Happy 2010. I hope that 2009 was great for you, I hope that 2010 will be even better.
Attached, you will find a short update on the what Zach and I have been doing over the last year or so.
Zach does his commute in his sleep
Zach is a well-established bus-commuter taking the journey of over one hour between our home in Coolangatta to his school at Cudgen in New South Wales.
However, as our home is in Queensland without day-light saving, and his school is in New South Wales with day-light saving, the morning routine can be a little frantic during the summer months.
Zach began taking the bus at his insistence last year while he was still in his first year at school (‘Kinder’).
His first bus-driver, Bones (pictured) reports that Zach is very social during the bus-journey.
However, during the last 15 minutes of the ride home, there is no-one else on the bus, and Zach sometimes falls asleep.
On his second-ever trip, I had to carry Zach from the bus. Zach awoke as I carried him out of the bus and he announced how lucky it was that he had not fallen asleep.
Very lucky indeed.
Miles of smiles
Zach and I visited our dear friends, the family Larrieu south of Toulouse in July 2009. There Zach got to practice his French with Jean (both pictured below).
Zach who is very much into vehicles of all kinds was delighted to be able to visit the A380 factory while we were in Toulouse.
In 2008, Zach got to practice French when we were kindly accommodated first by the family Bitaud-Zerathe, and then by the family De Clercq on two separate visits to New Caledonia.
While sitting in the airport lounge in New Caledonia on our return from one of these trips, Zach was asking about which airline we would be taking for our return journey.
He recognised Qantas, I pointed out Air Calin and Air New Zealand to him.
Then, in the clear innocent voice that only a young boy can produce, Zach made a curious observation : “There aren’t many virgins here, are there Papa?” (Zach was referring to the Australian/Oceanic airline Virgin-Blue, part of Branson’s Virgin Group.)
That’s right Zach, our work here is done. Time for us to go home!
Couch potato to super-hero
Zach has applied for the position of couch-potato in the household.
He is very fond of his television.
Despite a letter to Santa requesting a Wii, I am glad to see that the big old fellow did not oblige.
Accordingly, I’m always delighted when I can get Zach off the couch.
I was less pleased however when Zach jumped off the couch while playing and managed to break his arm.
Despite the painful break, Zach was soon back in action as a super-hero – albeit with a clipped wing.
Over the renovations
Our home has been under renovation since about mid-2008.
Our home now sports a wonderful new deck overlooking the ocean at Coolangatta. Come and join us for a drink there sometime.
The kitchen and bathroom have been re-done, a new bathroom-ensuite added to Zach’s bedroom, and a repaint in and out.
In his visit during last winter, Dad was put to the task of putting a mural on the garage door.
Here, Zach and Dad show-off his handiwork.
Other stuff
I continue to work at Bond University on a 50% contract.
In the remainder of my time, I do parenting, consulting, and writing.
I am working on a book project dealing with gender inequality with a colleague of mine down at the University of Sydney, Charles Areni.
Charles and I were students together at the University of Florida many years ago.
In my spare time, I am pushing forward – very slowly – towards an MA in philosophy and sociology.
I completed my 49th year on this planet in August 2008, and am currently celebrating the passage of my 50th year.
I will celebrate the closing of this my jubilee year around Sunday, 1 August, 2010.
Let me know if you are in town and would like to join me.
For more on what I have been doing and thinking over time, please visit my blog : www.insideoutsite.blogspot.com
Attached, you will find a short update on the what Zach and I have been doing over the last year or so.
Zach does his commute in his sleep
Zach is a well-established bus-commuter taking the journey of over one hour between our home in Coolangatta to his school at Cudgen in New South Wales.However, as our home is in Queensland without day-light saving, and his school is in New South Wales with day-light saving, the morning routine can be a little frantic during the summer months.
Zach began taking the bus at his insistence last year while he was still in his first year at school (‘Kinder’).
His first bus-driver, Bones (pictured) reports that Zach is very social during the bus-journey.
However, during the last 15 minutes of the ride home, there is no-one else on the bus, and Zach sometimes falls asleep.
On his second-ever trip, I had to carry Zach from the bus. Zach awoke as I carried him out of the bus and he announced how lucky it was that he had not fallen asleep.
Very lucky indeed.
Miles of smiles
Zach and I visited our dear friends, the family Larrieu south of Toulouse in July 2009. There Zach got to practice his French with Jean (both pictured below).
Zach who is very much into vehicles of all kinds was delighted to be able to visit the A380 factory while we were in Toulouse.In 2008, Zach got to practice French when we were kindly accommodated first by the family Bitaud-Zerathe, and then by the family De Clercq on two separate visits to New Caledonia.
While sitting in the airport lounge in New Caledonia on our return from one of these trips, Zach was asking about which airline we would be taking for our return journey.
He recognised Qantas, I pointed out Air Calin and Air New Zealand to him.
Then, in the clear innocent voice that only a young boy can produce, Zach made a curious observation : “There aren’t many virgins here, are there Papa?” (Zach was referring to the Australian/Oceanic airline Virgin-Blue, part of Branson’s Virgin Group.)
That’s right Zach, our work here is done. Time for us to go home!
Couch potato to super-hero
Zach has applied for the position of couch-potato in the household.He is very fond of his television.
Despite a letter to Santa requesting a Wii, I am glad to see that the big old fellow did not oblige.
Accordingly, I’m always delighted when I can get Zach off the couch.
I was less pleased however when Zach jumped off the couch while playing and managed to break his arm.
Despite the painful break, Zach was soon back in action as a super-hero – albeit with a clipped wing.
Over the renovations
Our home has been under renovation since about mid-2008.Our home now sports a wonderful new deck overlooking the ocean at Coolangatta. Come and join us for a drink there sometime.
The kitchen and bathroom have been re-done, a new bathroom-ensuite added to Zach’s bedroom, and a repaint in and out.
In his visit during last winter, Dad was put to the task of putting a mural on the garage door.
Here, Zach and Dad show-off his handiwork.
Other stuff
I continue to work at Bond University on a 50% contract.
In the remainder of my time, I do parenting, consulting, and writing.
I am working on a book project dealing with gender inequality with a colleague of mine down at the University of Sydney, Charles Areni.
Charles and I were students together at the University of Florida many years ago.
In my spare time, I am pushing forward – very slowly – towards an MA in philosophy and sociology.
I completed my 49th year on this planet in August 2008, and am currently celebrating the passage of my 50th year.
I will celebrate the closing of this my jubilee year around Sunday, 1 August, 2010.
Let me know if you are in town and would like to join me.
For more on what I have been doing and thinking over time, please visit my blog : www.insideoutsite.blogspot.com
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