Here is a cute photo of Hamish and an action shot of lambykins. Thanks for sharing Sarah.

Well, hello there! Sorry I disappeared for a bit. This semester at uni I bit off more than I could chew. At the beginning of the year I signed up for 3 subjects (which is one more subject than a part time load). When I did that I forgot that I had still had a 2-week prac and a prac-related assignment to complete and two supplementary exams to sit. So, 7 assignments, 3 exams and one very stressed Jess later I'm all done for this semester. I have a little bit of a break before next semester starts and I'm planning to fill it doing stuff I love.

First up, I had some crafting to catch up on. Sarah and Duncan had a little boy, Hamish, in March. I was already 3 months late with my new bubba gift. For Hamish, I put together the following gift. It has some of my favourite new bubba stuff in it:

• Lambykins - one of my favourite things to sew for a new baby. Lambykins is very easy to put together but he is so cuddly. I must admit that I had a few cuddles here and there while I was stuffing him. I'm sorry Hamish, lambykins comes to you pre-cuddled and pre-loved (just a little bit).
  
  
• My Place by Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins - this was one of my favourite books while growing up. It is the story of a house in Sydney and the area around it as told by the children who lived there from 1988 back in time to 1788. Each decade has an accompanying map with lots of little tidbits. I used to spend hours poring over these maps. The book has great reread value. You discover something new everytime you read it. (Can you tell I'm a fan? I just used it for my latest English uni assignment.)
  
  
• Mr Messy onesie - an impulse buy. But seriously, what baby isn't a Mr / Lil Miss Messy?
  
  
• Giraffe wrap - I've sworn off wrapping paper. Although wrapping paper makes presents look awfully pretty I decided that it was very wasteful. The present is only wrapped for a little bit and then the paper is discarded after only one use. I've been looking for better things to wrap my presents in. For adults, I've been using tea towels (I brought about 50 tea towels home with us from our travels). For babies I decided to use swaddling wraps. Now I just have to come up with a solution for the in between ages. Any ideas?

ugh, sorry for the blurry photo. I only just finished lambykins before heading out to hang out with Sarah and Duncan (and the rest of the badgers). Unfortunately, it was late afternoon by this time and the light was not the best for photo taking.

On July 1st we celebrated Canada Day with our resident Canadians, Sarah and Duncan. Our Canada Day (or EhDay as Andrew and I like to call it) included a trip to Minus5, a plate of pancakes, bacon and maple syrup, some Kokanee and noodles from Wagamama.

Minus5 is one of Sydney's newer bars. Billed as the "Coolest Experience", it's a gimmick bar where everything is made from ice. The walls, bar, chairs and glasses are all made from ice. The place is dotted with ice sculptures: a Sydney Harbour Bridge, a Kangaroo, and a Maple Leaf especially for Canada Day. There is also a very funky ice chandelier. As protection from the cold, clientele are given big coats and gloves to wear. For ladies wearing inappropriate footwear, minus5 have ugg boots on hand. (Of course, both Sarah and I, wearing sensible shoes, didn't need to borrow stinky ugg boots.)

The entry fee of $30 includes thirty minutes in the bar and a free drink. They claim that it's too cold to spend more than thirty minutes inside, but I think they just want to cycle people through for maximum profit.

Is it worth the $30 price tag? I think the boys aptly described the "experience" as "thirty minutes in a meat locker". Yes it was different, yes it was kinda cool (hur-hur) but it certainly wasn't worth $1 a minute. Luckily we got a Canada Day discount and only paid $15 each (and Sarah and Duncan sneakily got in for free).

Happy Canada Day! Thanks to Sarah and Duncan for letting us tag along. We had a really neat time. (photos)

I am thankful for my hunky husband, my loving and supportive family and the great bunch of friends we hang out with. I am thankful that I live in a country where I have the right to express my opinion without fear of persecution. I am thankful that Andrew and I are both healthy, that we have clean drinking water and enough to eat everyday. I am thankful for a challenging job that stimulates my mind. I am thankful for my Thursday morning box class and Ultimate Frisbee. I am thankful for Tim Tams, the Natural Confectionary Company jellies and Diet V. I am thankful that the Car Rally will be over after this weekend. I am thankful that I have 10 cans of Rexona Musk in our bathroom cabinet. I am thankful for the beautiful view I'm treated to when I cross the Harbour Bridge on the train. I am thankful for raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... just kidding about that last one!

I am thankful to Sarah and Duncan who hosted a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner last weekend. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

J likes chicken	Before	After	threesome

Happy Eh Day, eh! What am I talking aboot? I'm talking aboot Canada Day, eh. Canada Day is celebrated on July 1^st and commemorates the creation of the Dominion of Canada. Last weekend, the two canucks in our midst, hosted a Canada Day party at their hoos. We spent our hard-earned loonies on a twofer and some KD. We drank beer or pop and ate Duncan's severed dicks and Nanaimo Bars. We had a really neat time. Thanks Sarah and Duncan for hosting such an awesome party. (photos)