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

Citizens of the world

Friends of friends are visiting us for a few days.

I am sure it is a very familiar occurance for ex-pats. A friend or friends of you are going to a certain part of the world and you just happen to have 'a friend' living there... Great, and new friendships are made!! How wonderful.

Well I am very sure if we do, or rather when we go to Holland as part of a trip to Europe our 'new friends' will welcome us with open arms and be very eager to share their lovely country with us.

Another dear friend of mine from Florida, USA, is presently visiting a friend in Holland and last week she was visiting another in France. None of the two ladies has she ever met. They are both friends on her blog, both South Africans, and the friendships have grown to two invitations. Amazing!!!! What shall we DO without internet in our lives...?? And better still, do without friendships!!

Just want to let you know that you are always welcome to send a friend along,  because our lives have just become a little more complete and richer for getting to know this lovely family from Holland. (better still, you come and visit yourself) And did we 'kuier' (visit) !  All in Dutch and Afrikaans :)

                           A forest full of friends...

      ...different like the bathers at Bondi beach...

          
  ...colourful like the flowers from my garden...

"Those who live in the Lord never see each other for the last time."

Birthdays and friends

We celebrated with lots of other South African friends a mutual friend's 50th birthday a couple of weeks ago. I don't know when last have I been part of a group where all the people were Afrikaans speaking or could at least understand it perfectly. I didn't count but I think we were about 30 all together.  What a great function it was. (Not because of the Afrikaans... :)) The family went to such a lot of trouble to show their Dad how much they love and appreciate him. Well done Alberts family!!!

Carin said that a friend said to them at their farewell party in Cape Town years ago, " There are wonderful friends waiting for you over in Sydney, you just haven't met them yet." And here they are a few years later and surrounded by so many friends. They are having a breakfast in spring with all their English speaking friends.

On our invitation Carin wrote, "You are not part of our past but definitely part of our future" (We've only known them for a few months). That was very special to me. One gives up so much when you leave your country behind and in our case SA and then Spain, that one some times feel discourage about the friendship factor and here we are already surrounded by great friends and are we looking forward to build a future with them all.

Last Saturday Carli had her group of friends here for her party and the house was full a girlie laughter and noise. What fun they had.

Last night  I went to a grown up girlie night to celebrate Annemarie's 40th birthday. (Another new found friend with whom I am building a future with!) We were mostly friends from church and we went out to the Blu Grill and also made a lot of noise and had great food and fun.  And to top it all, the Dutch team beat Brazil in soccer and was it a double celebration for Annemarie!! Whoopi Hoeks!! (And I have to put it in here, Rafa Nadal is through to the finals for another Wimbledon win!! Go Rafa go!!)

It's hard work to build new friendships but so rewarding. Thanks to all who is part of my life!!

                    Friends give colour to our lives

Proudly South African!!

I got this link from my friend Ingrid and thought this needs to be shared with you all.

This is one of the reasons my emotions are running havoc with me.  

ENJOY!!

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/preparing_for_the_world_cup.html

 

First crochet project

I started on this blanket for Carli a while ago and just when I thought the end is in sight did I decide to add on a row or two. It was just too small to make it worth the effort so here I am crocheting again.

I was inspired by Sam my very creative and industrious friend while living in Spain. She always has some project she's busy with. So here I am Sam, after 16 months in Ozland following suit. Another week or two and it will be finished.

This is my first ever crochet project so I am very proud of myself.. One needs to get praise from some where :)

Emotions!!!

I haven't been active for quite a while due to various things happening and emotions I had to deal with.

I did my orientation with the New South Wales Dep. of Ed. and Training the previous week and 5 days of in school assessment last week. All went well and apparently I am still fit and able to teach. Yeah for me!! So now to go and hand out my shortened version of my resume to different schools in the area. We'll see if they like my face :)

On the emotional side, without blabbing too many personal details I'll just say that moving abroad is not for sissies. We left South Africa August 2006 and started a new life some where else and life carries on and life is good and then we got bad news from SA and the Soccer World Cup happens in your birthland and then.... And you are not so strong anymore.

But here we are, the sun is shining, I have a new washing machine, Carli had her 13th sleepover birthday party here last night, (lots of laughter and noise and tired eyes this morning..), we will be with friends later today and on we go! So many blessings and another sunrise with wonderful promises.

The photo was taken by a 'Weg Tydskrif' user.  Used with permisson.

Journeying through life

Would we have been scared, excited, unsure, exhilarated if we had known what the future holds for us as a young adult? Maybe all of the above, but we might not have had the courage to go on or on the other hand to storm ahead and don't learn the lessons that life has in store for you.

God knows best not to reveal the future but He promises that He will be there to guide us if we put our hand in His. It makes the journey so much more safe even in those times when life knocks you down and you barely can lift up your head and so much more joyful when your cup runneth over.

Enjoy your journey, and don't forget to be glad at the beginning of a new day and to give thanks at the end of a day.

I am 'stealing' a quote from a friend...

When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. (Wayne Dyer)

Images of Spain

I will put a few pictures of Spain on here when ever I miss the country with all it's beauty and different culture and life style.

Hope you will enjoy the little bits with me and share in a small way our wonderful experience while living there.

The following pictures are from my favourite Andalucian style village called Frigiliana, north of Malaga.