Nice spot
Cosy looking
The bar
Log book in the fridge
Im sleeping outside
Log Bridge Creek
The Hut
My bed under the stars
Spooky tree
Tree house
See the deer? No neither did I.
Why is this bird laughing?
Friday, 15 December 2023
Thursday, 16 November 2023
Lake Lonsdale in the Victorian Wimmera
Lake Lonsdale is a large, shallow lake, 2.5 Km wide and about 8 Km long on the Mt William Creek. It is in the Grampians area about 12 Km North West of Stawell.
Since the introduction of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline, the lake is no longer used by GWMWater for domestic or stock water supply, however it's still a key source of water for the environment and is currently 90% full.
Lake Lonsdale is popular free camping area right on the lake that is dog friendly and popular with caravaners. A well known recreational lake in the Stawell area, hosting a number of activities, such as boating, fishing, swimming and camping. Fish you can catch are Redfin, Yellow Belly and Trout.
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Camp
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The launch
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The lake was a mill pond at first.
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View from tent. The wind was starting up.
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Mid week, not too crowded.
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First thing in the morning a mist rolls in.
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Spooky!
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Looking East
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Cleared up early.
Tuesday, 3 October 2023
Far North Queensland
Travelling to FNQ from Victoria we went to the Stockman's Hall Of Fame at Longreach, to the Dinosaur trail of Winton, Hughenden, the to Charters Towers, Townsville then Mission Beach. As the weather was not good for fishing we went waterfall viewing around Tully and Innisfail.
Longreach
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Hughenden
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Porkupine Gorge
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The waterfalls
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Tuesday, 19 September 2023
The 5 precepts of Buddhism
In Buddhism, The Five Precepts are equivalent to a code of conduct or set of rules to follow if you're to live a truly Buddhist life. They're created to help people act morally in their day to day lives and help you reach enlightenment, this is the main aim of Buddhist teaching.
You can attempt all or just some of the precepts. The main thing is that you agree this is a guide to behaviour.
The Five Precepts are to undertake to develop in yourself the virtue, wisdom and mindfulness using the precepts to:
- refrain from harming living things, have respect for all life.
- refrain from taking what is not given, I will respect others property.
- refrain from sensual misconduct, any overindulgence in any sensual pleasure.
- refrain from false speech, lying or gossip and respect honesty.
- refrain from taking intoxicating substances and appreciate a clear mind.
The standard you walk past is the standard you accept
We all have the power to take responsibility and to stand up to inappropriate behaviour when we witness it. I think the phrase “the standard you walk past is the standard you accept” sums it up.
Kim grew up in a large and happy family but from an early age had a propensity to be light-fingered and told fibs.
In retrospect, unlike his siblings who all made mistakes and were a bit naughty at times, they learnt vital life lessons and suffered punishment and guilt.
Kim never seems to have experienced remorse or guilt.
The first signs of this apparent sociopathic behaviour went largely unnoticed. Today it’s referred to as antisocial personality disorder, a mental health condition in which a person consistently shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and feelings of others. Who knew?
Kim’s early teen years were punctuated with stints in juvenile detention for crimes ranging from burglary to armed robbery, very often perpetrated against close friends, neighbours, and relatives.
Not until Kim was eligible to be sentenced in an adult jail did his behaviour change a little, then he was cunning enough to avoid adult prison time by turning “Queens evidence” or informing on his accomplices in crimes to avoid harsh sentencing. There are people out there still today, accomplices and others who over 40 years later, bear a long held grudge towards him for this.
After this event the next 35 or so years were peppered with many transgressions, work cover fraud, deceptions, theft, too many to list, but a highlight reel might contain:
- Breaking up of his first marriage due to his infidelity, drug taking, and theft.
- Stealing a sibling’s identity and racking up debts in his name.
- On the death of a close relative, Kim volunteered to sort through the deceased business affairs as help for his sister only to steal $1500 cash from the belongings of his dead and as yet unburied brother-in-law.
- Attempted, after his own brother’s tragic suicide, with accomplices to defraud his mother of an insurance payout from his brother’s superannuation insurance cover. A windfall that would have made her final years much more comfortable.
- When his mother was ill and deteriorating and nearing her end of life, she asked Kim to come to her bedside and say goodbye, but he did not.
- When our mother died, Kim did not attend the funeral.
He did happily and quickly accept his inheritance from his mother through his mother’s estate. The solicitor even commented on his unusual speed and co-operation as compared to most beneficiaries in his experience.
Then only a few years ago, a mutual friend of my brother and I died suddenly, and I attended the service at a funeral home chapel in Melbourne.
Kim was there and confidently walked up to me and put out his hand to shake mine. Out of respect for the deceased and their family, I did not punch him in the face.
But stunned and angry at this display of arrogance, I simply looked him in the eye and said, “No mate, that’s not happening!” And then, as he walked on past me stony faced, I remarked to him, “And please try not to steal anything”.
Although upsetting, this event was kind of cathartic for me, as the poisonous gift that just kept on giving seemed to wash away in my mind.
Cathartic (meaning) - providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis. “Crying is a cathartic release."
I personally can forgive my brother for all transgressions. He simply is a dishonest and disloyal character, alas his attempt at insurance fraud denied my mother a cash windfall that would have made her later years more enjoyable and comfortable, she could have realised a long held wish to travel on the Ghan rail journey, first class but could never afford it. Unfortunately by the time we unpicked that mess Mum was is deep decline and unable due to ill health to undertake this journey. My brother broke my mother’s heart when he did not go to her to say goodbye when she asked, and she died knowing full well he did not. Then like a coward, not even going to her funeral. This complete lack of respect caused all the family great distress.
Our mother given the chance would forgive Kim in a heartbeat, but alas, she has passed now, and that act of charity and kindness is no longer in her power. Denied to her by his selfish actions.
I also do not personally approve of people knowing these facts and treating Kim in a normal, courteous, and civil way, as this normalises his behaviour and therefore is indirectly enabling his ways, justifying, and supporting his harmful behaviour. Conveniently leaving the past unaddressed is helping this behaviour from never seeing its natural consequences.
Postscript:
If you are thinking this is defamation, I can prove this all to be substantially true. I would rely on the truth defence as a complete defence to any challenge of this account. So even if a court finds an imputation to be defamatory, I am not liable as I can prove the imputation to be true in substance or not materially different from the truth. I can provide original documents and witnesses who are credible and willing to be true in court. I can provide original documents and witnesses have firsthand knowledge of the relevant circumstances.
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