The Liberty Swing in Action

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I have just put together this clip which I took at the recent Variety Children's Party. I hope you like it as much as I do. Just seeing the smiles on the faces of these special children is so heart-warming.

Variety Christmas Party

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Yesterday I helped with the annual Variety Children's Christmas Party at the Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour in Sydney. There Were over 5,000 disabled and disadvantaged children and there carers there. It always is an emotional time, seeing wheelchair-bound children with huge grins on their faces. One of the highlights for me were the wheelchair swings where children and their wheelchairs can experience what we take for granted, the sensation of swinging. This is another example of what can be done when people think about access, inclusion and safety.

Liberty Swing

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I just read in the Wentworth Courier that Variety has unveiled a second Liberty Swing in the Eastern Suburbs at Bronte Park. For those who have not seen one it's a good opportunity to have a look at one.

Sunday Pommygran8 and I took the Bash Car to Rouse Hill for the Rouse Hill Family Fair. Unfortunately the weather was atrocious and so the number of people who attended was down a lot. This was a great shame because everyone had gone to a lot of trouble to make the day an enjoyable one. Still we managed a photo when the rain eased off for an hour or so.

Knitting

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So I had to post that picture with the Dr Who scarf in it. Pommygran8 found a special ball of wool in our usual Department Store, (read Charity Shop) and gave it to me. "So knit me something", she says. I think the fact I have retired and have "nothing" to do is getting to her, especially now, when she has to get everything regarding her business ready for the accountant.

Most people I meet ask what I do with my time now I have retired.

I now have time to pursue all my hobbies. In fact, I don't have time to pursue all of them. Too many. I will eventually get round to them.

Last year on the Bash, we led the parade as we were winners the previous year. Here is a link to some photos of that trip courtesy Zoom Productions.

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Had an early tutorial session with Sydhappyguy today and managed to set up my You Tube channel. Videos will be on their way real soon.

I found a great quote today from Dr Seuss:-

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

Quite relevant to all us DAGgers don't you think?

I will have to sort the Bash Car out soon. The gearbox is playing up, crunches into 3rd. (It was an expensive gearbox, cost $20.) I am hoping we won't have to remove the engine yet again. Still, it is all experience and I have the time now to do it.

I am taking the car to a couple of events, St Marys Street Parade on the 6th of September and Rouse Hill Family Fair on September 14. K9 the dog may make an appearance. Watch this space.

The Blame Game

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Yesterday I said how I'd gone to the place who had reconditioned the cylinder head of the engine. And in discussions had ascertained the most likely cause of the problems we had.  No-one to blame, sh*t happens. Yet, if I had listened to the advice of many people on the Bash, I'd be suing the pants off them for botching the job. Why is it that there has to be a scapegoat, a need for someone to take the blame for someone else's misfortune? 

This is a photo of one of our coffee stops. As you can see it is pretty messy, (now that's an oxymoron!).  We will have to streamline it for next year. The green object on the tailgate of the ute is our instant hot water supply which works a treat. The water comes out hot enough for a cup of tea. Save a lot of time heating a pan on the camping stoves. Trouble is, after packing all the coffee gear, there is not much room for anything else.

Bash Costumes

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I am slowly going through the photographs I took on the Bash and of course, I don't feature in many. I am putting up four of the costumes we wore. There will be more photos as soon as they become available. This is just a sample of Pommygran8's skill in costume making. If anyone out there has any of K9 and crew, we would be grateful.

***888DAG***

Only one sleep to go, phew! Looking forward to seeing all the old faces and meeting new ones.

This is a picture of a liberty swing that was donated by Variety.

This is my eleventh Bash and being a Pom, I must have seen more of Australia, (albeit through clouds of red dust from the car in front) than most Australians. I have driven from Sydney to Broome, Busselton, Batchelor, Billygoat Hill(Alice Springs), Bathers Beach(Fremantle), HMAS Bathust(Darwin), Ballina, Barossa Valley, Barrier Reef, and Bundaberg. And This Year...ta-da, Blacktown to Batemans Bay. Which on a good day is 3 and a half hours drive from Sydney. However in Bash tradition it is a circuitous route via the Great Ocean Road.

There is even a rumour we might need snow chains. Luckily I knitted myself a Dr Who scarf which should help keep the cold out.

***888DAG***

only 3 sleeps to go. And it's cold in Sydney. And I am developing a cold. Vit C galore, keeping warm, and a few hot toddies should save the day, and a box of tissues if all else fails.

Going out to the baggage truck tomorrow. I hope it all fits in the 1 metre cube storage.

Here's the top of the ute lid, showing the ducks that have made their home on the spoiler.

Only 9 sleeps to go. Why do I support Variety? Well, it is a children's charity, and on the Bash, we get to see where the money we raise goes. One of the most moving experiences is seeing a child who through no fault of their own has been confined to a wheelchair all their life, being given the opportunity to enjoy what most children take for granted, a ride on a swing in the park. Variety has donated many of these Liberty Swings.  The look of joy and exhilaration on the faces of these special children brings tears to all.