Fiji Day 4 - Tuesday 31 October - Another nice day
Morning walk on the beach. Today we have everyone out.
Brunch
Drive into Suva - 2 cars as Bindy doesn't want to be squashed. Janet rides in car with Bindy and Ange. Pass a stand selling crabs but didn't stop. Should have. No one else saw it but me.
Get into Suva and I take a wrong turn end up stuck behind a truck which stops in the road and the guy comes out to have lunch. So we have to reverse back into traffic. Not sure where I am going. Follow directions given to me by Janet in the other car. Suppose to go to MHCC parking, but end up in a different parking lot, may have been the Prouds Shopping Complex. $2.50 an hour which is ok. Head down and out. Janet is looking for a Jacks of Fiji to check out sari's for Kaylene. On a mission. But we head off in the wrong direction. Have to back track. A native tried to give us directions and directs us into a local store. Finally manage to find the shop in the MHCC shopping centre. But Kaylene looks at the prices and decides they are too expensive. So we head to the food court for a late lunch. End up buying 2 plates to share with Kaylene and Lily. Janet buys her own nuggets and tenders from Chicken Express. Bindy and Ange also buy their own spicy noodle plate. After lunch we head down to check out the markets. End up buying more vegies. Janet spies the fish stalls, so we head there and end up buying a bunch of fish - 5 large parrot/coral fish for $23 or something like that. Pass lots of big fish which is going cheap.
By this time it's getting late - no time to check out Chinatown, so we head back to the resort.
Bindy and Ange clean the fish, while Janet preps the vegies.
We have all the fish that night.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
Fiji Day 3 - Monday 30 October
Fiji Day 3 - Monday 30 October - Lovely day
Another early morning.
Walk on the beach - Bindy goes fishing. Find the same tree that Bindy climbed back in 1995 - take photos.
Later joined by Kaylene
Brunch is soba noodles with boiled egg, string beans, choy, boiled ham, carrots and cucumber with vegie (bitter) soup.
Take a walk down to check out lovo prep after brunch. Find Merci or Mercy grating coconuts. Kaylene tries it and is a natural but only grates 1 coconut. He is joined later by Tui.
We take a drive to Navua in the one car, 4 in the back and Ange in the front with me driving. Buy some frozen river prawns. Can't seem to spot anyone on the roadside with fresh river prawns.
Stop in Navua, find parking off the main street, lock all windows and doors and check out the local shops. Just like New Guinea - bars and grills. Some products so old. Janet buys more tinned fish. Lily buys material from a "New Look" shop. Bindy is looking for her hot bread shop.
Walk to local markets which is past the bread shop. Check out the prices, but will come back when we go to the car. Buy more fruit and vegies at the market. Wake up a guy who was deep in slumber. The ladies in the next stall kept calling him to wake up. Could have just walked away with the choy.
After the others check out the supermarket we walk back to the bread shop and end up buying 5 chicken pies @FJ$3.95 and 1 mutton pie @ FJ$3.95 takeaway, cheese and onion rolls FJ$3.10 and a loaf of bread FJ$2.25 from The Hot Bread Kitchen - seems it's a franchise - saw them everywhere after Navua.
Drive back to the resort and have our pies. Not bad, although Janet complains that she only had 1 piece of chicken and more potato in her pie.
Sun is shining - take another walk on the beach. Lily spies a worker collecting young coconuts - so she goes up to him and finds out his name is Saucy or is that Soci, who is the tree climber - asks him for 6 young coconuts, He delivers 2, the rest we have to collect from the bar. End up collecting them when we have helped plait some baskets and food for the lovo.
Kaylene and Bindy plait the 2 huge fish. Lily is busy making her own head band. Tui helps us make head bands which we later decorate with flowers picked from the garden.
Lovo starts at 6.30pm, but it seems they are running behind schedule - probably due to us holding up the prepping process.
Have cocktails before the food comes out. Then when the food is all out on the table, the kava ceremony is held down the back, but we're just interested in the food. Pile our dishes up. Can go for seconds and thirds. All through dinner, we are serenaded by a Fijian singer/guitarist. Kaylene, Bindy and Ange try the kava, but I miss taking photos of them as the dancers are performing.
After dinner, the entertainment arrives. Fijian dancers and singers who put on a show for us. All included in the dinner payment. Even get us up to dance.
Just about the last ones to leave. A nice night of good food and excellent entertainment..
Another early morning.
Walk on the beach - Bindy goes fishing. Find the same tree that Bindy climbed back in 1995 - take photos.
Later joined by Kaylene
Brunch is soba noodles with boiled egg, string beans, choy, boiled ham, carrots and cucumber with vegie (bitter) soup.
Take a walk down to check out lovo prep after brunch. Find Merci or Mercy grating coconuts. Kaylene tries it and is a natural but only grates 1 coconut. He is joined later by Tui.
We take a drive to Navua in the one car, 4 in the back and Ange in the front with me driving. Buy some frozen river prawns. Can't seem to spot anyone on the roadside with fresh river prawns.
Stop in Navua, find parking off the main street, lock all windows and doors and check out the local shops. Just like New Guinea - bars and grills. Some products so old. Janet buys more tinned fish. Lily buys material from a "New Look" shop. Bindy is looking for her hot bread shop.
Walk to local markets which is past the bread shop. Check out the prices, but will come back when we go to the car. Buy more fruit and vegies at the market. Wake up a guy who was deep in slumber. The ladies in the next stall kept calling him to wake up. Could have just walked away with the choy.
After the others check out the supermarket we walk back to the bread shop and end up buying 5 chicken pies @FJ$3.95 and 1 mutton pie @ FJ$3.95 takeaway, cheese and onion rolls FJ$3.10 and a loaf of bread FJ$2.25 from The Hot Bread Kitchen - seems it's a franchise - saw them everywhere after Navua.
Drive back to the resort and have our pies. Not bad, although Janet complains that she only had 1 piece of chicken and more potato in her pie.
Sun is shining - take another walk on the beach. Lily spies a worker collecting young coconuts - so she goes up to him and finds out his name is Saucy or is that Soci, who is the tree climber - asks him for 6 young coconuts, He delivers 2, the rest we have to collect from the bar. End up collecting them when we have helped plait some baskets and food for the lovo.
Kaylene and Bindy plait the 2 huge fish. Lily is busy making her own head band. Tui helps us make head bands which we later decorate with flowers picked from the garden.
Lovo starts at 6.30pm, but it seems they are running behind schedule - probably due to us holding up the prepping process.
Have cocktails before the food comes out. Then when the food is all out on the table, the kava ceremony is held down the back, but we're just interested in the food. Pile our dishes up. Can go for seconds and thirds. All through dinner, we are serenaded by a Fijian singer/guitarist. Kaylene, Bindy and Ange try the kava, but I miss taking photos of them as the dancers are performing.
After dinner, the entertainment arrives. Fijian dancers and singers who put on a show for us. All included in the dinner payment. Even get us up to dance.
Just about the last ones to leave. A nice night of good food and excellent entertainment..
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Fiji Day 2 - Sunday 29 October - Overcast day
Fiji Day 2 - Sunday 29 October - Overcast day
Woke up early - everyone else still sleeping. Went for walk on the beach. Water was calm as.
10am and Kaylene is finally up. Walk the beach again with her.
Brunch of cucumber, carrots, boiled eggs, biscuits
Others go down to the bar for the Fiji Palms orientation and tour run down. Miss out on the samosas and spring rolls. I stay back to do dishes.
Take it easy day.
Drive down to PH shops to buy tin fish for lunch - salad with fish.
Laze by the pool
Have dinner at the FJ Palms bar
Lobster Mornay FJ$65, Lobster Curry FJ$65 and Grilled Lobster $65 and 2 Supreme pizzas FJ$22 each, to share.
Better than the dinner last night. Lobster curry is spicy - but yummy. Served with rice and coleslaw. Order drinks as well - Virgin pina colada FJ$16, beers, lemon lime bitters and lemonade.
Also order dessert - Passionfruit cheesecake with icecream FJ$10 and 2 scoops of vanilla icecream with chocolate topping FJ$10
After dinner we stick around to use free wifi. Bindy and Ange play pool. We end up playing mini mahjong.
Woke up early - everyone else still sleeping. Went for walk on the beach. Water was calm as.
10am and Kaylene is finally up. Walk the beach again with her.
Brunch of cucumber, carrots, boiled eggs, biscuits
Others go down to the bar for the Fiji Palms orientation and tour run down. Miss out on the samosas and spring rolls. I stay back to do dishes.
Take it easy day.
Drive down to PH shops to buy tin fish for lunch - salad with fish.
Laze by the pool
Have dinner at the FJ Palms bar
Lobster Mornay FJ$65, Lobster Curry FJ$65 and Grilled Lobster $65 and 2 Supreme pizzas FJ$22 each, to share.
Better than the dinner last night. Lobster curry is spicy - but yummy. Served with rice and coleslaw. Order drinks as well - Virgin pina colada FJ$16, beers, lemon lime bitters and lemonade.
Also order dessert - Passionfruit cheesecake with icecream FJ$10 and 2 scoops of vanilla icecream with chocolate topping FJ$10
After dinner we stick around to use free wifi. Bindy and Ange play pool. We end up playing mini mahjong.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Fiji Day 1 - Saturday 28 October
Fiji Day 1 - Saturday 28 October
Wake up at 3am in the morning.
Nathan drops us off at the airport - get there early with enough time to checkin. 3 and 1/2 bags - I bring my cabin bag, the rest have the big suitcases.
Self checkin through immigration. Security check, body scan xray - no swabbing for once.
Daz has given us complimentary tix to the Qantas Business Class lounge. So we head there, but we are early, doesn't open until 5am. Even Duty Free isn't open yet.
Once the lounge opens, the guy in front of us is rejected - he is on codeshare flight. So we check and look and I think we will also be rejected, so no lounging for us. Lily didn't join, only 3 tix, she went to the departure gate.So we head to the departure gate. Kaylene buys Macca's on the way. Meet up with Bindy and Ange. Apparently they are seated in the row in front of us.
Get served breakfast on the plane. Egg fritata with mushrooms, sausage, tomato, potato, muffin and yogurt. No personal movie screens, still old style plane with drop down screens from above. Read plane magazine and doze.
Arrive in Nadi. Singers greet us as we go through customs and immigration. Collect our bags. Bindy heads to Vodaphone outlet to buy wifi package. Collect cars from Avis rental. They bring the cars around to parking area and we check for damages - which is then noted. Last min toilet run, before we head off. We have a red Toyota Rav 4 - large car, can fit all our bags in the back seat. Bin and Ange have rented a sedan - white. Bin has brought along walkie talkies. So I lead with them following, Ange is driving. Not long before JT loses where we are on her Mapsme, so we turn off side street. Ange and Bin takeover, as Bindy has offline google maps. As we head out onto main road, I spy a local market, so we pull in to check it out. Man selling live chickens, which he is also killing for a buyer. Buy okra, mangoes, string beans. Heavy rain passes overhead - so we wait it out until it's not too hard. Then it's off again, this time to Nadi markets. Get there, but traffic is chaotic, parking is non-existent - drive around and eventually park on the side of the road, but not game enough to leave the car with luggage, so only Bindy and Janet head down to buy the rest of the green stuff. Parked near local bus terminal - Kaylene notices that they have a tap on system on the buses, but the buses have no windows - thrid world or first world?
Once Janet and Bindy get back, we head off again - this time with me leading. Follow the main road through villages with their speed humps. Pass lots of natives selling mangos on the side of the road as we head out of Nadi. Raining on and off.
Approaching Maui Bay, we pass stands selling Hot Corn - "Sweet" - in the village of Vatukarasa, so we stop at one and Janet enquires - FJ$1 a cob, so she asks for 10, 6 for our car and 2 for the car behind $10 in total. By this time we are hungry - only having had breakfast on the plane. Thinking the corn would be sweet, like the ones back home - how wrong were we. No taste, no flavour, very chewy - worse than popping corn - oh well, chalk this one up for experience, do not buy corn in Fiji.
Finally get to Pacific Harbour and we turn into the wrong driveway - looks like construction has closed the driveway I am used to and the out is now the in. Do a u-turn and head back in.
Find the office, park our cars and Janet goes in to check-in. Given a choice of units. Unit 2, 3 or 7. Unit 2 is an old unit closest to the beach. Unit 3 has been renovated. Unit 7 is a new unit. Settle for 2 and 3. Bindy, Ange and I are in Unit 2, Lily, Janet and Kaylene are in Unit 3. Check it out and then head out to Pacific Harbour shopping to buy water and snacks, end up walking as drivers do not want to drive. Check out the prices - wow - so expensive. Buy water, and not much else. Bindy and Lily buy some chips to snack on. Most of the shops have closed for the day. Only the bars and restaurants are open.
Head back and stop at The Establishment for dinner. Had passed it on the way to shops, and checked the menu out - Not up to cooking tonight so we settle on getting the Seafood Platter - includes 1 hot (Tempura Mahi-Mahi, Grilled Slipper Lobster, Slat and Pepper Squid, Prawn Skewers, Seared Scallops with paw paw salsa) and 1 cold platter ("Kokoda" - marinated fish in coconut milk and lime, Smoked Salmon with lemon and capers, Prawns & Greenlip mussels) served with green leaves, fries and condiments (sauces) for FJ$85 - supplement this with a Tuna poke salad (Tuna Sashimi, avocado, seaweed, lettuce, tomato, spring onion and sesame dressing) FJ$22. Plus a jug of Fiji Gold beer FJ$16, Total is FJ$123.00. Food looks ok, but lobster is not a lobster, oysters don't look fresh - but we eat cause we hungry.
Walked back to units and had our own fruits for dessert - pineapple - very sweet and mango - stringy, not that sweet - Filo mangos. Time to hit the sack, it's been a long day.
Wake up at 3am in the morning.
Nathan drops us off at the airport - get there early with enough time to checkin. 3 and 1/2 bags - I bring my cabin bag, the rest have the big suitcases.
Self checkin through immigration. Security check, body scan xray - no swabbing for once.
Daz has given us complimentary tix to the Qantas Business Class lounge. So we head there, but we are early, doesn't open until 5am. Even Duty Free isn't open yet.
Once the lounge opens, the guy in front of us is rejected - he is on codeshare flight. So we check and look and I think we will also be rejected, so no lounging for us. Lily didn't join, only 3 tix, she went to the departure gate.So we head to the departure gate. Kaylene buys Macca's on the way. Meet up with Bindy and Ange. Apparently they are seated in the row in front of us.
Get served breakfast on the plane. Egg fritata with mushrooms, sausage, tomato, potato, muffin and yogurt. No personal movie screens, still old style plane with drop down screens from above. Read plane magazine and doze.
Arrive in Nadi. Singers greet us as we go through customs and immigration. Collect our bags. Bindy heads to Vodaphone outlet to buy wifi package. Collect cars from Avis rental. They bring the cars around to parking area and we check for damages - which is then noted. Last min toilet run, before we head off. We have a red Toyota Rav 4 - large car, can fit all our bags in the back seat. Bin and Ange have rented a sedan - white. Bin has brought along walkie talkies. So I lead with them following, Ange is driving. Not long before JT loses where we are on her Mapsme, so we turn off side street. Ange and Bin takeover, as Bindy has offline google maps. As we head out onto main road, I spy a local market, so we pull in to check it out. Man selling live chickens, which he is also killing for a buyer. Buy okra, mangoes, string beans. Heavy rain passes overhead - so we wait it out until it's not too hard. Then it's off again, this time to Nadi markets. Get there, but traffic is chaotic, parking is non-existent - drive around and eventually park on the side of the road, but not game enough to leave the car with luggage, so only Bindy and Janet head down to buy the rest of the green stuff. Parked near local bus terminal - Kaylene notices that they have a tap on system on the buses, but the buses have no windows - thrid world or first world?
Once Janet and Bindy get back, we head off again - this time with me leading. Follow the main road through villages with their speed humps. Pass lots of natives selling mangos on the side of the road as we head out of Nadi. Raining on and off.
Approaching Maui Bay, we pass stands selling Hot Corn - "Sweet" - in the village of Vatukarasa, so we stop at one and Janet enquires - FJ$1 a cob, so she asks for 10, 6 for our car and 2 for the car behind $10 in total. By this time we are hungry - only having had breakfast on the plane. Thinking the corn would be sweet, like the ones back home - how wrong were we. No taste, no flavour, very chewy - worse than popping corn - oh well, chalk this one up for experience, do not buy corn in Fiji.
Finally get to Pacific Harbour and we turn into the wrong driveway - looks like construction has closed the driveway I am used to and the out is now the in. Do a u-turn and head back in.
Find the office, park our cars and Janet goes in to check-in. Given a choice of units. Unit 2, 3 or 7. Unit 2 is an old unit closest to the beach. Unit 3 has been renovated. Unit 7 is a new unit. Settle for 2 and 3. Bindy, Ange and I are in Unit 2, Lily, Janet and Kaylene are in Unit 3. Check it out and then head out to Pacific Harbour shopping to buy water and snacks, end up walking as drivers do not want to drive. Check out the prices - wow - so expensive. Buy water, and not much else. Bindy and Lily buy some chips to snack on. Most of the shops have closed for the day. Only the bars and restaurants are open.
Head back and stop at The Establishment for dinner. Had passed it on the way to shops, and checked the menu out - Not up to cooking tonight so we settle on getting the Seafood Platter - includes 1 hot (Tempura Mahi-Mahi, Grilled Slipper Lobster, Slat and Pepper Squid, Prawn Skewers, Seared Scallops with paw paw salsa) and 1 cold platter ("Kokoda" - marinated fish in coconut milk and lime, Smoked Salmon with lemon and capers, Prawns & Greenlip mussels) served with green leaves, fries and condiments (sauces) for FJ$85 - supplement this with a Tuna poke salad (Tuna Sashimi, avocado, seaweed, lettuce, tomato, spring onion and sesame dressing) FJ$22. Plus a jug of Fiji Gold beer FJ$16, Total is FJ$123.00. Food looks ok, but lobster is not a lobster, oysters don't look fresh - but we eat cause we hungry.
Walked back to units and had our own fruits for dessert - pineapple - very sweet and mango - stringy, not that sweet - Filo mangos. Time to hit the sack, it's been a long day.
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Cirque de Soleil - Toruk
Darren helped me buy tickets which were on sale for Cirque de Soleil's Toruk. Ended up with 8 of us going. Lily, Janet, Kaylene, Justin, Sophia, Evan, U. Cath and myself.
So on Thursday 26 October at 6pm, we got Mark to drop us off at Qudos Arena using the "blue bus".
Lucky for us Janet is tiny.
Going in we had to have our bags searched - no opened water bottles and no chewing gum - had to ditch my water bottle and A. Cath had to give up her chewing gum.
Toruk is based on the Avatar movie. In the arena setting, it wasn't as up close and personal as other Cirque de Soleil shows we'd been to. At least our seats were ok and not up in the nose bleed section.
So on Thursday 26 October at 6pm, we got Mark to drop us off at Qudos Arena using the "blue bus".
Lucky for us Janet is tiny.
Going in we had to have our bags searched - no opened water bottles and no chewing gum - had to ditch my water bottle and A. Cath had to give up her chewing gum.
Toruk is based on the Avatar movie. In the arena setting, it wasn't as up close and personal as other Cirque de Soleil shows we'd been to. At least our seats were ok and not up in the nose bleed section.
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Granny May Festival - Eastwood
Saturday 21 October
Kaylene and I had appointments to get our hair done at Simply My Hair, Macquarie Centre at 1pm, so Lily, Janet, Kaylene and I took the train to Eastwood in the morning, left home around 10.30am. Got to Eastwood around 11am. Walked around for 1 hr to check things out before catching another train to Macquarie Uni station, via Epping. When we got to the centre, we looked for somewhere to eat. Foodcourt was packed - no tables, so we headed back to Simply Noodles and ordered 3 dishes to share. A Char Kway Teo, Fukien fried rice and combination fried noodles.
Kaylene went first, as she takes longer - we swapped our appointments - I was suppose to go first. I hung around Myers. It took more than the 1/2 hr they had given between, more like 1 hr. Janet and Lily went to look at the other shops in the centre, like Daiso. Took longer than we thought it would. On the way back to the train station, we bought ice tea with jelly.
Janet had had enough so she continued on to Strathfield, whilst, Lily, Kaylene and I went back to Eastwood. But most stalls have closed or were in the process of closing. All the food ones had packed up and were loading their cars. Visited Casey's stall and said hi, although he was busy.
Decided to buy some pork rolls - Normally $5.50 a roll, but they were selling 2 for the price of one. So I bought 2 and Lily bought 2. Tried their crispy bbq pork roll - had nice crunchy crackling. Not bad. Had that for dinner with leftovers.
Kaylene and I had appointments to get our hair done at Simply My Hair, Macquarie Centre at 1pm, so Lily, Janet, Kaylene and I took the train to Eastwood in the morning, left home around 10.30am. Got to Eastwood around 11am. Walked around for 1 hr to check things out before catching another train to Macquarie Uni station, via Epping. When we got to the centre, we looked for somewhere to eat. Foodcourt was packed - no tables, so we headed back to Simply Noodles and ordered 3 dishes to share. A Char Kway Teo, Fukien fried rice and combination fried noodles.
Kaylene went first, as she takes longer - we swapped our appointments - I was suppose to go first. I hung around Myers. It took more than the 1/2 hr they had given between, more like 1 hr. Janet and Lily went to look at the other shops in the centre, like Daiso. Took longer than we thought it would. On the way back to the train station, we bought ice tea with jelly.
Janet had had enough so she continued on to Strathfield, whilst, Lily, Kaylene and I went back to Eastwood. But most stalls have closed or were in the process of closing. All the food ones had packed up and were loading their cars. Visited Casey's stall and said hi, although he was busy.
Decided to buy some pork rolls - Normally $5.50 a roll, but they were selling 2 for the price of one. So I bought 2 and Lily bought 2. Tried their crispy bbq pork roll - had nice crunchy crackling. Not bad. Had that for dinner with leftovers.
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Concord Festival - Jump to the Beat
Sunday 15 October
Lily and I walked to the Concord Festival which was held at Greenlees Park. Took her through a short cut I discovered, although we did walk the long way around to get to the short cut. Had to get the steps up.
Lots of stalls giving away free stuff, a whole lot better than Strathfield's Festival.
There was an amusement area with free rides for kids. Downside was the queues.
Lots of food stalls to choose from. We tried out a new iced tea - "tea bags". I had the passionfruit and Lily had lychee. Then we shared a garlic prawn roll. Was going to try a salad but was feeling full.
We had been given free raffle tickets from the Chambers of Commerce stall, so at 12noon, we rocked up to the main stage to see whether we would have any luck. Settled ourselves into the slingback chairs and waited. No luck for us, but when we saw the giveaways - big trays of fruit and vegies, we decided it was for the best as we would have to trudge home carrying those - unless we called someone to come pick us up.
Walked around a few more times. Put my name down to get free driving lessons for Kaylene - no luck there too.
Would have bought more food, but that would mean carrying them home. But couldn't resist buying some Tella Balls to try. Probably best eaten fresh, but took them home for arvo tea.
Lily and I walked to the Concord Festival which was held at Greenlees Park. Took her through a short cut I discovered, although we did walk the long way around to get to the short cut. Had to get the steps up.
Lots of stalls giving away free stuff, a whole lot better than Strathfield's Festival.
There was an amusement area with free rides for kids. Downside was the queues.
Lots of food stalls to choose from. We tried out a new iced tea - "tea bags". I had the passionfruit and Lily had lychee. Then we shared a garlic prawn roll. Was going to try a salad but was feeling full.
We had been given free raffle tickets from the Chambers of Commerce stall, so at 12noon, we rocked up to the main stage to see whether we would have any luck. Settled ourselves into the slingback chairs and waited. No luck for us, but when we saw the giveaways - big trays of fruit and vegies, we decided it was for the best as we would have to trudge home carrying those - unless we called someone to come pick us up.
Walked around a few more times. Put my name down to get free driving lessons for Kaylene - no luck there too.
Would have bought more food, but that would mean carrying them home. But couldn't resist buying some Tella Balls to try. Probably best eaten fresh, but took them home for arvo tea.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Supporting the Solomon Islands Hockey team
Saturday 14 October
Apparently Mare's uncle had free tickets to the hockey, so Mare asked if we wanted to go see.
So Lily and I walked to her place, as she was going to the markets in the morning and didn't want to swing by our place.
She had her 2 aunts/cousins? there as well. Find out that there may not be enough free tickets to go around. After much discussion, the aunties asked to be dropped off at Newington, where A. Joy was helping the other aunties prep lunch for the team.
So it's just the three of us. We stop at Maccas to buy our lunch first. But find out we can't bring the food into the stadium. Leave it in the car to eat later.
Uneventful games, but we seem to be the loudest supporters. Don't know what the team thought of the cheer squad.
Eventually other cousins turn up, Nicola with her 3 daughters, Linda and Jordan.
Apparently Mare's uncle had free tickets to the hockey, so Mare asked if we wanted to go see.
So Lily and I walked to her place, as she was going to the markets in the morning and didn't want to swing by our place.
She had her 2 aunts/cousins? there as well. Find out that there may not be enough free tickets to go around. After much discussion, the aunties asked to be dropped off at Newington, where A. Joy was helping the other aunties prep lunch for the team.
So it's just the three of us. We stop at Maccas to buy our lunch first. But find out we can't bring the food into the stadium. Leave it in the car to eat later.
Uneventful games, but we seem to be the loudest supporters. Don't know what the team thought of the cheer squad.
Eventually other cousins turn up, Nicola with her 3 daughters, Linda and Jordan.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Great OTEN Bakeoff
Tuesday 10 October
Entered 2 mini lime cheesecakes into the OTEN bakeoff - unfortunately did not win a prize, but they sold them for charity. I did however get a participation certificate.
Entered 2 mini lime cheesecakes into the OTEN bakeoff - unfortunately did not win a prize, but they sold them for charity. I did however get a participation certificate.
Hunt for a new hairdresser
So today I had an 2pm appointment at Unique Hairdressing in Burwood. Just to get a shampoo, wash trim and blowdry for $70 with Tash and Kaylene had a 3.30pm with Sera for $85.
Kaylene liked her hair, but I wasn't impressed. Guess my expectations were high.
Tried it twice and wasn't that happy with it. The next time I had my hair coloured, but again, cut and blowdry didn't quite gel.
So, Bindy mentioned that Vanita got her hair cut at Macquarie Centre and so I vibered Vanita and asked her some questions.
Eventually made an appointment at Simply My Hair, Myer's Macquarie Centre on 28 July for 9.30am. Took the train and met Amelia who coloured, shampooed, cut and blow dried my hair for $117 - a special package. I was happy with the results, so made another appointment for 6 weeks later.
On 21 October I had my roots coloured and half a head of foils, plus shampoo, cut and blowdry for $155.
Kaylene also had her hair done by Amelia and likes it too, so we have started a new relationship.
Kaylene liked her hair, but I wasn't impressed. Guess my expectations were high.
Tried it twice and wasn't that happy with it. The next time I had my hair coloured, but again, cut and blowdry didn't quite gel.
So, Bindy mentioned that Vanita got her hair cut at Macquarie Centre and so I vibered Vanita and asked her some questions.
Eventually made an appointment at Simply My Hair, Myer's Macquarie Centre on 28 July for 9.30am. Took the train and met Amelia who coloured, shampooed, cut and blow dried my hair for $117 - a special package. I was happy with the results, so made another appointment for 6 weeks later.
On 21 October I had my roots coloured and half a head of foils, plus shampoo, cut and blowdry for $155.
Kaylene also had her hair done by Amelia and likes it too, so we have started a new relationship.
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Burwood Festival and Bindy's Birthday.
Sunday 8 October
I had volunteered my services to help Casey man his Aussie Bricks Lego stall at the festival. By the time I got to Burwood Park, he had already erected and set up everything. Apparently he was there at 6am.
Did a once over of the park to check out other stalls and then donned my Lego shirt and got to work.
Casey had also enlisted a teen boy to help out.
Shirley and kids arrived later, in time for lunch - I sent her off to Macau Kitchen - where she came back with Singapore noodles and flat noodles for the kids. She bumped into Lily having lunch there with the Chans.
Janet later came by on her way to the Seeto's to help out for Bindy's birthday dinner. Got her to buy some drinks for us.
Left them around 5pm to walk back home. Bought some fish balls on sticks and another sugar cane drink.
Got home, showered and changed. Went with Lily and Mark to the Seeto's.
Bought a necklace (present for Bindy) and a ring for myself.
Gave Bindy the necklace and a set of Maggie Beer condiments.
I had volunteered my services to help Casey man his Aussie Bricks Lego stall at the festival. By the time I got to Burwood Park, he had already erected and set up everything. Apparently he was there at 6am.
Did a once over of the park to check out other stalls and then donned my Lego shirt and got to work.
Casey had also enlisted a teen boy to help out.
Shirley and kids arrived later, in time for lunch - I sent her off to Macau Kitchen - where she came back with Singapore noodles and flat noodles for the kids. She bumped into Lily having lunch there with the Chans.
Janet later came by on her way to the Seeto's to help out for Bindy's birthday dinner. Got her to buy some drinks for us.
Left them around 5pm to walk back home. Bought some fish balls on sticks and another sugar cane drink.
Got home, showered and changed. Went with Lily and Mark to the Seeto's.
Bought a necklace (present for Bindy) and a ring for myself.
Gave Bindy the necklace and a set of Maggie Beer condiments.
Monday, October 2, 2017
Lily's Birthday
Monday 2 October
Labour Day holiday, no tennis.
We took Fiona out for the weekend for a BBQ dinner on Sunday night for Lily's birthday.
I was busy that day cooking up a storm.
Made chicken and mushroom pastries
Then for lunch bbq'd chicken skewers they had bought at Flemington markets. Made a salad to have with. Laid out a cheese and crackers platter to munch on.
For dinner, Janet had marinated pork ribs the night before, which she slow cooked in the over, before I basted it with my honey garlic sauce with additional orange, on the charcoal bbq.
I made a Thai beef salad and a beetroot with sweet potato and feta salad to accompany the ribs and leftover skewers.
I had made a big cheesecake as well as 4 mini cheesecakes (trial run for OTEN bakeoff and Kaylene needed 2 for her girls night get together with the Chans)
So on Monday we dropped Fiona back to Kirrawee after lunch with the Seeto's and then head back home. Lucky we did, as the rest of the family were heading out to Macau Kitcken for more birthday celebrations.
This was our second time that month, as Darren shouted the family to a birthday dinner on 28 Sep because he wouldn't be home for his mum's birthday.
Labour Day holiday, no tennis.
We took Fiona out for the weekend for a BBQ dinner on Sunday night for Lily's birthday.
I was busy that day cooking up a storm.
Made chicken and mushroom pastries
Then for lunch bbq'd chicken skewers they had bought at Flemington markets. Made a salad to have with. Laid out a cheese and crackers platter to munch on.
For dinner, Janet had marinated pork ribs the night before, which she slow cooked in the over, before I basted it with my honey garlic sauce with additional orange, on the charcoal bbq.
I made a Thai beef salad and a beetroot with sweet potato and feta salad to accompany the ribs and leftover skewers.
I had made a big cheesecake as well as 4 mini cheesecakes (trial run for OTEN bakeoff and Kaylene needed 2 for her girls night get together with the Chans)
So on Monday we dropped Fiona back to Kirrawee after lunch with the Seeto's and then head back home. Lucky we did, as the rest of the family were heading out to Macau Kitcken for more birthday celebrations.
This was our second time that month, as Darren shouted the family to a birthday dinner on 28 Sep because he wouldn't be home for his mum's birthday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)