Hospitalised

As many of you might know, I had a defibrillator installed after my cardiac arrest some 8 and a half years ago. Well, I've known for six months that the battery was due to run out and had to be replaced. That's why I'm typing this message from a bed at the Lake Macquarie Private Hospital about 400 km from Armidale and located just south of Newcastle - the Australian one of course. Earlier today, at lunchtime, I was wheeled into the operating theatre for James Leitch, my specialist, to perform the short operation. Everything went successfully and pathology tests conducted this morning showed good results. In fact my blood pressure was more like someone 40-50 years younger than me. Perhaps that explains why I still climb stairs two at a time, ride my bike up to c. 110 km (69 miles) a week, and still can run some distance, though I missed out on selection for Australia's Olympic team going to Rio.

AS

In Election Mode

Last week saw Australia's Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, schedule a Federal Election for July 2nd this year and the fight for my electorate of New England looks impressive. Although the election is not formally declared, and Turnbull can await the end of the year, the campaign is off and running here. Prior to 2013, yes - we have a 3 year electoral cycle nationally, our member was Tony Windsor, an independent ... and a very good one at that. He was a true independent thinker and highly consultative with his electorate. Moreover, he held this seat by an impressively large margin, something like 62% on a two-party preferred vote after allocation of preferences. We are allowed multiple transferable votes and if there are five candidates we can number them from one to five.

Anyway, Tony retired in 2013 and I was sorry to see him go. In his place we elected one Barnaby Joyce from the National (read Country) Party and he has subsequently go on to be elected leader of his party and become Deputy Prime Minister. In a way I quite like Barnaby's colourful personality, but the government has stumbled its way through the last few years with some dreadful policy making, and long raucous fights to get policies implemented , especially in the Senate where it is nowhere near a majority of the votes. Part of the problem was the previous Prime Minister's (Tony Abbott's) dreadful leadership. He was a bully with scarcely an original idea in his head and zero negotiating and leadership skills. He talked all the time in meaningless slogans, one-liners designed for ignorant TV and radio audiences. The problem is that this country, like all advanced nations, confronts huge adjustment to an accelerating tsunami of new technologies and the globalisation of just about every aspect of economy and society to the extent that governments have to be extremely agile on their feet. To make matters a lot worse still, domestic society is hugely fragmenting, with like the UK, perhaps 7 to 10 major interest groups separated by age, lifestyle choice, wealth and income, city-country, skills and knowledge, risk profile and many other dimensions.

Now, the two major political groups (the Liberal and Nationals vs the Australian Labor Party) with their need to present a united front to the electorate are stifling constructive debate about the future, and this is in my view disastrous. Complex, uncertain, and rapidly changing social and economic environments require carefully considered and highly civil discussion presided over by excellent leaders who can explain problems and alternative solutions to often scared electorates, while at the same time being open to hugely transformative thinking about public sector management and issues like environmental management, social equity, and economic innovation. Are we getting this with parties on both sides riddled with intellectual cripples, monumental ignorance about the issues at stake, party whips dedicated to the suppression of unusual ideas, and malign public relations specialists trying sell images of political harmony. Well, you've probably guessed my position. The answer is a resounding no and, in my view, the existing political apparatus is long due for the trash can of history.

And this is where the likes of Tony Windsor come in. He was a breath of fresh air, carefully thinking about issues, future oriented, engaging with his electorate fully, explaining and justifying his actions - something we desperately need from all our members of Parliament rather than sycophantic monkeys performing meaningless dances. Worse still, many politicians seem increasingly tied to a string of vested interests with (often unjustifiable) historical entitlements and positions of influence to defend. This is partly because of the increasing expense of running party machines and electoral campaigns. Tony Windsor seems removed from the stench of this apparatus and his slick on-line electoral presence is into things like crowd-funding of his campaign.

So, with this background, in mind, I turned out this week to his first political address of the current campaign held in Armidale's town hall and the meeting was packed with a mostly adoring crowd. Tony is only a little younger than me, but gave an interesting speech justifying the role of independents like him, explaining his achievements during his parliamentary career, and stating his reasons for seeking another term - coming out of retirement. It's going to be an interesting contest because opinion polls to date seem to suggest that he's in with a good chance of unseating the deputy Prime Minister. Here he is in full flight. I only had my mobile phone with me so the picture is not of usual quality.

AS

A Busy Week

It was all go last week ... and how! On Monday I went to the usual Rotary dinner and the guest of honour was a former naval officer who lives in nearby Uralla and has taken his hobby of making model ships into a full time business. He's wildly successful ... with few if any competitors in Australia and overseas orders. Look at these two pictures of his model of the USS Winston Churchill whose home base is Norfolk in Virginia and interestingly has a permanent British officer on board. The model is huge and intricately detailed.

Our guest explained in detail how he went into the trade and how he executes his model-building.

On Monday I and three other colleagues from UNE had a meeting to discuss our evidence to be delivered to the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture and Industry meeting in Armidale in Wednesday. The topic was coming agricultural technologies and how to alleviate potential blockages to their swift and effective uptake. I was there as a futurist, but my colleagues included a world leader in SMART farms (he'd hosted the German Minister for Agriculture the previous week!), and leaders in (a) the Poultry Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and (b) the Sheep CRC. The poultry guy discussed a world in which egg production would no longer come from caged birds. Instead, they'd be outside and free range, except that their mobility wuld be constrained by virtual (noise and light controlled) fencing and the eggs would be collected robotically! And on Wednesday we gave our evidence to the committee, which was highly interested in what we had to say. On Friday, I corrected my evidence as prepared for Hansard.

On Thursday, I proof-read a book chapter coming out shortly in a tome edited by a friend at the University of north British Columbia at Prince George. The publisher is the UK company Routledge and the contents are likely to have wide circulation internationally. Also on that day, I and about 10 other colleagues came together for a working breakfast on how to accelrate Armidale's economic growth. The team included our local member of the NSW Parliament and our Mayor Hermann Beyesdorf who born in the same small German village as the Minister of Agriculture I've just memntioned!! Also present were local hi-tech entrepreneurs and government officials. And on Friday, I completed an article with two Romania colleagues which will be submitted on Monday to a well-known UK journal, whose editor in chief is another friend located at a university in, of all places, South Australia. On that day, The Regional Australia Institute published a mongraph to which I had contributed and concerned Armidale's economy and how it been improved by the completion of the National Broadband Network. So I'm un-retired retiree. It sure makes life interesting.

AS

A Mountain (View) Ramble

On our last day in Mountain View before departing for home Emily and I took time out to go rambling in the mountains that surround the city both to the east and the west and give it its name. I've always wanted to view Silicon Valley looking down from on high so we headed westwards to the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Reserve (named after me presumably!). There we took the Wildcat Loop and, towards the end, the High Meadow Trails, two of many criss-crossing the reserve. They started and ended close to the Deer Hollow Farm. We had a long climb up the mountain side, followed by a walk along a ridge-line with great views of the valley, and then a long descent. The hills are apparently home to Mountain Lions (aka Pumas or Cougars). These are large wild cats that live a fairly solitary existence and attack deer or pets or, very rarely humans. Needless to say we didn't see one, but Em and I were talking vigorously for much of the trip and we could be heard a long way off. So we had safety in numbers and flagged our existence so that we were unlikely to be disturbed!

Here's the start of the reserve with its unbelievably green grass and lush vegetation. Mind you, this range had just had about 250 mm of rain in a week or so, helping to end a very long drought. And I add a picture of Emily at the beginning of our ascent of the mountain side.

The trail wound relentlessly up the side of a creek with running water.

And it began to offer extensive views of the lushly vegetated countryside populated also with delicate and rather beautiful wild-flowers.

And the ridge-line offered extensive views over Silicon Valley from Los Altos (The Heights) and Palo Alto (High Pole) in the foreground across the southern end of San Francisco bay towards Oakland in the north and San Jose in the south. Yes, Mountain View itself is somewhere in the middle ground.

And here I am gracing the scene all rugged up on what was promised, accurately, as a cold and wet day. We timed our journey well because the rain came on as we drove home.

On the descent we passed through as series of lovely meadows populated with wild deer!

In all, a great walk and excellent preparation for sitting 13 hours in a plane crossing the Pacific Ocean. Thanks Emily for being my guide.

AS

Are little kids omnivorous?

Another observation from our visit to California is that, these days, even the very young (three and four year olds) have dining opportunities that extend way beyond the culinary opportunities I had when I was young. In fact, at that age we hardly ever went out for a meal, and when we did it was ordinary British fayre. Of course, the UK had rationing after the second world war until the 1950s and that would have restricted the range of foods available.

Silicon Valley, in contrast, has many immigrants from around the world and they have given rise to an enormous variety of ethnic restaurants, with just about all Asian countries represented. Last year we ate at an Ethiopian restaurant ... with Ella and Flynn in tow. This year we ventured to dine at an Afghan restaurant in Sunnyvale! E & F had no problems in tackling a strange menu and enjoyed themselves at the table. Likewise we adults. In fact, my meal was delicious and I'd recommend the opportunity to dine Afghan if you get the opportunity. My assessment was borne out by the restaurant being full with plenty of people awaiting a table. Our early departure to put the kids to bed probably pleased the owners!

AS

Climbing High

One of the most amazing sights during our California visit was seeing Ella, who's still only 4 and a little bit on the shy side, climbing high up a wall in a climbing centre called Planet Granite in Sunnyvale not far from where Emily and her family live in Silicon Valley and if we'd had the time I wouldn't have minded having a go myself.

Basically the cavernous facility comprised lots of high walls with toe-holds, places to wrap one's fingers around and cracks where one could lever oneself up the walls. Climbers mostly used harnesses tied to ropes to ensure their survival in case of slippages! However, some walls enabled people to climb free-style unaided by ropes.

The rest of this post is dedicated to Ella's extra-ordinary skills and Flynn's attempt at free-style climbing. We started by attaching a harness to our intrepid climber, and then rope.

Off we go and rise steadily higher. Although tied to a rope, Ella barely needed use of it. It was there to prevent a dangerous fall in case of mishap. In essence, she did not need the rope to find her way to the top!

Arrival!! Just look at how high up she is!

Back on ground it was time for a short refreshment.

Ella climbed the high wall at least twice, but then we headed off to a much lower climb without ropes for security. This time any slips were cushioned by a bouncy mat. Well, it was Flynn's turn to try climbing but he didn't get far which one might expect for someone who has just reached the great age of three.

Ella was much more successful and made it to the top with a little bit of parental guidance.

Flynn tries again, but with little success.

Please give them some applause - in Ella's case for showing great skills and courage. Perhaps she'll become the youngest person to climb the north face of the Eiger! For those not in the know, this treacherous wall in the Alps rises to 3,970 m (13,000 feet) and the last 1800 m (5,900 feet) are just about vertical. I reached close to the top of that wall a few years ago, but must admit I cheated! I rode the train up the Jungfrau and towards the end of that journey we stopped in a station, alighted, and walked to a hole carved out of the mountain to admire the stunning view below.

AS

Alum Rock

Yesterday we took to the hills (mountains?) eat of San Jose to visit an attractive nature reserve called Alum Rock, a much favoured weekend destination for fitness fanatics and families. Being a Tuesday, however, there were few visitors, and most of the families had young, pre-school age, kids like us. I won't say much the site because that's easily discovered on-line, except to say that the valley with its running stream and interesting natural environment was captivating. Have a look at what we saw and did on a brilliantly clear day!

The views from car parks are often dreadful, but the moment we arrived we were captivated by the scenery. Just have a look at two lovely eucalyptus next to the car and the stream below running freely after useful rains!

We stopped at an attractive picnic spot for some refreshments before heading off to some interesting play equipment nearby which Ella mastered easily using the monkey bars and Flynn enjoyed crawling through tunnels.

While this was going on I found time to stroll around the valley floor surrounded by green and well-vegetated hillsides.

Flynn tried the swings, not his favourite piece of equipment, before sliding down the back of a concrete (bald-headed?) eagle - which he did at least 10 times.

A century ago, Alum Rock was a Mecca for people using the valley's mineralised springs for medicinal or recuperative purposes - treatments no longer recommended! Relics of this era abound. Here you can see, in the upper part of the photo, a seem of mineralisations.

Another view of the mineralised surfaces are shown here at the top right.

The mineralised water was fed into a stream of 'baths' where people lay in the waters, as in the three different examples shown here.

And so to the wildlife. The area is reputed to be the home of wild pumas, though we didn't see any. They do not attack humans, so we weren't worried. On the other hand the grounds were crawling with dozens of squirrels - again mostly scared of humans but quite cute unless one subscribes to the view that they carry rabies! There was the odd lizard, like this quite large fellow, which interested Ella and Flynn greatly. And a few ducks down on the creek. And on the valley edges we were entranced by soaring eagles like the one you might just spot on the second picture below.

We got home tired but happy after an intense day out.

AS

Night ... or Evening ... Riders

After a heavy day, both Ella and Flynn like to relax by riding their bikes or scooters up the roadway outside the garage belonging to E & G's apartment. Sometimes it's almost dark and on other occasions it's twilight. On most occasions an adult is in attendance to supervise the kids' movements, albeit aided by a plastic guy waving a red warning flag for vehicles to move slowly.

If I'm supervising, I'll borrow another larger scooter from the garage - like one Max has in Canberra - and ride up and down the lane-way. No pictures of me however! Ella, on a scooter, tows Flynn in a cart.

Flynn examines his pedal trike in the garage.

A pensive Flynn on his strider bike.

Ella races unaided up the road on her bike supervised by the little flag-waving green man at the end.

As it's dark Flynn checks the lights on his scooter.

And also attaches a red warning-light behind his tricycle.

Night-riders!

AS