Dictionary day again.  As usual I closed my eyes and spun the dictionary this way and that, until I did not know if the book was upside down or what.  Turned out it was upside down.  My finger fell onto the word “qualification.”
As is my custom I think about that word and any relevance it has to my experience.  I guess my senior certificate is a qualification.  (I did go to uni briefly but the best part of it for me was the salmon sandwiches served at the canteen.  I loved em.  I do remember telling my neighbour across the road I was doing an Arts course.  He had run a pub for decades and declared Arts degrees worth about two bob.  Ok maybe but two bob was worth a lot more back then). 
Other of my qualifications include a “Diploma in Christian Ministries”.  Also my “Cert 4 in Project Management.”  I so wanted to give up when doing that one, but the guy in charge persuaded me to continue.  I did and I am glad I did.
My Senior certificate got me into working at the Queensland Institute of Technology. (QUT)  My first job was distributing the mail in the library.  From that my love of stamps was born.  I would collect all the world stamps for someone I knew wanted them.  He ended up selling me his collection for almost nothing as he had been collecting them for his son who unfortunately passed away in a hang gliding accident.  That was when I first appreciated how pretty British stamps were (I was used to seeing monarchs only) and my most cherished stamps are ones he obtained when he was a soldier in Germany in the second world war.
But any way what I really like about qualifications is how the University of the Third Age seems to do it.  A person is deemed qualified if they have an interest in a topic and which has often led to the being an expert in a subject.
In many cases it seems that to teach, one only needs to know more than those participating.  Naturally no one gets an official qualification from doing such a course, but it really focuses the one in charge and opens up a whole world to those participating.
I reckon both sorts of qualifications are useful but for everyday people what the uni of the third age seems to do is a great way of teaching and learning about things that interest.
I am big time in favour of that.  Everyone has personal interests and sharing with like minded people is a way for friendship and growth.

I was thinking about the saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover.”  It occurred to me how often I make judgements based on what I see.  It is true that first impressions count but often the truth of a matter is more complicated than it first appears.
There is a saying I like that says, “man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart.”  It seems to me sometimes the roughest diamonds have the softest hearts.  I remember someone writing that no matter how tough a person appears, they generally will always answer a disconnected phone handed to them by a child saying “it’s for you.”
There was an ad I saw that was a promotion of a program that said, “there is good in bad people and bad in good people.”  I happen to think that is true.  It is one of the reasons I will get to know someone before either writing them off as an influence in my life or embracing them.  But even if I do not embrace, I will attempt to love.
The thing is, when I choose to embrace it is a “warts and all” thing for me as well as for them.  I honestly can put up with a lot when I feel someone has a good heart.  They may struggle and can even regularly blow it but to me what counts is a good honest heart.
Everyone blows it.  I am not perfect as is no one I have physically met.  It does not matter to me how often a person gets it right.  All get it wrong from time to time.  It is a part of being human.
I have said it often that the only mistake is not learning and moving on.  Just because I or anyone makes mistakes, a good heart will always learn and move on.  I have found from experience sometimes the learning takes longer than I would like but the bottom line for me is the trying, the learning and the moving on.
I say it every time and it is true for me that in all circumstances I need help.  Wanting something alone does not guarantee it happening.  Sometimes something seems like a bridge too far but always if it is supposed to be it will happen.  Maybe not according to my time frame but it will happen.

As indicated previously there is generally one day per month I do not post.  Not always, but generally.  Yesterday was such a day.  We had a get together of guys we call Menzone.
For me it generally means getting up early to ensure all is prepared for the get together.  I have generally spent time Friday getting the sausages, bacon and onions ready to cook.  The cooking is dine by a friend and I am really grateful for it.  Merril cooks up eggs and I am grateful for that too.
I did not sleep real good Friday night so I started what I had to do super early.  When I checked the time it was after 6am and the guy that cooks had not arrived.  Turned out he had set his alarm incorrectly and he arrived soon after I had started cooking.
We had a couple of guys turn up super early (like 6.30).  That was good as we had a chance to all chat.  Another guy who had never been got lost.  He arrived super late.
It was actually a good turn out as it rained a lot at start time (7am).  There was no rain when we finished but the weather was incredibly iffy.
The same thing happened this time as last.  We finished and no one wanted to leave!  That is great but this time Merril and I were having a book fest.  We had set up most the books on the Friday night and the fest was due to start at 9.30.  Merril and I ade it down there though Merril went to Aldi first as there was a garden item we wanted on sale.
We ended up having people through and gave away 3 crates of books.  The rest we took to life line and I am sure most of them will be a part of their book fest. (which is great as last time they had told me they were not taking any more books.  I was actually pleased we kept them for a bit as there ware a number of titles Merril and I added to our collection)
After that I set up N3C for the Sunday service and after the visit to life line I was cactus.  It was a great day and I was pleased to vege in the evening.