The Great Civil Wars of 2017

Additional video at the end. V. Important
Chaos, we were reminded yesterday, is just a corner away. The effort that is needed to retain and maintain an orderly civil society is far greater than most imagine. The talk in the bar last evening left even me wondering and scanning the horizons.

Very few are even aware that a civil war is likely, until belief in one is shoved down their street. Many nations have 'experienced' one in their history and few have escaped unscathed. Why on earth imagine that western democracies are exempt?

"Gentlemen will assume a lazy posture"

If civil war breaks out, which nation will lead off?  Many nations in the west are thoroughly disenchanted with their Governments. Yesterday was Nov 5th, when some Anglophiles still remember and 'celebrate' Guy Fawkes: he who tried to blow up the English Parliament and King James along with it. Or was it the other way around. 

Guy Fawkes

Today the mood of the British is very dark. And the mood of America is very dark. France is always toying with the darkside and their neighbours in Germany are seething.  It will not take much of a spark.

America goes to the polls. Many Americans have already cast their votes - much good it will do them. The unelected Electoral College is the deciding body. America is not a Democracy. Such a small body is easily bought.

If one mob get in, the other mob will be incensed. Hillary has already been heard saying that 'Trump must be defeated or we will all hang. He has the nooses ready'. (I paraphrase lightly. Her actual words were far filthier. She who doesn't like the Donald saying 'pussy' uses far fouler language herself). It is unusual to hear Hilary speak the truth.  There will have to be Justice done and seen to be done. A Democrat win will likely see the many, many good, solid folk of America reaching into their gun cabinets, also incensed that corruption would continue apace.  I expect some restraint. But if Trump wins the left will have no restraint. The entire election process has shown just how prone to violence the left is.

Whistle blowing, email dispersing Mr Julian Light the touch paper and retire to the Equador Embassy Assange has said that the 'emails' show that Trump 'will not be allowed to win'. 

Merkel has imported an army of Islamic huns and visigoths against the wishes of the people and we see daily running-battles on German streets. The same in France where the nights in some cities is lit by burning cars. As yet the people have sat infront of their TVs watching dubbed reruns of Monty Python. The bricks should be coming through the windows any day soon.

The rather more phlegmatic British need a strong push and it just might have come along. The Referendum to leave the sinking, decaying (and in parts burning) EU, the 'Brexit', is seeing a severe abreaction by the Powers that Be, the Elite, the money-men (and women) and now the Law, against the Will of the People.

Paris. Now.

“”A migrant turf war erupted into violence on the streets of one of Paris' trendiest neighbourhoods early this morning as asylum seekers beat each other to a pulp with wooden clubs. The area around Stalingrad Metro station was turned into a refugee battleground as rival gangs of migrants set upon each other in shocking scenes of violence. Asylum seekers wearing hooded tops wielded makeshift clubs fashioned from lengths of wood which they used to bludgeon each other as horrified pedestrians looked on. The blood-curdling brawl erupted just yards from the Stalingrad Metro station, where a squalid migrant camp has popped up following the demolition of the Jungle. It was not immediately clear what sparked the early morning fight, but rival gangs of people smugglers have previously been involved in violent brawls in Calais. And despite the horrific brawl, a pro-migrant rally is apparently being organised to take place at the camp at 6pm tonight.””

That Will of the British People, so clearly expressed, has been 'set back' by three Judges !!  They think - nay, have decided - that Parliament should do the voting, not the People. M'thinks they will need gun cabinets at home too.

Katie Hopkins, that modern Princess Cassandra who predicts but without anyone taking any notice, was at it in the UK room.

KATIE HOPKINS: Three judges think they know better than the British voters – but will MPs be so brave? Bring it on Theresa and DARE them to defy the will of the people

The High Court just decided the EU Referendum on June 23, 2016, didn't really count. 

It was a practise go, like you tell fat kids who fail on sports day and need a second chance.

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3902626/KATIE-HOPKINS-Three-judges-think-know-better-British-voters-MPs-brave-Bring-Theresa-DARE-defy-people.html

The country may have voted to Leave the EU, but now the clever people, who think they are paid to have power, will decide exactly how.

That whole referendum thing? Well, that was just to make us feel better. To make us feel like we had a say.

Your votes? Placebo votes. That tiny pencil on a string inside a ballot box? Just a sugar pill, sweetening us up.

Over 17 million of us voted to Leave. And we won.

But the Establishment didn't like our decision. Our sovereign parliament didn't like being wrong.

And if it does go back to Parliament for a vote Brexit is as dead as a doornail.

Of the 650 MPs, 479 are thought to have backed Remain (including over half of Conservative MPs). So it is likely Brexit would be utterly scuppered.

But things have changed since then. And the mood of the country along with it.

It seems some aquiescent 'front' woman was sent into the Court to argue the case. She looked very happy with the outcome ... and no doubt her bank account looks good too.

So over in the Orphans of Liberty corner in the UK room several voices were heard as I ferried pints to their table. Hereward was first up. A fine rebel name if ever there was. He was wide awake too. And incensed.

Surrender or die trying?

Are we to bow to the forces stacked against us?

Those divisive elite and who do jeer at and spite this nation, spitting venom to dismiss the will of the people, and those who trash our democracy or, should we maybe, go down fighting for the freedoms our forebears fought so determinedly to defend? Or, meekly surrender?

I am still astonished that, instead of standing aside as they indubitably should have, the three beaks could quite deliberately attempt to derail what is essentially, specifically the expressed will of the people who voted on Jun 23rd 2016 and by a significant majority to leave the Brussels Empire.

 http://www.4liberty.org.uk/2016/11/05/surrender-or-die/

Ah but then the UK establishment has been kicked, and when you kick a rabid beast expect a lot of growling and fierce frothing of the mouth.

Two pieces in the Mail almost struck me dumb, I’ve read this quote time and again, imho it really tells you all you need to know:

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3903608/Judges-shameful-slow-handclap-Gove-ANDREW-PIERCE-reveals-trio-crowd-jeered-Lord-Chancellor-white-tie-banquet.html#ixzz4P7BhxoRf

""Another guest said: It was just horrible. The guests hated Michael Gove and everything he stood for on the referendum.

By contrast, an earlier speech by Lord Mountevans, the Lord Mayor of London a millionaire Swedish-born ship broker was greeted with whoops, cheers, and clapping when he attacked the result and some of those who had voted Leave.

The referendum debate shone a light on all UK institutions and industries including our justice system, he said.

As head of the City of London Corporation, and ambassador for all UK financial services, I we made our position clear.

‘For businesses, employees and our communities we wanted to remain in the EU.

This drew the nights loudest cheers.""

And then add in this:

""By a clear majority of 52 per cent to 48 per cent, the vote was to Leave.

Fanatical Remainers were never going to accept the decision and are resorting to any means available putrid propaganda, parliamentary obstructionism, and now judicial activism to keep Britain locked into the EU.

First they smeared Leave voters as moronic racists, too stupid to understand the consequences of their decision, and demanded a second referendum.

Then they claimed that the result was only advisory and not binding on Parliament.

They also started to pretend that there was a choice between a hard Brexit, which would result in financial ruin, and a soft Brexit effectively not leaving the EU at all.""

He [the writer, Littlejohn] goes on to say:

""No one could have dreamed that Britains decision to leave the European Union which 17.4 million people thought they had made at the ballot box could be derailed by a rich financier and a mysterious Brazilian hairdresser, bankrolled by hedge fund fat cats and disgruntled expats?""

You couldnt make it up.

In order to justify their ruling, the judges had to dig up precedents dating back to 1610 and 1689.

It was redolent of the Crown Prosecution Service resorting to an ancient statute about conspiracy to cause misconduct in public office to prosecute innocent journalists for paying informants and whistleblowers.

Yet again, it proves that the smug, self-selecting, so-called elite will stoop to anything to get their own way and crush all opposition.

The Government says it will appeal to the Supreme Court. But, dont forget, the Supreme Court is subordinate to Europe and was set up by Labour to replace traditional Law Lords sitting at Westminster.

Our highest court is now “Subordinate to Europe” and you know who you can thank for that smart piece of politico-jurisdiction chicanery, not least by introducing into UK statute the spavined, baleful diktat of the ECHR-ECJ via the HRA – was no doubt on the advice of ‘her indoors’ Tony Bliar.

Leading on to, in an article in the Torygraph [no link sorry it’s paywalled] entitled,

“Hypocrisy and breathtaking brazenness”

And penned by Tory MEP Mr. Daniel Hannan. he concludes [below quote] it quite neatly synopsizes my feelings thus:

""What we are seeing, once again, is the rift between the country and its ruling caste. Throughout the campaign, Leavers argued that the EU was an oligarchy, an anti-democratic racket. 

Can you still doubt it?""

I say, my head hurts with it; the very last thing the senior judiciary now is – OBJECTIVE……….. and that is the most vexing and appalling thought, we are not going to the dogs, evidently for, the curs have been running the show for the last 43 odd years, the ruling caste are feeding, howling, yapping and barking, the curs are in charge.

We are a people now dispossessed, outcasts, downcast in our own land, this nation our fathers fought valiantly to safeguard and protect – at least we owe our fathers that – to at last give battle, to ride against the cur ruling caste.

And we were reminded of Britains last Civil War by Mike:

OLIVER’S ARMY….

17.4million of us. 

His words echo across the centuries today. Cromwell speaking to  Parliament in April 1653.........

 http://www.4liberty.org.uk/2016/11/05/19983/

“It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice.

Crikey, it sounds true of America now ! 

Ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government. Ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Oliver Cromwell

Yep. Obama and Clinton to a T. 

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse. Gold is your God. Which of you have not bartered your conscience for bribes? 

Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth? Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defiled this sacred place, and turned the Lord’s temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices?

Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation. 

You were deputed here by the people to get grievances redressed, are yourselves become the greatest grievance. Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse this Augean stable, by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and which by God’s help, and the strength he has given me, I am now come to do. 

I command ye therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place.

Go, get you out! Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Lock up the doors. 

In the name of God, go!”

Otherwise there will be bloodshed.

There was. 

But the best bet for 'revolt', were I a betting chap, is the good old USA which has, to be frank about it, turned bad in recent years.

America has a thoroughly Criminal Government 

which disdains even its own Constitution. Every Department of State seems to be headed by a major criminal. The President himself is seen by many to be a traitor, but no-one has been willing - or able, it seems - to impeach him. After eight years his term is nearly up and he has had ample time to effect his desired, 

Hope and Change: 

the Fundemental Transformation of America.

He did an effective job.

Now we have the criminal Hillary, she who must be elected because, well, she's a woman, innit? Will she or won't she?

Whichever person - Clinton or Trump - wins will see that person in charge of the largest and most comprehensive set of 'holding pen's' in History, eclipsing the Gulags of Siberia. 

Ostensibly for 'Emergencies' such as hurricanes, floods, volcanos etc, they will make fine places to incarcerate a range of disparate enemies. 

Despite Obama's best efforts, The Military is weakened but insufficiently transformed to support Hillary. They are likely to support Trump, as are the police forces. As I said, the Republican-leaning people have several hundred million guns at home. The 'Democrat hordes' are brainwashed into eschewing private guns ( Dem Politicians rely on gun-toting bodyguards) while the criminal young, mostly blacks and hispanics whom the dems rely on for applying violence are armed to the teeth too, but are far fewer.

The mix is explosive. 

And everywhere, the Left Media, fermenting anti-conservative mendacities. And anti-Christian, anti-western too.  Very little of the media that is pumped into your living rooms has escaped infection by mini-Marxists. The Univerities have fallen to the anti-intellectual mob of ignorant, cowardly youth who swallow every fatuous lie fed to them by lefist, feminist, marxist, atheist 'Professors'. 

Personally, I am no seer. I look at the runes and see squiggly lines. Cassandras are found in the media. 'Sound' men are concerned.

So am I.
Addition: 

But I sit here at the ends of the World, far from the turmoils of the Americas and Europe. Oz looks safe enough. I do not see such events here in the near future. But that does not mean we would not be affected.

Better drink up and order some rounds.

Pax.

What the 'News' Won't tell you

How Green is my Island? Well, it is very green, both enviromentally and politically. And many of the people here are treated as though they, too, are green, like cabbages. Tasmania is covered in forests which in many places you just cannot go to see. But in Melbourne, which I took a good long look around last week, you can see the ones there. Despite the hugeness of the City of Melbourne and its stretch in all directions, there are more trees than you can shake a stick at. 

In the Dandenong Ranges one can drive along well maintained roads through the trees and hills. There is a vibrancy about the Dandenongs. Pretty villages and walking tracks, restaurants and 'lookout' galore.  'Views' are everywhere. But those roads would not be built today. As in Tasmania, the 'Greenies' would throw a fit and become violent. They were made a long time ago by men who wanted you to come and enjoy.

Suburban Melbourne

The green scourge is never told of as a scourge but as a saviour.  Green is the Islam of the land. It is lied about. We are forced to 'tolerate' the 'diversity', as far as the greens allow and the 'News' lauds. We are not told the truth.

Despite 4 and a half million people having homes in an area far less than an eigth of the size of Tasmania, there are trees everywhere. There must be at least ten trees per head of population. 45 million of them. A 'guess'. And that's just the suburbs and parks. There would be at least the same number in the Ranges.

The city and local Councils inventory the trees along the suburban and arterial roadways. There are over 1 million, 380,000 of them. Trees that is, not councils. Think of all the gardens ! 

And trees live on sunlight and Carbon Dioxide.

Ah, yes, that polluting, poisonous stuff that will bring wrack and ruin to the world. That gas that has the Greenies as sworn enemies. The greenies swear we are all doomed.

Mat Ridley wanted us to hear some truth for a change. And his drinking buddy Mr Dyer put his oar in the water as well.

Matt told of his part:

The world is getting greener. 

Why does no one want to know?

As carbon dioxide levels have risen, the planet’s green vegetation has increased by 14 per cent 

Global greening is the name given to a gradual, but large, increase in green vegetation on the planet over the past three decades. The climate change lobby is keen to ensure that if you hear about it at all, you hear that it is a minor thing, dwarfed by the dangers of global warming. Actually, it could be the other way round: greening is a bigger effect than warming.

It is a story in which I have been both vilified and vindicated. Four years ago, I came across an online video of a lecture given by Ranga Myneni of Boston University in which he presented an ingenious analysis of data from satellites. This proved that much of the vegetated area of the planet was getting greener, and only a little bit was getting browner. In fact, overall in 30 years, the green vegetation on planet Earth had increased by a rather extraordinary 14 per cent. He said this was occurring in all vegetation types — from tropical rainforests to arctic tundra.

 http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/10/the-world-is-getting-greener-why-does-no-one-want-to-know/

What was responsible for this ecological good news? He credited rising carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere for half of the greening — rather than, say, the application of agricultural fertiliser, warmer temperatures or increased rainfall. Carbon dioxide, along with water, is the raw material that plants use to make carbohydrates, with the help of sunlight. So it stands to reason that raising its concentration should help plants grow.

I was startled by Myneni’s data. I knew that there had been thousands of experiments in which carbon dioxide levels had been increased over crops or wild ecosystems to find out whether it boosted their growth (it did). 

I also knew that commercial greenhouse owners now routinely maintain carbon dioxide levels in their greenhouses at more than double normal levels, because it makes their tomatoes grow faster.

But the global effect of CO2 levels on the quantity of vegetation had not, as far as I could tell, been measured — until now. 

When I wrote about this, it was among the very first non-scientific articles on the satellite evidence for global greening. But, as I found out, there is not much market for this good news. I was subjected online to withering scorn by the usual climate spin doctors, but even they had to admit I was ‘factually accurate’.

Myneni’s results were eventually published six months ago — when the great Paris climate jamboree was over. His results were now even stronger than he had concluded in his original lecture. Now he said that almost three quarters of the cause of greening was carbon dioxide — up from half. As the paper’s lead author, Zaichun Zhu, of Beijing University, puts it, 

it’s the equivalent of adding a green continent twice the size of mainland USA. 

Frankly, I think this is big news. A new continent’s worth of green vegetation — all created in a single human generation.

But it’s so controversial that even Dr Myneni felt the need to criticise me for publicising his research. At the end of last year, he said I had been wrong to claim that carbon dioxide fertilisation is ‘responsible for the greening of the earth’. And this from the man who, a few months later, would say that ‘CO2 fertilisation explains 70 per cent of the greening trend.’ As the climate economist Professor Richard Tol commented: ‘The new paper vindicates what Matt Ridley and others have been saying all along — yet they apparently deserve to be kicked nonetheless.’

Back in 1908 Svante Arrhenius, a Nobel laureate and the father of the greenhouse theory, predicted something like this would happen. ‘By the influence of the increasing percentage of carbonic acid in the atmosphere, we may hope to enjoy ages with more equable and better climates,’ he wrote. The earth, he predicted, ‘will bring forth much more abundant crops than at present, for the benefit of rapidly propagating mankind’. This has proved to be the case. Environmentally, this is perhaps the best news you’ve

never heard about.

So far, the benefits of global greening have been greater than expected, while the costs of global warming have been smaller than expected and the price of reducing carbon dioxide emissions has been higher than expected. That price is falling more heavily on poor than on rich people. The evidence suggests that this imbalance will persist for most of this century, perhaps longer. It is time for a rethink.

Yes, Indeed. But the PTB that control the news and the commentariat do not want you to rethink. They want you scared and compliant. And to pay up. 

It is a Great Scam.

Mr Dyer chipped in.

BOOM: Mike Rowe Expains Why Climate Change is the SCAM of the Century

Mike Rowe, television personality and amazing common sense advocate, recently exposed the way global warming adherents shut down anyone who questions their orthodoxy. 

 http://thefederalistpapers.org/us/boom-mike-rowe-expains-why-climate-change-is-the-scam-of-the-century

Rowe narrates the show “How the Universe Works” on the Science Channel. Recently, he sat down with climate change supporting scientists at a bar and blew wide open one of the major problems with their position. He detailed the conversation in a Facebook post:

""This weekend, in a bar called Grumpy’s, I listened as two professors from Berkeley discussed with great passion the inevitable consequences of ignoring climate change. When I was invited to share my opinion, I shrugged and said, “Beats me, fellas. Last week the smartest people on the planet thought there were 100 billion galaxies in the universe. They were off by a couple trillion. I’m not really sure what’s in store for planet earth.”

I was surprised by their response. One frowned real hard, and stared into his beer. The other asked if I was some kind of “Climate Denier.”

“Not at all,” I said. “Any fool can see there’s a climate.”

“You know what I mean,” he said. “Are you skeptical of the fact than man is destroying the planet by heating it up to an unnatural degree?”

“I’m skeptical of most things,” I said. “But who cares what I think? I’m just a narrator. You guys are the actual scientists, right?”

Hmmmm. I think I sound a bit like Mike. 

“We are,” said the one staring at his beer.

“Well then, tell me this. Isn’t skepticism at the very heart of scientific inquiry?”

“It is.”

“Then how come people who question the claims around global warming are called “Deniers?”

“Because Global Warming is real, and man is causing it. And our planet is in terrible trouble.”

Then the other one chimed in with this. 

“Right now, this planet is one of the worst places to be in the universe.”

Hey, I am but a humble Tavern Keeper but even I raised an eyebrow at that. 'Worst places to be in the Universe'? Which friggin' Universe is he from? 

I nodded. “I’m sure you’re right,” I said. “But if it turns out you’re not, and you need someone to walk it back for you – give me a call. I’m in the booth all the time.”

I’m not sure they got it."

I bet they didn’t. Whether you believe in climate change or you don’t, the point Rowe made is simple and extremely important — scrutiny is crucial for good science.

Any good scientist would welcome skepticism. 

They would welcome questioning and intensive analysis of their theories. That’s how something becomes a fact, and why global warming is far from it.

Global warming does not hold up to strong scrutiny. It simply doesn’t. Again, whether or not man-made climate change is real or not isn’t the issue here, but rather the fact that those pushing it mock, shame, and try to shut down dissent. 

Why is that?

There’s a lot of money in the climate change hoax. 

There’s also a big political angle. The government scares people into thinking that the end is nigh and that the only way to turn it around is to cede control to the federal government and allow them to force their economy-killing policies on business.

You know what else it does? It allows them to knock down the west and move toward globalism. Why else would you do something that obliterates the economy based on dubious science? 

Or any science for that matter. 

Even if it is true, how much sense does it make to cripple our economy as we watch other economies who have no intention of complying with the restrictions overtake us?

It doesn’t, unless of course there’s something bigger going on.

Melbourne regularly features at the Top of the List of the World's Most Livable Cities. It is green and well maintained. It is wealthy. 

Wealthy places attract people who want to keep the place nice. Look after it. Enjoy it. Be proud of it. Invite people to it.

Not locked away. As Tasmania does.

The Tavern is pretty nice too. Come for a pint or two.

Pax

Jessica - the Tavern Keeper's Pilot

As I was saying before, I went flying. It is something I have a need to do once in a while. Not sitting cramped in an airborne motel chair at 30,000ft but in something small and agile that I can pole around. Or yoke in this instance. So let me fill your tankard and tell you of my adventure with young Jessica.

The weekend and monday had been dull and overcast, but Tuesday dawned with a patchy sky and warmth.  And very windy. As my beloved son (in whom I am well pleased) was off at work I had a day to spend and a yen to fly.  So I went down to Moorabbin airport to the Aviation Museum. I had intended to go afterward to Lilydale to a little flying club from from which I had hired an aircraft before a few years ago. But first I wanted to see what was new at the museum. Hahaha.

They did have new mugs so I bought one for the bar.

They had some new displays too.

It is well worth a visit.

But instead of going to Lilydale I decided to check out the places around the airport. And I luckily found a helpful mob willing to overlook my size and age. They exchanged a small purse of gold for a pilot and a plane for a modest while. And what a charming, competent pilot she was. The plane was good too.

A Warrior 111 for a Knackered old warrior.

There is much one can say about pilots. There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots. There are those that have landed with their wheels up, and those that are going to. There are ugly ones and pretty ones. I was given a young, bold, pretty one by the name of Jessica Hall. A fine gal.

At 23 she has been flying for 6 years and has quite a sound log book of hours. A ten minute chat established both our credentials to one another. Not that I told her I was a King though, or a Knight, twice over. It was enough that she was confident that I could fly her steed.

After a map briefing and her approval of what I wanted to do (Hah !, What else could I have asked for? Hahaha) we pulled her beast clear of the others, checked for flat tires and bird's nests, and climbed aboard. 

I did say before that I have some 'girth' these days but she insisted that I squeezed my bulk into the left hand seat from the right side door; the PIC seat. She was going to ride shotgun. 

As I was not checked out on type and had not flown in a while I declined her offer to take off but took over at 200' climbing.

The instruments were very different to what I have been used to. Modern 'glass cockpit' tech, and so very easy to read. 

The wind was strong but almost down the runway and from the north-west: at our cruising height of 2500' it was blowing every which way at 70kts. We bucketed around like a racing car going flat chat through a ploughed field.

I had a ball ! 

I have flown faster. Of course. I have flown jets. Very fast. And did aerobatics at 16,000' over the Lleyne Penninsula in Wales, hitting 600kts. Light aircraft are a different and calmer beast. 120kts in a strong, thumping wind is 'different'. Not calm though ! 

And many's the time in years long past that I had flown out of and into Melbourne on business. One gets a fine view on some approaches but not such that one can determine for oneself. This time I could fly around the city at close quarters. I descended to 1500' for a lazy circuit of the skyscrapers. Jessica was accommodating in taking control while I took some snaps. (She even took one of me, but by the Lord Harry I am not as pretty as she is close up).

We overflew some impressive landmarks: Albert Park Lake, where the F1 Grand Prix is held, and the MCG, Melbourne's premier sports arena. 

And we flew down the coast of Port Phillip Bay.

It crossed my mind that the Southern Gal's fine aviator husband would have enjoyed the ride. I am pretty sure he could have made the Warrior do some fine and fancy moves even in the strong winds.  Maybe one day he can take the controls next to me and show me a thing or two.

Meanwhile I had a pretty girl to show me the ropes. I wanted to do a roller (a 'touch and go') and considered the wind, which was likely to be lighter at ground level. Jess offered me to chance, but ever the cautious one I declined and asked her to do it. She took over on appraoch at a responsible height and executed a perfect touchdown after some expected side slip. Away we roared again. 

All too soon my money ran out and we made our way back down and to the hangars. I had another memorable experience for my life log book.

Now, sink that pint and consider dropping by Moorabbin Flying Services next time you are on the southern bit of the big island. Ask for Jessica. Young women need the encouragement and the flying hours to make it in a career.

Tell her that a Knackered Old Knight, a King, a Tavern Keeper, sent you.

Oh, you wanted some video?

OK. Not me though. Watch a few hairy moments at the same spot.

Pax

Mr Jenner's Splendid AirB&B

Let me fill your glass and tell you more about my travels: this time about my 'accomodations'.  It is very easy these days for the travelling Knight to find shelter on his journey, what with Trivago to help and AirB&B to provide a very welcome alternative. Choice, you see, is now much easier than when I was a lad and one rode, camped in the forest, or found a handy castle to stay in -hopefully with a friendly Knight or King who does not send you directly to the dungeon until he has fully checked your credentials.  Many a customer has found the Tavern, by accident rather than plan.

Cowes, Main Drag

I wanted to visit Phillip Island as I had never done so while living for 20 years just 125kms north in Melbourne. An oversight. So, whilst I was to stay close by my beloved son (in whom I am well pleased) in an 'adequate' motel near the Dandenong Ranges foothills, I organised an overnight trip to that small and delicious 'holiday' spot. And stayed in an AirB&B operated by one Mr Jenner.

AirB&B is popular in Oz. I have stayed in several places enjoying the hospitality of ordinary Oz folk.  

A bit of background.....

Shortly after moving to San Francisco in October 2007, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia created the initial concept for AirBed & Breakfast during the Industrial Design Conference held by Industrial Designers Society of America. 

The original site offered short-term living quarters, breakfast, and a unique business networking opportunity for those who were unable to book a hotel in the saturated market. 

At the time, roommates Chesky and Gebbia could not afford the rent for their loft in San Francisco. They made their living room into a bed and breakfast, accommodating three guests on air and providing homemade breakfast. Their first three guests were of a sold-out design trade show. 

In February 2008, technical architect Nathan Blecharczyk joined as the third co-founder of AirBed & Breakfast.  During the company's initial stages, the founders focused on high-profile events where alternative lodging was scarce. The site Airbedandbreakfast.com officially launched on August 11, 2008.

https://www.airbnb.com.au/s?allow_override%5B%5D=&page=1&ib=true&s_tag=-atIA0Mk

At the beginning of November 2012, Chesky announced his focus on Australia, the second largest Airbnb market behind the United States, as well as Thailand and Indonesia. To support this effort, Airbnb opened its 11th office in Sydney.

Australians account for one-tenth of the Airbnb user base. As usual, Oz exceeds its expected capacity.

I cannot be more recommending. If you are ever south of Melbourne, on Phillip Island, you will not do better than stay a while at Mr Jenner's 'Executive' B&B. It is fit enough for this King, that's a fact, and far less expensive than the 'adequate' other place in which I stayed, which was more akin to the Tavern's comfortable stables. But I am no horse.

Wayne, for that was his christian name, was welcoming and presented a fine resting base for exploration. A fine bed in a fine bedroom; a lounge and a kitchen - more than simply well stocked; and a large bathroom. And all very secure. 

https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/7154239?s=Az3Xb71q

Check it out for yourself and better, book some time there.

I found him to be a gentleman and one with some similarities to m'self. A younger chap though. He knows the place well and was able to direct me to some places that I could visit. 

I had already, before arriving to settle in, explored a little, going into the Grand Prix Racing circuit and roaming through the countryside. The beaches are fine indeed and a quite different colour to what I am used to. (My nearby ones being almost white sand). But a pleasant change.

A welcoming and restful, quiet place is what one needs after travelling down from Melbourne. Few seem to appreciate the size of the city and its spreading environs. It is enormous.  And still growing. Already it is 100 kms from one side to the other and it spreads 130kms from top to the increasingly distant bottom well down the right side of Port Phillip Bay. I was expecting the lush farming countryside with its long, uninterrupted roads, and was astonished - and a little miffed - to find miles/kilometers of building sites, road works, even entire sections of Freeway moved to accomodate new housing developments. 

So far Phillip Island has resisted urban blight, even the rather spacious blight that surrounds Melbourne.  It is a small island; a holiday place attracting 'day' tourists, many of whom are Chinese. They come to see the tiny penguins. Other times sees the motor bike fraternity descend upn the place for the Grand Prix. Get there, if you can, quick. And stay with Wayne. Preferably when it is quiet.

Now, another pint?

Pax.

Dining Out

You may have noticed the lack of posts from the Tavern lately.  That is because I have been away. I did flag that a while ago. It was an opportunity to leave the restaurant behind - in good hands of course - and the bars, also in good hands, and off to sample the delights of my son's lady's fabulous cheffery. And one or two other fine dining experiences. 

So I took to the waves in a fine boat. The 'Spirit of Tasmania'. And I experienced the 'Heads' at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. Again.

My fine friend James is familiar with the Bay and the Heads and wrote about them just a day or two back. 

http://www.nourishingobscurity.com/2016/10/two-bodies-of-water-compared/

He showed  a video of the sort of experience it can be !

The Spirit has been recently refurbished, including the restaurants. They have not improved. Not that they needed to for a Ferry. They were and are adequate. But by the Lord Harry they have you stuck aboard and can charge an arm and a leg for adequate. And they do.

There is a small disadvantage of owning a restaurant as part of a fine place in that one samples the food a tad too much, and the girth expands !  Well, one does have to monitor the quality. It was a good opportunity to eat more delicately as befits a gentleman rather than a Knight's overflowing table.

I travelled across the sea not soley for a change of menu though. I had to visit my armourer. A Knight's wielding of a sword so often results in broad shoulders and with the added girth I find that my armour is fit now only for a smaller man - that I was, but no longer. I will tell of my new armourer another time.

I will start at the end. My final night's dinner was a delight to top off the week. I was taken to an almost secretive place in the Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne. 

Woods Sherbrooke. It is in the village (OK, just outside) of Kallista and has a Japanese theme. But the food is broader than simply asian, and it is only open at the weekend. So I am told. It is expensive fine dining but well within the pocket of the well heeled or those who save up.

http://www.woodssherbrooke.com.au/

Here we see one of the only known photos of the Knackered old Knight with his Tasmanian suntan and beloved son ( in whom I am well pleased) in the fine company of the Lady Lydia and her mum Anjelica (I hope that is spelled correctly).

The Old Knight dines out.

The food was excellent, although I do have to say that Lydia can serve up food just as delicious and well presented. But, for her and my lad, I even wore a suit!!! (not a shirt with a damned collar though. Hahaha.)

Nevertheless, the service was superb, the atmosphere genteel and the food made with excellence. The chef is world famous in the hills.

Earlier in the week I had ventured south to Phillip Island, where motor bike racing goes on. Fortunately there was little of that when I was there or the splendid little town of Cowes would have been roaring to the sound of Biker steeds. As it was, it was quiet and much more suitable for holiday makers.

There I dined at Harry's on the Esplanade, right on the sea-front. 

http://harrysrestaurant.com.au/

Harry's has little pretension: it is quite an 'Aussie' place but comfortable enough, and it has the distinction of an upstairs balcony (open to the fine, clean and warm air) from where one can look out over the waters while one dines. 

So I did.

I had one of the finest hunks of locally bred lamb I can recall. Slow cooked, it melted in the mouth.  And some King-sized, juicy Asparagus from Koo Wee Rup ! Heaven, indeed. I must send for some for the Tavern.

Dining semi-alfresco with Rosary.

Watching the boats pass.

My overnight say in Cowes was too short but I had to hurry back through the buiding site that most everywhere south of Melbourne has become in order to have another dinner with my Good and admired friend Kathy, about whom you know some things already. She has stood with me in Hobart outside the abortion centre there and now does the same in Melbourne. She has been arrested and is taking her case to the High Court. I had much listening to do as her children played around me and she prepared a fine evening dinner for a team! 

I had a day before prayed with her and two of her fellow prayer-group chaps near the Croydon Baby-Killing place. The police have moved the group of stalwarts back and back further along the road time after time. They persist. 

A long way to go to Pray

Kathy is a courageous woman under great strain. I have nothing but admiration for this lady who shows what being a Catholic is about.  Pray for the babies, and the mothers. And for Kathy.

And yes, I did have snacks elsewhere too. It was a week, after all and I was fitting a lot in. The armourer, for instance, and my new Pilot lady-friend.  Did I mention I took to the skies as well? And the gentleman and his splendid accomodations wherein I stayed overnight in Cowes.

I shall tell of those soon.

Meanwhile, I have pints to pull.

Pax.