Gentlefolk,
A quick post to cover the first half of September, before we head off to Bali.
Vera had another operation, just day surgery this time, but it seems they still haven't got it all and she will have another procedure at the end of October.
Jay-Jay walking with much more confidence now - what a difference a couple of weeks make!
In the Women's Final of the US Tennis Open, Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4. It was notable for Serena's "dummy spit" and arguing with the umpire - not behaviour one expects from such a champion.
Novak Djokovic won the Men's Final to claim his 14th Major!
Herewith photos of some of the activities in which we were engaged in the first half of September 2018:
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| We had dinner with Zhao De Hai. We knew him when he was a student at UPC in Qingdao, and is now doing a PhD in Computer Science at the ANU. A fine young man, he has adjusted well to life in Canberra. |
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| A concert by the ANU's Chinese Classical Music Ensemble at the High Court. |
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| We met up with Lisa Lee who has just started work at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra. She is a distant relative of Vera's. |
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| Lunch in Bungendore with old friends, from left: David Evans, Paul Flint, Chris Creswell and me. They were all at my farewell dinner in January 1972, before I left for my first overseas posting at the Australian Embassy, Jakarta. |
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| A provocative talk at AIIA by Dr Clive Hamilton. He spoke of the need to be aware of growing Chinese influence in aspects of Australian life - methinks a little alarmist. |
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| The launch of his latest book of Poems (Moonlight over Magnolia) at the National Library by Paul Hetherington. |
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| Back to Sydney for a few days to help with the kids while Caroline was in Indonesia at the factory. |
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| Eddie and Jay-Jay engrossed in a YouTube video on Vera's phone. We marvel at how their experience as little kids is so different to how we grew up 70 years ago. |
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| Vera with Little Jay-Jay. In the two weeks since we last saw her, when she just started walking, she is much more confident now. |
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| Here Andrew is getting Jay-Jay ready for her swim class. |
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| Andrew with Jay-Jay and Eddie at their weekly swim classes. |
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| The swimming pool at the Indigenous Sports Centre, George Street Redfern, where the kids go for swim and soccer classes. A good facility, it is a 20 minute walk from their apartment in Surry Hills. |
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| One day we took the kids down to Darling Harbour, a 25 minute walk from their apartment. Chased seagulls, played in the park, then we took a ferry around to Circular Quay and back to Central by train. Lots of different activities. |
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| Lot of development at Boorangaroo. |
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| Under the Harbour Bridge, past the Opera House to Circular Quay. |
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| Docking at Circular Quay, with a view of a section of the Central Business District. |
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| Dinner at the Harmonie German Club to farewell my sister Angie who is going to France for 6 weeks. From left: Peter Carey, Sasha Idini, Aniko Carey, Vera, Angie, and me. |
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| Another talk at AIIA, by a visiting professor of journalism. She painted a dismal picture of President Trump's activities especially in relation to the main-stream media which he despises and never tires of criticising. |
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We are off to Bali for 3 weeks; my next post will be after our return in early October.
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Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Alex Olah and Vera Olah
Canberra, Australia
Friday 14 September 2018
