Mikeatmainbeach

 I do find myself getting annoyed at some of these extreme right wing commentators..one in particular comes to mind 😠 when they quote figures, it often seems, to suit their own agenda.   Now this particular person today is going on about how we, in Australia, or should I say in mostly labour states strangely enough, are doing things wrong when it comes to the dreaded Corona virus. This person states that we should not be locking down people but open up everything. Don’t worry about spreading the virus...it’s all okay...it will all work out and we’ll be fine.   What this person doesn’t say is that at the moment here in Australia due to a mix up, bad decision making or just plain shortage of the vaccines there are so many stories and different reasons depending who you talk to, as to why and just who to blame..anyway we have just around 7%, at this stage, of the entire population of over 25 million people fully vaccinated.   It sho...

     This may seem a non event to many I know but we listen to music everyday; often taking it for granted. Some songs stir a memory when I hear them and I often wonder what would have happened if the person who wrote and performed that song was still with us. What marvellous, amazing, music would that person, that performer, have given us if they were not taken prematurely.   One always comes to mind...no two...firstly John Lennon who died at the early age of 40 and strangely as I write this it has been 40 years since his death. I had no idea until I just checked.   Shot by a “so called” fan, who himself it seems wanted fame, but only achieved disgrace and notoriety.  Such a waste...such a great waste of life and talent. With Paul McCartney they wrote together around 200 memorable songs and as The Beatles they sold hundreds of millions of records          Whenever I hear the very haunting song ‘Imagin...

 The Times They Are A Changing...   The song written by Bob Dylan 58 years ago now couldn’t ring truer than today as we ride this pandemic wave that is sweeping the world. It was meant, then, to be a protest song about the civil war and anti war movement but now that title applies equally as well to what we are going through, with the turmoil that is currently gripping the world, and as we’ve seen it’s often fragile population.   We are indeed fighting a war to stay alive! Whether many like to admit it or not that is what it is....   The rallying call back then is equally important today as then.   Of course that was not the intention of the song back then...but who would have even thought we would have such a time, as now, when we are almost frightened to get too close to people for fear we may become infected by this ever powerful virus and it’s many variants.   The frustration felt then, as now, is how I feel today with ...

 I enjoy just watching other people when shopping. It’s always interesting, fascinating and often entertaining. There’s the vege guy who always says hello as he stacks more fresh produce on to the shelves. We have a brief chat..as I load up on my assortment of vegetables and my usual 12/15 or so kiwi fruit.  I have two every morning before breakfast and have done for as long as I can remember...the secret of my youthful good looks and stunning complexion 😆😆   Then, as we go around, my partner ...he works at Woollies as a *product placement specialist ...he sees “things” that are often out of place, where they shouldn't be, and as I go ahead pushing the trolley he adjusts boxes on the shelves...”Look,”... he calls annoyingly as I turn back to see what’s happening. “They always do this..It’s just so frustrating,” he states with alarm. “They will put a full box at the front..while..look...look,” he continues pointing for me to see   “....while...

    We seem to be riding a never ending boom train of development here on the Gold Coast, Queensland.   There have been booms and busts before but this time it seems to be different. Maybe it’s the Covid-19 experience everyone is going through, especially in the southern states of  Australia, with their constant “lockdowns’'” which I agree have to happen to save lives.   This virus has changed so many things world wide meaning a new way of working from home for many. Why the need to live in a city when beach life is so much better, no one can doubt that, and with three hundred days of sunshine a year who needs a reason to live here!   There has to be, at least, maybe more than twenty new high rise apartments either at planning stage, with the council awaiting approval or being constructed now. It’s really quite amazing. So many Australians are returning home..or trying to if the closed borders will let them that is.    I g...

 The song "Memory"  from the musical Cats.. will always be a new memory for me.  As with all songs when we hear them we are instantly transported to a time and place or year where we heard them and what part they played in our life. This time the song Memory will hold a new significance. Yesterday we attended a funeral or as it was stated “A Thanksgiving Celebration For The life”. Always a sad affair I know. This time it was a relative of my partners and he was an older person so it was expected but I guess although expected no one is ever really ready for the inevitable to happen. The service was in an Anglican Church and I have never attended a funeral service in a church before. The ones I have attended are usually at the crematorium. Always a good service but this one was different for me and very sincere of course.   I have to admit I am not a church goer and out of the three hymns I only knew one. That’s a terrible thing to say but there ...

Well today I had my flu shot.( If anyone is reading this in northern hemisphere we are now in our winter) A bit later than usual as I had my first AstraZeneca six weeks ago now so waited a while before this flu shot. My next, 2nd, Astra is on July 22 so about half way between the two now and no ill effects....thankfully! There is so much kick back against the vaccinations it amazes me. Just lost for words! Plus we have been so fortunate here in Australia, as in New Zealand, that we can close our borders to help prevent the spread. Not so lucky in many other countries. Although returning travelers and isolation is another big question! The blood clots, though frightening of course, happen to around 30,000  people anyway here in Australia, that's per year,  and unfortunately around 5,000 die. The clots and deaths from the vaccine, though also of course extremely sad, are so very few compared to what is happening overseas with this dreaded plague that is upon us. And i...