Flick & Andy get married

Here are just a few photos from Felicity & Andy's lovely, lovely, lovely wedding. The reason there aren't more are due to several reasons: 1) timing, 2) complicated new video camera running out of tape issues, 3) Jason doesn't know how to use a camera. This is also why there are no photos of Andy - I don't want you thinking it was because he looked spectacularly awful or anything. He looked very handsome. For reference as to what Andy doesn't really look like, please see the various unflattering photos on this blog.

Encore l'hiver

Hoo boy, it's been a long time since I used this... so I make no promises about the aesthetic quality of this post. In fact, it will probably be as badly laid out as past posts. Anyway, here are some photos of our recent trip to Montreal...

This was one of the first things we did. No, not stuff our faces (that was just a bonus) - go to the saucissier William J Walter and get a William Suisse, all dressed:

Our third day in Montreal it snowed 35cm! Here is Jason being a good son and shoveling the driveway. Thank goodness I can claim girl-ness and not-knowing-how-ness to get me out of that thankless chore.

It did snow a lot, which was nice, because apparently it hadn't snowed much over the winter, so we were lucky. This is at l'ile de la Visitation in the north of Montreal. We went cross country skiing.

Just in case you don't believe how cold it was, here is a completely non-doctored picture of the temperature (-27 - it got colder) one night up in Entrelacs. Oh boo to you Canadians laughing that this should be of note, but we Australians will kick your ass at world sports of dubious reputation every time!

We also went up to a lovely chalet in Chute St Phillippe for a week, here it is:

Every evening at dusk a group of four deer would cross the frozen lake from the little island to the shore. I worry about what would happen if they were on the wrong side when the thaw came. Can deer swim? (Yes, I realise there are only three deer in the photo, you nit-picking pedant - one of them was too fast for me)

Another lovely shot from our balcony:

After that we went to Ottawa to see Shannon and Phil. This structure stands in front of the National Gallery. There are eggs in the body. It is called 'maman'. It almost makes me proud to have a gallery which has empty drought-afflicted fountains full of litter in front of it instead.

And of course we saw the family. Here are Juju and the godparents. Don't mess with them!

And, erm, here is a plate of local jambon cru from our new favourite stand at the market, les cochons tout ronds, which basically just sells pork products - and how!

And on our final night we got a farewell fluttering of snow, providing Juju ample opportunity to slap Jason up the side of the head with a snowball.

These are all out of order, I realise that now, but anyway... this is our last dinner in Montreal at the brilliant Montee de Lait on Villeneuve. The very gorgeous Sabrina and Natacha.

There is a story behind this picture but it is mostly incomprehensible and ridiculous - funny photo though!

Finally, here is me trying to look miserable while watching television at Albany bus station on the way to New York and then home. A second later a sheepish security guard told us 'no photos' then scampered off, as if worried we would ask why. Well, clearly it is obvious - this photo could be giving vital security information to terror cells intent on bringing down the extensive coach and in-seat television service of the United States. If I go missing next week, you'll know why, but at least we'll know that the safety of the salubrious interior of Albany bus station has been kept pure.

And that's pretty much it. Some photos from Flick & Andy's wedding up soon too! Maybe.

Bad Santa

Christmas at ours, 16 December 2006... Santa paid us a visit!

He was a cheeky bugger.


Very cheeky.

Even elves get presents at Christmas!

And hardworking cultural experts get titillating literature!

And minions are celebrated!

And human rights policy officers receive kimonos! And ducks!

And Grace gets a comfy seat on the sofa. And I've accidentally deleted the picture of Jason cossack dancing and I can't be arsed to put it back up. Sorry.

Merry Christmas!

The Australian Open & SYDNEY!

It's all just been insane! So apologies for no updates, but there' s been too much going on, whether at work or in trying to cram in as much of Australia as we could while Francesca was still here. Here are two big things we've done in the meantime: 1) The Australian Open! I've been promising my mother for ten years that I would take her to the Open, but only now managed to fulfil it (not all my fault - she's never available). And as an added bonus, could take my 'other mother', Francesca as well! Here is a photo of them at the Ginepri-Gremelmayr match:


And here is poor old lone Canadian Daniel Nestor, carrying the maple leaf at least into the men's doubles. I have no idea if he won or not, because the sun was just too much for the mothers to handle and we didn't stay long at his match. But at least we have a photo! No one mention Greg Rusedski.

And then... to Sydney! A hectic weekend in the harbour city, a 7AM flight meant 5AM wakeup, or in Francesca's case, 4AM wakeup because she thought she heard the alarm clock (but didn't - it was just paranoia!) But we landed feet first in Sydney and immediately headed out for breakfast at the Rocks before taking the Manly ferry. To Manly. Here we are on the ferry passing the Opera House!
And here is Francesca looking glam as we leave the Harbour Bridge behind us. She was a jungle lady in her cool bathing outfit!
And here she is 'adjusting' herself on Manly beach. There were the BIGGEST WAVES EVER to please Jason (no photos, alas, because my camera ran out of batteries and we only have 'real' photos from a disposable) and a run of poisonous jellyfish and sand, just everywhere.

Lots of stuff happened, but clearly I'm in no position to elaborate because I'm very very tired and I have one more post to do today...

Une vraie touriste!

Where have we been, you might ask. Well, I've been really tired, but obviously Jason and my mothers have been very well as you can see in this photo. Note excellent WA pinot noir and lovely stemless glasses. After the wedding, the real trip began! With wine and an excellent lunch at Bella Vedere in Coldstream, in wine country. Jason, alas, was only with us in spirit as he was WORKING. Local produce, good wine, the promise of a kangaroo in the afternoon! To see, not to eat.

And here it is:

And so will follow more photos in the 'great Australian tour' vein. Unfortunately I don't have one of Francesca holding a koala, but there's still a week... Here, meanwhile, is Francesca reliving that scene in 'The Birds'. The scary one. Khim obviously thinks it's very funny.

The next day we went to Cafe Di Stasio (no relation to Josee, I think) for a divine Italian dinner.

And Francesca went out the next day for a Corona!

And then we went to the Great Ocean Road. Here are some beautiful pictures.

Sydney on the weekend!!

More wedding photos...

OK, I'll chuck a whole lot of photos on now that I've regained a small fraction of my brain - I promise there will be more later. But for now, here are some photos to start of the family banquet on Thursday night, and the tea ceremony which followed. Firstly, the immediate family looking radiant.

The lovely mothers, plus Kheng!


There are many, many photos of the tea ceremony, almost all of them exactly the same except for the people sitting in the chairs. Here is a representative selection which illustrates the general atmosphere of the whole shebang. Perhaps it wasn't technically brilliant, but it sure was fun. Thank goodness for Aunty Sally - if not for her it would have been a complete shambles, so thank you Aunty Sally! At least someone knew what we were supposed to be doing.

And finally, the big day. Here is the wedding party - Jason, Mel, best man Leong, bridesmaids Grace, Sara, Anusha and Felicity.

The lovely bride and groom...


The vows...


The best man pretending he's lost the ring...

The cake and its cutting...

The picnic...


And of course, here's everyone (minus the photographer)

So here he is...