Message in a Bottle

Seems that blogspot is blocked in China, so I can't access it from
here, but I'll try emailing anyway. Hopefully you should see this
message (in a bottle),

Fwd: Monthly News

Greetings Leatherjackets from China!

Please find attached this month's news from Masters Swimming.

See you in August.
Sean

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Masters Swimming NSW <admin@mastersswimmingnsw.org.au>
Date: 2009/6/30
Subject: Monthly News
To: Masters Swimming NSW <admin@mastersswimmingnsw.org.au>

Hi All,

The news for June is attached along with the two other documents
relating to the World Masters Games.

Please circulate to all members and stress the need to volunteer now
for the Games (if you haven't already done so) then you don't miss out
on the rewards.

Note also the raffle opportunity at the WMG.

Also note the necessity for host clubs to apply for your dates for
2010. There is no special form this year – just email, fax, phone or
post your preferred dates.

The June Splash will be distributed to clubs in bulk again but please
ask all members to advise your club registrar which list you want to
be attached to – post or email notification of Splash. We look forward
to getting back to mailing to each member in their preferred manner –
snail mail or email.

Lots of other info is included to be passed onto members so thank you
in advance for passing on this information.

Cheers,

Di Coxon-Ellis

Administrator, Masters Swimming NSW

Try Masters Swimming for fun, fitness and friendship.

Phone 02 8116 9716 Fax 02 8732 1606

Website www.mastersswimmingnsw.org.au

Fwd: Short Course Flyer and docs

Greetings Leatherjackets! - Details attached for the short course championships. As I will be away, can you organise entries among yourselves at training. Thanks, Sean

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Masters Swimming NSW <admin@mastersswimmingnsw.org.au>
Date: 2009/6/23
Subject: Short Course Flyer and docs
To: Masters Swimming NSW <admin@mastersswimmingnsw.org.au>

Hi All,

Please distribute the attached flyer to your members for the Short course Championship event in August.

Race secretaries are reminded to read the information on the flyers for all events very carefully so your swimmers do not miss out.

 

Note that number of the relay teams must be PAID FOR when the entries close for State events.

The teams age group and swimmer's names are to be written on the attached sheet and entered ON THE DAY.

 

Also attached is the manual summary sheet for those clubs that are still submitting entries manually.

 

Thanks for distributing the flyer and we look forward to seeing you all in the ACT.

 

Regards,

 

 

Di Coxon-Ellis

Administrator, Masters Swimming NSW

Try Masters Swimming for fun, fitness and friendship.

Phone 02 8116 9716 Fax 02 8732 1606

Website www.mastersswimmingnsw.org.au

 

 

The Fishy Case of the $90 McBurger

The Fishy Case of the $90 McBurger

You should be warned not to eat at the Bankstown McDonalds Restaurant as it might turn out to be an expensive hamburger.

Last Friday, around lunch time I parked my car in the McDonalds car-park and went in, ordered a fillet-of-fish meal and proceeded to eat. All seemed normal. They provide many facilities to entice you to come in and stay. Not just toilets, but TV screens, newspapers, children's play areas, and WiFi. I used the WiFi while I was there.

After finishing up, I went out to my car to find a small man in an ill-fitting uniform who asked: "This your car?". When I said yes he happily printed out a parking ticket to hand me. 

$81! When I asked what this was for, he said that I had been parked too long, and that the McDonalds had requested them to come and fine cars in the car park!

"What do you mean?", I asked. He went on to tell me that people park in the McDonalds and go to the shops, so he needed to fine them. When I pointed out that I had just walked out of the McDonalds, and that he had seen me walk out of the McDonalds, and therefore I was not at the shops, and asked how could he justify giving me a ticket, he then insisted that: "They ask me to come".

As I looked around at all the empty spaces (one now taken by his large vehicle, but more about that later) I considered that perhaps at Christmas time I could understand this being a problem. However, on a regular weekday afternoon it was simply an absurd statement.

At this point I looked for some identification as to who the small man represented. There was an officious looking Bankstown Council logo on his arm, but not his name. On inquiry, he would only tell me that he was "No. 1 Parking Inspector" and he could not tell me his name - although he was happy enough to tell me his supervisors names.

I invited Comrade No. 1 Parking Inspector to come into the store with me to discuss with the McDonalds staff why they had requested his services. This he refused to do.

Alone, I went back into the McDonalds and had an unproductive discussion with the staff. The Duty Manager agreed that there was a time limit and there was nothing they could do. 

However, a few of the McDonalds staff came outside to discover that they, too, had been caught. Pointing to their McDonalds signs on the dashboard made little impression on Comrade No. 1 Parking Inspector, who now changed tack to say that the tickets had already been issued and could not be cancelled. I wondered how many hours these guys would need to work at McDonalds wage rates to pay this fine.

As the cacophony of protest rose, Comrade No. 1 Parking Inspector now changed his approach, once more, to one beloved of petty bureaucrats the world over, the Nuremberg defence: "I am just doing my job".

Perhaps it would have been a matter of courtesy and simply polite if, as No. 1 Parking Inspector said the original intent was to stop people parking and going to the shops, he had come into the restaurant to let patrons know that he was there and to advise anyone who had been there for some time to move their cars. But this would be too civilized. And no doubt he would argue that he needs to meet a quota of fines set by his comrades at the Bankstown Peoples Collective.

Sadly, this sort of thing is now becoming all too prevalent throughout Sydney, making it a less desirable place to be by the day. 

Primarily I suggest that people are not fooled by the homely services provided by the Bankstown McDonalds. You are not really welcome, or at least you are not welcome for very long. Please buy your stuff and move on, seems to be the message. Otherwise your burger meal will be costing you $90 - $9 for the meal and $81 for the parking.

Post Script: I note that the small Comrade No. 1 Parking Inspector drove a very large SUV. Clearly, environment is not high on the priorities of the Bankstown Peoples Collective.

Australian state bans biology program because of pro-life connections

I came across this article http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16290 regarding the NSW Government titled "Australian state bans biology program because of pro-life connections".

If you're interested, the Minister's contact details are:

Ms Verity Firth,
Level 31 Governor Macquarie Tower,
1 Farrer Place,
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9228 4130
Fax (02) 9228 4131
Email office@firth.minister.nsw.gov.au

How to live

This was forwarded to me. I thought it was pretty cool, so I thought I
would share it with you. Don't know the origin.

            To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons
            life taught me.

            It is the most requested column I've ever written.  My
            odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column
            once more:

            1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

            2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

            3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

            4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
                Your friends and parents will.  Stay in touch.

            5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

            6. You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.

            7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

            8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

            9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

            10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

            11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

            12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

            13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea
what their journey is all about.

            14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

            15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But
don't worry; God never blinks.

            16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

            17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

            18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

            19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
                 But the second one is up to you and no one else.

            20. When it comes to going after what you love in life,
don't take no for an answer.

            21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
                 Don't save it for a special occasion...   Today is special.

            22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

            23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

            24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

            25 No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

            26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In
five years, will this matter?'

            27 Always choose life.

            28. Forgive everyone everything.

             29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

             30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

             31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

             32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

              33. Believe in miracles.

              34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of
anything you did or didn't do.

              35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

              36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

              37. Your children get only one childhood.

              38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

              39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

             40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw
everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

             41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

             42. The best is yet to come.

             43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

             44. Yield.

             45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

          Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.

Fwd: flyer for Long Distance

Greetings Leatherjackets!

Please find details below and attached for the long distance meet.

As I will be overseas for the next two months, can anyone wishing to enter organise amongst yourselves at training or send your entries individually. Ta.

See you (sometime) in the Pool!

Sean

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Masters Swimming NSW <admin@mastersswimmingnsw.org.au>
Date: 2009/6/12
Subject: flyer for Long Distance
To: Masters Swimming NSW <admin@mastersswimmingnsw.org.au>

Hi All,

As you will now realise, the Long Distance Short Course meet at Kurri Kurri will go ahead but only on one day – Sunday July 26. Please find the flyer attached for distribution to all members.

 

Race Secretaries, please ensure your competitors read the restrictions very carefully so the swimmers will not be disadvantaged by entering events incorrectly.

Note also the expectation for timing other swimmers if you are competing.

 

Also attached is the summary sheet for those still using the manual meet entry method. Race Secretaries are encouraged to enter using TM Lite at all meets so, if you are not using this free program, please contact the NSW Recorder Mark Hepple on recorder@mastersswimmingnsw.org.au for the files.

 

We look forward to seeing you at this meet.

 

Cheers,

Di

 

Di Coxon-Ellis

Administrator, Masters Swimming NSW

Try Masters Swimming for fun, fitness and friendship.

Phone 02 8116 9716 Fax 02 8732 1606

Website www.mastersswimmingnsw.org.au