We got a boat!!!

After much searching and discounting of unsuitable boats (the one with cat poo and spiders particularly sticks in my mind!), Ian finally found a boat he was happy with. It could do with a bit of a tidy up having spent a year outside with no cover on (poor thing) but look how cleverly Ian has matched his clothing to the boat - it was meant to be! We might actually get it out on the water one day.

We got our boat licences

After months of debate and several arguments, we finally agreed that Ian could buy a boat. However, with neither of us actually having a licence to drive said boat, it seemed rather a good idea that we sort that out.

So off we went for a day in a local RSL club learning all about navigation buoys and rights of way (get out the way of big things and yachts!). The practical element of the course was disappointgly cancelled due to strong winds. In hindsight, 30 knot winds as a beginner would have been a bit scary! We drove straight to the only NSW Maritime place open on a Saturday and put in our applications. Et voila, a week later, our licences appear!!!

Girls Night Out

On what was going to be my last girls night out for a while (read on to find out why!), a group of us ventured over to Surry Hills for tapas at Emmilou. It was a lovely little place with the weirdest taste combinations I'd ever experienced - smokey bacon ice cream being the incredibly surprising favourite.

Once we'd had out fill of food and cocktails, we eventually directed our taxi driver (Sydney taxi drivers don't appear to know where anything is!) to the highly cheesy and hen/stag party filled Retro Hotel.

There the alcohol consumption continued which lead to dancing and incredibly sore feet (and head) in the morning!

Fun in Thailand

We'd acknowledged some time ago that we needed a holiday, especially since we realised that since we got married in 2000, we'd only had a 'proper' holiday once, and that was when we came to Oz - didn't seem to count somehow! As neither of us had been to Asia (apart from numerous stops through numerous airports) we decided on Thailand and Ian insisted on having a relaxing beach holiday. A friend recommended a resort in Phuket so that's where we ended up for 10 days.












The first few days we didn't leave the hotel and were quite content to lie by the pool, being brought cocktails and being massaged on our sun loungers, whilst listening to the waves breaking on the beach.

We did eventually venture outside and took in the varied and interesting sites on offer including the Simon Cabaret (drag show - mildly amusing - very targeted to the Japanese!), Patong (running the gauntlet of tailors, iguana tamers and hookers to find a safe pub), and the more beautiful sites of Phi Phi Island (where 'The Beach' was filmed) and Phang Na Bay (home of James Bond Island' from 'Dr No'). Had a fabulously relaxing time and would definitely recommend it.

John & Donna come to stay

As Donna was about 6 months pregnant, John & Donna decided to escape the warmth of their Sunshine Coast home and come for one last break away before baby.

They been given some free nights at a nice hotel in the city but stayed with us for one night, for a mini trip down memory lane in their old home, Manly. Had a lovely dinner at Whitewater, followed by a few stops at Manly's range of pubs, including the Beer Keller.

Ned Kelly Country

Work took me to a conference in the Northern Victorian town of Benalla. Whilst the town itself was nothing particualrly remarkable (nice country town though), my route back to Sydney required a drive across the border to the nearest airport in Albury. I was vaguely aware that Ned Kelly had something to do with the local area so just followed the tourist signs off the Hume highway and took a slight detour into the town of Glenrowan, site of Ned Kelly's last stand in 1880. I didn't have the time to actually look at much of the Ned Kelly themed tourist attractions but took a few shots of what was there.

Mel's Leaving BBQ

Unfortunately, the lovely Mel had to leave us (and Susan and Mary) and return to England so we had an Aussie themed BBQ in her honour.

Good luck back at home, Mel!!