Ahhh Feel The Serenity...

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I would say this is the most beautiful place I have visited thus far in Beautiful British Columbia but hey it's getting to be a pretty close run contest!

Book of Lists vs Ball Room Dance off!

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Quite a surreal site on the steps of the Vancouver Art gallery with Book of Lists finding just the right amount of rock swagger facing off with the ball room dancing competition taking place just across the road at the UBC pavillion. Take you pick - it all swings! Find Book of Lists on myspace now, they're great!

Friday Night Favourite

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Another amazing weekend here in sunny Vancouver...after so many magic nights like this, memories of the long wet winter are receding further and further. Does it ever rain in Vancouver!? Sadly, Brooke has now left us for celebrity spotting on Santa Monica beach, yet we had one last hurrah to send her off. Commencing with Andrea's finest baked tarts on the beach for the sunset on Friday evening through to the Battles and Book of Lists rocking out at the Vancouver Art Gallery (not to mention a few too many with a man named Lyle at Bosman's late Friday night); and then the joys of Bowen Island in perfect weather on Saturday. What luck comrades!! Safe travels Brooke and what a great weekend.

Happy (Paper) Anniversary Beautiful

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See What a Couple of Beers Can Do!!

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Brooke's Fancy Pants Camera

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Just Ponder for a Moment...Feeling Thirsty Yet?

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Yo-Yo-Yo-Ga-Ga-Ga

No the title of this post makes no sense unless you happen to think that great art might actually be made out of piss-take and other ruminations on the awkward physical possibilities of your avergae yoga class...certainly our friend Mark thinks so! So in homage to Mark's manifest artistic genius this series of photos celebrates the madness that is late summer in Van-city. Seems we have all had more than our share of summer loving these last couple of weeks and the east-van party meltdown last night was no exception. Has been quite some time since Andrea had so much fun...with dancing in lounge-rooms mandatory of course! Still perhaps some more photos of beer will help tell the tale...

Mountains AND Horses!

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Relaxing with my new book on my birthday...

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Hey pass the chips fat man!

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Happy Birthday/Anniversary and Other Happy Moments...

Greetings friends, family and comrades afar!

In recent days I have once again been accused by those I love of being 7 - reverting in all ways wonderful to the manner and preferences of the always cheerful seven year old. You know that wondrous age just after the slack-jawed dependence of infancy, yet prior to the torment of one's teenage malaise. Seven, a wonderful age where everything is Saturday morning cartoons, playing with your ever rotating cast of "new best friends" and otherwise discovering just how god-damned amazing this world is...well to return to my theme, these last few weeks I have once again discovered my inner seven year old and with it that elusive mojo.

It has helped of course that this has been the month of the endless celebration. Commencing in mid July with Andrea's birthday and passing through my own grand day through to the 13th of August with our wedding anniversary, this truly is the month of happy days and boundless cheer. Well why wouldn't one be cheerful with a beautiful, witty and creative wife to make one feel glamorous despite the advancing years and the receding hairline?? I digress. Of course Brooke's arrival has added yet more mirth to an already merry confab of friends and family. Happy days indeed comrades.

I think I will tell the story in photos rather than endless verbiage this time. My blog has from its inception attracted comments of a slightly admonitory tone regarding the author's fondness for his own less than sparkling witticisms. But hey, this is the bright new world of self-publishing - I think self indulgence has become mandatory. Anyway, at least you get to enjoy the photos of my delightful female companions!

And delightful they have been through beach visits and mountain treks and bar room beers and local country bands and peaches and cherries and more beaches and so on and so forth.

Oh and of course, the best of all MOUNTAINS and HORSES, for just about the best birthday present since my Mum and Dad gave me that SS junior jumbo (as used by the master blaster Viv Richards himself - Ok so he used the adult version but hey, a kid can dream right!!??) on my 10th birthday.

I love my new painting that much! How lucky am I (and I got a new book - which is great - and a new CD - which is great too!)...so you'd be feeling 7 too I bet! Check out the semi-finalists at this link for some great new music (very fine summer days sing along).

Here's to summer birthdays!!

Hooray for Andrea

I'm sure you'll all excuse me for a little husbandly pride (or should I say uxorious pride for those collecting scrabble words, or otherwise addicted to dictionary.com)but today Andrea discovered that she has been short-listed for the Victorian Premier's Design Awards in the Fashion prize for her Honours year collection. Now picture me as I sit here literally with tears of pride in my eyes to think of all Andrea's long years of hard work and now this magnificent achievement. I'm just so damned happy! I love you baby, congratulations! Please everyone keep your fingers crossed (or indulge in any other hokum superstition that might bring my lady good luck for the prize judging in October) and wish my love all the best.

Happy days friends! To see Andrea's competition for the prize follow this link... Hi Andrea ... Otherwise enjoy the photo of our lovely new friend Mirona