[Aussie Keith]

Not bad or good but random.
Planted some veggies in the garden. Got attacked by white moths, eggs and grubs   .
Solution :





The fresh stuff is awesome. 

Yep, that's the business. Another way to go is PVC electrical conduit. Bang a few bigger bits into the ground and loop longer bits in and drape the cover over the top. But your solution is a lot neater.

[mickd]

The whales are moving North at present.  Been watching from the lounge room again. Time consuming but great fun 

[Dazzler]

The whales are moving North at present.  Been watching from the lounge room again. Time consuming but great fun 

Awesome! Any photos? Or Lester won't believe you.. 

[Lakes]

The whales are moving North at present.  Been watching from the lounge room again. Time consuming but great fun 

Good to know Mick! have you spotted any Killer Whales at all?

[mickd]

The whales are moving North at present.  Been watching from the lounge room again. Time consuming but great fun 

Good to know Mick! have you spotted any Killer Whales at all?

@Lakes
No mate no Killers.
 Mature males and juveniles showing off.
The splash from a juvi doing a breach is about a 3rd of the splash of a mature tail slap. 

[eye30]

The whales are moving North at present.  Been watching from the lounge room again. Time consuming but great fun 

Awesome! Any photos? Or Lester won't believe you.. 

This is not far from where I live.

https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/18516104.rescuers-monitor-whale-become-restranded-dee-estuary/


https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/18516475.rescuers-say-restranded-fin-whale-appears-died/

[Lakes]

The whales are moving North at present.  Been watching from the lounge room again. Time consuming but great fun 

Good to know Mick! have you spotted any Killer Whales at all?

@Lakes
No mate no Killers.
 Mature males and juveniles showing off.
The splash from a juvi doing a breach is about a 3rd of the splash of a mature tail slap. 

Used to see them when I was in Narooma & four years back I was in a cafe on Kianga Beach with pushy group having lunch & I spited a Killer Whale, I love the Killer whale Museum at Eden!And the History. They needed to be tough to go out in those row boats any time at night!

[Lakes]

The whales are moving North at present.  Been watching from the lounge room again. Time consuming but great fun 

Awesome! Any photos? Or Lester won't believe you.. 

This is not far from where I live.

Rescuers monitor whale which has become restranded in Dee Estuary | Wirral Globe


Rescuers say restranded fin whale appears to have died | Wirral Globe

that'a sad news Lester!
All them UK chippys taking his food?

[mickd]

The whales are moving North at present.  Been watching from the lounge room again. Time consuming but great fun 

Awesome! Any photos? Or Lester won't believe you.. 

This is not far from where I live.

Rescuers monitor whale which has become restranded in Dee Estuary | Wirral Globe


Rescuers say restranded fin whale appears to have died | Wirral Globe

that'a sad news Lester!
All them UK chippys taking his food?

"Appears died "  ?
Local chippys will have a new menu item.
Tough life all up back then . No soft c$cks .
Last year, one of the whale watching boats had the  experience of seeing a young jumpy being attacked and devoured by a few Killers. 

[eye30]

Update

https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/18523473.post-mortem-death-whale-became-stranded-dee-estuary/

[kittikat]

I’ve spoken before about my wonderful timing recently. Well it continues. 

Just as Victoria records double digit rises in Covid-19 cases, my husband’s uncle passes away. In far North Queensland. Lockdown commences. We’ll be live streaming a funeral tomorrow morning.  Sounds horrible, and I’m sure that’s what it will be.   

Three deaths in less than twelve months. I’m really hoping things turn around soon, I’m not sure I can emotionally cope with another funeral. 

[mickd]

That's a shocker of a run.
  Sorry for you and family, hang in there.

[The Gonz]

Hang in there, Cecelia. A response I developed in the warzone is to quickly shift priorities to the living. That means you and your nearest and dearest always come first.

[Dazzler]

Wow, that's awful Cecelia. They say things come in threes.. Hopefully that is it now! 

[tohis]

Today's Covid numbers in Finland: 7293 known infections, 329 deaths (population 5.5 million). From March to early May about 100 new cases were found daily, but then it has been gradually slowing, and in July it has been less than 10 new cases daily. Most schools and libraries, bars and night clubs were closed, and restaurants and cafes were allowed to sell food only for take-away. No stay-at-home lockdown was ever set. Since late May the restrictions have been gradually lifted and the state of emergency was also discontinued. So I guess we survived pretty good compared to many other countries, however the danger is not over and the ongoing holiday season has the risk of causing the second wave to come. The economical impact is however hitting pretty hard globally and we are no exception.

Some land borders have been reopened and we are now able to travel to other Nordic and Baltic countries where the Covid situation has been similar, and more borders were reopened in this week. However, in our western neighbour Sweden it has been much worse, and the border is still pretty much unidirectionally closed (but Sweden does allow inbound traffic). Let's hope our fellow member Xiziz is still okay!   

[Dazzler]

@xiziz are you ok?

Australia managed the 1st wave really well with a similar number of cases to you guys with almost 5 times the population and only around one third the number of deaths. Now for some crazy reason the 2nd wave has taken off with a vengeance in one state of Australia in particular (Victoria):with hundreds of new cases being identified daily! 

[nzenigma]

Yes Australia has done well irrespective of a massive cruise ship blunder in NSW!  After trying to incinerate the country during summer, the government finally started to take scientific advice and we went to a level 3 lock down. But most credit goes to the State Premiers who took actions to suit their own State, at times independent of the national government.

Unfortunately, Victoria went on the cheap when it came to securing their quarantine hotels. Two 'security' guards were sleeping with detainees. We now have that outbreak in Victoria. If anything it demonstrates how aggressive COVID is.

I feel sorry for the land locked European countries who have to plug many holes in their fences. However, the British government, showing its usual verbal grit and tenacity has been determined to leave the EU , but couldn't find the courage to lock the island's border. 
The result , a massive on going infection rate, business remains cr#p, and a huge death count that is somewhat fictitious. Like Holland etc, the deaths in old people's homes are yet to be calculated and included.

On the other hand, New Zealand went to level 4 lockdown = eradication and now they have virtually no new cases and business is up and running. Given the recent incompetence in Vic , the OZ/NZ travel bubble is off the table indefinitely. 

Food for thought @Dazzler . Tazzie and Queensland should not get too complacent. We have the ever hungry Allan Joyce  . A mate of mine told me that this week he flew return Brisbane to Mackay. The Qantas plane was nearly full, the seating was the usual cattle class with no distancing, mate was one of only four people wearing a mask. Even the Qantas stewards did NOT wear masks.

[Dazzler]

Hi Gazza,

I've had a few drinks (step daughter's engagement party) hehe..

Puppa Gutwein as some call our Premier continues to be cautious.  Thankfully.   

[mickd]

The old man hadan hour or so between speacialist appointments the other day.
Started tyre kicking at a dealer. Young fella comes out full of spiel, ready to get a sale. Starts telling him about all the amazing safety features he should have on his car at his age. ( nearly 85 ) Dad starts telling him about his first car - cobbled together from 3 wrecks and 1 abandoned car. Those T - models were practical. Youngen says -the what??, couldn't have that now days , you need all of these features to ensure you are not fatigued or stressed from driving around town or on those long trips of 2 hrs or more.
Old man cracked up , thanked him for the best laugh he'd had in a while and said that if he ever needs all of that electronic crap to drive a car, he'll hand his license in and catch the bus with all of the money saved from insurance, rego, running costs..   

[Dazzler]

The old man hadan hour or so between speacialist appointments the other day.
Started tyre kicking at a dealer. Young fella comes out full of spiel, ready to get a sale. Starts telling him about all the amazing safety features he should have on his car at his age. ( nearly 85 ) Dad starts telling him about his first car - cobbled together from 3 wrecks and 1 abandoned car. Those T - models were practical. Youngen says -the what??, couldn't have that now days , you need all of these features to ensure you are not fatigued or stressed from driving around town or on those long trips of 2 hrs or more.
Old man cracked up , thanked him for the best laugh he'd had in a while and said that if he ever needs all of that electronic crap to drive a car, he'll hand his license in and catch the bus with all of the money saved from insurance, rego, running costs..   

Love it!

[kittikat]

It’s a positive, I think, that we settled on the brother in laws house on Thursday. We had to make sure it was ready to go a couple of weeks early because we knew stage 4 lockdown was coming.  It all went off ok. They were moving in this weekend, so it’s not our concern anymore. Won’t stop my husband  though, he’ll find something to worry about.

A negative is that this lockdown is stopping any work being done on the apartment we have bought. It is just a two storey deep hole in the ground.  In the meantime we are living in a rental. At least that gives Anthony something to worry about.  We had thought we would have to rent for a year, now it looks like it will be a lot longer. Now we are both pensioners, he was concerned about us having to use savings to cover the rent. I suppose it’s a positive that because of the lockdown we are spending a lot less, so we have covered our rent, no problems.

Another positive is that my old work asked me to do a bit of casual work for them. Gives me something to keep my brain active and a bit of extra income.  I also get to reconnect with all my old workmates, even though it’s via Microsoft Teams.

A real positive is we are both healthy.   

[Dazzler]

Thanks for the update Cecelia. Yes definitely mostly positive. I'm in hospital for my fourth day today prostate causing bladder/kidney issues, but at least I'm in the right place. Hoped to go home today but a couple of developments overnight make me think that is now unlikely. 

[kittikat]

Thanks for the update Cecelia. Yes definitely mostly positive. I'm in hospital for my fourth day today prostate causing bladder/kidney issues, but at least I'm in the right place. Hoped to go home today but a couple of developments overnight make me think that is now unlikely. 

Look after yourself Daz. It’s not a good time to be unwell. 

[Dazzler]

Thanks for the update Cecelia. Yes definitely mostly positive. I'm in hospital for my fourth day today prostate causing bladder/kidney issues, but at least I'm in the right place. Hoped to go home today but a couple of developments overnight make me think that is now unlikely. 

Look after yourself Daz. It’s not a good time to be unwell. 

Thanks Cecilia, true. They released me yesterday and fortunately my urologist is in Burnie today (only 50 kilometres away) I'll be pushing hard to get this sorted quickly I'm hating this catheter. 

[meehalych]

+ I am on vacation till the end of the winter)
- with the current situation in the world we are staying home (last year we went to Vietnam)
+ we have got a new kitten (we brought her from Moscow in the end of January; she was 4 months old then)
- damn weather: if it doesn't show it is cold and vice versa

[tohis]

My winter vacation is on, however because of you-know-what there's not much travel plans for now. Vaccinations are progressing slowly because of vaccine shortages, and some recent blood clot cases shortly after getting the shot (however those have likely been coincidental). Estimations of when we fill finally get the needle in the *ss are changing almost daily, so no one knows...

A week ago I went to see the Koli ice road, which is 7 km long road going over frozen Lake Pielinen. It is usually officially opened in January or February when the ice is at least 40 cm thick so it can be safely driven over by car, and closed in early April when the conditions start to deteriorate. In some recent winters however, thanks to the climate change, it has been opened only for short times or not opened at all. During the season it may also be temporarily closed because of bad weather.

[meehalych]

+ tomorrow I will take our new Mazda CX30 from a dealer (there will be two Mazda in the family)
- no longer the owner of Kia Ceed

[meehalych]

+

[Shambles]

+

Looking very nice Misha

You're obviously being paid too much

[Lakes]

+

Very nice!! I was looking at one in the dealer here in Australia this past week, but did not get to test drive.
I also like the colour!!