Veronika Wild

 I suppose I should have expected it. It was Monday the 13. th After traipsing miles  to the address given on the phone company’s website, this turned out to be a pet food shop.  This was devastating as I had been waiting all weekend to see them. I’d already had one try at installing my Sim Card and their website says that after two failed attempts, the phone becomes unusable. That made me so nervous that I didn’t dare to try it a second time. I desperately wanted to know where they had moved to, but the street was practically deserted and most of the shops were closed. Did I miss something? Again? Just as I was getting that ‘On the Beach ‘ last  person left alive feeling, I saw a plane lunge straight for the CBD. Expecting the crash and flash at any moment, I latched onto the only other  human in sight, a man walking hurriedly down the street. A plane plummets towards the CBD  "Did you see that?"  I stammered. “What’s happening?” ...

   "Watering a Heart" by Illustris This lovely card is from the  Care2 website which has hundreds of petitions about all kinds of things you may be concerned about and butterfly rewards to help causes close to your heart, when you have achieved some success. This Valentine's Day I won't be sending any cards or flowers or baking cupcakes for some hairy -chested bloke who takes my fancy. Instead, I will send them to those whose work I admire, those who have generously shared their time, their creativity and thoughts and those people who have been kind to me in crises of the body, heart or soul. Unfortunately, you often don't think of asking their names when it's a chance encounter in the street, someone helping you with your bags or providing service beyond the call of duty, so I am stocking up on coffee and tea vouchers and instant lottery tickets. Some people think you should give the person whom you have done a favour a card which urges them to do...

Rethinking the way we live in a finite world One of Jay's Murals How ironic that the very virtues which made us wealthy as individuals and societies – hard work, ever expanding productivity and turnover -are the very ones which are likely to bring us undone as a species. I had a lecturer at university who had originally trained as a leisure consultant because in the 80’s it was feared that with increasing automation, untold numbers of people would be left idle with no idea as to what to do with themselves.  It could have been the Golden Age. People could have pursued the Arts, new music, new forms of creativity and entertainment, new Knowledge upon which to create new industries and new forms of finding value and satisfaction from doing the work in society which needed doing, especially as the advent of the personal computer could have made all knowledge available to all. Indeed, there was a brief Utopian flowering as people experimented with other ways of living, then ...

  -Image by Nesto_regularcat from Pixabay  Random Acts of Kindness Week begins tomorrow and runs from February 13 to the 19 Looks like I’ll have to bring the neighbours’ bins in again for starters, but what you do is limited only by your imagination. If that too is limited, or you just don't have time to think there is lots of inspiration on the Random Acts of Kindness website or any of the linked organisations.  I especially like the idea of reaching beyond one’s normal comfort zone of family, friends and neighbours and doing something for people I DON’T know, just to see the look on their faces. There is so much random meanness in the world and some people are just plain unlucky, so if I see someone who looks miserable or caught up in their own problems, I really like to pick on them first, though opportunities will present themselves everywhere. Sometimes it's just a matter of smiling at someone, handing on your unused part of a parking voucher or le...

* Marjorie Bligh is Tasmania's very own Household Goddess Meanwhile I have almost finished cleaning the post fairy -strike house – we didn’t have time to do it before our hasty departure. It’s not easy assembling gear for five people – one of them a baby, for an overland journey of 3,000 Km. The hardest part was of course squishing it all in together with three car seats, the kids and us. Anyway, I thought I was finally down to the last load of washing -it’s been a perfect day for it and the glue and glitter on my bedspread has almost come out, but I have just discovered another stash of ants, chocolates and empty wrappers under the couch and that the couch has an even layer of sunscreen.  Should I attack it with my usual weapon of choice Earth –friendly, multipurpose cleaner? Or will this ruin the leather? Or do I have to comfort myself with the knowledge that the couch will never suffer from skin cancer? PS. 13/2/2011. In the bookshop today. Marjorie Bligh has a...

Well, life is almost back to normal. The house is clean, the washing is done and the garbage men have been, so I am up bright and early, showered, dressed and fed before 7.15. I just caught the recyclers leaving - I always thought they were the same people as the Garbage Men, but they aren't. They have a lovely painted truck. I'll have to leave out something separate for them this Christmas - wonder if they like Macadamia Shortbreads? - or maybe Easter eggs since they are already in the shops. Loved the Caption on the side too - "The Rat Race."  They should employ more graffiti artists on jobs like this, better than all that pointless tagging. There are a couple of unseen taggers at work in the neighbourhood and this would be a far better thing for them to do than defacing every freshly painted wall they see. Perhaps it is a desperate form of job application. All that 's missing now are the flowers.  It's one of nature's lulls and there a...

There's a public BBQ in Melbourne tomorrow to celebrate the Life and Work of Charles Darwin. An invitation from the Victorian Humanists, Victorian Skeptics, other organisations, scientists and many more to celebrate Charles Darwin's birthday on Sunday, 12th February 2012 from 12pm noon untill 7:00 pm or later (They are public BBQ's therefore you can come at whatever time suits you.) at Alexandra Avenue, Melbourne Melways, 2G C11 Between Swan Street bridge and Morell Bridge/Anderson Street. (Near one of the pedestrian crossings and toilets.) Next to the Botanic Gardens. All Welcome Free BBQ facilities available BYO food and drinks Since the early 1990s, Darwin Day has been celebrated around the world including in Melbourne but this year's celebrations will be the biggest party so far. Come along and enjoy a summer's afternoon and evening by the Yarra. Children are welcome. Some games are being organised.   If you would like to k...