19th June. Two more 'lists' to go!

Only 2 more operating sessions, tomorow & thurs., then we are off to Vietnam.
Hanoi, Ha Long Bay & Saigon on the agenda. Beer & roadkill on the menu.
I'll post pictures on our return.

Toodle-pip!

13th June. The Dalai Lama at Australia Zoo

A beautiful but cold morning and I drove the 8 minutes down the hill from our house to 'Australia Zoo'.
The Dalai Lama was to give a talk at 9.30.
He was introduced by Terri Irwin - who spoke very well - and who was accompanied by Bindi & Bob.
The man himself came into the auditorium - the open air 'Crocoseum' and captivated his audience for the next hour.
He was enigmatic, charming, witty and profound. An incredible presence. His words were mesmerising.
I was impressed to simply be seeing this individual of truly historic importance. I knew his story so well - from his books and from the film-biography 'Kundun'. I'd seen his rooms in Lhasa at both the Potala and the Norbulingka and could imagine the upheaval of leaving there to become a refugee. Yet this man bears no malice and carries no bitterness. What an example.
I managed to get some great photos - the new zoom lens for the Canon Eos performing well.



Terri, Bob & Bindi, plus koala, came to say goodbye and were presented with ceremonial khatas.

There were only 3000 people allowed at the Aus. Zoo talk (The auditorium there takes 5000). In the afternoon His Holiness spoke in Brisbane to an audience of 15,000!
Apparently he meets the Prime Minister, John Howard, in the next couple of days, and the Chinese are most unimpressed.

9th June. What's in a name?

I'm not sure whether to feel amazed, disturbed, behind the times, flabbergasted or just bemused. Yesterday I read in the Brisbane 'Courier Mail' (so it must be true) that by the end of the year 'Mohammed' will become the most popular name for new-born boys in the UK! Apparently, it is currently 2nd to 'Jack'.

When names for my kids were being considered, just before they were born, the 1986 edition of 'The Guinness book of Names' reliably informed me that the top 10 boys names for 1985 were;
Christopher, Matthew, David, James, Daniel, Andrew, Steven, Michael, Mark, Paul.

1900 was a splendid time with the top 10 being;
William, John, George, Thomas, Charles, Frederick, Arthur, James, Albert, Ernest.

Ah! Those were the days my boy!

The training so far.

Walking is with a 5 kg. (11 lb.) dumbell in each hand or a backpack when 'bushwalking'.
Running is around the local biketracks, usually at 5.30 am..
March I did 47 km walking, 36 km. running - Total 83 km.
April I did 28 km. walking, 58.5 km. running - Total 86.5 km.
May I did 105 km. walking, 50 km. running - Total 155 km.

Must try harder in June.

31st May - No Picnic on Mt. Barney

Mt. Barney. 1354 m. - 4442 ft. (36 ft. higher than Ben Nevis!)

So, I had a free day and decided to attempt Mt. Barney on the Queensland/New South Wales border - about 120 km. from Brisbane.
I set off at 4.30 am and started walking at 6.30. It was cold and with low cloud - and we're in the middle of a drought! I was hoping the cloud would clear by mid morning.

A couple of hours walking/scrambling up the South Ridge brought me to the cloud level and then it got a bit unpleasant. There is no defined track. I got wet and cold. The rocks were as slippery as a really slippery thing and I was the only person on a mountain notorious for people getting lost & rescued. Time to go down. THEN I got lost. Ended up on the wrong ridge. The ridge I wanted to be on needed wings to get to. In fact it just meant retracing my tracks for about an hour and regaining the apology for a trail. Got back to the car about 2.00 pm somewhat bedraggled.
Anyway, it was great exercise & fresh air. Another 13 km and about 3000 ft. of 'uphill' for the training.

This is the view of Mount Lindsey from high up the South Ridge.

25th May - The Panchen Lama

25th May is the 18th birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima - the 11th Panchen Lama. He has been imprisoned by the Chinese since he was 6 years old! All attempts to track him down have failed.
The Chinese authorities named their own Panchen Lama and he is now the 2nd highest lama of the Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect after the Dalai Lama. The significance is that the Panchen Lama will be instrumental in choosing the next Dalai Lama and the Chinese believe they now can influence this choice.





When I was in Tibet last year we visited Shigatse and the monastery of Tashilhunpo. There was much activity and we were suprised by the arrival of Gyaincain Norbu - the Chinese nominated Panchen. (This is my photo of his arrival - many yellow hats and ceremonial parasol).

My reaction to seeing this character was mixed but I was surprised and, indeed, impressed by the reaction of our guide. Pasang was a young Tibetan who spoke good English and was with us for all our time in Tibet. I asked him what the Tibetans thought of the Chinese Panchen. He said that they feel much sympathy for him and that his position was a difficult one. He added that the community 'go along' with the pretence because they feel sorry for the young Gyancain who is forced to act out this role.
I was most impressed by this attitude - not of resignation and resentment - but of true Buddhist compassion and tolerance in the face of a difficult situation.

25th May

The first batch of pies were made last night - minced beef, potato & onion - and they were AWESOME!
Took 2 to work for lunch today.
Everyone must rush over to Australia and try our pies. (Mushy peas at no extra charge).

24th May - New Toy!

So my old Canon compact digital is getting a bit dated - 4 megapixels, 3x zoom, bits are getting wobbly and all the writing washed off in the rain when we did the Milford Track in New Zealand last year.
Time for an upgrade!


This little beauty is on it's way. The Canon TX1. It's 7.1 megapixels, 10x optical zoom, AND it does up to an hour of HD video directly onto the card! Goodbye tapes and hard drives. AND it can take high quality stills while you're videoing!

It's due to arrive within 5 days so I'll give it a workout when I go to see the Dalai Lama and when I climb Mt. Barney in the next couple of weeks. It will, of course, get a full workout in Vietnam next month - all as a prelude to what will be a sensational video of the ascent of Lhakpa Ri in September.

22nd May - 54 years since 1953

I was born 1 week before the first ascent of Everest & 12 days before the Coronation!

Here I am contemplating reaching the advanced age of 54;



An age where presents such as a 'pie-maker' are not only forthcoming, but much appreciated;


But every now and again the true nature shows itself;

Moving house - in 2011!

About a year ago Paula & I decided on a longish term plan. The kids will all be over 18 in a few years time and our house in Brisbane is quite large. Time perhaps to become inner city dwellers ( bearing in mind the 'country seat' at Maleny). Brisbane now has a thriving cafe society with plenty of art/entertainment action.
This development - called 'Vision' has just started being built - it's not even a hole in the ground at the moment. Once it's built it will be the tallest building in Brisbane and we've purchased 'off the plan', as it's called, a 3 bedroom, 2 floor apartment on levels 44 and 45. There are 2 underground car parks and the lower levels have shops, restaurants, pool, gym and so on. I suppose the stairs could be a bit tiring.
A couple of photographs - lifted off the net - of what it will look like, and a link to a You Tube 'fly around' of the whole thing.




Check it out on You Tube Here

Better pictures!

I've just learned that by 'double-clicking' on any of the blog photographs they will open up as large original size pictures. This means that all the blemishes & wrinkles on this old man can be viewed with indecent clarity! Happy viewing.

Thur. 3rd MAY. Training walk in the Blackall Range

Since the beginning of March I've been doing a bit of walking (with backpack & 5kg. weight in each hand) and also been running VERY early in the mornings before it gets light. I've gradually upped the distance run to a 5km. circuit which fits in nicely with getting to work. So, in March I walked 47 km. & ran 36 km. - total 83 km. In April I walked 28 km. & ran 58.5 km. - total 86.5 km. Time to up the ante.

Yesterday I went for a long walk along trails in the rainforest north of Brisbane, near Maleny - part of 'The Great Queensland Walk'. It was very dry which made it easier - less slippy, no rivers to cross and no leeches. There was a total climb of over 600 m. - 2000 feet - and a distance of 29 km. - 18 English miles. I did it in 6 hours and was amazed to find I was able to walk without any pain this morning!

Discovery Channel has been screening a great documentary on Everest which really shows what it's like at ABC and beyond. A good incentive to keep the exercise going.

Sat. 28th April. Madeleine's Year 12 'Formal'. Brisbane Girls' Grammar School.

Pre- formal drinks to be held at our place for Madeleine's close group of friends and their dates. The 'Formal' itself was held at the Brisbane Convention Centre for all 225 grade 12 girls and their partners. It was to have a Parisian theme!

The pre-formal organisers & Madeleine.



The belle of the ball.



Jake and George were on bar duty & did a great job.




The girls were gorgeous. We've known some of them since they were 5 years old.



Madeleine & friends line up next to our pool.

22nd April '07. Seven Years in Tibet

Up to the Maleny house to cut the grass, kill the weeds, admire the view. Things are certainly growing a lot more slowly now the days are getting shorter and it's a little cooler.

From the end of the road there is a view over the Glasshouse Mountains. There was a huge thundercloud over the Gold Coast and great view of the way up Mt. Beerwah.




In the evening I watched the DVD of 'Seven Years in Tibet', with Brad Pitt playing Heinrich Harrer, which I'd picked up in Pilgrims Bookshop in Kathmandu. I'd seen the movie when it first came out but having been to Lhasa it was profoundly moving. I started feeling desperately sad for Tibet and it's people in a way I never had before. They are most certainly still suffering under the Chinese - as China goes from strength to strength. Yet we in the west kow-tow to the Chinese because there is much money to be made. I wonder if the Olympics will allow us to see the true China or if it will remain a propoganda exercise.
Watch 'Seven years in Tibet' and also 'Kundun' if you have a chance, and don't go to the Olympics.
There are 2 books I've read recently that are worth a look at. 'Tibet, Tibet' by Patrick French is a good recent look from the point of view of someone who was a Tibetophile, who then travelled there and has had a change of perspective - more realistic. The other is 'The Story of Tibet' Conversations with the Dalai Lama by Thomas Laird.
In the latest Rolling Stone magazine there is a good article, which is even a little disturbing, about Tibet and it's future. Have a look at;
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/13247913/the_end_of_tibet

Latest Reading - Sven Hedin

There's a second-hand bookshop in Maleny run by a very nice old man. I spend hours browsing there. Recently I came across a real find. It's a 2 volume edition of Sven Hedin's 'TRANS-HIMALAYA. Discoveries and Adventures in Tibet'. This is a classic which is much quoted in the mountaineering literature. It's also very readable and he got to a few places, such as Shigatse, which I visited last year. This book was published in 1909! It's 98 years old! It was also a snip at 66 aussie dollars.

Much reading about Tibet and the mountains going on in preparation for the 2nd visit in September this year.

Easter 07 - Easter Sunday

On the Sunday we went to Conondale, about 15 km. from Maleny, to their 34th Annual Rodeo. This was very 'country', very 'Man from Snowy River' but a good day out. George & Jake bitterly disappointed there were no serious injuries.
Now back in Brisbane and work in the morning.

Easter 07 - to Maleny

Paula, Madeleine, George, Jake & myself to the house at Maleny for the long Easter weekend. The major plan was to work in the garden, but dinner at the Maleny Pub on Friday. This was the evening view from the back deck looking up towards Noosa.


















This little beauty and her smaller mate were on a web on our deck. They are 'Golden Orb' spiders and not venomous. The female is about 9 cm. overall and a body of about 3 cm.

Dalai Lama - the new Steve Irwin?

Hard to believe but I just booked my ticket to see and hear the Dalai Lama at Australia Zoo on 13th June. His tour of Australia was fully booked out then I got to hear he was talking at Steve Irwin's place.
Our Maleny house is literally 8 minutes drive up the hill from there so the game is on.
Armed with my new 75 - 300 mm. zoom lens for the Canon Eos I should get some good snaps. Will get them posted.

The Family 'Crozier'

Some recent photos of the family.

Jake (14), myself & George(15)
Madeleine (17), Paula (25 she says) & Nicola (19)

Major plans - 4th tour of 'Nam and once again, in the footsteps of Mallory

This year is BIG!

Vietnam in June for eating, drinking, shopping with Paula, Madeleine & Jake.

September - back to the RONGBUK.

My cousin Phil (who wasn't there last time) WILL be there and we plan to get to the top of Lhakpa Ri, 7045 m.

Lhasa and the Tibetan plateau beckon again. Plenty of training to be done.

Maleny weekends - the blog continues!

So here I am, MONTHS after starting a blog and nothing added.
However, prompted by the excellent blog of my friend Alan in Seattle (Dirtbagger) and my old mate Tom in Devon, I have decided to 'bat on'.
I was also prompted by an article in the Australian last week about the 'demise of the blog'. When it's unfashionable it's time for me to jump aboard!

So, having become clean shaven in Kathmandu, Christmas came & went.

It is now getting cooler in sunny Queensland and Paula & I have just been to our house up in the hills and planted 7 trees and about 25 other plants. We now look forward to seeing our frangipani, poinsianna & fig trees spurting skyward

10th Feb. Why my garage door wouldn't go up

Big Day Out 2007

What a VERY BIG day out!
Took Madeleine & friends to the Gold Coast then met up with George & Jake to see this stunning array of live music.
Essentially I watched Operator Please, Little Birdy, Eskimo Joe, The Butterfly Effect, My Chemical Romance, john Butler trio, Evermore, The Sleepy Jackson, The Killers. Jet and - by far the best - MUSE.
Home to Brisbane at 2.00 am. A fabulous day.

Mount Beerwah, Glasshouse Mountains

A weekend trip to Mount Beerwah, 800 m., and a fun climb up to fantastic views of the Sunshine Coast for son George & myself.

The Beginning

Having been stimulated , encouraged & prompted by my friend Alan from Seattle to get blogging - here it is.
I hope it becomes a way of keeping family & friends in touch with what my immediate family and myself are up to in our rather beautiful part of the world.
Travel is a large part of what I get up to so it will act as a display case for some of the snapshots that I enjoy taking.
Because I originated in the UK and migrated to Australia 16 years ago, this seems like a fabulous way to stay in touch with many people.
I'll keep you all posted - literally.