I'm baaaaaaack (suckers)

I know, it's been ages. Its not you, its me. I've just been too busy to spend time with you. I'm sorry. I did miss you. No really, i did. Can you ever forgive me?




But moving on. So the Internet was re-connected last Friday, awesome, but I've been too busy to post anything because we've had an international guest to entertain! Jo's brother Matthew has been staying with us for the last week, and we've been busy busy doing all manner of fun things (without you). More on that as the regular posts keep-a-comin'.




While i was 'offline' (*snigger*), we had a little par-tay to celebrate the June birthday boys - Jo, DT and Ash. Even though we'd literally just finished moving in and getting tidy, we thought aw hell, lets just have a party and dirty it all up again.

New living room in party mode - note: wine, coke and chip bowls are not normally present for regular television viewing.

It was quite the crazy night, and even thought some of us spent the whole next day in bed (not naming names Jo) while some of us spent the whole next day cleaning, i think a good time was had by all, and that's the main thing.

Me, Jo and DT looking like some sort of small-town serial killer

The birthday boys (why yes, Jo is wearing a wig that makes him look like a Backstreet Boy)

Me, Ash, and Jo (perfecting aforementioned small-town serial killer look)

We've also been into town to check out some of the Vivid Sydney lights. For the last 2 or 3 years, Sydney has held this cool event where they use various light installations and projections to light up a ton of buildings across the city, like the Opera House (see below), the Cathedral, the State Library and NSW Parliament....some of the older buildings look really great, and i just like the pretty lights. Its on for the next month or two, if you have time to check it out. Macquarie St is particularly good.

And then, of course, there's the World Cup. I'm one of those bandwagon people that get right behind soccer when the World Cup is on, and then forget all about it when its not. But I've been enjoying all the games and the general excitement over the whole thing, even if Australia did get completely annihilated by Germany (4-0 if you missed it. Yeah. That's a 4.) Badly as they played, i am willing to forgive and forget if they win against Ghana and Serbia and make it through to the next round. HOW they can possibly pull themselves back together after that shocker i don't know. And i don't care. Just make it happen Verbeek.

Great game last night by the Kiwi's against Slovakia though, i was so happy to see them score in the dying seconds of the game! That last 2 minutes was intense! 1-1, but a draw is better than a loss, and no one expected them to score at all. However, can someone please explain to me what the deal is with those stupid hooters everyone keeps blowing at the games? It sounds like a swarm of bees descending on the stadiums. I mean is anyone taking a breath at all? Those things are SO annoying. Who is the person responsible for these horrible 'instruments'? I want a face that i can throw an egg at.

We visited the FIFA fan fest down at Darling Harbour a couple of nights ago. Apparently it's one of only 7 FIFA approved places to watch the games in the world or something, other than sites in South Africa of course. I liked the soccer ball lights the best!

Fan fest at Darling Harbour



Jo and Matthew checking out 3D TVs. Those goggles are sweet as.

Lastly, another riveting edition of Nell's Book Club. The last book i read was called The Girls, by Lori Lansens, and it was excellent. Its about sisters Rose and Ruby Darlen, who aren't like everyone else, because they're joined at the head. They are 29 year old, and are about to become the oldest surviving craniopagus twins in history. There has never been a possibility of them being separated. Despite being twins, and despite being joined at the head, the girls have very different personalities, and they are narrating their story for you, the reader, to know what their life has been like. Its fiction, and yet completely believable. You really grow to love these two - honestly, i couldn't stop reading. And the writing is really beautiful - authentic and heartfelt and almost like poetry in some parts. Give it a go peeps.

More of Matthew's visit coming up soon!