tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345915492024-03-14T06:08:29.535+11:00Baino's BanterA Horse of a Different ColourUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-62481391220966426922014-10-21T20:09:00.002+11:002014-10-21T20:09:25.315+11:00The People You Meet<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not saying this is a come back of any type, but after farewelling my darling friend Jeffrey today, I felt the overwhelming need to blog. Met a weird Japanese/American dude five years ago. Blogging and creative writing led to Skyping, constant contact and the developmlent of a strange and lovely friendship. He's just finished visiting me here in Australia for five weeks, the third of our contacts during that time. We began 'road tripping' first in 2011 along the New South Wales Coast along the Great Ocean Road, again across the US from LA to MA and back via New Mexico and all the bits in between, and more recently down from Sydney to Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final and into the red outback of Coober Pedy. So much has changed. A man I barely knew has become my best friend. I've sold my house and am liquid for the first time in 25 years. I am living alone for the first time in 25 years. My children are settled, happy, mortaged and a whole wealth of opportunities are presenting themselves. I've met many of my international bloggers over that time, and not one - not one - has disappointed and I have so many more to catch up with. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know this is a little weird and a little obscure but, blogging, although I have done little of it recently has introduced me to people who I now consider absolute friends. ABSOLUTE. People I've met, once, twice, three and even four times despite the tyranny of distance and a few that for circumstances unseen, I haven't yet been able to connect with. You know who you are. One particularly, has become my favourite travelling companion. A continent apart but always close. Thank you all who have read, followed and joined me more recently on Facebook. You have made my life richer. Thank you.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hZLS8wfYm1s/VEYf52dLJtI/AAAAAAAAJ2M/e2-q7hqz7-U/s1600/USA23%2B038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hZLS8wfYm1s/VEYf52dLJtI/AAAAAAAAJ2M/e2-q7hqz7-U/s1600/USA23%2B038.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RhpJGQQ6iZs/VEYgELigfKI/AAAAAAAAJ2U/7eWUgFJuhkc/s1600/USA29%2B009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RhpJGQQ6iZs/VEYgELigfKI/AAAAAAAAJ2U/7eWUgFJuhkc/s1600/USA29%2B009.JPG" height="190" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Os5H7na6Dhg/VEYgWjKPINI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/yeBTBDwBJMk/s1600/USA6%2B040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Os5H7na6Dhg/VEYgWjKPINI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/yeBTBDwBJMk/s1600/USA6%2B040.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u9TvNt0d9Ac/VEYgYWlRNvI/AAAAAAAAJ2k/IMBee3bTH7E/s1600/USA34%2B032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u9TvNt0d9Ac/VEYgYWlRNvI/AAAAAAAAJ2k/IMBee3bTH7E/s1600/USA34%2B032.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXJ_Z7C06hI/VEYgdgs7sQI/AAAAAAAAJ2s/VFWEnX6qW8g/s1600/Dubbo%2Bhome%2B017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXJ_Z7C06hI/VEYgdgs7sQI/AAAAAAAAJ2s/VFWEnX6qW8g/s1600/Dubbo%2Bhome%2B017.JPG" height="320" width="121" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUDNxkhPCEg/VEYgqk97hVI/AAAAAAAAJ20/rC9lveiZOjw/s1600/July%2Bbits%2B052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUDNxkhPCEg/VEYgqk97hVI/AAAAAAAAJ20/rC9lveiZOjw/s1600/July%2Bbits%2B052.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpcKlgE1IQI/VEYg9t5sOYI/AAAAAAAAJ28/oijH1604Nuo/s1600/USA21%2B043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpcKlgE1IQI/VEYg9t5sOYI/AAAAAAAAJ28/oijH1604Nuo/s1600/USA21%2B043.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k2NvzmOt9ss/VEYhafKHa1I/AAAAAAAAJ3E/Njh9UVbBGAs/s1600/Pt%2BAugusta%2Bto%2BCoober%2B016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k2NvzmOt9ss/VEYhafKHa1I/AAAAAAAAJ3E/Njh9UVbBGAs/s1600/Pt%2BAugusta%2Bto%2BCoober%2B016.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-66480843311220120592013-01-26T14:34:00.003+11:002013-01-26T14:34:49.782+11:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2iOHcWFbiS4/UQNOTVqqloI/AAAAAAAAI8c/p1ilSpuJkB8/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>It's Australia Day/Invasion Day/Citizen Day or whatever you want to call it here so that means a long weekend and an opportunity to catch up on some blogs and even write a post of my own. It's been a while and for some reason, Picassa has deleted all my blog pics since I synched my gmail account with my bloody Android Phone. So, here's a few pics to let you know what I've been up to since November. Although I don't think many of my former followers visit much these days. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Happy belated New Year, I have a good feeling about 2013 and wish you wealth, health and happiness.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qc1afT-qST0/UQNHdOFgbTI/AAAAAAAAI6c/cEjebx25pOE/s1600/Avalon+Market+Day+20.11+(27)+(1024x683).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qc1afT-qST0/UQNHdOFgbTI/AAAAAAAAI6c/cEjebx25pOE/s640/Avalon+Market+Day+20.11+(27)+(1024x683).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Managed to get a Photography gig at next Year's Avalon Market Day</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnwixBOCgiI/UQNIFjGGTPI/AAAAAAAAI68/vX4KItQxn3A/s1600/Taylor_Bainbridge+Christmas+2012+138.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnwixBOCgiI/UQNIFjGGTPI/AAAAAAAAI68/vX4KItQxn3A/s640/Taylor_Bainbridge+Christmas+2012+138.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>This year we had a very "Sparkly" Christmas and I won a trophy for the most sparkly</u></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A5VOxNx3tkY/UQNIIjTbsdI/AAAAAAAAI7M/u37GsyTYaC0/s1600/Terrigal+15+Dec+2012+074.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A5VOxNx3tkY/UQNIIjTbsdI/AAAAAAAAI7M/u37GsyTYaC0/s640/Terrigal+15+Dec+2012+074.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bainbridge Family Christmas with the In Laws</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E01sP8c3dfI/UQNHo6CEbII/AAAAAAAAI6s/yfexWKfgvpo/s1600/Jan+23,+2013+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukI5EHo4M4M/UQNHzYEwIHI/AAAAAAAAI60/O0eJ3EPDn0o/s1600/Photography+Practice+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukI5EHo4M4M/UQNHzYEwIHI/AAAAAAAAI60/O0eJ3EPDn0o/s640/Photography+Practice+012.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On of our chickens was eaten by a fox. Not Shirley thank goodness. The other two now live with my sister. No more chicken poo in the house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0CzyGWsP2E/UQNIxC9O--I/AAAAAAAAI7U/aoR5acYnEM4/s1600/New+Years+Day+2013+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0CzyGWsP2E/UQNIxC9O--I/AAAAAAAAI7U/aoR5acYnEM4/s640/New+Years+Day+2013+019.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avalon Beach on New Years Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zg04RrI4lfI/UQNM2t0Fz_I/AAAAAAAAI8M/Ar3DE2fg4-E/s1600/New+Years+Day+2013+029.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zg04RrI4lfI/UQNM2t0Fz_I/AAAAAAAAI8M/Ar3DE2fg4-E/s640/New+Years+Day+2013+029.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Friend Steve ...sailing on New Year's Day</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2cQ2mVa9_A/UQNJrx6BpOI/AAAAAAAAI7s/QuUdVKrxj9c/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2cQ2mVa9_A/UQNJrx6BpOI/AAAAAAAAI7s/QuUdVKrxj9c/s640/IMG_1788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh. I went to New Zealand, this is the view from the guest room window at my friend's house. I woke up to this every morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68SolrlIWWM/UQNJxdfGryI/AAAAAAAAI70/qq7Eo0n4Y6Q/s1600/IMG_1795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68SolrlIWWM/UQNJxdfGryI/AAAAAAAAI70/qq7Eo0n4Y6Q/s640/IMG_1795.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friend Kenton about to go surfing at Te Aeri Beach North Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2iOHcWFbiS4/UQNOTVqqloI/AAAAAAAAI8c/p1ilSpuJkB8/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2iOHcWFbiS4/UQNOTVqqloI/AAAAAAAAI8c/p1ilSpuJkB8/s640/IMG_1835.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous friend Kenton and his family on Muriwai Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e-7nAraz2ck/UQNJ62AMqgI/AAAAAAAAI78/UMmsf6YlJSM/s1600/New+Zealand+January+2013+134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e-7nAraz2ck/UQNJ62AMqgI/AAAAAAAAI78/UMmsf6YlJSM/s640/New+Zealand+January+2013+134.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weird mirrored art installation at Auckland Art Gallery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEy5rPvE1F0/UQNIGvM7X4I/AAAAAAAAI7E/23R7AsBVdkI/s1600/Sand+Sculptures+13+January+2013+018.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEy5rPvE1F0/UQNIGvM7X4I/AAAAAAAAI7E/23R7AsBVdkI/s640/Sand+Sculptures+13+January+2013+018.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windsor International Sand Sculptures</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well that's it in a nutshell, other than I might have inadvertently become an Executive Producer of a short film. Might do a New Zealand post later.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-39647168886837822942012-11-29T19:23:00.001+11:002012-11-30T06:09:17.958+11:00Essayons...That's All You Can Do<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was a tough lesson to learn and one that cost my friend
dearly. One that I lament also, because three years of almost daily contact is
about to slide into even fewer Skype encounters, texts and calls. Contact
reduced largely to a friendship via Android until he gets back on his feet once
more.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NARS6hwrSCA/ULcS8wLoogI/AAAAAAAAI2s/DIj9UfbzpKw/s1600/Last+Day59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NARS6hwrSCA/ULcS8wLoogI/AAAAAAAAI2s/DIj9UfbzpKw/s400/Last+Day59.jpg" width="335" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes he's able to spoil every photograph - </span>quirky, arrogant, eloquent, intelligent, tipsy, argumentative, rude, creative, frustrating but... </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He’s been in LA for almost two and a half years. The first
year, dedicated to cementing relationships, getting on his feet, finding his
bearings, honing his craft, writing furiously, engaging with contacts,
producers, actors, mentors, and generally getting himself established; itself a full time
job. Th<span style="font-size: small;">is man is a fine storyteller and a very good script writer.</span> The second year, after <span style="font-size: small;">a visit to Australia followed by prolific production and</span> a short period of ill health culminating in an operation,
he realised that if he’s going to make it in Tinsel Town as a writer and
producer, he needed to get his skates on. And a flurry of activity began. Poetry and prose were traded for scripts, his
beloved Tenth Daughter of Memory blog closed. A novel he’d written turned into
an amazing feature screenplay and things were beginning to buzz. Lots of
contact with old friends and new, creative like-minded souls, red carpet
openings and the apparent interest of producers famous and unknown. 10 Short
film scripts, negotiations with SAG actors and crew, furious networking and the
seeking of mentors. By July 2012, he was buoyant. Running out of funds but
frantically busy. One of which <span style="font-size: small;">held such promise as a recognised Hollywood producer. </span>Most of all, he was happy, positive, optimistic; everything
was coming together. Our conversations were varied, he was funny, intelligent,
chatty and I looked forward to racing home each evening to catch up on the
events of his day. So exciting compared to the banality of mine.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over the past three months the reality of ‘making it’ in a
town full of false promises, shallow people and abject vanity began to show. The mentors weren't forthcoming, deals fel<span style="font-size: small;">l through, contracts were dubious. </span>The slow reality of becoming known as a paid writer, gave way to mounting debt. I
watched the enthusiasm fall from his face. I saw the disappointment in his eyes,
the exhaustion take it<span style="font-size: small;">s toll. There was a palpable</span> change in his temperament from uplifted to
jaded, something few of his Hollywood friends re<span style="font-size: small;">cognised despi<span style="font-size: small;">te a barage of not-so-subtle h<span style="font-size: small;">ints on Fa<span style="font-size: small;">cebook. M</span></span></span></span></span></span>ost of all, I recognised the familiar apathy returning as he said “I don’t care…” More often than I cared to hear it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, totally out of funds and in more debt than he can
service, (most of it inherited from someone else) he’s had to pick up sticks. Two short films have been scheduled. One
already shot and</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">in post production, the other in pre-production and ready to
film on 8<sup>th</sup> December with an almost impossible completion deadline
of 3<sup>rd</sup> January.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">His crew and co-writer working frantically to put it
together as an entry in Australian Tropfest. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He couldn’t be leaving at a worse
time. Hopefully, the global village that we are, will allow him to stay in
touch via internet and phone and to help drive this project forward. It was a
labour of love and I’ve seen with my own eyes, the level of effort that has had
to be made to bring it this far. Jeff, is beyond exhausted. The film, <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shortpajamas/imaginary-friend" target="_blank">"Imaginary Friend"</a> has just reached it's minimum target, but if you're interested in seeing this dream fulfilled, feel free to lob a few bucks at the boys. I have a selfish interest in as much as the Director/Producer get to travel over for the festival if they're selected as finalists.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love this man, because he is my dearest male friend (other than my son of course),
because for three years, he’s been my constant companion on Skype, and for a while in person. I am devastated that he has to leave. Then leaving isn’t the
big thing for me. Wherever he goes, he’s still on the other side of the world. The
devastation comes from his inability to service his debt quickly so he’s
looking at the most high risk occupations because they offer the highest and
fastest returns – the fastest route to sating the appetites of voracious
creditors. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In another life, and long before I knew him, he was a soldier, a
combat engineer, a paratrooper. He’s now seeking contract work detonating land
mines in Afghanistan
and I can’t tell you how that makes my heart bleed. Especially, since at one
point this year, he was coming to visit for three weeks over Christmas. I still
hold a vain hope that he might make it, given that the timeframe for this
application might take a couple of months. I know in my heart it’s unlikely,
very unlikely, and I fear I won’t see him for another year, or at worst, ever
again except via <span style="font-size: small;">m<span style="font-size: small;">y computer screen</span></span>. The attraction of high risk jobs in warzones? Tax free income, food and board and a quick ass way to reduce debt, for those who have the right skills. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Thursday, he heads home to sort his affairs. Drop off his
gear, go through the motions of becoming suitable for such work and worst of
all, finding homes for his beloved animals. I know how much that’s going to
hurt. I’ve seen it before when he had to
leave two of his dogs behind to go to LA in the first place. Even though they’re
well cared for, he misses them. Misses them dearly. The job in a dangerous place isn't a given but it's his best hope getting back on his feet. Besides, what boy doesn't like to blow shit up!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Part of me wants to hug him, braid his hair and tell him it
will be alright. Part of me wants to berate him for not getting part-time work
while he was in Hollywood.
Part of me wants to slap him and tell him not to put his life at risk, and part
of me knows that he needs money, fast, and that a dangerous occupation is
probably the only way he can do that without losing everything. Probably the
only thing he’s really highly qualified to do, other than write. Part of me also knows that he has a craving for risk and adventure and mountains and travel, this way he satisfies those lusts.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I<span style="font-size: small;"> know he'll keep in touch. I know he'l<span style="font-size: small;">l message<span style="font-size: small;"> and Skype me when he can. </span></span></span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So Jeff, k</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">eep your wits about you, your spirits up and know that you are loved across the
pond. It'll be interesting to see how much of Tinsel Town stays true. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tonight he told me "...most will stay friends for a week!' </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I didn't respond but I know which ones wil<span style="font-size: small;">l</span>. Not I, my friend. I'm here for the long haul. Then with most of my evenings free....perhaps I'll join a drum circle, or start blogging.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is not so much a lament but a warning to those who venture in to Hollywood with stars in their eyes. It has little to do with how 'good' you<span style="font-size: small;"> are, <span style="font-size: small;">or even who you know, it's about having the financial backup to fu<span style="font-size: small;">lfill your dreams and persist. Perhaps he'll go back, perhaps it's time for a whole new start<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
\</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Essayons Jeffrey, things will work out fine. I know you feel bottom of the barrel right now, perhaps that's what draws us together. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Let us try!" That's all we can do.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEY8S3ijp4U/ULcWZAyrcmI/AAAAAAAAI3A/3ah2h0BVrhg/s1600/On+the+set+of+Dog+September+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEY8S3ijp4U/ULcWZAyrcmI/AAAAAAAAI3A/3ah2h0BVrhg/s640/On+the+set+of+Dog+September+2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the set of his soon to be completed short film "Dog" with the 'model<span style="font-size: small;">'</span> who played dead dog Starbuck.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-76795719940904388232012-10-28T09:26:00.001+11:002012-10-28T09:26:26.723+11:00A Week of Weirdness and of No Particular Interest to Anyone<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's been a strange week. I have a visitor who's been working on Cruise ships but originally from the US. He's young,love-sick and depressed over a recent relationship breakup and killing time before heading home, or on some other adventure. It's hard to mend a wounded heart, especially when there's (in my opinion) little hope of short term repair. I feel very sad for him and just want to hug him all the time but don't want to make him cry. Anyway, I'll keep him busy until he heads, moves forward or whatever.<br /><br />I've been estranged from my brother, 2 years my junior, since he moved out six years ago. Yesterday this lean figure wondered up to the shed, fiddled around a bit, then strolled back. It was him. Older, shakier, thinner. The once long mane of chestnut hair, cropped and balding. His moustache and goatee, decidedly grey. He's finally completing the house that he started six years ago, up in the blue mountains and checking out some furniture he'd left behind. It was a reconciliation of sorts. Uncomfortable, awkward but we exchanged numbers, I gave him a warm hug and I promised to visit once he'd moved in about three weeks from now. I hate family rifts and mine's been rifting for a variety of reasons over the past few years. It was good to connect and hopefully, the start of a better relationship between us. I thought he'd 'divorced' his family but I think he's ready to somehow rekindle what was once a close relationship. Hope floats.<br /><br />We had a baby. Well my nephew's wife had a baby. They live next door and today, Charlie Dunn (also my father's name), all 8.1lbs of him comes home to cause havoc. He took a while to reach the world as his mum was induced on Tuesday night, then had a caesar the following Wednesday but all worked out in the wash and my youngest brother and his wife are now the first grandparents in our generation. I'm just glad it wasn't me!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Had an intense meeting with a large developer who banged on about joint ventures and putting powerlines underground. All it would cost is $165,000. My reaction? "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......" Yep, I left the meeting early before I burst into tears at the apparent hopelessness of selling this bloody block. Then had a call from a real estate agent who has an 'offer'. I'm not holding my breath, this particular agent is very naive so we'll meet on Monday and I'll give him the lay of the land so to speak. See if his buyer is still interested. <br /><br />My laptop USB died. This is a problem because I can't upload photos or use my wireless headset when I'm talking on Skype. So, Bill the local computer guy came and fixed it. The $210 quote ended up being $407, more than the damn thing was worth so I went crazy on credit and bought a new desktop. I know, silly purchase given my financial situation but hey, I'll claim it on tax somehow and finally have a stable and reliable platform for my online shenanigans. I miss the discipline of sitting in front of a screen, in a stationary position. I haven't written a word since for months so hopefully, the regimen of just getting into position will get the juices flowing. Bring on November and the return of <a href="http://thetenthdaughterofmemory.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">The Tenth Daughter of Memory</a>...it makes me write, it makes me happy.<br /><br />Finally, my company has designated a three week compulsory leave period over Christmas. This is awesome and problematic. It will use up my entire paid leave entitlement at a time of year when everyone seems to be on holiday or out of the country. But, if a certain person pulls his finger out and comes to visit. Could end up being a delightful summer break.<br /><br />So...enough about me....how's weirdness in your neck of the woods?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kFGEde7oybU/UIxfZbABomI/AAAAAAAAI0w/JGJ2THtIo4A/s1600/Charlie+Dunn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kFGEde7oybU/UIxfZbABomI/AAAAAAAAI0w/JGJ2THtIo4A/s320/Charlie+Dunn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-4869582231435802942012-10-07T10:53:00.003+11:002012-10-07T10:54:11.741+11:00And....We're Back...sort ofA few months ago, I closed a site that had encouraged me to write - about everything - due to waning interest. Constraints of time, dissatisfaction with the format and well, some imagined intimidation at being 'judged' for your work (which I like actually) caused interest to dwindle. Since then, a few of us have been flailing in the world of writing and miss the challenge and contributions. My point? <a href="http://thetenthdaughterofmemory.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">The Tenth Daughter of Memory</a> is returning and this is as good a place as any to let you know that<a href="http://irrex2.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"> JeffScape</a> has decided to attempt a relaunch of
sorts.<br />
<br />
However... things have changed.<br />
<br />
The new system in mind provides longer periods of both submitting and
voting, as well as limits the types of entries a specific Muse will
accept. The system, so far, looks wonderful on paper, but it is obvious
to those involved that said system will undoubtedly run into problems.<br />
<br />
Which means what, exactly?<br />
<br />
Which means that, starting in November, The Tenth Daughter of Memory is
going to launch a 3-cycle "beta test" to try out the next system, with
the hopes of having a full relaunch in time for the <a href="http://thetenthdaughterofmemory.blogspot.com.au/p/river-of-mnemosyne-challenge.html" target="_blank">"4th Annual River of Mnemosyne"</a> challenge.<br />
<br />
The beta test will be all-volunteer and done in private, and, well, we need volunteers.<br />
<br />
Anyone interested in either participating or administrating, please email us at 10thDoM@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
Having written bugger all for the last few months, I for one am delighted that it's being revived. Bigger, better, simpler? Who knows but it's one helluva ride. Come join in the fun. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-10834340935091641072012-09-30T13:16:00.002+10:002012-09-30T13:16:54.511+10:00Who knew? I have a life!I guess I haven't been blogging that much because I felt that I really didn't have a very interesting life or anything fascinating to say. Until I started filing my photos on Flickr and realised that actually....I have quite a rich life and at least one or two extra curricular excursions beyond heading to Bunnings for house paint or doing the laundry.<br />
<br />
The past month has seen me meet up with bloggers<a href="http://vehow.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"> VE</a> and Wifey Poo, who managed a day in Sydney before a two-week foray into North Queensland. Despite the queues for the Ferry to Manly on a beautiful Sunday, we spent a few hours chatting, eating and walking just to keep the poor darlings awake (they arrived at 5:15am and couldn't get into their hotel until after 2!) Sorry, no photos since it was Wifey Poo's camera that took the shots so I guess you'll have to wait until they get back from their ballooning, white water rafting and shark dodging.<br />
<br />
Last week met up with yet another blogger but since it's her fifth trip to Australia and the third time we've connected, <a href="http://eastbelfastdiary.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Jenny</a> is more a friend than just a cybername. Unfortunately, her visit was way too short and minus the lovely <a href="http://nickhereandnow.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Nickhereandnow</a>....next time folks, let's throw an oversized shrimp on the barbie. <br />
<br />
Also caught up with a previously unmet friend of a Friend during the Sydney Writer's festival. The festival was rather coincidental but it made the Walsh Bay area in Sydney abuzz with activity and a few famous faces. Dustin doesn't blog but he's a fantastic photographer with a lovely <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-world-i-exposed/id520704897?mt=11" target="_blank">e-book for iPad, </a>check it out if you're into travel and stunning visuals.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On the home front, I've been feeding a skinny horse all sorts of magic potions and have just realised that the best weight gaining potion (as with people I guess) is vegetable oil. He's coming on nicely. Photos later when it's warm enough to bear the trickle of cold water down the inside of my arm - yes, he needs a bath.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Chickens. We have chickens. Not mine but when you live next door to the chicken owner, the birds do not know that my house is a no go zone. They're beyond tame and how a dog or fox hasn't nibbled them by now I'll never know, their only saving grace? Being locked up securely after dark. Shirley particularly, is my favourite. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Of course if you don't live under a rock, you know I've been spruiking the first short film to be made by a friend. It's now in post production and hopefully will be making the festival rounds before Christmas. It's been a learning curve for the filmmakers and a labour of love. If things pan out the way they should, <a href="http://irrex2.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/friends-of-dog.html" target="_blank">Jeffscape</a> will be bringing my digital copy at Christmas. God knows they didn't get paid for it but I'm so proud of them<a href="https://www.facebook.com/shortpajamas?fref=ts" target="_blank"> and their efforts.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Of course there's been connections with the family. Now that I'm an empty nester, I hate not having my kids at home but they're around regularly or more likely, I'm around at their place regularly. Time for me to spill coffee on their carpet and eat them out of house and home.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, pedestrian as it is, this is my life of working 9-5, engaging with family, farm animals, lunch and meet-ups. Until next time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lLdwIj6VtI4/UGetn-qOFeI/AAAAAAAAIwY/dmnitK3pfIo/s1600/20120923_105742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lLdwIj6VtI4/UGetn-qOFeI/AAAAAAAAIwY/dmnitK3pfIo/s640/20120923_105742.jpg" width="480" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lLdwIj6VtI4/UGetn-qOFeI/AAAAAAAAIwY/dmnitK3pfIo/s1600/20120923_105742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Circular Quay Ferry Terminal...took VE and Wifey Poo to lunch in Manly. They paid which was rather nice!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CBCuaGMseDg/UGeunJUyqoI/AAAAAAAAIwg/nSfzFka5kdg/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CBCuaGMseDg/UGeunJUyqoI/AAAAAAAAIwg/nSfzFka5kdg/s640/071.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Speaking of family connections, my niece in law is due in 2 weeks. How that huge thing is going to slide between those tiny hips remains to be seen!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSVIE_zmSas/UGevgf91qWI/AAAAAAAAIwo/NOv2X9dNeM8/s1600/Ripples+260812+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSVIE_zmSas/UGevgf91qWI/AAAAAAAAIwo/NOv2X9dNeM8/s640/Ripples+260812+028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lunch at Ripples, Chowder Bay with my best friend in the world who yes, is marginally older than me at 56 already. Sucks to be you Thommo...(Oh hai...that'll be me on the 16th October. How did I get to be so friggin' old?)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0lutL322zk/UGevse8UiQI/AAAAAAAAIw4/3wwjLXqptGg/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0lutL322zk/UGevse8UiQI/AAAAAAAAIw4/3wwjLXqptGg/s640/006.JPG" width="451" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is Shirley</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B22JGVLlqd0/UGewgx5hL5I/AAAAAAAAIxA/F9I7kaRij5I/s1600/IMG_9231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B22JGVLlqd0/UGewgx5hL5I/AAAAAAAAIxA/F9I7kaRij5I/s640/IMG_9231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And this is Dustin, with Clare of course....currently working on cruise ships in the Atlantic</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0iwwXqEYXNc/UGexBJGSA-I/AAAAAAAAIxI/cqMYTBa7Tfo/s1600/IMG_9248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0iwwXqEYXNc/UGexBJGSA-I/AAAAAAAAIxI/cqMYTBa7Tfo/s640/IMG_9248.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And yes, Adam still cooks while Clare pretends to get her fingers dirty but the Pasta Machine has been getting a workout lately.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pm05CWLlQ0g/UGevl19udjI/AAAAAAAAIww/oMLelTd1nUM/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pm05CWLlQ0g/UGevl19udjI/AAAAAAAAIww/oMLelTd1nUM/s640/IMG_0148.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And last but by no means least, my beloved Sydney Swans nailed the AFL premiership. Happy doesn't cut it. I'm over the moon. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-74377396089781561562012-09-16T08:20:00.000+10:002012-09-16T08:22:31.015+10:00And They're Away!You all probably are aware that Jeffscape is making a short film. One of many but the first and it's bloody awesome. They underestimated the cost a little and are still appealing for funds, so close but poor man's reduced to eating pot noodles after having invested heavily with money he doesn't have. So take a look at the teaser and please, if you have a penny in your pocket, spare a little for their Kickstarter. I have a good feeling about this, I think it's the beginning of something great.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Fq11Bshz8Oc" width="560"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shortpajamas/dog-production-value/widget/video.html" width="480"> </iframe>
.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-58888194719624030762012-08-11T09:40:00.000+10:002012-08-11T09:44:19.766+10:00Int Pit!<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;">Alright you whingers. A few loyal
followers have been asking me to post which makes me feel just a little
loved. Since I'm vain and like the adoration, here goes.
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;">I work for a large
mining/quarrying company and we're building a graniodorite quarry in the
NSW Southern Highlands. It's a 2 year contract, expiring in November
2013. Basically we're
blowing a big hole in the ground and putting in a load of automated
crushers and conveyors to make concrete aggregate, road base, rail base
etc. I'm the Project Administrator for a team of engineers. All of whom I
like immensely with the exception of one.
There's always one. Although in this case, he's just an old grandpa
(even though he's only 2 years older than me), with a huge misogynistic
chip on his shoulder. Fortunately, I don't report to him so just ignore
him. The best bit? I get to go on site once
a month, wear uber sexy hi visibility gear and super comfy steel capped
boots and feel like one of the boys. I love this reflective stuff.
Sadly, my office job isn't busy enough and I spend most of my day bored,
unable to access Facebook or Blogs and just
staring blindly into spreadsheets. </span><br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;">On another note:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;">I'm attempting albeit poorly to
launch into some sort of writing field and my main avenue to hone my
skills is no longer around. . Unfortunately, dwindling interest in our
writing blog The Tenth
Daughter of Memory has seen it close down. The links are still there so
if you fancy a short story now and then, go have a look. They're weird,
wonderful and always challenging. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;">So, your task should you choose to
accept is to find me and my three remaining
writing pals, a site with a difference. One that doesn't have a
thousand sycophantic "OMG I love your poems" comments. One where people
actually read your work. One that offers critiques for writing. One
that might be a little competitive and hey, even perhaps
a theme or two to spark off the imagination. I need the pressure of a
challenge and the discipline of critical analysis to keep up the
writing. Perhaps I'll do what Tom's doing and create a Blurb book for
posterity...then again...I should probably do that
Grammar course.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;">See you when the wind breaks.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;"></span> </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CWsjYz9oyYA/UCV4lsu_oiI/AAAAAAAAIu8/W-N-NNceAYo/s1600/IMG_1817%281%29.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CWsjYz9oyYA/UCV4lsu_oiI/AAAAAAAAIu8/W-N-NNceAYo/s400/IMG_1817%281%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big diggery thing (Excavator) and big rock crushy thing </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uPPeCbByA0o/UCV4ptFjbII/AAAAAAAAIvE/FKNJyAJ5cPE/s1600/quarry2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uPPeCbByA0o/UCV4ptFjbII/AAAAAAAAIvE/FKNJyAJ5cPE/s400/quarry2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginnings of big silo crushy thing, made in Portugal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R38sKZVKb8Y/UCV4yw6YIWI/AAAAAAAAIvc/8MeXKYUo5WA/s1600/Quarry1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R38sKZVKb8Y/UCV4yw6YIWI/AAAAAAAAIvc/8MeXKYUo5WA/s400/Quarry1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine site in the middle of nowhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dCECS_0sypo/UCV_XLYabyI/AAAAAAAAIvs/Nsmp9xWkGEo/s1600/IMG_9361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dCECS_0sypo/UCV_XLYabyI/AAAAAAAAIvs/Nsmp9xWkGEo/s400/IMG_9361.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretending to blow stuff up</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X-A6GMDOfvc/UCV4vqRPsmI/AAAAAAAAIvU/8un6YRNPVEs/s1600/tim.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X-A6GMDOfvc/UCV4vqRPsmI/AAAAAAAAIvU/8un6YRNPVEs/s400/tim.JPG" width="400" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The man who loves blowing things up after he's blown things up</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blowing things up</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="224" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/10150837856342742" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/10150837856342742" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="224"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-7814405237131464672012-07-27T18:21:00.002+10:002012-07-27T18:26:55.941+10:00Friday Fuckwit(s)<div class="ajy">
<img alt="" class="ajz" data-tooltip="Show details" id=":9s" role="button" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/images/cleardot.gif" tabindex="0" /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: normal;">
I once wrote a story about a man who got himself into a bit of <a href="http://creativeinfanticide.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/erv-revamp.html" target="_blank">strife with the wrong woman</a> but more than one Chinese policeman managed to emerge red faced after a daring rescue.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: normal;">
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: normal;">
The phrase "inflated body count' took on new meaning for 18 cops in
China's Shandong Province who worked together to save a sex doll they
thought was a drowning woman. (No shit...cos we all look the same to them?)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: normal;">
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: normal;">
The incident happened July 11 when officers responded to a report
that there was a lady in distress in one of the province's rivers. The
crew worked frantically for nearly an hour to rescue the woman,
<a href="http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/329052" target="_blank">according to Digital Journal,</a> and in the process, attracted a crowd of about 1,000 curious, excited and anxious spectators to the scene.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: normal;">
It took more than 40 minutes before the officers were able to recover the pleasure toy.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: normal;">
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: normal;">
After confirming that they had indeed run around in a panic for
nearly an hour over trying to rescue someone’s blow-up girlfriend, the
police presented it to the anxious crowd, who quickly covered their
children’s eyes and walked
away.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: normal;">
</span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e6raVzrbqrM" width="560"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-85879921389044116162012-07-13T20:38:00.001+10:002012-07-13T20:49:29.428+10:00Friday FuckwitAlright, six bloggers did donate to the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shortpajamas/dog-0?ref=live" target="_blank">Kickstart for Dog</a> and I promised them a Friday Fuckwit. I was torn between the teenager in America's south who swam in aligator infested waters and wondered why one of these highly territorial but normally calm predators decided to nab a forearm and death roll him for dinner....seriously son? Shouldn't you have avoided the murky waters and gone for a dip with the floaters and toddlers in the local pool.. you fucking idiot. I hope you're left handed. <br />
<br />
But no....today's Darwin Award and dual Friday Fuckwit goes to the knob who decided that playing with oversized pussycats after hours was a good idea. <br />
<br />
In Copenhagen, Denmark, an unnamed 20-year-old Afghan man was killed by tigers in the city's zoo after he climbed a fence and crossed a moat into the animals' enclosure, early this morning.<br />
He was found dead, surrounded by three Siberian tigers when the zoo staff arrived for work.<br />
It is unknown unclear why the man entered the tiger area, but police have not ruled out suicide.<br />
According to the Danish newspaper <em>Ekstrablade</em>t, the young man lived alone in a flat near his <a class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" href="http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/man-eaten-tigers-after-breaking-zoo#" id="itxthook0" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: darkgreen; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.07em; color: darkgreen; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" id="itxthook0w0" style="color: darkgreen; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">family</span></a> in central Copenhagen and was just about to finish high school.<br />
Superintendent Lars Borg told <em>Ekstrablade</em>t: "We received an emergency call at about 7.30am that a person had been found lying in the tiger pen and that three tigers were surrounding that person."<br />
"The tigers attacked him and killed him. It is likely that a bite to the throat was the primary reason for his death. He has been in the water and the animals must have seen that and attacked him."<br />
<br />
Perhaps it was a better alternative than landing on Christmas Island in a leaky boat and waiting to be processed in a detention centre in Australia.<br />
<br />
Have a great weekend folks and don't forget to support the yarts and give the price of a cuppa to my darling man....<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dJFyz73MRcg" width="420"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-3864108442637004862012-07-12T20:21:00.001+10:002012-07-12T20:21:09.403+10:00<strong>An apology</strong><br />
I am often a needy biatch and a paranoid idiot. I don't know where this insecurity comes from and it passes as quickly as it takes me over but I hate it. I used to be a confident, happy, resourceful and capable person - and in many ways - I sometimes am. But lately, whether it's mood swings, my lot in life, the sadness of a dreary winter, the patronsng attitude of some, empty nesting, empty pockets or just plain nicotine withdrawal; I have become a whiny bitch and an overthinking paranoid idiot. It's something I'm working on but in the meantime, please be patient with me. I'm sorry to Jeff who is infinitely patient with me at the moment and to Siobhan because I am sometimes a Skype witch and she deserves better. Apologies to my children for being a negative sour puss and an anti-social freak. I will have the outlaws over when the sun shines, I promise. I am making a conscious effort to overcome whatever it is that's gripping me these days. Happiness is a state of mind and sometimes I feel like I'm losing mine.<br />
<br />
<strong>An Appreciation</strong><br />
A good start would be a few thank you's. Huge thanks to those who contributed to the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shortpajamas/dog-0?ref=live" target="_blank">Dog Kickstart</a>. Some of the people I haven't met but know through the blogs, some who have never heard of Jeffscape and some who I haven't seen for a very long time. It's been quite a surprise to see who's come forward and I would be lying if I wasn't a little disappointed in those who I thought might have supported someone I care about so much, yet didn't. But, Ces la vie...thank you, thank you to those who donated so generously. Mim, Karen Jasper, Karen Sagovac, Ashleigh, Rigmore,Sue, Patti, Ros ....There's still a few days for those of you who want to make this happen and be part of film making history. They've almost reached their minimum and are now aiming for $7500 to make the film truly spectacular.<br />
<br />
<strong>A Promise</strong><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will blog more often, visit more often, smile more often and exercise patience with those I love. I will curb my envy, squash my insecurities, be kinder, nicer, happier and look forward to the warmer weather because it isn't far away/ I'm not a very nice person to know at the moment. But things will get better.</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XTWm0s7ZwDY" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...and yes...there will be a Friday Fuckwit..</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-33551260970834171782012-07-02T17:58:00.000+10:002012-07-02T18:10:28.980+10:00Please Send MoneezI can't believe how long it's been since I posted here. I guess the fact that I broke my arm on Good Friday then ruptured an extensor tendon five weeks later, means that I've been in a cast and splint for just about 10 weeks....there, that's April and May sorted...and now here we are half way through June. My fingers are free, my wrist is a mangled mess and I have the scars to prove it but after my bully of a physiotherapist has finished manipulating the bejeezus out of my bones and causing me more pain than the original ailments...life should get back to normal.<br />
<br />
And before you ask. No, I haven't given up smoking...yet....although my role model has gone since March with only four nurrells smoked, and is lauding it over me nicely so...guilt will take it's toll even if sheer economics does not.<br />
Not much to report, work, being a one armed invalid, working, hack writing on the other blog and mostly socialising with family and friends. I'll let the pictures do the talking. So how are all of you? Or those who are left with me in their reader? I'm feeling a slightly renewed urge to blog...perhaps it will pass, but truth be told, I miss you all and a quick look back on the old girl and I kinda miss her too.<br />
<br />
Although my reason for posting is less than altruistic. My darling boy, the light of my life Jeffscape has been hard at work writing scripts and screenplays. One of which is in pre production as a short film in preparation for the festival circuit. I've had a lot of faith in this guy's ability and it's been a long time coming seeing the puzzle piece together but now, with a fine team of film makers, producers, cinematographers and actors, he as the writer is ready to fledge. Please help them raise the tiniest bit of cash to fund this project.<br />
You can invest, yes I said invest, as little as a dollar or as much as you want. Given that for the cost of a loaf of bread you could be part of something sweet, creative and with a message, should be it's own reward. They have a "Kickstarter" page where you pledge and leave credit card details via Amazon so it's safe, secure and if they don't make bank, no funds are deducted. If they hit their target, your card will be debited. They're already 30% there with a couple of weeks to go so please, if you have any interest in the creative arts, slip a coin in their virtual pocket. If only half a dozen of you help, I'll do a Friday Fuckwit for the next six weeks. And that's a promise.<br />
<br />
If you can't see the Kickstarter Video, just click <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shortpajamas/dog-0" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shortpajamas/dog-0/widget/video.html" width="480"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-80752428760150085192012-03-26T20:08:00.001+11:002012-03-26T20:08:37.315+11:00I Wish I Could Say That Everyone is WrongI’m not sure I believe in an addictive personality. But if they exist, I think I have one. Then, I’m addicted to many things, or think I am. Hugs, contact, sex, manners, a particular someone, a modicum of behaviour, dogs…cigarettes.<br />
<br />
I started smoking when I was 14 years old. Sneaking a Viscount filter down my bra before going riding with girls I no longer see. I was at a school for a single term while we were relocating (story of my life). We’d ride across highways into the bush, down to a stream at the end of Loyalty Road in North Rocks. Let the horse splash in the creek, sit and talk as girls do about boys and horses and life as we knew it. "Have one" said my friend Kate, and eager for acceptance of new friends in a new state, I complied. “Do the draw back.”<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I gasped slightly at the burn. No cough, no choke. Had that happened I might have decided it was disgusting and stopped but I didn’t. I took to it like a fish to water. From then, sneaking behind the girl’s toilets at school. Stuffing the packet of 10 (when you could buy them) into my shirt. I remember my mother saying to me one day when I came back after only leaving the house for five minutes, “Forgotten your cigarettes?” Yes the jig was up. But that was the 70s and even into the 80’s smoking was acceptable, affordable.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I remember sitting at my desk at work. The whole office smoked. Inside! Inconceivable in this day and age. Strangely, I gave up during each pregnancy but the best cigarette? Truly the finest fag…was the one I had after the delivery of each baby. Well that and a cup of tea.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The most reminiscent times of my life included coffee with my mum…and cigarettes. Coffee with my dad…and cigarettes. Despite the health warnings, my peak flow is huge. I have good lungs.</div><div class="MsoNormal">My mother, a nurse, used to say that smokers recovered from surgery better because they were literally gasping for a gasper which made them mobile and travel up to the roof garden for a ciggie. Mobility after surgery being the first step to recovery.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then the nanny state took over. Passive smoking became a bigger issue than climate change. Banned in the workplace, banned in restaurants, banned in pubs and clubs that didn’t have an ‘ostracism’ room with smacked up aircon and extractor fans, banned in sports arenas…BANNED. And me and the other pariahs of society banned with them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, the only place I can smoke is in my own home or a narrow range of restaurants that have a ‘designated area’ for we nurrel indulgents. My kids hate it. My friends hate it. My in-laws hate it and worry for my welfare. But for years it gave me solace. Like a dummy to a toddler, that cool draw and burn provided comfort. I hate to admit it, but it is my crutch. I like it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Smoking is supposed to affect your sense of taste and smell yet my sense of smell is acute. As is that of a couple of other smokers I know. If my sense of taste is affected…I don’t really want to taste ‘better’ since resisting life’s gastronomic pleasures is already a challenge. But I am sick of being relegated to the corner so to speak and I’m sure I can no longer afford to do it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What changed? Well there’s the price. Here they cost around $18-$20 per pack of 25. The disapproving looks. The inability to socialise and having to get up, go out and mingle with the other 'lepers' in the beer garden. And, support of my darling Skyman who's tried so often, for so long and failed. Perhaps we can support each other.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> So…this week, I’m down to about six a day. By the weekend hopefully 2 and by next Monday? Well I can’t promise but I can’t afford it. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it. So wish me luck. But seriously, if you’ve never smoked, don’t bother with platitudes. If you have and managed to give up…fantastic, I applaud you. The real reason....I want to travel, hike, walk, manage steps and mountains without being out of breath. I want to shame someone 20 years my junior with good health and verve. I don't want anyone to say (as I've heard) "My God there's nothing worse than an old woman smoking..."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vbuXMon7uUM" width="420"></iframe></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Could be an empty promise. Could be an extra $400 a month on my credit debt.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here goes…..</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-44283263073140406432012-02-14T21:56:00.001+11:002012-02-15T18:13:32.212+11:00Tropical Climes and Wedding Chimes<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well as usual I've been a hopeless blogger and an even worse follower. Participating in the Tenth Daughter of Memory, River of Mnemosyne Challenge takes up my free time. Well along with the odd Friend's Christmas, girls pyjama parties (no, absolutely no photographs), dinners with friends and a lot of Skype and Facebook activity plus a 45 hour working week. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My family is now intact after Clare returning from a four month South American adventure and a soccer tour of Europe (yawn). </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The weekend of the 3rd February, my sweet niece Hannah married her lover. The weather was ominous. Flooding along the Pacific Highway, our main arterial road around the country and for a moment, we had worries that we'd not be able to make the six hour drive or worse still her outdoor wedding might be deluged. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For anyone living with a bag over their head, the world's weather has gone crazy and for the past three months, we've had probably half a dozen summer days, the rest, torrential rain, cool temperatures and overcast skies. No risk of melanoma this year, that's for sure. It's wet, cool, gloomy and frankly a horrible summer. Then a Skype conversation with my Skyman and he's putting aircon on in LA at midday in the middle of February...go figure. My Dutch friend hasn't enough ice for their annual 200km skate event and London's bathed in snow.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But this was a moment of glorious sunshine even though it was a little grey. She is a gorgeous girl, radiant, cheeky, loads of fun, great company and marrying a man from one of those million acre properties you only hear about in far north Queensland. It was a fabulous wedding, a marvellous weekend at a rather nice resort in Coff's Harbour (although I'm not sure about the water dragons in the swimming pool or the turkeys that kept nibbling my toes every time I sat out in our little courtyard) and apart from a lot of driving with very silly people, good times. So, share the love and the critters.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Having said that, the Honeymooners have just posted on Facebook that Hannah caught a 2 metre shark on a handline. She's a keeper I guess.</span>...<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fH7Lc9RpayU/Tzo07jKmcMI/AAAAAAAAICQ/rc6jMpEezYU/s1600/Hannah%27s+Wedding1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fH7Lc9RpayU/Tzo07jKmcMI/AAAAAAAAICQ/rc6jMpEezYU/s640/Hannah%27s+Wedding1.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Apartment at Anuka Breakfree</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMwYaIGD-uk/Tzo1ph5UYFI/AAAAAAAAICY/ZjKxtONqPsI/s1600/Hannah%27s+Wedding2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMwYaIGD-uk/Tzo1ph5UYFI/AAAAAAAAICY/ZjKxtONqPsI/s640/Hannah%27s+Wedding2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bush Turkeys...Everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFMN9uTXA18/Tzo2YEQeenI/AAAAAAAAICg/LxDwLbvAWBg/s1600/Hannah%27s+Wedding3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFMN9uTXA18/Tzo2YEQeenI/AAAAAAAAICg/LxDwLbvAWBg/s640/Hannah%27s+Wedding3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poshed up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SowMF0R-Gdw/Tzo2idGd2AI/AAAAAAAAICs/Xg55yAeKxFs/s1600/Hannah%27s+Wedding4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SowMF0R-Gdw/Tzo2idGd2AI/AAAAAAAAICs/Xg55yAeKxFs/s640/Hannah%27s+Wedding4.JPG" width="473" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon out of water</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JOaSJV0gs7E/Tzo2vYHx3oI/AAAAAAAAIC0/e1d0hp9z_ow/s1600/Hannah%27s+Wedding5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JOaSJV0gs7E/Tzo2vYHx3oI/AAAAAAAAIC0/e1d0hp9z_ow/s640/Hannah%27s+Wedding5.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah and Patrick.....love the view</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FvYEwJL6u8k/Tzo3HXsEldI/AAAAAAAAIC8/-2uPiXETFv8/s1600/Hannah%27s+Wedding6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FvYEwJL6u8k/Tzo3HXsEldI/AAAAAAAAIC8/-2uPiXETFv8/s640/Hannah%27s+Wedding6.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indoors / Outdoors</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ki1kgeq_xoA/Tzo3XXdsMVI/AAAAAAAAIDE/g-bHOZ-OA5Q/s1600/Hannah%27s+Wedding7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="411" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ki1kgeq_xoA/Tzo3XXdsMVI/AAAAAAAAIDE/g-bHOZ-OA5Q/s640/Hannah%27s+Wedding7.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Prodigal Returns, slides and splashes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HS2cTvHMm0Y/Tzo3kPBKS3I/AAAAAAAAIDM/2V6sUbg4ndY/s1600/Hannah%27s+Wedding8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HS2cTvHMm0Y/Tzo3kPBKS3I/AAAAAAAAIDM/2V6sUbg4ndY/s640/Hannah%27s+Wedding8.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hellooooo Possum</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D-Ax7AOFpWo/Tzo36MCeagI/AAAAAAAAIDU/YeaXDF3WIls/s1600/Hannah%27s+Wedding9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D-Ax7AOFpWo/Tzo36MCeagI/AAAAAAAAIDU/YeaXDF3WIls/s640/Hannah%27s+Wedding9.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hired it...Looks way smaller on the outside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Congratulations Mr and Mrs Paynter....May you mules often and string in the odd White Pointer . Love your bones kids. Now, Valentine's day is it not? Happy one to you who have one. Commiserations to those of us who wish....then, be careful what you wish for. And poo you who went to bed and left me with no Skypechat....bler.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-19078264247615120732012-01-14T09:29:00.001+11:002012-01-14T17:37:09.148+11:00Festival Time and The Weather's.....Sydney Festival time and the weather's....ugh. Not sure what's going on this year but an unusual atmospheric event has seen us with cool temperatures, lots of rain and storms and no opportunity for a tan. But it's Festival which is awesome. Live sites, free concerts, lots of people and fun times to be had however, our public transport sucks and the Sydney City Council in their wisdom have decided to close the Harbour Bridge for the next three weekends for resurfacing. Now what clown made that decision? Still, its school holidays here so I guess the traffic's lighter. Not much more to say so I'll let the pictures do the talking. I went to opening night last week and am toying with going to see Mike Patton and friends at the Domain tonight depending upon whether this cloud bursts or not!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ro3dCupbMIU/TxCmM53CPZI/AAAAAAAAH9o/vBMCCsGAfGo/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.122.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ro3dCupbMIU/TxCmM53CPZI/AAAAAAAAH9o/vBMCCsGAfGo/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.122.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking up Martin Place towards the Free Concert at the Domain</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3L69scM8FE/TxCmrHfTGOI/AAAAAAAAH90/_9Bdz9a0MUc/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.128.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3L69scM8FE/TxCmrHfTGOI/AAAAAAAAH90/_9Bdz9a0MUc/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.128.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Occupy what?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0D-F6UdcLuo/TxCnSZxpylI/AAAAAAAAH98/ibaKJlP1S-8/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.129.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh get a job you ferals</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DZ5Ldk5u-DI/TxCoRn7FI1I/AAAAAAAAH-Q/gjDTZHcvIgs/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1235.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DZ5Ldk5u-DI/TxCoRn7FI1I/AAAAAAAAH-Q/gjDTZHcvIgs/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1235.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They travel in packs</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t4TsgIQGWnU/TxCnzy6Th5I/AAAAAAAAH-E/2nQGFzgNn3M/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1215.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t4TsgIQGWnU/TxCnzy6Th5I/AAAAAAAAH-E/2nQGFzgNn3M/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1215.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apero!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8ewbEHqquQ/TxCuVOwYtnI/AAAAAAAAH_E/K7MHZYNzl1o/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1229.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8ewbEHqquQ/TxCuVOwYtnI/AAAAAAAAH_E/K7MHZYNzl1o/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1229.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incoming fruit bats</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfpIzVeOEjU/TxCowFyxBcI/AAAAAAAAH-Y/ysN4Uavfak0/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1248.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party times</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ro3dCupbMIU/TxCmM53CPZI/AAAAAAAAH9o/vBMCCsGAfGo/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HToCVXcedGE/TxCpNQhqXII/AAAAAAAAH-g/VMP9o5Id_Fg/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HToCVXcedGE/TxCpNQhqXII/AAAAAAAAH-g/VMP9o5Id_Fg/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1249.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage in the Domain...<b>Manu Chao La Ventura / Washington / Gurrumul /</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-jqn152Taw/TxCpkVPTzaI/AAAAAAAAH-o/rjdj51L3-cQ/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-jqn152Taw/TxCpkVPTzaI/AAAAAAAAH-o/rjdj51L3-cQ/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1252.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Mary's Cathedral shows its stripes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-YzYMVhhGg/TxCutW3AjNI/AAAAAAAAH_M/X_ssYHgc1pM/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-YzYMVhhGg/TxCutW3AjNI/AAAAAAAAH_M/X_ssYHgc1pM/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1256.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Club Bus in Hyde Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOEYx8G2190/TxCqjiuQeoI/AAAAAAAAH-8/Q8VM2wd2GBs/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1259.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOEYx8G2190/TxCqjiuQeoI/AAAAAAAAH-8/Q8VM2wd2GBs/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1259.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing in the Streets, Trocadero at Martin Place</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOEYx8G2190/TxCqjiuQeoI/AAAAAAAAH-8/Q8VM2wd2GBs/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1259.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4wa8WsFzJg4/TxCqGDcikxI/AAAAAAAAH-0/YNPXh-2N_mk/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4wa8WsFzJg4/TxCqGDcikxI/AAAAAAAAH-0/YNPXh-2N_mk/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1261.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Patrol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-67007165765627014732012-01-11T21:55:00.000+11:002012-01-11T21:55:38.902+11:00Oirsh and Strine<span style="font-size: large;">I had to wait until they arrived home, but on the 28th December, I met up with a long time blog friend and his wife and a new time blogger who actually lives in Sydney but whom I've never met. Nick from <a href="http://nickhereandnow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nickhereandnow</a> has been in Australia before a couple of years ago with his lovely partner Jenny and we met for the first time then. Since, we've kept in touch and it was wonderful to see them both again, neither looking a day older. Both sunkissed and energetic despite a whirlwind tour around the great brown land. Nick and Jenny from Belfast, Kylie from <a href="http://kylie-sonja.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eclectica</a> in Sydney...it was indeed a pleasure.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Kylie, who's already met up with a number of LA bloggers last year including Megan and Leah just lives on the other side of the city so hopefully, we'll catch up again. And kudos to Kylie's son Liam who kept her company among a bunch of misfits (and for being the only other meat-eater and sharing a shaslik). Thank you, it was a great evening, good food and fine company.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDaHOq9xguA/Tw1kSmNMquI/AAAAAAAAH78/NzeqG88ongM/s1600/Nikjennykyllie1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDaHOq9xguA/Tw1kSmNMquI/AAAAAAAAH78/NzeqG88ongM/s400/Nikjennykyllie1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny, Nick, Kylie</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jP7LDqReOYo/Tw1kZMgmGgI/AAAAAAAAH8E/MEnv3waYoFk/s1600/Nikjennykyllie2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jP7LDqReOYo/Tw1kZMgmGgI/AAAAAAAAH8E/MEnv3waYoFk/s400/Nikjennykyllie2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloggers three; Me, Nick, Kylie</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5m31tDeqW3w/Tw1k77sIwdI/AAAAAAAAH8M/urKPLsvvWws/s1600/Nikjennykyllie3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5m31tDeqW3w/Tw1k77sIwdI/AAAAAAAAH8M/urKPLsvvWws/s400/Nikjennykyllie3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vegetarian feast....but I wanted a steak</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QnHkSXd44YI/Tw1lb7-js-I/AAAAAAAAH8U/i0qkKeZ01Pc/s1600/Nikjennykyllie4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QnHkSXd44YI/Tw1lb7-js-I/AAAAAAAAH8U/i0qkKeZ01Pc/s400/Nikjennykyllie4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, the best Turkish version of Salsa I've ever tasted</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3Twl_u_xks/Tw1l5SHFpGI/AAAAAAAAH8g/oaUrsA5-LsY/s1600/Nikjennykyllie5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3Twl_u_xks/Tw1l5SHFpGI/AAAAAAAAH8g/oaUrsA5-LsY/s400/Nikjennykyllie5.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty huh?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bgNPa97rw_8/Tw1nwjORO2I/AAAAAAAAH9E/3vUdaVKYvBU/s1600/Nikjennykyllie9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bgNPa97rw_8/Tw1nwjORO2I/AAAAAAAAH9E/3vUdaVKYvBU/s400/Nikjennykyllie9.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeking coffee in Newtown</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZvZ8OSGIL8/Tw1oTFvqoNI/AAAAAAAAH9M/Cdh1T79zyPI/s1600/Nikjennykyllie10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZvZ8OSGIL8/Tw1oTFvqoNI/AAAAAAAAH9M/Cdh1T79zyPI/s400/Nikjennykyllie10.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found Coffee in Newtown. Nick and Jen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-23389746226362353892012-01-08T11:46:00.001+11:002012-01-08T11:50:47.317+11:00Two Weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">Well hello there! Happy New Year. Hope you all had a dandy Christmas and are now working off the podgefest with a few ab crunches and a detox diet. Today's the last day of 2 weeks leave imposed by a compulsory closure at work so here's a brief introspective:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last day at the Quarry near Goulburn, NSW and we put on a barbecue for the Civil Contract boys. I was having dinner with a few that evening and telling a lovely man sitting next to me how much I liked a photo of three filthy plant mechanics sitting on a rock....turned out to be the guy in the middle!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ganyINnqsfM/TwVrCdl5WMI/AAAAAAAAH4k/vimZvqlIn5A/s1600/Site+22.12.1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ganyINnqsfM/TwVrCdl5WMI/AAAAAAAAH4k/vimZvqlIn5A/s1600/Site+22.12.1138.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ganyINnqsfM/TwVrCdl5WMI/AAAAAAAAH4k/vimZvqlIn5A/s640/Site+22.12.1138.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Men can barbecue apparently. However Engineers seem to have some trouble.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steak came only one way.....incinerated!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Mz14LBuPE/TwVrbs1MKmI/AAAAAAAAH4w/MnY5-RJ-3ug/s1600/Site+22.12.1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Mz14LBuPE/TwVrbs1MKmI/AAAAAAAAH4w/MnY5-RJ-3ug/s640/Site+22.12.1110.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas with the Taylor/Bainbridge Clan.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-toG_inFQhyw/TwVshHoSYEI/AAAAAAAAH5A/DbiQgE1Wi-Q/s1600/FB+Christmas36.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-toG_inFQhyw/TwVshHoSYEI/AAAAAAAAH5A/DbiQgE1Wi-Q/s640/FB+Christmas36.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yeah we're a little 'touched'. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> The theme "Superheroes" was taken to the extreme with: Toxic Tinsel, Supa Santa, Bendy Elf, Rudolf the Nuclear Reindeer: Jungle Girl; Beer Man; and Hit Woman</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i5VhA538a38/TwjZClelEfI/AAAAAAAAH7s/wsPuUY4UzxQ/s1600/christmas+shot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i5VhA538a38/TwjZClelEfI/AAAAAAAAH7s/wsPuUY4UzxQ/s640/christmas+shot1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course we had to Skype Clare Bear in the second half of her 4 month "What Country is That" trip. After 8 weeks in South America (Equador, Galapagos, Columbia, Argentina), then to London, Scotland, Newcastle, Manchester, Madrid, Granada, Seville, Barcelona and on to Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich....next? Not sure but can't wait for her to head home in Feb.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqbyy4zGmPs/TwVtDTLf-EI/AAAAAAAAH5I/Rn8iJfcS1Fc/s1600/FB+Christmas46.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqbyy4zGmPs/TwVtDTLf-EI/AAAAAAAAH5I/Rn8iJfcS1Fc/s640/FB+Christmas46.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lithuanian Christmas with the In-Laws. They're awesomely hospitable and lovely people. I'm very lucky to have them in my life and they take Christmas VERY seriously. Their house is like the Rothenburg Christmas Shop and seriously, I can't do it justice but promised Siobhan some pics.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LA1YB857Tok/TwjLyWp6vdI/AAAAAAAAH54/TGjZRLPkBMQ/s1600/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LA1YB857Tok/TwjLyWp6vdI/AAAAAAAAH54/TGjZRLPkBMQ/s640/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas2.JPG" width="425" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their family room....there's more, so much more...</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1-N_xaWfvKw/TwjMWxgr5EI/AAAAAAAAH6A/Xnd5dGzlX6w/s1600/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1-N_xaWfvKw/TwjMWxgr5EI/AAAAAAAAH6A/Xnd5dGzlX6w/s640/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas3.JPG" width="640" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I could do an entire post in this alone!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6vRG0ewDR8/TwjVPPC_IVI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/AgUNDRoGvyE/s1600/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6vRG0ewDR8/TwjVPPC_IVI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/AgUNDRoGvyE/s640/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas13.JPG" width="425" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Well done Dalia...21 people for lunch and it was fantastic. I resisted Vic's shots and managed not to fall over by the end of the night.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-medbX_-CJNA/TwjNCDZPUVI/AAAAAAAAH6M/qcXmU5y6gzQ/s1600/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-medbX_-CJNA/TwjNCDZPUVI/AAAAAAAAH6M/qcXmU5y6gzQ/s640/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas21.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Great people, interesting food and a pile of hay beneath each plate. Apparently the man I'm going to fall in love with will be tall, thin and have a leaf growing out of his ear.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ-oR4ONitw/TwVtdOwT8SI/AAAAAAAAH5U/GiDxwcMX_pA/s1600/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ-oR4ONitw/TwVtdOwT8SI/AAAAAAAAH5U/GiDxwcMX_pA/s640/A+Very+Dulinskas+Christmas27.JPG" width="425" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Bainbridge in-laws' Christmas, low key but great people. Awesome fun. Congrats to my Nephew Jack who did really well in his HSC (our final school exam). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyNDrjHpt4Y/TwVt7Vb2raI/AAAAAAAAH5s/0kH-nqXFx1s/s1600/Bainbridge+Xmas+201159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyNDrjHpt4Y/TwVt7Vb2raI/AAAAAAAAH5s/0kH-nqXFx1s/s640/Bainbridge+Xmas+201159.jpg" width="472" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And a great day for my MIL who had major heart surgery, not without its complications early this year, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate. Although I question the synchronised dropping of ice into your Champagne - a travesty I tell you!</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uuf6ZtDyBgw/TwjPb1uzIlI/AAAAAAAAH6c/99bVStGEaDo/s1600/Bainbridge+Xmas+201133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uuf6ZtDyBgw/TwjPb1uzIlI/AAAAAAAAH6c/99bVStGEaDo/s640/Bainbridge+Xmas+201133.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1228808770"><br />
</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second week slightly marred when I went to fill the horses' water trough and tripped in a bloody rabbit hole. Instead of finding wonderland, I sustained a nice sprained ankle that saw me 'feet up' for three days watching porn for women. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sEGzTReqy2E/TwjQPmvGY-I/AAAAAAAAH6k/kuKHWeGIzLc/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sEGzTReqy2E/TwjQPmvGY-I/AAAAAAAAH6k/kuKHWeGIzLc/s640/Picture+1.png" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Poor thing's insomnia works to my advantage! Thanks lovely boy, for keeping me company while I've been off my feet</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GTiXYN2wWeo/TwjVwJcw7UI/AAAAAAAAH7c/bXUeC-hDdaQ/s1600/Insomniac.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GTiXYN2wWeo/TwjVwJcw7UI/AAAAAAAAH7c/bXUeC-hDdaQ/s640/Insomniac.png" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lovely Merry Widow's daughter returned from London for five weeks to attend a friend's Wedding. The time went all too fast and culminated in a pool party of sorts on one of the few fabulous days we've had this December.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJrbCn9SUEI/TwVtyPf3CJI/AAAAAAAAH5c/J7WUTqRUi8Q/s1600/Amy%2527s+Farewell+020112106.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJrbCn9SUEI/TwVtyPf3CJI/AAAAAAAAH5c/J7WUTqRUi8Q/s640/Amy%2527s+Farewell+020112106.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9R3Oyz8PYE4/TwjO7D0GH_I/AAAAAAAAH6U/nRtwszxRYeg/s1600/Amy%2527s+Farewell+02011253.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9R3Oyz8PYE4/TwjO7D0GH_I/AAAAAAAAH6U/nRtwszxRYeg/s640/Amy%2527s+Farewell+02011253.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ankle recovered enough to be strapped more tightly than a US air drop and, sustained me through the opening night of the Sydney Festival which commenced on the 7th January and runs for 2 weeks so hopefully, there will be more photos of goings on. We figure over 100,000 turned up for the free Concert in the Domain.<br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_umnTvhtG8/TwjRKblIIwI/AAAAAAAAH6s/JA8NTx0Sq9Y/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_umnTvhtG8/TwjRKblIIwI/AAAAAAAAH6s/JA8NTx0Sq9Y/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1249.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">St Mary's Cathedral wore Zebra Stripes</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dG8vV8i6DfM/TwjRovFQiFI/AAAAAAAAH64/ZZT0oUrd99s/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dG8vV8i6DfM/TwjRovFQiFI/AAAAAAAAH64/ZZT0oUrd99s/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1253.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dancing in the streets to the Trocadero in Martin Place.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hve6O6BFps/TwjSD91BI9I/AAAAAAAAH7A/Bct6R1h_fIE/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hve6O6BFps/TwjSD91BI9I/AAAAAAAAH7A/Bct6R1h_fIE/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1263.JPG" width="425" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well that's about it...Happy new year, may it hold all you wish for. Back to work on Monday.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgIBumiItUs/TwjTXRtQDfI/AAAAAAAAH7I/siDj7hkgAcM/s1600/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgIBumiItUs/TwjTXRtQDfI/AAAAAAAAH7I/siDj7hkgAcM/s640/Syd+Festival+Opening+7.1.1261.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Time to clean the lens, recharge the batteries and photograph 2012.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X0wPsK5cOko/TwjdoHA1zqI/AAAAAAAAH70/YIroHXQab1g/s1600/Bainbridge+Xmas+201110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X0wPsK5cOko/TwjdoHA1zqI/AAAAAAAAH70/YIroHXQab1g/s640/Bainbridge+Xmas+201110.jpg" width="384" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The end</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-58664466991049599042011-12-15T20:57:00.001+11:002011-12-15T21:01:30.200+11:00The Spurious World of Internet Dating<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alright. I fell in love with the wrong man. Well no, I had a mighty crush on the wrong man. Well no, he was the right man but the wrong time. Well no, it was the right man at the right time but the wrong ages. So, to move onwards and upwards, re-mount the horse so to speak, I decided to try RSVP dating. Hey, it worked for Clare's flatmate although being a silf-like blonde with big boobs probably didn't do her any harm.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So it works like this. You get onto the site and build a very comprehensive profile pretty much describing yourself in vivid, and in my case, accurate detail (although I neglected mentioning arthritic knees and a neurotic personality). Then you plonk up a few photos. Then you buy a few 'Stamps' so that when someone sends you a 'Kiss' you can actually reply beyond their measured responses or you can email and begin a chat.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Now I'm no stranger to Chat. I use it to talk to you...to family...to said crush...I don't even have a phone so Skype IS my phone but there's nothing worse than getting a 'Kiss' from an index typist, you know, the ones going 'Where's the 't' on this keyboard'. I have time to make coffee, get changed and take a pee before he's replied to two lines of conversation.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, first encounter is via chat. Nice policeman, very tall, quite handsome but has kids with him 60% of the time, talks then declares that he's actually not interested in romance just collecting conversations to fill his boring weeknights when the ex-wifey (with whom he has a wonderful relationship) has the kidlets, and all women met and chatted with, are referred to as his 'ladies'. Ba-dong! Outta there.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then there's the 47 year old that likes oral (yes he pretty much broached that in the first half hour), 'lol's a lot and keeps sending me email notifications via RSVP at 1:30 in the afternoon when I've already told him I work behind a secure proxy server and can't get onto network, dating sites or blogs. He refuses to tell me more than his name or sexual preferences, playful and funny but will not email or Skype (oh don't worry I have 'alternative' accounts for the great unseen). Another one for the bin.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's the lovely freelance journo who I actually did meet on a pouring wet day, although he was half an hour late when I msg'd said crush, who bless his cotton socks stayed up until I came home to make sure I was alright and to hear the predictable 'woe is me' whine - or perhaps to gloat because he thought I'd been stood up. Anyway, said journo/photographer sends so many mixed messages from 'you're lovely and terribly pretty, let's keep in touch,' through to 'I chased a woman up the north coast and it didn't work out.' My thoughts? Why is he on a dating site if he's already got a target. Rebound man who I'm still talking to but sparks? Probably not. Could end up being a decent pal tho so hope springs eternal.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tonight however was a doozie. A rather nice military man sent me a 'Kiss'. I emailed back in the hope of chat. Clearly broken English, had a short exchange (remember he's the one that initiated contact) parted with "I have to go to the bed" and that was it. Perhaps it was my name that put him off, or the fact that I typed 50 words to his 1, since we barely had a conversation beyond, 'How long have you been on here'. As far as I know, he's still online and shopping in the virtual meat market.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ah well, I have six stamps which entitles me to emails to the end of January. So if Mr Right doesn't pop his head up, and Mr Goodbar doesn't kill me.... or he's able to type with more than two fingers and isn't holding a huge fish above his head as a trophy... I'm buying a dildo and listening to the sexy voice of the guy on the 'Quit Smoking' CD that I bought last year. Now there's an image to rock your world!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahK_pEZUEj4/TunB9fFzLiI/AAAAAAAAH2o/Kx0lPZ9Mju8/s1600/did-you-mean-dildo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahK_pEZUEj4/TunB9fFzLiI/AAAAAAAAH2o/Kx0lPZ9Mju8/s400/did-you-mean-dildo.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh you really didn't think I'd go there did you?</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-80994489751636876352011-12-12T21:11:00.003+11:002011-12-15T18:31:13.154+11:00Life As We Know It<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First, apologies for being a lousy visitor and thanks to those who still bother to slip by here. I think about you often but travel there rarely. Then you know where to find me. I'm an email, Facebook and Twitter whore so no excuses.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My daughter is in South America and spending her first Christmas away, travelling next week to London to meet her boyfriend then Scotland for New Year then...Spain and who knows, her travel plans are 'fluid' to say the least but thanks to Skype I can almost keep up. She'll be home in February and the urge to squeeze the life out of her is palpable. My boy turned 25 this year. Yep, the curly haired angelic blonde now a big boofhead with the funniest personality and the most awesome of bear hugs.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Apartment living has taken its toll and the prospect of playing acoustic drums in his living room no longer a reality. So..sell the kit and buy an electronic set which requires the use of headphones rather than the smash of wood on skin and a physically robust mother to help unload the Landscaper's gear and make the ute worthy of an instrument carrier. God bless him, gadget man is in heaven. Poverty on both sides meant no huge celebration but we did have a lovely day of cocktails, summer storms, drums and Christmas cheesy flicks. Did I tell you I love my son? Apart from the fact that he drops in and uses the last of my toilet paper, dumps 25 plants that I don't need and leaves the lid off the cordial bottle so that the ants crawl in and die a syrupy death. He is a fine young man. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dog's well with two titanium knees. Daughter's adventuring and badly missed Work is paying the bills. Almost. Still harbouring the dream of travelling I80 late next year with a to boy three dogs and two cats and hopefully picking up a madman who lives in one of those states beginning with 'I' and I can't find my Christmas tree so Chez Bainbridge is a little dour but some sparkles to remind me that Christmas is only two weeks away. So...my life in a nutshell. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday with Adam and the 'other' Mrs Bainbridge was lovely. French Apero and cocktails punctuated by the rubbery thud of Ads smashing the bejesus out of electronic drums and finished nicely with Baileys on ice, Citroen Tart (Lemon not a French blonde in a car) and Cheesy Christmas movies...it's the simple things that thrill. Summer has deserted us and it's 24 degrees and very, very wet. But Christmas is coming and someone's goose is getting fat. Wising you all the very best of the season. Next post will probably be our Christmas in which we have to dress as superheroes and endure the alcoholic temptations of mad Lithuanians. Any ideas for a quick costume that costs zip and can be run up in a day?</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSQqWkgjkOI/TuXTv4xU0gI/AAAAAAAAH2U/iRjMP6MUGrM/s1600/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSQqWkgjkOI/TuXTv4xU0gI/AAAAAAAAH2U/iRjMP6MUGrM/s400/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday5.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OBx8Z1BpjbU/TuXP3kGDrxI/AAAAAAAAH1s/xjTqoIL7zbs/s1600/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OBx8Z1BpjbU/TuXP3kGDrxI/AAAAAAAAH1s/xjTqoIL7zbs/s400/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday49.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2KLdoD2PcIU/TuXQITVMt4I/AAAAAAAAH10/i4BU5Bif4dY/s1600/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2KLdoD2PcIU/TuXQITVMt4I/AAAAAAAAH10/i4BU5Bif4dY/s400/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday57.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ohFO4ThbG8/TuXQapGTTxI/AAAAAAAAH18/1OFyeCIkEqM/s1600/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ohFO4ThbG8/TuXQapGTTxI/AAAAAAAAH18/1OFyeCIkEqM/s400/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday68.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06gpQ4UrjNE/TuXQovCyZjI/AAAAAAAAH2E/EJ8akHa4t-Q/s1600/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06gpQ4UrjNE/TuXQovCyZjI/AAAAAAAAH2E/EJ8akHa4t-Q/s400/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday71.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DD45_dinRyg/TuXQzS0NDZI/AAAAAAAAH2M/YHz3pW3e6Pk/s1600/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DD45_dinRyg/TuXQzS0NDZI/AAAAAAAAH2M/YHz3pW3e6Pk/s400/11.12.2011+Adam%2527s+Birthday80.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-90156020061036596852011-11-28T23:55:00.000+11:002011-11-28T23:55:28.355+11:00Things Men Have Told Me<span style="font-size: large;">"Can we make love now..." In a Triumph Sprite.. yeh like that's gonna happen. Is that the gear stick or are you just happy to see me?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Fuck off... you're dead to me" Brotherly love</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You're terribly pretty" So ask me out moron</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You have a big clitoris, I like that" *no sound*</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You're not the right cultural fit" I could wear a Hijab if you prefer it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Don't oversell yourself" ...because underselling is so much better</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You are lovely, intelligent, interesting and one day will make someone really happy" Who?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I like older women..." Thank you Mr Goodbar</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You're so aggressive" yeh well if I was a man, I'd be 'assertive', a go-getter</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Don't be needy.." because not caring is sharing</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You say what you think don't you?" You'd prefer I lie? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I feel a bit woozy" Yeh but you're not the one in labour shitting out a watermelon!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You're out of your futhermuckin mind." Only because you put me there</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Your skillset is extraordinary." You gonna hire me?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Oh my. You have great breasts" Yeh my babies liked them -26 years ago</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You know you fart in your sleep?" And you don't?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Oh this isn't good" Upon an internal examination, "This is excellent" Thank you Dr - Every girl dreams of a well healed vaginal cuff.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I only eat here to be polite" What? After I've been to Morocco to get the ingredients to my Moosewood Cookbook?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Can you do me a favour?" What? Babysit your dog while you take your floozie to Fiji, sure. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You need to stop projecting..." Because my lumen is fading?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I love you, but..." ....Oh really... stop...now</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You make the best pepper sauce.." Truth at last. My epitaph. No, really I do make an awesome pepper sauce.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Crank it punters and dance like you're going to lose your legs tomorrow....if it wasn't so funny, it would be sad</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WbN0nX61rIs" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I should add that these are men over the ages...not anyone in particular. Feel fee to share some of he silliness...</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-13286307264424198122011-11-19T18:44:00.001+11:002011-11-19T18:51:12.540+11:00Mistifiying<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">Well hello there! Quite a lot has been happening which I may or may not share over coming weeks, the least of which is a 2 year contract and a pay rise (relief). The prospect of a new 'man', a daughter in South America, a son being awesome and of course the onslaught of Christmas.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today my bestie and I wondered to the airport to drop her husband off for a golf trip with the rich and famous before descending into the world-famous (although God knows why) Bondi Beach to check out the annual Sculpture by The Sea cliff-side exhibition. Pretty bloody good this year actually, although there was this weird inversion layer of mist over the ocean despite the high temperature. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And joggers....who despite knowing this is a crowded cliff walk event throughout the month of November, persist in pushing their way all sweaty and sunscreened past the throng of tourists and making no effort to conceal their chagrined expressions. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course there's the fashion on the beach ranging from, shall we say, gentlemen of mature age with schlongs that would be better hidden than dangling half way down their lycra clad thighs and men whose bodies would be better left covered than not. Of course there were a few beach volley ballers that prevented yours truly from stripping down...buns so tight you could...oh never mind. The ladies varied from teensy weensy bikini frilled nubile nymphettes to those who really shouldn't wear an organza fascinator on their sun hat. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was the ample plethora of bathing beauties over-tatted and over tanned. Far too many noisy Chinese women and naughty children ignoring the 'do not touch the artwork' signs and what's with covering the baby's pram with a cloth? There's going to be an entire generation of vitamin D deprived teenagers in Australia in the next 12 years. Everyone seems to have at least two dogs, most of course are small enough to put in your pocket or ugly enough to be noticed and distract onlookers from the budgie smugglers at the end of the lead. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the cafes don't take credit cards unless your spend is over $20 and there's also a $2.50 surcharge? What? We living in the dark ages? Fwooooaaar.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, a guy at work said he'd been disappointed. Not me. I loved it. Although both my friend Thommo and I agree, we're over rusty steel and twisty metal. But who can resist a smiling Asian with a perfect willy or a skeleton with a fishing rod? Although for both of us, the real sculpture had been done by the sea, the sandstone cliffs are spectacular.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5xaGhGPN7g/TsdU3af2zEI/AAAAAAAAHyE/RxHWAvcEnbo/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+20117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5xaGhGPN7g/TsdU3af2zEI/AAAAAAAAHyE/RxHWAvcEnbo/s640/Sculpture+BTS+20117.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cold water, warm air, sea mist</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xm5YoIBQsoI/TsdVgj2JqtI/AAAAAAAAHyM/XcBgnflKMmI/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+20119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xm5YoIBQsoI/TsdVgj2JqtI/AAAAAAAAHyM/XcBgnflKMmI/s640/Sculpture+BTS+20119.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yoga at Bondi Icebergs.....bags the front row</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoDdpip15bE/TsdV_0v8opI/AAAAAAAAHyY/nqND8bs74gI/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoDdpip15bE/TsdV_0v8opI/AAAAAAAAHyY/nqND8bs74gI/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201110.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh herro zebra</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bILLSsi7Nlw/TsdWe3nDblI/AAAAAAAAHyg/tBYw9smcPvA/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bILLSsi7Nlw/TsdWe3nDblI/AAAAAAAAHyg/tBYw9smcPvA/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201111.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mutant daisy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Du_-I0pVveQ/TsdWpTf10-I/AAAAAAAAHyo/N438uDeiFjo/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Du_-I0pVveQ/TsdWpTf10-I/AAAAAAAAHyo/N438uDeiFjo/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201117.JPG" width="465" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought I saw a heffalump</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WURrLxHBIs/TsdW8DO06qI/AAAAAAAAHyw/dWo7_1J_60I/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WURrLxHBIs/TsdW8DO06qI/AAAAAAAAHyw/dWo7_1J_60I/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201120.JPG" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boring twisty metal thing and a complete tosser in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BuloPVEgb8I/TsdXTdNkYFI/AAAAAAAAHy4/RztxmARZBdM/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BuloPVEgb8I/TsdXTdNkYFI/AAAAAAAAHy4/RztxmARZBdM/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201122.JPG" width="483" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning to feel a lot like Christmas</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6mVcP5XHVE/TsdX7pYAgpI/AAAAAAAAHzE/U5qJcWQrRZk/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6mVcP5XHVE/TsdX7pYAgpI/AAAAAAAAHzE/U5qJcWQrRZk/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201126.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impossible hole</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CZkGH0aIrD4/TsdYARJVytI/AAAAAAAAHzM/PmZySIa-Vdg/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CZkGH0aIrD4/TsdYARJVytI/AAAAAAAAHzM/PmZySIa-Vdg/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201127.JPG" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody buy those women a steak! Eating disorders on legs</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPusDG1PbDY/TsdYhuaECpI/AAAAAAAAHzU/2GCsvQVvdwA/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPusDG1PbDY/TsdYhuaECpI/AAAAAAAAHzU/2GCsvQVvdwA/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201129.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rivetting....and ribbetting</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgrnydjWi5w/TsdY5ItQ9rI/AAAAAAAAHzc/kp9wNJrrcsA/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgrnydjWi5w/TsdY5ItQ9rI/AAAAAAAAHzc/kp9wNJrrcsA/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201137.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural sculpture....artist? The ocean</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lmjdVJSqzNA/TsdZbsAlRtI/AAAAAAAAHzo/GBdJpTm_lCc/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lmjdVJSqzNA/TsdZbsAlRtI/AAAAAAAAHzo/GBdJpTm_lCc/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201138.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm well sculpted lifeguards</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6SpHiuDPbnQ/TsdZvuq7toI/AAAAAAAAHzw/TwNgZdJ7pIA/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6SpHiuDPbnQ/TsdZvuq7toI/AAAAAAAAHzw/TwNgZdJ7pIA/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201140.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sub mariner</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bImr-ikfOGw/TsdZ_k46GwI/AAAAAAAAHz4/BvK2a61nWhk/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bImr-ikfOGw/TsdZ_k46GwI/AAAAAAAAHz4/BvK2a61nWhk/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201142.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creative wood pile</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwoA71esQ4o/TsdaaWZcdmI/AAAAAAAAH0A/Lw3R8IcdNC8/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwoA71esQ4o/TsdaaWZcdmI/AAAAAAAAH0A/Lw3R8IcdNC8/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201155.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poetry in motion....love it</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R3ip45MTGb0/TsdaxrxrVVI/AAAAAAAAH0I/anYQ7R2meFY/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R3ip45MTGb0/TsdaxrxrVVI/AAAAAAAAH0I/anYQ7R2meFY/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201149.JPG" width="451" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harro wirry</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BSRtQ0nWD6g/TsdbeigmawI/AAAAAAAAH0U/6CZOjPw1JRg/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="409" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BSRtQ0nWD6g/TsdbeigmawI/AAAAAAAAH0U/6CZOjPw1JRg/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201177.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long and the short of it</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8UdTGJoLCbQ/Tsdb3GFGNdI/AAAAAAAAH0c/ty8N2ci5Np4/s1600/Sculpture+BTS+201179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8UdTGJoLCbQ/Tsdb3GFGNdI/AAAAAAAAH0c/ty8N2ci5Np4/s640/Sculpture+BTS+201179.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It wasn't me Officer...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span id="goog_400402773"></span><span id="goog_400402774"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">More on the flickr slide show on my sidebar if you're interested.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-78750680695440239842011-10-16T22:48:00.000+11:002011-10-16T22:48:09.228+11:00Birthday Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's as if the fates knew. I posted this rather 'OMG I'm 55 and not dealing with it' post and the text was magically deleted as I posted photographs. I can hear one close to my heart yelling "OFFS stop whingerating." He has a point.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">No. I did not have a<i> happy </i>birthday (although I had a pleasant one) because I'm in total denial that the woman in the mirror has any semblance to me. I am not older nor wiser. In fact I'm less knowledgeable than ever, and the older I get...the less I know. But, my children took me out for lunch on what can only be described as an awesome spring day. Friends and family (well my sister) wished me well. I am not happy about my age or who I am right now. I'm in the wrong time, place, century, country. Not depressed. Just aware of my situation. But...I'm alive, clothed, fed, housed, working...nothing really to complain about and I must admit that when the sun shines here... all else seems to fade. Thank you my darlings for lunch and the gifts. Neither were necessary but both totally appreciated. I love you to distraction. You are my reason for being.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybT6JV843Dc/Tpq75z8yX2I/AAAAAAAAHsk/yIpMYlOX__c/s1600/Birthday+Lunch1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybT6JV843Dc/Tpq75z8yX2I/AAAAAAAAHsk/yIpMYlOX__c/s640/Birthday+Lunch1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr and Mrs Bainbridge deciding where we should go</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDbGSvsAE4U/Tpq7Bec8apI/AAAAAAAAHrY/-uMH8Ohb91s/s1600/IMG_5929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDbGSvsAE4U/Tpq7Bec8apI/AAAAAAAAHrY/-uMH8Ohb91s/s640/IMG_5929.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ripples Milson's Point</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0crUnbdjf4w/Tpq7GR0ws4I/AAAAAAAAHrg/kBmuD3qz1cY/s1600/Birthday+Lunch9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0crUnbdjf4w/Tpq7GR0ws4I/AAAAAAAAHrg/kBmuD3qz1cY/s640/Birthday+Lunch9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes it really does look that awesome</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhPGM-O-BKs/Tpq7KgVM4yI/AAAAAAAAHro/RCggEoncBSk/s1600/Birthday+Lunch11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="489" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhPGM-O-BKs/Tpq7KgVM4yI/AAAAAAAAHro/RCggEoncBSk/s640/Birthday+Lunch11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random Wedding . . </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ymY03hJHRcE/Tpq7P-ZZwCI/AAAAAAAAHrw/ndjXmXLm-Xs/s1600/Birthday+Lunch19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ymY03hJHRcE/Tpq7P-ZZwCI/AAAAAAAAHrw/ndjXmXLm-Xs/s640/Birthday+Lunch19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet dessert . . is that an oxymoron</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CdldXdT5fDA/Tpq7Vsbp9VI/AAAAAAAAHr4/UeblgMwV0XM/s1600/Birthday+Lunch27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CdldXdT5fDA/Tpq7Vsbp9VI/AAAAAAAAHr4/UeblgMwV0XM/s640/Birthday+Lunch27.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intrepid traveller . . off again on Wednesday</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hK8F4wHae3c/Tpq7dVrooVI/AAAAAAAAHsE/c3ljEDcWtX8/s1600/Birthday+Lunch28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hK8F4wHae3c/Tpq7dVrooVI/AAAAAAAAHsE/c3ljEDcWtX8/s640/Birthday+Lunch28.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely homebody . . .total champion</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s6ZbYJ786uY/Tpq7lxwHWHI/AAAAAAAAHsM/1KzKJ4WxBMA/s1600/Birthday+Lunch33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s6ZbYJ786uY/Tpq7lxwHWHI/AAAAAAAAHsM/1KzKJ4WxBMA/s640/Birthday+Lunch33.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My family . . . like diamonds . . small but precious</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImZPslzr800/Tpq7oi6MFLI/AAAAAAAAHsU/coCl-xVGVUw/s1600/Birthday+Lunch37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImZPslzr800/Tpq7oi6MFLI/AAAAAAAAHsU/coCl-xVGVUw/s640/Birthday+Lunch37.jpg" width="483" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Single white female... rennovator's dream . . .for lease, great views</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXcqRrVwfKY/Tpq7uwP7eAI/AAAAAAAAHsc/BRulZF3d5KI/s1600/Birthday+Lunch39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXcqRrVwfKY/Tpq7uwP7eAI/AAAAAAAAHsc/BRulZF3d5KI/s640/Birthday+Lunch39.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apres Lunch barista . . .all I have is a plunger :(</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybT6JV843Dc/Tpq75z8yX2I/AAAAAAAAHsk/yIpMYlOX__c/s1600/Birthday+Lunch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<span id="goog_1460201683"></span><span id="goog_1460201684"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-30925702687374268922011-08-01T06:14:00.001+10:002011-08-01T06:16:49.408+10:00I'm MIL . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-duwJ57TOkGw/TjUQ4ZpOWQI/AAAAAAAAHn4/Q3FdMOT7X_k/s1600/wedding83.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-duwJ57TOkGw/TjUQ4ZpOWQI/AAAAAAAAHn4/Q3FdMOT7X_k/s640/wedding83.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">My son married the love of his 24 year old life this weekend and it was totally, totally, flawless and fantastic. Except for Aunty Rita who's handbag caught on fire . . . . Love you both to bits have a wonderful honeymoon (although they were grounded for five hours at Kingsford Smith) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Wedding Speech: </span></div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Hi, I'm Helen, the grooms mum.</span> </div></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thank you all for coming to celebrate this pretty awesome event. Thanks too, to Alvedus and Dahlia for helping these two make this an awesomely special day.</span> </div></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You all look stunning. Simply stunning.</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm very proud of Adam and Amy. They've worked hard to put this together and with no help from me and I think you'll agree everything looks gorgeous. The food's delish and the company's not bad either. I thought it hilarious that Adam wanted a tiered cake and diamonds in his wedding ring, "Why should Amy get all the sparkles!" If I didn't know better . . . . </span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We loved Amy from the moment we met her. She ticked all the boxes (yes we have a checklist for prospective daughters and sons-in-law). She was tall (very tall), beautifully dressed and coiffed. Polite, chatty, confident. There was a moment when I wondered what a scruffy boy like Adam was doing with a glamour puss like her. But like me, she saw the real Adam - funny, talented, intelligent, romantic and a guy with the same values as her. Also a man who can scrub up well when he needs to.</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I knew they were in love the minute she allowed him to mess up her hair and touch her fringe! We affectionately referred to her as the 'fringelet' because she was so possessive of that little crop of hair that hides her beautiful eyebrows. I knew they were in love when she managed to get him clubbing, dancing, dressing in a suit. I knew they were in love when I saw the way they snuggled on the couch, looked sad when they had to say goodbye, laughed and goofed in their photos. I knew they were in love when he allowed her to call him 'Honey', when he took photos of his proposed outfits on his iPhone to gain her approval before they went out. I knew they were in love watching them make pizza on Friday night. I knew they were in love when he started making his bed before Amy came round.</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm also very proud of Adam. If pride's a sin, then sue me. He's a kid who's grown up without a dad in the house of women, and I wouldn't have been at all surprised if he turned out to be rather effeminate. Quite the reverse, he's definitely a man's man but he's adopted the important things from living in such an environment. Besides embracing what might be called feminine arts such as cooking, he's my Mr Fixit, my computer technician, my evening companion and my friend - He's arguably the funniest man I have ever met. I'll miss him terribly when he's gone because I'll have to put the bins out and carry my own esky! And God help us all if I have to learn how to drive the tractor in order to mow the lawn - You are coming home to mow the lawn?</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sadly, neither of Adam's maternal grandparents are alive to see this event. Adam's Nana died before he really had a chance to know her but he did have 14 wonderful years with his Grandpa and we're both eternally grateful for the influence that amazing man had on my lovely boy. Two others have also had a very positive influence on him and happily they are able to be here today, Bet and Art, Adam's paternal grandparents - You've been very special people in Adam's life and now in Amy's. </span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Adam, Amy, you two are made for each other. In many way's you're chalk and cheese but where it counts you're like two pieces of the same puzzle, locked beautifully together to make a whole. Both sides of the argument, yin and yang, complementary flavours, music and lyric, words and pictures, wind and wings. One is hopeless without the other. Together, you can soar.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm really awed to have you as a daughter in law Amy, although frankly, I've always felt like you were. And I'm overwhelmed that my darling boy has found the girl of his dreams. It's what he's always wanted.</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There's a rather nice Celtic tradition and having Welsh heritage made me think of it. The Lovespoon was the invitation to commence a romance between a boy and a girl, and the origin of the word 'spooning' . More importantly, the spoon is symbolic for providing physical and emotional sustenance, a perfect family life and a promise to care for each other over coming years. </span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's a little smaller than I thought, I still can't measure anything properly but it's a little reminder of your heritage and a little portend of a happy future together. I wish you both only good things. Love, health, happiness . . </span> </div></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; color: #470c09; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Please join me in wishing them both everything wonderful for their future together. </span></span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Can I get pissed now?"</span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNRzYyeuBrY/TjUQJ-733AI/AAAAAAAAHno/sjU79xec0h0/s1600/wedding18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNRzYyeuBrY/TjUQJ-733AI/AAAAAAAAHno/sjU79xec0h0/s1600/wedding18.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNRzYyeuBrY/TjUQJ-733AI/AAAAAAAAHno/sjU79xec0h0/s640/wedding18.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Two Groomsmen, One Groom, One Groomschick . . .all very rude to the photographer</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNRzYyeuBrY/TjUQJ-733AI/AAAAAAAAHno/sjU79xec0h0/s1600/wedding18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-48TShCXxqoo/TjUXt0PAI2I/AAAAAAAAHoU/iw12VZSrvkA/s1600/wedding33.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-48TShCXxqoo/TjUXt0PAI2I/AAAAAAAAHoU/iw12VZSrvkA/s640/wedding33.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gotta get the hair right</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNRzYyeuBrY/TjUQJ-733AI/AAAAAAAAHno/sjU79xec0h0/s1600/wedding18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqb4OWVojoU/TjUNN2PSWKI/AAAAAAAAHnQ/2iXRL6DXV9w/s1600/getting+ready1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqb4OWVojoU/TjUNN2PSWKI/AAAAAAAAHnQ/2iXRL6DXV9w/s640/getting+ready1.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Double Windsor no longer a challenge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gbcodok9-zc/TjUT6mtENUI/AAAAAAAAHoM/Fck-4iVtKYA/s1600/wedding37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gbcodok9-zc/TjUT6mtENUI/AAAAAAAAHoM/Fck-4iVtKYA/s640/wedding37.jpg" width="425" /></a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Had to stop off at one of the Groomsmen's sister's house for a bottle opener. He needed a calming beer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ienskj837E8/TjUMz5jaASI/AAAAAAAAHnA/Yjk9VYPHB7w/s1600/beer+before+church1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ienskj837E8/TjUMz5jaASI/AAAAAAAAHnA/Yjk9VYPHB7w/s640/beer+before+church1.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arrived nice and early . . . Another beer</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sdFWsKSjhc0/TjUQrOq0_PI/AAAAAAAAHn0/w4EFkmm7PSU/s1600/wedding51.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sdFWsKSjhc0/TjUQrOq0_PI/AAAAAAAAHn0/w4EFkmm7PSU/s640/wedding51.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No sign of nerves</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T0Chn3iEoQ/TjUNGRaePZI/AAAAAAAAHnM/WUCl9XvTzmk/s1600/clare+church1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T0Chn3iEoQ/TjUNGRaePZI/AAAAAAAAHnM/WUCl9XvTzmk/s640/clare+church1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Larking about before 'she' arrives</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GExX5ML7Bk/TjUQYfKQ8NI/AAAAAAAAHns/ZYPtyVUihcs/s1600/wedding63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GExX5ML7Bk/TjUQYfKQ8NI/AAAAAAAAHns/ZYPtyVUihcs/s640/wedding63.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ah, she's coming. . .</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dHKsEHUt-I/TjUMdX7orMI/AAAAAAAAHmw/A4ffxo9plAs/s1600/aisle1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dHKsEHUt-I/TjUMdX7orMI/AAAAAAAAHmw/A4ffxo9plAs/s640/aisle1.jpg" width="396" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yep, finally arrived</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1c8ljy99no/TjUNWvs-apI/AAAAAAAAHnU/SwWh1-13XU4/s1600/give+away1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1c8ljy99no/TjUNWvs-apI/AAAAAAAAHnU/SwWh1-13XU4/s640/give+away1.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Giving her away</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4D13FCIU5JM/TjUNcBMfKLI/AAAAAAAAHnY/fBFwRcvU2E8/s1600/king+and+queen1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4D13FCIU5JM/TjUNcBMfKLI/AAAAAAAAHnY/fBFwRcvU2E8/s640/king+and+queen1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr and Mrs Bainbridge</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rrqkf81y-EQ/TjWzUgqnaKI/AAAAAAAAHoc/GWzu-PZMmLs/s1600/fam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rrqkf81y-EQ/TjWzUgqnaKI/AAAAAAAAHoc/GWzu-PZMmLs/s640/fam1.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"> All Done and Dusted</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N9x41W0r-FY/TjWzqpgJCeI/AAAAAAAAHog/mKPj9OIvnuA/s1600/aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N9x41W0r-FY/TjWzqpgJCeI/AAAAAAAAHog/mKPj9OIvnuA/s640/aa.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"> Outside the Church</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pzbhAZv7wI/TjUNuLi9enI/AAAAAAAAHng/U0rIMx9_t-Y/s1600/nibbls1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pzbhAZv7wI/TjUNuLi9enI/AAAAAAAAHng/U0rIMx9_t-Y/s640/nibbls1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nibblies while they're having photos</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJS929-TFxk/TjUMUSCZehI/AAAAAAAAHmo/EKslWLReSkE/s1600/adamydance1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJS929-TFxk/TjUMUSCZehI/AAAAAAAAHmo/EKslWLReSkE/s640/adamydance1.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not quite a waltz</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIOu2Sd0uKs/TjUMYoNdlgI/AAAAAAAAHms/FeVvyLKHURU/s1600/addips1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIOu2Sd0uKs/TjUMYoNdlgI/AAAAAAAAHms/FeVvyLKHURU/s640/addips1.jpg" width="443" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dippy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VF663OfJCB4/TjUMqgLUywI/AAAAAAAAHm8/Gf56RY9mf2o/s1600/amy+dancing1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VF663OfJCB4/TjUMqgLUywI/AAAAAAAAHm8/Gf56RY9mf2o/s640/amy+dancing1.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Party times</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7hPswm7NYNg/TjUTldhYm4I/AAAAAAAAHoI/QViPu58Hlq0/s1600/wedding111.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7hPswm7NYNg/TjUTldhYm4I/AAAAAAAAHoI/QViPu58Hlq0/s640/wedding111.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He got his tiered cake. That little brown thing is the Love Spoon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDrfrTUS4Bw/TjUNycXwdNI/AAAAAAAAHnk/KnHxsCmGnAk/s1600/occy+jimmy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDrfrTUS4Bw/TjUNycXwdNI/AAAAAAAAHnk/KnHxsCmGnAk/s640/occy+jimmy1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After Party begins</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tlqadpldukg/TjUJLSnqQFI/AAAAAAAAHlk/h9msWKewaAw/s1600/swimmers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tlqadpldukg/TjUJLSnqQFI/AAAAAAAAHlk/h9msWKewaAw/s640/swimmers1.jpg" width="449" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Four degrees and they decide to swim</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LSUA6nvMU28/TjUMh6JZ9wI/AAAAAAAAHm4/4SCfCfWi7n4/s1600/alex+pool1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LSUA6nvMU28/TjUMh6JZ9wI/AAAAAAAAHm4/4SCfCfWi7n4/s640/alex+pool1.jpg" width="516" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cold much?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fur5vNaBL-8/TjUM8QFlcKI/AAAAAAAAHnE/N3iEsFeKwCc/s1600/breakfast1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fur5vNaBL-8/TjUM8QFlcKI/AAAAAAAAHnE/N3iEsFeKwCc/s640/breakfast1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hearty Breakfast</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnHiw8la8Bo/TjUXen5CHqI/AAAAAAAAHoQ/rmdwoF6deF8/s1600/opening+presents11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnHiw8la8Bo/TjUXen5CHqI/AAAAAAAAHoQ/rmdwoF6deF8/s640/opening+presents11.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gifts . . Adam's impressed with the frypan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-giyslLUJRmc/TjUZaJJZaLI/AAAAAAAAHoY/ujBEr4pyOeU/s1600/09-theelysian-villa13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-giyslLUJRmc/TjUZaJJZaLI/AAAAAAAAHoY/ujBEr4pyOeU/s640/09-theelysian-villa13.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">That's as close as you get - Honeymooning in Bali</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-48TShCXxqoo/TjUXt0PAI2I/AAAAAAAAHoU/iw12VZSrvkA/s1600/wedding33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-7609695519841847582011-06-22T22:54:00.000+10:002011-06-22T22:54:31.907+10:00I'm Moving On<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't have it any more, the will or the desire to keep blogging. I enjoy visiting yours but I really haven't got the mojo to maintain this one. I might from time to time if there's something worthy to pop up here photographically. I feel I haven't much to say any more, life's hard, work's difficult, relationships need nurturing and well . . .It's been almost four years of bantering here and I just don't want to do it any more.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Over these past almost four years, I've corresponded with many of you, talked on Skype and you've all been a source of entertainment, inspiration and information. Some have become collaborators, a handful have become life long friends and one in particular, I adore beyond reason. I am eternally grateful for these connections. Should any of you find yourselves on Antipodean shores, I have a room with your name on it and a warm welcome to match.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yep time's come to say Goodbye. I loved blogging and the friends I've made here. I have little of interest to say and less time or will to say it. I'm writing a little, on </span></span><a href="http://creativeinfanticide.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Creative Infanticide</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, posting fortnightly on </span></span><a href="http://thetenthdaughterofmemory.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Tenth Daugher of Memory,</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and distracted by not-so-shiny things. I'm becoming whingey.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks to you all for following for so long. We'll see. I never say never so who knows, I will definitely visit and might pop up in your feeder now and then, or reincarnate the blog in the future but for now it's check out time. Life is changing and so must I. Keep in touch.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/k1bxlDAjGCo" width="425"></iframe></span></span></div><span id="goog_1757494537"></span><span id="goog_1757494538"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34591549.post-27548865774013874912011-06-17T23:23:00.001+10:002011-06-18T07:08:38.128+10:00Friday Fuckwit<div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">O Hello. I don't think I have many readers left thanks to my lack of visitation but for those who have stuck around, I value your loyalty. </span></span></div><div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I haz a job. Well a long term contract for a big company in quarrying and stuff. So back with a bunch of engineers and Excel spreadsheets which I hate but seem to end up working with. The guys are nice, there's a great canteen and free biscuits so no complaints. And the rate is a little better than the 2nd largest soft drink manufacturer in the world. Now I just have to live on toast until I can recover from taking a rather expensive month off in April but hey, it's all good. </span></span></div><div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So for your Friday pleasure, an idiot convict. Coming from a country populated by the buggers, I guess it's appropriate:</span></span></div><div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><blockquote>FORKS, Wash. (AP) - An escaped convict was caught following a day on the loose after he knocked on the door of a cabin in the woods - only to find out the man renting the lodge was an off-duty guard at the prison he just fled.</blockquote><blockquote>Authorities said 39-year-old James Edward Russell took off from the Olympic Corrections Center near Forks on Tuesday morning. Just after midnight early Wednesday, Russell - still wearing his prison uniform (well that's a dead give away) - went to the cabin, knocked on the door and asked to use the phone, said Department of Corrections spokesman Chad Lewis.</blockquote><blockquote>The guard recognized the red, prison-issue shirt, a scuffle ensued and Russell took off again, Lewis said Thursday. The guard, whose name being withheld by the Department of Corrections, reported the incident and Russell was caught later that morning by other corrections officers about from the facility near Forks, on the Olympic Peninsula.</blockquote><div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh dear . . . one born every minute. Have an awesome weekend. I just hope I can get my washing dry, meet up with a long lost friend, buy a wedding outfit, and well . . . get my creative juices going amid housework and recovery from completely fucking up a spreadsheet today. Thank you to my lovely boss who's only comment was, "Take it easy, just slow down a bit."</span></span></div><div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="color: #252525; font: 14.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Happy second Honeymoon to </span><a href="http://half-moosewithatwist.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tom at Half Moose with a Twist. </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Trust me, I'd rather be in Mexico right now. Then I don't think they'd appreciate a third wheel.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And this because I'm tired, cranky, over it and sick of feeling whingeratery:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t1x8DMfbYN4" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com25