Thursday...oh no;

Funny but costly;

One of the lovely, brown hens at my daughters place was looking sick, sitting listlessly in a corner, not eating. A beautiful plump hen and a good layer, was looking sad.. My daughter  and I were discussing what we could do.  Talking about this and that we both  thought it was best to bring her to the vet. There is a specialist wild bird vet in the valley, he could check her out.  We packed the hen into a basket and off we went, driving all the way into the valley and up through rainforest where the vet lives. He examined her and then came to the conclusion that he could not save her and the best would be to give her an injection. He asked, if we wanted to take the bird with us or leave it with him and his assistant. We looked at each other, and ML said, we leave her with you there is no point of taking a dead hen home. OK said the vet we will give her a nice, decent funeral. My daughter and I said  at the same time ...wow...! then he gave ML the bill; 40.00$ for the  examination; 30.00 for the injection; and 30.00 for the funeral!  100.00 for a dead chook, when we could have bought a live one for 20.00 $   We did not think that he overcharged but we laughed  about the fallacy of trying to save a hen.

Outside in the car we looked at each other, really we paid 100 $ for a dead hen. At least, hopefully it got a decent funeral, perhaps the vet or his assistant played  the funeral march!  

It is getting better; visiting a friend with a backyard keeping some  fowl and ducks. She said one of the ducks was  looking poorly, not eating, so she thought of bringing it to the the vet to put it to rest.  S. took the duck to the same vet in the valley.

When she picked up her duck, it cost her 800.00 $ ! She said it was quite an experience, she never owned a duck worth 800.00 $. I guess we  came away with one blue eye while poor Miss S. was thoroughly  fleeced.  Her duck died too. 

Sepia Saturday 123; Maypole dance;

Stereograph - Federation Celebrations, Maypole Dancing, Children's Fete at the Exhibition Oval, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne, Victoria, 1901




Summary:
These two identical sepia stereographic views mounted on card, depict Maypole Dances at the Children's Fete on the Exhibition Oval, in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, on 11 May 1901, at 2.30 p.m.


The opening of the Australian Parliament on 9 May 1901 was an occasion for great celebrations in Melbourne. Ten days of festivities (from 6-16 May) were planned to mark the Federation of the new nation and honour the Royal visitors, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. The city was transformed with decorations - flags, bunting, colourful lights and festive arches - and a series of public events were held, including a military tattoo and several street parades. Unprecedented numbers of people arrived in Melbourne from the rest of Victoria and throughout Australia to take part in the celebrations. The State School Children's Fete was held as part of these celebrations.
Description:
Two identical sepia stereographs mounted on card, depict Maypole Dances at the Children's Fete on the Exhibition Oval. The girls are wearing white flowing ankle length dresses with white shoes and stockings. They have white crowns on their heads. A large crowd is gathered in the background. The facade of the REB is visible in the background.
Description Of Content:
Maypole Dances at the Children's Fete on the Exhibition Oval, in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, on 11 May 1901, at 2.30 p.m. The girls are wearing white flowing ankle length dresses with white shoes and stockings. They have white crowns on their heads. A large crowd is gathered in the background. The facade of the Exhibition Building is visible in the background. The State School Children's Fete was held as part of the celebrations for the opening of the first Australian Federal Parliament on 9 May 1901 and the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall & York.
Acquisition Information:
Donation from Mrs Jillian Gengoult Smith


Courtesy  Museum Victoria

Please visit   Sepia Saturday;

Tuesday; Friendship;

My granddaughter made for  me friendship bracelets.

A Friend Like You

There's lots of things 

With which I'm blessed, 

My problems have been few, 

But of all, this one's the best: 

To have a friend like you. 

In times of trouble 

Friends will say, 

"Just ask, I'll help you through it." 

But you don't wait for me to ask, 

You just get up and do it! 

And I can think 

of nothing more 

That I could wisely do, 

Than know a friend, 

And be a friend, 

And have a friend like you. 

by Unknown

Sunday; sleuth;

Aerogel

It is also known as frozen smoke, Aerogel is the world's lowest density solid, at 96% air. It's a gel made from silicon. The liquid has been taken out and replaced with gas. Holding a small piece in your hand, it's nearly impossible to either see or feel it,  if you poke it, it feels like styrofoam.


Aerogel is useful. It supports up to 4,000 times its own weight and could  withstand a direct blast from two pounds of dynamite. It is  the best insulator in existence. It is not used  as insulator in jackets,  because it works so well that people were complaining about overheating on Mt. Everest.

Saturday; Satire; My stinging pen.

The Observer;

Many countries in Europe are in the dregs thanks to the wonderful world of banks and Euro thugs living on high heels and powdered wigs on Government's purse in the beautiful city  of  Strasburg or whatever first class ticket they are riding on.

Spain is one of the countries with high unemployment and a dire outlook on prosperity for the people.  While they are sitting idle and supping on a plate of watery soup, they are still supporting a bunch of free wheelers in the palace.

The idea is to auction the “Royalty” off on ebay as they are the property of the Spanish people. Unfortunately they have no merits and no skills apart from spending money from the public purse, so this will be not easy.   It will be a snag to sell those  royal puppets on a string because nobody wants them!

Any idea to prop them up for a quick and easy sale,  would be appreciated, but please do not suggest a new outfit from Dior, that just won’t do.

©Ts

Wednesday; old...ish

Tune your brain and muscles everyday!

The Seven Ages of Man;   (As you like it) William Shakespeare

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players,

They have their exits and entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

Then, the whining schoolboy with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school.

 And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon's mouth.

 And then the justice

In fair round belly, with good capon lin'd,

With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws, and modern instances,

And so he plays his part. 

The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side,

His youthful hose well sav'd, a world too wide,

For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,

Turning again towards childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound.

 Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.; 

  (As you like it) William Shakespeare

 If you can cope with this you coped with anything!

©Ts

Tuesday; seasons;

There is no season more beautiful then the next one...

© Ts