Another Year Over, ALREADY???!!!

Can you believe 2007 is just about over? And what a year it was for us here at biglittlesister.

We did a lot of exploring this year, trying to make the most of living up here in Far North Queensland because you just never know when we will move on from here with Lyndon's job. (This photo was taken from one of the penthouse units Lyndon worked on during the year...)

We explored (and loved) Cooktown...

...enjoyed a drink at the infamous Lion's Den Hotel...

...soaked up the ambiance of the wonderful Daintree...

...visited Townsville (again)...

...stopped in at Brisbane...

...met Dora The Explorer and Dorothy the Dinosaur...

...and stayed at Airlie Beach...

...finally made our way to Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island...

...and dropped by Daydream Island too.

We had a few visitors this year, more than last year, Joel, Pete and Lis....

...Travvy, Jacinta and Scott, Lyndon's parents Mark and Marianne (Marianne visited us 3 times) and my parents Harry and Carol (Carol visiting us three times too!) Lyndon went down south to Melbourne once in February and Monet and I went for two weeks in August.

As much as people 'bag' Facebook (including I too which I have always admitted), I have 'caught up' with some people who I used to go to not only High School with, but also Primary School. That's been really good. I love to hear about what people are up to and what they have achieved when you remember them being at school with you.

We bought our first 'home' this year which we love and enjoyed actually doing stuff to our own walls!

Monet turned from a toddler to a fully pledged bike riding little girl who can draw and paint and bake and read and practically everything in between!

2008 brings us new challenges and exciting adventures to boot! I think we are entering a rather exciting time, if all goes to plan for us and no, before anyone gets too excited, I am not pregnant!!! (I know how some of your minds work dear readers!)

Nothing much planned for this evening. Knowing us all here (keeping in mind my parents are here) we will all be fast asleep in bed by 10:30pm! *heehee* Maybe we'll down a bottle or two of champagne, nibble on cheese and crackers and enjoy a bbq.

For those regular readers of my blog, I wish you and your families a happy, safe and excitement filled 2008. Thanks for reading this over the past year (plus some) and I look forward to reading your blogs (those of you who blog) in the new year.

Happy New Year....

Christmas 2007

Besides the youngest member of our household waking up feeling rather grumpy (a case of the all-too-muches, don't ask!) our Christmas Day was spent inside relaxing. I swear we spent the majority of the morning unwrapping gifts, after all, we do live interstate!

When we all first got up at the 'normal' hour of 7am, Monet rushed to see if the reindeer had eaten the carrots she had left out for them (they had), but when she first spied her bike her eyebrows frowned. Apparently, Monet wanted a 'Dora (The Friggin' Explorer)' Bike, NOT a Disney Princesses one. (Who knew!! Obviously not us! All she had requested was a bike, pink or red. And it had to have a basket on the front and streamers off the handles. We thought we had ticked all boxes, but according to Monet, Santa got it wrong..)

(Photo taken Boxing Day when someone was back to her cheerful self!)

When Monet first 'cracked it' Lyndon and I gave each other a knowing look meaning here we go! She was pretty much grumpy all day. She did have her moments, let me tell you!

She cheered up somewhat when Grandma and Grandad gave her an art easel and bits and bobs that are all arty to go with it. So that was fun.

Monet received numerous toys. Fisher Price Little People Plane and Caravan, as requested to Santa along with a requested Barbie car, numerous new books (Yay!!), a new doll and stroller and a My Little Pony baby horse which Monet cuddles and kisses like you wouldn't believe. Hopefully enough new stuff to satisfy her during the wet season when we're banged up inside all day! She also received gifts from my parent's friends which was really thoughtful and appreciated.

Lyndon and I got a few little things each, including a iPod shuffle (yippee!) and some money to put towards our Big Trip next year. That's why Lyndon and I didn't give each other anything (we usually don't anyway) as Lyndon picked up our plane tickets the other week when he was in Brisbane on business. (NO turning back from our trip now!)

We had a nice big (BIG) lunch which was washed down with a glass or two of champagne. I had no room in my tum for my traditional Trifle until about 9pm, when I scoffed a big bowl full. (Oh how I love Trifle!)

We all went for a dip in the pool later on in the afternoon then relaxed on the balcony with a cool drink or two.

It was nice to have my folks here to share in Monet's joy, which didn't really happen because she was pretty moody, alllll day. (But since then, Monet has been her normal good self!)

Can you believe Christmas is over for another year? I hope you all had a great, relaxing holiday. Who knows where Monet, Lyndon and I will be spending Christmas next year... *hmmm*

Little Bike Rider

So, the world has another bike rider and a very good one at that!

Santa brought for Monet (amongst other things) a bike. She had been asking for ages, along with a helmet ("so we can be safe"). I honestly didn't think she would pick it up so quick and I imagined ourselves at the park for days on end trying to encourage her to ride. How wrong I was.

This was shot (via my mobile phone's camera) yesterday, Boxing Day.

First go and she was basically off with a little help from her dad and under her Grandad's watchful eye, she was all under control.

I'm very proud and I'm sure Auntie Kim in London will be grinning from ear to ear...

Merry Christmas

These were the Christmas Cards I sent out this year. They still make me laugh.

One more sleep to go and then *drum roll please* it is Christmas Day. I hope you seriously all have a fantastic day, no matter what your beliefs are and no matter how you celebrate the day, just make sure you take it easy and enjoy the company of those you are with.

Monet is very excited, I too for that matter. We have so many pressies under, or should I say, surrounding the tree it isn't funny. I know a little girl who will be busy all day tomorrow with all her new things. I think Santa knows that Monet has been pretty good this year. *grin*

I have been busy already this morning. I have a chicken roasting in the oven which we'll eat tomorrow, the half leg of ham is positioned nicely in the fridge, I have made my 'layered salad', the trifle is half made and I am yet to go to the butchers to pick up my ordered rolled leg of pork (sorry all you Vegetarians out there!) I think I am just about organised.

So from all of us at biglittlesister, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Thanks for visiting.

Oh yeah, one more thing, eat like it's going out of fashion! *heehee*

I Haven't Forgotten This Blog (in case you were wondering!)

It has been a while hasn't it?

I have a few recipes up my sleeve to post here. I'll get around to posting them soon enough.

I presume you've all made that delicious cake in my previous post by now! Still one of my favourite cake recipes which I will be making again for my father's birthday in a couple of weeks time.

Thanks for visiting and stay tuned....

The One on the Right is Busy...

In the spirit of Christmas and today being Friday, here is a Flashback photo for you.

Can you guess which one is me? Yeah, the dark-headed Monet lookalike one. The one who looks sooooo excited and admittedly very cute (what happened?) I have a feeling this photo was taken before the final school concert of the year. I wasn't even three in this photo (it was taken in 1975), which means Kimbofo would've been in about grade Prep or 1. (My dad was a Headmaster at the local school that we both attended so the End-of-Year concert was a big thing for all of us. Mum included.)

I know that mum had painted the Santa picture behind Kimbofo and we had that plastic tree every Christmas until one year mum got sick of packing it up and piffed the whole thing (including most decorations) in the tip. I too hate 'un-decortaing' the tree because no one ever wants to do it. Oh yes, it's very exciting putting the thing up but pulling it down is a completely different story isn't it?

I have my parents arriving tomorrow afternoon for a two-odd week visit which we're all looking forward to. Especially Monet. That could be her in the above photo with the look on her face this morning, knowing there was only one more sleep to go before the arrival of her Grandma and Grandad. She's more excited about them visiting than Santa.

I am off grocery shopping this morning, hopefully to beat the crowds before the next few days, but I find my local 'Coles' not too busy at the best of times anyway so I should be right. I already have 'most' things bought, I really only need supplies. I'll be visiting 'Rusty's Fresh Produce Market' in the next day or so and then I'll be avoiding the supermarkets like the plague.

All presents have been bought now (I think) so I am feeling a little organised. Just need to do some final 'sprucing' before the folks arrive tomorrow and then I'll be sorted. I also have Lyndon's birthday to contend with before the weekend is out too. Busy, busy, busy...

How is your Christmas planning going along?

Dress Ups

After sorting through Monet's bedroom last week, getting ready for all those new Christmas items (ie. the local 'Op Shop' received 3 'green' bags of Monet's old stuff - hopefully Monet doesn't notice any missing items!)

I decided she should have a box specifically for 'dress ups'. In it are old bags (and I thought I had a lot of bags!), hats, shawls, that kind of thing. She has a 'Dorothy the Dinosaur' (from The Wiggles) tail, a tutu and her favourite, Ariel The Little Mermaid costume. I have to post this picture;


Pretty darn cute hey?

Pity she thinks the top half is a 'bra' and insists some days on wearing it under her t-shirt (just like Mummy!) I'm glad I'm not a make up kind of girl as she'd be wanting to wear it too!

Yesterday she came out of her room looking like this;



For some reason or another she really reminded me of my Nana dressed like that. Not that my Nana would wear bunny ears, Lion mane and hat, together with purple poncho and carrying a baby blanket, she just reminded me of her. Funny. Maybe because my Nana once came home from visiting her favourite Op Shop (she was a big Op Shopper) and dressed up in a brunette wig and big thick brown fur coat, which she had just bought, looking like she had stepped off a plane from Russia!

My Nana died some 2 weeks after Monet's birth but I am regularly reminded of her! *heehee*

Two Hours of Peace and Quiet.

How good are Fisher Price 'Little People'? If you've got a child under the age of 5, I'm sure you'll know what I'm talking about.

Monet is always playing with hers; sorting them out, lining them up, placing here, placing there, driving around in the 'Little Bus' etc., She got quite a collection now.

A couple of weekends ago, as a reward for good behaviour, Lyndon and I bought her this;

Sonya Lee's Pet Salon.

Well, didn't Monet think it was the 'best' thing she had ever played with? And so did we! She sat quietly for two hours solid (TWO HOURS!) and 'played' with it. I swear it's the best 30 bucks I have ever spent. And not only on that one evening either, she's constantly playing with the little 'Salon'.

And because it's small enough to fit comfortably in one of my bags we took it to the pub last Saturday afternoon, where Lyndon met up with some work friends for Christmas drinks. Monet sat and played with it and even shared it with a 11 month old.

Monet has asked Santa for the 'Little People' Caravan set. Can you guess what's sitting in my wardrobe all ready and waiting for a little girl next week?

Too Cute To Not Post

Not great quality, I realise, but I filmed this a few weeks ago via my mobile phone.

This is Monet dancing to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song, which cracks us up. That's Monet dancing like her favourite character, Minnie Mouse. Notice the footwork please. I need to film an update on this dancing. The hands are now used and she sings in fine voice! Her spelling of Mickey Mouse is one to be noted here too.

Monet is *so* into Mickey Mouse and Co at the mo, it's not funny. We're thinking a trip to Paris Disneyland might just be on the books now...

Because I Want to be Nominated for Mother of the Year.

Well, not really. (And yes, another post to do with 'awards'.)

There have been many a time when I don't actually deserve that award, you can ask Monet herself. ie. No hat and sunnies for child, when out and about some days.

But one reason I deserve the nomination is because I seriously can prepare my daughter with lovely afternoon teas. I try to get her through to dinner time after lunch with a nicely prepared afternoon snack.

A few weeks ago I began making her 'little platters' of some of her favourite things.

I love making platters of food for people to enjoy, I guess it is still part of my 'working life' in me. I used to work for many years, in the deli department of the supermarket chain Safeway. I loved it, well, it would have been the best job if it wasn't for customers. True. One of the main jobs I had was to prepare the platters for customer orders. I guess I have a 'knack' for those things and I got to use my design degree for something *snigger, snigger* Years later I worked in the Bakery Department (even made it to Bakery Manager *woo-hoo*) and made and decorated the customer orders for cakes.

So, I enjoy making platters, which is the reason for this post.

And Monet enjoys eating them.

And I enjoy preparing them.

See, I still have that 'design' element in me, afterall.

An Award

And Melody's 'Dip of The Year' award goes to....

Yumi's brand Sweet Potato and Cashew Dip.

Congratulations.

(It was a toss up between this one and their Sun-dried Tomato and Macadamia, but this one won out in the end!)

Which 'Dip' deserves your 'Dip of The Year' award?

End of an Era

Before we moved up here, the three of us lived in South Melbourne and *loved* it. It was a great suburb and had everything we wanted. Our apartment was close to Lyndon's work place at the time, a 15 minute walk into the city center, opposite the Royal Botanical Gardens, The Shrine, park lands, close to a local shopping strip and the fabulous and famous South Melbourne Market.

It was also close to numerous fabulous pubs.

One of our favourite places to meet our good friends on a Sunday afternoon, was the famous 'Bell Hotel'. I read with sadness today that Billy Bell, the owner, is pouring his last beer tomorrow. I know Lyndon and his mate John will be sad to read of this and want to be there.

(Photo courtesy of The Age website)

They used to brew a few of their own beers on site, but now only one is home brewed. We had some good meals there and downed some refreshing ales. Monet also read a lot of books at this pub, in fact, I think this was one of the first places I had given Monet a 'scrapbook' of collected postcards/photos/pictures i had put together, where it occupied her no end.

Another of the hotels frequented by us in South Melbourne was 'The Railway Hotel' which has been a location for the new Steven Spielberg epic mini-series, which has been filmed both here (Mossman mainly) and Melbourne. It will be a great mini series to watch as we know both locations pretty well. (It won't be shown until 2009 in Australia however...)

South Melbourne is a terrific old suburb, but is only one of many of Melbourne's great suburbs. For me, it rates alongside St. Kilda and Malvern, two suburbs I lived in over the years and loved for my own special reasons.

I remember crying, probably bawling in fact, when we packed up and cleaned our South Melbourne apartment, headed for Cairns. I wasn't crying for the fact that we were moving 'away' to a strange new place and leaving behind family and friends, I think I was crying as we were leaving our life as we knew it, in that great city apartment with the fabulous city views in a terrific suburb.

Do you 'like' where you live?

By George, it's a Gorgeous Gorge...

Last Wednesday Monet and I took Nanna Marianne up to the gorgeous Mossman Gorge, about 60 kilometres (or so) north of here. It is part of the Daintree National Rainforest, so it is nice to know it is protected land because it certainly is one of the most prettiest natural things you will see...

Monet was a tad grumpy (again) but I think it might have something to do with her being too hot and bothered (you have no idea about the humidity up here until you experience it yourself) and she thought she was first going to the playground at Port Douglas. (Mossman is about 10 kilometres past Port Douglas). I spent most of the walking track carrying her (she was refusing to walk) so I swear I would've poured out a kilo of sweat. Urgh.

But I didn't mind. And it seemed Monet didn't either after a while. She cheered up when she spotted a 'Bush Turkey' and got to have a seat with Pickles (the love able bear!)

As we drove out of the car park, well, what do you know, we passed an ice-cream van which was headed to the car park. Always the way. We could have had an ice cream each as it would've been well deserved. Instead we headed to Port Douglas and had one there!

That was after a play in the playground at The Point and lunch at Mango Jam.

Gee life can be hard sometimes can't it? Especially when you return and go for a swim in the pool.

So, when are you coming for a visit?

Drives to Escape the Heat...

Last weekend (not the weekend just been) it was the hottest Cairns day in over 5 years. It was hot. Really hot. Sticky hot. Walk-out-the-front-door-and-can't-breath hot. It explained Monet's constant grumpiness over the weekend. Poor love was pretty hot, even though we spent time in the pool and in air conditioned comfort of Lyndon's work car.

One of the best ways to escape heat is to go touring. So we did.

Saturday we visited Cairns Crystal Cascades, not that we could be bothered walking that far. (There is a 1.5 kilometre walking track to a big water fall, otherwise a 3 kilometre round trip)Monet was being stubborn and refused to walk or participate in anyway. Her "tummy" wanted to go home. She can be funny when she's grumpy. I try to keep my sense of humour in 'trying' times. Can you spot the smirk on Monet's face? Maybe not, but let me tell you that she was one grumpy child. Nanna will vouch for that, I am sure...


The Cairns Crystal Cascades is about a 20 minute drive from our house, through the hills on the outskirts of the city sprawl. The area is very pretty.



Sunday we decided to head to the tablelands, the area behind the mountains which surround Cairns. It was a long drive, we were gone about 6 or 7 hours but at least we escaped the heat as it is always cooler in the tablelands...

Our first stop was to visit the awesome Cathedral Fig Tree, just near Yungaburra. It is hard to photograph so it doesn't look as powerful as it does when you are standing directly in front of it...


And before you ask, Pickles the Bear, came along for the tour.

Lunch was at the strangely quiet old pub at Yungaburra and then we headed to Millaa Millaa Falls, about another 40 kilometres south.

Even though we had visited the falls before it was still as picturesque as I remember.

Pretty spectacular, but I was annoyed by the lady who was wading in the water in front of the Waterfall, which messed up everyone's postcard perfect photo shots. No consideration I tell you. At least I managed a few shots without her torso in the way.

We went home via the Palmerston Highway to Innisvale and back home north to Cairns.

We were home in time to have a dip in the pool and down a couple of 'coldies' before dinnertime.

It was a long day which involved a lot of driving, but it was nice to show Marianne around this part of the world and have air conditioned car comfort. Gotta love that. Nothing like a drive to escape the heat.

Food Glorious Food

If there is one thing Monet, Lyndon and Nanna Marianne have in common, it is food. The three of them 'love' food. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy eating too but I am not generally the type of person who thinks of what they are going to eat next...

Monet is a shocker. She's always asking me for something to eat. She'll have her breakfast and within half an hour she'll be asking for her lunch. And get her and Lyndon together and I'm in trouble. Food, food, food. And when they eat, I don't know where they put it. Me? I eat and it goes straight to my tummy and shows. Typical.

Marianne loves her food too. Not snacks, just meals. But then, I like a good meal too and if I enjoy a meal you can be guaranteed that I'll be talking about it for the next 48 hours. Like I did yesterday, along with Marianne and Lyndon.

Friday evening we visited a new restaurant in Trinity Beach named 'Blue Moon Grill'. It is about 3 months old I guess and I know that every time we've been past it seems to be 'chocha'. There is no indoor eating space - all the tables are outside under large sails, so I wonder how it will go when the 'wet' starts. Anyway, we thought we'd try it out so I booked.

Well, the food was fabulous to say the least. A fabulous menu with lots of tempting meals, all using local fresh and organic produce, with reasonable prices and over 60 bottled beers to choose from! (We love that!) Marianne and I had dessert too which were called Banana Spring Rolls, and talk about delicious!

We ate very well last week, including going to the Novotel in Palm Cove twice for Buffet Breakfast (which we got for local rates - just about half price), Thai takeaway twice (our local is THAT good), lovely fish and chips from the guy up the road, Italian from Lunico's at Trinity Beach which was yummy, lunch at Port Douglas and lunch at Mondo's in Cairns. There Marianne and I had one of these each...

How tasty does that look? Mexican Fajitas.

It is nice to eat well for a week and not use the kitchen! As much as I do honestly enjoying cooking I guess it is equally as enjoyable not to use the kitchen too.

What was the last lovely meal you had? (Mine was grilled Spanish Mackerel on a bed of asparagus risotto served with a cucumber and pineapple salsa on the side! Delicious.)

Until Next Time...

Monet and I dropped Nanna off at the airport a little over an hour ago, after her 8 day stay.

All I can say is 'Thank God!'...HA! Only kidding!!! As if I would say that about Monet's lovely Nanna.

We had a great time with Marianne and I know she had a great time with us, well, at least that is what she said. I bet she'll be glad to go home and not watch Kid's television and not have to read books out loud to her Grandchild! She'll also be glad to get away from this heat and humidity which began late last week. (You seriously have no idea!)

We did a bit of touring around, a bit of shopping (Esprit in Cairns Central will miss Marianne dearly), swam in the pool most days and ate heaps, which meant I didn't cook at all as we ate out most nights or ate Thai takeaway!

Monet didn't want Nanna to leave which honestly breaks your heart to see a little one who doesn't understand such concepts of 'visiting'. She wasn't happy taking Nanna to the airport (Lyndon is at work so it was I who had the task of dropping Nanna off) and she kept saying on the way home that she wanted Nanna to stay. I solved the problem by stopping and buying a Chocolate Freddo Frog and Dora Drink. Monet liked that. But now I have just heard her say that she wants Nanna here.

Marianne, thanks for a great 8 days. We had your company and spoiling us! You will be missed and not just by Monet...

FLASH!

I might as well have slept with the light on last night. Our room was constantly lit by the lightening outside that zig-zagged across the night sky.

It started around 8pm, was going full flash by 10pm and still going strong at midnight. I have no idea when the lightening stopped, but I do remember waking briefly and thinking "its still going!"

It went for a good five hours. Five hours! Only a few rumbles of thunder but so much light flashing, it was amazing. But it is the norm up here with storms.

The first week we moved to Cairns we had a thunder (or should that be lightening?) storm that lasted over eight hours. EIGHT HOURS! We couldn't believe it. And its not just a zig-zag flash...wait 30 secondes....BOOM, (like in Victoria for exapmle) but rather flash,flash,flash,flash...flash,flash,flash.

Tropical storms. Gotta love 'em.