Ribs n Rumps Biggest Loser Dinner

After the final weigh in at Casey's mum's place in Pymble, we went out to celebrate at Ribs n' Rumps, Gordon.

Not too many people turned up to the final weigh in which Casey set at 2pm, which meant, we couldn't eat anything until that time, as we wanted to be at our lightest. Who turned up:
Marion, myself, Evan (not a contestant), Ken (not a contestant), Jati & friend, Jana & Silvia, Emily, Vanita. I took along a tray of chicken pastry puffs and Jana turned up with a bucket of wicked wings. We were starving and just wanted the weigh in to be over.

Marion took along her Wii, so that she could weigh in.

Here are the final standings/losses:

1. Casey – 12.25% (10.4kgs)
2. Megan – 11.51% (7.0kgs)
3. Marion – 8.70% (4.70kgs)

Earth Hour 2009

Doing our bit for the environment, we switched off our lights and TV for an hour on Sat night. Lucky for us we'd already had dinner.

The boys complained and kept their laptops on, but we killed time by playing Gin Rummy by candlelight.

Newington Armory Bike Ride

Sunday 22 March 2009: We met up with Linda at her place before cycling to Richard's old house to meet up with Marion. After a few minor repairs to her bike, we rode to Newington to meet up with Aunty Florey who wanted to join us for a ride.

The bike must have been sitting in the garage, as the tyres were flat which we discovered when she started to ride down the road. Lucky for us, Evan had his bike pump, which he used to pump up her tyres and then we were off.

We rode to the Newington Armory - formerly the Royal Australian Naval Armament Depot (RANAD), it features over 100 heritage buildings of various ages and types, set amidst a 52 hectare riverside landscape of undulating hills and woodlands.

The heritage buildings provide the Armory with a unique character, which is described through an award-winning heritage interpretation program, that can be viewed at the original 1897 gate house.

Bike Ride continued

After the Brickpits, we rode back to Bicentennial Park and to the Treillage: a square, 3 storey viewing tower constructed from trellis. Treillage is a French word for lattice. It was commonly used in gardens in the 16th century. Getting there we had a "Sound of Music" moment riding through the trees, and we also gave our bikes a steam bath, riding through the sprays of recycled water.

Marion almost stacked it when Evan came riding past taking photos of us girls. He gave her such a shock, she almost rode off the path and into trees, but managed to save herself and avoid a nasty fall.

Bike Ride to Brickpit

Linda, Marion, Evan & I went for a nice leisurely ride around Bicentennial Park, stopping in to discover the Brick Pits, the fountain and tower.

First stop: Brick Pits

The Ring Walk is an elevated circular walkway that allows visitors to access and view the Brickpit from above while preserving the habitat of the endangered Green and Golden Bell frog.

The Ring Walk is 550 metres in circumference and is raised 18.5 metres above the sandstone floor of the Brickpit. The Ring Walk allows many people to experience the Brickpit while fully recognising it as a fragile habitat.

The Ring Walk is a delicate circular viewing platform on a braced cruciform structure comprising a series of light, thin, flat steel poles which lightly touch the base of the pit.

Reaching the Moon

Before going to visit Casey & Shirley, I wanted to go for a walk (ACCA Biggest Loser) so we stopped at Bicentennial Park and did a quick circuit. Came across this sculpture and got Evan to Reach for the Moon. Great action shot.

Getting to know Matty

After a break where we hadn't seen Matty for a while, we had to get Matty use to us again, so Shirley resorted to food. Getting Evan to feed Matty Kiwi fruit and I got to babysit, while the parents cooked us dinner.

Centennial Park Reunion

Friday 13 March 2009: Having not attended the school reunion, we decided to have a mini reunion, and after many emails back and forth regarding dates, times and places, we settled on Friday lunch at Centennial Parklands Restaurant.

Having no car, I took the train in to Central then caught the bus to Anzac Parade, Moore Park. From there I walked to the Restaurant, where I waited for Lena and Tina who were both running late.

It was good to catch up with them. Lots of talk about kids, babies, holidays and family.

The food was ok, bit pricey, but as I was still doing Biggest Loser, I tried to pick food which weren't too fattening, I settled for a potato rissoto with peas and asparagus...and side salads. $28 for main, $10 for tomato salad, $8 for leaf salad - pretty pricey. My dessert: Watermelon pannacotta with Lychee sorbet $13, yummy & light.

Tina offered to drop me off at Central station, so I didn't get to walk the park, but at least I managed to catch a train as soon as I got there.

Pasta @ Trinity Cafe

Linda had given Evan a few jars of pasta sauce and suggested he cook a meal for the tennis group, so he made a pot of pasta, which we all enjoyed.

It turned out to be our last meal at the Trinity Cafe. A few weeks later we rocked up and the lights were off, no Dickie and the signs were all gone that the courts were for hire.

Homemade Har Gow

After attending the Craft Fair @ Homebush with Mare and A. Joy, we got home to find the Seetos and Chans making har gow, so we pitched in and got them made quicker so we could have a late lunch. Marion cheated and used the plastic har gow mould.

Happy 43rd Birthday Megan & Veronica

We had a small celebration for my birthday. We have a Viet lunch with wrap your own rice rolls and home made viet spring rolls. I baked the cupcakes for our cake, while Marion supplied Portuguese tarts from Petersham, and the Seetos, supplied chinese darn tarts.

 

Janet was given a challenge to make my birthday dinner a Vietnamese feast. I took recipes from the Red Lantern book and Janet spent all week preparing and gathering ingredients.

Nem Nuong on sugar cane skewers

Skewered prawns

Papaya salad with prawns and pork

Skewered beef

 

 

Who's Taller?

Kaylene was picking on Janet Yee Yee, until Darren came to the rescue.