7th Dec. Bush Fire Sunshine Coast

Big grass fire at Kawana on the Sunshine Coast.

This was the view from our back verandah - smoke blowing straight toward us.

As the sun went down it became more spectacular.

Sat. 23rd NOV. Jakes's 21st Birthday.

To 'MooMoo' Restaurant in the City.

 George, Jake, Bradey, Paula, Nicola

 Jakes iPhoto book of 21 years.

 Brett Lee was in the bar that night.

Friday 22nd Nov. WAPM Secretaries' Lunch

To ALCHEMY Restaurant for the end of year lunch with our Secretaries.

This traditionally ends with a few of us 'going on' to other venues. Today it was 'Fridays' and 'The Pig & Whistle'. A very good day out.

Sun.3rd Nov. 'The Bloody Long Walk'. Barrenjoey Light to Sydney North Head. 35 km.

To raise money for Mitochondrial Disease.

Organised by Joe Bonington.

 A smokey start because of bush fires inland.

Joe & me.

Paula & me at Manly Beach - only about 5 km. left to go.

Sat. 2nd Nov. Weekend in SYDNEY. To Taronga Zoo to see the Snow Leopards.

Got the Ferry from Manly direct to Taronga Zoo.

Took my little mascot snow leopard to see his real life cousins.

 Beautiful beasts but it was a hot day and they didn't want to move around much.

Nearby bush-fires also made it incredibly hazy so we could hardly see the Opera House beyond the giraffes.

Himalayan Film Festival, Brisbane.

I've been invited to speak this Saturday, 19th Oct., at the Himalayan Film Festival. I'll be saying a few words about my 3 trips to Lhasa and the changes that I've seen there.

Organised by my friend Tenzin Choegyal.

http://www.himalayanfilmfestival.org/#!brisbane/c1sy5

I downloaded the new ios7 for the iPhone & iPad.

Quite enjoying the panorama facility on the camera.

Clicking on them should enlarge these two early shots;

My view at work -

And the view over Brisbane from the top of Bardon Hill

A half hour dabbling with iWork Pages gave me a new logo.

Watch out Mr. White!

Sat. 7th Sept. Brunch for Madeleine.

My daughter Madeleine was about to leave Brisbane and go and live & work in Melbourne.

This was a little goodbye lunch at a restaurant in Wilston

New beanie crotcheted by Paula to keep the head warm in chilly old Melbourne.

 Jake, George, Madeleine, Paula, Me, Nicola.

Tough Mudder. Wesley Theatre Folk - wtf ! Team.

Tough Mudder Preparation.

Tough Mudder Sunshine Coast coming up.

Decided to channel Robert de Niro as Travis Bickle from 'Taxi Driver'

Should be Tough enough.

Fri. 21st June. Rugby Weekend.

My old friend Alan McShane from Dublin, who was in the USA with me many years ago, flew in to follow the British Lions Tour.

 It was great to catch up with him and we drank far too much.

Pity the rugby didn't go Australia's way!

22nd May. Birthday in Saigon.

Breakfast Birthday Cake from the Rex hotel.

 I went off to the Jade Emperor Pagoda to pay my respects.

Very special birthday coffee - the beans collected from the faeces of the Asian Palm Civet.

Cocktail at the Rex Rooftop Bar before going to Restaurant 13 - an old favourite.

18th May. To VIETNAM

Champagne breakfast at Raffles before flying off to Ho Chi Minh City.

Back to our old haunt The Rex Hotel for a few days dining & shopping.

17th May. Raffles Hotel, Siem Reap.

After 19 Temples in just over 2 days it was time to seek refuge in Raffles Hotel, Siem Reap.

This was delightful. Great room, beautiful food and a night-cap Martini in 'The Elephant Bar'

16th May. Angkor Wat.

A fabulous day starting with the main Angkor Wat complex and ending at the Buddhist complex known as The Bayon with it's dozens of faces of Avalokiteshvara.

 And, of course, a great meal in the evening with a ride home in a Tuk-Tuk.