Some Memoirs: February 2023

Friday, February 24, 2023

Bulletin from Asia

Pics received this morning from Zoe -- showing her with travel companion S. The message with the pic was "still surviving", which I take to mean that she and S have not so far fallen out.

Zoe At the foot of the Petronas towers in Kuala Lumpur

UPDATE OF 1 March: S has "dumped" Zoe so she is at the moment exploring Laos by herself. Her most recent description of S is acerbic but I would probably be committing a libel if I published it

UPDATE of 4 March: She's on her way back! On a plane at the moment, via Bali. ETA early Sunday morning. She seems to have enjoyed her trip despite doing part of it on her own. I will of course be glad to have her back safe and sound. We corresponded a lot while she was away.

She's sent a pic of herself against a background of the mountains ofLaos

A pic from Bangkok on her way back home

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Zoe goes to Asia

Zoe flew out of Brisbane last Sunday (19th) via Malaysian Airlines on her way to Kuala Lumpur. When she heard that her friend S (surname confidential) was headed that way she asked to join him when he got to KL.

She went with some romantic hopes but what mainly moved her was the love of travel that is normal among women in their '70s plus the fact that she had never been to Asia and badly wanted to make up that deficit.

I have not so far got any texts or emails from her but I have already got a couple of Facebook messages. So that is good

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

V-day

My V-day was busy and a bit unusual. During the day I consulted with a surgeon about some skin cancers and made an appointment to get them excised.

I then saw an audiologist to collect a replacement hearing-aid for the one I had lost. And the new one is better

Then I let my vacant room downstairs to a new tenant for a slightly increased rent.

But what about St Valentine? Jenny cooked me a favourite dinner to mark the day and Zoe emailed me to say that I am her "First and ONLY LOVE". So that is pretty good.

I did not see Anne but I had seen her the Saturday preceding, with much discussed.

Background

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

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"

Selected pix -- wives first

Marrying DNB 1973

Honeymooning at Peregian with JP 1976

Jenny in 1984

Marrying Jenny

Jenny 2020

Marrying Big Kath. 1995

Zoe, the lady in my life of 2022+

Jill, 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 my early'50's at The Mansions restaurant on Petrie Terrace. Lady 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

At Susan's wedding, 2009

Julie D. 2020

John 2020

With Mrs M. -- and Dosas. 2006

A country wedding. Joe & Kate, 2018

At Burra in 2018 for the wedding

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

It rained (Ethan Foss)

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:

current

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

About

Dramatis Personae

Jenny is the first wife of Ken and the third wife of John

Maureen is the second wife of Ken

Paul and the twins (Vonnie and Suzy) are the children of Jenny and Ken

Joe is the child of Jenny and John

Timmy and Davey are the children of Ken and Maureen

Paul is married to Susan

Matthew is the son of Paul and Susan

Twinny Suzy is married to Russell

Von is married to Simon

Tracy is Ken's sister

Tracy is married to Simon (another Simon)

Hannah is the daughter of Von and Simon

Sahara and Dusty are the children of Twinny Suzy and Russell

George came out on the boat to Australia with Ken

George had a son named Simon (The 3rd. Simon)

Jill and Lewis are old friends of John

Anne was the lady in John's life for many years. Still a good friend

Anne had a sister named Merle who was married to Ralph. Both now deceased. Anne has another sister named June

Anne's sons are Byron, Nigel and Warren

Byron has two sons named Koen and Ethan and a wife named Bonnie

My brother is Christopher (married to Kym) and my surviving sister is Roxanne (married to Stefan)

Zoe is flotsam from the wreckage of the Balkans but I am glad she has floated my way.

Quite simple really!

DETAILS OF REGULARLY UPDATED BLOGS BY JOHN RAY:

"Tongue Tied"
"Dissecting Leftism"
"Australian Politics"
"Education Watch International"
"Political Correctness Watch"
"Greenie Watch"
"A Western Heart" (A summary blog)

Cautionary blogs about big Australian organizations:

TELSTRA
OPTUS
VODAFONE
AGL
St. George bank
Bank of Queensland
Queensland Police
Australian police news
QANTAS, a dying octopus

My email address is jonjayray@hotmail.com

Some Memoirs