Australia Day, 26 january

I know I am a little bit late with this, but does time matter..? Last year Carli and I arrived in Australia on the 27th of Jan. so we missed our first celebration with the Nation.

That flag must be the size of a rugby field. The  flags on the bridge are already quite big.

We went into town by train and it was quite chaotic. Couldn't believe so many people could fit into it. Great fun!

One of a few well decorated yachts. On the background one can see the 4 tall ships(if you click on the photo it will enlarge)

Gaby hurt his ankle while on holiday so we could not move around as wanted but we 'parked' him in the Botanic Gardens and he was able to watch the ferry race and after that also the tall ship race. Lots of other exciting things were happening around him to keep him occupied.

I think this guy must have lost a few kilos wearing that suit in such extreme heat.

It was extremely hot that day. Close to 40 degrees if I remember correctly so everybody was protected against the fierce sun. These Ozzies love the sun but also take good care to protect themselves. Surely there will always be those who think they are invincible but generally a hat is part of the attire.

All the flags and painted faces and 'I love Australia' t-shirts reminded me of my visit to the USA where we celebrated 4th of July with the De Bruyns in Atlanta. I think the Americans tops the Ozzies with patriotism and celebrations but this bunch gave them a good go.

I do enjoy this view of the city so much.

The motorshow was in Macquarie str and it was bliss to walk in shade looking at all the lovely cars. We wish you could be here Cesar to enjoy it with us.

Kids playing in a fouintain. I was desparate to join them.

Afterwards we went with Debbie and Gavin, SA friends to a street barbie which they organised. Ozzies, Polish, Jews, South Africans, Kiwis all enjoying a typical Ozzie barbie. We were totally spent after that.

 There are so many things going on at different places in town that one could entertain yourself and be entertained in many other ways. Becoming a citizen is also part of the celebrations. Where it was held in Sydney I do not know but in the smaller towns it is apparently a big part of the daily celebrations. We'll see when our day comes.. :)

Gustaf's visit (part 3)

Afternoon trip to Central Coast.

We went for a late afternoon swim to Avoca beach and Terrigal in the Central Coast just north of Sydney and Northen Beaches. There are a few lovely coastal towns.

A little bit of country from Avoca to Terrigal.

Note the colour of the sea. Always like that as I've said before.

See Ouma Bokkie we do have lots of rocks at our coasts. She hardly saw any in Spain at the Med when they visited Gaby's brother.

Note the long beach in the back ground. A looong walk.

Interesting rock formations at Terrigal beach.

Life at the sea...

Gustaf's visit (part2)

Sunday at Manly

(Remember you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them)

 
On Sundays we often make use of a family pass that costs us $2.50 per person. Then one can take as many trains, buses or ferries as you want to. Economical for us. The public transport is quite pricey as everything else here in Sydney.

This day we went into town and then took a ferrie out to Manly, a popular beach  for surfers as well as for families.

The volley ball nets are there for public use.
















If you take the promenade to the right you walk into a nature reserve and end up at North Head one of the entry points into Sydney harbour area. We have walked there on other visits. It is quite spectacular the scenery and there is a type of vegetation that reminds us of the Cape Fynbos. Gaby read that it is a plant community endemic to Australia and that reserve is the only place where it is found. So obviously well protected. We didn't know that previously so will take note next time we walk there.

Street cafes in the main walkway down to the beach.







Another pretty view of the operahouse and city.

Gustaf is visiting (part 1)

Gustaf arrived on the 3rd December. And the dynamics of the household changed instantaneously. Like Elaine, a friend said when her 2 Uni boys arrived for the holidays, 'They do take up a lot of space'. I so agree with that statement! More noise, more washing, more clutter and more dishes and lots more fun!! It has been 11 months since we saw him last and the family reunion was GREAT!!

Here are some pictures of our time spend together up till now. I might have to create new posts/headings ever so often to make it easier to manipulate.


First day in Sydney
 

There are thousands of Flying Foxes/fruit bats hanging in the trees in the Botanical Gardens. It is quite a sight to see them fly off at dusk to go and feed.

 



















The sulfur crested cockatoo is very common and reminds me of the noisy Hadedas in RSA. If ever, please not, I am not living here would I also miss them like I missed the hadedas when living in Spain.

I think one pays $80 to walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge. One is attached to railings with a harness. Next time...?

Sydney is magic at night. The picture of the people at the Opera House is taken late afternoon on a Saturday. Some are leisurely awaiting a show while others just walk around, enjoying the surrounds.

Advance Australia Fair

I stood in the galery at Carli's school at the end year prize giving assembly looking down at my daughter where she is standing up right and singing with her schoolmates the Australian national anthem. It reminded me of our/my days at Arcadia Primary and Waterkloof Primary.

It was my first time having the opportunity to sing the National Anthem and suddenly I was confronted with the option would I sing along or not..to be or not to be...conforming, accepting, disregarding, enjoying, embracing, forgetting... what shall it be? I experienced in those few minutes a mixture of emotions which I could not explain to myself and am still having troubles with. Gustaf standing next to me detected a shiny eye and gave a supporting chuckle and said, "Our's (meaning the South African Anthem) is nicer." To which I respond, yeah but this is also nice and has beautiful words.

Am I ready to let go of 'Nkosi Sikele Africa..' I don't know, I am soooo proud to tell people I am a South African and an African for that matter but here I am in a new country who has opened her doors and arms to us and is giving us an opportunity no make a new life for us amongst her inhabitants.

Maybe it rather has to be be, embracing the new and appreciate and remember the past.  One doesn't need to 'let go'.

I do hope some of you expats can identify with me and I would like to hear from you how you coped with all the unfamiliar emotions you are experiencing or had experienced.

Gaby often tells me we are sojourners, only passing through.  But the reality is that there are so many things and people clinging to your heart and to the soles of your feet.

'Advance Australia Fair' is the refrain at the end of each verse and it will become my heart's refrain...in time I trust...in time.

First visit to Orange, NSW

Gaby and I went to Orange on Monday. Orange is a town/city with a population of about 35 000 and is about 280km's from Sydney, in NSW.




He had to go for a consultation session with their council. We slept in a Motor Inn (smart name for a Motel) which was quite smartly decorated and well equipped.

While he was working Tuesday I was galavanting all over town in a lovely Mitsubishi Pajero. Think it is the smartest car I ever drove and enjoyed it thoroughly. "I love that car!" Only the Ozzies will understand what I mean by that because of Mitsubishi adds on tv.

The trip was food for soul because we were out in the country and I saw cattle, sheep, horses, goats, chooks, wineries and fruit and cherry (is it a fruit..) orchards. The cherries were ripening and I had a few very sweet cherries to taste at different places.

The surrounds are lovely and the town, pardon me, city is very clean and I met lovely friendly people at various places. Lots going on in the area, the only negative it is not close to the sea (as if I've lived close to the sea all my life).

It gets very cold in winter and they often have snow. Must say if you have a well insulated and heated house the prospect of cooler summers sounds very enticing. Spain changed my outlook on hot summers for ever I think.

I had tea up in the 'mountain', a little 'mount' with a massive slice of carrot cake and with a King Parrot as company. The photo is misleading because it is a giant cup which they use as a bird feeder and water trough. I also had the company of the notorious Ozzie fly. My goodness golly what a nuisance they are. I know now why the Ozzies walk around in the bush with a hat and little corks and goodies attached to the rim, dangling around your face. Strange place we live in.

I visited their art gallery and library which were most impressive and also the most beautiful little nursery with the name of 'Anything Grows'. What a delight!!










Gaby and I stopped at a little pub restaurant and had some tappas and a beer each. Was lovely to sit outside when the day started cooling down.






Again, my apologies for the bad quality of the pictures. Hopefully we'll replace our stolen camera before we go on holiday in January.

What a great day I had!