Bank Holiday Weekend

Almost the weekend, and a 3 day weekend too on account of Labor Day up here in Qld. It would be made so much better if they could actually spell labour properly. Maybe I let things like that get to me a bit too much!

All of Megan's nieces are coming up to stay for a pyjama party on Friday night, as they have a big dance competition on Saturday morning up here in Brisvegas. The girls have been so excited, especially Soraya who is now my email pen-pal!

Then on either Sunday or Monday we will be welcoming our first homestay student, who'll be living with us for the next 4 weeks or so. In between all of that we'll probably be popping down to the northern end of the gold coast to check out some places, and I expect I'll probably be up late on Saturday night watching the 2000 Guineas live. It's got to be between Delegator and Mastercraftsman, with preference for Delegator after his thumping win in the Craven.....7/2 odds may be a bit short though, with not much value in that.

All in all, chcuk in a few beers and it should be a fun weekend, especially if the weather stays this nice. Hope you all have a great bank holiday weekend back in the UK too.

Oh to be in England

Autumn is slowly fading into winter out here. We've just had our coldest morning yet - a chilly 15 degrees - and everyone is moaning, apart from me. Many thanks also to those of you that have been emailing me descriptions of the sights, smells and sounds of England in Spring; it's making me feel very jealous (you know who you are!).

The weather today reminded me of a beautiful Spring morning in the UK, and evoked Robert Browning's poem 'Home thoughts from abroad' - quite apt really. It was also one of dad's favourite poems. I remember him quoting it to me every springtime when i was younger:

Oh to be in England
Now that April's there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England - now!

And after April, when May follows,
And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows!
Hark! where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops - at the bent spray's edge -
That's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,
Lest you should think he never could recapture
The first fine careless rapture!
And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children's dower-
Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower

Now i feel really homesick. Better go have a beer under the palm tree I think!

Easter puppy

So, Easter is almost upon us and the Easter bunny is on his way. What's he going to bring us, I hear you say?

For Easter this year the easter bunny was going to bring us a little springer spaniel puppy....yes, the little chap in the picture. Sadly, we have had to put his arrival on hold and will be waiting for one of his cousins from a litter later this year. Little 'Basil' as he will be known is still just a glint in his father's eye at present. But, soon once we've got 'Basil' we will get him a little mate called 'Manuel' to keep him company and carry the luggage!

Megan and I are off to the gabba on Saturday to watch my first ever game of Strine rules football (or AFL as they call it here) with Chook and Albert. Apparently the Lions are playing the Swans - should be pretty one-sided I would have thought.

We'll also be getting the dvd of the wedding which we will be watching over the weekend. I'll be counting the number of times I mop up my sweat during the ceremony, and having a shot each time. I reckon I'll be hammered by the second reading! Off to a bar tonight called 'the Lark' for MC's birthday - they have grilled camembert with sour dough dipping soldiers. Can't wait! Happy Birthday MC.

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter weekend and heaps of chocolate. Whilst I remember I've also got to give a big shout out to Henry for his birthday on Easter Sunday. Happy Birthday Henry!!