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)

The trick to Australian slang? Just add an "ie" or "oh" sound to the end of every word. That was Duncan's advice to Ian, his Canadian friend, on our camping trip last weekend. For example: "ie" sound - Barbie, Biccies, Brissie, Chewie, Esky, Greenie, Mozzie, Nuddy, Pokies, Sickie, Surfies... or "oh" sound - Bottle-o, Nasho, Rego, Smoko, Vego, Yobbo. Then, all you need to do is throw in a g'day mate, strewth and fair dinkum every now and again and you're talking like a dinky-di Aussie.

We were appalled when we discovered that Ian was yet to try a Tim Tam. We immediately rushed out and bought a packet of original Tim Tams. We gave Ian a lesson on Australia's favourite biscuit, which included a tutorial on the Tim Tam slammer.

Step 1: Bite off Corner Take a small bite to remove one corner of your Tim Tam.
Step 2: Bite off diagonally opposite corner Take another small bite and remove the corner which is diagonally opposite to the first corner.
Step 3: Slammin' time Using your Tim Tam as a straw, drink from your beverage (Coffee or Hot chocolate works best). Only drink for a few seconds, as your Tim Tam will begin to disintegrate. Quickly shove it in your mouth, and delight in the melty, chocolatey goodness.
Thanks to my wonderful model Sue (she took time out from her duties on the Price is Right for the tutorial *G*)

Happy Birthday Duncan. Hope you had a relaxing, fun-filled birthday camping trip. (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)

Last week, we went out to celebrate Duncan's birthday with dinner at Kingsleys Steak and Crab House. I'm going to place Kinglseys into the same category as Epoque, the Belgian Beer Café. It's the "I can't see what all the fuss is about" category. Andrew has pointed out that I'm not a beer drinker and this is why I can't fully appreciate these restaurants. Maybe it's time I learnt to drink beer. (photos)

Duncan shares a birthday with our absent, globe-trotting, friend, Natalie. Happy Birthday Natalie! We may have been out celebrating Duncan's birthday, but we were thinking about you the whole time, we promise *G*.