I certainly hope there's more to this story ....

From today's news:

A 27-YEAR-OLD woman was stabbed with a screwdriver and bitten during an attack in Cooloongup overnight.

A police spokeswoman said the woman was sitting in her car in a friend's driveway in Park Drive chatting at about 12.30am when a group of juveniles approached her and asked for money.

When the woman said she did not have any money, her friend went inside the house to get some and, upon returning, discovered the 27-year-old had been stabbed in the face, arms, chest and leg, and had been bitten several times.

The police spokeswoman said the woman managed to escape from the car and run inside the house to call the police.

When police arrived at the home, they saw the car being stolen and after a short chase the car was stopped in Calista Road, Wellard.

The police spokeswoman said four juveniles, three females and one male, were taken into custody and are assisting police with inquiries but that no charges have yet been laid.

*Emphasis mine

I sure hope there's more to the story as this absolutely amazes me - "her friend went inside the house to get some [money]" - they were in a CAR, why didn't they just start the engine and drive away? or lock the car when they saw the bunch of kids approaching (I mean it was 12.30am) ... must be more to this than is reported ...

Not sure whether I should be proud or concerned ..

When my girls ask "What calibre for this?" while walking through the clothes section at the local department store whenever they spotted an animal print / "fur" item.


[Update]Horrific grammar corrected somewhat[/Update]

Miss 10's Letter

As part of Miss 10's homework this week she had to write a letter to the author of the book she's reading.  As I previously posted she is current hooked on "Eats, Shites and Leaves".  Here is her letter:

Mr A. Parody

Author: “Eats, Shites and Leaves”

February 29, 2012

Dear Mr Parody

I have taken your advise and I will not never use double negatives.  I will not repeat myself and avoid being repetitive.  I will no indulge in sesquipedalian lexical constructions.  I will not over use exclamation marks!!! And again I will not repeat myself or say again what I have said before.

I know a man with a wooden leg named Smith too!!!

Have you ever asked yourself “Why when the stars are out they can be seen but when the lights are out they can’t be seen?”

The Inglish language iz annoying that’s a guarantee becoz it cause koass for foreners and not foreners.

Has it ever occurred to you … that feet smell and noses run?  Why the human race will not win the race against time?

Why is it that you can walk down a road even if it does uphill? Why people sit down in the day and sit up in the night?

Yes, exaggerating is a million times worse than understatement.

Always employ the vernacular!!!

Regards your loyal reader,

[Redacted]

(Note: All misspellings and incorrect grammar are from the book)

I was impressed.

Who would you want to have dinner with?

This question is often tossed around and I've never really had a good answer.  I mean if we're talking about dead people then there are quite a few who interest me (maybe a topic for another post), but when considering only the living (and eliminating all my 'on-line' friends as that's cheating) I struggle.

But not any more. Sunday night I watched '60 Minutes' - something I don't normally watch - they had an interview with the latest Victoria Cross recipient - Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith.

What a NICE GUY!  He was seriously impressive in the interview - he came across as a real genuine Aussie who believes in what he is doing and doesn't shirk from what he considers to be his duty.

Sir, you are welcome at my dinner table any time you like and bring your gorgeous family too!

What about you, who would you like to invite to dinner?  (Let's limit it to currently living people).

Does this answer the question:

After my long phone calls yesterday I decided to email the airline on their customer support email asking the same question so that if I did decide to bring back the mag I would have something in writing.

My question:
"Hi, I'm booked to fly from Brisbane to Perth next week and I would like to pack a magazine for a pistol in my checked luggage. Are there any requirements that I need to fulfil to do this? Please advise."


Their response:
"Thank you for your email.

When checking-in firearms and ammunition, we recommend that you plan to be at the airport early, so that your check-in can go as smoothly as possible.

To ensure you do not encounter anything that you were not aware of in your travels, please read through the below information so that you are fully aware of the travel requirements you will have to adhere to.
You must satisfy all conditions of the following procedures or the firearms will not be carried by Virgin Australia:

*       You will be required to make written or verbal declaration at the time of check-in advising that the firearms are unloaded and suitably packed for carriage. You are permitted to carry both the firearms and ammunition within one case, as long as they are separated by some form of partition.
*       The firearm must be packed in a lockable case
*       The ammunition must be in its original factory packaging. Alternatively, in the opinion of the Guest Services Leader, it must be safe to travel, that is, loaded in a magazine away from the firearm, in an ammunition storage box/case/compartment. (Please note, if a gun case has been manufactured with an ammunition compartment and is clearly separated by an inbuilt partition when the case is closed, that then constitutes the items as being safe to travel)
*       You may only carry up to 5kg of ammunition

Firearms and ammunition are considered as "Restricted Items", therefore after you have completed check-in for your flight, they will have a "Restricted Items" tag attached which will have to be signed by yourself.

A description of the item and your flight details will be recorded on this tag and attached to the items. A perforated section will also be attached to your boarding pass and the items will then need to be transferred to the baggage sorting room by hand.

These items will not be placed on the baggage carousel at any time for safety & security reasons, and must be signed for and collected from the oversized baggage counter. It is important that you keep your boarding pass with the perforated restricted items tag attached until the items are collected, otherwise the items will not be released.

If your boarding pass is misplaced then you will be required to quote the reservation number in order to claim your restricted items.

I hope this information has helped. For further clarification on this matter or any other queries, please don't hesitate to email us again or call our Guest Contact Centre on the number listed below."

Not sure if this actually answers the question.  Does the magazine have to be in a separately locked box in my locked luggage?  I'm thinking having it posted is going to be easier.

PS Just found out the magazine costs less than $35USD in the States, might see how difficult it is to import a couple.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother ...

I want to get another 10round mag for my Springfield 9mm.  My other 10 round mags are Chip McCormack 38super mags and they work just fine.  They were ordered from a shop in Brisbane a couple of years back.

I'm going to Brisbane next week, so I thought that I would pick up another one while I was there ...

I emailed the store to check that they have them - they do; I also asked what paperwork I needed to purchase it - none apparently; and if they knew whether I could fly back with it - they suggested I ring the airline.

I check the airline's on-line page.  They say that they will allow the transportation of firearms and ammunition under some circumstances and to phone the service centre for details.

I ring the airline's service centre after the "press 27 numbers in a row" process I get to speak to a woman:

AW (Airline woman): "How can I help you?"

Me: "I would like to know if I can pack a magazine for a pistol in my checked luggage when I fly from Brisbane to Perth next week"

AW: "Can I have your booking number?"

Me: "I don't have it handy, I just need to know if I can pack a magazine for a pistol in my checked luggage."

AW: "A pistol?"

Me: "Yes a gun."

AW: "You want to pack a gun in your luggage?"

Me: "No just a magazine - a gun part."

AW: "When did you book your flight? Did you pay for it by a credit card?"

Me: "I didn't, the company that I will be working for did and I don't have any details with me, I just need to know if I can pack a magazine for a pistol in my checked luggage."

AW: "A magazine for a pistol.  Is that a gun or ammunition?"

Me: "It's the magazine that goes into a gun that holds the ammunition."

AW: "So it's ammunition?"

Me: "No, it's a part of the gun that holds the ammunition."

AW: "What's your surname? Let me see if I can find your booking."

Me:  "I'm not sure what name it would have been booked in."

AW: "Please hold I will see if I can find your booking".

Me: "Actually I can't hold I'm late for a meeting.  I will call back."

..........................

Take 2 ....

New AW: "How can I help you?"

Me: "I would like to know if I can pack a magazine for a pistol in my checked luggage when I fly from Brisbane to Perth next week"

AW: "Can I have your booking reference please."

Me: "I'm sorry I don't have those details to hand I just need to know if I can pack a magazine for a pistol in my checked luggage."

AW: "You have a booking?"

Me: "Yes, well I think so, the company I am going to work for are organising that."

AW: "The flight is a domestic one?"

Me: "Yes from Brisbane to Perth."

AW: "Please hold I will need to check"

...... 5mins pass ....

AW:  "Sorry for the delay we haven't had customers wanting to pack just a magazine for a gun before we need to find out.  Please hold."

....Another 5mins pass ....

AW: "How many magazines are you wanting to travel with?"

Me: "Just one."

AW: "One?"

Me: "Yes, just one."

AW: "Will it be loaded?"

Me: "No, unloaded"

AW: "Please hold"

... Yet another 5mins pass ....

AW: "Sorry for the delay, yes you can pack it in your checked luggage. You will need to take your luggage to a service agent at the airport and declare it."

Me: "Thank you.  So I just pack it in the bag and take it to a service desk at the airport.  Do I need to fill in any forms or anything?"

AW:  "You will need to complete a declaration form.  They have them at the airport."

Me: "Thanks and goodbye".

OMG!!!!  Seriously are you telling me that NO ONE has ever asked the question before?  I am now very very nervous about how the conversation at the airport will go ... Maybe it will be easier just to get the shop to post it!

[Update]Said magazine is $75, not sure I want to risk having it confiscated at the airport[/Update]

I love my kids

This conversation has just taken place with Miss 8:

Me: "Can you put the kettle on for me."

Miss 8: "Sure"

Few minutes later ...

Me: "Do you need help?"

Miss 8: "No, I'm perfectly fine ... I'll tell Dad if I need help, I don't want to disturb you watching 'My Kitchen Rules'."

Few minutes later a cup of tea arrives ...