Ali's Birthday Weekend

The weekend started off to a great start on Thursday night when we headed to see Kings of Leon at Sydney Entertainment centre...they were amazing...unfortunately we have no pictures as for some reason we managed to fall asleep and luckily woke up 30 minutes before the concert!!!!

Sat morning Alis parents arrived first thing so we chatted and caught up over coffee and then since it was such a lovely day we walked to circular Quay via the Opera house and then caught the little Ferry to Watson's bay where we sampled the fish and chips and the beer of course!

The Riddoch's in front of the Opera house

And again on the ferry to Watson's Bay

Watson's bay is where the Gap is from the Ocean to Sydney Harbour...so we wondered up to have a look and also to show them the view of Sydney:

After a long day's excursion we relaxed at night with a take away and a few glasses of Wine, a lovely day! The next morning was the day Ali turned 32!! So we got up and had breakfast before getting organized for the birthday bbq at Bronte beach.

We had time for cake and candles of course!

Bronte beach is the 3rd one along from Bondi beach, it is has a really nice grass section just off the beach where there are little picnic tables set up and the use of free gas bbq's! The perfect set up for a get together!

Bronte Beach



That's the bbq's in the middle we had to line up for a few minutes

Then Ali and Johnny managed to squeeze in and get the snags cooked!

The picnic area enjoying a sausage or 2!

Anna D and Anna P

Ali and Mum

Ali and dad

The girls, Monique, Kate L, Me, Anna P, Karen, and Ozzie Kate

It really was a great day with good weather, good friends and food!

Coldplay and Food fun

Well we had a really busy weekend just past! It started off with Monique and Murray coming round for dinner on Friday night, good food, good company and a tad too much good wine for me!

Then on Sat morning we headed out West to Ali's Boss's house for a BBQ as it was his birthday...it took us an hour to get there on the train! I did not really know anyone well enough to whip out my camera so no photos I am afraid!! The day started off really nice and Sunny then by 5.00pm a massive down pour! luckily we managed to call a taxi that took us straight to the Coldplay concert!

The concert was fantastic...they played old and new!

Can you guess the balloons were for the song Yellow!

We had standing tickets, but we seemed to have a pretty good view!

The lighting etc was really good although this photo does not show it that well!!

Luckily when we left the concert the rain had stopped so we caught the train home, which was packed and seemed to take forever!!

On Sunday we went to Sydney's food festival with Monique and Murray. A lot of the top restaurants had food stalls there and you could buy sample starters, main courses and deserts

they were very yum ay...not to mention all the free samples and cocktail stands!!!

Olive any one?

Murray and Ali outside the Caphrina stall ( Brazil cocktail!)

The Smeg Stall...I want an orange fridge!!

Me and Monique.

what should I try next!!!

Trying to cool down with a drink! check Ali with the cocktail!!!

Birthday celebrations in Manly

This weekend we headed out to manly to help our friend Monique celebrate her 30th Birthday ( me and Monique had a joint birthday celebration in Bolivia, south America last year in our care free travel days!). Sat was such a nice day that we walked down to circular quay and caught the ferry to Manly which take approx 30 mins.

The view from the ferry

We started with a couple of drink at Murry and Monique's then headed to the Hugo's at the Wharf for drinks and dinner.

Me and Monique with our yum ay apple and guava Bellini's

The boys enjoying a pint, well in Murray's case 2!!

The place we went to is famous for its great Pizza., so needless to say that is was what we all had!

heres a close up!


After dinner and cake! we all headed out for a few more drinks and some dancing!

Monique, Murray and me with some Capriana's ( Famous drink from Brazil) not a good though!

Murray with a JD and mint!!!!

Monique, me and Selina

We had a great night and to top it all off Murray made us a fab breakfast of omelet and bacon, great for the hang over!

We took the little ferry home but the ride was not nearly as pleasant as on the way over! it was non stop rain which made the sea really rough! not only did I have to contend with a bit of a hang over I felt sea sick too!! Worth it though!!!

Blue Mountains Trip

We decided to head out of the city for the weekend and take a trip to the blue mountains, I was a bit apprehensive about taking the bike as it was a 2 hour drive! but it was all fine and with a couple of breaks it passed really quickly!

Our Transport for the weekend!

We were booked in to a little hotel in the town called Katoomba right by The three sisters, so it was a quick turn around and off we went...

Me in front of our accommodation for the night

The three sisters

And again...

Ali putting his new camera to use!!

We then decided to do the bush walk though the federal pass and down the giant stairway ( a lot of stairs!!) It was really nice and amazing views

The very narrow and steep stairway all the way to the bottom!!

A photo of Ali taking photos!!

The walk took us 3 hours and we ended up in scenic world where we took the cable car back up to the top! The next day we headed to a small town called Leura..it had some lovely shops including a Candy shop that reminded me of Scotland

Spot the Edinbugh rock and walkers shortbread!!!

We then decided to drive the scenic way home which went though a number of small towns and look out point

Look out point at Blackheath

we passed so many fruit farms selling there fruit and jam etc at the side of the road!

We decided to stop off at a place called Windsor (approx 60k from Sydney) for a drink! When we came back we discovered a flat tyre, great! we had to call the AA and the lady on the phone kept asking us if we had a spare tyre! After a 10 minute phone call explaining that we were on a motorbike they sent some one out and we had to get a toe to Ali's work....luckily only 30k away!!!

Ali on the truck!!!

More Birthday Cake...

I just got these photos from the girls at work so thought I should add them to show you the yum ay birthday cake they got me.....and it was Banana...one of my favourites!

Oh look at the 21 candles on the cake!!!!