Roadtrip: Whitsunday Islands (camping in paradise)

November 5th, 2011 by alex

Early morning wakeup to board to Scamper out to the Whitsunday Islands.

Our own private taxi – the captain asked us if we were going to live on the island (I guess we had a lot of stuff…)

 Arriving at Whitehaven Beach!!!!!!!!!!! Words cannot describe how beautiful this island is.

“Where is your seat Mum?”

We camp in comfort when we have a boat to carry all our gear.

 The troops are exhausted! I think I’ll go sit on the beach…

 While the bubbie is still snoozing, we enjoy the crystal clear warm water.

 Happy, happy!

 She is awake and ready for some beach action!

 “How about we build a tidal pool to play in Dad?”

 Early evening walk up the beach

 Taken by our new German friends just as the party boat arrives to the island. We met Jerry and Anna who camped next to us, the poor young travellers had been dining on ramen noodles for weeks so we brought them into our camp and fed them a yummy dinner and breakfast before they had to go.

 Now off to explore the island and Hill inlet. I have never seen water so blue

 Page saw one her favorite things up close! A helicopter and she can even say the word now…

 After 12 km’s Page was still a trooper and loved playing with Dad’s hat

 I couldn’t resist painting Page’s toenails *Coral* while she slept – she woke and giggled at her new pretty toes…

Rainforest hike over to Chance Bay

 Page hangin’ with our Sydney friends Karl and Jenny

 Future boater 🙂

Roadtrip: The long haul from Yeppoon to Airlie Beach

November 4th, 2011 by alex

The only highway heading north in Queensland is only 2 lanes wide. If something goes wrong then you just have to wait.  People had been stopped on the highway for 6 hours due to a oil tanker crash, luckily we had a 4 wheel drive car and we were able to sneak onto the old highway and by pass miles and miles of cars to be third in line when the road finally opened. Good thing we weren’t in a hurry!

 Miles and miles and miles

 Nasty spill!

 We made it into Sarina Beach for a quick rest. The beach wasn’t at its best as the coral spawn was making it a bit stinky…

Roadtrip: Bundaberg and Yeppoon

November 4th, 2011 by alex

11 Peace Street in Bundaberg and Grandma Page’s home (our Page’s namesake)

 Give us a kiss love! Lovely lunch with Aunt Catherine and Uncle Frank in Bundy

 I finally get to see a kangaroo!

 Nuts

More nuts

Slightly aggressive wallaby

 Sunset back at the condo in Yeppoon

Little yoga sesh on the deck

Roadtrip: Noosa and Hervey Bay

November 4th, 2011 by alex

 

After spending 10 days in Brisbane and a short jaunt to Melbourne with just Brendan and myself (thanks Grandma and Grandpa!) , we were off on our Queensland Coast adventure. The plan was to visit some friends and family along the way up to the Whitsunday Islands. We had no plan, and decided to wing it each day.
First rest stop at Noosa Heads, a beautiful beach town a couple hours north of Brisbane. Brendan and Page found a tidal pool to play in and some seagulls to chase.

Next stop was at Eumundi to grab a meat pie and play at the kids park. Page loved going in an out of the toy trains.

Our final destination of day 1 was at Hervey Bay to visit dear friends Nel and Nifty at their new house. We did a short at the beach at sunset.

Page couldn’t help but find rocks to play on!

It may be illegal in Queensland…

A Day in the Life of a Gibson in Brisbane

October 23rd, 2011 by alex













Brissy Party

October 23rd, 2011 by brendan

The second instalment of our around-the-world-post-wedding-party landed in Brisbane on Saturday night. Again, like in Wisconsin, storm clouds threatened to make things interesting, but luckily they were all bark and no bite and we were able to have our party outdoors on a warm Brisbane night in my parent’s backyard.

Mum and Dad made huge effort to organise the venue, the caterers, chef, waitresses for us. All we had to do was to top up a bit of food and drink and put it together on the day.

Our menu:

Parmesan and anchovy palmiers
Reef fish and Moreton bay bug sausage rolls
Beef Wellington – eye fillet of beef rubbed with Dijon mustard
Layered pumpkin capsicum, zucchini frittata with cheese
Veal chipolatas with herb and garlic
Beef and caviar on pumpernickel
Mussel kebabs with walnut sauce
Goat cheese tartlets with cracked pepper and artichokes
Ratatouille tarts with feta in short crust pastry
Baby focaccia bread with prosciutto and cheese

Marinated chicken
Moreton Bay bugs
Sand crabs
Mud crab
Oysters
Prawns
Smoked ham

Cheese and fruit plate

Jodie’s sister Kristy made us a beautiful chocolate cake. The decorations were Golden Wattle and Red Roses, which are the floral emblems of Australia and the USA, respectively.

Who gave us a Laura Ashley throw?

October 22nd, 2011 by brendan

Thankyou all for your lovely presents. We have accounted for all of them except a Laura Ashley throw that didn’t have a card attached.

Who do you think gave it to us?

Meat Pies are a Girl’s Best Friend

October 13th, 2011 by brendan

And so are Pink Rosé Argyle diamonds.

Posted in Ball and Chain | Comments Off on Meat Pies are a Girl’s Best Friend

My loves!

October 6th, 2011 by alex

Now that the Festival is over, I am happy to be a wife and Mum again.

In one week we head to Oz for a month of family-time, wedding parties, and island hopping!!!!!

Then its back home to plan Festival 2012 – we just got the green-light today. It was a huge success, our team was amazing…

Here are a few of my favorite pix…

The real excitement in Palo Alto

October 3rd, 2011 by brendan

The real excitement in Palo Alto has not been the film festival this weekend.

What the people truly were anticipating was the harvesting of the Jerusalem Artichoke!

From a seedling it grew to over 3 metres high.

And gave us a bucket of produce, which went well with the creamed leek and prosciutto, sweet potato, and farmer’s market chicken tonight.

We is so gormett!

  1. Can we come to dinner tonight

    Comment by Anne Giibson — October 4, 2011 @ 12:14 am

  2. No

    Comment by brendan — October 10, 2011 @ 11:55 am