I started learning in 2007 and was SO lucky to find a great teacher who lives in my neighbourhood. I'm practising for my 3rd Grade exam on Nov 12.
So I'd better get back to practising....
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Vegemite toast at Melbourne Airport
What a busy day - and it's not even 11 am...
I started the day with an interview on ABC News TV this am. Australia's rolling out the H1N1 vaccine today (swine flu vaccine but FYI that's not AQ PC CAQ*) I also stopped off to visit the good people at Radio Australia, all before 8 am. I love the ABC - people who work there are very respectful, and great journalists.
I rushed home, finished packing and then went to the airport to catch a 4 hour flight to Perth, only to find that my flight had been changed to a later one 2 hours later. So I had to settle for Vegemite toast at the airport, which was actually quite nice, so no complaints there.
Last night I caught up with Ian, a young traveller and family friend from Ireland, who's house sitting for me. We had a late night drink in Windsor, near St Kilda, Melbourne on a gloriously mild evening - Spring is here and I'm off to Scotland?
Go figure....
Ronald
*AQ = air quotes CAQ = Close air quotes
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
God Bless the Australian War Memorial
Last night I was searching the Australian War Memorial website and found the World War One record of my mother's father, John Gordon MacKay who was born in Maryborough in 1886.
This archive is incredible, and this record - which includes some hand written records - paints a vivid picture of wartime experience. He never talked about it much, and at least now we have a much better history of his past....
Ronald
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Celtic curse....
Well, this morning I had my six monthly skin check.
I started getting them a few years ago after my sister, Linda, died at the age of 42 from melanoma. The cancer is related to sun exposure and us McCoys being of fair skin are at high risk. I remember my first visit to the dermatologist and she said "You've got that fine Celtic skin...".
A couple of my brothers have had them removed and all of our family are supposed to have twice yearly skin checks.
The studies show that skin cancer is quite a problem amongst people of Celtic backgrounds in Australia and I've written a paper about it if anyone is interested.
Anyhow, it's a constant reminder of where I come from!
Tìors
Ronald
I started getting them a few years ago after my sister, Linda, died at the age of 42 from melanoma. The cancer is related to sun exposure and us McCoys being of fair skin are at high risk. I remember my first visit to the dermatologist and she said "You've got that fine Celtic skin...".
A couple of my brothers have had them removed and all of our family are supposed to have twice yearly skin checks.
The studies show that skin cancer is quite a problem amongst people of Celtic backgrounds in Australia and I've written a paper about it if anyone is interested.
Anyhow, it's a constant reminder of where I come from!
Tìors
Ronald
Monday, September 7, 2009
Writing a video script
Welcome, Failte, Wilkommen...
You'll be able to track my progress towards Scotland at the moment, and talk to me through this blog, and I hope that you'll keep in touch with me over the next few exciting months.
I'm in the middle of making a video diary for the Royal National Mod, being held in Oban in October (see http://acgmod.org/). As soon as I know where you can find it, I'll tell you.
Stay tuned .. there's lots to come!
Ronald
You'll be able to track my progress towards Scotland at the moment, and talk to me through this blog, and I hope that you'll keep in touch with me over the next few exciting months.
I'm in the middle of making a video diary for the Royal National Mod, being held in Oban in October (see http://acgmod.org/). As soon as I know where you can find it, I'll tell you.
Stay tuned .. there's lots to come!
Ronald
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