What I saw in November 2014

Recycles from this blog.

Meanwhile on the other side of the Dateline:

What time will we know who the winner is?

The close of polls on the west coast – that’ll be 3:00pm AEDT tomorrow – will be the first opportunity for the election to be “called”.

My colleague Jessica Haynes has listed more timings and info here.

Katie Cassidy 29 minutes ago

Now back to 2014.

So it goes — November 2014

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Neil

Down in Crown Street Mall last Friday’s Market:

And the fudge really is excellent. Doug, an ex-student of mine from TIGS 40 years ago, is Mr Fudge Affair. He hadn’t noticed the juxtaposition with the sign from Harrison’s Pharmacy – which some may find a touch appropriate!

Wollongong’s Crown Street Mall – 2 – November 2014

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Neil

I didn’t see the actual opening of the completed Mall yesterday as I had lunch with friends at Steelers. But on the way there:

Cat post – heatwave or cat power

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Neil

Could be a new form of alternative energy, though the cat (Garfield, would you believe?) seems to be conserving his. Sensible, given today’s forecasts.

By the sea, Saturday

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Neil

But first a bit of a map highlighting places I tend to be at times.

1 – Diggers 2 – Steelers 3 – The Brewery

From The Brewery

Peak time for flame trees and jacarandas

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Neil

In Mount Keira Road

Greyhounds; Photoblog recycle July 2014

The OzElection situation is much as it was yesterday, but there was a bit of a bombshell in NSW: Greyhound racing ban: NSW trainers vow ‘industry will fight this to the finish’.

Greyhound racing will be banned in New South Wales from July 1 next year, with Premier Mike Baird saying the “widespread and systemic mistreatment of animals” cannot be tolerated.

I have never been interested in the sport and acknowledge the cruelty that has come to light, but I do wonder whether the Baird government has again been heavy-handed. One thinks of forced council mergers and lock-out laws, for example. This may be right:

Greyhound Racing in NSW has made great strides in animal welfare and integrity during the past 12 months but that means nothing now.

Millions of dollars was spent on the Special Commission and it seemed an absolute long shot that closure was an option. But here we are.

Michael McHugh’s recommendations seem appallingly single minded.

The outcome is catastrophic and the timing of the announcement, just five days after the ballot boxes closed on the federal election, is questionable. There is no doubt the government was protecting National Party seats that would have been disaffected by this news.

See also Greyhound racing industry banned and The key to Labor’s success in the west will have Baird worried. It is a big story down here in Illawarra.

Jose Ramos, who went to Dapto to watch the races tonight, said he was worried about the impact the ban would have on the local economy. “[It will] destroy it,” he said.

Peter Carlile, who was also at the track tonight, said he was worried about the impact on everyone involved in the industry.

“The dogs can go interstate,” he said. “What about the people who work at the track, not only here in Dapto but everywhere?”

Photoblog for July 2014

Last night’s sunset made the evening news…

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Neil

So spectacular was it! Here it is as seen from my window in West Wollongong.

MH17

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Neil

In Wollongong today

Wollongong transformed — 5

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Neil

See also Wollongong transforming… 1, Wollongong transformed — 2, Wollongong transformed — 3 and Wollongong transformed — 4.

What can I say today? So I just share my world…

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Neil

Of course I am exercised by the tragic events in Ukraine and Gaza – but what can I say? I have shared on Facebook and Twitter. So given my impotence… Let me just share what yesterday brought me.

Snow came close. Apparently Robertson, in those mountains just to the south of us, experienced snow.

Wollongong turns it on — 2

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Neil

We spent the afternoon in conversation and also wonder at the nature and light show going on before our eyes. As you may see…

Soft winter afternoon light … yesterday

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Neil

Noticed the light as I got off the 39 bus in Mount Keira Road yesterday around 4.30 pm. Looking more closely, observe on the left Nan Tien, the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere.

Wollongong’s new hospital opens

Wollongong’s new private hospital opened yesterday. It dominates the view down Crown Street West Wollongong. Here is a shot taken last October early in the morning.

And this from the Illawarra Mercury:

It is certainly impressive. How may it affect us public/pensioner patients? See Hospital opening boosts surgical options:

An increase in surgical options at Wollongong Private Hospital will have a positive flow-on effect for public patients, according to neurosurgeon Dr Matthias Jaeger.

Dr Jaeger said his unit of three neurosurgeons currently conducted more than 100 brain operations at Wollongong Public Hospital each year, with privately insured patients in need of emergency surgery making up 40 per cent of those.

‘’With the opening of Wollongong Private Hospital on Monday, we will be able to offer services for private patients which will open up a lot of operating time for public patients in the public hospital system,’’ Dr Jaeger said…

We shall see.