Re-floating The Pasha Bulker

Since June the 8th the Pasha Bulker has become a household name in Australia. What is the Pasha Bulker?? It is a 76,741 tonne 225-metre long bulk carrier which ran aground 20m off Newcastle's Nobby's Beach during a storm on June 8. Since then there have been many plans for re-floating the enormous coal freighter, even talk at one stage of dismantling the ship.

The ship was emptied of any cargo after it ran aground, although it does contain around 700 tonnes of fuel oil, 38 tonnes of diesel and 40 tonnes of lube oil, which if released could cause a major ecological disaster. Although there is no signs of fuel leaks at the moment, the outer shell of the ship's double hull has a crack.

The Pasha Bulker has drawn huge crowds to Nobby's beach over recent weeks, everyone wanting to have a look at the unusual sight of such a big ship so close up on the sand.

The first attempt to pull the Pasha Bulker back to sea began on Thursday night in heavy seas, high winds and sheeting rain. Three of the six steel salvage cables linking tugboats to the ship snapped and the attempt was aborted.

The cables were to be reattached by helicopter and apparently they will be making the second attempt to pull the carrier out tonight. Meteorologists say the Newcastle coast will face strong west/south westerly winds up to 65km/h on Saturday and south/south easterly waves up to three metres high. The salvage team is believed to be working in a window of favourable tides that will end on July 4.

Since I live nowhere near Newcastle, I obviously cannot take my own photos to post, so I am posting some photos that have featured in the Sydney Morning Herald - it is quite an incredible sight.

I wonder if tonight's re-float attempt will be more successful than the last one.

***UPDATE***: On posting this post, news has just come in that tonights re-float attempt has been put off now until tommorrow night.




.... Just another day ....

A Few Days In Hospital

I have had a few emails from people wondering if everything is ok. Yes, everything is ok now. I have just come home after spending a lovely couple of nights at the local hospital - no I am not sick, it was Amber.

Amber suffers from croup quite a bit. As you all know she has had some quite serious heart problems, she suffers from Asthma and due to the distance from home to the hospital we just can't take any chances with her. I knew the other night she had croup and had given her medication for it, but when she woke up at about 8pm with purple lips, totally gasping for breath and in a real panic we decided to call an ambulance to take her to hospital. I stayed with her in hospital and the first night I think we ended up getting about 1 hour of sleep. She was quite sick - they ended up giving her Adrenalin which was rather scary.

Anyway, we have just got home, and to prove just how obsessed I am with blogging.... well here I am telling you about it! So, to the people who have emailed worried about where I am - that's what happened!

I have also posted some photos today of the inlet near where I live, no particular reason, mainly because I didn't expect to end up typing so much and I like photos! Lol!

Have a great weekend!
Shabbat Shalom!


.... Just another day ....

12 Months Down The Track

A whole year has now passed since I started this blog. In many ways it seems so much longer ago, but in other ways it seems like only yesterday.

There have been so many things that have happened in that 12 months that I have posted - the thousands of images I posted in the 'Images of War' series during the Israel-Lebanon war, Amber's operations, loads of photos I have taken, the Australian drought, the kids birthdays, a few editions of both JPix and KCC, and just day to day events.

Also in that time I have managed to win a People's Choice Award at Israel Forum and a silver JIB Award, I have also had more than 30,000 hits to the site, which really just blows me away.

I just wanted to say thankyou to all the people who read my blog and especially to those who are regulars, apart from a couple of incidents, blogging has been quite enjoyable and I have met a number of really nice people (and some not so nice too!). I don't know how long this blogging thing will go on for for me personally but we will see how we go.

Thanks to all who have contributed to a really enjoyable blogging experience!

On another note, I have been tagged to do a couple of meme's in the last couple of days, one from Yid With Lid and one from Mizellie. Unfortunately, I am going to have to politely bow out for the time being as I am currently sick with some sort of stomach bug and plan on having the next few days off resting. Sorry guys, nothing personal, you both know I think the world of you - maybe next time, you know I love meme's!


.... Just another day ....

JPix 10 Up Now At Bagelblogger - it's Enormous!!

Home 2005

courtesy of The Next Step


JPix 10 - Up Now At Bagelblogger!

Jpix edition number 10 is up over at BagelBlogger and what a huge edition it is!

Now, I know Aaron spent a hell of a lot of time putting together all the submitted links and as I said to him, all that time and effort has really paid off - he truly has done a wonderful job so do make sure you pop over and have a gander. There are so many beautiful photos to have a look at!

Is it just me or does each eddition just keep getting bigger and better?

Looks like I have my work cut out for me, I am hosting next fortnight! I love putting JPix together so make sure you submit your blog article to the next edition of JPix - Jewish photo carnival using the carnival submission form.

Have a great weekend!

.... Just another day ....

The Kosher Cooking Carnival's 19th Edition!

Welcome to the 19th Edition of the
Kosher Cooking Carnival.

The Kosher Cooking Carnival is a monthly treat of kosher blog posts from all over the blogosphere. KCC is not just recipes - any post that relates to kosher eating will be included and guest-hosts are welcome.

Here's the list of the previous KCC's: KCC #1, KCC #2, KCC #3, KCC #4, KCC #5, KCC #6, KCC #7, KCC #8, KCC #9, KCC #10, KCC #11, KCC #12, KCC #13, KCC #14, KCC #15, KCC #16, KCC #17 and KCC #18.


Now, lets get straight into it. I hope I haven't left anyone out, if I have, I apologise in advance.

The best way to start the day is with a good healthy breakfast....

If you are looking for a Very simple, no sugar breakfast, it seems Batya has the answer!

Thanks to Batya's persistance, Cosmic X has proven he is quite the wiz in the kitchen with his Za'atar Eggs.

The Chocolate Lady came across some ladies in the street preparing Zongzi, she has posted a great photo post of the process as well as recipe links.


Need some help with your Challah? Juggling Frogs can help with their post Virtual Challah Lesson: Step-by-step instructions for making challah, recipe and photos.

I'm a biologist speaks of 'My First Carnival' and shares a great recipe for a 'light and springy' challah.

Soccer Dad also presents us with a challah post in The 6 Braided Challah with great before and after pics too!

Frugal Journey shares with us a recipe from her Mother In Law, Fancy Orzo, Bubby Style and also gives us a great bruschetta recipe to make out of left over stale bread!


Batya has a quick and easy recipe up over at Me-Ander for Presto-- PESTO!! Sounds delicious, and so easy to make!

I'm a Biologist has a very interseting post Adjusting to Israeli Cooking after making Aliyah, the post includes a lovely Tuna Pashtida recipe too. Yum!

A Mother In Israel presents us with two great posts - A Cooking Legacy and also Homemaking Goddess, make sure you check them both out.

Shoshana over at YeSHEvish has a mouth watering Cheese Cake recipe...Yum!

Tamara Eden shares an interesting story with us in My Melons - great photos too!

Whilst browsing the blogosphere I came across a great recipe at Gluten Free By The Bay, Reduced Fat Cheesy Baked Ziti. I believe they made it for Shavuot, but as they said, it can be made any day and it is reduced fat which is a bonus!

The Jewish Life has a topical post in Baked Beans with Pork Labeled Kosher - Oops! and also shares with us a delicious recipe in Easy Three Bean Salad.

The Perfect Pantry discusses Kosher Salt, an interesting post which also includes a recipe for Moroccan Eggplant Salad.

Rafi G at Life In Israel puts forward some interesting points in 'Is one hechsher better than the next?'

Jewish Blogmeister has an interesting post - 5 Towns Restaurant Update: Goodbye Dougies? and also has started a new segment Best in Kosher Food : Dietetic! and Best in Kosher Food : Dietetic III.

Soccer Dad thinks his daughter may be a chocoholic... 4 signs my 5 year old is a chocoholic.

Andrea over at Wise Bread gives us plenty of reasons and methods for giving up caffeine.

Are you a salad lover? Batya over at Me-Ander discusses salads for all seasons in Seasonal Salads.

Batya also proves why we have to be so careful and ask what is in the food we eat in her post Hidden: Dairy, Meat and Traif.


I would also like to point out that KCC now has an entry in Wikipedia! You can check it out here.

That's it for this months edition of the KCC, I hope everyone has enjoyed it!

If you'd like to host an edition, please contact Batya at shilohmuse at yahoo dot com, Batya is looking for a host for the next edition of KCC due in July in particular.

Send your kosher food links to shilohmuse at yahoo dot com or via blog carnival, since this carnival is based primarily on submitted contributions, not searches. And please don't forget to remind your readers to visit and try out the recipes.

Happy reading... and cooking!

.... Just another day ....

Nationwide Manhunt For Christopher Wayne Hudson

pictures from yesterdays Flinders Lane shootings scene from the Herald-Sun

I wrote briefly about the Flinders Lane shootings in Melbourne CBD which occurred yesterday morning. This has been a huge story Australia wide, it is in all the newspapers and on all the news programs. This morning more information about the shooter and his victims is in the newspapers.

Police suspect Hells Angels motorcycle gang member, Christopher Wayne Hudson (left) is the man they are looking for. Police have also stated that Hudson has a fairly extensive criminal history and no one should approach him.
Police have stated they have found Hudson's 2002 black Honda CRV which was parked only four blocks from the shooting scene. They are now looking for the other vehicle owned by Hudson - a 2003 black Mercedes sedan with Victorian registration UTA 879.

Being a gang member, police say Hudson has criminal friends in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. I would say that right now he really could be anywhere.

As for the victims, it has been revealed that the 24 year old woman shot is a Sydney travel agent and former model Kara Douglas, also known as Kaera. She is currently in Royal Melbourne Hospital fighting for her life. Apparently she was a friend of the exotic dancer who was punched in the face just before the shooting by the same man.

The second victim, Solicitor Brendan Keilar (left), 43, who died at the scene yesterday was the father of three young children aged 8, 6 and 4 years old.
I feel so sad for this man and his family, he was just trying to do the right thing in helping a woman in trouble and for that he has lost his life and his wife and children are left with no husband or father. Very sad.

Police have revealed that the third victim, a passerby that came to the aid of Kara Douglas as she was being pulled out of a taxi by the hair is in fact a Dutch backpacker. He is in hospital fighting for his life. Apparently family are on the way to Melbourne from Amsterdam.

Just on the news update, police have announced a nation wide manhunt for Christopher Hudson. Let's hope they find him real quick.


*** Comments for this post have now been turned off ***

**UPDATE**: This post has been re-posted on the Wanted Criminals site for anyone wanting to leave comments on the topic (30/06/07)

.... Just another day ....

Melbourne's Flinders Lane Shooting

It is days like this I am glad we live in the country. Since we moved away from living as inner city as you possibly could in Sydney, the city has become a very scary place - so many more violent robberies, car jacking's and shootings including drive by's, which were basically unheard of when we lived in the city 7 years ago.

This morning there was a shooting in Melbourne CBD. Three people were shot, a woman and two men. Apparently the gunman grabbed the woman out of a taxi by the neck and hair when two by standers came to her aid, they along with the woman, were all shot at point blank range. One man, a 43 year old lawyer died at the scene, while the woman and other man were critically injured and underwent surgery today.
Police believe the 24 year old woman knew the gunman and it was a domestic related attack, not random. The gunman is said to have fled the scene up Flinders Street towards the Flinders Street train station. Police cordoned off a number of streets, but if he got on one of those trains at Flinders Street he would have been out of the area in minutes.

I have been reading about it and watching the news a lot today. I know incidents like this one can happen anywhere, but, it just makes me think how lucky we are here to not have to worry so much about things like that when we go down the street here in our quiet little country town... hence today's 'country shots'.


.... Just another day ....

Free Gilad Shalit - A New Blog

Almost a year has past now and still there is no word of the release of Gilad Shalit, who as we all know to well was kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists on the 26th June 2006.

Mr Bagel has started a new group blog - Free Gilad Shalit. So far, there are a few authors including Evan, Elaine, Muse, Rafi G, Jerusalem Joe, Meryl Yourish, Mr Bagel and myself.

The site will be dedicated to news, stories and pictures about freeing Gilad. If you've written a poem, or short story and would like to publish on the site please send your copy to GiladShalitFree or send an email to join the blogroll of people who actively support Freeing Gilad Shalit.

Gilad Shalit's kidnapping and captivity is simply not a priority to mainstream world media anymore, some people have forgotten, some people are more focused on other terrorist kidnappings such as that of the BBC reporter, hopefully this site will help bring back awareness to some and remind people that Gilad is still, 12 months later, being held against his will.

Please do have a look at the site, feel free to join the blogroll, add the small banner to your blog sidebar or leave a comment.


.... Just another day ....

So Much...But So Little??

I don't have much to blog about at the moment... Amber is over her stomach bug and I got a new (second hand) car yesterday which I am ecstatic about - a big thank you to my wonderful husband Aaron who went all the way to Sydney on the bus at 5am to pick it up and then drove 6 or 7 hours home in torrential down pour the whole way home.... Ahh, I am a lucky girl!

For some reason I feel like there is so much going on at the moment, just nothing worth blogging about, I mean really, who wants to hear about uploading new websites for work and housework?? So for now, I am posting some more photos which I took a couple of weeks ago of the inlet at the next town along from our little town. I have recently posted photos of the bridge there which were also taken on the same day, you can see them here.

On another topic, Batya over at Me-Ander is holding a little guessing competition. Seems she came face to face in the street with a famous JBlogger. Now I haven't a clue who it is, but, she did say if the post was linked to she would give more clues...so...MORE CLUES PLEASE Batya!! :D


.... Just another day ....

Extreme Conditions - The Coldest Day On Record!

It is the coldest day on record here today. When I went shopping this morning right after I dropped Jade off at school (amber is home sick at the moment) it was only 2 degrees! It is freezing!... well it is freezing by my standards anyway, which I might add, has got me thinking. If it is only 2 degrees and I consider it freezing, how on earth would I manage to live somewhere where it snows?? I complain about the cold - and we don't even get snow! I don't think it helps that we live on the very top of a rather large hill - right on the ridge and it gets very, very windy up here, and the wind is...well, freezing!

Maybe I just can't handle extreme conditions - and I say that with a certain level of sarcasm. I mean, I can't handle the heat when it's summer - anything above 30 degrees is a heatwave for me, and I can't handle the cold either...maybe I was just born to kvetch?! If I wasn't, Aaron certainly was, geez, anyone got some ear plugs? He just said he is thinking of setting himself on fire he is so cold! Lol!

Anyway, today I am posting some photos I took of Ruby (3yrs) at the playground in the next town when we went a few days ago - that was a sunny day!

Ok, I can't feel my fingers anymore so thats it from me today.



.... Just another day ....

Another Year Goes By - Happy Birthday...

Another year goes by... you are missed terribly.
Happy Birthday Mum.


The finger painted photo frame above was made by my Mum when she was in kindergarden as a present for my Grandmother, the photo is of my Mum when she was about 4 years old (about 1953).

.... Just another day ....

Paris Hilton Should Be Sent Back To Jail...

Paris Hilton Should Be Sent Back To Jail...

and that is about all I can manage to say with out getting totally annoyed about the whole saga. Sent home from jail after only 72 hours of her sentence is just unbelieveable.

I read that she has another court appearence at 9am pacific time Friday, I hope the judge returns her to jail to serve the remainder of her sentence just like any other 'normal', non celebrity would have to. What a joke this makes of the justice system!

Anyway, that is all I will say about it or else I will go on a hour long rant. It seems there are a lot of people who disagree with her being released, here are some of the comments from readers of Sydneys Daily Telegraph.

"Paris has been crying on the phone, saying she's not sleeping or eating. Paris says her cell is 'freezing cold'. She has three little blankets and no pillow. She's using one of the blankets as a pillow. The room is bright and jail noise echoes through her space," What the hell did she expect??!!!!!! Its' JAIL.. What a princess.

Posted by: Krissy K of ACT 10:53am today

Money talks, nothing new there. But do the US authorities realise what a precedent they have set? Every spoilt rich kid or Hollywood starlet will throw a hissy fit each time they get booked and get away scot free. What if she breaks the rules yet again and goes off driving and this time kills some poor unfortunate soul? Will the surname and daddy's money save her again? She should go back into the jail cell and be treated like every other inmate there. Her sobbing and cracking up only shows what a hollow, shallow and weak person she is... Her parents should spend their money getting the best shrink in the US to straighten their brat's brains out instead of buying her yet nother expensive toy. Michelle, Sydney

Posted by: Michelle of Sydney 10:46am today

How does Paris Hilton rock???? She's a skank who's only fame has been an absolute farce of a tv show, a sex tape, and a disgusting beer advert. If she had killed people whilst driving drunk, would she get the same compassion from you??? It's not that I'm surprised that she got off easy, I just can't believe how anyone would think she rocks.

Posted by: rob of sydney 10:45am today

She is an embarassment to the human race.

Posted by: Grant of Brisbane 10:45am today

Nobody should be above the law!

Posted by: James of Hornsby 10:35am today


She should recieve the same treatment/sentence as any other person would.

Shabbat Shalom!
Have a great weekend!

.... Just another day ....

The First Rain In Almost 4 Months!

It is raining!! I can't believe it is finally raining!

I have posted a number of times in the past months about the drought Australia is going through. It has been ages since it rained, I think my post back in Feburary - A Drink For The Land was the last real rain we had, and that really says something considering we have just come out of Autumn and are in our first week of winter.

I know it will be cold tonight, but by the time I have finished this post I am sure the rain will most likely be over. Oh well, at least I know what I will be doing tonight while I am rugged up in front of the nice cozy fire... reading the latest edition of JPix! Mottel over at Letters of Thought has done a wonderful job of putting together all the latest photo posts of the JBlogosphere to present us with the ninth edition of JPix.

Next fortnight Mr Bagel will be hosting the tenth edition of JPix, if you have any photo posts be sure to submit them to be included in the next edition.

If you are interested in hosting an edition of JPix you can contact Mr Bagel here openings to host have usually been booked months in advanced. At the moment there's two openings in the near future (JPix 12 and JPix 13). If you have been thinking of submitting your photos, well do it, and if you already are a carnival participant then its time to think about hosting an edition of JPix, it is really quite simple.

Oh and by the way... I think the rain has stopped already!

.... Just another day ....

Local Aboriginal Wall Painting

Yesterday I posted some photos from the next 'much bigger' town along from our little town. Well today I am posting some photos I took two weeks ago from the 'next bigger town' but in the opposite direction of yesterdays town... if that makes any sense at all. What I mean is yesterdays town is south of our little town and this one I am posting today is north of our little town, wow it is really hard to describe these towns without naming them!

Anyway, while Mr bagel was at an appointment, I decided to take Ruby for a walk and take some photos while we waited for him. There is a nice little park with big fig trees down next to the river and bridge where I thought I would take her to play for a while. When we arrived we discovered you can actually walk under the bridge. I was quite surprised to see that the walls under the bridge were covered in Aboriginal paintings rather than horrible, ugly, graffiti you would normally see in the city. There is a large number of Aboriginals that live in our area and they have obviously been very busy painting at some stage - I am not sure how long the paintings have been there although they do not look 'new'.


On a whole different topic now... I wanted to remind everyone that Week 2 of the JBlog Bunch series is up over at BagelBlogger. I think the names belonging to each photo will be revealed in the coming days so make sure you pop over and have a go before it finishes!


.... Just another day ....

Water Under The Bridge

Just thought I would post a few photos which I took last week while I was in town. This is not the two head town I live in, it is the next town along - the 'much bigger' town of a whopping 3000 people rather than 300 people.

This 'much bigger' town is actually really pretty and is really, really, busy during summer with loads of tourists around. This is the town that we actually wanted to live in when we first planned on moving down here from Sydney, but it is really hard to find rental properties here so we moved to where we are now. I think our experience of living down here would have been a whole lot different if we had have moved to this 'bigger' town - it seems to be a whole different world to the town we live in. Won't be long now before we are out of here anyway.

Even though it is winter now and the water in the photos above is quite dark blue and look freezing, during the warmer months the water is an incredible bright turquiose colour and is always crystal clear, really beautiful. I remember the first time I went across this bridge while on holidays from Sydney 7 years ago. It was the turquoise water that made me think how beautiful it was here and how nice it would be to live here and raise children.

In the past 7 years I have driven across this bridge soooo many times and even when the weather is cold and the water dark, it is still always really beautiful.

.... Just another day ....

Do The Right Thing

'Do The Right Thing', Taken at the local primary school

My one week blogging break is over, it was actually really good too, not that I did anything really exciting, but it was nice to be away from my blog and the blogosphere for a while. I actually felt happier last week not blogging than I have been feeling while blogging. I did manage to get a few mundane chores done though which is good. I also went out a bit and took some photos too, which I will hopefully post some time in the near future.

The only thing that happened that is really worth talking about is that Amber had an appointment with her heart specialist last week. It is a 3 hour drive to get there, which is a long way with little kids, and of course then it is another 3 hours back again. The good news is that she is off another of the medications she was put on after her heart surgery and by the end of this month will be off all the medications she was put on last December. She will only be on Asprin and will stay on it, basically forever. Her specialist was very pleased with how she is going, thank goodness!

The other thing I want to remind people about is that JPix is due up at Letters Of Thought this Thursday the 7th of June. If you have posted anything with photos you have taken and would like to submit it to be included in JPix, you can submit it here. If you don't submit your articles, they may not be included so it is important to remember to submit!

We are also looking for a host for the next edition of JPix, so if you are interested in hosting on the 21st June please let us know here. I can't host the next JPix as I have already committed to hosting KCC on that day.

As for todays photos, there is no other reason that I am posting photos of rubbish bins other than I loved the colour of them, they were taken at my daughters school and I thought they looked cute all lined up together and all painted lime green!


.... Just another day ....