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Introduction to the House of Alby members.

I'm Andrew Calder (a.k.a Shortbread).  I'm 40, Australian, and live with my wife Lynda and sons Xavier and Jaedan in Ermington, Sydney. Along with Lynda, I met my very good friends Rob and Roly at Rovers - that is, Senior Scouts - which partially explains my fascination for Alby given his shared love for adventure and nature. (The other part is totally unrelated to his interests and totally related to his style and wit). I was an active member of the Scout Movement between the ages of about 9 and 30, possibly climaxing in 1993 when I gained my "Baden Powell" award. Many of the awesome things I've done in the last 18 or so years have been with friends that I made at Rovers and remain so years after we've all left. Within Australia, places like Fraser Island, Broken Hill, Wilson's Promontory, countless State forests and National Parks, in addition to all the places in Central Australia we visited in the two weeks of "In Search of Alby" (you know, Ayer's Rock and all that).  Overseas, a World Moot in Switzerland in 1992, followed by a European tour.

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 nemesises around the world.

I work as a consultant for Oracle Corporation. For the last seven years I've specialised in Demand Planning, first in Oracle's old flagship product (ODP), and in the last year in Demantra, which Larry bought in mid 2006. For ODP, I was one of the few experts around the globe and it took 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
Creation Ministries International - see this article/letter I wrote to Sydney Uni Alumni magazine which they published in October 2006

This is Robert Mitchell, of Meadowbank, Sydney, Australia.  He is 39 years of age, is married to Alison, and has a young son called Cameron (Caligula to his friends). He owns 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 co-ordinating various high-powered projects.

One of Rob's greatest achievements under the title of "creative ability" was the lead role in the planning and execution of a buck's party for our friend Bundy (Kevin Power to his wife) in 1994.  In essence, we planned a Mission Impossible scenario for Bundy and managed to get him on a 6.00am flight to Melbourne with a briefcase full of spy equipment.  He didn't know he was heading to Melbourne till we pushed him down the gangway at Kingsford-Smith Airport, with $30 in his pocket and the combination for the briefcase lock.  On the plane, he had to play a tape of his mission, the volume of which had been pre-set to such a level that 15 rows of seats in either direction heard his instructions. The pilots were so impressed they invited him up into the cockpit for half the flight, including the landing (this was before Sept 11, 2001!).  His mission in Melbourne included finding a contact in McDonalds by saying the secret password: "Can't get enough of that wonderful Duff!", and buying a single red rose from a flower stall with a fake $100 note.  As Rob loves to say, "he was a pleasure to work with".  The adventure was even written up in a Sunday paper (want to see it in full?)

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 35 or so, 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, 37, 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, a table-top full of sporting medals (e.g.. athletics and netball), Diploma of Education, 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 (except "Girlie" but that's for Andrew's exclusive use!). I am an ex-teacher: Senior Physics, Mathematics and Junior Science and Mathematics for 2 years. I started the DipEd but stopped teaching (for many reasons) and stopped the DipEd. I will now complete it in 2006 (see I do eventually complete stuff). 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. 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.

I so desperately want to become a published author but as yet, no luck (want to see my file of rejection letters *sigh*). I am currently writing a trilogy of time travel adventure to blow your mind (if only it would blow the minds of a few editors!!). I have a netball story in the works and an Adult psychic story. I have joined a Role Play fantasy website to practice my writing and enjoy the friendship of many online people as well as in real life.

READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF THE TIME TRAVEL ADVENTURES.

• The Secret Of The Ages
• The Forgotten Future (DRAFT)
• The Time Knot (DRAFT)

When you've finished reading, perhaps you could tell me what you thought and email me.

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
Hello, my name is Xavier, aged 10 (right). I am a computer and mathematics freak. I learnt to swing a cut-down 3-iron golf club when I was three, and like to play cricket with Dad and Jaedan down the park. I also play netball, the only boy in the whole Ryde-Eastwood kids competition. Hey, it's a great way to meet chicks. I love playing all sorts of board games and will take you on in Chess, Risk, Monopoly or anything that involves me mercilessly smashing you. I love my brother, Jaedan. I am a Cub Scout and love doing badgework and playing games, going camping and losing all my things.

Jaedan
Hello, I'm Jaedan, aged 7 (left). 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. I argue with my brother, Xavier, over playing the computer. I learnt to read very quickly and once had a charming mid-West American accent after having lived in Cincinnati 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. 

And I was Gabby, the psycho-goob. I was 13 years old.
~Aug-1992 to 03-Jan-2006.
RIP.
 
 
 

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