tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105672582024-03-09T09:27:53.521+11:00Big Adventure Down UnderThis is our personal diary since our arrival in Sydney. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy living here!! Post us your comments! :o)LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-69656305736622377632009-05-22T15:16:00.000+10:002009-05-24T15:35:49.604+10:00Citizenship TestAfter spending a week of swotting and taking various practice tests on line, we both took the test today. After the usual waiting period which seems to be the norm in these government offices, we filled out the appropriate details which allowed us to proceed to the testing room.<br /><br />100% !!<br /><br />Yep, 20 questions later (literally), and the results were in. Full score for both of us.<br /><br />So we've now put our applications in and paid our dues. I think it's now a case of sitting and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.<br />I imagine a government office like the one from the film Brazil, with an intray full of thousands of applications, and then 6 months later someone looks at the form and rubber stamps it.<br /><br />So if all goes well, we'll be attending a civil ceremony where we swear allegiance to BBQs, Aussie rules and being able to swear like a trouper.<br /><br />Bloody Oath!!LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-40502400283805995582008-11-17T22:27:00.010+11:002008-11-17T23:03:01.879+11:00AEAF AwardsOne of my recent projects has won an award! Cool.<br />It's nice to know that all the hard work on this amazing project has been recognised by the Australian Effects and Animation Festival. We won game trailer of the year for the Dawn of War II Cinematic which was a 3 month project I completed for Plastic Wax.<br /><br />I'm now animation director over there and enjoying every minute of working with this fantastically talented team.<br /><br />You can see the trailer in all it's loveliness here:<br /><a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36578.html">Dawn of War II Cinematic</a><br /><a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/38610.html">Dawn of War II Alt Ending Cinematic</a><br />The first one was the original E3 2008 trailer. The second is the alternative ending which includes the last fight sequence and released at GC 2008.<br /><br />These trailers have had a great media response.LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-56301899219670810182007-02-26T13:07:00.003+11:002009-05-13T13:16:37.165+10:00Moving around the cornerOur landlord told us he was thinking about selling the house....poo!! We really enjoyed living here, the house was amazing. As we were about to go back to the UK for Andy & Nat's wedding, we thought we better get our skates on and find somewhere else to live. The landlord wasn't sure of his timing, but if he decided to give us notice while we were in the UK, we'd be in big trouble. So we rushed around like idiots and found another place, just around the corner!! This house was great too, it had it's own distinctive style - spiral staircase and bedroom in the attic! More importantly for us, it was still in Glebe!<br /><br />Packing up in Colbourne Ave<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo5c-JtQAI/AAAAAAAAAxA/uiyJDE_DnIc/s1600-h/Colbourne_1.jpg'><img src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo5c-JtQAI/AAAAAAAAAxA/uiyJDE_DnIc/s320/Colbourne_1.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div>Our new home<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo5dPGStWI/AAAAAAAAAxI/6byBhPazl3w/s1600-h/Talfourd_front.jpg'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo5dPGStWI/AAAAAAAAAxI/6byBhPazl3w/s320/Talfourd_front.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div>Unpacking in Talfourd St<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo5dPd6lAI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/SsQaJzuBPhU/s1600-h/Talfourd_1.jpg'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo5dPd6lAI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/SsQaJzuBPhU/s320/Talfourd_1.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div>Our new, colourful kitchen!<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo5dX6cOMI/AAAAAAAAAxY/YcoxiiBQbDM/s1600-h/Talfourd_3.jpg'><img src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo5dX6cOMI/AAAAAAAAAxY/YcoxiiBQbDM/s320/Talfourd_3.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-53088569741858739102007-02-24T13:22:00.000+11:002009-05-13T13:25:59.066+10:00A couple of friends I see everyday at work.<br /><br />Chris works in the Cherry Bean cafe next door to the Glass Artists Gallery and keeps me sane when I need a break by serving me with the finest coffee in Glebe<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo87NOofvI/AAAAAAAAAxg/rhOvbYcMoMw/s1600-h/Chris.jpg'><img src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo87NOofvI/AAAAAAAAAxg/rhOvbYcMoMw/s320/Chris.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div>Zena is a beautiful Pharoah Hound who guards the glass in Maureen's gallery. She's a bit of a teenager at the moment and doesn't like doing as she's told, but here she's looking very angelic!<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo87OGiJzI/AAAAAAAAAxo/RqHslj58eNs/s1600-h/Zena.jpg'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgo87OGiJzI/AAAAAAAAAxo/RqHslj58eNs/s320/Zena.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-49299862927025386852006-12-28T12:12:00.004+11:002009-05-12T12:18:52.177+10:00Xmas break at TreetopsPhil and Bianca were still travelling, so we took advantage again, and stayed at Treetops between Christmas day and New Year.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjcC0bNlKI/AAAAAAAAAwg/NgkJrGiVePk/s1600-h/Dean_Lisa_2_edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjcC0bNlKI/AAAAAAAAAwg/NgkJrGiVePk/s320/Dean_Lisa_2_edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334755699610981538" /></a>Sparky found a cool place to curl up and undertake serious cat-business (sleeping)!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgjb-E7J1uI/AAAAAAAAAwY/U1KI2j9OBJo/s1600-h/Sparky_edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Sgjb-E7J1uI/AAAAAAAAAwY/U1KI2j9OBJo/s320/Sparky_edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334755618140575458" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-11442253049766954902006-12-16T12:00:00.016+11:002009-05-12T12:12:28.770+10:00Deb & Aladar's wedding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZjNeB6wI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/ZBRamiIZebI/s1600-h/1+Hens_night.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZjNeB6wI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/ZBRamiIZebI/s320/1+Hens_night.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334752957554617090" /></a>Hen's night!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZf9GhRRI/AAAAAAAAAwI/1zmP3uP2ylU/s1600-h/2+Nick_Emma_edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZf9GhRRI/AAAAAAAAAwI/1zmP3uP2ylU/s320/2+Nick_Emma_edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334752901621433618" /></a>Nick & Emma<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZcGuo4SI/AAAAAAAAAwA/P6t3HDfg8gM/s1600-h/3+Dean_Lisa_edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZcGuo4SI/AAAAAAAAAwA/P6t3HDfg8gM/s320/3+Dean_Lisa_edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334752835486146850" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZXaM9Z5I/AAAAAAAAAv4/nDHMRdtKPHQ/s1600-h/4+Ceremony_edit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZXaM9Z5I/AAAAAAAAAv4/nDHMRdtKPHQ/s320/4+Ceremony_edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334752754814248850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZSGopdBI/AAAAAAAAAvw/3eD0UmpaYF8/s1600-h/5+Al_Deb_edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZSGopdBI/AAAAAAAAAvw/3eD0UmpaYF8/s320/5+Al_Deb_edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334752663662326802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZORvXzqI/AAAAAAAAAvo/1XBKw3d2r3w/s1600-h/6+Cake_edit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZORvXzqI/AAAAAAAAAvo/1XBKw3d2r3w/s320/6+Cake_edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334752597923843746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZKxLPGaI/AAAAAAAAAvg/db-gECMgRHY/s1600-h/7+Deb_edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZKxLPGaI/AAAAAAAAAvg/db-gECMgRHY/s320/7+Deb_edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334752537642736034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZHKkDkGI/AAAAAAAAAvY/CDISa2Y6Fmw/s1600-h/8+Pelican_edit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjZHKkDkGI/AAAAAAAAAvY/CDISa2Y6Fmw/s320/8+Pelican_edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334752475738247266" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-19397932026960967662006-12-10T11:53:00.008+11:002009-05-12T12:00:35.573+10:00Xmas BBQGav & Jean had some friends round for a BBQ in true Aussie style!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXqlw2yJI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/P7lnI6nnW5E/s1600-h/1+Jean_Deb_Lisa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 189px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXqlw2yJI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/P7lnI6nnW5E/s320/1+Jean_Deb_Lisa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334750885311858834" /></a>Sheilas preparing the grub and blokes sat around!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXnXxwFbI/AAAAAAAAAvI/f9UZUKzsNz8/s1600-h/2+Dean_Tey_Nick.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 196px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXnXxwFbI/AAAAAAAAAvI/f9UZUKzsNz8/s320/2+Dean_Tey_Nick.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334750830017910194" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXjj2io3I/AAAAAAAAAvA/rtHounvxCVo/s1600-h/3+Deb.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXjj2io3I/AAAAAAAAAvA/rtHounvxCVo/s320/3+Deb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334750764539749234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXfXb1_QI/AAAAAAAAAu4/30EY-PwnsMg/s1600-h/4+Fish.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXfXb1_QI/AAAAAAAAAu4/30EY-PwnsMg/s320/4+Fish.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334750692487068930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXbMOQWhI/AAAAAAAAAuw/adYyFP_AbCs/s1600-h/5+Gav.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXbMOQWhI/AAAAAAAAAuw/adYyFP_AbCs/s320/5+Gav.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334750620757809682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXUalISsI/AAAAAAAAAuo/0gKVxyDs1hY/s1600-h/6+Lisa_Jean.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjXUalISsI/AAAAAAAAAuo/0gKVxyDs1hY/s320/6+Lisa_Jean.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334750504352762562" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-36149497901260069492006-11-17T11:36:00.006+11:002009-05-12T11:41:55.538+10:00TasmaniaDean and I spent a weekend in Hobart after I'd organised & attended a Registrar's Conference there. We had a trip by boat to Port Arthur, a historic penal settlement.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTzyT_4LI/AAAAAAAAAuY/wnKPIpCahvk/s1600-h/Coast.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTzyT_4LI/AAAAAAAAAuY/wnKPIpCahvk/s320/Coast.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334746645252792498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTwVfAkxI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/ly0KBE5iLEc/s1600-h/PortArthur_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTwVfAkxI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/ly0KBE5iLEc/s320/PortArthur_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334746585974739730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTr88cVBI/AAAAAAAAAuI/lqLKqlqIrto/s1600-h/PortArthur_2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTr88cVBI/AAAAAAAAAuI/lqLKqlqIrto/s320/PortArthur_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334746510667830290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTnkHoI_I/AAAAAAAAAuA/u2sO-Yx6HY4/s1600-h/PortArthur_3.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTnkHoI_I/AAAAAAAAAuA/u2sO-Yx6HY4/s320/PortArthur_3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334746435284378610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTi2Kf12I/AAAAAAAAAt4/-XO4Os6F1YY/s1600-h/PortArthur_4.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjTi2Kf12I/AAAAAAAAAt4/-XO4Os6F1YY/s320/PortArthur_4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334746354228909922" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-38057005409965571312006-10-20T11:27:00.000+10:002009-05-12T11:42:38.520+10:00Bondi & stuffHere's a few other photos from October:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjRBMWR7kI/AAAAAAAAAto/m17qdQpF17A/s1600-h/Bondi+beachscape.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 103px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjRBMWR7kI/AAAAAAAAAto/m17qdQpF17A/s320/Bondi+beachscape.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334743577045102146" /></a>Bondi Beach-scape<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjRGS0JEXI/AAAAAAAAAtw/5o6aVppdK_I/s1600-h/Sculpture+by+the+Sea.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjRGS0JEXI/AAAAAAAAAtw/5o6aVppdK_I/s320/Sculpture+by+the+Sea.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334743664680309106" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is from the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition near Bondi.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjQ6qmTSuI/AAAAAAAAAtg/oCOgojSjRNI/s1600-h/Gav.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjQ6qmTSuI/AAAAAAAAAtg/oCOgojSjRNI/s320/Gav.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334743464906279650" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />BBQ at Gav & Jean's.LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-27245669515990511332006-10-15T11:08:00.006+10:002009-05-12T11:20:28.385+10:00Pulpit Rock, Blue Mountains<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjNt-Y5EjI/AAAAAAAAAtI/GEQY2vbZjCA/s1600-h/Blue_view_blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjNt-Y5EjI/AAAAAAAAAtI/GEQY2vbZjCA/s320/Blue_view_blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334739948345561650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjNhtweh7I/AAAAAAAAAtA/yZeqOt9VFpE/s1600-h/Pulpit_view_blog.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjNhtweh7I/AAAAAAAAAtA/yZeqOt9VFpE/s320/Pulpit_view_blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334739737722652594" /></a><br />This was a trip to the Blue Mountains with friends Gav, Jean, Deb & Aladar. We stayed at Treetops, which was kindly 'loaned' to us while Phil and Bianca were on their travels around the world!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjOhG-sWwI/AAAAAAAAAtY/oWGQjXKdWD0/s1600-h/group_steps_blog.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjOhG-sWwI/AAAAAAAAAtY/oWGQjXKdWD0/s320/group_steps_blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334740826824923906" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-72013763494873756902006-10-01T14:20:00.009+10:002009-05-12T11:53:15.179+10:00Tey's 30th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjWawNVBRI/AAAAAAAAAug/9IKirDoFO5o/s1600-h/Boat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/SgjWawNVBRI/AAAAAAAAAug/9IKirDoFO5o/s320/Boat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334749513726100754" /></a>Here are some photos from the weekend we spent on Pittwater, celebrating Tey's 30th birthday. We hired two katamarans and and went cruising around Pittwater for the weekend! It was great weather, and we had great fun!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/R-8QOCAKiVI/AAAAAAAAAaY/DSbkANTxzkU/s1600-h/Dean_navigator_blog.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/R-8QOCAKiVI/AAAAAAAAAaY/DSbkANTxzkU/s320/Dean_navigator_blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183379529368504658" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/R-8PDiAKiTI/AAAAAAAAAaI/zdgk5qYYHhI/s1600-h/Jean_blog.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/R-8PDiAKiTI/AAAAAAAAAaI/zdgk5qYYHhI/s320/Jean_blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183378249468250418" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-47852400435350889372006-08-29T12:27:00.000+10:002008-11-17T23:55:01.249+11:00Tone & Trace come and play!Yeayyyy! It's been great having Tony and Tracy over to stay. They're not new to Australia or Sydney, but we still managed to show them some new sights!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6v_7_CyjI/AAAAAAAAAYg/zk07yxXnLvg/s1600-h/TT1_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6v_7_CyjI/AAAAAAAAAYg/zk07yxXnLvg/s320/TT1_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124726938962938418" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6zkL_CytI/AAAAAAAAAZw/g0tGLhrtNJQ/s1600-h/Tone_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6zkL_CytI/AAAAAAAAAZw/g0tGLhrtNJQ/s320/Tone_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124730860268079826" /></a>We went up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse on the Northern Beaches and had a lovely picnic on the rocks at the top.<br />Dean took Tone fishing at Bradley's Head and they both got squeamish when a fish had the nerve to get caught on Tone's hook!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6zT7_CysI/AAAAAAAAAZo/-_-Jfb9COjA/s1600-h/Tone_Dean_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6zT7_CysI/AAAAAAAAAZo/-_-Jfb9COjA/s320/Tone_Dean_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124730581095205570" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6yr7_CyrI/AAAAAAAAAZg/eRZ2p1Eg5dA/s1600-h/DLT1_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6yr7_CyrI/AAAAAAAAAZg/eRZ2p1Eg5dA/s320/DLT1_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124729893900438194" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6ydL_CyqI/AAAAAAAAAZY/AH4VP439Tfg/s1600-h/DL1_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6ydL_CyqI/AAAAAAAAAZY/AH4VP439Tfg/s320/DL1_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124729640497367714" /></a>Tone & Trace had met Phil on their previous trip down under, so we took them over to see Phil and Bianca in their new house in the Blue Mountains - called Treetops - so beautiful! And of course, we took them to the Three Sisters and did a 6 hour walk - the usual stuff...!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6xML_CypI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/APoIZ0oMNo8/s1600-h/Blueys_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6xML_CypI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/APoIZ0oMNo8/s320/Blueys_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124728248927963794" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6w5L_CyoI/AAAAAAAAAZI/Fb74m0C0woU/s1600-h/TT2_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6w5L_CyoI/AAAAAAAAAZI/Fb74m0C0woU/s320/TT2_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124727922510449282" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6wnb_CynI/AAAAAAAAAZA/qFAnI8DnlAA/s1600-h/Waterfall_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6wnb_CynI/AAAAAAAAAZA/qFAnI8DnlAA/s320/Waterfall_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124727617567771250" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6wh7_CymI/AAAAAAAAAY4/D1bZxCnt7x4/s1600-h/DLT2_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6wh7_CymI/AAAAAAAAAY4/D1bZxCnt7x4/s320/DLT2_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124727523078490722" /></a>Oh, and the obligatory trip to the Hunter Valley for a well earned piss-up!!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6wFr_CykI/AAAAAAAAAYo/0VzinSR1lj4/s1600-h/Cabin_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6wFr_CykI/AAAAAAAAAYo/0VzinSR1lj4/s320/Cabin_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124727037747186242" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6wL7_CylI/AAAAAAAAAYw/cA2at7HeFaM/s1600-h/wine_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx6wL7_CylI/AAAAAAAAAYw/cA2at7HeFaM/s320/wine_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124727145121368658" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-37455302831708467042006-07-22T15:05:00.001+10:002008-11-17T23:37:30.718+11:00Perisher Blue<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2E27_CyOI/AAAAAAAAAV4/hoI9N9OvsBY/s1600-h/Bottom_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2E27_CyOI/AAAAAAAAAV4/hoI9N9OvsBY/s320/Bottom_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124398030367410402" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2OKL_CygI/AAAAAAAAAYI/a3l9mSLd7Fs/s1600-h/Me+%26+Dean_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2OKL_CygI/AAAAAAAAAYI/a3l9mSLd7Fs/s320/Me+%26+Dean_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124408256684542466" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2FIb_CyPI/AAAAAAAAAWA/NBEWr8vR_u0/s1600-h/Landscape_2_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2FIb_CyPI/AAAAAAAAAWA/NBEWr8vR_u0/s320/Landscape_2_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124398331015121138" /></a>Our second trip snowboarding in Australia! A bigger posse this time and we thought we'd go to the other main resort in New South Wales, which is twinned interestingly with Fernie in Canada! Pity it doesn't have the same amount of snow as Fernie!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2EEr_CyNI/AAAAAAAAAVw/l-rjAH9u5-8/s1600-h/Boards_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2EEr_CyNI/AAAAAAAAAVw/l-rjAH9u5-8/s320/Boards_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124397167078983890" /></a>Perisher is an OK place to board, but there weren't enough slopes open (due to lack of snow), so after a weekend, we really felt like we'd had enough of the same old runs. There certainly wasn't anywhere to go off-piste - don't know if this changes when there is snow!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2F57_CyRI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/A3eqLlWolv0/s1600-h/Top+slope.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2F57_CyRI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/A3eqLlWolv0/s320/Top+slope.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124399181418645778" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2FeL_CyQI/AAAAAAAAAWI/F5cQyeqJk5Y/s1600-h/Trees_2_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2FeL_CyQI/AAAAAAAAAWI/F5cQyeqJk5Y/s320/Trees_2_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124398704677275906" /></a>Transport was annoying - getting to the apartment was a bit of a trial, as the resort doesn't allow ANY cars at all to park overnight. So we had to unpack everything and then take the 3 cars back to the last village and get the train shuttle back.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2JcL_CyTI/AAAAAAAAAWg/u4H5NAoFb-c/s1600-h/Bar_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2JcL_CyTI/AAAAAAAAAWg/u4H5NAoFb-c/s320/Bar_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124403068364048690" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2Jp7_CyUI/AAAAAAAAAWo/c_yYjMBI_N0/s1600-h/Bar_1_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2Jp7_CyUI/AAAAAAAAAWo/c_yYjMBI_N0/s320/Bar_1_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124403304587249986" /></a>However, that didn't stop us having a fantastic time!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2J6r_CyVI/AAAAAAAAAWw/9ryiH02A3WQ/s1600-h/Jean_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2J6r_CyVI/AAAAAAAAAWw/9ryiH02A3WQ/s320/Jean_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124403592350058834" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2Mtb_CydI/AAAAAAAAAXw/RgouYruNF8U/s1600-h/Trees_3_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2Mtb_CydI/AAAAAAAAAXw/RgouYruNF8U/s320/Trees_3_b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124406663251675602" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2GSb_CySI/AAAAAAAAAWY/rntTfPGWpqs/s1600-h/People_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2GSb_CySI/AAAAAAAAAWY/rntTfPGWpqs/s320/People_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124399602325440802" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2KXb_CyWI/AAAAAAAAAW4/72qOnzDH1R0/s1600-h/Gav_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2KXb_CyWI/AAAAAAAAAW4/72qOnzDH1R0/s320/Gav_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124404086271297890" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2Khr_CyXI/AAAAAAAAAXA/lUvNe_dmlR4/s1600-h/Dean_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2Khr_CyXI/AAAAAAAAAXA/lUvNe_dmlR4/s320/Dean_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124404262364957042" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2LtL_CyYI/AAAAAAAAAXI/2XEMmXbUPYY/s1600-h/Al_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2LtL_CyYI/AAAAAAAAAXI/2XEMmXbUPYY/s320/Al_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124405559445080450" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2L2L_CyZI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/EaUc2PeRXdA/s1600-h/Deb_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2L2L_CyZI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/EaUc2PeRXdA/s320/Deb_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124405714063903122" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2O6r_CyhI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/b4NlvmYLBpc/s1600-h/Rick_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2O6r_CyhI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/b4NlvmYLBpc/s320/Rick_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124409089908197906" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2PFL_CyiI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Ga8a2zmIz3k/s1600-h/Jill_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2PFL_CyiI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Ga8a2zmIz3k/s320/Jill_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124409270296824354" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2Nv7_CyeI/AAAAAAAAAX4/Gj3kB2PSjhY/s1600-h/Tey_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2Nv7_CyeI/AAAAAAAAAX4/Gj3kB2PSjhY/s320/Tey_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124407805712976354" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2N3b_CyfI/AAAAAAAAAYA/zITay3_bXN8/s1600-h/Justin_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2N3b_CyfI/AAAAAAAAAYA/zITay3_bXN8/s320/Justin_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124407934561995250" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2L_r_CyaI/AAAAAAAAAXY/QkU5rOr1xAY/s1600-h/Fence_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2L_r_CyaI/AAAAAAAAAXY/QkU5rOr1xAY/s320/Fence_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124405877272660386" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2MUL_CybI/AAAAAAAAAXg/jW4b90-BH18/s1600-h/Snowman_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rx2MUL_CybI/AAAAAAAAAXg/jW4b90-BH18/s320/Snowman_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124406229459978674" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-83227732410411988592006-06-12T15:21:00.000+10:002007-10-22T15:53:52.135+10:00Featherdale<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw4gr_Cx_I/AAAAAAAAAUA/O61KThkwC1U/s1600-h/Koala_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw4gr_Cx_I/AAAAAAAAAUA/O61KThkwC1U/s320/Koala_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124032610254899186" /></a>We had been told that this was a great place to visit...so we did! We had an OK day, but it really just confirmed why we don't like animal parks and zoos. Some animals seem fine, but you know that they'd rather be in their natural habitat. That then brings us to the issue of animal conservation, but that makes my head hurt trying to work out what the answer is. I obvisouly support and applaud those situations where animals are released back into the wild, but how often does that happen? Is there any point in breeding endangered animals just to keep them in a cage for the rest of their lives?<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw6V7_CyCI/AAAAAAAAAUY/3dDZ5nGZESM/s1600-h/RockWallaby_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw6V7_CyCI/AAAAAAAAAUY/3dDZ5nGZESM/s320/RockWallaby_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124034624594561058" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw1aL_Cx5I/AAAAAAAAATQ/jeKn2DHPSn0/s1600-h/Bat_1_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw1aL_Cx5I/AAAAAAAAATQ/jeKn2DHPSn0/s320/Bat_1_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124029200050866066" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw1ir_Cx6I/AAAAAAAAATY/OhYXVzUKCwo/s1600-h/Bat_2_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw1ir_Cx6I/AAAAAAAAATY/OhYXVzUKCwo/s320/Bat_2_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124029346079754146" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw1wL_Cx7I/AAAAAAAAATg/a9R1NtOjji0/s1600-h/Kookie_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw1wL_Cx7I/AAAAAAAAATg/a9R1NtOjji0/s320/Kookie_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124029578007988146" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw4A7_Cx8I/AAAAAAAAATo/z1bHJ4sDDBk/s1600-h/Cass_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw4A7_Cx8I/AAAAAAAAATo/z1bHJ4sDDBk/s320/Cass_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124032064794052546" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw4Yr_Cx-I/AAAAAAAAAT4/YsVNS2D8cu8/s1600-h/BIrd_s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw4Yr_Cx-I/AAAAAAAAAT4/YsVNS2D8cu8/s320/BIrd_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124032472815945698" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw4pr_CyAI/AAAAAAAAAUI/aO7OJewrtiQ/s1600-h/Wombat_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw4pr_CyAI/AAAAAAAAAUI/aO7OJewrtiQ/s320/Wombat_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124032764873721858" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw6iL_CyDI/AAAAAAAAAUg/VGHfEo_h8yM/s1600-h/Eagle_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw6iL_CyDI/AAAAAAAAAUg/VGHfEo_h8yM/s320/Eagle_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124034835047958578" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-6748905225100168352006-05-27T15:54:00.000+10:002007-10-22T16:12:49.393+10:00Art on the Rocks<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw87L_CyEI/AAAAAAAAAUo/ZsCvqy8rCQc/s1600-h/People_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw87L_CyEI/AAAAAAAAAUo/ZsCvqy8rCQc/s320/People_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124037463567943746" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw9Db_CyFI/AAAAAAAAAUw/8HDe0_SZhjM/s1600-h/Artist_1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw9Db_CyFI/AAAAAAAAAUw/8HDe0_SZhjM/s320/Artist_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124037605301864530" /></a>Another Long Weekend here in Sydney and they had an artist's event down at the Rocks. Loads of artists sign up for the competition and are allocated a spot. They then paint (or whatever their 'thing' is) what they see over the two days of the event. Here are some of the photos I took (Dean had to work all weekend).<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw9QL_CyGI/AAAAAAAAAU4/-m-11_uGHzU/s1600-h/Musicians.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw9QL_CyGI/AAAAAAAAAU4/-m-11_uGHzU/s320/Musicians.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124037824345196642" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw9ab_CyHI/AAAAAAAAAVA/NQ2Z9rw4yVY/s1600-h/People_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw9ab_CyHI/AAAAAAAAAVA/NQ2Z9rw4yVY/s320/People_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124038000438855794" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw-F7_CyII/AAAAAAAAAVI/qeBI-EiuJfk/s1600-h/Artist_2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw-F7_CyII/AAAAAAAAAVI/qeBI-EiuJfk/s320/Artist_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124038747763165314" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw_Or_CyMI/AAAAAAAAAVo/IT8qNWKZMSg/s1600-h/Red_2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw_Or_CyMI/AAAAAAAAAVo/IT8qNWKZMSg/s320/Red_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124039997598648514" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw-m7_CyKI/AAAAAAAAAVY/NWhnZMe017A/s1600-h/Ship.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rxw-m7_CyKI/AAAAAAAAAVY/NWhnZMe017A/s320/Ship.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124039314698848418" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-47582510680819098842006-05-27T15:33:00.000+10:002007-10-02T15:49:29.329+10:00Lake Macquarie<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZU7_CwxI/AAAAAAAAAJM/3uc-R308MAk/s1600-h/HamiVicky.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZU7_CwxI/AAAAAAAAAJM/3uc-R308MAk/s320/HamiVicky.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116609605392319250" /></a>It was Hami's 30th birthday and he decided to celebrate it on Lake Macquarie. Vicky and Hami rented a house for the weekend and asked friends to stay or pop by and join them. Hami is a keen fisherman, so all the boys took their rods!! Needless to say, Hami still hasn't caught anything! The weather was overcast, but we still had a fab time.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZJr_CwwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/USaIokAlaBY/s1600-h/House.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZJr_CwwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/USaIokAlaBY/s320/House.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116609412118790914" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZkL_CwyI/AAAAAAAAAJU/12ivYgkgV-U/s1600-h/Group_3_blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZkL_CwyI/AAAAAAAAAJU/12ivYgkgV-U/s320/Group_3_blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116609867385324322" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHaHb_Cw1I/AAAAAAAAAJs/p59q-NG8kLE/s1600-h/Pelicans_blog1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHaHb_Cw1I/AAAAAAAAAJs/p59q-NG8kLE/s320/Pelicans_blog1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116610472975713106" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZwr_CwzI/AAAAAAAAAJc/WTtfKDXAAcs/s1600-h/Dean_11_blog.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZwr_CwzI/AAAAAAAAAJc/WTtfKDXAAcs/s320/Dean_11_blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116610082133689138" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZ-r_Cw0I/AAAAAAAAAJk/X0A0WTDA8XM/s1600-h/WoodyAlex.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHZ-r_Cw0I/AAAAAAAAAJk/X0A0WTDA8XM/s320/WoodyAlex.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116610322651857730" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHaV7_Cw2I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/MDVBKG6lz2c/s1600-h/DylanBen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHaV7_Cw2I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/MDVBKG6lz2c/s320/DylanBen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116610722083816290" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHafL_Cw3I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/MEB_Bo9Wkvo/s1600-h/boat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHafL_Cw3I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/MEB_Bo9Wkvo/s320/boat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116610880997606258" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-49821567524219419592006-04-25T17:52:00.000+10:002007-10-01T15:01:34.817+10:00Horsing around!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvytsb_CwNI/AAAAAAAAACw/jWoHvICv-h0/s1600-h/JillRuby3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvytsb_CwNI/AAAAAAAAACw/jWoHvICv-h0/s320/JillRuby3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115154255724069074" /></a><div>I’ve finally managed to get me some horsey time! Thanks to a friend of a friend, I’ve made contact with a horse owner in Terrey Hills, about a half hour north of Sydney. Jill has mostly paddocked land with a couple of ‘open’ stables. There are 9 horses and two six month old foals. I help out one day a week, filling up water buckets, preparing feeds and distributing them, cleaning tack, moving horses around depending on the day’s activities, brushing and tacking up – generally whatever’s needed on the day. <br /><br />This is Jill with Ruby, a very lanky teenager who doesn't quite realise how big and powerful she is - absolutely gorgeous!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvyujL_CwPI/AAAAAAAAADA/d1LX0mlNMUU/s1600-h/RubyShoe.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvyujL_CwPI/AAAAAAAAADA/d1LX0mlNMUU/s320/RubyShoe.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115155196321906930" /></a>More often than not, I get a ride while I’m there too. I’ve been riding Merlin, a black Clydesdale and very much a gentle giant! Here he is:<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB59b_CwXI/AAAAAAAAAGA/AvGTb0w2Pxo/s1600-h/Merlin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB59b_CwXI/AAAAAAAAAGA/AvGTb0w2Pxo/s320/Merlin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116223273084043634" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB8Jb_CwZI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/w44ip4c6VGg/s1600-h/Tyson.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB8Jb_CwZI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/w44ip4c6VGg/s320/Tyson.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116225678265729426" /></a>Here is Tyson, another youngster, who's learning how to interact with other horses (and humans)! Isn't he handsome?!<br /><br />On Anzac Day, I went on the start of a two day trail ride with Jill and some of her horsey friends. Twelve girls altogether – you can imagine the chatter yet we still surprisingly managed to see some wildlife (a wombat and a kangaroo)! We went up to Yarramalong, about an hour and a half north of Sydney. Jill provided some of the horses we were riding, but we didn’t have enough, so we stopped at a riding place close to where we were staying that night to pick up some more. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB9gL_CwaI/AAAAAAAAAGY/SG_kmUafgH4/s1600-h/Trail+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB9gL_CwaI/AAAAAAAAAGY/SG_kmUafgH4/s320/Trail+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116227168619381154" /></a>Then we got them ready and set off for the hills, while Jill’s husband Tony took all our gear in the car!<br /><br />I’m the one in the red top!<br /><br /><br />Tony was also providing lunch for us – he met us somewhere in the middle of the bush with the 4WD stacked with goodies and champagne! Ahhh, that’s the life!! <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB6RL_CwYI/AAAAAAAAAGI/c0DHOqkO8nE/s1600-h/Anwen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB6RL_CwYI/AAAAAAAAAGI/c0DHOqkO8nE/s320/Anwen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116223612386460034" /></a>Then we continued riding to the house. The afternoon ride was a little longer than expected, after Jill treated us to several Groundhog Day experiences (there were 3 separate routes that we managed to ride twice). We had a little difficulty finding the house (!!!) and as the sun started to descend to the western horizon, I could see us spending a very cold night under the stars and I seriously thought I was going to have to ration my party-sized milky way that I’d saved from lunch, between the 12 of us!!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyv_L_CwUI/AAAAAAAAADo/D0PJBvC3XSc/s1600-h/Trail+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyv_L_CwUI/AAAAAAAAADo/D0PJBvC3XSc/s320/Trail+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115156776869871938" /></a>Anyway, we eventually made it, and with just enough sun left to untack and feed the exhausted horses. The house that we stayed in was just lovely and had a really magical quality. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyvhb_CwSI/AAAAAAAAADY/juyxnA8rVGs/s1600-h/Yarra_3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyvhb_CwSI/AAAAAAAAADY/juyxnA8rVGs/s320/Yarra_3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115156265768763682" /></a>The old lady that owns it, Judy, is in her 80s and she has 90 acres of land – the house sits in the middle of it right in the valley. We had lovely food and took plenty of booze to numb our aches and pains! <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvyvL7_CwRI/AAAAAAAAADQ/UtgXPh-HadA/s1600-h/Yarra_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvyvL7_CwRI/AAAAAAAAADQ/UtgXPh-HadA/s320/Yarra_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115155896401576210" /></a>The next day’s ride was almost the same, but in reverse, although we didn’t have any scrumptious lunch, as Tony had gone back to work. We had to make do with a mandarine, a plum and a muesli bar each!!<br />There were no falls or injuries, and we all made it back safe and sound! However, there was a pretty hair-raising experience on the first day for me when Merlin, who normally has a very slow and steady approach to moving, took me by surprise! We were cantering up a dirt track and we were pretty much at the back of the group, but Merlin had caught sight of his two girls (two of Jill’s/Merlin’s mares) at the front and he just had to be near them to make sure none of the other ‘guys’ made a move on them. He spotted ‘a gap’ down the side and turbo charged past everyone to the mares, never minding that I was perfectly happy where I was, or that the ‘gap’ was only horse shaped and didn’t take into account the low hanging branches!! How I stayed on his back is a complete wonder to me. Maybe it was the instruction screamed at me by Jill “sit back, sit back, heels down”!!<br />I had an amazingly fantastic time!!<br />Here's a photo of one of the magnificent sunsets I've seen from the paddocks.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB-47_CwbI/AAAAAAAAAGg/LnmqHg4wCqQ/s1600-h/Sunset1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB-47_CwbI/AAAAAAAAAGg/LnmqHg4wCqQ/s320/Sunset1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116228693332771250" /></a></div>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-86476187610741229462006-04-17T16:32:00.000+10:002007-10-01T18:07:43.281+10:00Royal Easter Show<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCizb_CwrI/AAAAAAAAAIc/JD2jdBJBjAc/s1600-h/Easter_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCizb_CwrI/AAAAAAAAAIc/JD2jdBJBjAc/s320/Easter_4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116268181262090930" /></a><br />Well, that was an experience! Sydney-siders either love it or hate it - that is, the Royal Easter Show! Dean hated it, but I'll sit on the fence and say I enjoyed it, but probably won't go again!!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCqtL_CwsI/AAAAAAAAAIk/KyFDXzizKrs/s1600-h/Me_hat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCqtL_CwsI/AAAAAAAAAIk/KyFDXzizKrs/s320/Me_hat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116276869980930754" /></a>I bought my <a href="http://mcleodsdaughters.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=267692" target="_blank">McLeod's Daughters</a> hat, which I love and use obsessively when I'm horsing around (I wear a helmet when I'm riding, mum).<br />We were introduced to another 'Australianism' today - showbags! These are bags of goodies that most of us associate with trade exhibitions - crappy magazine, pen, handy little torch that either goes forever and is actually extremely useful or else forgets it ever knew that it's job was to illuminate the way - you know the sort of thing!! Well, we entered a giant marquee which was full of stalls, but these stalls weren't promoting their wares in the normal way that traders do, they were actually selling 'showbags'! My Aussie friends had told me that this would be the highlight of the day, but I can assure you that my experience was completely the opposite. They were overpriced tat, and that's being polite! Having said that, I did buy one! But....in my defense, it contained edible goodies - a selection of cheeses and the bag itself was a very handy little coolbag. This was by far the best value 'showbag' there (and I still use the coolbag)!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCig7_CwoI/AAAAAAAAAIE/XvzoNaHBPLQ/s1600-h/Easter_1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCig7_CwoI/AAAAAAAAAIE/XvzoNaHBPLQ/s320/Easter_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116267863434510978" /></a>The highlight of the day was seeing the Woodchopping competition - they were SO fast!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCim7_CwpI/AAAAAAAAAIM/FL32o9Uq7dU/s1600-h/Easter_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCim7_CwpI/AAAAAAAAAIM/FL32o9Uq7dU/s320/Easter_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116267966513726098" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCisb_CwqI/AAAAAAAAAIU/VKuWWAg-Sxk/s1600-h/Easter_3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCisb_CwqI/AAAAAAAAAIU/VKuWWAg-Sxk/s320/Easter_3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116268061003006626" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-25409535025958491992006-04-02T16:19:00.000+10:002007-10-01T16:31:15.189+10:00Bobbin Head walk<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCSXb_CwjI/AAAAAAAAAHg/hSD_RMxwSJU/s1600-h/River_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCSXb_CwjI/AAAAAAAAAHg/hSD_RMxwSJU/s320/River_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116250108039709234" /></a>Bobbin Head is an area in one of the many National Parks around Sydney. We fancied a bit of exercise and getting back to nature, so we went up here for a riverside walk!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCTKL_CwlI/AAAAAAAAAHw/WzCrmyEUILU/s1600-h/Rocks_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCTKL_CwlI/AAAAAAAAAHw/WzCrmyEUILU/s320/Rocks_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116250979918070354" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCS5L_CwkI/AAAAAAAAAHo/_HN1xcoB-is/s1600-h/Spider.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCS5L_CwkI/AAAAAAAAAHo/_HN1xcoB-is/s320/Spider.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116250687860294210" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCTKb_CwmI/AAAAAAAAAH4/RKIZIgD1zZc/s1600-h/Rocks_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCTKb_CwmI/AAAAAAAAAH4/RKIZIgD1zZc/s320/Rocks_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116250984213037666" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-64175540132365665872006-03-28T17:50:00.001+11:002008-11-17T23:38:41.583+11:00Dean's Birthday<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB_cL_CwcI/AAAAAAAAAGo/_tg5jN8dug8/s1600-h/Dean-smurf.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB_cL_CwcI/AAAAAAAAAGo/_tg5jN8dug8/s400/Dean-smurf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116229298923160002" /></a>Dean went canyonning with Phil to celebrate their March birthdays together. I'm afraid I chickened out, and looking at this photo, it was a wise decision!! Dean may or may not write up this adventure - I think he's still in denial about having to wear a smurf outfit!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We walked to Darling Harbour in the evening for a curry, to celebrate in true Brit style!!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCH6b_CwiI/AAAAAAAAAHY/QN6KgVSIWWc/s1600-h/Dean_birthday_curry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCH6b_CwiI/AAAAAAAAAHY/QN6KgVSIWWc/s320/Dean_birthday_curry.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116238614707225122" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-6580931738980059142006-03-19T17:51:00.000+11:002008-11-17T23:38:41.585+11:00Lisa's Birthday<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCFNL_CweI/AAAAAAAAAG4/yIK8RL8q9jM/s1600-h/Me_birthday.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCFNL_CweI/AAAAAAAAAG4/yIK8RL8q9jM/s320/Me_birthday.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116235638294888930" /></a>As it was another beautiful day (and my birthday), we decided to visit the Royal National Park (about an hour south of the city). We walked along the cliff tops and let the sea breeze blow the cobwebs (and all the years) away!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCFsb_CwfI/AAAAAAAAAHA/BUAJwUCruR0/s1600-h/RNP_boat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCFsb_CwfI/AAAAAAAAAHA/BUAJwUCruR0/s320/RNP_boat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116236175165800946" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCGQ7_CwhI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/GO1F38Vp4u0/s1600-h/RNP_port.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCGQ7_CwhI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/GO1F38Vp4u0/s320/RNP_port.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116236802231026194" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCE9b_CwdI/AAAAAAAAAGw/gNQikG1tgWU/s1600-h/RNP_land.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwCE9b_CwdI/AAAAAAAAAGw/gNQikG1tgWU/s320/RNP_land.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116235367711949266" /></a><br /></div>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-51701197506281576162006-02-22T17:17:00.000+11:002007-10-02T14:44:36.082+10:00Forget Extreme Sports....Extreme Temperatures!!<div>We left Sydney in our flip flops and 34°C heat and arrived in Fernie (British Columbia, Canada) in our thermals and -34°C cold!! Well it wasn’t actually -34°C til the following week, but it makes for better reading this way!!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyipr_CwEI/AAAAAAAAABs/HDbBd6S5AF4/s1600-h/Fernie2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyipr_CwEI/AAAAAAAAABs/HDbBd6S5AF4/s320/Fernie2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115142113851523138" /></a>Eventually we arrived at the hotel, after a staggering 30 hours of travelling, to be told that the hotel ‘restaurant’ was about to close. We literally dropped our gear in the room and rushed downstairs to be met in the foyer by Andy and Treena, our friends from Dulwich.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyger_CwBI/AAAAAAAAABU/EdCNH8mpLMY/s1600-h/A%26T.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyger_CwBI/AAAAAAAAABU/EdCNH8mpLMY/s320/A%26T.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115139725849706514" /></a>We planned the holiday so that we could meet up with them for some snow therapy. It was fantastic to see them again, and we dragged them into the restaurant to watch us eat and catch up on the previous year!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHL1L_CwvI/AAAAAAAAAI8/ttVZKdWYN8g/s1600-h/Me%26Dean_small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHL1L_CwvI/AAAAAAAAAI8/ttVZKdWYN8g/s320/Me%26Dean_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116594766280311538" /></a>That was the start of two brilliant weeks of snowboarding, drinking, eating and sleeping, in that order of priority!!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvyGrb_Cv4I/AAAAAAAAAAM/9qn0HAtU4n8/s1600-h/top+snow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvyGrb_Cv4I/AAAAAAAAAAM/9qn0HAtU4n8/s320/top+snow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115111357590716290" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHLR7_CwuI/AAAAAAAAAI0/u_2T4k17v60/s1600-h/Dean+jugs.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHLR7_CwuI/AAAAAAAAAI0/u_2T4k17v60/s320/Dean+jugs.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116594160689922786" /></a>The previous two seasons had been rather bad for Fernie, so we were glad to arrive to plenty of snow. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvyHqr_Cv6I/AAAAAAAAAAc/a9nP7h9TuYo/s1600-h/Fernie1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvyHqr_Cv6I/AAAAAAAAAAc/a9nP7h9TuYo/s320/Fernie1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115112444217442210" /></a>We were staying in the town, which was originally established because of coal mining, and there were plenty of places to eat and drink. Fernie has an outstandingly delicious meal called ‘putine’. This is a scrumptious dish of perfectly fried chips with yummy gravy, topped off with shavings of cheese (we didn’t have the cheese that often)!! Needless to say, this reminded us of our own mining home town – Doncaster.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvykVL_CwFI/AAAAAAAAAB0/dnpTHqbEBEo/s1600-h/trees.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RvykVL_CwFI/AAAAAAAAAB0/dnpTHqbEBEo/s320/trees.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115143960687460434" /></a><br />There was a huge dumping of snow in the second week, which satisfied our cravings for the white stuff and put smiles on everyone’s faces! There were lots of whoops and screams of enjoyment emanating from the slopes.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB2NL_CwWI/AAAAAAAAAF4/8KRrWhBVsQg/s1600-h/Dean+snow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwB2NL_CwWI/AAAAAAAAAF4/8KRrWhBVsQg/s320/Dean+snow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116219145620472162" /></a>There were the predictable number of falls and sprains, but thankfully nothing serious! I was the lucky recipient of a huge bruise on my leg, thanks to the T-bar (still haven’t mastered that particular art)!!<br />We usually take the video camera on the slopes, but this year we just didn’t seem to have the time. We really only took photos of the area and a few from the lifts. So sorry there are no action shots!</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyod7_CwLI/AAAAAAAAACg/0T8hwtTWiTs/s1600-h/River1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvyod7_CwLI/AAAAAAAAACg/0T8hwtTWiTs/s320/River1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115148509057826994" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHLBb_CwtI/AAAAAAAAAIs/V1RlsqJ6H6w/s1600-h/House2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/RwHLBb_CwtI/AAAAAAAAAIs/V1RlsqJ6H6w/s320/House2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116593877222081234" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvypjr_CwMI/AAAAAAAAACo/xwYVOw-DBt4/s1600-h/River2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTOVy5RdPw4/Rvypjr_CwMI/AAAAAAAAACo/xwYVOw-DBt4/s320/River2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115149707353702594" /></a>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-1139467491809466532006-02-09T17:35:00.000+11:002006-02-09T18:25:25.826+11:00Noodle<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/1600/Noodle%20blog3.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/Noodle%20blog3.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>Meet Noodle, Sparky's new girlfriend! Honest, that's her name - it's on her tag! This is as much as I got to see the first few times, as she watched from the safety of the tree!<br /><br />I know there's been some questions in the past over Sparky's sexual preferences, but I just need to point out that the boy-cat chased him in Denaby, not the other way around!<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/Noodle.jpg" border="0" />Noodle is a chocolate Burmese, I think - very posh, and pretty! She obviously sees the (very) distant breeding in Sparky! Here she is, sneaking in!<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/Noodle%20blog1.jpg" border="0" />She doesn't like humans! I get hissed at if I go too close, but obviously she will take food from me! I think she might see me as the other woman! She will follow Sparky into the house too and slowly slink past me (only two feet away), as if I can't see her! She follows him everywhere - under the tree, on the pavestones, on the deck, in the house, under the barbeque! I can't see what they get up to under the tree, so don't like that as a parent!<br /><br />In this photo, Sparky is under the bbq (on the left) and Noodle is trying to entice him out!! I think he's a bit intimidated by her - she is rather forward!!<br /><br /><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/Noodle%20blog2.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>We're going snowboarding to Fernie, Canada on Saturday and Sparky is staying with Aunty Marie. So he won't be able to frolick with Noodle for two weeks. I hope he copes!</p>LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-1136121489487951872006-01-01T23:53:00.000+11:002006-01-02T12:24:19.236+11:00New Years DayThey weren't wrong!! The weather reports that is! A blistering hot 44 degrees today.....and boy was it a hot start to the new year.<br /><br />We took a tactical decision to camp in the bedroom for most of the day where we have the air conditioning. Whenever we opened the door we had a quick reminder of actually how hot it was. Imagine turning the oven on to 250 and after an hour or so, open the door and that blast you get...well that's what it was like all day.<br /><br />We spent most of the day organising the blog and sifting through photos of last night. At about 4pm I was getting a bit stir crazy and wanted to go somewhere and at least top the day off with a refreshing swim in the sea.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/1600/IMG_0006.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/IMG_0006.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lisa suggested we go to Waverly Cemetery, which has been a spot on the map we've wanted to go to for a while. We heard it was a beautiful cemetery on the cliffs overlooking the sea....and hoped it would distract us slightly from the heat.<br /><br />We thought that being by the sea on the cliffs would give us a cool sea breeze, but we were wrong on that front! But our consolation was that it was indeed a beautiful place.<br /><br />Looks like it's been around from early 1800s and some very old stones were dotted around. But the view topped it off as a spectacular place to visit.<br /><br />We stayed for a short while until the heat got the better of us, but not before we took a few photos. We'll be back to this place though, maybe a little earlier or later in the day to get more of a contrasting light. Definitely lots of material here to take photos of.<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/IMG_0005.jpg" border="0" /> <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/IMG_0002.jpg" border="0" /><br />We decided to head to the beach, and as it overlooked Coogee that was the perfect spot. Only, thousands of other people had the same idea and we found it difficult to park. So difficult in fact that we had to go somewhere else!<br /><br />As beautiful as the city beaches are, they are generally extremely busy, and finding somewhere to park is always tricky. So we headed for our favourite spots and went north of the harbour to Chowder Bay. By the time we got there it was after 6pm, but it didn't take long before I was swimming in the sea and Lisa was lazing on the beach, still nursing her poorly knee from Flint and Steel Beach.<br /><br />We stayed until the sun went down and the swim had certainly done the trick and worked up an appetite. So what else but a curry on New Year's Day! Yum Yum. Our favourite curry hole, the Darbar on Glebe Point Road! The end to a very hot day.LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10567258.post-1136083750022907492006-01-01T13:09:00.000+11:002006-01-02T12:27:07.676+11:00Happy New Year!!<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!</span></div><br />What a fantastic evening!! Seemed very fitting to the end of what has been a truly brilliant year. Hopefully 2006 will prove to be just as good and dare I say it......even better!?<br />Well as promised, I'm updating the blog actually on time. We woke up this morning just in time to send text messages and do some phoning for friends and family in the UK to be experiencing the countdown to their new year. Of course most were out or drunk but the messages got through!!<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/1600/NYE%2031Dec05%20008.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20008.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Any way last night we gathered at the Botanic Gardens at around 6.30pm. It seemed there were different grades of tickets and looked like we were in the middle section. This offered a great view looking out onto the Opera House with the Bridge in the background and what amazing and memorable photo opportunities this would provide.<br /><br />We took our space on the lawn which was very civilised and ultimately was base camp for the next few hours leading up to countdown. If it's one thing that we are learning about being here, is that every event focusses around a picnic!! Down the beach.....picnic, to the park.....picnic, to the concert......picnic. Tonight was no exception. Rugs of all different colour and sizes defined everyone's little patch of territory on the lawn.<br /><br /><p><br />The first set of fireworks was at 9pm. This is the family fireworks and a little teaser for what was in store. There were just over 2 hours to kill before the first show and it became obvious that this was the feeding frenzy. Taking a look all around us and every one was eating and drinking wine and tucking into their picnic.<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20035.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>It was a lovely warm night and t-shirts, shorts and flipflops (thongs for the Aussie interpretation) was the order of the night. The sun gradually went down to begin a new day back in England. On any day this is a great spot to be in the city; water in front, city and skyscrapers to the left, park to the right and Opera House and Bridge straight ahead. As the light fades the Opera House generally bathes in a beautiful golden light catching the last of the rays, providing just a few photo opportunities along the way. </p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20034.jpg" border="0" /><br />It wasn't long before 9pm was on us and the ferries and boats moored in front were all giving their horns in excitement. Not sure how they knew it was coming, but they were the perfect countdown to the start of the first fireworks. </p><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/1600/NYE%2031Dec05%20047.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20047.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/1600/NYE%2031Dec05%20040.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20040.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20036a.jpg" border="0" /><br />Fantastic!! These were set off somewhere in the middle of the harbour and provided a great back drop to all the different yachts and boats moored up to get the best view. The fireworks ended all too quickly and the smoke drifted overhead towards the city.<br /><br />More time to eat and drink. At this point we also noticed that the heart on the bridge was getting bigger. It was constantly beating but had now grown in size. For the next 3 hours we chatted and drank and ate, chatted a bit more, took some photos, drank, ate.....you get the picture! <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20102a.jpg" border="0" /> The time seemed to go so quickly and before we knew it, the boats and crowd were starting to get excited. Lots of horns and cheering and whistling and then the countdown to 12 o’clock had suddenly arrived.</p><p>Boom!! Off they went and they certainly weren't disappointing. Igniting from all over the frame of the Bridge, highlighting it's full shape and the Opera House in the foreground. Any way I'll shut up and hopefully these photos will do the display some justice. </p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20112.jpg" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20110.jpg" border="0" /> <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20120.jpg" border="0" /><br />However much we wanted them to carry on forever, sadly they had to end. The Opera House was engulfed in the smoke from all the fireworks, but it gradually cleared as it drifted towards the city. This was the cue for every one to pack up and leave; making their mass exodus from all the great vantage points they held, through the city and home. <p><br /></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20124a.jpg" border="0" /> <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/567/823/320/NYE%2031Dec05%20165.jpg" border="0" /><br />The city was amazingly packed, full of people of all shapes, sizes and nationalities in various states of drunkeness. It was all good humoured as the only thing on people's minds was firstly, to wish every one a happy new year and secondly, to get home.<br /><br />After weaving our way through the throng, feeling like a salmon swimming up stream, we managed to get on the tram. It was nice and air conditioned and made the last of the journey home a little easier!<br /><br />So now it’s New Year’s Day and most of you lot have just finished celebrating the start of your New Year. It's a little sticky today. 43 degrees as a few people have said, and with all the doors and windows opened, the breeze that comes through feels like a hair dryer blowing hot!!<br /><br />So we wish everyone a very <strong>HAPPY NEW YEAR!!</strong> May this year prove to be a good one and we hope to see a few more people out here with us. You're all so very welcome.<br /><br />And if you want to know how fantastic it is.....ask Linda and Chris! :o)LubyLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00030837107784681628noreply@blogger.com1