More Christmas photos

Here is some more from C & S

Mum O'keefe at POW.

I have spoken to most of the O'Keefes about our mum who was admitted to POW today. She is in the "Euora ward" which can be accessed off Avoca St Randwick at Gate 6, walk around to the building to the entrance of the ward on "Nurses Drive" or come up "Nurses Drive" from the multideck car park if you use it. Visiting hours are 10am to 8pm Weekends and 3pm to 8pm weekdays. Mum will be there about 2 to 3 weeks, and Dr. Draper is confident he can help improve her condition.
Chris & Sue

Christmas Photos

Her are some photos from tha Ackerman and O'Keefe Christmas celebrations 2007.
Happy New Year everyone, Chris Sue & Olly. (PS) Sue did actually catch a 50 cm long flat head but the camera battery was flat.

An English Christmas

Hi everyone and Merry Christmas (again)

Hope you all had a lovely day on Boxing Day - sounds like it was sunny! As you know, we celebrated our first Christmas away from home with a bunch of Aussie orphans - me, Kim, Nicole, Adam, Samara, Kathy (her mum) and Chris (a Nigerian/Canadian orphan!).

We had a fantastic day and night/s. It all really began in the early hours sharing a bed with Adam Tinsley, who got phone calls from home at 1am, 2am and 4am. Then my fam called at 8am (much more respectible hour) and by 9am we had filled our tiny flat with wrapping paper, presents, chocolates and champagne!

Ad cooked us bacon and eggs for breakie and then we headed off to samara's place for lunch. Chris cooked up a delicious turkey with all the trimmings and we all ate and drank way too much!

It was about 3 degrees so not too cold (it's been zero this week!) and when the sun went down at 4pm, we started a drinking game with a dice from a bon bon and the diva santa hat that S&J sent me. By about 6pm we were all totally pissed! So we stuffed our faces with Kim's apple pie for dessert to soak up the alcohol!

It was a great day and even though it felt strange not being with family, it was still a really lovely way to celebrate Chrissy. Thanks to everyone for your wishes, phone calls and presents. Enjoy the photos! Love Kel

The festive season

I feel better now. Stayed at home today comforted by Dr. Ann’s note which I had earlier hand delivered to the boss, giving him a demonstration of my croak and cough. I know that sounds over the top to most of you but to one who has not had a paid unplanned sick day for thirty nine years it seemrd like a good precaution, especially in regard to the potential to receive some “in lieu of holiday” benefit I’d heard of. I found dosing in front of couch cricket to be an excellent therapy but later had to resort to a cardboard red for medicinal purposes only.
I found the Christmas celebrations yesterday delightful as usual, congratulations Ross and Ann, oh yes and congratulations Cathrine too, really, next you’ll want me to congratulate Mathew and Christopher. Hope no one else had to be hospitalized for depression today as Mum did, of course it’s well known that this is the Christmas Syndrome and I suppose we should count our lucky stars, though I’ve never been good at counting stars, that no one has ever come to a family day packing weapons or tried to home suicide. To be frank here I did once try to overdose on cake and pudding but fell short of requiring hospitalization or the dred stomach pump. Mum will enjoy hospitalation, surrounded by technology, lots of attention from doctors, nurses, sisters etc, maybe some psychotropic drugs, “want some pot mum, try some LSD”, Mmmm. Let’s put you all on notice now, I’m not going there - no not The Prince of Wales - where mum is, you know so old and reduced that your own volition no longer has any bearing on your circumstances, no way.
Now how did I get here? I just wanted to say what a great day it was, how the weather smiled on us - positively grinned a lot of the time - how good was the company, the food, the bubbly. The new “call those abroad” plan should become as institutionalized as the Boxing Day Test Match. Air gutar and flying saucers were almost entertaining. Really the only thing missing was Fiance’s. That’s a fun word isn’t it though I’ve always preferred betrothed or better still “paramour” mmm that rolls. What do you think Gabb? I think paramour suits Adrian, don’t you?
So anyhow thanks all of yuse for a luvlly day an see yus all agin soon
Robert XOP

O'Keefe Family Days 2007

Ok - you're all playing air guitar in the lounge room (except Kelly who's passed out somwhere in London). Here's the list of O'keefe Family Days for 2007...

11th of Feb: Chris and Sue (this will probably be at Nanny's in Fairlight for her birthday)
22nd of April: Hugh
17th of June: Dot/Strobe/Gabby/Adrian
19th of August: Jamie and Luke
28th of October: Rob and Alice
18th of Nov: John
26th of Dec: Anne and Ross

International O'Keefe Day will be on the same dates, the locations are to be advised (Kel, I'm thinking Paris for our first one - oh oh oh)!

Merry Christmas Everyone

Cat! xo

Merry Christmas Kelly

Christmas greetings video for Kelly at the following link
Have a great Christmas Kelly, we all miss you heaps. (You may need to download quick time movie player to see this.)

http://www.hulaspell.com/movie.html

And a pic of the fiance & fiancee! We'll blog while we're away on our SE Asian tour. Lots of love, Alice & Jack xxx

Better late than never - some pics of our last family day, from Alice

Viva Las Vegas

Hi guys

As promised in my last e-mail, here are some photos from the EYG Christmas Party at the fancy Park Lane Hotel on Piccadilly. It was a Las Vegas theme as you can probably tell.

That's me and Melissa, and Tam and Chris, the gang I'm heading to Edinburgh with. Check it out if you're interested.... http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/

I'm having so much fun for the holiday season in the UK :) Love you lots xx Kel

Yuletime musings

Boy I’ll be more than happy to see the end of this Santa Clause dude’s tour. Being a roadie for him’s. a real grind and I don’t even like his music. His Aussie promoter Bunnings are stretching their hours in both directions in an effort to move as much land fill as possible before the twenty fifth so come and visit right up to mid night all next week for your chance at a Full Bamboo Panel Screen at only $89.00 or Wavy Ripple wall fountain only $79.00. You’d be crazy to miss their “Realm” Lotus Wall Carving (50x 94 left and right panels sold separately) not to mention Quick Set Concrete at only $5.80 for a twenty kilo bag. What’s with this quick obsession? Quick set concrete, quick set cement, quick set mortar even. The time and motion guy who decided that what brickies needed was quick set mortar should have to sit in it during smoko and be drop’d off the wharf along with the ruined barrow after. “Build your house before breakfast”, I see the banners now. Building was not meant to be a race, I don’t care what Jamie Dury and his Back Yard Blitz boys say. If they want ideas for next season how’s about “Quick High Rise Demolition” plenty of scope for cheap and dramatic footage, (see re runs of Sept. 11), hosted by Bomber Beasley, he’ll need a gig, will provide gravity (demolition depends on it), and he’ll be cheap. Meanwhile I don’t see “Quick” even nudging its long time “Q” mate “Quality” in the overall “sell’em stakes”. I mean, let’s go straight to the top and compare say Quick Sex to Quality Sex, I hear you, no contest. The noun quality seen here, as it is commonly used in advertising, means nothing without its accompanying adjective such as top or poor, and perhaps this is the secret to its success, it can’t be tested. Not so for poor quick who must perform or quickly be found lacking.
Back to the home front. I am busily working on a cockroach breeding program. My aim is to develop a critter that can actually live in the fridge. I’ve shown them what a good source of food their missing, I’ve explained to them the basics of evolutionary theory which, given their history, I’d have thought they’d know already, but it came as quite a surprise to this lot. They’re up for the challenge, have set up a gym come base camp in the rubbers between the fridge and freezer doors from which to launch their forays. I’ve removed the light as I know they don’t like it and there’s no other way to be absolutely sure it’s not on when the doors closed. I found one brave little bugger who’d pushed the limits and expired on top of the butter punnett. I transferred him to some warm water to see if he’d thaw but no luck, in fact he could have drowned. I might conduct some experiments on how long they can hold their breaths. Alice was conducting a parallel mosquito breeding project until she discovered Jacks susceptibility to mosquito bite. Out of love she has abandoned the project, returned the thirty eight take away containers in varying stages of corruption and the twelve pre dampened towels. Where would we be had Marie Curie fallen in love and adopted a similar attitude.
Better go publish now and get back to worrying about Christmas.
See you soon,
Robert XOX or XOP Mmmm.

Yoo Hoo I'm Back

It’s becoming increasingly apparent to me that I made a couple of wrong moves in this life’s game of chess, I mean there’s a ex catholic, dairy farm raised bloke out there about to take over the highest position in the land, yes he will he’s a shoo in as those yankies say - and Spell check agrees though not with yankies I note. Maybe if I had completed some tertiary education – finished an honors degree in Mandarin perhaps – persevered with my public service career, abandoned the Pope for the Archbishop of Canterbury – that’s so weird - who knows. My dad, who didn’t labor a point as I do, told me once, and I stress that once, that my public service job was good and that I should hang in there but it was obvious to me that he didn’t know anything. I mean what did a sixty plus year old geeser know about the potential rewards of State superannuation – a close competitor of parliamentary super - and what possible value could there be in super to a generation for whom there would obviously not be life beyond thirty.
I guess I could have been more of a joiner, you know clubs societies whatever, appeared as Phil the fire man does with a little more bling across the chest each time as I nominated for secretary, treasurer, President what the hell. I distinctly remember as a youngster when taking vocational or aptitude tests nominating ‘membership of boards” as my aspirational career but no one ever explained to me the path.
I’m sorry to belabor you all with this stuff but it’s just that when I have a tooth ache, a sore on my lip that wont heal and a computer that wont even light up the screen, not even one of those gibberish ones, that I start to feel suicidal. Yes that’s what all this is about, a computer malfunction. For almost two weeks now not the slightest sign of life and then like a hibernating bear it suddenly woke with its familiar Welcome to Microsoft greeting as if nothing had happened. No explanations of where it had been or what it had been doing, like the prodigal Mr. Computer I was to welcome it back, no questions asked, as of course I did with open arms.
Amazing isn’t it how a little technological glitch preys on these minor health and fiscal mole hills turning them into flame breathing mountainous dragons - think I’ve been watching too much bushfire footage actually – and inspire so much introspection. I wonder does Kevin suffer like this, no he’s probably got his own full time IT person, megabites of backup, and not a worry in the world.
I like Julia but I hate that new hairdo her boyfriend gave her. I imagine she hates it too but like the clever woman she is she cant tell him as it would crush his feeble male ego and ruin any further chance of sex. Can you imagine any male polli. having to forge on under such conditions. Hairdos aside her exceptional strine accent, pointed nose and elegant neck will together take her to heights only dreamed of by the likes of Amanda Vanstone, Bronwyn Bishop and Helen Clark. Why with the right perm she could be Australia’s own Marg Thatcher don’t you think?
I don’t want you to think that I don’t appreciate the amount of work that our leaders do for us, however I do think that regardless of not having stood, or sat or whatever it is that you do on boards I would be eminently qualified for the top job. I’ve watched the West Wing and Martin Sheen, alias The Pres. doesn’t have to pull off all that fast dialogue (monologue) stuff like the rest of the cast. Most of his time is spent in his luxurious office brooding and struggling with big philosophical issues, I could do that. When he does have to confront others they are allies or have already been broken in by allies and the risk of a bruising bucking is minimal. This is the job I was born for don’t you think? Plenty of IT experts and spare computers, on hand no worries. No mention you’ll note of the generous pollies super. I just want to serve my country.
With all that off my chest I now feel it’s possible to address matters of family. Firstly I can report that the great matriarch (my mum) is in fine health as is well evidenced by her consumption of Blinky Bills (hard to find these days) and Arnott’s Venecians. I’m becoming concerned however about the practicalities of the Christmas festivety arrangements. I’ve drawn up a wish list that starts with a Westpac Care helicopter return flight, closely followed by a St. Johns (are they still called that) return ambulance. Next comes a rented buss and driver on double time and a half which could be incorporated to move as many members of the family as might wish to indulge along with members of other families, scout groups, Korean tourists and any others who may contribute to the defraying of costs. Taxis both ways should not be ruled out I suppose, probably cheaper than any of the afore mentioned options and last and certainly least my little Diahtsu rickshaw with someone to operate the fan. Any ideas?
Secondly but of no less importance I feel that were I in a far flung part of the world inhabited by barbarians as those who live beyond our comely vale girt by seas must surely be, I’d be sweattin’ on some snaps from the recent gigs to keep abrace of civilization. A large part of my sense of deprivation when Mr. Computer fell asleep was the sure knowledge of all the blogs and accompanying photos I was missing, now I see that I did not have to sacrifice my finger nails so.
Third and last I love you all and am so glad to be back in your company, and looking forward to a big splash in the Epping Olympic pool.
Bye for now
Robert

Winter Wonderland

Hi everyone

We had such a fantastic weekend for Kim's birthday - we went ice skating! It was very scary to begin with cause i've never even roller bladed before, but after a few laps round the rink we were all acting like pros! And not one of us fell - phew!

The rink was so pretty, surrounded by pine trees and fairy lights. Skating around listening to Christmas carols it really felt like our first 'White Christmas' - I loved it!

We weren't allowed to take photos on the actual ice so unforunately you can't see me in action! But here are some of us looking suitably attired in our winter wonderland.

Lots of love and keep on blogging... Kel

Party season

Hi everyone

Well December has arrived and so have two very noticeable things in London.

1. It's getting colder and darker for longer! As if I thought that was possible! This morning on my walk to work I seriously almost got blown away! And when I set my alarm at 7am it was still dark!

2. The party season has arrived. Last week we had 3 parties in 3 days! Katy's birthday on Friday night, Saturday was Laura's Christmas party and Sunday was Deano's farewell. I hope it's a sign of things to come! I love parties!

Here's a photo of us and Samara at Deano's farewell. Lots of love and party on! Love Kel

Greetings from Goulburn

Hello everyone, we have been lots of places and have seen some of since our last blog entry, but to bring the rest of you up to date…………

We left Yamba and continued our leisurely drive down the NSW coast only traveling 1 to 2 hours at a time. Next stop was at Coffs Harbour where we stayed 3 nights. Visited Nana Glen and Sawtell, had a banana split in the Big Banana and caught up with Michael Blewitt, only by phone unfortunately due to family illness. Caravan park in Coffs was right on a dog friendly beach so was a nice stop over. It rained in the morning we planned to leave and so we got wet packing up, but it was the first time that has happened in 6 months on the road. Travelled to the Goolwah Reserve 10 klm south of Crescent Head and spent a damp weekend there, but very peaceful. No power or hot water there but managed to light nice fires each afternoon between showers for cooking and hot water showers via the watering can.

Monday 6th we headed to Forster where it poured while setting up so got wet again. Enjoyed Forster after not being there for 25 years, caught up with some old OPSM friends including my old boss from the 90’s, Bob Mc Manus. We had a great night with them in their beautiful home on the Tallwoods Golf Course estate. From Forster down to Tea Gardens to stay the night with another OPSM boss, Les Miller and Marg. Another enjoyable night, in another beautiful home reminiscing about the old days. Les took us for a tour through Hawkes Nest to Mungo Brush where we used to camp in the 80’s and has it all changed, sealed roads and formal designated camp sites, but the lake is still beautiful.

From Les’s we drove to Toowoon Bay on the central coast to catch up with my family on Saturday at Luke & Jamie’s Family day. It was good to see everyone again. While we were on the coast we had a visit from Steve & Jeanette who were staying a week at Umina, had dinner with John O’keefe at Lakehaven and caught up with an old friend of mine, John Forrester. After 16 years it was great to catch up with him and also his parents who still remembered me as “the bikie boy from OPSM”. They are in their 80s and whilst John’s father is not so well his mum still looks the same. John is now working as a painter and is heavily involved as a board member of the Hardy’s Bay RSL club trying to get it out of the hands of the receiver.
The Toowoon Bay Caravan Park is very relaxed and dog friendly located on 1.5 klm of leash free dog beach. Naturally Olly had a great time there as did we. Sue and I celebrated out 31st wedding anniversary with lunch at the Entrance Hotel and after staying 10 days in Toowoon Bay we headed off to Goulburn on Wednesday 22nd November.

We are now staying with the Yeadons in Goulburn and had a weekend in Sydney for the wedding of and OPSM couple and a night in the Menzies (not as good as a night in the caravan though). Enjoying out time in Goulburn with the Yeadons (spent all day yesterday, working with Dimity assembling a home gym consisting of about 50 major pieces and 200 bolts) I think I got fitter just building it. We also had lunch with Kerry Teague who I used to work with in Goulburn and her husband and it was good to see them again.
Well that has brought you up to date. We are planning to spend a week or so down the coast at Seven Mile Beach, visit Shirley (Sues Mum) and then head up to Sydney (Dot’s place) before Christmas. I have posted a few recent photos of the journey. Alice & Jack, Robert excited to see me after 6 months, the farm (Aintree) and the beach at Toowoon Bay.
Love Sue & Chris