The big day finally arrived. Orientation at TAFE, Thursday 27th of January 2022! With all the classes in together, from Certificate II through to the Certificate IV and Diploma, there was quite a crowd of us. There must have been over 50 students, some of whom have been studying there for 3 years. We were eventually split into our appropriate classes, given new timetables – as the old one which I had been unable access and had been given to me verbally was no longer valid.
This was a challenge, as I now was scheduled for 5 weeks of classes on a Monday afternoon. I had already booked one of these Mondays with the new Woman’s Shed activity. I wasn’t wanting to miss that! I also wasn’t happy about doing 3 ½ days for the first term and 4 days the next term, especially as we were told that out of all the courses, we had the most assignments! Something to pray about and see where the Lord would lead.
After breaking into our separate class groups we were shown around the campus. The new sheds had been completed, which replaced the old ones we had used last year for doing practical skills. The café, which was familiar having come last year and the library where we could access not only books on the subject but help with other things, including applying for our student card, photo copying, printing etc. I was delighted with the collection of horticultural books and am looking forward eagerly to being able to read some of them.
After being shown around the campus, we were asked to fill in some online surveys. The problem was, I couldn’t remember where to look for them so followed the lecturer out, then had to wait for her to stop talking before I could ask her for help. She was quite rude, saying she had already explained where they were during the class. That was true but then she talked about so many other things that I couldn’t remember where she said. Eventually she gave me some basic help to get me started and then I realised I had forgotten to write my student ID in my new diary and couldn’t remember it off the top of my head. I wasn’t going to ask the lecturer, who I knew could look it up on the computer so quietly excused myself from the class which fortunately was over except for everyone still filling out the survey I must admit I felt rather frazzled! In hindsight I should have asked one of the other students, I’m sure they would have been more understanding towards the granny in the class!
I had arranged to meet up with Natalie who had been in the November class. She was waiting for me outside the café. Joe, who had also been in that class and is now doing Circ III with me, also joined us. I had previously offered Joe, who lives in Scarborough, a lift to TAFE if he can get to my place by 8am then a lift back to my place if I haven’t got anything planned after class. On this first day he asked if I could drop him at the train station. Before leaving the campus I wanted to get my parking permit and student ID. This didn’t take long, although I had to apply for the permit on line first so I left that till I got home.
After dropping Joe off at the Warwick Station I headed to my friend Glenda’s for a chat and relax before arriving home at 5pm. Previously Glenda and I would catch up on a Tuesday after the coffee run and before she went to Kid’s Hope at the primary school. We decided that instead I could call in to see her after TAFE on a Friday. This didn’t turn out to be very practical, as I was exhausted after a full day’s activity and needing my afternoon meal, so instead I called in after outreach on Saturday as I had already eaten.
After going through my TAFE schedule, with much prayer and thought, I decided it was better for me to change to part time. This would be less demanding and give me more time to read and do my assignments without stressing. Unlike the others, I was not out for qualifications to get a job but to gain experience to be able to help friends out and improve my own garden as well as help in the new proposed community garden in Trigg. I decided that two days a week (4 classes) were going to suit me better, which would cover the next 12 months instead of the original 6 months. In the following few weeks I thought I might be able to handle another day but eventually decided it wasn’t worth the extra work or stress so have left it at two days only.
I’ve really been enjoying the topics covered and have be making lots more horticultural friends to share ideas and maybe even some plants later down the track. On the second week of propagation skills, we were divided into three groups. I think because I am one of the oldest in our class, when we were divided into groups, I was chosen to be their leader. What an honour. Sometimes age has it benefits. We have been given our own propagation projects as well as group observations and tasks to fulfil; the first of which was propagating monocots and dicots and understanding the difference between the two. Our group was asked to propagate mung and corn seeds, having our own individual seed trays, then over the next 6 weeks to monitor their development and take photos of each stage. The next week we did stem cuttings, followed by leaf cuttings. I decided to start my own tray of seeds at home as I had collected some Hardenbergia and wanted to germinate them by trying different scarification methods I had learnt in class, this time marking out and keeping a diary of what I had done. I’d also been given some lettuce seeds, so planted them on the other end of the tray. In another tray I did some Leptospemum sericeum cuttings collected from the existing hedge in my front garden. I must admit I’m not so good at seedlings or cuttings at they either dry out or I over water them. This time I’ve put them into a plastic container with a lid, which means the humidity will keep them both warm and moist. Lets see how I go this time!
Then in our Pest and Diseases class we were asked to put sticky traps up in the herbal garden on the citrus trees to monitor what pests are in this area. Once again we had to get into groups. I was given one of the sticky traps and asked who wanted to be in my group. I was pleasantly surprised when four of the girls (all very much younger than me) said they wanted to join my group. I’m enjoying our Landscape Management class as the teacher often diverts off track, showing us how to do other things including budding and grafting, which was why I wanted to join horticulture in the first place. I’m excited to try this at home with my fig tree next spring. In the meantime I waiting for the weather to cool down so I can try grafting onto my citrus. Does anyone have a blood orange or a pomelo I can take a cutting off?
Meanwhile, due to our extreme hot weather, we had to delay our Ecology and Cultural lesson where we would venture into Central Park to do the practical. We finally faced the elements, taking a copy of the map with us to mark out different native vegetation growing there I noticed a very straggly plant which I presumed was not a native as it really looked as though it was struggling to survive. The teacher, who is very knowledgeable about native plants didn’t recognise it either. She later asked one of her colleagues who confirmed it was a WA native which really surprised me.
I’ve been so blessed as most days I’m still able to go jogging and have a quick swim even before class although it is getting light much later now. I’m praying that I can continue to do so till it’s too cold to swim. At least it’s only two days a week that I need to be concerned about getting things done before 8am. Mind you, on the rare occasion (not a TAFE day as I take something that night to help me sleep) I’ve not slept well I’ve stayed in bed till I go back to sleep then just have a relaxed lay in which is a nice change.
Some friends from church invited me to a Chinese New Year celebration at a Chinese restaurant in Morley. There were about 40 people, mostly from church. I had invited my neighbour Kath, who had met some of my friends last time we went to Yum Cha together. I also invited our new neighbours Sophia and Gee who unfortunately were unable to attend as they weren’t vaccinated. This compulsory vaccination thing is so divisive! I don’t know how many times I have heard people say that they don’t want to invite people to places because they are not vaccinated. They say it’s because the non-vaccinated will pass on the virus. I told them it’s the same virus for everyone and it won’t matter if you are or aren’t vaccinated you can still pass it on. It’s no more or less potent depending on your vaccination status. The only real difference is that the vaccinated may or may not get the virus as severely as someone who has not been vaccinated but even that is undetermined. I’m sure we will all eventually contract the virus; let’s hope it’s the Omnicom variant that has less side-affects.
Wearing masks when out and about may slow down the spread but it will still spread, especially as masks are taken off when you eating and drinking in close proximity to those around you in the same room. In this situation, if someone had the virus, then it’s there in the room for all to breathe in. It’s all so hypocritical! People are living in fear. It’s turning people, even friends and family, against one another, especially those who are not properly informed. We have to learn to respect people’s choices even if we don’t understand or think they are wrong. It’s their choice, their conscience, we should not violate that otherwise we are not living in a free democracy! And yes I have had all three vaccinations, but that is my choice because even though I’m not immune compromised, when I get the virus (which I’m hoping I will not, but if I do I’m praying it will be the Omnicom variant), I may very well die from complications due to asthma. But I am not going to live under fear just waiting for something to happen! I’m enjoying life to the fullest, trusting the Lord is still on the throne and His purposes will be fulfilled. No, I am not saying God brought all this tragedy, we brought this upon ourselves by turning our backs on Him, but I am saying He is able to turn things around as we commit our lives to Him.
I was speaking to my niece Kate and partner Richard in the UK and they were saying things are opening up there without the restrictions. No masks, no shutdowns just self-isolate if you are unwell. Sounds very sensible. They have both had different variants of Covid and neither caught it off each other, even though they live under the same roof. I see Australia going this way, hopefully in the not so distant future too.
The Woman’s Shed project was about to have its first trial run with us women making and installing a tool board. Unfortunately it had to be cancelled due to a power failure. I of course didn’t get the email, so had gone anyway and only found out after I had been waiting for 15 minutes! I’m not sure why my phone doesn’t get emails instantly; it can be so annoying! The reschedule was for a day I couldn’t attend, but I have put my name down for another event on sharpening your tools. I’m taking some of Dad’s old saws and hoping I can bring them back to life.
Very sad news: Rosie the bobtail mum was run over on our driveway. It was suggested I contact wildlife and conservation rescue to let them know I could re home a bobtail here if they were looking for somewhere to resettle one. Unfortunately, but understandably I was told they now take them deep into the bush. I haven’t seen the other two bobtails either, although my neighbour said he had seen one of them while watering his garden. I do hope they will both stay off the driveways.
Both fish ponds are now teeming with new life. I have seen different sized babies as I occasionally indulge them with fish food.
My lovely Mediterranean neighbours often ask for plant advice as they try new things out in their handkerchief sized garden. Its a delight having plant lovers around to share knowledge with. They and two other neighbours joined us on the last Sunday of February for satay and Asian food at my favourite place on Cambridge St, Wembley. It was a delight to introduce them to some of my favourite Asian delights served here.
As I head into this semester, with the aspects of facing assignments and the practical work load, I am aware that this new time of learning, which has only just begun, will hold many challenges, but even so I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.
Photos: 1. My yellow Frangipani 2. Stinkbug 3. Sticky trap in lemon tree 4. Last of my grapes 5. Chinese New Year celebrations 6. Dried rose petals from my garden 7. Some of my Rosie Barb fish.
Prayer & Praise Points:
Pray with me for peace both in Europe and for the Far East.
Praise be to God for enabling us to continue with very little Covid cases here in the west until recently. Please pray that our health system will survive and fewer people will require hospitalisation due to the high rates of vaccinations and the less deadly strain of Covid.
Praise the Lord for autumn and, God willing, cooler weather here in the west after such a scorching summer. Praise Him for the wonderful swimming weather we have had and the cooler evenings and mornings.
Praise the Lord for all our freedoms here in Australia, for peace, health and for the Lord’s sovereignty. Its so reassuring to know His Will will ultimately be done and that although it looks like mankind is ruling and making a mess of things, God will one day step in and stop this nonsense!
Please continue to pray for my sisters, Tricia, Jen and Kat to come to know Christ’s love for them.