Farnham

Hi all!
Well the event went really well, very painless, here's some more photos.
Take care.

Mandy's Birthday

Well it's Mandy's birthday and I'm in the Hunter Valley at Hope Estate Winery site managing the John Farnham concert here tonight. Mandy is coming back from Wollongong after a work conference for the last 3 days. Says it was great and they had Wayne Pearce as the guest motivational speaker. He was apparently really good.
MAndy won't be coming up to the show, some friends of our from the Club, Dave & Connie, are going to look after her with a BBQ at their place with other friends, Stuart & Bernie, so no doubt she'll have a great & messy night with them.
Anyway, have to get back to work, check out the photos and I'll try to post more tomorrow from the show.
Weiry

ANZAC Day

We had a pretty big ANZAC Day at the Club, being the only ANZAC Club left in Sydney. The entire Board was there helping out in various modes, Mandy & Jenny were onto the Legacy sausage sizzle for about 4 hours on the Sports Lounge balcony, where we had my 50th brunch/recovery.

It was interesting that the older peole wouldn't/didn't make a gold coin donation however all the younger crew were putting notes and multiple coins into the barrel; strange.

The 2-up kicked off at 2pm and ran until 6pm and attracted a lot of people. In the above photos you can see Sebastian on the microphone, giving Nic a break, and Mal is in the ring in the other white T shirt.

The Club went through 30 kegs, way up on last year, but there were noticably less people there but still a huge turn out.

And to ice the cake, the Bombers came from 14 points down with 3 minutes to go to snatch a victory over Collingwood; and you just have to LOVE that.

Take care all, will write more soon.

Love Weiry & Mandy

Last day in Bangkok

Well is't absolutely smacking down here now, just hope it isn't tonight when we take off.

Had a swim on Thursday then decided to have a beer, $10 + 17% taxes at the Sheraton!!!!!

So that afternoon we decided to get the little ferry across the river, 6 Baht per person return, that's 25 cents, and check out a place we could see from our room called Be My Guest. It's right on the water and we've often looked at it. We ordered a Singha each at 95 baht, $4 & no taxes, and we got a Large bottle!!

We checked out the menu, see photo and please click on it to enlarge so you can read what we read, we decided against it though Mandy was tempted just to have a look but then realized she would probably throw up.

Just then the sky turned black, see photo, and it smacked down.

Yesterday we headed off to the MBK Center, yes that's how it's spelt, and got in a bit of retail therapy. But Bangkok is so expensive against our dollar that I don't think we'll stay here, or maybe stay somewhere else as you need a heap of cash here.

Well on the plane tonight at 7.30 BKK time and land at 7.30am Sydney time tomorrow.

See you all then.

Lots of love,

Ian & Mandy

Bangkok

Hi all!

Got into Bangkok this morning after 2 huge nights, Mandy was on a frenzy so I had to partake as well. We always get to BKK with hangovers, which didn't help Mandy when we got driven from the airport to the Sheraton at warp speed by our driver. I've never seen her so happy to get in a traffic jam.

Our friends, Rob & Letecia, left last Monday and we had some fantastic times with them over the previous week, looking forward to visiting them at Culburra in the next few months.

Our last 2 days at Samui was pretty well tropical storms, absolutely bucketing down every now & then. A lot more people arriving as the Full Moon Party is tonight and Sangkram (think that's how you spell it), Thai New Year, starts on Sunday, there'll be a lot of very wet people around as they go n uts with buckets of water & water pistols, no-one is spared from a drowning. Mandy's seen it before and reckons it's hilarious, but very wet.

Had a could of great meals out over the last week or so, Gringos Cantina from a great steak, Olivio's italian next to Chaba Cabana, and Mandy finally got to go to Preggo, a great Italian which is part of the Amari Resort, it's taken 7 trips but we finally got there for lunch the other day, awesome food and the decor is fantastic. Also more eating at Your Place and Lazy Wave, both fantastic.

Anyway, back to Sydney on a Saturday night flight so we should be in the front door by 9am Sunday, then meat raffle!!!

Take care and we'll talk soon.

Ian & Mandy

1/2 way there

It's been all go here, well not really. Didn't go to Dr. Frogs the other night but plan to before we leave here, which is next Thursday, bugger!

Had a could of great nights with Rob & Letitia, see photo above after World Cup Qualifier win, making our way back from town via the beach and a couple of stops for refreshments.

Had some awesome storms of late, and there has been a really nice breeze every day, something that we are not used to at different times of the year.

Had a big feed at Olivio's last night, right next door to Chaba Cabana, great Italian.

Anyway, hope you are all well, we are.

Take care.

Weiry & Mandy

Neurosis Lady has gone

BUT Eveready bunny has taken her place.

We had a phone call from Mandy's GM this morning at 5.30am, Thai time, to let her know that the Government had finally accounced that they had been put on the Contract!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mind you it only took then 6 months to make a decision. So Mandy is doing backflips, figuratively speaking of course, and we are off to Dr. Frog's for a big nosh-up and drinks tonight, will post photos next time.

Well we have been doing absolutely nothing, still. And it's been great.

Have only been into town once so far, which was a bit of a night, Mand got stuck into the volka lemons at Will Wait then we headed to the Islander Bar for a roast lamb meal.

We've met a lovely couple, Rob & Letitia, from Jervis Bay and we are going to hire a 4WD with them and cruise around the island for a day. Been having a few beers with them as well.

Into town tomorrow arvo to watch the Socceroos at the Islander, 4pm kick-off here, very civilised.

As we haven't really done anything we haven't taken any photos, so I've taken some of Chaba Cabana. Our mates Nai (left) & Perm (right) at the bar, Thai cigarette warnings, view from our room and some around the pool/beach including Mandy beside the bar. Click on photos to enlarge and hit back button togo back tio main page.

Will post another report in a day or so.

Take care all.

Weiry & Mandy (the happiest girl in the world)

Arrive at our 2nd home

Saturday was a LONG day, up at 5.30am, take off at 9am & arrive at Chaba Cabana at 10pm Sydney time. Missed Happy Hour as they have changed it to 4-5pm, used to be 5-6pm, would have scraped in by 10 minutes, bugger. The bill that night was therefore quite large as we drank ourselves to sleep around 1.3am Sydney time.

Opened our room door and the Front Office Manager had decorated it beyond belief.

Cloud cut-outs stuck on the mirror with Happy Honeymoon Ian & Amanda & a print of one of our wedding photo's we sent them.

Towels on the bed shaped into swans with petals shaped as a heart & other petals strewn all over the room, took ages to clean up so we could get to bed. Also a lovely cake with Happy Honeymoon written on it. (see above photo's)

They are so over the top here, big hugs and kisses from all the staff as we continued to bump into them in the first 3 days.

Bloody hot and humid at the moment, 35 degrees, though yesterday, Tuesday, we had 2 huge storms, awesome rain & thunder.

Haven't even managed to get down to the town as yet, but that can wait.

The devaluing of the Thai Baht means our $ has been deflated by 30% so having to watch our money as eveything is far more expensive, but we'll get used to it. Not many people are here at all, Chaba is only around 50% occupancy and everyone is saying it's been very quiet since the airport sit-in, such a shame as nothing is differant at all, people just get scared about little things like that, but it's going to take quite a while 'til it picks up again.

Anyway, I'm heading to the supermarket, dropping off the washing then back to the wife at the pool.

Take care all & look forward to seeing yolu all when we return on Easter Sunday.

Weiry & Mandy xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Wedding Photos, some more

Many, many, many special thanks must go to Yvonne Lynn & Ian Hamilton who were kind enough to take photo's all day and evening. Thank you SO much. XXXXXX

Wedding & 50th

Well last weekend was the big one, guests started flying in on Friday from Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Drinks were had at the Anzac Club on Friday and Mandy and the girls went up the road to her girlfriend Janets house for drinks.

Shane and Sandy flew in Saturday arvo amd chilled at our flat for a few hours, then it was get ready time.

Off to the Cammeray Golf Club where we were going to have family photos before the ceremony however Sydney's taxi's & traffic put paid to that idea, so there were just ones take of me a Mandy. Breeze was pretty strong so hair was going everywhere, but it dropped off throughout the evening.

Service was quick, 15 minutes tops, the celebrant was great and people hung around the edge of the putting green and on the verandah, so everyone could see. I now know what 110 people look like when gathered.

And then it was into partying, food, speeches, more food & drink.

Finished up at 12.30 at the Club then a couple of friends had a few drink at our flat until 3am.

Up at 8am Sunday and across the road to the Anzac Club for a 50th Birthday BBQ for 60 people from 11am-2.30pm, then meat raffle and drink until 7.30, & home for dial-in chinese.

Went to Collaroy Monday morning to see Mandy's mum & dad, then back to the Mosman RSL for a rooftop lunch with my dad and stepmother, who flew out on Tuesday, the last to go.

Now it's just the 2 of us and we are knackered, but a great long, long weekend was had.

Take care all.

Cheers!