Magnificent place wasn't it shaggy? I wonder how much is left after the volcano. I know the yacht club, the pool & swimming club, & the main business area are gone, but the harbor is still in use, & that north western part of town is still there.

One of the couples had a trip to Japan, & came back on the Chitral cruise ship. As they cruised up the harbor everyone was coming up to them exclaiming almost in disbelief, "do you really live here?". That view, coming up the harbor, with all the buildings peaking out of the coconut palms must have been one of the best sights on earth I reckon.

Did you ever do the Duke Of York's ball?

Hasbeen,
No I cannot recall the Ball.
Tavurvur the volcano, stank a bit and the place had constant earth tremors when I was there. The water was quite hot around the base of Tavurvur and you had to be careful that the boat engine did not overheat. Across the harbor the base of Vulcan or the beach at the base of Vulcan had a bit of temp.
They had both erupted in '37 and destroyed the place and did it again in '94. Simpsons harbor is one big caldera and the volcanoes around the harbor are perched on the lip of this massive crater. It must have been a god almighty explosion to make a hole that big.
There was still a lot of unexploded ordinance and other leftovers from WW2 when I was there.
Good times.
SD

I lost my dad back in 2004 and it has been the toughest thing I have ever had to deal with.

Still to this day I rarely go a day without thinking of him.

Christmas was always speacil to him as Christmas lunch was always his day, a tradition that I seem to have adopted.

When I look around the room at Christmas time, I can't help think that it was his doing that created the family I have today.

Always loved my dad, still do and always will because I think that just because someone has gone, doesn't mean you have to stop loving them.

A quote from a movie I remember was a dying man saying to his partner, "will you promise to love me for the rest of my life", and she replied, "No! I'm going to love you for the rest of my life".

Love you dad! Always will.

Shaggy Dog,
I am not bitter like many things I never learned to be bitter. The state institutions that I grew up in , Yarra Bay, Broughton, Broughm, Charlton, Berri, Mittagong, Anglewood, Natti, Yean were all bad places run by bad people who are now under the spotlight at the RC into child abuse.
There was no time for Xmas or birthdays only time for scrubbing the floors or digging the paddocks in useless succession.
The abuse you learned to cop because there wasn't a thing you could do about it.
If you complained you got even more beatings and deprivations.
The only thing I am bitter about is that RC insiders tell me there will be no punishments handed out as a result of the RC to individuals, only recommendations to prevent future problems.
OUG talks about bad cops well I guess my upbringing accounted for my bad behavior as a squad cop. Sorry about that.

chris..there..is..reason..for..any anger..
there is al*ways a cause..and the easy way..is to release it.

my father..never got really angry..[but..he also never got truly/happy..despite trying hard..]

dad was a people person/loved nothing better than..others..saying the nice things..[if he showed his anger..he quickly/pushed/sublimed it away..deep inside]..by pushing..it away..by..[keeping it all inside] [personalizing..it..within/killed him]

over my times i have had the same angers..but not the same need for peer recognition..he loved nothing better than a drink with/his mates/i love nothing better than a calming smoke alone.[he despite being the typical father of the times/never the less had good as well as bad influences..[as do we all]..i know he likes nothing better than a drink..so anytime..i need him..i just crack/open a tube

ihate the taste of it/but enjoy the affect[dad like me had an addictive personality/thus i..might only drink..a few times a year/because i/dont need the reminders.

we each[though/largely forgotten]..had a pre life review..our parents were SPECIFICALLY..united..together..to..i give our evolving souls..the needed teachings[thus glutton..might need a scarcity..situation/that allows them..to/see..the other things..their soul/needs to experience..to mature.

i clearly..needed..his adverse peer advantage/life experiences..
installed..in/me..the further my own spiritual/learning..that my too dependent..on/other soul/had accumulated..that was preventing my higher evolving closer to/our true father[god]

my father was devoutly..anti god[he said he had read the books 3 times
and that it was all ccc/ rap..so i grew up..in/his image..in/that aspect/he also is handy..with his hands..a smooth talker and the ladies man

he is handsome/funny talented..he just cares..too much
loves to deeply..too easy..trusted/mates wouldnt hurt him
when they did..it ripped his heart in two.

continues

anyhow i grew uplike him
got biker mates/got drunk..worked myhands etc

but then..i/got busted

but it was only after my removal from my jobs/work family/etc..that i/had the chance to read and re read the/new testiment[new age version]

it was only upon/further incarcerations i/read the whole bible
and saw the preceding stuff..what jesus said made 'sense'[but the thing is BEFORE i could comprehend..the beginning..i had a clear of the ending.

but im waffling/on..[dad didnt talk much]
i figure..if you were raised..by mothers..its cause in previous life fathers didnt help you get here[i figure no parents..its/because you wanted to respect/your previous GREAT/perfect/ideal parents..but needed a life sentence..to appreciate them..or realize the great gift great ones can/be/but also not the curse others are bound to [ETERNALLY].

anyhow after release..i go back to/my self imposed lonely HOME DETENTION..[cave]..and read the many of gods comforters he has sent to mankind..anyhow..god loves us dearly..he knows what we need

to evolve..out wants/needs
[but think..of it like this]..we sleep 8hours..during which we dream
[wether we remember..it or not]..and the dreaming is nonstop..sofor our waking hours..we spend here in hell[but in our dream/life..wwe met with our true parents]

here we may be hungry[but in our dreams we are given feasts
here we may live on/the street..but in/our dream..we come home..to our fathers mansion...here we blog/in my dreams i blog too...this means im obsessing about blogging..i cant get too unbalanced..one has to/go..or i greate obsessions

anyhow..in life[im alone]
in my dreams im alone..thes LAWS..of free assosiation/
are aimed at keeping me ALONE*..aimed at me personally..im affronted..not offended...not upset..just learning ..iam not alone