Patriot Realm

The awaited summer heralds the arrival of luscious mangoes that are now grace the shelves in various markets. Of course, like everything else of late the price tag offers somewhat of a shock, even though the shelves are indeed laden—as costly as $5 per in some places.

Years ago I was asked by a young bloke, never destined to be a gastronome, I should add, what a mango actually tasted like. His mother, only God knows why, would not allow a mango in the house. He thought it might have been something to do with his father’s reaction the fruit—a fetish I suspect later explained in this story.

Defining the elusive flavour of a mango is as futile as trying to describe beauty. An attempt at such might reveal a flavour somewhere between an apricot and a pear. Is it a melange of peach and a banana? Maybe it's more toward sweet melon and an avocado? 

I REMEMBER WHEN Armistice Day was commemorated spontaneously, reverently and universally.

As a kid at state (primary) school we were taught about the sacrifice of the soldiers who died in the war to end all wars and assembled at 11.00am to salute the flag, the Union Jack, and have 2 minutes silence with heads bowed. 

That was in the 1940’s when there were many veterans of WW1 still among us.

The Optus Crash in Australia showed the Value of Cash Today's world is awash with electronic money.

But yesterday, much of Australia's electronic money disappeared for up to 14 hours with the crash of the Optus electronic network.

The disruption to business and the community was "immediate and profound". Rail networks, hospital services, retailers and banking were affected. 

Naturally this was not helped by babbling politicians waving big sticks.

 Shoppers rushed ATM's to get cash for a cup of coffee. Some were unable to pay for meals they had already consumed.

Some time ago a writer to these pages who is a grandmother to a young teenage family, visited her own Mother to catch up for a family get together.

  The youngsters were to have a pleasant visit, not only to Grandma, but to be part of a four generation ‘get together.’ Four generations together ...now that is something else and I would venture to suggest that is a fairly rare event in ones greater family. 

It should be an occasion to remember well into old age.In fact I am told that they are now up to five generations so let's hope they can get a photograph of that.

It reminded me of my Grandma Boddy.

It all started in 1452, when Pope Nicholas V issued the papal bull Dum Diversas addressed to King Alfonso V of Portugal, giving Portugal sovereignty over all non-Christian lands their inhabitants, everywhere.

" We grant to you full and free power ... to invade, conquer, fight, subjugate the Saracens and pagans... wherever established their Kingdoms ,,, and to lead their persons in perpetual servitude "

" I’m buggered ! It has been a great day for me."

The staff had races emulating the Melbourne Cup Day for the patients. One of the nurses was a kiwi and I piped up “we must have more kiwi representation “, Management who were all there frowned as no inmates were taking place. Given a handicap, I finished in front. 

A big cheer and excitement was a lot of fun. Like I have written you make your own fun in here.

But what happened here?

" Bugger it’ " was different. Bugger is a word we use quite frequently down under. 

" Buggered " means tired. " Bugger it " means " I am tired of it. " ,