Saturday 28 April 2007

Sambaspreadsheet

I can't remember what I had for breakfast, much less what beats we practice each week. :)

So in the spirit of the stuff we discussed at last Wednesday's meeting (ie being better organised), I've created a little spreadsheet with columns across the top, listing all of the beats we use, and down the side a list of rehearsal dates. So I can mark a tick against what we've done, and can see at a glance what still needs practice.

Now all I've got to do is find a pink and green clipboard to attach this list to, so I can march around the Polish Club on Thursday nights looking self-important. :) :)

Tuesday 24 April 2007

Lawn Bowls to Celebrate!


Hello All,
I’ve organised to go barefoot bowling for my birthday! It’s not the same playing without a team, so I’m asking you fun people if you’d like to come along for a game (or three) and beer at genuine 19-something-odd prices!
Here’s the details…


Sunday 20th May – 3pm

New Farm Bowls Club

http://www.newfarmbowls.com.au/

Note: This is not the Merthyr club


Please let me know by 1st May if you can make it as I have to confirm numbers.
Cheers and hopefully I’ll see you there!

Monday 23 April 2007

Getting thing done some more

Thanks to those who have registered for the "getting things done" day on Wednesday. Please note I need to know exactly who's coming to plan the day properly, so if you intend to come but haven't registered yet (you may have forgotten your password...) please register now or send me an email. Please don't rely on having told me - too much going on for me to remember ... Cheers!

Also note - start time has been moved to 12:00 noon as I'll need to finish painting one room first!

Friday 13 April 2007

Getting things done!

As discussed yesterday, I propose to host a 'getting things done' day on ANZAC day, 25 April, at my house. Agenda to be confirmed, but there will be workshops in a number of areas, and hopefully we'll have some fun along the way.

Please let me know if you want to help out - I've used our gig info system for this so please register here!

Gail's house warmining party (finally)

We are having a house warming on the 28th April starting around 6 at my place 18 Neata Street Corinda. My house is near the back of Corinda High. I am trying to make it easy, so no bbq, but a chair, plate and something to eat would be useful. Everyone is welcome (it's a great place for kids). If you have any questions email me or reing me 0407583452.

Friday 6 April 2007

Adopt-a-sambista

As discussed on Thursday, the Melbourne Samba School will fly up with about 10 sambista's for the Red & Black in May. If you want to host a sambista for the weekend, please let me know by email. Two free tickets are available for every host!

Lynne's travel news

As you all know, Lynne is currently travelling in Laos, before going on to China. Here's her latest news.....

Well have just arrived back in Vientiane (the capital) from an absolutely wonderful time in northern Laos.

Spent quite a few days in Luang Prabang which is the old capital and full of wonderfull French colonial architecture and great baguettees. My standard breakfast was to stroll down to the one of the small food vendors and get a small baguette with cream cheese with the freshest tomato and lettuce and this great spicy chutney all for about 75 cents.

Didn't often bother with lunch as it was so hot. The great fruit shakes were enough to keep me going to dinner. Mind you nothing as exotic as the fruit drinks in Brasil but still cold and yummy.

Spent a few days up river at a Hmong village which can only be reached by boat. Had a bungalow over looking the river which was very low because it is the dry season but still beautiful. Great place to relax, take a sauna, short walks and enjoy more fruit shakes.

Took the boat all the way back to Luang Prabang down the Nam Ou which eventually joined the Mekong. The deforestation is a real problem but there is no viable alternative yet for the farmers.

Dragged myself out of bed (twice) to watch the alms giving procession in the early morning. I really enjoyed it at Muang Ngoi where it was much more serene and the monks after receiving the alms stopped and gave a blessing.

One of the highlights was a overnight trip to visit the Asian Elephant Camp. They have a range of different activities and I chose to help out with the elephants. So we got to ride on their necks, return them to the jungle for feeding and fetch them in the morning and wash them in the river.

It was such a wonderful experience and a chance to contribute to saving them as they expect the Asian elephant will be extinct in the wild in 50 years.

The camp also has a 3 year old male who is just like a naughty child. Loves attention and is very wilfull.

So it is a day or so in Vientiane, more temples and then onto Bangkok and China.

Oh almost forgot. Whilst I was at the Elephant Camp the mahouts and guides had a little jam session. One guy (actually the mahout I was working with) could belt out a mean rhythm with a plastic buket and bamboo sticks. I was trying to recruit him for the samba group but I don't think he quite understood.