Yes it has

Hi all,

I guess we've all been slack on the blog since mum and dad came back from Europe.

Jon, cool sounding job, but if it was me I'd spend all the dosh in the shops there.

G has been hard at it, building the house. We have a bottom slab and some walls that we can build the top slab onto. When that is done - hopefully before Christmas - we will be able to build the top early next year. When I say "we" I mean G. I am a non-executive director of this project.

We are gearing up for the silly season. I haven't been in work since mid-October, but at first I was busy with the play I was in and since then I have just been looking around. I am too lazy to go to the city and G is torn between enjoying me being at home and freaking out about money. It would be great if someone would pay me heaps of money to work part-time in Penrith or even better in Springwood, but seeing as how half the people who once lived in the city now live here, the competition is high and the money is low.

Mum and dad have been tooling around the place in their motor home all nice and cosy and they seem to like the retired life. We had a party last Saturday and Xavier and Tammy showed off their martial arts' skills - Tammy teaches little kids and Xavier got some kind of coloured belt grading in his class. Audrey's friend Penny fell out of the bedroom window, but as they all ran giggling back into the house she concluded that she wasn't hurt. The house was filled with revellers (not hard with this house) and we put up a tent in the back garden which frightened Bean so much she refused to go outside in the night and did a wee by the back door.

Next weekend is someone elses Christmas do and the next is Carols in the park, followed by the Glenbrook Players party and the next is Christmas. Luckily I am an avid Op-shopper and can always manage to pick up a stunning frock for about $5. Somehow I have also managed to find top label shoes in my size for the same amount. One pair of gorgeouse sandals still had a price label of $250 on them. I'm thinking of setting myself up as a "second-hand stylist". What do you reckon? I am starting to know my friends sizes and always end up getting something for somebody. I also can't wait to decorate the new house. This one is so tiny that I find myseld making something and having no room to put it when it's made. Consequently my groovy round cushions in 50's style fabrics with button middles are shunted from room to room, while my covered half-screen sits on a stack of plastic storage boxes waiting to be hinged together.

Ramble ramble......

Bye

:: Been a while....

Hi all,

Just a quick note to let you all know I started a new job today at 443 Oxford Street, opposite Selfridges. I am working as business technical support manager for a mobile phone gambling company on the up.....

All right pay with six month reviews, share options & the probability of exciting travel options to exotic locations such as Beirut, Kazhakstan & St. Petersburg. Plus I'm working with old friends of mine from the Beenz.com days.

Will let you know more when things develop.

Love Jon.

Parralizin

Evenin all
Parra 28
Brisbane 14
Parra take out the minor premiership
I know most of you don't give an Eels arse about this, but so what!
They have finished on top of the comp and now await the Grand Final, most likey against Saint George - shades of yesteryear.
Nathen Hindmarsh was injured early on in the game and is off having his MRI scanned (wherever that is!).
Tim Smith was awarded both the coveted Rookie of the Year for Parra and Man of the Match honours. The males of the Allshorn (Caroline's) family - all rabid Parra Fans - are equally impressed (her baby brother Luke celebrating like a wild thing already and her dad considering this as his personal Fathers Day present).

Happy Fathers Day to all the Knowles' Dads
Mark, Tammy and Caroline

Marina, The movie

In its first week of selected release to an exclusive circle of critics it is already winning plaudits and being hailed as a likely Palme de Merde winner at Cannes. A thrilling, violent story of a family torn by secret desires and the fangs of hunger, Born-in-the-First-Half-of-the-last-Century’s Happy da Birfday is a classic mix of Tarantino and Hitchcock.
Director Martin Fridgemagnet makes a guest appearance with his wife, Kelly Bacon, as a food-obsessed couple in a land of plenty, and there are fine supporting roles from the usual suspects the sinister Markso Wingma-Sheen, curvaceous Caro Linedancer, dogged Samantha Houndstooth, hounded George Doggo, colourful Wendy Fangspotter and the blundering Chris Juggler.
But it’s the young stars, the restless River Jorden, rugged Kevin de Cline, beguiling Tammy Ayke, smoldering Xavier Silent, twinkle-toed Saskie Shoeshine and the amazing method actor Arkie Napper, who steal the show.
Members of the first night audience were unstinting in their praise. “I couldn’t stop laughing,” said Ron Knowles, clinging to his wife, Marina, for support outside the Chequers Inn.
“It was wonderful,” said Mrs Knowles. “I’ve always loved Lassie films, and that steamy love scene with Bean was beautifully done.”
The Marina birthday DVD from the family in Australia has been rapturously received, and Jonathan played his part too, in talking Dad through the computer program to get his laptop operating.
We have had other delights, too . . . we have come across the best pub we have yet to find in France. It is just a 15-minute drive away at Agens-Minervois and we are already making friends with the landlord, Gilbert. (When it’s pronounced “jeel-bear” the name doesn’t sound so daggy.) The pub, which lies under the shadow of a massive, ancient, hilltop chateau, has a wonderful feel of history and friendliness about it and we’ll definitely be going back. It’s one drawback is that it opens only after 7pm, though that is when it catches the evening sun slowly falling in the west.
Our stay this year is drawing to a close, though we have managed to extend it for a few days. We will then go to England for about five days before flying to Hong Kong, where we will have a two-day stopover.
We are due to arrive in Sydney on flight CX101 at 10.55am on October 14.
Initially we will be looking for a place to stay for a couple of weeks. We shall also need use of a car for two weeks. Do you know of any possibilities? A borrowed car would be nice, but a cheap rental will do. We are confident we can find a motorhome to buy in that time.
Any advice (preferably constructive) will be welcome.

Dad

Happy the Birfday Mum.

Just a happy birthday wish to our mum. The one and only. Marina Knowles.

Love Sam & George

Saturday - Phew!

Well, I am definately back in the world of work and it is a huge culture shock. All I seem to do is eat sleep and work. I am sure it is the same for every one of you - oh yeah, except for those gallic galavanters - you know who you are!

My big news is that we have finally bought me a car. It is an eleven year old Mitsubishi Magna station wagon, in a tastefull burgundy colour. Naturally, I will post a photo asap. This will help me with getting to work as I currently walk a couple of K from Blaxland station every morning. In return for driving I will probably get a fat bum.

G is on the block again today. Picking up my car and doing all the NRMA and RTA paperwork used up some valuable weekday time for him, so I am at home doing accounts and housework today. It looks as though the hard work time will continue until the house is built. G regularly panics about money, particularly now we have made the incredibly expensive purchase of a 2nd car (nearly $4000). Of course the real cost is in the paperwork and maintenance.

Work is still very stressful. I have apparently taken over from a very gentle woman who would bend over backwards to help parents, children and therapist to do anything. This is regardless of inefficiency, personal stress, or downright illegality (ignorance being no excuse, I hear). The therapists are now stressed because I refuse to wipe their bottoms and the word "no" crops up now and again. The parents are also irked that they can't be let off payment for any little excuse or be rescheduled at the drop of a hat. I don't know how the business stayed afloat. My boss works her arse off day and night for a pittance, and everyone seems to think she should because it's her practice. Anyway, as catalyst for change, I cop it all over, but at least my boss knows what she is getting.

Enough of that. The dogs are all well and happy at the moment. We have had some cold and consequently crowded nights in our bed. Bean needs training as she doesn't move when you tell her to leave like the others do. I start rehursal for Mame next week and am trying to learn my lines.

I have to do accounts now, so love to all.

Manfi

The Knowles'

The Knowles'
HI everybody
I am just checking that this thing still works
I have been checking daily and there has not been a entry since the 31st of july , just tumbleweed been blown across the praire.
I hope that everyone is ok
Mark