New Years Eve

Well we started off new years eve with a lie in the dogs let us without any hassle! We cant wait until the warmer weather as it is a bit too mild for them at the moment to stay out as Cooper keeps shivering and we dont want him to catch a cold and end up with huge vet fees!

So in they stay (as we talked ourselves into it!) and we have broken nights sleep, it is Roxy who gets up and wakes us up, we need to shut the bedroom door but it is so hot that you need the air flow!

Tim was very happy today as we went to his local store again! Bunnings and we bought some more stuff to sort out all the DIY bits that need doing to the house! more cement for the washing line and a fan for the spare room as we know the air flow is not too good in there and we are hoping to have visitors soon!

We then went to Flash Harrys store! (its a bit like the pound shop! but everything seems to be $2!) and got all those bits you need that you left behind, blue tack, tacks, batteries etc and met David, Johns son as we were coming out. We did not recognise them as it was strange we recognised the car but not the people! So we said hi and went to finish the shopping that we had to do! Well not really shopping as we bought a sideboard unit and there were some screws and bits missing so we went to see if we could get them sorted. Then it was home to finish bits off and get ourselves ready to go to lunch with the Lennon's and their crowd for new years eve celebrations.

We met up at the Lennons and took four of them in the car, as we can seat 7 in the car!! first time we used the seats in the boot and it did not look comfortable at all as i tried to get in and save the others as they are in their 70's but Barry beat me too it and was all squished in as he had very long legs.

Barry and his wife are really interesting as they have built their own house and boat! and are a mine of information which we tried to tap without it getting too much for them!

David and his wife went in Johns car and followed us, we were heading off to Dunduran and the Akarra tea rooms. Its Balanise and you sit out side in big covered pergolas it was very beautiful and well worth a visit back there.

Take a peek
http://www.totaltravel.com.au/travel/qld/frasercoast/herveybay/entertainment/cafes/arkarra/

John was navigating and we went straight passed it but managed to double back and get the road right! flight of the navigator was not on track as they had been there before (it must have been in the dark :) )

David had to take Charlie for a walk to let him nod off to sleep so they could have a good meal, but as kids do they make sure all your plans are foiled! and he stayed awake, but he was very well behaved and did not run riot at all so nice to see.

We had a few clumsy moments when the waiter dropped the ginger beer over the whole table, then he could not take orders for more drinks as he was only the delivery boy! then Dulcie knocked over Johns lemon and lime bitters all over him and Charlie after that was sorted we then had to wait for a waiter to take our orders for more drinks again, then they had run out of normal drinks and all that was left was diet which did not please everyone!

So we ordered the food and hoped that would be ok, when it came it was great and all went down very well. The drinks still did not come and we had to re order and ask again and poor Charlie was still waiting for his milk! The Lennons and I had Magic mushrooms!! i asked for extra magic with mine!! :)

Finally it was all ok and we were ready to move on to desert as Tim had seen ice-creams on the menu i knew he was making room for them! But the ice-creams were at a counter and you had to go and get them yourself!? At the counter the girls did not seem to interested in serving ice-creams and got mine wrong as soon as i asked! So i went off with a loaded double chocolate cone dripping down my top in the heat (you have to eat them quick here as the melt so quickly!)

The puddings that were ordered from the table for meringues were not available!! We were having a bit of a lucked out day with ordering and we were not that late in to eat, 1pm !!??

So after a few sulks other puddings were ordered, i went for a walk with Charlie to see his grandad, but he side tracked me and took me to see some big parrots then we went for a walk around the grounds, to see the crocodile, the ducks, frogs, quails, and loads of water birds. Then we saw a dead fish and lots of other little birds that i have no idea what they were!

We walked back and found Tim wondering around trying to find us, so we went off with a walk with him and took him around to see what we had seen.

It was a stunningly beautiful place and the food was good, it was just let down by the service.

Tim was not too keen on his steak sandwich but then i would never have had steak sandwich as the meat should be the best there is to be tender enough to bite through!

While i was walking around with Charlie they all settled the bill and we left, Tim went to get car and picked us all up from the front so we did not have to walk!

We got back safe and went to see Barrys canoe but declined to take it out then, we said maybe later as we had to go feed the dogs and make sure they had not dug their way out of the garden!

But once home and comfortable I fell asleep watching the highlights of 2006 on the TV then woke to ground hog day which I watched and then we decided to go to the local new years eve film and fireworks at the local oval.

It was the busiest we had seen the roads, full of cars and they were all trying to park to get into see the fireworks. Tim did his usual and parked as far as he could from everything and then we walked to the grounds, it was heaving with families out with the kids having fun, people sitting watching Narnia on the big screen and the fun fair buzzing in the background. It was dark and the whole place was lit up with the yellow glow from the funfair bulbs. The smell of jacket potatoes, roasting nuts, hot dogs (with real sausages) and freshly made coffee was enticing!

We sat to watch the film but as we had not bought any chairs could not really see above peoples heads, there were a few interruptions to the film as it had some scratches on it, then a little 4 year old lost his dad so they made and announcement for that. So we gave up and went for a stroll, the fireworks were starting in 10 mins so we just sttod around watching the world go by as Tim cuddled up to me as he was cold (wearing only a t shirt and shorts!).

The fireworks began and we were shocked into stunned silence for at least 2 mins until we realised that what they had set off was meant to be the big display :( it was quite sad, it was just like the fireworks you would have in your back garden for bonfire night! with a few big ones in the middle and one at the very end, it was really hard to see the full effects of the fireworks!

We decided to walk back to the car and see if there was a better view on the way and at the same time beat the rush to leave as there were so many cars. We saw a bit more on the way to the car but not a lot, so back to car and a bit of off roading to get home! It was good but it would have been better watching it from the beach, but locally they would not let you go to the beach as it was ruled to be dangerous!!??

Back home we watched the Joules Holland equivalent which was very scary! Some of the things they do are very weird! and so are some of the people!

Finally the fireworks were shown on Sydney H Bridge which were stunning, a full 25 minutes of blasts in 7 locations all with the same fireworks, it was spectacular! We would have been there this year with friends but we decided that we would be better spending the money on the house!!??

Not sure that was a good move now after seeing it on TV, perhaps next year if we have friends over for Xmas?

We had a phone call from Luke which was great to hear his voice and he was exited about his new year celebrations having lots for friends around him and his first new year in London he was very excited. As well as the fact it was his last day at work and it was going to be a relief as he could find a job with sensible hours of work.

Tims mum called and we spoke to her too, she sounded a bit down and sad as she was on her own for new year and not doing anything.


Today 1st January 2007 we had a number of calls

From Bob and Tracey, a good friend of mine in Wimborne, Malcom Budden and Margaret my best mate from School it was so lovely to hear their voices and feel like we were home again. We listened to the new year being bought in on the live radio link on the internet so we celebrated both new years! and had a sleep in between! We had a number of text messages too which was really nice from some very special friends all in all it was rather nice to be remembered so well. Perhaps next year will not be quite the same!!???

Today Tim has sorted out the washing line and taken down the old one, strangely he says it has made the garden shrink as your eye is not drawn to the monstrosity in the middle of the lawn!

Strange how excited you can get about a new washing line!!??