Weekly Chat, Sunday, March 14

Just been watching Hope all alone in the Den. So cute. Took this screenshot:

Alan, pics have been doing well today but I can't see this one! However, someone on Phoebe's site mentioned that Lily was out so I'm watching it live.

Hope's so sweet (but noisy), I think I want one! Did Lily knock the camera Alan? How long has she been gone?

Enjoyed reading all the updates. Boy, if you don't look for a day, a lot happens!

Diane, hope you feel better and you are not a grouch at all. You should feed them lots of juicy stuff that isn't true!! For Annette as well, thanks for the concern, where we are, we just had wind and rain but in other parts of the State lots of trees came down, 3 people killed in it, and even now, 3 days on, about 45,000 without power. So it was a rough time, but, luckily for me, not as bad for us.

OG, the two mums come out at different times, would get VERY complicated for them, and us, otherwise!! LOL. Taking Alison's mum to Niagara Falls in June sometime and my mum to Vermont in the Fall. So , sorting out stuff for that.  Hope the fence building at your place went down OK

Great picture Tiger. What an artist:)

Alan, what a great shot of that eagle. Thanks.

Dibnlib, so sorry to hear about both dogs. What a terrible time:(

Annette, love the story of the people picking up all their possessions, including the house!

Weather has improved today and looking dry all through the end of the week:)

I am glad you liked that snow sculpture. It reminded me very much of one of my favourite cartoons.

Tiger - Great snow sculpture. Was it by any chance a Snow Crow?

TerryM - Thanks for the wind turbine info. I shall read it properly later as I am about to go out for the day.

Forget the Beckham & Woods. We have a drama with a cricketer breaking up with his girlfriend. Plumbers had to be called in to search for a $200,000 sparkler that had reportedly been flushed down the toilet.

Continuing SA history . . . The large casualty lists in WWI were a shock to the Australians at home. The Organiser of the Cheer-up Society, Alexandra Seager (who had three sons serving), conceived the idea of a day to commemorate the fallen heroes of the war. In those days symbolism was important, so the violet, a symbol of modesty, sweetness and faithfulness, was chosen to signify the sorrow of the community.

The first Violet Day was held on 2 July 1915. Tiny bouquets of violets with purple ribbons printed with the words "In Memory" were sold in the streets of Adelaide to raise funds to establish a permanent club for returned soldiers. A sour note was introduced by the State Military Commandant, who complained that a memorial service should not be held until the end of the war. He overlooked the need of the women who could only support their men in small ways.

During World War I anti-German feeling ran high in South Australia. Despite the Lutheran communities pledging support for the British Crown and those of German descent contributing to the Wounded Soldiers Fund, "Germans" were victimised. It did not matter whether the German-born were naturalised or if an Australian-born were a third generation born in Australia.

The German newspaper, schools and clubs were closed. Many pastors, teachers & community leaders were interned, at first on Torrens Island and later in New South Wales. Some internees had sons serving with the Australian Army and many of these were casualties of the war. Other "Germans" lost their jobs, leaving their families in financial difficulties. Hermann Robert Homburg, born 1874 in SA to a father who had arrived 20 years earlier, was forced to resign - and he was the Attorney-General! Other Germans were required to report to police weekly.

By 1917 the anti-German frenzy had spread to German place names. Sixty-nine South Australian place name changes were gazetted in January 1918. Some names were translations into English, eg Steinfeld to Stonefield, Bethanien to Bethany. Others were given an aboriginal name, eg Friedrichswalde to Tarnma, Mount Ferdinand to Mount Warrabillinna. Other names commemorated the battles in France eg Verdun, Polygon Ridge, Jutland, or the names of Australian military leaders, eg Haig, Allenby, Jellicoe.

But they overlooked the capital city, Adelaide, which had been named for the German-born wife of King William IV. Sedan was noted at the time as the name of a German victory in the 1870 War. However a newspaper correspondent explained that it commemorated the French defeat rather than the German victory! Some of these place names were changed back in later years. So it is possible that someone, according to the official records, was born in Hahndorf, married in Ambleside and died in Hahndorf without changing his residence! It is interesting that during WWI South Australians of British stock thought of themselves as "British", while the Germans considered themselves to be "Australians".

Just posted on LG blog but thought I'd post here too>

I'm just home from Roy Dennis's lecture in Edinburgh. Everybody agreed how fascinating he is to listen to. The second half was all about tracking the birds and observing their migration routes. He even mentioned poor Darling Deshar and how we were eagerly watching his migration. Roy even made the audience laugh when he mentioned that praying for Deshar really wasn't going to help him.
The good news is that all 5 of his tracked adult ospreys are on their way home. It seems Nimrod learned from last year when he was late home and had to fight to get his nest (and his girl) back. Looks as if he's not planning on making that mistake again.
The ospreys are on their way home!!! :)

Tiger, like that.

AQ, who's the cricketer? Is it Clarke?