A good weekend so far

Lazy morning this morning then shopping with Ishbel who had a gift to choose for her friend Zanny who turns 9 the day before Ishbel. I have just dropped The Girl off at Zanny's for a birthday party and sleepover.

So Ian and I are going out with Janet, Steven and Sharon to the chinese restaurant at Wentworth Falls for an adults only dinner. Feeling very grown up!!!

Went to RFS training this afternoon. Only 3 of us turned up so we couldn't do the trail cutting I'd expected. So we ended up going down one of the fire trails for a drive in the Big Red Truck, did some map work and weather work and THEN I GOT A DRIVE OF THE BIG ED TRUCK. Whoooooooo hooooooo!

THEN, coming out of the track, we heard Winmalee responding to a smoke sighting on our patch. Got back to the station and we got sent out to assist. As it turned out the fire was down on the plains but we had a nice ride down another track!

Christmas 2008

We were out on Christmas Eve with Janet, Steven, Georgia and Kate and Sharon and Holly. We decided that, instead of gift buying, we would have dinner out and rolled up to the Chinese restaurant at Faulconbridge at 6:30pm for a slap-up meal. It was chaos as we all ordered over each other, changed our minds and (Holly) spilt red wine all over the table! Since we were in a Chinese restaurant we played Chinese whispers - what a hoot. Instead of dessert at the restaurant we went back to Janet and Steven's for pavlova which no one ate a lot of in the end.

As you might expect, Ishbel was first up on Christmas Day. We made her wait until after 8am before going to wake up the boys - quietly, gently we said. She wasn't.

After presents opening - XBox for the children (all the Cowan grandchildren got one it seems), IOU for a "real" dog for the boys, trampoline for Ishbel, hammock for Ian, jewellry for Heidi, it was down to work for Ian and I.

I set to making lunch while Ian put the trampoline together. He did ok until trying to get the bouncy canvas bit in place. We ended up dragging the boys away from their XBox to tug and pull at the canvas while I tried to hook it to the springs. We tugged and pulled and tugged and pulled and were pulling our hair out as to how ANYONE managed to put one on when Ishbel gave us the benefit of her reading the instructions and informed us there was a special spring tool to help us get the springs in place! It was easy after that and Ishbel had her trampoline.

About midday I finally had lunch ready to start cooking and just as the chicken was going in the oven Karen, Dan and the boys arrived. We had a lovely lunch of chicken, ham, roast veg and salads and fruit mince pies with cream and little meringue nests with cream and fruit. Xavier was very obliging and slept through lunch and came awake to play afterwards.

At one point Xavier was looking over Karen's shoulder at the boys playing on the computer. He was watching them really intently and got quite aninmated. He looked like he'd like to join them.

Today, Boxing Day, has been quiet and relaxed. Ian, Ishbel and I took a quick trip down to Springwood Library to empty the After Hours Return bin before a trip to the hardware shop to get hooks to hang Ian's hammock on. After much debate about where the hooks should go, he got it installed nicely and was soon relaxing with a Lee Childs book. And there he stayed all afternoon.

Flickr slideshow of Christmas will be posted in the right hand side for a while.

Holiday Monday

We arranged to go to Manly with Sharon & Holly and Steven, Janet, Kate and Georgia (Addison) for Monday. We arranged to get the 9:05 from Springwood. So with great difficulty we dragged ourselves out of bed and were almost ready to go out the door when Sharon rang to let us know the Addisons weren't ready, could we aim for the 10:05? So we all stood down for an hour. Only to get another call to say the Addisons weren't coming with us, the weather didn't look promising (it was overcast & spitting), Steven had hurt his back and Janet wasn't in a good mood. We took the train to the city then caught the ferry over to Manly. Manly was very busy, it always is but this weekend not only had Manly won the Rugby League Grand Final (40-0!) but there was a jazz festival on. There were several stages on the corso (which stretches between the harbour and sea) and more on the beach front where there was also a market. We got some fish and chips for lunch and sat dodging the seagulls on the beach wall. Then we walked round to Shelly Beach which is a nice little beach tucked into a corner south of Manly. There is a restaurant and cafe down there so we walked round for a coffee/hot chocolate.

By the time we got round to Shelly Beach the sun was out and we had to buy some sunscreen. Ishbel went for a swim but it was a bit tame for the boys who wanted to go back to the surf beach at Manly but by the time we'd walked back again not only had the clouds come over but the heavens opened and it chucked down for a while. We took refuge amongst the stalls of the street market.

After an icecream we headed back for the ferry. The sun came out again and we had a nice journey back to town. We took a picture of the sun on the water and sent it to the Addisons to tell them what a lovely day we'd had and when we got back to Springwood we went round to their place and cleaned them out of cheese, biscuits and pickled onions!

A good day!

Birthday Bellydancing

It is Kate's 15th birthday today and Sharon's @#$%th one tomorrow. Steve, Janet and I arranged a surprise dinner out at a Lebanese restaurant in Penrith for Sharon. We made the booking then got Sharon's mum and dad to say they'd be taking her and Holly to dinner.
I met Sharon at the pictures last week and went into a rambling excuse for not doing anything for her birthday this weekend. She said that was OK, Holly was going to a party on Saturday and on Monday night she had something on at school.
In a panic it was all going wrong I rang Janet when I got home to tell her what'd been said and she rang Sharon's mum. It was OK, Holly had told Sharon she was going to Kate's party to throw her mum off the scent. It WAS all still as arranged. Phew!
As arranged, we headed off down to Penrith to be at the restaurant for 6:45pm. As we came off the freeway and into Penrith we were stopped at the lights. And who should pull up beside us but Sharon!!! Ian held back and tried to let other cars get between us and her but again we thought our cover was blown. We couldn't believe it when we got to the restaurant before her.
And without her having seen us. She arrived with her parents and Holly some ten minutes later and was very surprised to find us all there.
We had a nice meal but the highlight of the evening was the belly dancer. She wasn't terrific but it was a lot of fun watching her get people up to dance - as long as it wasn't us! She got Georgia and Ian up to dance. With Ian she was getting him to do belly rolls, you can see she had a walking stick - he had to roll his belly in and out and keep the stick between them. Hilarious stuff!

Camping Trip to WRS - Day 3 - Tuesday 22 January

Another night of no sleep - if I don't get sleep tonight when we are back home I will be murdering someone!
Again the horse came rumaging - this time we were ready and had put all things edible away in the eskies. Ha!
At one point we were invaded by two cattle dogs who came tearing along the field. We tried to scramble to pick Bella up but the dogs were all too quick for us. Mindy went off to hide but Bella faced up to the two big dogs and they were soon having a great game of chasies round the camp site. The cattle dogs were called Bob and Cindy so when we called Bella, Bob would come running up and when we called Mindy, Cindy would come too!
This morning the mist and rain was cleared and, although cool, sunny. After breakfast the children got into their swimming gear, lathered themselves in sunscreen and got in the water. But none of them lasted very long, even the youngest three - despite the sunshine the water was colder, or felt it.
The Laurences and Colquhouns were all leaving for home today - Holly has work tomorrow and we are expecting Jamie back from Japan - so we spent the late morning pottering about taking the tents down and packing the cars up again. Mindy tried to stow away, spending most of the morning in our car.
Our tent is the one Ian and I bought for going on holiday in Queensland my first Christmas here (20 years ago) and has definitely seen better days. The ease with which the new tents go up and down, and the much lighter weights has me convinced we need to get a new one. Ian is convinced he'll be able to sell it on EBay. I am to be convinced we could even GIVE it away!
Just before going I dosed Ben, Bella and myself up with travel sickness pills. Bella spent most of the time on the dirt track out leaning out of the window and was quite happy with her nose in the wind. Ben fell asleep. In short we all got home without chucking so I was quite happy.

Camping Trip to WRS - Day 2 - Monday 21 January

I had an awful night. The airbed Ian and I were sharing started out OK, but deflated as the night went on. I woke at whatever time it was, dark, with my hips touching the ground and needing a wee but not wanting to go outside by myself. There were lots of noises in the dark, including the sound of things entering the water - crocs maybe? I certainly didn't want to go to the camp ground toilets which were nothing short of revolting. I woke Ian up and did a "picnic wee" while he stood guard with Bella and the torch.
The day really started though with the horse rumaging through our kitchen. By the time Sharon shooed it off it had eaten all the fruit in the fruitbowl and had a go at the couscous box! There was horsey-appley slobber all over the kitchen table and the chairs.
We got up to a cloudy day that didn't get any better. It rained on and off all day. Despite that the kids all had a swim. Ben, Georgia and Ishbel, especially had a good day. Apart from a walk we all went on (except Ian who had hurt his back) they spent almost all day on the water. When we weren't pottering about taking walks, we collected wood for the fire or sat around eating and nursing the fire.
There wasn't much wood to be had. We collected all we could everytime we went for a walk and Steven took the trailer back up the track towards Mittagong and got a little bit. On one of our walks we launched a commando raid on one of the camp fires on the other side of the river - complete with commando face paint (will post picture later).

Camping Trip to Wollondilly River Station - Day 1 - Sunday 20 January

Today we went to Wollondilly River Station (WRS) between Mittagong and the Wombeyan Caves on a camping trip with the Addisons (Steven, Janet, Kate and Georgia), the Laurences (Sharon and Holly), Ian, Robbie, Ishbel, Heidi and Ben.
We were up early (relatively anyway; this holidays the children have turned into vampires, going to bed late and rising late also) and starting to pack. We borrowed a trailer from our neighbour, Bev, and loaded up tent, tables, chairs, clothing, food, etc.
At around 10am Karen came over with Ben and had a cuppa with me while Ian did fiddly things to the car and trailer like check tyre pressure. At 11ish we headed over to rendez-vous at Steven and Janet's but it was about 11:30-11:45 before we got on the road.
WRS allows pets to camp too so, while Karen was organised to come and feed the cat, we were able to take Bella with us. I wasn't very confident about how well she would travel, she winges the whole 1 1/2 km from Springwood home and I wasn't disappointed - she must've vomited about 10 times between home and WRS.
Ben also has a history of travel sickness, especially on bumpy, winding dirt tracks such as could be expected between Mittagong and WRS. When we stopped at Mittagong for lunch I got some travel sickness tablets and made him take one, by then Bella had chucked six times and I really wouldn't have coped with anyone else chucking up in the car. I gave Bella 1/4 tablet too but it didn't seem to make much difference.
Camping with the Addisons is quite an experience! We had a HUGE tarpaulin kitchen/dining area complete with kitchen sink and massive chest esky. We had 6 tents between us - Robbie is in his new cocoon tent (gives me claustrophobia just to look at), Kate and Holly are sharing, Sharon has her own tent as does Ben, Ian, Ish and I are in our big tent and Janet, Steven and Georgia are in their tent.
Now it is dark. We have a flashing collar on the Addison's dog, Mindy, a lovely fire going, citronella torches going and we are just waiting for Sharon to have her shower before we tuck in to marshmallows. Steven is distributing sparklers to the children.
But before that, during the HOURS it took us to set all this gear and tents up - someone likened it to playing cubby houses, quite aptly I think - the kids got themselves organised for a swim in the river. It is flowing well after the rains and is a smooth, 20m approx. band of brown.
There is a horse that wanders about the paddock we are camped in, much to Ishbel's delight, although she is worried it is too skinny. Bella and Mindy are able to roam freely - an absolute delight for our Bella who is usually either confined within the house or in a small pound in the garden. Mindy on the other hand isn't the back-to-nature type and has spent the afternoon firstly in the Addison's boot, then in Sharon's driver's seat and finally in the back of our station wagon!
A couple of ducks have also visited us this evening - almost had roast duck for dinner.

Camping Trip to Wollondilly River Station

Tomorrow we are going camping with Janet, Steven, Kate and Georgia Addison and Sharon and Holly Laurence. We are going to a spot that Janet and Steven have been to frequently, Wollondilly River Station http://www.wollondillyriverstation.com/ .
It has been chucking rain down for several days here so there was much debate this morning about whether to go or not, but the website, and Janet and Steven, assure us that the weather will be much drier at WRS than here so we are biting the bullet and all going. We are also taking Ben with us. We can also take Bella so we just needed to worry about Abi Cat but Karen will check in on her for the couple of days we will be away.

Sydney Festival First Night 2008

Yesterday afternoon I went up to Katoomba to meet with the ladies of one of my book groups (Read Astray we call ourselves) for our Christmas lunch. We went to the Avalon, the restaurant we went to when Karen and Dan got married. It's our third year there and the only disappointment is that the menu has not changed a jot in that time - I guess they are working on the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' principle and that's fine, especially where their exquisite dessert menu is concerned. We had a lovely afternoon eating yummy stuff and talking books and travel and stuff.
It was very wet and misty in Katoomba. The Avalon has a huge picture window, usually with nice views, but we could barely see 30m at times. It was still wet when I got back down to Springwood and thought it might put off our plans for the evening but when I arrived home it was to be told we were still going out. I had time for a quick change of clothing then headed down to Sydney with Sharon, Janet and Steven. (Ian and the boys didn't want to join us and Ishbel had her mate Zanny over to play).
It was the first night of the Sydney Festival http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/events/firstNight.htm and Sharon had enticed me with the promise of a ceilidgh on Macquarie Street.
We walked through Hyde Park where a swing band was going to be playing. A dance floor had been laid all around the fountain at the northern end but it was too early for them to have begun and we continued down to Macquarie Street. There a latin American band was playing - all the tunes sounded the same to me - and three couples were due to get married before the Scottish band, Shooglenifty, were due to play.
We then headed down to Martin Place where the young folks were enjoying a rave. We noticed how it was all young people going in to the crowd down there and only old people coming out!! Just as "Romeo" came on, singing Talking Heads style, and I started to enjoy myself, the others, not wanting to take any chances, decided we should check out the Domain so we headed back east again.
Paul Kelly was playing at the Domain and that was good. He was followed by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Steven, Sharon and Janet all enjoyed that but I've never got the Beach Boys thing so it wasn't the highlight of my evening. We left there and got back to Macquarie Street just in time for the last (very good) two songs from Shooglenifty. They were great and had an Aboriginal digeridoo player playing with them too. An interesting mix of music.
After something to eat at a Japanese restaurant (my first time in one) we headed back to the car park and home. We got back after 1am and then I was up and out with Robbie to be at RFS training by 8am.