Wedding of Moomba & Boomba

Marisa organised everything from the wedding down to the actual decor of the reception.

The wedding was held in the gardens at the back of the Conservatorium of Music. Kept small and simple, Evan and I helped set up the chairs, while Marisa entrusted me to decorate the railings and chairs with small purple pompoms, glass balls and twine.

The reception was a high tea at the Intercontinental. Petit fours, a few hot savouries and a selection of teas.

M & S Wedding

Evan took this pic...I just love it

Red Dawn

Wow..can you believe what it looks like outside?

When I woke up this morning, the sky was glowing eerily reddish orange, then it turned to a yellow colour and then by the time I walked out the door, it was I don't know what colour, but worst than on a foggy morning. Am now staring outside my work window, it is just like someone pulled the doona over Sydney. Uuggh. The cars on the streets were covered in dust. Car wash businesses will be counting the moolah. Had to walk to work with a tissue over my nose and mouth, just so I didn't breath in the dust.

I hope the 100km winds forecast come along and blow it all away and it clears up by Sunday.

Evan...are you taking any photos...first time I've seen this in all my years.

Burwood Spring Festival 2009

We rode our bikes, while Janet and A. Cath walked there. Caught up with Maria and Helen. Lots of food stalls but having had congee, we were too full to even consider buying any food.
Lots of cars on display, this festival gets bigger and bigger every year. At least I didn't have to man the Library tent, even though I used to enjoy doing it.

Lynn's Hens Day

Pasta making class

"Lynn's going to the chapel and getting married!" YAY!

Here are the details of Lynn's Hen's Day:

COOKING CLASS:
WHEN: Saturday 19th September 2009

TIME: 2-6pm

WHERE: Simply Sumptuous Food:http://www.simplysumptuousfood.com.au/

ADDRESS: 2/58 Osborne Rd Manly NSW 2095

WHAT TO WEAR: We are going out for drinks afterwards so bring a pair of "going out shoes" to change into. Aprons will be provided.

DRINKS:
TIME :Straight after the cooking class: 7pm

Cooking teacher- Georgina.

We are preparing a 3 course meal- Pasta class- with a "Special Dessert: Apple tartin" for Lynn!

The cost is $95 per person.
Menu:
Fennel soup with Toasted bread, ricotta cheese, dill
Pumpkin tortellini in mushroom suace and tagliatelli with basil pesto sauce
Apple tartin

Marisa & Steve: Rehearsal

Steve & Marisa's rehearsal afternoon

On Friday 18th Sep, Marisa rang up in the late afternoon asking for a favour. Would I mind going to the wedding rehearsals..also could we deliver the chairs and decorate venue on the day...since Evan was driving, he was already informed by Marisa of what was required.
Rehearsal was set for Sunday afternoon, so Steve and Marisa were going to pop around and pick me and Evan up at 3pm.
They were running late, but picked us up a little after 3pm. Before they came, there were a few showers, but it seemed to clear up. Evan was worried his camera equipment would get wet.
Steve parked at Macquarie Bank parking in Pitt Street and we walked up to the Conservatorium gardens, checking out driving and parking conditions, so we wouldn't be caught out on the day. Marisa was leaving everything to the last minute. She had only just booked her makeup and hair person, so no time for a trial run.
The celebrant was already waiting there, as was her sister, Betty, her husband, Michael and their 3 kids. We were later joined by Mark, Julz & Bevan, Sony and his model girlfriend.
Lots of debate as to where the actual cermony should take place. But Marisa wants privacy and privacy she will get. A quick test of the PA system, with music and a quick run through with the kids and what was expected of them, before the celebrant went on her way.
There was no actual run through of the ceremony, so no timing, but we know we have to be there around 12.30pm, same time that Steve will be there waiting.
It started to rain soon after, and didn't look like it was going to stop. Only Marisa had an umbrella, so we waited until it was a light sprinkle and came out from under cover.
They dropped us back home, in time for us to help prepare the fried whitebait, fish and potato for dinner that night.

"a celebration of life"

On Sunday 13 September, we went to see Fiona perform in the Star Performers & Twinkle Stars 9th annual show.

When her group came out to perform Thriller, by Michael Jackson, they received such applause..the costuming was outstanding and we couldn't believe our eyes that Fiona was dressed as a ghoul.

She also performed to We Rock and Hoedown, each time, she was front right of stage, doing her thing. I'll have to try and grab the photos off Evan.

I did manage to get some videos of her performance but will have to work out how to upload.

Marisa's Hens Night

Safi's has been booked for Saturday night at 7pm. http://www.safidining.com/ under "Julie" (duh). ;p

After our day of whitewater rafting, we all rushed home to shower and change. Suzy was kind enough to be our chauffeur for the night, so she went around and picked up Linda, myself, Marisa and Wendy, before we made our way to North Sydney and joined the rest of the hens at Safi - Middle Eastern dining ($50 each). So much food, we couldn't eat it all, by the time the meats came out, we had stuffed ourselves with leb bread, hummus, eggplant dip, falafels, and other delights. Following Marisa's Q & A time..how well did she know what Steve would answer Q's about her...she did pretty well, but she failed a few and had to pay the penalty..pinch the waiter's "buns". We moved on after dinner to Bravo's gelato...yummy hazelnut icecream, and Marisa was given a few little gifts, including a scrapbook album of recipes and advice from the hens, compiled by Julz.

After icecream, we (Suzy, Linda, Wendy, Lilly, Mandi & I) continued on back to Marisa's apartment for some brewed Monk Pear tea and some girlie gossip. We ended the night around 2.30am. I got into bed around 3am.

What were the boys doing in the meantime for Steve's bucks night???

Apparently they went to Crinities, which is situated next to Hurricanes http://www.crinitis.com.au/
where due to a mix up in booking and confirmations, they didn't end up getting their ribs until 9.30pm, by which time, we had finished ours. By the time they got their ribs, Steve had been plied with drinks and after eating his pile of ribs, was not feeling very well. Jana's report was that he was hugging the porcelain bowl. Later found out he had fallen asleep in the cubicle.
The boys, Evan & Ken, ended up bringing home two boxes of takeaway ribs for Kaylene and the boys. They ended the night around 12 midnight. As for Steve and his entourage???

Justin's 20th Birthday

Saturday 12 September 2009

11am and we went down to Crystal Palace Seafood Restaurant in Strathfield for yum cha.

Steve & Marisa's Hucks Day

Saturday 12 Sept 2009
Time: 3pm for 3.30pm - 5pm

Participants:
Boat 1: Ken, Evan, Dan, Bevan, Marisa, Silvia, Julz + Guide
Boat 2: Steve, Quan, Chris, Tim, Mark, Megan, Mandi, Lilly + Guide

Venue: Penrith Whitewater Stadium
Spectators: Jim, Tony, Linda & Marion

Everyone was well on time, except for Chris who arrived a little late, but not before our briefing session. We had enough time to take some group shots, before we were led away to don our life vests and helmets and grab a paddle.
Gathered at the edge of the man made course, we went through the briefing session:Can you all swim?Who's whitewater rafted before?What do you do if you fall overboard? Try and grab onto the rope on the side of the boat.What happens if you get swept away from the boat? Try to swim for shore, or esle, float on back and wait for guide to throw a rope to drag you in backwards.
Then it was chaos while decisions were made who was going in which boat, Team Marisa or Team Steve. Team Marisa went first, up the ramp onto the otherside, whilst Team Steve floated a bit and the guide gave us a rundown of what was expected inside the boat. Right paddle, left paddle, right back, left back, hold on. We hadn't even gone anywhere, the guide was telling us how to wedge the foot in and lean over the side, grabbing the rope and Chris was in the water, demonstrating what not to do and what to do to get back into the boat. I guess Team Marisa were also getting a rundown at the top of the ramp.
Then we were off. Ready for our first ride around the course. Paddles up...all our training came back to us. What timing from our two front people. I was sitting out the first round, enjoying the ride. Next round, and we swapped seats, now I was in the back. The guide was taking us through more thrilling ways to get down the river. Third round and we were surfing the rapids.
Fourth round, we passed Team Marisa who it seems went through the washer and came out drenched. It seems 2 mins into the washing machine and their boat flipped, sending the occupants into the water. Evan swam away from the raft and ended up on the wrong side, so had to walk back to the raft side, two of the girls and the rest of the boys hung on to the boat rope, whilst Silvia went for a ride down the rapids, missing the rope that was thrown to her. She said she felt like she had drunk a litre of water going down in the rapids. Ken lost one of his shoes, Julz lost both of her crocs and grazed her legs.
Fifth round, our turn to go through the washing machine. Our guide took us to the side of the course so that we could put our paddles down, briefing on what to do if the boat flips or you fall out again, anyone who didn't want to do it had the option to stay on the side. I had second thoughts before throwing caution to the wind and hopping aboard. Wedged in between Steve and Quan, I was sure not to fall out. The guide called out...Right...everyone lent to the right, Left...we all slid across and lent to the left...Right..again....Hands in the Air....Hands on Heads...Left...Right...I was doing fine...all because my pants was stuck on a rubber plug...until I freed myself and then..Steve went over...how to save him...too late...I also went over...stuck under the boat..I lost my bearings and almost lost my shoe...grabbing it in one hand I surfaced and could hear a guide shouting at me to swim to him...swim...I was...but against the tide...not going anywhere fast. He gave up and threw me a rope..and just in time...I don't think I would have liked floating away downstream. The rest of Team Steve carried on, Tony reported that our boat lasted at least 5min whirling around in the wash.

Back in the boat, we continued our rounds...and got to the start again, in time to give Team Marisa a race down the course. They cheated and started ahead of us, beating us down the first straight, we on the other hand lost a person overboard and had to retrieve them. But our guide could see that Team Marisa had also run into a wall and had lost Dan, Bevan and Ken. So we paddled hard and caught up to them, neck and neck we powered down the course, when we rounded the bend and overtook them. Managed to get ahead and come out first...Hip Hip Hooray. Was that it..I hoped so...oh no..one more round...so up the ramp we went again...at least our guide took it easy and we cruised the last round.

What a day!!!! So much fun!!! we were all wet but none of us were complaining. Even Ken who grazed his knees didn't complain much...haha

Hello Boys

Sunday 6th September 2009

After a very late lunch, Kaylene had to drop her friend home, so couldn't join us for a ride. So Evan, Ken and I rode as fast as we could to meet up with Mare at Olympic Park. No more go slow, we rode from place to place, with no stops, except at the Newington Armory and outside ANZ stadium.

This was the first time Evan noticed the Wombat and his big fat arse..couldn't resist kissing it, so we took a few photos. Also, Ken picked up the nerve to ride with no hands...seeing as there was so much space and no other people around he could run into.

Stopped at Maccas...but only Mare had her snack, cause we were saving our stomachs for Peking Duck at home.

Julz's 30th Birthday

Saturday 5th September 2009

Julz's celebrated a few days ahead of her birthday by throwing a BBQ for all her ACCA friends, work friends, school friends and family.
Bevan manned the BBQ and carried out his duties diligently, while the rest of us soaked up the Spring sun and tucked into the delicious food.

Evan, Ken & I gave her a Tiffany charm bracelet.