tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-116799262008-07-18T16:09:33.484+10:00momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-50399995921115188132008-07-15T13:59:00.003+10:002008-07-18T16:09:33.522+10:00

Our garden is filled with birds. Rainbow lorikeets feast on flowering gum blossoms, noisy mynahs squabble in the pink cassia, chasing off blue-faced honeyeaters. Crested pigeons whirr into the blood swampwood, currawongs warble in the leopardwood while grey and pied butcherbirds sit on the latticework of our front verandah, serenading us with their song. Crows, ibis and magpies all visit and most

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-90217290438208539372008-04-29T13:43:00.002+10:002008-04-29T14:02:19.937+10:00

Smithy and I went to see k d lang in concert at QPAC last night. She's here promoting her new album, Watershed (which is No 1 in Australia). The concert was fantastic. k d just gets better and better. Her voice is awesome and her vocal control stunning. And she's funny and interacts with the audience really well - giving and taking presents, shaking people's hands, cracking jokes. It's a

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-32626852114146524492008-03-22T12:20:00.003+10:002008-03-22T12:35:04.810+10:00

The recent events in Tibet have focussed the world's attention on China's continuing brutal occupation of Tibet and its people. China is in the spotlight like never before because of the upcoming Olympic Games. Whilst I've always held that the Games should never have been awarded to Beijing, it's been a fantastic opportunity to highlight the Tibet issue. It's time the international community,

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-48784452458126155452008-01-14T09:41:00.000+10:002008-01-14T10:13:13.515+10:00

Sir Edmund Hillary died on Friday 11 January 2008, aged 88. WIth him goes another piece of Everest history. Yet his name will live on for generations - not so much for being one of the first to climb Mount Everest - but for the legacy he has built in the villages that sit in Everest's shadow. Sir Ed's achievement is remarkable because he used his fame to enrich others, not himself. He dedicated

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-71557977272547806462008-01-02T19:41:00.000+10:002008-01-02T20:02:17.130+10:00

So another year begins. The old one finished in quite a spectacular fashion as a tropical depression took up residence just off the coast, causing near-cyclonic winds and whipping the sea into a frenzy. Torrential rain bucketed down forcing the cancellation of fireworks shows on both the Sunshine and Gold Coasts. Smithy and I were up at the Sunshine Coast to see the new year in with friends. We

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-62175627314781155332007-10-31T13:15:00.000+10:002007-10-31T13:25:53.741+10:00

Telly on a Wednesday night just does not get better than this! First off, Cold Case with the delectable Lily. Tonight we find out if she survives the shooting from last episode. She must do! They wouldn't kill her off. Would they.....? Then at 9.30pm the premiere of The Librarians on the ABC. I can't wait! Finally, a show about me! Well, not just me - all us wonderful librarians out there. Once

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-79879650905283921162007-10-30T12:58:00.000+10:002007-10-30T14:20:52.051+10:00

Today is my birthday and I get to spend it at work - in my little windowless library. Not nearly as much fun as last year's birthday. For those of you who read my other blog http://allmorainisterminal.blogspot.com/, you'll know that this time last year I was trekking in Nepal. I woke up in Besi Sahar, spent half the day on a bus travelling to Pokhara, and then had pizza and birthday cake for

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-13208547315568284412007-09-28T13:30:00.001+10:002007-09-28T13:36:22.871+10:00

Help GetUp screen their Climate Clever-er ad during the AFL Grand Final by making a donation to www.getup.org.au See the ad here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W90bfVeNhY

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-73262715942956474872007-09-03T15:28:00.000+10:002007-09-03T15:39:10.539+10:00

Smithy's been away for about a month now, and has been keeping me up to date with her adventures with lots of emails. Having read what she's been up to so far, I'm not so sure she should be allowed out by herself anymore. On the trip out to the Galapagos Islands, she had to sit up all night to make sure her semi-conscious, seasick cabin-mate didn't suffocate on her own vomit.In Santiago, just

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-22638826622519317442007-08-08T18:06:00.000+10:002007-08-08T18:42:59.844+10:00

Today marks one year to go until the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Organisations around the world are using the occasion to highlight Tibet's plight. Let's keep the pressure on China regarding its continuing occupation of Tibet and its appalling human rights record. Protesters unfurled a banner on the Great Wall http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-30946117023727505632007-08-05T14:30:00.000+10:002007-08-05T14:41:48.833+10:00

Smithy flew out this morning to begin her 9-week South American adventure, leaving me home alone for all that time. Just as well I have two jobs to keep me occupied - I won't have too much time to miss her. It will be very strange without her. Apart from a 3-day trip to New Zealand that she did back in 2004, we have not been apart in the 5 1/2 years we've been together. At least I will be able to

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-76670528135467442092007-07-02T14:52:00.000+10:002007-07-02T16:02:47.963+10:00

Yesterday Smithy and I entered in our fourth Gold Coast Half Marathon. We usually use the 21 and a bit kilometre race as training for our Himalayan treks. We only ever walk the half marathon - never run it - and our goal this year was to break the 3 hour barrier. In 2003 we did it in 3 hours 3 mins, in 2004 we did it in 3:05 and last year in 3:03, so we've been close. And we went at what we

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-34161351772126576642007-06-18T12:56:00.000+10:002007-06-18T13:25:02.046+10:00

In our house mainly. Of course, we have the usual geckos living behind the picture frames. They chase each other across the walls and squabble on the ceiling but for the most part are no bother at all. Except for the odd occasion when one falls off the ceiling and onto one of us or, with a loud splat, onto the floor. They sprawl there for a moment or two with a stunned look on their faces, then

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1156560468430143262006-08-26T12:44:00.000+10:002006-08-26T12:47:48.440+10:00

Yep! That's right, the Very Big Adventure is finally upon us and we will be flying out on Wednesday 30th August. Yihaaa! From now on, I'll be using my other blog http://allmoraineisterminal.blogspot.com, so please check in at that one to read about the VBA. See ya!

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1154925990688320382006-08-07T14:19:00.000+10:002006-08-07T14:46:30.763+10:00

Please meet Ani Dharma and Ruby Rinpoche - the newest members of our family. Ani Dharma is a brand new 2006 Hyundai 3-door Hatch Accent and Ruby Rinpoche is a brand new Subaru Forester. We wanted to get 'Yak' and 'Yeti' number plates but 'Yeti' was taken so went instead for 'Yak 60' and 'Yak 47' for our birth years. Aren't they gorgeous?

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1154743537649473892006-08-05T11:55:00.000+10:002006-08-05T12:05:37.663+10:00

25! Yes, just 25 more sleeps to go before Smithy and I fly off for our Very Big Adventure (VBA)! After months and months and months of talking, dreaming and planning, it's hard to believe it's almost upon us. And boy are we ready! Got the visas, had the vaccinations, bought the travellers cheques, packed and weighed the suitcases - and yes! we're within our 30km limit - organised our journals,

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1152071205134902312006-07-05T13:33:00.000+10:002006-07-05T13:46:45.150+10:00

Smithy and I did the Gold Coast Half Marathon on Sunday, with some friends from our walking/running group Brisbane Frontrunners. We never run it, Smithy and I, but our three friends - first-timers all - did. Our goal is to try and complete it in 3 hours. That's 7kmph - damned fast! In 2003 and 2004, we did it in 3 hours and 5 mins (give or take several seconds or so). This year we managed it in

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1149040247598998802006-05-31T11:46:00.000+10:002006-05-31T11:53:09.613+10:00

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1148272750018076842006-05-22T14:08:00.000+10:002006-05-22T14:39:10.030+10:00

It's now just 101 days until Smithy and I embark on the Very Big Adventure (VBA) and we're going to have to crank up the fitness thing. We've been a bit slack recently - doing a 20 kilometre bushwalk once a month and a weekly 5km walk and not much else...got a bit undermotivated and complacent for awhile there. BUT...come 1st June and it's all systems go! Apart from anything else, we're entering

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1144547049585744362006-04-09T11:38:00.000+10:002006-04-09T11:44:09.596+10:00

This was taken in 2004 whilst on the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. It is part of a photo-essay I was creating on 'Doors and Windows'.

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1143338165677184392006-03-26T11:48:00.000+10:002006-03-26T11:56:05.690+10:00

We're not going to Mera Peak anymore. The company we chose to go with no longer operates out of Australia and their Kathmandu office never replied to our queries....so now, we've signed up with Peregrine Adventures to attempt Island Peak, or Imja Tse. It's 6,189m high, so a little shorter than Mera, but technically harder (so we've been told!). We're really excited about it cos it means

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1142129315567800932006-03-12T11:58:00.000+10:002006-03-12T12:08:35.590+10:00

Friday 10 March marked the 47th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against the Chinese invasion, which ultimately led to the fleeing of the Dalai Lama into exile. The Tibetan flag is outlawed in Tibet. The Australian Tibet Council approached local councils around Australia asking if they would fly the Tibetan Flag on March 10. The council I work for, Caboolture Shire Council, was one of

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1139549934213769872006-02-10T15:38:00.000+10:002006-02-10T15:51:18.103+10:00

Check out this website www.noluv4google.com to pledge your commitment to breaking up with Google on valentine's day.As a librarian I am committed to the concept of freedom of information. For Google to snuggle up in bed with an evil empire like China and design search parameters that deny people access to information, purely for the sake of money, makes Google morally bankrupt. I will be breaking

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1139272384764303042006-02-07T10:25:00.000+10:002006-02-07T10:34:10.236+10:00

Go to www.whalesrevenge.com to sign the petition to stop all whaling. The aim to get 1,000,000 signatures.

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11679926.post-1136855969033024052006-01-10T10:09:00.000+10:002006-01-11T12:37:43.876+10:00

Yesterday I found myself in a small windowless interview room, with two people flashing gold badges at me and wanting to "ask me a few questions". A very long way from where I had planned my day to go, I must say! Smithy and I were going to the city to 1) renew my re-entry visa 2) wire our trip deposit to Nepal 3) fax confirmation of said deposit to Nepal 4) buy a new Lotto ticket and 5) visit

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03785050870029110219noreply@blogger.com