Photos from trip to Sydney

View from observation deck of hotel down to Darling Harbour. View from Taronga Zoo across Sydney Harbour.

940 saxophonists!

Mike enjoying Saxophony.

Jazz Festival in Sydney

We made it to Sydney this year to see the 21 Darling Harbour Jazz Festival.
As part of the celebration there was an attempt on the world record for the most saxaphone players in the one place. The even was called Saxophony and the record broken by having 940 sax players all together and playing their instruments! They ranged in age from the very young to the elderly. The sun came out for the event which was great as most of the weekend was underscored by rain , lots of it. There was a fireworks display put on by Darling Harbour Trust on saturday night and we were fortunate enough to have ring side seats in one of the restaurants with a great view. The occasion was enhanced by a number of little girls watching (3-4yo's) their awe was infectious.
Inbetween rain showers we listened to some fabulous music. When it got too wet we retreated to the I-Max cinema to watch Pirates of the Caribbean in 3D. We also took a trip across the harbour to Taronga Zoo. Where we splashed around and observed the animals just getting on with life. Baby Pygmy hippos, baby elephants, a baby chimp and giraffes were highlights. A free flying bird show with Sydney harbour as the backdrop was quite spectacular.Oh and seeing a lion close up through a thick glass wall was amazing.
We were alerted to a volcanic ash cloud (coming from Chile) closing down airports round the country but in particular Melbourne by our friend Marion. Yippee we thought a few extra days in Sydney at some one elses expense! So we checked out of our hotel after inquiring whether if we needed it a bed would be available that night(no trouble) and went off to listen to the last day of music. Virgin started flights again that monday morning and we were told to proceed to the airport and expect to catch a plane home no worries..phooey...LOL We headed out to the airport 2 hours ahead of schedule just in case there were any issues and as luck would have it were put on the next available flight so left Sydney 2 hours ahead of time!
Fingers were then crossed for Marion and her husband as they were due to fly out of Melbourne on the thursday for London!! They also got off the ground but within days planes were grounded yet again as more ash floated over the country.

Trip to Dinner Plain

First stop on friday after spending the night in Bairnsdale were the Buchan Caves. We did a guided tour through Fairy Cave, which we thoroughly enjoyed and were amazed at.

We arrived at Rundell's Lodge Dinner Plain around 4pm and went for a walk around the village.

Then we drove up to Mt Hotham, we drove over and part way down the other side before the thick fog rolled in. We turned round and enjoyed dinner and the view from the General Hotel at Mt Hotham.

Saturday morning we had a personal guided tour by our hostess Fiona from Dinner Plain along the roadside to a magnificant view out toward Mt Feathertop and Mt Hotham.

I was fascinated by the textured and coloured trunks of the snowgums.

After lunch at the Dinner Plain Hotel we walked to Carmichael Waterfall lookout. Proving how incredibly unfit we are:(

We thought we had found the waterfall and were somewhat disappointed at it's lack of drop ...but continued on to the actual lookout to realise what we had found was but the head of the waterfall.

Driving home over Mt Hotham on the sunday we were treated to beautiful sunshine and magnificant views over the top of Australia.

We were lucky enough to be given a weekend package trip to Dinner Plain as a birthday/christmas present from my Auntie Jean..thank you very much AJ. We decided to take advantage of it to celebrate our 35th wedding Anniversary (3rd April). We had a fabulous time and were thoroughly spoilt with great sights, accommodation, food and weather for the 3 and 1/2 days we escaped for. I took LOTS of photos but won't bore you with them all just some highlights...LOL

My other ATC Background Swap ATC's

My ATC on Niki Glover's background. My ATC on Margaret Luck's background.

My ATC on Louise Howe's background.

My ATC on Jenny Hubbard's background.

My ATC on Lai Sie Murphy's background.

My ATC on Janis Johnston's background.

My ATC on Dorothy Leach's background.

My ATC on Cheryl Keane's background.

ATC Background Swap

ATC by Pam Phillips ATC by Niki Glover

ATC by Margaret Luck

ATC by Louise Howe

ATC by Jenny Hubbard

ATC by Janis Johnston

ATC by Heather Askitis

ATC by Gwenyth Zwaan

ATC by Barb Porritt

First for the year

Wow I can't believe it here it is half way through April and this is my first post for the year. A lot has been happening in my world ...lots of family related things along with a little art and a wee bit of travel. Something that will only be done in small bites this year.

So lets start with a little bit of art.I joined a swap for the first time in years and was inspired and thoroughly enjoyed the process, getting quite different inspiration from each piece...some came to me instantly others I had to look at for sometime. We all made 9 ATC backgrounds exactly the same, sent them to the hostess who distributed them and we received 9 back (including one of our own). We then decorated them and returned them to the hostess who sent us back our original 9 ATC's . It was thrilling to see how others interpreted my background.

I will start with my original background and then how it was interpreted by each person.

Christmas countdown link to Lisa Vollrath's site

Here it is nearly Christmas again and Lisa Vollrath is doing her free image give-away.
Check it out at
http://countdown.tentwostudios.com