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cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Wed May 02, 18 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Candidates - I am beginning to have greater sympathy for their failings, though if they are Party Candidates they have teams of people to do that sort of thing for them, so have less excuse. I have probably visited about 3000 people out of an electorate of 24000, so I expect there are a lot out there saying - well she didn't bother coming to my place. Not that I didn't bother, but that I am one person and there are limits to my superhuman-ness. And there are only so many conversations you can have in a day before your brain starts to shut down and refuse to make your mouth work. Especially if you are actively engaged in the conversation.

Still, it's done now - I will stay up till close to midnight to suspend my page and post boosts, continue to collect followers and supporters (a page called 'the things you need to know to keep the bastards honest' has shared my page - the only candidate page they have shared. And Alpha News (a left wing news service) has shared it, and made favourable comments on me, the "Stop the Pokies' campaign has provided a summary of those candidates who oppose the continued housing of these things in pubs, and the cycling network and voluntary assisted dying pages have shared my views. Not sure if the Christian Lobby has, but if it has, then bad luck.

Friday I will probably go to Agfest - it is out of the electorate but I have no doubt there will be candidates there, and probably a few breaking the rules, so it would be good to catch them in the act.

And I will begin drafting my report to the Returning Officer and my expenditure report also.

But tonight it will be feet up, food, and a little light television.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Thu May 03, 18 7:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

So much for two days off before the election - I have been out on the trail again today after discovering that I am able to continue campaigning until the end of tomorrow.
So today I headed over to the coast, since I had very few flyers left and visited a road I have ignored so far, and so too have other candidates as I discovered to my pleasure.

I was invited to share a cuppa with a nice lady whose husband is a doctor and we had a long chat about the election, the role of the Legislative Council and so forth. But since I had been up so late last night I wilted around 2:30 and came home to walk the dog etc. It turns out staying up late was also futile as the media blackout apparently does not cover promoted posts on FB - so I have reactivated mine.

Tomorrow, with a few additional flyers that I will print this evening, I will go back to Brighton and Bagdad and cover a few more streets before retiring from the field.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Thu May 03, 18 7:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If you have single handedly covered about 1/6 of the electorate you have done well. I suspect you have made more meaningful contact with more people than the candidates for some of the bigger parties; they have probably just sent out flyers or perhaps minions to do their work. Good luck.

Yesterday morning started here with wind and rain, but we had the charcoal kiln ready to go so husband went up to light it. Both he and son got rather wet in the morning, but it suddenly cleared up at lunchtime and the sun came out, so a lovely afternoon. I went shopping, and son was at home when I arrived, so put things away and went out with him to deliver log sacks and charcoal. I had delivered some charcoal in the morning going shopping. Great fun with a spare waterproof trying to keep the bags dry. Anyway, finished the firing at about 8.15pm, so not bad. Now hoping for a good burn so we have plenty of charcoal. The weather forecast is lovely for the bank holiday weekend, so no doubt at least one outlet will be calling for more some time over the weekend.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Thu May 03, 18 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I hope so MR - it's a bit disheartening that my former Party has emailed Party members and told them to vote for another candidate (a snake in the grass, with newly discovered green leanings resulting from impacts on his personal retirement villa). But I guess that's politics - I will have to hope for the underdog/female candidate vote instead.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu May 03, 18 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

There are only a limited number of hours that you can work, MR. And in the wood felling trade you have the 'b' factor, the weather. If the weather isn't right there is no point in spoiling it to try to get something you can't get. If a tree falls the wrong way due to wind... it doesn't bear thinking about. It all turns out in the end is the main thing. It is why I asked if you can stock pile the charcoal-I guess if you could you would. Kindling is flying off the shelves up here, MR,
if only they would always open the cabinet that is locked at night, and they sometimes forget to open in the morning! There are folks coming up to the cottage for the weekend and lighting fires to get their places dried out. A much later start to the cottage season this year for some reason, late snow perhaps?
The weather has improved today no rain but the sun is shining and although windy it is quite warm. I am hoping it will be good for the next week when I go to Chipping Campden for a week with the Australian friends. That is the theory anyway. They are planning on supplying me with a telephone, which sings and dances according to the friend, and his wife, as an ex teacher, is going to give me lessons on it's use. We'll see what happens, but you will get an interim posting....'if'.... it works for me!

Cassandra, you are flying round the place, and glad you have been to an 'unmolested' area. Folks like to be visited to see the actual person and you seem to have done a lot of that. My friend was a doctor too, but well retired now. I don't know what promoted posts are on FB. I am not in it and don't intend to be there. The trick is to get their questions over quickly and go on to get the next persons questions asap, etc. Will there be a result soon?

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Fri May 04, 18 6:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

There will either be a very swift result of a long slow count. We use the Hare-Clarke system which involved distribution of preferences. The idea is to get as many number one votes as possible, and the person with the lowest count is then discarded. Their preferences (people have to vote for three candidates in numerical order of preference) are re-distributed, and the second person is knocked out of the running and so forth. Since there are 13 of us that will take some time. I expect to be culled first or second, but it rather depends on how the electorate is feeling.

I did little in the way of campaigning today as I was not in the right frame of mind - I am exhausted and incoherent with talking and last night I received an email from the Greens (I still appear to be on their mailing list) in which they discussed my candidacy and recommended members vote for someone else. Never good to be an unintended eaves dropper.

Their choice demonstrates the sort of political naivety that drove me away from the Party. He is their champion of the moment because he has been campaigning against off-shore fish farms (something I also have strong views on). But his background is in mining and the conservative party. Since it is a six-year appointment to the seat, that leaves him with ample time to do a hell of a lot of damage. His opposition to fish farming seems primarily motivated by their impact on his chosen retirement spot rather than a long-term commitment to sustainable development. Still, hopefully there will be enough of the membership who think for themselves.

Tonight I will pour a libation to the gods, eat my dinner, stay up late to cancel the post promotions (Gregotyn, you pay Facebook so that your post appears on other peoples' pages even if they have never heard of you before - it's sort of like an ad), and head to bed. Tomorrow it will be a trip to the tip en route to the polling booth, voting, then cleaning the bank and home to sort out the chaos that has accumulated during my frequent absences over the last few weeks.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri May 04, 18 6:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It is quite possible of course that some party members might not be sheep and question whether his leanings are really as green as they might be, and they might remember you from previous encounters and know that you really support the same agenda as them. Hope so anyway. In addition, as Gregotyn says, you have been putting in a lot of footwork in the areas the others haven't bothered with, and people may prefer a candidate that they have seen and can be bothered to come and see them.

Gregotyn, the weather forecast for the beginning of next week is good anyway, so hope that it stays fine for you all week, and for us. We have our first show of the season this weekend, then we have something going on virtually every weekend for the whole of May. At least with any luck there won't be too many log sacks going out now. It is supposed to get up to 22 C here on Sunday and Monday.

I addled my brain completely yesterday firstly trying to sort out a grant we are applying for, then doing the accounts. Everything went fine until I tried to sort out the Paypal account, so will have to start that from the beginning again I think. Helped son deliver a load of logs and someone came to collect some pea sticks, so a mixed bag of sales at the moment.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Fri May 04, 18 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The way things are going here, Cassandra, I find people are voting "against" - dislike a candidate so intensely they vote for someone else.

Wretched weather. It was 92 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday, setting a record we could all do without. Plants are wilting. Going to an arboretum tomorrow, with the same friend who came with me to view the cherry blossoms. This will be for the crabapples in bloom. However, whist they were in bud just 3 days ago we are concerned that they will already have begun dropping petals from the unseasonable heat.

Meanwhile I am busily repotting cannas, doing garden cleanup, and sweating, sweating, sweating while doing so.

Tree service was to come today to take down 8 or 9 dead / dying ash. Not huge trees but awkwardly placed. Except they didn't finish Thursday's job so will come Monday.

It never ends.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri May 04, 18 4:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I am hoping all goes well for you, Cassandra, I am away for a week, visiting friends from Aus. mainland so you haven't lost any votes there whilst they are over here! Strange Jam Lady that folks vote against for personal reasons, I vote here for the party, not for the person. There is only one certainty if we are born; and tree surgeons are their own masters! I am sorry it has been so hot for you. My Aus. friends are going to say how cold it is! 92F is very warm-too much for me to like, but I hope the blossoms last for you.

It is a lovely day here. I now have new brake pads and discs on the front of the shogun, and am happy boy now. I have called to the shop I supply with wood and he says to top up to a full house and that will do till I get back-I was hoping to over stock him! I hope the weather is a bit cooler than today, beautiful as it is, it is much hotter than yesterday. I don't think I will be able to be in touch till a week on Tuesday after tomorrow. I looked for emails, but yahoo is not playing today, the council seem to have banned them for some reason; I managed yesterday, but I turned it off then went on to try again and no joy and none today, nuisance as I wanted to contact my friends today to see all is on schedule. Be a good trip down there even if they haven't made it for some reason!

I hope the show goes well for you MR.-plenty of besoms needed! The shop has sold 6 nets of kindling this week, which I guess is folks coming to their cottages and drying them out to get ready for the season. The traffic is well up this year on last, judging by the time it took to get through a cross roads I encounter on the way home. I guess that the logs will be replaced by charcoal over a short period, the difference is that you get hot doing the job!

There is the old adage that taking part is the most important part-small consolation if you don't make it, BUT you had the guts to have a go, there are plenty of spineless who won't have a go, but complain about those who do! I don't do FB, especially after the recent trouble. Actually it is because it is too long winded for me to understand how it works! (Bit thick when it comes to 'pooting). It would be an interesting exercise to see how much it has cost you to stand.

See you all tomorrow if I can get most of the emptying done tonight for the Sunday trip.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 18 6:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I hope the crab blossom waits for you Jam Lady. I noticed our apple and quince blossom was breaking a couple of days ago, so it should be out by now, but haven't had a chance to get out to look. What killed your ash trees?

Hope you have a good trip away Gregotyn. We delivered some more charcoal yesterday, at least son did on way home, so one of our outlets is well and truly filled up now. If they sell that lot the season really will have started, but it is supposed to be hot over the weekend and a bank holiday too, so they might.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sat May 05, 18 7:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Gregotyn, people vote for all sorts of reasons - someone told me I had their vote because I needed the job - comparing my ute with the flash cars driven by other candidates. Someone else said I was the only candidate they knew so of course they were voting for me. Very few vote for your personal merits as a candidate, and since I am standing as an Independent, Party policy is also not an issue - I am bemused, though there have been times in my life when, for lack of useful information, I have voted against the sitting Party with little appreciation of what I was voting for!

Polling closes in 40 minutes and I will log into the Electoral Commission site at 6:00, and also into the Psephologist's blog which will be updating fairly regularly. Since there is another seat also up for grabs and that is the one in which he himself votes, I suspect that is the one that will get his closest attention. Not least because, with fewer candidates, all well known, a result might be clearer sooner.

Meanwhile I have run out of crisps, so will take a run into town to ensure adequate snack food as I sit up till late.

One of the former candidates in the State election and I have become friends as a result of me turning up to a jazz session where she was attending - different Party to mine, haha. She is scrutineering at one of the polling stations on the coast and has promised me an update once she is done.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat May 05, 18 9:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I am surprised your people vote according to whim, Cassandra. I have only voted ever for the party I support, but to vote for you because you need to buy a new car is something else; the whole state would vote for you if you tripped round on a bike. If that was how they all felt regarding your transport, you would be party leader and a future Prime Minister! I hope all goes well for you, as you have put the effort in.

Once you start to fill the kiln with wood, can you leave it there till you have enough in the kiln are ready to fire it MR? Or is it a case of cut, fill, burn, bag and sell in one operation? I would have assumed you cut the wood and store it till you have a kiln full which would aid drying out and so reduce burning time. The process interests me as to why it does what it does and how it achieves it. I will see if I can find a library book on the subject. My wonder is if you can develop a system so that you can do the first burn and utilise that heat for something and utilise the second phase heat too. I was thinking in terms of using the burn heat to heat water for example.

Another lovely day, so far, sunny, warm and gentle breeze and blue skies. I hope it is the same tomorrow!

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sat May 05, 18 9:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It's not a very educated electorate Gregotyn.

On the plus side I should survive to the distribution of preferences. I am presently 8 out of 13!! A number of most surprising results where I though the local candidate might do better than me! Feeling rather chuffed for all that I won't be getting a seat.

https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/Legislative_Council_Elections/LegislativeCouncilElections_2018/Results/Prosser/index.html

If you want to follow.

Update - counting has closed for the night. I am in 8th position - ahead of former serving MPs and a deputy mayor so am feeling pretty happy with that. The next candidate up is a former local whose late entry seems to have pinched some of my vote, but I am not that far short of him over all. This is very good for the adrenaline levels! haha

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Sat May 05, 18 12:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mistress Rose, it is the emerald ash borer, an introduced insect pest that is killing the ash trees. There is also a disease attacking red oak trees. A friend is treating one of hers with injected antibiotics. And something is showing up this spring which is affecting old field cedars, Juniperus virginiana. Soon all we will have left are aggressive introduced invasive trees.

Got a call yesterday from the arboretum's director, an old acquaintance now (since November) in this new position. We had a lovely, lengthy chat (it has been at least 10 years since we spoke!). He's now married and with 2 young children. His advice - the crabapples are superb, come today because with this weather they will also drop petals PDQ. And the Metasequoia, a New Jersey state champion tree, is also looking quite nice, impressive at 98 feet tall.

Given our current president, if he runs again it wouldn't matter if I were a Republican or not, I'd vote for anyone else. I'd vote for an aardvark if one were running.

Yesterday was overcast and not quite as hot, only 88 degrees Fahrenheit. We went up on the roof and put the greenhouse shade cloth over the great room skylights. Himself manhandled the big ladder from the basement to the main floor. Took a break while one of the cats used the ladder for a cat toy / climbing frame. Then up to the (US terminology) second floor. Where we put up the skylight curtains for our bedroom.

We also moved some big potted plants down from second floor to outdoors. So of course it did not rain, as had been forecast.

Cassandra, very much looking forward to your next update.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sun May 06, 18 5:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Jam Lady, I am with you there on the subject of your President - most of the world seems to agree too. We all duck for cover when we see his face on the television and I am theoretically investigating a bunker in the back yard, haha.

So at the end of counting yesterday (82% of vote counted) I am still sitting steadily at 8th position. It has been amazingly consistent across the board.

Of the 82% of vote counted, 60+% have been split between three candidates and the rest distributed between the remaining ten. So I am pretty happy with my result. As preferences are distributed (basically the bottom person is knocked off the list, and their #2 votes are distributed to the various remaining candidates), I may gain a step on the ladder as at least two of those lower candidates would have recommended me as their second preference - -people always ask you who they should vote for - it's sad, I refer them to the blog of a Psephologist who provides a bio on each candidate so they can make their own decision.

Two of the people who polled worse than me have had media coverage and a past political profile - one is the deputy mayor of Tasman and the other a former MP, so that's very pleasing for someone on my budget with no media exposure barring a two minute radio interview.

The preferences I expect to receive might mean I bumped off the other local candidate and would be (in my opinion) a bit of a coup, but time will tell. If that were to happen I would get some of his preferences and so it goes on. Today they are recounting everything (the first count is done at the booths, this one at HQ) to verify their numbers, then will start distributing preferences. Hopefully there will be an update, but not so far.

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