Sunday 21

7:30am coached 3 boys at Centenary.

Drizzle and showers in patches. The Tinnie had a canopy that did a good job of keeping me dry but mags, sitting closer to the front was getting wet. She ended up Cuddling up to my legs. 

Commercial Quizz Night

Nothing like a good ole Quizz night to raise funds and meet people.

Grammarians provided 2 1/2 tables.

Each table team had to choose a Olympic theme. Our table had chosen Skate Boarding. These fancy dress theme things are somewhat stressful. A few days before I was having coffee with my friend Derek and we discussed this problem besetting me. Derek suggested going as an injured skateboarder. A most excellent suggestion that went over well.

Phoebe got on board and provided an ancient home made board that some kid had made from an old pair of roller skates. 

On Saturday afternoon before the quiz night, I went down to Mt Ommaney and bought supplies. 

Over size band aids. 

Stick to its self gauze bandage roll. 

Bright red lipstick (blood)

Not owning any skater boy clothes, I used

Yellow tee shirt, orange boardies and air Jordan's. A backwards fluro orange rowing cap that matched the shorts completed the ensemble. I wanted short sleeves so the bandages were visible. Took a jumper as it was a cold night.

My table was a grammarian - commercial table:

Kylie & JB. 

Graham & Mel

Frank & Phoebe 

2024 Perisher Ski Trip - Planning

 

 

 

 

LESSONS

We will probably be taking the train up and this means that Perisher and Blue Cow are way better options.
Adult Lessons - Group and Private ..

@17-4-2024 No info yet
https://www.perisher.com.au/tickets-passes/snowsports-school/snowsports-school-adult-lessons
Says "More information about lift tickets, lessons, and rentals for the 2024 season will be made available in coming weeks. Please stay connected for the latest updates."

CAPITAL GAINS Tax & NEGATIVE GEARING

CAPITAL GAINS Tax & NEGATIVE GEARING 

In recent discussions with friends in several different social circles, people have told me that negative gearing and capital gains tax deductions were brought in by John Howard and are responsible for our current housing chaos.

Let's look at the history.... 

First 

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_gains_tax_in_Australia

Before 1985 no GGT

 

1985 CGT brought in by Hawke Keeting. Cost base indexed.
1  First CG calculated as the sell price minus the indexed cost price.

 2 THEN the persons tax bracket or rate was calculated by taking the CG divide by 5 and adding that umber to their other income.  

THEN

3 Add the full CG  to the other income and calculate income tax on all of that at the rate decided above.

1999 Howard govt discontinued the cost based indexing and reduced the averaging or discount from 1/5 to 1/2.

Second

NEGATIVE GEARING

Introduced in the 1930's

https://www.capitl.com.au/a-brief-history-of-property-gearing-in-australia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_gearing_in_Australia

CONCLUSION

Howard did indeed make it far more attractive to engage in negative gearing.

Credit Cards

 I just noticed combank are charging me a $8/mo fee on my cc.  Turns out it used to be a yearly $59 fee so that is a 62% increase to $8x12= $96  

Provider	Name	Year	%	Sales pitch
Combank	Awards	$8x12=$96	20.99%	.
Combank	Smart	$19x12=$228	20.99%	Internationa Travel Insurance +$60/yr for Qantas points Some kind of weird lounge pass for a small number of INTERNATIONAL airport departure lounges
Qantas	Everyday	$49	19.9%	Internationa Travel Insurance
Qantas	Platinum	$349	19.9%	Internationa Travel Insurance
Qantas	Titanium	$1200	19.9%	Internationa Travel Insurance
Virgin	Flyer	$149	20.99%	No insurance
Virgin	High Flyer	$329	20.99%	DOMESTIC and INTERNATIONAL Travel Insurance
Virgin	No Fee	$0	20.99%	.

As an aside, Qantas club membership is $600/year.
Virgin Senior lifetime $6750 or $399/yr

Easter Weekend

 The Easter weekend began paying homage to the rowing god with a Friday dawn row in silence from West end to the aerial and back.

Saturday began with Park run.  On home, showering and over to Phoebe's for breakfast with her and several of her kids.

Then homage was paid the the hardware God with a visit to the Bunnings cathedral along with a gazillion other pilgrims.  I bought a new battery powered hedge trimmer.  I was a bit concerned that it may not have enough grunt but although it has less power than the mains operated one, it had enough power to adequately trim the hedge.  A bonus was not chopping the end off a mains extension lead.

Saturday night we (@phoebe) decided to try something a bit different with a visit to St Stephens catholic Cathedral for their Easter vigil. We all took our seats and then were ushered outside where they had a big fire going and the liturgy began. We were each given a real candle. Take note-- a REAL candle. None of those battery operated pretend candles. Could be the longest church service I've been to but plenty of stand, kneel, sit, repeat along with short bits of singing that like pub choir, one can do out of tune and of course various "amens". I was wondering if I should shout out a "peach brother peach" but restrained myself.

As the sky lightened Sunday morning , we grabbed the dog and jumped in the car and, keeping a weather eye out for the cops, raced to the top of Mt Cootha. I had assumed there might be ten or so people but it turned out an entire church had decided to celebrate the resurrection so we celebrated the resurrection with a sunrise viewing serenaded by a bunch of baptists. They say "repent and be baptist. You don't have to but hey, who's taking chances"

Then coffee, hot cross buns and progressing to the next three Easter observances - chocolate eggs, bunnies and gardening.

Monday began with Phoebe and myself sharing coffee on my deck and cleaning the kitchen and bedroom.  I made a [beef] shepherds pie and we use the leftovers to make an early lunch.  Phoebe went home and I went into work to do the Grammarians rowing organisation.  

 

Monday concluded with Boys2Men group at Chris PFP's place with Dave, Rob, Tom, myself and Magnus.

 

BEFORE
Rocks Riverside parkrun results for event #505. Your time was 00:39:02.
Congratulations on completing your 21st parkrun and your 13th at Rocks Riverside parkrun today. You finished in 377th place out of a field of 493 parkrunners.

AFTER
You were the 189th male and came 7th in your age category VM60-64. Take a look at this week's full set of results on our website. Your PB at Rocks Riverside parkrun remains 00:37:43. Your best time this year remains 00:39:00.

 

 

EASTER - GOOD FRIDAY

EASTER - GOOD FRIDAY

Remember the death of Jesus.

To me an essence of the Christian faith is acceptance, tolerance and forgiveness.

It saddens me greatly that Australia stands silently by while Israel exterminate the palistinians in Gaza.

The day started at 4:30am with  row in four.

Cribby,

Thorpy,

Me,

Russ.

Coffee at Veneziano

Drove round to Phoebe's. Coffee and croissants on her verandah.

Drove with Phoebe via home where I hung out the washing and then onto lunch at some of Phoebe's friends at Lota. A beautiful lamb roast, beautifully renovated house, chat and a game of cranium.

Dropped Phoebe home.

Back to Glenrich and took mags for a walk.

Sitting in the lounge. Cat on my lap. Dog sleeping on the floor. TV news and adds on