tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228343242012-01-16T10:36:46.459+10:00Dedicated to the great people in the marvellous community of classified advertising.John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.comBlogger2661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-29949123988034984852012-01-16T10:28:00.005+10:002012-01-16T10:36:46.467+10:00

AN amazing breed of canines has featured on this site from time to time. The Tenterfield terrier, an Australian-bred variation of the miniature fox terrier, has generated site traffic from throughout the world.There's obviously an interested audience for any postings about the terriers, so today I introduce two Tenterfield-cross puppies - Joey, above, and Millie - and share stories of joy and

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-64623394223168337642012-01-15T09:15:00.005+10:002012-01-15T09:27:42.688+10:00

Image: One year ago Redland City's Rotarians were quick to rally the community for the "monster flood fightback".QUEENSLANDERS nervously watch the clouds and the forecasts this summer. No one would want a repeat of the terrible tragedies that hit the State with the January 2011 floods.It has been a year of rebuilding for many thousands of families. Builder Ellyott Allan, managing an insurance

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-29263323236017780012011-12-18T15:10:00.007+10:002011-12-20T20:05:37.094+10:00

Image courtesy of fellow bloggers producing the Best Nanny Newsletter in the US. A visit there will show that pool safety is a concern in other countries, too.THE summer sizzle – or call it a "stew" because of the recent rain – has brought a timely warning from the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS).The message is to take extra care in and around pools over the Christmas and summer holiday

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-68173869547966380702011-12-12T10:01:00.007+10:002011-12-12T10:12:17.679+10:00

Image of a fantastic toothless smile courtesy of fellow blogger Tim Oestmann.HERE'S one for the trivia quiz buffs and a prize for readers who get it right: What are the four words that complete the song title, "All I Want for Christmas Is ..."?No, the answer isn't "A Nice New Car". It has been the same since the song was written in the US about two generations ago: "My Two Front Teeth."Now, the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-72964788935676076682011-11-27T20:29:00.007+10:002011-11-27T20:39:03.416+10:00

Image of the Cape Moreton lighthouse courtesy DERM.Imagine being up there in a cyclone as described below.THE old term, "green thumb", referring to plant-growing skills, can fit comfortably in the new vocabulary of environmental awareness.Gardeners must be mindful of propagating the right plants as some nasty pests have gained a toehold on the continent in someone's backyard and spread to

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-70790895893842925172011-11-21T09:41:00.009+10:002011-12-20T20:02:04.883+10:00

Image of the 'Kwacker' model discussed below, courtesy of fellow blogger FloridaSteve.SOME powerful engines have run sweetly through the decades in tribute to the 1974 Australian movie Stone.The movie about a Sydney cop's undercover mission in an outlaw motorcycle gang seems to be one of those classic "love it or hate it" productions.The staunchest critics would cringe at notes about Stone at the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-48651437810989504022011-10-30T17:30:00.007+10:002011-10-31T19:55:17.232+10:00

Image courtesy of fellow blogger Susan Dewitt.ENTREPRENEUR is a big word that evokes images of big money and big talk but each edition of the Classifieds unveils many quiet achievers who don't need to wear titles like 'CEO', even when they can.The steady stream of entrepreneurs creating new businesses fuels the economy and enriches the culture, locally and wider.Those with ideas and drive can

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-64306735008951278372011-10-30T09:06:00.012+10:002011-10-30T17:28:49.864+10:00

Wow, now the world can see it! Here are scenes from beautiful Moreton Bay, protected from the Pacific Ocean by two huge sand islands, dotted with other smaller islands and with the vibrant urban culture of Redland City on its southern shores. These images by internationally renowned Redland photographer Julie Geldard certainly show why we are proud to call ourselves "Redlanders". Long live the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-4278968909631192442011-10-19T18:03:00.005+10:002011-10-19T18:21:48.899+10:00

Image of giant log at the genuine Pub With No Beer.THE song that country music superstar Slim Dusty took to the top of the charts more than half a century ago was destined to get ingrained in Aussie culture. However, the popularity of the catchy tune and lyrics of The Pub With No Beer spread far past our borders and to other countries.The song had already echoed around the world for more than a

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-80871502083391847262011-10-09T21:11:00.017+10:002011-10-09T22:40:45.957+10:00

Images clockwise from immediate right: sculpture in Qld beech, cast aluminium tile honouring the creatures of Moreton Bay; Australian flora motifs carved in Qld beech and cast in aluminium; bronze of the late Bill Branch, commissioned by the southern bay islands RSL sub branch. SOMETIMES everyone has to take a step back, look at how they expend their energies and ask themselves, "Why am I doing

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-65624486114748356562011-10-01T18:41:00.007+10:002011-10-01T19:50:01.081+10:00

IMAGE: No, it's not Carl with a crest. Cockatoo picture by courtesy of a fellow blogger with the site, Little Australia, which is well worth a visit.REDLAND seems more like a rainforest than a city in the recent Lost & Found columns. Our feathered friends of many breeds are on the move.Lost: a green ringneck parrot at Birkdale and a rosella and a rainbow lorikeet at Alexandra Hills.Found: a grey

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-16323839538850092492011-09-22T17:03:00.006+10:002011-10-19T18:16:00.726+10:00

This week's column, as it appears in The Redland Times, Cleveland, Redland City, Queensland, Australia. Click on the image to enlarge it and take a trip down memory lane with me.I take this opportunity to acknowledge all the international visitors to this site. The site statics indicate the migrants who have come from the UK and featured in this column have generated some of the traffic, and

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-25272287978756370442011-09-18T10:11:00.002+10:002011-09-18T10:19:01.168+10:00

Image from http://www.rosevalecourt.com/THE dedicated carers of the aged deserve as much gratitude and support that the rest of us can spare during our busy lives.The jobs require a lot of skills and professional discipline mixed with genuine compassion and empathy.Anyone who has ventured among the dementia sufferers and other high-care patients in a nursing home can feel the weight of emotion

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-37754302542264439372011-09-05T09:14:00.006+10:002011-09-05T09:46:45.115+10:00

Image from http://www.sahradanes.com/ HAIRDRESSER Sahra Danes advertises a seven-day-a-week mobile service but she has declined any bookings for September 4, 2011. Just one major project will be enough for Sahra this Sunday. The award-winning hairdresser expects to be in Redland Hospital giving birth to a son. He will be the first baby for Sahra and her partner Benjamin Ferguson, who have

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-29777456638008737552011-08-28T21:06:00.006+10:002011-08-29T13:09:18.686+10:00

Image from Go for 2&5. THE dark look on a kid's face in response to the direction "Eat your spinach" is one of the indelible images of parenthood. Mums and dads throughout history have happily tortured their kids at meal time; it's probably a payback that has come through many generations. The public health officials who spend money promoting good dietary habits must also have suffered this

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-1671063783669504082011-08-22T11:04:00.012+10:002011-08-22T11:28:48.446+10:00

Here's a column that missed my posting duties after it appeared in The Redland Times some weeks ago: A FUNDAMENTALIST minister and author is credited with creating some inspiring phrases about self development. "Don't go through life, grow through life" – a quotation attributed to the late Eric Butterworth – must be one of the most profound seven-word collections in the history of the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-35092949039428006762011-08-22T10:51:00.005+10:002011-08-22T11:02:28.333+10:00

Image from Highsun Express. SOME leading-edge innovation has been ensuring the Redlands' horticultural traditions do not become just memories of the older generations and words in the pages of history. The sector certainly has been shrinking as urban development has grown on the fertile red soil but growers who have adapted have not simply survived the challenges but prospered. IN the new

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-63683912724466108602011-08-22T10:39:00.004+10:002011-08-22T10:51:08.207+10:00

Image from www.redbaybrewery.com.au BEER lovers in some swank eateries – as well as pubs and clubs – will soon toast Redland City as the home of a range of premium brews, if all goes to plan for pastry chef-turned-brewer Jeffrey Fleck. Jeffrey has applied to the authorities to increase production at the Shore Street West, Cleveland, “micro-brewery” he set up last year. Approval would be a

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-74900173404790531112011-08-22T10:22:00.005+10:002011-08-24T21:38:41.969+10:00

Image courtesy fellow Blogger, AfricanAussie. A BLISSFUL bayside retirement reflects in the glorious green foliage of the giant staghorns that have grown in a certain Victoria Point greenhouse. The plants represent many happy years during which a couple in their senior years could relax in a comfortable home near their family and favourite fishing spots in Moreton Bay. A For Sale notice

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-3097082969117266192011-08-22T10:04:00.004+10:002011-08-22T10:21:22.716+10:00

BEN Johnson's mind was far from the inner-city concrete and glass during the three and a half years he spent as an office worker in the Brisbane CBD. He was thinking maybe of his childhood in a farming district near Wagga Wagga, NSW, where he had grown up in a big family with seven brothers and sisters. Until he had headed north to experience Queensland life, Ben had always worked in outdoor

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-12720519272097861722011-08-22T09:53:00.004+10:002011-08-22T10:04:05.349+10:00

Image of Wellington Point jetty courtesy BayJournal. HALF a century ago, a family from Brisbane's southside would cram into their car for weekend trips to the bayside. They would stop at the farms to buy fruit and veges for the week ahead and often ended up at Wellington Point to enjoy the fresh air and salt water, have a picnic and catch a few fish. The kids would sleep soundly in their

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-84654638205703956312011-07-03T21:30:00.011+10:002011-09-06T21:37:08.157+10:00

IMAGES: The sort of lodger who would make you call the bank and say, "You can have the house." He featured in a classic Hitchcock thriller (courtesy British Film Institute). Right: The 2001 report on how classified advertising helped an unusual business.THROUGHOUT a long history of service to readers and advertisers, classified advertising has always offered ways to raise or save cash, whether

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-42627781491297754422011-07-03T21:02:00.007+10:002011-08-24T21:43:04.615+10:00

THE metropolitan news hounds sleep easily every time a page on their desk calendar turns. They know they'll fill their bulletins and news pages easily because a powerful gang is just about to get together for coffee and bikkies in their capital-city boardroom. Like clockwork, on the first Tuesday each month, Glenn Stevens and the gang chew the fat and pick the bones of the economic ups and

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-62187005875875038512011-07-03T20:39:00.005+10:002011-07-03T21:00:41.578+10:00

THE words "hot rock" must have caught the eyes of music lovers browsing the Classifieds recently, but the notice has promoted a different type of sensory experience.Hot-rock massage is a new service for Redlands Really Relaxing Massage, the business that Thea Baker set up last year.The technique has now joined the list of therapeutic massage services that Thea, of Redland Bay, has studied.THEA is

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-64631098487400624682011-07-03T20:27:00.006+10:002011-07-03T20:39:32.596+10:00

COMEDIANS like the great John Cleese must get great inspiration from everyday activities like browsing the Classifieds. Just imagine Cleese, with dead parrot on his shoulder, fronting up to Bayside Cosmetic Medicine Clinic at Victoria Point and demanding: "The headline on your ad says 'armpit sweating' and I'd like an economy-sized packet, thank you."But that's where the joke ends. The clinic's

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-65060575355304676452011-06-29T16:29:00.005+10:002011-06-29T16:37:55.308+10:00

THE feeling of timelessness makes browsing artworks one of the most relaxing pastimes. Stepping into a public or private gallery seems to free up pathways in the mind.On the other side of the art equation, the creation also can be a marvellously meditative experience and an escape from the humdrum of everyday existence to a special place where there are no pressures other than those you want to

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-30622237100117627762011-06-29T16:19:00.004+10:002011-06-29T16:28:39.324+10:00

GUNS and bombs are the standard weapons of war but hammers and saws can be handy when the retail giants battle for supremacy.The retail power game, which has been one of the nation's most discussed subjects in recent years, is erupting into outright commercial warfare, as Woolworths advances toward the opening of its first home improvement stores.Woolies is recruiting staff for a Tingalpa store,

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-52682026079536024442011-04-24T20:43:00.004+10:002011-04-24T21:03:03.217+10:00

Image: Tearout of this column from The Redland Times.AUSTRALIA can probably thank a prime minister for legitimising the word "boxhead", which has found a new life promoting a Redland business.Labor's Paul Keating has his place in history as a verbal artist who turned the nation's political debate into a fabulous collection of comic-book one-liners, and his reference to Liberal MP Wilson Tuckey as

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-79187550457609201042011-04-11T20:30:00.005+10:002011-04-11T20:33:42.306+10:00

Image: that's your humble scribe trying to restore an old silky old robe. THE heartbreak of the January floods was plainly evident to Redland furniture expert Gavin Hodges as he watched the massive clean-up. Gavin says he was close to tears as solid old furniture was trashed. “A lot of it could have been restored,” he says. “After the 1974 floods the good items could be salvaged but this time it

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-90239394207828553062011-04-06T20:57:00.009+10:002011-04-11T20:11:59.808+10:00

Image from www.ctredlands.com.au THE prospect of a new life in sunny Queensland looked good when computer programmer Carl Harbinson and his architect wife Sangeeta tired of the pressures of London. Six years later, Carl says they yearned for quality of life and they found it in Redland City. Carl and Sangeeta are also building a business, Computer Troubleshooters Redland, with a service centre

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-55478250736298169272011-04-06T19:46:00.004+10:002011-04-06T19:59:22.657+10:00

EXCITEMENT is building at the Redland base of a company that has been helping to replace the plain old-fashioned broom with a set of high-tech cleaning machines. The small team at Sweepers Pty Ltd's Enterprise Street, Cleveland, headquarters is gearing up for the impending launch of two new products that managing director Mark Scull describes as breakthroughs for the cleaning industry. Mark and

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-81715315117268311092011-04-06T19:31:00.005+10:002011-04-06T19:59:50.165+10:00

THE right to privacy dictates that the subjects of today's Classie Corner are not identified; this Redland family is in the grip of one of modern society's cruellest health problems. The authorities say 1.5 million Australians have dementia but the knowledge “you are not alone” doesn't make life any easier for those who cope with an illness that steals the personality of their loved ones. Sue,

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-88036476090700379802011-04-06T19:19:00.007+10:002011-04-06T20:00:19.185+10:00

Image from www.fruitproperty.comBRIGHT green and orange corporate colours grabbed attention in the Positions Vacant pages this month when Fruit Property Redland City advertised for sales staff. The recruitment drive has heralded a milestone at the Middle Street, Cleveland, agency that business partners Craig Yarrow and Sharon Saul set up five years ago. May 15 will be the fifth anniversary at

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-22327658049154485092011-04-06T19:09:00.005+10:002011-04-06T20:00:45.878+10:00

Image from www.redfest.com.auTHE changing of the guard in nature's march toward the winter always makes me sad. While the door's open during a warm farewell to the great friend called Summer, some chilly old relatives, Aunty Autumn and Uncle Winter, sneak past and unpack their suitcases for an extended stay. The promise of springtime glory may be the only way to handle the suffering of the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-24486578966696959952011-02-06T21:12:00.003+10:002011-02-06T21:25:10.125+10:00

Image from www.toastmasters.org.auTHE United Nations chiefs who apparently have the mandate to declare "international year of ..." status have backed a treble for 2011: chemistry; forests; and people of African descent.However, they could have landed a quadrella if they had read some movie reviews. The King's Speech, which tells how a down-to-earth Aussie helped George VI deal with a stammer,

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-48125676720705238822011-02-06T20:58:00.005+10:002011-02-07T10:17:47.642+10:00

A DEEP sadness gripped Judy Gross, of Mount Cotton, while many thousands celebrated Australia Day. It was the sixth day since her cat, Sonny, went missing.The eight-year-old desexed male escaped from his run on Friday, apparently into the house, past Judy's husband, John, and out an open door.Sonny has been an important member of the family for almost eight years. Judy bought him in 2002 for her

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-51852519898127519152011-02-06T20:48:00.003+10:002011-02-06T20:58:42.855+10:00

The summer of 2010-11 will leave many scars on the flood and cyclone-ravaged Queensland community. THE scenes of devastation after the Queensland floods will haunt us for life, whether we simply viewed the televised images or witnessed them first-hand – as volunteers or victims – during the clean-up.The emotional weight that landed on the army of clean-up volunteers reflects in the latest

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-23168911311387079802011-02-06T20:40:00.002+10:002011-02-06T20:48:29.662+10:00

This was Classie Corner's Christmas message in The Redland Times in December before a seasonal recess. During most of the festive seasons during my 40-year-long career in journalism I have soldiered on but in 2010-11, I joined the revellers and holiday makers:TODAY, a break from tradition and an early Christmas message as the tension builds in the homes and shopping precincts of Redland City:Jaws

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-4802622778480449042011-02-06T19:49:00.007+10:002011-09-25T13:30:19.543+10:00

The 'post, post' catch-up continues as I work through the backlog of stories that I should have posted sooner (image courtesy microsoft):THE calendar page is about to turn. The last of the spring garage sales will bring out young and old for their weekend treasure hunts across our bayside city. The Garage Sales column has been busy this spring, maybe because of some underlying social causes or

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-63009896383793441052010-11-20T10:26:00.005+10:002011-02-06T19:46:46.123+10:00

It's catch-up time as I post an accumulation of columns from recent months (image courtesy microsoft:):EVERY year, as the tailenders in the Melbourne Cup thunder past the post, Australian society starts its crawl toward the annual Christmas shutdown.That's why it was not surprising in the Classifieds this week when Santa Claus signed a Boats & Marine for-sale notice offering a 4.6-metre Horizon

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-36274945494899668662010-11-20T10:14:00.006+10:002010-11-20T10:24:06.192+10:00

Image from http://www.redlandsdrivingschool.com.au/VEHICLES require essential maintenance, as any motorist knows, but driving instructor Richard Sparks did not get any letters from "the mechanics" when his own body needed a major service. Instead, Richard suffered the rapid onset of symptoms including numbness in his fingers and excruciating pain in an elbow. "I have a good GP; he ordered a CT

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-80012330339505286792010-11-20T10:01:00.007+10:002010-11-20T10:12:58.552+10:00

Image courtesy The Redland Times.SHE's a country girl at heart after growing up on a Redland strawberry farm but Birkdale mother Diana Trenerry admits her surprise at the appearance of 13 ducklings in her poultry pen. Spike and Speckles – a pair of bantam ducks that Diana says the family bought at a Lismore market as "pets with an egg bonus" – delivered a baker's dozen of the cutest creatures

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-43308285257138872732010-11-20T09:47:00.004+10:002010-11-20T09:58:51.583+10:00

Image by Carl WozniakA DISCORDANT symphony has celebrated an unusual season as a chorus of small engines has echoed across the Redland suburbs. Householders and professional mowers, taking advantage of every break in the spring rain, pulled cords, pressed buttons and fired up their machines in a race against the clouds. We are lucky to live in a culture where it's 'not uncool' to talk about the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-16337192894081296352010-11-20T09:19:00.005+10:002010-11-20T09:46:58.682+10:00

THE past two years have been busy for a young man who has devoted his life to building a better Redland, or at least, ensuring optimal use of space in our rapidly growing city. John-Paul Hartill grew up at Capalaba West, attended St Anthony's Primary School and Villa Nova College, then knuckled down to a career in residential housing design and drafting. The career choice came easy. John-Paul is

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-34301911162086685842010-11-20T09:02:00.005+10:002010-11-20T09:19:07.613+10:00

Image from Microsoft.THE Redland City population boom reflects in the heavy traffic on our roads – formerly quick and easy trips have turned into stop-start crawls through queues at intersections. The traffic snarls seem to worsen, week by week, and impatient drivers are keen to make up for lost time – undoubtedly taking more risks. The dangers weigh heavily on the mind of retired factory

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-6455013551315771322010-09-25T21:06:00.007+10:002010-09-25T21:21:09.939+10:00

Image of Poole, Dorset, UK, posted by Barret Bonden at wikipedia.THE name that computing trainer Tracy Robson awarded to her fledgling business enterprise less than one year ago sums up her outlook with six catchy syllables.The message that using a computer can be as "Easy as A-PC" quickly found a market for the Thornlands mother-of-two's training service, which uses her experience in information

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-20582809084473846702010-09-19T17:11:00.003+10:002010-09-19T17:20:08.341+10:00

Image from http://www.lionsclubs.org.au/AS the wave of bargain hunters subsides and weary householders count the cash from weekend garage sales, a team of dedicated volunteers kicks into action. The Lions Club of Redland Bay-Victoria Point stocks its monthly flea market stall partly from garage sale "leftovers", which otherwise would often be discarded. The club's weekly advertisement for such

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-40404452588670675642010-09-19T16:53:00.004+10:002010-09-19T17:11:17.551+10:00

Image: Microsoft clipart.CONGRATULATIONS are in order for a small business that has just completed its first year in providing a special service in Redland City. Today, we say "happy anniversary" to Debra's Mobile Dog Grooming, which is a one-woman enterprise for Alexandra Hills mother-of-three Debra Brehmer. Business advisers counsel that the first year in any business can be tough but Debra

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-7143068575875358582010-09-19T16:33:00.004+10:002010-09-19T16:53:22.984+10:00

Image: A chocolate Burmese; photographer Vik Olliver; courtesy wikipedia.THE potentially heart-breaking experience of giving away a much-loved pet cat became heart warming for Birkdale's Marja and Lawrence Opperman. Marja and Lawrence worried about the fate of the desexed 'chocolate-point' Burmese male, Lewis, for many weeks as they organised their affairs and put their their home on the market

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-42181741101226703002010-09-09T22:03:00.004+10:002010-09-09T22:21:14.124+10:00

Image of storm over Moreton Bay, courtesy ourbrisbane.comSOFTLY spoken Janis Clarke, who grew up in the land-locked English district of Essex, will always remember her first experience in a sailing boat on Moreton Bay."It was quite beautiful really," says Janis, who describes herself as "very unboaty" and "a non-swimmer".Luckily, Janis has a very boaty husband, John, who also hailed from the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-85037382023544628672010-09-09T21:24:00.007+10:002010-09-09T21:45:59.842+10:00

Image of Syagrus romanzoffiana in Argentina - by Pablo D. Flores and courtesy wikipedia commons.EVERYONE has a pet hate, and right now mine is the ugly old cocos palm. One of this species, Syagrus romanzoffiana, sent its roots from a neighbouring property to suck nutrients from a garden bed where yours truly, in mid-winter frenzy, has been digging.During the removal of the roots to allow a crop

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-377402311046191312010-09-09T21:10:00.008+10:002010-09-09T21:47:08.351+10:00

Image courtesy African Equity.THE ancient art of knitting is a handy hobby for many modern Australians but half the world away in Kenya it can be a survival skill. Kenyan families, like those in the town of Nyahururu, near the hometown of US President Barak Obama's family, depend on the garments they knit, not only to clothe themselves but also to earn income from sales. That is why the charity,

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-64464876889935820382010-09-09T20:52:00.007+10:002010-09-09T21:23:34.239+10:00

Thanks for joining me to meet the great people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times. Image shows another miniature horse (courtesy theminiaturehorse.com).THE cute creature that won Tony Castelli's heart just a few weeks ago still has him cooing with deep affection. But Tony has realised it's not the right time and place for him to

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-58109289729555432922010-09-09T20:30:00.004+10:002010-09-09T20:48:06.034+10:00

Image of housing courtesy microsoft clipart.THE Australian obsession with big houses has been a visible social trend while sustainable development and wise use of resources have been a focus.Some may regard the 'upsizing' as a snub to environmental considerations. Of course, many families need big houses and others do not but whether need, want or greed is the driver, analysts find positives as

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-54059686131314245612010-08-30T21:12:00.007+10:002010-08-30T21:21:17.488+10:00

Image: The original King Kong from the 1933 movie. Courtesy wikipedia.MONSTERS of the big screen, such as King Kong, Freddy Krueger and even Godzilla, fail to evoke as much terror as a certain real-life antihero. A film producer should glorify 'The Taxman'. Imagine browsing the cover notes in your favourite video store: "He keeps his victims in bondage and tortures them for their entire lives –

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-16022041484033035832010-08-13T13:18:00.005+10:002010-08-13T13:29:21.607+10:00

THE blank looks and 'what does that mean?' headshakes that once greeted a nifty little word of Italian origin have disappeared in the modern era of Australia's oh-so-sophisticated cafe culture. The word has escaped the crossword grids that formerly rested on bare tables beside cups of lukewarm instant coffee – which always seemed to come out half strength even if you asked for hot and strong. Few

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-61996690502860369802010-08-13T11:10:00.006+10:002010-08-13T13:17:24.774+10:00

Image is Microsoft clipart.A 't' has dropped off one of the most significant words in our language. Good old-fashioned trust: it's still around but the 'rust' seems to have set in. Once upon a time, it was in so many places we took it for granted; nowadays society seems to regard 'trust' as a characteristic of the gullible. A police officer recently told on ABC Radio of the continuing success of

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-88514897004937554652010-08-13T10:58:00.005+10:002010-08-13T11:10:19.053+10:00

Image from www.digitalready.gov.auA SUBSTANTIAL mood of frustration is seething behind the doors of many Australian households.Again we can blame the digital age but this time the cause is neither the home computer nor the internet connection. The internet hook-up gauntlet seems surprisingly to be leaving fewer bruises on confidence with technology as 'techno-time' has continued its forward

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-81211807324886789152010-08-13T10:48:00.003+10:002010-08-13T10:57:51.040+10:00

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THROW out the daily crossword -- here's an idea for all 'wordnuts' out there to form a new compulsive habit.This word game beats racking your brain over cryptic clues 'down' and 'across'. Some may say it deserves a patent; others may suggest some serious counselling. At risk of chorus of "get a life" feedback, Classie Corner today launches 'The Great Exclamation Mark Hunt!

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-78108164985516572142010-08-13T10:42:00.003+10:002010-08-13T10:48:07.149+10:00

A LONG tradition in primary production continues at Thornlands where the son of an Italian immigrant from the 1950s applies the knowledge and skills under a brand name that is synonymous with the heritage of Redland City. Eprapah Produce is the business of Peter Comuzzo, who for the past 16 years has specialised in growing mushrooms. Peter employs five people to help him send up to 2.5 tonnes of

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-23931561334744696742010-05-08T11:00:00.004+10:002010-05-08T11:24:47.423+10:00

Image: A Rolls-Royce 20/25 - courtesy http://www.conceptcarz.com/WITH great respect for the vast majority of our loyal readers, newspapers have long suffered from the very small minority of 'difficult customers'. Whether they are forever dropping in on deadline day to discuss the twists and turns of their pet interests or back again with a complaint about this or that, we try to always be

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-76528256423827189262010-05-08T10:49:00.004+10:002010-05-08T10:59:07.909+10:00

Map from wikipedia.THE campaign has been long and hard but Joyce Webb, the general of the Russell Island Bridge Lobby, shows no weariness as she marshals her troops to keep up the battle. Joyce, just weeks from her 87th birthday and suffering from health problems, shows no sign of giving up her dream of a bridge from the mainland to the southern bay island. She is "positive and hopeful" that the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-17789665834861701332010-05-08T10:24:00.006+10:002010-05-08T10:48:13.837+10:00

Image: Example of a white cane doll's pram - courtesy www.littlewagon.com.auA RURAL town of yesteryear, Cleveland had dirt footpaths when June and Bob Fenwick brought their young family to the bayside in the late 1960s.The Fenwicks moved from Oxley to a 15-acre (6ha) plot on Panorama Drive. The property had an old farmhouse but the couple built a new house, where the two youngest of their three

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-20556674812106555352010-05-08T10:11:00.002+10:002010-05-08T10:23:31.175+10:00

IT wasn't any mix-up when an ad for a labrador, cattle dog, kelpie and border collie appeared several pages from the Pets & Pets Supplies column.T he notice wasn't the standard "free to good home" type but rather reflected a Victoria Point woman's search for a job. The woman, chuckling over her "dare to be different" hunt for an administration role and asking to be quoted simply as "Jan",

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-62495553296721975562010-05-08T09:53:00.004+10:002010-05-08T10:11:29.529+10:00

Image: My former best friend, the late Penny. More about fox terriers in the Classie Corner archives.BEN Reid's voice reflected the depth of emotion when he said: "It was like giving away part of myself." Ben was talking about his sadness at parting with his dog, Oscar. Oscar is the nine-month-old fox terrier who featured in the Classifieds Pets & Pet Supplies last Friday as "free to good home".

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-60373823962233851402010-04-19T16:29:00.003+10:002010-04-19T16:39:07.619+10:00

The following column appeared in The Redland Times late February: Image of the tunnel run courtesy www.clem7.com.au/THE wet season drags on. Those with ageing roofs pray we can get through another few weeks without the sight and sound of drips coming through the ceiling and hitting the floor, presenting one of the most horrific experiences of 'householding'.Despite the many days of grey clouds

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-65646444544863537932010-04-19T16:10:00.005+10:002010-04-19T16:26:35.438+10:00

Image courtesy of www.visibleink.org/sam-sheperd/ A BUSY year is shaping up for Victoria Point musician Sam Shepherd. The award-winning guitarist has found himself in demand for some important gigs, marking the 10th anniversary of his first major public performance.Sam was only four years old when he started learning the guitar from his dad, Gary, and at age 11 he was on a camp with his Victoria

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-36628313230568964952010-04-19T15:48:00.005+10:002010-04-19T16:10:31.237+10:00

THE romance between Australia and the US seems to keep growing stronger but surprisingly one 'very American' pastime has been losing its cultural stranglehold.Line dancing, the partner-less style that lonesome cowboys are credited with devising around their campfires on the prairies, has broken some of its country-and-western domination.Ormiston line-dancer Liz Keenan makes this point when

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-77158292804440826392010-04-19T15:32:00.003+10:002010-04-19T15:44:59.292+10:00

THE oldies who refused to use automatic teller machines and personal computers could be having the last laugh nowadays.The eager brains behind the computing culture once labelled as a "Luddite" anyone who dared to question their passion for technology, with the term inferring a primitive attitude and rejection of change.The original Luddites in England in the 1800s went on rampages destroying

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-79008395928124956802010-01-28T22:12:00.004+10:002010-01-28T22:21:13.284+10:00

Image of Fellomonger Park from http://www.epa.qld.gov.auIF it's old, knock it down. That seems to have been the mindset of many Australians through much of our national history.In Queensland, our noses are continually rubbed in the sins of past eras – notably, the loss of buildings with heritage value decades ago during the Bjelke-Petersen crane-counting regime.Older readers will recall how,

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-23788705113571863052010-01-28T22:06:00.002+10:002010-01-28T22:09:25.847+10:00

This column appeared in The Redland Times just before Christmas 2009.TWO special words are the chorus of the day at this time of year. They will reach a crescendo in exactly one week from today."Thank" and "you" undoubtedly should be not only on the lips but also on the minds of everyone year round.Sometimes, we don't manage to verbalise this important sentiment for some reason or excuse like

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-25741329367351764992010-01-28T21:54:00.006+10:002010-01-28T22:03:40.972+10:00

Image: Historical picture of the old courthouse that is now a restaurant and function centre. See www.courthouserestaurant.com.au.THE "lady in the white dress" is set for a starring role as author Jack Sim painstakingly researches for a new book.The lady is known as "Elizabeth" – and Sim says she gave him one of his closest encounters with a ghost during his two decades of researching the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-64424297601751473842010-01-28T21:26:00.004+10:002010-01-28T21:50:27.426+10:00

THE atmosphere was 'electric' throughout Australia on the morning of June 15, 1998. Throughout the nation, people were keeping one ear on the radio, one eye on the television and logging onto news websites.In the newsrooms, we were doing all this and more, continually checking the agency news services, lining up interviews with financial analysts and moving to identify the beneficiaries of one of

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-36461284048619514252010-01-28T21:15:00.006+10:002010-01-28T21:25:39.880+10:00

Image from http://www.brisvegasremovals.com.auTHE dreaded task of moving house can push normally placid people 'over the top'.No one knows this better than the removalists who deal with some 'testy' tempers. A mate working in the field once told me removalists must be on the lowest rung of the social scale, a conclusion that followed countless denigratory lectures.He was fed up with copping blame

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-42016041726358425402010-01-28T21:06:00.002+10:002010-01-28T21:14:39.260+10:00

TWO pleasant surprises have meant a happy spring 2009 at the Capalaba house that Patricia and Ross Harris have called 'home' for the past three decades.The Harrises have had many happy times at the Sutphin Street address where they have lived since August, 1977, just five months after their marriage. A lot of laughter and joy would echo around any family home for a couple and their three

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-33915602315827026412010-01-28T20:55:00.004+10:002010-01-28T20:59:17.567+10:00

Image of Durban Town Hall from en.wikipedia.orgTHE south-east Queensland climate attracted the interest of a young South African toolmaker when almost three decades ago he looked for the right place to build a new life for his young family.Graham Easterbrook was working in the port city of Durban, where he had grown up. He wanted to ensure his wife, Kathy, and their two infant sons, Justin and

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-58700848668962897872009-10-23T13:11:00.002+10:002010-01-28T20:49:34.883+10:00

THE term, "island lifestyle", may evoke images of escape from society's mainstreams but it had a key role in Stiven Jakovich's business plan when in 2005 he moved from Western Australia to take advantage of south-east Queensland's growing demand for service industries.Stiven and his senior business partner, Dr Charles Neophytou, saw the potential in the region's population growth to further

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-12806201546167646422009-10-23T12:57:00.003+10:002009-10-23T13:09:04.417+10:00

MOVEMENTS in property prices and the multitude of associated waves and ripples through our society always prompt a gush of analyses.Issues of home ownership, such as changes in mortage rates, invariably ride the first wave but, on another level in the continuing ebb and flow of influences on the housing sector, escalating rents are putting families under increasing financial pressure. Property

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-56839187311174773042009-10-23T12:25:00.009+10:002009-10-23T12:57:24.371+10:00

Image: Danny Mayers' new album. Visit www.myspace.com/dannymayers and www.dannymayers.com/ONE of the golden voices in the legendary Australian band The Delltones revealed a secret during a recent visit to Macleay Island.Lead singer Danny Mayers, relaxing with his partner Christina Mayor during a break from his busy concert schedule, told barbecue guests at the home of a jazz-singer friend, Carol

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-59800395949021886662009-10-23T12:14:00.004+10:002009-10-23T12:24:38.885+10:00

AS the spring cleaning gains pace, garage sales abound in The Redland Times' Classifieds. It's timely to warn vendors – don't lose your useful, treasured and valuable objects.Think carefully about what you need to sell and resist the urge to slap a tag on everything you think you can spare.Ask yourself how many times you have sold something at a garage sale only to pay top dollar for a

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-65764140970899255032009-10-23T12:04:00.002+10:002009-10-23T12:12:50.059+10:00

FEW can match the cheerful nature of Lamb Island's Col McInnes.Affable Col seems to always wear a broad smile and be genuinely pleased to shake another hand in greeting.His personality certainly suits his role as host at the bed and breakfast he and wife Kay set up in 2002.At the time, the southern bay islands badly needed guest accommodation and the couple blazed a pioneering trail, gaining

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-56354826564713417502009-10-23T11:52:00.004+10:002009-10-23T12:03:39.342+10:00

THE dreams that generations of hopeful children have carried into their adulthood have ground to an agonising end, if the experience of retired engineer and teacher Norm Taylor is any indication.Norm, 75, looks back on decades of stamp collecting, peruses his four albums and sadly admits: "You always hope you will find something that is really valuable but nobody is interested in stamps anymore."

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-30764534930956323322009-10-23T11:30:00.003+10:002009-10-23T11:52:10.476+10:00

BEFORE you journey with me on another fascinating browse through the marvellous community of the Classifieds, take a few seconds to look around you, wherever you may be.No matter who or where you are, that quick 360-degree headspin would undoubtedly have put at least one item of clutter into your field of vision.Negative words like "confusion", "disorder", "jumble" and "heap" feature in the

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-53967529537182565212009-10-23T10:54:00.002+10:002009-10-23T11:29:42.120+10:00

(This column has appeared in The Redland Times, Queensland, Australia).THE doomsday brigade, chanting that newspapers are out of fashion in an internet-savvy world, has a shuttered existence, peering through computer screens into a brave new world and becoming blind to other blossoming beauty.Just glance around the bright, modern and interesting information package surrounding this column. If you

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-67481681272635637292009-10-23T10:49:00.003+10:002009-10-23T10:54:09.640+10:00

(This column has appeared in The Redland Times, Queensland, Australia.)A SPECIAL class is under way at a Victoria Point gymnasium. Newly qualified instructor Amy Dakin celebrated her 24th birthday by conducting her first fitness group at One Life Health and Fitness Centre.Amy soon had another special occasion. Monday, July 27, 2009, was the anniversary of her double kidney transplant at Princess

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-33449428325812924402009-07-22T15:27:00.004+10:002009-07-22T18:41:13.163+10:00

Image from the Microsoft collection.A 'RARE breed' featured in bold type when Jim White posted a notice wanting to buy cattle.The headline reflected Jim's pride in his long heritage of agricultural production. It said, “Local Farmer”.In our modern bayside city where the fertile soils now grow houses on former farmland, the tag represents one of an 'endangered species'.The latest government

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-26621332766905968942009-07-19T20:28:00.004+10:002009-08-04T09:40:31.852+10:00

THE time has come for some serious talk, and I'm not referring to our tax returns as we scramble to gather up all those crumbled receipts and download the e-tax files or check the Classifieds' tax agent listings. They say two things are inevitable but even death and taxes must come second and third to another certainty - that is, classified advertising will touch everyone's life at some stage.

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-29033115803677876342009-07-19T20:07:00.006+10:002009-07-19T20:20:45.516+10:00

Image from http://www.dustie.com/TIMES have changed and the air has cleared somewhat since a young and enthusiastic Bob Possingham slapped on the Brylcreem, shined his shoes, ironed his suit and headed into the Melbourne CBD for an important meeting with some corporate heavies.Bob recalls the executives were scornful of the proposal he laid on the Australian National Airlines (ANA) table that day

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-91957489397869692392009-07-19T19:55:00.005+10:002009-07-19T20:22:33.311+10:00

Image from http://www.dustie.com/EVERYONE has been talking about the record Lotto draw but another prize waited for a claimant this week in the Redlands. The local prize is quite a few million bucks short of the big national booty but worth having, nevertheless - if you are one of that "dying breed" of nicotine addicts. A carton of cigarettes that a shopper found in Koala Park Point Shopping

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-7755840286848892112009-07-19T19:35:00.004+10:002009-07-19T19:53:08.232+10:00

Image from http://www.internetclipart.com/IT's nearly three years since Birkdale retired carpenter John Gallon dropped into Classie Corner for a chat.Back then, John, with health problems, was looking for a fishing buddy, someone to help him get out on the bay in his 22ft (6.7m) fibreglass boat.His troll through the Classifieds in 2006 caught a line of interested fisherfolk who, along with other

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-37238442539710920872009-06-01T10:32:00.003+10:002009-06-01T10:48:04.467+10:00

Image: The Commodore 64 computer (courtesy wikipedia), which introduced computing to homes around the world and started Goldon Oliphant on a path that earned him the tag, "real computer whiz".AFTER a busy decade buying, renovating and selling houses in preparation for retirement, Gordon and Carole Oliphant planned their move to Macleay Island as their last.The couple had a tortuous introduction

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-54140445299705610202009-06-01T10:12:00.003+10:002009-06-01T10:48:47.013+10:00

Image from www.thekingsheadearlscourt.co.uk/ONE truism can fend off the gloom in any economic depression. Opportunities will keep arising, no matter how bad things get generally.Those with courage and commitment to put ideas into practice can increase their chances of not only surviving tough times but also building their wealth.For some in service industries, this may mean identifying a need,

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-62870552581598693272009-05-07T15:15:00.001+10:002009-05-07T15:36:01.958+10:00

A CULTURAL shift in recent years has put a bit of colour back in the cheeks of a big chunk of the population.Now, hair dye sales could suffer because in some ways it’s becoming cool to "go gray".Authorities seemed to take ages to wake up to the wealth of experience that older workers could offer.A decade or so ago any 30-something worker might have cringed and checked their superannuation payout

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-68588173055381648822009-05-07T15:04:00.002+10:002009-05-07T15:13:29.005+10:00

THE awesome sense of humor of the late Glenn Prior, of Thornlands, overflowed into the "In Memoriam" notice his family placed to mark the first anniversary of his death."We’ve all had our cup of concrete but we all still miss you heaps," the notice proclaimed.Brendon, one of Glenn’s two sons, said the reference to concrete stemmed from one of his dad’s favourite sayings."Dad was full of

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-17339547424651119692009-05-07T14:44:00.002+10:002009-05-07T14:52:18.654+10:00

WHEN Trent Cowan left Wellington Point High School a decade ago, he was delighted to gain a plumbing apprenticeship and the future looked rosy.Three years later, however, the firm ran into financial difficulties and put off its workers.The out-of-work apprentice had a "safety net" for such an emergency. "My dad (Rob Cowan) owns Metro Tiles at Capalaba and always needs workers so I was able to

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-12551995761830078882009-04-10T20:10:00.001+10:002009-04-10T20:13:54.636+10:00

Image of George Frideric Handel from wikipedia.THE need to organise early has been evident in the four-line notice Debra Kuss posted in the Classifieds’ Car Pooling column.Debra was looking for someone who drives from her home suburb of Wellington Point to Sheldon each day and offered to share fuel costs.She placed the ad immediately after applying for a job at Sheldon. Her application was

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-71284916913996127282009-03-29T21:59:00.002+10:002009-03-29T22:15:40.682+10:00

THANK heavens dogs and cats don’t read. The Redlands would have suffered a chorus of howling and meowing if the canine and feline communities had caught up with the recent public notice announcing the closure of Woofers Kennels and Cattery, Victoria Point.About 4000 dogs and hundreds of cats of all shapes and sizes have been guests at the Worthing Road kennels that Ray and Cherry Norris opened in

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-72907704554882223192009-03-29T21:37:00.005+10:002009-12-02T19:31:03.588+10:00

Image: Historical picture of the old courthouse that is now a restaurant and function centre. See www.courthouserestaurant.com.au.MANY thousands of important bottoms have graced the 120 dining chairs that became available in the Classifieds thanks to a "freshening up" at one of Redland City’s premier restaurants.With new chairs in place, the update at The Old Courthouse Restaurant was almost

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-49702121175877364492009-03-16T20:23:00.002+10:002009-03-29T21:52:44.084+10:00

AS the sun sets on a glorious summer beside beautiful Moreton Bay, the bugs come out to play.Not mosquitoes and midges -- other bugs fly around this time of year.We can’t see some tiny organisms that proliferate every autumn but we can hear and feel their presence.Hear: When coughing and sneezing interrupt pleasant conversations bubbling away on the shopper and commuter buses.Feel: When someone

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834324.post-52607351327199375142009-02-27T17:33:00.003+10:002009-02-27T17:41:48.912+10:00

Image: A Friend’s Pet, pastel, by Graham Josefski from rabybaygalleries.TWO of Queensland’s most celebrated modern traditionalist painters received a mention in the Redlands this week as an artist talked about his grounding in the disciplines of art.Mervyn Moriarty and Les McDonaugh were mentors of Graham Josefki, who has lived in Raby Bay since 1988.Since Graham retired about two years ago he

John Rumneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613698656661978967noreply@blogger.com0