Seasons Greetings

Mad, mad, mad. Oh yeah, and that lyric was a Dire Straits classic – Roller Girl from Making Movies back in 1981 (I think). Toro has had a few outings since the picture was posted. Interrupted by our trip to Kingscliff, during which time the plumber finally arrived to ‘finish’ our septic tank work. Required digging up 400 sq metres of my beautiful grass to put drainage down – let’s just say they don’t take too much care when doing it. The once lovely luscious green turned back to brown & shale coloured again. Not happy. ‘It’ll grow back’ I was told. Sure enough, most of it is coming back but it’s now many sections of ‘stony grey soil’ as the great Patrick Kavanagh would say. Time, time, time. That’s all it needs. And rain. Had a week of it recently which was good, now it’s all dry again. And mild. 28 degrees and it's deemed mild.

A bit of maintenance and upkeep on an acre I have to say. Spent Sunday just gone moving 3 cubic metres of dirt and then planting. Lots. 48 plants this time. We’re getting there – smallish but lots of them to give them a long chance to grow. And so we can actually afford them right now. A few years and it’ll look like we’ve been here forever. Have to tackle the fricken creek soon – lots of weed spraying required and weed tree chopping - chainsaw style. Someday, we might be able to afford someone to come along every so often and start trimming. Maybe.

2 weeks of uninterrupted sunshine adorned our holiday in Kingscliff – about 1.5 hours south of here – beyond the concrete crassness of the Gold Coast. A beautiful, laid back and fairly untouched spot. The kids had an absolute cracker of a time, 3-4 hours a day in pools of various types in the resort we were in. Brown as berries by the end of it. We spoiled ourselves with a Nanny for a few days during the trip, expensive option and quite weird getting used to it. She previously looked after both Aibhe and Emma in their day care, but was really there to help with Max. But the girls were very attached and there were tears of devastation and dejection when she left us after her 4 day stint. Having been asked not to return to work post holiday by my daughters, I’ve now explained that without Daddy’s work and the money Daddy gets for it, there is no holidays or ‘special things’. Aibhe practically pushed me out the door first day back.

Emma’s had a few speech lessons. She had been struggling a bit with some of her words so it was time. Now we cannot shut her up as she spouts all the previously difficult parts of her vocabulary perfectly. She’s the joker of the pack, but we’re told she’s very intelligent. She hides it well.

What else.

Ah yes, been to Hong Kong again for a few days. Overnight flights there and back, but thankfully upgraded to business on both legs so just about tolerable. Stayed in a bit of a smelly dump while there. Hong Kong is nuts when it comes to how busy it’s hotels are. It’s constantly booked out.... so if you go on short notice, it’s a case of paying ridiculous rates or accepting a lower standard. Next time I will be getting advance notice, no intention of staying in a place with a fish and meat market right outside the door. Big bloody project coming our way next year which will mean a few more trips to Honkers. As usual, while I was gone, the family got sick. Alissa had tonsillitis and the kids were struggling too – a few rough days. May as well set the sickness clocks by my travel schedule at this point.

Max is fat. No 2 ways about it. HUGE. I’d like to say he’s still quite cute, but then we said that about Aibhe and looking back now......... hmmmmm. But, the big fella is eating like a horse. Thankfully, he is now sleeping ‘through’. Meaning we put him down at 7, and he wakes at 5’ish. Really can’t complain about that after 5 months.

Just moved offices also. From level 33 to level 3. Same building. No more spectacular views over the Brisbane river and out to sea and Stradbroke island for me. No, a nice modern office now looking across the road at 'Felix', one of the high rise buildings Geoff designed. Parkers are now in my life during the day as well as night!

Tell ye what though. It’s a very interesting job discussing salaries with people at remuneration review time. Not sure people read papers or listen to the news sometimes. The world doesn’t know if it’s going to shit itself tomorrow, never mind start forking out 20% pay increases when really, job roles haven’t changed that much. Some hard discussions being had - ahh all the fun of the CFO. While the economy here has been what I would call ‘steady’, it’s certainly not picking up at any rate that’s for certain. And there’s probably at least 2 more years of that sluggishness ahead.

I watched the 2000 to 2009 Reeling in the Years recently – very weird as I can’t connect with a lot of it having been in Australia for 6 of the years. In all the older ones I know the tunes, remember the stories, feel the nostalgia. Anyway, watching the series was quite sobering with the countless warnings about bubbles bursting etc that came from the more experienced and reasoned of the population between 2004 and 2007. How they were just outright ignored and dismissed as pessimistic (or whatever) is truly shocking – bordering on criminal. How f&cking dumb were the most senior and ‘respected’ heads of our banks not to pay heed to any of this and to then come back and say everything is grand – less than 1 year off the start of the collapse?? Not sure what good time Bertie is up to these days, but himself and McCreevy have so much to answer for it is not funny – has to go down as the most mismanaged period of Irish governmental history, which is saying something given Haughey’s reign of greed and lies. Am sure everyone at home is sick to death of all this, but it is so enraging that we entrusted these f&ckwits to run the place effectively and look after the futures for us and our kids, and we may as well have put a bunch of fluffy clouds in the Dail and they’d have done less damage. Rant over.

It genuinely did not have to happen this way. I just keep hoping and praying that the people I am close to can manage to steer clear of its effects. So far, fingers crossed and long may it continue.

Nollaig Shona dhiabh go leir.

As good a snap as we could possibly get

"Toro toro taxi, see ye tomorrow my son"

From what 1980's classic is that one pulled from? Answer in the next blog update. Anyway, Toro is the new automotive addition to 77 Dillon road. I had twice attempted to pare back ('manually') the somewhat incredibly quick growing 'commercial' grass seed we had sprayed on only a few weeks back - and came away shattered each time saying I could not do that again. From red dirt to foot long grass in a few weeks. Cue the urgent need for the ride-on mower. It is quite an exiting thing for a bloke. And the kids. It looks awesome now (the grass), having a nice big stretch of green in front of the house was what we wanted. Must put up some house photo's next time. But this is Toro.

We had "Geoffie's" 60th. Above photo is the girls and poor Max waiting patiently in the beer buckets. A nice pleasant family affair in the residence of same Geoff & Barb - surprise too. Big family. 6 years in Brisbane and am still learning the names. Getting there though. At the point where it's just the cousins I confuse. Kindov.

The job is going well at this point. Not overwhelmed or anything - just absolutely full on when at work. Tends to be a line of people waiting to come and see me if I leave the office for even a day or two. Tomorrow am off on my 3rd trip to Sydney this month. At least it is just Sydney and I tend to just be away for 1 or 2 evenings midweek. And Max is being quite the routine baby at present (though now that I've said that - bound to go pear shaped). He's usually just about asleep when I get home, 11 o'clock jam bottle in him and 5am we're off. Sounds like an early start, but summer is kicking in here and honestly - we're up and at it early doors.

We thought he was fattening up a bit, but all the scales and measurements are saying just on average. After the Aibhe explosion in her first year, we're a little more conscious of the weight factor this time round........

She picked the right side just in time

With the slow burning adoption of facebook in my life, I’ve been letting the auld blog updates go by the wayside. I guess it’s the instant nature of life these days – and the sheer simplicity and ease of facebook on the mobile. Blog updating takes a little thought, time and energy – and I wonder whether it’s really that interesting for most people with such busy lives and kids of their own. My family excepted of course – am sure they like to hear all my boring news.

It’s the Monday after the big sporting weekend for Irish rugby & Dublin. I’ll make no reference to Liverpool right now as this one is about where we’re all from really. Am not fanatically patriotic – never have been - I love Ireland and I love Dublin – but have never been an “in your face” type Irishman. The fanatical patriotism scares me and have seen it lead to many fights and arguments in the past when taken that one step too far. I far prefer the subtle tricolour on my top or cap over the local GAA/Ireland jersey (mind you right now a Dublin top would go down well). I don't know what it is. When you wear the sports jersey outside of the relevant sporting occasion, your looking to make a statement or something. The Man Utd tops all over Asia.....

I had a few punters asking me as we approached the game on Saturday who I was “barracking” for. Most were tongue in cheek – but a couple were genuinely asking. Simple answer/question back – “I’m Irish - who are you going for?”. The same way I would always expect an Aussie to support Australia no matter where they were living. Don’t get me wrong – when the Aussies are playing anyone else (in basically any sport), am absolutely 100% behind them – it comes with the territory and Australia has been very kind to me. The level to which I supported the Queensland Reds this year even surprised myself – but then there was an extra element in that with the family connection. I can’t quite do the Bronco’s thing mind you. Brisbane they may be – but it is still Rugby League.

So anyway. You have probably all soaked up the joys and massively strange uplift such sporting achievements manage to deliver – and it’s so good for the place. Ireland needs it every now and then. The Aussies and the Irish get on pretty well, so it’s nowhere near the same scale as an Ireland England rivalry – for those at home am guessing this was more about the magnitude of taking out one of the world’s top teams. Here, there was an added spice to it, being an Irishman in the midst of it all. The remarks and quips I was receiving for the few days before were always light hearted – and to be honest, I just accepted them and said nothing. Didn’t have to. When you’re the underdog, the pressure is not really there. I was just surprised at how BIG an underdog we were considered to be despite recent performances. It was always a possibility Ireland could do it, and I don’t really see it as the biggest upset in World Cup history. We’re not THAT small a rugby nation and we won the 6 Nations not so long ago with most of this team. Weird. Anyway – I don’t think the Aussies should feel that bad. But they do. The papers crucified the team here – some more gracious in defeat than others – thankfully Alissa’s cousin (Brendan Cannon) is on Fox Sports commentary and he lent the most impartial and balanced (and complimentary to Ireland) view of the game in his comments on TV and his newspaper column. Maybe he was thinking about the next time we would catch up at a family event!

Then came the Dubs. 16 years. Now just to say – we get no coverage of the GAA here. None. And RTE stop it being accessed on their website from non Irish locations (which I have now figured out how to get around... so bring it on). But I was keeping an eye on the Dubs progress through the papers, my nieces and nephews and of course Deirdre & Kieran. The game started at 1.30am our time. Simply not a runner for me to be up given...

• Sleeping has been at a premium in our house recently
• I feed Max lots of nights at 11pm (Alissa gets up to him later in the night as he’s been sick and basically waking from 2.30am)
• I was getting up at 4.30am to fly to Sydney for the day

Of course Max chose last night as the first night he would crack on until almost 5 before waking. I was almost at the airport at that stage.

Anyway, the texts were rolling in from 2.30am. And I was happy to see them – waking to a text that says something along the lines of “GO ON TO F&CK BEJAYSUS WE DID IT” will always put a smile on the face – even at 3am. It was only when I got to the airport and started reading the reports that I realised it was 1 point and the last kick of the game. F&ck me. How good. And Kerry. I wonder do the kids today truly understand the Dublin Kerry rivalry when we grew up when every kid my age had a Dublin jersey and had a deep rooted dislike of Kerry – we knew every single player on both sides. Christ I remember saying I hated Kerry sooooooo much as a 10 year old - I genuinely hated the sight of the green and gold jersey. I think Mum pulled me aside to tell me it was not quite the way to feel.

Now that was a truly innocent and passionate sporting time when it was all that mattered.

Momentous occasions. The arrival of Max and our beautiful grass

Howdy Max Thomas Foley

So much to say, but for now, we're 'home'

The end of June. 7 years on for Marian, 4 years for Jen. Same for Georgia. So much has gone on and still goes on it's just plain wrong I guess. And now my little sis has overtaken Marian in age - tends to be the moment you realise just how young she really was. And makes us feel more fragile.

And this year, we moved into our new home on our anniversary - 2 days later. Alissa is hanging in there with just a few weeks to go. For now, photos and next one will have a bit more news.

et voila

The scaffolding has come down. And inside is progressing fast! 3 weeks, we're going in no matter what!

Got the roof. Lets go baby.

And that picture was a couple of weeks ago.

Quite the start to 2011. Disasters aplenty. One after the other in escalating degrees of seriousness. And the Irish election. Good on yis all. Vote (or don’t as would be more precise) the bastards into oblivion. Enda as your Taoiseach. Maybe may name will be more understood first time round? Maybe.

This whole world ‘recovery’. Am still a bit dubious. Where have the trillions of debt gone? Everything's alright now so just push on? Is there another ‘correction’ to come? Am talking about here mainly as I think Ireland has done it tough enough already. Aussies and Yanks are carrying on and forecasting and budgeting as if we’ve had the blip, and are close to back to normal now. There was a documentary I watched recently on the whole GFC thing narrated by Matt Damon – good piece of work and spelt the whole thing out in very simple terms. Have to say, old Obama does not come out too favourably. Go watch it anyway.

Ok, the house. As above, we have a roof – and lots more. Getting just a bit more exciting now as we approach the final stages. Been a year since we moved into the rental – a year since we bought the land. It’s a long process, but we’re hoping to get into the place in mid June. Aside from watching the cash roll out the door, it’s an experience watching the whole process.

The girls. Aibhe is just at the end of her first term at school. A 12 ‘weeker’ and she is dead on her feet the poor thing. Seems to have taken to it like a the proverbial duck in water – we’ve taken it for granted a bit but we shouldn’t as we see examples and hear stories of other kids not quite settling or being very unhappy. Aibhe being a little like Alissa, will talk to anyone so she becomes everyone’s mate. Listening to the boys in her class start shouting excitedly ‘Aibhe’s coming!’ and get ready for a chase as she approaches is amazingly reassuring. Bless her cotton socks as Kieran would say.

Emma, well, she’s Emma. Is also a social butterfly at her day care, thinks she can do anything Aibhe does, is obsessed (I mean obsessed) with Scooby Doo and.... is just a little bit mad. But in a good way of course.

We attended Aibhe’s school ‘bushdance’ a couple of weeks back. Video footage below. Aibhe has yellow scarf and straw cowboy hat. Loved it. Another thing with her school that’s becoming apparent is the mass thing. And God and Jesus etc. Better start re-learning. Though I think I earned some brownie points by going into the class day before Paddy’s day and telling them the story of St Patrick – awfully cute talking to a bunch of attentive 5 year olds hanging on your every word. Their teacher had them compile a book during the day with pictures of what they remembered most from the story. Some remembered practically everything, others, not so much. The banishing of the snakes was quite a popular extract. And I received a certificate.

Other things. Was in Wellington at the end of Feb. Present for a 5.6 Richter scale quake (a tremor really). Sitting at dinner in a restaurant over a kind of jetty, things shook a bit for about 3 seconds. Thought it was a boat rattling by but when we looked around, no boats. That said, some people didn’t even notice it. A couple shat themselves and headed back to the hotel. Nice place all the same. True what they say though – fricken windy.

In Sydney today filming a podcast (dahling!). Terribly boring material, but CEO wanted it done. I get my mug onscreen for about 2 minutes. Am a natural too of course. 2 takes and I was done. Back here again in 2 weeks for a conference.

Alissa is getting along well. Larger by the day, Brackston Hicks around again regularly - pretty early this time mind you. We know what’s coming out but are keeping it to ourselves till the day. Looking forward to getting into the new house, getting back some space and then waiting for number 3.

To take up what once was a spare room.

Next up, a roof please

In hindsight

...given whats going on in Japan and what happened in Christchurch, the floods in Brisbane earlier this year were but an inconvenience. Not to those who lost loved ones in Toowoomba and the Lockyer valley.

But the scale of this. Jesus.

CBRE had an office in Sendai.

Had.

House update................ and Happy Paddy's Day!

Every picture...... tells a little story