Blink TV Australia used our Marl Cave Mushroom Growing Image in Guillaume's Paris Episode 9

 Already in July, we got a very courteous request from Melinda Nassif | Post Producer Coordinator for Blink TV Australia.

We had to release a legal statement for granting them permission to use our postcard image. 

You can see the full post's link below.

This is the image we granted them permission to use in their series: Guillaume's Paris Episode 9 ←click link for watching the special video.

Image is visible at 05:13 (see clickable below video) and before that they explain how those white limestone buildings in Paris came about.

Blink TV Australia did an excellent job in explaining things from the past!

Both of us are grateful for having been able to provide them this rare image.

Related link:

French Claron Antique Postcards of Marl Cave Mushroom Growing | previous post by me with another link built in to a video spoken by the grandson...

Oahu Hawaii Majestic Circle Island Tour

 With E Noa Tours, Pieter had booked us a Majestic Circle Island Tour 120 miles round.

That was on December 3, 1998.

With 18 people in a mini bus.

Oahu with the capital Honolulu

Earlier we already did tour the USS ARIZONA, see post below.

Waimea Valley

North Shore & surfing beaches

Waikiki Trolley Tours

This is the one we did:

Inside Diamond Head Crater

Hanauma Bay

Blowhole and Sandy Beach

Makapuu Lookout

Windward Oahu Coastline

Pali Lookout

Byodo–In Temple

Sunset Beach/North Shore Surfing Beaches

Waimea Valley

Pineapple Fields

~

The Diamond Head Crater, our first stop was not impressive, but that is because we both know far bigger craters from Indonesia!

Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay, often called the BEST beach in the USA

Hanauma Bay view, a coral reef

Pali Lookout at 2,000 feet or 609 meter.

Wind gusts at 90 miles per hour or hurricane power as it doubles on this height!

Holding onto my video camera and The Bridge saddlebag...

Nu'uanu Pali Lookout

Nu'uanu Pali Lookout with botanical garden below

Byodu–In Temple

North Shore Lookout at Laie Point

Lava once streamed through the hole behind me, to the right of my face. 

A volcanic eruption and this is left over from that.

Sharp lava formations churn the waves and emphasize the power of the Pacific Ocean.

Laie Point is also where we both saw the Cliff Jumps!

We do have a video tape, but as often mentioned, all in Dutch for Mom & Dad...

From there we got onto a special bus for driving through Waimea Valley, a tropical paradise.

We also went to the Macademia nut outlet and bought us half a pound.

Our final stop was the Dole pineapple plantation.

We also watched on December 6 from our balcony STREET BIKERS UNITED HAWAII

On December 4, we both walked in 45 minutes to the Ala Moana shopping center to Neiman Marcus where we dined at the Mariposa restaurant on the 3rd level, with fabulous view, see above photo.

View to the right.

We went back to our hotel by bus.

We were home again on December 8.

Fond memories of Oahu Hawaii

We only had been there once before, upon returning home from our consulting work in Australia, see link to post below...

Related links:

Our Vacation at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa | previous post by me

Pearl Harbor Hawaii | previous post by me

OAHU – GRAND CIRCLE ISLAND, ONE DAY TOUR | good YouTube video of the above

Working & Socializing with Staff from Melbourne Mushrooms | previous post by me as we entered the USA in Honolulu, Hawaii coming back from consulting work in Australia.

John Miller, OAM was a Longtime Mushroom Friend of husband Pieter

 Photo below shows a happy John Miller, OAM on his 90th Birthday!

Heavy hearts in Hawkesbury after passing of John Miller ←click link

There is a mention also of him starting in 1955 to farm orchard fruit and vegetables. But the following years, seven floods devastated the farm "with all our crops washed away: and he moved to higher ground in the Hills to begin growing mushrooms.

Active in the Australian Mushroom Growers Association (AMGA), Mr Miller promoted the use of locally grown mushrooms and worked to unite farmers across the country. He was also instrumental in establishing a research facility at Rydalmere to improve productivity of local farms as chief executive of the association in the 1970s, and travelled to France in 1978 as part of Australia's successful bid to host the 1981 international (mushroom) farmer's conference. (ISMS = International Society for Mushroom Science)

"Five hundred leading mushroom growers and research scientists from all over the world came to Australia to teach us the latest technology," he said.

~

The ISMS uploaded the AMGA issue 1 of 2021

Below is page 29...

Vale (Farewell): John Miller

The mushroom industry has lost one of its most significant and distinguished leaders, with the passing of John Miller, OAM, at the age of 91. 

John was an Icon of the industry and was often referred to as "Mr Mushroom". He first took on the honorary position of Public Relations and Promotions Officer at the AMGA in 1969, and in 1973 was appointed to the permanent position of General Manager.

In his final General Manager's report in 1991/92, his commitment to the industry is more than evident. 

The AMGA office was run from our own home to keep overheads down. Beryl handled all phone enquiries besides is running around promoting"fresh mushrooms"and fighting the many mushroom industry problems that kept arising. Making sure mushrooms were ordered from farms for me to deliver to home economists, cookery editors and photographers.

Checked recipes for our leaflets to go into shops, monitored the press clipping service and consumer requests. Beryl's behind-the-scenes support has been a major contributing factor, for which I'm most grateful, in maintaining the service required by this industry.

John promoted the use of locally grown mushrooms and worked to unite farmers across the country. He was instrumental in establishing a research facility at Rydalmere to improve productivity of local farms, and commanded support and loyalty from the AMGA membership – which reflected not only in the growth of the Industry but also the ability of the Industry to manage that growth.

John was a life honorary member of the AMGA, and he will be remembered not only for his intellectual contributions, but also for his kindness and the welcoming personality that the extended to everyone.

In addition to his mushroom industry activities, John was a proud regional ambassador for the Hawkesbury area. He served as the chief warden for the Hawkesbury State Emergency Service, establishing an early flood warning system for the region. He also served as the social secretary of the Hawkesbury Historical Society and was declared an Ambassador for the Hawkesbury for his passion in promoting the rich heritage of the area.

A report in the local Hawkesbury Gazette also credits him as a driving force behind a third river crossing from Richmond to North Richmond, as well as being an advocate for the construction of a Centre for Excellence in aged in dementia care for Hawkesbury's aging population.

In 2018 he received an Order of Australia medal for his services to the community.

A loving family man, and valued colleague—we will miss him.

On the side is being mentioned his book, shown below:

Miller, John: Reminiscences of a Fun'gi: The Story of a Community that Mushroomed [Fungi] ←click link

What a wonderful job, here the true John Miller as a historian shines through...

A great writer and heritage preserver!

This picture shows also the open-air mushroom growing like in my previous post: Open-Air Mushroom Growing in South Sweden ←click link

~

So happy that we reconnected in time again and hearing from John & Beryl.

A very warm email letter we received on March 26, 2018

John even writes a kind of mushroom editorial review for Pieter: We have fond memories of your visits to Australia, and the great breath of fresh air you brought with you, to improve our out of date mushroom cultural techniques in this country. It was the start of a revolution in making us more efficient and competitive.

Our Australian mushroom growers will be eternally grateful for the great contribution you made in initially opening many new doors for us in the World of Mushroom Culture, and your leadership at the Dutch school in Horst, Holland, which many Australians have attended.

~

What a treasure for having received this in a timely manner...

Also, John & Beryl got all my Australia posts sent to them to read; feels so good.

R.I.P. dear friend and we keep forever fond memories of you both!

Beryl, no doubt is one half of another Blissful Relationship, may she find the strength for going on without her loving husband/partner...

Related links:

Trips to Australia | invitation from John Miller to have Pieter as guest lecturer in 1976 Short Course

Husband Pieter's 2nd and 3rd Trip to Australia | previous post about above mentioned 1981 ISMS Congress

Darling Harbour Cruise in Sydney for Surprise Birthday Party | photos and card from John & Beryl Miller

Our Australia Adventure of Escaping the Flooded Hawkesbury River via ONLY Bridge NOT UNDER WATER... | previous post

Our Australia Adventure of Escaping Flooded Hawkesbury River area via ONLY Bridge NOT UNDER WATER...

After finishing our work for Campbell Soup's mushroom farm in Australia, we flew from Melbourne to Sydney, where our mushroom friends picked us up. 

We stayed with our Mushroom related Australian friends in their newly built home on the rocks, overlooking the Hawkesbury River...

The dark rooftop in the form of a cross more or less, is where we were staying...

We had previously spent the day in Sydney and they took us to Centre Point, Captain Cook Luncheon Cruise & Opera House, see post about it below.

Next day on July 3, 1988 we went to the BLUE MOUNTAINS with Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours.

Visited the Katoomba & Jenolan Caves, all arranged and carried out by our great Mushroom friends! Again you find those two previous posts below...

July 4: We enjoyed a dinner together with 58 mushroom farmers + spouses. John Miller had organized that.

It was almost overwhelming... 

July 5, on Tuesday I devoted my time to giving harvesting training while Pieter met with 3 compost makers. A relaxed evening at home with our friends, watching the movie of The Man From Snowy River.

July 6, Wednesday we got an urgent wakeup call with the mention: HURRY! We must leave NOW—look out of the window and you know WHY!!! We heard and saw a foaming and roaring river; already 3 m (9.84 ft) above bridgelevel! 

A large flood of the Hawkesbury River.

We hurried packing up and grabbed a bite and started our journey north through the mountains, for reaching the ONLY high enough bridge to cross this Hawkesbury River Monster, then going South to the Sydney airport for our flight back to San Francisco, USA on Qantas Airlines...

Our friends still had to drive home and IF LUCKY, could cross back over the river!

We all were fortunate that no fallen trees were blocking the road...

The place our mushroom friends lived was Ebenezer and you can see the Hawkesbury River winding like a snake through the mountains...

We arrived at Sydney airport around noon for our 14:00 o'clock flight. 

What an adventure, I was so car sick from the windy road through the mountains at a rather high speed, since our friends had to make it back again for reaching home themselves!

After vomiting and not much eating, we arrived in 13 hours + 25 minutes non-stop in San Francisco with tailwind.

Our suitcases did not arrive... and we drove home and got there around 22:00 o'clock with 14 hours time difference!

On July 7, our suitcases got delivered by 18:00 o'clock...

A most memorable trip home!

~ 

It will flood again ← short 5.59 min. video

Five of the 10 largest floods since the record flood of 1867 have occurred since Warragamba Dam was completed in 1960. The last major flood was in 1990.

One of those 10 was the one we dealt with in 1988...

The Monster Hawkesbury River got 12.2 m (40 feet) above normal...

It can be so devastating...!

February 17, 2013 in the Sydney Morning Herald

Pushing for Warragamba solution, flood protection campaigner John Miller in Windsor. Photo: Jacky Ghossein ←click link

Our mushroom friend John Miller has always been so active in fighting the flooding!

February 16, 2018 in the Hawkesbury Gazette

New proposal for river crossing ←click link

Second crossing: John Miller and floodplain committee member Maurie Smith on the corner of Kurrajong and Chapel Roads, Richmond, where there has been a proposal for a second bridge. Picture: Geoff Jones.

John Miller received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his exceptional contributions!

Hawkesbury Ambassador now an OAM: John Miller named in Queen's Birthday Honours ←click link

In 1986 John Miller had become the Hawkesbury State Emergency Service chief warden, enlisting 250 others with local knowledge to establish an early flood warning network.

Of course, Mr Miller was also well known as a driving force behind a third river crossing from Richmond to North Richmond...

John Miller was very active in this and surely deserved receiving this OAM!

Both of us owe John Miller the idea of also installing a quiet bathroom heater fan with lights! We got 3 installed and LOVE this 'warming' luxury during the cold season.

Having to travel all the way down under for learning about that! 

Related links:

Sydney Centre Point Tower, Captain Cook Luncheon Cruise & Opera House | previous post about great time spent with friends

With Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours to the BLUE MOUNTAINS Australia | previous post about great time spent with friends 

Katoomba & Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountains Australia | previous post about great time spent with friends

Bought at the QVC in Sydney Australia, more Gumnut Stories

 

On September 3, 1993 we did spot these books with more GUMNUT children's classics by writer May Gibbs and others.

This was at the Banquet, the day before... see link below From Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia

Pieter being very happy after doing that day a summary of the AMGA/ISMS International Workshop and Seminar and that went very well; great applaus from the audience.

Pieter also was a speaker.

These two books, inside a hard case, were traveling home with us... We enjoyed this relaxed shopping experience after all the business was taken care of.

Lovely kitties on the back of each book...

Visions of Fantasy for Volume One and Through the Magic Door for Volume Two

LOVE these GUMNUTS by May Gibbs!

A darling GUMNUT bookmark as a gift!

Other side of the cute GUMNUT bookmark...

To the right inside the 'mushroom shaped' drawing it reads: 

Humans

Please be kind to all 

Bush Creatures

and don't pull flowers up by the roots

~

Those were heavy books, but we never shied away from carrying our load when traveling.

Of course, those were the years before the Maximum Baggage Weight...!

~

Soon these will be read to some favorite little girls that we LOVE!

Related post:

THE GUMNUTS from Australia and Other Cute Book | previous post by me 

From Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia | previous post by me showing the QVB, Queen Victoria Building

Dad with me in San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge Cruise

On February 20 of 1993, we went to the Atlanta Airport to pick up Dad... He had flown solo, without my Mom, from Amsterdam/The Netherlands.

On Sunday, right after Mass, when serving a cup of coffee in our veranda, I sat on Dad's lap...

Handing him a belated Birthday Gift (for January 4th) + Father's Day gift in the form of a ticket to fly with me on February 27, via Detroit to San Francisco, as I had to do some training for Campbell Soup at the Pescadero farm in Santa Cruz. 

Dad cried, and that's something; considering that he never has been a person, able to show his emotions!

Only at our final visit he showed TRUE JOY when we walked into the door!

That did both of us so good and with his passing shortly afterward, we had peace of mind.

There are 3 hours in time difference and with our stop-over in Detroit, we had to get up at 5:00 AM for driving to the Atlanta Airport, park the car and then check in for our 9:50 flight to Detroit.

Arriving finally in San Francisco around 14:00.

Here I stopped with my Dollar rental car from the San Francisco Airport, driving to our Holiday Inn, North Point.

Dad was so in awe with this masterpiece of the Golden Gate Bridge!

The weather was pleasant and Dad even needed his sunglasses...

One has to be in awe by the view of those HUMONGOUS cables!

It as so worth it for driving the 101 north and then turning back, so Dad could SEE all this...

Next day, on February 28, I got us a ticket for the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE SAN FRANCISCO BAY CRUISE. 

For Dad, I got the German language narration, that made him very happy!

Now we're going under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge by boat...

Looking at the Golden Gate Bridge from below...

Dad loved listening to all the German spoken information!

What a sight that bridge as we leave it behind...

California is a rugged State and has lots of interesting views.

Alcatraz Island is coming in sight... with the famous Alcatraz prison.

Nearing Alcatraz Island

That Alcatraz prison is quite a dreary sight...

The Alcatraz Island is 22 acres or 9 hectare and is 1.5 mile or 2.01 km offshore.

Dad at the San Francisco Wharf, he was so grateful as he hugged my shoulders as he cried again...

Letting me know that this gift was well received!

Once more, Dad had gotten emotional when I told him that this would be as close as he could possibly get to his younger brother in Broken Hill, NSW-Australia... a brother who's Birthday it was that day!

Dad never dared to go visit him, flying from The Netherlands.

Sure, if I had gone with him; he would have!

We walked to Saints Peter and Paul Church and attended 'half' a Mass, in Italian, since we had no time schedule...

Post card photograph above by Willow Schneider and Carl Bondinell

Then we walked through the city of San Francisco to Union Square and Powell Street and back by Cable Car to the Fisherman's Wharf.

That was a special experience for my Dad, to ride the real San Francisco Cable Car...

View from our Holiday Inn over the Fisherman's Wharf with the Marriott hotel across from us...

Stay tuned for next section.

Related link:

Pieter J.C. Vedder was the BEST TEACHER in Bridging the Gap between Research and Grower | Pieter's photo from San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge...

From Santa Cruz to San Francisco for the Weekend | previous post by me with cable car picture and about our trip to Alcatraz Island