Sunday Feb 29th

we have had a very nice day - went to mass and the church with an Irish priest was a tropical paradise . You walked down an avenue pergola of grapes and the 2 sides were opened with tropical palms etc visible

We sat on sea front reading and then had a "fruite de mer" for lunch. Fish of all sort with set of tools!
Your Ma says all time wouldn't it be nice if all family were here as perfect weather and resort .She is busy writing cards and letters - we got at a trendy market we visited yesterday

I have to but paperbacks for ma and she is a great scanner although she gets gist . Degenerated to Mills and Boon - eclectic taste as she says - i have now spent about 120$ on books plus odd OK/Hello.

Tomorrow we have been invited onto a House boat for a trip around inlets etc by host Ian - he lives here in winter from south island of NZ as his grand kid is here .

On Thursday we are on out way to Bryon Bay - Noossa has been a fantastic upmarket place full of English tourist believe it not .

I have just booked a secret hotel in Brisbane - it turned out to be Sofitel - Broncos game on Friday and St Pats procession Sunday - a little luxury for us

locking up so off as in arcade Internet 2$ for 20 mins - Irish pub next door and licensee from Stoke - must tell Dick a she remembers Stanley Matthews

Chris

Australia - your Ma mentions every day another anecdote when C&M were here . We are not a million miles away from Pt Douglas - you will remember Mirage hotel - luxury - " Slick Willie " had been there the day before we arrived

You may like to read www.australiait.com.au/thehub - the paper yesterday reviewed IT for 2010

Australia is booming and there is a totally different upbeat philosophy here from government as opposed to gloom in UK

The article has comments from boss of Accenture and IBM Glen Boreham with views

Interesting but all big projects are government - the latest is NBN - the broadband which is sucking in all IT professionals - multimedia etc

There is also 600$ million DIAC system for people
700$million Tax project

and it quoted smart metering and grid computing projects plus integration of web2 technology into business - never heard in UK mentioned in paper

what was interesting was no bank projections other than integration such as Westpac and St Georges at present

Hays IT said main deficiency are top level project mangers but it may give you ideas for future developments.

We are regular visitors at Vinnies - remember Mairead worked but we cannot get on welfare programme! We use as library although i have on a very nice T shirt bought for 6$

The game in Leeds tomorrow with Melbourne - paper says the pitch is covered in snow.

Tropical downpours today although around pool later and going to fish restaurant tonight - about every 3rd day we go out.

Angela

well at last someone looks at blog occasionally particularly as Chris and Phil asked to start one

Well your young ladies will have to marry Rockefeller junior III to maintain their life style

I assume Issie went with school friend to a top hotel in NY - she knew all ropes when going thru Manchester airport as a veteran traveller

It would be agony for Anna as me here as like a pin cushion with mosquito and sand fly bites - i cannot sit on patio in evenings to read .

Incidentally Michael will have to sleep on a bed at Chris with wooden lats missing so there is a hole you have to avoid. I went there from Barts when let out sat night - they are going to get another sometime.

You did not let us know about Issie's spelling test - a runner up is fine . My Mother used to say " always the bridesmaid and never the bride" when we were young . There is a song about that .

We have been to beach today in Noosa - 90 and humid but we sit in shade and your Ma is happy as Larry if a good book - ideal area with great shops and facilities .

We may go to a Brisbane hotel for a weekend to have a bit of looking after although we eat well - your Ma has lost weight so trousers now fit her easily and some fall down - not a pretty sight. She feels better getting around.

Adam will have to email - he will be happy to get away to uni and i have him pencilled in to be a foreign journalist based in London!

Phil - can you encourage to get a job! Her advisor recommended as part of rehab.

James had to get me out of a mess as I was unable to order a replacement washer for flat in Hfd - my cheque card was rejected and as i said Australia is home for cloned UK bank cards as not all pin and chip etc . Curry's would not let you order from abroad - you had similar problems with BA going to Beirut.

Do you want to visit St Johns when in Jerusalem - you were there as kids - I can arrange


G&A will be pleased with another Grandchild

i am in cafe and going to Irish pub for happy hour and Chinese takeaway tonight .

Hi

It is a very pretty day here and +1 so warm, we have had very little snow this winter which has been great.
Glad that you are having a good time , and i hope that mum is feeling better, you could take her to a doctors in Australia, I am sure that they are good!
Not much news here, Anna and i went to buy a netbook for our trip to Israel, we should find out tomorrow what days BA are going on strike , hopefully we will be fine. We are seeing Jenny and family in 2 weeks time, it will be nice to see her.
Issie was in NY last weekend with a friend, she saw 3 musicals , went to the Guggenheim, went on a Gossip Girl tour of NY , Gossip Girl is a teen TV show and she loved it. They stayed in a wonderful hotel called the NY palace, normally it is $600 a night but they got it for $200 , issie loved it!
We took Adam, Anna and some friends of Anna's to montreal, it is so close but with the french etc it is always a real break going there. Adam', Michael and I took the metro out to an indoor food market with great produce and food and then we walked back through all different neighborhoods . We had dinner in the old part of Montreal , it was indian food and excellent.
I talked to PHil today who sounds very well, we will be seeing her in a few weeks time in London, the kids, Phil and i are going to stay in a youth hostel near Oxford circus.
Gary and ANgela have another grandson , born last night in Toronto called Santiago , both baby and Celia are doing well. I hope to go to see them after Israel.
Michael is going to London for a week at the end of March and will spend the weekend with chris and Mairead in Goring . They are having a client do on the Thames followed by the london eye.
Still waiting to hear about Anna's boarding schoools and Adam's colleges.
Issie went to a party last night and enjoyed herself.
Have fun , love Angela

Tropicana Ma

bit worrying over past few days as your Ma developed a high temperature and was ill with pain in chest plus coughing

There was always the possibility of another PE but on warfarin and i had potent antibiotic - up today 3rd day but unusual for you ma ever to be set in bed. Still not well enough to go out although sunshine .

Beautiful place Noosa but spoilt as full of tourists and backpackers and you can get no where to park near front.

i cannot get a computer to load photos so wait although i think i am emailing blog to myself!

another drama as both my bank cards were blocked and still trying to order a repalcement washer to a flat in Lighthouse from Currys.

I have a telephone in appt no overseas calls allowed so had to go round to Ian and Kaths - the owners from NZ who have house nearby and use there phone

It transpired that there was a security block as Australia is number 1 country for cloned cards - who would believe that . They said i would be on line in 10 mins but just tryed to reorder at Currys and crashed again.

We have had tropical storms all week - we went to Steve Irwin zoo nearby but it was raining so much we decided not to spend 55$ and go another day - main zoo and quite famous although you will remember Steve died from sting ray spike some years ago

Ma recounted Tiger Woods repentance as on TV and a UK girl in line for gold medal in VC Olympics. We have all channels and football from UK .

We eat on patio and in spite of insect repellent still like a pin cushion . We have birds on table for crumbs as we eat.

No family news from UK so like a travelogue . New word for Issie vocab test.

now for a pre prandial drink

Brisbane and Sunshine coast

we made it on Virgin Blue without excess baggage - pretty easy transfer

Millionaire apt but thought 95 temp plus humidity was going to prove too much for us but getting acclimatised .

First morning awoke to find millions - literally of ants on floor and my pillow - but they did not bite - the management are spraying as there is obviously a nest behind the bed. We have moved into other bedroom

Mind you your Ma takes all in her stride providing there are plenty of books - we are in a rented apt so none and we have had to buy at second hand place

We have had a super day - went to beach in Noosa and breeze made it tolerable - they do it well here with parking ,toilers and all facilities on hand

We have just had lunch at an Irish pub near our complex - Murphy's bar . There is always one .

James emailed with Dave's telephone number - i did not wish him obliged as we are now geriatrics but he appears pleased and may fancy coming down to our Sydney apt as it has great gardens with barbecue area and swimming pool .

I have been watching RL on tv and much faster than super league plus refs let play go on .


We try not to look at weather in UK or complain too hot and humid here our next exchange at Bryon Bay - silence so we have no idea if problem.


in cafe full of backpackers using Internet

Thursday Watson Bay Chris

we had a super time in 90 degree sunshine - now burnt. What a holiday!

We went into Domain and to Art Gallery - there was an exhibition by Rupert Bonner -never heard of him - he was the Australian Impressionist - very nice paintings

We walked to Circular Quay and took ferry to Watson's Bay and visited Doyle's - this time just for a drink although we will return later for fish.

Your Ma has lost weight and her clothes are now too loose ! and she can walk 3 miles or more in this weather and is perennially happy reading the extensive library of books - eclectic variety many of London and UK authors as he lived at Chelsea Harbour for many years . No bread or potatoes for 3 weeks.

I have just had pint in happy hour and checking email - you would be surprised at number -one from BP - he wants to look after small dog for friend for 5 weeks ! No problem if allowed.

Plus we have at lest 40 potential exchanges for QQ - one from Buenos Aires requesting 3 months and offering similar to learn Spanish /Salsa or Tango. What an offer.

Your Ma and I were a little judgemental for Taylor Swift - she sang and was interviewed on tv -nice girl - well the radio programme are inundated with her records and even for a different generation, she does have talent as she writes herself - have you heard of her in UK.


The young backpacker is coming round tomorrow - rain due -we are packing for Brisbane and Gold Coast on Sat so getting a Thai take away - we love Kings X - full of life and so many Gays - must be taking over from SF

In Brisbane we are going to see a cricket test match and RL with broncos i read Giant won first game - I left my ticket with Mike A

we got a long email from Eliz - they appear to be enjoying life and are flying to Koblenz next week to visit some fellow sailors .

Hope all is well

a thought -they are tightening up on immigration - it might we worth your while to make flying visit to Australia to extend visa - other people are such as Dicks niece husband did.


steak tonight and salad plus mango -now UK prices

Manly

we had a fantastic day out yesterday in brilliant 85 degree sunshine gong over on ferry to Manly.

We st under trees on beach where we had a picnic and watched families with kids on beach and sea and what a lifestyle here when there is good weather .


We walked up Victoria Street and you place has been tarted up a little but still block need major work doing . We nearly called in shop and asked if they remember cheap skate waiting on xmas eve until last minute to buy cut price tree!

We sat on front enjoying surfers - i nearly shouted out 'does anyone work' as there were people of all ages .

We went into Steyne Hotel for drink and remembered time when Catherine was with us one NY about 4 years ago. Meandered down Corso .

We splashed out in Fish Restaurant Garfish - we went there for your birthday in past for Lobster . High quality and business men lunch hideout -2 bottles of wine and there talking at 2.30pm!

With exchange rate it is very expensive and the crab rolls and noodles starter gave me gut rot last night -we should complain.


Today we are gong to Sydney Hospital for blood test INR for your ma as she still takes Warfarin - i have to inject on way back.

running out of time a sin cafe

I note no one reads so closing down and will write now once a week

Sunday C&M memories plus Angela

when we were drinking a glass of superb ice cold chardonnay at Jordans Darling Harbour - w drunk your health and remembered the Xmas time we has here - your Ma said it was a pity you were not with us .
The place was buzzing with families and rain

Mind you the menu may not have been to your liking as we started with scallops/oysters Kirkpatrick/crab/lobster etc - we had a 'frut de mer' shared and i had to tell your ma it was 50/50.

what a superb meal and trip over on ferry

I showed army ingenuity as rain was forecast - we have had 4 days of storms - i had a brainwave and when it started draining heavily your ma and I put on shower hats. Not elegant and Worthy of comment but effective..

Your Ma says she hoped Adam and Anna have done well in exams

are we getting older i ask as i recall times when Adam was a baby


I thought back to my other great innovation when i used t take Adam for walks in his pram in Madison - I could lie on bench reading a book in the sunshine and rock his pram with my foot ! I have never seen anyone else do this . I hope he does not remember Red Onion visits! to Grandad.

we are wet and your Ma wants to get home

In footsteps of C&M plus news

our trendies in Ottawa would have loved to be here tonight as there is a huge pop concert staring Taylor Swift - never heard of her although i saw an interview on TV and she was a very nice girl - pity she cannot sing! or act for that matter

Plus I thought of Issie last night as there was a programme on Freddie Mercury - he was singing ' Lady Radio Gaga' in London at Live Aid concert so this was not an original song for Ms Gaga with big glasses. Issie was singing this song in Cardiff train.

we are full of entertainment - Marianne Faithful was panned last night by critics - she had to look at words and was described as 'vague' . Still tonight it is Michael Parkinson at Opera house in one man show! Although a yorkshireman we have given the miss.

Rained all day and we went for a trip across to Kirribilli - it is a bigger boat and doesn't stop at same place and goes to right. I saw old flat still as tatty -considering position you would think They would tart up.

I could imagine Phil here as we have cockroaches in bathroom at night - a mouse popped out of manhole as we ate at pub and calmly munched crumbs and there was huge brown rat outside Junes place in Rocks -your ma was fascinated particularly birds trying to get on table at coffee bars and will peck you.

We spoke to kid from Hfd on gap year and she has digs with another UK kid she met and they have been trudging around looking for work - not easy here .

We have pass for bus/train/ferry for week so we will be getting around - Manly/Watson Bay and we are going to beach at Palm Cove -bring tears to Chris eyes! Sydney never fails to impress but they are well down on tourists - thankfully


I am going to see RL games soon when they start

going to pub for happy hour!

Rain due tomorrow so we ma go to cinema - perhaps clooney film or musical with J Dench of TVA fame .. wonder if she remembers!

Dad

Feb 4th

your ma is sitting next to me in cafe and will join in!

we were due to go to Watson Bay on the ferry and have a F&C lunch at iconic Doyle's Restaurant but believe i not postponed due to rain and winds plus over cast. Hence we are going to a gastro pub in Kings X for a meal locally


we have settled into lifestyle and do little other read and have barbies and glass of wine .

We met the hfd backpacker yesterday - the Robinson's daughter she is skin and bone and slurred mentally - i noted her teeth - no guessing the problem . Little wonder her folk were so keen for us to look after a little here as they must be worried . Nicola he name is looking for a job in Sydney but there are so many backpackers that it is not easy and apparently hostels are expensive.

We don't really wan to get involved but only here for another week so will see and give arms length support.

I will send you photos soon - we have a stunning panoramic view over harbour from 17th floor - the place is like Fort Knox -with concierge 24 hours and t v cameras. The chap who owns is in Perth - first grandchild - he was employed for BHP Billiton and based in London and Brussels for 12 years. He loved to go to Redcar in days of British Steel and stay in a country pub. The place of books on antiques and painters - your ma is plowing thru lot - scanning everyday.

We are next to an Anglican school and kids wear navy blue gymslips and white blouses and black shoes and reminded me of Anne and Christine 50 years ago other than the boaters although they may wear.

I hear it is snowing in UK again -what a winter

Kings X Sydney Feb 2nd

What a place -humming with life in Kings X - our luxury flat towers and we have great views from 17th floor over harbour including Opera house -naval vessels in front of us - similar to Kirribilli we watch the white liners leave.

The place is full of backpackers -usually perusing menus for cheapest meals they can find. It is de rigeur to have a back pack so i have mine today . We are not given hand outs for clubs as 40 years older than norm - only a Chinese parlour for herbal infusions and massage - i don't think they saw your Ma otherwise price would go up!

We are still on diet and weight falling off.

We walk every where - yesterday thru Hyde park to St Marys cathedral and we had coffee on Elizabeth street in glorious sunshine

Just read a plaintive email from a friend Robinson's daughter backpacking - she is a graduate and went to New College - she is alone and just arrived from NZ and living in YMCA for a week. We will have round for a barbecue - i just wondered whether she wanted to joss down for a few days although we have plenty of room but only one key -she is out looking for a job.


your ma is reading OK at a coffee shop and we are going to walk to Elizabeth Bay House and meander back for a drink in one of many pubs.

The cost of living is bout on par with UK although food much better quality.

We have bought a 7 day pass for bus train and ferries so we are starting travelling about on Thursday - Manly for the day first -we are slowly visiting the familiar places we went to with C&M .
Settling down to life of R&R - what a difference sunshine - what a way of life as there are so many organised functions

We were in Botanic gardens and heard rehearsal of La Candide opera stars practising for a free picnic concert in Domain.

Mind you there are echos of Bridlington here - Marianne Faithful and Des O'Connor star here in theatre and they were at Spa last year .

Great TV excitement with Andy Murray - sure worse in UK but they all love losers -look at Tim boy

Paid 2$ for 1 hour in cubicle with 20 others most on face book and looking at photos

I haven't taken any photos yet but will upload soon .

I promise not to complain too hot and humid ! Poor Angela and family in Ottawa and hear still snow in UK.

Must finish - where is suntan oil and my sunglasses ....