During November, Sue and I tried out a "girl project". We named it "Half a World Away - Days vs Nights". Twice a week, at a nominated time, Sue and I would take a photo that best represented our lives at that moment. The idea was that we would post these photos next to each other on our blogs and there would be some interesting juxtaposition: London vs Sydney, days vs nights, Winter vs Summer.

We had such a fun time that we decided that we'd try to continue the project in 2009. We're going to aim for once a week now so it's our own Project 52.

While I was in Sydney, Sue and I thought it would be funny to start the new project with a photo. Of course, we were both in the same place at the same time, so not really any juxtaposition there (but definitely a few giggles.)




Look out for Project 52. Hope you enjoy it!

Not really the 5th Day of Christmas, but our 5th Christmas celebration. The Brisvegas Wilsons made a special trip to Sydney to catch up with us while we were in Australia. Aren't we lucky? It meant that the Wilsons could have a proper Christmas celebration with all the family there (with a special guest appearance from the Ezzys).

It also means that I can now devote some blog real estate to our nephew Isaac. Poor Isaac gets neglected a little bit on here because he lives so far away. We actually haven't seen him since he was 6 weeks old, so you can imagine that he's grown quite a bit. He looks a little bit like a cherub with his beautiful curly hair and his chubby cheeks. Of course, he's not an angel; he's a little boy. The only time he was still was when he was asleep. He loves to climb, and run, and jump, and climb and run... yes, like I said, a little boy.





More photos on Flickr.

Our review for 2008; relatively on time this year. The travelling continues for the Wilsons. It is the main reason why we live in England after all.


Cinque Terre, Loch Ness, Slovakia, Slovakia, Latvia, Stirling Castle, Brighton Beach, Battersea, Cordoba, Giant's Causeway, Eiffel Tower, Madrid, Parc Guell, Pemberly, Bruges, The Three Sisters, Clovelly, Norway, Norway, Stonehenge

Mini-breaks:

Salzburg - Austria (Jan, Dubs trip), Norway (Feb, Fugazees), Australia (March, for Em / Goldy Wedding), Latvia / Estonia / Finland (March, Dubs trip), Bruges - Belgium (April, Dubs trip), Spain and Portugal (April, with Mum + Dad), Paris All-nighter (May, Flickr), Ireland (May, with Simon), Switzerland (June, with Simon), Paris Disneyland - France (June, with Karen + Emily), Nice - France (June, Dubs trip), Scotland (August), Slovakia (August, Fugazees), Cinque Terre / Pisa - Italy (October), Australia (December, Davina's 30th)

Blog Highlights:

How to race a pancake...
In Flanders Fields the poppies grow
OzFest2k8
Silent Disco
I like Aeroplane Jelly...
How to play Handicapped Ultimate
Paldiski
Dinner and a show
The Pension
Real men wear skirts
The Orange Smartie Conspiracy Theory
Movember
Half a World Away - Days / Nights
NaBloPoMo 2008

Movies: 13

Favourites of 2008: Kung Fu Panda (4/5), Wall·e (4.5/5), The Dark Knight (4.5/5)

Others:
Juno (3.5/5), 27 Dresses (2.5/5), Ironman (2.5/5), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (3/5), Wanted (3.5/5), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (3.5/5), The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (1/5), Sex in the City (3.5/5), How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (3/5), The Day the Earth Stood Still (1/5)

Books: 60

Favourite Read of 2008: Fred and Edie - Jill Dawson

Other Picks: Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen, Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Hours - Michael Cunningham, Twilight - Stephenie Meyer, Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Piccoult, The Constant Princess - Philippa Gregory, Charlotte Gray - Sebastian Faulks, One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Godfather - Mario Puzo, Everything is Illuminated - Jonathan Safran Foer, People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks

Full list of 60 at ListsofBests.com

A day sailing on Sydney Harbour in the sunshine with my family. A day that will make it harder to go back to cold and grey London (in just a few days too *sob*).













More photos on Flickr.

This year on December 12th, Oscar turned six. Rather than buy him a birthday present, Andrew, Paddy and I decided to take Oscar out for a day of birthday fun. Annie told us that Oscar would have a better day if Leo was there, so Leo came along too. (Although, I think it may have had more to do with the alluring prospect of a CFD - Child Free Day - for Annie and Richie.)

And, what a day it was. We visited the Aquarium, then Wildlife World and afterwards we went for a ride on a little train around Darling Harbour.

We saw the aquariums newest additions, the dugongs. Andrew was a bit disappointed that there were no mermaids.

My favourite part of the Aquarium is the large aquarium at the very end. In a darkened room there is a very large window which looks into the aquarium. It's a pleasure just to sit there and watch the fish and the sharks swim by. Oscar and Leo's favourite part of the aquarium is the oceanarium with all the sharks. They love the sharks, though they also find them very scary.




In Wildlife World, they have a butterfly house at the very end. If you stand very still, the butterflies might pay you a visit, and land on an outstretched hand or even on your head for a little bit. Oscar liked the butterfly house too and was excited that 9 butterlies decided to rest on his hand for just a little bit. Leo never stood still enough for long enough for a butterfly to settle. I think Leo's favourite bit of Wildlife World was the phiders (phider is what Leo calls a spider.)

After the Aquarium and Wildlife World and the train ride we treated Oscar and Leo to an icecream cone. We were really suprised when both Oscar and Leo managed to eat the whole icecream. Then we sent the boys back to Annie and Richie loaded up with sugar. Having to deal with the aftermath of a sugar high, I think it was a reasonable fee for a CFD.




More photos on Flickr.