tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post6404006119404079697..comments2023-05-24T23:33:57.516+10:00Comments on My Unwelcome Stranger: A flat earth and a racing land 1Denis Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-90797322415749964802013-09-22T12:11:08.717+10:002013-09-22T12:11:08.717+10:00I've always loved maps! Especially great big ...I've always loved maps! Especially great big world maps. Though when I was a kid it pleased me greatly to know that there were still mysterious parts unknown to all except the most adventurous (and of course those who lived there). Nowadays most such places are invaded by the tourist hordes and as the popular opinion is that the hordes benefit the local economy this will continue. I used to sit with my head on my hand in class, dreaming of faraway places with strange-sounding names - Pago Pago and the Brahmaputra and the Irrawaddy. How I longed to go there! It never occurred to me that I actually LIVED in an exotic place - that my classroom was set in a school on a small coral island on the East African coastline of the Indian Ocean with a view of the dhows sailing into harbour on the monsoon! Oh well, now I learn from Prof. Iain Stewart that we in Australia are all heading northwards and will crash into Indonesia and take a lot of other places with us when we eventually sideswipe Japan and crash into southern China. All my favourite exotic places will thus be lumped in together - though, alas, I shall not be around to see it! Julie Lakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268676551467882065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-17314295304789999852013-09-21T20:19:42.887+10:002013-09-21T20:19:42.887+10:00You evoke so vividly the four-year-old-Denis-world...You evoke so vividly the four-year-old-Denis-world.zmkchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-22924888464573966382013-09-19T06:22:41.844+10:002013-09-19T06:22:41.844+10:00Take a bow yourself Ros, for reactivating almost i...Take a bow yourself Ros, for reactivating almost identical memories of my final year of primary school in a one teacher 25 pupil school at Pyree near Nowra just up the coast from you.<br /><br />Mr Henderson was the.best.teacher I had in my school daze, for the reasons you give, and the effect upon my performance in later schooling. They must have been a special sort of teacher to hold the interest of six different grades of kids all at once, and to make you come willing to school for another dose.<br /><br />kvd Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-75825544155749806422013-09-18T22:48:55.148+10:002013-09-18T22:48:55.148+10:00I remember our one-teacher school - Mr Kelly used ...I remember our one-teacher school - Mr Kelly used to come to school drunk) - at Kameruka near Bega/Candello in southern NSW. My Dad was the Assistant Manager of the Kameruka Estate. I was 10 years old and in Grade 4. There were only 2 of us in that Grade. I used to come top-of-the-class and 2nd last all at the same time!<br /><br />And the whole school - 20 of us? - had to sweep the class room, clean out the wood fire place and set the fire for the next day, and disinfect the pit toilets. I didn't learn till many years later that the teachers in these one-teacher schools used to be PAID extra by the Dept of Ed to do the cleaning. But guess who did it all? Us KIDS!<br /><br />Anyway, the thing is, my favourite thing about school was the vast, it seemed to me, numbers of canvas rolls of MAPS rolled up and stored away in a special, tall cupboard. Out would come such and such a map, unscrolled and hung from a nail over the blackboard for a geography or history lesson. <br /><br />The thing I loved most, and gained great comfort from, was the huge number of PINK countries on these maps. The British Commonwealth will always be PINK in my mind. Pink is such a comforting...and safe colour.<br />Thanks again, and again, for activating such vivid memories, Den. <br />xxRRoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13339472107640597921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-84444728691395140902013-09-18T21:57:49.426+10:002013-09-18T21:57:49.426+10:00I'd make it easier if I could - honestly! Try ...I'd make it easier if I could - honestly! Try 667.Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-6128703892915091202013-09-18T21:55:07.071+10:002013-09-18T21:55:07.071+10:00I hate these Capcha type things, and even worse if...I hate these Capcha type things, and even worse if you re-edit and have to do it again. <br /><br />As I've warned, kiddies, COPY your words of wisdom before attempting to post. <br /><br />At least you have a record of it. I can post for you if necessary. If using a Google a/c like gmail, make sure you have a tab or window open with it as well, before you try posting.<br /><br />My email address is located here:<br />http://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609<br />under my mugshot.Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-54292165174963185612013-09-18T21:40:00.637+10:002013-09-18T21:40:00.637+10:00Just keep looking, Trish. You are getting sleepy.....Just keep looking, Trish. You are getting sleepy.... Focus on the map.... Do not take your eyes from the map....Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-61804835006888463692013-09-18T15:04:40.255+10:002013-09-18T15:04:40.255+10:00Bloody hell, it may have worked the first time not...Bloody hell, it may have worked the first time not the second because blog whatever wants me to have a new blog. I'm having enough trouble with the old one thank you. And no I'm not a robot even though I can't quite make out the different alpha-numerics. And now I forgot what witty comment I was going to make so I'll wait until Part II....still waiting. J. xxxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-60550267691369786702013-09-18T14:57:18.634+10:002013-09-18T14:57:18.634+10:00Testing. Testing. Trying to get a comment on Denis...Testing. Testing. Trying to get a comment on Denis's blog Take 666. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-858810763693133422013-09-18T11:09:41.862+10:002013-09-18T11:09:41.862+10:00Not tomorrow, so don't worry. I think Japan w...Not tomorrow, so don't worry. I think Japan will be at the bottom of the sea by that time, if current ructions continue. All those beautiful zen gardens and fabulous architecture - gone. I just hope they take their paintings, ceramics, and calligraphy with them when they get into their boats and head for Australia. Tony A. might be gone by then, too.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04715081266571704126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-61752768257129785482013-09-18T10:58:03.032+10:002013-09-18T10:58:03.032+10:00And the good thing is, you've got plenty of ti...And the good thing is, you've got plenty of time to learn it. The Japanese are going to get squashed, but the Chinese will be pleased at the reduced shipping costs for coal and iron.<br /><br />When did he say that was going to happen? I need to make a reminder entry.Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-50649895070270690372013-09-18T09:24:29.843+10:002013-09-18T09:24:29.843+10:00And now we know, after last night's program, t...And now we know, after last night's program, that Australia is going to muscle in on this cosy arrangement and become part of China. Perhaps that's why I'm currently learning Chinese. In preparation.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04715081266571704126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-11641614964031019532013-09-17T19:04:24.447+10:002013-09-17T19:04:24.447+10:00Eek, no wonder it's quiet and lonely down here...Eek, no wonder it's quiet and lonely down here in the comments department. They're all staring at this blimmin map trying to 'study' whatever it is we have to answer questions on, tomorrow-ish....always did find teachers scary :) Trish Nnoreply@blogger.com