2012 - been and gone

Oh. So I lost interest a little in the blog :-) 2012 came and went!

Jenolan Caves

Image by vitualis via Flickr

Meant to put this up last week.

Saturday 27th saw us all up early and out of the house by 6.45am for the 2hour 45 minute to the Jenolan Caves, in the Blue Mountains.

All the way through to the mountains we were in mist/fog, until we cleared the 'cloud deck' to see the sun - and the cloud layer covering Sydney!

We visited the Orient Cave this time (having been when we visited Sydney before we emigrated), and did the selfguided tour. 

Picnic lunch then off to Leura for a pitstop before the final leg home.

up north for coffee

Image via WikipediaWe managed to get out of the city yesterday - put some fuel in the car (did you know UL 95 is now 13c more than plain unleaded! When we moved here in 2006 it was only 4cents more expensive.), and made our way up to the F3/M1)


First stop - Ettalong Beach - home of 'the largest covered market on the Central Coast'. It didn't disapoint being even more tacky and lame than I could ever have imagined. Fair enough we are in the 2nd part of the GFC, and middle of winter, but please!


So out of Ettalong Beach (avoiding the Ettalong Beach Mantra Hotel - looking particularly out of place), and off to Pearl Beach, passing through Umina on way.


Pearl Beach is nice, quiet, end of the road. There is a restaurant, cafe and a kiddy park. 


As it started to rain, we packed up and drove to Patonga - but didn't stop.


The plan was then to go back home via Umina for coffee/milkshakes, but having looked quite busy and vibrant on the way in, now in the rain and later afternoon, it looked a little dull and dead. So back to Pearl Beach and the cafe.


Filled up on coffee and milkshake, time to get back into the car for the journey home. Callum to advantage of this to have a little sleep. Amelia was just quiet.


Once home, a quick use of the hoover to remove the excess beach that had come back with us, and time to watch Nemo on the TV.

sweet

Amelia has a play date next week with one of her classmates.




It's a boy.




On the one hand I shouldn't be surprised - she plays with lots of kids in her class. 
On the other hand, I thought she mainly played with other girls.


Oh well, it's not like she's 14.



Yet.



[mini summer heat wave is just about over - 22C and still winter! lovely!]

a sunny morning out, after all the rain recently

Image via WikipediaSunday morning saw us manage to get up and out of the house at a reasonable time to benefit from the fact that it wasn't raining in Sydney for the first time in about a week!


So off to Ku-ring-gai's Wildflower Garden on the edge of St Ives, and a moderate walk around one of the longer (paved) trails. A &C both took their scooters, but C was much more interested in running everywhere. A wasn't so interested in scooting after she came off her's, and grazed her elbow quite well.


Once back to the main area, a quick detour via the ponds and time to contemplate the frogs - or rather the sound, as we couldn't see them!

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back from a rest

Image via Wikipedia

Well, back at home now after 3 nights away - WITHOUT CHILDREN - in the Hunter Valley. Stayed at Mystwood Retreats (just outside Wolombi) - visited a number of vineyards including Tyrrell's, Tempus Two (UGG! So commercial!) and Allandale (we like)- quite a lot of wine tasting...

Ate at Margan Vineyard restaurant in Broke one night.

Tried the hottub at the retreat (hmm - too much chemicals - know that they are needed but didn't wash off very well).

So, back to work tomorrow - busy week, then work visit to Singapore at the weekend.

Happy Tin Anniversary to us

Tin years ago today (well, by the calendar, and if you ignore timezone issues), at Donnington Valley Hotel, Berkshire, UK.