30 November, 2012

Friday at the V8 Practice Day Sydney Olympic Park

Wednesday, I was asked as to what my plans were for Friday by a mate, B... When I explained to him that I was to be at work, he told me to reconsider, and that I need to have the day off... When asked as to why, it really was a "no brainer", we were going to the V8's practice day, and all thanks to Jim Beam Racing!

My only issue was, it was going to be a hot day, with the temperature scheduled to reach 39c! We met the team outside, and we were given our passes for the day, and also the wristband to gain access to the corporate room, which was located right above pit lane. We had caps, chiller bags and even stubby holders waiting for us on the tables. Later in the morning, we were also given a 'Pit Lane Shirt', which was just way to cool!We watched the first practice session from the corporate tent, as well as the 'Muscle Cars'!

V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500

We had a drink (or two) before heading down to the static exhibitions, whilst the Porsche's and ute's did their practices.

V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500

We retreated back to the corporate are for a little respite from the heat (and humidity), and some lunch. The food was great, and needless to say, the drink of choice in the Jim Beam Racing tent, was "Jim Beam" and coke! I also had a fair amount of water, given the heat, so I was far from being 'happy' from the alcohol! We also were fortunate enough to have our photos taken with the Jim Beam Girls as well!

Jim Beam GirlsJim Beam Girls

After all of this, we then headed down to one of (I think) best parts of the track; a tricky and tight, chicane! I so wanted to get a photo of the cars speeding through here, and preferably, on two wheels!!

V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500V8 Supercars - Sydney Telstra 500

All up, a great day, regardless of the weather, and thanks heaps for the invite B!

Hoo roo for now...

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28 November, 2012

Wordless Wednesday No. 67 - Colours of Vietnam

IMG_6320.jpg
Saigon SunsetIMG_6332.jpg
IMG_6340.jpgSaigon by nightHoi An Lanterns
Hoi An - LanternsSapa Waterfall
Sapa WaterfallHa Long Bay Sunset
Ha Long Bay - SunsetHanoi Street
Hanoi Street

Hoo roo for now...

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25 November, 2012

Where did that weekend go to??

Ok, since getting back from Vietnam, I have been busy - sorry about that! On the Tuesday, got home and started to do the washing, colours first and whites to soak! I also managed to get the back lawn mowed (I can't STAND it when it gets a little 'woolly'!

Wednesday was my first day back at work, and as I had not touched my work emails whilst away, I had a fair amount of 'catch-up' to do! Wednesday night though, I started to get a sore throat, and a fever overnight... Oh no...

Thursday, I was a little achy, I had a cough, and I was beginning to feel very tired, but I did 'push' through the day all the same. You see, whilst waiting in transit at Saigon airport, I had a little brat of a child (c. 8 maybe 9) sitting/kneeling on the bench seat behind me, we were having a bite to eat before clearing immigration. Anyways, whilst he was playing his DS, he let out this almighty hacking cough, a real 'flemmy' one... I turned around to see him still going, and playing his game console, not even bothering to cover his mouth from his germs... I gestured to him to stop it, as the last thing I wanted was to fall ill! Anyway, I did, and by Friday, I was death warmed up! I still went into work, although, I did leave at 10.30am after only 3 hours... I got home, and I slept most of the day...

Although on Saturday I was feeling a little better, and I had to give the in-laws the new computer I had been transferring files over too. A drive over, unboxed both the new PC and the new printer, and it is up and running smoothly (only thing remaining to do was a licence key for MS Office). It was then home for a quick 'kip' (or so I thought) before heading to the other end of Sydney, for my mum's family Christmas gathering. Of mums siblings, she is one of five, there was only three of them as uncle Brian passed away a few years back and uncle Frank is in a nursing home after aunty Margaret died 2 years back. But it was nice to catch up with Uncle Arthur (with aunty Joy), aunty Pat (with uncle John) and a few of my cousins (and their kids)! It was a quieter affair this year, to early? Busy people?? I totally understand we are all busy...

Mum, Uncle Arthur & Aunty Pat
Mum, Uncle Arthur and Aunty PatIn-laws & Out-laws
Joy, Arthur, Mum, Pat & JohnCousins
CousinsAunty Pat, Mum & Cousin Jenny
Pat, Mum and JennySon-in-law & Father-in-law
David and Arthur (in-laws)Cousin Stephanie Uncle John (Father/daughter)
Cousin Stephanie and her dad, Uncle John

Sunday morning, Bronty and I went down to the beach for a swim; she loves the water! There was a couple of other dogs there, Staffies and a couple of Foxies as well. It was going to be a HOT day, forecasted 36c, and the house was all closed up and was cool when I got home; and luckily, my recently fixed air-conditioner (by me of course) worked a treat!

Hoo roo for now...

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19 November, 2012

Vietnam - Hanoi Day 2 & 3

Today was to be the catch-up 'Hanoi City Tour' that we moved due to a sickness earlier in the trip. We had breakfast, and got ready for the guide to meet us nice and early - 8am!

Our first point of call was the tomb of the late Mr Ho Chi Minh ('Uncle Ho' as he is known). We were told that we could NOT take in cameras or mobile phones, and happily packed everything up and left with our guide. There was also a 'tourist' entrance and a 'Vietnamese' entrance (which also had a priority, but still, NO phones/cameras! Anyway, we made our way through security, yes, bags x-rayed and walk through a metal detector - much the same as in any airport! Anyway, we joined the very long, snaking its way around corners, regular guards along the way. The asian (chinese I think) girl in front of us, pulls out her phone and started to take photos of the long line! Even the Japanese guys behind us saw this as an invitation and got theirs out!!! The girl in-front, even used it in front of a guard!!!We eventually made our way to the door of the tomb, where Uncle Ho was laid in state, and the guards were telling people to 'shhh'. M even got told to remove her hands from her pockets! There were four guards around Uncle Ho, each looking at the passing crowd, ensuring silence, and NO photos etc. The tomb is closed for a month every year, to allow him to be restored, our guard later told us that he never wanted to be on public view like this, yet the public wanted to view him! It was alomst sureal to see him, and I left with very mixed emotions to what I had just seen...

We then walked through the grounds, past his house and 'Stilt House' before coming out to the front of the Mausoleum.

Uncle Ho's MausoleumUncle Ho's Mausoleum - WideUncle Ho's House

As we were walking back to the bus, we passed by the bike parking area... All I could think of was, "now WHERE did I park my bike...?"

Where's my bike?

Next up, we stopped at the 'West Lake' Pagoda, quite a nice (large) lake... And not too bad of a Pagoda either!

West Lake PagodaM photgraphing the PagodaOfferings

Next stop, was the Museum of Literature, which was more of a University of sorts... We were somewhat lucky, as in a couple of days time it was the graduation day for students! And today, a lot of them were here giving thanks to the teachers (National Teacher Day) and were also praying for success in the Higher Examination coming...

Museum of LiteratureStudents Formal DressGod of LecturesStudents in GownsPosing

Our final (we dropped the 'shopping' tour of the 'Old Quarter' in Hanoi as we do that of an evening) destination for the day was the Museum of Ethnology. This was looking back at the history of the Vietnamese people, and the housing used by the minority people; primarily to the north. There was a lot of fascinating things to look at here, especially the differing styles of housing!

Water PuppetThere IS a bike underneath all of this!HousingBedLong BoatHousingStepsHousingHousingHousingHousing

We then headed back to the hotel to rest up, have dinner, and get some sleep...

The following day, was a mad-dash shop around the streets to grab a few last minnute bargains, before the flights back to Saigon and home. It will be good to get back home...

Hoo roo for now...

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