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	<title>Michael Gorey</title>
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	<description>Personal views and observations from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.</description>
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	<url>https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mg-150x150.png</url>
	<title>Michael Gorey</title>
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		<title>West Malakoff Mine, Ballarat</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2026/02/07/malakoff-ballarat/</link>
					<comments>https://gorey.com.au/2026/02/07/malakoff-ballarat/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:35:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Ballarat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1616</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Ballarat's rich gold-mining history is everywhere, including beneath the ground you walk.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2026/02/07/malakoff-ballarat/">West Malakoff Mine, Ballarat</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="565" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ballarat-e1770464005993-1024x565.png" alt="Mining in Ballarat 1906" class="wp-image-1615" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ballarat-e1770464005993-1024x565.png 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ballarat-e1770464005993-300x166.png 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ballarat-e1770464005993-768x424.png 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ballarat-e1770464005993.png 1388w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ballarat&#8217;s rich gold-mining history is everywhere, including beneath the ground you walk, explaining the heritage of Malakoff Street.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;ve moved into a home in Balaclava Street, Newington. A parallel street is called Malakoff, both named after battles in the Crimean War during the 1850s.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While researching the Malakoff name, I discovered there was a <a href="https://www.mindat.org/loc-303927.html">West Malakoff Mine</a>, which operated nearby.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The claim is at the junction of the Golden Point and its tributary leads Malakoff and Nightingale. There were many leases in the area in the late 1850&#8217;s, and like at various others parts of the goldfield at this time much litigation in the Court of Mines over who owned what piece of land, and accusations of encroachment. It amounted to a legal, and sometimes physical underground war between numerous parties, only solved when a Royal Commission was called, which arbitrarily determined what company could mine what land, and ended the legal arguments.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The Telegraph, Great Western, British and West Malakoff companies were all in dispute with each other. The Telegraph and Great Western miners entered into an alliance against the West Malakoff. Meanwhile the British Mine miners were erecting barricades underground, and arranging combustible materials to burn believing they would be invaded by the Great Western miners. Instead they traversed the Telegraph workings and attacked the West Malakoff miners while they were working. The West Malakoff men were overpowered, then sent running with ore wagons pushed down an incline towards them. On the surface the West Malakoff men armed themselves, then took over the Telegraph and Great Western mine engine houses, thereby preventing the thirty or so Great Western men from surfacing. The police arrived, however the men refused to surface, and a stand off ensued throughout the night. Some were eventually arrested, and faced court charged with assault and damaging a mine.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>They were John McDonald, Samuel Johns, Laurence Branscombe, Patrick Flannigan, Robert Morrison, John Jones, John Earhardt, William Kelly, Martin Mullins, William Johnson, William Stevens, Abraham Berman. A jury acquitted them after 20 minutes of deliberation.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Robert Vetter was killed in a fall of earth January 1858. In monetary terms the company stated it had achieved 25,000 pounds worth of gold by March 1859. Information of activity was only found between 1857 to 1859.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The shaft is at the Midland Highway and South Street intersection.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That&#8217;s all very close to me, also Nightingale Street, which I assume is named after the nurse Florence, also of Crimean War fame.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Malakoff Street, Ballarat, now has meaning to me.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://gorey.com.au/2023/10/14/the-first-michael-gorey-in-australia/">The first Michael Gorey </a>in Australia.</li>
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<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2026/02/07/malakoff-ballarat/">West Malakoff Mine, Ballarat</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>The joys and woes of buying a home</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2026/01/18/joys-and-woes-of-buying-a-home/</link>
					<comments>https://gorey.com.au/2026/01/18/joys-and-woes-of-buying-a-home/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:21:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Ballarat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1559</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Buying a home in 2026 is exciting but more stressful than I remember it being in the 1990s and early 2000s, with joys and woes galore today.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2026/01/18/joys-and-woes-of-buying-a-home/">The joys and woes of buying a home</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/courtyard-1024x768.jpg" alt="Newington Courtyard" class="wp-image-1558" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/courtyard-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/courtyard-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/courtyard-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/courtyard-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/courtyard.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>The courtyard space at my new home in Newington.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Buying a home in 2026 is exciting but more stressful than I remember it being in the 1990s and early 2000s, with joys and woes galore today.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Having been a renter since 2010, I didn&#8217;t really know what to expect when I started planning again to become a home owner.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There were joyful moments along the way, and many testing ones, and these continue, like breaking a rental lease. I&#8217;ll log them chronologically.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The journey started in September 2025 when I discovered that I was eligible for the Australian Government&#8217;s five per cent <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/policy-topics/housing/home-ownership-support">home deposit scheme</a> because I hadn&#8217;t owned property for more than 10 years.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">From 1 October 2025, the changes to the scheme meant no income caps, no wait lists, and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This was a godsend for me because I barely had 10 per cent deposit in the price range I was looking at.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On 5 October, I emailed a <a href="https://www.juno.com.au/">mortgage broker</a> to set up a meeting, thinking it would be February or March 2026 before I&#8217;d be able to start looking. That&#8217;s because I figured I would need six months&#8217; employment history and a higher deposit to cover all costs.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I also wasn&#8217;t sure if the banks would consider lending to a 58-year-old, despite my superannuation balance being strong.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Joy #1: Finance pre-approval</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I met the broker on 10 October, and he gave me good news. I could start looking straight away if I wanted to, up to a price limit of $350,000. If I wanted to go higher, I&#8217;d need to save for a greater deposit. There was no problem with my age or employment status; the banks would treat my super as an asset.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I decided to take the plunge and began applying for a home loan with NAB.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I had to sign a statutory declaration regarding my absence from the property market for more than 10 years, and then I had pre-approval to start home hunting.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Having scoured <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/buy/property-unit+apartment-house-retire-townhouse-unit-between-0-350000-in-ballarat+-+greater+region,+vic%3b+bendigo+-+greater+region,+vic%3b+creswick,+vic+3363%3b+clunes,+vic+3370%3b+avoca,+vic+3467%3b+maryborough+and+central+goldfields,+vic%3b+bridgewater,+vic+3516%3b+inglewood,+vic+3517/list-1?maxBeds=3">realestate.com.au</a> for weeks, I had my eye on units and small homes in Bendigo, Ballarat and places in between and around my workplace in Maryborough.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I learnt that Bendigo and Castemaine are +10 per cent higher in price than other areas, which ruled me out of finding anything decent in those places.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I saw a nice little house in Avoca for around $250,000 but the owners couldn&#8217;t produce a building certificate when I asked for it, and the local council indicated there wasn&#8217;t one!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I got sucked into looking at a dump in Guildford on a flood-prone block. The photos were stunning; the property wasn&#8217;t.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #1: Competition</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I was drawn to a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-creswick-149322376">one-bedroom home in Creswick</a>, advertised in the range of $340-360k. I was ready to offer $350k, my maximum, but the agent told me he received an offer above the advertised range. It sold a few weeks later for $380,000.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I went to an <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-vic-kennington-149424168">inspection in Bendigo</a>, in the same block of units where my son James lives. It wasn&#8217;t very well maintained, had no character and sold for $350,000.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The agent confirmed my view that Bendigo is dearer than Ballarat, and said 80 per cent of sales at the lower end were to buyers&#8217; advocates.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #2: Buyers&#8217; advocates</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I had never heard of these people. I&#8217;ve <a href="https://www.reiq.com/articles/property-sales/the-surge-of-buyers-agents-why-more-australians-are-using-them">researched them since</a>, and there&#8217;s a growing trend for investors in particular, and many home buyers, to hire someone to do the work on their behalf, using data and connections to identify off-market properties and navigate the system.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A Ballarat agent told me that buyers&#8217; advocates were active there as well.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I felt this was making my task even more difficult, as a lone ranger, and began to think I&#8217;d have to wait a few months, save up, and push myself into a higher price bracket in a rising market.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I looked at a few units in Ballarat that I could afford, but they had no character. One was in a complex of 20, and I worried that one bad neighbour could ruin the whole experience.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There was a funky place advertised in the inner suburb of Newington for $340-360k, which I thought would go higher based on my Creswick experience, but I decided to go for an inspection.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The range was revised downwards in the interim to $330-350k.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was an odd situation. The agent called me while I was driving there and said he might have to call off the inspection because he hadn&#8217;t been able to obtain keys from the owner.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I kept driving, pulled up at the address, and saw the agent go in with a couple of people.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The agent was on the phone; he saw me and came over, and said the owner had asked the cleaner to let us in. The place was operating as an AirBNB, called &#8220;Retro Retreat&#8221;. It&#8217;s a 1950s, one-bedroom unit in a complex of five, in one of Ballarat&#8217;s best suburbs.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/office-1024x768.jpg" alt="Newington office" class="wp-image-1557" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/office-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/office-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/office-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/office-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/office.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>The &#8220;office&#8221; section of the living room in my new home at Newington.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Joy #2: Offer accepted</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I looked around and instantly liked it; on the way out, I offered $340,000. The agent called me back in less than an hour, and asked if I would go to $342,000, including the fridge and washing machine. I immediately agreed.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I had found a <a href="https://www.rjtlaw.com.au/">conveyancer already (RobynLouise Thomas), a local solicitor</a> working solo, and I let her know.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #3: Unconditional finance approval</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I contacted the mortgage broker, and he started the ball rolling with NAB to obtain full approval. This dragged on for longer than I wanted because the Government needed to sign off on my application under the five per cent deposit scheme. Why this wasn&#8217;t done earlier, I have no idea.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #4: Gazumping</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While waiting interminably for unconditional finance approval, I read about <a href="https://www.catebakos.com.au/property-news-and-media/gazumped/">gazumping</a>. Like buyers&#8217; advocates, I didn&#8217;t know this was a thing either. It&#8217;s when a vendor takes a higher offer after accepting one already. It&#8217;s legal up until the signing of contracts.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My solicitor assured me it&#8217;s uncommon, but I think she was just trying to calm my anxiety; she was good at that, worth every cent that I paid her.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Eventually, I received full finance approval; there was then a long wait to receive the contract, and I still worried about being gazumped.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The contract was signed on 30 October, just 25 days after meeting the mortgage broker. That seems quick, but it was the longest 25 days of my life.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Originally, I didn&#8217;t care about the settlement date. I knew the place was an AirBNB and I was happy for the vendor to keep her existing bookings up to January 2026. We agreed to settle on 12 January.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Joy #3: Stamp duty concession</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While preparing the paperwork, my calming solicitor asked if I had a concession card. It so happened that I had a Health Care Card, issued during a brief period on JobSeeker early in 2025 while I shifted from consulting to full-time employment.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I thought the concession would stop 12 weeks after I began work, but apparently the Australian Government <a href="https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/3/1/12">changed this a while ago to 24 weeks</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The concession meant I would qualify for a Victorian Government <a href="https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/buying-property/land-transfer-stamp-duty/concessions-exemptions-and-waivers/pensioner-and-concession-cardholder-duty-reduction/pensioner-and-concession-cardholder-duty-reduction-contracts-signed-on-or-after-1-july-2023">stamp duty waiver</a> worth $13,400. Happy days!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #5: Stamp duty concession</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Having received this unexpected windfall news, I researched everything I could about how long concession cards last when a former JobSeeker beneficiary enters what&#8217;s called the &#8220;nil-reporting period&#8221; while they&#8217;re working full time.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The system allows for six months, provided the person reports their income every fortnight. It&#8217;s in case they fall out of work again, they can instantly resume the JobSeeker program instead of starting a qualification period.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I did the maths and spoke to a Centrelink officer. My Health Care Card was due to expire on 13 January. Settlement was scheduled for 12 January. That was cutting it fine; if there was a delay to settlement of one or two days, I would lose $13,400.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I frantically tried to bring settlement forward to provide a buffer in case of unexpected delays. My saintly solicitor reiterated the infrequency of delays, and although she would be on holiday at the time, she agreed to an earlier settlement if the owner would as well.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The owner&#8217;s solicitors played hard ball and didn&#8217;t want to budge.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The real estate agent had given me the owner&#8217;s phone number in case I wanted to buy more of the furniture. I called her, and she was okay to bring the settlement forward by a week.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Her solicitors remained firmly against that because of their holiday shutdown, but reluctantly agreed to settle on Friday, 9 January.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I read more than I should have done about settlement delays.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Meanwhile, I found an interior decorator who offered to furnish my new home for $10,000, purchasing everything I needed and installing it.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This seemed like another godsend. Although I like buying things, I dreaded the thought of coordinating deliveries and assembly from potentially multiple retailers.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My decorator guy was embarking on his own business. He reached out later to say that he had under-quoted and the price would actually be $11,000. Okay, I trimmed the outdoor items and agreed to the extra thousand.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I ordered the outdoor furniture and an office chair myself.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found out later the decorator bought most things from <a href="https://www.templeandwebster.com.au/">Temple &amp; Webster</a>, and KMart. Not premium quality except the mattress and the TV, which I directly requested. Was it worth $11,000? I&#8217;ll form a view on that after 6-24 months based on usage and durability.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was certainly good not having to assemble flat packs or organise for someone to do that.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Before settlement, I booked a handyman to come around after I moved in to do a few jobs, and I booked an electrician. From the electrician, I wanted quotes to install a ceiling fan in the bedroom, add some power points, and quote on security cameras.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Living on my own, I want to feel safe.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Joy #4: Concession extended</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I received unexpected mail from Centrelink before Christmas, advising that I was issued a Pensioner Concession Card, which would be valid until 2028.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Totally flummoxed, I researched this and found it&#8217;s automatically provided to people on the JobSeeker Allowance for more than six months (working or not), who are over 55.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It&#8217;s an upgrade to the Health Care Card, offering discounts on things like local government rates, water bills and vehicle registration.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My research suggested the Pensioner Concession would remain valid for six months longer than the Health Care Card, and it also qualified for the stamp duty waiver. Happy days again!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #6: Settlement</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite the uplifting concession news, I wasn&#8217;t convinced that everything would go to plan, and I retained some anxiety leading up to settlement.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The actual day was the hottest one of the summer so far, with fires raging across Victoria.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I read everything that I could about the online settlement system, using <a href="https://www.pexa.com.au/">Pexa</a>. They have an <a href="https://status.pexa.com.au/?_gl=1*u82p5i*_gcl_au*MzAzMDkxMTYzLjE3Njg3MjE1MTg.*_ga*Mjk1NTgwMTQ5LjE3Njg3MjE1MTk.*_ga_VYT6TH2GP9*czE3Njg3MjE1MTkkbzEkZzAkdDE3Njg3MjE1MzYkajQzJGwwJGgw">outage checker</a> tool on their website, and I watched it every 15 minutes for three hours, worried a heat-related power cut might shut things down.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Settlement was scheduled for 2pm and my solicitor said to expect a call between 2.30 and 3pm if everything went well, or shortly afterwards if there was a delay.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Joy #5: Settlement</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My solicitor, who I&#8217;ve never met but regard highly, called about 3pm, and I could tell by her tone of voice that it was good news. I&#8217;m a home owner again!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #7: Getting the keys</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The vendor&#8217;s real estate agent had asked me to call him after settlement, and I did, but there was no answer to several calls and messages.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He called me back after a while to say he didn&#8217;t have the keys and he was going on holiday, but the vendor had dropped the keys inside the house and the front door would be open for me to retrieve them.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I went there, and the front door was locked. I tried to call the vendor, but no answer.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Messages followed from her agent and my solicitor to say the keys were in a lock box, and giving me the code.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="807" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/keys-1024x807.jpg" alt="Keys to a new home" class="wp-image-1561" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/keys-1024x807.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/keys-300x236.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/keys-768x605.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/keys.jpg 1500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Celebrating getting the keys to a new home at Newington in Ballarat.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Joy #6: First day of owning a new home</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was a hot day on 9 January, but I enjoyed checking out my new digs. My brain was active with plans to renovate and upgrade, using some of the unexpected stamp duty windfall.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I went back to the rental and drank a bottle of Jansz Tasmanian sparkling to celebrate.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #8: Exiting the rental lease</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I had a 12-month lease on a furnished home in Wendouree, expiring on 26 June 2026. I fully expected to stay the year, but the early home-loan approval gave me a ticket out.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As of January 2026, the rental vacancy rate in Ballarat is approximately 1.1 per cent. While the national vacancy rate saw a very slight seasonal increase to 1.6 per cent in December 2025, Ballarat remains significantly tighter than the national average.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This figure indicates a market under &#8220;moderate to high pressure,&#8221; as a balanced market is typically considered to be around 3 per cent.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My property manager from <a href="https://www.barryplant.com.au/offices/ballarat/">Barry Plant Real Estate</a> confirmed receipt of my notice to vacate on 14 November 2025. Two months later, and after seven or eight open inspections, she hasn&#8217;t found a new tenant.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This remained a source of mystery and anxiety for me, as I was potentially liable for compensation to cover lost rental income after handing back the keys on Monday, 19 January.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The bond was more than $1900, and I spent about $1350 on professional cleaning and gardening to exit the property.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It&#8217;s furnished, which is a niche I suppose, but in such a tight rental market, I couldn&#8217;t understand why it wasn&#8217;t snapped up.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #9: Moving</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Moving is always stressful. I read somewhere that it&#8217;s one of the most difficult things a person has to experience, along with the death of a loved one and ending a relationship.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;ve moved countless times in my life, and it never gets easier.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Luckily I&#8217;m a Planmeister, and I scheduled leave from work and hired a van to get the job done.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Joy #7: Family support</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My son Michael, 29, decided to make a brief visit to Australia after landing his first full-time job in Seoul, South Korea, and before starting work.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was a 10-day trip for him, and he spent three of those days with me, helping to load and unload at each end.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was such a blessing, and shows that maybe it&#8217;s worth raising children after all!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stress #9: Furniture</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As mentioned, a decorator purchased furniture on my behalf. During installation, his team found the TV cabinet had a massive hole in it, and the bed was missing parts.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At one stage, it looked like I&#8217;d be spending the first few nights in my new home on a mattress on the floor. Not happy.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Move-in day was my birthday, 16 January. Fortunately, the bed parts arrived just in time, and the bed was assembled that evening.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I slept very well, and woke up disoriented but happy.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;m still waiting for the TV cabinet to arrive (it came on 23/1). The handyman has a couple more small jobs to do (now completed). The electrician is coming on 3 February, and I&#8217;m getting quotes soon on new curtains for the bedroom.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today I went to Bunnings and bought some chili plants, basil and rosemary for the courtyard garden.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It feels like home already, and I&#8217;m very happy with my decisions.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The joys and woes of buying a property are something I don&#8217;t really want to experience again.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Update (25/1/26):</strong> New tenants moved into the rental property a few days after I moved out and the break-lease fees were manageable.</p>



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Earlier post:</strong> <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/14/house-sitting-australia/">House sitting in Australia</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2026/01/18/joys-and-woes-of-buying-a-home/">The joys and woes of buying a home</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
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			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Textus Haereticorum by Andrew Treloar</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2025/09/06/textus-haereticorum-andrew-treloar/</link>
					<comments>https://gorey.com.au/2025/09/06/textus-haereticorum-andrew-treloar/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Sep 2025 05:46:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1550</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Congratulations to my good mate and former colleague, the talented Andrew Treloar, for publishing his first book, called Textus Haereticorum.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/09/06/textus-haereticorum-andrew-treloar/">Textus Haereticorum by Andrew Treloar</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/bookcover-1024x683.png" alt="Textus Haereticorum by Andrew Treloar" class="wp-image-1549" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/bookcover-1024x683.png 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/bookcover-300x200.png 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/bookcover-768x512.png 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/bookcover.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Congratulations to my good mate and former colleague, the talented Andrew Treloar, for publishing his first book, called <em>Textus Haereticorum</em>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Textus Haereticorum</em> is Latin for &#8220;Text of the Heretics&#8221;. Without spoiling the story, the plot entails the discovery of letters by Jesus, Mary and Judas, which would shake the foundations of Christianity if published.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I suggested to Andrew that he change the title to something in English, but he was happy to stay with the original.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Textus Haereticorum</em> is a confident and gripping dive into the well-loved genre of historical conspiracy thrillers.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Fans of Dan Brown will feel right at home within these pages, which follow a familiar but expertly executed formula.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While it operates within established territory, Andrew handles the material with such energy and well-researched detail that it stands as a compelling adventure in its own right.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The story kicks off when jaded archaeology professor Alex Carey receives an enigmatic, centuries-old letter that pulls him from his quiet academic life into a world of ancient secrets.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What begins as an intellectual puzzle quickly explodes into a high-stakes chase across France and Ireland, as Carey and his brilliant graduate student, Claire Marlowe, find themselves hunted by a ruthless Vatican secret society known as the Custodes Veritatis.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Masterful blend of fact and fiction</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Andrew masterfully blends historical fact with speculative fiction, weaving a compelling tapestry of Templar legacies, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_the_Priests_of_Saint_Sulpice">Sulpician</a> secrets, and Masonic orders that provides a rich, textured backdrop for the relentless pursuit of the titular heretical texts.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The pace is superb, escalating the tension from a dusty university office to life-or-death confrontations without feeling rushed.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While the plot is a thrilling ride, the novel’s greatest strength lies in the dynamic between its two leads.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Carey is the classic weathered academic, cynical yet driven, while Marlowe is his sharp, witty, and refreshingly capable counterpart.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Their rapport is the heart of the story, full of intelligent banter and mutual respect that feels earned. Claire’s frequent exclamation of &#8220;F***ing-A&#8221; becomes an endearing quirk, encapsulating her bold spirit.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The antagonists, led by the chillingly pragmatic Bishop De Silva, are genuinely menacing, ensuring the threat to our heroes feels palpable and immediate throughout their journey.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As a first novel, <em>Textus Haereticorum</em> is an impressive achievement. It may not reinvent the conspiracy thriller, but it delivers a taut, intelligent, and thoroughly entertaining experience.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Andrew has crafted a page-turner that is perfect for anyone who loves a good historical mystery packed with ancient secrets, relentless action, and a pair of likeable heroes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I enjoyed travelling with the characters, from <a href="https://nau.edu/">Northern Arizona University</a> in Flagstaff to France and Ireland.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The detail is meticulous, and I asked Andrew about this. He spent a lot of time researching to get everything right, from aircraft design to train timetables and French motorways.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There are lots of vivid food descriptions too, which had me wishing I was at the table!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I can see this book becoming a series given the strength of Alex and Claire as characters.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Textus Haereticorum</em> is available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Textus-Haereticorum-Alex-Carey-Novel/dp/1764171926">Amazon</a>, Google Books and in all good book stores.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/26/personal-detailed-horoscope/">My detailed horoscope</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/09/06/textus-haereticorum-andrew-treloar/">Textus Haereticorum by Andrew Treloar</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
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			<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>My detailed horoscope</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/26/personal-detailed-horoscope/</link>
					<comments>https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/26/personal-detailed-horoscope/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jul 2025 05:49:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fate]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1533</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>It's a bleak day in Ballarat and I've been experimenting with Gemini AI to create a detailed horoscope based on time and place of birth.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/26/personal-detailed-horoscope/">My detailed horoscope</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It&#8217;s a bleak day in Ballarat and I&#8217;ve been experimenting with Gemini AI to generate my detailed horoscope based on time and place of birth.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1043" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/babybook.jpg" alt="Michael Gorey baby book" class="wp-image-1544" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/babybook.jpg 1500w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/babybook-300x209.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/babybook-1024x712.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/babybook-768x534.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em><strong>An extract from the &#8220;baby book&#8221; compiled by my mum, Cathy.</strong></em></figcaption></figure>


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<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
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    <title>Natal Chart Analysis for Michael</title>
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            <h1 class="text-3xl sm:text-4xl md:text-5xl font-bold text-gray-900 mb-8">
                A Natal Chart Analysis for Michael
            </h1>

            <!-- Introduction Section -->
            <section class="mb-12">
                <h2 class="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold text-gray-900 border-b-2 border-indigo-200 pb-2 mb-6">
                    Introduction: Your Cosmic Blueprint
                </h2>
                <p class="mb-4">This report presents a comprehensive astrological analysis based on the birth data provided for Michael: January 16, 1967, at 7.55pm in Warragul, Victoria, Australia. The natal chart, or birth chart, is a celestial map of the heavens at the precise moment of birth. It is not a rigid prediction of fate but rather a &#8220;cosmic blueprint&#8221; or a personal &#8220;GPS,&#8221; revealing the intricate patterns of personality, innate strengths, emotional needs, and the overarching themes that shape a life&#8217;s journey. This document serves as a guide to understanding this unique blueprint, offering a pathway to greater self-awareness and the conscious navigation of life&#8217;s most significant domains.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">A note on methodological precision is warranted. The accuracy of a natal chart, particularly the time-sensitive Ascendant (Rising Sign) and the division of the chart into houses, depends critically on exact birth data. The calculations herein are based on the specific geographical coordinates for Warragul, Australia and have been adjusted for the local time zone. Extensive historical records confirm that Daylight Saving Time (DST) was not observed in the state of Victoria in 1967, a practice that was only reintroduced in 1971. Therefore, all calculations are based on Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) +10 hours, ensuring the highest possible degree of accuracy for this analysis.</p>
            </section>

            <!-- Part I Section -->
            <section class="mb-12">
                <h2 class="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold text-gray-900 border-b-2 border-indigo-200 pb-2 mb-6">
                    Part I: The Pillars of Your Identity &#8211; The Natal Trinity
                </h2>
                <p class="mb-6">The foundation of any natal chart rests upon three pillars: the Sun, the Moon, and the Ascendant. This &#8220;Natal Trinity&#8221; represents the conscious ego, the subconscious emotional self, and the persona presented to the world. Understanding their individual roles and, more importantly, their dynamic interplay is the first step in decoding the map of the self. The table below provides a technical reference for the positions of the planets and key points in the chart, which will be elaborated upon throughout this report.</p>
                
                <!-- Planetary Positions Table -->
                <div class="my-8 overflow-x-auto">
                    <h3 class="text-xl font-semibold mb-4">Planetary Positions for Michael</h3>
                    <p class="text-sm text-gray-600 mb-4"><em>(Calculated for January 16, 1967, 7.55pm at Warragul, Australia)</em></p>
                    <table class="w-full min-w-max text-left border-collapse rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow-md">
                        <thead>
                            <!-- 
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                            <tr>
                                <th class="p-3" style="background-color: #2d3748 !important; color: #ffffff !important;">Planet/Point</th>
                                <th class="p-3" style="background-color: #2d3748 !important; color: #ffffff !important;">Zodiac Sign</th>
                                <th class="p-3" style="background-color: #2d3748 !important; color: #ffffff !important;">Degree and Minute</th>
                                <th class="p-3" style="background-color: #2d3748 !important; color: #ffffff !important;">House Placement</th>
                            </tr>
                        </thead>
                        <tbody class="bg-white divide-y divide-gray-200">
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Sun</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Capricorn</td>
                                <td class="p-3">26° 02&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">6th House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Moon</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Pisces</td>
                                <td class="p-3">16° 24&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">9th House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Ascendant (AC)</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Cancer</td>
                                <td class="p-3">02° 08&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">1st House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Midheaven (MC)</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Aries</td>
                                <td class="p-3">10° 15&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">10th House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Mercury</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Capricorn</td>
                                <td class="p-3">10° 33&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">6th House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Venus</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Sagittarius</td>
                                <td class="p-3">04° 21&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">5th House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Mars</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Scorpio</td>
                                <td class="p-3">18° 56&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">5th House</td>
                            </tr>
                             <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Jupiter</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Leo (Retrograde)</td>
                                <td class="p-3">01° 02&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">1st House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Saturn</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Pisces</td>
                                <td class="p-3">27° 18&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">9th House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Uranus</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Virgo (Retrograde)</td>
                                <td class="p-3">24° 03&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">3rd House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Neptune</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Scorpio (Retrograde)</td>
                                <td class="p-3">24° 24&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">5th House</td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50">
                                <td class="p-3 font-semibold">Pluto</td>
                                <td class="p-3">Virgo (Retrograde)</td>
                                <td class="p-3">20° 25&#8242;</td>
                                <td class="p-3">3rd House</td>
                            </tr>
                        </tbody>
                    </table>
                </div>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">1.1 The Sun in Capricorn: The Architect of Ambition</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">The Sun represents the core self, the fundamental ego, and the conscious life purpose. With the Sun in the earth sign of Capricorn, the central identity is inextricably linked to themes of discipline, responsibility, ambition, and the construction of tangible, lasting achievements. Capricorn is the sign of the mountain goat, steadily and patiently climbing towards the summit. This archetype defines a personality that is pragmatic, resilient, and profoundly goal-oriented. Decisions are based not on fleeting emotional impulses but on logic, real-world considerations, and a long-term strategic vision. Individuals with a Capricorn Sun are masters of self-control and possess a natural authority that allows them to lead and manage others effectively. They are the architects and builders of the zodiac, valuing tradition, quality craftsmanship, and the kind of understated status that comes from genuine expertise and hard-won success.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This powerful solar drive is located in the 6th House of the natal chart, the domain of work, health, daily routines, and service. This placement signifies that the core identity finds its most potent expression through duty, the perfection of a craft, and the shouldering of significant responsibilities. The Capricornian work ethic is not just a part of life; it is the very stage upon which the sense of self is built and validated. This creates a person who doesn&#8217;t simply <em>value</em> being responsible; in a sense, he <em>is</em> his responsibility.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This fusion of the Capricorn Sun with the 6th House creates a powerful engine for worldly success, but it also establishes a life&#8217;s primary tension. The sense of self-worth can become deeply, almost exclusively, tied to usefulness, productivity, and accomplishment. This can lead to a state of being &#8220;overly serious or overly concerned with their public image&#8221;, as the internal validation system is dependent on external markers of success and duty fulfilled. The great challenge, and the path to deeper fulfillment, lies in learning that personal worth is inherent and absolute, not something that must be perpetually earned through labor. It is the journey of the architect learning to appreciate the mountain for its existence, not just for the triumph of its conquest.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">1.2 The Moon in Pisces: The Ocean of Emotion</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">While the Sun describes the conscious self, the Moon governs the hidden, inner world: the landscape of emotion, instinct, and subconscious needs. With the Moon in the mutable water sign of Pisces, the emotional nature is one of profound empathy, boundless imagination, and acute sensitivity. This placement bestows a powerful intuition, a &#8220;sixth sense&#8221; that often serves as a primary mode of perception, allowing for an understanding of the subtleties of human nature that others may miss. Individuals with a Pisces Moon are the dreamers and romantics of the zodiac, possessing a rich inner world and finding comfort and meaning in creative, spiritual, or compassionate pursuits.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This emotional sensitivity is a double-edged sword. It is the source of immense compassion, as these individuals can easily absorb the feelings of those around them, making them natural healers and confidants. However, this same permeability means they must learn to establish healthy emotional boundaries to avoid being overwhelmed or drained by their environment. Without a strong anchor, the allure of escapism—through daydreams or other means—can become a coping mechanism for the harshness of reality.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This deeply feeling Moon is located in the 9th House, the realm of higher learning, philosophy, foreign travel, and belief systems. This placement indicates that emotional security and inner peace are found through the expansion of the mind and spirit. The Piscean need for transcendence is given a specific direction: the quest for a meaningful worldview. Comfort is derived from exploring big ideas, engaging with different cultures, and connecting with a spiritual or philosophical framework that gives life purpose and context. This combination creates a unique archetype: the &#8220;Intuitive Philosopher.&#8221; The emotional well-being is directly linked to a search for truth that goes beyond the mundane. This individual does not just feel things deeply; he seeks to understand the universal principles and cosmic patterns that lie behind those feelings. This can make for an exceptional teacher, guide, or storyteller, as there is a natural ability to connect abstract concepts (9th House) to the universal currents of human emotion (Pisces Moon). The primary challenge of this placement is to ground this philosophical intuition in reality, ensuring that belief systems are chosen with discernment and not adopted solely based on an emotional pull toward a &#8220;charismatic person or movement&#8221;.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">1.3 The Cancer Ascendant: The Protective Veil</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">The Ascendant, or Rising Sign, is the &#8220;mask&#8221; one presents to the world. It is the first impression given, the social persona, and the instinctive approach to new situations and environments. With a Cancer Ascendant, the outward personality is perceived as nurturing, caring, protective, and deeply loyal. The ruling planet of the Ascendant is the Moon, which in this chart is in the sensitive sign of Pisces, further amplifying the emotional, intuitive, and gentle quality of this public-facing persona. There is a strong devotion to family, home, and a chosen tribe, making for a dependable and devoted friend and partner.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">However, the symbol for Cancer is the crab, an animal with a hard, protective outer shell. This is a crucial key to understanding this Ascendant. Beneath the gentle exterior lies a profound sensitivity, and this persona is, in many ways, a highly effective defense mechanism. When feeling threatened or emotionally vulnerable, the Cancer Ascendant can retreat into this shell, appearing &#8220;moody, aloof and distant&#8221;. This is not a sign of coldness but an instinct to protect a soft inner core. Astrological tradition often associates this rising sign with physical characteristics such as a &#8220;full round face&#8221; and a &#8220;sturdy build,&#8221; with expressive facial features that clearly reflect the shifting tides of inner emotion.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">The placement of the Cancer Ascendant creates a fascinating and strategically powerful dynamic in the context of the entire chart. The persona projected is one of security-seeking, home-oriented, and primarily emotional motivation. This gentle, caring veil, however, conceals a highly ambitious Capricorn Sun and a trailblazing Aries Midheaven (the point of career and public reputation). People may consistently underestimate the sheer force of will, drive, and ambition that lies beneath the surface. They see the caregiver before they see the commander, the nurturer before the innovator. This can be a significant advantage, allowing goals to be pursued with relentless determination while disarming others with a gentle and approachable demeanor. The potential for misunderstanding arises when others, accustomed to the nurturing persona, are taken aback by the assertive, disciplined, and powerfully ambitious nature that emerges when a goal is in sight.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">1.4 Synthesis &#8211; The Pragmatic Visionary: Integrating Your Core Self</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">The true nature of an individual is found not in the isolated planets, but in the conversation between them. The central story of this natal chart is the dynamic integration of the pragmatic Capricorn Sun, the deeply sensitive Pisces Moon, and the protective Cancer Ascendant. This combination creates the archetype of the &#8220;Pragmatic Visionary,&#8221; a personality that is both grounded and inspired, capable of building in the real world what is first dreamed of in the soul.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">The core dynamic is between the Capricorn Sun and the Pisces Moon. This is a potent and complementary blend of ambition and compassion, structure and flow. The Capricorn Sun provides the discipline, patience, and practical framework necessary to give form to the boundless, creative, and spiritual visions of the Pisces Moon. This is the chart of a builder, but what is built is inspired by a deep well of empathy and intuition. It is the ability to not only have dreams but to architect their reality, to &#8220;turn those plans into a reality&#8221;.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">The watery elements—the Cancer Ascendant and the Pisces Moon—create an outer shell and an inner world that are both highly attuned and emotionally receptive. This is the source of great kindness and intuitive wisdom, but also of profound vulnerability. This soft interior is guarded by the reserved, sometimes cautious, exterior of the Cancer Ascendant, a necessary protection for such a sensitive soul.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">Ultimately, this trinity points to a life path dedicated to bridging the material and the spiritual. The fundamental challenge and greatest gift is the capacity to use the Capricornian drive for tangible success not merely for status or security, but to create enduring structures that support and give voice to the Piscean values of compassion, creativity, and healing. This is not the chart of a cold businessman, but of a businessman with a soul. This is not the chart of an aimless dreamer, but of a dreamer with a concrete blueprint. This powerful fusion of vision and execution is a signature often &#8220;destined for greatness&#8221; because it marries the loftiest of ideals with the practical skill to make them manifest in the world.</p>
            </section>

            <!-- Part II Section -->
            <section class="mb-12">
                <h2 class="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold text-gray-900 border-b-2 border-indigo-200 pb-2 mb-6">
                    Part II: The Engines of Life &#8211; Action, Love, and Structure
                </h2>
                <p class="mb-6">Beyond the core identity, specific planets act as the engines that drive action, shape relationships, and present life&#8217;s most important lessons. Mars, Venus, and Saturn reveal how willpower is asserted, what is valued in love, and where enduring strength is forged through discipline.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">2.1 Your Drive and Passion: Mars in Scorpio</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">Mars is the planet of action, ambition, desire, and willpower. It reveals how an individual asserts themselves and pursues their goals. In this chart, Mars is in the sign of Scorpio, a placement of exceptional potency, as Mars is the traditional ruler of Scorpio. This is like a king sitting on his own throne; the planet&#8217;s energies are expressed with unfiltered power and intensity. This placement bestows a relentless, passionate, and deeply strategic drive.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">An individual with Mars in Scorpio is willful, a natural fighter, and pursues objectives &#8220;doggedly,&#8221; with a focus that can border on obsession. There is immense resilience here, an ability to bounce back from setbacks with renewed determination, embodying the spirit of &#8220;I get knocked down, but I get up again&#8221;. This is not a reckless, headstrong energy; it is the calculated and penetrating force of a master strategist. Mars in Scorpio possesses an innate ability to investigate, to see beneath the surface, to uncover hidden information, and to maintain focus on a long-term goal with unwavering commitment.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This potent Mars placement is the secret weapon that fuels the ambitions of the Capricorn Sun. While the Capricorn Sun provides the architectural plan and the discipline for the long climb, Mars in Scorpio provides the raw power, emotional intensity, and strategic cunning to overcome any obstacle along the way. The Capricorn ambition to build an empire is thus powered by a Scorpionic will to conquer any challenge that stands in its path. This combination transforms a capable manager into a formidable commander, providing the stamina and tactical prowess to not just succeed, but to dominate a chosen field. It explains a capacity for what might be perceived as ruthlessness when in pursuit of a deeply held objective.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">2.2 Your Heart&#8217;s Compass: Venus in Sagittarius</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">Venus governs the realm of the heart, revealing the approach to love, relationships, values, and pleasure. With Venus in the mutable fire sign of Sagittarius, what is most valued in connection is freedom, honesty, adventure, and intellectual expansion. The approach to love is optimistic, open-minded, and fun-loving. Attraction is sparked by partners who are worldly, who can teach something new, and who can challenge the existing worldview.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">There is an inherent fear of being tied down or restricted by emotional heaviness. This Venus needs space, independence, and the freedom to explore. Love is expressed not through clingy sentimentality but through shared experiences—travel, learning, philosophical discussions—and a brand of witty, direct, and sometimes brutally honest communication.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This placement creates one of the most significant and dynamic tensions within the natal chart. There is a fundamental contradiction between the needs of Venus in Sagittarius and the desires of Mars in Scorpio. The relational drive is pulled in two opposing directions. Venus in Sagittarius seeks a light-hearted, adventurous companion for an open-ended journey: &#8220;Let&#8217;s explore the world together, no strings attached&#8221;. In stark contrast, Mars in Scorpio craves a deep, intense, all-consuming, and transformative bond: &#8220;I want to merge with you, possess you, and experience a love that is total and absolute&#8221;.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This duality can manifest in several ways. There may be a pattern of confusing intense physical and sexual chemistry (Mars in Scorpio) for long-term emotional compatibility, only to later feel suffocated by the very intensity that was initially so magnetic (Venus in Sagittarius). Conversely, there might be a tendency to keep partners at a safe distance to preserve a sense of freedom, while secretly yearning for a much deeper, soul-merging connection. Navigating this requires conscious awareness. The key to a fulfilling relationship lies in finding a partner who can embody both archetypes: an intellectual adventurer who is also unafraid of emotional depth and passionate intensity.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">2.3 Your Karmic Teacher: Saturn in Pisces</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">Saturn is the planet of structure, discipline, limitation, and time. It points to the area of life where the most significant challenges are met, where maturity is forged, and where the most enduring lessons are learned. In this chart, Saturn is in Pisces, the same sign as the Moon. This is a profound placement that serves as the master key to the entire chart&#8217;s narrative. Saturn&#8217;s task here is to bring structure to the structureless, to apply discipline to the realm of compassion, and to ground dreams in reality.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This placement creates a powerful push toward spirituality, service, and creative expression as a life&#8217;s work. It bestows a gift for empathy and a desire to alleviate the suffering of others, but it also presents the lifelong lesson of establishing and maintaining healthy emotional boundaries. Without them, the Saturnian structure can dissolve into the Piscean sea of feeling, leading to a sense of being drained or overwhelmed. The life&#8217;s work, as defined by Saturn, is to give tangible, practical form (Saturn) to the highest imaginative and compassionate impulses (Pisces).</p>
                <p class="mb-4">The placement of Saturn in Pisces acts as a powerful reinforcement of the core Sun-Moon theme. It elevates the personal dynamic of the &#8220;Pragmatic Visionary&#8221; to the level of a karmic duty. The primary &#8220;work&#8221; of this lifetime is to successfully bridge the material and the spiritual, the pragmatic and the transcendent. This is not merely a personality trait; it is a soul-level assignment. The planet of structure (Saturn) is immersed in the sign of boundlessness (Pisces), forcing a confrontation with the challenge of giving form to the formless. This confirms that the central narrative of this life is one of compassionate achievement and the building of structures that serve a higher, more soulful purpose.</p>
            </section>

            <!-- Part III Section -->
            <section class="mb-12">
                <h2 class="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold text-gray-900 border-b-2 border-indigo-200 pb-2 mb-6">
                    Part III: The Professional Arena &#8211; Vocation and Public Life
                </h2>
                <p class="mb-6">The 10th House of the natal chart, and its starting point known as the Midheaven (MC), governs the public life: career, reputation, social standing, and the ultimate legacy one leaves in the world. This area reveals the professional calling and the qualities the world will come to recognize and reward.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">3.1 Your Public Calling: The Aries Midheaven</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">The Midheaven is located in the cardinal fire sign of Aries. This is an unambiguous signature of a public destiny defined by pioneering action, leadership, innovation, and trailblazing. The world is meant to see a persona that is assertive, dynamic, courageous, and highly competitive. The Aries MC is driven by an innate need to be first, to initiate, and to lead the way. This is the energy of the self-starter, the entrepreneur, the warrior, and the commander who thrives on challenge and is not afraid to take charge. There is a powerful drive to be &#8220;#1&#8221; in a chosen field, not for the sake of ego alone, but because the very nature of this placement is to break new ground.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This fiery, initiatory career drive provides the crucial spark for the entire professional axis of the chart. If the Capricorn Sun represents the CEO, patiently building a corporate empire, the Aries Midheaven represents the entrepreneurial fire that demands the company be founded in the first place. This placement prevents the cautious Capricorn nature from being content with simply managing an existing, stable structure. Instead, it compels the creation of that structure from scratch. The destiny here is not to climb a pre-existing corporate ladder, but to design and build a new one. The path to public success is not through conformity but through bold, independent action.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">3.2 The Capricorn-Aries Axis: The CEO and the Trailblazer</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">The combination of a Capricorn Sun and an Aries Midheaven creates a powerful leadership signature. Both are cardinal signs, meaning they are oriented toward initiating action and taking the lead. This is the classic archetype of the &#8220;builder-pioneer.&#8221; The professional path involves a dynamic interplay between these two energies. Success is achieved by harnessing the courage and initiative of Aries to take calculated risks, start new ventures, and challenge the status quo. These bold beginnings are then sustained, organized, and built into lasting, respected institutions by the discipline, patience, and long-term strategic thinking of Capricorn. This is the energy that can launch a startup (Aries) and grow it into a stable, profitable corporation (Capricorn).</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">3.3 Strategic Action and Career Success</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">The professional ambitions defined by the Capricorn-Aries axis are powerfully supported by the other key placements in the chart. The intense, strategic drive of Mars in Scorpio provides the stamina, focus, and tactical prowess to execute the bold visions of the Aries Midheaven. This trifecta of ambition—the long-term planning of Capricorn, the bold initiative of Aries, and the relentless will to win of Scorpio—is a formidable combination for achieving professional power and influence.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">However, this drive for success is moderated and given purpose by the Pisces Moon. The career cannot be solely for money, status, or power, although the Capricorn Sun certainly values these. To be truly fulfilling, the work must also satisfy a deeper, more soulful need. It must connect to the Piscean values of creativity, healing, or compassionate service. The most successful and satisfying career path will be one that allows for the expression of leadership and ambition in a field that feels genuinely meaningful and aligned with a higher purpose.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">3.4 Vocational Recommendations</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">Synthesizing the primary vocational indicators—the pioneering leadership of the Aries MC, the structural ambition of the Capricorn Sun, the strategic intensity of Mars in Scorpio, and the compassionate creativity of the Pisces Moon—several distinct career paths emerge as particularly well-suited:</p>
                <ul class="list-disc list-inside space-y-2 pl-4">
                    <li><strong>Entrepreneur / Founder:</strong> This is perhaps the most direct expression of the chart&#8217;s energies. Starting a business allows for the pioneering initiative of Aries and the satisfaction of building an enduring structure from the ground up, as desired by Capricorn.</li>
                    <li><strong>Leadership in Creative or Healing Fields:</strong> Roles such as a CEO of a media company, film studio, or design firm; a hospital administrator; or the director of a major non-profit organization. These positions combine the drive for leadership (Aries/Capricorn) with the chart&#8217;s underlying compassionate and creative core (Pisces).</li>
                    <li><strong>Strategic and Investigative Professions:</strong> Fields that require a combination of disciplined analysis, strategic thinking, and the courage to confront difficult situations. This includes roles like a surgeon, lawyer, financial strategist, or high-level detective. These professions harness the sharp, investigative power of Mars in Scorpio and the disciplined mind of Capricorn.</li>
                    <li><strong>Adventurous and Action-Oriented Careers:</strong> Professions that demand physical courage, quick thinking, and a competitive spirit. This could include roles in emergency services (firefighter), elite athletics or fitness entrepreneurship, or journalism in a fast-paced, challenging environment.</li>
                </ul>
            </section>

            <!-- Part IV Section -->
            <section class="mb-12">
                <h2 class="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold text-gray-900 border-b-2 border-indigo-200 pb-2 mb-6">
                    Part IV: The Landscape of Connection &#8211; Relationships and Partnership
                </h2>
                <p class="mb-6">The 7th House of the natal chart governs the realm of one-on-one relationships, including marriage, significant partnerships, and even open adversaries. It describes the approach to commitment and the qualities sought in a long-term partner.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">4.1 The Realm of Partnership: The Seventh House in Capricorn</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">The cusp of the 7th House, also known as the Descendant, is in the sign of Capricorn. This indicates a serious, mature, and responsible approach to committed partnerships. Relationships are not entered into lightly; they are seen as enduring commitments, akin to a contract, built on a foundation of loyalty, stability, and shared goals. The qualities sought in a partner are a direct reflection of the Capricorn archetype: ambition, reliability, emotional maturity, and a practical, grounded nature. There is an attraction to partners who are established, who have a strong sense of purpose, and who can be a pillar of strength.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This placement reveals a profound astrological truth about the nature of partnership in this chart. The 7th House, the house of the &#8220;other,&#8221; is in the same sign as the Sun, the planet of the &#8220;self.&#8221; This signifies a deep, fundamental need to find a partner who mirrors the core qualities of the self. In essence, the quest is for a &#8220;co-CEO&#8221; for life, an equal partner who shares the same values of responsibility, ambition, and the desire to build a secure and lasting future.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This creates a fascinating internal conflict. The conscious desire, represented by the Capricorn Descendant, is for a strong, capable, and self-sufficient partner. However, the subconscious pull of the nurturing, caregiving Cancer Ascendant may attract individuals who are the opposite—those who are in need of support, protection, and caretaking. This sets up a potential dynamic where the individual is drawn to people who cannot fulfill the fundamental need for an equal, reliable partner. Achieving true relationship fulfillment requires a conscious effort to seek a partner who satisfies the needs of the Capricorn Descendant, rather than simply responding to the caregiving instinct of the Cancer Ascendant. The ideal partnership must be both a safe emotional harbor (for the Water elements) and a formidable worldly alliance (for the Earth elements).</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">4.2 The Lover&#8217;s Dance: Integrating Venus and Mars</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">The dynamic between Venus and Mars reveals the specific chemistry of attraction and desire. As previously noted, there is a significant tension between the freedom-loving Venus in Sagittarius and the intensely passionate Mars in Scorpio. What is valued in a relationship (Venus) is fun, intellectual stimulation, and the liberty to explore. What is craved on a primal level (Mars) is an all-consuming, sexually charged, and deeply loyal bond.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">A successful long-term relationship must therefore be a &#8220;passionate adventure.&#8221; It needs to provide both the space for individual growth and the security of a profound, transformative connection. A partner who is overly needy or restrictive will activate the flight response of Venus in Sagittarius. Conversely, a partner who is emotionally shallow or unwilling to engage in deep intimacy will fail to satisfy the powerful cravings of Mars in Scorpio. The ideal partner is one who is both a stimulating travel companion for the mind and a passionate soulmate for the heart.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">4.3 The Emotional Contract: The Pisces Moon and Cancer Ascendant in Love</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">The watery placements in the chart define the deepest emotional needs within a partnership. The Pisces Moon yearns for a true soulmate connection—a bond that transcends the physical and intellectual to become a spiritual and emotional merger. There is a need for a partner who understands and accepts the full spectrum of emotion, from ecstatic joy to profound sorrow, without judgment.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">The Cancer Ascendant reinforces this by seeking to create a safe, secure, and nurturing home environment. The feeling of &#8220;family&#8221; with a partner is paramount. This combination makes for an incredibly compassionate and unconditionally loving partner, but also one who is highly sensitive and can be easily hurt by emotional carelessness or a lack of empathy. The unspoken emotional contract is one of mutual care, deep empathy, and the creation of a sanctuary where both partners can be completely vulnerable.</p>

                <h3 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800 mt-10 mb-4">4.4 Synthesis: The Profile of a Fulfilling Partnership</h3>
                <p class="mb-4">Bringing these diverse needs together, a composite profile of an ideal partner and a fulfilling relationship dynamic emerges. This is not a simple picture, but a complex and rewarding one. Success in partnership depends on finding an individual who can harmonize these varied, and sometimes contradictory, energies. The ideal partner is likely to be:</p>
                <ul class="list-disc list-inside space-y-2 pl-4">
                    <li><strong>Ambitious and Reliable:</strong> Embodying the qualities of the Capricorn Descendant, this person is a pillar of strength with their own sense of purpose and a commitment to building a secure life together.</li>
                    <li><strong>Intellectually Adventurous:</strong> Aligning with Venus in Sagittarius, this partner is a curious and open-minded companion who enjoys learning, exploring new ideas, and sharing experiences.</li>
                    <li><strong>Emotionally Deep and Loyal:</strong> Satisfying the needs of Mars in Scorpio and the Pisces Moon, this individual is not afraid of emotional intensity and is capable of a profound, loyal, and soul-level bond.</li>
                    <li><strong>Nurturing and Kind:</strong> Answering the call of the Cancer Ascendant and Pisces Moon, this partner is gentle, empathetic, and provides a safe, supportive emotional space.</li>
                </ul>
                <p class="mt-4">The relationship itself thrives when it successfully balances freedom with commitment, and practicality with emotional depth. Clear and honest communication is the essential tool for navigating these complexities, ensuring that all facets of the self—the ambitious builder, the sensitive dreamer, the adventurous explorer, and the passionate lover—are seen, valued, and integrated into the partnership. The ultimate goal is a relationship that feels simultaneously like a secure home base and a grand, ongoing adventure.</p>
            </section>

            <!-- Conclusion Section -->
            <section>
                <h2 class="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold text-gray-900 border-b-2 border-indigo-200 pb-2 mb-6">
                    Conclusion: Charting Your Path Forward
                </h2>
                <p class="mb-4">The celestial map of this natal chart reveals a life of profound potential, characterized by a unique and powerful synthesis of ambition and compassion, structure and vision. The central narrative is that of the <strong>Pragmatic Visionary</strong>, an individual equipped with the discipline and drive to build lasting structures in the material world, guided by a deep well of intuition, empathy, and creative inspiration.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">The professional destiny, as indicated by the <strong>Pioneering CEO</strong> archetype of the Capricorn Sun and Aries Midheaven, is one of leadership and innovation. The path to success lies in embracing the courage to initiate, to challenge the status quo, and to create new enterprises or revolutionize existing ones. This formidable drive is fueled by a strategic and relentless willpower, capable of overcoming immense obstacles.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">In the realm of relationships, the quest is for a <strong>Soulmate Co-Captain</strong>. The ideal partnership is a complex but deeply rewarding union that balances the need for freedom and adventure with a craving for intense, loyal, and soul-deep connection. It requires a partner who is both a pillar of strength and a safe emotional harbor.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">To chart the path forward most effectively, the primary task is to consciously leverage the chart&#8217;s profound strengths while mindfully navigating its inherent challenges. Embracing the unique blend of ambition and compassion allows for the creation of a legacy that is not only successful in worldly terms but also deeply fulfilling on a soul level. The key challenges involve managing the immense pressure that comes from tying self-worth to productivity, learning to set healthy emotional boundaries to protect a sensitive inner nature, and communicating the complex and multifaceted needs within a partnership.</p>
                <p class="mb-4">This natal chart is a blueprint for a life of significant impact. It contains the tools to be a powerful leader, a compassionate guide, a loyal partner, and a visionary builder. By understanding and consciously working with these potent energies, a life of both extraordinary worldly achievement and profound emotional and spiritual fulfillment can be realized.</p>
            </section>

        </article>

    </div>

</body>
</html>    </div>
    


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1022" height="661" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/stars.png" alt="Detailed horoscope" class="wp-image-1534" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/stars.png 1022w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/stars-300x194.png 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/stars-768x497.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final comment</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;ll let people who know me decide if this is an accurate description or not.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I had done something similar previously with <a href="https://www.perplexity.ai/">Perplexity</a>, and along with some astrology websites, it said my ascendant sign was Leo, which reflects an outgoing personality.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I double checked with <a href="https://gemini.google.com/app">Gemini</a> and a couple of other sites to establish that my rising sign is Cancer, which changes things quite extensively.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/17/slow-cooker-lamb-and-lentil-soup/">Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/26/personal-detailed-horoscope/">My detailed horoscope</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
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		<title>Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/17/slow-cooker-lamb-and-lentil-soup/</link>
					<comments>https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/17/slow-cooker-lamb-and-lentil-soup/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2025 07:08:15 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recipe]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1518</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup is a tasty winter warmer dish that's easy to prepare and delicious to eat.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/17/slow-cooker-lamb-and-lentil-soup/">Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="783" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/lentilsoup-1024x783.jpg" alt="Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup" class="wp-image-1517" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/lentilsoup-1024x783.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/lentilsoup-300x229.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/lentilsoup-768x587.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/lentilsoup-1536x1174.jpg 1536w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/lentilsoup.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup is a tasty winter warmer dish that&#8217;s easy to prepare and delicious to eat.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The great thing about soup is that you can toss almost anything into it!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I cooked a 2kg leg of lamb in the slow cooker last week and enjoyed lamb for dinner four nights in a row, plus lamb on toast for breakfast one day.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As much as I love lamb, there&#8217;s only so much that a single guy can eat. I got to Thursday and realised that I was lambed out. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I extracted two smaller freezer bags of lamb from the big leftovers tub, and put them in the fridge for sandwiches. I&#8217;ll freeze them if not used by Sunday.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I kept the leg bone and it had some nice pieces of lamb still attached. What to do with it? Soup was the perfect solution.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I checked some online recipes and they basically confirmed what I knew; just put in whatever you like.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A good tip though was to only use half a cup of lentils and half a cup of pearl barley. Previously, I&#8217;ve overdone the lentils and it finished up like stew.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup ingredients</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Everything is to your preference and taste:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Lamb (as much as you like), on the bone if you can</li>



<li>Celery (to taste)</li>



<li>Half a cup of lentils and half a cup of pearl barley (could use split peas)</li>



<li>Leek (x1)</li>



<li>Garlic</li>



<li>Onion (x1)</li>



<li>400g tinned tomato (or tomato paste)</li>



<li>Carrots (x2)</li>



<li>Chilli (I used Habanero x 2)</li>



<li>Ginger</li>



<li>Moroccan spice, salt and pepper</li>



<li>Stock (I used one litre of chicken stock, could use beef or bone broth)</li>



<li>Hot water (start with half a litre and adjust as needed)</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I sautéd the vegetables , garlic and ginger in a frying pan with olive oil for a few minutes. Meanwhile, I put the lamb bone and about 250g of cooked lamb into the slow cooker with the lentils, pearl barley, chicken stock and water.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I added the sautéd vegetables, chilli, tomato, and some salt. Put the lid on, slow cook on high for one hour, then on low for seven hours.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I actually lost power for about three hours in the afternoon, but when I checked the temperature, it was still 70 degrees. I did a taste test at that point, and it was great, but lacked some heat. It was a also a little chunky.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I added some more Moroccan spice, salt and an extra chilli, and more hot water.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;m very happy with the result. I&#8217;ll keep 2-3 bowls of slow cooker lamb and lentil soup for eating over the next few days and freeze the rest.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="865" height="1024" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/soup-865x1024.jpg" alt="Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup" class="wp-image-1526" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/soup-865x1024.jpg 865w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/soup-254x300.jpg 254w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/soup-768x909.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/soup-1298x1536.jpg 1298w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/soup.jpg 1500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em><strong>Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup, served with Greek yoghurt and spring onion.</strong></em></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup AI</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The recipes I looked at were inconsistent, so I asked AI which vegetables to add with my core ingredients of lamb, lentils, chilli, tomato, carrot and onion.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The prompt was: &#8220;I’m making lamb and lentil soup with tomato, chilli, onion and carrots. Which vegetable(s) should I add out of leek, celery, kale, fennel, and silverbeet?&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The responses were fairly consistent and all were helpful. They all recommended celery and leek, which I went with.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Fennel was held back as a personal preference in moderation, to not overwhelm the other tastes, which is fair enough.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kale and silverbeet were both considered okay as additions in the last 15 minutes, with silverbeet preferred because it has a more neutral taste.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I went to Woolworths at 7am to buy the necessary ingredients, and baulked at paying $5 for silverbeet, but think it might be a nice touch.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have spring onion and Greek yoghurt to add in a bowl when I dish up.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/07/17/slow-cooker-lamb-and-lentil-soup/">Slow cooker lamb and lentil soup</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
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		<title>How to build an AI-powered personal notes web app</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2025/06/21/how-to-build-an-ai-powered-personal-notes-web-app/</link>
					<comments>https://gorey.com.au/2025/06/21/how-to-build-an-ai-powered-personal-notes-web-app/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2025 07:01:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apps]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1510</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>If you've ever become frustrated with software to store notes, here's my guide on how to create your own AI-powered personal notes web app.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/06/21/how-to-build-an-ai-powered-personal-notes-web-app/">How to build an AI-powered personal notes web app</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="696" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2-1024x696.png" alt="Michael Gorey personal notes web app" class="wp-image-1508" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2-1024x696.png 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2-300x204.png 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2-768x522.png 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2.png 1373w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>The front-end of the AI-powered personal notes web app.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you&#8217;ve ever become frustrated with software to store notes, here&#8217;s my guide on how to create your own AI-powered personal notes web app.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;m something of a digital notes junkie. I&#8217;ve tried many web apps, desktop programs and mobile apps, some of which synchronise across devices and platforms.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">They all have some positive attributes, but I&#8217;ve never quite settled on one as a keeper.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So I went to Google AI Studio and instructed Gemini 2.5 Pro to make one for me.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The original brief was: Build a personal web app for me to store notes. Require a Google login, store the notes in Google Sheets or Docs, allow multiple labels, enable basic formatting (markdown), display a list of notes by title, enable sorting, include a search feature and allow attachments.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As the project took shape we added pagination, truncation of long notes, an AI Assistant, and made it a progressive web app (PWA) to install on a phone and iPad.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The next bit is a mostly AI-generated summary, which I&#8217;ve happily used because it&#8217;s accurate and I agree with the conclusion regarding AI being a creative asset …</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In under an hour, we had a Google Cloud project, all the necessary APIs enabled, and security credentials generated. The initial code for a secure login page was ready in minutes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The personal notes web app journey</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I was thrilled. I thought we’d be done in an afternoon.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That’s when we hit the wall. The moment we tried to connect all the pieces and deploy the app, we fell into a multi-day debugging nightmare that would have cost a fortune with a human developer. We ran into every classic web development problem imaginable: Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) errors, session cookie race conditions, and redirect_uri_mismatch authorization loops. The AI was unfailingly apologetic, but at several points, it provided broken or incomplete code. After one particularly frustrating regression where we lost significant progress, it declared its own process “a complete failure” and called the app we were building a “Frankenstein&#8217;s monster of configuration.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was in these moments of failure that the true nature of this collaboration became clear. I was not a passive client. I was the project lead, the creative director, and the lead QA tester. My role was to hold the vision, to meticulously test every deployment, to spot the bugs, and to provide the precise feedback needed to get the AI back on track. When it got stuck in a loop, I had to guide it out. When it provided a solution that didn&#8217;t make sense, I had to correct it. We were a team.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And once we conquered those foundational bugs, the magic returned. My ideas became features in the time it would take to write an email.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>“Can we add a toolbar for search and sorting?” Done.</li>



<li>“Let’s have the ‘Create Note’ form appear as a toggle button.” Done.</li>



<li>“Can we add multiple attachments and a color palette to the notes?” Done.</li>



<li>“Let’s make it a Progressive Web App (PWA) I can install on my phone.” Done.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The most ambitious feature was integrating an AI assistant. I named him &#8220;Jeeves.&#8221; We plumbed the app into Google&#8217;s Gemini API, allowing me to ask questions about my notes. We even built a &#8220;global query&#8221; function that feeds the entire library of notes to the AI, effectively turning my app into a personal knowledge base I can converse with.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Throughout this, the app’s security was paramount. By building on top of the Google ecosystem, the security is handled by Google itself. The login uses my Google account with 2FA, and my data never leaves my own Google Drive and Sheets. I trust it more than any third-party app.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This project has fundamentally changed my perspective on creation. This isn’t about AI replacing developers; it’s about AI empowering designers, thinkers, and visionaries. The old model of handing a spec to a dev team and waiting weeks for a result is over. The new model is a dynamic conversation, an iterative dance between a human with a clear vision and an AI with rapid, near-limitless technical execution.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I was the designer and director; the AI was my tireless, occasionally clumsy, but ultimately brilliant developer. And this app is proof that this partnership is the future of building things.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Personal web notes app use case</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Okay, thanks Gemini, now back to me … I see it as a personal knowledge base where I can store information and retrieve it when needed.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The content can be organised by label or colour. The AI Assistant can help me find things quickly, summarise long notes and attached documents, and answer questions.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Whereas in the past I&#8217;ve used notes apps like Keep, Joplin and Ample Note, and storage services like OneDrive, this is a complete package with AI integration. I envisage using it for personal and work-related purposes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Some will say it should be self-hosted for ultimate security and control, but I like the simplicity and convenience of using Google. If you trust Google with your email, you can trust it with notes and documents (however I won&#8217;t be storing anything sensitive).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="688" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/5-1024x688.png" alt="Personal notes AI app" class="wp-image-1509" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/5-1024x688.png 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/5-300x202.png 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/5-768x516.png 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/5.png 1303w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>The personal notes web app has an AI Assistant using Gemini 2.5 Pro.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There are apps that have the features I deployed here, but not many that combine all of them in a single package with clean design.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here&#8217;s a link to the code, a &#8220;how to&#8221; guide and more screenshots of the personal notes web app: <a href="https://ax.lv/bw">https://ax.lv/bw</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This is the second app that I&#8217;ve designed with AI as the developer. It took a couple of days and several re-sets. I became more assertive with the AI and questioned its logic several times; it wasn&#8217;t a robotic exercise.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I used up about 600,000 tokens in Google AI Studio and learnt a few things along the way. Some of the specs:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Requires a Gmail account</li>



<li>Uses Google Sheets, Drive and Cloud Shell Editor</li>



<li>Notes can be up to 20,000 characters (about 3500 words)</li>



<li>Up to four attachments (20MB each)</li>
</ul>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/06/21/how-to-build-an-ai-powered-personal-notes-web-app/">How to build an AI-powered personal notes web app</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
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		<title>Federal Coalition should split</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2025/05/04/federal-coalition-should-split/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 May 2025 03:48:54 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1504</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The Liberal and National parties in Australia should end their Federal Coalition while in opposition for the Liberals to rebuild in capital cities.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/05/04/federal-coalition-should-split/">Federal Coalition should split</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Liberal and National parties in Australia should end their Federal Coalition while in opposition for the Liberals to rebuild in capital cities.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/coalition.mp3"></audio></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The votes have been counted, and while they&#8217;re still tallying some, the result is clear. It&#8217;s a significant victory for Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/17/labor-predicted-to-win-2025-australia-election/">predicted that Labor would return with an absolute majority</a>, but I didn&#8217;t anticipate the number of seats won or the boost in their primary vote.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I expected Labor to pick up four or five seats, at least two from the Greens, which happened. I thought they might lose one or two, possibly to the Liberals or an Independent.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Instead, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2025/results?sortBy=latest&amp;searchQuery=&amp;filter=all&amp;selectedRegion=all&amp;selectedParty=all&amp;partyWonBy=all&amp;partyHeldBy=all">Labor has acquired a substantial number of seats</a> across Australia. They&#8217;ve excelled in Tasmania and have gained seats in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Liberal Party has been reduced to about 45 or 46 seats in coalition with the Nationals. Around 14 or 15 of those will be Nationals members, leaving the rest as regional-based Liberals.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="695" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/nationals-1024x695.jpg" alt="Coalition split" class="wp-image-1503" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/nationals-1024x695.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/nationals-300x204.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/nationals-768x522.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/nationals.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>The Nationals did well in Bendigo, one of the few seats where they competed with the Liberals.</em></strong> <strong><em>Picture: Facebook</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This reduction highlights a significant issue for the Liberal Party, suggesting a need for the Coalition to split. Historically, until the mid-1980s, the parties often operated separately when in opposition, which had its benefits.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If separated, each could focus on appealing to their core constituencies and strengthening their brand. This especially holds for the National Party, which used to gain more media attention as an independent entity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Precedents for Coalition split</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Historically, even if operating separately pre-election, a partnership was reinstituted when forming a government. During the Menzies and McEwen years, this was notably effective.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Continuing the coalition risks skewing too far towards regional and outer metropolitan voters, more aligned with right-wing views.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Liberal Party is nearly wiped out in Australia&#8217;s major cities, barely holding seats in Melbourne, Sydney, and almost none in Perth and Adelaide. Their loss of appeal to middle Australia and professionals is evident.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">During the 2022 federal election, while working on independent candidate Jack Dempsey&#8217;s campaign in Hinkler, I observed support from educated, professional women, including doctors, who previously leaned Liberal.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These voters are now influenced by issues like climate change. The Liberal Party faces the challenge of winning back these votes, but a return to power in the near future seems unlikely.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Liberal Party needs to revisit its core values, representing aspiration and opportunity, instead of resembling a right-wing populist party akin to Donald Trump’s Republican style or the UK&#8217;s Reform Party.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To return to power, they must reclaim seats lost to Teal independents and strengthen their presence in outer Melbourne and Sydney suburbs.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">With only about 45 seats in a 150-member parliament, most being regional and peri-urban, the Liberal Party&#8217;s path to victory is unclear.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Additionally, they&#8217;ve lost a generation of talent from their moderate wing, and are dominated by more extreme right-wing influences, including climate change deniers in Queensland.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To recover, the Liberal Party should break away from the National Party, end the coalition, and rebuild their support in areas traditionally strong for them, such as the leafy suburbs of Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Historically, separation has been successful. In Victoria&#8217;s early 2000s, Peter Ryan split the National Party from the coalition to rebuild and reestablish the party as a standalone entity.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The primary complication of a coalition breakup would be in Queensland, where the parties merged years ago. I opposed this merger, believing in maintaining separate identities across Australia.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The merger occurred due to Fitzgerald Corruption Commission reforms, which shifted away from preferential voting, complicating the flow of preferences between the competing Liberal and Nationals Parties.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Now back to preferential voting in Queensland, seats are designated based on party allocation during the merger, leading to Liberals holding seats traditionally contested by Nationals.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A solution is necessary if the coalition splits. If resolved, the coalition&#8217;s breakup should empower both parties.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ultimately, returning to core values and winning back critical seats in major cities is vital for the Liberal Party to compete again effectively. A Coalition split will help them to achieve this.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/05/04/federal-coalition-should-split/">Federal Coalition should split</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
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		<title>Portarlington and Point Richards</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/25/portarlington-victoria/</link>
					<comments>https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/25/portarlington-victoria/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2025 02:44:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[audio]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1498</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula near Geelong is a lovely seaside village which has retained its heritage and environmental values.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/25/portarlington-victoria/">Portarlington and Point Richards</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/portarlington.mp3"></audio></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula near Geelong is a lovely seaside village which has retained its heritage and environmental values.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;ve started a new <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/14/house-sitting-australia/">housesitting gig</a>, coming from Metung on the Gippsland Lakes, to another seaside community.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The population at Portarlington is bigger than Metung, around 3200 people, but similar to Metung, the population swells over the holiday period and on weekends for that matter.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/portarlington-1024x768.jpg" alt="Portarlington foreshore" class="wp-image-1493" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/portarlington-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/portarlington-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/portarlington-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/portarlington-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/portarlington.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>The foreshore at Portarlington</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Bellarine Peninsula is a popular holiday destination in Victoria with towns like Point Lonsdale, Ocean Grove, and Queenscliff. Queenscliff is at the bottom end of the peninsula and not far by sea across to the other side of Port Phillip Bay to Rosebud and Sorrento.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Portarlington is a lovely little town. Its history dates back to 1850 when it was first surveyed. It&#8217;s believed to be named after the town of Port Arlington in Ireland given the number of Irish settlers who first became pioneers in this particular area.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="749" height="998" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/grand.jpg" alt="Grand Hotel, Portarlington" class="wp-image-1497" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/grand.jpg 749w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/grand-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>The historic Grand Hotel at Portarlington</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The town today is a lovely mix of old and new. The town centre has some quaint heritage buildings, a beautiful one being the Grand Hotel, which is four or five storeys high (correction three plus tower).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There are also lots of other historical buildings around the centre of the town. On the outskirts, there&#8217;s been significant residential and urban expansion. That&#8217;s to be expected in a lovely seaside area such as this, but it doesn&#8217;t appear to be overwhelming or expanding too much to the point where it might take away from the ambience and quaintness of Portarlington more generally.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I haven&#8217;t had a chance yet to explore much of the surrounding area, but there is lots to see and do on the Bellarine Peninsula, especially for people who like food and wine, cycling and walking, and sightseeing.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prc-1024x768.jpg" alt="Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve" class="wp-image-1495" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prc-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prc-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prc-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prc-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prc.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>The main entrance to the Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve and picnic area.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This morning, I did go to the Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve, and that&#8217;s an area of 62 hectares just on the edge of Portarlington that was set aside a number of years ago as a conservation area for the Southern Brown Bandicoot.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It&#8217;s one of the largest areas of remnant native vegetation and wetlands on the Bellarine Peninsula, and it&#8217;s great to see conservation efforts like this. This is practical environmentalism.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There&#8217;s about five kilometres or more of trails through the area that showcase different aspects of the native vegetation, including bird life, frogs when there&#8217;s been rain or during the winter.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today, I did a two and a half kilometre walk, and it was just delightful. I didn&#8217;t see another person there. There was overnight rain, which made the sand track fairly soft, but it was easygoing, flat all the way. And I felt I was really in the middle of nature, despite the fact that Portarlington housing could be seen just a kilometre away or even closer when I got to the edge of the track.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prb-1024x768.jpg" alt="Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve" class="wp-image-1496" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prb-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prb-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prb-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prb-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prb.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Part of the trail inside the Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There&#8217;s lots to see and do and explore around the Portarlington area, and I&#8217;m looking forward to doing that.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My housesitting is with a 14-year-old Cocker Spaniel dog named Chloe. She&#8217;s not too well, I&#8217;d say. She&#8217;s got some health conditions, and I&#8217;m giving her medication, but she&#8217;s a sweet, beautiful old dame of a dog.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">She has a lot of personality, and she&#8217;s just a lovely, sweet dog to care for.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;ll post more later on, after I&#8217;ve explored more of this beautiful area around Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula near Geelong.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>My <a href="https://travel.voicenotes.com/">travel audio blog is here</a></li>



<li>More on the <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-april-25-2025-33e8075">Point Richards walk</a></li>



<li>Previous blog post: <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/17/labor-predicted-to-win-2025-australia-election/">Labor in the box seat</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/25/portarlington-victoria/">Portarlington and Point Richards</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
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		<title>Labor in the box seat for 2025 Australia election</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/17/labor-predicted-to-win-2025-australia-election/</link>
					<comments>https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/17/labor-predicted-to-win-2025-australia-election/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:10:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[audio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1489</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>At the midpoint of the 2025 Australian Federal Election campaign, I'm predicting Labor will win with an absolute majority.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/17/labor-predicted-to-win-2025-australia-election/">Labor in the box seat for 2025 Australia election</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At the midpoint of the Australian Federal Election campaign, I&#8217;m predicting Labor will win with an absolute majority.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/midway.mp3"></audio></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A lot of the speculation before the campaign started was that we were heading for a minority government situation or even a possible coalition victory.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Labor government under Anthony Albanese has been a safe pair of hands. They haven&#8217;t been an inspiring government; they haven&#8217;t been a reform-driven government, but they&#8217;re a safe pair of hands on the tiller.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There is a lot of concern amongst Australians at the moment about the escalating cost of living and about the volatile world situation since Donald Trump became President of the United States and started signing off on dozens of executive orders, which are really changing the way that the world operates in terms of trade and international relations.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In that context, I think people are looking for stability. It&#8217;s a bit like during the COVID situation where all sitting governments were returned during state elections and the federal election during that period. What we&#8217;re seeing now, I think, is very similar in that sense that people, they don&#8217;t want change because change could make things worse than they already are, if that makes sense.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/albodut-1024x576.jpg" alt="Albanese and Dutton are competing to win the 2025 Australia election" class="wp-image-1488" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/albodut-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/albodut-300x169.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/albodut-768x432.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/albodut.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;ve been absolutely stunned by the Coalition&#8217;s poor campaigning so far at the 2025 Australia election, and Peter Dutton, the Opposition leader, comes across as being so negative.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Again, I don&#8217;t think people like negativity. I don&#8217;t have any sense that people are out there with baseball bats, so to speak, wanting to bash the Labor government and Labor MPs and Labor ministers.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I think Peter Dutton has totally misread the mood of the electorate. He needs to offer an alternative that is based on hope and aspiration, which are typical Liberal values.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He needs to define what the Liberal Party stands for. He needs to come up with policies that are going to make people feel more comfortable about their future in terms of economic security, the ability to have a comfortable retirement if they&#8217;re older folk, and the ability to buy a home and have security in the housing market, whatever age they are.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Coalition campaign mystifies</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So at this stage, I really can&#8217;t see the Liberal Party coming back into this contest. I&#8217;m also a bit mystified by their personalities that they&#8217;re using in the campaign. Every time you see Peter Dutton, he&#8217;s got one of the female MPs or senators behind him.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That&#8217;s Michaelia Cash, Sussan Ley, Bridget McKenzie or Jacinta Price. I don&#8217;t know why they&#8217;re rolling out the women apart from wanting to have gender equity, because none of those women, in my opinion, add anything to the substance of the campaign. They&#8217;re all lightweights politically and intellectually, and they&#8217;re risky.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I mean, we&#8217;ve already seen significant errors from Bridget McKenzie and Jacinta Price&#8217;s reckless use of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/13/image-emerges-of-jacinta-price-wearing-maga-cap-one-day-after-she-says-coalition-will-make-australia-great-again">Make Australia Great Again</a>, comparing it to Trump. It makes me wonder if the whole Coalition campaign has been undone by the Trump implosion.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Maybe they were actually tactically thinking that they would go to the electorate with a Trump-style agenda. And they knew fairly soon after the campaign started or when it was starting that that was a risky strategy because Trump was on the nose already with Australians more generally because of the trade tariffs.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The fact that America has a surplus with Australia in trade, but they&#8217;re still imposing a 10% tariff. That&#8217;s not the actions of a friend, which is what Anthony Albanese said. It&#8217;s the actions of a rival, of an enemy, and Trump has turned Australian-American relations into one of suspicion, doubt, and we should now be seeking an independent path forward.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Otherwise, we risk becoming like Canada or Ukraine, where we&#8217;re so dependent on our &#8220;friend&#8221; to protect us that we don&#8217;t have a plan B if things go awry.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I read an interesting story in the media today about John Curtin, who pivoted Australia from being reliant on Great Britain for defence and security to the United States during the Second World War, and he made a public statement to that effect. Apparently, it was only in his New Year&#8217;s message, but it got picked up by the media and it caused a big stir at the time. We&#8217;re talking in the 1940s.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The British were really annoyed because they counted Australia as their friend in their sphere of influence. And even the Americans weren&#8217;t happy with it. Apparently, the American president at the time said that it would not do Australia any credit to be trying to ingratiate itself to the United States because the USA had no interest in Australia.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Curtin has been lauded here for taking that strategic decision and it was obviously the right thing to do during the Second World War because Britain was fighting for survival against Nazi Germany and didn&#8217;t have the resources to send navy ships or troops to the Pacific arena.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">They got smashed in Singapore, which was a tactical error and that was their only throw of the dice in the Second World War, really, in the eastern sphere. Australia at that time needed to look to the United States for support and the United States needed Australia as a base and as an ally to fight the Japanese. So it was a mutually beneficial temporary arrangement.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I don&#8217;t think after that time that we should have become as close to the United States as we did. We could have still worked through the Commonwealth of Nations to perhaps turn that into a defence pact. America&#8217;s interests are always going to be America&#8217;s interests alone. We can&#8217;t trust America anymore to be a loyal friend and ally. Donald Trump has proved that absolutely.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I think Peter Dutton misread the mood of the electorate in relation to Trump; Jacinta Price certainly did. Whether she made an error or it was an accident, I don&#8217;t think so. I think she was parroting words that mean something to her, but are a turn-off for many Australian voters.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I can&#8217;t see Dutton coming back. I really can&#8217;t. The question now is who&#8217;s going to take over as Liberal leader after this election and hopefully, from their point of view, put them in a position to be a genuine threat to Labor&#8217;s dominance at the following election.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And again, I can&#8217;t see who it is. I can&#8217;t see anyone standing up in the Liberal Party immediately who is going to have that broad-church approach that John Howard had where he can unite the factions, he or she. And it&#8217;s a really sad state of affairs for the Liberal Party.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Anyhow, let&#8217;s wait and see. I might be wrong. There might be a big turnaround in the next couple of weeks until the 2025 Australia election. But the fact is that most Australians are going to be disengaged between now and 10 days time because we&#8217;ve got Easter coming up and we&#8217;ve got the Anzac Day weekend.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And then there&#8217;s only a short period left for the parties to cut through with the electorate.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/14/house-sitting-australia/">House sitting in Australia</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/17/labor-predicted-to-win-2025-australia-election/">Labor in the box seat for 2025 Australia election</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
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		<title>House sitting in Australia</title>
		<link>https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/14/house-sitting-australia/</link>
					<comments>https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/14/house-sitting-australia/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2025 05:40:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[audio]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://gorey.com.au/?p=1481</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to my guide on house sitting in Australia, how to get started and how to find a dream house in an idyllic location.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/14/house-sitting-australia/">House sitting in Australia</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Welcome to my guide on house sitting in Australia, how to get started and how to find a dream house in an idyllic location.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/housesitting.mp3"></audio></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;m currently house sitting at Metung on the beautiful Gippsland Lakes in eastern Victoria, Australia. I&#8217;m looking out the office window across to part of the lakes and there&#8217;s a marina directly in front of me and bushland behind me. It&#8217;s a beautiful setting.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So the pros and cons of house sitting. Starting from the owner&#8217;s point of view, it&#8217;s great for them to have a reliable person staying in their home and looking after their pets while they&#8217;re traveling, whether it&#8217;s just a few days or whether it&#8217;s a few months going overseas.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It means that they can have peace of mind when it comes to the safety and security of their home and the wellbeing of their pets and other odd jobs as well.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For some of the people that I&#8217;ve been sitting for, I&#8217;ve actually helped them with little chores like driving them to the railway station to start their journey or delivering an item to somewhere across town and also receiving parcels on their behalf and putting them away securely for them.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/metungw-1024x768.jpg" alt="Metung on the Gippsland Lakes" class="wp-image-1480" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/metungw-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/metungw-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/metungw-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/metungw.jpg 1400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em><strong>Metung on the Gippsland Lakes, eastern Victoria, Australia, where I&#8217;ve been house sitting.</strong></em></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">From a house owner&#8217;s point of view, there are quite a few advantages to it and I think especially with the pets because some of them can be quite insecure and they prefer to be in their home environment rather than being in a kennel or staying with people that they may not see that often.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There are significant benefits for the house sitter. I&#8217;ve been on four different sits now with different owners and I&#8217;ve enjoyed them all.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">They&#8217;ve all been slightly different but some of those advantages include obviously the travel because I&#8217;ve been to diverse places like Wangaratta in northern Victoria, Bendigo in central Victoria, Hobart in Tasmania and now at Metung on the Gippsland Lakes. Quite a few years back I also did some house sitting in Canberra.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It&#8217;s a great way to travel to get around and see, in this case, different parts of Australia. It&#8217;s very inexpensive. The general arrangement with house sitting is that you don&#8217;t pay anything for accommodation. You only pay for your own food and you only pay for your own transport to get to where you&#8217;re going.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In most cases for me, that&#8217;s been petrol money to travel somewhere in Victoria. Although when I went to Hobart, obviously it&#8217;s across Bass Strait, so I caught a Qantas flight over there using Qantas points so I was able to minimise the expense of the travel. And I suppose for me, it&#8217;s just a great way to experience new places at an affordable price level.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/marley-1024x768.jpg" alt="Bob and Marley in Metung" class="wp-image-1486" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/marley-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/marley-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/marley-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/marley.jpg 1400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Bob and Marley in Metung.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Currently where I am at Metung is a holiday resort and it&#8217;s going to be absolutely packed over the Easter period. Most of the houses here are holiday homes with people only staying there occasionally or owners letting them out as Air BNBs.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For much of the year, especially through winter, it would be fairly quiet here with just the permanent population which is around 1500. But at times like Easter and Christmas and summer holidays, it&#8217;s a really thriving place and there&#8217;s no way that I&#8217;d be able to afford to stay here at this time of year normally.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;d imagine that getting any sort of accommodation in Metung over the Easter period would cost around $300 a night. I&#8217;m staying in a four-bedroom home that has two bathrooms and all the facilities that I could need. The utilities and the internet are included as part of the house sitting arrangement and that&#8217;s pretty standard everywhere you go.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This place, in fact, is really two homes. Downstairs is a self-contained apartment that&#8217;s got two bedrooms, a bathroom, and its own laundry and a little kitchenette. Upstairs is the main living area, the main two bedrooms, and the main bathroom. And also the spectacular views across the Gippsland Lakes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The first place that I went to in Wangaratta was a heritage home. It was very well maintained. It was very close to the Ovens River.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/lucy-1024x768.jpg" alt="Lucy the Cavoodle in Wangaratta" class="wp-image-1485" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/lucy-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/lucy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/lucy-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/lucy.jpg 1400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Lucy the Cavoodle in Wangaratta.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Not many people would think about going to Wangaratta for a house sit, but I can highly recommend it. I used to live in northeast Victoria at Porepunkah near Bright and there&#8217;s a lot to see and do within a 50 to 100 kilometre radius of Wangaratta.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I went back to Bright. I went up to the Murray River. I took my electric scooter and went along parts of the Rail Trail around places like Wahgunyah near Corowa and also across at Beechworth. I was looking after a two-year-old Cavoodle who was an energetic little pup named Lucy. She had a lot of personality, she loved to go for long walks, and we had a lot of fun together.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My second house sit was at Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, and it was a beautiful home that was overlooking the Derwent River. Again, it would be so expensive to hire or rent a home like that for a short-term period, and I was very privileged to be there.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was close to Wrest Point Casino in the suburb of Sandy Bay, not far from the historical area of Sandy Bay, close to Battery Point. It was a walk into the CBD of Hobart or a short bus trip.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I didn&#8217;t have a car for that trip, although the owners offered it to me. I just walked around the place getting lots and lots of steps in, and sometimes I hired an electric scooter if I needed to go to the supermarket or somewhere like that.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="782" height="1024" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/barty-782x1024.jpg" alt="Barty in Hobart" class="wp-image-1484" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/barty-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/barty-229x300.jpg 229w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/barty-768x1005.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/barty-1173x1536.jpg 1173w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/barty.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 782px) 100vw, 782px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Barty in Hobart, after climbing up Mount Nelson.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I was looking after a bigger English Sheepdog style of dog (Barty), who was a little bit nervous at the beginning, had some anxiety issues, but I looked up how to handle that on Google, of course, as you do, and within two days we were really close mates and did a lot of walks together, probably more than it had done previously with its elderly owners.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In fact, we did a five-kilometre walk one day up to Mount Nelson, which is an observatory at the back of Sandy Point, the suburb that I was staying in.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;ve done two house sits in Bendigo at the same place. The first time was just after Christmas, looking after their cat while they went up to northern New South Wales to see one of the owner&#8217;s parents up there, and Basil the cat was a real good companion as well.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/basil-1024x768.jpg" alt="Basil the cat" class="wp-image-1483" srcset="https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/basil-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/basil-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/basil-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gorey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/basil.jpg 1400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Basil the cat in Bendigo, sitting on my computer bag.</em></strong></figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He was actually sick at the time and he has since passed away, but I got to see the best of him in the last weeks of his life and he followed me around the house, slept on the bed with me, as the other two dogs did actually, and again we had a really good time together.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bendigo is a good place for me to do house sitting because I have two of my children there. It means that I don&#8217;t need to stay with my son in his little unit.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We can both have our own space and this house, again, was a heritage home, heritage listed in fact, in a gorgeous part of Golden Square close to the Bendigo CBD and close to pubs and cafes and walking trails.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And here in Metung, I&#8217;ve touched on that, beautiful views, very exclusive tourist resort style accommodation here, and it&#8217;s just a great place to be at the tail end of the summer when the temperatures are still quite warm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to go house sitting in Australia</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, how does one get to do house sitting? There are several different websites, in Australia at least, where people can sign up. I&#8217;m with <a href="https://www.aussiehousesitters.com.au/">Aussie House Sitters</a>. So, you go onto that site, you register, create a profile, pay a membership fee if you want to apply for sitting, otherwise it&#8217;s free to search. The membership is around $60.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When searching, you can enter your preferred dates and locations if you want to. That&#8217;s not required, but it helps if you&#8217;re on a schedule or there&#8217;s somewhere particular that you want to go. And when you find a place that you think you&#8217;d like, you can send a message to the owners and start the conversation.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tell them why you&#8217;re a good house sitter, what your personal circumstances are, and why you&#8217;re motivated to apply for their particular property. Make it friendly, genial, and be prepared to answer any questions that they may have and ask your own questions as well.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I think the hardest part about getting into house sitting is doing the first one or two, because you really need references from other house sitters for your potential application to be considered. And I managed to get that first house sitting done in Canberra, and the second one in Wangaratta, where I got a really good reference.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I think one of the tricks to that is to apply for places that are closing in on their deadline for dates, so they&#8217;re getting fairly desperate for someone to sit for them, and perhaps look at areas that aren&#8217;t as touristy or as popular as others.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For me, Wangaratta is a good place to base myself, as I said before, because it&#8217;s close to a lot of different interesting places, but it&#8217;s probably not top of the list for many people.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Don&#8217;t necessarily expect to get your first house sit on the Mornington Peninsula or somewhere along the coast. Perhaps look at outer suburbs or regional towns, just to get the first one or two done. Then you get some references on the board, and that helps you to apply for others later on.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That&#8217;s my comments on house sitting. I think it&#8217;s a really good lifestyle. There are benefits in it for both the owners and the sitters. It&#8217;s a win-win situation.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It&#8217;s a great thing to do if you&#8217;re at a stage of life where you want to travel inexpensively, go to different places, experience new things and you&#8217;re fairly flexible about where you go and what you do.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If there are any questions, please let me know.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/13/support-older-home-buyers/">Australia needs to support older home buyers</a></li>
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<p>The post <a href="https://gorey.com.au/2025/04/14/house-sitting-australia/">House sitting in Australia</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gorey.com.au">Michael Gorey</a>.</p>
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