Tumut Rodeo

If you want to come down for the Tumut Rodeo it’s on Saturday April 18. You're welcome to put your boots up and roll out your swag at Quidong for the weekend. Details later.

Congratulations Jeff

On your Temporary Business Long Stay visa subclass 457.

You may now feel free to live here and work.

A year in the life of a blog. Brought to you by facebook.

I’m a little late with my year-end wrap up but for the first time since the blog’s inception, I have not spent an excruciatingly dull Chrissie/NY break at the office looking for ways to wile the time away. Until today. But hey, at least it’s Friday.

We started the leap year scattered across the planet. A small Sydney contingent manned the mandatory harbourside fireworks, while representatives spread the SRF cheer in Europe, regional NSW and Victoria. Even then, amidst paint fumes, outdoor music, hands of cards and the French, did we all have some quiet inkling of the ebb and flow of life to come in this, the 10th year of the SRF?

It was a year of cultural richness. We worked in France, Hong Kong, Alice Springs and Ballarat. We got ourselves a shiny new American.

We visited faraway ports on the good ship Stacy Lee, under the slurred instruction of El ‘tan line’ Capitano, John.

We called home our attachés from Paris who brought tales of Europe and great tans. We celebrated our own bright culture on the banks of the Tumut River.

And we finally milked what we could out of our impressive connection to the Sydney Film festival.

A year in the life (cont)

Yet amid the diversions and distractions, there were stirrings in our ranks. Merely months into 08, Mattwa shocked even himself by kicking recruitment to the curb. Others soon followed as Nicolai quit the SFF, John shook Cerner loose, Noodle stormed triumphantly out of uni and Gretta left working life behind altogether. Even little George got tired of the womb and decided to come out and play.

We celebrated several other births that took place many decades ago. Nicolai, Mattwa, Gretta, John, Richie, and B Sam all threw us a bash for their 30th and Flit sponsored much beer swilling for his 40th.

Drinking was also the only way to farewell the iconic Wiglet after his untimely but spectacular demise,

as was it for the Swans semifinal victory

and a house-sitting opportunity.

While some things were best toasted in other ways…

A year in the life (cont)

New to the SRF calendar were a few events, such as The Best Thanksgiving Ever

and various sport-oriented challenges.

The Tangara girls found a way to get together

and the Northies found a way to get away from it all and get together with further flung friends.

But as Gretta grew larger,

so the year grew older, till it split its pants in the usual extravaganza of calories and booze. The SRF got into the Christmas spirit once more before another diverging of paths.

And there goes 2008!

Here's to a fun and prosperous 2009.

Over and out,
your evil blog administrator.