The bubbler is back!

Buying drinking water in a plastic bottle has always seemed rather nonsensical to me when perfectly good drinking water is freely available from the tap; "If it ain't broke don't fix it." The whole idea of having to pay so much to have a drink of water seems so strange and unnecessary . I remember the days when there were bubblers everywhere so that if one wanted a drink of water, a bubbler was easily found. Then they gradually disappeared and the ubiquitous bottled water became the only source of drinking water when one was out and about.

Now, there seems to be a ground swell happening that sees the sale of water in a plastic bottle being banned, at least in certain contexts. Good thing, I reckon. There's way too much discarded plastic everywhere. And I can't imagine that it's that healthy to be drinking water out of a plastic container.

Sale of water is banned, and that's just lubbly bubbly

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Voters feel pity for Rudd

While voters may feel pity for Rudd it does seem like they are forgiving of Julia Gillard. For me, I find my response is to the principles being wrecked. As a nation we voted for Kevin Rudd as prime minister. It wasn't so much about the party he represented but about him and what he was standing for. He came across, at least to me, as a man of principle and character. And yet despite his popular election he was ousted by someone else in his own party... and, in what appears to be rather back stabbing circumstances. This whole episode has given me pause for thought as to the ethics and integrity of our Australian politicians.

Australian Federal Election | Voters feel pity for Rudd

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Rudd returns to Canberra

Kevin Rudd is back in town... just as the electioneering has begun for our federal elections on August 21.
I am still distressed and outraged over the way Rudd was ousted. Our government must seem like a joke to the rest of the world. It certainly does not seem right to me. Before she stabbed him in the back, I was rather partial to Julia Gillard. Not anymore. I now feel like she is not to be trusted. Also, she tells lies. Right before she took over she was saying on TV that she was not interested in the top job... then just two days later the coup occurred! Where's truth?
I keep remembering some biblical principles... 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you' and 'the measure you give is the measure you get'. I do fear for Julia Gillard. What consequences are just around the corner for her as a result of the choice she made to grab the top job? Will she be overturned in another coup? Our political system could be a good one.
What to vote? Not only that, but how to pray for my country? We are not in a good place politically or spiritually.
O God, move among us.

Federal Election | Rudd returns to Canberra

Life & Living

No glitches to final inspection... the house passed for living and now I live. It's been a wonderful experience to move into my new home. So very hard to believe I have a house that's mine (actually it's God's house but he's given it to me to enjoy!).
Settling in goes slowly. The weather has been so cold that the unpacking of boxes goes slowly, oh so very slowly. The thing that's slow is that I have to get the boxes from where they're stored in a container further down the property up to my house (100mts or so). The car has been useful to do this but lugging 30-50lb boxes up the steps to the verandah is backbreaking when one is not so young anymore.
More recently the shed/garage has been built and yesterday cementing was finished for the garage verge, for a slab for a small annex for storing firewood, and for a path to back door. Looks good. Sadly, we've had so much rain in the last 6 weeks that the earth is sodden and the trucks have churned up the earth into a right royal mess. Now I'll have to plan for some earthworks once the ground dries up enough to be graded and deep ruts filled in.
We've had some bitterly cold days. The wind from the southwest blows off the Snowy Mtns and is frigid this time of year. To go outside I have to rug up and wear gumboots... so, I don't go out if I don't have to. The wood heater keeps me cosy and provides a nice cook top and little oven.
So, that's where it's at for the moment.
God is so good, and he's good all the time