Thursday 30 July 2009
Sunday 26 July 2009
Half way through winter
What winter? We have had cold nights but gloriously warm to even hot days. No rain sadly, and we do need some now. I met some Germans on a boat trip yesterday and they said the weather was like it was when they left home a week before, and that was their summer.
It is amazing how we here in Brisbane just take the place for granted. Just yesterday I went on a trip to Tangalooma, a resort on Moreton Island, just 75 minutes from Brisbane. From there our group (of Airport Ambassadors) went whale watching where we saw a rare Southern Right Whale and a pod of three humpbacks. (edit) A day later the sighting of the Right Whale has made the evening news - it is that rare!
The trip was delightfully rough for a few minutes where the protected island water meets the open sea. The trimaran certainly handled it well, and just plowed through the worst of the waves.
It was a bit showery just before noon at the island, but they soon cleared and the afternoon was quite hot and calm. The photo is of an unusual whale, the Southern Right - named because it would right itself and not sink when killed, whereas the humpback would sink and would require filling with gas to be dragged back to shore. The Southern Right was just feeding in the shallow waters inside the bay, and circled us, feeding constantly. The humpbacks came very close to the vessel (you are not allowed to approach them though) and we had a look up close at three juveniles. The island also has dolphin and dugong tours, so it is well worth a stay or just simply a day trip like we did.
We have had two nights in a row out to dinner with friends just returned from trips overseas. It was lovely hearing their stories, and they also wanted to hear details about our forthcoming marriage. I must mention here that documentation has to be supplied to The Netherlands in The Hague to verify that (1) I have never been married in The Netherlands, (2) I'm not currently married in Australia - requires certificate that I'm single and have no impediment to marriage, then (3) my birth certificate from England copied within the last six months and verified (has an Apostille Stamp applied). Although I have my original birth certificate from 1950 it is not good enough. Rene has has also to supply Apostille Stamped documents. There are going to be quite a few registered mail items flowing from Australia to Britain and Holland in the next few weeks.
Ten days ago I received my new Australian passport, and this is a new 'e' passport complete with beautiful designs on every page. In Australia I can go up to a machine to have immigration processed on departure and arrival here in Australia. I merely smile at the camera and press my passport down on a scanner and 'hey presto!', you're processed.
We have a house warming at my nephew's new home on the south side next weekend, and I have six of my next eight shifts at the airport in International, so that will be fascinating. I've already done one there, the remainder at Domestic.
My hours at one school have been slightly extended with the arrival of two twin 10 year old orphaned boys from Guinea in West Africa. They speak Pidgin English and Vai - an African language from the border region of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. They are most charming, well groomed and well mannered. Their grandmother here in Brisbane will look after them. My extra support will be for their teacher so I will work both within the classroom and possibly withdraw them also for some special cultural education - I bet you didn't know we Aussies have a culture, but we do :)
Just eight weeks until I fly to the US. A colleague came back from the S
tates last week and whilst she and her family were in Las Vegas, she stayed where I recommended - Signatures, behind the MGM Grand. She was most impressed, and brought me back some Ghirardelli chocolate plus some Cointreau (ok, a miniature).
It is amazing how we here in Brisbane just take the place for granted. Just yesterday I went on a trip to Tangalooma, a resort on Moreton Island, just 75 minutes from Brisbane. From there our group (of Airport Ambassadors) went whale watching where we saw a rare Southern Right Whale and a pod of three humpbacks. (edit) A day later the sighting of the Right Whale has made the evening news - it is that rare!
The trip was delightfully rough for a few minutes where the protected island water meets the open sea. The trimaran certainly handled it well, and just plowed through the worst of the waves.
It was a bit showery just before noon at the island, but they soon cleared and the afternoon was quite hot and calm. The photo is of an unusual whale, the Southern Right - named because it would right itself and not sink when killed, whereas the humpback would sink and would require filling with gas to be dragged back to shore. The Southern Right was just feeding in the shallow waters inside the bay, and circled us, feeding constantly. The humpbacks came very close to the vessel (you are not allowed to approach them though) and we had a look up close at three juveniles. The island also has dolphin and dugong tours, so it is well worth a stay or just simply a day trip like we did.
We have had two nights in a row out to dinner with friends just returned from trips overseas. It was lovely hearing their stories, and they also wanted to hear details about our forthcoming marriage. I must mention here that documentation has to be supplied to The Netherlands in The Hague to verify that (1) I have never been married in The Netherlands, (2) I'm not currently married in Australia - requires certificate that I'm single and have no impediment to marriage, then (3) my birth certificate from England copied within the last six months and verified (has an Apostille Stamp applied). Although I have my original birth certificate from 1950 it is not good enough. Rene has has also to supply Apostille Stamped documents. There are going to be quite a few registered mail items flowing from Australia to Britain and Holland in the next few weeks.
Ten days ago I received my new Australian passport, and this is a new 'e' passport complete with beautiful designs on every page. In Australia I can go up to a machine to have immigration processed on departure and arrival here in Australia. I merely smile at the camera and press my passport down on a scanner and 'hey presto!', you're processed.
We have a house warming at my nephew's new home on the south side next weekend, and I have six of my next eight shifts at the airport in International, so that will be fascinating. I've already done one there, the remainder at Domestic.
My hours at one school have been slightly extended with the arrival of two twin 10 year old orphaned boys from Guinea in West Africa. They speak Pidgin English and Vai - an African language from the border region of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. They are most charming, well groomed and well mannered. Their grandmother here in Brisbane will look after them. My extra support will be for their teacher so I will work both within the classroom and possibly withdraw them also for some special cultural education - I bet you didn't know we Aussies have a culture, but we do :)
Just eight weeks until I fly to the US. A colleague came back from the S
tates last week and whilst she and her family were in Las Vegas, she stayed where I recommended - Signatures, behind the MGM Grand. She was most impressed, and brought me back some Ghirardelli chocolate plus some Cointreau (ok, a miniature).
Saturday 11 July 2009
More details as promised...
Today the tickets were booked on China Airlines for Amsterdam in December. We'll have two nights in Taipei on the way back to break up the long return journey. Many thanks for the loads of emails, texts and phone calls since the announcement yesterday. We are both very happy, and even a little bit excited.
Here in Australia we have every legal document drafted and signed regarding the two of us, but it is still one step short of marriage. Frankly, we both decided we didn't want to get married, although while Rene's sister and partner were getting married here on Straddie last October, we both mellowed slightly in that department. Perhaps a commitment ceremony on Straddie? Yes, that seemed a nice possibility.
Last week Rene received his invitation to a citizenship ceremony in August. At a recent dinner he had mentioned this ceremony to a Dutch person across the table. He stated that as far as he knew, since 2003 you couldn't be a single person in the eyes of the Dutch Government and accept a passport of another country without relinquishing the Dutch passport. No dual citizenship for single Dutch people. Now, if you are married, you are allowed to take the dual citizenship - the citizenship of your partner's country. Hence the postponement until Australia Day 2010 (January 26) of Rene's Australian citizenship ceremony and a trip to The Netherlands to get married in a civil ceremony. I might just mention here that the Australian Government, although not having same sex marriage yet, still allows Dutch citizens the right to have both Australian and Dutch passports.
The nearest Dutch embassy with a civil servant working in it is Hanoi, Vietnam. Another works out of Bangkok, Thailand. We could either have been married in Asia, or for just a few hundred extra dollars, married with friends and family around us. Another plus is seeing everyone in Nederlands for the first time in five years. Christmas and New Year in Europe sounds very exciting and even romantic to me. I still remember walking along a canal arm in arm with Rene, through the gently falling snow, on January 1 2004 on the way to our favourite cafe in the early evening, bathed in the soft yellow of the street lamps. Cold? Not at all, in fact I was so fired up I was as warm as toast. Rene tends to do that to me sometimes (feel free to place a gentle 'sigh' here).
OK, we are being very pragmatic here; we need to marry in order to allow Rene the chance to have all the rights of an Australian, including the important right to vote. Hip hip hooray for pragmatism is all I can say.
Anybody have any recommendations regarding two nights in Taipei? I've never been there before. Feel free to submit all ideas to the 'comments' section.
I have done four shifts at the airport, each time in Domestic. This Saturday I have my first shift at International. My fourth shift yesterday at Domestic was quiet and the four hours dragged a bit, but luckily the first three shifts went quickly and I was really happy with the work. I like helping people and offering answers and advice. We have around 100 volunteers, with between 10 and 15 on duty every day 7am - 2:45pm across both terminals.
School resumes this week with me working an extra day setting up an art expo of work done by some of my ESL refugee children with a couple of art therapists. There's also lots of paperwork to do with plotting children on band scales and so on, so it's back to the grindstone. Luckily I feel like I've had a terrific break over the past fortnight.
Here in Australia we have every legal document drafted and signed regarding the two of us, but it is still one step short of marriage. Frankly, we both decided we didn't want to get married, although while Rene's sister and partner were getting married here on Straddie last October, we both mellowed slightly in that department. Perhaps a commitment ceremony on Straddie? Yes, that seemed a nice possibility.
Last week Rene received his invitation to a citizenship ceremony in August. At a recent dinner he had mentioned this ceremony to a Dutch person across the table. He stated that as far as he knew, since 2003 you couldn't be a single person in the eyes of the Dutch Government and accept a passport of another country without relinquishing the Dutch passport. No dual citizenship for single Dutch people. Now, if you are married, you are allowed to take the dual citizenship - the citizenship of your partner's country. Hence the postponement until Australia Day 2010 (January 26) of Rene's Australian citizenship ceremony and a trip to The Netherlands to get married in a civil ceremony. I might just mention here that the Australian Government, although not having same sex marriage yet, still allows Dutch citizens the right to have both Australian and Dutch passports.
The nearest Dutch embassy with a civil servant working in it is Hanoi, Vietnam. Another works out of Bangkok, Thailand. We could either have been married in Asia, or for just a few hundred extra dollars, married with friends and family around us. Another plus is seeing everyone in Nederlands for the first time in five years. Christmas and New Year in Europe sounds very exciting and even romantic to me. I still remember walking along a canal arm in arm with Rene, through the gently falling snow, on January 1 2004 on the way to our favourite cafe in the early evening, bathed in the soft yellow of the street lamps. Cold? Not at all, in fact I was so fired up I was as warm as toast. Rene tends to do that to me sometimes (feel free to place a gentle 'sigh' here).
OK, we are being very pragmatic here; we need to marry in order to allow Rene the chance to have all the rights of an Australian, including the important right to vote. Hip hip hooray for pragmatism is all I can say.
Anybody have any recommendations regarding two nights in Taipei? I've never been there before. Feel free to submit all ideas to the 'comments' section.
I have done four shifts at the airport, each time in Domestic. This Saturday I have my first shift at International. My fourth shift yesterday at Domestic was quiet and the four hours dragged a bit, but luckily the first three shifts went quickly and I was really happy with the work. I like helping people and offering answers and advice. We have around 100 volunteers, with between 10 and 15 on duty every day 7am - 2:45pm across both terminals.
School resumes this week with me working an extra day setting up an art expo of work done by some of my ESL refugee children with a couple of art therapists. There's also lots of paperwork to do with plotting children on band scales and so on, so it's back to the grindstone. Luckily I feel like I've had a terrific break over the past fortnight.
Friday 10 July 2009
NEWSFLASH!
Surprise announcement from BrisbaneRene and I are getting married in The Netherlands at the end of this year. We booked the flights today on China Airlines and will be arriving in Amsterdam on December 21, just in time for Christmas. More news to come - watch this space...
Sunday 5 July 2009
July already!
Just where is the year going? Happy 4th for my American friends.
Rene and I are just back from the Redcliffe Peninsula where we went for a drive, a walk around, and of course Sunday lunch. It has been a lovely day, a bit overcast as the afternoon wore on, but nevertheless a lovely day.
Yesterday I went to a BBQ put on by my god daughter Amy and her partner Alex (he's Welsh you know). She's giving birth next month and is looking delightfully pregnant. Alex has done up the nursery and it looks stunning. Sorry I didn't take a picture, but I'll get one soon. It's a credit to him. Rene and I are having a quilt made for the baby (a boy) and it is nearly finished. It features a combination of Australian and Welsh themes, probably a dragon having fricasseed kangaroo. I had a lovely afternoon at their place with loads of friends there and food, food, food. Oh, drink, drink, drink too! Rene had to stay and look after the gallery. I got a lift back to Eagle Junction Station and then just walked across the park to home. A delightful day.
Last Monday Rene and I drove up through the Samford Valley up to Mt Glorious for lunch. It's terrific us both being on holidays because we can do these things on the days the gallery is closed. It was a superb winter's day, if anything a bit too hot sitting in the sun, but we weren't complaining. A delicious lunch under our belts and we were off to Mt Nebo and back into Brisbane through The Gap and Ashgrove. Brisbane is never going to be on the world's top 20 places to visit because we are too small and missing a major natural landmark or man made edifice, but ju
st where on this planet can you enjoy warm winter days, visit the mountains and the bay, all within 40 minutes drive of your home in inner Brisbane? Plus 50 minutes away you can be on the best island in the world - Straddie! Is this guy biased? Sure, but seriously though, not many places have so much to offer for ordinary folk like us.
Oh, I nearly
forgot - Mollie Sugden, Mrs Slocombe in "Are You Being Served", died on the 1st of July aged 86. We used to be in a trivia team each week called 'Mrs Slocombe's Pussy'. It folded at the end of last year and we morphed into 'No Replies'. She had been quite unwell for some time, so she's at peace now. My mother used to have hair that matched many of the shades Mrs Slocombe had in her hey day. Blue, purple/blue yes, pink - never!
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