Happy Birthday Amanda

If you do a search for "Amanda Roff" on Google Images you get a picture of 'The Tote' Hotel. The best pub in Australia. How good is that?

Your present is in the mail but it might take a few days. It is a very big and very exciting package.

Love Adam and Moni

Shine!

At last Amanda (right) is stepping out from the shadow of her brilliant younger sister. Not only has she been accepted into La Trobe Uni's Creative Arts course for second semester, 2008, but she's just contributed to the definitive list of Australia's top 50 albums (eat your heart out, Damian!). The list was published in todays The Age and Amanda's panel members include Michael Gudinski, Ella Hooper, Glenn A. Baker, Stephen Cummings, Billy Pinnell and Michael Coppel. She's now an established member of Melbourne's rock scene and, clearly, can make or break stars.

Here are the top 20 (of the top 50 - I haven't got all night) Australian albums of all time.
1. 10-1 Midnight Oil
2. Living in the '70s - Skyhooks
3. Radios Appear - Radio Birdman
4. Stranded - the Saints
5. Stoneage Romeos - Hoodoo Gurus
6. Hi Fi Way - You Am I
7. Gossip - Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls
8. Kick - INXS
9. Born Sandy Devotional - The Triffids
10. Back in Black - AC/DC
11. Diesel and Dust - Midnight Oil
12. Crowded House - Crowded House
13. Easy - The Easybeats
14. Magic Box - Loved Ones
15. Highway to Hell - AC/DC
16. Sunnyboys - Sunnyboys
17. The Swing - INXS
18. 16 Lovers Lane - Go-Betweens
19. Human Frailty - Hunters and Collectors
20. Wait long by the river and the bodies of your enemies will float by - Drones

You want more? Go to www.theage.com, then go to the entertainment section. You'll get the whole 50 PLUS if you look down the list of contributors, you'll find Amanda's personal list. It seems to comprise of bands I've never heard of and people with whom she has a personal relationship - but what do I know? I think I'd have had to include Australian Crawl and Men At Work, plus, of course, the upcoming Ukeladies album...

Coming Soon: Ukeladies Review

Happy birthday Pop

We couldn't talk to you on your birthday because you were in Jar roo sar lem, but we were thinking of you.

Happy Birthday Kel

Ukeladies Gig Photos

Israel Updates.

Photos to come.It will be good to have Joe,Sah and Xshabby back home.Sue is up there now picking up,connecting and helping(a labour of love).Went to the Syrian and Jordanian borders last Friday-also visited Jericho(the world's oldest city and site of which significant biblical event?).This week we have lectures on the bible from a Jewish perspective and Islam 2 as well as field trips to Massada,Dead Sea,Qumran,Negev(which I noticed was shelled last week)and Ein Kerem.It includes a desert experience and interesting dining provisions.And Damio we have had filafels but once.Jan is enjoying the whole experience a lot.She has assumed Sue's traditional nagging role(so I'll feel at home)and treats me like a camel(carrying a huge water supply).Temps are on the higher side of average but still OK.Went to the alleged site of Pentecost last week and had meaningful prayers and song.Much to share at the compulsory power point presentation at Chrissy Lots of love to everyone Glenn

Ukeladies Gig Tonight

A reminder for Sydney Roff's and extended peoples. Amanda is playing in Sydney for one night only with the Ukeladies. It's at the Hopetoun Hotel and starts at 8pm sharp. We are having dinner upstairs from the pub at the Mexican joint (which is awesome) if you can get there a little early. Give me a buzz if you need directions.

Holy Land Calls

Hi all.Sounds like Jan and I are missing exciting events such as important birthdays,Joe's homecoming and James Joyce's anniversary.Nonetheless'we're enjoying a stunning course whilst praying for your infidel souls.Tonight we're at Tiberius overlooking the Sea of Galillee.We've seen great cights Golgotha to Armegedden[as legend has it].I can see the Golan Heights from my bedroom.Heard a sonic boom last week which made us stay awake during a lecture.That said'it feels very safe and the company enjoyable.I'll try and get a few photos next blog.Love from Jan and myself..Glenn

Bloomsday

Well, it's arrived again: June 16 is "Bloomsday", the day on which James Joyce's novel Ulysses is set. Roughly following the journey of Odysseus (Ulysses) on his way back to Greece from Troy, Joyce instead follows Leopold Bloom in 1904 as he wanders around Dublin trying to get back to his wife, Molly. Eminent academic Peter Craven said in today's Sunday Age that Joyce's Ulysses was the "greatest thing in literature in the better part of a century". He acknowledges that some people find it difficult to read but suggests, if you get stuck, to simply "plug on" and, somehow, you'll eventually get the point. I've found it benefits from more than one reading.

That's Joyce above. The book was banned in Ireland but published in Paris. On Bloomsday each year, Joyce fans all over the world do readings in pubs and drink Guinness. In Dublin, you can actually follow the trail Leopold took around the city and thousands of people from all countries converge there. It's a big day at the Irish Club in Melbourne and there'll be events at Irish pubs in every town and city in which a Roff lives. The least you can do is have a pint.

Some members of the family claim it's impossible to read but here's a pic of Marilyn Monroe having a go and, if you look at the picture carefully, she's nearly at the last page!

... and here's me, enjoying my nightly reading. Happy Bloomsday, everyone.

Maisie is 1!!

Great day at the park. Maisie covered her entire face with chocolate cake, Lacho learned how to ride, and everyone had a nice sunny picnic. Party guests included nearly all of Sue's brothers and sisters who live in the area plus families, Kel's mum, sister and nephews from Canberra, and a few play pals for the loch monster. Presents included a princess tent complete with tent poles, and a hand made byron bay doll.

P.S. Tood, you forgot Kelly in the June birthdays (June 25). Obviously she has been too popular lately family-wise and you were trying to knock her down a cog or two - Keep her grounded the Roff way I say!

SALLY BIRTHDAY, HAPPY!

Happy Birthday to the very cute (and elusive) SALLY who turns TWO on this FRIDAY 13th!Yes, it was bad luck to score Naomi AND Tom as parents, but on the bright side things can't get any worse! Party On, Sally!

News from Radelaide

Yeah you would think the "rad"elaide thing would get old but we are really clinging to it down here...because its so true, that is. The very latest news is the family has been divided after coming across the Rolling Stone's top 100 guitarists of all time article. Dad was rolling of name after name of his forgotten idols that didn't make the cut. Andrew was mainly confused by Jack White's inclusion so high up.

Other news, Andrew has returned from overseas after visiting his latest bird in Portland. He even managed to take her to vegas, but nothing became of that. There is a lot more to that story but I dont remember the details well enough.

Recently I have had glandular fever which means I have to sleep-in, have a lot of nanna naps and not work too hard which is a huge change in pace for me. I've definately had worse illnesses. It will be a difficult task deciding when I am ready to return to the daily grind that is my life.

Other than that, not much doing down south.

exams

Yes, you have to wear a penguin suit to your exams here. And a carnation. And a silly hat.

Sar and I are heading toward home on Wednesday. Has been a hectic few days since finishing exams but I have justified the socialising as being good practice for reinstating at least a third of the Glenn Roff clans credibility as a cousin at Roff Christmas.

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon

Speaking of Glenn being in Oxford

Whilst on the topic of Glenn being over in Europe recently, i was just curious if there are any other Roffs currently lurking around Europe. Im headed over in a week, and judging from Kate and Liz's recent activites the cool thing to do is to catch up with cousins in random foriegn countires, and i was hoping to jump on that bandwagon if its possible! Any updates on peoples locations would be appreciated!

Glenn

'No, it is something I want to learn and I am going to email and blog everyday whilst I am in Israel'. (Roff, Glenn, Oxford tales, 2008)

Having given Dad more than enough chance I can only presume one of three things;
1/ he has not been able to work out how to email or blog
2/ his hotel has been bombed and the broadband is down, or
3/ it has dawned on him that despite having been in Oxford for a week recently he only has photo's of Lachy on his computer and therefore is reluctant to post and play favourites.

KEATING THE MUSICAL

Keating was most enjoyable and even better if you were a Labor supporter because all the Libs (especially Downer, Howard and Hewson)came in for a caning. Natuarally the Novocastrians lapped it up. To be fair though, some Labor figures also copped a bit (Hawk, Gareth Evans) It certainly helps if you know the history of that time but I had forgotten some of Keatings better lines.(for example, when asked why he hadn't called an early election against Hewson, Keating replied "Because I want to do him slowly!" This became a whole song in the show.) The staging was simple - a raised platform and some flashy show lights- but very effective. The whole show is sung and if I had one criticism it's that I lost some of the lyrics in the music - I wished I had a copy of the words because there was some clever stuff in there. The performer who played Keating was brilliant but the bloke who played Howard stole the show (then again,its easy to impersonate Johny!) Marianne gave it 3 1/2 stars and I give it 4 but definitely worth a go if you get a chance.

Stuart

Ulysses, Keating and the rest

Okay, Stuart and Marianne - review of Keating please...

In answer to your question regarding my membership of the Ulysses Club (see post below on Townsville), no, I've never joined. The pic below was taken by Townsvilles's local paper, the Bulletin, on Friday, May 30. The bloke in the middle is Stephen Dearnly, member number one of the club. The bloke beside him is my old mate and the editor of Bike Australia, Peter Thoeming. Here's what the paper said in it's Saturday edition:
"The impetus for the club came when Mr Roff, writing a technical advice column for Bike Australia, playfully insulted older riders in reply to a question he had been asked. He wrote that older riders should "be at home weaving baskets" and should learn to just "grow old gracefully" - a quote that was later twisted to become the club's motto."
Stephen used the debate to start a club for older riders. I've never joined because I'm not that fond of old people. It was a point of some embarrassment at the Townsville event as, because I've never been a member, Stephen wouldn't let me be in any of the official photos. He relented for the pic below and he has a great sense of humour for an 85 year-old.

BIG BIRTHDAYS

Thanks for the fantastic PHOTO reports, guys, but I have to alert people to some significant birthday events!

THURSDAY 5th June Uncle Ken turns 85!Give him a ring if you can. Jenny and Martin are having BRUNCH on Sunday 8th with all the Seages and would love to see/hear from any family.

SATURDAY 7th June - Maisie Ann Roff turns ONE!

MONDAY 9th June - Xavier Lewis Roff turns ONE (this is also the QUEEN'S Birthday; possibly an omen? Not that there is anything wrong......)

WEDNESDAY 11th June - ANDREW (Stuart?) ROFF was born in 1984! By my calculations this means that he is no longer a teenager! Perhaps we should now start treating him as a HUMAN BEING! (try to forget he is from South Australia)

FRIDAY 13th June - SALLY (Sinclair?) HILL turns TWO! Some people think that Friday 13th might be bad luck but I have to tell you that Marianne and I were married on Friday 13th (January 1978) and ...and..there is no....it's not all....GOOD LUCK SALLY!

FRIDAY 20th June - GLENN Osborne Stuart ROFF turns 59!

September is 9 months before June. Any thoughts?

Toodie Stuart Sinclair reading from G'ma's "Lord of the Rings Birthday Book"

Townsville tales

Just back from four days in Townsville covering the 2008 Ulysses Club annual meeting and it was very pleasant to wear a t-shirt and shorts again. The town has certainly changed since I was last there in 1974 - all that development you can see behind the hill in the middle of town wasn't there for starters. I stayed in the hotel you can see on the bottom right-hand corner of the picture and looked out over the marina.

Parked on the water was the plane below which some of you will recognise as the plane the Phantom used in the movie which was shot in the Townsville region. Remember him leaping from the wing onto Hero? The plane is available for tourist trips and I got to see it regularly take off and land.

The Ulysses Club is a motorcycle club for older riders. You can become a "junior" member when you turn 40 and a full member when you turn 50. It started in 1983 with five members and now has about 26,000 in Australia, with branches in five other countries also with huge memberships. The people who joined on the weekend had membership numbers in the 50,000 - 60,000 range. As you'd expect, the obituary column in their club magazine takes up plenty of space. Around 5000 turn up to the AGM which is a boost to the local economy of where ever it's held. Newcastle was announced as the site of the 2011 event. The highlight for the participants is the formal dinner (see below). The club bought it's own 5000-capacity marquis some years back and, this year, 3300 hot meals were served.
I know a tugboat captain in Townsville so, as well as the bikes, I got to tow a giant, Chinese ship into the port and, as he's the only rugby supporter in a Cowboys-mad town, I also got to see the Waratahs get beaten in the Super 14 finals. Now, what's on next weekend...