Going to a Nursery and NOT spending, yeah right!!

Today, I went up to Flower Power at Glenorie, mainly to look for some pot feet and wind chimes for a mate, and I went with the intention to NOT, I repeat NOT spend a cent... Ok, I didn't, instead, I spent $137!!!

When we were walking through the homewares section, I spotted some cushions, I liked them and thought they would look good on the lounge... Luckily, they were on special, 50% off, so I got them and on top of this, there was an additional 8% trade discount using my trade card!!! So it was a bonus!!!

Lounge Before/After

Lounge Chair Before and After

Needless to say, they didn't have the right pot feet we were after, and by the end of the day, I went to two other Flower Powers (Moorebank x 3 & Bass Hill x 1) to get them.

Hoo roo for now...

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Some Aussie Flowers (WW 36 as well...)

Wordless Wednesday # 36!

Kangaroo Paw

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Over the weekend, I had to attend a State Conference for BGANZ. It went very well, of course I was running the presentations so it HAD to run well! But, seriously, all of the presentations went off without a hitch!

The conference dinner was yumm, do you agree?

Roasted Pumpkin and Cumin Soup

Steak Redwine Sauce Wedges and Steamed Veges

And on the Sunday whilst the workshops were underway, I managed to go around the Gardens and get some photos not only of the groups doing the workshops, but also of the typically Australian Native Flowers in the Garden...

Indigenous Tree Carving HRBG

Sun Time HRBG

Picture Kills a Thousand Flies HRBG

I need to find out this ones name... HRBG

Grevillia Green HRBG

Cassia I think HRBG

Banksia Orange HRBG

Hoo roo for now...

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A TWO day catch up: - Meeting friends and meetings

Ok, a two day catch up in one post... Here we go!

On Sunday, I finally got the opportunity to catch up with a dear blogfriend (a new word!), Maribeth. She is here with her puppy Annaleise for a breeding service all the way from the USA! I caught the S-BAHN out to where she is staying with Uschi.

We all then headed out to Lake Muggelsee and walked around the lake where we had a beer and a chat, a long chat!

Uschi Maribeth Muggelsee, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

After our chat, we then moved to have lunch at the restaurant there, where Uschi and I had the Chicken Schnitzel whilst Maribeth had the White Asparagus. And yes, believe it or not, I even tasted them! I thought it was a little 'watery' in flavour was the hollindaise sauce, but hey, I TRIED IT!!!

Me Maribeth Muggelsee, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

My Lunch Chicken Schnitzel, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

We then headed to an ice-cream shop (I will not even begin to tell you where we were OR the name of the shop as MY German is not good), and to another cafe for a coffee before heading back to Uschi's place where I met Annaliese, and Uschi's husband.

Annaleise Maribeth, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Dear friends Uschi Maribeth, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

We sat and chatted and chatted some more before I knew it, it was well after 10pm and I had to get the S-BAHN back into town! I had SUCH a great day/night, and we will be doing it again soon!

Yesterday, was my meeting day... I first met with my turf friend in Alexanderplatz, where we had coffee... We then headed out to have a look at some turf trials and so forth. On our way back towards town, we were near the 'Botanischer Garten', (Botanic Garden), so we went in to have a look. This was a well laid out Garden, with a lot of Arboretum and glasshouses, and it had a majestic glasshouse at that!

Botanischer Garten Glass House, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Botanischer Garten Main Glass House, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Botanischer Garten Restaurant Glass House, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Lots of lawns, both formal and meadow type, and colour to be seen... They also had a wetlands garden area, with a LOT of frogs that could be heard for miles it seemed!

Botanischer Garten Frog Calling, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

After leaving the Gardens, we then headed for the Olympic Park and Stadium (Olympia Stadion). We met there with the head greenkeepers (one for each site) and discussed turf management practices. We were then taken around the Park area, which is for training of football (Soccer), training areas and then into the machinery sheds. I also got to see the turf stabilisation they are using in HIGH traffic areas!

Olympic Park Soccer Training Pitch, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Olympic Park Stabalised Turf, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Olympic Stadium Stabalised Turf Type II, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Then it was into the Olympic Stadium, which is the home of football now. It is a non impossing building from the outside, but from the ground inside, its a massive structure!

Olypic Stadium Rear, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Olympic Stadium Rear Cauldron, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Olympic Stadium Bump Out, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

We walked and talked and walked some more, before I caught the U-BAHN back towards where I am staying and agreed to meet a little later today! So here I am, about to head out (again) for the day... This next pic I saw at the entrance to the station... One for the boys...

Olympia Stadion, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Taking the pissoir, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Hoo roo for now...

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Tiergaten: - Berlins City Park

This morning, after going to breakfast of fresh crusty breadrolls, scrambled eggs and coffee, I returned back to my room. And it seemed that my luck with electronic door keys had returned! I swiped my card and the lights turned green, but the door stayed locked! I went back to reception and the girl came up with me with the 'Staff Key' which ALSO didn't work! So the Manager came up with a very small screwdriver, and a key! A quick unscrew of the plate, a turn of the key and I was in... An offer of moving me to a new room was discussed, but after several trials, it appeared to be working, so I stayed. Here is the view from my room and from the hallway outside.

View from room, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

View from hall, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

It was a totally awesome day weather wise! The sun was bright, and warm, however, the air was not clear. All around, I could see little white 'puffs' of pollen that I KNEW was going to cause me grief... I caught the S-BAHN from Berlin Ostbahnhof to Teirgaten. I had been reccomended told I should visit the cities biggest greenspace, so I thought, why not! BUT, when I got out from the station, I found an antique market! Again, as in Paris, there was many things to see that I would have LOVED to buy, but how on earth do I get it home?

Berlin Ostbahnhof Station, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Tiergaten Antique Markets, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Tiergaten Antique Markets, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

After walking through here for over an hour, I then headed down the road to the park's entrance and meandered down a pathway. It went along the river and there were some geese being fed some bread.

Tiergaten River Geese, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I ended up down the end of the park, it is a HUGE park, so I turned around, past some Rhododendron's to the center lake area where there was a couple of cafe's, bar's and some deck chairs. They even had some row boats for hire! After having a brief rest, I rounded a corner where the row boat looked more than a little, 'Monet'!

Tiergaten Rhodie, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Tiergaten Deckchairs, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Tiergaten Rowboat, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I continued along a pathway heading back towards the S-BAHN, and to my surprise, there was some people sunbathing... NOT, 'some' people, but a LOT of people and they were in the nick, nude birthday suits! I declined to get a photo of this out of bad taste...

But, nearing the station, I could not resist getting this photo, as it shows just WHY my hayfever is so bad!

Tiergaten snow good for hayfever, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Today, I went for a walk... And more fool me! Thank goodnes I eventually got some relief!

My Saviour, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Hoo roo for now...

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Hunter Region Botanic Gardens and a weekend catchup

Last week, I went up to the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens... this is quite a quaint little gardens that really are doing a wonderful job on, basically, running on the smell of an oily rag!

And a very dear friend, A, sent me a message saying to take some mosquito repellent, and I thought I would be OK, well I was wrong! There were HEAPS of them, and they were persistent little sods too! but, whilst they were landing on me, they didn't seem to be biting me, so all was good! There is, at the entrance to the visitors center, a stand that has a few insect sprays, so I think I will use them next time!

HRBG Fountain, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

HRBG Rotunda, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

HRBG Garden Chapel, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

They have also done a 'sculpture/carving from an old tree that had passed.

ABORIGINAL SCULPTURE IN THE GARDENS An ancient Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsa) in front of the Visitors Centre carved by Aboriginal sculptor Worimi Dates. The carving depicts the people and totems of the Garuahgal tribe of the Raymond Terrace area. Native animals and people emerge in harmony with the tree telling the story of Worimi's family. The rich colour of the carving is achieved by using Preschem's Aussie Clear timber treatment, Preschem have sponsored the tree by providing a year's supply of oil.

HRBG Tree Sculpture, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

HRBG Tree Sculpture Closeup, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

HRBG Tree Sculpture Pelican, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

HRBG Tree Sculpture Roots, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

The weekend was an extremely busy one. I got home from the HRBG at around 6pm and I went straight to bed. I had a mate that was on the first flight out of YSSY to Dubai and then Tehran and needed to be at the airport at 2.30am. I woke at 12.30, had a coffee and headed across to pick him up and we were on our way (to McDonald's for another coffee)! After dropping him off and saying goodbyes, I headed home for another sleep and correct my body clock! The rest of the day included a trip over to the in-laws and then dinner at the DoG with some other friends. It was a great dinner, and to finally put faces to these guys I have had many conversations with over the years on discussion forums! Needless to say, there were a few 'tall stories' and the like, and the old saying of 'what happens on tour, stays on tour' applies to these as well!

Sunday, I there was no rest for the wicked, and I was off early to purchase and install a new modem/router for my aunt in law. She is also now SKYPE enabled for when we head overseas. Did I say that it is now 30 days away!?

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