Overnight "Showers"

The weather has been showery the last few days. But then March is one of our wettest months of the year so to have some damp weather is to be expected. Though it is overcast, the temperature remains in the high 20's. We had a few showers yesterday (Fri) morning but it was still hot enough to dry any washing which was still wet when it was put out between showers.

Just as Trish arrived home after Quilting and doing some grocery shopping at about 1:15 pm we had a very heavy shower, like 25mls in less than 15mins! Usually it is hard to capture the rain in a photo but it was no problem yesterday. Click on this photo for a larger view, then hit "Back" to return to this page. Within minutes the area on the back fence side of the pool began to flood so I removed the 'observation' lid to allow the excess water to escape. Despite the heavy rain, the front street which usually floods during such a downpour did not as you can see from the shot below.

Showers continued throughout the afternoon, overnight and into the morning. This morning the rain gauge held 101mls, just over 4" of rain had fallen during yesterday afternoon and overnight! No bike riding or watering was able to be done this morning.

It is state election day here in Queensland. Lou Ann, voting here is compulsory, failure to vote attracts a hefty fine!

Back Home Again On The Sunshine Coast

We winged our way home on Wednesday arriving to an overcast sky and temperatures in the mid 20's. We had had 40mls of rain that morning in a very short time according to a neighbour. Unpacking took its time and the washing machine was pressed into service. We had some great memories, especially catching up with so many people at Trish's birthday party.

This is a shot of my sister who drove a long way to be at the party and me. It is always good to catch up with family and friends.

We had spent the previous afternoon (Tues) with Chris, Wendy and the grand children Andrew and Emily. Another good chat was had and we played a bit with the kids. Wendy cooks pretty well, good country style, so we both slept OK on a full stomach. Chris had us at the airport by 9 am and in plenty of time to catch our flight.

We have really just dawdled about the last day or so. Trish is at Quilting this morning and then will do a grocery shop before arriving home later this afternoon.. I have just about updated all my PC stuff and I have had a play with the slide copying gadget I bought online just before we headed south. It was actually delivered to Kate's in Melbourne while we were there. It works much better than the previous one I had and returned. Yesterday I managed to 'convert' almost 100 slides to digital pictures (each one about 700kb so reasonable quality) in well under an hour.

The color in the slides has faded a fair bit so it is difficult to do 'photo improvement' on the computer after converting them. Much of the color just no longer is there. This shot was taken when we lived in Penang in Malaysia during the late 70's. (That is 30 years ago!) That is our youngest daughter Kim sitting on the fallen palm with me on a beach at the north end of the island. The photo has 'blue' tinge to it as I tried to brighten it up.

A friend of mine from the computer club has reworked the photo, looks much better now doesn't it? The first copy that I made before it was redone is centre below.


I now stand before you as living proof that you CAN fatten a thoroughbred!

The Penang Snake temple is quite a tourist attraction today. This is another photo from the 70's slides and shows the older two children, Chris and Kate looking closely at a 'deadly' viper at the Penang Snake Temple. The snakes seemed pretty conked out from memory and I also believe they had had their nasty bits removed.

Head Back North Tomorrow

The Indian meal at Hallam on Saturday was great. Being BYO (Bring Your Own drinks) helped too. We had plenty to eat and great company. The food was very nice, this will be a regular spot from now on during our trips to Melbourne.

Sunday was spent at Trish's brother's place doing some work with emails and movies on his PC. Again a great meal, pleasant company and yours truly surrounded by a new PC ensured a great day. However as far as the grand children were concerned, the fish and chips we brought home for tea was easily the best part of their day.

Monday saw us catch up with Pat and Graeme who live nearby. It was a lovely lunch and a few drinks and a good chat made for a pleasant afternoon. We left a few movies with them also. Last night I watched the movie "Hunger" on the laptop (screenshot on the left). It tells the story of Bobby Sands, the guy who starved himself to death in the Belfast's Maze Prison. It was not a story for the faint hearted.

Since Saturday the weather has been cool, overcast and showery. The rain gauge had 31 mls in it from all the recent rain when I tipped it out earlier today. Later today we will be driven over to Chris' home to spend the night. Our flight leaves at 10 am Wednesday and as Chris lives very near Melbourne Airport it was make for a leisurely trip to catch our plane tomorrow.

Teddy

I get some emails from various people, one is an elderly member of the Computer Club on the Sunshine Coast. Edie is in her 90's and sends me emails with some jokes and comments. I usually read them very quickly and then I store them away. Today she sent me this story. As a former teacher with a strong commitment that schools are meant for teaching children not subjects, this long story below hit a real spot with me. I hope you enjoy it too.

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.'

His second grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.' His third grade teacher wrote, 'His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.' Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class.'

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, 'Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.'

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her 'teacher's pets..'

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favourite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, 'Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.'

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, 'Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you.'

(For you who don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Why Don't You Bring Some Of That Rain With You!

Living in the sub tropics means we get a lot more rain each year than what Melbourne gets. Often people say to us when we are about to head south for a visit, "Bring some of that rain with you!"

I am pleased to say that even though we have been in Melbourne for almost two weeks, at last some of the rain has arrived. This morning the sky turned black and there was a sudden coolness in the air. Then down it came, the best part of 20mls fell during the day giving Melbourne its best daily rain tally for several months. So glad we could be of help to everyone.

On Friday we again returned to Springvale with friends for Vietnamese food for lunch. It was a leisurely visit this time with time for a good look round through the shops. I found an item or two I had been keeping my eyes open for. The food was sensational and cheap, the company (Eddie and Patsy) great fun to be with.

Last evening we visited other friends for roast lamb for tea and I set up a digital set top box for them on their TV. After setting it all up, it was time for a couple of beers, some red wine and to watch the footy. I was back there again today to set up another set top box on another TV for them.

Tonight we out to an Indian meal with friends Gordon and Anne.