Bits 'n Pieces

I can't believe it! We're moving again.....

• 15 August 2007: Moved from flat in Pinelands to new house in Parow
• 10 December 2007: Pack stuff destined for Australia into container
• 31 December 2007: Pack up everything else & move in with folks while waiting for visas
• 15 February 2008: Pack up remaining stuff for container ready for shipping
  
• 24 February 2008: Pack suitcases & fly to Australia
• 25 February 2008: Arrive in St Leonards in Sydney - unpack suitcases
• 9 March 2008: Move into Wahroonga apartment
  
• 19 June 2008: Container finally arrives - unpack
• 16 August 2008: Start packing for move to Mona Vale apartment
  

Gosh! I can't believe I'm doing this again - happily. I think one of the main reasons must be that when we moved to Aus, we lightened our load considerably. We've still got a fair amount of stuff - but we're not carting around nearly as much unnecessary junk as before.

So yes, I'm actually looking forward to this move. I'm sure this is helped along by the fact that we're moving from such a dark, cold apartment to such a bright, sunny, warm apartment just a few meters from the beach. :-)

And the packing begins....!

A little news from our side.... Scott finally got the increase that goes with his promotion - 2 months overdue but it's a pretty good increase so he's not complaining!

I started my new job at the Monash Country Club last Tuesday. I haven't really got into it yet because there has been no-one to hand over to me. Long story, but I'll start my training next week. But so far I love it. The setting is exquisite! And the people I'm working with seem really nice. Oh, and I get lunch made for me everyday - I'm being very good & have told the kitchen to make me salad only - yesterday was smoked salmon. :-) I could get used to this! Until I actually take some pics at work, you can check out the website here.

And now for a bit of a catch-up.... I've missed out a few excursions we've taken here and there so I'll add them in now - the one where we took photos anyway.

New Experiences

We've decided to start trying some of the many boutique beers that are available here. Both of these are extremely good - very tasty with a nice after taste.

Picnic

This is us having a picnic & coffee on the rocks at Whale Beach

Us at Whale Beach

Sydney International Boat Show '08

Scott and I went to the boat show for a general looky-loo. But also to get an idea of prices and what type of boats are realistically livable. We've been toying with the idea of, when we're ready to start looking at buying a house, to also consider the possibility of a live-aboard boat. To begin with, I thought this would just be something to dream about. But it's not as unrealistic as it seems. Although it's not a very good investment (compared to a house), it would be a wonderful experience for a few years. Anyway, it's something to mull over for the next few years until we can afford to even think about either a house or a boat!

This is just an apartment building in the city with a beautiful water feature at the entrance.

This is one powerful puppy! It's a 1015 mhp (747kW) @ 2300 rpm, 18.1 litre onboard boat engine. The boat I'm buying with my Lotto winnings has 2 of these onboard! LOL!

The marina at Darling Harbour was completely filled with boats.

Luckily we got there early and there was hardly anyone about - within 2 hours the whole area was packed.

About that winning Lotto ticket..... Yip, I could do with one of these babies! Isn't she beautiful? Unfortunately we didn't get to board her as it was viewing by invitation only. *sigh*

The Bridge Walk

Okay, so we didn't go and climb the bridge just yet - we're saving that one for a beautiful summer's evening. Instead we took the train to Milson's Point and took a walk across the bridge to The Rocks Market.

Scott The Explorer wearing his Adventuring Hat getting ready to find his way to the other side!

Yip, and me too! :-)

You get a wonderful new perspective of the harbour from the bridge.

Yip, the journey was documented & Scott The Explorer was there

Fort Denison in the harbour

Circular Quay with the Park Hyatt in the foreground & the Rocks to the right

An arty shot with the sun shining through the bridge. Oh! And there's Scott The Explorer again!

Oh boy! I tried to tell him the Opera House wasn't edible but he just wouldn't listen....!

Looking down at the Rocks Market in the background. On the way down, there are all these old cottages which have giant metal furniture in them.

It's the middle of winter! But Scott The Explorer isn't only wearing his Adventuring Hat, but his Adventuring Shorts too!

We hit the market on the same day as the Aroma Coffee & Chocolate Festival so the place was just a sea of people.

The human tide

To get away from the crowds, we decided to take a walk across to Darling Harbour for a bit of Lindt iced chocolate

The building on Scott's right is the oldest hotel (read pub that can stay open late!) in Sydney - The Lord Nelson Hotel, established in 1842.

Looking back the way we'd come

Finding West Head

After Scott & I went to view the apartment a couple of weeks ago, we took a detour on the way home and this is what we found....... This is all part of the Ku-rin-gai Chase National Park

Lion Island through the trees

A wallabie hoppin' around wild

Scott in the shade at the lookout point

Reading about Lion Island

About to walk down to the lookout point

That's the Barranjoey Head across the bay. This is where the Hawksbury River system & the ocean meet - with the entrance to Pittwater between me & the Barrenjoey Head

Lion Island on the left and the open sea to the right. These pics really don't do this view justice - it really is breathtaking!

To our right are Palm Beach & Avalon overlooking Pittwater

Further down the road we get to a wonderful picnic/fishing spot - Illawong Point. This is also part of the Hawksbury River system & the Ku-rin-gai Chase National Park (as is Bobbin Head where we've been several times before).

Illawong Point - a boat in the distance pulling a skier

Our Birds

These are some of the birds who feed on our balcony. This is really a huge treat!

Pied Currawong - not a very frequent visitor but quite a curious bird.

Noisy Miner - these are a real menace! They chase the other birds & generally make a huge noise as their name would imply. They're actually not related to the Indian or Common Myner at all.

An Australian Magpie. I was a little nervous of these guys to begin with but they've really grown on me - they have a beautiful song and seem to be pretty intelligent. However, around this time of year there's quite a problem with them swooping on people from behind - they do this to protect their nests in breeding season. Alot of public parks put up "Beware of Swooping" signs.

The Australian King Parrot - this was our first "exotic bird who visited. I've got to the point now with the bachelor boy where he actually eats out of my hand.

And then last week one of Scott's work mates suggested we soak some bread in a honey/water mix in order to attract the many Rainbow Lorikeets which are always in the trees around us. Scott took it out in his hand and just started calling to them. The next thing these two dropped in!

And started eating from his hand!

Here's a close up

They came back a little later to the feeding tray. They are absolutely adorable when they're actually eating together. When they fly around they make loud squawking noises but when they're feeding, they make these gorgeous soft chirping noises.

And then they called their mates.....

I managed to get some video footage so you can actually hear the noise these little guys make.

And today we had our first visit from this stunning Crimson Rosella

Isn't he absolutely beautiful?
I've never been a fan of caged birds, but when I see these magnificent birds in the wild, I have this uncontrollable need to free ALL caged birds. I don't understand how anyone could want to put a bird in a cage - it's just pure cruelty - they're meant to fly free!

So that's it from me for a little while - I'll probably only update again after we've moved into our new apartment.

So cheers for now!

Mands

Moving House!

Just a quick update....

We got the apartment we really wanted! We pick up the keys on my birthday and move in that weekend. ! ! ! ! ! Woooohooooo ! ! ! ! !

It's on the Northern Beaches which is where we really want to be - in Mona Vale. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a double garage. And the view....... *sigh* the view is just absolutely amazing!!! On the one side, we have the Mona Vale Golf Course & in front of us is Mona Vale Beach! When Scott & I walked into the apartment last Saturday to view it, we knew immediately that it was the right one - it's got a very similar feel to our apartment in Pinelands at Kindroggan.

Click on this one to enlarge - it's an image from Google Earth. As you can see, it's a North East facing apartment so we'll have loads of sunlight & warmth.

The block from the road - our apartment is in a similar block behind this one

The Mona Vale Golf Course across the road

The kitchen

The main bathroom - there's another one en-suite as well

And this is why we wanted it so badly....!

So I start work at a golf club on 19 August and we move into our new apartment in Golf Avenue on 29 August.... I guess it was just meant to be! :-)

Now it's back to packing and arranging another move!

Cheers for now!

Mands

Visitors from South Africa - Part 4

On Saturday, 19th July, we went and picked my folks up from Hornsby train station after spending just short of 6 weeks up on the Gold Coast with my brother.

At this point I was still looking for a job. I'd been to a few interviews and had made the cut for a couple of 2nd interviews too. Unfortunately, during the week of the 2nd interviews I came down with a bloody cold! I completely duffed those interviews as a result. In hindsight, I probably would've been better off trying to postpone the interviews. *sigh* Anyway, after spending a week in bed, I got back on the horse & started going to interviews again. I felt like all I was doing was going to interviews.... first interview with the recruitment agent and hopefully get on the shortlist for an interview with the client & then, if I've really done well, a 2nd interview with the client. So most of it's a bit of a blurr - I couldn't tell you who I interviewed with or how many interviews I went on. Although, amongst these, there was one that really stood out. A country club on the Northern Beaches was looking for a Membership Secretary. I'd already been offered a position at a great company in Lane Cove as their Sales Administrator. So this is where I stood when my folks arrived - stalling the Lane Cove guys hoping that I'd hear from the Country Club with good news.

We didn't do much on the Saturday night cos they arrived quite late, but we headed out on Sunday for lunch at the Newport Arms. It was Nike's birthday on the Monday & we weren't going to be able to get together, so her, James & Thomas joined us for lunch.

By this stage, Scott had also come down with the dreaded lurgy & was feeling pretty crappy so we headed home early & spent the evening at home.

During the following week my folks had a ball going out and doing a whole stack of touristy stuff. We had planned to spend the following weekend down the coast in Wollongong (The 'Gong) but Scott was really feeling awful and of course hadn't taken off sick during the week.... so we decided to stay local for the weekend. We'd discovered some stunning spots with Penny & Tony recently so decided to take my folks as well.

The day got off to a fabulous start with Tiger Pies from Harry's Cafe de Wheels.

The Tiger is a lean beef pie with mash, mushy peas and gravy. It is true Aussie tucker and the ONLY way to eat a pie!

Mom & Dad digging into their Tigers!

South Head was our first stop

A great shot of us

The James Craig - Sydney's largest tall ship. We're hoping to spend New Year's Eve '08 on her but may only be able to do it next year.

Dad up at The Gap at South Head

Another good one of us

Checking out the spectacular view!

Looking down at The Gap

Taking the shady route back to the car

Us on the shady route

It was a beautiful day so the car was pretty hot. Good thing we have a sunroof - easy to get rid of all that hot air & cool the car down!

Mom & Dad walking up the hill back to the car with a beautiful North Head in the background

Mom & Dad at Bondi Beach

Looking out over Bondi from just next to the Icebergs Clubhouse

Dad waiting to cross the road

People watching at Bondi - a great way to pass the time

Love these shots - think this would prove we were actually there? :-)

Dad & Scott spent most of the day trying to figure out what the purpose of this structure was/is. A monument of some sort possibly? Nope, on our way home, we stopped off and found out that it's actually a Shit Stack!!! There's a sewerage plant and this is the chimney which gets rid of the fumes. It was quite a disappointing conclusion but my Mom & I had a good laugh!

On the Sunday we took a train to Milson's point and took a walk across the Harbour Bridge - here's a shot of Mom & Dad on the bridge

The Mupersans heading off...

Scott trying to take a pic of my folks but Dad got in first!

This is my future boat as seen from the bridge

From the bridge, we walked down to The Rocks

There are quite a few of these arty representations of the cottages which used to be along this street. Here's Dad behind one of the invisible walls.

After tasting some chilli sauses at the Rocks market, we decided to cool our mouths off with some ice cold beer

Dad at the pub with the market behind him.

Mom was trying to get a photo of me - this is me pulling faces!

A lovely shot of Mom & Dad at the Rocks Market

The intrepid explorers deciding on where to go next.... Scott & I decided to walk across to Darling Harbour while my folks took the ferry around.

After finding Claude's kitchen in the Rocks earlier this year, we finally found Bistro Lilly in the city! :-)

Walking to Darling Harbour

A farewell dinner at The Lotus Inn the night before Mom & Dad flew back to South Africa

The magnolias here are quite spectacular!!! On the walk back from the restaurant to our apartment, there is one such spectacular magnolia tree.... I bent a branch down to smell the some flowers, and the whole branch broke off! I wasn't going to just throw all those stunning flowers away, so took them home. Dad couldn't believe that I was going to take this branch home & put the flowers in a vase - did I have a vase big enough!!!???

Getting a vase out of the cupboard...

Ooooh..... So that's how you do it!

Mom lending a hand

Dad giving some advice...

And almost done....

Voila!

At the airport in line to check in

Dad with Lilly & Claude's wedding present

After a 2 month holiday in Aus, I think my folks were really looking forward to getting home again. Not least of all to see their pets!

Hint! Hint! Mom - why not create a blog with your holiday adventures......??? :-)

The day after they left, I received a call from the Country Club to offer me the position as Member Services Secretary - I start on 19 August!

Scott and I have also been doing a bit of house/apartment hunting around the Northern Beaches area. We've found a couple of stunning places and have applications pending for them. Keep your fingers crossed that we get approved for them!

I'll keep you posted!

Visitors from South Africa - Part 3

And back in Sydney, ready for our next visitors. Penny & Tony arrived on Friday, 28 June.

Penny & Tony were our neighbours when we lived at the Kindroggan flats in Pinelands. Many a lively dinner party was enjoyed together with our other neighbours Doug & Liz!

Tony had been invited to give a talk at the Ancient Egyptian Society after having written Tutenkhamun - Speak My Name. So we were really lucky that they made a detour to Sydney to see us. We did a bit of sightseeing over the weekend....

Penny, Tony, Scott & I at North Head - the northern head at the entrance to the Sydney Harbour.

Looking over at South Head - that's the Hornby Lighthouse across the way.

Penny & Tony - tea & scones at North Head

Us with Penny & Tony at North Head

A kookaburra in front of the restaurant

And then we took a drive up the Northern Beaches - from Manly all the way up to Palm Beach

At the lookout point along The Serpentine - this one with Newport Beach in the background.

Looking out towards Avalon Beach

The chauffeur!

Lunch at the Newport Arms

Penny & Tony at the Newport Arms with Pittwater in the background

On the Sunday we crossed the Harbour Bridge and went exploring the other side. We drove through the exclusive Eastern suburbs of Rose Bay and Vaucluse to get to South Head.

Me at South Head with North Head across the bay in the background

A beautiful view of the bridge from South Head

The city & bridge from afar

Tony & Penny taking pics at the many vantage points

Me enjoying the stunning views

Tony & Penny taking a stroll

Scott up to his usual tricks - finding the highest point & hopping up!

There are these gunnery thingies all along this coastline. Actually, in WWII, they had an anti-submarine net strung from North Head across to South Head.

Scott up to his usual tricks - finding the highest point & hopping up & pretending to jump off!!!

These are three fabulous shots of Scott I took

And then on to Bondi Beach....

Looking out across Bondi beach

Crossing over the main drag to where all the shops & restaurants are

From the other side of the beach looking back.

The famous Bondi Icebergs - started in 1929 and famous for their dedicated winter swimmers who, in order to call themselves, Icebergs, need to swim 3 Sundays out of 4 for five years.

More pics of us at Bondi

As we drove out of Bondi, we saw this beautiful mural

On our way home, we stopped at Woolloomooloo for some pies at the original Harry's Cafe de Wheels

Scott was clearly VERY excited about the prospect of a Harry's pie!

It was great seeing Penny and Tony again! And we were treated to an extra bonus day! They were all packed and ready to go on the Monday morning when Tony realised that he'd miscalculated the days and they were only leaving on the Tuesday morning! Which gave us an extra evening with them - we went out to the Lotus Inn up the road from us for a great evening of great Chinese food.

Visitors from South Africa - Part 2

My folks were up early on Tuesday 10th June to catch their train up to the Gold Coast. Their jet lag gone, they both said that train trip was an amazing way to see some of the countryside. They must've been really stoked to finally get to see Doug, Mons, Chris & Jasmyne!

Scott & I flew up to the GC on the Thursday night in time for Mom's birthday on Friday, 13th June! Mom made a huge pot of spaghetti bolognaise which was absolutley delicious & we had a birthday party on the Friday evening. Geoff & Pearl were there - Doug's godfather & his wife who live on the GC (we flew up for Geoff's surprise birthday party just after we arrived in Sydney). And Monica's sister, Caroline was there with her boyfriend, Ben. It was a fabulous evening! It's not often that my Mom is with both her kids on her birthday so it was a pretty special one!

When we arrived on the Thursday night, the kids were already in bed so Friday morning we had a great play session! Jazzy is going to be an absolute heartbreaker when she grows up - just look at those eyes!!!

Looking out from the deck over Banora Point towards Coolangatta Beach

Caught in the act! My mom foraging for avocados - there is an enormous avo tree in the back yard which produces the most divine fruit! I am SO jealous!!! And what makes it absolutely sickening is that my brother doesn't even eat avocado!!!

Sunset from the deck

You gotta love the weather on the GC - T-shirts in the middle of winter!

Doug being domestic - making a bottle for Jazzy.

Dad's gorgeous girl! I reckon Doug will be purchasing that shotgun in just a few years....

Party Time!!!

On Saturday we all went down the coast to Byron Bay for the day. Byron Bay is very like the old Knysna - very arty and with the most amazing little clothing, art and souvenir shops. And then in another way, it's quite like Plett - a lot of huge mansions along the beachfront which are holiday houses for the rich and shameless from the big bad cities. And the beach is absolutely breathtaking! We had lunch at the Beach Hotel which had recently been sold to a Melbourne restaurateur for $65 million! Apparently in summer the place turns over $150k per day!!! It's right opposite the beach and has a stunning view - it was the perfect place for lunch!

I just love these hotel/bar type places. No "waitrons" running around taking drinks & food orders - not one! You get your drinks at the bar - simple. You go inside, order & pay for your food at the counter & receive a little buzzer thingy in return. Back at your table, when your food is ready, your buzzer thingy vibrates and beeps. You go and fetch your food & pick up some cutlery, napkin & condiments on your way back to the table. It's so simple. And efficient. It also gets rid of splitting a bill - you just go up and order your own food. And the food is usually excellent too - and not expensive either.

Here's a pic of the counter - you order your food on the left & pick up on the right.

Dad on the lawn across the road from the Beach Hotel

Scott on Byron beach

Byron Bay beach

Me on Byron beach

Chris taking granny walking over rocks to check out Doug surfing

Doug waiting for a wave...

Doug still waiting for a wave....

Finally - he got one!!!

Looking down the beach from the lookout point

Me being arty with a pic of the lighthouse through the trees with the moon above

Scott trying to spot Doug in the water below

I got bored waiting for Doug to catch a wave - but of course as I looked away for the photo, he caught one!

Uncle Scott, the jungle jim

Come on Chris, what's wrong? Arms too short?

Right, time for a swim!

Okay, let's make that a swing instead!

Let's just make sure there's no sand left in your pockets then!

Doug all embarrassed! I was standing ready with the camera while he used a little stripy facecloth to cover himself while trying to take off his wetsuit! Surprisingly, the cloth didn't fall!

Shame, poor Jazzy was so sick over the weekend but was nice and calm here with some comfort from granny. Dad! Just noticed that your feet are the same colour as the sand!

On Sunday we had lunch at Geoff & Pearl's in Robina. Their neighbours Margaret & Brian joined us as well. Margaret & Brian were in Sydney a few weeks later & came over for dinner - a great evening!

Helping Geoff out at the barbie

And the lamb chops are ready!

Geoff, Margaret & Brian - we're not quite sure what was up with Geoff's Dr Livingstone hat.... it actually had cobwebs on it which had Pearl & I in fits of giggles!

Pearl & I giggling about the spider web & mom also having a laugh in the background

Dad, Doug, Chris & Mom

Enjoying the great nosh! Pearl makes the creamiest mashed potatoes in the world! Yummy!

Pass the salt please! Mons, Scott, Geoff (don't you dare raise that finger and higher!), Margaret & Brian

Tucking in!

Mons looks almost like she wants to make a speech!

It was a wonderful way to end off this very special weekend on the Gold Coast for my Mom's birthday. After basking in the sun after lunch, Scott & I got into our hire car bound for the airport & back home to Sydney.