Food for Thought
An old man was sitting with his 25 year old son on a train. The train was about to leave the station and all the passengers settled in their seats. As the train left the station, the young man was filled with joy and curiosity. He was seated on a window side.
He put his hand out the window to feel the passing air and exclaimed "see all of the tree's going behind Papa". His father smiled and admired his sons feelings.
A young couple were sitting next to young man and his father, listening to their conversation, feeling very awkward with the attitude of a 25 year old behaving like a small child. Suddenly the young man shouted, "See the pond and animals Papa, the clouds are moving with the train". The couple were feeling increasingly embarrased. Then it started raining and some raindrops landed on the young mans face. He was filled with joy again and closed his eyes. He shouted "It's raining Papa, the water is touching me, see".
The couple could no longer help themselves and said to the old man, "Why don't you take your son to a Doctor and get treatment for him?".
The old man replied, "We have just come back from the doctor and my son has sight for the first time in his life".
Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up!
DIARY OF A POMMIE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
August 31 - Just got transferred with work from Leeds UK to our new home in Karratha , Western Australia . Now this is a town that knows how to live!
Beautiful, sunny days and warm, balmy evenings. I watched the sunset from my deckchair by the pool yesterday. It was beautiful. I've finally found my new home. I love it here.
September 13 - Really heating up now. It got to 31 today. No problem, though. Living in air-conditioned home, driving air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun every day like this. I'm turning into a sun-worshipper.
September 30th - Had the back yard landscaped with tropical plants today. Lots of palms and rocks. No more mowing lawns for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here.
October 10th - The temperature hasn't been below 35 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least today it's windy though. Keeps the flies off a bit. Acclimatising is taking longer than I expected.
October 15th - Fell asleep by the pool yesterday. Got third degree burns over 60% of my body. Missed three days of work. What a dumb thing to do! Got to respect the ol' sun in a climate like this.
October 20th - Didn't notice Kitty (our cat) sneaking into the car before I left for work this morning. By the time I got back to the car after work, Kitty had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag and stuck to the upholstery. The car now smells like Whiskettes and cat shit. I've learned my lesson though: no more pets in this heat.
October 25 - This wind is a bastard. It feels like a giant f&*kin' blow
dryer. And it's hot as hell! The home air conditioner is on the blink and the repair man charged $200 just to drive over and tell me he needs to order parts from f&*kin' Perth ....
October 30th - The temperature's up around 40 and the parts still haven't arrived for the f&*kin' aircon. Been sleeping outside by the pool for three nights now. Bloody $600,000 house and we can't even go inside. Why the hell did I ever come here?
November 4 - Finally got the ol' aircon fixed. It cost $1,500 and gets the temperature down to around 25 degrees, but the humidity makes it feel about 30. Stupid repairman.
November 8 - If one more smart arse says 'Hot enough for you today?' I'm going to f&*kin' throttle him. F&*kin' heat! By the time I get to work, the car's radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking f&*kin' wet and I smell like baked cat!
November 9 Tried to run some errands after work, wore shorts, and sat on the black leather upholstery in the ol' car. I thought my f&*kin' arse was on fire. I lost two layers of flesh, all the hair on the backs of my legs and my f&*kin' arse. Now the car smells like burnt hair, fried arse and baked cat!
November 10 - Weather report! It might as well be a f&*kin' recording. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny, Hot and f&*kin' sunny! It's been too hot to do anything for two f&*kin' months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week.
November 15 - Doesn't it ever rain in this damn f&*kin' place? Water
restrictions will be next, so my $5,000 worth of palms might just dry up and blow into the f&*kin' pool. The only things that thrive in this hell-hole are the f&*kin' flies. You don't dare open your mouth for fear of swallowing half a dozen of the f*ckers!
November 20th - Welcome to HELL! It got to 45 f&*kin' degrees today. Now the air conditioner's gone in my car. The repair man came to fix it and said, 'Hot enough for you today?' I had to spend the $2,500 mortgage payment to bail me out of jail for assaulting the stupid f*cker. F&*kin' Karratha! What kind of sick, demented f&*kin' idiot would want to live here!
December 1 - WHAT!!!! The first day of Summer!!!! You have got to be f&*kin' kidding me.......
SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2010
Scenario:
Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2010 - Police called, arrests Johnny and Mark.. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it. Both children go to anger management programs for 3 months. School board hold meeting to impliment bullying prevention programs
Scenario:
Robbie won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Robbie sent to office and given 6 of the best by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2010 - Robbie given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. Robbie's parents get fortnightly disability payments and School gets extra funding from state because Robbie has a disability.
Scenario :
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2010 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.
Scenario :
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark gets glass of water from Principal to take aspirin with.
2010 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario :
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from Guy Fawkes, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a bullant nest.
1957 - Ants die.
2010- State Police, Star Force, Federal Police & Anti-terrorism Squad called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, Feds investigate parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated. Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario :
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary . Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2010 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy
chatting, music ( most types) hanging with friends, gardening, fishing, travelling, whatever takes my fancy at the time really, I like learning stuff(Y))
(L)A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and sings it back when you've forgotten the words (L))
