Mac of Bellingen

Sunrise on the Bluff.

2007-10-01T23:50:00.000+10:00

At 5:45 in the morning, everyone is suitably impressed as the sun makes an appearance. Especially Elly, who only ever sees such a thing if she didn't make it to bed the night before. Liza set up the camera on a tripod and ran back and forth, leaving her jumper at the Bluff. Please contact Mac if looking for its owner.

Direct From The Depths of the Opal Fields To You.

2007-10-01T06:11:00.001+10:00

Mac has just returned from yet another successful trip out west. He travelled with an entourage of 5, all who were interested in the business of finding the opal to end all opals. Gary was an earth mover and it didn't take him long to recognise that opal mining was very hard work. As they traversed the Brandy Gully Mine, which had been mined underground, followed by open cut and was now filled in, he worked out that 30,000 tons of dirt had been moved. It was not one of Mac's successes and he wondered how much the previous owners had known about it's lack of colour, mentioning no names. He had also lost a couple of well off partners and customers over that particular business deal, but hey, them's the breaks.
The trip out west is long and tiring and worth it. The landscape goes through several subtle changes, changing from green, to grey to red, and it becomes harsh, dry and desolate. It's difficult to explain the attraction. Elly's response, after being asked if she liked it, said, "I don't ever want to leave this magical place," which is an expression that many who go there season to season would agree with. Raylee wasn't keen on the dust, and at one point it was looking very much like we were in for a dust storm, with high wind and drops of rain. The tents had to be weighted down will anything heavy that could be found. Tire rims, rusty sinks and bits of strange metal objects which just happened to be handy.
Our resident photographer captured a couple of shots of everyone watching the sun come up at the Bluff, and the slime in the bore drain, which some of the more adventurous bathed in, as well as numerous finches, apostle birds, bouganvillea, kangaroos and a little, teeny nest with two chicks and the tiniest little mother bird you can imagine.
Pics to follow as soon as the opportunity arises, followed by further details.

Vai.

2007-07-02T01:05:00.000+10:00

"He's not an ugly, yeller dog, he's a Purty, yeller dog."
So said the kid from a tear-jerker, Walt Disney movie from years ago. The dog gets rabies trying to save the kid from the dog With rabies, and dad thinks he needs to shoot him, kid saves dog, dog recovers, lives happily ever after with the family and there isn't a dry eye in the house.

Meet Vai.

He ain't got rabies. He's not an ugly yeller dog, he's a purty, yeller dog. And he lives next door. And he's owned by a young, busy with his life, young man. Left with young man's dad, who don't want him. He's chained up for most of his days, and for exercise, they just undo the chain and let him out the door, and, oh boy, is he happy. He Runs. Jumps. Bounds up to all and sundry and let's them know how happy he is to see them. Of course, your clothes are gonna get dirty, and he might just knock over your kids. As an example, an unusual event down here in the East End of Bellingen.

A wedding, which is not so unusual in itself, but this one came down to us on a horse-drawn fancy wagon and had pics taken with the paddocks and the trees in the background. We went out to watch, cos it was lovely, you know? There was Rachel done up to the nine's with top hat and all, driving these two lovely bay, well behaved horses, and the wedding party step down to the ground for their lovely photographs to be taken.

And out comes Vai. Can you imagine the disaster of lovely, young, exuberant pup keenly embracing all and sundry with his dirty, material-snagging feet and claws. To make things worse, he looks like he's our dog. This ill-behaved, boisterous and very nice looking little dog.

Ah, well. Not to0 much damage was done, but the neighbours are getting bolshy. Our resident Vietnam vet has complained to the authorities twice. Once more and Vai's life is on the line. Merv will be down here like a shot, and .... just a shot...say no more.

Now that you get the picture, here is the conversation with dad. We're driving home, Sunday afternoon, and there's the lovely Vai out looking for a bit of action. Except that this time he's trotting up the main road. Now we're talking danger and disaster.

"Let me out," I say.
I call Vai, who comes happily bounding over to someone he knows and happily follows me back to his own house. Up the stairs we go, and there's dad leaning on the window sill. I say his name. Then I say,
"Some time ago, you told me that if I don't want the dog around my house, to chase him away. The reason that I didn't do that is because the chances are that he would wander onto the main road. I have seen dogs hit by cars and, I'm sorry, but I don't cope. He is now on the main road. That's why I'm here."
"It's a dog thing."
"Pardon."
"It happens."
"No. It's an irresponsible owner thing."
"So what am I supposed to do? Keep him chained up?"
"No. You're supposed to exercise him and train him."
"I don't want him."

You get the drift.

There it is. Just another unhappy dog story. We're well into this one by a number of months, so we just have to wait and see how it pans out. Just another dog with another bullet in the brain because some owners don't care? Let's hope that this purty yeller dog also has a happy ending.

Mac Goes Outback At Long Last.

2007-06-17T06:23:00.000+10:00

At the last count, Mac had been pulling into the township of Lightning Ridge and heading for the motel that were run by the ex-egg farmers who had thrown in the proverbial towel and headed for the Ridge. Years ago, they had come to Mac for lessons in opal cutting and had moved to where the opal was in the air.'
"I love it here," Mac had stated on his mobile phone, "there is opal everywhere."
He and his mate were on an opal scouting trip. They were going to start in the Ridge, head for the outer lying fields, and then make their way up to the south-west Queensland fields. The intention was to talk to the miners, purchase anything that was going that would be suitable, and generally sit around the camp fires at night and talk opal. Mac was particularly looking forward to seeing one stone in particular that had been dug out of the ground by one particularly hard working miner, who had been smacked in the face by a particularly large tree branch, busting through the glass of the cabin and making a horrible mess of his face, that was for sale for $40,000. Miners prices. Goodness knows what it would be worth once it made it to the open market. Watch this space ...

Technorati Profile

2006-11-06T09:31:00.001+11:00

Technorati Profile

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Health, Wealth and the Hippocratic Oath.

2006-11-03T07:34:00.001+11:00

'You are What You Eat" is a truism. You Are what you eat. Harvey and Maralyn Diamond like to put it this way. You are what you digest. And we all know that our various body parts are replaced at set numbers of years at the cellular level. So if we exist on a diet of fried foods obviously our body parts are not getting the nutrition they need to function at the optimum level. A recent study known as 'the China Study', implicates the western taste for high intake of animal protein, (Dr Eric Dunn will approve of this) to be the cause of most of our western 'civilised' diseases. It's of interest to note that some of our rich Egyptian freinds who had been mummified were found to have gout. A product of a high meat diet. So. We all Know what to do. Why don't we do it?

'Let your food be your medicine'. This was written back in the Greek era by Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine. Modern medicine has unfortunately gone rather far away from the sentiment, and has taken us to a plethora of pills as the solution, which we all know isn't. We feel helpless. Or do we. We have at our literal fingertips the solution. A simple one which can and does affect the way we feel from day to day. Your Diet.

Not so many years ago, an ukrainian woman in the Unites States found herself to have breast cancer, and suspecting that diet could help her, changed hers. She knew the importance of raw foods such as a variety of fruits and vegetables. She was also aware of the importance of food combining. That certain foods did not digest so well if eaten with certain other foods. Fruit should be eaten alone, for example, and not in combination with other foods. Melons should always be eaten alone. Proteins should not be eaten with starches, and so on. Dr Ann Wigmore was also aware of the benefits of eating fermented foods, such as saurkraut, but minus the heavy use of salt. She introduced fermented nut seeds and rejuvelac, a drink made from the sprouted organic wheat berry and fermented. Sprouted beans provided protein. Wheat grass juice provided high nutrition to feed the body, and plenty of water to keep the body hydrated.

In this fast, modern age where can we go to refresh and rejuvenate our poor toxic-overloaded and tired flesh and bones? There is a place. Aptly titled, 'Hippocrates Health Centre' in the hinterland of the Gold Coast in Mudgeeraba. A peaceful and tranquil haven in a fast-paced, stressful world. Some say that they can't afford to go. My feelings are that we can't afford Not to go.

As submitted by Julian Fairfax Mayhem.

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

The plight of Jess the dog.

2006-08-01T11:54:00.000+10:00

Jess's RSI has turned into a floating bone in the elbow requiring an extensive and some what expensive operation, at the moment she is resting up and saving up for her trip to hospital.

Regional Awards Program - Mac Award

2006-07-31T16:24:00.000+10:00

Individuals, organisations and business networks in our community have the chance to be
recognised through the NSW Regional Achievement & Community Awards.

The program is sponsored by Prime Television, Commonwealth Bank, NSW Department of State and Regional Development, Integral Energy, Kleenheat Gas, Department of Lands, The Land Newspaper, Rex Airlines and the Local Government Shires Association of NSW.

Mayor Mark Troy said “The program is about recognising, encouraging and rewarding valuable
contributions and outstanding achievements in regional and rural areas”.

“I encourage all those individuals, community organisations, businesses and groups involved in
enhancing environmental, economic or social prosperity for the Shire to stand up and be counted!

Nominate now and showcase our community’s’ achievements".

Nominations are now open in five categories:
• Business Enterprise Award
• Events and Tourism Award
• Regional Service Award
• Environment and Landcare Award
• Community of the Year Award.

Award criteria and nomination forms are available at all Sponsors branches and offices. You can
also call the local awards office on 98997251 or visit the website www.awardsaustralia.com

Nominations close on August 11.

It's been three years now since Ian ‘Mac’ McArthur entered a jewellery competition, finally
he has and he has won again.

This time it is a first place win in the Object D'Art section of the Yowah Designer Jewellery competition.

The winning piece is a diamond studded opal handle on a stainless steel lock knife.
The winning piece will be on display at the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival next weekend and
will then return to Mac's studio at East End Bello.

Congratulations Mac, we were beginning to think that you had run out of inspiration.

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Local restaurants into Catering Award Finals

2006-07-31T16:19:00.000+10:00

Five eateries in Bellingen Shire will feature is the Regional Awards Night for the Restaurant and Catering Association in Coffs Harbour next Monday.

The Visa International Restaurant & Catering Northern Awards for Excellence are the industry’s most sought after awards indicating a level of excellence as judged by both
guests and industry peers.

Nominations were taken from voting coupons published in newspapers around the area and forms completed on the Restaurant & Catering website.

Now the eating begins and a team of trained judges are hard at work anonymously visiting establishments all over the region. The five local restaurants that will front the judges are No 2 Oak St Restaurant in Bellingen (Contemporary Australian Restaurant); Anchors Wharf Café, Urunga (Family Restaurant); Lodge 241 Gallery Café, Bellingen (Café Restaurant); and
Chan’s Chinese Restaurant, Mylestom and Manor Chinese Restaurant, Bellingen (Chinese Restaurant).

Over 100 restaurants and caterers in the Northern region are up for one of the 39 awards.

For some establishments it will be the first time they are nominated while for others they may have received nominations time and time again (and won) – indicating one of the most important elements of restaurant business – to maintain and improve standards.

“The more nominees a region receives – the stronger the indication that the whole region is getting it right,” says Restaurant & Catering NSW/ACT CEO Robert Goldman.

“Year on year, I can tell you that we have a significant increase of entries from the Northern region and competition raises standards overall.”

“The benefits to the tourism sector and the local economy is considerable with the acknowledgment of these type of awards helps the whole region attracting visitors and locals to
eat out.”

The Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence will be announced on Monday, July 31 at
Novotel Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour with winners going on to compete in the NSW Regional Finals later in the year.

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Denene's visit to Vietnam 6

2006-07-29T23:14:00.000+10:00

morning darling sweetiepie. I'm sending a fax...& am about to go out and> > about with the tour group looking like a bunch of western tourists. np.i> > did the set out on my own thing early this morning wearing track suit> pants> > & my red t shirt that sez the horses are talking just listen. most> > inappropriate i thought. around here they would eat them methinks. much> much> > love to you. please reply to this email address & we'll see how we go.you> > can also fax me between now and monday morning. luv u.> > denene@vietnam.com.vietnam. ps i had the most bizarre meal of my lifefor> > breakfast. salad greens, broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, cucumber,carrot,> > salted black bean fish, cashew nuts, chili, strange sauce x 2, soy and> > sesame oil. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Denene's visit to Vietnam 5

2006-07-29T23:13:00.001+10:00

9 am here, & we're checking out. Plane to Hue leaving at 12:40 from Ha> Noi.> > (Are you following the itinerary?) So. Quick email to keep you up to> speed.> > I've been told that you should have the fax by now. We should be able to> fax> > each other at these hotels & it's much cheaper for you to me than fromme> to> > you, so keep in mind.> > Went for walk. Bought rambutan + longans for 40,000 dong, & the girl got> > impatient with me because some of the change was in coin, which I had no> > idea about. I then bought water with the coins, which I regret cos Iwould> > like to have kept them. Still, plenty of time, hey. So, the water cost> > 70,000 dong. approx 70 cents. I've paid 80,000, 100,000 & been asked for> > 120,000 respectively, so I'm cottoning on. I feel like I'm just findingmy> > way around and off we go. (I know, I know, but remember I'm just finding> my> > feet & casing the joint...)> >> > Maureen (note spelling, my university- degree -jewelling -husband)should> be> > on her way to Sydney with Gwen by now................would write morebut> > this is costing me a Fortune! So. will check out now & then try to find> > internet cafes but methinks smaller towns now so will have to find thatin> > Ho Chi Minh City. Much love, the time is going very quickly for> > me..........thinking of you & your very slow replies to my emails.> > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Adoring vietnamese-type wife,> > denene.

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Denene's visit to Vietnam 4

2006-07-29T23:13:00.000+10:00

hey. hue fabulous. very ritzy hotel so only here one night, then coach tovung> > tau tomorrow after a small cruise on the perfume river by sampan. (Icould> > get used to this) I'll get the fax no. as soon as poss. for the next> hotel.> > I'm there for two nights. I skipped the afternoon tour in Hue in orderto> > have some time alone, write postcards, buy water, drink french wine. you> > know the score. I don't doubt that you're busy me little darlin'. & what> are> > you eating these days?> > food in Hoi An ok but nothing to write home about - well, not strictly> true.> > there's the bizarre breakfast that I had for two days running, but atethe> > strange, not-so-good smell that you hit on the streets every now andthen.> > It was in one of the pickled vegetables that I had for brekkie, so itput> me> > off & I went on to the more normal omelette type affair that you could> order> > at the 'egg station'. More wonderful signs & writings every where I go.> > Here we are asked to 'have a cleansing bath before entering the pool.'> Then> > on leaving the pool, we are asked to 'go to the toilet and then have> another> > cleansing bath before re-entering the pool'. Also, dear, don't cook and> iron> > clothes in the rooms.> > I'm going to send Jess a postcard, but I don't recall her house number,> flat> > number and postcode. Give her a ring for me, would you, find out & then> > email info. Thanks heaps.> > Right. I'm off to get an adaptor so I can recharge the battery in the> camera> > (taking lots of pics) + thinking of a dip in the pool before the royal> > dinner at 7 pm or is it 7:30 pm. The water here, (I just walked aroundthe> > block) is cheaper again. 6,000 dong for the first 1 and a half litres,and> > 5,000 dong for the second. 11,000 dong. I'm doing well.> > Much Much Adoring Love & really do wish you were here.> > I'm seriously thinking of bringing you back &, yes, I'll travel rough.> > We also have a Europe trip to think of. Me dad's running out of time,and> > we've got a girl & boy in france & italy. Oh yes, and Long Bay.> > ....xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx------

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Denene's visit to Vietnam 3

2006-07-29T23:09:00.000+10:00

Well, finally heard from close family member in Australia. Very good to hear of news from far away land. My education in Vietnam continues. All up, I've paid $30 too much for some goods. & I think that might be very good. I've worked the water out. I was down to 500dong per 1 and a half litres in Hue.

Half the price. & on the sampan my dear travelling companionswere paying 10,000 dong for half a litre. Mind you, I think they bung a few dong on for when it's cold, which I don't want anyway.

Must admit that's it's almost worth that in order not to have to carry 4 and a half litres of water with me everytime I get on a coach or plane!!! I was carrying an overpriced bottle of bordeaux as well, of course.

One never knows when one might not be able to get what one wants. I think also that we should email each other ALL the time, even whenwe're in the same house, because the communique seems to be a bit moreupmarket.

Mind you, would help if you could type. The spelling I don't mind. In fact, it's almost charming. eg. consult, darling. As opposed to consalt. Give Maureen a ring in the spare time that you don't have. Yesterday was overload for me. Too much coach. Not enough sleep.

Visits too fast, and some of them not wanted. I'm slowing down. Most of them have gone off this morning for a walking tour of Hoi An. (ARE you following the itinerary? ARE you interested?)

Mymost ridiculous purchase is a marble mortar and pestle. I bought the medium one because of weight. Can you believe it!! I know you can. Not only that, I paid $5 US for the dashed thing, only to find that we visit Marble Mountain, and guess what theydo there. Yep. And guess what they cost. Yep. $2 US.

So. My Vietnamese education continues. Say hi to Elly especially, who knows exactly what I'm going through. Tell her that I'm off to the tailorsthis morning. I'm thinking a nice little Claudia dress might help to sweetenup Kath. Dunno what will sweeten up Annabel except for Buccrabendinni, and that doesn't seem fair. also love you mac.

It's getting interesting now. We're closing in to the military base, and one of the vets I got to talk to this morning & he don't cope with the memories. Suspect John doesn't either. We're watching a video that Sandy bought with him on one of the boys laptops this afternoonabout one of the battles. 5 or so young men in the military working with bombs and security within Australia.

whooooeeeee...................So.

Yours Sincerely, Psychologist, Denene McArthur. JWEM&C. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Denene's visit to Vietnam 2

2006-07-29T23:06:00.000+10:00

Tunnels today, still no jess, maureen's back with lots to say , it all depends on her heart, the op will cost an arm and leg or more precisley a neck as that is where to the surgen will enter the body , but all dependant on the cardioligits report.

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Denene's visit to Vietnam

2006-07-29T23:03:00.000+10:00

Food here last night magnificent.

Dinner was part of the tour, & they laid it on for us.

Prawns steamed in beer, Tamarind Crab, Fish in a stew pot......Yummy. & STill drinking the french bordeaux.

I'd love to get those labels! Rightio, this Hotel offers the first ten minutes on the net free, & my time is up. Then it's 1,000 dong a minute and I'm not paying that haha.

Much Love. I'm almost home.

Today is the military remembrance day.

Might be tough. Denene. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Jess (our dog) is having some problems

2006-07-29T22:57:00.000+10:00

jess's leg it's not just rsi its floating bone the result of falling off a veranda as a young pup so she needs an operation she 's not in a fund so big bikkies and i don't mean dog type

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Mac's Animal Farm

2006-07-04T16:45:00.000+10:00

Mac's dog has RSI. No big deal, you might think, but this dog is a running dog. She's a border collie who lives to run. She has gained two kilos in weight and a great deal of sympathy. Raw, beef bones welcome to Mac Art Jewellery Studio in the East End of Bellingen.

Mac's horse also has a lame story. He managed to get himself a very deep stone bruise wherein an area inside the hoof filled with pus and became very painful. William Horse could not put his weight on it. A trip to the vet inCoffs, (David), an x-ray and a deep cut into the foot & William is on the mend.

Mac's cat & wife all walking on four and two legs respectively, so far so good.

Be Well.

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Work Experience for The Wonderful Under-Sixteens.

2006-06-30T15:40:00.000+10:00

Thea has just come to stay. She brought her father with her from Mclean, being a touch shy, and stayed upstairs, all ready for what the day would bring working alongside Mac, in his not-so-squeaky-clean establishment.

Mac put her to work on the stone cutting lapidary machinery with a piece of Very Hard Australian Chrysoprase. She shaped it, set it, polished it and wore it by the end of the week.

Did the experience wow her enough to bring her into the world of jewellery making and shop keeping? We don't know. We do know that Mac & Denene love her and her dad, and cherish the experience of having had them in their lives for albeit a brief moment, but a moment in time of freindship and growth and loyalty and love that will continue on into eternity, and hopefully, all being well and as it should be, here, on the earth.

Be Well.

Click here to accept Credit Cards in just minutes!

Mac of Bellingen has arrived!

2006-06-26T16:55:00.000+10:00

Hi folks,

Your quirky friend in Bellingen has arrived in cyberspace.

I have lots of new and interesting things to talk about and am eager to read your comments about these new and interesting things.

Talk to you soon.

Mac