Hairdresser

So, I am sat in the hairdressers last night and being forced into conversation by the hair stylist who still has not learnt that I do not want to talk. When having my hair done I relish the opportunity to relax, read a magazine and have a complete cup of coffee in peace. I would prefer not to engage in what is mostly inane and surface level conversation. Call me grumpy but I see this as my chance for a little me time.

Anyway, let's call her Sheila, was banging on about anything under the sun while I do my best to shut the conversation down. Subtlety was not working and so obviously my grunts and 'really's' were all that were required. So onwards she went and into the marriage of the Prince of Monaco and 'that poor girl'. She sweepingly cannoned on with regard to the 2 and possibly 3 children he has fathered out of marriage, she meets my eye in the mirror and says 'one of the mothers was even black!'. Really. Truly. Honestly this is what she said like it is the most natural thing in the world to drop such a racist comment and then continue in the vein of how beautiful the brides dress was. For a moment I wondered if I had misheard her. Sadly not.

I have never heard such prejudice used in such a natural and unassuming way. She saw and sees nothing wrong in this statement. I do not understand how people can think mixed cultural and ethnic marriages or relationships are wrong. But some people do and yesterday I was reminded of this fact. Happily I rarely experience opinions like this but that once in a while makes it quite shocking.

I didn't challenge her words and I reflect maybe I should. Would it do any good? Probably not but if everyone thought like that then beliefs and opinions would never be challenged. Debate is good I think but maybe the hairdressers is not the forum for it!

What we have been doing

 We have been up to the Blue Mountains and visited the Winter festival that was mighty packed as you can see.....and oh sooooo cold...  Not used to the chill factor so much now and at 7 degrees but with a cold wind it was brisk!  We were wrapped up more than we have been in 14 months and Finn & Isla were struggling a little with colds that resulted in a lot of shoulder rides - but hey ho - a good day was had by all.  Us and 40,000 others.  :)

 The main street in Katoomba with the processions in full flow - look for the brightly coloured costumes in the middle of the throng of people working their way up the street.  There was definitely a hippy Glastonbury feel to the place.  Nice.

 Now Andy has told me what this guy is called and I forget now - but it warrants a picture on the blog.  He was pretty huge probably 6 feet 6 at least and what a costume!

 Awsome drummers and great outfits and makeup, some of them were only teenagers and they were really good.

 This one is for my MIL, June.  We saw these ladies and thought of you.  Ladies in purple with the bonus of red hats and great handbags.  A society of ladies that lunch in purple indeed!

 We have been spending this lovely sunny Wintery days in the Botanical gardens.  I am totally in love with them and could spend days on end here.  The old fig trees are gorgeous and my favourites.  The last 2 times we have been it has been clear, sunny and 20 degrees - it's the middle of winter!  Good times.

Sydney do a Family Funday Sunday which means that if you have children you can all travel for $2.50 on any of the buses and trains all the way down to Wollongong and up to Newcastle which is one mighty distance.  Kids under 4 are free.  So for $7.50 we can all catch the train into the city which I think is amazing value and makes the city so accessible for all families.  Thumbs up!

 A garden pitstop.

 Catalogue pose!

 A soft warm place for a little person to rest.

 Classic Opera House shot.  Gotta love those sails....

 Now the turn of the little people in our lives.  They did really well that day and walked all the way from the city to the Gardens, around to the Opera House, Circular Quay and then back to the train.

 Now this is today.  2 large parcels were delivered to our door by the resident delivery driver who I am on the cusp of being on first name terms with!  Gratefully received thanks Granny & Grandad!

 Oooh, the anticipation!

The proud jigsaw builders!  Very much enjoyed.  :)))

Bra boys

Following from my blog yesterday I read some more about the Bra Boys who are a surf gang based in Maroubra.  They are the guys who surf the big waves off of Cape Solander which we visited on Monday.  This massive waves don't break somewhere safe like onto the beach but in fact onto the rocks.  Anyway, I did some reading about them and found a documentary film that they did back in 2007 called Bra Boys - Blood is thicker than water.

It really is very interesting and I learnt so much about the Abberton brothers, surf culture, surf history, poverty & a different way of life really.  I have been thinking about them and their story all day actually.

Here is the link to part 1, it comes in 6, 15 minutes sections and although a little shocking in parts truly amazing to watch and understand their lives a little.  

When the video ends you will be able to see the other parts ready to be played.

Amazing, moving & eye opening.

Winter is here

...and we are wrapping up in coats and scarves for the first time in a whole year.  It's really not that cold but after living somewhere warm for some time I have found that I have acclimatised and that suddenly 16 degrees during the day can feel quite nippy!  I sound like a light weight.  I know.  Last February in the UK it was -10, now that is just ridiculous and it hurt to breathe if you were out for long.  So, we have been togging up with F & I in wellies, scarves, hats, layers and a gillet.  They look super cute.  The change in weather and season has facilitated some lovely walks in the National Parks and around the coastline.  It's refreshing and I personally find it too hot to do for 3 months of the year here so we are making the most of it.

So today we headed down to Cape Solander which is within the Botany Bay National Park where Cook first landed on his arrival in Australia in 1770.  We made the trip as we had read that the Cape is a good place to see some great waves and Mother Nature doing what she does best.  Having done some research since we got home it would seem this locations is a little controversial.  Who knew.....

We popped into the information office and found out that this cliff top position also lends itself to whale watching and we are right in the season to see these beautiful animals cruise on past.  We got out and wrapped up as the wind literally whipped across and around us, there were rain clouds out at sea being blown towards us and the seas were rough and unforgiving.  We were only there for 5 minutes when the National Park whale researcher pointed out where a whale was in the ocean.  Unfortunately all we could see was when the whale came to the surface and blew out for more air sending water shooting up into the air.  But still, not too shabby considering we were stood on coastline and we hadn't had to venture out on a boat.  Exciting and amazing stuff.  :)

We moved away from the wind by moving around and into Botany Bay and then spent a couple of hours in the NP taking a walk around and enjoying the wildlife.  F & I managed a 1.1km walk with no whining or carrying required so a big thumbs up from us - Andy and I did the walk holding hands for the 1st time in what seemed ages.  You see normally there is a pushchair/bags/little person needing help....etc...etc and now finally we are moving into the stage where we can all just be......smile.

 They played under this tree for quite a while, it was a little like a weeping willow and a great place to play at 'dens'.  Of course sticks were also required as they are on any walk we do!

 Their trademark photo pose.

 Just the two of us, building castles in the sky....

 They partook in a little tree climbing on this fabulous peeling paper tree.

 Little Miss Coy

 A years membership to Taronga Zoo has been well used by us this year, I took them both on my own on Tuesday which is a great time to visit any attractions like this as it is so quiet!  They were so good and an absolute pleasure and I was so proud as they did exactly what I asked of them and held the buggy when asked etc... We started off with the seal display, quickly followed by the gorilla enrichment and talk and then on to our favourite the bird display.  The birds are so amazing to watch and by far my favourite part of the whole zoo - I think it's F & I's too as they always ask to go and watch it.  It was a gorgeous but fresh day and we finished it off by catching the cable car back up the hill.  What a great idea that is!

Here is evidence of my recent success in wooing Lorikeets into our garden.  I am so very chuffed and F & I love them!  In the end it was oranges cut in half that they really loved and it's these that they come back for!  Now they know where to go they come back often and they are surprisingly tame.  You can just see the slide in the right hand corner of the picture which leads up to the treehouse.  F & I can be sat in there and the lorikeets will come to the table and feed so we all get an amazingly close view.  Awesome!

Comfort in the Blue Mountains

A certain little person turned 4 this weekend and we celebrated by heading up to the Blue Mountains for some family fun.  We were going to spend the night up there but I and then Andy searched fruitlessly for somewhere that would come up to my standards and failed miserably.  I resent having to spend $300-$400 to stay in somewhere that only just does the job (at a push - I have needs you know!).  

So we decided to make 2 day trips instead and save ourselves the bill.  This actually turned out fine and it was only around 1 1/2 hours to get there.  So we visited some classic attractions:

• Leura  - a lovely little town that had a trendy ski resort feel to it.  Great main street peppered with boutique shops for gifts and kitchen stuff etc...Found a great little gourmet deli cafe for lunch and then headed off to the Zig Zag railway taking a stop on the way for a walk through the bush.

• We came across a lovely little pizza bar and grill on the way home and as it was fully booked for the evening we booked for lunch the next day - turns out it's owned by a city chef who moved out to the mountains a few years ago - Apple Bar, Mount Tomah.

• So lunch the next day was lovely but the service was absolutely shocking - probably one of the worst ever actually!  It took 1 hour and 30 minutes after entering the establishment to get our food - mine was just a pizza!  And it took a good 45 minutes to get our drinks!  OMG - awful!  Pizza was fine but no mozzarella on it and cheddar instead - what's that all about?

• The Mount Tomah Botanical Gardens were stunning.  Finn & Isla scooted around the paths and explored around the trees - an amazing place to see in the Autumn when the leaves are all changing.  We will head back here again and soon I imagine.

We drove up to Mount Tomah on the Sunday morning and as we climbed up the mountain the cloud came down to meet us.  The rain misted periodically and the mist settled in for the day.  Before Andy & I had Finn & Isla we holidayed in Scotland during the winter.  We had our boxer dog then - Jazz and we would drive up and stay for a couple of weeks in the highlands.  Escaping to a cottage, with a fire, a good box set and our wet weather gear.  As we spent the day in the Blue Mountains we were reminded again and again of Scotland.  It was so familiar and therefore oh so comforting.  For both of us.  At times we could have been in an English garden.  There were snowdrops under the trees in the wood and daffodils about to bloom.  Lichen growing on the trees and the mountain peaks surrounded by cloud.  So very lovely.  It's quite surprising that only just a few hours from our house we can see and experience something so different.  There is even snow up there in the winter so our next mission will be to see that!

Birthday party and beach day - Norah Head

 A 4th birthday bowling party.  Finn is the one on the far right being kindly helped by the big boys.

 There is a card that Andy & I like with a little girl on the front with a huge birthday cake and candle.  The line says "5 seconds later all that was left was a burn mark in the middle of her forehead".  Ha ha ha.  Here we have Isla emulating that with her bit of birthday cake!

 Grandma, Daddy & Finn enjoying the beach at Norah Head.

 Lots of time can be spent in beautiful places like this.

Making tracks in the sand.

 Making sandcastles and crabs.

I love beaches that and have lots of things to beach comb.  Seaweed, driftwood, shells and cuttlefish.  It's very nearly Winter here and although we have cold days we are having day after day of blue skies and sunshine which is heavenly and has made for great times on the sand.

The accent gives it away.

I was in a conversation with a lovely, friendly guy in the Apple store nearby today and the inevitable question/statement was posed.  So, you're from the UK says Apple guy.  Yes I reply although some of my Britishness has already been knocked off me in these short 9 months.  I think I already sound a little Aussie in the way I talk, especially to other Australians.  I think you just get on better if you talk like them.  I don't mean that I suddenly sound like I am from the outback but I do use the words that they use.  For example:

• I will greet people with "Hey, how you going?" 
• I will often refer to something as 'Awesome'
• "no worries" is a staple
• That unmistakable questioning tone when finishing a sentence.

It's just something I do without much thought and I do find myself being more direct in my approach to life which is quite refreshing.

So, back to the Apple Guy.  Our conversation took it's usual course.  How long have I been in Oz, why did I come, where in the UK am I from, how do I like Australia and I predictably asked him had he been to the UK, which part (always London!) etc, etc.  It often comes out that I was born in Perth as that was quite a big factor in the ease of our path to Australia.  So he says, "oh, so you're Australian then".  It took me back a little.

It's true really.  I was born in Australia.  I live in Australia.  But I see myself as British.  I speak like them, grew up with them and it is the most familiar place in the world for me still.  I wonder if I will feel Australian at some point.  It was an interesting point from this Apple guy and has made me ponder a little really.  I have no answers but food for thought.

It reminds me of a conversation I had with a guy in Perth in February.  When it came out in conversation that I was born in Perth he said that I had instantly gone up in his estimations and indicated with his hand raising from the floor to the ceiling.  I said "What's that all about?!?!" and we laughed etc but there is this deep rooted patriotism here.  No comment either way really, just an observation.