2017

I can't believe that we are already two months into 2017.  It's been quite busy over here with New Year and Australia Day and visitors, etc.

Hubby's old friend from Melbourne, with whom he used to  share lodgings, and his wife were here last week and we had them over for a bbq Saturday after a bush walk in the Royal National Park. The park is not very far from us but Sundays are horrible for getting into the park and finding a parking spot. They got back hot and ready for a dip but that's when it happened, the thing I have been dreading when I am on my own. The back door slammed shut and the front was closed too since we were sitting on the back veranda, and we were all locked out. Everything was inside, drinks and food and telephones and car keys and yes, the extra keys too. Well, fortunately our son was able to climb up on the roof and remove the insect netting in front of the office window and prise it open (just goes to show you how easy it is to break in)  It was a bit nerve wracking while he was doing it and not something I would recommend.

On Australia Day, the 26^th of January,  we went to Cronulla to listen to some music and also because I wanted to see the ceremony that they have when people get their Australian citizenship. They had 150 people in Sutherland Shire who had become naturalized Aussies but on the stage with the mayor there were only 4 - 2 Brits and and 2 Americans. They were well chosen i think, so as to not create aggression and cause problems. Cronulla is after all where they had race riots a few years ago that turned very nasty. The national anthem was sung both in English and the native aboriginal language of this region.

A peaceful Australia Day in Cronulla.

Younger daughter has finally got a job. It is with the same company for whom she worked in Chile. I guess this means the end of our little outings in and around Sydney with lunch and movies. The last one was to Vaucluse House and tea rooms, which was very nice.

Oh, and yes, younger daughter has turned thirty, so we went out for a meal, not where we had planned to go but to another place, SO-CAL, which in fact turned out probably even nicer. It was very funky and the waiters were nice and accommodating.

My Swedish girl friend who now lives six months here in Australia and six months in Sweden came up from the state of Victoria where she now lives for a little visit. It was nice to catch up but very short. She had a lot of people to see  from the Swedish club. It's mainly single ladies 45+ and they love going out eating and drinking and dancing etc. I think I am a little bit over that now, well, maybe not the eating and drinking, but the dancing.

We have had some real hot days, here in our area it got up to +45 degrees and further out west it was a record 49.  There was alerts on TV for people to try to stay home and not go out in the heat unnecessarily. It seems to be over now but you can't be sure.We were so grateful for the pool, but  even that was too hot sometimes.

The in-laws have been here for just over a week and had their 30^th wedding anniversary here . It was on St Valentine's Day and we went to a Greek Cypriot restaurant called Tavernaki in Leichardt. The fixed menu was very good and the service was so friendly, but there was just so much food, we had to take doggy bags.

 

Notice the pearls, 30 years of being married merits a pearl necklace, that's for sure

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Time to leave you now, it is after all Sunday morning and we are going off somewhere. There are still so many places to discover around here. So, bye bye for now!