They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/benjaminfr136955.html#2rbLsYOcXVz007x8.99
Sunday, 24th May, 2015
Lake Illawarra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Aboriginal (Tharawal): various adaptions ofElouera, Eloura, or Allowrie; Illa, Wurra, orWarra meaning pleasant place near the sea, or, high place near the sea, or, white clay mountain[1] | |
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| Illawarra Lake[1] | |
Lake Illawarra, viewed from Mount Kembla, 2008.
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 Lake Illawarra
Location of Lake Illawarra in New South Wales
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| Location | Illawarra, New South Wales |
| Primary inflows | Macquarie Rivulet, Mullet Creek |
| Primary outflows | Tom Thumb Entrance,Tasman Sea |
| Managing agency | Lake Illawarra Authority |
Lake Illawarra (AboriginalTharawal language: various adaptions ofElouera, Eloura, or Allowrie; Illa, Wurra, or Warra meaning pleasant place near the sea, or, high place near the sea, or, white clay mountain[1]), an open and trained intermediate wave dominatedbarrier estuary[3] or large coastal lagoon,[1] is located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, situated about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Sydney, Australia.
The lake environment is administered by the Lake Illawarra Authority, a New South Walesstatutory authority established pursuant to the Lake Illawarra Authority Act 1987 (NSW) with the aim of transforming the degraded waters and foreshores of Lake Illawarra into an attractive recreational and tourist resource.
Today, Sunday, Peter and I drove down to the lake (Lake Illawarra) and went there for a little walk. After a very cold night the midday sun was beautiful warming.
On the 11th and on the 12th of May we went to the Coroner’s court hearing about the circumstances of our daughter’s death.
State Coroner’s Court of New South Wales
The State Coroner ensures that all deaths are properly investigated. If necessary, an inquest into the death is held. Coroners can also recommend measures to prevent future deaths.
An inquest is a court hearing where the Coroner considers evidence to determine the identity of the deceased and the date, place, manner and cause of death of the deceased. Read more about the steps involved in an inquest.
Song for the Unification of Europe – Julie’s Version
Peter and I watched today: Three Colors blue. If you listen to some of the music of the youtube videos you’ll get some idea what this movie is about. Two more movies are to follow. I love to listen to this music. And I loved the way this movie was made. Juliette Binoche is excellent as Julie.
From Wikipedia:
Three Colors: Blue (1993)
“Trois couleurs: Bleu” (original title)
1 Corinthians 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It isauthored by Paul of Tarsus and Sosthenes in Ephesus.[1][2] This chapter covers the subject of “love”. In the original Greek, the word ἀγάπη agape is used throughout. This is translated into English as “charity” in the King James version; but the word love is preferred by most other translations, both earlier and more recent.
Soundtrack of the film Three Colors: Blue composed by Zbigniew Preisner features a solo soprano singing the epistole in Greek (in a piece titled “Song for the Unification of Europe”).
Storyline
The first part of Kieslowski’s trilogy on France’s national motto: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. ‘Blue’ is the story of Julie who loses her husband, an acclaimed composer and her young daughter in a car accident. The film’s theme of liberty is manifested in Julie’s attempt to start life anew, free of personal commitments, belongings, grief or love. She intends to numb herself by withdrawing from the world and living completely independently, anonymously and in solitude in the Parisian metropolis. Despite her intentions, people from her former and present life intrude with their own needs. However, the reality created by the people who need and care about her, a surprising discovery and the music around which the film revolves heal Julie and draws her back to the land of the living. Written by Anonymous
Plot Keywords: liberty | love | grief | composer | car accident
Genres: Drama | Music | Mystery | Romance
Il Silenzio—Melissa Venema
Good evening My Friends
I would like to share with you, one of my favorite video clips.
It is taken from one of the World’s Great Renowned Conductors concert.
The Great Andre Rieu.
His Guest is a young Trumpeter of extraordinary talent.
May her playing give you Joy
And her music bring Love, Peace and Serenity
Into your Hearts.
A URL to an Article by DW (Deutsche Welle) about Cultural Values in Germany
http://www.dw.de/chlorine-concerts-and-butter-books-ttip-tests-germanys-cultural-values/a-18462804
Chlorine concerts and butter books? TTIP tests Germany’s cultural values
Are literature and live music just banal trade goods? Germany’s creatives are concerned that TTIP will knock culture off its pedestal of protection. Here, culture is carefully shielded from the winds of the market.
PAULCHEN, our lovely Car
Here is an UPDATE from Thursday, 21st May:
Peter got the car back already on Wed. 20th May, late afternoon. Paulchen has received a new clutch and so is back on the road alive and well! We are very happy that Paulchen’s life could be extended for a bit. The registration for the car has just been renewed for one year. I am sure, Peter is looking forward to be driving Paulchen for a bit more. 🙂
Our little car at a time of wellbeing
We have a little car which was nicknamed by my sister Ilse on one of her trips to Australia, “Pauly” (actually “Paulchen” in German).
We have owned the car for fifteen years now and it never caused us any problems or breakdowns. It went and went and went…
When Ilse named the car, she advised us, never to talk bad about it in its presence. She seems to think, cars have a soul and can easily be offended.
Last weekend was my 80th birthday and I had a really good time. Our son Martin had even flown in from Melbourne for the weekend. He had to fly back on Sunday and we offered to take him back to the airport and daughter Caroline home to Sydney.
The only way out from Wollongong, which is practically just a few meters above sea level…
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UTA’S DIARY
When I start getting a cold I immediately increase the amount of Vitamin C. I also take some Olive Leaf Extract. And I try to rest as much as possible. As far as I remember I still felt all right on Wednesday, the 6th of May when I went for a walk in the morning. Towards evening that day I started to shiver, the throat felt sore and all my limbs felt very heavy. I also sneezed a lot. So I started with the above treatment and retired to my nice warm bed. Still, I worried a bit, whether I would feel well enough to go to Wollongong early the following morning to keep the appointment with my specialist.
On Thursday Peter drove me to Wollongong for the 9 am appointment. I told the receptionist that I had a cold and weather it was still all right to see the doctor. It turned out, I was able to see the doctor who asked me in and then did all the required tests. I felt lucky that my nose had dried up, for some of the tests involved some stuff that went through my nose. The doctor happily told me that there was nothing wrong with me: I was free of any signs of cancer. He said it was close to four years now since I had my operation on the tongue. So in one year’s time I should come back for another examination. But this would be the last time that I had to come for check-ups. He said, that it was very unlikely that any lesions would come back five years after surgery.
Thereafter Peter drove me straight back home. Thursdays I usually go to a one hour Gentle Exercise Class. But on that Thursday I preferred to stay home to have a good rest. The following day I also cancelled the games afternoon with my lady friends. The following days I took great care to dress extra warmly. I saw to it that a small electric heater always stood close by to keep me warm. I was thinking that under no circumstances would I want to go anywhere where there was air-conditioning blowing on me!
By Monday, the 11th of May, I was well enough to go with Peter on the train to Sydney for the court hearing about the circumstances of Gaby’s death. On Tuesday, the 12th, there was another court hearing. Both days we were able to catch an early afternoon train back home. The people who talked to us in Sydney were all very friendly. We thought that as far as we were concerned this inquiry by the coroner went very well. The coroner as well as the assistant coroner, who talked to us a lot. were both woman. Also one of the testifying doctors was a woman.
The following Thursday Ayleen and I turned up for the Exercise Class. To my surprise there was no class that day. Somehow I had totally forgotten that on that day the Seniors Citizen Group had a late Mother’s Day luncheon at the club. So the previous Sunday had been Mother’s Day, that’s right. I felt actually well enough on that day to go with Peter to our daughter Monika’s place for afternoon coffee and cake. The place was full with all of Monika’s children as well as her partner Mark’s daughter and Mark’s mother and the mother of Mark’s deceased wife.
Apparently Mark had a hectic working week last week, and he ended up with a cold. Still he managed to come to the big birthday celebration at the German Club on Saturday, the 16th of May. That night he warned me several times not to get too close to him for he had a bit of a cold. I said to him not to worry, I already did have a cold the other week, and I was sure I would not get it again.
Our son Martin had booked a flight from Melbourne to Sydney to stay with us for 48 hours to celebrate his Dad’s 80th Birthday. He nearly missed his flight back to Melbourne on Sunday. But this is another story.
On Saturday most of the family came to our place in the afternoon for coffee and cake before we went to the German Club for dinner. Peter and Caroline made a few pictures on that occasion which I have in my computer now, and I can show some of them here:
Everyone could order what they felt like. For entrees there was Rollmops, or baked Camembert cheese or soup.
Most people got German beer from the tap. Ebony left soon after dinner with the two little darlings, our great-grandsons. There were later on 12 people left for the welcome drink, a nice sweet bubbly.
I wrote this on the 28th of April 2012
“Last Thursday we saw Gaby in Merrylands. She waited for us near Merrylands Station. Honey, her dog, was with her. Honey had been bitten by a big dog a bit over a week ago. She had needed some stitches which cost Gaby a lot of money. On Thursday these stitches were due to come out. We didn’t have to go far from the station to the vet’s surgery. Honey had her stitches out in no time. She seems to be all right now.”
This is what I wrote a bit over three years ago. It brings back to mind, how this happened that Honey got bitten. This vicious dog who bit Honey belonged to a woman who was nasty to Gaby. I think she shouted at Gaby, something very unpleasant. As far as I know, she was about the only person who ever treated Gaby in a nasty way. Otherwise Gaby always experienced a lot of kindness from people she met. I seem to remember that Gaby thought that this woman was jealous because she noticed that Gaby was always treated in a very kind way by people.
A few weeks later, when we were walking along with Gaby somewhere in Merrylands, Gaby pointed out to us a woman and a man with a big dog. Gaby said that this was the dog that had bitten Honey. She also said that the police had cautioned these people that they should take better control of their dog. Gaby had great expense paying for the treatment of Honey after she had been bitten so severely. However Gaby thought it would be of no use asking these people for compensation. She did not want anything to do with them. I think that woman had once abused Gaby before this incident with Honey. Gaby was just glad that this woman kept her distance after that incident with Honey.
Challenge Southern Highlands
https://challengesh.org.au/about/
Challenge Southern Highlands Inc (CSH) is an Incorporated Association that was established in 1951 by local families with physically and/or intellectually disabled children. Over several decades, the CSH has nurtured the vocational and life skills of thousands of people.
CSH has provided training in a caring environment and employment opportunities. This has led to greater levels of confidence, capability and independence.
We operate the successful plant nursery, Welby Garden Centre, as a Supported Employment service and offer additional commercial services to local organisations.
Read about our History
Gaby was a collector for charity:
http://www.whereis.com/nsw/harris-park-2150/yellowId-12035400
Gaby was allowed to keep one third of the money that people donated. Every so often, when her boxes were full enough, she would wheel herself from Parramatta to Harris Park where the charity organisation have an office. Then they opened the boxes in front of her and counted out the money. She was always praised for being a good collector and doing something for the well being of some disabled children.
How did Gaby get from Merrylands West, where she lived, to Parramatta? By T-Way Bus:
T-ways in Sydney
Main article: T-way
T-ways were conceived as an alternative to commuter railway services because of their potential lower cost and higher flexibility. T-ways can be constructed without the need for a dedicated corridor or tunnel. Buses can join and leave the T-way along the route, giving the T-way a wider feeder area than rail.
T-ways are separate bus-only roads where undeveloped railway and motorway corridors are available, and as bus-only lanes on existing roads.
T-ways can be used only by rapid bus services, selected local bus services and emergency vehicles. Other motorists using a bus lane (except to turn or overtake) can be fined.
Gaby knew Carl Scully who was the NSW Minister for Transport at the time when the T-Way Bus lane to Parramatta was constructed. This T-Way Bus goes through Sherwood Road very close to where Gaby used to live!
Gaby did get around in Sydney on her own collecting Money for Charity!
This is what I wrote on the 15th of October 2011:
Once every two weeks we meet our daughter Gaby in Merrylands Shopping Centre to help her with her shopping. Gaby loves to bring her dog along too. Since Honey is a registered companion dog for a wheelchair person, she’s allowed to take the dog into the shopping centre. Honey is well known, especially in Merrylands.
And of course Gaby is well known also, not just in Merrylands but also in a lot of other suburbs of Sydney. In her electrified wheelchair Gaby travels by bus or by train, usually all on her own, with the help of kind public transport staff. Nearly every day she goes out
somewhere. A collection box sits on the table in front of her, also her mobile phone. She collects money for a charitable organisation. Some people approach Gaby on a regular basis to give her a donation. Honey, being fastened to Gaby’s wheelchair, always makes the rounds with Gaby. So no wonder that Gaby is a well known identity in Sydney.
AuntyUta 