Travel Archives - Page 2 of 53

Beach picnic

January 8, 2019 No Comments

After a day spent obsessing over card shuffling like the pros we realised the sun was setting on our last days of vacation. So we set up at the beach to soak up the last rays of sunlight before the hot day to come. We nestled in a sheltered nook out of the wind amongst rock pools and beached seaweed. The dogs played with the ball until cheese, corn chips and frittata came on the menu thanks to Nanny Annie.

Ember tasted her first lime which looked like it tingled on her tongue, but she kept licking her sticky fingers with some interest after the remainder had long since fizzed in Phil’s corona. She didn’t sample the corn chips but the packet held her interest for the duration of the picnic.

Whilst little dog dashed into the surf for the ball, elderly grace dog hung close to the pack. Dylan set up his tripod for some ND filter magic as waves closed in almost sweeping the tripod of its three feet. Spirits were high as we climbed the steps home, despite the fact that sandy dogs have to sleep in outdoor cupboards not on their customary rag rugs in the laundry. Some things are worth the sacrifice.

Family, Travel

Baby’s gone bush

January 2, 2019 No Comments

Summer holiday mornings are idled away watching Ember back stroking on a sea of hardwood floor. With a cushion under her she frog legs along, ceiling gazing, until she disappears under the couch. This new activity seems to have usurped quacking and no new words have surfaced if you don’t count the odd “ungee” which can’t yet be confirmed as “hungry”. We pass the rest of our lazy days playing cards (together), painting and surfing (separately). Sometimes this routine is punctuated with baby sized adventures.

We took Babu on her first Bush walk, that turned into more of a Bush bash thanks to grandad by association, Phil’s neglect of the path. Emby enjoyed the view while dad, hampered by the baby backpack and mum, hampered by her choice of sundress scrambled, ducked and scampered over branches and through overgrown scrub.

Some sections were veritable fairy glades with moss covered carpet, fern umbrellas and mauve fan like flowers. Once out of the eucalptus, enjoyment dipped as the tea tree scramble was accompanied by a path that suddenly sprouted blades of grass or reed like a corridor of paper cuts.

It was pretty, many parts like a Totoro forest maze (thanks aunty Jessie for the lend of the dvd, we finally found time and a dvd player to watch it) but spirits were high once we exited into open air and spied that flat ocean horizon.

Little one was just about napping due to the gentle rocking of the walk but perked up a plenty once a snack and sand were on the table.

On the way back the scrub beside the path crunched and swayed like a dinosaur was barging its way through and Ember and I held our breaths to see what monster would emerge. Out of the wildly dancing ferns appear a snout and then the hilarious little body of an echidna. No wonder they need the spines for defence with the racket they make. I’ve only seen an echidna once before at Grey so it was a real treat. I suppose Emby will think it’s standard as she’s 1 for 1 echidna sighting per trip.

After her adventures she has some of her best naps and our strict routine is still rewarding us with much better sleeps.

Family, Travel

First christmas

December 30, 2018 2 Comments

The world is a lot more wondrous when you get to experience it through the eyes of your baby. A second chance to relive our firsts. Tissue paper is such a delight that taking it away from her is one of life’s greatest tragedies. Lip drops, tears fall. No need for a gift inside, let alone an expensive one.

Christmas is special again with a bub to spoil and she certainly was the life of the party at our family breakfast in the park. I hope you all had a special day filled with little people and laughter.

Nanny Annie gave Emby a beautiful knitted cardigan that she started making before she was poppy seed sized.

Children and grandchildren dogs were part of the morning celebration. Although Charlie, my parents dog had to be sent home in disgrace for barking and general mischief.

The Newell Family provided entertainment with their tomfoolery on the playground. Aunty Anna gave the best hugs.

Some lovely present giving later in the day and a visit to see Emby’s great grandma Audrey.

The beautiful warm weather had left the soil parched so we headed to the Farnham Street community garden for some watering on the way home. You know, as you do on Christmas day.

Exhausted from the day’s hyper stimulation little babu went to bed. In her honorary place as first grandchild she was spoilt rotten with attention as she deserved. We had one last item on the agenda while she was sleeping, squeezing in my birthday celebration. A lovely chocolate cake made by my dad and a quiet happy birthday chorus from my parents and Dylan was just perfect.

Family, Travel

First sunrise

December 29, 2018 No Comments

If ‘little babu’ had woken us up at 5:30am at home ready to chat and play we would have been horrified. Down the coast however, it was a chance to head down to the beach to catch the sunrise.

A tiny fishing boat had also set out at first light and was setting anchor as we carefully descended the timber stairs to the beach. They pulled up their pots as Dylan set up his tripod. I sat on a dry rock with Ember on my lap and watched them pull up anchor and sail off into the golden path laid by the rising sun. Then we heard a bark and Nanny Annie and three boisterous dogs signalled the end of contemplation and the start of a fun filled day.