Paintball 2007

Head shots were very common in the first few games on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, groin shots were also fairly common...


We made up the deadliest trio in Canberra on Saturday.


This is the whole group that we played paintball with, on the weekend. There are mostly chemists pictured and some of my non-chemistry mates too.


Later that evening, JB showed off his new pet mouse. (Very cute!)

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, friend

Again harnessing the awesome power of yeast, I have produced... Bread! Mmm... Freshly baked bread...


This third loaf, like its predecessors was kneaded by hand and baked in a conventional oven.

Easter @ Tathra

Fish weren't biting on the lines around Tathra wharf, but Marko and I were able to take a couple of leatherjackets on the spear. (~35 cm)


Homies all round.


Take the tip: Hobart Beach campground at Bournda National Park


Hobart Beach played host to bocci, cricket, rugby and body surfing. The water at this time of the year is at a great temperature.


I'm sure you all had a blast - see you at the coast again soon if we can get another trip in before the cool weather arrives!

Archer Fish

The resident Archer Fish applies split-second responses and agility to snatch thrown morsels from the air.


Lor-len does the robot while Dobs and I play on the guitar.


(Very) amateur stylings of your truly. We miss you, Kurt!


Explosive Mel attracted the attention of rabid Archer Fish, one and two.


Did I mention that these Archer Fish are hermaphroditic?

Get your O'Neil's membership now

Ash explores his paternal lineage.

Table tennis at the ANU

On Tuesday and Saturday afternoon's Jenny and I get in to the table tennis at the ANU. Jenny gave the leaderboard a shake-up last week; On Tuesday, I put things to rights...

On the workbench

It's not all beer and skittles at the Fox, sometimes we get constructive! Rimsy and I started work on replacing the creaking and sagging front screen door at the Fox the other weekend. The door was a little old-school, so we went ahead and purchased timber, paint and a few bits and pieces with which to construct an "improved" replica of the original.
A couple of digits were juggled between measuring and ordering, as is evident in the photo above. (Very) thankfully, we compared the door with it's home-to-be before gluing it together! The door was two-thirds of a foot too long!


It was back in to the shed for a little adjustment. A couple of coats of paint, some planing and sanding - and we were in business!


With an appropriately sized door in hand, a new screen was stapled in to keep out the bugs and hungry kittens.


Jenny performed well as a vice but excelled in painting the metal screen a glossy black and now our finished door looks better than new!

Weird Al @ Canberra Theatre

Jen and I caught Weird Al at the Canberra Theatre on Saturday night. Amish Paradise was performed, the fat suit was out, Nirvana was played... and the Segway even made an appearance!

What's missing?

Expermental brew 52:

1.7 kg of CSR Treacle (Molasses)
300 g of White Wings "Corn" Cornflour
1 x Morgans Hallertau Finishing Hops
10 mL of Licorice Extract


This experimental and tasty - yes, of course I tasted it - brew was made up to 12 L. Original gravity is 1.050 g/mL. Visible in the background is brew 51; that honey/wheat beer is complete and awaits bottling.

Welcome aboard, Rimsy, from Jenny and I - to the Circle of Canberra Homebrewers. You are on to brew 3 now? Ah, the memories..

St. Patrick's Day @ O'Neil's

St. Patrick's Day was hosted at St. O'Neil's in Dickson on Saturday afternoon. It is quite a difference to be there during the day, rather than late on a Thursday for our cheap drinks night. For a start, it's much brighter..


I embraced face-painting and look forward to joining the Blue Man group soon enough.


Trusting souls let me loose with the brush on them, too.


And then, there's the Irish Boonie gremlin I was so scared of in my child-hood.


Me lucky charms!


Scotty, you were made to be Irish!


Girls in green.


St. Pat's day was and always will be, of course, my little bro - Marky's - birthday. I know that you had a lot of your mates over to that little slice of paradise in Bathurst, so no doubt you had an awesome time. Best wishes from us here in Canberra! And Katie Starr, for Sunday, happy 25th too.

Quarter of a Ton

Thanks for the birthday wishes guys, that have already come in! I am, of course, 25 at 10:17am today.

Diving at Tathra

Tathra beach as viewed from near the wharf. We dived to the east of the wharf and were startled by a few massive rays that were patrolling.


The hardest part of diving is lugging the gear down to the water and back again. The actual diving is fun and easy!


On Sunday morning, we dived from the Killaleau bay and were greeted by even more massive rays!


Then we packed up and made our way back to Canberra.

Best Wishes, Coop and Dani

Best wishes for your marriage to Dani this month, Coop! (This photo was taken in early 2002 in Canberra.)

On the Road

I brought the GS500 back down to a canter travelling through Crookwell on the way to Bathurst last week because there were a lot of cattle out grazing on the long paddock.


This little blue-tongued lizard wasn't grazing, just sunning himself. I gave him a little encouragement to get off the road, but he didn't take it very well.

Peel Street Lads

Experimenting with domesticity, the lads make their weekly shopping trip and I have the pleasure of joining them as part of my visit early this week.


It was back to the comfortable new residence for a few brews and a barbie.


Aside from being introduced to the song "Toast", amongst other Bathurst fashions, I competed on Buck-hunt at the famouse Ox Hotel. Lee, for now, is the gun.


Marko runs a close second. I will put in some practice at Mooseheads on the Buck while I still can't get in to to work at my hail-damaged building and try to give the Bathurst lads more of a run for their money next time.


Marko and I took the GS500 for a run around Mount Panorama on Tuesday afternoon.


I may be just a tad over the posted speed limit of 60 kmph..?


In the past, I may not have given Bathurst the credit it deserves and would say now that Marko and Lee are living in a little slice of paradise over there. As such, I will be back again soon and will also be trying to improve my lap times at The Mountain. Marko poses below in front of the turn-off to the pits at the northern end of the track.


Spending a bit of time on the campus over Monday and Tuesday impressed upon me how beautiful the location is - with its rolling green ovals, and the people here are really friendly. Marko and Lee - you guys have made and awesome choice. Thanks again for the hospitality, cheers!