Good evening to you CHRISGAFF1000...

I fully appreciate your reflection and thoughts on 'your days growing shorter'...? Similarly with clothing. Conflicting decisions as to whether to discard a shirt, trousers or a jacket simply because it no longer fits you ? But you never know it'll probably fit OK next summer ? Who in hell are we kidding eh ? We said the same thing three or four years ago, yet this old clothing is still occupying a peg or a coat hanger in the dark recesses of our wardrobe ?

Is it because we're afraid to throw it out, or place it in one of those pink charity bags ? By precipitously discarding our favourite old clothing, is it not symbolic of prematurely casting aside our youth, even yielding too soon to the ravages of old age before we must ?

Your multitude of paperback books, you never know you'll get around to reading them someday ? Besides, if you gave them away, wherever would your cat sit, while you're at your desk ? If for no other reason, you must provide appropriate seating for your beloved cat ?

You're right my friend, our days are getting significantly shorter ? And I have no idea how to apply the brakes, in order to lengthen those days ? No idea as to whether or not, our 'lives' even provides for a suitable braking mechanism ? No idea at all Chris ?

Take it easy my friend.

o sung wu,

I preferred Snap-On tools and would choose them again, especially for their girl clocks. Very tasteful, just Google. But then I resolved to buy more Windsor Smith shoes (and have kept to it) ever since the Oz feminist brutes were 'horrified' by the cute brunette in the 1985 advertisement,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3giZzPrzHk

OK, some Snap-On clocks,

http://tinyurl.com/snapon-clocks

Don't fuss the small stuff, some books were always destined to remain un-read. Live in the moment and enjoy life.

G'day again ONTHEBEACH...

I couldn't agree with you more, '...live in the moment and enjoy life...'. A marvellous piece of sound advice my friend, and thank you very much for sharing your sage advice.

Take care.

o sung wu,
Sad but true.
I had a "Black and White" last week.
Usually I keep away from them but this one had a few old mates. Generals Cosgrove and Jeffries, one of whom actually served under my command in a far off place that should never be mention in good company, and a whole bunch of 'old glory' types teetering on the same edge as us.
I went to that dark corner in the wardrobe and dug out my military #1's and found my middle had grown far beyond the limits of the jackets stretch capacity then came out the old police dress uniform only to find that it had faded into a mottled blue hue with mildew.
A quick trip to the hire shop and there I was, another penguin in the sorry old bunch that "makes up the number"
Later I waded through that wardrobe and found a lot of totally useless garments that I discarded ( I did keep the badges and insignia for the grandkids though) but it was a fruitful trip down memory lane.
Funny how now a pair of old shorts that keep falling off my hips and a well worn and holy singlet out of 'Rivers' becomes a more respected uniform amongst my peers than a whole wardrobe full of highlights in the 'passing parade' of mixed careers.

G'day there CHRISGAFF1000...

It's good to keep those memories I reckon. They may not mean much to others, but to you, to me, and many men of similar persuasion, they mean a lifetime of not always pleasant experiences ? Still and all if life was merely just a smooth uneventful ride, whatever would we have to talk about, or more to the point, bitch about ? As I patiently wait my turn in God's waiting room, I reflect back to the Army, the coppers, and now my 'threadbare' retirement. Wondering if I'd stayed in (Army), and done twenty years, what would've happened ?

I see General Cosgrove's been appointed GG now, as well as being elevated to the first Aussie Knighthood for over twenty years. Did you ever cross his path Chris, either here of in SV ? Actually, I never had the pleasure myself. I think he'll make a reasonable GG, he's quite popular, rather him than another 'left leaning' academic or former politician, I reckon we've all had enough of them personally !

o sung wu,
Yes I 'served under Cosgrove' in Nam and again in Command HQ when they pulled me out and set me up for an MD. Actually I outweighed him on the "lists' but he had the wider theatre experience and cultural background.
My 'chicken" was a field badge anyway and when I got back they cut it back to a 'half'. Still got the pay and the pension. They gave me an Armored Corp base at Annerley, Old. sorting out the Centurions good and bad 20 pounder barrels for rebore or recycle.
Ran into Cosgrove in the wake of cyclone Yasi. He was the boss and I was the disaster coordinator.
My boss was Maj. Gen. Jeffery who ran a dozen or more immediate disaster response teams. Doctor, nurse, transport officer, engineer, Warranted ex senior copper and a couple of expert goffers who reminded me of my batman.
Cosgrove will make a good GG mate because he will do what has to be done with dignity, decorum and decision.
Everything that makes a good general