Val’s Comments (group member since Aug 28, 2019)

Val’s comments from the Beyond Zon group.

Pulled pork - a 6lb pork shoulder cooked in the slow cooker for 7 hours with a can of cider, 2 apples, 3 onions, apple cider vinegar and every spice under the sun. Made for a very spicy sauce!!! Served with mash and peas.

Except that most returning travellers - mostly Australians who got stuck overseas - ARE going into hotel quarantine for 14 days and that's where most of of our most recent cases have escaped from. Theory is now that transmission is mostly air-borne and therefore ventilation, air-conditioning systems, etc need to be overhauled. Hotels weren't designed to be quarantine hostels. A facility like the one in Darwin - the only one in the country - allows people to have fresh air and exercise and that's why a lot of us would like to see more such facilities spread around the nation. For years we had the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Melbourne (mostly for TB) but it was sitting on prime riverside real estate and so got sold off in the 1990s.

theDuke wrote: "I firmly believe, that the only country that got it right, right from the start is Australia. We should've taken a left from their book way back in March last year and shut everything down....knowing it would wreck the travel industry. But i say, what price is worth a human life? More than billions lost in the travel industry i think!..."

Other countries did better than Australia. Taiwan for one. But, bear in mind, it was much easier for us. Apart from being an island nation (as is mainland Britain), we are also situated at "the arse end of the world" (quote from former Prime Minister Paul Keating). We also have fewer points of entry. Also Britain still had agreements in place with Europe (and Eire?) which would have been hard to go against (I suppose?). We are far from perfect here. We had one plane of Australian residents arrive here on Friday from India (but it was only half full because of the requirement to have 2 covid-free tests before boarding) and won't have another for a fortnight. The passengers went into a quarantine station in Darwin where they will be isolated for 14 days.

Our State Government (Labour) here in Victoria wanted to build a dedicated quarantine station on the outskirts of Melbourne but this week's Federal Government budget (Liberal = Conservative) denied them the funding.

Italian-style chicken stew with plenty garlic, tomatoes, olives, served on shell noodles with freshly grated parmigiano.

Slow-cooked boneless leg of lamb, roasted with garlic and rosemary. Roast potatoes, carrots and gravy. Delish!

Mexican tonight. The chopped blade steak's been marinading for days. Cooked with onions, Mexican seasoning, a tin of tomatoes, a tin of corn, a tin of red kidney beans, and a handful of fresh coriander. It's in the oven now on low heat and I'm going to serve it with mash.

P wrote: "Well done Val, hope it stays that way. Without tempting fate, i’ve had no problems with the second jab so far👍...."

Good to know P. Thank you. Neither of us have had any reaction at all. In fact, I would say I had the best night's sleep this year last night. Here's hope it continues.

Weather forecast here is not too bad considering. After two really warm days over last weekend (didn't need the heating on), the forecast for the rest of the week is cloudy, the odd shower, but temperatures around 19 - 20C degrees.

Mr H and I fronted up at our GP bang on 1.00pm today and were shown past the waiting room (all depressingly old - who me? old? never!) and straight into Dr P's rooms. In and out in a couple of minutes, waited the mandatory 15 mins before being given the all-clear to go home. We both agree that so far the only symptom is a bit of a twinge if we try to raise our arm up high. Fingers crossed that's it! Our annual flu injection is two weeks from today.

Slow-cooked chopped blade steak in a red korma curry sauce, served with rice. Fab!

Chicken fillets in Thai green curry with peas and green beans.

Good to hear all your stories about what short-term side effects might be expected from the jab. Mr H and I are booked in for Tuesday afternoon for first Astra Zeneca shots. I'm hoping any effects won't be too long lasting as this week I have babysitting, another medical appointment, podiatrist, my daughter's birthday and the (waste of time) Mother's Day when all the offspring, spouses and grandchildren will descend. Not enough days in this week.

Looking forward to tonight's tea. Mr H is offering basa fillets (lightly poached in a smidgen of butter), peas and his signature cauliflower cheese! Might have to crack open a bottle of wine!

I feel your pain Isabella. Trees can never be replaced - at least to the same degree within our lifetime. Friends lived two doors away from us and our backyards were only separated by a few yards. They had two large river red gums in the backyard and it was such a delight for me to see them every day through the window.



R & E had them professionally tended to and they were never a problem. Unfortunately, financial circumstances forced them to sell and the new owners wanted a swimming pool. So the trees had to go. Although they are a protected species, the Council said they had no jurisdiction over private property. Then the immediate neighbour, between us, planted mature palm trees down both fence lines. I didn't mind them (although the falling fronds could have been a hazard if you were below when the fell and also were a bugger to dispose of). Again, I could look out onto tall green trees. But then they too had to sell (a divorce) and our new neighbours, lovely blokes that they are, decided the palms on our side had to go (I think the root system was causing cracks in their pool). So now I look out on the far row of palms and beyond that mature trees in a park but it's just not the same. We have a lemon-scented gum in our backyard.



It must be well over 60 ft high. It used to have a split trunk but neighbours on the other side didn't like it and, after failing to convince us to chop it down, they paid a huge sum to get one of the trunks (which leaned over their property) cut off. Fortunately it hasn't affected the tree and it still sways beautifully and provides home and shelter to magpies, cockatoos and probably possums.

The vaccine roll-out here is nowhere near as organised as the UK - for a variety of reasons:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-austra...

But today I bit the bullet and rang my GP. Mr H and I are booked in on Tuesday May 4 to get our first shot (Astra Zeneca). They will arrange our second jab when we get there but it seems to be a 12 week gap. In between, we will get our flu jab on Tuesday May 25. Nearer the time I will start taking an aspirin a day to act as a blood thinner. I do think the likelihood of blood clots is low in our age group but it seems like an easy thing to do for a short time, so why not?

Last night was chili chicken tenderloins with chips and home-grown tomatoes.

Hi GG, you're always welcome at the Aussie Rules tipping thread but if you're still surfing the ripples, make sure to keep your head out the water and paddle like mad. Good luck and drop by when you can.

I'm sure this is pure urban myth and exists in many forms but it's always worth repeating:

Some of you have seen this before, some of you haven't. Take time to read, reflect and then, well, whatever you feel like doing!

Cumbria has been a seafaring county for at least 700 years. The vessel La Mariote ( the MARY) of Workington was documented in the records of Edward I's wars with our cousins north of the Border. As we are now slowly winding down to the Easter, perhaps members with associations with the seas, and those who venture abroad on them, might appreciate a little light-hearted mariner's tale:-

The following letter was extracted from a ship casualty report from the early 1960s, submitted to the marine insurers. For legal reasons the vessel's name was deleted; but this initial report to the shipowners is priceless. From the description of events, it suggests that the incident happened in the proximity of the Netherlands where canals and shipping lanes are common.

"Dear Sir,

It is with regret and haste that I write this letter to you, regret that such a small misunderstanding could lead to the following circumstances, and haste in order that you will get this report before you form your own preconceived opinions from reports in the world press, for I am sure that they will tend to overdramatise the affair.

We had just picked up the pilot, and the apprentice had returned from changing the "G" flag for the "H", and it being his first trip, was having difficulty in rolling the "G" flag up. I therefore proceeded to show him how. Coming to the last part, I told him to "let go." The lad, although willing, is not too bright, necessitating my having to repeat the order in a sharper tone. At this moment the Chief Officer appeared from the Chart-Room, having been plotting the vessel's progress, and, thinking that it was the anchors that were being referred to, repeated the "let go" to the Third Officer on the
forecastle. The port anchor, having been cleared away but not walked out, was promptly let go. The effect of letting the anchor drop from the "pipe" while the vessel was proceeding at full harbour speed proved too much for the windlass brake, and the entire length of the port cable was pulled out "by the roots." I fear that the damage to
the chain locker may be extensive.

The braking effect of the port anchor naturally caused the vessel to sheer in that direction, right towards the swing bridge that spans a tributary to the river up which we were proceeding. The swing bridge operator showed great presence of mind by opening the bridge for my vessel. Unfortunately, he did not think to stop the vehicular traffic, the result being that the bridge partly opened and deposited a Volkswagen, two cyclists, and a cattle truck on the foredeck. My ship's company are at present rounding up the contents of the latter, which from the noise I would say were pigs.

In his efforts to stop the progress of the vessel, the Third Officer dropped the starboard anchor, too late to be of practical use, for it fell on the swing bridge operator's control cabin. After the port anchor was let go and the vessel started to sheer, I gave a double ring Full Astern on the Engine-Room Telegraph and personally rang the Engine-Room to order maximum astern revolutions. I was informed that the sea temperature was 53 degrees and asked if there was a film tonight; my reply would not add constructively to this report.

Up to now I have confined my report to the activities at the forward end of the vessel. Down aft they were having their own problems. At the moment the port anchor was let go, the Second Officer was supervising the making fast of the after tug and was lowering the ship's towing spring down onto the tug. The sudden braking effect on the port anchor caused the tug to "run in under" the stern of my vessel, just at the moment when the propeller was answering my double ring Full Astern. The prompt action of the Second Officer in securing the inboard end of the towing spring delayed the sinking of the tug by some minutes, thereby allowing the safe abandoning of that vessel.

It is strange, but at the very same moment of letting go the port anchor there was a power cut ashore. The fact that we were passing over a "cable area" at that time might suggest that we may have touched something on the river bed. It is perhaps lucky that the high-tension cables brought down by the foremast were not live, possibly being replaced by the underwater cable, but owing to the shore blackout it is impossible to say where the pylon fell.

It never fails to amaze me, the actions and behaviour of foreigners during moments of minor crisis. The pilot, for instance, is at this moment huddled in the corner of my day cabin, alternately crooning to himself and crying after having consumed a bottle of gin in a time that is worthy of inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records. The tug captain, on the other hand, reacted violently and had to forcibly be restrained by the steward, who has him handcuffed in the ship's hospital, where he is telling me to do impossible things with my ship and my person. I enclose the names and addresses of the drivers and insurance companies of the vehicles on my foredeck, which the Third Officer collected after his somewhat hurried evacuation of the forecastle. These particulars will enable you to claim for the damage they did to the railings of the No. 1 hold.

I am enclosing this preliminary report, for I am finding it difficult to concentrate with the sound of police sirens and the flashing lights. It is sad to think that had the apprentice realized that there is no need to fly pilot flags after dark, none of this would have happened. For weekly Accountability Report I will assign the following Casualty Numbers: K/850601 to TK/7950199 inclusive.

Yours truly (Master)"

I LURVE Horlicks!!! I think it's one of the comfort memories of my childhood. It's got a lovely malty flavour and isn't too sweet (unless you add sugar). My son (36) has had some back problems of late and apart from physios and specialists (a rheumatologist??), he was advised to tweak his diet and also liquid intake so as to get a good night's sleep. He now ends his day with a Horlicks! It ain't easy getting old!!!

Belated birthday wishes P. Welcome to the ranks of state dependents - well partly anyway. I figure anyone who can complete the myriad (complicated) forms to get a government pension has already earned the right to it. Enjoy the coming years of recouping your contributions.