Flower splendour

A few flower moments I had this past Spring.

Some from the garden,

some taken along the road,

some in vases on my table.

Enjoy!!

Aroma Festival

Many Sundays ago, in fact it was in June this year that I went with friends to town by train to the Aroma Festival at The Rocks, Sydney. I started this post the week after the festival but since have  forgotten about it.  I still think it is an interesting little bit of daily news I can add.


What a pleasure it was to walk around in the streets amongst so many people with the aroma of coffee and yummy food all over.


I must say I am not the greatest coffee connoisseur but I do appreciate the aroma.


I had freshly baked Dutch Poffertjes with chocolate. There was so much to choose from. All so tempting!!


We ventured into little alley ways which again was new to me. So much more to discover in this beautiful city of ours.

Make over

We were given a pine cupboard/dresser by friends who inherited it with a newly bought house. I was very grateful for the gift because it provided much needed packing space, but I do not have any love lost for pine. So for months was I dreaming of painting it but my husband thinks it is sacrilege to paint wood. It comes easy for me but I would definitely not paint precious wood or pieces of furniture.

So one Sunday afternoon my daughter and I tackled the job. What fun I had to experience the transformation.

Everybody that comes in remark on how beautiful it looks and how much it changes the atmosphere of the place. Even some men have noticed the difference!!

The painting on the easel was my second since arriving in Australia almost 2 years ago. It is a shame but as most ex-pats know does it take a while for one to find your equilibrium again, but I do think I am getting there. It was a thank you gift so I was forcing myself to start and complete it.

I love my cupboard!!

Dad's visit 3

Featherdale Park

As a rule do I not like zoos but if you want to show visitors the interesting wild life of OZ is it necessary to succumb at times.

Wallabies

So off we went to Featherdale Wildlife Park in Blacktown, Sydney. It was great and I think we saw everything accept the platypus. Can't think there can be any more of these strange Australian animals around.

                          Frog mouths 

The koalas specially are absolutely gorgeous. They sleep most of the time because their diet, which consists only of eucalyptus leaves are very low in nutritional value. I only discovered to my dismay last year that they are also marsupials. My very learned friend from SA was just as surprised as me to gain that little bit of knowledge. Made me feel better...

I am also able to tell the difference between a kangaroo and a wallaby after our visit. A wallaby's coat has different colours where as a kangaroo's is only one colour. the Wallabies' tales are also thinner and shorter (I think..) and also the jaw bone structure of a Wallaby is different. I think the colour is the easier and more obvious difference.

 

Echidna

                                       Wombat
The colourful and varied noises/songs the birds make was great to experience.

The fish and chips at the canteen was lovely and very affordable and the curio shop is well stocked with interesting souvenirs.

All in all a worthwhile outing with visitors.

First day on the beach!!

Summer came last week for a day and a bit and then it was gone. We are all holding our breaths.. When oh when??

Anyway, I was lured away by Tania on Tuesday morning to trek down to the beach (living in Sydney doesn't mean it's just a 10 min drive, no no, 45 minutes plus!!)

We went to Fresh Waters close to Dee Why, Northern beaches.

What a glorious idea and day it was . Thanks friend :)

 

 

Dad's visit (2)

Half way mark...turning 50!!

Turning 50 was at first a daunting thought but then my mind opened up and I decided to tackle it head on and make something big of it. Maybe it is because we are settling into a new country, maybe it's because I've lost my brother when he was only 41, maybe it's because I wanted to share the day and my life with friends, maybe it's because there's so much more to do and see or maybe it's just because I am so grateful to be alive and are blessed beyond words. All of the above!!

I had no family at the celebration, which was sad but lots of wonderful friends were there who have become my adopted family.

Our dear friends Debbie and Gavin opened up their home and hearts for us and we had a great time at their house.

I put together a slide show of my life. From baby days to present, all the things I have done before hubby and all the things we have done together as a family. It was great, accept that the time frame between each slide was too short and I couldn't elaborate on some pictures. Maybe it was a good thing because some friends might have gotten bored.

Then hubby surprised me and also had a sweet celebration slide show to my honour. He got some friends (all ex pats in other countries) to compile beautiful video clips and writings. It was so special, thanks again guys.

The best of all hubby got our son, Gustaf who studies in Cape Town, South Africa on skype. Gustaf said the nicest things to his mom in front of all present.

What a great time I had, thanks to all who came!!

Speach time - Looks like I said something funny...

Listening to Gustaf on skype

Watching hubby's slide show

I love my family:)

Missing you Gustaf!! Will take another family picture when you come in a few weeks time. xxx

Dad's visit

My dad and his wife came to visit us for 2 weeks. It was short but packed full with lots of sight seeing, experiencing the Australian bush lands with all the amazing bird life and Eucalyptus trees and catching up on together time. He is so blessed to have such good health at 80!!

I'll share some of our outings in a few installments.

Scotland Island  - I first got to know of Scotland Island when I read a book of Susan Duncan, an Australian author who lives at Lovett Bay in the area. It is part of Sydney Northern Beaches and more specific Pittwater. The link is to big to post here.

Their mode of transport is a little 'tinny' with an outboard engine or the public ferry. Would be great as a weekender but not for a permanent dwelling, specially if one has kids. There are quite a few families living there who love the life style.

The walkway up from one of the jetties.


















The jetty at Tennis Bay
















I think this is the authors' house who lives on the mainland opposite Scotland Island. This area is part of the Kuring-gai Chase National Park. Wildlife in abundance.




 

Dad enjoying the leisurely ride.

Lazy Saturday

When last have I had a Saturday where I only got showered and dressed at one in the afternoon??!!! What fun!!

Hubby took our son to the airport at 4am. He will be visiting my brother in a 'remote' little town in Western Australia for a few weeks.

It is raining on and off and definitely not a day to do anything constructive... The rest of the morning and afternoon was spent reading, reading and more reading. My family is actually quite surprised that I managed to stay still for so long. My eyes are quite tired. But what fun!!

I am reading 'The Girl in Times Square' by Paullina Simons. We've had a few of her books in our book club back in South Africa. Enjoyable read.

Think it's time for me to go back to reading.

Hubby again doing the rounds, he's taking our daughter to a sleep over birthday party.

What shall we do tonight, just us, go out or stay in and read...???

Where have I been??

It is so long since I've written anything on my blog.

What a shame!!

I do go and visit my blog friends often but just haven't been able to put something down. Work, other priorities and family visiting, those things are to blame!! Excuses excuses...

You are all still so very welcome to come and visit. My hospitality will know no bounds