Jude and Ray

Melbourne Cup lunch at The Ravenswood Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:19:00 +0000

Ess & Ray, Shirl & Norm, Jude, Ann all went to the Ravenswood for a Melbourne Cup lunch. There were winners and losers but no tears! Lunch inside then a few drinks outside beside the river. A great day with great company.

Ray finally gets his "boat!"

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:19:00 +0000

Further pics

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:18:00 +0000

These pics are of the visit we had from Jude's sister Annette, bro-in-law Jock and niece Kirsty.

Top pic is at Point Walter and bottom one is lunch at Nino's in Mandurah.

A mish mash of photo's from family visit

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:52:00 +0000

Open house at Cooloongup and Kirsty at Rockingham beach

Ess (Jude's mum) had a win at the dogs!

Brunch in Freo

Ess, Ray, Annette, Jock and Kirsty in Mandurah.

Where does time go??????

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:23:00 +0000

We can't believe it is over 2 months since posting anything! So much has been going on and with work getting in the way of our social time, we have neglected our blog!!
We had a fantastic 9 day visit from Jude's sister Annette, Bro-in-law Jock and niece Kirsty from the US of A. Ray had leave for the entire time and Jude had to work for the first 4 days. The weather improved dramatically during their visit. September broke numerous records for the amount of rain and rainy days but it cleared up so that they only had one wet day. There were get togethers with numerous members of the family as well as friends stretching back to school days.
The other bit of very exciting news is that Ray's nephew Justin and his partner Jade are now the very proud parents of Alfie Jack Simmons who is the spitting image of his daddy!! We can't wait to meet Alfie when we go to the UK in March.
Ray celebrated his birthday yesterday as well as his one year anniversary since starting at the City of Melville. He received some lovely gifts and lots of good wishes from across the globe.

THE BIG 50!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:50:00 +0000

4th July and Jude is working a night shift!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Yes although we are in Oz, I would still like to have been off to celebrate the 4th July as we have family living in the good ole US of A!

Looking back through our previous posts I realised I neglected to mention celebrating our third wedding anniversary by going to Rottnest Island for the weekend. The weekend was actually organised by Ray's work social club but as it was a few days from our anniversary we decided to celebrate on the island. Ray had never been before and it was about 20yrs since I had been. We had a fantastic time and very little has changed which was great. The weather started off stormy but ended up blue skies and sunshine. We walked round parts of the island, caught the bus round other parts, ate some fantastic food, stayed in a top class room overlooking one of the many lakes on the island and just wished we could have stayed longer. We will go back for sure!! Check out the link to see what a fantastic place this and just where it is situated off the coast of WA.

Can you believe - One year in Australia!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:03:00 +0000

Yes, on Sunday 14th June we celebrated exactly one year since arriving in Perth. Wow, where has the time flown? It has been a fantastic year and we have accomplished so much - we have been very blessed. We both have great jobs, have managed to buy our own home, have tremendous friends and family and love the outdoor lifestyle Australia has to offer. We had a fantastic 3 wk visit from the kids who loved it as well. That is the only downside, not being able to see Rebecca, Ben, Kia, Carol and Malcolm and the rest of the family as well as our wonderful friends. Ray even manages to keep up with his beloved Chelsea via Foxtel and SBS - and since moving to our home has been able to watch it on the big theatre screen which makes him feel he is right there on the field with the rest of the team!!! He is still hoping for a boat - all things come to those who wait!

Other exciting news is that Rebecca and her Ben are engaged and expecting their first child together in December - we are so thrilled for them both and think they make a wonderful couple and Ben is great with Kia. Our Ben and girlfriend Claire moved into their own place a couple of months ago and are doing well in their jobs. Carol and Malcolm's son Justin and his partner Jade are also expecting their first child in September.

We are looking forward to some overseas visitors - Mary from the UK will be here for three weeks from July 26th. Annette, Jock and Kirsty will visit from the USA in September for 10 days.

We are in our new home!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:30:00 +0000

Well, we have certainly had a busy few weeks but we are now settled into our new pad - our home, not just a house - we feel so comfortable already and just love being able to potter and do bits and pieces to our home!! We have had visitors already - Jude's brother Wayne stayed Fri and Sat night and family friends Lynore and Peter stayed Sat night - it was lovely. Click on the pics to enlarge them.

Bushfire in our area!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:27:00 +0000

This weekend there was a rather nasty bushfire - about 4km from our house. We had ash and burnt gum leaves falling in the front and back garden and the smell of smoke was very strong and at times made you choke. Felt so sorry for those who had the fire come right up to their fence line, made us think again of those in the Victorian fires. This is the closest we ever want to get to a bush fire!!!

Our fun weekend in Perth and York

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:28:00 +0000

Friday night Ray and Jude went to Gloucester Park with friends Sue and Doug. We had a great night but didn't win a thing, the horses had the last laugh!! We stayed overnight at the Parmelia Hilton Hotel in Perth which was a real treat and very relaxing. The next day after a yummy breakfast we ended up driving to York which is the oldest inland town in Western Australia. The weather was beautiful and we strolled along the cobbled streets and went in and out of shops and museums. We then slowly made our way back home. A wonderful time had by us both.

Dim Sum with some not so dim friends!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:17:00 +0000

Half way through March - where did February go????

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:59:00 +0000

As the title says, where did February go to on this blog??? Well, it is down to some regular followers of this site that we realised we had let our busy lives overtake and not update!! Thanks to LDC repairs, its great to know someone cares!

As a follow on from January, Jude had her gallbladder surgery and is now fully recovered and back at work. Her mum and dad continue to be in good health and are enjoying making the most of every day. They have their regular activities of cards, bowls, knitting group and recently enjoyed outings to the Mandu rah Greyhound Races and at Burswood Casino where they had a very nice win. These being two places Ray and I have also attended in recent weeks.
February also saw us take to the beach for some fishing - Malcolm and Isla joined us on one trip and the boys caught enough fish for a lovely meal the next evening. Jude had a great lunch out at the Greenwood Hotel for Sue's birthday, while Ray went looking at boats that he can't afford to buy!!

Now to March where there is some very exciting news - we have put an offer to buy on a house which has been approved by the bank subject to valuation of the property. We don't foresee any problems there and if all goes according to plan, we shall have the keys to the new place by late April. We are both very excited about this development and about the house itself. I have included a couple of pics of it and when all is signed, sealed and delivered, will update with more.

DON'T FORGET, CLICK ON ALL PICS ON THIS PAGE AND THEY WILL ENLARGE.

January sunsets

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:41:00 +0000

January 2009 - No snow, but sun, sea and sharks!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:01:00 +0000

Here it is January 2009 already - where did 2008 go?? We are so blessed with all that we accomplished in 2008 and look forward to the challenges and adventures that await us in 2009. We are pleased to report that Jude's mum is now in good health after her operation, the cancer has not spread so there is no need for radiotherapy or chemotherapy. We pray that 2009 is a better year healthwise for both her mum and dad - they deserve it!! However it is not the end of hospitals as Jude fell ill over the festive season and is now awaiting surgery to have her gallbladder removed!!

We had a fantastic 3wk visit from Becky, Kia, Ben and Claire and their real Christmas gift to us was a lifetime of wonderful memories!! Ray still can't get his head around the fact that we have actually celebrated Christmas as there was no snow, wind, frost, drizzling rain or freezing temperatures!! Hence the reference to sun and sea - sadly there was also a fatal shark attack in our area a week ago - not far from where Becky and Ben had their surfing lessons - really brings it home to you just how fragile life is and we really don't know what is around the corner for all of us. So to all our precious friends and family spread throughout this amazing world of ours we wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR, enjoy and make the most of every day and every opportunity and love and laugh well xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

25th December, Ray's first Aussie Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:25:00 +0000

Last weekend B4 family fly back to UK :-(

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:58:00 +0000

And yet more......inc early Christmas Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:28:00 +0000

Further family frolics

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:04:00 +0000

Further family fun

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:04:00 +0000

Australian wildlife meets the family!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:11:00 +0000

UK Family invades Australia!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:46:00 +0000

Melbourne Cup lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:59:00 +0000

No, we did not pick a winner or finisher between us

- but we had a great time!!!

A weekend of speed and blessings!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:44:00 +0000

Last night saw us attend the opening of the new season of speedway at KwinanaMotorplex and we had a blast - it was fast and furious and we were so close to the action we were covered in mud and dirt as the cars went flying round the track. Then today we went into Freo for lunch and to attend the Blessing of the Fleet ceremony which marks a major milestone in 2008 – 60 years of celebrating the new fishing season. First introduced locally by Italian migrant fishermen in 1948, it’s become an important annual event for the port, combining culture and history in a day of fun. A gorgeous sunny day and what better way to spend it but in Fremantle people watching!!

October fun and frolics

noreply@blogger.com (Jude and Ray) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:57:00 +0000

Ray's nephew Jonny and girlfriend Sarah came & stayed for a few days after touring Asia for 4 months. They are on a round the world trip. They visited an aussie wildlife park, we all went whale watching off the coast of Fremantle and then had a meal at Outback Jacks in Freo where they tasted crocodile and kangaroo!!
NEWS ALERT - Ray now has a job with the City of Melville which he starts on the 14th Oct.