Cheers for the Beers, Don Ritchie!

One night, in the back of taxi, a friend admitted that he was thinking about suicide. He told me it was black and dark and that he was ready to give up. He didn’t look at me. He didn’t raise his voice... but, in the back of the taxi – he reached out to me.

We talked. We hugged.

We cried. We held each other.

And... he’s still here today.

Every day, people struggle with life... with not giving up.

Years ago, I read an inspiring article about Don Ritchie.

He lives across the road from an Australian

tourist attraction.... The Gap.

The Gap is beautiful – steep cliffs plunging dramatically into an angry sea.

It’s a perfect suicide point.

(It’s the most commonly used suicide position in Australia.)

Don Ritchie lives where he can see people facing death. He is drawn out of his home by people who are giving up... standing on the edge of the cliff, waiting for the moment when they will step off and end their pain.

Statistics show that he has saved 160 people from jumping to their death....

Ritchie believes that he has

stopped more than 400 people.

He is known as the Angel of The Gap, saving people for over 45 years.

The “Angel” walks over to where people have neatly left piles of personal items, and offers cups of tea, beer or a chat. He offers a smile and lends an ear.

Many are saved. Others are lost.

Imagine trying to invite someone to your home only to have them jump.... the wind throwing their hat into the air, before you catch it. Surely, the memory would linger forever...

Don has this in his memory.

Don sometimes receives letters in the mail, presents and offers of thanks. People he has saved have sent their thanks in countless ways. A postcard bearing the words: ‘I am well’, must mean so

much to this amazing man.

Parents of suicide vicitims thank Don, gaining comfort in knowing that their child's last moments were spent in the kindness of Don.

I am not the only person in admiration of Don Ritchie.

He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006 for his services to suicide prevention.

While Don Ritchie wants us to know that life is worth living, he is reluctant to tell his story. It seems that every time it is told, people realise that The Gap is the ideal place for suicide and more people are lost.

As we celebrate Christmas and welcome

in the New Year,

thousands of people will be lost in dark thoughts.

At 84, Don Ritchie, can’t always be

the Angel of The Gap.

Maybe, we can help someone…

Sometimes, just being there is enough…. Sometimes, listening is enough… Sometimes, a hug is enough… Sometimes, people reach out to us. When they do, make sure you are ready to be there for them.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians under the age of 44.

(Lifeline provides mental health and suicide prevention support and is busiest around Christmas and New Year. Between midnight on Christmas Day and and midnight on January 2, 2010, the service received 9948 calls, a 10 per cent increase on last year.)

http://www.smh.com.au/national/an-angel-walking-among-us-at-the-gap-20090731-e4f2.html

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/tragedy-amid-the-beauty-at-the-gap-20100323-qtxa.html

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://29.media.tumblr.com

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/23/3100513.htm

www.lifeline.org.au/

No Limbs - No Limits

Today, I turned many pages of a book...

I lifted a drink to my mouth, sipping at leisure...

I weeded...

I picked vegetables from my garden...

I held timber and screws as a fence was made...

I climbed a fence...

I watered my garden...

I brushed my teeth and flushed the toilet...

I scratched an itchy nose

and held my nieces and nephew in my arms...

I drove my car and searched the ‘Net.

All day, my fingers were moving, my feet were moving...

... And then, I watched a short video clip...

... and wiped a tear away with my finger.

Nick can’t do that.

For reasons unknown, Nick Vujicic was born without limbs.

Imagine, a friend has just given birth. You visit and hold the baby gently in your arms. Curious fingers reach out and hold ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes.

Baby arms and legs, covered in wrinkly skin...

Nick never had arms or legs.

Nick’s an Aussie, born in Brisbane in 1982.

Growing up, there were times where I was self-conscious and worried about what people thought of me...and I am so normal-looking that most people would hardly have noticed me! How must Nick have felt – surely it was much, much worse for him.... Everywhere he went, people would have stopped and stared... gawked and leered... questioned and wondered.

A person with no arms or legs! It’s no wonder he suffered though depression and loneliness.

But that was when he was growing up – Now, he’s spreading hope and inspirational stories wherever he goes. For a man unable to hug anyone, Nick sure receives a lot of hugs! It’s because he has the ability to put life into perspective. He tells people that they are worth something... that they are important.... that they are beautiful – and let’s face it- we all need to hear that!

Nick now lives in America, is the president of Life Without Limbs and has a Motivational Speaking Company – Attitude is Altitude.

I love that Nick’s face is so open and smiling. Listen to him speak – and watch the reactions of the teenagers in the clip. Nick’s words will lie inside those teenagers for years to come. When they feel down, his memory will be there to help them back up again.

Watch Nick speak –

see if you don’t wipe away a tear...

And then...

List all of the things you do with your hands....

Things Nick can never do...

And know,

life really is great!

www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

www.attitudeisaltitude.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnaWQuq1Oj8&feature=share

No presents from Santa?

This could be why...

http://funandmusic.biz/funny-pic-Christmas-Pic-Page.htm

... And Eight Tiny Reindeer

Way back, in 1822, a man sat down and wrote a poem.

It was a gift for his children. It has become one of the most famous poems in the world, retold through stories, movies and books. It has been passed down through generations and become accepted as fantastic fact.

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 – 1863) would be amazed to know that his poem, now known as “The Night Before Christmas” still delights children almost 200 years later.

In his poem, he started another fantastic rumour. The reindeer.

Remember these lines:

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer...

Robert L. May created Rudolph, in 1939.

This red-nosed reindeer is surely the most famous and most popular of the reindeer. Rudolph is so deeply buried in the Christmas story that it’s difficult to imagine Christmas without him!

His fame and popularity were boosted after a song was written about him. Gene Autry, in 1949 created the Rudolph song, ensuring that Rudolph would live forever in the imaginations of children.

This Christmas, children waiting for Santa’s arrival will be straining to hear the sounds of reindeer hooves on their roof. The belief in these magical and marvellous creatures wraps the Christmas Story together.

I’ll be making sure that carrots and water are left out for the reindeer.

http://www.santaswarehouse.com.au

No great story would be completed without a little scandal!

Maybe, someone else wrote the poem “The Night Before Christmas”. There are a group of people who claim to have listened to Henry Livingston’s reading of the same poem! And, they state that they were listening to it for 15 years before it was supposedly written! Scandal!

http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/xmas/livingstonmoore/index.htm#author

Tree of Life

On Christmas morning, many families will gather around their Christmas Tree, marvelling at the bundles of wrapped presents. For the weeks leading up to Christmas, the decorated tree has stood proudly in the home, admired by many and promising delights soon to come.

Evergreen trees have been placed in homes - in December - even before the arrival of Christianity.

That’s a long standing tradition.

A tradition steeped in suspicion and fear.

By hanging evergreen branches over the entrance to a home, ghosts, witches, evil spirits and illness would be kept away.

Way, way back in time, the long, dark winters were proof that the sun god was sick. The ancient people of the Northern Hemisphere started to celebrate the winter solstice. They celebrated it, because, being the shortest day and longest night, the days would start becoming longer... The sun god would become stronger. The winter solstice always fell around the 21^st of December. Evergreen branches would be hung in homes, as a welcome to the green plants which would soon grow.

The Romans also celebrated the solstice. They also hung evergreen branches in their homes. They were celebrating the fact that food could start to be farmed again.

Druid priests of the ancient Celts hung evergreen branches in their temples because the branches symbolised everlasting life.

The first linking of the evergreen trees with Christmas seemed to start with the Germans, before spreading across Europe. England was introduced to the Christmas Tree by Prince Albert in 1841. He decorated a tree - in Windsor Castle - with candles, gingerbread, lollies and fruit. This became a tradition which, quickly spread across most English speaking nations.

While candles on the trees are beautiful, they were replaced by lights after the invention of light bulbs and electricity in the 20^th century.

Today’s Christmas Trees, with their plastic branches and plastic ornaments are a long way from the traditional trees.

But... they still bring the same hope and enjoyment which was brought by the very first trees, so very, very long ago.

http://www.santaswarehouse.com.au

Sinterklaas

Christmas is great.

It is the perfect opportunity for the old me to be a child. No one really notices if I yell and scream in the delight of Christmas. People turn a blind ear when I sing my own version of Christmas Carols. I’m even allowed to yell out of car windows as we travel the streets, admiring the house lights. At Christmas, everyone can be a child again.

I have come to think that Christmas is one of the longest running gossip stories – ever! It’s incredible, really. Today, the spreading of the story would be accomplished with a few comments on facebook and twitter and a couple of stories on Wikipedia. Emails and texts could be sent and everyone would know the story within a day!

I’m impressed that the Christmas story managed to spread across the world, without the use of technology – and that the story is still one of the biggest in the world! Millions of people continue to spread the story of the big guy in his red suit, flying across the Christmas Eve skies in his reindeer-drawn sleigh.

The big guy is real!

The red suit is real!

The reindeer.... maybe not.

Santa Claus was born around 280 AD, in Turkey, to rich parents. He was a monk and became the Bishop of Maya, where he was known as St. Nicholas. His robe was red and he rode on a white horse. He was the ultimate good guy, spreading generosity and kindness all over Europe. He was especially protective and giving towards children. The stories of him had started to travel!

The real gossip story involved three sisters. Being so poor that their father could not afford a dowry, he was looking at selling one of them into slavery. Hearing this story, Saint Nicholas went to their house one night and secretly threw three bags of gold down the chimney. Ha! Imagine! A bag of gold fell into each of the girl’s stockings, which were hanging by the chimney to dry!

The story continued to spread and the children of Europe began leaving shoes and stockings out at night, hoping they would be filled with chocolate and fruit.

The story reached other countries through the Dutch colonists, as they travelled the world. They brought all of the stories of Sinterklaas (meaning St. Nicholas). Over-excited children repeated the name Sinterklaas so quickly that it became Santy Claus.

Over many centuries, the story has continued to live. Sinterklaas still wears a red suit and stockings are still left out at night. Gifts are still delivered through the chimney.

Santa Claus really is real!

http://www.santaswarehouse.com.au

My Town

My town is lovely.

Sometimes, I forget how lovely it is.

While driving to work, I forget to take in the views...

On weekends, I often avoid the crowds...

Crowds - that's laughable, really...

The town is so lovely that people drive in to spend the weekend...

But, there's more than enough room for everyone.

Ancient fig trees stretch across the sky.

To the west, rolling hills carry my eyes

across grazing animals and old stone walls.

There's a lighthouse, standing tall and proud...

The ocean wraps around the eastern side of my town.

The beaches are lovely and there are several to choose from.

There's even a bay, with gently lapping waves.

In rough weather, the waves pound against the wall,

spraying water across the path.

Jumping from the sudden walls of water makes me feel young again.

My town is famous for its two blowholes.

On cold, windy days, with an angry ocean,

waves of water are pushed through a hole in the rocks

and sent spurting into the air.

The wind blows the water, spraying anyone who has dared to step too close.

The whooshing noise of the blowhole creates much excitment and anticipation.

The people in my town are friendly

and ready with a smile.

My town is lovely.

Christmas Bush Problem

Imagine...

You wake in the night and roll out of bed.

You stumble in the dark,

eyes closed with sleep.

Your body knows the way,

but it's still bumping into corners.

You're almost there, when..

it happens.

The thick stream of spider web wipes across your face.

You feel it pull and stretch.

You imagine the scuttling of spider legs

running across your nose.

Arms flash out, swiping at the cobwebs,

swiping at imagined spiders.

Eyes dart open in panic.

Back in bed, eyes continue to dart

in search of big bodied spiders.

Arms still swipe at imagined cobwebs,

the feeling lingering for hours.

Sleep is lost.

This is what I thought when I saw this:

and this...

So....

I grabbed an empty jar and the spider lies in it still.

I'll deal with it...

... later.

Of course, if the spider had looked like this:

Maybe, I would have let it stay.

(This Hawaiian rainforest spider is closely related to the black widow spider. It is not known to be dangerous to humans in any way. The strange patterns in the spider’s yellow abdomen often take the form of a smiling face, although sometimes the markings are less obvious or even absent. Some happy face spiders can actually have markings reminiscent of a frowning or screaming face! It is on the endangered animal list, due to its limited range and the reduction of its natural habitat. http://listverse.com/2010/05/01/top-10-bizarre-spiders/ )

Christmas Bush Bursts

I had to update this blog post.

When the first photos were taken,

the skies were heavy with cloud and rain.

Now, the skies are brilliantly blue

and the Christmas bush is showing its true colours.

As red blooms burst across my Christmas bush

I know that Christmas time is here.

Sunshine!

Finally!

I have been waiting about three months to write this post.

I made myself wait until it was working

before I wrote anything.

Solar electricity.

Solar panels.

My roof is now working for me.

Three months ago, some men climbed onto my roof

and attached some solar panels.

And then... I waited.

Last week, another man climbed onto my roof.

He fixed a few things and now

my roof is making all of the electricity I will use!

I think that's so cool!

I can't help but smile!

Yesterday, cloudy and with a few sprinkles,

my roof generated just over my

average daily electricity use.

Today, with a couple of hours of daylight left

6.5 kilo watt hours of electricity have been generated!

Way more than I use!

Yeah!

Skipping

568

That's what I got to today.

I could feel the rhythm...

my hands in time with my feet.

The rope was spinning smoothly.

My breathing was keeping pace.

100

200

300

400 skips...

500

568 skips

until I tripped and stumbled,

catching the rope against my feet.

I smiled in satisfaction -

and shuddered with dread,

knowing that the pressure is on

to do the same tomorrow!

I swear - by the white ribbon

I’ve been lucky.

Not once have I had to wonder whether I would be strong enough to walk away from violence.

I have never had to watch as someone was hit.

I don’t know the sounds of a violent battle in the kitchen. No one I know has had to cover bruises from when they “bumped” into the cupboard. I’m lucky.

So many women are not.

Today is White Ribbon Day. Every other day seems to be a Ribbon Day, but this one is pretty important. White Ribbon Day was started to raise awareness of violence from men towards women.

The following data is taken from surveyed Australian women over the age of 15. The survey was titled The Personal Safety Survey. The quotes are from the White Ribbon webpage: http://www.whiteribbonday.org.au

In Australia:

· Close to half of all women (40%) have experienced violence since the age of 15;

· Just under one third of women (29%) have experienced physical assault;

· Nearly one in five women (17%) have experienced sexual assault;

· Nearly one in six women (16%) have experienced violence by a partner in their lifetime;

· Since 15, one third of women (33%) have experienced inappropriate comments about their body or sex life,

· One quarter (25%) have experienced unwanted sexual touching

· One in five (19%) have been stalked

So, violence... While punches and slaps may leave scars, the violence leaves deep psychological scars. Evidence was found in a 2004 study, where it was shown that intimate partner violence contributes more to their poor health, disability, and death than any other risk factor, including obesity and smoking. That means that, if you are being assaulted at home, that will most likely be your cause of death.

Sometimes, money values are more easily understood...

A 2009 Time For Action study counted up the numbers.

The cost of violence against women and their children to the Australian economy was estimated to be $13.6 billion in 2008-09 and, if there is no reduction in current rates, it will cost the economy an estimated $15.6 billion by 2021-22.

White Ribbon day is a day for educating people to the cause. I guess, if more people actually notice the bruises, some of the bruising might stop.

If enough people realise how dreadful domestic violence is, attitudes might change. Maybe, if enough people are talking, enough people will be expressing disgust at the violence. If enough people are doing that, I suppose, the violent men might eventually hear it. If they hear it, hopefully, they may realise what they are doing. If the women hear it, they may develop the courage to leave.

By wearing a white ribbon on November 25^th, you are saying that you do not excuse violence against women. Men can also go here, the My Oath Campaign website and swear! (www.myoath.com.au)

This is what we can swear:

Never to commit violence against women,

Never to excuse violence against women, and

Never to remain silent about violence against women

On White Ribbon Day, I am spending a moment in thanks,

for the happy and stable home I grew up in.

Rose Siggins

I was flipping through a Woman’s Day, from 2006.

I stumbled across an interesting photo

and a heart-warming story about:

Rose Siggins.

When she was two, her mother – under the advice of doctors, removed her legs. She was born with a rare genetic disorder known as Sacral Agenesis.

Of her physical condition, she says:

"If you take a Barbie doll and remove it's legs, the region you are left with is what I have. I have all the female working organs, the only reason I sit shorter or more compact, is because I'm missing

four sections of my spinal column".

Rose’s school struggled to accept what was normal for Rose. They forced her to wear prosthetic legs, until, in 8^th grade, she rebelled. The school noticed her stubborn nature and her reluctance to release her skateboard. They realised that Rose was stronger than they were. They relented and Rose moved around with her skateboard.

Rose loves cars. In fact, she’s a racing driver! Since the age of three, she has spent time in garages. They have become her haven, a safe place... a thinking place.

She got her first car at 16. Her father helped her to insert hand controls, so she could drive herself around.

A 1968 mustang, which she rebuilt, is her race car.

Since 1999, Rose has been married to Dave Siggins, a mechanic. Together, they have two children, which has stunned the medical profession. No other woman with Sacral Agenesis (Rose’s genetic disorder)

has ever given birth.

After Rose’s mother died from cancer, Rose has taken on the responsibility of caring for father and brother. After a life of smoking, her father depends on oxygen and suffers from Alzheimer's and dementia. Her brother will always have the mental age of an 8 year old and relies on medication. He needs constant supervision and tends to be violent.

After a quick look at her Facebook page, it seems that Rose really doesn’t see herself as anything different to anyone else. She says: "A lot of people with disabilities feel that life owes them something, and I was raised in a way that no, no-one owes you a dime. The world doesn't owe you anything, this is what you have and you use your resources and you get through life. My personal opinion is, get up and go for it, just do it."

Sounds like good advice.

Caudal regression syndrome or sacral agenesis is a rare genetic disorder in which there is abnormal fetal development of the lower spine means that all or part of the lower section of the spinal column has failed to form. Sacral agenesis genetic disorder occurs at a rate of approximately one per 25,000 live births.

Sources:

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/342544_

UK Channel 5 "Extraordinary People" series

http://www.mymultiplesclerosis.co.uk/misc/rosesigginsbaby.html photo with car

http://www.forum.breakbeat.co.uk skateboard shot

A Stranger Passed By

A Stranger Passed By

I ran into a stranger as he passed by. "Oh, excuse me please" was my reply. He said, "Please, excuse me too, Wasn't even watching for you." We were very polite, this stranger and I. We went on our way and we said good-bye. But at home a different story is told, How we treat our loved ones, young and old. Later that day, cooking the evening meal, My daughter stood beside me very still. When I turned, I nearly knocked her down. "Move out of the way," I said with a frown. She walked away, her little heart broken at how harshly I had spoken. While I lay awake in bed, God's still small voice came to me and said, "While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use, But the children you love, you seem to abuse. Look on the kitchen floor, You'll find some flowers there by the door. Those are the flowers she brought for you. She picked them herself, pink, yellow and blue.

She stood quietly not to spoil the surprise, And you never saw the tears in her eyes. "By this time, I felt very small, and now my tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt by her bed; "Wake up, little girl, wake up," I said. "Are these the flowers you picked for me?" She smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree. I picked 'em, because they're pretty like you. I knew you'd like'em, especially the blue. I said, "Daughter, I'm sorry for the way I acted today; I shouldn't have yelled at you that way." She said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway." I said, "Daughter, I love you too, And I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

I was looking for something to use at Toastmasters tomorrow night. I have to read or say something inspirational. I can relate to this one. I know, working with children every day, that there are times when I probably do this. To my credit, I do know when I am wrong and always acknowledge my mistakes to the little person involved. Tomorrow, I'll try especially hard to notice the blue flowers.

http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/strangerpassed.htm

Ban Khok Sa-Nga... Like these pets?

Imagine a snake slithering across the road.

It moves smoothly across the road and

into your front yard.

It slithers under your steps and out of sight.

Imagine it’s a cobra...

A king cobra...

I stumbled across this video when I was

teaching all things Thai.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsi7Yq1Eb_4

It’s about King Cobra Village.

The village is Ban Khok Sa-Nga, in the North-East of Thailand. I shudder at the thought of it being in my old stomping grounds. Then, I learn that the village is near Khon Kaen – definitely my old stomping grounds! I can’t believe I was so close to so many King Cobras!

Every home in the village keeps the cobras….

In a box… under their house!

This seemingly crazy hobby started with a doctor. Doctor Phu Yai Ken Yongla. He was a herbal doctor, who thought fighting snakes would attract people (and money) to their village. Initially, he used cobras… but… they can spit over two metres and the venom can send a person blind! This was too risky, so he changed snakes and so began the King Cobra Village.

Bowatong Boonpengyootin is a local man. He plays with King Cobras. During his ten years of snake wrestling, he has been bitten four times, though only once seriously. Can you believe it? Only one bite was serious... could there be any other type of King Cobra bite? Luckily, Bowatong makes sure that he takes his daily fill of a precious, life-saving herbal medicine. The medicine helps to protect the villagers from the snake venom. They wash in it, eat it and drink it. Once bitten, they mix it with lemon and hold it on the wound. If I was bitten by a King Cobra, I might only have 15 minutes before my body started to shut down. If I had digested the magic herbs every day, I might have a fever for a few days and then be up and fighting more cobras before the end of the week!

For three men last year, the herbs were not enough.

So, I learned some things about the King Cobra. At five and a half meters long, they are the longest venomous snake in the world. Also, they will rise up to a third of their length as they move forward to attack their prey. I now know that they make a hiss which sounds like a growling dog. Nothing about them seems very friendly!

One good thing… although their venom is so toxic it could kill me in fifteen minutes, an elephant in three hours, or… if needed, 20 people at once… there is also some good to their venom. I hear your scepticism! Synthetic cobra venom is used in pain relievers and in arthritis medication. There is some good.

Even knowing this, I will take advantage of the shy nature of the snake and never corner it. I don’t fancy my chances of boxing a King Cobra and walking away afterwards!

http://sites.google.com/site/ronmcmillan/kingcobras

http://sites.google.com/site/ronmcmillan/kingcobras

another posting about the village – worth a look, even if it’s just for the photograph of “Buffalo”.

http://www.thailandbuddy.com/travel/province/Khon-Kaen/King-Cobras-Village.html