Boxing Day

Christmas is over for another year. This year is the first time we have been on our own for many many years. The weather was cold, so all those people having a hot dinner were luckly but we had a lovely seafood lunch with a very nice bottle of champagne at home. Today we drove to Cronulla and walked along the walkway until the wind sent us home.

Xmas lunch at Louise's

The post office ladies gathered at Louise's home for Christmas lunch and we had a lovely time catching up on news and gossip. I had so much to eat that that was enough for the day. Yesterday I caught up with Denice at Hurstville Westfield and had lunch at Collenade.

Christmas outings w/e 9th Dec

Eating out twice this weekend. Went to Star City casino for work's Christmas party and the food was ok - typical smorgshboard.

Everyone came and after the meal, some had a flutter on roulette. Marlene lost her $20 but Christian won $80. Today, we drove to Bulli Tops - Panorama House for the manager's Christmas outing. Nice meal, but wine was not good, in fact John drank squash - he, luckily, was the driver today. On the home front - we now have only one hen left as two died (old age). John said he would get more next weekend. The cockatiels have been sitting on dud eggs, so I took out the nesting box and will replace it in a couple of weeks after the birds put on weight again.

This is me going to work last week. Christmas at the post shop is not much fun, in fact, it was a hectic week with people being grumpy and I felt the pressure after being there only an hour. I was practicing using the timer on the camera, that worked but not the flash. I must not have pressed the right button. On Saturday morning after speaking to Katrina on the webcam, I got another call, and who should I see but Fiona, Andrew and Lucy. It was lovely.

Two grandmas got together on Thursday to have lunch at Moorefield Road Garden centre. We discussed children but in particular, a grandchild, Lucy. A lovely afternoon, even though it did rain, (decided against Brighton.) I bought a plant which was in the rare section, commonly called a snake bush - Hemiandra Pungens - with nice purple flowers which the chooks found delicious, so now must find another spot, probably out the front.

Talking Heads

On Saturday we celebrated both our birthdays by going to Theatre Royal to see Brenda Blethyn and Sigrid Thornton in Talking Heads. It was a great and funny play. Over the past two weeks of my leave I have seen 4 movies - Conversations with My Gardener, Michael Clayton, Waitress and A Mighty Heart and enjoyed all of them. Went on an Italian walking tour (thru WEA) started from the GPO in Martin place up to the Mitchell Library stopping along the way viewing Italian influenced architecture. Spent a day with Joy and Pat learning bits and pieces of the computer . Each time I go to town I still marvel at the scene of the Opera House and bridge. Here are Helen, Margaret and I (photo taken by a kind passerby). On my birthday Pat and I had coffee at Blackamoor Confections http://blackamoorconfections.com which was lovely and then in the evening Andrew came for tea (lamb of course). The last couple of days have spent in the garden planting vegs plus a bit of reading when it got too hot.

Sculpture by the Sea

Bondi beach in background. Getting feet wet.

Behind bars (sculpture was a cage around a tree)

Sculpture by the Sea

We walked around Tamarama beach which had a few sculptures on the sand, to Marks Park where the majority were on display. Then following the path towards Bondi Icebergs club were a few more sculptures. Bought fish and chips and ate them on the grassy area overlooking the Bondi beach - lovely. We put our feet in the water and walked the beach and back home.

Monday 9th Oct 07

Today is my first day of leave and have spent it outside in the garden with the chooks scrounging in the earth I've moved. Over the weekend I had lunch with the ladies at Helens on Saturday. Then on Sunday John lunched at Rodneys and they drank a few very nice wines over a BBQ . Here is John with his pick of wine.

Monday 22nd Oct.07

The poor car was hit in the carpark last Thursday and, of course, no one saw anything. Going for repair this Thursday and it will probably over a week. Katrina said to embrace the process of taking a photo of us without double chins and it took a few shots. My month of holidays start next Monday and I cannot wait just not to have to work. As its getting warmer, will look forward to relaxing, reading and working in the garden.

October long weekend

There'll be no photos for a while as I cannot work out why both camera and the photo printer will not work. The normal printer, mouse and keyboard are ok but not the others. John and I worked around the house and got a few things done. The 5 wasps nests were destroyed and the bottlebrush tree which had grown above the laundry roof has been trimmed. In a couple of weeks the council clean up is on and want to get rid of all tree cuttings. The fruit trees were pruned a number of weeks ago and now they have all started to flower , so there will be lots of fruit. I spent a couple of afternoons reading down the back as the weather is wonderful and it was a shame to go back to work.

RDO 26th Sept.

Today I went to the movies at Broadway and saw No Reservations and December Boys. Did enjoy both, especially the second as it was made in South Australia. When I walked past UTS it brought back memories of a day many years ago, as there on the steps were many young people in their cap and gowns, sashes in light blue. I bought a keyboard as the other one died, also went to Spotlight with the kiddies knitting book and now have some lovely coloured wools to work with.

Weekend 15/16 Sept.

Saturday evening ended up very unhappily for John as Hawthorn lost and I mean lost badly. Now we look forward to next year. Sunday morning went to the movies at the Paris cinema at Fox studios and saw La Vie en Rose Edith Piaf and we both enjoyed it. The market was on and bought a Turkish meal while strolling thru all the Mercedes cars that were on display. Dina rang in the afternoon and she caught the train to Hurstville. We had a nice BBQ dinner and chatted till 11. Wines were the main topic of conversation

plus travelling.

Culburra Beach from the dunes

The APEC long weekend gave us the opportunity to go down to Culburra to finish the final job in the kitchen and then be able to relax after a very busy week at work. The weather was kind so a drive around to Callala beach then into Nowra for a bit of shopping. A very tight finish in the Aussie rules game Saturday with the winner scraping through.

Gardening Australia

I entered a competition and won a family ticket to the Gardening Aust. show at Homebush plus a years subscription to the magazine. We had a lovely Sunday wandering about, looking for new and different things to plant. Friday I had off work as had an eye infection which will take a little while to go away. John was really happy Hawthorn won.

Week ending 12th Aug 07

It was my rostered day off on Tuesday so went up to Westfields and caught two really scary movies - Fracture with Anthony Hopkins and the other, Mr Brooks with Kevin Costner. I had a nice lunch with Diane on Thursday and while John went to watch Hawthorn play football on Saturday (Rodney has Foxtel), Michael, Belinda and Caitlin called in. Cannot believe Caitlin is 11 months old already and Belinda will soon go back to work job sharing. Pat came over Sunday and we had a glass of white as we caught up with the weeks news.

weekend at home - 4/5 August 07

Sunday was a day to work in the garden and John is fixing up the new hose to water the garden. The last hose would shoot off the tap and waste alot of water. Saturday was clean-up and then sewing the bibs with other odds and end. The wrapped bibs are shown and Evan's has been delivered. Hawthorn won by 65 today and if its on tv this evening, a copy of the game will be sent to the supporter who lives in the states.

Margaret's 70th

Saturday afternoon we celebrated Margaret's birthday with her family and friends. This is the post office crowd and partners.

Culburra Weekend

After shopping and a hair cut in Nowra, we hit Culburra about lunchtime. Ron, the landscaper came over to see what we thought of the garden. Its lovely now but will grow into a great Australiana garden. We relaxed and read the papers, then went to the bowling club for dinner. Later played the 1c poker machine and reached $32.50. Today we did the odd jobs and off home stopping at Kiama Surf Beach.

Christmas in July

On Saturday 14th Louise invited Joan, Shirley Margaret and Bill, Norma and Phil, Helen and Geoff and ourselves to a Christmas in July lunch, plus to celebrate the return of Norma and Phil from an overseas trip AND wishing bon voyage to Margaret and Bill on their P&O sailing trip. Shirley also has just returned from a trip to New Zealand and New Guinea. From noon till almost 5 we talked, ate and drank and everyone caught up on whats happening. We are all meeting again in two weeks for Margaret's 70th birthday party.

Greenacre ladies

Lunch on Saturday at Twin Willows, Bankstown way with the Greenacre ladies was fun and lots of food.
Sunday was not a day for the beach, it'll have to be another Sunday.

Clean up lst July

Saturday I used the last June ticket for Greater Union and saw Oceans 13. Sunday a.m. saw us gathering stuff for the 6 monthly council clean up. Then we caught the Australian movie Clubland out at Fox Studios. The markets were on but didnt buy anything. Katrina, your room is messier than ever. Yesterday I had the day off and organized the books in a better order and they will slowly go for sale on ebay. The rest of the day I spent at home and enjoyed every moment.

Wet weekend

John and Rodney went to the Food and Wine show at Darling Harbour on Saturday and tasted quite a few nice drops. I think a few orders went in too and will be able to sample them myself. I spent the time doing odds and ends about the house, as again, the rain didnt let up for long.
This picture was taken late Sunday afternoon and shows Andrew's tree with new little shoots. Only two others survived and will picture them another time.

Queens Birthday long weekend

The weekend was not clement for visiting the beaches so on Saturday Rodney came over and they both watched Hawthorn and Sydney Swans play. Unfortunately the best team lost. Sunday we went to the movies at Bondi Junction and saw Driving Lessons with Julie Walters. Thursday John had a little mishap and it hurt terribly. The African violet was given to me many years ago for mothers day. Each year it flowers about the same time. Monday was a r & r day to prepare for the busy week ahead.

2 working bees at Culburra

After working on Saturday digging out rambling rose bushes, repairs and fixtures, late Sunday was spent tripping to the local beaches.

Culburra beach is lovely and it being the end of autumn, the weather was absolutely great.

Weekend at home

John went to the AFL and the Swans won. I spent the time in the garden planting out the broccoli, cauliflower and spinach seedlings. Only one chook is laying and the other birds were chirpping all day.

After lunch

A stroll down Cronulla mall bought us to Cold Rock and of course we could not pass by without calling in. A double choc and a choc mint went down well.

Mothers Day

A late lunch at Sea Level on the promanade at Cronulla beach.

Hawkesbury Show

A day in the country, fresh air plus country smells. (poooo)

Lunch

There was no beach visit today as there was lunch held for the 'wine club' . A lovely lunch which lasted over the afternoon with lots of great wine and food.

Movies today

A rostered day off work gave me the opportunity to go to the movies - The Singer and The Namesake, both were different and enjoyed both.

Avalon and Chowder Bay

Our visit is to Avalon and Chowder Bay. .

Welcome!

This is my first blog entry. Hopefully there will be many more outlining our adventure to visit all Sydney beaches.