Fall-Guy?

Well, no... but almost!

For some time past I have been 'circling' the task of removing tree branches which have overgrown our roof to create havoc with guttering at this time of year. The tree is a mass of small flowers which, during spring and early summer, deposit heaps of very fine petals or pollen which easily penetrate fine mesh gutter-guard to cause blockages during heavy rain-fall. Worse, if not removed quickly, the material accelerates rusting of the actual guttering.

At 80, I'm not as agile on the roof as I used to be. Not fearful, but ultra-cautious. This morning was warm but overcast with no breeze whatsoever. I determined this to be perfect for the task... so gingerly ascended the ladder along with trimming gear and a crab-like scuttle from point of roof entry to the scene of the over-growth. As usually happens... nothing untoward occurred during the actual operation. Except frequent calls of 'are you OK?' from my wife through the kitchen window immediately below my work-space. None of those entreaties broke my concentration until the last one which came shrill and unexpectedly as I was reversing off the roof with one leg tentatively trying to feel for a foot-hold on the penultimate rung of the shaky old ladder made by my Dad c.1930s(?) Startled, I was immediately seeking non-existent hand-holds in excess of the two I already had a firm grip on... whilst the ladder drunkenly sought to substitute stability for an onset of the wobbles.

All ended well. However, on any future expeditions to the hacienda heights my good lady is instructed to assist my safe return to earth by holding her tongue and the bloody ladder at the same time!  

Sunday Strips

From the trenches, Small Potatoes c.2004 marches on...

Saturday Double-dip (2)

Here's the focus on this day in 2013...

Murdoch                    

By rim on 5 December 2013 - 4:12pm

The megalomaniac Rupert chose to become a U.S. citizen so he could better prosper in his insatiable drive for power.

OK! Stay in the 'States and annoy the hell out of your friends of choice Roop. Leave this country, its people and valued institutions (eg, the ABC) alone.

I assure you, you'll not be missed for one nano-second!

Saturday Double-dip.

The long awaited summer has finally reached us south of the border (temporarily anyway?) with 4 days in a row expected to reach 30C or higher. Downside of the heat is that it adds to the normal languid state of this elderly cartoonist who, having mowed the lawns earlier this morning, now cannot even bother checking breaking news reports to see if there is anything screaming to be lampooned.

Sooo... why not raid the archives to chronicle what was occupying my attention on this day in (firstly) 2012?  The original blog text is included to illuminate the thrust of the subject, BTW,,, this was from the 'postage-stamp' sized cartoon repro sizes era, so I've bumped it up to 20 x 20 cms and changed the speech balloon colour in the interests of clarity.

Israel in the news again ...

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By rim on 5 December 2012 - 2:20pm

... both of them, that is.

On the one hand, you have Israel the country 'white-anting' international efforts aimed at facilitating an atmosphere conducive to building a lasting peace between Israelis and their Palestinian neighbours. As a step in that direction, the UN no sooner elects Palestine to non-member status, than the Israeli government announces their intent to establish more settlements on the west bank in the sure knowledge that such a move is akin to a sharp jab in the Palestinian eye with a burnt stick.

At the same time, Israel Folau the multi-code footballing identity suddenly announces that he will abandon salary settlement talks with Parramatta Rugby League club, instead, deciding to switch codes yet again by joining NSW's Waratahs Rugby Union side.

Cartoonists sometimes attempt to combine separate items of contemporary news in one drawing, often presenting viewers with a tenuous hope of 'connecting the dots' as it were. However, the co-incident word associations and end-games encompassed by yesterday's similtaneous ISRAEL reports almost beggar belief. Talk about 'planets lining-up' ...  

Blind-man's Brough

What a tangled web we weave...

Climate change 'change'?

The PM announces a $1 billion gift to help pacific island nations combat climate change. WOW! That's a wonderful gesture for a nation whose leadership is continuously portraying the national exchequer as virtually empty.

I suppose Malcolm DID mean he intends to pony-up the gift in Australian Dollars?

Shock Treatment?

News today that electricity charges are increasing at an alarming rate throughout Australia... and the hardest hit consumers are here in Victoria,

So much for the con that privatization of electricity production and distribution would lead to reduced prices for consumers. We are being ruled by complete wankers at all levels of administrative government. Worse, the electorate keeps falling for the bullshit promises peddled by these layabouts!