Great Sunday Escape

I'm so grateful for friends inviting us to share their country home with us.  It is my ideal farm, it has a beautiful deep balcony that overlooks the paddocks and stream, a pergola surrounded by wonderful deep hammocks, a tree house suspended over a trickling stream, chickens, goats, cows, horses and most importantly bike tracks and paddocks for the boys to ride their bikes and quad bikes.

The kids had an amazing time and such freedom to run and explore.  The girls picked flowers and played so happily.  The boys got on the bikes and raced through the paddocks to the dirt tracks.

Master G showed Little Master O the way.  He is such a great role model in many ways. I'm blessed.

It was such a relaxing and fun day.  If I was going to have a farm, this would be it.

Billy Connolly

 

Urban Hunk has been working very hard so it was great to have a night out together and enjoy a show.  Tonight was Billy Connolly who has sold out 25 shows, including 6 at the Opera House.  We were lucky to get seats so I warned Urban Hunk we might be sitting closer to the roof than the stage.  I had also forgotten my glasses and they don't have large screens at the elegant and dignified Opera House.  It took me forever to decide on the tickets and whether to pay for seats that could be up near the rafters, I wasn't sure of the layout because I haven't been to this section of the Opera House, so much internal chatter I was exhausted before I finally bought them.  Arriving in good time before the show we made our way to the seats, wow, we're in the centre in an elevated position, fantastic, I felt so lucky, I didn't even need my glasses.  I tried to only sip my lemon, lime bitters so I wouldn't have to go the bathroom half through the performance.  The last thing I need is to be heckled!

 

Billy Connolly has this animated and off-the-cuff intensity that has you caught up in every story.  He has a great outlook on life and reminds you not to take life so seriously.  Thankfully I embarrass myself enough to be able to laugh at myself daily and Urban Hunk will often find great amusement out of my exploits, a few I can't even bare to write about.  Great night.

Vajazzled!

I won my first ever competition!  I can't believe it.  How excited.  I got a call from TodayFM telling me to be at the radio station by 4pm to get the limo, yes, a limousine, out to be Vajazzled!  Before I accept I do the quickest mental checklist ever: am I wearing nice underpants? am I prepared down there? I take in my clothes, shoes, I'll need a jacket, should I take the camera, no, I'll have phone!  Right, I agree to accept the offer to be Vajazzled.

 

I want to surprise Urban Hunk so this adds to my excitement.  I’m too embarrassed to tell any one about my Vajazzling but so energised that I’m busting to tell some one. I leave a message for my close friend, knowing that she'll get a laugh out of it.  Why am I so embarrassed about explaining it, I can be such a prude.  I laugh at myself and the electricity zipping through my body.

 

Urban Hunk phoned.  He can tell some thing is up by my voice.  I realise that my Vajazzle probably won't last until Friday. Damn.  So I tell him the news.  We both laugh hard, only me, he says. 

 

I wish I could use my navigational device inside buildings because finding the lifts in to the radio station is proving a challenge.  Composing myself as I walk through 2 security doors I'm greeted by the young and over-confident Simon.  He thinks he is way too good looking than what he is but he's young and its fun to watch the circus of personalities at the radio station.  Four other girls are also there waiting for our Vajazzled experience, they're much younger.  I wonder if they'll have champagne in the limo.  I go to the bathroom to empty my bladder incase I'm in luck with the champagne!  I'm sure as you get older your bladder shrinks.

 

I return to find the other girls still just sitting there but not talking.  Hmmm.  Okay, too weird, so I break the ice with, "so, what kind of Vajazzle do you think you might get?"  The others girls all smile and its like they exhale for the first time as they relax and start talking all at once, throwing out names and ideas about what they'd get.  Ofcourse we forget it’s a small area 'down there' and names like, 'press here,' 'enter,' might not fit and the conversation then goes down hill fast as every one laughs and get over excited.

 

The Hummer Limo is waiting, lots of people are on the pavement and watching as we giggle like school girls and climb in.  Inside it's like a disco, lights dance around the ceiling, music plays and there is bottled water and lollies.  No champagne.  Although this is probably a good thing because the other girls are too excited and crude and I'd hate to see them after a glass of champagne while stuck in a limo.  I sit back and listen as they talk about their boyfriends and their sex life.  They're not shy about sharing details which amuses me.

 

The TodayFM crew tell us about what to expect and prepare us for the Vajazzle. As we reach the Beauty Salon out west we're guided in and filmed as we're Vajazzled.  Its quite a delicate operation and quite comical as they interview me while on the table.  It's all sound bites for radio so we fake some comments and sounds.  I would never have done some thing like this in the past, now here I lay getting myself Vajazzled!  Such a fun night, a great experience chalked up. 

Scary Dam

For my birthday we enjoyed a weekend away to Eaglereach Wilderness Resort near Barrington Tops.  I felt like a very lucky girl.  (Will think of some very nice rewards for UB for being so good.)  Urban Hunk organised a secluded lodge on the mountain's edge of the resort overlooking Barrington tops.

After a race to the top of the mountain, which was absolutely terrifying because it was pitch black, a very steep hill with a curvy dirt road and no lights, I hope we didn't kill any wild life, we made check-in just in time.  To reduce my heart rate I needed a drink and dinner.  It just so happened the owner of the Treehops Restaurant was Richard Branson's former chief so we enjoy a divine dinner following the rally race up the moutain.

Pitch black and no lights we looked for our lodge number on a wooden post.  It was a very bumpy dirt road and we followed it a short distance to the mountain's edge.  A great way dispose of some one if you don't like them.  I stayed tucked behind UB incase there were any spiderwebs or insects that was to surprise us.  I couldn't wait till morning to see where we were, it was just so dark.

Sleep would've been good but we had a party animal in the house.  It danced on the floor when the lights went out.  I poked Urban Hunk asking him to turn the light on.  He sigh, there was no use he told me.  With me not sleeping he humoured me and switched the lamp on.  The noise stopped.  We couldn't see any thing.  I was to scared to go the bathroom so I made UrbanHunk come with me and wait outside the door.  Naturally, I checked the toilet first for snakes or spiders because I'm guessing that fly screens don't keep them out.  Then I raced back to bed.  Snuggled in again, off went the lamp.  On went the little critters night time dancing.  It was running across the floor.  How am I going to sleep?  Just say it jumps on the bed?  Just say it gets in the bed?  From sheer exhaustion I finally fell asleep.

Warily I looked at the bottom of the bed, phew, no marsupial watching us.  I looked out the floor to ceiling glass window to a spectacular view of the Barrington Tops.  We were a secluded lodge and from our verandah we saw out to the ranges, it was so peaceful, like we were a million miles away.  I think our phones would even be out of service from this spot.

The resort had walking tracks, a lush rainforest with some very ancient trees, volcanic rock formations, large lagoon and wildlife to observe.  We spent the day exploring the area and booked in a massage for the afternoon.  My limbs were heavy and so relaxed I tripped and slipped three times like an old lady in a slippery bath before making it back to the lodge.

Tonight I was prepared for our critter.  I wanted to leave the bathroom light on to spot him.  Ofcourse this didn't work and I fell fast asleep tucked in to Urban Hunk.  Heaven.

We had breakfast at the Restaurant watching kookaburras in the tree and kangaroos on the grass below the verandah, it was wonderful. We people watched, animal watched and tucked in to a full breakfast. I think I'll need to increase the exercise after this weekend.

We drove out to Locksock Dam.  It was very scenic as we crossed rivers and watched the rolling hills go by.  The drive lead us around to a small island.  No one was there as we drove down and around the slope of the grass down to the water.  The air, the water, it was all so still.  We sat and took it all in.  It's so easy to be with Urban Hunk, to chat, laugh and just enjoy, I feel at peace, a warm content feeling, I savour it, I yawn and sigh a lot.  Very relaxed.  As we head off we notice another car parked just on the slope to the right.  There's a lady bending over.  She's shaking her bum.  It's big, and white, she'd be about 100kgs.  Omg, I can't believe it.  She has her pants pulled down and she is doing a poo and shaking her bum.  Urban Hunk is looking at my horrified face.  She's shaking a shit out of her bum.  yuk.  omg.  The lady looked up just as we passed her. I hope we don't see them back at the resort.  I'm speechless.  That was the most gross thing I've ever seen.  I finally find some words and Urban Hunk is laughing his head off.  I think I need another drink.

 It's always an adventure with Urban Hunk, some thing always happens. 

Time is your friend

A wise friend once told me, 'time is your friend.'   It make me stop and questions why I was always racing against it.  Why I hurried about and walked so quickly.  Why was I rushing?  You can not beat time.  So from that day forward I made time my friend. 

 

Well it was easier said than done.  I had to make a conscious effort to not do two things at once, to walk slower, breathe, drive smoothly and slowly, save petrol was one good motivator in changing my driving habits, and it worked!   I often had to repeat my new mantra, 'time is your friend,' as I found my heart racing from rushing or frustrated by a queue of people.  Slowly it sunk in, I slowed down.  I used the time wisely.  I started observing so much of life around me.  It's not to say I'm cured but I certainly see a lot more and its open up a whole new world on conversation with people I've never met before but have shared part of the life experiences with me.

The one thing I don't burn!

The kids get so excited about having pancakes for breakfast.  A Nutella moustache lines their upper lip as they devour them faster than what I can cook them.

 

It's the morning after a sleep over and the kids are still in their pajamas playing.  I love these slow and easy mornings.  I love setting up the craft activities, beyblade stadiums, lego and just letting them go to do what they'd like.  The sound of their laughter and chatter is music to my ears.

 

Good morning Canberra!

Urban Hunk flew me in to Canberra for the weekend.  Excited and nervous.  It had been a long week and I missed him terribly.  On top of a hectic Friday, I had to try and pack carry-on luggage only for my trip.  Do you know how hard it is to only pack a small case?!  I had to put in clothes incase it was hot, cold, for evening, day time, walking shoes, high heels. I don't think men appreciate this difficult task.  Having managed to neatly fold all my delicates I must admit it was fantastic being able to just walk on and off the plane without waiting for baggage.  I also did the online check-in so I strolled straight to the boarding gate when I arrived at the airport.  It was awesome.  Although getting lost (only me!) trying to exit airport was frustrating because I was being collected in the Departures, not the Arrivals, but I'm used to walking against the crowds.

 

 

 

I was delighted that Urban Hunk got to spend all of Saturday with me.  We cruised around Canberra and amongst it all checked out Black Mountain Tower which is basically a tall Telstra Tower with an observation platform for tourists.  We could see out to the mountain ranges as we looked at the spread out city of Canberra which is also so green for this time of year.  We braved the outdoor viewing platform which warned us to be careful of flying ants that could bite and sting!  Who would put wings on large ants!  Thankfully we weren't attacked by the nasty critters.

 

 

Left to my own devices on Sunday morning I laid around the hotel room in the sun reading the Sunday papers, it felt so indulgent to be so lazy.  Feeling like I really should do some thing I went for a stroll.  If I could find the 'off' switch for that voice that pokes me I would've been asleep on the hotel bed.  Lots of people were on their bicycles, cars drove like they only had one gear, it felt like I was lost in time after the hustle and bustle of Sydney.

 

Leaving Sunday afternoon was hard.  I wanted my man back in Sydney, back in bed, back home!  Too many hugs and lingering kisses we peeled ourselves apart to face another week on our own. Four more nights and counting!  And only two weeks until he returns home from the Canberra job.