This Body Corporate life.

The hostility by some of my fellow residents of our housing complex sometimes borders on the plain silly. On my approach they turn around or start coughing. Of the eight homes four are lived in by owners and the other four by people renting. Of the owners, we are the only couple. An item on its own a solid reason for their chagrin. The other three ‘owner homes’ are occupied by bitter divorced women. The husbands are probably still running or celebrating their lucky escapes. The eldest, apart from being bitter, divorced, and eighty-three years old is also the ‘chairperson’ of the ‘committee’ in charge of implementing the rules of the common held property. She does so with the fervour of Stalin. The Chairperson makes a big difference between owners and renters. She is also English and hints at being Prince Philips illegitimate daughter.

It is sometimes thought that in ageing people soften up and become less hostage of their nastiness or being mean-spirited. That’s not really true. Those with so much time on their hands still needs their attention to be focussed on something. They can’t just dwell on misery or relive past spousal battles. Those with nasty character traits will sharpen them and exercise those skills in doing harm to others. They have all that time. Readers might remember my twenty minutes career in being secretary of the same committee of our housing complex. I resigned when I was expected to write nasty letters to my fellow residents (the renters) about non-existing car parking problems.

Lucky that we have nice immediate neighbours who also happen to rent. They are busy and go to work each day. They sometimes pop in, exchange the latest gossip. They too are aware of the bitter divorcees and their obsession with trivial. It gives us no greater subject to regale upon than to speculate what next rule they will dig up from the Strata Law manual…They have meetings whereby they have Strata Law readings. Lately, the subject of ‘gardens’ have been perused. A letter was sent. “Three dead plants have to be removed opposite the common-held garden of the Oostermans.” A clear war declaration and reprisal for refusing to cross swords with my neighbours about parking, ( by-law 33d) Narrow-mindedness is increasing with age.There is nothing much we can do about it.

Four Weddings and a Funeral with Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott

When our PM reinstated the Dame/Knighthood institution a couple of years ago he sealed his fate. The first of those award was given to our Governor General, Quentin Bryce who gracefully accepted it but also confessed to being a staunch republican. It looked all a bit funny then. Now, a year later and few weeks ago it was Prince Philip who received it. I don’t know if he is a republican but most would hardly see him as an Australian who did a lot for Australia. Not so, according to Tony Abbott. He is all nationalities, Danish,Greek, Australian, even English and has many, many others. He’s done a lot for Australia, including asking if aboriginals still throw spears at each other. Mr Abbott made this strange decision on his own without anyone ,not even his cabinet, knowing about it. The nation was stunned.

The voters did not see the good Prince as an Aussie and now, Abbott’s party, is going to sack him with the largest turn around in political history. About two out of three now wants Labor returned. The Knighthood cannot now be undone or taken away, but many are convinced Tony Abbott’s days are numbered.

In any case; interesting times ahead. Enjoy this video.