Bring out the blog

I have resolved to resume blogging. Now complete with Web2.0 phone [don't really know what that means, just sounds fancy],
this is a test.

Tomorrow the wine list from my recent holiday.

You Great Galah

English viewers of Home & Away will no doubt be familiar with the exclamation: "You Great Galah" which often spews forth from legendary character Alf Stewart. Today we were blessed with the company of a pair of great Galah's sitting on the exchange wire leading to our property.



This is one of the pair getting a bit shirty with our little cat Margot, often the subject of attention from the native fauna.

Antipodean Update

Well since I last blogged - not long after returning from India - a fair bit has happened.

I ended up in hospital - my first experience of the Oz health system. I had my Gall Bladderremoved, so I am not quite the man I used to be.

It was actually a fairly minor op, all done by keyhole surgery and all I have to show for it is a reconstructed belly button and some triangular entry points!

Beyond that we survived a harsh Brisbane winter - it went down to about 8 degrees at night - and we had to have the duvet out for 5 months. It has been packed away now as Spring takes hold and leads us on the march through to Summer.

On that note it is expected that Summer will be a hot stinky one. Temperatures for today are expected to be up to 31 degrees reaching a high of 33 tomorrow before a possible thunderstorm kicks in and reduces temperatures to the mid-low 20's. The temperatures are OK, it is when the humidity kicks in that it will become a bit unpleasant.

In the winter we had our first royal visit - Em's folks. It was lovely to see them and it afforded us the opportunity to show them around Brisbane a bit and hopefully a chance for them to see why we like it here so much. We also took a long weekend break up to the Whitsunday's, spending 3 nights on Hamilton Island and then two nights on Airlie Beach. It was the first time I had been up there and I can clearly see why it is raved about so much.

We said goodbye to the old folks in mid-September and the weekend after they departed, Em and I went away for a weekend down to an area known as the Scenic Rim. This was in honour of Em's birthday. It was a beautiful relaxing weekend and the place where we stayed also made its own wines - which were surprisingly good. Anyway, in true Big Brother style here are its best bits.

One real change in lifestyle for me has been the purchase of a bike and the fact that I now cycle in to work. I have been cycling for around three weeks. What makes it a great ride is that it is flat and also for the most part avoids roads. There is a cycle path that runs the length of the majestic Brisbane River from Toowong into the city - called the Bicentennial Bikeway. I have yet to experience cycling in the rain, which may - to use a pun - put a dampener on things, but for now I am thoroughly enjoying my rides.

Yesterday I took the opportunity to go out for a ride in the glorious weather. I went out West toward the University of Queensland campus and across the 'Green Bridge', through West End and into the City via the South Bank and the 'Goodwill Bridge'.

One of the many things I love about Brisbane is the installation of a range of public art works. Civic and commercial bodies alike have commissioned works - predominantly sculpture - which lie in various locations around Brisbane. I have longed for a while to take the time to capture some of these works and during my cycle ride yesterday, took such an opportunity.

I share some of the photos here:

You Know You Live in Australia When.....

On your way in to work you notice a group of folks standing around a flower bed in the Botanical Gardens.

Being a nosy fellow I decide to join them and realise the object of their interest is a Python in the early throes of constricting a Possum. Alas I didn't have my camera with me.

You've gotta love it!

Better late than never.....

It has been some time.

Since the last post, I have been on a fantastic trip to India, with our good friends the Darkins'. It does seem such a long time ago now, well we have been back about 6-7 weeks, and it took an age to get over. India is rather infectious and I think the Doris and I have planned return itineraries multiple times over.

I am not quite sure that the small selection of images really does justice to the place. Well it will have to do for now.

Not long after returning from India, J of the W came over on a visit and we paid the H a little visit ourselves over in NZ. I had a top time catching up with both of them having been away from the UK for over a year. It was the first time I had spent any length of time (if a long weekend constitutes that?) in the North Island. I certainly saw it in a different light compared to the two days (Rotorua, Auckland) from when I was there two years ago. I have resolved to take the Doris at some point although I may have difficulty getting her over to Wellington having heard many horror stories about landing there.....

What else is there....well, those of you who know me well may be surprised to learn that I undertook some exercise. I represented my company in the Corporate Games. I played football (that's a game where a round ball is primarily kicked with the foot, with 11 opponents on each side).

The Doris and I have also found our cooking mojo, getting into cooking and resuming our visits to the farmers' market. We shall be there this weekend, affording the Doris an opportunity to be on the front deck of the City Cat, a place she loves very much.