Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Day 5142: Beautiful Austria! & 17 year old taught swimmers free.



"Opinions": acrylics, junk papers collage, digital.

 

  

Want music?


   Click: Chet Baker, Paul Desmond, Autumn Leaves


2GN2S

We are in luck! Good friend, Elenor from Austria has gifted us with some of her beautiful photography, and since I will most likely make it to Austria, she brings it to us to enjoy and appreciate.

Elenor wrote, "I thought you might like some pics from me.
We visited Gmunden 3 weeks ago and it was so beautiful again. Gmunden is such a sweet old town in the "Salzkammergut",  a region in Upper Austria with a long history with salt, that made this region wealthy a long time ago. Schloss Ort is a little castle on a small island connected via a beautiful wooden bridge. I do Like these old houses, especially the municipal."










"Gmunden has some some very fine pastry shops, or is it called confectionery? It’s a place where you can eat the best pastries and drink coffee or tea or eat ice cream. This one has historical photographs of their most famous visitors, all artists from a time long ago. Only we older people still know their names." 




"Here are some pics of Lake Traunsee"










How about that? A visit to Austria from home?






 AT 17, HE NOTICED CHILDREN IN HIS OWN COMMUNITY COULDN’T AFFORD SWIMMING LESSONS. SO HE HELPED 780 OF THEM GET INTO THE WATER FOR FREE.
Jeremiah Carnegie trains every day at the London Aquatics Centre—the swimming venue built for the 2012 Olympics.
But while watching clubs from across London use the world-class facility, he noticed something troubling.
Children living right there in Newham were barely represented.
For many local families, swimming lessons were simply too expensive.
Jeremiah could have noticed the problem and moved on.
He was only 17, after all.
Instead, he decided his age wasn’t a reason to wait.
Jeremiah approached his club, NUEL, and facility operator Everyone Active. Together, they created a completely free swimming program and contacted primary schools across Newham.
What happened next was incredible.
In just two weeks, 780 children participated—and 320 entered the water for the first time in their lives.
Children without swimsuits or goggles were given them.
They received five days of swimming lessons and water-safety education.
Kids who initially needed floats simply to stay above water finished the program confidently floating on their backs.
And at the end, every child went home with a medal and certificate. 🏅
The program attracted the attention of Newham’s mayor, and organizers began looking toward future editions.
Jeremiah didn’t have millions of pounds.
He didn’t hold political office.
He wasn’t even an adult yet.
He simply noticed that children in his community were being left behind—and decided to do something about it.
Sometimes changing your community starts with one teenager asking:
“Why shouldn’t these kids get the same opportunity?”




  
 
A 2+ minute video, This Side Up, 



 
Just because ...

Scaly-breasted munia



Tuesday's Smiles ... 


















Hoping you feel all the good things in your day.


  


 

 

 

Monday, September 21, 2026

Day 5140: Leaving Nevada off to the O.C. & Norway paints black.

 

"Vacation": junk papers collage, digital.


                                                                       
  

Want music?



    Click: Lou Rawls, You'll Never Find ...


2GN2S

 


Monday morning I will be riding with Superman to Orange County, and I will be returning home. SM has business meetings for a few days and I will catching up on domestic bliss. The weather in Nevada has been beautiful and I love their low humidity. It has been wonderful to spend time with family and friends.

Being with Zoey and Duke had filled my dog-fix for a while. 


I love them so much. 


And, as I warned, Duke's birthday toy has been violated again, and is hidden until WW has time to repair it, yet again.


I will surely miss them.


     






  
 
A 2 minute video, Clap skit , here.
 
 
Just because ...

Rusty-fronted Barwing


Monday's Smiles ... 

 





















Hoping you feel all the good things in your day.