Wednesday 1st December 2021
Still grey and overcast but no rain. I slept in until 7.00 am this morning.
11.30 am and the rubbish truck stops outside the apartment block but does not get out to collect the red mini rubbish bin. I will wait until after 3 pm again today as per website before I ring Lane Cove Council again.
12 noon and the sun is finally out with a slight breeze!!! I should really go out but I'm starting a ethical hacking course I just decided to do. I could continue it when I get home. I do need to get laundry money and return my empty bottles and pick up my baubles as well as see what's happened to my kettle from Myer - still no word.
I'm still catching up on my blog trying to upload photos.
No venturing out today - just lost interest and it's a beautiful day outside although a little windy! A contrast to early tbis morning. There must be a large accident somewhere as the sirens are whirling and horns are honking for traffic to move aside!
I watched The Chase The News The Cook Up 8 Out of 10 Does Countdown followed by the final episode in the 3 part series of Could You Survive On The Breadline?
I look outside and the mini red garbage bin has not been touched still. I have not run Lane Cove Council as I wanted to wait until I was absolutely sure it was still not emptied. Will check first thing tomorrow morning. I'm leaving it out until it does get emptied. If the council take a the bin away again I will let the property ma nager know and get her to deal with it.
Time to sleep after I catch up on uploading photos onto my blog and have a go at editing my video to be uploaded onto my YouTube channel.
As I wake news headlines today included
After all these years since the crash, it is thought that Malaysia Airlines MH370 crashed and is located deep beneath the ocean somewhere off the coast of Perth and the theory is that it was an act of hijack and terriorism where the pilot may have become upset and crashed the plane into the most remote location he could. A weak signal propagation tracking device has been used to pinpoint the exact location of the missing plane.
Locally made COVID MRNA vaccine to fight the new COVID strain is being developed in Victoria by IDT pharmaceutical company which if given the go ahead for clinical trials will be available from January 2022 . Well QLD has had a go at making the first rapid antigen testing kits and they ended up exporting them to be used in the US bt not in Australia and getting funding from the US falling to be accepted forused in Australia or obtaining funding from the Australisn government. That's how stupid the Australian government is now finally that imported rapid antigen testing kits have been approved for use and available everywhere for purchase in Australia. Then there was the new alternative "NOVAVAX" type vaccine which also got sidelined due to lack of funding by the Australian government. Stupidity - no Australian pharmaceutical research company will ever be able to complete with pharmaceutical giants Pfizer or Moderna.
An emergency nurse in Victoria died from contracting COVID and she was fully vaccinated. How could this happen if the vaccination is meant to prevent you from getting severe COVID symptoms and requiring hospitalisation. This nurse had no other medical conditions which means there is definitely something wrong with the vaccines and it's not just the waining efficacy over time ie after 6 months. You don't need to get the chicken pox messles mumps rebella or tetanus shots every 6 months - although you do need booster shots and these diseases are just as contagious. Even the flu which everyone has forgotten about only needs a single vacination and is optional - does it's efficacy rain over time?
Omicron cases detected in Western Sydney and on the Central Coast. SM wants no more lockdowns and learning to live with COVID 6 people now carry the strain. Another case a man on same flight as the other woman infected detected in Cabramatta however he only visited a Chemist in Liverpool. All passengers on the Doha flight have now been contacted.
Pandemic bill debate in VIC went through the night in Parliament and will continue until the controversial bill is passed.
Flooding continues on the East Coast. More rain is to come. Evacuations in the middle of the night for QLD in the town of Inglewood.
The search continues for the missing eldearly couple missing from their camp site in Victoria. 2 bodies have bern found which maybe those of the missing campers.
Social media platforms is under scrutiny to make it safer.
Tiger Woods is back playing golf after his car crash where he almost lost his leg. Woods hope to be fit to play in the 150 anniversary golf tournament at St Andrews next year .
The international travel bubble to Fiji has now opened up.
Austria was the first country to announce that their government issued a vaccination mandate on all it's residents now Greece has followed suit with the government issuing s vaccination mandate on all residents over 60 with a fine if they don't . If the Victorian premier had his way he too would override the Australian Federal government's powers and issue a vaccination mandate on all Australian residents as well!
Christian Porter is resigning as an MP to spend more time with his loved ones - after all the scandal he's gone through with past sexual assault claims. Greg Hunt is to quit Federal politics as well.
There is a new advertisement to entice and encourage domestic tourism in NSW with the catch phrase " Feeling Good"
Another school shooting in Michigan US has occurred.
A farming couple had to dig through freezing conditions and deep snow to rescue their livestock following a freak snow drift.
There is research into a new pill to replace exercise and a new bionic eye has been developed awaiting approval for human trials.
There were 251 COVID cases and zero deaths in NSW today.
Tasmania closes it's borders to all overseas travellers today despite not to panic by the PM.
3 day bus strikes again starting tomorrow over pay disputes with different rates of pay for driving the same routes.
There may also be indutrial action affecting container depots delaying the supply of stock in time for Christmas.
More rai is forecast for the weekend - local actions weekend - so glad I've already voted!
The US$1 is now worth under AUS$0.72 . Yep still falling in value.
Thursday 2nd December 2021
Another beautiful day. I wake at 5 am , I did wake up but managed to go back to bed.
By 11.30 am I have taken the mini red bin back in and yes it is empty although the bag of dog poo someone had dumped into this new bin even before I put any rubbish in it is still at the bottom of it.
so had breakfast a shower and washed the dishes after watching the news.
Today I aim to do a few errands. It is not today and the sun is out. Good day for a walk around.There is just so much to see and do around Sydney!
First stop a bus to Chatswood to return my bottles for recycling do I ca m get some money for them to go towards my laundry money.
Next stop try and access my overseas account. Failed.
Onto a train to the city transferring to Bondi Junction to collect my order of a kettle and baubles after waiting a week and a half for it. Why call something click and collect when you can't collect?! Having it delivered would probably be quicker.
I had tickets to go to FOMA goodness knows why I was sent an email about this event as I have no idea what it is. The runway shows tonight were sold out but day tome tickets were readily available and free so I booked one online a while ago know I probably would not be able to attend anyway as I am unvaccinated. The event is just from 11 am - 3 pm today. If I have time I might pop by and see if I am able to sneak in. Nope no time still at Bondi Junction after 3 pm.
Bloody Myer, the security guard tells me to go up to the top floor to collect my click and collect. When I get there I said I had a click and collect and asks me to sign in then she asks for my vacvination certificate I said no I don't have one because I'm unvaccinated so I have to wait for the security guard to get someone to get my click and collect to bring it out to me. This took no less then 5 minutes I estimate. Meantime I'm trying to check out but am having trouble as the Service NSW app on my phone is dying and refuses to work after a certain amount of uses. I tried to download an update but it would not work when I clicked on their link. So I have judt wait and keep trying to check out. It finally lets me check out. Meanwhile the security guard is asking me inaporopriate questions about my vaccination status which is none of her business - I told her that I was unvaccinated she does not need to ask me if I have a medical exemption. I would have told her if I did. When I received the goods I was really disappointed with the baubles - they were tiny. I could have bought a very similar box at Woolworths or Coles for less. I should not complaint as they were "free" from the balance of one of my $20 reward vouchers I had earned from working at Myer do it technically wasn't free. I ensured I opened up the bags and checked my orders before I left Westfield. I was not coming back.
Next stop was to Coles for some bread. I hardly ever get to shop at this Coles at Westfield BJ and it's huge. I was very disappointed that this Coles only sold white loaves of bread . I asked if there were any wholemeal bread and was advised none at all. So I ended up buying a loaf of wholemeal bread and a packet of The Bread & Butter Project sourdough seeded dinner rolls from Harris Farm across from Coles . Done.
Onto my next stop to find some pudding cloth. I was advised by Howard's Storageworld that the kitchenware store next door may have some- yep they did but it cost me $7.95 for a 60 cm square piece of calico. Should have just purchased a ham bag from Coles or Woolworths and cut it up ( on sale for Only $1 at Woolworths I later found out!) I was going to try Spotlight as a roll of pudding cloth would only cost me $2.50 or so as a member. Next stop was to empty my PO Box. After that it was a trip to my storage unit.
I am so glad I purchased the calico from that kitchenware store as I was not going anywhere near the Spotlight above the storage units - the security guards there are worse then Myer's security guards - they are Nazis! If you are unvaccinated they won't let you in at all. Whilst I was signing into the storage units' premises beliw Spotlight, a guy asked the security guy if he could have a mask and they said to him "Sorry I can't give you one unless you are coming in and you can't come in unless you sign in and show me your vaccination certificate" He kept saying that he didn't actually want to go in, he just wanted a mask and was told "No I can't give you one as you are not going in" and then advised him to go across the road to get one. It went on forever and I could see that this guy was trying to sneak in by the way he was acting as he would not show his vaccination certificate when asked . There was no way I was going to ask about click & collect. I spent quite a bit of time at my storage unit but could not find what I wanted . I took a few pieces of clothing out but that was it before leaving.
When I got to Bondi Junction Station I washed my hands before catching the train to Townhall transferring onto another train to Chatswood. Only 1 platform on the Bondi Illawarra line was operating today platform 2. If you wanted to go beyond Central you had to change as well.
Arriving at Chatswood I withdrew some money from an overseas account I don't use very often as it has minimal funds in it and difficult to access then stopped off at the dollar store for the little red garland lights I could not decide on purchasing on my last visit there. Why do I always have trouble checking in at this store? After paying for my lights I head to Target to see how easy it is to sneak in. I could not see from above if anyone was checking vaccination certificates after checking in at the top of the esculators. There was a group before me and I was going to turn around and go back up the esculators but decided to wait and ask pretending I only wanted to do a click and collect. The security guard did ask if I had a vaccination certificate and said technical you do need one even if you are only doing a click and collect and he was about to call someone when I explained last time I had a click and collect I was allowed to go straight through so he said go ahead and go through before changing my mind to enter and go shopping and said I'll come back another day ( because I was already loaded with stuff). And that is why I like shopping at Target , flexibility in customer service and their quality of product always spot on. Prices may be a little more then Kmart but you get what you pay for! They did take forever for my last click and collect but I got it and wasn't in a hurry for it.
After leaving Target my next stop was Woolworths Metro in search for more Christmas lights snowflakes and pine cone ornaments. There were some cute icicle lights one packet of solar and one packet of battery powered ones left. I decide not to get them as I prefer snowflakes and red berries. The pinecones were cute but I am not into plastic and glitter Christmas ornaments - the majority of my ornaments are glass ( and I've broken a few) paper cardboard metal ceramic wood wool felt and fabric. Only my tree star topper parts of the lights and garlands are plastic. I need to do some more reasearh on who may have some natural pine cone ornaments.
My last stop ( revisited actually) was the Chatswood Mall Markets where I purchased a punnet of cherries from a a farm market stall Hill- Lock Orchard which were selling for 2 for $10. They were not the best cherries due to the recent floods but looked very similar to what I would usually be picking myself at Paynes Orchards at this time of the year.Due to COVID lockdowns and now the floods in NSW and VIC , I have not been able to get down to Bacchus Marsh last year or this year. I am supporting local farmers and the punnet of cherries was at least $2.50 cheaper then the same sized punnet sold at Woolworths Metro although the taste may be different due to picking packing and cold storage times. Hill Lock Orchards another place of intetest to put on my bucket list to visit one day maybe in the future.
Time to head home by bus.
As soon as I arrive home I wash my hands wash my mask put my laundry in the dryer ( if I forget to take it out I will the next morning) put my cherries away unpack wash and plug my new kettle in and test it out. I am so unhappy with this Sunbeam stainless steel kettle. It is a basic kettle without temperature controls as I thought I would not need them because all the other kettles I've had in the past worked well. This kettle is very noisy the lid really stiff to pop up ( I had to replace my last stainless steel due to the lid getting stuck and I had to put up with pouring water down it's spout to fill it up until I finally received this kettle) and it lets off so much steam, my tv located above on the ceiling is covered in moisture from the steam coming out of the spout. This kettle only has a 12 month warranty instead of 2 or 3 year warranties most of my previous kettles had. I've notice there is something wrong with the water indicator level as well. There is a very long gap between the max level indicator line and the top of the kettle - it is only a 1.7 L kettle therefore smaller then all my other kettles which are 1.75 L kettles and is suppose to be a 7 cup capacity but 250 ml is suppose to be a cup therefore the kettle is short 50 ml? and possible more as it seems it's only 2/3 full capacity. I don't like the chrome on/off switch as well - looks flimsy and cheap.
Next I tested out my new 4 m long garland lights. It took forever to get the back of the battery pack off as the safety screw would not unscrew. I finally got it off and placed 2 new batteries into it. I turn the garland lights on and my mistake they are white not red! I had picked up the incorrect coloured garland lights but kept them on overnight and they are still bright and cute. I had planned to wrap the red garland lights around the main poinsettia garlands so they won't get tangled. I think I will still do this but buy a second set of red ones and do the same so the tree will look even brighter. I will have to dismantle my whole Christmas tree and reassemble it. I also now have my set of 6 disappointing smaller then expected La La Land Australiana baubles to add to my Christmas tree as well.
I watched the the tail end of The Chase, The news, The Cook Up and Eight Out of Ten Does Countdown before falling asleep before watching the second episode of Girls Guide To Hunting , Fishing and Wild Cooking on SBS. I will have to
I wake around midnight and have a snack before going back to sleep.
News headlines today include:
Former SA premier has tested positive to COVID and is in isolation sending the government into chaos and shutting down. It is thought that he contracted it from attending a school reunion. Another MP that was in close contact with him is also in isolation until returning a negative test. All MPs are advised to avoid in person meetings.
The pandemic law is about to be passed in VIC today after a long 25 hour sitying overnight with countless amendments and negotiations.
Robert Irwin turns 18 today and says he's ready to take on more responsibilities at Australi a Zoo.
The Ghislaine Maxwell trial contonues into it's 3rd day with a 14 year old giving evidence of under age child sex abuse.
The wet and wild weather has reached Melbourne and Geelong where yesterday at 4 pm it poured with rain for 2 hours causing hail and flash flooding around the Victoria delaying travel homebound. The wet weather is set to continue today. This has been the wettest November for Australia's East coast on record. Flooding outside of Toowoomba in QLD has resulted in a man in his 70s being pulled from a car being swept underwater by rising flood waters. Flood warnings are in place for South East QLD. Power is out for thousands of residents and trees down. There is also a thunderstorm asthma warning out in Victoria. La Nina continues.
Delta Goodrem is announcing her new role - is this just co incidental with it's timing after the joke a day or so ago about how betting she is relieved that there is a new strain of COVID identified ( Omicron). She will be Revlon's first Australian ambassador for the brand and a Christmas album. She will also be touring in March and April after a delay due to COVID.
COVID has impacted the Australian economy shrunk by 1.9% during the July to September quarter.
Alex Baldwin is back in the news again with his first interview being aired in the US in since the accidental shooting on the set of his movie Rust that killed the cinematographer and injured another cast member.
Ikea is selling ginger bread houses but like all Ikea furniture you need to put them together yourself and they come flat packed.
There are now 6 cases of Omicron in NSW now with the latest case of a man infected in Cabramatta. No changes to border closures and NSW still to reopen to all on December 15th and calls not to panic.
Victoria will be the first state to eliminate cervical cancer.
Certain politicans including cheeky politican Anthony Albanese has been reported to have donated toys to their new wishing tree for the Salvos that have had subliminal "pokes" at the prime minister Scott Morrison amongst a pink unicorn including a puzzle of the Effel Tower in France, a fire truck, a submarine and a built your own solar windmill. ( international readers may need to refer to my previous blogs to understand the significances of these toys - kids may appreciate the selection of these toys and some politicans may as well but Scott Morrison might not! )
A 7th case of Omicron was found in a child too young to be vaccinated staying at The Mantra Chatswood. His parents have both been vaccinated but may have been infected. The family have been moved and are in isolation . They visited a few venues around Chatswood Interchange which is a very busy transport hub. This was back on 24th November 21 when they arrived. I was curious but not concerned - so this is probably why I got a "heath alert" sent to me via text. Problem was I could not find the information of when and where this and a previous health alert I received were as the links don't actually go to a my case dates and location only explaining why I may have received the alert. I looked back in my check in history for where I was when it was made public on the news today and I was atound Chatswood thst day but down the far end of Chatswood and not at The Interchange. Contact Tracing and notification is a little slow if the government and health officials are actually concerned.
There were 271 COVID cases in NSW today and I assume no deaths as I can't find any figures for this.
Friday 3rd December 2021
I slept in today until 7 am! It's a beautiful day and looks as if it will be hot! The sun is out no chance of rain although possible showers are forcasted for this afternoon.
12.30 pm and I'm still catching up on my blog YouTube and watching the news . The maintenance van is downstairs and has started repairing the mail box block ( I can hear the noise).
So annoying that I can't work at Myer yet I keep getting annoying text messages via the What's App group chat . I need to get it off my main phone and transfer it onto another phone just for work.
3.30 pm and It's suddenly gone dark. Rain ahead?
Today I did not venture out, just took my laundry out of the dryer I left in there overnight and dismantled my Christmas tree before putting it all back together again. It took quite a while due to the wrapping around of the4 m of the garland of white lights around my garlands of poinsettias. Now it will be mulch easier to pack away the lights as they won't get tangled anymore. 4 metres of fairy lights has become 2 meters of fairy lights which look really nice turned on except for one thing the lights aren't white but yellow and I can see the contrast between them and my white snowflake lights. Really thinking of going shopping and buying some different a different set of light either flashing or red berry lights. That will mean pulling my tree apart again and putting it all back up again!
The maintenance guy has left but he put the green and blue bins out onto the kerb for some reason. It's not rubbish collection day today. Now I have to bring them back in - nope I'm just going to leave them out. He didn't do much except put the mail box block upright and maybe fixed the panels on it that were knocked completely off.
Ah oh Thunder and lightening at 4.20 pm. It looks like rain maybe coming. Nope just a very brief and light sprinkle only detectable on the rubbish bins. It looks like it is raining but It's not just very poor visibility in the distance that's grey grey and more grey like everything is covered in a blanket of grey clouds - oh It's fog A little windy too.7 pm and the road and ground is wet but no cars have their windscreen wipers on so the rain must be very light.
I went downstairs to take my rubbish into the bins and pulled the green and blue bins back in so the council does not take them away for leaving them on the curb on the wrong day. I looked inside to ensure the maintenance guy did not dump the wrong items into the wrong bins again. He didn't really do much today especially with the mail box block. He just put all the rubble into a smaller pile . He did not clean the inside of the building , he really should as there dead insects everywhere - no crockroaches or rats though just small moths, water flies ( I am unsure what these are called but these insects seem to be attracted to hostel showers and bathrooms) . He left after a few hours around lunch.
I watched the usual programs except instead of watching 8 Out of 10 Does Countdown watched the Final episode of the living room on Channel 10. I haven't been watching it on Fridays as some weeks it was not airing and the Graham Norton Show has been taking It's place which I am not really a fan of.
Sleep end of another day.
News headlines include :
An 8th case of Omicron has been detected after the 7th case in a child had been detected. The child's parents have not bern confirmed as testing +ve to Omicron yet if they are they will be cases 9 and 10 in NSW.
Meghan has again won an appeal over breach of privacy by a newspaper however the newspaper is now appealing again to the supreme court.
Floods continue in South East QLD. The town of Goondwindi is cleaning up and McIntyre River continues to rise. Towns have been cut off due to floods and supplies flown in.
Confirmation Greg Hunt will be retiring from politics after 20 years and long hours as his children have said to him that it's time to be a proper dad again.
South Australia could close their borders due to their cluster of 18 cases from yesterday's high school reunion attended by the former SA premier, where 16 were linked to it. Special permission is required to travel to WA and closed it's borders to SA. All travellers from NSW to SA have to be tested and quarantine.
Melbourne storms have eased however there is widespread damage around Gippsland. Melbourne city was plunged into darkness yesterday afternoon as clouds moved in on the city.
Victoria's controversial pandemic bill has now been passed making Victoria the only state to enforce pandemic laws like mask wearing - no mention whether or not a vaccination mandate was included in the pandemic bill passed and therefore overruling Federal government pandemic laws. Protesters camping outside Victoria's Parliament House are disappointed with the decision. You're on your own with your state pandemic laws passed now.
There has been quite a few missing persons cold cases being reopened and investigated at the moment. The cold case of Revelle Balmain a 22 years old model who disappeared and was murdered back in 1994 was recently reopoened and there is now leads of how and who murdered her.
Kelly Osborne has had a relapse and back in rehab.
Alex Baldwin has spoken and has said that he did not pull the trigger of the gun that shot dead his cinematographer.
Britney Spears turns 40.
"Denearing" is there such a word? If so what does it mean? Barnaby Joyce used this word several times in his speech. Do I care no as there probably no formal rules when it comes to the English language anymore due to well - technology - LOL you need a dictionary just to decipher what modern texting shorthand abbreviations and internet acronyms mean! It's a language on it's own.
NSW has seen it's 9th Omicron case a student from Regents Park . The first locally acquired case as they had not travelled overseas or been in contact with anyone that possibly could have been in contact with one who has. This is still to be confirmed.
There were 337 COVID cases and no deaths reported in NSW today. Cases are increasing again. I still don't understand the number of cases that are noted to be "under further investigation" are these false positives? Surely you either have COVID or you don't if the PCR tests are actually 100% accurate. I suspect they are not.
Victoria still has 1188 COVID cases and 11 deaths so they are not concerned about the new strain of Omicron spreading around the world and which there was only 1 case of in VIC.
The AUS$ has now fallen below 71 cents against the US$. Good news for exports to overseas companies but bad news for Australians travelling overseas ( or planning to like myself) to the US and therefore good news for Australian tourism and international students wanting to come to Australia because we're a cheap(er) option.
The Victorian tourist attraction The Puffing Billy reopens today. ( yes I've been on this a few times - really recommended warning though for asthmatic and people with lung conditions though loads of smoke!)
Public transport industrial action continues. Yep bus strikes today caused chaos during peak hours.
Saturday 4th December 2021
Today is local council election day in NSW. Voting is compulsory for all citizens over 18 in NSW ( unless you are not enrolled) otherwise you will be fined. I have already voted via Ivote but was still getting reminders to vote by email and text messages as late as yesterday afternoon from the NSW Electoral Comission. So glad I don't have to vote in person today as I can imagine all the chaos it may cause for those who are unvaccinated voting having gone through it myself. No democracy sausages for me this election!
Let's discuss the above.
Firstly I read the following online
"The local council elections have been postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic."
I have been keeping an eye on when the local elections were being held and according to my diary it was only postponed during the pandemic once from 4th September 2021 to 4th December 2021. ( refer my previous blog)
Now it gets more interesting.
"Pre-poll voting has already opened for residents as part of the government's COVID-safe plans to carry out the election."
OK so there are 3 ways to vote pre polling, postal voting and Ivote. Each have their own opening and closing dates. I originally opted for a postal vote only to end up with an Ivote being my only option and even that was a nightmare to complete!
"The polling booths will open ......... (Saturday, December 4) however pre-polling opened on November 22."
"How can I vote in the local council elections?
NSW residents can head into local polling booths ......... and cast their vote in person, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic people are encouraged to cast their vote early.
The NSW Government has expanded their eligibility for pre-poll voting this year because of the risks of the pandemic.
Early postal voting has now closed.
However, unless you have already applied for postal voting you will not be able to do it now as applications have closed."
Oh really?! - It's all the fault of the NSW premier, if he had not delayed the same freedoms for all date from the 1st December to 15th December 21, there would not be any problems or confusion or chaos with citizens trying to vote. So pre voting was encouraged however when pre voting opened voters that were not fully vaccinated were turned away and this was a news headline. So they have 2 options a postal vote or an Ivote. Unfortunately when I rang the NSW Electoral Commission I was informed that I could still prevote if I was unvaccinated - since you can't do an absent vote you have to do a prevote where you are enrolled to vote so I advised how I didn't want to risk travelling all the way out to where I was enrolled to vote just to do a prevote and am refused entry . I was then advised that I will not be refused entry as everyone regardless of vaccination status is allowed to pre vote in person or on polling day. Unconvinced due to the news headline ( and also what happened with the termination of my offer of employment on polling day due to my vaccination status at the time which I never got a response back from the Electoral Comission about) I decided to apply for a postal vote ( 2nd time after finding out my original application did not get processed and a 3rd time after this once was lost in the mail and the accident with the mail box block) only to be told that being unvaccinated is not a valid excuse for applying for a postal vote. So I used the other 3 all legitimate reasons for not being able to vote on polling day being 1. work commitment ( valid reason at the time of original postal vote application) 2. out of area registered to vote 3. I am supposed to be registered as a silent voter ( which I found out I was not actually registered as and had to stop the electoral commission offical who wanted my address and which I refused to give them). Please read on as this is what I read in regards to reasons for not pre voting in person on polling day in person.
"Can I vote early?
Yes. The NSW Government is encouraging NSW Residents to vote early this year to reduce crowds at the polling booths.
Pre-poll and iVote measures are open now.
You can vote via post if you meet the following criteria:
- If you are self-isolating because of COVID-19.
- If you live in a retirement village or nursing home, or are in hospital.
- If you "reasonably" believe attending a polling place on election day will pose a risk to your health or safety, or the health or safety of others.
Unfortunately, if you have not applied to vote via post, these applications have now closed, meaning you will need to head to the polling booth..."
"Can I vote online?
Yes, if you meet the criteria.
To use the online voting service, iVote, is available to those who meet the following criteria.
- If you are blind or have low vision
- Need help to vote or find it hard due to a disability or have difficulties reading
- Registered silent electors
- If you live more than 20 kilometres from a polling venue
- If you won't be within your council area on election day
- If you applied for a postal vote but haven't received ballot papers.
Applications to use iVote are open until 1pm on election day."
"Is voting compulsory?
Yes. Voting is compulsory for anyone enrolled to vote in NSW.
You can check your enrolment on the Australian Electoral Commission website.
What happens if I don't vote?
If you don't vote, you can face a $55 fine."
See I told you all Voting for all local state and federal elections is compulsory in Australia and the government's will fine you if you don't vote. There is something realky wrong with our compulsory voting system. Don't bother checking your enrollment - you are never on it when you are and you are always on it when you aren't hence my problem with being a silent voter. A silent voter means you are an anonymous voter who is not required to provide contact details to the AEC or the NSW EC. The only good thing about lodging an Ivote is you get a receipt # therefore you can't get fined if the NSW EC comes back to you and fines you for not voting!
It is 7 am and it's still overcast and grey. Dark enough for me to turn the light on. No rain still. Today I would like to go into the city again to The Rocks to see the Christmas decorations. That's my plan anyway as there is a large snow globe somewhere in The Rocks and the Nurses Walk has an avenue of trees apparently. I won't know what's on until I get there.
Nope I have decided to go to Darling Harbour & The Rocks on a Wednesday night less people hopefully.
Today I took a walk down to Lane Cove Shopping Precinct. I had not been there for a while. I thought I would find everything I needed on my grocery shopping list but quite a few items were unavailable.
Do all local councils have the same Christmas decorations ? Lane Cove Council seems to have the same 2 Christmas decorations as Willoughby Council. Photos below - look familiar? OK so the ones at Chatswood are a different colour scheme and tilted to one side. Refer previous blogs to compare the Christmas trees and lit up baubles.
News headlines this morning include:
There is now 13 cases of Omicron in NSW as 3 students have now tested positive in a school in Western Sydney school and 1 at an indoor climbing school.
ACT has 1 case of Omicron and SA has 1 COVID case ( unsure if Omicron but not related to high school reunion cluster). Talks about state border closures again however booster shots not bought forward.
Overnight there were wild storms South of Sydney around Woollongong and the Western suburbs are on storm watch.
Where is Peng Shuai the Chinese tennis player who accused a former Chinese Community Party leader of sexual assault? This case of the "missing" Chinese tennis player has involved The International Olympic Comittee who have agreed to a personal meeting with her in January 2022 before the Winter Olympics in Beijing and Women's Tennis Association suspending all tennis tournament in China concerned about her wellbeing.
The investigations into the cold cases of William Tyrrell , the 2 missing campers and the 1994 murder of 22 years model continue using breakthrough technology and cutting edge DNA identification methods.
Ed Sheeran and Elton John have written and released their own Christmas song together with profits going to their charities recalling Mariah Carey & Michael Buble.
QLD is on COVID alert although still expected to open It's border sometime next week.
McIntyre River is almost at It's peak and surrounding residents starting to be evacuated.
There were 325 COVID cases in NSW today and 1 death a woman in her 50s in hospital had other medical conditions and from SW Sydney.
Why is Australia allowing people over the age of 18 who are unvaccinated to enter Australia but go into 14 day quarantine when the unvaccinated in NSW can't work can't go to the gym, can't dine out etc and technical can't even vote at the local elections in person ? I fine this just stupidity by the NSW government.
Back to the elections - the NSW premier ( I can't even mention his name anymore because I just don't like him - I think next election there will be some voter who will vote with a " off with his head!" along with Dan Andrews when Victoris is due for their next state election) promised an all welcome by 15th December 21 or when the double vaccination rate in NSW reaches 95% which ever comes first. If he did not increase the target in Oct/Nov of 90% which was reached ahead of schedule and instead of giving freedoms only for the double vaccinated on 8th November 21 way ahead of 1st December then there would not have been the election confusions. Again stupidity. First and second vaccination rates have stalled for weeks now. with only an increae rate of double vaccination increasing .1% from yesterday.
Sunday 5th December 2021
QLD closes borders to SA due to COVID clusters. There is another 7 COVID cases in QLD. There is 1 case suspected with Kmicron characteristics. The question is will QLD close their borders to other states again before Christmas so close to reopening ?
All arrivals from NSW VIC and ACT must have a COVIF test upon arrival into SA.
Rebel Wilson has become the new face of Fiji Tourism. Go Rebel but the question is can she encourage people to travel there again given the current travel rules and restrictions?
Bathurst 1000 is on today after a weekend of pre races and test runs. The Bathurst 1000 was won by Chaz Mostert & Lee Holdsworth this year.
Voters give Clover Moore a 5th term in office despite some opposition against her appearing after the elections yesterday victorious to the public.
There is COVID in Canberra with an MP travelling between VIC and Canberra testing positive whilst attending Parliament. Some restrictions are now back in place.
The number of COVID cases in Victoris still remain stubbornly high and above 1300 cases.
The go ahead for vaccinations for kids is soon to be announced. Certain "experts" advise that we will never achieve hed immunity if we don't vaccinate as many people as possible and it will stop schools closing down as well as saying that the younger generation are the biggest super spreaders as they tend to have the most close contact with each other.
Mcintyre River level is falling .
A riot team that was to be sent to Solomon Island cancelled due to 2 week quarantine period.
Prince William has become a Podcast Prince with his podcast available on apple watch fitness app tomorrow - Time to Walk with the Prince is to encourage people to get out and get fit. Proceeds I believe go towards charity.
The Queen has put up the Christmas tree and decorated the the royal household.
There were 286 COVID cases and 1 death in NSW today. With more cases of Omicron cases in another school St Peter Chanel Catholic School bringing the total of Omicron cases to 15 cases in NSW.
Monday 6th December 2021 & Week 89 Of Total Unemployment Due Myer's Double Vaccination Mandate
It's a grey overcast day again this morning and cold last night.
I watched the news and after placing my laundry in the washing machine taking my rubbish out to the red bin and placing the red bin out ( I'll put the other coloured bins out later when I get home tonight) , having a shower and washing the dishes I ventured out into town to Darling Harbour . I was hoping it would be dark by the time I got there but it was still light at 7 pm! I stopped off at my favourite seafood stop The Little Fish Shoppe to buy some calamari rings. Bad move I ended up feeling quite sick whilst I was at Darling Harbour. Lucky there were toilets around . I had to stay around Darling Harbour until I felt well enough to travel home or at least get to Town Hall where there are toilets at the station. Food poisoning is not a good feeling while you are out. I wonder if that shop has changed ownership or management as they haven't been very friendly on my recent visits. Before I became sick I did manage to walk round, find and photograph the Christmas decorations located in Darling Harbour. Photos below and I will also upload some videos onto my YouTube channel. I am sure these Christmas decorations look much better in the dark . If I get the chance I will revisit Darling Harbour but It's not the easiest destination to get directly to since Barangaroo Wharf became the main ferry wharf making Darling Harbour ferry wharf no longer a direct ferry stop from Circular Quay. You need to either take the ferry from Circular Quay To Barangaroo and walk along the foreshore it take the ferry from Circular Quay To I think Pyrmont Bay ( unsure if this is exact ferry stop) and walk along the at foreshore. There may stl be a connecting ferry between Barangaroo and Darling Harbour or Pyrmont Bay to Darling Harbour. There are private ferries to Darling Harbour to King Street Wharf near Cockle Bay, there are buses that stop near that wharf which is the closest public transport to Darling Harbour now that the light rail line L1 is completely out of action due to cracks found in most if not all of their rolling stock needing investigation therefore shut down. There was meant to be a rail replacement bus service but given the current public transport strikes the only option maybe to walk from Town Hall Station Pyrmont Bay Wharf Barangaroo Wharf Chinatown Light Rail ( L2 or L3 lines) or King Street Wharf. All the walking routes are scenic but I recommend any route that allows you to walk across the Pyrmont Bridge which take you from one side of Darling Harbour to the other. On the Pyrmont side there is a ferry or bus near by or on the King Street Wharf side there is a bus near by or walk to Barangaroo for ferry or simply just continue to walk up some stairs and keep walking across traffic lights and continue upwards and you will end up on George Street and the Light Rail Lines L2 & L3 close to Town Hall Martin Place & Wynyard stations near by as well as the QVB and shopping shopping and more shopping !If you don't want to walk across the Pyrmont Bridge at the opposite end of Darling Harbour you can walk until you get to Chinatown via Darling Square where there is eating eating and more eating !
Of course there are other things at Darling Harbour - loads of waterfront restaurants, a shopping center hidden behind ( mainly for tourists), heaps of cafes bars and fast food outlets - yes there is at least 1 KFC and Maccas somewhere in Darling Harbour, ice cream etc
Then there is the attractions ICC , Madam Tussauds Sealife Aquarium and Reptile Park. The used to be an IMAX theatre as well but I think the new building It's in is still under construction. I believe there is a hidden 10 pin bowling alley somewhere and some flight simulators as well. One big attraction is the Australian Martine Museum ( refer my previous blog ). Don't forget the Ferris wheel - It's tiny but goid enough to enjoy the views of Darling Harbour - it's no eye in the sky or the star - there is no oversized ferris wheel in Sydney - if you want to go for a ride in one Melbourne has one- The star located in Docklands just outside of their CBD .
There is one rather new feature thst has been constructed around Darling Harbours foreshores and thst is a boardwalk. These seem to be constructed anywhere one can be feasibly placed around Sydney's foreshores so if you like pounding the pavement then Darling Harbour is now a great place to do so as the boardwalk weaves below and along the main foreshore and there are little signs placed along it giving information about Darling Harbour's history as well as places along it to set relax and reflect. What I really liked about the boardwalk is looking for marine life. Previously you could not see what was in the waters of Darling Harbour from above the foreshore now walking along the boardwalk you can see the massive amount of seaweed , barnacles stuck to plastic items that have been dumped into the harbour that's been there for years now covered in moss or seaweed, all the remains of shells from oysters and other molluscs covering the walls along the foreshores, even seeing underneath Pyrmont Bridge without having to be in a boat or ferry , then there is the abundance of sea life in the harbour waters hiding amongst the seaweed. Little guppies or fish but what I spotted was not just a baby fish, it was a baby shark - it definitely was not a fish, it was tiny no more then 20 cm long , it was dark in colour and was on it's own. It appeared then just disappeared. I did not see it or any others again. There was also something blowing bubbles to the surface of the water in an unusual pattern , I could not see what it was as it was covered in seaweed - the bubbles stopped after a while. I wonder what else is lurking under the filthy Darling Harbour water.
1. Sky Castle by ENESS 12th Nov 21 - 26th Dec 21
2. Peddle Boats 26th Nov 21 - 30th Jan 22
3. Giant Bauble 12th Nov 21 - 26th Dec 21
4. Floating Baubles 16th Nov 21 - 26th Dec 21
5. Gigantic Christmas presents 12th Nov 21 - 26th Dec 21
6. Golden Tunnel of Lights 15th Nov 21 - 9th Jan 22
After my food poisoning attack and time in the toilet. I waited until I felt I was well enough to walk across Pyrmont Bridge back to Town Hall Station cutting short my trip to Darling Harbour to see the Christmas decorations light up at night. I needed a few grocery items I had completely run out of, I needed to recharge my Opal card and also get some change for my laundry . A quick stop at Woolworth Town Hall then a train and bus home. Thankfully I was feeling ok but I was a little fatigued so as soon as I arrived home I washed my hands and my mask, put my groceries away, washed my shopping bag and put my laundry including my mask and shopping bag into the dryer and took the blue and other red bins out ( not my rubbish but the maintenance guy's rubbish) before washing my hands again and watching the tail end of 8 Out of 10 Does Countdown , I go to bed early. I did wake up to watch YouTube and some SBS Food channel. Awake again catching up on my blogging at midnight because I went to sleep so early. Feeling better.
I manage to sleep in until 7 am the next morning. It was a cold night. I wonder what temperature it was overnight? Around 17 degrees C.
News headlines today include :
There are now 15 cases of Omicron in NSW. A student is thought to have caught to have caught Omicron from the indoor climbing centre previously mentioned. By this afternoon there are now a total of 25 cases of Omicron in NSW as another 10 cases were detected.
The NSW and VIC premiers are in agreement to keep their borders open over Christmas despite the increase in cases.
QLD is yet to announce the date of when their borders will reopen
Bus strikes continue today for better pay and conditions between Inner West bus drivers and equal to the rest of Sydney bus drivers - wait wasn't the bus servers in the Inner West sold off by the NSW state government and privatised some time ago? Tomorrow public transport strikes continue with trains striking and drivers refusing to drive foreign trains which is about 75% of them. This is ongoing industrial action against the NSW government. Strikes strikes and more strikes - I don't understand why there are so many all of a sudden. Teachers are now also on strike tomorrow. We just had courier freight and container terminal strikes threatening our parcels and supplies reaching everyone in time for Christmas now public transport strikes so close to Christmas.
Pfizer jabs are in preliminary approval for children 5 - 11 years old after trials. These jabs will be 1/3 of the dose of the adult dosage therefore have a different formulation distinguished by red caps. Available in early 2022 before school resumes.12th January 2022 is the
In QLD transplant patients will not be operated on unless they are fully vaccinated. They are not anti vax but concerned about how the vaccine will affect them. This is fair enough given the amount of deaths of people who have been double vaccinated and with other medical conditions that have died. There has not been much if any research on how the vaccine reacts to autoimmune overactive immuned or immunocompromised people with other medical conditions. Just told it's safe to get the vaccination. This is the main reason why I have decided not to get vaccinated. After being told by the dermatologist that it was safe for me to get the vaccine despite my overactive immune system and after he prescribed a treatment for me that I researched and found causes cancer which he didn't seem concerned about, brushing it off as low risk just because I'm Asian - totally false information.
The Ghislaine Maxwell trial continues into it's srcond week. More witnesses called to give evidence against her groom g and sex trafficking of minors.
Prince William speaks openly about his life for example how his mother was a huge Tina Turner fan and how he suffered depression from seeing trauma from his helicopter pilot days as well as how Taylor Swift pulled him up on stage once and his kids singing Thunder struck with him.
A man was stabbed in Melbourne suburb of Deer Lake.
14 people have died on Indonesia's Java Island from a volcanic eruption and supplies are running low.
Resesrch has found that taking 7500 steps a day will improve your health.
Concerns that buy now pay later accounts are just as bad as credit card debt due to not having any checks on how many accounts a person has or can have. If these buy now pay later acvounts accounts are paid off on time it is fine but if your payments are late the penalty intetest rate is just as high as credit card interest rates. More and more people are using these buy now pay later accounts to pay for day to day living expenses and not just for the one off purchases they were originally designed for as an interest free alternative to the old fashion laybuy, personal loans or high interest owing credit cards.
Rapper 50 cent ( yes he is still around) has posted on social media comments and comparison of the bad witch from the wizard of oz in regards to Madonna's raunchy photos of herself she posted on social media recently - then apologies for doing so to her. She though he was her friend.
There are 208 COVID cases in NSW today and I assume zero deaths.
Tuesday 7th December 2021
Another grey overcast day this morning but no rain again.
10 am and I think I should take my laundry out of the dryer now that I have caught up with my blogging and uploading my videos onto my YouTube channel. As I get up it is raining again and looks like it has been for the past hour or so I just wasn't paying attention.
By lunch time the sun is out - really out. My laundry is out of the dryer and folded. I've taken the red bins back in as the garbbos came early this morning before 8 am but I left the blue bin out as it has not been emptied by the garbbos yet which means another trip outside later today unless the bin gets missed again. Oh no the sun is disappearing again by 1 pm, it was meant to be forecasted for 27 degrees C today .
So this morning was not all about bins blogging and uploading videos onto YouTube. I had breakfast and brunch of mango cherries ( which I washed and pitted along with washing hulling and cutting really large hours and mixing them with washed raspberries and blue berries to make a berry salad up) wholemeal bread with promite, an oven baked chicken schnitzel , a green juice and a yakault. I wasn't feeling as hungry as I normally am probably still getting over the food poisoning episode from last night. I am being cautious of what I eat as well. Oh the sun has come out again.
It's after 2 pm and the blue bins still have not been emptied - I just went down and checked. Is it just my bin that hasn't bern emptied again or has everyone left their blue bins out along the footpath because none of them have been emptied? I think the garbbos may have just came and emptied the blue bin as it been moved sideways. Another trip downstairs - will have to wait to be bought back in later. I will be very angry if someone has just walked by and put their rubbish in it. The mail box block has slit open and all the mail in the mail boxes has fallen out all over the side of the front car park. I 'm not touching it. I hope some did not trespass onto the property and deliberately vandalised it.
3 pm and it's overcast cloudy windy grey and is that thunder and lightening I heard?. I still have not pulled the blue bin in. Oh yah that's the constant sound of thunder and lightening I heard and saw and it's really close. I'm not going outside at least for now as it continues. And It's raining agsin and not just a light sprinkle. The road is wet. The traffic is heavy the buses are full probably due to all the strikes happening today. It's really dark at 4 pm all of a sudden. It is still raining and the thunder and lightening continues - so dark I turn the light on. It's also a little cold. It's currently meant to be 25 degrees C but it feel colder and is forecast to drop to 18 degrees C. It's now quite wild outside the thunder and lightening is really intense loud and close and the rain is pouring down and it is slightly windy. Bang crash boom! flash!
It's even more windy and cold and bucketing with rain outside but I think the storm is now passing although it is still windy.
I watched The Chase, The news, The Cook Up, 8 Out of 10 Does Countdown followed by some other intetesting episodes of fear To Dance followed by a program of Teenage homelessness and a very late game show from 2020 hosted by Jimmy Carr ( who looks so different from his 8 Out of 10 Does Countdown gig - same laugh and same celebrity guests ). I did not get to sleep until after 11 pm. I could not sleep after getting a missed call from my brother. I had not had any contact with any of my family or friends for 3 years at least now. Why call out of nowhere. He sent me a text advising me that our father had passed away and to call him back. What was I suppose to say or do? My hands are tied at the moment and I have seen my father for at least 3 years since he was diagnosed with dementia and placed in a nursing home by my brother and sister - out of mind out of sight. Finalky after my father ruining every part of my life every achievement I made destroyed, I was able to cut him out of my life particularly after my mother passed away many years ago. I still blame my father for her death. He was not there for her but instead on one of his useless waste of time business trips he really did not have to go on. I made as promise to my mother before she died that I would not attend his funeral and I can't anyway. I am unvaccinated and with health orders still in place can't attend a funeral of more then 10 people and due to the current increase in fines for breaking COVID rules and regulations, I'm not in a financial situation to be caught and fined or imprisoned. It's just bad timing as I return to work in a week after being stood down for so long. I don't really want to return to work at Myer but I need to work. My allergies are so bad at the moment because It's been raining so much.
I've been through so much in these 2 years since the beginning of the COVID pandemic - from losing my job after being with the same company for over 10 years and having to live off Centrelink and my long service leave payout, to the 2 cars crashing into the apartment block knocking over the mail box block but narrowly misding and causing serious damage to the apartment block itself, to the death of the guy in unit 1A and the death of the aged care resident I was writing to for my remote volunteering to being stood down by Myer due to their unfair no notice given full vaccination mandate as well as the unfair retraction of an offer of employment at the local elections also due to their confusing and discriminating vaccination mandate to my my food poisoning episode and continuing allergies due to severe weather conditions . Hearing about the passing it father today tops off everything and I'm unsure how or what to feel or think anymore. I just wish I could get away overseas to Whistler ( I'm even having problems with the owners corporation as well who aren't returning my inquiry - they have not had their annual AGM yet and if they have they haven't notified me as an owner) I have not rung my brother back - what can I do? what do I say? I have so much going on already.
News headlines today did not include a lot of COVID news and any news has now shifted to QLD :
Queensland is set to open its borders way before Christmas and ahead of the 13th December date next Monday as QLD reaches the 80% double vacvination rate however with strict COVID rules and regulations similar to overseas travellers .
Double vaccinated travellers can arrive by road or air with no quarantine required
Unvaccinated travellers can only arrive by air and must quarantine for 14 days.
All travellers must have a PCR test 72 hours prior to travelling and again 5 days after arriving.
A Victorian man is the first male in the state to become a single parent with his own biological child via a surrogate.
There was a serious crash on a freeway in Melbourne involving a truck carrying a large haul of grain. A toddler was killed and a baby is in a serious condition in hposital including their poarents. There are other seriously injured passengers in this multi vehicle accident in hospital. The driver has been charged and is being question over the cause of the accident as he was seen driving erratically.
There was a shark attack in Victoria where 2 teenagers were bitten last night around 7 pm. The 2 teenagers were just wsist derp in wzter when they were bitten on the bak and leg.
Strikes strikes and more strikes are happening in NSW today - teachers are on strike today for 24 hours for a pay increase of upto 7.5 % with forced closures of some schools if not minimum supervision in class rooms. They marched in the rain from Hyde Park this morning their 1st statewide strike in a decade. Train drivers are on strike refusing to drive any foreign made trains as they feel they are unsafe with new fleet of Korean trains deemed unsafe to drive wanting Australian made local trains as well as a 3.5 % pay increase . I don't plan to travel anywhere further then Chatswood bus today ( unless the metro line to Macquarie Shopping Centre is unaffected). Finally bus strikes continue today in the Western suburbs of Sydney and Southern Western suburbs of Sydney with the same reasons the inner Western bus drivers went on strike for previously ie equal pay between privatised and public run bus services running on the same routes. Total disruption to commuters caught not just at bus and train stations waiting hours just for a train any train or a bus any bus but in the freak thunder storms. The public transport strikes also affected teachers trying to get to their strike some unable to attend as a result.
It's been 40 years since the original Puberty Blues movie was released.
A boat catches fire in Yowie Bay and skipper swims to shore.
A pub ( The Royal eExchange Hotel) that was just renovated 6 months ago in Marrickville burns down trapping and killing the pub pet cat Whisky.
A man falls 6 meters from a construction site in Mosman and taken to hospital whilst leaning on a wall that gave way and collapsed.
The U.S. will boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing by not sending any diplomatic officals to these olympics as a stance against China's human rights treatments. Athletes will still compete at these Olympics. Will Australia follow suit ? One senator thinks Australia should go further and ban athletes from competing.
There were 6 new cases of Omicron which makes it a total of 31 omicron cases in nSW today. NSW recorded 260 COVID cases and 2 deaths.
Apologies I just lost the rest of the news headlines I was writing and I apologise for incorrect spelling and references to names and places - there is something really wrong with my auto correct , it keeps changing what i write over and over again when I retype over it. it did not do this before and serms to be getting worse to the point of gramnar and punctuation as well such as making words upper case when I did not want them as uppercase. Postscript : auto correct is getting worse even changing sentences back after I just corrected them and saved them.
There have been cracks found in the new Chinese made Emerald ferries in the hull after only a few months in service replacing the old green and gold ferries. There has always been safety concerns and I mentioned " holes" not cracks in the new ferries in my previous blog - same same but different no it is still a safety concern. I am glad I am not on an Emerald ferry service today between Manly and Circular Quay as it can get really rough on the open waters during a thunder and lightening storm . I wish the NSW government would stop cutting corners to line their own pockets by buying cheap Asian made trains buses and ferries instead of manufacturing Australian made ones. It will cost the NSW government more to fix all the safety issue then preventing them! Train strike today over safety concerns ferry strike tomorrow over safety concerns????? Fix our public transport problems Mr Perrottet !!!!!
NY has enforced a vaccination mandate to stop the spike in COVID cases. All workers in NY in the private sector must get vacvinated if they want to work in NY or keep their current job. They are not the first country to enforce a vaccine mandate or prevent unvaccinated citizens or residents to work or go about their daily lives with freedom such as going to a supermarket pharmacy travel or have a meal at a restaurant or pub . What is the world coming to? Whatever happened to Human rights Laws, freedom of choice and democracy? Has the world lost it? Nobody even knows if the current vaccines will protect against any new variants or mutant strains of COVID nor are the long term effects of the vaccines known. What if the vaccines do cause heart conditions or are linked to cancer or affect pregnant women? We don't want another Thalidomide type event.
Conman Peter Foster has been caught and arrested. Gee he looks like a bigger version of my tax agent!
A new surf wave park is set to open in Sydney's Western suburbs at Olympic Park.
A US mortgage company Better.com's CEO sacks 900 employees via a Zoom call - effective immediately and just before Christmas. Questions are asked if this could happen in Australia.
A man tried to fake getting a vaccination by wearing an artifical arm. The person who performed the vaccination became suspicious of the fake arm noticing the colour of the arm was not quite right. I wonder if this man lost his job over the incident. You would have to be desparate if you went to this extreme ie in a vaccine mandate no jab no job situation.
Craig Wright has won his case over claims that he was the founder of bit coin.
19 days until the Sydney to Hobart yacht race which was cancelled last year.
Viagra a possible drug to treat Alzimers? Will it help my poor spelling?
There is a maple syrup shortage in Canada and reserves are now being tapped into.
Wednesday 8th December 2021
It's still grey overcast and cloudy this morning at 9.30 am but still no rain yet. There is no Morning Show at 9 am this morning with Sunrise news running overtime past 9.30 am on channel 7 due to the live cricket coverage this morning.
I receive a text message via the What's App Group Chat along with photos of the upcoming visit from Mr King Myer CEO and the retail Operations Manager Mr Sutton - who cares. yes I wished I was there but no long do. I like how everything is just swept under the carpet just for his visit and "anxiety " was the word used. Why anxiety? The stores have nothing to hide if they are doing everything correctly. Obviously this store has lots to hide.
This morning It's not even 8 am and the unvaccinated team member sends me the following text message and photo of a mobility scooter
"I will be hiring the mobility scooter that ran me over and waiting at myer today"
I did not text back. I'm not in the mood.
All I want for Christmas this year is a new job closer to where I live and is permanent part time that I can use my skills in and to volunteer at a Christmas Day soup kitchen meal and my allergies to go away.
I still had not responded to the unvaccinated team member so she rang me as she became concerned as I had not contacted her back. I told her how I just got news about my father passing away yesterday. I have not even told anyone at Myer yet. They would not care . This team member is really anti vax so I had to remind her that I was not anti vax just cautious vax because I am a former scientist and there is a reason why I'm still not working as a scientist and spent my life in account payroll admin and HR. I could no longer work in a laboratory after a severe allergic reaction. She advised me how she has been spending her time getting medical treatment and legal advice for her leg caused by an accident she had at work when a runaway mobility scooter accidently ran her over apparently. Latest treatment is a cortisone injection. After a long conversation interrupted by her having to hang up and call back as the assistant store manager spotted her in the car park apparently and she didn't want to be caught bitching about Myer and showing the manager her leg ( for workers' compensation ). Mr King had been and gone she had found out - I told her he would not enter via the mall. She said that one of the team members down in lingerie has the job of picking him up from the airport and take back to the airport. I though she would be close to the CEO then - apparently not she just gets paid to be chauffeur to him.
I ventured out yesterday afternoon hoping to get some more Christmas lights before going to The Rocks to see the Christmas decorations but only made it as far as Chatswood Chase because as soon as I closed the door behind me at home and waited for the bus, it started raining and it became heavier and heavier - too heavy to travel to The Rocks to walk around outdoors. The rain continued until past 8 pm. It was still light when I left home around 4 pm and I was Hoping that by the time I reached the city after doing some shopping that it would be dark enough for the lights to switch on. So I spent most of my time indoors at Aldi down the other end of Chatswood and crossing the road in the rain to Coles inside the Chase. Before walking in the rain down that end of Chatswood, it was a stop off at Woolworths Metro and to Daiso in The Mandarin Centre and Dollar store in Westfield. In between my shop I purchased a hot potato meat pie ( I don't usually eat meat pies but there were no chicken pies it was wet overcast and cold so something hot and quick to eat was an appropriate choice - last time I had a pie was Circular Quay when again no chicken pies were available at the time). At Coles I found and purchased a little penguin colour changing night light - it was much smaller then I expected but perfect in my Christmas tree to join my colour changing owl. The penguin joins the pine cones ( which I dropped so many times and luckily unbreakable) and the cutest little flock material snowman on my Christmas tree. My Christmas Tree is so cute this year - It's the only thing that brings me happiness at the moment. It still needs more lights though.
After the rain had almost stopped and it was after 8 pm. I could still head into the city but because I had 2 full shopping bags worth of heavy groceries I headed home by bus.
In my groceries I purchased a can of SPAM but not the normal pork SPAM, but the turkey SPAM. I have not eaten SPAM Before, we grew up with canned Corn beef or bully beef as it has always been known as. So this is the first time I am trying SPAM. At $5 a can , you can get a packet of turkey mince ( which I also purchased from Aldi on this shop). I ummed and ahrred about whether to try this for so long picking it up and putting it back on the shelf each time because it was expensive and was a form of manufactured or processed meat which is not in my diet. Just opening the pull ring can and getting the block of turkey SPAM out of it's can was an effort. So I put 2 slices of it by cutting the block of turkey SPAM in a toasted wholemeal sandwich with promite, mixed greens basil flakes tomato & non lactosr cheese . Rating 5/10 Not something I will buy again not good but not bad either. It is really different to canned corn beef in taste and texture. It wasn't as salty as I thought it would be. Unsure what to do with the rest of it though now that I've tasted it. it will probably be broken up and mixed with rice and veg and stuffed into a capsicum to be baked. It is so manufactured the turkey in it is unrecognizable. It says on the tin thst it is mostly turkey meat.
By the time I arrived home washed my hands washed my mask and unpacked my groceries, I had missed all the regular tv programs I watch but managed to catch up with a repeat program of The Cook Up at 10 pm. I went to sleep late, the rain continued again during the night and it was cold again. No waking up in the middle of the night , I slept through until 5.30 am the next morning.
News headlines today include :
A Sydney Harbour boat party might have been a super spreader event with 5 cases testing positive to COVID with 3 cases possibly the Omicron strain.
Fauci does not think Omicron is a serious disease. It may be highly contagious but symptoms not as bad.
Chinese hackers have almost shut down a power station in QLD which was intercepted at the last minute by separating corporate from opeational systems. If the cyber atrack had been sucessful it did have left an entire 3 million people in the dark due to a blackout.
A German couple has set up 444 Christmas trees in their home making it a world record. No tree is the same.
Freak storms and flooding continue with a roof collapsing in Penrith at a shopping centre late yesterday afternoon.
Djokovic able to play at the Australian Open due to a loop hole and application for a medical exemption despite unwillingness to reveal his vaccination status ?
The first day of the Ashes ( cricket) at The Gabba starts in QLD today Australia verses England. Unfortunately I am not interested in cricket.
There has been a spike in COVID cases to 403 in NSW today and 1 death.
The prime minister of Australia looks to follow in the steps of the US and boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 by not sending diplomatic officals due to ongoing human rights concerns and trade embargos.
Thursday 9th December 2021
A very wet morning again . It looks like it rained overnight. I woke at 5.30 am and by 6.30 am it is raining lightly and the roads are quite wet. By 7 am the sun is trying hard to come out. The clouds have slightly parted and it is not as dark. Last night was colder again as mentioned previously.
Today is a day I am spending on "Life Admin" and believe me COVID has caused me a lot of life admin problems. How I survived 2 years going through everything I've written about in my blog and more except getting COVID itself ( fingers crossed that I don't get it) I do not know.
So I've taken the rubbish out to the nice clean empty of dog poo red mini bin. I 've written up a remaing shopping list as well.
I've posted a message up onto the Lodge Owners Website as to why I owe an unsubstantiated $12358 on my one week fixed timeshare unit onto Facebook as I am not having any luck getting through to everyone . Aparently due to the floods over in outer Vancouver the board could not get together and meet - their floods were weeks ago and nowhere near as bad as ours and I had contacted them way before the floods about this year's AGM and maintenance fees and with no response. I'm corresponding to the owners corp via the vacation company which is not good.
Next I have written an email to the volunteer manager reporting the number of letters I have sent to the aged care resident I have been writing to and to advise them of my decision to temporary suspend my letter writing to the current resident for personal reasons. It's not worth writing to the resident and not receiving a response back. At least with the other aged care resident there I had been writing to previously, actively wrote back to me before she passed away. I miss her so much. I will always remember the one line she write back to me which was something along the lines of " Don't send anymore biscuits as we are well fed here" - which was good to know!
I also reposted after updating my "Looking for a job"advertisement on Gumtree editing it to " All I want for Xmas is a PPT job and volunteer on Xmas day" Limited characters meant that I could not fit the words permanent , Christmas x 2 & Soup kitchen in the title of my advertisement.
Blue skies and sunshine again! I should be out and about. It's after lunch already but I still have so much to do.
I stapled all my receipts in my hard copy diary and applied for yet another job. I'll never get a job before christmas reaistically therefore am just satisfying the mutual obligations of 10 job searches per month as required to continue to receive centrelink welfare payments.
It's past 3.30 pm and the sun is still out.Yet I still haven't ventured out today. Doesn't matter as it is late night shopping today so I can venture out later.
My sister sent me an email explaining how my father passed away. He had a fall in the shower hit his head resulting in a brain trauma and had a stroke before dying. I still have not called my brother back. My cousin in Canberra said the funeral is on Thursday via a text message.. I am suppose to be returning to work on Wednesday and am suppose to be working on Thursday as well. I am not in a financial situation to attend the funeral as I've been stood down from work for so long and if COVID rules and regulations don't change on 15th December 21 for unvaccinated I won't be able to attend a funeral if over 10 people anyway and not even able to return to work.
I had to go out and clear my head. It was 5 pm and I had had enough with massive problems of being locked out of my apartment overseas and being advised that if I want to use my apartment I have to pay the $12 358 owing on it. I know the company is extorting me for money as I don't owe anything on the property I paid it off way before the current property management company took over managing it. The owners corporation is not returning my emails or facebook message. The only fees outstanding is this year's annual maintenance fees due in January and I am trying to find out when their AGM is. I have been advised that there have been floods therefore the Owners Corp could not get together to meet. The floods in BC out past Abbortsord were weeks ago - we have had more severe flooding in Australia then them. The last thing I did was start putting in my job searches onto the job active website online to fulfil my mutual obligations requirements. I did not quite complete this task but did so as soon as I arrived home ( yes I ended up venturing out at 5 pm). Tomorow my fortnightly income reporting to Centrelink is due.
It started to rain again in the afternnon but started to pour when I left to catch the bus and train into town around 5 pm.. I made my way from Wynyard to The Rocks in the rain without even thinking about it. I was going to walk through the Hunter Connection but everything was closed or closing in this underground mall ( the IGA Locale was open) and the connecting Met shopping mall was already closed. No late night shopping down this end of the city. According to the What's On at The Rocks guide online there are quite a few art installations and Christmas decorations. to ser. Here is what I managed to find ( I could not find 1 Christmas Activity - the laneway cinema but maybe It's only set up every Wednesday night as it happens. It has been a little wet for this outdoor Wednesday night cinema therefore it may not be on every week. Photos below and I have uploaded 2 short videos onto my YouTube channel as well.
1. The Nurses Walk & Surrounding Laneways lined with Christmas trees lights and mischievious elves.
2. Immersive Art Hidden In The Laneways
3. The Rocks Christmas Tree @ the top of Jack Mundey Place
4. The Most & Chandon Effervescence Christmas Tree
5. Playfair Street Snow Dome
6. Wells Courtyard Miniture Christmas Village
Also not operating tonight The Rocks Christmas Markets ( Friday nights, Saturday's & Sundays). , Laneway Cinema Christmas edition ( Wednesday nights) & Christmas @ Sugar Republic ( confusing says it's free but it's a paid ticketed event and opening dates & times confusing as well check website for details as they were closed when I was at The Rocks)
I took the light rail back to Town Hall as it was still pouring with rain to purchase a hot snack only to find there was nothing at all left. The hot food bar was complete it closed and so was the hot food stand. The only snacks left were a few cold sandwiches and leftover cold sushi. I was going to buy a box of platitude biscuits but purchased a dark chocolate Kit Kat block instead before boarding the train homeward.
Crossing the road it was quite a wait for the next bus. The bus missed our stop so other passengers and I had to walk back in the rain.
Upon returning home washing my hands and my mask, it was dinner of mushrooms mixed greens shallot cheese and some leftover turkey SPAM on wholewheat bread. I am having trouble thinking of what to do with the leftover SPAM. I don't want to waste food as it did cost $5 normally for a can . So I am trying to think of ways to use it up. I think I will chop it up mix it with rice and other vegetables and stuff it in a capsicum to be baked in the oven topped with cheese tomorrow and freeze the rest of the mixture for use as stuffing possibly.
It's 10 pm and getting late. I'm behind again in my blogging but what's keeping me awake is everything that's worrying me.
News headlines today included :
Omicron has mutated again possibly detected in QLD.
3 more cases of Omicron has been detected in NSW being total to 34 overnight.
The refusal to reveal his vaccination status continues for Djokovic however he has been lifted to play in the Australian Open - has he got a medical exemption or is he actually vacvinated. Serena Williams will not be playing in the Australian Open
The UK has joined Australia and NZ boycotting diplomats to the Winter Olympics after the US spearheaded this action due to concerns over human rights transparencies. The Chinese have said that nobody would care if counters didn't send diplomats to the Olympics and that Australia was blindly following the US. What do China think Australia is weak just because it is following the US who is considered a powerful country? The UK are now following suit - what happens if more countries follow suit? Countries not boycotting the Olympics technical as athletes will still be representing and competing in the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February 2022.
The Australian dollar is higher getting above $0.71 against the US$.
A woman has drowned in the QLD floods.
Tiger Woods and his son Charlie will be playing in a golf tournament next week.
There is a suspected 44 cases of COVID from the Oxford Tavern pub trivia night. It is unsure if the cases are of the Delta or Omicron.
2 girls were playing in a shopping trolley in Adelaide when they realised they could not stand up and were stuck in it. Emergency services had to be called to angle grind them out of it.
Barnaby Joyce has tested positive to COVID landing in the US, other remaining members of the Australian delegates have tested negative so far. He is in isolation.
There 420 COVID cases in NSW today and a total of 42 Omicron cases and 1 death a man in his 70's double vaccinated and had other medical conditions from Lake Macquarie who died at Gosford Hospital. Cases of COVID are still increasing despite double vaccination rates. So what is going on? How can the number of cases more then double in the last few days. Since allowing overseas travellers back into Australia there seems to have been an increase in cases. Just co incidence?
Friday 10th December 2021
I woke up at 5 am this morning. I thought I had switched my phone off last night but my backup phone's alarm which I never have on in my bag went off for some reason. If it was switched on it must have an extremely long battery life as I don't use it for months!
I'm still getting over everything that happened over the past few days.
This morning before 9 am the sun is out and I really should get out and about early this morning and make the most of today.
So much to do still. No laundry to do this weekend yet. No rubbish to take out again yet.
It's not even noon and It's pouring with rain again. Not just light rain bucketing and really windy as well. The thunder just started it is really close
I'm still in bed. The unvaccinated team member texted me about work and how busy it is as she just spoke to the customer service manager Work is the last thing I am thinking about at the moment. I don't even feel like returning to work after being stood down for so long. How they issued a vaccination mandate at the time and without notice when there was no actual health order to at the time was wrong. Now they are desparate and waiting for confirmation from the NSW Health orders for the return of unvaccinated workers when it is so close to Christmas and I need time off to attend funerals ( unless I am prevented from due to health orders) is so unfair. Not offerring me a permanent part time position after a year of service. I'm not being paid to go to the funerals, It's unpaid leave.
Another death in the family my cousin's father who is much younger then my father. I wanted to confirm this and sent her a message via Facebook with my condolences. My brother had let me know via a brief text message this morning with little to no details .
I can't believe what's happening- I've just dealt with the property management company that sent me that extortion email and finally getting a response from the owners corporation on Facebook who claim they never received my email. My inquiry was posted on the Facebook page previously , I could see people viewed it and I sent an email to the one provided on the owners portal which is the same as the one provided by the property management company. It turned out that the email I received had a big mistake on it. A statement was attached later on a separate email with the correct amount outstanding on it - whoever sent the extortion email obviously did not check or substantiated the email they were sending before sending it. I advised them that if they were my employee I would have terminated their employment immediately. I did not need to receive that kind of financial shock given my current situation. I was so shocked I almost called the Federal police thinking I was scammed if not extorted and let the person who sent me that email know of this.. I own my proerty overseas and only pay an annual maintenance fee on it. The maintenance fee is nowhere near that amount. After requesting an additional guest fee to be paid before allowing my own family to stay in my unit that I own due to a travel ban last January where my maintenance fee had been paid in advance , I had no reason to believe that it was not extortion.
I submitted my fortnightly Centrelink income reporting as I am still under standown and am not receiving any income from or working for Myer.
I can't go out because the weather is wild outside so I'm distracting myself with my blogging. Auto correct is still correcting my blog the way it wants to so if sentences or words don't make sense it's because auto correct keeps ucorrecting my manual correct back everytime I correct and save.
I had to go out in the late afternoon. the weather was still bad but after all that is happening 2 desths in the family in 1 Week and an unwanted extortion letter I have to get out and clear my head.
I checked Kronos and have been rostered on almost every single day the week before Christmas. I have been and still am applying for jobs intensively every day almost but without success. I don't want to return to Myer after how I have been treated over time as I shareholder employee and customer I ask why would I want to have anything to do with Myer?I still have not told them about the deaths in my family. They will probably find out from the unvaccinated team member eventually. She knows everything and everyone at MYER snd she tells me to trust no one.
Anyway I decided to take a bus and metro to Macquarie Shopping Centre as it was so late in the afternoon and the centre is open until 6 pm. Given that the unvaccinated are still unable to go shopping in most stores including Myer, I am limited to wherr I can shop. Daiso and quite a few smaller Asian stores allow everyone to enter as long as they check in and out and I've noticed that quite a few stores including some supermarkets have manual sign in sheets that quite a few people are using instead of QR code scanning. My NSW QR code check in and check out app now pops up with a large notice at the top of the screen advising me that the app I am currently using to check in and out with is being deactivated on 15th December 2021. What does this mean? No more QR code checking in and checking out? I also notice that a few stores have actually moved their check in QR code and COViD signage to a more discreet location and not in your face as much. Who knows What's going to happen on the 15th December 21 the NSW government has gone silent ever since Omicron was detected in NSW. If freedoms for all are not allowed on the 15th December as promised, it's bye bye Christmas bye bye Myer and no attending of any funerals. There will be protests and as noted on the news there are still quite a lot of people who are still unvaccinated in Australia.
Coles was my destination after Daiso where I purchased some larger white snowflake lights asnd a few other bits and pieces. I the proceeded to Coles for a few things thst I had run completely out of as well as have a snack of octapus balls ( at least I won't get food poisoning from these Japanese treats)
Home and test my snowflake lights out and catching The Cook Up and 8 Out of 10 Does Countdown . Disappointment i placed 2 new batteries in and they don't work. I tried again with another 2 batteries and still nothing. A hassle to return tomorrow as they only have them at the Macquarie Daiso. Suspect contacts not soldered on properly and no safety screw on batter pack or plastic tab to pull prior to switching on.
Another cold wet dark grey night. I slept late but woke up around 6 am the next morning.
News headlines today include :
NZ bans smoking and Jacinda Ardern wants NZ to be smoke free in 5 years.
Christmas trees have been put up incorrectly by people. Is this even newsworthy ? People are not testing the lights before putting them up, using all the same sized baubles, forgetting about the inner branches etc
Children 5 - 12 years old are now eligible to get the jab from the 10th Jan 2022. Final tick off from ATARGI for approval of the Pfizer vaccine only at the moment although Moderna seeking approval. Roll out for kids 1 month between first and 2nd vaccine and 1/3 of the dose.
The push for COVID booster shot still however there may be a problkem with the rollouy as doctors are opting out of administering the booster shots due to lack of government funding rendering this vaccination service unfeasible for doctors . It cost $24 per vaccine to be administered by doctors.
WA Margaret River is battling bush fires with one person missing. The fires are thought not to be deliberately lit but caused by thunder .
Due to the floods it mosquito season coming up but there is on mosquito that Australia does not want on the mainland - the Asian Tiger Mosquito dubbed the bbq killer , it's vicious - biting 100 times in an hour , it is present in places like Italy and with these mosquito around you just cannot go outside. Mosquito bite during the day
Noah's Backpackers at Bondi Beach is in the headlines yet again over COVID scare where one huest has tested positive and the rest of It's residents told to isolate in their rooms until they are tested by rapid antigen testing. The hostel has been cordoned off.
Floods in QLD north of the city has caused 1 woman to die as a car was swept into river and unable to be saved . The wild weather continues in QLD and NSW.
There are 8 new cases of Omicron in NSW bringing the total of 42 cases of Omicron in NSW.
The discussion continues as to Djokovic will play in the Australian Open as he is listed to play however his vaccination status remains a mystery.
Boris Johnson just became a father again - his 7th child amidst all the scandal over the recent leaking and breaking of COVID lockdown rules and restrictions of their staff Christmas party.
It's too late to send Christmas presents by ordinary post now to arrive in time for Christmas, you have to send them by express post .
Former NSW premier who resigned previoudly due to an ongoing ICAC inquiry has rejected the offer of support from the prime minister to run for federal politics . She announced thst she is leaving politics permanently and is likely to take up employment in the private sector.
There was another jump in COVID cases in NSW overnight .There were 516 COVID cases but no deaths.
There was a sudden landslide on the M1 in Moonie Moonie.
Saturday 12th December 2021
No new news headlines to report today, same headlines floods wild weather cricket and increase in COVID cases as well as omicron continues.
There were 560 COVID cases in NSW high is a big spike in cases , 3 new cases of Omicron and a total of 45 cases of omicron . There were 3 deaths , 1 was triple vaccinated , the other 2 double vaccinated, all had other medical conditions, 2 died in hosptal and one from an aged care facility which had a previous case there. all were in their 70 and 80s. one from SW Sydney one from regional NSW and one from Eastern Sydney all previous hotspots. There is still a pattern in the deaths. Is COVID or more accuately the COVID vaccine actually killing these people or just weakening their immune system or fast tracking their death from their other medical conditions? Did these people actually die from COVID or their other medical conditions? A very high percentage of these deaths seem to have been partially or fully vaccinated people and elderly people with medical conditions and in hospital or aged care facilities. The triple vaccination death is a mystery. If vaccination is meant to protect you from the virus so symptoms are less severe and you are less likely to have to go to hospital although you can still spread it, then how did this person die from COVID? I don't believe they did and probably died from their other medical conditions not COVID hence should not be included in the COVID figures. There has got to be something wrong with vaccinating people with suppressed immune systems . Their immune systems are ready fighting hard enough to fend off any other medical condition they have - wouldn't introducing a foreign "virus" put more pressure on the suppressed immune system rather then boost it to fight COVID hence posdibly spreading it even more ? So instead of the immune system trying to fend off whatever it is trying to fend off it's now putting all it's effort and concentrating on fending off a targeted virus hence forgetting abandoning and literally leaving for dead whatever else it was previously trying to fend off. I hope this makes sense. In my case however I have been told I have not a suppressed immune system but an overactive one so it will fend off everything therefore I making antibodies for everything foreign to fend it off therefore I should not need the COVID vaccine. So if I received the vaccine my immune system could go 2 ways suppressed or even more overactive. If suppressed that will be great because it means my immune system will be back to normal again ie in balance afain and my severe allergies will disappear however if it becomes overactive I could well get very sick from a rather severe adverse reaction and die unnecessarily. Remember the " for every action there is asn equal and opposite reaction " theory? Well that's my theory and remember I was a scientist but in the wrong field . There is a reason why I don't work in science anymore - I know all about severe adverse reactions!
I am taking some time out from blogging this weekend unless something significant happens. It's still overcast grey and cold today but forecast that this is the end of the wet wild and cold weather.
I took the bus to return my bottles for recycling - done
I then took the metro to exchange the aulty lights and tested them with extra batteries purchased - done.
I went to Woolworths where I purchased toiletries that are on special - done I also recharged Opal card while I was there - done.
Being unvaccinated I still can't go shopping for non essential items which is a bit of a problem as I really need some shoes. however the unvaccinated team member and I have had no problems picking up our click and collect from Big W and Target where security guards will let people in to pickup their click and collect as their counters are usually located at the back of their department stores. David Jones says they will as well on their website as I blogged about previously although I have not tried it. Good luck with Myer and Kmart who have guards posted at the front of their stores checking every single QR code and vaccination certificates and will not allow any unvaccinated people into their stores to pick up their click and collects , you have to wait for them to bring it out to you. Kmart may be a little less Nazi like. There are quite a few other smaller chain stores that won't let you into their stores unless you are vaccinated with security guards posted at the entrance checking everyone 's vaccination certificates. Smiggle & Uniqlo for example were some of them that I noticed with barricades as well but I think it was also equally for crowd control as stores get extremely busy around the Christmas season and if it gets too busy they need keep to social distancing rules. Dangerfield is also a smaller format chain store and this one at Macquarie in particular did not have a security posted at their entrance checking We codes and vacvination certificates but instead displayed their QR code and vaccination proof signage with additional warning penalty signs of $1000 On the spot fines for being caught violating vaccination laws issued by the Australian Retail Association. I have never seen this sign before on any of the stores not even the department stores. It is the first time i have come across it and spent time reading it. I am not even sure if it is valid in NSW as different states have different vaccine laws as mentioned previously vaccine mandates maybe present in Victoria but not in NSW eventhough companies based in Victoria are implementing these rules in NSW where they are not applicable hence the situation of Myer. Maybe Dangerfield is doing the same.
Not all retail stores whether they are small independent stores or chain stores are strictly adhering to the no double vaccination no entry policy. It depends on how busy each store is and location . I decided to walk around Macquarie shopping centre which is quite a large busy shopping centre and see which stores I could go shopping in without having to show my vaccination certificate to someone before I can enter. Here is a summary :
So which stores didn't check vaccination certificates but required you to at least do the right thing and scan your QR code ( honour system) before entering?
Tom's Project very small chain store ( also in Chatswood) . I usually do the right thing and scan my QR code before entering the stores but did not scan my QR code before going into the Macquarie store . No questions asked at both stores. just browsing st $20 and $10 clothing racks inside closest to entrance of store. No purchases this time round.
Daiso large Japanese dollar type chain store ( around Australia). I usually do the right thing and scan my QR code before entering the store but this time did not scan the QR code before entering the Macquarie store. No questions asked. I was there to grab batteries and exchange my faulty lights only.
C de C shoes ( small chain store) I did the right thing and scanned the QR code before entering the store. No questions asked and I spent a lot of time in this store looking at and trying on pairs of shoes. I could not decide on a pair as tgere were faults in the boots I liked so did not purchase anything.
Sketches I tried to scan the QR code but the service NSW app has been playing up in the past few weeks and as mentioned I my previous will e pure on 15th December 21. I originally wasn't going to enter the store just see what was available but walked in spent some tome looking at just the black sneakers before walking out. No questions asked
Platypus Shoes I did not scan the QR code at this chain store and wasn't going to go in to look at the shoes as I could not see the puma ones I wanted so just walked in and went straight to the staff member
Woolworths, Coles & Aldi generally don't have security guards posted at the front entrances anymore and QR are displayed on smaller signs. I am seeing more people not bothering to scan the QR codes to check in because it is easy to forget to check out but modt people including mydrlf do the right thing and check in with QR codes.
Kiki K ( stationery chain) I didn't go in for long just a quick look around as there was no checking of vaccination certificates . I just scanned the QR code.
MiniSo was an interesting chain store, depending on which store you go to they may or may not have someone standing at the entrance of the store checking vaccination certificates. Probably larger stores like Macquarie but not at Chatswood when I went where I just scanned the QR code and entered .
Monster Threads smaller chain store. The Macquarie store is larger then the Chatswood and city dtore but noone checked vaccination certificates st the Macquarie store. I scanned the QR code and entered the store spending quite a bit of time looking around. Some prople after scanning the QR code went to the counter to show their vaccination certificate which the staff just appreciated and thanked. There were not many people in the store but after a while a few wondered in.
Mathers ( shoe store) I tried to scan my QR code but it failed 4 times! I gave up and noone was check vaccination certificates so I walked in and took my time looking around. There were a few people in the store but not many.
Williams shoes I scanned the QR codr and spent time looking around in this store as well. Noone was checking vaccination ok many people too small a store.
Sunday 12th December 2021
I wake up around 6 am but after breakfast and watching the news go back to sleep. It is a grey and slightly breezy morning. No rain and by 10 am the sun is trying hard to come out.
I did absolutely nothing today except catch up with reading emails and eating and sleeping.
I'm not having a good time sleeping so have been staying up late and waking up later.
I saw an apology amongst my emails from the property management company but I didn't open it up to read it.
Tomorrow I have things to do eventhough I don't really want to do them. I also need to prepare for returning to work. I really don't want to return.
My allergies are still annoying me. Eyes itchy and watery, skin not so itchy but itchy nose
News headlines for today
There was a shooting near Kensington palace where a bank robber was shot dead by police.
Tornados rip through the U.S. leaving a trail of destruction in and around Kentucky. The Southern and Midwest are affected. A roof collapsed on a candle factory with at least 1 dead. Rubble is still being sifted through for any survivors and those missing.
More COVID news with booster shots being bought forward from 6 months since last COVID shot to 5 months increasing the number of people ble to receive it and talks of even decreasing the gap between vaccines even more as efficacy wanes after 6 months - it is likely an annual shot will be necessary - more like a bi yearly shot for the rest of your life like the flu vaccine! The vaccine will be likely to be different each time tweaked to include new strains of the virus. What concerns me is all those that it has already been mentioned that everyone who has received a double vaccination already will need not just a third vaccination but a forth even and annual vaccination AND more importantly their double vaccination status will no longer be valid - yes they will lose their fully vaccinated status which means no shopping no dining or drinking out no travel and no employment again! It will just become a vicious cycle in Australia and still nobody knows much about COVID - the where what why when and how is still unanswered. It's just not practical to keep vaccination everyone every 6 months for the rest of their lives - it's not like insulin dependant diabetes, it's not even like the flu where it is optional to get vaccinated annually and it certainly isn't like tetanus which is a booster every 10 years and nowhere like polio, chicken pox, small pox , mumps,measles or rebella which is a one off round of vaccines.
Other COVID news QLD opens up it's borders to the rest if Australia ( in particular NSW and VIC) finally 1 am tomorrow morning however with very strict conditions for both vaccinated and unvaccinated ( same rules as overseas travellers even stricter refer my previous blog- declaration forms permits quarantine 2 x PCR testing etc ) however at the same time WA has closed it's borders to QLD and is about to announce when it will open it's border to the rest of Australia which is forecasted to be not until late February 2022.
Cricket is on again but not until later tonight.
A man's house in QLD has caught on fire and he managed to escape because of his barking dog. the cause is being investigated.
There were 55 Omicron cases in NSW today, in of which were included in the 485 COVID cases in NSW today and 2 deaths a man in his 70s unvaccinated from inner west died in Concord Hospital and a 80s from South East also unvaccinated in Sutherland Hospital. It did not specify if they had any other medical conditions. A big drop in COVID cases from previous day.
Protests continue Australia wide and even untelevised worldwide in countries like Austria where the government has issued a vaccination mandate for the entire country . The unvacvinated team member texts me and thinks we are headed for another lockdown and protests are getting bigger.
Tuesday 28th December 2021
There was an explosion in Canbera in Belconnen. the cause is still being investigated.
A Demons fan who snuck into Western Australia and was arrested for breaching COVID restrictions is back in Melbourne. He was double vaccinated but breached quarantine conditions with a friend who used false documentation to travel.
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