Goodbye Sydney, welcome to Berlin

Well, I am finally here in Berlin... And thankfully, it is completely different to how I left Sydney! This is some pictures of Sydney when I was waiting at the airport when I left...

How I left Sydney, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

How I left Sydney, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

VH-OQF Charles Kingsford Smith departure, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

And then this was Berlin last night, at around 9.45pm...

Berlin TV Tower, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

It was a long flight, Sydney to Bangkok to Helsinki to Berlin, but I had good flights all the way through. After getting to where I am staying, I had a shower to freshen up and so on, and I had to go for a walk... You see, I had bought with my the WRONG power adaptor! AND, across the road from the train station there was a big department stor... Sort of like Myers/David jones back home... All they had though, was an Eastern Europe to GB adaptor which was ok as I then used my GB power adaptor to then get me to my plug. And on my way home, I stopped at the Sausage place (who's name escapes me just now, but I will be going back as they were YUMM) for some lunch. During lunch, I had a chat with the guy there for around 30 mins, before heading back and having a short nap, or so I thought... What was going to be a 30-45 min nap ended up being a couple of hours!

I then headed into 'Alexanderplatz for dinner... I don't know if this is normal for here, but I thought I was in a goth city with almost EVERYONE in black, black and matching black... Even the guys were wearing black eyeliner and so on! They were extremely friendly though, as a group was playing with a soccer ball and as it was kicked a little wildely, he apologised (I think...) and stopped for me to go past! Nice hey!

Hoo roo for now...

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Germany bound, Housesitter Required and Happy Birthday Dad!

Well, last night, I got everything finalised and booked... I am just waiting to see if a friend is going to be free to stay and look after the house and pets! The neighbours, who are totally awesome in doing it last time, are somewhat busy at the moment with building works, and I don't want to impose on them any further, and a friend of mine has offered up assistance! Thanks! I leave on Thursday, I am going to work for half of the day and then straight onto the airport.

Back in 1992, August in fact, I lost my dad to Lung Cancer... Today, he would be 79. This is a photo of him taken by his work as he had just won the employee of the year (I think... Mum, help me out here!). I often think about him and miss him...

DAD, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Well, I had best get ready for another day at work... I have a fair bit to do before heading to Germany...

Hoo roo for now...

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Baby Jack...

Today, was supposed to be a day of horrid, cyclonic weather with at least 50mm of rain and winds up to 90klm/hr. And I was thinking, OH NO as it was baby Jack's Christening day today... But, thankfully, the East Coast Low pressure cell was slowing and also moving inland and we had a great day.

So, this morning after waking up from a 14.5hr sleep, I had a thought, I will reorganise the kitchen! Just the thing you do when you have to get ready for a christening hey! So I took out the range hood grills, and soaked them in some HOT water and detergent. Then it was onto the benches and I then moved the microwave, the coffee machine (Green Francis Francis) and the soda machine... An hour later, it was all sparkling clean, tidy and I was happy. It was then time for a shower and to get ready!

It took no time at all to get there, in fact I was early, so I simply sat in the car for a little while before I saw other people arriving! We quickly got him changed and into the church. There was three babies being christened today, so the priest was going to be busy! Jack was a little star and didn't cry at all through out the very brief service! The priest was also MUCH better than when big sister Rosie had her christening with the priest stating upfront, NO PHOTOS! This guy was more than pleased for photos to be taken and for the smaller kids to run around! I wonder what he would have said if some of the 'Bigger Kids' started to run around??
Afterwards, we went off to the local clud for Yumm Cha... In a word, YUMM!

Me and J, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

J, L, I R, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

J, I & L, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Family Photo, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Yumm Cha, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

S & M Yumm Cha, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

So now I am preparing for a flight out on Thursday for Europe, again! This time though, there are so many reasons for this trip... Research trip, viewing of a garden over there, and I am hoping to have a day/evening with a very dear friend of mine, but I do not want to spoil her trip, so I will be playing it as it comes... This trip will also be with a new carrier for me (2 actually) so we will see how we go!

Hoo roo for now...

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New bed is now complete and a parcel...

Thursday afternoon, I got a phone call to say that my new mattress had arrived, but due to my illness, I was unable to collect on that afternoon, so Friday was collection day! I could not wait and thanks to a mate, it was collected on Friday morning!
It was no sooner home and on the bed, and I knew I had made a fantastic choice, or at least, the girl at the shop made a great choice for me!! Seriously, I was so looking forward to the evening to come just to try it out! When I got the new frame earlier in the week, I put a new quilt cover on but didn't change the sheets. Today though, it is all new bedding, sheets (not yet flannelet, but an in between as it isn't that cold yet), pillow covers and a blanket and quilt cover... Doesn't it look heavenly?

New Bed Mattress, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I also got a surprise parcel in the mail on Thursday... It was from my friend M in the USA, and it had me very perplexed as to what it was... It said on the cover, "Seasoning Mix" but I was reading it Seasonal ? and was wondering HOW it got through Quarantine, until I had a CLOSER look! So, as they do it in 'Border Security' I deconstructed the parcel ever so carefully so as not to do any damage, and what did I find? I packet of Cincinnati Chili mix! But I dare NOT try and cook it just now, not with my condition... I already have the runs!!!

Mystery Parcel Unraveled, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Hoo roo for now...

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French Doudou...

Whilst we were away, we stumbled across a little market area on the way down to Notre Dame, Paris. It was quite a nice little market, and one that L would have been at for some time! Now it's no surprise at all to the regular readers (and to those of the old blog we shared), that she liked to collect handmade toys. See what I mean:

L's Crafty Toys, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Anyway, in keeping with this 'tradition' I thought it best that as we found these "Doudou's" from "Sweet Millie" that perhaps I will get a pair for the angle babies...

French Doudou (Crafty Toys), originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Also, after a few weeks prior to leaving for the trip, of technical difficulties with Skype and the modem (long story), my new modem arrived the other day, so now I am just waiting to make a call on Skype to test it out! But so far, it seems to be going OK (shhhh....)

New Modem, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

And whilst I have been laid up for a couple of days now, in the rain (boring), I have been trying to update a lot of stuff on the blog, files at home etc... I am hoping to hear of news any day now for another research trip, this time to Germany and Denmark. This trip should only be for a week to ten day total, famous last words, right!

Hoo roo for now...

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Random Dozen #1

OK, so I thought I might try this meme that a friend of mine is doing... Here goes!

1. Would you rather host party or simply attend a party? Any day, I like to host the party... That way, I can have a drink (or two)!

2. Tell us about the most memorable party you've been to. I have been to a couple of 'Fancy Dress' parties, but these are really NOT my scene. So it is easier for me to say what was NOT memorable! But when I was on stage, there was some fantastic 'After Show Parties' that's for sure!

3. What is one thing you hope for in the after-life? After-life? Well that is TOO easy... To see 'L' again and all of the babies that became 'Angle Babies'...

4. What do you enjoy most about sunshine? Oh the warmth! After working outside for close to 20 years before moving into the office, I so miss it... BUT, I am also grateful I am not out there all the time now with Skin Cancers needing checking every so often...

5. When you attend a bridal/baby shower, do you prefer to bring your own gift or chip in with others to buy a larger gift? I like to give gifts that are a little bit quirky, but still useful, and when it comes to the kids birthdays etc (nephews/nieces), I love to think of educational toys that just HAPPEN to be noisy!!!

6. Would you rather have a FREE week of having your house cleaned or all of your meals cooked for you and your family? Hmmm... Can I have a half a week of both and help out with both as well? I love cooking, and I quite like cleaning, so this is a hard one indeed!

7. What song describes your mood today? Gloria Gaynor's, "I Will Survive" (but from the Australian Hit, Priscilla; Queen of the Desert) Sing the opening line with me now, come on, you KNOW the words... "First I was afraid, I was petrified. I kept thinking I could never live without you by my side..."

8. What is something you received for your own bridal shower/wedding that you still own or use? (If you are not married, feel free to sub a gift you received a long time ago.) We got a Pasta Maker, and we only started using it in the year prior to L dieing. She loved it, and it was a lot of work, but my GOD, did it taste good! I think I might have a 'Pasta Party'! Then all of the people can help me clean after the party!

9. Your favorite flavor of ice cream is? Chocolate, Rum 'n' Raisin... YUMM!!

10. When was the last time you felt "tested?" Almost every day since April last year...

11. "A Roast Dinner" is a food that once I start eating I find really hard to stop."

12. "L" was and ALWAYS will be, the best motivation.

In other news, I am not having much fun today, stuck at home sick and it is raining something fierce... But I am enjoying the new bed, when I am in it that is...

Syd Radar 26052010, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

The BED, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Hoo roo for now...

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Whilst I was away... And now that I am back!

As was widely reported, there was a little volcano that was causing all sorts of grief around the world for travellers, and thankfully, that was NOT us.

However, the other day, I was emailed some amazing pictures from this event, and rather than email them around, I thought I would share them here. Now, I have absolutely NO IDEA who took these, but suffice to say, it was NOT me!

Iceland Volcano, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. IV11, 2. IV10, 3. IV09, 4. IV08

Iceland Volcano, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. IV19, 2. IV18, 3. IV17, 4. IV16

Iceland Volcano, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. IV07, 2. IV06, 3. IV04, 4. IV03

Iceland Volcano, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. IV15, 2. IV14, 3. IV13, 4. IV12

Since coming back, I have been having a few little technical gremlins with my Internet, nothing serious, just really REALLY annoying! As a bit of a 'back story' I have Skype, on both my PC and my laptop. Now originally, this was great, but then I started to get a gremlin in the system. When EVER I used the laptop and Skype it would cause the modem to freeze. Freeze, is not really the right word here, as it becomes VERY hot to touch! And then on Friday night, it froze again, but this time, there was a slight smell of smoke coming from it... So it is now turned OFF (I only turn it on to use Internet for a VERY short period of time...). I am talking with my ISP today, and hopefully, I will be getting a new one as this one is barely 12 months old, under warranty!

Hoo roo for now...

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Counting down already... For the working week to finish!

How sad is that, I am ALREADY counting down the working week! But it has been a long, not to mention tiring, week!

Things are going along well with regards to the sale, I should hopefully engage an agent next week! The Solicitor has started the contract preparations and we are talking to the bank! I had NO idea that there is SO much work that has to be completed in doing this, zip, zilch NONE!

Last night, I also had dinner with BKBS. I missed S's birthday when we were in Egypt, but I did call on the day! I think, from memory, we were heading towards Cairo at the time! S has also grown So much, and looks as though he will be walking real soon...


God-daughter B on the other hand, was her normal 'happy to see you' self, which I simply love about her! We sat, talked, played silly games before a dinner of taco's, which were so YUMM and I had not had them for ages either; thanks B!

Towel Bat, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Work is really getting busy, REAL busy, and will be that way for more than a few months I suspect. There will be some early morning starts, and even some late afternoon finishes as well!

I am also in the lookout for a hobby, I do not know what, but something to keep me occupied. I may even go back to Uni, change my course, maybe to the MBA, I am not sure. But I feel as though I need to do something new, and to keep my mind active!

And finally, I have decided to not go back to having a cleaner, and that I am more than capable of pushing a vacuum around the house now that I am doing a lot more exercises and that my core muscle groups are stable enough to handle it. Sure, I might get them back every once and a while and do a 'top to bottom' clean, but for the most part, I think I will be OK!

Since I came home, footy season is now well under way, both NRL and AFL. This weekend, I will be most likely heading to the SCG to see the Swans play, so I am hoping that it will be a warmish night. Otherwise, I will be wearing my lovely warm leather jacket from Italy. Of which, I have been wearing to work the last two days; it's excellent!!!

Hoo roo for now...

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It's time to sell, and start to move on... And a birthday thrown in!

After getting home, I have finally come to the conclusion... It is time to sell and (try to) move on! So yesterday, I met with TWO Real Estate agents. It is a very difficult decision to make, and one that is not made easily, but there is SO much involved with it all that I had no idea! Not just the selling of property, but how it intertwines with Estate and Probate etc! But, I think that a price I have in mind is, achievable in the current market and still a very competitive price! SO now, it is just a matter of time until the contracts are prepared and then there will be a 'For Sale' sign on the lawn!

And today, we had a party over at 'C&P' place to celebrate the first birthday of little J! When it came to the cake and presents, he was SO tired and he could barely keep his eyes open! Where as his older brother R, well he was up until 12.30am and wasn't showing ANY signs of wanting a rest!

First Birthday, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Birthday Cake, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

R waiting for J's Happy Song, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

R on J's Birthday, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

There was the usual, way to much food, lots of sweet things and an abundance of presents! Also, I should add that Mr 5 W also had a celebration for his birthday as well, which made the presents look as thought it was Christmas in May!!! Both M & W were having a BALL, and even Miss R and her younger brother J were having a good go at the cakes icing...

M J Birthday, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Birthday boy, Mr 5 W J's Bday, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Miss R J's Bday Cake full, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

J serious look with mum, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

The day was ALSO birthdays for O, S and there was cupcakes for them, as with both M & W... April/May is a busy time for birthdays I think!!!

MWSO Bday Cakes, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

The garden has suffered a bit of a beating whilst I was away, and I lost a couple of plants (Chocolate Sapotae for one), but the Passionfruits are producing like nothing else! This morning, I harvested around 50 of them, and needed quite a large bag so I could take them to the party! Also, they are SO full of flavour, and very YUMMY!

And tomorrow, it is my first day back at work, I dread to think how much work is there, but we will see how we go! I have a GP appointment in the afternoon as well, so it is going to be a full day. I hope that S will be up for the 'usual' 10am coffee!!!

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Happy Birthday William!!!!

Today I spent doing some catch up housework... A bit of everything really, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms and mopping the floor. Mow and whipping the lawns and pressure cleaning the back veranda... But for some reason, last night I was unable to sleep until around 3am and my body clock woke me at just after 6am, so I started with some more washing and internal stuff so as not to make to much noise outside!

But at just after 9am, I was half way through cleaning and I so needed a break! So I thought I will do something different, and in hanging out the washing, I noticed something weird... MACC!!!

Maccs assisting in the Bromiliade bed, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Maccs Visiting Hole to dog nextdoor, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Maccs Vege Bed, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

On closer inspection, it wasn't TOO bad, but the damage was done. So I grabbed the shovel and filled it back in! I also had to do the vege patch (thankfully fallow at the moment) and behind the Lemonade tree, where he is trying hard to 'talk' to the new dog next door!

So after the lawns were done, I also weeded the front Rose Garden and with what I could not get out Onion Weed mainly) I mixed up some chemical and sprayed the little buggers! Hopefully, it will kill it off!

I ended my afternoon with a nice hot spa, a drink of Gatorade (I am now drinking my 3lt/day of water or clear fluids) and rested! But then it hit me, (thanks to the wonders of technology) that was my Nephews Birthday! He was turning 5 today, and I had done nothing! I feel so bad right about now... Luckily, we are seeing him on Sunday (for Jamie's birthday) but I will TRY to get over to see him tomorrow! And, in the interim, here are a couple of additional pics of young Will!

William Zachery, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

William Zachery , originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

William Zachery , originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

William Zachery , originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Sam & Will, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

OMG Schnitzle Challenge Bernie William Alex, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Happy Birthday Mr 5!!

William, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

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