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“Ruminate – to think deeply about something” (Oxford Dictionary)
Hi, I’m Rob Greaves and I’m a Feature Writer, Administrator and ‘Editor-in Training’ at the Toorak Times, sometimes I publish under Rob and sometimes under ras-x.
This is the fifth posting in this on-going, if not somewhat ad-hoc column called “Ruminations From My Veranda”.
It's a nice late Autumn day, and although the sun is shining, I have dipped into another very fine, not expensive, red. I really do think Aussie red's are among the best in the world, and my collection is substantially Australian, but on this occasion I actually reached for what should be called 'budget' (ie. under $20.00) French wine. A Cab/Sav/Merlot - 'Arrogant Frog', very deep in colour, it has a most pleasant flavour with a distinct plum overtone and a delightful after taste.
However, as there are far better educated wine folk on the Times, I'll leave my wine comments and move onto that which is on my mind.
Selfishness!
It's really bugging moment. There are so bloody many examples of rampant selfishness that it could be hard to know where to start - but it isn't. I sit on my veranda and while I should be enjoying this of red, and enjoying the splendid view, all I can see and all I can breath is smoke! Smoke from burning off!
Now, this is not a 'controlled burn off' by local or state authorities, it's selfish unthinking idiots! Apart from the fact that burning-off is still illegal, and there is signage out there saying so, these people think they are above the law. Oh yes, we have had a bit of rain, so an out of control bushfire would be a nonsense, wouldn't it? Morons!! The local bush is so dry, there is so much dry mulch under the damp on top, it wouldn't take much for the whole valley containing Belgrave, to go up!
But put that aside, it's wet, the material they think they have the right to burn is wet! So what when you pour an accelerant onto wet material? It goes "WHOOSH", then promptly turns into this stinking smoke! So, the rest of the community chokes and more unnecessary pollution goes into the air - just so these 'people' can pretend they are either doing the right thing, or worse, because they don't care.
Stuff everyone else! Do they give a snort that everyone else is inconvenienced? Not on your life - because they are selfish bastards, and are dangerous in this environment. I mean, one of my neighbours, just two doors down from me, sets himself up as the local "Greens Warrior", and he is one of the worst offenders of this insane filling of the air with this thick, smelly smoke!
Yer, yer, yer! It is illegal, and council say so - but what the hell is the point of a bloody law if it's never policed? You can ring, and being a weekend there is no one there, leave a message and that's the end of it. How is some inspector going to prove there was a fire lite investigating days later?
So, the policing of -laws leaves a lot to be desired, but it doesn't take the onus off of these people to alter their selfish ways. Even when it is legal to burn off, it seems like they wait for the weekend, usually a nice Saturday, and just as you open your doors and windows to 'air' the house and enjoy some of the clean fresh air "WHOOSH", choke, choke, they are at it again! The washing on the line smells of smoke, the house smells of smoke, and a beautiful day is ruined.
Don't they get it? The days of burning off should be over! Yes, we do burn wood fires during winter, for warmth and this does add to the overall pollution, and, with the massive rises in electricity bills more than ever we will return to wood fired fires in the home. Yet, we do not have to (massively) add to this through selfish thoughtless activities, like lighting fires outside. Doing it when the material is dry - sometimes is unavoidable and can be tolerated, but when the material is wet???
There is just one word that can be used:
self·ish
/ˈselfiSH/
Adjective
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Synonyms
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