martian dust in sydney

Image by Christopher Chan via Flickr

Woke up this morning (or rather, was woken up this morning) to the interesting experience of 'red sky in the morning'. Sydney has been engulfed in fine red dust/soil from western NSW, which was hanging in the air as if we were in the atmospheric pollution of Beijing!

The volume of dust, and the sun rising made the sky a uniform red/pink colour (which was quite sureal when looking at the trees). The nearest I have seen before is in the UK when it has snowed/is snowing at night, and the sodium street lamp light is bouncing off both the ground and the cloud (except in this case we couldn't see the clouds!).

It has mostly cleared now, leaving a film of red dust everywhere - over the car (in looks like it has been offroad!), on the roof, and in the bottom of the pool!

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Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Up and out early, to get down to the zoo for opening time (or very nearly). Taronga Zoo is still undergoing major renovations - all of which look better. Amelia wanted to see the elephants, chimpanzees, and Luk Chai, the new baby elephant (again).

Just time for a paddle in the artificial beach at the Southern oceans exhibit and run around the penguin tanks (for Callum), then off home (to the rain!).

A brief burst of summer

Image via Wikipedia

The sun is out, it is 30 degrees (the pool is still far too cold to get into - even with the solar heater), so off to the beach for an hour or two. This week it is the south end of Mona Vale beach. Water was a little rough, but A&C both stripped off most of their clothes and ran in and out of the surf.

Afterwards (and recognising that both of the kids could do with rashies and sunglasses), it was off to Warringah Mall for a look. Alas we didn't get what we went for, but finally picked up a lasagna dish from David Jones. As you do.

Father's Day (aus)

Today is Father's Day. We got a lie-in, then I got some more lie-in, whilst Louise and the children made special breakfast. Freshly made luxury toasted muesli with strawberries and yoghurt followed by 'toasted eggs'.

Bushfire season is here again

Bushfire season in NSW has been started early - Spring is here and expectations are for a bad one...