"Special Lunch"

We were invited about a month ago to a "special lunch" at a winery. Nothing out of the ordinary there as these friends do these sorts of things from time to time. At the time, I asked whether it was a "celebration" or "announcement" was the reason behind this and this was quickly dismissed as just a "lunch with some friends"...

So that lunch was today... and much to our surprise (and lack of dressing up)... it turned out to be a WEDDING RECEPTION O_o

So here is Jenny and I (both in jeans and Sunday casual, very under dressed) with the bride.


Speech/toast given with both their families (who I'm not sure understood too much of it) It was a struggle to get her to agree to just a simple speech :D


Congrats to Fiona and Ken :)

Quarterly update

I'm sounding like a (now) ex-director that I worked for. Updates only come around every quarter or so. Anyways, few things have been happening in my life lately...

Jenny (finally) became a full Australian citizen.. just in time to enrol to vote for this year's election :D


Pipe band (bad photo) and all...


Friday I took my first steps out of the sheltered workshop :D

Winter weekends

Spent this Saturday afternoon at Shantell winery, a small winery/restaurant with about 8 tables. It's got a nice cosy feel to it, not like some other wineries which are over-commercialised. Food was excellent as per last time, even after the change in chef, and the Cab Sav was much improved on the vintage we tried about 2 years ago.

Oh, and for those who I haven't told yet (sorry!), we're engaged :D

The ring :)


Jenny and her main course


Me and my main course

And That's a (Holiday) Wrap

The holidays have come to an end :(

Japan was great, it is especially interesting to see the local people treat us differently when they find out we can't speak Japanese. They keep talking to us in Japanese but we have no idea what they were saying.

And they were most helpful in ensuring we were getting what we wanted. At restaurants/cafes, we mainly ordered by the usual "pointing at the picture on the menu" style. The waiter/waitress would try to explain to us what we were ordering. Must say the trip to Japan provided us what we were looking for, a chance to see the cherry blossoms, see some "touristy sights," but most importantly, we were able to experience some of the local culture from a local's perspective, away from the tourists.

Anyways, some photos from our HK/Japan trip... the whole lot are dumped here (new window)

Hong Kong:
At the Wisdom Path on Lantau Island... didn't gain any wisdom though :D


View from platform at the Tian Tan Buddha after climbing many many stairs


What kind of a Mickey Mouse train system are they running? :D


Jenny driving at Disneyland HK... not worth the 30 minute wait


Mango pudding at a cafe in Disneyland HK (not such good tasting)




Castle at night...


Castle at night getting bombed?? ;)




Castle on fire? :D


One of the european-esque buildings in Stanley


Japan
Cherry Blossoms in Ueno park


Night view over a pond in Ueno park


Cherry blossoms and vending machines... two things that symbolise Japan :D


Imperial Palace


In Yoyogi park


All aboard.... bound for Osaka


That's one big apple... (200 Yen worth)


On the way up to Kiyomizudera Temple


More cherry blossoms in the temple grounds


View from the veranda


All made from wood...


The Golden Pavillion


Very modern and out of place... Kyoto station atrium


Osaka castle... most beautiful at night...


Nara's most famous (?) symbols... they're EVERYWHERE :D


Cute?


Sagi-ike Pond


Steps leading to the five storied pagoda


Making cake... Japanese style


Old back streets of Nara


Is that a road through a building or a building built around a road?


The time tunnel.... Umeda Sky Building in Osaka


Met up with Jenny's uni friend in Osaka


Timely reminder for those high-heel wearing people (most Japanese girls)


Watching the scenery fly by at 300km/hr on the way back to Tokyo


Just cruising...


The Rainbow Bridge, seen in most drama series from the 90s


The statue of Liberty... hmmm :D

Open-air Cinema

Jenny managed to get free tickets to the St George Open Air Cinema for last Thursday. We went along and had a great time :) The film showing was The Illusionist, great film and Edward Norton always brings that extra something to the movie. :)

They've located it in a great location on the banks of the Yarra, where we waited for the movie to start and captured the sunset. As it was a sunny day, the showing didn't start till after 9pm as it wasn't dark enough yet (meant to be 8:30pm start)


Screen folded up waiting for the sun to go down, but the moon is already high in the sky. Nothing better than watching a movie with the cityscape in the background. :)

Weddings...

Been to two weddings in two weeks, one where we went as guests (and knew only one other couple there). The other, I was a groomsman, decked out in a full 3 piece suit and standing in a church with no circulation and 38 degree heat :(

Some phone camera pics...

First wedding:
Me, Bride, Groom, Baker (:D) and Jenny


Second wedding:
Jenny and I


Chris (the Groom), me and Dr Nick.

HK Photos!

Maze at Disneyland Hong Kong


Extra large Christmas tree in the resort lobby


Kay and I


Kev and I


Su Ann and I (from quaintly.net)


Claud trying to hide from my camera :P