Just another day in the office

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

The Tiger Shark is one of the largest sharks. Mature sharks average 3.25 to 4.25m and weigh 385 to 635kg. It is found in many of the tropical and temperate regions of the world's oceans, and is especially common around islands in the central Pacific. This shark is a solitary hunter, usually hunting at night. Its name is derived from the dark stripes down its body, which fade as the shark matures.
The tiger shark is a dangerous predator, known for eating a wide range of items. Its usual diet consists of fish, seals, smaller sharks, birds, squid and turtles. It has sometimes been found with detritus such as licence plates or pieces of old tires in its digestive trackt. It is notorious for attacks on swimmers, divers and surfers in Hawaii; and is often referred to as the "bane of Hawaiian surfers" and "the wastebasket of the sea".
The tiger shark is second only to the great white in number of recorded human fatalities and is considered, along with the great white, bull shark and the oceanic whitetip shark to be one of the sharks most dangerous to humans. Generally, tiger sharks are sluggish, but they can move quickly when feeding, and should be treated carefully on the rare occasions they are sighted. If you see one while diving, calmly leave the water, keeping it in sight at all times.

It was few weeks ago when this 3.2m male Tiger Shark was caught in the net, died and brought to the Fisheries Research Centre (where I happen to work:) for collection of data for research. I have never seen a tiger shark so close before (thank God!) it was awesome feeling to be able to touch it but I really hope I will never get an opportunity again as this monster is one of the top 3 most dangerous sharks in the world!!!

Royal visitors in Sydney

Cruise liner Queen Mary 2 madness hit Sydney last Tuesday. It was Australia's turn for cruise ship-induced madness as the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 joined each other in the city. A crowd, according to local papers, at more than 200,000 people lined the shores of the harbour to see the historic meeting of the famed ocean liners, the first time since World War II that two Cunard Queens have visited Sydney simultaneously. The celebration, which included fireworks over the harbour, caused widespread gridlock and was front page news in Sydney papers. Luckily the traffic didnt affect us as we caught a train from Rockdale. Clever ;)

At 23 storeys high (and151,400-tonne), the QM2 took possession of Sydney Harbour. Too tall to sail under the bridge, too long to berth at Circular Quay, it made the Opera House look like the outhouse.

walk by the river

Sunday was a lovely sunny day so we decided to go for a walk by the river. We live about 500 meters from the river "Erdre" which is according to François the first "France's most beautiful river". I will not disapprove!!

Anne-Sophie, Stéphane and Oskar arrived at home around 4.30 pm, we had a coffee while waiting for Jérôme, Elodie and little Florian then around 5pm headed for the track. Lucky days are starting to last longer because with the kids nap it was not possible to go earlier.

The weather was beautiful, temperature very mild for the season and the light magnificient!! We walked for 1 hour and half by the river, admiring the castle of "La Gacherie".

And this last picture has nothing to do with our walk but I just wanted to add it!! Of course you would have recognised Lény and Oskar: the 2 cousins. Lény is very interested in Oskar however Oskar not so happy not to get all the attention anymore ;-)

clean-up Rockdale project

It's time to clean up. We decided to combine our forces and tackle 1 Tyrrell St Rockdale. It's painfully slow process due to Carmela's strong resistance but it's got to be done. One little baby step at the time, said Phil.
we started with garage

second fase of the project was Carmela's bedroom. this is what it looked like before




and after
we painted the room creamy colour with a purple feature wall. floor boards were polished in the bedroom as well as in the entrance and hall-way corridor. it looks good.



this is all we've done so far. third fase of the project is yet to be decided upon. i recommend other two bedrooms but it's up to Carmela of course... i'll keep you posted ;)

Australia Day 26.Jan 2007

G'day man and women of Australia or

Hellou possums! as Dame Edna Everage would say.

Happy Australia Day!!!

Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi!!!! Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda... and

Australians let us all rejoice for we are yound and free... and so on...

I wish you were here to celebrate it with us, Sev! We had great time. Phil, Jacob and I went to Darling Harbour to see the fireworks and enjoy the atmosphere. Crikey it was awesome! Fair dinkum! :) do I sound like a true blue Aussie?

03/02/07: Happy Wedding Anniversary Phil and Poliina !

Finish your food!

A couple of weeks ago I went to Rome for a meeting. Of course we did what we had to do and decided to have dinner one night in a nice Italian restaurant and have a pizza. I was telling my friends about my "australian family" (yes thats you guys!) and the fact that you were originally from Italy and always overfed me (well mum did), making sure I took more food and finished it all (;-) you know I'm not exagerating!).

At the end of the meal the waiter came to take the plates. I was the only one with some pizza left in my plate. The waiter looked at me and said : You didn't finish the pizza!

Me (in a very nice and polite tone): That was delicious, such a nice pizza, but I had so much to eat I really am full and can't finish it.

The waiter: You finish your pizza, I'll come back when you're done

????? I was speachless, no waiter has ever done that to me!! They don't usually force you to finish your food!

The waiter came back: You still haven't finished your pizza

Me: I know and I won't....

The waiter left again without my plate!!!

Bless the waiter! Bless Carmela! Bless Italians!

Best wishes from France to Australia