OPRAH

I was one of the lucky ones to win tickets to see the Oprah show in Sydney (only 12,000 of the 375,000 who applied got tickets!)

We went to the morning taping (she did a morning & evening show) - the place was PACKED! Such an amazing stage - gorgeous!

Helen & Me

Everyone was VERY excited when Oprah arrived (she's that person in the orange dress right in the middle of the photo)

Russell Crowe was the first guest - he was pretty interesting!

Gorgeous view (on the screen) of where we were - we sat on the steps of the Sydney Opera house to watch the show on the specially built stage

Jay Z was another guest (really not charismatic!)

Oprah was so wonderful - she really has an amazing stage presence

Bindi Irwin with a massive snake & Oprah - they had a tribute to Steve - very sad

Bindi's little brother Robert and his own snake

Jon Bon Jovi with Oprah

They rocked out with 'It's my Life' and 'Living on a Prayer' - it was awesome

All in all a very fun morning! We also were given a voucher for a pearl necklace with an O on the chain engraved with 'Oprah - the farewell season' - it looks really pretty. I'm so thrilled I was able to be part of such a big event :) (and thanks to Helen for taking all these pics on her phone as we weren't allowed to bring cameras)

Also Oprah had on stage this guy who is fighting cancer and made that gorgeous birthday video with his wife. They got $250,000 so that they could spend some quality family time together - so lovely - had me in tears. The video he made was really amazing too (see the link above)

Here's the official story of the morning :)

Will Watch 2010

Yesterday I heard that Prince William would be touring near where I work, so I headed out at 11am, when they said he was due to arrive.
An hour later - he finally pulled up

This isn't my photo - but is exactly what I saw:) He waved, and that's as close as we got to see him, but it was exciting! I could see him from a distance after that, but didn't wait around while he toured cause I was boiling hot by then!!

I spent 6 years in the UK and never saw any of the Royals (well, other than Zara at the tennis, but I don't count that)!!

I'm glad I finally got to see him as after an hour in nearly 30c (90f) heat I was just about ready to give up and go back to my cool air conditioned desk. I sunburned my forehead a bit (opps - forgot to put sunblock there) but it was worth it. One of those spottings you just don't get very often! This was 27-year-old Will's first visit to Australia since 1983 when, aged just nine months, he accompanied his parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana on a tour.

Props to the hubby

SO - lovin' the morning radio here today !!!!!!!!!!

1. The Prime Minster Kevin Rudd was on a few stations today talking about the country's new budget they just released last night. I LOVE that he comes on and 'talks to the people' - it is just so REAL and refreshing! Also - I love that the new budget includes government paid maternity leave - 18 weeks!!! So on top of the 12 weeks I get right now paid from my company I will get another 6 weeks from the government (granted it doesn't start til Jan 2011) - FAB! And best of all - I love that one station asked him about the most recent 'tantrum' that he had when he was overseas and his people couldn't find him a hair dryer before he was about to have a photo shoot. He said 'well if you wanted to vote in Mother Teresa that isn't me, I am human and I make mistakes.' Ha - well said Ruddo.

2. I also heard an interview with one of the best women surfers in the world this morning - Lane Beachley. She mentioned she is engaged to one of the guys from INXS. And I thought - NO WAY.
A few weeks ago Murray and I were at our local grocery store - just around the corner form where we live. He ran over to me to tell me that there was a GUY FROM INXS just down the other aisle. So we pretended to look at the fresh meat counter in that area so we could scope him out. I didn't recognise him - but he DID look like a rock star (cool shirt, trendy sunglasses and black toe nail polish). Murray was right - it was Kirk Pengilly - the back up singer/guitarist/saxophonist from INXS!
NOW I realise - the woman with him was Lane Beachley!!! Apparently they have been together for years, live in Manly and are now engaged.
WOW - our own local celebrities - cool :)

The R List & Parachutes

We took a break from job searching this afternoon because - HOORAY!!! the sun is out!

Just as we were laying out our towels Murray exclaimed 'LOOK!'
running along the sidewalk that is right by the beach we saw the trainers from the reality show I am totally addicted to - The Biggest Loser.

Shannan and Michelle (YES a man named Shannan - so odd) - and WOW they are more ripped in person than they look on TV (and they look big on TV!)

I like the show because 1. it is the only thing on at 7pm every night and 2. it is filmed here in Manly and 3. it is amazing to see how well the contestants are doing - one man lost 20 kilograms in just 2 weeks - wow! I guess that's possible when you are working out many many hours every day - ouch!

Anyhow, today we packed up our little beach bag and made it down to catch some sun (hooray)!

When we set up on the beach we noticed a plane that looked like it belonged to the military circling VERY slow over the ocean in front of us - then they dropped 9 packages into the sea?

We THINK it looked like 1 package to every 2 people who were parachuting down - not sure though


The plane circled 3 times, dropping 22 'packages' in total - a training exercise I guess - kinda fun to watch!

I didn't actually make it into the water though because the swimming area wasn't set up at North Steyne (they put up flags in 'safe to swim' areas where the current isn't too strong & lifeguards will keep an eye on you). I guess the currents were just too strong today, and we didn't want to walk to Queenscliff or Manly - so we just relaxed and read a bit and soaked in a bit of sun - too too lovely.