15. November 2008 02:35
by Rene Pallesen
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My dad was in Sydney for our wedding and arrived on the 5th November just in time for us to also celebrate his birthday (We took him to his favourite steak house to get his favourite T-bone steak).
It was great to have him here for the wedding as it would have been empty to not have any family members from my side at the wedding. It was also really sad that my mum couldn't come.
We had just moved into the house week before so everything was still messy and there was a lot of things that needed fixing on the house. My dad was really helpful helping me out with a lot of the thing I'd never done before such as replacing tiles in the bathroom. He also changed the locks, fixed lights, painted walls, fixed doors, leaking taps etc.
It gave us something to do together which was great for bonding. I just wish he'd been there a bit longer...but maybe I can convince him to come back to help me build a pergola.
We also managed to do a bit of sightseeing around Sydney and it was great that he got a chance to meet Kims family.

The wedding was something different for him and I think that he was pretty frustrated that he didn't know what the asian customs were (not a typical Danish wedding).
He did give a really good speech at the wedding and I'm sorry to say that everything he said is true (although not everything was accurate).
23. September 2008 08:51
by Rene Pallesen
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This weekend we went up to Barrenjoey...a beautiful day. It was 31 degrees in Sydney but this time of the year the rocks here are mostly in the shade all day and there was a nice sea breeze running through the area.
We started with a couple of nice warm-ups and then moved onto one of my test pieces "Pillar of Mordor (19)". It is thin and sustained and really not very well protected so I have always back off leading it. Both Phil and I did lead it although not completely clean.
After this we did "Mescalito (19)" which is one of my favourite climbs there. Phil placed a cam in one of the breaks and it fell out and dropped down to the next bolt...fortunately he carried another cam to put in the break and eventually got up to the next bolt and through the climb.
The day was almost over and I had to go to the airport but Phil had his eyes on this climb "...Cab Sav (19)". The bottom bit of the climb is all protected by cams and the top bit is really thin and pumpy. Phil got up past the natural gear and clipped the first bolt. He then moved on and was struggling when clipping the second bolt but eventually got it. He then moved to the thirt and last bolt on the climb and as he moved up his foot caught the quickdraw and without him noticing the boltplate came off the bolt (He had clipped the botlplate upside down). He kept climbing up and got up to the third bolt, but because the previous bolt had fallen off it would have been a ground fall if he had fallen off. Phil was really struggling clipping it but we were so relieved on the ground once he did.
That was a really close one and it is the second time I've seen someone clip those types of plates wrong...bloody dangerous.
17. September 2008 02:42
by Rene Pallesen
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We have bought a house now. We have signed the contract from our part and paid the deposit and our solicitor has received the signed contract from the Vendor. The property has now finally been pulled off the market by the real estate agent (that idiot) and we are looking at moving into the new place in mid/late October (before 24th October). Now we just need to go through all the mortgage application documents which if anything like last time I applied for a home load will be a lot of bureaucracy filling out triplicates, getting copies certified by rocket scientists (whom you have known for at least 40 years and who have worked in the industry since the Apollo program).
This will be perfect as it means that Kim and I will have something to live in after the wedding (The current apartment is not really suitable and I would like Kim to feel like it is her home as well).The place is in Botany in the Eastern Suburbs and it is very close to Kim's family (about a 200 meter walk to one of her sisters and 5 minutes drive from her dad). And more importantly it is reasonably close to the city (10km) and away from the flight path of the airport.
We don't have much furniture so the place will be a bit empty in the beginning until we get the essentials. Kims sister has already donated us a dining table but we need to get items such as a bed and a washing machine immediately and then also items such as a sofa, entertainment unit etc.
It is a terrace house and has got the potential to do some really nice things to it. It is spacious on the inside and has got a small backyard that doesn't require too much maintenance. There is a bit of painting and maintenance that needs to be done immediately to the outdoor areas but nothing that cannot be managed. I am also sure that Kim would like have some painting done internally. My dad will arrive just after we have moved in so I am sure he won't get bored while here.
This Torrens title oversized terrace offers an ease of living combined
with great design features spread over three very generous levels. Be
immediately impressed by the flawless presentation and the impeccable
renovation of this striking tri-level terrace. Enjoying an elevated
position.
A handy convenient setting with ample street parking. Generous living with separate formal and casual areas. Tranquil north facing backyard and outdoor entertaining. Modern kitchen with breakfast bar stainless steel appliances. Upstairs bedrooms with built-ins, two with private balconies. Well appointed for care free modern living. Intelligently designed to maximise space and light. Dressed in fresh contemporary tones and polished floors
Automatic garage for two cars with internal access. Easy walk to local parks, schools, shops and transport
If you read the score further down in this blog, then you will know that the score now is 4 out of 5...just the wedding to complete to get 5 big events done within the same 6 months timeframe.
26. August 2008 02:03
by Rene Pallesen
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This weekend we went climbing up at Berowra (northern part of Sydney). It has been raining a lot and been very cold lately, but this day was sunny and very pleasant so no need for the down jacket and the gloved that I had brought with me.
Andy had just bought a new HD video camera and was keen to try it out and he got some really good footage og me climbing as well as Phil falling.
Click here to see video
I actually had a really bad day climbing. I think work is stressing me out at the moment and one one of the first few climbs I freaked out when I got to a section with only slopers as hand holds (if you see the video then it was at the section where Phil shouts "YES!"). I was pretty upset when it happened and I was unable to get back into the right headspace.
The rest of the afternoon I was doing top ropes but had blown my strength and self esteem.
7. August 2008 07:10
by Rene Pallesen
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Last week I was in Brisbane for some SharePoint training for the company. It was four days of intensive training but it was worth it and it was nice going up north where it is a bit warmer than here in Sydney at the moment.
I flew up there Tuesday morning leaving home at 5am to catch a 6am flight. It was the morning after my Birthday so Kim and I decided to just have a quiet evening and then celebrate some other time (Kim is going to take me to a nice restaurant).

I found a couple of good restaurants in Brisbane and one night I had Moreton Bay Bugs (Look like a giant cockroach). I also went for a walk to Kangaroo Point which is a big climbing area along the river in Brisbane. It is all lit up and actually looks like good climbing. I was surprised to find people climbing at night and also surprised to find that almost everyone was toproping rather than lead climbing (Everything is nicely bolted so there really is no excuse).
4. August 2008 05:00
by Rene Pallesen
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19. March 2004 12:24 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments
In 2004 Australia was being drawn into the war in Iraq. A lot of Australians were opposed to the war, but the politicians wouldn't listen.
On a nice sunny day several hundred thousand people gathered around Hyde park in the middle of the city to demonstrate and express their opinions against Australia entering into the war.
I was of the belief that the war was a mistake in the first place and was totally unjustified, so I was decided to join the demonstrations and at the same time see if I could take a few photos.

Click here to see more photos from:
The 2004 Anti War demonstrations/
Slideshow
27. March 2003 10:56
by Rene Pallesen
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Andy and Tink had their first baby...a little (and very hairy) girl names Mia.
This was also one of those periods where I was checking out what it would be like to have a beard.
27. March 2003 10:50
by Rene Pallesen
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My grandad passed away in 2003.
He was getting old and was getting tired of living so he decided to end it.
27. March 2003 10:47
by Rene Pallesen
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With EDI I went on a field trip to visit one of the big containerships in Botany Bay.
It was facinating to see the size of those ships.
27. March 2003 10:38
by Rene Pallesen
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I celebrated Christmas and New Year with my parents in Thailand.
We spent the time in the Northern Part of Thailand in the Golden Triangle around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
We rented a car for a couple of days and got to see a lot including all the hill tribes that still to this day live in this part of Thailand.
Click here to see more photos from:
Thailand/
Slideshow
27. March 2003 10:29
by Rene Pallesen
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In 2003 Kenneth got married to Anica. I was asked to be the best man by Kenneth.
The wedding took place at a homestead in Sofala three hours drive west of Sydney.
It was a wonderful weekend surrounded by wonderful people.

Click here to see more photos from:
Kenneths Wedding/
Slideshow
22. March 2003 12:56
by Rene Pallesen
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10. January 2003 10:53
by Rene Pallesen
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My mum and dad spent some time in Sydney over christmas and New Year.
While they were here I raught my dad how to absail.
And for Christmas I gave my parents some tickets for the Sydney Harbour bridge walk (they gave Arumi a ticket too).
1. November 2002 11:19
by Rene Pallesen
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My brother passed away in the end of 2002. He had been suffering badly from his disease for almost a decade and eventually it got the better of him.
I still miss him a lot even though we weren't close when he was alive....but I still feel him close to me to this day!
I still light a candle for him once in a while.
His two biggest wishes in life was to become a professional tennis player...he was a pretty damn good player and I never played against him because I didn't have a chance.
His second biggest wish was to get himself a girlfriend. This is one of the last photos that was taken of him.
I still blame the psychiatric system in Denmark for what happened. They were too focused on treating his disease with medication and never paid any attention on teaching him to live with his disease and provide quality in life.
I still love him very much and I really miss him. I also regret that I wasn't there more for him.
He always looked after me and he has never hurt anyone.
This is the last family photo that was taken.
I would appreciate if you click here to see some of the photos from my brothers life:
May he not be forgotten