Monday, September 11, 2006
Author wanted
It was my intention to write an article about the trip around Oz, but it may be that someone who kept a diary (I didn't), and has a little time available, would be prepared to contribute a couple of hundred words to accompany some of these photos from the "Smith Family Collection". If you are willing to do this, please send me an email before starting to do any writing.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Ideas and suggestions…
My apologies for not posting anything here for a while. I’ve had a few distractions which have occupied much of my time recently.
At the beginning of August, my anti-virus software company McAfee offered me a free upgrade of my security system. I downloaded the upgrade which immediately stuffed up my computer. That took me a couple of weeks to sort out. Thanks for that Mr. McAfee – you will not be surprised to learn that I have dropped you from my Christmas card list, and your chances of getting any further business from me are somewhere between zero and nil.
Following that debacle I encountered another problem when my “equine investments strategy” (ie. my betting account – which was to help pay for all the meals I promised Jean Ide for finding the “lost” kiwis) headed in a southerly direction at an alarming rate. This required a week or so of burning the midnight oil and undergoing some personal panic and stress to sort things out.
While all of this was going on I was also in the middle of updating the Wikipedia Melbourne Project, in which I have been involved for the past couple of years. Incidentally if you are coming to Melbourne for the reunion, and you want to check out information about Melbourne, then have a look at the articles and categories listed on the wikipedia page under Melbourne Categories.
End of excuses.
Reunion correspondence and meeting:
Following Jean’s comment on the blog that Don and Paul have been “found”, I received an email from Don in August and sent him the details of the blog and the reunion. No further contact since then, your honour.
Barb remembered the name of the girl who she met some years ago, and was on the trip from London to Venice – her name is Sandy Pennicott (nee Schrank) – ring any bells with anyone who was on the India trip? Sent Sandy details, but no reply as yet.
Chrissie Jobson has written to say that the Melbourne Grand Prix is confirmed for March 18, and that she will be staying on after the race and is a definite starter for the reunion.
Jenny Lee (Jones) emailed a few days ago that she and Sarita have both booked flights to Melbourne for the reunion.
Meanwhile, here in Melbourne, myself, Marg, John and Sandy (the Reunion Organising Committee – or ROC) – a bit like the IOC only smaller and less scandal ridden – had a get-together a fortnight ago. The idea was to kick around a few ideas about what we would need to organise when people actually front up to the reunion. Fortunately, Margaret made some notes about what we discussed (I did have a glass of red) and emailed them to me, so they are the basis for what follows. Please bear in mind that these are random ideas and suggestions which we would like everyone to have a think about…. add to….knock on the head ….or flush down the dunny. Here goes:
Ideas for reunion
(a) Saturday/Sunday – March 24-25
Book a room in a restaurant - Indian/Nepalese/African type food? (Meat pie for Bill Jeans)
Hold a BBQ (catered, or by us) - at park, other venue, or someone's house
Have dinner at someone's house – may depend on numbers?
Hire a venue and have a party/dinner dance, e.g. Albert Sailing Club
Hold a picnic in a park or by the river.
Take ferry or boat from St. Kilda to Williamstown or along Maribynong or Yarra River
(b) The following week - Monday 26+
Two or three days camping at beach (tent, caravan or cabin) – Rosebud, Sorrento, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Apollo Bay, etc.
Hire a bus for two/three days and stay in either a guest house, ski lodge or other accommodation - Mt. Buller, Falls Creek, Daylesford , Marysville, etc.
Do a tour of the vineyards in the Yarra Valley.
Hire a couple of houseboats from Echuca and drift down the River Murray for a few days.
(Marg came up with this idea a couple of days after we had the meeting and I must say that it immediately appealed to me – accommodation, transport, food and drink in one package. Any votes for this idea?)
Arrange a 60th birthday party for a certain John Smith on 26 March. Anyone else having a birthday or anniversary around this time?
(c) Other touristy things to do around Melbourne
Grand Prix (March 15-18)
World Swimming Championships
Horse racing - personal investment advice provided, but no reponsibility!
Play golf
Go sailing
Go fishing
Go bushwalking
Visit local tourist spots - Southbank, Docklands, National Gallery, Street Markets, Casino.
Further afield - the Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula, Sovereign Hill, Penguins at Philip Island.
For the less active - go on a pub crawl and reminisce about the "good old days".
(d) Items to bring, display, organise
Bring old travel photos, and pictures of family.
Arrange a display of maps of travel routes, newspaper reports, and “blow ups” of group photos.
Arrange for showing of DVD of overland trip – yes we have a movie - and it's in colour!
Bring/wear some item of memorabilia – perhaps have a “1970s dress" party?
Members of the “Ghurka Club” - please bring your Insignia of Office.
Organise a "reunion memento" - e.g. T-shirt, cap, mousepad, etc.?
Arrange surprise prizes/gifts.
Take lots of photos and video to compose a Reunion DVD.
Put together a Melbourne/Victoria “Tourist Kit”and send to interstate and overseas visitors .
Those are the suggestions and ideas, and this is the proposed timeline:
Friday 23rd March - People arrive and either stay in own arranged accommodation or accommodated at houses we organise in Melbourne. Casual get-togethers organised by host houses
Saturday 24th March - During day - own arrangements. Evening - dinner in restaurant or a BBQ somewhere
Sunday 25th March - Lunch time get-together (BBQ, picnic, lunch at restaurant) or drive somewhere for lunch, BBQ, picnic
Monday 26th March - Optional 2/3/4 day's away from Melbourne at the beach, in the bush, or on the River Murray.
What do you think? Either leave a comment here or send me an email on what you would like to do for the reunion. Send your suggestions as soon as possible so that we can organise a meetup of all Melburnians from the trip to sort out accommodation plans and discuss your ideas.
At the beginning of August, my anti-virus software company McAfee offered me a free upgrade of my security system. I downloaded the upgrade which immediately stuffed up my computer. That took me a couple of weeks to sort out. Thanks for that Mr. McAfee – you will not be surprised to learn that I have dropped you from my Christmas card list, and your chances of getting any further business from me are somewhere between zero and nil.
Following that debacle I encountered another problem when my “equine investments strategy” (ie. my betting account – which was to help pay for all the meals I promised Jean Ide for finding the “lost” kiwis) headed in a southerly direction at an alarming rate. This required a week or so of burning the midnight oil and undergoing some personal panic and stress to sort things out.
While all of this was going on I was also in the middle of updating the Wikipedia Melbourne Project, in which I have been involved for the past couple of years. Incidentally if you are coming to Melbourne for the reunion, and you want to check out information about Melbourne, then have a look at the articles and categories listed on the wikipedia page under Melbourne Categories.
End of excuses.
Reunion correspondence and meeting:
Following Jean’s comment on the blog that Don and Paul have been “found”, I received an email from Don in August and sent him the details of the blog and the reunion. No further contact since then, your honour.
Barb remembered the name of the girl who she met some years ago, and was on the trip from London to Venice – her name is Sandy Pennicott (nee Schrank) – ring any bells with anyone who was on the India trip? Sent Sandy details, but no reply as yet.
Chrissie Jobson has written to say that the Melbourne Grand Prix is confirmed for March 18, and that she will be staying on after the race and is a definite starter for the reunion.
Jenny Lee (Jones) emailed a few days ago that she and Sarita have both booked flights to Melbourne for the reunion.
Meanwhile, here in Melbourne, myself, Marg, John and Sandy (the Reunion Organising Committee – or ROC) – a bit like the IOC only smaller and less scandal ridden – had a get-together a fortnight ago. The idea was to kick around a few ideas about what we would need to organise when people actually front up to the reunion. Fortunately, Margaret made some notes about what we discussed (I did have a glass of red) and emailed them to me, so they are the basis for what follows. Please bear in mind that these are random ideas and suggestions which we would like everyone to have a think about…. add to….knock on the head ….or flush down the dunny. Here goes:
Ideas for reunion
(a) Saturday/Sunday – March 24-25
Book a room in a restaurant - Indian/Nepalese/African type food? (Meat pie for Bill Jeans)
Hold a BBQ (catered, or by us) - at park, other venue, or someone's house
Have dinner at someone's house – may depend on numbers?
Hire a venue and have a party/dinner dance, e.g. Albert Sailing Club
Hold a picnic in a park or by the river.
Take ferry or boat from St. Kilda to Williamstown or along Maribynong or Yarra River
(b) The following week - Monday 26+
Two or three days camping at beach (tent, caravan or cabin) – Rosebud, Sorrento, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Apollo Bay, etc.
Hire a bus for two/three days and stay in either a guest house, ski lodge or other accommodation - Mt. Buller, Falls Creek, Daylesford , Marysville, etc.
Do a tour of the vineyards in the Yarra Valley.
Hire a couple of houseboats from Echuca and drift down the River Murray for a few days.
(Marg came up with this idea a couple of days after we had the meeting and I must say that it immediately appealed to me – accommodation, transport, food and drink in one package. Any votes for this idea?)
Arrange a 60th birthday party for a certain John Smith on 26 March. Anyone else having a birthday or anniversary around this time?
(c) Other touristy things to do around Melbourne
Grand Prix (March 15-18)
World Swimming Championships
Horse racing - personal investment advice provided, but no reponsibility!
Play golf
Go sailing
Go fishing
Go bushwalking
Visit local tourist spots - Southbank, Docklands, National Gallery, Street Markets, Casino.
Further afield - the Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula, Sovereign Hill, Penguins at Philip Island.
For the less active - go on a pub crawl and reminisce about the "good old days".
(d) Items to bring, display, organise
Bring old travel photos, and pictures of family.
Arrange a display of maps of travel routes, newspaper reports, and “blow ups” of group photos.
Arrange for showing of DVD of overland trip – yes we have a movie - and it's in colour!
Bring/wear some item of memorabilia – perhaps have a “1970s dress" party?
Members of the “Ghurka Club” - please bring your Insignia of Office.
Organise a "reunion memento" - e.g. T-shirt, cap, mousepad, etc.?
Arrange surprise prizes/gifts.
Take lots of photos and video to compose a Reunion DVD.
Put together a Melbourne/Victoria “Tourist Kit”and send to interstate and overseas visitors .
Those are the suggestions and ideas, and this is the proposed timeline:
Friday 23rd March - People arrive and either stay in own arranged accommodation or accommodated at houses we organise in Melbourne. Casual get-togethers organised by host houses
Saturday 24th March - During day - own arrangements. Evening - dinner in restaurant or a BBQ somewhere
Sunday 25th March - Lunch time get-together (BBQ, picnic, lunch at restaurant) or drive somewhere for lunch, BBQ, picnic
Monday 26th March - Optional 2/3/4 day's away from Melbourne at the beach, in the bush, or on the River Murray.
What do you think? Either leave a comment here or send me an email on what you would like to do for the reunion. Send your suggestions as soon as possible so that we can organise a meetup of all Melburnians from the trip to sort out accommodation plans and discuss your ideas.
