Mardi Gras in Sydney (Gay Pride Parade) March 1st - my first experience

Preparations....

Mobbed streets......barely dressed... ....or strangely dressed... ...short shorts...
Kikko, a Brazilian server at the party Nat and I attended
Nat.....over here....Earth to Nat....

Ran into Tim and James

James, Michael, Nat and I waiting for the parade to begin ...as is this cute puppy....

Friends from School

These photos are a bit late. I joined my friends from CATC at the Orbit Bar for some holiday cocktails. Let me introduce you:

Aissa (from Sweden) and Nina (from Germany). Nina finished the first part of the course and is now back in Germany. Linda (from France) and Satu (from Finland). Satu lives in Sydney with her husband and they gave birth to a baby girl just last week, named Maia.Me with Isabel (from Brazil), Rachel (from New Zealand) and AissaEbba (from Sweden) 360 degree views

Weekend Escape to the Gold Coast - January 25

We arrived at the wonderful Palazzo Versace Hotel....Had drinks with friends, Adam, Jeremy, Laura and Natalie, at the Sky Bar atop the Q1 - the world's tallest residential tower. Me and my guy.....Pete's artsy photo taken from inside the Skybar Great food.....
Hangin' by the pool....Jeremy and Adam havin' a laugh...

... as is Nat...Pete took more artsy photos through a wine glass...

Showing off my gold toes for the Gold COAST...

Jeremy's enjoying a fine wine...

I dare you to jump in
"Cheers!"

Another artsy photo by Pete

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

Enjoying the slopes at Whistler - January 2

Normally, it's a 3 hour drive up to Whistler from Vancouver, but Pete thought why waste precious time when we could instead take a heli ride.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

And snow it did! Every day. The snow was very deep and good practice for me.
I took a couple tumbles. One was down a double diamond. I decided I'm not quite ready for those yet. Got a bit bruised but survived. Another time, I sunk so deep into the snow, when Pete looked back, all he saw was an arm and leg sticking out. I wish I took a photo but.... the camera was in my pocket and I couldn't move. Pete had to pull me out. It was pretty funny.
Lunchtime!

No, those weren't all mine!
That's Pete in there somewhere...... Glued to his blackberry!
Friend, Cameron, was already at the resort so we met up with him.
More skiing.....
More amazing views....

In the distance is one of the bowls that we skiied down. We had to hike up a few feet which scared the living daylights out of me. "Don't look down.... don't look down...."
All things come to an end. Our flight back to Vancouver. Heavenly.....