Anti-hunting anti-helmet law campaigner - that's me!

(Images: Alan Moir, Sydney Morning Herald)


On the few occasions I've done a blog-post concerning my distaste for hunting in National Parks, without fail the shooting/fishing fan club immediately leaves a Pollyanna-scold to the effect that I have a great blog when I stay on message, but that I oughtn't to stray into the wilderness of other campaign areas, and that if I do the world will see me as a 'contrarian' - oooooooh - tra la, what measured menace, how awfully scary!

But as I pointed out to interminable 'Anonymous' the other day, this is Australia and contrary to the opinion of pro-hunting anons, I am free to mix up my messages as much as I like, whenever I like, and how I like.

...and with regards to the content of my blog which was clearly perturbing Anon, 90% of the time ‘matters-helmet-law' are the order of the day, but because I'm a regular aussie mum with a tonne of other stuff happening all at once like so many of us, inevitably on occasions I happily deviate and vary my conversation !

I continued informing dear old Anon that back in the day I started this blog as an e-diary (a) to give my family a break from my all-consuming involvement with the senslessness of helmet law and (b) to give me a communicating platform so that I wasn’t muffled to bursting point.

So sorry to all the trigger-happy anonymous' out there, I'm going to continue with my mixed up messages; I am VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO HUNTING - ANYWEHRE - ANYTIME - BY ANYONE – period...

...also;

- that the O'Farrell government has passed legislation allowing ‘gun’ and ‘bow & arrow’ touting hooligans into our precious National Parks come March 2013 is beyond the pale and worth screaming from NSW roof-tops.

- that the O’Farrell government has done this to appease an extremely minute minority party in a bid to get government electricity plans through the upper house is both cynical and expedient (…and will come back to bite them for sure)

It is salutary to think that while America frantically looks for ways to reduce the number of guns in cirulation, we throw open our picnic spots and camping grounds to anyone licenced to kill...shame, Barry O'Farrell, shame.

'Tis the season to go hunting, fa la la la laaaaa la la la laaaah

Why should we have to wear helmets when sitting on NSW bicycles on NSW roads when we don't have to wear flak jackets when sitting on NSW picnic rugs in NSW National Parks?????

Nothwithstanding the stark warning from its very own Office of Environment and Heritage of...

'a major risk to the public when recreational shooting begins in March' and that 'the risk of death or serious injury was high as well as the potential for the 34 million annual visitors to decline due to concern at safety in parks from bullets and also from arrows shot by bow hunters'

...this government still plans to go ahead with its recreational rambo policies (and most probably to leave bicycle helmet law in place...sigh).

It is utterly outrageous that unless otherwise decided, state-sanctioned-'hunger-games' will be coming to National Parks near all of us very soon...

...god (or whoever we all praise/ignore) help us!

Je suis une bébé de Noël!

...and I was totally unprepared for my 'baby-announcement' card enclosed in the birthday card from my godmother yesterday...



Suddnely fifty three years just melted away, and here I was reading my long since dead father's handwriting so proudly announcing the birth of their first child to their dearest darling friend...



...and with one fell swoop this unexpected glimpse of my very young parents and their irrepressible joy was tinged with raw emotion that my father ended up having so little time on this planet, and that my mother remains in mourning in her own muddled world, and that my godmother steadfastly shares the memories when the memories need sharing, and that this funny little card with it's 'second' arrival was able to transport the adult-me to the youthful world of my elders as they marvelled over baby-me...

...and coupled with that same fell swoop was the revelation that I'd been spelling my name wrong over all these years - it would appear my 'elisabeth' is sans 'z' - who knew?...not me!

'You better watch out..."

(Images: this year's favourite xmas card!)


If Santa does come to town on his bike, he's going to come a 'legal' cropper if NSW coppers see him sans helmet.

Operation Safe Arrival is now in full-swing and the police have openly declared that among the hazardous motoring activities requiring 'prevention' or 'increasing,' they have set their sights on 'increasing the use of helmets by cyclists.'

Who knew cyclists had become Christmas menaces?

Who knew cycling without a helmet was on a par with drink driving and speeding?

Prima facie, throwing the helmet book at cyclists is purely a revenue raising exercise underpinned by obdurate stubborness on the part of Australian politicians, and given that police are traditionally flat chat with far more festively unique-operations, cracking down on non-bicycle helmet use at this time of year is an irresponsible waste of community resources.

Spare us the drivel, and perhaps we'd all 'better watch out' ...

Christiania - perfect for Christmas shopping

Everleigh Markets, Campos, Black Star Pastry...shopping errands are so much easier with the Christiania (& our lovely Melbourne family when they're in town!)

Totally enamoured with my new bicycle - love it to bits!!

I've got mail...from Sherrif of Muswellbrook

Here in Australia, the time & money we waste in the name of helmet law is something else!

Just when I thought my bicycle saga was all over, I received a cheque in the mail (above) last week.

Apparently my 'seized bicycles' (below) made too much money at the Sherrif's Auction.

...yes that's right too much!...



In fact, to be precise, my bicycles made $8.69 more than the actual $200+fine.

Thus the Department of Justice & the Attorney General has now seen fit to issue me with a cheque for that very same amount = $8.69...

What to spend it on?

*sigh*

'There was movement at the [airline], for word had passed around...'

...a bit of a development!!!!

Best Flights rang me yesterday afternoon to say they've had a little 'think' and have now decided that their 'ridiculous' (my word) costs will no longer stand!!!

Apparently after a little chat with the partner airline (British Airways), a decision was made to back date our airfares which in turn reduced the additional fare (what is the go with this talk of 'additional fares' - I'm cancelling fares) to only $24 per person instead of $1,668 per person!!!! - gasp & wtf!

The airline reissue fees of $100 per person are still to apply but Best Flights is going to waive one of their $55 reissue fees because I'm a loyal Best Flights customer (is that what I am?)

Anyhoo, 'not-flying-from-Geneva-to-London' for the pair of us will now cost $303 as opposed to $3,646 quoted Tuesday.

...and all packaged with lots of chummy sorrys for inconvenience as well as chummy invites to make contact any time.

♩♪♫♬What a difference a day makes!!!♩♪♫♬