or signup to continue reading Good thing I checked, otherwise it would have passed me by. I would not have paused to think about that giant grass which plays such a vital role in the world. The grass whose largest variety can grow 2.
4 centimetres every 40 minutes. The grass which acts as a natural air-conditioner, is a useful building material, a cool and comfortable fabric and, of course, a food source for pandas. Yes, today is World Bamboo Day and I'm wondering why it didn't show up on my digital calendar.
Had I known earlier, I would have planned some kind of celebration. For now, I'll make do with memories. The rickety bamboo scaffolding seen on construction sites in India.
The ethereal silence of the lovingly tended bamboo groves on the flanks of Mount Inari in Kyoto. Chook's bong, held up in class by the nice police officers who visited the school in 1974 as part of a drug education program. Keeping up with all the special days can be a struggle.
Last Thursday, I completely missed , probably because no one rang to check if I was OK (I was). And on Sunday, International Day of Democracy passed without a murmur as did International Dot Day, celebrating creativity, and World Afro Day, which also fell on September 15. This Saturday will be huge, with International Peace Day, Alzheimer's Day and World Gratitude Day all vying for your attention.
And don't forget World Rhino Day on Sunday. It's enough to make your head spin. Here's a list of the other special days we've missed this month: World Letter Writing Day, International Cabernet Sauvignon Day, World Coconut Day, World Beard Day, International Turkey Vulture Day, International Bacon Day, World Samosa Day, World Ampersand Day, International Sudoku Day .
.. you get the drift.
While the UN sets the serious days - human rights, water resources, agriculture, etc. - it seems anyone with a barrow to push (or a wine variety) can declare a special day. So it's only fitting The Echidna gets to suggest a few more to add to the list.
August 29 is already Echidna Day in Mount Gambier so we'll pass on that one. Observing the deep, unresolved psychological torment of who mistakenly believe filling your rearview mirror with their roo bar and driving lights will earn your respect. It won't.
In memory of the days our wallets were stuffed with notes and coins and not eftpos receipts. To pay respect to the holdouts who slowly count out the exact amount in 10 cent pieces at the checkout, to the dismay of the kid on the register who has to remember how to count all over again. If we could set aside one day of the year when they could pretend to do hard manual work, we'd be spared the ludicrous sight of our politicians doing it for weeks on end during election campaigns.
Yes, they can be annoying with that one standard line - "Have you tried switching it off and on again?" - but if we're honest, it often works. Having once solved an IT problem myself when a colleague complained her mouse wasn't working - "That's because you're pushing your sunglass case around" - I know we should stop marginalising these heroes. They once sat in pubs all afternoon, nursing that one middie of Resch's for hours, snarling at whatever was on the TV and telling anyone who'd listen how the world had turned to shit, thanks to the bloody useless "feral garment".
Now they're on Facebook, mixing up "their", "they're" and "there" and, yes, still shouting at clouds, even though no one's listening. This could be the one day we give them the time of day. I could go on.
And on. And on. But it's now over to you, dear readers .
.. Do you ever take notice of special days? Or have they become so commonplace they've lost all meaning? What are your suggestions for future special days? Email us: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend .
: - One in 10 men in NSW have had run-ins with police for matters. The finding was revealed in a report from the Australian Institute of Criminology, which used data from NSW police and birth data to determine the prevalence of gendered violence across the state. - Despite the pleas of national experts, the Northern Territory chief minister remains resolute in her plans to .
Lia Finocchiaro has dismissed warnings her plan will result in 10-year-olds being jailed while promising to introduce legislation during the first session of the new NT parliament. - More than 1400 luxury electric vehicles are being recalled in Australia amid warnings their batteries could short circuit and catch fire while being driven. The federal transport department issued the recall on Tuesday for sold in Australia between 2020 and 2023.
"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind." - Bruce Lee Whether it's reading, baking, photography or assembling a model battle tank, . "Your story about assembling the model tweaked my interest," writes Merv.
"As I am in my later years have been thinking of something like that to do. You may have just pushed me over the edge to actually do something about it." Peter writes: "Yes! In retirement I've also returned to a modelling hobby from my Airfix-obsessed youth.
Conceiving and creating something physical using your imagination and hands engages a different part of the brain, one dominated by screens for much of the rest of the time. Cooking (nutritional rather than recreational) fulfils a similar need. I now understand why model railway hobbyists (not my recreation) are mostly over 50.
" "In the heady days of film photography I was a very keen photographer; always on the lookout for photograph," writes Tony from Sebastopol. "I had an Olympus camera with a number of lenses, a motor drive so I could take multiple shots in short succession and a dedicated flash that was offset to reduce red-eye. Then my car was broken into and all my gear was stolen.
By now the era of digital photography was making its presence felt and it held no appeal. Finally, I discovered that one brand of camera uses Carl Zeiss lenses and I was back in. The same brand makes phones also with Carl Zeiss lenses so I use that a lot now.
I also love cooking, mainly French food, baking my own bread and coffee." Ian writes: "In addition to books and dog activities, my main hobby is constructing a model railway. I love that it requires creating things with my hands including carpentry, electrical, sculpting plaster, planting fake trees, and the assembly of model buildings and rolling stock.
And, I can play God by imagining a landscape and turning it into a reality. Like you, I derive great satisfaction from thinking about and solving the endless little puzzles that pop up along the way. My model railway really is good for my soul even if I'm frazzled sometimes when things don't go as well as anticipated.
" "I am addicted to jigsaws, the harder the better," writes Sandra. "My first failure to finish was a black-and-white pencil cartoon of 10 PMs playing cricket. I packed it away with an essay on the back.
Only an addict would take it on now. I have always thought jigsaws should be in all directors' meeting rooms. Your brain cuts out all the problems.
" Arthur writes: "Well said, Echidna, There is nothing more relaxing than total concentration on a task. I used to enjoy flying but can longer do so. Instead I am rebuilding antique engines which is much cheaper but no less demanding when machining an irreplaceable part.
" "Free flight aeromodelling does it for me (the outdoor variety)," writes Craig. "The first time I visited the field, looked up and saw the tiny specks circling gracefully in the updrafts I was hooked. As a sport, it calls for just the right mix of skill and luck.
Gliders and the rubber-powered classes are almost free to build and operate, and the smaller models are just as much of a challenge as the big ones. You can fly a catapult glider at your local sports field, or in international competition, build it in two nights, and spend six months tweaking it to perfection. The satisfaction resulting from flicking one of these things 30 metres into the air for a minute-long flight is immense.
" Jennifer writes: "Ah, the ridiculousness of telling a stressed person to 'just relax' or 'calm down'. It doesn't work, often making people more stressed. Intense focus on a hobby is what works.
Walking away from what is causing stress and focusing on something else is the best solution. Whether it is running, walking and observing the world, trimming a hedge, building a model, solving a puzzle or just listening intently to music. Whatever best engages the person.
This is what is needed to reduce excess negative emotion and anxiety so that our mind is able to re-set itself. What a pity so many employers/managers don't recognise this and facilitate it." "I am a silverworker - as a hobbyist, at any rate," writes Sue.
"I also do some lapidary work to incorporate stones I have polished into my jewellery. It is quite interesting that my hobbies have that artistic element, as that was not part of my background, and that I make jewellery, which I wear, as I was never a girly-girl and into that sort of thing. The creative process, the satisfaction of bringing an idea into a physical entity, reflection on where the ideas came from in the first place - I have more than one jewellery set which started from fiddling with a piece of wire - the planning, the construction, the problem solving: all of these are part of the process and part of the challenge and satisfaction.
Definitely a wellbeing activity for me but not an obsession." Another Sue writes: "I paint and I suffer from depression. The difficulty for me is allowing myself to be totally absorbed in what I love.
Sometimes I wish my hobby would become an obsession. I am far more grounded when I paint as I consider each millimetre of paint to paper." Four decades in the media, working in print and television.
Formerly editor of the South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times. Based on the South Coast of NSW. Four decades in the media, working in print and television.
Formerly editor of the South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times. Based on the South Coast of NSW. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team.
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