Agnes and Ecstasy

August 2007

Local Preparations for Spring :

• The flu, that has infected the Agnes Water 1770 population for the past four weeks, heads for the exit ramp - probably regrouping for next year *
• Dogs, wild collarless and non-micro chipped without visible means of support dogs, roam the Estates unhindered by any Council interference
• Dune she-oak rapists rest on their laurels till next season. Do a Google Earth to see their continued shameful handy work leading right to their front doors.
• Giant cranes loom above the foreshores preparing more virgin lands for the developers' sacrifice **

* Methinks one reason the flu has been so popular in the village is because at the checkout of one of our two food stores, a normally vivacious checkout girl obviously had the flu some weeks ago but didn't leave her post, she kept serving through the sneezes and snuffles - fruit and veggies, deli products and change equally collecting her droplets etc. Not a good practice.

** If you are looking for an inexpensive holiday in a truly lovely seaside area next year, look no further than Agnes Water 1770. The reason I feel confident to advise this is because by then there will be more brand new empty holiday units then there are people living here. Almost the case now! According to the last census we had less than 2,000 people (that includes children) here. But since I have been told by more than a few folk that they just couldn't spare the time to fill in the census, I think it's reasonable to add at least 500 to that figure.

In my November 06 Chronicle I flamed across the page about the new owner of our Agnes Water Medical Centre decreeing that receptionists were not permitted to sit in their work area - standing room only! A number of you emailed me with responses and various work practice rules etc. Tom thought it was straight out bullying.

So - I am very happy to report that, albeit some nine months later, The New Seat (insert fanfare) was delivered this very morning to the Medical Centre reception work area amid cheers and tears of joy from the staff. I flashed this photo of one anonymous receptionist splitting her lovely face with glee at the thought of now being able to rest her legs at times during an eight hour day.

By the way, the reason August Chronicle is so late in being published is I got the flu too! I do not hold with flu vaccinations as they smack to me of parachuting out of a plane that is going to land anyway (think laterally for that one) but this time it was a real doozy so if the new flu jab being worked on (100 times more effective apparently than the current vaccinations - doesn't that say it all?!) gets off the lab bench, I may allow it to needle me.

The Queensland Council amalgamations heeded my advice in May 07 Chronicle and has joined our region with Gladstone. Farewell to alms (sic) to the Miriam Vale Shire Council. Well done Beattie - you finally got something right (NB - Premier Peter Beattie is the far too long standing leader of the pack for our state of Queensland).

Our land is becoming shamelessly profuse with blooms and it isn't even September! Wonderfully rewarding planting in this region as the soil, which looks gray and lifeless, is actually ridiculously rich when assisted with a little mushroom compost, a good covering of sugar cane mulch and an occasional down pour from Heaven. We even, finally, have worms in the soil. OK, you town folk will not find that as exciting as we do, but it really means the soil is now rich and aerated and ready to Do Good. My roses are almost an embarrassment in their growth and harvest. Even our orchids continue to produce new spikes - ain' t life grand!