A very friendly dragon (stop blushing, Puffy) suggested a midwinter festival theme for this week’s Friday post. What else could I do but tremble and obey?
(Image Credit: Stuart Wilde)
A Canadian-Chinese take on the winter solstice:
(Image Credit: Red Moon Musings)
With the druids at Stonehenge:
(Image Credit: BBC)
In olden days:
(Image Credit: Living Language)
and last but not least, a traditional English Christmas lunch:
(Image Credit: Mirror)
So, let’s settle down by the fire
with – oh whatever – mulled wine?
champers?
vintage port? (from the Secret Cellar, bien entendu)
(Image Credit: Getty Images)
and listen to some of the most joyous music ever written:
Finally, The Pub is pleased to announce that this evening’s raffle will be directed from the harpsichord by Maestro CK Watt.
“Set aside fear and banish lamentation;
Swell full with joy and merriment!”
Sounds okay to me.
THE PUB 
This is CK in full flight – and for the last time (unless he decides to do the occasional guest appearance . . . ):
Double manual harpsichord – noice.
Jaeger,
Well, I think CK has been dealing with a two-dimensional table.
If you can find him directing from a three manual harpsichord, I’d love to see the pic!
I just had a rant on FB about it. thanked the LIB/NAT voters for ruining our trades and apprenticeships.
Ask and you shall receive.
Every day, in so many ways this shambles sells us down the river!
Fiona
For some random reason made me think of Doris Day’s “Que shiraz shiraz ” well that is what I think she sang 🙂
Well Fiona, that was a quick flash!
Ms Adventure,
Que???
Syrah, syrah?
An instrument one of my primary school brought in and played for us. Loved it.
teachers
Been a life long fanboi of stringed instruments. They speak to me , all of the below are styles I love.
I may relate harpsichord horror stories tomorrow.
Meanwhile, g’night.
Very strange, I refreshed and lost the harpsichord pic and then did again and it was back!
I have started using this lotion from the chemist on my old dogs, and myself (because I can’t use the hot stuff on them Percutaine).
Flexall. It ain’t cheap but the old guy just tried to jump up onto my lap for the first time in ages.
http://flexall.com.au/flexall-products/
It is damn side cheaper than that Pain Away stuff and has Allantoin (from the comfrey plant) in it.
My terrier bitch is on cortisone ATM—was scratching like mad the whole day and night. $65 consult, $20 cortisone, $10 oatmeal shampoo, $10 antihistamine tablets. $20 fish oil capsules.
Now OK, not scratching herself anymore.
Did she show any gratitude. Not as such, bitch managed to snaffle the bag of beef cheeks I had just taken out the keep cold bag and ate one! That was for my Thai beef curry tomorrow!
Fortunately she grabbed the small beef cheek Bloody terriers!
By the old guy, I mean Old Trafford, my furbaby.
Polanimal
I have not gone down the cortisone route yet, the vet said leave it as long as possible. This stuff seems to be doing some good, and I have some turmeric mix on the way too. I have been reading some good stuff about turmeric.
This week I have found the cheapest place for the pups vaccinations, microchips and desexing. Three different vets, so we have some travelling to do next week. I will be glad, It has been on my mind for a while.
Then the rascals are off to obedience classes!
The cortisone is for the itching, not arthritis, doesn’t seem to have any (yet.)
Ahh obedience. I did get the bitch to get the CCD title, first obedience title then a bit of a battle getting ready for CD aka novice where the dog heels etc off lead but despite several hurdles got two successful trials to CD but then my arthritis just made it too painful to do the training. After the hip op was out the way she was too old, too slow on the recall.
Also one successful trial for the Tracking Dog title, no way could I do that now, walking in and out creekbeds, stepping over fallen branches no way.
Jaeger
Thanks for the Bill Bailey stuff, the guy is a genius.
First successful trial I called the dog too me after the figure of eight—cost quite a few points and Demi was too energetic and ran into my legs on the recall, we still got 181/200. 33 dogs in the class, 3 graduated, everyone in my club really happy for her and me—Demi scored two sausages!
Polanimal
Sounds like Demi deserved them, and you too.
I’m glad you liked it; it was new for me, too!
(Ditto for YouTube, Google etc.)
If I can get Sammie to recall at all I will be happy. If he thinks I have a treat….
I tried clicker training, now when I click the clicker all he expects is a piece of smacko!
Minnie-Chelsea is turning out to be sensible young lady, but Sammie!!!!
Ne barks, chases Old Womans Chelsea, chews my slippers, steals socks…
Sammie barks, chases Old Chelsea, chews slippers, steals socks, buries bones, pees on the snow pea seedlings, digs out my pot plants…
this is about the only thing Sammie hasn’t done.
buries bones in my bed.
Ck, Thank you for adding me so often to the ‘waifs and strays’ list, these last few months. Especially for gifting me with “42” (one of my favourite numbers, for some reason *G*) one what is apparently your last flourish of the raffle ‘tickets’
May you have lots of fun in what ever new endeavours you and Mrs CK are planning. Thanks!
Puffy—sounds like a typical terrier. Start the recall with having a treat ready to shove down his throat, then slowly change to sometimes a treat, sometimes no treat, sometimes a jackpot of a treat—same way pokie machines keep addicts sitting there.. Also lots of verbal praise always, may even be more important than the treat.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Is the Sydney property boom on borrowed time?
http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/rental-growth-slowdown-signals-residential-property-bust-on-the-way-20150626-ghxkdr
There has been a flurry of terrorist activities overnight. Stand by for a 12 flag performance today.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/islamist-flag-found-after-man-killed-in-attack-in-france-20150626-ghyyou.html
http://www.smh.com.au/world/tourist-hotel-in-tunisias-sousse-attacked-security-source-20150626-ghz0wh.html
The Fairfax editorial says that voters should see Abbott’s attack on the ABC as unedifying politics of division.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/reckless-abc-editorial-choice-exposed-viewers-to-unacceptable-risk-20150626-ghy4g1
Gay Alcorn sees it as part of Abbott’s wish to have a terrorism election.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/26/the-qa-scandal-is-very-very-serious-we-know-because-weve-been-told-so
Anton Scalia’s bad week continues as the SCOTUS issues a 5.4 decision in favour of marriage equality. Scalis’s dissenting opinion is that it is a threat to democracy. I’d suggest that he himself is the biggest threat.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-supreme-court-legalises-gay-marriage-across-the-nation-20150626-ghz2d6.html
Mark Scott is holding firm.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mark-scott-the-man-who-stands-between-the-abc-and-its-critics-20150626-ghyio6.html
2014 was a record year for renewables. Except in Australia of course!
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/2014-a-record-breaking-year-for-renewables–except-australia-of-course,7864
Mike Seccombe on how the old tactics of Big Tobacco are being used to kill renewables. It’s frightening.
http://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2015/06/27/tobacco-industry-playbook-used-kill-renewables/14353272002054#.VY27v_mqqko
It was a rather colourful day at the TURC yesterday.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/trade-union-royal-commission-george-alex-clashes-with-barrister-20150626-ghyjuz.html
PA,
Paddy cost me a small fortune with his itching problems. He used to scratch and chew at the itchy spots to the extent that he ended up with nasty infections. Then I discovered the product ‘comfortis’ which is really for flea control and found that it also resolved the itching Paddy suffered which was caused by doggie skin allergies, the heat rash he got in summer, and the awful ear infections he got from the yeast bug.
Comfortis is expensive but knocks off the flea populations and now I find I only need to give all the cats and Paddy a tablet about twice a year.
Section 2 . . .
Fairfax says that the high seas payoff was the first of its kind.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/boat-turnback-payment-to-people-smugglers-the-first-of-its-kind-20150626-ghyswb.html
Tony Windsor writes that our asylum seeker policy is a dark stain on Australia’s history.
http://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2015/06/27/asylum-seeker-policy-dark-spot-australias-history/14353272002050#.VY28cfmqqko
Michael Gordon gives us Tabloid Tony.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/in-the-fight-with-the-abc-tabloid-tony-rules-20150626-ghygaz.html
The Law Council blasts the new citizenship laws – David Wroe.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/law-council-blasts-new-citizenship-terrorism-laws-as-much-too-broad-20150626-ghyqqx.html
The ATO is going after the cash economy in the building industry.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/contractors-in-the-cash-economy-get-hit-with-23-billion-in-tax-bills-20150626-ghyfd3.html
Paul Bongiorno says that Abbott is cocked ready for an election at a time when he reckons things are suitable for it.
http://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2015/06/27/tony-abbotts-federal-election-preparations/14353272002042#.VY29Avmqqko
The severe and social consequences of the relocation of the Immigration Department.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/severe-social-and-economic-consequences-of-immigration-move-20150626-ghybty.html
Michael Pascoe goes to the difference between Treasury and Treasurer.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/what-the-treasury-not-the-treasurer-really-thinks-20150626-ghyt14.html
Stephen Koukoulas says Abbott has given up on debt and deficit reduction but few have noticed. Well worth reading.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/26/abbott-has-given-up-on-debt-and-deficit-reduction-but-few-have-noticed
Ross Gittins tells us of the IMF research that goes quite against the direction of this government.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/imf-research-confirms-paying-more-to-the-poor-will-build-the-economy-20150626-ghy7ja
Section 3 . . .
Harold Mitchell has some sage advice for Joe Hockey.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/joe-hockey-could-learn-something-from-george-washingtons-righthand-man-20150626-ghxzoi
Lenore Taylor hops onto the Shorten “crisis of confidence” bandwagon.
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/26/bill-shortens-crisis-of-confidence-how-poll-frontrunner-became-hollow-man
John Birmingham looks at the week that was.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/filling-toff-grammars-coffers-20150626-ghxkko
Alan Moir has Abbott introducing the updated Coalition climate change policy.
John Spooner takes us inside the Vatican.
Matt Golding – Heads should roll!
Cathy Wilcox with Emperor Tony making demands of the ABC management.
An interesting depiction of Abbott by Andrew Dyson.
This brilliant contribution from David Pope says it all.
Mark Knight in Danks’ laboratory.
Janice
Where do you get Comfortis from please, Hunter has the itching problem in the summer.
With all the terrorist attacks overnight how long before we see Abbott dressed like this in front of 20 flags?
http://tinyurl.com/pv358sq
Four cartoons on head rolling … It’s a disgrace. It’s exactly what Abbott wants to see posted everywhere. I’m appalled, especially after what occurred in France – a tragedy of the kinds that suit Abbott’s war on terror and on his death cult.
How good is Mark David!
Gravel,
I get comfortis from my vet, but I’ve seen it in other stores which sell pet stuff. The instructions on the pack will tell you to give your animal a dose each month, but I found that it best to leave it until the itching started again. My animals now only need it about twice a year.