Was running a bit late this morning but managed to get up to the range just before 9am, bumping into another female shooter also running a bit late. We've shot together before and she's a really nice lady so we decided to shoot on the same squad again today.
There was three squads up on the board, with between 7 & 9 shooters in each squad. Adding the two of us to any of these squads would make them rather large (we try and keep the squads to 8). So we put ourselves down as another squad and promptly got told off! Apparently, it's not the "done thing". Regardless, we left our names where they were and in short order had 5 in our squad.
There were four stages and four squads so off we went to shoot.
The first stage we shot was a small one. There were 5 targets visible from the starting box and two hidden. I shot second last and the other shooters all shot two from the box and moved closer to get the others. I decided that I was going to see if I could hit all the targets shooting from the box (well, all except the hidden ones). I did :) ... mainly As, so I was pleased. (One of the targets had a no shoot on it, which I also missed!).
The second stage had 5 poppers (2 big & 3 small) and two paper targets. The two shooters before me shot left to right and had major problems will all the poppers especially the first one. I decided to shoot paper targets first then poppers right to left - the first four poppers went down with one shot each - the last took 3!!! (I swear it kept ducking!).
The third stage was a slightly longer shoot - 8 targets but only three were visible from the box and two were hiding behind a wall. Nothing special about the shoot - again mainly As but a couple of Cs snuck in there as well.
We had to wait for a long time for the last stage. When we finished our third one, a squad was shooting it another was waiting. So we went and sat in the shade (the range is an old quarry so not much shade around) and attempted to chat - inconsiderate people kept shooting around us.
The last stage was a 15 target one. Three of the targets were through portals (I'm still pretty nervous about these - but did okay). I had two jams with the gun on this stage - I'm pretty sure they were caused by me not putting the mags in far enough, so I think I need to do some practice during the week.
All in all it was a fun shoot - the squad was great, the gun behaved most of the time, my accuracy was good - but my times need a lot of work. To match the times of the "good" shooters in the squad I need to cut my times by about two-thirds.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
ED on a Friday Night
We decided to go out to a local family resturant with the girls on Friday night. I had the girls dressed and in the car and hubby was doing something, when my eldest said "What's wrong with dad?".
I look up to see blood streaming down his face. Apparently, he had bumped his head on the tailgate of the van.
I got a towel, passed it to him and then sat him down for a look - right, umm, okay - "ED here we come!".
The local hospital is about a 15 minute drive, so we get there, I drop hubby off at the "drive through" and then go and park. Walk back with the girls to find him talking to the triage nurse (who, for some reason felt the need to ask each question a couple of times?). Hubby was coherent and was answering the questions okay.
He then got to sit in the waiting room while I dealt with the clerk. Interestingly enough the triage nurse asked for his Medicare care and then the clerk asked for it again (she also asked for our private health details, for some reason I didn't have my card with me - must find it).
There was no one else in the waiting room - which surprised me. Every other time I've been to the ED there's been all sorts of people there.
It's a new location and they had toys on the wall for the girls to play with which was great.
While I was still with the clerk he was taken into the Triage area and shortly afterwards the nurse came to tell me that he had been "fast-tracked" to see a doctor.
By this time the girls were getting a bit restless, mainly because they were hungry. I had no idea how long it was going to take and based on past ED experiences I thought "awhile".
So I called some friends who lived locally to ask if they could pick up the girls and feed them. They were quite happy to do this (thankfully) so we went outside to wait for them.
I had just strapped the girls into their car when hubby walked out!!! Apparently he had seen a doctor straight away and after applying a bit of super glue he was fine to go!!! So got the girls out of my friend's car, thanking him profusely for coming over and we went and got some food.
So see, ED's can be boring and quiet, even on a Friday!
I look up to see blood streaming down his face. Apparently, he had bumped his head on the tailgate of the van.
I got a towel, passed it to him and then sat him down for a look - right, umm, okay - "ED here we come!".
The local hospital is about a 15 minute drive, so we get there, I drop hubby off at the "drive through" and then go and park. Walk back with the girls to find him talking to the triage nurse (who, for some reason felt the need to ask each question a couple of times?). Hubby was coherent and was answering the questions okay.
He then got to sit in the waiting room while I dealt with the clerk. Interestingly enough the triage nurse asked for his Medicare care and then the clerk asked for it again (she also asked for our private health details, for some reason I didn't have my card with me - must find it).
There was no one else in the waiting room - which surprised me. Every other time I've been to the ED there's been all sorts of people there.
It's a new location and they had toys on the wall for the girls to play with which was great.
While I was still with the clerk he was taken into the Triage area and shortly afterwards the nurse came to tell me that he had been "fast-tracked" to see a doctor.
By this time the girls were getting a bit restless, mainly because they were hungry. I had no idea how long it was going to take and based on past ED experiences I thought "awhile".
So I called some friends who lived locally to ask if they could pick up the girls and feed them. They were quite happy to do this (thankfully) so we went outside to wait for them.
I had just strapped the girls into their car when hubby walked out!!! Apparently he had seen a doctor straight away and after applying a bit of super glue he was fine to go!!! So got the girls out of my friend's car, thanking him profusely for coming over and we went and got some food.
So see, ED's can be boring and quiet, even on a Friday!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Things Kids Say
My youngest (5) is in the habit of coming into our bed every morning (between 1am and 4.30am). I bought some fairy "glow-in-the-dark" stickers to reward her when she stays the whole night in her bed.
She showed her big sister (7) who turned to me and said "So you bought them to bribe her".
She showed her big sister (7) who turned to me and said "So you bought them to bribe her".
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Leaving it Until the Last Minute
There was a shooting in Herne Hill last night ... it's pretty clear (from the reports to date) that it was self-defence, but it is an interesting read ....
from http://www.news.com.au/story/0,,25076770-1245,00.html
Elderly man shoots burglar at winery in Perth's Hearne (sic) Hill - police
AN elderly man shot one of two intruders at his Perth winery after they broke down his bedroom door and backed him into a corner, police say.
Sergeant Greg Lambert said the 77-year-old owner of a small winery, in Herne Hill, in Perth's east, heard someone forcibly enter his home about 9.40pm (WDT) yesterday.
"He is at home with his totally incapacitated wife, he has heard noises in the house and has heard two men use extreme force to break into his home through the rear security door and sliding door," Sgt Lambert told ABC Radio.
"He was in his bedroom, he has armed himself with his licensed shotgun and he's locked himself in his bedroom with his wife."
The man warned the two men not to enter his room.
"They have broken down his bedroom door and confronted the man," Sgt Lambert said.
"A struggle has happened during which one round was discharged from the shotgun, it's struck one of the intruders on the left abdomen.
"The elderly gentlemen lost the firearm during the struggle, one of the offenders has struck him to the head and forearm.
"It appears he's been pushed into a corner in his bedroom and the offenders haven't taken heed or warning and kept on pursuing him for some reason."
The intruders ran from the house discharging the weapon as they left, Sgt Lambert said.
About 20 minutes later a 34-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the abdomen arrived at Swan Districts Hospital. He was taken to Royal Perth Hospital for surgery and is under police guard.
The 77-year-old man is in hospital, where he is being treated for a broken arm and bruising and cuts to his head, as well as possible concussion.
Police are investigating the whereabouts of the other intruder.
(Emphasis mine)
He heard the breakin, armed himself, locked the door, warned them not to enter - they did ... and it wasn't until they struggled with him that he shot one of them ...
wow ... that's leaving it very late ... but i can totally understand WHY ... here, although you are allowed to use "reasonable" force against burglars - however, the definition of "reasonable force" is often debated.
I think he left it late - you can tell he REALLY DIDN'T want to shoot anyone. I hope he isn't charged or sued. In a later report it says that the Police will be interviewing him tomorrow.
from http://www.news.com.au/story/0,,25076770-1245,00.html
Elderly man shoots burglar at winery in Perth's Hearne (sic) Hill - police
AN elderly man shot one of two intruders at his Perth winery after they broke down his bedroom door and backed him into a corner, police say.
Sergeant Greg Lambert said the 77-year-old owner of a small winery, in Herne Hill, in Perth's east, heard someone forcibly enter his home about 9.40pm (WDT) yesterday.
"He is at home with his totally incapacitated wife, he has heard noises in the house and has heard two men use extreme force to break into his home through the rear security door and sliding door," Sgt Lambert told ABC Radio.
"He was in his bedroom, he has armed himself with his licensed shotgun and he's locked himself in his bedroom with his wife."
The man warned the two men not to enter his room.
"They have broken down his bedroom door and confronted the man," Sgt Lambert said.
"A struggle has happened during which one round was discharged from the shotgun, it's struck one of the intruders on the left abdomen.
"The elderly gentlemen lost the firearm during the struggle, one of the offenders has struck him to the head and forearm.
"It appears he's been pushed into a corner in his bedroom and the offenders haven't taken heed or warning and kept on pursuing him for some reason."
The intruders ran from the house discharging the weapon as they left, Sgt Lambert said.
About 20 minutes later a 34-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the abdomen arrived at Swan Districts Hospital. He was taken to Royal Perth Hospital for surgery and is under police guard.
The 77-year-old man is in hospital, where he is being treated for a broken arm and bruising and cuts to his head, as well as possible concussion.
Police are investigating the whereabouts of the other intruder.
(Emphasis mine)
He heard the breakin, armed himself, locked the door, warned them not to enter - they did ... and it wasn't until they struggled with him that he shot one of them ...
wow ... that's leaving it very late ... but i can totally understand WHY ... here, although you are allowed to use "reasonable" force against burglars - however, the definition of "reasonable force" is often debated.
I think he left it late - you can tell he REALLY DIDN'T want to shoot anyone. I hope he isn't charged or sued. In a later report it says that the Police will be interviewing him tomorrow.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Super Hero
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Why Isn't the Military Being Used to Fight the Fires?
Based on two comments on my last post I decided to see if I could find out why the military wasn't called in to fight the fires. This is what I found:
Victorian bushfires now worst in Australian history
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has told the nation to prepare itself for worse news as the inferno ravaging Victoria became Australia's most deadly on record.
The military has been put on stand-by to provide assistance and most Australians were in shock as the death toll in Victoria climbed to 108, superseding the 1983 Ash Wednesday disaster, which claimed 75 lives.
Mr Rudd promised all Australians would partner in the rebuilding of the Victorian communities razed by the bushfires.
"We've come through bad times before and we'll come through this one," he said.
But he warned people to prepare for more bad news.
"I fear in the days ahead that the news is going to be bad and, I believe, the nation needs to prepare itself as full facts become known," he said.
The prime minister has spent much of Sunday touring fire-ravaged communities and speaking to workers at the state's Country Fire Authority (CFA) headquarters.
With Victorian Premier John Brumby, Mr Rudd announced a joint $10 million emergency relief fund to help victims of the tragedy.
"The Rudd and Brumby governments are working closely together to ensure that the people and emergency workers in Victoria have all the support they require during this difficult time," he said.
The prime minister will head out to fire-affected communities again this morning before he is expected to return to Canberra later in the day for question time in parliament.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is on standby to assist, providing resources and expertise including the deployment of army bulldozers to build fire breaks.
Mr Rudd was in talks with high-level defence specialists this evening, discussing what the military could do to assist in each of the affected communities.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told AAP a response plan was in place to allow commanders on the ground to do everything possible to deal with requests for assistance.
"We stand ready to help in any way that we can and we will respond positively to any request where we think we can make a positive contribution," he said.
"The most obvious areas will be the deployment of heavy earth-moving equipment to assist with the containment of fires."
Twelve army bulldozers have already been deployed to near Yea in northeast Victoria.
Defence may help with the provision of stretchers and possibly tents to accommodate people who have lost their homes in the fires.
"(And) we do have some expertise in firefighting as well and we'll be providing advice on the ground as well," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
But the minister said there weren't sufficient numbers of ADF personnel with firefighting experience to help battle the bushfires directly.
From Monday, Centrelink will begin making disaster relief payments of $1000 for adults and $400 for children effected by the bushfires.
Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said the money would help people who fled their homes without so much as clothes or a toothbrush.
"There are hundreds of people there, many of them have lost everything and this $1000 is really just to help them get some emergency clothing, a toothbrush. It's really just to provide immediate assistance," she told the Macquarie Radio Network.
Centrelink will offer counselling services from Victorian relief centres and funeral assistance worth up to $5,000 will be available to the families of people who've died in the fires.
The government will consider further assistance, as required.
Victorian bushfires now worst in Australian history
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has told the nation to prepare itself for worse news as the inferno ravaging Victoria became Australia's most deadly on record.
The military has been put on stand-by to provide assistance and most Australians were in shock as the death toll in Victoria climbed to 108, superseding the 1983 Ash Wednesday disaster, which claimed 75 lives.
Mr Rudd promised all Australians would partner in the rebuilding of the Victorian communities razed by the bushfires.
"We've come through bad times before and we'll come through this one," he said.
But he warned people to prepare for more bad news.
"I fear in the days ahead that the news is going to be bad and, I believe, the nation needs to prepare itself as full facts become known," he said.
The prime minister has spent much of Sunday touring fire-ravaged communities and speaking to workers at the state's Country Fire Authority (CFA) headquarters.
With Victorian Premier John Brumby, Mr Rudd announced a joint $10 million emergency relief fund to help victims of the tragedy.
"The Rudd and Brumby governments are working closely together to ensure that the people and emergency workers in Victoria have all the support they require during this difficult time," he said.
The prime minister will head out to fire-affected communities again this morning before he is expected to return to Canberra later in the day for question time in parliament.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is on standby to assist, providing resources and expertise including the deployment of army bulldozers to build fire breaks.
Mr Rudd was in talks with high-level defence specialists this evening, discussing what the military could do to assist in each of the affected communities.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told AAP a response plan was in place to allow commanders on the ground to do everything possible to deal with requests for assistance.
"We stand ready to help in any way that we can and we will respond positively to any request where we think we can make a positive contribution," he said.
"The most obvious areas will be the deployment of heavy earth-moving equipment to assist with the containment of fires."
Twelve army bulldozers have already been deployed to near Yea in northeast Victoria.
Defence may help with the provision of stretchers and possibly tents to accommodate people who have lost their homes in the fires.
"(And) we do have some expertise in firefighting as well and we'll be providing advice on the ground as well," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
But the minister said there weren't sufficient numbers of ADF personnel with firefighting experience to help battle the bushfires directly.
From Monday, Centrelink will begin making disaster relief payments of $1000 for adults and $400 for children effected by the bushfires.
Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said the money would help people who fled their homes without so much as clothes or a toothbrush.
"There are hundreds of people there, many of them have lost everything and this $1000 is really just to help them get some emergency clothing, a toothbrush. It's really just to provide immediate assistance," she told the Macquarie Radio Network.
Centrelink will offer counselling services from Victorian relief centres and funeral assistance worth up to $5,000 will be available to the families of people who've died in the fires.
The government will consider further assistance, as required.
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