Common Ground Coffee House #116

[Melanie]

Thank you Ann and Jim for your health system comments.....which are all so true. What you said Ann struck a chord....a farmer cousin of mine who is the sole adult male and father of 9...(there ain't no tv where they live!) had a ghastly accident where his vision was in danger in one eye. The local little hospital fixed the physical damage and said "shebealrightmate" and sent him home. To cut a long story short...it was an inadequate response to a pater familias and sole breadwinner.....the family got family loans...sent down to the big smoke and saw at vast expense a specialist and the preservation of his eye sight.

....and yet the same public health system is prepared to waste (IMHO) tax dollars in giving a liver transplant to alcoholics!!!! Madness.

 

[annsni]

Thank you Ann and Jim for your health system comments.....which are all so true. What you said Ann struck a chord....a farmer cousin of mine who is the sole adult male and father of 9...(there ain't no tv where they live!) had a ghastly accident where his vision was in danger in one eye. The local little hospital fixed the physical damage and said "shebealrightmate" and sent him home. To cut a long story short...it was an inadequate response to a pater familias and sole breadwinner.....the family got family loans...sent down to the big smoke and saw at vast expense a specialist and the preservation of his eye sight.

....and yet the same public health system is prepared to waste (IMHO) tax dollars in giving a liver transplant to alcoholics!!!! Madness.

Exactly.

 

[Melanie]

Howling gales here......winds up to 70kph which is definitely not good for the plants. The cat has been as silly as a 2 bob watch...running about with an unripe plum as a paw ball.

Soon I will be winging my way back to windless Brisbane for Christmas and having to cope with minimum temeperatures that are greater than the NZ maximums.

I must check out the latitude I am on as I would not be surprised if these winds are not the trade winds of the sailing days.

God bless you all:1_grouphug:

 

[Melanie]

Oh the other big news is the elections which I am sure was major news in the USA:tongue3::smilewinkgrin:

The government was re-elected....I guess it was the lesser of 2 evils, but let me say I certainly DID NOT vote for them.:thumbsup:

 

[Jim1999]

Melanie, Do you have mandatory voting in NZ as they do in Australia?

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Melanie]

Nah Jim, NZ has a voluntary system, however, I feel the country in which I reside does not ask me for much and I see it as good citizenship to vote....the upside is that I also have the right to criticise the government of the day. If I did not vote I can hardly complain IMHO.:type:

Also I find it weird not to HAVE to vote:thumbs:

 

[Barnabas H.]

Good morning folks! I am back after a long absence. Finally Lenke, my wife, is out of the woods. PTL she is on the mend. I have been taking care of her all this time, and now she is doing great - even goes to the local Bally Total Fitness center on her own to work out on the threadmills and bycicles. In the mean while (since she is now OK), I can catch up with my health issues. Got a hernia surgery on November 2nd, and a basel cell carcinoma surgery on December 1st on my right foot. So, I am recovering, and it is Lenke's time to play the nurse!!! ;-) Praise the Lord, I am doing alright. Soon I will have to get a surgery on my left eye because I have scar tissues on the back of my eyeball which are 400% larger than normal and it reduces my ability to see (even with glasses). I usually enlarge the letters to GIANT sizes on the computer screen in order to see them - otherwise I would not be able to read them.

Trust that you folks are all well. Sorry, I could not read all your previous posts up-to-date. I have to limit my time on the computer. May the good Lord be with you all in this Advent Season and bless you as only He can! :wavey:

 

[annsni]

Barnabas! It's great to see you and praise God on both of you healing well!!

We're in our busy season here in NY. Our church has their Christmas musical going on and three of my four kids are in it so it's been crazy around here. But I have to admit, my 19 year old has surprised me with her skill in singing!! I video-ed her during the rehearsal (I need to get a pic of her with all her hair and make-up done - she looks amazing!) and here's the link to the video. She's the one in the BIG hat. LOL http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/annsni/family/?action=view&current=MVI_1935.mp4

 

[Melanie]

Welcome back Barnabas....and wonderful news that your dearly loved is much better. It is a great time to be back on board as Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year (in my lot, anyhow).

I will add you to my prayers for a speedy and successful mending post surgery so you can enjoy a Christmas without being concerned about little ones running into sore and tender spots:flower:.

Went to a local production of the "Messiah" which was fun as I knew 3 of the choir. The production is mostly amateur with the import of 4 professionals for the soloist parts. It was a delight...the soprano was the daughter of the conductor and smiled a lot as her eye caught friends and family in the audience. The big surprise for me at least was in stead of an alto there was a counter tenor (which I have never heard before!).

Went and saw "Red Dog" at the cinema and it made me homesick for the big sky and red earth that is Australia. The film is a delight with the setting 1970's......golly the fashion was awful. The big hairy sweaty men in their close fitting t-shirts, stubbies and work boots reminded me of Mt. Isa where I did my nursing training. The red dog is probably a Queensland Blue Cattle dog of which there are 2 flavours....blue and red. I hope you get the chance to see it although it is very Aussie so there is quite a bit of language mostly of the Great Australian Adjective variety.

 

[Debby in Philly]

Hello everyone! It's been a year since I was on BB. Just thought I would say Hi! and wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
My church has been through a lot this past year, we finally found ourselves in the position of needing help to keep going here in the city. So the old church entity is now officially closed, and we who remain are a "replant" of another church with a wonderful pastor who actually grew up in our neighborhood. We know God is in it, because of the manner in which this new church came to us. Please pray for Grace Church of Feltonville, our new name, as we carry on the ministry to this neighborhood in North Philly.
Nice to be back!

 

[menageriekeeper]

Hey Barnabas! :wavey:

Hey Debbie! :wavey:

Nice to see you both!

 

[Melanie]

Welcome Debbie.....you are obviously a cat lover so that is a double welcome from my feline MissDaisyMae:wavey:

 

[Barnabas H.]

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all of our friends, Brothers & Sisters in Christ, a truly blessed Christmas Holiday Season! :wavey:

 

[Jim1999]

Happy Christmas to all, and especially to you, Barnabas and your beloved wife. Always good to see you, even if I don't respond as much these days.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Barnabas H.]

Thanks for welcome back Ann, Melanie, and MK. :thumbs:

...Always good to see you, even if I don't respond as much these days.

Cheers,

Jim

I am in the same boat Brother Jim.... I am in the same boat. Our love to you and your dear "Better Half" also!

 

[Melanie]

Almost 2200hrs here.....be trotting off to Carols and Midnight Mass shortly so I wish all the good folks here a Blessed and happy Christmas...:flower::godisgood:

 

[annsni]

Merry Christmas Melanie!!

It's Christmas Eve morning here. Hubby just ran out to get one more gift, my big girls are working at the grocery store until 12:30 (started work at 6 am!) and the littles are playing video games while I have a cup of tea and surf. When I'm done, I'm going to start wrapping the girl's gifts and maybe keep the littles out long enough to wrap theirs. I hope I have enough stuff for everyone! It's a leaner year but we're blessed.

Later, we'll head to church. I'll be there about 3:20 or so to make sure the computer stuff is all done and our service is at 4. After church, we'll come home and meet my dad here for presents and dinner. Then hopefully it will be an early bedtime because we have to be up bright and early tomorrow for us to go to church (we leave the house at 8 am) and afterwards, we'll head out to my in-laws for a mid-day dinner and presents. Tomorrow night we'll all crash with some pigs in a blanket and other snacks and watch the Walton's Homecoming, which was the movie that spawned the TV series.

Have a very merry, blessed Christmas everyone!

 

[Gina B]

Ahhh...the smell of gingerbread is wafting through our home, the decorations on the cupcakes are sparkling, and got seven kids all busy with different projects and/or silliness. :love2:

Merry Christmas to all!

 

[menageriekeeper]

Ahh, the quiet of Christmas Eve night!

last family gathering went well today (this is the one with my folks. ).

Christmas Eve service went even better!

Now all is quiet except for the dog who refuses to let me clip her nails. She's tapping back and forth not sure who to lay next too. Someone has a cookie right? (poor puppies, I forgot to buy cookies!)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

[Melanie]

Christmas night....and flat out like a lizard....lovely luncheon...all cold meats, salads and a pavlova for dessert.

It has been very hot and muggy (typical Christmas weather in Brisbane Qld.) Presents and family. Went to bed about 0200hrs after midnight Mass and off again at 0800 hrs to mum's church (she is Lutheran).

Will be watching the Brisbane to Hobart yacht race tomorrow (Boxing Day) and hope that the air con is on as it is supposed to be over 30C. Praying that Darwin does NOT get slammed by the cyclone just off shore, but they will get the wall of water from the heavens.

I trust you all have had the best Christmas ever..... :1_grouphug: