Beach Bum

Beach Bum

Time has passed rapidly and work has been busy. I have been performing lots of wind quartet gigs; one for the Governor General herself as well as the trips to Jervis Bay for pass out parades and Canberra, performing to all manner of people. Only a few days now before summer break is up on me.

In-between gigging, Kay and I have been getting familiar with South Cronulla Beach and the Melon Blue coffee shop. I have tried to get a little arty with the beach and Kay’s new bikinis and the camera on my new phone.

The shot of the Christmas tree was taken from level 2 of the 3 level Christmas tree in the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney.

The old looking building behind Kay is Government House (New South Wales) where the Governor lives.

Kay, Madeleine and I managed to try out the all you can eat seafood special at Cronulla. We managed several of the three tier platters in the photo along with some happy hour beers and a glass or two of sparkling. YUM!!!

Just a quick update as I haven’t posted on my blog for a while.

I should blog before Christmas but it’s never too early to wish you a Happy Christmas.

ColKay

Wombats

Wombats

Kay and I watched the 1980’s mini series “Bodyline” last week, if you don’t remember it; it was about the 1932 ashes series where England bowled at the batsman’s body and not the stumps. So, 1¾ hours away in the Southern Highlands is the town of Bowral where Sir Donald Bradman lived and the Bradman Museum is situated.

After visiting the museum and the town centre we went for a drive through Kangaroo Valley to Bendeela Picnic Area. Bendeela is where a friend had mentioned there was a good chance of seeing wombats; Kay and I had not seen wombats in the wild. The tip was a good one and we saw half a dozen around the area.

After photographing the cute little marsupials we headed to the coast for a fish and chip supper at Werri Beach Fish Shop.

Remember if you click on the pictures they increase in size.
ColKay

Kayaking at Audley

Kayaking at Audley

Last day of October yesterday and its hotting up, the temperature isn’t dropping below 16 ° at night and the days have all been in the late 20’s and even the early 30’s.

Kay, Madeleine and I booked a kayak and a double canoe from the “Historic Boat Shed” at Audley, packed a scrummy picnic in to the “esky” (cool box) and went paddling up the Hacking River.

We were not far up the river when Madeleine screamed snake, on catching her up we discovered it was a 4/5 foot black eel, a bit similar in shape to a conger eel. There were lots of turtles basking on rocks and low branches as well as all sorts of bird life.

Whilst having a rest on the river bank after our delicious picnic and yes a bottle of sparkling wine, Madeleine spotted an Eastern Water Dragon. Then like buses we spotted another. They deserve the title water in their name as they are great little swimmers.

Two weekends ago we visited the Illawarra Fly Top Walk. This is a new feature to the area and has a large tower and a walk way built at the top of the forest, great view!
After visiting Illawarra we dropped in to Kiama for fish and chip supper and watched the water blow in Kiama’s famous blow hole.

Today has been a taxi dad day so I have just bought some XLARGE prawns and popped a Chardonnay in the fridge for when I finish sitting in the car whilst Megan reduces the 120 hours of learner driving, which is compulsory in New South Wales before attempting the driving test.

Nearly forgot, Kay spotted an Echidna on the way back from Kiama and took a photograph which shows his/her nose, unlike the Echidna on the Eagle Head walk who just stayed in a ball.

Remember if you click on the pictures they increase in size.
ColKay

Eagle Head Rock

Eagle Head Rock (though we think Turtle Head)!

What a day!

Driving through the Royal National Park and what do we see in front of our eyes but a six foot Diamond Python!

Kay and I were glad that we were in our car admiring this stunning looking creature (only later did we find out it was harmless and good for keeping the local mice population down). There is a picture below, though not taken by us.

So, the walk starts at Wattamolla and goes 3.5k south along the headland, travelling up and down the headland and inland of the coast, (gotta admit one of the most stunning walks Kay and I have done).

Apart from the natural beauty of the landscape, we saw a Nankeen Kestrel, lots of New Holland Honey Eaters and an Echidna, which is in between a Hedgehog and a Porcupine, but is endemic to Australia.

The New South Wales Tourist Bureau use the picture of Eagle Head Rock in their tourist brochure. However, I reckon Kay takes better pictures.

There are also pictures of Bull Ants as well as some fine scenic pictures.

I almost think it is worth working one day of the weekend because walking on Mondays is so peaceful.

Hope you enjoy looking at the pictures (please click on them if you wish to increase their size).

Best Wishes

ColKay

Sunday Stroll

Sunday Walk/Stroll (Well Monday as it is a public holiday, Labour Day).

One of Kay and my favourite strolls is after having a nice coffee with a bacon and egg roll from the Endeavour coffee shop in Kurnell. We stroll along the shore line looking at what ever the tide has washed up, and then we walk through the Botany Bay National Park.
Today we saw a small almost transparent jelly fish with a pink ring and tentacles, which was pulsing like a heart to propel itself through the water.
As we wandered through the woods we saw many birds, the Crimson & Eastern Rosellas are so colourful, though today they were just out of reach of taking a good picture. We saw a Kookaburra which had acquired a nice piece of beef, Butcher Birds, Pied Cormorants, Grey Cranes and some Pelicans to name but a few.
The Pelican took off right in front of me and I had the sports mode set on the camera (lucky). Just as we were about to leave the beach we spotted one of those transparent curly jelly things. I’m sure it has a name but my description is quite close.
As I write (sat on the patio bench) I have noticed two Rainbow Lorikeets that frequent our back garden going mad for attention, then I realised the plate by my feet has honey left on it from the hot crumpet I have just devoured. Now they are licking the plate dry and are happy and chirping away (cheeky birds).
I also add a couple of recent pictures, Kay’s new car, Madeleine’s table she made in wood work and a random surfer at Cronulla.

Hope you enjoy looking at the pictures (click on the pictures for a larger image size).

ColKay

Waking Up on Mars

Waking Up on Mars.

I woke up for work at 5:55 am on Wednesday and through the blinds saw the strangest reddy/orange light. I opened the blinds and didn’t understand what I was looking at. A storm was predicted over night and Kay and I enjoyed watching the rain and lightening before going to bed (we sit under our patio roof, out of the rain with a glass of wine).
I called to Kay, who immediately jumped out of bed and like me couldn’t comprehend what was happening. We opened the window and couldn’t smell anything, as we were discussing the fact it might be a bush fire. As the sun rose, the colours of crimson and orange were amazing. It was as if we had woken up on another planet.
Kay was actually frightened, and the hairs on my back were all standing up.
We were at a loss as to what was actually happening outside our window.
I turned on the PC to find out what it was, and discovered we were in a dust storm some 600k wide with an estimated 500 tonne of dust in the air.
A life time experience was happening and I can say it will remain with me for ever.

Hope you enjoy looking at the pictures.
They show the Bridge, Cronulla Beach and outside our bedroom window.

ColKay

Coastal Walk

What to write about… Well, Madeleine has recovered from the oral surgery that she recently had. There is a cute picture below of Madeleine and Kay in their scrubs.

A few weeks ago I had two blonde daughters but somewhere along the line they got misplaced, and I now have two dark haired daughters, and at the same time I misplaced some money, coincidence?

As I worked last Sunday, playing a tall ship into Sydney is work! I was given Monday off, so I talked Kay into jumping in a taxi to Kurnell and walking for 3 ½ hours back to Cronulla. The views were amazing and the wildlife was stunning. We saw parrots, eagles, a Great Cormorant, an albatross and a big seabird that kept flying up a few metres then dropping a shellfish on to the rocks to crack open, just like you would see on a David Attenborough programme.

This time I didn’t squeal like a girl when I saw a large black snake slithering off the track and into the bush. Though seeing a snake a couple of meters away helps heighten your senses and Kay’s walking pace. We watched a whale blowing, though not breaching, so I am not sure what type it was, and there were countless views of them too. Yep, the weather was fantastic too.

To finish off a great day we had a late lunch in Hoggs Breath Café (it’s actually a restaurant). The waitress asked if I would like a drink, so I ordered the litre carafe of red, and then the waitress asked Kay what she would like to drink. I was shocked and Kay was stunned. Funny though!

During the week I messed about with the camera and tried taking a picture of the moon. The picture below was taken in daylight with a filter which makes it look like I took the picture at night, weird.

Hope you enjoy looking at the pictures.

ColKay

Sunday Arvo

Well its Sunday arvo and Megan is working at Terry Whites, Madeleine is in the city with friends and Kay is sat reading next to me on the bench in the garden. The weather is amazing and I have finished setting up this blog stuff. The regular birds are cruising by to see what is on offer and I have decided to write a final blog for the day.

Well… if you look at the video below you can see we are enjoying having birds visit the back garden. We have stopped feeding the Cockatoos as there were too many coming; they are a magnificent bird and are such fun to watch eating crackers. “Polly wants a cracker” is so true but when 20 cockatoos swooped in one day, it was time to call time. We still have one that flies by but he only gets a cracker if no other cockatoos are in sight. The lorikeets don’t arrive in flocks and believe it or not chase the much larger cockatoo away, don’t get between a lorikeet and its food.

Later today I pick Megan up from work (Sunday job) and she has talked me into an hours driving. Never thought I would be a driving instructor, New South Wales require 120 hours of driving logged before a driving test is attempted. So Megan is on her L’s and we will be spending some time together over the coming months.

We have a chook (chicken) about to go in the oven and at some point need to buy some vegetables to go with the chook. Life can be so hectic at times.

As I get to grips with blogging and as the family activities notch up I will update the blog. I don’t see the point of putting lots of stuff we have done in the past on the blog as it would take to long. I will keep this blog for recent and future stuff.

ColKay

Rainbow Lorikeets

We are blessed with several birds that visit our back garden (patio).

The two cheeky birds in this clip we have named Horatio and Harriet.

They go mad for a concoction of biscuit, water and honey.

Beautiful!

Tropical North Queensland

Well only 7 months have passed before I finally write a few lines.

I shall start the blog with our trip to tropical North Queensland, July '09.

A weeks holiday at Palm Cove just north of Cairns staying at the lovely Mango Lagoon Resort.

Highlights were:

Megan's 17th birthday dinner at a nice Greek Restaurant
Swimming with the fish and turtles on the Gt. Barrier Reef (Opal Reef)
Jumping out of a plane at 14,000ft over Mission Beach experiencing 60 secs of free fall and 5 mins of parachuting (wow!)
Skyrail

Apart from going out to the Greek restaurant El Grecho’s for dinner on Megan’s birthday, we surprised her with a gift; she has talked about skydiving for ages, so we booked her a jump, but best of all we all jumped with her. None of us had jumped before but the risk was lowered by jumping tandem.

A life time experience was achieved, such an amazing thing to do. The only part I didn’t like was when I watched Madeleine fall from a plane strapped to guy that we only met 30 minutes before, Kay went next (no I didn’t push her) then I jumped and Megan jumped last. Watching Megan land on Mission Beach was a great moment.

Spending a day on the dive/snorkel boat Calypso was up there too, snorkelling on the Gt. Barrier Reef is like being on a different planet. Three reefs in three hours, lunch and the ride to and from the reef from Port Douglas is a full day for anyone.

Driving through the Daintree Rain Forest to Cape Tribulation dodging crocodiles was fun also, whilst enjoying a coffee I spotted a Giant Golden Orb spider, not the biggest body on a spider but with its long legs and amazing web it looks pretty intimidating. It wasn’t until I got home and looked it up that I found out it is almost harmless to humans.

Driving back from Port Douglas to the Palm Cove we crossed the Mowbray River. Cars had stopped and people were taking photographs as we drove over the bridge. Yep… a 3 - 4 meter croc just below the bridge. A ‘U’ turn was required and a hot drop off on the bridge was manoeuvred as I went and parked the hire car in a safe spot.

Seeing crocodiles in the river below you in their natural habitat makes it very clear that the signs on the beaches are for real.

With day trips to Port Douglas, Cairns, walks along Palm Cove and lounging around the resort pools it was a holiday to remember.

On our last day we took the scenic railway to a village called Kuranda and then returned by the Skyrail which is a cable car ride of 9k above the rain forest. There are two stops along the way for pictures/exploring.

A holiday to remember!!!