Griffith Shukan News

Thursday, November 29th 2007

CONTENTS:

1.     Dojo Closures Over Christmas Break

2.      News From Gabbi Sensei

3.     Griffith Aikido Christmas Party – worth another read

1.     Dojo Closures Over Christmas Break

Below please find the closure and restarting times during the Christmas holidays for the following dojos:

NATHAN

Last training day:    Saturday 15th December 2007

First class back:      Tuesday 8th January 2008

LOGAN

Last training day:    Monday  10th December 2007

First class back:      Monday  28th January 2008

CAPALABA

Last training day:    Thursday: 13th December 2007

First class back:      Wednesday 23rd January 2008

PCVC-EVERTON PARK

Last training day:    Saturday 22nd December 2007

First class back:      Wednesday 2nd January 2008

Jutta

2.     News From Gabbi Sensei

Well...I'm a wee bit behind in my group emails, hmmm. I think the last one was about 2 months ago when I was still in Peru, and to be honest, I would rather eat a llama fetis cooked by a Bolivian chef and pay for it in Uruguay than write about everything I've seen and done since then. But as today is our last day in south America, I thought I better write a summary or something or give it up altogether.

We're back in Buenos Aires and feeling at home in the land of steak and wine. My favourite restaurant is a vegetarian buffet place and, ironically, I can't get enough but Paul is sick of it already.

You'll be glad to hear that Paul and I have been keeping ourselves busy - Paul has been glueing plastic farm animals in public places all over South America. We were chased by Godzilla and got down with the Power Rangers in the Salt Flats of Bolivia. We competed to get the best mullet photo ("Mullets of Mendoza") in Argentina. I visited Chez Guevara's house and saw the bike he rode South America on. We met a Norwegian guy who looks exactly like Frodo Baggins, seperately, in two different cities. I didn´t get my shoes shined by the scary balaclava-wearing shoe-shine men of La Paz (Bolivia) but I gave one 2 bolivianos to leave me alone. Paul found a copy of "Ice on Ice", Vanilla Ice's autobiography (gold!) in a tiny bookshop in Uruguay. We had an aiki reunion with Julian Sensei from Buenos Aires, Bueno Sensei from Brasil at Vic's place (former aiki student of Andrew Sunter) in Mendoza. I hired a car for the day in the north of Argentina with two crazy Irish guys, almost trashed the car, managed not to really see anything in just under 1000km´s and had to revisit it all later. We rode mountain bikes down the Worlds Most Dangerous Road. We carved a pumpkin for the hostel halloween party...and then went to bed and missed the party totally. We survived the food in Bolivia, the tourist-vultures in Peru, managed to find some affordable food in Uruguay and...well I just can't think of anything bad to say about Argentina.

There's a feel of European sophistication over here, even in the poorer countries like Bolivia. Even in the cheaper restaurants you'll be served water in a wine glass. Sparkling water and biscuits are free with a coffee in Argentina. Shops usually won't open until lunchtime, close for a few hours in the afternoon and open again until around 10. People eat at 11 at night and the clubs don't start up until 2am. Nice.

We're off to Amsterdam tonight for a few days then to South East Asia. My money's not going to last longer than Christmas but I'm staying until Feb anyway. Bring on the culture shock and Thai food.

Please write!

Gab xx

3.     Griffith Aikido Christmas Party

You are all invited to the Griffith Aikido Christmas parties on Saturday 1^st December.  The Aikikids Christmas party will be followed by the adult members’ party after their respective Saturday morning gradings.  Both parties will be held in the old School Age Care building (N49), a very short walk from the dojo.  It is the first building on the left as you drive in on Recreation Rd. – located up behind the Child Care Admin building, on the walking path.  The kids will go down there with their parents after their grading finishes and have their Xmas party from around 10.30 am until 12.30 / 1pm.  Everything will be supplied for the kids’ party.

The adult members will follow the kids and have their Xmas party at the completion of the adult gradings from about 1pm to late afternoon.   For the adults’ party the club will supply meat & sausages.  The rest is BYO.  Everyone should bring a plate / salad / specialty dish / desert / fruit. And please bring own drinks.  Aikikids and their parents are welcome to stay through the afternoon but please bring a plate.

Griffith Aikido Newsletter Editor

Shirin Mohebbi

Email:  shirin(AT)internode.on.net