Boxing Day - Fun with Karl & Jayne

Another 2 things crossed off the list - watching a Boxing Day Test (that was for Chalky as I've seen plenty of Boxing Day tests!) and seeing the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Karl & Jayne live in Manly and from their apartment we had great access to a local park where we could watch the boats heading out the heads. The harbour was filled with boats and looked quite a picture.

Back to their apartment where we played with Karl's new toy - a Wii from Nintendo, a few tennis challenges - quite entertaining - especially Bek's backhanded serve! Chalky's highlight being beating 3 boxing challengers in the first round. (what is a Wii - it's a controller for an electronic game where you make lifelike movements (serving, punching, backhands etc) in your loungeroom and the characters on the television move just like you!)

More friends arrived, new faces for us and lots of northern hemisphere accents, Jayne & Karl put on a great spread of salads, bread, potatoes, corn and a barbeque. With everyone's appetites fixed we headed down to the pool and the harbour to cool off. Their apartment block has the largest pool in Sydney that juts out into the sea, it's stunning to be swimming in a pool and to hear the crash of waves next to you and ferries passing by as well.

We all did some stunt diving with someone tossing up the ball for someone else to try to head or kick before they landed in the pool, the only problem was when you're heading a ball the end result is usually a belly flop into the water ... OUCH!

Chalky and Karl did a little snorkelling in the sea and quite quickly nearly 7 hours had passed. A fantastic Boxing Day. What did you all get up to????

Christmas Night

The good times continued at Anthony Road, Trav had set a beautiful table, Mum had cooked the traditional Oriental Pork that we all love, the lamb was roasting in the barbeque and Chalky was on the case with some Yorkshire Puddings.

Yorkshires Rising in the oven - they were beauties!

First things first - presents to exchange and presents to open. Santa was good to us all this year and we all got some lovely thoughtful gifts. Dad entertained us with never-ending 'Why did the chicken' jokes - most of which we just didn't get!

Dinner was delicious and as usual we all ate too much, after dinner we played Taboo - Dan & Trav were good first time players and ended up the winners, Mum and Dad were a little slower picking up the game but had a few good rounds although dad's tactics and clues would be contested on any other day of the year!

How quickly time passes, after some home made berry icecream served with fresh berries we made a call to England to hear how Isla was enjoying her first Christmas, just as our celebrations were ending you were all starting.
An exhausting day but one of the best Christmases we've shared. Chalky was particularly happy to not only tick off his list - "Christmas on the Beach'' but to have started a new precident for years to come.

Christmas Morning

Most days it's a struggle to get Chalky up and out of bed, especially on days after he's had a few drinks at the pub with his mates, but not on Christmas Day - everyone gets up early don't they? Well they do when my mum phones up at 8.20am to start the good wishes! But really Chalky was up early to meet Mick Malone on the golf course to start his day with a quick 9 holes - for free since no pro's were up to take the course fees so Chalky was a very happy Yorkshireman on Christmas morning.

At around midday we met up with Karl & Jayne for Christmas Brunch on Balmoral Beach. We set up on the island at Balmoral looking at the beach, Bather's Pavillion (Joan's favourite restaurant in Sydney) and the water. We snacked (as you do) on smoked salmon, salad, bread rolls, cream cheese, freshly baked mixed berry muffins, fruit salad and drank fresh juice. Chalky & Karl did some swimming while Jayne & I chatted and relaxed in the sunshine. Of course we toasted the day with a glass of champagne, Chalk did the honours opening the champagne, it was a little too keen to be drunk because as soon as he'd removed the cage around the cork the cork flew out of the bottle right into his cheekbone, a good thing it didn't fly a little higher and take out his eye!

As they say, all good things must come to an end and it was time for us to continue our Christmas celebrations with Mum, Dad, Trav, Daniel & Rugby .

A fabulous start to Christmas so far!

Bek sees the Queen

A break up from work treat and since we know we've got lots of drinking ahead of us (after 28th when Garth arrives) we decided to make it alcohol free and so we dashed to the City to see Helen Mirren in Queen. A great surprise from Chalky and quite a good film although I don't think it was worth seeing it on the big screen. After the film we wandered around Sydney to view the light show on the buildings & David Jones' Christmas windows.

One of the light show scenes - The Con

Hyde Park Barracks in the Dreamtime

We thought all the buildings looked good but voted the Conservatorium of Music the best. Last weekend before Christmas, lots to do... Merry Christmas Everyone!

Our Favourite Light show

Christmas Celebrations Begin

I was the only one who was still working but Gareth, Marilyn & Chalky were all quite in the festive spirit for an impromptu barbeque and then the challenge of a game of Taboo. Gareth & Mar were Taboo virgins and old timers like Chalky and I kicked their butts. So round 2 we mixed it up with Chalky & Mar teaming together and Gareth and I. Common losing denominator was Gareth! For a man with so many words he was lost for them a few times whilst trying to describe things to me! We all had plenty of food, plenty of laughs and quite a few wines! Merry Christmas Mar, who is going to Eden to see her family. See you when you get back and I'm sure we'll be seeing more of Gareth...Taboo round 2 sees Girls VS Boys! Bring it on.

It's beginning to look a LITTLE like Christmas!

Today is officially 1 week since Chalky's Birthday which means we can start getting festive. We have put the tree up and started playing Christmas songs but I have to say after 4 years with cold Christmases it's hard to get into the swing of a hot Christmas, it just doesn't feel the same. I think it's because the nights are lighter, you don't see everyone's Christmas trees twinkling in their front windows and I miss the hot chocolate at Betty's. But as much as it may not feel like Christmas, I wouldn't swap our January for yours!



We're both starting to get quite excited about Garth's arrival which is only 11 days away. Nellie is also looking forward to meeting her English Grandad, she's hoping Isla has mellowed him, Chalky and Auntie Lesley have been warning her that she might get a smack at meal times if she doesn't behave!
The itinerary is done and it looks like we're going to have a great few weeks! You'll have to check his blog for all the adventures (address will be posted later). One week till Santa comes, I'm off to bed.

New Dart Board - Pa Beware

Today has been a very steady day, nice lie in, an afternoon putting up the dart board and the early evening spent playing like a world champion. After peppering the treble 20 all afternoon, scoring a few 140's and several tons I notched my first 180 on my new board after about 2 hours play. All I can say is after a first day 180, watch out Pa, you could have as much success on Australian soil as the English cricket team, as I write, Panesar has just been hit for 24 off 1 over by Adam Gilchrist, 3 sixes, 1 four and 2 runs.

If any of you doubting Thomases don't believe all those darts are in the treble 20 look below.

Anyway this Blog isn't just about me, Bek says hello!!

Dinner With the Blackwell Family

This time last year they were 2, now they are 3 and lucky for us little Amy woke up for a feed before we left. She was asleep for the first time in her big cot tonight with one little arm out of the covers and a curl on the top of her head - she was so cute. Robbie & Nick's house looks very festive with the Christmas tree and lights on the balcony. As always we enjoyed a taste sensation dinner - lamb salad and having learned my lesson from last time (when I got a telling off from Chalky for bringing a bread dessert) I didn't buy dessert from Bakers Delight instead made a mars bar cheesecake.

A great evening topped off by Amy meeting the Nellies and showing us how she likes to dance on the table! Merry Christmas Robbie, Nicko & Amy and have a safe trip up to Queensland. Thanks also for our Christmas pressie - a pasta maker, we'll have you over for dinner next time...wonder what will be on the menu???

Gigja In Sydney

Gigja has had 3 weeks in Australia mostly in Melbourne & Tasmania with an Au Pair she met in DC. With just 2 full days in Sydney the pressure was on to show her the best sights. We decided on Bondi Beach, of course including some of the walk so we parked the car at Bronte and walked along the coast to Bondi.

The water was a VERY chilly 17 degrees so Gigja and I didn't last very long. It was a really hot day so we dried off while brave Chalky stayed as long as he could in the water just so we felt like wimps!

Hunger meant it was time to leave the beach and so we headed up to Campbell Parade to find a suitable cafe to eat at - we found a place that had bed booths so we could all stretch out in comfort and relax while our hamburgers were being cooked!

The sun and all our partying on the weekend meant we were pretty exhausted the threat of a thunderstorm made it an easy decision to stay at home and so we had a bbq for dinner and just chilled. Gigja looked through my creative memories album of our trip in America and we all laughing remembering some of the fun we had.

We were both working on Tuesday so we directed Gigja to the train station and she did some shopping and explored Sydney. After work we headed into the city and shared a bottle of bubbly at Opera Bar with the harbour bridge our backdrop.

A ferry ride to Darling Harbour was next where we had some dinner at Bungalow 8 bar on King St Wharf.

Gigja has decided that next time she's in Sydney she'll be climbing the harbour bridge, she even gave us a quote in case we wanted to have an Au Pair when we have children!

It was a surprise to have Gigja in Sydney and really lovely to show her around, we're looking forward to when we're in Iceland for the Lobster Festival! Gigja have a safe trip back to Iceland via India and a really fantastic Christmas & New Year, give our love to Alla & Fiola!

Happy Birthday Chalky!

Well as you can imagine we weren't up early! Chalky had a few presents to open, both the Nellie's had been shopping for him - they are clever koala's getting him Chocolate Orange and Rochers. Chalky took early delivery of his presents from his mum when she was here on holiday, some new shirts casual and smart. He'll take a later delivery on presents from the rest of his family when Garth arrives on 28th December.

I bought him a new dart board with blades rather than the staples so I'm sure the competition will be quite tough in January when it's father vs son!

After a late brunch at a local cafe we met up with friends at Cabana Bar for drinks and birthday cheers. To redeem my sinking cake I made Chalky some chocolate muffins and re-used Joan's candles!

We finished the night at Sydney airport picking up Gigja, our friend from Iceland who we met while travelling in the USA last year. After all this celebrating I'm glad to have Monday off work!

Happy Birthday Eve Chalky!

Chalky's birthday celebrations began early with a fish & chip treat tea on Thursday, he then met me for lunch at work on Friday and again another treat lunch (Oporto's Chicken!). Mum and dad came over for a BBQ & cake on Friday night. Chalky loved his present from mum & dad (so did I) it's a light for the barbeque so he can see while he's cooking our dinner!
I've been experimenting cooking Flourless Chocolate Cakes - made with eggs, Lindt chocolate and butter and it rises really well in the oven but once it gets out and cools it starts to sink and this is only the 2nd cake I've made and it was quite a disaster, but as they say looks aren't everything, once it had some icing sugar dusting, fresh raspberries and Joan's Happy Birthday candles she left with me I think it came off ok??? It tasted devine anyway!

Saturday activities were dominated by ROBBIE WILLIAMS in concert. Gareth & Marilyn joined us for a pre-concert barbeque (no light required). We had a few beers before the concert started and then headed for the oval for the show to begin. The concert was good but it can't compare to being at Knebworth for his concert with Joan & Les. I don't think Robbie had the same passion for the Sydney crowd as he did for a home crowd. The best thing was that we stayed until he'd sung Angels whereas at Knebworth Chalky had us running back to the car to get a quick get away. His last song was actually Kids and the rumour is that Kylie will join him in Melbourne for the concert! Bugger!

After the concert we headed to Paddington to have a few drinks, the first pub we stopped in was Irish and there were some scary characters in there...all very drunk and very fancy dressed! We only hung around for 1 drink before we headed further up Oxford Street to what was Kitty O'Shea's. By this time Sarah had joined us and Karl & Jayne weren't too far away either. We sung Happy Birthday at midnight and were home for around 2.30am when we called Joan & Isla and Kimbo for some birthday chats.

Nellie's In School

While flicking through the Foxtel TV Guide one Sunday night we found a program for the Nellie's to watch - all about Koala safety! There was a story of one koala who was raised in a family and every night he'd come out of his tree, up the front stairs, in the front door and straight to the mummy of the house for a bottle of milk! It was really cute! (But not as cute as Nellie!)

The Nellie's have been much better behaved lately and we found Nellie writing out her list to Santa the other day while flicking through the department catalogues! She's put a new racing bike in the same frame size as Chalky on her wish list...wonder if she's been good enough?