Alice Springs Trip

Arrived at Alice Springs, and saw this sky!

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We stopped on the roadside so that I could get another shot;

Jeanette met me at the airport and we drove to Anzac Hill for the view.

Jeanette took me to the Alice Springs Golf Club for a meal with her friends.

A jumper from Jan

I discovered a few months on Ebay, a knitting book "Desert Designs" which includes many knitting patterns from the art of the late Jimmy Pike , whose work I have begun to appreciate. My next problem was to find a knitter in Darwin who would knit me a jumper. My colleague Leigh found me Jan, a Scottish lady rather keen on her knitting. Today I met her for the first time when she handed over the finished work of art that I had commissioned. It will be great when i travel south.

Sunday evening at Howard Springs

Rod and Jessie invited Malcolm and Kay and family and new team member, Andrew and myself to dinner at their lovely home at Howard Springs on Sunday evening.






We went on a torch light tour of the garden to see the green ants building a nest in the garden:

Doorman at the library

Most mornings and evenings these fellows are guarding the backdoor of the library.

A trip to Karawa

We had the opportunity to have a nice meal at the CDU training restaurant "Karawa" last night at our Palmerston campus. My colleague Malcolm's wife. Kay was being tutored by son Jesse in napkin folding having just been shown by a friendly waitress.

Ps The buffalo steak I had was great!

End of the Dry

I took this shot yesterday, the Dry is about to end, the buildup is beginning, so its becoming more humid and there has even been the odd rainstorm.

Professional meeting

The ALIA TopEnd group had the opportunity to visit the ABC studios in Darwin and meet the Archive and library staff.



We later adjourned to the Darwin Trailer Boat Club (along side the Darwin Sailing Club) to have drinks to mark the retirement of Ann Alderslade from the Department of Health Libraries.

David Suzuki book talk at Charles Darwin University

David Suzuki gave a packed and enthralled audience a good insight into his life. Born in Canada as a 3rd generation son of Japanese/Canadian parents he learnt early about injustice and nature and has spent his life as a passionate communicator.
My family had attended his talk when he was in Adelaide recently so it was good to have the opportunity to hear him in Darwin.
"Described by Tim Flannery as ‘the greatest environmentalist of our age’, David Suzuki has dedicated his life to inspiring and equipping people to recognise and preserve the fragile balance of the world they inhabit."


He signed many copies of his book before and after his talk.
He spoke about the influences in his life and clearly is a proud parent who had great supportive parents himself.

Sunset Jazz on the lawns at Sky Casino Darwin

Most of my team at the library and their families and friends enjoyed James Morrison and his Sextet at the Casino tonight.



It was very well attended, perfect weather and great time to chill out. My new team member Andrew Finegan was there , having arrived in Darwin just after midnight from Melbourne.




Kayes Isabelle and Malcolms];s Georgia were having fun meeting.








One instrument that James played was the Midi enabled Morrison digital trumpet.This photo is from his website:

Saturday morning at Parap Market

This is a popular Saturday morning market in a trendy shopping centre car park, with many stall holders also having stalls at Mindil during the dry.
This is Bobby the Indonesian sate maker.


Kens Crepes is also very popular.

Most people were in the shade it appears!

These buskers are also regulars.