Talk about being discombobulated!
We've just experienced a crazy whirlwind of an extended weekend, where we flew from Taipei to Hong Kong to Sydney before driving to the Central Coast for two nights. Back to Mascot, checked in and a couple of hours breather before taxi and train out to Olympic Park and back before a late night, early rise and another Sydney-Hong Kong-Taipei flight. Being ensconced back at work and already taught three classes, our heads are spinning!
The night before the big Pat/Kat wedding, we arranged to meet up with various family members who were staying on the coast for Friday. It was not only magic to catch up with my sisters and most of their kids, but also Chris and Val making a cameo appearance for the night as well! They stayed at The Mantra, as we did, and we imbibed some craft beers and a bottle of Moet et Chandon to celebrate before we even joined the others for a meal at the trendy "The Box" by the water. How special and surreal to see everyone!
We breakfasted with C&V again the next morning, overlooking the tranquil waterfront at Ettalong: what a delightful spot. We implored C&V to stay around for a few hours until we were picked up for the wedding, mainly so they could see Cass all dressed up in her new sparkling dress and shoes! After we bade them farewell, we caught the mini-bus provided by the wedding organizers and picked up various participants along the way, including Ellen and Lily looking fabulous and Jen and Vince all coifed and beautiful as well!
The pre-vows time was quite extended as we arrived early, but we drank in the stunning bushland setting and manicured grounds and were able to perform that most pleasant of tasks...catching up with yet more family and friends and acquaintances. The Almond family were shining beauties along with Sue and we were surprised to see Rob, Erin and Cath (our cousins) there as well. Fantastic times! Along with a sprinkling of Drinkwater uncles and families it was like being transported back many decades, as we hadn't crossed paths with some of them in all that time. Mum was able to negotiate the quite confronting hilly terrain with stoic resolve and she did incredibly well to get down, then up again, with the aid of her walker.
The ceremony was simple and lovely. Both Katherine and Patrick presented quite wonderfully as did their respective entourages. The celebrant was professional, the band funky, and the sun beamed down and filtered through the large mature tree under which the ceremony took place. The assembled throng had a lovely view as they arranged themselves up the slope on a few folding chairs and some nifty fabric-covered hay bales.
Ceremony over, it was up to the marquee for drinks and music before the exquisite meal and succession of interesting speeches. Cass and I both imbibed far too much, but managed not to do anything too silly, although I'm sure we had our moments! The evening seeped away far more quickly than we would have liked, yet we managed to chat with all the family members at some stage or other. It was a beautiful night!
After driving to the airport hotel the next day after another leisurely waterfront breakfast, we had a couple of hours before cabbing it to Central then launching ourselves into "Shark Fever" on the train out to Olympic Park! The ribald and raucous singing, chanting and shouting of tens of thousands of fired up Cronulla supporters started on the train and didn't let up for many hours!
Our seat allocations were premium and behind the goal line at one end. We were hoping to be near the Shark den and we certainly were!! We were right beside the dedicated supporters bays and what an amazing entertainment they were all night: forget Richie S, Orianthi and Keith Urban! The packed in 85,000 fans turned up the volume from minute zero until the ear shattering beastly roar that occurred at fulltime. With the Storm pressing Cronulla's line, throwing the ball about with gay abandon, the siren sounded the start of a pulsating, tangible outpouring of noise and emotion which was reminiscent only of the Knight's '97 last gasp win with Darren Albert's try. At least this time, I didn't fall down 5 rows of seats. Check that amazing minute here. What a treat to be part of history; the porch lights of Cronulla can finally be turned off after waiting 50 years for a premiership win: Harold Holt isn't coming home, but the trophy is and it was almost as good as a Knights' win!
The trip home was long and arduous, but connections were made, planes were on time and we got home unscathed. Virg'nMary hardly seemed to register that we'd been away, so despite our whirlwind, life had just been plodding along for them! Back at school today, lots to catch up on and I'm obviously procrastinating: just think how much I could have accomplished if I hadn't written this blog entry! Photos up top are just for the time being: I hope to get some camera shots as well as the phone shots to make a web album soon.