2011

Dear Friends,

The major new for this year is my retirement from Bond after almost 23 years as I reached my 65th birthday. Although not mandatory it seemed like the right time to go. For tax reasons it was beneficial to serve out my long service leave which started in August and finishes on 16 December. From then I become an Adjunct Professor for at least a couple of years with occasional teaching and research work by choice.

Our sudden trip to Sydney on Christmas Day last year was a great success. We were in great position early on Boxing Day to see the impressive start to the Sydney-Hobart. It's good to see the harbour absorb the big crowds with ease. Rather than the ferry that took us to Watsons Bay we returned on a long and interesting bus ride via Bondi in air-conditioned comfort.

A month later we were off to Tasmania for a couple of weeks or so. After a few days on the Huon enjoying the cherry harvest and visiting the far south we spent most of our time in the north on the Tamar in our favourite cottage at Beauty Point. As well as the wineries of the valley and NE we attended our first Launceston Festivale, a reasonable imitation of the Hobart The Taste, but with live music much to the fore.

During the remainder of the rainy season on our return we battled water leaks in the lounge. Eventually we were forced to have the whole roof re-tiled. We took the chance to replace the patio roof as well and fit the terrace out with café blinds to give us an extra outdoor room. The main roof is fine but the patio still leaks and needs more work especially as the La Niña wet spell looks set in for the summer.

Again on return from our trips and my retirement in the offing it was time to lose weight. On advice from friends we adopted the Weight Watchers Online plan, and by August I had lost 15 kg and Margot at least half that amount. Even more pleasingly we have managed to maintain our new weights. Better still apart from portion control the change of diet has been minimal. The biggest difference has been the forswearing of alcohol except on very special occasions.

I have been cycling socially for a few years but with retirement I now get out very early for 15-25 km rides most weekdays. Of equal delight is the break for coffee at the local Gloria Jeans with an informal growing group of professionals we grandly now call the Table of Knowledge. This is welcome mental stimulation and appears to be mirroring the function of the original London coffee houses of the early 18C. With time no longer a problem I have to set my iPhone location tracker so Margot can keep an eye on me! So far I am avoiding golf as an activity and look set to give radio-controlled yachts a try instead.

Our love of the Tamar saw us fit in a few days in Launceston just before my last teaching semester in early May. It was enjoyable overall but the occasional frost and rain made us vow to avoid Tasmania at that time of the year.

Fortunately our health is generally good although Margot needed some ultrasound treatment for her kidney stones that has led to some ongoing kidney tube problems. Careful dieting has that on the mend. I have had some major surgery on my teeth with a view to implants that has gone smoothly. However an unexpected major op was needed just two days ago and I am pretty groggy as I type. The treatment plan has thus changed but is still on track I am glad to say.

Margot still spends many happy hours with her genealogy work, now in its 11th year. Our family tree has grown to about 73,000 people, but she is currently backtracking old data making it consistent and more accurate. When she is happy with it her new software will allow publication on the web to share with everyone.

Since August I have concentrated on relaxation and stress relief but modern online services have allowed me to keep up my social networks and blogs to maintain a place in my community of interest. I have participated in many webinars and virtual conferences, and, of course, made full use of some MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), all forms of continuing education that are becoming prevalent. I also participate in local unconferences (barcamps) in various aspects of cloud app design and implementation. This is a really good time in computing to 'retire'.

We now have the luxury of longer breaks and it will come as no surprise that we are driving down to Tasmania before Christmas to spend several weeks there. Over that time we will stay in several locations in the north and west in parts we would like to know better. Following the yachting theme we will be able to watch the finish of the Melbourne-Launceston race for the first time.

As always we hope that you enjoy your festive season, and send you our very best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.

Margot and Michael

Written by Michael December 2011

The rush at the start of the 2010 Sydney-Hobart

Australia Day on the Huon

Pomona Cottages at Beauty Point

Michael at 65

Emerald Lakes on morning ride to Table of Knowledge