Hobart, Christmas, Swansea, Bicheno, Boogie boarding, bluebottles, blow-out meals, St Helen's, Bay of Fires, historic houses, windmills, bridges, historic everything. Only the prices were modern.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Museum of Old and New Art
We took the ferry out to MONA which is on a site surpassing the Sydney Opera House for spectaculararity. Privately owned, and intended to challenge, the collection includes the sublime and the gor blimey, notably the notorious poo machine. That was horrid but everything else pretty damn wondrous.
We took the ferry out to MONA which is on a site surpassing the Sydney Opera House for spectaculararity. Privately owned, and intended to challenge, the collection includes the sublime and the gor blimey, notably the notorious poo machine. That was horrid but everything else pretty damn wondrous.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Our brush with fame - Sydney to Hobart - December 30
Hil's brother in law was a crew member on 'Whistler' so we turned up at Constitution Dock for some vicarious glory.
Afterwards, at the Taste of Tasmania, we sipped our chardies and watched a few more yachts cross the finish line. It was a memorable experience and I hope I remember it.
Hil's brother in law was a crew member on 'Whistler' so we turned up at Constitution Dock for some vicarious glory.
Afterwards, at the Taste of Tasmania, we sipped our chardies and watched a few more yachts cross the finish line. It was a memorable experience and I hope I remember it.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Will they still need me? Will they still feed me?
It's my birthday. Great pressies, cake and candles at work and dinner with half the family at The Smith. Skyping with the other half last night.
Caspie behaved magnificently at The Smith, young urban sophisticate that he is. I suspect he was the first child to cross their threshold ever, but he dined, surrounded by execs in business suits, wearing his red Ralph Loren polo (purchased at a school fete for $1.00) and was by far the most handsome male in the room.
Closely followed of course by his relatives.
Yesterday - Sunday in the park with Caspie
Caspie doesn't look so good. "I need a pick me up. What's that over Mummy's shoulder?"
"Coffee!"
"Problem is how does a guy get the lid off these things?"
"Oh now I see! I can drink it through the hole in the lid. Just like my sippy cup. You'd think grown-ups would have something more elegant really".
"Oh no! I've lost the lot!"
"Waiter! Bring me another coffee pronto!"
"Oh cripes! I hope he hurries! I've totally got the jitters"
It's my birthday. Great pressies, cake and candles at work and dinner with half the family at The Smith. Skyping with the other half last night.
Caspie behaved magnificently at The Smith, young urban sophisticate that he is. I suspect he was the first child to cross their threshold ever, but he dined, surrounded by execs in business suits, wearing his red Ralph Loren polo (purchased at a school fete for $1.00) and was by far the most handsome male in the room.
Closely followed of course by his relatives.
Yesterday - Sunday in the park with Caspie
Caspie doesn't look so good. "I need a pick me up. What's that over Mummy's shoulder?"
"Coffee!"
"Problem is how does a guy get the lid off these things?"
"Oh now I see! I can drink it through the hole in the lid. Just like my sippy cup. You'd think grown-ups would have something more elegant really".
"Oh no! I've lost the lot!"
"Waiter! Bring me another coffee pronto!"
"Oh cripes! I hope he hurries! I've totally got the jitters"
Friday, November 04, 2011
The Little C
In my line of work BCG stands for Boston Consulting Group, best known for that matrix about the dogs, cows and stars. So when the Dr told me this morning that the hideous outcrop on my nose was probably one I was puzzled. Turns out she really said BCC which stands for Basal Cell Carcinoma. According to Wikipedia it ‘rarely metastasizes or kills’ (phew) but needs to be got rid of anyway. The thing is the growthation in question keeps coming and going and somedays is totally absent. Doesn't sound like a BCC to me.
Evidently it’s quite unusual for a fair-skinned Aussie to make it to my advanced age without having had one though. Lucky for me Mum was decades ahead of her time in sun protection and I’ve always found sun-baking boring anyway.
Dr Jenny spent approx an hour (the receptionist wanted to charge me for an extended consultation) searching for a trustworthy plastic surgeon to refer me to. Apparently they are mostly rogues who wouldn’t be satisfied with cutting my nose off but would insist on pinning my ears and giving me a boobs ‘n’ bum lift as well.The thing that bothers me most is having a bandage across my snout and looking funny. Maybe I’ll pretend it’s red nose day and wear one of those. Or maybe get some of those novelty bandaids that Mads is so fond of. But I suppose I’ll just go around frightening animals and young children. Pity I’ve missed Halloween.
In my line of work BCG stands for Boston Consulting Group, best known for that matrix about the dogs, cows and stars. So when the Dr told me this morning that the hideous outcrop on my nose was probably one I was puzzled. Turns out she really said BCC which stands for Basal Cell Carcinoma. According to Wikipedia it ‘rarely metastasizes or kills’ (phew) but needs to be got rid of anyway. The thing is the growthation in question keeps coming and going and somedays is totally absent. Doesn't sound like a BCC to me.
Evidently it’s quite unusual for a fair-skinned Aussie to make it to my advanced age without having had one though. Lucky for me Mum was decades ahead of her time in sun protection and I’ve always found sun-baking boring anyway.
Dr Jenny spent approx an hour (the receptionist wanted to charge me for an extended consultation) searching for a trustworthy plastic surgeon to refer me to. Apparently they are mostly rogues who wouldn’t be satisfied with cutting my nose off but would insist on pinning my ears and giving me a boobs ‘n’ bum lift as well.The thing that bothers me most is having a bandage across my snout and looking funny. Maybe I’ll pretend it’s red nose day and wear one of those. Or maybe get some of those novelty bandaids that Mads is so fond of. But I suppose I’ll just go around frightening animals and young children. Pity I’ve missed Halloween.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Happy Birthday Dear Madeleine!
Today Mads is six and has been celebrating for 3 days with parties, dinners, fairies and kinda queening. Alas for us she is in Frankfurt and we are in Melbourne so the closest we got to sharing the big day was via Skype. But we were ready with our party hats and cake and sang hard. Amazingly Mads managed to blow out the candle.
Today Mads is six and has been celebrating for 3 days with parties, dinners, fairies and kinda queening. Alas for us she is in Frankfurt and we are in Melbourne so the closest we got to sharing the big day was via Skype. But we were ready with our party hats and cake and sang hard. Amazingly Mads managed to blow out the candle.
Friday, September 23, 2011
23rd September 1961
Today (23rd September 2011) is the 50th anniversary of Hawthorn’s first premiership. After decades of being the easy beats we were Premiers at last. Nothing else in my life mattered.
My favourite player – the tall, dark, handsome and, above all, Couth, Allan Woodley did not play that day but Bug’s heart-throb, Brendan Edwards was Best on Ground.
I stood up all day long, as we did every Saturday, often on 4 beer cans which made your legs ache and ache. There were few creature comforts for footy fans in those days. I saw Hawthorn’s most recent premiership in 2008 from the privileged position of the Members Reserve of the MCC. That’s social mobility for you – other side of the ground and 2 levels up.
Hawthorn 13.16 (94) d Footscray 7.9 (51)
Coach: John Kennedy
Captain: Graham Arthur
Backs: Reg Poole, Les Kaine, Graham Cooper
Half-backs: Sted Hay, John McArthur, Cam McPherson
Mid-field: Col Youren, Brendan Edwards, John Fisher
Half-forwards: Ian Mort, Garry Young, Morton Browne
Forwards: Malcolm Hill, John Peck, Jack Cunningham
Followers: John Winneke, Graham Arthur, Ian Law
Reserves: Ron Nalder, Phil Hay
These young men in their twenties were more than heroes to me, they were gods, and I would have taken a bullet for any one of them. Most of them lined up to form a guard of honour for the current team at our last home and away match at the MCG this year. They still looked impressive: silver-haired, big and beefy in business suits.
After that first premiership, Hawthorn suffered the anti-climax that often follows a massive build-up and only won 5 matches the next year. But early in the season, before that full horror unfolded, a photographer from the Sun took this picture of my next door neighbour, Kay and me at Glenferrie Oval and it appeared on the front page the next Monday.
Very young for my age (note the teddy), gauche and unsophisticated, it’s hard to believe that within 8 years I was married to a tall(ish), dark, handsome, and above all, Couth, Allan Woodley lookalike (albeit one with 2 left feet and no interest in sport of any kind).
How fortunate I am that all 10 Hawthorn premierships have happened in my lifetime. I know supporters of other teams who are breaking their hearts to experience just one. And one poor woman who has given up on her own behalf but hopes her children may be more fortunate.
Thanks for all the joy and pain Mighty Hawks. Happy Anniversary.
Today (23rd September 2011) is the 50th anniversary of Hawthorn’s first premiership. After decades of being the easy beats we were Premiers at last. Nothing else in my life mattered.
My favourite player – the tall, dark, handsome and, above all, Couth, Allan Woodley did not play that day but Bug’s heart-throb, Brendan Edwards was Best on Ground.
I stood up all day long, as we did every Saturday, often on 4 beer cans which made your legs ache and ache. There were few creature comforts for footy fans in those days. I saw Hawthorn’s most recent premiership in 2008 from the privileged position of the Members Reserve of the MCC. That’s social mobility for you – other side of the ground and 2 levels up.
Hawthorn 13.16 (94) d Footscray 7.9 (51)
Coach: John Kennedy
Captain: Graham Arthur
Backs: Reg Poole, Les Kaine, Graham Cooper
Half-backs: Sted Hay, John McArthur, Cam McPherson
Mid-field: Col Youren, Brendan Edwards, John Fisher
Half-forwards: Ian Mort, Garry Young, Morton Browne
Forwards: Malcolm Hill, John Peck, Jack Cunningham
Followers: John Winneke, Graham Arthur, Ian Law
Reserves: Ron Nalder, Phil Hay
These young men in their twenties were more than heroes to me, they were gods, and I would have taken a bullet for any one of them. Most of them lined up to form a guard of honour for the current team at our last home and away match at the MCG this year. They still looked impressive: silver-haired, big and beefy in business suits.
After that first premiership, Hawthorn suffered the anti-climax that often follows a massive build-up and only won 5 matches the next year. But early in the season, before that full horror unfolded, a photographer from the Sun took this picture of my next door neighbour, Kay and me at Glenferrie Oval and it appeared on the front page the next Monday.
Very young for my age (note the teddy), gauche and unsophisticated, it’s hard to believe that within 8 years I was married to a tall(ish), dark, handsome, and above all, Couth, Allan Woodley lookalike (albeit one with 2 left feet and no interest in sport of any kind).
How fortunate I am that all 10 Hawthorn premierships have happened in my lifetime. I know supporters of other teams who are breaking their hearts to experience just one. And one poor woman who has given up on her own behalf but hopes her children may be more fortunate.
Thanks for all the joy and pain Mighty Hawks. Happy Anniversary.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Caspie loves a soft furry animal, particularly one with a long tail that he can snuzzle up against his cheek. We took him to the zoo on Sunday to introduce him to a few. The first animal he saw was a giraffe and I wish I had captured the expression of surprised delight on his face but I wasn’t quick enough with the camera. I did get some pictures of him rattling a few cages though.
And some of him stacking while he waited for his babycino.
The zoo kiosk had a display of postcards which included some of Mere’s stunning new book,’ Shift’. We were thrilled to see it there. Go buy everyone!
And some of him stacking while he waited for his babycino.
The zoo kiosk had a display of postcards which included some of Mere’s stunning new book,’ Shift’. We were thrilled to see it there. Go buy everyone!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Dining,Wining but not Winning
No sooner had I bought a visitor pass for Right Foot to accompany me into the Members Reserve at the G, then I was invited to join Ange and the Accountants in a corporate suite instead. The weather forecast was dire so I scalped the ticket and watched the Hawks go down in comfort and style.
This week I’m holding off buying a ticket just in case some random Sydney fan wants our company
Dining but (thankfully) not Whining
Caspie had his first sleep-over at our place on Saturday night. He ate and slept, played and laughed and showed no signs of homesickness.
Walking not Driving
After nearly 15 years of doing a daily drive of 96 kilometres, tomorrow I start my secondment in St Kilda Road, a 10 minute walk from home.
I have always travelled a long way to school, uni and work so I can’t imagine what I’ll do with the extra 2 and a half hours in my day.
No sooner had I bought a visitor pass for Right Foot to accompany me into the Members Reserve at the G, then I was invited to join Ange and the Accountants in a corporate suite instead. The weather forecast was dire so I scalped the ticket and watched the Hawks go down in comfort and style.
This week I’m holding off buying a ticket just in case some random Sydney fan wants our company
Dining but (thankfully) not Whining
Caspie had his first sleep-over at our place on Saturday night. He ate and slept, played and laughed and showed no signs of homesickness.
Walking not Driving
After nearly 15 years of doing a daily drive of 96 kilometres, tomorrow I start my secondment in St Kilda Road, a 10 minute walk from home.
I have always travelled a long way to school, uni and work so I can’t imagine what I’ll do with the extra 2 and a half hours in my day.
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