Z. Zero

Zac was a zealous student, interested in Zionism and Zoroastrianism. Sadly he could remember zilch, zip and zero about spelling. The last letter of the Western alphabet; a metaphor for his life: a big fat Z. He longed for the sizzling zing of success. But he zipped his mouth with this score.

Zac wanted to zoom into oblivion. He felt like a zombie, totally zonked.

He belonged in a zoo for freaks, had no zest for life. He’d have to zig-zag out of the school yard zone to avoid the zap of the bullies who had zero tolerance for difference.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Cheers!  :D

I'll be back Monday to wrap up with Lee at Tossing it Out who has generously devoted so much time to hosting the A-Z Blogging Challenge this April.

Over at traverselife, I've spent the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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Y. Yolanda's yacht.

Yolanda would be able to read the message on the Frankston pier - no worries!

I’ve got a young friend named Yolanda, she yearned for a yellow yacht and last year bought one from a Japanese gentleman for a lot of Yen. They celebrated with bottles of Yellingbow and a hunk of yearling on the barbeque.

Yellow yacht at Flinders, moored for Easter.

Yolanda named the yacht “YIPPEE!”

Yolanda yodels enthusiastically. Some of the crew – all youths - say it sounds more like the yelp of a yak, and use the work “Yuk”. Yolanda says it helps her yank more strongly on the yardarm, though a yeoman of yesteryear may give her a run for her money and yield a better result.

Yellow yacht and motor boat at Flinders last week. Yippee indeed!

Yachts at Mornington. Very low Easter tide.

Here tomorrow: Zero


A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Over at traverselife, I've spent the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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X. Dr Xing

It could be a bit extreme, but I suspect Doctor Xing will be prescribing more Xanax to treat depression in Gen X. Many of that generation are exhausted by tying to learn to play the xylophone; some even wanted to travel to Xanadu for extra lessons! Most people would just use the Xerox to copy the instructions rather than travel exhausting amounts of kilometres to somewhere on the map where “x” marks the spot. That’s a bit exaggerated don’t you think?

Just between you and me, Doctor Xing is a little strange, he signs his prescriptions with an inexact ‘x’.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.
This Drabble in no way represents any person I know and I trust that anyone with a similar name will accept the words in a lighthearted way. I had to find something to fit with X and am scraping the bottom of my brain barrel here - I have a deep and long lasting respect for my Chinese friends, workmates and neighbours.

Here tomorrow: Yolanda's yacht

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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W. Weirdo

For all the kids who are different in some way and don't fit in.
*
Kids at school laughed at me with derision

Called me weird

A no hoper

A loser

Socially inept, I kept to myself, content and apart, not comprehended their need for togetherness. Touching made me withdraw physically, left me cold and shrinking from the grasp. It felt distasteful, alien, intrusive.

I enjoy numbers and graphs, their lack of ambiguity. Working alone using logic clean and clear is safe. This graph, showing heart rate and age, the result of time well spent.

I’m working on an iPad app for it next.

Those same kids will use it; they won’t laugh this time.

"Chart"

Terry J. DuBose

from Wikimedia Commons

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

This Drabble first appeared in  The Burrow Valentine's Feature 2011, hosted by Burrowers, Books & Bladerdash. 

Here tomorrow: X. Dr Xing

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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V. Valiant volunteers.

Valiant volunteer Tim Warner
at the launch of the Alwyn Tamo - 19 March 2011

Vera is very interested in volunteering with the Volunteer Marine Rescue. She has a voracious appetite for learning all she can about her vivacious hero Alwyn Tamo who was a visionary and vigilant in her determination to value the lives of all people revving around on Westernport Bay.

The vistas around Victoria are very dangerous, but the volunteers are valiant! They give up their time without pay and may come across scenes of violent destruction, which they tackle with visible determination and bounce back with vim and vigour.

Occasionally they become vexed with some vessel owners, but they're never vindictive.

The chaplain from HMAS Cerberus is part of the official party.

Launch of the Alwyn Tamo - 19 March 2011

The Alwyn Tamo can navigate Bass Strait
(a notoriously treacherous stretch of water).

On a sunny day at low tide, looking towards The Heads from Sorrento -
ie. towards the entrance to Port Phillip Bay.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: W: Weirdo

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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U. Unwanted attention

Many parents are unaware that their child is receiving unwanted attention from unscrupulous bullies at school. The unwilling child becomes jittery and uncertain if they’re unceremoniously upended in the toilet. The unceasing torment undermines the child’s confidence and they need to unburden unashamedly.

It’s unbelievable that untold amounts are spent on war not education. It's unheard of to provide unfailingly exceptional programmes; I think we're uncharitably uncommitted. It would change the outcome! Due to the unwillingness of authorities to tackle the problem creatively and unilaterally, beautiful lives are undermined.

It’d be great if an umbrella would help, but it wont.

Things can spiral down very quickly if bullying isn't tackled early on.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Valiant Volunteers

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

T. Tense

It’s trying to work in a tacky company when you want to throw a *tanty because of the trickery of twisted managers.

If you’re truthful, articulate and value integrity and have tried to temper your retorts but failed, you might need to troubleshoot or you’ll appear totally tactless and truculent. Your job may be terminated - not temporarily!

If you’ve tallied up too many tempests and transformed from 'team player' to 'turned-off', bullies may tell that they were targeted and tasted your terse tongue.

They may then testify this left them **totalled by your terrible taunts and call it truculent behaviour.

Isle of Skye.

***
*tanty = tantrum

**a slang expression usually applied to cars eg “He totalled his car when he hit the tree” = the car is bent beyond repair. In this case the person who is totalled had been hurt irreparably.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Unwanted attention


Here for how to make a clicky signature.

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

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S. Shilly-shally

Safeguard our planet.

It’s silly to *shilly-shally around. We need to salvage the situation swiftly and not saunter into the future as if everything is secure. The scientists have solved many sizzling problems in the past and got us out of some supremely stupid situations, but we shouldn’t be slack or serenely indifferent. That’d be slovenly.

I spoke with a saffron robed sheila who said she had specialised superpowers and could streamline the supply of oil and water to see us out - even when we’ve stripped the silver lining from the shale shelves in Siberia.

Should I call her “saviour”?

East Side Gallery. Berlin 2009.

***

* to be indecisive and get distracted by unimportant things.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.
I'll revisit S when the month is over with a Drabble for a Super friend.

Here tomorrow: Tense

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

How to make a hyperlink signature here
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R. Reliable x 2

The reliable *rancher rearranged the rotation of the crops to reduce stress and strain on the soil used for raising seedlings.

Market Garden, near Springvale Vic. Due to be subdivided for housing.

Ruby wanted to radically reduce the residue from poisoned run-off, which was going into the rancid rivers.

Rainfall had been increasingly random which was leading to unreliable reserves. It was realised that reservoirs needed to be re-engineered and that the focus needed to be on realigning responsibilities to reflect the change.

Soil needed to be rehabilitated and reserves of groundwater stabilised. There needs to be responsible re-organisation of resources, to reduce risking the revulsion and wrath of future generations.

Erosion as a result of poor land management.

***
*the words Market Gardener simply didn't work.

***

And now a Drabble for a fellow blogger who gives huge amounts of time and shares his expertise very generously on the Blogger forum as well as in his blog the Report. Introducing Roberto.....
*
Roberto’s Report – It’s reliable!

Have you ever had the experience of ranting and railing after wracking your brain, and everything is still wrong. You feel like a wraith from your recurrent dreams of wrong-doings. You repeated the directions, but nothing’s going right. It’s ridiculous! You’re in a rage ‘cos your blog simply isn’t rocking.

Repeated requests to your usually ritzy sources are greeted with ribald laughter and rollicking derision.

Contact reliable Roberto!

His “Report” is a ripper! He’s respectful, rational, and reasonable; you’ll soon be able to relax, recline and rejoice after having your problems solved, no matter how random.
*

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Shilly-shally

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

=]V[=: Q - A to Z Blog Challenge

=]V[=: Q - A to Z Blog Challenge

Q. Quinces

Some think Quinces are quaint, but I quite like them. My quiet neighbour wouldn’t quarrel – I HAD to take them even though I quaked at the quantity.  She had no qualms and was quietly insistent. She felt queasy from quaffing the syrup.

I was in a bit of a quandary and questioned the cookery books and found some quality recipes. I stewed some with peppercorns, bay leaves, lemon peel, cinnamon and coriander pods (which was quite quick) and used the rest for Moroccan lamb.

There was better quality control than with the *cumquats ;)

Quick! Take a photo before they’re gone!

*Drabble about my failed cumquat "jam" here.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Reliable

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

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P. Penguins

Pete had been a particularly paunchy penguin. He’d lived in perfect waters long ago when polar bears played, and plankton and pilchards were popular. He’d partaken of these around the Peregrine Peninsula before the polar ice caps were plundered for plentiful fossil fuels.

Back then the waters had been more pristine than putrid, pretty not poxy.

How did it happen that we’ve pandered to powerful, parsimonious politicians and their pals who’ve pilfered and pillaged pretty much everything of importance that had been plentiful? They’ve plummeted us into purgatory.

A pox on people who prevented restraint and poured scorn on peace.

***

My husband took this phone photo of a Fairy Penguin* rounding up fish next to the Mornington jetty, Victoria. They're rarely seen here, and provided school holiday entertainment for a couple of evenings last week. At the top of the photo you can just see the float from a fishing line, and the curve of the line coming up to the fisherman on the jetty. The greyish line at the bottom of the photo is the jetty - you can see how close he is, only a metre or so away! I hope he didn't disappear because he mistook the bait for safe fish.

Phone photos: I. Travers.

Additional info on Fairy Penguins: they look ever so cute, but get really, really cranky when they're covered in oil, are rescued and need to be cleaned off. They're amazingly strong and muscly for a small creature, and have dangerously sharp claws. Definitely better for them to be in clean water, and not need to be rescued!     Please take note all cost cutting and careless owners of leaking oil tankers...grrr.

*For some reason the powers that be have renamed them Little Penguins (boring name IMHO). To me they'll always be Fairy Penguins.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Quinces
Here for how to make a hyperlink signature.

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

O. Outrageous!

Based on a true story:
***
“Outrageous! His assignment on ‘onomatopoeia’ is overdue. I don’t care he’s off-colour. I allowed him an overnight extension. His output is atrocious, I’ll make him pay”.*

Aggressive ogre. This teacher couldn’t know my charge’s awful origins. My lips were sealed.

The child’s serial abuser had been outed on the news. Confidentiality essential. I was obliged to pour oil on her spluttering objections, to speak calmly and objectively. It was a tall order.

I negotiated, omitting identifying details. It was all one way. I offered an olive branch - the work would be on her overfull desk by morning.

Outrageous? Indeed.

Some teachers like to intimidate.
Berlin 2009.

***
*A teacher used those last four words about a disadvantaged teenager I was working with.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Penguins


Click here to find out how to do a hyperlink signature.

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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N. Nincompoop & napalm

I'd like to thank San over at Informed Sharing for her perceptive review of my blogs. I am not only honoured, but humbled that the information I share at traverselife and the fun I have with words at JumpingAground has been acknowledged so thoughtfully and generously. Thankyou San.
***

Chimney near East Side Gallery

Noooooooooooooooo! There’s a naughty nincompoop nodding under the bed, it’s making me scared of the night. I feel nauseous when I see its navel.

NASA took a neat photo of it but Nana said it wasn’t nice even though it’s a native of Norway. I prefer nasturtiums; they don’t make noise unlike the nasty nincompoop, Nathan. It goes “Nnrgh Nnrgh” and tries to nip the nape of my neck.

Could its neuroses be caused by *napalm? The Vets said "NO" to its use. Some never recovered and need a nightlight. They won’t talk about it even if you ask nicely.**
***

* I'm aware that Napalm and Agent Orange are different chemical concoctions, and that Agent Orange was used extensively in Vietnam, whereas Napalm was an earlier era weapon. But I needed a word that started with N.  I also wanted to acknowledge the dreadful damage done to our Vietnam Veterans, and the people of Vietnam by its use.

**I'm also aware that this drabble doesn't make any sense at all. It's Saturday, we're half way through the challenge. I'm tired. It is what it is.

Apologes to all my Norwegian friends - you know I think you're marvellous.

East Side Gallery is in Berlin. For some reason today I can't add any more words and keep the formatting.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less. (I hope it counts even if it doesn't make sense)

Here tomorrow: Oh darn, I'm stuck for ideas ... it'll be a surprise!

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

M. Marvellous ideas

Many marvellous ideas are met with moans and mirth when they are first mooted. The first person who mentioned merging coal fired power stations with more mindful measures was called a moron. “He’s mad they muttered”, none too mildly.

It was as if he was trying to mastermind a massive takeover of the modern world. There was manouvering and manipulation and all kinds of muddles.

But I suspect that we need to mobilise mankind and get some momentum to make amends after many years of slovenly management if we are to make our way out of this mire and mess.

East Side Gallery. Berlin 2009.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Nincompoop & napalm

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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L. Lighten up! & A CELEBRATION!!!!

Lighten up lady! Let’s laugh a little and spend a few moments looking for some lovely locations on the laptop.

It’s possible to overload on the litany of lies from the long list of lunatic lumps leering at my concerns for our lives and longevity. It’s time to be light-hearted; grab some lunch of lasagne, a longneck of lager and luxuriate in a lungful of fresh air.

Luckily I’ve loaded my files with shots from lots of latitudes.

Some local

Mornington, Victoria, Australia

Landless

Tweed Heads. New South Wales

 Laird

Lunga, Scotland

Not Latex!

Some largish

Zermatt, The Matterhorn

Or Landward

Near Bright, Northern Victoria

Lamb

Luminous

Isle of Skye

Ah, this is the life. I like it!

***

I've been blogging for one year today. 

Happy Birthday!

My gorgeous children, many years ago

It feels almost like a surprise to still be here after my "main" blog's (traverselife) inauspicious beginnings. To all the amazing people who have had the confidence that you'll return, thankyou so much for clicking "Follow" ... WOW! ... I'm honoured. It's heart-warming, welcoming, accepting, supportive and humbling.

I'm in a state of wonder. I often feel like a grumpy lady up on my soapbox railing against the world. For that reason, it didn't matter if no one ever followed me, I'm writing for me, to get it out of my system, but by golly, it feels great that others connect in some way...there's others who care out there!  WELCOME!  Please comment and share when you can, I firmly believe connecting is important.

I just reread my first post - it's not so good. There are assumptions about my audience that haven't come to fruition. Few people who initially expressed an interest in bouncing off my ideas and contributing have done so, or to be more accurate none of them have. Because of that I stumbled around wondering what to say, if anything; how to write, whether to be formal or relaxed (I think it's called the voice). I frequently asked "Who am I in this blogging world?" "Do I belong?" I still feel like a babe amongst giants, but I'm improving! I've learnt how to add pictures and a hyperlink signature too! But what's this networked blogs? And when do you click on "Links to this post?"  What happens? and how does the Facebook thing work, do I make a Page so it doesn't go directly to my personal FB or what? ... so much to learn :)

Should I go back and edit to make sense for anyone who sniffs around? Maybe, but I'm having too much fun here and now to bother. What I thought would happen, hasn't.  But this is SO much better than I could ever have imagined. I'm deeply grateful that I've bumped into this generous, welcoming community of diverse bloggers from around the globe. It's opened my eyes to our common challenges as well as unique issues as people living in a difficult world.

In January, I began Jumping Aground (the title Jumping Around had already been taken) to make it easier to contribute a small stone (a short piece of writing that captures a fully engaged moment) to the River of Stones.  It's been fun to rediscover writing for pleasure, to tinker with words, maybe to find my voice as a writer, although that sounds presumptuous. I still don't consider myself to be a writer, but maybe I'm getting there - wherever there happens to be.

at home! (No worries about driving)

I'm unsure what will happen next after I've finished the A-Z Bullying over at traverselife. It's been a labour of love, grueling but rewarding. I'll need a break from it I know. Here at JumpingAground, we'll see, something will turn up. I remain deeply concerned about the environment, those with learning difficulties, education and injustice and will keep writing about that, but I also need to regain my balance and do some fun stuff too.

I'll end with my favourite verse from Sydney Carter's "Interview":

Where are you going next?
     Like you, I ask that question.
     I can only
     travel with the music.
     I am full
     of curiosity.


.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Marvellous ideas.

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

How to make a hyperlink signature here
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K. Knowledge

“My wife doesn’t need to work” a man bragged recently. Sadly he came across as a bit of a know-all, you know the kind?

His wife had kept the knot of distress hidden, she knew how it felt to be kicked in the gut. She was keen to share her extensive knowledge and kindness with kids who had a crappy life at home. She felt they were kindred spirits and wanted to kindle a love of learning, instead knowledge was seeping away.

It was a bit of a knotty problem for her to learn not to kow-tow to her husband.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Lighten up! and a CELEBRATION


How to make a hyperlink signature here

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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J. Justice & Jam

This one is for adult dyslexics:

*
A true story:
John juggled time between home and work, but spelling left him jangled and jaundiced. He was interviewed by a journalist; it seemed like a jolly good idea to shed light on his ‘disability’ to give others hope that they could make it, and weren’t jinxed.

His jumped-up university disagreed, and questioned his judgement. There was no justice, just jeering and jibes. It was no joke, he lost his job. Jettisoned! There’s no way to jazz it up. They acted like juveniles; said it was justified. He joined a less judgmental university and regained his joie de vivre.

Graffiti art. Berlin 2009.

***

Last June I tried making Jam   :(

My brother Jeremy invited me to pick his juicy kumquats at his joint in Jerilderie.

By jingo! Obviously I didn’t know what I was doing, and made a jaundicy kind of mess. My joyful neighbour Jenny advised me not to take my marmalade* to be judged by the jolly ladies at the CWA**. They're too polite to jeer but they might set their jowls into a jagged line. They’d judder and banish me to a jail in Johor where I’d write a jingle about jellybeans and wait for my mates to bring some jelly.
***

*Jam and Marmalade should not be confused :(
**Country Women's Association = wonderful recipes!

Mine's the one that needs a hack saw to remove from the jar, you need to carve it out in slabs and it's unspreadable...sigh. It's OK grilled on pork chops though. Any other suggestions on how to use it up will be gratefully received. Otherwise - compost time!


Here tomorrow: K. Knowledge

A drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Over at traverselife I'm spending the month looking at Workplace bullying.

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I. Inspiring. A-Z challenge

Sir David Attenborough is an intelligent individual with high ideals. At times he appears quite impish! There’s no way you could use the word indifferent in regard to him. He appears to love insects and although he is an important person he’s not insensitive, inhospitable, impatient or intolerant - to the best of my knowledge anyhow.

He inspects the insects with great intensity and passion. During his illustrious career he’s been involved in imaginative ways to present inspired, informed commentary. I find him illuminating when he imparts his awesome knowledge. He’s been instrumental in instilling interesting facts into many young people.

And for the children with learning difficulties

This well informed child can discuss Issac Newton with illustrious individuals and inquires intensely. He isn’t ignorant!

But he can’t spell, so is called illiterate.

He’s incapable of absorbing what the ignoramus in the classroom grasps with infuriating ease. Intense effort leaves him itchy and irritable – he knows it’s important!

Progress is insignificant as inch by painful inch he grapples with letters and words. It’s so inconsistent, he wonders if he’s insane. He can spell inspirational one day, but not the next.

Ignorant environments are inhospitable if you can’t spell, interesting and eloquent conversation counts for nought. Insults abound.

Here tomorrow: Justice & Jam


A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.


How to make a hyperlink signature here

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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H. Horrible feelings & Hearing

Have you ever had that horrible feeling that you’ve been hypnotized into hiding from hearing about the ill-health of our home, planet Earth? Many humble people talk about healing her with kind humour, but hard headed businessmen hush them haughtily and harass them, saying the ideas are either too hard, or harrumph with a: “Ho Hum, what would you know?”

Humble Holiness - The Dalai Lama

Some creatures including Polar Bears are past their heyday and disappearing without much hoopla. I wonder if there’s a hidden agenda too hideous to contemplate. If so, I’ll find it hard to avoid a hurried swig from my hip flask.

Now one for the children with learning difficulties.

Sometimes kids can’t hear properly and get hell at school because they mistake Health for History. The teacher hollers: “How come you’re so hopeless?”

The child hides; hollering hurts their ears, it doesn’t help. Have them checked for *APD, which could make a helluva lot of difference in how they handle tasks. They might not even hate having to go to school. Hip, hip hooray!

Don’t be hijacked by those who say: “It’s ok, he’ll grow out of it, he just needs to choose to listen better”. The little tyke needs help, hugs and high fives, not harassing and hounding.

* Audtiory Processing Disorder.

***

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Inspiring


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Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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G. Geographers.

Geographers aren’t generally known to be gaudy or garrulous but by gosh they’re great!

They gather grit and gassy substances in glass gauges and greet it with gargantuan gasps of “Golly gosh! This is gripping!” And they’re not worried about germs either.

One said to me once “Gee whiz you old geezer, get a gander at this!”...  I didn’t react very graciously.

Sometimes they gambol around goldfields wearing galoshes. Some are known for their genius in sharing their general knowledge about Global Information Systems to gather support and garner protection for our glorious geology. They’re generous like that!

Go geographers!

A drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Horrible feelings & Hearing


How to make a hyperlink signature here


Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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F: Fretful. A-Z challenge

I’m fretful that the Federal Government is telling fibs about the facts of Climate Change. They seem to have fabricated figures ferociously to fool us into filtering out any fears we may have felt. I think we’ll need more than feng-shui to ensure we don’t fall into a fiasco from which it will be hard to find our way out. I’m convinced they’re trying to flummox us with fictions. I get furious when they call us foolish for finding reason not to fawn at the altar of fickle consumerism.

Our fabulous environment should be fecund, not foetid. Fie on them!

Sludge remaining after flooding. A breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Some information on mosquitoes here and here.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Tomorrow: G for Geographers.

Over at traverselife I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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E. Environment & Ethics. A-Z challenge

This Karri tree (Eucalyptus diversicolor) is known as the 'Gloucester Tree'
It's not a Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) but it's huge too.

It’s exciting to see the enormous eucalypts (the Mountain Ash) near Emerald. You should exercise extreme caution when driving around that environment and don't raise your eyes to the tops of the trees particularly in the evening when the echidnas are eating or you might hit an oncoming car if you get distracted and be eliminated entirely.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could entrust sound environmental management to enormous corporations and know they would ensure the longevity of our Earth. Unfortunately they ensnare those of questionable morality and enlist their support.

Many would get an *E for ethical behaviour.

***

*In Australia an E is a fail grade

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Fretful

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

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D. Distinguished scientists. A-Z challenge.

A number of distinguished scientists drowned us in data describing the devastation that could dampen our spirits due to our voracious determination to drill for oil continuously and use all the dark coal completely 'till it disappears forever.

The dastardly shock jocks delved deviously to detect a difference of opinion, then jeered delightedly and defamed the dear scientists calling them deranged, deluded and dreary. They were determined to make a dramatic beat up and tried to discredit the danger. Oh dear; the uneducated dumping on the deeply knowledgeable. I felt deflated when the politicians were also deaf to Earth’s degeneration.

We might need all the help we can get

***
A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Here tomorrow: Environment & Ethics

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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C: Climate & Children. A-Z challenge.

The conversation about climate seems to have changed into a general acceptance that mankind hasn’t helped, and may even have created a fair bit of the coming crappiness. The cycle of change is there of course, but too many organizations want to capitalize by creating quick profits and use the catchcry of "constant growth" rather than calling for restraint for all our communities.

It’s challenging to convey the complex ideas clearly, but surely no one wants a cataclysm or catastrophe?

Couldn’t we curtail our ceaseless consumption so we don’t end up down the creek without a canoe or a paddle?

Down the creek without a paddle - or a canoe.

***

Children with learning difficulties are often chided by usually caring teachers for being careless with their ABC’s. Sometimes the teachers use contemptuous words like “CRAP!” The kiddies cringe; they’re trying as carefully as they can – they can’t do more.

Often, so painfully often, they cry themselves to sleep and dread the constant cry of “FAILURE”. Many seek counselling as adults even though they have proven themselves to be creative and courageous. The constant misunderstanding and contemptuous criticism felt catastrophic - simply too cruel. Unfortunately some get caught in a life of crime because the mainstream community has shunned them so consistently.

Some people with learning difficulties feel
like they just don't belong.

***

A drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.

Here tomorrow Distinguished scientists.

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.
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B: Bereft of Bananas. A-Z April challenge.

The last of our bananas

Bananas are one of the favourite fruits of Australians. It’s a bit of a bother because the price has recently bounced around $11 per kilogram. This bleak price is blamed on the cyclone and floods north of Brisbane earlier this year. The bedraggled farmers battled the bloody weather in their Blundstones, but many felt beaten as they were bombarded by the blustery conditions. Sadly many of their budgets are bust and they fear they might go broke. Hopefully this beautiful part of the world will bounce back and become bountiful before that happens. These battlers don’t need any more burdens.

Screen captures from ABC24

Thanks to Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out and her bounteous crew for hosting this beautiful challenge.

A drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more no less.

Over at traverselife, I'm spending the month looking at different aspects of bullying.

Here tomorrow: Climate and Children.

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