LAST WEEK IN APRIL 2007: Part 1

It surely has been quite a time between updates. I mean my last update was the excitement over “Heroes” starting in Australia & last night they played chapter #14.

Well what can I say but it was so good to head to Queensland for a little relax (or not)

Sunday 22 April 2007: Melbourne – Sydney – Brisbane
Firstly something interesting about today:
Left Melbourne, it was raining.
In Sydney, it rained.
Arrived Brisbane, it was raining.

• Early morning to get the 8.30 morning flight to Sydney.

• Decided on a ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly as I had only ever travelled around Sydney Harbour from the Quay under Sydney Harbour Bridge. So this was a new experience for me, to check out the other side of the opera house & other sights.

• Grabbed some lunch of Smiths chips & coconut gelato at the Corso then headed to Brookvale Oval, for the Manly Sea Eagles versus Titans game. Whilst waiting for the game to kick off at 2pm, I decided to stay, put up with the rain & get soaking wet in the meantime.

• The game was good. Manly won (report here). In the first 4 minutes Manly scored tries not only once but twice, one to Brett Stewart (one of my top 5 NRL players). This was my first live game that I got to see my favourite player, Scott Prince, playing for his new team, Titans. At one stage I was in a bit of worry when he hit his head awkwardly after been taken out after a kick. He was on the turf for a little while but seemed ok after a couple of minutes.

• After the game I headed straight off to the Airport as I needed to get a hurry to the airport so I would make it to Brisbane that night. I had no problems checking in for the 7.15pm flight. Half of our plane had boarded when there was an announcement “Due to an electrical storm within 5ks of the airport we are unable to continue boarding passengers. Those that had already boarded, were required to stay on board. I passed the two hours by, by talking & going for a quick walk.

• I finally arrived in Brisbane about 10.30pm (2 hours later than originally scheduled)

Monday 23 April 2007: Brisbane

Today I was educated in some childrens programs:

• Went to my dentist appointment, the main reason why I headed for Brisbane for a week, at 9.30am then played a Sudoku game

• Mum dropped me off at my friend Vikki’s place, to spend 1 ½ days with her & her two beautiful boys. One is 2 ½ & the other is 7 months.

• In the afternoon we went shopping (Mother, Father, Vikki, 2 boys & I). The 2 year old was helping my mother by putting the groceries in the trolley. That kept him occupied for some of the time.

• Once back at Vikki’s, we watched Maisy’s and then we played outside & then cleaned up as she was having inspections the next morning. Whilst we were cleaning up i took some photos of 7 month old in his swing. Desert that night we made chocolate mouse. (I can’t believe what the ingredients were…. Not one thing healthy!!).

• It was an early night for me at 1030pm.

Tuesday 24 April 2007: Brisbane

• Tuesday was an early morning, as you just can’t sleep in when you have a 2 ½ child running around upstairs. Breakfast consisted of porridge. It's so nice to have a bowl of porridge, that’s for sure, especially when you don’t have to make it.

• I played with 2 ½ year old for a little while until about 9.30am, when the other children arrived as Vikki was having bible study at her house. Everyone arrived rather late & it was good to talk to lots of people but there was a strict agenda & everyone had to be out by 11am. We studied Acts 1 & only got through half of the study.

• At 1055am the landlord arrived, along with three potential leters of the house Vikki is renting. They have bought a house but there is still a few months left on their lease. Everyone arrived whilst the bible study people were leaving too, so it was a bit of a mess.

• After organising the kids lunchs they headed off for their afternoon sleeps. Vikki & I watched a movie, "Dying to Dance". It was an interesting movie about the struggle of anorexia & dancing. The kids woke up so we headed off for a quick drive to Wonabel to complete some errands (banking & bakery where we got a gluten free lemon cheesecake.

• After dinner my parents picked me up to take me back to their house.

Wednesday 25 April 2007: Brisbane – Anzac Day

• I got up at about 0345am to head off to the local service in Goodna, Brisbane to start at 0427am. My father served in the Vietnam War. We then headed off to the Goodna RSL for some breakfast of soup. I also had some rum & coke, about the only ever day that I end up having it so early in the day. .

• At about 8.30am my father & I headed off down to the train to march in the Anzac Day march, which started at 1000am. We actually didn’t start marching until 1130am & then did the 1.5km or so stroll down George Street, down Ann Street & then down Edward Street

• After the march went back to grandfather's house to have lunch. Spent some time reading the newspapers & then heading home. Lazed around at home & finally went to bed about 11pm. It was surely a very long day.