2011 and counting

So, it seems that summer and spring are not quite what I remember!!
Me thinks there was more pure, sunny days in the winter last gone??
I am counting the days and will be quite well prepared for sorting out this deficit balance in the weather. Its just not cricket!!
I think I had the happiest/drunkest anesthetist on NYE2011,the poor fellow had to leave his place of merriment to administer my knockout drugs. The black and gooey appendix was extricated and I have been a different being ever since!!
I guess I should be happy not to be a statistic like Harry Houdini (he died) but I am not enjoying the abnormal feelings of post surgery one bit!
Feels like my liver is in my groin and my naval is located at least a metre west of where I remember it last. Ah the joys of post operation hernias and adhesions.
So, wobbling and shuffling around was a true joy and my seemingly snail like recovery is just a hoot.
On a much brighter note, Sienna and Molly are very happy with the new house we ae moving into in March and Flip is excited to see the sea from the balcony. I have become used to living in the small shoe-box that has been home for 8 months, I have reservations about the pure spotless environment that we are heading too. How will the spaghetti stains, weet-bix and the countless toilet accidents adhere to the new surroundings. Will the team lift and get the runny bits in the correct holes? I suspect the girls will delve into their nutritional requirements from the vantage of the luxury garden surroundings, eating all meals with the soft grass and stainless shrubs to caress the explosions of goop and incredibly resistant sauces as they haphazardly fly from missed mouths.

Something about moving that is both abhorrent and wonderful.
I love the tossing of old junk and getting rid of those pants that fit in high school.
But the actual process of dealing with the oddball property managers that seriously seem to carry on like the keepers of the crown jewels, so self absorbed in their illustrious role in society. A little like a lollipop man whose sense of power has bubbled over and he dreams of conducting the traffic on the autobahn.
Born to control!! None the less I managed to not sabotage the application process, the same process that required my grade four social science marks and sparkling crystal clear record of abstaining from all burping and farting in public spaces.


The sea views will be worth it... I will miss the box though.

Freycinet and the Tasman Peninsula and Cradle Mtn.

Has been a while I know, but we have done much.

Collingwood won the Grand Final, almost surreal for me.

Sienna and Molly are very much rascals and now head to little penguins child care twice a week. They both seem to love the social side of this and I certainly enjoy the freedom to get about solo, have even started playing Golf again.
Bicheno is getting warmer and the place seems to be swelling with visitors and people returning from warmer parts for our summer. We stayed at Cradle Mtn last week, was a reminder of the cold, but still pretty easy going. We all slept in the same room and pushed the double beds together to make a superdooper one, Ilistened to my girls snore all nite. Then a visit to spooky Port Arthur, such a beautiful part of the world, forever tainted with tragic happenings. We had a wicked tour guide who filled my head with stories of convicts past, lashings and escapees tales that had me roaring with laughter. The special prison designed to mentally suppress the bad guys, freaked me with its confinement cells and ugly history.
Wandered thru the special garden put in place to commemorate the people caught in the recent tragedy. That is the most sobering moment I have experienced for a long time. Still hard to believe.

We have been on lots of trips lately, showing the girls as much and doing as much as they can handle.
Feel like the Griswolds from the Vacation set.

Sienna turns 3

"Chocolate, strawberry, banana, their my favourites " she said.
Nice combination for a birthday cake I thought.
"I think I will have two birthdays" she said.
Many to come I thought.

Bicheno, infiniti and beyond

Today was simply wonderful.
Bicheno served up a beautiful warm blue day and my girls were all sorted at the Little Penguins child care centre.
A latte from the Bicheno bakery and off to the Bicheno Golf Club, my new track. Having heard my membership was accepted and I can now strut about the course with my sticks and balls.
Strollin about the course, checkin out the layout, but totally distracted by the countryside and the beautiful day. I heard myself whistling, I heard myself relax and I couldnt wipe the smile off my face.

Bicheno u are great!

Perception

PERCEPTION. . .Something To Think About.

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.
The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again..

10 minutes:A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly

45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.

The man collected a total of $32.10 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.

He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised:
*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.

How many other things are we missing?

Green Moments

Hitting greens is a statistic that my current profession aspire, practise and wish for.

But for me Hitting greens has become a way of rating experiences and memories.

I started this blog to record and share my "greens hit", so many times in my life I have hit a green moment and wandered on to the next challenge.

So maybe I might indulge and record these green moments as reflections.

My first Green begins at 40, a turkish delight cheesecake and the Gorge.

I like parties, with presents and singing.

Sienna likes presents, Oliver likes chocolate, Molly likes Mummy and Lucy is just great.