Time to move...

It's Tuesday evening. We are essentially packed ready for the removalist tomorrow. I should add that Rene has done 90% of the packing, and a very good job too. He never does things by half. Updates are going to be very rare for the next month whilst we wait for our phone then our internet to come on-line. Don't remind me that it is supposed to be 2008. This is Australia. We still don't even have a choice of landline provider. We have to go with Telstra, Optus don't have their local exchange up and running yet (and you never get a straight answer when you enquire as to when this is likely to be). We are getting a naked ADSL2+ program from internode and we'll run a VOIP off it again. 'Naked' means it is data only, you can't connect a normal landline phone service to it. That suits us. We've been told it'll be 20+ working days until we're connected - good grief!



I have got new work, an extra few hours that'll take me back to full time. I said I'd do some extra hours when I returned to Brisbane, but now I've become full-time again, but only until the end of the year, and it's at a school I was at 2 years ago, and I liked it a lot.



Our driveway is done, looks absolutely marvellous, and tomorrow it'll be solid enough for a truck to go on it. I've already dropped two cars full of 'stuff' at the house yesterday and again this morning, lots of small fiddly things that are better off transported 'loose'. I'll try and send some nice pictures next week, not sure how I'll manage that, but I'll find a way.



We're off out now to our last dinner here. A neighbour has arranged a dinner party for us as a farewell. I think she said she was doing something Japanese. Anyway, I'm out of time, and sitting here in a brightly lit room bereft of paintings and nicknacks it doesn't feel like home any more. This is our fifth move in three years, and I assure you, dear reader, that it will be the last for quite a while.



I leave you with a picture of a suggestion I read on the net for the name of Qantas' second A380 jet, "Kath and Kim". I can just imagine the confused looks on the faces of various visitors to airports around the world.

We're moving at last!

Yes, we get the keys to the house this Friday and we move in the following Wednesday. The delay is because we can't get our driveway poured until this coming Saturday and it won't be set (or cured) enough until Wednesday. The issue I alluded to last week with the driveway and the neighbour is now settled, and all I'll say publicly here is that we have a solution that satisfies all parties concerned. It will look impressive.

The timber floors upstairs have been sanded and polished and they have come up beautifully. Very happy indeed. The lights are in, the air conditioning commissioned and the very many last minute details are still being attended to, but it's ours this Friday.



We have been quite busy with trips to Brisbane to check on the house plus arranging things at this end. Our apartment is ready to be leased as we move out at a very good price, so we're happy about that. We are getting things sorted ready to leave the Sunshine Coast and establishing services etc back in Brisbane. This takes considerable time. When one builds one has to also get a TV antenna installed, buy and install a mail box, get the gas connected, screens and window coverings arranged - it all takes considerable time. Thank goodness for being on vacation these past two weeks.



Rene has been getting some good publicity in the Dutch media over here. On Monday his interview with SBS Radio Dutch Service in Melbourne went to air. It was fun sitting in the car listening to Rene on the radio just before getting out to get lunch and see a movie. Also this week his gallery features in a full page of The Dutch Courier, the national newspaper here in Australia. There's also a large ad for the gallery included. Next month they are doing a profile on him.

The movie we saw was Narnia - Prince Caspian. I thought it was quite good, but not normally my cup of tea (OK on DVD though). I want to see Mamma Mia. Many friends have already seen it and loved it.


We attended a lovely wedding last weekend near Bribie Island. Evelyn and Peter had their ceremony in a beautiful church at The Abbey near Caboolture. The following morning we had an interesting cruise along the Pumicestone Passage. The weather had not been kind to us on the Saturday (it poured) but for the cruise it held off, and even had moments of sunshine. The bride and groom had a wonderful time and I also had the opportunity to meet up again with Tania, a friend from Clare in South Australia, who was up for the wedding. Evelyn, Tania and I all met up when I was briefly teaching in Harlow, Essex, in 2003.

It's the season for weddings for us with my niece Michelle's wedding on September 13 at the Gold Coast and Rene's sister Claartje's wedding on North Stradbroke Island on October 2. Claartje and Jan are arriving for a five week holiday Down Under at the end of September. They'll also have a week with Rene in Central Australia when he goes on another buying trip.


Rene and I have had two barbecues this week - unusual because being winter we haven't had one in ages. Last Friday we caught up with friends at their Marcoola Beach apartment who are just back from Turkey and Germany. These folk are also building at present, hence their hiding away in their Sunshine Coast apartment. We exchanged building stories and generally had a delightful lunch and walk along the beach. Today we had a Christmas in July that was to be all hot roast dinner, plum pudding and Christmas tree, but ended up because of time constraints being a brilliant BBQ with salads and desserts for around 25 people. We had a morning tea with a neighbour before going this morning to the lunch, and last Friday we entertained two neighbours to dinner after lunch, so we have been very social over the past few days. Sadly, I'm back at school this week and will barely have time for lunch of any sort. Ah well, that's what vacations are for.

Had to laugh at an article from the Dutch service station association. Read on...

Petrol stations profit more on bottled water
Drivers spend an increasing amount of money on ice-cream, soft drinks, sandwiches and candy bars at petrol stations.
4 July 2008THE NETHERLANDS -

According to a report released by BOVAG, the umbrella organisation for filling stations, drivers are spending an increasing amount of money on ice-cream, soft drinks, sandwiches and candy bars. It is estimated that they will spend about EUR 2 billion in 2008. The BOVAG says it is strange that drivers complain about the high price of petrol while they spend a substantial amount of money on items such as soft drinks. The organisation says petrol stations make more profit from a bottle of water than a litre of petrol.[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]

Today's New York Times has a most excellent article on five of architecture's current marvels in Beijing. I recommend that you take the time to click on the link below and see amongst other things the new HQ for CCTV that has been designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. It is exciting and challenging and so very impressive. Also check out the new National Theatre - stunning! I would really love to visit that city, but not until after the Olympics.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/07/12/arts/20080712_BEIJING_GRAPHIC.html?ex=1216612800&en=069af2c44ad9d7ef&ei=5070&emc=eta3


Finally, a funny picture from McDonald's in Yass, a town just north of Canberra. I'll leave you with that thought for now, enjoy your week.

Not all plain sailing...

The house is nearing completion, lots of last minute things being done when we were in Brisbane for three days. The lights were going in, the painters were finishing up (the chili feature walls in two rooms look spectacular), the plumbing was in, the tilers were back for last minute things, the marine wire went up on the deck railings, everything was running well until last Monday when the phone went.

On the end of the phone was a man from Brisbane City Council mentioning that there was an 'issue' with our driveway's alignment. Now, without going into details, it will be resolved in the next day or so, hopefully in our favour, but it has been particularly stressful for me because I thought we'd covered all eventualities - but alas no. Our concreter is waiting for the clear message that he can start putting in the driveway - without it we can't really move in yet. Watch this space.

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends. I see that some places have banned fireworks this year because of fires or the threat of fires. This photo below was sent to me by a friend from New Mexico. It shows the Organ Mountains alight outside the city of Las Cruces last week.

My NM American friend, now Brisbane based, also sent me some pictures from a flight he made last weekend in a home made aeroplane. The builder is beside his aircraft, and in the other picture they are flying over Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island (Straddie). Beautiful winter weather.

Highlight of the week in Queensland was the demolition of New South Wales in the annual State of Origin rugby league competition. It was 1-1 after the first two rounds and last Wednesday in Sydney Queensland (the Maroons) beat the Blues (NSW) 18-10. Umm, I might mention it is the third year in a row Queensland has written off NSW.

Oil hit US$146 today, our Australian stock market actually rebounded a little after 6 straight losses, and US companies continue to lay off employees - American Airlines to lose 7000, 600 Starbucks to close with 12 000 jobs to go. We, in Oz, are feeling it less than many countries. Another iron ore contract announced with an 85% increase in the contract price and V Australia (Virgin Blue's start up international airline) announces services to Los Angeles from March 2009 with introductory prices of A$1234 return Brisbane/LAX. It starts services from Sydney to LAX in December.

Yesterday, whilst driving back home to the coast from three days in Brisbane, Rene got a message on his mobile. It was from SBS Radio in Melbourne asking him to call back regarding an interview over the phone for a Dutch service program to air next Monday. He did the interview regarding his art and the new gallery this morning. I'll post a link to the podcast in the next update. They heard about him from an ad for Centred Art in the Australian Dutch Courier newspaper. Rene was very calm about it all, but I was quite excited.

Finally, we're both off to Bribie Island tomorrow for a wedding. I met the bride five years ago when she was teaching in Harlow, Essex. The reception is on Bribie, but the ceremony is at a fascinating church called 'The Abbey' just nearby on the mainland. The Abbey hosts an annual medieval dinner on this weekend plus a medieval tournament the following weekend. I'll include more details in the next update. We're staying the night at a nearby motel and in the morning on Sunday we have a 3 hour breakfast cruise on the Pumicestone Passage http://www.ferryman.com.au/ where we hope to see dugong and dolphins and lots of beautiful scenery.

Finally, the sign says it all...until next time.