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We have had the first "real" rain in what seems like months. We are very much in drought here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw2031mevx17o Our local reservoir, Wibleball Lake is doen to 15%. This week is forecast to be mostly wet. But, not the rain that will have too much impact on the state of the reservoir.

more on Paulines pathetic cartoons https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-20/hanson-apologises-for-one-nation-cartoon-mocking-lambie/107288602

I guess as time goes on, more might be revealed about whether the perpetrator was influenced by one particular group or another. The article mentioned his online posts had changed in recent times from local environmental activism to those of a more political nature, mainly anti U.S. and anti Israel comments over the Gaza war, accusing the government of being US lap dogs and stuff like that. So far his profile places him more on the left side of politics but there's nothing mentioned post 2024, so there could be more to the story. Reading that article it seems that he had mental health issues, but what turned him against a politician that he had previously supported is unknown at this stage.

I agree with both posts above.. But if not actually, by far the loudest voice is presented by the right - at least in Aus, the USA, and the UK.. Scrolling through social media also paints a similar picture. But, yes, it isn't always the right. Sometimes it is the left, or any excuse

It is a broad sword, but it is indicative of the level of hate and division that has been shown in Oz politics for many years. We have unfettered Hate speech particulary from many on the right wing side of politics that makes the "other" the enemy and uses violent language against those in the middle and the left. Its not all one sided but the vast majority of appalling speech is coming from the right, esp Hansen and friends. The Libs are certainly not immume- only last week in Parliament a fed WA senior Lib called for Anne Aly and The PM to be "taken to a public square and stoned" she left out to "Death" but the implication was clear. NO consequences, no ban from parliament, and a half apology. That was over the changes to credit cards fees and bussiness. So , we had a call to violence inside parliament, a society that lets that fly, is one that soon leads to yesterdays horror. The Libs knew what they said and that it is parliamentry priveledged. Last week, we had the One nation cartton attacking Jackie Lambie and making fun of her because she spoke of Vaginal prolapse, a severe condition that effects more than 10% of women and particulary those with lower back injuries. She detailed her experience and the need for greater help and understanding. She bravely used her experience to help society understand this largely ignored medical issue. Hansens response was a disgusting cartoon mocking Lambie and by extenstion any women who suffers from this. No aplogy, a refusal to change the cartoon and called lambie a sook for not having a sense of humour. Only today after the Haines attack was the cartoon modified. The week before it was a clearly racist AI ad for the Vic election from One Nation. I think in general that Jerry is correct.

That's drawing a very broad sword Jerry. There's divisive rhetoric spouted across all sections of the political spectrum, from the the left to the right. Best to reserve judgement until more facts are known. Here's an article with a bit of background on the bloke. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/suspect-in-helen-haines-attack-named-20261020-p616zq.html

Couple of explainers in ABC today. The rioting in Europe: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-20/europe-protests-explained-as-demonstrations-grow/107285508 Broader look by Ian Verrender: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-20/rising-political-cost-of-growing-inequality/107284494

Thanks. It's a real time machine. Following your work, I admire your tenacity.

I'm astounded by the civil violence in Europe over teh weekend. What is concerning is that all the protests seemed to relate to various components and effects of Cost of Living. Hs this become a common thread across the Globe?

From what I could find out, the social media reports aren't correct. However, there seems to have an a ship from Russia that was carrying ammonia nitrate that docked last week. There is no confirmed shipments of diesel from Russia heading to the USA by reliable sources, anyway. An absolute kick in the teeth to Ukraine, but also to the US own military. The USA electorate is hardly switched on by foreign affairs, but there is bipartisan criticism of the deal, and this rings with rational voters. MAGA are a cult and will support anything their dear leader does, but MAGA is not as nig as a lot of people think.

Parts of the building date back to the 1200s, but the part in the photos above is from the 1600s. The render is over stones and mortar. Some of the stone is cut to look like brick, but it is mostly stone. The render is a sand rander of some sort to give it the colour. I personally don't like it and wanted to take it all off and expose the stone, but the cost to do it was astronomical. In shoirt, some of the building is original stone, some is cut stone, and some is your bog standard red brick (or the Somerset equivalent). We do have lime render on the walls of the front door. We originally had damp all through that wall in the living room until a plasterer noticed it was a concrete render (put there by builders fixing a wall that was crushed by a fallen tree). So, we had the cement render taken off and lime render put on.. and in about a week, there was no more damp! Re the wireless access points - they were approved by the listed building officer. For small things like that, it is a simple application, some photos and a yes or a no. There is no cost (unless you want to challenge their no). As the place had most of its original interior features sold off before it was listed, the listed building officer is very reasonable - well that and the fact we have restored a lot of the building to its former glory (e.g. taking out all the PVC windows and replacing with wood - can't remember the type but apparently what would have been used in the last extension of the place in the 1800s).

HE has expanded the promise to a million tons of diesel. meanwhile there was a report somewhere that the first tanker docked in USA yesterday. (haven't verified that). I thought tankers took a couple of weeks to do that trip? Anyway it isn't about the diesel - even that much is not going to drop the retail price in tim for the midterms. It is a grift to Pootin to help fix the Ukraine war. Along with nobbling starlink.

So far he has done and said a lot of things that everyone thought a president 'just cannot do'.

WTF ? Are we trying too hard to be a 'little america'?

Just out of curiosity, what is the building made from? It doesn't appear like it was stone or bricks. And I would never have guessed they would use lime plaster on outside walls.

Oh what an endless task! Well how do the heritage experts feel about that? I hope you make them look like 18th century smoke detectors?

Blame A.I. for that - it can't work out we're in southern hemisphere where everything is downside up.

I doubt it at this rate. We should break even though. Anyway,the builder ordered 14 bags of red sand thinking it was more than enough.. We have to get another 10. Here are some photos of today's progress: Notice he is recreating the original fake brickwork in the render.. pain of a job! The sparky is in today moving the broadband and industrial virtual access points so we have full wi fi coverage through the house. They will look a bit like smoke detectors in the ceilings.

Hope you make a bit of money on this palatial residence one day.

Has to put the above in a second post as the first was putting them in upside down - like the first picture in this one.

We're edging closer to completion, but of course, there are still battles to be had. The builder and I took a look at the dilapidating render on the "front" wall. We picked a little bit of it and a lot came off. He has already done a bit of work (covered up due to assist drying without too much moisture or direct sunlight apparently screwing it up. But you can see the patches that still need work:

It is frightening what is happening in what are normally peaceful societies. Helen Haines appears to have been mown down in front of her electoral office: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/19/mp-helen-haines-injured-incident-wangaratta-ntwnfb. First, I wish her a speedy recovery. But the rhetoric spouted by PHON and latterly some of the LP may, and I stress MAY be the straw that breaks the camel's back for some people that drives them to this sort of crap. The problem for those that spout the crap is that there maybe some equally unhinged on the other side that may be motivated to do the same to them. We have had two MPs; one from Labour and one from the conservatives murdered outside their electoral offices; and Anne Widdecombe, an ex Conservative MP and prominent member of Farage's Reform brutally murdered in her house

The Russians are obviously well aware of how they've played Trump for the fool that he is. The other point is that the 300,000 tonnes very likely hasn't cost them anything. It's highly unlikely to be additional production, but more likely just the fuel they were intending to produce anyway and would have shipped to the market using their shadow fleet. Now it will just go out in a different tanker with a receipt from the US government to make it look legitimate. Not only that, it's not even going to the US. It's going to the world market, which means the small quantity involved will make even less difference to fuel prices anywhere. Trump will pay them $4 billion and effectively get nothing in return except maybe a thank you note from Putin for his birthday present. The Russians must be very happy with this deal.

Ukraine betrayed for 300,000 tonnes of diesel. One piece of silver equates to 10,000 tonnes of fuel.

I thought that it was Don Burke.. I thought the nose and the thin face were convincing. I could not find a better picture than this.