Cold Play X & Y

Cold Play concert at the Sydney Entertainment Center.
Great venue and one of the best concerts we've ever been too! Cold Play rock.
It was a big Monday: Work, Boot Camp, Cold Play the Australia vs Italy - shame they went out great day though.

A Long Weekend in Fiji

OMG...... that was one of the best long weekends ever!
K and I had a trip over to Fiji for the Queens Birthday long weekend. It was a kind of scouting mission to look at the plan of having our wedding over there next autumn (BST).
We had origionally said Oct 2007, but it seems School Holidays for NZ and Aus are in Oct/ late September, so most likely dates we are looking at is mid-Late September 2007........ we'll keep you posted..................
We caught up with Rob Jo and their boys, and even Rob's parents!, for one evening down on the Coral coast, shame they aren't planning on staying in Fiji now as we could have all dossed with them over the wedding time ;) hehehe just kidding.

Winter in ShellHarbour

This is and example of what we love about Australia...... 'Winter in Shellharbour' (where K grew up), beats winter in Aberdeen as a student hands down, I can tell you.

Just popped down for the weekend to say hi..... G watching the surfers.

Kangaroo Valley and Fitzroy Falls

Since Australia has two long weekends back to back K and I decided to use the second one (plus an extra day) to go camping in Kangaroo Valley, Southern Highlands. It's only about 1 hour from where K grew up and is beautiful.

The days were sunny and warm about 25 degrees but the nights dropped to about 2-3 degrees quite a shock for us after such a hot summer here. Luckily we were well prepared, still a scout at heart me. Dan (or Suntan as he likes to be known, one of my mates from work, a Canadian and mean Bike rider) decided to join us for our downhill mountain bike ride on the Sunday. It was a 3 hour early morning drive from Manly for the lad. We got a bus ride up to Fitzroy Falls with the guide and given our bikes and a trail to follow back down. Dan said it was "entry level, but good fun". K said "oh my god I nearly died!" she went over the handle bars twice. I said "wwwooaaahhh and aahhhhh and ffuuuucccckkk and wwwwweeeeeee" trying to keep up with Dan and his tricks!

We had a well earned beer or 2 after that 12km downhill.

On the way back we visited Mossvale - Highland Wines, Robertson's The Big Potatoe and Cheese Factory (Don's House). On Tuesday we had a good Anzac day playing 2-up with our mates in ShellHarbour (if you don't know what 2-up is for Anzac day then Google it!).

Rolling Stones Concert Sydney Telstra Dome

We took K's parents to the see the Stones at the Olympic dome, first time I'd been in there. It's quite an impressive stadium! We were on the first tier opposite the stage as you can see from the picture. They were really good, can't believe 64 year olds can rock so hard..... come on Dad keep up...I'd have a hard time keeping up with Mick heheheA mate of mine from work, Steve, managed to get pre show party entry the night before and said they were partying with Mick until 5am, and yes they are still on the Bolivian marching powder by the way!

Later that night..... The stage lifted up and transported them to the middle of the stadium... how cool is that.

Storm Surge Hits Sydney East Coast

On the way to the station this morning and the waves were massive! Must be the aftermath of the recent cyclones up in Queensland?? You can even see the Westpac rescue helicopter in the background. Turned out some 15 year old had been swept out in the huge swell and couldn't get back in........ then we got the train to work..... boo!

So you can see it better. K has good taste huh?

Op shop party outfit........................

K's hand and the left ring finger!

Tuesday evening....... down the beach........ diamond ring........ sounds like a perfect opportunity. Yes it's real............. ;) and yes she said YES!

Superbikes Phillip Island 2006

The boys trip down to Phillip Island for the World Superbikes 2006 was once again, as last year, a great weekend. If you didn't see it you missed out. Dan and Andrew from my work came down with me and we met up with K's dad Frank and all his bike mates down there....... laugh?? did we...................! Dan good pictures bro!

Clive and Mel visit us in Cronulla

Good to see some more friendly faces from Norton Rose over in Oz. Clive and Mel pop in to Northies on their trip up the East Coast.

Deep sea fishing trip

Our mate Anthony had his boat ready for it's maiden voyage down in Kiama at the end of week one. Excellent, Ben, Matt, Gog, Antony and Shauna's man Jason went out for a fun filled Sunday. To catch food for Sunday night. We ended up eating out but it was a great boys day out..... cheers Anthony!

Boyz in Cronulla

Well it's been a crazy last 3 weeks with Matt, Tash, Christine, Robbie, Keira and Andy all showing up in the hood! Chris and Robbie flew in from Cape Town after Matt and Tash had been over for almost 2 weeks. It was good to see my big Sis and family again and we have had a blast..... so far as they are in NZ and Bris now back next week.
Cheers Brian for popping down from Brisbane on your holiday/ Honeymoon! hope Mel didn't mind to much and nice to meet Avi.

The Hunter Valley Wine Tour

Hot day to go for a wine tour on bikes, but we had fun. Last count was 7 wineries and about $500 in wine between us (the next day when we went back with the wagon). Hunter valley was a good few days and we then went and caught up with Scharpo and Sel with the arrival of their new son Aden in Terrigal. Well done guys! and Cheers

The City trips

Yes we took Matt and Tash to tourist places not just the pubs and the beach! K says touching the opera house gets you a fine! Matt Foskett, 1B, Watford Herts....

The Reunion

It was a crazy three week ride with Matt and Tash over here. Northies pub figured heavily ;)

Beer hat........ nice one

Beer hat, very handy whilst doing barbie :)

Tinted the wagon

Leaving the car out in the sun over here gets bloody hot inside so we got the windows tinted this morning....... looks fully sic huh?!