The ARH Tiger flown by Major Ben Lawler during recent exercises off the disputed island in the South China sea.

Amid growing concern about potential threats to peace in the Indo-Pacific, a Royal Australian Navy task force has completed a three-month tour of seven key regional nations.
Led by the flagship HMAS Canberra, the four ships on the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) operation visited India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia on one of the RAN’s most complex and ambitious operations in peacetime.
‘This deployment sends a very strong message throughout the region that Australia’s a very capable and committed partner, friend and ally.’
While a focus of the trip was on humanitarian and disaster relief operations, it can’t have been lost on anyone that the flagship carried four of the army’s Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters from the 1st Aviation Regiment.
The army fliers were there to take advantage of the extended time at sea to qualify for deck landings by night and day and in varied weather conditions.
Despite years of problems getting the Tigers operational, their pilots say they have matured into very capable combat aircraft. They ‘go like Greyhounds’ and they’re very well suited to the ship.
It’s telling, too, that the helicopters were flown to Malaysia on the RAAF’s giant C-17 transport planes. They were assembled there and were then flown out to HMAS Canberra.
‘With the Tigers on board, the landing ships can carry out a whole range of additional missions with greater security.’

Starting with Expresso Martini’s - to sustain us through the first part of the show - a beautiful dinner ( and more wine and cocktails ) in a quiet booth at Federici Bistro next door to theatre and not too far to travel - it allowed us all to relax and have fun and enjoy the Magic of Harry Potter

When Harry Potter was first released I was one of those parents queuing at midnight for the books hot off the press- then purchased the talking book CDs - When the movies of Harry Potter were made we would all go so it was only fitting that when the play came out we would all go as a Family. It just so happened that the partners weren’t into Harry Potter and so didn’t come.
Would I sit through it again? Yes !
The time flew by.
The music, the stage effects, the story , the set designs - so much work and it was great .
The only down side is that it is the Princess theatre and if you are tall - there is NOT a lot  of leg room and seating is very cosy !!

Foot note :
What is interesting in JK Rowling’s play is the Importance of Love and she highlights the importance of the very early years in the development of resilience and personality. Harry was a loved and wanted child and is in stark contrast with Voldemort - who was the child of a loveless union .
So LOVE 💕 makes the world a happier place .

The excitement of the wedding is over and the newlyweds Kate and Tim are back into house renovating .
Easter break saw Tim and Kate having to pull down their old fence ( finish what the heavy down pour of rain did) and erect a new fence .
Excitement was high at The Longden household - especially for 3 year old Andrew. Ruby showed some interest but couldn’t compete with Andrew. He lives for diggers, dump trucks , front loaders, backhoe loaders, concrete mixer trucks , lift trucks, bull dozers , garbage trucks etc etc etc

The photo of Andy on Damien’s lap is one of serious concentration and I think matches Damien. One wonders who was actually driving the truck. Their expressions mirror each other. Needless to say Andy had a wonderful time (1/2 hr )in the excavator  and it made his day.