Celebrations

Looks like last year’s non-resolutions were winners – I’m sticking with them again this year.

Welcome, 2010!

Despite my Sixteen Candles (plus eight) moment, where my family forgot my birthday, I had a great birthday on Saturday.

My other half took me out to brunch (after first dragging my arse to gym), followed by a trip to the museum, a nap, and then dinner with good friends.

Happy 24th Birthday to Me! It’s going to be a wonderful year.

Photo Credit: Flickr

Happy Australia Day!

It’s one of my most favourite days of the year.

This year we kicked it off with the usual 5km Fun Run down by the beach at 7am … The hill did not defeat me this year!

I stupidly told my Touch Football Coach that I would play in his team for the Knockout Tournament in the afternoon – of course I thought we’d be out in the first round. We won the Grand Final, five games later.

I don’t know how I’m going to walk tomorrow *grimace*

Just received some particularly exciting news – my beautiful friend K is being induced tonight. There will be a real baby sometime over the next day or so!

I wish for her a safe, and healthy delivery of the babe *nods*

And can’t wait to meet Baby when I’m in Sydney next month!

xoxo

Our last morning in Sydney. We were up and in the spa at Turbines before 7am. It wasn’t nearly as hot as when we first tried it back at Easter, but it was relaxing and a great way to wake up all the same. After a delicious breakfast at Astral on the 17th floor, Nick and I headed into the City to catch the train out to Bondi.

A trip to Sydney wouldn’t be the same without stopping in at the Foot Haven in Bondi Westfield for our 40 minute reflexology foot massage, and as it was still early they were able to fit us in straight away. After quick browse through David Jones, we were catching a bus down to Bondi Beach… We were meeting up with a wedding consultant at the Swiss Grand Resort!

Sara was lovely. She showed us some amazing photographs, and answered all of our questions with confidence. We liked! But at the same time we didn’t want to appear “too” keen… although it was hard not to! We booked the rooftop overlooking Bondi Beach for our ceremony, and the Bellevue Terrace for the reception. November 7th 2009. It all seems so real now!

After a little shopping in the Pitt St Mall, another spa at Turbines, and a quick shower, it was time to pack up (which didn’t take long!), and head back to the airport *sniff* I’m always sad to leave Sydney.

Unfortunately, even best laid plans don’t always go the way we’d hoped… We were due to depart at 1940 and arrive back in Darwin by 2230 – meaning that we’d get enough sleep to be able to function at work the next day. However, the Sydney skies had other plans! The weather was miserable (which is strangely when I’m at my happiest), and was preventing incoming and outbound flights. We were delayed for almost two hours, but QANTAS were very good at keeping everybody informed. I really felt for the flight attendants, they looked so frustrated.

Soon enough we were on the plane, and on our way home. Another uneventful flight (just the way I like them), and just as I’d predicted, the humidity on arrival sucked the breath right out of both Nick and I. We were home. My birthday weekend was over.

xoxo

After finally drifting off at some ungodly hour Saturday night/Sunday morning (as sleep and I aren’t getting along of late), the alarm went off at 5am for our road trip out to Newcastle!

It wouldn’t run with the theme if the navigator didn’t have us driving around in circles, and true to form, we drove around Chatswood for a good half an hour before deciding to defy the instructions to turn left, and continued straight instead! It wasn’t long before we were well and truly on our way!

I wish I’d thought to have my camera out, because there were some truly amazing photo opportunities along the way! I will definitely have to remember for next time! The drive out was pleasant, and after a stop in at the McCafe for coffee, we were all feeling more awake!

First stop was at my Aunt’s house to catch up with her and the family! … I can’t believe how much Tully and Zac have grown in just six short months! They’re really shooting up now, and the things that they come out with! Zac is really speaking now, and Tully’s vocab blew me away! What kind of four year old comes out with words like “enchantress”?! *giggle* It was so good to see them all again, and Belinda even made blueberry muffins! I haven’t had a muffin in forever – it was so good!

Unfortunately it was a bit of a drizzly day, so we couldn’t spend the morning at the beach, but they did give us a bit of a tour of one of the beaches, and showed us the kids bathing pool. After getting stuck under an awning when the rain really started to come down, it was time to go again…. The drove in front of us for a little way, so that we knew we were on the right road, and after a few hugs it was time to say goodbye! I look forward to moving down to Sydney so that I can see them more regularly, that’s for sure.

We drove out to The Bay to catch up with Gina, Craig, Georji, and their newest addition – Griffin! It was really good to see them again, and to meet little Griff! In usual Georji style, she went shy for a little while, before fairly coming out of her shell, and showing me a lot of her artwork. I can’t believe she’s only three! She’s grown so much since I last saw her, and she’s more talkative than ever! And what does she want to be when she grows up? A Queen!

After lunch and a good catch up with everyone, they showed us around a little, before we went down to the RSL to sit and chat some more. Some RSL! It looked like something the Hyatt would own! It’s undergoing some renovations at the moment, and it’s probably one of the most upmarket RSL’s that I have ever seen. I was fairly blown away!

Before I knew it, it was getting late, and we had to leave to drive Kate back into Sydney to catch her plane back to Melbourne. Words really can’t explain how great it was to see everyone again. I miss them all so much. And every time I visit, I can’t get over how much the kids have all grown. I can’t wait to live closer!

The drive back to Sydney wasn’t as stressful as I was worried it might have been, but it was certainly busier than the drive out. My back was really starting to hurt, but after a stop in at the Caltex on the way back for some dinner, I was ready to go. We managed to get Kate to the airport on time, and returned the hire car without a hitch! A quick taxi ride back to Star City, and I was more than ready for bed…

xoxo

After much primping and preening, and being taken in all sorts of directions by our navigator (you’d think we’d learn!), Kate, Robyn, Tanya and I arrived at the Acer Arena. We were there for Hilary Duff.

While munching down on cheeseburgers and hotdogs, we agreed that one girl in particular really needed to add some material to her dress. You could almost see what she had for breakfast *shrug* Minutes later, we heard girls running and screaming, and that was our cue to take our seats…. The girl we’d called a “skank alert” on? It was Ricki-Lee! From Australian Idol! Oops!

I’ve never much been into Ricki-Lee, but she was pretty good live! She was charismatic, and her voice was much stronger than on any CD. She really wowed the crowd! If I were her, I would have wanted to strangle my costume manager though – while having a short dress really isn’t so bad (and it was a very nice dress), it probably wasn’t the best choice for somebody as busty as Ricki-Lee! There were several occasions where she almost “spilled” over *shock* The poor woman was trying to discreetly hitch up her dress, which must have been hard to do with 50,000 or so eyes (well 100,000 when you consider we’ve got two, ha!) on her!

Hilary Duff was AMAZING. A million times better than what I was expecting. I get the feeling that she’s really trying to move away from the preconceived image that many have of her. She and her dancers were scantily clad, the dance moves were rather risqué, and while she played some old favourites, there was a strong dance feel to her new album. The light show was phenomenal, and the crowd was so… intense. Who would have thought a bunch of six year olds could make that much noise?! Even Hilary Duff seemed blown away by the intensity of it all. There were a few noticeable grimaces as she held her ear-piece when the crowd lost all control, and she seemed absolutely speechless! It was nice to hear her thank Australia for all our support with both her movies and her music though… and gosh is she a pretty young thing! Despite all the headlines of her being “too thin” and “anorexic”, she looked perfect. She was healthy, toned, and absolutely beaming. Almost makes you wonder how much truth (and how much photoshopping) there is in those tabloids (ha! – isn’t that just an oxymoron…)!