Quality time with our family, exploring South America and our new home, Australia
Wow, its been a whirlwind and wonderful year. Here is a summary for us to look back on with links to all the highlights:
Xmas in Cape Town
We spent our Xmas 2005 with our family in Cape Town - our first Xmas with them in 6 years. Very special it was.
Highlights included:
- Xmas day with the Botings and Mum and Mike and Russel , jumping on the trampoline, watching mum run throught the sprinklers!
- The reunion of the Hoar family - and especially watching Ally's granny meet her new grandchild for the first time.
- Walking with Mike at Kirstenbosch - and being amazed at his ability to power up the mountain
- Family trip to Seal Island
- Sally's 21st birthday
- Weekend with mum and Mike in Mekanos
- Watching Sammy in her Nativity Play
- Watching the sunset at Langebaan beach with Nicky and Shirly and the family
- Geocaching in Stellenbosch with Russel
- The fantastic Wit Els Hike with Mike and Russel and co
- Walking in HoutBay with Russel
- Sharing Anthony's 37th birthday
- Leaping at Paarl Rock
- Berry Xmas at Robyn's
- Being a very naughty Santa at the Hard Core Hiking Club
- Spending time with the Saunders at Pringle Bay
South America
Non stop highlights. Probably, the most fun 6 months we have ever spent in our lives. Memories for a life time.
Back to Cape Town
Another very special two weeks in Cape Town , having a blast with the kids, packing up all our stuff and spending quality time with family and friends. It was very, very hard to say goodbye.
Our Move Down Under
What an adventure - emmigrating to a country we barely knew! We haven't had a moment's regret - what an awesome experience it has been. The people have been nothing but welcoming, we've already made some great friends, found good jobs and are living in the ultimate city in an apartment with breathtaking views over its most famous icons. Couldn't ask for more.
Highlights included:
- A night in Singapore in transit - where we got to meet up with Lianne and we shopped till we dropped
- Flying into Perth and exploring the city - getting acaqauinted with Australian wildlife, lazing at King's Park and meeting up with Colin and Natalie
- Exploring Melbourne - including having my face painted in Bulldog colours at the famous MCG, the beautiful botanical garden, the impressive flames at the Crowne City Entertainment Complex, the inspiring Leonard Da Vinci Exhibition and meeting up with Isaac
- Buying our new car and our epic journey from Melbourne to Sydney
- Our whirlwind introduction to Sydney by our wonderful friends, Doug and Claudia - how could we not fall in love with it with such a great welcome
- Staying with our Australian family in Brisbane - what a special time it was! Playing with the kiddies, a weekend with Beth and Richard, visiting Stadbroke Island with Glenn, watching the Brisbane River Festival fireworks with Kristin, exploring local nature - the generosity of Glenn and Carleen in having us to stay and making us feel so welcome.
Our move to Sydney
What a beautiful city! And the fact that it was brimming with job opportunities was also a deciding factor in us making this city our home.
Highlights included:
- Returning to Sydney to stay with Doug and Claudia for a few days and then stayed in Manly for three weeks with our own spa bath. Best body surfing I've ever done and it was great to meet up with Martin Palmquist - our first dinner guest in Sydney.
- Watching Ally sparkle as she embarked on her new passion, beading
- Moving into our wondeful apartment with its breathtaking views and parrots at our window
- Ally's flying up to Brisbane for Glen's Halloween Birthday Party
- Exploring parts of Sydney including Taronga Zoo, ChinaTown and Lady MacQuarry's Chair, the Botanical Gardens - still so much to see
- Working with the fun people at Agency Fusion (an exciting web company that is growing fast) - and having my first prawns on the barbie experience at the fun Xmas Party
- Doing a photography course - finally getting to grips with my new camera, but lots of learning still to do
- Fishing with Doug and Claudia in the Sydney Harbour
- Exploring McMahons Point
- Xmas with the Fletcher Family
- New Year's Eve celebrations
Family and friend events 2006
- Ally's granny passed away - a very, very special lady indeed. The family tributes were very moving and befitting
- Shirly had a little one - looking forward to meeting here in April 2007
- Xmas day with the Botings (close to 2006!)
- Reunion of the Hoar family
Life goals achieved in 2006
- Do a photography course
- Emigrate to Australia
- Travel through South America
- See an albatross
- Explore the jungles of the Amazon Basin
- Climb a live volcano
- Hike on a glacier
- Try sand boarding
- Do the Inca Trail
- See a condor
- See a hummingbird
- Seeing over 290 new bird species
Favourite movies watched
- Casino Royale
- The Deceived
- March of the Penguins
- Thank You for Not Smoking
- Good Night and Good Luck
- An Inconvenient Truth
Most memorable books read
- 1984, George Orwell
- The Godfather, Mario Puzo
- The Windmill, Koontz
- The Origin of species, Charles Darwin
All in all, a tremendous year. We are relishing our Xmas break to recharge our batteries and we look forward to 2007 and continuing to settle in our new home.
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