Family Here for the Holidays

Well, it's Monday again. Ray and I both headed back to work today. Over our break W24 was sold, and it was unsure what I would actually be doing today. Well, the answer was nothing. A moving truck is coming on Wednesday morning, but the boxes had already been packed, and just needed to be moved to the warehouse. Tomorrow, there is even a smaller amount of work to do. They talk about just paying us out to the end of our contract and sending us home. I would be okay with that, but I sense some jealousy from Ray because I will get to lay in bed while he gets up early, and then I'll move to the couch while he is busting his butt trying to finish up projects before he heads home at the end of February. Even though work is even busier than before, I still find him enjoying what he has been brought here to do.
I'm sure many of you are anxious to hear about our time with Ray's parents. They had an adventurous plane trip both here and on their way home-being delayed in Vancouver for 12 hours on their way here, and delayed 2.5 hours in Sydney, causing them to miss their connecting flight on the way home. But they were troopers and were all smiles when they arrived here at midnight on Tuesday evening.
Wednesday, the 24th, Ray and I still had to work so we sent his parents to Featherdale Wildlife park to pet the kangaroo and get their picture taken with a Koala. At night we took them to Hog's Breath Cafe for dinner. They serve good ol' American food here, and we thought this would break them in quickly to the Aussie lifestyle-actually it was one of the few restaurants that were actually opened. We came home to enjoy a few presents before going to bed.
On Christmas day we went to Taronga Zoo along with everyone else. The zoo is so large that it did not feel that busy. The weather was great, and after we enjoyed the animals and the scenery we did the Manly Ferry ride before heading to Darling Harbor for dinner. Dinner was at Nick's seafood restaurant where Ray and his dad enjoyed a seafood platter for two. This fulfilled one of Ray's 'wishes' while he was here.
Friday was another fun-filled day in the Blue Mountains. Ray and I's day was very similar to the one we had with Amanda-Govette's Leap, the railway car, the cable car, a small hike, Echo point, and the national park to see the Kangaroos. We headed home on-time and ate Tacos at the apartment.
Saturday we went back into Sydney to do the 'touristy' stuff. We visited Bondi beach and had lunch at the "Bite Me" Cafe. We walked a little ways on the coastal walk before heading back to the Rock's Markets, Lord Nelsons, and the Opera House tour. We then went to the Summit once more for dinner. It was just as good as the first time Ray and I were there. Unfortunately, that evening was cloudy and it was not the same ambiance that Ray and I experienced the first time we were there, but nevertheless the company and the food was very enjoyable.
Sunday, we took the Prins' to Hillsong church. Ray's mom described it as a "youth rally every Sunday." After church we went to the Parklea markets so that mom Prins could buy her souvenirs. She filled a basket-full before we headed to the mall to do a little more shopping. Ray and eventually left and went home to rest, and they stayed there for another three hours! That evening they got to experience Trelinni's Pizza-one of our favorite pizza restaurants we found down here. Ray and his folks devoured the Chicken Avocado, and pecked away at my Margarita Pizza with chicken.
Monday we made a trip to New Castle, first stopping in Hunter Valley to do a little wine tasting. We went to two winery's before a storm came, and we found ourselves eating lunch in a car under a canopy avoiding the hail. Our accommodations were very nice in New Castle. New Castle was a good starting point for our trip down the Northern Beaches on Tuesday.
After a free breakfast on Tuesday morning we started driving, stopping at the main beaches eating fairy floss (cotton candy) and ice cream a long the way! Our final stop was in Seaforth, for dinner at Rick's place (Ray's boss). His house is on the water, with a gorgeous view. We had to take a cart down the side of the cliff to first get to his house from the road, and then another cart to get from his house to the water's edge where we had dinner. Brian (the VP) also joined us for dinner. The evening was pleasant with good food and company.
Wednesday we slept in because we had a late night on Tuesday. Ray's mom laid out by the pool for a little while in the afternoon, the rest of us just mozied around the apartment, anticipating our evening on the Sydney Harbor.
This evening was spectacular. Amway provided the transportation, the boat, food, and the drinks to help celebrate the New Year. This is one New Year's that none of us Prins' will ever forget. The fireworks were amazing, and to think we were in Sydney where 100,000 fireworks were set-off on the bridge, barges, and on rooftops. The fireworks glazed the skies, and flowed from the bridge like a waterfall. During the break between the 9pm and 12am fireworks, our boat took part in the parade of lights, made up of 55 boats lit up with a sea creation on the sides of their boats. We were able to cruise the harbor, rather than stay in one stop for the remainder of the evening. Unfortunately, all of our pictures have a jellyfish in them from the boat in front of us. It was great having a bus, so we did not have to worry about transportation. We arrived home around 2:30am, and were quickly to bed.
We all slept in again on Thursday morning. Once we were up and about we went to Palm Beach for the afternoon to relax. That evening we went to a little family Italian/Seafood Restaurant down the road from our apartment. It was quite tasty.
Friday, the adventure was complete having to leave for the airport at 8am. We heard later that Ray's parents did not arrive home until around 4:30am on Saturday.
So, there's to another adventure down under!