Rowville Ramblings

Springtime in theHeart (of Rowville)

2009-11-05T16:57:00.012+11:00

Within walking distance from our house is the Churchill National Park. I don't walk there as much as I should because there are no dogs allowed, and "Monty" is a dog.

Today I "snuck" out on Monty, toiled my way through the park to the top NE gate which opens out into the Lysterfield park area. It was there I discovered the "Woodland Walk". I walked along there for about a Kilometer until the track turned left and disappeared down a steep gully. I stopped, I'd been caught before, what goes down just has to come up again. Like New Guinea!

The log (above) looked good, even though it teetered a little as I sat on it.
I opened my sandwich, poured out my milk coffee and enjoyed the sun on my back and the sweet silence of the Australian bush. I thought to myself, "it doesn't get much better than this"
After my repast I thought to open a little New Testament I had with me, thinking to myself, "God might have something to say to me"
I was reading in The Acts of the Apostles, where an angel had led Peter out of a prison and he found himself knocking on the door of a house where people had gathered to pray for his release, and they didn't let him in because they wouldn't believe the girl who was telling them that Peter was at the front door, what a laugh!
Suddenly the silence of the bush was shattered by the bounding of about a dozen kangaroos, a few of them half grown, some went by close on my left and others on my right, one even went by on my right about two metres away and at shoulder height.
I was surprised to remember afterwards that my loud response at the time was "Hooley Dooley".

I went back to the book God has out, and after a while I was aware that there was an unusual buzzing of bees. I walked over to investigate, keeping a safe distance from
source of the buzzing, I saw that hundreds of bees were going in and coming out of the hole in a dead tree pictured above. This reminded me of some of our exploits in the early days in the Mallee robbing beehives which were not always successful, but always hilarious,in retrospect.We didn't always use smoke!

After reading a little longer, I looked up and noticed several ears sticking up above the grassy edge about 30 metres away. Each pair of ears had two very curious eyes underneath them, and that was all that was showing. It looked quite comical.
One older chap took the opportunity to sneak around the side of me for a closer look but by the time I got my camera on him he was merging into the bush.

As I began to walk back I plugged in a tiny radio that I had taken along.
Australian Aboriginal people were speaking on this program about the land being their land in spite of the fact of the boat people that came along in recent days and changed nearly everything.
As they spoke I could only wonder at the spiritual aspect that permeated all there understanding.
The boat people that came now think they own the place, and as for their spirituality or lack thereof, they get terribly agitated even if they think
that it might be mentioned in schools that there is the possibility of intelligent design in the creation.
Oh dear me, did I say creation?, I think even might upset many of them.

Spring Time is great, especially Spring Time in the heart

The Shed

2009-10-19T17:25:00.014+11:00

I made bold plans as I lay in my bed. I would do it. I would, as it were, "Storm the Bastille".My plan was as simple as it was clever. It was going to be an all out frontal attack on THE SHED

Lawlessness was prevailing out there
There would be nothing less than Revolution, a new order would prevail., (at least some sort of order)

Rubbish would be swept up, long cherished items would be thrown out in a perfunctory manner, There would be no mercy, "no prisoners would be taken"

There would be a place for EVERYTHING and EVERYTHING would be in it's place.
"You may call me a dreamer, but I'm not the only one". The sweet words were running through my mind.

The first thing that fell under my stern gaze was the weedsprayer.
It was heavy and always hard to put on my back.
My plan was clever. I would make a hook for it at shoulder height in the secondary shed. As I was doing that I noticed that the lawlessness that abounded in shed one was also rampant in shed 2

As I repaired to my computer desk for a rest, I had this quiet sense of achievement deep within, but as I surveyed my desk top unease began to creep into my conciousness.
There was something about my desk top that was like the shed, lawlessness was abounding.
The mist was lifting, I had been diverted from my noble cause by some clever subliminal message eminating from "The Shed"

What to do?
As you can see some good things come out of the shed.
Maybe a compromise is called for.
Like Wellington said when he defeated Napoleon, "It was a close run thing"
I am not giving up, I will attack again tomorrow at dawn.
"We will overcome one day" and then Conputer desk, Watch out!

Another ANZAC Day

2009-04-24T15:16:00.015+10:00

The ANZACS were represented by the young men from Australia and New Zealand who took their places in the terrible, conflict known as World War 1, 1914-1918.
Those who were fortunate to return home with their lives have by now all joined their fallen comrades who fell on the battlefields.
Tomorrow, April 25 we in Australia and New Zealand will remember them along with all the others who served their respective countries in other conflicts since.
Two of my older brothers served in World War 2. They too have joined the fallen comrades.
My father David who passed on in 1981 told me many stories of his experiences in that WW1 conflict. His memories were very vivid.Sometimes he would tell of exploits, being mentioned in dispatches, having fun with his comrades, but at other times lamenting that he had just been a two Shillings a day murderer. I remember my sister asking my mother why my dad had reacted badly to something or other and my mother answered, "It's the war"!
In 2004 I my wife and I had the good fortune to visit the Somme are in France. It was a memorable day for us. I am adding a few photos with some comments

Sue and I at Vlllers Brettonneux. It was here on another April 25 that my Dad was mentioned in dispatches

A letter from King George, I would guess all the wounded got one. It is written in ink. I wonder if he had a host of "Ghost Writers"?

Sue at Pozziers. It was near here that her father was shot through the thigh and spent about a year in a hospital in Birmingham, some problem with infection. He was a driver bringing up 13lb shells and the German snipers would pick off the drivers

This would be somewhere in the vicinity where my dad was hit by a wizbang which removed his right shoulder muscle as well as other damage. His wound was in the 'light" category although it was thought he would never be able to raise his arm above his head. He had come to the conclusion that nothing would ever hit having had so many very close shaves, but said that as he made his way to safety he thought everything was going to hit him!

Our youngest son Ben became our tour guide and was later able to go into Belgium (vicariously for me!), where my dad also fought and lost many comrades

Villers Brettoneux again with the town itself in the distance.

Outside Villers Brettneux school museum, unfortunately shut on the one day I could be there.

Moquet Farm was up near the pine trees, the paddock in foreground was a mass of tunnels and concrete, almost impregnable.

Writing on the plaque

LEST WE FORGET

One Year in the Life of Donald Holt

2008-09-13T23:33:00.012+10:00

Several years ago I read a book that made quite an impression on me.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich written by Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn.

Solzhenitsyn, December 11, 1918 – August 3, 2008) was a Russian novelist, dramatist and historian. Through his writings, he made the world aware of the Gulag, the Soviet Union's labour camp system, and for these efforts Solzhenitsyn was exiled from the Soviet Union in 1974. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970. He returned to Russia in 1994. He was the father of Ignat Solzhenitsyn, a conductor and pianist. He died at home after years of declining health on August 3, 2008.

August 3 2008, just a few weeks ago, his passing is worth a mention.

We all have our days, our years and our own story and all the stories are worth a mention. I often can't recall what I what I did yesterday, but 2008 have has some moments, probably mundane, ordinary, but I would hazard a guess that that people in situations like the one Ivan Denisovich was depicted in would gladly change me places.
My BLOG entered on January 26 is about the Great Grand daughter of the year.
February 23 is about the wedding of the year
And just a week or two ago our fifth son Simon was awarded the Book of the Year.
The book is titled "God Next Door" (Acorn Press), and of course I'm proud of him.
I'm sure you will find something about this on Simon's Page which is found on a column on this BLOG Site.
On the 7th of June, my wife Peta Sue suffered a stroke from which she has made a remarkable recovery, for which we thank God.
On June 25 I had a Carpal Tunnel release done on my left hand, that's worth a mention!
Children and Grandchildren have traveled all over the globe through this period, to mention a few, Our oldest son, Mark, visited Zimbabwe, Grandson Kamis returned home from the Middle east area, Granddaughter Gemma is in London after touring parts of Europe and Grandson Jarred is, of all places, in Iceland!
The furthest afield that Sue and I have got is to the Gold coast, and I have a picture to prove it

A Wonderful Day

2008-02-23T02:32:00.010+11:00

Last Saturday, February 16 2008 our youngest son Ben married Zo, the love of his life.
This took place in the Treasury Gardens, Melbourne (Australia)
The weather was delightful, we couldn't have set the temperature better with a thermostat.
Apart from the professional photographers, we all got some great pics with our little digital cameras

This is Zo and she is beautiful

This is Ben and he is happy

And this is Pastor Geoff Baker tying the knot

And this is Ben's Mum and Dad, very pleased with the whole event

There seems to be a lot of people today saying (and acting out), "why get married, this can just be walked away from anyway".
If people want to act in this way it is up to them, but it is certainly not the way for Christians who believe that marriage is ordained by God. It shows commitment of one man to one woman, and commitment of that man and that woman to any children they may have together.
While some may believe that marriage is on the way out,the scriptures indicate(albeit in warning)that marriage will still be being entered into on the last day.
It's well worth your while having a bit of a read. Luke 17:26-30.
"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man, people were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage...... It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed....

I'm a Grand Father, That's great!

2008-01-28T23:03:00.000+11:00

I am now a Great Grandfather by courtesy of Holly. Meet Holly
The upside of this development- Holly.
The downside is that I have a son who is a Grandfather,and that is not all, I have discovered that I am sleeping with a great grandmother!

Here is Great Grandmother with Grand daughter, Katie, (the mother), and Holly, the great grand daughter.

And here is number four son with his own grand daughter

It's All Happening!

2007-12-11T14:16:00.000+11:00

It's now a few weeks since I sat and made a heading for this post. Because there has been just so much happening, along with the fact that I am a prize procrastinator, much of what was "all happening" has already happened.
Before enlightening everybody about the following pictures I have just a little controversial something to say. In today's paper I read an article that started off like this:- More than 400 prominent scientists worldwide declared themselves "Climate Change Sceptics" in 2007, followed by sentences like this one. "Some say.'There may be global warming but claim it is caused by factors other than man made greenhouse emissions, such as solar flaring and radiation".
Did I ever tell you that my Dad used to get Inigo Jone's long range weather forecasts, and this was back in about 1940. I remember my Dad saying that Inigo Jones predicts a 10 year drought in the area at the turn of the century!
I am also interested to find that God Himself has gone on record with these words, recorded in the Book of Genesis Chapter 8 and verse 22 regarding His covenant with creation after the great flood.
"While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease"
You may think me a little strange to say the least, but I find comfort and reassurance in His Word.

Christmas morning we enjoyed a breakfast with my wife Peta's sister Margy, her husband Teddy, their daughter Lisa and her partner Anthony.

In the evening all the Holt's, with a couple of notable exceptions descended upon Zo's place. The exceptions were the Tasmanians,(The Larry Holt family) heavily pregnant Katie, and Middle East wanderer Kamis.
There was plenty of food good company, a spa and pool table.

One of the things yet to happen is that Ben and Zo are getting married in about 7 weeks.This is the couple in picture above. We are eagerly awaiting this day.

Above is number three son Greg and Grandson Nathaniel. They are contemplating the assembly of a Dinosaur. Greg made all the pieces which fit perfectly,on a computerised router table that he built. A clever lad this one!
Well, I guess that there is always something about to happen. Just a few days to New Years Day 2008. The day after that Peta and I will celebrate 54 years of married life together. I did a good days work when I threw my rope over that one.
I wish you all a happy New Year

WISDOM, better than fine gold

2007-11-21T12:41:00.000+11:00

While cleaning around the garden and thanking God for the lovely rain this morning I was thinking again about the thing Jesus said about "Wisdom being justified of all her children" Luke 7:35.
I went inside and began to Google, a message from the lawyer come preacher, Finney, many pictures the magi, (the wise guys) and a great little Utube presentation of a young preacher named Jason. Have a listen to him by using the link. I'll copy the address here in case the enclosed link doesn't show up:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_UdBvNyP5s

The Baptist Church up the road at Rowville probably have their Christmas sign up again which says, "Wise men still seek Jesus"
May you find the truth that Jesus is the wisdom of God, and have a happy Christmas

Canberra and Sydney Town

2007-10-06T13:45:00.000+10:00

A couple of weeks ago we went to Sydney via the Canberra War Memorial.
I spent a whole day in the memorial as there was a special exhibition of WW1 Flanders Fields battles in France. My dad was there that particular year so it was of special interest to me.
I was intrigued to see how dated was the Harley Davidson Motor Cycle that my brother Cyril rode as a MP. WW2 this time though!

Sydney Town of course was wonderful and our number four son Paul spent a small fortune wining and dining us right on the harbour

Below is a photo taken in the late 60's of one of our visits to my late brother Murray's home at Bankstown

The land and position being so valuable the old house has been demolished and a mansion put in its place, as with most of the other houses in the street.

On the way home we stopped at Yass, off the freeway, and enjoyed a picnic lunch.
The Australian Magpies are also fond of picnic lunches.
I thought to myself, "What a delightful place to live"
But then, just like Heaven, where every seat will be a good one, you should count yourself most fortunate if you have a little spot in Australia

The Wattle day that never was (almost)

2007-09-01T11:35:00.000+10:00

I awoke this morning to the buzz of a chain saw next door. The sun was shining, a gorgeous morning indeed, the beautiful song of an Australian magpie was rising above that other rude sound. It was 9am. I had slept in beautifully. I leapt out of bed, showered,and put on my Sunday finery for church.
After telling my wife it was time to get up, I went out to survey this beautiful morning. To my surprise, there was a rolled up newspaper on the front lawn. We don't get the Sunday paper, this was a surprising development. I peeled of the glad wrap from the paper to discover that it was a Saturday paper. How odd, I thought to myself, "why on earth has that happened"? I was even more perplexed when I looked at he contents of the paper and realised I had not seen these articles yesterday. Things were just getting curiouser and curiouser.
My wife came out to the kitchen and I asked her, "Did we get a paper yesterday"? She said, "Yes". I said, "Well they have left us another one today, and it is a Saturdays paper". My wife's reply was as startling as it was illuminating, she said "It is Saturday".
It took a few moments to absorb this truth, and its implications.
It was indeed Saturday, It was also the first day of Spring, and what's more, it was Wattle Day. It was the day I had been waiting for, and I nearly missed it altogether

It was just a couple of days ago that I visited a Neurologist. As I was returning home I stopped to photograph just any old Wattle tree for my blog, not a great picture as I had to jump out of the way of some mad motorist as I snapped it.
Talking about this Nuerologist coot, he took just on seven minutes giving me electric shocks to tell me that I had severe Carpal Tunnel in both hands. I got his bill post haste, like next day. I am still smarting over the fact that he charged me $30 per minute. This made me feel a little better for charging people $30 and hour for repairs and restoration.
My wife is already convinced that this warrants an operation or two. My thoughts are that a little Elmore Oil might just do the trick. After all,this oil has fixed up a trigger finger in spite of Doctor Nick's dogmatic statement that no amount of rubbing oil into it would do any good at all.

Wattle Day Is Coming

2007-08-07T13:13:00.000+10:00

Under the Southern Cross I stand
A sprig of wattle in my hand
A native of our native land
Australia, Australia, you * * * beauty

Rod Marsh, Australian Cricketer. 1987

As you will notice, the Wattle has its place on the Australian coat of arms
Here is an excerpt from the Wattle Day page:-
In Australia, the wattles are the largest genus of flowering plants. Of the 1380 species of acacia in the world, Australia has about 985. And in Australia acacias are the extremely diverse - found in habitats from rainforest to arid lands. The largest numbers of species are found in the semi-arid wheatbelt region of Western Australia but high numbers also occur associated with the rocky tablelands of the Great Divide in eastern Australia. Although species numbers are generally lower in the inland desert regions, it is here that Wattles are King with species like Mulga (Acacia aneura) dominating the landscape for hundreds and hundreds of kilometres. Wattles range in size from mat-like creepers (e.g. Acacia aculeatissima and pulviniformis) to tall forest trees (e.g. Acacia bakeri and Acacia celsa). Most, however, are shrubs or small trees between about 1 and 5 metres tall (e.g. Acacia acinacea and Acacia acuminata).
Botanists still ponder the question as to why there are so many different species of wattle in Australia. Why in Australia is there such wattle diversity?
Australians may have made a home for themselves amongst the gumtrees, but it is the wattletree that has found its way into Australian symbolism. Most Australians can recognise a wattle, at least when it is in flower. In the years leading up to Federation in 1901, the Australian Natives Association (ANA) began a campaign to find a national flower as an emblem for Australia like the rose for the English, the thistle for the Scots, leeks for the Welsh and the shamrock for the Irish. The Canadians had just recently chosen their maple. The wattle was the choice, the ANA committee said, as it was not excluded from any part of Australia, had bright beauty and was useful in tanning hides! The wattle was being called upon to represent an egalitarian, classless Australia of golden prosperity. Wow!

Wattle Day — 1 September or 1 August
The long-standing differences of opinion and confusion as to which date, 1 August or 1 September, is more appropriate for Wattle Day was settled in 1992 when agreement reached between the Commonwealth and States – 1 September is the day. This standardization resulted from the urgings of Maria Hitchcock and her associates.
Unaware of this vital snippet of information, it was on on Sunday avo, August 5 .I set of for the nearby hills to feast my eyes on the blazing wattle blooms. The above picture and the ones below confirm, there was no wattle blooms to be seen.
On reflection, I realised that I had been "caught" before,the wattles bloom later in the cooler heights.
Oh to be in the Mallee right now, the golden wattle would be breath taking, Ah well.

I was within walking distance of my home where I was able to photograph the only bit of wattle bloom I saw

Where I was born and grew up, at Quambatook our farmhouse was called "Wattleview", and I have to tell you the Golden Wattle was a magnificent sight before the droughts of the 1940s wiped them out for a time.
We used to get the wattle bark, soak it in water and then put our dogs feet in the solution to toughen up their paws. You probably need to store this piece of information.
What do you think about the title I chose for my Blog?
Rowville Ramblings... very apt.

"WHO SAID THAT"?

2007-07-12T10:38:00.000+10:00

Number One.
"Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light"
The Apostle Paul said "Some bloke said it". (Eph 5:14)
Number Two
"Thy kingdom come"
Jesus Christ Himself said it.(Luke 11:2)
Number Three
"There is nothing so stable as change"
Attributed to Bob Dylan
He then must have gone out and wrote his song, "The times they are a changin".

This strange assortment came to me as I lay in a waking stupor this AM with the nagging thought that I should write another Blog.
That probably accounts for Number One.
Number two was the refuge to which I fled after contemplating modern change and some of its ramifications. Number Two will bring in the most widespread and the best changes ever.(Even so, come Lord Jesus)
Number three came out of our week end trip to Sydney, the jewel of the East, and also out of watching radio communications and the ABC, made in the late 40's and screened on ABC 2 last night. The 1940's seemed so quaint and I had to pinch myself and say, this is how it really was, sending telegrams and meeting ships, going to counters and speaking with real people.Some things have improved, like people not puffing smoke all over the place, but sad to say, good manners have not!

The first two photos below will serve to remind us of the change in our number one son's life.
Mark and Val lived in this lovely little house for some time, but there are now only memories

Mark and Val were smart, they bought the worst house in a very nice street and turned it into a lovely little cottage. What a nice place to have spent some of their life

Nevertheless, "Change Happens"
The next three pics show something of the change in the life of our number four son, Paul.
This is his new digs within walking distance of the Castle Hill shopping complex
Surpise surprise, just a short drive from Mark and Val's cottage in Glenhaven.

Here is Paul setting up his kitchen and as you look out the window there you can see into the yard of St Bernadette's Church and Primary School caught ion the pic below

While it is true that change happens it is also true that some things don't change quickly enough. I'm thinking about the road from Melbourne to Sydney, the famous Hume Highway. I am still waiting for the duel road to be completed between Yass and Holbrooke. As Gough Whitlam said. "Its Time"

The sentimental bloke

2007-05-31T10:08:00.001+10:00

If it is true that Nostalgia is not what it used to be, sentimentality is looked sideways by many at as being sloppy etc
But I think sentimental is OK

In 1915 C J Dennis published The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, which told the story of an Aussie bloke courting and finally marrying the love of his life, Doreen. The book was an immediate success, selling over 66,000 copies in 18 months.

Fer 'er sweet sake I've gone and chucked it clean:
The pubs an' schools an' all that leery game.
Fer when a bloke 'as come to know Doreen,
It ain't the same.
There's 'igher things, she sez, for blokes to do.
An' I am 'arf believin' that it's true.

Yes, 'igher things--that wus the way she spoke;
An' when she looked at me I sorter felt
That bosker feelin' that comes offer a bloke,
An' makes 'im melt;
Makes 'im all 'ot to maul 'er, an' to shove
'Is arms about 'er . . . Bli'me? But it's love!

Bill did battle with the Stror at coot and came out smelling of roses.

Here is another another sentimental bloke. I was always under the impression that the song was written in George's later years (and you can't let the facts get in the way of a good story) but it seems he wrote it as he gazed into the future.
A good heart tugger nethertheless.
When You And I Were Young Maggie
Words by George W. Johnson
Music by James Austin Butterfield (1866)

An historic American folksong written in 1866 by George W. Johnson writing about his wife, an ex-student of his, who died a few months after their marriage.

George was a young school teacher when he met Maggie Clark, who was then his pupil. Maggie and George fell in love and were later engaged. Maggie was not well, however, having contracted tuberculosis. During one of his fiancee's more serious periods of illness, George walked to a nearby hill, overlooking a mill, and composed the verse that provided the lyrics to his song.

On October 21, 1864, George and Maggie were married in Glanbrook, Ontario. It is also around this time that George's poetry book, Maple Leaves, was published. It included his poem "When You And I Were Young, Maggie."

Unfortunately, Maggie's health deteriorated and she died on May 12, 1865, as a result of typhus fever. She was buried in White Church Cemetery.

The following year, George worked with his friend J.C. Butterfield and set "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" to music. It was first sung by Maggie's sister Elizabeth, and eventually became a popular song all over the world.
I wandered today to the hills, Maggie,
To watch the scene below
The creek and the creaking old mill, Maggie,
As we used to long long ago
The green grove is gone from the hills, Maggie,
Where first the daisies sprung
The creaking old mill is still, Maggie,
Since you and I were young. Oh they say that I'm feeble with age, Maggie,
My steps are much slower than then
My face is a well written page, Maggie,
And time all alone was the pen
They say we have outlived our time, Maggie,
As dated as songs that we've sung
But to me you're as fair as you were, Maggie,
When you and I were young.

I went walking in the Cranbourne Botanic Garden yesterday avo. It was cool and windy, there had been rain the day before which had softened the leaves and everything.
Quite a delightful place on such a day, and the company was great, I am guilty of liking my own company for short periods of time!
As I made my way up to the high vantage point called Trig point,(up there between the tree in picture), I saw lots of things, Bandicoots, birds, wallabies, wombat tracks, trees!
The photo below would say different things to different people.
The Sentimental Bloke would be likely to be sad and say , "It was all so lovely before the fire.
A practical, cynical person might conclude that one of the trees escaped the fire only to be blown over, out of hand, by an ill wind.
An old man like me, looking forward to heaven, or the new earth, or heaven on earth, might look forward to the transformation and new life, depicted by the Australian bush.
If the earth is to be destroyed by fire, (2 Pet 3:12) we shall look forward to seeing and being part of the new heaven and new earth

As I had a break from writing this blog, I rose, looked out of my window, and Lo, there was a garden party right on my own front lawn. The picture is not good, as I had to take it furtively between the slats of the venetian blind.
There were about 20 shiny Starlings, two Blackbirds, two Indian Miners and a few Sparrows. The Starlings were feasting, the Blackbirds were watching, aloof, the Sparrows fluttering around wondering if they were missing anything, and the Indian Miners strutting pompously. A bit like people I thought!

"I am not mad most noble Festus"

2007-04-17T14:54:00.000+10:00

On Sunday I had the opportunity to go with my eldest son, Mark, to Boort where he was to speak. While he was doing this, I disappeared out into the Towaninnie plains for about 3 hours and found my way to my mother's grave.
Here is a photo of her grave alongside that of her only brother.
It is sort of "out there"

I remember standing by this open grave as a 6 year old boy. The farmers had placed some lovely sheaves of oats over the coffin before taking it in turns to shovel the earth back over it.
I've been on my own journey since that sad day and have come to the understanding that God is going to raise the dead from their graves on one great day.
It's more than a little possible that some reading this will say, "He's a little mad"
Get hold of a bible, (God's got a book out), and read in the New Testament the 26th chapter of the book of Acts. When Paul spoke about God raising the dead, Festus got very agitated and said, "Paul, much learning has made you mad".
No wonder I'm excited.
Another photo of the same place showing me being excited!

I believe in yesterday

2007-03-22T13:53:00.000+11:00

Like I've said before, "Nostalgia aint what it used to be"
Unlike the "Genealogy Gene' which seems to kick in at about 60 years of age, the "Nostalgia Gene" seems to be active in all people over the age of about 20.
It seems strange to hear people laughing about the nineties, what they did and what they wore, while to me it seems like just yesterday.
Have you stopped to consider that how you wear your hair (I,m not speaking to the people with very little), or what you are wearing will be viewed with great hilarity by a future generation, or possibly even by your own good self in days to come?
As far back as I can remember there has always been a yesterday,and even more startling is the fact that it is always "NOW"? This can be a scary thought because the future is always unknown. It might be even scarier if it was known!!
Life seems a little like a video tape, just rolling on. There are a couple of big differences , with life there is no pause button, there is no fast forward button, nor is there a replay button. The remarkable thing is that we all have memories of the past, fading though they may be.
You may well be asking yourselves, "What has set him off on this"?
Well, on the first day of March I was able to pay a visit to the heritage Park at Moe Victoria. I had driven past on countless occasions thinking, "I must go in there one day". On this day my number one son, Mark had an engagement at Moe so I went along for the ride and got off at the Heritage Park.
There were several pluses, It was a free ride, it was inexpensive to enter and buy food, the people there were very nice "country people", the museum was great and so was Mark's company.
Why do country people in general seem so much nicer than their city cousins?
I have put a few pictures on here with some comments

There is an old song we used to sing, "The wheel of the wagon is broken, and it aint gunna turn no more" This is certainly true of this one. My Grandfather's brother set off for Queensland with his horses and wagon transporting something or other. When he returned home his wagon wheels were worn out, which probably took the gloss off any profit made.

This was the nearest thing to the buggy we went to school in, but ours wasn't quite so fancy. In the early days, being the youngest, my seat was in that back bit.

This class room catered for grades one to eight in the one room. The Quambatook Sate School, being a much bigger school, had grades five to eight in the one room.
The ink wells were place one in the centre and the other on the right hand side. Students who showed a propensity for left handedness were dissuaded from showing such a propensity. If that failed as it probably always did, they must have sat on the right hand side of the desk, as there were two students to each desk. When the teacher really wanted to punish me and make me feel great shame, she would place me alongside a girl. shudder!

The "Smithy" (Black Smith Shop) smelt just like our one and countless others.
All sorts of tongs, hand turned drills, dirt floor. Every small town had a Black Smith Shop, and any farm worth it's salt.

There were quite a few "Period Phones" on display. This was the model we had. We were on a party line, a line of three in our case. Each had it's distinctive series of rings. Our number was Quambatook 25S, so the Morse code for "S" which is Dot Dot Dot was three short rings repeated a few times. The news starved farmer's wives would sometimes very very quietly lift the phone on another call and listen in!

These are different petrol bowsers, not all outside one garage of course. The petrol, or Gasoline, was hand pumped up to the marks on the glass bowl, and then siphoned into the tank of the car, or truck, or Motor Bike

The old "Sand Stones" were rarely as round as they were when new. It usually meant that one person turned the wheel and poured on a bit of water while the other did the "grinding" with the job going in and out as did the wheel circumference!

The old "Furphy" water tank has become famous. A descendant of Mr. Furphy used to take us boys on outings sometimes. We would go off with the warnings of our Aunty Lil ringing in our ears, "Watch him"!
Well, I guess that's enough "nostalgia" to last you for some time, but like Arny, "Ill be back"

Far Side of the World

2007-03-21T15:12:00.000+11:00

This is port Arthur Tasmania. Always infamous but even more so in recent years because a man with a gun shot lots of people indiscriminately, 35 actually ,for which he, Martyn Bryant, received 35 life sentences without parole in the Risdon prison.
Perhaps it might have been apt to put him away in one of the dark cells at Port Arthur itself!
Britain had sent some 50,000 convicts to the Americas up till the war of Independence took precedence. Convicts were then sent over a period of time to Australia and van Demen's Land (Tasmania). They did tbis because their jails were overflowing. Tasmania received about 75,000 such, sounds like a lot!
All of the Holts made the claim that they came a "Paying Passengers" although I do see one Holt on the list, a female, for stealing a few Lbs of cheese.
If every one in Australia was locked up, that the general public seems to think should be, we might have to transport a few. The UK might be high on the list of preferences.

An early explorer (sailor) said that he saw giant trees which must have been there since the beginning of time. This particular tree has the first branch at about 36 metres up the trunk, the tree went a long way higher than that, approaching 100 metres.
There are not only high trees in Tasmania but also old sheds. This one has to be right up there

All in all Bruny Island would be a great place to drop out, but be warned, a lot of Ozzies are already there grabbing the prime spots, but it may not be yet, too late!
Here is one of the edges of Bruny Islands many many kilometers of coast line, there are many more spectacular than this but I thought this bit fascinating.
In case you are wondering where to find such a place, it is on the southern tip of Australia

(At the bottom of Tasmania)

Another trip around the sun

2007-02-13T15:19:00.000+11:00

Corryong days are now just a memory and we are already well into February.
As always, life goes on,(While you are still breathing anyway). There have been wedding anniversarys to celebrate, weddings to attend etcetera etcetera and today I got reversing sensors put on our little Toyota as a birthday present.
Our Grand daughter Ali has been for a visit and I believe she is still telling her friends how exciting it was to spend a few days with Grandma and Grandad

Of course, as could be expected, the pace left her quite tuckered out.
Some of the exciting things that happen at our place on a daily basis are Sodokus and crosswords. For grandma the constant budget revision, and for me the challenge of Free Cell. As you can see, if you understand Free Cell at all, I have a pretty good record, although I do confess to shutting the computer down and going to bed if it is going particularly badly

Sometimes, as I have said we do puzzles, sometimes we sit and think and at other times we just sit. Some of this sitting is done on our back patio in the swinging settee that is just visible.
The next bird to use my stunning new bird house (among the flowers), will be the first

And just today wed rove past 4 Mulgoa Ave and behold, they are in the process of rendering it., and to think that I heard some guy on the radio singing "Nothing ever changes, everything just stays the same">. And just look at my Clematis climbing right up to the eaves at my bidding, never done that before hey.

Corryong

2007-01-17T17:51:00.000+11:00

Corryong is famous for at least two things, 1. It is the home town of the man from the Snowy River of Banjo Patterson fame, Jack Riley.
2.It is also the home town of the Colac Colac Camping Ground attended almost annually by the Clan Holt

This year was no exception, most of us attended and the above picture is one that could well have the caption "A picture is worth a thousand words"

There were many books read, many words spoken, many thoughts inspired and many plots hatched in the dark corners of the camp.

These "plots" were concocted by two errant Grand Daughters who were trying to take advantage of their Grandfather's approaching senility.

I am happy to report that all their efforts only served to enhance the standing of the said Grandfather in the clan and add to the esteem in which he is held as a model of patience and goodness.

Written by the Grandfather.

PS

For the first time after many years of camping Grandma and I stayed in an airconditioned cabin, and I have to say, We should have done it years ago.

And the Colac Colac Camping ground was excellent after the many improvements made by the new management, but don't tell anyone or we will have the whole of victoria turning up there.

The sunburned country

2006-12-18T17:37:00.000+11:00

MY COUNTRY
Dorothea McKellar

The love of field and coppice, of green and shaded lanes,
Of ordered woods and gardens is running in your veins.
Strong love of grey-blue distance, brown streams and soft, dim skies-
I know but cannot share it, my love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror- the wide brown land for me!

The stark white ring-barked forests, all tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains, the hot gold hush of noon,
Green tangle of the brushes where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops, and ferns the warm dark soil.

Core of my heart, my country! Her pitiless blue sky,
When, sick at heart, around us we see the cattle die -
But then the grey clouds gather, and we can bless again
The drumming of an army, the steady soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country! Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine she pays us back threefold.
Over the thirsty paddocks, watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness that thickens as we gaze.

An opal-hearted country, a wilful, lavish land -
All you who have not loved her, you will not understand -
Though earth holds many splendours, wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country my homing thoughts will fly.

We used to see clouds. It is not Christmas yet but the drought is really biting.
Of course we city folk hardly know that we're alive, we just worry about our poor little gardens.
It's not like that at all for the people on the land, it is heart breaking.
There are so many fires around our state that the sun is an eerie red some days from the smoke filled sky.

Before Australia became so urbanised, they had a song that went like this
"Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile,..."
I guess the country people will still do that.
As my old Dad used to say, "Don, the apples will grow again"
Good Stuff!

Gas Light Market

2006-12-08T20:50:00.000+11:00

We are only 8 days into summer and it is about 9pm.
It's a hot night and the air is slightly acrid with the smell of the fires already blazing in Victoria, our state.
On a lighter note, before talking more about the fires, here are some photos taken on Wednesday evening at the Queen Victoria Market. The inner Melbourne Holt's were out
in force, we were early to avoid the long queues at the various food stalls.

Large parts of Australia are in the grip of serious drought and our "backyard" is threatened with the most serious bushfires since Black Friday 1939.
Several fires started by lightning strikes and other fires lit by the ubiquitous nutters who take advantage of the conditions to light even more, have joined up into a massive fire front. It is expected to be hot for the next two days and if the wind gets up as well a lot of people in Victoria are going too be in a lot of trouble.
I can still remember a preacher using the Black Fridays fires to illustrate his sermon. H e said something like this, "A little group of timber cutters, who were helping fight the terrible fires on that day were suddenly caught in a wind change. The monstrous fire tuned and roared like an express train toward the men. There appeared to be no hope for them whatsoever. The fire roared around them, and miraculously swept on passed them, and they were still alive.
How had this happened? The men were fortunate to find themselves on a spot where the fire had already burned". The preacher went on to say that when Jesus Christ was on the cruel cross, the fires of God's judgment for sin fell on Him, the only one who had never sinned. When we receive Christ as our own Saviour, we are "In Christ"
We are in a place where the fire has already burned, and we are saved.
That's the exact place where I am and want to be, "In Christ"

Seeing the goodness of The lord in the land of the living

2006-11-13T11:00:00.000+11:00

My eldest brother Bill, (William David Holt) was born at Nyah West Victoria on the 21st of January 1922. Except for a stint in the AIF, (1941-1946) during WW2, he spent his life on a farm. It was very sad for us all when this farm life came to an end in about 1988 when he suffered a severe stroke. For the next 9 years until his death in 1997 he was confined to a wheel chair and hospital, unable to walk or even speak.
Bill was firstly an Evangelical Christian who loved The Lord.
Secondly he was a loving husband to Audrey, and loving father to his six children.
Thirdly, he was a very good farmer who loved the land, the sheep and the cattle, his dogs and even the pigs.
The stroke that he suffered and the results of it were hard for the family to come to terms with, but Bill, (and Audrey) had taught them all well that Christians do not grieve as those who have no hope. 1 Thess 4:13 .

Well, there's been a lot of water gone under the bridge since the photo below was taken. Audrey has grown old gracefully and all the children have grown up.
The oldest boy, David, must have been somewhere else on this occasion.

Now, of course, the family is much larger, as there are sons and daughters in law and the resulting Grandchildren. On Sunday afternoon we were privileged to be amongst them as they gathered at Robin and Roger's place to celebrate the homecoming of one of the Grandchildren.

Of course, as one does on such an occasion as this, I found myself thinking,"Wouldn't it be great if Bill was here to see this".
The the reality dawns on me that he is probably saying, "Wouldn't it be great if they were all here to see this"!
What is good to see is that there are more than one or two pianists in the family.
Below, Amy, is seated at the piano, and she's pretty good!
I remember the end of the film, Dr Zhivago the great movie from 1965, when an Uncle (Alec Guiness) asked the Doctor Zhivago's daughter if she played the mandolin or Balilika she was carrying.
The young man with her replied with words to the effect, "yes she does, and she's brilliant" The General (Uncle) cried out as they left, "It's a gift". A great moment!

My mother, "Elfie" who died in 1937 when I was just 6 years of age was a great pianist, and again I found myself thinking, "Wouldn't my mother love to be here"?
I would probably be closer to the mark if I said, "Wouldn't I like my mother to be here to see and hear this"!

What makes this family, your family, so special you may well ask.
I realise that every family has hopes, dreams, pleasure, poignancy. Every family has its stories, its dreams. What makes all the difference is whether the family has hope, and the only one I know who gives real hope is the Lord Jesus Christ.
I read many years ago that Winston Churchill sought out the then young Billy Graham. He asked Billy Graham, "Young man, do you see any hope"?
Billy Graham was able to tell him that the only hope is in Jesus Christ.
I read just this last week, that as Winston Churchill lay dying, he said,"There is no hope"! how sad.
What we all need to do, and can do, is to ask for and receive God's forgiveness for our sin and unbelief, and then commit our life to Him in trust.
You will then have eternal life granted to you, and you will be able to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

God Botherers Inc

2006-10-31T14:08:00.000+11:00

Reading from one of my old Dad's diarys I saw on a November page, "As you go through life take time to smell the roses". Years later his quote is still making sense, especially to a very busy retiree!
I had just finished a book shelf type cabinet for Yooralla and there were two things I just could not find, a fourth packet of plastic shelf supports and a vernier.
I did what I normally do, I told God that I could not find them, as I had the idea that He knew where both things were. To do my part, I started to clean up the shed. In due course this was done but still no missing things were being pointed out to me.
As I went back inside I was thinking , perhaps He is busy running the universe, perhaps the things will turn up later, perhaps I should have consulted St Anthony, perhaps it doesn't matter much any way.
As I went to go in the back door I spotted two card board boxes sitting on the BBQ, waiting to be torn up to go in to the recycling bin. As I picked up the boxes and began to tear them up, LO and Behold, in one of them was the fourth packet of shelf supports. I went into the garage to the recycle bin to put the cardboard in, and as I raised the lid, the back of my hand came against something on a shelf above, something covered with dust, Lo and Behold it was the vernier.
I know that some readers will think, "A God botherer indeed".
I read just last week a claim made by a star gazer , it went like this, "There are as more suns in the universe that there are grains of sand on all the beaches in this world.
Old Bildad was telling Job off in Job 26 and after talking about the glories of what God had made he went on to say, "But these things are only hints of His power, only the whispers of what we have heard. Who can know how truly great God is"?
Another translation says, "These are only the edges of His ways". (I like that one)
Call me a God botherer if you like, but it is well worth your while to try Him out.
"Seek and you shall find" said Jesus and Isaiah 55;6 says "Seek the Lord while he may be found".
It is much more important to find Him than it is to find some temporal possession.
Tell Him you really want to find Him. See what happens.
Here is a picture of the trifles that I was looking for

Back in the back yard

2006-10-10T17:12:00.000+10:00

We are in the grip of a drought, but the springtime is lovely
Today we went over to Olinda again for another picnic.
What a beautiful back yard we have.
Even the natives were friendly.
Here are the Australian Kookaburras, the jokers of the bush.
Only the best of our lunch was good enough, they didn't go for the potato crisps!

It's a bit of a worry to realize that this backyard could be ablaze this summer.
Way back in the 1940s, about a hundred and ten years ago, I grew up on a mallee farm. 10 inches of rain a year would have been wonderful, but we got practically none for a while and there were dust storms so black one could get lost in them.
My Dad used to pay good money for Inigo Jones's long range weather forecasts. I remember him telling me that at the turn of the century Inigo said there would be a 10 year drought. It looks like he was not far off the mark.
I would like to think that this is what is happening and that global warming is a product of the "alone in the universe mind", but who knows?
Any way, I am going to enjoy the bush while I may.

I have included here some of the words of Jesus, telling his disciples what to expect in the "last days" just in case this global warming thing is a reality:-
Luke's Gospel chapter 21.
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Distress of nations,comlexityy, the sea and the waves roaring,Israel.
Doesn't look so far fetched now does it?
Now North Korea have the bomb.
I,m just so grateful that I am a believer.
Visit my back yard, it will blow away the cobwebs.

Nostalgia is not what it used to be!

2006-10-02T12:15:00.000+10:00

What a nice week we had, Larry came from Hobart to attend a leaders conference and went home again Friday night. His bed here became vacant at that time as Greg and Sally arrived.
Larry took us to the back beach at Sorrento for lunch on Friday and on Saturday morning Greg and I went to the Monash University where there was a model exhibition. We had a great morning and why Peta Sue and Sally declined to come could only be comprehended by a female mind.

As soon as we entered we stopped at the Sherline exhibition of CNC machine tools
http://www.sher.com.au/
Greg got into a deep discussion with a man about the computerization of these machines, and as I was lost to most of the discussion my mind wandered around to thinking of the name Sherline. My mind went back to 1947 when I was the apprentice at the Red Point Tool Company in Prahran. This company was owned and ran by Mr. Sher.
Mr. Sher had a little son Ronnie, I remember little Ronnie coming in a time or two (about 5 years of age), holding tightly to his father's, (Mr. Sher's) hand. Over the years I had often wondered about little Ronnie, was he still alive? Did he follow in his father's footsteps?

As I waited for the deep discussion Greg and the man were having to conclude with the intention of asking the man if Sherline was in some way connected to The old Red Point Tool Company, I saw a little old man behind the counter with name tag that said "Ron Sher"
I asked him if he was the son of Mr Sher, and he replied, "I am indeed".
As I told who I was, his face lit up with surprise, as had mine.
We talked about the old factory and he was able to tell me about his journey as he followed in his father's footsteps.
I was very pleased, what a great thing to happen.
Yes, though nostalgia may not quite be what it used to be it is still alive and well in the human heart.

In the old photo above, I am the little apprentice sitting in the gutter.
Mr Sher is jut right of centre. The coloured photo below is of Ron (right) during his sojourn in America. The other Photo is of Mr. Sher himself!
I still remember all the people in the old photo with clarity. A young mind must be something like a sponge. I now have trouble remembering people I met a year or two ago, sometimes even yesterday!
Peta sue has just had a proof read and said, "We did lot more than that at the weekend". We went to Ben and Zoe's and watched the first half of the AFL (Australian Rules) Grand Final on a big screen along with lots of other "young" people, then we went to Paul's and watched the rest of the game, again on a big screen. The only downside was that the team I barracked for lost by one lousy point.
On Sunday morning we went to the Berwick vineyard Christian Church and afterwards to the home of our new Pastors Geoff and Jo Baker, for a dinner. We had good food and good fellowship. The good food consisted of Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding followed Lemon Cheesecake made by their eldest son Timothy.
In the evening we watched the TV to see Brisbane down Melbourne in the NRL (Rugby) Grand Final. Again, not a good result.
Well, Winners are Grinners, but life is good.

http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160274b.htm

"Like a Walk in the Forest"

2006-09-09T04:12:00.000+10:00

Our home at Rowville has a beautiful backyard. It is called the Dandenong Ranges.
On Thursday morning we took a short drive up into the mists at Olinda to the National Rhododendron Gardens.
In 2004 we travelled half way round the world and at that time visited the Kew Gardens in London, beautiful. The garden at Olinda was equally so, "back in our own backyard".
The entrance is in a forest. As we entered,we looked up at the majestic, gun barrel straight gum trees where 6 or 8 Laughing Kookaburras burst into their frenzied laughter. It was a magic moment. To the early "white" arrivals to Australia, the laughter of these birds sounded like frenzied demons. To me it sounded almost heavenly.
It was a 7 degree Celsius nose dripping day and as we wandered through some of the kilometers of tracks, paved and unpaved I was reminded of John Denver's song, "You fill up my senses like a walk in the forest". We sat by the lake and opened our thermos of coffee and our home made meat pies. We had a wonderful time.
If you live in Melbourne, you must make a visit within the next 2 months, there is an entrance fee but it is well worth it.

I wished that I had taken my little binoculars as well as my camera because the birds were splendid, even the little brown jobs.
Some of the ones that I did see were Jacky winters, New Holland Honey Eaters, Yellow Tailed black Cockatoos, Long Billed Corellas, Galahs, Magpies etc etc. At one stage I descended down Lyre Bird Gully to see if I could see the lyre Bird that I was hearing only to find that the whip Bird crack was actually being made by the Whip Birds themselves!

On the way home Peta Sue spotted some firewood at Lysterfield, just a couple of kilometers from home. I went back immediately with the trailer as you have to be very quick. My day was complete, I just got my trailer filled in the nick of time so to speak, as two husky young fellas came in a Hi Lux Ute and threw in the wood that was 50 meters further up in seconds flat.

Every day is a gift from God
I suppose it is easy for me to say, living in health, comfort amidst such beauty.
The Apostle Paul had no such material comforts as I do, But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, was able to say, "I have learned in whatever state I am to be content".