ChapsNet: Travel

Sydney Holiday

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:36:47 GMT

So the Chapman family packed up and headed down to Sydney for four days. We had been invited to a friend's celebration of his twin daughter's christening so we made a holiday of it and went for an extended weekend. we flew down on Jetstar ( on an international flight - which wasn't worth the $20 saving) and stayed in the Menzies Hotel. We had booked it through LastMinute.com.au as a mystery booking and didn't find out where it was until we had booked it ( for a third of the price).

So we spent Saturday travelling and also met up with Mossy in Darling Harbour We managerd to catch up while the chitlins ran themselves silly on the playground. On Sunday we ended up being late and missed the Church ceremony of the christening and joined Justin, Nicky and the girls at the lunch we had later. We then repaired back to Nicky's mothers place to relax, watch footy and catch up as we hadn't seen them since they returned from the US.

Monday was spent touristing around the city. Mummy and Emily did some shopping in the morning while Daddy slept in (so much sport on Fox in the Room). We travelled on the trains and the monorail to Darling harbour again. After lunch back in the City, Mummy wentback tothe Hotel to have a nap. We took in Hyde Park and the Hyde Park Barracks Museum which Emily loved. The best bit was Emily swinging the the hammocks in the Top floor of the Barracks where the convicts used to sleep. We had a great time but were exhausted.

After a quick battle-nap, we headed out in the car, this time, to get some dinner and have a drive around some of the old haunts. I was a bit rusty on some of the driving around the city, we did seem to drive across the harbour bridge a number of times, but did alright around the 'burbs.

On Tuesday morning, we packed up, drove out to our old house where we bought Emily home as well as drive past her daycare centre and a few other spots and then headed back to the plane to come home.

Of course, We were very glad to be home. I sort of miss Sydney but in most ways i certainly do not. We managed to miss all of the wild weather here in Brisbane with only a little rain in Sydney falling.

Easter break..

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:33:56 GMT

We went up to Montville for our Eater break to join Mum and dad up at our house... we had a mixed bag of weather, one day of rain, one of sunshine and then one more day of rain.

Friday

quick clean up of the house, do some errands and then leave for Montville. bugger-all traffic on Friday arvo - it made a nice change from normal

Saturday

We had originally planned to go to Australia Zoo. Weather was raining ( as we watched it come across from the Southeast so we delayed that until Monday. We drove down the Western side of the range to go to the Kenilworth Cheese Factory. Delicious!! I did many laps of the tasting table. we eventually bought some Mango Cheese, Classic Vintage, Sun-dried Tomato and herb cheese as well as some Mango Butter and Ginger and Macadamia Jam. Yummo. Dad and I had already done and early morning run to get some fresh Pineapple, the sweetest of the season I had tasted and probably the last of the season too. To say we gorged on fresh local produce was an understatement.

Sunday

Our sixth Wedding anniversary as well as Easter Sunday. We exchanged eggs and gifts and spent a fairly casual morning. Barbeques steaks and snags for lunch out on the deck enjoying the fine day. I took a pic using the Panoramic Photo mode on my HTC TyTN II to see what it does (hence Dad's two heads). After that was some early afternoon naps followed by an afternoon wander through the Montville shops. For Dinner, we left Emily with mum and Dad and wandered up to the Penny Farthing pub for a delightful dinner and a number of Pints whilst looking out over the view of the entire Sunshine Coast.

Monday

Australia Zoo day so we packed up and headed off in the morning... Get part way to Maleny and it is piddling down. the last bit across the range was done inside the clouds in heavy rain. we got to the zoo during a brief respite in the rain. An executive decision was made to come back another day so we proceeded home and went to the movies instead. Chermside Shopping centre was packed full of people with an average age of about 12.. aaaragh. Home to a casual arvo watching Indiana Jones Movies which Emily was seeing for the first time. She loved them and can't wait until we watch the third instalment this weekend....

Justin's Wedding

Mon, 15 May 2006 02:12:11 GMT

Well, we have returned from our weekend away in the Hunter Valley. We arrived on a typical cold rainy day in newcastle and dropped by the wharf for Fish and Chips and a beer then drove on up to the Hunter Valley Resort where we were staying. There is nothing quite as fine as a trip through the Hunter Valley.

We met up with Justin and Nicole and most of the guests for a feed at the Bar where we consumed much beer and food and caught up with all of the guys. Most of these guys I had not seen since i had left Sydney and a couple that I hadn't seen since i got out of the RAAF so many years ago... The Bar has it's own Micorbrewery which produces finae ales, lagers, pilseners and most importantly, Ginger Beer. No, not Ginger ale but proper alcoholic Ginger Beer.

I first came across it in Newcastle at the Wharf Brewery where they had a strong ginger taste to there beers and only sold it for 4 bucks a pint... niiiice... Now the wharf sells the Blue Tongue Ginger beer which was in plentiful supply at the resort funnily enough. Many a story was told a ( some taller than others) and the footy season was carefully dissected.

On Saturday, we did what most parents on a weekend away sans children do... yes, we slept in... (what did you think i was going to say ??!!). we then spent the day sitting around chatting and then watching the first quarter of the footy. The ceremony went off without a hitch and was just beatiful. We then retired back to catch the last quarter (with some more beers) to see the Swans pump Richmond. Colleen and I caught up with Justins brothers and his Dad and sat around chatting (and an Anzac Day trip to he Footy next year) until the reception started. Again more stories came out and the beer and wine flowed and a fabulous time was had by all... We retired for the evening ( just in time for me to catch the second half of the Collingwood-West Coast game - so close!!).

All too soon, it was time to farewell all and depart back to Brisbane and reality... It has only been recently that we have started taking a weekend off or two here and there while Emily stays with friends and family and we are feeling the benefits of having that time together...

Countdown...

Sun, 07 May 2006 12:30:03 GMT

This week we countdown to our weekend away to the Hunter Valley. Grandad and Grandma have kindly agreed to look after Emily while we are away so we'll be footloose and fancy-free.

We're off to Justin and Nicole's wedding which will be an event to remember. He's coming back from the US for the event and we'll catch up over the odd ale or two... There'll be some tall stories swappped there no doubt.

Now to countdown during the week...