ANZAK BALL 07

Last week we had the annual ANZAK Ball here in Kuwait. its basically a night for all the Aussies and Kiwis to get together and have a few drinks bit of a dance and to pretend that we are not in Kuwait. Unfortunately our regular party goers Ted and Chris were off to Jordan and Mark and Mads dumped us for another party that night and all the others from our table last year have left the desert. So Loz and I managed to round up some new friends to enjoy the night with. Thankfully these days that's not to hard to do. We convinced some American Friends Nick and Jeremy to tag along as well as some Canadian friends Sam and Shawn. But then Jason the Kiwi piped up and was looking for a seat, so along with Americans Chris and Berdine we quickly filled up the table but only after we recruited Liana and her husband Nate as well as their friend Elizabeth. So all in all we had a good group and had plenty of laughs. From having the home made Beer explode under the table to Laurel's new sash accessories we managed to get a giggle in here and there. I was actually rather well behaved this year and did not drink too much., ( I think my night at Dala and Jason's put me off drinking for awhile) but I did have a fab night danced the night away with Loz and Regan and the 300 odd others that put their dancing shoes on for the biggest night in Kuwait!

Nick was just messing with his new camera and took a picture of me getting my hair done, although I think it was the best picture of me taken all night :)

Oh My GOD! Nick in a suit! His mother won't believe it.

The gang on Table 15!

The Lads! Jason, Chris, Shawn, Nick and Jeremy

The Girls! Berdine, Loz, Ali and Sam.

Now Laurel that Tie your wearing looks awfully familiar to the Sash that was around my chair??

We rode up in Kuwaiti Style. A limo with no AC, Perfect!

Meow!

Shawn I can tell by the look on your face your really Hot! hahaha I am sorry but i just can't get the AC to work!

Ali, Liana, Loz and Elizabeth

Reegs mate!

WOW! We found Air Force officer "Dale" Kerrigan. He was more than happy to have his picture taken despite the fact that he Dug a hole and it was filling with water. (OK you Aussies are the only ones that are going to get that!)

Shawn Stunned over how fantastic my beer is!

Nick! He's a Happy Boy!

LOOK OUT, Loz has her eye some New Zealand Lamb!

Awe, Shawn and Sam!

OK this isn't the greatest picture but its basically of a shit load of people jumping up and down on a dance floor, you get the idea!

Chris and Loz singing a great duet with their tie/microphone. Was a shame I couldn't hear them over the band I am sure it was a lovely Harmony!

A game of Chinese Whispers gets going.....

Jason, happy with the night?..or thinking of sheep? Who can tell?!

Jeremy Nick and Loz

I don't know what Nick did but Jeremy certainly isn't impressed that he missed out on a kiss from Loz!

2007 Dawn Service

ANZAC Dawn Service

Laurel and I made the effort this year to get up at 4am and make our way down to the Hilton for this years ANZAC dawn service. It was actually well worth the effort to get up because despite the dust and wind, (it wouldn't be a day in Kuwait with out that). The service was actually really beautiful and to the point. The speeches were short but brought home the importance of why we have an ANZAC day. Being an Aussie in a completely different country with completely different values and a way of life to the one we have back in Australia really brought home what a sacrifice our service men and women have made for us. Also Living so close to today's current war also made this years ANZAC day so important to me. So while we stood out there in the dust and as dawn slowly broke we paid our respects and honoured all of those who have fought and are fighting for our values and way of life.

After the service all of us crazy Aussies and Kiwis who live in this part of the world were treated to an awesome breakfast of Bacon and Bundy Rum!!! Yes indeedy it was well worth getting up! Was also a treat to meet and see some of our troops who are serving over here. Believe it or not but we never ever see them. Unless you work out on the Army Bases which Loz and I do not, you never see the Aussie troops. So was cool to meet some of them.

Any hoos below I have put some photos up of the service. I know really bad quality but it was so dusty was hard not to capture the dust!! All well at least you get an idea of what its like :) I have also posted up a video so you can see just how windy it was!

17 Months In Kuwait!

Yay, at last I have gotten around to updating my blog with some new pictures. I have been somewhat busy of late with work work and work. Unfortunately Maria who has been with us since September has had to return to Sweden due to her father being very ill. It was such a shame to lose her because not only was she great to work with but also she was a good friend and Laurel's girlfriend so we weren't happy to see her go however Family always comes first and I of all people know she needed to go. So since she has left we've been super busy. We were lucky enough to have Michelle join us on a part time biases as well so she has helped us out big time. She's also good fun as you will see in photos below. :)

We also have had to say good bye to our good friends Wayne and Vicky. They've been a big part of my life in Kuwait, especially last summer as they had a fantastic pool :) So it was sad to say good bye to them. But this is what its like here people come and go. Speaking of going I have decided to leave this lovely part of the world come September. Not sure where I am going next wait and see. However I have planned to head to Europe in June for holidays so might poke around there and see what happens.

Well other than that life has been chugging along as per usual here in the sand. We have the annual ANZAK ball coming up soon looking forward to that. Although won't make it as big as the night below...wow that was a good drinking session...anyhoos I will leave you to check out the pics below.

I shall be back in a few weeks with photos from the Ball so enjoy!

Another Party in Kuwait!

Well the party front has been rather busy of late in Kuwait, which has been great for the sanity. However after the last party I think I will need to slow down a little. My version of events was that we left the party we got home I went to bed...however Laurel and Nick later told me that no this was not the case hahhaha. After performing circus de olay in the back seat of the car (I don't know what that means but I think i was moving around a lot and I have a bruise on my head from smacking it against the door hahaha) Then I had to get Nick to basically carry me up the stairs. After this debacle I demanded that Nick serenade me to sleep to which I stripped my clothes off and then told him to go away hahahaha thankfully Nick is a Champ and was just laughing at me. After this I was luckily enough to make my way to the bathroom to have a big conversation with the toilet. From there I tried to have a shower were again I threw up. Oh god! Laurel was talking to me while all this was going on but I don't remember any of that. I woke up at 10am the next morning with no idea! hahahaha but what can you do when you get to drink REAL alcohol and REAL champagne. Oh god it was fantastic. And as long as I gave Loz and Nick a good laugh then hey its all good :)

Sam, me, Nick and Shawn

Guy Smiley Nick

Lozzy and Ali

The back end view of Dala's awesome bulldog Eldorado!

Loz doing her sniper phtotgraphy and taking pictures of random people...oh and Nick

Sam and Shawn the Sheep (tehehehehe)

Look out the sniper strikes again!

Maria this picture is for you. Nick holding up the chicken you loved so much last time we were at Dala's :)

Nick Strumming on the Guitar

Laurel in the Bathroom! (Don't ask!)

Nick Jamming!

The best live music scene in Kuwait!

Dunno who he is but looks like he is enjoying him self

Nickstar the Rock star

Hello Bunny!

Meow....

Wayne and Vicky's Going Away Party

Back in March our good friends Wayne and Vicky were lucky enough to get the hell out of Kuwait :) They have been here for around 8 years or something ridiculous like that so I guess they have done their time. Any hoos Wayne and Vicky and their two fab kids Nicholas and Gabby were heading back to Australia so we had to of course give them a send off. Ted was our wonderful host once again. So we congregated at his new apartment which is absolutely enormous for plenty of drinks and laughs.....

Maria, Loz and Michelle

All The Little Gym Gals!

Mark and Ted

Mark, Ali and Ted

The Three M's: Maria, Mark and Mads

Tehehehehe...These two are up to no good again I know it!

Awe.....The Champs

Mads and Maria

Loz and Maria

I am not sure what these two trouble makers are up to here....???

Ted and the slipper ooops I mean the dog
(I think Ted is trying to impersonate the dog actually??)

Cobbs and Kat

Don't ask what Laurel is doing I have know idea

MADS

Possums in the Headlights

Mark put that tongue away!

Mads and Kat

Loz and Ted!

Isabella and Ted

Loz and Isabella

Mark and the Girls!

Lucky Man Wayne!

Hello Puppy would you like a drink

One big happy Family.

Loz and Mark

The Gang on the couch!