Zoom Zoom!

We picked up our shiny new car last week!!! I'm so excited because I have never owned a brand new car before (and probably won't for a long time to come!)

It is a gorgeous Indigo Lights (Dark Blue) Mazda 3 SP25.

Body style

Petrol Sedan

Engine
2.5 litre in-line 4 cylinder 16 valve DOHC S-VT

Max power
122 kW @ 6,000 rpm

Max torque
227 Nm @ 4,000 rpm

Fuel type
Regular unleaded (min. 91RON)

Fuel consumption
8.6 litres per 100km (manual)

Drive
Front-wheel drive

Transmission
6-speed manual

Key features
17 inch alloy wheels
Air-conditioning (dual-zone climate control)
Airbags SRS: front (driver and passenger), side (front) and curtain (front and rear)
AM/FM tuner with 6-disc CD player (MP3 compatible) and 6 speakers
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Bluetooth® audio (MP3 player compatible)
Body kit comprising: front and rear aero bumpers, side skirts and rear spoiler
Cruise control
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
Fog lamps (front)
Leather wrapped: gear shift knob and steering wheel
Multi information display with: ambient temperature gauge, Bluetooth® (hands-free compatible) , maintenance monitor, satellite navigation and trip computer
Power windows and mirrors
Remote central locking
Traction Control System (TCS)


I only understand about half of that stuff (mainly the CD stacker etc) but it sounds pretty impressive.

Very proud new owners!!

Farewell...Adieu....Au Revoir....

As our project slowly comes to a close the farewell drinks have started.

Basically it's just an excuse for eveyone to socialise, mingle and get very drunk!

We went all out and went to a swanky bar on King St Wharf. I had to go on my own because J was at home with the flu. Poor baby.

It was a pretty fun night. I got a little silly but thankfully didn't do anything to completely embarrass myself!

 

Stuart's wedding

Took a trip out to the Blue Mountains yesterday for Stuart's wedding. (Stuart is a friend of J's) It was a bit of a drive to get there but the venue was beautiful. It was at Chapel Hill Retreat which has it's own little chapel on site (as the name suggests) and the surrounding gardens were beautiful. We didn't stay at the Reception for long as we didn't know that many people but the ceremony was lovely. Short, sweet and Stuart even shed a little tear (which I imagine he will never live down!)


J & I (photo is a bit blurry!)


The boys (J, Fabian &Stuart)


Stuart and Kerry looking very happy

Girls Gone Wild!!!!

Girlie weekend on the Gold Coast!!! Such fun!!

It all started back around June when Harriott decided to plan a surprise weekend for Kaz because she had never been on a plane. As soon as Rina and I heard about it we immediately jumped on board. It was quite a challenge keeping it a secret from Kaz for the several weeks between the planning and the actual weekend. She knew something was happening but didn't know what had been planned or that Rina and I were going to be there!

We booked flights, arranged hotels and prepared for our girls weekend away.

Then right at the last minute....Kaz bailed! She called the day before and said she couldn't make it!! So disappointing!!! So we went without her!















The girlies when we first arrived at our hotel

We had a great time! Wandering around soaking in the sunshine and browsing the (fairly dodgy) shops of Surfers Paradise

We also tested out the hotels spa and pool and sampled many a cocktail at various places, including the Casino and in particular Titanium Bar where Harriott and I made friends with the bar tender and had cocktails invented especially for us!



















I struggled a little bit because I had a wisdom tooth removed a few days before (see previous post) and was in a fair amount of pain but I soldiered on for as long as I could! :)

The second day were there was very relaxing with Harriott and I spending most of our time laying beside the pool and reading. It was fantastic.

Eventually we had to leave which was both hard because we didn't want to leave the sunshine and relaxation but holidays can't last forever so you really appreciate them when you can!















Harriott at the Gold Coast airport

Oh the pain!!

Oh the pain...the incredible pain of it all!!!


I had a wisdom tooth out on Thursday and it is still incredibly painful!!

I have never had any major dental work (not even a filling!) so it was quite traumatic! Aside from the fact that it feels like the dentist was trying to remove a part of my jaw bone, when he gave me the anaesthetic he hit a nerve and it felt like an electric shock down my face!! Not pleasant!!

He kept telling me to relax so that along with the pain and extreme discomfort by the end of it I was ready to punch him!!

Then he proceeds to tell me I should have my other two wisdom teeth removed! Not bloody likely buddy!!!

The only reason I got the one removed when I did was because it was infected and painful! The other two are causing me no discomfort so they can stay where they are!!!

I now understand completely why people have such intense dislike for dentists!!!

Just call me Aunty!

My gorgeous new nephew has made his grand entrance into the world!

Introducing Aden Henry. He was born 24 minutes into the 30 July 2009. He was 53cm long and weighed 4.26kg or 9lb6.

He is just the cutest little thing. I call him my Buddha bubba. He has a squashed up little pudgy face that is just so adorable.

Of course, I am completely biased but I am allowed!!! :)

Congratulations to AJ and Az on their darling new arrival!! Wish I could be there with them!!!!

Delicious!

I am so proud of myself! I baked a meat pie on the weekend, totally from scratch! I made the filling and the pastry, which of course is not easy but it turned out great!! It tasted really good. So good in fact there was a minor argument in our household over who got to eat the last of it!

Because I tend to be quite messy when I cook/bake I got a new apron so that I stop ruining my clothes.

I wore it to bake the pie and felt like a little fifties housewife. It was quite funny and I had a little giggle to myself.

Leisey Maree

With the imminent arrival of my new niece/nephew it got me thinking about my gorgeous niece Annaleisa.

She was the first grandchild for Mum and Dad and my first niece.

She was so cute when she was really young with those big big blue eyes! As she gets older she still just as cute but still not much hair poor thing! That is a family trait, none of us had much hair when we were young and even then it was fine fine baby blonde wisps.

I wish I got to see her more often. I get so jealous of Bee sometimes because she gets to see her more often than AJ or I do. I can't wait for Christmas when I get to go home and see her!!!

Waiting....Waiting...Waiting...

Still waiting waiting waiting for the newest member of the clan to arrive. AJ was due on Tuesday and still hasn't had her bubba.

I know she is getting sick of everyone calling her asking if she has had the baby or telling her to hurry up. It is hard because we are all so excited!!!

Personally I can't can't can't wait for the bubba to arrive. They all call him/her "Russell" but I can't bring myself to call that poor unborn little bubba that, especially if it is a girl.

I guess we can't do anything but wait but it is very hard, expecially sinec I am not the most patient person around!! :)

Pretty New Apartment

This is my shiny new apartment. Actually we've been here for a few months now so it's not that new but I decided to take some pics over the weekend so i thought I would post some.

It's a very nice little unit. 2 beds, 2 baths, sunroom off second bedroom, balcony off the lounge room, kitchen (yes they are dirty dishes on my sink!! :) ) with a tiny little laundry in the back .

Of course it's not perfect. The kitchen is very small with not enough storage and i don't really like not having a proper clothes line but it's a pretty neat little place and I love living with J. This is the first time I've lived with someone that wasn't my family or a roommate. It's quite a learning experience but I really love it!! :)

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Happy Birthday to my Dad!!! It is my dads birthday today. Of course I can't spend it with him, being in another state and all, so I'm sending out big hugs to my daddy on his birthday!

Happy Birthday Big Bro!

Happy birthday to my big bro!!! My favourite big brother turns the big 3-0 today! I was sad that I couldn't spend it with him. We always had so much fun on birthdays as well as all the other times we went out but birthdays were pretty special!!! Huge hugs to Dorko on his birthday!!! MWAH!

I tried to find a decent photo of the two of us but couldn't find on so I have posted a photo from AJ's wedding a few years ago.

Yummy!!!

I made the best Lamb Shanks last night. It was a recipe that we got from AJ & Az when we visited them.

It was a bit of an effort to prepare them but they turned out fantastic!!!

Games Night

Had games night a Loz's. It was really great fun. Haven't seen her in a while so it was good to catch up and we also played board games, which I am great at!!!! :)

One of the games we played was Cranium, which is one of the most fun games ever!!! It is like a mix of charades, pictionary, trivial pursuit, word games with some craziness throw in! It also involves sketching pictures (some times with your eyes closed) and sculpture with Play-Doh.


Here are some truly spectacular outcomes from that game...try and guess what they are supposed to be!

(1)



















(2)




















(3)


















(4)

Visit from Bee

The week after we got back from Townsville Bee came to visit. Even though I had just seen her on her surprise visit it was good to see her. As usual, that sentiment only lasted the first few days and after that we got on each others nerves.

We did have fun though. We went to dinner with Kaz and Rina and then we went out on Oxford St, the gay centre of Sydney. It was quite an eye opener to walk into a bar full of gay women. Actually a bit intimidating.




































Bee under one of the gay pride flags that line Oxford St

Magnetic Island

While we were in Townsville we visited Magnetic Island for a few days.

We stayed at the Canopy Chalets which were just fantastic!

Magnetic Island was so beautiful and the weather was perfect. We hired pushbikes and scooters to tour the island. Had sore legs after the first day to bike riding (not really used to exercise!)




It was a nice little break and we didn't want to leave! But all good things must come to an end!

Holiday in T'ville

Spent the last two weeks visiting my sis in T'ville. It was really great to see her, especially since she is 8 months pregnant. It was kind of weird to see her with such a big belly.

My & AJ & Baby belly

It was really great to have a holiday though. It was also the first time that J met anyone in my family. It was slightly daunting but I think it went really well.





Also had AJ's baby shower while we were there and as a surprise for AJ, Mama & Bee showed up. I knew they were coming for several months and managed to keep my mouth shut! Quite a challenge for me!

The baby shower was a fun, but very busy and slightly crazy, afternoon. You can read all about it on AJ's blog, here.

We had such a great time and I can't wait for the next time I visit because that will be when my gorgeous little niece or nephew is born!!!