January

We now have a second car - it is a Hyundai Coupé FX. Here you see it next to its big brother, the Ford Falcon. The Hyundai is a manual - ideal for certain people who are practising for their driving test to learn in.



February

Before opening to traffic, the new tunnel under Brisbane, the Clem7, was opened up to the public to walk through. It is 4.8 km long, and at its deepest, is 60m below the river. Olivia and Steve walked through it, along with thousands of others. It was interesting to find out that there is a patron saint for people who work with explosives. Don't remember anything about that when I did my R.E. O-Level!



March

Using some of her birthday and Christmas money, Olivia splashed out on a huge fishing net so she can scour the local creek for its lifeforms. Usually she catches fish like guppies and swordtails (both of which are introduced species), but one day she brought home a yabby (or it may have been be a crayfish).



April

For the Easter long weekend, we rented a house at Clagiraba, which is between Nerang and Canungra, near Mount Tamborine. It was on a lovely big property, with a big creek and seven or so horses. Olivia especially had a great time - she became friends with the owners' ten-year-old daughter and spent most of her time messing about in the water or talking to the horses. They even let us all have a ride around their dressage practice area.

Ruby drove all the way down from Brisbane, and has now amassed just under 46 hours of the required 100 hours driving experience before she is allowed to take her test.

The first day we saw two Yellow-faced Whip Snakes - we didn't see them again - we probably scared them off with all the noise we make! Even though they are much less venomous than some of the other local snakes, it was a timely reminder to keep the doors closed - they can still deliver a nasty bite requiring medical attention.


On the Monday we went to O'Reilly's, which is in Lamington National Park. This has always been on our list of must-see places whenever vistiors have come over but we hadn't actually been there since having Olivia, and as it is only 35 km from Canungra, off we went. One of the highlights is the tree-top walk, with the option of climbing a further 15m up a tree to see the top of the canopy, and of course a fantastic view.

There is also a hollow strangler fig. These strange trees start life in the upper branches of another tree, and grow down and around the host, eventually killing it. The host then rots away leaving a hollow tree!



May

Olivia started playing for Toowong FC. There are a couple of other girls in her team. Training is on Wednesday night (which is handy, as Monday is gymnastics and Tuesday Brownies) and takes place at the home ground which is in Auchenflower, not far from where Deirdre and Steve lived for six months back in 1989.

June

Olivia has been diagnosed with pneumonia. She has got a ventolin inhaler, another inhaler and two courses of antibiotics. She is off school for the rest of the week at least, and has to miss out on Brownies, football and a party at the weekend. To say she is a little miffed would be putting it mildly.

Latest news is she is on the mend - no longer infectious, but still can't play football.

July

Steve's company had to let him go because of lack of work. So it's back to the tedium of applying for countless jobs, but on the bright side he is back working at The Gap State High School tuckshop.

Olivia had another chest infection and missed the first three days of school (and another week of football!) but she seems OK again now. Ruby is up to 70 hours driving, and Deirdre has hurt her shoulder so now has a genuine excuse not to play tennis on a Friday night. We had a German-themed night of eating and drinking at Karl & Lucy's - sadly no pictures of anyone in Lederhosen to show you!

August

Olivia's football is coming along - here she is playing against Brisbane City






Bianka celebrated her 21st birthday in style at the Orient Hotel. Check out how many people you recognise...





September

Ruby's school "formal" was held in Rydge's Hotel at South Bank. First, a load of Ruby's friends and their parents all gathered at our place to get dressed and have their photo taken.



Then everyone went to the school where more photos were taken and eventually they all were ferried away to town in a fleet of limousines.



[Updated 27-12-2012] Steve's employment situation improved somewhat in September. A friend of a friend put me in touch with a company based in Byron Bay which had a contract with a large U.S. media organisation to write a web-based planning system for outdoor advertisements. I had lunch with the boss at Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast and following this "interview" was offered a five week contract to see how I went. Working from home, collaborating with another programmer who also lives in The Gap, I had to learn several new skills, such as Silverlight, but I must have done alright because when the five weeks were up I had my contract extended to the end of January! Coincidentally, the U.S. company was I.M.S. - the very same mob that gave me my first job after leaving University! I wasn't allowed to tell anyone though, as it was all very hush-hush.

November



December

This worm appeared on our patio. To give an idea of size, the tiles are 16" square.




Olivia invited a couple of lads from school over to the local skate park, but torrential rain stopped play. Everyone got completely drenched (the car stank for weeks afterwards) hence the lack of attire.