Christmas 2009

Extaordinary to realise this is our 4th Christmas here. And 4 years to reflect on an `early` retirement for both of us . Some retiremement . The pattern of working full time approx 8 months of the year has attractions in the adjusting process. It's been challenging and enjoyable and our initial 5 year plan has become a rolling 5 year plan.

The winter and summer seasons here are stunning in a host of different ways and fit well our lifestyles and goals ( which we try to assess and review over dinner every couple of months or so ) . To identfy precisely what we enjoy so much here would be to tell only half the story . It's the magic of the place in terms of its beauty , its diversity , its totally different winter and summer climates and activities, its people and its potential, that captures us. The annual late Spring bike trips we have and the annual Autumn returns to family and friends in UK ( this past year OZ ) have become part of the thrilling pattern , but we always look forward eagerly to getting back to work and returning to this lovely Snowmass valley.

Christmas eve was a day off for Mary and a split shift day for me . We had a brilliant 2 hours boarding with EJ celebrating her 75th birthday. Remarkable. Evening - a Snowmass chapel service of lovely music and lessons at which Mary read 3 lessons ( co reader was Mary Tyler Moore - not her real name - who will be familiar to some in our generation - google her if you want the details! )

Christmas Day - and working day for Mary - 7am start - and an evening shift - 2.15 to 10.15 - for me . Had 3 delightful , but fearfully cold, runs on Elk Camp and Alpine Springs , lunch together back at Meadow ranch , had lovely skype chats with the family in Ireland and Ithaca and then back to drive on the Woodbridge run. Beautiful choral classics on PBS ( one of the very impressive US public broadcasting channels - no ads and continuous classical music ) on the bus radio which passengers - largely - seem greatly to appreciate.

Boxing Day ( today ) - another beautiful , but intensely cold ( never above -6 % F on the mountain ) day . Another long working day for Mary and I 'll ski for a couple of hours before starting an evening shift on the Horseranch route from 4 till 11. We'll meet for lunch here at 270 again as we do most days .

Photos include a morning skiing with bus driver colleague John Carlin and another with Lee Miller. Another couple show us boarding with the venerable birthday girl EJ.

And on to 2010. Staying fit and healthy of body and mind are major priorities . The thought of living in this amazing valley and being unable to participate fully in the available activities should be sufficient incentive.

Snowmass - boarding & baking

1 M & her boarding buddy EJ at top of Buttermilk Mtn looking over to Aspen Highlands.
2 G with EJ - truly `grays on trays` . EJ at 74 giving us a lesson in style and technique - brilliant !
3 and look at the result ! The start of 1st black run for G ( led by M and EJ ) down to Tiehack at east end of Buttermilk.
4 & 5. Baking with our `little buddy` Gabby a resident of the Roaring Fork valley and originally from El Salvador. Next outing will be getting him on to skis. more on next blog entry hopefully .

Happy Christmas to all .

Back to Snowmass - Nov 09

From 106% F when we left Sydney to - 10% F in the first week of arrival back in Snowmass , there was a bit of adjusting required. Back though almost immediately to 5am daily alarm and much needed work after 2 month holiday

1. M back to work ( guest services Snowmass for 4th year ) leaving 270 after lunch in smart Ski Co uniform and 2 way radio. Ist day for both of us Thanksgiving Day when season opened . Good conditions but numbers down on previous year.
2. Back on the No 3 route. Staging stop at Snowmass Club with good view of Mt Daly.
3 Study in concentration - back to the `right` side of the road again. Felt good to be back. Have 5 good shifts per week ( 2 day and 3 afternoon/evening ) and again a delightful bunch of co drivers. Huge benefit in being 5 minutes from work. Excellent benefits including the all important one of health cover for M and me.
4 Women's FIS world cup GS on Aspen Mtn - last w/e in November .
5 With Lee Miller - a long time Aspenite introduced by Scottish friend Stuart Briggs - meeting up at Gwyns High Alpine before a delightful afternoon skiing at Snowmass.

Bateau Bay - week of wedding

The wedding week during which we took a let of a beach house right above Shelley beach ( 3 fairways of Tuggerah Golf course being the only thing separating us from miles of beautiful sand and surf was phenomenal. A relaxing family holiday but full of activity culminating in a pub dinner at the Entrance Hotel on the Friday night, the wedding on Bateau Bay beach and reception and dinner at the golf club therafter , and a breakfast barbecue at Katy's parents house on the day after.

The wedding was spectacular . Weather perfect and a setting to die for. Piper followed by Duncan and his 2 `best men ` - his sisters - led the procession and a really lovely ceremony taken by a delightful celebrant and with 100 people ( 15 or so kilts ) attending. Photographs can be seen on the following websites. With the second one below ( i.e the Utube link - all brilliantly taken and set up by D & K's friend Tony from Ithaca )you may have to type in ` Duncan & Katy wedding ` in the search box and it should come up -
http://www.bellaphotoart.com.au/blog/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rn0bIm2FLY

Photos from bottom
1.This is a view of Sydney from North Heads ( M and I walked here from Manly beach ) - Bateau Bay is north up the coast from here about 100 miles.
2. Preparing for rehearsal duties on Bateau Bay beach.
3. D & K getting their lines straight under watchful eyes of his ` best men `
4. The 6th fairway at Tuggerah Golf Club
5. Immediately following phase 1 of the bucks ' party a deep sea fishing expedition way out beyond Sydney Harbour ( a small fishing boat taking us under the bridge and , spectacularly , out through the harbour ).
5. Psyching up for a surfboard lesson - our coach - a former Aussie champion.
6. Katy's parents Murray and Judy having just carried off the amazing feat of cooking breakfast on a barbecue for 80 odd wedding guests on the morning after.
7. 2 of many special guests at the breakfast who travelled huge distances to be with us - Rod and Jen with Meghan.

back in Sydney

Back in Bateau Bay again and the family now complete with Duncan arriving Fri and Jane and Johannes yesterday - Sunday. Katy yesterday too and her birthday today.

K's sister Jo gave us ( Mary , me , Meghan & Dennis ) a superb guided tour of some of Sydney's wonderful coastline and hot spots. A few photos to illustrate. Now on beach and a week en famille with wedding on Sat .

Strathbogie

The visit to Strathbogie was undoubtedly a highlight of the trip. It was a wonderfully relaxing 3 day weekend visit and we revelled in it . Tim and Gina were superb hosts.
1. One of those memorable leisurely breakfasts in the conservatory putting the world to rights..
2 . Bella thinks she's a retriever .
3. A keenly contested tennis 4 - I had the benefit of the Rawbelle Rocket as my partner and we prevailed . M retiring hurt with a muscle strain was quite incidental.
4 A tour from Tim including the 24 stand shearing shed . Strathbogie runs to 12,000 acres of fine land - presently holding 8,000 sheep and 1400 cattle. They have also the neighbouring property Weebogie with an additional 4000 acres .
5 Gina & Tim at front of the magnificent ( and historic ) Strathbogie homestead - I'm sorry the Scottish Lion Rampant flag which was flown in our honour does not appear here . It was flying proudly though.

Toowoomba to Gerriween National Park

Rod gave us a superb tour of the new Toowoomba showground the move to which he masterminded a few years ago as President. He also took us on a trip ( down memory lane ) to Braemar the farm on which Mary worked as housekeeper 35 years ago when his wife Helen was recovering from an operation . We got to know Rod well in those days and our wonderful friendship has thrived over the ingtervening years.
1.Rod at the entrance to Braemar.
2 Rod outside 5 Myers St .
3 & 4. Gerriween Nat Park - remarkable !

Brisbane to Toowoomba

From bottom to top

1. The morning after Sarah's wedding in Brisbane . Reid and Mary at the edge of the Brisbane river en route to breakfast party chez Fairfax at 26 Langside Place.
2. All here but the married couple Sarah and Joe. From left Tim, Fiona, Pru, Gina and Lucy.
3. On, that afternoon, to Toowoomba to stay with our very dear friend Rod Stirling . Here is one of the lovely evenings we had with Rod and his partner Jen on the deck of Jen's house with panoramic views under full rising moon.
3 The garden of our luncheon hosts for Melbourne Cup party.
4. New breed of sheep ( bred for meat , not wool ) at Meenawarra , Cecil Plains . We were given a warm welcome there from Christo and Poss Bloomfield and a tour of their property on the Darling River 30 or so miles from Toowoomba - we were last there 35 years ago working for Stephen and Tina at a neighbouring farm Warrameena.

Maryborough, Rainbow beach, & Gympie

1 & 6. We had a hugely enjoyable 2 days with Ian and Anne at their beautifully restored Baddow House sitting right on the Mary River. The Mary River estuary was the 2nd biggest port to Sydney in the very early days of colonisation and those tall ocean going sailing ships would have sailed right by this site now on the edge of the historic town of Maryborough. Ian and Anne have done a momentous job of restoring the house.
2 & 3. On Ian's recommendation we stopped for a walk and picnic at Rainbow Beach on our way to Bruce and Delia's at Gympie.
4 Bruce , Delia, and Rossie with whom we have not stayed for 35 years - in those days at Ibis Creek. Rossie a babe in arms at that time. It was a delightful stay , seeing the store they run and the plans for development, exploring Gympie and the mining museum - and much catching up - no bridge sadly - next time ( hopefully not 35 years ).
5 . Mary with Ian at Belbury , Montville - en route to Brisbane for Fairfax wedding.

Fraser Island and whale watching

We had 2 nights in a campsite at Hervey Bay, going on a 1 day expedition to Fraser Island one day and on a whale watching trip the next. Both memorable days.
1 a wild dingo on the 45km beach on the far side of Fraser Is
2 the wreck of an old passenger liner on same beach
3 She made it - again . This time at Lake Mackenzie an extaordinarily beautiful fresh water lake in the middle of the island.
4 & 5 the 2 whales we tracked for a couple of hours or so .