A weekend at Old Bar

I hopped on the train at Oak Flats on Friday morning at 8.45am and arrived at Taree at 5.10pm. It was a 'cool' ride and I read, slept, did word puzzles and did some revision on chorus songs. What a way to spend the day! I arrived rested and ready to spend a couple of days with the family. Here's a new photo of the boys.

This is a nice one with Henry the Lab which Katrina took in December last year.
Ben the eldest is holding Harry and Sam is standing at the back while Nick is on the back of the bike.
This morning, Nick and I set off into Taree armed with the newspaper and the GPS.
Not too much on offer but we managed a few toys for Harry and some clothes for Zara. We stopped for a drink at Maccas on the way home and Nicks comment was - 'we spent more on two drinks that we did at the garage sales!'
Oh well that's the way of it sometimes.

Brad and Katrina have gone out for dinner and a movie while Nick, Sam and Mardie are Harry sitting. Then tomorrow morning - the train epic again.
It's been a short but nice visit.

Happy Australia Day

 

We had breakfast in the Park at 7am on the foreshores of Lake Illawarra.
It was a nice cloudy morning, good music and a tasty $3 breakfast which was put on by Shellharbour Council.
Then home for 'Cockies Joy' - damper (cooked by Maureen)and golden syrup - YUMMO.
I even found some TOY boys! Everyone was having fun.
Now off to have a 'nanna nap' before heading off to sing at an Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony with Wollongong Council.
Happy Australia Day to you!

Strutting our stuff ...

 

Here we all are
singing up a storm.

Maybe we should recruit these
transient visitors to become members
of the Chorus?

Congratulations Cobie and Joseph

 

Wishing them health and happiness
in their lives together


Here they are
Mr and Mrs Harradine

A very special 'sing-out'

 

This afternoon, under the trees at Jamberoo Valley Lodge, members of Wollongong Harmony Chorus were priviledged to be able to sing at the wedding of one of our special members.
Cobie was the 'baby' on the risers until recently and we have watched her as she has developed into a beautiful young lady and a confident member of the front row.

Look ...... Magic!

 

It is time to 'thin' the carrots.
We pulled one out - washed it in the dogs water bucket and presto - crunch.
Zara thinks it was worth the wait.
When to we pull some more Mardie?

Who remembers 'Curly Pet'?

 

Mardie had fun curling up Zara's hair when she was looking after her last week.
I thought it looked cute - mother was not too sure though. LOL
Here she is sitting with Tammy our Siamese who is becoming quite tolerant of her (most of the time)and enjoys a gentle pat.
They were sitting quietly watching Iggle Piggle and 'The Night Garden'
What do they see in it I wonder?????

New Year at Old Bar

 

New Year at Old Bar was a quiet one with the family having to come to terms with the death of James, Katrina's ex husband and father of the three boys Ben, Sam and Nick. He was killed in an accident on his motor bike on the 22nd of December.
The family took comfort in watching Zara and Harry playing together and opening their Christmas parcels - Zara managed to put on four or five pairs of undies while Harry put his on his head - how often children can 'normalise' our feelings.
Nick was sporting his 'shark' bite - it was really caused by the fin of his surf board but he likes the shark story better. Here is a picture of his suture line the day that he had the stitches out. Then it was only two more days and he could get in the pool!
Sam looks a bit like Al Capone in his 2nd hand hat from Mardie and there are the 'kissin' cousins' - cute eh?
Harry enjoyed sharing Aunty Leelee's icy pole but wasn't too keen on staying onshore with Mardie while big brother Nick and Daddy Brad went off in the kayaks to set some crab traps.

Memories of Christmas 2008

 

Here are a few images of Christmas at the 'Rail' 2008.
Zara enjoyed opening her presents and we all enjoyed watching her.
Bailey thought the pink tent was pretty good too.

Carols with the Wollongong Harmony Chorus

 

Being a member of Wollongong Harmony Chorus is great fun - especially at Christmas.
At Christmas, the chorus sings carols at various venues such as shopping centres around the Illawarra.
Here we are today, singing at Dapto Mall.
It's great to watch the audience, especially the children who sing and dance as they enjoy the music we make. WE all enjoy it too and it's a great way to recruit for new members. As you can see, Helen never misses an opportunity!
Five more sleeps until Christmas!
Where did the year go?

That man in the red suit ....

 

Oh my goodness who IS that? says Zara.
I don't think I like him too much even if he does come bearing gifts.
BUT, I did eventually end up waving to him (from the distance) and blowing him a kiss!
I liked his sleigh and all the tinsel and he gave me this cool backpack with some gardening tools and a car.
Maybe he's not so bad after all.
Mardie had fun!

Just what IS supposed to happen?

 

Look what Mardie bought me yesterday!

 


Reckon it was worth $5?
I do!
I wonder how I can share it with cousin Harry?

Mardie's Helper ...

 

Zara loves to help - especially when there is water involved!

Christmas Tree's

Here are a couple of Christmas trees.
The first one I took at Circular Quay last weekend.
I was realy taking the blow up 'Boy with Swin Ring' which was kinda different.
Not sure of his significance really.
Must take a ride in one of these 'green' taxis! Saw some in Melbourne when we were down there last month.

 

This tree was in Melbourne .....

 

Pincushions...

We had our ScqIllawarra Christmas GTG last weekend and had a pincushion swap.
This is the collection ready to be 'drawn'.
They were all numbered and we drew out a number to get our swap.

 

This is the one I made. I had fun making it. I got the idea from a 'make do' site on the Net.
I picked up the little glass candle holder at an Op shop for $2 and raided my old button collection to fill the glass.
I made a second one in Christmas theme in a 'shot' glass. Not sure where it was when I took the photo.
I have one 1/2 done for myself in a crystal port glass and I have filled the glass with tiny shells - photo later.
I picked up a selection of vessels from the wine glass to an egg cup and a pate dish. It is a fun concept and makes a cute different sort of gift for a 'sewing' friend

 

Call that a ship?....

We went up to Sydney today to see Manon, our last ballet of the season at the Opera House. It was lovely. I don't know why the slur of 'pansy' was ever put on guys who do ballet - they are so fit and strong and are a delight to watch.
The girls were OK too . LOL
It was a busy day in town - the train on the way up was full of young people going to 'Home Day' which I had to ask about - it's like 'Big Day Out' we were told by one of the Transit Police on the train.
And goodness knows how many passengers came off this huge ship - it almost dwarfs the 'Bridge'- I'm sure most of them were wandering around the Quay!

 

This cruise boat the 'Millenium' was in dock at the International Terminal.
You have it in B&W as I was trying out my new camera and I hadn't set the White Balance correctly so I got a nice 'blue' shot. Looks fine in B&W tho.

 

Here is a shot of it taken from Circular Quay station, you can just see Lunar Park.

 

And this one of Lunar Park taken from the same spot using the zoom.
Now why would I bother with a heavy SLR that I have to change lens' etc?
A couple of weeks ago I bought one and tried it for the weekend - I've since resold it - for more than I paid for it -and no regrets.
I then bought a Panasonic Lumix FZ28 - their latest with quite a few more features which I have to learn to use. This will be my 4th Lumix.
I am working my way through the instruction manual. Sigh.

Family Celebrations ....

 

Last weekend was a gathering of children and grandchildren here at 'the Rail'
Only one missing was Scott and we hope he will join us in Taree for New Year.
It was great to have them all here but also VERY quiet when they all went home this morning.

How I see myself ................

 

I have seen myself as many things over the years and I have worn MANY hats - literally - LOL
But today I see myself as a special 'Mardie' to my two little grandchildren.
Here I am with Harry and his lovely father Brad at our Chorus Family and Friends Concert last Saturday night.

Zara and I get to spend lots of time together as she lives closer. Times like going on the train to the nearby seaside town of Kiama or to the markets or like in this photo, just taking the time to feed the seagulls and watch the pelicans. It's really special.

A windy day in Braidwood

 

Last weekend we travelled up the mountain from Bateman's Bay to see the 'Hanging of the Quilts' in Braidwood. We had been trying to get to this event for the last few years but something always prevented us doing so but we made it this year. It was lovely in the sun but with the cloud cover we didn't see too much sun and I'm sure the wind was blowing off the snow. I was glad of my Drizabone to keep out the chills. Poor Lucy was cold so we popped her into Maureen's shoulder bag. This was a great talking point in the street but I think it really kept them both warm. See if you can find her in the mosaic? Bailey looks well in front of the fire engine too don't you think?
While wandering in a gallery in the main street, we ran into Kathryn with Maggie and Emily so it was nice to catch up and have a chat to them. Small world although I was not surprised to run into at least one Scquilter at such an event!
Enjoyed the day but was glad to come down to a warmer lower altitude to spend our last night at the van before Christmas. Looking forward to a nice family GTG this weekend. No doubt there will be photos!