Anzac Day 2024

So for the last little while I’ve been putting together a bit of information about Anzac Day and who we commemorate for the people I swim with several times a week. Sometimes I read it out between sets on the day, but this year we are only swimming on the days before and after Anzac Day, so I distributed this as reading. I don’t know why I selected some Boy Anzacs and a Dame, it just came to me…

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My Reading in 2023

My total number of books was down a little on 2022, but some of these were either long reads or a bit difficult to get through. I really enjoyed Mick Heron’s Slough House series of books and I believe I’ve read all of them now. They are just so well written and there is so much hilarious dialogue. I must say the TV series is also excellent and very well cast. It is as if he has written the books…

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Some Photos from Two Weeks in Hawaii

I spent two weeks in Honolulu in March 2024. This time I just took my Leica SL2, a relatively new Leica APO-Summicron-SL 50mm F/2 ASPH and a Peak Design CF travel tripod. I found it a bit of a heavy carry on longer walks. The set-up, however, did not let me down. I stayed within easy walking distance of Ala Moana Beach Park where I like to swim for about 50 mins each day and it is a great place…

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Photos from 2024 Lorne Mountain to Surf Fun Run

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Season's Greetings!

My year started with a visit from Gary so we could go to the 3rd cricket Test against South Africa at the SCG, with Judith and Steven. A  day or two were rained out but we did see some play on the final day. With the remedial work to stop water ingress finally completed, I was able to get all the carpet upstairs replaced, a new sofa bed was delivered, aircon was installed in the spare bedroom…

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Remembrance Day 2023 – Sydney’s Inner West Pt. 2

The Horror in France (cont’d) Sgt. Lionel Frank Elliot, 56th Infantry Battalion. Compositor of Marrickville. Service record is not yet available, possibly relating to a court martial? RTA 13/12/18 aged 29, but later died as a result of his war service on 18/2/20. Letter on Fromelles*, 3/8/16:  we heard a wounded chap crying out, he was in ‘No Mans Land’ . . . I said ‘Who’s coming over’ another…

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Remembrance Day 2023 - Sydney's Inner West Pt. 1

I live in Sydney’s Inner West and swim regularly with a group of people at Victoria Park Pool. On Anzac and Remembrance Days I usually provide a bit of history just to reinforce the fact that these days are not all about flags, medals, bands, marching and wind-bag politicians mouthing platitudes. Today I provided readings about some fellows who served in the First World War from the local area. I…

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My Reading in 2022

My Reading in 2022

I’m now well into the habit of updating my reading progress on Goodreads because as I read virtually everything on my Kindle, it does it automatically. In December 2022 Goodreads told me that I had read only 21 books which is quite a lot fewer than in 2021. I thought a couple of books took a long time to get through as they seemed much longer but on a Kindle you don’t get as much of a feel for…

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My Podcast Reviews for 2022

My Podcast Reviews for 2022

Firstly, I think I should let you know that I’m now using the Overcast app on my iPhone. It is the best client for podcasts that I’ve used and it leaves the default iPhone app for dead. It takes a little getting used to, but once you become familiar it is great. I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts so below I am only listing and briefly reviewing those that made an impression this year. I’ll try…

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Seasons Greetings

 My 2022 highlights: Remedial work on both balconies and re-cladding on some external panels at home continued and is now mostly completed. Hopefully I’ll regain access to the balconies soon. Then, I’ll replace the carpet that regularly flooded in the spare bedroom and buy a new sofa bed for guests. All up this has only taken twice as long as building the Golden Gate Bridge. With air fares…

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2022, My Year in Images

2022, My Year in Images

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Images from the 2022 UCI Road World Championships, Wollongong - Men Elite Road Race

Images from the 2022 UCI Road World Championships, Wollongong – Men Elite Road Race

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Images from the 2022 UCI Road World Championships, Wollongong - Individual Time Trial

Images from the 2022 UCI Road World Championships, Wollongong – Individual Time Trial

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Our Anzac Day Swim Set

Our Anzac Day Swim Set

On Anzac Day (or thereabouts) I usually use an Anzac theme and tell some stories between the sets. This year I used a selection of those who served as patrons of each set, so here it is, mind the step: 5*600s on Anzac Day 1. PO Ron Middleton, VC RAAF: 150fs /10R + 3*50 as fs, bk, fs /5R + 150 drill-DPS-bk /2:45 + 3*50 as fs, bk, build /60 2. Lt Col Vivian Statham (nee Bullwinkel), AO MBE AANS:…

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Victory over Geelong

Some thoughts on the AFL Hawks-Cats game at the MCG on Easter Monday 2022

Yes, I know, this is from the Hawks-Swans game at the SCG in 2021, but I live in Sydney. Not to put too fine a point on it, but this W meant a lot to we Hawks fans and I was thinking about how Winston Churchill might have described this tremendous victory. So with apologies to WSC, here are a few [mis]quotes: As long as we have faith in our own Sam Mitchell and an unconquerable will to win,…

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Pre-dawn, Sydney Harbour by Mal Booth

Lorne (Lawn?) Kangaroos by Mal Booth Via Flickr: This mob greeted us after we returned from drinks last night. Initially, they looked at us as if to say "where have you been?!".