Hip Hip Hooray - it's Peppers Bale!

Well Groover's I am officially 9 years old! And loving it.....

And I have to say that I probably had one of the best birthdays EVER! You know people are always complaining about Facebook, with privacy and all that, but you know what? For me it has brought me many hours of entertainment, it's supported me during both the good and bad times in my life and yesterday it showered me with so much love from all of you kids, that took the time to wish me a very happy birthday!

I had some lovely comments, texts and great pics posted that made me LOL (thanks Deb!).

Andddddd I scored not to bad in the gift department as mentioned in last nights blog!

So yesterday I packed my Lotions & Potions, said goodbye to Baby Jake and Em Lou and off I headed to Kingscliff, with the Radio a blaring and me singing some damn fine tunes :)

Now I was running a tad late and the lovely Barb had checked in for us and when I arrived I found this:

which turned into this!

Which was soooo lovely, thank you Barb :)

Now all the way down, could have been that fantastic singing... who knows BUT I was craving a Toblerone Cocktail and Tapas Platter (as you do) and so off we went to the main Peppers Bar and Pool Area.

And excuse me but what a magnificent day it was! Not only was I turning 9 but the Gold Coast (about an hour south of Brisbane) won the Commonwealth Games bid for 2018, whichhhhh will be here before we even know it!

And then it was time to celebrate with Cocktails & food!

Then it was time for a swim.... Barb said and I quote "it was the best pool entrance of her whole entire life!" anddddd I have to agree, it was simply divine!

So we swam, caught some rays and had a lovely spa and then it was time to head back to our Holiday Pad for a little baby nana nap for the 9yo! (it's tough being 9, let's face it!) andddddd then when I awoke looking not a day over 6 may I just say, we got ready and went to pick up my friend Alan from work who lives down this way!

Met his very cute dog Elly & Son! :) (is 16 too old? hahaha) only joking... I AM!!! And off we went back to our Holiday Pad to show Alan around!

Andddddddd I got this from the very thoughtful Alan! (who wrapped it himself may I just add!)

And walla! it turned into THIS!

I knowwwwwww how beautiful! Thanks Alan you are such a good kid! :)

Then it was time to meet Emily and Lucan at our favourite Thai Rest in Kingscliff! We go there every year, it's called The Red Hot Thai.

Go check out their Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Hot-Thai-Cafe/152865598078952

And it is amazing! I can tell you that all my friends LOVE THAT PLACE and could eat there every night if they could. I have even had friends drive down to Kingscliff for the day JUST TO HAVE A MEAL there as they are craving it soooo much! And I won't mention any names buttttttt it has also been known to have a star or two visit, who the same as my friends, when they arrive in the country it's virtually the first thing they do, is eat there! (and NO it's not The Morley Report Groover hehehe) orrrrr as a good friend of mine said yesterday "Queen of the Groovers" which I thought was cute!

We had a grand night with lots of food, wine and yessssss there were a few Rum and Cokes! Then we all came back to "The Holiday Pad" for a couple more drinks and after lots of laughter (Alan, Alan, Alan...) and NO it's not what you think buttttt you need to check this out! It cracked us up all night!

Walk on the Wild Side - Alan

But be warned YOU WILL PEE YOUR PANTS!

So Emily & Lucan went home, Barb went to Bed and poor Alan was left with me at the laptop as I preceded to share some Morley Stories.... Not sure if during this time he fell asleep but I kept going with my stories cause that's how I roll! hehehe.

So I woke Alan up and he went home and then I did my Morley Report for you kids and thennnnnnn I hit my lovely divine bed! Had the best nights sleep, had a sleep in too this morning! Gotta love when that happens.

And after some late breakfast on our balcony overlooking Central Park (which is what they call it at Salt) we watched some Car Club boys and their cars have a gathering, which of course did nothing for me (the cars that is, not the boys!) and so I thought for some of you kids you might like to see!

I also spotted some young boys (somehow they caught my eye!) thanks to Barbs help! hehe playing Boche in the park!

So after all our "sightseeing" we headed back to our pool! And what started out as a very cloudy day ended up being a magic one :)

And of course this called for Hot Chips and icy cold Lemon Lime & Bitters!

There is just something about lazing around in the sun that makes you tired! Well that and maybe the previous nights festivities + a few rum and cokes! Oh that reminds me, don't you just hate it when you wake up in the morning with a sore throat from "Drunk Snoring!".....

Anddddddd it was time for this little 9yo to have her afternoon nap! Ahhhh bliss.

Then when I did wake up there was a storm a brewing....

Currently as I am typing this on the balcony there is a thunderstorm approaching and its raining... ahhhhh.

Barb just said she doesn't want to go back to her normal life! And I agree! It's just way to nice!

Well Groover's time to hit the road. Barb has brought down the DVD Bridesmaids as she hasn't seen it! I knowwwwwwww she is in for a treat and I am looking forward to seeing it again! I describe it like a train wreck! You don't want to watch but you just can't turn your head away hehehe.

Night

Me xxx

Karen it’s your birthday. Happy Birthday Karennnnn

Well Groover’s there is no beating about the bush… it is in fact my 45th Birthday TODAY! Or as I like to say I’m really only turning 9, because you just add the 4+5 = 9 ☺

But let me take you down good old Morley Memory Lane through a few of little Karen Cheryl’s birthdays...

Here are couple of pics of “The Birthday Girl” that I have recently come across.

I'm the one with the teddy bear!

As mentioned in a recent blog prob the very first vague memory that I have of my own birthday would be a party we had when I was around 4/5 and my Mum made those very cute pink iced Arrowroot biscuits with lollies to form faces.

I was never one to have many birthday parties when I was younger. There was this one when I was around 10. It's not the best and a bit blurry....

And only just the other day I had a text from an old school friend who actually got the date wrong (by a week) wishing me a Happy Birthday, and had remembered that when I turned 13 both her and I went into the city (in Brisbane) on our very first “big grown up” trip without parents to go see a movie. Which movie I hear you ask? The Amityville Horror.

Now to this day I hate horror movies and I do remember reading the book on The Amityville Horror, as I read this book when we were on holidays down the Gold Coast and do you know that I could only read that book during the day with people around me! It freaked me out big time!

On a side note, just to show you how much of a sook I am. When Jake was younger maybe 10 we were watching “I Know What You Did Last Summer” on TV. Well when I say watching it I mean I had my hands over my face saying to Jake, what’s happening? What’s happening? I can’t lookkkkkkkkkk. Then I look over at him and Jake has his eyes covered TOO! So we decided to tape it on our video and watch it the next day in the daytime! What can I say, I’m still very much the same although Jake is a lot better now watching them! Well to a degree...

Now back to birthdays:

I did have a small 18th birthday party that my then boyfriend (soon to be ex-husband) threw me.

Check out the outfit! I knowwwwwww - but a friend made it for me so I had to wear it!!!

Another birthday when I turned 20, on that very same day, I left on my first ever Cruise on the Fairstar Ship with P&O - 14 days of sooo much fun and laughter…. Now the birthday itself was a bit sad as that night I was missing my boyfriend, the people I kinda knew on the cruise I found out were boring, the ship was rough and I thought I was going to die aka Poseidon Adventure movie style and that night in bed I decided that at the first port (in 5 days’ time) I would fly home. I didn’t care how much it cost.

But someone was looking out for me as I made friends with the girl in my cabin and all of her friends. So we changed my restaurant (so I didn’t sit with the boring acquaintances) and at the new restaurant at the new dining time I got to sit with some wonderful “new friends” and from that moment on I wasn’t going anywhere ☺ I had the best holiday and to this day I have fond memories of this time, in my 20th year!

When I got engaged just before I turned 21, a decision was made that there would be no 21st party for me as we were also getting married two months later in the following January!

The next thing I can remember was when I was turning 30 and my friend Elaine threw a small party and this was during my “too poor to have a camera” days, so I am afraid there are no pics. Now this may be a good thing! LOL

And when I had a birthday turning 39 my amazing friends Jo and Al surprised me with announcing they would pay for me to fly to LA and Las Vegas to see our friend Michael Buble in concert! I was def a happy chappie that night and even cried when they told me!

When I turned the big 4 0! I decided to throw a party and invite friends from all over the years. It was such a great night and so amazing to see everyone in the same room! ☺

Over the last so many years I have taken my birthday off from work on Annual Leave. You know kinda a present to me for being such a good girl during the year! Or so I tell myself..

I’ve been at Club Med Lindeman Island, at The Mantra and Peppers Resorts at Salt, Kingscliff so many times I have lost count...

And I have one good friend that I have known since High School who celebrates his birthday on the 13th November, a day after mine! And I know this is a sad "blonde moment" but it wasn't until we turned 40 that I realised - get this one! Thattttt he and I were in the same babies room in the Royal Brisbane Hospital when we were born. I am a day older so I always say that I showed him the ropes on how the Babies Room worked.... because I was the more experienced one! LOL

Here we are at Xmas Drinks from the last two years!

And this now brings us up to date and to today!

This year’s little Birthday Adventure is a week longs holiday at Peppers Bale at Salt in Kingscliff. Many years ago I stayed here at the same resort, but back then a friend paid for the three nights and it cost a pretty $750 per night for a 3 bedroom apartment!! And we stayed 3 nights back then.

And I loved it soooo much that I really wanted to stay another time, so it then went onto my “Bucket List”. But I never ever thought that I would be able to afford to go back and stay. And then last year I came across an amazing rate and here we are!

So today is the first day of my holiday. Ahhhhh I can smell the ocean, hear the ocean and I have the most amazing pool & spa to spend my week in.

Now Groover's I have had the most amazing birthday this year! :)

Last year it was a different story, I was very sad, stressed and grieving for my Grandad who had only recently passed away. But today I find myself in such a better place. Surrounded by all of you guys that take the time out to read my Morley Report and who have sent me such lovely Birthday Wishes, by text, Facebook, & Twitter.

I even went out to dinner tonight with my friends Emily, Lucan, Alan and Barb and had the best time!! :) (hence why this late tonight... Oops!)

You know what Groover’s? I kinda like my 9th birthday present to me this year! ☺

So on that note I best be off! I gotta catch me some beauty sleep!

Love

The Birthday Girl xxx

Get ready to rock out, with your...

Howdy-how ladies and gents… and everybody not fitting that bill.

Being an avid reader on The Morley Report it means you either know Mumma D in RL (real life) or you’ve had the unfortunate luck of stumbling across this page on the interwebs.

If it is the former, well you know as well as I do that we are permanently stuck in the vortex of chatter, known as Kazza Chezza. If you are new to the phenomenon, I urge you to escape while you can.

I think this is a good chance to chime in with my two cents, seeing as though I am often the target of many jokes and stories. Of recent times I believe there has been publication suggesting of my cavorting with a harem of Latina cleaners, well maybe I’m adlibbing slightly.

While I am still yet to confirm or deny this suggestion, it should be noted how much of a developed concept can be garnered simply from my absence at 9pm on a weeknight. I fear this is telling of my tendency to be a bit of a homebody, or if you’d prefer to be less PC (politically correct), a loner. Maybe I need to find more things to do during the week.

Now I do have one gripe I would like to share about this Morley Report, a topic which I don’t believe Mum has fully disclosed. SHE ISN’T ACTUALLY A MORLEY!! I don’t have anything against her using the name, per se, but I do think it is worth mentioning.

I have one more week remaining at my work (Bunzl Outsourcing Services) and then have a few mini adventures planned for the rest of October. It will definitely be sad to leave Bunzl, having been there for over four years, but I am really excited about the prospect too. Hopefully I wont be out of work for too long and will find something new and exciting to do with my days.

So I am on the cusp of turning 21 (Monday), and have a big adventure planned for the weekend. Partying up big on Kangaroo Pt, which is just down river from the central part of Brisbane City. I also have a big surprise planned which even mum doesn't know anything about. But I'm sure you will here more on that in the coming days.

I'll leave it there and try and publish this thing.

Mother Dearest (full wording of the moniker Mumma D), is sick and was in bed before I got home from work. She should be fighting fit tomorrow, so I'll look forward to any rebuttal she has on my remarks.

Adiós mis Amigos (Goodbye my Friends)

Jakeysam

Birthdays and Sea Changes....

Well Groover's first of all I would like to wish my Grandad, who had he been alive and still with us, would have turned 93 today! So a very Happy 93rd Birthday!

He was so excited when he turned 90. He always said that he didn't want to beat his Mum who had made it to 91, but he did! Then he made another goal to live to 95 (I think).

You know this is when I miss him the most. When I forget stuff and normally I would ask him and HE WOULD REMEMBER!!! Even though he thought his brain was getting tired, I would say are you kidding! You remember stuff that I don't know and I am lots younger!!!

Last year I was still I guess grieving but this year was sooo much better. I am sure he had a wonderful birthday with Nana and all the family in heaven! :)

Birthdays are funny things. I can remember just wanting to turn 17 so I could get my drivers license so I could zoom around and be independent. But then as you get older, well it's just a normal day.

One memory I do have from my childhood was a party I had when I was say maybe 4. My Mum made this special biscuits. They were Arnott's Arrowroot Biscuits with a smooth pink icing on the back and faces made from lollies. I thought I was soooo special to have them at my birthday party.

They looked a little like this:

Those were the days...... Life was just more simple wasn't it. Do you have any fond memories from birthdays when you were little? Any great presents that stand out in your mind?

Well tonight I am typing to you from Caloundra, which is on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. A beautiful part of the world.

A place that Jake and I lived back in 2002/2003 when we did our Seachange.

We were very brave, looking back now, packing up our lives and moving. Just Jake and I. Oh and Herman our old cat. After 6 months Jake told me he was homesick and my job sucked and I had left it and was unemployed. I had applied for a job and said to Jake, if I get the job we will stay and if I don't get the job we will move back.

Well fate has it's own agenda and the job interview that I had, which was with a brand new holiday property on the beach, went quite well. But there was this small little problem about the height of the building. You see they had built these apartments 1/2 metre too high and had sold all the penthouses. The local council had taken them to court and the property had won. Hence my interview.

But thennnnnnnnn I got the phone call. They informed me that they had to go back to court as the council had appealed and so they weren't sure how long it would be until they could open. Decision Made.

We moved back to Brisbane and the rest they say is history. And tonight my friend Jillian and I went to dinner in a restaurant under those apartments. I guess the court case turned out after all. Funny how things work out.

Well kids that's me tonight. I left my USB stick at home by mistake so no pics from today. Tomorrow I promise..... I even have a note from my Mum hehehe.

Night

Me xxx