Curry Night

Had a get together with our mates Rommie & Steve and KeznMike. Whenever we get together with KeznMike we always have a theme and usually dress up. After chatting with Kez (the one and only Kezzie) I got inspired and created an outdoor Indian style area to ahve our entrees and also got dressed up. What do you think?

Year 12 Industrial Tech

As I have been telling you, I inherited a year 12 Industrial Technology-Timber & Furnishings class from a teacher who got medically retired at the end of last year. So I was sort of thrown in the deep end with this class not knowing what they had planned to make and not knowing what they were like. To top it off we had no workshop to make the jobs. I had to line up a classroom and negotiated the use of a woodwork room at a special school that was not used.

It meant that the class had the place to themselves and could spread out. Even though it was a drive to the other school the students did really well and even enjoyed the experience. I had a good time too, only getting mildly frustrated later in the piece with students not getting their act together. Here are their jobs.

North West Island July 2011

Yet another trek to the Barrier Reef yielding the same fantastic, relaxed and enjoyable time. You guys really should get your act together and come with us next time. This journey included Wayne (Baz) Barry and Pino (the Italion stallion) Iearoiarni and family.

It was the first time I have been on North West Is and the first time I have been to the Capricornia Keys group of islands in Winter. The last time I went on the barge to these islands I was violently ill so I made sure I had enough travel pills for the trip and all was good. We arrived at North West in the wee small hours of the night and unloaded with a large group of people from the Lismore/Glen Innes area. We originally thought that we would just get into a sleeping bag and wait till morning but were wide awake so made camp under the huge Pisonia trees that dominate the centre of the island. These trees harbour a plethora of birdlife in summer but in winter are deserted except for some Rails(like quails) and little silver eyes (like finches). We have previously avoided these trees because of the birds as you get crap all over you, so one good thing about camping in July, no crap.



So, here we were, 11 days on a tropical island, in the middle of winter. And yes we jagged the good weather. Whilst everyone at home froze their little tootsies, we had 24C days, blue skies (the only downfall was pretty boring sunsets) and no commitments except catching enough fish for dinner. Life was tough.

I was hoping to perfect my spearfishing skills by catching some dinner (in the form of Coral Trout currently selling at the Gladstone fish shop for $70/kg) and also check out my ability to dive deeper and conquer my fear of deep water/sharks/bloody big sting rays and the fear of drowning and my stupid sinus problem. This was all good except i picked up a virus and played duelling nose bugle blowing with Wayne. All in all however, the expedition was great. I caught some good sized Coral Trout and other very edible fish. I won't tell you about our boating misshap, but it was an interesting and rather scary situation. Can't wait to go again. Who's coming with me?

Morpeth Bike Ride

Rode to Morpeth today for a Sunday ride. Went a total of 80kms. We practised a style of group riding called pace riding where we ride in two lines with the left line riding slower than the other. The fast or pace line leader rides past the slow line leader and then moves left into the slow line. At the back the last slow line rider joins the pace line and moves forward. This circular pattern allows the group to move faster and at the same time give riders a break. We had an hilarious time trying to perfect this with lots of gaps and stuffups, plenty of ride leaders to dictate what should and shouldn't happen showing that we need to a lot more practice and of course get a lot more serious if we want to do it properly.

Whale Watching

Jenny won a whale watching cruise at a function we went to last year and we kept putting it off untill the last minute. So we had to go this weekend or lose the ticket. So we went out to Nelson's Bay and checked out the whales. Actually saw whales but not as galmorous a trip as you would expect.

Easter Bike Ride at Gloucester

Went to Gloucester with the bike group at Easter this year. Camped at the Gloucester Caravan Park and did a ride around Gloucester each day followed by coffee back in town then back to the camp site for beers and dinner. Good fun, great weather and very relaxing. We put up the big tarp and everyone joined us under the tarp. It was very good to meet new people from NCM (Newcastle Cycleways Movement) who you see doing other rides and they turn up for coffee on Sat mornings but you don't say hello.

The Graduation of Kerri Lee Dibben

On Thursday 31st March, 2011 Kerri Lee Dibben graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelar of Arts degree in Design for Theatre & Television. Well done Kezza and congratulations. I had a big day getting to the grad, leaving Newcastle on the 4:10am Sydney train then to the airport to fly to Wagga where Kez was waiting for me. It was a beautiful autumn riverina day, perfect for a graduation ceremony. After coffee at Kezza's work we went back to her house, got dressed and went to lunch at 'The Monestry', a very nice restaurant by the river. We had a pleasant meal out in the garden and celebrated with a wine with lunch. At the universirty it took a long time to process all the grads but was worth the wait to see Kerri get her certificate.

Japan 2011: Hakuba

Our second trip to Japan was shared with our friends Mike, Kez, Rob and Andrew. This time we were there essentially to ski but still had time to enjoy the hospitality and sights of some of one of Japan's largest cities, Osaka; and see some spectacular scenery on the way to, and in, the Japan Alps. This first edition of the Japan 2011 blog is a small edited version as I await for more pics from the rest of the crew. In line for check-in at Cairns airport about to leave for Osaka. Jenny and I in front of a small shrine in Osaka.

Osaka Castle surrounded by gardens. Foraged for dinner in Osaka and came across an 'Aussie' bar. Naturally we were the only Aussies in the bar and after drinking far too much and having fish n chips for dinner we did embarassing things Aussies do when pissed in a bar in another country. "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi."

Had brecky in stand up cafe at the station. Food in the window was plastic to give you an idea of what you are eating. Bit difficult but just had to use your imagination and hope you didn't get any raw fish or fish entrails. This restaurant is very popular for Japanese office workers who eat and run. You even put your money in a vending machine, get a ticket, present to the counter, and hey presto! Your meal is made. Adventurous 6 awaiting to board their first Shinkansen that will be travelling at up to 300km/hr. All very excited.

With some newbies on board, Jenny and I were actually more adventurous (with the food sampling) and gained more confidence getting around Japan. We both had a lot of laughs watching our travelling companions marvel at the same things we liked and found interesting 12 months ago. Like: smoking stations, markers for the blind on all sidewalks, plastic food displays, narrow street malls, the politeness of the locals, the language, the lack of loud people and graffitti and the quietness of the traffic in a city with a population of over 2.6 million.

Travelling on the Shinkansen at 300km/hr

Arrived Hakuba and our lodgings, Aurinko Lodge on Sunday afternoon and had a shopping trip and a trip to the ski hire joint.

View of Japanese Alps from one of the many runs on Happo One.

Long awaited pics courtesy of Rob and Andrew showing more fun and frivolity in Japan.