General Chat

Good morning Wattlers Yes - still waiting for those rescuers to get throught the last few metres of hard rock. They must be frustrated beyond belief. Grandson has just been collected - we had him for 24 hours so it's time for a coffee and a veg out! Rebs - you are in a refllectve mood this morning. And you're right. I contemplate the lives of my ancestors from all sides of the family and without exception they did it tough - from the civil wars and economic hardships of Prussia, the fall out from the potato famine in Ireland, the drudgery and poverty of the Welsh coal mining districts and here we are today enjoying a wonderful life and economic security. We have so much to thank them for. I can piece together the story of some of their lives and believe me, it wasnt pretty. They endured so much. And what does it mean in the grand scheme of things? If you believe in re - incarnation, have they come back to a better life? Am I one of my ancestors who did it tough and am now back enjoying the fruits of an earlier miserable existance? Or if you believe in the rewards and punishment of the Christian church, are our ancestors doing time in hell because of the transgressions they committed in order to survive in those dreadful times? I will never know the answers - I think it is all too obscure for a mere mortal to even guess at the meaning of life. But now I'm talking about religion and that is something I'll steer clear of - you know the old saying - never talk about religion, politics or sex or you'll be in the deep proverbial! Hi Joodles - you have been very quiet this week - and then you end up last night in such a pickle with the different names for the lotto! Best have a cup of tea, a bex and a good lie down my girl and you'll feel much better. ((((((hug))))))) Good to hear that so many of you have been gettting leads with your family history. With the exception of Laurie of course - hope you get it all sorted out Laurie. How disheartening after all the work you've put in on that line. I've just been put in touch with a descendant of my great grandfather's sister (my great aunt) who lives in Wales and have just received the relevant marriage certificate for my great aunt which proves the connection to this family ( after waiting about 6 weeks!) I'm looking forward to beginning a correspondence with this lady to see if we can nut out some details together. Hi Lew Lew - how's the landscaping coming along? Have you got turf yet? And any rain on the horizon to help it along? Well - back to coffee and veging out over the Sunday papers. Here's hoping for good news from Tasmania later today. Cheers dears Anna

Hi Anna, turf goes down on Thursday. Started out a beautiful day here, but now it's as windy as buggary and really revolting!!! Am watching a lot of our topsoil swirl around and disappear over the mountains and off to the coast. Jood and Laurie, will you keep an eye out for it and send it back please. Was going out to scoop the pool, but not much point until the wind lets up and the remainder of the claret ash leaves have settled in it!!! Anyone with any suggestions for herbs that do well in the cold climate. So far I've got vietnamese mint, parsley, oregano, basil, chives and thyme. Mint will be in a separate container. Lew Lew x

Anna - I have to admit Im a virgin too when it comes to lottos in other states (you will recall I was the Virgin Merry) - oh well, it has been patiently explained to me now. Laurie - I found out where I got the 1903 Electoral stuff from - it was the girl who is researching the Canadians coming out to Australia (Denise) - she apparently has the CD, and she extracted our names out for me. Got to do the motherly thing now and do some work on my daughter and son-in-law's computer. They dont wanna learn anything - easier for mum to do, but at least I get to see Lucas Robert Archer again. Jood

Stupidly, I have just attempted to clean the pool. I have an interesting technique whereby I scoop up the leaves, hold the scoop up in the wind and the leaves disappear at high speed off to NZ!!!! I did manage to retrieve 2 socks from the bottom of the pool and luckily the thongs were floating, lol. It think it may well be an afternoon of research, although we could possibly hang glide from here! Lew Lew xxx PS. Thanks for the Singapore shopping email, Jood. Looks like more retail therapy in early March. Oh well, someone has to do it, lol

Lew Lew - I would willingly do your shopping for you in Singapore - honest!!!!! By the way I saw your topsoil going past heading for Lauries place. I rather feel that it will land on one of the ships in the bay going to Siberia. Quite breezy here too. Uhmm - who wears socks and thongs when they go swimming???? I'd have expected to find some champagne glasses on the bottom - not socks and thongs ........... ugh! Jood

Arvo everyone. This morning in Melb. it was raining cats and dogs, dark clouds, overcast and looked like we were in for a very wet day. At the moment the sun is shining, and you wouldn't think it was the same day at all.Such is Melb. weather...lol Well its Sunday,12:30 and that means...Fish&Chips....:>)))) Found this joke about Lotto, so thought i would share it with you...lol Dear Husband: I'm writing you this letter to tell you that I'm leaving you for good. I've been a good woman to you for seven years and I have nothing to show for it. These last two weeks have been hell. Your boss called to tell me that you had quit your job today and that was the last straw. Last week, you came home and didn't notice that I had gotten my hair and nails done, cooked your favorite meal and even wore a brand new negligee. You came home and ate in two minut es, and went straight to sleep after watching the game. You don't tell me you love me anymore, you don't touch me or anything. Either you're cheating or you don't love me anymore, what ever the case is, I'm gone. P.S. If you're trying to find me, don't. Your BROTHER and I are moving away to West Virginia together! Have a great life! Your EX-Wife Dear Ex-Wife Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter. It's true that you and I have been married for seven years, although a good woman is a far cry from what you've been. I watch sports so much to try to drown out your constant nagging. Too bad that doesn't work. I did notice when you cut off all of your hair last week, the first thing that came to mind was 'You look just like a man!' My mother raised me to not say anything if you can't say anything nice. When you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with MY BROTHER, because I stopped eating pork seven years ago. I went to sleep on you when you had on that new negligee because the price tag was still on it. I prayed that it was a coincidence that my brother had just borrowed fifty dollars from me that morning and your negligee was $49.99. After all of this, I still loved you and felt that we could work it out. So when I discovered that I had hit the LOTTO for ten million dollars, I quit my job and bought us two tickets to Jamaica. But when I got home you were gone. Everything happens for a reason I guess. I hope you have the filling life you always wanted. My lawyer said with your letter that you wrote, you won't get a dime from me. So take care. P.S. I don't know if I ever told you this but Carl, my brother was born Carla. I hope that's not a problem. Signed Rich As Hell and Free! Av a good un. Tony Oz...:>)))

Morning all, Well, we had a very nice morning to start with but someone sent all their cold wind over and it's freezing now!. Watched the movie Calender Girls. Now there's a thought. If we get tired of Lotto......... Who want's to be January? Starting a new thread today of bible verses to share. Just hope all the posts are positive. The first one is in memory of my friend. love to all ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vonny

A bright and happy Sunday to all the Wattlers. No win.........doesn't matter. I'm so used to being poor I don't think I could handle extra money. And as far as this bloody puta goes......it provides me with a daily challenge. Just what the Drs say you need as you get older hee heee SuzyQ.....thanks for the member list. I've printed out a copy so I'll know who I'm talking to. Anna you & Rebs are quite right. Although such deep thinking is foreign to me before my 3rd cup of coffee. Since I've been doing our 'trees' I've had a better appreciation of the tough life our ancestors had. Being a nurse I look at the hardships they had to face just to stay alive. Infant and maternal mortality was horrific, often due to things which were relativley minor. I had one gt grandmother who died during her 22nd pregnancy. She was probably exhausted and glad to go. Some of my family came from Bolton and I was horrified to see the amount of polution causing factories these people lived near. We are very lucky these days. This family, from Bolton, is my only claim to fame. They have a street named after them............some form of immortality at least. No convicts, though this might change when I go to Norfolk Island. I'll have to see if I can dig up some long lost cousin. Joodles.......does your daughter pay you for computer work with cuddles from Lucas? If so I think you have got a good deal. Give him a peck on the cheek from cyber-aunty Trifley. Lew Lew.....the idea for the herb garden sounds good. We have parsley, chives and rosemary growing in pots on the patio. So easy to get fresh herbs when you need them. Ahhh, fresh is best. Have any of you seen the ads on TV for...... 'Lamb' the perfume women love.......for Mother's Day? I LOVE lamb cutlets but at the price of them these days it would be cheaper for Mark to buy me Youth Dew for mum's day haaa haaa. Oiii Mark...did ya hear that???? I think it's time for some more coffee so I'll see you lot later. ~~~~waves from me on the Barge love Trifley

Dont know if everyone has read this before. I posted it on GR back in march 2005....so thought i would add it to the Wattle thread, just in case not everyone's read it. I have a copy of it near my puter, and it reminds me of just how important our Ag.Labs ( Agricultral Labourers ) were. Food For Thought- He must have been an Ag Lab 'Ask yourselves whether you know the gestation period for a sheep or a cow,and you can't read or write to make a note of it. The ag lab knew when the animal would calve by observing the position of the stars and work it out from that, or from the particular religious festivals being celebrated in church at the appropriate times. Reading and writing is one thing, but it wasn't necessary, numeracy however or a limited knowledge of it was essential so as to count his or his masters livestock and his own money and to tell the time. It was no good thinking that 7 o'clock came immediately after three bells had just struck on the church clock! There was no electricity, the lanes were bad and there was no health service. The Ag lab knew how to make his own rush lights to light his home, the shortest and driest route between 2 places and which herbs to pick as remedies for his families ailments. He knew his neighbours far better than we know ours. We isolate ourselves in our cars and in front of our television sets. He relied on neighbours with different skills from his, to help him out when the need arose. He was thrifty where we borrow on bits of plastic he and his family had to make ends meet regardless or with great shame go on the parish. Yes he could even forecast his local weather by watching the reactions of wildlife and plants to changing conditions. He was far better at it than any of us from our centrally heated homes and offices. He knew how to thatch and how to get straight straw for thatching whereas we send for experts to fix a cracked slate. He was tough. He could walk for days behind a plough, pulled by a team of horses, and still walkmiles to church each sunday. A 20 mile walk laden with produce or purchases to and from market each week was also the norm for some. No fancily equipped gymnasium for him, yet he was fitter than today's health freaks who maybe should take a lesson or two from his ancestors. Can you use a sickle or scythe from dawn to dusk, in all weathers? Can you snare a rabbit for dinner or cut beanpoles from a hedge in a manner that will promote further growth? Can you mix your own whitewash, or train a dog to hunt or round up sheep for you? Come to that can you milk a cow or slaughter and butcher a sheep or pig? So called ag labs were no fools. they survived and very few of us would behere to read this if they hadn't! Leave your car at home and walk to work tomorrow, even if it is five miles,your ancestor did!' Tony Oz...:>)) with 100s of Ag.Labs in my tree.

Afternoon Wattlers, Just to let you know that I will be buying a winning Lotto ticket this week, so get your bags packed. LOL By now some of you may have a list of the Wattlers. If you don't it is because I don't have your email addy. There may be a few errors, I only started doing it on the Yarrawonga Weekend, because I needed membership nos to sort out all the newbies. Could you please let me know all the mistakes and omissions. Love the Lottery joke Tony. That's the kind of thing that would happen to me. Still waiting for the miners to be released. Don't the media ask some stupid questions. this morning ' Do the trapped miners know there is a delay' asked news man, ' well, yes, they know they aren't out yet'. replied Bill Shorten. I think this tragic accident has really shown the media up for what they are. Also, watching Mel and Kochie this morning I was wondering how Mel could leave her children for all that time. It would appear a news story is more important. Well, back to find some dead people SuzyQ

Hi Lew, After we finished our back yard reno, I planted 6 varieties of tomatos and about 12 different herbs. Some for the cat of course. They we coming along niely, then we decided to let the chooks free range. I don't think I need to say any more. The eggs tasted nice that week. Dill is one of my favourites, smells lovely and is great with salmon. Don't forget the rocket. SuzyQ

Hi Vonny, hope you're holding up okay (((hugs))). Trifley, your lamb story reminds me of the time we were having trouble with the neighbour's sheep constantly invading our lucerne crop, and in the middle of a drought. After several requests, demands, musterings, we gave up and impounded 22 of the rogues. Well, imagine our surprise when the Council advertised that 21!!! sheep had been impounded. Guess what the local livestock officer was enjoying that weekend!! Only wish he's saved a hindquarter for us. We feed the little blighters!!! Don't worry about the Mudgee Meet, we'll have some of the best beef and lamb available. Any vegetarians I should know about. I do a mean zucchini slice. Tony, you and your fish and chips. You have a very nasty streak, don't you, lol. Loved the Ag Lab story. Big black clouds descending upon us as I write. Pray for rain!! Wonder how Wilson is going and if she's creating any crop circles. Jood, did you happen to see me claret ash leaves as well? Probably will get fined for polluting!!! Must be lunch time, I'm starving. Lew Lew xxx

Ive done it! Managed to get some photos on groupsmsn photopage! Anna

Hi, Just reading that Richard Carleton has collapsed at the mine site. Must be serious as they are using defibralators on him. I don't understand why some one who has had heart surgery and diagnosed with postrate cancer would want to put themselves under the pressure. SuzyQ

Hi Anna, Just taken a look at you photos, very nice. Is Katherine your daughter? She looks a lot like Nicki Webster. Just going to look at you message to me SuzyQ

Hi Anna, the photos look good. You don't look anything like an axe murderer heeee heeee. Like the pergola....it must be nice out there in summer. Off for more coffee........my only vice. love Trifley

Just heard on Tele.2:50 pm( News Flash ) in Melb . Richard Carltone has died........very sad Dont have all the details yet. God Bless. Tony Oz

Very sad news Tony. The only consolation is that he died doing what he loved. Another sad day for tassie. SuzyQ

Hi everyone.. windy here and I think some of Mudgee just blew by..We are suppose to get a southerly change later so hopeing that it brings some rain as we havent got any for weeks.. Unpacked my bags and put everthing away again..Perhaps next week...LOL Whoever has the list of peeps on this thread could you send me a copy as the old brain is suffering from CRAFT so any help would be gratefully received.. We live quite close to where poor Sophie got run down and everyone here is praying for the poor wee pet..she has been through so much and now this.. just cant believe a little thing like that could have so much bad luck.. Praying for the miners also and hope it is not long before they are free.also that no accident happens while they are trying to get them out.. Must go and have a peek at the picks on the GC photo page.. Take care all... Love Maryxxx PS Just read your post that Richard Carlton has died..How sad and in such a sad situation.. May he rest in peace.. Maryxx

hehehehehehehehehe !!! You gotta be quick folks !!!