We Will Carry On

 

How many club memberships, living in Australia, have you chalked up over the years?  I am not referring to exclusive country or city clubs where you network with the rich, politically connected and inner sanctum of useful contacts.   The prevalence of these other clubs I am talking about here, across the many suburbs of this Great Land, often depend on turnover, a huge but cheap membership base, gaming machines, a bistro of varying quality and some measure of community activities.

Increasingly significant is the local barista.  Over many years, so many blends of coffee beans have come out of Australia, establishing Aussie brands in this space with a strong reputation beyond its shores.  The routine of having brunch or breakky has contributed to the new styled cafes mushrooming with new fangled food recipes accompanying the beverage.  Tea has nevertheless not lost its embedded loyalty, together with other penchants for avocado smash, sourdough toasts, Granola mixes and sauteed mushrooms.

Beer craft and wine appreciation communions now express themselves in watering holes not just in the cities, but also in populated regional hubs.  The accompanying pizzas,  burgers and randomly performing local musician adds extra zest and layers of attraction to visit such venues.  The traditional Aussie pub though still stands tall, but can face challenges without the tribes gathering pre and post footy games, the family gathering for a wholesome Aussie roast and its truly vital role in the fabric of its local community.

And then in capital cities, Asian run bistros seem to be a  contemporary cornerstone of those RSLs and comparable clubs.  Vietnamese and Chinese operators provide alternative menus to pasta, Wellingtons, schnitzels and salads.

Migrant food has also been hipsterised and hybridised with fusion offerings, contemporary presentations and more use of alternative ingredients.  Outlets offering  such experiences are evolving a unique trend in the development of what foreigners increasingly acknowledge as uniquely Australian.  Drop by a new styled bakery run by Koreans, French and Japanese  here - while we still have access to traditional stuff from the Italians, Lebanese and our grandmother's Aussie cookbooks.

The roadhouse is so important for many remote communities, truckers and tourists out in the Woop-Woop.  It is a petrol station, sandwich bar, souvenir shop, grocery outlet, cafe, toilet stop, rest area and contact point for many both enduring and enjoying the vast, seemingly empty land that is Australia.

Our borders with other countries has been closed for so many months, but we still enjoy the Long Drive within our own state or when varying governments permit, across to other states on this continental island.  Straight roads for many kilometres delightfully surprise our visitors - and also coastal scenic drives, sojourns across farmlands, adventures across deserts or Alpine country.   What most of us agree upon is to avoid traffic jammed scenarios in our capital cities during the so called rush hour - or the increasing high tolls on roads labelled as Connex.

The water source, whether it is a constructed indoor or outdoor pool in suburban hubs, lake or a rock pool along one of our countless beaches, beckons many and perpetuates the influence of water in the life of many Aussies.

Most Aussies still reside within 100 km of its magnificient coasts. Swimming and surfing are anchor sports, whether competitive, recreational or
for exercise, in the fabric of this Great Southern Land.   Not many activities are as physically wholesome, mentally refreshing and rewarding as interacting with water.

Expressing one's self, taking part in public protests and telling a yarn also run through the veins of Aussie history.   At times, the giving of opinions, as overly encouraged by social media channels, politics and so called democratic freedoms, can lead to no action and just talk. The contemporary disease of mixing of facts with diverse views, manipulation of selective truth and aggressive marketing agendas by strong vested interests, has however thrown more than a spanner in this unrelenting confusing cauldron.

The unique spirit of being a larrakin still is very much alive in the Australian character.   However, this can be challenged by some aspects of a rising trend of political correctness which can at times lose this essential quality of humour and humaneness in negotiations, dealings  and various transactions of society.

Australia has always thought itself as the Land of the Fair Go.   Building upon layers of viable cultures, philosophies and traditions, we and our society have special routines, daily regimes and refreshing attitudes, when we zoom in on the beneficial and positive ones.  In the course of a day, each of us can find opportunity to have that healthy breakky, soak in a rewarding outdoor activity, press on with that work challenge, catch up with mates and try that unusual dish down the road.

#yongkevthoughts

Sixteen Months On

 

I remember for many weeks after Covid arrived on our shores in 2020, Aussies were advised it was not necessary to wear face masks by the leading medical bureaucrats and elected political leaders in Canberra.

The same people were stating it was okay to receive Astra Zeneca anti-Covid vaccines as recently as the first week of April 2021.  Now they have changed their minds.

For many months, both State and Federal leaders in Australia have regularly sought refuge in their repeated statements "according to our best medical advice" .

The public by now cannot be that patient with possible wool pulled over our eyes.  Changing positions on significant Covid related matters by our medical and political "leaders" can undermine our long suffering patience, trust and belief in their varying pronouncements.

There was wavering uncertainty on how the Coronavirus spreads from human to human - aerosal spray projectiles or they remaining on surfaces?

As Covid 19 raged through our Earth, it is evident that authorities in various nations are not sure of several perspectives in controlling this pandemic, or of how the Coronavirus will do next, or of how far the selected vaccines can mitigate this problem.

It will be refreshing if authorities tell us they do not  really know or not sure - and we will respect them for this.

Currently available anti-Covid vaccines promise minimising the risks  of having symptoms of Covid, but do not mean those vaccinated cannot still catch the infection. 

If the push for mass vaccination is to build up effective herd immunity for society, such vaccination roll outs must occur within a short frame of time and the percentage of completed jabs must reach a majority of the population.  Any reasons for a much delayed process in completing target vaccinations reduce the chances of achieving such herd immunity.
Herd immunity to me is just the Coronavirus no longer finding sufficient human hosts to replicate, a necessary step in our battle with Covid 19.

The public will appreciate that economy, business and financial activity is paramount, along efforts to minimise the spread of Covid 19.
However, vaccinations are not manna to resolve the matter - they are only one of a set of mindful measures still required to be practised by vaccinated people, like social distancing and face mask wearing in crowds, plus the simple practice of washing hands when coming home.

Even when I receive my annual common flu jab, I accept that I can still catch this kind of cold, only with lowered risks, but I am aware that I can still spread the flu to others who are in close contact with me. So I am mindful to sneeze in the small of my left elbow.

In our so called tolerant society, we also respect individuals who, for various reasons, choose not to be vaccinated.  There can be a disturbing trend when governments impose restrictions in movements for those not vaccinated, like not being able to fly, join in certain community activities or enter selected venues.  People who are vaccinated or not vaccinated can all still be infected with Covid 19 and be infectious.

Most of the anti-Covid vaccinations available today require two doses.  This points to an urgent need in Australia (as opposed to the UK) to improve the process of mass vaccinating people as encouraged by the government.

Yet we cannot deny that the science and technology of most of these vaccines are new.  These vaccines have been introduced under emergency health conditions - and not being subject to longer due diligence periods.

Covid 19 will continue to mutate its strains - just like for the common flu, I require an upgraded vaccine every year to counter this development.

Governments must emphasise improving the mass jabbing procedures for Covid 19 on a timely basis if it is required to be carried out every year.

Maybe future anti-Covid vaccinations can be intranasal or oral instead of getting the conventional shot in the arm.

Finally I have a lingering unanswered question - how did the so called Spanish Flu virus die out, even with no applicable vaccines?

#yongkevthoughts

Berry NSW Markets 2021

 

Before 9am, the nearby roads are beginning to be full of the parked vehicles of market visitors.

The Berry markets are held monthly on the first Sunday of each month.  Closed during the Covid 19 year until October, it has bounced back with more stalls, predominated by arts and crafts, clothes and fresh produce.

Australian succulents are ground displayed in a region more of bush than urbanity than Big Smoke Sydney. around two hours away by road.   For the price of under a quality cuppa, one can take home something natural with texture and not needing much care.   Several people were observed getting big sized pots with plants that can adorn the pergola, corridor or front door.

A bird bath that looks more like a cooking Wok in a stall with unusual metal craft.   As in any outdoor market, there can be gems to enjoy looking and savouring.   Some are new, some are hard me downs but it is always a pleasurable adventure.

A captivating miniature wind wheel that responds to Nature's moods.

It reminds me of the spirit of the Australian bush and outback, with ingenuity echoed in crafting, practical usage in things installed around the farm and with a background of a blue sky as generous as the the country itself.

A rather stylish version of the coffee cart, based on the caravan lifestyle and in colours that did not escape my eye.   There was only one other barista coffee place in the markets, perhaps alluding to the several fixed venue cafes at the nearby main strip of Berry, which has attractions like crafted fabric and furniture, household gifts, hipster styled burgers and sandwiches, window shopping opportunities, a pub lunch and little malls with unusual products.

Different fresh producers and retailers do turn up at these Berry markets - and I find they can be unique in their offerings.   The standardised quality and variety of produce from supermarket duopoly players has not impressed me, so when I can, it is always a good day out checking out supplies nearer to the source, in all their different shapes, feel and freshness.  There was a hard working young man doing his chores at this veg and fruit stall  - he made sure the laid out produce was arranged properly, refusing their supply and generally keeping an eye on everything else while his colleagues collected payments from customers.

There was a couple specialising mainly in tomatoes of several varieties.   Their wares instinctively looked so much better than what we mostly get in city scares and franchised large stores.  Interesting enough, I could not locate any lemons in any stall that Sunday.   We had nice freshly made mango fruit juice at Common Ground on arrival.  There were not many cooked food outlets in these Berry markets, though there was a friendly Aussie bloke offering samples of Thai food, a couple selling Shanghai dumplings, another couple offering Dutch pancakes and profiteroles and the always there Turkish Gozleme stall. 

The doggie obviously had no interest in getting a sack of organically grown potatoes.   It was very unusual for me to come across stall selling only a single fresh produce.   Good to not come across plastic bags and also a very clean and uncluttered outdoor market, with some measure of social distancing in this Covid age.   Lots of four footed furry pets were seen enjoying a rather sunny outlook on the morning we visited.

The highway south from Wollongong to Shellharbour and Kiama - construction is being carried out to improve this busy thoroughfare leading further down the South Coast of NSW.  It is just over an hour's drive from Wollongong to Berry.

Smaller sized gourmet loaves made by the Common Ground Bakery form inland Picton NSW, near Campbelltown and the start of the Hume Highway to Melbourne and Canberra.   It is common practice for stall holders to come from various parts of Greater Sydney in these bush markets.

Not Post Apocalypse, But It Can Be

 Around a year after the reported arrival of Covid 19,  we walked around the main street of a most familiar stomping ground - one of many comparable suburbs around Australia.  This one is served by a functioning rail station, albeit a secondary line outside a capital city.  The years leading to 2020 has seen a spike in small retail outlets, mainly in food, grocery, coffee, basic health services, household needs and nothing too fancy.  I did note that this micro economy was mainly based on consumption and a quiet lifestyle - and not so much on investment except in constructing more residential units.

The future of an economy, big or small, need not be fully tied to its past.   What sustained in history can no longer be relevant.  Changes coming in the future need to be worked out to take advantage of them.  The Covid 19 year has not been kind to the viability in spending at small businesses, which do form the back bone of the Australian economy.  It underscores the urgency for innovation, transformation and longer term planning in what we do at various levels of our personal lives, the health of our community and the financial growth of society.

Walking down on the still well maintained pavements (several had in fact been upgraded by Council recently), I observed that some long standing shops had gone, but replacements still are mired depending on personal consumption.  The long standing chemist near the main set of lights has gone, but the pub still is there.  The suburban version of a bank branch, ethnic culinary restaurant and medical centre all survive, but the travel agent is closed.  There is no significant sign of the future possibilities - are there shops writing analytical programmes, experimenting with new business models and tapping into cost wise customer interaction platforms?  We still depend on petroleum to drive us, our food supplies and online orders of purchases.  There are more solar panels on roofs in this neighbourhood, but mostly we still have an energy supply grid that relies on coal, monopolistic players and political demands.

For a long while, I reflect on the state of business in that suburb in early 2021.  A cafe has turned into a barber shop, a corporate child care business has been swallowed up by a bigger rival and one of the existing chain supermarkets is getting more shabby.  On the brighter side, the Returned Service League has renovated and improved its operations, while vehicle traffic on the main road - Princes Highway -shows the return of more paying customers.  Underlying like a strong thread of commonality are signs of ageing of society here -  with medical related services vying with cafe activity.

There is also an increased presence of franchised and chain business operations, with names that started in the nearby Big Smoke and replicating its operations for new markets in areas with growing residential population.  Does it mean better service?  Not necessarily, as staff can be put under more pressure, delivery can become more impersonal and performance  is watched like an eagle to achieve revenue targets.   What retail banks went through in the past 30 years at the street level is now beginning to be happening with other retail businesses.

Disenfranchisement of the work productive young can be forecast in such a suburb.  Schools are busy but their graduates look to greener pastures outside this suburb. The nearby university has learnt in a disturbed way the over reliance and non diversification of its student markets from overseas.   The regional town and area is not earmarked for any exciting specialisation in growth of a forward looking technology.  The region grew because of extraction of natural resources and it still depends on such income.  The place is not in any ruling Government's macro plan to provide any public services.  Without any medium and longer term vision, the region has become more residential than pro-active in improving its lot.   Even its city centre landscape has evidently become more reliable on stamp duty and Council fees than something more promising.

Potential advantages of the region - a clean environment, human talent and development of businesses of the future - are under played.   I would not say this area has been caught in a time warp, but neither is it moving forward to move out of its usual problems and issues.  Somehow I suspect the attitude is more inward looking than asking "Why Not?".   Does the region want to grab an opportunity not to be an appendage of the nearby capital city?   Does the region not want to utilise the unique offerings of its hinterland?  Does the region just want to be content to be a sea change for people?

What Do You Read For Leisure These Days?

 In an age of information overload, increased screen time and competing media seeking your attention,

what do we read for leisure these days?

Or do we even  think of going for the written word as an option.....

We get visual clips, often brief ones, shared with us from the social media network.

Photographs can truly be better than a thousand words in conveying so many things.

We have access to virtual and true computers in varying sizes in the course of a day's routine - the smart TV, tablets, mobile devices and desktops.

I baulk at times at having to read long passages of messages, as if I really do not have the time to saviour them, even if some of them can still be inspiring, humorous or useful to know.

Then there are those long PDFs in small font, not user friendly when we read them on the mobile smart phone when on the go between appointments in public places.

Moments When Our Fingers felt the Paper

Long ago, many individuals thought first of grabbing the newspaper after waking up - and like having a Linus blanket from the Peanuts cartoon strip, these same persons would be holding the print in their arms.

These mornings, it is a better bet they are seen either holding their hot beverage or mobile device, rather than any newspaper.  Or their sports gear!

Not slowly, but surely, the printed medium has significantly dropped its utilisation of wood plantations, naturally growing trees and Nature's growth product.

Where societies and consumers may be using less paper, we are increasingly dependent on more electricity and better performing Wi-Fi, not just to read, but to run our gadgets, critical systems and life routines.  If there is a water or natural gas supply cut, we can still react better than when electricity and Wi-Fi supply problems arise for households, commercial outlets and community grids.

When things do work, we still may have exchanged convenience for higher vulnerabilities and risks.  We pollute the environment when we continue to practice the throw away mindset  - this time it is not recyclable paper but more challenging chemicals, toxic metals and unrecyclable materials.

Choices Have Narrowed, The Pleasures Have Been Diluted

The number of periodical publications in Australia has significantly dropped over the past 30 years.  Local magazines are mainly been confined to lifestyle, speculative and low level content.  Just walk into any newsagent and it is so evident.  The revenue contribution from publications to such newsagents has gone down so much they have wisely taken up being outlets for banks, Australia Post and other ventures.

Even from overseas, the extent of publications that used to criss-cross the world every day on air and sea transport have come to a sorry state.   Yes, they now are transmitted in cyberspace.  Changing parameters in the viability of the news publishing trade, kicked off by falling advertising revenues over several years, have come in addition to the challenges from media platforms that can reach actual and potential customers simultaneously in the blink of the eye.  Not only are traditional publishers feeling serious transformation of their business, but the number of mega owners behind so many mastheads across the Globe have become the privileged few.

Seemingly eternal publications like TIME, the Australian, The UK Times, the South China Morning Post, Newsweek, the Washington Post, the Straits Times and the Wall Street Journal are still operating, but most of them under different owners.  Not many remember other titles like the Asia Magazine, The Bulletin Australia, the Australian Business Review, LIFE and People as they are no longer publishing.

Do reflect on when we came across more independent reporting, boldly proclaiming information and data that most mainstream newspapers avoid?  These days such boldness become so rare in view of rising financial costs, litigation and less liberal political tolerance.   When they do arise these days, they are small outfits, always online and so like the guerrilla on the fringe.  Many publications, whether toeing the line of the powers that be or not, ask for donations from online readers  - hence this has led to the subscription payments required if you want to read more than just the headlines.

One of the key features of an Enlightened and more tolerant world is the freedom of expression across the country in newspapers churned out in small towns and various regions across a country.   What do we get these days?   The merger of television news channels news with online publications and print mastheads under the same eventual owner has instead led to the uniformisation and greater editorial control of news content.   The concept of supplying news around the clock - instead of at a set time every evening when everyone gathered around the living room - has diluted the enjoyment of jointly sharing the experience of finding out significant news developments.  And mind you, who gathers much in groups these days, as we are encouraged to go into more personalisation routines, even before Covid?  It can be so disheartening to watch newsreaders read out the same lines of news repeatedly on media.

Increasing Regular Use of our Eye Power

Most of us utilise more of our ears and eyes, less of our muscles, sense of smell and agility in our contemporary lifestyle.   The urbane will not even go out to get their meals, they have it delivered to them.  Think of your own personal lifestyle - your eyesight is vital.  Gaming, communicating, doing business, etc.

Perhaps stimulating our eyes to a more diverse and stimulating set of profiles each day becomes important.   Switch from bright white light screens to calming greens and blues of the outdoors.  Our eyes are more significant now for identification purposes in public places,  Still, the written word can be the most common use for our eyes - texting messages, clicking an option or when stimulating our minds for further thoughts.

So perhaps my question at the very beginning of this write up - what do we read for leisure these days - can be redundant.   We are increasingly reading all the time, so when we do not have to, we better do other things.