We've all renounced Satan. Again.

Just so Aibhe Catherine Marian Foley could join the forces of Catholicism. She'll be enrolled in the local Opus Dei foundation shortly, to further the voice of protest at The Da Vinci Code and its blasphemy. Her Mum & Dad are the founder members of the local branch of course. The self-flaggelation isn't really that bad.

Anyway. Our daughter (still weird saying/writing it) was Christened yesterday in Ashgrove - St Finbars Church. It's OK, nobody was struck down by lightning during the short half hour ceremony - though we had a first timer priest for the occasion. I just kept picturing Rowan Atkinson in Four Weddings as this chappie stumbled his way through the book in his hands. I reckon the markers were in all the wrong places coz we had many many "reflective" pauses. He could have been reading from the Koran for all we knew - couldn't understand a word he was saying at times. Adam claimed he couldn't hear him but maybe he just wanted to avoid saying "I do" too often in case it might be catching. Sinead's stand-in Godmother role was played admirably by Bec. There was actually another Christening at the same time as ours - and to put it mildly we were like chalk and cheese on the altar. They were traditional with their net-curtain bedecked and hooded child, suits and specially engraved/prepared candle for the occasion. We had funky dressed baby, cocktail shirts and a swiftly pilfered cheapie candle. I could have been a pick-pocket in another existence. Some in the audience thought I was far too adept at appropriating it for me not to have had any practice. I am an accountant by trade after all.

A small affair it was, though back in the gaf it appeared like we had invited half a football stadium as kids appeared out of everywhere. If there was a gap to be found, the kids were in it and as bedlam reigned inside, the "adults" escaped outside to start into the limited but concentrated time there was for drinking. All in all, it was a lovely day - of course I missed my Irish side being there so much, but those that were there made a big effort. And a successful pre-Christening web cam hook-up with the family so the star of the show could display her wares helped ease that pain a little, though there is just a massive gap where her aunt Marian should be.

By the way, thanks to Shelley for especially making the trip from Melbourne and representing the Irish/Australian contingent.

As some have noted, we have "descended" into the Winter period. Temperatures have dipped as low as 4-6 degrees at night (which is actually BLOODY cold when the houses are set-up to allow the breeze to blow through). And daytime temperatures have dropped to a shivering average of about 24.

Lots of "footy" still on the TV, and having travelled to Melbourne and Sydney regularly recently, the following are further language tips when speaking of football;

- Queensland "football" = Rugby Union
- New South Wales (Sydney) "football" = Rugby League
- Victoria (Melbourne) "football" = Aussie Rules
- South Australia "football" = zzzzzzzzzzzzz, sorry what?
- Western Australia "football" = Doesn't matter - too far for any other Aussies to be bothered
- Northern Territories "football" = Are ye bloody mad? Too hot. And there could be snakes.

3 weeks tomorrow we'll be heading off to the old sod. I reckon the place must be due a heatwave at this stage so we'll just expect and dress accordingly. No room for woolly jumpers now that we're gonna have bags full of baby stuff. Ah yes, another new travel adventure.

It rained

First time in over 3 weeks. The garden is grateful. Though I'm told its heatwave city back on a cartain little island in the western most part of Europe. Make it last till we get home please.

And whatever ye say, a goal like that deserves to win any final. So, now, under Rafa we have....
- Champions League - tick (penalties after a 3-3 draw)
- F.A. Cup - tick (penalties after a 3-3 draw)
- Next up - The Premiership - and if it's on penalties after a 3-3 draw - so be it. Don't know how that could happen but......

Matt - can't help but say sorry to the Hammers - no consolation I realise. However, I'll say nothing about the relative quality of the goals (in writing that, I know I have).

"My" golf club's new bar (Ponciana bar) opened up on the weekend amidst great pomp, ceremony and fanfare (trombone and all). Not sure about that name mind you - its a tree or bush or something over here, in Ireland if you had a bar of that name, you may get some of the George clientele dropping in to check out the quality of the strawberry daiquiris. Mr President was prouder than a freshly permed peacock strolling around the new bar verandah with his pudgy cheeked grand daughter taking in the grand sweeping vista's of the various greens and fairways within visible range. All the while she was happily crapping in her nappy we subsequently discovered - maybe she can be the first to have poo-ed on the terrace of the new bar!!. Bless her she's currently struggling to decide whether or not she wants to sleep through to 6am - God knows were willing her to, but something in that head of hers seems to want to wake-up at about 4.30am. So near yet so far. She'll be christened on May 28th - maybe that will settle her sleeping patterns back into line again.

The occasion was mother's day over here, so Alissa had her first one in that new territory. Still weird actually being married to a Mum, so am sure its even weirder (and wonderful-er!!) being one? I know Europe had Mum's day a while back, but as a bloke I have to adopt the dates driven by my hemisphere of residence for reminder purposes.

Was in Sydney yesterday (pissing rain) - where I managed to squeeze in a coffee with fellow Malahidian Murt. Melbourne tomorrow for 3 days/2 nights on training - yes, imagine, a company that wants to invest time & money in my career development. Just like the eircom spanners who were soooooo enthusiastic about my progression through the ranks. The same spanners are off making another fricken mint out of the sale of the company to the Aussies. So when you use your phone in future, you know whose economy you'll ultimately be contributing to?

Funny. Flew back yesterday with our Marketing Manager. He's scared sh&tless of flying (well, to be specific, take-off and landing) which is ever so slightly ironic in an airline. And does not make the best companion for a flight as he jittered and flicked his way through the Virgin Blue magazine several times. Did mean I was unable to recount the tale of the previous week where our senior legal counsel was on a flight from Canberra which had to abort just before take-off due to a flock of birds heading straight into the jet engines - buckling 3 of the blades. Twas all grand in the end - they got out of Canberra - believe me, the prospect of spending a night in the country's capital was more terrifying than the whole aborted take-off episode. The knock-on impact of these things across the airline network for the rest of the day still amazes me - in the past I was probably one of those people who may have said - "why isn't there a spare plane at every airport??". There's a very easy answer for that.

Ha. Get this. The forecast on www.weather.com.au actually uses the very official term "nippy" to describe temperatures of 15-16 degrees in Brisbane. There's even guys coming in at the moment with wooly jumpers and sports jackets!! Hilarious. I was swimming in an outdoor pool at lunchtime.

A new style of holiday

Not too bad for a first weekend away for a 9 week old kid. Getting to stay at the 5 star Coolum Hyatt resort on the Sunshine Coast (about an hour and a half north of here, just before Noosa) - in a "golf villa" overlooking the 18th tee. She'd better not get too used to that kind of holiday. Pretty amazing place it must be said and something I'm not very used to - the whole massive fully self-contained resort style affair. The highlight (for me - I doubt it would be Alissa's!!) is the golf course. A PGA track and simply breathtaking. And a bit tough. Just a shame I can't putt for shit anymore. This the view looking down the 9th. They even have "Tiger Tees" - about 40 yards further back than the regular "back" tees - am sure the man himself is so proud that many top golf courses around the world have had to spend millions extending because he hits the ball so flippin hard. Anyway, only 3 lost balls (another lingo update - "piss" = water of any kind on a golf course).

Though, it's not really like ye come back after the couple of nights away refreshed and rested. No need to elaborate on that one. The dangerous alcohol and young children cocktail strikes again.

Having just had 4 short weeks in a row, I'm thinking it's not gonna be easy doing a full 5 days at work. The timing of the holidays has been pretty perfect in so far as I've got to spend so much time with Alissa & Aibhe - witnessing regularly first hand the daily whinging hour between 5.30 and 6.30pm. Its like a battle against the clock to keep her quiet (but most importanly without letting her fall asleep!) for that hour. Alissa has her ways, I have mine - involves listening to Grada, Lunasa and Dervish tunes. Oh the tactics of it all.

With only 7 weeks to go to Ireland I shan't complain about a few 5 day weeks. Today being Labour day holiday in Queensland (not in the rest of the country though) we're sitting it out at home letting her ladyship get back to normal, which she appears to be doing by sleeping most of the day. Glory be. Our final Autumn month now, its 27 outside and I've just got out of the pool. Can't say I'm not making the most of it. The Aussies think I'm absolutely bonkers swimming in this "cold". I'm Irish and proud. Swam in a helluvalot colder and damn well enjoyed it I tell ya mayyte. I do remember one summer holiday in Sligo when it had p&ssed rain for the entire week - my poor parents, imagine ME bottled up for a week? A bit akin to a heavily shaken bottle of coke left standing. To allow the fizz to explode out, we were brought to the beach in the rain ("boiling" it was - maybe 20 C or so?) and we were "allowed" go in for a dip. The old "sure the rain won't matter when you're in will it?" line was spun. In I went. I think I also waded into the estuary in the middle of winter one year believing it would be a good idea to row a loose boat around the pontoon for a while. Might have been after Gibneys and Mr Moore can probably elaborate on that - I'll leave it there. But I cleaned my feet before going home.

And the Aussies wonder why I still swim here? Bring on your winter guys, gimme everything you've got - I'll still get into that bloody pool in July.

Now then. Another birthday wish for the littest niece - Happy 6th Birthday Aislinn. Thanks for allowing us watch you reading your book while on web-cam from the other side!!!

In case anyone is wondering. Aibhe is in the middle. Home woven Mickey and Minnie on either side. I think. Who's got the biggest cheeks?

Lingo update:
"Root" = Now, be very careful with this one and the Aussies. Do not go into the office and have a "quick root" for a file. Interpretation is quite different.
"Stroller" = Pram
"Dummy" = Soother
"Spat the dummy"/"Chucked the shits"/"Chucked a Tanny(tantrum)" = Flipped out big time