2024-March

< This is probably just lunch with Mohammad. I think his mum thinks he does nothing but eat.

Went Tony and Evonne's to babysit the kids. Saw a movie Friday night, had a big sleep in. Had Mohammad over on Saturday night. Met Farnaz for the first time, talked about moving to a new strange country, leaving friends and family, language exchange, cooking tips, saw her birds. A brief chat about Engineering.

 

Went to the go-carts for something to do. Lou was impressed that I actually had some skills. I tried to explain that it comes after 30 years. I can drive around in circles.

Quiet Fri, watched some movie or something. Went to the coast, mowed lawn, edged them. Saturday night went to Mixtape, Philter, Bob Hawke Breweries with Justin. Good times. Sunday went to Robbie's for a games day, played gin rummy on like dominoes with cards on them. V fun! Met Rob's sister Mandy, hubby.

-

Marie told Felix's mum Wendy that we were going to the PBC "tomorrow". So we had the unexpected pleasure of meeting her on Thursday night. Lucky she is free Friday as well, so she can come along to the main event with the other parents. The others being Julian's folks Enno and Andrea.

Marie is busy doing a 888 form to help Mohammad bring his wife over from Iran to here. He is a lovely fellow.

-

Left: finally got the palm trees nearly all chopped down in a day.

Friday, we tried again to go to the local bowlo. Had v nice time w other parents Enno, Andrea and Wendy (again). Boys included Oli, Oliver, Julian, Curtis and Dekux. Me and Marue went up the coast while the boys stayed and played some kind of blind his and sell with wire shades on. Too fun.

Saturday, Simon and his team of 3 chopped the umbrella tree and non natuve palms. The yard is bizarrely empty and light. Need to plant replacements. 

At Long Jetty. We had a weekend away with Tim and Trish. All v v good.

Plenty of rain, means the tanks are full. I think we burned out the pump, so it's not doing much...

The En Trance...

At right: artwork by Oli... pretty good, and recognisable sketches.

Came back for Carmels afternoon tea for Anne Sophie with all the Barberos plus Ellen. 

Sunday lunch was at Fils. We picked up Ellen and Anne Sophie to take them there. A nice idea.

Happy Easter Baka!! The usual family get togethers at the Triglav club next to the retirement home.

2024-Feb

Fri night went to dinner at Bob Hawke brewery,  fancy 80s Chinese but delish. All the pubs etc are aimed for old people like us, not the poor broke young ppl. 

Oli went to school. His buddies were whipping a rope around, then letting it loose into the ring of people at random. Oli knelt down into the rope and got it smack in the eyeball. The local doctor said there was no scratching on the outside. So then we went to the specialist, picture on the right. He could see some bruising at the base or retina. Oli was under strict orders to lay still, no sport, so he offered to run home after forgetting these instructions. Bad Oli! His eyes seem all good now, after several hundred in docs fees.

Saturday, started pulling sugar things to start mounting art on our walls. Spent the afternoon on call out on computer, put up wires for the passionfruit vibe to grab,  watched weird Western movie.

Tomorrow Jaime picnic for bday. 

16- drinks with Connaugh, caught a call half way through

17: spent 2 days at Liverpool stp. Not sure if this job is a good idea but generally it's not too bad

24: on call. 23 Fri, went lunch with John, Lilly Keanu, Vonne, Tone, ate too much pizza 

Sunday was lunch at Fils for Johns birthday. He asked if i still did my own hair cuts and told people what aunty beat said i love my food. Very f in g annoying. 

10- Bike ride in the city, lunch Milsons Pt. Met Marie at Chatswood for some shopping. Bought a couple of pairs of shorts that she reckons I need, but I don't.

Left to right: Mohammad, Danesh and me.

This was the first time that Mohammad had seen the city since arriving in Australia from Iran. 

This route is honestly one of the most scenic in Oz I reckon.

Thumbs up (mostly finger up) from Oli, and a 3 finger salute from Lou.

2nd: went for Tihana's christening. Spent day mowing, moving dirt around, trimming the pepper tree, and moving rocks to drain near the garage. Not sure who wants a holiday home. We spend more time cleaning it up than going for a swim, damn  it.

Scott the proud father, Tim the gramps, and Zdenka, the happy gran.

Not so fast Oli. I got the shot before you could swing up a rude finger.

2024-early Jan

Visiting Tihana

On a walk at Bateau Bay. John was there.

Goldie biting the water

Pet, Andy, Sohi and me. Lunch at Chatswood and a catchup.

Goldie Oli and Steven at the Central Coast

We did a couple of jigsaws. Love doing that while on holiday.

This looks like ultimate Werewolf.

On a ride through Balmain with Mohammad

Me and Marie at the excellent Shahrood Restaurant with my cousin Karen

and Fil + Julia

Karen, Maryanne, Fil

Marie's leg, a ball in the air, and Goldie gives the chase. 

2024-later in Jan

On the train to Nowra, going past Bombo, on the way to Kylee's.

Watching some serious Sumo. No idea about this sport.

Me and the ladies. Marie, Kyle, Ceal, Lib and Fil. 

at the nearby beach, Vincentia, too lovely.

Me and Mohammed at Karachi Biryani at Auburn. Delicious! We work together.

I took the Monday off so we could go to the Italian consulate and check out if I can get citizenship. If you've got some parents/grandparents, apparently you can do it. But I've got to sign up, get an appointment and get a lot of papers together.

At the Kinokuniya Bookstore after lunch.

Mary anne came out for Uncle Jean Claude's funeral. He was a good man! Always chatty and pleasant. We don't get together very often, so lucky someone thought to take the opportunity for a photo.

Re fam

Domenica and Nunziata, courtesy of Julia. I think she was excited about the idea of getting a passport.

2023-Christmas

 

Vince aka Robert De Niro

Mel, Kathy, Tom Lenz set designer extraordinaire, cousins, Irene and Peter.

Tihanna, Natalie, Ivana, Ang, Nicole, Isabelle, Marie, Annie, Alexamdra, Elkie, Gabrielle, Madison, Julie, Amelia, Kristy, Amber, Mila, Lola, Evonne, Paige, Holly and Zdenka, with Baka.

Tony Charlie Holly Lola Vonne Annie with Baka.

Gab, Steve, Ang, Alexandra

Pre Christmas with Baka, and Annie.

Vince, Kathy, Irene, Peter, Mel and kids in NY.

My mate Danesh from work, in INdonesia.

At the Central Coast, walking to the dog friendly beach.

Visiting Baka. Marie, Oli, me.

Boxing day at Peters. Fil, David and John

Birthdays for Vonne and Marie

Christmas day at the McCabes

Fox, Leo, Scott, Lucas, and Harley.

Christmas day - yay!