Singapore Day Zoo

When Ross and I were in Singapore we when to the Zoo, I’m a Zoo person any where we go that got a Zoo, you will find me there for the day at least, I’ve been known to go for more them one day in a row, and yes some think I’m mad, but I just love going to the Zoo.

Singapore has two Zoo’s a Day and a Night one and they are now in the middle of building a new one that will open sometime next year and that will be the River Zoo.

We when to both the Day and Night Zoo and they are both great, but I have never seen anything like the day one, you are on the same level as most of the animals, like when you go look at the white tiger’s, where you stand to look at them, is at the same height as the hills in there yard, there is no looking down on the animal’s, for the tree top animal’s, you walk with them in the tree’s and the animal’s are all round you, there is very little glass use, and when it is use it to show you something you could not see without the glass, like the hippo’s swimming under water.

The Zoo is all forest, when you’re not looking at animals your walk through beautiful, forests of tree and flowering plants.

We spend six hours at the Zoo and never saw half of it and my photos don’t do justice to just how beautiful, this Zoo is.

Before anyone who reads this has a hissy fit and tell me these are wild animals and they should be running FREE. Today Zoo are, NOT like Zoo of old and YES, I would like to see every animal running FREE, but having said that Zoo play a big part in showing people what beautiful animals we have in our world, and if we don’t stop and look after our world these animals will no longer be with us.

S.M. Mac Arthur ©

I took so many photo’s I can’t blog them all, for those of you on my Facebook, I will put them up there

Singapore Airport

These Orchids where in Singapore Airport, there was so many of them and the stream of Koi, I’ve never seen so much colour in one spot before or an airport, with so much in it.

S.M. Mac Arthur ©

Friends Wedding and a Good time had by all

Hi Everyone,

I’m home again, Ross and I had wonderful time, we saw so much, but the highlight of our trip was, to be at the wedding of a net friend, who I’ve known for many years, but had never meet in person till we got off the plane in the Philippines. If any of you ever get the change to meet a friend who you got to know on line, please do it, it may change your life, for

“Friends are the Family God lets Us pick”,

S.M. Mac Arthur ©

William and Myla

The Four of Us

William and Myla

William

Ross and I

Ross, William and Me

Ross, Me, William and Myla's Mum and Dad

Friends to meet,off to the Philippines and Singapore

Hi Everyone,

This is just to let you know I’m off on holidays, Ross and I are going to the Philippines to meet a Canadian friend, I have been talking to him on line for about five years but we have never meet, this will be the first time we will be all it the same room at the same time, while we are there, we are going attend his wedding to a lovely young Lady who has change his life in so many way and all for the better.

This will be my first trip overseas and I’m so looking forward to it, we fly to the Philippines on the 15^th of September for five days and then on to Singapore for four days then home.

We hear about all the bad things that go on, on the internet, but like many of you have found there is so much good too, many friendship are made here on the net, friendships, that change people life’s, in many ways. Sometime those that start out as friends, become much more, they become family, I truly believe the saying “Friend are the Family God let Us pick”

I’ve always said if I win Lotto I would travel the world and meet as many of you as I could, so if one day there a knock on your door, and there this strange lady standing there , who talk funny, it will be me.

Please look after your selves while I’m gone and stay safe when you are out and about.

Sue

P.S Could you hold off sending Email’s till I get Back, Thanks

S.M. Mac Arthur ©

Father's Day 5 September 2010

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

~ Author Unknown ~

I would like to wish all Dad’s out there a

“Very Happy Father’s Day”

I hope you have a wonderful day with those you Love.

Take care

Sue

Always Know That!!

ALWAYS KNOW THAT..

Your presence is a present to the world.
You are unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You will make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Do not put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal and you prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem the heavier it gets.
Do not take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot … goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life’s treasure are people together.

Realize that it is never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have hearth and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.

AND DO NOT EVER FORGET ….
FOR EVEN A DAY
HOW VERY SPECIAL YOU ARE !

Long Tan Day

The Battle of Long Tan was one of the major battles that Australian soldier where involved in, in Vietnam.

The newly arrived 1^st Australia Task Force establish its Phuoc Tuy base in 1966 at Nui Dat on high ground surrounded by a rubber plantation.

On the 16^th of August 1966 Viet Cong fired a barrage of shell in to Nui Dat, wounding twenty four Australian Soldiers, from a rubber plantation nearby, there plan was to get the Australian to move out of the base, in the path of the waiting Viet Cong, where they would be out numbered.

On the 18^th August at about 3.15pm D Company of 6RAR was patrolling the area around the Long Tan Plantation when they encountered a small group of Viet Cong; they fled leaving behind one of the number killed by the Australians. The Patrolling continued until, the main body of the Viet Cong 275 Regiment was found, the Viet Cong attached vigorously with mortars, rifle and machine guns.

In pouring rain, the Australian returned fire from where they where and with artillery fire from Nui Dat some five kilometres away. Close air support was ask for but could not be use as the enemy could not identified accurately.

The Commander of D Company, radioed to be resupplied. Two RAAF helicopters which happen to be in Nui Dat to transport a concert party flew at tree top level into the battle area to drop much need boxes of ammunition.

The heavy fire from D Comany and the aggressive artillery fire from Nui Dat, turned the battle in favour of the Australians. But the Viet Cong continued fighting trying to gain the upper hand.

A Company of 6RAR where ordered to move in to support D Company, they did so in armoured personnel carriers, they found the enemy and two Platoon of A Company dismounted and moved forward to meet the enemy, who turn and fled.

The Viet Cong could be seen massing in the diming light. At 6.15pm the relief force from D company arrived in the area and the enemy could be seen melting in to the darkness.

The Australian consolidated their position for the night and started to fly out there wounded by helicopters. During the night the Viet Cong removed many of the wounded and died from the battle field. For some Australians it was a terrifying night as they lay there wounded with Viet Cong moving around them.

When the Battle for Long Tan was over.

Morning showed that the Viet Cong force well beaten, Questioning of prisoners ascertained that the offensive force comprised the Viet Cong 275 regiment and the D445 Battalion, a total force of two thousand five hundred men, two hundred and fifty Viet Cong bodies where found on the battle area.

D Company number one hundred and eight men, eighteen where killed and twenty four wounded.

Lest We Forget

S.M MacArthur. ©

18^th of August Long Tan or Vietnam Vets Day, most people who know me know that Nam Vets hold a place in my heart, be they Vets I know or ones I’m yet to meet, for I know what some of these men have been through and what some of them are still going through.

Has it got any easy for these man over the years, for some of them No, a lot of them are still fighting to get the help they need, most of them just want help, with the medications that they need, for some the medicines each month cost the so much, it just not funny, these man are not asking for a hand out, they asking for help.

In every DVA office there are men passing judgment on these soldier, “ yes this one should get the pension, not this one shouldn’t get help with his medical” and so on, they are carrying on like it there money they have to use to help these man, well it Not it our money, we are the one’s paying our Tax’s and it our Tax money that use to help these men.

You know what really worries me, what going to happen when those who are now fighting over sea come home, what will it be like for them. Will it be the same as the Nam Vet and what will they have had to put up with, will it take them years to make the Government see that they need help.

It is our Government who send these young men and woman to war, they are Australia very best, and they go and do what ask of them.

Some of these young men and women are killed fighting for this country and our Pollies go to their funerals and so they should, all Respect should be given by not only the Pollies but everyone in this country to those who died for this country.

But the same Respect should be given to those who have come home, there fight should end when they step foot back in this country, they should be give the Respect in the form of the help they need, they should not have to come home and start fighting all over again.

If I had my way, everyone who leave this country to fight for this country, would be look after when they get home, for they have laid there life on the line for this country, they should all get the medical help they need and they should all get the pension, they should not have to fight for it.

To the Nam Vet’s I know and those I’m yet to meet,

God Bless each and every one of you and “Welcome Home”.

S.M. Mac Arthur ©

Only One You

Only One You

There are promises and poems
Silly rhymes and songs
There are storms and rainbows
Sunshine and sometimes snow . . .

There is draught and there is rain
And dances that do the same
There are flowers and blue skies
And a million reasons why . . .

There are fantasies and dreams
Surprises and many schemes
Three are waterfalls and seas
Mountains and many trees . . .

There is laughter and there is pain
Scars that will always remain
There is happiness and sorrow
Hopes of a new tomorrow . . .

There are seasons to behold
Many stories to be told
There are folks who are blessed
There are those who have less . . .

There is uncertainty and fear
Love for those we hold dear
Yes, those for whom we care
And lift up in our prayers . . .

There are moments we are down
And many dreams to be found.
When all comes into view
I realize my friend, that . . .
there is .

Thank you for the gift of you!

© Steve A. Politte