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) 

Post #135 1 April 2017

Gentlefolk,

This post describes Christmas 2016 in Canberra.

School holidays had started, so Jennifer and the three boys flew down from Brisbane on Sunday 18 December 2016 to have a few days with us before Xmas; Tom worked a few more days and then drove down, arriving in Canberra on Friday 23 December. His father Richard accompanied him on the drive down.

My parents being of European background we've always celebrated on Xmas Eve (ie the night of 24 December), and we have maintained that tradition.

At 6pm on 24 December we all gathered at my niece's home.  First drinks, then "bersherung" (exchange of gifts), followed by dinner.  Later we sang Xmas carols.  At about 11pm we headed home (in the 'old days' we'd all troop off to Midnight Mass - always a special occasion - but no more, too  many young kids and there's not much religious zeal left anyway).

Xmas Day, 25 December, Jen & Tom & boys went to Tom's brother's place at Wamboin (near Bungendore) outside Canberra for a family gathering.

Here are some photos of Xmas and the days either side.

Jen & boys arrived on Sunday afternoon.  That evening we went to Christmas Carols in Telopea Park  (about 15 min walk from our apartment) organised by the Kingston Baptist Church.  It was a cool night, but a lovely setting under the trees. I hoped that the carols would get us into the spirit of  Christmas, and they did.

A closer view of the Baptist Church choir.  They sang Christmas carols accompanied by a small orchestra.  It was all very laid-back and simple and lovely.

The Church put on a BBQ - free sausages, onions and bread - which the boys loved. That was real Xmas spirit!!!

I used to take the bus home from Canberra City after my teaching was finished.  Canberra has quite an extensive bus service, but it is not well patronised.  Canberra is spread out and a car is really the only convenient way to get around.  The bus service is fine if you live in a hub area (as we do), but otherwise a car is much better.  I normally took the bus between 6 and 7pm, what I regarded as still "peak hour" but there were rarely more than a dozen people on the bus.  What a contrast to China, where buses are cheap and frequent, and usually full. This bus driver dressed up for Christmas, and decorated his bus. Really got into the Xmas spirit - great work, wish more people had that interest.

Dinner at the Chinese Dumpling House restaurant in Civic; an amazing array of different dumplings. The restaurant is very popular.

After the Dumpling Restaurant we had gelato icecreams for dessert.  Yummy.

We visited the War Memorial in Campbell.  It is a fine museum, which records Australia's participation in wars. Fortunately we've never had a war in Australia itself, all have been overseas.  Our first military involvement was in the Maori Battles in New Zealand in the 1880s.  Later we sent troops to fight in Sudan,  and then in the Boer War in South Africa.  We were always staunch supporters of Britain, the "mother country".

Lots of guns, cannons and even WW2 aeroplanes at the War Museum. Almost everyone I've met who has actually experienced war (on either side) talks of the horror of war - the destruction and killing and maiming - but that doesn't come across here. Perhaps understandably, that sentiment doesn't come across at this museum, rather war seems to be glamorised through heroism and mateship.

One of the many interesting displays at the War Memorial,

There was even an actual helicopter which kids can 'fly'.

On the Honour Wall, the boys found relatives on the Roberts side who had fallen in battle.

Andrew, Caroline and Little Eddie arrived from Melbourne in time for Xmas Eve.  Here is Andrew doing some last minute shopping.

Relaxing on our balcony, from left: Caroline, Tom, Andrew and Jen.  There were ten people staying in our apartment for a couple of nights - bodies everywhere, but fun.

The Xmas Tree at Britt's place - the base was covered by presents a meter high.  Britt did a great job preparing the event. She hoped that people would spill into her small garden, but a violent storm passed through Canberra at about 5pm which meant the outside areas were too wet.  She cleaned out her garage which was occupied by the kids, and the adults were in the living room & kitchen - a squeeze, but actually made it more 'homely'.

Andrew talking to Liz and Richard (they were married a month earlier - see previous post).

Your truly getting into the spirit of things, with Sasha (Angie's daughter) and Angie (my sister).

Jen, Liz, Richard and Sasha.

The kids handed out the presents, always an exciting time.

Later we sang Xmas carols.  From left: Adrienne (Aniko's daughter), Sasha, Ghislaine, Angie and her grandson Dejon (aka Tui).  It was a really nice night.  Everyone brought "a plate" so there was lots of delicious food and drink. Xmas is really all about getting together with the extended family.  

The next morning, Xmas Day, we all had breakfast on our balcony before the Roberts left to join Tom's parents and brother (Marty) and sister (Fiona) for a traditional Aussie Xmas Day.  From left: Sid, Tom, Kurt and Jen.

That afternoon we went down to the Canberra Yacht Club.  A very relaxing time -  you can see Andrew and Davide (Sasha's husband) stretched out on the blankets with their sons Eddie and Oscar. 

The picturesque surroundings at the Canberra Yacht Club on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.  Lots of sea gulls looking for hand-outs from picnickers.  Look at the beautiful, clear, blue sky - it was a lovely summers day.

On 'Boxing Day' (the day after Xmas Day - also a public holiday in Australia) we were all invited for brunch at Marty and Simone's farm near Bungendore.

The following day Jen & Tom and the boys went to Broulee on the South Coast to Tom's parents place, and Andrew & Caroline and Eddie went back to Sydney (and then on to Hong Kong).

So ended another Xmas - it was great to have our kids and grandkids in Canberra, and to 'christen' our apartment.

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Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
Canberra, Australia
April 1, 2017
(actually, we are in Hong Kong at the moment to see our new grand daughter - Jay Milton Olah - she is gorgeous!!!)