Turtles

This week we are looking at turtles, did you know they are cold blooded reptiles, which is why they are often seen basking in the sun.

Some feel they seem ancient and mysterious as well as strangely comforting. This may have something to do with the fact that they have been around for more than 220 million years, what the hell that means they were around during the time of the dinosaurs.

Their slow, steady way of life hides a surprising amount of diversity and evolutionary brilliance.

Their shells are part of the skeleton which means they can’t leave it and it grows with them.

There are three main species, sea turtles, freshwater turtles and tortoises, they often live a long time some giant tortoises can live over 150 years.

Sea Turtles are graceful ocean wanderers that migrate thousands of kilometres. Females return to the exact beach where they hatched to lay eggs, sadly many species of sea turtles are endangered due to fishing nets, pollution, and habitat loss. Examples are the Green Turtle, Logerhead, Hawksbill.

Then there are Freshwater Turtles, which are found in rivers, lakes and wetlands, with some of the most unique species being found in Australia. Examples are the Murry River Turtle, Mary River Turtle which has punk-rock algae hair.

Lastly, we have tortoises which are land dwelling, slow moving, long living with thick domed shells. They are herbivores a famous one is Jonathan who holds the recorded for being the longest living.

All turtles lay eggs on land, even sea turtles with hatchlings relying on moonlight to guide them to the ocean, sex is determined by temperature warmer nest produce more females.

They may not be fast, but they’re far from simple, as Sea turtles navigate using Earth’s magnetic field, Freshwater turtles recognise individual humans and some species communicate through low‑frequency sounds.

They play essential roles in ecosystems with sea turtles keep seagrass meadows healthy, freshwater turtles clean waterways by scavenging and tortoises shape landscapes by grazing and digging.

 

Cowra Breakout

Hi, everyone, this today’s post was inspired by the holiday taken back in December after visiting the site of the Cowra POW Camp.

Cowra may be the best-known camp due to the 1944 Cowra Breakout, which was the largest prison breakout in Australian history and of the largest of World War 11.

Over 1,000 Japanese prisoners attempted a mass escape leading to the deaths of over 200 people. The escape took place on the 5 August 1944.

In total about 235 Japanese prisoners died along with 4 Australian soldiers, it is one of the deadliest prison escape attempts in modern military history.

The soldiers who died were Privates Hardy, Jones, Shepherd, and Lieutenant Doncaster.

There was no single person in charge of the breakout but was driven by a group of non-commissioned who planned and initiated the escape.

This was because the prisoners were bound by the Bushido code, which viewed surrender as shameful. This created a shared determination among many prisoners to die honourably rather than be transferred to another camp. As a result, the breakout emerged from group consensus rather than top‑down command.

The escape was triggered by an unauthorised bugle call, sounded by a Japanese prisoner whose identity is not definitively recorded in official sources.

The event is widely studied in military history and commemorated in Japan and Australia. The Japanese Garden and War Cemetery were established as symbols of peace and reconciliation, further cementing Cowra’s global recognition.

Cowra wasn’t the only POW camp in Australia; in fact, there was over 50 POW and internment camps across all states and territories. This includes major, purpose‑built POW camps as well as smaller labour detachments, hostels, and temporary internment facilities.

Other major camps could be found at Hay, Loveday, Tatura, and Marrinup.

There was one Over 12,000 people were interned or held as POWs in Australia at the peak of the war. When I read this, I wondered why so many well it seems that Australia became a major Allied holding country because of its location being so far from the front lines and we had available land for secure camps.

 

 

  

Week 5 of 2026

 

               AUSTRALIA DAY/TIM’S BIRTHDAY

I slept well managed 8.30hrs and was up at 5am and had my shower. My BGL was 6.9 and the temp at 5.30 was 17c or 62f, not going to be as hot today.

Kathy came over to see her dad and while she was here Jess came down to see him then Tasha turned up so I was able to get a photo of the three of them together.

All I gave Tim was a birthday card with something special written in it and Jess did the same.

Steps: 5,124=2.6k’s or 1.6miles

Another early start I was up at 4.40am just woke and couldn’t get back to sleep. I did get 9hrs of sleep though.

My BGL was 6.6 and the temp was 17c or 64.4f it is only supposed to be 26c or 78c.

Tim left for work at 9.30am, by 2pm it had reached 26c.

At 4pm Tim and I were sitting in the loungeroom, and I said what is that smell, Tim said smells like something burning he went into the kitchen and yeah something was burning. He has a piece of wood sitting on top of the hotplates and someone must have accidentally knocked a knob turning one on and that what was burning. No damage done thankfully.

At 6pm I decided to borrow another audiobook from the library, but the internet is playing up. Had to turn the modem off and on a few times to get it working again.

Steps:9,257= 4.7k’s or 2.8 miles

What a night I was restless or needing to pee only managed around 3hrs & 40mins, I got up and stayed up at 4.25am. The house is quiet only the ticking of a clock and the sound my typing. I will either start my new audiobook in an hour or so or tomorrow.

Sue and I went to the doctors the to Big W to do some shopping and to Woolies to get a few things.

Sue has to have an ultrasound done of her left need that will be done next Tuesday and the following Friday we both go back to see the GP.

Tim had three medical appointments today the first was with the diabetic doctor, then he saw the dentist and had two teeth removed, after that he had to see our GP. Now if I had seen the dentist and had teeth removed, I wouldn’t be up to going out for the rest of the day.

It turned out another hot day top temp od 29c or 84f.

Steps: 6,888= 3.3k’s

Had a decent night even though I was up at 4.30am again, I had 8hs of sleep, the temp was a nice 18c or 64f. My BGL was 6.5.

Tim left for work around 10.45, he is going to have blood taken before going to work.

I have had the air con going most of the day. The temp reached 29c or 84f.

I have felt restless also most of the day not knowing what I wanted to do at times, of course I found something to do.

Tim home later then expected he told me 6pm it was 7.15pm when he arrived home.

Steps: 5,534 = 2.7k’s 1.6 miles  

                MUM WOULD BE 86 TODAY

Had a good night, slept straight through to 4am got up to pee and went straight back to sleep waking at 4.50am just before the alarm would go off at 5am. So, I have been up since 4.50am it is currently 5.20 and I have cleaned the kitchen, swept up the birdseed all around the front door and now I’m waiting for Tim to leave for work so I can have a shower.

My BGL was 5.1 and the temp is 19c or 66f it is supposed to be 29c again. I did have to turn the air cons on as it was so hot.

Even though it is very hot Tasha brought her bedding down and tossed it in the dryer, two loads in fact.

This evening, I booked a tour of Port Arthur for me and Tim and have asked if Jess and Sue will be interested in going as well. As we have onboard credit when I booked, we ended up not having to pay anything.

Steps: 3,041 = 1.5k’s which is just under a mile.

I slept well, I got around 7hrs & 30 mins if sleep, the temp at 5am was 21c or 69.8f, we are in for another stinking hot day with a top of 30c or 86f.

My BGL was 5.4 at 5am

I booked Jess and Sue Port Arthur tour this morning, also told Jess that I upgraded her booking, so she now gets WI FI and a drinks package also let her know that I used the money she has been giving me for years to pay for it.

Tim left for work at around 8.30am he will not be home till around 10pm.

It has been a hot day had the air cons on till 6.30pm when I turned them off and opened the door.

Steps: 6,670 = 3.3k’s or 1.9 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caturday with Luca

Good morning, all here we are at another Saturday Caturday with the handsome Luca, to is just a shot clip of me and my house mate Molly sitting and looking towards the door, we were not up to anything, but mum thought differently. This may be because we are usually up to something but at this time we were not, or maybe I am just not going to confess anything here.

The post with Links to other posts

 

My post with links to other posts and a few photos as well

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/01/getting-to-know-me_24.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/01/sunday-stealing_26.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/01/hodgepodge-number-4.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/01/tuesdays-4-on-wednesday.html

 

 

 

Women's Clothing through time

 

When I wrote about identity it made me think about how long skirts has been considered women’s clothing.

Skirts are far older than the idea of “women’s clothing.”
According to historical sources, skirts were originally worn by both men and women in the ancient world.

There is archaeological and historical evidence showing that in Ancient Egypt men wore the shendyt, a wrapped linen skirt and women wore long pleated skirts.

In Mesopotamia, both genders wore wool or sheepskin skirts and in Greece & Rome, draped garments such as togas, chitons, stolas were skirt‑like for both sexes.

So, at this stage, skirts were not gendered. They were simply practical garments.

It was in the Middle Ages that things started to change, in medieval Europe men increasingly adopted trousers or hose. While women continued wearing long, flowing skirts.

This is the period when skirts began to be seen as primarily feminine clothing.

This shift was gradual and tied to climate, horseback riding, and cultural norms. It was from the 15th century that women’s skirts became wider, structured, and decorative think farthingales, hoop skirts and bustles. While men’s fashion moved firmly toward pants.

Birthday Cards for Tim