Always learning

 I just learned how to tie my shoelace a better way -

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm

The knotting method I learned as a child was not the best way!

For months I have tying double knots on my laces to stop them coming undone - But I have tested Ian's knot and it works well - not coming loose. As an ex-scout I should have known reef knots are better than granny knots.

Best Ever Xmas Songs

 When I visit op shops I look for second hand Xmas CDs -There seem to be plenty to choose from. Occasionally I find one with some original or different songs. These I collect for my own Xmas mix.

Any songs from the Bing Crosby songbook are too cliched to be included.

My favourite song is Tim Minchin's White Wine in the Sun. It expresses the atheist's Xmas perspective. Kate Miller-Heidke sings a great version on the album Spirit of Christmas 2010.

My favourite album of unusual Xmas songs is the Best Ever Christmas Mix - from EMI 2004 - 724387476820

Down to Earth

 Op shopping I also found Down to Earth by Rhonda Hetzel (ISBN 978-0-670-07592-8, 2012). She is also from South-east Queensland.

So far I've only read five chapters but it is engaging, and she has a recipe for making soap. Her theme is simple living and it is from the view of a retiree.

She also has a blog https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/

Leaf cutter

 Earlier in the year I noticed a bee - I think a native solitary bee - flying around the ferns like it was looking for something. So I took a tree branch out of the rubbish pile and drilled a hole in one end then put it with the ferns.

Now a leaf cutter bee has made a nest in the bore hole. I has laided eggs in the hole and made chambers with leaves.

Now I watch and wait.

Simplicity

 I went op shopping and found a book called Quotable Poems (about 800 pages). It was obviously made for the USA market - The holiday poems included Lincoln's Birthday and Columbus Day. 

Most of the book was far too religious for my taste with lots of references to the non-existent God. As for Columbus, he murdered and raped the inhabitants of the New World, and enslaved and committed genocide.

But I did find a poem I liked -

When the sun rises, I go to work;
When the sun goes down, I take my rest;
I dig the well from which I drink;
I farm the soil that yields my food.
I share creation; kings can do no more.

Thunder Days

 

Now in Brisbane is the storm season. Days of thunder and lightning and hail. Usually my lilly pilly trees flower on the day just before the storm and the flowers are destroyed in the storm. however this year has been great for rain and the trees keep on flowing so after the storms there are more flowers.

Cylinder Beach

Cylinder Beach,  Stradbroke Island is peaceful. For the past few days I have been fortunate to be camped between a lone guitar player and a guitar/banjo duo. So relaxing.