An interesting few months but I am back here again!
@RawBill1 (8531)
Gold Coast, Australia
February 9, 2012 3:10pm CST
Well, the last few months have seen me doing quite a few other things and not really spending any time here with my MyLot friends. I went into my discussions the other day and realised that it had been 5 months since I had started one so I thought I had better start one to explain where I have been the last few months. Some of you guys I have already chatted to about this, but most I have not. Where are all my friends anyway? Are you still here? It seems like you have not been as active on the discussion front as well recently judging by the lack of emails in my inbox!
So, where have I been? 
Well, late October and November I did not come here at all as I had accepted a challenge over at Squidoo to build 30 Squidoo pages in 30 days. This I did from November 1st to 30th. It was a lot of work, but I felt glad that I had done it by the end....never again though! You can see the amount of work that I did at this page.
http://www.squidoo.com/30-pages
I did come here briefly in December, but then the Christmas rush happened, I went away camping and planned to get active again in January, but.....then on January first I had a motorcycle accident, breaking my collar bone in half! Ouch! 
I spent the first two weeks doing very little other than lying in bed reading as being upright caused pain. And typing one handed was a very slow and tedious process, so I did not even bother checking in here. Plus, we started to fall further and further behind in our business, so the energy that I did have, I needed for that over the last few weeks.
We are also going on a three week trip in March to the USA for a business/family trip so I have been busily planning that. I have been healing pretty well, am nearly pain free but am still limited with movement and still need to rest it. The typing is back to normal though and I have caught up on a few other things so here I am! 
So, how are you, all my friends?
Well, late October and November I did not come here at all as I had accepted a challenge over at Squidoo to build 30 Squidoo pages in 30 days. This I did from November 1st to 30th. It was a lot of work, but I felt glad that I had done it by the end....never again though! You can see the amount of work that I did at this page.
http://www.squidoo.com/30-pages
I did come here briefly in December, but then the Christmas rush happened, I went away camping and planned to get active again in January, but.....then on January first I had a motorcycle accident, breaking my collar bone in half! Ouch!
I spent the first two weeks doing very little other than lying in bed reading as being upright caused pain. And typing one handed was a very slow and tedious process, so I did not even bother checking in here. Plus, we started to fall further and further behind in our business, so the energy that I did have, I needed for that over the last few weeks.
We are also going on a three week trip in March to the USA for a business/family trip so I have been busily planning that. I have been healing pretty well, am nearly pain free but am still limited with movement and still need to rest it. The typing is back to normal though and I have caught up on a few other things so here I am!
So, how are you, all my friends?1 person likes this
12 responses
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
9 Feb 12
Five months is a long time, Bill. You've missed everything. The whole lot has blown right past you & you're nowhere to be seen. Well, it seems Rip Van Winkle's alarm clock really did work this time & Bill's back in town!
Didn't I warn you about them motorbikes? Dangerous buggers. Even when you're riding one!
Well done on the thirty pages challenge. That's quite interesting reading there.
All the Best for your USA trip. They have elections there this year... are you worried about going there this time of year?
Didn't I warn you about them motorbikes? Dangerous buggers. Even when you're riding one!
Well done on the thirty pages challenge. That's quite interesting reading there.
All the Best for your USA trip. They have elections there this year... are you worried about going there this time of year?1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Feb 12
It's great to have Bill back but where's Hiccup? Not heard from him for ages.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
10 Feb 12
Yeah I know they are dangerous, but you gotta do what you enjoy doing in life hey! 
I am not worried about going to the USA at all...that reminds me, I have to vote in State elections here before we go as we will be away when they are on. Might be time to say bye bye to Bligh!
Yep, Hiccup is missing, has been for a long time now I think. Hope he is alright! I think I have his contact details somewhere. Might have to see how he is.
I am not worried about going to the USA at all...that reminds me, I have to vote in State elections here before we go as we will be away when they are on. Might be time to say bye bye to Bligh!
Yep, Hiccup is missing, has been for a long time now I think. Hope he is alright! I think I have his contact details somewhere. Might have to see how he is.1 person likes this
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
10 Feb 12
Bye bye to Bligh? Hang on a bit, don’t Queenslanders just love her to bits when there’s a flood on, hate her like hell when nothing’s happening, then love her again when then there’s a natural disaster like nothing’s happened? I reckon her re-election is almost weather-dependent!
Did Hiccup leave voluntarily or did MyLot close his account? His personal attacks were quite severe in some of his more recent attacks on vegetarians when he was trolling those particular discussions. He had some pretty strong views on things, mostly in direct opposition to my own & didn’t seem to handle it too well. The last I heard was that he was having some medical problems coupled with some relationship problems. Hope he’s alright. Aussie tourism on MyLot is suffering in his absence.
Hi Janey!
Hi Janey!1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16762)
• China
10 Feb 12
I am glad that you return here and sorry to hear that you had a motorcycle accident.I guess you have been well now.I have read your squidoo 30 pages,no doubt that has spent a lot of your energies.I think you have to keep on top of developments in your field so as to do a good job in squidoo.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
10 Feb 12
Thanks changjiangzhibin89, it is good to be chatting with my friends here once more. It is hard to keep up with al these social networking sites. I do not like spending my whole life on the computer, but it seems like I do if I try to keep up with them all.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16762)
• China
11 Feb 12
So far, I haven't registered other foreign web sites except mylot.I haven't that much energy,then again,My English is not up to do so much.
1 person likes this
@moonchild1au (6237)
• Australia
11 Feb 12
Wow!! You have been busy!! I am sorry to hear about your accident but happy you are recovering well.
I haven't been here much as i have been spending more time over at gather.
I have been busy since Harmony started prep which she loves..I have found myself a part time job cleaning during school hours so I don't spend as much time here..When I am online, I'm usually on gather or trying to promote my online business.
@moonchild1au (6237)
• Australia
14 Feb 12
I have only had 1 sale through my website but mhy business is starting to pick up through my group on facebook & I am starting to get my name out there through doing the markets here in Mackay
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
15 Feb 12
Cool, sounds like it is starting to happen for you. Are you handing out business cards with your web address at the markets?
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
10 Feb 12
hi rawbill1!
glad that you are back man. you were definitely missed. solid work at squidoo building those 'lenses'! see how fast i pick up using those terms that i've learn about just now. lol!
ouch on the motorcycle accident!!! i'm never and i doubt if i'll ever be a motorcycle fan. my maternal grandfather and my uncles are big motorcycle fans. each has/had a motorcycle. used to ride it before but never really liked it. not worth the risk in my opinion. my grandfather and uncles have been in motorcycle accidents before but thank God nothing serious there. just a couple of scratches and bumps, no broken bones or such. the younger brother of my manager was recently in a motorcycle accident. he got hit by a bus from behind and because of this he got dragged by a truck for a go 100-150 meters before the truck driver actually realized that he was dragging a motorcycle and a human being and stopped cold in his tracks. the brother is recovering well but my manager got a big scare. good to note that the younger brother is now safe from danger and is healing well.like i said, not a big fan of motorcycles.
continued luck in your business raw. hope you recoup your losses if you had any. enjoy the trip to the states and do get better man!
my past two months has been hectic as well. december came and flew by. can't really say much about christmas. i tried to make the celebration as low key as possible but definite highlight is that i got to spend it with my immediate family and daughter.
anyway, nice to see you back man! continue posting here in mylot and looking forward to seeing you in the discussion threads.
cheers!!!
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
10 Feb 12
Thanks for the welcome back Allen, great to catch up with you again too.
Wow, that incident with the bus does sound pretty bad! It is a wonder that he got out of that alive! 
I try to stay away from traffic on the bike. I do not have to go anywhere near traffic congestion or busy intersections to get to where I like to ride. This accident happened on a quiet country road, I was not going very fast. I just came around a tight corner and hit a large bump. I saw it before I hit it, but it was too big to avoid with the bike leaned over. I hit it and the shake altered my course just enough for me to run wide on the already narrow corner and into the gravel. Down the bike went. Not a big accident, I have had worse and the bike was rideable afterwards, but I just landed the wrong way!
We have lost a little income from business I guess because we had to hire someone, but we were going to hire him anyway to train him for when we go to the USA. Plus I have income protection insurance which will cover his wages.
See you again soon. :-)
Wow, that incident with the bus does sound pretty bad! It is a wonder that he got out of that alive!
I try to stay away from traffic on the bike. I do not have to go anywhere near traffic congestion or busy intersections to get to where I like to ride. This accident happened on a quiet country road, I was not going very fast. I just came around a tight corner and hit a large bump. I saw it before I hit it, but it was too big to avoid with the bike leaned over. I hit it and the shake altered my course just enough for me to run wide on the already narrow corner and into the gravel. Down the bike went. Not a big accident, I have had worse and the bike was rideable afterwards, but I just landed the wrong way!
We have lost a little income from business I guess because we had to hire someone, but we were going to hire him anyway to train him for when we go to the USA. Plus I have income protection insurance which will cover his wages.
See you again soon. :-)1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
12 Feb 12
speedy recovery to you rawbill1!
keep us posted with your trip to the us.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Feb 12
Whoa Bill, how wonderful to see your happy, tanned face again lol. I was worried that you got caught up in a flood or something but instead you...er...fell off your bike. Poor lamb! And you won't be here for very long because you're off to America soon. Lucky you! I wish I was going away!
So pleased you're back..we've missed you.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
9 Feb 12
Hi Jane. Yes we did have a few issues with floods here. We were pretty much trapped for a few days, got lots of mould in the house, stuff like that but nothing too bad.
Not as bad as the motorbike accident anyway. Yes, I will only be on here every now and then, not like it was before as I just have too much to organise, then we will be away. When I get back in April I may be more active again.
I have missed your entertaining ramblings too my friend!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Feb 12
How long was he with us for? It's not the same without him. I like all the Australians I converse with..you're all an honest bunch!
As for you..you're quite a rambler yourself lol.
I like all the Australians I converse with..you're all an honest bunch!
As for you..you're quite a rambler yourself lol.1 person likes this
@stk40m (1119)
• Koeln, Germany
10 Feb 12
Hi Bill,
I'm glad you're back and recovered from your accident. Seems like you've been really busy there :-) To build 30 web pages in 30 days that's indeed a challenge. I know what it's like to concentrate and type all the time at the computer. At some point the flesh is willing but the spirit gets weak!
I'm one of those you mention who haven't been very active on Mylot either over the past few months. I've been programming and updating the software Centertracker which consumed most of the time of my computer activities. The winter had been unusually warm until two weeks ago when a record cold spell began. Before that I was marvelling at the plants which began to sprout and all the birds began to sing while in winter most of them usually stay quiet.
Can't promise I'll be on mylot often in the coming weeks though because I'm still programming and doing other stuff (lots of reading, too - bought some 10 kg of new (old) books about plants and animals). But rest assured we'll stay in contact :-)
Cheers
Stephan
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
10 Feb 12
Hi Stephan. Glad to see you here.
I am not completely healed yet, but I have been eating lots of good bone healing plants (lots of comfrey)so things should be good when I go back for my next X-ray on Monday. My garden has slipped a little over this time too, but it has been hot and very wet, so not a good time for the gardening duties. The weeds are doing extremely well though so I really do need to get out there and identify more of them so that I know which ones to eat. There are so many at the moment with all our hot and humid weather!
It is amazing what plants can take isn't it if the soil is nutritious enough to make them strong. Compost, compost and compost! feed the soil and the plants will take care of themselves!
Sounds like you have lots of reading there y friend! My list of books to read is always growing. I need a second me to get through them all, same as you no doubt! 
Cheers back at ya! :-)
I am not completely healed yet, but I have been eating lots of good bone healing plants (lots of comfrey)so things should be good when I go back for my next X-ray on Monday. My garden has slipped a little over this time too, but it has been hot and very wet, so not a good time for the gardening duties. The weeds are doing extremely well though so I really do need to get out there and identify more of them so that I know which ones to eat. There are so many at the moment with all our hot and humid weather!
It is amazing what plants can take isn't it if the soil is nutritious enough to make them strong. Compost, compost and compost! feed the soil and the plants will take care of themselves!
Sounds like you have lots of reading there y friend! My list of books to read is always growing. I need a second me to get through them all, same as you no doubt!
Cheers back at ya! :-)1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
12 Feb 12
Yep, 100% recovery is still a long way off for me at this stage as I have lost a lot of muscle throughout my whole upper body, not just my weakened right arm. But at least I know how to give my body the best chance to heal.
Plants are indeed a miracle!
I am currently reading a book called "The Eternal Frontier" which is all about the evolution of the North American continent. It is by an Aussie author called Tim Flannery. It deals with plants and animals and how they have both evolved to shape the land that it now is. I have only just started it and it is only just dealing with the end of the dinosaur age, but it is fascinating so far! For instance I learned last night that an oak tree can shed it's leaves if they are becoming infested with caterpillars and then regrow them again once the caterpillars are gone. Regardless of the time of season! Amazing stuff!
It is very saddening to think of how we humans wiped out many species of plants and animals with no regard for what consequences might occur. We had absolutely no regard for nature when we introduced other foreign species and introduced harsh chemicals to the land. We have learned our lessons from much of that destruction and most countries have stopped using DDT and other similar products, but there is still a long way to go. Perhaps the biggest enemy to the world right now is Monsanto and other companies who are still trying to control the world's food supplies with their chemicals and non natural seeds. 
This time in three weeks I will be heading off to winter temperatures in the USA. It will be a shock to the system after coming out of the summer time heat!
Take care my friend, I will see you here when you get the chance :-)
Plants are indeed a miracle!
I am currently reading a book called "The Eternal Frontier" which is all about the evolution of the North American continent. It is by an Aussie author called Tim Flannery. It deals with plants and animals and how they have both evolved to shape the land that it now is. I have only just started it and it is only just dealing with the end of the dinosaur age, but it is fascinating so far! For instance I learned last night that an oak tree can shed it's leaves if they are becoming infested with caterpillars and then regrow them again once the caterpillars are gone. Regardless of the time of season! Amazing stuff!
It is very saddening to think of how we humans wiped out many species of plants and animals with no regard for what consequences might occur. We had absolutely no regard for nature when we introduced other foreign species and introduced harsh chemicals to the land. We have learned our lessons from much of that destruction and most countries have stopped using DDT and other similar products, but there is still a long way to go. Perhaps the biggest enemy to the world right now is Monsanto and other companies who are still trying to control the world's food supplies with their chemicals and non natural seeds.
This time in three weeks I will be heading off to winter temperatures in the USA. It will be a shock to the system after coming out of the summer time heat!
Take care my friend, I will see you here when you get the chance :-)1 person likes this
@stk40m (1119)
• Koeln, Germany
11 Feb 12
yep, full recovery from an accident can take a while. Last year I had a minor accident with my scooter (my left leg got affected and I had to go to hospital) and still the leg isn't 100%. Anyway, hope you're going to be fully fit again soon :-)
The weeds, awe, I've learned to love them, just like you. Enjoy them as they are growing! Besides being healthy and nutritious they are often very nice plants, too. Plants are a miracle!
Yep, reading much (but slow :/). Currently I'm reading a book about animals of the world in which there are texts written by a guy who lived long ago and who ''cared'' for a lot of animals. At that time many people had a different attitude towards animals: hunting them and using them for all kinds of luxury items (e.g. fur coats) or trying to eradicate them just because they posed some sort of ''threat'' to people's goods went without saying and without any (or almost any) objection. Thankfully that has changed a bit now but reading the book makes be shiver betimes - considering that animal murderers wrote books about animals. The other books are also quite old but still very informative. I got a 8-volume edition about plants from the 70s. DDT was still used at the time and a lot of other toxic and dangerious pesticides are recommended in those books. As I don't use such toxins anyway I filter out the useful information and so the books are still valuable.
Hot and humid weather, that's exactly the opposite of our weather but they say it's going to get warmer (a bit) soon. I would immediately change with you in regard to temperatures :D
Best
Stephan
1 person likes this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
10 Feb 12
RAH!RAH! SOOOO glad you stole a moment, and gave us a thumb-nail synopsis of your...raucous life! LOL! Almost too much action for me...hope you're staying ramped up on your GARLIC---wonderful qualities for healing, dear one!
Your mishap on your motorcycle was fraught with a lot more damage than my collision on my E-bike last June with a deer! The biggest bruise was on my EGO! Dang, cause it was witnessed!
You forgot to factor in the fact that you were just relocating and re-establishing too...so you have had your plate full!
So very thrilled that you chimed in here....as you ARE missed by many!
I pray the weather is stabilized on the North American continent when you arrive, and with you, you bring Spring! Truly, you warmed my heart with this little post!
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
10 Feb 12
You are hell bent on tempting the devil...aren't you?? I think you should stay OFF those two little boards (skis) of mishap! But I can;t, even imagine the exhiliration your children are feeling, anticipating their first encounter with that COLD white stuff! Growing up, where it was a commonality, we never think about those...who never had the experience..and the thrill of the experience!
Been to the TAHOE area, many a time, and it is spectacular...and I am hoping you are NOT going to mix TOO much business with pleasure, so that you will have the time to take it all in!
YOU must answer me this question...Is there NOT an AUSSIE male that hasn't worked at a ski resort in North America???? HOW pray do you accumulate your "ski" prowess coming from a land of little or NO powdery white stuff? The reason I bring this up.....I have lost so many dear girl-friends to AUSSIE ski bums...LOL!
One...my dearest friend in the world...met an Aussie instructor in Banff...retreated to Australia..and have only made it back to Canada, once in 25 years! She lives in McCarr's Creek outside Sydney! But I have girlfriends scattered all over Australia...smittened by "Aussie Ski Bums!"LOL!!!
I think our deer, here on this Island...are near the population of your Kangs and Wallies...and just as hard to avoid!
Have a superb vacation...and looking forward to your return!@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
13 Feb 12
Haha! You could be right there. There are many Aussies working OS in ski resorts. Most of them go to Whistler I think due to Canada being easier to get work visas for...being a Commonwealth country and all.
Yes, the alpine area of Australia is very small. Basically restricted to the mountains between Melbourne and Sydney. As those cities are the most populous in the country though, the resorts do get a bit of traffic. Nothing like North America or Europe though. Australia's capital city Canberra is also not far from the snowfields. So about half of Australia's population lives within a half days drive of the snowfields.
We do not have the same altitudes though, so the snow is not as deep or dry. There are also resorts in a little bit of Tasmania too....very small though.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
10 Feb 12
Thanks for your kind words, I am blessed to have nice friends like you here.
I am praying for some nice weather while we are there but we are going to some higher altitude areas so the chances of cold weather and snow are high. I do plan on going to a ski resort in Lake Tahoe that I worked at once before, but I may not be able to snowboard like I had planned. But the kids will get to experience real snow for the first time in their lives which will be awesome.
A deer collision! Here you have to watch out for the kangaroos and wallabies. I have come close to a few on my bike, hit one in my car on our recent camping trip and know of two people who have hit them on their motorbikes! Glad you got out of that collision alright.
Yes the move kept us busy for a while, then setting up the new garden of course, but we moved in June, so I think I had been at least a little active here since then.
Raucous life! Well, not so much these days, so I might have to ramp it up a bit!
I am praying for some nice weather while we are there but we are going to some higher altitude areas so the chances of cold weather and snow are high. I do plan on going to a ski resort in Lake Tahoe that I worked at once before, but I may not be able to snowboard like I had planned. But the kids will get to experience real snow for the first time in their lives which will be awesome.
A deer collision! Here you have to watch out for the kangaroos and wallabies. I have come close to a few on my bike, hit one in my car on our recent camping trip and know of two people who have hit them on their motorbikes! Glad you got out of that collision alright.
Yes the move kept us busy for a while, then setting up the new garden of course, but we moved in June, so I think I had been at least a little active here since then.
Raucous life! Well, not so much these days, so I might have to ramp it up a bit!1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
16 Feb 12
Yeah back typing again as well as driving, brushing my teeth, shaving, wiping my behind...all those things I can do again now. It is amazing how you take those simple daily things for granted until you can no longer do them without levels of pain or awkwardness. No plaster here though, all they do is stick you in a sling and tell you to rest. Hope your daughter has recovered well.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
10 Feb 12
Heyya RawBill!! Great to see you back!
Bummer about that accident! I am happy to know you have been healing and doing well though.
Mylot was having issues with the notifications again. I just started to get mine again day before yesterday. I may have been cussed out forty times by now and would never even know it. Not really...I'm j/k about that. But we really haven't been getting notifications.
I am doing pretty good. I have been on here complaining about this or that but all in all, I have to always be thankful. Things can always be worse.
Take care!
Not really...I'm j/k about that. But we really haven't been getting notifications.
I am doing pretty good. I have been on here complaining about this or that but all in all, I have to always be thankful. Things can always be worse.
Take care!1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
13 Feb 12
Hey Jen, great to see you here too.
I did notice that I hardly get any emails these days, so maybe that is part of it as well maybe?
But I also think that some of my friends have disappeared in my absence. 
Hopefully they will return. You take care too. :-)
I did notice that I hardly get any emails these days, so maybe that is part of it as well maybe?
But I also think that some of my friends have disappeared in my absence.
Hopefully they will return. You take care too. :-)1 person likes this
@yanzalong (18988)
• Indonesia
10 Feb 12
Welcome back, bro. You must be a very lucky person to be able to travel to many different places. It's a lot of money you put into that. We are looking forward to your writing again here in mylot.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
12 Feb 12
Yes, the USA trip is going to be very expensive, but most of the costs are a legitimate business expense so that means we will pay less tax this year!
Thanks for the welcome back.
Thanks for the welcome back. 
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
9 Feb 12
It is great having you back. I am sorry that you ended up getting hurt and have limited mobility. I am glad that you finished your goal of Squidoo and am proud that you had worked so hard to obtain this goal. Things for me have not been good. My husband has a serious foot condition which has him laid up for at least three months maybe as long as a year. I am not working because I am taking care of my husband so we do not have to hire a nurse. I am in graduate school which makes me happy because I will have my first Masters degree in April and then I will pursue a second Masters in June.
1 person likes this
