I want to take a moment to remember Dolly Everett, a Northern Territory teenager who took her own life after suffering cyberbullying. Amy “Dolly” Everett embodied the spirit of the outback when she appeared in joyful photos of life around her cattle station home and as the face of Akubra Hats in a recent Christmas campaign. But the teenager passed away last week, aged just 14 years, after suffering severe cyber harassment and bullying, according to her father. “Before Dolly died, she completed a drawing and wrote the words ‘stand up, speak even if your voice shakes.’ This powerful message tells the dark, scary place our beautiful angel had travelled to,” the family statement said. Watch the family's message from this link.......Stop Bullying - watch this
I have read an outpouring of grief and support on social media. I don't believe I have been bullied but I have seen the impact and results to friends, family and colleagues from bullying. This bullying came from friends, bosses, workmates...all people who should know better, people who should stop bullying, people who are in positions that facilitate them to bully. It angers me more than my words can express. So I can only ask that you call it out, anywhere, anytime and all the time. The link below is to a nightly Australian TV show called The Project which features a story about an Aussie farmer who spoke some very thoughtful words..........The Project - Aussie Farmer's Words
A very sad opening to follow but here we go.
Welcome to 2018, our third and final year in DC has
arrived. Time has certainly raced along and this year will be jam packed with
interesting things for us. The new year was quiet for us opting to stay at home
where it was relaxing and warm.
The weather has been absolutely well below zero
freezing. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such cold. We had some snow also
but it was sitting around -7 to -12 C most days !! We could not leave the dogs
outside at all so they would stay inside out of the weather. The didn’t care
about the weather and still loved going walking but it was a physical challenge
to survive a half hour walk for me.
I have scored myself a dreadful cold, it’s a bloody
shocker complete with a foul chesty cough. A lot of people are sick so it’s
inevitable that I caught it. I have now taken some strong cold/flu tablets the
past few days and that has helped a lot to keep it at bay. I’m not popular in
the house for all my coughing, hacking and spluttering and even Cricket has
taken to dropping his ears flat, staring at me and then running off to hide
somewhere else. Actions speak louder than words.
Speaking of the dogs, they had their annual vet
checks and did well. We have started the discussion for their trip home as they
have to complete and pass a number of tests and paperwork to enter Australia. We’ve
also engaged our transport person and they are ready to roll. The vet report
card read as follows:
Thank you for bringing Macey and Cricket in
to see us this morning! Despite what the scale says, I happen to think that
their body condition scores have improved since last time so don't fret. We
noted that Macey has a bit more dental tartar than Cricket and mildly decreased
range of motion in her hips. Other than that everyone looks great! Please
consider starting a fish oil / omega-3 supplement which can be helpful for
joint, coat, heart, and kidney health. For Macey's adventurous palate, I
recommend trying For-Bid Coprophagia Deterrent (for- bid.com).
So, the scales were not kind again and
while Cricket has a little extra snug about him, I don’t think the scales were
right for either of them as the vet noted thankfully. I had to ask for help
with Macey as she has had a long term habit of eating poo – not hers – but the
cat’s, Cricket’s and anything that drops a nugget. I like how the vet calls it
her ‘adventurous palate’. It’s not uncommon for some dogs but still a
disgusting habit for a pretty lady. I can deal with repeating Grade 1 at
obedience class but eating poo is a whole new level for Macey Moo Moo. I
ordered the powder and they BOTH have to eat it in their dinner. Poor Cricket,
he has to eat it too so his poo tastes horrible so Macey won’t eat it anymore,
hopefully. Let’s see how successful all this is. And the fish oil tablets are
to help with her arthritis which is starting to show. She’s in great shape but
we have noticed she is a little stiff at night which sadly, means she’s showing
her age. People can never believe she is 9 given her energy and madness.
Anyway, all ticked for another year but there will be more vet work to come as
they prepare for the long journey home.
I went with my friend AH to see Star Wars
The Last Jedi. Despite the varying views, I enjoyed it and more so than the
last movie. We went to the IMAX at the Air Space Smithsonian which makes a
movie like that even more amazing. I always look in wonder at the different
creatures in the movie – the imagination people have to create these things.
The actual costumes for Luke and Rey were on display which is pretty special so
I took a photo for good times sake.
As I write this I’m enjoying a lovely
coffee – I’ve been here before and the coffee never disappoints. The car is
being serviced so I cross the road to the shopping centre and wander around
while the car gets done. The car is
totally filthy after the rain and snow from the road which dirtied the car
beyond belief. It needs a good wash. I think they might give it a quick wash
today else it’s time to go the local scrubbers and let them do magic with the
car for a an hour.
So the BIG news is, and I cannot say enough
how excited I am (singing the ba na na na na na na na na na theme)….is that
there is a Batman Exhibt at the Hollywood Musuem starting today (Los Angeles).
It’s to celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the 1966 Batman series
first showing. I saw it on TV this morning. The best bit is that we are going
to Los Angeles soon for work so I’m sure the exhibit will be showing for a while
and I am definitely going to check this out. The pictures look incredible and
this will be a fabulous birthday present for me. I cannot wait !! Imagine Deb’s
eyes rolling around as I announced the news.
My friend and I went to the flying school
to kick start our flying aspirations – after a good discussion with lots of
questions and answers we walked away excited to get things going. First of all
we have to get approved by TSA (US Transport Security) as we are foreigners. So
we’ve filled out our forms and waiting for that approval to happen – should be
only a week or so. We can then start flying lessons which should be early Feb.
We have to get a medical done also but we have until we start going solo before
doing that. We will also start our theory/knowledge training which can do in
our own time as there is an online or DVD to take. So the final exam for that
will be ‘fun’ in a few months. Anyway, I should be posting some great flying
pics soon as I start my journey to get my pilot license.
I’ve been reading lately and finished two
books by the same author. They both involve treasure hunts to a certain degree.
The first book talked about the Knights of the Golden Circle who protected and
hid the silver/gold/jewels for the Confederates during the US Civil War. It had
a lot of Civil War history and the plot was around a lot of Washington DC and
the Smithsonsians. I loved it as I could understand the places having been to
many of them. The second book was about the Knights Templar and their
protection of gold and valuables and other artifacts from Jesus Christ. This
was largely based in France. While both books are fiction, they are based on a
lot of fact which makes them very interesting to read. For those interested,
Steve Berry is the author and the two books were The Lost Order and The Templar
Legacy. They are very much like a Dan Brown and Davinci Code story so check
them out if that appeals to you. I have another of his books to read now called
The Charlemagne Pursuit. He uses the same character in about a dozen books, bit
like Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy’s books. Charlemagne has always been an interest
to me. I actually have a replica of his sword from many years ago. The original
is in the Louvre and seeing that was a special moment for me.
So the mechanic just rang, the car needs a
new battery. Of course it does. It couldn’t just be a problem free service. It
will cost $190 – SHIT!! I’m sure it’s
cheaper to go elsewhere but finding that elsewhere place and making the time is
probably more than it’s worth. It’s always frustrating when I’m not familiar
with where to go for things as I am at home.
The weather has risen to above zero which
is great. However, the creeks where we walk have frozen over. Cricket taps
across like a little dancer as he is light and nimble but Macey is very
awkward. She knows something’s not quite right here and is very hesitant to
touch it. They will never experience such weather or beauty ever again – it’s
just not like this at home.
Well, I’ve run out of gossip. I have
flights, hotels, cars to book and research for the many travels that lie ahead.
We will be saving our pennys as travel is not cheap and I need to keep doing my
little part time job to help pay for our adventures.
Check out the car parked at the car dealership. And it had rego plates on it !!
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