One day, I thought was Saturday but it wasn't

I went to bed early last night, and consequently I woke early. Not a sleepy wake where I could go back to sleep, but wide awake. At 6.03 just as the sun was rising, fourteen balloons arose at the same time. I think the most I've seen in the past were seven. Quite wondrous and they floated in my direction, but not too close by.

I was out early to meet my friend, formerly of Japan, for breakfast. Yes, too early to call it brunch. I was hungering for bacon and eggs, and that is what I had, on sourdough toast, that I am not so fond of. But our meals were nice.

Phyllis and Kosov had invited two lady friends to lunch at home, with Phyllis cooking. Phyllis was out early too, to Victoria Market to buy fresh food. I'll give them some space. I used the Franklin Street entrance to State Library Station, far simpler than the Latrobe Street entrance, and the train, a couple of minutes late, shot off like scalded cat towards Footscray Station where I alighted to catch a train to Altona. The Werribee bound train was travelling via the Altona Loop! If the trains are running the same way back, that could be interesting ona single track. The screens at Altona Station were only showing Werribee bound trains, not city bound trains for me to return to the city.

We are told to use Journey Planner in case of disruptions. It was effing useless. I drilled down and down and finally found there was a bus replacement back to Newport Station. There was signage to direct passengers to a bus stop at the northern side on the roadway but I was still unsure until I arrived at the bus replacement stop. It took forever for the bus to reach Newport Station, where I could catch a train to the city. But the train with passengers onboard had come from the Werribee direction. I just gave up trying to understand at that point. Apparently these shenanigans will continue until April. 

I left the train at Footscray to catch a Metro train home. 

At home the lady guests were still here, one obviously Indian and the other seemed to be a blonde Anglo. I tried to hear her voice, and I thought it sounded Indian. A game of Uno was underway at the lounge room coffee table. There was food aplenty, and enough for my dinner later. I retired to my quarters to eat my discounted near use by date supermarket sandwich until they departed. 

Once the mynah chicks were born on the balcony below, I ceased harassing the parents, but Jass hasn't. She and the parents are at war with each other. I saw the chicks today, and they are just on ready to fledge, so for Jass, the bird excitement will end.  

Meanwhile back in the real world, I correctly guessed that Janice at Jabblog would win the annual Laughing Horse best blog award, at a terrific ceremony on Little St James resort island, just off the US coast. It is well deserved award and congratulations to JB. 

Same same, but different

Getting rid of an unfinished post that was going nowhere. 

New South Wales. Dammed road potholes.

Victoria. Damned road potholes. 

Sydney tourist: Your public transport is wonderful. 

Sydney local: Twenty five damned minutes and no 333 bus, then three arrive.

Melbourne tourist: Your trams are just such a wonderful way to get around.

Melbourne local: (This might be me) A tram every 90 seconds at the stop, so why the hell is the next tram seven minutes away.

Sydney: Crime out of control. A machete attack in a western Sydney suburb. Police arrest two youths in a stolen car, repeat offenders who were already on bail for a home invasion. 

Melbourne: Crime out of control. A machete attack in a western Melbourne suburb. Police arrest two youths in a stolen car, repeat offenders who were already on bail for home invasion.

Sydney: Property prices are ridiculous and there is nothing to rent.

Melbourne:  Property prices are ridiculous and there is nothing to rent.

Then differences appear.

From a low base over ten years coffee in Sydney has much improved, and I generally found it fine now.

I noticed quite a number of Melbourne impersonators in Sydney during this visit, all walking around in black clothing.

That was the year that was

Aside from my step mother dying in September, it wasn't a bad year for me. A family outing was organised for the first anniversary of Ray's death in April where we all met at Werribee Plains Open Range Zoo, and that was a good and distracting outing.

The attempt to avoid any celebration for my birthday by visiting Sydney was a failure, with just delaying the inevitable. 

December 2024 was a couple nights at Sister's on the Bellarine for Christmas and Boxing Day taking the car on the ferry to the other side of the bay for more family celebrations.

January I picked up Sister's cats from a cattery and took them to her home and stayed several days to look after them.

In April I took Phyllis and Kesav for an overnight stay in Daylesford, with separate cabins. 

Come May it was an overnight stay in Ballarat with my age closest ABI brother for a family get together and see the Sound and Light Show at Sovereign Hill.

I was back on the Bellarine to look after Sister's cats again in July.

As I mentioned, I was in Sydney for two weeks in October, the highlight being my return journey by sleeper train. I so enjoyed that, even though much of the time was spent asleep.

More recently in November were two nights away in Marysville, sharing a two bedroom cabin with Phyllis and Kosov.

Other outings with Phyllis and Kosov were day trips to, one to Mount Macedon with a stop off at the Organ Pipes National Park, a trip to the Bellarine for Jo's 18th where Phyllis and Kosov met most of the family, the trip to Geelong to see Jo slay them is the aisles in Anything Goes. There was also the surprise for Kosov with a trip to the Dinosaur Park, and a trip to travel on The Eagle chairlift at Arthur's Seat. I may well remember something else later. I did, a family trip to Funky Farm.

I was spoilt for my birthday once I returned, especially by being taken out for a surprise lunch by Phyllis and Kosov where we ate at a cafe in a train carriage (I want to say teetering, but that would be a lie) atop a three story building.

And who could forget the arrival into my home of Jass.

I can't take any pride in Phyllis graduating with a Master's degree in Food Science and Technology, but I sure as hell will take pride in teaching him to drive and obtaining his driving license. Once I realised he was at a level to pass a test, I worked hard on making him a better driver, smoother, more economical with fuel and reading other motorists' actions in advance. 

There was great sadness when the lovely Sue in Canberra unexpectedly died. She will be remembered by many of us forever. At times I return to her last blogpost, a Sunday Selections, which if her numbering is correct, they were over sixteen years. Just a week or so before, while weakened by treatment, she made the Out of the Shadows walk for suicide prevention. She has been posthumously honoured for her service at Lifeline over many years.

The world has seemed like a terribly messy place the year past, certainly not helped by the instability in the US and discontent in the UK. The year ended so badly in Australia with a horrific mass shooting, killing 15 people. We can make our own small efforts to make the world a better place, but we can't take the weight of world issues on our shoulders.

My evening was spent at home, declining an invitation from HH to watch the fireworks from her apartment with her city views. Instead being antisocial, I will watch the 9.30 fireworks from the tramstop below. By midnight I will be sound I was almost asleep, as Sister and her family prepare to party on for Hogmanay in Edinburgh. I warned Phyllis that I would probably drink too much and cry at some point, but he wasn't around to see that. Kosov was at work.

All in all, not a bad year for me. To all my blogmates, those of you who I know personally, and readers, my sincere best wishes for 2026. 

Happy New Year.

Guard the Leaf

It is not an official kind of boycott, but Canadians are boycotting the United States. Most provinces have cleared US liquor from their outlets. Buy local Canadian products is huge.

The numbers of Canadians visiting the US has dropped dramatically. They are avoiding flights to anywhere that travels via a US airport.

So called Snowbirders, Canadians who travel to Florida and other warm locations during the Canadian winter for a month or three are not doing so this year. Some of those who own holiday property in Florida are selling for what they can get.

Instead the Canadian Snowbirders are travelling to warm countries where they feel welcome, such as Mexico, Spain, Portugal and Asian countries. They don't have to deal with the grumpy US border force, and from my experience they are very grumpy and unfriendly. They don't want to risk having their phones and social media examined by Border Force to see if they made negative comments about #47.

Why do Canadians have a hate on the US? It began with #47 saying Canada should become the 51st state of the US. Then there were increased tariffs on goods imported from Canada. Canada and the US were the closest of friends and allies but #47 has ruined the relationship. 

The Canadian dollars that normally bleed into the US just aren't happening, especially affecting the northern US states, and as I mentioned, Florida, along with Las Vegas too. 

While I don't intend visiting the US, I can confidently say, in the present climate, I would not. The very thought of someone going through my phone is horrendous. It can happen in Australia, but there would have to be very good suspicions for our Border Force to access our phones. The idea of being rounded up by ICE, Immigration and Custom Enforcement, as a visitor is remote, but it's happened. People who were born in the US and are US citizens have been rounded up. But I don't have black or brown skin, so maybe I would be safe from ICE. 

The loss of millions of Canadian dollars into the US is hard to conceive. It will be felt for a very long time. Meanwhile, Canadians are holidaying locally or in other countries. They are not crossing the border to the US for cheap shopping, quite the reverse now. 

But like my attitude, people in other countries are not visiting the US. Visitors to the US from Europe and Scandinavia have dropped too. 

At times I watch the YouTuber, Guard the Leaf, that is the maple leaf, a symbol of Canada. He documents statistics, interviews of people talking about the matter and is very pro Canada and anti US following the actions of #47. His trigger was #47 saying Canada should become the 51st state of the US. He seems to find enough to post daily about what is happening between the two countries, and it is certainly not good for the US. If you care to watch this clip, you can observe his passion and anger. 

In a country of 350 million, 154 million voted in the 2024 election, 77+ million for #47. He feels bad for those who did not vote for #47 but they are collateral damage. It is all about Canada, its sovereignty, the insults by #47 and his sycophants and the MAGA movement.

The zoo critters

After my August visit to Melbourne Zoo in August with family, as a senior, I was offered a very good deal to take up an annual membership, and so I did. I've made two subsequent visits, thinking I will see one or two animals and then leave. That is kind of what I did, but still walked far more than I really needed too. 

These are from my most recent visit.  The lion was being uncooperative, as were most animals. 

I think this is a Taiwanese python. 

This style looks familiar.

Sure enough, it is by the wonderful Gillie et Marc.

The great apes were good to see and I listened to commentary by a zoo keeper for a while.

From my previous visit, another sleepy animal, a tiger.

And a rather amusing orangutan. Unfortunately she did not play to the camera. She arrived with a bedsheet draped over her body. You can see it on her arm.

Eating fruit from a bucket. They have to find a bucket with some fruit inside.

My next visit will be more planned to see animals when they are out to be fed and a zookeeper talk. 

Monday Mural

Along with Sami and others, here is my Monday Mural.

If you have the stamina, there is quite a lot to see in this mural, taken in Fitzroy, that could well be the area with the highest concentration of murals in greater Melbourne. Maybe Melbourne city has more.

More on gay royals and celebs

There were a couple of thought provoking comments on my post about Royal gays.

From a young age I was very attracted to men in a way I did not initially understand but at puberty it became quite clear but without any kind of physical clarity. I wanted men, but I did not know in what manner and what was involved. 

At some point I realised that there was a connection between limp wristed effeminate men on tv to my desires, but that did not seem to be me.

I realised gay sex between men was illegal in most Australian states and was then and is illegal now in many parts of the world.  

When I was a young gay man, gay men, and certainly me, were always seeking validation of their sexuality. A public figure coming out as gay was so important. It was a case of 'I'm not the only one in the world. Even famous people can be gay'. Every actor, every musician, every judge, every politician, every sportsperson, every famous person, dead or alive who was gay, gave me a validation for who I am.

And now even in my senior years, I still seek that affirmation that being gay is ok, and there are many of us, even Royal people. Each time I hear someone vaguely famous or extremely well known for high achievements, it further validates my sexuality. Many gay men my age will think like this, and sadly many younger men still will

Even despotic rulers like King Mwanga II of Uganda in the 19th century could be openly gay, stands.

Though perhaps not J Edgar Hoover, once the director the the US FBI. More modern gay people be pretty awful.

Tough gay sportspeople score extra points, for distancing effeminate gay stereotypes from uber masculine men, not that there's anything wrong with effeminate gay men, although I do have my own prejudices by way of 'no one loves a fairy over forty'. You just have to be able to carry it off honey.

A few year ago Australian soccer star Josh Cavallo came out as gay.

This year an ex Australian Rules Football player came out, one Mitch Brown, although he claims bisexuality. Photo from Star Observer.

I hope you understand that I appreciate you don't care who is gay, and it's their own business, but I do care, greatly. The more I know about, the better I will feel.