I have always been fascinated by lighthouses. The power of a man-made structure standing as a guardian to shield us from the fury and power of the sea.
Though, these days, we seem to need men to stand as guardians to shield us from the fury and power of our fellow man and government.
It struck me that when we confront problems head on, we find solutions. Ignoring the incoming storm does not make it go away.
Without a light to guide us during the tempest, we are doomed to a life in darkness and perpetual fear of being drowned by a tempest that seems to be building by the day.
Read more: We ignored the Lighthouses and the Umbrellas aren't Working
Speckled about the steep slopes are clumps of small, fieldstone cottages. Their crumbling mortar and aging stones are victim to the ravages of time. Sprawling green meadows, vivid and fertile lay terraced and latticed-worked with pastel pinks and blues of the prolific hydrangeas which form hedgerows and borders.
Throughout the town streets are narrow, they dart willy-nilly between tall houses. The hooves of a horse resound as it gently picks its way over dark cobblestones polished to a sheen by countless feet before. Upon its weary back and mounted side-saddle an old man journeys.
Although late summer the air is already crisp as it transports and mingles the salty tang of sea and other heady aromas that give a hint to the freshly made cheese and bread still browning in the ovens. This, somehow, remains commonplace to the people of the Azores.
We have women who are supposedly running our different States, countries and active in our governments. .
Once upon a time that would have been done with responsibility and efficiency and with dignity . There are some very capable and excellent ladies but, we are being let down, because some of the women seem to do is make poor decisions and certainly not do what is best for the people they are supposed to represent. We have two choices , get rid of them and find some Margaret Thatcher ladies or try and find some Gentlemen who have some guts to put to right so many wrongs.
Read more: When Men and Women are no longer Ladies and Gentlemen
When I was a young girl, I wanted to be beautiful. Clever. Successful.
Oh to be pretty. To be as wonderful as my mother. To marry a man as great as my Dad. To meet a boy as strong as my older brothers.
I have to wonder what young children grow up to aspire to be in today's age of confusion, gender politics and exaggerated fake body parts?
The first time I thought of myself as an " emerging woman " as opposed to a girl was when I saw the movie " Dr No " with Ursula Andress emerging out of the water to a rather gorgeous James Bond played by Sean Connery.
Captain Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne, an amazing and legendary figure, is a name that might not be instantly recognisable to many, but his remarkable life story is one that deserves to be told.
Mayne was a man of extraordinary courage, unshakable determination, and unrivaled skill, making him one of the most distinguished and controversial figures in military history.
He was also a bit of a bastard. Or so some would say. Mayne was remarkably brave, but he was also not far short of being a loose cannon. I first learned about him watching " Rogue Heroes. "
Read more: The Real Paddy Mayne: The Bravest Man Never to Be Awarded the Victoria Cross
There are very few people who can be described as Legends in their own lifetime. Mostly they are sporting personalities who are constantly in the public view thanks to publicity given to the game they excel in. Fewer still are captains of industry whose names endure through the use of their products. Many business people become very wealthy and remain obscure. Occasionally one stands out for the creation of a massive business from very humble beginnings.
One of these is Lindsay Fox, the founder of LINFOX transport which has become an Australian icon stretching far beyond our shores but a household name here because of the well-known logo on its trucks.
Read more: Lindsay Fox - A Living Legend. One the Last of the great entrepreneurial pioneers
People without a gate do not realise what a gate is.
It is the ability to lock, open, accept or reject a welcome visitor or an unwelcome visitor. Obviously, without a fence to accompany the gate, it is worthless. But, with a fence and a gate in place, what little we own in the world is precious. Without it, it is open to plunder.
I go and visit my Mum, Redhead, every few days. We speak everyday, of course. But when I drive in to her driveway, I see the gate that has stood there for over 38 years. The gates are made of wrought iron and were created in a different country in expectation of their arrival in Australia. They were forged with love and craftsmanship and, over the years have stood as guards to whoever pops in to visit. Over the decades, they have never had to serve as anything more than the beefeaters in London: there for pomp and ceremony as opposed to any real barrier to intrusion.
Read more: Open Borders? A Gate can be open or closed... it depends on who is the Visitor.
I am urging you. I am pleading with you. I am imploring you. Wake up! The irrational hatred of the Jewish people and the demonizing of Israel is reaching proportions so dangerous that if people of conscience do not stand up, speak out, and push back, Jewish blood will start flowing in America, England, and many other countries around the world. Wake up!
When Muslims in Sydney Australia are chanting, “Gas the Jews” you know that violence is near.
Read more: Wake Up World Before Jewish Blood Is Shed In Your Country
Of late, I have been concerned about the introduction of " hate speech laws " and " misinformation laws. "
It got me thinking about the magnificent Navajo Code Talkers from World War II. When speaking in code, messages were passed and battles were won so that, in the war against evil. truth and justice could prevail.
During World War II, the United States military used a secret weapon that helped turn the tide of the war: Navajo Code Talkers. These were Native American soldiers from the Navajo tribe who played a critical role in transmitting top-secret military communications in an unbreakable code. The Code Talkers were crucial in the Pacific theatre, helping the allies defeat the Japanese and ultimately win the war.
Read more: Talking in Code...to defend our Nations? I wonder if this is what we have to do?
The awaited summer heralds the arrival of luscious mangoes that are now grace the shelves in various markets. Of course, like everything else of late the price tag offers somewhat of a shock, even though the shelves are indeed laden—as costly as $5 per in some places.
Years ago I was asked by a young bloke, never destined to be a gastronome, I should add, what a mango actually tasted like. His mother, only God knows why, would not allow a mango in the house. He thought it might have been something to do with his father’s reaction the fruit—a fetish I suspect later explained in this story.
Defining the elusive flavour of a mango is as futile as trying to describe beauty. An attempt at such might reveal a flavour somewhere between an apricot and a pear. Is it a melange of peach and a banana? Maybe it's more toward sweet melon and an avocado?
I REMEMBER WHEN Armistice Day was commemorated spontaneously, reverently and universally.
As a kid at state (primary) school we were taught about the sacrifice of the soldiers who died in the war to end all wars and assembled at 11.00am to salute the flag, the Union Jack, and have 2 minutes silence with heads bowed.
That was in the 1940’s when there were many veterans of WW1 still among us.
Read more: Armistice Day is Remembrance Day and We Must NEVER FORGET
They didn’t storm the gates. They waited. While revolutionaries burned flags and shouted in the…
99 hits
RATTY NEWS EXCLUSIVE Operation Downstream: The Rise of the Feathernet Underground By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble,…
51 hits
By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent, Fence-Sitter, and Eyewitness to History When the world teetered…
259 hits
Once we debated. Now, " they" accuse. And who are they? Talk about diversity.…
380 hits
Solar generators won’t run on moon-beams – they fade out as the sun goes down…
430 hits
In the 19th century, steam trains roared into history, their unstoppable might revolutionising travel and…
456 hits
There are stories we tell because they’re funny. And there are stories we remember because…
496 hits
As told by Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent, Fence Sitter & Marmalade Analyst Before the…
441 hits
A few weeks ago, someone broke into my quiet little corner of the internet and…
423 hits
By Ernest ‘Ember’ McTail, Special Correspondent. Serious News Division of Ratty News The world watches. There…
425 hits
It began, as such stories often do, in silence and snow. Kananaskis, Alberta - a…
420 hits
As Australia faces economic collapse, and leaders like Donald Trump and Javier Milei take bold…
344 hits
In an age of civil unrest, burning cities, and bitter political division, the words “Give…
355 hits
Today, I am featuring an article written by our dear blogger Malcolm back in 2021.…
302 hits
June is Gay Pride Month. Flags fly, parades roll out, corporations update their logos, and…
374 hits
Written: 24 February 2025 This is a true story, about PP’s cancer journey. PP will…
273 hits
By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent, Ratty News Dusk in Alice Springs. I, Roderick…
377 hits
The LA riots and Derren Brown's Remote Control (an episode from Trick or Treat where…
480 hits
An exclusive editorial investigation by Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent, Ratty News Dusty Gulch - To…
405 hits
On June 6, 1944, the world witnessed an extraordinary event that changed the course of…
443 hits
Canberra's finest fall from grace... and altitude They came, they posed, they plummeted. In what…
488 hits
Anarchy often gets a bad rap. Images of burning buildings, rampant lawlessness, and a general…
408 hits
Part 2 of the Cane Series I’ll admit, before diving into this series, I hadn’t…
429 hits
Counting the Uncountable: What the Census No Longer Wants to Know – And Why That…
402 hits
There is no climate crisis Chris Bowen. There is a crisis in stupidity and lack…
447 hits
They say Australia rode in on the sheep’s back. But if you’d been standing in…
457 hits
Before the Cloud, before memory sticks and streaming services, we passed stories the old-fashioned way.…
472 hits
Long before the Cloud swallowed everything, our old mate Flysa was out there with a…
488 hits
“A Long Time Ago...” Still Echoes Now On May 25, 1977, a strange little film…
439 hits