Post #190 30 April 2019

Gentlefolk,

This post describes some of the activities in which we were involved during April 2019.

First, some international events of note this month.

Terrorist bombs in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday killed 250+ and injured over 500; Christians targeted. Awful tragedy; senseless killing.

Extensive floods in Iran during March and April after years of drought; many died, homes destroyed. The USA announced tightening of economic sanctions on Iran, to the chagrin of China, India, South Korea, and Turkey who want to continue to import oil from Iran; no one likes being pushed around.

Crashes in Indonesia (October 2018) and Ethiopia (March 2019) of the new Boeing 737 MAX jet point to a software problem with this new aircraft.

After seven years refuge Julian Assange, leader of Wikileaks, was arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London when his asylum status was revoked.

Fire gutted 850 year old Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris; immediate announcement that the Cathedral will be rebuilt.

Eldrick Tont (Tiger) Woods won the Masters Tournament; his 5th Masters and 15th golf Major (3 behind Jack Nicklaus). Huge adoring crowds. Tiger's back!

The Washington Post's Fact Checker estimated that President Trump made 10,000 "false or misleading statements" since his inauguration. Unbelievable???? But nothing seems to deter him.

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The following are photos of some of the activities in which we participated during April 2019:

I took Caroline and Andrew to Sydney International Airport for their business trip to Indonesia and Singapore 31 March - 7 April, while we looked after the kids.  

Jay-Jay (2 years old) and Eddie (5) sharing a chair.

One of the busiest intersections in Sydney, on the corner of Elizabeth & Foveau Streets, Surry Hills. I enjoyed watching the crowd while Vera shopped at the Woolies Metro store.  It is amazing how multi-racial Sydney is these days: I would say about 40% of people passing here were Asian (mainly Chinese).  Unusually for Sydney, it was a very foggy morning with visibility less than one km - you can just make out the Central Station Tower in the background - Sydney Airport was closed for a couple of hours.

One day we visited the new Barangaroo area, on the city side from Darling Harbour.  Lots of high buildings, office and residential, a bit of a 'concrete jungle' fortunately softened by the Harbour.  It was a nice day, so we walked around the foreshore Reserve to Circular Quay (about 4 kms) which took us under the Harbour Bridge.

Saw this "Super Yacht" moored near the Hyatt Hotel (note the Opera House in the distance).

We passed several Chinese couples taking wedding photos on the harbour foreshore.  This is a common sight in China, but we hadn't realised that Sydney has become a popular destination.

The kids' Day Care Centre is in Riley Street, Surry Hills, about 15 minutes walk from their apartment.  The route is along Devonshire Street where the new Light Rail will go.  It has been a construction site for the best part of two years, but now this section is finished (still a few months before the Light Rail is operational).  Nice to have the sidewalks back!

Our route to Day Care goes along this laneway.

Eddie has a tennis lesson on Friday afternoons - he carries the racquet with pride.

Saturday mornings are busy, with both kids in soccer and swimming classes. 

Jay-Jay taking a nap after soccer and swimming.

Prince Alfred park, across from their apartment, is great for relaxation.

This trapeze artist was practicing tight-rope walking at the Park; something always going on.

Eddie was delighted with this present when Caroline and
Andrew returned from their trip.  Eddie loves puzzles and Lego, and lately Uno cards.

Eddie with the final result.

Andrew and Jay farewelled us at Sydney's Central Station for our train back to Canberra.

We visited good friend Bob Stoddard who was in hospital recovering from a back operation.

Book launch at the Asia Bookroom. Author Hugh Tyndale-Biscoe spoke about his grandfather who was a missionary in Kashmir, India. 

The ACT Brumbies played the Johannesburg Lions on 13 April (Rugby Union); we won 31 - 20,only our 3rd win this season. Disappointing crowd of about 7,000.

Annual Brass Band concert at Hall, on the outskirts of Canberra.

A singer accompanied the Brass Band.

Part of the audience of the Brass Band concert.

Impressive collection of instruments.

My sister Aniko Carey with her gorgeous granddaughter Hanna.

We are now half-way through the U3A course "Why is it so?" I am on the organising committee, together with Beresford (Stocky) Stock, Christine Wilson, Victor Isaacs, Neale Emanuel and Ian Copeland. Actually, there was a hiccup in the April 18 session: Dr Collignon didn't make it and I had to step in and fill the void!  I spoke for about 90 minutes, comparing the USA and China in terms of economy and geography.  It all turned out alright (I think!?).

The China Friendship Society hosted a film screening of "The Road Home" (2000) a romantic drama set in a village in North China.  The director was acclaimed Zhang Yi Mou; unknown Zhang Zi Yi (no relation) was in the lead role, and became a household name.

Andrew's family and Caroline's parents spent Easter with us in Canberra, from left: Vera, Jay-Jay, Andrew, me, Eddie, Caroline, Paul, and Niniek.  In Australia the Easter holidays extend over four days: started with Good Friday on 19 April and ended with Easter Monday on 22 April. We were blessed with perfect autumn weather; it was a fun time.

On Friday we went to Weston Park to see the kangaroos and watch some of the National Dragon-Boat Championships.

A huge full-moon rising over Kingston Foreshore.

Fish & chips lunch at the Yacht Club.

Big family lunch at the Southern Cross Club Jamison, followed by an easter egg hunt; from left: Jay-jay (partly obscured), Davide Idini, Nouvie, Niniek, Vera, Britt Labutte, and Andrew. 

Happy Easter egg hunters, from left: Leilani, Bonnie, Oscar, Tui, Eddie, and Nouvie.

Thai-style minced pork salad for lunch, or...

Crumbed lamb chops. Yummy.

After lunch on Easter Sunday Andrew invited Eddie, Paul and me to the Canberra Raiders vs Brisbane Broncos Rugby League game at Canberra Stadium.  The Raiders led 14 - 4 at half-time, then the Broncos took the lead but the Raiders bounced back to win 26 - 22. Exciting finish.

Eddie at his first Rugby League game.

Paul Milton with Jay-jay - she is fascinated by mobile phones! Paul and I played a round of golf at RMC Golf Club.

The view from our balcony - autumn colours, falling leaves. The weather in April has been wonderful: warm days, cool nights.

Vera changing Jay-jay's diaper.  Vera's hair is starting to grow again after the chemo; she has started to go out without a 'turban' - looks kinda punky but good - a big step in her recovery.

The kids joined Andrew in stretching after he had been out for a run.

Caroline with Eddie and Jay.  And so ended a most enjoyable Easter, surrounded by family.  The apartment was crowded with six additional people, but we managed.

Australia's Remembrance/Memorial Day is called ANZAC Day and is celebrated with a public holiday on 25 April each year.  It commemorates the Australia New Zealand Army Corps which fought against the Ottoman Empire at Gallipoli in 1915, during WW1. When that campaign was unsuccessful, the Aussie troops were transferred to the trenches of the Western Front. Over 60,000 Australians died during WW1 (compared to about 40,000 in WW2).

I attended the Dawn Service on ANZAC Day, which took place in front of the Australian War Memorial from 5.30 - 6am; a moving ceremony. I was surprised at the size of the crowd, reported at over 30,000 but difficult to verify because it was dark. Fortunately not too cold, the temperature was about 10C (next weekend the minimum temperature is forecast to be down to zero C). 

Another part of the crowd.  Dawn was breaking as this ceremony finished. A larger ceremony was scheduled for 10.30am with marching bands/troops and groups of veterans.

We went to a concert of Hungarian folk music by visiting group, Tokos Zenekar.  An hour of listening followed by an hour of dancing.  Great fun.

Dancing the csardas to Hungarian band.

Exhibition of Chinese Art (Calligraphy and Paintings) at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

The Australia Indonesia Families Association (AIFA) organised a cruise on Lake Burley Griffin.

Part of the group on the cruise.  

After the cruise, Vera & I had a look at the Canberra Dutch Society's annual fair which was held nearby.

Professor Manning Clark (1915 - 1991) was one of the early academics who wrote on Australian history.  His family home at 11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest, now has heritage listing as it is an good example of the work of Architect Robin Boyd.  On 29 April we participated in a tour of the House.

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Vera continues her good recovery from breast cancer; she is back at the gym and her hair has started to grow again.  All good.

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Three short books this month:

"Village of Stone", by Guo Xiao Lu (in translation). The heroine, Coral Jiang (29), visits the fishing village where she grew up and now comes to terms with several emotional hangups. How poor / simple life village was only a generation ago.

"An Australian Story 1837 - 1907", by Maie Casey (1962); she discusses for generations of her extended family; an interesting description of upper-class life in Victoria/early Melbourne.  Maie Casey was a pioneer aviator, poet, author and artist. In 1926 she married RG Casey who later became the 16th Governor General of Australia (1965 - 69).

"Poll Dancing - the story of the 2007 general election campaign", by Mungo MacCallum (2007).  This was the election in which Kevin Rudd-led Labor defeated John Howard's Coalition (the sitting PM actually lost his seat!). There is an election campaign under way at the moment (election date is 18 May 2019) and it is depressing that dirty tricks, including outright lies and distortions, which were evident in 2007 are being repeated today.

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That's it for another month; one-third of the year has passed already, how time flies when you are having fun!  We will soon visit Brisbane to see Jen, Tom & boys.  My blog passed 30,000 page views, another milestone.

Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Vera Olah & Alex Olah
Canberra, Australia
Tuesday, 30 April 2019