Jude's first school party

Jude's first school party

So the little man is loving his half days at school, and today was his very first ever school party - themed with dancing in the jungle. So his big Sis, Mum and Dad tagged along too to Jude's first school party.

One crawl through box, a second crawl through box, and  third crawl through... HOLD ON A MINUTE, who's that? They all look the same, maybe the last one has bigger teeth though ha ha. So yes as jungle theme Amy decided out comes the frog costume. It's relevant I suppose. Amy, who's party is this we're attending hmmmmmm.....

"Check me out Dad. I can crawl through this easy peasy. I might even smile in a minute."

In action now on the climbing area - like a mini assault course for two year olds. Reminds me back to The Krypton Factor. I think Jude would do very good on that program as he nailed this time and time again!

And in the spirit of Melbourne, and AFL - Jude chooses the correct team outfit, yes Richmond Tigers. Good boy! Ha Ha OK OK in the spirit of the jungle theme all the kids got decked out in animal costumes to start the dancing and party games.

Jude said to me; "Dad, do you like my .........................................................................................outfit?"
I said; "Yes buddy, but why the big pause?"
Jude said; "Because I'm a tiger Dad..."

Here's that flipping frog again. They get everywhere. Hopefully she doesn't wander too near No Signboard Restaurant, or she could end up battered, fried and served with some chilli sauce.

So cute pumpkin! Having a ball. What fun it was.

Jude said to me; "Dad look I'm a TV remote!"
I said; "What?"
Jude said; "I just found pause."

And Jude comes first in the sack race.
Man that boy can jump jump jump.
Winner.

And the frog gets in there again.
If a frog can't win this race, no one can.
If her costume was knitted would that make her a wooly jumper?

On to ice rocket racing now. Happy Happy faces - even from Mum of course. Whizzing little ice rockets down a sloping course. What fun again. 

Crafts time - making frog puppets now. Works of art I think these are.
Not really sure though what Jude is looking at to make that face though.
Did the frog fart?

And the final snap of the morning.
Everyone showing off their amazing hand-made frog puppets.
Well done kids (and parents) such good work.
Shame re the photo though and someone's photo bombing hand.
Look he's even forgotten to put his hand puppet on - or is the puppet naked?

So glad we all went - what a lovely Sunday Morning!!!
Thanks to Pony Running.

Melbourne

Melbourne 

I just realised I had not done this post of my trip to Melbourne recently - a very cold Melbourne it must be stated as it was mid-Winter. But still how lovely to get back. No The Semi-Naked Chef this time, as this was purely for a work. A very intense trip with early starts and late finishes for 5 days in the week. But because I knew our old stomping ground when I lived there with my Nina and Ollie _ did have the chance to take a few walks rather than taxis - and here are a few snaps of those walks through one of the very best cities in the world in my reckoning.

Here she is at night - now ain't that a pretty city folks!!!

Who needs a Bridge and what looks like a cut mango??? You know what I mean!!!

Here is the official tourism site for Melbourne, but of course you could always ask me too.

Just make sure whenever you visit that you bring layers...

 Known as "Four Seasons In One Day", Melbourne has a habit of sneaking up on you with weird weather, and yes potentially all in one day. In fact our very first day in Melbourne was like that. We started walking to the CBD in shorts and t-shirt, 200 yards later we get hail-stones and have to run back to get coats and jeans, then sunny, then pouring with extreme wind rain. Yep you gotta love Melbourne and it's weather. 

Winter is July and hits circa 4 degrees with a wind chill to freeze your nuts. So we used to have a 2nd Christmas in July as expats to enjoy the cold weather.

Summer is in December so outdoor BBQ's roasting chickens with all the trimmings, with a wilting conifer just not able to handle the 42 degree heat. I know how that feels.

Meet you under the clocks?

 A tradition of Melbourne, when meeting mates in the CBD (Central Business District), is to meet them at Flinders Station - the main station of Melbourne City. A truly wonderful piece of architecture as you can see. But see the main entrance, the larger arch, with 9 or so clocks showing different time zones, and the huge amount of people milling about. Yep, that is the evidence of: "I'll meet you under the clocks..." Directly opposite is one of my old frequented drinking halls (pub) - Young & Jackson.

Transport in Federation Square

 One of Nina and I most frequented bar/restaurants in Melbourne when we first arrived. We were always here. A spit from our services apartment on Flinders Lane. We went here for a beer on our first day and fell in love with it. Ollie loved it too. Family friend, nice food, near the river ,near home, just off the main tram-line. Yes this is a cool place to visit.

Southbank - the opposite side to the CBD

 Here is the Yarra Rover running through the heart of the city. To your right = CBD and to your left = Southbank. Southbank has grown with bars, restaurants, the Sunday market, hotels and of course the Casino. Its a damn funky place to sit in the sun and people watch. Kids can go crazy on bikes and scooters as Mum and Dad sit with a glass of wine chatting with mates, maybe over a nice breakfast or lunch (as we often did). Plus you can catch tour boat rides - see the one to the bottom left.

In fact our very first day time in Melbourne was a Sunday and there was the farmers market all the way down Southbank from the very bridge I am standing on. We walked down there sampling produce and sipping wines - and the lovely people of Melbourne heard the accent, asked how long in the city? "Our first day is today..." And away with walked with Ollie's push-chair brimming with free gifts, including about 8 bottles of wine. Man I love this city!!!

You just gotta get city skylines with trams...

Such a beautiful city. Now minus the freezing Pom, from Singapore. A much nicer view.


Many friends here too - our great mates Craig, and Katherine and Di and Mario - and their gorgeous kids. Miss you massively too guys, and so sorry again for no pop to say hi. It was an intense few work days with absolutely no time to visit sadly.

Plus a quick 'plug' - if you do come to Melbourne, take the tram on Flinders and head to Richmond - great shopping and food by the way on Bridge Road there. And whilst there go visit Dia and Mario at the truly amazing and wonderful Bendigo Street Milk Bar - you simply have to try it. Its is 15 minutes from the city, and a great way to meet lovely lovely people and see suburb living within Melbourne. Oh yeah = also happens to be where we lived our 4 years there.

Boom....

 And my final one - is again Southbank at night. About every 30 minutes or so you hear this noise. Almost like when you flush the toilet on an aeroplane (sorry only way I could think to describe it). What is it? Well it is these towers, about 8 of them down the Southbank. WOOF!!!! Huge fireballs go off into the night sky. It is truly impressive. Always a good memory of nights at Southbank.

So come on get yourself to Melbourne. Admittedly The Semi-Naked Chef was really not out this time, as he was in a suit working, and also did not get chance to sample the amazing food. But I could not visit without posting something about our beloved Melbourne.

You are missed - but we still love you.

GO TIGERS!!!!

London Town

That sad day on my Nan's internment.

My bro and sister were off afterwards to celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary, so bless them I got a free ride to the airport. Now with 7 hours to spare how could one not take a trip to London. So I did. Checked in at the airport, dumped the suitcase and off to Putney we jolly well go.

Here is a few pictures of my little journey there.

Off we go.

Heathrow Express to Paddington and jump the tube to Putney Bridge and lets have a little walk.
Actually it turned in to a bloody long walk as I walked all the way from Putney Bridge to the cemetery to see Ni and Yui.
That is a good few miles I can tell you. But it was worth it indeed to see the place up front and personal.

Old Father Thames.

This is the scene from Putney Bridge - also well known for the starting point of the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race.

The old church by the river - walked past many a time on the way somewhere for drinks at the river's edge.

Putney High Street.

Not much has changed to be honest. The shops are the same, apart from a HUGE H&M (don't tell Mary). The buses are all modern now, with the old 'jump on the back' ones being de-commissioned sadly.

Manorfields.

A walk up Putney Hill out of the high street brings you nearly to Wimbledon - our home for many years. Manorfields.
A lovely place full of gardens, birds and squirrels.
It was great to see it - many memories flooding back of course.

Here we are.

Yep that's ours - the one on the second floor to the left of the door.
Our home.
Where baby Ollie grew.

Heathrow landings.

Being in Putney it is exactly on the landing path for Heathrow Airport - every minute of so a plane will come overhead, yes literally ever minute or so. I'll be on one of them soon, just going the other way is all.

The cemetery.

Now because I walked I entered the cemetery from the top this time. Something never done before, so I was able to see these beautiful gardens, fountains, trees, walkways, sort of avenue like. Beautiful.

Naoko Kennett

I got to see my Ni. Just a brief hello.
An update on all things changed in the last 12 months.
Of course Mary and I is the big breaking news. She was happy with that I am certain.
Lovely to see her though - albeit fleetingly.

And final stop - The Green Man

And my final stop for my little tour - The Green Man and a pint or two with my mother-in-law, Mizuyo who was in London that very week, and did also come to Nan's funeral.

So a couple of pints of Guinness and a lovely chat. Jump the bus, jump the tube, jump the Heathrow Express, jump the plane - Hi Mary and kids, Daddy's home. 

Amy nails it again

Sophs looking after the make-up department for the big performance. 

And pucker - yeap looking good. Eat your heart out Beyonce!!!

Rutherford sponsorship for the wee one. Love these girls!

And practice practice and don;t forget the walk this time girls!!! So this was the Mountbatten Community Centre family day thing, Amy and crew get asked to come and perform again. I think they stole the show. Everyone was cameras on and filming their performance - just amazing what they do. What a performance!!! Rah Rah to Ms Ho and the troupe!!!

Now to see the full performance on video you need to visit me on Facebook at;

Just the most amazing birthday present

So many thanks to family Kennett for enabling a life long dream to happen. Not swimming with dolphins, but being in their habitat. A trip to Adventure Cove and Dolphin Island this weekend. Don some diving head gear and get 4m down in the water to be almost 121 with a beautiful female bottle nosed dolphin.

Yep I'm happy. Look at her. Rui Rui was her name (I think). She was just beautiful. So graceful. So gentle Look she even has her eyes closed as she swims past for a little tickle.

How about a kiss. Why thank you.

Just an amazing hour or so of my life. Everyone should do this. When we were under water all the visitors in the aquarium were watching us through the glass. So I/we were on hundreds of peoples tour that day. Ha Ha. "Does my bum look big in this?" Truly just one of the best things I have done, ever. Thanks again Mary, Ollie, Amy and Jude - WOW!!! For once Daddy was speechless, and we all know that does not happen very often.

Mr & Mrs Kennett - what a day

Now I didn't really get a chance to take many photos - just so so busy with the day and all that.

But here is my meagre sampling.

Not too bad though ha ha!!!

My two girls - flower girl and wedding girl - both looking incredible beautiful it has to be said.

Baby Jude just sort of laying around. Bless him he was such a good boy on the day. Lots of attention though for him!

A lovely snap of The Rutherfords. A belter in fact!!!

Tezla's toes. Class act. All the boys got decked out including Tezla and his painted toenails.

And now my two boys. Ollie you were truly a star mate. You looking after your brother made a great day for Mary and I. Thanks my mate. 

Class act. The boys. Black tie and board shorts - love it!!!

Yours truly with some of my work colleagues and friends - namely Diane, Cindy and Pat. Finally I took off the jacket.

Mwah - Mum and Son - nice one babes.

Mr Davies and Mrs Kennett + son. Once one Simon, real nice!!!

And the final one I took. A lovely one of Leni with Mary & Amy - Philippines united!!! Once one ladies!!!

Family Fun Day Siglap

Up early.

Ballet stuff on.

And then back two hours later to watch Amy's performance.

OMG amazing.

Beyonce song a blazing and 12 or so gorgeous 7 year olds do that dance of a lifetime.

Just incredible.

Amy you looked about 17 up there in the stage. Yet again you have blown us away.

You looked stunning - like a 1940's film star, just beautiful.

Sophia thanks so very much for staying on and doing the girl's make-up. Look how beautiful they were. Wow. All in the eye-liner hun!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!

And Jude and I even had the chance to get a cartoon of each other drawn up. That's one for the wall. Ha Ha Ha!!! Too many wrinkles matey!!! 

Seriously - how old?