He’s 50.

My partner Martin turned 50. We hosted a celebration over 4 days at a rented property in Moonan Brook, NSW, at the western end of the Barrington Tops. Family and friends stayed in the main house, the bunk house, caravan or tents. We had a birthday feast, campfires, floating flamingoes, a sloth wedding, swam inContinueContinue reading “He’s 50.”

The Arboretum.

One of my (new) favourite places in Canberra is the National Arboretum. We visited there in January in the midst of a heat wave. Four days of 40+ degrees celsius temperatures with little respite at night. Yet this didn’t hinder our sightseeing. We visited the War Memorial, Questacon, the National Museum, the National Gallery, theContinueContinue reading “The Arboretum.”

Mum’s 70th.

May 2017. My Mum is turning 70. The “Festival of Frances” has been up and running since Friday night and looks to continue well into the week. Today we surprised Mum. She arrived late morning for what she thought was a family BBQ but instead was greeted with a formally set table, flowers, gift, champagneContinueContinue reading “Mum’s 70th.”

Life.

December 2016. Today my little girl and I attended the funeral of her teacher Katie-Jane Day. If you’re reading this and you don’t know me, my family or my daughter’s teacher, these words will likely wash over you. You might feel a pang of regret at hearing of a funeral so close to Christmas. YouContinueContinue reading “Life.”

The simple things.

November 2016. There’s a lot to be said about focusing on the present and enjoying the moment. Sounds easy? It’s hard, at least for me. Working life demands that I constantly be planning, implementing and improving; it’s a continuous loop that involves contemplating ‘next steps’. Then there’s school (what’s coming up? what does our daughter needContinueContinue reading “The simple things.”

No place like home.

May 2015. Last week I hosted a gathering of my work team. We’re a relatively new group – two teams combined into one – so it was important that we spend time together, get to know each other and collaborate on our team plan. I made an early decision to take everyone out of theirContinueContinue reading “No place like home.”

Photography and me.

i) ANZAC Day ANZAC Day was last month, a day in Australia where we remember all who have defended our country, those who have served and those who have fallen. My family and I attended the Newcastle ANZAC March, something that’s becoming a regular gig for us. Last year we rushed to eat brekky, grumbledContinueContinue reading “Photography and me.”