Check this out ....

For my scrapping friends - check this out - not sure when we'll see it in Australia (or if we'll want to see it!!!) http://www.scrappedmovie.com/

Tagged

My first "tag" from Sara -

I AM: overweight
I WANT: financial security
I HATE: exercise (therefore I AM: overweight)
I MISS: having a really close girlfriend
I FEAR: the future of the world for my children
I HEAR: birds singing outside
I WONDER: what my children will do with their lives
I REGRET: very little
I AM NOT: tidy
I DANCE: badly
I SING: badly
I CRY: all the time
I AM NOT ALWAYS: happy
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: memories for the future
I WRITE: not nearly enough for those memories for the future
I CONFUSE: and forget names all the time
I NEED: lots of cuddles from my family
I SHOULD: eat better
I START: lots of projects at once
I FINISH: some of these projects but have lots that I have half finished!!
I TAG: anyone who's reading this now!

Cyber Crop @ TCA

Full on scrap weekend with three LO's completed for The Craft Attic (TCA) cyber crop. Tara also completed one. In keeping with the whole 'Sydney' theme for my recent blogs - here's one LO I did using some pics from Coogee of the Giles Baths. I'll add these new LO's to my slide show (check it out).

Other scrapping news - my "Family" LO is in the newest For Keeps magazine (issue 43) apparently. A friend on SAM let me know that it was in - although I haven't seen it yet. Hopefully my copy will arrive in the mail later in the week.

Also, scrap friend, Cass, has just started her own online shop and forum - http://www.scrap-pile.com.au, so check it out.

"Girls" Title Swap

As part of a Scrapbooking Memories Online Forum swap - I've made this title for Scrapgoddess - I hope she likes it. I'll have it in the post tomorrow - Leanne!

More on Sydney

Had a great time in Sydney this past week. Work-wise, this conference was more worthwhile than the Vancouver one...so that's a plus. The weather was a bit more than 'fresh' it was down-right cold!!! We stayed in a great apartment hotel in Coogee (although we were a little worried on the first night when the planes sounded like they were landing in our courtyard - every 5 minutes) - it was right on the beach. First afternoon we spotted a rainbow - which we had to snap. I was staying with my work friend, Pam (also a scrapper) and her sister-in-law. Another work friend, Jenny, arrived later in the afternoon and after a glass of wine and nibblies we ventured out into the weather (rain, wind etc) to have a great Thai dinner (on the recommendation of a local ambo who eats at this Thai place EVERY night!!!).

As well as conferencing, I also caught up with my long-time school friend, Vikki - who is Danah's godmum. Her lovely partner, Chris, cooked us a yummy green chicken curry while we caught up. I also got to meet Oscar - their "baby"....see below! Always wonderful to catch up with Vik even though we don't get to do it too often these days :(


I also "made" time to visit the nearby Westfield shopping centre @ Bondi Junction - wow - is it huge!! Strolled around and picked up a few goodies to take home for the girls and did some serious window shopping!!!! Unfortunately no real scrap shops only one over-priced craft shop.

For SARA!!!

A quick pic from my trip to Sydney this week - the Opera House and city at night (from the harbour). Not sure my camera has done it justice (without a tripod)! My good scrapping friend Sara is putting the pressure on to make sure my blog is kept up to date!!! Will put up a full report on the weekend including all the news from Vikki :)

Now, I'm off to do some scrapping for the Craft Attic cyber crop!

Off to Sydney

I'm off to Sydney tomorrow (for work) until Friday evening so will be offline until then - I'm being strong and NOT taking my laptop (unless I weaken in the morning and change my mind!!). Looking forward to catching up with girlfriend Vikki (& her partner & puppy) and having work friend Pam with me @ this conference. We're staying at Coogee which will be hard to take! Hopefully Qld will win the state of origin footy match on Wednesday while we're there otherwise we'll never hear the end of it!!!

Went to Harvey Norman late today and had 120 photos printed - while they have their 15 cent special on. How good is that - 120 pics for about $15 dollars!!! Once upon a time you'd get 24 photos (some that would need throwing away 'cos they didn't turn out) for $15!!! Really pleased with most of the Vancouver photos I had printed especially those flower pics with rain drops on them.

Only problem with coming back from Sydney Friday evening is that I'm going to miss another cyber crop night @ Craft Attic - was so looking forward to it again. Also, Sara is keen to go along too so will miss out catching up with her :( Won't stop me from getting involved online once I'm home and unpacked!!!

Weekend Over Already!!

What happened to my weekend?? How did it go so quickly??? WHY did it have to go so quickly?? Didn't get done nearly as much as I wanted to including the cleaning or a bike ride! Now I have to "lie" to my personal trainer tomorrow when she asks if I've done any exercise since I saw her last week!!!

Danah had her first performance for the Wynnum Manly Eisteddfod on Saturday morning so we had no sport (netball and swimming). Her and friend Jessica, entered the duologue (under 10 years) category performing Asphyxia & Euthanasia (the ugly step-sisters) from Cinderella. They did a great job and received an Honour certificate and a score of 82. We will be back next Saturday for their "poem" performance.

We also had to race around and organise a gift for a birthday party Danah had this morning. I had a brillant idea (at the time) to alter a tin I had for Danah to give to Mady with her gift inside. Danah helped to me decorate it and she was really happy with the result. I, on the other hand, wasn't so happy with it late last night while I was rushing to get it finished in time for the party today. Mady and her Mum certainly seemed to like it when we gave it to her today.

The party (for 11 year old girls) was at Lazer Force - an indoor skirmish type place that uses lasers to eliminate other players. The girls LOVED it. Tara came along to keep me company but didn't play and I'm sure Peter would love it too. Danah is already asking if we can go again next weekend.

Mum & Dad are off with their caravan again tomorrow - to northern NSW for a month or so. We dropped in to see them before they leave and to watch the last quarter of the footy (yeah! we got to sing the Lions theme song AGAIN - two weeks in a row!! Amazing)

I also had to drop a finished circle journal into a scrap friend who lives nearby.

AND that was my weekend!!!

Colonial Day

Can you believe it??? Danah (only ten years old) has today worn to school the dress I wore to my deb ball in 1980 as part of her "colonial day" costume AND it fit her (except in the bust area)!!! Along with gloves and a shawl from Mum and an apron and mop cap from an Ol' English outfit I made years ago. I knew that horrid ol' dress would come in handy for something one day!!! Wait until I tell my (school) girlfriend, Vikki, about this when I see her next week in Sydney - she'll crack up. Danah was really pleased with the result but came home with horror stories about schooling in the 1900's. Made her appreciate how good things are these days for her at school. She was also horrified about the attitude towards females students (they weren't expected to learn what boys learnt, 'girls are dumb', girls didn't get to play sport like the boys). They must have spent some time talking about the role of women back then. Tara's comment was "that makes wives sound like slaves". Go Girls!!!

On a scrapbooking note - I had a win with my "Spring Time in Vancouver" LO last weekend on the LSBS cyber crop.....woo hoo!!! Won myself a ribbon and embellishment pack - not sure what they will include but you can never have enough ribbon!!!

Off to have drinks, dinner and maybe the theatre tomorrow night with (uni) friends, Cathy and Jo. Jo's a school teacher in Mt Isa and is in town to catch up with family here ATM from overseas. Will be nice to have a 'girls' night out even though I'll have to drive.

Happy Mother's Day

I hope all you Mother's out there had a lovely day and were spoilt just a little bit!

My day began with bacon & eggs in bed including a fresh rose in a vase, juice and toast! The girls had picked out a lovely locket necklace that has a clock inside it. I must admit it was lovely to see a jewellery bag amongst my goodies - made sure I praised them long and hard for such a great choice!!! Also got some Dara Lea chocolates which I obviously don't need (given how much weight I've put back on!!!) but they are very yummy anyway. I got to roll over and go back to sleep until about 9am - what bliss!!! I managed to squeeze in a bit of scrapbooking before going out for a high tea lunch with my Mum and the girls @ a small scrapbooking shop/cafe on the northside. All in all - a lovely day!!!

In catching up with a few friend's blogs tonight I've been suitably embarrassed enough about my lack of interactive 'stuff' on my blog so finally put a slide show on mine (thanks Sara & Alicia for the motivation!!). Haven't got around to making a banner or putting music on it yet.....

Finished off another LO for the LSBS cyber crop - theme of "best friend" - motivated me to use some photo's of the girls from the coast earlier in the year and document how my one wish for the girls as sisters is that will always be the best of friends.

Back Scrappin

After two weeks with no real scrappin' I did my first layout using a pic from Canada last night! I've also done a couple of cards (for Mum's Day), a paper bag album entry and almost completed another Circle Journal layout.

I've got my voice back today after feeling lousy the last few days. Took Tara to swimming and then went to watch Danah play netball. Also found time to drop into the Craft Attic to see Debra - she liked the little goodie I picked up for her in Vancouver!

Can finally talk footy again as the Lions have had a long overdue win tonight against Hawthorne. The club is certainly going through a "rough patch" but we still support them of course!

Home Sweet Home

Well I've made it safely home to beautiful Brisbane after 12 nights away!

Had no problems leaving Vancouver or arriving in LA. My Dad's cousin's son, John, picked me up at the airport (holding a sign saying "Shirley Moran"). Lucky I knew he was waiting for me - his Mum had got my first name mixed up with my Aunt Shirley - who is not a Moran! Driving about 45 minutes on an LA freeway was some experience! At least 6 lanes each way! Sitting in the front of the car on the right hand side, with no steering wheel to hold, was also very weird!!

I enjoyed a few hours, sitting talking to Hilda, who's Mother was my Dad's Aunt. Hilda, who is almost 80, is not in great health but we enjoyed chatting and trying to figure out family connections. Two of her six sons look after her at home and her eldest son, Larry, and his wife also visited.

Once back at LAX (LA International Airport .... where the big jet engines roar!!! LOL - that's a line from an ol' song those too young to know!!!) I spent a few hours wondering the shops and having coffee before boarding for the final leg of my journey. I had the best seat coming back - even better than the exit row isle seat - a bulkhead seat in a small section of the plane between cattle class - I mean economy and business class. Just three rows in a lovely quiet section of the plane. I had a spare seat beside me and lots of leg room. I think I managed to get about 5 or 6 hours 'sleep', watched a movie (Last Holiday) and bits of other movies before landing in Brissy about 6.15am.

Other than having trouble finding some of the items I declared to customs in my suitcase, I had no problems coming through customs, grabbing a taxi and making it to Mum & Dad's place in time to see the girls before they went to school. I kept myself busy yesterday with washing, going through the mail I'd received and a quick visit to the shops for groceries. The house wasn't in too bad a shape - Peter and the girls had done a pretty good job in my absence.

I was fine up until we got home from dinner @ Mum and Dad's and then it hit me like a hammer - tired, cranky and feeling lousy.

Unfortunately I didn't sleep very well and I've endured a whole day @ work today (270 emails later!!!) with a very sore throat and a quickly diminishing voice!!!

Now to catch up on all my scrap forums!!!

It Snowed!

Well I'm just back from Whistler - where it snowed today - I got SNOWED on!!! Well it was only really light but it was snow! Blogging this freehand - most blogs I've written out before hand - so will just be a quick update for now. Whistler is where the 2010 Winter Olympics are going to be held so there is already lots of activity (especially on the roads) in preparation.

A group of 17 of us, with the same tour guide as yesterday, Jack. A family from Mexico, a couple from the UK, Brazil, Orange NSW, South Africa and a lady from Boston USA. The two hour drive was broken up with a couple of stops including one to Shannon Falls.

I've never been to a world class ski resort before and I can't imagine what it would be like in winter!! They are still skiing up until 4 June @ the top of Whislter. I caught the gondola up to the top (6000 feet) - the gondola trip took 25 minutes one way!! This was were it was snowing still very lightly. I was with the retired couple from Orange for the trip up in the gondola and he'd skied NSW snow fields so could explain some things for me. Lots of snow boarders and skiers.

Weary tonight after two big days - so hoping for an early night and a sleep in tomorrow before I watch the runners in the Vancouver Marathon run right past my apartment and then visit Stanley Park & the Aquarium. I'll also be packing ready to head to the airport Monday morning! Thinking this will be my last post from Vancouver as my time at the Internet Cafe has expired tonight!

Grouse Mt.

Thursday night I caught a bus to the end of Denman Street to watch the sunset over English Bay. I had dinner at the Pacific Crab Co. - it was upstairs with a balcony and it was warm enough to sit outside and watch the sunset while enjoying dinner. I lashed out and had a cocktail to start - a Mojito (Bacardi based) - see pic. I had seafood chowder and then tiger prawns and a glass of BC white. I walked back down Denman to work off the yummy food - first watching a busker working the crowd on the beach.

Friday the weather held out and I took lots of pictures on my trip to Grouse Mountain. There were 12 of us and Jack the driver. Two couples from Perth, a family from Ontario, a retired Ontario couple (who caught the train across Canada - more on that for Mum & Dad) and a young Korean man.
We went to a fish hatchery first - Dad would love it although the fish are a little small now but in Autumn it's a different story. We spotted a wild bald eagle across the gorge which I tried to capture in a photo but not sure they will turn out.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge was our next stop - the world's longest (137m) and highest (70m) suspension foot bridge and I DID it - crossed this swaying bridge to the other side and I have a certificate to prove it!!! They also have a tree top walk (which didn't sway as much) which was pretty cool.

Our final stop was a gondola ride to the top of a still snow capped Grouse Mountain. The gondola ride wasn't as scrarry as I thought it might be - amazing views and only swayed a couple of times. I walked around in the snow (lucky it's still there this late apparently), watched two movies about the grizzly bears kept up there (unfortunately their display was closed as they get ready to move them into their summer enclosure) and saw the some amazing carvings. The tour guide gave me a personal tour to the bear enclosure - he knew I was really disappointed they weren't on view! We did see a chipmunk! Not much of a consolation. Think I'll have sore muscles after walking in the spring snow.

When we came back down the Mt saw three wild wolves - in a special winter enclosure - got some excellent photo's.

As I was back in the city by 4.30pm I decided to go and see a movie. Mission Impossible III opened here today so went to see that. Enjoyable but wouldn't rave about it.

Spoke to Peter and the girls who all sound good - looking forward to getting home in just a few days now.

Had my Urkanian meal last night (sitting next to a table full of plain clothes off-duty?? police officers - conversion sounded very similar to what I'd hear at work!!) - enjoyed my beef strogonof (sp??) and a BC red wine.

Tourist Time Again

Well my work here is done! The conference finished today and I'm back into 'tourist' mode again! Won't bore you with conference talk other than to say I was a little disappointed! Brazil and Cambodia should be my next trips - they were the only two countries talking about reducing harm for young people sniffing! Although someone was talking to me about it up in the polar regions of Canada!!!! Did pick up some interesting information (non-sniffing) but overall not as successful as I'd hoped. The food @ the conference was fantastic - lots of it and interesting selections/options. For example, morning tea one day we had a selection of fresh fruit smoothies. Today they had yoghurt and mueslie (sp??) parfaits.

I'm keeping with my multicultural adventures foodwise - I had Italian (pasta) and African (curry) for dinner the last two nights. Trying to decide if I'll have Ukranian or French Canadian tonight!

The weather has been divine and today I took my jacket OFF while outside!!! They are predicting cold and rain again for Saturday and Sunday so I've changed my trip to Grouse Mountain (north Vancouver) from Sunday to Friday as good weather will impact on this trip more than my trip to Whistler. There is a cable car, suspension bridge, wildlife refuge and SNOW @ Grouse Mt so looking forward to taking lots of pics again.

I rang my Grandfather's niece (Dad's cousin) who lives in LA today as I have a 10 hour stop over on my way home. She's an elderly lady but is going to come and pick me up for a visit. Never know - we may drive nearby an American scrap shop on the way to or from her place???

Speaking of which - I ventured out into the suburbs again today (different direction) after the conference concluded - to find another scrapbook shop. This one was much better than the previous one although I'm still impressed with our range and prices in Austrlia. The lovely lady gave me a scrap magazine when she found out I was from Australia.

The bus ride took me through the 'nasty' part of downtown Vancouver (I'd heard lots about it at the conference) and it was terrible. The shops were all boarded up and run down, homeless people, prostitutes, drug users openly on the streets and this is during the day. Hate to be down there at nighttime! Very depressing and sad!

On a much happier note - I rang Peter and the girls for Peter's birthday yesterday. I told him I'd 'sung' happy birthday to him on my blog - I think he was worried I DID actually sing. No way - don't want to scare people off!!!

Til tomorrow....I'm off

Happy Birthday dear Peter

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Peter

Happy birthday to you!

Well it's Peter's 40something birthday today and I'm on the other side of the world!!! Hope you have a great day darling - I know you had chocolate mud cake last night to celebrate and hopefully the girls have given you kisses, cuddles and a little something this morning!!!

Here in Vancouver, the weather is gorgeous - hitting 20c max today!!! Shame I'm inside :(

Another thing to add to my list of things I've noticed - nearly embarrassed myself this morning hoping on the wrong side of the esculator - the up one is on the right!!!!! I'm sure in Australia our up one is on the left??? Maybe not. Lucky there was no one around to notice.

Off to the conference again now (using their free internet cafe before start time) so will log on later.

Things I've noticed!

1. Pedestrians need to walk on the right hand side of the footpath
2. There's limited alcohol outlets (compared to Australia)
3. Very few McDonalds!!! Lots of Starbucks (coffee outlets)
4. Prices listed DON'T include tax (gst)
5. Lots of people live in apartments in the city - lots of Mums pushing prams in the neighbourhood I walk through
6. Lots of people have dogs!
7. Lots of smokers!
8. From my 5th floor apartment over a busy street - I can see that lots of cars have sun roofs or are soft tops!! Seems strange given their climate???
9. British Columbia (BC) has similar health care problems to Qld - ER waiting lists etc - so govt. throwing more $$$ at them although not enough! Has Mr Beattie been visiting here I wonder???

Time to Work

Well my conference started Sunday evening with some First Nations welcomes/entertainment and fantastic finger food and a glass of red wine. Yesterday, Monday, was a long day but managed to catch up with a few Australians I know although there's not many of us here! Caught up with Greg Denham who used to work for Vic Police, then QPS and Vic Police again - now he's working in Vietnam. Nice to chat to him again. The food at the conference venues (two first class hotels) is outstanding! Lucky I have to walk to and from each day a good eight (big) blocks! Today has been the law enforcement stream - interesting to hear from the US and Canadian perspectives. Just listened to an Australian paper - from Uni of Qld - funded by our unit. Stuart acknowledged the law enforcement funding which was great! The weather has been lovely and sunny although very windy yesterday and still very cool. Doesn't look promising for Saturday and Sunday unfortunately with more rain predicted!!! Great - I'm doing the tourist thing both days!

Playing Tourist

Saturday I was picked up by the tour co. bus right on time @ 9am for my first 'tourist' trip - to Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria - the capital of British Columbia. It seems strange that Vancouver isn't the capital - parliament still sits in Victoria but population wise Vancouver is much larger. Wasn't always the way - until the cross-Canada railway came to Vancouver, Victoria was the thriving city. It's very ol' England.

But first the weather report - it was TERRIBLE!!! Cold, wet and windy. We had a 1/2 hour drive to the ferry with 12 of us on our very comfy bus. Andy was our driver with couples from Japan, Spain, Barbados, US & Canada & Aust (me!!). The ferry (Spirit of British Columbia) was HUGE - didn't get the stats but there was about 700 passengers - vehicles on three levels with 6 lanes on each level. The trip took 90 minutes across the Strait of Georgia and then through the Gulf Islands to Swatz Bay.

From there we drove to the world famous Butchart Gardens which were amazing (see pic below). Great time of the year to be here apparently. The bulbs in full bloom - tulips etc. Took lots of photo's including one of me in front of their 100 year celebration totem poles. While there I also received a lovley phone call from home. Had a chance to speak quickly to Peter, Danah & Tara who all sounded well and surviving without me!

On the drive to Victoria (25 minutes) we heard about some of the history/treatment of First Nations people - very similar to Australia. Slowly educating their children now about their culture before it is lost. Home similar to some of our indigenous communities - poorly kept outside.
Walked the cobbled streets of Victoria for a couple of hours - tried the famous Rogers chocolate - must tell you about the Rocky Mountain chocs too some time - and searched the tourist shops for a 'grizzly' bear for Tara!! Lots of black and brown bears but NO grizzly's. Will keep looking.
Picked up a special treat for both Mum & Dad in Victoria but won't say what - don't want to spoil the surprise!

The skys cleared while we were in Victoria and on the trip back to Vancouver I took some great sunset pics as we went through the Gulf Islands. See self portrait below taken on the deck of the Spirit of Vancouver (the ferry we returned on). It was a long day and I didn't get back to my place until 10.30pm.

I jotted down this post this morning (Sunday) while having my first breakfast out - sitting in the window, in the sun (yeah!) of Bojangles Cafe having eggs benedict & lots of coffee (with cream not milk!). Did a nice walk along English Bay to a small ferry which took me over to Granville Island markets which had some amazing fresh produce and other goodies. Walked home again via Stanley Park - where I saw 2 squirrels and a large group of blue herrons nesting high in trees.

Now it's time to do some work - off to the conference!!

Here's the view from my room - the harbour and the mountains!