Bushfires around Hobart

filed under tasmania events by Jochen

The fifth season in Tassy has begun, and I’m not talking about the Carneval Season like in Germany, although it’s very hot also.

The last few days we had very warm and windy weather here in Hobart, and the risk for bushfires jumped up from zero to 60% + . It was a little bit scary, when Dan came into my room and asked: “Hey, have you seen the bushfires?” and I sad “No, but I’m not in the mood to drive an hour to see one”. “No, just look out of your window!”
Well, in front of my window it a big tree, so it was hard to see anything. The only thing you could see was a small orange glowing between the leaves.
So we went up to the Horton-Media-Room, and from there you had free sight across the whole plain.
I took a few pictures. They are all at the same possition, but I played a little bit with the options of my camera. ;)

Here you can get more Information about the bushfire situation here in Tasmania.

TASSY X-MAS 2004

filed under tasmania events by Florian

It’s summer. It’s warm. Let’s have a BBQ, let’s have Christmas! Why not? We’re in Tassy! ;-)

First a biig biig thanx to Martin and Suzanne who invited us to their farm from Friday to Sunday! Your program made that x-mas unique! Now i finally know where Microsoft got the main windows desktop background from…

But from the beginning. It’s Friday and work is finished. Yeah!

Germany: Drive home, go to church, have dinner, get your presents, sing halleluja and go to bed. Germany. You know that. Well, quite interesting, yes.
Tassy: Drive to a farm with its own oyster beach, do not go to church, take a deep breath of fresh air on the beach, climb some trees, feel like in the early 80s when you were young and wild and lay a last brick before the x-mas program starts. And it starts – yes – with some dead animals on the BBQ to increase the power. Even the dog can’t await it now! On party no. 1 you first learn how to build a catamaran on your own. Nice work! Time for a glass of good red wine. On party no. 2 it was more the white wine and the sparkling wine that made the girls wild ;-) It was one of these partys where you enter the room and – wouuuzz – feel comfortable instantly. And it wasn’t only because of Gracie, Kartherine and Laura (or was it?)... ;-)

Saturday, 25th, the day after.

Germany: Get up, have breakfast. Play with your new toy truck. Have lunch. Sleep. Have tea. Have dinner. Germany. You know that. Well, quite interesting, yes.
Tassy: Get up when computer scientists are used to get up. Jump on the farmer’s truck and have a hellride to the breakfast table. Oh stop. Just before the breakfast you get your presents directly out of Santa Clause’s old socks. But now: Invade the buffet! Pull your neighbor’s firecracker (and break together due to the ~~best~~ jokes you’ve ever heard…), put on your christmas crown and start the day with a good breakfast. And hurry up ‘cause lunch at a friend’s place is already waiting! Too much stress? Well just relax a second before the turkey needs some help in the kitchen… After lunch it’s time for the presents. And here in Tassy even bloody German visitors receive something! After all that wine and food it’s time to mix it all up for a better digestion. And if you’re able to do that old David Copperfield trick you’re ready for the dinner party. Beside more bacon, salad and wine you start sophisticated discussions about the Tassy way of indicating in roundabouts while the moon shows his beautiful face. After dinner you go on an illumination sightseeing trip. Ehm a what? Yes, true, Tassie’s are a bit more enthusiastic about decorating their houses even if it may use additional 18 kilowatt hours… Crazy. Well after such a long day it’s finally time to say hello to all the computer networkers out there! ;-)

And before you can turn around, it’s almost Sunday, 26th – the day when god preferred to chill out.

Germany: See 25th (Well yeah, as a difference you’re usually a bit more sick now from all the food). Germany. You know that. Well, quite interesting, yes.
Tassy: Relax. Have a walk to the oyster beach. Play with the dog. Enjoy the nature. Reflect the great weekend.

We, Jochen, Flux, Stephan and me would like to say a big THANX to

Suzanne and Martin for your invitation and the great program!
Doreen and Rick for the catamaran party on friday!
Sue and Warwick for the highlife party on friday!
Jeannie and Rod for the great turkey lunch on saturday!
Rosemary and Graham for the dinner on saturday!
all Tassies we’ve been visiting for their great hospitality!

This christmas was definitely one of the best we’ve ever had!

merry x-mas to all of you!

filed under events by Florian

Though it’s hard to believe (currently around 20 degrees, sunny) – yeah, it’s christmas eve tonight! So we wish all the best to you guys ‘n girls in the northern hemisphere who celebrate this event in the evening of the 24th. Well, all Tassys my ignore this posting and read it tomorrow ;-)

MERRY X-MAS! Have lot’s of – safe – fun!

Flo, Flux & Jochen

a drink with the captain of the U.S. Polarstar

filed under tasmania events by Florian

Allright – sometimes it’s just funny what some contacts can bring about. Thanx to Libby from Jane Franklin Hall we were invited to a welcome party of the Australian American Association aka American Australian Association for the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter ‘Polarstar’ last wednesday who accompanies 20 scientists to Antarctica. The crew was really cool (greetz to James and Sarah!) and finally we made it having a drink with the skipper of the Polarstar, a nice guy and currently the oldest active captain in the US coastguard.

Today Paul from the Polarstar crew gave us an exclusive guided tour around the ship. It was a bit of the feeling at the submarine in the movie ‘Das Boot’ directed by Wolfgang Peterson – of course even if the Polarstar belongs to the US coast guard it has no military function at all.

So big thanx Paul for showing around!

And to the whole crew: Enjoy your trip South!
Special greetz to Sarah and James ;-) Take care.

Jochen, Flux & Florian

C-212 aircraft visit @ Hobart internat. airport

filed under tasmania events by Florian

Yesterday we had the chance to have a look at the new AAD aircraft for intracontinental operations, a ski-equipped CASA-212 (C-212). It just arrived from the manufacturer EADS CASA in Spain and will be sent South as soon as all the security and material checks are passed (hopefully they don’t find the box with Flux that we tried to smuggle inside the aircraft… If not: Have a great time South Flux! We envy you!)

All pics here…

ho ho ho!

filed under tasmania events by Florian

It’s just a normal saturday in November all over the world. All over the world? No. A small invincible community in the very south is preparing intensely for Christmas Eve. Season: Spring. Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius. Wft? *g

Induction Party at Karo's new flat

filed under fun events by Jochen

First I’ve got to apologise for taking so view pictures of the party itself, but after the fourth pic my batteries run empty and so we all have to keep all these funny pictures of the things that happend in mind! And I’m sure we will!

It all began with the creation of the little present Tobias and I made for Karo. It was really awesome and we had a lot of fun, just by putting the little pumpkins from one corner to the next and doing the fine tuning stuff.

The party was also great! I can’t remember the last time I heard “An Angle” of the Kellys four times and “nearly” everbody sang at the top of it’s voice. It might be that this sounds a little bit strange, but it was really cool! One thing I found out was that I don’t like Korn-Cola, so I have to stay with my good old friend Jim Beam. What a pity!
Anyway, it’s always the same thing. To many things happend to write them all down and for some things it’s better that they aren’t written.
So, Long story short! It was an awesome evening and for sure a night to remember!

Aurora Australis put to sea

filed under tasmania events by Florian

Whatever the Germans can do – we can as well! And we don’t have to get up at 3am but just cruise relaxt to the harbour at 5pm after work ;-) But seriously – it was a big surprise when I heard this morning that the Aurora Australis will be put to sea this afternoon – just two days after the Polarstern arrival event in Bremerhaven. The ship belongs to the AAD and is going to supply an Australian research station in Antarctica (duration: 6 weeks).

Jane weekend

filed under tasmania events by Florian

That was great weekend at Jane – in fact they called it ‘the Jane weekend’. It is celbrated every year shortly before the exams start.

Friday: Jane dinner – all you can eat, light entertainment programme, later pub tour throughout Hobart (sorry, NO pictures from that *gg)

Saturday: Jane picture – annual Jane picture with all inhabitants on it. Unfortunately I was too tired to get up at 9am…

Sunday: Jane car ralley – a great happening every year: Grab 10 people, get a car, DO NOT say you’re from Jane and join the challenge. In fact it’s not like a race but more like a ‘Schnitzeljagd’ with several waypoints with tasks to fulfill. Additionally there is a great event inthe evening where every team has to perform a small play on the stage. There is a viedo of the whole evening, but unfortunately it’s impossible to upload it – it would take me until next year…