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 :)

I DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIID IT!

Ok - I know - SO boring - another driving post
but I hit a lot of milestones that made me smile tonight
1. I drove to a gym that I didn't really know exactly how to get to - because of all the 'no right turns' and required back street turning to find my way (Mosman for anyone who is interested...) - and I made it just fine! I did have to pull over at one point on a back street to look quickly at the map - but it was actually pretty darn easy!!

2. Nothing to do with driving - but I actually laughed out loud at the gym watching this cute Australian Zoo program - Taronga Zoo in Sydney was given an abandoned wombat - he was seriously THE cutest little butter ball. SO SO cute when he was running around spinning in circles all happy once he was nursed back to health.

3. I then left the gym and successfully navigated my way to pick up Murray from his late night at work. This is a route I have only driven once before (with my Dad after a missed exit and required doubling back....). This time - I was ALWAYS in the correct lane, did not miss ANY of my turns, and drove over the harbour bridge - BY MYSELF - for the first time. It was actually a little thrilling I must say!

I have some great pics to post - but it's too late now and I am tired - so I'll try to do it tomorrow:)

Is it really Autumn? The weekend - Part 1

Friday night I met my friend Sue in the city - we worked together in London & stayed friends (and shopping buddies!) after I changed jobs. She is in Sydney working for a few months - so we headed out for dinner on Friday. It was GREAT to see her - and fun to catch up over a yummy pizza & cocktails in the Rocks!

Saturday morning Murray had the great idea to walk down to the beach before setting off to do our errands
The surfers were out like crazy down at Manly Beach!

Looking down the beach towards Manly - lovely

LOTS of surfers - the water is actually still pretty warm though - I'm surprised more people were not out swimming

Me on the beach - it was a bit chilly in the morning (by the afternoon we were back at the beach in t-shirts & shorts!)

The stand up surfers look cool - I can imagine that sport takes a LOT of core strength!

The swimming flags - you are supposed to swim between the flags - that is if you'd like to be saved if something goes wrong - as that is where they lifeguard:)

Down at Manly Wharf they had a Fairtrade market on as well - so we took a peek around before walking home and setting off on errands...... more pics to come soon!

Busy busy

It has been a busy week - that is all there is to say really.

Tonight we took advantage of late night Thursday shopping (the mall stays open late - which is great for those of us who are stuck at a desk all day long).

We picked up a nice warm winter duvet, dooner, comforter, whatever you'd like to call it - as it is getting chilly here at night.

I am SOOOOOOO glad tomorrow is Friday. Looking forward to the weekend & catching up with friends:) I just hope the weather is as nice as it was today. I didn't actually go outside today from 8:20 am to 5pm - but I heard it was 24c (78f) - NICE!

Work work work

Sorry it's a little blurry - but it's the best I could do. I LOVE the Dilbert calendar Murray got me for my b-day - I thought this one explained why I never talk specifics about my job on this blog!
(don't forget you can click on the above pic to view it bigger)

Oh and some Monday good news - I drove for the first time - by myself - to the gym tonight YAY! It was GREAT to go to a body pump class - I really enjoyed it:)

Tot tot tot

I was very excited when I was waiting at the meat counter at the grocery store on Saturday.... I noticed they had what they called 'potato gems' on display....
also known as TATER TOTS (to American's at least)! YAY - so I bought half a kilo and we had a few for dinner as a side and yumm yumm yumm they were GREAT!

We also made our own pizza on a base we bought at the store - tuna & pesto - lovely!

Then last night we thought hmmm if we are having people over and it is cold - where do we eat? So I got on the website trading post (where people post ads for things they want to sell) and I found a GREAT table & chairs that was used but in great nick! We called up straight away and set a time for Sunday for us to go and pick it up!

We got there a little early, so wandered around the high street .....then we get a call from the lady - saying she sold it to someone else - a few minutes ago - and they went to get cash - unless we had cash ON us - so we better hurry.... odd. So Murray ran down the road and secured the deal (after all WE called first - how unfair!!!!). The other people came back and had 'words' with her - they were furious - she kept saying 'stop doing this to me.' Ummm I'm sorry silly woman - you did this to yourself by offering a sale to two different people duh. But anyhow - we got it:)
And it looks GREAT in our flat

I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE it - it's not new - but it suits our purposes perfectly right now:)

Then Murray got to work in the kitchen - YUMMMMM

We had a lovely BBQ lunch with Hamish, Cassie & Zephyr - nice to catch up!

Cooking the last piece of steak on the bbq after they left to use on our sandwiches tomorrow!

Lovely sunset - today was SO warm - out on the balcony it actually got so hot that we decided to eat inside! Not bad for autumn!

Later we took a lovely walk down to Manly beach and walked along the water dipping our toes.... I WISH we had brought the camera - the sunset was gorgeous - all pinks and purples with surfers on their 'last wave of the day'. The sand was COLD but the water was actually warm - you could feel a warm breeze around your ankles from the ocean - bizarre!

We then finished off the night with the new XMen movie Wolverine - eh - pretty good - very overdramatic - but Hugh Jackman is great:)

I also got our Peruvian tablecloth out of storage to see how it looks on the new table - the llama likes it!

TGIF

WOW what a long week - work was very very busy - I am still getting up to speed, but starting to understand enough to help out so that's good!

Although I have worked at the 'other' site at least?? 10 times? I have NEVER driven home. That first day, after getting confused by the exit signs, I ended up going through the harbour tunnel - which meant I just popped by to pick up Murray from work as well. From then on, every time I have had to work at the other site, I went and picked Murray up, the he drove home.

But tonight - I did it. I took the right exit - and it all went fine. I even stopped at the grocery store (thanks to Helen's directions over the phone!!!).

I know these do not sound like big things - nothing to talk about - but to me it is a BIG step. It means I am starting to figure out where things are and it means I am starting to feel more and more confident about driving on my own.

Anyhow, I meant to go to the gym tonight, even brought my bag of stuff, but then my throat was sore all day today...... and I just thought hmmm I don't want to get sick.

Since I didn't go to the gym I thought hmmm maybe I should clean tonight. But you know what - I'm tired - and I don't want to. So I will do it tomorrow!

So home it is - bring on the weekend - and fingers crossed for NICE weather!!! :)