That Happy Feeling

The Animals are Restless

I have no issues with keeping animals in zoos and circuses. For the most part they are treated well, fed, groomed, looked after with the best veterinary care possible and zoos have breeding programmes to try to encourage the regeneration of endangered species. Sure, I'm against dancing bears, crazy Canadians and others who choose to keep animals in very small cages, underfed, and not properly cared for, but most zoos and circuses are not like that.

Animals however have feelings, and are wild beasts, and need to be treated with dignity and respect. In San Francisco a tiger was either let out of its enclosure, or somehow escaped and the inevitable happened when tiger met human. Condolences to the family and friends of the injured and the deceased. In Yamba, New South Wales, 420 miles north of Sydney, a small, surfing, fishing rivermouth community, an elephant in the visiting Stardust Circus, apparently turned on its keeper and crushed him, having been previously traumatised at the forced separation from other elephants. Again condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

The point of this story is merely to remind people that although we choose to keep wild animals enclosed either for research or entertainment, we need to be mindful that they are wild, that they are capable of instantaneous action and that they will turn. They're not warm fuzzy toys or cartoon characters and people need to remember this. Kudos to animal behaviourists and those working in the animal care and welfare professions.

Hot and Sticky

OK so the cold has just about run its course. I've still got a bit of a fever, nothing much, and a tickle in the throat which is mora an irritation than a problem, but apart from that, everything's great.

I'm off work now for a week. Don't have to go back until next Saturday. A birthday brunch tomorrow for a couple of hours, then finish the Christmas shopping. Most of the prezzies have been bought but now I need to stockup on victuals for the fridge and pantry.

Christmas Day will be with friends on the Central Coast, at Umina, just to the north of Sydney. The plan is to catch a bus to Palm Beach, which will take about 45mins to an hour, then a ferry across Broken Bay to Ettalong (about 25 minutes, and then a short walk, about a half hour or so, to an adjoining beachside suburb. I'm not sure what the forecast is, but for the past couple of days its been hot and humid, with occasional showers throughout the day and evening. So not necessarily a hot, beachy Christmas, but it might improve.

Whatever you're doing, hope you have a great time. if you're in Tacoma, WA, hope that the stones have passed (if you'll excuse the pun) and that Christmas is not too hectic, but I'm sure it will be.

Take care folks. Maybe a post tomorrow or Christmas Eve, but if time and life get in the way, be aware I'm thinking about you.

Dave, you would have enjoyed yourself this afternoon (not). An Irish pubcrawl up and down the street. Very rowdy rabbits. Rowdy but harmless, and legless.

Patrick! All the best of good wishes for the season, to you and O.

Gothgirls. See you Monday night, if not sooner.

A Code In My Dose

Sometime in the last 24 hours the tickle in my throat has developed into a fully fledged cold. Blocked nose, sore throat, mild temperature. Its not earth shattering or anything but it is somewhat uncomfortable. A trip to the chemist for some Codral and 6 hourly doses during the waking hours should make things better in a couple of days. I think its the fairly sudden changes of weather we're having. Over the past week or so we've had sudden fierce showers, then sunny, then overcast, humid all the while. I think the body just said - enough. But I still managed to get out for a couple of beers this afternoon, and can finish of a bottle of red (a glass and a half) tonight. Not much on Tv but I've got some writing to do.

Have a great weekend all, and hope the Christmas season isn't becoming too frantic for you.

Writing Christmas Cards

Writing Christmas cards, on a cluttered desk. Been at it for about an hour and will break in about 20 minutes which will see me half way through my list (as some day it may happen). Things are pretty good at the moment. Not too much stress in the workplace, and just had a great weekend. Saturday was a Gay-Rage (garage) sale for Choir in Taylor Square in Sydney so was there for a fair part of the day. A couple of drinks on Saturday night, then a volunteers Christmas party at genies on Sunday afternoon.

The weather at the moment is a bit bizarre, although it seems fairly typical for December. Very humid, and intermittent storms, which is the forecast for the rest of the week and the weekend. Oh well, at least the brolly gets a workout. .

Apart from that. All is calm.

To The Girls With Golden Hair

Dedicated to the girls from the Riverport Chorus, from Bristol Wisconsin, USA. Thanks ladies.

Remember, Reflect, Reaffirm

SGLC hosted a World AIDS Day concert last night in the Pitt Street Uniting Church, in the centre of Sydney, NSW, Australia. The theme was that listed in the title of this post, "Remember, Reflect, Reaffirm".

We decided to invite interested persons from other choirs and choral societies throughout Sydney to join us, and it was an incredibly moving and inspirational performance. The three pieces were interspersed with a number of readings from choir members and others, reflecting on lives lost, the joy these people brought to us, their courage and unique individuality, and the fact that they are missed, and will always be missed. It gave us an opportunity to give thanks for those who have survived the scourge of HIV/AIDS and to hope for a future where the pandemic might be conquered.