57 years ago today.

On the 1st of February 1957 the Wankel rotary engine was born, so was I.
I suppose overall you could say we're both a bit of a failure.

Bicentennial.

On the 1st February 1814 the mighty volcano Mayon noted for its near perfect cone erupted killing about 2000 people, most of whom were sheltered in the church on the right of this picture which is now in a ruinous state but the iconic bell tower still stands. The location here at Cagsawa is planning a month of celebration.
Mayon is quite a sight and I loved my time there, being higher than Kosiuszko it has quite an eyeball factor for us Aussies, plus it's always steaming.
Also at this time the first of my ancestors was on his way to Australia, being Irish and somewhat a thorn to the British he was able to score a free though compulsory trip on a sailing ship. The ship was the Three Bees and it was to be its last journey, catching fire in Sydney cove a fortnight after arrival and burning to the waterline around the location where the opera house now stands.
His name was Michael O'Rourke (or Rourke since the British didn't like the usage of O') and there's a family get together planned at Wulgulmerang which is close to where our early family settled, in May. I just hope Olivia can be here by then.

Wedding anniversary.

I popped out at dawn to visit Grace for our wedding anniversary, it doesn't mean much any more but I don't want to get in trouble for forgetting.
I actually have a more important one to remember now.
BTW Jimmy has a birthday today too, pity he's become a frail old man now.

Dylan.

Our first cyclone of the season. We're on the friendly side of its track so I'm not doing any panicking about Dylan, It's just managed to gather itself together into a cat 1.

Anniversary.

Olivia has just advised me that today is also the anniversary of when we first contacted each other.
It's been a very long year for my new love and I but the internet keeps us in contact and we both long for when we can be together again, for some reason immigration just keep all spouse visa applications in a holding pattern until madness sets in, hmmm maybe that's the reason. The USA people would be able to protest that but we don't have any rules against cruel and unusual punishment.
I may have posted this pic before but this eatery was great and they have plenty of them around Philippines, pity things were so hectic on my visit that it's a pity I didn't eat like this more, I wasn't brave enough to try eating at one without my mate and guide. The prices are down to my level.

From the past.

It's dear old Grace's birthday today, but she's not here any more to enjoy it.
There was a time years ago we would travel and see places, hopefully soon I'll be doing that again while I still can.
Some people may recognise the unusual building behind Grace.

New clock.

This was reduced to $5.80 at Overflow, the price was right but I had plenty of trepidation as I find clocks can be too loud, they have a habit of ticking every second, happily this one is silent from a few millimetres distance.
Why buy? O.H will be Olivia's initials when she can finally be with me and properly become my wife, it's way too awkward for her to adopt a married name yet, and Alemania is a bit too long for Jimmy to consider.