Tuesday, January 31, 2006
ok already, THE PARTY!
The PARTY had to be on the 28th because of Margo's many appointments although Grandma Isabel's birthday is actually on the 7th--more about that later. The friends and family gathered. Check the alt tags for names of people in pictures. (Lay your curser gently on the picture to see the tag--if you click on the picture it will enlarge the picture.) We decided to hold it at Margo's warehouse/office The Lace Place because it had A/C, chairs, a large room. The table was spread--potato balls, vindaloo, butter chicken, yellow rice, lavash sandwiches, more sandwiches, sausage rolls, etc.etc.etc. and cakes--small cakes, sliced cakes and THE BIG CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE! 
Some of the guests:
There had to be a sermon, too! 
But, Mabel gave the best toast! 
Jackie and Lionel came up from Sydney and helped a lot.
It was given by Joy, Margo, Eric and Jenny(who attended on SKYPE next time a holograph!)
and, don't forget the big chocolate cake!Monday, January 30, 2006
But before that I must show you these...
Before Grandma's birthday, Jacqui and Lionel drove up from Sydney and we went out to dinner at the King of Kings in the Valley, Brisbane's Chinatown. We had to celebrate Chinese New Years', Tet, India's Republic Day and Australia Day! I also owed Jacqui and Lionel a Chinese Dinner from 1980 when they took us out to Chinatown in Sydney for dinner. Natala and Sheila slept sprawled out on 4 chairs each, jetlagged so they won't remember this. Lionel was working with IBM Australia back then. Here they are more than 25 years later, with Eric and Margo.
Margo had us all for dinner the next night. She had her vindaloo and Jacqui's butter chicken curry and all the accoutrements.
Margo had us all for dinner the next night. She had her vindaloo and Jacqui's butter chicken curry and all the accoutrements.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Melbourne and Grandma Margo
There was a heat wave in Melbourne, up to 41C which translates to 105.4F, a bit hot! The Australian Open Tennis was being played but they had to hold some games until 4 PM because of the heat. They had a one-day cricket match, too, while we were there. Margo had a booth at the Exhibition Centre for The Lace Place, opposite the large Crown Casino complex.
Nothing like meeting up with another friend from Breeks, who I've known for fifty years. Glenyss and I had a great time catching up for a few hours at Margos Cafe in the Casino. There was also a Thai restaurant named Jasmine. 
Of course, we had to have dosais at the best dosai place in Australia--Flora's on Flinder's Street opposite the train station.
Grandma Margo was excited and delighted to see her son, Tim, and her grandson, Timmy. Three times! Little Timmy's mother, Tim's wife Christena came, too.
Joy saw her grand nephew for the first time.
Joy and Margo watched the flames at the Casino, full blast. Bill missed them the next day as there was a red alert with a ban on fires! Instead, we played tourist at Federation Square, St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Paul's, Flinder's Street Station and the Melbourne Museum. 
Grannies these days just aren't what they used to be! Margo and moi at the Casino.
Nothing like meeting up with another friend from Breeks, who I've known for fifty years. Glenyss and I had a great time catching up for a few hours at Margos Cafe in the Casino. There was also a Thai restaurant named Jasmine. 
Of course, we had to have dosais at the best dosai place in Australia--Flora's on Flinder's Street opposite the train station.Grandma Margo was excited and delighted to see her son, Tim, and her grandson, Timmy. Three times! Little Timmy's mother, Tim's wife Christena came, too.
Joy saw her grand nephew for the first time.
Joy and Margo watched the flames at the Casino, full blast. Bill missed them the next day as there was a red alert with a ban on fires! Instead, we played tourist at Federation Square, St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Paul's, Flinder's Street Station and the Melbourne Museum. 
Grannies these days just aren't what they used to be! Margo and moi at the Casino.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Brisbane today, Melbourne nalaki*
You never know what you'll see when walking to "Pancakes at the Manor" in an old church downtown,
or when seeing the Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Gold Class theatre in Indooroopilly. I remember when I was in high school, up in the hills of south India,
we went on a hiking trip with the principal's wife--Mrs. Willy. She took us up around 8000ft to hike on a ridge but the winds and misty clouds were so strong that our lives were endangered so we had to come down to a lower level. We found an abandoned mail house and lighted a fire. All sitting around, drinking hot chocolate, she started to read aloud from a novel that had come out recently by CS Lewis. It was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and it was 1956. 
Enjoyed meeting cousins Jean and husband, Jeff and Joan and husband, Paddy and son, David with Margo, too at their RSL club in Chermside. Thank you to Jean and Jeff. Jeff is still using his stethoscope, Oli.
Bill and I had to go by La Dolce Vita for old times' sake!
*Tamil for anytime after today...Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Dosai, vadai, coffee, tea...
It is always a celebration when Breeksites get together. Even though the Breeks we knew,
founded in 1889, is now Hebron International School. It is 7500ft (2200m) above sea level in the Nilgiri Hills in South India. In 1974, Lushington Boys School--originally, Breeks Memorial School co-ed--joined up with Hebron Girls School, Conoor. We were all familia
away from family, and created imperishable bonds that span continents and decades. Adrienne
is now retired to Elenora,on the Gold Coast with her husband, Walter. She graciously invited us all down. 
Joy, Doralle, Margo, Adrienne and Priscilla The day was not long enough!
founded in 1889, is now Hebron International School. It is 7500ft (2200m) above sea level in the Nilgiri Hills in South India. In 1974, Lushington Boys School--originally, Breeks Memorial School co-ed--joined up with Hebron Girls School, Conoor. We were all familia away from family, and created imperishable bonds that span continents and decades. Adrienne
is now retired to Elenora,on the Gold Coast with her husband, Walter. She graciously invited us all down. 
Joy, Doralle, Margo, Adrienne and Priscilla The day was not long enough!Monday, January 16, 2006
Surfer's Paradise and Burleigh Heads
It is now officially called the Gold Coast, although everyone has been calling it that for years. We were there! Ten degrees darker now (us). We swam in the rain and in the sun, early and late. It was beautiful everytime. We drove past the frenetic shopping areas to the south coast and spent the night at a nice Best Western in north Burleigh not far from Justin Park on the Esplanade where Natala and Sheila were when they were little kids. Then we went up to Surfer's and had to climb the tallest, newest building (as per Bill) the Q1. If you want to stay there next time you come, click Q1.We had breakfast at Pancakes in Paradise and lunch at an Irish bar where they served fish and chips. Our GPS is working very well and got us there and back fine. The lady in the computer chip directs us at each turn!
Sunday lunch was paper ghee dosais at Sammy's, owned by Vasantha and her husband (who seemed to be doing the cooking in the kitchen behind the wall). She gave him what for in Tamil to hurry him up!
Margo, Mum, MoiMy cousin, Jean, joined us at Southbank for a walk riverside and some shopping.
Great to see everyone here in Brizzy. It is the place to be. (Click on photos to enlarge.)We are celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary by visiting the Dome Retreat Spa.
Friday, January 13, 2006
G'day, mates!
We drove down to the Gold Coast yesterday. It was tropical and lush. But first, my promised pictures of Eric and Marg and family. Moo has been featured below. The sunsets over Auckland were awe inspiring. Jemma and Holly are competitive swimmers and water polo players.
Click on images for larger versions.And they have a cat! I think they're going to call it Maxi--for Maximillion er Maxibillion or maybe Maxine if its a girl.
