All things must come to an end

Sadly, that even includes holidays, the endless kind of ones that seem like forever when they start but seem to evaporate really quickly towards the end.

Since I last posted I have been to Melbourne with the family for a week. It was great to catch up with so many people, especially to be able to take Mrs Scoop and the two Teaspoons (small Scoops) to see everybody. Since returning home I have done a fair bit of study reading (business accounting and finance – scary as hell!) and done a fair bit of relaxing. I’ve been sleeping past 8am as often as not, and those who know me well would realise that this is a big thing for me. Yesterday I took Teaspoon 2 to the Queensland Museum. It was great because I just followed him once we were inside instead of trying to show him particular things. Surprisingly, we did pretty much get to see everything, although he would not go anywhere near the far wall of the bugs and wildlife cabinets because of the giant replica of a redback spider that was attached to the wall. He loved the dinosaur bones (courtesy of the film Night at the Museum) and really liked the simulated boat ride following the stars to find the Aboriginal campfire. It was a well-spent couple of hours and well worth the trip.

Today I am playing golf as a last hurrah before going back to work, although I am playing with one of ht ebosses from work, so I dare say some significant discussion of my next project will be at hand. I think, after five weeks of holidays, I am ready to get back into it with some real passion. Tally Ho!

And on another note…….

I am officially over my webcam bitterness. I saw a group of four giraffe (is that enough for a herd?), including one young one. Lovely!

Cracking the ton

This morning I headed out early with Brother Joe, Friend Nathan and Friend Mikey to my old haunt, Ballan golf club, to hit some golf balls and remember old times. Only trouble (for others) was that I remembered how to hit golf balls and they didn’t, at least not as well as they have in the past. Having never cracked 100 before, I hit a 93 (47 front 9, 46 on the back). I will admit up front Ballan is a par 62, but it still felt great as my previous best even there was 111. I guess all of those recent golf games did the trick. It heated up a lot, well and truly over 30 degrees celsius by the time we finished. We felt sorry for the poor sods still playing…..it was the club’s annual veterans day! Shot of the day went to Friend M, who called in “with mechanical problems” from the middle of the fourth fairway. Loved his work. For the record, Friends M and N scored pars and I didn’t, but overall score works for me!

Holiday note – I’m very relaxed, and have forgotten where my office is. Excellent.

Travels

Today is a day for travelling. We are flying to Melbourne this afternoon to visit family and friends. Child A and Child S have not made the trip for some three years, so family and friends will be catching up with two very much more-grown-up children than they last saw. When last in the southern capital, Child A hadn’t learned a note of piano, and Child S…..well…..he was 2! Plane flights are still fun. They are still rare enough for us that they generate some excitement. If career takes off and I become a globetrotter (or at least a nation trotter) it might become tiresome in the end, but for now it’s still good fun.

Bubble wrap

Sorry guys – no explaination – you just have to try this:

http://public.aregner.com/bubblewrap.swf

African ducks

Today I have added a new link to my blogroll. Many of you (sounds like there’s lots of you when I say that) have visited it before – it is the live webcam from some African nowhere, where you can see wildlife visiting a waterhole. It even has a night-vision setup so you can see sleeping ducks in the dark. I have seen deer on it, and I did actually see a duck crap live next to the pond. Some unseen operator zooms in and out and pans in different directions at some stages, most likely by remote control. I have heard reports of elephants and lions visiting, but haven’t watched for the requisite hours to see those myself yet. I live in hope.

New year, new me?

Not likely…..I’m way too keen on the me I’ve got already, and I’m having so much fun being me that I really wouldn’t want to make changes that could well leave me not liking myself so much. Full of myself? Yes, probably, but as I have told quite a few people (usually when they tell me to take care or be careful while doing something), I’m one of my favourite people.

Christmas and New Year has all gone really well….lots of fun had by all, especially the kiddies which is what it is all about for me. Being a big kiddie myself somewhat, my beloved one has catered for that with a great big boys toy – an arcade table. As a Gen Xer about to turn 35, I have already had plenty of experience of glorifying the past and reliving the best bits as best I can. Now I can do so playing Galaga (my favourite), Frogger, Space Invaders (yes, the original), 1942 and Pacman (and its variants). I can’t wait to start entertaining guests under the patio with extended arcade game play (we have everything from Gen Xers to Baby Boomers in my Secret Mens Business group, plus plenty of other friends who probably have strong residual skills at some of these games).

I think 2007 is going to be a cracker – can’t wait.

Late news flash – old friends Lee and Sharon have become engaged……and that’s great news. It’s only been 18 years or so since they first met…..the makings of a great love story (or drama) if you ask me. Congratulations friends……K and I wish you all the very best.