The tale end of 2007... some of the bits we missed

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL!

We're almost halfway through January now so I thought it was high time I wrote a bit more on here, so you can stop complaining about the lack of new news!!! ;)

An awful lot has happened since we last blogged properly so there's going to be a bit of a gap on the updates...

Some things (in a nutshell) that we've omitted to tell you about on here until now:

1) Adam's trip to Ireland to speak at the World Dairy Summit in Dublin. He was also able to spend a few days with his friend and mentor Dr Peter Parodi who we both enjoyed spending time with in Australia back in 2005. Peter received the International Dairy Federation Award for Lifetime Achievement (see pic below). Congratulations again Peter!

Left: Jim Begg (IDF President) Right: Peter Parodi

2) Amongst lots of travel and other work stuff Adam was flat out teaching his new course at the University: Advanced Animal Nutrition, Metabolism and Physiology. Thank goodness that's over for the time being! Now it's just the continuing string of grant deadlines, research and paper submissions etc etc...

3) Moving and settling in to our new house has been a slow but happy (mostly!) process. So many blank walls and so much space to fill... we're getting there tho. Just waiting for the last of the window coverings to be made and installed and I think that's about it for general house stuff. Mind it won't be long before we're going head long into other developments and preparations for the summer (more on that later, tho most of you will know exactly what we're talking about).

Anyway, here are some pics of the house when we moved in:

Booska Movers (or wreckers, depending on your POV... we won't be using them again)

Cheryl, just back from phase 1 of her and Simon's mammoth world kayaking adventure, and first visitor to the house! Thanks again for the help unpacking the kitchen stuff Cheryl! xx

It wasn't long before Safi found the fire...

Our first BBQ in the back garden - Adam deftly mounts the lamb joint on the rotisserie...

Mmm- it was pretty good!

4) Next visitor to the house was the delightful Ju/Julie/Jules! No pics sorry. We really enjoyed seeing her again, even it was only for a couple of nights between various work commitments Stateside. Ju- it was so good to see you, but seems an age ago. Come again soon, and bring Brendan with you! :)

Our third visitor was somewhat uninvited and only stayed long enough to have his pic taken...

5) Earlier in the year Adam had nominated Dale Bauman (friend, ex-boss and mentor) for the UVM President's Distinguished Lecturer. This was duly awarded and Adam spent a lot of time planning his visit and seminars which took place in October. Here are some pictures of the final industry presentation that Dale gave.

Dr Rachel Johnson (Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)

David Lane (Deputy Secretary for Agriculture in Vermont)

Adam after his introductions presents Marcia with some flowers for all her admin help

Dale giving his seminar

Marie and Dale when they called in to see us before going back to Ithaca

6) Some more house pics as things got gradually more homely here (that's 'homey' to any US readers!).

The hallway

Downstairs loo

The orifice!

Living room and dining area...

... and from the other way round (ignore the laundry!)

Living room into kitchen

Downstairs from upstairs

Our bedroom

and the en-suite




Guest bedroom (well, the one that's finished... it even has window shades too now!)

Upstairs landing (ignore the laundry again!)

Guest bathroom

And well, I guess that's it for now... even bigger news coming up in the next post.