Happy Birthday Brent

As Brent will be in Launceston for his birthday (this Tuesday) I organised a surprise birthday bash for him at the 3weeds in Rozelle. Even though the surprise was leaked he was still thrilled that so many people showed up to celebrate. Way too many beers were drunk for a school night!

Thanks to Jaime for organising this yummy gelato cake and to everyone for coming along. Brent also says a big thanks for the cool puffy jacket and all the other gifts.

Happy 1st Birthday Aidan!

My favourite little boy turned 1 on the 10th of January. Elise and Michael held a birthday party at their house and invited all Aidans baby friends from mothers group as well as all their childless/clueless clucky friends (that's me!).

Aidan seemed to know the day was his and grinned and giggled the whole time. He got lots of cool new toys including the tunnel in the pictures and a brand new red trike. He even tasted his first ever birthday cake (allergy friendly with no eggs!). The pass the parcel may have been a little advanced for one year olds - but the mothers had fun!

Australia Day on the harbour

What better place to spend Australia Day than soaking up the sunshine on a catamaran on Sydney harbour.

Alicia celebrated her 30th with a boat load of her bestest friends (and a few ring-ins like me!), a carnavale theme, plenty of champagne and a delicious seafood BBQ.

More photos here.

I dont like Jazz...

...but I love whatever it was that Oscar Castro-Neves and his band was playing at Jazz in the Domain this year.

I last went to the Jazz a couple of years ago and was very disappointed - vowing never to go and sit on the cold hard ground to listen to that crap they were calling music ever again. Funny what I will resort to when I haven't got a better offer eh?!

So glad I went though - as this was not Jazz as I knew it. The domain was overflowing and the music pumped with infectious Latin rhythms and beautiful singing from the 2 women singers. The night culminated in the 2nd half with everyone up on their feet dancing and stomping along to the drums and whistles carnavale style - just brilliant!

SMH article - "easily the best ever Jazz In The Domain"

Happy New Beer 2007

So I thought I would be clever (ie lazy) and do a NaNoBloPoMo (National NO Blog Posting Month) but I enjoyed it so much that it became a NaNoBlogPoTwoMo. Back into it in 2007 though, promise - well maybe not promise, but I'll give it a go.

2006 was a big year. I moved to Russell Lea, left Legal Aid, joined the HSNet team, got engaged and killed approximatly 13 fish. I have dieted, boot camped, camped, mini breaked, fished, cycled, walked, frisbeed. Farewelled 2 grandmothers, supported my man through skin cancer and radiotherapy. Celebrated birthdays, weddings, robert burns, australia day, new year(s), christmas.

Just been to Smiths Lake for a week to recover from 2006 (photos). 2007 will be the year of wedding planning, another busy one I am sure!

Happy New Year!

Christmas celebrations

Hope everyone had a happy and relaxing christmas. I spent Christmas day with Brent's family in Wollongong and then returned to Sydney for a 4 hour SingStar sing off at Jaime and Kylies. Lots of fun (anyone want to donate me an old playstation?!)

As usual Brent spoilt me rotten with a brand new shiny red bike.

Here are some photos from various christmas celebrations...

Gingerbread House at Sue and J's Christmas party

Kris Kringle at Sue and J's - matching pinapple slicers.

Brook and Oli's XXXmas cocktail party (more photos).

What is it? Kong He Fat Cow or somethin?

With Australia day so close to Chinese New Year this year, we doubled up the celebrations with an aussie chinese experience at Chans Paradise (the name says it all!). There is something comforting about boneless lemon chicken, fried rice and prawn toast with a big bowl of sweet and sour dipping sauce - you can't call yourself a true Australian till you have had the road trip country chinese meal!

Chans Paradise was delicious and fueled by a more than adequate supply of wine and topped off by the requisite fried icecream we all had a fantastic Chinese New Year.

Kong Xi Fat Choi!

More Photos...

A quiet Australia day

Spent the day watching gay cowboys.

Could have called it a day after the festivies of the night before but Sam Kekovitch told me I had to eat lamb so I headed to Hannah and Angus' for an ol fashioned Aussie Day barbie. Very relaxing and Angus' marinated lamb steaks would have done Sam proud!

Commemorating the bard

See you jimmy!

Last wednesday night was the birthday of Robert Burns - the national poet of Scotland. To celebrate I went to a Burns supper - an excuse to crack open the whiskey and get into an old fashioned scottish feast of haggis, neeps, tatties - and my favourite - the trifle!

The ritual was started by close friends of Burns a few years after his death in 1796 as a tribute to his memory. The basic format for the evening has remained unchanged since that time and begins when the chairman invites the company to receive the haggis.

Duncan and Gill cooked up a fantastic meal complete with haggis which was "introduced" by Al with the traditional Burns verse.

We all dressed up and took on scottish names. I was Gràinne, which translates as she who inspires terror. I had trouble on the night remembering others names (and the whiskey has made sure that I dont remember any of them now!), all except for fat bastard - but he was rather obvious (see the photos to see what I mean!).

Christmas Day

We celebrated Christmas day at my auntie and uncles place this year. I took my gingerbread house along, I am amazed anyone had room for lollies after ham, chicken and everything else! So stuffed - but it wouldn't be christmas if wasn't.

Lollies!


All gone.


The family with silly hats

Mum and Dad

Sunday Social Christmas Party

J and his women

Photos are finally up - will let them speak for themselves - Christmas hats were the look of the evening and many a beverage was consumed!

Happy New Beer

Had a wonderful but very busy Christmas and New Year. Christmas Eve Eve with the Sunday social gang in Balmain, Christmas eve in the gong, Christmas with the fam in Ryde, move to Russell Lea (complete with the requisite removalist dramas - they didn't show up!) and 4 nights at Swansea heads.

Took lots of photos on my new Christmas camera (thanks Brent!!) but am sans-internet at home at the moment (due to the provisioning department at Primus who never cease to amaze me with their empty promises of overnight connections) so I can't post them :(. I forgot just how painful moving is!

A Happy Christmas

You might have noticed a lack of entries lately. Well, I have been busy! On top of the usual christmas celebrations I have managed to organise myself a new job and a new home for the new year!

Brent and I are busy packing to move to Russell Lea between christmas and new years. The new place has a pool, spa, sauna, gym, tennis courts, ducted air con, dishwasher, gas appliances, ensuite and a partridge in a pear tree. Resort style living, so they say.

As for the job, I am starting at department of commerce sometime in January. Can't wait - it is certainly time for a change.

2 Reasons to be cheerful!

Gingerbread Houses for Christmas

Finished houses

Last friday Heather invited us to learn to make gingerbread houses at her church. We were given pre made gingerbread for the walls and roof and let loose with an improvised piping bag and an assortment of lollies.

There were some obvious gingerbread house experts about. I was amazed at the variety of designs around the room. There were trees and gardens and all sorts of window boxes and intricate tiling. Sarah, who has been making gingerbread houses since she was a kid, even managed to construct a dog and a kennel.

The best bit is (apart from sneaking lollies on the night) you get to take your house home and share it with the family on christmas day - it is making my unit look very festive already displayed in my living room.

Halloweeeen

Finished pumpkins

Sue and J threw a belated Halloweeen party on Saturday night complete with pumpkin carving and a very creative and ghoulish dinner.

These are the finished pumpkins - from left to right, Jess, Alison, Sue and Sarah. The boys thought pumpkin carving was for kids and instead spent most of the playing with dry ice.

More photos are here.

To be thankfull for

Thank you for good food, good wine, good health, good fortune and most of all, good friends.

It is Canandian Thanksgiving today. What a great holiday, a holiday to give thanks for all the good things. I have been a bit negative of late but tonight lifted my spirits (hmm, damn you red wine of truth!).

Celebrations at the Campbell residence...

before...


after...

Happy Canada Day Eh?

Sarah and Duncan hosted a celebration of all things Canadian on Saturday night to mark Canada Day (well it's really the 1st of July but with the time difference it was still Canada Day in Canada)

Along with lots of "ehs", The Tea Party and (ehem) Avril Lavigne, Canadian jokes, talk of hockey and snowboarding, double fisting, and maple leaves, we got to savor a number of canadian delicacies, including

• Kraft Dinner (the students favorite at 25c a box)
• Duncan's Severed dick (a camping food consisting of sausage and HP sauce - and if you were thinking otherwise - shame on you!)
• The "crisp glacier-fresh taste" of Kokanee beer and
• Nanaimo bars (choc coconut slice)

Was a awesome night eh - thanks Canadians!

A REAL Canadian	Canadian delicacy
BBQ Boys	Kips all dressed up for the occasion

Also, big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Angus, Angus and Dave.

New Years 04/05 on the beach at Norah Head