Camping at Port Arthur

Our first day at Port Arthur this weekend was GREAT !!

Tracey arrived around 11.30am with Faith & April, Bec & Claire and as Faith and April headed off with Nikki and Chels, Bec & Fuzz got to work and put their tent up.

The park was starting to fill with other campers and as Ian and Darren were out in the boat fishing, Lisa, Trac & I chatted over cups of tea around the firepot.

Lisa and I gave the kids their show bags (we popped into the Hobart Show on Wednesday before picking Fuzz up from school) and purchased a couple of show bags for the kids - "we're good Mum's eh!!"

The fellas arrived back at camp around 4.00pm with 6 flatties, 2 gurnets & a leather jacket.

Now for the Euka challenge!! Lisa (Boxall) & Ian were off to a flying start and quickly took out the first two games. Darren and I fought back and took the score to2 all, then 3-2, 4-2 then 4-3 then 5-3 and after Ian's "whining" we played on and finished with Darren & I leading the Euka Challenge 5-4 at 11.30pm !!

Lisa and I are purchasing a new pack of cards today (Port Arthur ones). Someone put the old pack in the FIREPOT !!

Fuzz's Big Night Out !!

Ogilvie High School had their "Celebration Dinner" (Leaver's Dinner) with New Town High School last night at Wrest Point.

Fuzz & Brittany (Lethbridge) looked gorgeous when they stepped out of their car at the entrance at Wrest Point and they were very excited about the dinner ahead.

I've added some photos of our beautiful girls for you to check out.

Cheers

It's been go, go, go this weekend !!

Chelsea competed in a Primary School Basketball Tournament this weekend at the Moonah Stadium. The 5/6 team consisted of 7 girls (of which all had different skill levels).

As Chels has only ever played netball at a competitive level, she showed loads of talent on the basketball court. Her teamwork, skill level and determination was of a high standard and she should be very proud of the way she played over the weekend.

The girls won only 2 of their 4 matches which placed them 3rd on the ladder in their pool which unfortunately didn't enable them to progress through to play on Sunday in the finals.

Kingston Netball Association (KNA) is hosting their annual carnival this weekend at the Kingston Sports Centre. As our girls were unable to commit to both the Devon Carnival in September and the Kingston Carnival due to CANA commitments, both Chels and Claire are not playing netball this weekend.

However, Claire is busy umpiring at the Kingston Carnival and is the U/14 STNA umpire. She presided over 4 games today and will do at least 4 games again tomorrow (Sunday) along with any finals games she may be selected to umpire - Well done Fuzz!!

Cheers
Lisa
PS: have you noticed that you can "follow" our blog?? Just click on the "follow this blog" gadget at the top right side of this blog page -- ENJOY !!

"Safety tips for Netballers"

Fuzz's Sports Science pamphlets say..........

Good Technique and Practices will help PREVENT Injury!!

• Learn correct passing, catching and landing techniques.

Good Preparation is Important!!

• Undertake training prior to competition to ensure readiness to play


• Always warm up, stretch and cool down. A recent netball study found that not warming up before a game increases the risk of injury by 48%.


• Undergo fitness programs to develop aerobic fitness, strength, balance, co-ordination and flexibility.
  

The Y-Nots are continuing with their losing streak. However, tonight we didn't just lose, we were flogged........41-17!!!

We copped a couple of injuries tonight too. Lisa Boxall took a knock to the jaw by one of the opposition men, and then not long after the ball hit her face in the same place - OUCH!!

Then in the final quarter, Ian tried to pull up (he was playing in centre) before going off side by entering the goal circle and tore his calf muscle (at least that's what he thinks he's done).

After calling time and limping to the side of the court, he applied ice and sat out the rest of the game. We all left the Aurora Stadium feeling rather deflated, and Ian requested that we call into the Chemist on the way home to see if we could hire some crutches!!

Guess what - all their crutches were out on hire - so he's out of luck. He hobbled up the stairs when we got home and dropped on the lounge, calling out for The Medical Book !! Fuzz also found her notes and handouts on sports injuries for him to read up on.

The Medical information states that if his injury is serious (he says it's really bad) then it will take around 21 days before he can play sport again!!!

Darren & Bec Boxall teamed really well in Defence in the first three quarters and Bec continued to perform well in GA in the final quarter.

Fuzz shot very well in the first half and also tried hard in the WA position later in the game. Melissah Collins took a few good intercepts in the WD position tonight as well. Phil Stoneman played in the WA and Centre positions and made way for Fuzz to take Ian's position when he had to leave the court due to injury.

With improved passing and slowing our game down, I'm sure we can get a win next time !!

We now have a rest next week due to Show Day, so hopefully we'll be back the following week fit and raring to go !!!

Cheers
Lisa

Sunday 12 October - Our First Day Back Home from Townsville

The skies have been almost cloud free and the sun shining brightly ALL day!! Just what we've been used to in the great city of Townsville. However, the weather forecasts tell us it's not going to be like this for much longer - It's supposed to be only 16 degrees tomorrow (Monday) with mountain snow in the evening - GREAT !!

We drove down to Big W this morning to print out some of our holiday photos and then we drove out to Angela and Matthew Gasparin's to give them some $$ that Angela kindly took to Ogilvie High School so that Fuzz can go to the Leaver's Dinner next week and to also give Kalinda some photos that I took of her when we went to Magnetic Island on their Rest Day (1 October).

After paying them a visit, we went to see Lisa and Darren, Bec, Laura and Nikki. Chels had been busting at the seams to see them and Nikki was waiting on their front lawn for us when we arrived - there were cuddles all round!!

The boys drove down to Claremont Village and got some meat and salads for a BBQ lunch while Lisa and I finished off a bottle of Brown Brothers - Cienna (Yum). Lisa and the girls checked out the photos I printed and then I showed Lis the rest of our pics on my laptop - Yep, I took it with me!!

We started playing Euka late in the afternoon (actually it was almost tea time) and we ordered Pizzas for tea (Lisa and I drove down to Poppa Ducks to pick them up at 8.00pm). Lisa (Boxall) and Ian played the best Euka they've ever played to beat Darren and I 3 gaves to nil tonight. There were high 5's and "woohoo's" like we've never seen from them before and as you can see from the photo I've posted, they even managed a Euka or two !!

Darren and Ian finished off the night with a blast of Black Betty on Sing Star. Ian was leading on points the whole song then Darren came up right at the end and beat him!!! I've recorded a video of the last verse of the song (the video clip I've posted tells the whole story!!)

It's good to be home when you can spend time with great friends.

Cheers
Lisa xx

Friday 10 October - Today is our last day in Townsville!!

Uhhhhh (that's a sigh). Today is our last day in Sunny Townsville and we're all disappointed that we have to leave tomorrow (all except Fuzz that is, she's wanting to go home - she misses her bed!!).

We had breakfast down at the strand this morning - pancakes with Maple Syrup and cream, pancakes with caramel sauce and gelato and grilled croissant with ham and cheese along with milkshakes and a fanta spider.

Then after a stroll along the strand - AGAIN, we made our way to the Flinders Street Mall for a spot of last minute shopping and souvenior hunting.

We headed back to the apartment changed into our swimmers and headed over to the Rydges main Hotel for a dip in the pool. Both the girls whipped their gear off when we got there and jumped right in. Ian and I watched from the side today.

When we got back to our apartment, Ian and Chels got changed and headed to the Museum. I've stayed here in the apartment (much to Ian's disgust) to get a bit of R&R before our full on day tomorrow hopping on and off aeroplanes!! (Fuzz is asleep on her bed at the moment).

We've had an absolute awesome time here in Sunny Townsville and we'll be sad to leave here in the morning, however it will be great to catch up with our friends when we get back home.

Thursday 9 October - Rock Pool Closed for Maintenance - so we went to the Aquarium today!!

The Strand - we love it !!! The Rockpool was closed today for maintenance so we just walked around it watching the people hose it out and clean the bottom of the pool. There was a man fishing in the ocean off the side of the pool. He was an older guy and as Ian stood there looking out to see the pair struck up a conversation. Guess what?? It turns out the guy is from Mangalore Tassie!! He can no longer work so he travels around doing what feels good at the time - mostly fishing!! He stays at Caravan Parks in a tent !!

We visited the Reef HQ today (Aquarium). That was a lot of fun. We also saw a film (40 minutes) in the IMAX theatre - The Deep Sea. That was very interesting.

We headed back to our apartment for a bit of lunch - left overs from last night's bbq and then Ian, Chels and I headed over to the main hotel for a swim in the big pool - Chels loves it over there.

Tonight we booked into the Jupiters Casino for the Buffet tea. WOW!!! what a feast we had. Lots of Prawns, Vegies, Sirloin Steak, Roast Pork and lots of salads. Then dessert. We almost rolled out of the building !!!

I've posted photos that I took of the cleaning of the Rockpool this morning, also Ian and Chels climbing on the rope tower along the Strand. I hope you also like the photos I took at the Aquarium - It was a fun day!!

Cheers

xx

PS: Check out our apartment!! I've worked

out how to download movies from my camera

to our blog -YIPPPEEEE!!!

There's no stopping me now!

Wednesday 8 October - We drove to Ayr and saw the Sugar Canes!!

Ever since the girls finished the netball carnival Ian has been ranting about driving to Burdekin to see the Sugar Canes. The girls pleaded with him not to go, but it all fell on "deaf ears" and we headed south at 9.30am this morning.

After an hour of driving and 87kms we arrived at Ayr. We had driven past many fields laden with Sugar Cane and also a few small trains loaded with the burnt and cut canes along the way.

We also had to take photos of the Bridge (biggest bridge of its kind in Australia). Ian loved it, but the girls and I couldn't wait to get back to Townsville. It was stinking hot in the car and by the time we got back to Townsville it was 30 degrees!!

We went to Sizzlers for lunch - Chels had never been to one of those restaurants (as the one in Glenorchy closed down before she was born!! It was FANTASTIC !!

Then we went to Stocklands shopping centre for a bit of retail therapy - the girls bought themselves some clothes at City Beach (surf shop).

We went to the Strand again and had a barbeque for tea alongside the Rock Pool (as we did on Monday night!! The girls and Ian went for a swim in the Rock Pool while I stayed at the bbq and watched our bags.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit of a lazy day - although we'd like to do the Reef HQ (aquarium) possibly tomorrow. Hope you like the photos we took today.

Cheers

xx

Tuesday 7 October 2008 - We went out to the Reef today!!

What a day!!
We went to out to the Reef today on the SunSea Cruises Boat. The weather was absolutely fantastic and there was no wind at all, so the sea was dead flat calm (thank God).

We left Townsville at 8.30am (had to be at terminal at 7.45am) so it was an early morning. We stopped at Magnetic Island to pick up more passengers and then it was a two and a half our trip to Kelso Reef.

Passengers were able to enjoy free tea and coffe all the way and we were given biscuits and fresh fruit for morning tea on the way out. The Captain came down and gave a Marine talk (along with photos on TV screens) about the fish that we would see out on the reef today and also some safety tips - this was very interesting.

It was then time to move out to the back of the boat and choose our flippers, mask and snorkel and floatation devices. Usually there is pushing and shoving with things like this but not out there, everyone was very courteous and even helped each other choose their items.

We arrived at the reef at 11.00am and we were in the water by 11.30am - WOW !!!

The slide off the back of the boat and into all the fish and beautiful coral was SPECTACULAR!!! Chels was my buddy and she kept grabbing my arm and pointing to all the different coloured fish and saying "Oh My God Mum, this is the best thing!!"

A buffet lunch was served on the boat between 12.00pm - 1.15pm and all you had to do was make your way back on board grab a plate and load it up, then sit down and ENJOY!! They served us: pineapple slices, beetroot, potato salad, garden salad, pasta salad, along with chicken wings, roast beef and ham slices, huge pieces of chicken (drumsticks and breast pieces) and bread rolls and butter. --- YUM!!

Chels and I then boarded the glass bottom boat and cruised around the reef while being given a talk by "Paul" the driver (he's from Tassie- Dodges Ferry) about all the different types of coral we could see and also the different fish etc. We were lucky enough to see a fairly large turtle also - WOW !!

We left the reef at 2.30pm to head back to Townsville via Magnetic Island and we arrived at the ferry terminal at 5.00pm - We had enjoyed the most spectacular day the views of the fish and coral at the reef were beautiful - Not something we'll forget in a hurry.

We used Ian's underwater camera to take some photos under the water. I've included some of them on the blog page for you to see - Hope you like them.

Cheers

xx

Monday 6 October - Trip to the "Frosty Mango"

It's to be very hot here in Northern Queensland today - expected top 34 degrees. We're heading to the Frosty Mango (its a tropical fruit property that makes it's own Sorbet). It's 66 kms north of Townsville.

There were several different flavours of sorbet to try - Chels had a pineapple cone, Fuzz had a lemon and fruit salad cup, Ian tried a mango and fruitsalad cup and I had a vanilla and pineapple cup - Delicious!! (photos of sorbets above)

On our way back to Townsville we stopped by a place called "Paradise Waterhole" at Big Crystal Creek. With the sun beating down on us it was very, very hot and although Chels and I planned not to swim in the waterhole - we couldnt resist and were extremely pleased we did - It was amazing !! The water was so clear you could see the bottom, but there was no way anyone was able to touch it in places. There were lots of people there.

Oh of course I must mention that along the way we "just have to stop and check out the various boat ramps". I've posted a couple of pics of some - Carol do you recognise them?? LOL

Let us know what you think of the photos xx