I drove without GPS!

YAY!!! Today I made a big step.... I drove into the big wild world of Sydney without the GPS Navigation system - yup - thats right - I drove ALL the way the Northbridge to do the groceries (see how exciting things can be in Sydney? Groceries were never this exciting in Melbourne!). Drove all 5km or so by myself! Didn't even get lost, not even nearly lost! Closest to lost was I couldn't find tomato sauce at Woolies! Made it all the way home too! *proud grin*

The Rocks - Sydney

Today we spent a lovely day at The Rocks in Sydney. It was amazing that there is so much to do just 5 minutes from our house. Yes - thats right, in 5 minutes we'd left home and got a park at The Rocks.

First on the agenda was lunch, because Mr Murray was hungry - and boy did he eat! We had a great lunch at this great Italian restaurant just near the market called Caminetto. We had this great little table right up the back of the courtyard - it was hard to believe that we were in one of Sydney's busiest little spots. Its a place that we'll definetly be going back for. Murray especially enjoyed the "Sizzling Oysters on the Rocks" served with garlic, tomato, shallots, chilli and mushroom - all things he loves. As you can see by this pic, he loved the pizza too!



We walked and browsed through all the market stalls, taste testing, touching, smelling, looking at everything as we went along. Its a spot that I'll be definetly taking Mum when she finally comes up and visits me.



After having a good walk about we went down to where you can get a spectacular view of the Harbour Bridge. I thought it would be packed down there, but amazingly, I think due to the overcast weather, we were amoungst the few people there.





From there we walked down to Circular Quay for a desperately needed coffee. We sat outside and had a great view of the bridge and the Opera House.



With all the Ferries and Jetboats about, I think that we are now inspired to make that one of the next things to tick off our list. In addition to the museum at Circular Quay, and about a million other things. I'd also like to find if there is still a "Leftorium" at The Rocks for when Mum comes up - she missed out on visiting it years ago, and has never gotten over it.

Ooo-oooo-ooo! I also found DFS Galleria - but Murray took me away before I could be swooned by all the pretty shiney things.... ooooo.... On that note - Sweet Dreams! (I'll be dreaming of little blue boxes....

xx oo xx

Birthdays and Goodbyes

We had a great weekend in Melbourne celebrating a 30th birthday (Yikkes! They have begun!) Happy Birthday Rodders! (Will try and get a pic up here later).

The night started (eventually after the worst afternoon of transport ever!) with a great meal at my favourite Red Emporer. The weather wasn't great (but we can't complain about rain these days) and so there was a last minute change of venue so from there we headed off to The Pub at Crown. It was great because next to us was private function, so hardly any people came into the area where we were! After several (too many?) Long Island Iced Teas - Rodders was well on his way to having a great night! There was lots of drinking and dancing to be had by all. Oh - and Jam Donuts! You have to try one - best shot ever!

On Sunday I said goodbye to yet another friend in Melbourne on the weekend - I hope you have a wonderful trip around the world Cheli!

See you soon Laura!

Can't wait to see you up this way!

I survived peak hour, just...

What a scary day! I had a meeting to go to for work today. It felt like a million miles away (and probably nearly was with the amount of times I got lost!) but in reality it was only about 30kms away, SW of where I am.

I enlisted my three favourite friends to help me - printed off a map, got out the street directory, and charged the GPS navigation. (YES - I still got lost! I missed the Western Distributor or something....) and braved my first day in Sydney Peak Hour Traffic.

I thought I was going to die. There are about a million roads, all weaving in and out. And then to make it worse there are OTHER cars on these already confusing enough roads. And LOTS of other cars!

Just when I thought that things couldn't get worse they guy at the toll booth asked me "Do you have a phone number to go with that smile you just gave me?" I can't deal with being hit on that early in the morning while I'm FREAKING OUT! That'll learn me for not getting in the lane where I can use the E-tag thing.

But eventually... I made it there. And only 20 minutes late too! (Rang ahead of course). And from there on it was all pretty good! Why is getting home so much easier?

Our house is a very very very fine house

Finally - some photos! Sorry about the mess - its not as clean as I would have liked for photos. No matter what I do though it always seems to look a little cluttered... I guess that's what happens when you downsize so much.

Kitchen - How I miss our old kitchen - it was so huge! So much space!





Lounge and dining room - we were lucky to find a house where we could actually have a lounge and dining area... so many places we looked at were so small it was one or the other.





Bathroom - most of all I miss having my own bathroom, with my own toilet! I miss the huge mirror, and all the cupboard space... and of course the spa bath. You can't see it in these photos, but there is a cupboard which hides the laundy.





Bedroom - is actually pretty good - no complaints... other than we could do with more hanging space.





Study/Office - and this is where I write my blog and spend most of my day. I need to dress it up a little still. So messy!




And that is all I have for you tonight!

Boston photos!

Thought I'd better post these too! Our fur-baby Boston.

Our big day out!

We had a fantastic day out in Sydney today – and we are thoroughly exhausted!

As Murray has a several day conference to attend for work next week he needed to do some shopping so he could look all spiffy! So we boarded a bus (yes that’s right, Murray caught a bus!) and headed into the city! Last stop was Wynyard Station.

After a beautiful walk through a park, a look at a statue of someone we didn’t know, chasing a funny looking bird, and getting lost through a few arcades/malls, we found Pitt St Mall.

Boy oh boy (remember the show ‘Man O Man’?) did we shop! Well… I should probably say did HE shop! Now I know how he feels – following him around assuring him that no his butt doesn’t look fat in those pants, and that yes that shirt does match. But he got a new pair of shoes, 2 trousers, 1 jeans, and 2 shirts. And they all look great on him.

We also bought a new Darling Harbour to relax a while and get some dinner. And we had a great dinner at what I think will probably become “our restaurant” at Chinta Ria (The Temple of Luuuuurrrrvvve). Of course no trip to Darling Harbor would be complete without a trip to the Lindt Chocolate Café! I limited myself just to a coffee though… as I’m meeting a friend there for ‘afternoon tea’ tomorrow! Can’t wait!

So tonight we’ll sleep very very well after our big day out, but it was wonderful – we had a great day in Sydney.

Molly's Art blog

My sister Molly has started a blog of her very own, detailing all her wonderful Art work.

Its got work from her school days, and she'll be adding her Uni work as she does it.

Also any ideas or thoughts that she has over time.

Check it out at http://within-u-without.blogspot.com/

If you've got any thoughts or comments please post them - she'd love any feedback at all!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter all! I hope you all had a safe one, and aren't feeling too sick from all the chocolate!

I had a great, but very busy Easter. I flew to Melbourne the weekend before Easter for a friends birthday - after which I promised to never drink again! So happy birthday Gaz!

Popped down to see Mum on Monday night before dropping Murray off at work, and after that he returned to Sydney until Easter.

I spent the week living it up on my own! Well... it was hardly living it up... work mostly - and my nights were filled to the brim with catching up with friends and family. It was really great - but I think I may have spread myself too thinly.

Friday night (Good Friday) was Mary's birthday, so happy birthday Mary! And we went out for dinner. Went to the Berwick Inn which was somewhat disapointing for everyone. With several takeovers in the last few years its really gone downhill there... it used to be much better than a regular pub meal... I wouldn't really recommened it these days.

I was the only person going to hell at our table, I had red meat on Good Friday. But it was Kangaroo, and it was delish! I figure that Jesus didn't know what Kangaroo was so that doesn't count. Right?

That night we headed off to a housewarming party - where I can say that we sufficiently warmed the house. Again - for the second weekend in a row - after a bottle of red I can say that I'm never drinking again! It was a great night though and fantastic to see everyone again.

I slept my way through most of Saturday, and after much deliberation I headed down to Mums late Saturday night. It was the best I'd felt all day. I wanted to wake up at Mums on Sunday morning so that I didn't miss the Easter Bunny!

For Easter Sunday we had the biggest "afternoon tea" I've ever seen. Between people working and us having to catch flights we could do neither lunch or dinner - so we had Roast Lamb and Roast Chicken at 4pm! As always, Mum put on a great spread of food for all 1o of us! Mum, Jeremy and his girlfriend Amy, Molly and her boyfriend Alex plus a 'homeless' friend Tiff, Myself and Murray, plus his Mum and Uncle! Phew!

After eating ourselves silly it was finally time to head off to the airport to come home to Sydney. I was really looking forward to it - it was great to see everyone, but probably even better to come home. All the Easter Eggies came with me as hand luggage, and I'm sure that the overhead cabbins that night were a chocoholics dream.

Today we had a blog day and did as little as possible, which was lovely. I can't believe I have to get back into work tomorrow - I wish I had another week off now! But thats always the way isn't it?

Happy Birthday Jess

Happy Rainbow Blowing Dragons toooo yyyyooooouuuuuu!

I couldn't find you a rainbow blowing dragon - but I found you this cute little guy!

And I had my glass of GOLD champagne for you last night too! xxoo

My Visual DNA

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Bondi Beach

We woke up to beautiful summer weather on Saturday morning. It was clearly beach weather, and being new to Sydney - there was clearly one beach that we had to visit! Bondi Beach!

It was oh so Bondi. The blue surf, the white sand, the buff lifeguards (it really is like the TV show!), the topless women, the crowded beach, the people playing beach tennis/rubgy/cricket, the surfers (not much of a swell though), the beach joggers, the band on the 'grassy knoll', the packed bars and cafes and of course, the bus loads of tourists!

We had a lovely walk along the beach just soaking up the sun and sand.



We had a nice lunch at a cafe along the main drag. I had a lovely goat's cheese and walnut salad, and Murray had a club sandwich. His only complaint was his usual complaint - it wasn't big enough!

It was everything I imagined, and with about 1 in 3 women topless it was much more than Murray had imagined! It was a great day - silly us though! We didn't pack our toggs! So next perfect summer day guess where we'll be!

Well Stone my Crow!

I had a lovely lunch yesterday down the road in Crows Nest at The Stonned Crow, which apparently used to be a bit of a dive, but they've done it up into a great little bar!

For lunch I had a delicious Chorizo Salad with asparagus, semi-dried tomatoes, mixed leaves and parsnip crisps. It was great! (Just when they say you don't make friends with salad they go and put some spicey sausage in it! Just what every salad needs!).

It was a really great venue, and the company was even better! :)

Hope to go back thier soon to check out thier cocktail list! I'm thinking Stone My Crow to begin with!

Missing my girls

On Saturday night I was heading out to meet up with some new people. Along came along the inevitable question... "What am I going to wear?!?!?!"

Suddenly I realised that I miss my girls. I miss having Laura around the corner so I can quickly zoom over to her house and know that she'll give me an honest opinion. I miss having some girls to go shopping with, or to at least talk about shopping with. I miss swapping clothes. I miss having my girlfriends say "That looks great, but would look even better with....".

I just miss my girls.

Crongrats Molly!

My sistarooni has started her job at Maccas! And she's made it through her first 10 hour day!!! (Betchya she stinks like chips! Hahahaha!)

Hope you had fun Molzo! And I'll be in to order a McFluffy with Oreo and Strawberry topping soon!

Local review: La Zarzuela

After an exhausting trip to Brisbane, we headed out for dinner last night. There are loads of restuarants just near us - it was so hard to choose!

We settled on Spanish - as neither of us had ever gone to a Spanish restuarant before - so La Zarzuela it was!

We decided to go without a main, and just to make a meal out of Tapas - they all looked so good! We had...

Tottilla Espanola - Spanish Potato Omelette. This was okay - but a little bland... it went fantastically though with the Chorizo - Spanish Spicy Sausage. Mmmm - can't get enough of that stuff! Murray loved the Gambas Al Ajillo - Sizzling garlic prawns with a touch of chilli, and even I tried about half a centimeter of one! The garlic sauce was lovely... just the prawn was urky! But by far, the Patatas Bravas - Potatoes with spicey sauce, were the best! They were just great!

I definetly think that we'll be back - but with 78 venues in Crows Nest listed on Eatability.com I think we'll have to try a few others!

Hoooley dooooley - 110 restaurants in Crows Nest listed on Yellow Pages!

(I read the reviews for La Zarzuela on the above website - and its obviously true that people share thier unpleasant experiences - because if I'd read the reviews before hand I certainly wouldn't have gone. But for a casual meal - it was great!)

BrisVagas!

Hi all!

Well I was in lovely and sunny Brisbane during the week for work (I know I know... I get around don't I?). Working my butt off was made much easier by staying in a great hotel! I highly recommend staying in the Marriott anytime you go to Brisbane - it was fantastic! (And believe me... I've stayed in so many hotels this year I'm almost sick of them... almost!)

I had a lovely view of the River - which was just stunning as the sun came up over it.



I was also lucky enough to be taken out for a few drinks by the wonderful Schaz! It was great to finally meet her, and can't wait to catch up again soon! Unfortunately I missed Suzie - but I hope to be back!

The Marriott also has the worlds BIGGEST breakfast! It was HUGE! It was enough for breakfast lunch and dinner! But it was great! Called the "Healthy Start" it had Bircher muesli, fruit salad, banana bread, bakery selection with a muffin, croissant, and a pastry, yogurt, fresh OJ, and a pot of coffee! I should have invited you all over for breaky - there was enough! So I just had a couple of mouthfulls out of everything!

The banana bread was to die for though - it was served with honey and cottage cheese, and what you see below was only HALF of it. Each of the 2 slices are the size of a large slice of cake that you'd get at a cafe. It was hands down the best banana cake I've ever sunk my teeth into!

But after living it up in Brisvagas... it was great to come home. Home to my bed, home to my boys (Murray and Boston) and just home to my house. It still surprises me how quickly Sydney has become home.

Cabana Boys and one too many Vokda Lime & Sodas!

On Friday night Murray and I headed out to the Cabana Bar for a few "good bye drinks" for one of his bosses.

I was a bit nervous, not wanting to make a tool out of myself in front of his work friends. And I couldn't get the first drink into me fast enough! But felt much better after that.

We had a nice long chat with one of the directors of the company and he gave me a really useful piece of advice about talking with clients.

If your client finishes their coffee before you, you're not listening to them. You've been talking to much. Listen to your clients.

I'm going to try and remember that tomorrow as I'm off to see clients for the rest of the week.

I also got to catch up with my boss from when I did that Intel work. It was really good to see him. I even got to have a whinge to him about never getting "Legend of the Month" even though I went to Adelaide for them! Ahhh... I'd been holding onto that for the longest time - felt so good to get it off my chest. But he suggested that if things don't work out for me where I'm working currently, that he'd find something for me there!

A few drinks later I'd loosened up a bit and felt brave enough to talk to some other people. It was really great to get out and meet some people. Much to my surprise these Sydneysiders are alright people! They didn't scare me (too much) at all! I also met another girl who has just moved to Sydney 6 weeks ago to be with her partner. Made me feel like much less of a foreigner! hehehehe

A few more drinks, and a bit of a dance.... I suddenly realised that I needed to go home! Ooops! Murray got us a cab - but really, the fare was $5.20 - we could have walked that! But then again - you've always got to walk twice as far when you're drunk because you zig zag along!

Woke up on Saturday feeling better than I expected to! But still - I lay low for most of the weekend after that!

I really enjoyed it though, and I thought the Cabana bar was a great place to catch up for drinks. Good environment, good drinks, great people. We'll definitely be going there again.

(Oh - and for those that were waiting to hear about the Cabana boys... sorry - they were fresh out this time!)

Weeeeeeeeeee! ADSL2+

Ahhhh... no more dial up! Life has returned to normal!

After signing up on the 20th of Feb, and having only one day of connectivity since then, its nice to be back to normal.

I sent some angry email though and will be demanding that our invoicing does not begin until today, and that our set up fees should be reduced.

Okay - now that life is back to normal I promise to post some photos on the weekend.

We're heading out for a few drinks with people from Murrays work tonight, so that'll be a nice change. Gosh I could do with a drink!