When Harry met Kelly (park rumbles)

Photo's of Kelly and Harry getting into their usual wrestle - This time in front of 30,000 people at the Canberra Day Celebrations. It's beautiful to see that they can hug and make up after an intense tussle.

Show People

Amy, Luke, Lily and Cal add to the growing reputation 0f Roffs as show people with a first place, a fourth place and a heap of highly commendeds at the Armidale Show. Amy's potato person was awarded the blue ribbon for vegetable people while Luke's Spider was 4th in the "categories not listed". Cal questioned the judging process as he thought it was obvious that his mushroom man was of a higher quality than the other ribbon winners. Lily's decorated box was highly commended. Lily managed 2 days at the show without getting lost once. John Roffs blue ribbon muffins at the Chapman Valley Show still sparks pub arguments regarding the legitamacy of packet mixes. Amy remains the Roffs most successful exhibitor adding to her 2005 Junior Lettuce award.

Look out Canberra

I have read the Roff report this morning because it is about the only way I found out what is going on in my childrens' lives. Daniel is ensconced in Carna Bay and to all accounts is going to make the most of his isolation. He is working two weeks straight to have four days off to do a tour of Connemarra, the county in which he is living. Alaine is now in the big smoke and is trying hard (I think) to find work. She has had several interiews and is on a trial today for a position at Darling Harbour. She has also been interviewed for Star City casino in the banquet room. Here's hoping something comes along. Her apartment backs on to Randwick racecourse and she seems very happy with it.

 

Milly and Harry have headed off the Canberra this weekend to watch Jake play. Hope Canberra is prepared for them. Milly has worked out how easy it is to skip lectures - a practice her eldest brother indulged in on many an occasion. The only problem is we have to increase our internet to unlimited because the uni ilecture system uses an awful lot of our downloads.

 

Stuart and I are off to Sydney today to a "Queen" concert at Taronga Zoo - Taronga at Twilight. It is a package deal and accommodation is provided. We are meeting Alaine, Amber and Greg tomorrow for lunch at Coogee and a viewing of the apartment.

 

Marianne

First Roff Prop?

New Species Discovered

Scientists have named the recently discovered animal, pictured above, Kiwa hirsuta. It's so distinct from other species that they created a new family and genus for it. The animal is white and just shy of 18 centimetres long — and it's blind. The researchers found it had only "the vestige of a membrane" in place of eyes.

The moral of the story is that's it's been so long since someone posted a new blog entry, a new species has evolved... History is passing us by! Let us know what you're all up to so I can stop reading Dad's last post over and over again.

My only news is that I've been working hard making a short film. If it works out it may get a gurnsey at the next Roff Christmas. Monica and I are both tutoring at Uni this semester which is very unique in the Roff family, hardly any teachers in the family. Monica's teaching at the highly regarded College for Fine Art in Paddington, which is Uber cool.

Before you ask, the wedding date is still not fixed and won't be till next year (2007). We'll keep you all in the loop. Hope everyone's well.

Still alive

The Grant Roffs have been quiet lately because of the house move. We're finally in the new place but it could be some time before we've unpacked all the boxes and got the computers linked up again. Nicholas thinks his room is too noisy and Dom thinks his is too small but they've both been enjoying the pool and the proximity to the Box Hill shops. I think the house will be fine but it's too early to tell yet: we'll have to unpack fully and settle in before making a final judgement. Nick knocked up a quick-fire 66 last weekend to keep his Box Hill team in the cricket competition and Dom's team managed to end the season on a high note with a razor-edge victory. Dom didn't bat but contributed with a very economical spell of bowling. Nick is training with Harlequins for the rugby season and Dom has decided to give his knee a season to recover. Wise. Annika has finally quit her wretched coffee shop job but is facing the reality having to get another job quickly to survive. Uni has started again and she's happy with her second-year subjects. Nick's first few weeks at Deakin Uni have been eventful with O-week activities and he likes the look of the course. Julia and Grant are going to the Port Fairy Folk Festival next weekend (Labour Day long weekend) in the Kombi - shades of Ash's party!

Stage 88 Canberra Day

Hi everyone

For those that may be contemplating coming anywhere near the nation's capital next weekend...Jake is supporting Something for Kate, Beccy Cole and Alex Lloyd on Sunday 12th March, he's on mid afternoonish. There's loads of music, fireworks, food and wine to be had throughout the day. It's a party in the park to celebrate Canberra's birthday. Uncle Grant should remember last years, maybe....

Love Kel

rain

its really raining hard here. we were going to the coast for the weekend but bellingen is fl9ooded which kind of cuts us off. Kids are starting to develop cabin fever. No Luke put that knife down, dont come any closer, no no, aghhhhhh!

Calm down people

If you see below, Kelly put the call out for help with adapting "The Wallaby Song" into a song about the Socceroos for an SBS competition. I know that everyone is in a creative frenzy, but we have settled on the lyrics, so grab a beer and relax. If anyone saw the blog in time, and had a crack, thankyou for your efforts, but you will not be sharing royalties with me on this one (with the exception of the usually collossally un-creative Glenn, who added "When Aloisi hit the net..." - Ash, legally, what percentage does that entitle dad to?

Here's the final lyrics (yes, you might recognise some of it)

They’ve got mighty football nations comin’ from ‘round the world
They’re flying over oceans to take what Brazil has earned
But the rugged Aussie spirit that we show through sweat and toil
Means no-one can beat our team on German soil

(Chorus)
Cause we’re the Socceroos
And what we’re gonna do
Is go to Germany
And show the world that we
Want a slice of history

32 years of waiting ends in Germany
with Mark Viduka and his men doin’ it for you and me
Our mate Guus has got a plan that no-one else can foil
‘cause nothing can beat our team on German soil

When Aloisi hit the net, a nation rose as one
A moment we will not forget, a story told to sons
Across this nation broad and grand, a slice of history
‘cause no-one can beat our team in Germany

NEED U TONIGHT!

Hi there everyone

All you night owls reading this tonight (1 March), we're entering the SBS song competition, for the Socceroos World Cup.

We're running with the "I'm a Wallaby" music just need to change the lyrics to suit. If you have any ideas please fire them through to the blogg tonight as we have only just been told of this comp and we have to send the lyrics by tomorrow (2/3) COB.

Here's the tempo, the new lyrics will need to match... (for the verse)

We got mighty rugby nations comin’ from ‘round the world
They’re flyin’ over oceans to take back what we have earned

But the rugged aussie spirit that we show through sweat and toil
Means nothing can beat a wallaby on home soil

(here's the new chorus...)
'Cause we're socceroos
And what we're gonna do
Is go to Germany
And show the world that we
Want a slice of hi-st-to-ry

(Damio, yep, they still are the Socceroos).

Thanks
Jake

Those little birdies are talking....

So this appeared in the paper today....
Dad says he has classes to teach, zac is more interested in "studying" at uni and theres rules against mum, liz and I playing so we think they are going to ask you joe, just giving you the heads up :)

kate

Weekly Cal Sports Report.

Cal playing for Catholic Sports Club under 10s v. Norths had the bowling figures of 3 - 0 foff 3 overs including a hatrick. Bowled, bowled and bowled. Each ball saw his run up get progessively longer. There are Kenyan Olympians that would be blowing hard after 1 of his deliveries. No sympathy for the poor batsmen waiting a whole week to face 1 delivery. He also scored 15 runs and was filthy that he was bowled by a mulligrubber. Dad snavelled the ball to make a trophy as Cal is unaware that this is a rare feat. Next week - rally cars.

Too cool for school

After Grandfather Glenn's earlier efforts, Grandfather Brian continues to be unimpressive to Lachlan, as does his cousin Bailey. We are trying to work out whether it is arrogance or disinterest.

Cooda been a champion

This is Kelly's shot from the green room of the Canberra ABC studios' of my intetrview with the 'coodabeen champions'. I had just played my 'Country Oz Sport Rock' at the Queens Baton relay during the day. It was a pleasant chat with the boys, as a number of topics were discussed - I am always happy to talk about Joe and his accomplishments, but being Melbourne boys, they went off on different tangents as well, which was good - I even got a chance to mention 'Roff the dog'.

My next gig is at the Canberra day celebrations in two weeks, which usually draws around 25,000 people. The headliners this year are 'Something for Kate', 'Alex loyd', and 'Beccy Cole'. They throw me on during the day while one local band is packing their gear up behind (and sometimes around) me, and another local band is setting up. I do however get a 'Backstage Pass to hang around my neck, and access to the beer rider!!

word around the water hole....

So during the Western Force's latest loss (a clever ruse to lull the other teams, and the rest of Australia, into a false sense of security), the commentator curiously mentioned the following:

"I'm not sure what the Force could use, Joe Roff is in town, they could do alot worse, and I think the call has already been made...."

Dad reckons after his last dig at Joe on the blog for being a forgotten name, he is now mentioned everywhere; not only signing at Oxford and getting a run in WA commentary but the horse "Our Smoking Joe" also won today at good odds. Clearly he has connections.

Kate

By Popular Demand

Due to persistent questioning by parents, relatives and friends, I

thought I better give a quick update on my life in the Emerald Isle.

For Starters, I found it more difficult getting a job in the labouring business than I thought it actually would be. Unfortunately this has meant that I will have to move back into the hospitality industry. (I just keep thinking of Michael Corleone in Godfather III saying, "Just
when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!"). To that end I've basically accepted a live-in job at a pub in a place called Carna. It's not a done deal, but it should be. Now, for those of you with a map handy, find Galway and then trace west with your finger, following the coastline, and almost right on the edge of the earth is Carna. You can also find a few pictures and some information on the hotel by typing 'Carna Bay Hotel' into Google. It seems like a nice place and
I'm looking forward to it, although the woman said to me that if I was after a vibrant night life, this isn't the place. I think it has a population of about 200, which then expands during summer. Oh well. I've experienced no night life. I've visited Victoria and South Australia.

In the meantime I've been staying with a really nice family in a place north of Dublin - about 20 minutes on the train - which I've used as a base to explore a few places like: the local pub, where I already know three-quarters of the staff; the Wicklow Mountains (spectacular);
Drogheda (seeing the severed head of St Oliver Plunkett, so well preserved after about 400 years, is surreal to say the least); and Dublin itself. This has given me the opportunity to notice the main thing (aside from the fact nothing opens before ten and then shuts at four. 'But the sign at the front says you close at 5!' To which the response is almost inevitably 'No, that's the time that we leave. 4 is the time that we close.' At which point I get that look saying 'Bloody
ignorant tourist') I've found frustrating in Dublin people. And that is that they can't seem to walk in a straight line. You could be walking behind someone, then move to the left to overtake them (because, they're also walking quite slowly, and I may not have anywhere to go, but I want to get there as quickly as possible) and they will start drifting across in front of you. So you move to the other side and they stumble back as well. And it's not just me they're doing it to. I sat in a cafe the other day and watched the same thing happening to other people.

Ultimately, though, you will all just have to trust me and know that I will keep you posted when I feel all parties concerned are ready.

The 'Daniel Roff: Existentialist Wanderings and other Philosophical Musings' tour diaries are also available online, as well as at all good ABC stores around the country...

Ten Ways

Sarah, Joe and Grant in Singapore

Grant received a very welcome visit in his last days of teaching in Singapore from Sarah and Joe, on their way home (indirectly) from Japan. Sarah and Joe had a day to kill before flying to the Malaysian resort island of Ko Samui for a short break from Japan's snow and ice. The plot was to leave their luggage in Grant's penthouse suite at Sheraton Towers (fair dinkum: the room was so high up that guests suffered from nose-bleed) and then embark on an adventure to an island in the straits between Singapore and Malaysia. The ancient boat trip set us back $2.00 each and we spent a couple of hours on the beautiful rainforest trails that cross the national park-like terrain before attacking the best of the fresh seafood restaurants. Sarah had excellent squid and Joe ate a fish so big it will probably hold up the remake of Moby Dick. Grant ate his one millionth crab in black pepper sauce and we plundered the small island's supply of Tiger beer. Joe and Sarah seem very relaxed and content with the decision to ditch the rugby life and move on to Oxford. Joe looks like he's lost a little weight from the Japanese diet but Sarah says she actually gained weigh. Their plans seem to be to knock around the East Coast for some months visiting family and friends, although this will be interrupted for Joe by a Barbarians game in England which will give him the chance to visit Oxford and check out potential accommodation. Thinking ahead for all of us, I've advised him to consider a substantial guest room...

dress up fun!

Cal brings home the bacon

Cal played very consistent tennis at the Northwest Junior Development Series at Inverell on Sunday and won the 10 years and under title. He played 7 matches and won them all. His ambitions are to win Wimbledon and to don the date brown Jacket in Lismore.