{What a wonderful RETREAT}

I have just had the best 4 days that I have had in ages.....

I will start with Thursday, Leah and I left for Dubbo at about 6.30am we arrived with about an hour to spare so we sat down for hot chocolate.... Leah added her sugar and I thought I did as well but I obviously can't read very well because I added salt to mine and nearly spewed when I had my first little drink. It was really gross and all I could do was LAUGH... Leah laughed more I think!!! we had about 10mins before we needed to board the plane and I thought I would just grab my bottle of water out of the car so we went outside and ran into Jenny Hargraves and chatted for a bit explaining we were going to Sydney for 4 days of scrapbooking (people really look at you funny when you say your going on a retreat) so we said Classes instead... anyway I went and got the water and we came back into the airport and the lady that checked us in yelled at us were we supposed to be on that plane??? UMMMMM YES anyway we ran out the door and onto the plane, she said it was just about to leave without us :0( once we were safe on the plane and on our way to Sydney all we could do was laugh!

We got to the airport and waited to meet our new best friend Briony, I was nervous about meeting IRL and I had Leah with me I can only imagine what was going thru Briony's head..... anyway we all got on like a house on fire and I am sure we are going to be great friends for a long time to come yet :o)

We caught a train to Turramurra station and if I ever have to drag a suitcase up another flight of stairs it will be to soon...... and then got in a taxi only to find that he had no idea where Glengarry house was and we had no address so we rang Kristin and she got on the website to find Sonia's mobile number but by this stage we had found where we wanted to go anyway! I can't believe that taxi drivers have no idea they should all have GPS systems in their cabs...

We were warmly greeted at the door and then I finally got to meet Sonia. Sonia would have to be one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life, she is so happy and bubbly, just a beautiful person all round. I am so glad that I am on her design team, as it has given me this opportunity to meet alot of wonderful people.

Now I have only ever been to 2 other retreat type of weekends my first was Collerina and Leah and I only went for the day and I would have loved to have spent the night, and the other being Louth last year..... both were good but the Forever Always retreat is hands down the best ever!! Sonia should be so proud of herself and family for being able to organise such a wonderful 4 days of relaxation any scrapper could ask for. I definitely encourage anyone who reads this blog to try and make it to one next year they run in Feb, May and Sept, Girls in Feb when I come back I will only be bringing my clothes LOL cause that is seriously all you need to bring when you don't have the luxury of being able to live closer to the city.

Thursday night I got settled in and did about 4 LO's and on Friday I finished the other 2 and painted a ribbon box, and chatted for most of the night.

The only other thing I did was a little bind it all handbag for the girls to play with.... I really didn't do too much as I was to busy chatting and having fun as you can tell by this crazy photo of me and Leah

On the Friday morning I taught a mini album class now this was an experience for me I am such a sucky teacher! lucky Sonia was there to help me ;o) Every ones albums turned out beautifully so the instructions I gave must have been ok!

I sat next to 2 of the nicest ladies, Gran and Di I had so much fun with them and even bribed them into cleaning up my ribbons for me.... it took some bribing but they did a beautiful job and my ribbons look so tidy! They said I need to keep it like it LOL... it wont take long and it will be a mess again.

Gran and Di are not scrapbookers but Briony took some photos of me up singing Skater Boy and the decided they would surprise me and do a LO of me singing, it was just beautiful and I will cherish it forever even if the photos of me are not the best :o(

I was very spoiled over the weekend as well I have participated in 2 Pay it Forwards, I received a beautiful box to hold my acrylic stamps in from Sonia and a crystal ball sun catcher from Paula. Since it is my birthday on Friday I also had a early birthday cake with Paula who is celebrating her birthday tomorrow, Happy Birthday Paula.... and Sonia also gave me a beautiful necklace that she made. On Sat night they drew all the lucky door prizes and Sonia thanked the DT for helping throughout the weekend.... and once again I was spoiled Sonia is so talented she made all these beautiful bags which I had been eyeing off all weekend as it was one of the lucky door prizes and I had been asking how to make them, not that I need to learn now as Sonia made me the most beautiful bag I have ever seen I have used it everyday and everyone has been commenting on how nice it is.

I had so much fun, met so many nice people and I can't wait to meet up with everyone again.

On the trip home we go charged excess baggage $96.00 bloody hell I could have had it freighted home cheaper than that!

Thanks once again to Sonia, Bianca, Gran, Di you all do and amazing job!

It was great to get away but I missed my girls a lot.... Leah and I only sooked it once... LOL it was all my fault though! Leah, Briony and I are definitely going back in May 08, so if anyone would like to come with us I can assure you it is totally worth it!

I am sure I have forgotten something that I wanted to share but when I remember I will, when I get some of Sonia's photos I will share also.

Have a great night.

Amie xx