Bowie Akkerman

It was great to here from Darren's cousin Hans Pieter in Holland letting us know how their Christmas was. A very big congratulations to Charlie on her 18th birthday, we hope she has a wonderful year and enjoys being 18.
We love the photo he sent us of their new 'child', it's a puppy dog that they have named Bowie since he has 2 different colour eyes.
Very cute!

A Day at Bondi

Well our summer is finely trying to appear. Yesterday we had our first sunny day in December about 27 degrees- during this December we had 13 thunderstorms and 22 days of wet weather- which is not normal for December in Sydney.
Darren spent the day with Dillon and two of her friends - Bridget and Emma - and took the Surfmats the girls got for Christmas down to Bondi. Hmmm unfortunately the surf did not appear - it was a flat day at Bondi but the kids still had a ball playing in the sun and surf.

Christmas Lunch

After a morning of opening presents and eating a big breakfast we ventured over to Adele and Juanita's for our traditional Christmas Day gathering and eating fest.
The day was perfect for a hot lunch with Sydney temperatures only reaching about 20 degrees. I made a wonderful 5kg Baked Ham and loads of Rocky Road in cute Christmas Boxes to take over to Adele's so by 12.30 we had arrived ready for a cruisey Christmas Lunch.
We were greeted with a refreshing glass of Verve Clicquot Champagne and their welcoming smiles and kisses. After Juanita and Adele opened their presents and a glass or two more champagne we were all shuffled over to the table for as Professor Dumbledore (Harry Potter) says "let the feast begin". Once again Adele exceeds all expectations of an awesome Christmas lunch starting with a Seafood entre of half Lobster, Prawns and Oyster kilpatrick, next was a mouth watering Italian style Roast Turkey complete with chicken liver stuffing and traditional herbs and roast vegetables with baked apricots. Boy as if we were not full enough - Juanita suprises our tastebuds with the best Panna cotta desert I have ever tasted. Mean while our glasses are constantly filled with the excellent champagne.
After lunch people starting popping into to give Christmas wishes including 6 Columbian people who drank a case of Carona Beer and taught us all to Salsa - very interesting after about our 3rd bottle of French Champagne. Once the crazy Columbian 's went it settled back down to drinking and chatting with more guests ending the evening about 11.30pm.
What a Christmas - thanks Adele and Juanita for once again spoiling us and making our Christmas wonderful.

Christmas Day

After a big Christmas Eve of Yule Muling - Yes we did drink that whole bottle of Vodka and Darren worked his way - with the help of Bill- through that case of Carlton Beer we woke up very seedy with the kids rocking us awake at the early hours in the morning to open up their Christmas presents.
It was wonderful to see everyone around the Christmas Tree, which this year I decorated with Christmas Decorations from our Europe trip. Every town we visited I bought a Christmas Decoration, so there are lots of pieces from Italy and Holland but some from London, Paris and Germany. With some special one's from Roya of the Red Light District in Amsterdam - the kids show all their friends when they come over. Thanks Roya.
Of course Oliver (the Cat) and Chloe (my dog) plus the fish - which were lined up keen to see what every one got-could not miss out of the Christmas hoopla.
Darren was happy with his haul of clothes, music, boxing focus set, DVD's and Boggie Board complete with flipper and bag plus a pair of Clog Slippers. darren wanted these slipper when we were in Holland but due to no room left in our luggage he did not get them. However when Dilly and I drove up to Grafton and stopped at the Clog Barn they had them there, so Dilly insisted she wanted to give them to Darren for Christmas - he was very happy and has not taken them off.
Dilly received clothes, DVD's, Vans shoes, money and books plus a surf mat to go boggie boarding with her dad in the surf.
Taylor got clothes, DVD's, money, tea pot, alarm clock (to help her get up for Rowing) plus a Pandora bracelet with charms.
While I was lucky with a scoop of Pandora charms and complete set of Harry Potter DVD's.

Christmas Eve 2007

Well what a busy day. I spent the day preparing and making all the yummy things for Christmas. First up White Rocky Road, White Christmas Fudge, Herbed Prawns for BBQ and stuffing the Turkey.
Christmas Eve was spent with our good friends Juanita, Bill and Belinda plus Millie and Theo.
The kids tried to out smart themselves with some quick hands of poker with Theo coming away the winner and finished with Simpsons Monopoly and loads of fizzy drinks.
While kids entertained themselves with games and videos that parents were well and truly getting under way with Junaita's suggestion of Yule Mules. Good call Juanita! These were a huge hit - anyone want to try!
Pour 1 bottle of Vodka into a jug and add 6 limes freshly squeezed - schwizzel (causes it's Christmas).
Pour amount you want into a highball glass and top up with Ginger Beer and Happy Yule Mule! Excellent!
While the Yule Mules and nibbles were going down and the Turkey and Roast Veges in the oven, Darren cooked on the BBQ the Herbed Prawns and served them with my wonderful Lime Mayonaise. Yummy!
Later on Juanita was brave enough to take to the carving knife after way to many Yule Mules and serve up the Christmas Eve Dinner of Turkey and Roast Veges with Europeon Cranberry Sauce and Aussie Gravy.
What a great night of funny stories and recapping our European holiday and an excellent way to start on the Christmas Hang-overs.
Merry Christmas everyone and have a safe holiday.

Congratulations Jacinta and Charli

My good friend Sue sent me this wonderful photo of her two girls.
Congratulations to Jacinta who won her Cross Country race at school and was talented enough to go to the Zone
and District, she also won a trophy at Gymnastics for Effort.
Congratulations to Charli who has completed her first year at big school and is looking forward to
1st class. She was diagnosed early this year with sleep apnoea and has since had her
tonsils and adenoids out which her mum says is making her more active than ever. Charli
competed in two concerts this year. One for Aerobics and one for
Cheerleading. She also played a chicken in the "Wizard of Oz". Yes
apparently there were chickens on the farm before Dorothy went flying in
the sky.

Snow In Holland

Today Darren and I received a e-mail from Darren's cousin Paul Jan in Den Helder. We were so excited to find attached these wonderful Winter photographs of the kids. How cute are they!
It is lovely to see Den Helder covered in snow - it puts a whole new spin on the place. Of course we know that Paul Jan is just teasing us so maybe next year will might come and spend Christmas in Holland. It just might work!
Darren and I love receiving photos and finding out how everyone is going - as the family is so far away and especially this year we are missing all the family at this Special time of the year.

Olympic Training Treat

This morning Taylor's Senior Crew - Daisy, Bec, Chanel and Julliet were all treated to a special training session organised by their Rowing Master - Peter Hughes.
It was a 5.25am call to the MLC Boatshed where we all found out where the secret training was to be. Pete took the Tinny on a bumpy early morning ride over to Mosman Rowing Shed in Pittwater, Fred chaffeured half the crew plus their boat and I took the other half. The girls were lucky for a perfect day - the sun shining and the opportunity to row amongst multi-million dollar homes along a 800 metre wide river and luxury boats.
Once their it was no time at all and the girls were in their boat ready for their special training with Nick Garret -Olympic Coach - World Rowing Coach, Nationals Rowing Coach and junior World Rowing Coach. The crew had a great training session learning new techniques to help them improve their style in preparation for their U.S. Nationals in July 2008.
Another early start tomorrow down at MLC Boatshed for training and practising their new skill.
A special thanks to Pete for organising and giving our girls the best opportunity to advance in a sport they love.