Covering up!

Is time to try and understand just what is what? The average Australian is used to uncover in these temperatures. No wonder there are some newcomers in this community who think the Australian females are exposing themselves to all kinds of man-trouble. Aren't we women God's police? That is aren't we meant to keep the men from getting excited by our bare skin? Well maybe our responsibilities extend to that at times. However seeing this is a travelling column we can welcome those who like covering up into our environment by trying to understand their intentions.
The CBBC newsround has helped. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/24118241 The explanation is that 'headscarves are seen as a sign of modesty and a symbol of religious faith.' So what is what? When in Jordan as tourists we were warned to keep our forearms covered and not to wear shorts showing off our bare legs. Not a problem for someone my age but I did watch some local younger men trying to move in on a young girl dressed to accommodate the hot weather...like bees to a honey pot!!

 This is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear. However, it may be worn with a separate eye veil, an accompanying head scarf.

 The Al-Amira is a two-piece veil, consisting of a close fitting cap, usually made of cotton or polyester and a tube-like scarf.

 The Shayla is a long rectangular scarf popular in the Gulf region. It is wrapped around the head and tucked or pinned in place at the shoulders.

The Khimar is a long cape-like veil that hangs down to just above the waist. It covers the hair, neck and shoulders completely but leaves the face clear. They do remind me of some of the Catholic nuns in our community.

The Chador, worn by many Iranian women when outside the house is a full-body cloak. It is often accompanied by a smaller headscarf underneath.

Now for the scary one...the one who is dressed to frighten all the little western children out on their shopping jaunts with their parents...that is the Burka! Yes Ms.Invisible is in there somewhere. It is the most conceiling of all Islamic veils. It is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through.

So are you up with the latest now? I have it on good evidence that under all that dressing-up there is a body covered in the latest western-style underwear and fashion. Amazing? I think so!

Count down time!!

And the suitcase has been packed and lying on my floor for 4 weeks now. I believe it is thirty-one days to Xmas or something like that and we won't be here to enjoy the high summer temperatures. Oh dear! Nor will we see any sunflowers to greet us. The mountains will be covered in snow. Summer will be a thing of the past. What no changing colours of the leaves? No grapevines in the distance? No but lots more snow for the masses. For us? the tiled heater will keep us warm!

Ever taken your imagination for a walk?

Yes with your camera! I did and to my surprise I started to see images I had never seen before. Some of them I even had made into prints. And surprise, surprise, I was courageous enough to enter them into club competitions.
It was all in the timing of course. The judge on the night couldn't see the things I saw. Then suddenly a quiet voice piped up and spoke at length about what he saw. And besides agreeing with me he also brought his life experience to the club that night. Yes he was a scientist in the medical field also and had spent most of his years looking at images similar to mine. And so I was reminded that we bring our life experience to the table even if we are totally unaware that we are doing just that.
Of course we can always stare up at the moon or
imagine shapes in the cloud formation. But not on
these occasions.

So who's keeping out of the wind? Yes behind a pile of rocks. Then something  was squashing
my foot or something a foot as is often said!
Or was it a rock foetus I could see? OMG! Shock and horror! But what animal left over was it?

Whatever... but I wasn't bored! Maybe there was more... and off I went...wondering wherever I would possibly be able to show these photos.

So you've chosen to travel?

Our friends have always been keen travellers overseas. And now proudly invited us to see their latest purchase parked in their far off shed. So they've been back not more than a few months from their overseas trip, Italy, France and Great Britain. Been there done that! Now it is time to see Australia! You mean join the GREY NOMADS?
Of course! And why not? We're sick of going to funerals! Nine in the last 12 months!
So what is killing everyone, I wondered? Three died going to hospital for treatment. Early release confirmed the notion held by the families that the patient was just not ready to resume the life he had left behind. But two days at home seemed to influence their outcome. 'So before we are called by the big judge in the sky we thought we'd better try to escape too.'
So a home on wheels, it seems, is now the solution. So why not search out some of the history of W.A.?

Sure we've had a President of the USA as mine manager (the 31st of the USA). Yes Herbert Hoover had been not so popular with the workers or the unions of the second deepest gold mine in WA at Gwalia, a suburb of Leonora but he didn't care. He saw the potential and in true far right political spirit he introduced his own working 'troupes', mainly of Italian and Yugoslav origins, explaining to them the lacking conditions of their employment. But he did mention that the hotel above was the first government-owned pub in W.A.(1903). The first passenger tramway (1903) and the first public swimming pool (1943) came along soon after.

The new workers soon established themselves and in 1896 the Sons of Gwalia Lease was registered. Herbert Hoover was appointed manager in 1898. Perhaps 1887/89, the years the gold mine had been registered on the London Stock Exchange proved to be part of the attraction as a starting point for a mine manager of the tender age of 23 years.






Soon a hospital appeared with all mod cons. as the photos taken can support.

The living GHOST TOWN of Gwalia is thus the doorway to a unique experience of a West Australian rich mining era.
The actual mine closed in 1963 is remembered by the contents of a museum in Gwalia. The house in which the mine manager lived is now a B/B and bookings can be made through the tourist office. (But if you have your own bed on wheels ignore this last bit.)

Is your world spinning?

Well it may be if you are like Einstein and believe that imagination is better than knowledge!

Unfortunately the rote-learning encouraged by the Australian school system never did leave room for imagination or creativity. But that is about to change even if learning the times-table by rote is a good thing according to recent research,

Yes the present Prime Minister has appointed a new top scientist to show us the way. So why not a short trip to Gin Gin to kick start your interest in science. And read all about it!!

But if you fall in love with Gravity (the girl behind the desk, ha!) you can't blame Einstein!