Karyn sent me an SMS and a followup email this afternoon to say that Jessica's broken a bone in her foot. Apparently she's now in a wheelchair that Karyn has to push around.
I bet it has nothing to do with the cheap alcohol onboard.
I tried calling her, but they must have moved out of range of a mobile tower. Or maybe it's just that the mobile phone network can't find her.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Holiday time
Matt and I are having a holiday for the next week or so. Karyn thinks that she's the one having a having a holiday but in reality it's just that we've got rid of her for a while.
We took her to Sydney so that she and Jessica could get on the Pacific Jewel.
As soon as they got onboard, Matt and I headed off to the Watson's Bay pub to wave them goodbye over a glass of ale.
And so we watched them sail into the distance..... while we planned the upcoming fortnight.
We stayed overnight at Mum's place in Rose Bay while she is over in England. Here is the night view from her place looking back towards the City.
We took her to Sydney so that she and Jessica could get on the Pacific Jewel.
As soon as they got onboard, Matt and I headed off to the Watson's Bay pub to wave them goodbye over a glass of ale.
And so we watched them sail into the distance..... while we planned the upcoming fortnight.
We stayed overnight at Mum's place in Rose Bay while she is over in England. Here is the night view from her place looking back towards the City.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
More photography
I had a chance to do some more photography today.
Firstly, I went back to the Botanic Gardens where I photographed yesterday. After looking at the photos on the computer last night, I realised that some of the photos showed too much light reflection off the leaves, so today I went back and took some more using a polarizing filter. Unfortunately, even though the filter was effective, the afternoon sun didn't provide the same "fresh" green as I captured yesterday morning. Oh well, I learn something each time.
Later on, I drove up to the top of Black Mountain to see what was available for picture-taking. The Botanic Gardens are at the base of Black Mountain, so this involved driving out of the Gardens, turning right, driving about 100m, then turning onto the road that goes to the top of the mountain.
I didn't want to catch the lift to the observation deck as I expect to do that in a few days time when Fay's friend arrives to visit for a few days. So I was content to just wander around and snap a few shots.
This was taken from a lookout, overlooking Lake Burley Griffin. The Captain Cook water jet is to the left of the Commonwealth Avenue bridge.
This is the Telstra Tower at the top of Black Mountain. The sky looks really blue because I was using a circular polarizing filter.
Here is a close-up of the tower, standing just outside the entrance at its base.
Firstly, I went back to the Botanic Gardens where I photographed yesterday. After looking at the photos on the computer last night, I realised that some of the photos showed too much light reflection off the leaves, so today I went back and took some more using a polarizing filter. Unfortunately, even though the filter was effective, the afternoon sun didn't provide the same "fresh" green as I captured yesterday morning. Oh well, I learn something each time.
Later on, I drove up to the top of Black Mountain to see what was available for picture-taking. The Botanic Gardens are at the base of Black Mountain, so this involved driving out of the Gardens, turning right, driving about 100m, then turning onto the road that goes to the top of the mountain.
I didn't want to catch the lift to the observation deck as I expect to do that in a few days time when Fay's friend arrives to visit for a few days. So I was content to just wander around and snap a few shots.
This is the Telstra Tower at the top of Black Mountain. The sky looks really blue because I was using a circular polarizing filter.
Here is a close-up of the tower, standing just outside the entrance at its base.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sammy
My mother-in-law's new puppy has started to settle down and hopefully knows not to chew the carpet anymore. She's also settled on the name "Sammy" after downloading pages of poodle names off the Internet.
I've always found it difficult to take pictures of black poodles because the pictures always seem to make them look like black blobs with no discernible features. A flash only make them look worse because of the reflection off their coat. Here is the best picture that I've taken so far.
I'll try photographing him again over the next few days to see how I can take better photographs.
Today I went to the Botanic Gardens to practice taking photos in dappled light. I find this the hardest type of lighting, but one that I have to deal with a lot.
I've always found it difficult to take pictures of black poodles because the pictures always seem to make them look like black blobs with no discernible features. A flash only make them look worse because of the reflection off their coat. Here is the best picture that I've taken so far.
I'll try photographing him again over the next few days to see how I can take better photographs.
Today I went to the Botanic Gardens to practice taking photos in dappled light. I find this the hardest type of lighting, but one that I have to deal with a lot.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
We saw Avatar 3D
Tonight Matt and I went to see the new movie "Avatar".
Fabulous.
We saw the 3D version, and after seeing this, I really wouldn't want to see the conventional 2D version of it because the experience would be diminished so much.
Fabulous.
We saw the 3D version, and after seeing this, I really wouldn't want to see the conventional 2D version of it because the experience would be diminished so much.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas Day
Well, Christmas Day has started off differently from most.
4am: Matthew was working last night and went out for drinks afterwoods. He got home around 4am with a drunk mate in tow who needed somewhere to sleep. So at 4am Matthew is organising a mattress and sleeping bag for him. I was more concerned about his friend being sick during the night, but everything was ok. Karyn got them up at 8am because we thought that Joel's parents would be wanting him home for Christmas morning.
9am: Despite that fact that we are in the middle of a drought and that we've been suffering from 35 degree heat for the past few days, today we wake up to rain and 23 degree temperature. We had been invited to a friend's house for Christmas dinner that was being held outside with lots of people invited. Fortunately we had decided to have our lunch here first so we don't have to worry about the rain ruining our plans.
Matthew also left it to 4am to wrap his presents. As you can see from what he handed me. And yes, this is before I tried to open it.
Matthew just had enough energy to open his presents. He then went back to bed.
We got to wear our matching Hawaiian outfits (her suggestion - not mine). Until Karyn spilt some beetroot dip down her dress.
Fay's new puppy that she bought as a Christmas present to herself. Poor thing.
11:30am: I've just had to stand in the rain to put the leg of pork in the barbeque. Fortunately it's got a lid.
12:30pm: It's harder than normal to get the barbeque to the right temperature. I think the constant rain falling on the lid is causing it to lose heat. I've just added a chicken to the barbeque.
1:30pm. My mother-in-law's dog just chewed a hole in our carpet.
2:00pm. Lunch. I can't drink because we have to go to Penny's this afternoon and, as usual, I am the "designated driver". This year I tried hard to avoid overeating. I succeeded. I had some of everything and not too much of anything. The Christmas pudding was fantastic: you can never add too much brandy.
4pm. Off to Penny's. Fay is having a nanna-nap instead. Matt is playing World of Warcraft on his new quad-core, twin-screen computer - it would take the end of the world to get him off it.
6pm. Back from Penny's. Karyn and Penny were having champagne with raspberry liqueur in it. As the designated driver, I stuck to Pepsi Max.
6:30pm. Dog has chewed a second hole in carpet. May have fatal accident in the morning.
7:30pm. Karyn & Fay were yawning and went to bed.
1:00am. I went to bed.
3am. Karyn went downstairs and told Matthew to get off computer and go to bed.
4am: Matthew was working last night and went out for drinks afterwoods. He got home around 4am with a drunk mate in tow who needed somewhere to sleep. So at 4am Matthew is organising a mattress and sleeping bag for him. I was more concerned about his friend being sick during the night, but everything was ok. Karyn got them up at 8am because we thought that Joel's parents would be wanting him home for Christmas morning.
9am: Despite that fact that we are in the middle of a drought and that we've been suffering from 35 degree heat for the past few days, today we wake up to rain and 23 degree temperature. We had been invited to a friend's house for Christmas dinner that was being held outside with lots of people invited. Fortunately we had decided to have our lunch here first so we don't have to worry about the rain ruining our plans.
11:30am: I've just had to stand in the rain to put the leg of pork in the barbeque. Fortunately it's got a lid.
12:30pm: It's harder than normal to get the barbeque to the right temperature. I think the constant rain falling on the lid is causing it to lose heat. I've just added a chicken to the barbeque.
1:30pm. My mother-in-law's dog just chewed a hole in our carpet.
2:00pm. Lunch. I can't drink because we have to go to Penny's this afternoon and, as usual, I am the "designated driver". This year I tried hard to avoid overeating. I succeeded. I had some of everything and not too much of anything. The Christmas pudding was fantastic: you can never add too much brandy.
4pm. Off to Penny's. Fay is having a nanna-nap instead. Matt is playing World of Warcraft on his new quad-core, twin-screen computer - it would take the end of the world to get him off it.
6pm. Back from Penny's. Karyn and Penny were having champagne with raspberry liqueur in it. As the designated driver, I stuck to Pepsi Max.
6:30pm. Dog has chewed a second hole in carpet. May have fatal accident in the morning.
7:30pm. Karyn & Fay were yawning and went to bed.
1:00am. I went to bed.
3am. Karyn went downstairs and told Matthew to get off computer and go to bed.
The return of the mother-in-law
Christmas is upon us and so is my mother-in-law.
Unfortunately the office where I work is closed for the coming week.
Unfortunately the office where I work is closed for the coming week.
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