Yes, Rene is working on creating a blog for his business. Look for it soon in your email - you know I'll let you know when it's on-line.
Sunday 30 March 2008
Saturday 29 March 2008
It's so still.....
Just back from the beach. No wind, no real sun, around 22C, calm and rather unusual. Two dozen surfers trying valiantly to last longer than 5 seconds on a wave. Gentle waves breaking on a beach rapidly rebuilding after the summer storms. Rather nice, actually, and a very nice change.
Rene's having a snooze. I'm listening to Radio Decibel, Eindhove
n, on my computer (93.2 FM). [Late edit - after three hours of listening, I just love Radio Decibel!].
Nobody's been in the pool today, but I may just have a swim before we go out to the Alexander Headlands Surf Club tonight for dinner and a few drinks. The pool is heated, so no matter what the air temperature, the pool is very nice and refreshing without being cold.
We had to meet the builder, electrician and plumber on site yesterday morning at 7:30am, so it meant a 6am departure, and we only just made it in time. There are a few last minute changes to what was decided last November, but essentially everything is goi
ng to order. The air conditioning ducting goes in next week. Walls and ceilings the following week. The house is looking fantastic - I'm getting seriously excited about it. Rene meets with the security people on Thursday to confirm where sensors, circuitry etc goes.
We took our Dutch neighbour on the trip to Brisbane yesterday. Gina enjoyed the day out, although she woke at 4am for the 6am departure to ensure she was not going to miss the time, plus she said it takes ages to make a 74yo look OK to be seen outside the home at that hour. She sure scrubs up well. We visited our friends in a neighbouring suburb for morning tea, had a City Cat trip from New Farm Park to South Bank for lunch at a Lebanese restaurant, then back to the Sunshine Coast thro
ugh heavy Friday afternoon traffic PLUS rain. Not a nice trip home, but a delightful day all the same. I love showing off Brisbane. I was listening to Capital Radio from London earlier today, now Eindhoven, and I really miss the Europe of care free travelling, but for everyday real living, give me Brisbane any day.
Rene's ear is slowly (very slowly) getting better, but this week on his third visit to the doctor he found out he had a small hole in his ear drum. It is getting better and will heal in time, but it has taken SO very long.
Snow in
Holland, England and northern Europe didn't make any headlines here, other than the 60 car pile up in Austria. A Dutch friend emailed me Wednesday saying they had the second longest traffic jams (fils) in history on Tuesday - 880 km. Rene's sister sent beautiful pictures of her garden covered in a very healthy blanket of snow. At least it was something else to talk about other than the controversial Dutch film about the Koran that has totally dominated Dutch news for weeks now. It was released on the net today in the hope of stunting negative reaction. Time will tell. [Edit - film deleted from site as at 5:28pm AEST]
Rene's having a snooze. I'm listening to Radio Decibel, Eindhove
n, on my computer (93.2 FM). [Late edit - after three hours of listening, I just love Radio Decibel!]. Nobody's been in the pool today, but I may just have a swim before we go out to the Alexander Headlands Surf Club tonight for dinner and a few drinks. The pool is heated, so no matter what the air temperature, the pool is very nice and refreshing without being cold.
We had to meet the builder, electrician and plumber on site yesterday morning at 7:30am, so it meant a 6am departure, and we only just made it in time. There are a few last minute changes to what was decided last November, but essentially everything is goi
ng to order. The air conditioning ducting goes in next week. Walls and ceilings the following week. The house is looking fantastic - I'm getting seriously excited about it. Rene meets with the security people on Thursday to confirm where sensors, circuitry etc goes.We took our Dutch neighbour on the trip to Brisbane yesterday. Gina enjoyed the day out, although she woke at 4am for the 6am departure to ensure she was not going to miss the time, plus she said it takes ages to make a 74yo look OK to be seen outside the home at that hour. She sure scrubs up well. We visited our friends in a neighbouring suburb for morning tea, had a City Cat trip from New Farm Park to South Bank for lunch at a Lebanese restaurant, then back to the Sunshine Coast thro
ugh heavy Friday afternoon traffic PLUS rain. Not a nice trip home, but a delightful day all the same. I love showing off Brisbane. I was listening to Capital Radio from London earlier today, now Eindhoven, and I really miss the Europe of care free travelling, but for everyday real living, give me Brisbane any day.Rene's ear is slowly (very slowly) getting better, but this week on his third visit to the doctor he found out he had a small hole in his ear drum. It is getting better and will heal in time, but it has taken SO very long.
Snow in
Holland, England and northern Europe didn't make any headlines here, other than the 60 car pile up in Austria. A Dutch friend emailed me Wednesday saying they had the second longest traffic jams (fils) in history on Tuesday - 880 km. Rene's sister sent beautiful pictures of her garden covered in a very healthy blanket of snow. At least it was something else to talk about other than the controversial Dutch film about the Koran that has totally dominated Dutch news for weeks now. It was released on the net today in the hope of stunting negative reaction. Time will tell. [Edit - film deleted from site as at 5:28pm AEST]
British Airways (BA) and the British Airports Authority (BAA) have launched their much lauded A$9.4 billion Terminal 5 at Heathrow as a p
remier example of how not to do a grand opening. Today, here in Australia, there are still reports on its third day of operation of 20% cancellation of flights by BA. 'Terminal' would best describe the last couple of days. To be fair, every new airport opening has its issues, but on the German radio news in the car coming back from the beach, it stated that many terminal employees felt under trained and ill prepared for the launch. I think Denver airport was the last great baggage handling/opening disaster, but really - did it have to be that tragic for passengers and staff alike? 5b euros of egg on the face is alot for BA and BAA to wipe off. There's always Manchester and Amsterdam for European entry points. 'ABH' is often quoted at travel agents - 'anything but Heathrow'.
[Balloon promoting Earth Hour above Brisbane] Speakin
g of airlines, Virgin Blue, the incredibly successful Brisbane-based airline launched in Australia by Sir Richard Branson, hosts a charity ball tonight attend by Sir Dick himself. We are all being asked to turn off our lights for 60 minutes between 8-9 tonight: (from the Brisbane Times 29/3) Earth Hour will be celebrated with a mammoth candle-lit feast at Virgin Blue's inaugural Charity Hangar Ball. From 8pm, hosts Sir Richard Branson, Premier Anna Bligh and Virgin Blue co-founder and CEO Brett Godfrey will join millions of people in some of the world's major capital cities, including Copenhagen, Toronto, Chicago, Melbourne, Sydney and Tel Aviv, in switching off the lights to help save the planet.
More than 3500 guests, staff, musicians, dancers and performers, including Marcia Hines and her band, Evermore, Maske and Rogue Traders will take part in what m
ay be Australia's largest candlelight dinner.
Guests at the Hangar Ball will also have the chance to bid on incredible items and "money can't usually buy" experiences, including a week's stay at Sir Richard Branson's private game park in Africa.
The beneficiary charities of the event, which will be revealed on the night, were nominated by Virgin Blue staff around the theme "Indigenous Peoples, Natural Environment".
Tibet haunts the Chinese as they prepare for the launch of the Beijing Olympics. The Air China torch carrying plane looked very smart this week in Beijing.
I personally think it's far too late to boycott the event. Why should athletes be penalised when corporate bosses are not asked to withdraw from trade with China? I realise it's easy to attack a soft target and heap criticism on the sporting movement for participating, but this should have been decided 10 years ago.
The Democrat Primaries continue with this and that revealed about the character of both aspirants. I'm currently reading Gore Vidal's "Point to Point Navigation" and I was alerted to a blog with this quote from Mr Vidal: "We have one party: we have the party of essentially corporate America. It has two right wings, one called Democratic, one called Republican." I said outloud in this very bedroom I currently use as an office "my bloody oath!" - which is Australian speak for 'never a truer word'.
Enough for now. Many thanks to all who have communicated with me regarding the blog and life in general. I notice that the counter is heading towards 2000 hits - not bad since the first 1000 took 11 months from January to November last year.
Monday 24 March 2008
Easter 2008
I hope your Easter was terrific. Mine has been OK, with a little bit of socialising going on, but no trips away. On Thursday afternoon whilst driving home from Brisbane to the coast I thought all of Brisbane was coming to the Sunshine Coast for Easter.
Did Easter come around early for you? It certainly was for me, but I read on Saturday where it won't be as early again for another 152 years (2285). Hmmm, I don't think I have to worry - or you either LOL.
Last Wednesday at one of the schools I visit they had a visit from the Easter Bunny. Well, the little kids were absolutely spellbound, and the not so young pupils just a little bemused (plus trying to guess who was in the costume). I helped the day before at another school by placing coloured sticks in the garden for an egg hunt - you traded the stick once found for an egg. We'd had a shower or three, so the eggs were kept clean and dry (not that the kids could have cared less, they'd have eaten them anyway, dirty wrapper or not).
Last Wednesday I went to the house after school to see the air conditioning person who is installing the ducted air conditioning. We went upstairs and down, deciding where the sensors would be in the seven separate zones. I also had to approve the site outside for the unit, and the ducting in the ceilings etc etc. Whilst I was there the roof was going on, but I have yet to see it finished. There were six or seven men working on the place, some doing roofing, some doing the weatherboard walls on the outside. No pictures, but I'm going back this Wednesday so I should have more for the next update. Rene should be meeting with the electrician this week and I had a conversation with the cabinet maker confirming our kitchen cupboards etc, and he's getting started within three weeks on the various rooms (laundry, bathrooms, kitchen). Suffice to say Rene and I are exceedingly happy with the progress.
The Premier Anna Bligh announced over the weekend that Brisbane is going to seek expressions of interest in providing the city with triple bendy buses (just like the ones used successfully for years in Utrecht). Hooray, at last, a sensible solution for the public transport sector in Brisbane. I can't speak
highly enough of their value and usefulness on high density bus routes. I hope they get some trial ones really soon, because at peak hours the buses in Brisbane are just stretched to the limit.
We went to a Dutch neighbours apartment for afternoon tea last Saturday at 2pm and ended up coming home around 9:30. There were a couple of friends of hers there too, and we ended up so engrossed in conversation and drinking (oh, plus eating afternoon tea) that it got dark quickly. The visitors came upstairs to see the gallery, and when we came back Gina had a delicious seafood crepe prepared for dinner - that was a pleasant surprise. Incidentally, one of the visiting friends was from Acland, near Oakey originally and had been to Harlaxton School in Toowoomba. We did the usual bit of trying to find people we knew in common and came up with a huge list. He even knew one of the guys who drove our family from Brisbane Airport to Toowoomba when we arrived in Australia in 1964. What a small world!
Two people drowned at the Gold Coast over the Easter break. One of them drowned after drinking all night and going into the surf just before daylight. I suggest in that case it's probably Darwin's Theory in practice. Our beaches have been quite treacherous this season because of the erosion from the huge storms. Add to that the thousands of people booked for speeding and drink driving, even driving without a belt on, and you just have to wonder what the authorities have left to do to counteract the idiots around us. I don't care if they gamble with their own lives, that's their choice, but when it comes to endangering the lives of others - well, I really have no answer.
Our short break has ended today with a short drive to an indigenous art gallery at Tewantin, near Noosa. Afterwards we had a delightfully delicious lunch at 'The Harbour Master Restaurant' at Noosa Marina. We had a table beside the water overlooking the river and it was sublime. I really recommend it. http://www.noosamarina.com.au/dining.php?id=39
Now, regular readers will no doubt know I love my food (you did read the previous paragraph didn't you?). Well, to my delight, after 4 months on the coast, I have found a shop which not only sells beautiful fruit and vegies, but also some grocery lines, has a great cafe inside AND a full service delicatessen. It is far superior to The Clayfield Markets (because of the extra service from the cafe and deli) and would easily give Zone Fresh in Brisbane a run for its money. The place is called Warana Markets, it's on Nicklin Way, just opposite A Mart furniture. Oh, I forgot nearly, it has a huge range of Dutch products too. If you're up this way, call in and try it out. http://www.theweekender.com.au/eatdrink_det.php?id=105
I'm out of time, have to do some work here. I'll leave you with two useless bits of trivia that caught my attention this week: 1) I always thought Los Angeles and (say) JFK would be major airports for traffic, but if one was to look at the top three airports in the world, they are as follows: (2007) The world's top airports were the two leading US hubs of Atlanta, which processed nearly 90 million travellers, and Chicago O'Hare, which handled over 76 million, and London's Heathrow which saw 68 million pass through. 2) The Dutch are the world's #1 producer and exporter of flowers (they have 70% of the cut flower world trade). They are also big in bulb exports:
4 billion bulbs exported last year
Most of the Netherlands bulb exports go to the US. The Netherlands exported 4 billion flower bulbs last year, 5 percent more than in 2006. Almost a quarter of these (more than 900 million) went to the US. This emerged from figures published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on Wednesday. Other countries which imported many bulbs included Germany (more than 600 million), the UK (319 million), Japan (236 million) and France (220 million).Half of the export was tulip bulbs, followed by gladiolas (a quarter), daffodils (14 percent), and hyacinths (4 percent).
Enough! I hear you cry. OK, once again have a great (short) week and catch you soon with another update. TTFN (Ta Ta For Now).
Did Easter come around early for you? It certainly was for me, but I read on Saturday where it won't be as early again for another 152 years (2285). Hmmm, I don't think I have to worry - or you either LOL.
Last Wednesday at one of the schools I visit they had a visit from the Easter Bunny. Well, the little kids were absolutely spellbound, and the not so young pupils just a little bemused (plus trying to guess who was in the costume). I helped the day before at another school by placing coloured sticks in the garden for an egg hunt - you traded the stick once found for an egg. We'd had a shower or three, so the eggs were kept clean and dry (not that the kids could have cared less, they'd have eaten them anyway, dirty wrapper or not).
Last Wednesday I went to the house after school to see the air conditioning person who is installing the ducted air conditioning. We went upstairs and down, deciding where the sensors would be in the seven separate zones. I also had to approve the site outside for the unit, and the ducting in the ceilings etc etc. Whilst I was there the roof was going on, but I have yet to see it finished. There were six or seven men working on the place, some doing roofing, some doing the weatherboard walls on the outside. No pictures, but I'm going back this Wednesday so I should have more for the next update. Rene should be meeting with the electrician this week and I had a conversation with the cabinet maker confirming our kitchen cupboards etc, and he's getting started within three weeks on the various rooms (laundry, bathrooms, kitchen). Suffice to say Rene and I are exceedingly happy with the progress.
The Premier Anna Bligh announced over the weekend that Brisbane is going to seek expressions of interest in providing the city with triple bendy buses (just like the ones used successfully for years in Utrecht). Hooray, at last, a sensible solution for the public transport sector in Brisbane. I can't speak
highly enough of their value and usefulness on high density bus routes. I hope they get some trial ones really soon, because at peak hours the buses in Brisbane are just stretched to the limit.We went to a Dutch neighbours apartment for afternoon tea last Saturday at 2pm and ended up coming home around 9:30. There were a couple of friends of hers there too, and we ended up so engrossed in conversation and drinking (oh, plus eating afternoon tea) that it got dark quickly. The visitors came upstairs to see the gallery, and when we came back Gina had a delicious seafood crepe prepared for dinner - that was a pleasant surprise. Incidentally, one of the visiting friends was from Acland, near Oakey originally and had been to Harlaxton School in Toowoomba. We did the usual bit of trying to find people we knew in common and came up with a huge list. He even knew one of the guys who drove our family from Brisbane Airport to Toowoomba when we arrived in Australia in 1964. What a small world!
Two people drowned at the Gold Coast over the Easter break. One of them drowned after drinking all night and going into the surf just before daylight. I suggest in that case it's probably Darwin's Theory in practice. Our beaches have been quite treacherous this season because of the erosion from the huge storms. Add to that the thousands of people booked for speeding and drink driving, even driving without a belt on, and you just have to wonder what the authorities have left to do to counteract the idiots around us. I don't care if they gamble with their own lives, that's their choice, but when it comes to endangering the lives of others - well, I really have no answer.
Our short break has ended today with a short drive to an indigenous art gallery at Tewantin, near Noosa. Afterwards we had a delightfully delicious lunch at 'The Harbour Master Restaurant' at Noosa Marina. We had a table beside the water overlooking the river and it was sublime. I really recommend it. http://www.noosamarina.com.au/dining.php?id=39
Now, regular readers will no doubt know I love my food (you did read the previous paragraph didn't you?). Well, to my delight, after 4 months on the coast, I have found a shop which not only sells beautiful fruit and vegies, but also some grocery lines, has a great cafe inside AND a full service delicatessen. It is far superior to The Clayfield Markets (because of the extra service from the cafe and deli) and would easily give Zone Fresh in Brisbane a run for its money. The place is called Warana Markets, it's on Nicklin Way, just opposite A Mart furniture. Oh, I forgot nearly, it has a huge range of Dutch products too. If you're up this way, call in and try it out. http://www.theweekender.com.au/eatdrink_det.php?id=105
I'm out of time, have to do some work here. I'll leave you with two useless bits of trivia that caught my attention this week: 1) I always thought Los Angeles and (say) JFK would be major airports for traffic, but if one was to look at the top three airports in the world, they are as follows: (2007) The world's top airports were the two leading US hubs of Atlanta, which processed nearly 90 million travellers, and Chicago O'Hare, which handled over 76 million, and London's Heathrow which saw 68 million pass through. 2) The Dutch are the world's #1 producer and exporter of flowers (they have 70% of the cut flower world trade). They are also big in bulb exports:
4 billion bulbs exported last year
Most of the Netherlands bulb exports go to the US. The Netherlands exported 4 billion flower bulbs last year, 5 percent more than in 2006. Almost a quarter of these (more than 900 million) went to the US. This emerged from figures published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on Wednesday. Other countries which imported many bulbs included Germany (more than 600 million), the UK (319 million), Japan (236 million) and France (220 million).Half of the export was tulip bulbs, followed by gladiolas (a quarter), daffodils (14 percent), and hyacinths (4 percent).
Enough! I hear you cry. OK, once again have a great (short) week and catch you soon with another update. TTFN (Ta Ta For Now).
Monday 17 March 2008
Monday again already?
Today is overcast but warm, therefore it's kind of nice to not have to react to the day - it's not cool, hot, too sunny, too windy....it's just there.
Poor old Rene isn't feeling 100% because he has an ear infection and it is giving him some discomfort. He is rarely sick, never ever complains, but right now he's gone to bed for the afternoon with two paracetamol - unheard of. He saw a doctor on Saturday who gave him antibiotics and drops, so I hope he improves soon.
We had a lovely weekend with a visit to friends after lunch Saturday and then off to an Apple tutorial in The Valley - this was incredibly useful and helpful to Rene. His love affair with his iMac continues and gets stronger the more he learns about short cuts and little 'tricks of the trade'. We followed that with dinner at friends in Lota, and as usual it was delicious and much fun. Sunday afternoon we had lunch with our American friends who have just moved house in Holland Park, Brisbane. They have our old white refrigerator. I was really surprised at just how much I loved their new home and the way they are decorating it. It has a wonderful spirit about it, very welcoming and of course, very much reflecting the new occupants.
The first thing we did on Saturday upon hitting Brisbane was to visit the new house. It is really moving ahead, with scaffolding everywhere and a secure ladder to the first floor, there
fore we went upstairs for the very first time. I think 'excited' doesn't do the place justice. I really love the way it is coming together. This is a serious challenge when one considers that it is our own design, therefore essentially it hasn't been done anywhere before. Of course, a 
house is a house, but it's really lovely seeing the components coming together as a whole. Still early days, but it's looking fabulous (and BIG). In one photo you can see how we look down from up on high over the park and the creek. 
The gallery space & workshop
This evening we're off to dinner with friends. It can't be too late because I have work Tuesday, but it should be lovely. There's a possibility it'll be a soul food restaurant that opened in Mooloolaba not long ago. I'll let you know.
Easter is upon us. That's certainly come around fast again. The traffic is going to be bad coming home on Thursday afternoon because everyone wants to escape to the Sunshine Coast for the long weekend. I received an email this morning from a friend in The Hague who says that the Dutch traffic is also getting heavier and the traffic jams earlier and longer every day. Nice to know we are not unique.
A joke and a picture or three to finish off. Take care and have a great week, and an especially good Easter break.
Poor old Rene isn't feeling 100% because he has an ear infection and it is giving him some discomfort. He is rarely sick, never ever complains, but right now he's gone to bed for the afternoon with two paracetamol - unheard of. He saw a doctor on Saturday who gave him antibiotics and drops, so I hope he improves soon.
We had a lovely weekend with a visit to friends after lunch Saturday and then off to an Apple tutorial in The Valley - this was incredibly useful and helpful to Rene. His love affair with his iMac continues and gets stronger the more he learns about short cuts and little 'tricks of the trade'. We followed that with dinner at friends in Lota, and as usual it was delicious and much fun. Sunday afternoon we had lunch with our American friends who have just moved house in Holland Park, Brisbane. They have our old white refrigerator. I was really surprised at just how much I loved their new home and the way they are decorating it. It has a wonderful spirit about it, very welcoming and of course, very much reflecting the new occupants.
The first thing we did on Saturday upon hitting Brisbane was to visit the new house. It is really moving ahead, with scaffolding everywhere and a secure ladder to the first floor, there
fore we went upstairs for the very first time. I think 'excited' doesn't do the place justice. I really love the way it is coming together. This is a serious challenge when one considers that it is our own design, therefore essentially it hasn't been done anywhere before. Of course, a 
house is a house, but it's really lovely seeing the components coming together as a whole. Still early days, but it's looking fabulous (and BIG). In one photo you can see how we look down from up on high over the park and the creek. The gallery space & workshopThis evening we're off to dinner with friends. It can't be too late because I have work Tuesday, but it should be lovely. There's a possibility it'll be a soul food restaurant that opened in Mooloolaba not long ago. I'll let you know.
Easter is upon us. That's certainly come around fast again. The traffic is going to be bad coming home on Thursday afternoon because everyone wants to escape to the Sunshine Coast for the long weekend. I received an email this morning from a friend in The Hague who says that the Dutch traffic is also getting heavier and the traffic jams earlier and longer every day. Nice to know we are not unique.
A joke and a picture or three to finish off. Take care and have a great week, and an especially good Easter break.
Got this joke from a female friend of mine, heard it a long time ago, but it's funny...
THE MIRACLE OF TOILET PAPER Fresh from my shower, I stood in front of the mirror complaining to my husband that my breasts are too small. Instead of romantically telling me this is not true, he uncharacteristically comes up with a suggestion: 'If you want your Breasts to grow, then take a piece of toilet paper and rub it between them for a few seconds every day'. Willing to try anything, I got a piece of toilet paper and stood in front of the mirror, rubbing it between my breasts. How long will this take?' I asked. They will grow larger over a period of years,' my husband replies. I stopped. 'Do you really think rubbing a piece of toilet paper between my breasts every day will make my breasts larger over the years?' Without missing a beat he said 'Worked for your bum, didn't it?' He's still alive, and with a great deal of therapy, he may even walk again although he will probably continue to take his meals through a straw. Stupid, stupid man.
Monday 10 March 2008
March 10 already?
Last week we attended the funeral of my sister in law's father, Aiden. It was a full mass with three priests in attendance - the local parish priest (around 80), a 70 year old priest from a church my sister in law Kathy attends, and another priest who was related to the family. Lots of family and friends, from across Queensland. Kathy's Mum and Dad would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this October - what an achievement! Kathy's nursing colleagues/friends helped back at the house and so a very painful experience was lightened somewhat. I wish her mother, Mary, well in adjusting to her new circumstance - it is never easy.
Many references were made to the after life and the Spirit and many other things that true believers believe in. Sadly, I don't. I sort of wish I did since it gives great solace to those who do - but maybe I'll change my point of view in years to come. I know several friends who regularly pray for me - I'm just too cynical I guess. Not sure...
We've been very social this last weekend with a card night at nearby Palmwoods which went until 2am then a trivia night in Brisbane, again to bed after 2am, and last night to a Dutch neighbour's apartment for dinner - absolutely delicious. Today, Monday, Rene and I went into Maroochydore and parked at Cotton Tree and went for a walk around the shops and across the beach, around the point into Maroochydore, lunch at The Deli Co (delicious!) and home again - after a visit to a hardware store. I'm ready for my three day teaching week, fully rested.
Last Saturday we called in to see how the house is progressing. The fra
me is almost completed, and it now looks quite large. I love the height of the ceilings, 270cm tall downstairs and up to 310cm upstairs. We haven't been to the top floor yet, but for the first timer we could see the depth and width of the front deck where we'll do lots of living and entertaining. Very nice indeed. Because we jut out into the park we don't have a road in front of us, just a driveway, so we are set back just 3m from the boundary at the front.
Only about 10 days to Easter. It is really early this year. The Queensland school vacation for the end of Term 1 is a fortnight after the Easter break, a first in recent memory. We have visitors for the term break but as yet nobody for the Easter break. Maybe we'll go somewhere, who knows?
Ne
xt Saturday in Brisbane Rene is attending an Apple tutorial in James St, Fortitude Valley. He's had his iMac for around a month or more now and just loves it to pieces. This tutorial will guide him through things that he's not been able to learn himself. I will spend the time at a movie at the Palace Centro next door, then we're off to Lota for dinner and the night. Any suggestions for what I should go and see?
Oh, we saw "Pan's Labyrinth" on DVD the other evening. What an excellent film. This Spanish movie deserved all of its awards - catch it if you can, especially on DVD because the 'extras' DVD is really fascinating to watch afterwards.
Many references were made to the after life and the Spirit and many other things that true believers believe in. Sadly, I don't. I sort of wish I did since it gives great solace to those who do - but maybe I'll change my point of view in years to come. I know several friends who regularly pray for me - I'm just too cynical I guess. Not sure...
We've been very social this last weekend with a card night at nearby Palmwoods which went until 2am then a trivia night in Brisbane, again to bed after 2am, and last night to a Dutch neighbour's apartment for dinner - absolutely delicious. Today, Monday, Rene and I went into Maroochydore and parked at Cotton Tree and went for a walk around the shops and across the beach, around the point into Maroochydore, lunch at The Deli Co (delicious!) and home again - after a visit to a hardware store. I'm ready for my three day teaching week, fully rested.
Last Saturday we called in to see how the house is progressing. The fra
me is almost completed, and it now looks quite large. I love the height of the ceilings, 270cm tall downstairs and up to 310cm upstairs. We haven't been to the top floor yet, but for the first timer we could see the depth and width of the front deck where we'll do lots of living and entertaining. Very nice indeed. Because we jut out into the park we don't have a road in front of us, just a driveway, so we are set back just 3m from the boundary at the front.
Only about 10 days to Easter. It is really early this year. The Queensland school vacation for the end of Term 1 is a fortnight after the Easter break, a first in recent memory. We have visitors for the term break but as yet nobody for the Easter break. Maybe we'll go somewhere, who knows?
Ne
xt Saturday in Brisbane Rene is attending an Apple tutorial in James St, Fortitude Valley. He's had his iMac for around a month or more now and just loves it to pieces. This tutorial will guide him through things that he's not been able to learn himself. I will spend the time at a movie at the Palace Centro next door, then we're off to Lota for dinner and the night. Any suggestions for what I should go and see?Oh, we saw "Pan's Labyrinth" on DVD the other evening. What an excellent film. This Spanish movie deserved all of its awards - catch it if you can, especially on DVD because the 'extras' DVD is really fascinating to watch afterwards.
Monday 3 March 2008
Bloody cold!
No, not the weather (although it has cooled off a bit), it's my head. Since last Thursday night I've been invaded by bugs that make my throat sore, my eyes water, my nose run. Four days later I'm still sleeping in the spare room - it's no fun coughing, sneezing and feeling restless and making your partner suffer too, so for the fourth night I sleep in quarantine.
You, the regular reader, will surely realise that I'm not prone to bouts of melancholy, but over the weekend I felt really flat, and the last thing I wanted to do was update this blog. Therefore one can only conclude with the arrival of this update that I'm feeling much better (I'm presently reading Gore Vidal's "P
oint to Point Navigation" - does it show?).
A week ago I did rise very early at 4:15am to catch the arrival of the Queen Victoria off the coast here at Caloundra. Well, I, along with many others, missed the passing of the 90 000 tonne cruise ship because it arrived off the coast an hour earlier than scheduled. After 45 minutes of staring out to a murky, dark ocean I set out
for Brisbane to catch its arrival at the port. The whole thing was being covered by ABC Radio in Brisbane, that's how I found out about its 7am arrival, not 8am as in all the media and even port details online. I made it as it was just berthing, and ten minutes later the P&O Oriana also arrived, and the two ships blasted their horns deafening the port. It was proceeding to the cruise terminal, whereas the Victoria had to berth at the merchant vessel wharves since it's too big to fit under the Gateway Bridge. Regardless, I met some very interesting folk also welcoming the ship, and to say it looked impressive would be an understatement. Very beautiful indeed. I had my camera as well as phone camera, so I took
(The final picture is sunset from our balcony last Friday)
You, the regular reader, will surely realise that I'm not prone to bouts of melancholy, but over the weekend I felt really flat, and the last thing I wanted to do was update this blog. Therefore one can only conclude with the arrival of this update that I'm feeling much better (I'm presently reading Gore Vidal's "P
oint to Point Navigation" - does it show?).A week ago I did rise very early at 4:15am to catch the arrival of the Queen Victoria off the coast here at Caloundra. Well, I, along with many others, missed the passing of the 90 000 tonne cruise ship because it arrived off the coast an hour earlier than scheduled. After 45 minutes of staring out to a murky, dark ocean I set out
for Brisbane to catch its arrival at the port. The whole thing was being covered by ABC Radio in Brisbane, that's how I found out about its 7am arrival, not 8am as in all the media and even port details online. I made it as it was just berthing, and ten minutes later the P&O Oriana also arrived, and the two ships blasted their horns deafening the port. It was proceeding to the cruise terminal, whereas the Victoria had to berth at the merchant vessel wharves since it's too big to fit under the Gateway Bridge. Regardless, I met some very interesting folk also welcoming the ship, and to say it looked impressive would be an understatement. Very beautiful indeed. I had my camera as well as phone camera, so I took
plenty of pictures.
The
house is moving ever upwards. The first floor framing was reached by last Friday and today the carpenters said the roof trusses would be coming either Wednesday or Thursday. I saw it for the first time today, but I didn't walk around because it's a work site and it's frowned upon. Late this Wed
nesday Rene and I hope to have a good walk around after the builders have gone.
Finally today I should add the sad news that my sister in law Kathy's father passed away at 5:45am last Friday. The funeral is in Toowoomba on Wednesday morning. Aiden suffered many setbacks in the health department and the final months were a challenge to both him and his family. He was a real gentleman in every sense of the word. Funny that he came up to me after my dad's funeral in 1989 and, slightly ashen, said he really thought he'd be the first one to go. Well, Aiden, you ended up having a bloody good innings.
Rest in peace.
(The final picture is sunset from our balcony last Friday)
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