Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Fifteen

Sunday 28th April

Got up and drove down to Southsea to meet all the Yateley crowd, most people were there and it was great to see them all with kids. We all met at Clarence Pier and spent some time on the beach before walking to Gun Wharf Quayfor lunch.
The afternoon was spent hanging out at the funfair and flying a kite on the park. Drove home and had a fish and chip supper in Basingstoke. 

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Fourteen

Saturday 27th April
Drove to Basingstoke staton and caught the train to Waterloo. The folks got on the same train at Woking and I met them at the gates as we pled into Waterloo.

We caught the Jubilee Line to Stratford and then caught a taxi to the check in point of the 'Park in Progress' tour. The organisation was a bit lacking and our 2pm bus really was just one of many buses and after standing in queue for 35 mins we got a bus to Orbit Tower to view the site. Wasn't quite the Olympic Park tour we thought it would be but still very interesting to see the staid and site.

We caught the DLR back to Canary Wharf and then Jubilee Line to Waterloo and managed t get a training 2 mins home. Folks got off at Woking and I continued to Basingstoke. Grabbed the car and nipped back to Yateley to grab some bits and the back to Basingstoke.
Hazel and Peters friends Sarah and Steve and their son Lucas came a over for dinner which was nice. Headed to bed at about 11pm.

 

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Thirteen

Friday 26th April
Alvin dropped me down to Basingstoke for 9.30am and I went out with Hazel to do some deliveries and then we went to Winchester to do some shopping and have some lunch. Was a very nice day out. We headed home in the afternoon and then had a nice pasta dinner at home with Peter. Jet lag caught with me and I was falling asleep on the sofa at 9pm and Hazel sent me off to bed.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Twelve

Thursday 25th April

Woke up at about 8am which was good to try and beat the jet lag. Spent much of the day helping Alv reduce the size of the shed after the fence move yesterday. We got a lot done and finished off at about 4pm as it was getting quite cold and starting to rain. Went to bed at about 10.30 which was good for trying to beat the jet lag.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Eleven

Wednesday 24th April
Landed at 5.39am just about on schedule. Was glad to get of the plane after second leg of 13 hours. (I had a good stop in Hong Kong) . I slept about 5 hours on lane. Cleared customs really quickly as I was one of the first of plane and I think we were one of first flights to land too. Bags came through quickly too so I was n arrivals quickly and phoned folks who were still approaching the airport. Met them at the departures area and as such didn't need to deal with car park etc.
Got home and met Hazel who had come over to cook brekkie which was well needed. She went home and I spent some time unpacking.
To try and beat jet lag spent most of the day helping Alvin move the fence at the side of the house, we also went to B&Q to get so e bits. It was insane there due to it being pensioner discount day.

Had an Italian selection for dinner and by 8.30 I was in bed asleep

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Ten

Tuesday 23rd April

Awoke and said my goodbyes to Kate as she went off to work, not looking forward to being apart so long. Bill and Carol dropped me off at the airport around midday and I checked in (the joy of Premium Economy meant I skipped the queue). Went through security, had a bit of lunch and then boarded the plane. First leg was uneventful and after 9 hours plane landed in Hong Kong. Generally Virgin service was good, here is a picture of the meal. Reboarded the fight at 1.30am Sydney time for another 13 hours of flying to London.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Nine

Monday 22nd April
Spent the day doing some shopping at the chase and also nipped back to Kennards for my shoes for the wedding in Bristol in a couple of weeks. I also packed most of my stuff for trip during the day. Kate came home and we had some dinner and a a quick call to Adelaide. We watched a bit of TV before bed.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Eight

Sunday 21st April

Awoke and we had some brekkie with Chris and Hannah. Once we were all washed and dressed we headed into Norwood for some lunch at a local cafe. We did some shopping before going back to the house to pick up our stuff before going to the airport. We said our goodbyes to Chris and Hannah and flew back to Sydney. Bill and Carol picked us up and we headed back to Willoughby.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Seven

Saturday 20th April

Still to update

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Six

Friday 19th April

Did some final packing in the morning before heading into work on the train. Spent the day wrapping up some issues before putting my out of office on and getting out of work for next three weeks. Caught a train to the airport  and waited for Kate to arrive who was being dropped off by Bill and Carol.

Kate arrived and we checked in and went through and caught flight to Adelaide.

We were met at the airport by Chris and Hannah, it was good to see them again. We drove into the city and after brief visit to the markets got some nice Thai food at a local restaurant.

Was distracted by some news coming out of the Melbourne event.

Headed back to Chris and Hannahs house, watched the Cats v Swans game and then off to bed.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Five

Thursday 18th April

A quiet day at work as most of the Sydney team have flown down to Melbourne for the first event of the year. I'm using the quiet time to try and get ahead on a few issues before my big trip away. 

Came home, had some dinner and watched TV before bed.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Four

Wednesday 17th April

Kate dropped me off at the station this morning and I was in work by 9am. Spent more time wrapping up stuff before my last day on Friday before 3 weeks off.

Spent much of the evening updating Ipod touch, Ipad etc with videos and playlists for flights next week.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Three

Tuesday 16th April

Into work early to do two more interviews for my assistant. Rest of the day was spent getting stuff wrapped up before I head off to UK next week.

Left at 5pm as I was tired and had a nice curry dinner at home.

Spoke to Adelaide on phone and Chris and Hannah sent through a good plan for the weekend ahead.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and Two

Monday 15th April

Back to back and held two interviews at work for my assistant who will start in May. Came home and Kate collected me from the station.

More of the The Voice on the TV.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred and One

Sunday 14th April

We got up and later in the morning went to Kennards to collect a few bits we needed. We went to Chatswood Westfield in order to get Kate an Iphone 5, although we had to nip home ot pick up our marriage certificate to prove the name change. After that we went to the Chase to do some grocery shopping.

We had a relaxed evening with an Italian selection dinner and a Skype call to UK.

Day One Thousand Four Hundred

Saturday 13th April

A lazy saturday and in the evening Kate and I went out for dinner at the Entertainment Quarter. Food was good at the restaurent but the service was crap. After dinner we went to the movies to see 'Trance' not a bad movie.

We got home and Bill and Carols dinner guests Maureen, Frank and Laurelle were still here so we caught up with them and then headed off to bed at about 1am after doing some washing up to help out.

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety Nine

Friday 12th April

A normal day at work and then went for a few drinks after work to see off one of the nicest Oxfam Staff members who is leaving to travel around South America. Got home at about 8pm and relaxed for rest of the evening.

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety Eight

Thursday 11th April

Briefing night at work which meant we left the office at 3pm to bump in the venue. Looked like this after we were done. The presentation started at 6pm and finshed late at about 8pm. Packed up and back to the office to drop gear off and then home by 9.15pm.

 

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety Seven

Wednesday 10th April

A beautiful autumn morning to walk to work. Spent most of the day preparing for tomorrows briefing night at work.

Came home on train and Kate and I cooked dinner.

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety Six

Tuesday 9th April

Kate dropped me to the station as it was raining this morning. Had a usual day at work and then caught the train to Circular Quay to meet Kate who drove in. we went to see The Counting Crows at the Opera House. Was a fairly good gig although a bit of a rocked up version of their earlier stuff. We had pretty good seats near the stage.

Some pics below

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety Five

Monday 8th April

Back to work, woke up early for a Monday due to yesterdays clock change. Walked in and spent day doing normal things. Starting to prep for info night later in the week.

Caught train home and walked home, alas with the clock change it was quite dark, still cannot get a grasp on lack of street lighting on Aussie suburban roads.

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety Four

Sunday 7th April

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety Three

Saturday 6th April

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety Two

Friday 5th April

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety One

Thursday 4th April

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety

Wednesday April 3rd

Got up early and headed out to checkpoint 2. Walked the 1.5km to the Calna Creek to asses the damage. Results can be seen below, basically the tree trunks have snapped in the middle.

Drove home to change before going into the office as I was soaked.

Spent rest of day at work trying to figure out a plan if bridge is not fixed.

Drove home in the evening and relaxed.

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Eighty Nine

Tuesday April 2nd

Back to work after a lovely Easter Break. All going well until message from Parks Representatives that one of our bridges on the trail has been destroyed over the weekend (possibly by high tide and heavy rain). This effectively cuts off one of our checkpoints. Will go an look at it in the morning to make an assessment.

Headed home at 5pm and relaxed in evening.

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Eighty Eight

Monday April 1st

No April fools gags on this blog. A leisurely morning and a trip to Chatswood Chase to change one of the presents Kate bought me for my Birthday. We grabbed some lunch there too and then in the afternoon we did some chores at home. We also spent some time adding soil to our plants in the pots in the garden we have here as they need a bit of nutrition.

Quiet night at home.

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Eighty Seven

Sunday 31st March

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Eighty Six

Saturday 30th March

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Eighty Five

Friday 29th March

Day One Thousand Three Hundred and Eighty Four

Thursday 28th March