Roberts' 27th birthday celebrations

Jenny and I rode the GS500 to Kensington on Saturday in order to toast Roberts' 27th birthday. Ross and Olga will share in that exquisite pleasure that is gaping at Hall and I in our bathers. Of course, they should already know that the most accurate way to judge time is by the Roberts-Beer method.

Plumbing has come some way since Todman avenue days: Roberts and I took turns to urging each to perform pool-tricks for treats.

Terrible cast by Roberts here.

Darlinghurst's Lord Roberts kept the food and beers up to us until mid-night and then we were thrown out because every barman worth his salt knows what happens to JB after midnight.

Robets vividly describes the day's harrassment.  (Very animated; so funny!)

The lads and I pose after our lengthy struggle with pool.

Two-day keg

This morning, I shot 491 in "standard pistol". The weather has been fantastic, so Jenny and I rode to Gundaroo on the GS. We drank Zeeholtz (pale ale and draught) and ate beer-battered chips at the Royal Hotel.

Steve, recently returned from Dunedin, helped us finish what little imitation Hoegaarden remained after Friday's Singstar evening. Steve went down in Scrabble but I know that he was playing his usual game and holding out for particular words with impact.

I selected a piece of Queensland coal that had been shipped to me by Scotty and prepared to incinerate it.

A little kerosene and I was in business. Wood burns well and so does coal. Honeycomb burns really well! (No bees were harmed).

Ball sports, week four

Squash with Marko, Mix, Louis and Jen on Sunday:
Covered in the previous post

Squash with Mix on Tuesday:
Early in this session, strings broke on my raquet. I immediately upgraded to a new Head Liquidmetal Raptor.
11-8, 11-2, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6, 11-4, 11-4
Avg: 4.5

Squash with Torsten on Thursday:
The raptor tore some strips, early, from Torsten.
11-2, 11-8, 6-11, 11-10, 2-11, 1-11, 6-11, 9-11
Wins: 3/8

Squash with Ash on Friday:
2-11, 3-11, 8-11, 1-11
Avg: 3.5

Squash with Mikey on Friday:
8-11, 11-4, 1-11, 2-11
Wins: 1/4

Squash with Jenny on Friday:
11-4, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0, 11-1, 11-1, 11-1
Avg: 1.4

The Bathurst Squash Tournament

On Sunday, our party of five played a squash tournament at the Panthers Club in Bathurst. My final game was with Mixy and it was a total slog-fest.

It was a real blast (and totally free fun). I took four victories, Marko three, Mixy two, Louis one and Jen had a great time.

Having worked up a serious thirst over three hours, we quenched that thirst (and more) with Marko's latest dry lager brew poured from his new keg system.

In fact, we happily emptied the kegs. Sorry Lee!

We parked ourselves in the garage/make-shift bar and must have been some entertainment to pedestrians.

Floriade 2008

The wisteria on our doorstep was a prelude to our visit to the Floriade display in Canberra.

Like many visitors to Floriade this year, Jenny took some popcorn to go with the movie-themed day.

Jenny and I enjoy looking at bonsais.

I will continue to model my own flower bed on this ideal.

Rimsy, Jess, Miffy and their new house

Jenny and Miffy were instantly good friends.

Jess and Rimsy are living the Australian dream here in their own lovely house.

Ball sports, week three

Tennis with Hodgo on Sunday:
6-4P, 6-2P, 6-3P
Squash with Mix on Tuesday:
11-9, 11-5, 11-1, 11-1, 11-5, 11-0, 11-5, 11-1, 11-2, 11-1, 11-6
Avg: 2.7
Squash with Torsten on Thursday:
11-6, 2-11, 0-11, 2-11, 3-11, 6-11, 4-11, 1-11, 9-11, 4-11
Wins: 1/10
Squash with Ash on Friday:
2-11, 11-5, 6-11, 7-11, 7-11
Wins: 1/5
Squash with Mikey on Friday:
7-11, 6-11, 6-11
Avg: 6.3