Back from Perth

We are back.  Just.  There is more.  But for now....

A good day is finding a new park

We are in the middle of a much appreciated cold front in Sydney at the moment.  The temperature dropped to around 22-26 degrees over the last few days from a sweltering and sticky 36-43 which we have experienced over the last few weeks.  

It was so lovely when it happened.  We were in the City on Sunday meeting up with 2 friends that we used to work with in the UK who are here on holiday.  The heat was oppressive in Darling Harbour where we met up and we took respite in Starbucks for an hour catching up before heading out into the plaza and taking the children on the carousel.  It was around 36 degrees and sticky, sticky, sticky!  We walked on around the harbour and said our goodbyes and then walked around to our lunch booking at Tony Roma's.  A short digression - this was a deal that we bought from Cudo - unlimited famous ribs for $15 a head, a pretty good deal I think and they were really, really good.  I love ribs, they are definitely in my top 5 of things to eat.  Anyway - out we come and the clouds had gathered overhead, the wind was blowing a hoolie!  It was trying to rain but not really getting anywhere and the temperature had dropped 10 degrees!  It was soooooo refreshing after the heat wave.

So today I decided that I would make the most of the cooler less sunny day and take the children up to the park.  When it is so hot as it has been for the last 8 weeks or so it makes it really hard to just visit the park as the children sweat, get crabby, hot & bothered etc so I have avoided it and we have stuck to many, many pool days.  Great fun but the park today was a welcome change for all concerned.  I discovered a park that I have not been to before in a place called Galston which is in the Hills district of Sydney.  We had driven past it before and Finn very much liked the look of the huge skate park there and wanted to take his scooter.  We headed in there and spent several hours playing on the equipment, skating around and exploring.  It was a balmy 24 and lovely!

We did attempt the pool yesterday but all concerned (especially the smaller members of the family!) voted it too cold!  So to get our swim fix we are going down to the Olympic pool this afternoon when Andy finishes work.  It's great there with rapids and a water squirting climbing frame next to the pool.  This will be a staple for us to keep up the swimming during the cooler months ahead.

Off to hot and somewhat scorched Perth on Friday for a 2 week holiday and a wedding, thankfully we won't be anywhere near the fires that are currently burning.  Australia really is getting a kicking from Mother Nature at the moment.

Words escape me...

...and aren't really required.  But a little info....

Location:  On the outside of the sliding doors from our living area out onto the deck, Sydney, NSW.

Time:  20:30

Scare factor:  Probably an 8 out of 10.

Explorer:  Andy

Circumstances:  Andy went out to check the pool pump while it was dark (1st mistake - don't go outside, ever, after dark!) and when he came back in he found himself eyeball to eyeball with this particularly large & hairy Huntsman.  Thankfully it was outside rather than in but still caused Andy to take a sharp intake of breath shortly followed by what can only be described as a scream!