Tuesday Outing

Yesterday Peter and I went with Caroline and Matthew for an outing to the ocean. It was a warm sunny day after many days of rain. The coastal bush landscape was still rather wet. Nonetheless we ventured for a walk along a path that was in some places rather muddy.

Early yesterday morning I received a phone-call from the hospital. I was asked, would I like to come in for my medical procedure on Wednesday, 20th November, which actually had been the original date I had been given and which had been postponed to the 4th of December. Now I had all of a sudden the chance to have my original date back and have everything behind me somewhat earlier. I gratefully accepted the renewed change in dates.

They want me to be at the hospital by 12,30. I was told that today I had to fast from 6 am on. This is why I made sure I was up early. I had already my cup of tea with honey and I ate a banana. I did not feel like eating any toast as had been suggested. I hope they don’t mind I ate a banana instead. I also had my two painkilling tablets. I was allowed to have them before 6 am. Now I have plenty of time to get ready for the drive to the hospital.

Two Years ago in December 2011

8 Responses to “2nd Sunday of Advent 2011”

MOL
December 5, 2011 at 1:30 pm Edit #
Love the coffee cup!

auntyuta
December 5, 2011 at 1:44 pm Edit #
I assume you mean the ‘Where’s the Cake ?’ one. Caroline, our youngest deughter, got this for her Dad because she knows he loves cake. I did get the other one with ‘mum’ printed on it. We always get excelltent gifts from Caroline. She frequently wants to please us with something or other.

pix & kardz
December 5, 2011 at 4:08 pm Edit #
you are already onto a new day, but it is still the 2nd sunday of advent here. a great post for the ‘waiting’ photo challenge, because advent is all about anticipation.
thank you for your recent visit to my blog and all your kind comments. much appreciated!
happy advent – and happy blogging 🙂

auntyuta
December 5, 2011 at 4:29 pm Edit #
Thank you! I love to look at your photos. They’re fantastic! And such a variety. I want to look at many more.
May the advent time bring you much joy!

sterlingsop
December 6, 2011 at 6:55 am Edit #
I love your Advent crown! It makes a lovely centrepiece in its own right, but it’s especially lovely because of what it represents.
Beautiful!

auntyuta
December 6, 2011 at 7:07 am Edit #
I love your comments about the centrepiece, Pat. I didn’t know the expression ‘Advent crown’. Have to remember this. Thanks.

eof737
December 10, 2011 at 10:41 pm Edit #
The coffee mug says it all. I love it. 🙂

auntyuta
December 11, 2011 at 6:32 pm Edit #
Thanks for visiting. Glad you like the coffee mug.

Diary, Saturday, 16th November 2013

More than a week ago Super Typhoon Haiyan went on its way across the Philippines. Three islands of the Philippines suffered catastrophic damage. Many aid organisations in lots of countries immediately organised aid transports to the Philippines. However the aid to the worst struck areas arrives for the survivors of the typhoon only slowly. Too great is the destruction on these islands. This makes the transport of these aid supplies very difficult.

Some people say there have always been typhoons and bush-fires. Of course this is true. But did they always occur with such frequency and severity? Do these people really believe that our way of life does not make any difference at all?

These days all first world countries have an extremely high standard of living. Would it really hurt us people in first world countries very much if we all cut back a bit on carbon emissions? Some economies in some first world countries may suffer a bit from time to time. But do we really make it a better world and a better society by spending more and more? I do not say we should not spend on ourselves anything extra at all. For Christmas for instance it is important for the economy that people should spend a bit extra. However I do not see that there has to be an increase in last year’s Christmas spending. Why not aim for a slight decrease? Why does there always have to be an increase? I don’t get it.

And here my thoughts on our Aid Budget in Australia: Why do we have to reduce it? Are we really so bad off that we cannot afford the previous level any more? And why is our Defence Budget so much more important than our Aid Budget?

Armistice Day, 11th Day of the 11th Month

Today is Armistice Day. World War I ended on this day 95 years ago. We remember the soldiers from this war and all the other wars who did not grow old, who did not come home.

We arrived at Dapto Mall at 11 o’clock in the morning right at the start of the remembrance minute. Everybody stopped in their tracks for the remembrance. Where Peter and I stood there was a flower-shop nearby. Later on I started taking pictures of the beautiful flowers. The sales-woman approached me asking whether she could do anything for me.I said I’d just like to take some pictures of the flowers. And the woman let me do this and went on with her work sorting out and arranging flowers for display.

The flower shop is right in the middle of the walkway. In the shop on the other side I noticed a lot of For Sale signs and took pictures.

If I would like to travel sometime soon this would be the time to buy some luggage!

Peter queued up in there to get his passport renewed.

Apparently the Post Shop provides a service for travellers. And last but not least I noticed a display to entice people to buy something for their babies.

Armistice means: A state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms.
Maybe ninety-five years ago people were hoping that this had been the war to end all wars. How many people have been sent to war since then? Why cannot people live in peace everywhere in every country?

Even without wars, how many people are there who loose their lives in natural disasters? Thinking of the mass casualties after super typhoon Haiyan swept the Philippines last Friday, I feel very weepy. So many people died, and so many people lost everything and need an awful lot of help just to survive. The pictures of devastation are horrendous. All the countries and agencies who are in a position to organise some kind of help work none stop to do just this right now. This is wonderful that there are people in this world to give selflessly of their expertise and time not matter what the difficulties. Sometimes they give their lives so that others can live, same as all the soldiers who are remembered today. We should never forget their sacrifice.

Santa’s Mail Box, seen 45 Days before Christmas

I wonder what sort of mail Santa would receive. Walking for a bit through a major shopping centre today we became quickly aware that business for Christmas has already started. Festive decorations everywhere and the specialty shops exhibiting the most beautiful things for your home to celebrate the Christmas season.

For afternoon coffee we went to see Monika and Mark. Monika was in the process of finishing a lovely large fruit tart.

Tash and Roxy are also happy to have their picture taken in the kitchen

And here are four generations sitting together

And he spies some crackers that he can eat himself

Former student runs Global Poverty Project presentations in schools

http://education-news-update.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/former-student-runs-global-poverty.html

The following was published on the 16th May 2013.

Akram Azimi, a former Warwick Senior High School student and the 2013 Young Australian of the Year, will be visiting schools across Australia in Term 2 on behalf of the Global Poverty Project

How Akram spends his time at schools is up to teachers to decide. It could be in the form of a one-on-one mentoring session, a group workshop, or an inspirational speech.

In 1999, 11-year-old Akram Azimi and his mother arrived in Australia from Afghanistan as asylum seekers. With limited English, Akram struggled to academically, failing English in both Years 8 and 9.

Many teachers assisted Akram by spending extra time with him before and after school and during recess and lunch. One teacher in particular, Andrew Bell, took on the role of mentor to Akram and coached him in History, English and Australian culture.

It was through this mentoring that Akram was able to turn his academic results around and amazingly, achieve the highest Tertiary Entrance Rank in his school.

Akram is living proof of the importance of mentoring, in helping young people reach their potential, and now Akram wants to inspire students to achieve academic success and develop positive attitudes.

The Global Poverty Project’s presentation has been seen in over 150 schools to an audience of over 10,000 students.

“This presentation is incredibly informative,” says Akram. “In a world where we are constantly exposed to negative stories, it offers schools the opportunity to complement the national Civics and Citizenship curriculum with a uniquely positive narrative of how the world is becoming a better place.”

“This presentation is an exercise in global citizenry that equips students with the knowledge and tools they need to become change-makers.”

“Our sense of self-esteem comes from service to others.”

“This presentation gives students the chance to discover global issues and their self-worth. I highly recommend every school student in Australia see this presentation.”

To book your presentation with Akram please contact Ashlee Uren, Youth and Schools Coordinator for the Global Poverty Project, by telephoning 0431 923 003 or by emailing ashlee.uren@globalpovertyproject.com.

AKRAM AZIMI, 2013 young Australian of the Year

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Yesterday I listened to ABC Conversations with Richard Fidler. Yesterday’s guest was Akram Azimi. This Akram is incredibly well spoken and yet he came to Australia as a refugee thirteen years ago with no English whatsoever. His story is a true eye opener.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/11/06/3885019.htm?site=conversations

Akram Azimi

Akram Azimi fled Afghanistan thirteen years ago and settled in Perth as a refugee. He was named 2013 Young Australian of the Year.

Broadcast date: Wednesday 6 November

Akram undertook his first year at an Australian high school having just arrived in the country and with very little English. He progressed to become Head Boy and school dux by his senior year.

While studying for a triple-degree at University, he became involved with a mentorship scheme, working with Indigenous families in The Kimberley.

The experience profoundly changed Akram’s aspirations, and he’s since initiated other schemes to promote understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures, as well as continuing to mentor young people across Western Australia.

Are we selfish and deluded?

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/the-lucky-country-try-selfish-and-deluded-too-20131103-2wula.html

To find the answer to the above question please read the above article in today’s Sydney Morning Herald.

Sunday Afternoon Visit

We had some lovely visitors this afteroon. Monika and Krystal came to see us with little Lucas. They also did bring an excellent cheese-cake along that they had baked themselves this morning. We had lots of fun with Lucas roaming around our place.

Zacchaeus, a senior Tax Collector and a Wealthy Man (Lk 19-1-10)

Zacchaeus said to Jesus: “Look, Sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.”

Occasionally there may be a wealthy person in our society who does likewise. Wouldn’t it be a marvellous world if more wealthy people had a similar attitude?

I want to mention here that you can now find “The Crisis of Civilisation” among my pages at the top. You may remember that I reblogged it from The Guardian.