News has arrived that the great actress Googie Withers has passed away.
She was a wonderful actress and I remember seeing her in many films in my younger days although she sort of disappeared from our screens in the 70's I think.
Another thing I remember from that time was the advice given to young men aspiring for an acting career:
"If you want to be an instant movie star, sit in a cold bath of water until your googie withers!!!!!!"
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The "Last Post" Discussion
There seems to be a lot of confusion about whether the American bugle call "Taps" was ever called the "Last Post". I am not an expert in this subject, but to my knowledge, Taps has never been referred to as the "Last Post".
Having spent 9 years as a trumpet player in the Navy, I did my fair share of bugling duties (which were also referred to as "BUNGLING" duties, depending on the ability of the bugler or bungler), and I also carried on that tradition for many years after my discharge in civilian life providing the bugle calls for ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, Ex-Service Days and funerals.
The Duty Bugler was detailed as duty for one week at a time in HMAS Cerberus and there were usually 4 or 5 of us on call, so we only had to look forward to a week of long days with early mornings. The day started with "Wakey Wakey" at 0530 for Recruit School and 0600 for the rest of the establishment. The usual routine for the day was then in motion with "Colours" at 0800 when it was wet weather, otherwise a band and guard would play for "Colours". Also, the bugler would play "Colours" on weekends. "Stand Easy" morning and afternoon, "Secure" and "hands to Dinner" at 1200. At 1300 the Ship's Company mustered for the "March Down" to individual schools for afternoon training. "Secure" again at 1600 followed by "Men Under Punishment" and Libertymen". "Hands to Supper" at 1800, then "Sunset" at the specified time and then the always dreaded "Rounds" at 1900 where the Duty Lieutenant Commander (DLC) would inspect the accommodation blocks in company with the Duty Chief Petty Officer, Duty Petty Officer and bugler who sounded the "G" as we progressed to alert the masses that we were nearing your area.
Just to top the day off the last two bugle calls were "First Post" at 2040 and "Last Post" at 2100.
Now!!!! This is where the contention begins!!!!!
The melody of the "last Post has been attributed to Josef Haydn. It was reportedly written by him in the late 1700's to align all the British Military and Navy bugle calls. The call comes from a Dutch custom called "Taptoe" thus the phrase Military TATTOO was derived from this term. Taptoe originated by signalling the turning off of beer taps at the end of the day and it is quite feasible that the American "Taps" derived its name from this practice.
The Dutch bugle call "Taptoesignaal" is used for remembrance events, as is the "Last Post", but it is not the same tune as the "Last Post" and neither of these calls are to be confused with American "Taps", which has a different tune and origin. "Taps" has been used by the U.S. Army since 1862 and has never been referred to as the "Last Post". The term "Last Post" is exclusively British.
During my time in the Royal Australian Navy I had the honour of meeting and playing with many U.S. military bands. Being the inquisitive one that I am, I asked the question concerning the use of the term "Last Post" as an alternative to "Taps", and, Lo and Behold!!! None had ever heard of it referred to as the "Last Post".
End of discussion!!!!!!
Having spent 9 years as a trumpet player in the Navy, I did my fair share of bugling duties (which were also referred to as "BUNGLING" duties, depending on the ability of the bugler or bungler), and I also carried on that tradition for many years after my discharge in civilian life providing the bugle calls for ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, Ex-Service Days and funerals.
The Duty Bugler was detailed as duty for one week at a time in HMAS Cerberus and there were usually 4 or 5 of us on call, so we only had to look forward to a week of long days with early mornings. The day started with "Wakey Wakey" at 0530 for Recruit School and 0600 for the rest of the establishment. The usual routine for the day was then in motion with "Colours" at 0800 when it was wet weather, otherwise a band and guard would play for "Colours". Also, the bugler would play "Colours" on weekends. "Stand Easy" morning and afternoon, "Secure" and "hands to Dinner" at 1200. At 1300 the Ship's Company mustered for the "March Down" to individual schools for afternoon training. "Secure" again at 1600 followed by "Men Under Punishment" and Libertymen". "Hands to Supper" at 1800, then "Sunset" at the specified time and then the always dreaded "Rounds" at 1900 where the Duty Lieutenant Commander (DLC) would inspect the accommodation blocks in company with the Duty Chief Petty Officer, Duty Petty Officer and bugler who sounded the "G" as we progressed to alert the masses that we were nearing your area.
Just to top the day off the last two bugle calls were "First Post" at 2040 and "Last Post" at 2100.
Now!!!! This is where the contention begins!!!!!
The melody of the "last Post has been attributed to Josef Haydn. It was reportedly written by him in the late 1700's to align all the British Military and Navy bugle calls. The call comes from a Dutch custom called "Taptoe" thus the phrase Military TATTOO was derived from this term. Taptoe originated by signalling the turning off of beer taps at the end of the day and it is quite feasible that the American "Taps" derived its name from this practice.
The Dutch bugle call "Taptoesignaal" is used for remembrance events, as is the "Last Post", but it is not the same tune as the "Last Post" and neither of these calls are to be confused with American "Taps", which has a different tune and origin. "Taps" has been used by the U.S. Army since 1862 and has never been referred to as the "Last Post". The term "Last Post" is exclusively British.
During my time in the Royal Australian Navy I had the honour of meeting and playing with many U.S. military bands. Being the inquisitive one that I am, I asked the question concerning the use of the term "Last Post" as an alternative to "Taps", and, Lo and Behold!!! None had ever heard of it referred to as the "Last Post".
End of discussion!!!!!!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Trivia - Continuation 1
Well, I have researched the subject quite extensively and I have found a treasure trove of "Useless Facts" of which I have selected a few to get your minds working, and maybe you may even find some of them a bit obvious or even "funny". But it doesn't matter what you think of them, the important thing is that maybe you will remember some of them and use them to amaze someone over a beer or two!!!
So, here we go. Some of them I have added my own thoughts to, but mainly I will let you just read and enjoy...
A Hawaiian stamp of 1851 with a face value of 2 cents was the sole reason Gaston Leroux, a Parisian philatelist, murdered its owner, Hector Giroux.
Lawsuits filed by California inmates cost the taxpayers more than $25 million in 1994.
Archduke Karl Ludwig (1833-1896), brother of the Austrian emperor, was a man of such piety that on a trip to the Holy Land, he insisted on drinking from the River Jordan, despite warnings that it would make him fatally ill. He died within a few weeks.
The Ritz cracker was introduced to markets in 1934, but gourmets had to wait until 1953 for the invention of cheese in a can.
The fortune cookie was invented in 1916 by George Jung, a Los Angeles noodle maker. And the Dim Sim was invented by a Chinese restaurant owner in Melbourne in the 1950's.
So, here we go. Some of them I have added my own thoughts to, but mainly I will let you just read and enjoy...
A Hawaiian stamp of 1851 with a face value of 2 cents was the sole reason Gaston Leroux, a Parisian philatelist, murdered its owner, Hector Giroux.
Lawsuits filed by California inmates cost the taxpayers more than $25 million in 1994.
Archduke Karl Ludwig (1833-1896), brother of the Austrian emperor, was a man of such piety that on a trip to the Holy Land, he insisted on drinking from the River Jordan, despite warnings that it would make him fatally ill. He died within a few weeks.
If you would like to make a Siberian happy, give him a horse-meat steak.
The fortune cookie was invented in 1916 by George Jung, a Los Angeles noodle maker. And the Dim Sim was invented by a Chinese restaurant owner in Melbourne in the 1950's.
An apple, onion, and potato all have the same taste. The differences in flavor are caused by their smell. To prove this - pinch your nose and take a bite from each. They will all taste sweet. (Are you really game to try this??)
There are more than 200 kinds of chili peppers, none of which belong to the pepper family.
In Bavaria, beer isn't considered an alcoholic drink but rather a staple food. (Now they have the right idea!!!)
And here are some good old Australian useless facts ...
Lake Cadibarrawirracannais a salt lake in central South Australia. It is located in the northeastern portion of the Woomera Prohibited Area, east of the Stuart Highway. Lake Cadibarrawirracanna, meaning "Stars dancing on water", is the second longest official place name in Australia. (Try and pronounce that and not get a twist in your tongue).
Mamungkukumpurangkuntjunya Hill in South Australia is the longest official place name in Australia and means "Where the devil urinates". (This one is worse, but I like the translation better!!!)
The first Sub Branch of the Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia was started in Launceston, Tasmania in May 1980. (Previously, Vietnam Veterans could only join the South East Asian Veterans' Association).
The first car radio was fitted to an Australian car built by Kelly Motors in NSW in 1924.
Per capita, Australians read more newspapers than any other nation.
The world's first electric drill was patented by Arthur Arnot while he was an employee of the Union Electric Company in Melbourne in 1889.
In 1992 the world's first multi-focal contact lens was invented by optical research scientist Stephen Newman in Queensland.
So there is a taste of my sometimes passion. I will bring you more over time, so keep looking in and mostly, just enjoy.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Trivia
What is trivia???
Some say it is useless facts or just something to prove that you are more intelligent than the next person.
I believe that trivia is a very important part of gaining and retaining knowledge. To some it may seem "trivial", but you must admit that trivia is interesting.
Let me give you a couple of trivial quotes. Some will say that they are not true, but I would like to think that they are actual statements.
The first I would like to share is a quote by Winston Churchill. It is reported that he was attending a function well before he became British Prime Minister and was quite drunk at the time. He was approached by an "upper-class" woman who said to him: "My God Sir, but your are very drunk." He replied: "Maybe so Madam, but you are very ugly and I will be sober tomorrow." I suppose it didn't really put him in good standing with the hoy-polloy of the time, but I also think that it wouldn't really worry him either.
It has also been told that, during World War I in the trenches, a high-ranking "toffee-nosed" General, or some such rank, ventured into the Australian Diggers' lines and fronted up to a young bloke. He asked the Digger straight out, with the English Public School accent: "Did you come here to die, my good man?" And the Digger replied: "No mate. I came here yesterdie." Of course, it translates as yesterday, but the story really tickled my fancy.
One conversation I was involved in, happened in 1971 while I was serving in HMAS Sydney on our way to America. The sea was very rough and the breakfast lines were understandable short. I elected to have bacon and a fired egg, but when I got to the end of the line my egg had a very well fried cockroach sitting on top of the yolk, and very well presented. I approached the Chief Petty Officer Cook and pointed out the fact that there was a "cocky" in my egg. He said, without even a grin, "Shh. Not so loud. If they hear you they will all want one!!!" That is a true story!!!!!
Anyone who really knows me knows that I am a true trivia buff. I enjoy learning about new things and the more obscure, the better. Since I am a smoker and have recently changed from tailor-made cigarettes to "roll-your-own", I have found a wealth of knowledge on the covers of the cigarette papers. Whoever thought of putting trivia on the packets was a genius. I use Tally-Ho papers and the trivia on them is mainly Australian, so I will educate you in my next blog with some "little-known facts" and "useless information" about Australia and why we love this country and our own bit of this wonderful, big earth.
Some say it is useless facts or just something to prove that you are more intelligent than the next person.
I believe that trivia is a very important part of gaining and retaining knowledge. To some it may seem "trivial", but you must admit that trivia is interesting.
Let me give you a couple of trivial quotes. Some will say that they are not true, but I would like to think that they are actual statements.
The first I would like to share is a quote by Winston Churchill. It is reported that he was attending a function well before he became British Prime Minister and was quite drunk at the time. He was approached by an "upper-class" woman who said to him: "My God Sir, but your are very drunk." He replied: "Maybe so Madam, but you are very ugly and I will be sober tomorrow." I suppose it didn't really put him in good standing with the hoy-polloy of the time, but I also think that it wouldn't really worry him either.
It has also been told that, during World War I in the trenches, a high-ranking "toffee-nosed" General, or some such rank, ventured into the Australian Diggers' lines and fronted up to a young bloke. He asked the Digger straight out, with the English Public School accent: "Did you come here to die, my good man?" And the Digger replied: "No mate. I came here yesterdie." Of course, it translates as yesterday, but the story really tickled my fancy.
One conversation I was involved in, happened in 1971 while I was serving in HMAS Sydney on our way to America. The sea was very rough and the breakfast lines were understandable short. I elected to have bacon and a fired egg, but when I got to the end of the line my egg had a very well fried cockroach sitting on top of the yolk, and very well presented. I approached the Chief Petty Officer Cook and pointed out the fact that there was a "cocky" in my egg. He said, without even a grin, "Shh. Not so loud. If they hear you they will all want one!!!" That is a true story!!!!!
Anyone who really knows me knows that I am a true trivia buff. I enjoy learning about new things and the more obscure, the better. Since I am a smoker and have recently changed from tailor-made cigarettes to "roll-your-own", I have found a wealth of knowledge on the covers of the cigarette papers. Whoever thought of putting trivia on the packets was a genius. I use Tally-Ho papers and the trivia on them is mainly Australian, so I will educate you in my next blog with some "little-known facts" and "useless information" about Australia and why we love this country and our own bit of this wonderful, big earth.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Four Seasons
Antonio Vivaldi wrote a wonderfully descriptive collection of four violin concertos titled "The Four Seasons".
But .... this is not about that beautiful music. Its about the seasons in Australia.
Officially each season begins on the 1st of the month. That being: Winter - June, Spring - September, Summer - December and Autumn - March. Anyone who has lived in Australia will tell you that Mother Nature and her weather patterns do not coincide with the official start of each season. You will find that the weather feels like a season has started well before the official date, or sometimes, even well after that date. Pundits claim that it is global warming or too much methane in the atmosphere caused by the amount of cattle Australia has roaming the grasslands. But when it all comes down to it, I believe that weather systems are cyclic.
I remember when I was a kid going to school in Tassie during winter, the water in the roadside gutters would freeze with the frost and remain frozen for days at a time. The paths leading to and from school also provided an excellent frost covered slipway for us to slide down, which always raised Mum's ire as we often wore our shoes out well before their use-by date!!!
Over the intervening years the weather was much milder in Tasmania and you would rarely see a frost linger more than a few hours, not for days!!! That was until 4 or 5 years ago when the weather changed back to what I remembered and the gutters again froze for days and the kids of today found the same joy as I did in skating along the gutters and down gentle slopes. Oh!!! to be a kid again!!!!
Here in Queensland, I believe that winter has not really started yet. Yes, it is cold, but not every day. Its more like late autumn without the wind. I must admit that it is very cold further south in Victoria and Tasmania. The reports say that they will possibly have the best snow skiing season for many a year. Already they have posted their lowest maximum temperature on record for June. So we can't complain too much. Maybe we are just getting acclimatised to Queensland weather because last winter didn't seem to be as cold here. Still used to Tassie winters I suppose.
Something that is agreed upon world-wide is when the equinox and solstice occurs. The equinox is when there is equal amounts of daylight and darkness in a full day and solstice is when the difference is greatest.
Winter equinox in Australia (read summer for the Northern hemisphere) occurs on the 20th or 21st March, depending on the year. The summer equinox in Australia occurs on 22nd or 23rd September. That is when there are equal amounts of day and night.
The solstice is the opposite. Summer solstice, where we get the longest day and shortest night, occurs in Australia on 21st or 22nd December and the winter solstice where we get the shortest day and longest night occurs on 21st or 22nd June.
Back in medieval times the equinox and solstice were celebrated with pagan rituals, and I believe that in some parts of Britain these rituals are still observed today.
But here in Australia, and especially Tasmania, they mean that certain jobs need to be done in the garden such as fertilising and preparing beds for sowing, pruning and even collecting and saving seeds, so maybe there is even a bit of pagan ritual in that???
Whatever you believe about the weather or how the weather treats your particular part of the world, it is Mother Nature at work providing us mere mortals with the best, but sometimes trying, conditions for us to survive.
But .... this is not about that beautiful music. Its about the seasons in Australia.
Officially each season begins on the 1st of the month. That being: Winter - June, Spring - September, Summer - December and Autumn - March. Anyone who has lived in Australia will tell you that Mother Nature and her weather patterns do not coincide with the official start of each season. You will find that the weather feels like a season has started well before the official date, or sometimes, even well after that date. Pundits claim that it is global warming or too much methane in the atmosphere caused by the amount of cattle Australia has roaming the grasslands. But when it all comes down to it, I believe that weather systems are cyclic.
I remember when I was a kid going to school in Tassie during winter, the water in the roadside gutters would freeze with the frost and remain frozen for days at a time. The paths leading to and from school also provided an excellent frost covered slipway for us to slide down, which always raised Mum's ire as we often wore our shoes out well before their use-by date!!!
Over the intervening years the weather was much milder in Tasmania and you would rarely see a frost linger more than a few hours, not for days!!! That was until 4 or 5 years ago when the weather changed back to what I remembered and the gutters again froze for days and the kids of today found the same joy as I did in skating along the gutters and down gentle slopes. Oh!!! to be a kid again!!!!
Here in Queensland, I believe that winter has not really started yet. Yes, it is cold, but not every day. Its more like late autumn without the wind. I must admit that it is very cold further south in Victoria and Tasmania. The reports say that they will possibly have the best snow skiing season for many a year. Already they have posted their lowest maximum temperature on record for June. So we can't complain too much. Maybe we are just getting acclimatised to Queensland weather because last winter didn't seem to be as cold here. Still used to Tassie winters I suppose.
Something that is agreed upon world-wide is when the equinox and solstice occurs. The equinox is when there is equal amounts of daylight and darkness in a full day and solstice is when the difference is greatest.
Winter equinox in Australia (read summer for the Northern hemisphere) occurs on the 20th or 21st March, depending on the year. The summer equinox in Australia occurs on 22nd or 23rd September. That is when there are equal amounts of day and night.
The solstice is the opposite. Summer solstice, where we get the longest day and shortest night, occurs in Australia on 21st or 22nd December and the winter solstice where we get the shortest day and longest night occurs on 21st or 22nd June.
Back in medieval times the equinox and solstice were celebrated with pagan rituals, and I believe that in some parts of Britain these rituals are still observed today.
But here in Australia, and especially Tasmania, they mean that certain jobs need to be done in the garden such as fertilising and preparing beds for sowing, pruning and even collecting and saving seeds, so maybe there is even a bit of pagan ritual in that???
Whatever you believe about the weather or how the weather treats your particular part of the world, it is Mother Nature at work providing us mere mortals with the best, but sometimes trying, conditions for us to survive.
Monday, June 6, 2011
IS THIS REALLY WINTER????
Here we are almost through the first week of winter and the temperature is still a very mild 20 to 24 during the day with beautiful clear, cloudless skies. But the mornings are a bit chilly at around 5 to 8 degrees when I go to get the paper. I bet my old mate Buffalo in Canada wishes he was here!!!!!
The temperature today was 7 to 26!!! And while I was watching the news at 1800, it was still 21, so no cardigan tonight. Beautiful and mild and almost balmy. You can almost hear the vegetables in the garden growing. Although I only have a few in this time of year, I think that they are thankful for the weather. The onions and garlic especially are thriving.
SIR LOP A LOT
We have had a lot of trouble with the trees over the back fence. I bought an extension lopper to bring down the limbs really hanging over on our side. The property I think is rented so they don't do much about them ---- until today. More shortly.
The trees hanging over the back fence have cut out the early morning sun, so our plants have suffered. The lopper I used to cut off some of the offending branches helped, but I just couldn't get high enough to really do any good.
I had a problem the other week when Kay was still in Melbourne. I got a bit over zealous and tried to cut a branch that was too high and too big. Consequently, the lopper got stuck in the branch and I had the devil's own time trying to get it unstuck. After about an hour of pulling and pushing, and trying to saw the branch off, I lost my temper (unusual for me????) and got the ladder and before I even reached up to get hold of the lopper, it came away and fell to the ground. Was I pissed off??? You betcha!!!! But at least I had the tool again and I eventually cut that offending branch off at a thinner spot. Job done!!!
Today the joy of all joys. Sir Lop A Lot (actual working name of the crew) and his crew turned up at the back neighbour's place and began with chain saws to cut the trees. We asked them if they were to cut them down, but disappointingly, they were only trimming them. But they did a fair job and at least we can now get a little morning sun onto our plants by the fence.
As you can see by the pics, they didn't cut as high as we would have liked, but at least there is a glimmer of hope that the sun will shine through. Maybe later on, they may come back and we may have a clearance of the back fence!!!!!
The temperature today was 7 to 26!!! And while I was watching the news at 1800, it was still 21, so no cardigan tonight. Beautiful and mild and almost balmy. You can almost hear the vegetables in the garden growing. Although I only have a few in this time of year, I think that they are thankful for the weather. The onions and garlic especially are thriving.
SIR LOP A LOT
We have had a lot of trouble with the trees over the back fence. I bought an extension lopper to bring down the limbs really hanging over on our side. The property I think is rented so they don't do much about them ---- until today. More shortly.
The trees hanging over the back fence have cut out the early morning sun, so our plants have suffered. The lopper I used to cut off some of the offending branches helped, but I just couldn't get high enough to really do any good.
I had a problem the other week when Kay was still in Melbourne. I got a bit over zealous and tried to cut a branch that was too high and too big. Consequently, the lopper got stuck in the branch and I had the devil's own time trying to get it unstuck. After about an hour of pulling and pushing, and trying to saw the branch off, I lost my temper (unusual for me????) and got the ladder and before I even reached up to get hold of the lopper, it came away and fell to the ground. Was I pissed off??? You betcha!!!! But at least I had the tool again and I eventually cut that offending branch off at a thinner spot. Job done!!!
Today the joy of all joys. Sir Lop A Lot (actual working name of the crew) and his crew turned up at the back neighbour's place and began with chain saws to cut the trees. We asked them if they were to cut them down, but disappointingly, they were only trimming them. But they did a fair job and at least we can now get a little morning sun onto our plants by the fence.
As you can see by the pics, they didn't cut as high as we would have liked, but at least there is a glimmer of hope that the sun will shine through. Maybe later on, they may come back and we may have a clearance of the back fence!!!!!
Friday, May 27, 2011
An Arts and Crafts Family - Part the Second
As promised - a continuation..............
I learnt the basics of tapestry, or half cross stitch, while I was laid up in a Navy hospital. The Red Cross ladies who visited daily helped me to understand the quality and beauty of needlework. Over the years I completed several quite large tapestries and when I married Kay and she came to live in Tassie, she wanted to learn how to do tapestries, so I taught her the basics and she developed into a very talented needle worker and has completed several of her own.
I gave this tapestry to my Mum for a birthday, I seem to remember, and when she passed away, it was returned to me by my family. It is now hanging in pride of place in our house.
Kay learnt of the magic of patchwork quilting and regularly attended classes in Launceston. She made several very attractive quilts and even some shoulder bags, which she still uses.
Now that we are in Queensland, Kay has found that by attending classes here, her skills have developed beyond all expectations and now she is concentrating on wall hangings. They are spectacular, to say the least.
What is next on the learning agenda for Kay I cannot say, but I think maybe maybe embroidery could be just around the corner.
Because I sold my band saw, scroll saw, drill press and router when we left Tassie, I just don't have the tools or the space now to continue making clocks and plaques, so I have settled to making frames for Kay's wonderful wall hangings. It takes a little time to make them but they are made with the love of timber and the joy I feel when they come together. I only use a tenon saw and chisel to make the half housed lap joints and the only power tools I use is a drill to join it all up.
A real labour of love, in more ways than one.
I learnt the basics of tapestry, or half cross stitch, while I was laid up in a Navy hospital. The Red Cross ladies who visited daily helped me to understand the quality and beauty of needlework. Over the years I completed several quite large tapestries and when I married Kay and she came to live in Tassie, she wanted to learn how to do tapestries, so I taught her the basics and she developed into a very talented needle worker and has completed several of her own.
 | |
| Tapestry I did for Mum |
 | |
| One of Kay's tapestry masterpieces |
 |
| Another of Kay's tapestries |
Now that we are in Queensland, Kay has found that by attending classes here, her skills have developed beyond all expectations and now she is concentrating on wall hangings. They are spectacular, to say the least.
 | |
| Egret Wall Hanging - Kay |
 |
| Japanese wall hanging - Kay |
What is next on the learning agenda for Kay I cannot say, but I think maybe maybe embroidery could be just around the corner.
Because I sold my band saw, scroll saw, drill press and router when we left Tassie, I just don't have the tools or the space now to continue making clocks and plaques, so I have settled to making frames for Kay's wonderful wall hangings. It takes a little time to make them but they are made with the love of timber and the joy I feel when they come together. I only use a tenon saw and chisel to make the half housed lap joints and the only power tools I use is a drill to join it all up.
A real labour of love, in more ways than one.
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