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.