School's over for another year.

Today was the first day of the summer holidays and it has been delightfully cool and pleasant. Lately we've had stinking hot days with regular storms, but today it is just lovely. Rene and I even had a walk around the park late this afternoon without hats and sunglasses. The early progress on the airport tunnel is continuing with an alternate pathway being built and diversion channels for the creek being readied for construction.

I've felt a bit sluggish today after yet another birthday dinner party - the second in a week. We had a delightful evening with four friends at a nearby suburb, and because I enjoyed the night SOOO much, we left the car and got a cab home.

Of course I had to do grocery shopping, so I popped into a nearby neighbouring shopping centre where I had left the car. Big mistake! I spent more than twice the time trying to find where things were, that was after finding a parking spot (I know all the spots in my own two usual shopping centres). Anyway, we are ready for dinner tonight and guests tomorrow who are just here for lunch. Kay Galton from Toowoomba is dropping off her Kiwi friend who is returning to New Zealand after a short visit. Rene has that organised because tomorrow morning I have to duck up to the Sunshine Coast for the AGM of our apartment block's Body Corporate. I'll be back for lunch. Then tomorrow evening we have our second last trivia night of the year.

Wednesday night Rene and I plus two friends are attending the preview of Vicky Christina Barcelona at the Dendy, Portside. I have a love/hate relationship with Woody Allen, but I'm holding great hopes for this film. A review next time.

We hosted our long time friend Di MacDonald to a birthday dinner on our deck; well, first course was back inside - it poured down with a spectacular light show to match - but the other two courses returned to the deck. She finally got Posh Fish Pie (a Gordon Ramsay recipe). It was good, very good in fact - mind you, it has 250mL of vermouth and 250mL of dry white wine in it, plus 500mL of cream (all reduced). Hubby Torquil brought in an Italian almond cake from Dolce Sapori in Clayfield (highly recommended for biscuits and cakes, coffee and ice cream). If you like salivating, go to http://italianweek.blogspot.com/2008/04/dolci-sapori.html

With the holidays here I know very many staff travelling overseas. One is off to India, one to Thailand, four to Ireland, one to America. Me? Nowhere, except Mt Tambourine for a couple of days after Christmas. The gallery must remain open (thinks...a good time to garden instead). With strife in India and Thailand one just has to bite the bullet and go - perhaps an unfortunate phrase to use? Reality is that one is better off travelling after major events have occurred because great security is always preferable to lax security. The Thai flights out are clearing the backlog, but it'll be many days yet before the passengers are safely home.

Aircraft stockpiled in Bangkok waiting an end to the siege.

Incidentally I found this picture on the net of the smallest passenger aircraft made (Swiss I think) beside the engine of a B747 - it is a real aircraft, not a remote controlled one.

The Irish have claimed him, obviously Kenya has too, now the Dutch also claim connections with the President-elect.

Historical research shows that US President-elect Barack Obama is descended from the Pilgrim Fathers who left the Dutch town of Leiden in 1620 to found the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts.
LEIDEN - Leiden's culture alderman revealed that Mr Obama's ancestors were among those who arrived there from Britain in 1609 seeking religious freedom.

The nonconformist Puritans lived and worked for eleven years in Amsterdam and Leiden before sailing to America, some of them on the Mayflower.

Mr Obama is the seventh American president directly descended from Leiden's Pilgrim Fathers.

[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]

Rene and I received an invitation last weekend to a 50th birthday for a Dutch friend of ours back in Utrecht. It is to be held in Ibiza, at this villa, in October. It's unlikely we'll attend, but perhaps a small chance may emerge. Three free nights in Spain with around 30 folk from the cafe and the street where we lived...what a blissful thought.

This weekend will be busy with a 40th reunion of the Class of '68 from Harristown State High School in Toowoomba. Rene is going to the Christmas dinner for the card group at the Sunshine Coast and is taking one of our friends with him. I have to return early Sunday to host a family get together in the neighbouring park - a BBQ for the Langdale clan, from both Toowoomba and Brisbane. I'm looking forward to that a lot, not sure about the reunion - I might enjoy it, not sure. We had a delightful evening with the Dutch Alumni group at Customs House last Tuesday, an event I was uncertain about, but I ended up enjoying the meal and company enormously, and it also helped dining beside the river with spectacular views. Customs House is a stunning venue.

Customs House 1886

I'm going to sign off and get dinner - simple Caesar Salad after all of our indulging lately. If you want the Posh Fish Pie recipe, Google it or ask me for it, I've got it saved.