34 Left, clear for takeoff!

New Years Day was a day where I spent it (the morning) with L's mum and dad... I met them at the local St Vincents (which was open for a 50% off sale; even the charities have sales!) and then we headed to the cemetery. We then headed over to their place where we planted the new tree they got as a Christmas gift from the kids! It is a red Maple and two Gardenias!

Then this morning, I was awake early for some reason I still don't know why, so I jumped in the car and headed to Sydney Airport for a bit of 'Spotting' of the arrivals and departures! By mid morning, it was something like 100% humidity and storms were about to roll across, so I headed home to do the lawns. Here is a short montage of the day...

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

And JUST in case the slideshow above still does NOT want to play here is another form of it!

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

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It's raining, its pouring, NO I'am not snoring!

Today IS supposed to be a day of planting trees that were mum's Christmas present, but alas, the powers that be have another thing in mind!

Radar 20~12~2009, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

So, now I am at a bit of a loss as to what to do? Well I could go to the post Christmas sales, NO, or I could go to the Nursery and get some more plants, NO (I have enough for now)... But I do know WHAT I am not going to be doing and that is staying home and doing nothing! Any suggestions?

Macc is curled up on his bed fast asleep, and Jasmine is more than likely on my bed fast asleep as well. Nothing better than being in bed on wet days like this!

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I had a great day...You?

Well, I had SUCH a great day today, and it all started on Wednesday night... Every week, I get an email from an Auction House with the Friday's Auction catalogue that LP was registered with. I had actually tried to 'unsubscribe' but in doing so, I guess that they did not want me to leave and I was then getting TWO emails! This week. there was a few of LP's favourite artists, so I thought well, I will go in and have a look, and ask them to take her email address OFF the database. So I went upstairs t the art collection were, and there was more than a few of her artists there! I took note of there catalogue numbers, and went downstairs to unsubscribe...

In the end, as it was starting when I was at work, I registered my lots, at off I went. !0.15, and my first lot... Rising... Rising... Ok, I'm in, against, more, against (one more) 1st... 2nd... 3rd and final call... I had won!

Design_for_a_Fan, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

This will need to have a little bit of restoration work and clean, but I think it will be a lovely addition to the collection of works we have. It is also the first piece of this particular artist, so I am happy to have it!

11.10, and my phone is ringing again, it's the auction house again saying that my next lot is a couple away. However, the news here is not good, as it's opening bid was already more than I was willing to go for! My last two lots and again the phone was ringing (and I am now getting very use to doing this)... One lot to go ahead of me, and a new auctioneer, and bang, its now my turn!

As the opening bid is getting lower and lower, we're off... up, up, up (I don't know why they didn't just start here in the first place) and I am in on about the 5th bid, two $50 bids later and the close of the hammer, "its yours, congratulations" the kind lass said.

In_a_Hurry, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Your next lot is up, its a very large one, you know that right?" she asks somewhat confused... Starting price, whilst a little higher than I had thought, but it had suddenly stopped... And I had not even placed a bid! 1st... 2nd... 3rd and Final calllllll.... Hang on, I want this, so I placed my bid and with the other bidder done, I had just won my third (and last) lot of the day!

Lost_and_Found, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Now here's the funny/strange thing... ALL three of the titles of these paintings, have a meaning to mean at the moment. AND, whats more, I only thought of it when I was talking to Dackle Princess on Skype! The first, "Design for a Fan" to me is that I am becoming a "FAN" of these Auctions lately, both these pieces and the fact that the pram we purchased sold this morning on eBay, so in essence, this piece was paid for! The second, "In a Hurry" is the fact that I am somewhat of an impatient person, and I want things to happen much faster than they are going. LP didn't think I had this trait, and thought I was somewhat of a 'laid-back' nature though! Third, and no means last, "Lost and Found" signifies that I am still somewhat 'Lost', and I am trying to 'Find' reasons to the cause...

So they are all very special pieces to me and I am very happy to have them. So yes, I have had a great day, what about you?

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Please, do NOT hide your stuff!!!!

OK, I know it's a bit of an 'odd' title, but this has been, and still is, bugging the heck out of me! We all know that we don't want a burglar to take all of our precious things... BUT, hiding them ALL over the house is just wrong! Since that fateful day back in April, I have been trying to find 'L's iPod, all to no avail. I have looked in the strangest places trying to find it, and finally yesterday, I found it!!!! Now I am not going to say where it was (I think it is a good hiding spot, and just stupid) as I don't want the burglar to find it!!

Also, after a very sleepless night the night before last, I made a decision to get a good nights sleep last night... So, with camera in hand, I went into Sydney's Hyde Park to get a few snaps:

Hyde Park Sitting, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Hyde Park Fountain, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Baby Possum, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Baby Possum, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I then headed over to Fleet Steps to get a couple more of the Skyline and the Sydney Opera House:

Sydney Opera House, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Sydney Night Time Skyline, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I hope you enjoyed these shots. After taking them, I then headed down to a Sydney 'Nightlife' institution, 'Harry's Cafe de Wheels' for a pie, Chicken with cheese and tomato sauces... YUMM!

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Summer in Australia: - A bit of a 'catch up'

I had this sent to me today in an email, and thought that I would share it all with you (since we have been having a rather extended heat wave...):

Mr Whippy

Even though it has been hot, we are expecting even hotter weather this coming weekend, 42-44c, so I do hope that this will not happen in reality!
With the current water restrictions (Wed & Sun: - Before 10am and after 4pm) in place, coupled with this current hot dry season we are having, both at work and in the suburbs it is very dry (not to mention in the country and our farmers). Over the Christmas break, we ripped out our first season veges of Tomatoes, and replanted with some fresh stock. Whilst seedlings went in which were about 5cm tall, in the 2-3 weeks that they have been in, they are now nearly 40cm! Must be all that yummy Chook pooh I put into the vege patch whilst it laid fallow! Macc wanted to help with the vege patch (Tomatoes, Basil, Capsicum or Peppers and some Chives + Rhubarb) by turning over a small patch. Well, a small area that he wanted to bury his belated Christmas bone... The Ham bone! I was soooo angry with him, and he knew it, as he went off to the garage and tried to hide as soon as he saw it was me at home!!!
We also had the opportunity of finishing off insulating the house. We had some left over insulation from when we did the laundry (here, here, especially here, here, here, here, here & here) so it got used as a 'lining' of the upstairs study walls (in the roof space) and an additional bag of batts went into the area above the dining room, previously not accessible. Yesterday, the study was actually not to bad, heat wise, although a little stuffy from there being only the one window and not allowing the delightful breeze to pass through. but it WAS cooler!
Last week also saw the Diamond Princess arrive in Sydney. She is a very loooooong cruise liner indeed, not to mention BIG!

Diamond Princess Circular Quay

This was actually a photo I 'stitched' together from two photos. The following photo, I used a Circular Polarising Lens, which intensifies the blues and greens slightly... It gives it a somewhat dramatic style to it!

Diamond Princess: - Circular Quay

And that's life in Sydney, during Summer, for the moment...
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Cubby rebuild...

Over the last couple of months, the cubby has been getting much more of a lean... It was about to fall over! So, I tried to take the roof off to brace it up a little, but as I touched it, I quickly found out that if I was to try and lift it off, the whole house would simply fall! The previous owner of the house, had a little girl, and I think it may have been a rush job to build it many years ago, as some of the joints were... well... not that good!

So on the weekend Christmas break, we dismantled it, and I built two new side wall frames. The back yard looked as though a cyclone (tornado) had gone through it!

Cubby 30122008

Cubby II 30122008

Cubby III 30122008

We also did a 'new' floor, as the old one was just chipboard on a couple of bricks! Great for ALL sorts of bugs and stuff when kids are inside!!!

Cubby Floor 30122008

Now, yesterday afternoon, frames were finished and the rear cladding was nailed on. Right hand side cladding and window were also installed and then the cubby was placed onto the new floor. Whilst L was off getting dinner (it was too hot to cook anything, and that is a story in it's own right that I will tell you later...) the cladding and window were completed on the left hand side.

Now, as I said, it was rather hot and as I was busy, L said that she will do dinner, But as it was hot, we were busy so she decided to go to Alpacino's Pizza & Pasta house nearby. She left and dodged her way through traffic at a nearby intersection where a motorcyclist had an accident and later died. When she got to Alpacino's, it was closed! She left and then called me and it was decided to go to the local Lebanese bakery, where they have the BEST, woodfired pizza's. Sounds good? NUP, it was closed as well!!!!

By this time, somewhat deflated, she came home and defrosted some stir-fry beef, cracked open a bottle of Vietnamese sauce and cooked some rice. What a disaster! This dinner was so hot (spice), she could barely eat it! I had one bit of the beef and some rice, and I swear that it took off the lining of my mouth!

So, here I am, at work on New Years Eve (NYE). Outside it is a lovely day, where we are expecting a top in the city of around 30 degrees C. Our site is one of (if not THE best) the best sites for the NYE fireworks. Fencing has gone in and will not reopen until 10am. There is already thousands of people out there waiting. These are mainly backpackers (UK and USA to name a couple), and have already started drinking as grog is not allowed inside. It is not even 9am! We will be at home tonight, with family, having a BBQ, enjoying the spa and having a game or two on either the xbox or the PS2.

Your turn: What are your plans to see in 2009? Have you made a resolution yet, and will you?

Have a great night everyone, and stay safe. See you in 2009!

Where did the weekend go??

We had so much planned for the weekend:

• Gut out the Laundry, to make way for the renovations (2nd Toilet & Shower, re-tile and new cupboards)
• Lawns & Gardening, which have been slightly neglected since going to New Zealand!
• Computer issues, as we needed to install a Wireless Network Card so is it can pick up the new modem/router... (I actually got this done!!)
• Go and visit a Gallery over at Gymea (did this as well, and L will have to blog about her purchase... It is lovely, and in keeping of her 2008 goals)!

Then we had a phone call from the MIL. She was in tears as the FIL was in Hospital. His heart was the issue, again! So, with a friend in tow, we headed from one side of Sydney to the other to get to the hospital. He was on a machine with leads from his chest and apparently, his BP had dropped dramatically and his heart rate went through the roof (190)! Whilst we were there, he seemed to be in good spirits, although I think he looked tired. We left (me in the FIL's car as it was at the hospital and L in our car) to drop the MIL at home. By the time we got home, and made dinner (Spaghetti Bolognaise) it was now 9.30pm!

Sunday was not much better. in saying that we would get over to pick up the MIL at 9am, well were had just woken up, so we were running a little late!!! FIL was insistent that she go to the Antique Markets, a regular event for them, before going into visit him. When we got to the hospital, he was looking much better, his heart had a better rhythm and everything was looking OK. After a couple of hours, we left to go for a Iced Chocolate at Indulgence, when we got the call to come back to the hospital, this time, to collect him as he was being discharged! Home again around 6pm. No gardening done, the laundry was still the same, and after a couple of hours, I finally got the desktop PC to talk to the new modem/router. PHEW!

Riley Joe

Remember these lovely photo's of Riley?

Riley Joseph

Riley Joseph

Well, last Sunday, it was his Christening, and L is his Godmother. So, after a busy Saturday getting all around Sydney within the day collecting this and that, going over to 'The next sister Down' place and helping set up for the day (a feeble excuse really for L to hog have a hold of Riley) and then having to drive home to get ready for an impromptu dinner on the Saturday night, Sunday quickly came around for the 'Big Day'.
As L had front row tickets, we thought we had better be early, at least not late. So here we were, fluffing around the house (I was actually cooking my Asian Green Bean Salad) we noticed the time, 10.30 and I had not showered and the drive to the church was at LEAST 40 mins in no traffic!
So, without speeding, I managed to get us there just in the nick of time, I drop L at the door and went off to find a park.
Here are some photos at the church:

Stained Glass Window

St Josephs Enfield Altar

Pad Family and Godparents

Pad Family in St Joe's

Louise & Riley

Riley & Louise

It really was such a hot and muggy day, so as soon as were at the 'after party' I changed out of my suit and into some shorts! There was also so much food anyone would have been forgiven for thinking thousands of people were going to be there. Here are some random shots of the day:

Granny & Riley

4 Generations apart

Great Grandchildren

Sleeping & Beauty; Nan & Rosie

The Cake

The Family

wordless wednesday #13 Kirribilli Markets

Kirribilli Markets Nth Sydney

Kirribilli Markets Nth Sydney

Kirribilli Markets Nth Sydney

wordless wednesday

Big Bird comes to Sydney...

Well, with all the hype she finally arrived, it was a pity that it was only two years late! Not to mention, the lovely weather Sydney put on, not only for its arrival yesterday afternoon, but for its departure back to Singapore this evening.

SQ380 YSSY

Today was to be a day that L and the MIL were going to Art Sydney. I had been give two tickets to go from the Paddington Contemporary as I had recently purchased a book and a doll (Lulu, L's alter ego) that Rebecca Cool had made and her artwork was throughout the book Woman Hood. But, as I had managed to swing around a busy week into a flex day today, I was going to go out to Sydney Airport to have a look at the beast, but instead decided to 'tag' along with only one request, that we drive past to have a look.

SQ380 YSSY

So, as we headed off along the Motorway that goes along the perimeter of the airport, under the smaller of the three runways, I was expecting a lot of traffic. We had heard that there was already a lot of traffic there, but I was surprised to see not much at all. At least, nothing like when APEC was on when you were not aloud ANYWHERE near the fence. People were parked along the fence line just near the runway's 'blast fence' near where she was parked, so we decided to swap spots (I was driving) and if need be, we can get back into the car in a hurry and drive away as there was both security AND Federal Police in the area moving people on.

SQ380 YSSY

So, I took a couple of shots, changed to my long lens, and sure enough, we saw a Federal Police car coming with his red and blue lights flashing. Now I was atop a very small roadside barrier fence (about a metre high) and as L quickly jumped in the car, I got my last shot (above) and got into the car and we headed off. The last time a cousin of the bird was in town, I copped a fine for an 'Obstructed' Number plate (there is bound to be a post about this in the coming weeks/months, as I am contesting the infringement!) and was not about to get another one!

L will make a following blog regarding the day of Art Sydney!

Tranquility of spring...

In Sydney, we are now in spring. I had to go down to the Farm Cove area at work, and the Main Pond seemed to be a sign of tranquility and peace on the day. So here are a few 'snaps' I took of my time down there...

Royal Botanic Gardens, Main Pond

Royal Botanic Gardens, Main Pond

Royal Botanic Gardens, Main Pond

Royal Botanic Gardens, Main Pond

Royal Botanic Gardens, Main Pond