Tuesday 30 September 2008

Bris-Vegas reception

A couple of weeks ago it was finally time for our long over due Oz wedding reception. Iain's parents hosted us a wonderful party for us at the Victoria Park Golf Club which over looks the city.

Thank you to everyone who came and made it a fantastic evening.

(sorry Trevor I don't have any of you.... were you hiding???I seem to remember you being on the dance floor ALL the time!)





Monday 22 September 2008

O'Reillys

In honour of Dad's upcoming 60th birthday which Howard will miss and on Drue's earlier recommendation, we decided to spend our last weekend together at O'Reilly's. As Mum and Dad don't slum it they paid for us all to stay in one of the new 3 bed luxury villas. For the first time ever Howard got 1st pick of the rooms and did not have to sleep on the pull out sofa bed.

When we arrived it was thick fog and Iain had a difficult drive up the mountain but we got there safe and sound in time for dinner.

Despite the rubbish weather we were delighted to find a hot tub on the balcony so we all crammed in. In the end we had 5 people in a tub made for 2!!!!
On the Saturday morning the boys decided we would do a 10k hike.

This was Iain's little leech which he found on the floor after we got back and he noticed the lovely trickle of blood running down his leg.

We are all pretty unfit but it was a lovely trek. Half way along our route was a pool so the boys got changed and decided on a swim. It was a little cold, with it being fresh spring water and all but they splashed around for a little while.Once they got out and the water settled, we noticed a 3ft eel which had been swimming around in there. Strangely no one wanted to get back in again.
As none of us had seen them before we went on a glow worm tour. We hopped on a bus down the hill and then went for a walk along the creek, once we were all sat down we all turned off our torches and the bugs put on a lovely show for us. It was just like looking at the night sky. It was pretty magical.On Sunday morning we finally got to see the wonderful view before packing up the car and doing the 2nd best thing here... feeding the bird.Doing the Sound of Music!

Sunday 7 September 2008

Boys will be boys!

It started so well, all getting along and then suddenly......



Sian turns 30!

To help celebrate me turning 30, Iain and I plus the Raw's and the Collie's headed up to the Whitsundays for a long weekend. We hired a lovely villa with our our pool and 180 degree views over some of the Whitsunday islands. It was an idyllic weekend and we all had heaps of fun.The view from our balconySunrise of my birthday
Birthday girl!

On my actual birthday we went out to the Great Barrier Reef for a day of snorkeling and my parents treated me to a helicopter trip over to see the Heart Reef which is the most photographed reef in the world (I wonder why!!!) As I was the birthday girl and the man on the desk couldn't believe I was actually that old he let me on for a child's fare! So we have no decided that we are now always going to pretend it is someones birthday to see what we can get for free in future.

SUN!!!!!

For a relaxing first weekend we took my family to stay at the beach house in Caloundra and we had a great weekend of sun baking (we thought dad would burst into flames when the sun touched him),


some early morning fishing for the boys (where no one thought to put on insect repellent and are still itching a week later)

Finally an action packed day at 'stralia zoo! (that is the correct way to pronounce it!)
Howard riding a croc!
Howard wrestling a croc!

Tuesday 2 September 2008

The Raw Arrival

Last week the Raw's arrived on mass for their first trip down under. Firstly was the senior Raw's after a week in the Far East followed by a very perky junior Raw (far too perky for a long haul trip that's for sure)

It has been a long 7 months since Boston, there was tears at the airport for the ladies after a baywatch in flip flop style run by Mum..... strange that Sian no longer is homesick!
There was no way Dad was getting the first hug! You mind the trolley Mike in case someone finds all the things we smuggled in! Customs... should have checked the bags!

Sydney Part 2

Just a few pictures of the rest of our weekend in Sydney
Drinks at the Harbour
Dusk over the city
Hmmm... does my bust look big in this?
Moonface thinking Iain looks tasty