2 degrees in November!

Ballarat's temperature dropped to two degrees this morning, and — as seen in this picture — locals put the small amount of snow that fell to good use.

 

More crazy weather in November!

A strong blast of cold air moved into Victoria, blanketing the Alpine and Dandenong Ranges with snow. 

Extreme Weather!

Extreme weather rocked parts of Australia today — lashing Victoria's Alpine and Dandenong Ranges with heavy snowfall, and sparking fires in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. 

Winds causing problems in NSW bushfires

Thursday Nov 16 07:09 AEDT

Strong winds are again expected to pose some problems to firefighters
working to contain two fires burning in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

More than 150 firefighters worked through the night trying to contain one of
the fires, burning about two kilometres north of Mount Victoria which has
burnt out more than 700ha.

The blaze is burning on both sides of the Darling Causeway and crews will
spend Thursday continuing containment lines begun overnight and mopping up
burnt out areas.

The second fire is burning about five kilometres north of Blackheath and has
burnt out 100ha of parkland in inaccessible terrain.

Cool conditions are forecast, however southerly wind gusts up to 50km an
hour are expected between 6am and 3pm, making conditions difficult.

Fresh crews will replace those who worked through the night and will be
assisted by 10 aircraft, including a skycrane helicopter.

Neither fire is currently posing a threat to property but nearby residents
are being advised they may be affected by smoke and ash.

The Darling Causeway remains closed between Mt Victoria and Bell, with
motorists advised to use either the Great Western Highway or Bells Line of
Road as alternate routes.

©AAP 2006

Teary Kylie thanks fans for support

Kylie Minogue says she has set a new benchmark for being late.

The pop singer has made a triumphant return to performing, after a forced
18-month break to undergo treatment for breast cancer.

An emotional Minogue held back tears as she thanked fans for their support
during the first concert of her renamed Showgirl Homecoming Tour in Sydney
on Saturday night.

"I have thought about this moment for a long time," she told the thousands
of fans at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

"And I tried to practise in my head what I was going to say ... I couldn't
prepare anything, I really couldn't.

"So I am just going to say what comes to me. Generally I am, like, 10
minutes late ... this is officially fashionably late, a year-and-a-half, but
I mean fashionably.

"So thanks so much for all your thoughts and wishes. I am really glad to be
here, thank you all."

The 2004 Grammy winner was diagnosed with cancer days before she was due to
start the final leg of her Showgirl World Tour in Australia.

The tour was postponed indefinitely and fans were told to hold onto their
tickets.

After three concerts in Sydney this month, Minogue and her Showgirl troupe
will travel to Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. They will then head back to
Europe, playing dates in the UK from January 2.

"Dad, you're in the audience, this is for you," a teary Minogue said to her
father Ron, before singing Especially For You.

Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in May last year. She underwent
successful surgery in Melbourne that month, followed by chemotherapy
treatment in Paris, where her French actor boyfriend, Olivier Martinez, has
a home.

The singer's fans weren't disappointed last night as she performed hits
including Better The Devil You Know, In Your Eyes, On A Night Like This,
Spinning Around, I Believe In You, Can't Get You Out Of My Head and Light
Years.

She also sang her new song, White Diamond, which she penned with American
pop group Scissor Sisters, and covers of Somewhere Over The Rainbow and
Madonna's Vogue.

"I'm just going to try and enjoy the moment, roll with the crowd and take a
few more risks and just let go," Minogue told journalists last week when
asked about the show.

She was at her energetic best last night, performing fast-paced dance moves
throughout the three-hour show.

Known for her cutting edge fashion, she wore costumes specially designed by
John Galliano, Gareth Pugh, Dolce and Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld and Emilio
Pucci.

Teen mum bonus change 'will help kids'

Sunday Nov 12 15:02 AEDT
Federal Families Minister Mal Brough says stopping young teenage mums from
getting a lump sum baby bonus will ensure the money is used to help
children.

From January 1 next year, mothers under 18 will receive the federal
government's baby bonus - currently $4,100, rising to $5,000 from July
2008 - in instalments rather than as a lump sum.

They also will have to talk to a social worker about how to use the bonus
responsibly and ensure their baby is officially registered.

Mr Brough said there were strong concerns in the community that teenage
mothers were being irresponsible with the money.

Married Life - makes my eyes tear up, such a happy ending...

A couple had only been married for two weeks and the husband, although very
much in love, couldn't wait to go out on the town and party with his old
buddies.
So, he said to his new wife, "Honey, I'll be right back."
"Where are you going, Coochy Coo?" asked the wife.
"I'm going to the tavern, Pretty Face," he answered. I'm going to have a
beer."

The wife said, "You want a beer, my love?" She opened the door to the
refrigerator and showed him 25 different kinds of beer, brands from 12
different countries: Germany, Holland, Japan,
India, etc

The husband didn't know what to do, and the only thing that hecould think of
saying was, "Yes, Lollipop... but at the tavern...You know... they have
frozen glasses... " He didn't get to finish the sentence, because the wife
interrupted him by saying, "You want a frozen glass, Puppy Face?" She took
a huge beer mug out of the freezer, so frozen that she was getting chills
just holding it.

The husband, looking a bit pale, said, "Yes, Tootsie Roll, but at the
tavernthey have those hors d'oeuvres that are really delicious...I won't be
long. I'll be right back. I promise. OK?"
"You want hors d'oeuvres, Poochie Pooh?" She opened the oven and took out 5
dishes of different hors d'oeuvres: chicken wings, pigs in blankets,
mushroom caps, and little quiches.
"But my sweet honey... at the tavern.... you know there's swearing, dirty
words and all that..."

"You want dirty words, Cutie Pie?
LISTEN UP CHICKEN SHIT! SIT YOUR ASS DOWN, SHUT THE HELL UP, DRINK YOUR
BEER IN YOUR FROZEN MUG AND EAT YOUR HORS D'OEUVRES BECAUSE
YOUR MARRIED ASS ISN'T GOING TO A DAMNED TAVERN! THAT SHIT IS OVER, GOT IT,
JACKASS?"

.and they lived happily ever after. Isn't that a sweet
story?

Belinda Emmett, 32, loses fight

November 11, 2006 09:00am

ACTOR Belinda Emmett, wife of popular West Australian television personality
Rove McManus, has died after a long battle with cancer.

She died at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital early today, with her husband,
television personality Rove McManus, by her side.

She was 32.

"It is with great sadness we advise that Belinda Emmett's battle with cancer
has ended,'' Emmett's family said in a statement.
"Belinda passed away just after dawn this morning at St Vincent's Hospital
in Sydney with her family and husband by her side.
"Those close to her have requested respect for their privacy at this time.''
Emmett grew up on the NSW Central Coast and got her acting break when she
appeared on popular long-running soap Home and Away, playing Rebecca
Fisher/Nash, between 1996 and 1999.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer while on the show in 1998, at age 24.
The actor successfully underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumour,
followed by six weeks of radiotherapy.
In 2001, while working on Seven hospital drama All Saints, Emmett was
diagnosed with secondary bone cancer.
"Our deepest sympathy is extended to Belinda's family who have supported her
through this illness,'' the Seven Network said in a statement.
"During Belinda's time on Home and Away and All Saints, she made many
long-lasting friendships.
"Her acting ability and her warmth made her a joy to work with and her
spirit will be remembered.''
Emmett's last television appearance was with McManus on ABC television's
Spicks and Specks Christmas Special, in December last year.
The actor's most recent public appearance was at Seven's 50 years of
television celebration in September.
There, she caught up with many of her Home and Away mates, including Kate
Ritchie, who plays Sally on the soap.
She also attended the recent ARIA Music Awards, but stayed behind the
scenes, watching McManus perform hosting duties.
Prime Minister John Howard today said he was saddened to hear of Emmett's
passing.
"I was very saddened to learn of the death of Belinda Emmett,'' Mr Howard
told AAP.
"She fought a very courageous battle against cancer.
"On behalf of (my wife) Janette and myself, I extend my deepest sympathies
to her husband, Rove McManus, and her family and friends.''
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley also passed on his sympathy to Emmett's
family.
"This is truly sad news which I think will affect all Australians,'' Mr
Beazley said.
"The tenderness and care in their relationship (Rove and Belinda) through
their adversity, I think, has been an inspiration to many many
Australians.''
Emmett and McManus, who went on to be known as television's golden couple,
met at the opening of Fox Studios in Sydney in 1999. The couple became
engaged in July 2004 and married in January 2005, at Mary Immaculate Church
in Waverley, in Sydney's east.
"We're kindred spirits,'' Emmett told a newspaper at the time.

Cell transplants 'restore sight' in mice

Thursday Nov 9 20:36 AEDT
British scientists say they have used cell transplants to restore vision to
blind mice, raising hopes the development could one day help people.

The mice, which had eye damage similar to that seen in many human eye
diseases, were able to see again after scientists transplanted immature
retinal stem cells into their eyes, the BBC reported.

UK experts described the research as "stunning".

"This is a stunning piece of research that may in the distant future may
lead to transplants in humans to relieve blindness," said Professor Andrew
Dick University of Bristol.

If the results can be translated to treat humans, it could help people
suffering from a broad range of eye conditions ranging from age-related
macular degeneration to diabetes.

In the study involving the mice, scientists took cells from mice aged three
to five days - the stage when the retina is about to be formed.

The cells were then transplanted into the retinas of the blind mice where
they implanted and connected with existing cells in the eye, restoring some
sight to the mice.

Tests showed that the mice's pupils responded to light and that there was
activity in the optical nerve, showing signals were being sent to the brain.

The study was funded by the Medical Research Council and involved scientists
from the University College London Institutes of Ophthalmology and Child
Health and Moorfields Eye Hospital.

"Remarkably, we found that the mature retina, previously believed to have no
capacity for repair, is in fact able to support the development of new
functional photoreceptors," said Dr Jane Sowden, one of the study's leaders.

Photoreceptors are a special type of nerve cell that are necessary for
sight.

To replicate the result in humans, stem cells would have to be taken from a
foetus during the second trimester of pregnancy.

But Dr Robert MacLaren, a specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital who worked
on the research, said they did not want to go down that route.

He said the aim now would be to look at adult stem cells to see if they
could be genetically altered to behave like the mouse retinal cells, the BBC
reported.

Irwin honoured with eco tourism award

Friday Nov 10 18:34 AEDT
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin is being honoured by Queensland's tourism
industry with an award in his name.

The winner of the Queensland Tourism Awards' eco tourism category will
received the Steve Irwin Award at next week's ceremony in Brisbane.

"This is our way of acknowledging the incredible contribution made by Steve
Irwin to conservation around the world and to promoting tourism in
Australia, and especially in Queensland," Tourism Minister Margaret Keech
said.

"This is an important category that celebrates ecologically sustainable
tourism, something that Steve endorsed and championed with an amazing spirit
and energy."

Australia Zoo at the Sunshine Coast has previously won a swag of accolades,
including one for tourism retailing at last year's state awards.

The zoo has received more than 100,000 messages of condolence from around
the world in the two months since Irwin's death.

Irwin died on September 4 after a stingray barb pierced his chest while he
was diving off the coast of Port Douglas in far north Queensland.

The Wildlife Warriors conservation fund Irwin helped establish before his
death has received more than $2.5 million in donations to date.

Fund chief Michael Hornby said that plans for the money would be announced
before Christmas.

The public's generosity would have "humbled and embarrassed Steve in the
best way possible," he said.

There were now plans to establish a branch of the Wildlife Warriors in the
US, Mr Hornby said.

©AAP 2006

More News from today!

Howard committed to nuclear despite poll
Tuesday Nov 7 18:34 AEDT

Prime Minister John Howard has dismissed a poll which shows only 17 per cent
of Australians back nuclear power while almost half think solar power is the
best way to tackle climate change.

Mr Howard, who has been promoting a nuclear energy industry for Australia,
derided solar power as a soft answer which would never be able to replace
coal-fired electricity.

He said he would not back away from his support for nuclear power because of
one opinion poll.

"This is going to be a long debate, but I am going to continue to argue
reason. I can't have a policy on something like this dictated by an opinion
poll," Mr Howard told reporters.

"In the end I've got to call it as it is and in the end I have to say that
solar and wind will not replace conventional power stations."

The ACNielsen poll in Fairfax newspapers found that nine out of 10 people
believe global warming is a problem and 62 per cent are unhappy with the
Howard government's response.

Almost half of those questioned cited solar power as the best weapon against
climate change, while 19 per cent supported a carbon tax on fossil fuels and
17 per cent backed nuclear power.

Mr Howard said the results were unsurprising given the publicity surrounding
last week's Stern report on climate change, which warned of dire
consequences if the problem was not immediately tackled.

"It's a natural response to that sort of question," Mr Howard said.

"I didn't find that surprising. I didn't find the 50 per cent who thought
solar was the answer surprising either, because solar is a nice, easy, soft
answer."

Mr Howard said solar and wind power could make a contribution, but would
never be enough to replace baseload power generation by coal-fired power
stations.

The only way wind power could create enough energy was to have a windmill
"every few hundred feet starting at South Head and going down to Malabar",
he said.

"Well you can imagine the residents of Sydney wanting that," he said.

"You simply won't be able to generate enough power from something like wind
in order to take the load off the power that is generated by the use of coal
and gas and in time I believe nuclear."

Therapeutic cloning bill passes senate
Tuesday Nov 7 21:03 AEDT

Senators have voted to overturn the ban on therapeutic cloning in a rare
conscience vote in parliament.

Drought declared 'worst in millennium'
Tuesday Nov 7 18:54 AEDT

The drought has been declared the worst in a thousand years, but a crisis
summit on the Murray-Darling Basin delivered little help for the parched
river system.

Labor premiers have jumped on the latest grim drought assessment by a
government agency as evidence of "uncharted territory" caused by climate
change.

But Prime Minister John Howard - already sceptical about "extreme"
predictions of the effects of global warming - publicly questioned a top
water bureaucrat's statement that the big dry was a one in 1,000 year event.

Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) official David Dreverman delivered
the bleak news to an emergency summit called by Mr Howard with the four
states which share the river system - NSW, Victoria, South Australia and
Queensland.

Despite Mr Howard questioning the assessment, Mr Dreverman - the
Commission's head of River Murray Water - said the figures backed up his
claim, showing a "quantum leap" in conditions.

Inflows to the river this year - already the lowest on record - were 54 per
cent below the previous minimum, Mr Dreverman said.

"It's more typical of a one in a thousand year (drought), or possibly even
drier, than it is of a one in a hundred year event," he told AAP.

"I made the comment trying to get the message that what we're going through
is not just the driest we've ever had, this year - in the five months to the
end of October - it's the driest we've ever had by about 54 per cent."

He said the dry spell was so bad that the three dams which underpin the
basin's southern farmlands - already predicted to run dry in May - could dry
up even sooner.

The conditions also were so severe that the MDBC's already conservative
sequencing that it uses to plan water allocations would have to be revised,
Mr Dreverman said.

He would not comment on Mr Howard's scepticism and said the MDBC did not
have enough statistics to show the current conditions had been caused by
climate change.

Mr Howard said Mr Dreverman's claim was an off-the-cuff remark.

"You say worst drought in a thousand years, I don't think anybody really
knows that," he told reporters after the summit.

All he knew was that "it's a very bad drought".

While Mr Howard was caught off guard by Mr Dreverman's assessment, South
Australian Labor Premier Mike Rann said it was evidence of climate change.

"What we're seeing with this drought is a frightening glimpse of the future
with global warming," he said.

Despite the urgency of the summit and Mr Dreverman's grim news, Mr Howard
and the premiers of the four Murray-Darling states offered surprisingly
little for the parched basin.

But the premiers of NSW, Victoria and South Australia did agree to begin
permanent cross-border water trading from the beginning of 2007 - a measure
which is expected to see more water delivered to areas which need it most.

NSW and Victoria, which have suspended water trading amid the dry
conditions, will resume temporary trading this Friday.

A working group of state and federal public servants will draw up
contingency plans to secure water supplies for the next water year,
beginning on June 1, reporting back by December 15.

In another measure, the CSIRO has been asked to report progressively by the
end of next year on sustainable yields of surface and groundwater systems
within the Murray-Darling basin.

Labor, the Greens and the Democrats attacked the meeting's outcomes as
woefully inadequate, saying the governments had failed to make any tough
decisions on water.

"The weak response of these governments is absolutely appalling," Greens
senator Rachel Siewert said.

Qld council rejects Steve Irwin memorial

Monday Nov 6 16:29 AEDT
A memorial to honour the late Steve Irwin at the outback town he used as his
retreat from the world has been knocked back by a local council.

The mayor of the south-west Queensland town of St George, Robert Buchan, had
submitted a plan to build a small memorial to the Crocodile Hunter by the
town's Balonne River, near where the Irwin family owns a large property.

It was to consist of a bust, a brief outline of his life and his
contribution to the area, and was approved by the Irwin family.

Mr Buchan said he had hoped the idea would have been the beginning of a
series of memorials along the river to honour St George's "favourite sons
and daughters" along the lines of an avenue of heroes.

It would have been "a shining example of what people can do if they get off
their backsides and do something", he said.

But after rejecting a memorial in September, Balonne Shire Council has just
knocked back a second proposal for a memorial, which Mr Buchan would have
funded himself.

"Steve Irwin, I believe, would be the most well-known Australian ever...
(and) was ridgy didge as we say, fair dinkum, and even that alone was worthy
of recognition," Mr Buchan said.

He said he was ashamed the idea had been knocked back.

Deputy mayor Richard Knights said the idea itself to commemorate Mr Irwin
had been knocked back, not the specific proposal.

He said while council was aware of Mr Irwin's contributions and were
supportive of state government-planned memorials, a local monument was not
appropriate.

"He had property in the area but I think a lot of it stems from the fact
that we haven't really gone down the pathway of recognising other local
people that have made significant contributions to the shire over a
lifetime," Mr Knights said.

"As to whether one person's more worthy than another person, it's not
something we've dealt with yet."

He said there was a possibility that something would be done on a broad
scale to recognise a host of people who had contributed to the shire, of
which Mr Irwin could be a part, but the idea had not yet been discussed.

Mr Irwin, 44, died on September 4 after being stabbed in the heart by a
stingray's barb while diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

Behave Boys... you're on show to the world!

Aussie cricketers 'rude' on podium
Tuesday Nov 7 21:11 AEDT
The Australian cricket team has been labelled "rude and arrogant" by the
Indian media for allegedly pushing aside the Indian board president on the
Champions Trophy victory podium.

Ricky Ponting's men were taken to task for pushing Indian cricket chief
Sharad Pawar off the presentation dais on Sunday after claiming the only
trophy in world cricket that had eluded them.

The world No.1 side arrived back home on Tuesday morning and CA spokesman
Peter Young said it would investigate the issue in the coming days.

Ponting, visibly impatient after the long presentation ceremony, reportedly
gestured towards Pawar with his forefinger, asking him to quickly give away
the trophy.

Indian newspapers had front-page pictures of batsman Damien Martyn appearing
to gently push Pawar out of shot with his right hand, so the team could pose
with the trophy in front of photographers.

The picture in the Indian Express came under the headline: "This is how
champions behave when they get the trophy."

The Times of India added: "They are supposed to be aggressive, even rude on
the field. On Sunday, Australia showed they are not exactly polite off it
too."

India's chief cricket selector Dilip Vengsarkar added: "You expect such
behaviour from uneducated people. If they wanted to pose for photographs,
they could have politely requested him.

"This is appalling."

Even India's little master Sachin Tendulkar, not prone to controversial
comments, took a swipe at the Aussies.

"I was not watching the proceedings but from what I heard, it was unpleasant
and uncalled for," Tendulkar said.

"Firstly, it should never have happened. It's important to show respect to a
person who is so dear to the cricketers and is involved with cricket. Such
incidents should be avoided."

The Australian side has been respected but far from universally loved by the
rest of the cricketing world over the past decade.

The side has dominated the sport since toppling the West Indies in 1995 but
its intimidating and aggressive on-field behaviour has won few fans.

Young said the players were thrilled to have won the biennial tournament and
had now returned to their respective states before the build-up to this
month's Ashes series.

"I do know the Australian players were very excited to win the trophy," he
said.

"It is a bit of a holy grail because it was the only trophy in world cricket
they had not won."

Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah described the incident as
"unintentional," but added: "Anyway, you know how players are once they get
on the cricket field. They seem to leave good sense behind."

Pawar laughed off the incident.

"It was a small thing, a stupid thing," Pawar was quoted as saying in the
Hindustan Times.

"I don't want to react."

Young said the players had talked about the importance of respect for
players and officials at the pre-Ashes boot camp in August.

"The players have only just arrived back in Australia and over the course of
the next few days we will just be finding out what, if anything, did or did
not happen," he said.

Martyn and Ponting were unable to be reached while Martyn's management was
unaware of the incident.

The national squad reassembles in Brisbane on November 18 before the opening
Ashes Test starting November 23 at the Gabba.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who was also present on the stage,
later weighed into the debate saying he was "hurt" by the incident and was
"not amused" when another Australian player greeted Pawar with "hiya buddy."

"I am not amused by one of the Australian players who said `hiya buddy' when
he went up to receive his medallion from Mr Pawar," the legendary opener
told the Mumbai-based Mid-Day newspaper.

"Just receive it quietly. You are not in your country. In India, we respect
our elders.

"Certain decorum has to be maintained, you have to show respect. Would they
have done such a thing to their prime minister?"

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=99948

Yesterday at Dreamworld with U2

U2 getting vertigo at Dreamworld
Monday Nov 6 16:41 AEDT
Irish supergroup U2 is preparing for its Australian tour opener by taking on
theme park thrill rides and getting up close to a Bengal tiger.

The band, which will resume its Vertigo world tour on Tuesday night after an
eight-month postponement, risked a dose of vertigo by taking on the scariest
rides at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.

Frontman Bono, guitarist The Edge, bass player Adam Clayton and drummer
Larry Mullen Jnr had the theme park to themselves late on Saturday night.

The four 40-somethings took time off from rehearsals to try such thrill
rides as the Giant Drop, Wipeout, Tower of Terror, the Cyclone Rollercoaster
and The Claw.

They were also treated to an up close encounter with 12-year-old Bengal
tiger Mohan on the theme park's Tiger Island.

U2, which hasn't played a concert in Australia since early 1998, has been
based on the Gold Coast since last Wednesday, with the band members
regularly mixing with fans outside their luxury hotel.

Around 50,000 people are expected at the Queensland Sports and Athletics
Centre (formerly the ANZ Stadium) in Brisbane's south for Tuesday's tour
opener.

The band's last major concert was at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires in
early March.

The group flew from there to Sydney but headed home without playing a show
after a band member's relative became ill.

Since they last toured Australia, U2 has produced two of its most critically
acclaimed albums - All That You Can't Leave Behind and How To Dismantle An
Atomic Bomb.

Material from a new album expected to be released next year - including a
cover of Scottish punk band The Skids' The Saints Are Coming and a new track
Window In The Skies - could be sampled on Australian audiences.

U2 is being supported by Grammy Award winning hip hop artist Kanye West.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said in a UK radio
interview that U2's 1987 hit Where The Streets Have No Name is his favourite
song of all time.

Said to be about division and violence in Ireland, the song is still
regularly part of U2's concert set-list.

U2 will play at Sydney's Telstra Stadium on Friday and Saturday nights
before heading to Adelaide, Melbourne and then New Zealand.

Health Concern!!!

Jet-lagged mice die young: study
Tuesday Nov 7 13:44 AEDT
Jet-lagged mice die younger, researchers said, in a study that suggests that
working unusual shifts and flying back and forth across time zones takes a
permanent toll on health.

Tests on more than 100 mice showed that old mice forced to live on a
confusing schedules of light and darkness, simulating rotating shifts or
international travel, died sooner than those on gentler schedules.

Young mice treated in a similar way did just fine, the researchers at the
University of Virginia added in a report published in the journal Current
Biology.

Gene Block, a professor of biology, and colleague Alec Davidson said they
had stumbled onto the findings.

Genetically engineered mice in another experiment died when they were put
under lights six hours earlier than usual, but no mice died if the light
schedule was delayed.

So they tested three groups of mice, with about 30 old mice and nine young
mice in each group.

One group had its light/dark cycle shifted forward by six hours - the
equivalent of waking people up six hours early - every week for eight weeks.

A second group had its schedule shifted back by six hours, and the third
group's schedule was unaltered.

They found that 83 per cent of old mice survived under the normal schedule,
68 per cent lived after eight weeks of shifting steadily backward, but fewer
than half - 47 per cent - survived when the lights regularly came on six
hours earlier.

When they sped up the schedule, changing the light schedule every four days,
even more mice died.

The mice were not obviously stressed by this - their daily levels of a
stress hormone called corticosterone did not increase.

"Alternatively, the general frailty of older animals rather than age-related
changes in the circadian system may make them less able to tolerate changes
in the light schedule," the researchers wrote.

Other studies have shown that hormones associated with wake/sleep cycles,
such as melatonin, as well as so-called "clock" genes, can affect aging and
immune system processes.

©AAP 2006

Urban speaks about the whys of rehab

Thursday Nov 9 11:32 AEDT
AP - Australian country music star Keith Urban spoke of feeling as if he was
drowning in the days before he entered a rehabilitation centre for alcohol
abuse.
But Urban, who married actor Nicole Kidman in Sydney in June, also advised
people struggling with addiction and sobriety to communicate with the people
in their lives.

The singer was speaking to men's magazine Best Life in the couple's home
town of Nashville, Tennessee, two and a half weeks before he entered rehab
last month.

The Grammy-winning singer, who has publicly acknowledged a former addiction
to cocaine, says his advice for souls at sea is to "stay communicating with
the people around you."

"Everybody gets overwhelmed at points, but it's when you think you can
handle it yourself and you don't reach out for help - that is when the end
is near," Urban says in the magazine.

"Recognise that you are about to tire, that drowning is looming."

He adds: "I've definitely been the drowning guy, and in the midst of
drowning, thought, 'I wonder if I should put my hand up?' ... I'm just
really grateful to be present and doing what I can. And if it overwhelms me,
I speak out and say, 'There is too much going on'."

Urban won male vocalist of the year for the second year in a row at the
Country Music Association Awards in Nashville on Monday night, although he
did not attend the ceremony.

His award was accepted by Ronnie Dunn, who read a letter from Urban in which
he thanked his friends and family and Kidman.

"I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing you all soon," Urban said in
the letter.

His new CD, Love, Pain, & the whole crazy thing, was released this week as
scheduled, but it was announced last month that he would postpone all
upcoming promotional appearances.

Urban won a Grammy this year for best male country vocal performance for
You'll Think of Me.

Keith sends message to Nicole!

Absent Urban salutes Nicole at awards
Tuesday Nov 7 17:38 AEDT
AP - Australian star Keith Urban, recovering in a rehabilitation centre,
issued a message to his wife Nicole Kidman as he won another major American
country music award.

"To my wife, Nicole, I love you," said a letter from the absent Urban, read
to the 40th annual Country Music Association (CMA) awards in Nashville,
where he won male vocalist of the year for a second successive year.

"I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing you all soon," said Urban,
who cancelled his appearance at the CMA awards after checking himself into
rehab last month.

When Urban's name was announced, he received a standing ovation, and his
award was accepted by Ronnie Dunn of country music act Brooks & Dunn.

How Bazaar!!!! Mad cow or what?

Surfing cow drowns in Queensland
Tuesday Nov 7 17:35 AEDT
A cow has gone for a four-hour swim in the surf in a bizarre bovine
spectacle before drowning off Queensland's coast.

The two-year-old Brahman-cross escaped from a nearby paddock during a muster
at Elliott Heads, near Bundaberg, on Sunday and travelled 2km to where it
was spotted by beachgoers paddling 300m out to sea.

Owner Neville Atkinson said when police phoned him to report his missing cow
had been sighted swimming in the ocean it was the strangest thing he had
ever heard.

"She jumped through the fence and raced down towards the ocean and that was
the last they (the drovers) saw of her," Mr Atkinson said.

"We searched all along the ocean front ... well, we didn't look in the
water, we didn't expect her to be in the water.

"She was probably a bit upset from the morning chase but why she went in the
water I'll never know."

A crowd of more than 100 were drawn to the beach as word spread about the
body surfing cow, which swam for three hours, coming to shore twice before
returning to the waves.

Mr Atkinson and a friend eventually took a tinnie out to try to rescue the
cow which was paddling in water around 7m deep but could not bring her to
land.

She eventually drowned from swallowing water.

University of Queensland school of animal studies lecturer John Gaughan said
it was the first time in 20 years he had heard of such strange behaviour.

Dr Gaughan, who researches cattle heat stress, said cows were good swimmers
and often waded out into dams.

But he said to swim in the ocean for that long was bizarre.

"If it was very hot it might have been just trying to cool off but it's
unusual behaviour to actually go out and start swimming around the ocean,"
he said.

"It is unusual, I've never seen anything like that."

I feel great!!!

Today I feel great. I feel great because I have done some study for my
science exam. I do not feel stressed about it. Its on next tuesday
(Melbourne Cup day!) at 1.30pm. I feel really comfy about it. I know that I
will get nerves on the day when Im actually standing outside the lecture
theatre.

Today started off overcast then rained. Now there are blue skies with a
lovely breeze. I love days like this!

I am going to scrap tomorrow. At least for an hour. I must scrap... I need
to scrap!

(scrap = scrapbook)

Oh My God!

Woman dragged into bush, assaulted

October 26, 2006 06:53am

A MAN has dragged a woman into bushland, slashed her hand with a knife then
sexually assaulted her south of Brisbane.
The 18-year-old woman was walking home on River Hills Road at Eagleby when
she was grabbed by the offender about 10pm (AEST) last night, police said
today.

He dragged her into bushland where he cut her hand with the knife and
sexually assaulted her, a police spokeswoman said.

Witnesses who heard the woman's screams called police before the offender
was disturbed by torchlight and fled the scene.

The woman required stitches to her hand.

The man is described as having a dark complexion and was wearing a bandana.

Week 13 and...

What a week!!! We have had fireworks in our group work. I have had an email
from my brother that was less than positive and I have a mum who thinks I
should just take it! Thank god for my son and daughter! Thank god for my
Gypsy and my friends Katrina and Allison!

On a brighter note... it is Katrina's birthday today. She is going down with
the girls to Seaworld to swim with the dolphins! We all put in for her.

On a uni note... I have decided to specialise in Early Childhood. I hope I
get accepted.

I am so glad that this is the final week of uni and I only have to worry
about 2 exams! I have realised that exams are good... compared to working in
groups and doing unit plans!

Until next time...

Unit plans! YUK!!! Group work... YUK YUK YUK !!!

I spent all day working at uni with the girls. Oh what a day. It wouldn't
have been so long if one the other girls in our group had come in as well
but sadly that wasnt the case... hence Janet and I working until 9.30pm.

We are meeting up again today, the unit plan has to be in at 1pm today but
really I want to be finished before that.

Thank god for Janet and Janet says... thank god for Kim... we have both
worked more than our fair share on this unit!

What is wrong with people!!!!

Another Stingray Attack!

October 20, 2006

AN 82-year-old man remains in a critical condition today, a day after being lashed by a stingray's whip-like tail while riding in a small boat on an inland waterway just north of Miami.

US fire and rescue officials had initially said James Bertakis was conscious and expected to make a full recovery after the freak accident on the Florida Intracoastal Waterway, which brought back memories of the Steve Irwin tragedy.

The spotted eagle stingray leapt onto his boat and stabbed him in the chest, leaving its poisonous stinger or barb embedded there.

It has now emerged that part of the stinger lodged in his heart, and Mr Bertakis underwent about 90 minutes of surgery to have it removed.

Michelle Cuello, a spokeswoman for Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, said the operation to remove the 5cm razor-sharp barb went well, but Mr Bertakis remained in critical condition hours later.

The Associated Press today reported doctors eventually pulled the barb through the heart before closing the wound. Other parts of what local media reports have described as the foot-long (30cm) barb had been removed earlier from Mr Bertakis' chest.

"There could be other complications," Ms Cuello said. "His recovery is going to be a slow one because of his age, in particular, but we're just waiting to see."
Crocodile Hunter Irwin, 44, died when a stingray's stinger punctured his heart off Australia's north coast last month.

It was one of only a handful of stingray fatalities on record. 

David Tench! Love Him!

I love this guy! He is a great TV presenter and interviewer! Love his show! I would love an hour show! 

Last one. 

More photos!

Tables in the back. 

Thursday Presentation

This was our discovery table. The presentation went really well. Janet did a great role play that everyone loved. Megan did an activity that used the book "the window" showing how the environment changed over 22 years of a child's life. Mine was more dry due to the nature of facts and figures and understanding maps... oh the joy!!! But it still went well and we were really happy with it.

More photos to come! 

Big SOSE Presentation today!

Megan, Janet and I are presenting our module today for SOSE! Im feeling
really good about it. Im not 100% ready but will be once Im there.

Reuben is at camp with the SEU so that is making it easier for me to
concentrate but I do miss him. I keep thinking he will come out of his room
any minute with his gorgeous smile. He is getting so tall. He certainly isnt
taking after me or steve in his height, mind you, Steve's brothers, Allen
and Mark are very tall guys.

Now Im off for a shower and put all my stuff in the car for the
presentation!

I really dont like Thursday afternoons... we go to Mt Gravatt for HPE. We
dont get back to uni until about 4.30pm and then I have to drive home...
which isnt bad but I just hate Thursday afternoons. HPE just seems like such
a waste of time. Am I ever going to use it... well YES!!!

Bye!

Bathurst Driver Died

Gold Coast-based New Zealander Mark Porter, who died after a high-speed
crash at the Bathurst 1000 meeting at Mt Panorama on Friday, was a talented
driver who will be missed, Motorsport New Zealand (MNZ) said.

Porter, 31, died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney on Sunday
afternoon after suffering serious head and chest injuries in a 180 km/h
crash with David Clark during a second tier V8 race at Bathurst.

Two hours after the crowd celebrated Craig Lowndes's emotional victory and
on the day they farewelled the late Peter Brock, Porter's family issued a
statement announcing his death "with untold sadness".

Porter left behind his wife Adrienne and one-year-old son Flynn.

Armstrong said Porter's death, the fourth ever at Bathurst, happened despite
all possible precautions.

"All the safety procedures were there, they're standard throughout the
world. Motorsport is about people driving cars fast, but the safety
standards and cars that are there are very high," he said.

Armstrong said MNZ had a very close working relationship with the
Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) and would be liaising with
them over feedback from any investigation.

The news dealt a devastating blow to Mount Panorama on a day already high on
emotion following the tributes to Brock who died in a rally crash in Western
Australia last month.

Porter is the fourth driver to die at Bathurst, following Mike Burgmann in
1986, Denny Hulme in 1992 and Don Watson in 1994. Hulme had a heart attack
at the wheel.

Porter's parents had flown in from New Zealand and were at his bedside with
Adrienne and Flynn.

"The family wishes to convey their heartfelt appreciation for the efforts of
the medical crews who have been involved all the way through - at the track,
at the Bathurst Base Hospital and at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA)
and all of those who transported Mark between those facilities," the
statement said.

"They gave Mark every chance at life, for which we thank them.

"The family also expresses their appreciation of the efforts of the
officials of V8 Supercars Australia, all of whom have done their utmost to
support all those involved in this tragedy."

Clark, 28, appears on the way to recovery and regained consciousness on
Sunday after being taken to Nepean Hospital in Penrith in a critical
condition on Friday.

The Adelaide father of three is breathing unaided and is recovering well
from a punctured right lung and fractures to his pelvis, right arm and leg.

Tests have not revealed any significant spinal or head injuries.

Clark woke from his induced coma with his wife Leah, eight-month-old
daughter Reese and parents by his bedside.

V8 Supercars Australia chief executive Wayne Cattach said a thorough
investigation would be held into the crash.

Amid speculation on the cause of the crash, one driver said he noticed
Porter's car had been dripping oil, which his rear tyres may have caught and
caused his sudden spin.

Lowndes wins Bathurst Race

Craig Lowndes' tears of sadness turned to tears of joy as he and Jamie
Whincup claimed the inaugural Peter Brock Trophy at an emotion-packed
Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama.

The event ended on a sombre note with the news Gold Coast driver Mark Porter
had died in Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Sunday with extensive
injuries following his horrific crash on Friday.

The death added further emotion to a day that had delivered a roller coaster
of experiences as the tributes continued to flow for Brock.

Lowndes cried after driving Brock's 1972 Bathurst winning Torana in the King
of the Mountain's tribute service in the morning as the finality of the loss
of his hero, racing legend Peter Perfect, hit home.

His emotion so visible that Betta Electrical team principle Roland Dane
wanted to relieve Lowndes of his immediate racing duties and get Whincup to
start.

"Roland asked me whether I wanted to swap and put Jamie in for the start but
I said no, he was worried about my state of mind," said Lowndes.

"It was very emotional for me ... but I put my head down and carried on."
Seven hours later he was shedding tears of joy as he and Whincup stormed to
an amazing victory in a dramatic race which ended Ford's seven-year title
drought at Mount Panorama.

Holden brothers Rick and Todd Kelly finished second while the master and
apprentice Ford pairing of Glenn Seton and James Courtney secured the last
spot on the podium in third.

It was just the second Bathurst win in Lowndes's illustrious motoring
career, the victory coming a decade after his 1996 win with Holden. He said
it was his greatest moment in motor sport and the day would remain as such
for the rest of his career.

"In many respects I think this weekend will hold as the number one result
for me," said Lowndes.

"To come to Bathurst and not only win after 10 years, which is too long, but
to win on the same year (as Brock's death) is very special and a momentous
weekend.

"The best way for me to show respect was to put my name on that trophy."
Victory didn't come easy for Lowndes and Whincup.

They survived an eventful race with 10 safety car periods and only 17 of 31
cars crossing the finish line.

Pre-race favourite Mark Skaife crashed on the opening lap while Ford
standout Jason Bright retired with engine dramas after 28 laps.

The last safety car period with 10 laps remaining, for Jason Richards
arrowing off the circuit into the sand, ensured a grandstand finish as it
reduced Lowndes's lead over Rick Kelly from six seconds to nothing.

But Lowndes held strong in the seven lap dash to the line, producing the
quickest lap of the day on number 158 to edge home by just over half a
second.

"I don't think I could have given it anymore at the end there," said Rick
Kelly.

"The old girl was scraping the walls in some places trying to catch Craig
but I just could not do it. I couldn't get close enough to have a go.

"This is as good as losing gets." Lowndes paid tribute to his "whiz kid"
co-driver Whincup, who handed him the lead on their final driver change at
lap 133 after he had overtaken Todd Kelly.

It was Whincup's maiden Bathurst win, 12 months after he burst onto the
scene with a runner-up place in a Holden last year.

"It means everything to me, it's why I compete and why I drive cars, this is
our grand final," said Whincup.

Courtney's third place was a remarkable result for the V8 rookie, especially
his incredible double stint to finish in which he braved hand cramps to hold
off series champion Russell Ingall by 0.056secs for the last spot on the
podium.

It is Courtney's first-ever podium result in his second race at Mount
Panorama after he crashed on debut last year.

For Seton, it's another case of close but no cigar as the third place is
added to his three runner up results from 23 Bathurst starts.

"I thought it would have been courteous of them if they would have pulled
over and let us through," said 42-year-old Seton.

While it was the best moment of Lowndes's career it was the lowest for
Holden champ Skaife who crashed out after less than 30 seconds of racing.

He was smashed from behind by Jack Perkins on the climb up the mountain, but
later conceded a slipping clutch had already ended his day.

"It's the most disappointing thing to ever happen in my career," said
Skaife.

"I don't think I have ever wanted to win a race so badly in my life."

What the???

Well I am stunned! I was just watching Sunday Sunrise which reported that
Sydney Muslim taxi drivers are now not allowing Blind people with guide
dogs. Someone please tell me why these people are doing this? Are they not
living in "our" country? They are allowed to practice their religious belief
why are they now discriminating against Australians! OMG I am flabergasted!
I really hope that the Australian government and people stand up and say NO
WAY!!!

Me and Gypsy

This is my little girl, Gypsy. I love this photo. Mum took it at her place for me on her birthday.

Gypsy is such a scared little chihuahua however she has come a long way in the last few years. She will even go up to Katrina now and sniff her and lick her leg. 

My Mum

Here she is... this is a lovely shot of her. Its so lovely to get a photo away from her table and now she is not drinking and smoking she doesnt have a ciggy in her hand and a stubby in her hand in every photo. 

Mum and I

We are really close to the camera as Im holding so we can have a photo together on Mum's birthday. 

Mum on her Birthday!

This is Mum on her 74th birthday with her little girl Angel.

Its funny, I dont think of mum of being that old until I see it written and think OMG she is really getting on. No wonder she has slowed down!

Mum got Angel from the RSPCA just before she moved into the Housing Department unit. Angel is really good for mum... she makes her take her for so many walks. Talk about in your face!!! She is overwhelmingly friendly.

Happy Birthday Mum!!!! 

First Stampin Up card

This is my first card made with Stampin Up stamps. I also used a daisy punch and the Fiskars border punch. I have had the punch (4 of them in fact) for about 3 years and have never used it until now!

Im not happy with the "thanks" stamp but it could be because of the textured card stock. Its only a simple card but hey... when Im at uni thats what happens. I like the KISS method!

Kim 

Premiers!

 

Winners Are Grinners!

 

More bronco pics.

 

Shane and Darren Celebrate the Bronco's Win

 

The Cricut is coming in November!!!

Oh My God! Its not long now!!! I will have this little fella coming to live at my place... I just know he and I will get along really well.

First, I have to get through the next few weeks of uni. 

Go Broncos.... bye Shane Webcke

Broncos won the premiereship tonight. They were awesome! It was Shane Webcke's last game. Broncos will miss him as will his fans.

Coach Wayne Bennett has coached Broncos to 6 out of 7 premiereships. A man of few words but huge amounts of talent with his team. Thank you Wayne, thank you Broncos! 

Friday with Janet

What a great day we had! We arrived and Janet's children were waiting out
the front for us with their new dog, Lucy (Labradoodle). James and Reuben
played on the Xbox virtually all day. Amanda and Belinda hung around us
which was great! They are lovely girls. Janet's sister came up to give us
her opinion of our HPE lesson. We talked heaps, did a little of the lesson
and ate! Janet put on a lovely lunch for us. It was just a wonderful day.

Happiness is having loving friends. Steve Irwins death has reminded me how
precious life really is. I loved hearing how Terri Irwin spoke of her late
husband. They lived life and regretted nothing! In the end its the memories
that you are left with. Bindi and Terri have so many fantastic memories of
Steve. They were happy, they knew what happiness was and Terri is determined
to keep his fun loving philosophy alive!

I may not have the money to live like Steve Irwin but want take that
philosophy on board. I'm not sure how it will start. Perhaps just going to a
beach we havent walked on before or a beach we havent been to for a long
time. Maybe climb a mountain, bushwalk, walk around a city we haven't been
to, drive in a direction and keep going until we find somewhere and stay
overnight. Who knows but I want to start doing it. I have been treading
water way too long. I have to finish uni and I will finish it but not at the
expense of losing time with my son and daughter!

Life is to live.... to live is to love! (is that a quote by someone? It must
be... if not its my quote now!)

Monthly Outing!

Here we are at our monthly outing. It was my turn to pick. BOWLING!!!! what the hell was I thinking! I cant bowl! but it was great to go and have a go. Reuben loved it.

The photo shows Allison with the pink bowling ball, Doris in the stripes, Bob (Doris's new love) behind Doris, Reuben in the orange shirt and Katrina just behind Allison's shoulder. Gail, Peter, Terry and Barb are out of the shot. 

Reuben turns 14

This is Reuben on his birthday (16 Sept) playing his xbox that I got him. He is loving it. It is the old version of xbox as the new one is out of my price range!

He loves Starwars games. He loves role playing games (RPGs - as he calls them). I also bought him a game called Morrowind. He really loves it.

Yesterday he returned from a 4 day camp at Tin Can Bay. He loved it but was glad to get back to his beloved Xbox.

This morning Reuben told me that I mean the world to him. That wouldnt know what to do without me. OMG! Its these little nuggets of gold that make life worth living, that keeps me going on when it seems way too hard. When he puts his arms arounds me when I havent asked for a hug... these are what happiness is all about. Its not how much money we have or the possessions we own. Its love from our family and friends. 

At Uni

Here I am about to jigsaw a piece of acrylic for our design challenge (our first assessment piece). We ended up with 42/50 which was really good. The highest was 47.

Don't you just love the fashion statement with the glasses! 

Steve Irwin had plans for Bindi

Steve Irwin always knew his daughter's fame would eclipse his own and only ever wanted to be her co-star, his best friend and manager says.
Eight-year-old Bindi Irwin will front a women's magazine in September.
A survey in New Idea shows 93 per cent of readers believe Bindi should follow her father's wildlife crusades as the next 'Crocodile Huntress'.

Bindi, speaking at a memorial service for her father last week, said she didn't want his work to ever end.
The Irwin's manager, John Stainton, said the "seal of approval" from the public would be an honour for the little girl.
"She's got a future ahead of her and I've said it before, I've always said to Steve, 'she's going to eclipse you, she's going to be a much bigger star'," he said.
"And he (Steve) honestly used to laugh and used to say, 'I just want to be co-star to my daughter'."
Mr Stainton said Bindi's television show, which is due to screen next year, would be finished as soon as the family felt comfortable.
"When she's on television in her own show, I think she will explode," he said.
"I just think there's a little volcano waiting inside her.
"She's a very special little kid, her whole being is to do what Steve did."
Mr Stainton said Terri Irwin compared Bindi's enthusiasm for wildlife to what other children felt for football or ballet.
"Bindi's whole life revolves around performing and entertaining and teaching kids about wildlife, it's her whole focus," he said.

My Opinion: I think its wrong to put such a big responsibility on such young shoulders. I hope Terri guards Bindi's life like a mother lion. I think its great that Bindi wants to be like her dad but I think she needs to have some kid time and not have so much pressure from the press and the public. 

Terri Irwin still mourning Steve

Terri Irwin says she can't shake the idea that her husband will return home
from one of his adventures.

Speaking in an interview on the Nine Network, Terri tells of the bond she
had with Steve, who died from a stingray barb to the chest while diving off
the far north Queensland coast on September 4.

"There never has been before and never will be again another Steve Irwin,"
she says.

"Every day he was my prince charming."

During the interview with Ray Martin to be aired tonight at 8.30pm she
relates how she was told by close family friend and manager John Stainton of
the diving accident and then death of the man known as the Crocodile Hunter.

"He said there's been a diving accident with Steve - (I thought) Don't say
it, don't say it, don't say it - and he said it. He said those three words.
And he died," she said.

"I'm still at the stage where I think he's going to come home. And it didn't
really happen."

Terri says she has found it hard to cope but considers herself lucky to have
received such support and thanked the public for their "thoughts and
prayers".

She says she's grateful for the support during the memorial service at the
zoo last week.

"I walked into the Crocoseum and I knew people would be missing Steve but
the feelings of love and support from Australians was just overwhelming.

"He (Steve) would have said 'Crikey, mate, I can't believe this'."

Millions of Irwin fans across Australia and New Zealand are expected to tune
into the hour-long special at 8.30pm (AEST).

A separate American ABC special will air in the US 15 hours later.

Barbara Walters, who interviewed Terri for an American special, said she
spoke of her continuing bond with her husband.

"You almost have the feeling that she is channelling him," Walters said.

"She feels he is there."

In the US interview, Terri tells how she is coping "one minute at a time -
sometimes an hour at a time with great faith, great determination".

The Irwin children, Bindi, 8, and Bob, 2, did not take part in either
interview.

Meanwhile, Bindi has become the youngest person ever to appear on the cover
of Australia's New Idea magazine in its 104-year history, and a survey in
the magazine showed 93 per cent of readers wanted Bindi to become the next
"Crocodile Huntress".

Bindi stole hearts last week with her eulogy at her father's public memorial
ceremony in which she said she would continue her daddy's work.

Mr Stainton said Steve had always known there would be a day where he would
become his daughter's co-star as her fame eclipsed his.

Bindi's television show, which is due to screen next year, will be completed
in the coming weeks.

Mr Stainton said Bindi's fame would "explode", especially in America, once
her show aired. "I just think there's a little volcano waiting inside her,"
he said.

A week off from UNI

The uni says we have a week's holiday... YEAH RIGHT!!! we are still working our butts off but just not going to classes. There is certainly no holiday! Its not long though and the group work, unit plans and exams will be finished and then we can relax for a few months!

Krystyl came over on the weekend to help me tidy and clean. She is such a wonderful young woman. We are getting on so well now. I feel like we are more friends than mum and daughter. I felt really chuffed because she chose to spend the weekend with me instead of her friends. We went back to her house to have Tacos and watch a dvd. Krystyl even wanted me to sleep in her new bed. Its been a very long time since we shared a bed. Krystyl said she woke up early in the morning and Gypsy (my dog) was laying on her back in the middle between Krystyl and I. She had her little paws up and looking so cute. She was sound asleep.

It was the best weekend I have ever had for such a long time. I felt so loved by her and so blessed to have her as my daughter.

Redcliffe

This photo is looking back to the shore from the end of the jetty. The pine trees keep going either end.