Covid

This Omicron strain of Covid is out of control in Australia. You can read electric newspapers as well as I can. We know what is happening. In January this year my cardiologist told me, don't worry about it. We will all catch Covid at some point. In spite of his alarming statement, we are doing our best to not catch Covid.

We both have booster doses booked in January, but we are going to try walk up places to get the jab earlier. 

We are extra alarmed as on the 27th  there has been a case in our building. We don't know if it is a resident or visitor. Oddly, today on the 29th the cafe across the road is closed. I had coffee there yesterday, outdoors and I ordered at a window. I had earlier asked the cafe owner if he would be open between Christmas and New Year and he assured me he would be. While clearly closed, I walked past today and sure enough, there had been a Covid case attending on the 28th, the day I had had coffee there outside. 

I wonder if it was the Covid person in our building who attended the cafe. 

Whatever, this is getting too close to home. All we can do is avoid busy areas, keep masks on and hand sanitise. 

Later: I researched getting a walk in booster shot now to no avail. It is New Year's Eve on our shopping day Friday and the shops will be very busy and the forecast temperature is 38 degrees. We decided to shop today, Thursday. We walked past the chemist in South Melbourne Central and noticed people sitting in chairs waiting and filling in a form. We went in and were told, yes you can have your booster here. Come back in half an hour. We went and had coffee and returned, filled in the form and were injected with Moderna, the vax of our choice after two AZ doses. Well done Pharmasave and thank you.

So far, seven hours later, no reaction. Booster appointments have been cancelled and documentation has been downloaded to our phones.

We feel a bit safer, a bit happier but far from invincible. 

A gay time in India

In 2018 India's Supreme Court stuck down anti homosexual laws and it is no longer illegal to be gay in India. As is often the case, laws follow what has already happened. Of Australian Indian gay men, I've known many.

An openly gay judge and LGBTQI activist has been recommended for appointment by the Supreme Court of India to the position of Delhi High Court Judge.

Saurabh Kirpal. I don't know his politics or views, but I would guess he and I would agree on many matters.

Manvendra Singh Gohil is an Indian prince and very wealthy. In 1971 the status of Maharaja was reduced to commoner. Manvendra would have been a Maharaja. He came out as gay in I think 2006 and is a respected person. He does some very good charity work.

India has many problems but for the rich being gay does not seem to be a huge problem. We can only hope there is a good trickle down effect, in spite of the trickle down of wealth theory being thoroughly discredited.

Christmas in brief

Christmas Day was at Tradie Brother's place. Him, us, Mother, ABI Brother, Hippie Niece, her partner and her twin daughters, Ex Sister in Law and her husband, Sister, her wife Bone Doctor and Jo. Sister, Bone Doctor and Jo were going on to Korumburra to stay Christmas night with Bone Doctor's parents. 

There is a new freeway towards where Tradie Brother lives. It was as congested as the old new freeway, but our trip was perhaps not as bad as the last couple of years. Doesn't freeway mean free flowing and not stop start? A fifty minute trip turned to an  eighty minute trip. It is always our problem that we do things at the same time as everyone else does things. I pine for the old days when you could travel freely on our roads without  traffic congestion before mega immigration. 

Boxing Day I just used the M3 pay road to travel to Ex Sis in Law's home. The Peninsula Freeway slowed at one point but it wasn't a bad trip at all. 

It was the same cast less Sister, Bone Doctor and Jo and plus many more. I could do the names but enough to say many of the other side of the family there. It was a fine old time. Firefighting Nephew's wife gave a part reveal of their twins to be born. One is boy and the other undetermined.  I would guess if it can't be identified, it will be a girl and a sister for Little Ju who has just started walking, with lots of falling down.

Mother's present of a feet propelled ride airplane with a spinning propeller and noises went down a treat with Little L. Mother kept going on about batteries being flat. Given Little L's father is an auto electrician and Little L has two older sisters, I think they know all about batteries.

Good times but we are glad it is over for another year. 

Montreal to Halifax in a choof choof

Right you Maple Leaf folk. What's the deal here? 

I watched this rather interesting YouTube clip of a train fan taking The Ocean sleeper train from Montreal to Halifax. It looked like a great trip on an older but very comfortable train designed and built for the Channel Tunnel but not used and the carriages were bought by Canada for what seems a bargain price. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQdGvtZeBXY

I was surprised the trip takes nearly 24 hours by train, but Canada is not known for high speed trains and to stay in Canada and not intrude into the US state of Maine, the train has go a long way north before going south. But even the quickest car route goes well north before going south, taking around 12 hours. It is 14 hours in a car by travelling via the US states of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. 

The question is that what is in the middle of the state of Maine that has prevented a more direct road being built? Is it just about borders? 

Montreal on the left, travel upwards through Quebec City to avoid the US State of Maine then down to Halifax on the right where the name says Nova Scotia. 

Melbourne in Gingerbread

When we caught the tram to town with Santa at the controls, we chatted to another traveller who was very excited by seeing Santa driving. She was taking her young grandson from London to the city for some fun times. She mentioned about a gingerbread display at The Emporium department store. I don't like The Emporium much. Like Melbourne Central shopping centre, its layout is confusing. In time you can get to know the layout, but if you don't like it initially, you won't persist. I expect this is an old man view.

The gingerbread display was fantastic for adults, perhaps less so for children who don't know the locations or buildings. Here are too many photos of a brilliant display. Gold coin donation charity tin was in view but not forced.

I am not sure about what is Myer and what is The Emporium now, but this depicts the building.

Melbourne Town Hall on the left and St Pauls at the top.

This might be a back view of Myer.

Young and Jackson's Hotel on the left and St Pauls on the right. Christmas celebrations at Federation Square in the foreground.

Flinders Street Station and I guess a Federations Square Shard. Don't ask.

Arts Centre spire.

I'm not sure which gardens these are.

Shrine of Remembrance. 

Botanic Gardens. I think this is the Volcano, filled with water and dry soil and sand planting around the edge.

I believe the Heavenly Queen Temple in Footscray.

Flemington racecourse, where the Melbourne Cup is run.

Back to the Botanic Gardens with the River Yarra and the lake.

Melbourne Cricket Ground, the MCG. 

The Royal Children's Hospital in Parkville.

Luna Park in St Kilda.

Brighton Beach bathing boxes.

I can't get this one.

Melbourne Zoo.

Docklands.

Whether the models were made of gingerbread, who knows but I thought the display was terrific.

This pair of buskers were high energy and had gathered a crowd. Some couldn't resist a boogie.

Crowds to see Myer's Christmas window Peter Rabbit display.

We bought these for Little M, Little Em and Little L. 

Christmas

A few photos for this Christmas Day beginning with flowers sent by R's English sisters.

An anti masker protest? on Santa in our building's foyer, quickly removed. Maybe it was just a joke.

R made mince tarts for the first time, like his mother used to make them with a dollop of icing atop. I thought he was doing a silly thing by making his own pastry, but it was fantastic. He did make one foolish remark, that they would last  into the new year. There were two dozen. Two days before Christmas, two are left.

Ferguson Street, Williamstown. I have an idea I've seen the house decorated a few years ago. The two figures are inflatable and wave about a bit. The home owner was in her front garden and happily chatted to passersby. What attention seeking behaviour! Sorry, the Scrooge in me made my fingers do that.

I couldn't decide which photo of our tree to use, so both.

When Little Em arrived a week or so ago, she remarked, oh, you don't have a real tree. She is used to the family going to choose a real tree, bringing it home and decorating it.

How cool. The tram that pulled up to take us and Little M to town was being driven by a very engaging Santa. Just in case any children didn't spot him, he made lots of gongs with the tram bell. We asked and he was happy to be in the background with Little M in the foreground while we were still on the tram. Even Andrew Scrooge did not underestimate the fun atmosphere he created. Well done that Brunswick Depot driver.

Decoration in Bourke Street Mall.

The crowds Quasimodo, the crowds.

Our sideboard.

R made our Christmas cake this year. I used to make a very nice cake but he is far better at making things look attractive. Yes Virginia, there are non artistic gay men.

Season's greetings to you all.

Friday Funnies

I forgot I saved these and as far as I can see I haven't posted them before.

Male pop and tv stars, frequently and often.

Can't be that bad, can it?

If this is one animal on our planet I would like to see hunted to extinction, it is the kardashian.

Translates world wide to any country where Christmas is widely celebrated.

A selfie.

Tomorrow.

A good argument for the metric system.

Blatantly sexist, and probably true.

I worked this one out several years ago.

Possible but unlikely. See, I am in Christmas Scrooge mood.

Yeah, it's your point in life.

Why does my mind go to Nancy Regan?

Certainly not pointed towards me.

Another motherhood statement.

I am not so sure.

Substitute drinking wine for eating snacks, and I am there.

Beautiful on the inside.

But perhaps they are drug addicts and dealers serving time. So well brought up though.