Finally an Update

Well, I know that you have all been hanging on the end of your seats waiting for the gorgeous blonde girl to update the blog, what can I say? She has a broken arm?...NO! She just got a little refocussed in other areas? ... Closer ........... so I will do it instead.

Here we are 2 weeks away from Christmas. Anita's Mom and Dad and Amy her sister are headed down to Australia a couple of days after Christmas and will be staying for about a month.

We are going to do some snorkelling and bush walking and Dick really wants to climb the Bridge, then we will just experiencing life in the "Wonder Down Under".

If we don't make another entry we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and Prosperous New Year.

Spring has Sprung!!!

Good news!

Tomorrow is the first day of SPRING!

We had a terrific day at church today. It's a bit hectic in primary, but we are glad to be busy doing some good. We came home today and relaxed after church. Lew had been planning a nice pot of split pea soup with some ham hocks. We had some of that with rolls and butter. The rain has been off and on the past two days. It's really beautiful. Ben is also a marvelous cook and made us some bread and butter pudding which we had with a dab of ice cream. I'd like to cook more, but can't object the the men in this house and their talents. LOL I am very blessed.

Bondi Beach

Okay, okay! I've neglected this site, and I apologize to all my friends and family! I figured I'd start by writing kind of a journal entry and I think I will be able to write more often.

Lew and I spent Monday doing errands in the city. Lew finished his physical required for a job interview, then we stopped by the immigration office to finish some paperwork there. Fortunately, the office was in Bondi Junction so Lew and I spent the rest of the late afternoon touring old neighborhoods of antique and quaint expressions. Common walled-constructed homes in Old English fashion with ornate iron railings on the porches that overlook the ocean is an incredible view! Bondi Beach is quite the attraction to surfers. Lew and I walked a bit on the beach as the sun set. Surfers were combing the waves all along the coast. The waves were something to behold for sure. Surfers bobbing in clumps waiting patiently. By the water movement it wasn't hard to acknowledge its world-renound success on this beach for surfer attraction. I got thinking about my cousins, Matt and Carl. We were chatting a bit about their surfing skills and adventures before I left the states. I wish they could see what I was seeing now. Come on down and visit! I can imagine for a surfer this place is heaven. It certainly is for me, and I don't surf. Actually, in thought of that... I was watching the news in the morning before we left for our errands. A man who spends his career riding GIGANTIC waves off the Australian coasts was talking about his training and experiences. Lifeguards once came out and got him saying a shark had been spotted. He asked which kind. The lifeguard replied, "Matey, there's only ONE kind we get here." (Great white). That warrants a bit of respect for ocean life here!

Lew and I drove through mostly neighborhoods all the way home. He showed me where he was born, where his mother was born, where he played ball as a kid, etc. etc. I love looking at the architecture in the homes and buildings as we drive by. It was a wonderful day!

Our Wedding Day

We decided to keep the wedding simple, at my request. With all the effort to move everything I own down to Australia, then have a wedding and get settled, I didn't want to play "hostess" on top of all that. So we decided to have a simple wedding with Lew's children for photos. Afterwards, we all went to Barnaby's for a nice dinner. It was secluded for a Wednesday night. (Another reason we planned in the middle of the week!)


Afterwards, we left for our honeymoon to the Bingle Tree Resort in the bush... a very nice couples only cabin -"privacy guaranteed". It was beautiful! The birds were quite unusual to me and I loved all the nature sounds around. There were emus, llamas, deer, and other creatures around the property. It was very enjoyable.


Some ask how my family took not being there for the wedding... They really love Lew, and were extremely supportive with our plans. I was really happy with how things turned out, and it was more beautiful than I had expected. We took pictures and video to send to my family.


It's expensive to travel to Australia from the United States, and not easy for my family to make those arrangments. So I wanted to make it worth their time when they did come to visit. We decided the best time to visit is in January when the weather is good, and we can spend time showing a bit of the Sydney sites and activities they can enjoy for summer weather. Below is picture of Lew and I with the children. From left to right: Rebecca, Elizabeth, myself, Lew, Benjamin, and Joseph.

Our Wedding Day Continued

Top Photograph: Anita and I on the Temple Grounds

Bottom Photograph: Us with the witnesses of our wedding. Left: Don and Marjorie Newton. Right: Nicola and Randall Howard. Both couples are good friends.

The Grounds and some of the Flowers at the Temple

These are some of the beautiful foliage around the temple gardens.

Our wedding location

We got married in the Sydney Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a beautiful experience! The stained glass windows light up at night, but it's hard to tell in the daytime. The overcast day was typical for winter's weather, with lots of rain ususally. However, today was PERFECT!!! Lew would have wanted less clouds, but I felt it contributed to the beautiful photographs we were able to take!

Marjorie Newton was helping me get my bouquet "just right!" She is a brilliant person. I love having conversations with her. She has her doctorate and has written and researched many articles. She's given me a lot to think about as I adjust to my new country and culture!

This is right after my graduation ceremony

Top Photograph: This is my family at Ghandi's Restaurant.
From left to right, back row: My mom, me, my dad, and Connie
In Front: My sisters Amanda and Amy

Bottom Photograph: This is right after my graduation ceremony for my master's degree at UNLV. My family and we went to a terrific Indian restaurant, including grandma!

The Shower

My wedding shower was the bomb! We had such a blast! Thank you so much to Robin Thompson, my dear friend, Carolyn Camp, my cousin who orchestrated most of the planning and work. And a special thanks to Georgia Stewart for hostessing at her house! I couldn't have asked for a better shower it was so fun!

The pictures below are limited and some did not turn out. So I apologize if some were not on here. I am awaiting photos to come from others' cameras. I will post more as time goes on and I receive copies from others that were there. :)

Also, I had some videos posted, but it takes up too much memory. So I will probably not be able to post anymore. (Sorry).

Love you all, and thank you for coming that did. Thank you for sharing, those that are enjoying this site!

WEDDING SHOWER

My niece, Katie. She's a cutie-pie!

Carolyn and my sister, Connie

This is my cute mom! Isn't she pretty?

Amy, Carolyn, and Sandra organizing the food

My dear friend, Carol Reese, came and visited all night long! We used to joke about where my husband was as we dated in the single's program. She'd keep telling me he was in Russia somewhere. Well, he was definitely international for sure, but on the other end of the globe!

My dad, Susan Bunker, and my sisters are all chatting away.

Georgia Stewart and my mother visiting

Grandma was showing me something she'd found in an old newpaper clipping. Everyone was enjoying the music and talking.

A gift from Kim Svedberg. I chose red velvet cupcakes. Aren't they gorgeous?

Most of my pics turned out blurry, but this one's good. These are some of my special family that were able to make it down from Utah. I have lots of great relatives I love dearly who were not able to come as well, but thank you so much for being able to make it, or call for your love and support! Without explaining the detailed geneology, the cousins above are: Cindy, Aubrey, Amber, and Brooke. Cindy has recently overcome the plight of her flying phobia. It's a good thing, too because I was glad to have her there! LOL Hey Cindy... when are you making the trip to Australia? Love you, girl!

From left to right, my niece, Katie, my cousin, Teri, and my friend, Kim Svedberg. Did you notice Carolyn even chose my favorite color for all the plates, etc.? She is so thoughtful!

Sing it, girls! You know how to rock a party!

Wedding Shower Bash

We had a terrific time at the wedding shower!!! Carolyn and Robin worked their tails off to make it so nice for me, and I appreciated it so much! Georgia Stewart let me have it at her lovely home, and it was such a wonderful time relaxing and visiting with everyone! Cindy, Brooke, Amber, and Aubrey all flew down from Utah. Linda and Judy also came from Utah! There are so many people to thank for being there! I will try to make comments on all the photos I post within the next few days. We also rocked out to some terrific karaoke tunes. Everyone did a fabulous job! I am posting one video in particular to my honeybun! I love you, Lew!

Amy and Amanda... the twins hamming up the crowd with some fabulous music and humor!

My cousin Sandra was going to have a go at some karaoke!

Kitchen talk

Linda came down from Utah to spend time with me the entire weekend. She and I visited until Sunday, then she flew out. She even came for all the graduation ceremony! My family all enjoyed visiting with her.

Shower Guests and Fun

Aunt RomaLynn came by after helping my cousin move into his new house. I was so glad to see her!

My niece, Capri. Look at that adorable smile!

The ladies all gathered around food to talk and chat a lot. I can't thank my cousin, Robin, and Georgia enough for helping me put this on. It was more than I imagined for a fun and terrific time with family and friends.

Anita has booked her flights to Australia for the Wedding in Sydney Temple

Reservation Details
Dear Anita CampReservation Confirmation: FEMVOD
Passengers Name Anita Camp
Air Itinerary:Passengers: 1
06 JUN 2008 ATA Airlines (TZ) Flight: 4409
Departs: LAS (Las Vegas) at 06:10 PM
Arrives: HNL (Honolulu) at 09:30 PM*


Reservation Confirmation Code: FVRZGA
Aloha ANITA,Mahalo for choosing Hawaiian Airlines!
I T I N E R A R Y :
DATE: Saturday, June 07, 2008
DEPART: Oahu - Honolulu (HNL) 12:55 PM
ARRIVE: Sydney, Australia (SYD) 07:20 PM(next day)
CLASS/ROUTE: Coach/NonstopFLIGHT:

HA451DATE: Wednesday, August 13, 2008DEPART: Sydney, Australia (SYD) 09:20 PMARRIVE: Oahu - Honolulu (HNL) 10:55 AMCLASS/ROUTE: Coach/NonstopFLIGHT: HA452INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS: Due to government requirements, passengers must be checked in and issued a boarding pass no later than 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure. Passengers who attempt to check in less than 60 minutes prior to departure cannot be accepted for travel. If checking baggage, do so at least 3 hours prior to departure.Boarding time begins 50 minutes prior to departure.Gates close 15 minutes prior to departure.

P A S S E N G E R A N D S E A T I N G I N F O R M A T I O N
ANITA CAMP HA: 175157026
SEATING(HNL-SYD): 13C/T SEATING(SYD-HNL): 13C/T
E L E C T R O N I C T I C K E T I N F O R M A T I O NANITA CAMP #1732100229023

Restaurant Booked for Dinner the Night of the Wedding

We have booked a private room in Barnabys Restaurant in Parramatta for dinner following our marriage. The plan is that we will take the children and the two witness couples, which will make a party of 10, to the restaurant for an early dinner before heading of to the "Bingle Tree" for 3 nights.

The restaurant is a great venue with a fabulous reputation and a little bit of an historical connection to the colonial days of Australia

"The rustic old colonial building in which Barnaby's Riverside is now housed, first came to fame during the early part of the nineteenth century as the hiding place of the infamous Barnaby Templeton - the first prisoner to have escaped from Parramatta Prison. Restored and rebuilt in 1976, Barnaby's Riverside, Parramatta, now enjoys a reputation based more on its modern Australian cuisine than its somewhat colourful past. Step into Barnaby's Riverside and you step into a great chapter of Australian History.

Convicts first built the building that now houses Barnaby's in approximately 1826. The hand made bricks are still very much in evidence today in the private rooms of the original section of the building. It is believed that the building was originally used to house soldiers attached to The Government House of the day - and because of its proximity to the river became a strategic location in the establishment of the young colony. Rumour has it, that one Barnaby Templeton was the first convict to escape from the prison at Parramatta and was discovered hiding in this pair of historic houses".

Us at Sydney Temple at Night January 2008

We took these pictures during Anita's stay in Sydney in January

Understanding Aussie Slang

I got this e-mail from Anita and thought it was a fun thing to share with our friends and family. It was an article that Anita found written by some-one who had visited Oz, Anita shared some observations...Nothing to lose any sleep over. -Lew

It made me laugh how many things I heard Lew and others say. I enjoyed it and thought if anyone comes to visit, they might want to check this out. :)
-Anita

Australian Slang
Introduction
If you've ever visited Australia, you're familiar with such common Australian slang phrases as "G'day, mate." But slang originating from down under features some of the most colorful phrasings in the English language. Check out the following sayings and impress your Australian friends, or merely entertain your American ones.

Instructions
1. Step One
Acquaint yourself with basic Aussie slang. Visit the National Museum of Australia website to test your knowledge. Start using words like corker (great) and yobbo (slob). Replace "fight" with "barney."

Lew always tells me I'm cheeky and a corker.

2. Step Two
Sprinkle your speech with colorful Aussie phrases to express emotion. Tell an exasperating person to "belt up" not "shut up." If someone is daydreaming, say "They're away with the pixies." Tell a friend "Bonzer mate!" to congratulate them on an accomplishment.

*I've heard Lew say "away with the pixies" all the time! He and his brother will say the same thing over and over in one conversation in different figures of speech. Each time they say it, it's with a different phrase. It's kind of like "who can outwit and be the most creative" contest. I laugh myself to death listening to it! He and his brother did this a lot when we went to New York last summer.

3. Step Three (Lew does this all the time!)
Rhyme with the Aussies. Australians use rhyming slang the same way Brits do "Apples and pears" means stairs, "Al Capone" stands for telephone, "Joey Blake" equals snake, "Frog and Toad" means road, and so on. Look for more intricate rhyming phrases by going to the Alldownunder website.

I was talking to Lew on his cell and he mentioned in mid conversation that he had to get the Al Capone.

4. Step Four
Substitute slang names for common food and drink monikers. A "long black" stands for double espresso, while a "flat white" means latte. "Tinny" equals beer in a can and a warm beer left on the table too long translates to "Kimberley cold." At meal time, if you hear an Aussie say "chook" that's slang for chicken, and if they ask for a "bikkie" they want a cookie.

Lew's mother kept talking about a chook. I figured out what she was really saying after a few minutes.

5. Step Five
Dress slang... First, put on your "grundies" or "under-chunder" (underwear). Then slip on your "tweeds" or "strides" (pants) or "boardies" (board shorts). Add a "skivvy" (turtleneck) or "boiled shirt" (dress shirt).
And finally, refer to ladies' undergarments as "knickers." Call a bra an "over the shoulder." Abbreviate sunglasses as "sunnies" and flip-flops as "flippies."

Lew kept asking his daughter if she'd brought her sunnies with her! I noticed that they put "ies" sound behind words... such as a brick mason is a bricky... mashed potatoes on a menu I saw was "mashies" and on the news they were talking about football and called it "footies".

Sunday 6th January 2008

Well today is the day!!

Quiet day together getting everything together and ready for Anita to head home....I drove her to the airport and waited until she had to enter the customs area before boarding her flight back home to Las Vegas via Hawaii

Saturday 5th January 2008 - The Didgereedoo Guy at the Quay

Anita saw another aboriginal chap playing the didgereedoo who continued to play while he had his picture taken.

we caught the RiverCat back to Parramatta and drove Elizabeth home, then back to the house for a quiet night of pizza

Saturday 5th January 2008

We picked up Elizabeth from Windsor and drove into Parramatta to catch the RiverCat up the river into the harbour and disembarked at Circular Quay..... It was a funny day sunny one minute and raining the next.

We walked the couple of minutes from Cicular Quay to "The Rocks", where we looked at an art gallery, a puppet shop, have morning tea/lunch in an Irish Tea Shop that Elizabeth goes to a little and quite likes, and got Anita's dad his birthday present ... an Akubra hat.

Friday 4th January 2008

We picked up Damion and Sarah and travelled down to Leichhardt for a meal at one their favourite restuarants - It was certainly very busy and the meal was very nice, the service was a little how's your father!

After dinner we took a little walk around the CBD of the area looking at the sights and items of interest

Then we drove into the city for Anita to see the city at night..... we drove through the Rocks so that Anita had a comparison of what the area looked like by the light of day and under night lights also

Thursday 3rd January 2008

Today we headed for Downtown Sydney, we drove to carlingford train station and caught a train into the city, we got off at Town Hall and walked up towards Hyde Park headed for the Art Gallery of NSW.

On the way we stopped and picked up some souveneers for Anita's family, then we walked through Hyde Park where they were getting it ready for the Festival of Sydney opening ceremony.

We walked down to the art gallery and spend some time looking at the exhibitions, then we walked back to Hyde Park and had lunch under a tree.... bought a couple of sandwiches and drinks. While we were having luch we got a telephone call from the real estate agent we spent time with yesterday, she had another property she thought we might like.

We caught the train back to the car and called the realtor for the address and met her there to have a look.

We called an agent to have a look at a property that we saw on the domain web site in Cambridge Park near Penrith .... nice but no Airconditioning and a liitle too high, might good if we can address those two issues.

That evening we went with Rebecca and Joseph and had dinner at the Plumpton Hotel, where Ben was working .... Rebecca loves it .... The top photo is Anita and Me that night at the hotel.

Wednesday 2nd January 2008

A reasonably quiet day around the house.... we got a little too much sun despite using sun screen ...... we bought some better rating screen, but Anita was dumfounded that we did not have 60+spf .... she says she is sending some down when she gets home.

We had an appointment tonight to meet my brother Damion and his wife Sarah at the Cricketers Arms an old hotel pub from the turn of the century 1800's inti the 1900's.

A pleasant night, both the company and the weather....Anita had met Damion and Sarah previously when they were in Las Vegas

Tuesday 1st January 2008 - On to the Blowhole

After lunch we walked back to the car and headed down to Kiama to see the Blowhole, the rough seas actually put on a good show at the Blowhole with it shooting spray high into air.

It was a really warm day and so after seeing the Blowhole we found a spot on the headland under the shade of a tree, laid out a blanket and took advantage of the cool ocean breeze ...... while Anita read her book, I had a little nap. After that it was time to start the journey home.... it was long but beautiful country and I was blessed with magnificent company

Tuesday 1st January 2008 - Lunch

We got changed and headed down to the town centre for lunch - found nice seafood store and got some fish and chips for lunch, which we ate on the foreshore under the shade of some trees

Tuesday 1st January 2008 - Snorkelling

Anita had been anxious to get into the sea and do some snorkelling, she brought her equipment with her and so we headed down the south coast of NSW towards Kiama.

The plan was to do some snorkelling at Shellharbour and to then get some fish and chips for lunch before heading to Kiama to see the Blowhole.

Unfortunately there was a tropical storm in the north bringing high, dangerous seas to the Queensland and NSW coastlines, of course I knew nothing of this until we tried to enjoy some time snorkelling, which proved impossible... zero visability in the water huge waves that chopped up even the normally calmer rocky area up from Shellharbour beach. It was so bad that a wave knocked me over causing me to drop one of my flippers ...... and when I did the sea stole it!! I could see it, one second it was there and the next the backwash dragged it out and it was gone.

Monday 31st December 2007

We got off to a late start this morning.... we slept in a bit and by the time I got over to where Anita was staying it was headed for 10.30a.m

We went to the Koala Park at Pennant Hills, for a look see.

It was quite warm day and so we took hats, we sat in the shade around an upclose viewing area for the Koalas and Anita overheard some visitors speaking in Spanish and so she started speaking to them in Spanish ..... the conversation went on for a while .... I knew when she mentioned me .... they looked and me and pointed a little at me and continued to talk, Anita explained to me after what was said .... One of these chaps lives in Australia and told Anita she would love it here when she moved here, he said she would have a very good life in Australia.

We decided to have a quiet New Years Eve together so when we left the Koala Park we travelled to the house, got some salad materials, drinks, some DVD's and CD's and headed back for Anita's place.

We stopped at the fish shop and bought a couple of nice fillets for Anita to cook for us.......the plan was that we would have a quiet romantic dinner, watch some DVD's and as Midnight got close drive down towards the city to catch the fireworks. But the best laid plans of mice and men..... Anita's jetlag caught up with her around 10:45 and she nodded off to sleep ..... I woke her up and sent her off to bed and set out for home and bed myself

Sunday 30th January 2007

Today we attended Church at the Oakhurst Ward together, I introduced her to the Bishop and a number of the members, especially the sisters came up to her and said hello to her and introduced themselves to her and tried to make her feel at home.

After Church we went to the house and had some lunch and then drove over to meet my very good friends Don and Marg Newton, ... a long time ago this couple were my role models and examples.

When we left there I gave Anita a tour of the area I spent time in as a youngster.

Saturday 29th January 2007 ... The Blue Mountains

Anita wanted to have her picture taken with an Aboriginal chap who was playing the Diggeredoo.

We stopped for lunch at a small.... and I do mean small .... a small house from the early part of the 20th Century turned into a sort of eating establishment and Anita had another patron take a picture of us at the table.

Saturday 29th January 2007 ... On to the Blue Mountains

When we left the Norman Lindsay gallery we continued our journey up the mountain to Katoomba, and the view into the Grose Valley with the Three Sisters.

Saturday 29th January 2007 ... Norman Lindsay Gallery

Then we drove down the street to the Norman Lindsey Gallery ... a famous Australian artist that used a number of mediums to express his views.

He was a rabble rouser who liked to shock the establishment and he was very successful at doing just that ..... his fame has allowed some of that rebellion against standards of decency to be overlooked. He also wrote and illustrated some of the most famous Australian childrens books, such as "The Magic Pudding"