Post #167 30 March 2018

Gentlefolk,

This post covers the period 16 - 30 March 2018.

We spent a week in Sydney helping Andrew with the kids while Caroline was visiting the factory in Indonesia - Vera very busy (while I was very much in a supporting role). Gave us a chance to connect with the kids, Eddie now 4 and Jay just 1 year old: uber-cute.

President Trump continued to dominate the news: replaced his National Security Adviser, General H R McMaster with Ambassador John Bolton (via twitter!); replaced VA Secretary David Shulkin with White House physician Admiral Dr Ronny Jackson; foreshadowed punitive tariffs on a range of imports from China; Stormy Daniels and others described relationships; expressed direct criticism (via twitter) of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

President Putin was reelected for another 6 years - surprised?  Britain (and other countries) expelled Russian diplomats in response to the Skripal nerve-agent incident in Salisbury.

Am reading Part 1 of Kevin Rudd's autobiography "Not for the faint-hearted" published last year.  From growing up on a small farm to becoming Prime Minister - an incredible story. We both worked at the Australian Embassy in Beijing 1985 - 86. Kevin was in the Political Section and I was in the Trade Section; our paths didn't cross too often but he was impressive even then.  His time as PM was cut short (the subject of Part 2) which I thought was a great pity - he had a vision of a better Australia.

On 18 March the blog passed 20,000 hits - a milestone!

Here are some photos of things we got involved with during this fortnight.

Canberra band "Super Rats" playing Romanian folk music at Smith's Alternative on Friday 16 March.  It was a bit like Hungarian gypsy music - ranges from lively to melancholy. Smith's is a great little music place in Canberra City, cafe by day and then a 50-seat music venue at night.

Lunch for Vera's birthday, from left: Ami Spinks, Ibu Supomo; me; Tony Spinks; Vera; and Demsi. Lovely friends.

On Saturday night 17 March I went to the Brumbies Super Rugby first home game with Paul Nicoll. After suffering a couple of losses they had a good win, 24 - 17, over the Durban Sharks.  Here winger Henry Speight is signing autographs for fans after the game. While the Brumbies have been the best Australian side in recent years we have not started well and the Melbourne Rebels look like usurping our spot this year.

The Annual General Meeting of the Australian Indonesian Families Association was held at Ketut Nanik Clynes' place in Monash on Sunday 18 March.  First a delicious lunch (the Indons have their priorities right!) then the formalities.  It is a fun group which organises a number of social events during the year for the Indonesian community.  Ketut Nanik Clynes will be the President again (she did a great job last year); Vera was elected to serve on the 2018 AIFA Committee (I am on the Committee of the Australia China Friendship Society, so we will both be doing our bit).

Vera & I spent 20 - 27 March in Sydney to help Andrew with the kids while Caroline was in Indonesia.  Here are Vera and Andrew in front of the kids' Day Care Center; they are there Monday to Thursday from about 9.30am to 5.30pm.

  Andrew and Caroline have leased a shop at 322 Crown Street, Surry Hills - a big commitment, but they needed somewhere to display the Reddie range of furniture (www.reddie.com.au). Unusual neighbours: a pizza joint on one side and a Caribbean bar on the other!  The first 6 weeks has been a steep learning curve, but early indications are positive (fingers crossed!). Operating a small business is challenging and we admire Andrew & Caroline for having a go. 

Andrew having a snack inside his shop.

Andrew describing the Reddie furniture range to Vera and our friend Michael Kramer (just back from a trip to South America). 

Jay and Eddie relaxing at home.

We took Eddie and Jay-jay over the road to Prince Alfred Park for a picnic.

Eddie attends a 'learn-to-swim' class at the pool in Prince Alfred Park.  Afterwards we walked down to Redfern for his soccer class.

On our return from soccer training Eddie and I watched this rally by citizens concerned about the environment. The organisers claimed 10,000 people participated (seemed fewer to me).  They marched from Town Hall up to Prince Alfred Park where there were speeches and music.

One of the interesting floats in the procession.

About 30 farmers on horseback participated in the rally.  This guy rode down to the stage and gave an impassioned plea to do more to save the environment.  Something spooked his horse which reared up he almost fell off.

Music was provided by the Bushwhackers Band - good sound - Eddie was embarrassed by my dancing.

One of the other horses in the rally.  

We caught up with old friends, Carole and Rob Hodge, over lunch at a Chinese restaurant.  We first met them back in 1985 when Rob was doing business in China and I was in the Trade Section of the Embassy.  Carole works in the International Students Department of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She said that UTS has about 14,000 foreign students, mainly from China and India.  

This is the restaurant where we had lunch.  It is on Broadway, not far from UTS. Good food, and relatively inexpensive - lots of young Chinese (presumably students) there.

Some of the dishes on offer at this restaurant.

Back to Canberra - a group of friends have lunch every Wednesday, from left: Neale Emanuel, Noel Cock, me, David Evans (the other regular is Paul Flint, but he was away). We go to different restaurants every week;  life is so busy that a regular commitment like this is a good way to keep in touch.

March 29, a photo with Geoff Baker who presented the U3A course on "Napoleon".  This was the last of 8 lectures.  Geoff is a great lecturer, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and brought Napoleon "to life" for the class.   An amazing story: from growing up in isolated Corsica, Napoleon became a General (in the French artillery) by the age of 25, and five years later crowned himself Emperor of France!  He was a military genius, but he was finally beaten by the Russian winter (same thing happened to Hitler). I'm really enjoying the range of study offered by the University of the Third Age.

The view from our balcony.  A bit hard to tell, but the leaves on the trees are starting to turn.  Autumn has arrived - cool nights, down to a chilly minimum of 2C last night; but the days are still very pleasant with maximums in the mid 20sC. Another month and Canberra's maximums will be ten degrees less.

...

Well, that's it for this post.

The National Folk Festival is on in Canberra over this (Easter) long-weekend.  We would normally attend (wonderful music) but are preparing for our trip to Iran.  We are going with a group organised by the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA).  Vera is concerned about personal security, but I'm confident it will be OK. I've been doing some background reading, and am really looking forward to experiencing ancient Persian culture (although it is now labelled a "rogue state" by some).

There won't be time to do any posts while we are away; will catch up when we are back in Canberra at the beginning of May.

Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Vera & Alex Olah
Canberra, Australia
Friday 30 March 2018