General Chat

Hello All,
It is some time since I have had time to read the posts. I am pleased to hear you are all well.
Hz sorry to hear about your father he sounds like a Character I hope he has a good recovery.
Cowgirl good to hear from you ,and I Pray your brother regains his sight and can go back to his teaching, we cannot afford to lose male teachers,especially Primary school teachers.
I hope all goes well with the council and they pass your Plan's.

We have had a cool change overnight the wind is blowing a gale & has broken branches off one of my new Wattle's D----!
I will have to rescue the washing shortly I hope we get some rain.
Badger some of my ancestors came from Wiltshire the surname is LAY. I hope your weather change's for the better real soon.

It looks like i wont be able to make it to the Wattler's meet as I have a hospital appointment in Feb. and I wont be able to undertake the long drive to Toowoomba, However by hook or by crook I will make it to the next meet. Kindest regards to you all Marie.

Arvo....:>))

Much cooler the last few days in Melbourne, and some much needed rain for the garden.

Australian open ( tennis ) has started in Melb City, so i guess i wont be seeing the mrs ( Barb ) for the next two weeks. I better stock up the pantry and freezer......lol
She is refusing to answer her hair dressing salon phone, in case someone want to make an appointment....and it might upset her Tennis days off.....ha ha

I have been warned not to answer it...lol

Fred. I just had a quick "google" on the Nissan Qashqai, and it looks a nice vechile. I noticed it topped the 500,000th customer delivery, so must be a popular car.

Speaking of Wiltshire, i also have a great grandfather on my mothers side ( George Barnes ) from Devizes, Wiltshire.Bapt in St. Marys 07 Oct 1809
He was a carpenter/builder who moved to Liverpool in 1835 and married at Walton on the Hill,Lancashire, before coming to Australia ( Melbourne )with his wife and 7 daughters late in 1850s. They had two more children ( a girl and finally a son ) born in Melbourne not long after they arrived......One of his 8 daughters Sarah Barnes, produced 18 children in Melbourne. Amazing what a bit of fresh Aussie air can do for the re-productive system.....;>))
Between the 8 girls they produced 55 grandkids ( all born in Melbourne ) to George and his wife Martha Barnes.
Good thing he was a carpenter, because he would have spent most of his life adding extra bedrooms to his daughters houses, just to fit all his grandkids in.
Cant say they didnt do there bit to help populate the Colony...lol
His only son, also, George Barnes,the youngest, never married, and died a batchelor, but with eight elder sisters to contend with......he was probably a bit ear bashed, and prefered to live life alone......lol

I only had two sisters and that was plenty......:>))

Best i leave it at that, in case i get myself into trouble.


Av a good un.


Tony.....:>)) *with four daughters, but knew when to stop*

Morning all you people no matter where you hail from,lol,Tony ,glad to hear that it has cooled down a tad where you are,but it's still too warm for my liking,he he ,once it gets over 35c i'm done.
Yes,i have heard of the Barnes's from the west country ,but don't know if there is any connection to my bunch,i can't seem to get back any further than 1560 when the bucks Barnes family seemed to be centred around Great Marlow,and i don't know if they are of the irish or Kent descent branch.
Bit like my Jones lot who started in Wales[ of course] ,then seemed to invade England and all corners of the empire ,lol,no telling where they will turn up next.
Well ,i got the new bird feeder out into the garden yesterday ,and this is a good one that the eldest son and partner got us for Christmas,with lots of hooks to hang various sorts of food for many different birds,a bit like a bird Hilton i reckon ,only the best grub catered for ,there is even a big tray for water ,and a smaller tray for bread , they should be well happy with it.
All i need to do now ,is put up the nesting box in the hope of attracting a wren or great tit.something i can watch while i am sat on the patio.
I have a lot of winter damage to sort out in the front garden this spring ,the lawn is a mess and a half ,and the flower borders are even worse ,a sort of disaster area,still ,i suppose it will keep me busy for a few weeks.
Nearly time to start out back too,with the chalet to clear out ,and the buckets and boxes to prepare again cooooo ,i could do with a bit of help ,anyone fancy a weeks free holiday for a bit of help out there ,lol.
Have to shoot off now ,the car is in this morning to have the door lock fixed.
Catch you all later ,Fred.

Well, third time lucky I hope.Can't seem to get on the page. Hello all, I'm back again. Bronchial Pneumonia, asthma and shingles laid me pretty low. All hail the new year!
Am still awaiting the call to move. The oldies must all have survived the Christmas break.
Do hope you all enjoyed yours, and many thanks for including me in all the lovely messages.They brightened the hours no end. Was in hospital at home so was pretty bored by the end of the month. Dear little dog was very attentive though, he's great company.
Was Derek's birthday last Sunday so everyone joined in for lunch at the squid shack where he alway's loved to go.
GD no3 did well in her nursing exams. 3 distinctions.Very pleased with herself,as of course we are . GDno4 passed her final school exams and is now waiting to see if she will be offered a place at uni.
no2 starts at bible college in March. They're all testing their wings. Rianna says she aint goin' anywhere. Noeline turns52 on Sunday. Crikey!.
Brother Melvyn has started his chemo at last. Had to put it off for a couple of weeks cos he got the same bug I did.The general opinion is it will help with pain control ( chemo).A curious thing has happened there. An Asian Dr told my sister that if he has up to 8 cups of tea made with tea bags a day, the arsenic in the bags will help, so he's been doing as he was told for the first time in his life and theres been no extension of the cancer in the last three months yet its a very aggressive cancer.It's given him a lift anyway and he's coping with things much better.
I've been accepted on the prison worship team and start tomorrow.Prison has accepted me too but I'll wear a large flower or something so I don't get mistaken for an inmate.!
Have been dog sitting this week and I definitely don't need two dogs The neighbourhood knows it too. Noisy little buggers.
Two9 phone calls later I'd better sign off and gfet some lunch so see ya, Luv Me. By the way Barb, I watched the cricket all day so I know how you feel. Hope you enjoyed your tennis

Hello Wattlers,
I'm new to this thread. A nice sunny Sinny day today, just too *** hot. Much worse away from the coast too.
My first Aussie ancestors left England involuntarily, but made good in the new country. I'm not ashamed that they were convicts.
Tony spoke of Wiltshire. I also have a great grandfather William Jay (mother's side) from there, Warminster, about 1861. Should get the birth certificate sometime. Only two children, one of whom never married. Since his arrival his descendants have moved far and wide across this country, but he is buried only a few km from where I live.
I don't watch the tennis much. but OH is an addict.
The cricket is on-going, with the Aussies playing 5 one day matches against Pakistan. It would be nice to see them (Pakistan) win a couple or three, just to reduce the arrogance of some of the Australian side.
~~~~~~ to all from Sydney

good morning all ,from a little warmer and still very wet Newcastle over the pond.
Things are improving here ,i can at last start to lift the veggies from the garden for use ,so the only thing i will have to buy for a good few weeks is onions.
We are off shopping with the youngest son this morning after which he is coming here to fit the lagging round the cold water pipes under the kitchen sink,i can't get down there any more because my knees are too sore ,lol
In case i don't get back before the day next week,happy Australia day all ,i will def' be there in spirit after all i have been told about it by all you lovely people.Fred.

Evening....:>)).......and good morning Fred.

Very muggy today in Melb. 34c
Just waiting for the change ( rain ) they promised us later on this evening.

Merle. Nice to see you on the thread mate
Bronchial Pneumonia, Asthma,Shingles!!!......were you going for some kind of record last year?
Hope this new year sees you in good health, and best wishes from Barb and me.x
Best wishes to your brother too, and hope all goes well for him.

Sydneybloke. Welcome to the Wattlers thread.
I agree....nothing to be ashamed about our convict ancestors. Many were the backbone of this country, and it was through their blood, sweat and tears that much of our foundations were laid upon. I have six in my own family tree now, along with two first fleeters on the Scarborough in 1788. I have been writing about their lives in my family tree album from various records found in Oz, and a great peice of FH for my grandkids to read about when they are old enough.

Thank goodness the one dayer's ( cricket ) has started, as it gives me a good excuse to grab a coldie and sit outside on the decking to watch it. Cant watch the test matches ( to slow ) but i do enjoy the pace of the 50 over matches.

Chi-knees for tea, so best i go skin them.........,>))


Av a good un.


Tony...:>))

evening all,

not been around much in the last 3 weeks as was organising a craft exhabition for a fund reaiser for church, we need $300,000 to fix the ceiling in the hall......its 150 years old and the extreme hot weather in the past few years has dried out all the mortar and buts are falling off!!!
anyway putting this thing together in less than 3 weeks took a fair bit of time and energy.....but we pulled it off and raised $1200 in the process....not bad for a rush job

now getting ready for our traditional Australia day bbq...... plenty of snags, shrimp and tinnies.....great fun

Hi Pearl and Marie, 2010 is certainly going to be a better year..

Welcome Sidney were all allittle crazy here so welcome

love to all June cowgirl xx

Hello to all.

I've just popped over from the other Aussie thread.

I hail from Australind in WA (about 160 kms south of Perth). I'm originally from the UK but have been in WA since 1982.

I'm married with two adult children (is that an oxymoron?) and am now semi retired.

Allan

Hello all,& Cooeee to the new bloke Allan from WA, to the Sydney Bloke Hi to you and yes it is B---dy hot here in Bathurst Allan how is it in WA?
Greetings Merle,you take the cake don't you I do hope your Brother recovers,and you have a much better year love to you dear
.
Hi Cow girl you have been busy,good work I hope the ceiling gets done.
I like the cricket and do like the 50 over games.

Hi Badger,pleased to hear your weather is improving,we need rain here even a storm would be lovely. I want to put some seeds & seedlings in but it is just too hot, I dont start watering until about 7.45pm.

Tony I have a GT. Grandmother who had 13 children plus a few still borns I thought that was a lot but your Sarah Barns did well I wonder how they managed to cloth & feed them it must have been very difficult.
I mut away as it is hot to be sitting in front of a computer. Best wishes to you all Kindest Regards Marie.Brmmm Brmm

Good morning all from Newcastle ,where Fred is getting ready for his Burns supper, all that is needed is a neep pulled out of the veggie patch and i am fit to go.
Reckon your Barnes and mine are related then Tony ,somewhere down the line ,many in my tree having 13 to 15 children ,weeell ,what else was there to do on a cold winters night ,to keep warm he he.
I have a family photo of my gt grandad Edwin,wife Rosa and 7 children ,and Rosa still looks about 20 years old,don't know how they did it in those days [well ,i do but not with such success] , he he.
Things are still grotty here ,but ,at least ,it is a little warmer,if as wet.
Every one over there ready to party? have a great day ,and send me a couple of snags and yabbys . Fred.

Evening from me, and good morning to Fred.

Cow Girl. Well done for raising the $1200.
We Aussies dont have the long history like our U.K cousins, when it comes to our historic buildings, but what we have is worth preserving for future generations to come.

Hi Allan. Havent visited the West for years, and last time there was in 2001. We holidayed at Fremantle, and then drove down to Mandurah and Bunbury. Then back to Perth,before flying north to Broome, and i remember it well. We were sitting in a restaurant in Perth when my mobile phone rang, and it was my son-in-law from Melbourne informing me i was a grandfather to a healthy 8lb baby boy ( my first granchild )
I was jumping up and down with excitement in the restaurant, and i think the waitress thought i was chokeing on a peice of meat....lol
Anyway...after i had explained about my brand new grandson just born, i received a free complementry glass of wine to celebrate....:>))


Marie. I dont know how they survived with that many kids, either, but they did, and you wouldnt beleive the ammount of cousins i have contact with now days in just the state of Victoria...lol
I think back then ( so history tells us ) that an average family was anywhere from 8 to 12 children plus.
Of course, many did not survive from large families, and just scouring through the Pioneer Index's doing look-ups, i come across many that died as new borns.
Immigrants coming from Europe and from much cooler climates to a country barren, and temps in the high 40c plus, it must have been hell on earth living in the Aussie bush during summer, and sometimes hundreds and hundreds of miles away from the nearest settlement.
Our own Aussie history tells us ( during the gold rush era ) that water was more valuable than the gold itself for survival.......and it looks like nothings changed coming into 2010 ( water and lack of it )

Wishing all a happy Australia day to-morrow for all Australians as we celebrate the settlement of the Colony. Australia Day, 26 January, being the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788
We will have our typical Bar-be-que, and a few cold beers with our family, and then a two minute walk to the council lawns to see the fireworks display. Something my grandkids enjoy.


Barb is glued to the tele at the moment ( Leynton v's Federra ) tennis....and i might take a quick walk up the road as there is foul lanquage coming from the family room........but then again she is an Aussie sheila, and decendant from good convict stock on all sides of her family......lolol


Av a goodun

Tony....:>))

Happy Australia Day

Welcome to Sydneybloke and Allan. Drop in anytime.

Merle - gosh you don't do things by halves do you? Hope you have a better year healthwise and all round. Glad you weren't in any hurry to move cos it doesn't seem to be happening too quickly. That's interesting about the tea bags - hope it keeps helping your brother and his chemo goes well too.

Cowgirl - congrats and well done - good effort for such a short time to arrange things. How are your plans for the new abode coming along?

Marie - think we could all do with some rain - seems ages since we had any in Canberra too.

Hi to Fred - if you get too much of the wet stuff you know where to send it. Haven't bothered with vegies this year cos I lost 3 months at the end of last year sorting through my mother's hoardings so by the time we got back home it was too late to get things going - anyway the weeds have taken hold so until it cools down in the backyard I'm not out there working.

I'll toast you all with a glass of WA wine with my dinner tonight. Introduced to Stella Bella wine while on our cruise last August and we drank the ship dry so had to order some for Christmas - lovely drop.

Bye ~~~~~~~~~~ Gwenda

Morning all

just a quick note to say that the Wattler vibes are having a positive effect.....

my brother went back to the specialist last thursday, his eye is about half way open and although very bloodshot and irritated, he still has a bubble of gas in the eye which causes its own set of porblems) his sight HAS IMPROVED and he was able to look at the clock and work out roughly what the time was........much better then just being able to tell the between light and dark...he will miss at least the first 2 weeks of school but hopefully if it keeps improving he will be able to return to work in a few weeks....

keep up the positive thoughts it all helps..



love June cowgirl xx

Hello all,
I haven't been on for a few days but have caught up with recent posts.
Tony, my OH doesn't quite swear at the tennis, but she has her favourites and when they lose a point (or more) it's "you fool" or "you idiot" or "how could you be so stupid?".
I don't get so worked up at the players. It's the commentators who drive me to drink. Especially a certain American. As someone said in the Herald, why can't we just courier Jim back to where he belongs?
They did have large families in the old days. My gt-gt-grandmother had 12 at least, of whom 10 grew to adulthood and most had families of their own.
Anne, glad the vibes are working for your brother. Time is a great healer, too.
Australia Day for me was a bit of a non event. I had to work Saturday, and had Monday off in lieu, so a three day weekend. We went to visit an aunt who lives south of Nowra in the Shoalhaven. We went by train, which was worth it when I saw the traffic crawling along the Princes Highway towards Heathcote. The train is slower than driving of course, but mainly on the holiday timetable its definitely not an express and because we had a 25 minute wait for the connection at Central coming home. It still beats driving in holiday traffic though. :-) Pleasant visit, and the aunt took us for a drive around the Jervis Bay area on Monday
Happy wattling..

What a great result Anne ,here's hoping your brothers eye continues to improve and he is able to get back to normal,it'd nice to hear some good news for a change,Liz and i will continue with the thoughts and prayers.
Hope Australia day was good for everyone, must be nice to be able to have a holiday at this time of year in the sun ,lol
Well ,i tried the veggie Haggis on burns night and have to say ,it wasn't bad at all ,but i prefer the meat [offal one ,as it seems to have more spices in giving it that edge ,never mind though ,i will try a different veggie one next year to see if it is better,and ,in the meantime ,i will go back to the tinned Grants which is ace.
I wish we could swap some sun for some rain ,lol, but ,never mind ,now that we are only 11 months to Christmas he he ,spring is on the way at last.
I only have one bottle of Brown Brothers wine left ,and i am keeping that for our fist B B Q of the season ,maybe during the Easter weekend,when is is USUALLY dry and warm,but who knows.
I remember as a bairn ,out in the garden ,short trousers and shirt ,with all the girls and ladies in their summer clothes and hats ,who says the weather cycles havn't changed over the years?
I was busy yesterday taxi driving the wife and son for their shopping ,and finishing the ceiling at home in our bedroom ,where things came home to me with a bump [ sniffle] gone are the days when a roof painting was done in two hours ,tops ,and it was on with the papering ,now it's part of the morning and all afternoon just to get the ceiling finished ,i issssss NOT enjoying this getting past it lark he he.
From this year on ,all walls will be papered white ,and in future painted with emulsion for ease ,end of story ,i can manage with a step ladder okay for that ,at least..
We had two veggie meals yesterday ,a small salad for dinner ,and a Jacket tattie for tea ,both of which went down a treat,and today ,i think i will banish the wife to the front room for dinner ,while i treat myself to a couple of pieces of smoked Mackerel with some small slices of french batton.wkile she has two cod fishcakes with chips.
I have just founf out that our local fish quay are the people that supply all the fishcakes for the fish shops in the town,so i will go down next time i want Mackerel ,and buy a box of cakes for the wife i love my fish but the wife will only have cod ,once in a blue moon ,but will happily east fish cakes whenever i cook them for her.
Even the cat gets fish on these days ,lol,and she loves a bit of steamed Coley or whiting ,which are easy to cook.
Time to get on with the decorating folks ,so if a person shows up tomorrow ,with spots of white all over the face ,it isn't one of your natives on walkabout ,'tis only Fred,he he.
Catch you all later Fred.

Hello All, At last some good news, lovely to hear that Anns brother is doing well.
Tony I dont think it was the fresh air that did it as I have a Gt.Gt.Grand Mother in West Coker who had a large number of children I cant recall how many & I dont know if they all survived & yes I do think it was probably because of the cold weather and because they didnt have TV or computers like we do LOL
Badger I do like reading your Menusand the news but sometimes I dont know some things you mention ---- like---French batton----???.
Hello Gwenda, it has been so hot here, I am hoping for some rain as I will have to take out a loan to pay the water bill.
Hi cowgirl hope all is well with you , and to Sydney bloke nice to hear from you also. Merle if you are looking in hope you are ok and no more accidents Hear!
Kindest Regards to you all ,
Marie from Bathurst Brmmm BrmmmmZzzzzzzzoooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmm

Hello people. Marie from Bathurst- what a nice part of the world, but so dry at the moment. I went through Bathust over Christmas & New Year. Didn't seem to be much water in the Macquarie. I stayed in Cowra on the Lachlan and explored the area. Not much more watewr in the Lachlan. OH's roots include Grenfell.
Speaking of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, it was the 200th anniversary of him taking up his position this month. Met his doom because he thought convicts who had served their sentences could enter genteel society. The Exclusives disagreed. My feeling? John Macarthur was an Exclusive, and anyone who ran a'foul of him could not be all bad.
Interesting to read your posts Fred. I have read about famous badgers, for example in Wind in the Willows and the Narnia books to name two. There was also a documentary about real badgers on our TV recently. They are quite a large animal aren't they?. In one shot, a badger and a fox were eating out of the same food bowl and I know how big a fox is.
Hello also to Gwenda, Cowgirl (are you Anne?) and Merle.
Colin in Sydney- to be more precise, Ryde area between Sydney and Parramatta.

Hi Peeps ,just a quick few lines before i start the decorating ,as iv'e just come in from having my feet done at the clinic.
sorry Marie ,for the confusion about the Baton ,which is only a half size french stick ideal for pensioners of a single person going on a picnic.
I sometimes buy a one with cheese on the top ,lush.
I think it's time for a fish and chip dinner with mushy peas,and for tea ,a little stir fry which always goes down well at my place.
Be back later all ,Fred.

Arvo....:>))

Warm Sunday in Melb. 37c with a surposedly late change coming through later this evening.

Noticed tropical cyclone Olga moving about up north,and causing some havoc. King tides flooding some towns as well, so hope all those living in far north Queensland keep safe.

Have received a recent email connection on Ancestry au from a 3rd cousin living in Osoyoos B.C Canada.
He is in his 80s now and was pleased to hear that some of our Ancestors immigrated to Australia as well as Canada. He had only just started on his FH not long ago, and wondered where his grandparents had origionated from. He knew they came from England, but not which County/Villages.
I knew this particular side of our family, to which 5 sons and parents had immigrated from Essex, England, to Bucks, then to Winnipeg Manitoba B.C in the 1880s as i had traced them through the English census until they dissapeared, and turned up on the Canadian census........... so we have been exchangeing info back and forth. I also have Photo's of his father,uncles, aunts and his grandparents, of which he has few photos.
I sent them to him, and he was a very happy bloke, as he put the names to the faces on the photos of his uncles/aunts that he remebered as a young bloke....:>))
One of his uncles ( so he tells me ) spawned the "Bobby Hull" era of pro ice hockey in Canada, and from googling the name i see Robert Marvin Hull ( Bobby Hull )b.1939 Ont. was quite a big deal in Canada when it came to proffesional ice hockey.
I know nothing about Ice Hockey, but perhaps my claim to fame!!!......;>))

Wishing all a great weekend, or whats left of it.

Cricket is about to start, and the beer is chilled.

Av a goood un.


Tony...:>))