Vi, Ant and Paul - nice to have a chat, thanks for the calls. As you all probably know I’m having a bit of a get together/brain storming/planning day at my place tomorrow so hopefully we’ll get all fired up and any decisions/plans will be passed on to those of you who have the misfortune of not residing within driving distance of Canberra.

I only moved to our nations capital four months ago, I’m a born and bred Sydney girl and that’s where my heart belongs. I moved here with the intention of taking on a PhD at ANU but have found myself doing some work for the Commonwealth Government (policy/analysis) while I chat up potential supervisors and hone my topic. In Sydney I worked at Sydney University at a Research Institute for Asian and Pacific Studies (RIAP) for 21/2 years and before that I spent 2 years bumming around the world trying to get over my honours year.

I have only spent one day in Japan. En route to Cuba last year (yes I love to dance too - salsa and merenge, we’ll leave that ballroom stuff to Ant). It rained and I walked around Shinjuku checking out all the trend setters and wishing I had stacks of yen. So, you can see I have a somewhat limited experience of matters Japanese. I have however, travelled in Asia, Europe and the Middle East and am really looking forward to the diversity on the ship - it will be such an amazing mix of ethnicity, religion and culture (bear with me, I studied anthropology)

Umm.... I drive a 1972 VW Superbug (my pride and joy), I vent frustration through kickboxing, I already mentioned the dancing bit, I love travelling, and up till now, I have never been sea sick in my life!

Anyway - down to business:

Kylie - thank you so much for your work on the tshirts! I’m not too sure on colour as I haven’t seen the logo but I think the Bonds t’shirt option is great as well as the larger sizes. Can I get back to you on details - I’ll see what the others think tomorrow too. I was also thinking of approaching the Harbour Bridge Walk guys in Sydney - it would be great if they gave us some kind of discount on a bridge walk and t’shirt (with a photo of us overlooking Sydney Harbour - great Olympics Publicity for them!). No one is scared of heights are they?