English rain...and blighty

WEll it's 4.25 am, yesterday was supposed to be a visit to the Blue Mountains, but unfortunately it had to be cancelled due to the weather, its pored down all all day, in fact its still raining now as I type, so it was a home day, a lazy day, just posted stuff to RD and Uncle Ray.

Once Macca realised we were home and hadn't been out, he took us out for a meal, I still haven't got used to restaurants where you take your own beer or wine, good idea tho!!

Today I'm supposed to get up early, as we are supposedly off to a dawn ANZAC parade,
(Anzac=Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Anzac day is huge here, its a holiday and most places are closed until after lunch.. "ANZAC Day - 25 April - marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. See I am being educated here, its not just a holiday. But as I sit here, wide awake and ready to go...Libby and Macca are fast asleep!!

Today is my last full day here, you'll never guess where I'm off to be tonight (watch this space!!) I've enjoyed every experience of the Aussie life, and I am going to return, hopefully next time I shall go to Perth, which is where I've always wanted to go, but couldn't get to this time, but now I've done the trip, I might just backpack around Perth then fly across here next time, there's so much I'd like to see, Ayres Rock, Cairnes, and the Barrier Reef.

Going home tomorrow is filled with mixed feelings, it means back to reality and things I have to sort, it means back to work and the pressures there, life here is just so laid back. And it means back to what I think will be a house that will take me weeks to catch up on, I doubt the washing and ironing, vaccuuming,dusting, polishing and garden or in fact much has been done...I'll wait and see.

But one thing I have missed most of all is my kids, they have been in my thoughts everyday, I've seen places they'd love, things I know theyd have wanted, and I think both would like it over here. So a big hug is in order for both of em, even if they do try and wriggle out of my grasp :)

23rd April I am proud to...

announce
Jessica Pamela Makin
hmpffffffffffffff I haven't even made it as a middle name
made her debut
23rd April 2007
at 3.49pm
weighing 9 lbs 10 ozs

and I am..............too far away to visit ...wahhhhhhhhhhhh

Congratulations to you all.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Monday..Sickness illness and PAIN

Woke up this morning expecting to have a helluva headache, but nope, head was fine, veins were intact and no alcohol addiction. But I've woke up to a stinking cold, absolutely full of it, and to make matters worse, it's rained again most of the day, I think it's been ordered by the Aussies to prepare me for my trip back home.


Well this morning I took myself off to the city, missed the first 3 buses but finally managed to flag one down and get myself as far as Manly Wharf and on the ferry. Well girls, there I am sat on my own when next to me sits this...one can only describe him as a "thing". Baldheaded, hairy arms, shoes with platform soles as he's only about 4ft 6 and he keeps looking in my direction, I glance a look and well I'm not showing anything I shouldn't but he still keeps staring. then when I rise to get off the ferry I have to pass by him and he gives one of those leacherous smiles. Then follows me off the ferry and stays close enough for me to feel his presence over my shoulder.... A quick move to the left then the right and dart up a street and I'm too fast for his short arse to follow...haha


I got to see the War Memorial and the fountain and do a little retail therapy, something for RM and RD and treated myself to a black leather photo frame, which I shall have to mail to myself. I darent even try and weigh my case yet. Saw a lovely thing for Dad whilst I was shopping nearly bought it then realisation kicked in and I felt my eyes prickling so made my exit. When Stephen and I were younger Dad used to have a magic wallet and he loved playing the trick with it, and today I came across a credit card version...it would've made Dad smile.



Lib came into Sydney to meet me and we had lunch and browsed but it kept pouring down with rain and I hadn't set off with either a coat or a cardi, so we had to find a shop where I could buy a tshirt as mine was wet and I looked like I was doing a wet tshirt competition.


We headed to Hyde Park and watched 2 guys play chess, R & R would have liked to play I bet. Then we headed off back to the Mall and went in for a massage.... think they were chinese, I'd like to say it was pleasant, but it was 30 minutes of torture. I was prodded poked elbowed kneaded and rubbed in the most painful ways, all I kept thinking was, for christs sake which one of us had this STUPID idea....errr yes...it was my idea... must remind myself to engage brain before I open my mouth. I bruise at the drop of a hat anyway, so god knows what I look like now, I'm avoiding the mirrors, however I do feel fine....at the moment!!

Sunday what a ripper of a day

Lets see, it started with me getting past the locked gates and heading for a morning walk, how healthy and good was that !!.... got to the newsagents and got a Mars Bar :) ohhh and a few postcards. Wandered the streets a little while, as I hadn't actually seen the local shops.

Macca and Libby were arranging a BBQ or should I now say Barbie, a real Aussie one, so off Libby and I went, and I decided that my contribution would be the meat, and got myself a chicken breast whilst the rest were going to eat red meat. Any way, they had invited some friends round, Leonie and Pete, and John. Libby and Macca prepared the feast and left me to just laze and shower and make myself look....gorgeous....haha well I tried even if I didnt succeed, the guests brought wine...and PRAWNS... fear gripped me as I hadn't ever eaten a prawn and I knew Libby wanted me to go home having tried them :(

It's raining ..men

The heavens opened as we were about to sit down, ahhh cant beat a bit of rain during a BBQ.....it was like being back home but there wasn't a burger or sausage in sight, they eat many courses, first it was cheeses and wafer biscuits, then a selection of olives(yuk I tried and spat it out ) salami and stuff with a funny name...but was basially peppers eggplant and stuff i forget...but tasted of wet newspaper, but I loved the cheeses and the peppers and eggplant, its bought from the local italian deli. Then came the.... pink things that filled me with fear .....the men had to promptly show me how to peel em, and men being men, they had to compete at who peeled the best !! Lib peeled one for me and left it on a plate for me to try, I left it there for sometime until no one was watching..then I went for it....YUKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK...soon had that spat out. Brits abroad huh....

Me holding the .....PRAWN

Anyway on to the best bit, Chicken marinated macca style...absolutely fantastic !! and this was followed by a great desert Lib made. What a great lunch even if I did let England down. The wine flowed freely through my veins.....and I thought I'd get to have a snooze later... OH NO...we then went off to the Surf Club for drinks... I was already tipsy...... I have to say it was a ripper of a day indeedy

Day out with Skye

Saturday we headed off to Libbys old house where the children now live, Libby took me to places that were her haunting ground where the kids grew up. Hurstville, some pretty places around there, I got to meet Skye and husband Dave, but Lauren and Rhett were both working.

What a nice girl, even bakes and I had 2 slices of a delicious cake whilst there...and fell in love with Nelson...the dog !

Skye, Lib and I headed off to one of those places with a long name I can't remember and will have to edit this post later when she's awake and can spell it for me. some more pretty spectacular sights thats for sure .. Could'nt flag this biker down to hitch a ride, so looks like its back to the car for me.... what an ace road tho!

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Bondi Man

Here he is girls, what you've all been waiting for.... Bondi Man, it truly was a disappointment, I went halfway around the world and I know from the movies that Bondi Beach is full of bronzed lifesavers.....BUT OH NO.. NOT THE DAY I GET THERE !!!.... so although I promised to send back to UK some photos of Aussie Adonisis (Bruces), I failed, I GOT THIS !! reminds me of England :)

Bondi Beach woweeeeeeeeeeee

Watch this space girls, its 2 am I'm tired and I havent time to download pics....but wait for it...
I went to Bondi Beach where all the bronzed "Bruce's" hang out and you wont beleive what photo I have for you all
So watch this space!!
The anticipation is 'TRULY" worth it

Canberra

Libby and I went off to Canberra, Australia’s youngest city, it is a recent development, especially built to be the Capital. We found a room at a Best Western, single beds of course : P And went off to explore everything the city had to offer. We went to the War memorial, and that itself was a pretty amazing place inside, displays were amazing, we took longer in there than I imagined or had planned for.

Went to Blundells Cottage where I found Libby's missing witches cauldron, unfortunately we arrived too late to get inside and when they saw us in the garden, they promptly closed the curtains..hahaha

We went to the Carillion which is across Lake Burley Griffin, and consists of 53 tuned bronze bells, this was a very peaceful place,

Then to Mt Ainslie and saw the views over the city. Then we went back and went out for a meal, sheesh the plate was huge and I was stuffed, we’d bought stuff for a girlie night in, but we ended up fast asleep with full bellys.
Next morning we woke, and was promptly greeted by the repair men as our toilet kept running water, they came to fix it, but didnt, so Libby once she was dressed called the men back….great!! I was still wrapped in a towel and dripping wet from a shower, so whilst they fixed it, muggins here had to wriggle and dress under the sheets!!



Then we went off and visited the Old Parliament House and the New Parliament House, lots of photo opportunities, even if Libby wouldn’t have her photo taken anywhere near and of OUR royalty …I still don’t understand politics..oh well

Then we did the tour of Embassies, of course we had to find the British one first!! And yes I did my rendition of God save the Queen and Rule Britannia
And of course the USA being true to form had to have the biggest and most secured…
After that we made our way back, about 3- 3and half hours back to Sydney.

Home and Away

Here’s one for mum and a few folks back home.
We went to Summer Bay, well we went there but its actually Palm Beach, Summer Bay doesn’t exist, but they were filming and we got to see Sally and Alf Stewart outside the surf club, I haven’t watched it for years so have no idea of anyone else. But we got to see Sally get run over by Alf Stewart. I rang Emma in Melbourne to tell her and she rang me back..ARGHHHH the phone went ring ring ring when it was all silent after a scene!!

Beyond the Summer Bay filming area was Barrenjoey Lighthouse, and I was told we would be walking to it. Then I was shown exactly where it was... right at the top of a steep cliff (Bugger!!)

and off we went. Up a track that had nothing but huge boulders, but I was told we could come down the easy way, the smugglers walkway here's some views from the top, I was too knackered taking any going up haha. If you look at the trail between the beaches, just beyond that is the surf club on the left, We started off on the trail then moved to the beach on the right and headed to the base of the cliff.

Wow last few days have been so hectic I haven't had time to post. Everything starts early and then at night your just so damn tired you go to bed earlier than in UK. At the moment I'm not sleeping to well anyway, can't seem to switch my problems off, and then when I am asleep...booooooom the traffic outside gets busy and then its 5.30 and the world outside seems to come alive....

Anyway I thought I'd show you more of Sydney, as I've just woke after 3 hours sleep it's 1 am ....so here ya go Sydney Opera House, a beautiful building, lit up at night it's amazing, in the daytime unless the sun is shining on it the sails don't look as white as you see in the pictures in books, the tiles close up are unusual in the way they are formed to catch and reflect the light.

And this is one of my favourites, it's on the Rocks, its a 3 sided monument, of the histroy of the people

1.Convicts 2.Soldiers.3 Settlers I just love the way the light hit this one. Makes it come alive, errie infact.