This evening we farewelled a workmate named Merinko. Merinko migrated from Crotia a number of years ago leaving his war torn homeland to begin again in a new country. He worked hard to build a home and eventually met a woman here whom he had hoped to marry. Unfortunately this did not work out and loneliness and isolation soon set in. J and I met him onsite. He was a strategic concretor and very good at what he did. We often stopped to ask him how his day was going or what he had done during his weekend. I commented to J many times that Merinko must have been a very lonely man.
Tonight we all gathered at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church Vincentia to remember him and say a final farewell. I remarked to J and other collieges afterwards that one can never show too much kindness to another human being as we never know what life (or death) holds for us around the corner.
The world is a lesser place for having lost you from it Merinko
Rest in peace
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
If I could catch the sound of waves I would do it just for you And share with you a flower’s beauty on the days you're feeling blue.
It is a glorious day here down in Jervis Bay and so full of beauty that it makes one want to take your camera out and go for a walk until the rest of the household gets out of bed lol. Billy Joel floods the house with the most motivating of sounds. The smell of coffee coming from the kitchen and floating down over the back yard.
Windows and doors open, letting the sounds of autumn mingle perfectly with the music and believe me when I say that the sounds of autumn include kookaburras that like to let each other know when they are awake. They sit in the tree outside of my bedroom window and stake out their daily claim by being very vocal. 
One can touch the depth of your own soul on such a moment in time, feel all the beauty within and enjoy the little things such as these. Have a good day everyone.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Easter 2010
It was the Easter Weekend of April 2010 and J and I had tickets to see Carol King and James Taylor in concert at the Hunter Valley. It seemed to good a chance not to pass up and with seats up close to the stage we set off to Polkolbin on Good Friday.
The weather was perfect and we both enjoyed every minute of the drive there. Our accommodation was at the Villa Province which was very lovely and made me feel like I was experiencing a touch of French provincial Europe. 
The weather was perfect and we both enjoyed every minute of the drive there. Our accommodation was at the Villa Province which was very lovely and made me feel like I was experiencing a touch of French provincial Europe. 
We visited only three wineries out of the 120 wineries that we could have visited but J and I decided to explore the country side and Cessnock as well. Upon our next visit we will take in a few more wineries then. The three we chose were the lovely Allison Wilkinson winery, McGuigans Winery and Tempus Two Winery. 
Now I have always enjoyed Mcguigan’s wines but was delighted to find out that Tempus Two Winery was also owned by McGuigans. 
The views all around the Hunter are spectacular and well worth taking your camera along and even the individual vineyards are very beautiful up close and personal.This is the strikingly smart Tempus Two Winery.
The opnly way to describe the Hunter region is to picture rolling hills everywhere. There are views across the vineyards to the Brokenback Ranges in all directions and as the clouds came and went their shadows moved across green terrain with dams and vineyards woven in and out.
Within the wineries themselves we browzed and tasted and listened to talks about grapes and production. There is an amazing amount of science involved in the production of wine and we tasted to our hearts content from the lightest to the heaviest and purchased several bottles to enjoy back at home too.
We also stopped at several cheese shops and a chocolate shop.
Come Saturday night we made our way to the Hope Estate Winery where the big concert was to take place. Our friend Garry and his wife were also attending the concert however with 15000 people present it was like looking for a needle in a haystack lol. 
So after dinner we settled back to enjoy the music and the memories of the 70s and what a wonderful treat it was. 
Now apparently King and Taylor came together in Las Angeles at a club called the Troubadour and the evening was such a magnificent success that they sat and planned a reunion world tour with James’s original band. Carole King is now 68 years old and James Taylor is 60 years old and a look around the audience said that most of us were over 40 lol. Imagine 15000 people all of a similar age, all gathered together in an air of excitement to celebrate the best songs of two pivotal singer-songwriters. It was a magic al evening 
We woke Sunday morning to another beautiful day. At the front of the villas is the loveliest fountain and the birds enjoyed frolicking there. I shot a few more photos before we left to head to Sydney for a few days with the family. It was such a relaxed and peaceful weekend that we did not want to return to the rush and bustle of work. 
From our family to yours....we hope that you had a safe and Happy Easter. If your holiday break seemed to fly by much too quickly please do not dispair because the Anzac Weekend is only a few weeks away..
Sunday, February 21, 2010
For you wake one day, look around and say, somebody wonderful married me,......
It is good to do something for one's self every now and then. The other day I wanted to purchse something for J in rememberance of our 28th wedding anniversary and walked around for hours looking in the shops. J and I are not what you would call "slaves to possessions" or materialistic people. In fact, we live quite simply and enjoy living this way. There are distinct advantages in living simplistically. For example, there is little to no clutter and no debt. I digress.
Each time that I looked at an object as a present I wondered as to the amount of use it would receive so in the end I decided to head home and have a think about it. While walking to my car I passed a travel agent who was advertising P&O ruises Now think about this for a moment.....two glorous weeks cruising the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean, someone to wait on you all the time, no phones, no customers, no meetings, no primary clients and no work. Two weeks of someone else's cooking, two weeks of snorkling, diving, fishing, enjoying beautiful islands and two weeks of dancing, relaxation and sleep. Yes....this was definately going to be a great wedding present so, off I went inside there and then to book it.
J and I celebrated our 25th anniversary with a cruise and we still talk about the memories and excitement associated with that trip so this one will be even more exciting. We will be cruising on the Pacific Sun which will leave on December 29th ready for New Year's eve. Now our last cruise visited the exact same ports however, this time we know what to expect and what shore tours to book onto.
How to wrap a cruise as a present? I took home the brochure and put the receipt and brochure into a gift bag along with an anniversary card. John was getting ready to go out to dinner and was surprized when I gave him the gift bag. As he realized what the brochure was all about the biuggest grin spread out over his face and he was soon caught up in the excitement . Now we are looking forward to our Christmas break. This past Christmas break was cut short when we were asked to return to work early. At the time it did not seem such a hardship however, since returning to work we have both realized that our Christmas holidays are necessary to our wellbeing for the rest of the year. By next Christmas I hope to be at Duntroon Military College working and John will be out on the point on Jervis Bay at HMAS Creswell. Come Christmas we will be taking a much needed break to go cruising. Happy 28th wedding anniversary J. x
Each time that I looked at an object as a present I wondered as to the amount of use it would receive so in the end I decided to head home and have a think about it. While walking to my car I passed a travel agent who was advertising P&O ruises Now think about this for a moment.....two glorous weeks cruising the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean, someone to wait on you all the time, no phones, no customers, no meetings, no primary clients and no work. Two weeks of someone else's cooking, two weeks of snorkling, diving, fishing, enjoying beautiful islands and two weeks of dancing, relaxation and sleep. Yes....this was definately going to be a great wedding present so, off I went inside there and then to book it.
J and I celebrated our 25th anniversary with a cruise and we still talk about the memories and excitement associated with that trip so this one will be even more exciting. We will be cruising on the Pacific Sun which will leave on December 29th ready for New Year's eve. Now our last cruise visited the exact same ports however, this time we know what to expect and what shore tours to book onto.
How to wrap a cruise as a present? I took home the brochure and put the receipt and brochure into a gift bag along with an anniversary card. John was getting ready to go out to dinner and was surprized when I gave him the gift bag. As he realized what the brochure was all about the biuggest grin spread out over his face and he was soon caught up in the excitement . Now we are looking forward to our Christmas break. This past Christmas break was cut short when we were asked to return to work early. At the time it did not seem such a hardship however, since returning to work we have both realized that our Christmas holidays are necessary to our wellbeing for the rest of the year. By next Christmas I hope to be at Duntroon Military College working and John will be out on the point on Jervis Bay at HMAS Creswell. Come Christmas we will be taking a much needed break to go cruising. Happy 28th wedding anniversary J. x
When I was young, I couldn’t think
What it would be like to be older.
How could I know it would bring such joy
Just to cuddle my head on your shoulder.
So many things bring happiness now,
Like a rub on the back or your gentle smile,
And my feelings for you are stronger today
Than they were when we walked down the aisle.
When I was young, my fondest wish
Was a marriage that could be this good.
Where we’d work through pain to laugh again
As loving partners should.
As the days drift by we’ve settled in,
To a love that’s rich and rewarding.
Just sharing with you is a dream come true;
You’re a pleasure well worth hoarding!
I can honestly say that I’m happy with you;
What it would be like to be older.
How could I know it would bring such joy
Just to cuddle my head on your shoulder.
So many things bring happiness now,
Like a rub on the back or your gentle smile,
And my feelings for you are stronger today
Than they were when we walked down the aisle.
When I was young, my fondest wish
Was a marriage that could be this good.
Where we’d work through pain to laugh again
As loving partners should.
As the days drift by we’ve settled in,
To a love that’s rich and rewarding.
Just sharing with you is a dream come true;
You’re a pleasure well worth hoarding!
I can honestly say that I’m happy with you;
to me you simply shine,
We're best friends, lovers, work mates and more
We're best friends, lovers, work mates and more
And I’m blessed and thankful that you're mine.
Grow old with me, the best is yet to be, the last decades of life for which we both were made.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Today J and I returned from a drive around to the heads. The weather has been overcast with lightening scattered about Jervis Bay however, mother nature was kind enough to put a hold on the rain. The lightening was spectacular in the distance and as we drove around some back roads in the area we were able to see a few Black Cockatoos and other wildlife. We drove up a road that runs parallel with the entry to the bay and stopped to watch a White Bellied Sea Eagle. 
I think we were both surprised that we ventured upon it without actually seeking one out. Of course we stopped to snap a few pictures however, with the lightening constantly in the sky I found it difficult to achieve what I wanted. Eventually I snapped a few shots using the 300mm but instinctively knew that I would be disappointed with the results. Some photos simply do not do justice to the subject.
A White Bellied Sea Eagle is completely white except for some dark grey areas on it’s back and wings. In flight these dark grey feathers on the wings spread and remain still (from what we could see) as they are easily viewed from below. It had a large hooked bill but most intriguing was it’s talons, which appeared huge. The sea eagle is a bird of prey hence, the talons. Whilst flying it simply soared through the air and we were both amazed at the span of it’s wings, which must have been about a metre wide. There was very little movement of its wings, as though it were comfortable simply floating on top of the air currents. Every now and then the sea eagle would dive to catch something down in the water and rise back up to its floating spot in the air. It is hard to believe that such majestic birds were once hunted down as trophies.
I think we were both surprised that we ventured upon it without actually seeking one out. Of course we stopped to snap a few pictures however, with the lightening constantly in the sky I found it difficult to achieve what I wanted. Eventually I snapped a few shots using the 300mm but instinctively knew that I would be disappointed with the results. Some photos simply do not do justice to the subject.A White Bellied Sea Eagle is completely white except for some dark grey areas on it’s back and wings. In flight these dark grey feathers on the wings spread and remain still (from what we could see) as they are easily viewed from below. It had a large hooked bill but most intriguing was it’s talons, which appeared huge. The sea eagle is a bird of prey hence, the talons. Whilst flying it simply soared through the air and we were both amazed at the span of it’s wings, which must have been about a metre wide. There was very little movement of its wings, as though it were comfortable simply floating on top of the air currents. Every now and then the sea eagle would dive to catch something down in the water and rise back up to its floating spot in the air. It is hard to believe that such majestic birds were once hunted down as trophies.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Corrugated Aussie Roads...it's a real bump!
I received a comment about my visit to Point Perpendicular and yes…the roads do have corrugations in spots. For those of you who have not experienced corrugations before I will do my best to explain.
Upon entry to Point Perpendicular you pass through some boom gates; the road to this point is bitumen. Several meters further along the road’s surface changed to loose dirt and stone. The road began to resemble an old fashioned washboard; some fellow travelers have referred to corrugated roads as the “cyclist’s lament” lol. If you can picture a piece of corrugated iron tin then aply that look toa a dirt road. It is the bumpiest of roads that one can travel on I think lol. It is difficult to travel at any great speed on such roads yet at the same time one cannot travel slowly on an extreme example of a corrugated road as the base of your spine and back will take quite a thumping. Some years back John and I plus the three children travelled to Henbury Meteorite Park, which is located about 140km south west of Alice Springs. There are about twelve craters there which were formed as the result of a meteor hitting the earth’s surface back in the 1930s. Some of the craters were about 15 meters deep, and to be honest I do not remember what diameter they were. Huge is the only description I can think of lol. I remember the road into the site have incredible corrugations and we are talking approximately 30 kilometers of corrugations. We were travelling in a Toyota Commuter van at the time and the corrugations certainly tested the van’s suspension. I have often wondered if people who live in the outback are ever completely unmindful of corrugations.
The corrugations at Point Perpendicular are certainly no where near as extreme however, they are certainly one bump after another for many kilometers. At Henbury we were told that they are caused by a mixture of wind and rain. The wind blows continuously down onto the dirt causing it to develop a wave look about it and when the rains come to the dry area they run over the dry lands and trickle down throughout these “waves” causing them to set into ripple-like formations. True or false I have no idea but don’t plan to sleep while anyone is driving you down a corrugated Aussie road!
The roads here have beautiful wild flowers growing on either side and if you take your time as we did, the bumps are not all that bad. In fact, unexpected experiences make life so much more fun and adventurous. February 6th is our 28th wedding anniversary and we are planning to go camping out to Honeymoon Bay for the weekend. We are taking our trusted fishing gear and snorkeling equipment as the long range weather forecast is for good weather. If I think of it I will take a few photos of the corrugated roads out to the point.
Cheers
Heather
Upon entry to Point Perpendicular you pass through some boom gates; the road to this point is bitumen. Several meters further along the road’s surface changed to loose dirt and stone. The road began to resemble an old fashioned washboard; some fellow travelers have referred to corrugated roads as the “cyclist’s lament” lol. If you can picture a piece of corrugated iron tin then aply that look toa a dirt road. It is the bumpiest of roads that one can travel on I think lol. It is difficult to travel at any great speed on such roads yet at the same time one cannot travel slowly on an extreme example of a corrugated road as the base of your spine and back will take quite a thumping. Some years back John and I plus the three children travelled to Henbury Meteorite Park, which is located about 140km south west of Alice Springs. There are about twelve craters there which were formed as the result of a meteor hitting the earth’s surface back in the 1930s. Some of the craters were about 15 meters deep, and to be honest I do not remember what diameter they were. Huge is the only description I can think of lol. I remember the road into the site have incredible corrugations and we are talking approximately 30 kilometers of corrugations. We were travelling in a Toyota Commuter van at the time and the corrugations certainly tested the van’s suspension. I have often wondered if people who live in the outback are ever completely unmindful of corrugations.
The corrugations at Point Perpendicular are certainly no where near as extreme however, they are certainly one bump after another for many kilometers. At Henbury we were told that they are caused by a mixture of wind and rain. The wind blows continuously down onto the dirt causing it to develop a wave look about it and when the rains come to the dry area they run over the dry lands and trickle down throughout these “waves” causing them to set into ripple-like formations. True or false I have no idea but don’t plan to sleep while anyone is driving you down a corrugated Aussie road!
The roads here have beautiful wild flowers growing on either side and if you take your time as we did, the bumps are not all that bad. In fact, unexpected experiences make life so much more fun and adventurous. February 6th is our 28th wedding anniversary and we are planning to go camping out to Honeymoon Bay for the weekend. We are taking our trusted fishing gear and snorkeling equipment as the long range weather forecast is for good weather. If I think of it I will take a few photos of the corrugated roads out to the point.
Cheers
Heather
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