The core biopsy I had last week showed that my cancers are of a type that is susceptible to immunotherapy. My oncologist has recommended a drug which should cure me -- no certainty of course. The cure will be a rather long road requiring at least 4 months so no early results can be expected. There is however now hope that I could be back to my old form until something else gets me -- JR
Occasional personal notes from a quiet life
A smile not as good as the famous smile of Antonia Staats but of that ilk. In my late 50s. Not so good now
MOTTO: As Oscar Wilde may have said: "Life is too important to be taken seriously". But the Hagakure had the idea too: "Matters of great concern should be treated lightly"
Background
John Ray's Home Page; My email: jonjayray@gmail.com . The Blogroll. Photo album for this blog here. Links to memoirs from previous years can be found at the foot of this page.
Brief bio
My full name is Dr. John Joseph RAY. I am a former university teacher aged 80 at the time of writing in late 2023. I was born of Australian pioneer stock in 1943 at Innisfail in the State of Queensland in Australia. After an early education at Innisfail State Rural School and Cairns State High School, I taught myself for matriculation. I took my B.A. in Psychology from the University of Queensland in Brisbane. I then moved to Sydney (in New South Wales, Australia) and took my M.A. in psychology from the University of Sydney in 1969 and my Ph.D. from the School of Behavioural Sciences at Macquarie University in 1974. I first tutored in psychology at Macquarie University and then taught sociology at the University of NSW. I am Australian born of working class origins and British ancestry. My doctorate is in psychology but I taught mainly sociology in my 14 years as a university teacher. In High Schools I taught economics. I have taught in both traditional and "progressive" (low discipline) High Schools. Fuller biographical notes here
Notes on my early education here and here
Some notes on my birth family
My early life
Epitaph
What would I like to be remembered about me long after I am dead and gone?
I would like it to be remembered that I too often experienced one of life's greatest pleasures: The first mouthful of cold beer on a warm day.
That pleasure will last as long as human beings are human beings, I believe
(Mind you: A Vegemite sandwich when you have a skinfull is nearly as good -- but that is for Australians only)
I am less certain about Bach. The last thing that people will remember about me long after I have gone will probably be: "He liked Bach". Will J.S. Bach continue to inspire people for a thousand years more? I think so. But beyond that I am not sure.
And here is a distinction that will be uncomprehended within a few decades of my death: "He coded FORTRAN with great ease". There are already few who would understand that distinction
Some wisdom
Haggis: A primitive peasant food dragged out of obscurity and given eternal life by a poet
"It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good disposition." — Thomas Jefferson, 1785
“When you see a ball on the road, make a full stop. There’s usually a kid running right behind it.” — Paulina Gomez
My favourite scriptures:
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 19:14)
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. (Eccl. 11:1)
My favourite words that were ever said to me: "It's good to be with you, John"
The way we were: My first graduation picture below, a very long time ago (1968) , holding a volume of the works of I.P. Pavlov. A total nerd -- but one who had girlfriends
Above: As I was in 2023
More pix -- wives first
Marrying DNB 1973
Honeymooning at Peregian with JP 1976
Jenny in 1984
Marrying Jenny
Jenny 2020
Marrying Big Kath. 1995
JHM, 1996
With first girlfriend Janet 1964
Joyce Hooper
Judith M 2004
The way we were. With Anne. 2006
Anne 2020
I too once wore black tie. In 1993 at The Mansions restaurant on Petrie Terrace. CW not shown as she took the picture
With the teenaged Joe in 2003
In 2005, when I was 62
Ladies at Glyndebourne: Anne and June. 2006
Julie D. 2020
John 2020
With Mrs M. -- and Dosas. 2006
A country wedding. Joe & Kate, 2018
Brother Chris
My gorgeous sister when she was a kid
Joe at Uni
Russ in trouble
Hatboy -- Matthew
Boys running: Matthew and Dusty
Multicultural Australia: Two cousins
Pixie Hannah
A sweet little soul patiently waiting: Elise
My time in the Army
A testamur
Choices
Photo album for this blog HERE
Looking back
In the unlikely event that anybody wants to read what I wrote in years past, the archive links at the foot of this column make that easy.
The further back you go, however, the more you will encounter missing pictures. The net is like that. If you are interested in pictures you may therefore find it best to look at the single-page versions of these notes. I find it easier to keep the pictures up to date on them. They are as under:
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1993
1956
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