Welcome to Preschool

 We had a warm welcome and lots of fun at Grandparents' Day with one of the Ballboys.

Welcome Committee

From the Archives - Do not tip

Going through some old holiday snaps I knew for certain that this wasn't in the USA, not because of the bilingual sign. There is another big clue.

A gentlemen's convenience in Ankara, Turkey

Farm Boy

Robert had fun learning to drive a big boy's toy (a header) down on a farm today. Thanks Loud and Charlie for your hospitality and tuition.

Across the carpark

No visit to our favourite Chinese Restaurant, Dural Terrace, is complete without a journey across the carpark to McDonalds to indulge in a 30 cent ice-cream cone. Following are two pics from Saturday's outing.

No need to consult a menu - we know our favourites

Nearly all smiles for 5 ice-cream eating Ballboys

First $1000

This morning I have a big smile on my face because I have reached a milestone in my support of the charity Kiva. As you can see from my lender portfolio page below I have now lent $US1000 to entrepreneurs in third world countries for an investment of just $US332; that money has helped 40 people improve their lives.

My latest loans were to Sulita in Samoa and Ana Elizabeth in El Salvador. It gives one such a buzz to help out these workers who don't enjoy the lifestyle we take for granted in Australia.

At the moment generous benefactors are supporting free $25 loans to new users to try out Kiva. It will only cost you a few minutes to help some one out. Here is your invitation:
http://www.kiva.org/invitedby/jill4772

I am a member of the 275 member Genealogists for Families team on Kiva made up of genealogists from around the globe (but with a strong Australian representation) who loan because "we care about families (past, present and future)." When you join Kiva we would welcome you to our team.

Nearly there

Not far to go now. Wagga Wagga here we come.

Look forward to catching up with old friends.

Learning about Transplants

It is no secret that I love reading. Having just ploughed through a book (Committed: a sceptic makes peace with marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert) I really did not enjoy I looked on my bookshelves for something that might restore my faith in books and reading.

A recently purchased tome jumped out at me. How to deliver a liver transplant was just the medicine I needed. This story of a young girl from Queensland who fell into and became hooked on her medicine is told in a conversational tone. I felt that I was with Kellee on her journey to becoming a transplant surgeon. As well as giving me a lesson in anatomy the book brought me close to tears of laughter and sadness as she related stories from her journey.

It has been returned to my bookshelves and is waiting for another family member to read it.

From the Archives - Forbidden City

There was a lot of work going on in Beijing's Forbidden City when we visited in 2005 and there were many signs warning tourists of dangers and telling them what not to do. This sign was an apology for any  inconvenience caused to tourists.

Santorini

Enjoying the view from the deck of Seven Seas Voyager while anchored in Santorini, Greece.

From where I sit...

Through my window

... I look out a window onto our back garden that contains quite a few Gum (Eucalypt) trees.

This morning I glanced out and saw one of the many  Kookaburras that inhabits our garden sitting on the branch of a tree. The photo I took of this proud bird is not too clear as my window is rather dusty.

What immediately came to mind was the Kookaburra song I learnt as a child :

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Merry merry king of the bush is he.
Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra,
Gay your life must be!

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Eating all the gum drops he can see.
Stop Kookaburra, stop Kookaburra
Save some there for me!

 
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Counting all the monkeys he can see.
Laugh Kookaburra, laugh Kookaburra
That's not a monkey, that's me!

Otherwise engaged

 While the rest of Australia is watching a horse race I'm enjoying Thomas the Tank with the Ballboys.

The Melbourne Cup, Australia's Premier race is known as "the race that stops a nation".

Image  http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/68878