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Friends and loved ones

My cousin’s in town (and a proverb updated for the 21st century)

I can’t tell you what a pleasure it is to have my cousin Justin in town. He grew up in Brisbane, then Newcastle, before moving to Perth, so we barely saw him when growing up. He moved to Melbourne a couple of weeks ago, and is now settling into his new flat and job here.  ... [More]

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Doctor Who Food'n'drink Friends and loved ones

My super-talented sister excels herself again

This creation by my super-talented sister, for Isaac’s birthday.

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Friends and loved ones transport

Tullamarine terminal 4 arrivals. What a dump.

So this is Terminal 4 Arrivals — where you greet passengers arriving in Melbourne on Tiger Airways: You can’t go in, they can only come out. There’s no shelter to speak of — if it rains, you’d better wait in your car (if you brought one). Inside there’s just luggage collection. No trolley until you  ... [More]

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Friends and loved ones

A year since Dad left us

It’s a year today since Dad passed-away. It’s got easier to deal with and think about as the months have passed. Life goes on. But yes, today (and on the 7th, which would have been his 80th birthday), I did find myself in contemplation. Doubly so when a $7 refund cheque for him for a  ... [More]

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Brisbane 2011 Friends and loved ones

The memorial bench

At the University of Queensland this week, they installed a park bench, a memorial to my father, who studied there and was editor of the student magazine Sempor Floreat sixty years ago this year. I’m told it’s beside the lake (obviously) next to College Road, close to the intersection with Staff House Road. Judging from  ... [More]

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Friends and loved ones Melbourne

Awesome gigantic pic of my stepfather outside the Immigration Museum

This is officially awesome. My stepfather Peter features on one of the banners at the Immigration Museum, promoting the new Identity — yours mine ours exhibition. I’ve suggested to him that he ask them if he can keep the banner when they’re finished with it.

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Friends and loved ones Home life

Memories in the making

In 2008 I started a project I wish I’d started earlier: Every few months we get out the tripod, switch the camera to auto, and take a photo of ourselves in front of the house. I got the idea from a newspaper article. Some of them are taken just as we leave on a weekday  ... [More]

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Friends and loved ones News and events

Queensland floods

I’m not going to name names, but two people remarked to me last week that the Queensland floods wouldn’t be that bad, because all the houses have stilts, so everyone up there would be fine. I wasn’t about to get into an argument about it, but at the time I had my doubts. I suspect  ... [More]

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Friends and loved ones

Sheep dipping

“Ewetube” video from Boxing Day sheep dipping. I helped out for a little while, helping to push the sheep down the chute. It might be for their own good, but they weren’t particularly keen.

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Friends and loved ones News and events

Some resolutions

A bit late, but some things I plan to do this year: Teach my kids chess Try to declutter the house Get Jeremy into his own bedroom Get all of us more exercise Write a computer game (even a simple one) to get more enthused again about programming Replace the TV with something shiny, flat,  ... [More]

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Friends and loved ones

Merry Christmas

Quieter than usual due to my boys being away in Hawaii, but I chatted with them on Skype this evening. Presents are easier now all the adults in the family have switched to (non-anonymous) Kris Kringle… and of course we stuffed ourselves full of heaps of food. The only downer was being locked-out of my  ... [More]

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Friends and loved ones Melbourne

Lovely summer weather

Isaac and Jeremy have gone to Hawaii for Christmas with their mum and her family. The Hawaii weather forecast appears to say that today it’s 28 degrees (C) and mostly sunny. Given the weather today in Melbourne, I’m beginning to get quite envious. Oh, is that thunder I hear now? Even better! I know we’ve  ... [More]