3 weeks since last POST... Sorry!

Ok ok, I know it has been a while, A LONG WHILE, since my last post, but I have been frantically busy... trust me!

So as a catch-up, I will simply do a photo 'wrap-up' with a short commentary!

I made a Katsu Curry, which was YUMM

Chicken Katsu Curry

Went to Melbourne

Melbourne Yarra

MET, my name sake at Mass

Bernie Proctor Dennis Webster Bernie Proctor

Caught Macc sleeping, and hasn't he got a 'comfy' looking pillow

Sleepy Macc

And last night, I had some friends over for dinner, and I was going to cook the Katsu Curry above, but I decieded to do the Drunken Chicken instead... It was YUMM, I had some wicked potatos, pumpkin and some greens of peas, beans and brocolli! Oh, and some AWESOME gravy as well!

Drunken Chicken

Drunken Chicken Feast

Drunken Chicken Dinning Room

After dinner, we did some Karaoke, and played some BUZZ on the PS2... It was such a good night, and I hope to get out and about more often!!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Farewell to an aunt...

Today, was a cold grey day, but full of warmth, love and respect as we as a family said farewell to my aunt, aged 76.

Margaret Helen Monica Strutt: - A daughter, sister, wife, mother, grand-mother, aunt and friend was loved by many. She was passionate about a lot of things from painting, genealogy and gardening including getting the whipper sniper/brushcutter out and the ride-on mower to do the lawns. But for me, she will be remembered for the absolute love of her family; she often doted over her grandchildren at family parties.

To my uncle Frank, Mark, Jenny, Beth, Maryanne, Simon and ALL of your families, I send you my love and you will be in my thoughts and prayers...

Hoo roo for now...

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Thursday Thirteen # 12: - Travel Snaps

Thursday Thirteen: - Travel Snaps... Here we go!

1. Doha, QATAR Feb 2009

Doha Inland Sea Dinner Table
2. Dubai, UAE Feb 2009

Dubai Int Arrivals
3. Liverpool, UK May 2009

SP Penny Arcade Pat & Carousel
4. Stamford, UK May 2009

Burghley Gardens Face
5. Santiago, CHILE July 2009

Plaza Da Armas Dancers
6. Madrid, SPAIN August 2009

Parque del Retiro Funny Statue
7. Angers, FRANCE 2010

Old Church Front Jardin de Plantes
8. Paris, FRANCE 2010

Arc de Triomphe
9. Venice, ITALY 2010

Rialto Bridge Night
10. Pompii, ITALY 2010

Pompii Road
11. Athens, GREECE 2010

Athens Acropolis Western Side
12. Ciaro, EGYPT 2010

Egypt Pyramids
13. Berlin, GERMANY 2010

Uschi Maribeth Me

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday: - A Moonrise over football

Moonrise

Hoo roo for now...

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BFMEQNK83YCW

How was your weekend?

How was my weekend, a bit busy and a bit of a headache... Let me explain.

Saturday, saw me heading west out to the foot of the mountains to visit mum, and have lunch with her. It had been a little while since catching up with her, and it was great to see her again.

I then left her to go to Blacktown Olympic Park, which was the venue for the Baseball and Softball when Sydney hosted the Olympics. However, it is now more of a multi-purpose sporting facility, mainly AFL and Cricket being played on the main arena. It is also the (temporary) home for GWS AFL Club until they are included into the national competition in 2012, when they move to Homebush. I was here though, to see a mate have a run-on game, and I think he had a great game!

GWS12

GWS08

GWS14

I had to leave though, about 1/3 through the last quarter so as I could meet up with my brother and a few friends for the Swans v Collingwood match. It was really touch and go as to making it on time, but I managed to get in with about 15 minutes to spare! However, the result was NOT a good one!

Sunday, I went to the bakery and grabbed some morning tea, before heading to see the B & SIL with M & W. They are doing some renovations there soon, and we chatted about these whilst having morning tea and coffee! I headed home with the best of intentions to do some gardening, however a rapidly hitting headache (which turned migraine) put that to a halt, and instead, I slept it off only waking to put Mr M out for a wee stop and to feed Miss J.

So, that was my weekend, I hope that yours was a good one!

Hoo roo for now...

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For a bit of a laugh...

I just KNOW this would NOT be the case with both Jasmine and Macc! Thanks MB for the link!

Hoo roo for now...

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A busy few days...

I know, I haven't posted for MORE than a few days, but in my defence, I have been busy! From general stuff back at work, to dinner with the girls who USED to work with me, delivering Passionfruits to blogging friends and visiting other friends and babies, then onto football (AFL) for my God-daughter and then getting my car cleaned and dropping off the SIL birthday present, and that was JUST the weekend!

Here are some photos from the dinner night out:

Mel & Clare

Stir Fried Prok Belly Geri choose

And from the AFL on Sunday morning:

AusKick 20 06 2010

Breanna Footy

Breanna Footy

AusKick 20 06 2010

When I got home yesterday, there was an Official Post Delivery Card in my door, saying that they had tried to deliver a parcel, but I was not at home... So, today after work, I went down to the local Post Office to collect my package:

My Parcel

My Parcel INNER

My Parcel in bedroom

Now, it's NOT where it was going to go (funny how when I was away, I had thought it was longer and was going to go somewhere else; but when it arrives, it just seems smaller...) so I decided to put it between the dressers and the bed. I think it looks fine here anyway!

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, I have an appointment in the afternoon that should be 'interesting', so lets hope it goes well.

Hoo roo for now...

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Never again QANTAS, NEVER again...

Today, I got a nice package in the mail. Well sort of, as I had to go to the Post Office to collect it. AND, it could not have come at a better time either! I have made GOLD with my preferred carrier, Emirates!

Gold Package

Gold Card

Here's the reason WHY I will not fly QANTAS again!

I boarded my flight home in Hong Kong. Shortly after the meal service, when Coffee, Teas and Hot Chocolates were being offered, I requested a Hot Chocolate and a sugar. A summary of the dialogue is below:

• ME: Can I please get an additional sugar please?
• CM: It is really sweet
• ME: Yes, but can I please have an additional sugar
• CM: It is REALLY sweet...
• ME: Yes, I realise this, but can I please have an additional sugar?
• CM: (after much looking and snide remarks to another female crew member) Handed me a sugar and said with a fair amount of sarcasm, “Well, I suppose it’s to each their own...”

All of this was in front of my adjoining passengers, and both in front, behind and across the aisle. In fact, the gentleman in the seat across the aisle asked if I was OK and shook his head!

• ME: Yes it is to each their own, and I would like additional sugar, thank you, and can I also have a Cabin Manager please?

After some time, the CSS for the Economy section came to me (with the CM) and discussed it and the CM at this stage was asked by the CSS to leave as he was insisting to ‘butt in’. She apologised for the altercation, and in fact mentioned that it is quite ‘out of character’ for him. Shortly after, the overall Cabin Manager, 'D' came and spoke to me regarding this situation, and to see if there is anything else I would like, another Hot Chocolate, Coffee/tea etc...

At this point in time, I felt totally humiliated, and embarrassed and all I wanted to do was sleep... SO, QANTAS, I will be offloading my 160 odd thousand points as soon as I can, changing my Platinum CC to the one Emirates want me to have. At least their Cabin Crew are polite and fulfill all requests when made with a smile!

Hoo roo for now...

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Last day in Honkers...

My last day in Honkers was a bit foggy... Literally! On the night before, there was a couple of lightening bolts, cracks of thunder and a bit of a downpour! So when I woke, and saw that there was fog over the peak near the hotel, I thought my day was going to be 'touch 'n' go'! But, I checked out, and got the taxi to the Hong Kong Central railway station, and to my surprise, I checked my bag there and then! ONLY, 12 hours EARLY!!!

I then got onto the train that takes me out to the airport, where I had to get a cab to the cable car that takes you to the peak. And the fog (and rain) was closing in! But I joined the line, got a 'Crystal Cabin' which had a glass bottomed floor, and I was on my way. I my cabin, there was a couple of Chinese men, (one fell asleep), 3 youngish (18/20 maybe) Chinese girls and a friend of theirs an Irish boy (also 20ish) and myself! In some ways, I followed their lead with regards to photos (feet through floor) but when I got my BIG lens out, I think I put them into quietness as they went very quiet! Anyway, here are some pics of the trip up...

Cable Car Going Up Clear right

Tower Three

Crystal Cabin Glass Floor

Once we got to about halfway, we were in fog clouds that blew through, and by the time we got to the very top, it was even thicker!

Misty Cable Car

Off into the mist

Ngong Ping is Hong Kong's first ZERO plastic Shopping Bag Village, and I think they are very proud of this fact.

Ngong Ping Village ZERO Plastic Bag

Ngong Ping Village ONLY Plastic Bags

Ngong Ping Village02

Ngong Ping Village03

Ngong Ping Village05

I started to walk to the Buddha, but the further I walked to it, the thicker the fog got, so I looked at my phone (AKA watch) and decided, nup, I can not wait and I headed for lunch and then the trip down... Oh well, next time, I will get to see the Buddha, but for now, here is what I found...

Giant Buddha, Ngong Ping 360

The flight home, well, that's for another post I think, once my complaint has been addressed!

Hoo roo for now...

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