Life in Australia

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

March 2012

We started off March with a lovely weekend at Noosa with Matthew and Sharon Craig. The RACQ resort is awesome. Went to Eumundi markets on Saturday morning, spent the afternoon by the pool (even had a wedding by the pool!). Lovely dinner at the resort!

Art at Eumundi

Atmosphere at Eumundi

Sharon taking photos of the wedding from the pool

The random wedding

Sunset at the Resort

Pretty

Sharon and Matt

The next weekend Geoff headed to Melbourne to go to Phillip Island racing with Dave, Wayne, Brendon and Ethan.

So while the "boys" had their weekend the "girls" (plus Coen) headed to the beach. I LOVE this beach! The kids seemed to love it too.

Building sandcastles

The techno Wood family!

Zonked!

The following weekend we decided to go camping. The weather forecast was for rain but that usually means just a warm sun shower so we went anyway - BIG mistake!! Camping is just too much work for a weekend and not so pleasant in the rain. The camp was lovely but we didn't get to explore the surroundings - a beach across the road we never even ventured too. Nick and Mel and kids headed home Saturday night as their bed was wet!! I might add diarrhoea and camping DON'T mix!

Very dreary

Hmmm is anyone watching me?

I can't walk yet but I can get to that pole

Yes I made it!!

Iphones and camping??

The new Aus 30 second tent!

Next time I will be in the above Top Ender Kedron!!

The last weekend in March I met Julie and Jen for some retail therapy in the shopping capital of Australia - Melbourne! This place is great for a holiday! However after camping in the rain last weekend to then find myself crashing on Julie and Jen's hotel floor with just a thin duvet between me and the carpet I am wondering why I am getting things so wrong! Managed to get out to visit Gilly in hospital after her op and had a lovely dinner with Dave. Then had a blissful night alone in a downtown Melbourne hotel! On Saturday (cos my friends had gone home) I went off to the markets and then shuttled out to the airport and home!

The view out of the hotel window

and no I didn't buy them!

Melbourne by night

Nearly Easter

Relaxing after a hard days shopping

Gorgeous flowers Gilly

And finally just before the financial year end I took a trip to Gladstone for three days. Not too impressed it is quite an industrial town.

View from Auckland Point

Business lunch with my HR recruiter and Gladstone Area Manager

I have had this photo made into a canvas - I love it!

Also thought this a cute photo that Mel took

This photo I found on Janelle and Rene's blog which I also love!

And finally I shall try and add a little movie.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

February 2012

February seems a while ago now (it's April!) so must update the blog! After spending a couple of hours cruising through all the photos we have taken have decided this MUST be a monthly task to blog!

The first weekend in February we did our favourite thing to do - drive to Broadbeach, walk along the beach, coffee at our cafe, a swim and home again!

Later that evening another favourite - Woody's Point for dinner with the family.

Then Sunday afternoon it was off to the airport - heading to Cairns, Townsville and then Mt Isa. A full on trip visiting all our North Queensland branches and dinners with staff out every night.

It was great to catch up with my cousin Callie Dent in Cairns before starting "work".

Caroline in her "new" kitchen

Holiday Inn Cairns

Lovely waterfront - will come back on holiday some day

Very touristy!

Then it was off to Townsville.

Hotel view by night

Hotel view by day!

I met Andrea for breakfast - lovely cafe but very sticky hot sitting outside even at 7.30am in the morning!

Next stop Mt Isa - it is in the middle of nowhere!!

Came home exhausted late on the Wednesday night and then Thursday night got packed up again to come to New Zealand to Aunty Ruby's 80th birthday.

After visiting Mum we went to this cute cafe nearby for a "real" coffee

Sunset from the plane

Laura without passport chip finally coming through customs at Christchurch

And even later the Helms family - we were on same flight

Christchurch's version of Sky Tower

Serious?

Gorgeous table for Aunty Ruby's birthday at Ali and Karyns

Gorgeous!

Looking well and happy!

Alister carving the ham

Mum came in wheelchair taxi - special x

Yummy desserts

80!

Sunday lunch at Dad's local cafe

On the way home after Jetstar had us flying to Sydney etc we got to Brisbane about lunchtime. Kaisha had ballet so we took the opportunity to see her - it was really cute.

And finally the last event for February was Coen's birthday. Actually the 13th February but we celebrated it on the 18th with a lovely lunch at Nick and Mel's.