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.

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

15th March. HEADSHAVE.

Spent a happy couple of hours in Brisbane City Centre as I had been collecting sponsors for the 'World's Greatest Shave' to get funds for Leukaemia Research.

My Aunt Doreen and Mother-in-Law Joan both died of this unpleasant disease.

Little 3 minute video of before, during & after the shave.

I managed to pull in over $3,800 

You can still donate at: 

 http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=472096

Christmas Day in Brisbane.

13th December. STRANGLERS & BLONDIE.

The Stranglers and Blondie at Brisbane Riverstage.

Debbie Harry was great - sang all the old hit songs. But Clem Burke was a sensation on drums.

15th November 2012. Concert by ANI CHOYING DROLMA

 Excellent concert in Brisbane by Nepalese Nun .

PARKLIFE. Sat. 29th Sept. Brisbane.

An excellent day of music at Brisbane Parklife. 

Went with Madeleine, Nicola, Grace & Jake.

It was a great line-up.

In order I managed to see; The Belligerents, Alis Wonderland, Parachute Youth, Hermitude, St. Lucia, Charli XCX, Chiddy Bang, Plan B, Modestep, Wiley, Tame Impala and Passion Pit. Plan B was easily the best. Plus we had the Riverfire fireworks! 

Jake ashamed that he can't dance like me.

Charli XCX - some good pop songs.

Plan B. I was right at the front and got about 50 amazing photos - more on Facebook.

Last band I enjoyed - Tame Impala.

Sun. 16th. Sept. Steel Hammer's 1st Race.

To Caloundra Racecourse.

Steel Hammer - in whom I have a 10% share (front right leg) - had his first race.

In our stable's colours of orange & green.

 He started as favourite, led until 2 furlongs from home, then faded and finished 2nd last!
However, he'll have better odds on him next time.

Sun. 2nd Sept. Bridge to Brisbane. 10 km. run.

With Nicola and her friend Bec to the 06.00 start of the run.

Did 1.02.44. Then into the Wesley Hospital corporate tent for breakfast.

Not even sweating!

Fri. 31st Aug. Charity Dinner at Restaurant II

To Restaurant II for the annual WANTZ committee Charity Dinner.

This year they raised $200,000 for Cerebral Palsy.

 Paula, Bill, Les & Janet.

To Carmel's Exhibition of ceramics.

To Ithaca Tafe to check out the exhibition being held by Carmel Lumley of her ceramics.

The works are inspired by the sea and are exquisite porcelain jellyfish and nudibranchs (look it up!)

The Prime Minister of Tibet

To the Novotel Airport Hotel to a small gathering to hear the newly elected Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile.

He was preceeded by Sonam Norbu Dagpo, the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australasia.

Lobsang Sangay is a Harvard educated Tibetan who was recently elected Kalon Tripa, or Prime Minister.

He spoke, very eloquently, for an hour on how he was elected to the position (which has taken on all the secular obligations of the Dalai Lama) and the current situation with the Chinese and how bad things are in Tibet.

Afterwards he posed for photos with members of the Tibetan Queensland Community.

Tue. 19th June. WESLEY RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

To a lecture by Australian Nobel Prize Winner ELIZABETH BLACKBURN (Medicine 2009). She works in San Francisco and won the prize for her work on Telomeres and the discovery of the role of Telomerase.


This was a fabulous lecture. She is very enthusiastic and spoke mainly about her work over the last few years so it was bang up to date.


Also present - and looking as glamorous as usual - was Her Excellency the Governor General of Australia, QUINTIN BRYCE.


A splendid evening.

Sat. 16th June. LADY GAGA. The Born This Way Ball.

Madeleine & me at Brisbane Entertainment Centre to see Lady Gaga.

Amazing entrance on a unicorn!

She played all her big hits, danced for 2 hours and hit all the right notes.
I like the fact that she writes all her own songs and has the brash hedonistic side to her but she also has a vulnerability and cares for people's individual right to live the life they want.

She is also 'Well fit' as they say in The Inbetweeners.