Deaths,Taxes and Beauty Of The Earth

Deaths and taxes are 2 things you have to live with and cannot run away from them.

The month of June is our financial year and it is time to do your tax returns. I always hate doing my taxes at this time of the year every year. There are paper work to sort out, deciding what can be claimed and what cannot. Every little interest you earned from your pittance savings have to be declared as income. It is no wonder the “ang mohs” rather prefer to spend all their money than save them up and pay taxes on interest earned.

After sorting out the paperwork, you make an appointment to see the tax accountant to further sort out what is acceptable and what is not. Then some more, eh, you have to pay the accountant for his work and submit your tax returns.

You may asked, “Why don’t you do it yourself?” Well, it is better to let the man do it because he knows what to look for and how to wring every dollar from the taxman. Even though you have an accountant doing your tax return you are still responsible for your tax returns and claims, not him. There are some dodgy accountants who will filed any claims to maximise your tax return not caring whether your claims are legitimate or not. After all the responsibilities are your and not them.

Earlier this year there are 2 deaths, my uncle and Mary Morgan. That would be enough to make you sad. Yesterday we received 2 phone calls informing us the death of 2 friends. That makes 4 deaths so far. It was sad but it is something we cannot change or avoid. Death has no respect for anyone. It treats everyone equally. Kings, Presidents, Princes and Princesses Prime Ministers, millionaires, man in the street, beggars, housewives, husbands and children etc. are all treated equally. When the roll is called and your time is up, you have to meet your Maker.

Jimmy died of a stroke on Tuesday. He had high blood pressure but he refused to take any medication. He believed in leaving his fate in God’s hand. He believes when your number is up it is up. He believed you cannot change your destiny. Yes, man, even with or without medication.

Alice died of cancer. We know her for a short 4 years when we moved to the church we currently worship in. A few years ago, she beat the cancer in her and was in remission. But since last year the cancer came back and it came back with a vengeance. Alice fought against it with no complains. She was always cheerful and generous even though she was in pain and ever ready to thank God for her suffering. She died on Monday having lost the fight. She was ready to meet the Lord, her creator, her God in a heavenly home where there are no tears or suffering.

All this brings me back to reality. No amount of money or tears can bring back your love ones. Every day is a bonus to me. I will never know when my number is up. Every morning I wake up I thank the Lord for another day. I thank for his blessing and good health. I make every effort to live my life to the fullest - enjoy the fresh air, the cold weather, the sunshine, smell the flowers, driving through the crazy traffic, accepting and understanding my cranky boss, enjoy my hobbies, enjoy the food I eat, enjoy my friends and families companionship, not worrying about the mullah or working long hours to chase them. It is not worthwhile having plenty of it and not spending more time loving the people around you. I will more spent time with wife, understanding and appreciating her dedication and love, for accepting me for what I am and accommodating my sometime cranking moods. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful, understanding and loving wife. As for my friends and family members, I will be more patient with them if they do not write or respond to my blogs or emails. I am sure they are busy too. I promise I will be more patience and lend a helping hand wherever I can.

Lastly I want to tell you all who read this blog, “I love you! Yes, I love you!” I guess you never expected it, enjoy it while you can, you and I will never know what tomorrow brings.

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Refrain

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.

Refrain

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight.

Refrain

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.

Refrain

For each perfect gift of Thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven.

More Pictures Of This Winter Cold Spell

Pictures are from The Age of snows in Central Victoria. It is near where we went earlier last month with my brother and nephew "Way Up North".

More cold spell are on the way. Will it snow where I live?

It is so cold

Today is very cold. It is definitely the coldest day so far for this winter. For the few days, the mornings were not only cold but also misty. Roads were wet and slippery.

This morning I left for work in 2 thick warm clothing. The office heater on my side of the office wing decided to play up and not co-operate. The cold morning seems to freeze the heater up and instead of blowing nice warm air, it was blowing cold air. Off course, we have a few unhappy people and 2 staffs were off sick the next day. The technician came and tested everything and pronounced the heater is fine except it take a little longer to heat up. The right wing heater purred like a cat and that wing is so warm and cozy. After a while in the right wing and walking back to the left wing, you can feel the difference. It is like walking into a cold storage room.

The cold snap brought some snows in Central Victoria and dump more snows into the snow fields. Ski operator are smiling and rubbing their hands with glee. The snow fields were covered with thick blankets of snow delighting skiers. It will be a bumper season.

Will my plants in my garden survive this winter? I hope the kaffir lime tree and the curry leaf plant survives, otherwise I will at loss with my curries.

Brrrr, excuse me while I turn the heater up. Well, I guess this winter heating bill will be up, too.

Please support your local blogger by sending donations so he can continue to blog. Send donation to….erh, excuse me. My missus just told me off, please don’t send donation, unless you want me to get into trouble. Ok!

I am going to curl up in bed under the doona and watch telly. Night, night folk.

Waste Not, Want Not

I am from an old school where we are taught not to waste. Any items that can be used would be utilized to its full capacity or to its full life span. But commercialism dictates the other way with the throw away mentalities. Useful items no longer needed, or useful, or out of fashion are either thrown away or discarded and replaced with a newer, sleeker, better looking model.

In my earlier years pursuing my photography hobby, I have accumulated a few film point and shoot cameras, SLR cameras and lenses. They have served me well until the digital cameras slowly phased them out. I remember I last used the film cameras were in 1997, when I visited my brother in the US and my good friend in Calgary, Canada.

Nikon Mount Tamron Zoom Lens

Nikon 50mm Lens

Keeping with the trend, I also myself bought a few digital cameras. One recent acquirement was a digital SLR Canon camera which came with an 18-55mm lens. While the lens was enough to do some leisure photography, there were some limitations to it. Moreover, this lens is a low end lens.

Anyway I decided to invest in some good lenses but they were pretty expensive. After taking stock I decided there must be some way I could utilize my old film SLR lenses. I used to mount my film SLR Nikon mount lenses with my other film SLR Rollei camera via an adaptor ring and I guess why not with my Canon digital camera.

2 weekends ago, I dropped in to Ted’s camera, one of the leading camera dealers and enquired about an adaptor ring that would allow my Nikon lenses to be mounted on to my digital Canon camera. The person who served me had no idea what I was talking about and kept saying she have to ring Canon to find out more about this adaptor ring. I patiently told her there was no need to ring Canon. I asked if she knew or understood what I wanted or does she know what is an adaptor ring? She just flogged me off telling me it is not possible to put a Nikon mount lens onto a Canon digital camera and there were none in stocks.

Not wanting to admit defeat, I search the net and found a site in China that sells such adaptor ring for A$20. I decided I have nothing to lose, so I bought one.

Adaptor Ring

Today I received it. I was so excited and could not wait to try it out. I mounted the adaptor ring on to my Nikon lens and onto the digital Canon camera and guess what? It worked. I have to focus manually with the desired aperture setting and the digital Canon camera sets the shutter speed automatically.

50mm Nikon Lens with Adaptor ring Fitted

50mm Nikon Lens Mounted on Canon Digital Camera

For an A$20 investment to be able to use my old Nikon mount lenses that give me tremendous amount of pleasure, self satisfaction and on top saving big bucks, I am very happy and not complaining. Would you?

Shot taken with Nikon Lens & Canon Digital Camera combination

Hi Dad

Dad in Tower Bridge, London 1957

Hi Dad

Just a quick note.
You are still remembered and loved.
Though you are not here physically
We know you are with us spiritually
Alway looking after us as usual
Keeping us safe from all harm
Seeing to our needs and loving us
Thank You Dad for your love
We love you, too.