Our 2013 – An interesting year
2013 has been a year of ups and downs. Luckily most events have been good. If there is one good thing about taking a lot of photos with date stamps, you can at least go back through your albums and review the year that was.
So for us – this was 2013 – but let me start with December 2012. December 10 as many of you know is our family day – Joe’s birthday and our wedding anniversary. We visited the Philippines for this birthday on a trip that allowed us to catch up with Bill and Sally and have a fantastic time including climbing into the heart of a volcano on Joe’s Birthday.
| From Joe vs the Volcano 2012-12-10 |
So we leapt into 2013…
Returning to Darwin we visited Katherine with my Father in January and Joe and Helen were able to participate in a walk down memory lane where my Father explained life in Katherine during the 1950’s.
| From Paraway 2013-01-23 |
Joe received his first mobile phone in January which cost $20. My first phone cost about $800 and was… just a phone.
| From Joe’s First Mobile Phone 2013-01-10 |
I embarked upon the massive job of replacing the engine and propeller on my ultralight aircraft. A feat that would not have been possible if it wasn’t for Sam. Sam not only provided his time and expertise but also mentoring that changed the way I work with my aircraft. It was an extended project and one that I count as a great learning experience. It wasn’t to be until April that I was able to fly the plane but it was worth it.
| From Preparing the new engine for the Drifter 2012-12-30 |
We lost the Sceney family over Easter… a tragic aviation accident where four people lost their lives.
| From Sceney Family Tribute 2013-05-05 |
In May, for no other reason than we could, we drove to Mandorah on the other side of the harbour and had a meal at the Mandorah pub, famous for not serving chips and which is now closed down.
| From 2013-09-15 |
On the 11th of May we attended Sam and Elizabeth’s housewarming in Coolalinga and wished them well on their own adventure of being land barons… They have made a wonderful choice combining history with rural beauty and some pragmatic location, location, location thrown in as well. Joe played the violin while barbequed boar was served beside a heritage house. Classic!
| From 2013-05-11 |
Dave Jacka – a quadriplegic pilot visited us in late May on his way around Australia – incredible effort. We received a lovely card for Christmas from him and his lovely wife. Looks like kayaking is the next adventure for him.
| From Dave Jacka and team depart MKT 2013-05-20 |
In Early June MKT secured its own weather station and we could see that the development at the airfield was really turning it into a destination for general aviation pilots.
| From MKT Weather Station 2013-05-26 |
During the first half of the ear I travelled to Katherine, Borroloola, Nhulunbuy, Alyangula and Angurugu for work. All great trips and confirmed for me that teachers do their best to achieve the best outcomes under challenging circumstances.
| From 2013-05-01 Borroloola |
| From 2013-02-05 KSA Visit |
Before we left for the US, Joe and I conducted a flight to Snake Creek, in the year of the snake with Joe who was born in the year of the snake. We slithered our way along the old railway line at about 600ft and suddenly we were quidditch players escaping from a Hungarian horntail, weaving and dodging our way to safety on the other side of the Adelaide River.
A recap of the year would not be complete without a chilli story and this came in the form of a young chilli jedi master, Grant Carroll who is the undisputed chilli growing king of Darwin. His produce was converted into a sauce that contained no less than 130 of the flavoursome but hot jolokia chillies. It was rated among chilli tasters as my best sauce yet.
| From 2013-05-18 Chillies and Bush Beans |
| From 2013-05-18 Chillies and Bush Beans |
Our fantastic two month journey to the United States where we visited 25 states in that time – exceeded even my optimistic expectations. Billy and his family along with Dennis and his family provided some lovely local friendship which in Billy’s case extends beyond 2 decades. You can read about that adventure over at our blog dedicated to that fantastic trip.http://www.xsymetrix.com.au/usa
Our return to Australia saw a changing political landscape and certainly in the area I work in there were people losing jobs or not having contracts renewed. Politics and economic realities aside, the emotion of someone losing a job is palpable and the negative mood does spread to others in the workforce.
Our chillies suffered as did our hydroponics and an electrical fault in our car caused an expensive series of events for a number of people including us when our disabled car, parked with hazard lights in the left lane of a three lane road still managed to cause two pileups. Luckily no one was injured but I strongly suggest drilling into all people that if your car is disabled and you can’t move it… move yourself to safety.
As a result of this we bought a new car and repaired the old car, which when added to the aircraft engine and propeller replacement and US trip meant that we were close to sending Joe out busking…
| From Joe solo shots Violin |
In October we managed to view the solar car race from 1000ft as Joe and I flew over them.
| 2013-10-06 solar car rally |
Speaking of Joe, his violin and piano continue to improve and he plays with the Darwin Youth Orchestra. His academic results continue to impress and we are proud of the fact that his manners are commented upon as much if not more than his academic achievements.
| From 2013-05-04 |
Two of our great friends – Dave and Anne who have known Joe since he was one visited us in Darwin while on a cruise heading to Komodo Island where the big lizards are. We took them to see some of our own big geckos we have a Crocosaurus Cove to get them in the mood. A day in Darwin with two of our closest friends who have shared adventures with Joe all over the world was a lovely gift.
| From 2013-10-30 |
On a sadder note, Helen’s Father passed away on his 80th Birthday and we attended the ceremonial proceedings in Melbourne. This was a sad time, but a time that truly celebrated his achievements. It also really demonstrated how much a part of Helen’s family I am. I am very proud of my Father in Law – his achievements through two wars and a family who arrived here in the mid 80’s shines through his children. His desire to seek challenges and make business to provide for his family set the foundations for what they are today. I have to say that the book “The Happiest Refugee” is something that resonates with me when I am with Helen’s family. I feel as if I am the happiest husband of a refugee.
| From 2013-11-09 |
| From 2013-11-10 |
We attended the reunion of my Portsea classmates at Portsea (I know that sounds obvious, but it wasn’t). This was to celebrate 30 years since we had graduated from the Army Officer Cadet School in Portsea. We went back to the dormitories, parade grounds and messes where we lived and suffered for 44 weeks of a gruelling physical and mental episode in our young lives.
| From 2013-12-07 |
| From 2013-12-07 |
Shortly after this we travelled to Lakes Entrance to celebrate Joe’s twelfth birthday and our thirteenth wedding anniversary. Joe celebrated with a real birthday party – his second in 12 years and we wrapped up a whirlwind visit by catching up with Rob and Vicki – old friends from a life different to what we all lead now – but our friendship remains cemented regardless of distance and worldly challenges… and that probably is the test (if there ever needs to be one) of a true friend.
| From 2013-12-10 Joe’s 12th Birthday Lakes Entrance |
| From 2013-12-10 Joe’s 12th Birthday Lakes Entrance |
Joe took out the award for top student in his year and we understand also topped the class in his Saturday Chinese Class. He also graded to Red Belt second gup which means at twelve he is close to achieving his black belt in the next year or two.
I have started writing again for the Fishing Magazine I used to write for and in the new year take on a new challenge as Director of IT Services for the Department. I will continue to treat every day like Friday and wear my cheap Hawaiian shirts to work. Although I am sure that when carrying my camera some folks mistake me for a retired tourist, we are building some fascinating solutions for our students of today and tomorrow. Please read my 2013 Learnshifting blog wrap up article for some of the work things we achieved this year.
I will be re nominating for the role of NT representative on the Recreational Australia Board. As with our year, interesting times lay ahead for our organisation with the introduction of a pilot license from CASA that appears to compete with our recreational certificate.
We celebrated Christmas with all my brothers converging on Darwin – the first time in 14 years that we had all been together. A great celebration.
| From Christmas 2013 Four boys |
We have survived this most interesting of years and would like to take this chance to wish you and yours all the best through the Christmas and New Year period.
