A mini break

 

Why did it take me so long to write about our Halloween night?

Because for some of that time, we were away on a mini break. 

While everyone else was working or at school, we enjoyed the solitude of one of our favourite places.

Deserted beaches, and sometimes wild, overcast weather, it was just as we like it. Early beach walks, late afternoon beach walks, wine and beer and snacks: with the sand between our toes and as the sun went down. For 4 days this beach was our backyard. Climbing, collecting, exploring, playing, building, imagining, watching. Barbecue dinners were eaten outside by the playground and every night we ate magnum ice-creams for dessert.

Although we live only 10 minutes from the beach. This is the place that restores my soul - every time. 

Do you have a special holiday place? Maybe a place you keep returning to time and time again? Maybe a tradition of an annual holiday has started in your family, just as it has in mine. Do tell.

Enjoying the sunshine

Our weekend - part two: Enjoying the sunshine



We do love to make a good beach shelter.







Everybody got to work and we lost a whole morning amongst the dunes.







I hope you are enjoying some winter sunshine too.

Our Easter break away

On Good Friday, we set up tables and chairs here (above) and enjoyed lots (and I mean lots) of fresh, local prawns and a huge salad. White white and this view. The children made new friends and we lost the afternoon scrambling over rocks at the waters edge. Collecting shells, chasing little crabs and catching baby shrimp in the rock pools.









Over the weekend we enjoyed magical weather, more beach, water parks, markets, bike rides, walks along the pier, playgrounds and museums.









The Easter Bunny found us at Dad's house, delivering not only chocolate but new books and warm winter pajama's. After breakfast, our traditional easter egg hunt began. Leaving our hunting baskets at home, we found that ice-cream containers do the job perfectly.

Holidays - the beach

Waking up to this for six days was heaven.

This was the entrance to the beach, just 20 metres from our cabin door.

As you can see the weather was magic.

Life was relaxed and unhurried.













• ice-creams on the beach, picnics by the river

• beach sounds: rainbow lorikeets chirping in the dunes, crashing waves on the shore, the strumming of an acoustic guitar, teenage boys playing soccer with their dads, my son's happy laughter as he crashed in the waves, willie wagtails early morning song, fishing rods being cast, my daughter's squeals of excitement as she jumped in the waves

• listening to the crashing waves while cooking dinner with the sunlight pouring through the windows and filling the room

• a lovely afternoon exploring Murwillumbah. Fantastic coffee at The Modern Grocer. A lovely morning re-discovering Bangalow (alone)

• sandcastles, crystal clear water, beach drawings and swimming at Dreamtime Beach

• Scandinavian favourites from a favourite shop: heavy rye bread, blueberry jam, Daim chocolate and cinnamon buns

• a friendly green tree frog visiting on our verandah

• eating organic chocolate ice-cream, sitting in the late afternoon sunshine and listening to 'the blues' at The Channon markets

• fishing just after dawn, beach walks before breakfast

• delicious Bangalow pork chops bought from the Bangalow butcher, packaged in a brown paper bag (remember that?) It tasted like the pork I ate as a child.

• collecting seashells and frolicking on the shore at dusk

• barbecue breakfast in the park: bacon, eggs, local sausages, rye toast and a quick homemade tomato sauce

• gourmet spuds piled high with fresh salad: grated beetroot, cous cous salad, tabbouleh, roasted mediterranean salad, tomato and cucumber salad, coleslaw and tzatziki



Mr Moo built the kids a Robinson Crusoe style beach shelter. Just as we were leaving the beach, a buttercup yellow butterfly battled the sea breezes and fluttered by to settle on a branch of the shelter. He sat for a while and enjoyed the view out to sea.

Just as we had done.

And then the sun came out.....

On New Years Eve the rain stopped, and since then, it has been very much, summer holidays at this house.

We have been spending long days at the beach, at the pool, at the river, at the rock pools, fishing, at the scooter park, at the playground and sometimes just at home. Breakfasts have been late, lunch has been casual and for dinner, easy barbecue's. We are loving eating all of our meals outdoors. The trampoline has been erected, the wadding pool has been filled and our cousins have arrived from up north to hang out with us. Lots of holiday fun in the sun.







We enjoyed a quiet New Years Eve at home. After spending the day at the beach, the evening started slowly. Plans for a gourmet barbecue went out the window with my new, I'm on holidays attitude. At 6 o'clock the kids were doing the usual "Mum, I'm hungry" thing. I told them, "Go outside and play, tonight we would be having party food, as it was New Year's Eve." I was pretty happy with what I found hiding in our fridge. There was a feast. The kids loved it.

There was champagne, music, sparklers, dancing, good conversation and much laughter. Who knew you could have so much fun with a four and a five year old!



It's a pity it was all over by 9 o'clock, when our tiny dinner guests finally fell into bed.

(don't worry, that is only water in the little ikea wine glasses)

Playing hooky

On Wednesday, Spunky Monkey and I spent a relaxing day at the beach. As before, there was no agenda. So when Spunky Monkey asked, "Mum, can we go to the beach today?" it was an absolute pleasure to say yes, instead of rattling off the usual excuses.



It was wonderful to sit on the riverbank, eating our picnic lunch with nothing else to do other than count the passing boats. Ferries, yachts, fishing trawlers, tinnies, jet ski's. Twenty-six, in case your wondering. All kept count with our primitive tally system, a pile of sticks.

After our lunch we went off for a walk. Hours were lost as we explored an unfamiliar coastline, clambering over rocks, searching for treasures and poking around in shallow rock pools. We had been at the oceans edge for a little while when Spunky Monkey stood up and and said "look Mum". I stood up and looked over my shoulder to see this....





We had been so busy digging around between the rocks looking for seaglass and unusual shells that we hadn't even noticed our beautiful surroundings. Because it was a weekday, it was practically deserted. Bliss.





I am really loving this time that we are spending together, it seems so precious and I know it will soon end. I really love listening to him. Seeing him. Knowing him.

Watch out! They are growing up fast, these little monkey's of ours.

Weekend walks

It was lovely to while away the hours this weekend outdoors.

Saturday afternoon.









Sunday afternoon.