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I can remember it was fairly common for old blokes to live permanently at a pub in one of the rooms. Often WW1 vets. When I was growing up we had one old fella living permanently in our local pub. He had the nickname Woody as he used to chop the pub's firewood and do odd jobs for his board and lodging. He didn't drink, just lived at the pub. Woody was a lovely old bloke, a real gentleman. I got to know him quite well as he used to come out to the farm and stay and look after us if my dad had to go away for a couple of days. In those days the adults would go to the pub and take all the kids with them. Us kids would play around in the pub's backyard and climb the big tree there and at some stage we'd always end up going to see Woody in his room and have a yarn with him. After I'd moved away as a late teenager/early adult, whenever I was back visiting my dad I'd often drop in and see old Woody at the pub. Eventually he got so old and frail he ended up in a home.

A bit off topic but I found this pic of what was left of my old 750 fastback that I bought new in 1972. It went end over end a few times at 100mph+ so that's why it looks like a bashed crab. The gearbox was ok and most of the motor except the crankcases were cracked. The fibreglass tank had stress cracks as well. Bought it back from the insurance company for $80.

Thanks Pete, but I don't remember mentioning cost or value. It's something that's never entered my mind and won't. It's the journey not the destination.

Great that you were out too Peter! The missus and I rode to Nicholls Rivulet to visit Crawleighwood Gardens. I agree, good day for it, would have been even nicer with no wind.

Abbah? Yeah they were gods.

Eric Abetz is still around, but he's in Tasmanian state government now. So while he's still a pain in our arse, at least the rest of the country is spared.

Although it is Tazmania, the sun came out. Nice pleasant day. Bike hasn't run since last summer - no reason to ride for pleasure when it's raining for 3 months. Great to be alive riding our winding roads! Got home to find that old faithful had contracted Jerry's disease. I noticed the instrument lights were pulsing at idle. A quick check showed battery voltage only 12.8v after a big run. Should be 14v. Another check showed onr phase from the alternator at 0v. and the regulator running hot. Ordering a new stator and regulator. A bit of a dampener.

Well, since you asked, god, allah, jehova, yaweh, elihomin, adoahi, El Shaddai, Abbah, (etc, all these come from the bible) can be any form she (or it) wishes. Wot with being an all knowing, all powerful entity, an all. Hope this clears it up for you.

Will, go for it. It doesn't matter what a project is worth in dollar$. Just do it.

Oh, the good ole daze of $12 rooms. Iremrmber it well. Back then every country pub had a couple of old diggers (ptsd for sure) permanently bolted to the bar. The poor bastids were (still are) forgotten by the populace. Even after decades, the vets still suffered.

He got in on empty promises last time. Just sayin.

The first 300,000 tons is enough to last about half a day if it even arrives in the US before the election. Trump will brag about the deal but it will have very little effect on diesel prices, even if Putin delivers on his promises.

Some actual numbers. Considering the population of the USA is 10 times more at least than us and their farming is far bigger than ours...I dodnt really think this diesel deal is really anything special except a token thing for the farmers in the USA On October 9, 2026, President Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Putin under which Russia would supply diesel to the “American and Global Marketplace”: More than 300,000 metric tons immediately 500,000 tons in November 1 million tons “immediately thereafter” Up to another 3 million tons depending on the condition of Russian refineries (which have been affected by Ukrainian strikes) how many tons of diesel is used in australia on a daily basis Thought for 34s Approximately 76,000–77,000 tonnes per day. Based on official Australian government data (primarily the Australian Petroleum Statistics and Australian Energy Statistics from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water): Diesel consumption was 33,297 megalitres (about 33.3 billion litres) in financial year 2023–24.⁠Onlyfacts This equates to roughly 91 million litres per day on average (33.297 billion litres ÷ 365.25 days). Recent indicators (including Minimum Stockholding Obligation data and combined petrol + diesel figures around 135 million litres/day in 2025) are consistent with diesel at ~90–92 million litres per day.⁠Dcceew

I think the House will go to the Democrats but the Senate is probably doubtful. I also think Trump and his minions are planning a lot of disruption in States that they look like losing. It won't be a clean election and the results will be disputed in the courts for weeks if not months. Trump will do everything he can to avoid losing and he has the Justice department, Russ Vought and a bunch of election deniers in influential federal and state positions to help him do it.

Could be the future. Some pollsters are now doing two alternative 2PP estimates, one Labor against ON and one Labor against Coalition dependant on who gets the top vote between ON and the Coalition. The poll analyst's job is getting harder.

Perhaps the 2PP concept is out of date. The Greens, ON, Teals and unaligned Independents may be changing that. Perhaps we could end up like some European countries where no Party can gain a majority and must seek coalition partners, thereby watering down each Party's raison d'etre.

Meanwhile, Trump is buying billions of $ of diesel from Roosia (money into Putin's war chest, against Ukraine) in spite of west sanctioning purchase of fuel from Roosia, in spite of Russia stopping sale of diesel because they are short of it. And in spite of it not being enough (if it actually delivers) to reduce the domestic price of diesel in USA before the mid terms. Unfortunately, in spite of this total craziness, I expect the mid terms to go to Repubicans. Either way, I still see Trumpy republicans to win the next presidentials - there is no meaningful opposition.

In 1983 in Cairns I stayed at the Barrier Reef Hotel in the old Barbary Coast waterfront area. Accommodation was $12 per day, bed and breakfast. By that stage the Barrier Reef Hotel was mainly accommodation and a public bar where old blokes would drink. Most of the action and business was down the street at the Oceanic Hotel, or the Big O as it was known. It was a funny place back then, the local bikies were like unofficial bouncers and probably saved the publican a lot of money on security. It was also where most of the fishermen hung out.

How times have changed. I found this old photo taken of the welcome to Cairns sign on a road trip in 1976. Population 33,000, it's around 180,000 now. Cairns was a nice place in 1976 with a lot of character. I was also there in 1983 and it was much the same. The next time was 1998 and it was unrecognisable.

This is not wot Uraine has done. But does indicate the euroeans starting to wake up. Hybrid War Tracker Structured Open Source Intelligence on hybrid warfare across Europe, with briefs, maps, and recent signals in one place.Hybrid War Tracker. Latest Weekly Brief Oct 4, 2026Final Estonia is constructing a permanent military base in Narva at the Russian border, with capacity to host 200 to 1000 troops, scheduled for completion in summer 2028, to enhance forward military presence and reduce reinforcement times. Poland revised its rules of engagement to permit firing on foreign aerial objects based on multi-sensor positive identification without requiring visual confirmation, in response to multiple Russian incursions involving drones, cruise missiles, and helicopters. Germany is establishing its first dedicated drone regiment with up to 600 soldiers equipped with long-range drones, electromagnetic warfare assets, and kamikaze drones starting in 2027, reflecting lessons from the Ukraine war on drone warfare. NATO conducted multinational air-defense training over Lithuania and Latvia, integrating sensors, fighters, ground systems, and command and control to counter aerial threats including drones and ballistic missiles, with participation from platforms like the US B-1B Lancer. Read full brief → RSSAtomAll briefs Hybrid Signals Map Open map → Europe is starting to police their boundaries.

No.

Well obviously His electorate didn't WANT him, and HIS was about the Best Blue Ribbon seat In Victoria. As HE said, the Seat where Most of the LEADERS come from. HE was "Out of Touch with the electorate and Made many Tactical Blunders. The VOTERS decided. Democracy In Action. I love it. He came a Gutser with the RSPCA. Too clever by Half. Nev

American isn't He. Nev

He's certainly unimpressive. I think there's no doubt Josh Frydenberg would be their leader if he'd retained his seat.