2011 Water Ski Nationals

We arrived home late Tuesday night from Townsville after a week there for the 2011 Australian Water Ski Nationals. We had a really great time but just didn't get enough time to have a look around Townsville. We shared a house with two other families for the week - 6 adults and 7 kids!

It was our first time at Nationals and both Ryan and Emma learned a lot about serious competition. Ryan skied well enough to get a new tournament PB in slalom.

On Monday night we had the Presentation Night at Jupiters Casino which was attended by over 400 people. There was a fantastic fireworks display and the food was magnificent. All 8 states and territories of Australia were represented for the first time this year with NSW winning overall. There were many Australian records and PB's broken during the week so it was a very successful tournament for most competitors.

Ethan, Ryan, Deanna, Jayme (Under 17 Girls Slalom Champion!), Jenna, Emma and Brodie

The winning team from NSW

Winner!

Last weekend we were in sunny Port Macquarie at Stoney Park for the NSW/ACT Water Ski Titles. Ryan and Emma both competed and they skied well. On Saturday night we had the annual presentation night for the Malibu Series that they compete in during the season.

Ryan won the Most Improved Overall Skier Award which was presented to him by the gorgeous Sinead from Stoney Park. He was very pleased with himself because he has worked very hard on improving his skiing this season. The award also includes coaching sets from the experts at Stoney Park.

Ryan also won his division of jump for the series too. He's pictured here with Jayme (2nd), Timmy (World Overall Junior Water Ski Champion!!), Rabbit (World Junior Jump Champion and more recently winner of Women's Jump at Moomba!), and Jenna (3rd).

On Tuesday this week we're flying to Townsville for the Australian National Water Ski Championships, so I hope that there are no more earthquakes there!!

PS - Thanks to Liat for taking the photos of Ryan when my camera died before even getting to take one photo!

New Old Lounge!

I finally picked up my lounge from the upholsterers yesterday. I really love it and I think it still looks like it's from the 1940's era. Check out the old lounge in my post here before it's makeover. It's more than 100% better than before!

I picked a striped velour fabric from Warwick called Brioni in Olive and a plain velour called Bond in Mocha. I think the lounge would've looked too stripey if I hadn't broken it up with the plain chocolate brown.

I also changed around the lounge/dining area so that the lounge is now against the wall and the dining table and chairs are in the bay window. This will save the fabric from fading after sitting in the sunny bay window. It's lovely to now sit at the dining table with the windows all around to look out at the surrounding farmlands.

Best Mates!

Squirt and Jack snoozing in the sun this morning!

A Taste of India!

Last night we had our very good friend Sue's 50th birthday party ( she's also Farmer Phil's cousin about 3 or 4 times removed, I think?!). The theme was "A Taste of India" so that meant we all had to dress up and the meal was beautiful Indian fare.

It didn't matter that the evening was held in a corrugated iron hall in a small country town - it looked like we had been transported to India! Mahatma Ghandi was even there!! We all had a great night and the hall was absolutely packed so that just showed how much we all think of Sue!

Sue in her beautiful sari.

This is Jenna, Emma, me and Carol dressed in our interpretation of Indian dress.