Trip Blog from 2 October 2013 to 6 November 2013

Hello mates, its the Wandering Nomads here again….STILL DOWNUNDER but not for much longer. Since I last blogged, a month has passed, shoo’ time certainly does go quickly when having loads of fun.

John and I spent a beautiful evening under a starlit sky at Macquaries, just the other side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but we didn’t stay for the fireworks….John wanted to take some pics but there were sooo many people everywhere, no space left for even a nomad and his camera.  Anyhow we had our picnic, enjoyed the vibe, then took the bus home again.  It was fun.

We took a trip with the kids to the Flying Fox Park….this has become our bestest park eva….not only do the kids love it, but we love it too.  So much for them to do and we love it cause there is a coffee shop close by AND lots of shady spaces to sit.

John and I visited the Sydney Art Gallery, spending a whole morning just wandering around looking at the gorgeous art on display.  My favourite had to be the British collection, going back to the 13th century.

We had a very special evening out with Nick and Tanaelle…they arranged their babysitter and treated John and I to a Korean barbeque in the centre of Sydney..my best was catching the bus at night and coming home round 10ish…can’t do that in SA…well I certainly wouldn’t :).  A Korean barbeque you might ask…what is that…well for starters the restaurant was down a little side street.  Outside were chairs where you were seated and given a number..this was your number in the queue…basically you had to wait until a table became vacant for your amount of people..luckily for us, it wasn’t a very long wait.   Very rustic in style and lots of shouting going on.  In the centre of each table is a gas burner over which you cook your own food.  A menu is presented with prices, you can choose what you like, mix and match and then share your wares between all of you.   Our menu consisted of squid, fillet steak, tongue and ribs, accompanied by noodles and veggies.  Very tasty.   Was a really warm evening, great to be out and about with the locals.

In between all of this, we have updates on how our ‘furry children’ are doing back home…needless to say they are having so much fun.  Michael has fallen in love with both of them and has warned us to ‘come home quickly, otherwise they might be adopted into the Pin Oaks family’.  LOL.  It makes our lives here so much more relaxed, knowing that they are both happy and well.

So, back to ‘downunder’.

As I might have mentioned before, we are staying at Sue and Julian’s home in Colleroy, about 5 minutes drive from Cromer where Nick and Tanaelle live.  The twins just love visiting us and ‘sleeping over’.  They both take great delight in taking the two moodles for a walk (heehee, thats short for maltese poodles).  There is a super duper park where we can walk to with the dogs and the twins, have  a ball throw for Bailey the moodle and then have a swing or a slide at the play park before coming home again.   We have done this a couple of times with them, it is such fun.  Kids and dogs are tired and ready for bed early.

Another great favourite of ours, especially on Nick’s days off is to have 5 Dollar fish and chips…..collect at the Grand and then take the twins down to Dee Why Beach where there are benches and chairs.  We can sit and eat our fish and chips, after which the twins love to spend a while at the play park.  On other days, when we go there, we can finish off with a chai latte at Wild Water, where Nick works (definitely one our favourites).

Having our own space, also allows us to entertain and have the kids more often.   On the 20 October 2013, my friend Robyn and her partner Mike flew from Brisbane to visit me.  Robyn was my best friend at school..we have known each other since we were 13 years old…when she moved away, we lost contact, so it was our first connection face to face after 40 years…needless to say, it was like we had never been apart.  She and Mike stayed a week with me at Colleroy and John visited his friend Nigel Hall up the Sunset Coast for the time that Robyn was with me.  Nigel was one of John’s cycle buddies in Hout Bay.  He and his family moved about 7 years ago.   Mike has been working as a bus driver for the past 23 years, so he is a member of the RSL in Australia…Retired Service League….they offer reduced prices on meals and entertainment, so treated Robyn and I to a couple of evenings out.  Just hope its not too long again before Robyn and I can connect.   Hopefully she and Mike will be making a trip to South Africa next year when Rob’s take her long leave.

Gerhard, Nick’s head chef treated us to a potjie….OMG was it yummy…probably the first one Robyn has had since she left SA 40 years ago and definitely the first one that Mike has ever had….was enjoyed by us all.  Thanks Gerhard.

Our last week or so was gorgeous weather, so we were able to take the twins to their favourite park again….have our fish and chips and swim in the pool at Dee Why Beach and Colleroy beach too…we also did a family photographic shoot at Balmoral Beach…the weather wasn’t great, but the photos were stunning…thanks to my very skilled husband John.

A couple of days before leaving for New Zealand, John and I took Tanaelle and Nick out to a Mexican restaurant in Manley…Nick and Tanaelle had been there before, they said the vibe was amazing…well we were not disappointed..the food was awesome, company great and the evening was amazing..we actually walked along the Manley beachfront.   So a good ending to our very special, amazing and awesome trip to Australia.

Next time I blog you…it will be from our next stop ….New Zealand…..until then, bye for now