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19.7.09

Warning! long post ahead with NO scrapping!

And I say the warning because last night we had Mark's parents and sister over for dinner and we showed our video of our trip and Christie's birthday and our day cruising Phi Phi and surrounding islands. Well, although WE loved it and it was the best day and reliving it was fun......ah..... boring for everyone else! I have learnt three important lessons about video cameras........one is film what you want and turn off REALLY QUICKLY! no lingering ! (VERY IMPORTANT. Two: Video cameras DO NOT allow for Portrait shots! If you turn a video camera on its side.........you get twenty minutes of filming on its side!!!! hee hee! and MOST IMPORTANTLY!!! make sure the pause button is ON and double check this.....BEFORE you swear at someone for being an idiot! heed my warning folks!
Well we had to get the obligatory shot of the family in front of the International Departures sign! We waited until the last minute to board as Christie couldn't tear herself away from Tom! When we finally did board the plane, just before I stepped on to the aircraft, I counted the passports that everyone gave back to me.................ARGGGHHH ONE WAS MISSING!!! Sh*t! I thought oh that would be right I have lost my passport! I screamed to Mark one was missing and I RAN back to the terminal and a staff member was running towards me smiling waving PATRICK'S passport! He just put it on the ledge after they looked at it thinking that he didn't need it anymore. I was MORE diligent from that moment on let me tell you!
Let me tell you Thai Airways were fantastic and I will certainly be flying with them again! The safety, service, staff, and entertainment were 5 star! The 8 hour flight "flew" by as all the children had their own entertainment units and Lachlan stuffed up four before he got one that worked. We watched a heap of movies and played nintendo games & I even played bejewelled! We had a chuckle when we were served a snack of an Anzac biscuit from EMU BOTTOM homestead. It was delicious too! I loved when we landed, our little screen showed the runway and us landing. unbelievable!
By the time we arrived at Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) International Airport. It was midnight or 1ish and I was so impressed with this airport! It has changed since I was last time (25 years ago) The art work all around the place is sensational and it has such a "clean safe" feel about it. I didn't like the smoking rooms though...disgusting! Little 9 X 9 rooms that smokers were able to use and they reeked and there was so much smoke in there I don't reckon they could even see each other!We got to our hotel and the boys had a quick explore, but as it was after midnight, everything was closed. Our suite was just beautiful we had adjoining rooms and a beautiful sitting room and kitchenette. Our bed was soooo comfy and if I could have stolen the pillow and doona I would have I have never felt anything so luxurious
A view from our hotel room.
We got up and had an early brekkie! The kids thought the food was excellent and had sooo much of everything! Everyone loaded their plates sky high! You would have thought I have never fed them! It was such a novelty that they ate and ate and ate! Mark & I loved the coffee and Mark loved his omelet that was made for him.
The kids (boys) were just busting to try all the services at the hotel and as it was too early for the markets, we told them to go for it! Aden and Lachlan hired some badminton racquet's and a shuttlecock we all headed off to the court. It was hilarious and we all had a go, Aden and Christie were actually quiet good.
After that bout of family fun, the boys decided that they would have a swim and a spa and a little sunbathing! Then Aden and Lachlan did a gym session and all three decided to finish off in the steam room! They would have also had a game of tennis but apparently the grass court was wet.
So by this stage it is only 10.24AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and they had used every facility the hotel had to offer we headed to Mah Boon Krong (MBK Centre). This centre is situated (above or in I think) our hotel. It has 8 floors of shopping, including a cinema and a whole floor is dedicated to electronics! Aden spent most of his time there. It has real and fake and fixed prices and plenty of bargaining (which I suck at). Fabulous food and colours too. Aden bought everything possible for his computer and ipod and anything else electrical he has. Christie bought a couple of pairs of jeans and some make up and sunnies and Patrick bought a pair of runners he has been eyeing off for ages. It was quite an experience and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!We decided to do something cultural...and take a tour to see the Grand Palace. We decided as we were leaving mid morning for Phuket, we would take in a cruise. This turned out to be the best night I have ever enjoyed with my family! We had a ball and a night we will remember for a long time to come.A bus arrived to take us to the boat and the kids were mesmerised by the city and the tuk tuks and zillion electrical wires just hanging everywhere, food just hanging from everywhere. Blatant disregard for ANY sort of road rules! we saw people riding motorbikes, whilst on the phone, smoking a cigarette! Sometimes they had 4 and even 5 on the one bike! They also noted that they take a lot of things for granted! (nearly shed a tear listening to this) and how lucky they really are.When we started, dancers in traditional Thai costume danced and the band started. We ate pretty much straight away. The food was delicious and Lachlan & Patrick came back with a plate of fries! Patrick went back and tried a few things. The staff kept giving the kids props for photos and they were having a ball. They asked Mark if anyone was having a birthday and he said it was Christie's the day before. Well then it started, the whole boat was singing Happy Birthday and they came out with a cake and she just loved it! They gave her a monkey necklace and a princess crown. The band started and all the staff kept dragging all the kids up to dance and the sax player was brilliant!OH yeah and we saw some beautiful Thai scenery! The Grand Palace. King Bhumibol Adulyadey, Rama IX is Thailand's current ruling monarch. Although he doesn't live in the palace, he does live quite close by. Impressed? Again, not too happy with my photography :( I didn't have a tripod and this is the best shot I got.
I also really liked this bridge and said that there were a lot like it along the river and said as much to Mark. He started laughing and told me the boat had turned around and it was the SAME bridge! I think I was having so much fun I didn't notice! LOL We had a fabulous time and the next photo just says it all for me!
we had a tuk tuk race from Patpong night market where all the lady-boys are. Great, but I wasn't entirely comfortable there. The kids loved it and got a few bargains....or so they thought.
well that is all for now! stay tuned for the next exciting update: Phuket!
see ya! :)

17.7.09

2 in two days woo hoo!

My biggest baby was 19 on Monday 29th June. Christie went out with all her friends clubbing on the Sunday night in the city and they had all left before I had returned from Sydney (plane was delayed) She woke up not too early,thank goodness as it was the first day of school holidays! But in saying that we WERE going overseas the next day and there was lots to do!!! I dragged her out of bed and shoved her presents in her lap....There were no surprises really as I had bought her the WHOLE range of Rip Curl Tahiti luggage! which she chose and organised the purchase over the net a couple of months ago! she also got the usual 1 kilo of pistachios and 2 family block peppermint (her fav) chocolate. She went out for lunch with Tom and we had a family dinner of Chinese. She got lots of money which she was happy about! (spending moola)
Molly had a feeling something was up and we were going to leave her I think! She crawled into Christie's new carry on bag!
The boys just love Tom (more than Christie I think) they all wanted to be in a photo with Tom and at the last minute Aden pushed Christie out of the way. It was funny....
Sorry about the photos... I am still playing around with my camera. Bear with me. When I have some time (!!!?!!!) I am going to enrol in a photography course. It is on my bucket list! Still looking for my 4GB card and after looking at my photos I noticed one that I was looking for in particular wasn't downloaded. I looks like the computer has missed blocks of 38 and 22 photos. I think the SD card may be corrupt and the puta is showing some photos as a torn in half icon. I might go to BIG W and print the whole lot..........1978 photos @ 19 hmmmm $375.82 well maybe not! seeing as 400 of them were parasailing and the hotdog!

16.7.09

Well here goes....

I have a bit of time tonight (well I don't really! but I am so over bookwork and the pool that I am making time to post...lucky you! LOL) I will start at the beginning (for my mum's sake) and that was the Paddy boy came home safely from Canberra! I just love that I have bred little scrappers! Here are a few of the artistic beauties my last born brought me for his album! Do you not just love the lines and the creativeness of these pics and how about that last one of him wistfully looking out the bus window! pure magic!!!!
THEN came my FANTASTIC AWESOME 3AS retreat in Sydney! My lovely friend Naomi (who was going to fly with me but due to work commitments had to take a later flight) ended up MISSING her flight :( Christie took me to the airport and when we got to the check in I was 7kg overweight! (I mean really! WHO is overweight GOING anywhere!!!!) Christie asked the attendant if I could take a few things out and proceeded to open my case and took out all my thickers (you scrappers will know what I am talking about) and HEY PRESTO underweight! I mean those foam suckers are heavy you know!!! (I CAN HEAR YOU LAUGHING FROM HERE DEB!) anyway I got to Sydney airport and I was really nervous and apprehensive about meeting these girls. Sure I have talked to them online and they are all really friendly but I was scared (yeah really) Then I saw the beautiful Deb, smiling and she looked exactly like her avatar, sitting with some other angels, Gail, Mel, Col, Kylie we were using the cafe as a meeting spot. After meeting Heike and Judy we headed off to the retreat.
We weren't allowed to get to our rooms until 5ish so we decided on an early dinner. When we got back Naomi finally arrived, after PAYING for another flight and a bus ride she was surprisingly calm! we got ready to go to the chapel (the room the retreat was held in!) I recognized everyone straight away! It was like catching up with old friends! The classes were brilliant!! such a TALENTED design team! We started off with an acrylic album of 'me' using Theresa Collins papers by DEB MULLINS. This was a brilliantly put together album and I would love to show you BUT I have shoved everything in a room and Naomi has some of my things that I haven't picked up yet :( I will show everything in a later post I promise) after we prepared our shadowbox by the gorgeous MEL FORBES got down and dirty for this one and I was really happy how mine turned out (all the while thinking 'how the hell was I going to get this home!) I think my shadowbox is at Nai's house (I'll get it this weekend Nai!) after that Nai and I were exhausted and decided to call it a night! I know! I left a retreat at a decent hour!! (12.30am) what the hell!
The next day we finished our shadowboxes and started on Heike's card case and cards. Just gorgeous too. I loved how mine turned out and again......I will show! we also had a virtual class by Melleny it was beautiful also although I didn't even get to start that one. I started to get blurred vision so I went for a nana nap for a couple of hours. After dinner we started on our challenge with a pack supplied and let me tell you EVERYTHING we did, every class had EVERYTHING supplied! It was the most generous goody bag! Our table was sooo much fun, Lorraine, Sue, Tracey & Kylie already we a firm facebook friends! All in all, I had a superb time and I met some people I KNOW I will be friends with for a long time!
This is our fantastic table! Tracey, Nai Me Sue Kylie & Loraine at the bottom. I NEED to go on a retreat with Sue (Lady far right) MAN that lady has some STUFF! I would just bring my trimmer and tape and I would be SET!
Nai me and Mel. She is just awesome! What a funny gorgeous girl! Love what she does LOVED spending time with her and Loved our little drink at the airport! wished it was longer!

Jo, myself Nai & Rosy They are the owners of 3AS

The absolutely gorgeous Heike! Wow, I couldn't wait to meet her! This woman is incredible! I am in total awe of her and what she can achieve being the mother of 7 children and always seems so calm! really supportive and friendly to everyone on the forum, All her work is just beautiful and ALWAYS being picked up by some mag! and Deb (maroon scarf) what a beautiful lady I am so happy I got to meet her! We laughed most of the weekend (mostly due to my 7 kilos of thickers) I can't wait to meet her again!

Ellen me & Donna. and below the super talented Nat! My goodness, this girl could write her name on a piece of paper and I would be in awe! I just love how she puts it together! so effortlessly, the colours the photos and I was really happy to meet her in person!

and here she is being a sooky la la because she didn't win the scavenger hunt! (sorry Nat!)

I am surprised I didn't take more photos! For the plane trip home I carried my 15 kilos of paper I DIDN'T use!!! and was just under!!!!

I have misplaced 4GB memory card of my Thai holiday so I will try get back with all the details soon!

13.7.09

Did ya miss me?

I have so much to tell and show! Just got back last night from 2 glorious weeks in Bangkok and Phuket. We had an absolutely brilliant time and I will share....soon. The 3AS retreat was fantastic! They were sooooo generous with their goody bag!! Met all the ladies I "talk" to and they were just beautiful too! My table were funny as! will share about that too......soon. I really NEED to get some work done, the phone has been ringing its bum off since 8 this morning :( back to work eh!