A month ago ...

Yes, I know, I've been slack - but I've been seriously busy and just haven't had both the time and inclination to sit here for two hours or more and post. I'm back one week from my trip to Shanghai, and I'll post that material next, but for now the picture above is from Riverfire - quite spectacular. Mind you, Rene and I met up with two friends at a bar and ended up hearing all the fireworks, seeing the fuel dump burn from the jets and around 20% of the fireworks - but decided the beer and the tapas were better than confronting the throngs of families at Southbank, so we just sat and drank and ate whilst the skies exploded. Following the fireworks we ventured along to just outside of GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art) where there was a free panel discussion featuring celebrities from the world of writing as part of Brisbane Writers Festival.

The following weekend we found ourselves in The Valley having dinner in China Town during the Valley Fiesta, and lo and behold there was this enormous machine made from steel pipes (Pyrophone) which had percussion like sounds emanating from the pipes, created by fire. Add to that quite a few drums, and the scene was quite spectacular. Oh, the meal was great too!

There is an enormous amount of free entertainment each weekend in Brisbane, which makes for an exciting city and a fabulous place to live.

The GG swore in JG at GH last month. The Governor General (Quentin Bryce) swore in Julia Guilard as Australia's first elected woman prime minister. GH refers to Government House, in Canberra, the Governor General's official residence. Ms Guilard now moves into The Lodge, the official PM's residence, having stated that she'd only take up residence once fully elected to the position of PM.

Just as I returned last weekend the Commonwealth Games started in New Delhi. It featured on Chinese TV for all the wrong reasons (lateness of preparation etc) and Singapore TV was heralding their teams preparations for the Games. Outside of the Commonwealth it is no big deal, and I suspect from the small crowds it is attracting in Delhi, it's no big deal in India either. MEMO TO GAMES ORGANISERS: Put it on in Australia - Aussies will support anything sporting in huge numbers, even netball! The next Games are in Glasgow. I reckon the Scots can turn out for a sporting event; but if you want guaranteed sellouts, put it on in Oz.

NB The Gold Coast is applying for 2018 against Sri Lanka - ought to be a shoe in!