End of an era

Bearably Cute

George, at his Baptism.

George

1969 - The year of the bad fringe

Healesville High School Volleyball Team, 1969.

Missing Person - Leisl Smith

Leisl is the sister of a friend and went missing on the 19th of August 2012. 

If you have ANY information, please call Crimestoppers: 1800 333 000. You can report information COMPLETELY anonymously!

Description

What's known: Leisl left home at 1pm on the 19th of August, 2012 and was supposed to return at 5 pm. She never came back. Her car was found at Tuggerah Railway Station (NSW, Australia) 6 weeks later and the only footage of her last seen alive at this point was on the railway stations CCTV>.

Her car, a Silver Honda Accord has been looked at by forensics with nothing suspicious reported.

There is a $10k reward offered by our family for ANY information relating to Leisl. If you DO have ANY information, please call Crimestoppers: 1800 333 000.

Burn's Night, 2013

January 25th, Burn's Night.

Made a faux haggis.  No sheep's lungs were to be found locally so based on liver and heart and, in the absence of a sheep's stomach, used an oven bag to hold it all together.  It was placed in a ceremonial haggis sacrificing altar, had Mr Burn's address read to him and then was dispatched as humanely as possible.

All present were surprised how nice it tasted.

The starter was a lot more colourful: smoked salmon, beetroot & horseradish cream.

The spoon, by the way, was for the dessert (Atholl Brose).

George in a  Jimmy hat.  Or vice versa.

..

Oh, smashing shot, Curruthers!

No interest in going to the MCG and being showered with unknown amber liquids from beer cans chucked in the air during a Mexican wave and then wondering who it was that went out while I was submersed in a sea of arms.

Much more fun to pack up a picnic and head to the local park and watch club cricket.  Doesn't matter who's playing.  I shout words of encouragement to the players of all sides, it doesn't matter, I don't know who they are and then, once the chicken and wine has run out, return home.

What do you mean "we're related?"

From book to table ornament...

The centre-piece for 'Burns Night' dinner?

A 2012 Christmas Snapshot. Or two.

Early morning visitors.

The cake.  Complete with a Christmas pig.

Glasses primed with grenadine, for a festive drink.

MasterChef apron - I argued the MC stood for Merry Christmas.

Or manic chemist.

Strange lava flow from the roasting pork.

Watermelon, fetta and mint starter.

The table.

The mob.  Shu took the photo.

Last minute texts to Santa?

...

Wet words

A book I had ordered from Amazon arrived looking like it had fallen in the Amazon.

Happily they are sending a replacement.

There was a sticker on the bag saying that it had arrived in Australia wet.

No idea what happened.

Non-Virgin Chocolate Cake

From our 'Mayan Apocalypse' dinner - the non virgin (de-floured) chocolate cake.

The tubing was to a small bladder under the heart that made it 'beat'.  Bu-bump, bu-bump...

Mayan End of the Year Knees-up

No, I don't believe the nonsense about the end of the world.

Yes, I do recognise a good dinner opportunity when I see one.

Tried to keep as close to the Mayan pantry as possible.

"Non-Virgin?", I hear you ask.  Well it is flour-less you see... 

Santa's Little Helper (& notes)

Why does the end of the year always sneak up on me?  It happens every year, you’d think I would learn.   So, what did we do, see or even learn in 2012?

Margaret

Margaret continues to work part-time.  She has enjoyed volunteering for ‘Clean up Australia Day’, ‘Tree Day’ and ‘Open House Melbourne’ with the family.  Thoroughly enjoyed the amazing Napoleon Exhibition when it was in town.   Is enjoying our blackberry crop and all is well with the world when little George (see below) is around.  Loves the delight she sees in ‘Uncle Simon’ and ‘Uncle Richard’ and wishes that she could bottle it.

Martin & Roni

Martin & Roni became parents.  Margaret became a grandparent. Lee is in denial and, at best, will concede that he is married to a grandmother .

Martin  has been accepted into Insead Business School (Singapore & Paris) to do an MBA, starting in September 2013.

Richard & Shu

Richard continues to work at a philately auction house but is study editing  at Melbourne University.  Shu continues to progress at the ANZ Bank.  They are buying an apartment, working on Sundays at Shu’s dad’s bottle shop and planning a trip to Shanghai in the New Year.  They are both enthusiastic members of Toastmasters.

Simon

Simon is studying  urban design at RMIT and also working as a barista at Gloria Jean’s Coffees.  Enjoying being an uncle.  Earlier in the year he won tickets to six concerts at the Recital Centre and has enjoyed taking different people along to see them.  Also went to see Coldplay perform earlier in the year.

Lee

Lee continued his battle with the possums, continued with his new job with the company that bought the company that bought his company and his alter-ego terrorised the internet with various writings, some of them rhyming.  He delighted one and all with his culinary exploits, on Halloween especially, and he is currently planning the appropriate meal for the end of the world, Dec 22nd, according to the Mayans.  The garden is an oasis, thanks to his TLC.