Monday became Friday!

That was the week that was!

Busy, busy busy...

One minute it was Monday morning and the next I'm flying through Friday!

Anyhow, it's the weekend, and that starts with home made pizza and some chilled white NZ Sauv Blanc. Tonight we had some very special guests join us after tea....







We're dog sitting for these two cuties. Sibs is in full charge and has a sheet of A4 paper filled with notes of what to do and when.

Big brother is in the top shot and little sister is below.

Our cats have escaped to hide in the linen cupboard upstairs well out of reach of little legged dogs! To be honest I don't think the dogs are too bothered - as I type this they are stretched out on the sofa snoring!

The Brisbane rain has been relentless today and looks set for the weekend, so I'm not sure what's going to happen when we get to point 22 on the instruction sheet - walkies!

Happy weekend,

-
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Back to Monday

I'm one of those people that doesn't mind Mondays. Not that I don't enjoy the weekends (not at all) it's just that Monday is my day. My catch up day. Today was very much a catch up day after being away last week.

We had a fabulous time away at the beach this last week and the weekend was complete when Neil drove down to join us on Saturday.


hi Dad!



We ended our little holiday by 'gatecrashing' a beach wedding...

Having dinner next to the pool and a late evening swim...



Driving home on Sunday through the Gold Coast hinterland and stopping off in Mount Tamborine...

from the tranquil to the rather bizarre!



 So, as I said, back to Mondays and back to routines.

Brisbane was a hot 32 degrees today - perfect for drying off those beach towels.

Great to go away, but equally lovely to be home.

Friday fun at Ripley's Believe it or not museum.

This is just a quick round up of the day - all this sea air is making me tired and this night owl is having an early night tonight.




No, I haven't trapped Sibs in a box, this is just one of the things we got up to this afternoon.

After the usual morning dip we headed off a few kilometres down the road to a more populated area of the Gold Coast.
Our destination was Surfer's Paradise and the Ripley Believe it or not museum.

Surfer's is much busier and filled with tourists and tourist type things and tourist type shops. There are take away and fast food places next to souvenir kiosks and then the odd Versace or Louis Vuitton shop This was my first visit and umm, let's just say I won't be rushing back...well not to the town centre anyway.

Anyhow, today was a day for Sibs to decide what we were doing and after much negotiating and compromising we settled on the Ripley Believe it or not museum. I had heard a little about this man Ripley and some of his findings and the museum sounded a bit of fun.



There's lots of wax models of the largest and smallest examples of things with a few gory things thrown in. Some of the displays and exhibits are interactive and there were a few screams and giggles along the way when the unexpected happened. The dance and light studio was a highlight for Sibs and we could have spent the afternoon in this spot.




It was a good way to spend a couple of hours during the hot part of the day, and a perfect place if you're nine.



Down on the beach front there were some sand sculptures with a pirate theme. Such detail.



Of course my mini break post wouldn't be complete without the daily shot of the ocean.

Have a great weekend, whether it's sun or snow.

-
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Another day...

Another day here at the beach...not doing much but enjoying the tranquility.




The sun has been shining and we've had a lovely time lounging by the pool and walking by the ocean. Sun kissed shoulders have now been washed free of suncream and the sand has been rinsed.

You know that feeling of a good day spent outdoors when your body feels warm and relaxed? That's how we feel having spent a couple of days here. Even the sand that seemed to find its way into my eyebrows was okay...just!



Sibs has been fitting in a couple of hours of school work between having fun.



Then we spent the morning dipping in and out of the pool and reading.




We wandered out for a coffee and then had an evening beach stroll before dinner.







I could really get used to this...



Tomorrow we are venturing out to see a few sights. All this relaxing has to stop!

-
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Mini break continued...

Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland



The city is a million miles away as I sit here typing this. I'm listening to the crashing waves of the ocean and looking out at the dark night sky.
Boy, is this good! Holidays are sooo good, especially when they are mid week and it feels like everyone else is working. (sorry Neil)

After a swim, Sibs and I took a stroll along the beach this afternoon. We just watched the waves for ages - it was mesmerizing. It was quite windy and you could feel the warm sea breeze on your face and the hot sand between your toes....heaven.
I'm a bit of a convert when it comes to the beach. It's taken me a little while to appreciate what's on my doorstep.



I'm not particularly familiar with the coastline south of Brisbane so this is my chance to explore a bit more.
But for a now I'll just enjoy this little spot, just outside our apartment.







There are no plans for tomorrow, we'll just see how the mood takes us.
There will be coffee, and there will be croissants, but apart from that who knows.

Happy days indeed.

-
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Anyone get any Valentine's Flours?

Happy Valentine's Day.

I bet no-one got what I got??

I don't really buy into the commercial side of Valentine's day, and we usually just exchange a home made card or a small gift in this house. There's no overpriced red roses or big boxes of chocolates.

This year we did the usual card swapping over breakfast, Neil even got a couple of small presents. Sibs had made everyone a card including Gu and Tadcu and even the cats!

Then I noticed this little saucer...

Here are my red Valentine  Day flours!!

A bit of self-raising, a bit of plain, some rice flour, maybe even some corn flour....!

Neil likes to be a bit cryptic with his gifts and this was his contribution to Valentine's Day. I have to applaud the originality I suppose!

On another note, I have been asked about the haircut. Thank you for the suggestions by the way. I gave it  some thought and googled some short styles.

 Did I go for the chop...?



No, not quite.

A good haircut was the outcome - about 5cm chopped off.

My hairdresser was horrified and gently persuaded me that I didn't really want to go short.

She was probably right. She used her magic with the colours and I'm loving how it seems to catch different lights and change. So in the end a small change rather than the drastic one.

Tonight I'm preparing for a trip down the coast - I'm so looking forward to it.

I'll continue with the mobile blogging to share the sights.

Fancy a mini break?

I'm taking a little holiday. A little time to enjoy the sunshine, relax, kick back, read a book or two...





Now that the jet lag has subsided for Gu and Tadcu, I've booked a few days off work to spend as tour guide.

Do you fancy joining me on our mini break? (The words mini break just remind me of 'Bridget Jones's Diary'? Remember that?)

Anyhow, especially for my Northern Hemisphere friends who are struggling with a particularly cold winter, come with me as we explore a bit of this beautiful coastline that I am fortunate enough to now call home.

Day one of our little holiday is in Noosa. Forget the frozen windscreens, the black ice, the sleet in your face and imagine the warm sunshine on your shoulders...




Let's follow the path up towards the National Park and admire the water views.




Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon is it?




It can get pretty hot, so a water bottle is a must on most days here, but you quickly get used to the routine of suncream, hat and water.




On the way back I tried to find some sleeping koalas. You can occasionally spot them high up in the trees having a snooze. There were none to be seen, but instead this little fellow was rustling about.




I thought that the small group that had gathered were taking photos of a brush turkey. I was smiling as I walked past thinking, "they must be tourists!" Then I realized that the brush turkey was getting away from this Lace Monitor, so I joined the camera snapping tourists!




These coast guards sit where the river joins the sea. You wouldn't mind that view from the 'office' window would you?




Brisbane is sandwiched between two coastlines - if we turn left we head to the Sunshine Coast and if we turn right it's down to the Gold Coast.

Today was a Sunshine Coast day, to familiar territory. I hope you liked the few snaps and maybe managed to forget the freezing temperatures for a few moments.

A lovely day out finished off with fish and chips eaten by the river before we headed home. The usual sub tropical summer rain fell as we drove and I'm really getting used to hot days followed by cooling rain to clear the air.

I'll be heading down the coast during the week and into new territory.

Before I leave there's that visit to the hairdresser....



-
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Dilemas

Two pieces of advice needed...

The first is some girly hair talk.

I'm now at that age where I'm questioning the length of my hair! You know that certain decade....?

When I was little I was the child that they modelled those cabbage patch dolls on!

I had very short, very curly, very red hair. Think Annie and you're on the right track!

In order to keep some sort of control over my 'do' it was kept short at all times.

Then when I became a bit more independent and started paying for my own haircuts

I decided it was my time to have longer locks.

After growing my hair for about five years it was just about touching my shoulders,

and that's were it would stay....not a centimetre longer.

Fast forward some more years and pregnancy did funny things.

 My hair changed colour, texture and interestingly began to grow at an alarming rate.

These days my 'natural' colour is a dark brown, there is hardly any curl and my hair is long. 

I don't spend hours preening and apart from the fact that it can take a long time to dry,

on the whole it's pretty easy.

Some days though I feel that I'm drowning in hair!

I can admire the long flowing tresses of others but wonder how long they take to get out of the house?

So....do I take the plunge? Go for the chop?

Will my past allow me?

???

Now onto another piece of advice...

Do I let on to my parents that this was on the outside door of their bedroom last night?!

Will they be on the next flight back to Wales?

Gu and Tadcu are here.

It's 11pm and as I tip toe down the stairs to the garage there's a very very excited nine year old trying her best to sleep in her bed.

The place is ready.

The guest room has been prepared and Sibs has placed little notes and drawings in strategic spots.

I drive through what feels like the deserted streets - every traffic light is green!

In no time I'm through the barrier of the car park and I can choose a parking spot.

I still drive around to get the best park (?!) Don't ask me why.

Walking towards the building I have butterflies in my tummy.
My hands shake as I take a few photos...

I observe those around me. Some are sitting engrossed in a book or their electronic device. Some are pacing around, others are chatting excitedly. I stand a little to the side to watch.

The doors slide open and everyone stares as a little family walk through. Their eyes scan and then fall upon an elderly gentleman (one of the pacers). Bags are dropped and the old man beams. He can't take his eyes off the little boy. I wonder if it's a grandson that he's never met?

As my eyes well up (I'm a real softie) other couples and individuals walk past. Some head straight to the taxi rank, others are greeted with various degrees of enthusiasm.

Then it's my turn...

My little family walk in the opposite direction to where I'm standing! I scramble through the small crowd to get to them.

"I'm over here!"

We find each other, we hug, we wipe away the happy little stray tears...

Gu and Tadcu are here!




(Gu and Tadcu = Welsh grandparents)