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!

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

Sydney Part 1 - On yer bike!

The day before we flew to Sydney I was looking for things to do and found a 4 hour cycling tour. It had great reviews so I booked us in knowing Iain would love it. It was perfect cycling weather, sunny but cool and we had a great time seeing the sites of Sydney (me for the 1st time). We pretty much saw all of the major attractions in a short period of time so when we finished we compiled a list of the things we wanted to go back and see for longer.

I would highly recommend this if anyone is going to Sydney.

Iain with his bike Bindi (mine was called Swan, not so exciting)

Look one handed!!

Public Art??

Ambiwerra

One of the private schools in Brisbane has a school fate with a difference, it is a jazz, fine wine and food festival which takes place in early August. A number of top restaurants have stalls on a Sunday afternoon and you eat a feast of amazing food with lovely Australian wine. The weather had been a bit poor but on the day the sun came out and made the event even more of a success. See you next year.



Bec and Neil were caught out by the surprisingly good weather

A few more pics from NZ