List: '5 reasons you shouldn't take your kids to the zoo...'

Today’s ‘List Friday’. In Australia at least, what used to be called censorship is now called a more polite (i.e. sanitised) word: classification. Within the National Classification Scheme, the process of classification’s undertaken by a Classification Board [1] – an independent statutory body that assigns films, computer games and publications to one of six classifications (pictured) [2]. If a Board classification’s challenged, the Board’s decision’s reviewed by – you’ve guessed it – the Classification Review Board [3]. All of which may be irrelevant because, I think, the National Classification Scheme doesn’t apply to non-game internet content. But hypothetically if it did, I’d be keen to see how the Board would classify today’s list. It’s titled ‘5 reasons you shouldn't take your kids to the zoo…’ [4]. Darling Emily sent it to me last Monday, in an email asking ‘A blog list perhaps?’ How could a father refuse his daughter? It is, by my reckoning, my first pictorial list. On one level it’s pretty funny; but on another level it’s just what animals do. We Homo sapiens animals have no claim whatever to the least skerrick of wisdom, judgement, or classification, in relation to what non Homo sapiens animals do. So why the list’s titled ‘5 reasons you shouldn't take your kids to the zoo…’ is totally beyond my ken.

P.S. Thanks, Em. xx

Back in my blogging saddle

Howdy, pardner. I’m back in my blogging saddle, and rarin’ to go [1]. I hope my seven ‘comfort list’ posts interested you. But I doubt they surprised you. My comfort list items contain nothing astounding. Or unexpected. Or scandalous. I’m just an ordinary guy doing the best I can. That’s all.

Sweetheart Vivienne and I had six superb days at Cradle Mountain Lodge [2]. Walking, talking, planning, eating, reading, thinking, and sleeping. Also I listened to podcasts. Several of them. (Indeed I was up-to-date until I arrived home and downloaded ten new ones.) Our time away was perfect. Literally it couldn’t have been better. And it was kind of nice to vacation less than 75km from home [3].

But now it’s back to real life: Medical work. Farm chores. Mail. Telephone. Internet. Shopping. Cooking. Bills. And blogging. Bring it all on.

P.S. Yesterday was my father-in-law’s 92nd birthday. As readers of Alzheimer’s: A Love Story will know, he’s a remarkable man. I wish him continued health, as happy a life as he can have without his beloved Lucy, and an undiminished sense of humour.

My comfort list - item 1

I’m most definitely not offering any prizes for anyone who predicts item number one on my comfort list. She’s my joy, my inspiration, my confidant, my advisor, my soulmate, my partner. In short, my raison d'être.
Folks, that’s the end of my comfort list countdown. Tomorrow I’m resuming daily posting here on Farmdoc’s Blog.

My comfort list - item 2

Item number two on my comfort list is my darling children and grandchildren. I can’t write about them – because I’m an emotional old guy, and my tears of pride and happiness are blurring my vision of my computer screen.

Come back tomorrow for item one on my comfort list.

My comfort list - item 3

Item number three on my comfort list is Pete – our 7½-year-old Maremma dog. He’s just so affectionate. That is, if you’re a human and not a wallaby or a possum. Talk about a man’s best friend…

Come back tomorrow for item two on my comfort list.

Though there’s no compendium this week, I still wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.

My comfort list - item 4

Today’s not a ‘List Friday’. But item number four on my comfort list is baking. And especially baking crusty, rustic-style loaves. There’s something primal about the whole breadmaking process.To be able to savour the final product’s an extra bonus. And a privilege.

Come back tomorrow for item three on my comfort list.

My comfort list - item 5

Item number five on my comfort list is music. I can’t play a note, but listening to it’s a tonic for my soul. It never fails. My favourite type of music? Opera, I reckon.

Come back tomorrow for item four on my comfort list.

My comfort list - item 6

Item number six on my comfort list is writing Farmdoc’s Blog. I love picking a topic, condensing my thoughts on it into less than 250 words, and finding a suitable photograph. No matter how I feel before I start one, after I’ve completed a new blog post I always feel better.

Come back tomorrow for item five on my comfort list.

My comfort list - item 7

From today until next Monday Sweetheart Vivienne and I are taking a vacation on the edge of a World Heritage wilderness. As I don’t know the access to and speed of the internet connection there, I’m taking a break from daily blogging. On these seven days, starting today, I’m putting up the top seven items on my comfort list [1] – in order of increasing importance, i.e. starting with number seven.

Item number seven on my comfort list is, on a cold and wet winter day, lighting the wood heater. And if I can’t sit close by reading a book or listening to music or a podcast, then drying some washing on the clotheshorse.

Come back tomorrow for item six on my comfort list.

List: 'How to make a comfort list'

Today’s ‘List Friday’. It’s tough and wild out there, folks. And it’s so easy for us each to be dragged down by all that misery, inequality, selfishness, greed, abuse, waste and indifference. Obviously dragged down’s not how we’d choose to be. For we do no-one – especially ourselves – any good by being down there. Surely it’s best not to be there at all; but if for whatever reason we are there, we must climb up out – ASAP. I oft say, and I strongly believe, that no-one cares for us nearly as well as we care for ourselves. Because only we put our own welfare number one. And so to today’s list: ‘How to make a comfort list’ [1]. Katherine Center (pictured) – she’s a person, not an institution [2] – defines a comfort list as a list ‘of things that are soothing’. In her blog post she includes two comfort lists, but doesn’t tell us how to make one. Clearly there’s no fixed number of items in a comfort list; the items can be animal, vegetable or mineral, and tangible or intangible; and they can change from time to time. I think comfort lists can work – by making us feel better in ourselves, and thus more able to face our world. And improve it. I’ve starting making my comfort list. If you’d care to share yours, or at least part of it, please add a comment to this post.

P.S. A big thank you, and kiss, to an item on my comfort list – i.e. darling Emily – for alerting me to Ms Center’s comfort list blog post.