11

Today, Lyndon and I are celebrating our 11th anniversary of being together. 11 years. Who would have thought?

For those of you who don't know, Lyndon and I are not married but we are committed to one another. We've been engaged (for ages! - 5 years in December!), but wedding plans are always on the back burner and neither of us mind. (Though I am sure both sets of parents are longing for the day when we get hitched!)

We've come a long way since that fateful night of June 29th 1996.

We have had our ups and downs (as you do) but we've always been together. And (fingers crossed) we always will be together. I think it is important in a relationship to have s p a c e and we've always tried to give each other that, which is an underlining factor in our relationship. And support each other in what roads to take in your life. It's worked for us, so far.

Of course our true bond to one another happened when I became pregnant with Monet Lulu and when she was born it brought with it a totally different relationship to one another. Having Monet in our lives is just brilliant and I would not change not having her when we did.

Moving to Cairns and buying a home together too, has been a huge milestone in our relationship. We never thought either would happen.

We do what we think is right (not necessarily what others think is right) and it has worked for us because at the end of the day, we are happy. There isn't much we disagree on as we basically agree with each other on most subjects. I'm not sure what the key is to a happy relationship but I think we must hold it because we are still together, 11 years later.

Tonight we are planning on a bottle of bubbly to share, along with some take out food from one of our favourite restaurants (see if you can spot it in the below image!)

Below is a photo grid of the past few years of us three. (See if you can spot a pregnant Melody! Heehee!)

Happy 11th Anniversary Lyndon. I love you. But you know that. *wink wink* xx

Soaring Spirits

We haven't seen this for absolutely ages...

Blue skies.

I mean it. It is the 'dry season' up here in the tropics, (they only have 2 seasons up here, no autumn, winter, spring or summer, only 'dry' and 'wet'), and it is the first time in many, many weeks since we've had a clear blue, cloudless sky. I'm used to waking up and looking miserably out the window and seeing grey clouds. No blue skies in sight. So today was a nice surprise. This is what the 'dry' season is meant to look like. Every day. From May till Novemeber.

Do you realise how much looking outside, lifted my spirits this morning? And Monet's too for that matter.

"Blue sky, blue sky", she squealed along with me.

In celebration, we went on a picnic lunch. Just Monet and I, across the road in the park.

Monet discovered the joys of a picnic lunch last week, when we had one indoors (complete with rug, teddies, and plastic ware!)

But today's picnic was much nicer. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and we enjoyed drinking out of our plastic cups and eating off our plastic plates. We ate the Turkish Bread I baked yesterday (even if it was a bit stale) along with kabana, cheese and freshly shaved ham. We finished off by eating one of these each too.

We had a nice time eating, playing ball, chasing birds, collecting (huge) dried gum leaves, looking at the grass (!!) and chatting away to each other, as Monet and I tend to do.

I hope you've had a lovely day today, as we currently are.

Ahh...my serotonin levels must be refilled.

A New Hobby.

Somebody in this family is now beginning to take a keen interest in taking photographs using my camera.. (Both my digital camera and my mobile phone! Bless her.) I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that I am always taking photos? Hmm.

I've shown her how to hold the camera and where abouts to look on it to take an image. She is slowly getting the hang of it, but nowhere near the professionalism of H&B's 3 year old son.

Give her a few months.

Here is one of her Barbie dolls, Suze and her favourite doll, Heidi. (Both named after my friends mind you!)

A self portrait.

Dora and Boots on the telly. She was pretty excited having taken their photo!

Another self-portrait, though with me in the background probably blogging. Monet will probably be starting her own blog in the months to follow!! Hee hee. Oh, that's right, I don't think I'm joking.

By the way, our Lyndon is home ill from work today. He spent the night vomiting so I hope whatever he has, he doesn't pass onto his partner and daughter. Get well soon L-G.

About Time

Early this afternoon, Monet and I wandered down the beach, the first time in a couple of weeks. It was also the first time in a couple of weeks that it hasn't rained! It was also 'seasonally' warm but we were still out wearing long sleeves and long pants, we don't want to go overboard with the possible glimpse of 'dry season' weather now do we?

I thought the sky looked wonderful and the cloud formation a little bizarre... It was really still out there and grey, but so clear. I could see the mountains clearly in the distance and Double Island off Palm Cove felt really close.

I even wrote our names in the sand.

As you do.

It was nice to breathe some fresh sea air again. I've missed our beach. Stay away rain.

Monet's Nanna's Birthday

Today is Marianne's (my Mother-In-Law, well, one day she will be officially my M-I-L!) 50th Birthday. (Also shared by Prince William who turns 25!)

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Marianne,

Happy Birthday to you!

We sincerely hope you have a wonderful day and a terrific party on Saturday night. Make sure you let your hair out and go on, get Mark to buy you a bottle of Moet and let your hair down!!

Love Us xxx

Now, Don't Be Jealous...

...but look what is sitting in the bottom of my refrigerator, ready for some sipping tonight...

Looks tempting hey? I love a good quality champagne and I don't think I have ever had a glass of Moet before as it is out of my price league.

My friend, Jacinta, and her partner (Scott) have travelled up the eastern coast of Australia from Melbourne in their 4WD with a camper trailer attached. They are on a year long trip around Australia after renting out their house and leaving their jobs. Sounds great doesn't it? By all accounts they are having a wonderful time seeing this great country, bar all the rain we've been having along the eastern coast in the past fortnight or so. Like me, they can't wait to say Goodbye to the rain...

I used to work with Jacinta in Melbourne about 4 years ago and we've always stayed in touch (along with a couple of others I worked with there) and when she left work about 8 weeks ago, one of her fellow colleges presented her with that gorgeous (and generous) bottles of Moet. And Jacinta, being Jacinta, knew that I would enjoy and appreciate such champagne so it has been travelling up unchilled in the back of their car until now. Where it is sitting, chilling in my fridge. Ahh...

They will be heading off in the next few days on their journey up to Cape York (if the roads aren't closed due to all this rain) then off towards the Northern Territory and then on to Western Australia.

We had another couple of friends stay last week who are doing the same thing as Jacinta and her partner. They too have rented out their home and travelling around Australia for a year. They've been touring around in this...

...but they are unsure that they will continue on their journey over the Northern Territory and Western Australia. They are awfully homesick, the poor people! I think they are tempted to drive back south along the eastern coast and settle back into the life they left behind. Which, is totally understandable but I hope they don't. We will soon see.

And I'll soon see how I wake up in the morning after today's champagne drinking. (I suspect fine as quality champagne doesn't give hangovers!)

Where Has Our Beautiful Weather Gone?

In the past 4 minutes we have had 4mm of rain. No joke. I'm not smiling. 4mm in 4 mins!

Our weather radar is back to looking like this...

...and I'm sick of it!!

See all that darkish blue stuff? It represents rain.

I wish I could send it down south where they desperately need it. We aren't desperate for water up here, after all it is the tropics.

But c'mon, where are those glorious blue sunny skies gone? I haven't seen them around here for weeks. I am in need for some serotonin from the sun....

URGH! This is not the wet season, it is supposed to be the dry season.

Huh!?!

Small World

Last night we headed up to Port Douglas (again) for dinner with some friends, who are up this way from down in Victoria for a bit of work. We didn't stay the night, I drove home after our meal and a 'catch-up'.

Our friends were staying out of town. (In Mossman in case you were wondering, which is about 10 kilometers north of Port Douglas! They are helping put up tents in a secret location - but I can now tell you where - as Steven Spielberg is filming a big mini-series up here with Tom Hanks in the leading role. All outdoor scenes are being shot up this way and all indoor shoots are going to take place in Melbourne.) They were still some time away when we arrived so we stopped in at a 'bottle shop' to buy a '6-pack' (of Stella Artios in case you were wondering!) Monet and I waited patiently in the car whilst Lyndon went into the store.

When Lyndon returned to the car he brought along someone with him. The guy we used to rent a house from in Rye (on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsular) back when I was 4 months pregnant with Monet. Lyndon worked with 'Jason' for a number of months when he was doing his carpentry apprenticeship. 'Jason' had this grand plan on renting out his lovely beach side house and travel up the coast to 'maybe' work in Port Douglas. Over three years later he is still there. Small world.

We only rented his house for about 7 months before we moved back to Melbourne, as we missed the city-life too much. But we still talk about how much we loved that Rye house.

And we wonder each time we visit Port Douglas if 'Jason' still is up here. Well, we found out the answer last night. And funnily enough, 'Jason' works for a building company that is currently working at Lyndon's work site.

Speaking of small worlds, I remember when I was backpacking around the UK (alone) in 1996/97 I was staying at a little hostel in Edinburgh, off the lovely Royal Mile. One of the girls who was in the dorm with me was taught by my father at one of the schools my dad taught at during his career. Small world.

Have you had any 'small world' experiences, like mine?

*smile*

I need to do a post about my love for Monet.

Soppy, I know, but I honestly did not think it was possible to love her more than I did yesterday. Or the day before that. Or the day before that.

But I do.

Today.

Each day I simply love her more.

I just needed to tell you that.

*Ahh*

Over the past week, we've noticed big changes in her. And not just the length of her legs. (She is going to be one tall girl). Or the size of her feet. (She is now moving into children's size 10 shoes!)

She has become very loving. She now greets Lyndon at the door or in the street (if we go and visit him at work) and gives him the biggest hugs and says "I love you!!"

She's constantly giving me hugs and saying the same to me. "I love you Melody!!" Then she puckers up those lips and gives me a kiss.

Her manners are impressive, along with her intelligence (and I'm not just saying that because she is my daughter). She is so funny at times and she constantly is making me smile. Her tantrums seem to now be a distant memory, but I know they are still bubbling under the surface! (She isn't perfect!!) She is still incredibly shy (believe it or not) and takes a while for her to let people into her inner sanctum. She is defiantly a girl's girl. Trust me on that. She warms to females a hell of a lot faster than males. GOOD! *Heehee*

Life can be very good, when your child is behaving and being a little angel. I hope this phase lasts.

I'll milk it for all it is worth.

*Ahh*

Spur of the Moment

On the spur of the moment on Sunday, we decided we'd go up to Port Douglas for the night, a 40-odd minute drive from our abode. Looking on our favourite last-minute accommodation website, wotif, we got a great deal staying here.

After arriving, we wandered the main shopping-strip of Port Douglas, stopping in at the local Irish bar for a cheap (but rather ordinary) lunch washed down with a schooner of Pale Ale. It was so busy in the main street, mainly for the fact it was a) a Sunday and b) a long weekend (Queen's Birthday Weekend). We were glad we were staying down the road and not right in town like we did last time we stayed in Port Douglas (or Port to us locals!).

The resort was lovely, with boardwalks through the trees which the majority of the resort were built around. The lagoon style pool looked beautiful with a swim-up bar. But, for us northerners (!) it felt a little chilly, even though there were people in there swimming. We chugged down a beer whilst people watching and looking at the serenity the pool offered.

Being a little out of the main town, the resort sits a quick 2 minute walk to the famous 4-Mile Beach. It was a hive of activity there too.

The sand at this beach is like powder and Monet had a wonderful time running, spinning and rolling around in it. It was nice to see her enjoying herself. Yet again.

We decided for dinner to catch the bus into the main street, as we were going to meet up with a friend who was staying the night at Port too.

Our meal at the Courthouse Hotel was delicious and pretty inexpensive and I would definitely go back there to eat. And drink too of course. The Stella Artios went down a treat. And like usual, Monet was very well behaved. She sat next to me and entertained herself, not once wanting to get off the couch and run around. People are always telling me how good she is when she goes out. I guess it is because she is used to it. And I always have in my bag an assortment of items to keep her entertained. (Stickers have been a big hit for awhile now, along with her trusty 'Little People')

We were back at the resort by 10pm (I think) and we were were all out like a light. The three of us all tucked in the King size bed.

Monday morning saw us enjoying sausage rolls from the local bakery and another walk and play along the 4-Mile Beach. We were back home by 11am.

I love spur of the moment getaways. In fact, anything spur of the moment is usually pretty good. When was the last time you did something spur of the moment?

Cold Snap!!

This is going to sound ridiculous. I know. I grew up in rural Victoria and lived in Melbourne for a good 12 years. I know cold. I know freezing cold. I know all about winter mornings and cold snaps. I know all that.

But when it hits 12 degrees Celsius overnight in the tropics of Cairns - man, THAT is cold. To us, it felt like it was about minus 2 degrees. We even tried to see if our air-conditioners are reverse-cycle. They're not. There is (usually) no need for heaters up here. It is unheard of to have such cool weather in the evening.

Even the current 21 degrees seems chilly. We've all got long pants and long sleeves on today. I'm sitting here with a sniffly nose.

The weather is doing bizarre things across this continent.

I can't wait till Friday evening when the low is meant to be back to 21 degrees.

A View Of Cairns

The building Lyndon has helped construct in Cairns city, is nearing completion. People have been moving into their flash apartments and penthouses, and the hotel section is up and running.

We went in to his work on Sunday so I could have a look around at the near completed construction work. And to take some photos. The view from Level 13 (the highest level) is wonderful with views of the Coral Sea reaching to The Great Barrier Reef, the Marina, the lagoon, the city center and the surrounding rainforest clad mountains...

This above snap is of (besides the large carpark) the bay Cairns is situated along. It is not a beach but rather mudflats, which can sometimes be a little smelly. The tide here goes in and out but walking alongside the boardwalk which adorns the flats, you can usually spot an abundance of wildlife (mud crabs, fish, pelicans). The light blue patch there above the carpark is the gorgeous lagoon, which is a hub for all the beautiful people. The white building on the right is part of the Shangri-La Hotel complex.

Ahh, the lovely Marina/Reef Terminal. This is where the large boats take hoards of cashed up people out onto the Reef. Some trips take up to 2 hours to reach particular areas of the Reef.

This is looking westerly over the City skyline. Yep - no high rises here (the highest complex is the one Lyndon has been working on!) but plenty of hotels and apartment blocks. And shops. And drinking places.

Cairns population has been steadily growing and latest reports state that Cairns has the fastest growing population in Australia (there is so much employment opportunities available up here. We are prime example!) Once a sleepy little northern town, it is now building into a hustling little city with the fifth busiest airport (for both domestic and international) in Australia.

I love Cairns for its diversity of people. I love it for its tourism and for its tourists. I have never seen (nor lived in for that matter) a place like it. No where reminds me of somewhere else. It has a heart all of its own. It has this laid-back, leisurely feel with a great outdoor lifestyle. People don't worry about the little things in life, it's all "She'll be right mate" and it is not unusual to spy the pubs bustling with early morning drinkers.

And sure, there are a couple of things I don't like about the place (which includes the never-ending rain sometimes for weeks on end) but overall it is a great place to visit and a wonderful place to live.

For the time being.

Warm to Cold...

So we've figured it is about time that Monet and I went south for a holiday, to visit family and friends. We've had both lots of parents up here numerous times and it's only fair that we go down and repay their visits. Part of me is really looking forward to it, but the other part is dreading the cold weather. Bone-chilling cold.

Even this morning Monet went out on our back balcony (which catches the sun all day) and said "It's cold out here Mum!" She was right. It was. But it was 19 degrees Celsius. How ridiculous is that? We're complaining that it is 19 degrees!! (That's about in 66 Fahrenheit). I have jeans on today and it is currently about 25 degrees (77F). If we were still living in Melbourne I wouldn't be complaining how cool it was at night at 19C but rather boasting about how hot it was! I'm still shaking my head at myself.

We are flying to Melbourne on August the 1st with a 2 hour stop-over in Sydney. So our plane trip is going to take like 6 hours, but the tickets were cheap so I am not whinging over that. It might be nice for Monet and I to stretch our legs! We fly back out on the 12th, but we are going to Brisbane for 3 nights and meeting Lyndon down there. 2 holidays in 1, we are having. How lucky are we?

Now, because we get around in t-shirts and skirts/shorts/mid-calf pants for most of the year (except today when I am wearing a pair of jeans but I am starting to feel warm so I might have to change), we don't have winter clothes. I have a big winter coat stored at my parents which I will be wearing, but Monet really has nothing. She does not know what flannelette pyjamas are, let alone own any.

That is why the local Department Stores are loving us today.

I have lay-byed for Monet the following; (and you can only imagine how cute and gorgeous the following are) - a pair of Dora the Explorer flannie pjs, a pair of denium jeans, a black pinafore with matching funky top, a fleecy Dora the Explorer tracksuit, a green zip-up fleecy jacket, woollen tights, a pair of Dunlop slip-on shoes and a pair of Gumboots. For myself, a pair of new jeans and a black woollen jumper/cardigan over top thingy (you understand that don't you?) I will need to get myself some shoes that cover my toes. I don't have any.

I love shopping for clothes for an impending holiday. Always have. It is a rule Lyndon and I have. Holiday = new clothes.

Do you ever buy new clothes for impending holidays?

(Sorry, Blogger not liking paragraphs today. Again!!)

Reach Out For The Sunrise...

Since we've been getting out of bed at around 6:30am these days (thanks to Little Miss Monet), I have been spying the most awesome of sunrises. Today was no exception. A lot of the time my camera doesn't do the sunrise from my kitchen window any justice, but I think you'll agree with me that this morning's was brilliant and my camera captured it wonderfully.

This colour and the cloud formation only lasted not even 5 minutes.

The sunrises here over the Coral Ocean, so I am hoping to get down the beach early enough one morning soon to take some photos to share with you...

Ain't nature just amazing?

Ribbit...

We had a little visitor on our balcony last night... (I'm just hoping I didn't blind the poor thing with my flash!!)


So, he wasn't that little. He was quite large in fact and he was lovely, even though I kept my distance. I didn't want him jumping onto me.

He is a Green Tree Frog, the largest one I have ever seen in nature. I've seen ones this size in the local zoo and we used to get them at work in Victoria when they'd hitch down a ride in Banana boxes from up here in Far North Queensland, (I worked in a supermarket), but they were never this size.

I told Monet this morning who visited us outside when she was sound asleep. She was pretty excited when I showed her the photos, it is a pity he came when she was tucked up in bed. I hope he returns at some stage, but I'm not sure Lyndon is too keen on him returning... *smirk*