greetings from the south coast

Hi everyone,
Well what a shock to the system after wearing singlet and shorts, and swimming for a week in Darwin to get back to winter. Huge thanks to Mart and Claire for a wonderful week, I truly loved every minute of my time there! Im planning my next trip up with Moo and Jules next year if I dont get there before that. Im trying to persuade Hasi to go up for a year to work, but he's turned into a loyal Illawarra local!
My head and heart are in a much better shape after my trip, and I wont be leaving it for 5 months again before I have a break.In fact we were just tossing around a few ideas for a break in October...
Yes Annie Mum and I had a small soiree with the Salisbury girls while dad was galavanting up the north coast. It was a noisy night of laughter and chatter.
We have almost finished painting the outside of the house thanks to a grand effort by Hasi in his holidays. We started in december 2007, so the great thing is, in less that 2 years we are almost done!
Moo, Im sorry the summer isnt great in Wales, but the good thing about it is, Jules might be more keen to come to Oz in June/July?? even the water temperature is 18degrees! Im keeping my ears open for house minding, and Darwin is divine that time of year!
Enough, Ive got to make a cuppa a get settled for Grand Design- Claire hope you are still hooked, how was that amazing tyre house?
Love to you all
Zak

From the Top End

Hi All

I did a post the other night and managed to lose it all when trying to edit photos. Moo you're not the only one with floor problems. I managed to put my foot through the floor just outside our kitchen. Luckily Joe was available to get us out of the poo.....again.

It was a great months break. First Zac and the Skinny and later Robin. Skinny and I spent about 4 days out at Red Lily Billabong. I love going to places in kakadu where no one else goes. Skinny caught his first barra and later managed to bag an 80cm.

Unfortunately on the way home I managed to do two tyres which was a real shit as with only one spare I had to hitchhike 120km get a new tyre and hitch back. But you have to love our locals....... one who lived at Corroboree dropped a loaf of bread into his home and then took me the extra 70 kays to where Skinny was patiently waiting.

I have started my new job at Darwin High School. Petty hectic but it's good to be working with kids again. Buddy is getting bigger....and bigger ....and bigger. Will arrived yesterday for three weeks of trade school ( and so did one of his mates Josh) so we are bound to have some fun over the next couple of weekends.

Cheers
Marty

Greetings from wales

Hi All
Thanks Kev for posting my photo. I am having trouble with my computer and can't post photos until it is sorted. Have a few more photos I wanted to post but they will have to wait.
The day at the cricket was fabulous! We had a good spot - midway between the Fanatics and the Barmy Army. We were entertained by their banter as well as the action on the field. Well done to little Ricky Ponting for making 150. Hope our boys do better in the third test.
Jules has been doing some work on the house. He is trying to finish the room downstairs that you enter the house into. We looked at some flooring this week. Just need to spend some money now. I have had a good bit of work lately so we can afford a floor. Will make a huge difference to the house to have that done.
Not much else been happening here. The weather has been awful for summer - no surprise there. I have finally made a push back to the gym. Have been three times this week. Just need to keep it up. Hope everyone is well and happy.
Love to all. xxxx

Moo at the Cricket

Hi All,

Moo had her big day at the cricket at Cardiff where she desperately tried to catch the cameraman's attention. I watched till tea time on the day but she hadn't appeared. She took a photo and emailed it to me. Mum is so impressed that she wants it as our screen saver.

Marty has promised a few photos of his trip to the Kakadu with Luke. Jack and Fran and the boys are enjoying a week at Hat Head. Will they get any fish to brag about? Ron and I had a successful couple of days at Grafton for the Ramournie and the Cup. We won a horse in the Calcutta at the pub at which we stayed. The train trip up and back was long (10 hrs) but enjoyable and relaxing. Annie had a great couple of days with Mum. Kate organised a girlies' night with Aunty Kate, Brigid and Clare while Anne was here. I enjoyed cleaning up the left overs when I returned.

Hope you like the Moo photo. Notice the hat from the Cobargo Festival.

Love Kevin.

news from the capital

Hi all, will attempt to write something at 10.40 and after drinking white then red wine. I know its been a while but as there are a few teachers and one old retired one contributing you will know that the past few weeks have been a bugger. Went to wagga for a weekend (dads birthday) with the Da Rozas. We hadnt seen them for ages so we spent the weekend eating (of course!) and catching up. Stayed in a great place, Mum and Kate checked it out on the net. I didnt realise there was so much to do there. spent all day Saturday wandering, morning was the shops then the afternoon was spent at the art gallery, the glass gallery -absolutely amazing stuff and of course the museum. Had a great dinner with a dessert lovers dream (I wonder who the dessert lover could be!) three desserts on one plate, and the dessert lover didnt share with anyone. Sunday went to the Charles Sturt winery where we bought a few (12) bottles of wine. So we did spend Kevin Rudds money stimulating waggas economy. Unfortunately the weekend was over too soons and was back to work and reports. I then went to Brisbane on the first weekend of July for an IB (International baccalaureate) conference. Best PD Ive been on in years learnt heaps, but really full on , 8.30-4.30m for three days. Great food too ,I think Ii put on about five kilos in three days. Caught up with a friend from Bel canto (my choir) who left Canberra to go home to Brisbane. Hadnt seen her for 12 years. We had a great night, and she hasnt changed a bit. But then I had to come home for a PD on the first day of holidays. I think I slept a lot down the back. Rest of week spent going shopping. The girls were babysitting Clare and colins kids tues, wed thurs so Steve and I went out for lunch a couple of days as well as shopping. (Steve loved that!) Am headed for Sydney on monday to spend a week with Mum. My wonderful father (thanks again Dad) is picking me up from Strathfield station so I dont have to go all the way to Central and is dropping me back there sat morning for the early train. I will cook you dinner in Sydney to say thanks, dad. Have lots of musical stuff to read through and listen to the CD as we start to go into musical mode as soon as we get back to school. Am putting on a musical in term 4 so it will be go go go once I get back to school (who needs lunch anyway). Thats about it from me, of course I 'm looking forward to seeing Kate next week, looking forward to our girl 's night on thursday. I 'll have the champagne chilled. Moo did you watch torchwood children of the earth. Clare is in mourning over the death of Ianto. Marty. congrats on the new job hope youre having a great holiday. sounds like you and Claire had a good time with Kate. Hi Claire, are you enjoying the tour we're watching it right now and every night we watch it I think of you. I think thats finally it. will sign off now and finish my glass of red.