Our Trip to Fairymeadow

Well, what a fun Saturday I had with Carmen. We met on the train and headed to FairyMeadow with picnic in hand. After we failed to complete the many crosswords we attempted on the train we got off the train and headed for Fairymeadow beach (pic above Carmen and me on the beach).

We had some sandwiches and a blue snow cone laced with champagne. After finishing the bottle we headed into the surf which was kinda rough. Our boobs popped out of our swimmers a couple of times but who cares when you're a bit tipsy. I got fully dumped by a wave and we both had more sand in our crotch than anywhere else.

After the beach we headed to Waves, nice pub with a kiddies playground. We consumed a few beers then hit the play equipment with gusto ingoring the sign that read "No-one over the age of 12 is allowed on the play equipment". Pictured below is Carmen hanging off a wobbly piece of equipment doing a bit of pole dancing. Above right I was playing shop.

Here is Carmen playing shop complete with in-built plastic calculator. We also had limited use of the flying fox until those pesky kids under 12 got hold of it. After mucking around it was back inside for more beers/wine in a bucket. We popped about $10 each in the pokies and I managed to get the feature over and over again on the Lucky Gold machine pulling out $80.

We then progressed to drinking some more and soaking up some of it with sausage and steak sangas.

As soon as things got too drunken we were chucked out by a lovely

Cameroon bouncer who let us take some more photos before we

headed back to Towradgi train station stopping at the bottle

shop on the way through.

Lucky for us we stumbled across street of the week, 2005 week number 4. Carmen was doing her best not pass out but what a great place to pass out........on street of the week.

After more stumbling and some throwing up by Carmen we ended up in someone's front lawn. Three old blokes out the front gave Carmen a glass of water and then we continued the epic walk to the station.

Carmen passed out on the station with great snoring sounds. I had a chat to some guy that just got out of jail until Carmen woke up and we boarded the train, train ride pic on the right.

We said our goodbyes when Carmen got off at Helensburgh and thankfully she must have made it home alright.

Sunday I had a bit of a hangover

Cricket, valentine's Day and Firies

Finally time was here to go to the cricket on Friday night. My friend Sean has member tickets so I was lucky enough to sit in the members section with all the civilised people....I probably stood out like dogs balls. I finished work at 1:30pm so I could get to the game on-time and we met each other out the front of the member gates. Note: I will be throwing the word 'member' in as much as possible. We entered through the member gates and headed for the member stand and found a comfy seat with a great view of the groud (see pic below). We were also near the commentary box which is situated in the members section. I took a picture (as seen above) you can just see Mark Taylor's head and Mark Nicholas head, more like just their hair. I waved profusely at them but they were too busy watching the cricket.

Me and Sean (Pictured above) had a good old natter and hoped the rain wouldn't stop play. We got to see all the Aussies bat and I got to do a 6 signal like Billy Bowden because Ryan Harris belted a 6 off the last over before being given out after the 5th ball. I thought it was pretty funny and it definately beats doing it in front of the telly at home.........because we were in the member's section.

Rain stopped play so we headed home at about 8:30pm but I was still super happy to have seen the aussie cricketers from the MEMBERS SECTION. Oh! I also bought an Aussie warm up shirt and I wore it to bed that night and all the next day, it needs washing now before I wear the insignia off it.

Saturday was a day of study for me because I was sitting my Bush Fire-fighter exam on Sunday morning. I studied all day and stopped every now and then for food and walking breaks. Grahame and I walked to Gymea in the afternoon which is an hour walk.Yes, I am still trying to lose weight.

Sunday morning I was up early and ready for my exam. Elise (fire-fighter friend) picked me up from home about an hour and a half early because we wanted to study some more and go over the trucks before we headed out to do our practical. First we sat the theory and it took about an hour because some of the questions were kind of obscure. I managed to get 17 out of 20 which was a pass so I was very happy. Our excellent assessors went through everything we missed and I was explained to in more details why we need to wear goggles which was a great learning curve.

After theory it was out to the paddocks to do the practical side. We ran through 5 different fire scenarios includeing large fires and fire over-runs. My assessors were pleased with my work and told me I communicated well........not sure how because the fire-ground radios weren't working very well. I did impress our Deputy Captain at one stage by checking on our Hydrant fillers, this is when we fill the truck from a Hydrant off the road. I managed to work the portable pump okay apart from the fact I forgot to switch it on. I bowled out lots of hoses and as usual me and Elise worked amazingly together. I always work well with her and hopefully now she can train as a driver.

In the arvo Grahame and I had dinner together, I cooked spag bol. He surprised me with some flowers with a chocolate in the middle and an 'I Love You' balloon. I haven't had the time to make his card yet but I will do it tonight and surprise him tomorrow............I feel slack for not getting him anything but I did cook him dinner and he was very happy. Then I got to watch more cricket COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL! Australia won again.

I got to work this morning to see an email from Croft (our secretary at firies) congratulating all those that passed the Bush Fire-fighter assessment. I thanked him and Matt Kelly and Greg Freeman for all there hard work. Not sure how our mate Jacques passed because he seems to know nothing about fire-fighting and he has been up at the station as long as me.

What's been happening......

I haven't blogged for a while probably because I haven't been as camera happy as usual but I thought I would give you an update anyways even if it's just to get things off my chest. I must admit I use this space as a bit of a diary.

Lots has been happening in Melbourne with my brother's wife Vicky being sick. She suffers from post-natal depression and it has hit hard this time. I waited to blog til she was getting better and things seem to be a little better now. Sean has been coping well as usual but losing a fair bit of sleep over it. I have been back and forth on the phone but there isn't much other than the occassional phone call I can do from here. I didn't want to disturb Sean too much over it because he has had a lot to organise with two kids. Hopefully in a few weeks Vicky will be back at home and cuddling my nephews Daniel and Christian again.

My mum and dad have been looking after Daniel and Christian somtimes as well. They even missed out on a trip they planned to look after Daniel while Sean goes back to work. They give so much when it comes to family and I am relieved to have them as parents. I can't say I haven't had my problems with my parents but who doesn't, plus they have had more problems with me over the years that has given them enought to worry about. They are coming to Sydney to go on a cruise at the end of March so I will get to see them for a short time.

My flatmate has now moved out and I have a vacant bedroom. I think Grahame is going to move in because he is doing super well not drinking. He was having the occassional beer but now he has given up drinking all together............phew! I would like the help paying the rent too and I think we are ready to make another go of it.

I've had my keen eye on the cricket, especially this man above Mitchell Johnson. He has been rested for a while but he is back fast bowling now. Shaun Tait managed to get the fastest ball in Australia on Friday night at the 20-20 in Melbourne, great to watch. The Windies are in Australia now and coming up to Sydney this week, I am hoping to go on Friday.

My neice and nephew have started at new schools this year and I am so proud of them. Jo sent me some photos of them on their first day and they looked super keen. I was glad to hear how keen they were, I remember thinking how scared I was when I went to new schools so I am super happy to hear they are growing up and 'tuffng up'.

I have my firies exam on Sunday the 14th of February (Valentine's Day). I am confident in my theory but was less confident in practical. Sunday 7th of February training took us through some trial runs of fire situations so I am more confident now.

I spoke to my friend Jacqui on the weekend and she is getting married in August. Plans are in place to have the hens night at the start of May so fingers crossed I can afford the trip to Melbourne for it.

That's life for now........I'm not Derryn Hinch.