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April 2008 We've had this web site up since we move to Sydney in 1999. By today's web design standards it is looking pretty tired, but we haven't found the time to modernise. We hope you still enjoy the content! Apart from being even busier than usual given the overhead of our new family addition (Charlie), one of the reasons it's been so long between updates is because Dave's laptop was upgraded and we couldn't find our web creation software for a while. Anyway, here we are for an action packed update. Charlie first, who is now eight months old and continues to bring a lot of fun and joy into our lives. He has given us the smoothest possible transition to parenthood, with minimal night-time interruptions (honestly, our geriatric, mostly deaf and now partly blind cat Plato wakes us up more often with her high volume miaow-ing). Apart from a few grumbles about sore gums (two teeth have shown up so far) he is a happy little fellow, interested in everything and especially people. He seems to be a talker and although he's still quite little and not especially mobile yet (which has given us a bit more time to toddler proof the house) he has an impressive range of vowel and consonant vocal combinations and is a voracious consumer of books (in fact he loves nothing more than chewing on a book and ripping the pages of Dad's news paper). Check out Charlie photos here. Flick has enjoyed the move to full time Mum and has a good support network of friends, mothers' group and our super neighbours. We have established a couple of good baby sitting options and have also been taking Charlie out with us to get him used to change. He's already been to Brisbane and New Zealand (on his Australian passport - heaven forbid!), has attended a couple of weddings and been on a beach holiday at Christmas. For Dave the four year slog is over, having completed his MBA in November. And in September a partial sale of Roberts Weaver Group was concluded with global corporate real estate firm Colliers International, which has seen the founding MD heading for retirement (after about 35 years) while Dave retains his stake. Colliers is a great fit given their ability to refer business to RWG through their large sales force and we are already starting to see the benefits of that. They also bring a level of much needed structure and management discipline and the future of the firm is looking very positive despite the turmoil of transition and relative inexperience of our new MD (who formerly looked after Sales & Marketing). Dave's major project at the moment involves the relocation of a major broadcaster's facilities in both Sydney and Melbourne including helping them work out what they need, assessing potential sites, designing the new workplace and project managing implementation. Charlie is the first grandchild on Flick's side of the family (and first great grandchild for her maternal grandmother) so his birth caused an influx of family visitors including Susan (twice), Ken, Andrew & Mary and Rose & Ken on their way home from their three year sojourn in Kent. We also caught up with cousin Jesse who was over for a conference.
Other activities since our last update have included a good assortment of significant events for various sets of friends. Flick played bridesmaid at Deanne & Dan's NZ wedding celebrations just six weeks after Charlie's arrival, leaving "Charles in Charge" of Dad for the weekend. Dave & Charlie had a great weekend including attending a picnic in the botanical gardens, a catch up with friends Jon & Sophie (who are now Auckland based) and high tea to celebrate Des's birthday.
In November we unfortunately missed Jan & Warren's nuptials in Rangiora (congratulations guys), but did make it to Gleeso's 40th in Brisbane and Alastair & Kerry's elegant wedding onboard a glass walled boat on Sydney harbour together with their many international guests (guess who forgot to bring their camera...). We also spent a lovely weekend in an eco-cottage (complete with 100% solar energy and composting toilets) in the Blue Mountains with Toby, Diane and family.
A tradition established by our friends Grant & Vanessa that we have embraced is the "last work day before Christmas family ferry ride (and champagne brekkie)" on the 7am Manly ferry. Charlie enjoyed his first such experience, which was followed by some of the Mums and kids heading back to Manly for a more substantial repast.
We were delighted to be invited to spend Christmas with Siobhan & Mark on the Central Coast and on Boxing Day headed further North (via a quick visit to Flicka & Matt) to Fingal Bay in the Port Stephens area, where we chilled out for a few days with Pam & Mark and friends. On the way back we inspected Tina & Indi's stylish pad in Newcastle.
After a quiet New Year's Eve with neighbours Helen & Mark, Linda & Frank we started 2008 by catching up with Neil & Jude who were over from Ireland to show off sons Cameron & Oliver to their family. Dave was then back to work with a vengeance and hasn't really slowed down since.
Cecil St Cinema 2008 featured a great couple of movies (Hairspray and Ratatouille) and was well attended including by Tamara (over from London) and Gleeso who came down from Brisbane for the occasion.
Other social events for the year so far have included the uniquely stylish weddings of John & Jen, Helen & Mark and Ruth & Adam - thankfully all in Sydney, which made the logistics somewhat more manageable. Our congratulations to the happy couples. We also hosted a couple of dinner parties during Easter and were invited to other friends' places for a variety of events, allowing us to have great catch ups with a good number of people in small settings.
Earlier, Flick & Charlie spent three weeks in New Zealand during February, joined by Dave for a whirlwind six days of lovely family & friends catch ups and "pass the baby" events. We also attended several events associated with Dave's 20 year class reunion at Wellington College, the highlight of which was a tour of the school (during class time) led by the current Headmaster and now-retired Deputy, who was incumbent during Dave's years. Amazingly there are over a dozen teachers from that period who are still working at the school. For more trip photos click here.
March ended with a visit from Dave's Uncle David & Aunt Leigh to meet their great nephew plus an intoxicating dinner to celebrate Toby's birthday. We also had a visit from former Sydney based friends Maria & Cristoph, who are now back in Sweden.
All the best,
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