WEEKEND AT PAP'S

Yep, Pappy is checking out, just waiting for my 'package' first from work.

If not, Mackay here I come January 2026.

 

Just saw this on Facebook, that's an alarming number.

I was told they arrested 3x teenagers and a 42-year-old mate in relation to some fires.

Not sure which ones as there has been so many here.




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Cheers mate, hanging around another 9 months from now until July 2025 (18 months in total) could land me another $300K in the hand if I get a package.

So worth hanging around for I reckon.

If I don't get a package, then no worries. I will go to plan B and get the **** out of this dump asap.

 

Don't worry, once the in-laws cark it this may on the cards also.

Fly to Greece and sit at the Caffinio all day with my Komboloy playing Tavli with Greg.

 

Today would have been my Dad's 90th Birthday if he were still alive.

He almost made it to 86 when he passed away in August 2020.

Sucks getting old.........


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Yes....

And yes.

 

100K

 

I came across this photo at work last week, it's a "typical flat backing" mining operation.

When my Dad came to Australia in 1953, this was his first job. Flat back mining. He did this for around 7 years or so.

You stand up and drill the same way in the picture, but you also lay down on a piece of plywood and drill upwards in the tight areas which would be around 1.2-1.5m high.

No PPE back in them days Dad said, you would close your eyes and mouth, turn your head left or right so you're not looking directly up while you're drilling.

You would breathe through your nose and put little pieces of rag in your ears, so no water or rocks get in your ears while you're drilling. You would still end up with rocks and drill fines in your hair and nose etc and you would be drenched in water also.

The way it was designed is so you could quickly stop, and barrel roll down the 'ramp' to the right if you heard cracks, felt any movement or big rocks started to fall on you.

My Dad had a few close calls he said and a few of his work mates were crushed to death from rock falls because they were not quick enough to get out of the way.

When you are flat back mining, there is a clear path so you can barrel roll down that rock ramp and run off to safety.

I listened to what my Dad used to tell me and I shudder at the thought of having to do that job, but my Dad used to love it and called those times "the good old days" lol.


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It's a shame as they are closing the mine down in July 2025 and I am certainly going to miss it.

 

There you go, I never knew that.

 

Yes sir!

Unfortunately, they are closing the doors after 101 years on the 28th of July 2025.

It's too dangerous and too expensive to mine the copper that's left down there they reckon.

I didn't believe it; I thought it was just a money grab from the Government as the QLD Government gave them $50M the very next day to "try to keep the doors open" and said they will give another $20M if they match it dollar for dollar.

They definitely got the $50M, not sure about the other $20M. They have threatened to close the doors a few times in the past and the QLD Government always throws money at them to keep the show alive and it's never missed a beat lol

Until now................they are dead serious about closing the mine and they have closed the Southern side of the mine down now and there is work left in the upper levels and down where I am.

The work in the upper levels finishes up in January 2025 everyone else finishes up in July 2025. There won't be many of us left in January but I reckon.

 

Yeah, in the next life time maybe.