The Blues Brothers

What do ya know! The Blues Brothers are in Hobart and did a show tonight at a pub in town. It's the night before we leave for holidays and thought, why not! It was awesome. Some of the greatest music I have ever heard. I was enthralled. I decidecd if you are going to a show like that then you ought to dress for the occassion. Pretty cool eh!

Lots More Boats

It must be people's day in Hobart. I have never seen the waterfornt as crowded as it was today. In the last 24 hours a whole lot more yachts have reached the finished line and it made a spectacular sight.

Simon the Busker

Simon decided seeing it was the peak of tourist season and Hobart was crowded with 1000's of visitors, he might try his hand at busking down at the market. He last about an hour an half and came home home with $28.00. Where else could someone like Simon make $16 an hour without even having to work!

The boats come in

Unfortunately I missed being on the docks at 10.00 last night when 'Wild Oats' sailed into Constitution Dock. In the hours that followed two more yachts came in. They were three big Maxi yachts. They said on the news that the three yachts are due to sail back to Sydney at noon today, so I decided to take a stroll down to the docks this morning and have a look. Sure enough all three maxis were in port and the place was a photographers delight.

Here is the second placed boat 'Ichi Ban' with 'Skandia in the background

The winning boat of course took prize position on the dock

Plenty of reporters around. One of the 'Sunrise' crew got a view from the mast of 'Skandia'

These last two pictures I can't claim as my own - but they are worth putting in anyway. This one shows Wild Oats passing Tasman Island and the next one is Wild Oats at sea.

Taste of Tasmania

Each year in Hobart they hold a festival known as 'Taste of Tasmania. It starts on the 28th December and runs for about a week. It is designed to coincide with the finish of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. The water front is transformed into a massive food hall and entertainment precinct. There is a mind blowing array of delicious Tasmanian food of all shapes and sizes to sample and a host of wines on offer. If you buy a glass out front for $6 you can sample as many fine wines as you wish. Jo and I went along today and enjoyed the food, the colour, the music and waterfront. I think the first of the boats is due to reach the finish line very late tonight. I'm tempted to go down for a look. Like they say, there's nothing like being there.

Christmas Day In Hobart

Every year at Christmas we have travelled to be with the family for Christmas. This year for the first time we stayed at home and celebrated Christmas with our own family. We would have loved to have been with all the others in Melbourne, and it felt a little odd, but we made the most of our day together and did what we could to make it a very special day. The only down side for us that we were missing Sarah who is in Queensland at Viv's place. We still made up a group of six as in recent months we have had Liz come and live with us and it was great to have her join in our family Christmas celebrations.

Simon was proudly wearing his new tattoo which is only a couple of days old and features a bird surrounded by stars.

To all the rest of the family - sorry we did not make it to Melbourne for Christmas this year, but we will be there this time next week and looking forward to a week in Corryong with everyone.

There's something about Bruny

Over the last couple of days our family has become quite spread out. Emily is in Warrnambool and just boarding the train back to Melbourne as I type. Sarah is in Airley Beach in North Queensland and Jo and I have spent the last two days back at Bruny.

There is something about Bruny. The place has become synonymous with renewal, refreshment and rest for me. This time I enjoyed some time out with Jo. We had a marvellous time and did nothing much but sit, walk, read and of course eat.

We are breaking a 25 year tradition and not joining the family on Christmas day. A little difficult in coming to terms with our decision, but we have chosen to sepnd Chritsmas here in Hobart and then travel to Victoria to join the family camping pilgrimage to Corryong. I will spend New Years Eve on my own on the boat to Melbourne and the family will join me the next morning at Tullamarine Airport. We are looking forward to a break.

Bond is boring

For as many years as I can remember I have always looked forward to going to see a brand new James Bond movie. I don't think there is a single one that I have missed. With a brand new actor premiering as Bond, I was keen to go along and check it out. My honest opinion. It was terribly boring. It was a long film and I found myself constantly looking at my watch to see how much longer we had to sit there. The action stunts were there a plenty, but the story was dull and predictable at every turn. The sequences in the film were long and drawn out and the new actor never convinced me for a moment that he was James Bond. I heard that in the States the movie got out done by the dancing penguin film. After seeing Bond and watching the shorts of the penguin film at the start, I'm not surprised.

Liz's Baptism

Tonight Simon's friend Liz was baptised. Liz has been a friend of Simon's for some time now and in recent days she has come to live with us and just last week gave her life to the Lord. I suggested to Simon that he come in the baptistry with me as he has been such a key person in helping Liz come to this moment in her life. It was a great thrill to have Simon with me and we baptised Liz together. It was truly a night to remember. Next Sunday three more people are being baptised at church. I reckon that's what it's all about.

The Nativity Story

Last night Jo and I went to see the new film, 'The Nativity Story' that just opened in cinemas across Australia. Whilst I don't think it will likely gain a great deal of attention from the media and critics, I thought it was a marvelous piece of film making. It somehow managed to capture the vividness of the countryside, the culture of the people and the impact of the presence of Roman Soldiers in the land. The film also managed to retain a wonderful simplicity about the story. At the moment of the birth as I sat watching I was overcome with a sense of awe about the incarnation. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. If I ever lose the wonder and awe of that I think I'm in trouble.

Rainbow over Hobart