TAILS TAILS TAILS TAILS TAILS

OK, you know I like commercial aircraft. These airlines are buying the new Boeing 787. I've added it here just to let you admire the creativity that goes into logos for airlines. Some are very simple, others quite intricate.

Webcam chat

Last Saturday evening Rene chatted on his webcam for over an hour and a half to his sister Claartje and her partner Jan who live in Son in the south of Holland. They are the proud owners of 'Splinter', a cocker spaniel they finally picked up near Birmingham last week. I'm reliably informed his bark is minus a 'Brummy' accent, and he is terribly cute. I also enjoyed a bit of a chat with them, but it was generally lovely to see and hear Rene speaking Dutch for a change.

Clayfield Terminus

You may remember I'm on a Brisbane City Council committee for the improvement of the streetscape in our section of main road (Sandgate Road) running through Clayfield shopping centre. It used once to be the terminus for the tramline in this area. I had this photo sent to me from the Tramway Society. It looks SO very old, worst of all I was one year old when it was taken, although I was living in England. The old art deco bank building in the background is now a very smart jewellers. Behind the shops was a cinema.

Segway Baby

I could say 'only in America' but you get my drift.

The Dutch do it better

Deaths per capita from road accidents are the lowest in the world in The Netherlands. Read the table. Australia is sort of halfway, but the USA is second worst (after Greece).

Paris, je T'aime was a very good film that I saw last Sunday with my friend Kay#1. 18 five minute films set in and around Paris, different directors and approaches. Ultimately a very satisfying film to watch, especially on the large screen.

OPERA

Tuesday already! We're just in from seeing Opera Queensland's production of "Madama Butterfly" and it was brilliant. Set, orchestra, singing, all really lovely. Tomorrow night I'm off to parliament house for a fundraiser tour and dinner. Friday I'm doing a solo trip to Toowoomba to see friends since I won't be able to for quite a while, certainly not on a Friday. Rene is staying home, working, plus preparing dinner for guests we have that night.

Hump Day Again

It's Wednesday already! The time has just flown by. A year older at 57, I had a wonderful birthday four days. It started on Friday with our friend Kay arriving from Toowoomba for the weekend. Saturday was lunch at Sandgate and a curry night at Di and Torquil's - there were ten of us there. Sunday was lunch at The Jetty at Manly and a coffee at the other Kay's house, then on Monday (the real day) Kay left for Toowoomba early, I followed to school. A special morning tea for me was followed by cake at my student's home where I tutor after school. While I was there Rene's sister and her partner rang me on my mobile from Holland. That was a real surprise. They've just picked up their new puppy 'Splinter' from England. I hope for a fresh picture any day soon so I can show you the cute cocker spaniel. The day ended with a surprise note on the kitchen bench when I got back at 6:45 from Rene saying "meet me at the Albion Hotel for dinner". When I arrived I had dinner with Rene plus Di and Torquil, so a perfectly special day for me. I always love a fuss on my birthday. On Tuesday there was even another special cake a day late at another of my schools. Fantastic!

Rene has got his permanent residency

After the delay in receiving the papers for his permanent residency, yesterday out of the blue - less than three weeks processing - his documents arrived in the mail. I'm stoked, he's a bit blase about it, pleased but taking it in his stride. I was so happy I bought him a bottle of very nice scotch to celebrate the event. We were lead to believe it would take up to five or six months after the application was lodged. At under three weeks, it was an amazing and pleasant surprise.

It's Friday Again...

It's amazing how fast each Friday comes around. I guess this is part of life, but with Monday looming and the big '57' hanging over my head, the 60's can't be very far off (shudder!!). Still, life's good. Yesterday Rene and I went off to the Tivoli here in Brisbane for the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow and we had the best of times. There was an MC plus four stand up comics, and it was brilliant. The last guy was an English comedian, and at times his jokes were so funny my eyes were watering and my sides were hurting. Great stuff!

Tonight Kay from Toowoomba has come down to Bris Vegas for the weekend to help celebrate my birthday. Our friends Di and Torquil are having a curry night tomorrow for my celebration and each set of guests is bringing their own dish. Rene made a delicious vegetable curry this afternoon. I know Peter Cronk is making a chicken one. There'll be lots and lots to eat plus loads of great wine. What a blast!

Rene's business name....

This name came to be whilst sitting on the loo on Friday night....don't ask me why my mind went to business names, it just did.

centredart.com.au

Any reactions or additional suggestions for a name for his art business, please send them to him or myself.

More chance encounters

Yesterday I found myself standing at the deli counter beside a lady whom I didn't recognise, but she recognised my voice. She introduced herself, and I discovered I had begun working with her as a fellow consultant 23 years ago. Also last Tuesday a mature aged student teacher in one of my school's classrooms identified herself to me and reminded me I had taught her in Years 1/2/3 at Gabbinbar in Toowoomba. She's now 37. With 57 looming in a week's time, I'm constantly reminded that I have been around a long time. It's sort of nice.

Oh, just something else I found on the net...

I love this...

Censorship in the Media

I found this this week on a blog, thought it might be interesting to share.

Missing Toddler in Portugal

The story of the abduction last Thursday week of a small girl in Portugal went unnoticed by me for some reason. Anyway, whilst attending an in- service last Wednesday, a participant turned out to be a close friend of this little girl's family. I heard about the awful circumstances and was feeling very sorry for this obviously upset woman half way around the world away from her friends. Yesterday I saw David Beckham appealing for information on the abduction. I also read where a wealthy Briton has put up a million pound reward for her return. I hope the outcome is successful.

Garfield Rules!

Found this ages ago. It's reminiscent of our reactions to a few drops of rain in a shower that ends as soon as it began.

Eurovision 2007 - compulsive revolting viewing

Eurovision 2007 winners from Serbia. I read an article from Holland where the Western European contestants are somewhat upset by an apparent push from the Eastern Bloc nations to vote for one another thus preventing former successful nations from getting a look in. Rene couldn't give a s*#@t. Me? I love Terry Wogan's commentry, the high camp crap that goes on, and best of all the unbelievably awful songs that entire nations appear to vote for to represent them. For us Aussies it's on SBS tonight from 7:30pm.

PS IT'S 8:40pm, BEEN DESERTED BY A VERY SENSIBLE RENE WHO'S GONE TO PLAY THE POKIES AT THE PUB. ME? I'M VIEWING THE PROGRAM AND WINCING AT TERRY WOGAN'S COMMENTRY - oh, also doing some preparation for this week (it's easy, try it!).

Sunday May 13

All's well, no rain, but life's great. Had Kit and Kay#1 over for dinner last night - I really don't like cooking but I produced silverbeet, pea and pancetta soup followed by beef bourguignonne with a whole bottle of red in it and rosti duaphinoise (shredded potato), finished off with plain ice cream and berry sauce. Add to that a couple of good bottles of red and great conversation - a very good night. Kit's leaving for the States again this Wednesday and will have his birthday there, so it was for his birthday plus mine - we're a week apart.

We're off to see an exhibition of aboriginal art at the University of Queensland this afternoon. We'll drive to Dutton Park and walk across the new 'green bridge' over the Brisbane River to the uni. We're meeting up with friends at the bridge. Should be good. The Premier was in New York this week and launched the book from the exhibition. After Brisbane it tours to Singapore and New York. Read more here http://www.maynecentre.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=56344&pid=0

PS WENT AND WAS VERY, VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE ART. IF YOU'RE IN BRISBANE, DON'T MISS IT. AS I SAID ABOVE, TOURING TO SINGAPORE AND NEW YORK. BERNADETTE CRONK AND MYSELF WENT HALVES ON THE BOOK FOR RENE'S BIRTHDAY (not until October).

Rene got back his last module assessment results, so he's finally finished his Small Business Management course. I'll help him celebrate it when the certificate arrives, but for now I'm really pleased for him. The results, of course, were excellent. He knows no less. Meanwhile I still have one unit to go.

First draft completed

Finally, today I can report the completion of the first draft of the program for the Korean camp for home stays coming to Brisbane. I am flying to Seoul on July 19 and the camp will last some two weeks. There'll be a little time for sightseeing, but work is the main order of the day. Upon my return I'll be organising ESL programs for the children at their schools in Brisbane. Fascinating work.

Madama Butterfly

In 1996 I saw Madam Butterfly at the Santa Fe Opera House with friends from the US and Scotland. It was a so so production. The orchestra was good, the open air opera house brilliant and the setting against a majestic mountain at sunset was stunning. The singing? Oh, it didn't do anything for me or my friends. Now Rene and I are to see the Opera Queensland production of Madama Butterfly (that extra 'a' seems to have come from somewhere in the last 10 years) on the 27th. It has had really good reviews and I'm looking forward to it enormously.

MORE VISITORS?

Rene's lovely sister and her partner may (just 'may' at this stage) be visiting us next year. There was a mention of the possibility in an email today. Folks, you'll just have to accept that I was totally thrilled when I heard that news. I'm remaining cool and calm about it now, but the prospect is thrilling. They're such a charming couple, and they have both been very good friends to me.

It's still hot and it's May

Last month was dry. 3ml of rain fell in Brisbane when the average for April is 53ml. This week we have seen the hottest maximum temperature records broken in towns all across Queensland. Saturday here in Brisbane was 18-30, today was 17-28. It's anywhere upwards of 5-8 degrees above normal (whatever normal is these days?). Water consumption is down 40% across the city, so folk are in the main doing their best to conserve water, but the situation is dire and good rain is still a long way away. We can't wash our cars (only windows, lights) but Rene noticed our neighbours across the road yesterday with a stream of water coming out from under their garage door. The car sat in the driveway all shiny and clean today. Oh well, most folk are doing the right thing.

COMPUTERS! YOU GOTTA LUV 'EM

My talented IT nephew David spent the best part of the day today trying to solve a Windows Vista issue on my new computer. Suffice to say we have dispatched a couple of emails to relevant sites asking for their help because he/we couldn't solve the matters dealing with compatibility problems with some programs and Microsoft's latest scourge on the world of computing. If I hear the word 'codecs' or 'patches' let alone the name Bill Gates ever again it'll be too soon. He did successfully help me sort some other appearance/function issues I had. He's such a clever lad, but to think he does this every day of his working life? Poor sod (love you Dave!).

It's a small world after all...

I mentioned the other day meeting someone I knew over 35 years ago. The other week at one of my new schools I met a school officer who's related to a friend of mine in Goondiwindi. Yesterday at a car dealer the salesman I met before was busy so he got another guy to go out in the car with Rene and I. In the course of conversation this guy mentions he's from Toowoomba, and to cut a long story short, it turns out I taught his girlfriend who is still back in Toowoomba studying architecture. Now, for those who don't know this area, we have 1.5m+ people living here spread over many hundreds of square kilometres. I wonder who I'll meet next?

Kinky Boots

Last night we defied a recent trend and stayed in to watch a DVD. Rene chose Kinky Boots, a film I saw alone at the cinema last year, I think it was when Rene was working for Australia Post and his sleeping hours were really weird. Anyway, a charming, simple movie with that British attention to character development that makes it more enjoyable. Even nicer to realise it was based on a true story of a Northampton shoe factory that was going to the wall until it found a niche market and exploited it - women's shoes for men. Worth seeing again.

TGIT - Thank God It's Thursday!

I know, some of you have to do five day weeks, but those of us in transition to never working again are working less but seemingly doing more. On Monday I met a teacher whom I haven't seen since 1972. She was a very good friend of mine at college and even hosted a surprise 21st birthday party for me at her parent's home. I met her at a launch of a new kit for migrants and refugees entering school in Queensland. She recognised me immediately after 35 years, although she pointedly mentioned the all too obvious lack of hair.

Yesterday was a very full day finishing up with the penultimate meeting to approve plans for the street scape improvements for our main shopping street here in Clayfield. I also attended an all day workshop on ESL plus my usual Korean student tutoring, so by the time I came home I was tired but very happy. A great day.

Today I met with a new parent from India, did some work with one of my students from France then attended a planning session with class teacher and specialists for a student of mine from Iraq. After school I met a man from a service group that helps refugees and migrants in many ways. We are working on a day featuring healthy eating with visits to shops, buying food, making lunch and then a quick visit to a mountain lookout. Did I mention how satisfying my job can be?

My best mate was the recipient of a bottle of scotch this afternoon. Why? Because he's just the most wonderful thing in my life right now. Sometimes 'thanks' is just not enough. I really appreciate him in so many ways (he'll loathe this bit, but I just want you to know how terrific I think he is).

I don't work Fridays. As I continue drinking my second can of the evening I say to you all - have a wonderful weekend.