Christian the Lion

We were told to check this story out when at a State Library of NSW seminar a couple of weeks ago. I've only just got around to looking it up.

Christian was a lion originally purchased by Australians John Rendall and Anthony 'Ace' Bourke from Harrods in 1969 and ultimately reintroduced to the wild by conservationist George Adamson (of Born Free fame). One year after George Adamson released Christian to the wild, his former owners decided to go looking for him in Africa to see whether Christian would remember them. Surprisingly, he did and also 'introduced' his new partner and cubs to them. Read the full Wikipedia article on Christian the Lion

Here's a video about Christian. Soppy music alert.



(I fear Josie will get to about Christian's size!!!!)

Here are John and 'Ace' being interviewed on Australian TV years and years later.



After you have looked at this video clip you should be able to choose to watch the second half of the interview. (Update: Actually, on further examination you are better to look at the interview PART 3 - what says it's Part 2 is mostly a repeat of Part 1)

It's a wonderful story.

Kabooooom!

Bit of excitement at work yesterday.

I was upstairs doing my weekly desk shift when Sarah, the branch manager, came through with hard hat and high-visibility vest on, shouting that the library needed to be evacuated. Thinking it was just a drill, I began to do the same to help her. It took us quite a while to get people out, they just carried on with what they were doing and Sarah had to get quite stroppy in the end. Still thinking it was a drill, I thought, "gee, she's assertive!"

Out in the bottom carpark we learned that Larry who works in the Council offices which are down on the lower floor along with the Library Admin offices, had taken a call saying there was a bomb in the building. Larry was so surprised (as would anyone be) that he had to get the caller to repeat himself. When Larry asked which building the caller just said, "you'll find out."

Vicki, our boss, and Larry had us out quite quickly although I was annoyed that although library staff were stopping people from entering the library, they didn't stop people from going down the lane beside the library, including children, and some staff were very close to a building that might have a bomb in it. They did eventually get the idea and the Police when they finally arrived, said they were pleased with how the library had handled the matter.

It took the Police and Fire folk a good 20 mins to get to us. They checked the building but meantime staff had been told it would be a while before we could get into the building and that we could go home if we wanted. Unfortunately, because I'd been up on the desk I didn't have time to grab my bag and keys so I couldn't go anywhere. We did finally get in about 4:30pm and I was able to complete the last 1/2 hour of my shift.

Now, the caller probably doesn't realise a few things:

1. Larry answered the Call Centre phone - it services both Katoomba which is the Council HQ and the Springwood Office. We reckon the caller thought they were calling Katoomba.
2. We have caller ID on our phones so Larry could see the mobile number being used to make the call - it's now with the Police.

It reminds me of the story of the two Aussie guys in America who held up a bank. They were caught because they were still wearing their name tags from where they worked! And talking to a friend this morning she said the Credit Union at Blaxland was held up years ago and the teller said the thief would have to fill out a withdrawal slip if she was to give him any money. And he did. With his correct name and membership details!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Granny Di

Jamie, Robbie and I are at Village Firefighter training all weekend (7:30-11:30pm tonight and 8:30am-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Will try and Skpe you over the weekend.

Hope you are enjoying your holiday and have a lovely day on Sunday.

Dog school newbie

Josie had her first lesson at dog school last night so it was quite apt that this photo was on the FAIL blog yesterday. (Take note of the title of the book.)

She went quite well, a bit too more interest in the lovely new sniffs (other dogs and ducks and runny babbits) than in learning how to sit and heel but we'll try and practise regularly at home.

There were, as you might expect, several other puppies including a gorgeous little Border Collie pup who reminded us very much of Derek Dog. She is 4 months old, so about the age Derek was when we got him.

Lost in translation?

Our new library poster

Last week my colleague (indeed the Boss) sent me this joke in an email:

Voted Best Scottish Short Joke

A bloke walks into a Glasgow library and says to the prim librarian,

'Excuse me Miss, dey ye hiv ony books on suicide?'

To which she stops doing her tasks,

looks at him over the top of her glasses and says,

'F**k off, ye'll no bring it back!'

I'd seen it several times before so read it, smirked (again) and deleted it.

Said colleague has just been in to my office to ask me what the joke was about. She said she'd been trying to work it out for days.

Was it the Scots she was having trouble with? No. It was the rudeness of the librarian's answer!

Not like a Blue Mountains City Library staff member at all!!!!!

Dust storm

A scary view from a car approaching a dust storm in Australia:

Jamie arrived back in one piece

BUT I am not happy to find they were up, out and on the beach by 6:30 one morning - all the media reports about the shark attacks have emphasised that dawn and dusk are NOT good times to be in the water!

An email to the school tomorrow I think!

Sharkbait

Jamie has gone down the coast for a couple of days with the school. They are attending surfing classes.

There have been several shark attacks over the summer, more than we are used to - read some of the stories here - unless you are squeamish.

I told Jamie he was to make sure he was last in the water.

He said he thought it would be 'cool' to have a shark bite.

I said I was sure he wouldn't find it all that 'cool' hurpling about with no legs.

I reiterated that I wanted him to go in the water last.

"What if everyone does the same?" he asked.

"That'll be fine," I replied, "you can all sit on the beach and make sandcastles."

Ian and Jono's trip to the World Superbike Races at Phillip Island, Victoria

The road trip was planned, booked and paid for in October. You need to pay ahead to make things happen.

The opening round of the World Superbikes coincided with Jono having two weeks leave to move house from Kingaroy to Roma. Fortunately Narelle is a capable woman who didn't need him for that. He arrived on his new bike, ZX 1400, Wednesday evening, we packed my bike and headed off not so early on Thursday morning.

1100km mostly avoiding the highways, through Oberon to Goulburn, transport stage down the Hume to Gundagai, then through Tumut into the Snowy Mountains to Cooma. Bum fatigue was relieved by bike swapping on the ride from Cooma to Cann River in Victoria. The last 30km into Cann River is a joy of smooth 60kph sweepers, the best form of fatigue relief known to bikers.

We finished the day in transport mode to Sale where we had the only accommodation prebooked for the trip. Friday morning we hooked up with Jonos mate Rosie and his travelling companions for the run into Phillip Island. By lunchtime tents were up and bed rolls unrolled?, then we headed out to trackside for the first days practice sessions. The bikes racing were world superbikes, world supersports, Aust superbike and supersport, superstock and historical. Missed a class or two there. Friday night a cold front with very cold and strong winds drove the whole campsite to bed about 8.30pm. Saturday were more practice sessions for all classes and superpole for the superbikes.

To be continued.

Here is a slideshow of the trip:

Dogs in training

They'll do anything for food . . .

and stuff all if you don't have it!

We've finally booked Josie in to dog school. Went last month but they rejected her (our baby!) until she'd had her last injections. We'll start the classes next monday evening.