Anzac Day Part 2

Darling Harbour.

We went into the city on Anzac day to meet up with my family as my cousin is here visiting from the UK. His mum brought him here from the UK when he was 4 ( he is now 29) for a new start after a marriage break up. Well a couple of years ago he decided to head back to the UK to work for a few years. Financially he is much better off over there so not sure if he will ever come back! Anyway here was here in Sydney on business so we all met at the Pontoon bar & grill at Darling Harbour for a get together. Cousin, niece & brother:

SIL, aunty, mum & nephew:

Dad, hubby & son:

Lachlan at the bar with the big boys LOL:

Our travels this week...

This past week Craig & I snuck away for a couple of days to the Newcastle area of NSW to catch up with some friends we haven't seen for a while. Unfortunately it rained the whole time we were there LOL

First we visited Mr Drummond at Chain Valley Bay. His wife passed away 3 months ago and we were unable to make it to the funeral so we thought we would visit him when we could. The Drummonds played a big part in Craig's life as a teenager after losing his mum when he was 16. He spent alot of time at their home ( as did many others over the years) and they welcomed him as part of the family. They are a lovely couple and have blessed many people over the years. Mrs Drummond made my wedding dress.

This is the view from his back window, not a bad bit of real estate!

The next day we visited some other friends, Tony & Karen Noone. They also were a big part of Craig's life before we met and they are now my parent's best friends. They live in a little village called Abernethy which is near Cessnock in the Hunter Valley.

We had a fantastic time at their place catching up and reminiscing and lots of laughs!!

On Thursday we planned on doing some sightseeing in Newcastle but it was bucketing down with rain, as it had the whole couple of days!! We had breakfast in a bakery cafe at Warners Bay

After brekky we went for a walkaround the water but I felt my socks were a bit wet, turns out I had crack in the soles of my shoes!! They were only a cheap pair of joggers from Kmart so can't complain LOL. As you can see it is a bit wet for walking, hence the wet socks LOL

On the way into Newcastle we stopped at a Rivers clearance shop and bought some new shoes, actually I got 2 pairs and Craig got 1 LOL. Great prices, half the price than in the normal Rivers retail stores.

We headed into Newcastle and had a drive around the headlands then went the the Customs House Hotel for lunch. It is a heritage listed building that used to be the Customs House for the Harbour. It was a gorgeous building and we had a lovely lunch.

This is the dining room:

We were amazed at the thickness of the woodwork on the door frames and skirtings:
Sorry some pics are not that great but they were taken on my phone.

Then headed home, got caught in the peak hour traffic when we came back to Sydney, certainly did not miss that while we were away!

Anzac Day

The cenotaph at Martin Place, Sydney

"They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them".

The finished Tablerunner!!

I finished the tablerunner in time for my mum's birthday. It is made from a charm pack of Nells Flower Shop by Moda and 6 metres of ric rac!!

I love the effect the ric rac gives! I would like to make one for myself too when I have the time.

Here is a pic of my mum, very happy with her present!!

We went to Pancakes on the Rocks for lunch yesterday to celebrate mum's birthday, here is a pic of the most important people in my life.

I have this week off work, very happy about that LOL. Craig has 4 rostered days off so we are going away for a couple of days to visit some friends. Will be back on Thursday.

Current Project

This is the table runner I have been working on for a present. It is made from charm squares then you sew ric rac on the seams.

I have the binding sewn on now, just have to hand stitch it down.

It is a bit wrinkled as I had to roll it up for a few days LOL

It's the 14th again!!

Well the 14th has come around again so I will tell you about my mundane life LOL

My car is now finally in getting repaired but unfortunately that leaves me without a car! Nathan is away at camp for the week so he has his car and Tim has been driving his to work!

Today started at 4.30am when I had to get up to take Craig to the station (in Tim's car) to the station. Got home just after 5am and hopped straight back into bed!! Tim's alarm woke me up at 5.45am but I went back to sleep until my alarm went off at 6.45am. However I went back to sleep until 7.20am - so I jumped out out bed as I get picked up at 8am for work!! So I rushed around getting ready for work. On MOndays I work with my friend Laurel and as we live in the same suburb she picks me up and drives me. On the way we have to drop her foster daughter Ieshar at day care. Ieshar is a real cutie, a little obnoxious but just like any other 3 year old LOL

Got to work at 9.15am where the phone didn't stop ringing for about 1 hour. Then it was really quiet for a few hours so we got all our work done. Not a lot to do today, but we are still learning a new computer program so we run through a few things together.

Here are some pics of my office:

and this is my desk:

So work was work, got dropped home about 5.30pm. Craig had to get the bus home from the station (1st time for everything LOL) as Tim was still at work. The fish I had put in the fridge for dinner was still frozen so we thought we would just get take away but then realised we had no car LOL

We tried to contact Tim but he was having a bad run in the traffic trying to get home so was in a bad mood and wouldn't answer our calls LOL

So toasted sandwiches it was for dinner. Tim got home about 7.30pm, hand't had any dinner and was in such a bad mood he had a shower and went to bed LOL

Craig went to bed at 8.30pm as he gets up at 3.30am so here I am all on my own, watching Andrew Denton and reading my emails.

So just another boring day in the Life of Riley but tomorrow I have the day off and I am sewing YEAH!!!!!