Function Reviews

Review of December Functions

Indonesian Restaurant Evening

We dined together at the Putri Kenanga Restaurant in Epping on Saturday night. We all enjoyed traditional Indonesian food after Kevin and John ceremonially broke the rice (an Indonesian tradition). The colourful jelly type dessert was an interesting addition at the end of the meal, what more can I say, you had to be there! The conversation and food flowed throughtout the evening, an enjoyable night was had by all.

Breakfast at North Rocks

Once again the Saturday morning breakfast was popular. Some members had the full breakfast while others just enjoyed a cup of coffee. It was a relaxing morning that started at 9.30am ending at 12.30pm. The name of the cafe was the “Little Rock Cafe” just opened in its new venue beside Kmart. It is a good way to build friendships with members and for new members to get to know existing members and see a familiar face when they attend a party or drop in. We have several cafes to choose from and the feeling is that Sat morning coffee catchup is very popular.

Review of November Functions

Eastwood District Rugby Club Night Out

Friday night was awesome. The food was enjoyed by all and reasonably priced too! The kids loved the freedom of the oval. There was 38 in total with at least 16 kids in attendance. Some ate chinese meals to schnitzels, burgers, steaks and whole snappers all priced well under $19 per meal.

Adult Christmas Party

I knew it was going to be a top draw event from the look of the ticket. So I fronted up to Patricks at Pennant Hills - hey, everyone had on a great mask like mine! Classy was the way I’d describe the women, all in their best dress and glittering elegant masks... ‘After 5’ is a great idea! Mike’s Phantom of the Opera outfit looked very Michael Crawford, John didn’t disappoint with his Karl Marx disguise and Bruce showed his leanings for leather and chain.

The venue was large enough to comfortably hold all 112 of us (what a turnout!). Chatting and dancing to great music went till 3AM, with breaks for the prize draws and silent auction. There was more than enough food to go around. Rif raf was kept at bay with some friendly bouncers. Where else could I get such great value at $25 ????

The financials were really impressive and have really kicked our bank balance upwards. This will help us immensely with the family xmas party which is free for members and will also subsidise more family activities for our children. A big thanks to Sue for arranging the event and Robyn for managing all the fund raising and helping take the load off Sue. There were lots of givers of goods for the auction who should also be recognised. Thanks for all your efforts guys... good times! (Rob)

Coledale Camping Weekend

Members and children attended a totally glorious weekend at Coledale, the weather was perfect and views stunning. Everyone enjoyed swimming and walking on the beach/rocks. Saturday night the children had the best time toasting marshmallows on the fire then happily played on the beach with their torches and glow sticks. Thanks especially to Russell for bringing his large shelter, Ray for entertaining the children with his metal detector and everyone for supporting each other.

Terrey Hills Tavern Lunch

Thank you to everyone who supported this function. We had relaxing Sunday afternoon lunch. The weather was great and everyone seemed to enjoy the venue and food. A good time had by all.

Brooklyn Night

The rain finally cleared for the members who gathered at Brooklyn for a night with a difference. The evening started with cocktails and nibbles in McKell Park while watching the sunset, then moved on to a fun and friendly café for a bargain seafood dining experience, before kicking on to Steve’s place for coffee and ‘pink’ timtams. Certainly a worthwhile excursion  we’ll be back!

Drop-In Night

Thank you to everyone who attended the drop-in. It was a fantastic gathering, as there was a wonderfully friendly and cheerful atmosphere to the evening as everyone mingled. It was a memorable night filled with conversation and laughter and we partied into the wee hours.

Flying Fox Cafe

What a glorious day it turned out! Members and their kids took the trip to Mona Vale. The kids made full use of the varied and challenging play equipment while adults chatted and caught up with old friends or the latest events. We all seemed to find a common link to the past such as schools or sport. Later we went for a stroll while kids explored the water’s edge or went for a swim. A relaxing and pleasant afternoon.

Longueville Hotel

Members turned up at the ultra chic Longueville Hotel on what could have been a dismal Friday night. Although our outdoors table was initially rained out and an indoor replacement not readily available, our spirits were unaffected as we dined regardless, in the best Single with Children tradition. The Gods relented with the weather, so we re-gathered outdoors as originally planned, to continue the chat and laughter. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves including a couple of lovely ladies who had come from the lower Blue Mountains. to check out the scene.

Jazz in the Garden

Only the most select of members made it to jazz in the gardens of Vaucluse House on a beautiful Sunday evening. There, in 26 acres of salubrious harbourside gardens, with the castellated walls of the historic house as our backdrop, we elegantly sipped our wine, while dining on various delicacies, and listening to 50’s swing, then a jazz quartet before finally the infectious Afro Latin rhythms of Son Veneno forced us to our feet, throwing off our inhibitions, to salsa (or just gyrate) away the rest of the night.

Review of October Functions

Halloween Party

There has been reports over 95 strangely dressed people roaming the streets of Parklea on Saturday night. They were seen to disappear in to a cave that had smoke and a eerie red glow. The cave had a sign on it saying that this was the point of no return and it was the “Gate to Hell”. After stepping through this entrance guests were met by strange sounds and many scary sights. There was huge spider webs hanging from the ceiling waiting to trap you, moaning ghosts that moved and others that screamed for help. If you were not careful there were hands that came out of the darkness to grab you. There was also report of a skeleton man that jumped out on unsuspecting guests. (Thanks Rob)

The inside of the house had been transformed into a medieval castle with brick walls and a wall of pirates skeletons with swords. There were shrunken heads hanging from the ceiling and blood dripping from the walls. Outside the electric chair provided a shocking welcome for a number of guests.

Many guests danced to the great music and light show provided our own DJ Peter Carswell.

While back inside a special FBI agent had turned up to investigate the murder of “Candy” who’s dismembered body was found lying in a pool of blood in the bathroom with a knife in it. Her head was found in the shower along with a axe. Her hands and fingers were missing. The FBI agent on site interviewed a number of suspicious looking characters. There was a report of “finger food” being offered to guests as well as a number of eyes.

Special thanks must go to the following people for all their help: Dave, Denise, Geoff, Olga, Vanessa. Also thanks to those who offered and helped out on the night with clean up & on the door.

Berry Island

To follow up a night, when “spooks” would dance on every tile, We slept the party off, and made our way to Berry Isle; With waterfronts, where mums and dads and children gladly braved The heat of spring (like summer), once that hour of daylight saved Was used to give the kids a lolly hunt in Wollstonecraft. Six mums, four dads and five kids reveled in a shady draft.

Picnic and Tour of Historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse

15 adults and 20 children arrived at Palm Beach on Sunday, scaling the heights of the headland to visit the historic lighthouse. The kids, including a 3 year old, managed the rough track in high spirits and were rewarded with spectacular water views of Palm Beach, Pittwater, Broken Bay, Brisbane Water and the Hawkesbury. We ascended the spiral staircase in the sandstone lighthouse reaching the top to feel the cooling breeze and take in the 360 Degree view. Afterwards, a leasurely afternoon on the beach while the kids did what kids do when there is sand and water.

Fish and Chips at Balmoral Beach

19 adults and 24 children came to beautiful Balmoral Beach on Saturday afternoon. A large number of sailboats racing on the harbour with their colourful sails, made a wonderful spectacle as we descended Awaba St. to the beach. There, adults laughed and chatted, children ignored the chilly wind to play in the water and sand. Fish and chips was washed down with chilled white. Everyone went home satisfied with some prospective members also returning for the next days activities.

A Night at the Movies

We had a total of 9 members and 1 child walk the red carpet to coffee, cake and the movies at Castle Hill. “Death at a Funeral” and “Rush Hour 3” were popular choices, while 3 of us guys got in touch with our feminine side seeing “Hairspray”. Of course we had all been students of this 1988 John Waters cult classic and award-winning Broadway musical. And what a swinging movie it was, offering hope to all stay at home singers or dancers who dare to have a sparkle in their eye of making their own big break.

Taste of Malaya Restaurant

The authentic Malaya food was fabulous with so much to eat at a good value of $25/head. We had our own plate of entree, four mains, lots of rice, and coffee/tea. We had some deep conversation and were so engrossed that we were the last ones to leave the restaurant.

Picnic at Pymble Park

Members and children turned up to Pymble Park on a perfectly sunny day. The adults sat in the shade, while the kids enjoyed riding their bikes and scooters across the unusued tennis courts. 2 young boys made friends very quickly and built a miniature cubby house in a tree, using fallen branches. Thanks to Mark for bringing the cakes, and a great day was had by all. One new member came for her first function, as well as 2 visitors, who are thinking of joining the group.

Rafferty’s Weekend Away

Truthful to the marketing hype, “located one and a half hours north of Sydney on the tranquil shores of Lake Macquarie, Rafferty’s Resort was a luxury retreat created to take Single With Children members away from the everyday” ...and did it what! From frolicking in the crystal clear waters of the in ground pools, whacking a winner on the tennis court, paddling across the lake in kayak, or watching the pelicans jostle at feeding time, we were in sublime enjoyment of the pristine facilities offered.

Killer Ken’s 61st birthday dinner was a highlight. A nearby 100+ person wedding (paling in comparison of course darlings) provided the opportunity for Nat, Denise and their cohorts to get up to some Wedding Crasher antics. Otherwise the girls were well behaved... why Robyn spent most of Saturday baking Ken a cake (such is the adoration he commands). And if you see the photos (loaded on the forum), Ken would make even James Bond jealous as a bevy of beautiful women drape themselves around him... there’s a guy one too which would tease dear old Molly.

Our dinner experiences included the Oh so Sticky Rice Thai Restaurant, the good ol’ Aussie BBQ and dining with Ken at the classy Blue Door restaurant with exceptional 180 degree lake views, all onsite. Where would sir/madam like breakfast??? With the others under the atrium overlooking the glistening lake of course.. OJ, AJ, PJ (pineapple juice not pyjamas), cereals, bacon, sausage, tomato and yummy scrambled egg for me Mmmmmm.

The weather was good on Friday and maxed to superb on Sunday. What more could anyone wish for - thanks Sue W for your great choice of location and planning the weekend out!

Navy Open Day

Members and children turned up for the Navy Day. Three of them were put in the stocks ust after arrival for bad behaviour. We boarded a Frigate with a elicopter on board and Nicholas became our pilot for the day. The children played on the jumping castle then we went onto a patrol boat, very nice First Lieutenant on board. Last ship was a mine sweeper that measures the entrances to our harbours and rivers. A quick drink was needed at a local pub, then off to the Naval Gym for rock climbing which was enjoyed by all of the children and Vanessa. Two very able bodied sailors belayed them to the top of the wall. A good day was had by all.

Rang Mahal Restaurant

The food was fabulous again. So much to eat! Someone even took home a “chookie bag”! This was good value at $22/head, (mixed entree, main curries and dessert) especially since there was no corkage fee. Kicked on at Epping Pub for a short time.

Bayview Hotel Dinner and Band

At the Bayview we all had a very good meal in the bistro with plenty of time to chat afterwards then were entertained by the John Field Band listening to the great vocals of Bronwyn Mulchay, enjoying the showmanship of John Field himself and dancing to a wide variety of tunes played in their own unique way.They will be there again on the 3rd of Nov and at the Unity in Balmain on the 24 of Nov and the 22nd of Dec.

Lunch at the Marina

We had a great turn out for the Birthday Boys with members, ex members and new members all enjoying a leisurely lunch at the wonderful setting of the Marina. The sun was out for us and we had the added bonus of being sheltered from the wind. What better way for Geoff, Rod and Chris to celebrate their birthdays than a perfect rendition of “Happy Birthday” from the best voices they've ever heard!

Review of September Functions

Campfire Night

The weather was perfect for Jen’s campfire night. The two campfires were warming our bones and the pizza was delivered on time. Sue’s marshmallow sculpture was admired, then toasted over the campfires. The dogs were still licking bits off the lawn on Sunday! Later in the evening, complimentary hairdressing was offered to the men, who all looked ten years younger after their makeover! The ladies then displayed their dancing and singing skills... maybe they shouldn’t have... Once again, the evening didn’t finish until very, very late, when everyone was sent home to their beds after a cup of (real) coffee. Thanks so much to Sue, Robyn, Colin, Ken and Nat for helping and to all who attended for making it a fun night.

Camping Weekend at Patonga

Daring parents and excited young people set out on a long weekend’s camping at Patonga on the Central Coast in dubious weather on Friday 7 September. Due to the public holiday, we had an extra afternoon’s fun in the great outdoors, dodging a myriad rain showers and the occasional downpour. The experience was in-tents to say the least. Although the weather added a certain bravado to the young peoples’ activities, including kayaking (thanks to Mike Mertens for being a great sport again), fishing, duck (quack) and human chasing and hiding games, tennis, marshmallow roasting (flaming?), topped off with a boys “base” building and protection session on the Sunday. We did manage to stay mostly dry, although there was some level of mud to deal with it must be said. A couple of tents leaked on the Friday night, with at least one adult seeking a bed in the car for the night in the end. It was a credit to the new campers that they managed to keep smiling, although a few dared not tempt fate for another night, and headed for solid roofs for Saturday night. All in all, the poor weather didn’t detract that much from the enjoyment of the weekend by all. In fact some of the littlies driving their bikes through the huge puddles will probably remember the weekend with fondness for years. Don’t forget to look out for our future camping trips, south next time to Coledale on 16 November, and then back to Patonga again on 8 February 2008.

Ghenghis Khan BBQ Restaurant

Saturday evening saw members and children feasting like the Mongol hordes of old, on various combinations of sliced meats, vegetables and sauces which were quickly BBQ’d before us at the Genghis Khan restaurant, Chatswood. Everyone enjoyed experimenting with different flavours and the children put away 2 bowls each to earn themselves ice creams.

Boronia Park Spring Picnic

Well what a beautiful spring day for a picnic!! We all enjoyed the great weather and company, not that we even noticed the children as they were kept busy on the play equipment and several ball games organised by Colin and Russell, thanks men! It was refreshing to see members join us who had older children, you are always welcome! We all sat around and munched away at our packed lunches while exchanging chatter about our week and other life experiences. Thanks to all that attended and contributed to making the day so enjoyable.

Dinner at the Upper Duck

What a fantastic venue! Trendy comfortable decor with a great atmosphere and very affordable delicious meals. The steak which a lot of the group ordered for a mere $9.50 just melted in your mouth, served on a bed of mash with yummy béarnaise or wine jus sauce. Other meals included Lasagna, Ceaser salad, Fish and chips, Atlantic Salmon just to name a few. We had a great turn out. There were some new/prospective members who all enjoyed meeting everyone. After dinner and drinks almost half the group headed off to Minskys Piano Bar were we enjoyed some classic old time favourites and danced away the night. Thanks to Brian for organising such a successful night, this is a definite repeat function!

Pasta Night at Vita Bella Cafe

We all enjoyed the APEC holiday with a night at the Vita Bella Cafe. After much chatter and laughs we all shared platters of delicious Italian pastas and salad followed by Coffee and custard filled Cannoli pastries. The majority of the group continued on to the Epping Pub for a drink and dancing. Thanks to all who attended and helped to make the night so enjoyable.

Father’s Day Lunch

Thanks to Alison the lucky dads received a card celebrating the day and enjoyed a beautiful Sydney spring afternoon by the harbour and the company of gorgeous mums. Thanks Alison!

Review of August Functions

Katoomba Weekend Away

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect weekend with beautiful spring weather and very comfortable accommodation complete with our own private kitchen, lounge/dining area which was well utilised. The children were kept busy with sightseeing, bushwalking, shopping (the lolly shop being their favourite!) and various other activities. We all enjoyed each others company be it over a few games of cards or simply chatting and exchanging jokes. Neil displayed his ball skills at the snooker table with Sue while Colin played a few grueling card games. On Saturday night it was off to the RSL for dinner which was enjoyed by all while back at the Y a group enjoyed a seafood BBQ. Brian, Neil and Malcolm did some male bonding while cooking up a storm. On Saturday evening we even had a guest appearance from our very own “Robette” (Natalie) who performed one of her favourite Robbie Williams songs with her dancing partner young Zac. On Sunday after check out a few groups stayed on to enjoy the mountain experience further by a very pleasant walk through the Leura Cascades which was extended somewhat after 2 boys decided to wander off on their own adventure and for others it was lunch at “The Swiss Cottage”.

Many thanks to Anna for organising such a successful weekend and to those members who tirelessly packed and unpacked the dishwasher, picked up and tidied up after others and ensured the kiddies tummies were kept full your actions didn’t go unnoticed. To sum up if you didn’t make it for this fabulous weekend make sure you get to it next time. The hi-light for me was when my son came and gave me the most wonderful cuddle several hours after arriving home and said thanks mum for taking me to the mountains I had so much fun!

Hog’s Breath Cafe

A great night was had by members at Hog’s Breath Cafe, Castle Towers last Saturday. We all enjoyed great meals, (well most of us ate!!) with curly wurly pig’s tail chips, a few drinks, and lots of conversation and laughs. After almost being ‘pushed’ out, we decided to retire to The Coffee Club below for coffee, hot chocolates and assorted cakes. Thanks all for braving the cold and helping the bill balance on the first count!

BBQ at Bruce’s

We had 10 members turn up for the BBQ bringing along with them about 15 teenagers. David manned the BBQ and cooked numerous sausages, kebabs and the odd steak or two for the crowd. After being fed the kids all disappeared to watch DVD’s while the adults talked. In all, a good night was had by all.

Classical Music Evening

It was such a pleasure to connect with others who like fine music. We all enjoyed a wonderful musical evening. The venue was excellent, easy to get to, easy to park in and great seating.

Coffee and Movie Night

We sat in the comfort of Bruce's home theatre room and watched a movie with a very young Tom Hanks in it called “The Man with One Red Shoe”. None of us had ever seen it, and we all had a laugh watching it. This was followed by drinks, coffee and home made biscuits to top off a great evening. Thanks to Bruce again for his hospitality.

Robbie Williams Concert

It was true fate that led us to see Robbie. Entertain us! Who would have thought that quaint Ryde–Eastwood Leagues Club, where Gen A is still the dominant species, would have had the crowd in the Auditorium stamping the floor and clapping their hands for an encore from Robbie (nee Alex) and his band after 75 mins of his great hits. Single with Children members made their mark on the night with a fantastic “rent a crowd” turnout. Robbie, wearing his trademark white tie, black singlet and jeans, and baton, played a range of his original hits and cameos from his Frank Sinatra period as well as Elvis (he does live on!).

Drinks and Dinner at the Longueville Hotel

We had a great night out at the Longueville Hotel. We just managed to cram in along the big table. The weather was really kind to us and after a lovely meal we were able to have drinks on the terrace outside. There was much chatting and mingling, and we enjoyed meeting quite a few new members and some who are thinking about joining. We all agreed it was a great venue and we must do an outdoor dinner in summer, so look out for it. A number of us kicked on to the Crows Nest hotel for some dancing and cocktails before calling it a (late) night.

Picnic at Turramurra Memorial Park

Six adults booked, with seven kids. Lots more were impromptue,
Which only made things better; since the park had lots to do.
Paul brought a plentiful supply of fruit in plastic bags,
And quite a number came and found the purple/yellow flags.
With extra news on e-highlights, the members were inspired,
To bring the bikes and scooters, until their young kids grew tired.

Greater Union Movie Night

We attended the movies at Macquarie Centre last Friday night. After meeting for drinks and chatter we divided up into 2 groups to see “Knocked up” and “License to Wed”, we all enjoyed each others company and had lots of laughs. Thanks to all who attended to share the evening.

70’s Party

We had a great turn out at Bruce’s 70’s party on Saturday night. In attendance were 28 groovy men and 25 funky women, of which 43 were members and 10 were non members, making a total of 53. Everyone danced the night away to some great 70’s music before we had to pull the plug at midnight when some “non-70’s” uniformed men arrived at the front door!! All in all, a fun night was had by all. Thanks to those who helped clean up, especially that funky tall chick with the fabulous hair who cleaned the floors. Thanks to Bruce for hosting the event at his great new house.

Review of July Functions

Lane Cove National Park Picnic

About adults, including three new members, and children ranging in age from 5 months to 13 years came to the picnic at Lane Cove National Park on Sunday. The kids enjoyed riding their bikes and scooters, and some of the dads, mums and kids had a game of football until the ball was kicked into the river. With a bit of lateral thinking and some persistence involving lots of stones being thrown into the river to make waves which washed the ball back to the shore, the ball was retrieved and the game continued.

Christmas in July Party

We all had a great time and enjoyed ourselves. A lot of talking/ networking and catching up was done all over the house. Plenty of room to move but kitchen seemed to be the focal point. Gluhwein was popular. 8 litres disappeared. Open fires and gas heaters kept the place warm and cosy. Hope everyone managed to find their carriage / wagon / beast. Lots of smiles and laughter. My dog (Kiara) was very pleased to have company and I felt privileged to be able to host such a great group of people. I promise to have the place patched and painted by next year. ANY OFFERS TO HELP? Food and refreshments are on me. Thanks to Eva and Peter T for helping with the decorations. Thanks to Peter for the music and to Robyn and Ken for manning the door and doing the “Robin Hood” on the guests. To all those who helped clean up. THANK YOU. A lot of effort went into the food provided and was much appreciated. THANK YOU.

The Ranch

Adults and children had a great time catching up on a Friday night. We were the biggest group by far and had the two biggest marble tables in the pub! The girls loved the free champagne and chocolate tasting and kept going back to the bar. The two young muscular gentlemen offering the shoulder massage had a lot of attention from the female part of our group. Men were not as impressed. Kids had heaps of fun as usual and enjoyed playing at and under the table!

Bleinheim Park Picnic

Adults and children enjoyed the winter sun at Blenheim Park. The kids enjoyed the flying fox, remote control car track, bike track, sand pit and chocolate cake. All agreed it was a good spot for a picnic.

White Hart Restaurant

We had an enjoyable dinner at the White Hart Restaurant. After indulging in three courses it was back to Bella Vista for a nightcap and coffee and a bit of boogie! A fun night was had!

Govinda’s Restaurant

We enjoyed the unique attractions of Govindas scoffing the unlimited buffet of delicious and fresh vegetarian delights before moving upstairs to recline on sofas while watching the real life spy drama of the movie “Breach”. (Barbara missed the plot but seemed to be enjoying her dreams!)

Sydney Aquatic Centre

The children had a great time in the pools at the aquatic centre, with their fill of turns on the giant slide and a piggyback race, while the adults swam, drank coffee and chatted. Russell was rather fond of the jets on his back in the spa! and two of the ladies, believe it or not, ventured into the gym for a very hard workout.

Marian St Theatre “Aladdin”

Aladdin was a great performance, and we all had a great time (even the grown ups).

State of Origin Pub Night

We couldn’t win the series, but at least we won the game! Ten members turned out to have dinner and watch the Blues victory in the State of Origin final at Shades, Chatswood RSL. The guys patiently explained the finer points to those who needed it and we all enjoyed the big screen and the enthusiastic crowd in the bar.

Putt Putt in the Gardens

As our huge numbers made the sounds of notes and coinage clink,
The Dural putt putt offered us each hotdogs with free drink.
We tackled all those uphill holes, in quite a tricky course,
And swung our clubs (to try for holes in one) with driving force.
On two occasions, I gave my ball quite a hefty push,
And bounced my golfball past the wall, and into flowers and bush.

Pizza Party

A rainy day made it just perfect for pizza making and some social interaction. We had children making their creations and patiently waiting for oven space whilst watching cartoons! Alexander impressed us all with the amount of topping he could fit on a pizza and everyone enjoyed eating their creations.

Bobbin Head Picnic

It was Faye’s birthday so we celebrated with a cake. The kids attended a puppet show and a bush walk organised by NPWS. Some went kayaking (OOPS) and others played in the play ground. We had new members come and they enjoyed themselves. Others relaxed and read the paper. it was slightly cold but I could say fun was had by all.

Review of June Functions

Seafood BBQ

A great success. Plenty of seafoood was had by all.The garlic prawns went like hotcakes! Evan couldn’t wait for the cooked prawns to thaw, so he “threw a few shrimps on the barby” , and it caught on. The various fish cutlets were also very popular. John discovered a professional chef in Carolyn and quickly delegated the tongs. She even cleaned-up! A special aesthetic treat, care of Mike’s generosity and culture, was a two-piece groovy band who really got people warmed up.

Buffet at Blacktown Workers

This is the first night we have put on the buffet. Everyone was impressed with the variety of the menu, from entrees, mains to desserts, especially for the price. After dinner we made our way downstairs to finish the night off with a drink and conversation. Lets do it again sometime.

Pizza Eatza Night at Epping

We had a great turn up for this function. We all managed to squeeze into my unit, everyone mingled well with lots of chatter and we ate some yummy pizza treats and Ham/Pineapple was definitely not on the menu! Those brave few hung out and kept each other warm on the balcony. The evening finished with Colin spoiling a few special ladies with foot massages. Thanks to all that attended, I hope you enjoyed the evening as much as I did.

Parenting Teens Interest Group at Eastwood

The parenting teens group got off to a bit of a slow start, but we had a good discussion though, and will try to get a bigger group together perhaps at a different time – maybe a Friday night, so watch the program.

Winter Magic Festival at Katoomba

We had a magic day out at the Katoomba winter magic festival. It was cold out there, but warm in the pub and on the train. We watched some belly dancing and a women’s circus, enjoyed the views and the colourful people in a constant parade of fairies, angels and rainbows. Russell’s jesters hat was the beacon we needed to make sure we never lost anybody. The men’s shed, with its promise to build better blokes, was a special attraction and we found ourselves drawn there over and over. (Not that there was anything wrong with the blokes that came along, but the chance to build one from scratch was almost irresistible.) There were seven of us, reduced to four who were in for the long haul, returning to Sydney about 11pm. We look forward to doing it again next year.

Tenpin Bowling

There were 15 families attending this function. One new member joined on the day, one visitor and 34 players were having so much fun away from the cold. What a great day it was for everyone !!! See you all again next time.

Arthur’s Knights Dance at Balmain

A bunch of our members made their way variously to the Attic Bar in Balmain’s Unity Hotel to dance away the Sunday night of the Queen’s Birthday weekend recently. The dance floor was full most of the night with people having a pumping hot time dancing to the great selection of music provided by multiple DJ’s, including one who was resident at Sydney’s famous “Arthur’s” nightclub (from a few years back now.

Unfortunately, since it was a Sunday night, the music had to stop soon after midnight, but there is a rumour going around that “Arthur’s Knights” will be staging another great Saturday night of dancing (till late as you like) early in July. So if you haven’t been out to let your hair down for some time, or are starting to succumb to the winter blues, make sure you come and join us at the next event and get those endorphins flowing. It’s much more fun than going to the gym or pounding the pavement, and there’s no need to be afraid of being left standing alone like a wall–flower. Simply let the door person know you are from “Single with Children” and they will make sure you are introduced to some of our friendly members there. Or they may even introduce you to me if you ask them real nice like Russell.

Drinks and Dinner at Lane Cove

Despite torrential rain and the temptation to stay at home next to a heater three women, four men and two children made their way to the Lane Cove West Bowling Club for drinks, a bit of food to keep us going and to catch up on the week’s events. Most of us then went on to Thai Intra in Neutral Bay for dinner then to ‘Minsky’s’ at the Cremorne Hotel to sing along with the Piano Man.

Galston Valley Model Railway

Despite the power blackouts, days of wind and heavy rains,
The Galston Valley Model Railway ran its tiny trains,
Which ran on time, unlike some other trains in New South Wales.
Our kids enjoyed the ride, through bridges, curves, and bushy trails.
One boy retained his ticket, hoping that he could reuse
Once more; but it was red. A change of colour gave the clues.

Lunch at Castle Hill RSL

All present enjoyed nice food,coffee and dessert. It was a good chance to catch up on all the latest gossip and even make some up. Even though it was a nice sunny day we sat inside and enjoyed each others company and watched the cloud come over and eventually rain upon those outside.

Dinner at Cibo E Vino

We had a huge turnout for my first function with 20 attending, 12 men and 8 women with three potential new members. The food was loved by all. We played musical chairs for each course which have everybody a chance to mingle with different people, though confused the waitresses no end. Being a cold wet night, most took themselves home around 11pm but 7 of us kicked on at the Hillside Hotel for a nightcap. All in all, a fun evening! Thank you all for making it so enjoyable.

Bike Park and Picnic at Sydney Park

The huge park at St Peters was mostly wet after the weekend’s storm, but the bike park quickly became dry in the fabulous weather on Monday. It was a very busy bike park with bikes, scooters, and little pedestrians running around. We even tried flying a kite in the light breeze.

Drop In Night

The mulled wine was flowing and the marshmallows were toasting on the open fire. Conversation and laughter were louder than the music, which is always a good sign! Jenny found herself finally crawling into bed at about 3:00am on Saturday after the last stragglers left. Thanks to everyone who came for helping to make this such a great night, and for all your yummy food. Let me know if you want the recipe for the mulled wine.

Cards and Board Games Night

After some wine, cheese and nibbles we split into a Scrabble group and a Pictionary group. After the games, we all got together for more food, wine and talk then some of the more serious went on to party the night away at a local nightspot.

BBQ and Games in the Park, Lane Cove West

We had members and one dog come along to the bbq and games in wonderful Blackman Park in Lane Cove West on a lovely sunny Sunday. The games ranged from very competitive basketball through frisbee and badminton to hula hoop lessons, and lots of kids brought bikes and scooters along. The park offered space to run around, rocks to climb, bush tracks and the river bank to explore. Adults mostly spent time catching up with old friends and meeting new people, beating the big kids at basketball and sharing the delicious food and drink everybody brought along. A relaxing day out for parents and kids of all ages.

Review of May Functions

Neil’s Drop In Night

The new potential new members enjoyed the relaxing night. For those that stayed on Neil took out his guitar and opened up the bar and cocktails and Tia Maria flowed freely. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Thank you to everyone that helped tidy up.

Ava’s Housewarming Drop In

Ava’s house warming was a huge success. There seemed to be more men than women. It was great and Ava was very pleased with the turn out.

Breakfast At Tiffany’s

Thank you to everyone who attended with a good selection of food brought buy all to share the morning. It was a relaxed time soaking up the morning’s sunshine in the backyard. It gave us a good chance to catch–up and enjoy the morning with other people, sharing good conversations and great friendships. I think a few could have relaxed their all day to recovering from Peter’s party the night before which was a great night out. For myself there was a great selection of events over the weekend to attend and I had a great time. For some after boosting their taste buds moved on to enjoy an afternoon of Ice skating with Ava. Thank you to everyone’s response to brining along some food and helping with the cooking, preparing and cleaning etc it all helps the event go together. Thanks to Alison and some of the ladies I have couple ideas for other events in the future. Dave hope everyone had a great time and catch up with you at the next event.

Peter’s House Party

We really did “Rock This Party” on Saturday night! I’m told there were more guys than girls. Thanks to those who sent in requests - including Krystyna, Sue, David, and Rob. Bob Sinclar has definitely made our playlist. Beyonce made a late appearance too. See you next time!

Cake and Movie Night

10 turned up for Coffee on Friday night hoping to catch a good movie, and we split up watching “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Zodiac”, and “Spiderman”.

Myuna Bay Weekend Away

Hi my name is Robyn and I am from the Central Coast and this was my second event with SPFA but my first weekend away with them. What a great time with some really special people. We stayed at Myuna Bay Rec. Camp on shores of Lake Macquarie. It was a cheap, fun filled action weekend with tons of laughs and cleaver one liners. We all love to laugh. We shared our food, our jokes and warmth of spirit. Saturday some got to take a paddle on the lake using Mike's kayaks that he kindly brought for us to share. The rest of the lost tribe hit balls with gay abandon on the tennis court. It was a hoot, no competition, except for John who wanted to show how well his knee operations worked out. All in all it was a beautiful day. We had lunch at the Wangi Workers club, fantastic food, wonderful views over Lake Macquarie and wonderful company. We then took a leisurely stroll by the lake to Sir William Dobel’s house (famous Australian Artist) where we met some wonderful locals who took us for a guided tour of the remarkable man’s home.

The weather was stunning and by Saturday night we were all excited at the prospect of Suz’s sister Robyn bringing out her brazier (black with pink ribbons), no, the outdoor portable fire place she brought along. We were not disappointed. We roasted marshmallows, talked and laughed until the fire was finally extinguished by Suz at the witching hour. Most of the campers began packing up to get back home during the morning after the boys cooked the Mums a BBQ bacon and egg breakie for Mothers Day. Others got back onto the lake for one final paddle on the beautiful mirror like water. We made sangria for morning tea (thanks again to Mike) and had a great cheese platter (thanks to Suz). Wonder what the poor people were doing last weekend, we finished off with a fish and salad lunch cooked on the BBQ (fish supplied by local fishermen and Nerida). We all talked about how the kids would have loved this place and that we can’t wait to do it again. Peace and quiet and views to die for sums up the weekend. My Score for this weekend would have to be 10/10. Well done Suz, I will come to any function organised by you or your sister.

Thai Place

A fun night was had by all at Thai Place Restaurant in Epping. A warm welcome to the new members who joined us. The group enjoyed the banquet and chatted non stop over a few glasses of wine. Mike generously welcomed us all into his home to chat into the early hours of Saturday morning. The group all got on extremely well and had lots of laughs and fun. Hope you can all join me at my next dinner night!

Review of April Functions

Lunch at the Blue Gum Hotel

Well it was a nice autumn day with a slightly fresh breeze with some friends, some new, some old, some well known some not so well known. We all enjoyed the great food and atmosphere of a pub lunch on a lazy Sunday.

Easter Drinks and Dinner

We all got Easter off to a great start. The group enjoyed great food, drinks and lots of chatter, the women all found it a pleasant change to have more men than women at this turnout. (Keep spreading the word men to your male friends re the group!) A fun night was had by all!

Lunch at Eastwood Hotel

We had a great turnout for lunch and just perfect weather. We enjoyed lunching in the sunny courtyard at the Hotel and we kicked on to late afternoon and some of us into the night. An enjoyable way to spend a Sunday!

Dinner at Rang Mahal Restaurant

Members and some potential new members attended the dinner at Rang Mahal Restaurant. It was very hospitable with excellent food and service. Even Bruce couldn’t eat it all!

Kayaking at Manly

Sunday produced perfect weather to go kayaking at Manly with several more who chose to relax on shore. Anna proved her stamina by taking a more torturous route than the rest of us to the beach at the Quarantine station. There, she demonstrated her aptitude for a Sydney Ferries Master’s ticket by testing the strength of the wharf with Mike’s kayak. However only one other could out paddle her on the return to Manly. There we had fish and chips before it became dark. A great day was had by all.

Review of March Functions

Coffee and Movies at Castle Hill

Nine women and one guy ( me :)}} ) enjoyed coffee and cake before heading off to see our movies. This night was a CRAZY $9 per movie night at Castle Hill so we all felt quite smart (thanks to Sue W for giving us the tip). Everyone had a CRAZY time at their movies - we saw Music and Lyrics, Wild Hogs, Becoming Jane and Notes on a Scandal.

Putt Putt Golf

With threatening clouds and occasional rain all day it seemed the event would be washed out. Regardless we headed onwards to the Putt Putt. We had 19 adults and children turn out for what was obviously a very popular event, and gave us enough to get 2 games for $13. With the assurance of Rain Checks if things got worse we hit the greens across the 3 great courses. Several golfers got hole-in-ones at holes which offered free games. Did I get one??? Well even Tiger Woods has off days! Did it rain ??? NO! we even saw some blue sky for a few minutes. Afterwards we headed to the 19th hole at the ever popular watering hole... MacDonalds for a well earned meal.

Picnic at Lavendar Bay

A beautiful sunny day saw 6 parents and four kids gathered in a scenic park on Sydney’s waterfront. After a lolly hunt shared the loot evenly between the kids, we walked a minute up to the Lavendar Bay railway line fence and looked out at Sydney Harbour. The kids interacted well with the children from another picnic group, sharing toys and playing together. One single parent from that picnic group showed an interest in our group, took a card, and is thinking of joining SPFA.

Dance Night at Crows Nest

It was a fantastic St Patrick’s Day Theme. The dance floor was crazy thru to 12.30pm. Special Irish Cocktails at $10 each were a delightful refreshment. Mode lounge area made a great place for Single with Children to hang. Overall, a very entertaining night.

Pizza Night at The Inferno

It was good to catch up with friends at the lovely “Inferno” cafe and talk about what they had been up to over the weekend! All enjoyed good food with few drinks on a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Le Colonial Restaurant Night

It was a perfect turnout with equal number of guys and girls. The food was fabulous with spring rolls, chicken salad and deep fried calamari as entree. The main was beef, chicken, and seafood stir-fries with different tastes. And they kept the best for the last... ice cream and creme. Yummy! The company was even better, and we might be the noisiest table in the restaurant that night.

Lovers... of Reading

A lovely evening of lively conversation ranging from the book of the evening “The Life of Pi” to houseboats on the Hawkesbury and covering everything from recipes, to war and politics in between. The evenings gourmet menu included runny, smelly cheeses, a gorgeous goulash and Grandmothers Apricot Delite. ....Almost all the senses sated!! Thank you for hosting the evening Cathy. Next book is “The Icarus Girl” by Helen Oyeyemi.

Patonga Weekend Away

About 40 Single With Children members, friends and children spent a wonderful weekend camping at Patonga early in March. The weather was glorious and the ocean was warm. As usual, we got to toast lots of marshmallows round the fire on the beach on Saturday night. A few of us got in a bit of tennis during the day (we also got to see Steve Waugh, a Patonga local these days, having a hit around with a mate on court), as well as lots of lazing around, eating and chatting. We were all very glad to be near the coast on a weekend when it was in the thirties out western Sydney. A few of the bigger kids had some extra fun jumping off the pier on Sunday afternoon as a final cooling off activity. I’m sure there were a few tired little (and big) ones Sunday night after what was a full–on fun weekend.

Endless Summer Nights Harbour Cruise

A big THANK YOU is in order for the amazing job our great Cruise Committee did and to the 150 party revellers that made our Endless Summer Nights Harbour Cruise one to be remembered. From the time we boarded the boat till we touched down at the Bayview Hotel the night partied on. The weather was superb, the food platters were scrumptious and the dance floor was packed and rocking. The hardest decision was “Do I drink champagne under the stars or mix it on the dance floor”. We partied on at the Bayview Hotel to the wee hours of the morning. The competition winner for the most cruise tickets sold was Irene who sold 13. She won a $50 Dan Murphy Voucher, that I’m sure will be well spent. We would like to thank Cate, Russell, Stewart and Bruce our organizers, and the countless helpers who made this night a huge success. We also want to thank our Entertainment Sponsors “ArthursKnights” for the fabulous complementary music performed by Arthursknights very own “DJ Tosca”. The music pumped thru two levels to keep us raging right through to the very end. Well Done!!

‘Scared Scriptless’ Theatre

Another very funny night of night of adlib humour by ImprovAustralia at the Clarence Hotel. They looked after us with center position seating for the show. Some of us eat before the show. After the show most of us took a short stroll to the Italian Forum and had coffee and cake taking in Italianate facade on a humid Sydney night. All in all it was a good night with a great turnout for what was the night before the Harbour Cruise.

Lane Cove Aquatic Centre

Despite the relatively early start on a Sunday morning, members who attended the cruise the night before joined others for a few hours of fun at the pool. Summer was definitely with us, not behind us as the calendar indicated, as outside it was 32C at 10.30am! The cool, indoor pool was a welcome place to be for the little ones to be.

Review of February Functions

Knockin’ on Heavens Door - A Bob Dylan Tribute

Spectacular night “Knocking on Heaven’s Door”. Die hard Dylan fans were not disappointed by James Blundell, Jade Macrae, Steve Valby and Jack Jones take on some old favourites.

Colloroy Beachouse Weekend Away

We had a great weekend away at the the Collaroy Beachouse YHA. Beautiful weather on Saturday encouraged everyone to go for a swim and surf the waves in the ocean. Kids had fun playing together in the pool, throwing a ball and chasing each other. All have enjoyed the barbeque and few drinks by the pool and found plenty of things to do on a rainy Sunday.

Lovers... of Reading

The first Book Club Meeting / dinner for 2007. The intimate evening started with a sumptuous Italian style dinner, variety of wines followed by homemade ice cream served with exotic fruits (dragon fruit - absolutely beautiful!). An enjoyable evening of discussion about books and lots more was had by all. We are looking at combining our love of books with movie/theatre nights. This is a wonderful opportunity for members to enjoy interesting cuisine (and the best part is you get to prepare a part of the meal only) and friendship.

Chinese New Year @ Belmore Park

Luckily the rain did not eventuate (just a drip here and a drop there). The stalls at Belmore Park started later than expected but the parade went as planned and those who were taller (and young children sitting on them) were able to have a nice view of the parade. Lunch was delicious and varied.

Swain Gardens

In beautiful Swain Gardens, full of bamboo, shrubs and gums,
There were kids who came, with their dads or mums.
They sat and ate their food in the gazebo, or on rugs,
And used the taps, to fill their cups with water (or some jugs).
The pathways, where the children rolled their soccer balls and played,
Were just beside the nicest gardens, blessed with outdoor shade.
Author and host: Peter

Dinner and Dance

It was a fantastic night. We had reserve tables to enjoy our cosmopolitan cuisine at a reasonable price. Then we were entertained by an excellent band with mostly yesteryear and rock, but they were young hotties (so a good perve). In between the DJ entertained us with the latest which got all the girls dancing. Russell and Heidi were the ”John Travolta + Oliva Newton John“ couple of the night with their dance moves. Plenty of chatting, jokes and laughter back at the table with a steady flow of pub–priced drinks. All in all we had a great time and staggered out of there at 2am. Think Dave was the male–stayer of the night.

Lunch at the Marina

Single with Children’s “beautiful people” dined, wined and chatted through a perfect summer afternoon in the idylic waterside setting at Roseville Chase. It was nice to meet again several members who have been “lost in action” for several years as well as regular participants. With the soft breeze off the water, some of us wondered what we had done to deserve the luck of living in Sydney on such an afternoon. With the cooperation of our intrepid diners, even the complex bill worked out with a small surplus for Single with Children as well as the usual booking fee.

Review of January Functions

Family Day at Luna Park

It was a lovely day for rides and shows at Luna Park. Initially we went our merry way picking what rides we wanted, we also helped out each other with parenting children on rides where required. We met again for lunch, saw a great diving show with a 84second Houdini-like submerged escape from padlocks and chains; a dive from a 20 metre high tower and a 10 metre dive after the diver was dowsed in petrol and ignited! Guess you could say it was a pretty hot act! Back onto rides for the rest of the afternoon. Best rides according to Rob and the boys were: Wild Mouse, Dodgems, Spider, Tango Train, Coney Island rides and Merry-go-round... yep everything we went on was great!

ArthursKnights Over 30's Dance

The function was lots of fun. Everyone chatted and danced the night away. The balcony was great as was the morish Australia Day barbecue. There were some Single with Children party animals still on the dance floor at 1am and wanting more. The light show was fantastic and the dance floor was full. Best Single with Children dancers for the night would have to go to Stewart and Anita. Great night of entertainment for $15. Next Valentines Day Dance Party at Crows Nest will certainly be fun again.

Symphony in The Domain

We enjoyed an excellent evenings entertainment at the Symphony in the Domain. While we sipped on Champagne and had a picnic lunch consisting of smoked salmon and other delicacies, a fine evening’s listening was had by all. From Frank Zappa to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture, the theme of the night was the symphony music composed in the Americas. All went well. This is the third time I have been to the Symphony, Margaret does a terrific job pegging out and minding the best spot (from 8.30am!). Full marks to her dedication.

Movies in The Overflow

Beautiful weather, Ten canoes great movie. One wine spill. One encounter with the Chair police. Plenty of rugs and pillows, food, and drink. A trick for those who want to avoid paying parking - Get there early and park in the Corso area. Do it again? Most definitely!

Drinks and Dinner at The Ranch

We had booked a large table, and even with the children seated separately, we still crowded around our table at The Ranch. The weather was beautiful with a cool breeze in the evening. The children enjoyed running around the garden while the adults enjoyed the alfresco meal and chatted away.

Jazz in The Domain

Another magic night in the Domain! Rain threatened but did not eventuate. Margaret gallantly held our land rights from 8am until the reinforcements arrived at 4 pm. The Brazilian jazz including conga line, steel drums and whistling? was intense and highly applauded by the audience, which comprised people of all ages. Smoked salmon, strawberries and champagne, great company and beautiful music. Sorry you missed it!! $10 parking in the domain parking lot made the whole thing even easier. See you next year.

Coffee and Movies

We had another great turnout to the movies, both members and visitors turning up for a coffee, optional cake, chat and movies. Most popular movies were Babel and Casino Royale. All in all another nice night with friends.

Ten Pin Bowling

All members had a good time at the ten pin bowling on Sunday.

Tennis and BBQ

What a perfect evening for a hit of tennis with a very relaxed group of friends. Adults and kids showed off various talents both on and off the court. Paul and Mandy looked the goods on the tennis court and Geoff managed the sausage wars beautifully at the bbq. Surprisingly their were very few injuries but the girls decided a massage was on the agenda for the next day. The light show from the impending storm was also impressive - all in all a great fun filled night! Looking forward to the next one.

Review of December Functions

Blues Point Sydney Harbour Picnic

The view at Blues Point was stunning as always, and we were hoping the rain would stay away. The first hour was lovely and children played happily however after that the light rain turned to very heavy rain - a few went home and some of us escaped to the local pub for an hour, then we returned to Blues Point to enjoy the fine weather and the harbour night lights. Everyone was happy even when soaked by rain.

Adult New Year’s Eve Party

The rain held off and we had a fabulous BBQ followed by shots for dessert. All fueled up, we made our way to the train station and Deborah’s unit in Kirribilli. Stunning views and vantage point at the unit. One member was mesmerized by the view and fireworks spectacular, not realizing his new jeans and Hawaiian shirt had caught alight from standing too close to a candle. Off went the smoke detectors..!! No first aid required, only a new style of jeans was created. After the fireworks, the train station was quite congested, so we trekked back to Greenwich by foot. What an effort& .. A fun night had by all.

Family New Year’s Eve Party

The general atmosphere was great and everyone had a good time. It didn't rain and the kids enjoyed the pool. We had sparklers at 9pm for all the children (they just don’t seem to last as long as they used to) and party-poppers/horns at midnight for the older children and grown ups. We watched the fireworks on TV and together we were quite a crowd.

Carols in the Domain

We all stayed to the end, and sang along to some of the tunes. There was a tiny bit of rain at the start, but it didn’t hang around and no one was bothered. Some stars were out by the time we all left. Everyone seemed to get along just fine.

Chill Out Night

Everyone had a most relaxing night on Neil’s back deck, overlooking rainforest backdrop. With Christmas just around the corner everyone one was in the Festive Season spirit. The night passed very quickly, Neil introduced his latest addition to the household a hand tamed and trained Lorikeet. For those that stayed on late Neil once again opened up his bar and Margaritas and Cocktails flowed freely, the night was complete with generous helpings of home made plum pudding with a home made white sauce that contained Neil’s mother’s secret ingredients. The night did indeed welcome in the Festive Season.

Christmas Eve Open House

FULL HOUSE at the Christmas Eve Open House! We braved the four seasons in one day weather pattern to help Heidi celebrate Christmas Eve. The children even coaxed Anna in for a swim. It was lovely to see good friends in a relaxed atmosphere and I wish everyone a safe and happy New Year. Cheers.

Over 30’ Dance Night

The fear of flashing lights, loud music and smoke machines did not deter the intrepid group of adults who descended on the Lane Cove Country Club to partake in a very enjoyable night of dancing. The chance to win one of several bottles of Bollinger champagne also helped keep people's attention and motivation, in the off chance that one bottle be awarded for persistent, if not foolhardy dance moves. More than a few songs had more than a few souls burning up the dance floor. We look forward to the next night when we can once again dust off the flares and platform shoes. Thanks to Cate for running a great night!

Children’s Christmas Party

We had around 110 children and adults come along to enjoy games, jumping, food, lollies and Santa with presents! The weather turned out to be much better than expected and the Hall and grounds setting has improved markedly since last year so the scene was set for a great day. With lots of help from parents, we were able to put on most of the activities we expected - though we never did get that used toilet. There was some last minute purchasing of additional food to deal with the bumper numbers. Santa was great, and all the children were very well behaved waiting their turn to get a special photo with him - these should be loaded to SPFA Friends sometime soon. One big vote of thanks to Liane and Lanny for all the organising they put into the day, to our ex-members Tracy and Damien who graciously offered to be Santa, and to Jeanine and Paul who took the photos so professionally.

Adult Christmas Party

There were around 80 members and visitors attended this function. We all got together and had a good time with Sue winning the best dressed in her candy stripe outfit against stiff competition.

Sydney Ice Arena

We had fun at the Sydney Ice Arena, most of the kids also tried the Ice hockey. The other parents just had to put up with the extreme cold while waiting for their kids.

Buffet Dinner and Show, Blacktown Workers Club

The evening went on so well! The buffet was great and the show was fantastic and everybody had a very good time!

Review of November Functions

Lovers... of Reading, Kurmond

A delicious lunch and hearty discussion was enjoyed by all. We are looking forward to catching up on lots of of reading for 2007 since we have a growing list of titles for discussion! The February (Friday 9) meeting will discuss 'Falling Leaves' / Adeline Yen Mah. New members welcome (Contact: Nalini).

Drinks and Dinner at The Ranch, North Ryde

It was a very jolly gathering in a very happy atmosphere (we all welcomed a good break after a week's work), nice dinner, lots of drinks and jokes! Kids were having a great time playing at and under the dinner table and spending parents' money on electronic games and candies!

Coledale Beach Camping Weekend

Stunning views and sunny weather made the camping weekend at Coledale Beach extra special. Even though it was a bit windy and the water was cold the children and adults enjoyed swimming, playing on the beach, exploring the rock platforms, soccer, cricket and the campfire Saturday night. Saturday afternoon Russell entertained us with a toy plane that flew in all directions even into the ocean. Congratulations to the parents of the children under 6 for surviving the very busy weekend.

Fun Day at the Beach, Balmoral

The weekend weather held out for us, and whilst Sunday wasn't as hot as Saturday, we had a very pleasant day on the beach, without the need to hide under shade or return home with heat exhaustion. Most of the children got into the water, including a few brave adults. None required rescuing, although a few crabs we're running for cover from the hordes of delighted children playing around some rocks. The fish and chip shop was closed for renovations, however other shops provided the much needed sustenance, and many people BYOG.

Picnic at Swain Gardens

While the kids enjoyed two hours of doing Peter's lolly hunt, (thanks Colin for adding the redskin lollies), and throwing cuploads of water at each other, the adults got to know each other and talked in the gazebo. Peter took them on a bushwalk linking Swain Gardens with historical Seven Little Australians Park (named after novel by famous author Ethel Turner, former resident of Werona Ave Killara). A great day was had by all.

Coffee and Movie, Castle Towers

This was a surprisingly popular event. Members turned up to check out the latest in blockbuster entrainment. Some others just came for the coffee and conversation prior to the screening. We grouped to see whatever movies we were interested in - alas Saw 3 was not as popular as I had anticipated (and I wasn't going to see it on my lonesome) so I chaperoned the women to 'A Good Year', which was excellent. Others saw 'Little Miss Sunshine' and 'Kenny', both which were enjoyable.

Sculptures by the Sea, Bondi/Bronte Beach

In a test of commitment to the arts and all things cultural, hardy members ventured out to Bondi with their children in tow, against the forces of nature - intrepid skies and a howling wind. Well we had a great time - the children didn't get bored with the sculptures as I thought they would have and the sculptures themselves were of a high quality. Would go again next year, regardless of the weather.

Marian Street Theatre, Killara

There were 2 fabulous kids shows: Jack and the Beanstalk and Sleeping Beauty. The theatre was full, the kids absolutely loved it! Great atmosphere, lots of interaction between the audience and the viewers, beautiful costumes. What a great entertainment for the little ones on a rainy day!

La Botte Di Vino

We dined at the fabulous La Botte Di Vino. It was terrific, noisy, rustic Italian atmosphere. Good pasta and plenty of it. Plenty of vino too!

Review of October Functions

Halloween Party, Winston Hills

Humans and witches, warlocks, vampires, and other underworld figures enjoyed the annual Halloween party at the Haunted house. When arriving we were greeted by tombstones in the front yard and the sight of a body hanging from a tree. (Was this someone who had tried to sneak in with paying?) We then had to enter the house via a cave containing a coffin (which only a few opened), talking skeletons, and moaning ghosts. Many were frightened by the witch or the hairy arms that came out of the walls to grab them as they walked pass in the darkened cave. Once they got into the house they found that it had been transformed into a medieval castle with skulls looking down from the walls. We all partied on until to the early hours, a number of guests got to “enjoy” the shocking experience of sitting in the electric chair while others were chained up to the dungeon walls. The only policewoman in attendance tried to interview a number of suspects responsible for the gruesome body and head that was found lying in the bath missing its limbs. A hand and foot were later found in the shower. In all a great night was had by all. No doubt some pictures from the night will be available to all to see shortly. Thanks to the people who helped out including, Pru, Rob, Rod and Jayne (for the bathroom effects). A special thanks also goes to David who spend many hours building the cave which stood up to the wind, boarding up the front windows and making the party a huge success.

RAAF Base Airshow, Richmond

Sydney's biggest airshow since 1988 was held at the Richmond RAAF base over the weekend of 21-22 October, and with pretty much ideal weather (ie. NOT 40 degrees and full sun) attracted huge crowds of 30,000 on the Saturday and 45,000 on the Sunday. A group of us joined the crowd on the Sunday to enjoy the sights and sounds of some historic as well as state-of-the-art aircraft. Some waited in the long queues for an experience inside a Hercules C-130 transport (complete with an all-too-brief visit to the cockpit) while others enjoyed watching the police dog show, listening to the bands and checking out the numerous types of parked aircraft close up. The highlight was no doubt the jaw-dropping handling display of the FA-18 Hornet, complete with chest-reverberating after-burner passes and pull-ups, although being close to the iconic Boeing 707 and wide-body C-17 take-offs and landings was also pretty awe-inspiring. The journey to and from the air base by train was quite easy and included a free walk across the airport runway as well. Rumour has it that Sydney won't see another air-show like it ever again!

Salsa Cruise, Sydney Harbour

Well what a night! We attended the Salsa Cruise which was completely sold out. We ate nibbles, drank wine and danced the Merenga and the basic Salsa. We socialised with another 100 people while watching the lights of Sydney Harbour. The salsa floor show was great entertainment and congratulations to Stuart who came equal first in the Salsa dance competition. Thanks to all that attended and made it a great night out.

Patonga Camping Weekend

Although it was a few weeks ago now, the memories are still fresh, especially of the emergency decamp on the Sunday morning when the violent westerly winds arrived suddenly and put an end to our relaxation. At that point, tents and tarps thoughout the camp decided they had rather be in New Zealand, and did their best to depart for there. Nevertheless, up until that time, they had been enjoying a very pleasant time in the great outdoors, getting back to basics, and testing their survival skills to the limits, trying to keep beverages cold and hoping to remember the code to the ablutions block. There was a bit of sport played over the weekend too, with the Curries in particular showing their prowess on the tennis court and the cricket field during the Patonga test match.

Lane Cove Aquatic Centre

We were lucky that it stopped raining and we staggered over to Lane Cove in the morning. The 3 indoor pools were all awesome. The kiddies pool was nice and warm, the spa was a treat for the adults.

Tribal Zone and Lunch, North Ryde

This was a great success. It is a great place for the younger ones with video games, bowlingo and lots of kids activities. Both adults and kids enjoyed dinner and drinks that followed.

Newport Arms

The weather turned cool but this didn't deter anyone as we had a great turn out. The older kids got themselves a table and had a great game of trivial pursuit while the younger ones had a play in the playground. We had two new members attend with their children.

Beer Und Bratwurst Mit Heidi, Pennant Hills

Ve haf vays of making you enjoy yourself! Ve had weisswurst, bratwurst, kranksky, sauerkraut, kartoffel salat, strudel, dortmunder beer und apfel korn!!! Revellers turned a gathering into a party and we did not even open the jatz. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the next party. Big thanks to everyone who helped on the night.

Picnic and Barbecue, Ruddock Park

We braved the heat at Ruddock Park on Saturday. The kids had a good round of running and riding their bikes, while the adults catch up with each other. We left at about 12pm so that the children could have a good rest in the comfy cool car or at home, while other adults also rested to prepare for the party at Heidi's in the evening.

‘Scared Scriptless’ Theatre Sports Live, Leichardt

We descended on the Clarence Hotel to watch a very funny, live ad-lib theatre sports show. There were lots of laughs as we were invited to loudly boo, or clap and yell our encouragement to the actors on stage. Jayne was asked up to act as the prompt for one of the skits. 3 members were new to SPFA, so they had a great introduction to how much fun we can have as a group.

Cockatoo Island

We had a great day being quite warm right up until the time tour ended when the southerly change came through right on queue just as we boarded the ferry. The tour was interesting and informative and well worth while. Afterwards most went there own way which was basically looking around the rocks while a few others meet up with some other SinglewithChildren members and visited the Lord Nelson hotel which was another fun outing.

Giant IMAX Screen, Darling Harbour

There we went on a 3D underwater tour seeing the bizarre and fascinating behavior of different forms of marine life. Some of us later enjoyed the water features and other attractions of Darling Harbour with the kids.

Drinks and Dinner, Lane Cove

We ended up joining in a 50th birthday party and the kids were given sausages and birthday cake in addition to the usual Thai feast. Some people took their kids home to bed, while a small group of adults went on afterwards to a pub in Crows Nest to watch a band play and have a dance, finishing in the wee hours of the following morning.

Lazer Runner, Blacktown

The children at the Lazer runner sweated out for a 1.5 hours unlimited games. Mums and dads just chatted around while waiting. There was so much fun for everyone, Liane was the base keeper until she got struck by a natural born killer who would get to anything to reach her goal.

Yum Cha, North Ryde RSL

We were able to leave our children in Tribal Zone downstairs and enjoy our YumCha upstairs. The adults indulge in food as the kids went wild in the playarea. Endless dishes of timsum were placed on our tables, spring rolls, prawn toasts, hargows, chinese broccolis, Yum... The highly recommended dessert is Mango pancake, which is a cream and mango wrapped in smooth and soft pancake. The kids also loved the bird sanctuary next to the lobby.

Review of September Functions

Night Out Dancing, Parramatta RSL

On Saturday night, we had a huge group turn up. Some old members, some new, and some we had not seen for a while. It was a good chance to catch up with everyone and enjoy the company of our SinglewithChildren friends.

Golden Ridge Animal Farm, Dural

We started off patting baby chicks, ducks, and rabbits. Then headed off for a tour around the farm feeding sheep and goats. There are also one attention-seeking sheepdog, one donkey, one ostrich (yes, ostrich, not emu), one alpaca, and some ponies. The children had hands-on practice in milking a mother cow and feeding bottles of milk to very hungry lambs and goats and a calf. After lunch, we also get a ride in a cart pulled by a tractor. This is a truly farm in the city on a gorgeous sunny day. I wonder if everyone remembered to clean their shoes before getting into the car... there were lots and lots of animal dung around and we were not able to avoid them all.

Drinks and Dinner, Lane Cove

It was a wonderful night on Friday at the Lane Cove West Bowling Club. With the sun setting later, the kids were able to go mad running about on the greens before and after dinner. The price of the dinner was delicious and a bargain and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Seri Malaya Restaurant

The waitress was kind enough to suggest half a dozen dishes to form a banquet for us, including what must be their signature dish, butter prawns! Mmmmm. We all had plenty to talk about, including a purely ‘historical’ discussion on the use of clubs, whips and chains used in the past by the NSW Department of Correctional Services, of which are being put on display at a museum in Cooma.

Warren’s New House Dance Party

It was a great turnout at Warren’s new place which offered lots of opportunities for mingling or dancing. We had a healthy mix of old and new faces getting together on a fine Saturday night to enjoy Warren’s hospitality.

Indoor Rock Climbing

Adults and children turned up for a few hours climbing the ropes at St Leonards. With a few admirable exceptions, the adults stayed on Terra Firma acting as belayers for the kids who amazed us with their aerial feats, with even youngsters of 4 years and under rising to great heights. The kids gained confidence, often surprising themselves with their efforts while the belayers sought relief for rope burns but all agreed they would like to repeat the experience in the future.

Vineyard Bar and Restaurant

It was a cosy and very relaxed atmosphere which was conducive to conversation, we were able to chat with many new faces. Food and wines were thoroughly enjoyed. We enjoyed ourselves and feel the venue is worth a re–visit.

Lovers... of Reading

We took a spiritual journey to the Pennant Hills Bowling Club on Friday 8 September to indulge in Paulo Coelho's ‘The Pilgrimage’. The book was enjoyed by all and proved to be a good book for discussion. After the discussion there is plenty of time to party on. October meeting is scheduled for the second half of the month, details to follow in the next few weeks.

Dinner and Band at the Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill

We arrived at a very busy night at the Mean Fiddler. Luckily we booked a room for ourselves. We could venture out from our little haven to the bistro and the bar and even down to the Woolshed for a dance (to the not so good band playing for the night). We could choose to relax and chat (and even be heard) or dance. It was a good night.

Twilight at Wonderbowl, Castle Hill

We had a great night at Wonderbowl. Everyone was enthusiastic to do well. Ending scores were very good, with Heidi a clear leader on more than 150 and daylight second! Hot dogs were passable - might upgrade to hamburgers next time! From there, some of us kicked onto the Mean Fiddler to meet up with the dinner/dance event. Some danced to the band (which was quite good), others chatted in our special room.

Sydney Ice Arena at Baulkam Hills

We felt like the characters in Disney on Ice on Sunday at the Sydney Ice Arena, without Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck of course. All of us had fun and it was a great way to celebrate Father's Day.

Dinner and Classical Music at St Patrick's Estate, Manly

Members and friends dined in the impressive, and historic dining hall, within the gothic grandeur of International College of Hotel Management before joining other concert goers. Most of us had not been in the chapel since attending Nic’s wedding a few months ago. So this occasion was somewhat different, with the magnificent voice of the baritone filling the vaulted space of the chapel accompanied by the fine performance of the pianist. Of course, our ladies, looked gorgeous but were not matched in terms of numbers (or looks) by the males.

Review of August Functions

Picnic and Barbecue at Parramatta Park

What a lovely sunny day we had. Ray took us to a walking tour of this historical park. We met some fans before the big game started between Broncos and Parramatta. Also we were able to have a peek at the cheerleaders dancing in the Parramatta stadium. Pictures are coming to SPFA Friends.

Games night at Mosman

We played Tipayatung and Taboo which are board games. We drank some wine, then tried to make up the rules for the games as there weren’t any in the box. We ate lots of cheese and biccies, and discussed everything from Jervis Bay oceanography to the engineering of conveyor belts.

Eastwood Gardens Peking Restaurant

A sumptuous banquet of unique Northern Chinese cuisine was provided at a very reasonable price and enjoyed by all who attended. Those in the mood for a little boogie kicked on at the Epping Hotel with drinks and dancing to live music by the One Hit Wonders.

Cycling and Exploring Olympic Park

A group of new and prospective members enjoyed the sunshine and some of the many attractions that Olympic Park offers. There are many kilometres of great cycle tracks through wetlands and other terrain including spiral tracks to the top of man made hills with views over the entire area. The new mountain X track, a site of major mountain bike competitions, is open to the public. The awesome 1 km ring walk was suspended 18 metres above a disused 100 year old brick pit. We left determined to return and wondered why more people don’t experience these wonderful facilities.

Star of Thailand Restaurant

Friday night at the Star of Thailand was a wonderful night. The great venue was matched with reasonably priced and great food. A few of us (the rockers) kicked onto PJ Gallaghers to dance the night away.

Kids’ Disco and Birthday Party

A fun birthday party was held by Daniela. We turned Concord RSL into a swinging kids disco dance party. Not alot of the Chinese buffet was eaten but plenty of jelly and cake. This is a fun and easy place to have a kids birthday party which is highly recommended. It is held every Sunday night, booking is preferred. The DJ was great as usual with musical chairs and limbo and other fun things for the kids, thanks to those who attended.

Jiminex Mexican Restaurant

The restaurant was great - great atmosphere and good, friendly service. The food was excellent with very generous servings. We had a fun night. A good deal of laughter was heard. Hopefully the new and potential members enjoyed themselves (they seemed to). We moved on to The Bull and Bush after the meal. We stayed there about an hour and then all went our separate ways.

Review of July Functions

Seafood BBQ at John’s

Members and visitors remained undaunted and located Mike’s house with unerring accuracy. The seafood BBQ was a great success - John would make someone a wonderful cook! Wine, beer and sunshine were added to the seafood to make for a great afternoon, and the children had fun with cards, balls and running around. So John... when's the next seafood BBQ happening?

Picnic Afternoon at Somersby Falls

The picnic at Somersby Falls was a lovely day out. We had a great time playing badminton and then a bushwalk down to the bottom of the falls and along the creek. The weather was gorgeous and we’re planning our next trip there again some time soon.

Comedy Night at Hornsby Inn

A group of members and friends attended the dinner and comedy night at Hornsby Inn. Steve Philp was the comedian compere, with Dave Bloustein and Jason ‘Rash’ Ryder as the featured acts. As usual, the humour was a lovely shade of blue, with a generous sprinkling of four-letter words, combined with some other quite interesting word-pictures. There were a couple of young boys in our happy group as well, who would’ve had their mouths washed out with soap and water if they’d gone home to their Mother repeating some of the jokes they learnt on the evening. But they did teach young Cindy a thing or two about how to Hoover down a chocolate ice-cream sundae. Watch out for our next comedy evening visit on Friday 29 September.

Chill out Night

It was a great chill out night with current and new friends. We extend a warm welcome to the 5 new potential members from lower north shore to the group and hope to see you all again at our new functions.

Lunch at Epping Hotel

What a wonderful Sunday to bring the family to the newly refurbished Epping Hotel! We enjoyed the sumptuous meal at the Hotel bistro, ranging from light meals to full meals. The adults relaxed with a cup of coffee after the party night, while the children enjoyed their ice-cream, colouring, and gameboys. No playgrounds in the hotel? No problems, a short walk to Boronia Park got them exhausted in 2 hours.

Christmas in July Party

Santa brought members and visitors a great Christmas in July gift - the rain cleared up and it wasn’t too cold. We all enjoyed Mike’s great house, his special punch, his fireplace, the wonderful Christmas dishes everybody brought and the dancing. Why, all the cool cats from around the traps turn up at Mike’s! Yes, it was a great return to BIG SinglewithChildren parties! There are photos of the night now loaded to SPFA-Friends.

Dinner and Drinks at Lower North Shore

Some potential members joined us at Seri Malaya for a terrific Thai banquet with 2 entrees and 5 mains. For those who missed out on the good food, we are returning to this restaurant in September, so join us then.

Ten Pin Bowling at Castle Hill

A great turnout for bowling battling it out over 5 lanes. Half a dozen of adults were catching up in the cafeteria. We also welcomed new members and their families to our group. Bowling heavyweights (from a strike perspective) Russell and Heidi looked the goods until surprise packet Cindy got serious and dialed in a colossal 175 on her second game to oust a dumbstruck Rob with a meagre 154.

Family Afternoon Barbecue at Winston Hills

Not a great day for an outdoor BBQ, however we had the Committee (with siblings) and other members turnup. Bruce’s wonderful outdoor entertaining area came to the rescue so while the adults chatted and drank outdoors, the kids played Monopoly (yes, a real game) and the X-Box. So in the end the weather held out and everyone had a most enjoyable time.

Lovers... of Reading

The joys of Mary Shelley’s famous Frankenstein work were shared by three of our more well read members on what was a bleak, showery Winters night, with the wind howling through bare branches, naked of the leaves they shed in Autumn, like a wolf crying for it’s mate. Oh dear, got carried away... anyway they watched the 1930’s original movie after the discussion (now that’s more my style - pass the popcorn!).

Lunch at the Mean Fiddler

On a great Sunday afternoon members and their children turned up to enjoy a relaxing time at this historic venue. They ate lunch at a table close to the band and while the adults talked, the children played in the new playground. Excitement reached fever pitch as the children discovered there was a children’s zoo, with a pony, sheep and ducks! The evening finally ended around 6:30pm.

Cool Jazz at the Opera Bar

Members turned out at this grand location to enjoy some light jazz while sipping wine and beer with a backdrop of the Harbour Bridge as ferries and sailing boats ploughed Sydney Harbour. Later we moved to the warmth of an indoors bar to enjoy a striking red sunset, the sun beaming through the black skeleton of the Bridge.

Family Day at the Lane Cove Aquatic Centre

The 3 indoor pools were all the rage. The lap pool was for the serious budding swimmer. The little kiddies pool was delightfully warm, the larger indoor pool was good for a splash too. We stayed til 5:30pm then got fish and chips from Lane Cove village shops.

Retro Night at Wentworthville Leagues Club

The Retro night was a night for serious dancing, lots of ceroc dancing to those classic hits from the 70s through to current music.

Family and Adult Lunch at Castle Hill RSL

Family meals, kids meals, outdoor dining, playarea... This is what we found in the refurbished Castle Hill RSL Club. Adults and children enjoying the delicious meals in the Atrium bistro. Then the kids had a jolly good time at the playarea, while the adults soaked up the winter sun and caught up with old friends and made new ones.

IL Bolognese Italian Restaurant at Gladesville

This was truly an unforgettable evening in the warm and relaxed "private" room! The finest Italian food kept coming, Tortellini alla Boscaiola, Penne Ammatriciana, Veal alla Parmigiana, Chicken Marsala, and ice cream for sweets. Yummmmmy! Although we were a huge bunch, we still could not even finish all the food. We finished the night with coffee.