I love the comments on my book about the adventures of Tiger Williams. Many are very complimentary, and that is good for the ego, and I think one needs a healthy ego to write and publish their thoughts.
Without comments I would get the feeling that the books are being purchased, but not read...wouldn't this be a waste?
I am happy to receive the constructive criticism and well as the pats on the back because, as a first time published author I need as much of this type of help that people like to give. I will take it all on board.
There are many deep and meaningful books around, my stories do not fit that category in the least, and are just moments from life that may or may not have happened, or they have happened and I have changed the outcomes, or yet still, they may not have happened at all, but I have wished that they had...Ifn' ya' know what I mean.
The next story, "From Lotuses to Lantana" covers events of characters with some connection to the Baker clan of Rosemore Station. It touches the lives of at least ten characters, and two countries in a time when Australia was feeling the changes in the comfortable prosperity of the Outback, and when the American influence was becoming the influence from our own politicians on the Australian population.
Don't look for a masterpiece from the great classical authors, just have a read and see if you connect, but always remember, it is a work of fiction.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Still working on the sequel to Tiger Williams.
A little bit of ill health has slowed me down a bit, but come hell or high water, the sequel will be out soon?
This old brain has linked with this old imagination, and
so far neither is wearing out.
Stay tuned folks, and thank you to the British folk that have found the blog. It may have something to do with the beautiful journalist, Emma.
Emma with my little dog, Elkie on Coffs harbour Beach.
This old brain has linked with this old imagination, and
Stay tuned folks, and thank you to the British folk that have found the blog. It may have something to do with the beautiful journalist, Emma.
Emma with my little dog, Elkie on Coffs harbour Beach.
Rake Connection
To the person that is connected to my family line and wrote a comment in my blog. I have my family history back to the 13th century. I know there was a family history from the brother of my grandfather, but it was the wrong line when I viewed it.
I have not connected to the South Australian Rake line, that of Charles Bevan Rake. but I am sure they must be related somewhere.
Please contact me on prakie@bigpond.com
I have not connected to the South Australian Rake line, that of Charles Bevan Rake. but I am sure they must be related somewhere.
Please contact me on prakie@bigpond.com
Monday, July 7, 2014
The Dogger Dingo trapper-Hi-Tech days
The method of dingo, or now called wild dog, eradication in this country has gone hi-tech. Video tracking is the modern method now.
Scientists with the (CSIRO) Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, has come up with a highly sophisticated, and as yet, expensive method of not only determining what animal is on their data, but which particular dog is on there data as well.
A landholder would be required to have at least three cameras strategically placed on known dog patrolled areas on their property, and dog sightings would be returned to the CSIRO via satellite with a positive ID. These cameras cost around $600au each.
Wild dogs have a territory, or a hunting area that rarely changes, so it is not a case of having to have cameras all over the property.
Depending the stock losses, the landholder must determine the value of installing this system. Of Course, the landholder that does install the system is helping his neighbour, but will his neighbour assist with costs? A big question in the economic state of our farmers.
Although Dingos have little variation between each dog, there is some and the CSIRO tracker can determine which dog is on the screen, where it is, which direction it is walking and if it is heading for stock or just leaving stock.
The Scientists can then ring the property owner and he can then take out his own follow up on that information, such as waiting to shoot the dog, laying a bait or trapping.
The wild dog problem in Australia is taking its toll of the land holder's already diminished profits, profits that have been affected by low market prices, oversees competition and export prices, and of course, drought, which seems to be occurring in greater areas and numbers.
Scientists with the (CSIRO) Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, has come up with a highly sophisticated, and as yet, expensive method of not only determining what animal is on their data, but which particular dog is on there data as well.
A landholder would be required to have at least three cameras strategically placed on known dog patrolled areas on their property, and dog sightings would be returned to the CSIRO via satellite with a positive ID. These cameras cost around $600au each.
Wild dogs have a territory, or a hunting area that rarely changes, so it is not a case of having to have cameras all over the property.
Depending the stock losses, the landholder must determine the value of installing this system. Of Course, the landholder that does install the system is helping his neighbour, but will his neighbour assist with costs? A big question in the economic state of our farmers.
Although Dingos have little variation between each dog, there is some and the CSIRO tracker can determine which dog is on the screen, where it is, which direction it is walking and if it is heading for stock or just leaving stock.
The Scientists can then ring the property owner and he can then take out his own follow up on that information, such as waiting to shoot the dog, laying a bait or trapping.
The wild dog problem in Australia is taking its toll of the land holder's already diminished profits, profits that have been affected by low market prices, oversees competition and export prices, and of course, drought, which seems to be occurring in greater areas and numbers.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
It would be nice if...
It would be so nice, and helpful, if I had an occasional comment on my blogs. I don't mind if they are a constructive criticism, as that is how I learn to write what you wish to see.
It amazes me that my largest audience is in Canada and the US. but don't stop looking, just tell me what aspect of the Outback you would like to hear about...If I don't know, I will invent something....Fair Dinkum.
It amazes me that my largest audience is in Canada and the US. but don't stop looking, just tell me what aspect of the Outback you would like to hear about...If I don't know, I will invent something....Fair Dinkum.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Darn Flies!!!!
The flies of the Outback are probably the worst thing that one has to experience there. You never get used to them, however there are some tricks that will give you a little respite.
One workable escape is during the heat of the day, if you can find some deep shade...Yes it is possible...It may be a Prickly Acacia tree in full leaf or even a shed of some kind, this is where the flies do not enter. The bright sunlight to the shade confuses them and they stay on the fringes waiting to mob you when you come out.
The above is only useable when you are having a break, when the work is on so are the flies, especially around sheep or cattle yards, although cattle yards with the moving hooves, do tend to put up a nice manure smelling dust screen of sorts, so that then you do not have so many flies to worry about, only the meat ants crawling up your trouser legs looking for something that resembles the item you have just cut out of a bullock, ifn' ya' know what I mean.
It is said that this is why men of the Outback are constantly checking their crotch. It is a worry if you see hoards of ants snigging a large ova, meaty object back to their nest and you have recently felt some of these ants up your trouser legs, hence the crotch check, and apparently, if becomes a habit.
There are many expressions about the flies, here a few clean ones:
Talking about the smart young Jackaroo, "There's no flies on him." answer, "No, but you can see where they've been."
"Bloody flies, ya' kill one and fifty-thousand come to the funeral."
About a woman with morning sickness:"She's either pregnant or has just swallowed a fly." Honestly, they both have the same effect on a girl. well sort of!!
It is the bane of the stockman, or anyone else for that matter, who is inclined to have their mouth open when the flies are about, to swallow a fly, or for a fly just to fly in and hit the tonsils and fly back out again...The inclination is that you have definitely swallowed the critter, and it makes you gag. It ain’t nice but it teaches you to talk like a ventriloquist.
The March Fly, those secret stealth bombers that swoop in on to the back of your neck, or any bare flesh, are the ones I really hate, they sting, they leave an itchy spot, and they can cause a normally quiet horse to buck like mad.
The blue tailed fly, originally from Africa, are the worst. This useless insects are responsible for more deaths in the sheep population in Australia than any other form of 'disease'. Sheep have a high pain threshold, and the only way you can tell if they are in severe pain is by them lifting the top lip in an agonizing grimace. The fly will lay maggots in the fleece, at the rear end of the sheep that has become dirty and wet because of an over growth of wool, and this laying will turn into a colony of thousands that will eat flesh, and infect the area that becomes moist with the early strike, it is a horrible, sad sight to see, and a horrible sad job to treat the sheep.
I guess there is a place for all insects in the world, but flies, I'm buggered, if I can see what they are good for!!!!
One workable escape is during the heat of the day, if you can find some deep shade...Yes it is possible...It may be a Prickly Acacia tree in full leaf or even a shed of some kind, this is where the flies do not enter. The bright sunlight to the shade confuses them and they stay on the fringes waiting to mob you when you come out.
The above is only useable when you are having a break, when the work is on so are the flies, especially around sheep or cattle yards, although cattle yards with the moving hooves, do tend to put up a nice manure smelling dust screen of sorts, so that then you do not have so many flies to worry about, only the meat ants crawling up your trouser legs looking for something that resembles the item you have just cut out of a bullock, ifn' ya' know what I mean.
It is said that this is why men of the Outback are constantly checking their crotch. It is a worry if you see hoards of ants snigging a large ova, meaty object back to their nest and you have recently felt some of these ants up your trouser legs, hence the crotch check, and apparently, if becomes a habit.
There are many expressions about the flies, here a few clean ones:
Talking about the smart young Jackaroo, "There's no flies on him." answer, "No, but you can see where they've been."
"Bloody flies, ya' kill one and fifty-thousand come to the funeral."
About a woman with morning sickness:"She's either pregnant or has just swallowed a fly." Honestly, they both have the same effect on a girl. well sort of!!
It is the bane of the stockman, or anyone else for that matter, who is inclined to have their mouth open when the flies are about, to swallow a fly, or for a fly just to fly in and hit the tonsils and fly back out again...The inclination is that you have definitely swallowed the critter, and it makes you gag. It ain’t nice but it teaches you to talk like a ventriloquist.
The March Fly, those secret stealth bombers that swoop in on to the back of your neck, or any bare flesh, are the ones I really hate, they sting, they leave an itchy spot, and they can cause a normally quiet horse to buck like mad.
The blue tailed fly, originally from Africa, are the worst. This useless insects are responsible for more deaths in the sheep population in Australia than any other form of 'disease'. Sheep have a high pain threshold, and the only way you can tell if they are in severe pain is by them lifting the top lip in an agonizing grimace. The fly will lay maggots in the fleece, at the rear end of the sheep that has become dirty and wet because of an over growth of wool, and this laying will turn into a colony of thousands that will eat flesh, and infect the area that becomes moist with the early strike, it is a horrible, sad sight to see, and a horrible sad job to treat the sheep.
I guess there is a place for all insects in the world, but flies, I'm buggered, if I can see what they are good for!!!!
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Winter in the Sub-Tropics
It got down to 8c last night, here in Coffs Harbour on the north coast of NSW.
It wasn't cold, don't think I am complaining, I mean how could it be cold under flannel sheets, two woollen blankets and a doona....Oh Yeah! and two dogs, even though it wasn't a two dog night.
I told a lady on the beach, one time, that my little dogs were double bed dogs.
"You mean they sleep with you?" She asked.
"Yes, they do."
"What about the smell?" Said the curious one.
I thought that a strange question, "They don't seem to mind." I told her.
"That's disgusting, " Said she as she wandered off.
With the lay of the land here, and the Great Dividing rRnge just up the hill, so to speak' we are only about 80 miles from snow when it comes. Ebor, up towards Armidale, and Guyra often see snow this time of the year, but nothing skiable, just drifts in the gullies and on the road bridges that are often much lower than the road.
The ocean water remains within a few degrees of summer temperatures and can be up to 24c in mid winter.. warm currents come and go all year round..It's the getting out to grab the towel that is 'running the gauntlet'.
In the middle of Australia, in and around Longreach, where I spent my youth, or is that splashed my youth, overnight temperatures, in winter, would get down to between 4 and 6c. There would be ice on the horse troughs and you couldn't put enough warm clothes on to keep the morning chill off the body. By 8.30am the sun would have you peeling clothes off like a striptease artist in Kings Cross, only you wouldn't get any cheers when you finished, if you did it would be very suspicious.
This is just a meandering of my mind, seems to happen a lot lately, but I get to go places that I have never been before, it's the getting back that is the problem. Just Joking, I have a good mind, a good imagination and the nurses here are wonderful.LOL.
It wasn't cold, don't think I am complaining, I mean how could it be cold under flannel sheets, two woollen blankets and a doona....Oh Yeah! and two dogs, even though it wasn't a two dog night.
I told a lady on the beach, one time, that my little dogs were double bed dogs.
"You mean they sleep with you?" She asked.
"Yes, they do."
"What about the smell?" Said the curious one.
I thought that a strange question, "They don't seem to mind." I told her.
"That's disgusting, " Said she as she wandered off.
With the lay of the land here, and the Great Dividing rRnge just up the hill, so to speak' we are only about 80 miles from snow when it comes. Ebor, up towards Armidale, and Guyra often see snow this time of the year, but nothing skiable, just drifts in the gullies and on the road bridges that are often much lower than the road.
The ocean water remains within a few degrees of summer temperatures and can be up to 24c in mid winter.. warm currents come and go all year round..It's the getting out to grab the towel that is 'running the gauntlet'.
In the middle of Australia, in and around Longreach, where I spent my youth, or is that splashed my youth, overnight temperatures, in winter, would get down to between 4 and 6c. There would be ice on the horse troughs and you couldn't put enough warm clothes on to keep the morning chill off the body. By 8.30am the sun would have you peeling clothes off like a striptease artist in Kings Cross, only you wouldn't get any cheers when you finished, if you did it would be very suspicious.
This is just a meandering of my mind, seems to happen a lot lately, but I get to go places that I have never been before, it's the getting back that is the problem. Just Joking, I have a good mind, a good imagination and the nurses here are wonderful.LOL.
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