TUESDAY 8th NOVEMBER
Doug said November was the stormy season and he wasn't wrong! It started out a stonking hot day with the temperature around 35 degrees (or maybe even slightly higher). I took Reilly out for our ramble around midday and it was hot! I then mercilessly forced myself to walk on to Plumpton where I did some shopping including two bottles of wine. With a bag in each hand, both of which grew heavier step by step I traced my way home. In the early after it clouded over and the horizon darkened, and I could hear thunder albeit the storm actually missed us. Robert on the other had drove through the storm with wipers going full blast, headlights on and still couldn't go safely at mor than 40Kph! I spent the rest of the day working on the computer.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Monday, 7 November 2011
STORMY
MONDAY 7th NOVEMBER
Made an early start to the day at 7.00am. It was another scorcher with the temperature rising to 35 degrees. I spent the day working on Charly work, apart from taking Reilly for a walk mid morning. I was contemplating walking down to the Plumpton Shopping Centre and getting some bread, but I spotted the sky clouding over. It had the feeling of impending rain, and I had been caught out like this once before earlier this year, so I waited. And boy was I glad I did so! The skies opened and it bucketed down, with a storm passing directly over us, there was virtually no time lapse between the lightning and the thunder.
Apparently November is the stormy season, but of course I missed that month last year as I was in South Africa during that month. I'm afraid the pictures above don't fully convey the extent of the downpour. For about ten minutes the sound of the rain drumming down on the tin roof was positively deafening. I put all iseas of going out on hold and concentrated on working on the computer for the rest of the day!
Made an early start to the day at 7.00am. It was another scorcher with the temperature rising to 35 degrees. I spent the day working on Charly work, apart from taking Reilly for a walk mid morning. I was contemplating walking down to the Plumpton Shopping Centre and getting some bread, but I spotted the sky clouding over. It had the feeling of impending rain, and I had been caught out like this once before earlier this year, so I waited. And boy was I glad I did so! The skies opened and it bucketed down, with a storm passing directly over us, there was virtually no time lapse between the lightning and the thunder.
EPPING
SUNDAY 6th NOVEMBER
Got up about 10.00am and after a coffee and toast and a bit of work on the computer set off with Rob and Jeannette for Penrith where we dropped Jeannette off to collect her car, and headed off for Epping. It was another superb morning with the sun scorching down giving a temperature of over 30 degrees. We got to Epping about midday and Nick came rushing down the garden path to give us both a big hug. We took him to North Rocks shopping and also had lunch there at Subway.
Upon returning home Nick started up a football competition on the Wii, which he eventually won. My 6-0 defeat was on a par with Robert's 7-1!
Doug was sorting out various knickknacks he had found in a drawer. This included envelopes with UK stamps from the 50s including one posted on Coronation Day with very clear franking. There were some school exercise books from the 30s, where Douglas often came top of the class. Parish magazines from the 80s set him a puzzle; he couldn't remember why he had kept them - convinced that he wouldn't have done so unless there was something relevant in them. Jane failed to find anything and advised him to bin them. Nick and Rob came out to shoot some baskets but this activity was curtailed by rain. The sky had clouded over and rain was in the air.
We drove back to Oakhurst in the late afternoon and spent a leisurely evening at home.
Got up about 10.00am and after a coffee and toast and a bit of work on the computer set off with Rob and Jeannette for Penrith where we dropped Jeannette off to collect her car, and headed off for Epping. It was another superb morning with the sun scorching down giving a temperature of over 30 degrees. We got to Epping about midday and Nick came rushing down the garden path to give us both a big hug. We took him to North Rocks shopping and also had lunch there at Subway.
Upon returning home Nick started up a football competition on the Wii, which he eventually won. My 6-0 defeat was on a par with Robert's 7-1!
We drove back to Oakhurst in the late afternoon and spent a leisurely evening at home.
Saturday, 5 November 2011
THE WEDDING
SATURDAY 5th NOVEMBER
The sun shines on the righteous! It is a beautiful sunny day - the day of the wedding. Rob and I were up at about 7.00am, and the lad made tea and bacon sandwiches and we slowly got ready. We set off before 8.00am and drove over to Bexley, not one of Sydney's more salubrious suburbs, and arrived there well before the appointed time of 9.30am. It took a while to work out exactly which was the cathedral in a complex of buildings all within the boundaries of the Coptic Church area. Robert then searched for a toilet but only found one that was locked. We then came across Jerry and her boyfriend Pat and she too was in need of a toilet. To cut a long story short they never found an accessible toilet.
We decided to go and stake a claim in the church and grabbed some pews on the left hand side three from the front. The church started filling up and assorted priests/bishops made their way down the aisle to the altar, followed by the groom and his grroomsmen, who arrived soon after 10.00am. The elevated altar area was packed with some seven priests including the Coptic Arch-Bishop of Brazil who had flown over for the occasion, a Roman Catholic priest from Fiji that Charlene and Sam knew, and innumerable deacons (one of whom was a former landlord of Robert and Jeannette - of which more later). Finally the bride arrived.
Juan coming down the aisle with Charlene.
The two hour long wedding ceremony kicked off with a lot of chanting, accompanied by a deacon on triangle and another on cymbals, creating a goodly rhythm. The intruiging thing was that neither partner took marriage vows, but the conditions of their marriage were imposed by the Church. The couple sat up on the altar area with the groomsmen and bridesmaids behind them.
Juan & Kathy
Robert & Jeannette
Jeannette, Kathy & Charlene
Emily, Beatrice & Jeannette
Dita & I
Liz, unk & Anne
Charlene, Sam & Simon
Nick
Sam made an excellent speech and in one breath thanked the Brazilian arch-bishop for coming over from South America and me for coming over from England for the wedding. Numerous other thanks followed culminating with the all important one of thanking Charlene for becoming Mrs Mikhail.
The sun shines on the righteous! It is a beautiful sunny day - the day of the wedding. Rob and I were up at about 7.00am, and the lad made tea and bacon sandwiches and we slowly got ready. We set off before 8.00am and drove over to Bexley, not one of Sydney's more salubrious suburbs, and arrived there well before the appointed time of 9.30am. It took a while to work out exactly which was the cathedral in a complex of buildings all within the boundaries of the Coptic Church area. Robert then searched for a toilet but only found one that was locked. We then came across Jerry and her boyfriend Pat and she too was in need of a toilet. To cut a long story short they never found an accessible toilet.
As the ceremony proceeded so crowns were placed on the heads of the young couple.
It seems that the couple are married in turn by each of the seven members of the clergy in turn, albeit the actual moment of marriage is when the priest places the rings on their fingers. No person is then allowed to take them off their fingers. The presence of the Brazilian Coptic Arch-Bishop is explained by the fact that his participation in the ceremony in his native language will make the ceremony more understandable to the Chilean members present. The only problem is that they speak Spanish in Chile and Portugese in Brazil!
A number of the guests left the church at the end of the two hour wedding ceremony and did not stay on for the additional hour long copitic mass. Robert and I were among those who left in search of liquid sustenance which we duly found in a local pub. I had shed my yellow tie by then and Robert never had one to start off with!
After a couple of refreshing rounds of beer we returned to the Cathedral just as the mass was coming to an end. Sam then announced that brunch was being served in the hall, so that's where we headed.
We eventually wound up with Juan and Dita and their neice Dita, an IT Manager who had spent most of her life in Germany, but was currently working in Melbourne, prior to moving to Hong Kong in a few months time to join her English boyfriend. The idea was to drive down the road to Brighton and have a drink or two before making our way to the evening reception. In the event we got lost and landed up in Cronulla where we found a bar overlooking the beach.
Dita, Dita, Rob & Juan
We had considerable difficulty in finding our way back to Bexley and Robert's car, but eventually managed to find it. The journey to the reception took about an hour and a half so we failed to arrive until after 7.00pm. However although the hall was full, the official business had not yet started. Robert was horrified to learn that alcoholic drink was not available to the hoypoloy, and was only served to the guests on the main table (bride & groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen and parents). There was wine on the tables, but this was not good enough for the lad who adjourned to the pub next door with Jeannette's nephew Denis for a beer and returned with hip flask size bottle of bourbon. (Pat was also inked in for the party but failed to get a pass out from girlfriend Jerry). Fortunately jugs of coke was provided at regular intervals by the waiters. I was engaged to hold the glass of coke under the table whilst Robert furtively withdrew the bottle of bourbon from his inner pocket and topped up the glass. Nobody drank the white wine at our table so the bottle of Chardonnay all came my way. Robert borrowed my camera at regular intervals taking photos of all and sundry. However I managed to snap one of the deacon's at the service who was also at the reception. This man was also formerly Robert and Jeannette's landlord. In true Christian spirit he had them evicted just before Christmas 2010. Just goes to show there are scumbags in all walks of life!
Robert kept his cool, and apart from giving him a look of contempt, conducted himself with commendable restraint.
Charlene & Sam
Beatrice, Jeannette, Kathy & Emily
Charlene & Robert
Juan kicked off the speeches with some typically emotive words. Sam's parents also spoke and Jeannette's speech was cut short on orders from Kathy who also had her say. There were speeches from Sam's brothers and a hilarious film made by the video company of how Sam met Charlene which involved a kidnap attempt on Charlene and ended with Sam rescuing her and delivering her safe back to Juan, played by an actor wearing a large sombrero!Sam made an excellent speech and in one breath thanked the Brazilian arch-bishop for coming over from South America and me for coming over from England for the wedding. Numerous other thanks followed culminating with the all important one of thanking Charlene for becoming Mrs Mikhail.
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT
FRIDAY 4th NOVEMBER
Temperature up to about 25 degrees, sun shinning again and all is right with the world. Spent most of the day working on Charly stuff, apart from taking Reilly for his daily stroll. Jeannette had the day off work and departed for Penrith mid morning where she is staying the night along with her other sisters and having the hair and make up done from the early hours of the morning.
After Robert came home and fed Reilly we likewise went for some food down to the pub, albeit Robert had late pizzas at work and restricted himself to a beer, whilst I indulged in garlic prawns. Upon returning home I discovered that the Spurs European game in Russia was being shown, and settled down to watch it. It wasn't very exciting and I must confess to periodically nodding off. In the meantime Robert set about ironing both our suits and shirts for the morrow. With Spurs having lost 1-0 and all the clobber duly ironed, I retired to bed as it is going to be an early start in the morning, although nowhere near as early as the one for the Caceres girls!
Temperature up to about 25 degrees, sun shinning again and all is right with the world. Spent most of the day working on Charly stuff, apart from taking Reilly for his daily stroll. Jeannette had the day off work and departed for Penrith mid morning where she is staying the night along with her other sisters and having the hair and make up done from the early hours of the morning.
After Robert came home and fed Reilly we likewise went for some food down to the pub, albeit Robert had late pizzas at work and restricted himself to a beer, whilst I indulged in garlic prawns. Upon returning home I discovered that the Spurs European game in Russia was being shown, and settled down to watch it. It wasn't very exciting and I must confess to periodically nodding off. In the meantime Robert set about ironing both our suits and shirts for the morrow. With Spurs having lost 1-0 and all the clobber duly ironed, I retired to bed as it is going to be an early start in the morning, although nowhere near as early as the one for the Caceres girls!
Thursday, 3 November 2011
COLD AND WET
THURSDAY 3rd NOVEMBER
A change in the weather - it has been raining most of the morning and the temperature has fallen. I spent the morning working on the computer and then took Reilly out for a walk. He got extremely muddy and my shoes were soaked, so I had to leave him out in the garden. My instructions from Robert were very precise: he is not allowed into the sunhouse if wet and/or muddy. Robert has cleaned and bleached the concete floor and it is immaculate and not to be spoilt by muddy paw prints! Reilly has found a baseball that he is keen on chasing when thrown for him, and has found it impossible to chew due to both size and hardness. However he takes great delight in carrying it around in his mouth like a giant gob stopper!
Sam and Charlene came round last night (post-blog) with my wedding invitation. It is quite an elaborate affair (the invitation - "elaborate is too mild a word for the actual wedding!), and apparently in common with most men I only looked at the invite to the reception not the actual wedding.
For the benefit of Alan and anyone else interested in such matters the wedding will take place at 10.00am at the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of the Virgin Mary and Saint Mina in Bexley, and the reception will be at the Edessa Reception and Function Centre in Greenfield Park at 6.30pm. Quite what happens between the two I do not know (I'm assuming that the wedding and ensuing Holy Liturgy cannot possibly last until 6.00pm). At any rate Jeannette has to go and join Charlene and Kathy at 2.00am on Saturday to have her hair/nails and make up done in readiness!
Robert picked me up after work and we drove down to Epping where we collected Nick and then drove up the road to Robert's six-a-side football game. It was all a shambles. The website said it was a 6.30pm kick-off which was the time the Epping Tigers turned up. The opposition had been given an earlier kick-off time, so both teams claimed a victory due to the opposition not being there for the kick-off! Robert, Pav and Dave settled for a beer in the park and I watched Nick practise his basketball throws and I played with the rugby ball, passing and kicking it to him. He told me that I was much better at the spin pass than his father. (I should hope so too having played the game from the age of seven until well into my forties). I defer to Robert in his footballing skills - I am/was nowhere near as good as he in that department, but rugby....!!!
I gave Nick the money that Nana Bridie asked me to pass onto him and matched it with an equal sum from myself. He was the proud owner of $50! He told me that we would be going to the North Rocks as they were open until midnight. And he was right too, the North Rocks being a shopping centre I had not previously been to, which had a K-Mart with a toy department where Nick promptly invested some of his new found wealth in the latest craze, little plastic wrestling figures. All in all he was far more chatty than when I was here last, hopefully that may be as a resulting of getting over the death of his maternal grandmother earlier this year.
We dropped Nick back off at Epping where I encountered Jingles. No longer the mad kitten I remembered from my previous visit, but seemingly a mature cat that happily allowed me to stroke it and tickle it behind the ear. I passed on all the clothing that Jane had purchased in the UK as well as half a dozen of her favourite Sainsbury's Tuna & Sweetcorn in Mayonnaise, and we set off for Oakhurst. Jeannette cooked us some pizza, but with unerring timing Alan came through on Skype just as the pizza was being served and managed to keep talking long enough to ensure that it was cold by the time I got to eat it! He had seen the first post at Jim's on Wednesday night but couldn't get the blog up on his computer. Investigation revealed that he was inserting a superfluous "s" after "Adam", and so after correcting his error I bade him goonight, consumed my cold pizza and went to bed.
A change in the weather - it has been raining most of the morning and the temperature has fallen. I spent the morning working on the computer and then took Reilly out for a walk. He got extremely muddy and my shoes were soaked, so I had to leave him out in the garden. My instructions from Robert were very precise: he is not allowed into the sunhouse if wet and/or muddy. Robert has cleaned and bleached the concete floor and it is immaculate and not to be spoilt by muddy paw prints! Reilly has found a baseball that he is keen on chasing when thrown for him, and has found it impossible to chew due to both size and hardness. However he takes great delight in carrying it around in his mouth like a giant gob stopper!
Sam and Charlene came round last night (post-blog) with my wedding invitation. It is quite an elaborate affair (the invitation - "elaborate is too mild a word for the actual wedding!), and apparently in common with most men I only looked at the invite to the reception not the actual wedding.
Robert picked me up after work and we drove down to Epping where we collected Nick and then drove up the road to Robert's six-a-side football game. It was all a shambles. The website said it was a 6.30pm kick-off which was the time the Epping Tigers turned up. The opposition had been given an earlier kick-off time, so both teams claimed a victory due to the opposition not being there for the kick-off! Robert, Pav and Dave settled for a beer in the park and I watched Nick practise his basketball throws and I played with the rugby ball, passing and kicking it to him. He told me that I was much better at the spin pass than his father. (I should hope so too having played the game from the age of seven until well into my forties). I defer to Robert in his footballing skills - I am/was nowhere near as good as he in that department, but rugby....!!!
I gave Nick the money that Nana Bridie asked me to pass onto him and matched it with an equal sum from myself. He was the proud owner of $50! He told me that we would be going to the North Rocks as they were open until midnight. And he was right too, the North Rocks being a shopping centre I had not previously been to, which had a K-Mart with a toy department where Nick promptly invested some of his new found wealth in the latest craze, little plastic wrestling figures. All in all he was far more chatty than when I was here last, hopefully that may be as a resulting of getting over the death of his maternal grandmother earlier this year.
We dropped Nick back off at Epping where I encountered Jingles. No longer the mad kitten I remembered from my previous visit, but seemingly a mature cat that happily allowed me to stroke it and tickle it behind the ear. I passed on all the clothing that Jane had purchased in the UK as well as half a dozen of her favourite Sainsbury's Tuna & Sweetcorn in Mayonnaise, and we set off for Oakhurst. Jeannette cooked us some pizza, but with unerring timing Alan came through on Skype just as the pizza was being served and managed to keep talking long enough to ensure that it was cold by the time I got to eat it! He had seen the first post at Jim's on Wednesday night but couldn't get the blog up on his computer. Investigation revealed that he was inserting a superfluous "s" after "Adam", and so after correcting his error I bade him goonight, consumed my cold pizza and went to bed.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
TRAVELLING TO OZ
MONDAY - WEDNESDAY 31st OCTOBER - 2nd NOVEMBER
I received messages of Bon Voyage from Bridie and Angela prior to embarking on my trip and an offer from Alan to help me with my luggage on the underground to Heathrow. I told him I would meet him on the platform at Alperton at 4.30pm - he was round at the house at 4.00pm! Mark drove us down to the station and I have to admit it was easier carrying the suitcase up the stairs with the two of us. The same can said of the change over of platforms at Acton Town. The train to Heathrow was pretty packed but we eventually managed to get seats next to my case around Hounslow East. Alan accompanied me all the way to the check in desk, so much so that the check-in clerk said "are you two gentlemen both flying to Sydney?" I told him it was only me. Once checked in with my boarding cards (for Heathrow and Seoul), it was time to bid Alan farewell as he could follow no further! I had a good look around the Duty Free stores but ended up only buying a comb for £1.02p. I then adjourned to the Servisair Lounge where my pass gained me entry and had two glasses of white wine, a couple of rolls, various nibbles, and couple of cakes and two cups of coffee. I read the Evening Standard and my Kindle until it was time to wend my way to gate 42, which was some considerable distance away (aren't they always?). Despite Alan's pessimistic prognostications about flights being chocka due to the Qantas problems, my Asiana flight was barely half full and I had three seats to myself. The food was very good, and knowing what a tartar Alan is for culinary detail, I kept the menus for the meals on offer:
LONDON - SEOUL
Meal 1 Western
Crayfish Salad
Mixed Green Salad
Beef Bourguignon with Fafalline Pasta
Forest Fruit Cake
Meal 1 Korean
Bibimbab
Steamed Rice, Various Vegetables and Minced Beef
Fresh Fruit
Meal 2
Ham & Vegetable Salad
Stir fried Kimchi with Pork with Steamed Rice
or
Chicken Thigh Chasseur with Sauteed Potato
Fresh Fruit Salad
SEOUL to SYDNEY
1st Meal
Cooked Shrimp and Vegetables
Grilled Beef Tenderloin Steak with Madeira Sauce
Green Tea Cream Cake
or
Ssambab
Steamed Rice with Grilled Beef Bulgogi, Various Kinds Of Vegetables
Mini Chocobar
2nd Meal
Yogurt
Omelet with Canadian Bacon and Potato
or
Vegetable Tuna Porridge
Fresh Fruit
My choices are indicated in bold italic. What it didn't state on the menu was that all these dishes including the omelete were accompanied by boiled carrots - they seemed to have a fetish about them! Plenty of wine, beer, coke and juices were also to be had.
Incheon Airport seems bigger everytime I see it. As I had about 4 hours to while away I strolled around the Duty Free shops but found nothing of interest. There was a troupe of (presumably actors) wandering around the terminal in traditional costumes as an added attraction. I eventually adjourned to the Hub Lounge and had some refreshments only to find that my watch had stopped, and it was in fact 7.00pm (my flight was at 8.20pm) so no major panick, but again it was quite a walk, this time to gate 32.
This time I had an aisle seat with nobody beside me, just an English chap in the window seat. I didn't get much in the way of sleep. There was no sign of my case at the baggage collection in Sydney - a bit of a worry as all my medication was in it. An official asked me where I had come from and then asked to see my luggage receipt. However at that moment my case appeared - the very last item to come off the flight! I purchased some Chanel Mademoiselle EDT for Jeanette and Horizon Blues for Robert. My tins of tuna and mayo were signed off by the official without even taking an X-ray of my case - I must have an honest face! I went landside but there was no sign of Robert. I started searching for his mobile # when I heard a familiar voice behind me! It was 19 degrees at 8.30am and by mid morning it was a pleasant 27.
I took Reilly for a walk and then walked to Plumpton where I posted the DVD to Maureen and copy of my father's book to Roddy Jordan as well as taking Robert's suit into the cleaners. By the time I got back to the house I was fairly knackered. But lo and behold, there was a package for me outside the front door. It was a copy of Roddy's book on the 1957 Tour to Australia by Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Little Richard and Alis Lesley, and a superb tome it is too! I had a good look through it and then turned to the blog. Probably be an early night tonight!
I received messages of Bon Voyage from Bridie and Angela prior to embarking on my trip and an offer from Alan to help me with my luggage on the underground to Heathrow. I told him I would meet him on the platform at Alperton at 4.30pm - he was round at the house at 4.00pm! Mark drove us down to the station and I have to admit it was easier carrying the suitcase up the stairs with the two of us. The same can said of the change over of platforms at Acton Town. The train to Heathrow was pretty packed but we eventually managed to get seats next to my case around Hounslow East. Alan accompanied me all the way to the check in desk, so much so that the check-in clerk said "are you two gentlemen both flying to Sydney?" I told him it was only me. Once checked in with my boarding cards (for Heathrow and Seoul), it was time to bid Alan farewell as he could follow no further! I had a good look around the Duty Free stores but ended up only buying a comb for £1.02p. I then adjourned to the Servisair Lounge where my pass gained me entry and had two glasses of white wine, a couple of rolls, various nibbles, and couple of cakes and two cups of coffee. I read the Evening Standard and my Kindle until it was time to wend my way to gate 42, which was some considerable distance away (aren't they always?). Despite Alan's pessimistic prognostications about flights being chocka due to the Qantas problems, my Asiana flight was barely half full and I had three seats to myself. The food was very good, and knowing what a tartar Alan is for culinary detail, I kept the menus for the meals on offer:
LONDON - SEOUL
Meal 1 Western
Crayfish Salad
Mixed Green Salad
Beef Bourguignon with Fafalline Pasta
Forest Fruit Cake
Meal 1 Korean
Bibimbab
Steamed Rice, Various Vegetables and Minced Beef
Fresh Fruit
Meal 2
Ham & Vegetable Salad
Stir fried Kimchi with Pork with Steamed Rice
or
Chicken Thigh Chasseur with Sauteed Potato
Fresh Fruit Salad
SEOUL to SYDNEY
1st Meal
Cooked Shrimp and Vegetables
Grilled Beef Tenderloin Steak with Madeira Sauce
Green Tea Cream Cake
or
Ssambab
Steamed Rice with Grilled Beef Bulgogi, Various Kinds Of Vegetables
Mini Chocobar
2nd Meal
Yogurt
Omelet with Canadian Bacon and Potato
or
Vegetable Tuna Porridge
Fresh Fruit
My choices are indicated in bold italic. What it didn't state on the menu was that all these dishes including the omelete were accompanied by boiled carrots - they seemed to have a fetish about them! Plenty of wine, beer, coke and juices were also to be had.
I took Reilly for a walk and then walked to Plumpton where I posted the DVD to Maureen and copy of my father's book to Roddy Jordan as well as taking Robert's suit into the cleaners. By the time I got back to the house I was fairly knackered. But lo and behold, there was a package for me outside the front door. It was a copy of Roddy's book on the 1957 Tour to Australia by Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Little Richard and Alis Lesley, and a superb tome it is too! I had a good look through it and then turned to the blog. Probably be an early night tonight!
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