Thinking this may well be the last time Arran believes in Santa Claus, note left out to Santa, and the doubt creeping in as to whether it really is Mum or Dad. With lots of "Is it really you Mum?" being asked.
Well this year we have been very Chistmassey, with the tree and some carols on the CD player. Shocking what they sell you from those cheap compilation disks. But Arran is happy with them.
We also went a little upmarket with the Opera Australia Christmas carols. A little highbrow, but we did recognise most of the tunes!
After what seems like an interminable amount of swimming lessons, we were back at Cook and Phillip for a test to restart classes. Swim school with the public school system definitely seems to have given Arran a lot more confidence in the water and she charged away.
With so many blogs, websites, myspace, Facebooks, wikipedias etc etc, where is all this information going? where is it all being stored? Who is ever going to read it all?
Is the history of humanity floating around in space? What about all those images? Will it stay there until the end of humanity as we know it?
Who is going to be the ultimate archiver?
The world is speeding up, but the content isn't slowing down. Who is there to read it?
Well it was really stressful putting on a new jazz series of mainly local Sydney talent, on a week when all the heavy hitters of the International jazz world were on their way to Wangaratta, and doing extra gigs in Sydney on their way through.
However, all considered we did OK and actually managed to attract a larger audience then most nights at JG and of course more than SIMA which has a limited capacity. Not bad for a new venture, in a location that people aren't used to. So I am optimistic about the future.
Image is of the Pascal Schumacher quartet, a band with musicians from Brussels, Germany and of course Luxembourg. They were fabulous, if you get a chance to see them, don't miss them.
Mothership sounded good, they all fit on this stage.
Rushing around from Cat Empire all ages, down to melbourne for some "culture" and lots of sitting down concerts, then onto my first meeting for Sound Travellers and a kiddies swim party today.
I was hoping for a slow down after next week and keep on dreaming of holidays
Well, it was a work party in October? The Silver Shovel awards. I have to admit that I haven't seen alcohol that free flowing at a work function for quite some time. The house band was singing that night, and Fran whose team I work with is featuring in this track.
Rabbit is based on the Alice story, re-interpreted into a playful dance/movement piece by Buzz Theatre from WA.
Very cute puppets, bunnies have lots of "aaah" value. Some great movement and use of props. Moves at a good pace, so entertaining for the whole family.
Currently performing at the Opera House. Image courtesy of Buzz website.
The other great way to spend some time was a visit to Carriageworks where I saw Babylove.
Actually an art installation, but with enough excitement to make it a viable ride.
These battery powered babies are fun.
We also saw Stalker playing around with their Catapults. Have a look at the video, it was fascinating watching David and Max, float and hover through the air. Sadly we didn't manage to catch the Erth "petting zoo", but hopefully there will be another chance during another holiday.
The current Australian Government thinks we should have a citizen test, this one is a bit of a laugh and to top it off you can listen to "True Blue" while you are doing it.
2007 Australian Citizenship test
1. Do you understand the meaning, but are unable to explain the origin of, the term "died in the arse"?
2. What is a 'bloody little beauty'?
3. Are these terms related: chuck a sickie; chuck a spaz; chuck a U-ey?
4. Explain the following passage: "In the arvo last Chrissy the relos rocked up for a barbie, some bevvies and a few snags. After a bit of a Bex and a lie down we opened the pressies, scoffed all the chockies, bickies and lollies. Then we drained a few tinnies and Mum did her block after Dad and Steve had a barney and a bit of biffo."
5. Macca, Chooka and Wanger are driving to Surfers in their Torana. If they are travelling at 100 km/h while listening to Barnsey, Farnsey and Acca Dacca, how many slabs will each person on average consume between flashing a brown eye and having a slash?
6. Complete the following sentences: a) "If the van's rockin' don't bother...." ? b) You're going home in the back of a..... ? c) Fair crack of the.... ?
7. I've had a gutful and I can't be fagged. Discuss
8. Have you ever been on the giving or receiving end of a wedgie?
9. Do you have a friend or relative who has a car in their front yard "up on blocks"? Is his name Bruce and does he have a wife called Cheryl?
10. Does your family regularly eat a dish involving mincemeat, cabbage, curry powder and a packet of chicken noodle soup called either chow mein, chop suey or kai see ming?
11. What are the ingredients in a rissole?
12. Demonstrate the correct procedure for eating a Tim Tam.
13. Do you have an Aunty Irene who smokes 30 cigarettes a day and sounds like a bloke?
14. In any two-hour period have you ever eaten three-bean salad, a chop and two serves of pav washed down with someone else's beer that has been flogged from a bath full of ice?
15. When you go to a bring- your-own-meat barbie can you eat other people's meat or are you only allowed to eat your own?
16. What purple root vegetable beginning with the letter "b" is required by law to be included in a hamburger with the lot?
17. Do you own or have you ever owned a lawn mower, a pair of thongs, an Esky or Ugg boots?
18. Is it possible to "prang a car" while doing "circle work"?
19. Who would you like to crack on to?
20. Who is the most Australian: Kevin "Bloody" Wilson, John "True Blue" Williamson, Kylie Minogue or Warnie?
21. Is there someone you are only mates with because they own a trailer or have a pool?
22. What does 'sinkin piss at a mates joint and getten para' mean?
Hi two really unrelated events, just spent a few days in Brisbane, hot days I might add. The kind when you don't really want to walk the streets.
That must pose a serious issue for the water shortage, which is dire up their, as one feels the need for more showers, as being sweaty is not really an attractive choice.
Back to Sydney for Barbie at Taronga Park Zoo. They have really hit on a formula, with the newest offering being the Island Princess, complete with cute animals that translate well to product.
So I won one of the silent auction prizes at my daugher's fundraiser. This year it was an art auction. Plus my daughter had over 6 artworks on display, costing $5 each. However after buying 3, we figured that we might well see the others return home to us at some stage. Good guess. I just hope we don't have to hang all of them on our walls!
Time just slips away and with my hellish months ahead, also thinking how to proceed with Women & Wealth. We are still in the design stages, though the site is live, it is not yet "finished" and we are still refining the design. However, I am thinking it is going to look good and thank god, we are getting to the end of that stage.
Spent the Saturday of the long weekend attending Electrofringe, a sound art/electronic music Festival in Newcastle. Very fringe in nature and content, but interesting to see different worlds.
Couldn't believe the number of burnt out disused buildings in Newcastle.
Train ride there and back was good for staring out the window and being amazed with how much music I have on my MP3 and how much longer the battery works than the old days with the walkman.
Next stop is the mountains of work involved in my numerous projects, which should be keeping me very busy.
So in the life of a Consultant I have hedged my bets and when the last tender came through I realised that September/October are/were going to be busy months.
What with launching and setting up a framework for a new touring program called Sound Travellers to fundraising at the Zoo, not to mention my own concert series Places & Spaces and the Jazz:Now Festival.
So it was a mixed week of performances at the Opera House seeing jazz, interspersed with a penguin talk at the zoo. Having the chance to have a snake fun its tongue over my hand, amazing soft, sensitive quality and surpisingly snake skin is also nearly velvety soft.
Then it was running all the way to a music assembly for the Music Council of Australia, where as a bystander it was interesting to hear what is going on in their world.
Life if very busy at the moment, with lots of juggling trying to get projects moving forwards.
I am very absorbed by the Sound Travellers project which is to tour sound art/electronica, improvised jazz and contemporary classical music. There are so many possibilities, the question is how to source the money to fund it.
Then there is Places & Spaces with my Music @ the factory being launched on 1 November. It has been great because I have found all sorts of possible support from my colleagues at the Zoo! Great how things connect.
There was a great version of the Chaser at the Zoo and of course the Canadian stunt was rather a good indication of how poor the security actually was vs how much posturing the police did this weekend.
So a beautiful spring day for Father's day. Well I have to say my husband scored better than I do, he got waffles, strawberries and maple syrup, whereas I got some sad croissants I bought myself and had served without jam, just butter - not good for someone with high cholestral. Our daughter did a sterling job of chopping strawberries.
Saw my friend Joh Puglisi's first choreographic piece as part of Bodylines at NIDA. It was great to see her work, and even better that we liked it, so we could be honest when we said we liked it! That is something that always stresses me out when I see friends work.
Also saw the amazing Katie Noonan, what a voice, what a talent. If you can catch her on her current tour, make the effort. She is really special.
On the lighter side of life, this is a incredibly silly video, courtesy of surfing Youtube with my daugher!
One of the great things about living in Sydney is the beautiful harbour.
I am working at the Zoo at the moment and it is rather a pleasant thing to be able to catch a ferry to work, take in the harbour view. When work becomes a fog, it is great to be able to walk around, look at the animals, have some fresh air.
This must be one of the best situated zoos in the world.
So, the school flu finally hit at home with Arran feeling wobbly after swimming class on Saturday. Amazing that she made it through the class.
After an early night we managed to nurse her to enough strength to do a new workshop with Australian Theatre for Young People, which she really enjoyed. However, I reckon going to the movies with her Dad later in the day ensured a day off school on the Monday.
The dilema is, is she really sick enough to have a day off, or has she worked out how to pull a fake sicky? Well we gave her the benefit of the doubt.
This week's trend spotting, is probably an old concept revamped with blankets provided at a coffee shop. Makes sense in these times of global warming.
Made very aware of this by a visit to Brisbane where dam levels are at 17% and the influx of population is around 1500 per week. Couldn't believe the banks of the river were like Singapore with the mega high rises. So what is the point of living in Brisbane if it is like any other big city? I actually thought its charm was the relaxed pace.
I spent the week at the Australian International Music Market. Great fun, lots of performances, lots of networking, meeting new people, catching up with others.
How very nice to spend time on my own, what bliss to have a large bed to myself and no one to worry about except myself.
How equally nice to come back and spend the day hanging out with my daughter, but what devastation that I bought back a skirt that was too small! Won't be doing that again.
Well the last day of the school holidays and horror, as my daugher off to the hair dressers for a cut was found to have head lice. This was a bit annoying as we had taken her to the chemist and the Doctor as she had been scratching her head, but she had been given the all clear. So obviously the hair dresser knows best.
Strangely no-one else in the family had the eggs, but we have now all had the treatment.
Of course, you can't go to school with head lice, so we had an extended school holiday in our house.
One a day at the Zoo on the Animal Adventures program, a behind the scenes opportunity to look at what a vet does. This was obviously a fantastic day spent at Taronga Zoo by my 7 year old, judging by her enthusiasm and recounting of animal behaviour stories. Sadly I didn't get to see myself, but there were birds involved and lots to see and do.
The other extreme was Harry Potter's new movie. Seeing it at IMAX was a bit of a con, as only the last 20 minutes were in 3D. So we had to put up with the ridiculous queues, smelly venue, super large pixels and sitting too close that made stuff look out of focus.
Not an experience to be recommended. A good quality big screen would have been preferable. The film was light on character development, but a good romp through with lots of action.
So there were only 12 performances for the July school holidays and guess what? they sold out. Children's theatre is alive and kicking.
This show was beautifully staged and executed, featuring Australia's amazing prehistoric creatures and land brought to life with full body puppets and large-scale inflatable plants.
The journey was a bit scarey for some of the younger children, you need darkness for puppets, which can be frightening. However it was a lovely journey seeing giant dinosaurs, insects, indigenous plants, life-size rocks and mammals.
The land masses changed shape, there was a bit of death and murder with flesh-eating dinosaurs nesting, feeding and fighting for survival.
Plus for my daughter the best part was the interactive session at the end, where Basil, featured as a performing animal. He was given eye drops, and fed leaves by various audience members. Plus we now know that his wife and kids live in New Zealand.
Performed by Erth Theatre Company, it was educational and great entertainment.
If you were one of the lucky ones to have seen the show, it was also great value.
Arran has also been off to Animal Adventures at Targona Zoo. You can spend a day with the Zoo education people and it was interesting that my daughter's takeaway was that she saw water rats behind the scenes!
The theme of the day was Australian mammals, which I am trying to figure out - are the seal's in the seal show Australian? There were also the pigs, where they went into the pen
School holidays and the juggle between working and taking time off for activities.
We headed off to the Powerhouse for the Bollywood activities and found that our girls were less interested than us Mum's. Hey, that's life, Nicola and I had great fun, the kids were more intersted in the dress ups and the playground outside.
First off, the Mango dance choreographer's did a great job for a "dance along" scenario. Simple moves, fun, with lots of encouragement. Were they taken aback by the popularity of the dancing by the adults!
Yes the adults crowded out the kids, my daughter tells me she was kind of embarrassed, but what the hell I had fun, and it is certainly a great work out.
There are also dress ups, a winner for all ages. Two Bollywood poster images form a backdrop which makes for some fun images showing on the wall. Definitely take your camera.
The sand/coloured powder artwork was beautiful.
Unfortunately we missed the dance performance, which is on at 12.15
However, the playground near the cafe was a winner with the kids. Cafe was good, the Powerhouse seem to have lifted its game, as it was looking very weary last time I visited.
Joanne Kee www.ceressolutions.com.au
Bollywood activities - winter program at the Powerhouse Museum from2-13 July, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo. www.powerhousemuseum.com
It has been a long, slow process having our back balcony enclosed.
I cannot believe the amount of paperwork involved with Council approval needing to be obtained, it has taken the better part of 18 months and the cost with Council approvals, architect's plans, building inspections and the list goes on, is huge.
We are getting closer to completion as we had a new floor laid yesterday and the house is in absolute turmoil with boxes everywhere. As we decided to do three rooms at once.
Amazing how much junk one can accumulate in 10 years!
Is it just a Sydney thing or does it happen everywhere around the world? It seems to me that the most competitive area in my life is taking care of my daughter's schedule.
It started from before she was born, with booking a midwife (in my day it was a genuine option), the birthing centre, the hospital and Doctor (backup - just in case) the pre and post natal appointments.
The hint of a child and I was onto daycare lists - searching for that elusive space. It sounds as though it is even worse now even though the Government is constantly talking about child care spaces.
Then it was schools, checking them out, going on more lists - forget the private school lists, we can't even begin to go there unless:
a)we win the lottery - highly unlikley as I don't buy tickets
b)I change professions and become an investment banker or similiar - again unlikely, it has taken me many years to reach a point of understanding that enjoying work is more important than the pay packet
c)my daugher gets a scholarship and then would that be a good or a bad thing as she would fall into the - can't afford a pair of designer jeans or a trip to Europe at the drop of a hat.
d) my husband has a dramatic work/lifestyle change that brings in big bucks.
We might hope to get into a selective public school, but what horror stories there, with one statistic quoted of over 900 applications for about 90 places.
Now that we are happily enrolled in our local public school (which also had a waiting list! for out of area students,) we then go onto the after school care list. It seems as though there has been a mini population explosion with even more kids enrolling in the years after we started. Spaces for after care are also highly sought after.
Next is holiday programs and other extra curricular activities It seems like all the popular ones are also in demand and you need to plan with military precision to get your child booked into these.
Taronga Zoo's Adventure program even congratulates you for getting into the program!
Pine Street, a city of Sydney run arts centre has a phone call or in person policy with the bookings opening on a specified day. Frequently the courses are all booked out by the end of the day, sometimes even in the morning. I am surprised there aren't scalpers, though I did hear that tickets for the children's show Velveteen Rabbit were being sold on e-bay.
Even swim school enrolment is a competitive process with spaces and timeslots being highly valued commodoties.
With being a working parent, organising holiday activities is really important.
Saw a Sydney Film Festival this week, I think the first one I have seen in about 7 years. Though that isn't to say that the program hadn't tempted me, I did try to book but gave up.
It was an Egyptian film and it was interesting as the film was attended by the Egyptian Consul and some other VIPS, including the writer and the translater to see the rolling hills of protocol etiquette.
Also curious how the translater had decided that she didn't want to do the Q&A session after the movie and would have run out of the cinema if left to her own devices.
The move was The Yacoubian Building by OMARET YACOUBIAN, a great film even at 172 minutes.
From a child’s point of view Dreamworld, Seaworld and Warner Movie world are definitely destinations in themselves. Worlds within worlds where you can visit the Wild West, A Wiggles World, or Polar Bear shores. We haven’t even mentioned what could be considered as the more peripheral world’s orbiting in the trail of the big three such as Currumbin Sanctuary or Whitewater World, one of the newer additions to the Gold Coast. The list goes on, it’s fierce competition for that tourist holiday dollar.
The attraction for many is the family holiday destination, with lots of thrills and activities. Surfers Paradise definitely caters for as many different styles of people as possible from the serious “luxe” market in the refined world of the Palazzo Versace, where the swimming pool has been recreated as a small beach through to the cheap and cheerful with fast food and fast fun being on the menu – McDonalds, KFC etc abound
How to choose?
The first qualifying statement is that being transported to another world from the hours of 10-5 ain’t cheap. For a family for four you are looking at a cost of $64 for an adult and $42 for a child, adding up to $212 for a family of four for a day pass to one theme park whether it be the Warner Group or the Dreamland experience. Of course there are a range of special options ie three park pass from Warner which includes Seaworld and Wet n’ wild for $135 for an adult and $86 for a child or for Dreamworld and Whitewater World a two park pass is $99 for an adult and $66 for a child.
Whilst all the main activities are included, food and the all prevalent merchandise can put a serious dent in your hip pocked. If you can take some snacks this is recommended not just for the savings but also because the food on offer is fairly standard fair of fish and chips, burgers etc. A water bottle is a must if you are traveling in summer.
Budget tip
* If the thought of visiting so many parks is a bit daunting you can also save money by visiting the same park twice. This is something offered by all the parks once you are there. On your way out of the park you can extend your pass by an additional day for a discounted second day rate. * Organisations such as NRMA, the Entertainment book offer discounted tickets if pre-paid and booked for all the Worlds. * Deals also can be had through Seaworld Nara Resort which frequently offers special packages that include resort entry, usually offered outside peak season. * There is also lots of competition in all hotel ranges so it pays to shop around for what can be included with your accommodation ie breakfasts, children’s meals.. * Some deals are also good for lone parents or carers traveling with children – it’s worth shopping around.
Which world for me? Of course it all comes down to personal taste and age ranges. All the parks offer a few “heart stopping” signature rides from the Big 5 thrill rides at Dreamworld, The Claw, Tower of Terror, Giant Drop, Cyclone, and the Wipeout; at Warners you can find the Batwing Spaceshot and a range of roller coasters from the child friendly Road Runner Rollercoaster then getting faster and more furious with Wild West Falls, Scooby Doo or the Lethal Weapon Ride; at Seaworld you can find the Corkscrew Rollercoaster and the Pirate Ship.
Warner and Dreamworld would probably win the thrill ride vote particularly for teenagers plus. For myself, who is not really a fan of these kind of thrills but as an accompanying parent had to go along for the rides, Seaworld was about my speed. Of course Seaworld is better known for the sea animals from Penguins, dolphins and seals to sharks. A fantastic experience here is the Animal Adventures. A series of more up close and personal encounters with the animals.
My daughter went to the Dolphin adventures and whilst not actually swimming with the dolphins, you definitely get up close and personal. Expect to feed a dolphin, rub their tummy, give them a kiss, souvenir photo included - and you will get wet even though you wear a wetsuit.
Tip.
* These packages are really popular so it pays to do your homework and book in advance. * The trainer led experiences as well as being a load of fun are educational.
If you want animal experiences, Dreamworld could also be the place for you. Of course there is Tiger Island – (I think this is where they send Big Brother contestants after they get voted out!). Plus there is the Australian Wildlife experience, the Sunset Safari (guided behind the scenes tours) and the Farmyard friends.
For those of you who either like to touch the animals or are traveling with children, the good thing about these experiences are that you can pat the kangaroos and if you so desire have your photo taken cuddling a koala (obviously this is also an attractive option for a lot of adults as well). For those of us who live down South where koala touching is usually a no, no this is a great experience. Same applies to the farmyard creatures that you can pet and help with their feeding.
As for what is best for the toddler plus age group, once again, all the parks cater for this group and have special dedicated activities and rides.
Continuing with Dreamworld there is the Wiggles World. One would have to say that Wiggledom is practically a rite of passage now for Australian children. So this gives you an opportunity to do the Big Red Car ride, dance with Dorothy and visit Captain Feathersword’s ship.
If you want more than all that wiggling, there is also the Nickleodeon Central rides area and the Dreamworld people have conveniently listed family rides as a category to help with your theme park visit planning. That’s a big plus for me.
Warner World has the Looney Tunes village for the younger age group. Seaworld has Cartoon Beach. There are also rides such as the Bermuda Triangle and The Flume Ride which are moderate.
Tip
* Generally there children’s rides are fairly mild, for those with children a little older who want more adventure, there are height restrictions on some of the rides, but no age restrictions. Check the websites for more details.
Time
There is such a multitude of activities within just these three flagship parks, it would be easy to do nothing except theme parks. However, its worth remembering that there is much much more on offer in the surrounding areas from mini golf to the Water theme parks to Currumbin for wildlife, themed meals such as Dracula’s or an outback adventure. Plus for those who do want to chill out, day spas also seem to have a strong presence. Suffice to say you can cram a hell of a lot of activity into one holiday.
Warners has a lot of action rides and seems to specialize in the roller coaster experience starting with the gentler Road Runner ride and working up to Lethal weapon and Scooby Doo, an indoor disco kind of roller coaster – don’t let the cute cartoon name fool you, this is a full on ride.
All of the parks have shows and other entertainment. Plus both the Warners and the Dreamworld Group have water parks. Warners have Wet’n’Wild and Dreamworld have launched the newest themepark, Whitewater world. Seaworld has a smaller Waterpark inside the theme park.
It can get hot in Surfers so these are good ways to keep cool and for when the weather drops to a chilly 20 degree average in winter, Whitewater world has heated water!
For the average person each park offers a full day’s entertainment plus. In my personal opinion I think that Dreamworld has a tiny edge in respect of offering something for everyone, but those Animal adventures at Seaworld also rate very highly with me.
Accommodation options
If you are the kind of person who likes a bit of down time it is possible to book hotels with kids clubs and child minding and spas. If your hotel doesn’t have a spa, don’t fret as there are various spas in town and a couple of legitimate businesses where the masseuse visits the hotel.
Obvious choices with kids clubs are Sea World Nara Resort and the Paradise Resort. I have to admit that the Paradise Resort was looking a tad tired when I visited, though conceptually it is very children focused.
If you do a comparison of these two resorts the difference for me is that Paradise Resort feels more like an activity based resort with Karaoke, Polynesian Dance spectacular and Bingo nights. Seaworld is a touch more upmarket without the range of activities but it does have a small day spa. When I was there I overheard a long and heated complaint about some of the rooms at Nara, so I suspect that some rooms are better than others. Definitely don’t go expecting the same kind of finishing touches as you would find at the Palazzo Versace or the Sheraton.
It is worth checking out websites such as Trip Advisor for independent opinions from fellow holiday makers. To compare the hotel glitz against real life experiences.
If you only have a few days my recommendation is not to cram too much into the time as the world’s can be exhausting. Hanging out at the resort pool can be nearly as much fun as the high voltage excitement of a theme park.
Just as an aside there were no freebies involved in any of this research, but there was definitely a very satisfied 7 year old.
Finally after a couple of years in the pipeline I have managed to get the Women and Wealth website off the ground with my partner Perrie and Sandy.
It is still a beta release so comments, suggestions are welcome, but basically it is about providing information that hopefully will empower women in the way they approach money, wealth, lifestyle.
Is there anyone else out there, who quakes at the mention of cakes stalls, trivia nights and other fundraising activities for my daughter's school?
It seems as though there is something every week, a walkathon, dolphins, red noses, Stewart House, book week and then there are the activities as well.
Plus to put the icing on the cake, you have to bring home made cakes, shop bought are not acceptable. How many of us really have the time to be baking cakes?
I think it is a wonderful thing that my daughter gets a well rounded education, but you know, I think I would prefer a "lazy" parents levy which would be the one where I just handed in some extra money to be let off the hook.
It was a beautiful night for a party. Crisp autumn night, fairy lights in the garden. Live music in a tiny terrace at the back of Newtown.
Making it special is the fact that Jerry is still with us, he is on the list for a heart transplant, so every day counts, when RPA is a regular rest stop.
Great people - as is always the case at Jerry's parties. His mother from afar, I imagine her as a Grande Dame in New York, apparently told Jerry to take photos as she wanted to make sure that he still had friends and that he hadn't driven them away from being too cantakerous!
This week I have been working on my music project, trying to make a reality a dream I have to produce a concert series of music, underpinned by fantastic musicians. The concept is to connect artists with music lovers. There is so much great music happening in Sydney, and I am sure many people who would love to hear it. The trick is marrying the two.
It seems that mainly pop music has been able to do this and be commercially successful, or organisations with lots of clout and marketing budget. I proceed on the old one step at a time philosophy and with a shoe string budget. Hopefully I will end up being able to present music in a environment people want to experience.
I have my venue, my artists, business plan etc mapped out, now I just need to find the money to kick start the project.
It is interesting as I talk to various people what thoughts they have to who would pull an audience, what sort of artistic direction to take etc, plus how easy it is to lose focus and head down many different directions.
Yet another holidays over and back to school. The house is chaos with the end of our renovation, which is proving to run to form with the costs growing and growing. So there is the cost of the actual building work, which was hardly anything, now we have the painting, the new floor, new furniture and of course we need something to cover the windows, plus it makes the rest of the house look tatty.
We spent Wednesday, Anzac Day in shopping hell for families and all, with a trip to IKEA. I knew it was a bad day to go, but had underestimated the lure of IKEA on a wet day, the number of families out for the day and the chaos of it all.
I think we actually escaped quite lightly in that we had no major rows and managed to see stuff we were interested in.
I am also amazed by the length of time it takes to cash a bank cheque. From Friday when I had settlement on my house to Friday to clear! What a racket. Yes, I know there are all sorts of excuses but it is ridiculous in this day and age and the fact that it didn't even reach my account till Tuesday is incredible.
A quick trip to Surfers Paradise to visit a few "other worlds" - in this case Movie World and Seaworld. My daughter has come of age in terms of wanting to do all the action rides, I had to send her on her own for some of the more gut wrenching ones.
However, the highlight for me, apart from the High Tea at Palazzo Versace was Arran's animal Adventure at Seaworld with the Dolphins. Check out the video.
So it really is a life with a ladder that can be a bit scarey and challenging and sometimes not always vertical.
The career direction is morphing again, this time to things that are incredibly close to the things that I have always wanted to do. Dreaming and thinking about the future seems to be a good way to go.
Life has been a bit crazy with school holidays and workmen. Our over bureaucratic process to close in our verandah is slowly drawing to completion with the builders turning up, but hey I wish I had known what day they were coming back - so I could have booked my holiday to be away at this time.
Things are coming together in terms of financial planning, why is it so hard to find a decent financial planner? Well, I am happy with my choice now, heres to a sound economic future. That ties in nicely with the launch of our financial website Women & Wealth, lets hope that we get started soon.
So its Easter again, and where did the thought of Easter presents come from?
I am still grappling with the fact that the Easter Bunny needs to visit and slightly bemused by the pure commercialisation of it all with the number of "egg hunts" taking place on Good Friday. As I have been strictly informed by the religious friends it is sacrilege to have chocolate on Good Friday.
Also cannot believe the guts of my little girl on the rides at the Easter show. I was screaming my head off, as she made me go on a stomach turning ride. Luckily I didn't have to do the vertical drop with her! So she was going faster and faster and could hardly hold on - but she enjoyed it!
So finally I have exchanged contracts on my house in Kiama.
That was an exercise in sentiment over good sense. Buying bricks and mortar for a long term investment, when really I would have been better off with shares, as by the time someone pointed out the figures to me, I needed to double the property value in 7 years just to make a decent return, not to mention all that money I was piling into the property for legal, maintenance etc.
So I reckon there needs to be a reality check framework somewhere, that is easy to access that tells you what sort of return you really need to be making money. Yes I realise there are all sorts of ratios and calculators, but until someone sat me down and showed me the proof, well it really is heart over common sense.
Hi well I was roped into a trivial pursuits fund raiser down the South Coast, they usually seem to be fund raisers don't they?
Interesting trivia fact, the questions out of Sydney seem to be easier than those in town. Now I am not classifying myself as a brain, but I had more of a chance of getting some vaguely right, where as the other sessions I have been to I have felt like the super idiot.
Also managed to have an end of the season swim, just before the weather turned. What a great way to spend some time.
What a fantastic way to spend a morning, Taronga Park Zoo, view of Sydney Harbour, then watching the elephants being washed and heading out for their breakfast.
The zoo is abuzz with activity in the early morning. Great place to hang out.
Well in sweltering Sydney heat, a pool party was a big hit. After labouring away organising a party myself this year I have gone back to the easier option of having it all arranged for you, hence we all went to Ryde aquatic centre for our big day out. 7 year old party, no mess (or at least no mess you have to clean up yourself.
Fantastic how they have built a beach on Blackwattle Bay. Admittedly I am not tempted to swim there because it has become a dog beach, but it looks great and adds to a very good vibe.
Hooray we are a step further along in the process for our renovations . Foliage has been removed, just need the Council rep to visit and we can start.
It makes me quite annoyed, I have to go through all this process and paperwork before I can start, yet the business man down the road who owns a chain of backpackers lodges just goes ahead and rebuilds before he gets his DA, and changes the usage without approval. What sort of justice is that?
It was a stinking hot day for both occasions. however it was fun to meander through Chinatown and beyond to see some of the New Year celebrations.
Mega packed on the street stalls, however with my daughters obsession with stickers and cute shops, we found lots to look at, patted the dragons nose for good luck, but different from the old days when fire crackers wre going off everywhere.
Plus lots of entertainment, such as dancing pigs to set the tone!
As for Fair Day, that is now huge, so much to see, much to hot to see it all. However, we did get to pat a very cute puppy, they make them so small now, incredible. Plus patted the pony with pink hair.
Well its been a while since I wandered down to the foreshore and its looking pretty good. The goal is to create a walkway from Glebe to the City and it will be fantastic when it is finished.
However, I do have to wonder, I hear that the State Government are thinking of allowing people to put in private jetties, which runs totally contra to the whole idea of a public walkway, with public access. What are they thinking?
Australia is a great place where in the main people can't own private beach and exclude others. All over the world they have beaches and parks which are for the elite and it sucks.
Hopefully Sydneysiders will not let individuals own our beaches and waterways.
I can't believe how hard it is to get our renovations started. The process has been going on for over a year. I seem to have that thing that is neither fish nor fowl. Not quite big enough for a serious renovation team, but not quite small enough to escape the bureacracy and red tape.
My, my those councils certainly are ready to charge for all sorts of things. I am amazed that for adding a glassed in wall to our back room that we need a building inspector!
Then there is the problem of getting the builder to commit to a start date, they seem to be coming and going as the days rush past!
I think I'll start a book to see if this 4 week job might be completed by say June or maybe the end of the year?
Hi, so life took me to Ryde Aquatic centre yesterday.
I haven't been there before and it is a mega pumping place, absolutely jam packed with people - mainly kids. Not my idea of a great way to spend time, I seem to have developed a paranoia for public pools, seen too much snot floating along.
Looking for a coffee I stumbled onto the private club, with outdoor landscaped pool area, free internet, newspapers, relaxing lounge, kids creche etc. It reminded me of a country club in a colonial outpost. Extremely genteel. They just needed the golf range (maybe they had it) because all the other stuff was there. However I am just as sure that there kids have snot too, so still not too keen on the pools.
So I ended up being able to talk to my friends in London and Sydney in an online conference call through Skype.
Events have happened that we are scattered between London, New York and Sydney, how great to be able to speak together. Albeit the connection is a bit scratchy at times, but hey, I couldn't possibly afford a Telstra conference call for an hour with that kind of set up.
Apparently MSN is also good for this kind of thing as well.
So its that crazy time of the year when you catch up with old friends, or at least try to get in touch with them, do some shopping.
One of my longest friendships, Rebecca lives overseas and is here for a moment, but has family illness to take any element of relaxation from her holiday. So yesterday I visited amidst box packing, taking a picnic lunch. The bizarre thing is that its more relaxing to see Rebecca overseas than at home.
Another of my friends, who I sadly don't really see anymore is not well and I wonder about our destinies and think how different life might have been if he had chosen a different partner.
Then there is revisiting the stores to take back items bought in the heat of the moment. My daughter must have been on a toy frenzy when she wanted a bratz doll. As when we did our clear out just before Christmas she packed all the old bratz away and they are ready for the next toy world or at least e-bay. At least we have a store credit now for another day.
Pilot of new music series
Rabbit is based on the Alice story, re-interpreted into a playful dance/movement piece by Buzz Theatre from WA.
Buzz website.
There is something I find so appealing about giraffes.
Gondwana puppet show
orld are definitely destinations in themselves. Worlds within worlds where you can visit the Wild West, A Wiggles World, or Polar Bear shores. We haven’t even mentioned what could be considered as the more peripheral world’s orbiting in the trail of the big three such as Currumbin Sanctuary or Whitewater World, one of the newer additions to the Gold Coast. The list goes on, it’s fierce competition for that tourist holiday dollar.
Images Joanne Kee
The zoo is abuzz with activity in the early morning. Great place to hang out.
Fantastic how they have built a beach on Blackwattle Bay. Admittedly I am not tempted to swim there because it has become a dog beach, but it looks great and adds to a very good vibe.
