|
|
|
May 2006 Welcome to our mid-year update. We had a topsy turvy few months since Flick's Brazilian Carnaval themed birthday (see our previous update), with Dave immersed in study and work, Flick selling in her latest range around Australia & NZ, and somehow managing to be out of Sydney almost every second weekend during March and April, culminating in our fabulous trip to Vietnam, a bit of Cambodia and Kuala Lumpur (click through to the trip web site) during the MBA semester break. Early in March we had a visit from Andrew (Drew) Lock and Natalie, on their way back to the UK from NZ. It happened to coincide with Tina Ryan's birthday bash in the Hunter, and we all enjoyed a good dose of Ryan hospitality along with our much needed fix of table dancing.
Matt and Tina (seen above with daughter Indy in our wine cellar in February) sponsored the Manly Yacht Club's Friday Twilight series for the first (and hopefully not the last) time this year, and came sailing with us a couple of times, starting a tradition of raucous lolly eating and wine drinking sessions back at our place. A week or so later we were back in Wellington for Gerard (an old flame of Flick's) and Clare's wedding, an elegant affair at Old St Paul's, followed by a marquee reception at the Gear Homestead (made famous as the aliens' base and space ship in Peter Jackson's first feature Bad Taste). During our brief stay we managed to catch up with a few friends for drinks and dinner at the Matterhorn, followed by the legendary hot chocolates and chocolate silk at Expressoholic. For some strange reason Neill came out wearing school uniform. Fiona and JB also feature below. A couple of weeks after that and we were off for an accidental long weekend in Palm Cove: that's what happens when you have your hand up at the wrong time during a charity auction. As you can see, the apartment style accommodation (Amphora Resort) and setting were lovely, but by the time we'd paid the auction price (no, it was definitely not a prize), added flights, transfers, meals, a trip to an award winning spa and a diving / snorkelling trip on the Great Barrier Reaf with Poseidon it was a rather expensive weekend.
A couple of weeks after that (we kid you not), we headed deep into country NSW to Narrendara to attend the wedding of Flick's colleague (and daughter of Running Bare's owners) Yolanda, to Mark. Held on her parents' Brian and Corrinne's cattle farm and with a Jewish feel, it turned out to be a very special (black tie) affair, including the splendid "recovery breakfast" the next day.
With Dave's exam looming (literally the day we left for Vietnam), there was no chance of going anywhere for Easter. We did, however, have an enjoyable night and Easter Sunday morning with Toby and Diane, complete with an egg hunt for Dominic and Cecilia. Max, who went AWOL during their time in Brisbane, has recently been replaced by Yardo (named by Dominic).
Somewhere amongst all that we also managed to catch up for breakfast in Manly with Jean and Grant, who were down for a grant presentation.
Phew, I think that about wraps it up. Since Vietnam we've been trying to keep a low profile, although as I write this Flick is partying in Wellington with her Sydney friend Vanessa (and I imagine some of the usual suspects) - the fulfillment of a pact they made during the DJs days.
All the best,
|
