First blog of 2008... better late than never!

It may already be April but better late than never for the first blog of 2008!
Here are a collection of pics from the months just gone including our trip back to Sydney, a weekend skiiing in Australia and a visit from the Don.

It's been a busy start to the year in all respects but life is good. The weather is finally warming up, daylight saving has begun, Gav's sister Lysh and her hubby Tim have arrived and are moving around the corner from us in London, and we have lots of visitors and Euro trips to look forward to in summer - so 2008 is looking good!

Drinks at the Opera Bar in Sydney. The sun decided to shine which was a bit of a treat as our 2 weeks back were pretty rainy and cloudy on the whole! Not cool after we were desperate to escape the long British winter!

One of the highlights of the trip home - seeing Em and Tom tie the knot. It was a very happy day. Em looked absolutely stunning and Tom looked fab too!

After all the talk we were keen to check out the new Shore Club in Manly. The combo of sea views, warm sea breeze, good drinks and great friends is definitely something we miss! Shared a cheeky cocktail there with the Dixons.

Was great to finally meet little James Fish. He's a pretty cool little guy and Clare is looking amazing as a new mum!

Lunch at The Bower.

Another big highlight of the trip was meeting our beautiful little baby niece, Amelia and of course catching up with her proud parents, Natalie and Matt. Big Uncle Gav makes her look very small!

Amelia at her christening with mum.

Managed to squeeze in a trip up to Copa and got to celebrate Warnsey's b'day with him.

Pre-wedding girls night out with Robbo.

Lunch at the Newport Arms with Em's parents and grandparents.

We were lucky enough to be treated to dinner at Tetsuyas for Merv's belated 60th. It was gud!

Gav went for a big bike ride with the boys. Starting at 5.30am in Manly to Etalong (near gosford), across to palmy on the ferry then back to manly! It was tough, especially after a late night at the opera bar the night before!

bit of off road riding...

waiting for the ferry

Onto our ski weekend in Austria....

The Austrian Ahlberg Alps were very pictureque and the snow was good. We stayed in a place called Lech and were able to ski both the resort of Lech and St Anton.

Trying to track down a bit of the fresh stuff.

Lunch on the mountain. Good schnitzel and beer!

The Austrians get really stuck into their apres-ski which makes for a great fun atmosphere and lots of singing, table-dancing and stein-drinking at about 4pm in the afternoon! It's crazy!

This is the way they serve and sell beer amongst the crowds outside the bar. This guy has to force his way through the crowds and actually take money/serve the beer while carrying this gigantic tray of drinks (Half litre steins, shots and gluwein!). Pretty bloody impressive!

Back to London... dinner out with the Don. I tried to find some other pics to post but they all involved too many bad blue steels and too many cocktails! Was really cool to spend some time with Kate in London.