Australia Day 2013

Australia Day
Australia Day on Sydney Harbour, 2004
Also called	Foundation Day, Anniversary Day, Survival Day, Invasion Day, Day of Mourning (in 1938 & 1970)
Observed by	Australian citizens and residents
Type	National
Significance	Date of landing of First Fleet in Port Jackson in 1788
Date	26 January
Observances	Family gatherings, picnics and barbecues; parades; citizenship ceremonies; Australia Day Honours List; Australian of the Year presentation

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, the date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, New South Wales in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia (then known as New Holland).
Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on 26 January date back to 1808, with the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales held in 1818. It is marked by the presentation of the Australian of the Year Awards on Australia Day Eve, announcement of the Australia Day Honours list and addresses from the Governor-General and Prime Minister. It is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, unless it falls on a weekend in which case the following Monday is a public holiday instead. With community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies, the day is celebrated in large and small communities and cities around the nation. Australia Day has become the biggest annual civic event in Australia.

So now you are all up to speed with what Australia day is all about.  Here in Texas, Australians come together to enjoy the day.  We drove to Austin for the event.  Austin is an hours drive north from San Antonio and this is where Boomerang's Gourmet Veggie and Meat Pies shop is located (BoomerangsPies.com will provide more information).  They make great Australian meat pies, sausage rolls, lamingtons and Anzac biscuits.  All traditional Australian fare which tasted as good as our mother's used to make for us when we were kids.

Here is an example of the great Ozzie tradition - the Original Meat Pie with mashed potato and gravy, served with Coopers Beer.

The sausage roll with tomato sauce was just as good as we had remembered it to be.

 No Australian get together would be complete without beer and you can see that there was a lot of this beverage consumed.

As you can see some of the folks dressed for the occasion.

 This jumper (sweater ) was bought on E bay.

Of course there were a number of activities throughout the day and at 5 pm the pie eating competitions started.  The adults went first.

Followed by the children.   The winners were rewarded for their efforts with free pies for the next year. 

On our return home on Sunday we shared a belated celebration with our friends and introduced them to Australia meat pies, sausage rolls, pavlova, lamingtons and Anzac biscuits.  

Mary Alice, Albert, Keith and Soojin are now honorary Australians, all they to complete the process is an Aussie accent.

This is our 5th Australia Day away from home but everywhere we have been for it we have enjoyed great times with friends.   

Warmest wishes to all.

Bev and Ross  

New Year 2013

Welcome to 2013 and for us New Year's Eve saw us dining out at Kirby's restaurant which is a fine place to eat.  The menu included Australian Lobster which Ross really enjoyed.  The food was fantastic and we enjoyed a flight of wines which complemented each course. 

After dinner we visited our dear friends Mary Alice, Albert, Adrian and Cameron who are our next door neighbours.  Cameron was the photographer so was not in this photo.  Ginger really enjoyed sitting on Mary Alice's lap.

 Then off to the Reilly Clan.  Here Justin, Patrick and Brendan are preparing for the fire cracker event which commenced at the stroke of midnight.

Ross, took the opportunity to catch  up with Theresa, Liz and Dave while Buddy and Bella enjoyed being cuddled.  Steve reclined in the easy chair.

Dennis and Lizzy take a break from their hosting responsibilities.

Sean skyped from LA.  So Dennis had both of his children in the house at the same time.

We also remember dear Maureen.  This photo was taken in the 1990's and is a constant reminder that had it not been for Maureen reaching out to Beverley in 1993 when she was posted to Fort Sam Houston we would never have become a member of this wonderful family.

New Years day we enjoyed with Soojin who invited us to her home where she cooked the most delicious Korean food.  The food as you can see is just outstanding.  Pat, Butch and Soojin have been friends for a long time having met in Seoul.  

After a traditional Korean feast Daniel and Yuna enjoy an American ice cream.

Butch looks on as the children busily start to create !!

We wish you all a happy and healthy 2013.

Bev and Ross 

Return to San Antonio

We departed Fredericton NB at 7 am on 26 December.  The sun was shining and the sky was clear.  Not too far down the road the temperature started to drop to 8 F.  Thank goodness the heating was effective in the car. 

We arrived back in Portland to sunny weather.  The homes  here are rather stately and as can be seen there is not much snow on the ground.

However, by that evening the weather started to change as a very strong snow storm which would eventually  cover 65% of the USA came up from the south west and very quickly planes stopped flying.  So we ended up spending 2 days in Portland and finally flying out on 28 December.

The day we left it was clear.

As we sat having lunch at the airport at Portland we had to agree with Benjamin Franklin.

We departed 2 hours late from Portland and missed our connecting flight in DC.  We were separated from our luggage which happens to us on a regular basis.  So we had an enjoyable evening in DC and finally returned home 3 days later.

Life is never dull.

Best wishes to all and may 2013 be a good one for you all.

Bev and Ross

Christmas 2012

This year we spent Christmas in Canada with our great Canadian friends. We flew from San Antonio to Portland, ME and picked up a 4WD rental.  Just as well as it started to snow and the usual 4 hr drive from Portland to Fredericton, NB took 61/2 hrs.  You have to agree though that the scenery is just fantastic.

All of our friends in Canada have live Christmas trees something we do not see so much in Australia.

We had a very social time with our dear friends.  We enjoyed a great evening with Debbie and George who invited our Beaver Dam friends over for a spectacular dinner of jambalaya, followed by one of Debbie's fantastic desserts.  It was just like we had never left and this was so with all of the friends we have in Fredericton.
Next evening we were invited to dinner at Blair and Barb's home and another great meal with lots to talk and lots to laugh about.
On Christmas Eve we went to church with our friends and afterwards to Cathy and Doug's place for the annual Christmas Eve get together.  We joined Blair, Barb, Cathy and Doug for the group photo.

Andrew, Cathy and Doug's son, Michael, Blair and Barb's son and their good mates added to the joy of the evening.

It was also an opportunity to catch up once again with Diane,  Doug's sister and Angie, Cathy and Doug's daughter.

Angie, Laura and Andrew pose for the family shot.

We also caught up for brunch with Suzanne,James, Evan and Ryan.  Suzanne and James were our next door neighbours when we lived at Beaver Dam and now own the home we used to live in.  You will note the snow through the window.

Christmas day started off with opening Christmas presents at the home of Blair, Barb and Michael.

Then back to Jacqueline and John's.  Here the day started off with a huge brunch.   Jacqueline and Ross in the kitchen preparing the food which we really enjoyed.

That evening we had a fun time sampling the great turkey, Jacqueline had prepared, and the Australian lamb roast, Ross had cooked.  John and I were very appreciative of the chefs who had prepared this great feast.

Meagan and Bryn also enjoyed their day.

We also took the opportunity to get our lobster fix.  The lobster was CA$7 a lb and we really enjoyed this.

It was great to be back in the snow once again and to spend time with our dear friends.  If all goes to plan we will be spending next year with them again.

More to follow.

Bev and Ross

Las Vegas Part 2

 Las Vegas is a great city to walk around and at the time we were there the weather was cool enough to make it very pleasant. The Forum Shops (attached to Caesars Palace obviously) now even have their own Trevi Fountain

And we found this on display in one of the shopping centres.

On of the amazing things about Las Vegas is that you can have this beautiful foyer complete with marble statue (again Caesars),

Directly across the road from Toby Keith's bar,

And just down the street from the Harley Cafe.

Live entertainment is still very big here. (We managed to see the show "Jersey Boys" at the Paris while we were there).

With even Australia getting a mention.

Still a great place to visit but for us 5 days is enough.
Remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas - even if it is just your money.

Cheers
Bev and Ross