MERRY CHRISTMAS HO HO HO
Post 59 - Wednesday December 24th, 2025
Christmas is many things to many people. After 71 years of living and now heading into another Christmas I guess I have seen it all. During my life I have experienced the highs and lows, the joy of Christmas, the magic of the season, starting as a kid in Barmera, the fun, laughter, family, friends and with that I have also endured the hardships and loneliness this time of year can and does sadly bring.
We remember Christmas times past, the times spent across the different years both good and not so good, we remember the family and friends who are no longer with us, it all seems to be such a unique time with emotions and memories as we get older and have life experience to look back over. Memories of Christmas seem to be around forever, never forgotten.
In 2025, for those with the Christmas spirit, enjoy, have fun, have a great day and for those doing in hard, I will be thinking of you. However you do or do not celebrate tomorrow, be safe.
For me this Christmas will not be one to celebrate. Tomorrow will be a day to manage, survive and get through, to make it to the next day. It is that simple, tomorrow has to happen, hey, it's Christmas but I will be well pleased when the day passes. It will be a long day, tough and probably emotionally difficult, lots of tears and lots of regrets, many memories, many many what ifs? But I will survive, this too will pass, it always does.
Unfortunately, my life is tinkering on edge right now, that is not a cry for help type tinkering, it is just fact. Things are not easy, health is just full on awkward, pain, ever day the challenges get more pronounced and some days it is just too much. Physically I feel battered, cognitively I am doing as ok as possible, because I know I have to push on. Depression is real at times, severe depression, but that's not new so I can mostly work through it. Not easy but I can deal with the depression. I sort of have to; otherwise, it can cripple the mind very quickly if left.
With health not being ok for the main part, the challenges remain and at times, as said, get worse but really given the physical health issues and cognitive issues that have plagued me, I am in a spot that I can manage. Look, I don't thrive, far from it, but I have learned through strategies to cope and be as safe and consistent as possible. Well, that's my story and I will stick to it. Sometimes I bluff my way through, yeah, sometimes it is easier that way.
However, with that noted, life has taken an awkward turn. Moving to the unit in Ballarat after the 10-months off-grid at Camp Recluse on Green Hill Lake in Ararat was supposed to be a time to shine. Sadly, that never happened. I didn't settle, it was day to day tough, nothing wrong with the unit, it was wrong for me. Being locked away was very difficult, and sadly I am not in the head space to have been tucked away pinning in that unit.
The neighbourhood on Marigold Street was ok, the shops were close, it was an easily accessible spot, but I never really felt like it was my home. I reckon I tried, shipped all my personal things over from South Australia, made a garden, had the place looking good, had a few visitors who helped the settling process, but I felt like an intruder in the unit. An intruder in what was meant to be my own home. Sadly, I never found my mojo there.
So, in a bold and probably risky move, I have moved to Lake Burrumbeet and again have set up living off grid. Been here a month, can't say it's easy, because it isn't but I do feel free. I am back living under the stars, in nature and relaxing by doing things at my pace. I am coping much better.
Lake Burrumbeet where I have settled is about 20km from Ballarat, it is somewhat isolated but this being a busy holiday time then there are plenty of campers in the grounds. I have settled here so feel like I am in the right spot for me for now.
I am here on my own, Ruth stayed on at the unit, we have headed in separate directions. She needed some stability, and the unit works for her. On that situation, I have some thoughts but here is not the time or place to share those thoughts.
Being out here is a risk as said. But I feel being on my own means I only have to be responsible for me, my way. I don't get to be a burden to anyone on a daily basis, that is a plus, so on my own I just have me to annoy, to answer to, to be frustrated with, me, on my own away from anyone and everyone. That is what this has become.
The traps here at my camp are many, falls as example can be difficult, I am older and prone to falls, coupled with my cognitive issues then falls do happen. Sometimes just a stumble, other times full on. I get tangled in walking, my feet don't always go in the direction intended or I trip on things that are either there or not there, and if I fall hard then sometimes that causes trouble. I am on my own. But I bounce up like a gazelle, ok a wounded old, an injured unwell gazelle but I do get moving again.
With my health I am pushing the boundaries being out here I guess, with the cognitive problems it could turn nasty at any time. But I am hoping I have enough smarts, enough strategies in place to work through most issues that present. Like walking is a good example, I have worked out to place markers as I head out away from camp so that my return trip is easy just following the markers I left. As the Meerkat on the TV ad would say, Simples.
Cooking at Camp Beet is minimal, I am using the gas stove and burners and so far, so good. I have built a fire pit but have not been tempted to make a fire, it is Summer so do not need the warmth from a campfire. Making coffee is fine, I have that down pat, have cooked a few meals but very basic like snags, or warmed up can food.
I am medically not allowed to drive of course so this place is definitely tricky, being here with no transport is not ideal. I have been going into the unit with Ruth one day a week, have a shower, do my washing, fill my water containers and then shopping for what I need. Oh, and last week the doctor so some things have been a touch structured, which works well.
Ruth is still doing my meds, looking after the scripts, collecting them from the chemist and sorting into daily packs. Not sure how I will go doing that on my own if I required, short term in the past when needed I have handled ok but long term, yeah, not sure. I get the meds wrong sometimes, well, not really wrong, I simply forget to take them at scheduled times, I think I am at about 60% productive in what I remember to take. Again, not perfect but that's as good as I can manage. No big drama, it is what it is, and I do my best.
Pain is chronic, I live on pain medication, on heart pills, piss pills, all kinds of pills. It is ridiculous that anyone can be prescribed so many pills, yet here I am playing the game and not only filling scripts but taking a shit load of pills every day, every day, er, when I remember of course.
Very few people can understand chronic pain if it is not something they experience. Sure, they sympathise but over time it gets too hard, and they find it difficult to be around someone who's whole life is pain structured. Because this sort of chronic pain knows no boundaries, for me with multiple underlying medical conditions resulting in so much pain in many areas, my life is tough on many fronts. Pain is pain. Damn.
Even with family and friends it seems if you don't get better, in their opinion it looks to be you are not trying to help yourself. They get frustrated if your pain is constant, if it restricts your ability to be out and about as you once were. There thought is that there must be something you can do, something to help yourself. And that is really awkward, do you go against your own better judgement knowing the pain is very real, constant and for the most part debilitating? Or do you bend and roll over to appease? A tough spot to be in. I have done both, gone in both directions.
Taking pain medication is addictive, that is a certainty but knowing that it means I try to hold on to some control for myself in how I cope, this is a must for me. Physiologically it is imperative to feel like I have some pain relief control with management, it helps me survive and stay afloat. I do this my way, sometimes I won't take extra meds for pain and that upsets some so maybe being here on my own is a really good place to be. I hate all the pain, I hate all the medication, sometimes I just want to say enough of the pills, I want the relief but not the addiction that comes with the pain pills.
Now, further issues. After my heart attacks and cardiac arrest in November 2018 things changed rather dramatically. To this day the fallout from that November night when I died twice has been significant.
My heart goes ok, chest pain and an awkward Atrial Fibrillation are the two main issue I am stuck with but fluid retention has and is a real drag. The AF happens anywhere up to a few times a day, or sometimes it doesn't manifest all day. It is scary in that the heart races at uncontrollably speed, the heart rate has reached 120+ but when settled it sits in the mid 50's range.
I have a smart watch that is my GPS tracker and falls alert, but it also has a heart rate monitor, maybe it is not 100% accurate but I use it sometimes when I know my heart is in AT.
The fluid retention is a real bummer, worse some days than others. I take three pee tablets a day and that does help, but on the warmer days in particular the fluid build-up is very high, it gets painful. And having the bladder cancer surgery in November 2023 means the lymph nodes that were removed as part of that surgery from my left leg add to the fluid problems and that cause significant pain and much discomfort in my thigh and groin area. It can be really debilitating on some days, manageable on others.
Hygiene with my stoma and piddle bag is an issue here at camp, I need to be fully aware of how to get things right. The overnight pee bag needs daily cleaning, Ruth taught me well so I think I am on top of that, changing the stoma bag itself I can do on my own, is not easy to line up the new connection on my stomach but it is manageable. And I do think I can work around my forgetfulness and cognitive crap to make sure I prevent stoma infection.
Nothing gets easier but over time it does get ok, sort of. Pain is BS, meds help, no doubt about that, I even have pain patch with a slow opioid release, my GP monitors the opioid patches closely and I trust his advice on how to proceed. Dr T is a pain management GP so he has plenty of knowledge and thoughts, he is a good bloke to have in my corner.
Well, that's my Christmas 2025 blog post completed, a lifestyle and health upgrade, thanks for reading, I always appreciate each and every one of you. And for the record, approaching 49,000 views on my JonnyG Remembers blog, so again, thanks for reading and being a part of my journey. Leave a message if you see fit.
Writing this blog has been a blessing, it means I have a recorded history of how things roll. But with that said, in recent months it felt like a chore to sit and write hence no posts since mid August. But I am back in nature, off-grid and feeling more settled so hopefully I will find the buzz of writing and add more to the blog. It is great therapy normally to sit and write.
Ok, that's done, but as I always do, I will leave you with a JonnyG Christmas funny.
What is the difference between Snowmen and Snowwomen? Snowballs
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE - GO CATS
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Life at a glance
A pictorial and commentary history of how things roll these days
Since my last post I have had a birthday, on November 26th I turned 71 ... as my dear Uncle Lance would say, for some reason I have a birthday on this date every year, mmmmmmmmm, yeah, I know right? ... anyhow, it was a good day, kept it quiet, no fanfare at all, Ruth and I went to All You Can Eat Pizza Hut in Ballarat, seems to be our go to place to celebrate it seems ...
But the place never disappoints, and this was another good visit ... we had lunch there, ate way too much pizza but that is the idea of the place, even had chocolate mousse for desert. ...
Ruth did a cake for later, well, lamingtons in wrapping, with a candle, but they all disappeared so guess they were a hit ... and I guess in the traditions of birthdays the candle was significant, because at 71 I reckon the single candle was enough, it's not easy to work up a huff and puff at this age.
And the hospital pic was November 20th, that day I had an echocardiogram at the Ballarat Base Hospital. My Cardiologist is based there, and the test was to check on some heart irregularities I have and to check that the ticker is not blocked again.
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Camp Beet at Lake Burrumbeet Ballarat in Victoria
Moved out here on November 28th, Ruth did two trips to get everything here, we had toured the campground the day before to select the best site ... once unpacked setting up was a work in progress, bit by bit the camp took shape, we worked on the tents on day one to at least get shelter sorted and from there I did things over two days ...
My camp is comfortable, set my way, it is compact but feels good, feels safe ... rain and wind has been a constant problem in the first month, a couple of very wet nights and days, lots of wind off the lake and also from the south off the paddocks to the back, but I have built to be safe and to survive the elements ... also some stinking hot summer days, but I have plenty of shade, I structured to have the sun be minimally invasive, and I have a good solar panel network and a new lithium battery that stores power for up to 48 hours, so my fridge runs constant ...
Ah, the obligatory off grid camp garden, Green Thumb John couldn't help but have a garden, just sunflowers and a mix of seeds at the minute, but it will happen ... water from the lake so no worries in the heat, just have to carry it back to camp from the water edge, maybe 150 metres so easy peezy ... but now Camp Beet has a garden at the back of the tent site, cool ...
This place has much to offer, the lake is big, stretcher for yonks, the water is not the best, it is not for drinking, but there are fish apparently, and the wild life is stunning, birds of numerous varieties and the best is the swarms of pelicans that come in at different times following the schools of fish and they all have a decent feed, that is a sight to behold ... and I have the usual bird life menagerie including magpies, crows, butcher birds, sparrows, some little blue wrens, willie wagtails, cockatoos, parrots and as shown above, a pair of Major Mitchell's who come for a morning and evening feed ... and rabbits, plenty of them all around, mmmmmmm rabbit stew??? ... seriously though, it is so good here, I am so lucky to have nature as my back yard, ah, the serenity ...
And possums, yes to the possums, so good to have them at the camp ... from the first night they came to visit, over the next few weeks the numbers of nightly visitors have grown, but I reckon three of them have been regulars since that first night, or at least the first few nights ... Uno, Dos and Tres were the first three possums who realised that a feed was on offer each night and now they look for the food, the possums here seem to like being fed on the ground unlike the Green Hill Lake possums who really liked the tree feeding platforms ...
Food here at Camp Beet has been basic, with my cognitive BS it means I need to be careful if cooking, so yeah, basic food ... cereal for breakfast, salad on the warmer days, some frozen packet helpings like fish on the days I shop, snags are always a good fall back, tin food, tin fruit, fresh apples and bananas, eggs boiled and fried, toast, cup of soup mix, crackers and topping are a good snack, anything that is easy and won't cause an issue if I use the gas and get things wrong ...
And one of the amazing nature happenings here at Camp Beet, Kookaburras ... yes, I have a pair of them who sit in the tree just meters from the camp and call loudly with their instantly recognisable sound, it is so cool ... they do feed, sometimes, but only take meat, no seed or other offerings ... they don't usually sit for long but it brightens the day when they visit ...
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HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY JACOB EDWIN GREEN
My youngest son Jake turned 21 on December 17th ... Jake was born at Flinders Medical Centre in 2004 and as he was rather prem his first nights were on the high dependance ward, he survived fine but it was a tough start to life ... Jake was always a special kid, loved by everyone, fierce, determined, a touch shy but he did well and then in 2014 he disappeared from my life, such a sad time, a very hard decade and a bit has followed ... so Jake, trust you had a great day, thinking of you as I always do, stay strong little man, be safe ...
Jacob Edwin Green, my boy, my little man ... top pic, with Bradley James and Mitchell Thomas in September 2013, Bradley had just played in a winning footy premiership for Adelaide Uni - and Jake the surfer dude, at Lake Bonney in Barmera 2012, Jake was a real water babe, he loved the ocean and the lake ...
To view my Facebook post from December 17th, click the link below ...
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY VERONICA JOAN LINGER
And today my loved older sister Veronica has a birthday December 24th, she would be 81, sadly Veronica passed away in October 2020 ... Veronica, on days like this we remember you extra fondly, we miss you and hold you in a dear spot in our hearts, you left us a bit soon sadly and now we have just memories ...
Veronica was born in Adelaide on December 24th, 1944, she grew up in Barmera, married Joff Linger in 1963 and as a young married couple moved to Tasmania to live, Joff was a Tassie boy. They had four kids, Jacqui, Paula, Alan and Jodie. After more than 20 years in Tasmania they sold up and moved home to Barmera.
The pics below are a young Veronica; she did most of her primary school years at St Joseph's Convent School in Barmera. The pics are very special, very special indeed.
The Green Family, together at Jan's home, John, Jimmy, Joan, Veronica, Rod and Jan at Mum's 90th birthday celebration in Barmera on July 22nd, 2012. Very sadly Mum passed away on August 4th that same year, so this family pic is the last we ever had the chance to take. To all of us it holds great importance, it is a treasured pic of a treasured day and remains dear in our memory. Mum, Dad and Veronica are sadly all now missing from our life.
The pic above is my two sisters Veronica and Jan, taken in Barmera in 2014 at Jan and Peter's then home on Nookamka Terrace ... this is a special pic for so many reasons, it is a cherished family memory.
Below is a unique family shot, it shows five generations of family ... my Mum, Joan Green, her daughter Veronica Linger, her daughter Jacqui Linger, her daughter Krysten Horsell and her son Jordyn Horsell, taken in 2006 in Barmera at 132 Nookamka Terrace, the Green Family home ... and very very sadly, Mum, Veronica and Jacqui are all no longer with us ...
Some more pics from the family album, all special in every way and all carry significant memories ... above, John, Mum and Veronica in the Green family lounge room at 132 Nookamka Terrace in Barmera on Saturday July 21st 2012, it was Mum's 90th birthday, as we now know Mum passed away, unexpected just 14 days later ... and then with Dad on his 90th birthday in Barmera at Bonney Lodge on September 27th 2018, John, Jan, Veronica and Joff and Dad in the front ...
Now, this collage is a mixed bag of characters and times across life ... Veronica and John at the Barmera Football Club in 1987 having a few, well, you know, a few froffies ... then my cousin and lifelong mate John 'Hopper' Danvers with Veronica in Tasmania at Jacquie's wedding to Rodney in 1983 ... still in Tasmania, Joff, Hopper and Veronica in Penguin celebrating Hoppers 21st birthday, and OMG was that some birthday celebration, always remembered and yep, what a fun day ... and finally, Veronica with Jacqui in Tassie after they had moved there in 1963 ...
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DAVID LAWRENCE VERRALL
23rd May 1951 - 26th October 2025
Aged 74 years
Loved and loving wife of Rhonda
Dearly loved father and father-in-law of Kirstie and Sean, Megan and Brett
Proud and adored pappa to Jacob, Mitchell and Ruby
Since my last post, Dave Verrall, a really decent bloke and true friend sadly passed away in Murray Bridge Hospital on October 26th after a long battle with multiple myeloma. Dave was a Paruna boy from a very early age, he had the most amazing life, he made it big in the music world and his songs and live entertaining gave pleasure to so many across almost six decades.
Dave was Loxton based and across so many Riverland venues he entertained, he was always the best, his songs and music a highlight. Dave performed at events all over South Australia and around the country including Tamworth. He was a part of the group The Black Hats and together they made a name for themselves in the SA and Aussie country music scene. With his music, Dave put joy and happiness into the life of so many. And Dave was a gem of a bloke. Fly free David Lawrence Verrall, we will all miss you.
Dave married Rhonda in 1972 and as a couple their life was happy, tragic, full on, adventurous and it's fair to say they made a go of things ... with their daughters and grandkids the Verrall family made life for living, they succeeded in doing the best they could, and the journey was an achievement with music being their core connection ...
Dave was farewelled at a memorial service in Murray Bridge on Friday November 14th ... the memorial was packed, family and friends from across his life gathered to pay tribute to a great Aussie bloke. The memorial was one of the very best, those who spoke talked about Dave from their heart, clearly, he had touched so many with his life, he was farewelled with great respect and honour. And there was music, of course, that would have made Dave very happy.
My history with the Verrall family is 52 years, for those who know, it started with a tragedy and across the decades the Verrall family was linked to my soul, Graham and Richard Verrall at 18 and 11 were tragically killed in an accident I was a part of at Paruna at 11-57am on November 11th 1973 ... then an unscripted chance meeting with Dave and Rhonda at Paruna on November 11th 2023 - 50 years to the exact hour after that tragedy was one amazing moment in time, it allowed us the chance to chat about how things were for the Verrall family and for me across all the years, it was the greatest gift, a blessing.
And Dave cared, he really did, in a respectful and deep way and he did all he could to help me work through a lifetime of issues around that 1973 accident and find a connection back to the Verrall family. So Dave, thank-you my friend, you were a great mate for what you did, you always had my best interests at heart, you were always thoughtful, always encouraging and mate, your passing hit hard and I know I lost a good friend.
The memorial service for Dave was at the Murray Bridge racecourse ...
This post for Dave Verrall is from Facebook, it was published on Monday October 27th, 2025, the post had 521 likes, 108 comments and 37 shares ... to view, click the link below ...
Riverland of South Australia Observations, History and Nature | Very sad news this morning, Riverland music legend Dave Verrall passed away yesterday in Murray Bridge .. | Facebook
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KEVIN KEITH 'KNOCKY' HEINICKE
Passed away with Pino by his side on the 19th December 2025 after a short battle with cancer.
Ex RAAF leading aircraftman A4829 and mechanic for Spriggs Brothers.
As a life member of the Barmera Monash Football Club he always spoke proudly of his Monash, Berri and Barmera Monash football days.
A man with an amazing amount of local history knowledge who had a great love of camping, fishing and yabbying.
Surrogate Uncle to his Pino (Lynette) and Stephen.
Will be greatly missed by them both and their families.
Gone camping.
Privately cremated - There will be a Wake held at the Barmera Club on Sunday, 28th December at 2.30pm for those who would like to attend.
The words above are copied as copied from Riverland Funerals Facebook page.
Knocky was a great bloke, remember him very well from his days at Sprigg Bros up on Sturt Street in Barmera as a mechanic. He was a Barmera and Riverland footy legend, a great Barmera Monash Football Club administrator including being club president in 1969 and he was awarded Life Membership in 1967 ... and in an era with blokes like Ozzie Campbell, Kevin Danvers, Jimmy Green, Neville Wright, Roy Baird, Choke Hermanson, Brian Kinnear and throw in Wendy Klingbiel they steered the BMFC to off-field greatness ...
And Knocky is from a great local Barmera family ... He was a great mate to my Dad Jimmy Green, they worked together for many years on footy admin and their friendship was based on mutual respect and a shared value of community spirit and pride. Socially, they thrived.
The Barmera Monash A Grade Football team from 1969, Knocky Heinicke is in the front row on the left, he was club president in this year. The pic is taken at the Lakesdie Oval in Barmera. Alby Yeo was coach.
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CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND CAROLS
And Christmas has its own music, carols and some traditional songs that only surface at this time of year. A couple of my favourites can be heard by clicking the links below ...
Blue Christmas - Elvis with Martina McBride
Bing Videos
Johnny Cash - Little Drummer Boy
Bing Videos
Brenda Lee - Rockin around the Christmas Tree
Bing Videos
Daniel O'Donnell - Silent Night
Daniel O'Donnell - Silent Night (Filmed live at The Point, Dublin 1996)
Patsy Biscoe - Hippopotamus for Christmas
Bing Videos
Burl Ives - Holly Jolly Christmas
Bing Videos
Judith Durham - Live at Carols at the Domain 1991 - various
Bing Videos
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