Gentlefolk,
This post describes our main activities during the month of March 2026.
The contents of this post are in the following sequence:
Photos of our activities during March 2026.
News items which caught my eye in March 2026.
Some key actions by President Trump during March 2026 (from MS NOW Project 47).
Highlights of March 2026
The personal highlight of the month for me was Sean's 80th birthday celebration in Perth. We were in the same class in Primary School (St Patrick's, Cooma) 70 years ago, and have remained friends ever since. With two others, Hugo (Gold Coast) and Alex (aka Shooter, Canberra) we flew to Perth. Sean and Alexandra were the perfect hosts and we had 3 memorable days with them.
The highlight for Vera and me was taking delivery of our new car on 26 March. It is a Geely Starray EMi Inspire (Plug in hybrid).
The REALLY BIG thing that happened this month was the USA / Israel attack on Iran on the last day of February.
President Trump said that he believed that Iran posed an imminent threat to the USA. Although the Americans were in active negotiations with Iran on their nuclear program, Trump decided to get in first and, together with Israel, started bombing military sites in Iran.
Over the next few weeks they conducted over 2,000 bombing missions; an estimated Iranian 4,500 civilians, including many women and children, have been killed. Iran retailated as best they could, by firing missiles and drones at US military bases in the Gulf countries. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz stopped, which caused havoc to oil and gas prices (diesel in Caloundra shot up to A$3.20 a litre).
It is a mess.
Why did Trump do it? What's in it for America? Not much from what I can see. But bashing Iran is a huge windfall for Netanyahu who has always seen Iran as Israel's major threat. So, did Trump start this war just to help Israel????
Herewith photos of some of our activities in March 2026:
We were delighted to receive an invitation to attend Lily's 50th birthday.
Lots of rain this month. The Brook was handling it well.
March birthdays.
South Sydney winger, Alex Johnston scored the try which passed Ken Irvine's NRL record.
Fans invaded the football ground to celebrate Alex's achievement.
Ken Irvine's record had stood for 57 years!
St Patrick's Day party at the Clubhouse.
Kurt and Freya took part in the Mooloolaba Triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km bike ride, 10km run). Freya finished in 3 hours 4 minutes; Kurt took 5 mins more. Congrats, Freya and Kurt - very creditable efforts for your first attempts at Triathlon!
Jen chatting with Olly, Kurt and Freya after the race.
Vera & I congratulated Kurt and Freya.
I flew to Perth for Sean's 80th birthday.
Breakfast and coffee at South Fremantle Beach to celebrate Sean's birthday.
Hugo, Peter, Sean , James, Alex & me. Sean, Peter and James swim 1.2km three times a week.
We checked out the "Sculptures by the Sea" exhibition at Cottesloe Beach. Then had lunch at City Beach.
View of Perth CBD from King's Park. I've always liked Perth - a very nice city.
Me, Sean and Hugo relaxing at home.
Old buddies came from afar to celebrate Sean's 80th birthday: Me (Sunshine Coast), Hugo (Gold Coast), Sean (Perth), and Alex (Canberra) .
Alexandra and Sean were perfect hosts. What a memorable few days!
I caught up with another old friend, Graeme Stephens (we met in Brazil in 1980 and have kept in touch ever since). Cora and Graeme recently moved into an Over 55s Village, similar to ours.
Jen & Tom organised a family dinner to celebrate Vera's birthday. Here she is with Sid (17).
Jen gave me the book "The Curious Diplomat" for Xmas, and two tickets to the author's talk at the Avid Reader Bookshop in Brisbane on 25/3.
With Lachlan Strahan, author of "the Curious Diplomat". Lachlan joined DFAT in 1993 and had 3 overseas postings: Germany, South Korea, India and the Solomon Islands. I enjoyed his book, as I could identify with many of his experiences. Lachlan also provided considerable background detail of the issues with which he had to deal in his postings.
In his book Lachlan says "the three years in Honiara were the most testing in my career, both personally and professionally - but also the most rewarding and intellectually stimulating".
His description of 4 years spent as the Deputy Head of Mission in India (2010 - 13) was great.
Peter Vargese in converstion with Lachlan Strahan about his book "The Curious Diplomat". Peter was born in Nairobi of Indian parents - the family came to Australia in 1964. Peter had a distinguished career as a diplomat, becoming Secretary of DFAT (2012 - 16). He did not dominate preceedings, instead asked searching questions but left the limelight to Lachlan Strahan.
We took possession of our new car: a Geely Starray EMi Inspire (Plug in hybrid). An impressive, if a bit daunting, car - a computer on wheels!
In recent years we have tended to buy one-or-two year old Subarus, so buying a new car is a departure from the norm for us. Kurt will inherit our Subaru Forester D-S, has been good for us.
Geely is a large Chinese car manufacturer. I remember Geely first hit the international news in 2010 when it bought Volvo. The company has only been in Australia for a year, so fingers crossed!
We have been going to Kings Beach in Caloundra a couple of times a week.
Called in to see friends Bron & Daz at Maleny. We met during a tour of India 6 years ago.
Vera won a prize at the "Musical Bingo" night in the Clubhouse.
......
News items which caught my eye in March 2026.
($ are US dollars unless otherwise shown)
Global
Iran: USA & Israel
attacked Iran while US – Iran negotiations were still going on. The Supreme
Leader was killed (his son, Mojtaba Khamenei 56 replaced him). More than
2,000 bombing sorties against Iran. Its military capability and much infrastructure was destroyed. An estimated 4,500 Iranian civilians have been killed, despite Trump's promise to only target military sites.
Iran responded by targeting the seven US military bases in the Gulf States.
An Israeli missile killed Ali
Larijani, Iran’s Chief of Security; another missile killed the Navy chief responsible for Hormuz. Also targeted a gas field (Trump then told
them to desist); and sites in Tehran.
Strait of Hormuz was
closed – huge effect on oil & gas prices (oil passed $110+per barrell). India and
China were each importing about 1.4mbpd from Iran. Trump asked other
countries to assist with escorting Vessels through the Strait – they all said
they would help when the shooting stops.
The International Energy
Agency arranged the release of 400mb of oil from country reserves.
Lebanon: IDF responded to
Hezbollah rockets by bombing Southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut. Many
killed. IDF said it will send gound troops to take over parts of Southern
Lebanon. Three journalists killed by an IDF strike. Four Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon were killed.
Yemen: Houthis threatened to enter the conflict (could affect shipping in the Red Sea).
Indonesia: followed
Australia in banning under 16 year olds from social media.
New Zealand: Dave Rennie
was appointed coach of the All Blacks in the lead up to the 2027 World Cup
(he was in charge of the Wallabies 2021 - 32).
Formula 1: Eleven teams
contested the Australian GP in Melbourne. Winner was George Russell (Merc),
followed by Kimi Antonelli (Merc) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Oscar
Piastri crashed beforehand. Kimi Antonelli 19 won the Chinese GP, youngest
ever winner. Both McLaren cars didn’t start. The GPs in Bahrain and Saudi
were cancelled. Japan: Kimi Antonelli came first, followed by Oscar Piastri.
China: announced target
of 4.5 – 5% for GDP growth (lowest level in years).
Germany: VW profit E7B is
down 44%, announced 50K job cuts by 2030.
Cuba: country’s economy
in freefall after USA stopped oil from Venezuela.
2026 World Happiness Report:
Finland again on top, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica and Sweden.
Australia was ranked 15th (down from 0th), Germany 17th,
USA 23rd, Canada 25th.
USA
Trump said he believed Iran
would attack “imminently” and decided to get in first, even while
negotiations on a nuclear deal were proceeding. Israel joined the USA in
attacking Iran.
Despite Trump’s claim to be a
peacemaker, he has launched many military actions: Venezuela, Syria, Nigeria,
Caribbean alleged narco boats, Iran in 2005 and 2026, Somalia, Iraq, Yemen.
Trump was angry that no one
responded to his call for help to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump ordered 3,500 marines to
move to the Middle East.
Trump said that peace
negotiations were underway with Iran, based on his 15 point plan.
Stock markets volatile, all down;
S&P down 9% since end of January.
The Pentagon asked Congress to
approve an additional $200 Billion for the war (Trump prefers to call it a “military
action”) against Iran.
An estimated 10M people participated in "No Kings" demonstrations across America.
President Trump replaced Kristi
Noem as head of Homeland Security with Senator Malkwayne Mullin (later confirmed
by the Senate). Kristi became the Special Envoy for the Sheild of the
Americas.
The Oscars: Best Picture “One
Battle after Another”. Best Actress Jessie Buckley in Hamnet. Best Actor Michael
Jordon in “Sinners”. Best Supporting Actor Sean Penn in “One Battle …”.
The Federal Reserve kept interest
rates at 3.75%.
Democrats refused to support funding
for the Department of Homeland Security – they want ICE and Border Control curtailed.
Long lines at security screening at airports as TSA staff haven't been paid for a month.
A jury in California found Meta (FB) and Google (YouTube) guilty of “addictive social media sites”. Ordered to pay plaintive $2M and $1M respectively. They will appeal.
Australia
PM of Canada Mark Carney visited
Australia to forge closer relations.
Australia hosted the Women’s Asian
Soccer Cup. The Iranian team was offered asylum – only taken up by 2 players. Australia lost to Japan (0-1) in the final.
Widespread flooding: Alice
Springs, Katherine, Longreach, Bundaberg, etc,
At the request of UAE, Australia
sent a “defensive unit” to monitor incoming missiles and drones (Australia
has some military there).
Price
of petrol and diesel escalated. Shortages due to panic buying (esp diesel). The PM convened meetings of the National Cabinet to oversee Australia's Energy situation - will halve the excise on fuel for 3 months.
David
Littleproud resigned as leader of the National Party, replaced by Senator
Matt Canavan.
Airfares
from Sydney to London have increased by 80%.
Alex
Johnston, South Sydney Rabbitoh’s winger, scored NRL 213 tries passing Ken
Irvine’s record which stood for 57 years.
Ground
breaking ceremony for the AURA Town Centre, about 1 km from our village in
Nirimba. Completion target end 2027.
The Reserve
Bank Board decided by 5-4 to increase interest rates by 0.25% to 4.1%
(concerned about likely inflation caused by Trump’s attack in Iran).
Labor
easily won the South Australian election – Premier Peter Malinauskas returned
with an increased majority. One Nation did well. Seats as at end of March (total 47): Labor 34, Liberals 5, One Nation 3, Independents 4, one seat still in doubt.
Staff of the Aust Broadcasting
Corp (ABC) went on strike for more pay.
Ursula von der Leyen, President
of the EU, visited Australia. Signed trade and security agreements (the trade
agreement was 8 years in the making).
Federal and State Govts promised
$2B to help Rio Tinto’s Boyne Aluminium Smelter in Gladstone to transition to
renewables and remain open.
The Tasmanian and Victorian Govts announced free public transport during the oil crisis.
Last October "Sovereign Citizen" Dezi Freeman killed two Victorian policemen. The biggest-ever manhunt followed, but the police could find no trace of him for almost 7 months. They finally tracked him down to a farm in N E Victoria. Confronted him yesterday; he died in the firefight.
Some of Trump’s
key actions in March
From MS NOW
Project 47
Week
ending 5 March 2026
Announced the attack on Iran while wearing a “USA” baseball
cap in a prerecorded online video posted at 2:30 a.m.
Described the attack on Iran as a “war,” even as the White
House distributed talking points to Republicans to refer to it only as “major
combat operations”
Went on an extended riff about replacing the White House
drapes during his first live public comments on the attack on Iran
Gave a shout-out to Rep. Tony Gonzales, who is facing calls
to resign even from some Republicans over an alleged extramarital affair with
an aide
Week
ending 13 March 2026
Said he didn’t know about a report that U.S. forces bombed a
school in Iran due to dated information about targets
Reportedly directed the Justice Department to reverse a
decision to stop defending attempts to sanction law firms
Wore a baseball cap while attending the dignified transfer
of six fallen U.S. service members
Responded “I guess” when asked if he was worried about the
possibility of retaliatory attacks on the U.S. from Iran
Week
ending 20 March 2026
Criticized a counterterrorism official who resigned over the
Iran war as “weak” on national security
Claimed to have spoken with a former president who approved
of the attack on Iran — only for all four living ex-presidents to say they
didn’t talk with him
Revealed publicly that a Republican congressman faces a
terminal diagnosis and would be “dead by June”
Said the war in Iran will be over when “I feel it in my
bones,” declining to give any specific objectives
Week
ending 27 March 2026
Described the U.S.-Israeli military offensive in Iran in
offhand remarks as “a perfect, amazing thing”
Saw his approval rating in a recent poll drop to 36%, the
lowest since he returned to the White House
Had a 24-karat commemorative gold coin with his face on it
approved by a federal arts commission, which called for it to be “as large as
possible”
Voted by mail in a Florida special election, after long
condemning the practice as “cheating”.
......
In his book Lachlan says "the three years in Honiara were the most testing in my career, both personally and professionally - but also the most rewarding and intellectually stimulating".
His description of 4 years spent as the Deputy Head of Mission in India (2010 - 13) was great.
In recent years we have tended to buy one-or-two year old Subarus, so buying a new car is a departure from the norm for us. Kurt will inherit our Subaru Forester D-S, has been good for us.
Geely is a large Chinese car manufacturer. I remember Geely first hit the international news in 2010 when it bought Volvo. The company has only been in Australia for a year, so fingers crossed!
Global
Iran: USA & Israel attacked Iran while US – Iran negotiations were still going on. The Supreme Leader was killed (his son, Mojtaba Khamenei 56 replaced him). More than 2,000 bombing sorties against Iran. Its military capability and much infrastructure was destroyed. An estimated 4,500 Iranian civilians have been killed, despite Trump's promise to only target military sites.
Iran responded by targeting the seven US military bases in the Gulf States.
An Israeli missile killed Ali
Larijani, Iran’s Chief of Security; another missile killed the Navy chief responsible for Hormuz. Also targeted a gas field (Trump then told
them to desist); and sites in Tehran.
Strait of Hormuz was
closed – huge effect on oil & gas prices (oil passed $110+per barrell). India and
China were each importing about 1.4mbpd from Iran. Trump asked other
countries to assist with escorting Vessels through the Strait – they all said
they would help when the shooting stops.
The International Energy
Agency arranged the release of 400mb of oil from country reserves.
Lebanon: IDF responded to
Hezbollah rockets by bombing Southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut. Many
killed. IDF said it will send gound troops to take over parts of Southern
Lebanon. Three journalists killed by an IDF strike. Four Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon were killed.
Yemen: Houthis threatened to enter the conflict (could affect shipping in the Red Sea).
Indonesia: followed
Australia in banning under 16 year olds from social media.
New Zealand: Dave Rennie
was appointed coach of the All Blacks in the lead up to the 2027 World Cup
(he was in charge of the Wallabies 2021 - 32).
Formula 1: Eleven teams
contested the Australian GP in Melbourne. Winner was George Russell (Merc),
followed by Kimi Antonelli (Merc) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Oscar
Piastri crashed beforehand. Kimi Antonelli 19 won the Chinese GP, youngest
ever winner. Both McLaren cars didn’t start. The GPs in Bahrain and Saudi
were cancelled. Japan: Kimi Antonelli came first, followed by Oscar Piastri.
China: announced target
of 4.5 – 5% for GDP growth (lowest level in years).
Germany: VW profit E7B is
down 44%, announced 50K job cuts by 2030.
Cuba: country’s economy
in freefall after USA stopped oil from Venezuela.
2026 World Happiness Report:
Finland again on top, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica and Sweden.
Australia was ranked 15th (down from 0th), Germany 17th,
USA 23rd, Canada 25th.
USA
Trump said he believed Iran
would attack “imminently” and decided to get in first, even while
negotiations on a nuclear deal were proceeding. Israel joined the USA in
attacking Iran.
Despite Trump’s claim to be a
peacemaker, he has launched many military actions: Venezuela, Syria, Nigeria,
Caribbean alleged narco boats, Iran in 2005 and 2026, Somalia, Iraq, Yemen.
Trump was angry that no one
responded to his call for help to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump ordered 3,500 marines to
move to the Middle East.
Trump said that peace
negotiations were underway with Iran, based on his 15 point plan.
Stock markets volatile, all down;
S&P down 9% since end of January.
The Pentagon asked Congress to
approve an additional $200 Billion for the war (Trump prefers to call it a “military
action”) against Iran.
An estimated 10M people participated in "No Kings" demonstrations across America.
President Trump replaced Kristi
Noem as head of Homeland Security with Senator Malkwayne Mullin (later confirmed
by the Senate). Kristi became the Special Envoy for the Sheild of the
Americas.
The Oscars: Best Picture “One
Battle after Another”. Best Actress Jessie Buckley in Hamnet. Best Actor Michael
Jordon in “Sinners”. Best Supporting Actor Sean Penn in “One Battle …”.
The Federal Reserve kept interest
rates at 3.75%.
Democrats refused to support funding
for the Department of Homeland Security – they want ICE and Border Control curtailed.
Long lines at security screening at airports as TSA staff haven't been paid for a month.
A jury in California found Meta (FB) and Google (YouTube) guilty of “addictive social media sites”. Ordered to pay plaintive $2M and $1M respectively. They will appeal.
Australia
PM of Canada Mark Carney visited
Australia to forge closer relations.
Australia hosted the Women’s Asian
Soccer Cup. The Iranian team was offered asylum – only taken up by 2 players. Australia lost to Japan (0-1) in the final.
Widespread flooding: Alice
Springs, Katherine, Longreach, Bundaberg, etc,
At the request of UAE, Australia
sent a “defensive unit” to monitor incoming missiles and drones (Australia
has some military there).
Price
of petrol and diesel escalated. Shortages due to panic buying (esp diesel). The PM convened meetings of the National Cabinet to oversee Australia's Energy situation - will halve the excise on fuel for 3 months.
David
Littleproud resigned as leader of the National Party, replaced by Senator
Matt Canavan.
Airfares
from Sydney to London have increased by 80%.
Alex
Johnston, South Sydney Rabbitoh’s winger, scored NRL 213 tries passing Ken
Irvine’s record which stood for 57 years.
Ground
breaking ceremony for the AURA Town Centre, about 1 km from our village in
Nirimba. Completion target end 2027.
The Reserve
Bank Board decided by 5-4 to increase interest rates by 0.25% to 4.1%
(concerned about likely inflation caused by Trump’s attack in Iran).
Labor
easily won the South Australian election – Premier Peter Malinauskas returned
with an increased majority. One Nation did well. Seats as at end of March (total 47): Labor 34, Liberals 5, One Nation 3, Independents 4, one seat still in doubt.
Staff of the Aust Broadcasting Corp (ABC) went on strike for more pay.
Ursula von der Leyen, President
of the EU, visited Australia. Signed trade and security agreements (the trade
agreement was 8 years in the making).
Federal and State Govts promised
$2B to help Rio Tinto’s Boyne Aluminium Smelter in Gladstone to transition to
renewables and remain open.
The Tasmanian and Victorian Govts announced free public transport during the oil crisis.
Last October "Sovereign Citizen" Dezi Freeman killed two Victorian policemen. The biggest-ever manhunt followed, but the police could find no trace of him for almost 7 months. They finally tracked him down to a farm in N E Victoria. Confronted him yesterday; he died in the firefight.
