Homage to the scone

Scone making is an art!

I now have my other half baking them, better than I ever could.

Scones being in demand for functions in our semi rural community of Willunga.

The scones were plentiful at the recent Willunga Christmas Tree festival.

The devonshire teas with homemade jam and cream are one of life's small pleasures.

Praise to the scone makers and Laucke for donating the scone mixture.

Christmas with guts

Christmas is a season when the majority of us are pressed to make some effort to participate.

As Tory Shepherd relates we are not 'only' christian, but free to choose what we like, or as is common, total apathy.

However way you slice it however most people have some little bit of christmas in them(!)

There is the time of giving, cards, presents and copious decorations everywhere.

Underneath the glitz the message of advent is about peace, hope, joy and love.

These are not things that come to us that naturally - as an atheist might profess.

Humans fight, attack and pull each other down, history shames us.

To think of and love others as yourselves takes guts.

It's radical.

And so to this time of Christmas hymns, carols and songs.

There is indeed something incredibly celebratory about hearing these ancient hymns to the birth of the christ child.

It is a spirit of joy - pure joy.

It is a message that lives on, as the verse resounds 'begin and never cease'.

Merry Christmas to you & yours.

Monolith Buses

South Australia is fortunate to have a well connected public transport system.

However as I live in an outer suburb, which is metro for some things and not others, we have a system of huge buses trundling through our streets.

My question to the transport authorities is why do we need buses that are massively oversized for the job they do.

The most I have seen on a connecting bus was while the Noarlunga train line was being upgraded.

Other than that a mini bus 20 seater would be quite adequate for our needs.

Why do we persist in supplying these huge monoliths that have difficulty getting around the small streets and corners.

Environmentally and passenger friendly journeys could be a reality.

We just need to step outside an outmoded way of planning and delivering services.

Show us what you are made of S.A.

Have just caught my breath after the Christmas rampage.

Another year of scandals, trivia and the occasional standout moments.

The score card reads, art on the improve, theatre always high calibre.

The book trade in need of support.

Cinema in need of a dose of imagination.

In food outings we are spoilt for choice (especially in the Fleurieu).

Politics with new blood out to impress.

Sport is big business for the fickle audiences of S.A.

So now to a new year of opportunities.

Show us what you are made of S.A.

The joys of trash reading and other issues

Resolutions and reflections of a year just gone.

A right of passage as the year ticks over.

Shirley Stott Despoja muses on the joys of comfort reading and 'bad' fiction.

Yes, I do indulge in a bit of mindless trash reading from time to time, quick hide the New Idea!

So I can understand Shirley stott Despoja's fascination.

It's time to let go a bit in January.

But the assertion that older drivers are hard done by in having an annual check is a furphy.

I know the perils of many an older driver who long ago should have relinquished their licence, including my own dad.

Even with the regulations it is very hard to 'encourage' someone that they need to consider other options for transport.

The reality is after 80 there is a lot more that can go wrong physically.

As a society it is not acceptable to bury our heads in the sand and say it will never happen to me.

It may be you will happily motor on into your 90's and beyond, all power to you.

But lets have the courage to be really honest.

The only shame is to go on pretending that age is not an issue.

Zombie humanity?

Stephen Orr paints a gloomy picture on human decency (Wednesday 28th of December, 2011).

Why is it always easier to see the wrongs in others as opposed to the tremendous positives.

We are one of the most regulated societies on the planet.

Yet is more regulation and 'consequences' really effective?

When discussing common courtesies and consideration we work at this as a collective.

There are basic givens.

It is also worth noting that rates of accidents and deaths in young drivers is actually decreasing.

Health and safety campaigns do have an effect.

As do a robust education system and caring communities.

There will always be those on the out skirts of humanity.

Our common humanity say 'Don't give up'.

We're with you.

Art is glass - Exquisite