Bubbling Along...

Nothing too major to report. I had a nice dinner with some Canberra mates last night. We went to Abell's Kopi Tiam in Manuka and it was very tasty. I had some lovely Vietnamese style duck pancakes for starters and a tasty tender beef rendang for mains. James got the 100 chillies curry, even though he doesn't really like spicy food. I thinks its safe to say he was seduced by the name. I am told the tofu was nice, but don't believe it even for a second. Afterward, I was slightly annoyed that it has taken something as colossal as moving overseas to get me off my duff to arrange a meal with people I like. Lesson learned, but I also really hope some of the guys from BNE and CBR (or you, yes you in SYD and down in TAS) manage to make it over for a visit.



Also, we received some pics of the inside of the house. The furnishing will go, but these still gives a nice idea as to the rest of the place. My main man-bag concern is that the kitchen is a bit pokey, which will make hosting diplo-dinner parties tricky. Still, here are the money-shots. Note the fireplace (I grew up with and love wood heat) and the door to the balcony off the master bedroom. Boo-Yah! Pictures of the man cave will be provided in due course. As will pictures of the house buried in snow comes the depths of winter.

Fare Thee Well Old friend…

And with a handshake it was done. The Festiva has been sold. You have to understand that while it wasn't my 1st car the Festiva was wholly mine. I chose it, I paid for it, and it has served me well for over a decade. It carried me to and from work, or to and from University. It saw me safely to Wondai for radio shenanigans. TARDIS-like, it once conveyed seven people and a guitar from the radio station back to Dirk’s place. A feat made even more remarkable considering two of those people where Dirk and Gurubob.

The new owner is named Chris, who seemed a nice bloke. He arrived to look at it just after dark, so his inspection was conducted by feel during a quick drive followed by a careful listen to the engine with the bonnet up. I suspect this was a more careful consideration that it has received at most services.

I wish them both well.

Its Really Getting Real.

Every day we get more done and every day we find out about more that needs to be done. We depart on 25 August. You can count the weeks on one hand. Which is good, because you will need 2 hands to count all the passports (nine, for those who are interested) let alone the insurance policies and assorted other ‘balls in the air’ involved in getting the family overseas. Cars are for sale. The house is listed for rent. The kids have a finish date at crèche. Kids have crèche spots in Ottawa. Kids have school/crèche enrollments submitted for CBR when we return. Temporary accommodation (CBR) is booked. Utilities have a cutoff date. Movers have surveyed our possessions, requiring a decision on our part as to what goes where. The list goes on, and on. Then it goes on a bit more.

Excitingly for me, I have a finish date at work. As of 10 August, I begin my new life as a manbag. Its good that I will have over a week off work before the kids have finished crèche.

BTW – a big shout out to Greg who will soon graduate from University, before his daughter. Congratulations mate. Wish I could be there to see it.

The Evening's Viewing

Jane had a big farewell dinner out with her friends, so I spent the night at home with some dvds and sleeping children. As always when Jane is away, I chose films that in no way appeal to her. In this case Cloverfield and Doomsday. I also took the opportunity to finish off the Lagavulin, which may have something to do with why I enjoyed both films.

Cloverfield was pretty good, but a word of warning, the film is shot hand-cam style like Blair Witch. If that bothers you or makes you motion sick, avoid this film.. It also requires a few major suspensions of disbelief – such as why they would have continued filming – but if you can make the needed leaps of faith the rest of the film is well done. I am also a fan of killing off central characters so nobody can be assumed safe.

I chose Doomsday for a few reasons, starting with the director. Neil Marshal is the same guy that did Dog Soldiers (a rather decent werewolf film) and The Descent, which I have not seen but I understand was well done & very harrowing. Beyond that, its always nice to see Bob Hoskins and Malcolm McDowell working, and I can forgive a great deal to any movie which sees Rhona Mitra (read the bio - its funny) spend all her time in a black singlet and skin tight pants. It would be very easy to dismiss it as Madmax in Scotland, but honestly its weirder than that and was an unexpected - tho admittedly Lagavulin enhanced - amusement.

Serious Excitment!

The Australian High Commission in Ottawa rang yesterday. We have a house! (pictured) This is terrific news for many reasons. It means we can move in straight away upon arrival instead of staying in a serviced apartment and madly house hunting. Also, we got really lucky. It was originally listed above the rental budget we have been provided, but the High Commission managed to negotiate the price down. It’s a terrific house with lots of rooms (see below) and the location is perfect. It is within walking distance of Jane’s work, a big riverside park and the Governor’s residence, and easy striking distance of the kid’s crèche and the downtown area.

Honestly, it is much better in almost every way to what we expected.

MAIN LEVEL
Living room, Dining room, Kitchen, Family room, Den, Powder bathroom.

SECOND LEVEL
Master bedroom, Master ensuite, Bedrooms x2, Bathroom, Laundry

BASEMENT – aka Jason’s Man-cave & ample guest accommodation
Finished rooms x2

Year built: 1910
Flooring: hardwood, wall-to-wall carpet
Heating/cooling: forced air natural gas, electric heat pump,
wood fireplace/heat pump air conditioning
Parking: one attached garage, one detached garage,

So Cool it Hurts

Cinematic (read 'if possible watch in full screen') preview for the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO game...

http://www.swtor.com/media/trailers/deceived-cinematic-trailer

No really, it hurts. Watching that trailer reminds me of just how awesome the new Star Wars movies could have been, but weren’t. It also hurts because I know that no matter how cool it looks, MMOs just aren’t my thing.

So instead of the awesomeness seen above, we got this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYfibSaDHrM


Damn you Lucas. Damn you to Hell.