I've kept travel logs of most of our hikes and expeditions we've been on since 1994.
I've played guitar since I was 15, my main axes being a 1980 Yamaha
SG2000 (reputedly owned by Carlos Santana - well, maybe)
and a 1989 Strat. From 1988 to 1992 I played in the dodgiest
garage
band this side of Wagga Wagga, called Stoned Stephen and the Martyrs.
(Fear not, this is a Biblical joke... Stephen, my brother, headed
up the band, and - as you know - is the namesake of the first Christian
martyr, who was stoned to death). Our piece de resistance
was arguably "My Sharona". 
If you look through my music collection, you will find about 17
Beatles,
16 Santana, 9 Cold Chisel (legendary Aussie band), and 7 Queen
albums.
So you get the picture, guitar freak. As part of my "B.P" Award I
set
out to write and record some music - here are a couple of snippets:
Yamaha
BoogiePostcard
from Ermington.
In terms of sport I play golf and mixed netball at present, and like watching the Australian cricket and rugby teams dish out thrashings to our nemesis's around the world.
I work for Oracle Corporation as an "Express/OLAP" Bigot... I mean, Consultant. For the last five years I've specialised in an Oracle Apps module called "Oracle Demand Planning" which is based on the Express/OLAP technology. I'm one of the few experts around the globe and it has taken me to Singapore, NZ, Israel, Japan, China and a year-long stint in Cincinnati, Ohio (in 2005) to help sell / implement / and train folks in it. While I'm actually a Commerce (Marketing) graduate from UNSW (1987), this web site is about as close as I've got to Marketing since I left Uni.
First and foremost, however, is my faith in Jesus. I am a Christian because I am convinced the Bible is trustworthy and historically accurate, and that Jesus is truly God's servant, sent to die for us to allow us to be forgiven and have an eternal relationship with our creator. This is great news for anyone who thinks they have to earn God's approval, and who know they can't live up to his expectations! And they'd be right. More info can be found here: www.christianity.net.au.
I have a Biblical worldview and totally reject philosophical naturalism (the idea
that everything must be explained by naturalistic causes, its chief
dogma being Darwinism) as a weak excuse for people to
ignore their wonderful Creator. My favourite Evolution-smashing
resources are:
Creation Safaris - Creation/Evolution News
page
Answers in Genesis
I'm well aware that many Christians do not accept Genesis' early
chapters as literal history. So here is the outline of a
talk/presentation I wrote and delivered (to our church in Cincinnati in
2005) on why
Christians should believe
Genesis. Plus a document of extra resources for
finding information on many specific Creation topics.
This
is Robert Mitchell,
of Meadowbank, Sydney, Australia. He is 43 years of age, is
married
to Alison, and has a young son called Cameron (Caligula to his
friends). He owned a 1989 Kombi van, transporter of cool dudes to
Central Australia. He has worked for the NSW State Rail Authority
since
age
15, was recently in the Marketing Department, but tired of
this
role because it restricted the creative process - his wild ideas
frequently
freaked out the professionals in his department. After returning from
his
3-month sabbatical in North America and Ireland, he returned to a job
in
SOCOG (the Olympics Organising Committee), where he was required to
work
out the logistics of how to cram as many people as possible into a
train
carriage without them noticing that they can no longer breathe. Now
he's
back with the SRA doing something even more clever.
Rob is distinguished in the household as the only person to have allegedly
witnessed Alby thrice in real life, firstly when Alby visited his
school
in about 1983, secondly at the Carlton Crest hotel in Sydney in 1998,
and
finally in the Kirribilly Hotel in Sydney, 2002.
Meet
Roland
Simpson of Dundas. He is married to Sonja, has new
kiddies named Harold, Alexander and one more on its way, and rubs the
belly of his
dog Francis. Roly
is an enigma, he claims to have "no opinion" about anything you care to
name, except after a szechuan chilli and a glass and a half of beer
when
everything is a target. Alby managed to elicit a strong response
once from Roland during a screening of World Safari III when he was
heard
to exclaim "I can't hack this". Though this could have been
mistaken
for an opinion, it was indeed a fact. Like Rob he is an
ideas
man, of which about one in five are practical. At 37
you'd
think he was too young to be crusty, but he is right on track.
He works for Woolworths in one of their large distribution
warehouses,
where his logistical and industrial relations skills are certainly not
wasted. He is a keen hiker and abseiler, and although this won't
make the slightest sense to you, every hike he organises is 17 km in
length
- and there will be no disputes about that. While he hasn't
exercised
this talent in a few years, he is a fine lyricist. All of his songs can
be sung to the tune of "Cool for Cats". He can often be found
relaxing
on a golf course muttering "I hate golf" to himself. He has "made
up" with Alby now, so all is forgiven.
This
is Lynda Calder, 40, wife
of Andrew and mother to Xavier and Jaedan (plus another 7 children in
heaven
through miscarriages and the like). She would like to declare
that
she has no responsibility for any of the "Alby" content of this web
site.
She is the lone high-achiever amongst the household, with a raft of
accomplishments
such as the following:- top 1% of the state in her Higher School
Certificate,
Queen's Scout Award, Baden-Powell Award, degree in Electrical
Engineering
from Sydney Uni with second-class honours (big disappointment that),
Diploma in Languages - German, Graduate Diploma in Education. a
table-top full of sporting medals (e.g.. athletics and netball), and a
desk-drawer full of certificates ranging from boating charge
certificates
to mathematics competitions. She plays piano. Anything she
sets out to do
gets done. She has written three novels, one of which she is
trying
to get published. She performs duties for St John's
Ambulance. In her own words...I know that whatever I write I will either regret it or wish I had added something more. Unlike the other people mentioned here I have no alias, no nickname and no pet names given to me by friends. I am an ex-teacher: Senior Physics, Mathematics and Junior Science and Mathematics for 4 years. And an ex-Engineer: programmer of the 6805 Microcontroller chip (claim to fame are the twinkle lights in Hyde Park, Sydney and various scoreboards for the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre).
The best moment of my life was the birth of Xavier (closely
followed
by my wedding day and Jaedan's birth, of course - all on a par). Now I
am
a full time Mum (as I feel it is the most important job anyone can do)
and home educator to my oldest.
I'm fanatically into
netball,
especially Mixed netball, which I play with Andrew (I had to twist his
arm to get on the court and now I can't get him off). I'm also a sucker
for punishment and abuse, I umpire netball - I have my National B badge
and I'm Umpiring Convenor at Eastwood Ryde Netball Association. You may
even see me in the black and whites representing St John Ambulance
Parramatta around and about.
I would like to become a published author but as yet, still enjoying the editting process. But, can happily say that I am finally getting some interest (so, maybe soon). I am currently writing a trilogy of time travel adventure to blow your mind. I have a netball story in the works, aYoung Adult psychic story, dragon picture book and sci-fi short story.
I am also a Christian and was convinced of this because of my
logical
and scientific mind (not despite it). There is no disputing the truth!
Xavier
Jaedan
Hello, I'm Jaedan. I had the working
name of "Alby" for four days while Mum and Dad made up their mind about
the name I finally was given. My name is derived from "Jordan",
the
famous river in Israel. I'm a cheeky little dude, I like to pull
silly faces and make people laugh; in fact I want to grow up to be a
comedian
like Mr Mangels or beta software tester. I argue with my brother,
Xavier, over playing the
computer. I learnt to read very quickly and have (or had?) a lovely
American
accent after having lived there for 10 months (just ask me to say the
Pledge of Allegiance). When I play cricket with Daddy in the
back
yard I like to hit the ball over the fence.
I did Kindergarten in under 5 months and I'm very smart.
I know when to say "Oh yeah!" during Standing on the Outside -
that's
a Cold Chisel song, you know.
I am a Scout and do badgework, love cricket, rugby union (and soccer).
And I was Gabby, the psycho-goob. I was 13 years old.
~Aug-1992 to 03-Jan-2006.
RIP.