AT MY BEST...: November 2013

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

8:00 PM

That feeling....

9:06 PM

You know that feeling you get when you give without expecting to receive? The warm fuzzy feeling you get right to your core?

That was us yesterday. The 9th annual i98fm Camp Quality Convoy.

We had a 3.30am alarm set to get up and ready to roll out to door. Destination - Cleary Bros yard at Albion Park.

On arrival at Cleary Bros depot, the convoy adrenalin started to kick in. Our first sight was all of the truck lined up in front of the sheds, two across. They all had headlights on, and were dimly lit by the workshop lights. The excitement and the joy in the voices could be heard from truck to truck, and the stirring started over the radios. Despite the wet weather we had had the night before, spirits were higher than high.

Names started being called over the radio, from the man on the ground, and trucks started moving towards the front gate in single file. This would be our travelling order for the day. While we waited for the last few truck to take their place at the end of the line, we jumped out and were in awe of how long the line was.

We were wished a great convoy and then we were on our way. This was at about 4.30am. Watching the night turn to day and travelling from Albion Park to the Appin Scout Camp gave some fantastic photo opportunities. This is one of the best parts of convoy. Travelling with a great group, who chatted on the radios, stereo pumping with i98fms trucking songs, and realising that the day had arrived and we were doing this once again. Doing it for all of those sick kids.

We lined up at the top and the waiting game started for the official 'Start your engines' call. Once that came over the radio, we were on our way. This is where the rain started to fall again. Knowing that it was so wet, we wondered how many people would actually come out and brave the rain. You could image our shock to find people everywhere. In cars, under tents, with ponchos, under umbrellas and just in t-shirts in the rain. Every possible place to park a car or stand and watch was taken on the route. The visibility at Bulli Tops wasn't great but improved as we got further down the mountain.

As we were positioned about half way in the pack, I used the 'big dipper' as the perfect spot to get a couple of fleet photos.

Coming down Mount Ousley and seeing that overpass with that many people on it in this crappy weather was where we knew we would be in for a great trip on the rest of the way to Croome Road.

We had to get a selfie in the truck while stopped at a set of lights. We were so lucky to have Lily with us as she was struck down with a bug the day before. Lily had never travelled in a truck for convoy, but had been a spectator for all of those years. We wanted to experience convoy with someone else, someone besides the two of us, through the eyes of someone new. I think Lil had a ball.

On the final stretch to the finish at Croome Road, and due to the rain we made the call not to go in. At the final roundabout we did a full 360 and headed back to the yard. A fair few of the truck with us did the same. It gave us the chance to drive against the convoy and experience for a brief moment what it would be like doing it back the whole way.

All in all we had a great day. We had one of those selfless days. One of those days where a wave or a smile makes the biggest different to a total stranger. Where as a community we all come together as one. Where we know that every cent raised stays in our own community, helping our own families. A day where we are proud to be part of something so much bigger than just us.

Bring on the 10th anniversary in 2014.

My Life

What I'm doing this weekend...

7:21 AM

Cards

Time for a quick card

7:00 AM

New York City

Honeymoon - New York City, New York, USA - Day 7

7:33 PM

Day 7 saw our second full day in New York City. After spending time on the sight seeing bus the day before, we had decided that we would hit up Soho. I was desperate to head to the Converse store so that I could get my hands on some cheep and funky shoes that we cant get here (The US Converse site will not ship to Australia).

We caught a cab down with a great driver who was happy to chat, and point us in the right direction for what we wanted to look at.

First stop was breakfast at the SOHO Cafe, with the cafe kitchen and counter on the ground floor and the dining area down a level. This was there idea of eggs on toast which just made us laugh!

As we made a direct line towards the Converse store, I saw this clothing shop a couple of doors up, with all of these old sewing machines on both sides of the entrance. It was such a beautiful touch and got me in the door, even if only for a couple of photos.

Next stop Converse..... Now I was in heaven! The music was pumping, the store was full of people, there were walls lined with shoes, and a design your own area. This included adding graphics to the sides, choosing colours and designs, and the turn around time was fast.

And there was no way I was ever going to resist a photo of the American Flag made with shoes!! I walked out of there with one new pair of shoes (and later bought another pair at a shoe sale).

We then started to wander the streets and found Yellow Rat Bastard. This place was fantastic. So much selection for everyone and some very obscure brands that aren't always easy to find.

We had been told to stop in and check out the Pearl River Mart. A haven for Asian foods, clothes and home wares. We didn't stop for that stuff though. We headed straight to the back of the shop to look at the beautiful wooden bird cages.

We made it to Houston Street and started walking back. We decided to explore the city a bit by foot before catching a cab - Looking back through Soho.

Street Art at Canal Street. We love you Soho.

We found ourselves wandering around the NYC University area, then into Washington Square Park.

Washington Square Park is another beautiful space in such a packed city. Its proof that NYC has been so well planned out. On the street out through the arch were some markets. We wandered and looked and took in the beautiful food smells, to come across a stall with old mounted photo prints. A lot of them were from the NY subway during the 1970's and early 1980's. Upon talking to the man selling them, we found out that he is an ex Marine, who had a very strong passion for photography. He used to travel the subway and get as many people photos as possible. On the flip side, he was also very interested in what type of camera I had and what subjects I like to shoot. I purchased a print from the railway tracks looking at Conney Island taken in the early 1980's and it is fantastic. The only disappointment is that I didn't get a photo with him or even stop to get his name. Meeting him was a highlight for me as I really needed the boost in my photography around about then. He was an unexpected find!

This was a must on my NYC list this trip, and after spotting the store on the bus trip, I knew where it was and would find my way back. The Ink Pad on Seventh Ave was full to the brim of stamps and paper craft supplies. It was great just to check it out and the ladies were chatty and joking... especially the laughs about washi tape.

My gorgeous sister in law was in NYC at the same time as us so we organised a catch up. We met at Dylan's Candy Store (recently seen in the remake of the movie Arthur). This photo only shows a tiny bit of the ground level. There are two other levels to this store and well worth the visit even if it is just to look at the stairs.

From here we headed off towards a pub for a drink then on to dinner. You know those moments when someone starts tell you about a place, and with very little information, you just know exactly which one it is... This was one of those scenarios. The doorman at Lucys hotel had given her the name and address to a Mexican restaurant within walking distance of Dylan's. Once I heard the address on Third Ave, I knew it was the Mexican restaurant that we had fallen in love with on our last visit. Sure enough, once we got to the address it was the exact same one... Dos Caminos. We love the food here and the atmosphere of the restaurant makes it.

NYC Tip: When heading to the bathroom in a decent restaurant, have a couple of singles in your pocket to tip the bathroom attendant.

We finished up at dinner and found another pub a couple more blocks down, where we had a few more drinks and chatted and relaxed in the middle of one of the busiest cities on earth.

After the cab dropping us off in Time Square we said bye to Lucy. We wandered and checked out the lights (a nightly ritual when staying in the Time Square precinct), but it was certainly more fun after a few drinks!

One last stop on the way back to our hotel was a corner shop for a couple of bottles of water and soft drink. We also picked up a couple of snickers ice-creams to end the night on, kicking back and chilling out in our room.

There is more from New York City to come!

New York City

Honeymoon - New York City, New York, USA - Day 6

8:00 PM

WARNING - This one is going to a long one, with many photos but I think well worth the read!

Our first full day in the gorgeous New York City we hit the ground running. That of course started with a good old McDonald's breakfast. The only difference, this one was in Times Square, and nothing there is done by halves. These photos are of the artwork on the walls of the second story dining area.... Just amazing. And yes I am one of 'those' people that eat McDonald's and have water to drink!

Then it was out into Times Square and the Lego X-Wing display. This is a replica X-Wing fighter from Star Wars... Made entirely from pieces of Lego. You could sit in it and all. This display included all of the main characters at full size in Lego too (including Yoda wearing an I heart NY t-shirt)!

After previous experience, we decided the best and cheapest way to see NYC was to purchase a couple day pass for one of the 'hop on, hop off' buses. And being Memorial Day weekend, our pass was extended for another day at no extra cost. Here is a quick shot of the US Postal Office in Manhattan (which takes up an entire block), taken from the top deck of the bus!

NYC Tip: There are several companies that run the hop on, hop off tours. You will see the staff standing around the streets of Time Square. Don't just take the first one you see. Shop between them and make sure you get the best deal.

With the weather looking horrible, we jumped off the bus and hit up Macys for a couple of wet weather jackets. One thing that has always made me laugh was that on each level of Macys there is a food area, such as this. Levis on one side, Ben & Jerry's on the other!!

Macys is such a beautiful old building.

The Flatiron Building and the view ahead of Freedom Tower (World Trade 1) close to completion.

This photo is amazing but saddening at the same time. This building was a hospital, and I say 'was' as it is in the process of being torn down as it had gone broke. Yes this is a fact of everyday life, especially when the land is so valuable. The sad aspect to this is that not only was this the hospital that took all the worst case injuries from September 11, but it was also the hospital all of the survivors from the Titanic were taken to upon reaching land. I am so glad I got to see this building, but so sad that it is coming down.... I wonder it if was haunted?!

Some of the buildings around Greenwich Village

A view from under the FDR at Pier 11 and beautiful Brooklyn in the background.

Soho

More of the beautiful architecture around the city.

We jumped off the bus again at Chinatown in search of the every shrinking Little Italy. We wanted to head that way for lunch. And can I say ever shrinking is an understatement. If you blinked you may have missed it, with Chinatown taking over. We found a beautiful old restaurant that was family owned and have been for over 40 years.

We ordered a Peperoni Pizza, a carafe of red wine (who wouldn't with lunch while on holidays) for lunch. I did make us try Mozzarella Sticks.... Yummmm

As it was pouring with rain we headed back to the bus stop to hop back on and make our way up town. Very few of these buses have seats down stairs under cover, so as you can imagine, the ones that did were full! We eventually hailed a cab who advised us that he wouldn't go as far as Time Square and drove off. We were left with the last alternative... getting on the bus and sitting up stairs in the pouring rain. It wasn't a whole lot of fun as told by the photo below taken 1 stop before we got off, but a travel story to come home with! I believe at this point I was asked if we ever have to come back to New York City ever again!

No NYC holiday is complete without a visit to M&M World. A whole 3 stories of M&Ms! This is a must for us as we try all of the new lines that will eventually make their ways to our shelves. This time it was Raspberry, Pretzel and Peanut Butter M&Ms. I always buy a new pair of pjs from here and have a ball with it as it is all mix and match! This years were a bit more funky than last time and oh so comfy! M&M World is open between 10am and midnight (I think).

And an Applebys dinner...

NYC TIP: Word of warning to anyone eating in the Time Square precincts: The gratuity (17%) is automatically added to the invoice in this area. This happens as it is a tourist mecca and a lot of nationalities are not accustom to tipping. The down side to this..... THE SERVICE WAS PATHETIC as they already know they are guaranteed the 17% tip. Our waitress was never to be seen.

The only restaurant in the Time Square precinct that wasn't automatically adding gratuity was TGI Fridays (and the service was fantastic).

Phew, that was a long one.... There is so much to see and do in NYC so, so many photos to share. I will be back with Day 7 soon.

AT MY BEST...

USA Capture Album - Post #1

Lily turns 13

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

That feeling....

What I'm doing this weekend...

Time for a quick card

Honeymoon - New York City, New York, USA - Day 7

Honeymoon - New York City, New York, USA - Day 6

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