SETTLMENT

The house settled today with no dramas at all. It was a very smooth process.
Got the keys at 2:30, turned up at the house at 5:30 and waited until the tenants had finished moving out at 7:30pm. . . .created a bit of an anti-climax but at least they are gone now!

We had previously prepared a car full of fragile boxes so unloaded them . . . dreamt about all the renovations that we can do and then went home for a feed.

Rob is at the house today cleaning and dusting etc so that it is ready for us to move in on Saturday! What an amazing husband I married. :-)

Marcoola

Had a lovely weekend away with out good friends Henry and Lieze and their little daughter Jaclyn.

What a relaxing time it was, walks on the beach, working on the tan, sudokus and many a conversation and newspaper reading. We also watched the final of the the World Cup (SA vs England). Of course we had to cheer for South Africa as the majority of people there were Saffers.

All good though. I even have tan lines!!

TV Commercial

We had a TV commercial finlem at our place on Monday night. Here are a couple of shots that I took .. very blurry, good thing I wasn't the camera man.

It is for a homeless person campaign that will be going in Brisbane over Christmas I think. Crew and talent were there for an hour or so. We get about 3 sec of footage in total!

Ben and Cathys Wedding

Friends from our life group got married today. It was a lovely ceremony at Victoria Park Golf Course at 9am on a Sunday morning, followed by a brunch reception.

New Nephew

Liam Christopher Matthews was born at 1:31am, Sunday 21st September in Melbourne.
Check him out on video!!

He is nephew number two.

Mt Tibrogargen

We took some of our life group people up to the Glass House Mountains to climb Mt Tibrogargen (the smallest of the three big mountains). Its not really the kinda of climb that one would call a leisurely walk. More of a rock scramble for 100m with no ropes. Maybe some of these photos will give you an indication of what its like!

8 out of the 9 summited which is always a great achievement .. . and no we didn't lose the other person off the edge. They got 1/10th of the way and then decided to go no further.

A great day!

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!

Here is the house we chose in Mansfield. . . see who can find the original brown buttoned vinyl (do you think it should stay or should it go?).












So it needs a bit of work but huge amount of potential, and it will be all really easy stuff to do. Except maybe for the fact that there MIGHT be a maximum of 3 power plugs in the whole house!!

There is even spare room for you to come and stay!

Rant

Apparently I have to have a rant. . .I have been meaning to do this for a while and my husband got in before I could but that's OK. . .

What is with ALL these sites that people join to connect everyone up and put photos on and communicate with people. To name a few I list:
Bebo
My Space
Blog
Facebook
Ringo
Old Friends

Now I know I am just as guilty as everyone else for joining up to SOME of these sites as people send me invitations, and I have no problem that they exist. In fact I think that they are a great way to catch up with people from many a year ago, check out their photos to see what they have been doing, where they have been and who has married / kids etc. . . but seriously can we all just chose ONE site and stick with it. PLEASE!

House Hunting

Rob and I have commenced the official house hunting mission.

Criteria: - 3 bed house with a back yard, garden shed(s), close to Robs work and a separate toilet to bathroom. Well that's in a nutshell anyway. The good news about it is that we are in no rush. We have no urgency to move out of our current place other than before the Uni season starts next year so that we can rent it out.

We were really keen on one property . . . it had lightening bolts on the garage doors (a big selling point!) however another couple put an offer on it before we could. That's OK though.

We have found another place 4 blocks east of there and is 700m from Robs desk as the crow flies. Original 70s conditions but clean tidy and livable. We are currently negotiating a price which is taking forever. The seller has made no contact for 44 hrs now so we don't know what he is thinking. Just gotta be patient.

Its fun though. I'm looking forward to renovating and ripping out kitchens and bathrooms etc.

Jon and Barbs

Jon and Barbs were over for a week in Brisbane coz Jon had a Psychology conference to go to. We decided since the weather was warming up that we should have a picnic at Kangaroo Point which turned out to be a great idea!


Its was so nice just chatting and catching up with everything that has been going on in our lives.


And we even introduced them to Cold Rock, the ice cream shop here where you choose an ice cream and a filling (chocolate or lollies) and then they are all mixed in together on a marble slab.

Noosa Floods

Had a great long weekend in Noosa with Mum about 3 weeks ago. Mum actually came to Bribie on the Friday to help celebrate Merilyns birthday (and so Rob could finish the trailer). It was the same weekend that ended the week of rain on the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane region so there were lots of floods.

We weren't sure if Mums little Hyundai Getz would get us to Noosa through the puddles at 10pm that night with half of the roads closed from flooding anyway, so the the three of us camped out at Bribie for the evening. Finally made it to Noosa on the Saturday afternoon having to drive through one big puddle where Rob drove over a fish crossing the road. Very entertaining.

The weekend was lovely. Went for a kayak around the canals checking out all the mansions that had their yachts in their back yards and submerged pontoons due to the excess water.

Played lots of Elevens (my favourite card game!)

No photos sorry. . . All the good ones are all on Mums camera.

Bush Dance

We are off to a bush dance at church now. We are dressed in matching jeans and and green gingham outfits (just like last year). I will try and find the photo from last year too, to see if you can recognise Billy Bob and his girlfriend / sister.

(3 hrs later)

Got a photo. One from this year and not last year. This is us just before we left the house. . .

Byron Bay

Went to Byron Bay last weekend for a mini holiday / diving expedition. Schalk, Rob and I left Brisbane at 7:30am Saturday morning for a leisurely 2hr cruise down to the hippy capital of NSW (don't know if that's true or not but why let the truth get in the way of a good story!).




Had a great time and got to the most easterly point of the Australian Mainland.



For the afternoon, we decided to lie on the beach (still winter might I add) and work on our tans. Very relaxing.


Sunday morning Schalk and I went for a dive out at Julian's Rocks. 18m underwater, surrounded by Sharks I found saw a silver glint on the ocean floor of coral. Of course I had to go and pick it up. What did I find you ask .. .well none other than a Tiffany's ring! I took it in to be valued the next day. Turns out after my high hopes of it being coated with platinum, it was only sterling silver and retails for $220.


Also while out in the boat heading to the dive spot, we saw humpback whales breaching out int the ocean. Then when we were underwater and you opened your ears you could hear the whales talking to each other (eeeehh, eeeehh, eeeehh). Pretty amazing.

Lots of (6 in total) Grey nurse and woobygongs (sand sharks) but came back with all my limbs so that was nice. I only did the one dive coz it was too cold for me and I get motion sickness once I get back on the boat the second time. Should do something about that really. Schalk went out for a second dive that afternoon and saw a stingray!

New Axe

Well, here is old the 'axe' . . . actually in the form of a trailer.



Rob picked it up for free as some guy at work had it in his backyard full of plant matter and no longer wanted it. We took it up to Bribie (might I add that I'm surprised it made it up there in one piece, without leaving anything in the path of other traffic sharing the road with us.)


Two weekends later, this is the almost complete result (all it needs is a paint job):

The reality behind this picture is that all that remains of the original trailer is the axle, the wheels (not the tyres) and the triangle bit at the front that hangs on to the car. EVERYTHING else had to be replaced.

And not only was it previously a 6x4 foot trailer, it is now a slightly-under-7-foot x 4-and-a-bit-foot. It fits the motorbike on the back of it though!!

I was impressed none the less. It was a learning curve for me coz I had never seen Rob take on a project like this. But he passed. Not only was it 'complete' in a suitable amount of time but it also came suitably under budget. Under budget that was if we were planning on buying a brand new trailer in the next 10 years!

Axe Handles

So have many axe heads and axe handles do you need before you have a new axe?
Watch this space . . .

Visits and Trips

We dont have internet at home at the moment which is why this updating has been slack. It should be turning up next week.

Dad came for dinner and hang out for the afternoon on Sunday which was nice. After a small mix up as to which train station to pick him up from (South Brisbane vs South Bank!) we went home and had a nap in front of the the rugby. Then off to dinner with Chris and Merilyn at Jamaica Blue . Lovely place. Not quite sure what demographic they were aiming for with the punk/rock music to the $25-$35 mains. I had lamb hokieen noodles stirfry and it was amazing!!

Went 4WDing on the Saturday and as per Robs blog . . .wives are not allowed to go next time. I had enough of my heart jumping into my throat when I saw the truck teetering on two wheels with a drop off only a couple of meters off to the left and watching the truck slide backwards down a hill straight towards a rock. It was a day with a few expletives and tears. The truck looks nice and muddy now though.

Work is great. Heaps of new responsibilities and a pay rise which is nice.

Just need to buy a bigger house now!

What we've been doing

Although we have been ultra busy I don't feel like any of it has been blog worthy, but here is a few things that we have been up to:

A weekend in Bribie with Robs parents because Robs old worship pastor/leader (who is a missionary in Japan with his family) were over so we went to Rob's old church to listen to Dave and Nat preach. Heaps cool. And their daughter Mia has grown up so much since we saw them a year ago!

Celebrating birthdays in many shapes and forms: phone calls, picnics, dinner parties etc

Going to the movies. First was 'Shrek 3' at the drive in (thank you Tamar for chaperoning us) Much funnier and better that Shrek 2 which was a relief. Also saw 'Romulus, My Father', an Australian movie about depression, child abuse, psychiatric problems etc. I was too distracted by the rat in the cinema that was chewing on a paper bag about 5 seats across from me so didn't get the full concept of the movie!

Signing a new contract at work next week to be put on permanently (as apposed to the 3 month contract I'm technically on now.)

Life is good. . . .really busy, but good!!

Things coming up include;

Lots more dinner parties, visits from family (both Kiwi and Aussie), house hunting and 4wd driving and maybe if we are lucky . . . internet at home.

12 Hours of Rain

Check it out!!! It has rained for the past 12 hours, nice constant drizzly rain, and even over the dams.

Baking Competition

In our mail this week, arrived our entry form for the Mt Gravatt Show Baking Competition. We went last year to check it out and were blown away by the entries that the decision was made to compete this year. The show is in July sometime and I'm baking 'Gluten Free Pistachio Fudge Brownies'. They are nothing but a winner!!

Blood Splatter Anaylsis

Last night I had a uni lecture and practical. For those that haven't caught up, I still haven't finished my Masters in Forensic Science course (don't ask, long expensive story). But the interesting part of it all was that it was on blood splatter analysis. The only subject that I haven't manged to get to a lecture of in 4 years of completing this degree until now!

The best part of it all was the practical afterwards where we got to drop blood from different heights and angles to see what impact it had on the blood droplets. Results below (and yes the picture is upside down):


And the best part of it all was the plastic booties I had to wear over my jandals (thongs for the aussies) because I forgot to bring closed over shoes with me. They were stylish!!

Mothers Day

Just been checking out my favourite website Post Secret and came across this postcard. I thought it was hilarious!!

Some children get all the luck huh!

The Art of Communication

Saturday morning there was a young marrieds seminar at church focusing on Communication. As an ice breaker three couples volunteered to go up the front and 'compete' in a communication competition. Each couple had an easel with a picture stuck on the back where only one member of the couple could see. The other member stood in front of the easel with a blank piece of paper and a vivid (marker pen for the Aussies). Without saying what the picture was of, the person at the back of the easel had to tell the the front person what to draw by describing shapes as such. The final result was as follows (the smaller picture was what Rob had to describe, the big picture was what I drew):


Not bad for only being beginners at this whole marriage thing I thought! We got chocolate for participating too.

Dysplastic Nevus

As part of our honeymoon plan I booked Rob and I in get our mole etc checked at the Skin Cancer Clinic (romantic I know!). Rob got a clear result but the doctor found a suspicious looking 'thing' on me. Decision was made to give me a local anesthetic and take a 3mm hole out of my lower neck using something that resembled a cookie cutter embedded into a pen. The doctor said that if there was anything wrong they would let me know in the next few days.

That was three or more weeks ago and they rang me on Wednesday to ask if I could come in yesterday morning.

Apparently the 'thing' on my neck was in the warning section of the posters they have on the wall. The official term is a dysplastic nevus. Its not a melanoma but could have the potential to turn into one. Good thing we got onto it I say!

Executive decision was to take it out right there and then. Another local anesthetic, this time I have a bigger hole, he used a scalpel and not a cookie cutter, and I have three stitches. Have to get them taken out in a week and half's time.

I'm well though. Its a bit uncomfortable and I get all sorts of comments on my big band aid that I have to wear for the next day or two till I replace it with a smaller one.

Life goes on!

Elanda Point Photos

So I have just been sent a couple of photos from camping. Our truck is the black one. The sand track was like that for 20km.

This was our lunch break at Teewah Beach

ELANDA POINT

We were due to get up at 4:15am to meet some of Robs work mates at 6am at Burpengary (equivalent distance to Orewa for the Kiwis) however the alarm didnt work properly so we woke at 5am. . . made it to the meeting point in time though.

Camped for two nights at Elanda Point (just north of Noosa) on Lake Cootharaba which was lovely. Including the 3 foot Goana that was checking out the outskirts our camp site for food, the cane toad that got squashed under a jandal and the red belly black snake that disappeared before I had a chance to see it.

The main reason for the camping trip, other than a long weekend holiday, was to go 4WDing up near Rainbow beach. There was a convey of four of us which was good. After checking out some forestry tracks we hit Rainbow Beach Road which turned us off onto about 15-20 km of sand tracks heading out to Teewah Beach, through Frankis Gulch. I got to drive the last 5 km or so which was awesome, including heading down a steep hill for about 150m, through a creek below and up the other side, wheels spinning, back end sliding and everything. Headed back to camp via the beach which is like a 4WD highway!!

No photos sorry coz both Rob and I forgot our cameras. Am trying to track down some photos online that represents where we were.

MARRIED!!

So the big day finally came around, we said our vows, exchanged rings, signed a certificate and kissed (twice)! It was a perfect day. With the sun shining and a slight breeze in the air all the Aussies hovered in the shade and all the Kiwis made the most of the weather.

I have attached a link to our professional photographers web page, Focus Films, so you can see about 20 or so photos that he has picked out. We have 860 photos on disc at home so if you have a spare hour or so feel free to pop over and check them out!

It was great spending some quality time with most of the kiwis on Saturday at the 'after match function' and opening our presents. Thanks for hanging around so we could do that everyone.

Sunday morning we woke up at 8am to realise we had 2 hours to pack our bags, drive 1hr20 to the airport, get pulled over for a speeding ticket in our Chrysler 300C, fill up with petrol, return the car, check in (after closing time), ask for an upgrade and get it, get chemical tested through security and hop on the plane. Destination Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains.

On honeymoon we climbed to the top of Australia (Mt Kosciuszko, 2228m), had a day at Jindabyne and went for a 4 hour horse ride on Brumbies, which I would rate as one of my top ten rides ever. It was lovely seeing the autumn colours in the trees even though the country was extremely dry!

Back in Brisbane we had a week to get the house in order for Stu and Christy's wedding (Stu is Robs cousin) as we had 5-6 people staying in our small two bedroom unit and 10 people for breakfast and lunch on the next Friday. Lovely day though. Photos will be coming.

Back to work now though. Throwing myself in the deep end with lots to learn but why take things easy?? Sorry if I have been slack with replying to emails to, I have been getting them but life has been hectic. All of them have been greatly appreciated!

Six days to go

Final countdown . . . things are looking like they are well on track. I wrote the third "Big list of details" list last night. I think it helps me sleep when I do it!

Life as a whole is quite uneventful at the moment, coz everything is revolving around next week. I cut my toe on my front door, does that warrant as being news?? Its OK, its my little toe and you can't see the cut now, its just still sore. I'm not limping.

Mum arrived on Wednesday so she has been great at organising things through the day for me. How nice it has been to come home from work to a hot meal on the table that isn't eggs on toast (Rob and I's (is that a word?) staple diet when we cant be bothered or are too busy to cook properly!)

Emotionally I think I have been doing OK. Although I am definitely sick of making decisions and am running on adrenalin and will probably crash sometime next week. Its my last day at work today for the next 3 weeks so that will be one less thing to think about.

I guess the next time I post there will be photos to attach from the big day . . .watch this space.

Work and Wedding

After saying that I would attempt to blog more often, I suddenly realised its been a week and a half since. Maybe its because I feel I have had nothing to write that is exciting or maybe its because I have been working 9 hour days with an hour travel on either side.

I'm currently working at Big Bridge a media communication company at Kangaroo point. Its either a ferry ride which is nice, or when I'm motivated about a 9km bike ride home around the river. Very pleasant. The people are great, friendly and welcoming, which is a fantastic change! I'm literally a receptionist but I don't have a problem with it. I get to welcome people and organise couriers and answer phones. They keep giving me extra responsibilities to which is nice coz I'm only a temp and technically only here for 3 weeks.

Which brings me to the wedding. . .3 WEEKS TO GO today. Just wrote my second "Big list of details" but most things are all under control. We really just have to write a ceremony and that's the biggest thing of all. Its fun, a few anxious emotional moments (on my behalf) but all is on schedule. Mum turns up in a couple of weeks so that will help take the pressure off.

Looking forward to having everyone in the one location at the one time to help celebrate.

And she's back

So .. I know its been a while since I have been to this site. But I haven't forgotten about it at all. Thought I might give it a second attempt at this "blogging" thing.

The lastest updates (with some photos attached)

First and foremost, its 4.5 weeks till the wedding. 32 sleeps to be exact, not that we are counting or anything! All plans are very much under control. Just sorting out tiny details now and then all that is left to do is write a ceremony. Easy Peasy!

Rob became an Uncle on Friday 16th of February (I hope for my sake that I got that date right) You can see that he looks quite stoked about it. Thomas Callum Wilson was 18 hours old when this photo was taken



Had a month in NZ at Christmas time, my goodness it was hard to get back on the airplane to leave. Caught up with heaps of friends and family, had an engagement breakfast and even scored a really cheap helicopter ride up Frans Josef Glacier. Drove about 2000 km in 4 days around the lower half of the South Island and fell in love with the Crown Range. Also had a near miss with a head on collision on the Arthurs Pass which shook me for a while, but we arrived in ChCh safe and sound which was good!

And finally we went to visit Robs' Aunty and Uncle who live 5 hours directly west of Brisbane on 7000 acres. Highlights were definately shooting my first kangaroo, night hunting in shorts and t-shirt (very different to the minimum 4 layers of clothing needed in NZ) and getting a flat tyre in the 'middle of nowhere' where the first car drove past just as we were getting back in the car. I found great pleasure in eating my second fly, not by choice, and swatting the other flies off my face whilst standing in the middle of the road watching Rob change the tyre for us . . . what a Man!

I hope that gives you a bit of a run down on the latest happenings. Hopefully it wont be long till the next update (and if it is you can hound me till you get it!!)