January 2015

Helen and I were delighted to have Nikki and her boyfriend Neal stay with us over Christmas and see in the New Year. They headed off to Okinawa via Taiwan soon after welcoming 2015. Nikki is taking a year off medical school and is doing some research at the Institute where Neal is currently doing his PhD

Glen and Debbie and family have been camping over the Christmas break while Paul and Marie and Daniel have taken up residence in Singapore as Paul takes on a new position in his company.

After the fairly spectacular fireworks display from Straits Quay 2015 has started a little quietly. The depressed oil prices and various airline disasters affecting this country have led to a downturn in visitors. On the last day of the month we welcome our first guests for the year. We have a regular family staying again over Chinese New Year.

Helen has resumed her English teaching after the Christmas break but has been plagued somewhat by a relatively large number of often late cancellations.

Helen maintains her preparation for her running by scaling hills, going to the gym and doing street running.

We enrolled at the gym at the G-hotel for a year. This gives us access to their swimming pool and various concessions including free parking. While you are sweating on the treadmill and rowing machine you can watch White-bellied Sea Eagles and Brahminy kites hunt for fish.

We have continued our assault on the weekly pub quiz. After getting second place and winning the grand hamper on the Christmas edition we have been in the winners circle once again with Tania collecting the prize.

The weather has taken a while to settle but I have eased well into the new local photographic season. The Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters are in full swing with their nesting cycle and the Kingfishers again seem cooperative this year.

Elsewhere I have shot species as diverse as a mobile egg-yoke Flycatcher and a specialist large rodent catcher: a Crested Serpent Eagle that appears to be feeding a nest.

While not in the field I have prepared a submission of bird images for a specialist German Website that is a comprehensive photo library.

Even when not out in the field there are some cooperative bird species around the house. to photograph.

I have been asked by the WWF to provide them an image of walking catfish that I took in Kenya in 2006

We have been to see a few films in the local theatre and enjoyed ‘Tracks’. We also have a good supply of DVDs of the current Oscar nominees. I particularly liked ‘The Imitation Game’.