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!

25th MAY. GOOD NEWS FROM EVEREST.

I heard that some of those I'd travelled with in Tibet had reached the summit of Everest in the early hours of 25th May.
Chris, the Canadian leader, along with Conor and Peter from the UK, Alex from Sweden and the Sherpas Dorje and Mingma stood on top. (Chris for the 2nd time, Mingma for the 3rd time and Dorje for the 8th time!).
Of the Swedish team of 4, Thomas, Jesper and Gabriel got as far as the Second Step before ending their attempt.
Congratulations to all of them on their magnificent effort and for returning safely.

Wed.23rd MAY. VERY SAD NEWS.

I was checking the various Everest blogs in the morning to see how my friends are doing - there are 7 or so still climbing.

I was stunned to read that my friend Juan Polo had died after reaching the summit in the previous 2 days.

Juan was a Spanish doctor living in Teneriffe. He joined our small group in Kathmandu and we travelled together, shared the dodgy hotel rooms and ate the same appalling chinese slops as we drove into Tibet and lingered at Zhangmu, Nyalam, Tingri, basecamp then up to ABC.

Juan was friendly, cheerful, quick to smile and totally enthusiastic about his attempt to climb Everest.

I'm sad that we will be unable to swap notes about Everest and his climb. 

RIP.

Fri 18th MAY. Well done WILLSHAW.

Settled back into work, but by the magic of the interwebs - ie. Facebook. I heard that my trekking companion from Pakistan and the Baltoro, John Willshaw, has become mayor of Kendall.

I assume there is unlimited mint cake as a perk.

Visit by old friend Mick.

My old sailing, drinking, medical, drinking, friend Mick dropped in for a few days on his way back to the Institution which is the British National Health Service.

Took him & Susie to Mooloolaba for R & R.

Then, in Brisbane, to Restaurant II. Very, very good to see him.

Sydney Annapurna reunion.

Paula & I to Sydney as Capt. Jon and wife Liz flew in from the UK.

After David joined us we wandered down to the opera house for champagne as the sun set.

We were also joined by Joe & Jez and we all went off to the Rocks for pizza then a 'cleansing ale' at the Lord Nelson pub.

Sat 21st Aug. Wedding of Chris Burgess & Lissie Castrisos

Chris, son of Jenny & John Burgess, married Lissie in the Boys Grammar Chapel.
A splendid day with lots of friends. This is John before the red wine stained the shirt.
Jenny with her parents.

27th March. Paula's Birthday.

To the 'Hog's Breath Cafe' to celebrate another year.
Joined by Jake, Madeleine & Nicola. Also Jane & Rodney Litzow.

Wed. 12th March. DIDI comes to town.

Naomi, who was nicknamed 'Didi' on our Tibet trip as 'Naomi' was unpronouncable to the Tibetan tongue, was passing through Brisbane and came to stay for 1 night.

We went off to 'Belle Epoche' in the Valley. Snails, Beef Tartare, Barramundi & Creme Brulee Flambe - all washed down with Champagne and a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc.
It was very good to see her and look forward to her next visit.

Sunday 30th Nov. - 'Christmas' lunch on the river

From Indooroopilly to New Farm on Bill Cockburn's boat, 'Will o' the Wisp', for a team Christmas Lunch.
Perfect day with good company and good food & wine.

Linda & Bill.
Myself & Rosalyn Carlisle.
Paula on the stern as we whizz through Brisbane city.

BRISBANE 'RIVERFIRE'

Paula & I to a charity dinner at Restaurant II in the city. It's always held on the night of the Riverfire Festival - enormous fireworks along the river and off the tops of buildings.


Highlight is a flypast by one of the aging fleet of F-111 fighters.
It's just like being in Baghdad!


One of the guests at the dinner was Brenton Rickard. He swam at the Beijing Olympics and won a Silver Medal in the 200 m. Breaststroke. Here he is being stalked by Paula.


Of course we had the obligatory 1.00 am. wait for a taxi.

Wed. 11th June. 17th & last Day UK.

Dropped Madeleine off in Hampshire. She was about to go off on the Contiki drinking tour of Europe for 5 weeks!

Flight left late in the evening for Bangkok where, INCREDIBLY, we bumped into Mick & Sue's daughter, Sally.


We lost a day, so it was Friday 13th before we flew over Sydney and got this view;

Tue. 10th June. 16th Day UK.

To Bladon churchyard and the grave of Winston Churchill.

On to a tour of Blenheim Palace, followed by lunch at Woodstock.


A couple of summer evening's beers at 'The Rose Revived' and 'The Maybush' on the upper reaches of the Thames.

Mon. 9th June. 15th Day UK.

Alistair did the godfatherly thing and fixed Madeleine's broken orthodontic wire.

We then had a spot of lunch in Betty's before leaving Harrogate for the 4 hour drive to Ducklington, near Oxford, to stay with the Coles.

A warm welcome from Rachel before Cole slipped into his comfortable socks & sandals and joined us for dinner.
Myself, Paula, Victoria, Rachel & David.

Sat. 7th June. 13th Day UK.

To Beamish Open Air Museum.
Very strange to see the familiar things of one's childhood in a museum!

A pilgrimage to the White Bear in Masham for a pint of Theakston's. (White bear in glass case behind).

Then on to Daphne Cottage and first meeting of Madeleine with her godfather, Alistair. Photo shows Madeleine, Clare, Alistair, Tom & Paula.

Thur. 5th June. 11th Day UK.

Into Bamburgh Castle.
My uncle George, me, aged 2, and my father. Now, 53 years later, Madeleine & myself on the same cannon.


Then a boat trip out to the Farne Islands to see the seals & puffins. Could hardly see because of the North-Eastern 'Sea Fret'.


At the end of day, down to Newcastle where we rendezvoused with Naomi - 'Didi' -who was also in Tibet. We had a meal at the 400 year old Blackbird Inn in Ponteland.