SOLO SENIOR AND POLITICS

#AUSTRALIA VOTES.

America has the Donald and Hillary going head to
head for the top job.Drama and intrigue prevail.
Australia has Bert and Ernie facing off for the plum
prize of Prime Minister.Gee,who looks better in a
high-vis vest and hard hat?

Here's the thing.There's a big pot of tax payers'
money and a great chunk of debt to divvy up for
schools,hospitals and roads etc.We voters know
that the biggest pile of the loot is set aside to
fund the retirement of those who win a seat in
Parliament.

An honorable member can sit  for ten minutes,
get tossed out for memory loss regarding the
ownership of a diamond mine,and put a hand
out for the golden goodies.

There's a top of the range wheelchair for Hawkie
and a lifetime of trakky daks for John Howard.
Kevin Rudd has many mobiles and Julia has
racks and racks of designer jackets.

Oh,alright,call me a cynic.I guess I am.Although,
I love it that Australian elections must be held
before the Footy Finals or after the Melbourne
Cup.Voting is compulsory,otherwise no-one
would bother.

SOLO SENIOR IS A WINNER.

ANYONE FOR TENNIS?

My team won the Ladies' Tennis Competition
at the local sports club.I wore a pair of
Brigitte Jones big pants for speed and comfort
and my son's hat for luck.

It was a warm day in Tuncurry with a little breeze
off the ocean.The opposition took the first set
in a tie-break.My team dug deep but the contest
was very even.In the last set,with victory in
sight,my partner was tiring.A few rousing C'MONS
got her going and we came home the winners.

We won gift vouchers from Big W and celebrated
with home-made cake and coffee.

When I retired to this town,I knew no-one and had
not played tennis for twenty years.I joined the
club for friends and fun,not expecting a big finish
like this.

SOLO SENIOR AT THE MOVIES

THE MONEY MONSTER
Starring George Clooney& Julia Roberts
Directed by Jodie Foster.

A shot is fired on the set of aTV show hosted
by the whiz-kid of Wall St.,Lee Gates.The show's
director,Patty,keeps the cameras rolling as the
drama unfolds between the money man and the
common man with a deadly grudge.

The Money Monster explores the themes of
corporate greed and our fascination with
reality TV.Thanks to Jodie Foster's direction,
the movie is a thrilling ride of gripping tension
followed by deceptive calm.

SPORTS AND ARTS

DOLLARS FOR DREAMS

I am an Aussie,so a love of sports is in my DNA.
I support government funding of sports programs
and facilities,particularly,for young people.

So, we have Little Aths and Little Leagues,Nippers.
Auskick,mini gymers and junior jumpers.But,what
if your kid doesn't like sports?

Where is the funding to encourage the budding
ballerina,the little Lego builder,the mini music-
maker,the pint-sized painter and story-teller?

All Aussie kids need financial help to fire their
imaginations,to dream big dreams.The Olympic
dream is equal to the Broadway dream,the
Booker Prize dream,the dream of winning an
Archibald or an Oscar.

I say to our Government,fund the big dreams of
all our little Aussies.

THE SOLO SENIOR: ANIMAL LOVER?

I LOVE ANIMALS

Yes,I love lions in jungles,sharks in oceans,monkeys in trees
and leopard print on scarves.You get the picture?

I love cats.My favourite moggies live in loungerooms.Not
mine,though.

Now,dogs,I love dogs.I love dusty kelpies on outback stations
and border collies chasing sheep into shearing sheds.

I'm not to keen on koalas.Doped up on eucalyptus leaves,they
could fall on the kangaroos.

Lots of people REALLY love animals.A guy I know rounded up
some stray mutts and took them to Maccas.After many
Happy Meals,the pooches wanted to jump back in the car.
Oops.

Another animal lover rushed off to Thailand to wash elephants
and eat rice for a week.As if that will help stop the illegal
ivory trade.

Turning a house into an aviary for exotic birds is quite popular
though,for me,it's not so much about the poo on the curtains,
it's the pecking in the hair.

I think that I love horses most of all.However some people
love horses so much they give away all their money and
most of their possessions as proof of that love.

I am an animal lover......from a distance.

THE SOLO SENIOR'S HAPPY DAYS

RETIREMENT PLANS

When I retired,I made plans.I plan to be fit and
healthy.I no longer smoke,I indulge in the odd
glass of wine,I control my weight with a good
diet and lots of exercise.

I walk every day,play competition tennis,practice
yoga.Yay me,right?

John Lennon said,"Life happens when you are
making other plans."

I have a kink in my back from my vounteer job
lugging books round the local library.My dicky
knee requires an elastic brace to get me onto
a tennis court.Chewing all those healthy nuts
and grains cracked my dental bridge.

I cancelled the plan to take an island cruise.
Boo hoo,John.

Just when I have all this time to do all those
things that I couldn't do because of work,my
body packs it in.

On a positive note,I have really healthy hair
and a bright smile.I hadn't planned that.

LUNCHING LADIES

MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT

My stylish friend,Trish,joins me for lunch
at my favourite restaurant in Forster.The
Paradise Marina is known for superb
seafood and my dish does not disappoint.

Japanese prawns with a spicy dipping
sauce and a glass or two of champers
is foodie heaven for me and Trish.

Time slips by as we take in the sparkling
water view and chat about this and that.
A perfect afternoon.Thankyou,Trish.