A simple request

As you all know, I will be turning 35 next month. It is a milestone age in many ways, I'm no longer 34 etc. and my question is, can I get a monkey for my birthday?
The monkey I would like to get is a Capuchin Monkey, named for their resemblance to an order of Franciscan monks, so yes, I presume they are Catholic monkeys. You will know the species I mean if you cast your minds back to Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Ark, in which a wily Capuchin played a Nazi informer, and wore a fetching red waistcoat.

Here he is betraying Marian to the Nazis.

But not all of these monkeys are Nazi informers! Amazingly, these adorable little guys are also used as service animals, sometimes being called "nature's butlers." Some organizations have been training them to assist quadraplegics as monkey helpers in a manner similar to guide dogs. After being socialized in a human home as infants, the monkeys undergo extensive training before being placed with a quadriplegic (or me). Around the house, the monkeys help out by doing cute little tasks including microwaving food, washing the quadriplegic's (or my) face, and opening drinks! Yes!!! Not only are they great butlers, but lets reflect again on how cute they are.

They are also really smart. Most animals react to seeing their reflection as if encountering another animal they don't recognize. An experiment with capuchins shows that they react to a reflection as a strange phenomenon, but not as if seeing a strange capuchin. In the experiment, capuchins were presented with three different scenarios:

1. Seeing an unfamiliar, same-sex monkey on the other side of a clear barrier
2. Seeing a familiar, same-sex monkey on the other side of a clear barrier
3. A mirror showing a reflection of the monkey

With scenario 1, the girl monkeys appeared anxious and avoided eye-contact. Boy monkeys made threatening (yet cute) gestures. In scenario 2, there was little reaction by either boy or girl monkeys. When presented with a reflection, the girls gazed into their own eyes and made friendly gestures such as lip-smacking and swaying. The boys made more eye contact than with strangers or familiar monkeys but reacted with signs of confusion or distress, such as squealing, curling up on the floor, or trying to escape from the test room.

So we should get a girl monkey, OK Dad?

The deep South- a belated report

Having a holiday is nothing compared to having a baby but hopefully Gnome and Sarah will enjoy these pictures of our recent trip to the US and the Carribean while they are recuperating. This is the harbour at Barbados, the town being the scene of a great victory by the Australian women cricketers and a debacle by the men (read Michael Clarke but no names, the game is bigger than that!).

Where I'm going I hope there's RUUUMMMM!!!
The charming Beausejour Oval at St Lucia. It was worth the price of the holiday to be there when the Aussies beat Pakistan in the last over of the keenly fought semi final. St Lucia is a proud and beautiful island whose fertile land allows them to grow lots of things like bananas for export.
Miami is a sinful city and I tried to get some of the residents to repent, or at least to reduce the price. Actually if any one is offended by this picture, it isn't me, it's Damian.
We went looking for the true America in the heartland of the American revolution and the birthplace the US constitution. We visited Pennsylvania, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas and got to know the great man Thomas Jefferson and his home in Charlottesville; ate grits with the locals; learned new words like "antebellum", stayed at a place where George Washington took breakfast, and generally soaked up the rich religious, war and architectural history and dare I say it the gracious charms of the South. It would be a big mistake to assume that all Americans are like the cynical New Yorkers portrayed on Sienfeld.
What do you say about Jimmy Buffett? One big party in the middle of a monsoon (see my earlier post for concert review). That's Jimmy in the boardies in the middle of the stage. No pictures of the Van Morrison concert because he wouldn't allow pictures. Van lived up to his eccentric reputation but he was in great voice and in a beautiful outdoor ampitheatre just outside Atlanta, we wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else
Secretly all Americans would like to own a Mustang but they are highly overpriced and totally impractical. Much better to rent one, flog it to death and hand it back.

Our road trip in the deep South was unstructured and so much fun. While not an obvious travel destination, when the exchange rate works for Australia you can have a great value holiday because the hosts speak English and therefore the holiday can be very flexible yet relatively stressless. We loved it.

Have a nice day!

Welcome Bede Osborne Hill

Baby Hill, 3 weeks early on Sunday 6/6/10. All doing well.

Sue (while visiting the Armidale Roffs)

Welcome Edie Eileen Roff

Joe and Sarah (mainly Sarah) had a baby girl a few hours ago. All well apparently. No details yet, but will pass along when we hear.

Festival of Clint

Now that I've got time on my hands I've found that there is some good stuff on TV. This week for instance on FOX Classics you can catch the Festival of Clint Eastwood featuring two of his movies each night for a week, including my favourite Play Misty for Me. See Clint's full range of emotions laid bare.



ANGRY VULNERABLE MISTY

Don't miss it.

Ash

Copenhagen

Last week i was lucky enough to have the priviledge of sitting on a bus for 12hours to go and see Lizzy down in Copenhagen. I should have flown. Anyway, Copenhagen is an awesome city for those who have not visited before, and Lizzy seems to be enjoying her time there! She has a great little apartment right in the city, but no shower. Seriously, they survive off a sort of camping-shower-contraption that plugs into the kitchen sink! You have to guess what temperature you want it, set that at the sink and then run into the next room where the Cocoon that you shower in sits. Its a mission. But i digress. The week was full of the Copenhagen Festival, some resturants, coffee places, climbing towers, rambling through Christiania, harbour cruises, drinking wine and generally enjoying the sunshine! Very nice to see Lizzy again and im excited for her return visit to Oslo in a couple of weeks!

NyHavn

Liz at the Carlsberg Brewery

Liz outside the RoundTower

Liz and I at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

All time Wallabies
15 - Steve Larkam
11 - Joe
12 - Tim Horan
13 - Jason Little
14 - Paddy Batch
10 - Mark Ella
9 - John Hipwell
8 - Mark Loane
7 - George Smith
6 - Willy O
4 - John Eales
5 - Steve Williams
3 - Topo
2 - Kearnsy
1 -Ben Robinson

Moree reunion

Hard to believe but 45 years ago I was walking down Frome Street on my way to Moree High School. Glenn was at Joeys (did we ever work out why he ALONE got this special treatment?), Stuart, John and Ash were walking up towards the Catholic primary school and Damian was but a twinkle in Neil and Eileen's eyes.
I've only really kept in touch with one of my old classmates, Ray Firth (second from right), but I can look at my year 9 class photo and name just about everyone. I can't do it with my year 12 photo. The picture above has everyone reading the "Moree Champion", the town's local newspaper. Gossip is this pic was used in the actual paper last Thursday. I went to this reunion in Ballina as part of a plan to have a few days driving back to Sydney along the coast with Ray. Part of the plan was an introduction to hang-gliding but, as with surfing, if the conditions aren't right there's not much you can do about it. It's still on the agenda, though.
Ray and I had lunch with Sue Ping Kee and Loraine Newton when we got back to Sydney. You'll remember Sue, Glenn, as she's also a mate of John Coghlan.
Most of the class looked like grown-up versions of their childhood selves (except me - my beard wasn't as long then) and it was a very pleasant event.
I tried to visit the Glenn Roffs but they hastily arranged other commitments to prevent it happening - fancy telling me that watching Kelly play soccer was more important than a royal visit! Hope you won, Kel.
We spent a night in Dunbogan on the way back and a few of the old cottages we used to stay in remain. I wish I was 17 again...

Joe moving jobs

After 18 months consulting I am moving to take up a role with Lifeline Australia.

Having had a great time in the current role - largely making coffee for more senior consultants and asking colleagues what it is that consultants do - a role as the National Manager for Lifelines Learning and Development programs came across my desk. They are a great organisation, and the job will involve building and managing suicide prevention, crisis support and mental health training programs that are undertaken by volunteers, communities and corporates throughout Australia.

With number 3 due next week and the new role... good times, good times.

Joe's Rugby highlights

One of Joe's Oxford 'mates' posted footage of someone running past him in a social 7-a-side tournament. He called it 'Joe Roff's got nothing'. Every time I check myself out on YouTube (fairly often), I see 'Joe Roff's got nothing' in the related video list on the side. Obviously being the loyal brother and fierce fan I am and was, I decided to post some of the highlights I pieced together over the years. In the end, good always triumphs over evil.



This one is the short version for the MTV generation

Time for Dreams

One of Amanda's many musical projects got a nice wrap on the vine the other day. If you scroll down on the review page you will get to a little player where you can listen to a track. I love this new stuff from Amanda and an album is in the works. I got in trouble for posting a link to Dom's music so I wanted to be equally in trouble from another sibling. They forget we are their biggest fans!

Click HERE to go the review and listen to a track. Time for dreams MySpace page is HERE.

Recovered photos

For the quality of the night, some may compare this to a lost Beatles recording - during the week, photographs of Glenn's 60th were recovered from a supposedly broken camera. Good times..

underbelly

Hi folks. A quick note to let you know to keep an eye out for Megan tonight on Underbelly (8.30pm on channel 9). Her description of what happens to her character is pretty harrowing so viewer discretion is advised. Her real life is much more pleasant (her dad was a school teacher!) and you have to try and remember she enjoyed shooting it.

You can rate dom's band back into the top ten by clicking on the link below. Do it.

Click HERE to vote for Dom's band.

gossip update from Melbourne

Annika is booked to go to Kate and Joe's wedding and is meeting up with a couple of mates in New York when she arrives for a bit of mischief. I'm making her visit Greenwich Village and find a few of the places Saint Bob played in. Amanda stayed a night in the Chelsea Hotel but Annika reckons she won't be able to afford it.
Nick got the MRI scans back a few days ago after buggering his previously rebuilt knee again. There are a few tears but it's just physio this time, not surgery. Gool 'ol medicare.
Julia and I are going to see Andy Irvine tonight and the Ukes on Sunday afternoon at the Empress Hotel. Where's the bloody Ukes CD? Both Amanda and Annika are happy in their respective renters in inner-Melbourne. Annika has just signed a contract for the equivalent of a year's work as a research assistant at Melbourne Uni and may end up going to Indonesia for a while for field work.
Adam has just received a fesh batch of funding and has 12 months to map the vegetation in the Hunter Valley having just done the same thing for the Murray River. He put myself and my mate, Alec Simpson, up last weekend when we made a lightening visit to Sydney for the 50th birthday of Jeremy Bowdler, editor of Two Wheels magazine. Adam picked me up fromt he airport on his Suzuki SV1000 and dinked me to Doyles at Watson's Bay for a massive seafood platter by the harbour. It is a pretty city.
Dom and his band have a couple of songs on the JJJ unearthed school bands site (look for "The Rafting Kids") and at one stage were second on the top 100. They've drifted a bit but are still on the list. He's enjoying the one uni subject he's allowed to do in year 12 and is saving so he can go to Byron Bay for schoolies. He has to save as his parents have declined to have anything to do with funding it. Any chance of you going down to stay with them for the week, Sue? It would make me feel much better and I'm sure Dom and his mates would love your company.
I'm off to that area (Ballina) myself shortly for a Moree High School reunion dinner but the real reason for the trip is a return drift down the coast with my old mate Ray Firth in his green truck. I'm trying to convince him to teach me how to hang-glide. How hard could it be?
Amanda is booking bands for the Arthouse Hotel and enjoying what should be her last year of a creative writing degree at La Trobe uni. Her poor, long-suffering white Camry wagon went to God earlier this week which was a bit upsetting but her new white Camry is running fine.
I'm leading the Roff AFL tipping contest. Take that, losers...

Pretty soon the monsoon come

Jimmy Buffett Concert Review
Nashville Tennesee

In the middle of the biggest floods that Nashville has experienced it was a poignant occasion, literally in the eye of the storm, when Jimmy Buffet gave the 4th concert of his "Big Top" tour, held on the evening of 1 May 2010. As Jimmy remarked: I'll give you more comfort than your insurance company will!". The devastation in the region has been incredible and as I type this we are stuck in our hotel because all the surrounding streets are flooded and it is unlikely the rain will subside until tomorrow morning. Ten people have been killed (mainly as a result of testing the water over roadways and being trapped in their cars), tornados are threatening and all rivers and tributries are at record levels or have overflowed their banks. Most of the interstate freeways have been cut off.

Against this dramatic backdrop, some 18,000 parrot-heads descended on and took over downtown Nashville with the usual collection of colourful shirts, laes, stuffed parrots, rubber sharks et al. on parade in the many over-full rib joints and country music bars and all the fans in good spirits. Getting a meal was reminiscent of trying to get a beer in the inevitableIrish pub adjoining a football ground hosting a Bledisloe Cup or Lions Tour.

The venue was huge and we were fortunate to have relatively close seats on the raised side but not in the mosh pit. I have never been to a concert where everyone stood up from the first song and didn't sit down until the end. Not sure why we paid for seats. The Mayor of Nashville opened the show with some warnings about the flooding and road closures.

Finally the great man appeared to a huge roar and launched into a 2 and a half hour show in front of the noisiest and most animated crowd I have ever seen, from the mosh pit to the upper seats. Tennesee loves its music and Jimmy is a favorite adopted son.

Jimmy was in great voice and sang all of his great songs including Come Monday, Margaritaville, Fins, One Particular Harbor, If the Phone doesn't ring, Changes in Latitude, Son-of-a son, A Pirate Looks at 40.... it just kept coming. After a thunderous encore he finished off with a solo of He Went to Paris. Mr Rutley and the Coral Reefers provided great musical backing with the steel drums to the fore. The crowd sang along with every song and added the "Salt, Salt, Salt" links with gusto in Margaritaville.

The really satisfying thing about the concert was that Jimmy Buffett performed with a permanent smile on his face which was genuine and enthusiastic. He told the crowd he still can't believe that so many of his fans still turn up to his concerts and make it such a fun event.

When he concluded with the lyric: some its magic, some of its tragic, but it's been a good life all in all we couldn't help wondering how long this legend will continue to tour. But while he does, make sure you don't miss him.

Well, back to the adult only entertainment in our hotel room. Only joking, I'm with my wife.

Ash

Harry, Hand-me-downs and bananas

A few pictures from the Lismore Roffs. Harry visited. Jake and Harry compared beards. Damian and Jenny sent some of Amy's old clothes. Maisy is now 'Amy Mark II'. Lachie discovered chocolate eggs for breakfast at Easter. Jake stalked Dan in Byron. We all went to see the big banana. The end

Denmark!

Just some pics from my student exchange so far...

Ethics and sport

Just imagine how a supporter who had "Melbourne Storm - premiers 2009" tattooed on his chest now feels. He'll have to swim in a t-shirt for the rest of his life.
In another of sports ethical dilemmas, I called in to my local St Vincent's shop a few days ago to get Dom another pair of second-hand school shoes. His record is about two months but, usually, they last about six weeks so I gave up buying new shoes about a year ago. The front window display brand new Western Bulldogs scarves and caps from 2006 at three buck an item. Doggies member Nick had invited Julia and myself to the game last night (vs Adelaide - enough said) and we turned up in the new kit. Nick was really pleased because he thought we'd signed up. I don't think he knows the truth yet. Is it wrong to wear four year-old supporters gear from Vinnies and pass yourself off as a 2010 member?

Liz, Zac and Not Alaine do Stockholm

Since Liz is studying in Copenhagen for a semester and I am living in Norway for a little while, we decided that when Alaine planned her trip to Stockholm the chance of getting a little cousins reunion was far too good to pass up! Unfortunatly, due to the Volcano of the Unpronouncable, Alaine was stranded in London (actually thats kindof a guess, but thats where she was coming from, so i think its a well founded guess), so it was just Liz and I that made it to Stockholm. Its an awesome city, and we got really good weather, which is a determining factor in how much you like a city in Scandanavia! We did the Vasa museum, which is incredible, and went up a tower to get a good view over stockholm. For the most part though we just wandered around, or cycled around on free hostel bikes and had coffees and danishes all over the city! Alaine - such a shame you couldnt make it!

The View over Stockholm City from the tower

Lizzy enjoys the perks of free hostel bikes!

The Vasa. I believe its an old woodern ship. Sank 10mins into its maiden voyage, then proceeded to last 333years on the bottom of the harbour until they brought it up again. Poorly designed, yes, but no one could say it was poorly built!

Me, harbour, blue skies!

ALERT BUT NOT VI-TERRORISED

Hi everyone
Yes, we're still alive and everyon'es healthy, even Rowan who managed to survive the 21st party circuit with liver damaged but intact.

Big news is that after 10 years with AusBulk/ABB/Viterra I was retrenched last month in the uncerimonious way of the North Americans (10 minutes notice). It came as a big surprise brought on by their never ending quest for "synergies". We did get a nice redundancy payment so have a little while to get a new job, alas not enough to retire on.

In response, Cathie and I are going on a tour to the east coast of the US (Virginia, the Carolinas etc... taking in concerts by Jimmy Buffet (Nashville) and Van Morrison (Atlanta) then over to the Carribean (St Lucia and Barbados) for the 20/Twenty world cup then over to Wicheta for the US Folk Art Convention then home. About 5 weeks in all. While I'm there I'll try and work out whether its feasible to launch a rocket on Canada! (Hope nobody from the CIA's reading this!!!).

Sorry Kate we're a little bit too early for the wedding! We're get back on 24 May.

Will try and send some blogs while we're over there.

Ash

Nick's film

Nick McGee, mentioned below, is the husband of Amanda's friend, Jasmine, and one of the Nagambie collective. He's just finished writing and directing a full-length feature film titled "Frank and Jerry". It's a comedy caper which involves a motorcycle chase shot at Nagambie using local boys and bikes. How Amanda missed out on a major role escapes me but you can check out the trailer at the following link: http://frankandjerrythemovie.com
There is an extreme language warning with the trailer (and probably the rest of the movie) but the plot is pretty funny. General release might be twelve months away but you saw it here first...

Royal visits

Joe with his new relatives: Annika and Milly.


We were very pleased last night to host Kate and Joe on their way to WA from NZ. As a demonstration of their maturity, they declined an invitation from Annika and Milly to go to a midnight go-go disco. It was a wise decision as Annika got home at 3.00am and K8 and Joe were up at 5.00am to get to the airport.
I'm under strict orders not to make any jokes at Joe's expense but I can report he exists and that he's very pleasant company. Annika (and possibly Milly) will be attending the wedding to represent at least the Melbourne branch of the family. His parents have possibly the last two jobs left in Detroit in the automotive industry with positions with General Motors of which Holden in Australia is a division so there's a local link. He has a younger brother and sister who we should pressure into joining us in Lismore next Christmas.
Among other visitors this weekend has been Adam who is here for a birthday party for Nick McGee, one of the Nagambie movement. Adam helped me with the second bottling of olives from the tree in the back yard. I've bottled 11 kilos of olives so far and will do another six kilos in a couple of weeks. The one tree still has about 30kg of olives on it which explains why olive growers make so much money. Here's the rub - I have to wait six months before the preserved olives are ready to eat. If they're awful, I will have 18 jars of them. If they're really good, most of you will get a jar as your Christmas present. If they're excellent, next season I'll bottle the lot.
In other news, Annika picked up the keys to her new shared house today. She and her two female friends, Anna and Simone, went to the empty house and rolled around on the floors to celebrate the rare success of finding a rental house in the inner-Melbourne area. They'll be moving in within two weeks and it's all very exciting.
Julia and I have been married for 26 years today. Where did that time go? We're about to go to see Eddie Iffe at the comedy festival and I celebrated today by buying a proper casserole dish so I can make proper stews for winter. I christened it with a chicken, mushroom and tarragon stew tonight and it was very well received.
In work news, I might get a teaching gig in Vietnam in the second half of the year which, if it works, might give us the opportunity to spend more time there in the future. Fingers crossed...

Mo Naggers

By request but it seems like alot of photos for one weekend. Let's make it a longer stay next time.

Matriarch

We've just had the pleasure of Glenn and Sue visiting for the evening (Monday) on the way to Tasmania for a principal's conference. Once again, Sue demonstrated that she's the power behind the throne but Glenn managed to behave and we had Milly as a special dinner guest. Here are some pics from our Easter visit to Amanda's shared artist community at Nagambie. You wouldn't be dead for quids...

Patriarch

I may have misread Damien's comment, but I felt like he was requesting another photo of Glenn, This is him making his Woodlawn Cup speech after the race.