Japan Photos

Ok, we've uploaded the first set of our photos from Japan. You can see them here. We're limited to 100MB per month, so we'll have to upload the other half in November :)

voiceless communicator?

Hi all,

I know, I know.. I still need to put up the Prague pictures and write a proper entry about that (it seems sooooo long ago now.. oops). I've been pretty busy lately because this week is the first Manchester Science Festival.

The Chemistry/MAGMANet contribution started on Monday (the festival started on Saturday and will run till Sunday, but we're only doing things during the work week). It was pretty hectic - my frames hadn't turned up (actually, they had but I wasn't told about it!), everything had to be transported across to the Manchester Museum, the lecturer for the evening was sick and hadn't come from France so my boss had to re-write the lecture (and learn it) in order to present it and things were generally a bit crazy (lots and lots of kids at the stall!). To top it all off, by the end of the day I was croaky - my voice was going.

Tuesday morning - no voice at all! Yes, I spent yesterday whispering and trying to explain magnets and magnetism without a voice. Not the easiest thing to do, but I made sure I stuck a "I've lost my voice" post-it to my nametag and people seemed to be responsive.

Last night I didn't sleep very well - lots of coughing. I'm afraid that the losing the voice was the start of a cold with very bad timing. I still can't really talk today, but I have regained SOME control of my voice (I can at least make some noise!). I think I'm going to have to whisper today too - and cross my fingers that tomorrow I have some semblance of voice by the end of the week.

Hope everyone else is good. I'll post photos when I've got time to put them up..

*big hugz* to all.

I need more japenese names

Can anyone give me more names to call a boy in my class who is very annoying.

West Side Comp & HAPPY BIRTHDAY Glenn

Yesterday I had a Calistenics comp in West Side Melbourne. We got March:2nd Clubs:1st Freearm:h.m Rods:4th Aestetics:2nd Medley:1st & reserve aggregate.

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Glenn
Happy Birthday to you

Happy birthday Glenn

Happy birthday Glenn. OK I know I'm a day early. I plan to try to ring tonight. I have a phone card from the supermarket to use. If you're not answering, I'll try again tomorrow night. we have two weeks to use the time after we activate it.
Today dad went bowling at Heathcote. He hasn't bowled since last season so I hope he has had a good day. I went to a funeral. It was for the CEO of the YMCA here. Only 51, but has been battling cancer for five years. Message was all staff to attend in uniform. Since it was held at the Leisure Centre two blocks from home, that wasn't difficult.
I'm increasing work hours again as a workmate has resigned. Next year I'll probably do four full days and have Friday as my day off. I plan to retire in 2009 so we can travel.
Hope all is good with everyone. Carolynn was to go to Westside competitions for calithenics. That's Melbourne so she was getting a ride with a classmate. Jared was to perform with the Lion team at a sale event. Tomorrow there's a garage sale at Comet Hill so Lisa is going to try to sell my cast off clothing. Today I tried on and now have more cast offs. I think I'd better join the 6 month challenge. See you tomorrow Lisa.

Well, we're off tomorrow

Ok, I thought I should do a quick update. I was going to wait until we got the stuff from the UK but it still hasn't arrived yet, and our mail is held from tomorrow so chances are we'll get it on the Monday after we arrive. Thanks parents and nana and Lisa for the presents (that's an awesome print Lisa, it looks fantastic) and future thanks to the UK too :)

We spent my birthday pretty much how we spent the week before and after - preparing for Japan. However on the free Monday we did have the opportunity to head to a conservation park just outside Adelaide and go on a 4 to 5km walk through the hills.. i'm tempted to call it a hike for all the up hill sections ;) And then we were invited to go bowling with my boss and his family, and were severely beaten by his father in law. I guess Wii bowling doesn't really help prepare for the real thing (although i did get three strikes! That's three more than I got last time I bowled)

As far as Japan, we've managed to get tickets to go to the Ghibli museum on Monday, which is awesome.. so adjust the rest of our plans around that :) We'll be back in a few weeks no doubt with photos, stories and weird little plastic toys from vending machines around Tokyo.

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy birfdey from us too...