Seattle

Row & I popped down to Seattle last week to catch up with the Bones Family - Row first met "Bones" (the Dad) in 1996 when he went to the U.S. for a basketball camp. The family came to our reception in Jakarta in 1994 so it was cool to see them again. It was a pretty packed 2 days and 2 nights - highlights included:

- Catching an NBA game - Seattle Sonics vs Denver Nuggets - Sonics lost in the last couple of minutes but it was so cool to see. The whole stadium was alive;

- Spending time with Bones & family - really really great to have some family time again. Reminded us both of some home truths;

- Driving to the west coast of Washington state - really wild and dramatic;


- Checking out Seattle's famous Flying Fish market;



- Having a coffee at the one and only original Starbucks (which, is actually much nicer than the modern Starbucks);
- Having Fish & Chips for lunch on the waterfront at the famous Ivan's and feeding chips to possibly the biggest sea gulls in the world.
It felt good to strap on the old backpack again after being stationary for so long and has got us feeling excited re exploring new places on our way home

Itchy Feet?

Someone showed me this link a while back - For anyone feeling the desire to travel, this should get you inspired to get out and do it! Enjoy - http://www.theglobaltrip.com/photos/wouldyouslideshow.html

Team Vancouver

Team Vancouver had many a giggle during their short but choc-a-block trip to Van earlier this week. Anna (ex-flattie), Ainse (flattie), Sarah (Syddas Siren), and Erin (Golden girl from Queenie) & I took the greyhound bus down to Van for 24 hours of fun, giggles, shopping, good food & some SERIOUS bopping!! Highlights include but are IN NO WAY limited to:

• Deciphering Japanese menu in Japanese restau – we still don’t know what Ainse ate in the end’
• Trying to hold ourselves back from the amazing sales that were on – I finally got a pair of winter boots I love!! JUST managed to resist by platform sandals – they were SO cool, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t seem to convince myself that they were the most practical of travelling shoes;
• Sneaking 5 ladies into our 2 person suite – but somehow forgetting that asking front desk for 5 champagne glasses to be brought up to our room would be a slight indication that there were in fact more than 2 people in the room…
• Funny funny convos and many many giggles over some champas and nibbles in our room;
• Erin, Ainse & I taking COMPLETE control (hard to imagine I know) after forcing our way past the bouncer and up the stage steps – we were official groupies – managed to stay on stage for the rest of the band’s performance (at least an hour) and were even doing the odd “lean in to the mic and do duo with singer / guitar player etc.” – ahhh yes, beautiful memories;
• Erin, Ainse & I forcing the kebab shop owner to re-open and serve us some babbage – sooo good, hadn’t had one since Germany!!
• Coming home to even more giggles between the five of us – ahhh funny funny funny;
• Having breakie at a rad diner just opposite our hotel – was really funky and had real jukeboxes at each table! Totally inappropriate conversations over breakie – somehow Anna kept managing to say the punchline whenever the waitress was near – again, many many giggles were had;
• Good to see Ainse making full use of the diner’s facilities to do some serious AGB’s;
• Sarah & I having a very very interesting toilet experience in Sears department store involving a girl speaking Thai, not enough toilets, and the automatic flusher not working so well;
• Shopping at Metrotown and Canadian Superstore – Ainse finding even MORE shoes to buy!
• Ainse making sure everyone had the bus ticket back to Van only to discover she couldn’t find hers!
• Erin finding Ainse’s ticket 30 mins later – Hooray for Erin!!
• Scoring pole position on bus back to Whistler and Sarah & I having epiphanies over our life paths and our future before us!

And so, in summary, we left Whistler at 8:45 on Wednesday morning and returned at 8 the following evening – it was great to get my backpack back on and go on a little adventure. Has got me excited about our little adventures that await us on our way home to Aus!

TVan Pics

Grounds 4 Rounds

For the past few months, we at the Res Centre have been nominating each other for “Grounds For Rounds” i.e. for each silly/dumb thing a colleague made, we could nominate them for a round of drinks – Needless to say, at the end of two months, we had many a round to shout – and so, we went to Merlin’s last Monday to drink and be merry. A very fun night all in all – here are some pics!

Christmas 2006

Well, this is almost a month overdue, but I figured I would finally pop in some pics of Christmas.

We had a very special Christmas this 2006. Row & I went to a church service on Christmas Eve night – it was actually a really nice service and was funny to listen to Mary & Joseph speaking with a Canadian accent (unlike the authentic Australian accent our M & J have back home!). We got a call from Deb, Bricey, Richie & Boo afterwards who were all enjoying a barbie in Perth – they felt miles away as we were walking the streets in the middle of a snowstorm!!

We decided to make a night of it and treat ourselves to a special meal at one of the many restaurants here – it was so beautiful – sipping on red wine, enjoying fine food and looking out to the mass of snowflakes falling down the street. Another one of those moments that you capture in your memory to relive again and again.

We were both working all day but the blow of working on a day where no-one should be working was softened with everyone at the Res Centre (where I work) wearing pyjamas all day (not sure whose idea that was??) and people bringing in snacks and treats to munch on throughout the day (again – NO idea who thought of that one). Thanks to Colls & Tanny, some of those treats were Allens lollies and we also had some Aussie Christmas carols playing in the background thanks to my very own Mummsy.

Row's day was improved by taking a well deserved break in his day and heading out into the 28cm of fresh snow we had last night (78 cm that week!).

We had a traditional Turkey Christmas Dinner at Anna & Mike’s later that night and indulged in many a celebratory drink!! Was such a fine night although I must admit I felt somewhat sorry for myself when I had to get up the next morning to do another 7:45 am – 6:15 pm shift! Still – it was a Christmas to remember – spent with our dear friends in this amazing place in the world – we will remember it always.