Sunday, August 12, 2007

What Would You Do ?

Post 284 - - - - - Sunday, 12th August, 2007.

Hello Everyone ~~ I hope you have/ or are enjoying the weekend.
It is over here in Australia, but only for seven days. The weeks go
by so quickly and here we are almost halfway through August.

My brother surprised me with the previous post - he set up my blog
and still has access to it. He was right in what he said about the CD
that Connie aka Meow made for us. Thanks Peter.
I have been nominated for a Nice Matters Award, by the other Connie
so thank you for that Connie. I will pass it on tomorrow.

A bit slack on the photos tonight - - - -



Another photo of my Great Grand-daughters, Tabatha and Gabrielle.


A map of Australia showing the vast distances that we travel to see each
other. My elder daughter lives near Rockhampton at Gladstone Q'ld.
My brother Peter lives a bit lower down at Gympie which isn't shown.
His 3 sons live way over west in Perth and Bussellton and his daughter
lives in South Australia - above Adelaide. Some of our blogger friends
live in Melbourne, and I live 2 hours north of Melbourne.
It is a BIG country and most of the population is around the coast, with
deserts in the centre. The oldest blogger in Australia, Olive who is 107
lives at Newcastle on the NSW coast, just above Sydney. If you haven't
visited Olive, and her helper Mike, there is a treat in store for you.

Tonight I have a story called "What Would You Do ?" I hope you enjoy.
It may pay to have a tissue handy !!

God has a way of allowing us to be in the right place at the right
time.

I was walking down a dimly lit street late one evening when I
heard muffled screams coming from behind a clump of bushes.
Alarmed, I slowed down to listen, and panicked when I realized
that what I was hearing were the unmistakable sounds of a
struggle : heavy grunting, frantic scuffling and tearing of fabric.
Only yards from where I stood, a woman was being attacked.

Should I get involved? I was frightened for my own safety, and
cursed myself for having suddenly decided to take a new route
home that night. What if I became another statistic? Shouldn't
I just run to the nearest phone and call the police?

Although it seemed an eternity, the deliberations in my head
had taken only seconds, but already the girl's cries were growing
weaker. I knew I had to act fast. How could I walk away from
this? No I finally resolved, I could not turn my back on the fate
of this unknown woman, even if it meant risking my own life.

I am not a brave man, nor am I athletic. I don't know where I
found the moral courage and physical strength --- but once I
had finally resolved to help the girl, I became strangely trans-
formed. I ran behind the bushes and pulled the assailant off
the woman. Grappling, we fell to the ground, where we wrestled
for a few minutes until the attacker jumped up and escaped.

Panting hard, I scrambled upright and approached the girl, who
was crouched behind a tree, sobbing. In the darkness, I could
hardly see her outline, but I could certainly sense her trembling
shock. Not wanting to frighten her further, I at first spoke to
her from a distance.

"It's OK," I said soothingly, "The man ran away. You're safe
now." There was a long pause and the I heard the words, uttered
in wonder, in amazement.

"Dad, is that you ?" And then, from behind the tree, stepped my
youngest daughter, Katherine.

Author Unknown.
<><><>
Well, I am in tears, so it's time for a joke or two - - -

Joe had worked all his life in the bowels of the earth as a miner,
but modernization and then recessions had thrown him out of
the pits and out of a job. He was quite pleased with his
redundancy money and wondered what to do with it. He decided
to take the problem to the nearest pub.

Inside he met up with a Chinese man, known as Sam Wan. Joe
told Sam what had happened, and Sam suggested that they pool
their money and open up a chip shop here in town. He agreed
to do the cooking if Joe looked after everything else.

A deal was arranged and a chip shop set up and trade picked up
immediately. Sam Wan did the cooking and Joe, being an early
riser, traveled to the market every morning to pick up the fish.

It was on the return trip that put paid to their partnership, because
as Joe crossed the road with the box of fish, a heavy lorry ran him
down. Before he knew it he was drifting higher and higher leaving
cloud after cloud behind him until he reached his new home of
heaven. St Peter welcomed him at the gate and showed him around
his new quarters.

After a few months St Peter sent for him and asked why he looked
so unhappy. Joe explained how he had just set up shop with Sam
Wan and was worried about leaving it to him to carry on alone.

St Peter instructed Joe to get a harp from the stores and make the
journey back for a while, to see if things were all right. So Joe
took a harp from the stores and made the descent down to earth
and was really surprised at what he saw. Sam had turned the chip
shop into a disco and the place was bursting at the seams.
Satisfied, Joe drifted through the disco before his journey back.

He reported at once to St Peter and as this was heaven he had one
confession to make. "And what is that?" asked St Peter.

"You see . . . ." Joe stumbled with the words.
"I left my harp in Sam Wan's disco !!"
<><>

The car was racing along the motorway at well over 100 mph,
when it was stopped by a police car.

"You were exceeding the speed limit sir," said the policeman.
"Would you mind blowing into this breathalyser to see if you
are fit to continue your journey?"

"But I'm in a great hurry," replied the middle-aged male
driver. "I'm perfectly fit to drive. Can't you just give me a
speeding ticket and let me continue on our journey? My wife
and 6 year old daughter are desperately to get to a party."

"I'm afraid I must insist on you blowing into the breathalyser
sir," persisted the policeman.

"But I'm perfectly capable of driving," said the man, :Look
try out your breathalyser on my young daughter,-- the thing
may not even work properly."

The policeman agreed to this suggestion and the man's six
year old daughter blew into the breathalyser. To the surprise
of the policeman the breathalyser turned green. He admitted
it must be faulty, hurriedly wrote out a speeding ticket and let
them be on their way.

"I told you it would be a good idea," said the man to his wife
after they had traveled a few miles.

"Yes," agreed his wife, "Giving our daughter a glass of rum
before we set off was one of the best ideas you've had yet."
<><>

r"Did you hear about Adam?" asked the brown rat.
"No, what happened?" asked the black rat.
"He was feeling rather depressed and flushed himself down
the toilet."
"Oh." said the black rat, "He committed sewercide."
<><>

Why does a giraffe have such a long neck? Because it can't
stand the smell of it's feet.
<><>
Few quotes - - - -

An egotist has one good point in his favour -- he doesn't go
around talking about other people. - - W. G. P.

A good many open minds should be closed for repairs.
- - Toledo Blade.

Anything that can become tangled around something else,
will. - - J. D. Boatwood.


You know more than you think you do.- Dr. Benjamin Spock.

A yawn is a silent shout. - - G. K. Chesterton.

Enough for tonight my friends, Stay as well as you can and try
to have a little fun every day. Love and best wishes to you all.
Cheerio for now, Merle.

Post 284 - - - - - Sunday, 12th August, 2007.
<><><><>





13 comments:

Unknown said...

Marvelous, Merle! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

The two girls are really cute together,
Love always Kate

Jeanette said...

Dear Merle, I needed 2 boxes of tissues, its been a sad day I lost my brother this morning.but then I had a chuckle at your jokes, before I headed of to bed. take care Merle. love Jan

Christina said...

What a good story, it did just about make me cry. Do you have any idea if it is true?

Enjoyed the jokes too!

Vickie said...

I always come here knowing I will leave smiling---and never disappointed---once again I am in awe of all you say here.

Thank you for sharing---what beautiful great grand children those are---and I know you think so.

Alice said...

Such lovely photos of your great grandchildren, they're beautiful.

Your introduction to the story is so true.

The map of Australia reminds me of one I drew for my work colleagues in England (not quite as accurate as that, of course...lol). They couldn't believe that it was 400 miles (600klm) from Canberra to Melbourne. They said, "Well, how do you get to Perth?" I said, "You get on a plane in Sydney or Melbourne and five hours later you're in Perth." "Oh, we could be halfway across Europe in that time'" they said. They couldn't believe that we would drive from Canberra to Melbourne 3 times a year to see our parents, when most of them had never been to Scotland because it was too far! It is 400 miles from Lands End (the far west tip of Cornwall) to the Scottish border.

Have a good week, Merle.

JunieRose2005 said...

Those little girls sure are cuties!


And that story really got to me!


Enjoyed all the rest a lot too.

Take care ,


June

Puss-in-Boots said...

Cute little girls there, Merle.

That story didn't make me cry...it gave me the shivers just wondering about the outcome if he hadn't stopped to help! But, being in the right place at the right time was a great result for he and his daughter.

Thanks for the laughs, and I liked the adage about the egotists.

Hugs xoxo

LZ Blogger said...

Merle ~ What a couple of cuties those great granddaughters of yours are! ~ jb///

Lady Di Tn said...

As always the girls are charmers.

Liked the map and geography lesson.

LOL at sewercide.

We had another 100 degree day and a promise of five more to come and then next Saturday it is suppose to be ONLY 99 degrees. No rain in sight.

love and prayers

Jim said...

Hi Merle -- This is a very nice picture of your granddaughters! How often do you get to visit with them?

I didn't understand the "I left my harp in Sam Wan's disco" punch line, maybe it will soak in later.
..

Mountain Mama said...

Your great granddaughters are just as cute as can be. What beautiful eyes!
The Story about Kathrine and her dad was really touching. We never know who we may be helping.
It reminded me of a story I heard about my grandma. She heard a girl crying one night and went out with a flashlight to see what was going on. About a block away two young men had her in their car and were up to no good. Grandma yanked open the car door and scared the young men half to death with threats, then she took the girl safely home. The girl wasn't related to her, but grandma loved everyone the same.
You certainly do have to make a trip of it when visiting family. Most of my family lives within an hours drive. Although my son is about two hours away. My oldest grandson is all the way across the USA. Gosh I do miss him and his family so much!
Bless you Merle,
Love & hugs & all good wishes

audrey` said...

"What would you do?" is so touching...

I wouldn't like to be in such a situation.