Rainy day thoughts on ballet.

I'm sitting in my car alternating between flicking through a magazine and browsing on my phone. The rain is lashing down on the roof. Before the windows steamed up I noticed that I was surrounded by other cars with mothers doing just the same.

I'm a dance mum today. My girl is on her third and last day of ballet school. She is loving it, truly enjoying every minute.
Me?
I'm not quite so sure...

I'm not a 'real' dance mum you see. I don't fit that mould. I'm extremely proud of my little dancing Sibs, but I don't live and breath ballet.

It's raining today - absolutely pouring. We came to ballet school in our rain coats and wellies. We were met by other ladies in heels and dresses - I kid you not! There is glamour and glitz in abundance. I wish I could have sneaked some photos!

The lacquer and shiny clips securing the pristine hairbuns is breathtaking - literally!

So I'm surrounded by these other mums. Some are just like me, wondering what this is all about. Others are....well, let's just say, different.

I have to get out of my car shortly. Walk through the mud and wait outside the door to pick up my smiley girl.

I'll be dressed for the walk!

Beth
x
(blogging from my car on a rainy day so when I press publish I have no idea what this post will look like!)

On my doorstep

Do you know your neighbourhood and your suburb really well?
Do you know the houses and the streets around your home?

I thought I did until a few days ago...

...until I took a right turn instead of a left turn and ended up changing our usual Sunday walking route.

 All of this was literally on my doorstep - and I had no idea.

So for the benefit of all my non Australian friends, come and have a look at my little corner of the world.

This is a shot of some Golden Wattle that was flowering in abundance in the front gardens of many of the homes that we passed.. It's the floral emblem of Australia and is pretty striking.

Our walk took us through some woodland and bushland up a mountain and down the other side.
There were Kookaburras in the trees and lizards in the bushes!

It seems that every corner you turn here there's a play park, and they are all beautifully maintained.

Where there's a park there is usually some shelter and the good old Aussie BBQ. These are communal gas BBQ and you just bring your food, cook away, give it a wipe clean and you're done.

During the warmer months you'll often see families and groups of people around these BBQ enjoying breakfasts through to dinner. The shelters are decorated for birthday parties and celebrations and the best spots get snapped up at dawn! It was all quiet on Sunday - I must remember that it's Winter.

So after a couple of hours it was time to wander home. There were a few blisters so off came the shoes for the last stretch. The promise of a cup of tea and freshly baked chocolate and macadamia brownies on the front deck was just enough the keep the troops going.

We are enjoying a couple of weeks of Winter school holidays here.

Maybe we should explore what's on our doorstep a bit more?