First day at the new school, my last.

As I was going to the airport 4 of Nicki's children went off to their new school - NBCS- in their new uniforms. Will miss you all dearly! Thanks for putting up with me for so long! Keep brushing those teeth. And, as Arnold S said, I'll .....

Shopping in style

We went to the organic farmers' market in Sheba's 1966 baby blue Mustang this morning!

Australia Day 26th January

You know that you are an Aussie if..
you are secretly proud of your killer wildlife
you think it is normal to have a leader called Kevin
you believe it makes sense to have a $1 coin that is twice s big as a $2 dollar coin
you believe that cooked down axle grease makes a good breakfast spread
you know it's not summer until your steering wheel is too hot to handle

Happy Australia Day!!

my revenge

chocolate

Guess who has the packet of Daim chocolates?

Frangipane

Flower - typical of gardens on the Northern Beaches

cookery class

My nephew Harley went to a junior chef class yesterday and prepared this meal for me!
Summer fruit salad

spatchcock chicken with baby zuccini, and passion fruit, mango and coconut cake.. all absolutely delicious. Well done Harley!

Mum in Oz

Mum was here briefly, enough time for a trip to the Hunter valley, a rainy day in Sydney, a walk along Long Reef and a dip in the pool.

Nicki and I

3 boys

Mr Helpful on my terms: Hunter

Mr Irascible without an appetite for breakfast: Jordan
Mr Contrary who excels in hating most things: Morgan

Monopoly

Would you play Monopoly with any of these shady characters?

surf lifesaving

In response to the dangers of the sea, the New South Wales Surf bathing association was formed in 1907 and then became a national body. All members are volunteers and commit themselves to patrol one day a month. Harley is a junior lifesurfer....and will go to be an adult lifesaver in a couple of years. Dalmo (see previous post) has also qualified at Coogie beach. The probability of drowning in Australia is dramatically reduced when swimming between the warning red and yellow flags set up by the association.

As for Bondi.........

Well, to use a good English expression, Bondi is a completely different kettle of fish!

What a spectacular place! ..and the dress code is quite different.

what they wear on the beach

Well, what some of them wear on some of the beaches.. excluding Bondi.

rashies - the tops

boardies - the bottoms

and a hat of course.....no swimming without googles either!

This picture was taken at the rock pool on Whale beach the other day.

Family - unknown.

another mission

This is Dalmo (and son Ariel), an ex-student of mine who also came out here a few years ago and hasn't looked back. My mission was to meet up with him again and deliver a present from Fernando. Mission accomplished! His parents are here visiting at the mo and they came up to see the northern beaches and we had tea together while the kids challenged each other on Guitar Hero.

mission accomplished

I met Alessandra Liborio, Socorro's daughter in Sydney the other day. She came here 5 years ago to study and has now made Sydney her home. I had stuff her mum had sent over for her which included hospital plaster! Espaladrapo!! Figure that one out!

A trip to the zoo

one of Sydney's highlights for people of any age! Taronga Zoo. Amazing!

Just what I always wanted

Look what I picked up at the pool shop the other day, fits the bill perfectly.

For your info

Thought it might be interesting to have an idea of exactly where I am.. ocean just a block away and Pittwater behind.

the sights

Went into central Sydney yesterday and did the sights starting at the botanical gardens, museum of art, walking round to the opera house then by the bridge, across town to Darling harbour and then the lovely victorian arcades in the city centre before stopping for a friand and coffee. Tourist guide: 9 year old Hunter fueled on ice-cream.

Later that day...

..blue skies but the surf was just too big.