Photos 2006-09-18

Monday 18 September 2006 - Brisbane

We just had a great weekend! On Saturday I had a good time at the National Archives in Brisbane finding more trips to the South Sea Islands by William Melchert, and even found what I think is the first trip north by Richard Bindon (Darryl's great grandfather) on the 'Moonta'.

On Saturday Shane, Adam and Kathlene turned up from Rocky and we headed down to catch the CityCat to the Regatta Hotel to celebrate Kelly and Drew's marriage - they had eloped to Vanuatu and were married on 17 August. We had a fantastic night and got home well after midnight. On Sunday morning Adam and Kathlene (who stayed with us) went to the Pancake Church and caught up with the rest of the gang from the night before. We had a quiet morning, but in the afternoon went over to

St John's Anglican church (across the road from us) for a tour, and then around the city to photograph all the statues (I'll put them up shortly in the photos area too).

Hey - I forgot to tell you that last Saturday while I was waiting on Platform 2 down at Central Station a steam train chugged past...just magic!

I have attached some old postcards of Brisbane - St John's at the top, Roma St Station in the middle and Queen Street.

Drew and Kelly's Elopement Party

Kelly and Drew eloped and were married in Vanuatu on 17 August 2006. Family and friends gathered to celebrate on 16 Sep at the Cellar Bar at the Regatta Hotel in Brisbane.

Marc and Shane Snowboard in New Zealand

Marc is on the right

The Remarkables at Queenstown, South Island
(Shane is not actually in any of these photos).

Monday 11 September 2006 - Brisbane

Nothing bad to report this week - thank heavens! I spent Saturday at the Queensland State Archives, searching inquest reports, and had a coffee with Melinda from work. She lives near the archives and picked me up and took me back to her place. I then got the bus, stopped off to vote and got home after 6pm. On Sunday we woke up to rain, which is lovely, but it isn't enough to put water in the dams around Brisbane. I went in to work for the day, as I am trying to finish a 'computer based training' program. I will take time off later to make up for it.

I have included some of the nature shots taken from our trip, a couple of weeks ago, to Mt Barney .

Wednesday 6 September - Brisbane

You know how sometimes your imagination runs away with you and you think that you have a spider crawling down your back? Well, I thought that was happening while I was up in the balloon - but it was true! A spider crawled from my neck down my back and bit me 12 times! I didn't realise that it had bitten me until the next morning...when I found the bites. The good thing is that it can't have been too poisonous as I am still here....and alright...well...maybe....

I have also had an MRI done on my knee, and the bad news is that I have torn the cartilage. The doc says that I probably should have an operation, but I am trying a home remedy for the pain first and will only have the operation as a last resort.

The boys got home safely from New Zealand, although Shane hurt his ankles. I will attach some photos once I get them. They both said they had a fantastic time.

This last weekend was a very social one for us. On Saturday I went to my TMG (Master Genealogist) User Group and gave a talk on using the iPAQ (handheld computer) along with Pocket Genealogist, which syncs with TMG. Everyone in the group wants one now for Christmas! On Saturday night we went out to The Gap to visit my Aunty Val. Peter and Kim and their children, Kelly and James also came over for the dinner, as well as Julie, Karl and their son Lachlan. It was a very lovely evening.

On Sunday, it was the bi-annual Family History Fair being held at Mt Gravatt Showgrounds, so of course I couldn't miss that! I had a quick walk around, checked out the stall for Central Qld Family History and was talking to someone from the TMG group when I was pleasantly surprised to see Rhonda and Phil, our friends from Gin Gin. (Phil had told me that rain had stopped the sugar cane crushing and I had suggested they come down for the weekend, but they decided to surprise us!) Rhonda and I thoroughly enjoyed the displays and a talk by Shauna Hicks on Victorian Public Record Office research on the net, while Phil rested his knee and listened to Bush Poetry under the shady trees. They stayed the night with us, and headed off home in the morning.

The photos are:
Darryl, myself, Julie and Karl
Kelly and James (at the back), Kim, Peter, Lachlan and Val
Rhonda, myself and Phil