A New place to live

[Bill Morrison]

#'s 74 &75. Hi Vern, It does not load for me on this site, yet still can view it on the web. Sharks Bay & Hamelin Pool in Western Australia are one of only two places on the planet to find Stromatolites. They are around 3.5 billion years old and it is believed they were responsible for producing the oxygen which makes life as we know it possible.
There are many sites on the web with the information but not going to chance another misfire.
Bill.

[happy daze john in oz]

After a dodgy Prawn or Curry one does not stroll to the toilet as you put it, one bloody well runs.

[James Curry]

Ah well John, you obviously during your sea going days have never had to get from the bottom plates to the engineers changing room toilet.Especially after eating a dodgy prawn or something else that may have caused toilet pains It is always that last step from engine room to changing room that seems to press the release button

[Des Taff Jenkins]

James, Ah for the old coal burner with the big furnace.
Des

[j.sabourn]

#80 ... Shazaam suddenly recalled I live about 40 miles north of some of the best known in the world and only seen once years ago when passing though , supposed to be the best pieces of stromatolites in the world and the oldest and are on display for free. Remember getting a weird feeling when looking at them sticking up out of the water. Millions of years old. Ahead of some of us by only a short head . JS

[Rodney Mills]

Jeez John, I saw them visiting Shark Bay, magic! and we swam with the Dolphins in Monkey Mia on our first trip to Oz in 1985. One place they were sticking out of the water and the other they paved the beach. Many unusual things to see in Oz. If I had known you were nearby, I could have tooted the horn and if you weren't at sea, dropped in for a tinny.

Cheers, and thanks for reminding me of a wonderful event in my life with my late wife. Rodney

[j.sabourn]

#86 you. Were here long before I was here permanently Rodney. We didn’t emigrate until 1991. But was in Australia in 1953 working of course. Wouldn’t of known what a Strombolite was then never mind looking for them. The 11 years I worked out here before retiring think I saw more of Australia than the average born Australian did .Have been to every state and Territory unless there are some I don’t know about. In the Northern Territory have landed in the Bush for. Helicopter refueling before going out to ships and rigs in the Java Sea, some of those refueling depots consisted of a few drums of fuel in the middle of the bush surrounded by minefields laid during the war for the expected Japanese invasion , those minefields as far as I know are still undisturbed. It beats me why Australians want to go abroad on holiday , they are living on holiday Island and would take them a lifetime to explore their own country thoroughly. Australia is a way of life, but even the short time I have lived here I can notice the changes . Most of it brought about by this unmistakenly belief that they have to have more people here.
Cheers JS .

[Rodney Mills]

Me too John, been there and done that in Oz, even got married there in Tennant Creek spent our honeymoon out on the desert near Ayer's Rock on a camel Safari, watching Halley's comet on the best night in the best place in the world to view it. We drove around our first trip, down the center second trip and across and around Tasmania. Climbed the rock, scuba dived the reef, 13 six-month trips, so lived in Australia for 6 1/2years and loved every moment of it. Kept in touch with friends for years, but sadly the grim reaper has claimed them.

I met Ozzies on their six-month leave, going around Oz, but most buy an around the world airline ticket and spend their six-month break out of country. Do they still have that long-service six month off with pay?

Cheers, Rodney

[j.sabourn]

#88 Long service leave has been here as long as I’ve been here 31 years , I never got it however as only worked here for 11 years. As regards People’s complaints about the benefits system and its big attraction to the many illegal immigrants , when I came in legally I had to sign a paper saying I was not about to receive any benefits for at least 3 years , and to obtain an Australian pension had to be in their tax system for 11 years also. Which in both cases I did. That’s where all the systems fail in time if laws that are made to protect the people who live there ,are relaxed , more harm to a country is done by the bleeding hearts than enough , my worse wages I have ever received at sea was offshore in stand by boats in the North Sea was variable and was about 31 pounds a day as skipper in 1988 no guaranteed paid leave and that was it. A seaman could receive as little as 16 pounds a day .
So would be as Cappy says interesting to know what is the average today. During my time at sea I have worked for British interests , American, Canadian, Indian, Malaysian, Australian, and others of doubtful pedigree, the lowest was the British and the highest was the Australian,The Indian and the Malaysian were the closest in parity to the Australian, JS

[Doc Vernon]

Well we found this new place to live called Australia, thank the good Lord! Been here since 1980 March, and have not looked back! Have Worked hard to create what we now have , and as a result of that i have received all the Benifits that were coming my way!
So this little Vegemite has no complaints at all, and can say with all honesty, would not have changed this part of my life!

I very much doubt if we would have had what we have Today, had i stayed in my home Country of South Africa, sad to say but must be truthful.

I do however still dearly miss it and think that if i was left alone in life )God Forbid) i might even go back! ??

Who Knows which way the Wind Blows!