Kiwi Scraps

I've been, I've conquered and now I'm back!!!
Kiwi Scraps in Sydney was great!!!!!!!. To tell the whole story is going to take me a while and if no-one can be bothered reading that's OK cuz this is 'my' story.
Robyn arrived on Thursday morning early and we waited for Kim and Linda to arrive. We heard a truck coming up the road - didn't realise that was Kimmie!!!! Not in a truck though but it sure sounded like it.
We struggled to get the luggage in but after pushing and re-organising finally made it. And off to the airport.
Got there safely, parked the car got out the luggage and of course had to have a few photos, which is very important for us scrappers to record the journey visually as well as in words. It was good to check in the luggage because it was sooo heavy. All those scrapbooking tools and things (I think it must have been all the adhesives I took!!!) weigh a heap.
We met Wendy S. at the airport although we did drive up behind her on the Tullamarine freeway and called her on her mobile to look out the back. There we were waving like idiots!
The plane was uneventful unless you can call Linda's brief lapse as she yelled out that she had been cheated because not only did she not get a window seat - there wasn't even a window there at all!!! Pretty funny!
Arrived in Sydney grabbed our luggage and got in a maxi-taxi to take all five of us to the Mecure Hotel about 8minutes away. Yep I really timed it!!! Nah, not really.
Checked in, which was a bit strange. We booked in May and yet they had us in the wrong kind of rooms. No, Robyn and I were not going into a smoking room and also not into a queen size room. They had one double room left. How can that happen when we booked in May and they confirmed the booking???
The hotel is really nice. The rooms very comfortable and the showers were great. When you learnt how to use them. I don't think Robyn appreciated me calling her early in the morning to advise me on how to turn the darn thing on.
The four of us decided to not waste the day and we headed of for the train. We went in several different directions trying to find it and it would have been a good idea to follow our initial instincts because that was the right way.
We took the train to Circular Quay and did the 'tourist thing' cameras and all. Of course!!! The bridge and the opera house. Then we took the Ferry to Manly. Mind you it was dark by then! We had dinner at a German Pub. Yummy fish. Then wandered the streets for a while before heading into Coles and buying enough supplies for breakfast and lunches for the next 3 days. Back on the Ferry and a taxi to the hotel.
Of course, lots of 'scrappers' were already there and a lot of familiar faces.
The classes with Ali Edwards were fantastic. I love her style as a creater of Art as well as a person. Very down to earth. Makes soooo much sense. Friendly, funny and a great teacher. She was sooo prepared. Colour copies of step-by step directions including photos. All three of her classes were great. I love what I made in each of them.
Donna Downey was a bit different. Very 'out there' personality. A lot of fun. She couldn't believe how chatty we Aussie women are in a class. She was a bit thrown by it at first, but then learnt that it wasn't a slight on her or her class....we just like to talk. The only way to get our attention was to shout out Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - and we did the OI, OI, OI, thing back. Then we knew we had to be quiet.
Her first class was in Robyn's words a bit of a 'downer'. It was very basic and finished in 1hr. This was very disappointing. It isn't even something I will use. I was a bit concerned about the other 2 classes of hers I had booked into. However, she came through with two great classes. So I was a happy girl!.
I didn't do any of Cathy Zielske's classes which I now regret. Everyone was so impressed and said they had learnt a lot from her.
I did meet her and we had a chat for a while....and of course the obligatory photos.
Robyn and I went to the Friday night Crop. That was madness. I don't think I would do it again. We sat at a table with Helen Williams who was real nice, and friendly. Also Karen from KKS who was also friendly. That was about it as far as friendliness went. It was very clickie (spelling??). and unless you were in a big group not much fun socially. Robyn got chosen to go and do the mystery class so I just stayed there and finished one of the class projects.
I actually felt sorry for the Kiwi Scraps people who were trying to make the evening interesting with some competitions etc., but people just would not shut up and show some respect by allowing them to talk. They had to yell above the din created. Didn't impress me one bit.
I think that there are too many 'big heads' in Australian Scrapbooking. A lot of 'elitist type' personalities who are basically a pain in the neck.
We were rather surprised on Friday evening as the four of us sat in the Hotel Restarant as very strange looking people started coming in for meals and generally wandering around the hotel. They were cross-dressers. Yikes!!!! We Melburnians are very sheltered from the 'weirdness' of life. The hotel was hosting a Crossdressers & Partners ball on Saturday night. So some of these yucky people were actually staying at the hotel and you would get in the lift and there would be 'one' in there.
Robyn and I got picked up by Marianne and Elly (my two sisters who live in Sydney) and we had some yummy pizza at Little Sicily. An ordinary looking place in a not so good neighbourhood. But boy can they make nice pizzas.
It was lovely to catch up with them and because by then I was pretty tired from three very full-on days I was just stupid. I laughed at everything and made stupid comments at or about everything. We had fun though.
I believe that Robyn has a bit of knowledge to blackmail me with now.
When we got back to the hotel the c/d's (weird people!) were milling around the hotel everywhere. We stayed around for a while then decided it was time for bed. But I wanted to watch a movie. So I payed 15.00 for a pathetic movie which I insisted on watching right through because I had payed for it. Robyn fell asleep after 5mts.
Last day in Sydney. Sunday and Linda and Kim had made up an itinerary for us for the day.
We checked out of the hotel and left our luggage there to collect later - booked a taxi to the rocks so we could check out the market there. It was a beautiful day - nice and warm. We wandered around there for a couple of hours then caught the bus to Centre Point.
We went up in the tiniest lift with Linda warning us she was going to have a panic attack (which she didn't) and came out to the most beautiful viewing deck.
360degree view of Sydney. Believe it or not we took lots of photos!!!
Then back down and we walked to Darling Harbour. Very much like our own Southbank but a lot bigger of course.
Big yachts and the rich and famous lounging around. Didn't see anyone famous though. Well at least not there, but we did see Kate Langebrook and Ian Chappel and some old guy who used to act a lot on the plane going to Sydney.
Back to Darling Harbour. We were all starving so stopped at a nice looking place and had a yummy lunch. I had a hamburger and then a chocolate tart for dessert. Very delicious.
We walked from one end of Darling Harbour around to the other end. I think I only took about 100 photos there. Pretty reasonable I think!!!
Now it was time to find a taxi and head back to the Hotel to get our luggage and to hop on the shuttle bus and head off to the Airport. Which, of course is exactly what we did.
Took a few photo ops whilst at the Airport. Couldn't find Linda and Kim when it was time to board - and they had left all they bags with us. What to do??? We went and asked if they could page 'the Mavis' but the girl was very dull and said we still have 62 people to board so just sit there and wait a minute or two.
The girls came running from afar when they realised that the plane had already boarded.
We were sooooo tired on the flight home we all dozed. It took an hour from when we landed until we got back to Kimmie's car. By then we were all soooo stupid! We laughed at everything it was soo funny. However, when a battery operated toothbrush is buzzing away in one girls suitcase (Kimmies) and in another Robyn's) there is a hairspray can shhssssing away it is pretty funny when you're tired.
The toothbrush buzzed all the way home! We took the scenic route home as well. We ended up in South Melbourne which is fine but nobody believed me. So, against my advise ( I have to stress that, cuz it wasn't my fault) we ended up going past the MCG and on to Punt Road. Can you believe that?
At last we got home at about 10:45PM. I had a fantastic 4 days. The highlights?????: Meeting Ali Edwards, Donna Downey and Cathy Zielske. Laughing heaps. Getting to Scrapbook - well sort of!, seeing more of Sydney than I had in past visits. Being with friends. Thanks girls I had a great time!!!
PS: Does anyone know if any of the Supermarkets have Pal dog food on special this week??? I've missed the junk mail!!!

Back at Last

I think it's been more than a month since I have updated my blog.
I have been very busy at work. Robbie was away of course and then poor Jodie got sick so between Sarah, Anita and myself we kept the ship (shop!) afloat succesfully. But I did work about double the hours for a couple of weeks and was just too wasted to start typing on my blog.
Then I got very focused on finishing all my class preparations for this current calendar. And now I have!!! I'm finished (for a while!)
So, now I have given myself permission to update my blog.
I am very disappointed though because I cannot report a dog food special at the moment. I have had to buy some cans (not many) at full price! That's a horrible thing to have to do!
I am very excited however (I certainly am a person of mixed emotions!) because tomorrow we head off to Sydney for Kiwi Scraps Convention. I'll be meeting Ali Edwards and Donna Downey and Cathy Zielske. And I guess anyone else who comes up and introduces themselves to me!
Kimmie,Robbie and I should have our Team Scraptacular tees ready that we can wear.
I can't believe how much I have to pack to go there. I have the biggest suitcase. I think I may have to rethink that one though and aim to do it all a bit differently.
Working with Sarah today. But I'm a bit excited so I don't know if I will be much good. Although I am teaching a Heritage class this morning. Thank goodness I wrote a bit of an instruction list for myself - otherwise who knows what the girls layouts will end up looking like.
So, that's it for now.
Next post will be a commentary and maybe some pics of the convention.
I am going to try to put up a picture of the online class that Sarah and Jodie and myself did with Kimmie as a practise run.