Easter Show 2016

Saturday 26 March

So this year, Vanita offered to get me 4 tickets to the Easter show at the reduced price of $20 each. How could I say no.  So having met her for dinner at Kobe Jones, I paid for and got the tickets in my hot little hands. Now to pick a day to go.

As Fiona was coming out over the long Easter weekend, we decided that she should go as well, so Janet went as a companion to Fiona, where Fiona paid for her ticket, and Lily, Evan, Aunt Cath and I used the tickets from Vanita. Having consulted the weather apps, Lily stated that Saturday would be the best day to go, as there was the smallest chance of rain. So on Good Friday, Janet and I picked Fiona up, and had dinner at the Seeto's, where we organised to head out to the Easter show on Saturday.

I made some salmon with mashed potato and sweet potato patties for breakfast, which we had, before walking to Strathfield station and catching the train to Olympic Park station. Janet and Fiona had to go line up and buy their tickets - not a long wait, before we headed in. We were headed to the Woollies dome, when Fiona made a beeline for some picnic tables to have a rest. The others thought she wasn't going to move, so Aunt Cath brought up the idea of a wheel chair which they hired for the day for $50 - non refundable. Once she got into the chair, that was it. She was not going to get up out of it, until the end of the day, and even then she stubbornly refused, until the man at the wheelchair hire said he'd like his chair back.

This year there was no food tasting, oh I lie, I did taste some honey, before we went to look at the district fruit and vegie exhibits - too packed for the wheelchair, so Janet bypassed the food and went straight to the gov depts, e.g. roads and traffic, police, and then new tech, handy household tools. This somehow turned into a showcase on India - lots of scarves, jewellery, henna etc.

Came out and decided to look for something to eat. Saw Mick's Bakery and I have a coupon to buy 3 pies and get 1 free, but unfortunately it wasn't at this bakery, it was at the one inside the Woollies dome, so back inside we went. Searched a a place to sit and eat comfortably, lucky enough to get a table near the cafe area down the back. Then Evan and I went to buy the pies. In the meantime, Lily and Aunt Cath bought fish and chips, which they were munching on by the time we got back with our chicken and meat pies and 2 sausage rolls. Divided the pies up and devoured them.

Next up we went into the Arts & Crafts pavilion, checked out some of the crafts on sale, before making it to the cake decorating, baking, card crafting and needlework section. Then through the drawing, painting and photography section to the floral section.

Then we went to check out the horses, llamas and alpacas, chicken and sheep.  Unfortunately we didn't get in to the main arena or the woodchopping. But after walking around and checking out the kids carnival area, all our feet were tired, except for Fiona's. So we headed to the showbag pavilion to buy her a showbag (BFF showbag) before heading out. Oh, Lily and Aunt Cath made a last minite purchase of their showbag (Taste bag). Drama's with Fiona refusing to get out of the chair. so they wheeled her back to the chair return, managed to get her out and we left the show. A lot of steps accomplished that day.

Got home and Justin and Sophia were prepping their home made cannelloni for dinner.   Pan fried some lamb cutlets and JT made a salad. Took a while so we didn't get to eat until way past 9pm.

Dinner @ Kobe Jones

Thursday 17 March

Having organised this the night before, I went out to dinner with Vanita at Kobe Jones, 21 Lime Street, King Street Wharf.

Caught the train out to Town Hall after work and had a look at Uniqlo, before walking down to Darling Harbour, Wharf side. Walked down harbour side to Barangaroo "Imagine" sign, before heading back towards the restaurant. Didn't have to wait long before Vanita arrived by bus.

Apparently they have a 50% off food special. So we ordered:
Panko Scallops: a trio of Hokkaido scallop coated with fresh Japanese bread crumbs, shallow fried and served on the shell with KJ tomato salsa and wasabi cream sauce $29.50 (Loved this one)
Sushi Platter (18pcs) chef's selection of nigiri and rolls $68.00 (A bit too much but was good)
Green Tea Salmon: warmed six hour cold smoked salmon, seared and marinated in green tea, with sesame nori cream, wasabi mash, balsamic syrup and spring herbs $41.90 (This was too salty and felt over cooked for our liking, wasabi mash was ok) we only ate a bit of this.
Number One Special (2pieces): Two pieces of crab salad with avocado wrapped in Hiramasa kingfish and nori, baked with our secret sauce, topped with bittersweet soy glace and smelt roe $23.50 (Loved this one)
Sashimi Salad: Garden greens topped with fresh sashimi, and drizzled with ponzu dressing $38.90 (Had large pieces of various sashimi, but too much dressing for my liking)

Total: $201.80 @ 50% = $100.90 for the 2 of us. $50.45 each

After dinner we had to take a long walk back to Wynyard station.

In the meantime, organised at the last minute the family went to Canton Noodle to celebrate Mark and Lily's 32nd Anniversary, where Darren paid the bill. Only Mark, Lily, Janet, Darren, Justin, Sophia and Mar mar.

Birthday Dinner with Stampin' Up! ladies

Wedneday 9 March

Some of the ladies had organised a night out to help celebrate my 50th. Dinner at Cedrus Lebanese Restaurant, Ryde.

Maria and Sue got dropped off at my place just before 6.30pm and then I drove us to the restaurant.

So we ordered

Fatoush - a medly of seasonal fresh vegetables (cabbage, cucumber, tomato, red onions, lettuce) engulfed in our special dressing (pomegranate dressing) and topped with crispy pita bread. $14

Salata - a traditional Lebanese garden salad of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, shallots and mint; blended with fresh lemon juice and olive oil. $13

Hommus - Chickpeas blended with tahini sauce, garlic and fresh lemon juice. $12

Babaghanouj - Smoked eggplant, parsley, red and green capsicum, Spanish onions, fresh garlic and pomegranate molasses. $15

Arnabeet - Fried cauliflower florets served with tahini sauce. $14

Batata Kizbara - cubed fried potatoes blended with garlic, lemon and coriander; with chilli. $12

Sambousik (4) - Fluffy, fried pastry filled with minced meat, pine nuts and spices. $16

Shish Tawouk - three chicken skewers marinated in Middle Eastern spices and fresh lemon juice; barbequed and served with garlic sauce. $20 x 2

Lahim Mishwee - three lamb skewers marinated in complimenting Lebanese spices; barbequed. $24 x 2

plus drinks
Coke x 1$4.50
Lemon Lime and Bitters x6 $5.50
Wine x 2 $6?

plus
Cappuccino x 2 $3.50

As we waited for the food to arrive, the sun was setting over Olympic Park. Photo opportunity.

Leonie paid the bill and the girls all gave her $50 to also cover the cost of my share.

Finished the night by distributing their Stampin' Up! goodies.

My 50th Birthday

On Sunday 6 Mar, we had the family celebrations at home.

This year, I'm turning 50.  All last year I had planned on a big celebration, but as the days and year went and it got closer to my birthday, I had second thoughts. Having a big celebration would yes get it over and done with, but I don't think I would have been able to spend it with the people invited. So I decided to have a small celebration instead. But no matter how much you plan I don't think it could have turned out better.

Lily helped me decorate the place on Saturday as we had time during the day and we just finished it off on Sunday.

Janet and Lily had gone to the markets on Saturday morning and had bought flowers.

Decided to go with a Tiffany Blue and various shades of blue theme dependent on what was available in the party decorations, i.e. table cloth (recycled the one used for Jenni's retirement), streamers, puff balls and banners. My electronic invite went out and the dresscode was any shade of blue.

During the week before I would go to the $2 discount stores and check out what they had. Bought some "50" drop downs as well as some star danglers to hang from the ceiling. Used the Silhouette machine to cut out my own birthday banner. Lily suggested using the streamers and balloons as a backdrop. Anyway, put together it looked great, maybe over the top for just our family and no friends, but was good.

Also managed to put together a "50" autograph book.

Uncle David, Aunt Cath and Evan came over just after lunch and Evan started setting up his lights to help me capture the memories of the day.

Janet helped prep the duck and roast it and prepped a pawpaw salad just in case there wasn't enough food. Aunt Cath helped. Ken, Angel and Bindy came later just before dinner.

I had ordered Thai take-away from Thai-riffic, Concord.

Green Curry Chicken

Beef Massamum Curry

Tom Ka Soup with Chicken

Tom Yum Spicy Soup with Prawns

Janet's Pawpaw salad with additional soft shelled crab

Janet's Roast Duck

Spicy Herb Seafood (Pad Cha)

Seafood Ginger Shallot and Chilli

Vegetarian Stir Fry

Salt and Pepper Squid

Thai Style Papaya Salad with Battered Soft Shell Crab

Salt and Pepper Prawns

Pad Se Ew Prawns

Chilli Basil Sauce Beef Stir Fry

Pad Thai Mixed Seafood

Pad Se Ew Prawns

Pad Thai Chicken

Chilli Jam Sauce (Cashew Nut) Chicken Stir Fry

Costco Thai Entree selection

Dinner was at 7pm, but we didn't eat until 8pm. Jo was running late - apparently she and her boyfriend had driven to Forster. They brought back pippees which we had on Tuesday night. We waited for them to come before cutting the cake.

 This is the cake that Lily ordered from Dreammakers: Tiffany Blue Rose Cake $95 for 10inch

 More group photos as the candles were burning down. A nice range of blues.

 Silly photo too.

The Tsui Girls

Cutting the cake

True story: Without seeing the cake, I had gone out that morning to Westfields looking for a new outfit to wear. I ended up buying this Tiffany Blue top at David Jones from the specials rack for $25. Perfect match to the colour of the icing on the cake.

ACCA Women Reunion

On Saturday 5 Mar, Jacq had organised a reunion dinner for the ex-ACCA women. 13 of us turned us. Ange, Bindy, Emily, Jacq, Jen, Linda, Mandy, Marisa, Megan, Sam, Sylvia, Vanita, Wendy.

Mare had offered to give me a lift but at the 12th hour, she pulled out and managed to organise me another lift with Linda.  Seems on the day, the Chans were going to Frank and Jane's to celebrate Mar Mar's birthday, and Janet was going to pick Fiona up. I didn't want to drive if I could car pool, so I got Nathan to give me a lift to Linda's, but he was busy and so we were late.

Lucky for us we weren't that late and I managed to direct Linda to the place. Dinner was at The Bistro of The Ranch in Ryde.

Marisa, Jacq, Emily

Emily, Linda, Mandi

Bindy, Ange, Sam

Marisa, Jacq, Megan

 I ordered the Battered soft shell crab salad which was very nice indeed.

Soft Shell Crab Salad

 Most of the others ordered the special - Surf and Turf Lobster with Steak

Surf and Turf

 Marisa even got me a gift.

After dinner we ended up going to Max Brenner's at Macquarie Centre for tea, coffee and dessert.

This was just one of the desserts going around to be shared.

Back Row: Mandi, Sylvia, Bindy, Linda, Emily, Jacq, Megan
Front Row: Ange, Jen, Sam, Marisa, Wendy, Vanita

And of course a group photo to end the night.

Wendy was kind enough to give me a lift to Macquarie as well as a lift home. She is still on her P's and she is a good driver, but needs to concentrate more on her lanes.