We’re Coming all the way from the Land Down Under! Jan 2012 PTR

[Mum from oz]

Your countdown is really flying now. It does feel good to have some sort of touring plan. I like to know what I'm in for! Good luck to your girls for the weekend, I'm sure they will be fantastic.

 

[OziJo]

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Inspired by PrincessInOz

Just remember...the answer to life, the universe and everything is 42

In memory of Douglas Adams and in recognition of the speed at which it is descending I've decided to change my countdown style.

I have just recovered from our huge weekend and as promised it was a spectacular Spectacular. Here's a link to some highlights. Schools Spectacular 2011
DD3 is in amongst it in the first shot of the girls in green and blue lying on the floor.

This years theme was "Imagine". There is always some Disney references but this year they had a whole segment devoted to Disney called "Walt Disney Imagineer- If you can dream it do it". My girls weren't in this segment as it was made up of primary school kids. The costumes for this segment where amazing with the most beautiful Princess dresses, boys dressed as Prince Charming, littlies dressed as Dwarfs and a junior ballet group performing as the Evil Queen. There is a shot in the above video that shows all 3500 performers onstage for the Finale with the Princesses in the front row.

Here area few shots of my mad DD2 and her State Dance Company;

In the group photo she is 2nd row from the back next to the girl in the light green dress. She performed in 3 segments with 3 items in each plus the Finale while DD3 was in 2 segments dancing 3 items in each plus the Finale.

The ABC broadcast 2 versions of the show, a 1 hour highlights package on the 18th DEc plus a 2.5 hour full show on New Years Eve. We have a lot of fun spotting the kids. We know a lot of kids who are featured dancers and while my kids haven't featured as such they both had time on either the raised platforms or the main stage.

Start rant. Unfortunately for the dancers the ABC's telecast tends to focus on the singers the dancers are in the background. Even the featured dancers get hard done by. I don't get it because dancing needs to be seen to be appreciated while singing can be heard without a prolonged closeup. So why not show more of the dancers while listening to the singers. End rant.

Anyhow now tha'ts over we just have the State Dance Ensembles Showcase and the our dance schools end of year concert then Christmas then New Year then Disney

Next job- order international sim card from Travel Gear.

 

[OziJo]

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[battymum]

Schools spectacular is awesome - I remember taking part very early on -think 1985 -86 - certainly not what it is now - Your DD looks like she is having so much fun.

I wish my kids participated, DD goes to Catholic school - its a shame that they dont participate, although she is not a dancer and they are very professional these days - and my boys, well, its not their thing!!

And yay for your countdown - not long now - certainly get that sim card, after reading of those expensive phone calls home, unlimited international - included. We managed with just one for the family, we kept in touch with each other the old fashioned way, arrange a meeting spot and time.!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Just catching up.

School spectacular looks ... spectacular!

You'll be in the 20's soon.

 

[OziJo]

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One calender month to go! I can't believe it. Where has the time gone?

Our Universal tickets arrived safe and sound. There's still a couple of things on my list but the only one I'm anxious about is the Sim card. I want to order that asap so I know it will arrive in time. Today. Gotta do that today. [Edit: Done!!!] Otherwise there's just the hire car to organise and a few odds and ends like Mousekeeping envelopes and oh yeah packing

Going through my things the other day I found a Mickey t-shirt I bought for myself in 2009. It's a really nice t-shirt and DD2 has already decided she wants to wear it. Here's a piccie:

And finally, to get into the Holiday spirit, we put our Christmas tree up. It's only a little one this year. For the past two years we've had a real tree and before that a large beautiful but artificial tree that was starting to fall apart. I always had a real tree growing up but DH didn't so he doesn't have memories and it was his decision, as we are going away, not to fuss with a real tree. I'm sad about that. But this one's kinda cute:

I think it's leaning a little I'll go and fix that.

 

[OziJo]

Schools spectacular is awesome - I remember taking part very early on -think 1985 -86 - certainly not what it is now - Your DD looks like she is having so much fun.

You were so lucky to have been involved. I don't remember Spec when I was at school. I doubt our School participated. I would have loved it! DD2 is still moping around 1 week later. I had to literally drag her away from her friends at the end of the show. And I mean literally. I had to grab her around the waist and pull her away from her friends. Some are in year 12 and won't be back for State Dance and Spec next year. Others live 3 hours away. It was highly emotional. Thank goodness she has the trip to look forward to. She brightens up when we talk about it.

 

[OziJo]

Here's my to do list from 2 calender months with updates-

Must Do's that have now been done:
- Buy Universal tickets from Undercover Tourist done
- Buy T-Mobile prepaid sims from Travel Gear done
- Pay balance for Disney accommodation package (due November 23rd) done
- Book DME. TP to do at 45 days to go probably after we pay balance.done
- Request 2100 loop as recommended by the Fort Wilderness experts. Ask TP to do this.done- well TP said she will do this

Still to do
- Arrange Hire Car. Onsite through Alamo/National
- Shop for travel necessities (that's a list all to itself) -must do that list
- Make Housekeeping Envelopes
- Order from Garden Grocer (still not sure what I'm going to do here)
- Pack

 

[PrincessInOz]

Definitely almost there!

Nice tree.

 

[Mum from oz]

Not long to go now and not much to do either.

 

[OziJo]

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Nice tree.

Thanks. I've fixed the lean Maybe I should take another pic? Nah, moment in time

Not long to go now and not much to do either.

Yes but it feels like I should have more to do. I'm open to suggestions as to things I may have overlooked?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Jo - chil-lax. You've got things covered....and unless you've missed ESTA, there's nothing that can't be got or bought at the other end.
Enjoy your countdown and look forward to the packing.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

For one month!! And now even less!! You are much more organized than we are ...we don't even have a list of things to do...maybe that should be first on my list! I hear that prices are starting to come down on rentals..hopefully you can benefit from that!

 

[OziJo]

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Jo - chil-lax. You've got things covered....and unless you've missed ESTA, there's nothing that can't be got or bought at the other end.
Enjoy your countdown and look forward to the packing.

ESTA! Done

Chil-laxing

 

[OziJo]

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I ordered my sim cards on Sunday and received them in the mail yesterday. Fantastic service!! But wait no vouchers for the top up credit I ordered. So I e-mailed Travelgear. They promptly replied that they had accidentally left them out and e-mailed me the vouchers straight away. Great recovery Travelgear. So we have 2 phones to use. An i-phone 4 with a micro sim on a $30 plan and my Nokia with just $10 pay as you go credit as a second phone to use if we split up.

I've decided to leave the car rental to DH. He can have a look online and figure out what he wants to do. He's the one driving. I'm just going to concentrate on Christmas and then get into the packing.

We are in the 20's

 

[PrincessInOz]

It's counting down fast!

 

[OziJo]

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It's counting down fast!

 

[battymum]

 

[OziJo]

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[ash-n-brensmom]

Hey, I tried to add you to the Jan group on Facebook but it wouldn't let me...put a request in to be my friend and I will try again...not that there's too much time left!!
Kara McCarville Wheeler