Its my birthday and I'll Thai if I want to

Yes it is my birthday and I will 'thai' if I want to....eat it that is. Twice today! Pad Thai for lunch and I'm off to My Thai for dinner. If you have visited us in BrisVegas we have probably taken you there...its the best thai food outside Thailand.

So today is my birthday. 29 years old and as some have kindly put it, on the downhill run to 30. Its been a quiet day, not like me at all. I had lunch with colleagues today, off for a few bevvys at the local and then onto dinner with Al. It was almost like I couldn't be bothered to celebrate this year.

But I could be bothered to set my birthday goals. Before we go into the goals of 2009, let's re-cap on my 2008 goals....did I achieve everything I set out to in my 28th year of life? My top 5 things were:

Read lots ( I originally said 100 books but then
realised that would be about 8 a month....think that's a bit ambitious)
Go somewhere I have never been before (ie Canada!)
Ride 1 mile on a hippity-hop
Learn a foreign language (French I think)
Perfect the making of bottercook (dutch shortbread - I really suck at making it)

So I did read lots (Al will attest to that). I went somewhere I have never been before, Papua New Guinea. I brought out the hippity-hop but didn't get very far and I made a half-hearted attempt to learn French and failed. I did, however, perfect the making of Bottercook. Very late in the piece (Dec 23 I think) my mother-in-law took me through the process again and it came out great! Even Oma was impressed, its a good sign when you impress the dutch grandma.

Okay now 2009. My top things to do in my 29th year of life are:

1. Become an Aunty (not really within my control but Chris & Ast have got that covered)
2. Get some business for my business - nothing so far :(
3. Learn a new skill - I have no idea what at this stage
4. Play the piano more (it would help if I had one, we are working on that)
5. Finish my novel (yes I have started to write one)

There you have it folks. Now all I have to do is get off my backside and get these things done!

In closing... happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear me, happy birthday to me!

Camping etiquette

As I was chatting about our recent camping adventures to a friend I was reminded of some of the social atrocities that affronted us on our recent trip. So here are a few notes to all campers out there:

1. Clothes are not optional - I don't care whether you are 3 or 83
2. If you are outside your tent or caravan other people can see you (and hear you) and sometimes we can hear you even though you're inside
3. Ladies - if you are outside, wear a bra. Its not like you'd walk down the street at home without one on...why should a camp ground be any different.
4. Men - Speedos are not a fashion statement, unless you are at the beach, put some shorts on!
5. Whilst wearing your PJs to the bathroom early in the morning is fine, wearing silk nighties, short boxer shorts and see through tops is not fine. (note to the lady that was sweeping outside her caravan in her purple satin nightie)
6. Just because you are up at the crack of sparrow does not mean that everyone else wants to be...keep it down to a dull roar.
7. Like #5, just because you are still up at 11pm doesn't mean everyone else wants to be...keep it down to a dull roar.

Coolum camping adventures

Trust my hubby to do the 'spure of the moment' thing. Thursday night he tells me we are going camping on Friday night. So by 5pm Friday we were headed up the coast to Coolum Beach Caravan Park to go camping.

Setting up in the dark was a bit of an adventure but luckily Al had done a 'practice run' setting up the tent at home; mainly to check all the bits and pieces were there. After setting up the tent we trotted over the main street of Coolum for some fish'n'chips - lucky they were good cause we had to wait 40 minutes for them.

The real adventure began half-way through the night when we realised our airbed had a leak in it somewhere. By about 3:30am both of our butts were on the floor and stayed there till dawn broke. Needless to say we were out of bed at the crack of sparrow stretching and complaining about our backs. Lucky for us it was a gorgeous day and we strolled off down the beach for a swin at about 8am.

Saturday night the adventures continued with rain, wind, rain and more wind. There is something to be said for camping in the rain.....its crap!

All in all we did have a good time so stay tuned for more camping adventures as we pack our tent and head out for more.

Welcoming a new year and farewelling old friends

The first day of this year was an interesting one to say the least. Al and I welcomed in the new year at home, by ourselves, accompanied only by the fireworks on TV, a few glasses of wine and some excellent olives.

A scorching day in QLD, the first day of the new year got off to a rough start with a phone call from my Dad. Unfortunately one of my great-aunts had passed away, succumbing to cancer. I know that everyone says..."well, they lived a full life" when someone dies but with Shirl this was the truth. A campaigner for environmental issues, Shirl donated much of her time the local Environment Centre, volunteering where she could. I will never forget the fact that Shirl, my Mum and Squeezy (Mum's mum) all when on a South East Asian holiday together when I was little. Trekking through Malaysia and Indonesia in the 1980's, Shirl proved there was nothing she couldn't do.

The one thing I will remember about Shirl is that despite her debilitating arthritis (which she has suffered as long as I can remember) she never complained and was always positive about life. Life had dealt her a difficult hand (literally) in many ways but she didn't back down and give in, she continued on with an optimism I have rarely seen in others.

There is no doubt she was a remarkable woman. We'll miss you Shirl xx

It was also on New Year's Day I realised that it was 29 days till I was 29. And then Al cheekily pointed out that it was only 30 days till I was on the downhill run to 30 - Thanks for the reminder! I resolved a long time ago to not make New Year's resolutions, but I do set goals on my birthday so stayed tuned for my 29th year goals in a few weeks.

Until next time, may your 2009 be everything you want it to be and more. Remember to tell your family your love them, don't let little conflicts spoil your relationship with anyone (build a bridge) and make the most of every opportunity you are afforded.