2021 - Chat about whatever you like: the weather, good stuff, bad stuff, family or pets!

[Leonie]

Brenda wrote: "Our second jab is coming up mid July and I'm looking forward to having it done, and being fully vaccinated!"

I had my second one last Wednesday. It was great being officially fully vaccinated. And given the last week's dramas, I am very pleased.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Yes you would be Leonie, especially working in health :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

My second is early in August. Can't wait!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

At least those who have the Pfizer don't have to wait 3 months between jabs :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I know. It's annoying.

[Alex]

Hopefully the census will be glitch-free this time around and we can submit online. We get bat jab#2 on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. How's that for timing?

[Diana]

I had my first AZ just over a month ago. I’ve had a few issues. I get aches in my arm and a feeling of heaviness in the arm periodically. I have to see a doctor about it this week.
I’m on holidays this week.

[Alex]

Woke this morning to find Townsville in a 72-hour lock-down. No end in sight. Happily we got most supplies in yesterday, way ahead of the announcement. I suggest everyone out there in Oz GR's land stocks up on essentials. No panic buying though.

[Deb]

Alex wrote: "Woke this morning to find Townsville in a 72-hour lock-down. No end in sight. Happily we got most supplies in yesterday, way ahead of the announcement. I suggest everyone out there in Oz GR's land ..."

Yeah, supermarkets yesterday were pretty insane.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Alex wrote: "Woke this morning to find Townsville in a 72-hour lock-down. No end in sight. Happily we got most supplies in yesterday, way ahead of the announcement. I suggest everyone out there in Oz GR's land ..."

Did you know the lockdown was happening Alex?

[Alex]

Brenda wrote: "Alex wrote: "Woke this morning to find Townsville in a 72-hour lock-down. No end in sight. Happily we got most supplies in yesterday, way ahead of the announcement. I suggest everyone out there in ..."

Hadn't a clue. Rarely watch TV - too many others things I prefer (like reading). Not unusual for me as I seek karma. I recall 20 years ago a colleague bursting into the office, screeching at me 'don't you know what's going on?' That was 9/11. Going into meltdown when there were deadlines to meet wasn't helping the victims and their families.

The Townsville outbreak is centred around a visitor from Brisbane to Magnetic Island & the Sunday markets, (thankfully not the Rugby 7's), which hopefully will make is easier to contain.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It's certainly travelling all over the country at the moment :( Stay safe..

[Alex]

Brenda wrote: "It's certainly travelling all over the country at the moment :( Stay safe.."

Everyone needs tb vigilant. Can't believe those still in denial.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Me neither Alex! It blows me away when I see and hear people say there's no such thing!!

[Leonie]

Brenda wrote: "Me neither Alex! It blows me away when I see and hear people say there's no such thing!!"

I think it's partly to do with Australia having such a relatively 'easy' pandemic so far. Given that in our entire population we've only had about 30,000 cases, and 910 deaths, nearly all of which were close to a year ago, most people don't know anyone who's had it. Or died from it.

A lot of the time, people don't like to believe something unless it affects them directly. We're now seeing the results of some of this with the vaccine hesitancy going on around the place. (Not to mention the mixed messaging from media/government/s.)

I suspect that if we'd had hundreds of thousands of cases we'd have less deniers, and less vaccine hesitant people.

On another note, has everybody seen this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlL2c...

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

That is brilliant Leonie. One of my most favourite picture books adapted perfectly. Love it:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks for sharing Leonie!!

[Trish]

Very clever, Leonie, thank you for sharing it.
Also think you summed up the reactions of so many to the pandemic and the vaccine. Sad that some can't be seen that the only way to open up our country is for most to be fully vaccinated.

Take care everyone wherever you are in our big wonderful country '😊

[Marianne]

Sammy J is very clever, he always manages an excellent commentary on current affairs, whether he's doing it in kindergarten or yoga or ballad singer or any of his other formats. I make sure to watch him on ABC at 6.55pm every Thursday.

[Diana]

Marianne wrote: "Sammy J is very clever, he always manages an excellent commentary on current affairs, whether he's doing it in kindergarten or yoga or ballad singer or any of his other formats. I make sure to watc..."

We are lucky enough to have Sammy J do the breakfast program each day on our local ABC radio. I listen every day.

[Dale]

How about our Ash ! Congratulations to her. She is a credit to us and a joy to watch. Well done Ash.

[Marianne]

Dale wrote: "How about our Ash ! Congratulations to her. She is a credit to us and a joy to watch. Well done Ash."

Agree, Dale, she's a joy, well done to her!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

A fantastic match. Well done Ash:)

[Dale]

W e know you made Evonne proud Ash and all the rest of us as well. Great tennis player and gracious lady applies to both of these two women.

[Helen]

Woohoo so thrilled for her :)

[Deb]

And she did it with major hip injuries... Total respect!

[Carolyn]

Dale wrote: "How about our Ash ! Congratulations to her. She is a credit to us and a joy to watch. Well done Ash."

Fabulous effort! She so deserves it!

[Leonie]

It's a nice bright spot in an otherwise rather ordinary day - particularly for Sydney-siders. Hope all of our Aussie Readers Sydney residents are coping OK.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Carolyn wrote: "Dale wrote: "How about our Ash ! Congratulations to her. She is a credit to us and a joy to watch. Well done Ash."

Fabulous effort! She so deserves it!"

She certainly does - and it's great to see her childhood dream come true!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Leonie wrote: "It's a nice bright spot in an otherwise rather ordinary day - particularly for Sydney-siders. Hope all of our Aussie Readers Sydney residents are coping OK."

Yes, this morning's news was not good Leonie :(

[Helen]

really bad news this morning sadly I live right in the middle of this hot spot so staying doors thank heavens for books stay safe my friends

[Carolyn]

Leonie wrote: "It's a nice bright spot in an otherwise rather ordinary day - particularly for Sydney-siders. Hope all of our Aussie Readers Sydney residents are coping OK."

Very sad and sobering to have someone die from this nasty virus. I hope those in ICU and on ventilators recover.

We're counting down the weeks until we get our second vaccination in August and trying to get our sons (who live with us) to think about getting vaccinated. My older son works in a busy shopping centre so is more at risk - they had an infectious case in his store yesterday.

[Trish]

From a rather bleak Covid report today, in Sydney, it was extra special to see Ash realise her dream. Both her game and her humility shone through.

Carolyn, hope your sons, together with many others, think of getting the vaccine as soon as they are able to. The latest figures show young people are getting Covid and some are very sick. Stay safe everyone.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Helen wrote: "really bad news this morning sadly I live right in the middle of this hot spot so staying doors thank heavens for books stay safe my friends"

Take care Helen, be safe and well.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Carolyn wrote: "Leonie wrote: "It's a nice bright spot in an otherwise rather ordinary day - particularly for Sydney-siders. Hope all of our Aussie Readers Sydney residents are coping OK."

Very sad and sobering t..."

You can try to get yours brought forward they announced today Carolyn. Can be 6 weeks apart if you can get in... I hope your sons get the vaccinations too - especially living with you, and one of them working in a busy environment! So important!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Trish wrote: "From a rather bleak Covid report today, in Sydney, it was extra special to see Ash realise her dream. Both her game and her humility shone through.

Carolyn, hope your sons, together with many othe..."

Yes she's a legend Trish! Stay safe :)

[Diana]

41 years ago I was at boarding school and my friend and I snuck out of bed after ‘lights out’ to hide in the Boarders Sitting Room and watch Evonne Cawley win Wimbledon. On Saturday night I sat up til 2 a.m to see Ash Barty win. She is an absolute ripper. I definitely think the crowd was not on her side but I’m sure a lot of Aussies were up willing her on. My siblings in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne were all messaging me during the match.

[Thomas]

Diana wrote: "41 years ago I was at boarding school and my friend and I snuck out of bed after ‘lights out’ to hide in the Boarders Sitting Room and watch Evonne Cawley win Wimbledon. On Saturday night I sat up ..."
We didn't sit up, but we were anxious to learn the result first thing the next morning.

[Carolyn]

One advantage of currently being in lock down has been being able to sit up late and watch the tennis as well as well as the soccer and not worry about what time you get up the next day. My cyclist DH has also watched a lot more of Le Tour than usual.

[Diana]

My street library is complete. Installation by Buggsy’s Maintenance and paint job by Candela from Candela Colors. Books go in this Friday, my day off. I have had issues with getting links from Photobucket so hope this Flickr link works for you all.
https://flic.kr/p/2mb6cBf

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That looks great Diana!! Well done :)

[Thomas]

Diana wrote: "My street library is complete. Installation by Buggsy’s Maintenance and paint job by Candela from Candela Colors. Books go in this Friday, my day off. I have had issues with getting links from Phot..."

Looks great! We lived in Tassie for a while and in Penguin there's a street library made up to resemble the TARDIS.

[Carolyn]

Looks great Diana! The paint work will certainly attract interested readers in your neighbourhood.

[Carolyn]

Thomas wrote: "Looks great! We lived in Tassie for a while and in Penguin there's a street library made up to resemble the TARDIS."

Is it bigger on the inside? It would be great if it was - think of all the books you could fit in :)

[Krystal]

Diana wrote: "My street library is complete. Installation by Buggsy’s Maintenance and paint job by Candela from Candela Colors. Books go in this Friday, my day off. I have had issues with getting links from Phot..."

Looks fantastic! I have a stack of books set aside to donate, too, so I can set them aside for your library :)

[Dale]

Diana wrote: "My street library is complete. Installation by Buggsy’s Maintenance and paint job by Candela from Candela Colors. Books go in this Friday, my day off. I have had issues with getting links from Phot..."

Very colourful and cute. Great job Diana!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

A message from Aussie author Liz Byrski

Hello everyone, it's been a while since you have heard from me.
I recently had a stroke and have been taking some time to rest and recover so that's why I've been a bit quiet.

I'm back online and am very pleased to share with you my upcoming book, 'At the End of the Day'. It's a novel about friendship, family and community and it will be out on 28 September this year.

For more information or to order a copy in advance, you can head to Pan Macmillan Australia's website: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/97817...

I look forward to it being in bookstores!

[Dale]

Brenda wrote: "A message from Aussie author Liz Byrski

Hello everyone, it's been a while since you have heard from me.
I recently had a stroke and have been taking some time to rest and recover s..."

Sorry to hear of Liz’s health issues, but great to hear a new book is in the way. Can’t wait to read it. A favourite author of mine. Love the cover of the book.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Yes I agree Dale. It's a lovely cover. Her health has been bad for awhile and it was sad to hear about her stroke. But at least she's on the mend now thankfully.

[Marianne]

Good to hear she's bouncing back!