Living in the Land of the Virus

Friendly co-workers offer help :)

Australia is finally starting to feel the effects of the COVID-19 virus that the rest of the world has been going on about since late January.

As of today, Australia has 870 cases (184 in Queensland). Townsville has about 6 at this point, but numbers are very vague because doctors aren't testing people unless they fall very ill and have to go to the hospital. So, it's possible the numbers are higher.

JCU has cancelled all face-to-face teaching and sent us lecturers home to explore the brave new world of online teaching. I've been making my teaching materials available online for some time, so it's not that new to me. However, due to the students not having strong internet connections (an issue in Australia generally), we are recording our classes and having the students turn in their assignments via an online system rather than teaching live and having the classes over the internet.

The biggest issue I've run into so far is people hoarding toilet paper of all things. For the last two weeks I've tried various shops and they are comletely out. After speaking to shopkeepers, they get the supplies on the shelf and within an hour they are sold out.

Other items have started to disappear as well like rice, dried pasta, hand sanitiser, paper towels, long-life milk, sugar, flour, yeast  just to name a few. Shops have placed a limit on how many of an item one person can buy.

The PM has cancelled all indoor meetings of over 100, and we are supposed to do "social distancing" meaning if we are around someone, we should stand two meters away from them (approximately 6 feet).

The toilet paper shortage has already caused issues with the plumbing as people are putting wet wipes, tissues and paper towels down the toilet and they are clogging up the sewers and septic tanks.

The PM has also closed the borders to entry by any non-Australian (not holding permanent residency or citizenship). So, we're here for the duration. Qantas has grounded 2/3 of their fleet, and is trying to get jobs for their mostly casual staff (not long-term employment) in Woolies and Coles as shelf stackers.

Interesting times!

Me and the PM x 2

Politically, I am pretty middle of the road. These days it seems like it's social suicide to declare for one side of the other. Myself, I'm for small government, but one that looks after people.

Most evenings you'll find me listening to a talk show called Paul Murray Live on the Sky News Channel. It is starting to have a certain resemblance to Fox News, but they do have a few token lefties on the panel each evening to keep things lively. Sky News is reckoned to be wholly and utterly right wing by many Aussies.

In the morning, while I'm getting ready for work, I listen to the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company, similar to the BBC in England). Many Aussies depending on their political bent consider the ABC to be either mid-stream or wholy and utterly to the left and nearly communists (and barking mad).

One evening recently as I was doing my household chores in the evening and watching the conservative news I heard the announcer say "If you're in Townsville next Wednesday night, join us for a chat with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison. You can ask him anything you like. Just send an email to <insert email here>.

I thought, why not. I wouldn't want to ask a  question, but no doubt it would be educational and entertaining.

So, the following week, I received my invitation to the event, and was surprised to see that it was a) held in a nice pub, and b) that there were only about 50 or so people there. No reporters, just a couple of microphones and a set of chairs set around. It was nearly the most low-key thing I've ever seen in a political setting.

A half hour before the PM was to arrive we were given a few quick instructions by Paul Murray (our host). Ask whatever you want, but keep it respectful and clean.

The host said "You all know I like to swear, but we can't because this is live tv.  And you know how that Q & A show goes?"   We all said yeah.  Q&A being a highly scripted and edited show on the ABC.

He said "Well, this ain't f-ing Q&A." To which the entire audience whooped and hollered.

I found myself a seat next to two older men and made chit chat until the host announced, "And here is our Prime Minister Scott Morrison!" And there he was, striding down the pub towards a couple of chairs set at the front of the room while everyone clapped. No one stood up. There was no "Hail to the Chief" or other patriotic song playing. No flashing of cameras, other than those held by audience members (mostly smart phones).  There were no secret service guys in dark suits, although there were a couple of guys with ear pieces, casual shirts and long trousers. No thongs. Guess you gotta draw the line somewhere.

The host got the PM to say a few quick things, and then the questioning started. Mostly about local worries such as funding for the drought-stricken farmers, extra funding needed for drug addicted people, and was Australia going to pull out of the Paris Accord (dealing with man-made climate change).

From where I sat, the PM seemed to handle it pretty well. His answers seemed reasonable and  thoughtful. After a hour of questions, the PM made himself available to the people to have their picture taken with him.

I couldn't pass that up, so here is me with the PM, and the second picture is with Paul Murray the tv host.

I was going to post the picture of me and the PM on Facebook, but because politics is so polarized these days I didn't.

So I decided to post it on here instead. I imagine though I would get a similar response in the states if I posted a picture of myself with Trump. Although as my brother Eric said "It's not like I'm going to be rubbing elbows with Trump anytime soon".

Random clumsiness or a plot?

I had a pretty busy week, with teaching, helping students with assignments that are due, and planning for our Design Sprint. I'll talk about the sprint in a bit, but first some randomness.

So, did you know that Avocado Hand is a thing? I didn't, but now I have it. Apparently due to the increasing popularity of avocados, people are injuring themselves by trying to get the pit out. And sure enough, I did it myself a few days ago.

I was trying to open an avocado, jammed a steak knife in the stone to flick it out. Of course it slipped on the gooey avocado-ness and impaled my hand. I stopped the bleeding (wasn't too bad), but it did hurt.

The next morning my finger was very swollen and somewhat painful. I'm hoping it will go down because of all the things that could make me go to the Dr., avocados aren't supposed to be one of them.

Evidence below:

Talk to the hand -- about avocados. :)

OK, next random bit. While I was a work a colleague that I was meeting for the first time said that she had a few minutes available to chat about a work task. She said that she'd meet me in front of the aquarium at work. I hopped in my car, and in an effort to get there quickly, I somehow straddled a curb. My car was hung up, unable to go forward or backwards. After a bit of burning rubber to no effect, I asked to people working nearby to help.

A very kind young woman offered to try and drive my car and get it off the curb, but no luck. So she suggested to me "You get in, gun it, and I'll push".  With some luck, and a bit more burnt rubber, I managed to get the car unstuck and took off across the paddock. Whew! Thank you random person!

A third sort of randomness that shows me that clumsy may indeed be my middle name happened when I went to a macrame class. The teacher was able to show everyone else how to do a particular knot, but even after multiple tries I couldn't get it. Eventually, I saw enough other people doing it that I was able to sort it out. I'm not sure if it was being left-handed or whatever, but learning new things sometimes takes a while, but once I've got it, it stays locked in.

I persevered, and made the wall hanging below. The stick is from an iron bark tree (native to Australia). The glass float I bought in Tasmania, but I think they look good together.

Don't mind the puzzle, that's coming along.

I just realized that with the addition of the glass ball this grouping looks slightly like a space alien.

Take me to your leader!

Where has the time gone?

I had a look at the last entry on here, and it was about 5 years ago. Wow! What a long time. To be fair, lots has happened since then...my marriage ended, got made a permanent employee at the uni, the kids have grown up.

I've been on trips, learned things, tried new hobbies, tried old hobbies. Gained weight. Lost weight. Gained it again, lol.

Blogs for the purpose of just sharing your life are not really the thing anymore. It's FaceBook, Pinterest, Instagram. But unlike a lot of people, I've been never wanted to be famous. Well to do maybe, or a least comfortably well off, but not famous.

So, I think what I'll be doing with this blog is to document some of my memorable experiences. I've never been a reliable letter writer (ask my Mom). But I have seen a few things worth noting I believe.

I do a lot of writing for work, emails, grant applications, academic papers, but writing about my experiences is not exactly that sort of thing.

Here's hoping that I can get this going again. I have tried in the last few years, but the trouble is, day to day life is not all that interesting. I think that's why FaceBook has gained so much traction (or Twitter, but I don't tweet). It's short form, here's what I did today. Just post a picture or a link to an article and bob's your uncle, you're done.

Blogs require a bit more thought and effort. But, I am happy with my earlier blog posts, and it does document my life and the kids in a way that I really like.

This blog will be a combination of time machine, and current snapshot of what's going on now. Hope you'll enjoy the ride. Because I'm making it up as I go along, just as we all are. :)

Love ya'll.

Australia Day = No internet!!

The weir at Riverside Gardens

Earlier in the week we were invited to go camping over the long Australia Day weekend. The holiday always falls on the 26th, but since that is a Saturday this year, we get Monday off as well.

However, a cyclone had started its way down the coast, and by Wednesday and Thursday we had torrential rain. The cyclone was out at sea, so we just caught the edge of the rain as it passed.  As it migrated its way down  the coast the cyclone turned westward as it neared Brisbane.

The rains caused flooding and power outages in Rockhampton and Brisbane.

We gave a brief thought to those people who were dealing with floods and then went about our normal life. Late Sunday afternoon I noticed that our internet seemed to be playing up, but I ignored it and read a book instead.

Monday morning we decided to take the kids on a long walk around town. We stopped about half way and decided to buy a drink at a convenience store. Bad news...all Telstra services (i.e. the main phone company) were out from Brisbane north to Cairns. Townsville is in the middle of that length, so no phone service.

But what was the most annoying is that all electronic banking services were out as well. So, no using a debit card, credit card, just good old fashioned cash. Both Dave and I didn't have any money on us, so Chloe and Connor footed the bill for the drinks.

Also, the ATM services were down and early on someone went the rounds of the area and drained $3000 from the ATM machines. It was their money, but its considered bad form to take so much money that no one else can get any.

So this taught me that we need to make sure and have some cash on hand for when these things occur.

It also brings to mind how fragile our infrastructure is in north Queensland. Every year we get flooding rains, and every year the roads and electricity get cut, sometimes for days. We have a generator at the house, but it is noisy and expensive to run.

De-christmasing the house

Now that the tree is put away, along with the other Christmas ornaments, the living room was looking a little worse for wear with the post-holiday smudgies. So, a quick tidy up, and we're ready for the New Year.

Dave's new globe takes pride of place next to the sofa. He reckons it makes the place look more "educated". :)

A nice thing about the globe is that it is also a lamp.

Christmas dinner

Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas --- hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!

Christmas is here, let it in!

Yum, stockings

Izzy's present -- a tennis ball bone

Book for Connor

Homemade slippers for Bryn - knitted by Di

For the big thirst

For the big chocolate craving -- Nutella

A new leash for Izzy

A dino pillow for Bryn

An illuminated globe

The world's hardest present to wrap (or unwrap) -- a scooter

Remote control helicopter for Donn

Compact mirror from Auntie Mia and Bruce

Mobile caps and money!!

A swiss army knife, what every techie needs

Super awesome headphones that fit over the ears so they don't get squished

Aquamarine and silver earrings for Chloe from Di and Dave

Bryn's graduation

This is the year for graduations in the family...first Dianna (PhD), then Chloe (high school) and now Brynley (primary school).

We have heard more "now that you are going out there in the world" speeches than anyone needs.

Some pics of our happy graduate!

Bryn, seated on the stage with his class.

Preparing for Christmas

Every year it's a big event when it finally gets to be December 1st, so we can put up the tree.

It's a family to-do and everyone contributes.

Since it's summer-time, first the kids had a play in the sprinkler.  Next, the lights!

First, have a play with the tinsel.

More work with the lights

Some instruction from Dad regarding icicles. 

Sorting out the bling.

Who needs a ladder when you have tall sons?