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"

Saturday 29th January 2007

We started our trip upto the Blue Mountains .... we stopped at this shop selling "Ugg Boots" boots made by sewing the sheep skin outside in, in the shape of boots, very warm in winter, and soft woollen sheep skins.

Friday 28th January 2007

We were due to leave Sydney headed for Canberra on our "Road Trip", but it didn't quite work out that way!!

I needed to see a Chiropractor for my neck, and when I got back I had an uneasy feeling about the trip .... I suggested that I felt I should contact the hotel and confirm our bookings .... sure enough there were no bookings made for us ... the lady who took the bookings was new and had made a mistake in making the reservation, so no room at the inn!!

Anita said that that was a relief as she was feeling a little car sick from yesterday and was not looking forward to another 3 hour car trip today, so we had a quiet day around the house and then took Rebecca to see "Enchanted" in the early afternoon, Joseph and Ben tagged along, everyone enjoyed the film and we had a nice day together.