In describing the events of the past few weeks, I forgot probably the most important one:
Over Easter, my sister Nicole got engaged to her boyfriend John in Melbourne. She rang me with the news a week later, and then started the conversation by talking about the footy that they both had seen while they were there, rather than with the big news.
We met him for the first time over the Christmas holiday when we were in Hobart, and he seems to enjoy teasing the hell out of her, which is what she deserves!!
Congrats, Nicole and John.
Taken Christmas 2006, at their new block of land in Oakdowns, Hobart.
It certainly has been a while since this site had any changes. Apologies for the extended duration of the cat on the front page... Anyway, here's what we've been up to in the last six weeks:
April 22
Our neighbours downstairs just had their first baby, a boy called Toby. The new kid is cute, but very small. It also, according to dad, uh, makes quite a mess, at both ends. Regularly. We popped around to give the proud new parents a gift of some baby clothes, and couldn't help but notice the couch, sans cushions, now moved right next to the open balcony door, drying... Seems that the major change imposed by a new baby is endless loads of washing, plus repeated airing of regurgitated-upon furniture. Afterwards, we celebrated our childlessness by spontaneously deciding to head into the city.
So, in our apartment block of 12 units, we now have one couple with a 12 month old, one couple with a newborn, one couple with an 18 month old, and another on the way, one couple with a four year old and an 18 month old... plus 3 units where the owners are more than 70 years old.
April 12
Mum came up to visit us over Easter. We played tour guides for the four days off over the public holidays, and I reckon we needed a holiday from the holiday! We took her to the city (and numerous times to Myer), Manly, around Crows Nest... she had a great time!
And on the final night, I foolishly booked the time of her flight home so that driving her to the airport coincided with Sydney's famous evening commute. We drove (or, rather, crawled along) at 2km/h through the Harbour Tunnel, to find that a truck had broken down at the far end. That caused a few anxious moments. Luckily (??) mum's flight got delayed, so even though we made it on time, Virgin Blue didn't.
April 10
We finally paid for our holiday to China. We're taking a tour, going to Beijing, Shanghai, Gweilin and Xian for two weeks, before going to Hong Kong to visit some of Kathleen's relatives. The Chinese embassy decided to be nitwits, and sent back our submitted visa applications, requiring Kathleen's name in Chinese characters. The characters are not in her passport, so goodness knows how they'll double check. We got Lu's dad to write in the most likely characters, and got the visa approved. Damn communists.
And, of course, the dates of the holiday coincide with a majorly busy phase at work. I feel sorry for the poor bugger who has to come in and fill in for me for three weeks...
March 29
The large tree outside our window, that sheltered our apartment from the worst of the north sun, was found to be diseased, and had to be cut down. It now feels very exposed on the balcony. We'll miss the wildlife - the possums running along the branches at night, the magpies glaring in through the windows and eating the berries. I managed to get one of the pieces of the trunk, and will have to sand it down for a seat or something.
March 28
Spent a few days down in Melbourne conducting a training course. Managed to catch up with Darise, Tam, Greta and Matt on Sunday night for a counter tea in Fitzroy. Matt, Chang and Cam on Tuesday night in Southbank.
Also March 18
Unbelievably Labor got back in in the NSW election. If the Libs had stuck with Brogden, who was making traction, rather than dumping him for a spectacularly unpopular alternative, they might have been in with a chance. Not even a train breakdown week preceding the election managed to knock Labor off. I can't believe that these people were the best that NSW has to offer...
March 18
On Sunday, we caught the train to the city (had to drop the tux from Friday night back to the shop), on the way passing the crowds of people walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the 75th anniversary celebrations. Most people were wearing bright green commemorative caps that were being given away by the organisers, and so the bridge turned into a sea of fluro green. The sheer number of people was amazing - I've never seen anything like it.
Despite the crowds, most people seemed to be relaxed and easy-going - maybe the usual harried commuters stayed away, to be replaced by chilled-out suburban mums and dads.
March 17
On Saturday, we went out to Bondi Junction for dinner at a Chinese restaurant and a quick drink for St Pats day with a couple of friends. The pub was full of drunken, boisterous people wearing bright green Heinekin hats (which were as authentically Irish as most people there). Had a Guinness just to say that we had one.
March 16
On Friday, Kathleen's work had a black-tie function at the Intercontinental. I was worried that, sitting on a table with her boss' boss and two of the top financial planners in the state, the evening would be pretty 'heavy', but everyone was so friendly, and the beer and wine was free, so we ended up having a good time.
