New Zealand’s South Island is a panorama of tiers stretching in a lengthwise direction roughly parallel with the coastline. Most prominent, at least initially, are rows of alpine summits piercing into blue skies or disappearing into woolly clouds. Dizzy heights descend into rolling forests and grassy slopes, which in turn meander into a patchwork … More Good Riddance For 2017!
Christmas is coming and the wealthy world is preparing to spend billions on the event. I thought about this at a recent lawn sale as I pondered on the various Secret Santas and other gifts being sold on, many still sitting in their unopened boxes. Our Christmas money could be so much more worthwhile. Here’s … More Christmas Cows and Crappers
Yesterday I resigned! After eighteen years of owning a permanent position with the same organisation, I bit the bullet. I will soon say goodbye to my salary, superannuation, annual leave, long service leave and an accumulated 34 weeks of sick leave. Those are the benefits I can think of immediately but there are various others, … More Love Your Luck
For thirteen days in Cambodia I was very busy. I visited the MSF project I will be working on from February, a similar public health program as I currently work on here in Australia but with many more issues to contend with. No doubt I will blog on that as and when I become involved. … More Thoughts from Alice Springs
An earlier blog post already talked of my first reunion with Paula and her family. The following Monday her mother had traveled home from Malaysia, where both of Paula’s parents are working as street vendors. I was invited back for a celebratory lunch. Dan drove his tuk tuk with myself and a local nursing friend … More Quick Cambodia Visit: Paula
Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. Most often, polio survivors start to experience gradual new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection. The most common symptoms include slowly progressive muscle weakness, fatigue (both generalized and … More Quick Cambodia Visit: Joe
So many things happened in my recent whirlwind 13 day visit to Cambodia, only 2 months before I return there to live and work. There was no time to write about it while I was there and I barely know where to start now. I’ll post a series of chapters covering most of what happened. … More Quick Cambodia Visit: Kim
Three weeks in Timor Leste in 2012 did something new and weird to my hair. When I returned to Australia, I attended my hairdresser and the conversation went: “What have you been up to?” “I’m not long back from three weeks in East Timor” “Oh, how was that?” “Well it was amazing, but look at … More For The Term Of Her Natural Hair
I’m getting ready to resign, sell up and move on. This morning four neighbours held a lawn sale together. A last minute decision, I only had time to grab a couple of things and dash over the road. Three hours later I walked away with $10 profit. We are planning another more organised effort sometime … More Selling Saturday
Almost every weekend I spend time chilling in front of the TV with Restoration Man, Grand Designs, Escape to the Country or one of many variants on the same theme. Cameras and a host follow a couple or family through their journey of building, buying, restoring or renovating a home in places like Australia, UK, … More Harsh Realities and Half Truths
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