On Saturday the Australian Labor Party won the 

 Australian Federal Election 2025 by a landslide.

 Happy Days.

 

Christmas has come and gone.

 FRED - having a sun bath.

 HERE WE GO ... 

KOOKABURRA UP A GUM TREE IN MY YARD

 That black smudge in the tree is a Black Cockatoo we never have these cockatoos

 in our local area. So very excited to see them.

Sad photo but the best I could do.

 Poor little Loki died last week. We had been looking in the yard and adjacent yards as he had not come in for his breakfast when I got a call from the local pound to say they had him but unfortunately he hadn't survived a run in with a car. A ranger had gone out and picked him up. 

Thank goodness he was microchipped otherwise I would not have known what became of him. We are devastated he was such a character and we miss him dreadfully.

LOKI

 New kitten Loki, he is very mischievous loves to climb curtains and walk along the curtain rail. He tries to wrestle my 2 other cats - Fred (10y) and Sally (8y) - but they just swot him away.

 RAINY DAY

 

Terrigal Skillion

which is looking a little worst for wear 

after years of storms weathering

it away.

 SYDNEY HARBOUR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

On my Transpacific cruise on the Ruby Princess in 2019 

from San Pedro Cruise wharf in Los Angeles

to Auckland, New Zealand.

 I booked an Obstructed Oceanview cabin.

Loved the outlay of this cabin which left the window uncluttered.

 This was my view out the window it was great

 as I could check the weather before I dressed for the day.

 I am attempting this Jigsaw but only can do it when our new kitten, Loki, is having a cat nap as I have it  sitting on the dining table. At the moment I have dinner setting piled on top of it to stop him playing with the pieces.

 Flower Store, 

Martin Place, Sydney CBD.

 Sydney Harbour

RVK Newscast #89: Two New Cinder Cones About To Merge

Fascinating. 👏👏

The 36th America’s Cup | Port Entry Stern Camera | 🔴 LIVE Day 7

 Off the coast of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. 2017

 

The old Bank of New South Wales now a hotel

 on the corner of Pitt, Hunter and O'Connell Streets, Sydney.

 My first job after leaving school  in 1968, I worked on the first floor as a Personal Loans clerk/Electro-file operator (early bank computer). No experience at all - just taught how to answer general loan enquiries and which buttons to push on the machine. Not like now I would have had to have qualifications and years of experience to get a job.

I left 18 months later after the manager of the department verbally abused a female clerk. I still remember the shock I felt listening to the tirade. I had school friends who were public servants and they encouraged me to apply for the public service as the conditions were more favourable to females there. 

I rocked up at lunch time the next day to the Public Service Board - Employment Office. I was asked if I was currently working and where, what qualifications I had. He then asked me why I wanted to work with them and told him I had friends who said it was a great place to work especially for female staff (I don't think I bought a resume with me.) I mainly was just sussing them out to see if I could apply. Next minute I was offered two positions - one in the middle of Sydney's CBD and the other down  near Circular Quay in Loftus Street I picked the later as it would soon move to O"Connell Street in a new building. 

I returned to the bank and handed in my resignation written with help from the senior female staff  so I could come back if I didn't like being a public servant. lol .  Then I had to go home and break the news to my parents - at that time 2 sisters and 1 brother were also employed in the banking industry.

I told my sister when I got home and she suggested I wait till after dinner - Mum and Dad were a bit worried when I ask if I could talk to them - Mum went ballistic when I said I had resigned but Dad said well I hope you have another job lined up.  I said yes and told them I start in 2 weeks - I was going from a 3 weeks leave to 4 weeks leave and also - from 1 week sick leave to 2 weeks sick leave -  and better pay and I didn't have to leave if I got married which is what happened in the bank at that time.

 Darwin foreshore on the way to board Diamond Princess

 which is on its journey from Yokohama to Sydney. 2017.

 A New Year A New Post

A day after the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington DC.

Republicans resigning their posts to avoid impeaching Donald Trump. 

What happened Americans have you had it too good too long

 and becoming complacent about your rights and freedom?

You had it all and now just throwing it all away.