December - back in Australia

AAEE Conference at Yeppoon QLD –

Hot and humid most of the days but they said it was relatively cool -
Magnificent thunderstorm on Sunday night – sheet lightning and torrential rain
Capricorn Resort owned by a Japanese family- huge – they actually own 20,000 acres so when you go horseriding or playing golf you are still on their land.
Long ocean front beach behind sandhills – first day warned not to walk on the beach – sandstorms and then told is a couple of days later not to swim – jellyfish stingers – but the pools were lovely albeit warmer water than I am used to! I did get to dip a couple of times although very busy at the conference and associated meetings.
Conference went well – wonderful meeting up with old friends – I was inducted as president – so that was a thrill, but also my sessions went well ( except for the first one when I think I had a potential tummy bug and felt so awful I could barely concentrate). My invited speaker session was well received and that was an especial thrill.
ACED meeting – I felt a load of responsibility to represent AAEE well – but Roger was there and there was a lot of support from those present – even found one chap was an ex Uni colleague from my PhD days- although I wouldn’t have recognised him except for his name.
Lots of Palm trees – many types, cane toads, very tame kangaroos and a peacock called Andrew – nice place!
Glanmire - Flew down to Brisbane and then Sydney and then on the train – weather change – couldn’t see out the windows for rain – Catherine’s place was very green with much longer grass than I have ever seen there. Rain continued heavily during the night and the creek came up so much that she had to drive Brett to work in the Ute and then couldn’t get back across the stream – after an hour or so creek was down enough to cross – although only in the ute – we couldn’t get out until the Monday morning - - still water over the ford but only a few inches by then.
Peter taught the kids to play Kuan Kan card game – and they became addicted – a great way to spend a wet weekend. Samantha was very lively – she is quick and almost non stop movement. Growing up fast – has quite a vocabulary now – including Hot and ouch!
I stayed home on Monday although Peter went in to the RSL. I watched Sam while Brett did farm things – he was building a training ring for Catherine using some huge gum tree logs he had cut and shaped from their own property. Very heavy! but the effect is good.
Tripping
Tuesday morning – we set off for Canberra – through Oberon and Goulburn. Country not quite as dry as it had been three years ago. Also a bit cooler thank goodness. I am wishing I had brought a jacket or cardigan.
Easy run through to Qeanbeyan and we found a motel – adequate – went straight up to the War memoria lmuseum for an hour and a half – saw the sound and light shows in the Anzac Hall – very effective melding of old footage and new. Really brings home the lack of desire I would have for going to war – although I know that if it was essential there is a time and place for it.
Wednesday – got back to the Museum – getting a bit lost on all the roundabouts on the way! Went to the Second world war exhibits and found a special room and display for the Sandakan memorial – photos of all those who had been identified as dying on the Sandakan death march. Uncle Lionels photo was there although he didn’t really die on the death march but was executed after a mock trial and his photo was outside on a special display of the Kuching prison camp stone with the citation given when he was given a post humous George Cross.

We put a poppy by Uncle Fred and by Uncle Lionel on the Roll of Honour.
Dinner at the RSL Memorial Bowling club – heaps of people there – they all come for a reasonably cheap meal and the raffles – they were raffling about 20 hams – although most people spent at least $10 on tickets. We didn’t win one! Expensive dinner.
Thursday morning – deaded off towards Cooma – the beginning of the Snowy mountains – saw flock of kangaroos in the paddock and lots of open paddocks with gum trees. After a morning tea at Cooma – the centre of the region – lots of shops and with a major history if one had stopped to investigate – all the immigrants shipped in to work on the Snowy River Scheme formed a colourful population for this region.
Then off south from Cooma and down towards Bombala over the Great Dividing range – great open paddocks for awhile – real sheep country and then as got closer to the Cann River lots of gum trees , in national parks ( and potentially wildlife although we saw only birds) and started to get into cattle country. Took a little “brown” road out to the coast to a place marked as Tamboon inlet – it was a long ride through thick gum trees but eventually got to the shore and found fishermen there. It is basically like a lake although it appears to have an opening to the sea. Lots of pelicans and apparently good fishing. It is all one of the national parks – saw an almost tame kookaburra.
Cloudy and wet – but drove on down through Marlo past the outlet of the Snowy River – which has built up some pretty sand hills with a very narrow entrance to the sea. Road followed real wetlands to Orbost and on to Lake Tyers entrance and then to Lakes Entrance. Same pattern with many of the river outlets – big sandbars and a very narrow entrance.
Friday
We had a quick look at the Lakes Entrance, and another town on the lakes, Paynesville, and then up to Omeo which was once an old gold mining town – now largely deserted after a major fire in 1939. The road up through the Great Dividing Range was beautiful – at first it was all stony with gum trees blackened by bush fires clinging in between the rocks. The road was very windy and climbed up and then dropped down to the rivers to nice little camping areas – the road then went through an area of major bush fires – probably about 3 years ago – the tall straight silver grey ghost gums had no foliage – must have all died after the fires – they looked quite sad and then the new regrowth had started and it was lush and bright with the tips of the new gum trees golden and red in the sunlight – quite spectacular - I couldnt capture it on film. Ended up through beef grazing country at Tallangatta and then came on past Lake Hume – the artificial lake with its dreadful dead trees all sticking up – when they flooded the land for the lake the trees just stood there – goodness knows how long they have been standing there – but they look awful.
Stopped the night at Albury – this is turning into the longest blog of all time!

Last day in USA

Well I am sitting on the floor in Los Angeles airport writing this - with a 5 hour stopover!

Hard to believe my nine and a half weeks is almost over. Been a wonderful experience.

Spent four days at Purdue University – chatting with lots of people both staff and grad students, gave a seminar – mostly to the graduate students, attended a couple of classes, worked in the office they lent me. Superbly looked after, Loretta was incredibly helpful to make my stay easy. David R showed me around campus, a campus full of tradition… and I got the opportunity to go to an Advisory Boad dinner and see the status of their alumni! Real powerhouses of industry! Amazing campus and so well supported by their alumni.
Took an airport coach across the plains to Chicago – all cornfields – mostly stubble at this time, with lots of people with homes decorated for Halloween – they take this festival very seriously round here – people even came in to the uni dressed up!

Flight to Detroit on time! I cant believe my luck – I am not experiencing any problems with UA. Karen and husband Tom met me and off to a Turkish restaurant – lovely fresh food – Detroit an interesting city – I didn’t realise the depth of their economic despair – lots of unoccupied buildings with graffiti and empty lots where buildings torn down even in the center of the city.
Spent about 5 hours talking about my work and Karen’s – really valuable – then we went for a brief drive – didn’t realise Canada was the width of the river away- just over a bridge! to Windsor, CA. T and K live in a “Bauhaus” style townhouse in an enclave that is really pretty and close to the city. Went to the Hubbard Street Dance grou pin the old Detroit Opera Theater on Sat night – really neat! Had a brief stop at the Detroit art museum to see the Rivera murals – reflecting Detroit history in the motor industry. Apparently Henry Ford was not a good employer – if people were striking he just brought in labour from some part of the world where they needed jobs – accounts for the very wide range of ethnicities in Detroit.
Then off to Seattle. – again uneventful flights. Stayed at Silver Cloud Inn, nice hotel next to University Village shopping center which has gone very upmarket compared to 16 years ago. Beautiful campus with magnificent old buildings, lots of trees still with autumn colours- and dominated by views of Mt Rainier ( on a clear day) and the Huskies stadium by the lake.

Kaya and I spent election day morning at Pike Place Market and went out for dinner that evening to Ivar’s Salmon house – which is built and decorated by Native American influences. Election raised amazement everywhere – no one could believe it had been accomplished seemingly without incident and with a clear majority. I like Obama – his style, sincerity, eloquence and focus on unity. I do hope he can stand up to the expectations being placed upon him. Emotions running very high around the university.
Got my second paper in to JEE and it is under review. After hearing that many of the people I admire did not get their papers accepted I am not going to hold my breath!
After meeting with some really competent insightful researchers I alternate between inspiration and frustration that I don’t have a mandate to develop stuff back home – but I will hopefully return back to my optimism and plan what I can do, and do a report with recommendations that will reflect all I have learned on this trip.

Somewhat sad and definitely a feeling of physical exhaustion on this my last day in USA. My visa expires today so I need to go!

But what a wonderful experience and the year is not yet over!

Conference and on to Purdue

Well Saratoga Springs conference went well although I got a very stuffy head and sore throat - too much air conditioning and changes of temperature methinks. Nice town, lots of trees and statues of horses everywhere. The Conference reception was held at the Saratoga Racing museum - very famous racetrack and lots of historical info - but I dont know much about racehorses.

Met some really neat people, networked like crazy and heard some interesting talks - particularly a group trying to define a Philosophy of Engineering education!

Left there on Sunday and took a shuttle bus to Albany airport, a flight to Chicago ( it left early!!) then a flight to Indianopolis, then another shuttle bus to West Lafayette, got picked up by the hotel shuttle and then picked up from hotel by a lovely couple from Purdue Uni who took me home for a Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding dinner! Dont know but I felt great!

Temperature is just above freezing - very windy. This is a real university town - big prestigious uni with a long tradition - very proud of the fact that they have had about 12 astronauts through the engineering school including Neil Armstrong, Roger Chaffey, Gus Grissom and ..... Their football team is called the Boilermakers - something to do with the beginnings of the town and making boilers for steam locomotives I think!

Everybody making me most welcome - photos in next episode.

I have quite mixed feelings as my time in the USA is running out - be nice to be home, and I am so glad all is well with Peter and Louie, but wish I could have more time to assimilate all that I am learning - spend most of my spare time on the computer trying to summarise or prepare for the next event.

More later

Canada

After leaving Washington I stayed with Ann and Carla in Ann’s very centrally located wee house in Toronto for a couple of days– always feel so welcome there. Lovely old house filled with artworks and memories of Ann’s travels – three storeys and a cellar.
Had lunch with Marta who is a Civil engineer I met last time I was in Toronto – she is heavily involved with Ontario professional engineers, especially the Women in Engineering Community.
Travelled down to Cornwall on Sunday afternoon – after a leisurely morning – before we left went for a walk to a lovely park up the road, beautiful trees, did a little bit of gardening and just generally chatted and caught up on lots of news. Beautiful drive down – all the trees looking a picture – lovely day, past the “Thousand Islands” – beautiful area with cottages close to the water, and arrived at Carlas house – another lovely house – three storey ( + basement). Lots of houses with Hallowe’en scarecrows and pumpkins.
Monday – just took it easy doing some reading, and long talks with Ann about her work for women inengineering and an International Task force on Women in ICT, then had lunch in town with Carla and Stacey. Ann and I did a test run over the US border to make sure they would let us through tomorrow ( Ann had forgotten her passport) – all OK, so home and I made apple crumble!
Another pleasant evening… getting colder – temperature down to 10 deg C – quite a change from Washington.
Tuesday
Left Cornwall about 9 am and went over the high bridge to the USA on a drizzly morning- – through Mohawk territory and then into northern NY state. Drizzly and wet but still a beautiful drive through Chateaugay and Mooers ( yes that is its name), to Rouses Point where I was to get the train – unbelievably decrepit looking station – but all organised even with a US Customs and Border protection site.
Train ran alongside the lake Champlain - beautiful train trip into the Adirondacks– all the trees were glowing yellow through to red – if it had been a sunny day would have looked as if the trees were on fire, but even in the drizzle bright and inviting…cottages perched alongside the lake – ground paved with leaves – I like riding on the Amtrak – have a fold down table, even a power plug although mine is not working. Not a very speedy train but time to see the lakeside scenery -
Arrived at Saratoga Springs – and nice hotel – conference tomorrow!

One more day in Washington DC

Well one more day in Washington DC and then I am off.

Worked quietly away last week - got a bit depressed with my progress, but kept plugging away - the paper has grown to 15,000 words which takes a bit of sorting.

Then had a lovely day on Saturday with Kitty who works part time in our Center. I took the train to the stop nearest to her home in Virginia and then we had a day driving down into the Horse country of Virginia - autumn ( fall ) colours, big open green paddocks - they mow them, not a sheep in sight, and houses that look like they came out of Gone with the Wind. Civil war sites like the one on the left which was the site of a famous battle. Lots of places selling big orange pumpkins for Hallowe'en which is taken very seriously here.

The building with the pillars is a butchers shop in the "village" of Middleburg, VA!

Lovely hot day - in pleasant company - and on Sunday I tried to do a bit of sightseeing but really I am Washington'd out. So happy to come back to my little apartment and carry on writing and preparing stuff.

Monday was a workshop looking at Promising teaching and Learning Practices in Science and Engineering Education ( at universities). Quite interesting and got into a good conversation with a woman who is interested in the work Jonny and I have been doing. We took ourselves out to dinner on my birthday, so I wasn't alone.

Been plugging away at the writing this week. N. said second paper was almost there so I was quite cheered up - hard to work entirely alone ( for me ). Took some photos of the beautiful trees on the Mall outside our building, then some of the National Academies building, and the chap who is the Director of the Center here - he does a really good job, faciliating an enormous amount of research, conferences, and "empowering" of people like me.

So on Friday I am off to Canada for three days to stay with a couple of friends I have visited before and then to a conference in upper New York state.

Over half way now - home in three and a half weeks.

Another week hard at work (or trying!)

Was a pretty quiet week last week – worked every day and evening – got a bit bogged down but I’m working on it!
Still a very warm and sunny, and the trees on the Mall are just beginning to change colour. There are some pretty streets right near where I am staying in Foggy Bottom which are classified as heritage areas.

The TV is non stop politics here – or American football ( and I can’t work out the rules – very stop start sort of game), or else you find a channel which plays non stop episodes of Law and Order, Charmed or Closer! So don’t watch TV much – good incentive to keep writing.

I decided to work at least some of the weekend, as my time is running out, but I did find a post office, got my photo taken with (cardboard cutouts of) Barack Obama and John Mc Cain – and enjoyed the subshine.

Although I think Barack Obama is ahead, anything could happen. The “hockey mom” Sarah Palin who is John McCain’s running mate is getting a lot of attention – whilst I admire her spunk, I am wary of letting someone like that “a heartbeat away” from running the most powerful country in the world. She is convinced she has a God given mandate ...

Not sure how the election campaign back home is going, I hope it isn’t as dirty as this campaign.

Went to a free Duke Ellington Jazz festival outdoors on the mall on Saturday – very hot so I only watched for a couple of hours, great music especially a grouof about 40 7-12 year olds from Kentucky who played percussion jazz on xylophones, drums and other percussion instruments. They were great – the Louisville Leopards – and awfully cute as well. Walked around a bit, it seemed that the Mall was full of tourists, and locals enjoying the sunshine. The locals were playing Ultimate Frisbee, some sort of Handball game, baseball and soccer – in social teams on all the available grass on the Mall. Quite fun for people-watching. Sunday I went to a free film festival at the National Geographic Society which was quietly relaxing.

Back at work this week, my time is running out here in Washington, and once I leave here I will be meeting and talking with lots of people so working hard now is good. Ooh, writing is sometimes like drawing out teeth - painful!

Off to the Blue Ridge Mountains

Well, another b usy week - I was preparing a powerpoint to give at Virginia Tech where I had been asked to go and give a seminar to their graduate students. Quite challenging as it was being real time videoed to three other universities and questions could come from any of them! The building where I work in Washington is the National Academies of Science and has a huge statue of Einstein outside - apparently it is traditional to get one's photo taken in the arms of Einstein - so here I am.

Thursday night I went down on quite a small plane to Roanoke which is the nearest airport to Blacksburg where Virginia Tech is located. Roanoke is in the New River Valley which is just by the Blue Ridge Mountains - which I have read many stories about - people making moonshine whisky, and in one set of stories apparently full of Scottish immigrants from long ago.

Very beautiful country although didn't get a very good view as we flew in as there was drizzly grey rain. But green and lots of trees - starting to change colour with the autumn. I was picked up by a lovely person from the Engineering Education Dept and we drove to Blacksburg where I had been booked in at the "Inn at Virginia Tech" - an onsite hotel.

Virginia tech is the site of a particularly awful massacre of students and one engineering faculty member a couple of years ago. It was not mentioned but there is a memorial with "We will prevail" on a stone. Apparently alumni of VT have put up scholarships in the names of each of the victims.

Virginia tech is the main reason for the small town of Blacksburg and since it has been there since 1872 - you can imagine how much tradition there is - they have "Hokie" memorabilia everywhere - and at least half of the students around are wearing T shirts or sweatshirts i nthe distinctive maroon and bright orange. They have special T shirts for games when the football team plays away and a different colour when the team plays home - they have Tshirts, mugs with "Hokie" Dad ."Hokie" baby - and a Hokie is apparently a turkey so they have noisemakers that sound like turkeys gobbling!

The buildings are all made, even the new ones, of the special "Hokie" stone which is quarried nearby, so it all looks old, even the new buildings. - Beautiful grounds - leaves just changing colour - huge drill field and in their military tradition they have military cadets (they all attend classes in white pants and blue jackets with white braid - and the male cadets all shaved heads
My photos all look a bit grey, grey stone buildings and drizzly grey skies but I am going to get a postcard scanned - with lovely views taken in sunshine and add to my collection.

I had a very full schedule with meeting over breakfast then three more then another meeting over lunch then interviewed and then my seminar! Nice welcoming people - think it went well. They asked questions and good practice for me!

They get huge amounts in grant money to do research - often on things we just take for granted. But great networking opportunity.

Very interesting - a place I would love to come back to - didnt really get a chance to get the full flavour of the area or the university. I spent Saturday morning walking up the main street, didnt take long, I even saw a poster advertising a "Gathering of the Clans" up in the mountains... reminded me of Diana Gabaldon's books.

Then a fairly uneventful trip back - time consuming ( only a 26 minute flight but left Blacksburg at 12.50pm and back to my apartment at 5:30 pm)!

Staying in Washington for the next two and a half weeks - need to keep writing - before my time runs out!

Back from New York!

Well, last week was hectic - I worked flat out to rewrite the paper I thought I had done the week before - aiming for a higher rated Journal with encouragement from the director of the Center - I was a real engineer - long hours to a deadline- even pulled an all nighter to get it done before I headed off to New York.

Helped U of A at a Post graduate fair in Washington on Thursday afternoon - then on Friday headed to New York to help them again at the New York fair.

Little bit excited - beautiful weather - after arriving in the late afternoon I walked until my legs dropped off - our hotel was right in the middle of everything - ( dont ask the price! glad I wasnt paying) - close to Central park - horsedrawn carriages - it is a beautiful park - and quite huge....

do you recognise the bridge in the photo on left - I am sure it has been in countless movies.

Then walked down to Times Square - Friday afternoon, lots! of traffic, yellow taxis everywhere, bumper to bumper - and not as polite as Washington traffic.

Skyscrapers everywhere - although I had seen some in Chicago - the way they line up here - like canyons is quite amazing - get dizzy looking up.

Saturday morning - I sat on a double decker Hop On-Hop Off tourist bus and just rode around - worked like crazy at the fair in the afternoon, and had a meal at a lovely Greek restaurant with the U of A team. They wanted to go to bed early as jet lagged, so no Broadway show - next time!Then Sunday morning, I took a lovely little boat trip - 90 minutes of NY skyline and historical commentary - got to see the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and yes it was lovely!

Sunday afternoon, picked up by Jane D. who I had first met in 1991 in Melbourne and then again in 1992 when I visited Purdue. She is now based in Washington - we had a lovely afternoon driving around Manhattan island - getting a bit stuck in traffic - lunch over on the New Jersey side and then after a bit of a fright when we missed the correct off ramp - did arrive in time for my flight.

Safely back in my little apartment - and now working like crazy again to get a presentation ready for the seminar I am giving at Virginia Tech on Friday and getting started on the next paper.

I miss home, but getting to talk to Peter on Skype every couple of days, and occasionally ring other people up - I love technology!!

Love to all

13 September - update

Finished my first week at CASEE - got a first draft of one paper away to my ex PhD supervisor and working on the next one - did lots of reading and chasing up new literature - very quiet in the office and it is the most magnificent old building - marble pillars, magnificent artwork and artefacts all based around science - photos later. They have a magnificent cafeteria - even cooked breakfast ( apparently some people start work before 7am).

On Wednesday night after I got that draft away I went to a free concert at the Kennedy Center - it was the "Don Roy Trio" consisting of Don Roy on fiddle ( from Maine ) and his wife on piano and tapping simultaneously on a wooden box, and a chap on bass. Their music was described as Franco-American " blending sounds of Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimeprovinces" real foot tapping fiddling, and Cindy Roy also did "Step dancing" which was reminiscent of Irish dancing . Lovely way to end a day - and free shuttles both ways so didnt have to walk.

Havent been eating out - there are plenty of eateries but I am usually a bit tired and happy just to flop. I am a little unsure about going out at night on my own. Next week perhaps.

Saturday
I decided that today was for me - and the Kennedy Center had an Open day with all free concerts all day - wonderful!!! Blazingly hot for the outdoor acts but I went to a range of short concerts including "Hungry Marching Band from Brooklyn NY", Step Dancing teams ( all seemed to be African Americans from sorority or fraternity groups at unviersities) - seemed to be a cross beween tap dancing and Samoan slap dancing..., Nevada Ballet - dancing work by Balanchine ( beautiful! ), Oklahoma Stomp (band/orchestra composed of fiddles,guitars, drums and singers - seemed to be mostly young boys/men), then the Richmond Boys Choir from West Virginia, Washington National and then a Cuban Salsa group - really foot stomping, everyoney was getting up and joining in the dancing, and then finally an outdoor concert by Lila Downs a Mexican who was very talented. There was going to be dancing outdoors with "GoGo artists" until 11 pm although I knew I couldnt stay. I watched all the people could afford to go to first night of Washington National Opera La Traviata ( in their beautiful clothes) - and then I walked back to my place.

Incredible variety of people taking the opportunity to be there - lots of families, lots of good will, people very willing to clap and cheer and get up and dance - lovely experience.

Very hot - the Hurricane did hit down in Texas but we didnt get the rain like we did last weekend.

Day 1 at the office

Well I had the first day in the office today – the National Academies building is huge and houses the National Academy of Science Museum, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. It is right on Constitution avenue – and if my desk faced the other way I would see the tree tops of the parklands that run from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol. I picked up my security clearance, arrived to find I had a separate office with computer, phone, new stationery, and a very quietly efficient welcome.
I had walked the mile to the office from my apartment this morning in 81deg F and was pleased to discover that there is a dedicated shuttle which does about 10 trips a day from the Metro right near my apartment to our building and to the other main building – so I got to ride almost all the way home – great when carrying laptops and paperwork. The building has a superb cafeteria – even has cooked breakfast – apparently some people start work VERY early – the most popular shuttle is the 7 am one and the chap who runs the Center starts at 6 am and leaves at 4pm. Other people work through until 7pm to miss the traffic.
My apartment is one bedroom has a kitchen, bathroom, walk in wardrobe, king size bed and a fold down sofa bed ( very tired and sinks in the middle!). It is in a very secure building with a 24hr concierge and with the late summer evenings I am not likely to be out after dark very often. There is a “Trader Joe’s” store around the corner only 100m away and with the George Washington University so close, it is clearly a university district so there is a variety of reasonably priced food. Most of the streets are tree lined and I have worked out the numbering system, of the streets, so it is not easy to get lost. I did get lost in the building trying to find the way out tonight when everyone else in my office had gone home…it is like a labyrinth.
Annette – my new pyjamas are great but can’t wear the new suit yet – it is way too hot. Catherine – my nails are holding out and I have found a couple of places to go at the weekend if I need to get a touch up.
I walked and walked over the weekend whenever it was fine – although my legs are tired, I am pacing myself – I went along to Georgetown yesterday afternoon and stood on the riverside and watched everything from rowing skiffs, canoes, luxury runabouts to sightseeing ferries… and Oh, don’t Americans like their little dogs – saw a real Paris Hilton imitation and another lady with a parrot on her shoulder. Browsed in some lovely “old” bookshops and generally feel overwhelmingly privileged to be here.

Thank you to all who have made this possible and thank you especially to Peter for faith and trust and making it possible for me to come with an easy heart.

Love to all

% September Washington

Well the two day workshop is over - some very interesting people although didn't really find it as productive as I hope consdiering howmuch expense and work had gone in to organising it. But good networking opportunities so all good.

This is me in front of the Lincoln memorial looking up the pool to the Washington monument.

Came back to my apartment - seems like home already and I havent slept here yet! An aussie colleague from the workshop is staying over for two days and we went out in the afternoon sightseeing to all the famous monuments while the weather is good. Forecast is for the side of Hurrican Hannah to hit us tomorrow with lots of rain. We went round the outside of the white House ( see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBDovpOn4zM for a very short video of me ) and then walked to Washington monument, Lincoln Monument, Vietnam Memorial wall, Korean Memorial wall, ( See picture with statues) Roosevelt Memorial, and Jefferson memorial - they sure like memorials. Se e photos.

Jefferson MemorialLots of squirrels everywhere - they sure get fed well by tourists so they are plentiful and the cutest rodents i have seen in a long while.

Also established a bank account without a social security number - which was quite an achievement! Just need some money to put in it.

we ended up in the rain in Bertuccis an Italian restaurant close to apartment. Walked for five hours so I am pooped - tomorrow go doing the Museums and then on Sunday I will sort out my work and start at the NAtional Academy of Engineering on Monday.

Arrived in Washington

3September

Safely in Washington after comfortable flights. The gods smiled and no flights were delayed and I got 3 seats to myself on the 12 hour leg from Auckland to Los Angeles, so I got some sleep and not feeling too bad at all. Arrived in Washington early morning this morning and the Super shuttle dropped 5 others off before me so I got quite a little tour in the beauiful sunny morning. Very warm.

After settling in to my apartment which is one bedroom and not a studio, very spacious although the furnishings look a bit tired, and have a shop "market" next door and leafy avenues all around. Right near the Gearge Washington University medical Centre in Foggy Bottom. After unpacking and bit of a rest, got the metro out to Arlington to the William Seidman Center where we are having the workshop - need to wear security clearance at all times but each person attending a course there gets a lovely room, kingsize bed and own kitchenette as well as internet access and good desk. It might make me look like a real amateur but here is my room at the William Seidman Centre!

So now off to find the other people at the workshop.

Sabbatical Part 3 - USA - Heading off

Well after a very relaxing month with grandchildren, completing my first patchwork quilt, one conference paper and writing bits and reflecting on previous research I returned home four days ago for a flying visit. I really enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with the family, lngest I have ever been there and will always remember my visit. Returned with mind, spirit and body refreshed. Peter had done well in my absence and he and Louie were looking good.

I head off this evening for Washington DC where I will check in to my studio apartment in Foggy Bottom, and then spend two days at a NAtional Science Foundation workshop on "Cyberinfrastructure and Engineering Education". Invitees only, so I am privileged and excited.

Will keep in touch regularly with photos and snippets of my travels.
Love to all.

NSW continued

After a quick trip up to Brisbane ( temperatures were 10 degrees higher!) for a meeting, and visit to UQ ( a beautiful campus with lakes and beside the Brisbane river) back to the raucous cockatoos. A quickshot of grandaughter with Flora Macdonald the teddy ( with thanks to Flora Macdonald - descendant of the original Flora- who made it for her!) and the sight that met us early this morning!

My turn to babysit tomorrow - so I will get to read the Pesky puppy story about 10 more times!!

Sabbatical Pt 2 rural NSW

Well I am now in rural NSW just out of Bathurst - really cold, even light snow this morning - getting some work done in between enjoying 3 grandchildren. Very quiet except for raucous cockatoos, galahs and magpies.

Littlest grandaughter is a delight and the boys are growing fast - their soccer skills are improving - they can now outrun me by far.