**"WE VALUE YOUR CALL " - FORM DISPLACES SUBSTANCE

HTC WILDFIRE S

Who would have thought it? The acquisition of a new mobile (cell phone for our American readers) and a move interstate have prompted a useful insight into our society!

 Before our removal from Queensland("Beautiful one day - perfect the next") to Sydney ( Sin City , New South Wales  , I decided to quit my prepaid mobile phone arrangement - which had been meant to save money but ended up costing an arm and a leg - due to exorbitant call charges. The intention was to get a low rate contract  for a good Android Smartphone , and I chose the HTC Wildfire S pictured above. The Phone has been everything I could hope for - a poor man's iPhone in fact.

However,  dealing with our monumental TELSTRA was a nightmare. And this was the beginning of my insight forming. TELSTRA is a thoroughly "now" creation, featuring every fashionable corporate pattern of activity imaginable. If the New Business Management Gospel is true, it should be a wonder to behold. NOT! 

Firstly it was a privatised Government operation. Freed of its "shackles"it proceeded to adopt every smart modern concept. To maximise efficiency (read "increase profits") it moved heavily into out-sourcing -forming a moat about itself, separating itself from its clients - a moat which is the Pacific Ocean - and placed all its call centres in the Phillipines. Having ensured that clients would , over time, be deterred from endeavouring to contact TELSTRA by phone due to the language difficulties and the confusion  created by TELSTRA systems. Next, they proceeded to Franchise many of their TELSTRA SHOPS in shopping centres ( Malls to our American readers). This duplicated the language difficulties and confusion, because many of the Franchisees are themselves recently arrived from South East Asia and employ mostly young people of similar experience.In the process we spent two periods of one and a half hours on the phone to TELSTRA Philippine call centres with no result, followed by one and a half hours at a franchised TELSTRA SHOP speaking with a charming young Japanese lady still without result. 

But TELSTRA was not finished with its battered clients yet. In a triumph of Western management excellence , it divisionalised its business and re- organised its accounts! Marvellous!? Each client has a Phone Number of course and then a Bill number and then an Account Number. He/she may or may not be aware that the account is a Personal account in any one of several categories - all meaningless to the client, or even a Business account within another range of several categories!

The Accounts when ( and if) received are a marvel of confusion. And, in the last week I have been advised by letter to be prepared for their new style accounts with new account numbers featuring three more digits!! i can't describe my enthusiasm in greeting the news! My first account at the new address did not arrive. But follow-up letters did. When I telephoned to ask for a copy of the missing account on two occasions , the good folk in the Phillipines were very understanding and the result is that I received 4 copies of that account by mail to my OLD address as well as one to my Email.

Now, as you would expect, TELSTRA is very big on QA (Quality Assurance) . This is one of the engines driving Australia's plunge into the embrace of the triumph of FORM over SUBSTANCE, along with Workplace Health and Safety and the manifold examples of legislated civil "morality" such as Racial Vilification Acts and Equal Rights Acts and Privacy Acts and any other reflection of a society that is trying to legislate its substitute for Christian Morality.

The latter, of course had to be abandoned because it is based on objective Truth and personal responsibility whereas in the New Order "everyone knows"that "everything is relative"and there is always "someone else" to blame when our actions are questioned or things go wrong.

  Finally we went to another TELSTRA SHOP in a very large Shopping Centre in Hornsby. There  our luck changed,  and Roger, a young Peruvian born fellow, solved our problems in 15 minutes.

 Sadly for TELSTRA and its clients there are not enough Peruvian born employees in the company.

  But , in essence, it seems to me that :

  when a company adopts quality assurance,

  embraces Workplace Health and Safety,

  embraces concern for all sorts of equality,

  renounces any type of profiling,

  adopts out-sourcing and, or,

  adopts franchising of its contact points,

  You can be sure the client is the loser - in a big way.  Everything they say means exactly the 

  the opposite : "We really value your call" Sure!

  

  The earliest exemplars of this phenomenon were the Communist countries : who can forget "The Democratic Republic of ......"or the dreaded "People's Republic of China" they were not remotely Democratic and it is certainly NOT the people's! Everything they say means the opposite.

FORM has become everything and SUBSTANCE is completely emptied from our social and civil structures. Yet people seem surprised when Government bodies lose Billions of dollars and announce plans to spend tens of billions on a program with no proper business plan, or young electricians are killed and homes burnt out due to ill-conceived schemes, or international banking structures collapse with inconceivable debts. Everyone has been satisfied with form and ignored substance.

Pope Benedict has warned the Church repeatedly that programmes are not the answer, but personal holiness and personal morality and personal action and union with Christ are the answer. In other words SUBSTANCE and NOT FORM.

  WE NEED A REVOLUTION IN THINKING, NOT GLIB SPIN DOCTORED SCHEMES, BUT THE REALITIES TOO OFTEN PROMISED BUT TOO RARELY DELIVERED - WHETHER IN COMMERCE, CIVIL SOCIETY, GOVERNMENT OR RELIGION

Here endeth my rant - normal, more relaxed posting will quickly resume after I have slain a Dragon next Tuesday.

*ANOTHER BOYHOOD DREAM FULFILLED- CLIENTS IN HIGH PLACES

H.M.A.S. MELBOURNE (III) READY FOR LAUNCHING
AT WILLIAMSTOWN VIC

IF YOU EVER GET THE CHANCE GO!

Ever since I was a little boy in World War II, I always thrilled to the sight - usually on Newsreel film ( ask your Grandparents!) - of ships being launched. And I hoped to see one launched one day!

We approach the stocks upon which she stood in waiting.

 I was invited as the representative of Banque Nationale de Paris , together with my Wife Robyn, to attend the launching of H.M.A.S.MELBOURNE on 5th May, 1989 at Williamstown Vic. So we planned a flying day trip from Sydney for the occasion.

All went well, and we hired a car to ensure the minimum delay from and back to the Airport. The day was overcast and as we looked across the Bay to the City it loomed grey-blue. The Dockyard was abuzz with excitement and the various groups of dignitaries, the Naval Officers, Politicians, Representatives of the Dockyard Company and the Dockyard workers themselves were all equally keyed up.

Seeming aloof from the nervous excitement about her,
she waits with austere dignity.

There was much milling around as friends greeted one another and it was noticeable that there was a particular anxiety evident among the Dockyard workers - totally absorbed in their concern that nothing should go wrong.

Close up of the cradle holding the bow section .

In preparation for the great day most of the heavier supports had been removed, the slipways heavily greased and the great check - chains laid out and attached to the hull to ensure that when launched she did not keep on going across the Bay. Finally there remained the trigger mechanism keeping all in place until THE MOMENT.

The Champagne Bottle is swung by Mrs.Hazel Hawke and the ship is named "MELBOURNE "

The trigger is released, and, imperceptibly at first she moves with garhering speed
down the slipway until the weight of the check chains leaves her gently rocking afloat
and waiting for tugs to move her to the fitting-out wharf.


Then there is a quickly-dawning realisation that it is all over, we have witnessed one of the grandest things that man can do the launching of a ship, but it is like an epitome of all human experience - greatly and rightly anticipated, brilliant in its happening but followed by a sense of disappointment that it cannot be continued. We were born for greater things and our hearts will not rest, until they rest in Thee. ( Thanks to St.Aloysius and St.Augustine)


N.B.There are two footnotes to this story :
Firstly, some Liberal Party fellow mistook me for the West Australian former Senator and former Minister for the Navy Fred Chaney - he must have been keenly celebrating because he took quite a bit of convincing that it was just me!
Secondly. at the time I was doing a fair amount of interstate flying and had "Golden Wing"Life Membership with Ansett ( Vanity of Vanities - soon to be swept away). When Robyn and I reached the Tullamarine Terminal we headed for the Golden Wing Lounge - normally a scene of  peace and calm  organisation - only to find that because of widespread industrial strife most flights were cancelled and the Lounge looked like Hanoi as the Americans departed!! We could not get a flight and so had to book in to a Hotel in Melbourne for the night - without baggage- and then get the earliest flight out next day to Sydney. Fortunately it left virtually as the Sun rose so our slightly crumpled "clothes from yesterday" were not as conspicuous as they might have been. It was also fortunate that our three children were old enough to look after themselves and our home in the overnight emergency!
BUT IT WAS WORTHWHILE -TO SEE A SHIP LAUNCHED!!!

THE GIFT OF FAITH - WONDERFULLY WELCOMED

THE FIRST PIOUS ACT

Do you know what you were doing on Sunday morning,the 23rd February, 2003? No? Well then you are not a Dixon, because on that day our first Grandchild Stephen Dixon was Baptised in St.Stephen's Cathedral in Brisbane - what an occasion!


You noticed the connection did you? STEPHEN Dixon Baptised in St.STEPHEN'S Cathedral . His mother and proud, happy Dad had met in the Cathedral where they had both been Altar Servers - the great Proto-Martyr was the natural Patron Saint!


The event was  amply recorded by cameras, including an extraordinary - even phenomenal occurrence -seconds after the saving waters and Chrism had, through the workings of the Holy Spirit, brought Stephen into the Church Christ founded , the beautiful little baby boy spontaneously joined his hands - to the amazement of all  present ! Who knows what Stephen will become in future life? Already at 8 years of age he is a very fine boy, handsome, intelligent and with an admirable personality. In centuries past, his early gesture would have been universally regarded as a portent - we live in different , cynical times. But for this Grandfather that lad will always have a special place in my prayers.


We hope to have Stephen as our guest for a  week in the lead up to Christmas this year and to be able to show him a good time, exploring the wonders of Sydney and the region and getting to know all the family and friends better . A happy time to enhance even Christmastide!


How fortunate we are!

"..LOOK OUT HERE COMES THE MASTER RACE....".

CLIVEAS ABOUND AND GROW HEALTHILY

DESPITE ITS OCCASIONAL CRITICS , THE BEAUTY OF WISTERIA
IS IS A TRUE DELIGHT

Just as well Mel Brooks is Jewish, otherwise the PC Brigade would have torn him to shreds years ago for things such as "SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER"("The Producers"). I have loved its outrageous fun ever since I first saw it decades ago starring the late Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. It came to mind as I sat down to write this post on the subject of a Springtime walk in "leafy Pymble".  Mel Brooks re-visited the sending up of Hitler in his hilarious re-make of the wartime film "TO BE OR NOT TO BE "(1942) using the same title. In this film we have Hitler portrayed by an in film character as singing "All I want is Peace!, Peace!. Peace!"(We hear) He goes on.."A little piece of Poland , a little piece of France..." Mel Brooks stars in the film and it is a joy to see his beautiful wife the late Anne Bancroft in fine comedic form.

Beautiful Ï don't know what they ares.

Spectacular bank of Azaleas.

O.K., Where was I...Oh! Springtime and my daily walk in the forest-like area of Pymble. I have a good walking route quite varied in gradient with some good flat stretches and almost continuous gentle shade from the sun - I have enough skin cancer experience as it is - the curse of the Celtic skin! I started out fairly early thinking that a storm was brewing . It wasn't - just pretty powerful wind throughout the day. But Spring has truly sprung! No, I didn't see any young men whose"fancy had lightly turned to thoughts of love" ( as the poem has it) in an obvious way. I guess they were too busy in High School, Uni. or at work. But the gardens!!

Much maligned by the Trendies - the glorious Wisteria.

The whole walk might as well have been in a Botanical Garden! Banks of azaleas, cliveas (which thrive in the area) wisteria, rhododendrons,crabapple trees, cherry blossom and even the natives have gone for it in a host of varieties of robinias in gold and red. All of this in profusion whilst the last of Winter's Camellias cling to their trees.An hour and thirty five minutes out and back including the killer climb at the end back up Pymble Avenue and I feel I have done my bit toward fitness!

The Crabapple about to explode in glory.

Azaleas crowd the extended driveway of a lady celebrating her Birthday to-day.

Rhododendrons - undeniable glories of a bountiful Providence.

So much beauty and the joy it instills - no wonder Mel Brook's delightful humour sprang to mind - the world looks pretty good around here - despite the adverse winds blowing high above through the 60 to 70 feet high Eucalypts .

"..WITH JOYFUL STRENGTH WE MOVE.."

St.Benedict's Church Broadway,Sydney

Sunday Mass -it is necessarily the hub around which the wheel of Catholic religious observance turns, and, through a longish life the source of so much spiritual nourishment and growth ( and it must be said, the occasional spiritual, and devotional disturbance).

As my devoted reader will know, my wife and I now live in the Sacred Heart Parish at Pymble on Sydney's "leafy North Shore"as the papers accurately love to call it. The church there is "modern"with the Blessed Sacrament reserved off to one side and the Celebrant the focus of attention enthroned behind the Altar under the hanging crucifix which survived from the grand old Spanish Mission style Church out on the Pacific Highway. The latter had become untenable due to Highway traffic, and the modern replacement across the road is hidden from the Highway by being dug into the hillside and further obscured by trees - removed from sight it claims no attention , gives no witness before the passing throngs.

Anyway, this Sunday there was only one Parish Mass to be celebrated on the School Oval . My wife and I decided this was not likely to be conducive to devotion Accordingly we elected to attend the 10.30 am Solemn Mass at St Benedict's Broadway. In any case, we will be attending Mass out of the Parish at least once a month on account of the abysmal music at the monthly "Family Mass", leaving the "HAR LAY, HAR LAY HAR LAY LOOOO YARRS" and whining smarmy American songs to others whose musical development has been arrested by them. 

St. Benedict's as it originally existed.

St Benedicts is a W.A.Pugin designed Church. Originally it was somewhat longer than it is to-day. In 1948, the traffic on the Great Western Road (now more prosaically called Parrramatta Road) had grown so much that the Road had to be widened and that was done at the expense of St.Benedict's.

The legendary Father Terry Purcell

The delightful Organ of St.Benedict's which, along with the peal of Bells(gift of Father Purcell) do much to complement worship in this grand church. 

For many years through the dangerous period of the post-Conciliar turmoil, St.Benedict's was preserved largely intact by the redoubtable , famed and much-loved Father Terry Purcell  ,a holy and wholly orthodox Catholic Priest, who kept at his post despite trendy inclined Ordinaries and in later years the great cross of the loss of his sight. Better times came in due course, when George Pell became Archbishop of Sydney in 2001. Father Purcell went to his reward in 2007. In the ensuing years, the adjoining school buildings became a Campus of Notre Dame University and pastoral need began to swirl vigorously about St. Benedict's once again. Cardinal Pell had the right man for the job. He is Father Michael de Stoop a young, athletic , holy and devout Priest of undoubted Orthodoxy and much loved by Parishoners wherever he has gone  be it Liverpool, the Cathedral or St. Benedict's. He is the author of a widely distributed book "The Gift of Confession". He is quietly-spoken and his homilies are solid and delivered without theatrics. His celebration of Holy Mass is deeply devout and exemplary in every respect.

Father Michael de Stoop Administrator of St. Benedict's.

Cardinal Pell - who recognised the potential of St.Benedict's and its location.

The liturgical East interior (true North) of St.Benedict's

Are you surprised? We came away with joy in ou hearts for a Holy Mass "actively participated in" from our place in the pews with delightful Gregorian Chant ( Missa Orbis Factor) from the small but impressive choir, glad of the professional and unobtrusive servers , the warm tones of the Organ, the welcoming peal of the bells, and a good holy Priest. - the Catholic Church "semper reformanda'- yes! - but well on her way here at least and sure of her identity as ever . Thanks be to God for this opportunity to participate and to receive Him in Holy Communion.


The are many stories surrounding the church and the personalities and I hope to return to them soon.

LIVE HISTORY "ON DRUITT"

THE 1880's LIVE!

Rain and cold in Sydney town greeted us as we emerged from Town Hall underground Station, and, neath the protection of a vast freebie Commonwealth Bank Golf Umbrella looked for 66 Druitt Street, which runs East - West along the North side of the Town Hall down to Darling Harbour.

The trip had its origins in my efforts to help my wife, an accomplished dressmaker of children's clothing, to locate a supplier of what is called "ric rac braid"( this is braid in a wave like pattern as will be seen in the photos). She had a well-stocked supplier or two in Brisbane, but the North Shore of Sydney has not so readily given up its sources, despite keen searches from Hornsby to Gordon. I found a supplier in the City - relying on the trusty Google - Photios Bros of 66 Druitt Street , Sydney . What a GEM!

Now you see - "Ric Rac"Braid , and the card system - neat!

he trip had its origins in my efforts to help my wife, an accomplished dressmaker of children's clothing, to locate a supplier of what is called "ric rac braid"( this is braid in a wave like pattern as will be seen in the photos). She had a well-stocked supplier or two in Brisbane, but the North Shore of Sydney has not so readily given up its sources, despite keen searches from Hornsby to Gordon. I found a supplier in the City (relying on the trusty Google) Photios Bros of 66 Druitt Street , Sydney . What a GEM!

Whoa! Don't think I've suddenly gone mad for fabrics and the like! But the shop and its antique apparatus is a joy to behold. The large A4 size boards standing on edge at the bottom right hand corner of the first photo contain tiny samples of up to about 20 stock items with their reference numbers. Once the desired item is identified the reference number leads the staff to the appropriate stock box. These shallow boxes can be seen lining the walls and shelves by the hundred, and in addition on the upper level there are the reserve stocks.

AA blaze of colour from the Feather Boas

Boxes and boxes and boxes!

The only concession to modernity - other than electric light and buzzer ( ok and an aluminium ladder!) that I noticed, was the EFTPOS  machine carefully kept out of sight. This store is truly worthy of Heritage Listing as it operates. It brought back many memories of the type of business and business systems, that were flourishing in this part of Sydney (from Kent to York Streets and from Druitt North to King Street, when I was a schoolboy - much of what was still in operation in the late 1940's and early Fifties was not all that different it seems, from what had carried Aussie  commerce through World War I. Different to-day!  Business systems and equipment seem to have a life cycle of about 6 years if they are lucky - often half that time!

Costume Jewellery - your lady could look like Liz Taylor used to  - and for a fraction of the cost!

These are natural feathers - stunningly beautiful - and ( to me at least) surprisingly inexpensive!

Anyway, Photios Bros. is well worth a look, and who knows you might choose to buy some exotic bird feathers for your hat or whatever, some stage jewellery, some chandelier crystal drops, some braid, a feather boa, the sky's the limit - or rather the ancient pressed metal ceiling's the limit - these good folk deserve to be encouraged!

  For another view of the subject, and of these photos ,which I took with my HTC Wildfire S Phone, I am sure you will find my wife will do her usual brilliant posting over at:http://hotfudge8.blogspot.com/

FOR FATHERS' DAY

For Fathers’ Day

Fathers‘ Day calls up a number of thoughts and this photo, which is one of my favourites, can serve as a hub for them.

It has, I suppose, never been easy to be a Father (or a Mother for that matter). But in these cynical, politically correct times, in the death grip of American left liberalism which has spawned radical feminism as well as environmentalism, multiculturalism and a grab bag of other –isms, it is hard enough being a man, let alone a Father.

Sure, for the sake of commercialism, Fathers have been emphasised over these days running up to tomorrow, but there is no depth or conviction about it.

But it is a grand thing to be a Father and even a Grandfather! I speak from experience.  The earliest years of a child’s life are wonderful despite the stresses and cares, the dirty nappies and the occasional smile that gives way to a projectile output. The consolations of the responsive love and joy of one’s own little child are immeasurable. 

 Despite the fact that many children still feel the natural need to distance themselves from their parents as they struggle through the pre-occupations of finding themselves in their teens and coming to terms with puberty, they generally reach the stage where they can relax and regard their parents quite comfortably. There is an immense fulfillment, pride and satisfaction in seeing the achievements of anyone we love – but in the case of our children and grandchildren, it produces a special inner glow.

It is true that there is the down side:  the problems of illness – suffering and risk are hard to endure and the failures and occasional, even fundamental faults they might display. But the anxious prayers of a loving parent are a special privilege to offer up. They also provide opportunities to look at ourselves afresh and consider our own faults and failures.

So, as Fathers’ Day 2011 is about to dawn –THANK YOU TO : my own late dear Dad and those who went before him ( at least one not so nice) and to my dear wife who made it possible and to Maz and Jut and Matt who have given this Father so much to be grateful for. And thank you also to ( in order of appearance) Stephen Dixon ( see photo asleep on his Fathers tummy),  Josephine Dixon, Emily Whiting, Gabrielle Dixon, Christopher Whiting, Anastasia Dixon and, last but not least, Daniel Whiting, all of whom have re-juvenated their Grandparents and none more than this Grandfather!!

It will be a Happy Fathers’ Day for me and I wish my dear son Matt a Happy Fathers‘ Day 1,000 Kms to the North in God’s own country!