Post #136 2 April 2017

Gentlefolk,

This post shows photos of our activities in January 2017 (and a few from the end of December 2016).

One of the benefits of writing this blog is that brings back memories of some of the things we did.  There is usually so much going on that it is easy to forget if there is no record.

27 December 2016. From left: Heath McMichael with Reno and Fiona, Paul Milton, Vera me, Niniek, Andrew & Little Eddie.

Andrew & Vera in front of our apartment building.

Andrew & Paul about to leave Canberra to drive to Sydney.  Andrew & Caroline & Eddie will stay another week in Sydney before returning to Hong Kong.

On 29 December 2016 we drove to Narooma on the South Coast (about 2.5 hours from Canberra) to visit my sister Angie who lives there. She moved there from Canberra about 8 years ago. She is very active in the community - for example, she was President of the Rotary Club of Narooma 2 years ago.

A map of the South Coast of NSW. The drive from Canberra to Batemans Bay takes about 90 minutes, then turn south past Broulee, Moruya, Tuross and on to Narooma. 

View of Narooma - the name is from an Aboriginal word meaning "clear, blue water".  The first 6 holes of the Golf Course are along the cliffs - very picturesque, and challenging - then the course moves inland.  Narooma has a population of 2,400.  The Princes Highway, the main road along the coast between Sydney and Melbourne, goes through the town (the bridge across the river was built in 1930).

Angie on the back verandah of her house.  Nice view of the inlet in the distance. Richard Roberts had some oyster leases down there - finished up about 5 years ago.

A photo of the back of Angie's house, from the back deck which she added on a couple of years ago.

Angie took us to a local gallery to look at the arts and crafts on display (and sale).

Some of the arts & crafts on sale in the gallery. 

We had coffee in a cafe with nice views over the river and out to sea.  Narooma is a very nice coastal town.

On 31 December we stayed with Barbara and Richard Roberts at Broulee. Jen, Tom & boys were staying there.  New Years Eve was a fairly subdued event, in keeping with our advancing years, but nice to see the new year in with family and friends.

The very nice view from the front balcony of the Roberts' house - across the sand dunes to the ocean.

A protected little bay about 200 m from the Roberts house.  The water was still quite chilly, around 22C (the best time to surf on the South Coast is February / March).  Anyway, most of us dived in and had a swim.

New Years Day 1 January 2017. From left: Diane (Simone's mother), Sid and Jen on the beach.  The kids jumped in straight away, the adults took longer to get in the water.

After swimming, Barbara and Richard invited everyone for lunch on New Years Day.

After lunch, from left: Francesca, Marty,  Tessie's daughter, Kurt, Nate, Vera, Isaac.

Vera caught up with Kham, one of the account managers when she was working at MC Computer.   Kham has since started her own IT recruitment company and is doing very well.  She is married to Anthony and they have two children.

After buying the Subaru Forester in November we finally decided to sell our Subaru Outback H6.  It had given us great service since 2003, done 215,000 km.  We were sorry to part company, but one car was sufficient for our needs.

On Australia Day, 26 January 2017, Phil, Heath and I rode our bikes to Commonwealth Park for the Big Breakfast and entertainment..

Some of the crowd at Commonwealth Park, enjoying Australia Day.  It was all very laid-back and relaxed.  Afterwards I witnessed the Naturalisation Ceremony in which our Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, awarded Australian Citizenship to 20 families.  Similar ceremonies were held throughout Australia on this special day.

Australia Day, 26 January 2017.  A view of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, Regatta Point and the Captain Cook Fountain.  It was a lovely summers day. You can see the Army cannons which fired 21 gun salute during the official flag-raising ceremony.

That afternoon we attended a picnic held by the Australia - Indonesia Families Association (AIFA).  We have been members of this group for many years, and always enjoy their events, which are marked by good fellowship and delicious food.

Vera with Nanik Ketut Clynes at the AIFA picnic. Vera and Nanik are related, their families came from Singaraja on the north coast of Bali. 

Saturday 28 January 2017. To celebrate Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) we attended a dinner organised by the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS) at the China Tea Club restaurant in North Lyneham.  Here President Carol Keil is welcoming the guests.  It is an active group, with many interesting activities and an excellent monthly newsletter.

Vera and I at the ACFS function to celebrate Chinese New Year - the Year of the Rooster. 

31 January 2017. Vera wore traditional Indonesian dress to the farewell for the Indonesian Ambassador, HE Pak Najib. He and his wife were popular and there was a big turn-out.  Speeches and presentations, but also singing and laughter - a fun night.

Vera in traditional Indonesian dress.

On 6 February 2017 I attended a talk by Professor Geoffrey Blainey on the update of his book "A short history of Australia".  He is a gifted story-teller and held the audience spell-bound for more than an hour.  In the photo I am with Fred Cook who was a colleague when I worked at Parliament House 15 years ago.  Behind us Professor Blainey is signing books. I hadn't seen Fred for about 10 years - it was good to catch up.

On Sunday 5 February 2017 an A-League (Soccer) match was played in Canberra between Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide City.  There are very few opportunities to see top class football in Canberra so I went along to the game with two friends Simon and Paul.

At the soccer with friends Simon Pietrafita and Paul Nicoll.

Of course there was a much bigger event in the USA - the 51st Super Bowl.  Because of time differences, it started on TV here at 10.30 on Monday morning, 6 February.  I watched the game with a couple of friends at the Hellenic Club.  The New England Patriots played the Atlanta Falcons.  When the Falcons led 28 - 3 we thought it was all over.  But then Quarterback Tom Brady weaved some magic and made it 28 all at full time; the Patriots scored first in Extra Time, to win the game.

An amazing, unbelievable comeback by the Patriots.  Tom Brady, 39 years old, was MVP.  It was his 5th NFL Championship.  What a guy! (he was born the same day as our son, 3 August 1977 Tom in San Francisco and Andrew in Vancouver Canada).

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The next post will  describe our 3 week trip up to Queensland.

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Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah

Canberra, Australia

Sunday 2 April 2017

(actually, we are still visiting our son & his family in Hong Kong)