_Welcome the year of the dragon. :-) In Chinese Astrology 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. The Year of the Dragon will start on 23 January 2012 and end on 09 February 2013.
This is the year of forgiveness according to the Chinese New year.
Reg is a dragon. Dragon people are said to excel.
According to the Chinese calendar I am a dog. lol, this dog and dragon have been kenneled together for into our fifth decade now and the kennel is still intact.
According to the Chinese the only enemy of the dragoon is the dog. And a dog should never kennel with a dragon. lol
Just as well i do not follow horoscopes Chinese traditions or otherwise but believe in making my own future.
On the economic front they say the year of the dragon is breathing new life into gold prices.
Novelists will no doubt hope the current young adult fiction boom for dragon based paranormal romance novels will last.
For the lucky tourist who is around to see it there should be some fabulous firework displays and great food celebrations to enjoy. There is certainly something that feels positive about any new year or a good happy dragon celebration.

Summer in the Dandenong Ranges is beautiful. Everywhere I saw splashes of bright blue hydrangea and agapanthus contrasting to the brilliant coral orange of the wild tritonia in flower and the green of the tree ferns at the base of mountain ash, just beautiful.  I thoroughly enjoy the route I always choose to drive back to Northern Victoria from the south east suburbs. 
I never drive back via the city - not while a country scenic route is there for me to take.

A tree fern gully in the Dandenongs is a wonderful cool place to spend a hot summer day though if you plan to view the panorama from the top of Mt Dandenong in other seasons be sure to pack something warm and wind protective like a Firstgear Kilimanjaro Jacket.

I adore the variety of garden nursery displays in the Dandenongs. We often get out of the car and walk around. Most allow us to enter with our dog Indigo either on her lead or in our arms, we always ask first before just assuming she can enter.  

You can still see evidence of the last severe bush fires as you drive from  the Dandenong Ranges towards the Goulburn Valley but nature is regenerating and the new growth on the burnt tree trunks is beautiful
We stopped to admire the Sylvan dam. And drove past the Sherbrook Art Society where I was once a member and guest speaker and held a featured artist exhibition way back when my children were younger than my own grandchildren are today. 

Today as I drove though the winding hills I had a truck driver tail gating me.  I stuck right on the speed limit and refused to be forced faster than the legal speed.  It is ridiculous to speed on winding mountain roads. It struck me how narrow based this truck was and how tall it was and it was whizzing around corners once I have moved over at the first available spot to allow him to pass.  I thought he was an accident looking for a place to happen. I wondered what drugs he must have been on. He was a certainty to roll over taking the bends at speed.   I was pleased that I never allowed him to rattle me nor have him spoil my enjoyment of a beautiful drive.

When the road straightened out to a long flat stretch I could see a large grouping of stationary cars ahead and flashing lights.  I slowed right down and approached - sure enough, it was a truck rollover on a perfect stretch of highway. Nothing other than speeding to blame.  I am glad I was well back behind him when he when over.

I do find the drive home tiring towards the end of it and I have those coffee lollies and bottle water to refresh me as I drive and get out and walk several times to break the trip.   This is the only time I have coffee lollies, they do help keep me alert, I don't have many and I think staying wide awake on a three and a half hour drive is more important than worrying about nutritional value.

The scene below is the view of over the suburbs of Melbourne as you descend toward Fern Tree Gully from the ranges.

I will never tire off driving though the Dandenongs even if the traffic these days is nothing like the traffic free country drives I remember from childhood.

As a senior I must admit it is thirty years since I last attended a 'summer school.'  I will be doing this once seminar on Wednesday, however I intend to bring a grey nomad flavour to it and create a pair of grey nomad cartoon characters as a result of winning a place in this seminar.   I used some open sourse web illustrations for today until I create my own characters in the train trip on Wednesday morning.

I am looking to create a pair of gray-nomad cartoon characters to take with me into a cartoon writer's seminar and emerge with me into an unknown world I am sure they will love as I am planning to tour north again this year and have a wonderful location to use as the base for our adventures - but more about that in this blog once I write and confirm the bookings.

For now I am planning a trip from Northern Victoria though the Goulburn Valley and the Dandenong Ranges to visit my family in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne and to attend a Cartoon Writers seminar that I have just won.   This should be a great way of combining my artist skill with my novelist and travel writer professions. Writing and illustrating a children's story book that tackles some of the aspects of learning difficulties, has been a plan of mine for a while though my Australian novel has rather taken over from this, in importance this year. This will be a good break from writing and planning the pitch to publishers of my completed novel.  

If you were to spell Kathy in an exaggerated form - as in a cartoon - a little like Coo-eeee ot Crikey! How would you write it? I'm playing with the idea for an Indigo, Red (always accidentally spell Reg and Red) and Kat-eeeeeeeeeeeeee, I want a long drawn out Eeeeeee sound at the end so thought I would ask for advice :-) on how you think it should be spelt.
Oh and their daughter Dyslexia and son.....Hoolie?  Plus a couple of gray nomad grandparents, Excenrica and Detour

Thank you Writers Victoria. I just won a place in this seminar and I am TRILLED. Organizing the trip to the big city and my notebooks, now :-).

I had best go pack out bags, leave tomorrow, home on Thursday. Need to be a big girl and learn how to catch a train from the outer suburbs into a city I usually avoid like the plague...lol...'country girl here.' :-).
Will be staying over nights with our daughter in the suburbs and Reg can stay with her while I take off for the day.. :-) WOW! Haven't done anything like this in a couple of decades. summer-school-cartoon-writing

My novel is going well.  I have finished it and while it is now with the Beta readers for proof reading I am writing the book proposal to go to the literary agents. I have also booked into another seminar, this time one within my comfort zone, in the country.  This seminar is about pitching your novel to a publisher and agent. Great timing for me.

This is a part of the 'pitch' I am planning. 

“Children begin and then try to stop an escalating culture of payback in this compelling story of treachery and love during European settlement of Australia.”

My book is calledDreaming Billabong. It is complete and consists of 100,000 words.

Dreaming Billabong fits firmly into crime genre.

Type of Book:  Crime fiction involving an inland Australian family.

Readers of my book would also read,
The Help by Kathryn Stockett,
A Painted House by John Grisham and
To Kill a Mockingbird by Lee Harper.

Brief 150 word description of the plot:

            1880-81, The Peaceful inland settlement of Fife Springs erupts following a chance encounter between a naked Alan Fife and Charlotte both 10. Following the birth of his half brother, Aboriginal Australian Kanga, Alan swears vengance.

            1945s -1953’s --- Eight years in the life of Kanga’s grandson, Jarrah 13. --- Eight years punctuated by the Stolen Generation and post-WW2 European migration. Alan and Kanga are now embittered old men. Alan’s grandchildren Emily 8, her brother, Harry 14 are in danger. Alan’s son, Ian Fife, the Cattle King, wants to protect them but it is Jarrah’s cultural heritage and Emily’s innocence that combines to end the terrible culture of payback.  

            Dreaming Billabong explores big themes, and Shell chooses to tell it by showing the effects crime has on children. The result is a tough and tender novel of the struggle for justice for race and gender, and the pain of growing up.

_I did strive to run a Life Balance group once but didn't have enough to make it worth while given I have so many other things I do but I have always recommended a good trained physio therapist  I am all for the word  yo yo to represent fun and a physical activity a part of enjoying life and now going from the extreme of self neglect of over eating and under exercising one moment to dieting and excessive injury sustaining exercise the next. So you will never hear me say I am begining a diet. I will  howerver strive each day to care for myself and do what I believe is right for my body and mind in order to be at the best fitness I can be and as creatively fulfilled and emotionally happy as I can become.  That of course does involve having rewarding relationships with others so self care is never a selfish thing to aim for as your goal.  . 

I see one a physiotherapist myself and a certified practicing dietician whenever I seek good physical health advice. I am more into striving for lifestyle improvement than expecting drugs to cure the ailments of an aging body.  Oh I am bot dead against taking medication when it is actually needed but I do believe prescriptions are issued rather too readily because few doctors have the time to give lifestyle advice and most patients attend a doctor wanting a quick fix and not a lifetime healthy eating and exercise program advice.
When I was fitter there was one excellent sports medicine trainer at my Gym who understood seniors bodies. The osteoporosis associations usually have some good exercise links on their websites to suit seniors.

Those who study seniors fitness though are few and far between.  It will change but as the first of the baby boomers, lol, it usually changes after I pass though each stage not while I'm there yelling for it to change.

_ Stretch your body and mind. Choose daily pursuits that keep you physically, mentally and socially engaged.

There's abundant evidence that continued physical activity helps people live longer, feel better, avoid depression and keep their mental skills sharp.

"Functional disabilities shouldn't keep you from exercising," says Dr. Amy Ehrlich, a geriatrician with Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y,

She puts frail elderly patients on a walking program. If they can't walk, she puts them on a swimming program. And if they can't swim, she has them take a water aerobics class.

Studies show that people benefit from efforts to stay cognitively sharp – from doing a daily crossword to playing games to reading. Maintaining social ties also is critical. Older people who volunteer in schools, for example, feel happier, more useful and more satisfied with their lives.

__Willie-wagtails flit and flutter wag their tail. According to some Australian bush yarns they can lead children astray into the bush.
Their stores are deeply intrenched in Australian Aboriginal Dreaming law. The white stripe is the white ochre paint from the ceremony and that tail is the burnt  remains of the spear that struck him when he lept though a camp fire in an attempt to avoid punishment by his clan.  You can tell to look at his cheeky dance he is a mischief maker.

The Willie Wagtail y dancing messages to people.  You have to be  wary of what they say. Then again they sometimes come to tell you about a very serious issue you should be aware of. Because of this they are said to be the messenger bird or the gossip monger. bird.

The Willy Wagtail is very important in the Indigenous Australian Aborigine Dreaming Law of many of the clans because his story teaches obedience to elders. His in particular is about children not answering the false call to wander into the bush and become lost. These dreaming laws helped to keep the young children close to the camps.

In my novel Dreaming Billabong, my hero Jarrah enacts the Willie Wagtail dance by jumping over a small fire during his preparation for initiation.

I was motivated to include the little Willie Wagtail into my novel because I see hm daily on my  summer walks. He is considered to be both the messenger and the mischief maker. You have to be very attuned to what he is saying to decide if he is deceiving you as he dances his massage around you.  He is certainly one of the most friendly wild birds you can meet.

_The Willie Wagtail is up at the crack of dawn and is the last day bird to retire at night and they  never stop catching insects even late into dusk.   Never still,until late at night,  he is sometimes called the restless fly catcher especially  in the Northern parts of Australia.

I believe that those gray nomads who are out traveling the country have already understand how to get the best from life.

Remember the old spool type cameras?  There is still a marker for them but not like it was. It is lil how gray nomads were often large family home owners or renters and accumulators of possessions.  Few seniors have an interest in those things now. We have successfully known when to move on and keep from our past only the 20% that will serve us best for our future.  Reg and I replaced the large family home with a 4Wheel drive car an eco-tourer caravan an a small rural retreat.  Now we summer down south and winter up north and make the most of our senior years. I have evolved my work and hobbies to be fully transportable in the caravan. Now that is applying the 80/20 rule.

Good rule for business and life. Follow the 80/20 rule and be willing to throw away the 80% that isn't performing well and try out something new in it's place then keep only the 20% of the new - the best performing 20% and keep repeating the cycle. It is a little late for Kodak to be trying to sell digital stuff to get out of trouble now. Sometimes we have to get the blinkers off sooner that a way of life we were comfortable with has become marginal and there is a better way to live it if we diversify.

Iconic photography company Eastman Kodak is preparing to file for bankruptcy in the coming weeks if efforts to sell off digital patents fall through, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The WSJ says "people familiar with the matter" have confirmed that the filmmaker is in talks with potential lenders for around $1 billion in financing to keep it afloat.

The 131-year-old company is still making last-ditch efforts to sell around 1,100 patents through a court-supervised bankruptcy auction.

A filing for bankruptcy could occur as soon as this month or early February, the source said.

A US based Kodak spokesman told the ABC that the company does not comment on market rumours or speculation.

Kodak shares plunged 28 per cent on the report.

Kodak to file for bankruptcy: report

I love the outback country as featured in this photo of the door of the Birdsville Pub. I have a great picture of my husband Reg in this doorway. It was on that outback trip that he began to grow a beard and he has never shaved it off and kept it off since. My man is a real bush man and not even a blackberry bold can lead him back to sophistication.

We got to 40 degrees here, and it has cooled down a little. Doors and windows open yesterday evening and awaiting the cool change to let in the lovely fresh evening air. Still sitting under the fan in my sarong working (writing) and loving it.

How have my friendly Australian's been coping with the heatwaves over the new year?

Friends of ours who live all year round in a caravan have invested in a larger portable air conditioner to help weather out the summer temperatures. Don't forget to drink heaps of water and try buying a child's swimming pool and putting it under the shade of tress and laying into with a good book to get though the hottest parts of the day if you cannot cool the home or caravan.

Personally I don't advocate going to the beach in a heatwave. Too much risk of burning your skin, getting heat stroke and swimming in the evening is fine in patrolled waters with friends, it is also when sharks are most active. I was almost shark bait one evening in the water at Beaumaris in Port Philip Bay.
_
Temperature this morning has been perfect.
Woken overnight by a lightning flash and thunder sound like an explosion then a little cooling rain, not enough to wet the ground but it dropped us out of the 40's C or over the century for my northern hemisphere friends. Just a perfect day to write in front of a fan and a country view and exercise in the cool of the evening.

Food labels

The energy-in part of the energy equation begins in your shopping basket. But once you are at the supermarket it is worth remembering that the health claims on the packaging are often misleading and cannot be trusted. For the full story you have to read the labels.

You don’t have to worry about all the numbers and values on the labels. Here are the main points to remember.

• Quantity per 100g

The manufacturers list the ingredients in order of the most to the least by weight, so a quick glance gives you the main ingredient. If sugar is first, then you may want to leave the product on the shelf.

• Energy

The energy content is usually given in kilojoules. The higher the number: the more energy dense the product. Select products with a low energy density for weight loss.

• 1 calorie = 4.2 kilojoules

If you are a maths whizz (or if you have a calculator on your smartphone), you multiply the kilojoules by 0.42 (kilojoules x 0.42 = calories). If you want a rough rule of thumb for calculating the sum in your head, halve the number of kilojoules and then halve again.

• Salt

The recommended daily requirement for sodium (a component of salt) is a range from 460mg to 920mg. Most of us eat each much more than that. To keep your sodium levels in the healthy range, select products with 120mg of sodium or less per 100g.

• Sugar

Sugar is most people’s favourite treat. As long as you sustain a calorie deficit, you do not have to eliminate it from your diet entirely.If you are otherwise healthy just keep sugars under  90g per day. Select products with less than 15g of sugar per 100g.

• Fibre

The recommended daily requirement for fibre is around 30g, but most of us each much less than this. Dietary fibre fills you up, as well as promoting a healthy gut, and is a valuable component of a sound weight loss plan. Select products with more than 7g of fibre per 100g.

• Saturated fat

This is listed on the label under Total Fats. Blackmores Personal Health System recommends a maximum daily intake of 24g per day. Select products with less than 2g per 100g.

1. Burning off extra calories

The energy-out part of the energy equation can be increased by activity and exercise. If you wish to eat more calories, be prepared to do more exercise to sustain your daily calorie deficit.

_If you are keen to help the children appreciate wildlife and learn about the country while having a wonderful time though the holidays, here are some great Junior Ranger programs.
Junior Ranger - Bushcraft Join in this fun activity and create mythical creatures using colourful craft supplies and items from the bush. This activity is suitable to primary school aged children and their …
When:3 Jan 2012 9:30am-10:15amCost:$5 per child
Booking info:Bookings essential as places are limited, please contact Buchan Caves Visitor Centre on 5162 1900.Where:
Buchan Caves Reserve

Junior Ranger - Explore the banks of the Murray River Take a walk along the banks of the mighty Murray River. Come discover the rivers ecosystem and all its creatures! This activity is suitable for primary school aged children and …
When:3 Jan 2012 2:00pm-2:45pmCost:Free
Booking info:Bookings essential as places are limited, please contact Aislinn O'Neill (03) 5481 2500 (or leave a message).
Where:Echuca Information Centre - 2 Heygarth Street Echuca S

Junior Ranger Program - Maits Rest Rainforest Walk Discover what makes Maits Rest and the Great Otway National Park so special. Join a ranger guided walk around a beautiful rainforest gully. See if you can spot the infamous …
When:4 Jan 2012 9:30am-10:15amCost:Free
Booking info:Booking not required.
Where:Great Otway National Park Share this page

Junior Ranger - Birdwatcher Explore Coolart’s wetlands with a park ranger and learn how to use binoculars to get a closer look at the amazing bird life. Junior Ranger activities are suitable for …
When:4 Jan 2012 1:00pm-3:00pmCost:Free
Booking info:Bookings required - ph. 5931 4000
Where:Coolart Historic Area Share this page

Junior Ranger - Rockpool Ramble Sucking feet, stinging tentacles and a seaweed coat to hide – uncover the mysteries of the curious creatures that make rockpools their home. Wear sturdy shoes that can get wet, sunscreen …
When:4 Jan 2012 1:00pm-2:30pmCost:Free
Booking info:Booking required. Phone: 5237 2508
Where:Great Otway National Park