Lots on

I started work last week at Marie Claire so it's been all change again in our house. Have missed not being able to take  Scarlett to school and pick her up every day and a complicated system of drop off and pickups has been organised with our neighbour Kirsty and one of the other mums  at school for the days when Rob and I are at work on the same day. I'm only doing 3 days a week but I miss my extra day with Flo and tried to make it up to her last week with a visit to an excellent new playground  in Pyrmont right on the harbour. As well as the cool digger, Flo is operating above, there is a brilliant Spiderman web-like climbing frame, a wooden xylophone and a modern take on the old tin-can telephones in the form of red horns.


Scarlett is going through a phase of finding everything 'boring'. What will she be like at 14, i wonder. As a result she has declared she is no longer interested in her weekly Saturday morning dance classes. Loosely termed 'ballet', it is actually lots of 5-year-olds in various fairy outfits running about to music. A quick call to the  dance school allowed us to swap the remainder of the term to a class for under 3s that Flo can attend instead. Flo looked so cute it was ridiculous in her tutu and fairy wing vest, and despite reservations about joining in without clutching tightly on to me, she loved it. I think.
Last night was our old neighbour and friend Dave's 40th birthday party. Dave is a lover of all things Mexican after spending a year there during his uni days. H']e speaks Spanish and loves to throw together a Mexican feast. Unsurprising then that his party theme was Mexican. We were expecting a room full of of people wearing pig snouts or flu masks but instead it was a much more inspired crowd of fancy dressers.  Rob went as a gardener and me as his peasant wife with matching moustaches.
Dave was the last king of the aztecs photographed here with Rob and Kate De Brito dressed as a  Bandido biker chick.
One of the 3 amigos seen here making necessary adjustments to his bolero.
The best look of the evening belonged to Elsa and Richard who looked extraordinary as Frida Kahlo and artist husband Diego.
Later, the crowd were 'treated' to a live performance by Dave and his Adelaide uni mates who put the band back together for one night only. I'm informed that at the height of their fame in the late 1980s, Cerveza y Putas (beer and sluts) were known as Adelaide's only Spanish language punk band. Of course they were awful, each loud thrashed guitar version of every song sounding very much like the last. This didn't stop a large crowd of friends, all drunk as lords on the copious amounts of wine, tequila and beer, partying like it was 1989.  
The performance over, more serious drinking began accompanied by huge bowls of chilli and nachos, all cooked by Dave. 

The 1st anniversary of my 40th birthday

It's official I am now 'in my forties'. No, no, it's fine, honestly, I can take it. I still feel 23 which makes me understand now that someone in their 70s probably still feels 23 too. I woke up on my birthday to a pile of cards, presents and flowers (thank you Liz and Mike) sent from near and far. Rob did himself proud with an amazing book of Vanity Fair portraits I had been after for ages, a lovely coat and two tickets to see Cate Blanchett as Stella in the Sydney Theatre Company production of A Streetcar Named Desire, which is on in September. As Rob had to spend most of the day sleeping off a night shift, I took Scarlett to school and then Flo and I went to glorious Redleaf Pool to meet Julia and Tess and Jo and Zebadee. We had coffee and cupcakes and basked in amazing Autumnal sunshine. It was warm enough to swim and I was annoyed I'd forgotten my swimmers. In the evening The Duthie family went up to Annandale for  a lovely early dinner of pasta and pizza at Vicini, a great local Italian where kids eat free.  Tuesday is a top telly night in Sydney so I happily plopped on the couch in front of the box for the rest of May 6. Thanks to all for cards, presents and phone calls. Maria, your parcel arrived today - I love it, a perfect fit.

Mayday Mayday - birthday part 1

My birthday celebrations began early on Friday when Mark and laura flew in from Wellington, NZ for a long weekend with us. After breakfast on the wharf at Pyrmont we pottered around the inner west in glorious Autumnal weather before Mark sent the girls and Rob off to sleep with his relaxed book reading style. We then played choclate Cluedo, a set I had bought for Christmas, which caused much confusion when It turned out some of the pieces had been eaten.On Saturday night 10 of us had a fantastic dinner at the Three Weeds, complete with a chocolate profiterole cake Rob had secretly bought and delivered to the restaurant. It was a late one but lots of fun, great food, wine and company. On Sunday after soccer, Mark and Laura gave us a new box set of Cluedo with new improved characters and rules.

Mark and Laura finished their visit by taking Rob, Flo and I out to brunch at Balmoral before flying back to NZ on Monday evening.

Anzac Day

Anzac Day is a huge deal in Australia and New Zealand. It's the day Aussies and Kiwis remember the soldiers who died fighting in wars around the world. In particular the Anzacs who fought in  World War 1 are remembered and specifically those who died in the failed, bloody attempt to capture the Turkish peninsula at Gallipolli. Loads of Aussies and Kiwis travel to Gallipoli itself for a dawn service starting at 4.30am, the exact time the invasion attempt began from the sea. It was Anzac Day on Saturday so Rob got Scarlett up at 3.15am and they drove into the city to take part in the Dawn Service at the cenotaph at Martin Place. Despite the hour there were thousands of people there, packed in to the watch wreath laying, listen to the last post being played and to observe a minute's silence.  Scarlett was keen as mustard to go and enjoyed it all, before she and Rob slipped back into bed at 6am for another 3 hours sleep.

Happy Greek Easter

Our great friends Jo and Mark are about to move out of their amazing rented house in Rose Bay after more than 10 years. It's been a great entertaining house over the years with its gorgeous grounds and a huge verandah allowing lots of rainy day lunches under cover. With Jo being of Greek heritage and Mark having unusually large hands, they decided to have a double celebration - the last hurrah at the house and to celebrate Greek Easter. We thought it was to be an intimate lunch for a few friends but it somehow -  thanks to facebook perhaps - became a party for  more than 100 people. There were kids everywhere, tables heaving under the weight of food, huge tubs of ice full of wine and beer and a massive lamb roasting on a spit. As the day progressed slices of lamb were cut off and we helped ourselves to  kebabs of lamb, tomatoes, hommous and cucumber. It was a fantastic afternoon celebrating old friendships and new beginnings. Huzzah.

In other news, Rob's Grizzly Adams phase has finally come to an end.  After a fortnight of dedicated beard growing, with accompanying scratching and unwitting food storage, Rob went to a barber yesterday for a shave and a haircut, instantly taking 10 years of his appearance. Ah, so that's the secret of looking younger. Now where did I put those testosterone tablets....

School holidays rock

Rather then dreading the school holidays, we are having lots of fun having Scarlett at home every day. Of course in a week's time when we are still finding things to do, or if it starts raining, you may need a translator to work out my gin-soaked slurred speech. After our busy Easter weekend we took to two wheels on Tuesday for a lovely ride around the bays near our house. Scarlett rode the whole way on her bike and Flo was in her seat on the back of Rob's. The weather has been glorious so we have had days at the beach and pool. Yesterday we had one of Scarlett's school friends for the day and hit the playground and pool for 5-year-old larks - e.g saying 'poo' and wee' a lot followed by hysterical giggles.. Today with Rob at work and Florence in daycare, Scarlett and I went to Balmoral and hired a double kayak. It was a perfect  morning and we had great fun kayaking the length of the beach, around the headland and back again, marvelling at amazing homes spilling down the cliffs and the beautiful yachts. Later we were joined by Gav and Bev and their kids for a swim. In a few weeks it won't be warm enough  for ocean swimming so we are enjoying it while we can. Rain is forecast for the next few days, which seems unbelievable  at the moment, and our plans to go camping on Monday may come undone as a result. Before then we have ballet, soccer and a Greek Easter celebration this weekend.  

Happy Easter part 2

The hippity hoppety Easter bunny came to our house this weekend and left a trail of Easter eggs throughout the house and garden. Rob did 6 night shifts in a row last week so was out of action on Good Friday. With all the shops shut, I took the girls to Balmoral for the morning which was divine, lovely and sunny with a light breeze. Florence  entertained the few other beach goers by doing a massive poo in the sand. How we laughed as I dug an enormous hole in the sand to bury it. On Easter Saturday, with Rob fast asleep, the girls and I took the tram to the fish market to get a huge Tasmanian trout for Easter Sunday lunch. Much like at Christmas it was packed with holiday makers stocking up on prawns and fish. On Easter Sunday, with Rob still asleep, I somehow managed to entertain the girls all morning again by myself, cook the trout, extend the table by adding a new folding trestle from Bunnings warehouse (where everyone gets a bargain) so that we can now sit 12. Scarlett did a great job with the place settings and soon we were ready for our guests at 3pm. Much like our Lord Jesus Rob was finally risen and we sat down to  a lunch of roast trout, herb potatoes and 3 massive salads provided by Brett, Gav and Bev, finished with a flourless chocolate cake  made by Lara. The kids had an Easter egg hunt that was over in 12 seconds and then the gorging began. We finished the Easter weekend  with lunch at Zoe and Paul's to celebrate Paul's 40th.

Happy Easter part 1

Scarlett broke up from her first term of school on Thursday following a successful final week during which Scarlett was presented with a reading award certificate with matching bookmark. Scarlett had to go on stage in front of the whole school during assembly to receive it. Very proud. Her class also made hot cross buns and Easter bonnets for a parade on Wednesday.

Public schools in Australia aren't allowed to assume everyone wants their children to receive a Christian education - we had to tick a box to say Scarlett could have an hour of Scripture a week and could choose netween protestant, catholic and buddhist - so there's no nativity play at Christmas for example (gutted of Lilyfield). Rather oddly however they are all encouraged to make the items above. The Easter parade was brilliant however, hosted by very confident year 5 children who introduced each class like it was the Academy Awards.  Slightly alarming was the Easter Bunny who arrived, like a character from Donnie Darko, amid much cheering from the infant school children. The dude in the stetson is Mr Nielsen, the headmaster.

This morning, Good Friday, while Rob slept off his nightshift, the girls and I hit Balmoral beach for sand castle larks and good coffee. Rob needs all the sleep he can get due to the growing of an exhausting beard. 

What is it about my husband and his hair? Who remembers the multiple shaved heads, the bleached hair, the braided hair, the long hair with Spanish armada moustache and the goatees?

 Talking of growing well, our herb garden is going great guns, the basil's going bananas and the tomatoes are going nuts - I look forward to those flavour combinations. Oh and Scarlett has taught herself to skip with a rope. Not as easy as It looks.

Finally, in lieu of the Easter Bond movie - the Aussies don't do Bond movies on any holidays - we have to make our own entertainment on bank holidays, here is Scarlett singing an Easter song.

No weather for camping

We were supposed to go camping this weekend with two other families, and as the weather forecast looked a bit grim we decided to camp close to home in a national park in the city. By Thursday we were on our 3rd day of rain and the other two families, alongwith my own husband, pulled out. I was still determined as I had in my head that was how we would be spending the weekend. I waited until the last possible moment - midday on Saturday - and in spite of big dark rain clouds forming overhead decided that Scarlett and I would go alone with our 2-man tent.  We stopped off in leafy Lane Cove for sausages, bread rolls, salads and cheap wine and then made haste for the Lane Cove River Tourist Park  on the edge of Lane Cove National Park as I was keen to get the tent up before the rain came down. On the way there, the mobile rang and it was Julia calling to say Rich was on his way with their eldest daughter Ella. So the four of us made a blended camping family and had a right laugh. We hired bikes and rode them into the national park alongside the river and in the evening after dinner went on a hilarious torchlight wildlife tour through the park. The tour was notable for the distinct lack of wildlife. After 20 minutes we eventually saw two possums - big whoop - and later someone else on the tour - not the inept guide - spotted a bandicoot sniffing around someone's campervan.  Hilarious. Richard and I put the girls to bed and then sat up chatting with bottle of Penfolds.  On Sunday with still not a spot of rain having fallen we had breakfast and again headed off on bikes down to the boatshed hoping to rent a kayak or canoe. Unfortunately due to the clocks going back here we were there more than an hour before it opened so Ella and Scarlett had to make do with sitting in a tethered boat. Still it was a beautiful morning and all very Swallows and Amazons. We packed up and left for home mid morning regrouping for a late lunch at ours in the afternoon. Meanwhile Rob was having a wonderfully easy time at home with Florence, drinking gin, eating fillet steak and smoking fags. I know - that's what I said.

Autumn

Last week was hot one minute, stormy the next, hot again, then muggy, then beach weather, then wet again. On Sunday we had Gav, Bev and the kids over for a late lunch and it was boiling. Then yesterday it as all mops on deck as our house of leaks let in a few roasting trays of water. While the storm raged I endured a scary drive in the dark and the wet last night through the city to Liv's house for book club where we discussed Brideshead Revisited. We also managed to fit in conversations about being catholic, raising girls and homosexuality all spinning off from our discussions about the book. Great stuff. Our next book is The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. This morning Scarlett missed school in favour of a trip to the GP being checked out for suspected whooping cough. Her best friend at school is also off with it so while we await the results of her nasal swab we  jumped in the car and drove to Tamarama and Bronte to check out the massive surf brought on by the storm conditions. It was fantastic fun being blown about by the wind and running on the beaches which were closed to swimmers.