Sculptures by the Sea

We recently(last Saturday) got up bloody early (6.45am) and went to have a bow peep at some arty stuff by the sea between Bondi and Tamarama. It was rather a jolly good show if ur in England and if ur in Australia, streuth it was bloody good mate!

Quite a lot to sea however i did forget to take my new camera on the account of Jess had croup when she woke up was barking like a dog or a horse with horse flu. Anne Maree was working but she assured me that the sea air would be helpful to the croup and sure enough it was.

It is a great walk without the sculptures so we did have a good time and i have put up a few photos that were taken with my new sony eric 810i bought on Ebay just before Sony lowered the prices so could have saved 50 bucks but would not have got the car charger, case and $10 pre paid credit. So call it even i say.

The Christening

Just a few piccies of the day.

Anna's birthday

Birthday girl, Anna and friends. Rosie is noticeably absent as it was a good opportunity to get to the cheesles without competition.

Henry

One for Jack! This is HENRY the earth mover seen from Johns place.

new Snare-Wood family members

Introducing Fluffy the rabbit and Smooth the guinea pig - Anna and Rosie's new pets.

Patty in the Park

 

Hi Everyone,
Well Mum's trip here is drawing to a close. There's been tears, laughter, drama, tantrums, screaming....and that was just from John! No it's been a pleasure having the Pat around again. She's been an absolute delight so we'll sorely miss her come Sunday night. So hopefully one of you boys might be able to collect her from Sydney Airport? She arrives at 5.55am but don't let that put you off- think how much traffic won't be on the road.

Anyways this pic is Mum in Highbury Fields which is just around the corner from the warehouse. A really nice spot used frequently by the locals. In fact Mum has noticed on several sunny days that 'all the men take their shirts off to sunbake'! Fancy that! After this we went out to dinner up the hill in Archway for...you guessed it...fish and chips. She loves em. Apparently they were the nicest chips she'd had in a while.

Last night we went to a restaurant in Kensington called Maggie Jones. It was a top spot for Patty cause when Princess Margaret was courting some bloke she used to take him there. She's dead now but the guy still goes there apparently (Mum quizzed our waiter pretty heavily on his knowledge of this and also corrected him on a few points) so it was a nice link to the Royals for Patty.

We've pretty much done all the 'Royal' things possible, Went through the state rooms at Buckingham Palace, the Mews, the hop-on hop-off bus tour of Windsor and Eton. Think we did the rounds about 3 times which was funny and a nice day out. Saw the Queens entrance to Windsor and also had lunch at the cafe/ organic grocery store in the grounds. Those royals like a nice bit of organic.

This weekend I think we're going to head into town again and nose around the shops or something nice.

Hope you are all well and getting excited about the christenings!!!!! I am!!!!! Just wish I could be there - so cool.

Anyways, much love to you all,

Michael

Mum today at lunch

About to tuck into some fish and chips

Patty Mewsing it up..

Hey everyone, we're at the mews just now n i'm sure mum'd love to climb in one of these to go to the shops.. More to come

The Pat on Carnaby St

Mum in Harrods

With mohammed al fayed standing on her head!

" These new fangled hearing aids are annoying"

"I wish mum and dad would but some proper food so I didn't have to keep eating these biscuits"

Anna relaxing in the bear chair at Goulsburg

Sydney airport

Emily, Jess and Anna saying goodbye to Grandma.

Mum in the warehouse office - friday.

Think she looks less 'dressy' without the tiara. Those watching the royal news will know what i mean!

Trains that look like an XPT..

.. At Paddinton station before picking mum up. Fascinating eh

winter is here

Sime and Rosie went for a drive to Kirconnell today (about 20mins away) to see the snow. A first for Rosie. Apparently she got in a few good shots at Simon before they came home. And you think its cold where you all are!

Hi Uncle Mike, here I am (unknowingly) ready for my first day at child care.
Love Lucinda Snare

Hi from Brissy

Hi Mike,
Finally made it here!
Looks like your journey to the south was very spiritual. What pilgrimage were you with, looks like you picked up lots of holy water.
We're not quite sweating it out here, think Goulburn for wind and Sydney for for grey all day cold rain. Tanks full, grass muddy brown, dams near empty, 4 minute showers, kids stir crazy & kitty begging for a hot kitty chino in the morning. All part of a day's work.
Is London ready for the arrival of Patty? Have you warned the queen?
Three weeks to Thailand. Jack thinks we are going to visit Uncle Mike.
Anyway here's a couple of recent photos of Jack & Lucinda, Jack's big bike & Lucinda's first day of day care.
Take care.

Vid of the Corpus Christi carry-on

Spain trip

Hey guys,

Well it's been ages since I put anything up and i finally have something to show so I hope you like the pics.

I've been back about 2 weeks now and I wanna go back to Sitges as was just too nice. It's located about 40mins by train outside Barcelona and is a lovely little seaside town of... i don't know how many people but it wasn't too many. The train ride there reminded me a bit of the ride up to Gosford cause there are little towns along the way and the train hugs the coast as it goes along.
Anyway it is a top little spot, our hotel was 5mins from the beach and the bars and restaurants which was perfect. I learnt a little more Spanish apart from Hola! which was good. My accent proved to be a little confusing for the poor Spaniards tho - Clive (who has a thick Welsh accent) had to translate on some occasions which he thought was hilarious... I didn't realise I was that ocker but hey - something to be proud of i think!
Most days we found ourselves sitting by the beach (apparently bra's are out this year) - there were guys who walked around all day selling beer, coke (a cola), packets of chips and water which was great. I came away with a pretty good tan for someone who is normally see-through. No doubt it'll all be gone in another week or two with all the dodgy weather we're getting at the moment in sunny London.
So I gotta tell you about the Feast of Corpus Christi that you can see in one of the photo's. I just stumbled on this parade starting which was a stroke of luck cause it was very funny... They pulled these 20 foot maniquins i guess you'd call them, out of this building and arranged them in two's. Each pair had their own little band that walked behind them playing a tune or two. So a guy whould get inside them, they'd walk for a bit and then dance around each other - stop, take and then keep going.. The night before people had created these lovely flower arrangements in some of the streets and at the end of the procession the dude in the maniquins would walk through them... It was all very strange and i'm sure there is a point to it but I have no idea what. Was great to see though and made for some great pictures so good on them.

Clivo on the train to Barcelona

On the beach in Sitges

Enjoying an after dinner ice cream. It'd be rude not too ;)

These flower arrangements...

Were part of the festival as well

Feast of Corpus Christi festivities

This was mad - i'll try and put the video up soon

One of the bars in Sitges

The barmen must do this pose all the time cause as soon as i held the camera up they all moved into position

In barcelona

Just passing a fountain..

jervis bay camping

Anna & Rosie enjoying the beach at Green Patch. The girls thought the waves were a bit rough(well the wind did pick up a bit on the last day) and a bit noisy for Rosie! What can you do??

Silly with his latest hair cut

This is not real, Emily and Jessica are cardboard cutouts

Emily & Jessica survive only to be nearly squashed by a Dolphin. Jack and Lucinda think i am grand. By the way i bought another painting can't help myself. 20004 series of Penfolds series is out and i was getting a bit itchy so got Anne Maree to buy some bin 28 and 389 so i would not break my vow. PS Croc was at Australia Zoo and Dolphin was at Seaworld

Recently the Queen MaryII popped in for a visit. As seen from the NSW art gallery.

the birthday girl

rosie and friends

rosie's birthday

Grandma, Rosie and Anna

Grandma with some Gkids Goulburn has a possum to

this had me rolling around...

More of these on:

http://www.acc.umu.se/~zqad/cats/index.html?flow=no&large=no