There have been some very important birthdays this June.
Firstly, Australia celebrated the Queens Birthday, and she gave us a public holiday to say thank you. That weekend we went out with the kids to a lovely pizza restaurant nearby called Mr Wolf, yummmo. Naturally with a few drinks before and after. The Rawsons had been up to see us on the Saturday, so we had a bite to eat and really quite a perfect weekend.
We saw Lily Allen also, which although it wasnt her birthday, she deserves a mention cos she was brilliant
Then it was my friend Trishs 40th birthday, she held a 1920's themed party in a function room in a pub in North Melbourne - Macky was a ganster, and I was his moll. We looked great if I say so myself. I had a dark bobbed wig and as soon as I put it on I was the double of Mammy Jordan! It was very funny how hair completely changes your look. We had a fab night with them in the speakeasy. Will link to the photos.
Then it was Maxi's 25th birthday, so we decided on an impromptu curry night, on a school night as well. We are crazy. The curry place we love is near where Corey lives, and he came along too. The Flavours of India is really more cafe then restaurant and has a BYO policy which really wins us over.
After that we went to a nearby 'colourful' pub which had a drag act on later on. I was introduced to the 'drag' (what is the correct term here please?) 'queen' maybe? And due to the amount of BYO I was only too keen to be on stage with him/her telling her all about us, and that Max was celebrating his 25th, and that Yes I was from the Mother Country, Newcastle upon Tyne to be precise.
We were playing pool and later, he/she came over (with the mike) and spoke to Maxi as part of his/her show. Just so happens at the time, Max & Macky were sitting next to each other, he/she asked if they were together, and playing up to the audience, and maybe to fit in, they said yes in a rather camp way. We were pissing ourselves until he/she looked at Macky and said "oooh dont you like em old" in a REALLY bitchy way. I think there was a bit of jealousy there. Poor love.
Then it was the start of MY birthday celebrations!! The Saturday before my big day we had an open house and invited people over to say bye as we are off on our travels. We had loads of fun playing games, eating food, drinking babbles and playing on the wii. Sal had brought up a huge cookie, so I had a happy birthday sung to me. Ahhhhh.
Then on my actual birthday, I went to work, for the last time for 6 weeks - what a birthday present!! Tonight we are setting off to come back to the Mother Country. A 15 hour leg to Dubai, then straight into Newcastle! What kind of present is that? 24hours or so on a plane, next to Macky with no escape!
Just kidding, Ill be fine as long as we get our leg room seats. Or even better, be cheeky and ask for an upgrade. Im going to use the old birthday/newly weds/terminal illness angle I think...and hope it doesnt backfire if they think we have swine flu!
Ive got my movies sorted to get me almost to Dubai, then might sleep on the 2nd leg. (Yeah right)
Anyway, for those that Ill be seeing over the next couple of weeks - I cant wait to see you and be there for the main event, Amanda & Kevs wedding this Friday, 26th June. Cant wait x
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Weekend In Mildura
We went to a lovely country town inland on the Victoria/New South Wales coast for 4 days on 21st May. The main purpose of the trip was to go to a horse race meet, cunningly called The Mildura Cup on the Sunday. Some of Corey's family still live in Mildura so he was going up this weekend also for the race.
Anway, we left foggy and cool Melbourne, and after an hours flight arrived in balmy and warm Mildura, its a small town with a surprisingly cosmo feel to it. Some country towns are a little bit tired and not much going on (remember Seymour Brian & Jen? If not, dig out that book :-)) The weather was lovely and we had an amazing dinner that night at a place called Stefanos which is something of a treat, we had a 5 course degustation menu, and we didnt know any of the courses until they arrived at our table. This meant I hadnt had time to prepare Macky for the quail, so he was a bit disturbed at a baby whole chicken on his plate.
The next day we got our bearings, and booked ourselves on a 4WD tour to the Mungo National Park info here http://www.visitnsw.com/Mungo_National_Park_P629.aspx there's some fantastic sand formations from a lake that dried up approximately 14,000 years ago, give or take.
'Mungo Man' & 'Mungo Woman' remains were discovered here, Man was 62,000 years old and a woman, not thought to be his wife was 26,000 years old! Crikey.
Then before we knew it, it was Sunday and the 3 of us got frocked up, and on the free bus to the races and settled in our marquee for 'free' booze and a carvery. It only cost $110 (55 quid) each all in. And we certainly got our value for money - I kid you not. We were sitting with Coreys mums friends - but we were all very well behaved, until we all went out afterwards and from about 7 is rather hazy, but it involved Me, Coreys mum and a sex shop I'm told. Damn, I always forget the best bits.
Macky had asked every establishment we'd been in whether they'd be showing Newcastles last game, and as it turns out, no where in the whole town would show it for him, Sunday was early closing. Begging, pleading and offers of $$ didnt swing it either. So in the middle of the night, we huddled around my works phone, accessed BBC.co.uk's website and read the updates.
The next day we were too ill for breakfast so we headed out for a walk and met up with Corey for a bit of a post mortem of the night before over a strong non alcoholic drink. I was shown the sex shop again but it rang no bells. Macky was still a little tender from the news of the relegation, so I bought him a bouncy ball from one of those street machines where you put in a coin and turn the nob. It helped.
We had lunch then found a pub that was showing a reply of NUFCs game, so Macky watched it with the other random Monday Afternoon Bar Flies (mostly toothless) and me & Corey played on the TAB machines (thats betting machines, not cigarettes by the way) I was putting 50c on the grey hounds, they are so sweet.
Anyway, we got home on Monday about 8pm and I was pooperscoopered, I needed another break before getting back to work. No such luck.
And 2 weeks tonight we'll be getting on a plane!!! Some birthday present that is, a 24 hour flight!! Just kidding, cant wait.. x
EDIT:
Photos from our wkd in Mildura can be found here
Anway, we left foggy and cool Melbourne, and after an hours flight arrived in balmy and warm Mildura, its a small town with a surprisingly cosmo feel to it. Some country towns are a little bit tired and not much going on (remember Seymour Brian & Jen? If not, dig out that book :-)) The weather was lovely and we had an amazing dinner that night at a place called Stefanos which is something of a treat, we had a 5 course degustation menu, and we didnt know any of the courses until they arrived at our table. This meant I hadnt had time to prepare Macky for the quail, so he was a bit disturbed at a baby whole chicken on his plate.
The next day we got our bearings, and booked ourselves on a 4WD tour to the Mungo National Park info here http://www.visitnsw.com/Mungo_National_Park_P629.aspx there's some fantastic sand formations from a lake that dried up approximately 14,000 years ago, give or take.
'Mungo Man' & 'Mungo Woman' remains were discovered here, Man was 62,000 years old and a woman, not thought to be his wife was 26,000 years old! Crikey.
Then before we knew it, it was Sunday and the 3 of us got frocked up, and on the free bus to the races and settled in our marquee for 'free' booze and a carvery. It only cost $110 (55 quid) each all in. And we certainly got our value for money - I kid you not. We were sitting with Coreys mums friends - but we were all very well behaved, until we all went out afterwards and from about 7 is rather hazy, but it involved Me, Coreys mum and a sex shop I'm told. Damn, I always forget the best bits.
Macky had asked every establishment we'd been in whether they'd be showing Newcastles last game, and as it turns out, no where in the whole town would show it for him, Sunday was early closing. Begging, pleading and offers of $$ didnt swing it either. So in the middle of the night, we huddled around my works phone, accessed BBC.co.uk's website and read the updates.
The next day we were too ill for breakfast so we headed out for a walk and met up with Corey for a bit of a post mortem of the night before over a strong non alcoholic drink. I was shown the sex shop again but it rang no bells. Macky was still a little tender from the news of the relegation, so I bought him a bouncy ball from one of those street machines where you put in a coin and turn the nob. It helped.
We had lunch then found a pub that was showing a reply of NUFCs game, so Macky watched it with the other random Monday Afternoon Bar Flies (mostly toothless) and me & Corey played on the TAB machines (thats betting machines, not cigarettes by the way) I was putting 50c on the grey hounds, they are so sweet.
Anyway, we got home on Monday about 8pm and I was pooperscoopered, I needed another break before getting back to work. No such luck.
And 2 weeks tonight we'll be getting on a plane!!! Some birthday present that is, a 24 hour flight!! Just kidding, cant wait.. x
EDIT:
Photos from our wkd in Mildura can be found here
Aussies beat the recession - but not Swine Flu
In Australia we have avoided a recession for another quarter, just...This surprise result means Australia has escaped two consecutive quarters of economic contraction - the definition used by some economists for a technical recession. (See you can learn a lot here, its not all boozing and partying)
Is this because 'down unda' we are literally behind the US & Europe in most things, and we'll get it later on in 2009 - or amongst other things - did Kevin Rudds stimulus actually help out?
Everyone who logged a tax return last year was entitled to a tier based payment, into your account, totally tax free. Up to $900 (450 quid) per person. Not bad, there was no demand on what we did with our cash, but we were encouraged to spend, spend, spend (on aussie goods of course) - not save, save, save. We almost did what they wanted, we bought a wii & some clothes, maybe we should send him a Thank You note?
So whilst we can be slightly na na na naaaa na on that front - our swine flu numbers have gone through the roof! There are 1000 reported cases of Swine Flu, the majority in Victoria! The total number in the UK is only 621. As of 9th June.
It is winter here (yes its bloody freezing at the moment - well, ok its under 15 degrees) so this is traditionally flu season anyway, and a huge amount of people travel in and out of Melbourne, and we are almost the coldest place in Australia right now....but still a bit bizarre....
But anyway, its kept our house mates Tash & Maxi in employment, they continue to be paid on differing roles in relation to the governments dealings with Swine Flu. God bless the mexican pigs we say.
Is this because 'down unda' we are literally behind the US & Europe in most things, and we'll get it later on in 2009 - or amongst other things - did Kevin Rudds stimulus actually help out?
Everyone who logged a tax return last year was entitled to a tier based payment, into your account, totally tax free. Up to $900 (450 quid) per person. Not bad, there was no demand on what we did with our cash, but we were encouraged to spend, spend, spend (on aussie goods of course) - not save, save, save. We almost did what they wanted, we bought a wii & some clothes, maybe we should send him a Thank You note?
So whilst we can be slightly na na na naaaa na on that front - our swine flu numbers have gone through the roof! There are 1000 reported cases of Swine Flu, the majority in Victoria! The total number in the UK is only 621. As of 9th June.
It is winter here (yes its bloody freezing at the moment - well, ok its under 15 degrees) so this is traditionally flu season anyway, and a huge amount of people travel in and out of Melbourne, and we are almost the coldest place in Australia right now....but still a bit bizarre....
But anyway, its kept our house mates Tash & Maxi in employment, they continue to be paid on differing roles in relation to the governments dealings with Swine Flu. God bless the mexican pigs we say.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Phillip Island with the Rawsons
Sally knows someone who had a rented out cottage on Phillip Island - they were going for the weekend and asked me & macky if we wanted to go along for the Saturday/night.
Sal had told me when they arrived on the Friday not to expect much, and that it was similar to our chalet in Withernsea, which is on the Costa Del Humberside coast. (known by me as a teen as The Shltty Chalet - sorry mum & dad, fine as a kid, not as a 15 year old!!) But it really wasnt that bad, there was a 2 inch gap under the front door which made it a bit cool (read cold) on an evening, none of the curtains met in the middle, but it was clean and comfy.
We met at the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory at about 10ish on the Saturday and had lotsa fun seeing how chocolate was made, or rather the fun was in trying out all the samples. At the end you could make your own chocolate, I made a dark chocolate with wasabi - which had a certain kick to it! Yummo!
In the afternoon we headed over to the motorbike grandprix, where the boys all went go-carting around the track. Louise was too young, so Sally said if I wasnt bothered about doing it, should we say it was a "boys only" activity, this went against my equality tendancies, but when I saw Louises bottom lip we went along with it. Benjamin was in Simons side car and those 2 & Macky went round and round for about 20 minutes - they really enjoyed it. We'll probably head back again when Louise is old enough, we'll tell her times have changed since 2009.
By then it was time for a coffee in a open fired cafe in Cowes to warm up, a fish n chip feast, then home to the shack for duvet on the sofa, tea and hot water bottles!
Sunday was Mothers Day here so there were presents for Sally then we headed off to the beach, then onto 'The Nobbies' a national park with a rugged coastline and lots of wildlife.
After a drive back over to Cowes with a pic nic, sit out and play, we headed back home to see what our grown up kids had been up to. Fortunately no wild parties.
Phillip Island is just under a 2 hour drive from Melbourne - connected to the mainland by a short bridge. A really nice little holiday destination.
Sal had told me when they arrived on the Friday not to expect much, and that it was similar to our chalet in Withernsea, which is on the Costa Del Humberside coast. (known by me as a teen as The Shltty Chalet - sorry mum & dad, fine as a kid, not as a 15 year old!!) But it really wasnt that bad, there was a 2 inch gap under the front door which made it a bit cool (read cold) on an evening, none of the curtains met in the middle, but it was clean and comfy.
We met at the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory at about 10ish on the Saturday and had lotsa fun seeing how chocolate was made, or rather the fun was in trying out all the samples. At the end you could make your own chocolate, I made a dark chocolate with wasabi - which had a certain kick to it! Yummo!
In the afternoon we headed over to the motorbike grandprix, where the boys all went go-carting around the track. Louise was too young, so Sally said if I wasnt bothered about doing it, should we say it was a "boys only" activity, this went against my equality tendancies, but when I saw Louises bottom lip we went along with it. Benjamin was in Simons side car and those 2 & Macky went round and round for about 20 minutes - they really enjoyed it. We'll probably head back again when Louise is old enough, we'll tell her times have changed since 2009.
By then it was time for a coffee in a open fired cafe in Cowes to warm up, a fish n chip feast, then home to the shack for duvet on the sofa, tea and hot water bottles!
Sunday was Mothers Day here so there were presents for Sally then we headed off to the beach, then onto 'The Nobbies' a national park with a rugged coastline and lots of wildlife.
After a drive back over to Cowes with a pic nic, sit out and play, we headed back home to see what our grown up kids had been up to. Fortunately no wild parties.
Phillip Island is just under a 2 hour drive from Melbourne - connected to the mainland by a short bridge. A really nice little holiday destination.
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