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.

More from the Top

Hi all,

Moo, I think you really have seen all of Wales now, Yes? Glad that the weather was good for your travels. What a piss off about Hayfever season starting again. I'll never forget that first summer I was there, my heart really goes out to you. Does that mean that local honey, is an urban myth?
Sunday evening and I have just returned from a walk with Buddy dog. Mart and Claire have friends from Alice here for dinner, so I'll give them time to catch up, while I write a few lines.
Today we went out in the harbour in the boat. Absolutely beautiful, the water was glassy, and there were only about another 3 boats in the harbour, nothing like the Georges river on a sunday dad. Mart and Claire had a bit of a fish-no luck, but I just took it all in.
The tides here are amazing. Of course Mart's got all the gadgets for the boat, even this thing that measures the depth of the water, which isnt a bad idea, when the tide starts going out. We went from 3metres deep to 1.2metres in about 20metres up one of the arms of the harbour.
I better sign off and go out and join the mob outside.
Cia for now, Zak

Welsh Greetings

Isn't it great to read what's happening in the top end. It sounds like a great holiday and I will be booking a flight when I'm in Aus next year! Can't wait.
Jules and I have also been on holiday. We spent the last 4 nights in North Wales. Travelled up on Monday, taking a leisurely way through Mid Wales to reach our destination - Prestatyn. On Tuesday we checked out Rhyl - truly tacky tourism, a bit of a mini Blackpool. Had a few bargains in the op shops though. We then went east of Prestatyn to Holywell and visited St. Winifride's Well - a beautiful, peaceful spot for our picnic. Our return trip was along the"coast" which is actually the river Dee.
Wednesday we travelled to Conwy and crossed the Suspension Bridge, walked the town walls and visited the Smallest House. Then we went on to Llandudno, the reason I wanted to go to North Wales. It is a fabulous Victorian holiday town, beautiful architecture, a long, flat promenade by the shore and a magnificent pier.
Couldn't see it all in the time we had so we returned on Thursday. Stopped at a smaller seaside town, Rhos-on-Sea, on the way. They had a St. Vincent de Paul op shop. Not many of those here. Back in Llandudno we drove around the Great Orme, a stunning drive, and went to the top of the Great Orme also. Of course, we also had to visit the eight op shops the town has, a bit pricey though. We were very fortunate with the weather during our stay.
Had to leave our accommodation on Friday morning. We had planned to go via the west and climb Cader Idris but the weather changed on Friday and heavy showers were forecast. We are fair weather walkers so decided not to risk it. Had a leisurely drive home via the West anyway.
Unfortunately, it's hayfever season for me so had to battle a runny nose and itchy eyes during our days out.
Last night Neil Young headlined at Glastonbury! and today it is Bruce Springsteen. It would have been a great year to be there.
Hope everyone is well and happy. We know Kate , Marty and Claire are. Keep up the posts Kate.
Love to all, Moo xxxxxxxx

addit

Have a look at the web site for The Rocksitters Club, Darwin-quite unique.
Cheers kate

more from the top end

Hi all,
Checked out downtown Darwin with Mart yesterday. Went to the museum and art gallery, fish and chips for lunch on the pier. Checked out the wave pool and Darwin ski club. The harbour is huge, flat and the most brilliant colour.
We spent the evening on the verandah sipping champagne and brewing up amazing banana prawns in asian steamboat style. A long pleasurely dinner over several hours, Fran would have been impressed.
This morning we,ve been op shopping-salvos seem to be very expensive here, with a glass costing $2.99 each-crazy. However we all managed to get a few treasures. We will check out the rest we missed today on Monday.
Marts got a mate here this arvo form Alice, Jeff, so I will play around in the pool. Clare K you should have come with me, the pool is glorious-water temp 28degrees-so you can stay in forever. And both you and Luc would so love Buddy the dog, he is a gorgeous character- as long as you dont leave anything around- he was keen on my electric toothbrush, which we found on his bed, as well as a razor-we still havent found the blade, which is a bit scarey. Claire says he doesnt look like a dog with a razorblade in his gut (whatever they look like) so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Anyway Im completely loving being here, the first of many trips to the north end for me I hope.

Oh yea, a group of women were charged by a 3 metre saltie on thursday at Nightcliffe beach!
Creepy. Its very weird to be on the coast in this heat, and not swim in the ocean- I cant quite get my head around it.

Anyway thats it for now.
P.S. I was the only person clapping the sunset at Mindl beach on Thursday night.

Love to you all, Zak