On the other hand there are some events that make one feel good. On Friday, I visited my specialist cardiologist in Newcastle and he thought I would make a full recovery. I presume that means returning to what I was doing before my cardiac problems. He said I could go to the US in June, though pointed out that there may be risks in a long flight.
As you can imagine, welcome news is most refreshing, and I've just spent a weekend with a spring in my step. In fact, I have a busy day at work tomorrow, with at least three four mainly research meetings! And, today, numerous people we met at the monthly Armidale markets commented on how well I looked.
AS
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Old and Decrepit
If there's one thing to age a person more than anything else, it is to mark a long-standing anniversary. Today sees one such event. It is over 40 years since I was at John Brown's shipyard at Clydebank to see the launch of the QE II. By good fortune, I was able to secure a ticket for the launch and was standing close to the drag-chains about mid-way along the length of the ship and more or less 'under' the hull. If you haven't been to a launch, it's an exciting spot to be, especially with a vessel the size of the QE II.
I won't dwell further on that experience, but rather fast forward to 2008. This marks two events, the 30th anniversary of the ship's first visit to Australia and the last visit she'll make exactly now. And, at this precise moment, the Queen Victoria will pass the QE II at Fort Dennison in Sydney Harbour outward bound aftter her first visit to Australia. The timing is, of course, not accidental, but rather is a great advertisement for Cunard and an occasion for Sydney-siders to take to the water in a flotilla of small craft to celebrate both ships.
AS
I won't dwell further on that experience, but rather fast forward to 2008. This marks two events, the 30th anniversary of the ship's first visit to Australia and the last visit she'll make exactly now. And, at this precise moment, the Queen Victoria will pass the QE II at Fort Dennison in Sydney Harbour outward bound aftter her first visit to Australia. The timing is, of course, not accidental, but rather is a great advertisement for Cunard and an occasion for Sydney-siders to take to the water in a flotilla of small craft to celebrate both ships.
AS
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Ark Building
Australia is the dry continent? Wrong! Sometimes it gets very wet - like 2007/08. A day ago, the Central Queensland city of Mackay had a quick shower - well, it only lasted 6 hours. It also dumped 600mm of rain, or 24 inches, during that time and the town went under. Dot's cousin Stan lives there and we received an email message from him two days ago before the event. We don't know if he has lost his home or not.
We also own a coal loader at Dalrymple Bay just north of Mackay, but have yet to hear if it was damaged! Maybe Australia should start some programs in Ark building. It could even come in useful in Armidale, despite our being 3200 feet asl. Three days ago it poured here and the town was cut in two.
AS
We also own a coal loader at Dalrymple Bay just north of Mackay, but have yet to hear if it was damaged! Maybe Australia should start some programs in Ark building. It could even come in useful in Armidale, despite our being 3200 feet asl. Three days ago it poured here and the town was cut in two.
AS
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Airborne Again
With the permission of a couple of doctors I've returned to flying without any ill-effects. Over the last 5 days, Dot and I have been to Brisbane via Sydney, she for recreation and seeing friends and relatives, and me for 'work'. Dot thinks the work is forbidden by one of my specialists because it causes stress. However, doing nothing or very little is lot more stressful!
Well, I'm now less than 2 weeks away from a visit to my main specialist at John Hunter base hospital in Newcastle, a pleasant 4 hour drive away. I am quietly hopeful that restrictions on my driving and cycling will be finally lifted and I'll be spared taking a lot of pills. They're an annoying bind.
By the way, we cannot fly direct to Brisbane (450km away). So we travel via Sydney (500 + 800 = 1300 km). If you think this is stupid, it is.
AS
Well, I'm now less than 2 weeks away from a visit to my main specialist at John Hunter base hospital in Newcastle, a pleasant 4 hour drive away. I am quietly hopeful that restrictions on my driving and cycling will be finally lifted and I'll be spared taking a lot of pills. They're an annoying bind.
By the way, we cannot fly direct to Brisbane (450km away). So we travel via Sydney (500 + 800 = 1300 km). If you think this is stupid, it is.
AS
Rain
Well, the weather has been exceptionally soggy. It's rained and rained, which reminds me of the following poem:
It rained and rained and rained
The average fall was well maintained
And when the tracks were simply bogs
It started raining cats and dogs
After a drought of half and hour
We had a most refreshing shower
And then the most curious thing
of all – a gentle rain began to fall
Next day but one was fairly dry
Save for one deluge from the sky
Which wetted the party to the skin
And then at last the rain set in.
This summer has been disastrous for those looking for sun and warmth! After many parts of Australia had been in drought for as much as 5-10 years, an El Nina has arrived with its constellation of storms. Empty dams are filling fast and long-standing water restrictions are being lifted. Armidale was hardly affected by the drought and we have a succession of fairly normal seasons, but we haven't been spared a soggy summer. With the best part of February to go we've had about 260 mm (over 10 inches) since the official start of summer on the 1st December.
AS
It rained and rained and rained
The average fall was well maintained
And when the tracks were simply bogs
It started raining cats and dogs
After a drought of half and hour
We had a most refreshing shower
And then the most curious thing
of all – a gentle rain began to fall
Next day but one was fairly dry
Save for one deluge from the sky
Which wetted the party to the skin
And then at last the rain set in.
This summer has been disastrous for those looking for sun and warmth! After many parts of Australia had been in drought for as much as 5-10 years, an El Nina has arrived with its constellation of storms. Empty dams are filling fast and long-standing water restrictions are being lifted. Armidale was hardly affected by the drought and we have a succession of fairly normal seasons, but we haven't been spared a soggy summer. With the best part of February to go we've had about 260 mm (over 10 inches) since the official start of summer on the 1st December.
AS
Friday, 1 February 2008
The Ides of March
Last week, I equated country music and purgatory. We'll, things are looking up.
Yesterday we booked for an event that is fast becoming a cultural highlight of the year: Opera in the Paddock. Imagine some of Australia's best opera singers and an orchestra assembled in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere! Imagine, too, them singing a selection of some of the best known arias and passages in the opera repertoire.
This unlikely scenario unfolds on the Ides of March on a cattle property about 160 km from Armidale which is the ancestral seat of one of the principal singers in the Australian Opera Company. The little nearby town, Delungra, has a population of 320, so it's not quite in the same league as Bayreuth.
It takes place at dusk and I can imagine that it will be quite magical listening to opera in the dark under the stars. The main band of Milky Way - best seen from the southern hemisphere - will be overhead. Facilities are not up to even Bayreuth's creaky standards and the audience has to take along its own seating. I'm not sure about the acoustics either given that the concert hall is, well, open to the skies and the floor consists of grass. I wonder also what the back-up is in the case of rain!
The program includes works by Handel, duets from Bellini's I Puritiani and Norma, O Star of Eve from Wagner's Tannhauser, Puccini's Che Gelida Manina (La Boheme), Verdi's Ah Forse lui (La Traviata), and selections from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess.
AS
Yesterday we booked for an event that is fast becoming a cultural highlight of the year: Opera in the Paddock. Imagine some of Australia's best opera singers and an orchestra assembled in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere! Imagine, too, them singing a selection of some of the best known arias and passages in the opera repertoire.
This unlikely scenario unfolds on the Ides of March on a cattle property about 160 km from Armidale which is the ancestral seat of one of the principal singers in the Australian Opera Company. The little nearby town, Delungra, has a population of 320, so it's not quite in the same league as Bayreuth.
It takes place at dusk and I can imagine that it will be quite magical listening to opera in the dark under the stars. The main band of Milky Way - best seen from the southern hemisphere - will be overhead. Facilities are not up to even Bayreuth's creaky standards and the audience has to take along its own seating. I'm not sure about the acoustics either given that the concert hall is, well, open to the skies and the floor consists of grass. I wonder also what the back-up is in the case of rain!
The program includes works by Handel, duets from Bellini's I Puritiani and Norma, O Star of Eve from Wagner's Tannhauser, Puccini's Che Gelida Manina (La Boheme), Verdi's Ah Forse lui (La Traviata), and selections from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess.
AS
Rebecca and Max
I'm only two weeks late, but I should report a flying visit by Beck and Max. They spent four days with us ... and Emily and it was great to have the family back together in the house where they spent their early years. We shouldn't forget that Max spent the first 18 months of his life here, and when he comes back he immediately slots back into the groove.
The weather wasn't good for this time year - cool and wet - but Max happily rotated from one park and its play equipment to another, visited cafes and shopping centres, and 'helped' in the garden with watering and digging.
I hope we can visit Canberra for Easter because we cannot bear to be separated from Max (and Beck) for too long.
AS
The weather wasn't good for this time year - cool and wet - but Max happily rotated from one park and its play equipment to another, visited cafes and shopping centres, and 'helped' in the garden with watering and digging.
I hope we can visit Canberra for Easter because we cannot bear to be separated from Max (and Beck) for too long.
AS
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