Stuff by Shane W

Hello All

What a fabulous time we are having. A great day yesterday with the Rotary Club of Alysham. We had the morning with the St John of Gaunt Infant School each having to work for our tucker by each attending a different class and being put under some torrid cross examination by a bunch of 5-7 year olds. I was travelling well until we got to the spelling bee were they absolutely creamed me. During the afternoon we wandered around the formidable halls and grounds of Blickling Hall before stumbling into the beer garden of the Buckinghamshire Arms Public House for a quiet pint.

I must mention my first vocational visit to Norfolk Constabularly where I was given a first class reception and experience. Plenty of good material to take home with me, the issues being quite parallel. I also took the opportunity to collect some extra tools to assist in keeping the team well behaved. The below photo demonstrates and I think now they are taking me seriously. As you would expect I have come to be known as the quiet and shy one.

I've also struck a bit of trouble with my avid photography. Our resident kulcha vulture - Julia Gulia - took me to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (which I must admit under sufferance was very good). However she didn't tell me I wasn't allowed to take photos of Rembrandt's 'Night Watch' or any others and very nearly got tossed out. I received a similar reception in Amsterdam's red light district where I was about to take some images of the wonderful window displays and merchandise, before being barraged with a torrid of dutch superlatives which I got the gist of. Anyway, I working on it!

Much to my delight we have been sampling the odd pint or two at a few of the locals. A great way of emersing ourselves in the local culture. And talking of culture again, below is our Gulia entertaining the locals with endless Aussie anecdotes, keeping the locals enthralled and rolling around with laughter.

Only kidding, she really is quite funny and we are having a great time. Shane A got very excited yesterday when he found a house door where he believed he might communicate with the occupants 'on the same level'. They didn't answer however as they were probably taking a holiday in their shoe house.

Anyway, must fly for a big day of global warming awareness!!

S

ps apologize for photographs, i'm still trying to work this out.