2004 started quite busy for me with work. The Sailfish Club hosted many tourists in January and work behind the bar was very busy, as was expected. However, once the holiday season finished at the end of January there were severe cutbacks in our working hours which made things difficult for most of February. In early March though, Glenn resigned to take a job closer to home and we ran with just three bar staff until Melanie joined the team in late March. As expected, we had a busy Easter, then in May our club finally went online with Club Keno and this has become a huge success, being very popular with many of our patrons. From July through to September our main competitor, the RSL club started renovations and this brought our club a large amount of patronage during a normally quiet time of the year. One of the big successes at our club was the introduction of the Thursday 'Chicken & Prawn' nights. Held every 2nd Thursday, one for the club members, the next for those people who live full time in the many caravan parks of Sussex Inlet, they became very popular, especially when the nights featured the entertainment of Jeff Clay. Due to my roster, I found myself working all the Thursday nights in 2004 and this looks likely to continue in 2005. In early 2004 I started off the Bar Staff's Xmas Club which helped us to save up enough money to have a great time at the Club's Staff Christmas Party in early December and a great night was had by all. Just after Christmas we welcomed Colin to our band of bar staff. Col will be on hand for the busy tourist season ahead and afterwards as a fill-in when required. Despite the success of the club in 2004 it was still surprising to learn the club still had money problems. One only hopes this will not force our closure in 2005 - I for one certainly enjoy working there and we have a great bunch of patrons, staff and directors.
In June 2004 I finally saved enough money (after years of trying) to purchase a new computer. My new eMac replaced my old Power Mac 7220 which has become Vicki's new pride and joy. More hard drive space, more memory and over 5 times faster than my old model, it also has a CD burner which has been given plenty of work.
During 2004 I managed to renew contact with some old friends, most notably John from Mesa Arizona in the USA. John and I had always swapped music and I'm happy to say this has continued since our renewed contact. I also paid my membership at the Australian Schoolfriends Reunion website which helped me get in contact with some old schoolfriends I hadn't seen for many years, notably Phill and Mark and I hope to find a few more old schoolfriends through this site.
Click here to visit SCHOOLFRIENDS.COM.AU
Healthwise, 2004 wasn't too traumatic - my chiropractic treatment continued on a monthly basis, despite aggravating my back problem in July when I attempted to unload my bike from the back of my car at the start of a Shoalhaven Bushwalkers bike ride in Conjola State Forest that I was leading. Despite no problems during the day's activities, by the time I was ready for work that night the pain was so intense I could hardly walk. It was thanks to immediate attention from my chiropractor that I was able to recover from this very quickly. My only head cold in 2004 came in late April/early May and one I was thankful to be rid of. I had another go at quitting the cigarettes in September but this lasted only two weeks - I've made some attempt at quitting every year and will no doubt do so again in 2005, hopefully for good this time.
Quite a bit of money was spent on new purchases during 2004. Apart from the new computer I was able to increase my music collection, I was able to purchase many CD's of albums I aleady had on vinyl mainly thanks to the low prices of many of the albums I wanted but I also purchased some new titles 'Ways And Means' by Paul Kelly, 'Say You Will' by Fleetwood Mac and 'The Ultimate Yes' by Yes. I also purchased a number of new DVD's, most notably 'Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King', 'Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines', 'Matrix Revolutions' and 'Billy Connolly Live In Dublin'. The only new book purchased was 'XS All Areas: The Status Quo Autobiography' which Jenny bought me for Christmas and which I had finished reading by New Years Eve. Other purchases included a new Penrith Panthers football jumper, a Tritec Bushwalking Jacket for Vicki, some new kayaking gear and a car CD player.
What a difference a year makes. I was very busy with outdoors activities in 2004, though the Overland Track in Tasmania still continues to elude me and I still find myself harbouring a grudge over 2003's episode where I was excluded from the Shoalhaven Bushwalker's trip there. 2004 started with a two day kayaking trip on Lake Yarrunga with the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers travelling from Kangaroo Valley to Tallowa Dam at the end of January. I also kayaked on Wandanian Creek, leading the bushwalkers, and a paddle on Narrawallee & Croobyar Creeks near Milton, the latter becoming one of the most enjoyable paddles I had ever been on.
Daywalks with the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers included Abrahams Bosom near Currarong, Narrawallee Nature Reserve (a very wet and humid day), Paulís & Purnoo Lookouts near Tallowa Dam (this required canoes to paddle to the trackhead) Wineglass Tor & Tim's Gully, Currambene State Forest and Rusden & Florance Heads in the Budawangs - this last walk as leader. My tennis friend Max Wharton started to take an interest in bushwalking and he joined me on some of the walks mentioned above, but we also did day walks of our own at Bendalong, Ulladulla and a return to Rusden & Florance Heads. Vicki joined me and Gary Williams for a day in Sydney walking from the Spit Bridge to Manly Beach.
I did more overnighters (or fullpack walks) in 2004 than any other year. Max joined me for two days at Griffins Farm in May, this was Max's first ever overnighter and I chose an easy walk (despite the steep ascent to Meryla Pass) to start him off and he seemed to enjoy himself. In June, Gary, Vicki and I did our annual two day walk along the Royal Coast Track - this walk highlighted by the number of sightings of whales heading north on their migrations. In July we had another 5 days in the Budawangs planned, but these were thwarted, first by a track closure, and then by Steve Ahern taking seriously ill before we could return to a second trackhead and walk from there. Instead, Vicki and I did 2 days walking on the Two Rivers Track from Mt Bushwalker Car Park to Mt Tianjara Campsite and return, a most enjoyable 2 days walking. In August Max (buoyed by his enjoyment of the Griffins Farm trip) joined me for 2 days walking in the Budawangs, doing the Folly Point Track - a walk that appeared harder than the previous time I had done it in 1997 due mainly by the track becoming overgrown from little use. Not satisfied with this punishment, I joined the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers just 3 weeks later for the same walk.
As far as sport goes in 2004 it didnít reach the heights of 2003. The Penrith Panthers had another good year, making the National Rugby League Finals Series, but they were knocked out by eventual champions Canterbury in the Grand Final qualifyer. Manchester City survived (just) for another season in the English Premier League, the highlight of which was a 4 - 1 thrashing of neighbours Manchester United, though as the 2004/05 season reaches the halfway point they are the only team so far to inflict a defeat on highflying Chelsea. On a personal note, I played only one competition of tennis in 2004 - making the Semi Finals of the Autumn night competition - we lost the qualifying final by one service game on a countback after the sets were drawn. I was presented with my Life Membership at the Tennis Club presentation in May. Due to increasing back problems, a dodgy knee and an arthritic right hand I did not put my name down for any of the other competitions played in 2004, though I did play a number of games as a substitute for injured players throughout the year. After 10 years on the Tennis Club Committee, 9 of them as Publicity Officer, I decided to take a break and did not stand for a position at the AGM in August. At this point I have not registered for any competition in 2005, but that may change as the year goes on.
On January 16th my younger brother Chris and his wife Devena became parents for the first time, a baby son Lachlan. We finally got to see the family during the Christmas break when they came over from New Zealand to stay at my parents. My sister Tracy and Husband Mark also became parents again on August 26th with a son Benjamin.
My brother Chris and his new son Lachlan
Our daughter Vicki had a big year. In February she had her baptism, courtesy of Pastor Steve Ahern at Moona Moona Beach in Huskisson. Vicki spent several holiday breaks - when she wasn't joining me for bushwalking trips - at my parents place in Sydney. In September she did a week's Work Experience at Laura's Garden Cafe in Sanctuary Point and in November sat her School Certificate. In early December it was a very proud moment to see Vicki receive her School Certificate during School Graduation day which was followed by her year 10 Formal at my old workplace, Vincentia Golf Club. By Christmas 2004, Vicki had successfully applied for her 'Learners Permit' and had taken her first driving lesson.
A very proud Dad with his daughter at Vicki's School Certificate Graduation day
Jenny had a relatively quiet year. More than satisfied to stay home and play housewife. Her one regret was not getting a chance to come on any bushwalks, she felt most of the walks I did were much too hard for her to handle. In November we had a minor reunion with the rest of Jenny's family to celebrate Jenny's 50th birthday, alongside her twin brother Jeff. A great day at Shellharbour Hotel was had by all. In April Jenny and I also celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary - and they said it wouldn't last 5 years!!!
Jenny and Jeff's 50th Birthday at Shellharbour with most of Jenny's family (brothers, sisters, nephews & neices) in attendance
So what does 2005 hold in store for us? I'm afraid you'll
have to wait until next year to find out.
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