General Chat

Afternoon just quickly as we have to go out to get visitors. Laurie glad you are OK, some drivers think they own the road. Anything is fine with me as long as I get a few moments to look at the view of the giraffes etc. Was talking to Jude 3 (sorry Lew forgot her name already lol) and we was thinking maybe breakky at the airport, but it depends on the taxi ??? Lew yes I did live in Wang for a short time in Dec 86 - Jan 87, wnet to a rodeo they on New years Day in 44 degree heat. I was starting to get home sick as I had been in vic since Aug and my Nan died in Jan so I came home. dont know much of the area, just it was toooo bl***y hot lol. Cheers Sue

Devily & Jarrah Breakfast at the airport not a good plan girls (Sydney domestic terminal - not nice food - very exxy) - we will pick you all up and bring you down to the Bay (7mins away) for breaky - much nicer option. Thats if its OK with you ??? luv Laurie

Ok Boss has spoken lol, and it sounds a wise idea so Breaky on the Bay sounds nice to me. Cheers Sue

Hi, Busy morning again, but I did have a late start, 6.30 am before I let the chooks out. They were very cross. Then I just had to bath the dog. She was getting a bit on the nose. We usually take her to the vets for a hydro bath but I couldn't wait any longer. Talking of dogs, and back to the Lew family home, on the photo of the dining room is there a black and white dog outside? Laurie, are you sure you are okay. Maybe a bit sore today. You should play up a bit, like some eastern europeans do. You may be able to get a few pairs of shoes, just to catch up with Lew., the lady of the shoe (s). Tony, you are bringing back so many memories. We visited Scotland every year after we were married, some times more than once, and often in a caravan. We also had an office in Elgin. I must put another holiday in Scotland on my to do list. I am with you about the people in France. We had several holidays in the south of France and for the most part they were quite rude. Perhaps if you had advertised the fact that you were Australian and not English it would have been better. The French have never forgiven the English for Joan of Arc. Don't ask me why. However I do think that it is a beautiful Country. We used to travel to the south on the train so we saw much of the countryside. I would like to travel through France on a barge. Who will be at Jupiters on Thursday. Neville will be coming Anna, so Chris will not be on his own. Anna, hope you have a good stay in Tamborine. You have my number if you decide to have a trip to Canungra. Trifley and Yvette I have email you both. Mary, not long now, is the new place very far from where you now live? Everyone else, hope you are all well and getting over colds etc. See you all later Luv SuzyQ Fingers crossed for tonight

Hi all, a quick look in before vizzies arrive, Laurie I'm glad you are alright. if it had to happen a least you have good taste in cars, could have been a ford! now wait for sparks to fly from Trifley lol. SuzyQ I'll be at thursday's meet, Ron is going to pick Lorraine up for me so I don't have to rush away, yipee! love to all Jillx

Afternoon Wattlers.Its soooo good to be back in Malbin..er'm Lots of abusive phone calls from irate customers...God i missed it...NOT....lol Glad to share a little of our trip with you, although i know a lot of the Wattlers have been to Scotland, but thought it might bring back a few memories also, and an insight for those who might holiday there in future. I did eventually climb the William Wallace monument,( at Stirling ) and the view's were great. We walked the long Hill up to the top from the gift shop entrance, stopping to catch our breath everynow and then ( looong walk, all up hill ) until a courtesy shuttle bus passed us with people smiling and waving at us as it wizzed past. Barb looked at me with daggers......(oooops ) didn't realise there was a shuttle to the top....hee hee But the walk did us good, i think. We had a great time in Scotland, and saw such beautiful countryside, among other things. ( far to much to tell ) The people are warm and friendly of whom we met, and we both thoroughly enjoyed of the little we saw with what time we had of Scotlands History.Will definatley return and see more if we get the oppotunity. We start saving again now for Canada, as its our next to do. The next day we flew to Paris.( 2 days here only ) and then to London for 5 days. Picadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street,Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, Waterloo,Buck Palace, Royal Mews, Kensington Palace, Westminster Cathederal, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, St. Pauls, Green Park., Hyde Park, Marble Arch,National Gallery, Greenwich..just to name a few places we visited, and walked, Train & Bus everywhere. 5 pounds each ( $12:00 )gave us a 24 hr pass on train & bus services thoughout London, and we used them all. I have added some Piccies on msn Photo board of some of our holiday. ( 4 pages ) under Tony& Barb ( Scotland, Paris, London ) on page 1. Hope everyone had a good day. Tony Oz....:>))) ( singing )....jus roamin in the gloamin...lol

Thanks for the photos Tony, looks like you did Scotland the right way . . . Ah so Barb had a Big Mac did she . . . . Hard to get back down to 'normal' after such a lovely holiday isn't it. The history, the age of everything, its just so hard to go beyond that isn't it. I have to touch everything, and just think of how many generations of dna I am mixing it with. Well best get back to work - Ray has just asked if I'm playing or working . . . spoil sport! cheers luv Laurie

Morning everyone :-) Will catch up later. Have to go get ready for the Chester meet. To those who sent me that 'please return' email I will return it. It only took me 2 months with Stel's pmsl. ~~~~~~~~~to all~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Juliexx

Dear Everybody, I love reading all this , all your travels and gadding about. I do hope you are ok Laurie, it gave me goosebumps when you said about the accident. I will return your questionairre sometime this week. The QLD meet sounds fun, my soulmate lives on the Gold Coast, just never get the chance to visit her. I desperately want to visit the UK and the relo's that I have never met (+ do the graveyards) I think that I'll be going alone as OH satisfied his travel needs when he was younger (I aquired him after I already had 2 kids) the family all are really supportive and encourage me to be independant - as I have done with them. Apart from conqering my fear of flying (last year with youngest male child) I - most of my time away is spent in a tent. Today I've defrosted the freezer, cleaned out the fridge, made apple danish's and had a great day with the boys. Not very often they are all home at the same time. They have humoured me by changing their sheets,being nice to each other and yakking to me most of the day. love to you all from Yvette

HI Wattlers Computer seems to be working properly again so I've got until Monday morning on it and then we're off to Mt.Tamborine. Darling daughter left today for Sydney/Canberra. She has lots of warm clothes so hope she will be OK as we've been having balmy weather up here. There are 3 busloads of them going from her school - the choirs, the concert band and the dance and media students.One bus has its luggage compartment full of instruments, costumes, etc. They are performing at the Sydney Opera House and Darling Harbour tomorrow and at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday. Everything is packed so nicely in her suitcase - I can just imagine what it will be like in a few days time - stuff everywhere! I'm feeling anxious of course - what Mum doesn't! Laurie - glad you are OK - what a shock. You were very lucky. What an irresponsible driver! We've had a few hit and runs up here lately where the outcome for the pedestrian was not so good. You and your apples - do you remember Mother and Son where Ruth Cracknell made her son stop on the way to a funeral so she could buy some oranges from a roadside stall? She was bending over the coffin after it had been lowered into the hole and the oranges all kept falling out of her bag into the grave! It was so funny. Ruth Cracknell was the spitting image of my mother in her later years. I used to get goosebumps every time she was on the telly. SuzyQ - we'll be at the casino on Thursday - can you let me know what time and does anyone know about parking there and if there's any sort of dress code? Will Chris be OK in smart jeans? Hi Tony - love the travel stories. I don't know if I'll be able to face a quarter pounder again - let alone a big Mac! Hi Trifley - watcha up to? Will talk to you tomorrow about Wednesday. Love to all Anna

Ooo, Anna, how proud of Katherine you must be. Performing at the Opera House is a pretty big call! That's where my high school used to hold its speech days and we'd sing the Hallelujah Chorus. Tony, the photos are wonderful and bring back lots of memories. Just loved Scotland and also Paris. I only found a problem with the Parisiennes. The people in the countryside were brilliant and very helpful with 4 young Aussie girls with only school girl french, lol. Laurie, I've had a lovely afternoon with your Colleen. She just looks radiant and I also knew heaps of her friends already, so it was nice to catch up with them. Yes, SuzyQ, that black and white dog is our Jack the Wonder Dog. He has just turned 13, although still behaves like a puppy. He is the best dog and everyone who meets him wants to take him home. Not a mean bone in his body and he is brilliant with kids, very tolerant. How's your day been Trifley? Hope you're keeping your spirits up (and the wine, cocktails and sherry, heee, heee) Just what Dr Lew ordered. Waves to all the wonderful Wattlers and keeps her bits crossed for Lotto! Lew Lew xxx

Hi guys Could someone tell me the email addy for Tony's photos - I lost my favourites when the computer was throwing a hissy fit! Ta Anna

Hello all. Off to look at Tony and Barb's pictures. Tony's favourite cuz :-)

Anna, I have emailed you. Lew xxx

Bugger, bugger, bugger, bum, poo, wee!!! 6, 11, 15, 21, 32, 36 Sups: 10 & 16 Not Happy, Jan!!!!

From all the Wattlers to a Very Special Lady. June, we will miss you! And to your family, how lucky you are to have been related to such a selfless person. From all the Gang DownUnder, Bless You.

So Long, Fare Well

I second that Lew. June was such a kind and thoughtful person, and never an unkind word from her to anyone. Always remembering to add every ones birthday or special event, she was a very special lady. God bless. Paris.Yes...well..Ummmm We arrived in Paris from Edinburgh at 1:30 pm, after a 1hr 20 min plane flight. We hired a Taxi from the information centre at the airport after changing from Pounds to Euros. 20 min wait we were told as the girl contacted our taxi transport to our Hotel. 1hr and 20 min later he turned up, and after he had finished snapping the handle on my suitcase as he threw them in the back of the Combi Van, we were off on our way. Barb gripped the seats as we wizzed down the road dodging the heavy traffic at approx 140kms an hr, and smiling through gritted teeth. Who'ah..frenchy, Barb said. Whats the big hurry!!...... Yahhhh..i said,( swaying with the motion and speed ) wer'e in Paris....:>)))hold on to anything that's grabable before he kills us i told her.....lol 45min later we arrived at the Hotel. After checking in we lugged our suitcases up to our room. Our Hotel was a 3 star Hotel and 4 stories high. We entered our room, 10ft by 10ft square, and just large enough to fit us and a double bed. After shoving the suitcases in the bathroom ( not enough room in the bedroom )and also noticed there was none of the usual courtesy tray of Tea or Coffee or milk, and no fridge, so i went down stairs to see if we could get a jug of Hot water. Barb had some sachets of Coffee & Tea bags ( god bless her )The Hotel manager told me to go down to the kitchen and see my wife, he said. The kitchen was in a dungeon below ground, and looked like a make shift air raid bunker, with a curved ceiling,( painted yellow ) with moisture constantly dripping from the ceiling.( how quaint i thought ) The wife boiled some hot water in a jug, and we filled the thermos up. Back upstairs Barb said, Mmmm...how much are we paying for all this luxury..?? Only 145 Euros ($247:00 ) a night, i said....wot a bargain...:>))) Barb punched me on the arm.?? Anyway...don't want to make it sound to good, otherwise everyone will want to stay here....lol Forget the Coffee i said, we'll go down to the Cafe, next to the Hotel. I walked up to the counter ( in the Cafe ) and asked for a white Coffee. The cup was kinda small ( like an egg cup )...:>(( He placed it on the bar and said, 5 Euro ( $8:50 ) I picked the cup up and started to walk away to sit in the chairs on the footpath. The waiter looked at me strangely, and banged his finger on the bar.....no no..must drink here inside, he motioned. There was an English chap at the bar,( who could tell i was a foreigner or Ozzie )and explained to me, that if i take the Coffee outside to drink,it was an extra Euro or so...:>((( England & Scotland's B&Bs were looking real good at this point. Later that afternoon we walked up the 'Alee des cygnes' towards the Eiffel Tower dodging and scrapeing the dog poo of our shoes that lined the walkway along the river Seine. Apart from our accommodation, we did enjoy the city of Paris ( at a glance ) and did a lot of walking. The Eiffel Tower looked great at night ( all lit up )and we took a hop on,hop off cruise the next day up the River Seine, stopping at various locations around Paris.............. The Louve,Arch deTriomphe,Notre Dam,Champs de Elysees, Petite Palace, and also walked the sidewalk markets and stalls. We noticed a lot of the small smart cars, and also the tiny Phone box petrol stations for motorbikes built on the footpaths. Barb enjoyed her shopping, but for me personally,apart from the major sightseeing thingy's,Paris was not on my must return list, but then again its a matter of personal taste i guess. I found the locals not to bad, but the shop owners a bit couldn't give a fig attitude,( unless you spoke French ) and were not in a hurry to help or serve you. We only had two days in Paris, but I'm sure there were other more interesting things to see, perhaps in the Country side?...but also... found Paris a very expensive city to do your shopping. Tony Oz...:>))

http://groups.msn*.*com/GCPhotospage/tonyampbarb.msnw Now I know what my Essex Ozzie cuz looks like! and there's a picture of Barb with Greyfriars Bobby too! Brilliant! :-)

Wow - it's quiet on here tonight! Yes Lew - poo bum and wee wee! It's about time we had a little incentive to keep on keeping on! Tony - been for a look at your photos. Oh I am soooo jealous! Brings back lots of memories and I just want to go back there again. Isn't Scotland beautiful? And you can sense the history of the place just from looking at the photos. There's a TV program on SBS tomorrow night at 8.30 - talks about genetics and whether the lifestyles of our forefathers has any effect on the genes of their descendants. Sounds very interesting - I will be watching it. A sort of nature versus nurture - with genetics thrown in for good measure. Trifley .........pluddy useless lotto tickets you bought us! Where are you woman - you are too quiet. Talk to us. Night night to everyone Luv Anna I'd love to be a fly on the wall in Chester, England and see what's going on at the meet there. Our Lemon will no doubt be singing and having a wee drachm.......