Wordless Wednesday No. 73 - Blast from the past

Family Photo 2008

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Ok, just to explain, a little, about this pic... I came across (again) this pic recently when clearing some files on a HDD. An important thing about this one in particular, is it is, possibly, the last 'family' photo taken, as not too long after it was taken, Pa fell ill, and later passed, and then 12 months later, L also suddenly passed as well...

So, it is important to have one in every family; that 'annoying uncle' that likes to take a family photo, right?

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 71 - In the Navy...

Jayden mucking around

Jayden and Mum

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Next Monday, my nephew Jayden will enter the Australian Navy as a submariner... On the recent Australia Day long weekend, we had a 'farewell party' (of sorts, and also celebrate this great country we live in), and these photos are just a bit of fun, as my sister bought a 'party outfit' of sailors suit, as he doesn't actually have his uniform yet!!

We have gone from the heat of last week, c. 46c, to now having floods right along the East Coast of Australia. It isn't as bad as two years ago, but the flood scene is still devistating to see. Fortunately, in Northern NSW, the flooding and damage is minimal, unlike areas north like Grafton in particular, or right along the Queensland Coast.

Hoo roo for now...

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Christmas is done and dusted - but NYE is coming!

Well, the last few days have been an almost complete blurr!!! From Last monday, my last few days have been like this...

• Saturday - the drive northwards to Newcastle didn't eventuate - due to time constraints, but I did get the Christmas shopping started!
• Sunday - allowed me to complete it all, well, almost all of it... it was a 'chillaxe' sort of day!We also went to the 'Lights of Christmas' display at St Mary's Cathedral!
  St Mary's Cathedral - Lights of Christmas
  
  St Mary's Cathedral - Lights of Christmas Display
• Monday - I had a flexday from work, which allowed me to do some last minute shopping... The day was HOT, and it also had a LOT of humidity! Which could only mean one thing... Afternoon storms! Alas, it was mainly west, and they went from Penrith to Richmond in the afternoon, and we didn't get any until the late evening...
• Tuesday - Christmas Day, I drove west to mums, collected her and then went to the in-laws on the Nth Shore for lunch. It's always a good feed there, and the original plan was to have lunch outside. But the weather wasn't at all kind, with rain all day, heavy at times and some thunder thrown in for good measure!! I then drove back to Penrith, dropped mum off and headed for home to rest! It was late!
  Blue and Silver Themed
  
  Presents Time
• Wednesday - Boxing Day, I had a skype call to MB in the USA. It was a great call as they had their Christmas morning together with J, and the following day to MB's daughters place (M) and to have the first Christmas with their grand-daughter, SR! It was also the first day of the Boxing Day Test Match where Australia are playing Sri Lanka in the Cricket. Its the long game (for those in the USA and other countries not familiar with the game, it is over 5 days! The shorter game, 'One Day Internationals' is over 50 overs each and more recently, the 20/20 big bash is 20 overs each)! I also, in the evening, went to my mates place (also a B) where we had gifts exchanged and a Christmas Dinner!! Was great to see the kids there enjoying the toys, and 'The Shed' in its element, B had done SUCH a lot of work on it!!
• Thursday - was a Public Sector holiday, which meant that I have the day off, and in the morning, I had another skype call to the USA, this time, to MB, who was at M's place, and I got to see and hear SR again!!! She's so cute! We chatted for about an hour, and we spoke of Australian marsupials, namely the Tasmanian Devil and how it 'growls' as SR had been growled at by MB, and she was in a laughing mood over that (not to sure if the Tassie Devil would scare her though!). Didn't really do much at all that day, apart from watching the cricket of course!!
• Friday - today, I am back at work today, boo hoo, but there is a bit to do about the place, as we prepare for NYE!

So thats about it for me, for now, I will come back and edit the Friday Fill-Ins when they are ready to go!!

Hoo roo for now...

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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 and Aunty Pat
Joy, Arthur, Mum, Pat & John
Cousins
Pat, Mum and Jenny
David and Arthur (in-laws)
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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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 126 Someone That Inspires You

Someone that inspires me, as in present form, or in the past tense? Lets do both, shall we?

In the 'past tense, its kind of a no brainer as the single most important person, who not only inspired me, but also had confidence in me to do the things I wanted to do... That is, L...

Louise

Now in the 'present', this is a little more difficult, as there are many who inspire me, drive me to try new things and to achieve a lot more than I thought I ever could. Also, not just that, but in a lot of ways, maturity beyond their years as well... BUT, they know who they are and exactly WHAT they mean to me, as I have told them of this...

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 115 Black and White

I (oddly) only have the one black and white photo in my flickr, and it is of R just after he was born back in 2007...

Hoo roo for now...

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Happy Birthday Max - 10!!!

Photographer Max

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 71 Fork

Its often said that at times, you come to a 'fork' in the road ahead of you... That came to me today, but not in a way you may think! I was taken out this afternoon, with a hood over my head, to an 'unknown' destination... I had mentioned to one of my 'captors' a few weeks prior, that I have a pretty good understanding of the roads of Sydney, and that a blindfold would be pointless (trying not to spoil the surprise, yet trying to keep them thinking of alternatives)!

When we arrived, I had sort of guessed where we were as soon as I sensed we were under a tunnel. And, I was correct, as we were at Eastern Creek Raceway! I was going on a 'hot lap' in a V8 super car!!! OMG, I was SO excited!!! After completing the paperwork (Indemnity) I had to get a race suit, and then onto a photo in front of a car, before a briefing.

Photo Call

Then it was down into pitt lane, where we were given our car number - 42 was my car... A blue Holden Commodore, that looked as though it was the newest in the fleet of race cars! Here are some pics...

Briefing (outside)

Getting into the car

240klm/hr

JUST after getting out...

Thanks so much J & M for the b'day present, it was fantastic, and something I will never forget!!

Thanks Guys!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 70 Someone You Spoke To

What a day... Luch, at La Mono, was great and we had a lovely lunch. Afterwards, we came back home for cake, which C, 'the next sister down' to L, baked the cake. And WHAT a cake it was! Here is Master J helping me blow out the candles...

Blowing out the candles...

When it came to time to leave, Master J, 2yo, decided he wanted to stay "just 4 more minutes' he was saying as he scampered off in the other direction! So I ran after him and picked him up, and on the way to the car, we had a little chat... Funny J!

Hoo roo for now...

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photo a Day Challenge - Day 64 A Smile

I had to look through the archives a little to see if there was a photo of me, with a smile. But, as I am generally behind the camera, there wasn't any to choose from! So I looked back through, and I found one of Rosie, with big rosy red cheeks with a great smile!

Rosie...

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 42 Inside your Closet

I had the most EXCELLENT thing planned for this post, but alas, it didn't OR wouldn't have worked given what I came home to this afternoon after the F-I-L's birthday lunch! We had a storm come through, and whilst the back verandah was mud/silt covered, the front bay window leaked (quite badly) with all of the Murano Glass getting wet and two cushions - both were works L did using x-stich and tapestry! Additionally, the window above my bed allowed water in, although it was only a very small amount on the deep window sill.

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Today, we had a birthday BBQ for the F-I-L, he turned 70! It was a wonderful day, a roast pork in the Webber, sausages on the BBQ, and salads to boot as well. there was, in typical family style, many desserts to be had; a Pavlova that S made and a three tired sponge birthday cake!!

Pavlova

Cake

With THAT many blowing out the candles, I might pass on some cake thanks...

A had set up a cricket pitch in the front lawn (but I suspect, it wasn't measured, but shhhhh...) and the kids all enjoyed a fun time using the hose to cool down in the summer (finally) heat and humidity!

The Cricket Pitch

Summer fun with a hose

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 41 Makes you Happy

So, whats something that makes me happy? Well, friends do, of course without saying, as with really enjoying photography blah blah blah... But, thinking about it, I think it might be seeing, and knowing, that the lawns are done, THATS what makes me happy! Boring, I know, but there isn't anything better than a freshly mown lawn!

Aussie Backyard Spa-house

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I spent a lot of the day in the study/office, doing my tax. I would've done it sooner, but talk laziness and half the ANZ prohibited me actually doing it! ANZ had its part to play due to a technical glitch in THEIR systems which meant my statements were not available! But, they are now mostly done, I just have to get three statements from the bank, and my Group Certificate from work! And its looking like a good return as well!!

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Tomorrow is the birthday of the F-I-L, and I have a great present. BUT, tomorrow it is the farewell of JP as he's heading back to PRG to live and work. He will be missed by many here in SYD, but I hope I will be catching up in June/July when next I am in Europe! Farewell my friend, and Bon Voyage!!

Hoo roo for now...

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They grow up just too darn fast!!

The other week, Fathers Day actually, we had a family lunch and whilst I didn't manage to get a group shot like I normally like to, I did manage (over the course of the lunch) to get individual shots of the nephews and niece... And they simply are growing up WAY to fast!!!

Looking here at Mr M and his brother Mr W, now both at school and doing really well, it seems like only yesterday that L and I were up in Brisbane looking after them for a week... Although, I still remember the day that Mr M (who was in trouble) emptied his ENTIRE wardrobe and drawers and piled it behind his door so as we couldn't get into his room... Funny to look back on now!!

Mr M - 9

Mr W - 6

Then, there's Mr R and his little brother Mr J who really are very similar! Although, I think Mr J looks like his cousin Mr W at the same age!!! They are a funny pair, and I really like how Mr J is so laid back as casual...

Mr R - 4

Mr J - 2

And then there's Miss R and her little brother Mr J... She is a real little tomboy I reckon, and she gets in with her cousins and plays like there's no tomorrow! And don't let that cute little face of hers make you go all mushy, she's a little bruiser!!! And, Mr J, her little brother, well, who can resist a face like his???

Miss R - 4

Mr J - 2

Hoo roo for now...

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'Jay' day...

Today was a real 'Jay-day', the morning with the nephew, Jayden, and the afternoon with my mate, Jayden! It was many years ago, very weird that I met another B, but to now have two J's is also just as weird!

This morning was Jay's baseball grand final. The were playing Penrith who were undefeated for the last two years. At the bottom of the third, we were up 5-3 and the last innings started (within 5 mins of the 10 min rule), nail bighting stuff! However, the opposing team struck out, and Jay's team were declared the winners!!! Here are some pics that caught the moment they had won, and I will post more over the week as I process them...

Mac Killop Victory

Mac Killop Victory

Mac Killop Victory

The afternoon though, was catching up with my mate, Jay at the airport! Michael from Brisbane was down and Jayden's dad was also coming in! So it was a mini gathering... And even though the weather closed in, we changed locations and I got some interesting aspects!

Hoo roo for now...

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