Better late than never

Thank god we get together for birthdays, otherwise I would never see some of these lovely women! Thank you Laura for the reason to get together and for the lovely tea party. Only (English) you can tilt the teapot like you do (see photo).

Champagnekate was noticably absent for this photo... some lame excuse about biopsies or something.

(Note the superb choc mud cake in the foreground made by Yours Truly)

love ya's all!

SM

Hysteria

Another excellent weekend was had in our home-away-from home at Smiths Lake. The food was outstanding, the company excellent and even though the surf was a little lacklustre, we made the best of it in on our little break at Seal Rocks. The best part of the surf was sitting out there in the rain with Champagnekate after the wind dropped and the little fun waves kept rolling in.

Once again the fauna was spilling into the house at Vainui. First of all a monster spider jumped out of the power box when I reached in to get the key and nearly landed with a thunk on my foot, then after dark, Mumma Possum (whom we have met a few times before and is a close friend of Grommie) showed us her bub. Cathy had another interlude with some spiders in her bed on Saturday night but was swiftly rescued by Laura (not shy of a big, hairy legged spider, that one!)

Mum and bub

This is the mega spider that was hiding in the power box. He was the size of a dinner plate!

Fran flat out

 

a cuddle

Photos don't do the food justice, but suffice to say it was devine! Smoked salmon, barbecued eggplant and lamb salad with feta and mint, asparagus salad, various cheeses, blueberries, wine, chocolate, eggs, polenta pizza, salmon mornay, carrot and coriander dip, chocolate brownies and cream... you get the drift?

finished puzzle satisfaction

No surf on Sunday morn but CK played Where's Wally? in her striped shirt on the beach with the cairns. We laughed.

SM

Kate's friend

Couldn't help thinking of Champagnekate and her love for slimey, scaley snakes when I met this lovely creature on the top balcony today. It was the local Diamond Python that sometimes takes residence in a little birdbox on my neighbours deck. When he does this he's like a portable snake - you can see him all wound up in there through the birdy hole. You could just pick the box up and walk away with him, if you wanted to.

You could take him to CK's house. She'd love that! ;

SM

Rippin' and snortin'

Husband, Surferboy and I had the place to ourselves for about an hour this morning. There were some rippers peeling around the corner - most way too big for this chicken-surfermum. I got one good screamer and managed to skim past a rock in the shallows, which put the wind up me! But mostly I was paddling on the spot while the wave sucked back toward the take off rock before I became too tired to put in real effort when it was needed. 

Then the big boys came out to play. All ten of em at once. Great surfers who start way out around the corner and skirt around those rocks near the pool and spray you as they fly past. Nice if you can do it!

I think I'm a bit outa practice. Hope I can hold my own come the Girls Weekend!

This is the calm before the storm.

I expect it's madness out there now.

SM

Tourists in our local area

So, what does a surfermum do when there aint no swell..?

I lugged the family up the Elands mountain the other day in search of a waterhole that I remembered from my childhood. First of all we did the 641 steps to the bottom of the falls and back up again..!! and then I showed the gang the beautiful swimming hole complete with rope hanging out of a tree. I can't tell you how happy I was that I had found it - it's absolutely gorgeous. I love a good freshwater swimming hole. Its down an unmarked track at the top of the falls. You'd hardly know it was there. Local knowledge huh?! I recommend it if you like mountain climbing (the vehicle, not you...the road's windy and steep).

Ellenborough Falls

Secret childhood swimming spot

I also had the fam pretend they were tourists and come on a whale watching cruise. The whales were quiet that day my friend... of course, the day before was breeching heaven! But it was brilliant to see those magnificent creatures up close and personal before they tipped their tales to us and bid us farewell.

So, what have you been up to in the school holidays?

 

SM

 

Happy Birthday Jules!

Stalking and stuff

Took a flying visit to Sydney last saturday to see The Cat Empire at the Enmore Theatre with Molly. They were as fabulous as last time we saw them! And the Enmore is such a great venue, I love how the floorboards are like a trampoline when everyone gets a-jumping!

After a quick shopping spree at Bondi Junction Molly had me driving to North Bondi to drop off a CD that was supposed to be signed by a band - Lime Cordiale. As soon as she got out of the car the one of the dudes from the band walked down the street so Molly waved him down and chatted him up while the other two kids and I took stalker type pictures of them from the car.

I think Molly has a future as a groupie and we are future paparazzi!

SM