I'd love to come to Cairns, as I've never been there.  Sydney would also be a good spot.
I think it depends on whether there is someone available in either Cairns or Sydney to take control of the organising.

Today Richard took me to Jamie's Italian for lunch. It was part of my Xmas present. We had a lovely time. The food was good - but I couldn't help thinking with my Thermomix and Phillips pasta machine I can do meals just as good at home.

Yesterday we made dog food (like we do every month or so). When it came to putting the containers into the freezer I struggled to find room. The freezers, fridge and pantry seemed to be fuller than ever. So we've decided to do our own take on the $21 challenge - starting from now we only have $21 to spend on groceries and other food items. Another rule is we have to shop, eat and cook as we normally would (for example we always buy organic milk, so we have to still buy this expensive milk we can't switch to cheaper supermarket brands, we also have to cook and eat meals similar to what we normally have, we have to eat lots of vegies like we always do, so we can't have things like cheese on toast for dinner etc). We are going to see how long our $21 will last.  Milk and vegies is what will eat up the budget I reckon.

Just catching up and seeing the last of the presents - some lovely gifts indeed!
Thanks for organising it again this year Cookie, it's been great fun.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you're all having a wonderful day.

I had a very busy lead up to Xmas with work being crazy, glad it's finally holidays. Today we had Xmas lunch at our place with my Mum, Richard's Mum & Dad and his sister. We had a lovely day, they have all just left and we are having a rest. Tomorrow we do it all again as my sister and her family are coming for lunch.

Enjoy the rest of the day, hope everyone gets some time to rest and relax.

I made dog biscuits a couple of years ago using this recipe:

http://www.whyisthereair.com/2012/08/18/makin-it-with-bacon/

I sort of made this pie for dinner tonight. I made the filling, but instead of a frozen puff pastry lid I made my own pastry using a Paul Hollywood recipe.

For the filling I didn't quite have 600g of chicken or quite enough leeks, so I added a zucchini as well. I thickened the sauce with a bit of corn flour, as I wanted the filling to be thick as I didn't only put a pastry lid on it I made a full pie.

The pie was delicious and we both enjoyed it. It's a very easy recipe to make.

I used a new pie dish I bought a couple of weeks ago, it has little holes all over it to help the pastry cook.

Not exactly shopping, as I didn't buy it - but my copy of UK book The British Isles on a Plate arrived on Friday. Richard ordered it when he was in the UK and had it sent to his friends, who posted it to him. Technically it's part of my Xmas present, but I'm allowed to have it now.

It's a great book, I like how it's actually has a hard cover unlike the soft cover type books Australia HO have been producing lately.  So many great recipes I'd love to cook and eat. Looking forward to making something from it when it's not so hot here in Adelaide.

I love my Mox!  I have 3 pairs (black, blue and purple).   I catch the train to work and then walk 25 minutes to my office. I wear my Mox and change to other shoes once at work.  They don't hurt my feet and I've never had a blister.  They are really comfy.

Jen I normally take size 9 and I have wide feet, I didn't go up a size I went with size 41 (which is size 9 according to their sizing chart) and they fit perfectly.