Pacific Palms, Forster

Sun 29/04/2012 - Sat 05/05/2012

Sunday: Market Day
All the Seetos were up nice and early, but the Chans and Janet were sleeping in. I made breakfast of bacon and eggs with toast which we had and then A. Cath, Evan, Ken, Bindy and I walked down to the local markets to check out what they had to offer. Informed Janet that when they had finished breakfast they could drive down and pick us up, but we had scouted the markets and walked back and they still hadn't got up yet. A. Cath bought a bunch of proteas for $5 (6 in a bunch). Ken shouted us coffees and chais and Bindy bought a apple cumble cake which didn't seem to contain any apples.Waited for them to have their breakfast and then we all (except Ken) walked back down to the markets for a second round.

Would have gone out shopping, but Mark needed to get back to Sydney by 5pm, so after having a cuppa, Ken, Bindy, Mark and Kaylene packed up their stuff into the Rav and set off for Sydney. We decided to go shopping, so the rest of us took the blue bus into Forster and Stocklands shopping centre, where we did more grocery shopping in Aldi and the Reject shop,  checked out the other shops, but nothing much to buy. It came pouring down with rain while we were shopping. Had lunch at Subway. Lucky for us we managed to miss the down pours going to and from the car.

Lily was sick with the flu.

Janet had booked the courts for that afternoon, but with the rain, we didn't get to play any tennis.

Monday 30/04/2012
Taree
Had a game of tennis with Evan in the morning. He was up bright and early and hitting the balls.

After breakfast we drove to Taree. Went shopping in Big W (bought some tops, Evan bought toys for Juju and Izzy and Matty), then walked across to Spotlight (A.Cath bought wood words for Ken) . I checked out the local scrapbook shop, didn't buy anything.  Then went to KFC for lunch, which we had by the river. Filled up petrol and went to the Aldi in Taree. Then went to Rivers, bought my gumboots for $18, then we lost Evan, he'd gone off to take photos of the bridge, but his dad said he'd gone back into Rivers. So we gave him a scare by driving back down to the river, so when he went to look for us, the car wasn't in the parking lot. he'd thought we'd gone without him.

Stopped at Forster to take photos of the sunsetting.

Tuesday 1/05/2012
Cape Hawke, Forster
Went for a walk on the beach this morning, it was still overcast and grey.
After breakfast we drove up to the lookout which is now overgrown. The steps up are still too many, but the trees and surrounding bushes have grown so that you really do need to climb the tower in order to see the town and surrounds. U. David sat in the car while the rest of us climbed up and back.

After Cape Hawke we drove into Forster town and walked the main street and shops, in search of wedding stuff for Ken. Considered getting fish and chips, but decided to just drive back to the resort and make noodles with spam.

Wednesday 02/05/2012
Tuncurry, Forster
Went for a walk on the beach and this time it was a nice and sunny day.
 

Checked out the pool, it was a nice day, so decided to sun myself and go for a dip. Had the pool all to myself. Also used the spa.

Janet and A. Cath came down with their colds/flu.

After lunch, we decided to take a drive to the other side of the river and check out Tuncurry, but didn't walk the shops, just walked the rock wall. U. David shouted us to chocolate cornettos and then we stopped in at the Fisherman's Co-op where they bought mud crabs which we had for dinner that night.

Sunset at the lake was good.

Thursday
Stocklands, Forster
Went for a walk on the beach, another sunny day.
I needed to go buy some lady things (think feminine hygiene product) so asked if anyone else wanted to go shopping at Stocklands, since I was going there, all except Evan took up my offer - gets boring just sitting around the place.

Sunset at the lake and we had pelicans as an added bonus.

Friday
Stayed around the resort.
No walk on the beach this morning instead we watched a tv show on cake decorating.  Stayed around the resort. Played a game of tennis with the Seetos. U. David used the outdoor spa. Evan and I went for a swim.
Went for an afternoon walk on the beach with A. Cath, Lily, Janet and Evan.
Sunset at the lake was not as good as Wed or Thurs.

Saturday
Checkout day
Overcast - no walk on the beach.
As usual, A. Cath had packed up most of the food before we had even had breakfast. Lily thought we could fit everything in without putting one of the back chairs up, but after stuffing the car, she admitted that meybe we should put the seat up. U. David had picked up 2 folding chairs which he really wanted, so we made room and repacked the car. Managed to fit everything in. Checked out at 9am. Drove via Forster, filled up petrol before continuing out via Falford Road. Stopped at McDonalds, Hexham, just outside of Newcastle around 12noon for lunch. Got back to Sydney, and stopped at Costco to go grocery shopping around 2pm, because there probably wouldn't be any fresh food in the house. Evan and I sat in the car while they shopped for an hour. Got home around 3.30pm

Kylie & Dion's Wedding

Saturday 28 April 2012

Everyone was up early, getting ready. I packed up the car with some help from Lily and Mark and we were out the door by 9am. I drove, with Janet sitting Shotgun, Lily and Kaylene in the middle and Mark up the back. Lucky for us traffic was flowing and we were on the freeway in half an hour.

The Seetos who had left earlier to pick up Bindy on the way caught up to us on the freeway just before we got to Hungry Jacks, Newcastle. Stopped there for an early lunch and then it was on to Old Bar with Evan leading the way.

Got to the church (around 1.30pm) with time to spare, so Kaylene got changed in the car. Mark got changed in the car. Makeup was done in the car. Thank goodness there was a toilet out the back of the church, which was locked, but the caretaker came out and opened it up. It was lightly sprinkling with rain. The bride was fashionably late.

After the ceremony, we took a quick drive to check out Kylie and Dion's home and then we drove to the Club Old Bar (1 Belford Street, Old Bar), where the reception was being held. Killing time, we had drinks courtesy of Damien, Bindy bought 2 cheese platters, Ken got a few packets of chips from the vending machine, so we sat, ate and whittled away the time.

The reception: The function room was decorated by Kylie's friend Rachel, words of inspiration adorned the tables, our table had the word "joy", we were seated on Table 3 with 2 others, a couple from PNG?. There were 7 per table with 7 tables  in total, plus the bridal party table. Champers were offered on entry but drinks could be ordered at the bar and put on the tab. Nibblies were brought around : aussie sushi. There was also nibblies on the table. The entree was Roasted Vegetable Tart with Balsamic Glaze or Creamy Garlic Prawns and Rice, Main was Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb served with Red Wine Jus or Chicken Breast filled with Feta and Sundried Tomato topped with a Creamy Pesto Sauce served with fresh seasonal vegetables and the wedding cake was the dessert.

The Bridal party arrived late - long photo shoot maybe. By the time they arrived, we'd gone through the hors deurves and had kind of stuffed ourselves. Speeches, cutting the cake and then dancing followed, but a lot of the guests left early, so that by the time we left which was like 10.30pm, only the bridal party was left with a few friends and family still on the dance floor.

Had to drive back to Pacific Palms following Evan, who took the Lakes Way which was very windy windy and pitch black, but we got to the resort and JT unlocked the night chute and got our keys. We were allocated bungalows 17 and 18 which are down the back behind the tennis courts. U.David, A.Cath, Evan, Ken and Bindy in 17 (had less steps for U. David) and Mark, Lily, Janet, Kaylene and I in 18. Unpacked the car, got settled in then had to wait for the shower (only one bathroom in each unit). Lily and Mark were in the main bedroom, Janet and I in the other bedroom and Kaylene slept on the pull out couch. In their bungalow, it was Bindy and A. Cath in the main, Ken and Evan in the other bedroom and U. David on the couch - where he had popped himself that night.

U. David's 77th Birthday

Celebrated U. David's 77th Birthday at Hurstville RSL.

We gave him a few snack foods, rice crackers and peanuts and a carton of beer.

Jane's 50th Birthday Party

Cabramatta Rugby Leagues Club
24 Sussex Street
Cabramatta
Saturday April 14th at 7:00pm

Food was buffet: Spring rolls, fried rice, honey chicken, salt & pepper squid, black pepper beef, prawns

We gave her a huge bunch of flowers, pandora charms and bracelet. Fiona also gave her a pandora cupcake charm.

Fiona ended up dancing the night away, owning the dance floor.

Coffs Harbour

Easter 2012 and U. David, A. Catherine, Janet, Fiona and I travelled up to Coffs Harbour with me at the wheel of the "blue bus".

Driving up on Good Friday, we headed off around 10.30 - 11am, hoping not to be caught up in traffic, we made it out of Sydney in half and hour, got to Newcastle with no problems, where we stopped for a quick snack and thought all would be well, until we hit some slowness getting out of Newcastle, but when we reached Beulah Deulah, where it was bumper to bumper traffic as 3 lanes merged into one, but at least it was crawling, not at a stand still. Made it to Port Macquarie at 4.30pm, where we stopped in at Maccas for a piss stop and late late lunch. Fiona was happy, Maccas and toilets :D Got to Boambee Bay Resort around 6.30pm and checked in with the help of the security guard.

We didn't really use the resort facilities, no swimming, no tennis, no canoeing...but we had a very relaxing, and foodie filled week.

Visited the Honey Place where we saw bees do their thing, but didn't buy anything there. Dropped in at the Big Banana where Fiona bought a few items at the gift shop, took the obligatory photo outside the Big Banana and then visited the Candy place. Missed the demo, but bought some lollies. Then we popped into the Carobana factory to see them making honeycomb - a very fascinating process.

Went shopping at Park Beach Plaza, Centro Shopping Centre, Spotlight, Coles, Big W and walked the city centre plaza. Also went to the Coffs Harbour jetty, but it started to rain, so didn't walk the jetty.