Happy Easter

We are going to spend the Easter weekend with my Dad.

Wishing you all a lovely Easter Break. I hope the Easter Bunny brings you something yummy.

Happy Easter.

Holidays - the beach

Waking up to this for six days was heaven.

This was the entrance to the beach, just 20 metres from our cabin door.

As you can see the weather was magic.

Life was relaxed and unhurried.













• ice-creams on the beach, picnics by the river

• beach sounds: rainbow lorikeets chirping in the dunes, crashing waves on the shore, the strumming of an acoustic guitar, teenage boys playing soccer with their dads, my son's happy laughter as he crashed in the waves, willie wagtails early morning song, fishing rods being cast, my daughter's squeals of excitement as she jumped in the waves

• listening to the crashing waves while cooking dinner with the sunlight pouring through the windows and filling the room

• a lovely afternoon exploring Murwillumbah. Fantastic coffee at The Modern Grocer. A lovely morning re-discovering Bangalow (alone)

• sandcastles, crystal clear water, beach drawings and swimming at Dreamtime Beach

• Scandinavian favourites from a favourite shop: heavy rye bread, blueberry jam, Daim chocolate and cinnamon buns

• a friendly green tree frog visiting on our verandah

• eating organic chocolate ice-cream, sitting in the late afternoon sunshine and listening to 'the blues' at The Channon markets

• fishing just after dawn, beach walks before breakfast

• delicious Bangalow pork chops bought from the Bangalow butcher, packaged in a brown paper bag (remember that?) It tasted like the pork I ate as a child.

• collecting seashells and frolicking on the shore at dusk

• barbecue breakfast in the park: bacon, eggs, local sausages, rye toast and a quick homemade tomato sauce

• gourmet spuds piled high with fresh salad: grated beetroot, cous cous salad, tabbouleh, roasted mediterranean salad, tomato and cucumber salad, coleslaw and tzatziki



Mr Moo built the kids a Robinson Crusoe style beach shelter. Just as we were leaving the beach, a buttercup yellow butterfly battled the sea breezes and fluttered by to settle on a branch of the shelter. He sat for a while and enjoyed the view out to sea.

Just as we had done.

And then the sun came out.....

On New Years Eve the rain stopped, and since then, it has been very much, summer holidays at this house.

We have been spending long days at the beach, at the pool, at the river, at the rock pools, fishing, at the scooter park, at the playground and sometimes just at home. Breakfasts have been late, lunch has been casual and for dinner, easy barbecue's. We are loving eating all of our meals outdoors. The trampoline has been erected, the wadding pool has been filled and our cousins have arrived from up north to hang out with us. Lots of holiday fun in the sun.







We enjoyed a quiet New Years Eve at home. After spending the day at the beach, the evening started slowly. Plans for a gourmet barbecue went out the window with my new, I'm on holidays attitude. At 6 o'clock the kids were doing the usual "Mum, I'm hungry" thing. I told them, "Go outside and play, tonight we would be having party food, as it was New Year's Eve." I was pretty happy with what I found hiding in our fridge. There was a feast. The kids loved it.

There was champagne, music, sparklers, dancing, good conversation and much laughter. Who knew you could have so much fun with a four and a five year old!



It's a pity it was all over by 9 o'clock, when our tiny dinner guests finally fell into bed.

(don't worry, that is only water in the little ikea wine glasses)

Holiday mode

It's been a very slow, lazy week around here for the school holiday break. We have been:

sleeping in (me)
still eating hot cross buns
listening to gypsy music and The Waifs
shopping and lunching with Nanny
having easy dinners (things like pizza and eggs on toast)
not doing the housework
park play
beach play
having breakfast out
still eating easter eggs
meeting friends at the local pool
having sleepovers at Grandma's (the kids)
getting haircuts
drawing and painting

Taking it pretty easy really.

But I have to say the highlight was cuddling and bathing this new baby.



Welcome to the world little Daisy (4 days old). Tooooo cute!