Camping at the Colo River

 We had a wonderful time despite some rather rainy weather. I drove up with Gavin again in The Beast.

Watching Gavin speak at The Opera House

 A very special morning. I can't remember enjoying a talk more. Gavin really is a genius story teller.  He took the audience on an amazing emotional journey. I'm so proud to have him as such a close friend.

Evening stroll through the city

I went to the city to meet the boys for a drink but it was cancelled at the last minute. So I went for a stroll from Town Hall to Circular Quay and then got the ferry home after a Messina ice cream. 

Helping Chris paint by holding the ladder

Chris was painting on a job and nearly fell of the ladder under the tricky conditions so I gave him a hand. Look at the high places he managed to get to.  He's amazing for 70!

Timber replacement project

We have had a lot of our rotten timber replaced.

President Trump !

Chris entertained passers by with his new hairdo.

My DNA Results: Regions my ancestors came from

Here are the regions my DNA is from. I'm a European through and through. Mostly from England, Scotland and Germanic Europe. No surprises here really. I was hoping I was at least a little bit African but apparently not !

My ancestral regions

Ancestral region by parent

My DNA results: Genetic Traits

 These are the traits revealed by my DNA. Very interesting! Some are accurate, others are not.

Highlights

Personality

Performance

Sensory

Appearance

All traits

Busking at its best at Circular Quay

On my way home from the city, I stumbled onto the best busking I've ever experienced.  The busker was Sasha Pak singing all kinds of songs from Frank Sinatra to Abba, and the crowd just lapped it up.  Soon there was a huge group dancing their hearts out.  The vibe was festive and electric. It was extremely special.  I feel very blessed to have been there. I sent him a donation and message and he sent me a lovely message back.

Celebrating Saint Patrick's Day after tennis

Nothing tastes better than a pint of Guinness after a hot game of tennis!

 

Swim at Bronte

A wonderful swim followed by a delicious mushroom pizza.

 

Gavin's new book is complete and ready for launch

Very exciting !!

School can be tough, but so are kids. Trailblazing teacher Gavin McCormack offers a brand-new approach to how we equip the next generation with the skills they need to become capable, confident and compassionate human beings.

Is your child struggling in the classroom, facing mental health or social challenges, or feeling discouraged? Do they dread going to school? Award-winning teacher and principal Gavin McCormack offers a long-awaited solution for concerned parents and educators seeking effective ways to support kids during these challenging times. He believes when children are given independence, the right tools, and the encouragement to build on their strengths, their potential is limitless. His 7-step guide redefines what it means to receive a `good education’ by highlighting the power of modelling positive behaviour and prioritising essential life skills over academic scores. Drawing on the latest neuroscience of learning and years of teaching experience in mainstream and Montessori schools, he offers practical strategies that will help children navigate life's challenges, learn with passion and grow into well-rounded, resilient individuals.

25th game of tennis

Rajesh and I just celebrated our 25th game of tennis together. We are getting better and better and having some titanic rallys and wonderfully close matches. We are both utterly hooked. It's been so much fun. 

Xenia's birthday lunch at The Incinerator

A wonderful new restaurant to try out. 

Lunch at The Little Snail, Pyrmont and wonderful discussions about family research

A lovely lunch with Sue's friends, our quarterly get-together to keep her memory alive.  Michael couldn't make it unfortunately. The favourite conversation during lunch was family research through ancestry.com and DNA tests. Everyone is passionate about this. A great synchronicity after my recent project and still waiting for the DNA results. I learned some great tips.

Darling Harbour

Little Snail restaurant

The Little Snail does a wonderful 3 course meal. I had the most delicious mushroom crepe, lamb and chocolate mousse.

Jann's amazing family research

Jann has taken her family research to another level. She has written the most amazing book weaving together all she discovered. I had a look at it over lunch and it moved me to tears. I later wrote her an email and had a beautiful response (see below).

Email to Jann and her response

Hi Jann

Spending time with you on Thursday was truly wonderful, and seeing your incredible family book was a real privilege.

I've been reflecting on why it affected me so deeply. I’ve always been haunted by the thought that our lives—filled with countless experiences, both sublime and challenging—fade away when we pass. Each of us is a rich story wrapped in skin, yet in time, those stories are lost, like "tears in the rain." There’s something profoundly beautiful about this, but also deeply poignant.

Your book is an antidote to that loss. With exquisite detail, it captures and preserves the experiences of those who have passed on—some long ago—allowing us to share in their journeys. It keeps them alive in our hearts and minds, celebrating love, joy, dreams, hardships, and heartache. It is, in essence, a celebration of life itself.

Thank you for the inspiration. I’d love to have a digital copy of your book—to immerse myself in it and to use it as inspiration for creating something similar for my own family.

See you at the next gathering

Warmly,

Graeme

Hello Graeme

I am quite touched by three aspects of your thoughtful email:

• The sensitive way you express your thoughts and reactions;
• Your appreciation of my cobbling of the story in an attempt to capture and relate some aspects of the lives of those who came before;
• And that seeing an example in black and white may be a stimulus for you to capture your family’s story.

I’ll say again what I said on Thursday.... looking back from this end of life (Smile) allows for a perspective and a deeper understanding about the circumstances and life pressures governing the lives of past generations.

 

You are so very kind and your words are much appreciated.

Gosh, if it was to be published (it won’t) your writing would be perfect for the back cover!

 

I will send it soon – just want to tidy up the corrections offered so scrupulously and generously by Judy!

 

Thank you

Jann

Email to Michael

Hi there Michael

I hope the funeral on Thu went ok and it was a fitting celebration of a full and beautiful life.

We missed you greatly on Thursday, and you were very much part of our conversations.

I'm really glad I went as, apart from the wonderful company, it was a source of tremendous inspiration.

For the past few months, I have been immersing myself in family research, discovering long lost family relatives. I've even done an ancestry DNA test. It's all been a beautiful and enriching experience.

It was thus an incredible synchronicity to discover on Thursday that family research is a favourite past-time of several people there.  It led to captivating and very useful discussions. Most inspiring of all is that Jann happened to have with her a book she has written on her family's history. I was moved and inspired by it beyond measure.  Below is an email I just wrote to her.

Anyway, sending you love and healing vibes. I hope you get your energy and mojo back soon so you are rampant and raring to go.

Cheers

G

Thank you, Graeme, for letting me know.

It’s delightful that you all clicked on Thursday. So, you won’t mind that Graeme Tucker asked for your email address; which I’ve given to all of those luncheon suspects.

So an interesting ancestry DNA for you. Wot’s the result – English, Viking, German?

Yes, yes, for we non-believers it’s poignant that our “stories, wrapped in skin, in time are lost”.

Thinking (hard), our stories do fade but . . . you know, Carl Jung and all his stuff about the collective unconscious; we might have a lasting effect; albeit stories remain gone?

. . .  OR, on the other hand, as a wise man from Muswellbrook once quoted – If you fill a bucket with water; then put your hand in; then remove it, the result is an example to you of one’s importance in the greater scheme!

At my (!) highly satisfactory funeral on Thursday, the celebrant mentioned our shared stories – the connection but the now and future "one-sidedness”. I thought that he nailed the condition.

Yours in research,

Michael