I respect,

And whose laws I will uphold and obey.

For citizenship these words are described as a pledge not an oath and use of the words under God is optional. A citizenship test uses multiple choice questions such as: What do we remember on Anzac Day? What are the colours of the Australian Aboriginal flag?

According to the official web site, 118 196 people were approved to become Australian citizens in 2008-9  by conferral, descent or resumption. The top ten previous citizenship of people were led by UK by a wide margin followed, in order,  by India, China, South Africa, NZ, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

Australia allows dual nationality.

Things to do in a heatwave: Get the shopping out of the way early.
An original old shop, Adams Hair Styling, mit barbers pole, remains at The Junction. How does it compare with the salon in St Kilda here a few days ago?  Overall, The Junction has become gentrified.

Heatwave: Don't get in the shade, under the trees, if it gets windy!

High Noon in Laman Street.  Specific little illustrations warn of risk.

Holiday reading.

Swimming hole with espresso foam. Danger sign.

Newcastle Ocean Baths were engulfed by waves again yesterday and closed to swimmers and most of the beaches were closed as well.

Another simplistic rant follows.

The PM promotes increased work productivity: work harder and longer! According to the reporters that's what happens already, people work longer hours and are not taking their holidays. The problem is that an ageing population is a burden on the employed sector. There is truth in that.

   More seniors? - bring it on - OMG, surely these seniors won't remain passive forever and will ultimately assert themselves.

   Let me tell you, the older generation have their own ways and that's entirely valid. It's diversity. The thirty-somethings must take another look outside the square, their methods are not sacrosanct, (OMG, they can twitter),  they can be re-educated and accept a range of employees including seniors.

   If seniors are 'good enough' for volunteering and the wonderful spin-offs that go with it then they are 'good enough' for flexible paid employment. For instance, I've had dealings with a Government Department and seem to discover more about the processes there than the new graduate on the other side of the desk.  Sedentary jobs could be left for seniors to do.

On another point, the superannuation guarantee, the nine percent contribution, should have an about turn and fall as the salary rises.

Even high income earners retire and they will have a living wage, no matter what, as well as a lot of disposable income in many instances. Past employers help finance that high standard of living. On the other hand, lower income earners need super just to survive and could be assisted by a bigger share of the guarantee. I guess the economics have been all worked out, it's an economic construct and is about the status quo.

   Despite all the resources of government and its capacities it can't provided social security in old age, yet, somehow, low income earners will be able to do just that.  I acknowledge the problems on both sides. I count my blessings.

Bogey Hole, a rock swimming hole, was pounded today by awesome waves. A surfer watched from a dangerous position and became much closer to the brink each time the sets rolled in with full force.

Beauty Salon in St Kilda. This is not Newcastle.

More of the same, happened upon gallivanting interstate.

Oh hai! another subtle photo today.

While travelling south on the Pacific Highway, today, two accidents were a problem. In one, a B Double went all over the road before ending up on the median strip facing the wrong way. The truck facing us is a rescue vehicle.

Some say they'd rather be sailing.

Friend in the current heatwaves

Seen while I was gallivanting in a multicultural landscape

Duplicating, has faded away, the term is no longer heard, the stencils, the ink and the clatter have gone from around here. Roneo was another term.
Gestetner was a Hungarian who began manufacturing in Tottenham, North London and ended up with hugh world wide sales of the duplicating machine. The design was very effective. Mimeograph and Roneo were other contenders. The company merged with others and the NRG Group appears to be the result.
My very last foray with a duplicator happened when a printing supplier failed at short notice and I tried to 'fill the gap', I was inexperienced, it was very tricky but ended up with something like the original.

The cicadas are active. An empty 'shell' and a walking specimen are captured here impromptu.   A4 scrap paper scale.

In a flash, this was flung some distance off the car in the accident yesterday. Toyota vehicles are our best sellers and they are very reliable cars.
But hey, in the southern oceans, the Japanese whaling fleet is a disgrace.

Japanese Story is having a rerun this week and the 'Toyota leap', from the ads, is made by the Japanese visitor when the car gets free of the sand in the outback. The starkness, the silences and the mundane, as someone said, are very memorable sequences and the corny parts don't stand in the way of the quirky, unexpected insights in the film.

Seat belts save lives! Last night, this driver was unharmed. ....oh! what a feeling!......
A power pole stood between the car and the side of a house.
Unrelated to this crash: does publicity about road rage cause more instances of road rage? 

 

 

Twin cab ute found upstairs facing the wrong direction.

Another Wicked Camper:  Men have feelings too but who really cares or...but really who cares...

ha....ha....ha....!!

Written on the other side: if a man tells a woman she is beautiful she is willing to overlook his other lies.

Visitor from Perth WA on the way to Byron and the Gold Coast.