How Long Can You Make My Thread Get?

1. Abolish all State Governments. No need for them. We are a nation of only 20 million people, don't you think 1 Central Government can do the job? Look at France, Germany and other countries which have populations many times our size and only have 1 Government. Our system dates from the horse and buggy days, times have drastically changed since then.

2. New electoral system. 1 Vote 1 Value. Vote for parties, not individuals. Much fairer, party with the most votes, elect their own members and forms sitting Government. Not like what it is now, my vote in a blue ribbon Liberal seat has no value whatsoever!

3. Make Australia a Republic. By all means keep up the relations with England, but what good is it having a Queen who is never here, besides we have our own Parliament which enacts Australian law, not English. Time is ripe to stand on our own feet.

Your benevolent Dictator has spoken.

Exactamundo! That's how you solve problems. I heard David Suzuki this morning telling us (after being in the country about two days) to get rid of Howard as he is not forward-thinking. Great idea, but couldn't think of one forward-thinking alternative!!

In agreeance with David Suzuki it's time Johnny takes his pension cheque and runs, he's past his use by date, but who is a much stronger individual with fresh ideas than him? Like you I'm at a loss to nominate one. One guy that did impress me during the mining disaster in Tasmania recently was the union spokesman, but he isn't even in Parliament.

Perhaps they could groom him as they did Bob Hawke. Remember the industrial unrest of the time? I was overseas then and getting the Aussie papers a bundle at a time. We were very strict about reading them in their correct order. We christened him 'Eleventh Hour Bob', because every crisis followed the same pattern - industrial stoppages, food, power, petrol (whatever) shortages threatened for Christmas, New Year, Easter, Melbourne Cup Day (whatever) and at the eleventh hour Bob would step in with a solution and everyone would live happily ever after.
(Yes, I am a political cynic.)

Let's forget politics, I have a weekend ahead and don't want it spoilt by discussing our illustrious leaders. In the process of preparing a BBQ for my niece's birthday today, weather looks great (27 degrees), and should be an enjoyable gathering of Dutchies clan. With cricket and football to watch and the "occasional stubby" we should have plenty of things to talk about. You too have a nice weekend Lezzles.

It is turning into a very quick jump from winter to summer in Oz, 30 degrees (86oF) today and it's only the first month of Spring.

Similar weather here too lezzles but what worries me is our water supply this summer! After the driest winter on record, the reservoirs are well below capacity, and we're allready on permanent water restrictions! Premier has stated they will gradually get tougher as summer approaches.

Yes, we too are on level 4 restrictions - no car washing, no watering of gardens or lawns unless it is grey water (from the bath or washing machine). Experts on the news last night warned we were in for a long, hot dry summer and the bush fires have started already.

I saw the fires on TV last night, to think the summer is still 2 months away
What about the farmers? My son's in-laws have a wheat property on Eyre Peninsula and they are in real strife, crops have sprouted and rains are absolutely vital right now.
They had a bushfire there 2 years ago which came within 10km of their homestead, 9 died, untold cattle perished, dozens and dozens of homestads destroyed. Could easily repeat itself this year given the prevailing dry conditions.

Some years ago there was talk of harnessing an iceberg and towing it to Sydney where it would be cut up and carried by helicopter to the storage dams. Maybe they should think this one over again.

Desalinisation plants would be an easier option I think. There is talk they are going to build one at Whyalla to provide the ever expanding inland mining town of Roxby Downs with water. Shows you when it comes to Uranium mining, money is no object.

Thought you'd be interested to know - at great expense I have finally found just what I've been looking for :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spikebot/page7/

As you will see from the photo to the left it also has a special entrance for dlowan. (pictures 9 and 10)

Now for a bit of excavating and extending.....

What can I say other than I'm most impressed Lezzles. I would love to be your house guest, just to make sure I'm welcome, have just been to Mitre 10 and purchased a shovel and pick axe to help you excavating the joint. I think Mathos would be envious of the cave you have found. Shall I tell him about it or do you want to keep it between ourselves?

You will be more than welcome, Dutchy - especially with the shovel and pick-axe. I don't mind the smallish entrance, but where will I fit that huge tv screen (for watching the cricket). Definitely a bit of digging needed.

As for uninvited guests, that'll be me, a la Raquel Welch in One Million Years BC, with the long, sharp, lethal spear. They'll just have to take their chances.

Feel at home already, particularly now you've mentioned Raquel Welch, my favourite pin-up girl. :wink: TV is a must with the coming series against the Poms coming up, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. The only thing that worries me is the bush fires, is there plenty of water nearby?

It is on an island in the Hawkesbury River. Plenty of great fishing, oyster beds, prawning; ferry to the mainland for when the grog runs out. What else does one need?

I don't get it.......................???????

Sorry about that. Spikebot keeps adding pictures to his collection. The photos I was referring to are currently the last one on that page (the cave) and the first one on the next page (self-explanatory).

Nothing brilliant, I just thought it was appropos.

Perhaps dlowan didn't get it because she is not fully conversant with the story sofar? I thought it was a brilliant piece of discovery on your behalve lezzles and I think we're in for a lot of fun. Do you think I need to bring the garden pruning set Lovatts sent me the other day to tidy the place up?

Lol!


beware of the rabbit indeed.


harmless, we are.