Feb 2023

Obligatory pet shot.

Mumma cat is becoming a lap cat much to my surprise. She's always been a bit wild.

Getting ready to be Freddy.

Marie's sewing up something to become boy George. I should say she was not dressing up as him, more like the living incarnation.

Two gay guys out on the town. Hey we're married as well. This is about as Inner West as it gets.

Connaugh's 40th was a dress up as the 80s do. Loads of fun, and interesting people, some family, friends and a few parents we knew...

Such as Aaron and Robin, aka Hulk Hogan and Lady Di.

Me, Marie and Riet went to see The Golden Strangers, featuring Jamie from next door on the drums. He went to the Con after graduating from Fort St High, so an all round genius, all concentrated into music. The other guys were all clearly "A Team" players. A v good night.

The Golden Strangers - LIVE AT BUTCHERS BREW BAR!  

Date: Thursday, 16 February 2023 from 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM (AUS Eastern Daylight Time)

The boys checking out the The En Trance. This restaurant was a bit hit and miss. Lou got the sushi which was pretty bad. Oli and me got some spicy noodle thing that was good.

Then we went for a walk. Thinking about it, it's pretty amazing talking them into a 2 hour each way trip. Must have promised device time.

I think this was from a visit to Ellen, to see Jean Claude who is now terminally ill. Catherine Dorahy is aka my Aunty Beat, my grandma Diggie's sister. She looked after us a lot when we were growing up.

My mum left, Diggie my grandma, and maybe its Beat not sure, with Ellen herself at the front. A tiny age gap eh.

The old home at 2 Rothwell Cres Lane Cove. Home for about 40 years for me, and more for the others, recently sold. The new owners have simply cleared the place out a bit, planted the grass on the side, and voila, it looks instantly amazing.

I put this shot in to record the beautiful painting we got from Warlukurlangu artists when we stayed in Yuendumu. It really completes the room there.

Went to Newcastle with the Leichhardt Bike Club. What a lovely weekend.

 Woke up at 5am, got up at 6.40, and still managed to miss the train. 

In my defence,  there was a 7.00 and a 7.13 from Petersham, that between going to sleep and getting up moved to 7.07. So i was 4 minutes early but then 1 minute late. Called Marie  sped to Strathfield, and got on the Newcastle intercity with 2 minutes up my sleeve. 

Sam Reich is in the foreground. He is a cycling legend of Newcastle, and a top bloke. Lovely to catch him again, after we met with the Australian Cyclist Party.

Here he is again, running as sweep for the back of the pack people like me. Newcastle has a couple of converted train lines that are now simply wonderful bike paths.

Like this one for example is pretty new.

I stayed at the 7 seas. You knew I would say that it is a wonderful pub, full of history, beers a bit boring but I'll drink anything, and a great location in the heart of the docks.

Sunday was a roll around the foreshore near the beach.

The two most eco friendly transport modes there are.

Random shot of the back of the house at night.

The boys went for Kevin and Michael's birthday at Laurens and Anke's. Lovely to see them, have to catch up.

And rounding out the news for February, me and Marie took the plunge and bought a place in the Entrance. It is a really cute little place, with a big backyard, not far from the beach. I can feel myself relaxing as soon as I get near there.

Fin Jan

 

We met Claudia's parents, Luz and Juan. They are both very high ranking doctors, like professors or head of departments or some such. Claudia was advised not to spend time with Jaime, since he was not a good enough medical student! Things did work out all the same. Lucky Jaime is extremely outgoing, while Claudia was shocked by the forwardness, the boldness of the teasing etc in his family.

More shots from Coffs.

Oli in the pool at Coffs. It's great that they can take themselves to the pool as they like, and hang out, have fun.

Not sure why I took a shot of the car. I got the keys 11 Nov 2022 at 9,10am, after reception said they didn't have them. Then they worked out they didn't read the names on the post it notes properly.

Oh my god, what's this!!

At the music in the hall at Sydney Uni, in the main hall I think. I think it was the 4 Seasons by Vivaldi. One poor dude couldn't keep up and stuffed a couple of notes, but they were overall very good.

On the way to Norah Head to check out a house. The girls were both ga ga on it, but I was a bit too worried to try go for that one.

At Petersham Park with Goldie.

Marie got me some Canberra beers when she went down there with Evonne. Evonne went for work. Marie went for the beer and spirits festival. I really like this beer.

January

At Jacky's place for Australia day: 

Had a couple of beers. The boys went for a good swim int he pool. I popped in for a dip.

ON the way to Wallacia Water Treatment plant, I go through Mulgoa each time. Our grandmother Diggie and Aunty Beat were from here. I still can't find Marlwood, the farm were they grew up. I heard a lot of stories about buggies with lice crawling onto people, Diggie holding down a sheep while the other kids jumped the fence on the way to school, etc! So I'm keen to see it some time.

Oli just doesn't use his bike, so we dropped it off to a place in Windsor to go to a family that hopefully will use the thing.

The photo was for Andy, who used to live here. We caught the train back when it was an old diesel.

The local station just keeps getting a lot better. First lifts, now some wonderful artwork.

Across the street from the art above, at the station, our cat Sumi followed us to the pub. She seemed to want to come in. But she's not really a people kind of cat.

Tha boys gambling while we were up at Coffs Harbour. I think either Lou or Charlie won the night.

The lookout over Coffs.

At the aquarium. There is a lot to see and do at Coffs. I am a fan of the place.

The clever little museum was a hit with our boys. Even there were some ropes where you could try out some knots.

And see what seaweed is in the cupboard.

Lou and Charlie under the sea, well in the water tank at least. Great idea.

Jan-23

 

At Bellingen, the old butter factory. It's full of artists, some doing wood, this guy does silver jewellery and wallets etc, painters, and a home shop. Here he is banging out the silver ring to size.

In Coffs Harbour, along the breakwater at dinner.

Marie's timeshare place has electric bikes for free rental, and not many takers, so the first thing I had to do, was get one and roll into town.

At the the Woolgoolga Brewing Co. for lunch. One of the workers staying at the pub gave us a sampling of free beers, so we decided to look them up. Good move.

Relaxing at the timeshare in Coffs.

I went for a walk solo, since most people were taking it easy. What an amazing walk along the headland towards town. This is Park Beach.

Doing some serious gambling with the kids.

I made Marie and Evonne hire some bikes and come for a shop as well. We picked up plenty of food etc from Park Beach Plaza. Good fun.

Whenever we go on holidays, you gotta do a jigsaw, so relaxing and somehow addictive.

Me and my little boy, who is taller than me, at the timeshare place.

Very good sun sense this boy.

At Bellingen, some very fancy shops there, way past my allowed budget.

At the cafe in Bellingen for lunch, serious Uno action.