WW # 24: - A "Silver Princess"!

Eucalyptus caesia "Silver Princess"

Eucalyptus caesia "Silver Princess"

Eucalyptus caesia "Silver Princess"

Eucalyptus caesia "Silver Princess"

This is a flowering gum (Eucalyptus caesia "Silver Princess") that is in our front yard. It is 'supposed' to flower in spring, but we are in the middle of autumn here, so I think it is a bit confused!

wordless wednesday

Our 'New' bathroom...

Well, after such a long time, we now have two fully functional bathrooms... Remember this?

Bathroom Reno: - before

Well, we now have this:

Finished Bathroom 18-04-2008

All we did, was having the tiles 'Repaired & Painted' thanks to Bathroomwerx, they also re-enameled the bath, and a new screen for the shower that replaced the curtain. We also added in a new end glass screen as well, as the old brown one looked... well... UGLY! Both of these came from the RenovationBoys.

We were also the lucky recipients of a Council Clean Up (Kerbside Garage Sale; take it if you want it before it gets collected as rubbish) Vanity. After replacing the bowl and giving it a paint, it also came up a treat!

Pumpkin Barrow

Pumpkin Barrow

WW #23: - A Country Road Trip

Sorry, but this will need a few words...

Last Sunday, we took a break from bathroom renovations to go for a 'road trip' down to the New South Wales, Southern Highlands town of Berrima.

Berrima Country Church

Berrima Autumnal Colour

Vintage Cars

Farm Gate

Pumpkins

wordless wednesday

Whats happening??

So what's happening in your 'neck of the woods'??

Here, we have been busy doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. The laundry, as you may recall, has been updated into a second bathroom. This is now finished and we have done the bathroom. It is waiting now for the over bath shower screen to be installed and over this coming weekend, I will hopefully have the new door hung.

Last night saw us go shopping straight after a seminar we both went to about water. The shopping centre that we went to, Macquarie Shopping Centre, was chosen for its location to the seminar, and had a great little Tea shop called T2. L had been there last week with the MIL and was still raving about its atmosphere and little goodies on offer. But when we got there, the goodies on offer looked a little boring so we decided not to have anything.

We then went to Myer to have a look at a new pair of PJ's for me. But at the price on offer, I thought it was a bit expensive! So finally, we went to BigW to get a new, slow closing toilet seat for the newly renovated bathroom.

The bad side to all of this was, that we now had to get into the peak hour traffic to get home! We spent longer in this traffic than the time we spent in the shopping centre just to get home!!!

So now, when we got home, I quickly installed the new toilet seat, L had a nice hot shower, and I cooked dinner (Pork steaks with mashed potatoes and veges) and relaxed to a nice night at home in front of the tele...

So, what are you up to?? Any plans for the weekend??

Our cat: - Jasmine

OK, I know it has been a while since posting, but here is our little 'angel' (NOT) sitting in the Mondo Grass, in our back yard.

Bathroom Renovation begins...

OK, so after doing the laundry, and converting into a second bathroom, it is now time to start doing the bathroom. So, here are some shots of the bathroom before we started. Things to note are the unmovable staining along the bottom of the tiles (no matter how much bleach/cleaner we have put on, it has not changed in the nearly three years we have lived here), the dangerous soap holder and the simply UGLY excuse for a vanity.

Bathroom Reno: - before

Dangerous soap holder

Bath before being sprayed
We did, however, have the "Chief" Inspector observing it being dismantled, and making sure that anything that can be recycled is separated. After all, we are putting in a vanity that the FIL found out a Council Clean up, oh I mean, Roadside Garage Freebie/sale!

"Chief" Inspector
It is now repaired and painted, the cracking walls have been repaired and painted and I am currently waiting for some filler to go off, so as I can rub it back and paint the ceiling before installing a new Energy Efficient light.

WW # 22: - A Mantis in the Dining room!

I needed to be quick to get this, thus the focal point is not quite right :(




wordless wednesday

Happy Easter...

Late I know, but...

Here is what 'L' baked (which, by chance, happened to work out...)

These were absolutely delicious to by the way!

Wordless Wednesday # 21: - A visitor...

The other night, L came home from work VERY late, and to our surprise, this is what was greeting her at the front door...

And, a close up of his head...


wordless wednesday

circles and squares: yet another quilt!

L has been somewhat busy of late, fulfilling some of her "New Year's resolution's" listed here.

So, here is a bit of an update of her progress...

1. Make a Picnic Rug, the store bought one we used for NYE, is ugly and uncomfortable. This is now underway, thus the title of this posting on a lovely very warm Autumnal afternoon.

   
   circles and squares quilt
2. Laundry Conversion to be complete by the end of February. DONE! (well almost, we just have to have the shower screen installed...)
3. Bathroom Makeover to be completed by the end of June. This is about to go, here is the vanity we picked up on a 'Kerbside Pick-up Sale!
   

   
   Bathroom Vanity
4. I pledge Handmade. This has been started, and will continue throughout the year...
5. I plan to 'Pay it Forward'. This is still continuing, so will update more on how this has been going!
6. Phone a friend a month, some of my friends have been so neglected, we didn’t even get out Christmas cards in 2007, this will not happen in 2008. Those of you who have stayed with us, I thank you. Now, who of you has had a call... hmm??? I guess this needs more attention!!
7. Cook more dinners, I hate to admit it, but B carries more than his weight in this area. And it makes me feel real bad. I am still waiting!!!
8. Work smarter, I gotta get this sorted for a more sane 2008. I don't think that she is wining here. The last couple of weeks, she has spent many a night at work until 9.30pm!

So, I guess she is doing sort of OK, albeit busy. Another thing, not on the list but certainly is going to happen, is getting a spa for the backyard. This is of course for therapeutic nature for my rehabilitation of my back injury and surgery. I got a great deal of relief from the spa's in New Zealand, so I can't wait!!!

Oh, have you ever see a cat that likes vegemite?

Vegemite

Having a 'clean & green' birthday!!!

I just thought I would share with you, my 'birthday' present... Well, sort of!

It is actually a replacement machine, as it predecessor decided to retire from active duty, after spending a couple of weeks resting out on the verandah! So, with this new, clean & GREEN machine, we will be saving more on Energy and Water!

Our old washing machine would work to a point; that is fill up, then stop! No washing was being done at all! This became very frustrating and was made worse by having to do the soaking load by HAND! And at 11.30 on a Sunday night!

So, on my birthday, there was a lot of calls to various shops to get the best deal, and to ensure that it would actually FIT into the back of my car! This was all achieved, with me arriving at the warehouse at 4:58pm when it shuts at 5:00pm!

So, Happy Birthday to me...

Washing Machine

STICKY: - 1968: - What a great year...

Oh dear, its now:

Its a '5 things' meme!!

Ok, I liked this a lot from ExPat Mom, so I thought I would do it as well...

Five things I didn’t see coming
Meeting my soul mate...
My accident resulting in spinal surgery!
Travelling overseas, I thought it would be impossible!
My engine blowing up in my car a couple of years ago.
Finding absolutely NOTHING wrong when doing the laundry renovation. We thought there might be something!

Five things I was doing 20 years ago
Performing on stage in an annual musical (singing AND Dancing, ekk!! and I have the videos to prove it!!!)
Doing both Trampoline and Gymnastics every night of the week...
Doing my apprenticeship as a gardener.
Going camping when I could.
Going on train trips as well when I could.


Five things on my to do list for today
Finish work!
Go to the gym and have a swim afterwards.
Finish preparing the door to the laundry, (sanding the underside and painting it).
Watch both LOST and Ramsey Kitchen.
Try and get a good nights sleep

Five things I will do when I am a millionaire
First Class to England flying either Japan Airlines or Emirates.
From Europe to Guatemala to visit Genesis!
Renovate the bathroom, paint the inside of the house (incl filling the cracks).
Get a new car!
Renovate the lawns with a topdressing and new turf (QLD Blue Couch of course).


Five things I will never wear again
Some of the costumes I once wore on stage!
Ugg boots in public...
Speedos when swimming (until I lose a bit of weight)
Flared Jeans.
A dress! (ok, it was for a fancy dress party, and I went as Dame Edna Everage!)


Five of my favorite toys
X-Box
Computer
Monopoly (ok, its a game, but it is a toy all the same...)
Playstation II
Jungle Party on PSII


Five banes of my existence
CSA. Only a couple more years to go...
Slow drivers in the fast lane! Don't you know there is a law against it!
People who mis-understand a light hearted comment, as something as being more than it is... Stay happy people!
Not being able to stay in touch with my friends as much as I would like to. I am sorry, I would like to see you, but we are sooooo busy at the moment...
Mowing the lawn then Macc does a you know what on it...

Ok, I have to tag someone new with this . . . YOU! If you´re interested, take up the challenge!

30 days : days 18, 19 & 20... Laundry Renovation cont...

Ok, so here is another update of sorts on the laundry...Day 18 saw the security come on board to safeguard the big 'unveil':

Laundry Security

Clearly he is busy 'guarding' something...
Then, as things were slowly slipping behind schedule, we had to get additional 'hired' help by way of an apprentice:

Laundry Apprentice

Clearly, unimpressed with being 'caught' sleeping on the job

Laundry Apprentice

And this is how she shows how unhappy' she is...

Laundry Apprentice

But, now for the big unveil (taken with our little camera for its wide angle lens)...

Laundry 19-02-2008

and with my camera...

Laundry 15-02-2008

30 days: day 17 The laundry, Its almost finished...

Well, progress has come on very fast this last couple of days, and whilst the final bits n pieces are done, here is a teaser...

Laundry Soap

Laundry Soap & Tap

30 days: day 16 Valentines Day

Well last night we went to a movie... Not any old cinema no no, that would be just to boring. Instead we went to where I work to the St George Open Air Cinema to see 27 Dresses! It is a truely beautiful night, watching a movie on a big scree that appears out of Sydney Harbour... You not only get to watch the movie, but also the changing lights of the city as office towers shut down for the night. Mind you, prior to that, we did catch up with some friends of mine for dinner at the Sienna Marina Restaurant in Wooloomooloo.

Valentines Day 27 Dresses

30 Days: day 15 (WW #20) Our Pets

Happy (younger) Macc

A smiling Macc with Foster dog 'Slow Joe'

Shy Jasmine

Joe and Jasmine Whats with the stairs?

wordless wednesday

30 days: days 12, 13 & 14 Laundry continues...

Ok, so here is a 'catch-up' post of days 12:

So, this is what it USE to look like...

Laundry 20 Jan 2008

Day 13:

Laundry Tiled

Laundry Tiled

And day 14, something 'L' will be enjoying soon:

Lemon Meringue Pie

Bali Hotel: Puri Bali Jimbaran

An abundance of Frangipani's were around and were collected during the morning. The better ones were used that afternoon on the bed pillows when they turned the bed down at night for you...

Frangipani at night

Our hotel reception, was very VERY nice... Througherly reccomend staying here, we will again!

Puri Bali Jimbaran Reception

Beach side restaurant at sunset. Fantastic food day or night!

Puri Bali Jimbaran Beach Restaurant

Looking from reception across the huge pool to the beach side bar and restaurant.

Puri Bali Jimbaran Pool & Bar

Continuing the linky love...

Ok, thanks 'ExPat Mom', you got me good and proper...

So, who will I tag? Have a look at the LAST five, your it!!

Start Copying Here*

I have randomly selected 5 of you below to be tagged and I hope that you will similarly publish this post in your blog. You will have to tag 5 other bloggers and just keep adding on to the list. (Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!)It’s real easy! Tag others and see your Technorati Authority increase exponentially! The benefits of Viral Linking:- One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!- Increase your Google PageRank fast- Attract large volume of new traffic to your site- Build your community- Make new friends!The Strategist Notebook ~ Link Addiction ~ Ardour of the Heart ~ When Life Becomes a Book ~ The Malaysian Life ~ Yogatta.com ~ What goes under the sun ~ Roshidan’s Cyber Station ~ Sasha says ~ Arts of Physics ~ And the legend lives ~ My View, My Life ~ A Simple Life ~ Juliana RW ~ Mom Knows Everything ~ Beth & Cory’s Mom ~ A Mind Forever Voyaging~ enjoying the ride ~ Jennifer’s thoughts ~ Mom of 3 Girls ~ Amanda ~ Don’t Make Me Get The Flying Monkeys ~ ExPat Mom ~ Just Jessie ~ Wilson Six ~ Sandier Pastures ~ Burnt Offerings ~ Over the Moon with Joy ~ Are We There Yet Mom ~ Facipiers and Stinky Toes ~ Dackel Princess ~ Miles Away In France ~ That Girl ~ My House Is Cuter Than Yours.

There, I did it... Good luck!

*Stop Copying*

30 days: day 11

Bill's Tiling

floor tiles are in
progress is being made on the laundry renovation, the floor tiles have been laid, Monday the wall tiles go on. Tomorrow we will install the exhaust fan and fit the window frame.