20 years since “the earthquake”

I can’t believe I was only 7 years old, hanging out at the Newcastle Blood Bank on Watt Street Newcastle. There were police in there at the time, waiting their turn to donate blood when the earthquake struck. People thought it was a bomb, or a gas explosion, or something over a BHP. A nurse was caught in the lift. I’m sure many other people were caught in lifts around the place too.

“When the Earthquake happened” was the story starter of choice going into year 2 for most in my class. Definitely a “where were you?” situation…

Happy Xmas!

Enjoy this Flying Spaghetti Monster rendition of the first Xmas. I’m sure it’s just as accurate as any other ‘story’ we’ve been told about the true meaning of Chrifsmas!

(as seen at The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Enjoy your day, eat too much and hug your family!

Great Ocean Road – Day 1

I still haven’t uploaded all my photos! Some are here at Flickr, but below are a few of my highlights from day one!

Geelong Beach

Fish and Chips at Geelong

Our hirecar (just outside ?Angelsea)

Putting the roof down.
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Lava Espresso Bar @ Weston

They do a nice Soy Latte. Large, $4.

Good start to the day ;)

Christmas Party @ Hudsons in the Botanic Gardens

Last night I tagged along to one of Rish’s work Xmas parties. I think I picked the right one – at Hudson’s in the National Botanic Gardens, food and wine was provided. Noice.

Salty and meaty. Yum!

Buffet mains.

Much lusted-after Pavlova. yay!

(I stuck to the bubbles!)

Xmas Cocktail Party

Hosted a cocktail at our place last night. The idea behind it was to use up some of the spirits we’ve been acquiring… but after cleaning up this morning we have more than we started with, plus (yay!) heaps of fresh fruit for me to eat this week, plus foods like cakes that will be palmed off onto workmates this week :p

The spirits we provided (many other things arrived with our guests)

Plastic cocktail glasses. Awesome invention.

Cupcakes. Made using this recipe and covered in icing and balls. very very rich and sweet.

I only really got into the drinks late in the night, when Kat was in full flight making them, half the people had left and I relaxed a little.

Xxxmas Tree 2009

*ahem*

Having the Flying Spaghetti Monster probed by the Trident as our tree topper is … new this year.

He needs a hat though. Thinking of finding a time xmas bear and stripping him. Other suggestions welcome ;)

Bring on Xmas cheer!

12

No, this is not a countdown, but HAPPY 12TH ANNIVERSARY, Rish, my dear :)

Not too bad a photo, considering it was taken myspace-style in a little town along the Great Ocean Road. A little windblown from having the roof down!

Mwah! So, here’s to another year of not killing each other? :)

13

Yes, I may just be back from one holiday, but there are only 13 working days til Xmas break – shutdown over Xmas and new year, so I have from Dec 24 til 4th Jan off.

Hopefully I will have a car back and be able to drive to Newcastle! Yesterday afternoon the reverse gear made an awful crunching sound when I went to back it out of the driveway. I’m hoping the forward motion works so that, after my big strong males push it up onto the road, I can drive it to the mechanics for an expensive repair. Automatic transmission, I’m told, can be rather expensive. Merry Xmas, hey?

I have 494 photos and videos from out Melbourne trip to upload – gorgeous scenes, particularly of the area around the Great Ocean Road – but they will come in time.

In the meantime, here’s what Colgate sent in response to the Ant Issue..