Merry Christmas and all that.

So it's over for another year. Brisbane was a cool, overcast 27° (Perth was 41°!)

We went the 'cold' option with meats & smoked trout and salads - but with Christmas pudding after - plus a bit of wine & port.

Hope everyone had a great day.

Off to the Burgess household for Boxing Day leftovers then up to Maleny to cut the grass.

Tree Hugging a Wollemi Pine

We've just been given a Wollemi Pine by our Maleny Neighbours, Neil & Jane.

The pine was only discovered in 1994 west of Sydney and only 100 trees exist in the wild.

This little beauty has been put near the front of our property and should be about 20 m. high in 40 years. It's quite an elegant thing and even has it's own website at;     WollemiPine.com

Madeleine's Last Day at School

Friday 16th Nov. City Hall. Brisbane. BGGS Speech Day

All the Grade 12 Girls were presented their certificates by Justice Atkinson.

Afterward they gathered outside - all 220 of them.
Proud parents were there - ecstatically happy that they were no longer paying school fees.
Then the girls lined up and did the school 'War Cry' - all very 'St. Trinians'. Press on the video -- it's only a minute or so

                                           

A Busy Last Week at School.

In Australia the academic year ends Nov/Dec. and this week Madeleine finished Grade 12 - she's having a Gap Year in 2008. Tuesday night saw us at the Brisbane Girls' Grammar Valedictory dinner. Not a bad thrash.

On Wednesday it was the turn of Jake. The Brisbane Boys' Grammar Speech Night was held at the Convention Centre. Exactly the same format as my school prize-giving nights 40 years ago! i.e. a bit long winded and boring. However, Jake got an Academic Prize for being in the top 10% of the year.

NEW TOY! - the 16 gig. iPod Touch

It arrived Friday morning. Within an hour I was playing music and looking at photos.


This is a stunningly impressive piece of work. It's flash driven, so no moving parts. It's capacity is more than adequate. But for me the best thing is that it's like a music iPod PLUS half a dozen high quality photograph albums - all 1700 of my Tibet photos are on there - PLUS it has a calender with all my friends' birthday& anniversary details PLUS it has my full address book with everyone's contact details PLUS it can surf the net via WiFi using the Safari browser I usually use. WOW!!! Even my teenage kids are knocked out by it.

WHAT I DO ALL DAY!

It would seem that few people actually know what Anaesthetists do all day. They especially wonder when they see the size of the bill.
But, at last, all is revealed.
A couple of English doctors who 'entertain' on the side have written a little ditty called 'Anaesthetist's Hymn' which can be seen in it's total one and a half minute glory by following the link below;

Check it out on You Tube Here

The 'Amateur Transplants', as they call themselves. are also responsible for 'Titanic', about penis size, 'Beautiful', about a paedophile lover and, best of all, 'London Underground' which can be appreciated by anyone who has ever been on a subway system.

'Enjoy' as they say in America.

Sat. 20th October. Birthday dinner for George

George was 16 on the 6th October, but this weekend was the first opportunity we had to celebrate his birthday 'en famille'.

We gave him 16 blocks of Cadbury's chocolate and a couple of books on bodypainting! Surely a 16 year old boy's dream presents!


In the evening last Saturday we went for steaks at 'the Breakfast Creek Hotel' - a Brisbane institution with splendid eye fillet steaks.
Here are Madeleine, George, Nicola, Nicola's boyfriend Brady, Paula & myself.

Day 25. 3.10.07. Final day in Kathmandu.

And so the adventure was reduced to this - shopping for pashminas!!!



After a final lunch at 'Mike's Breakfast' the UK contingent flew off and I left next morning.
A great trip.

NEXT TRIP K2. 2009.

Who Knows what day it is? DESPERATE Hangover +++ (Day 24 actually)

A little bit under the weather after the adventures of the previous night - Tom & Jerry's, Sam's Bar etc. not to mention the early bottle of Moet et Chandon Phil & I started with.

Yeah, but I'm not smiling inwardly. The Northfield breakfast certainly helped. OH MY GOD! Someone shaved my beard off!


Recovery was so good during the day that we were on the piss again that evening. Here at a very good restaurant called 'Kilroy's'.
Tom & Phil.


Myself & Didi.

Phil is accused of doing some 'irritating' table drumming in Tom & Jerry's Bar. How rude!

Day 23. 1.10.07. Jhangmu to Kathmandu and a shave!

At the border we said goodbye to Tengpo, our Tibetan guide. For any one of 50 reasons he is THE coolest dude in the world.


After crossing the Friendship Bridge into Nepal we chill and have a dhal-bhat lunch in Kodari.


Only 6 hours to Kathmandu - but spectacular scenery in the Bhote Khosi gorge.


And so to Kathmandu and a close shave.


The rest of the evening is lost in a haze. Could an excess of alcohol have been involved?

Day 22. 30.9.07. Rongbuk to Jhangmu via Tingri.

Magically, Everest appears just after breakfast, then we turn our backs on it and head off on the 'Friendship Highway' towards Kathmandu.


We had lunch at Tingri, not quite a one horse town.


Incredible view of Shishapangma on the way - 14th highest mountain in the world at 8013 m., 26,291 ft.


Then there was Jhangmu!

Day 21. 29.9.07. Thank you to our Sherpas.

We had a little ceremony in the mess tent to say thanks to our Sherpas who looked after us so well. They were a great crew and forever smiling and tolerant of we geriatric westerners.

Thanks to Dorje,


To Mindoo,


To Dendy,


To Sonam,


To our chef, Jumba,


And to our sirdar, Lhakpa - always smiling!

Day 21. 29.9.07. Camp 2 to Rongbuk.

A long day's walk down the moraine - but at least it was downhill! AND tons of Oxygen!!!


Amazingly, Rongbuk has a 'hotel' which has no shortage of Lhasa beer.


The place is run by some very cute Tibetan ladies.


Phil makes the right choice.

Day 20. 28.9.07. ABC to Camp 2. - Going Down!

Everest summit shrouded in it's 'cap cloud'.



Back on the Mallory Highway.


The chasm in the glacier just above Camp 2.

Day 19. 27.9.07. Rest day at ABC.

A beautiful day! Tom, Dendy, Lhakpa & Mike had left at 2.00 am. to try for Lahakpa Ri but snow conditions turned them back just before Lhakpa La.


The whole Everest massif.


The 3rd step and summit pyramid 8,850 m., 29,035 ft.


Makalu, 5th highest mountain in the world at 8463 m., 27,765 ft., seen across a cloud free Rapui La.

Day 18. 26.9.07. Avalanche & walk to Rapui La, 6400 m., 21,000 ft.

Just after breakfast all the snow fell off Changtse. This was a big avalanche - as they say, "you had to be there". The photos don't do it justice.


These guys at the next camp were literally running for their lives - and were OK.


Then it was on with the crampons and into the glacier.

Day 17. 25.9.07. Acclimatization at ABC.

Whoah! A spot more snow. Basically a 'relaxation day' (trying to breathe) at ABC.