Friday 23rd January 2009

Saturday 17th was a good day when I enjoyed three hours of pampering at the Five Star Spa at Erina compliments of my Christmas gift voucher from Sam & Shane and Rod & Anne. This was followed by lunch with Heather and Lorraine at "Brando's" which is nearby.

The pampering consisted of a pedicure, body massage & facial all of which took three hours and was not at all hard to take. Feeling like a million dollars I then met up with my good friends Heather and Lorraine who I worked with in my early days with Armstrong, Goff & Co and Coopers & Lybrand. It was good to catch up with them and talk about the old days at the office and where everyone is now. We had a good couple of hours chatting before agreeing that we should come back again in March for Heather's birthday only this time we will all have a pampering. It was a lovely day & just the distraction that I needed.

Sunday 18th was golf and our playing partners today were Des & Yvonne Wilson. Des played very well & the boys gave us a walloping to win the keno ticket. (photo attached). It was a good day and we stayued for dinner at the club that night.

Monday 19th was F-Troop Day at the Club working on the gardens. It was a hot day so we did well to achieve all the work load. Peter did not come to F-Troop today because we needed to have the Lexus aircondioning fixed. The new compressor from Melbourne was to have been fitted this morning but the bad news was that the compressor was faulty. So were the other three compressors that were on hold. It was a matter or ordering another one from SA & hoping that it arrived & in place by Friday so we can get away to Byron Bay. After golf I went to Gosford to take care of some business with our solicitor and the bank and medicare as I had a busy week ahead.

Tuesday 20th it was off to Sydney with the golf girls (twenty of us from Gosford Golf Club).

We drove by convoy to Riverside Oaks Golf Resort near Dural in Sydney. The Galston Gorge access was closed so we had to do a round about way of getting there. We all managed to get there without getting lost. I went with Wendy & Judy & we had a lot of fun. The complex is very well set up & perfect for our couple of days there. The buildings at the lodge are getting tired and need of rejuvinating but the set up was excellant. For $125 per head we got our share accommodation at the lodge, BBQ meal including steak, sausages, which we cooked ourselves

on the BBQ supplied and there were salads and fruit provided as well. The price also included a full buffet breakfast the next day, 9 holes of golf on day one and 18 holes of golf on day two including electric carts. The lodge accomodates up to twenty people with twin share and shared bathrooms which is okay for a couple of days. The girls had a wonderful time and it has become an annual event for our club. This was my first visit & I thought it was a really good experience.

Wednesday 21st we were up early to enjoy our full buffet breakfast at the clubhouse before playing our 18 holes of golf. Yesterday we played nine holes in 40 degree temperatures in the afternoon. This morning we played earlier about 8.00am and it was not such a hot day - about 35 degrees & there was a little more breeze. After golf we had a couple of drinks and some lunch and then made our way back home.

Thursday 22nd I cleaned house in preparation of being away for two weeks. In the afternoon we had some shopping to do so had lunch downtown. At 4.00 oclock I met my other garden co-ordinator Martin at the club so that we could plant out three "Blue Ice" conifers that had been donated towards our garden projects. I did not want to leave the trees in pots to dry out while I am away. After that I downloaded all the photos I had taken at Riverside Oaks so I could burn them to disc for the girls and then updated the golf blog. That was a pretty big day.

The court case hearing was today with the result being an adjournment until the 6th March.

I opted not to attend court as I had a lot of things to do today and there was not a lot of purpose being there.

Today, Friday 23rd I was determined to get back to my exercise regime as I have been very slack for the last three months - not all my fault. I managed to get through an hour on the walker, bike and weights which is the best I have done for a while. I think a bit of renewed fitness will go a long way to picking me up. After that I put in a couple of hours in the front gardens trying to leave them in a respectable state so I would not have a jungle on my return.

After that it was off to the Doctor to update my medications, then to the solicitor to sign some paperwork. After lunch it was time to finish cleaning up & start packing. The good news of the day was that the new compressor did turn up & was installed first thing this morning which was a huge relief. The weather is very hot at the moment and the thought of spending six hours or more in an unconditioned car was unthinkable. So at this moment it is all go!

Images attached: with Des & Yvonne at golf last Sunday; some photos of the F-troopers at work on Monday; various photos of Riverside Oaks and the girls; playing golf; playing charades (me trying to do my best to describe "Casino Royale") (my team got it right); playing "Twister'; playing "Last Man Standing"; girls in the pool' A swan building a nest in the water on the course; large groups of kangaroos populate the course; photos of the clubhouse; various photos of the planting of the 'blue ice' conifers.

Friday 16th January 2009

This week went very quickly with much to do.

Sunday 11th we played golf with Bob & Vicky Morris which was an extra good day because Bob won the day with 44 points so we had something to celebrate.

Monday 12th was F-Troop Day. The Club was donated a heap of Mondo grass which had to be planted quickly so with the help of a couple of the Troopers we managed to get most of it in. I also planted a "Little Gem" Magnolia Tree in the front garden which should look lovely when it matures. It was a very hot day so we did well to get that much work done. The Club has suffered a setback with the water in the dams being backfilled with salt water from the creek.

The local Council have come to the rescue with some bore water supply which will help through the crisis until we get enough natural rain to re-fill the dams as all the salt water had to be pumped out.

Tuesday 13th January I played golf with the girls - my partner that day being Judy Verlander.

We did not have great scores but the company was good. Again it was a hot day & it was good to get inside the clubhouse to the air conditioning. After golf I had our tax work to complete with Margaret so that took the rest of the afternoon. Rod & Anne came to dinner & also to show us the latest "Baby" DVD of Anne's scan. All is well & the reports are good. We do not know the sex so we all refer to the baby as "Peanut" & I think that name is going to stick (Boy or Girl). Anne is keeping very well herself & May will be here before we know it. Then you will see plenty of photos.

Wednesday we were programmed to play golf at Kooindah Waters and needed to be there by 8.00am. It was up early & a scramble to get everything packed & be ready to leave by 7.30 am as we were then going on to the Crown Plaza Hunter Valley for two nights with our golfing friends Mark & Anne, Bruce & Gwen, Bob & Vicky. We booked two units on the golf estate each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms. They were beautifully appointed with all the mod cons. & the cost of the two days there was very reasonable. The Golf courses were all beautiful.

Kooindah Waters at Wyong is a lovely course with a lot of water hazards. After only about 4 hours sleep I had myself worn out & stressed & had a bit of a low day - opting out of golf part way and taking a rest. The group had a great day there - Bob scored 39 points & was especially happy with his day.

We went on to Crown Plaza Hunter Valley in the afternoon & set our unit up to play cards & have a BBQ dinner at the unit. It was a lovely relaxing evening.

The next day the boys played Cypress Lakes, the girls went to Cessnock to do some shopping. I opted for a rest/recovery day in the airconditioning as it was a 40 degree day. Peter & I had a swim in the pool after he got back from golf. We played cards in the afternoon & then opted for another BBQ dinner at the unit as we were booked for early golf in the morning.

Fortunately the weather had cooled down & it turned out to be a good decision to play early while it was still cool. The course at Crown Plaza Hunter Valley is really lovely. Much more friendly than Kooindah Waters with the hazards. It is still a challenging course & our best score on the day was 34 points by Mark. After golf we had a nice lunch at the resort dining area & made our way back home. It was just starting to heat up so a good time to be off the course.

The rest of the day has been catching up with business here at home. My Christmas gift from the children was a 'pampering package' which includes massage & facial among other things. I am booked in for that at 9.00am tomorrow morning so I am trying to have a good nights sleep tonight so that the pampering can be beneficial.

Images attached: With Vicky & Bob Morris at Sunday golf; the new 'little gem' magnolia; John & Di my two F-Trooper helpers at Monday F-Troop; with Judy Verlander at Tuesday's golf; Peter outside Kooindah Waters Golf Club, Wyong; with our group at Crown Plaza Hunter Valley this morning; first tee at Crown Plaza Hunter Valley; various photos of the group at our unit at the Crown Plaza; the swimming pool at the Crown Plaza Hunter Valley.

Sunday 11th January 2009

It seems such a long time since I have updated this blog. It is not because I didn't want to, rather than I have been restricted in volume because I have been updating the Golf Club Events Blog as well as keeping up to date with the golf results blog. My Broadband budget has been stretched to its limits.

We have had a lot of hot weather and I have been trying to keep myself as busy as possible to get me through the 'recovery' period without having too much time on my hands to allow depression to fester. My time has been mainly spent on the two "G"s - Golf & Gardening.

There has been a heap of work to be done at the golf club gardens so I have been spending a lot of time there as well as trying to rejuvenate my garden at home that has been suffering from lack of water and TLC. As you can see by the attached photos it is starting to respond & I have the back gardens about 3/4 done - hopefully finished in the next few weeks if golf will allow.

I played my first practice 18 holes with the girls on Tuesday 30th December 2008 playing with Yvonne Wilson, Dawn Tromp & Rosalie Dyer. My results were not that good but I did manage one three pointer.

We spent New Years Eve at the Golf Club Dinner Dance & had a good night. The food & music were good & great company with Rosalie & Duncan Dyer, Yvonne & Des Wilson, Shirley & Cyril Daly. We chose the Golf Club because we could walk to/from without danger.

New Years Day was a recovery Day as I had drank far too much wine during the night's celebrations. It was a hot day so a restful day in airconditioning seemed to be a good idea.

On Saturday morning I went to the movies with Rosalie & Yvonne to see "Marley & Me".

The movie reminded me so much of our "Sprocket" dog. It was a real tear jerker.

On Sunday 4th January we had a game of golf with Graham & Anne (photo attached). I made it around the course okay & played the best I had for a while coming in the buffer zone which pleased me. Graham had 40 points so it was a good day all around. Anne tried out her new Driver (Christmas gift) & was happy with it.

Monday 5th January was a big F-Troop Day at the Golf Club. We had been donated 100 Tanika Native Grass plants that had to be planted immediately so it was a scramble to get enough workers to prepare the area & plant the grass. It was a 35 degree day so we all felt the strain.

Tuesday 6th January I played golf with the girls. It was a very hot day so I was happy that we finished our round in 4 hours so we could get into the airconditioning. I played with Yvonne Wilson & Doreen Vines & they were great company. I didn't get a photo of us that day so have included a photo of the winner on the day - Judy Verlander who I am going to play with next Tuesday. I hope some of her good golf rubs off on me. I did birdie the 15th which was my highlight of the day.

Wednesday 7th January I caught up with some banking & Estate work. Then I continued on my home gardening project - weeding, fertilizing & mulching.

Thursday 8th January was yet more gardening in the back gardens. In the evening we went to Bob & Vicky Morris' for a BBQ dinner & to play "500" (cards) with Anne & Mark & Gwen & Bruce. We had a good night & this time I came in 4th (which is an improvement from last position)

Friday 9th January I had my hair cut even shorter to make it more managable. The rest of the day I spent in the gardens trimming the hedges & weeding. The Pest control manager came in the afternoon & sprayed the yard & house for spiders, ants & cockroaches which are just thriving at this time of the year.

Saturday 10th January was a quick grocery shop & a visit to the plant nursery to pick up some trees for the golf club gardens. In the afternoon I cleaned out the back BBQ area where I keep all the "plants-in-waiting" for the golf club. I re-potted the native grasses and camelias which took me quite a long while. I also planted some more annuals out the front gardens.

So in summary over the last few weeks I have been focusing on gardening. We have some golfing holidays coming up so it all needs to be up to scratch.

Images attached: With Rosie, Dawn & Yvonne - first practice game; The f-troopers removing stumps from the course; with Shirley & Cyril - New Years Eve; The dancing queens - NY Eve; with Graham & Anne at golf; Trees removed at the course; native grasses being planted; Judy Verlander - golf winner on the day; At Bob & Vicky's for cards; various photos of my gardening efforts; various photos of the current batch of roses.