The totally off-topic thread

[cove]

Careful Denali the ATO use $300 as the cut off per employee before they charge/hit you up/pillage recipients and employers with Fringe Benefits Tax. It is pretty archaic but it is still there. That is an amount that should have been indexed for inflation but with parliament in chaos nothing is likely to change this decade.

 

[Denali]

Thanks, Cove. My employer will pay FBT and although it will show on my group certificate, I don't draw any benefits, like childcare, so that won't be affected.

 

[Denali]

The benefit of tidying up the garage.

Many years ago, we were given a 6 person outdoor table setting. I made giant calico bags for it and it's been in storage ever since.

Nephew recently moved into first home with girlfriend so will fob it off to them.

Wonder if they need a Christmas train set or luggage.

 

[Pushka]

Thought I’d try mince pies. Haven’t tried them since childhood and thought it might have been a kid thing. Nup. I really don’t like them at all.

 

[Milboo]

I know what you mean Denali! It's not just product but all the premiums/ branded items too!

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Thought I’d try mince pies. Haven’t tried them since childhood and thought it might have been a kid thing. Nup. I really don’t like them at all.

I am not that keen on mince pies either, BUT Woolies have a nice little compromise in a teaspoon of fruit mince surrounded by shortbread, this we slather with dollop cream ! YUM !!

 

[juddles]

I’ve just been watching Narcos. Are you OK?

Am I OK?? Fantastic question. I am where I choose to be, but there are no guarantees. In any life.

And despite the movies, human life is much more basic. The environment you are in is a combo of what it was before you arrived, and what you made of it.

Colombia is special. I have never held a conversation about it without reverting to the "c" word - complicated.

narcos is accurate, as in that it is a messed up violence-driven environment. But people are just people. I exist because I recognize that fact. Everyone is NOT out to kill me. Everyone, as a group, just wants the basic human wants - survive, prosper. A better life for their children.

Today I was late - in getting to certain ferries over the Magdalena river - so knew I would arrive in the darkness - very bad idea here. But I "called a friend" and had an "escort". And so arrived with no issue. Apart from attempting to drive through 1 m flooded potholes in an abandoned road.With baddies out there.

In a movie sense all very exciting. But this is just normal life for me, for so many people. Humans adjust to their circumstances. My worst day here is no different, psychologically and in a challenge-sense, to a day in the life of a tomato wholesaler in Brisbane. We adjust.

So for now I am "safe" at my place in Norosi. The pig is not with me - no rain tonite so he has somewhere else

 

[juddles]

.... no rain tonite so he has somewhere else

I literally hit the "post" button and the heavens opened - raindrops that are about a pint each.... flap I hope the power stays......

 

[love_the_life]

Thought I’d try mince pies. Haven’t tried them since childhood and thought it might have been a kid thing. Nup. I really don’t like them at all.

I love them....

 

[love_the_life]

I literally hit the "post" button and the heavens opened - raindrops that are about a pint each.... flap I hope the power stays......

Then instead of 'stay safe' tonight it will be 'stay dry'.
You must be a very special person juddles to work and live, and dare I say thrive, in your chosen place.

On a different note, my geography is improving with your posts as I look up places on Google maps

 

[Pushka]

I am not that keen on mince pies either, BUT Woolies have a nice little compromise in a teaspoon of fruit mince surrounded by shortbread, this we slather with dollop cream ! YUM !!

Shortbread I do like. But it’s the mince I think that’s the issue but I like pudding. Something about the mince mix.

Am I OK?? Fantastic question. I am where I choose to be, but there are no guarantees. In any life.

And despite the movies, human life is much more basic. The environment you are in is a combo of what it was before you arrived, and what you made of it.

Colombia is special. I have never held a conversation about it without reverting to the "c" word - complicated.

narcos is accurate, as in that it is a messed up violence-driven environment. But people are just people. I exist because I recognize that fact. Everyone is NOT out to kill me. Everyone, as a group, just wants the basic human wants - survive, prosper. A better life for their children.

Today I was late - in getting to certain ferries over the Magdalena river - so knew I would arrive in the darkness - very bad idea here. But I "called a friend" and had an "escort". And so arrived with no issue. Apart from attempting to drive through 1 m flooded potholes in an abandoned road.With baddies out there.

In a movie sense all very exciting. But this is just normal life for me, for so many people. Humans adjust to their circumstances. My worst day here is no different, psychologically and in a challenge-sense, to a day in the life of a tomato wholesaler in Brisbane. We adjust.

So for now I am "safe" at my place in Norosi. The pig is not with me - no rain tonite so he has somewhere else

ok. You are very prosaic. It’s a little concerning like you are contemplating life’s mysteries on your own.

 

[Milboo]

I love them....

Same! Provided they are good ones, made fresh. Not a fan of mass produced ones.

I remember making them each year with my mother when I was a child too.

 

[love_the_life]

Same! Provided they are good ones, made fresh. Not a fan of mass produced ones.

I remember making them each year with my mother when I was a child too.

My mother is a terrible cook so we only ever had bought ones. Both of my adult children don't like them at all but that is mainly the fruit thing I think as they don't like hot cross buns either.

 

[serfty]

BUT Woolies have a nice little compromise in a teaspoon of fruit mince surrounded by shortbread, this we slather with dollop cream ! YUM !!

We, do this - @25¢ each (in a pack of 6) it's quite a nice dessert.

 

[Denali]

Today was my last shopping experience until after new year. We need to eat the ice cream to fit the brisket, quiche ect in the freezer.

 

[juddles]

I literally hit the "post" button and the heavens opened - raindrops that are about a pint each.... flap I hope the power stays......

Then instead of 'stay safe' tonight it will be 'stay dry'.
You must be a very special person juddles to work and live, and dare I say thrive, in your chosen place.

On a different note, my geography is improving with your posts as I look up places on Google maps

I have no idea what a google maps search on "Norosi" will reveal Not the hottest postcode on the planet. But these two photos will give you, guaranteed, a more real knowledge of this neck of the woods than any geographical scholar; Two photos from today in the next post...

 

[juddles]

crossing the Magdalena river this arvo.....



Christmas lights in town. Colombians love lights and colours. This is my street. there is nothing else

 

[juddles]

&juddles - A wake up call that that others have lives I cannot even imagine. Keep safe.

love the life, yes, some have lives you are not familiar with. But I want you to understand my philosophy that we all do our thing. Sure, some of us do not do a thing that is normal to some of us.
I understand the insaneness of reality, last year once when I was robbed. This was nasty - guns to the head and so forth. In hindsight I laugh. But at the time was "special". And I distinctly remember a desire to be back in a safe place. And as I lay on a road with lunatics having my destiny in their hands, I was suddenly surprised. I felt in that moment of panic and survival the desire to be in the safest place i Identified with. And noone would guess what that was. I wanted to be in a lounge. In an airport. Where the uncomfortable stuff was queue times and so forth.

this experience surely clouds my ability to rationally comment on much stuff.

 

[drron]

But Google maps shows 2 churches and a grocer's shop in Norosi.But nothing else for many miles around.

Juddles you are one of my heroes.The work you do is so important especially in South America and in Africa where I believe your brother mostly works.If left to the artinisal miners the environment will just deteriorate.So your work is appreciated and one day I hope the 2 of you will get the recognition you deserve though I know that is not why you are doing this.

 

[Denali]

About 20 years ago, we went to Niue, tiny NZ island just after the international date line. Back before the expats ruined it.

At the time, we were told there was a Kmart on the island. Ended up being a small besser block shed with letter K painted on it.