Kevin Turns 50

Well the big day has come and gone, and a short re-cap would seem to be in order.

After a massive campaign by Abigail to have people send me e-cards, (thanks to all who sent them BTW) we set off for the days activities. We had decided to go on Puffing Billy. Our friend Barry thought this sounded like one of the charges against Michael Jackson, but I think that was Puffing Timmy. Puffing Billy is a steam train that goes through the nearby Dandenong mountain range. We had booked the dining car which provided lunch and a celebratory beverage or three. Billy turned out to be quite pleasant, chugging his way through the hills. Along the way people would line the rail line and wave to the passengers. It was a glorious day weather wise and we (Abigail, my sister Marg and I ) came away ready for our evening meal at the College Lawn pub.

The surprise of the evening was that we were joined by our friends Bill and Jenny and their baby Olivia. At dinner Abigail gave me my present which is a three day stay at a New Zealand sheep station during our visit in May. It sounds fantastic and I hope they allow me the opportunity to shear the little bleeters.

While Puffing Billy and the sheep station was more than I ever expected, or wanted I still had the most exciting present still to come.

On Monday I presented myself to the local dive shop for my equipment fitting and training for my scuba dive in the shark and stingray tank in the Melbourne Aquarium. Despite some spastic episodes during training, I was given the go ahead for the dive.

Along with 3 other novices and a dive master we went into the 7 meter deep tank populated by 5 adult sharks a dozen or so banjo sharks and a host of giant 200 kg stingrays. I could go on all day describing the half hour dive, but I will summarize by saying that there were a few up close and personal encounters with the sharks and rays, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.