Taking Costandina back to Winchester last night we ended up driving through quite a lot of fog on the motorway.
It was dark and the misty rain slowly started to thicken as we sped along the black road. There weren't many cars about and so we would only accassionaly catch up with the flared red beacon of another car.
The mist began to thicken until the floodlights on the motorway were shrouded in a ghostly grey. They shed feeble cones of watery light but served to show the rolling curves of the road ahead. The path of our headlights illuminated off the fog and every so often we would hit a patch right down at road level. The car would cleave through the soft silent tendrils and burst through into a more open patch of road.
The big motorway signs appeared to loom suddently out of the grey no longer as well illuminated by headlights dimmed by fog.
The thwack thwack of the wipers and Costandina's new CD's kept us company in our cocoon as the fog and rain ebbed and flowed outside.
All in all quite an ethereal spectral kind of trip. Then again it could have just been my rubbish eyesight wearing a pair of glasses with an out of date prescription as I continue to wait for my new pair to arrive
Sunday 17 January 2010
Messing about
Some pictures of us on the dolphin cruise at Jervis Bay. Plus one to prove saw some dolphins
Wentworth Falls
Some pictures of the Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains before we got drenched by a sudden downpour
One for the Catholics
Mother Superior was on her way to late morning prayers, when she passed two novices just leaving early morning prayers, on their way to classes. As she passed the young ladies, Mother Superior said, "Good morning ladies." The novices replied, "Good morning, Mother Superior, may God be with you." But after they had passed, Mother Superior heard one say to the other, "I think she got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning." This startled Mother Superior, but she chose not to pursue the issue.
A little further down the hall, Mother Superior passed two of the Sisters who had been teaching at the convent for several years. She greeted them with, "Good morning Sister Martha, Sister Jessica, may God give you wisdom for our students today." "Good morning, Mother Superior. Thank you, and may God be with you." But again, after passing, Mother Superior overheard, "She got out of the wrong side of bed today."
Baffled, she started to wonder if she had spoken harshly, or with an irritated look on her face. She vowed to be more pleasant. Looking down the hall, Mother Superior saw retired Sister Mary approaching, step by step, with her walker. As Sister Mary was rather deaf, Mother Superior had plenty of time to arrange a pleasant smile on her face, before greeting Sister Mary. "Good morning, Sister Mary. I'm so happy to see you up and about. I pray God watches over you today, and grants you a wonderful day."Ah, Good morning, Mother Superior, and thank you. I see you got up on the wrong side of bed this morning."
Mother Superior was floored! "Sister Mary, what have I done wrong? I have tried to be pleasant, but three times already today, people have said that about me." Sister Mary stopped her walker, and looked Mother Superior in the face. "Oh, don't take it personal, Mother Superior. It's just that you're wearing Father Murphy's slippers."
Saturday 16 January 2010
It's off to school we go
We are taking Costandina back down to Winchester this afternoon to start back at Uni. (It's about an hour and half with a fair run) She is excited about meeting her friends and in particular catching up with Sam again after being away for nearly 8 weeks!
I am not sure however that we are feeling the same. After 6 weeks or so with all of us living on top of each other on our trip it will be strange going back to our new slim down version of the family again. Family lite so to speak. I am sure it is the same for every family when kids go off to Uni. The empty house. The loneliness. Wondering if you argued with them all the time and they didnt talk to you much, why do you miss them now. A slight exageration in our case but the sentiment is the same.
Anyway here is a picture of the new Student Uni building at Winchester which is pretty swish i have to say and a wonderful contrast to lovely patinated medieval brickwork that abounds elsewhere in the city
The really sad thing though is that we have yet to visit the Cathedral at Winchester which as you can see is pretty spectacular and dates from about a million years ago. Winchester is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Britain. It will be too dark to visit today but we will need to make time soon on one of our trips.
I guess we will have to keep ourselves busy sorting out our lives and especially our respective jobs. Bashing them into shape so that they dont control and dominate our lives. Oh yeh and the small matter of attending to Michael's every whim. As his self appointed lackies we apparently still need training and I guess that's what he will be focussing on in the coming weeks.
Who knows we may even have some time in between to play with him
I am not sure however that we are feeling the same. After 6 weeks or so with all of us living on top of each other on our trip it will be strange going back to our new slim down version of the family again. Family lite so to speak. I am sure it is the same for every family when kids go off to Uni. The empty house. The loneliness. Wondering if you argued with them all the time and they didnt talk to you much, why do you miss them now. A slight exageration in our case but the sentiment is the same.
Anyway here is a picture of the new Student Uni building at Winchester which is pretty swish i have to say and a wonderful contrast to lovely patinated medieval brickwork that abounds elsewhere in the city
The really sad thing though is that we have yet to visit the Cathedral at Winchester which as you can see is pretty spectacular and dates from about a million years ago. Winchester is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Britain. It will be too dark to visit today but we will need to make time soon on one of our trips.
I guess we will have to keep ourselves busy sorting out our lives and especially our respective jobs. Bashing them into shape so that they dont control and dominate our lives. Oh yeh and the small matter of attending to Michael's every whim. As his self appointed lackies we apparently still need training and I guess that's what he will be focussing on in the coming weeks.
Who knows we may even have some time in between to play with him
It's amazing what you can find on the internet
A cousin of Sonya sent us this link to a clip on Youtube.
Read the letter below and watch the clip. The lady is quite amazing
Read the letter below and watch the clip. The lady is quite amazing
"The video clip is about 8mins 30secs and worth every second. It shows the winner of "Ukraine’s Got Talent", Kseniya Simonova, 24, drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II. Her talent, which admittedly is a strange one, is mesmeric to watch.
The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears and she won the top prize of about $130,000.00
She begins by creating a scene showing a couple sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry sky, but then warplanes appear and the happy scene is obliterated.
It is replaced by a woman’s face crying, but then a baby arrives and the woman smiles again. Once again war returns and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman’s face appears.
She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier.
This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house.
In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying goodbye.
The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million.
The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears and she won the top prize of about $130,000.00
She begins by creating a scene showing a couple sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry sky, but then warplanes appear and the happy scene is obliterated.
It is replaced by a woman’s face crying, but then a baby arrives and the woman smiles again. Once again war returns and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman’s face appears.
She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier.
This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house.
In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying goodbye.
The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million.
Kseniya Simonova says:
"I find it difficult enough to create art using paper and pencils or paintbrushes, but using sand and fingers is beyond me. The art, especially when the war is used as the subject matter, even brings some audience members to tears. And there’s surely no bigger compliment."
"I find it difficult enough to create art using paper and pencils or paintbrushes, but using sand and fingers is beyond me. The art, especially when the war is used as the subject matter, even brings some audience members to tears. And there’s surely no bigger compliment."
Please take time out to see this amazing piece of art."
click on the link below -
Give them time to load up, there are more example's of her sand art at the bottom of the screen when the video finishes.
Tuesday 12 January 2010
Good Job Guys
Just a quick posting in passing to comment on the remarkable job the boys did of salvalging victory in the last test from the jaws of certain defeat. Top effort.
Just one small little point. What happened in England guys. Where was the fighting spirit then eh. Pakistan is second fiddle. You need to do it to the bl**dy Poms as well. Thats the important one. Twice in a row now guys.
Its a bit late now guys. I have had to pay my debts and cop the ribbing. Its no good winning all over the place now that the horse has bolted. You need to win the difficult ones as well.
Enuf said
Just one small little point. What happened in England guys. Where was the fighting spirit then eh. Pakistan is second fiddle. You need to do it to the bl**dy Poms as well. Thats the important one. Twice in a row now guys.
Its a bit late now guys. I have had to pay my debts and cop the ribbing. Its no good winning all over the place now that the horse has bolted. You need to win the difficult ones as well.
Enuf said
Coming Home Part Deux
I have been criticised by She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO) for my unduly moany first posting. Something along the lines of whingeing old bast*rd. A Moany Old Git (MOG). So in deference to SWMBO i am having another go at a blog but this time with a more positive outlook
As i write i have spotted the newsflash that it was 34oC at midnight in Melbourne last night. mmmm. Damp sweating bodies lying clamily next to each in bed. What fun. It was still -1oC for us last night by the way.
By common consensus everyone has written off last week and the new year has officially started this week. We decided at work that last week was such a dead loss that we have expunged it from our calculations and starting again. 2010 will only have 51 weeks.
Our New Years resolutions have been (amongst other things like have a life, get home on time and all the normal ones) to get more excitement into our lives. We have decided that this year will be a year of changes. Of moving forward in a positive way.
Lasy year was a grim tale of survival. We have had enough of that. We have recharged our batteries in the balmy antipodean sunshine (and occassional antipodean rainstorm) and plan to seek a new beginnings. Change is a good thing. A bit scary but i think that is the whole point. neither of us have any idea what this will mean in practice but it certainly sounds laudable.
There thats a much more postive posting. Job done
As i write i have spotted the newsflash that it was 34oC at midnight in Melbourne last night. mmmm. Damp sweating bodies lying clamily next to each in bed. What fun. It was still -1oC for us last night by the way.
By common consensus everyone has written off last week and the new year has officially started this week. We decided at work that last week was such a dead loss that we have expunged it from our calculations and starting again. 2010 will only have 51 weeks.
Our New Years resolutions have been (amongst other things like have a life, get home on time and all the normal ones) to get more excitement into our lives. We have decided that this year will be a year of changes. Of moving forward in a positive way.
Lasy year was a grim tale of survival. We have had enough of that. We have recharged our batteries in the balmy antipodean sunshine (and occassional antipodean rainstorm) and plan to seek a new beginnings. Change is a good thing. A bit scary but i think that is the whole point. neither of us have any idea what this will mean in practice but it certainly sounds laudable.
There thats a much more postive posting. Job done
Monday 11 January 2010
Annoying the Gods
We got back ok. The flight was good albeit long. We all seemed to get some good sleep on the two plane legs so that was ok too. It was a bit of a shock landing to 1o C after 38oC the day before but even that was ok.
No our problems started on the drive back to our house when Sonya's dad who was driving mentioned in passing that our central heating had stopped working. What? For how long had the central heating been off we asked? I'm not sure perhaps a week he said! A week of temperatures well below freezing! We are not quite sure why he didnt mention it earlier when we could have told him about the insurance cover we have and where to find the telephone number for an engineer or why he didn't put an electric heater on to warm up the house even a little. Things just went downhill from there.
The house was indeed freezing; almost quite literally. And yes the central heating was well and truly not working. All we had was an oil filled electric radiator for the whole house. No hot water and no heating. That night it was -3oC. We sent the kids round to their Dad's house and we slept fully clothed under 5 duvets. It took us two days to get an engineer out to fix the boiler.
The microwave also decided to stop working at this point. This however was not quite shock it may have been as it had been dying a slow death for many months.
We then discovered that the front windscreen demister in the car had stopped working. Anyone who has tried to demist a windscreen in very cold temperatures knows it almost impossible if you cant get the heater to blow hot air on the windscreen. The car can also become undrivable as you cant see a damn thing through the misted up windscreen. The heater was working; the fan was working. It would blow warm air onto our face just not onto the windscreen. Great. It spent a day in the garage only to be told it was a major job and needed open heart surgery on the electrics behind the dashboard. It goes in fro surgery this week
I then broke my glasses as i took them off to have a shower. Not just a partially broken but properly irretrivably broken in a frame snapped kind of way. I discovered that my only spare pair that i could find about a hundred years old. the snow has made getting about a bit difficult so it has taken until this weekend to get to the optometrist to order a new pair. being variable coke bottle lenses these take a week to fush glass that thick so i am still walking around with a constant low grade headache from the out of date prescription.
As you have probably been reading the unusually cold weather has made life a wee bit awkward. The cold isnt actually the problem. Gloves and a hat do wonders. The problem is the ice on the pavements and side roads. The crisp snow quickly gets compacted into a bumpy icy lethal surface. Just walking to the bus stop becomes a slow trecherous task. The car goes fine on the main road that has been gritted and then gently slides gracefully from side to side on the last half mile of ungritted side roads. This lasted a week. A week where we didnt go out much and didnt feel much like getting back into life back home.
Thankfully today it has rocketed up to 2oC and much of the snow has melted so walking around and driving are much less trecherous. Long may these balmy climes continue
No our problems started on the drive back to our house when Sonya's dad who was driving mentioned in passing that our central heating had stopped working. What? For how long had the central heating been off we asked? I'm not sure perhaps a week he said! A week of temperatures well below freezing! We are not quite sure why he didnt mention it earlier when we could have told him about the insurance cover we have and where to find the telephone number for an engineer or why he didn't put an electric heater on to warm up the house even a little. Things just went downhill from there.
The house was indeed freezing; almost quite literally. And yes the central heating was well and truly not working. All we had was an oil filled electric radiator for the whole house. No hot water and no heating. That night it was -3oC. We sent the kids round to their Dad's house and we slept fully clothed under 5 duvets. It took us two days to get an engineer out to fix the boiler.
The microwave also decided to stop working at this point. This however was not quite shock it may have been as it had been dying a slow death for many months.
We then discovered that the front windscreen demister in the car had stopped working. Anyone who has tried to demist a windscreen in very cold temperatures knows it almost impossible if you cant get the heater to blow hot air on the windscreen. The car can also become undrivable as you cant see a damn thing through the misted up windscreen. The heater was working; the fan was working. It would blow warm air onto our face just not onto the windscreen. Great. It spent a day in the garage only to be told it was a major job and needed open heart surgery on the electrics behind the dashboard. It goes in fro surgery this week
I then broke my glasses as i took them off to have a shower. Not just a partially broken but properly irretrivably broken in a frame snapped kind of way. I discovered that my only spare pair that i could find about a hundred years old. the snow has made getting about a bit difficult so it has taken until this weekend to get to the optometrist to order a new pair. being variable coke bottle lenses these take a week to fush glass that thick so i am still walking around with a constant low grade headache from the out of date prescription.
As you have probably been reading the unusually cold weather has made life a wee bit awkward. The cold isnt actually the problem. Gloves and a hat do wonders. The problem is the ice on the pavements and side roads. The crisp snow quickly gets compacted into a bumpy icy lethal surface. Just walking to the bus stop becomes a slow trecherous task. The car goes fine on the main road that has been gritted and then gently slides gracefully from side to side on the last half mile of ungritted side roads. This lasted a week. A week where we didnt go out much and didnt feel much like getting back into life back home.
Thankfully today it has rocketed up to 2oC and much of the snow has melted so walking around and driving are much less trecherous. Long may these balmy climes continue
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