Ian from Sydney

Hi Ian, thanks for your nice comment on my photos. I bought a Sony Cybershot DSC-777 just before I left for Egypt. I had trouble with night shots though, they didn't turn out at all and I'm not sure if it's the camera or the user (probably the latter!)
Happy New Year to you and Anne, I hope 2009 brings you loads of happy times - Kerrie

I'm really happy with the camera Ian, both with the photos I've taken and it's compact size. With the night shots, it's OK if there's other light around which is true for most shots, but when I took some photos that relied mainly on the flash they turned out very dark & blurry especially at some of the temples in Egypt that were spotlit with no other lighting around. I tried a couple of settings but it didn't seem to make much difference. I'd appreciate your help.

Thanks for the advice Ian, it makes a lot of sense. I'll try again and let you know how the photos turns out.

Hi Ian, thanks for your support about the bushfire, it seems to be to pretty much under control but they're still fighting spot fires: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/arson-may-have-caused-sydney-bushfire/2009/01/14/1231608748657.h tml
This'll give you more info if you want it!!
It got up to 36 here yesterday & today it was 29* at 9.30 & at 10 it had got to 31&!! At least it's not humid, so it's easier to cope! I've walked from this house through the bush to a street near Albany Crescent!! So I know how much bush there is!! It must be hot out your way, unless your at Bronte!!

Thank you Ian and Anne for your kind words of comfort. My Dad was ready to go as he hated knowing that he was losing his memory and felt that he was a burden to us, at least now he is at peace.

Ian and Anne for the birthday greetings. I will be in touch soon about making some arrangements for when Keith is here in April.

Hi Ian - I was chuckling over TerrierCyn's remarks, calling your photos "sadistic" - I prefer mischievous myself as a suitable adjective (although I remember calling one puzzle a "hair-puller"!). I hope all goes well for you and your family, and that you maintain good health this year, and for many years! I am always pleased to see your photos, but, personally, think they tend more towards the absolutely gorgeous opposed to mischievous (I particularly remember the multicoloured building framework - now that was a bear!).

Too true what you stated about heat versus cold - but we just had a frigid spell that reminded me of visiting my family in Minnesota, where they used to give warnings on the telly to just stay indoors! I ran my pellets stove in the living room, plus the wood stove in the basement, and the poor heat pump still worked furiously - I was afraid it would have a stroke and perish in the midst of all that cold (-1 degree F yesterday a.m.). Now we are in a heat wave (the 20's) and it feels delightful! I do sympathize with you Aussies and the fire danger - how terrifying! And the heat as well - I was trying to calculate temperature looking at Kate's message above, and figure that those figures are similar to southern Italy - just stayed in the building this past summer when it was reading a consistent 36C. The hardest part of working in that heat is reminding all my students to drink lots of water - there have been instances of heat exhaustion during the WorkCamp in years past (not prison camp, volunteer workcamps in restoration! We rebuild walls and do whatever needs to be done - I've done this in France as well). BUt, for me, I fear the ice most - road accidents, single car accidents, closure of roads - all frighten me, knowing that it is very dangerous to be out in the stuff. Ah weather! Don't know what started me on all that!

Take care!

Hi Ian -

I've had only on-the-job training during my restoration programs - most of it involved taking down old dry walls and rebuilding the walls in a stable fashion, which tended to require more muscle than training! Curiously, since I am geriatric (I am officially "old" now, having turned 65 and signing up for Medicare), I originally was worried I couldn't keep up with the kids but soon found they couldn't keep up with me most of the time! I was known as "Two bucket woman" in France because I carried two buckets of dirt or rocks while the kids struggled with one per trip to the designated dump piles (they never believed it was actually easier to carry two as they balanced one a bit better!). Then I have been learning about fresco stabilization and cleaning in Italy with my students, really interesting! We were working in the underground churches in Puglia - I'll put some photos in my gallery. I have decided to cease the teaching (I've not been charmed with my American students these last two years, nor with the Southern Italians who won't plan adequately for the courses as we are supposed to be a team - and this year they pretty much left everything to me, even though they were paid handsomely to work as well as to supply the meals and housing - a long, aggravating story, but I'm too old to put up with such nonsense anymore - a privilege of old age!) and I'll miss the work.

I loved the youtube "Man From Snowy River" reading - the movie has been one of my favorites!

Perhaps your pulse races because you live with the lovely and youthful Anne! What would the cardiologist do to lower the pulse rate - I hope not more surgery!?

Ian, thank you for visiting my page - and thanks for the compliments. Coming from you that is high praise, indeed! I love photography - and it offers a great excuse for travel. Life is just one big photo-op!!

Ian, I don't think I've visited your page before, though I've seen many of your photos as puzzles. You have a great eye - I really enjoyed looking through your pages! :)

Yes Ian, what a relief! Hope you and Anne are well. Off on my adventure Thursday week with Bella.

Hi Ian - thanks for the nice comments on MY page. I've only just learnt how to put photos on, so I did go a bit overboard! As for the Essendon footy gear - sorry to disappoint you, the party was at Rachel's fiance's house: THEY are Essendon fans. Afraid I'm not really into football (though Rob, my husband, is a keen Geelong supporter.) Anyway, glad you enjoyed my photos, as I certainly enjoyed yours! :)

Dearest Ian, thank you so much for your thoughts today, they are greatly appreciated. Trying our hardest to stay cool, it's easy on the inside but it's the exterior that is having the trouble!
Re the priorities, that was the thing we made darn sure of this time. Insurance is as high as we can afford. House and bits are nothing. It is the photos and papers that are our main concern at this time. Went around the house today gathering up bits and bobs and since losing Mum, it is amazing just what I would like to be able to save. Lucky I have a big car!
During the day, there is only Hannah and I here, and we have our plan all worked out. If nothing else, she and I will be safe. Photos I can get from my siblings, but the things Mum wanted me to have are always with me.
Love to you and the delectable Mrs Ian, xoxo

Hi Ian, all is good, had a great trip down to Echuca/Moama and caught up with my family. It was so nice to pull up in the campervan and have your home ready instead of having to put up a tent. The main ski race was cancelled as the ambo's and medics were called back to help with the bushfires in Victoria. Travelling back you could still see the smoke haze past Dubbo.

Hello Ian - thank you very much for your wishes for my birthday last Friday.
I had a lovely day from the start and spent the evening at my daughter Amanda's place for a lovely dinner. I had a couple of nips of Baileys (a birthday present from my oldest daughter, Rebecca) while waiting for my sister to pick me up so I didn't even have to drive.

Anne x

Hi Ian. Yes, the Prom fire is raging, but not posing a threat at the moment. My son showed me how to access the wind forecasts (from BOM home page click on 'water and the land' on the left of the page.) So now I can see what is likely to happen. Maybe next Sunday (when I will be in Sydney anyway) or next Tuesday when the wind swings around to the south I might have to take action. The car is packed for a quick getaway. Meanwhile very blustery. I know some of the firefighters and I know how exhausted they are.

Only joshing you, Ian: "Judy, we leave on Monday (BTW, it's grey nomads)"
I think we, in the US, have or had a group of oldies who tried to fashion themselves after the black panthers -- tough guys, swagger around, get things done, by golly! Anyway, have a marvelous trip, you two!

I'm not surprised you are a weather watcher, Ian. I do the same and I know the radar site as well. Back to Sandy Point tomorrow.

I appreciate your thoughts, Ian and Anne. No threat at the moment, though the sky over the Prom is red. Gail has new fires close to her.

Dear Ian

Thank you for your kind words and for you thoughts and prayers. They mean a lot to me. I am very thankful for my Sudoku Family.

Happy Anniversary Ian and Anne

from Gail and Scott xoxo

Ian, I can't imagine Anne gloating...much!

Hi Ian! Yes, I admit it, I'm the odd child who enjoys reading the dictionary. I find an odd assortment of words which brighten my day.

Anne and yourself look quite striking in your wedding photo Ian. We also share a special day, as the 23rd of March is my birthday, but it was long before 1968!

Hi Ian, hope this finds you well.

No I didn't receive a ticket.
I was very disapointed in the exclusion of recreation aircraft in general. In previous years there has been a general exemption from controled airspace requierments, but this year that didn't happen and the powers to be didn't let us know until two days AFTER you needed to put in a request for individual exemption. Next time I think I should ask all 10,000 RAA members to put in the form to CASA, that might make them think twice in the future. I know many RAA members the just didn't go in protest. A Jabiru registered GA could go in to Avalon East but one registered RAA, with the same pilot, could not, tell me what's the difference.

Steve

I will be away for the next several days, Ian. I wanted to stop by before I go to wish you and your lovely Anne
May you have many more wonderful years ahead

I posted this on Easy for you today. Is this an anniversary trip you're taking?

Isn't it grand,
That Ian and Anne,
Will ride up north on the Ghan,
And I really do understand

The excitment they feel,
And the wondrous appeal,
For the camel trail they follow was real,
Or so says the traditional speil.

We hope the trip once begun,
On a train (son of a gun),
To Darwin (hoping there's sun),
Enjoy you two, and have fun.

Hi Ian, Strath(albyn) is in the Adelaide Hills so there are at least Margot and myself in the Adelaide region. If it is this coming Saturday you are in Adelaide, I will miss you entirely because I am going to Sydney for a conference on Thursday and wont be flying back until Sunday. Never mind, maybe next time.

Hey, and have a great trip on the Ghan, The weather looks like it will be kind to you.
Bon Voyage.

I had to google the Ghan to see where you were traveling. Looks like a fun trip, I like trains, have done several in Europe. One day I hope to visit and this is now on my list of things to do. Have a good time.

H A P P Y

A N N I V E R S A R Y

Anne & Ian!!!

What's it like to have been married so long? (Jaime and I have only been married 40 years!!!)

Happy Anniversary Ian and Ann! Wishing you many more blessed years together!

A very Happy Anniversary Ian and Anne.
I hope you enjoy many, many more years ahead of you and they are as wonderful as the years gone by.
Anne xx

Happy Wedding Anniversary Ian and Anne.

Here I am, back again.
Same as before...scroll up!
Just in case -

Happy Anniversary to you both

Happy Anniversary Ian and Anne,

Have a wonderful day... and it wont be long before you head off for your Ghan trip. Hope we catch up - even briefly when you get to Darwin.

Am currently nursing a nasty does of the flu but it should be long gone by the time you gt here.

Ian and Anne, have a wonderful day celebrating your anniversary.
Have a great trip to Darwin and we will see you Good Friday.

hi Ian,

Yes it's a nasty lergy, though the joy in it has been time out and it has been lovely to have some space, Re tea on Friday night, it sounds the best time really. Possibly Drue would join us for tea though I haven't run it by him yet. He doesn't share my sudoku tendencies and is
more into fishing rods etc. Safe journeying and I hope that your anniversary has been a sonderful occasion for you both.

De nada, Ian. If we have any royalty in our sudoku clan surely, it would be you and Anne!

Have a wonderful trip, Ian and Anne!
I don't have to remind you to take your camera, do I? LOL