Angus' Fourth Birthday

Angus' 4th Birthday just awake.  Present from Mummy and Daddy a Power Ranger

Watch out Fireman Angus now has his own water pump.  A present from Juanita and Lee

Angus had a Pirate Party, here are all his little pirate friends ready to watch a movie about Angus' first 4 years.

Mummy made a Pirate Cake and everyone helped decorate it.

Captain Angus had a wonderful day.

Mina Mile

In a fit of madness, I mentioned to my friend Tom O'Byrne that it would be great to try the Mina Mile open swim.  Tom is always up for a challenge and then wouldn't let me back out even though it was on my 42nd birthday and the first time I had ever swum that distance and the first time I had ever swum open water.  So we rocked up on the 20th of March and swam in the Mina Mile, I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of people and the frenzy at the start of the race.  Trying to keep a track of where the buoys were to swim around was also not easy.  But the water was lovely and the view beautiful.  The first 800 metres was pretty hard and if it were not for my pride I would have probably stopped.  But the second 800 was actually easier.  I thought I had come in dead last but there were apparently 11 people behind me, I came in just after a 70 year old lady, but I finished and as I said to the girls that was the most important thing.

Australia Day Ball Dubai 2009

Last Thursday night we attended our second Austalia Day Ball here in Dubai. It was held at the Grand Hyatt Ballroom and the theme was 70's and 80's Countdown Revival. We decided to frock up as we so rarely get to do that but some people really embraced the theme complete with Afros, sequins and platform shoes.

But the highlight of the night for all of us was meeting the legend of Australian Rock and Roll, the one and only Molly Meldrum. He seemed to have a great time, and commented on how we all continued to dance the night away he said usually at these events people just don't dance.

Our lovely German friend Kirsten was amazed that people were up dancing before dessert. We all felt like we were back at school at the disco.

Here we are with Molly.

He also auctioned off one of his hats which went for 12000 AED, about $4000 and the shirt off his back which was made especially for him for count down. All the money went to the charity Helping Hands.

One of the best lines of the night was just before they played the classic Angels song "Am I ever going to see your face again" Molly remarked that it reminded him of how he felt about George Bush leaving office. If you know the aussie version of this song you will know exactly what he meant. Here, here.

Some of the very cool people at our table. Our dear friends, Jeremy and Melissa, Tom and Kirsten, Belinda and Mick and Alison and Tony.

Unfortunately we will all be working on Australia Day but will have a Tim Tam with our cuppas.